Strawberry was the first to wake it. The harsh rays of the sun gently brushed against her face, the warmth woke her up.
Today is the day they head to Altera, Strawberry was really happy. She happily stood up from her sleeping bag and checked out the windows.
It looked about, 6:00. Midnight wasn't up and depending on when Rena normally woke up, Yumi wouldn't be awake until 7:00.
Strawberry looked at her dimension witch uniform and sighed. It was a bit torn and frayed, the dress part of her uniform was the only wearable thing.
Strawberry sweat dropped, she smirked and whispered under her breath "I think it's time for a redesign."
She started with the gloves. Using her magic, Strawberry made her gloves a light, light pink. They had darker pink cuffs with white edges on the cuffs.
Next came her top. She made the purple dress a hot pink, close to the pink on her glove cuffs. The dress was now a strapless top, now. How would she fix this?
Hn. Strawberry made the white piece of fabric that normally served has her coat, the same color as her top. She made them two triangles that led in to one triangle on her back. She passed it over her head and fixed the fabric on her neck, it was uncomfortable because it wasn't being held up.
She growled and made a sort of collar for her self out of silver and put a golden plate on the metal. The plate read 'Strawberry' other than not having to sign her name out anymore, the collar held up the fabric on her neck. Strawberry used the excess gold to great arm bands that held up the strapless tank top.
Next was the skirt, she simply put hot pink fabric that faded to black and put a light pink fabric that surrounded the skirt and ended in diamond tips, all the same color.
She had light pink socks that reached just below her knees and lightly studded hot pink ankle boots with black heels and black edges.
She sighed and looked in the mirror. Her. Hair. Was. A. Mess!
Strawberry groaned and brushed out her hair. She was going to miss her ponytails, so Strawberry put her hair in to smaller ponytails on the top of her head that took up her two side bangs. She tied red ribbons around them and smiled.
Strawberry looked out the window again and saw it was about 6:45, Yumi was due to wake up soon.
Strawberry held her star shaped jewel in her hand and wished with all her might for it to add the finishing touches to her costume.
It added a black piece of fabric that stretched around her waist and her star stone now appeared where the two triangles meet.
She heard a whistle behind her, "Woah, you clean up nice Strawberry."
Strawberry whipped around to see Yumi, still with bed head and a cloudy look in her eyes. She nodded and smiled at Yumi,'Thanks.' Strawberry signed.
"Listen Strawberry, I said some things about you and I'm . . . sorry." Strawberry stared at Yumi, when did she say bad things about her?
"I found someone who I could pick on like the other elves used to do to me."
Strawberry blinked at Yumi and opened her mouth.
We came here to run it, run it, run it
We came here to run it, run it, run it
Just like fire, burning up the way
If I can light the world up for just one day
Watch this madness, colorful charade
No one can be just like me any way
Just like magic, I'll be flying free
I'mma disappear when they come for me
I kick that ceiling, what you gonna say?
No one can be just like me any way
Just like fire, uh
And people like to laugh at you cause they are all the same, mmm, mmm
See I would rather we just go a different way than play the game mm, mm
And no matter the weather, we can do it better
You and me together, forever and ever
We don't have to worry bout' a thing, bout' a thing
We came here to run it, run it, run it
We came here to run it, run it, run it
Just like fire, burning up the way
If I can light the world up for just one day
Watch this madness, colorful charade
No one can be just like me any way
Just like magic, I'll be flying free
I'mma disappear when they come for me
I kick that ceiling, what you gonna say?
No one can be just like me any way
Just like fire, fire, fire
Run it, run it, run it
We came here to run it, run it, run it
So look I came here to run it
Just cause nobody's done it
Y'all don't think I can run it
But look, I've been here, I've done it
Impossible? Please
Watch, I do it with ease
You just gotta believe
Come on, come on with me
Yumi stared at Strawberry with wide eyes, she had never heard her talk, much less sing. Yumi tearfully smiled at Strawberry and hugged her. "Thank you."
Strawberry hugged her back and they stayed like that for a few minutes then Yumi let go and said in a hushed whisper. "Why don't we give Midnight a rude awaking." Strawberry tilted her head. 'Wouldn't that be rude though?'
"Well yeah that's why it's called a rude awakening." Yumi said not catching on to the pun.
"Don't bother. Berry's singing woke me up." Midnight said from his sleeping bag.
"So then, lets all get ready to go to Altera!"
~0~
"Ugh, why are we going to Altera again?" Midnight groaned.
"To help the Pongos."
"UGGGH."
'Be quiet.'
"YOU BE QUIET!"
'I CAN'T SPEAK!'
". . . Fair 'nough."
~0~
Strawberry smiled at the elf and knight, they went well together . . . Almost like Aisha and Elsword. She wondered if they would turn out the same way; she felt a tinge of an unknown feeling when she said this.
Strawberry found herself glaring at their backs, she'd figured out what the new feeling was. She was jealous and hated both of them in that moment.
Rustling in the bushes brought her attention away from the lovebirds. There was most definitely something there.
"Hello?" She called out her voice scratchy, it hurt her throat a tad but she was fine.
The bush rustled a little more and out walked a boy around her age, maybe two years older, with black hair, that greatly resembled Raven. Huh. Must be one of his descendents? Maybe.
"Excuse me are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He said trying to get up but ultimately failing.
"Look over there! We'll cover this area!" called a voice from farther in the bushes. "He's injured, and won't be able to fight back."
"Oh no . . . You're being hunted aren't you . . .?" Strawberry said and leaned down to where he fell. She put his arm around her neck and helped him up. "We gotta get you outta here." Strawberry began walking, slowly but surely.
"Over there! Girl! What do you think you're doing! That is a mercenary leader!" Strawberry started to run, as fast as she could with the man hanging on her shoulder.
"Argh!" She tripped over a tree root. Strawberry grimaced and crawled back to her knees. The man landed close to the roots and was leaning against the tree. She casted a quick camouflaging spell and started to tend to his wounds.
He was injured badly, but there was only a few wounds; They were really bad though. Strawberry quickly casted the healing spell then gave him her last healing potion. "That was the last potion." she sighed, then waited for his HP to get to 100%.
~0~
Crow's eyes opened slowly and he was amazed. He thought for sure he'd be dead already. Because, let's be real here, who would help a mercenary leader? I mean really, no one would.
Crow looked up at the sky and saw it was night and he suddenly realized that he was safe, but not for long, the Velder knights will come for him sooner or later.
He tried standing up but realized he couldn't 1) because it hurt a lot. 2) A girl was laying down on his legs, asleep. She wore a white jacket with purple lining and a pink skirt with pink pieces of fabric surrounding the hot pink skirt, she had light pink knee-high socks and ankle high pink and black boots.
A piece of pink hair fell out of her hood, So she has pink hair. Thought Crow and shook her awake "Oi. Wake up." The girl groaned and sat up, the hood fell off her head and it was confirmed that she had pink hair.
"Oh! You're awake! I'm Strawberry, why were those people chasing you?" she said, her voice seemed to be almost scratchy, like she was forcing herself to talk.
"Crow . . . ? and it's none of your business." He said half glaring at her. Strawberry huffed and pouted at him like a child. "Well I guess because you're all healed now I can leave," she said in her scratchy voice.
Standing up, Strawberry waved to Crow as she left. Crow growled under his breath, "I'm coming with you. A man leaving a girl to survive in the wilderness alone? That's just straight out rude." She laughed as this comment. "C'mon then."
~0~
Midnight set the wooden dummy on fire. He was trying to let out his anger, Midnight hadn't even noticed that Strawberry was gone. What was wrong with him? Normally he notices things like that.
Yumi had set out to find her but, so far she hasn't found, assuming that she hasn't come back yet anyway.
Yumi suddenly, walked out of the bushes shaking her head. Midnight growled used a fire rune on the already charred training dummy.
"Come on, we have to have dinner. Can't have no energy when we help the ponggos tomorrow." Yumi said and went to lay down in her sleeping bag.
He frowned then followed her lead and laid down in his sleeping bag.
~0~
Midnight and Yumi were to 'deactivate' the old nasods in the plains.
Midnight was starting to think that doing this wasn't such a good idea.
Strawberry has been gone for a few days, they had searched for her the day after she became missing, then yesterday. Today, Yumi told Midnight to give up, if she wants to, she'll come back.
"Pheonix Talon!" Cried out Midnight as he buffed himself and took out the 4 nasods beside him. "Evoke!" called out Yumi as she slashed a few nasods in half and the other 4 were 'deactivated' by Evoke.
The battle continued as this, until they arrived at the end of the plains. Both teenagers figured that the battle would be easy and anything sweat causing would be avoided, after all, the other nasods were easily beat, even the mini-bosses; Even though they had some trouble.
What they didn't figure was that both of the mini-bosses would be the bosses. Midnight was blown backward from a fire wave and Yumi was frozen then dropped to the ground.
Both teenagers were defeated, they would die here. The one that had blue on it and froze Yumi advanced towards Midnight and lifted it's arm up to deliver the final blow.
"Maximum Cannon!" A male voice called out and then there was only one boss left. "Strawberry you got that one?!" The voice called. 'Wait Strawberry?' Thought Midnight.
"Assaulter Strike!" called out a voice that sounded like Strawberry. The nasod that was about to kill him was cut in half with a red, silver, pink and black line, then fell apart and short circuited. "Strawberry . . .?" asked Midnight slowly as the dust cleared. Strawberry slashed her sword down and resheathed it.
Strawberry nodded at Midnight and smiled. Smiled. She had a little bit of blood on her. The ponggos had mentioned a mercenary band that grouped up. But . . . Noway . . . Strawberry . . . Did she?