BowSong: Diary of the Star Archer part 12
Edward's challenge was like a slap in the face. A very major one. It left me a time and a place to finally showdown with the thing I hated most. If there was no way to avoid this, then it would have to be this way, I decided. In two weeks, I show down with what I consider the ultimate evil.
My focused attention for the next few days was on honing my skills, and laying battle strategy. Unfortunately for me, none of the strategies I would normally use could be, as I was unwilling to place any of the other scouts in danger of being attacked by Edward. That left me alone to play the hunter... until the next day, at an emergency meeting.
When we gathered at Rei's temple that night, there was a definite aura of fear coming from everyone assembled. We had no idea what all Edward was capable of, but we all knew well what the other Scouts are capable of, and after explaining some of my fears of vampirism to the others, we now had greater reason to fear, although it was Mitaiyoko who summed it up fairly well.
"You mean to tell me, Gary, that by him having bitten them, he may be able to CONTROL them? This is insane, we can't destroy him and our friends!"
"Mitaiyoko, I was actually anticipating this. Now, if you'll shut up a minute so I can finish explaining my plans, I can tell you how I have planned to deal with this. Now let me explain..."
That was all the further I got before I got this sense of trouble, confirmed by Exor as he came swooping in.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and all those not counted, we have trouble. I sense a lot of dark energy coming into the area, and fast. Transform, we have company!"
After a very hasty transformation, a defensive ring was established by everyone we had with us, and not soon enough. As soon as we were in place, there was a small force rushing our position.
The defensive ring did not hold, as everyone was separated slightly to attack, and then broken apart. The pyrelings, Edward's main cannon fodder, were on us like a swarm of locusts. Fortunately enough for those of us who had weapons, they were almost as easy to tear through as a tender steak. The scouts, though not armed with weapons, had an easy enough time nonetheless. A few minor scratches and cuts were suffered, but the Pyrelings were not the extent of the force. As soon as they were dispatched, the real attack began.
"Mercury Bubbles... BLAST"
No sooner than the command words were said, than a thick mist began to spread across the field, and my suspicions of the taken scouts being enemies were confirmed. I started to call out commands on the battlefield. Leader or not, I still had some experience with combat, and I would be damned if we lost this skirmish due to poor tactics.
"Everyone, be on your guard! There are only 4 rogue scouts, and I'm not sensing any more Pyrelings. That leaves 5 enemy units on the field. Sailor Mars, what can you do about steaming away this mist?"
"I'll see what I can do... Fire Soul!"
The fire burst helped clear most of the field, as we attempted to regroup. As soon as we got back into sight range of each other, we tried to coordinate a bit better, but it didn't work. Venus' Love Me chain whipped through our ranks, sending some people flying, knocking others over, and in general making all of us lose the combat advantage. When we tried to recover, the 4 rogue scouts swooped in, and ran off, and we soon figured out what happened.
Another two scouts were missing. Mars and Aquarius were taken in that last moment of battle. No sooner than we realized this, than Edward's laugh echoed across the field.
"I told you, Misfit, you have no hope of defeating me. I'm simply reminding you of the necessity of my little challenge. I'll add my terms now. If you win, I will release the captive scouts. Lose, and you know what will happen to you, but all of those people you're trying so hard to defend will die again as well. I hope that's incentive enough. Ta."
With that, his laugh echoed again and died out. Our attention turned to those we had left on the field, and decisions of what was to be done.
"Tonight confirms it. We have a very serious issue on our hands. Our enemy is very strong, and we have little hope right now, but we still have hope. Everyone, be as cautious as you can, and try to stay together as much as you can. He can take us as individuals, but as a team we can defeat him with little problem. From here out, personal safety is priority one.."
Mitaiyoko chose this point to interrupt me. "And just why are you telling us this? Why isn't our 'leader' telling us this? Or is that bakabrained Princess of yours too busy crying to take charge? Maybe I should do it for her..."
I snapped, and just walked away from her. I abandoned them for the moment, because I hate infighting, it's the main reason why I never wanted to go to any orphanages, there's more of it than I can handle. I went home, and tried to ignore the outside world. I got some sleep, and that was that.
The next morning, I woke up to someone pounding on my front door. It was Hikari, and she was almost frantic when I finally answered the door. Two more were taken during the night, Haruka and Michiru both, and another note was left at their apartment. It was addressed to me, and there was no mistaking who had written it, or how.
Edward had advanced the time tables. giving me another three days before the showdown. If that is how it was to be, then so be it. I would be ready for him, or I would die in battle. 'This is how these things go,' I figured. 'The hero, the villain, the final confrontation. Man, did I really end up all-out in this superhero shit. The only thing I'm missing is the cute girl in distress.'
As soon as I calmed her down, and she was on her way, I went to prepare, wishing like hell that Rift would show up again soon...
A/N: Okay, okay, I wrote it finally. I know it's been forever and an age, but hey, you get busy sometimes... anyways, usual disclaimers of ownership apply here. Next chapter will be interesting, but I have no idea when the next one is coming. Until that unknown time, ja ne!
Edward's challenge was like a slap in the face. A very major one. It left me a time and a place to finally showdown with the thing I hated most. If there was no way to avoid this, then it would have to be this way, I decided. In two weeks, I show down with what I consider the ultimate evil.
My focused attention for the next few days was on honing my skills, and laying battle strategy. Unfortunately for me, none of the strategies I would normally use could be, as I was unwilling to place any of the other scouts in danger of being attacked by Edward. That left me alone to play the hunter... until the next day, at an emergency meeting.
When we gathered at Rei's temple that night, there was a definite aura of fear coming from everyone assembled. We had no idea what all Edward was capable of, but we all knew well what the other Scouts are capable of, and after explaining some of my fears of vampirism to the others, we now had greater reason to fear, although it was Mitaiyoko who summed it up fairly well.
"You mean to tell me, Gary, that by him having bitten them, he may be able to CONTROL them? This is insane, we can't destroy him and our friends!"
"Mitaiyoko, I was actually anticipating this. Now, if you'll shut up a minute so I can finish explaining my plans, I can tell you how I have planned to deal with this. Now let me explain..."
That was all the further I got before I got this sense of trouble, confirmed by Exor as he came swooping in.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and all those not counted, we have trouble. I sense a lot of dark energy coming into the area, and fast. Transform, we have company!"
After a very hasty transformation, a defensive ring was established by everyone we had with us, and not soon enough. As soon as we were in place, there was a small force rushing our position.
The defensive ring did not hold, as everyone was separated slightly to attack, and then broken apart. The pyrelings, Edward's main cannon fodder, were on us like a swarm of locusts. Fortunately enough for those of us who had weapons, they were almost as easy to tear through as a tender steak. The scouts, though not armed with weapons, had an easy enough time nonetheless. A few minor scratches and cuts were suffered, but the Pyrelings were not the extent of the force. As soon as they were dispatched, the real attack began.
"Mercury Bubbles... BLAST"
No sooner than the command words were said, than a thick mist began to spread across the field, and my suspicions of the taken scouts being enemies were confirmed. I started to call out commands on the battlefield. Leader or not, I still had some experience with combat, and I would be damned if we lost this skirmish due to poor tactics.
"Everyone, be on your guard! There are only 4 rogue scouts, and I'm not sensing any more Pyrelings. That leaves 5 enemy units on the field. Sailor Mars, what can you do about steaming away this mist?"
"I'll see what I can do... Fire Soul!"
The fire burst helped clear most of the field, as we attempted to regroup. As soon as we got back into sight range of each other, we tried to coordinate a bit better, but it didn't work. Venus' Love Me chain whipped through our ranks, sending some people flying, knocking others over, and in general making all of us lose the combat advantage. When we tried to recover, the 4 rogue scouts swooped in, and ran off, and we soon figured out what happened.
Another two scouts were missing. Mars and Aquarius were taken in that last moment of battle. No sooner than we realized this, than Edward's laugh echoed across the field.
"I told you, Misfit, you have no hope of defeating me. I'm simply reminding you of the necessity of my little challenge. I'll add my terms now. If you win, I will release the captive scouts. Lose, and you know what will happen to you, but all of those people you're trying so hard to defend will die again as well. I hope that's incentive enough. Ta."
With that, his laugh echoed again and died out. Our attention turned to those we had left on the field, and decisions of what was to be done.
"Tonight confirms it. We have a very serious issue on our hands. Our enemy is very strong, and we have little hope right now, but we still have hope. Everyone, be as cautious as you can, and try to stay together as much as you can. He can take us as individuals, but as a team we can defeat him with little problem. From here out, personal safety is priority one.."
Mitaiyoko chose this point to interrupt me. "And just why are you telling us this? Why isn't our 'leader' telling us this? Or is that bakabrained Princess of yours too busy crying to take charge? Maybe I should do it for her..."
I snapped, and just walked away from her. I abandoned them for the moment, because I hate infighting, it's the main reason why I never wanted to go to any orphanages, there's more of it than I can handle. I went home, and tried to ignore the outside world. I got some sleep, and that was that.
The next morning, I woke up to someone pounding on my front door. It was Hikari, and she was almost frantic when I finally answered the door. Two more were taken during the night, Haruka and Michiru both, and another note was left at their apartment. It was addressed to me, and there was no mistaking who had written it, or how.
Edward had advanced the time tables. giving me another three days before the showdown. If that is how it was to be, then so be it. I would be ready for him, or I would die in battle. 'This is how these things go,' I figured. 'The hero, the villain, the final confrontation. Man, did I really end up all-out in this superhero shit. The only thing I'm missing is the cute girl in distress.'
As soon as I calmed her down, and she was on her way, I went to prepare, wishing like hell that Rift would show up again soon...
A/N: Okay, okay, I wrote it finally. I know it's been forever and an age, but hey, you get busy sometimes... anyways, usual disclaimers of ownership apply here. Next chapter will be interesting, but I have no idea when the next one is coming. Until that unknown time, ja ne!