View source for WMAT A3 Vervi vs. Shizune Nakamura

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/07/24
|Location=Papaya Island - Stadium
|Synopsis=WMAT A3 battle between Vervi and Shizune Nakamura!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=192, 369, 470
|Tinyplot=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Night has fallen, but the stars are nowhere in sight - at least, not for those in the Papaya Island Stadium. The bright lights and the roar of the crowd drown out any natural beauty, and the arena platform is as brightly lit as if it were daytime. Tonight is a a night for an entirely different sort of beauty - the beauty of watching two skilled technicians of the battlefield at work.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One of them practically vaults up the steps to the arena, a spring in her gait and a smile on her face. It's moments like this Shizune lives for; not so much for the adoration and roar of the crowd, though they are nice. But they also serve as a sign of what's to come. A precursor to the part she really likes. A sound, in short, to get her blood pumping before the fight. It's only natural she'd head to her side of the arena with a barely-restrained sort of energy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From the opposite door emerges a bolt of bright blue, the characteristic thrust trail of the Vic Viper Shinki herself. Tracing a fading line of light across the darkness around the ring, Vervi wheels and swerves in wide arcs, fully aware what it looks like to those watching from the stands. Once she's ascended to the ring itself, she performs her customary circuit, waving both arms to the crowd. This ends when she reaches her corner, twirling briefly and then hovering in place.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unlike non-tournament fights, Vervi gets pretty excited about these kinds of controlled environment battles. Maybe she thinks of it more like a game when all that's on the line is a few prizes and some prestiege, rather than lives.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a wink of light, her laser rifle materializes in her right hand, her armor already present with its numerous glowing blue light points and of course the distinctive blue engine thrust. Raising her other hand, the shinki calls out, "Please have fun, miss Nakamura!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pinkie Pie is here. And she's no IN the annoucer's booth, she's on top of it. And she's holding a...<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SUDDEN MEGAPHONE: "HEY MUTLIVERSE GUESS WHAT?" Said megaphone screeeeeeches and then EXPLODES IN HER HAND, covering the pink clown's mask in soot. "--Whoopsie! Anyway HI! It's me! Pinkie Pie! And GUESS WHAT? It's a match of teeny versus taiji! Because Vervi and Shizune Nakamura are gonna fight in the kumite!" (WUTAH!!!) "TO THE DEATH!" Pause. A horrified intern climbs on top of the box to whisper in her ear. "What? I can't say that on air? Oh! Oh I mean not to the death, sorry wrong tournament! It's not the Kumite-" (ATAHHH!!!) "It's the World Martial Arts Tournament! But someone's going to get wailed on anyway! So tune your tvs, radios, and direct to brain feeds to channel 900.2 for live blow to blow commentary and clownery!" ... "Does that really happen every time I say Kumite?" (AAAAAAATAH!)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses. And then shrugs. It really doesn't matter, the crowd is going WILD.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We've got our opponents getting themselves ready to beat the tar out of each other. Oh who's gonna win? It's just so exciiiitinggggg!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shizune can't quite fight down the smile that results from that greeting by Vervi. But then, there's really no need to, either. Having an opponent as enthused about a good fight as you are is always promising. "Likewise," she replies, one foot slipping forward, both hands moving almost reflexively to the proper ready posture. "I've fought many opponents who are larger than I am, but I have to say fighting a smaller one will be an entirely new experience. I'll try and be a fitting opponent for you."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And there she stands, taking a single deep breath, and sinking into that calm taiji state of mind. Her body language practically screams, 'I am ready.'<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I know you will be!" Vervi states brightly, "You taught Tora so well and she's amazing, after all." As she exchanges pleasentries, Vervi's stance also changes. From between her flight pack's tailfins, tiny devices launch out in two pairs, surrounding themselves with orange light and taking up position around her. "Are you ready, because here I come!"<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her flight pack re-angles itself and Vervi suddenly accellerates with a burst of thrust, dashing forward and arcing low, weaving to one side. She keeps her laser rifle held back, rolling instead to bare the undersides of her wings. Like this, Vervi swings around Shizune in an ascending spiral, the gunpod under her wing flipping down and spewing out a spray of high caliber (by comparison) rounds while spraying spent brass casings out the back.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shizune grows just a hint more tense when the shinki finally launches. It's tempting to swing a kick as Vervi comes in low, but she holds off, using her ears and eyes instead, relying on intuition for the moment when-<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the blink of an eye, Shizune shifts her stance, but it's too late to avoid taking a line of little bullet wounds along the outside of her arm.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But they don't seem to slow her down in the least, as that flowing movement continues, bringing her through a low spin that manages to draw her arm up into a spinning blow as she stands straight once again, a palm strike with impressive accuracy for having a target that small and quick.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh here we go, Pinkie's getting good and comfy on top of the box, resting on her chest, legs kicking up at the air behind her. She has somehow gotten a new megaphone in her hand. Probably from the terrified looking intern who is now climbing up to bring her some popcorn. "Annnnd our fighters are warming up, opening with pleasantries instead of punches, and that's A-ok! Because fair fighting and friendship is magic! I don't think I even need to get into my Ref Pinks Lane cosplay for this!" The clown chirps. "But Shizune looks ready and that means Verrvi is-- COMING RIGHT FOR HER! If Shizune's not quick enough she might have more to worry about than a few tiny pew pew bullets! She'll probably have to worry about a LOT of tiny pew pew bullets!" Perk. "But Shizune is fast! She's eating those tiny rounds like buffalo grazing on the plains or some kind of equally deep martial arts analogy, spinning in like a ballerina of PUNCHES to try and smack the little shinki with her palm!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a click, the gunpod snaps back up against the underside of Vervi's wing and she banks sharply away in an effort to avoid what she knows is a primarily melee fighter. Not quite quick enough, though, the airborne Shinki is smacked square in the back by a forceful palm and hurled forward much more violently than she had intended. Some of the cowling on her flight pack buckles, but the engines seem alright when she recovers and banks sharply to ascend again, while gaining distance.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Twisting in midair, Vervi throws herself into a dive to strafe the martial artist again. This time, rather than keeping herself horizontal, the blue shinki rights herself and hovers swiftly to one side. Both wings deploy their gunpods and she points, unloading with twin streams of tiny bullets this time while dashing sidelong in an arc around Shizune at about shoulder height.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is certainly more force behind Shizune's blows than an ordinary human can accomplish. And she moves smoothly as well, following after Vervi quickly enough to avoid letting the shinki open too much distance. As a result, when the little Vic Viper opens fire, the martial artist is hotter on her heels than might have been expected; one stream of bullets just barely nicks her cheek, while the other cuts a deeper line across her left shoulder but doesn't quite find purchase.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And once again she whips her arm up in a carefully controlled arc, swinging her hand almost as if aiming a chop that won't quite connect. But her aim is to simply land a glancing hit with her palm - and let the ki infusing her blow give it the same force as a dead-on strike.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pinkie has donned BINOCULARS.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Vervi's keeping up the heat! A high speed strafing maneuver and all the tiny bullets she has, she's making this into something out of one of the boss battles in Oponedius! But like some kind of anime character takes a cheek cut from all the pew-pewing fired at her! That shoulder might need some work after this though but- AH! IN SHE GOES WITH A JUDO CHOP! --OR IT LOOKS LIKE ONE BUT NO it's another swat-swat. Except all martial artsy!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi twirls around when her gunpods are exhausted, dipping forward to accellerate but not quite getting out of the way. The palm grazes her dangling legs. It's the unseen ki force that buffets the little robot and sends her tumbling. One of the gunpods snaps off, tumbling away to clatter on the arena floor a few feet away.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's already processing potential weakpoints and ways to improve her advantage. Without even thinking, while Vervi tumbles head over heels, various ports on her armor flip open and discharge a salvo of missiles, each one arcing around and homing in on the martial artist.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi herself suddenly rights herself with a burst of thrust, then charges ahead, obscured by the smoke from her own missile swarm. There's a brief flash when the laser rifle disappears. In its place, she holds a tiny canister, like if she were holding a flashlight made to shinki scale.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Poorly-aimed though they may be, luck is on Vervi's side. Shizune is caught by surprise and several of the missiles are well-aimed enough that she windmills her arms up to shield her face while two of them catch her on the abdomen. There's a few steps of stumbling backwards, a faint grimace at the holes in her uniform and the new burns beneath it, but then she lowers her arms and lunges forward, her passing seeming to disperse the smoke outright.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she whips her hands around as if to throw something... and throw something she does. A few little somethings, in fact. Vervi's own missiles, caught out of the air between fingertips and their motor still putting out thrust. It's a surprisingly accurate throw, but even with that, it's more in hope that their motors run out and they detonate than that they'll actually hit.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is intense already! A solid hit from Shizune's probably gonna feel like a wrecking ball, so Vervi'd better keep those thrusters hot hot HOT!" Pinkie blurts. "Like right now! That looked like it barely hit, but she's all tumbling around! --BUT THOSE ARE MISSILES!"<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh look, Pinkie's standing now, leaning off the edge of the booth. "GRAB THEM, SHAKE THEM, AND TOSS THEM BACK!" She calls out, "...Ah? What's that she's holding now?"<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she winces, "Shizune ate a few of them again but- OH I KNOW THAT TECHNIQUE! IT'S LIKE CAR WAXING HOOF, RIGHT?" No Pinkie it's probably not but then comes a SQUEAL. "HOLY CRAP SHE GRABBED THEM SHOOK THEM AND THREW THEM BACK! SHIZUNE JUST WENT ALL 'RETURN TO SENDER'!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Through the smoke it's Vervi, though Shizune's forward dash right under her catches the suddenly-exposed shinki off guard. In surprise, Vervi whirls around, now flying backwards, in her effort to track her martial artist opponent, and she has a very short second to spot just what she's doing. Thinking quickly, Vervi's free hand reaches under her wing and snatches another gunpod, fixing it to her forearm. This is thrust forward, where it splits open four ways and fires a dense cone of metal and light straight ahead. Missiles explode when struck, surrounding the shinki with flame and smoke, followed by two more explosions within the obscuring cloud.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dropping out of the cloud and boosting forward, Vervi zips aside in a swift arc, flipping her right arm back. The device in her hand ignites into a long blue laser blade, held back and under her right wing. It's only when the battered shinki nears Shizune's legs that she swings it, slashing across the side of Shizune's left knee in a swing that traces a wide blue crescent arc through the air.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Immediately behind Shizune, Vervi banks sharply and ascends, deactivating the blade of her sword in the same instant.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is fast becoming a battle of avoiding critical damage that would end the fight; a war of attrition in its own way, to see who will wear down first in the process of averting a match-ending wound while trying to inflict one in turn. When the shinki drops down out of the cloud of smoke and goes for a low strike, Shizune spots easily that she won't have time to avert a strike entirely. So she instead chooses where it will land, lifting her leg up to catch the energy blade along her calf rather than her knee. The wound it scores along her calf will be a hindrance, especially as deep as it goes, but not nearly so much as a cut through her knee.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But while she's got her leg up, she can easily respond, and respond she does. It never stops moving even after taking the hit, Shizune whirling herself through an impressive and graceful show of flexibility - bringing her leg up and around, very nearly doing a standing split in the process of spinning herself into a side kick aimed at Vervi behind her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In one hand Pinkie is holding a 'Go Vervi go!' flag. In the other she's holding a 'Class President for the win!' penant. A true display of impartiality. "Whoo! Looks like Vervi's prepared for everything. She just tried to shoot her own missiles out of the air, but now there's a lot of smoke and-- OH MY GOD IT'S A CHAIR-- ... I mean a lightsaber! She's got a little lightsaber, and that's JUST AS COOL!"<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No one mind the clown hopping up and down on top of the announcer booth going wild. "But Shizune's using her own leg to take the hit! It's horrible! It's terrible! Someone's going to have to pay the cantina guy for leaving a mess be- oh hey she's still got her leg- AND SHE CAN STILL KICK WITH IT! But Vervi's just too small and too fast, someone get the class president some fly swatters!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi's ascending arc quite suddenly doubles back on itself, the shinki halting herself and then ascending again in the opposite direction. A maneuver that would be intensely uncomfortable for a human, but not so much for a tiny machine. The snapping kick misses entirely, while the surrounding, reinforcing ki buckles the tip of one of her tailfins. Otherwise, the nimble shinki manages to avoid a direct blow.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unbeknownst to herself, Vervi's processor has already identified the key points that Shizune's style relies on. Most notably, mobility. And it's driving her to target the source of that mobility without her actually being aware she's doing it.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Joints. A common target for Vervi even against her fellow Shinki foes.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Crosshairs flicker to life across her vision as she ascends and Vervi rolls, discharging another swarm of missiles. Around her, her Options also contribute their own clusters, making a much larger attack than before. These are also not all aimed at center of mass, but rather moving in small groups for the martial artist's limbs.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An even more magnified swarm of missiles rains down, far more spread out, and Shizune is forced to outright /move/. There will be no standing her ground for this. She lunges, she tumbles, she leans out of the way of several missiles, but a couple manage to catch her squarely on her already-injured bicep, and one more goes off right in the crook of her left elbow. There's a hiss of pain, a shake of her arm, and then she manages to rise again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Having had no way to capture missiles in her hand this time, there is little chance for Shizune to return them to their owner. Instead, she turns herself back around and takes one gliding, loping stride, a second, and then leaps. Around she turns in mid-air, spinning herself around and slinging out her right leg in a high circle that brings it down for an impressively powerful axe kick. "TOAAH!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why is Pinkie suddenly in a referee outfit? "Vervi's using a common tactic when fighting someone who is a whole LOT bigger than you! She's going for the joints! ... I'll allow it! And it looks like it's painfully effective! But watching Shizune move is like watching a Trotty Yen or Hoof Li action film with all the wire fu and telekinesis. BUT WITHOUT THE WIRES AND TELEKINESES! I bet she does her own stunts too! Wutah!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi twists in midair as if to meet Shizune's riding-then-dropping kick head on, which given the difference in sizes would be something more akin to suicidal. The tiny robot has A PLAN, however. When that heel comes down, she cuts the engine on her left side and suddenly dips on that side, allowing Shizune's heel and leg to hit her, but since she's already MOVING in that direction, the blow is considerably less solid than if she had tried to resist it.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This puts the nimble shinki in swording distance again. The blade of her laser sword ignites again in the same motion with the shinki tumbling in that leg's passing. The extinguished engine re-ignites itself and hurls Vervi into a very sudden spin. The blue glow of her blade traces a perfect circle in midair for the briefest of seconds, with Shizune's ankle at a very prime position to be right there within the circumferance.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yah!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This time there's no avoiding the wound going exactly where Vervi intends it. Shizune can twist in the air, she can shift her leg as far as momentum and her own muscles will allow her without ground under her, but ultimately she's going to be taking that slash along her right ankle and even an inch or two of leg above it. When she lands, it's with a bit more weight on her left foot than her right, which causes another faint wince at the pain from her calf.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But then she takes a breath. That's all she needs. A breath to set her ki flowing, dull the pain.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then the martial artist gathers that ki into her right arm in the amount of time it takes her to drive that arm straight at Vervi. No palms, no glancing hits. A straight-on, precise punch, rippling with invisible might.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This just in." Pinkie has somehow instantly migrated from the top of the booth to being settled back in it. And she's suddenly wearing a bright pink suit, holding some papers in front of her like an anchorman. "Shinki are too OP." She says. "Vervi's whittling Shizune down with every exchange, putting her speed and small size to fullest use. It's like watching a master martial artist fighting a bee. That's ALSO a blackbelt. --WHOAH that punch looks like it could do some damage, anyone'd have a hard time dodging that, and Shizune's doign everything she can to up her game now! And now we interrupt commentary for just a moment for a word from our sponsors@ Hyperion and MMS. For when you absolutely need to kill them dead, shoot them in the head with a Hyperion gun! And for those of you who wand cute killer martial arts robot bee girls? I think MMS makes those too!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi quickly recovers from her self-induced tumble and accellerates, diving quickly beneath the punch even though she's certain she's out of range. That flash of intuition seems to be correct; the wave of ki thrown off the martial artist's hand is avoided head-on. It simply rips off one of the shinki's tailfins, sending the torn metal tumbling back and away with a shower of sparks.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Abruptly, Vervi arrests her motion and pushes herself backwards. The hilt of her laser sword winks off into the Slipway and is soon replaced by a much bigger flash, signaling the arrival of her laser rifle. While floating backwards away from Shizune at a low altitude, Vervi thrusts this weapon upward towards the girl's midsection. The barrel splits open, trailing glowing blue smoke, signaling the weapon firing a blue lance of light. Around her, Vervi's Options add their own beams to the mix, sweeping them in opposing directions to try and fence Shizune in and make dodging it more difficult.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's those ranged weapons that are really giving her a hard time, Shizune absently realizes. Once again she finds herself at a disadvantage against an opponent with reach. So what can she do? Play to her strengths. Apply pressure. Push when the enemy pulls. She begins charging again as soon as Vervi moves to withdraw, and when that rifle starts to trail blue smoke? She actually takes a diving leap /over/ the laser blast and its Option-echoed siblings. They score lines right down the front of her qipao and singe the flesh underneath, but find no more solid purchase.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the defensive maneuver becomes an offensive move, for when Shizune comes down, she turns it into a diving roll, and once again swings her leg out again - this time adding the momentum of the dive and the roll both to that kick, alongside her own internal energy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then? All those notes and pages in Pinkie Pie's hands?<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She throws them clean up.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This makes the booth interns groan as they have to clean up after the mess. "C-C-COMBO BREAKER! It's just like that saying! Keep your eye on the prize, and then something about a hoof on the button. Vervi's keeping up her tactic of tried and true lazors and floaty option bit thingies, but it looks like Shizune just WHALLOPED her! It started out all as a leap all WHOOSH and then a total dive and roll into a devastating kick! Wow she kicks better than most ponies I know!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Having slowed down to aim her shot, Vervi's an easy target this time. She quickly closes up her laser rifle and bursts her thrusters, but it's not quick enough to avoid a direct introduction to the bottom of Shizune's shoe. With a snapping sound, a tiny figure goes skittering across the stadium floor, sliding to a stop with a series of sparks.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Battered, the shinki's empty armor sits up, then floats off the ground to about shoulder height. Its stubby arms reach back, interfacing with the remaining gunpods underneath the damaged wings, then thrusts them out as if those pods were its hands, opening fire. The right hand gunpod fires a stream of bullets, while the left hand gunpod rapid-fires cones of shrapnel.<br /> <br />MEANWHILE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi herself clings to the bottom of Shizune's shoe, feeling sick. With a gunpod fixed to her right arm and the hilt of her sword in hand, the girl scrambles across the top of the martial artist's shoe and then leaps for the hem of her quipao, climbing the dress while its wearer has more pressing concerns shooting at her from across the arena.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is fortunate that Vervi scrambles to the top of that shoe, because she's only got a moment or so before Shizune's heel hits the stone and her roll ends. And when that happens, she brings herself up to her feet immediately. That's just in time to fall under a fusillade of weapon fire, and this time there is no averting or avoiding most of it. Shizune is bleeding in numerous spots by the time the barrage ends, and she's about to go leaping in towards the target when-<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She reaches up and adjusts her glasses. Oh.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's when her gaze drops right down to the faint tugging wait on her tattered qipao. "...Clever," she says simply.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then one of those hands whips down in a bid to catch Vervi before she can climb further or bring that energy sword to bear. If she can pull it off, she'll make a quick little flinging gesture to put Vervi in the air, and then bring her fist upward in a lightning-fast straight punch on the now-airborne shinki. "HAA!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wait, this was a bad idea.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi is noticed, captured, and lifted. In Shizune's hand, she smiles nervously with a little, uneasy laugh.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This was a very bad idea.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi is tossed. Unable to fly without her armor, she flails her arms instead, eyes going wide when a fist comes straight at her.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THIS WAS A VERY BAD IDEA--<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On impact, the little shinki is sent sailing in a long arc, eyes little dizzy swirls, unarmored body dented severely, with a crack through her chestpiece and a glimmer of light within from her CMS. Her armor, having stopped to reload, suddenly explodes into action to intercept and re-equip itself to the disoriented shinki with a flash of light. With a burst of thrust, she halts her motion and rights herself, hovering while she shakes her head, "...Wow!"<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Getting her visual sensors to realign so she's no longer seeing double, Vervi pushes her hands out to either side. Ports on her battered flight pack and armor all slide open and the tiny fighter is very quickly obscured by smoke as dozens of missiles launch out, then arc around. Around her, the four Options likewise open fire, adding their missiles to the mix. Unlike before, these are not carefully aimed at specific weakpoints, but seem to be targeted all over Shizune's body basically at random.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How did Pinkie suddenly get in the stands? Because she is now, with the megaphone again. "That looked like it HURT. Look at the little shinki bounce- I feel kinda bad. Just a little. But Shizune doesn't time to! Vervi's getting up and-- wwwwwwwwhhhhhhaaaaaaaaat? THAT WAS JUST HER ARMOR!" Oops, she just fell out of the back of the stands. But she's holding on by one hand. "Vervi ditched her armor! She's clinging to Shizune's foot! She's climbing Shizune while her armor is getting up without her to shoot shoot shoot! It's like playing a game of SHADE OD THE GIANTOSSIS!" There is a lot of flailing. "Hold on! Hold on! Shizune's fixing her glasses. It looks super intellectual and wise I hope she can hang on because-- OOP! She just tossed her up and PUNCHED HER. OFF SHE GOES? IS TEAM VERVI BLASTING OFF? The little thing looks dizzy but Vervi's response is a simple one once she looks like she has her head back on right. And that response is... FIRE ZE MISSILES!"<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oop. There goes Pinkie with a squeal. She just fell out of the arena.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A barrage like that is more difficult in some ways, easier in others. There's no way Shizune is evading it all - indeed, a missile clips her arm and another scorches her thigh - but the more generalized fire makes it easier to gauge a safe way to move and get there ASAP. Her choice to avoid the majority of the missiles ends up being a sudden sideward lunge followed by a forward dive that undercuts the turning radius on most of them. And the few that do hit are tolerable enough on their own, though by now the young lady's wounds are myriad enough that she's pretty clearly in bad shape.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But even aching and bleeding all over isn't enough to bring her to a stop just yet. Instead she closes the distance in a straight run and launches into a flurry of fists, one after the other after the other... all of them /just/ telegraphed enough to make them dodgeable. That, however, is the plan. She's trying to lure Vervi into dodging just right until she's in the perfect spot for a sudden, much less telegraphed fist that almost seems to come from nowhere.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The downside of so much smoke from so many missiles fired at once is that, while Vervi is difficult to see in the middle of it all, it's also hard for her to see her opponent. The little shinki quickly backs out of the cloud, only to find Shizune is right on top of her. With a shout of surprise, the little robot twists herself through the initial barrage. She's both surprised and wary that she can tell so easily how Shizune's attacks are coming towards her.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And, distracted by the thought of why this is so easy, Vervi is quite suddenly and very solidly suckerpunched. One of her wings snaps off in the impact and the tiny robot tumbles, hitting the arena floor solidly, her wing impacting a few feet away and skidding across the stone. Joints objecting, she pushes herself to her feet but does not take to the air. Smoke pours from the thrust outlet of her right engine where Shizune's fist had connected, which might explain why.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rather than fly or attack, the little shinki rears up to her full fifteen centimeter height. With winks of light, two large cannons materialize on her flight pack, fitted over the left wing and what's left of the right where the two connect to her flight pack. Drawing her hands up, Vervi tucks her elbows in against her hips while leveling these new weapons. Magnets charge quickly with a heavy, high-pitched whine.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a concussive THU-THUMP of air displacing when the guns fire, rather than the typical explosive discharge, because these guns use magnets rather than gunpowder to accellerate nine millimeter projectiles.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Aaaaa! Aaaa! I can't watch! I can't watch!" It would seem that Pinkie Pie has made her way back to a seriously dangerous vantage point to watch the fight again as she crouches on top of a flag pole like a ninja. "I CAN'T WATCH!" To emphasize this she covers the eye-slots of her smiling mask with her hands.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But then she peeks through her fingers. "But I have to because I think I'm getting paid for this. I get paid right?" The intern clinging to the flag pole just below her for dear life shrugs helplessly. "WELL IT DOESN'T MATTER!" Whoo someone is excited.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shizune's throwing more punches than a wasteland hero! This is like watching the teachings of Ryuhoof and E. Hoofda in action! I can't tell which one of them is supposed to-- WHOOP! Vervi eats a -serious- sucerpunch, but the little shinki isn't down and out yet! Sh's... She's getting back up! And... What are those... Are they... THOSE ARE LIKE TINY RAILGUNS! --O... Oooh... Ow... That... Looks like it hurt. Shizune just ate both of those slugs. We might need to get the medics in here soon because that's NOT funny at all."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9mm railguns. Vervi is firing 9mm railguns. Oh, /shi-/<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Both bullets go clean through rather than embedding. Both of them miss major arteries. But Shizune still just took one bullet through each of her thighs. "AH-!" An alarmed cry of pain is let out; there's no way she can dodge that, and aside from the sudden and debilitating pain, the twin holes take the strength out of her legs - effectively hobbling her. It's enough to immediately drop her to her knees, breathing heavily, hands planting as she tries to take her weight off her upper legs. That's it. She's bleeding everywhere, she's effectively hobbled, this fight is-<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her eyes drop to her hands.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...it's mad. It's absolutely mad.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But she's still got the strength to do it. Just barely. Even if it succeeds she may well pass out. But it's a final move.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The dust on the ground around Shizune ripples as she takes a breath. Dulls the pain. If one could view that dust from above, one would see a brief, transient yin-and-yang symbol. And then she pushes herself up, shoving hard enough to give her the momentum to move to a crouch. Pushing from that crouch into even a short leap causes her intense pain. But the short leap is all she needs. She turns it into a handstand. And from there, into a gravity-defying handSPRING.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Up, high into the air. Gliding in an arc that should be impossible for a human, defying gravity in one last graceful leap. She turns herself over as she comes down, the handspring flip bringing her upper body forward... and her fist coming straight down at Vervi from above, rippling with so much ki as to cause a visual distortion like heat on a desert road.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi's energy is low, her system is damaged. Jelly leaks through cracks in her frame from when Shizune managed to nail her outside of her armor. She's missing a wing, a tailfin, and smoke billows from a ruined engine. The fact that she's panting is only a conincidence--necessary to vent heat while leaking coolant. She stares at Shizune's reaction to the gauss cannons, mildly horrified.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not a weapon she should use on people in any context.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But the martial artist isn't down. In fact, the girl has gone airborne. Jerking back a step, Vervi follows that ascending arc, shading her eyes against the stadium lights when Shizune briefly disappears amidst their glare. Her remaining engine ignites, too damaged to give her the thrust to fly on its own but enough to quite suddenly hurl the shinki backwards when Shizune's fist slams down scant millimeters from crushing her flat. The rushing wind and ki from the strike alone rips Vervi's chestplate right off, even though she had not even been directly struck. The ferocity of the blow also knocks loose the right-side gauss cannon, as it didn't have a full wing to mount to in the first place. It clatters down between Vervi and her foe.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Feet spread for stability, Vervi skids to a halt a few inches back from where she had started. Immediately, her remaining engine roars back to life and hurls her straight at Shizune's face. With her missiles spent, her rifle missing, and her gunpods jammed, there's only one thing a True Warrior of Justice can do.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vervi thrusts her leg out, brings up her arms in a pose she saw a Union ally do once, and trusts in her righteous heart.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasppppp!<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pinkie sucks in the deepest, longest, breath ever and holds it. She pantomimes biting on her nails, but this is a moot point while wearing that pink mask. But it gets the point across.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shizune took it REALLY BAD from those tiny rail guns. I looks like she's down and..."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASP!!!!!!!!!1!!!one!!!<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"SHE STILL HAS ONE HP LEFT! AND SHE'S PUTTING THE LAST OF HER MP INTO ONE FINAL BLAZING ATTACK! With her legs shot out, Shizune just took the most AMAZING vault with her hands, and she's coming down... Down... Down... All that strength is heating things up- the air is RIPPLING with all of her desire to PUNCH VERVI TO BITS! And it looks like Vervi's going to need some time in the shop now! Her armor is wreeeecked. But the little shinki has heart because she's still up. And she's seen sentai cartoons judging by that pose. It's down to this... It's down to the line... I... I... ... can't hold it back..."<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pinkie Pie squeals:<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="underline bold_fg_r bg_n ++ hur">'FINISH HER!'</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The stone where Vervi had been shatters. Just plain shatters. Shizune's hand comes away bloody. But that's nowhere near as much damage as the ground took<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's already starting to collapse when Vervi's kick connects, and it's forceful enough to knock her /sprawling/.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And for several seconds, Shizune just... lies there. But she's still breathing. And with med techs already rushing in, she at least manages to push herself up on her elbow long enough to give Vervi a genuine smile. "Congratulations. And thank you, for sending me out on an amazing fight."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:192|Vervi (192)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Shizune falls backwards, Vervi continues on her attack trajectory for a DRAMATIC MOMENT, highlighted by lights from the stadium stands. When she lands, it's on the fallen martial artist's belly. It's also less than dignified. Vervi hits, bounces, and her armor finally gives up the ghost. The flight back snaps off as well as the coverings on her left leg, Gauntlets break loose and, generally, most of her equipment has just flat out fallen off.<br /> <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Battered, she hauls herself up to a wariza-style seat on Shizune's midsection and offers the defeated martial artist a tired but appreciative smile, "Th-thank you, miss Nakamura. And I'm sorry if I hurt you too badly." Looking down, she admits, "..Sometimes I don't think through what I'm doing until after I do it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pinkie Pie is now back in the announcer booth. And that poor intern is with her looking as white as a ghost as she grabs the microphone and starts having some kind of insane sugar rush. While tooting a...<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Kazoooooooo~!<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"There you have it folks! Another AMAZING fight here at the World Martial Arts Tournament. Our fighters are wrecked, the arena is wrecked, the crowd is going wild. It was an amazing display of martial prowess and quick reflexes, and she put up an intense fight, but in a neck-and-neck brawl it looks like tiny beats taiji, because Vervi is our winner of the night! And her prize is a lifetime supple of cupcake flavored Jelly Cans that--" Panicked intern whispering ensues. "What do you mean I can't award her that?!"<br> <br>


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