A/N: Happy 10th Anniversary, Symphogear!
A space shuttle was on a crash course straight towards Earth. There was a burning hole in the wing, smoking with flames. Sector Two was doing their best to try and fix the situation.
"The projected crash site is near Ulaanbaatar. It's a highly populated area!" Fujitaka reported.
"Any word from the UN Security Council?" Genjuro asked.
"We've been attempting to get in touch through the Interior Ministry and Cabinet's priority channels, but no response so far!" Aoi said.
"Don't tell me they mean to turn a blind eye!" Ogawa said.
"Connerie!" Jeanne cursed, slamming her fist into a wall. "How did it come to this…?"
"Pieces of the Frontier remain floating near a Lagrange point in orbit." Genjuro recalled. "A UN research unit was dispatched to retrieve heretical technology, along with Professor Nastassja's body…"
"But of all times, during their return, they suffered a system malfunction." Ogawa finished.
Jeanne's hair fell over her eye. Did this mean… Mom wouldn't ever be coming home…?
"We've got approval!" Aoi shouted, as the notification hopped on screen. "The Security Council has conditionally permitted us to act outside our jurisdiction!"
"All right!" Genjuro shouted, punching a hand into his fist. "Let's show these pencil-pushers what we can do! Fujitaka!"
"Way ahead of you! I've already calculated the trajectory!" He said, before pressing a few buttons at his station. What appeared to be two missiles launched from Sector Two's headquarters.
"Recheck all systems and try to adjust our trajectory to an uninhabited area!" The older astronaut in charge said.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?!" The younger astronaut said, before another explosion shook them up even further. He then paled upon seeing the radar, which reported two missiles aimed at them. "They're shooting us down?!"
The older astronaut simply closed his eyes in acceptance. "I suppose they have no choice."
"Don't worry! You'll be fine!"
The older astronaut looked at the communications, where the young voice came from.
"So don't give up on living, okay?"
(Insert RADIANT FORCE by Aoi Yuuki, Nana Mizuki and Ayahi Takagaki)
The first missile opened up to reveal the Symphogears within them. Chris created two massive rockets, upon which Hibiki and Tsubasa landed. The second missile opened to reveal the agents of SOUL, surprisingly in space with only their uniforms. Chris fired her missiles, launching Hibiki and Tsubasa forward, before creating one for herself. Rui was propelling herself with the flames created by Kagutsuchi a la Iron Man, while Shuri hitched a ride with Maia on Takemikazuchi.
Tsubasa was struggling to keep her balance on one of the missiles, but had a smirk on her face nonetheless. "These things are as wild a ride as Yukine herself!"
"Then show me how you can handle me, senpai!" Chris said, flying in behind with no balance issues.
Shuri just gave Maia a stare.
"I didn't do anything." Maia said, before looking at her hand. She still couldn't believe that she, Shuri and Rui were in space, the only equipment being their weapons. Turns out, Ryoko had devised the protective barriers to also act as makeshift space suits too. This let them survive in the vacuum of space, though it was still admittedly a bit chilly.
"UCHUUUUUUUUUUU KITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Rui shouted, throwing her arms in the air with a huge grin on her face that was almost unnerving.
"Well, she's having fun." Maia commented. "Guess the thinner the air, the crazier a person gets. Then again, it's not everyday you can go to outer space."
"I should've brought a jacket." Shuri said with a shiver.
Hibiki and Tsubasa had drawn closer to the ship, before kicking off the missiles to make their landing. Tsubasa landed gracefully with several flips, while Hibiki took the more powerful approach and anchored herself by punching through the hull.
"Tachibana!" Tsubasa shouted.
"Got it!"
The two of them braced against the ship, before having their Symphogears create rocket boosters to slow down the descent as they re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
"Boarding successful!" Aoi reported. "Deceleration confirmed!"
"Projected crash sight recalculated!" Fujitaka said. "They're on course to the Karakoram range!"
From their cell, the FIS trio watched it unfold, as they too had access to the communications. Kirika had her hands knitted together in a praying position.
"Mom…" Shirabe said.
"Please save her, dess…" Kirika prayed.
Chris and SOUL had also managed to land safely, as Chris joined the other two in slowing down the ship. Despite their weapons being far weaker, both Rui and Maia also used their weapons' booster features to try and help as well.
"Checking in." Shuri said into the comm links, while keeping an eye on the others. "What's the current status?"
"They won't be able to slow down enough in time!" Shuri received from a Sector Two member. "Collision with the Karakorams is unavoidable!"
"Can't they at least get inside and save the pilots?" Ogawa asked.
"But then Mom…" Shirabe muttered.
"...can't come home!" Kirika finished.
Both Maria and Jeanne looked away.
"Negative." Shuri said. "That would go against the mission in the first place."
"Yeah, that's not an option!" Chris added.
The former members of FIS looked up.
"The dignity of the deceased is just as important to protect as the lives of the living." Tsubasa declared.
"Plus, I'd feel kind of bad if we didn't give her a proper burial and stuff." Maia added. "We don't want her to body to go up in a fiery blaze or-"
"Shut up, partner." Rui said.
"Professor Nastassja gave everything to defend our world." Hibiki said. "It wouldn't be right to deny her the chance to come home!"
"You never…" Shirabe said.
"...do things halfway, do you?" Kirika finished.
"Damn it, I could never match your spirit." Maria said, while Jeanne smiled.
"We can't stop them from crashing into K2 though!" Aoi said, as the alarms blared.
"Under one kilometer until impact!" Fujitaka reported.
"I have a plan." Shuri said.
"You do?" Maia asked.
"Oneesama!" Shuri shouted. "Weaken the potential crash sight!"
"You got it!" Chris yelled, before running at Rui. "Get ready, Chuunigure!"
"Wait, what are you-?" The older Tachibana twin was cut off, as Chris jumped at her and wrapped her legs around her head. Her Symphogear changed in shape, until it created half a dozen massive missiles.
MEGA DETH SYMPHONY
They all launched at the mountain, before splitting into hundreds of smaller missiles. Every single one of them embedded the mountainside, before exploding and creating a massive plume of dust.
"Now, Hibiki-san!" Shuri shouted.
"Knock its block off!" Chris added.
Hibiki nodded, before her fist grew far larger, and she took a leaf out of her sister's book with the shout.
"OREYAAAAAAAH!"
She punched right through the mountain, making a clean cut where Chris's weapon had damaged it. The space shuttle made it through, before the mountain tip landed back on itself.
"K2 is now only the third highest mountain in the world!" Fujitaka reported.
"The shuttle is proceeding with an emergency landing!" Aoi added.
"Are… are we just going to ignore the damage done to one of the tallest mountains in the world?" Jeanne asked, though she got no answer from Genjuro and Ogawa.
The space shuttle had managed to land on the slant of the mountain, and was rapidly sliding down towards a range of trees. Tsubasa drew her sword and made it increase in size, snapping apart trees like they were toothpicks.
"Get off me!" Rui tossed Chris off her, and was left breathing heavily and blushing.
"Did you have fun, partner?" Maia asked with a cheeky grin.
"Shut up!"
They had managed to clear the trees, and Hibiki punched the cliff wall they were nearing, propelling the ship in the other direction.
"The next one's on the left, Tachibana!" Tsubasa informed her.
Hibiki punched away at it as well. Tsubasa slashed away a few more of the cliffs in the way, while Chris shot them up. Shuri was using Okami's ice detonators to try and guide the ship whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Chris blew up one last chunk of rock in their way.
"Alright, we're home free!" Maia said.
"Now we just have to get to the bottom!" Hibiki said.
"Oh, son of a BITCH!" Rui cursed, before pointing down at their landing site.
They all looked down and paled.
"A village?!" Chris shouted.
Hibiki grit her teeth, before jumping off the shuttle.
"What are you doing?!" Tsubasa shouted.
"Are you nuts?!" Chris yelled.
Hibiki landed right in front of the shuttle, pushing against it with all of her might.
"That's not gonna work!" Maia yelled. "Get out of there!"
"I don't think she will even if anyone orders it." Shuri said, seeing Hibiki keep pushing.
They ended up crashing through a few (thankfully evacuated) buildings, and were tearing through the streets.
"Tachibana!" Tsubasa shouted.
Rui jumped down though she landed right next to her sister. She supported Hibiki from behind.
"You idiot!" Maia shouted, as stabbed her swords into the ship to lock herself in place. "You're not strong enough to match Hibiki's strength!"
"I'm not trying to!" Rui yelled, igniting her feet in flames.
The moment right before the shuttle could crash into a larger building, Hibiki created more leverage on her legs, as Rui hooked her feet underneath the shuttle's tip.
With powerful roars, they managed to completely throw the shuttle skyward, just over the last building. It ground against the roof, but that was enough for the astronauts aboard to activate the landing thrusters, letting the shuttle land upright on the thin gap between the building and the river.
Chris and Shuri were hanging onto Tsubasa and Maia, who were dangling from their swords. Chris and Shuri let out sighs of relief.
"Mission complete." Tsubasa reported.
"Well… that was fun." Maia said.
Back at Sector Two, everyone was letting out breaths they didn't realize they were holding in. Relief and joy was flooding those initially from FIS.
The Kazanari and Yukine twins got off the shuttle and landed by the Tachibana twins, who were both lying on the ground.
"Are you two alright?" Tsubasa asked.
Hibiki was laughing, while Rui was grinning.
"Did you two hit your head or something?" Chris asked.
"Listen partner, I did say you should try smiling more, but now you're starting to terrify me." Maia said.
"It's nothing." Hibiki said, as her laughter slowed down. "I'm just so happy for the miracle that let me wear a Symphogear!"
Rui chuckled, before sitting up. "I'm just glad I could help my sister, as always. Also, I can't believe I actually went to space..."
"You two are both hopeless, huh." Chris asked.
"Well, at least everything managed to turn out fine." Shuri said.
"Actually." Rui stood up. "I need to ask something."
She turned to Chris, a bit of irritation on her face as the hints of a blush made their way to her cheeks.
"Chris, do you mind explaining to me why you decided to give me a faceful of your crotch back up there?"
Chris started to blush as well, while Hibiki and Maia snickered. Shuri kept her hands over her ears while Tsubasa sighed.
"I-It was a heat in the moment thing!" Chris said, coming up with an excuse. "You were the closest leverage I could've used…"
"I'm sure you both enjoyed it." Maia laughed.
The last thing the older Kazanari saw were two fists coming straight at her face.
Three months had passed since that day. Fujitaka was at the base, looking through the files of the shuttle recovery. He didn't notice Aoi walking up with a cup of coffee.
"Here." She said. "It'll warm you up."
"Well, it does feel warm." He said, taking the drink. "I didn't expect this from you."
"You don't have to say it like that." She said, a little annoyed, before looking at the reports Fujitaka had been reading. "It's been three months since they saved the shuttle."
"And following that, Sector Two was reorganized into S.O.N.G., a new task force under direct UN oversight." Fujitaka remembered. "We're now tasked with disaster relief all over the world."
He looked at the new insignia on his outfit.
"I'd be happiest if we had no more major incidents until we retired, though." He said.
Almost as if the world was conspiring against him, the lights dimmed as an alarm went off. Aoi quickly ran to her monitor.
"Unknown signature detected near part of Yokohama!"
Right before they could try and track it down, the signal disappeared.
"Signal lost?" Fujitaka asked, reading the alert on the screen before turning to Aoi. "Contact the Commander right away!"
"Roger!"
A small figure garbed in a black and purple hoodie was running for their life. She was keeping a tight hold on some sort of box, and dodging several shots. She tripped, but managed to quickly recover and take cover behind a phone booth, breathing heavily. She looked at the container she was holding, which was encrypted with odd languages.
Dvergr Dáinn's legacy… I must atone by delivering this before it's too late.
Standing up, she continued to run, not knowing her pursuer was standing atop a nearby roof, hot on her heels.
"The subdued approach doesn't suit me." The odd figure said, contorting her body. "So next time, I'll put on a show."
Rui yawned as she walked past the gates of Lydian with Hibiki and Miku. The sun was beating down on them.
"Did you not get enough sleep?" Miku asked her.
"I did." Rui said. "I'm just kinda bored. And it's too damn hot today..."
"Well, things are about to get a little more exciting." Miku said, as Hibiki spied a certain someone.
"Chris-chaaaaaan!" Hibiki called, running at her for a glomp…
WONK
...only for the girl to receive a heavy dope smack courtesy of Chris's schoolbag.
"I'm older than you, and your senpai at school." Chris reminded her. "You should be setting a better example for these two!"
She gestured to Kirika and Shirabe, who were watching with mild interest. Shuri was standing next to them, sighing at her sister's actions.
"Well, I think you should set an example by not giving my sister any more brain damage than she already has." Rui said, gently rubbing the sore spot on Hibiki's head.
"Hmph." Chris looked at Rui, before she remembered something from a while ago. "Oh, and before I forget."
"Wha-?"
WONK
The others paled, as Rui also got a dope smack from Chris's schoolbag, though her reaction was different.
"The fuck was that for?!" Rui shouted, hand on her head.
"That's for spinning that terror tale to Maria about how I met the dummy and senpai!" Chris shouted. "I can't believe you told her that!"
"I just told it like it was!" Rui said.
"You weren't even there when I stepped on senpai's head, Chuunigure!"
"Well you just admitted it! Also, stop calling me that!"
"Maybe I might if you call me senpai!"
Rui flipped the bird at Chris, who responded by flipping it back with both her hands.
"This is exactly why Maria-san asked me to help watch over Kirika-chan and Shirabe-chan too…" Shuri said quietly.
The others all sighed or laughed as the two started to bicker. They decided to ignore them for now.
"Good morning, Shirabe-chan, Kirika-chan." Miku said.
"G-Good morning."
"Good day to you, dess!"
"They don't care about the heat, huh?" Miku said to Hibiki, before they looked down and noticed that Kirika and Shirabe were holding hands.
"Wow, you really don't care about the heat, don't you?" Hibiki said, leaning forward and looking closer.
"Shirabe's hand is always so nice and cool that I can't help myself, dess!" Kirika said.
"And I feel the same way about your soft upper arm." Shirabe said, pinching it. "I can't get enough of it."
"Wow, really?" Miku said. "Let me try!"
She reached forward and pinched Hibiki's upper arm.
"Yaaaaah!" Hibiki cried out at how ticklish her arm was as Miku kept squeezing. "Quit it! Stop! Quit it! Stop! Quit it!"
Rui and Chris had stopped arguing to see this unfold.
"May I?" Chris asked, her face growing red.
"I'm about to barf, so go for it." Rui said.
WONK
With that, Chris smacked Hibiki in the head again with the schoolbag. "Get a room, you two."
"Good thing that you stopped it Chris, I was about to throw up." Rui said.
"Is what we do disgusting to you?" Miku asked, a bit offended.
"No, it's that what you two do is so sweet that you're going to kill me with diabetes." Rui answered. "I know your friendship is unbreakable, but it's a goddamn sugar overdose everytime I see it."
Shuri could only watch everything happen as the others walked into the school in twos, with her walking behind Chris and Rui. She wondered if she should try pinching Maia's upper arm when she comes back.
"The parent-teacher-student meetings about our career choices are right around the corner." Shiori said, as she and the others relaxed by the school pool.
"Ugh, don't remind me." Yumi groaned. "I wish they'd talk to my papa instead of my mama about my grades, but no such luck."
"Who's coming for you, Bikki?" Kuriyo asked.
"My grandma, I think." She responded. "I don't have a father, and my mom works on Sundays."
"So I'll assume that she'll be there for Tachibana-san too." Kuriyo said, looking across the pool to see Rui stretching by the lanes.
"There are a lot of people like that, though." Miku said. "It's not uncommon for both parents to be busy."
"Is your grandmother the understanding type?" Shiori asked.
"Otherwise, with your grades compared to your sister, you'd be in trouble…" Kuriyo said.
Hibiki simply dove into the pool, splashing them. She came up for a breath, smiling. "I'd rather swim than worry about that! We'll be staying up late tonight, so it'll be easier to nap in advance if we get some exercise now! Wow, sometimes even my own resourcefulness shocks me!"
While the other three joined her, Miku frowned. "You're just acting cheerful though…"
Miku looked across the pool to see Rui beating several other students in a swimming race.
"At least Rui has her options open."
Later that day, Hibiki was punished by the teacher for falling asleep in class.
"So… why does this have to be at my place?" Chris asked, carrying a tray of cups to the snack table. Her friends were all sitting around the place in their pjs. The TV was showing a crowd surrounding a stage.
"Sorry for barging in so late with so many of us." Shiori apologized.
"The time difference with London is eight hours!" Yumi said.
"This was the only way we could watch the Charity Rock Festival live." Kuriyo added.
"Also, Shuri offered." Rui said.
Chris looked at her sister, who apologetically waved.
"Sometimes you're too nice for your own good, Shuri." Chris sighed.
"I'm so glad we have a senpai to rely on!" Hibiki said. "I mean, it's Tsubasa-san's dream to be singing on stage there tonight!"
"Cheering for her together…" Chris smiled. "It's the least we can do, right?"
"And taking the stage with her…" Miku said.
"Is Maria." Shirabe finished.
"The Queens of Music are back together, dess!" Kirika cheered, as the performance started.
(Insert Seiten Galaxy Cross (TV Size) by Nana Mizuki and Yoko Hikasa)
The spotlights lit up the stage, revealing both Maria and Tsubasa as the song kicked in.
Idenshi reberu no
Indipendento
Zetsubō mo kibō mo
Idaite
Agake inochi tsukiru made
Hikari to shibuki no Kiss
Koi no yō na
Niji no bāsudei
Donna utsukushiki hi mo
Nani ka umare
Nani ka ga shinu
Semete utaō
I love you
Sekai ga hidoi jigoku dato shite mo
Semete tsutaeyō
I love you
Kaihō no toki wa kita
Hoshi furu
Ten e to
Hibiki tobe! Ribati songu
Stardust!
Soshite kiseki wa matsu mono ja nakute
Sono te de tsukuru mono to… hoero!
Namida shita kako no nigami wo
Rekuiemu ni shite
Sei aru zen no chikara de
Kagayake Future world
Shinji terase
Seiten gyarakushi kurosu
The amazing, stellar and beautiful performance finished, as Maria and Tsubasa waved to the crowds. Tsubasa in particular was waving a lot wider, and smiling.
Yumi was waving the glow sticks and laughing. "I can't believe my friends saved the world with those two! It's just like an anime!"
"Y-Yeah, it sure is." Hibiki laughed.
"I wonder if Maia-san's happy, seeing Tsubasa-san like this." Shuri said to Rui.
"Knowing that dumb partner of mine, she's probably crying like a bitch." Rui smirked.
Maria stood as the stage elevator slowly dropped, as two agents were waiting for her.
"Mission well done." One of them said.
"Keeping a close watch on your idol, are you?" Maria asked.
"It's for your own protection." The other said. "There are many out there who would wish harm on the hero who saved the world."
"And all those that try would probably get their asses kicked." Came a voice.
The two agents turned around, before a water bottle went flying past them. Maria caught it with one hand.
"I'd recommend that you two step back a bit and give the lady some space." Maia said as she stepped forward. "Maria can protect herself fine and probably better than you two clowns ever could."
"Why you-"
"Oh I'm sorry." Maia held up an ear. "Is that the sound of a dipshit that doesn't want to keep his little guy downstairs?"
The agent said nothing.
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
"Maia." Maria said.
"Great performance out there, Maria." Maia grinned. "I was crying like a bitch watching you out there with my little sis."
Maria smiled as the two walked. The two agents slowly followed them from behind, though kept at a fair distance. Maria was glad that there was at least a familiar face to back her up.
Back with the others, after the performance hype had died down for most of them, Shirabe and Kirika recalled just why Maria had performed. Yumi, Shiori and Kuriyo were still distracted by the performance to overhear them.
"In order to resolve the incident involving the fall of the Moon and the re-emergence of the Frontier, Maria was taken into custody." Shirabe said. "In order for the adults to save face, she became a literal idol."
"That's not it." Miku said, as the others looked at her. "I think what she's really trying to save is us. She wants us all to live on smiling happily, just as we have been."
"Miku…" Hibiki smiled.
"That's… wow, that's pretty profound, Miku." Rui said.
"Yeah, that's right, dess!" Kirika said.
"That's one reason we have to cheer for her as hard as we can." Shirabe said, as Kirika nodded.
Hibiki, Rui, Chris and Shuri's phones all went off, as a transmission from Genjuro came in.
"Go ahead, Commander." Shuri said.
"A huge fire has broken out in the seventh district. The firefighters can't handle it on their own, assist them."
"Roger!" Hibiki said, standing up. "We'll be there right away!"
"Hibiki?" Miku asked.
"We'll be fine!" Hibiki said. "Just gotta save a few people!"
"We're coming…"
"With you guys!" Shirabe and Kirika said.
"You two hold down the fort here!" Chris said. "You're not fighting out there without LiNKER! Shuri, Chuunigure-"
In the split second the others had looked away, Rui and Shuri had already donned their SOUL uniforms. Shuri slid Okami into its special pocket on her jacket, while Rui had placed Kagutsuchi on her waist.
"So if Maria's fighting to protect our smiles, we gotta do the same for everyone here." Rui said, tightening her gloves, before punching a fist into her hand.
"Right, let's go." Shuri said.
Rui nodded, and the two ran out of the room. Hibiki and Chris stared after them for a few moments, before running after them.
"How do they do that?!" Hibiki asked.
"Why are you asking me?!" Chris shouted back.
Shirabe and Kirika were pouting the whole time as the others left.
Maria, Maia and the two agents walked through a room with shelves of mannequins, all of them garbed in costumes and outfits. When they reached the halfway point of the room, a breeze kicked up… despite the fact that they were inside.
"Wind?" Maia said, taking out Takemikazuchi in its cube form. Maria took up a stance, as did the two agents behind her, pulling out their guns.
"Is someone there?" Maria called.
"Through back-room deals and manipulation of the media, the Frontier incident was swept under the rug." Said a voice. "And here is its tainted hero, Maria Cadenzavna Eve."
"Who are you?" Maria shouted.
Maia's eyes traced the rows and rows of mannequins, before she looked up and saw unnatural movement above one of the agents.
"Move!" She shouted, as Takemikazuchi unfolded into two broadswords.
One of the mannequins dropped from the shelves, before pulling an agent into a kiss. The man's eyes were full of panic, as he struggled to break free.
"Get away from him!" The other agent shouted, aiming his gun at the "mannequin." His threat fell on empty ears, as the "mannequin's" eyes glew green. The man she was kissing turned completely bone white, life devoid from his eyes as she let go and let his body slip to the floor.
The other agent fired three bullets, but the "mannequin" swung her green skirt, creating an aura of wind. It deflected the all three bullets, two of them burying themselves into the man's shoulder and head, killing him instantly. The last one nearly hit Maia, but she managed to deflect it with her swords.
"Okay… a succubus mannequin was not what I was expecting to see today." She said.
The "mannequin" tapped her heels twice, before she raised an arm, while keeping the other hand raising her skirt. She had struck a pose that resembled a matador taming a bull.
"Without your Symphogear, you are worthless to me." She said, before she rushed forward. Maria grit her teeth and held up her fists.
But Maia was there first, shoving her shoulder into the "mannequin" and pushing her back.
"Forgetting someone?" Maia asked.
"Maia Kazanari." The "mannequin" said. "The sister of the sword."
"I'm flattered you know me." Maia said, holding up her blades. "But just as Tsubasa's sister? Kind of lazy if you ask me. Gimmie a badass title like you did for Maria."
"You think "tainted hero" is a good title? Really?!" Maria asked, exasperated by Maia's laid-back and almost childish attitude.
"I'm kinda insulted that the succubus sex doll didn't give me one, yeah!" Maia shouted, as she deflected an attack. "Hey, come up with something cool while I protect you, 'kay?"
Maria sighed, as she kept out of range of the fight. I really wish that Rui and Shuri were here to reign you in.
By the rapidly growing flames was a small scuffle. The little hooded figure from earlier was still running, her pursuer still on her heels.
"Dance for me. Or shall I make you?"
She flung several coins from her fingers, peppering the ground around her target. One of the coins pierced a car engine, causing it to explode and send the hooded figure flying. She landed hard, but got up and kept running. She didn't realize someone was watching her run, but was distracted by watching the flames grow stronger.
The SONG helicopter flew towards the disaster, as the girls inside were being briefed on the situation.
"We've completed our evacuation of the area." Genjuro said. "However, we're still reading multiple life signs in the building."
"Don't tell me there are people still in there!" Hibiki said.
"They must've been sealed in by the fire doors." Genjuro deduced. "What worries me more is that the fire seems to be worsening."
"Could there be someone behind it?" Chris asked.
"An arsonist, huh?" Rui said.
"Hibiki-kun, Rui-kun focus on saving the remaining people. Chris-kun, Shuri-kun, confirm what's exactly going on there."
"Sibling teams. Roger that." Shuri said.
Maria backflipped out of the way, as the "mannequin" had drawn a sword, and was using graceful swings to fight. Maia tried slashing at her foe from behind, but it was like trying to interrupt a dance, as the "mannequin" dodged every one of her attacks. The "mannequin" slammed its blade down into the ground, but Maria jumped over it, before kicking her foe in the back of the head.
The attack had no effect, before she whipped backwards. In one swift motion, the "mannequin" tossed Maria into the air, and knocked Maia into a wall. She winced, before seeing the situation and cursing. "Shit! Maria!"
"Damn it!" Maria shouted, looking down at the sword tip she was about to fall upon.
Hibiki pushed open the door. She and Rui looked down at the burning building.
"Don't let us down!" Chris said.
"I won't!" Hibiki said, holding up her pendant.
"Good luck you two." Shuri encouraged, as Rui nodded and smirked.
"Let's do this in one-shot!" Rui shouted, as she and Hibiki jumped out of the helicopter.
"Balwisyall nescell Gungnir tron~"
(Insert Genkai Toppa G-beat by Aoi Yuuki)
Above Rui, Hibiki transformed into her Symphogear form. During the free fall, Hibiki took her sister by the hands, as they both kicked straight through the roof and into a burning hallway.
"I'll lead you in the direction of the life signals!" Aoi said into their comms. "Head down that hall!"
They were about to, but the flames burst through the wall. Both of them held up their arms, coughing from the smoke.
"Dammit, now what…?" Rui muttered.
"Uh... Oneesan?" Hibiki said.
"What is-?" Rui stopped talking, as the flames were growing weaker. They were being absorbed… right into Kagutsuchi. The two stared at it a moment, before shouting.
"YOU/I CAN ABSORB FIRE?!"
Maria was a breath away from becoming a human kebab. She closed her eyes for impact, before someone flew in and deflected the blade, catching her at the same time.
"Tsubasa!" Maria said.
"About time!" Maia yelled, standing up and running to their side as Tsubasa landed.
"How could I not draw my sword after witnessing my sister and friend in danger?" Tsubasa said, pointing her blade at the enemy.
"I have been waiting for you." The "mannequin" said.
"Who are you?!" Tsubasa demanded.
They took up a pose, their blade glinting. "An Autoscorer."
"Autoscorer?" Tsubasa repeated.
"I think I'll stick with "succubus sex doll."" Maia cheekily said.
The Autoscorer didn't react, as she aimed her weapon at Tsubasa. "I came to hear your song."
"Well, sorry, but the show's over." Maia said. "And we're not doing backstage autographs right now-WHOA!"
The Autoscorer's pupils shrank, she thrust her sword at the three of them. Tsubasa clashed with the Autoscorer, as she drew a second sword. Maia was right alongside her, as they used their well-coordinated tactics to attack. But the Autoscorer was surprisingly doing well at deflecting all four swords with only one of her own.
Hibiki smashed through several more floors. Once she reached the floor she needed, Rui landed behind her.
"I'm kind of worried about the structural integrity of the building." Rui said. "You sure we should-?"
"Hibiki-chan, create an escape route by punching open the wall to your left!" Aoi instructed.
"Okay sure. Keep punching down walls." Rui shrugged, as Kagutsuchi absorbed the stronger flames.
Hibiki drew her fist back, before smashing through the wall with all her might. When it fell down, the two of them could see the survivors.
"Hey! This way!" Rui shouted.
The survivors stood up and followed them, as Hibiki punched down more walls for the escape route, while Rui's weapon absorbed the flames to keep the path clear.
"You two! There's one life sign still in there!" Aoi reported.
"Hibiki, you take care of it!" Rui said. "I'll get the others out of here."
"Got it, Oneesan!" Hibiki said, before she punched away a wall in a different direction.
"I just hope we don't bring the building down…" Rui kicked down the last of the walls, opening up to the street. She funneled everyone out to the waiting emergency services, before looking back at the building. She saw parts of it start to crumble, and was just about to try contacting Hibiki.
That was, until Hibiki kicked through the roof, holding a young boy in her arms.
"That's my sister." Rui smiled.
Tsubasa combined her two blades at the hilt, while Maia was charging forward with her broadswords out. Tsubasa twirled her blades, creating flames, while Maia's swords started to charge up their boosters.
"My blade, dance in the wind, and incinerate my enemies with wheels of fire." She said, as the flames turned blue. "Shine, O Moon!"
"Ora ora ora!" Maia shouted, as the rocket boosters on her weapons went to max power.
Moonlit Wind Ring's Fiery Blades
Tsubasa's blade swung right through and lit the Autoscorer's clothes on fire, while Maia's "X" slash dug in deep on the first swing, and knocked them away on the second into a pile of boxes.
The fire was starting to become more manageable, as the firefighters sprayed water upon the flames. A civilian was talking to one of the paramedics.
"I can't find my son! He must still be-!"
"He's right here!" Hibiki said, back in her civilian clothes as she ran up with the little boy in her arms, with Rui right behind her.
"Kou-chan!" The mother said, taking her son into her arms.
"He inhaled a lot of smoke. Take him to a hospital right away." Rui instructed.
The mother nodded, before stepping into the ambulance.
"We can't thank you enough!" One of the paramedics said to the two, before they drove off. Hibiki smiled, while Rui stretched her arms.
"Hopefully that kid gets the medical treatment he needs." Rui said.
"Yeah…" Hibiki said, before she looked up at a bridge over the area.
"We should regroup with Chris and Shuri." Rui said. "No doubt they're… what are you looking at?"
Rui followed her sister's line of sight, up to the bridge. Standing atop of it was a small figure in a white robe, with a pointy black hat. She watched the flames, memories flashing through her mind. She still remembered that horrendous day, the worst day of her life. Her father, atop that burning altar.
"If such magic is not the miracle of God, then they are the tools of the Devil that none should wield!"
"You are hereby judged! May the purifying flames cleanse Izak of his sin!"
"Papa! Papa!" She called towards the burning shroud. "Papa!"
Despite the situation, her father smiled at her. "Carol… live on and experience more of the world."
"The world…?"
"That is your…" The flames consumed him.
Tears started to fall, as she watched the flames in the modern day. Papa… I wish that memory would just disappear.
"Yo, kid! Comic Con was a month ago and it's a little too early for Halloween!" Rui called up, pulling Carol away from her memories. Hibiki briefly elbowed her sister.
"It's dangerous up there!" Hibiki shouted as Carol quickly wiped her tears. "Did you get separated from your parents? It's not safe, so wait for me-"
"Silence."
Hibiki blinked, before the little girl spun her arm, creating a pentagram. It shot a tornado of wind, which would have hit Hibiki if she didn't jump back.
"What the fu-?!" Rui started, before Chris and Shuri came in on the comm link.
"We've engaged with the enemy." Shuri said, though loud sounds were on her end.
"Enemy?" Hibiki asked, looking back up at Carol.
"How are you two holding up? Did you find more foes?" Chris asked.
"Well, we found a little kid that can somehow use wind magic or some crap, so I say yes!" Rui reported.
Maria stared at the fallen debris, before turning to Tsubasa and Maia. "That's too much force to use against a human!"
"Maria… did you really think that walking sex doll was a human?" Maia deadpanned.
"The moment we clashed swords I knew." Tsubasa said, as her weapon turning back into a katana. "That thing…"
The Autoscorer burst upwards, tossing all the debris off of it with little issue, her eyes glowing green.
"...is a monster!"
The Autoscorer looked no worse for wear as it smiled. "This is painfully underwhelming. I can't possibly allow you to win so easily."
Carol raised her arm, creating more magical circles before she spoke. "Carol Malus Dienheim's alchemy will shatter the world, bringing about the Apocalypse of All Creation." She aimed the magical circles at the Tachibana twins.
"Shatter the world?" Hibiki repeated.
"Alchemy?" Rui asked. "Oh great, we're fighting Edward Elric's apprentice?"
"In other words, my power slaughters miracles!" Carol declared.
Dozens of gusts of wind shot from the circles, all aimed at a horrified Hibiki.
"Hibiki!" Rui shouted, running over and pulling her sister behind her… right as the wind struck.
A/N: Starting from this season forward, insert song references will be used. The lyrics won't always be written down though.
But here we are, everyone. The GX arc of Symphogear X2 has begun.
I don't have much to say as the new year reaches us. All I can say is thank you for sticking by this fic.
Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.