Scene #2663: Zephyr--Swords and Sorcery

Owner	Pose
Higeki	Mining Station Zephyr Personnel Acess Gate #14 Quite suddenly the uprights of Gate 14 light up and the space between them ignites in the telltale shimmer of a jumpgate portal. What emerges is a teenaged girl in a modified school uniform, dropping a few feet to floor level once she's fully materialized. As she rises to her full height, she tucks one hand into the pocket of her blazer while the other strikes the floor itself with the object she's holding: A Japanese sword, still in its scabbard. "Uh, hey--" One of the foremen glances over, "We're not expecting any Elite inspections. Are you with the Union?" The girl lifts her sword and approaches, perhaps so she won't have to raise her voice. Her free hand leaves her pocket, grabbing on to the sword's hilt. In a swift motion the blade is drawn and the questioning worker collapses in a fountain of red. With the same practiced motion, the weapon is quickly slide back into its sheath, and then lifted to tuck under one arm. Casually, Chell produces and lights a cigarette, then flicks the smoldering match into the red stain she'd just created. "No." Trailing smoke, the girl steps over the carcass and strolls across the arrival deck, men scattering around her, "Listen up! This place now belongs to the Black Blade Syndicate, you hear me? You chumps are workin' for me now!"
Twilight Sparkle	As the foreman falls, someone else emerges from a nearby corridor. And her ears slump as she sees that she is too late. "N-no...how could you?! Even if you are attempting to take over this place, he did not deserve that!" The person isn't a human, but a small purple unicorn. She looks rather upset, too. The pony starts toward the attacking girl, anger obvious in her expression. There is a sparkle at her horn, then a flow of purple-white sparkles flows over her, forming into a sort of armor and a cloak, as well as a large book with a silvery metal cover. "I am Twilight Sparkle, and I cannot abide such violence! Please, stand down. I do not wish to hurt you, but I will if it means I can save others from your careless hands."
Sumia	Access Gate #15, not too far away. The sound of galloping hooves then the heavy sound of wing beats echo through the corridors. The voices come to her ears and she frowns, perhaps she should have come as a cleric... But it's too late now, she's here as her Pegasus Knight self, lance in hand as she lands in the hall facing the awaiting conflict. She sees a human with a sword scabbard but... the purple pony in front of her? That must be the voice she heard on the Union bands. Ally perhaps? She hefts the lance and nods, "Please, stand down. This ca.. can be resolved differently. If you do not, we will be forced to engage and I will not hold back..." her voice is a bit shaky, unsure of herself but she's here now and nothing can be done about that!
Higeki	Chell swings her weapon up to rest it, scabbard and all, over her shoulder. The cigarette sweeps aside to the corner of her mouth while she regards the pastel-colored pony chiding her. The girl's expression is neutral, with a haughty undercurrent. That sort of 'why should I listen to you?' look in those red eyes of hers. Faint wisps of purple leak from the sheathed weapon she holds, which weren't there a moment ago. "I could because it's the only way this trash understands power," Chell states evenly, "Gotta show your strength, you know. Put the fear of death in 'em. Then they'll do whatever you want." The sword is lowered, planted against the floor between her feet so she can rest both hands on the hilt, "Violence an' strength make the world go 'round. You got a problem with that, crawl back into the fairy tale you crawled out of." The arrival of a second winged horse draws Chell's attention towards Sumia, and she shifts her stance slightly, fingers wrapping around the hilt, "'Course, you can fight me. All that cutesy shit pisses me off anyway, I don't mind kickin' both yer asses."
Twilight Sparkle	Twilight Sparkle continues forward as Higeki starts talking. "On my world, friendship and harmony make the world go round. So, yes, I have a problem with your heartless philosophy, but I will not crawl away. I am a defender of justice and happiness. Perhaps it is you who should crawl back to your nightmare of a world!" Twilight's horn starts to glow with a bright purple light, and her book opens, pages facing toward the mystery girl. "I am a pony. We excel at kicking. I will not tell you again. Withdraw, or you will be sorry!" The book is starting to glow now, with energy obviously building in the pages. Twilight looks over at Sumia, then offers a light smile one offers a comrade. "Don't worry. As long as we work together, we will not be defeated."
Sumia	"I'm a sworn defender of my kingdom. The Union and it's property are part of the kingdom I help protect. I will ..." her voice cracks a bit then with a firm nod. "I will defend this place with my honor!" as the pegasus makes a few large strides forward, getting ready to propel its rider into the incoming conflict.. A look towards Twilight and a soft nod. Protect that pony at all costs. She knows what happens to mages who get rushed on. She was there herself. "I know not of why you think this is buisness but there are better ways to conduct it!" the lance is set and she steels her gaze upon Chell, "Please, do not try our patience."
Higeki	Eyes closing, Chell raises her free hand to rub the back of her head, "Man, figures you'd pick the hard way." Eyes crack open, glancing aside as workers scatter partly in fear of the woman who just murdered their foreman and partly to avoid the coming storm. She glances the other way to a similar scene, then swings her eyes back to rest upon the pony and the pegasus knight. "That's a 'nightmare' called 'reality'. Pretty hilarious accusation coming from a pastel-colored horse." Her fingers flex, then tighten around her weapon. The other hand tenses around the scabbard, pulling the black blade just a few inches from the scabbard, wreathed in faint but visible violet flame, "But hey. You wanna pick the hard way--" The sword is clicked back away and Chell drops into a fighter's stance, sword sheathed and held against her side in a ready posture, "--That's fine with me! You've picked a fight with the Black Fox, leader of the Black Blade Syndicate--!" Her forward foot kicks off, hurling the girl forward in a high speed dash, "--not that you'll have to remember it after I've sliced you both to ribbons!"
Twilight Sparkle	Twilight Sparkle lets out an angry huff as Chell dashes forward. Whether she is dashing toward Twilight or Sumia, Twilight's book spins rapidly and suddenly fires a solid beam of purple-white energy, carefully aimed that even if Chell dodges it, Sumia and the miners will not be in danger. This mostly consists of aiming at a slight upward angle in the hopes of hitting Chell in the upper chest and head. "It is not hilarious! Friendship is very important, and one of the most powerful things in the Multiverse! I hope that one day worlds like your see that and stop their needless violence!" the pastel-colored pony says with conviction.
Sumia	Sumia's gaze looks uncomfortable at the sword and the woman, something doesn't feel right but she can't put her mind on it. "And I, Sumia, Knight Sister of Ylisse will stand lance to sword with you!" Sumia blinks as Chell kicks off and moves and the Pony shoots a bolt of energy. Okay, that makes her uncomfortable too... but. She gets up and goes, kicking her pegasus into gear as she move to try and intercept! With a jump, she aims down onto Chell, looking to either smash with her pegasus' hooves or stab with the lance, either way, she's trying to interpose herself between the Mage and the Madwoman. "Stay away from her! You know it's not right to attack a mage!"
Higeki	Chell plants her forward foot and draws herself down into a crouch, narrowly avoiding a beam of magic right in the face. It's close enough that she can smell the singed hairs caught in the bolt, and while it's missed her, it succeeded in halting the madwoman's charge long enough for Sumia to place herself right in the way. This prompts her to bare her teeth and she wrenches her sword from its sheath in a flare of blazing violet. "You ain't gonna save her, you can't even save yourself! A horse is a big fat target, bitch!" The initial strike comes in low, a rising arc of a slash directed at Sumia's mount, rather than the rider herself, traced in a blaze of violet light. She follows it up with a downward swing at an angle, meant to cross Sumia herself, a swing which ends with Chell sliding the blade back inside its scabbard. In the same motion she kicks off, hurling herself backwards a few paces for more breathing room.
Sumia	Pegasus Knights are expert riders in Ylisse, however, they're trained in Ylissean and other combat forms and not these strikes. She kicks back a bit, the pegasus taking a nick to the flank but the motion that crosses in the downward swing finds purchase in the armor, cutting it wide and causing Sumia to stumble back with her mount, a hand holding the wound... and a feel of liquid upon it. Sumia scowls a bit, "The Pegasus Knights mounts are not big targets!" she retorts, backing up slightly to lower her lance while the pegasus' wings launch her into the air, "I will not have you defile the legacy my Sister's have made and I will NOT let you have this place at all! Let her have it, Twilight!" Sumia's mount's wings take a hard flap as she makes a high speed dive towards Chell, that lance pointed in a way to try and dig into the sword arm, though, this may not be too accurate, she's just trying to cause her to be unbalanced!
Twilight Sparkle	"That isn't even the right species! We are mares or stallions!" Twilight Sparkle says, seeming a bit confused about Chell's statement. "And a horse may be a big target in some cases, but we are also quite strong!" After the beam has passed, Twilight's book shuffles its pages, then starts to spin again. This time, the many rocks that dot the area thanks to this being a mining complex rise into the air, then start bombarding Chell at high speed. "Take that, you evil...um...female human!" Once Sumia has closed in, the rocks stop flying and instead Twilight tries to use her magic to hold Chell still.
Higeki	"Yeah?" Chell slides to a halt from her backwards hop, "Seems like I hit you. What else does a target do?" She spares a quick glance down at her weapon, now pulsing more noticeably with that violet light. There had been some crimson lining its black edge when she slid it away, and now with Sumia charging down on her, she wrenches the weapon from its scabbard--completely clean--into a parrying maneuver, striking the lance solidly enough to knock it aside and using the impact to shove herself aside, "--Tch..!" The speed of the attack means the signature counterattack of her Iaijutsu style won't land, and so she twirls in midair to land facing Twilight. The vicious grin on her face is enough to curdle milk, though it evaporates as soon as the first rock flies, striking the side of her head and drawing blood, "--Ghh!" Another strikes her leg, and the barrage intensifies. With a growl, Chell pulls her sword free and enters a dance of slashes, traced in the air by violet arcs to intercept incoming stones. "--Getting--sick--of--your--shit--!" With a shout, she slams the blade down, and then wrenches it up, hurling an arc wave of that horrific purple flame across the ground towards the more colorful of the two fighters. As it travels, it rips open the metal grating along the floor, literally slashing the hallway in two.
Twilight Sparkle	Twilight Sparkle hmphs as Chell says that. "Then, perhaps you should leave!" she says before blinking as that energy wave comes flaming toward her. Her eyes widen and her teeth clench in surprise. "Oh my!" Twilight's horn starts to glow brightly, and she seems to disappear in the blast from the sword. It looks like she was obliterated... Until, a short distance away, the purple pony reappears, her mane smoldering and a gash along her front, clean through the breastplate she wears as part of her armor. Twilight is panting softly after her rushed teleportation and the damage that was inflicted. "What is your motivation? Money? Power? What could be worth this attack and the trouble it is causing both for you and for others?" As she speaks, Twilight's horn starts glowing again. This time, the grating in front of Chell shudders, then splits apart along the cut she herself made. It spreads apart quickly beneath her, then closes shut again quickly, attempting to catch her like a bear trap.
Sumia	Sumia's parried away and sent skidding along with her mount towards a far edge. Steel floors make not for a good place to get traction with hooves. At least, normal hooves. The explosion and blast send the Knight actually gasping and quickly making a statement on the radio, but hearing Twilight's voice sends her only a tiny bit at ease. This woman is unnatural. Almost... no.. it can't be. Sumia once again takes to the air and reaches into a small pack on the Pegasus, pulling a javelin out, "Come on... hit at least the leg..." she mutters to herself as she rears back and lets one of the light spears fly from her hand towards the sword wielding woman. A quick reload of another javelin and she looses it once more and repeats it once more, three of them in the air in near quick succession. "I'm not going to let you close to her any more! Your fight is with me you weak willed woman!"
Higeki	"Hey, I planted my flag here, YOU leave!" Chell shouts as she sheathes her sword once more. Her stance lowers, readying another attack, when the floor suddenly buckles and then clamps around her foot with a spray of crimson. There's no shout of pain, though. Rather, she seems more annoyed at the inconvenience, shooting a look downward and letting out a curse in her furious state. Pinned as she is, the javelins impact one after the other. The first pierces her thigh, going all the way through. The second and third impact higher up, through the back of her shoulder and through her back on the opposite side, striking solidly enough that the light-forged spears stick out through her bloodied chest. The look on Chell's face is one of surprise and shock, her jaw hanging open. Blood escapes her mouth as she arcs her back, staring down at herself. But rather than die, as one might expect, her mouth closes into a bloodied sneer. "Fuckin' excellent." The sword in her hand pulses with unnatural light as she draws it free of its scabbard, slashing downward to sever the grating pinning her leg. Violet flames start to form around her, floating in haphazard patterns. Twisting, she points with her weapon, hurling the orbs towards Sumia and her pegasus. The blade is then swept around, hurling off a crescent-shaped spray of violet flames. Rather than cut, it burns with both heat and hate, lighting violet-tinged fires around her. The entire time, the woman in black laughs a wet, sinister laugh. It's pretty damn lucky the rest of the workers bailed out.
Sumia	Sumia shakes her head, "OUR Flag was planted long before you trespassed on my kingdom's territory! YOU leave!" Though the spray of crimson catches her eyes, the lack of pain ... is unnerving. And the three javelins that hit... go through and there's no pain there. There's blood... there's movement.. but no shock of pain and she's still alive from it. "What.. is she..." The Pegasus snorts in awe of what is transpiring, "Care now..." she whispers, "Careful..." though when she breaks free of the grating imprisonment, Sumia's eyes widen and then the projectile sprays of flame. Frozen in fear, the spray hits and immolates the girl, knocking her off the pegasus and diving into the ground, crying in pain from it. "Nnnnaaaah! It burns!"
Twilight Sparkle	"No! Our flag was here first!" Twilight calls out. "And, you attacked a civilian! You are a criminal! You shall be punished for your crimes!" Twilight, despite her words, winces as Chell is pierced by those javalins. Twilight is hoping that will be the end of it. Usually, when one is pierced through the chest and legs by javalins, one retreats. At least, in Twilight's experience. But...this girl just seems -more- energized somehow! "Wh-what is she?!" she says as she watches Chell cut the grating then swing those flames at Sumia. "Sumia!!" Twilight leaps toward Sumia, her horn glowing brightly. Then, she disappears in a twinkle and appears by Sumia before in a burst of magic an energy shield forms around them, diverting the rest of the flames. But, Sumia is on fire! Twilight's book twirls, then flips through a few pages before it glows and a gush of water bursts forth to douse Sumia. Twilight is focusing on Sumia, so she can't spare a spell to attack Chell at the moment. And she is really hoping the pegasus is able to take care of itself.
Higeki	"Heh heh..." Chell hunches forward, dripping blood across the mangled flooring. Whirling at the waist, she casts a single crimson eye on the unicorn and the pegasus-rider, the sword held out at a fearsome angle, wreathed in violet flames. Her own blood runs down her arm, sliding out of her sleeve and then running down its edge. With some effort, Chell hauls herself around full, swinging the blade up and then sliding it back into its scabbard. Reaching up with her now-free hand, the girl pushes back on the javelin sticking from her chest until it dislodges, falling to the floor behind her. This is repeated, discarding the other two spears in a similar fashion. Thus lighter three impalations, Chell steps forward, trailing flecks of her own vital essence in a steady, menacing approach. ...which carries her right past both pony and knight, up the steps to the gate, where she slaps the control with a bloody palm. "...Fuckin' keep it, then." When the portal shimmers to life, Chell disappears into it, leaving behind only the damage she had caused, a 'she should probably be dead' amount of blood, and an aura settling in that seems to deepen the shadows and make the whole work cavern seem far more ominous than it was when she had arrived.
Sumia	Sumia's curled up in pain, the fire eating into her armored dress and heating up the metal quite nicely. She's going to have a few burns from this for sure. The dousing of water seems to have cleared the flames but it leaves the already wounded Knight in quite a bit of pain, rolled onto her back and breathing slowly... "Nngh. Th.. thank you." The fact that Chell is still moving, frightens the Knight... but that she is moving past... and then soon gone... "We will keep it..." she mutters in response, a bit of a proud smile on her face as she turns to look at Twilight. "At least you're not too terribly injured. I promised I'd help."
Twilight Sparkle	Twilight prepares to strengthen her shield as Chell approaches. But then...Chell just walks on passed and leaves. Twilight lets out a breath of relief, then looks at Sumia and smiles softly. "You were a big help. I barely got a scratch. But, we should get you to the medical center." She lowers the shield, then waves to the pegasus. "Would you mind carrying her?" she calls out, as if talking to another person. Twilight then turns her head to the portal. "That girl...she was...not normal. With all that damage, she should not have been able to walk out of here."
Sumia	The pegasus tilts her head and gives a light nod, moving over towards Sumia and leaning down to help pick up the fallen rider. Sumia slowly grasps the reigns and drags herself up, wincing in pain with each movement, "Careful now... I'm hurt... easy movements, no sudden jerking." as if practiced, the pegasus slowly takes to the air, "Good girl... that's a good girl, now..." Sumia looks towards Twilight, "Then I did my job. I said I'd protect you and we both secured the territory. I may have some spare ..." a pause, "Ah, pardon. I just need to drop her off at the Union's stables. Let.. me know if I can get you anything, Twilight."
Twilight Sparkle	Twilight shakes her head. "I am fine. Let's get you cared for." the little pony says, still smiling softly. Then, she looks around. "...there is a darkness here now. I'm not sure I have the power to cleanse it. And...oh no! The man who was struck down!" Twilight looks over, but realizes it is probably too late for him. Still, she calls for medical assistance over the radio. "Please, if anyone is listening, we have wounded at the mining station Zephyr! Send a healer quickly!"
Sumia	"Th.. that's good. And perhaps we can get a priest here to cleanse it. I.. my cleric stance does not have the capabilities to purify this area.." a pause, "So much ... tainted area. Nngh. Let's get out of here Twilight before this stuff starts to affect us..." she comments, making a call over the radio.. "Shall we make leave?"
Higeki	ELSEWHERE: A warpgate swirls open. A girl in a black and white outfit, stained crimson, emerges. Immediately she curses and collapses to her knees and one hand, still clutching the glowing sword in her other hand. Hissing through clenched teeth, Chell hauls the sword up and plants it against the ground, using both hands to haul herself back to her feet. Her breath comes in wet gasps, blood escaping between her teeth and running from the corners of her mouth as well as the wounds covering her body. "/FUCK/ THIS HURTS..!" "Miss Chell?" A hulking man in a black suit reaches out and she turns a furious glower on him which gives him pause. After a moment, he retracts his hand and coughs into it, "Uh. Right. Black Fox. I'll fetch the doctor right away." "Fuckin' hurry up about it, Bruno." Her vision red with pain, the fledgeling mobster hasn't even noticed that her chest wounds have already stopped bleeding.