Standing before the mirror, Ferri blushed as she regarded her own reflection, and Phoebe's grinning face.
"...I look silly," Ferri mumbled, looking down at her hands.
"Nonsense! You look gorgeous! I knew you'd clean up nicely, but I must say, you're about the prettiest thing I've ever seen!" Phoebe laughed, putting a hand on Ferri's arm.
Ferri wasn't sure how to respond to that. Was her sister blind? In the mirror were two images: one of an angel, bright and beautiful, the other of a Gorgon, dark and foreboding.
"Ferri, talk to me. What's wrong?" Pheobe asked, frowning slightly. "You're not bein' down on yourself again, are you?"
"I just...you're far more beautiful than I," Ferri sighed. She looked down at herself, grimacing. Her dress was black, with silver embroidery. It showed off a lot more cleavage than Ferri was strictly comfortable with, though at least that meant she looked like a woman. Even with her shoulder length hair loose, she felt as though she were an unwomanly hulk, far form her gorgeous sister.
"Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I'm telling you, you're goin' to knock 'em dead, ya hear?" Phoebe lectured as she reached into the basket of clothes she'd brought over. "Now, I saved this for last. I don't think you need 'em, understand, but I know you're self conscious. So if you want, I got you these."
Phoebe drew out a pair of opera gloves, dark and elegant in black silk. Ferri gasped, grabbing the gloves and pulling them on. She looked down at her hands and smiled. She could not feel the silk, but at least her weakness was hidden.
"Now do you feel as amazing as you look?" Phoebe asked, reaching up to gently touch Ferri on the cheek.
Closing her eyes, Ferri pressed Phoebe's hand to her cheek and nodded, allowing a few tears to trickle down her cheek.
"Oh, there, there! Don't cry, you don't have to wear the gloves!"
"No, I...I like them. You're...you're too kind." What had Ferri done to deserve someone like Phoebe?
"You deserve it. I wish…" Phoebe sighed and smiled. "I wish I was as talented as you are."
"What? But, why? You're an incredible artist," Ferri protested.
Phoebe shrugged, turning away. "I can make pretty things. But what you make...they're incredible, Ferri. I'm half tempted to bring that sword you gave me."
"You should," Ferri blurted. She winced. "I, um, I made more weapons. For all our sisters."
"I do not believe my current garb has place for a weapon. I shall require one. As well as a place to store my tools."
Ferri and Phoebe both turned to find Dorn standing in the bathroom entry, frowning at them. Tilting her head, Ferri frowned at her newest sister, but Phoebe dove right in.
"Dorn, what are you wearing!?" Phoebe demanded in exasperation. "What happened to the dress I gave you!?"
"You stated this event was black tie." Dorn gestured to the black suit she now wore, complete with a black tie and black trousers. "I have complied with this requirement."
"Suits are for gentlemen! You're a lady! You need to wear a dress!" Phoebe cried, trying to push Dorn back into the bathroom.
"No." Dorn strode forward, nearly bowling the much smaller and petite Phoebe over. She was about the same height as Ferri, true, but even as muscular as Ferri was, Dorn was far more solid. She too had the physique of a physical laborer, with broad shoulders, and calloused hands Her skin was oddly pale for someone who had clearly spent most of their life laboring. LIkely due to spending her time beneath the ice of Inwit.
"What do you mean, no? You're not a lady? Of course you are, you're a princess!" Phoebe protested.
"I do not need to wear a dress; I need to wear a black tie. You were very clear about this," Dorn stated. Then she indicated her trousers. "Also, dresses do not have pockets. I like pockets."
"Me too," Ferri agreed. "But I'll wear a dress tonight." Then she picked up Forgebreaker, grinning. "But I'll carry a big hammer too."
"Wise," Dorn agreed.
Phoebe looked back and forth between her taller and bulkier sisters. For a moment, it looked as though she were about to have a breakdown. Then Phoebe took a steadying breath, looked to Ferri, and laughed. "Well, alright you two. I guess this is Dorn's party, anyway. I suppose she still looks...A-dorn-able!"
Ferri groaned softly, closing her eyes.
"Yes, I am Dorn," their sister agreed gravely.
Phoebe puffed out her cheeks in a mock pout. "Y'all just don't appreciate my refined sense of humor."
"If that's what you want to call it," Ferri chuckled. She bent and picked up a large box, offering it hesitantly to Dorn. "I...made this. For you."
Dorn took the offering, ripping the box open, and peering inside. She reached in and pulled out the massive chainsword within. Ferri had spent only a few hours on the weapon, but she was proud of it. It gleamed golden in the light, save for the red of the teeth on the blade.
"This seems sturdy. I accept it," Dorn said with a nod.
"Nice! It suits you! I'll just grab the Fireblade real quick. I've never gone to a ball armed before, but then again, I've never gone to a ball! First time for everything!"
Phoebe ducked out, and Ferri nodded to the weapon Dorn was studying. "I named him Storm's Teeth."
"The sword is male?" Dorn asked, frowning.
"Well...I think of all my weapons sort of as...my children. And...well...that one seemed like a boy," Ferri explained.
"Hmm." Dorn seemed skeptical, but didn't argue, which made Ferri feel oddly defensive. Normally she didn't talk up her own creations, but having someone ignore the names she gave them felt wrong. They were like her children, and she valued each of them.
"Alright ladies, shall we?" Phoebe called, grinning and holding up her scabbarded weapon. "We'll be dressed to the...hilt!"
"My weapon has a hilt as well." Dorn nodded to Ferri. "Her's does not. It has a haft."
"I'm just gonna keep makin' these until you smile, Dorn. You could say that you...haft too!" Phoebe laughed.
Ferri let out a groan. She had a feeling she was in for a cavalcade of absolutely horrific puns.
The three princesses took the elevator down to the regular section of the women's dormitory, then headed out. There were a few other girls making their way towards the banquet as well, and many of the whispered and watched as Ferri passed them. She blushed, looking down and clutching her burdens a little tighter.
"They're just jealous of how good we look," Phoebe told Ferri confidently. "Don't worry about it."
Self consciously, Ferri checked to make sure her hands were well concealed by the gloves. Everything seemed alright, but-
She paused, tilting her head to one side. What was that sound. "Phoebe, was there going to be music at the banquet?"
"Yes, the school orchestra is providing live music. Though I hope they'll be something a little more lively for the dancin'!" Phoebe replied .
"Not...not a metal band?" Ferri asked, turning her head towards the sound.
"No, why?" Phoebe asked. She paused, frowning herself. "Why do I hear-"
The roaring sound of an engine with no mufflers or sound dampening devices became audible, along with booming bass and screeching guitars.
"I do not think that is music," Dorn stated. "It more closely resembles noise."
Just then, a giant wolf shot out of the girls dorms behind them, bounding towards the hall. Ferri wondered what a wolf was doing here, but she had more pressing concerns.
"I don't know what that is, but it's not supposed to be here," Phoebe said slowly. "You don't think…"
"I think we need to get everyone back inside," Ferri said firmly, dropping her extra weapons and hefting Forgebreaker. "Because I think whatever that is, it's nothing good."
"I will remain here, and fortify this building," Dorn declared, turning towards the dorms. "You there! Fetch lumber, hammers, and nails!"
"Why, who are you?" one of the girls demanded, looking concerned.
"I am Rogal Dorn."
"Princess Rogal Dor! do what you're told!" Fulgrim ordered, and the confused girls scurried off. She drew her own weapon, flames igniting down the blade as she did so. "Right, Ferri. Looks like we got some work to do."
Ferri lumbered forward, breaking into a run. Phoebe was able to keep up, lighter on her feet despite her shorter legs. Ferri's hands tightened, her jaw clenched, and she listened as the sounds grew ever louder. She could just make out the sound of voices, shouting in unison.
KAWAAAAAAAAAGHHH!
"Greenskins!" Ferri snarled.
"Oh, phooey. I was hoping it was something simple," Phoebe muttered. She looked down at herself as she ran, then kicked off her heels and continued on. "I just hope I don't ruin my dress. I rather like it."
They just broke past the line of trees around the campus, when they found a massive column of vehicles roaring forward. There were fires where the guard posts were located, and the night was light up with the flames as well as the fires atop the vehicles.
At the campus entrance, several vehicles and pulled up, and hulking greenskins were unloading crates of something. Where were the campus guards? Dead in a raid?
"Y'ALL PICKED THE WRONG NIGHT TO CRASH MAH PARTY!" Phoebe screamed, and sprinted forward.
The greenskins looked up just in time for Phoebe to land among them, her sword moving in graceful arcs that left a blazing trail in the air. Three greenskins feel, dead from a single stroke.
"THE FLESH IS STRONG!" Ferri bellowed, and swung her hammer hard enough to reduce two greenskins to wet spears.
"OI! WE GOTS ERSELVES A FIGHT 'ERE LADS!" a particularly large greenskin shouted. "TO TO FINK WE WASN'T EXPECTIN' A PROPA RECEPTION!"
"It was a proper reception until you showed up!" Phoebe hissed, and skewered the offending ork through the chest.
Upon seeing the fight break out, all of the orks dropped what they were doing and rushed forward. Some had improvised weapons, a few drew knives or pistols, but most gleefully waded in with nothing but fists and teeth.
Ferri had fought many things in her quest to liberate Medusa from the techno-sorcery creations that had plagued it, but never before had she faced xenos. She found them to be stinking, foul things, but what offended her the most was the shoddy workmanship and slapdash nature of their weapons and vehicles.
"YOU CALL THAT A WEAPON!?" Ferri roared, slamming her hammer into an ork that had an axe that appeared to be made of sheet metal bound with baling wire to an old broom handle. "THIS IS A WEAPON!"
"Oi! We can see ya gotz da flashy choppa, but dis ain't fair, ya see," one of the orks protested. "We'z just got da scrapes picked up on da way, and no flash. Not hardly a proppa foit at all."
Snarling, Ferri threw her hammer with all her might, sending it into the engine block of a vehicle that was racing forward, the orks aboard all hot and bothered to get to the fight. To her surprise, instead of just wrecking the thing, the vehicle exploded as though it had been loaded with armed bombs and fossil fuels, setting many of its occupants alight.
"FINE! YOU FACE FERRI MANUS, THE IRON HANDED!"
Losing herself in the brawl, Ferri punched and pounded, until dozens of orks lay at her feet. She was vaguely aware that Pheobe was watching her back, cutting down any orks that tried to circle around behind her, but for the most part she was too angry at the the sheer audacity of the greenskins to come here.
"PHOEBE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DANCING!" Ferri snarled, punching an ork so hard she felt the greenskin's jaw crack.
"Well, der can be dancing, but first, you must be stopping da fighting! We are here to make friends, not to fight!" a jolly voice cried. The next thing Ferri knew, the biggest damn ork of the lot, with coal black skin and dressed in finer armor than the rest, and rushed towards her.
"You're the one who started the fighting, ork," Ferri snapped, and tried to punch the ork. To her shock, the massive beast managed to stop her blow with a deflecting palm, then it began to wrestle her.
"What? Is dis true? I said dat der was to be no fighting tonight!" the ork leader cried, turning to the other orks as Ferri struggled in their grip.
"No boss, dey started 'da fight, 'onest! we was jus sett'n up 'da gear like ya said, when dese 'umiez kame an started a scrap," one of the smaller orks said.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SISTER!" Phoebe raged, and Ferri managed to wiggle out of the grip. Fireblade plunged into the ork boss's heart, the blade hissing out the back of their chest.
"That's for ruining our ball," Phoebe snapped, then gracefully stepped back, removing the sword with a jerk of her hand. To Ferri's shock, there wasn't a spot of blood or even grim on Phoebe's dress, and her hair was still immaculate. How had she managed that?
"Da boss is dead!" one of the orks cried.
"BWAAHAHAAHAHAHAH~!" another ork, this one nearly as large as the recently slain one, jumped up on top of the smoldering vehicle. She was dressed in a leather harness, and wore her long purple hair in a long ponytail down her back. "DAT MEANS OI'Z DA BOSS AGAIN! YA HEAR THAT, LADS? GORGUTZ 'EAD 'UNTER IS BOSS O' DIS BAND AGAIN!"
"Yes, boss," the orks chorused.
Ferri took a step back, falling in to guard Phoebe's back as the orks closed in around them.
"Wot do we do wit da 'umiez, boss?" one of the orks growled, raising a rusty looking knife.
"Well, dey krumped da last boss. But, we'z is here to play, not foit," Gorgutz mused. The ork woman glared down at the two princesses. "Oi, 'umize, iz we still gettin' paid for dis gig? Ya krumped da boss, but we ain't playin' if you ain't payin'."
"You're...here to play?" Ferri asked incredulously.
"Dats roit. We waz followin' Vulkan 'coz she waz da biggest and da strongest, and had da best flash," Gorgutz confirmed.
"Y'all ain't here just to ruin our party and try to kill us?" Phoebe asked.
"Don't be a git. Orkz is made for foitin' an' winnin', but we'z KAWAAAAGH!, da flashiest, loudest, bestest band ya've ever seen," Gorgutz proclaimed. Ferri noted she did not say heard.
"Oh." Ferri glanced behind her at her sister, biting her lip. "We, ah, we might have made a slight mistake."
"Er, sorry about killing all your friends here, and your boss," Phoebe said, wincing.
"Wot, does gits? If dey got krumped by a couple a 'umiez deys deserved it," Gorgutz proclaimed, spitting to the side. "Now, iz wez gettin' paid, or iz we's gonna have a roit and proppa WAAAGGH?"
"Tak' yer waagh 'n' stick it up yer bahookie ye green skinned boot!" out of the darkness, Russ appeared, launching herself into the air with a feral grin on her face, a gleaming blade grasped in both hands.
"STOP! DER WILL BE NO MORE FIGHTING DIS NIGHT!"
Russ found herself tackled out of the air by the suddenly very much alive former ork boss. The air rushed out of Russ's lungs as she was body checked, then slammed into the ground.
"We are all friends here! And if you kill many more of my friends, how are dey to play for my sistahs and my new school friends?" the giant demanded.
Russ weezed something, but seemed too dazed to get up.
"Hey! Hands off my sister!" Ferri snarled. She didn't know Russ well, but seeing her manhandled like that didn't seem right.
"Wait, didn't I, ah, kill ya just a minute ago?" Phoebe asked hesitantly.
"VULKAN LIVES!" the orks cried, and stomped on the ground in unison.
"Ha! I was dead, but den, I got bettah!" Vulkan laughed. Reaching up, they removed their helmet, exploding gleaming white teeth in a dark but very human face. "Hello, new friends!"
"FREEZE, XENOS SCUM!"
And that was when Ciaphas Cain, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM, with Princess Russ and President Kittenus at his side, appeared at the scene.
"This is gonna be a mess, isn't it?" Phoebe groaned.
Ferri could only nod her agreement.