SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 22 out, this is Chapter 23 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 23: Saint Elmo's Fire

Activating his 'Black Asta' form, Asta shot directly up towards the volcano, cutting down the lava beast, Borula before catching up to Yuno and Rhiannon. "Yuno." he grinned.

"Idiot." Rhiannon muttered, hovering over the boulder Yuno landed on as they watched Asta shoot up past them.

"I'm headed head-first into the lava." Asta panicked.

"You're not going to help him?" Charlotte asked her fellow Captain.

"There's no need." Yami shrugged. "The anti-magic overflowing from his body isn't heading towards the lava. It's headed straight to her fierce magic."

"Please run." Asta shouted, Mereoleona strengthening her magic aura.

"Run?" Mereoleona scoffed. "You fool. Among the lions, the females are the one who hunt. Fire Magic: Calidus Brachium." she slammed a flaming punch on Asta's face, sending him into a wall.

"Mereoleona-shishou is still as volatile as ever." Rhiannon giggled.

After everyone arrived at the summit...

"So, you're finally all here, you fools." Mereoleona barked. "The Ultimo Volcano becomes completely dormant at night. You're supposed to get here before that. At this rate, we're never going to win back first place. Those who couldn't make it up here before nightfall will try again another day."

"I made it here before the sun set, but I shall climb it one more time." Leopard declared. "No, a hundred more times and become even stronger than you, Sister."

"That's not enough." Mereoleona told her youngest brother. "Climb it 10,000 times."

"Yes, madam." Leopard responded.

"Now I give you all permission to soak in the hot spring." Mereoleona announced.

"Hot water came outta nowhere." Asta gawked as a powerful waterspout shot up from the crater.

"The analeptic effect of this hot spring is the best in our Kingdom." Mereoleona bragged. "But no one bothers to use it, so we always get it to ourselves. It's the best hole-in-the-wall you can ask for. All right, you fools. Take off your clothes."

"I will never let any man to see Sis's pure, naked body." Sol already had her Grimoire out. "Earth Magic: Mud Wall Cliff!" she split the hot spring into two parts.

On the women's side...

"The view's as nice as ever." Mereoleona remarked.

"The temperature's just right." Charlotte tested the water with a foot.

"Nothing beats having a drink while soaking in here." Mereoleona downed her sake in one gulp. "How about it, Charlotte? Have a drink with me."

"No, thank you." Charlotte refused. "I'll pass."

"Is my liquor too good for you?" Mereoleona pressed.

"She's a lightweight, Mereoleona-shishou." Rhiannon interjected.

"Then, I'll have some." Sylph piped in. "Despite how I look, I'm way older than all of you."

"Have you forgotten what happened the last time, Sylph?" Rhiannon reminded the Wind Spirit.

"Why are you floating like that?" Mereoleona twitched, Charlotte having passed out in the water for no apparent reason. "You didn't even drink anything. And that's how you are after one sip?" she noticed the unconscious Sylph in Rhiannon's palms.

"This is a decent bath." Noelle sank deeper into the water. "The stars are beautiful." she glanced up at the starry sky.

"Acier-sama also loved the view of the stars from here." Mereoleona informed. "She's the one who showed me this spot in the first place."

"What was my mother like?" Noelle asked. "No one will tell me about her."

"She was a strong woman." Mereoleona answered. "She would give me lessons quite often. I was undefeated in the battlefield, yet I was never able to defeat her once. It didn't even matter that my magical attribute had the advantage. The Steel Warrior Princess who would dance around the battlefield, Acier Silva. Her strength and beauty captivated everyone. And you look a lot like her; you're her spitting image. But your magical abilities aren't like hers at all. Your sloppy magic control makes it hard to believe that you're her daughter. Her magic was refined beyond belief and it had dignity. Your magic is so crude and unsightly, it's hard to believe you're royalty. That's why you must surpass her. You may look like your mother, but surpass her with a strength that's all your own."

"Wait, it's actually getting hotter?" Noelle gaped as the spring water started boiling.

"Earth Magic: Mud Wall Cliff!" Sol wasted no time in raising the 'Mud Wall Partition' height upon realizing the men on the other side were attempting to peep.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.