Rematch of the Vance Sisters
Scar is checking on his equipment to make sure he has everything he needs before setting out on the road again with the girls and Rana. He got his armor on, his giant sword, some little items on him, and his share of food for the trip.
"Scar! Are you ready yet? We've been waiting for you forever!" Nanael complained.
"Nanael, we've only been out here for a little while." Leina pointed out, everyone in the party group being outside of the house for about five minutes while waiting for Scar.
"It's not my fault that Scar decided to take a little extra time to check on his armor or whatever. I swear, it's usually the girls that takes forever with getting themselves ready." Nanael shook her head.
"Sounds like the role has been reverse." Echidna chuckled.
"Alright, I'm ready." Scar announced, running out of the house.
"Just in time, the little Angel was about to throw a tantrum for having to wait out here for long." Risty joked with a teasing grin, making Nanael pout in frustration.
"Well, we better get going then." Scar said.
Scar and the girls leave the house they were staying after three days, believing that's more than enough rest for the Black Knight because they still need to make their way to the capital city known as Gainos for the Queen's Blade tournament for each have their own goals to accomplish such as Leina wanting to compete and Scar getting his revenge on Noir Coeur.
"(Just you want, Noir Coeur.)" Scar thought looked ahead of the ahead, seeing the image of the man who destroyed everything that was his life.
"(Nothing is going to stop me from having my revenge. From killing you with my own two hands and this sword.)" Scar thought was determined, even more now that he has something worth fighting for.
"So, how long will it take for us to reach the capital?" Menace asked.
"It shouldn't be too long, just a day long on the road from here." Echidna answered, having been on this road to the capital about over several times by now.
"Then we better make sure we don't make too many stops along the way." Scar advised them not to waste too much of their time when the Queen's Blade could start without them.
Leina started to think about everything that has happened to her back when she started out her first adventure, when she tried to sneak out of the castle of her homeland to become a warrior like her mother was only to be stopped and taken back by Risty who wanted the bounty.
She also remembers how Risty was also arrested because of her reputation as a bandit for attacking other nobles and stealing money from others, but Leina also got some encouragement from Risty to take up her mother's armor and set out again and not looking back.
"(And after that, we happen to meet Scar in a restaurant when our money was about to be stolen by a snake of all things.)" Leina thought giggled, having recalled the moment when she and Scar first lay eyes on each other.
"Something funny you'd like to share?" Risty asked.
"Just remembering the first time we started out our little adventure where we met Scar." Leina mentioned.
"Oh yeah, that day taught me to be extra careful with snakes." Risty glanced at Echidna's pet snake who looks back.
"Don't worry, he knows that you are mommy's friends and won't steal things from you anymore." Echidna promised with a wink.
"(Even though I've traveled with her this far in the journey, the sight of snakes still grosses me out.)" Leina thought exclaimed, not even wanting to look at the snake.
"Wait, how does a snake even know how to steal money?" Rana was confused on about that.
"Keltan is a very smart snake; he knows how to get things done when I ask him to." Echidna said.
"Amazing! I wish the snakes in my kingdom were that smart." Menace was amazed, wondering if she could train some snakes to do what Keltan can.
Rana looks up at the sky believing that today is going to be another beautiful day with his mom and the others including Scar who has become someone like a big brother to him, but then he notices some dark clouds started to appear.
"It looks like we might get rain later." Rana said.
"Oh, you might be right." Nanael looked up, seeing those clouds too.
"I'm sure it'll just be some those dark clouds blocking out the sun, nothing to worry about." Scar said.
"Even so, those dark clouds are reminding me of someone I'm going to see again soon." Leina referred to her older sister, Claudette, who is no doubt still on the hunt to bring her back home.
This got Scar thinking about Claudette, wondering how she has been doing since they last saw each other when the sisters fought, and Leina fell from that cliff. He'll just have to wait and see.
The group kept walking for the castle through the path, they stumble into a familiar priestess they were not expecting to see so soon.
"Isn't that Tomoe?" Scar asked, seeing the woman.
"I think you're right. Hey, Tomoe!" Leina called out.
"Uh, that voice… Leina and Scar, along with others!" Tomoe was surprised to see a couple of familiar faces about to intercept with her.
"I can't believe we're meeting again and this soon! I thought it was gonna be facing each other at the Queen's Blade." Leina smiled, holding hands with Tomoe.
"Perhaps fate has decided for us to meet again like this." Tomoe smiled back.
"Oh, and it looks like you got a two couple more with you." Tomoe noticed the mother and son.
"These two are mother and son. The woman is Cattleya, she's an incredible blacksmith and a strong warrior, her son is Rana who helps out her shop and very brave." Scar introduced them to Tomoe.
"It's nice to meet you." Cattleya greeted her with a smile.
"Glad to meet another friend of Scar." Rana smiled as well.
"Hold on, there something wrong with this picture, but I can't quite put my finger on it." Menace tried to figure out what could be wrong with the scene of having Tomoe here.
"I think it's because that sexy ninja isn't with her right now." Setra pointed out.
"Oh, you're right! The ninja woman!" Menace realized this now.
"Now that you mention it, Shizuka isn't here. But aren't you two on the same journey to compete in the Queen's Blade together?" Leina asked.
"Shizuka actually went on ahead to check up on something about the Queen of the continent, probably to make sure nothing sneaky happens or something like that." Tomoe explained.
"Wanna travel with us? We are heading to the same location, after all." Scar offered Tomoe to come with them.
"Yes, that sounds very nice." Tomoe nodded, accepting the offer.
The group continued going towards the capital with the addition of Tomoe making them feel a little more cheerful despite the dark clouds still looming over them.
After a long walk, and feeling their stomachs are getting hungry, the group decided it was time to eat lunch and enjoyed the peaceful moment.
Scar looks around, seeing the girls and Rana are having a good time in this one moment sharing a meal together and not have to worry about things like bandits nor the Queen's Blade Tournament that is what brings them together in the first place, it's a pretty nice moment.
"(This reminds me of the time back in my village, when I had lunch with my friends and the fun we would do.)" Scar thought remembered those days, the times before Noir Coeur destroyed it all.
This was another reminder that his goal is to kill one guy, that one bastard who took everything just for wanting to get more power to make himself a shitty God, but he's not going to let that happen and will make sure he is destroy completely without leaving a single trace of his essence left.
"Scar, it's time for us to go." Menace said, getting his attention as the others are packing up.
"Oh, thanks." Scar said.
They get moving on the road again expecting the trip to be peaceful the rest of the way, or at least that's what they were hoping for.
Suddenly a lightning bolt struck down to the ground close to the group, scaring a few of them with Rana holding into Cattleya.
"That was WAY too close!" Nanael gasped.
"No, that lightning bolt wasn't to hurt us. It was serving as a message." Risty glared at the spot where the lightning bolt hit.
"A message?" Menace was confused while hugging onto Scar's arm.
"A message sent by someone to let them know she's here." Echidna said, having a hunch upon knowing how that someone is.
"She's here." Leina said, looking serious. Already having the idea of only one person who could do something like that.
A figure walks over to where the group is and halts when she was just about twenty feet away from them, the one who shot down the lightning bolt close to them was none other than Claudette Vance, Leina's older sister and known to be one of the strongest warriors in the land.
"Leina, is that… your older sister?" Cattleya asked, getting a family sense from this young woman.
"Yes, that is Claudette the Thunder General." Leina answered, not taking her eyes off Claudette.
"Glad to see that you're okay, Leina. Along with your Black Knight." Claudette looked over to see Scar still alive as well.
"We managed to do okay up to this point." Scar said.
"And seeing that you're here waiting for us must mean one thing…" Scar paused for a moment as he looks at Claudette.
"Correct, I am here to fight Leina again to see if she still carries that same ambition to become a warrior and continue down this path." Claudette revealed her intention as she raises her Thunderclap sword.
"(That sword.)" Cattleya thought looked at the sword, immediately recognizing it.
Leina was quiet for a moment looking back at her older sister, she knew this fight would come and she fight for her very life with no regrets, her head up high, and shows no fear in her eyes.
"Ready your sword, Leina." Claudette commanded.
"Scar, you and everyone keep a safe distance." Leina walked away from the group as Scar nods, wishing her luck.
"I believe it's your turn to call the challenge, big sister." Leina said, wanting to be honorable.
"Very well, then I challenge you to the Queen's Blade!" Claudette declared.
"All right, that's the spirit! A fated showdown between sisters. Yeah! That sounds great!" Nanael was excited and begun broadcasting the scene on the magic flying orbs.
(With Elina)
Elina is still searching for her big sister with her squad right behind her, but they stop when one of the magic flying, viewing orbs, shows Leina in it.
"That's Leina! And she's fighting Claudette!" Elina was shocked to see this.
"But why…?" Elina was confused as to why her two big sisters would be fighting each other again, especially with how Leina lost to Claudette the last time they fought.
Without wasting another second, she rushes away from her squad and heads over to where this battle is taking place.
"Lady Elina!" One female soldier called out, but Elina simply just wants to be with her sisters again.
"They're starting without me. It's not fair!" Elina complained. She hopes to at least make it there before the battle ends.
(Music: Weather the Elements, Korra vs Storm Death Battle)
"It has begun." Scar said, crossing his arms.
Leina jumps to attack her older sister with the first strike being blocked by the Thunderclap sword, but the force behind the attack still pushes Claudette back about one whole foot before pushing her little sister back.
Claudette waves her sword to send a wave of lightning at Leina to shock her down, but surprisingly Leina was able to jump over the lightning attack and charges at her once again.
"(I won't be defeated! I swear it!)" Leina thought promised to herself.
Leina attacks again to show her older sister the kind of woman she has become, striking with some strong blows and even managed to make a small cut on arm and cape that forces Claudette to push her back with one arm knocking Leina down.
"I know you're powerful, Claudette. But I can't win unless I try!" Leina soon got back up and charges at Claudette again.
Leina throws some swift swings of her sword with each attacking feeling strong that forces Claudette on the defense even though she is blocking them with easily, she can definitely tell that these strikes aren't the same unlike the first time they fought.
"Oh, come on! This fight sucks. Claudette isn't even trying to fight back!" Nanael complained.
"That's because she's gauging her strength, she wants to feel how strong Leina has become in the past days since their first battle." Scar pointed out.
"Claudette wants to see if Leina is truly worthy of calling herself a warrior." Tomoe said, having the same thought as Scar.
(With Ymir)
Ymir is watching the fight between Leina and Claudette, she can tell that Leina looks a little stronger than the last time she saw her, but she can also tell the other woman is stronger.
"Doesn't look like Leina and Cattleya's sword make for a very powerful opponent." Ymir commented, but she'll keep watching the fight to see how it ends.
(Back with Scar's Group)
"It looks like she's doing alright, for the most part." Risty said.
"She's fighting a formidable warrior. General Claudette is rumored to be one of the finest in all the land." Cattleya mentioned the rumors she heard of about Claudette.
Claudette tries to counterattack with a swing of her sword only for Leina to swing her sword down to clash with the black sword.
"And the blade she wields is called Thunderclap. It's a magic sword that Owen and I once made for her." Cattleya revealed.
"You and Owen made that sword? Was it the request from their father?" Scar asked.
"Yes, it was the man himself to make a powerful sword for Claudette to help protect the family and their homeland." Cattleya answered, remembering the time when she and Owen were making that sword.
"Wow! So, I'm looking at another sword made by my parents. So cool!" Rana smiled.
Leina and Claudette are in a bit of a power struggle trying to push one another back, but it looks like Leina is pushing forward.
"(I can do this!)" Leina thought pushed the sword to the side and was about to strike.
But Claudette wasn't worried in the slightest.
"I have you now." Claudette grinned.
The Thunder General swings down her sword unleashing a strong lightning current that Leina was barely able to block with her shield and sent flying over a dozen feet though she lands on her feet.
"Answer me this, Leina. What did you get in exchange for the status as father's successor? Independents?" Claudette asked right before charging at Leina, striking fiercely forcing the middle Vance child on the defense.
"What did that really do for you?!" Claudette yelled while attacking.
Scar couldn't help but notice Claudette with the questions and seemingly that her strikes hold something else than just strength, it's almost like this is personal for her.
Claudette strikes again causing her opponent to stumble back a few feet, and then the purple hair woman grabs Leina by the throat to slam her down to the ground and picks her up with her sword close to her.
"Don't delude yourself. Nothing has changed in the slightest. You're exactly the same as you were then." Claudette said with a look in her eyes that Leina has not seen even once while they were growing up together back at Vance castle.
"(Her eyes, they're now the eyes of someone who holds resentment to someone for a long time because of how others lived their lives being ignorance with bliss. Claudette, do you… hate Leina?)" Scar thought recognized the looks in Claudette's eyes, seeing that she is about to let out her true feelings for Leina.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The second match between Claudette and Leina has begun with the latter doing better than the last time, but Claudette is still the stronger warrior of the two and it looks like she is about to let out some deep personal stuff that she's been holding it in for a long time.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!