Mid‑morning in Shang Mu, and Carol is riding her bike through the streets, expertly weaving through the semi‑light traffic as she ferries her passenger to her destination. Normally at this time Carol would be at home having a late breakfast after rising much later than her friends, but when you live with an excitable mischievous puppy who's eager to take delivery of her new motorcycle, sleeping in is next to impossible.
At this moment however, Milla's excitement is tempered by her concern that Carol's rapid and slightly erratic riding is going to get them hurt, especially as the roads are still damp after the early morning rain. "C‑Can you slow d‑down a bit p‑please?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry," Carol apologises, backing off the throttle and riding more cautiously. "Didn't mean to scare ya," she adds, blushing slightly.
"I know," Milla replies, feeling much more comfortable now, her rainproof chestnut cloak flapping a lot less violently. "I just want to get there in one piece, s'all."
"Hey, have I ever let you down before?" Carol asks, her tone reassuring.
"No, but I don't want today to be the first time," Milla replies, unable to resist a little friendly jibe.
"Fair point," Carol chuckles. "Ah, we're here already."
Carol turns off the road and parks around the back of the dealership Milla ordered her new ride from, hoping to minimise the chances of an adoring public noticing them and getting in the way. The strategy appears to be working, as the few who notice them are the staff of the dealership itself along with the handful of customers browsing the showroom.
Thankfully for the two heroes, the first person to spot them as they enter the showroom is the salesperson who helped Milla select a bike during her previous visit. "Ah, welcome back, Milla," the female blonde‑haired pumpkin orange chipmunk with black dorsal stripes and wearing a simple elegant black pantsuit greets. "Your new bike arrived this morning. Our mechanics are doing their final checks to make sure everything's just so; they'll be done in a couple of minutes."
"Thank you," Milla replies, then notices Carol's gazing at the salesperson in awe. "Um… Carol, are you OK?"
"I don't believe it… It's really you," Carol breathes, barely able to think straight.
"Ah, it appears I'm recognised," the chipmunk blushes. "I didn't think anyone knew who I was anymore."
Carol instantly recovers her composure. "How can people not know you‽ You're Maria Costello, ten‑time overall Shang Mu TT winner and one of the all‑time greatest bikers in the history of the Origin Kingdoms!"
"That was a long time ago," Maria replies, her blush deepening in response to Carol's heartful praise. "I'm almost completely forgotten now."
"Nonsense!" Carol objects. "I bet there's loads of young girls who know your name!"
"Judging by the drop in female racers in recent years, I'm not so sure," Maria sighs.
"Hey, it's never too late to make a return and inspire a whole new generation!" Carol replies with an encouraging wink.
"I fear I'm a little too old to be competitive," Maria dismisses kindly.
"Hey, forty‑seven's not that old!" Carol encourages. "I bet you're still as fast as you ever were!"
"Maybe, maybe not," Maria chuckles. "Regardless, to know that I still have fans warms my heart, especially when one of those fans is as famous as yourself."
"Maria, I'm begging you, please make a comeback," Carol pleads. "I'd love nothing more than to watch you race again. And even if you don't win, you'll still inspire more young girls to take up bike racing." Carol suddenly has an idea. "Oh! We could team up and race together! I can't think of anything more awesome than racing alongside my idol!"
"…you idolise me?" Maria asks, scarcely able to believe what she's hearing.
"Of course!" Carol confirms. "You're why I got into bikes in the first place!"
"Well, in that case, I'll consider it," Maria decides.
Bouncing with excitement, Carol turns to Milla. "Did you hear that? She'll consider it!" she exclaims loudly, barely able to control herself.
"I heard, I heard!" Milla replies, giggling in amusement at Carol's actions. "Take it easy already!"
Carol opens her mouth to reply, then realises that everyone in the showroom is staring at her in a mix of amusement and bewilderment. "Ah… Heh… I guess I kinda got a little carried away there," she replies quietly, blushing deeply and staring at her feet in embarrassment. "Sorry."
"Don't be; it happens to everyone," Maria assures before noticing one of the dealership's mechanics approaching the group. "And if I'm not mistake, the final inspection is complete."
"It's passed all checks and is ready to go," the mechanic replies, handing the key to Milla. "You'll find it right outside next to your friend's bike."
"Excellent," Maria smiles as Milla takes the key. "Is there anything else you need?"
"I don't think so," Milla replies, eager to get riding but also wanting to be sure all is well first.
"We brought all we need on my bike," Carol adds. "Though now I wish I'd brought something for you to autograph."
"You'll remember next time," Maria winks before turning back to Milla. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call."
"Thanks," Milla smiles warmly, then turns to Carol. "Wanna see it?" she asks, her tail wagging furiously.
"You betcha!" Carol replies.
Maria watches the two young heroes dash out of the showroom. "Of all the people to recognise me, I didn't expect it to be a member of Team Lilac," she sighs happily. "And I definitely wasn't expecting to find out I'm her idol. She even asked to compete with me! I know this sound selfish, but it makes me very happy to know I still have fans out there."
"Are you going to accept?" the mechanic asks.
Maria thinks a moment. "I must admit, I am tempted. I just hope I'm still fast enough."
Outside, Carol sees Milla's brand‑new burnt‑orange dual‑sport bike parked alongside her cherry‑red cruiser, and it's clear she's impressed. "I had my doubts about the colour, but not anymore: it's cute and quirky, just like its owner," she smiles.
"Thanks," Milla giggles, blushing slightly. "I wanna see what it can do!"
"Me too," Carol replies. "But not today."
"Why not?" Milla asks, confused.
"It's brand‑new: it needs to be run‑in for about five hundred miles first," Carol explains. "It's easy to do: just ride gently and don't accelerate or brake hard unless it's an emergency. And don't worry about it taking a long time; those first five hundred miles will be done before you know it."
"And then I can see what it can do?"
"Absolutely."
"Yay!" Milla chirps. "Do you think Lilac will like it?"
"I don't see why not," Carol replies. "Just want to make sure you're comfy on it, then we'll get going."
Milla hops onto her bike, and after Carol's satisfied it's all adjusted properly, she fires it up, giggling with excitement at the distinctive sound of the idling two‑stroke single‑cylinder engine. After blipping the throttle a few times to get used to it, she builds the revs up a bit, gently lets out the clutch… and stalls. "Heh… Didn't mean to do that," she blushes.
"Happens to everyone," Carol assures. "First time I got on a bike, I stalled six times."
"Really‽" Milla asks, surprised.
"…OK, I exaggerated: it was once," Carol admits. "You'll get it second try."
Milla nods, starts her bike again, and pulls away successfully. "Yay!"
"Remember to take it easy," Carol reminds as she gets on her bike and starts it, the throaty bass rumble of its V‑twin a stark contrast to the baritone buzz of Milla's single‑cylinder.
"I know," Milla replies.
Carol pulls away with practiced ease, and moments later, the twin sounds of a V‑twin's baritone bark and single‑cylinder's tenor buzz follow the two friends as they begin their journey home.
High in the sky, unnoticed to both, a slate grey bat in a midnight blue bodyglove follows them out of the city.
The first half of the journey home is uneventful: the traffic on the roads is lighter than average, allowing Carol and Milla to have some fun without taking any undue risks. The second half of the journey is less smooth however, as Milla starts to struggle with the tricky terrain despite her bike being designed to handle it while Carol, helped by the modifications she's made to her cruiser that give it extraordinary grip and balance, encounters no difficulties at all and starts to leave Milla behind.
Inevitably, Milla starts getting frustrated at her slow progress, and decides to stop and rest before it gets the better of her.
A few moments later, Carol realises Milla's stopped and turns back to check on her. "You OK?" she asks, stopping beside the hound.
"Yeah," Milla answers, her bike silent for now. "Just struggling more than I thought I would."
"I'm happy to wait," Carol informs.
"I'll be fine," Milla assures. "I'll catch up in a couple of minutes."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"In that case, I'll see you at the treehouse," Carol replies before setting off again.
Once Carol's out of earshot, Milla sits next to her bike, closes her eyes, and starts to meditate‑
"Get up."
Milla opens her eyes in surprise at the unfamiliar voice to find a slate grey bat in a midnight blue bodyglove standing ten feet away. "Um… hi?"
"Get up."
"Why?"
"I'm here to duel with you."
"Sorry, I don't duel with fans: I don't want to hurt them accidentally."
"I'm not a fan. I simply intend to duel."
Milla lets out a sigh. "I just want to get home and show Lilac my new bike, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be going now," she replies as she stands.
"Not until we've duelled," the bat replies, revealing she's holding the key to Milla's bike.
"Hey, that's mine!" Milla exclaims. "Give it back!"
"Duel first."
Milla can see the resolute determination in the bat's eyes. "You may want to change your mind," she replies, drawing her piandao and energising the blade. "Who are you, anyway?"
Tiāngǒu's piandao… I thought that was just a legend. "Akairo," the bat replies as she drops into a combat stance. "Don't hold back."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"I don't want to hurt you either. I just want to see what you can do."
Milla moves away from her bike. "Last chance to change your mind."
Akairo's reply is her ebony tanbo sliding out of their forearm sheathes into her hands.
Milla drops into a combat stance. Looks like I have no choice… I just hope this ends before it wakes up.
Akairo makes the first move, charging Milla at top speed, aiming to surprise the hound into faltering. But Milla's training with the Order of the Phantom means she holds her ground, easily blocking the first swings of Akairo's tanbo with the flat of her blade. However, using both hands to hold her sword means she cannot exploit the opening for a counter‑attack.
Akairo rolls with the block and backs away a few feet. "Standing ground against a charge‑down," she notes. "Looks like I'll have to get creative."
Before Milla can react, Akairo takes off and flies into the trees, vanishing from view. Not knowing where the next attack will come from, Milla's eyes flit from tree to tree, looking for any sign an attack is imminent. She's toying with you. Stay focussed.
A faint rustle of leaves from behind catches the hound's ear. Gotcha.
Akairo launches from the tree, diving at Milla and aiming to slam her into the ground, pin her down, and disarm her. But again, Milla anticipates the move, whirling around and blocking the attack. The force of impact knocks the hound off her feet, but this time Milla can take advantage and counter‑attack, rolling with the impact, planting her feet in Akairo's abdomen, and catapulting the bat into the air.
It takes a moment for Akairo to recover and reorient, giving Milla enough time to spring back to her feet and follow her counter‑attack with a blast of Phantom energy from her left hand. Unable to react in time, the blast hits Akairo in the chest, throwing her into the trees where a couple of the sturdier branches pierce her wings, causing her to yelp in pain.
"Sorry!" Milla apologises as Akairo extracts herself from the tree.
"You said you didn't want to hurt me!" Akairo snaps as she drops to the ground, the holes in her wings bleeding freely.
"I don't!" Milla protests. "It was an accident!"
"Yet you keep your sword energised," Akairo growls.
Milla looks at her piandao to see Akairo's telling the truth. "Uh…"
"I've seen enough." Akairo tosses Milla's bike key at her, then takes off and flees the scene, her flying a little erratic thanks to the damage to her wings.
Milla catches the key, then deactivates her sword and sheathes it. At least it's over… I hope she'll be OK; those wounds looked bad. With a sad sigh, Milla gets on her bike, starts the engine, and resumes her journey home.
Twenty minutes later, back at the treehouse, Lilac is starting to get worried. "I thought you said Milla was only stopping to rest a couple of minutes?" she asks.
"She's probably just‑" Carol starts to answer, stopping herself when she hears the approach of a two‑stroke single‑cylinder engine. "See? Told ya not to worry."
"I guess you're right," Lilac admits as she heads out of the treehouse and down the ladder to meet Milla, Carol following behind her.
A few moments later, Milla emerges from the treeline, parks in front of her friends, and shuts off the engine. "Sorry I'm late," she apologies. "Would have been back sooner, but this bat girl surprised me and forced me to duel with her."
"Are you OK?" Lilac asks, concerned.
"I'm fine," Milla assures. "I wish I could say the same for her though," she adds with a sad sigh. "How well do pierced wings heal?"
"It depends on the size of the holes," Carol answers. "If they're small, they'll heal well enough, especially if they're treated quickly."
"She flew off before I could help her," Milla replies.
"Then you did everything you could," Lilac comforts. "Did you get a name?"
"Akairo," Milla answers.
"…nope, never heard that name before," Lilac replies.
"Me neither," Carol adds. "Hopefully she'll have learned her lesson and won't hassle you again."
"Yeah. Come on, let's get lunch," Lilac decides. "You can show me your bike properly after."
"OK," Milla agrees.
A couple of hours later in his sanctum, Leader Julian finishes reading the terse report from Akairo describing her brief duel with Milla, and he's not happy about it. She's a lot more capable than I anticipated; no wonder she was able to take down the Nine Tails so easily. I shall tweak my plans to account for this.
