A secret Santa present to myself, because spite.
Story 77
All Roads...
A white mage takes a moment to catch her breath. When was the last time she had been able to go all out? Had to have been whenever you were last featured. Oh my. That was quite a while ago. Though, the same could be said about a bunch of other characters.
'Yes, yes, I'm aware, dear.' she thinks, staring into the greatsword's reflection. Such a beautiful blade, a shame that work had prevented her from letting loose. Which is why opportunities like this came only once in a blue moon. Perhaps that was why her opponent was so insistent on taking her on. Who was she to decline a duel from a queen of all people?
Staring further into the reflective metal, one can clearly make out a white jumper dress with a decorated red hem. Said hem had been given the triangle pattern treatment. A pair of peep-toe pump heels done up in white with a red underside hang to her feet. Complimenting her leggings, is that a garter belt I can just make out.
'I have no idea what you're talking about.' the white mage signs, her cheeks ablaze. Right on the money. Much like the pair of wedding rings on her left hand. The first was inset with jade. The second, was inset with a sapphire. Both are quite beautiful. Much like the fiery red hair and scarlet eyes that stare into the blade. Perfection in mortal form if you ask me. But I'm perhaps a touch biased in that regard.
Calming herself, a moment is taken to just get her hood right. Done up much like the dress, it doesn't need adjusting. Mostly on account of it being knocked off during the fight.
The white mage rolls her eyes, trying to mime a chuckle. Approaching the 'door', she signs a silent command. In turn, the protections in place that would very much stop her from destroying Neo Digia are lifted. Temporarily, of course. While normally not a problem, it still paid to be cautious. No telling what kind of threats are biding their time in the hopes of getting their slice of the pie.
"I didn't expect your employer to just be so fine with you dropping everything and coming to face me. Or is this just how the business is normally run?" a voice greets, the white mage's gaze bouncing about. In this rainbow-colored void, making out people was quite hard. Yet, her opponent was clear as day.
Dressed in what looked to be an expertly tailored violet lolita coord, it's a far cry from her traditional ballgown. A set of two black petticoats and a singular lavender petticoat served to provide some manner of contrast. Pink stockings snake down her legs, proudly displaying little feline faces leading right into violet peep-toe mary janes. A little pink ribbon has been placed on the back of the shoes, a far cry from the short violet gloves that cover her hands. A singular gray armband inset with amethysts of all gems hangs to her right arm, a far better sign of one's love than that of a collar. Lavender colored eyes stare out over the arena, making the locks of black hair hanging down a questionable choice.
'I got permission. That, and I had time-off I needed to burn through.' the white mages answers, taking care to not accidentally drop her greatsword. Getting a chuckle, out came a pair of butterfly swords. Relatively plain in comparison to the one holding them, they would do the job nicely here. Not that anyone would notice, the only witnesses being a pink-plated nekomata robot (a nekoroid) adorned in a massive poofy ballgown in the same color holding a video camera and a blackGatomon plush. Likely here to fulfill the black cat quota. Though, there was always the chance he could show up. Just because someone has taken a hands-off approach doesn't mean that they don't pop in to just see how things are going.
"Are both fighters ready?" the nekoroid announces, taking a moment to ensure that the camera is in fact on and that she is able to keep up with all the action her beloved and the woman she was facing could get up to here. Both women nod as they pull their weapons back. "Begin."
It's the white mage who gets the first move, swinging her greatsword into the queen and knocking her back. In retaliation, the queen kicks the blade away and charges for her opponent.
Dark Fryer!
Violet-colored flames engulf the blades of the butterfly swords. Slamming them into the white mage's weapon, it manages to force her opponent away.
Aeroja!
Launching up into the air in a massive tornado of wind by way of her signed attack, the white mage catches her breath. Staring down at her opponent, a wee smile appears on her face. Lasting only a moment, it's all that the queen needs to see here. Especially as the white mage returns to the ground of the arena. Swinging the sharp side of the greatsword, her opponent manages to catch it with ease.
"It's nice to know that our run-in a couple centuries ago did little in the way of dulling your skills." the queen announces, the white mage miming a chuckle. Nice as it is to have confirmation of that, doesn't change the fact that she has a fight to win. Or at least, look really good while losing. Either was good when you're raising money for charity.
'I would say the same about you.' she signs and knocks the queen away. In turn, her opponent responds with a kick of her own. Just managing to connect with the white mage's dress, it did little to actually knock her back. 'How's the wife?'
The queen rolls her eyes. Leave it to the person who theoretically had the power to look into people's mind through narration to just ask directly.
"Good. It's nice having someone to rule beside me. How about you? I trust your arrangement is still working well?"
The white mage nods, taking a moment to think her words over carefully. Not because she has anything bad to say, more keeping the amount of information to a minimum.
'Indeed. While the time shifts/reformating near the end of Ai & Cho's adventure made things difficult, we made it through.' she answers, just avoiding a series of swings from her opponent. In turn, she responds with a stabbing motion. Knocking the queen away before her blades can connect, the white mage follows it up with a ball of flame. Hitting her opponent a second time, the queen took the blast.
"Branching out now, are we? How cute." the queen announces as a grin forms on her face. Dashing for the white mage, she threw all her might into this one blow. Catching her by complete surprise, the queen sent her opponent flying.
'More of a loophole abuse than branching out.' the white mage counters as she stands back up. Miming a sigh, time is taken to compose herself. While a good blow, it had nothing on what she could do here.
Enlight!
Staring down at her greatsword, the white mage watches it gain a yellowish white tint. Lifting it back up, she charged for her opponent. Slashing at the queen, she can already see the enchantment putting in work.
Butterfly Stab!
Throwing her butterfly swords up into the air, the queen watched them come back down a couple seconds later. Slashing at the white mage's dress, she got treated to a slash at her own coord. Entirely justified here. She had played with fire here and it came back to bite her. Just the price you pay in this game.
'That one might have hurt.' the white mage taunts, getting in yet another slash on the queen. Not quite as effective as her last slash, that was to be expected here. Not helping matters was the cocoon of violet energy forming around her opponent.
Queen Victoria overdrive digivolve too… Selenemon!
The cocoon dissipated, bringing with it a woman dressed in a massive lolita ballgown. Intricate lace and frills lined every inch of the frock and petticoats, perfectly fitting with the moon cycle symbols around the circumference of the gown all the more fitting. Her heels gained a bit of height, a moon ribbon on the pumps just poking out from under the hem. Moving up to her hair, a moon fascinator hung in her hair.
'Pretty…' the white mage coos, gripping her greatsword all the tighter. Stepping back for now, she meets Victoria's gaze. Getting a chuckle from the black cat, she lets it slide.
"Quite a glow-up isn't it?" Victoria adds, her butterfly swords now floating at her side. Well within reach, the combos possible were near endless here.
Moon Inferno!
Lifting a hand to the 'sky', a large object shaped like the moon appeared. Rapidly heading for the white mage, she grits her teeth. No use in running, instead she braces for impact. That probably isn't how that attack normally works, but she lets it slide.
"Adieu." Victoria announced, watching the moon collide with her opponent. As overkill went, this was very much up there.
Chaos overdrive digivolve too…Chaosanamon!
Waiting a moment for the cocoon and everything else to dissipate, Victoria was treated to a mini shock wave. Weathering through with ease, her gaze shifts to where Chaos was no doubt standing. Instead, she finds her opponent floating in the air. Translucent butterfly wings have sprouted from her back, bringing with it a petticoat to slightly poof her dress out. Heels have given way to heeled boots, an aura of sparkly dust hanging over her.
Hopebringer!
Chains shoot out of Chaos's butterfly wings. Heading for Victoria, she tries her best to dodge the projectiles. While successful, she left herself open for a stabbing. Which is exactly what Chaos does here.
"I was wondering when you would bring your full power out.' Victoria announces and Chaos rolls her eyes. Nice of a compliment that it was, this was still a fight. Compliments could come after it was all said and done. Yes, maybe with some punch. That was always nice. Perhaps with some fresh cookies too.
'I could say the same about you.' she taunts, taking care to remain out of Victoria's reach as her opponent aims for her hood. Knocking it back, she responds with a punch to the stomach. Knocking Victoria down, she got a punch back.
Solar Flare!
Swinging her blades back and then forward, a large fireball shot forth. Heading for Chaos, she flew out of the way. Watching the projectile pass by, her gaze shifts back to her opponent.
Cleansing Blade!
Greatsword glowing once more, Chaos swings it into Victoria's body. Connecting with ease, a patch of white energy formed on her gown. By no means the most effective method of dealing with her opponent, it was a damage over time effect. Easily forgotten, until the moment where it secured her the victory.
Moon Inferno Stab!
Kicking Chaos to the ground, Victoria got to stabbing. While far less energy than that of the moon she had dropped on her opponent mere moments ago, it looked to very much hurt here.
'Hmph.' Chaos mutters as she pushes herself up. Knocking Victoria away, she stares down at her blade. There, a trio of blue lilies await. Scooping them up with ease, time is taken to pop them. In their place a single red lily appears.
Afflatus Misery!
Swinging her greatsword forward, Chaos watches the red lily disappear. Reappearing on Victoria's body, the flower explodes into a million pieces. Cutting Victoria up, she looked to be on the ropes. Which made it likely that she would go for broke here. Not that Chaos minds in the slightest. She would just have to do the same. But not before giving her opponent the chance. Couldn't end things so quickly, after all.
"Nice hit." Victoria announces and cracks her knuckles. Charging right at Chaos, what follows is a series of slashes, stabs and strikes. Pushing Chaos back, there was nothing in the way of walks or similar structures to pin the white mage against. Yet, she moved a chuckle and flew up into the air. Catching her breath, she stares down at Victoria.
Ultima!
A beam of energy shoots down, turning the normally nauseating sky a bright shade of white. A direct hit on Victoria, she floats down. Waiting a moment for the attack to end, a mimed sigh followed. Victoria had reverted back.
Benediction!
Restoring her opponent's health, the white mage helps her opponent up. Reverting back to her original form, the safeguards go back into place. Phew. Even with the benefits of no danger here
"Good fight." Victoria mutters as she meets Chaos's gaze here. Shaking her hand, her gaze turns to the camerawoman. "Are we good, Kuro?"
Kuro pokes her head from behind the camera. Giving a nod, her wife runs over. A kiss follows, their gazes shifting to Chaos.
'Happy to he-' Chaos signs, only to be cut off by the sound of her phone going off. Odd. That just happened to both of us as well. I wonder what this could be about…
Oh fuck. Yeah. That is far too calm for the severity of the situation we have on our hands.
"I'm guessing this is bad, but you can't tell us directly?" Victoria asks and Chaos nods. So much for peaceful days.
.
A woman slinks out of bed. This is not how she wishes to start her day, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to possible incoming disasters. Staring over the bed, it's such a shame that she couldn't get a bit more time with them. Yet, one spot remains empty. Try as that particular person might to hide the fact they were getting up, she knew.
"Just another day in paradise." she mutters, grabbing a bag she had set off for another day. Not even looking at her phone, the woman already knows. After all, all roads lead to Neo Digia. Like it or not, there is no rest for the wicked. And so the wicked must prepare…
Return to Neo Digia in Tales of the Returned
Some time in 2023, Post-Germinacide