[Fifteen days before the B-MAC]
Early afternoon in Shang Mu, and Lilac, Carol, and Milla enter the rear of the Battlesphere, thankful to finally be out of the rainstorm that's been soaking the city all day. For Lilac, the heavy rain is of little consequence, as her hair and fur easily repel the water, allowing her to drip‑dry in less than a minute. Milla is also mostly dry thanks to her waterproof chestnut cloak protecting all but her extremities, but Carol, who chose not to bring a cloak at all, looks like she's just fallen in a swimming pool, and she's in a sour mood as a result.
"I did tell you to bring your cloak," Lilac reminds the wildcat once all three are inside.
Carol mumbles incoherently under her breath as she trudges off to find somewhere to shake as much water out of her fur as possible.
"I hope she doesn't catch a cold," Milla sighs, taking a hand towel from a pocket inside her cloak and drying her hands and feet.
"If she does, she only has herself to blame," Lilac replies.
Carol returns a few moments later, considerably drier than before. However, she has a new problem: her fur has puffed up, making her look fluffier than a month‑old kitten and putting her in an even grumpier mood. "Let's just get this over with," she growls.
Lilac and Milla somehow manage to keep a straight face, though it's clear they're both on the verge of cracking. "Lead the way," Lilac replies.
Still angrily muttering, Carol stomps off deeper into the Battlesphere while trying desperately to de‑fluff her fur, Lilac and Milla following and doing their best not to laugh themselves silly.
A few minutes later, with Carol having flattened about half her fur (leaving her with a quirky punk look that suits her rather well, improving her mood considerably), the trio enter the Battlesphere's largest conference room where both Mayor Zao of Shang Mu and respected journalist and broadcaster Maria Notte are waiting for them, the former in his usual red‑and‑gold mayoral outfit complete with a hat that almost doubles his diminutive height, the latter in her distinctive and practical yet elegant short black dress, white capris, and black high‑heeled ankle boots.
"Ah, my friends, welcome, welcome!" Mayor Zao greets enthusiastically. "Please, take a seat!"
Lilac, Carol, and Milla take seats near the end of the long table Mayor Zao is sat at, wondering why he chose such a large room for such a small meeting. "It's a pleasure to meet with you again, Your Majesty," Lilac replies, pretending to mean what she's saying well enough to fool Zao. "May I ask what this meeting is about?"
"Why, your participation in the tournament, of course!" Zao answers. "Just imagine the crowds we'd draw in if you competed!"
Lilac and Carol exchange concerned looks. "We discussed this last year," Lilac reminds. "We decided it was better for us to attend as honoured guests instead."
"Nonsense!" Zao dismisses. "What could be a better spectacle than watching the greatest heroes Avalice has ever seen competing in the B‑MAC?"
"But I'm a dragon," Lilac argues. "My abilities mean it's unfair for me to compete, as I'd have an unfair advantage over everyone else."
"And I decided that if Lilac's not competing, then neither am I," Carol adds.
"But you took part last year!" Zao protests.
"In an exhibition match during a break in the tournament," Lilac reminds. "We didn't compete in the tournament itself."
"And I was in the Western Empire," Milla adds.
"Yes, yes, I know," Zao replies, even though he didn't know. "And that's all the more reason for you to compete this year!"
"Like I said, I'd have an unfair advantage," Lilac reminds. "I'm sure Carol and Milla would be happy to do another exhibition match though," she adds, Carol nodding in agreement.
But Milla doesn't agree. "I'd like to compete in the tournament itself," she decides, much to Lilac and Carol's surprise.
"Excellent!" Zao exclaims. "I'll get all your names added to the entry immediately!"
"Hold on," Lilac replies before turning to Milla. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yep!" Milla chirps. "It'll be fun!"
Lilac sighs in frustration. "Mayor Zao, may we have a few minutes in private?"
"Of course!" Zao agrees suspiciously easily.
Lilac beckons Milla to follow her out of the room, Carol tagging along. "Milla, are you really sure you want to compete?" the dragoness asks once outside the room and the door is closed.
"I'm sure," Milla answers without hesitation.
"But what if the Virus awakens?" Lilac continues, concerned.
"It won't," Milla assures. "If a match gets too much for me to handle, I'll just concede."
"But what about your abilities?" Carol asks. "Aren't you worried you might hurt someone again?"
"I can't hurt anyone if I don't use them," Milla explains. "Besides, it'll be good practice for the basics."
Carol can't argue with that. "She's got us there, Lilac."
"I must admit, it's been a long time since I focussed on the basics," Lilac reveals. "I guess I could choose not to Cyclone or Dragon Boost, though there's nothing I can do about my strength and resilience."
"I wouldn't worry about that; you won't be the only participant who can tank a few hits," Carol assures.
"I guess." Lilac thinks a moment. "Screw it: I'll join it too."
"And me," Carol decides.
With all in agreement, the trio re‑enter the room. "We've talked it over, and we've all decided to compete," Lilac informs Zao as they retake their seats. "And to keep things fair, we won't use our special abilities."
"Excellent!" Zao chimes, not listening to anything after Lilac's confirmation they'll all take part. "I'll get you added to the entry list immediately! Maria, be sure to get some juicy soundbites!"
Before Maria can reply, Zao marches out of the room in smug triumph.
"Well, I guess now's as good a time as any to conduct the interviews," Maria decides. "But here's not the best place. Shall we relocate to the practice dojo? I'll radio my camera crew to meet us there and bring refreshments."
"Sure," Lilac agrees.
"Do you have someone who can tame unruly fur?" Carol asks.
"I do, though I think your current punk look works very well," Maria answers.
"Huh." Carol thinks a moment. "Screw it: I'll go with it."
Late in the evening in their house in Rage Ravine, Hanna and Rob are relaxing on the sofa watching the news, though neither is paying much attention as they're more focussed on discussing how adventurous they want to be in bed later. However, the discussion is curtailed when the news switches to sports and entertainment, where the headline is Team Lilac entering the annual Battlesphere Martial Arts Championship as competitors instead of sticking to a single exhibition match.
This catches Hanna's attention immediately. "What the fuck‽"
"I wonder‑" Rob begins, stopping when Hanna places her hand over his mouth.
"The surprise announcement came from the office of the primary sponsor of the B‑MAC, Mayor Zao of Shang Mu, with the Mayor himself claiming he persuaded the trio to enter," the newscaster continues. "The announcement also confirms that the members of Team Lilac have all agreed to avoid using their special abilities, thus ensuring the fairness of the competition is preserved. Our roving reporter Maria Notte was there to interview the girls directly after they agreed to enter."
As the programme cuts to clips of Lilac, Carol, and Milla answering Maria's questions, Hanna removes her hand from Rob's mouth. "Bet you anything it's all Lilac's idea and Zao had fuck all to do with it."
"If that's the case, then why didn't they enter last year instead of just doing an exhibition?" Rob asks.
"Don't know, don't care," Hanna answers. "But I do know what I'm gonna do tomorrow."
"You're going to enter the B‑MAC," Rob guesses.
"I'm not gonna pass up a chance to finally show everyone I'm a better fighter than Lilac," Hanna explains.
"You know Scarves don't typically enter," Rob reminds.
"True, but we're not barred either," Hanna counters.
"You got me there," Rob admits. "However, I have a better reason for not entering: your developing fire powers."
"I won't use them," Hanna replies.
"I know how you fight, and honestly, I'm not sure you'll stick to that," Rob argues. "I'm also concerned by the fact you're still learning how to control those powers, and the last thing we all need is you losing control in a public place."
"I'm also not as wild and unpredictable as I once was," Hanna reminds. "For example: if it wasn't for your influence, I'd have roasted that falcon in the Robot Graveyard."
"True." Rob thinks a moment. "It's clear I'm facing an uphill struggle trying to convince you to not enter, so how about this: you enter, but the instant you use any fire powers, you concede and withdraw. Fair?"
Hanna's not happy with the suggestion. "What if I haven't faced Lilac?"
"The alternative is I suggest to the Leaders that you're becoming a danger to yourself and others."
"You wouldn't dare."
Rob maintains his stern look.
"…fine, it's a deal," Hanna relents. "But I'm not happy about it."
"I'm only doing it to protect you."
"I know."
The next day, before her scheduled training session with Leader Julian, Hanna heads to Shang Mu and submits her entry into the B‑MAC under the alias 'Fiona Asuna'.
That evening, the Scarves leaders once again convene in their private meeting room in the central tower of the compound to discuss this latest development.
"In accordance with my vow to be more proactive, I've convened this meeting to discuss a curious update on Hanna's situation," Julian opens. "After hearing that the three members of Team Lilac have accepted Mayor Zao's invitation to participate in the B‑MAC, Hanna has decided without consulting me or anyone else to enter under the alias 'Fiona Asuna'."
"Yet another example of her ill‑discipline," Aziza remarks, unimpressed.
"It wouldn't be the first time a Scarf has entered though," Lillith reminds.
"That was eighteen years ago, and in retrospect, it was a bad idea," Tracy recalls. "But then I would say that after losing the final in such an embarrassing way," she adds, blushing slightly at the memory.
"From where I was sitting, it was a pretty good idea," Lillith teases. "The headlines the following morning only made it more amusing."
"All I'll say is I'm glad I was wearing respectable underwear," Tracy replies. "But enough about my wardrobe malfunction; we must return to the subject at hand."
"Of course," Lillith acknowledges. "Julian, how has Hanna's training been progressing?"
"It's been smooth so far," Julian reports reassuringly. "Hanna has been surprisingly receptive when it comes to learning the mental exercises required to maintain control of her developing powers, and the speed of development of those powers is slow enough that she's easily keeping pace with them."
"How far have her powers developed so far?" Aziza inquires.
"Far enough to boil a kettle and dry herself without needing a towel, though not without considerable effort," Julian answers. "It'll be a long time yet before she begins to develop genuine pyrokinesis."
"While this report is reassuring to a degree, we cannot ignore the fact that we still know so little about how these powers develop," Aziza reminds. "Can we be sure that her powers will continue to develop at a constant pace? Can we run the risk of a sudden spike in abilities? What if such a spike happens during the B‑MAC itself? Can we risk the possibility of one of our own becoming a wild destructive force in the heart of Shang Mu?"
"All my research indicates that the risk is minimal," Julian assures.
"A minimal risk is still a risk," Tracy argues. "Given the potential severity of the possible fallout if it worst happens, I feel obligated to vote against allowing Hanna to participate in the B‑MAC."
"Me too," Aziza agrees.
"I feel otherwise," Julian states.
"I must admit, I'm curious to see just how well she can do," Lillith agrees. "Which leaves Kyung with the deciding vote."
For several moments, the tiger remains silent, absorbed in thought, the other leaders waiting patiently for his decision. "It will be a test of how much she has developed as a person," is his eventual reply.
"Three‑to‑two," Aziza sighs in defeat. "Very well: I accept the result of the vote."
"As do I," Tracy adds. "I just hope we don't come to regret it."
"We won't," Julian assures confidently. Well, I won't anyway.
