Hey gang, how's it going? Gonna keep this short in case you came just from the last chapter and all you wanna do is see what happens. So go ahead, hope you enjoy!
Mimi's heart skipped a beat.
Zilar...you came...I knew it! I knew you'd come!
"Ah! Silence, you damn bitch!"
"MIMI," Zilar shouted, "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, LISTEN UP! I WILL KEEP HIM OCCUPIED ON THE OUTSIDE! BUT YOU HAVE TO TRY YOUR HARDEST TO FIGHT HIM ON THE INSIDE, GOT IT!? I CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!" Mimi felt as though her heart may burst with hope and joy. Inside, she could feel tears trying to overcome her. But now was not the time. She had to brace herself for fight just like Zilar.
I know you can't hear me now, Zilar. But I'll do my best to beat him!
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Zilar took off at Mimi. He launched blast after blast of wind at her, which she just managed to brush off. While she was parrying the attacks, she wasn't prepared when Zilar tackled her through the hole he had made in the wall upon his destructive entrance. They rolled out into the streets of Magnolia. Zilar's body was still in some pain and his magic was far from replenished, but he would sooner drop dead than give up, especially with Mimi on the line. Mimi got up quickly.
"You've been a thorn in my side for long enough!" Mimi brought down a large shadow hammer. Zilar rolled out of the way and blasted more wind her way. On the inside, the real Mimi was fighting a battle of her own. She stood in a large room of splotched black, purple, and dark reds. It was strange, having no defined floor, but yet she stood. She was clearly in the heart of The Shadow that had taken her over.
"Come out and fight me! I'm not afraid of you anymore!" A figure formed behind her. A pitch black version of herself with bright, blood red eyes.
"So, you've forgotten the fear I instilled in you? Feeling 'courageous' and 'hopeful'?" Mimi didn't answer, but instead readied herself for the fight.
"Well, that's alright...I'll teach you that fear ONCE AGAIN!" The doppelganger ran towards her. Mimi tried to summon shadows to use in an attack, but none spawned. Before Mimi had time to question, she had to bring up her arms to block a powerful punch from the doppelganger. Mimi skid along the invisible floor and quickly got back up.
"What's going on? Where is my magic?"
"You're still not the one in control here," the doppelganger answered. "Your magic is still being used on the outside to kill your insolent man-pet. While we're in here," the doppelganger cracked its knuckles with an evil grin, "only the strongest will survive." Mimi got to her feet and brought up her fists.
"Then come and fucking get some, you Shadow Shit."
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Zilar and Mimi raged on in battle on the outside. Zilar could tell there was something about Mimi unlike before. She wasn't fighting with the ferocity she had the first time. As if part of The Shadow's efforts were elsewhere. This was good, it meant Mimi was fighting it. Which meant he had to do the same. He shot three thin blades of wind at her. Mimi dodged out of the way, countering with a shadow fist aimed for Zilar. Zilar didn't have time and took the punch head on. But while he spun in the air, he used his momentum to kick out two big blasts of wind. Mimi got pushed back, but didn't lose her footing. Zilar caught himself on his hands before falling. He spun on his palms and blew massive gales at Mimi, swinging her up into the air. Zilar spun back onto his feet and blew Mimi away, crashing into an abandoned fruit stand. She climbed out of the mess of wood and mashed produce and stood up.
"I think it's about time I cranked this up to 11," Mimi said. She was suddenly enveloped in shadows, coursing around her body like army.
"Go ahead, focus on me," Zilar thought, engaging Storm Mail in order to match her Shadow Armor. "It'll hopefully make Mimi's fight easier." Zilar and Mimi ran at each other, leapt up high, and clashed blows.
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Mimi ducked a big hook from her doppelganger and countered with an uppercut. It connected with The Shadow's chin. The doppelganger sprung back and launched a low punch into Mimi's gut. Mimi managed to keep her breath and took the doppelganger to the floor. She went into a ground'n'pound, but the doppelganger kept up its guard. The Shadow rolled Mimi onto her back and put a few punches into Mimi's sides. Mimi pulled up her feet and flipped the doppelganger over her head. Her and the doppelganger got to their feet and stood across from each other.
"Not bad, girl," the doppelganger said. "I did not expect such a fight from you."
"Guess you shouldn't underestimate your opponents, asshole," Mimi said with a smirk.
"You would be wise to heed your own advice!" Mimi and The Shadow ran at each other, trading blows and blocks. They each wound back for a big cross. Their fists grazed one another and caught each other in the cheek. But then Mimi, seeing the opportunity, dropped her fist from The Shadow's face to its collar and, with her other fist, decked the doppelganger straight in the nose.
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Zilar and Mimi fought high in the air. Foregoing any sort of conventional magic and instead performing a sort of magically armored slugfest. Zilar kicked Mimi far back and, without missing a beat, drove his fist into her stomach. Zilar then brought down his elbow into her back and sent her flying towards the ground. She crashed down, but amazingly stayed crouching on her feet. She stood up and glared up at him furiously.
"ENOUGH!" She shot a huge blast of shadow magic at Zilar. While he brought his hands up to guard, he realized too late that it was merely a diversion. Mimi came up through the shadow and grasped him by the throat. He gagged, the Storm Mail around him dissipating and him being left helpless in her crushing palm.
"Now choke," she said with malice. "Choke, you bastard! CHOKE AND BREATH NO MORE!" Her grip on his neck tightened and the shadows began seeping into his open mouth. His insides began to burn like someone had set a bonfire in his stomach. As the pain grew more intense, the light began to fade from his eyes. He began to see the black of Death himself. But deep inside him, something fought on. Something wouldn't quit even if it meant certain death. Whatever it was, it pushed Zilar on even as his life continued ebbing away. Zilar brought his hands to Mimi's wrist. The shadows burning and cutting deep into his hands. With the last amount of magic left in his being, he reactivated his Storm Mail. He pried Mimi's fingers from around his neck and pulled himself in to headbutt her, the hard crown of his head meeting the soft cartilage of her nose. With Mimi dazed, he wrapped his arms around her body and held on like, quite literally, his life depended on it. Then, from high up above Magnolia, he began flying Mimi and himself towards the ground. Barreling down at the cobblestone at breakneck speed, Zilar and Mimi crashed into the ground.
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"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The doppelganger screamed out in sudden agony. Mimi didn't know what had happened, but she could feel her shadow magic flowing back into her. The doppelganger collapsed to its knees and quivered.
"No...this is...impossible," The Shadow said in disbelief. "The physical body is unconscious, so I'm just stuck here within you now."
"That so," Mimi said. "Well, that should make this fight easier now with my magic." The Shadow hissed in anger at Mimi.
"Stupid bitch, I AM shadow! Your magic will have no affect on me!"
"Well then how about you put your money where your big fucking mouth is," Mimi jeered.
"Very well then! You've long outlived your usefulness! Once you're dead, your withered husk of a body will be far easier to control!" The Shadow doppelganger and Mimi each let out one gigantic blast of powerful shadow magic. It was difficult, but Mimi was matching The Shadow's power. At this point, she didn't need to surpass its power. In fact, it had already done all the work for her. Her shadows began enveloping The Shadow itself.
"What...what is this!? What are you doing to me!?"
"You said it yourself," Mimi answered. "You are shadow. I am a Shadow Mage. I have been trained to bend the shadows to my will. You and I are fighting inside of ME! No matter how great you think you are, in here, I've got the power and you...well, you're just another shadow same as any other to me. AND I'LL EXORCISE YOU FROM MY BODY IF IT KILLS ME!" Mimi's shadows absorbed the doppelganger within them and imploded with The Shadow inside.
It was over. She had won. Her legs, shaking uncontrollably, have out and she fell to the floor. She lay there, on her back, in her own mind. Feeling overjoyed it was her own once again.
"Wait for me, Zilar," she said, tears slowly rolling out from the outer corners of her eyes. "I'll be back soon."
Well, that's all for this week. I straight up pinky swear that this next weekend I'll have a chapter for you. Thanks for reading. See you then!
