2876/WMAT CQ1 Takamachi Nanoha vs Testarossa Fate

WMAT CQ1 Takamachi Nanoha vs Testarossa Fate
Date of Scene:	21 August 2015
Location:	WMAT Arena - Northern Mountains
Synopsis:	Takamachi Nanoha takes on Testarossa Fate in the WMAT qualifiers!
Cast of Characters:	127, 381, 401
Tinyplot:	WMAT 2015

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Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    Alighting atop one of the jagged rocks, Nanoha lets out a deep breath. She won her fight against the other Fate largely through unpredictable tactics and 'not being the other Nanoha,' by her mind, but this Fate... is her best friend, and probably knows all her tricks. This is going to be a hard fight for entirely different reasons!

    Still, it's going to be a good test of both of their abilities. That's why she's smiling, giving a little bow as soon as Fate shows up. "Fate~" She calls out. "It's been a while since we saw one another go all out. Do your best, okay?"

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    "Mm."

    It's an affirmative little sound. Not so much the cold reply Fate gave to the other Fate during their fight. But from how the blonde is perched on a high rock of her own, boots resting as light as a feather on the very point of one of the spires, cloak swirling in the wind, might bring back some memories.

    [YES MA'AM.] Bardiche replies as Fate slings the black axe into readied position.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    "Eheh..." Still smiling, Nanoha rubs her head at Fate's quiet. "Okay! I guess I'll start us off. It kind of brings back memories, but maybe this time we won't have something throwing giant killballs at us. Or zombies. Or... I'll um, get us started." Yeah, maybe she shouldn't dredge up some of those memories, no matter how bonding they were. Lightly, she lifts off into the air, Raising Heart snapping into position.

    <ACCEL SHOOTER> Raising Heart speaks, starting the fight off with a quick series of little glowing balls blasting toward Fate, before Nanoha dives to the side.

Kirikou (127) has posed:
    Though Kirikou hasn't seen much of the two 'good' girls from the Confederacy, he considers them good people in truth. Not the compromised morality of a lot of his fellows, but people committed to doing the right thing regardless of the cost. This, however, this is just a fight. A lucky fight where two good friends test each other to see who might go on to other challenges. The best kind of fight, really.

    He turns to the two Twins in turn, eyeing them. "Which one are you cheering for?" he asks them both. They both stand, moving silently as one, and point as one to the combatants. One at Fate, one at Nanoha. *sigh*

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Why go and bring up the zombies? Even Fate flashes a sour face and shudders at the memory. But the slight shift of her grip on Bardiche says she's good to go though. "Alright. I won't hold back." Nor does she expect Nanoha to, either.

    And then it starts. The barrage of pink light is all the cue Fate needs to be off her perch, jinking in the air as she puts on speed, weaving to evade. She hasn't put on her top speed just yet, judging from how the flurry of fire grazes her a little more nearly than anticipated, giving metaphorical first blood to Nanoha. But then...

    [SCYTHE FORM!]

    With a snak-HISH, Bardiche's axe-head snaps back, blade coming to life in a plume of voltaic golden light, coalescing into that bladed shape as Fate closes the distance for a air-cutting swipe.

    "Hawawawawaaa..." That's Arf in the stands, the tiny wolf-pup girl watching fairly intently, "Which one should I cheer forrrrrrrr?" Howled in dismay.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    As expected of Fate, she didn't waste time in closing the distance. Nanoha was already on the move, and trying to dive down and interpose some of the rocks between her and Fate. "Ah...!" It kind of works, for the most part, but it's a close shave. The scythe slices through the bottom skirt of her Barrier Jacket, and she tumbles away with a scramble that is more desperate than anything else. Several more of the Accel Shooters are clustered around her, and she sends off a quick series of shots toward Fate at close range, trying to hang on to her advantage as long as she can before being forced into close combat.

    Down in the stands, the kitten grooming herself beside the puppy meows, "My Mistress is the best, but we can cheer for both!"

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    "No way, Fate's the best, Nanoha can't keep up with her!" Arf yaps.

    And speaking of that speed, Fate kicks it up just a notch, nimbly jerking aside from the renewed hail- even at such close range- in an intense display of honed reflexes. But there's no giving Nanoha that breather the pigtailed mage wants, pressing at her defenses at a range close enough to look into Fate's scarlet eyes.

    This is when she tries to hook Bardiche behind Nanoha, a sudden heaving spin to try and launch her friend groundwards and follow up with a a sudden snap of gold, pitched from her hand like a fastball.

    [THUNDER BULLET!]

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    Whoop. Looks like Fate expected that. Which means Nanoha squeaks as her leg is grabbed and she's HURLED downward, with no chance to stop the bullet of magic from slamming into her back and sending her atumble. Her ankle-wings flutter and blaze with light, but they only slow her down enough that she kind of bounces off the ground before righting herself. "Owwww..." Eh, pain is to be expected.

    It has given her a little space though! <DIVINE SHOOTER,> Raising Heart says, as she whipps around and sets off a blaze of high-speed pink toward her friend. "Ehehe... I guess I was kind of asking for that, wasn't I?"

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    "Yes." Fate calls it as she sees it, eyes dancing as she twirls Bardiche once. A little dramatic perhaps, but then comes the reprisal.

    [DEFENSER!]

    Hand snapping forward as Bardiche forms a half-dome of glowing gold, Fate holds the shield spell up while in motion, each impact weathering away at her defenses as she tries to reposition herself, until the shield finally cracks. Left with only her reflexes and Barrier Jacket to soak the impact, she twists on a snap, grunting as Nanoha takes the initiative with the mid-range. But with a wave of her Device, Fate isn't helpless at this range either, several golden arrow-heads snapping into existence at her side.

    [PHOTON LANCER FULL AUTO FIRE.] Pinged alertingly before a whisper of "Fire." Sends them streaking back in counter.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    <PROTECTION POWERED> Raising Heart counters, tossing up the glimmering shield of pink upward. It catches several of the arrows, but the globe of magic racks rapidly, and eventually splinters to let some of the lances impact upon her Barrier Jacket with a squeak of shock.

    It's given her precious time though, as she's shooting off in another direction, skimming the side of one of the rocky protrubances to let the rest of Fate's attacks shatter rock instead of impacting her. As she loops up and around, she breathes sharp and ragged, pausing just long enough to send a scattered series of small pellets toward Fate, numerous little attack bolts that by themselves aren't too effective, but add up quickly.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    They do add up. Fairly badly, in fact, even as Fate tries to weather through the assault. Cloak rendered to a tattered rag, several scorch marks now all over her Barrier Jacket, grunting from exertion and pain from a few hits she takes more directly than she would have liked, while trying to--

    [BLITZ--

    There's just a flash og black and gold, as Fate tries to get herself behind Nanoha, Bardiche finishing that intonation as she's raising the scythe poised to strike. She's gotten only faster, since the day Nanoha met her. -ACTION.]

    This is when the spell circle forms. A gleaming rune of golden light, serving as a spell catalyst and aiming focus as a peal of thunder calls out, lightning striking her Device from the clouds above as she shoves her palm at the spell <span class=" bold_bg_y fg_n ++ ircle.

    chy">[PLASMA SMASHER.]</span> Causing it to erupt outwards in a massive yellow beam.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    Out of the shower of particles that Nanoha spammed, Fate bursts free, and in another moment the spell circle is igniting with that bright yellow color. "AH!" The young girl flings up a shield, this one the Round Shield that shimmers into existence and manages to catch the beam... mostly. The blast slams into the shield, and when the beam dies out, the shield is disappearing, with Nanoha's hand and bracer scorched and smoking. Panting heavily, she sways in position before recovering her balance and shooting off to the side.

    Meanwhile- <DIVINE BUSTER> Raising Heart announces, a cartridge loudly loading into place. Whipping her staff around, she fires the beam in a blast of mystical energy, ripping up the nearby stones in its wake.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Where Nanoha shields, Fate evades. And no sooner than Raising Heart announces Nanoha's go to spell for mass destruction, she opts to not be in its way. All Nanoha might see is just a flutter of that cloak, maybe a fleeting afterimage of the blonde in motion as Fate swerves out of the blast range, boots tearing up a furrow in the dust. "Too slow, Nanoha." An idle tease as Bardiche's cylinder revs.

    Ka-CHUNK.

    A cartridge is loaded.

    Nanoha said to go all out. Fate said she wouldn't hold ba<span class=" bold_fg_y bg_n ++ k.

    chy">[SPILT MIDNIGHT.]</span>

    For a brief instant, Fate trails purple, as crackling bolts and spheres the color of amethyst light form in an orbit around her before lashing out in a sudden snap-fire of dazzling purple spheres- seeking Nanoha out with an almost vendetta-like doggedness.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    "Eheh... you always were faster," Nanoha admits as Fate dodges outright. She turns in midair, trying to follow her friends path, dodging to the side while already raising a glowing pink shield. "But I think I've gotten your-"

    Pattern? What spell was THAT? Nanoha doesn't know it, so it takes her by surprise. The barrier soaks up one of the spheres, but the others explode around and upon her, tossing her backward roughly with a short and surprised <span class=" bold_fg_m bg_n ++ ry.

    chm"><DIVINE BULLET></span>

    The reaction shot is quick, as Nanoha fires off the burst of pink light at high speed, trying to catch Fate off guard while she herself attempts to catch her breath.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Both girls seem to have tricks up their sleeves. No sooner than Fate hears that spell go off, she's already going too fast on her course to adjust. Though one hand snaps up, the glimmering gold runic shield forming in front of her just in time, it's not enough to halt the onrush of that single projectile. It holds for a moment... Then it cracks visibly. Then it shatters, the spell punching clean through the blonde's defense and slamming her in the chest with an abusive amount of force.

    With a gasp, the wind is punched from Fate's lungs as her momentum is now suddenly going the opposite direction, stopping only once she's smashed through to the other side of a large rocky spire.

    Taking just a second to suck down a wheeze of breath and clear herself of stone, dust, and debris, she shifts grip on her Devi<span class=" bold_fg_y bg_n ++ e.

    chy">[SHE HAS GOTTEN GOOD SIR.]</span>

    "Mm. Yes."

    [ORDERS?]

    "Let's show her."

    [YES SIR.]

    Putting on speed, the mountain is no longer in Fate's way as she smashes back through it on the return trip as Bardiche expends another cartridge in a CHUNK-hissss.

    [PHOTON BURST.]

    Taking aim and thrusting the black axe's head through the aiming rune, exploding outwards in a shotgun spray of purple-gold electric crackling light.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    While Nanoha thought she was ready for this, she... wasn't. The sphere of protection that flashes up isn't enough for the spray of electrical projectiles that hammer into it, shattering it and peppering her with burning and stunning power! "HYA!" HEr arms come up to shield herself, but she still ends up blown back, slamming into rock then rolling aside in a last second evasion of the last few bolts.

    "You've learned a lot!" Nanoha says without much surprise. She's actually pretty happy she got to show off, even if she's not sure if she'll win against the improved Fate. There aren't a lot of moves that this one doesn't know.

    Which is why she tries a reckless maneuver. <FLASH MOVE> Raising Heart announces, letting Nanoha blur and dash in far too close for comfort. If Fate is changing tactics, maybe she can sneak in a quick thwack with her staff, supercharged with mana around it, to slam toward Fate's side.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Those reflexes are just wrong. Now the high speed cameras have to kick in when Nanoha puts on that blinking burst, and Fate matches it. The two, for a brief instant, move so fast that time itself seems to slow down, dilating around the pair, moving at equal blinding speeds- fast enough to see specks of dust, slender tendrils of crackling electricity, and the floating camera helicopters all moving at a sluggish, molasses, pace.

    But Fate is still faster, Bardiche coming up at the last second, deflecting an impact jarring enough to leave her hands numb. "You have too."

    [A MARKED IMPROVEMENT.]

    But the time for praise is over as Fate slides Bardiche along Raising Heart, intending to swipe the staff-Device aside and try to shove Nanoha off balan<span class=" bold_fg_y bg_n ++ e.

    chy">[NIGHT BLAZE.]</span>

    Two circles of light form, one atop the other, suddenly coming alive with a blazing pillar of purple light forming between them.

    A pillar of searing electricity that Fate tries to herd Nanoha twoards with a lightning flurry of slashes, swipes, cuts, and cleaving slashes meant to chip away at the redhead's defense while trying to inexorably push her into the searing column.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    That's... going to take some doing. Nanoha squeaks, weaving and diving, each crackling bolt managing to singe her that much more. One of them even impacts her, square on her chest armor, to stagger her back and almost force her to roll right into the pillar. "G-gah! Oh wow!" She screeches to a halt just in time, barely managing to dive around the pillar and singing her bracer on it, ending up wobbling in mid-flight with her staff coming up again. Another cartridge loads.

    <POWERED BUSTER> Raising Heart announces, a short burst of boosted energy erupting from the staff head before Nanoha tumbles back more, trying to dive around a pillar this time.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Nanoha's gotten slippery, hasn't she? For all Fate presses that offensive, she loses Nanoha in the midst of one swipe, earning a small "Tch..." whilst cursing herself for getting somewhat zealous. It may be a friendly duel, but Fate isn't pulling her swings. But she has to divert her efforts from being on the offensive, to suddenly defending again.

    That burst of pink connects directly with another round shield, a clear strain for Fate to hold against as the steel of her gauntlet cracks, the glove beneath it fraying, arm scorching an angry red, and Barrier Jacket scorching down to her shoulder she she tries to endure it- only for the shield to shatter.

    Sucking in a gulp of air as the remnant energies blaze along her side and hip, she's starting to really look worse for wear. But that's not going to stop her, snapping her good hand forward and making a crushing motion with her fist.

    [CRUSHING DARKNESS.]

    "Nanoha. Watch it."

    It's the only warning she gives, out of simple courtesy, as the two spell runes from before shift, that pillar of dark magics attempting to move- engulf Nanoha- and then slam together like two walls with a tiny mage between them.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    "Watch... AH!" The pillars slam together, and there's a blur of pink! Clipped on the way out, Nanoha surges forward, tumbling some from the snag on her foot that pinches it on the way out. This sends her hurtling right toward Fate! Flailing her arms, she tries to right herself... but has a bigger problem. She's headed right into her friend's melee range!

    <DIVINE BURST> Raising Heart announces, righting Nanoha with a powerful but undirected BLAST of bright pink mana forward, trying to overwhelm Fate so she doesn't fall into scything range.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Try as Nanoha might, Fate really isn't keen on letting the mage in white have the range advantage again. I nthe midst of that flailing, Fate is already zipping back into brawling range, darting just under Raising Heart's barrel at the last second and earning a burn mark on her cheek for her troubles, her first intent is to use Bardiche's scythe blade to once again hook the other girl around the waist.

    "This might hurt a bit. Sorry."

    There's no doubt about it now, Fate is going all out. The sky is darkening again. Much akin to her fight with Fate the elder, as thunder claps and lightning flashes. Only barely illuminating the spheres of inky blackness that dot the sky like stars of darkness. Nearly as many, if not more than Phalanx shift. Fate will try to use that scything hook to sweep Nanoha into the midst of that field of black death, before they all converge at their intended target.

    [DARK FALL.]

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    Ohhh, that's not good. Nanoha raises a barrier, but though the scythe slams into it and doesn't go anywhere... this time, Fate is successful in knocking her backward, 'skidding' through the air and glancing back... a hair too late. "AH!"

    The black crackling pillars blast her directly, making Nanoha's body arch from the shock, before she's hurled right back out with her jacket smoking and her body tumbling forward. Her wings sputter and flick, the anklet wings fading for a moment and leaving her to fall... until she rights herself at the last second, panting heavily and looking burned and battered from the close brush. "Raising Heart..."

    <STARLIGHT BUSTER> the Device announces, swirling motes gathering in short order and a cartridge slamming into place. The brilliant light surrounding her staff lights up the arena, causing Vesta to shield her eyes before the pillar of pink launches out toward her best friend.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Always so bright. Like a star. One of searing pain.

    Can't much wish upon one of those, but Fate can try to survive its downfall.

    [MULTIPLE DEFENSER!]

    Several layers of round shields spread form her fingers, the largest looming larger than she is tall, each one smaller and more focused than the last set in front of one another. But for all she tries to hold them up, the first soaks the roiling pillar of pink light, and withstands it for the span of perhaps two breaths before shattering to golden dust. Each shield struggling to maintain cohesion against the bombardment and each faring no better than the last until the final barrier is all that rests between Fate and a world of blindingly pink pain.

    Her glove peels away from the force bleeding through the last shield- which cracks visibly- a very brief look of shock betraying the qualing feeling in the blonde's chest before that too shatters and she's engulfed.

    For a moment, everything is too bright. And Fate blacks out in a world of rose-colored light, only to wake up in a crater, every part of her body angrily sore as she picks herself up slowly, leaning on Bardiche with a panting gasp. But she doesn't let herself give in just yet. Even with her Barrier Jacket seared massively and her Device showing wear and damage. "M-mn..."

    [S-ss. STILL GREEN LIGHT, SIR.]

    That's all she needs hear from her faithful Device, shoving herself back onto her feet and reels the black axe back, head snapping into that scythe blade of light...

    [ARC SABER.]

    And heaving to launch it like a boomerang in reprisal.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    Nanoha meanwhile has already taken off, shooting up into the air and fluttering wings. She zips up around a rocky outcropping, moving in for another attack... and right into the spinning yellow arc that is her friend's next attack. "Ah! Look out!" That's to Raising Heart, as she skids into a halt in midair, throwing her hand up for a block-

    Too late. The Arc Saber hits her barrier but tears right through the ill-risen shield and blasting her hard with electricity and mana. "HYAH!" Nanoha tumbles, falling and then bouncing off a rock before rolling to a stop, rubbing her side. Her Jacket is in tatters, and she doesn't have much left.

    "Raising Heart?"

    Her last cartridge loads, and with some difficulty she lines up a shot with the reeling but still-quick opponent, sending off a blast of pink light that tears through the landscape on its way toward Fate.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Breathless and pushed to her limit, Fate really must concede, Nanoha has learned a lot. So very much. To think that the girl had started off as little more than some primitive savage earth child from a backwater planet. And now she's more than a match for the blonde herself.

    It takes all of Fate's effort of will to get her sore and aching body in motion again, heaving herself aside with a grunt, before the gold wings on her boots kick up her speed for an added boost, just BARELY escaping the worst of the blast zone, but not perfectly. Fresh angry red welts mark pale skin as she tumbles to halt on her knees.

    "Nanoha... Did you forget...?"

    Arc Saber flies like a boomerang.

    It comes back around.

    [SABER EXPLODE.]

    And it's always worse on the return trip.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
    "Ehehe... no, I didn't forget," Nanoha admits. "I just um... can't move very fast right now," she admits sheepishly as Raising Heart ejects the cartridge and vents steam. Not much to do here, because she knows she's been beaten. All she can do is toss up a quick barrier to blunt the attack somewhat... but when the saber slams into it, she vanishes in an explosion that tosses her aside.

    "Ow..." She giggles. "I guess you win this one, Fate."

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    That's it then. Hissing steam in a great venting gust, Bardiche returns to Standby form.

    [GOOD MATCH.]

    "Mm. But you made me fight for it."