Blood and Thorns- Xiaoyin fic ch1

Blood and Thorns
A Xiaoyin fanfic

Chapter 1:  Power is Everything
Peace was a concept long forgotten in the cold and dismal hearts of those that inhabited earth. In order for one to achieve such ideals, blood had to be shed in the name of the righteous as victory screamed and howled through the hollow darkness and void. Even with the idea that peace could be achieved, there would be those who strive for much darker deeds with cruel intentions. Those with power ruled with an iron fist and did not show mercy to those that sought out to achieve their dreams. It seemed that those with power, always craved and hungered for more, seeking out to destroy and crush the bright eyed and weary hopes of those that believed with their hearts that there was good in everyone.
Power is potent. It is an invisible source that granted those who were strong enough to handle it, infinite possibilities. Though in essence a wonderful, thriving achievement, power can turn a hopeful pure heart into a tyrant. Power can change a loving person into one with a cold heart, it can make man into a beast, and turn angels into devils. Power. Is. Everything.

It was late afternoon and the sun would soon be melting into the horizon causing the sky to bleed. The tower in which fighters took their turns in defeating their foes stood mighty and unwavering, the end was neigh. At the top of the tower sat a tall, muscular figure clad in black garbs, appearing to be a gargoyle sat upon it's perch. He, like the tower was motionless, expressionless, but carried with him an ominous aura. A clank was heard echoing within the room, gears fixated themselves in place as the floor that elevated itself with the victor of the last match stood in darkness. Neither the face nor figure could be seen, only a pair of footsteps on the cold glass was heard, that came to a halt before stepping into the light revealing themselves.
"Impressive." The man perched on his chair said whilst clasping his hands together. "The mere fact you  made it all this way is astounding, in hopes to achieve this ridden curse that so many thirst for." The cold tone in his voice made it clear he was disgusted by everything around, and had a thing for sarcasm. He dare not move from his seat, there was no threat, no real reason to move. "So, who do I have the pleasure of putting down today? Who desires to have their chance at power and ruling the world?" His words went unanswered, there was hesitation for a few moments before he shed his black shades that covered his eyes and squinted into the darkness to make sure there was someone really there.
The sound of feet shuffling through the  glass confirmed that indeed, there was another soul in the room besides his own, and the moment it had grown close enough to give name to the identity, the sound ceased. A flutter shot through his ears, the figure was no longer standing before him but arrived from the ceiling, gracefully from a flip. He stood up onto his feet, looking overhead as the challenger appeared soaring through the air. The challenger had seen the man beneath, adjusting it's body to gracefully land in front on both feet, light as a feather, pure as a dove themselves.  The man knew this style, he did not even have to see their face to know who it was before turning his back on them.

"Go home, Xiaoyu." His tone was flat, holding no interest in the upcoming fight.
"I've come all this way, taken down all those who have opposed me and proved myself a worthy contestant, and you're going to turn me away and tell me to go home?" It was clear, Ling Xiaoyu was un-amused by his answer, and was not going to take it lightly. "You were looking forward to beating someone, well so was I." The 19 year old, senior high school student took her stance before straightening the pig tails on each side of her head. "I'm not leaving here without a fight." The man continued to ignore her, unwilling to turn and give her any answer other than to leave. This did not set right with the girl, who was no doubt tired, drained from battle and still willing to look for a fight. Sweat dripped down her pale, frail face, her rosy pink lips parted as she breathed. "Why do you ignore me?! Why do you refuse to fight me and treat me like everyone else?" She  demanded an answer from him and was relieved to see him turn, if only just his head, to face her.
"What do you fight for? What's your soul reason for  challenging me? What do you hope to accomplish?" His question was something she had not given true thought to, Xiaoyu had a dream once, but over the years, many things have changed, including what she believed she had fought for. The young girl needed a moment to think before answering.
"I want peace in the world, and for people to stop fighting. I plan on making my amusement park to do just that!"
"Hmph," he responded by turning around to face her fully and give her his attention. "What makes you different from all the others who wish for peace? People will never stop fighting and will always fight to challenge you. In this position, you will be no better than I, a shadow of the person you once were. It's a false fantasy, a hope better kept unsaid, you should go home, before you get hurt."
"It's MY reason for entering though, not anyone else's, this is my reason and you can't change that, no matter what you think." Xiao stood still, though Jin's reaction of not reacting was digging further into her skin than she let off.
Glass shattered above their heads, raining down over them as a ladder came cascading down from an overhead helicopter. Another woman in leather waited for the man to take hold. Xiaoyu was not pleased with this interruption, she would stare at the woman who could care less about the fight. Jin continued to ignore her before grabbing a hold of the ladder, his heart was cold, but he would not leave his former friend in danger.

"Soon, this will be over and the evil inside me will finally be put to rest. There will be others to come challenge in the King of Iron fist tournament, there always will be. You will never achieve what you want, until you are positive, without a doubt what you are fighting for." The two stood still, Xiaoyu felt defeated, even though a battle had never even took place.  As Jin tugged on the ladder, he was carried up, staring down at the girl who stared right back up into his solid eyes.

"Jin..." She mumbled on her words, watching him vanish into the helicopter.

Once on the platform of the helicopter, Jin had seen the building start to rattle and shake, appearing to collapse on itself. He kept his eye on the tumbling structure, an explosion inside, perchance made for him.
"You were lucky to get out when you did," said the woman with a cool tone to her voice, "you might have just been caught in that." She proceeded to his side, amused to see that this time, his expression wasn't void but contained even if a splinter of worry. "I'm sure you're little friend made it out fine, besides, she was just a sore in our side and a deterrent to our plans."
"She was never a threat to our plans. We will proceed as followed, to the gates of Azazel's chamber."