V: Bear Down

Marine would lead Blaze to an abandoned arena dug into the dirt. She leaps down inside of it making her way to a tunnel only to be cut off. "I forgot how fast you can be."

Blaze unsheathed her claws. "Interfering with the affairs of the Sol Empire is considered treason, Marine. You know this as well as I do."

"Yes, but right now you're not thinking clearly." She attempts to engulf her in water only to be struck head on.

"The Sol Empire is at the mercy of an armed mercenary! I won't hesitate to remove any and all obstacles." She raises her hand forming a fire ball only for it to suddenly dissipate. "What?"

Gale stood at the edge of the arena holding her bow. "You've let the Dark Flame corrupt you, Princess. Much like your father before you." She leaps down into the arena. "This cannot continue."

Blaze would then slam her fists down on both sides of herself igniting the arena forming a ring of fire. "You won't last five minutes." She steps out of the fire ring.

The bear stood up aiming her bow in all directions. "Damn. I can't hear anything over the fire sounds, and they're forming a smoke cloud thick enough to mask any scents." She began firing blindly.

The Princess would swoop in striking her each chance she got. "Give up! You won't stop me!"

Gale stood her ground as she kept firing.

"You're only wasting your munitions." She strikes her down against harder than before.

"I refuse to submit to corruption." The bear would then swing her claws to catch the princess off guard.

Blaze would appear above her head and strike her down from below. "Too easy."

Gale looks up at her slowly getting back up. "Is that what you think?"

The feline ignites both of her fists and charges down only to suddenly be blocked.

Francis held her at bay with his sword. "Forgetting something?"

"You can't defeat me."

Gale nods in agreement. "No,…but she can."

Blaze would then be engulfed in a massive water bubble.

Marine was manipulating the water to keep her friend from escaping. "This is for your own good." She closes her eyes as she began to use her power on the feline directly.

Blaze was struggling as her body would twist and turn in the mass of water. She would slowly stop resisting as her eyes revert back to their golden color.

Francis looks closely. "It's working!"

Marine kept going as she witnessed her friend's fur revert to its lavender color and the red highlights disappear entirely.

Blaze would be fully reverted back to her normal state as the raccoon releases her from the water.

Gale inhales deeply. "I no longer smell the flame."

Francis approached the feline helping her to her feet.

Blaze bows to the two of them. "I must apologize for my abuse of power."

"Don't worry. It wasn't your fault."

Gale's ear twitches as she heard gunfire. "Favre. He's closing in."

Marine turns seeing him in the distance. "What is he holding?"

Favre was making his way to them holding what appeared to be a flame thrower.