7} Fight!
Ryokki lunged forward, attacking with awe inspiring speed and strength, trying to overwhelm her defenses.
Pearl held strong however, blocking, dodging, and even countering with determination.
Ryokki broke the attack and gave distance between them, holding a hand to his gem as it shined a bright green.
From his gem came many shurikens.
Ryokki threw his arm in a swiping motion, firing the weapons in Pearls direction.
Pearl held up her spear in preparation to defend.
Ryokki smiled as he snapped his fingers and the shuriken grew to tremendous size and length.
Pearl dodged them all, only to realize it was a simple distraction.
Ryokki came at her full force.
Pearl was put back on the defense, noticing drop in his guard on the right side, the side he was using the most heavily.
Ryokki continued his barrage, striking at her from all angles, but also focusing on his right side.
Pearl eyed Ryokki carefully and kicked his left leg at the ankle.
Ryokkis eyes widened and he jumped back.
Pearl took this chance to go on the offensive, striking with the express intent of disarming him.
However Pearl had only grazed him, and when he regained his footing he was back on the offense.
Pearl knew she had to gain the tactical advantage.
Pearl spun around and threw two spears at the trees and jumped on them, escaping to the trees.
Ryokki: So that's how you wanna play huh?
Ryokki lept into the trees in one bound.
Pearls plan was to surprise him by attacking him from beneath.
Ryokki jumped and used a giant shuriken to slice the branch Pearl was hiding under.
Pearl was able to catch herself before hitting the forest floor.
Ryokki landed on a branch of his own and threw shuriken after shuriken, except without the becoming giant.
Pearl dodged the strikes and returned to the trees.
Ryokki continued his assault, sometimes throwing in a giant shuriken to keep her on her toes.
Pearl eventually escaped his sight, but only temporarily.
Ryokkis eyes glowed once more and he was on Pearls trail and closed the distance while drawing his swords.
Pearl slashed some branches and flung them his way, but he either slashed them out of his way or dodged them.
As Ryokki came within spitting distance, Pearl hopped off and kicked him square in the chest.
They were both heading for the hard ground fast.
Ryokki used his sword by stabbing it into a nearby tree in an attempt to at worst soften the blow.
Pearl jumped off onto another branch.
Eventually Ryokki stopped, and then Pearl was on the offensive.
Pearl began throwing spears at Ryokki.
Ryokki could only fall and block the spears as there weren't any available branches nearby.
Pearl: Yes! Looks like I've got the upper hand now.
Ryokki fell on his back, but got back up in a single flip and headed to the trunk of the tree Pearl was on.
Pearl kept hoping from branch to branch, tree to tree and Ryokki kept staying in her blind spot.
Pearl: (Arg! This is pointless. We don't exactly need to eat- Well he might, still not entirely certain there. But still. I need to get out in the open.) [She spies an opportunity in the distance and a plan entered her mind.] Hm.. Maybe.
Ryokki: Fuck! I can't keep hiding forever. I need to bring her out into the open. [Pearl leaps to another tree and throws a spear at him, but he spins to dodge it and lands back first into the tree she's on.] For exactly this reason. Time to get risky.
Ryokki was about ready to try and draw her out, when Pearl came down from the tree and tried to slice his head in half.
Pearl had used another spear to slow her decent.
Ryokki jumped to the right avoiding Pearls strike.
Ryokki bounced back and tried to slash at her only for Pearl to roll to her right and try to strike him in the back.
Ryokki blocked and unleashed a barrage of attacks, driving her back on her heels.
Pearl had set herself on full defense and allowed him to assault her, driving him by the nose.
Ryokki was unable to penetrate her defenses, and they ended up in a patch of burnt trees and sand, and he saw Pearl smile.
Ryokki was distracted by her smile just long enough for Pearl to wave her hand and a small bit a sand in his eyes.
Ryokki stumbled back in pain, his eyes glowing as he fell into a defensive position.
Pearl went into a flurry of attacks, knocking Ryokki to his back heel.
Ryokki was in pain trying to focus on the fight, but his mind kept veering back to Pearls smile.
Ryokki: Focus dumbass. Focus!
Ryokki bumped his back into a tree and quickly spun to the left and unleashed as many shuriken as he possibly could in any direction just to give himself breathing room.
Pearl ducked behind the tree Ryokki bumped into.
Ryokki was able to clear out his eyes and turns to face Pearl.
Ryokki: Okay then.. You're good, I'll give you that!
Pearl: Likewise. [She steps out of her hiding place and takes a defensive stance.]
Ryokki: You know, it's just a damn shame that we have to fight.
Pearl: Exactly! (Finally I'm getting through to him!)
Ryokki: You and me, we could be a good thing together. After the humans vacate the premises, this forest has enough room for just one more gem.
Pearl: What? You're still on that!
Ryokki: This forest was meant for the gems. This forest was meant for you and me.
Pearl: Wha- [She began to blush as she realized just what he was saying.] What about the people who were here before you? The people who were born here? What about the humans?
Ryokki: Seven words honey. They. Are. Not. My. Problem. You. Are.
Pearl: I- Th- Wh-
Ryokki: How about it? You wanna stay here and help me get rid of these humans. [He started to walk towards her.]
Pearl: *mutters* No!
Pearl began charging at Ryokki screaming.
Ryokkis eyes bulged as he flinched out of reflex, throwing shuriken at Pearl.
Pearl simply went straight through them and struck at him despite being covered in cuts, slicing his left shoulder.
Ryokki spun to the right and began striking at her with vicious power blows.
Pearl had to change her defensive tactics, while Ryokkis previous attacks were fast and unpredictable, these were slow and powerful.
Pearl would expect this kind of power from Garnet, and while she could predict Ryokkis attacks, that didn't mean she could defend against them.
Ryokki didn't let up on his assault, most likely due to him being hurt by her rejection.
Pearl twisted to the right as Ryokki stabbed, lodging his sword in a tree.
Ryokki simply let the sword go and materialized a new one.
Pearl tried to hide in order to catch her breath, but Ryokki wasn't letting her.
Wherever Pearl hid Ryokki was right around the corner.
Pearl had even thrown sand at him again to try and distract him, but it didn't work.
Ryokki simply closed his eyes and struck blind, and while he did get close to slicing Pearls head off, she nicked his leg.
Ryokki: *roar* Who are you? Where did you come from..?
Pearl: My name is Pearl. I am a crystal gem. It is my duty to protect humanity. My past is no more unique than any other. I will however, stand my ground. Now then, what are you?
Ryokki: ... I don't know.. I can only remember up to 20 years ago. But I know this forest is my home. It was my fathers home. It was his fathers home. It can be your home to, if you let it. [He held out his hand.] Will you let this forest be OUR home?
Pearl: [Her breathing was heavy and shallow. Her vision was beginning to blur slightly.] I'm sorry.
Ryokki: [He actually shook a little bit when she said that.] I-I see. *sigh* [He appeared as if he was on the verge of crying.] I must protect my home. If it means I am alone, then so be it. [His gem began to shine brighter than it ever did during the fight. His body was coated by a green aura. When the light faded he was clad in a shogun-style armor {go to Bing and look up Boba Fett shogun for reference. except green and with four arms}.] I wish things were different Pearl. You have no idea..
Pearl set herself in a defensive position as Ryokki charged at her and resumed his attack.
Ryokkis attacks were just as random as before and just as strong as his recent attacks.
Pearl had a harder time taking them on, but she did notice something.
Pearl decided to go back to the trees, and when he didn't follow or hide, she figured she was safe until she could come up with a plan.
Ryokki was happy to correct her by shooting giant shuriken her direction.
Jumping and hurdling, Pearl dodges all of Ryokkis attacks and threw several spears his direction, all of which simply bounced off him like nerf bullets fired at a block of metal.
Pearl: Okay, so he's traded speed and agility for defense. That's a problem.
The shurikens kept coming, most big but sometimes a small one would catch her off guard.
By the time the attack ceased, most of the branches were cut down, leaving Pearl with precious few options.
Ryokki drew his swords and walked to where Pearl was.
Pearl had only one shot left.
Ryokki began to close in.
Pearls gem glowed as she created two holographic clones and gave them a spear each.
Pearl: Okay, time for my plan to come to play.
Ryokki came across the three fighters and charged at the middle one.
The Pearl clones defended the middle most one as she ran away.
Ryokki simply rushed towards her as the other two simply made nothing more then a dent in his armor.
The Pearl clones chased after Ryokki and kept attacking him as he chased the running Pearl.
Ryokki took the attacks and knew they weren't nearly as strong as the original was.
The assault kept going on and the Pearl on the run went around the trees, but couldn't shake him.
When Ryokkis armor was pierced by one of the clones, he twirled with his swords and took them out.
The chase continued after that, with Ryokki closing in quickly.
Ryokki closed in on the girl he had been chasing, slashed with an x chop.
It was a fake to, another hologram filled with sand.
Ryokki then swerved around anticipating an attack, and Pearl stabbed him in the chest.
Ryokkis armor dissipated, leaving the warrior defeated. Ryokki could only stumble into Pearl, smile, gasp, and retreat into his gem. The gem clatters to the ground. Pearl falls to her knees out of exhaustion. She picked up Ryokkis gem and held it in her hands examining it. The jewel was a circular rough cut which gave a shine when hit by the suns rays. She smiled slightly.
?: Over there!
Pearl turned to see that some armored goons were approaching her direction. She dropped the gem and looked around to see a warp pad in the clearing. She didn't know what to make of it or even if it would work, but she had to go. She didn't have the energy to deal with them at the moment.
Pearl: Please work.. Please get me out of here!
She got on the pad and it teleported her back to the temple, where Steven and co. swarmed her and asked how she got so banged up on a simple mission. She didn't have the energy to tell them all the details so she said she'd tell them later and went straight to bed.
Mr. Geralds: Well? Did she do it? Did she kill him?
Goon: Yes sir. She pierced him in the chest, stopping his heart. Here is all that remains of his corpse. [He reached into his pocket and pulled out Ryokkis gem.]
Mr. Geralds: Hm.. And his base?
Goon: Still working on it sir, but it's just a matter of time.
Mr. Geralds: [He grabbed the green gem and held it in his hand.] You took my son 20 years ago, and now I take your home. I just wish you were alive to see this yourself. What of the other one?
Goon: No sir. We think she fled after we came.
Mr. Geralds: Send this to the labs. I want an army of these freaks in case we come across the other crystal gems.
Goon: As you wish sir.
This is my favorite part thus far. :D A kick-ass fight properly introducing our stranger from the first chapter. More to come folks.
