SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 21 out, this is Chapter 22 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 22: The Uncrowned, Undefeated Lioness
"The Crimson Lion Kings have only ever placed first or second and you have the nerve to ruin that by coming in fifth." Mereoleona continued her rant. "And just because my vacuous younger brother ended up bedridden? What are you, a bunch of infants?"
"Did she say younger brother?" Asta echoed. "Who's that?"
"Captain Fuegoleon." Rhiannon clarified.
"Then that scary lady is..." Asta gawked. "Captain Fuegoleon and Leo's older sister?"
"That nerve of that fool, Fuegoleon!" Mereoleona fumed. "How dare he raise a bunch of spineless cowards? He has the nerve to stay in bed and leave me with a bunch of useless fools like you? That fool isn't fit to be a Captain."
"That's not true." Leopold fired back. "Fuegoleon's a better Captain than anyone."
"He's right." one of the Crimson Lion King Squad members agreed. "Captain Fuegoleon taught us exactly what a true Knight should be."
"Not only is he strict, but he's more passionate than us and this Kingdom than anyone else." Gareth added. "He's the ultimate Magic Knight."
"You may be my sister, but I will not allow you to ridicule our..." Leopold snapped, only have Mereoleona slam a fist on his face.
"Then quit talking and show me your true strength." Mereoleona rebuked. "Show me that you're the ultimate Squad that's been led by the ultimate Captain. That giant fool would never die and abandon you or this Kingdom. Until he returns, you need to show me just how strong the proud Crimson Lion Kings are. While my vacuous younger brother is gone, I'll whip you all into shape myself. Where's your answer?"
"Yes madam!" the rest of the Crimson Lion Kings chorused.
"Mereoleona-shishou is in full force today." Rhiannon giggled.
"What kind of intense training is waiting for them?" Asta teared, deeply moved.
"All right." Mereoleona decided. "Let's go to our hot springs training camp."
"Hot springs?" Asta wondered.
"Ah..." Rhiannon nodded in realization. "That place."
"Sounds easy." Yuno shrugged.
"I heard that." Mereoleona cut into the siblings' conversation, turning Asta's head to face her with a fire paw spell. "You should come too."
"It's been a long time, Mereoleona-shishou." Rhiannon greeted her master.
"Yo, Rhia-chan." Mereoleona returned her greeting, "You're coming, too." she grabbed Yuno as well.
"There's no escaping once my sister has her paws on you." Leopold warned. "She's a hidden power who stayed behind the scenes only because she had no interest in fighting or politics. But if she were to fight, she's probably stronger than Fuegoleon. She's the Uncrowned, Undefeated Lioness, Mereoleona Vermillion."
"Let's see how strong you two really are, Rookie One and Rookie Two." Mereoleona smirked.
In a bar later...
"You seem quite pleased with yourself for climbing up the ranks just once." Mereoleona remarked, entering the bar where the other Captains had gathered in.
"Sisgoleon..." Yami stammered, noticing the flaming Mereoleona.
"Hey, Captain Yami." Asta chuckled nervously, having been dragged in with Yuno.
"You're coming, too." Mereoleona insisted, grabbing Yami. "You're coming, too." she reached for Charlotte as well.
"There you are, Stupidsta." Noelle poked her head in. "You need to come give Kahono and Kiato a proper send-off. Mereoleona-sama..." she stopped short, noticing Mereoleona.
"You." without hesitation, Mereoleona snatched Noelle. "Noelle, you're coming too."
At the foot of the Ultime-Volcano Mountain Trail...
"Just as I thought." Rhiannon noted.
"Let's go, you bloody imbeciles." Mereoleona barked. "This is a strong mana region known as the Ultime-Volcano. There's a volcanic belt laced with powerful mana deep underground and it spews lava constantly. This is a place that no ordinary person can set foot in. But at the summit, there's a splendid and revitalizing hot spring. Let us head to the summit. Quit dawdling and go." she kicked Asta and Leopard in.
What's with this heat? Leopard winced. The atmospheric mana's going berserk. My sweat glands are about to explode. It's hard to breathe too. My chest feels like it's on fire. We're supposed to climb an erupting volcano in this condition? That's impossible.
Both Asta and Leopard was stunned to see Yami and Charlotte rushing forward, having activated 'Mana Skin' to shield themselves from the blistering heat.
"Mythix." Rhiannon channeled her mana into the amulet of her Brisingamen torque, her ceremonial dress now transformed into an off-shoulder tutu dress; Freyja's feathered cloak also donned on her back as a pair of wide multi-layered wings.
"The Captains are amazing." one of the Crimson Lion King Squad members gawked. "The magma's doing nothing to them."
"More importantly, how are they able to move like that in a place like this?" Rokken asked.
"That's Mana Skin." Leopard recognized the technique.
"Continue gawking and even I will leave you gentlemen behind." Rhiannon teased and shot off after the two Captains with a flap of her wings.
"Bell, we're protecting Rhiannon." Yuno activated his Mana Skin and followed after Rhiannon.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.