Vibrant green fire clashed with violent scarlet, sending earthquake-like tremors vibrating through the platforms of the in-between realm that Ambrosius had created.
Neo clenched her teeth as she spun and flipped effortlessly, using her semblance to distract and disorient Penny. It was more of a challenge than she'd expected, although certainly not what could be called difficult. Penny was an inexperienced Maiden, and it was also quite clear that she was still struggling to adjust to her newfound human body. She moved quickly, but clumsily, sometimes swaying and nearly falling as the blasts of rocket-like green fire beneath her feet kept her mobile even in the air.
"Why didn't you just learn your lesson?" Penny was shouting at Cinder, her eyes still blazing as she sent a fresh torrent of magical swords in the direction of her fellow Maiden. When there was no answer from the figure rocketing toward her, she stared in horror as it shattered into shards of pink glass.
Neo smirked. That was almost too easy.
"I have learned my lesson." Cinder smiled, an oddly warm smile that didn't match the calculated flames licking around her right eye. "I have a friend, and I spared her life. But you? You let your friends die."
Penny stared at the Maiden, pale with horror and rage. A growl tore from her throat and she lunged forward in the air, hurtling toward Cinder as a burst of green essence exploded from her hand.
Suddenly, just as Penny was about to collide with the Fall Maiden, the image shattered again. An agonizing pain pierced through her shoulderblades; something altogether new and horrible to her. A cry escaped her and her aura shattered in a burst of emerald green. Even though her Maiden powers were unattached to her aura, Penny staggered in pain and the fire left her feet, sending her reeling to her knees on the center platform.
For a few seconds, Penny sat there limply, gasping for breath as she gradually became aware of the fact that something unnatural was protruding from between her shoulderblades. The back of her creamy white blouse was wet with blood. She tried to stumble to her feet, to summon an orb of green essence again to defend herself, but her stamina was gone.
Slowly, footsteps approached her. Penny didn't need to raise her head to know that the high-heeled black leather boots belonged to Cinder Fall. The woman responsible for Ruby's death, and all of her friends', as well. For the first time in her life, Penny felt a rush of something hot and violent, uncontrollable. She felt hatred.
"You took everything from me," Penny seethed, feeling her breaths become more labored as blood seeped into her clothing. "The Maiden power won't be yours too. It won't!" She sent a sudden and final blast of green flame in Cinder's direction, knocking the older Maiden backward slightly in surprise.
"R-Ruby," Penny whispered, desperately focusing all of her attention on her dearest friend. Every detail of Ruby that she'd memorized, she chanted back to herself as she inched her wounded body backward, closer and closer to the edge of the platform. Ruby's silver eyes gleaming with happiness, her delighted laughter, her warm hugs that smothered all darkness out of Penny's heart. Ruby had to be alive. She had to be.
Penny sucked in a breath and tipped backward off the edge of the platform.
A lone figure rushed to the edge a mere second later, blade outthrust and ready to stab in defense of Cinder. Penny's wide green eyes connected with a pair of brown and pink ones. Neopolitan.
Penny gasped and reached out blindly in the darkness as she felt a rush of heat flow out of her body.
N-No..