Note: There should be some more excitement in this chapter. I'm really really excited to do the next chapters, I'll be introducing Zack's angel then. And trust me it'll be awesome. And his angel may be a little shocking. Were actually coming to an end of ATO but I'll try and stretch it out to a few more chapter after the ones I plan on doing next. Anyways, enjoy.
Sincerely,
-Ve1
"Did you see Hannah this morning? It's pitiful!"
"I know! She's worse then Allie."
"Too bad Allie's going to miss the award ceremony on the last day."
"I heard that Hannah was caught cheating against a bunch of people and now her Angel's being taken away."
"Well I heard that she's been secretly drugging her opponent before the match so that way they wouldn't be able to battle well."
"Wait! I heard…"
The rumors wouldn't stop. Hannah could only watch helplessly as the people who were once her friends spread horrible rumors about Sakura. I never did anything. Why are they saying such horrible things? On Thursday, the last day of school, she had walked home flopped down on her bed and cried. She had been doing this all week. Everything was going wrong.
Sakura had been confiscated and was being taken apart piece-by-piece to find anything that would help her cheat. Allie was out of school and had not been heard from since the semi-finals. Lance was packing up to go to college; even though she fought with him all the time she would miss her older brother. And to top it all off today was the day of the Finals, and there was no Sakura. So that was it. Sakura was gone, along with her dreams of being top dog. Worst of all, she broke her promise. The promise that she would be the best and that Sakura would be the best.
10: 30 am, Friday, Day of the Finals
Only about three and half hours to the Finals. Lance had woken up a few hours ago and had just left after he got a phone call. Probably from his girlfriend. His summer vacation had begun on Monday so it was okay he left at seven fifteen in the morning driving to who knows where.
Hannah was lying on her bed, thinking about all the battles she and Sakura fought. The time they met Lulu, how Sakura brought her and Allie closer together. Sakura won against Rose despite the odds. Sakura spun gracefully on the layer, dancing like an angel, even against the odds. Sakura. But Hannah had been controlling Sakura, which made the Angel even more important.
I'll never play Angelic Layer again. Not without Sakura. We're a team and if I fight with another Angel that's like betraying my Angel. My friend. I'll never- tears welled in her eyes, but it was something other than the fresh round of tears that disrupted her thoughts. Lance was back.
"You kiddo. Ain't 'cha going to the Finals?"
Hannah rolled over so her back faced him, "No. I'll never play Angelic Layer again!"
He rolled his eyes, "That's too bad. You did a pretty good job on that stupid doll. You can make another, better one. Can't 'cha?"
"No! I said I'd never play Angelic Layer again! Not without Sakura!"
Her brother sighed and closed the door halfway. Hannah heard him go down the hallway, but heard him come back, "Here. Think fast." He threw something at her.
It was a pink haired Angel. A familiar pink-haired Angel. It was Sakura, "SAKURA!" Hannah hugged the doll.
"Hurry up and get dressed. You'll be late if we don't go soon. I'll drive."
Before the girl could thank her brother he had already left the room. She hugged the Angel again, "We'll battle really hard Sakura! Now that were a team again!"
Hannah rushed over to her drawer and pulled out a red sleeveless shirt and some white colored, baggy pants and dressed herself quickly. She picked up her angel card, Sakura, and a twenty-dollar bill putting it all in a small red backpack. The girl brushed her teeth, hair and washed her face before running out to her brother's truck. The two zoomed away, Hannah couldn't stop smiling, Lance would have smiled but he didn't want Hannah to get all mushy.
"Ladies and gentleman! Welcome to the Finals!" the announcer welcome the huge audience who roared. "Are you ready to fight!" this was a rhetorical question but the crowd answered 'yes' anyway. "Alright then! You've seen these ladies battle to the very last hit point. Now we'll see who rises to the top! Our finalists are: Kira Robins! Allie Sullivan! Nina Parker! And Hannah Leonhart!"
As the announcer called her name an individual light fell over each girl. "First up, Nina Parker versus Hannah Leonhart!"
Hannah and Nina stepped forward to the layer, but it was completely dark. It was impossible to see the layer. "These young ladies will also have the honor to be the first American girls to use… THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAYERS!" the light over the layer finally turned on. "The environmental layers bring new challenges. Some play towards your strengths and some work against you. Angels! It's time to show your worth in the face of an uncertain layer! The layer for this math will be… Fog Hill!"
The layer was very misty like he said, it was hard to see. The layer was also uphill, like the announcer had said also. The field was grassy and looked wet, Hannah wasn't sure if this would play towards Sakura's strengths.
Nina was tall, probably a sophomore in high school. She was a Latin America looking girl too. Very pretty with long super curly dark hair and bright brown eyes. "Angels to the Layer!"
Hannah turned on her headset and let Sakura fall in, "May whatever it is that guides us guide you now Sakura." Hannah mumbled. Sakura landed softly on the grass, looking at it strangely. Hannah squinted to try and see Nina's angel but the layer was too large and too foggy.
"Angel Riku! Angel Sakura!" the announcer was able to see both Angels from his seat, "Angelic Fight!"
There was an eerie silence. Like a wind howling in the background. The fog seemed to become even thicker as the moments passed. The Deus tensed, if she couldn't see Nina's Angel how was she supposed to attack?
Sakura looked from left to right, she glanced up and down. But there was nothing she could see. There was a rustling sound nearby; she took her normal battle position, which was crouching low to the ground. Ready to spring and twirl away at a moment's notice. The pink-haired Angel seemed ready, but a blow that struck her right under her jaw proved Sakura wrong.
She barreled backwards landing near the edge. How? Who? Could Nina see through this fog? And so silently? Sakura opened her eyes, there stood an Angel that stood so much taller than she was it was like comparing a gnome to Shaq. Of course that was kind of exaggerated.
Angel Riku had long silver hair tied in a braid that dangled down to her waist. She had piercing blue eyes and wore a silver dress. Silver, metallic boots were laced up to her mid thigh and almost met the end of her short dress. She wore gloves like Sakura except they were more ornate and decorating with sea foam colored ribbons. The sharp heels on her boots added only more to her height.
The balance Angel had this look of terror, but under her circumstances it was hard not to be. Nina said something across the layer that Hannah managed to make out, "I thought you would put up more of a fight than this." Riku grabbed Sakura's wrist and dangled her in the air, dangerously close to the edge of the layer. Nina was clever; Riku was holding Sakura in such a way that if she moved it was bye-bye Saku.
Sakura squinted her eyes, looking like she was waiting for the end. Instead the silver angel threw Sakura over her shoulder effortlessly. The balance Angel landed on her side. A little more than one fourth of her hit points were deducted.
Okay Hannah, think. Why are a lot of her points being deducted when Riku doesn't even seem to be trying? She stared at the enemy Angel, studying her height, body type, etcetera. Wait! Riku has an emphasis on Power! So Sakura could be knocked out of the layer easily. And her hits must cause lots of damage. But if Riku has a maximum emphasis on power… She grinned, then her defense was lowered dramatically!
Sakura stood up, taking steps back as Riku stepped forward. "What's this? Is Sakura running away from Riku!" the announcer watched the battle. Hannah was ready to carry out her plan, but the fog became a lot thicker. Sakura and Riku disappeared in the fog. Both Deuses leaned forward, trying to see through the fog.
How did Nina do it before? She could see through the fog. Hannah looked around hoping for an answer. The crowd roared, but they weren't watching the layer. They were watching a special screen set up for the audience. It was in something like night vision. Hannah looked at this screen and they could see Riku and Sakura! There were two screens, one on each side of Nina and Hannah so the audience could watch. Nina is watching the screen so she can see Sakura! We'll just have to se this to our advantage.
Hannah watched the screen, Riku was moving slowly through the layer towards Sakura. She was about a foot away and closing. Just a little closer…she thought. Riku was now in Sakura's kicking range. The pink haired Angel swung her leg up and landed a blow on Riku with all her power. The silver angel recoiled backwards dropping onto one knee. A little less than half her hit points were deducted. Nina looked horrified, Hannah looked excited, and Sakura just took her battle position.
The Deus and Angel didn't give Nina and Riku any time to think. Sakura jumped forward, spun and landed struck another blow this time from above. Riku barely managed to scrape by with only about two hit points left. She fell on her back and didn't move for a while. "Oh no! Riku suffers death from above by Angel Sakura! Is this the knockdown?"
Indeed it was. She was able to move her hand slightly, but otherwise Riku was unable to move. Nina held her hand above her head; this was the American symbol for forfeiting a fight in Angelic Layer. The crowd gasped, "Nina Parker and Angel Riku have forfeit! But Riku is unable to stand anyway. Victory once again goes to Hannah Leonhart and Angel Sakura!"
The hill and fog disappeared. In time for everyone to see Sakura jump off the layer into Hannah's hands, "Thank you for holding in there Sakura."
Nina, who looked mortified, took Riku out of the layer, "You tried…" she whispered. The other Deus and Angel ran over.
"I'm so sorry Nina. Is Riku okay?" Hannah asked.
"Yeah." Nina nodded, "Riku had a maximum emphasis on power, so her defense was greatly lowered. That's why whenever you hit her she lost a lot of points. It was a great match." The girl held out a hand that Hannah gladly shook.
The crowd applauded both girls. "What a match! Next up is Allie Sullivan versus Kira Robins!" the announcer called, Kira and Allie appeared. Allie tried to look happy by smiling but you could tell she was miserable. Her usually bright brown eyes were dull, and her peachy skin was dull. Her hair had grown a little and went past her shoulders, but it was messy and didn't have its usual sheen.
"Angels to the Layer!" the crowd exploded again with more excitement than ever. While the two Deus were getting set up the announcer started talking away. "Allie Sullivan also known as the "Princess of Power" also taught Hannah Leonhart how to operate Angel Sakura. Lulu and Allie have lost only one battle ever and are feared by Deuses across the nation.
Kira "No Fear" Robins has an incredible record too. She and her Angel Kiba have a perfect record, she's already brown the Point Bank! Her nickname "No Fear" is an understatement. Kira Robins seemingly fears no opponent and keeps her cool throughout the entire match!"
Angel Kiba and Angel Lulu were placed on the layer. Kiba was taller than Lulu, built heavyweight also. She had long navy blue hair, with cold eyes to match. She wore a long dark blue, silky robe with a wolf design on the back. Her cord was a long navy blue cord attach to a hair ribbon. Want to give a wild guess at what color that was too? Her shoes were a lot like long sock that reached up to mid thigh. Everything else was impossible to see from under the robe. Kiba stepped under the light and her robe started sparkling like stars in the dead of night.
Kiba was more amazing than Lulu. "Angel Kiba, Angel Lulu. Angelic Fight!" the crowd became quiet, watching the battle closely. Both Angels took a running start, both had amazing skills, both were strong. This one hit would decide the winner.
Allie coughed, Hannah could hear. Lulu slowed down as Allie coughed, her Deus was losing her focus now but was hanging in there. Both Angel's pulled their arms back and both punched the other right in the chest. Allie coughed again, she opened one eye to watch. The Angel's fell forward landing on their stomach's.
The computers started calculating the damage. There was a beeping noise. The computers were done. Kiba: 1 hit point left, Lulu: 0 points.
"Victory Kiba!" cried the announcer as Kiba slowly stood up, which came as a shock to Hannah. How can she stand after that! Her Deus must be strong. Hannah came back to Earth as she looked over at Allie. Her friend had gotten her Angel, but was now on the floor herself. She was on her knees, looking more miserable than ever.
The audience noticed too and gasped, "ALLIE!"
Angelic Layer Pay-Per-View
Sakura vs. Kiba
Speed/Balance vs. Power/Defense
Comeplete opposites is one word for Sakura and Kiba. But can this be to each of their advantages? Order now to see the battle that everyone is going to be talking about!