2014-02-14 - Starfall 3

Title: Starfall 3
Summary: Diners at Linden Baum are interrupted by Elixir Red showing up to yank a star shard out of Sakura Akagi, who promptly metamorphoses into a youma! Both are defeated and Sakura is saved, but afterwards, it's hot potato for that star shard.
Who: Asuka Tominaga, Madobe Kuroi, Honoka Yukishiro, Runealy Waldia, Maron Kusakabe, Kinzo Hiroyuki, Kyouko Sakura, Tadase Hotori, Lucy Iwai, Nagisa Misumi, Sakura Akagi, Yoshirou Kurotsuki, Mai Tokiha, Erika Inagawa, Amu Hinamori, Fuu Hououji, Rei Fushigiyo, Aimi Saionji, Arf, Tomomi Shizuka, Mepple, Mipple
Where: Linden Baum Diner
OOC - IC Date: 02-14-2014 - 12-01-2013

<Pose Tracker> Kinzo Hiroyuki [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kinzo Hiroyuki has arrived, today at the Linden Baum Diner for one main thing, but also other reasons! That is, someone FINALLY found his umbrella. It was a cheap umbrella, but still, he bought it, and he would like it back, and so, he was arrived today to pick it up AND because he has a list of things besides the Umbrella someone found slid behind one of the freezers in the kitchen.

There's no real long line today, so he merely walks up to the counter, asks about his umrbella and places the order his parents want brought back home--- why they wanna order out from so far away, he'd never know. Maybe they don't mind reheated meals, or maybe they just really like the food here regardless-- but not enough to actually come out here with him.

He has a seat in one of the booths and merely waits his turn, perhaps for one of those fancily dressed waitresses to visit his table so he can order something for himself in the meantime.

Also, he has his umbrella again. It's leaned up against the wall on his side of the booth. He most certainly won't accidently leave it here again due to weird circumstances.

COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

A waitress does arrive - orange-haired, and looking rather frazzled. Mai Tokiha, carrying an empty platter recently liberated of drinks. So many ice cream floats today...some days are like that, aren't they? Despite the chill of December's dawn, people seem to want something cold.

But enough woolgathering - there's a customer. "Welcome to Linden Baum! How can we be of service today?" Unsaid is a question about why this gentleman has an umbrella in his booth. Odd though it may be.

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sheakura is headed into the diner for unrelated reasons: namely, to hang out with Erika. Madobe said she might stop by later, but Sakura isn't in any particular hurry today as she wanders in. She looks rather peaceful. She did want to talk to the whole Gang about something important, but... it's the kind of thing that isn't exactly going anywhere. Today: cheeseburgers! She likes any opportunity to get to know Erika a bit better, since they didn't know each other at all before... all of these things happened. She walks into the diner in her day-off clothes, a big red jacket on to keep out the increasing cold.

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sakura is headed into the diner for unrelated reasons: namely, to hang out with Erika. Madobe said she might stop by later, but Sakura isn't in any particular hurry today as she wanders in. She looks rather peaceful. She did want to talk to the whole Gang about something important, but... it's the kind of thing that isn't exactly going anywhere. Today: cheeseburgers! She likes any opportunity to get to know Erika a bit better, since they didn't know each other at all before... all of these things happened. She walks into the diner in her day-off clothes, a big red jacket on to keep out the increasing cold.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Erika is bundled up as well, though she's favored a sweat-shirt with a hood on it (currently down) and a scarf. The scarf is colorful, and might have been hand knit! Fortunately enough it has the orange-and-purple color scheme she seems to like. "Have you ever had a cheeseburger before, Sakura?" she asks. "Because..."

A thoughtful pause.

"They're great," she concludes.

<Pose Tracker> Kinzo Hiroyuki [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kinzo Hiroyuki lost it here a while ago! It was recently found. It still does seem kinda odd. It just sits there. It's pretty ordinary. "Hello!" he says. "Thank you. Uh...I'll have the steak. also, Baked Potato. Also. The Salad." he says, carefully spelling out the sides before she even asks.

"That'll be all, and can you pack that in a to go box?" he asks. "Thank you." he says with as warm a smile as he can muster.

His eyes linger towards the the window just past it, huh. There's Sakura.. and Erika. Okay.

He looks back to Mai with a smile. "Oh, and an Ice Cream Float. Those seem popular today. Just give me the special. Thank you." he says.

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sakura waves to Kinzo and then gives him a quick bow. But she looks for a booth for her and Erika. She pulls back a small piece of hair from her eyes, and nods. "Yes, I've had them here before. They are pretty good! I also like the regular style of burger." Which is really more of a salisbury steak, but Erika probably knows what she means.

She finds an empty booth and sits down.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has fully healed herself.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai's a bit taken aback - but honestly, customers knowing the menu is helpful. She's about to go - then realizes the one thing missing. "I'll get on that shortly, sir - how would you like the steak done, and what flavor ice cream? We have vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, and green tea at the moment."

Once his order's been taken, and handed to the chef, she dashes off to the next recently occupied booth. Busy, busy, busy. "Welcome to Linden Baum! How can we help you today?" They seem to have the right look - and she caught a bit of their conversation coming in - so it wouldn't hurt to... "Would you like to try our cheeseburger special?"

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Madobe had enough attention on her during that trip to the magical world to last her a lifetime and has promptly hid in her room whenever possible since then. She has basically just sent texts to Sakura and otherwise withdrew from the universe. But then, something happened. Something that changed her life forever.

"MADOBE! IF YOU DON'T GO OUTSIDE I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU VACCUUM THE HOUSE!"

And so Madobe steps into the diner, waving towards her friends as she spots them.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Mmm... you know, I kinda do too," Erika says as she gives Kinzo a brief wave and a 'yo' of greeting, but she sits with Sakura as well. Her elbows go on the table and she steeples her fingers.

She gets swift waitress service. "Ummm - I want a cheeseburger plate. And a bubble te- no," she mutters, before looking back up to Mai, "it's cold, that'd be dumb. How about just hot tea, then!"

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sakura waves back at Madobe, gesturing for her to come and take a seat with them. "Ahhh, hot tea is good, and... okay, I guess I'm going to copy your order," she says, flushing a little. "But a cheeseburger sounds good too. I'll get it how you reccommend."

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Erika also beams at Madobe, who just /happened/ to pose like exactly as she hit enter. oops

<Pose Tracker> Kinzo Hiroyuki [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kinzo Hiroyuki is in a seperate booth alone, with an umbrella and an empty backpack he intends to carry food home in. He waves to Madobe as she enters, and also to the others. He doesn't go get up in thier bussiness. At least. Not just yet. He looks at the Waitress. "Medium Well.... and Chocolate. Thank you." he says to Mai with a curt nod.

Kinzo knows the menu here well enough because his parents make him order all the time from it. He rarely needs to check the menu, but does occasionally in case things change up.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai nods quickly to the two orders. "The usual way to have it is...lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise. Do either of you have any objection to that?" She jots down the order, smiling at hot tea. Finally! Someone with sense, ordering a hot drink this time of year! And then a third friend slips into the booth, so Mai will hand her a menu while the others decide.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

The diner's door opens again as Fuu steps inside, having heard through the rumor mill about the Linden Baum's special for today. She doesn't usually go out of her way for a cheeseburger, but she's been eating healthy this past week and a change of pace appeals to her palate. Also, the Linden Baum was more convenient than it sometimes is.

She holds the door open briefly to see if anyone's coming in just behind her; if nobody's on their way up to the door, she lets it close and gets in line to be seated. (Assuming the sign doesn't say 'please be seated' or something similar, at least ...)

<Pose Tracker> Lucy Iwai [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

In her ongoing efforts to somehow map out the entirety of Tokyo city by exploring it on foot, Lucy Iwai has drifted to an area of the city she's not entirely familiar with. A rumble of her stomach has interrupted her journey, however. Unsure where to go to eat, she turned to her increasingly-useful cell phone's rapidly-expanding list of contacts, and went for the most recent addition to hit up for recommendations.

Lucy is thus part of the wave of students rushing the restaurant as lunchtime/dinnertime (who knows?) traffic starting to increase. Today, she's wearing a loose, bright pink sweater with a psychedelic peace sign on it, along with a long yellow skirt. She's accompanied not only by little Didi the Dinosaur (whose head sticks out of Lucy's sports bag, and who may or may not already be salivating at the smell of meat) by a Juuban student a few years her senior. "So, what would you recommend?" She asks to her.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"I'd like extra tomato," Erika tells Mai. Her eyes then flick towards -

A dinosaur.

She seems momentarily fascinated by this sight; her head pivots around, the rest of her body following after as she attempts to lay eyes on Didi the Dinosaur. "/Huh/," she says.

"Madobe, do you see that?"

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Madobe Kuroi Sits down quietly and then blinks at Erika. She looks towards Lucy, and then--Didi the Dinosaur. She looks at Didi the Dinosaur for several seconds. And then she looks back to Erika. She wishes she could say no, even as a joke, but it's too obvious she was staring at Didi the Dinosaur. "It's a pretty cool...stuffed animal... I guess." She looks away. "...Maybe got it from a crane game? Eheh...heh..."

She wrangles her fingers against one another.

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Madobe leans in to murmur to Erika. "I think she drooled on it while she was sleeping..."

<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Tokyo is not a place for racing Motorcycles. However it is a place for the young and the reckless to drive fast. Which is what Takeo Akamizu is doing. Driving fast, dodging in and out of cars. It is a good day. THe sun is out. He has a nice Motorcycle Jacket and his bike is fast.

Takeo stops in fornt of the nearby restaurant and revs his engine a few times as he waits for the light to change. That and the cars in front of him ar blocking any possible egress that might be considered less than legal. So he sighs and waits, taking a gander aroudn teh area.

<Pose Tracker> Yoshirou Kurotsuki [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

?Yoshirou Kurotsuki has /also/ ended up at this restaurant. He is at a booth tucked away to the back, quietly eating some pancakes. He is fairly un-notable, having not dressed up and chosen an inconspicuous booth. He likes pancakes.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The waitress doesn't look at the dinosaur. Not directly. Mai doesn't have the ability to just ignore the supernatural like most civilians, she can suspect that there's something going on...but she is doing her level best to not get involved. It's not an Orphan, she's got enough on her plate.

Speaking of plates. "Extra tomato, right." From a nearby rack, she takes out a menu, and hands it to Madobe. "I'll get those orders started - I'll see if you've decided when I bring their tea, okay?" And off she goes, to seat the latest three arrivals, put in an order, and check on the gentleman ordering takeout. "Sorry, just wanted to check - did you want the float for here, or to go?"

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Ah... Is that Didi?" Sakura glances over, and smiles. "Didi is a very nice toy, yes." Mist is actually not too far away, scouting the outside of the diner for danger at the moment... but getting a bit distracted by the smell of cooking meat from the vents.

<Pose Tracker> Maron Kusakabe [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

It wasn't very difficult for Maron Kusakabe to think of something when asked about a place where the food is good. Lots of possibilities there. Give Lucy's wish to see more of the city, she quickly settled on something that would require a bit of a trip, but still a place she's visited many times before. She's always preferred western-style food over traditional Japanese cooking, so she gets along perfectly with Linden Baum's menu. The only reason she doesn't come more often is the distance from her house. Good food is worth the occasional extra effort, though.

Sporting a very commonly worn pink and white turtleneck, Maron allowed her guest, of sorts, to take the lead inside. Smiling, but immediately put on the spot when asked for recommendations. "Oh, gosh, there's a ton of things. Hmmm, maybe... you're a meat person, aren't you?" Just the impression she got. "They've got some quality American-style burgers here, but I especially like the steak, myself."

Though there's someone else following her, Finn Fish the tiny angel enjoys complete invisibility and inaudibility to anybody but Maron, thus leaving her free to annoy the teenager with the comment, "Maron, you really should watch your calorie intake. What would they say at practice?" To others, it appears like Maron is rolling her eyes at nothing. Stick in the mud.

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori makes his way into the diner, he's dropped his school uniform for something more casual, jeans and a sweater. He's still got some kind of dress shirt below the sweater, by the looks of it, and he takes his seat somewhere at a table for two, looking over the menu as he gets comfortable in his chair.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Erika doesn't want to think about having been scoping out a drool encrusted toy. She tells Madobe, instead, as a segue into another topic, "You know, it's funny. I asked my grandpa about crane games in America. He says they have 'em, but they're actually super rigged."

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Kyouko had been sitting in the Linden for about 20 minutes or so, scratching an itch for something foreign. Unsurprisingly, she'd had a spot of trouble selecting which burger she want. When a variety of miniburger "sliders" had been recommended, she thought for a moment before ordering three burgers of regular size. She can already see herself going through this all over again for dessert...

Her meal arrived minutes ago. Kyouko is in the middle of her third or fourth bite from the steaming smorgasboard when she starts to notice a few vaguely familiar faces. She couldn't place most of them, until...

/the hat store../

Wiping some mustard off of her mouth with the back of her hand, her brow furrows a little, and she begins to eat a little faster.

<Pose Tracker> Lucy Iwai [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"I love meat!" Lucy answers brightly to Maron's accurate assessment. "Hmmmm, steak sounds good. It's been a while since I ate any." It eats away at her allowance, sure, but it's so delicious...

Meanwhile, Didi seems to attract attention, and everybody's favorite dinosaur pal wouldn't want it any other way. He's just that cool. As part of his clever disguise, however, he's not moving, or at the very least doing his best not to. He does, however, stare back at Madobe.

Staaaaaaaaaaaare.

"Thank you," Lucy answers to Madobe and Sakura calling her dinosaur cool with a warm smile, and Sakura nicely introduces him to her friends. "My mother made him," she explains. Sakura will know what that really means. "Anyway, it's nice to see you," Lucy says to her, while waiting for the poor, overworked waitstaff to assign her and Maron a table.

<Pose Tracker> Kinzo Hiroyuki [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kinzo Hiroyuki is merely waiting for his order, he passes a wave to Lucy, who he knows aswell, but nothing more as he hrmms a bit. He perhaps wishes he brought some schoolwork with him. It seems oddly understaffed today to be too quick!

In the meantime, he ponders his umbrella. He wonders if it broke somehow between then and now. He's not dumb enough to try that indoors though.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

As if cued by narration, Mai approaches the girl with the...whatever non-Orphan thing she's carrying. "Welcome! Please select any open booth you like, one of us will be by shortly to take your order." Hopefully nothing's gone wrong in the kitchen - heavens know that there have been a lot of burger orders today.

Burgers still cooking, but table seven's tea is ready, and maybe the extra arrival has her order in mind by now - time to deliver drinks.

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sakura nods at Lucy. This is a reasonable explanation. "Good to see you too!"

She also listens to Erika's topic change. "America seems very different. I don't know if I'd like it there."

<Pose Tracker> Arf [None] has posed.

A somewhat tall, older and busty woman manages to enter the restaurant. Brought, simply, by the massive smell of meat that wafts outside of the restaurant. Meanwhile, instead of actually ordering, Arf takes a seat by herself in one of the corners of the restaurant, closing her eyes and leaning against her arms, crossed, to make a nice pillow/bed for herself.

Then she closes her eyes - and inhales, slowly.

This is her life now. Limited funds has brought meat tasting to an all-time high, even for the cheap stuff. She must now... simply smell the meat.

There might be a muffled whimper. But it's for Fate.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Tominaga [None] has posed.

Dark Kiss is not here today. Even Asuka Tominaga has chosen to skip this one -- though an elegant woman in a long dress might be visible in one of the other restaurants across the way, if one were looking for her.

No, today's activities have been left to someone with just a hair less subtlety. A tall, blond man in clothes that resemble nothing quite so much as a 19th century British officer's uniform -- carefully-tailored bright red coat, pants to match, well-coiffed blond hair -- strides into Linden Baum confidently, a faint aroma of sandalwood and spice trailing him. He walks with a cane, but it's clearly for style rather than necessity.

Not exactly one to worry about subtlety, he strides directly up to Linden Baum's evidently most popular waitress, looking her squarely in the eyes. "Ma'am," he says, with his characteristic directness, /certainly/ loud enough to overhear. "I'm going to need you to come with me. The Apothecary is... /very/ interested in your essence." As if to emphasize his point slightly, he shifts his cane a little, revealing just a hint of blade. "Quietly, now," he adds, with a small smirk.

Across the street and down a little ways, that impressively-dressed blonde woman in the rival cafe plants one hand on her forehead, and mumbles something unkind into a pastry. Of course. Of /course/ Elixir Red takes the direct approach.

COMBAT: Elixir Red transforms into Elixir Red!

COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Arf has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Lucy Iwai has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Nagisa Misumi has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Shiori Takatsuki has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has fully healed himself.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura transforms into Puella Magi Kyouko!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura transforms into Kyouko Sakura!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori transforms into Chara Change!
COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki transforms into Yoshirou Kurotsuki!
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa transforms into Forever Sunshine!
COMBAT: Runealy Waldia transforms into Princess Runealy!
COMBAT: Aimi Saionji transforms into Warm Vanilla Sugar!
COMBAT: Lucy Iwai transforms into Mesozoic Maiden Lucy!
COMBAT: Mami Tomoe has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Busy, busy. Mai's going from table to counter to table to rude customer stepping into her path. Sorry, what? She looks up to his gaze, prepared to direct him to a booth to wait - and then he says....

Mai's face shifts from cheerful helpfulness to an angry glare in a moment. "Sir. This is not that sort of restaurant. Given how busy things are, I'm just going to ask you to leave immediately." It's not until after she's begun to walk around him that Mai realizes he might have meant something supernatural...

...in which case he should definitely leave. Hopefully it's just the perverted thing, and isn't that a depressing thought?

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha transforms into Mai-HiME!

COMBAT: Arf transforms into Wolf Woman!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Mist, the helpful perfume fairy dragon, was still floating around outside the diner looking for trouble....

And good thing! Though he's sniffing at the runoff from the meat scents, he suddenly picks up a very different... and more sinister smell coming from somewhere else. That smell...

That means trouble! He knows he's picked it up somewhere before. He had better contact the girls...

Well, they're all inside now, but Vanilla isn't far away, either. So he flies off to see if he can reach her in time for backup!

Sakura also picks up the unusual and forboding scent. Her ears almost twitch as she hears the word 'Apothecary' from across the room.

It... it can't be. Is that real? Are they really?

She looks to the other girls at her table to see if they've also picked up on the trouble. "I... I think we should... get ready!"

<Pose Tracker> Tomomi Shizuka [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed.

The formidably dressed blonde woman across the street has a friend at the table; an equally well-dressed black-haired woman who looks more like a traditional upper-level executive. Perhaps she is the blonde's financial planner. Tomomi is idly tapping away at a tablet while all this chicanery is going on, looking over to her comrade with concern when she despairs.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Fuu frowns a bit at the new arrival who just asked the waitress ... well, whatever that WAS meant to be, but the term 'Apothecary' gets her attention. And with that, Fuu casually slips her left hand into her skirt pocket, working her fingers into a glove that's tucked away within ...

This really is more than a little public for Evil Schemes to be enacted, isn't it?

But as Fuu absorbs the situation, she glances around, matching up the faces she recognizes with the secret identities she already knows. The odds are relatively favorable for the 'good guys,' from what she can see. Hopefully they'll stay that way ....

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Magic Knight!

<Pose Tracker> Maron Kusakabe [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Then steak it is!" Maron certainly sounds pleased about the prospect, partially announcing it so enthusiastically just to emphasize how little she cares about Finn's opinions. You gotta live a little, and tasty food is an important part of that, regardless of calorie intake. Not like she overindulges /all/ the time, sheesh.

As Lucy stops to speak to a few people that she vaguely recognizes from school, Maron only smiles and gives a short wave. Nothing new there, she's nice enough, but she's never really been the kind to go out of her way to socialize overly much. She instead turns to the waitress, answering her for Lucy. "Thank you, we'll do just that! C'mon Lucy, there's a free spot right over there!"

She makes to head on over, but stops in her tracks when she hears something... slightly alarming, spoken by a new visitor. She's not sure what exactly it means, but it sure didn't sound good. She shouldn't get involved, she knows this. Finn even suggests, "Maron... we shouldn't stay here." But Maron can't help her curiosity. She turns, and overtly stares at this strange, fancily-dressed stranger who appears to be threatening the waitress. While not about to step in at this point, Finn knows what this means, cautioning, "Maron, no! Don't do anything stupid!"

<Pose Tracker> Yoshirou Kurotsuki [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Yoshirou, whose player has finally dealt with RL business, looks up from his pancakes, looking at the window. He blinks at Arf. "...that's an outfit. And - wait." He blinks, then counts the tails. One! That is one more than normal. And then it clicks - he's seen her before in reports. She seemed like one of the saner people in Dark Fall. Probably unlikely to kill and eat him. What's she doing out there?

Other than sniffing the air. Yoshirou shrugs, then mutters the spell he's been practicing since learning it was actually possible: telepathic communication. <<Hey. Arf, right? You were friends with that kid? Why are you just standing out there? Are you hungry or something?>>

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Rune steps into Linden Baum at about the worst possible time; warnings are going out, people seem to be tense... but she has missed much of /why/ they are. Several glances go around the area, but Runealy isn't able to immediately piece the situation together and just looks confused even as she spots various friends.

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Takeo Akamizu sits a tthe light annoyed at the fact that the cars are not moving. He peers around and sighs at the fact that the cars are not moving. "Maybe there is an accident." He sighs and revs the engine again, then honks the horn, becuase why not. He drums his fingers and and looks arounf, seeing if he can find another way around this mess.

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori notices the man, how could he not, and the vague glint of steel. He doesn't know what's up, but he knows it's not good. From the little pouch on his hip, an inaudible voice says 'Chara Change.' Tadase acquires a crown and a magic staff that looks suspiciously much like a king's scepter. It's way easy to ignore that he gained either of those attributes, chara changes are rather subtle. He doesn't get up, he's watching, ready to interrupt if needed, but the place is awfully crowded.

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Madobe sniffs faintly. But she doesn't say much. She always just assumes she's imagining things when she picks out a scent like this. She does check her cellphone real quick and adds, "Oh, uh, well, they're all rigged unless you know the trick. They'd have to be or they'd just be moneywaste...."

She trails off. Did someone literally just ask someone for their essence like right out there?

"I think I might need a break from magical girling. I'm starting to hear things like all the time about draining energy... like--" She sniffs again. "...Uh..."

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Munch munch munch munch. Ghmmp. Munch munch munch munch. Ghmmp.

Ok. So. Weird talk, sudden convergence of familiar faces..something's gonna go down. Like in the hat store. Whatever it is isn't enough to pique her curiosity or her interest, yet...but if she had learned one lesson from the hat store, it's that it's better to be quick on the draw on these sorts of things.

So, without pausing in her eating, the girl sitting alone that apparently loves hamburgers transforms in a momentary flash of light.

If this dustup seems worth getting into, she'll be in a prime spot. If it's a waste of her time, it'll be easy to leave, or chuck a spear in a throat or whatever.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura transforms into Puella Magi Kyouko!

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

If Aimi knew that her friends were gathered near by while she had been out buying various things, she would have gone elsewhere to do her shopping. Secrets and the like have to be kept, even if it means keeping the materials under wraps too.

So when Mist shows up, its a complete surprise now. "W-what? Mist! What's going..."

She stops and stuffs the fairy dragon into one of the bags quickly before anyone might notice and rushes off into an alleyway. This is one of those times where she's thoughtful enough to realize there's something bad going down. That, or Mist is just showing up out of no where for some reason.

A quick explination of trouble going down, Aimi nods and gets out her perfume. "Okay then. It can't be that far. And are you sure of it? Really?"

Mist just nods in reply and Aimi steels herself for what she fears will be a hard battle. "Alright then."

"Henshin! Warm Vanilla Sugar! Splash!" She calls out, undergoing her transformation into Warm Vanilla Sugar. She rushes off to the diner, hoping that she's not too late and that things haven't blown up just yet.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has fully healed herself.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 7 opponents!

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"Ah, thank you!" Lucy says to Mai before Maron finds them a nearby booth to sit in. Kinzo is also there and gives her a small wave, which she returns with a smile. They're acquainted! It's a small world, and luckily for her mood, Lucy has a complete lack of pattern recognition when it comes to what tends to happen next when a bunch of friends just /happen/ to be at the same place at the same time...

Then, a strange man comes in. Lucy isn't familiar with the uniform he's wearing, and it seems a long way away from Akihabara to be cosplaying like this. She looks at the situation unfold curiously, but when he says the word "Apothecary", her eyes widen and her nerves go on edge. Since Sakura is here, Lucy glances at her for confirmation, and the girl's worried look says everything, doesn't it?

Unaware of Maron's little debate with her adorable shoulder angel, Lucy looks to her and says, a bit hurriedly, "I-- think I should go to the bathroom before we order." She doesn't dash off right away, trying to keep her walk casual as she watches the situation unfold from the corner of her eye.

<Pose Tracker> Nagisa Misumi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Nagisa's hands clapped down on the table as she leaned forward. "Really? You've never had one? But aren't your parents world travellers?!" Her face twisted up curiously, and she thought for a few moments.

What's a burger? Is it important-mipo??" Mipple asked in her twinkly falsetto.

"Super important! It's the number one food of America!" Nagisa danced to her feet, shaking out a numbed leg (she was never very good at kneeling) and grabbed her jacket, tugging it on. Before she even had both arms in the sleeves, she was pulling on Honoka's wrist insistently. "C'mon, you're hungry, right? Let's go get one right now!"

• * *

So it is that Nagisa Misumi sits at a booth in Linden Baum across from Honoka, bobbing her head eagerly at the waitress serving them. "And a chocolate shake! Lots of whipped cream, please." When the waitress leaves them, she turns eagerly to Honoka.

"Your first burger, huh? What a special occasion. The Queen of Knowledge needs to know what burgers taste like, right?" This isn't wry teasing, this is genuine logic from Nagisa.

She's far enough away, and preoccupied with talking, that she doesn't notice the initial trouble, but Nagisa does notice the attention it draws as this strange, Western-looking man speaks to one of the waitresses. Turning around, she kneels on the booth seat to look over its back, like a child taken to dinner rather than a Warrior of Light and grown-up 9th grader.

"What's going on?" she asks Honoka, suddenly serious.

"I sense great power-mipo!" Mipple wails from Honoka's hip.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Yeah... I dunno," Erika answers Sakura, before pausing, mouth slightly open, as she hears a word.

Then of course she smells a hint of fragrance in the air.

She looks at the man standing there, speaking to the waitress, and a chill runs down her spine. She breathes in, then out, sharply. He came /here/? she thinks. Does he know who we are?

Erika's eyes cut towards Sakura, then towards Madobe. She nods once, slowly, and tilts her head towards the rest of the restaurant. Hopefully they will read this signalling she just made up. She tells Madobe as she leans forwards and over as if to give her a big old Vanilla-style hug, "No it's totally OK and I can completely get what you mean, it's probably because of,"

key change

"THE FIRE!!"

Erika's hand snaps down, hooking into the fire alarm switch and yanking it downwards. "EYAAAAHHH!!" she squeals, possibly right in Madobe's ear, before she leaps up and rushes towards the side exit... or does she? No: she heads for the hospitality nook, wherein, among the tea kettles and spare napkins, she draws out her vial of perfume.

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

A good plan, Sakura thinks, as Erika does what she can to get civilians scattering. Sakura also runs for the nook and gets her own perfume out. This seems like the time...

<Pose Tracker> Arf [None] has posed.

Sniff. Oh that heavenly aroma. That delicious smell of foooooood! Meat~!

All not for her.

Her ears and tail don't show quite yet as she leans forwards sadly, sniffing, even as there's a bit of a commotion. She isn't about to get involved in it. It's out of her business, for sure! The familiar yawns and - <<Eh?>> Her ears perk, normal ones, as she keeps her eyes closed. <<Yeah, you found me. I'm.. yeah, we definitely are.>> She answers, happy enough. <<Well food isn't free here, and there's only so much money...>>

Of course then things go all pear shaped. PEOPLE. ARE. TRANSFORMING. <<Wha!?>> Is the answer that now Yoshiro gets. <<Why are they!? What are they!? What's going on!>>

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy transforms into Lucy Iwai!

<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Honoka slides her fingers down one of the silken strands of dark hair in front of her ears, an unusually awkward gesture from this bastion of composed tranquility. Her eyes widen with relief when the fairy Princess of Hope distracts Nagisa from the answer to her question.

But then Mepple chimes in, "A burger is the greatest invention of mankind-mepo! I have had Onumu prepare them for me-mepo! Your parents must not travel-enough-mepo."

"They are on business, so I don't get to go with them," she explains in a quiet voice that reveals its sadness only in how very tiny it is. It's a very slight tip of her hand, and not a voluntary one. She's happy enough to smile again, when Nagisa pulls at her. "Very well, Misumi-san!"

• * *

"Queen of Knowledge?" Honoka asks, confused, smoothing her napkin primly in her lap, her posture perfect. Apparently she isn't aware of the nickname her peers have given her. "I don't know what you mean, but, I am always glad to try new experiences."

The strange man isn't just Western-looking, but apparently is subtly brandishing a weapon; from her angle, she's just barely able to spot it.

"I think--" she starts to answer, and then Mipple speaks up, and Mepple chimes in. "Something's very wrong-mepo!"

At the next table over, three children turn their heads and stare at the source of the shrill fairy voices. Honoka goes slightly pale, then screws up her face and continues, falsetto, "I think I ordered the wrong thing... mepo!"

Thankfully, the fire alarm goes off at that moment.

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

"It's here, right? Nadeshiko said Tadase-kun was coming to this restaurant." Outside the Linden Baum, Amu pauses, craning her neck to peek into the window.

"I'm pretty sure it was, Amu-chan! But why don't you go in?" Ran floats around her shoulder, tilting her head slightly.

"Ah... Ran, you see..." "Because she wants to stalk him first." "Because I want to sta--MIKI!" The pink-haired girl glares at her blue Chara. "I am not! Besides, I see him every day. Now let's go... where's Suu?"

As Amu begins to look around, the green-clothed Chara has already floated inside. "What a cute restaurant! I bet the food here is delicious-desu." Confident that most people, even magical people, can't see her, Suu just... casually floats through. Well. It might be obliviousness more than confidence. "Oh look, Tadase is here too! Hello, Tadase! Kiseki!" Suu does a curtsy in the air next to the King. "Amu-chan is outside!"

Meanwhile, outside, Miki frowns. "Amu-chan, something weird is going on here. I can feel something... bad." "Oh look." says Ran, "Suu is inside!"

"What?!" Rushing toward the door, Amu grabs the handle and yanks it open, then... freezes. Why are there all these people transforming?!

<Pose Tracker> Kinzo Hiroyuki [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kinzo Hiroyuki huhs... he feels a chill come over him. Through his nose. Why is that?

He looks around a moment, A blond man in a red coat, coiffs, fancy clothes. All of that reeks of familarity-- and not the /good/ kind of familarity. Where has he-----

The memory flash kind of hits him like a rock when he realizes who this specific man is. The shocks enough to almost make him freeze in place a moment. Why here? Why now? He reaches into his pocket slowly and flicks the cap off his colonge bottle as he slides under the table. "Henshin. Dark Amber!, Spritz!" he says lowly as he can. There's a spray, there's a huddled transformation sequence under that table. Look. Not all changes can be dramatic. You go with what you can.

He uses his transformed state to zip out from underneath that table and he appears, on the table next to where Mai and Elixir Red are standing in an unseen blur of speed. He's resting his hand on his chin and Dark Amber has a bemused expression on his face.

"Really, General Red?" he asks with a tsk. "Don't you know you're supposed to wine and dine a lady, before you proposition one!?" he asks with a very mock concerned tone. He's taking this seriously, but he wants to see what Elixir Red does first. He then crosses his arms and looks unimpressed. "All this time and still no manners!" he says with a 'hmmmmmph!'.

Then the fire alarm goes off it seems.

"Do you need a refreser course, oh dear, General?" he asks with abosoulte bleeding sarcasm. "Let's start by backing off from the lady, yes?"

He figures he can draw aggro while the girls go do thier thing.

Anything else goes above his notice for now. He's hoping he can piss off Elixir Red enough to draw his ire for the moment.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki transforms into Dark Amber!

<Pose Tracker> Yoshirou Kurotsuki [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Yoshirou is /about/ to offer to pay, because he is the rich kid who lives in a mansion by himself, but...then shit starts going down. He pulls out his wallet, leaves enough to cover his meal and then some, and slips out a convenient side door. <<I have no idea what's going on, but...>> He glances down at his ring. The black pearl glistens, as he heads for Arf.

"So, uh - I'm feeling a lot of power here. Something big is going down." Pause. "I think we might have to do something, since, well...you know." Talking about Dark Fall openly seems like a bad idea.

<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Takeo had parked his Motorcycle. Traffic was going nowhere, so he diced to get some food. He removed his helmet and was walking toward the door of the restaurant when the alarm went off. He sighed and hung his head, hand on the door ready to enter. His stomach growls sharply and he groans with it, nearly melting. "Is it so wrong to want food, be so close, and be stopped by a fire?" He takes a deep breath and lets it out, and looks in to the reastaurant to see if it's jsut a drill, or if the place really is about to burn down. Or if he is about to be trampled by fleeing people....

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Madobe takes her own perfume bottle out. "I guess... there's no choice this time!" She admits, standing herself up. She decides to hide when she transforms so she doesn't reveal it to everybody and she does it by standing a bit away from Kinzo who she thinks will just attract all the attention anyway with all that sassery!

"Henshin! Sweet Pea! Splash!" TRANSFORM MUSIC AND SPARKLES. But it'll only get like maybe a third of the way through before it cuts to another magical girl.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy transforms into Runealy Waldia!

<Pose Tracker> Elixir Red [None] has posed.

Elixir Red is the most recent of the recruits to the Apothecary -- at least among the Elixirs -- and as a result is infinitely eager to prove himself and totally lacking in any real seasoning. Perhaps a few more attempts will make him more canny! Perhaps not. It is a mystery.

Sliding his cane into his belt, Elixir Red affirms to Mai, "This /isn't/ up to you, my dear Pure Maiden," carefully rolling his tongue over those words in English. Drawing his blade, he whirls to see /so many/ magical girls -- including several of those accursed remnants of the Perfume Kingdom! Of /course/. Of /course/ it's not just salarymen snagging a meal. Of /course/ there have to be people who can defend against him.

Narrowing his eyes, the sandalwood-scented general of the Apothecary allows his sword to charge up with just a hint of fire-red energy -- energy which then gets sprayed across the assembled friends of justice. It's not much -- but hopefully enough to trip them up as he moves toward Mai, attempting to grab her.

Mid-attempt, he processes that Dark Amber is talking to /him/, and a frown crosses his face. "How I comport myself with her -- or /anyone/ -- is hardly any of your business, traitor! And besides -- my understanding is that you've hardly got much to be proud of on that front yourself..." He's clearly upset -- and perhaps that will turn into violence, a little further down the line.

Asuka Tominaga continues to scowl into a pastry, not quite focusing up on her compatriot yet. She can already tell how this is going to go, and as a result, she needs a moment.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Minor Irritation on Warm Vanilla Sugar.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Minor Irritation on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Rough Handling on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly dodges Elixir Red's Rough Handling, taking 6 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Tomomi Shizuka [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed.

Tomomi can see Asuka's growing distress. She signals for a waiter and puts in an order for a pair of Long Islands. Tomomi is a good friend.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar narrowly dodges Elixir Red's Minor Irritation, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Warm Vanilla Sugar's Flash ability activates! Stun and Trap applied to Warm Vanilla Sugar!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sakura gets out of her seat and runs for the back, to get away from prying eyes along with her friends. It's definitely time!

"Henshin! Cherry Blossom! Splash!"

A spinning flower flies away from Sakura's perfume bottle as she begins to change. She sprays the perfume across her body, and it glows and shimmers as it begins to transform into her Cherry Blossom dress. The sash ties itself around her back, in a perfect bow. The dress sprouts a skirt, and sleeves that in a perfume wind. Sandals appear on her feet, and long socks rise up her legs. Her hair changes last, becoming pink, sealed with a flower as she poses in her transformed mode.

Japanese Cherry Blossom is now in the diner, staring down Elixir Red and standing at the head of the group of Perfume Warriors. "... If you're here from the Apothecary... then, you're here to face us! We're going to stop you and your horrible organization from taking anyone's essence! For the memory of the Perfume Kingdom!"

"To protect these people, I must--"

Suddenly, Cherry Blossom stops. She feels strange. Her finger is pointed outward, but it seizes up, and her elbow locks. Something is ... wrong. Cherry Blossom's mouth opens wide; her lip quivers.

Her eyes glaze over, turning a yellow color and going totally flat.

And then the pain begins. She can barely comprehend it. It feels like something ripping away from her body, freezing every limb at twisted angles. With a spasm, Sakura's chest thrusts out forward, and her spine curls back. A blinding, golden light begins to pour out of her, enveloping her entirely.

A glowing crystal shard fires out suddenly from her heart. It flies forward like a dart, but then freezes in midair. Slowly, it does a half-twist, beginning to take on a new form. There is an edge of fire and red mist around the crystal. This begins to form a feminine-looking body, narrow waist and curvy hips dissolving into a smoky dress. Red and white flowers appear along the form, made with smoke and flame, crawling up to form a sort of low-cut gown. The flesh itself is a dark nearly-demonic red, the bare arms tipped with long black fingernails. The monster has a feminine face; it's more mature than Sakura's face and too inhuman, with glowing gold eyes and dark lips. The monster has unfettered golden hair that waves down its back and flickers at the ends like a passionate flame. Between the breasts of the creature and still visible is a glowing flicker of crystal, as if wedged into the flesh of the body.

As the creature, this Shard of Passion, finishes becoming, Cherry Blossom herself drops to her knees. She shudders once, gripping onto her chest, before collapsing forward with a tiny cry. She appears to be alive, but... weakened.

Meanwhile, the creature that has emerged from her turns its attention to the other magical girls...

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi transforms into Youma Form Passion's Cry!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 7 opponents!
COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Dark Amber narrowly counters Elixir Red's Minor Irritation, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber's Reverse ability activates! Stun applied to Dark Amber!
COMBAT: Dark Amber's counterattack, Perfect Gentleman, partially gets through, doing 11 Fatigue damage to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has started an item contest over 'Shard of Passion'! For more information, please see: +help Items. To join the contest, +item/join Honoka Yukishiro. You must join now if you are going to be in contention to possess the item. If you decide ICly to involve yourself with the item later but do not +item/join now, you cannot succeed at an Item Grab, nor determine the item's owner on a knockout.
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Arf has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Takeo Akamizu has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.

<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

"And that's a sword." Takeo says evenly as he sees the man draws a sword and begins to fill it wiht energy. He sighs and pushes open the door running forward. He doens't know anybody here, and there is a weapon invovled! "HEY! You with the flaming sword of Dark energy!" He calls out pulling his amulet out from under his shirt. Lighting arcs and dances around him, his clothes transforming as he moves and he holds out his hand as a bolt of lightning strike sthere.

BOOM a thunderclap and Takeo Akamizu is replaced with Lancelot! Cavalier Knight of the Round Table. "And. If you wanna sword fight...." Light crackles off the blade and Lancelot salutes the man. "Come get some poser."

COMBAT: Takeo Akamizu transforms into Lancelot!

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo transforms into Diva Heart!
COMBAT: Diva Heart has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Runealy Waldia has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Dark Amber has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Maron Kusakabe has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Lucy Iwai has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.
COMBAT: Nagisa Misumi has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori smiles when Suu comes over, "It's nice to see you, Suu, but we'll talk later." He gets up, and Kiseki echoes the sentiment Tadase said. The little king asks what Tadase doesn't, though, "Is the Joker in the area?" The boy who would be king takes a stance, pointing his staff at the monster. "Holy Crown." He shouts, golden energy flowing forward, trying to ensnare the monster, restrict its movement. It's not an X-Egg or X-Chara, but it seems to have the same kind of effect on the person it came from. Tadase is a bit too busy to think too hard about the differences right now.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has joined Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Royal Dungeon on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Well, if all of THAT didn't give Fuu her cue to join the transforming magical girls, nothing else would come nearly as close. She doesn't bother with her accustomed transformation call; it's more optional for her than it is for many other magical girls in the first place - but a greenish whirlwind forms around her as she pulls her glove-jewel all the way on, and when it fades, Fuu is in her Magic Knight armor, sword in hand.

- and then Japanese Cherry Blossom convulses, the crystal shard erupting from her heart and materializing into a monster. "Goodness," the Knight of Wind remarks with a gentle smile. "It seems things are going to be difficult today ... let this be a lesson to you, Apothecary-san, not to interrupt innocents at a meal. They might not be as helpless as they look. Imashime no Kaze!"

And as if to punctuate her verbal reprimand, as gentle as it was, she unleashes the Winds of Admonishment to bind Elixir Red where he stands - at the very least she can hinder his movements; at best she can bind him in place completely while the spell lasts. She's also keenly aware of Rune-san's presence - and just the presence of the Princess, civilian or transformed, reminds Fuu clearly of a recent conversation. It's a useful reminder.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Imashime no Kaze on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai's just stepped past the man when the fire alarm goes off - great. Either someone's pulled a prank, something's on fire, or there's a monster attack and some magical girl is trying to get the civilians out. Either way...probably not going to be a great day for tips. Back to ramen this week.

And then the man speaks. "...'Pure Maiden'?" Mai's English isn't the greatest...but she has a suspicion that that means something like 'Princess' or somesuch. She whirls to confront him. "If you're friends with that creep-"

And then there's flames unleashed upon a number of magical girls that have showed up, and he's lunging at her, and frankly things get a bit hazy. In a panicked rush, Mai leaps back - a brief flash of flame propelling her out of the man's grasp. Hopefully no one saw that...but it looks like there's suddenly a monster in the room.

Okay. Screw it, there's a monster in her diner, some crazy English guy trying to lay hands on her for some nefarious purpose, and she's going to defend herself. She needs to make dinner for Mikoto later, after all. Magatama of green and gold appear around her ankles and wrists in a flash of flame, and she hurls a flurry of sparks at the man's face. "The lady has told you no - so get out of my workplace. Now."

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Warm Vanilla is barely on the scene before she's assaulted with red energy beams of pain and suffering. Okay, red energy beams of minor irritation, but still! She winces feeling the beams burn, but she can withstand them. They aren't that bad. Honest.

"Okay you jerk face, you let her go and..."

Warm Vanilla's cut off as she hears a familiar voice, though the sound it is making is not as familiar, nor one that she had ever wanted to hear. She looks around quickly and spies not only a new youma that has appeared, but her friends. She rushes over to the fallen Cherry Blossom, the Apothecary forgotten for now.

"Cherry!" She calls out, worried now about her friend. She starts wondering if she was too late, that the Apothecary had some how managed to finally taken one of them out like this. She doesn't dare get too close to Cherry yet, knowing that the Youma would most likely attempt to strike at her, and if she did this to Cherry... but she doesn't seem to recognize it as a Dark Scent, and it starts posing questions in her mind now. If anyone knew...

Warm Vanilla Sugar then turns back around to face Elixir Red, rushing in to... well it could be considered a hug (and for those that know her it so much like one), but she's really just trying to get in and hold Red in place as best she can.

"What are you up to and what's with that Youma!" she demands.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Vanilla Based Grappling on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Maron Kusakabe [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

This is certainly escalating quickly, Maron thinks when Dark Amber shows up to confront Elixir Red. The costumed characters are increasing. That means things are about to get serious. But at least this means that the waitress will not be left to her own devices, which is good. Now all she needs is to get out of where everyone can see her...

And then someone pulls the fire alarm. Perfect! Maron is free to rush out with the rest of the crowd, which she promptly does. Once outside however, she immediately turns into an alleyway, dashing any hopes Finn had of Maron seeing sense and fleeing the scene. "Maron...", she starts, but only gets The Hand as a response.

"Save it, Finn. People are in trouble over there, I have to see what's going on! Something's going on in this city, something big, and I have to know what it is. That way I can be prepared for it if something happens during a job! Don't you think?"

Finn sighs in resignation. "If only you were always this fired up about your actual jobs." But it's probably a lost cause to protest, she realizes, giving in to the obvious request for a transformation.

A flash of pink in the alleyway later, Kaitou Jeanne appears on the scene, or rather outside of it, flattered against the outside wall of the diner, peering inside through a window. And having a rather unusual conflict of self-doubt, finding it necessary to come up with an excuse for showing up. As an infamous art thief, she's not exactly got an altruistic image, and for Reasons, she'd like to keep it that way. How could she spin this to make it appear self-interested?

Then she witnesses what happens to Japanese Cherry Blossom. She doesn't understand it, but it makes everything fall into place in her mind, and the rest is pure instinct. Launching herself straight through the window, dropping into a roll, then hopping onto her feet, the phantom thief points dramatically at the nearly born Youma.

"By the order of God, Kaitou Jeanne has arrived! Today, I'll be taking the beauty of... your heart!"

COMBAT: Maron Kusakabe transforms into Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Runealy Waldia [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Fairly close to the door, Runealy gets to see things unfold. If the discussions and tensions are a hint something is wrong, then Vanilla Sugar approaching the diner is confirmation; the Perfume Warrior is running too intently to just be 'training' or any other such explanation. That means her friend either needs help, or is about to help someone else and either conclusion is enough to spur Rune to action. ...The fire alarm going off requires her to hurriedly step aside from the door though, to avoid any potential stampedes.

Not particularly worried if anyone sees her transform, Rune calls out: "Summoning Princess' Tiara!" The silver jewelry appears in her left hand, arms twisting to meet at the elbows. "The Line of Succession!" Her wrists slide toward one another, left hand passing the tiara to the right. "Transform!" The right hand continues its upward motion, smoothly bringing the jewelry onto her head. Ruby-colored energy then engulfs her, and and within seconds it has replaced her mundane attire with a fanciful red and white dress with matching boots.

Her first impulse is to beeline for Elixer Red, but something goes very wrong. Sakura transforms, but has been joined by something... someone(?)... more sinister. Princess Runealy hurries over to Cherry Blossom's side, concerned. "What was that? Are you alri--" Obviously not. "Will you be okay?" That's a better question. Rune sizes up the creature, not moving to attack yet. She has a very important concern, one shouted for all nearby to hear even though she's frantically looking from one Perfume Warrior to the next in the hopes they particularly have the answer: "If we fight that, is it going to hurt Cherry Blossom?" The prospect of harming one of her most important friends by proxy is terrifying, and until she has a better idea of what's at hand Rune is holding back.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Dramatic Declaration on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Runealy Waldia transforms into Princess Runealy!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Fiery Rebuke on Elixir Red.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Ok, well, yeah, /that's/ annoying.

The fire alarm didn't trip any sprinklers, thankfully, so the food isn't ruined. But that shrill, Waaaaah, waaaah, waaaah...URGH. Too irritating to just dither around here waiting for something she cared about to happen. Kyouko resolves to leave when she's had a few final bites..

..before another shard leaps out of some girl's chest and into her life again, just like last time. And becomes a demon. Ok, not /just/ like last time...but at long last, there was something happening that was worth her time.

Standing, she slowly cracks her neck, her back, her every finger, taking her time and stretching a little while everybody's attention is on more pressing issues. Setting her dirty dishes on the cushion of the booth, she stands on her table, burps softly, and summons a baker's dozen javelins to pin her prize to the wall.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Pincushion on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Diva Heart [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Rei Fushigiyo, unlike apparently every other person, did not go to the Linden Baum Diner after school. In fact, she is already home, and currently leaving the bathroom. She flounces down the hallway, turns into her room, and goes to sit down on her bed again--

-- except her bed isn't there. In fact, her /room/ isn't there. She's in a small room, mostly featureless, the few exits covered by huge, gray curtains; the walls and floors are the same gray as the curtains, and indeed the only not-gray in the room is the brilliant light shining from behind one of the curtains.

"Uh," Rei says, her arms flopping limply to her sides. Where-- what-- "D-Daddy?" she calls hesitantly, after a few seconds of staring in stunned silence around the room.

"Baby girl, what you doin' here desu?" asks a gruff, baritone voice from behind her; surprised, Rei turns to face the man--

-- except it's not a man, it's a two foot tall, superdeformed gorilla, wearing a black and red singlet. Rei and the gorilla stare at each other for several long, awkward seconds...

... and then Rei lets out a high-pitched scream, turns, and runs through the closest curtain.

Rei Fushigiyo bursts out of the kitchen of the diner just as things are getting Really Real; she skids to a halt, almost plowing into an elderly couple starting to flee from the booth behind Honoka's, and whirls around in a circle as she struggles to figure out where she is and what's going on.

After a few seconds, she decides she can't, but that's /definitely/ some heels over there, so she just rips her belt buckle from the front of her belt, throws it into the air, and cries--

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING!!"

o/` Kaware! o/`

o/` Kami ni nare~e~ o/`

As Rei Fushigiyo rips her shirt open and begins to transform, her music blaring through the diner, she has the fleeting thought that maybe she shouldn't have done this indoors, right before her pyros go off, filling the diner with deafening noise and pillars of pyrotechnic sparks and smoke.

One of them comes out of a basket of french fries, sending potato chunks flying into the air. Another shatters a milkshake carafe. It's basically just chaos all around.

When the smoke clears, however, Diva Heart stands in the place of Rei Fushigiyo, her title belt slung over one shoulder... but, she realizes, she's still not sure what's going on. Or what brought her here, for that matter. But she should do something...

So, with a wordless cry, she lifts one foot and kicks over an abandoned chair. In doing so, she not only stubs her toe, but also almost loses her balance, and has to spend a moment staggering around and looking like a doofus.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine finishes her transformation, elided for the sake of saving precious airtime for advertisements. She has ditched her hoodie and is as fresh as always, and she starts saying something towards Elixir Red as she vaults onto a busboy cart.

"Sandalwood isn't something you can joke ab-- Cherry Blossom!?"

She stands there, aghast, as something erupts from her friend, the girl who is perhaps their leader as a group. Forever Sunshine is so distraught, for this moment at least, that she does not notice the cart rolling across the room until it bumps into a table.

Her fingers curl into fists. She breathes in, then out. She has to do something, she thinks. Don't think, she tells herself then: /feel/.

"Sweet Pea!" she cries out. "Look out! And whoever the heck you are --" Forever Sunshine leaps onto a nearby table, accelerating forwards with wisps of sandalwood smoke rising as she kicks over flowers and dishes en route.

"Get away from her!!" she screams, before transitioning into a gloriously flashy and fragrant rising uppercut punch, aimed at the youma's jaw. Today, it is Kitty Pryde, and she is -

Bad analogy.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Rising Sandalwood on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

"She's over by the door," says Suu, rather casually considering all that's going on right now. "Amu-chan came here to look for you-desu!"

"I just happened to be walking nearby!" Amu protests quickly as she dashes in, slapping a hand over Suu's mouth. "That's all! Just... uh... Tadase-kun, what's going on here anyway?" Miki just... slowly facepalms. "There's a monster here, Amu-chan. Two, it looks like."

"I knew that!" "Amu-chan, let's do it while nobody is looking!" "R...right, Ran. My heart..." Amu brings her hands up to her chest, holding thumbs and forefingers in a rectangle. "Unlock!" Snap, snap go her wrists, and Ran disappears into her egg. A flash of pink light later, and someone who is Definitely Not Amu, Really is standing there, dressed like a cheerleader. "Chara-Transform: Amulet Heart!"

Resting one hand on her hip, Amu points toward the tall, well-dressed man. "You're not allowed to come into a nice establishment like this and cause trouble! You should be polite and go home!" Shifting a bit, she strikes a pose and winks, sending a tiny shower of sparks from her eye.

A moment later, her face turns red. "R...ran, don't make me do embarrassing poses like that!"

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori transforms into Amulet Heart!

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has used Sparkling Cheerleader Wink on Elixir Red.
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Dark Amber [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Dark Amber frowns as Elixir Red says a few things. "Compared to you, I'm a perfect gentleman!" he quips back as he flicks out a quick snap of an amber blade, attached to an equally as amber chain at the Elixir General. "Tratitor!? Like I'd care to be in the company of louses like you." he snaps back.

His attention is monetarily transfixed by Sakura's stuttering halfway through her speech.. "Cherry Blossom!?" he calls out as she's convulsing, then this....thing appears. He then suddenly looks back at Elixir Red. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?" he suddenly calls out at him. Yes. He's assuming this is his fault. It has to be, right? He just immediatly attempts to crash into him with his two wrist blades. Well, there went all that cool, sassy demeanor he was managing to keep right out the door. Time to get close and personal.

He aknowledges Vanilla Sugar's prescene with merely a nod.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Blade Strike on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Lucy Iwai [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

The fire alarm rings out, clearing people out and drawing attention away from Lucy (and the few other magical warriors she knows are here) as she ducks into the bathroom, drawing her baseball bat from her bag. The door closes behind her, there's a flash of green light, and a moment later, the door slams open, and against a background of radiant light appears the outline of a completely different girl and her completely different tiny dinosaur friend!

"Strong as the tyrano! Clever as the raptor! Nimble as the dactyl! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy!"

She's not the only one making a dramatic entrance. Lucy has only just learned Sakura's secret identity, and so she smiles as Cherry Blossom starts speechifying this evil villain. This is her and her fellow perfume warriors' battle, but Lucy will gladly help them in any way she can--

Um.

"Sak-- Cherry Blossom!" Lucy screams out as the girl collapses, and another one of those shards emerges from her, and... proceeds to turn into a sexy monster? This part is new. Runealy raises a valid concern about its appearance, which Lucy can only answer with "I have no idea, but we can't just let it run amok!" ...And while she does so, someone swoops in and declares that they're going to steal her friend's heart.

"Oh, no, you won't!" All hesitation Lucy had vanishes into outrage at Jeanne's bold declaration. Instead of taking out her frustrations on her, however, she knows her priorities, and charges in, club raised, to hopefully clobber the evil right out of that shard monster.

COMBAT: Lucy Iwai transforms into Mesozoic Maiden Lucy!

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Bamm Bamm Bamm on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Imashime no Kaze, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Trap applied to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly dodges Dark Amber's Blade Strike, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber is Psyched!
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Warm Vanilla Sugar's Vanilla Based Grappling, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates! Tangle applied to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to brace Mai Tokiha's Fiery Rebuke, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Elixir Red perfectly braces Amu Hinamori's Sparkling Cheerleader Wink, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Sweet Pea finishes her transformation and then says, "We can do it--uh..." She trails off because Sakura has gotten all glassy eyed. She looks Cherry Blossom over and then--suddenly--golden light! "What...!!" She says. OH no! Did they use Golden Sugar Scrub too many times and this is the consequences of playing COMBO-GODS? "Blossom!!" She shouts, eyes going wide with horror. She rushes over to her, paying the monster little mind so far. She ducks down, wrapping an arm around Sakura and squozes tightly. "Sakura! Sakura!" She whispers. "Are you okay??"

She looks like she might be about to cry. It isn't until Erika starts throwing a punch she takes in a deep breath and fires a quick flower shot at it, but is still--nonetheless--staying close to Blossom.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Flower Shot on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Arf [None] has posed.

The wolf woman suddenly has a change of look.

Well, more than it. Fangs, a tail, wolf ears and all such fun things that make her obviously not human. The woman blinks to Yoshirou as he continues on - no idea what's going on? <<Well that's not very helpf- oh they're attacking someone!>> Arf proclaims with all such help as she leaps atop the building, having left the depth of the meaty insides.

Resting atop the building, the familiar tilts her head to listen. They're... doing something? Attacking a monster! <<I'm rooting for the ugly one.>> She remarks, arms crossing her chest - then laughs a bit. <<Well, sure, you can do whatever - I know what I'd like to do.>> She remarks, glancing out towards the multitude attacking Elixer Red! A hand extends, outwards, as she notices someone ... crying. Holding someone. <<Maybe they won't notice, mmm?>>

A runic circle appears at the palm of that hand, growing outwards, chains moving to bind Madobe Kur- Sweet Pea, and make her just as helpless as her friend, Sakura.

COMBAT: Arf has used Chain Bind on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Arf has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Yoshirou Kurotsuki [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Yoshirou frowns, as the chaos starts to unfold. <<I...yeah, that is a monster of some kind? I know these girls, they're->> Yoshirou cuts off before he can say 'friends' or 'not bad people.' Arf might be sane, but she's still Dark Fall. <<...they're Tuners.>> That's safer. As she goes on the offensive, Yoshirou ducks into an alley. She said he could do what he wanted, but...if he doesn't help, then...

Then someone who /isn't/ sane might hear about it. He holds up his ring to the sky, focusing on it. "All right..." Deep breath. "From the darkness of the void...behold!" A dark sphere surrounds him, as evil magic is unleashed from the ring. The sphere floats up slightly, as armor locks around his legs, arms and torso - armor taller than he is, black and spiky. "STAR LION!" His voice is deeper now, colder and more villainous. His head is covered by a massive, crowned helmet with burning blue eyes, revealing nothing in the helm itself but darkness.

Now, he just has to figure out which people to start doing things to and what he can do.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki transforms into Star Lion!

<Pose Tracker> Nagisa Misumi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

The three little children all look to each other as their confusion as to the origin of that squeaky voice is replaced by confusion as to how this high school girl sounds like a character from Doraemon.

Nagisa is unaware of the painful spot she'd poked at before arriving here, and so it is safe for now. Even if she had known, however, there's much else to worry about now. Magical girls begin to transform in a cascade, prompted by the most horrifying transformation of all, as Sakura Akagi's chest erupts with a sparkling treasure, which itself comes to life. Well, animated objects are something of a specialty of hers.

"Yukishiro-san! That girl's in trouble!" In fact, a lot of girls and boys are in trouble in here, but Sakura's seems the most dire to her. "We have to..." She looks back, and realizes that a lonely-looking pair of bent senior citizens is nearby, the wife helping pick up the husband, who had fallen to one knee. "...we have to help them first!" Hopping off of the booth, Nagisa takes a shoulder from a fleeing salaryman but keeps her feet, recovering with an athlete's easy gait, and puts her own shoulder under the old man's armpit, helping him plod outside, leaving the wife to Honoka. Once they've made it a few meters away, she pats his shoulder, bowing repeatedly and lightly, and hurries back to her partner.

"Ready?" she asks. And she offers her hand with a trusting smile.

A moment later, both doors of the diner smash open as though from an explosive charge, one swinging violently into the wall, the other ripping off one of its hinges to slump to an awkward diagonal angle. They spit out twin figures in a dynamic pose. Cure Black has one foot extended far, her whole body twisted into the motion, so that the very passage of air causes her to rotate. Like a human flechette, she whistles through the air toward the crystalline monster called Passion's Cry, letting out a gutteral, girlish war cry.

COMBAT: Nagisa Misumi transforms into Cure Black!

COMBAT: Nagisa Misumi has started a combo targeting Sakura Akagi!

<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Honoka Yukishiro is last seen helping the grandma out of the building and around the corner, but Cure Black and Cure White are felt before they're seen.

Anyone might have sensed the tremendous explosion of power outside, but it's the monster looming over the fallen Japanese Cherry Blossom, and those near her, that feel the air boom as two mighty magical boots rush towards Passion's Cry, magical leg-warmered legs outstretched (and warmed).

Whether they hit the monster or go flying past it to hit the wall, the two of them backflip off of whatever they impact to land neatly in the thick of things.

"Emissary of Light, Cure Black!" A pink-hearted hand makes a fierce fist.

"Emissary of Light, Cure White!" A blue-hearted hand reaches out, palm ready.

"Together, We are Pretty Cure!"

"Servant of the dark power..." "...Return to the darkness from which you came!"

In that moment, they realize that one of them pointed at the youma, while the other pointed at Elixir Red. "Ah, servantS," White quickly amends, always determined to be grammatically precise.

COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro transforms into Cure White!

COMBAT: Cure White has joined the combo started by Nagisa Misumi!
COMBAT: COMBO! Cure Black and Cure White have used Precure Double Screw Kick on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Cure Black has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure White has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Bamm Bamm Bamm, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy is Psyched!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Madobe Kuroi's Flower Shot, taking 1 Fatigue damage! Diversion and Stun applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly dodges Tadase Hotori's Royal Dungeon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Kyouko Sakura's Pincushion, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is Quipped! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Erika Inagawa's Rising Sandalwood, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Kaitou Jeanne's Dramatic Declaration, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is Quipped!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to counter Cure Black and Cure White's Combo: Precure Double Screw Kick, taking 118 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi's counterattack, Passionate Embrace, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Cure Black!

<Pose Tracker> Elixir Red [None] has posed.

The failed attempt at a henshin gets the attention of Elixir Red /immediately/. He takes a second to consider his options -- this could be a coup if he brought it home for Ends of the World... but no -- his Mistress's goals take priority. As a result, he ultimately chooses to favor his original objective; who knows when he'll get another chance?

Unfortunately for him, he seems to have made... just about everyone upset, with his presence. His focus is on Dark Amber still, and as a result, while he manages to narrowly evade that wrist-blade strike, everyone else, he just has to prepare for. Fuu's magic swirls around him, locking him down and further forcing his hand; everyone else, he just does his best to harden up against. As close as Mai is, though -- /she/ manages to totally pierce his defenses, sending him staggering back to the greatest extent the grappling and binding allows.

He eventually manages to squirm his way away from the set of magical girls (and boys) practically standing atop him at this point. "Nngh -- there's so /many/ of you... next time, I'm not coming alone," he hisses. "Still... an opportunity to prove my aggression -- and spice -- isn't unwelcome..."

With a flourish of his blade and another burst of bright energy, he sets much of the room ablaze... though he takes care not to wound Mai. Fire against fire might not even work, anyway -- Mai will require a more... personal touch. Later.

After a few more seconds of mashing her face into a pastry, Asuka finally looks up, noting the drink order. "Thank you," she says, with a small smile. "I think I'm going to need at least two."

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Razor Burn on Dark Amber.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Razor Burn on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Razor Burn on Amu Hinamori.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Razor Burn on Warm Vanilla Sugar.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Tomomi Shizuka [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed.

Tomomi tries to encourage Asuka. "We could make this a new metric," she says. "We can call this kind of situation a two-drink minimum."

Tomomi makes a note to start a tab.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Elixir Red's Razor Burn, taking 25 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Quipped! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! Diversion applied to Fuu Hououji!

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar fails to counter Elixir Red's Razor Burn, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Warm Vanilla Sugar is Quipped! Diversion applied to Warm Vanilla Sugar!
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar's counterattack, Counterburst, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Dark Amber narrowly dodges Elixir Red's Razor Burn, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber is Quipped! Dark Amber's Fade ability activates! Dark Amber's Flash ability activates! Diversion applied to Dark Amber!
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori perfectly dodges Elixir Red's Razor Burn, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Amu Hinamori's Fade ability activates! Amu Hinamori's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Cherry Blossom is still breathing, but, it's ragged. She looks up at the youma that seems to have... come out of her? How weird - what is it exactly? Her essense?

Her eyes pass over the shard that's within it, but she can't really form words.

The creature, however, can speak. It laughs a little in an echoy way. "...So much feeling! How kind of you to care so much about her!" she cries. Flecks of drool are escaping from the youma's blackened lips. And then the magical girls come. A few attacks just scratch the youma - clubs and flowers seeming not to phase her. Kyouko's javelins seem to fare a bit better, slashing into her smoky body, and then an uppercut nails her on the chin.

Passion's Cry laughs again. "Show me the passion you have saved for her... and... I'll show you mine!"

She opens up her hands and flattens them out, palms down. A surge of red flower petals flare out from her finger tips, spurned on by a powerful wind and aimed at those who tried to assault her. It's almost like one of Cherry Blossom's attacks...

Until all the petals explode and catch fire.

The Cure's assault comes last, and, where other attacks only dazed the youma slightly... their combination kick knocks her down, hard. She goes rolling underneath the diner table, her entire form temporarily dissipating in smoke, in spite of her attempts to retaliate.

However, the youma won't be destroyed that easily. The crystal is still intact... and the creature rises up again. She throws one very powerful hand at Cure Black after the kick has landed, a hand that amorphously expands to twine around the Pretty Cure, and hold her down beneath it!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passionate Petals on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passionate Petals on Madobe Kuroi.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passionate Petals on Tadase Hotori.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passionate Petals on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passionate Petals on Erika Inagawa.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passionate Petals on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Flight on Cure Black.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Passionate Petals, taking 18 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Passionate Petals, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tadase Hotori's Block ability activates!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Passionate Petals, taking 26 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly counters Arf's Chain Bind, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Stun, and Trap applied to Madobe Kuroi!
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Flower Shot, partially gets through, doing 3 Fatigue damage to Arf! Diversion applied to Arf!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Passionate Petals, taking 20 Fatigue damage!

Fuu Hououji's last pose:

And suddenly the room was full of fire, or at least so it seems to the Magic Knight of Wind - she certainly can't dodge well enough to avoid all of it, although between her desperate dodging and the inherent protection (magical, anyway) of her armor, she avoids getting any worse than first-degree burns and a severe lack of useful air in her lungs at the end of her evasion. When she finally gets into clear air again, she's coughing, leaning on her sword for support as she tries to catch her breath.

There is perhaps a subtle irony in the Knight of Wind getting winded like that - and by a fire-based attack, yet. Her eyes are watering behind her glasses, which doesn't help much either. "I believe," she rasps hoarsely at Elixir Red, "that your 'spice' is rather too hot for this restaurant's cuisine ..."

She doesn't even bother with another spell attack; she just charges in with her sword and tries to stab him.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Sword Strike on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to brace Sakura Akagi's Passionate Petals, taking 16 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Princess Runealy ponders Lucy's advice, and quickly realizes it's apt. "Alright!" She moves aside to let Sweet Pea stay close to Cherry Blossom, and Rune instead tries to keep herself between the creature and her friends. Cure Black and White's arrival draws a slight gasp; there's something she wants to tell them, but the middle of a fight inside the diner is /not/ the right time. Maybe later, but right now working with them to help Cherry Blossom takes priority.

"Passion?" The princess can't help but wonder if they're being goaded, but any further concerns have to wait; she projects a red energy 'disc' in front of herself as a shield against the fiery petals. "Passion is one word for it," Rune comments as the flurry dies down. "But I think 'love', 'friend', 'trust'," she specifically invokes the same word the Perfume Warrior used at the mall on a very important day, "Those fit a lot better. I'll show you what she means to me!" Wand aimed at the youma, Runealy fires an emerald energy ball! It flies a short distance within the diner, then detonates in mid-flight to become a 'shower' of sparkles, dozens of tiny projectiles trying to spread out a little and batter the monster!

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Scatter Orb on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Diva Heart [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

After she's recovered from her initial chair-kicking, the fight is joined in earnest; and while Diva Heart is no doctor, she's /pretty/ sure she knows who the heels are here. All the tables and chairs everywhere are kind of a pain, but--

-- wait, what is she talking about?

Tossing her title belt off into a dark corner, Diva Heart scrambles depeer into the diner on a path toward Elixir Red, ducking to crawl under the occasional table or clambering over the occasional chair. Before long, she's come up behind the man - quite possibly unnoticed, in all the chaos - and...

... gives him a tender hug around the waist from behind?

At least until her hands lock, and with a wordless roar of effort, the diva flings herself backwards, trying to lift Elixir Red up and over herself and slam him, shoulders and head first, into - and possibly through - one of the diner's tables. Only as she's falling does Diva Heart realize that not only are these tables not gimmicked, they're also not even the right kind of table. Hmmm.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has used German Suplex Through Table on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori is running towards the thing that came from Sakura when Amu transforms and winks, and he shouts encouragingly towards her. "Good timing Amulet Heart!" And when it comes to timing, the petals are coming towards him, he doesn't think of them as dangerous until they start burning. He pushes his staff forward again, shouting "Holy Crown!" A crown-shaped forcefield puts itself in between most of the petals and him, one gets through, burning his cheek. The forcefield falls, and Tadase gets close enough to whack the youma with his staff.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Golden Staff on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine's head pivots around as the door busts open. "Pretty Cure?!" she says in astonishment. She can smell, coming from them, a vast black-white P O W E R - one that gives her pause even as she lands on her feet.

Eye flash. Momentarily, Forever Sunshine experiences FIGHTER MIND. 'If the Pretty Cures have this kind of strength working in tandem with their physical techniques... we'll be left behind at this rate!! Why am I worrying about this?? Am I that competitive??"

'No!!' she reasons further, her right hand coming up to half-palm her face. 'I'm getting distracted... I can't guide everyone, I don't remember how - Cherry Blossom...!!' Her eyes are threatening to water. Her attention shifts towards Sweet Pea, who is -- being chained?

That's the limit. Sorrow and despair catch fire in her heart, at about the same time when cherry blossom petals catch fire and explode behind her. Flames lick over Forever Sunshine's back, throwing smouldering strands of burned napkins over the gi jacket she wears.

Tangerine-scented wind rises upwards, whipping the embers away and leaving a fetching flower-outline design on her back. "Hnh," she says, finally. "I guess that should teach me to turn my back on the enemy, huh?" Pivoting around on her heel, she keeps her hand raised upwards, framing her eyes as she gazes towards the passionate youma.

"Show you my fire? You asked for it!" she says. Then - she fist-pumps in the air, exhaling outwards. The heat around her rises further, the tangerine-citrus scent filling the air, aromatic oils of metaphor and memory rising upwards. Her targets are her friends (and also Dark Amber), although the pleasant scent is probably nice to have around for everyone.

Her eyes are still wet, but with determination. "My passion's as hot as summer sunshine. You should give up now, before I set YOU on fire!!"

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Warm Vanilla Sugar.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Madobe Kuroi.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Dark Amber accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Dark Amber!

<Pose Tracker> Dark Amber [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Dark Amber scoffs. "Of course there is, you don't think you'd just be allowed to waltz out of here!?" he asks.

He's lashed out at, that singed his long coattails some, and barely avoided it. That took way more energy than it should had. He forgot just how staggering the Generals could be.

"Good! Then we can take out more of you at the same time." he says a little more annoyed than he should be.

He leans over to Warm Vanilla Sugar. "Vanilla Sugar... be careful..!" he remarks, as Erika pumps her full of that tangerine breeze, it makes him feel like ten million bucks.

He attempts to throw out an attack to trip up the Elixir, a binding amber chain with two blades at the end.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Binding Amber Chain on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Warm Vanilla Sugar!

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

That's a lot of magical girls. More than Mai's ever seen in one place, to be certain - all adorned in a wide array of outfits, with dramatic speeches. Meanwhile, the HiME of fire is in her waitress uniform, just adorned with a gaudy Element. Kind of bland in comparison...but she never wanted the extra duty in the first place, and she doesn't really enjoy it.

Unfortunately, she can't just leave this british-sounding villain to his rightful foes - said foes seem distracted with one of theirs having a monster come out of her chest. Not to mention that Elixir Red is focused on her specifically, so she can't exactly step out. This is - unfortunately - her responsibility.

And then the villain sets her favourite workplace on fire.

Right. No running away, no holding back on her own powers, the only regret is that Mikoto isn't here to help her make this jerk suffer. Then again, given how much of a creep he seems to be, Mai doesn't really want Mikoto anywhere near him.

As Diva Heart grabs the villain, Mai's bracelets spin to life, flames gathering. After all, ths place is already on fire, this can't make things much worse. As soon as there's a clear shot - "Get out of my DINER!"

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Pyre Lash on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

The flames scorch over Warm Vanilla Sugar, making it harder for her to focus on things, but she's not going to give up just yet. Elixir Red needs to pay for what he has done to Cherry Blossom! Not even flames can or will stop her from showing this villain, who is most likely out of her power range really, what for. She feels Forever Sunshine's power starting to rest on her, but for now she's not doing much with it.

"You're a jerk, a fiend, and something tells me that even your allies don't like you."

And then Warm Vanilla's thought train derails in an epic fashion as it puts two and two together. In this case, she doesn't get anything even remotely coming out to four. Its so bad she doesn't even realize that Dark Amber was warning her to be careful.

"Say... you wouldn't happen to be Pisard now, right? Doubling up on the jobs because of poor pay or something? You know, this doesn't really make things any better. I mean, you're still doing what you have been doing before, just with a new name and..." Warm Vanilla says, taking a moment to look Elixir Red over some. "Well, I'll admit you're better looking this way, but you're still evil. But its never too late to change your ways. You could easily leave the Apothecary and live a life that isn't so dark."

"I mean, look at Dark Amber. He's left you all and his life is all the better for it. Friends, family, a girlfriend who would do almost anything for him. Life is just amazing for him! And what do you have? The contempt of the people you want to prove yourself to so badly and nothing good or fulfilling."

"Say! If you give me a bit, I can make a bunch of riceballs, and we can sit down and talk about it while eatting. Sound good?"

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

As the return blast comes from Elixir Red, Amulet Heart leaps up high, performing a backflip hurdle over the shot. "Ei!" She lands in a neat crouch before rising up to her feet again. "Don't you go trying things like that again!" She puts her hands on her hips and glares at the tall man. "Coming in here and causing trouble! Don't you know you're disturbing this place of work? You should be ashamed of yourself!" One hand lifts up and poitns dramatically toward him. "We'll forgive you if you leave right now!" Nevermind that she does not technically speak for everyone in here. She's a cheerleader! That gives her some authority by default, right?

"Tadase-kun!" For a moment, Amulet Heart's eyes are replaced with little <3_<3 marks. But she quickly snaps out of it. "Oh, uh...rrr... right! You be careful too! Let me know if you need any help!"

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has used Don't Get Cocky! on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Delicate petals carried on an unnatural breeze..in an instant, it's like being in the middle of a battlefield as fiery grenades burst all around her. Clutching her spear to her chest and planting herself in place, she struggles to hold her ground, but finds herself overwhelmed by the blazing hailstorm.

Coughing and sputtering, small burns dot her hands and forearms, blossoming with their own insistent cries of pain. Snarling angrily, Kyouko stares daggers at her assailant. Charging forward, she jumps and dances about, poking and prodding at the demon from a variety of angles, a taunting exercise meant to warm Kyouko up.

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Sweet Pea guides her pistol and fires off a quick shot at the wolf girl. She just presumes it's a monster because of her appearance. That's not the proper way to behave, kids, so learn from this lesson as Madobe is pinned in place and, well, shortly petalled halfway across the room.

She goes through a table, smashing it in half. She grunts, painfully, before standing herself up, taking a deep breath, and fixing Arf with a glare.

She raises her cellphone, takes a picture of Arf, taps at her phone for a few moments more, and then shows Arf the picture again.

She has written the words BAD DOG underneath her image.

She scrolls down and hits the upload button.

|

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Knuckletap on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Madobe Kuroi!
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Flamewar on Arf.
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

It's pure chaos in the diner, and amidst all the flashy entrances and actual fire spreading, Lucy spots at least two people she wanted to talk to, but now is really not the time. Hopefully she'll be able to catch them once the Apothecary agent and Sakura's strange heart-monster is taken care of.

While Lucy's shouts and blows against the creature are certainly spirited, she might as well be hitting it with a foam sword for all the good it does. Just as she's about to reconsider her strategy, however, it retaliates with a storm of burning petals. The Maiden is quick on her feet, certainly, but her attempt to outrun such a powerful wind is doomed to failure. Caught in the storm, she crashes into a table, until she's slumped in a seat, covered in scorch marks, eyes swirls.

She gets back to her senses with some difficulty, and soon she's back on the offense. "Show you our passion, you say? I have plenty of it to spare, thank you very much!" And the one upside to all that fire is that it gives Lucy plenty to work with, as she waves her club around and draws some of the flames consuming a nearby seat, and shoots a large ball of them right back at Passion's Cry. "And I think you'll find the flames of our friendship are too hot to handle!"

Didi is running behind, taking mental note that he and Lucy really need to have a talk about combat banter. It doesn't occur to him, nor Lucy for that matter, that literally fighting fire with fire might not be the best of strategies in this case.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Blast from the Past on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Sword Strike, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Amu Hinamori's Don't Get Cocky!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Elixir Red is Quipped! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to dodge Dark Amber's Binding Amber Chain, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber is Psyched! Tangle applied to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Elixir Red perfectly dodges Mai Tokiha's Pyre Lash, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Kaitou Jeanne pays little heed to the various other magical warriors assembled. A good thief should know to keep their focus on the prize. The prize today being that glowing shard lodged in the youma's chest, she's arbitrarily decided. Because it was there, and looked enough like a jewel to be something that wouldn't be strange for a thief to be interested in. And while she helps to takes care of this, others can take care of the fallen Cherry Blossom and help to eject the problematic customer from before. It all works out.

She hadn't considered that her poor choice of words might end up making her a target herself, which they very nearly do. Thankfully Lucy too has other priorities, leaving Jeanne free to answer the challenge: "We'll see about that!" And then not actually face the cavegirl directly. Hopefully everyone has their priorities straight enough to not foolishly insist on getting in her way for reasons of Unfinished Business or whatever. For some reason, Jeanne is looking straight at Diva Heart when she thinks this. Thank everything she's found something to distract herself with.

Unfortunately that was hardly the most important thing to be worried about. She should have been paying closer attention to the youma. By the time Jeanne responds to the flaming petal attack, it's far too late to escape their explosion, blowing her back and straight into the wall. With a painful grimace, she's back to her feet in short order, mentally admonishing herself for taking this situation too lightly.

Right, that'll be quite enough of that. Time to get serious. Two objects fly out of Jeanne's sleeves into her waiting hands, where she spins them too rapidly to make out what they actually are, though she gives it away shortly after. "Clubs, was it? Suits me!" Though the remark was more directed to Lucy, it's the youma that both objects are tossed towards - not the kind of club that Lucy was using, but rather like the kind used in rhytmic gymnastics. Improvised weapons, but they should smart all the same.

COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to dodge Diva Heart's German Suplex Through Table, taking 31 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Gone Clubbing on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Black tosses White a grin at the conclusion of their introduction, her pink-hearted fist clenching tight. "All right!" she announces. "More Pretty Cure are here!" Apparently she hasn't yet been disabused of the notion that all magical girls are Pretty Cure. "Cure Brown!" she calls to Lucy. "Good to see you again. How about we team up for a Precure Triple--"

A massive, amorphous palm slams Nagisa into the ground, and begins to slither around her limbs, pinning them to her torso, pinning her torso to the ground. "Ugh! I thought it was made of crystal," she complains. Spreading her knees for stability, she forces herself up onto them, then picks one foot up after the other and pushes upwards, a deadlift-style motion, even as her arms force themselves outwards. Her face grows pink and her thin limbs tremble, but she's a lot stronger than her build would indicate, and she begins to force the crystal digits off of her, gritting her teeth, sweat breaking out on her brow. "Hhhhrrrgh..." she groans, face now red, and then, with a sudden motion, she tosses a quick back kick to try and push her free of the grip. She's earning that milkshake.

COMBAT: Cure Black has used Burning Calories on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Cure Black has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure White [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure White blinks with amazement as Forever Sunshine fills the air with... "Tangerines," she exclaims. "Mmmmm!" Then the air is set on fire with petals, causing her to duck and cover... and while she's doing so, Black is getting squashed.

She's entirely confident in her partner's ability to get free, however, so other than a sharp intake of breath, she's not slowed down by this twist. Instead, she's already in motion almost before she fully understands what she's doing. Her white skirts flare outwards as she spins into point blank range... and, while Black conveniently has that gigantic hand in her grip, reaches out and jams her own palm into a couple of critical youma finger and arm joints. Then she backflips away.

"What is this all about?" she asks the nearest magical girl, who happens to be Forever Sunshine. "It seems like you know what's going on."

COMBAT: Cure White has used Kansetsu-waza Joint Lock on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Cure White has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Arf perfectly counters Madobe Kuroi's Flamewar, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Arf's counterattack, Pounce, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Madobe Kuroi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly dodges Kaitou Jeanne's Gone Clubbing, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne is Psyched!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Princess Runealy's Scatter Orb, taking 18 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Blast from the Past, taking 26 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Exhausted applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Cure White's Kansetsu-waza Joint Lock, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Cure Black and Cure White's Burning Calories, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Cure Black and Cure White are Psyched!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Tadase Hotori's Golden Staff, taking 21 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Elixir Red [None] has posed.

Elixir Red's previous focus on Dark Amber turns into a laser-like rage directed at Warm Vanilla Sugar -- though he's got just enough dignity not to snarl. Instead, he shoots back, "And what makes you think he's so high and mighty after hopping the fence? Are you /sure/ he's so good for her? Who's to say that we didn't eject /him/ for poor behavior? And for that matter -- /who are you talking about/? I'm Elixir Red!" He's mostly just lashing out, trying to drive a wedge in.

Unfortunately for him, he doesn't get an opportunity to drive it all that much deeper, because the pain comes in short order. Jumping up just slightly to avoid that lashing flame, Elixir Red ends up helping Diva Heart get him up for a German suplex, making it /even easier/ to plant him squarely through the table. From there, it's just a question of curling up in the fetal position for a few moments, getting gradually more upset as swords -- and sass -- rain down on him.

Kipping back up, Elixir Red wastes no time in striking back; Diva Heart gets a forceful uppercut straight out of the kip-up for her trouble with Red's free hand. Having gotten a healthy sense of how everyone intends to engage, he slashes out with that flaming swordcane yet again at Warm Vanilla Sugar, blasting out with a second wave of fire, before turning his ire on everyone else with a series of straightforward dashing slashes.

"Hmmm... that /is/ sort of clever," Asuka offers to her compatriot, with a little smile. "A two-drink minimum... yes, that sounds about right." After a second, she adds, "I think I'll have to have a discussion with Red tomorrow about how to treat a lady." This is followed almost immediately with another sigh.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Razor Burn on Warm Vanilla Sugar.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Close Shave on Amu Hinamori.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Kyouko Sakura's Knuckletap, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura is Psyched!

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Forward Down Down-Forward Punch on Diva Heart.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Close Shave on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Dark Amber narrowly braces Elixir Red's Close Shave, taking 11 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Diva Heart accepts Elixir Red's Forward Down Down-Forward Punch, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Diva Heart is unable to keep fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Arf [None] has posed.

So what if it's not the best choice?

Arf isn't worried about that at the moment.

With the chains wrapping about Madobe - or at least attempting to, Arf finds it a bit distracting - the shot glancing her normal human nose and causing her to growl at Sweet Pea - eyes fixated on that girl as she holds the magical circle still - keeping the magical rune alive and in place as she moves from it.

There's a phone - a picture, her eyes going all white for a moment from the flash, before the picture - BAD DOG... And then it's uploaded.

"You didn't even get my GOOD SIDE!" The familiar exclaims, leaping skywards before flipping right before Madobe, aiming to swipe the phone from her hands - but not actually harming her. No. That comes /now/.

"Treating this like some kind of game...!" The wolf girl snarls, then grins, "Well, if the rabbit wants to walk into my mouth - I'll devour it regardless!" The gloves, clawed due to - well her hands being clawed, are swung in a kind of pointy hammerblow to Madobe's midsection.

Which would lead into grabbing the young woman and then heaving her upwards as she might keel over - and then slamming her straight towards the ground, to press a foot against her stomach! She's not crazy like the rest.

This, however, is a /lesson/.

COMBAT: Arf has used Vicious Strikes on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Arf has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori narrowly counters Elixir Red's Close Shave, taking 6 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori's counterattack, Pom-Pom Barrier, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar fails to counter Elixir Red's Razor Burn, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Warm Vanilla Sugar is Quipped!
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar's counterattack, Vanilla Burst, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Elixir Red!

<Pose Tracker> Diva Heart [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Diva Heart is on her feet before Elixir Red has a chance to recover, and is in the midst of reaching out to grab at the man's collar and put him in a hold when she eats a huge uppercut right in the craw.

In truth, the impact isn't that hard... but for some reason, instead of simply staggering away, Diva Heart goes flying backwards; she crashes into a pair of tables that had been pushed together for a large party and topples over them, taking them onto their sides as she does. She ends up on the ground on the other side, behind the overturned tables, with her legs spread eagle and her arms splayed out to either side in a full-on Rock Is Dead moment.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly counters Arf's Vicious Strikes, taking 11 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Bonk Bonk Bonk, partially gets through, doing 4 Fatigue damage to Arf!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Oh, ha, friendship. What a dull word. Friendship is so... mild. True FIRE comes from within... not without..."

Sparkles! They slam into the Passionate Youma with a powerful force. Kyouko strikes and pokes at it, scraping its red skin. And a staff strike heads for its hide. And then comes Lucy's fireball, which the youma tries to avoid. But it does not succeed, clobbered with a slam from its own attack returned. Likewise, she tries to get around Jeanne's thrown clubs, but fares better here, getting a small scratch. Cure White has a good grip on one hand... and the youma lets out a gasp as she tangles up for a moment.

But then, the shard within the creature's chest lights up with a burst of golden light. Is that... one of The shards indeed? It gives the passionate creature another surge of energy, and she breaks away from those pinning her down!

"Ha ha ha, how wonderful! Now this is more like everything you have... such energy... such DEVOTION... isn't it encouraging to fight? It's the only thing that makes me feel real.... Let me show you how much I care..."

Suddenly the youma is everywhere at once, rushing down on some of the girls who struck at it, attacking with teleports, fists, jabs. The cures, since they do come in pairs, she saves for last, swiping at them with her lengthened black claws! But needing to recharge has taken something out of it, and the youma can't assault every single person without aid from that golden shard's power.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Embrace on Princess Runealy.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Embrace on Erika Inagawa.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Embrace on Tadase Hotori.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Embrace on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Edge on Cure Black.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Edge on Cure White.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Ascension on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi accepts Sakura Akagi's Passion's Ascension, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Sakura Akagi! Cleanse! All of Sakura Akagi's debuffs are cleared!

<Pose Tracker> Dark Amber [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Dark Amber scoffs. "If you ejected me for bad behavior...that'd make me one of the good guys anyways!" he quips back. "Besides, don't you remember I........" he sort of slows down a thought.... a thought rather comes to him suddenly. What did happen back then? Everything still so... cluttered in his head past a certain point. He can't finish that sentence.

"No.. /you know/ I followed the Mistress's word to the letter." he snaps back at Red. Indeed, he did. Back then anyways.

That's the one thing he's grimly sure of, afterall.

He just unleashes a torrent of blade spam as he begins to quickly move away from Red Elixir to put space between him and himself in the resturant.

COMBAT: Cure Black narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Passion's Edge, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Cure Black's Block ability activates! Cure Black's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Cure White fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Passion's Edge, taking 23 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Passion's Embrace, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is Psyched!
COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Amber Bladestorm on Elixir Red.
COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa perfectly counters Sakura Akagi's Passion's Embrace, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa's counterattack, Perfect Praline Posture, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi!

<Pose Tracker> Tomomi Shizuka [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed.

Tomomi winces, cringing at a particularly painful-sounding impact. "I give him points for enthusiasm, but the execution is more Pollock than Rembrandt."

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Passion's Embrace, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Tadase Hotori's Block ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Warm Vanilla Sugar really should focus more on the battle than anything else right now. As it stands, though, she's at least getting under Elixir Red's skin, though its not effective enough to stop him from sending out even more flames and painful canes to bash against her, Vanilla unable to get off a decent counter attack at this point. Its not looking good for the Perfume Warrior at this point.

"Ugh... something tells me that your allies wouldn't have kicked him out. Maybe killed him, but you wouldn't let him leave freely. And I'm talking about you now. Who did you think I was talking about?"

She took a deep breath, moving to put some distance between herself and Elixir Red, gathering her magic up before unleashing a wave of vanilla scented sparkles out from her to wash over Dark Amber and Fuu, as well as herself, to soothe and relax them, and help them feel better physically and more able to focus on the fight. Vanilla scented baths are so relaxing.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Vanilla Cleansing Wave on Warm Vanilla Sugar.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Vanilla Cleansing Wave on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Vanilla Cleansing Wave on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Warm Vanilla Sugar's Vanilla Cleansing Wave, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Diva Heart has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar accepts Warm Vanilla Sugar's Vanilla Cleansing Wave, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Warm Vanilla Sugar's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Dark Amber accepts Warm Vanilla Sugar's Vanilla Cleansing Wave, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Dark Amber's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy narrowly dodges Sakura Akagi's Passion's Embrace, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Fade ability activates! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

The fact that Elixir Red overlooks her in favor of focusing his attacks on others is somewhat lost on the Wind Knight as her eyes water behind her glasses, her fire-parched throat constricting and setting off another small coughing fit - but the warm, gently-scented breeze and sparkles from Warm Vanilla Sugar have a distinctly soothing effect, and Fuu finds herself breathing much easier, her sight clearing again. "Thank you!" she calls out to the Perfume Warrior who administered that 'first aid' - and then she turns her attention back towards the Apothecary minion who started all of this trouble. He doesn't *seem* to have broken entirely out of the Imashime no Kaze yet, although clearly it isn't hampering him as much as she would have liked it to ... and the quarters of this fight are far too close for any sword attack more elaborate than a simple slash or stab to be executed without an unacceptable risk of hitting an ally in the process.

She judges Elixir Red's movements, analyzing whatever pattern there may be - and lunges, trying to stab him in the leg.

Her own movements make it fairly clear that the Wind Knight is not actually a trained fencer. But she's trying.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Sword Strike on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai snarls as Red Elixir evades her attack - ignoring the fact that she's just blasted a table in her attempt to catch this jerk, and turns to take in the battle going on. Most of the magical girls are busy dealing with the golden...thing, and it's hard to blame them. There's a few people willing to help deal with this fire-sword-wielding man, even if one of them seems to be an old friend or something-

And then Diva Heart gets taken out. Someone got hurt for her sake.

"...whoever you are. Cut this out. Now." She sounds calm, not angry - but her anklets are spinning, and she wheels through the air to get between Red Elixir and Diva Heart. "Get out of this diner, get out of my sight, and don't you dare lay one more finger on anyone here-" Snarling, she unleashes a wave of flame at the enemy, a cage of flame to either incinerate him or force him to run out of the diner.

Mai isn't too picky.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Infernal Prison on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

"You don't have a good side!" Sweet Pea says. "I hate you because you're stopping me from helping my friend and I hope that your dog-master leaves you outside and forces you to watch them eat like an awesome meal or whatever!!"

She jerks her cellphone away and shoves it in her pocket. Her cellphone is more precious to her than life itself. So naturally it's her life that pays the consequences. Arf beats the bejeezes out of her while Madobe flails about trying to bonk her away with her cellphone.

"Uggggggggh...." Madobe groans, rolling to the right and plugging away with flower blasts for Arf. Sweet Pea sleeps in class a lot so she's not good at learning lessons.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Viewtiful Pea on Arf.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori sees the attack coming at him a moment after he should have reacted, his defensive forcefield goes up and is shattered after slowing the passionate monster down some, drawing blood. Fortunately for Tadase, that's it, it could've been much worse. He tries to take the opportunity to land another blow with his staff, hopefully turning what could've been bad into his advantage. After that, he heads closer to Sweet Pea, and stares at Arf, "I don't know what you're planning on, but it ends now."

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Staff Strike on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Princess Runealy pauses to stare as Vanilla Sugar tries to talk things out. That's not a bad thing, but is interesting; it suggests a certain consistency in that Perfume Warrior's willingness to reach out to others. The Cures have an equally intriguing thing going on as they 'introduce' a friend as "Cure Brown?" A glance to Lucy. "Honorary, or...?"

Then the youma speaks, drawing wide-eyed disapproval from Rune. "Encouraging!? It's terrifying! You find out just how 'real' you are when you're hurt, but that's not something to enjoy! If that's the only way you feel alive, the only thing you care about, then you need to stop! You'll die like that! You... ah!?" She's cut off by the Passionate one teleporting and going into a frenzy.

Teleporting. Rune's mind flashes back to lessons about how to deal with it, that teleportation is most commonly used to open up ways to attack... to be able to observe where someone is defending, without giving any clues to them in return. That means... "Behind!?" It's a guess. Runealy projects another barrier-disc, swinging her wand in a wide arc to sweep behind herself. She's rewarded with a partial deflection, knocking the first aside so that it glances her. That still causes the princess to stumble, hurt from the blow, but this is far better than it could have gone.

Boot wings lighting up, Runealy leaps over several tables and chairs while spinning to face her attacker. "It's hard to believe something like you came from one of my friends. However...!" The wand charges, firing another sparkly green energy-ball. This one has white arcane writing trailing it, an odd script that tries to wrap around limbs and impede defense should it strike the monster. Whether it finds hold or not, the emerald orb accompanying it will explode into sparkles once it strikes something... be it youma or floorboard. "Rune Blast!"

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine is put on the spot.

But... Cure White and Cure Black, despite that momentary spurt of jealousy, are also fighters. (Joint lock is kind of a hint.) She can speak to them with her 'qi' as well as her words!

This does nothing, but she does talk fast. "Buttlicker Red over there," a thumb is jerked towards Elixir Red, "is threatening a waitress, and my friend had a thing come out of Cherry Blossom, which turned into," a point towards the Passionate Youma, "her, and also SHE, WHO SHOULD WATCH HERSELF 'CAUSE I'M GONNA COME OVER THERE AND KICK HER HEAD OFF HER NECK," this is aimed towards Arf, "decided to get in the mix too!"

She casts her gaze towards the youma as it starts talking a good line on the passion of fighting. Forever Sunshine reaches over and picks something off the nearby table. She breathes in deeply, squeezing the thing in her hand. She watches the creature move quick, tracking it, and just as the youma is about to come towards her, she squeezes down on the pancake syrup pourer that had been sitting on Yoshirou's former table, hard enough to shatter the plastic!

Syrup rises into the air...! Seized by tangerine-colored light, it cooks off, forming a complex shape, loosely like a majorette's baton, which Forever Sunshine twirls to deflect the youma's blow with casual ease. Twisting around, she tells it, "That isn't what fighting's all about! You fight like that, and you're just running away from things! Like my foot up your butt because you hurt my friend!!"

Forever Sunshine stomps the ground then. The floorboards rattle... and a fragrant emanation washes outwards. Not at the youma, which is moving too fast, but towards-- the Cures?! No - the burst of citrus-infused magical force would erupt upwards just as the creature TRIES to hit them.

"Sorry," she tells Black and White, "if that was a little close, but of course she's gonna go after you guys, you're probably the strongest guys here." She then shouts towards Sweet Pea, and by extension, Arf, "You better get away before I come over there!! Sweet Pea how is she?!" Meaning, presumably, the fallen Cherry Blossom. Either way, she brandishes the praline-framework in her hand, in case dog-women fear sucrose.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Rune Blast on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Storm on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Razor blades are -not- the polite response to well-deserved sass! The nerve of some people. As the sharp attack closes in, Amulet Heart throws her hands up in front of her. A pair of pom-poms materializes, forming a shield that manages to absorb the attack... but she grunts slightly as the force of the blow pushes her back a few inches. "Nnnph..."

When she looks up again, Amulet Heart notices that even one of the waitresses seems to be getting in on things. "Magical waitresses?" She'll have to ask Nadeshiko to keep an eye on this place! She'd ask Yaya, but the girl would probably just come to eat cake and forget why she was here.

Pom-poms still held high, Amulet Heart shakes them several times. Swish. Swish! Pink sparks shoot out from each of the strands, flying toward Elixir Red. "I told you that you were bothing the workers here!"

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has used Pom-Pom Flourish on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Elixir Red perfectly dodges Amu Hinamori's Pom-Pom Flourish, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Sword Strike, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly dodges Dark Amber's Amber Bladestorm, taking 26 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stun applied to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to dodge Mai Tokiha's Infernal Prison, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Elixir Red!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Black manages to successfully kick free of the hand, doing little damage but liberating herself. She still has shards of hardened crystal spattered about her uniform, however, and can feel them restricting her range of motion. Grimacing, she raises a hand gaily above her head and waves it back and forth. "Cure Brown! Cure Brown! Come here! Cure White, you too!"

On the way to this impromptu meeting, she's forced to lift both arms to blow a swiping assault from a speeding crystal, which knocks her into a table with a crunch, but rubbing her back, she hurries onward.

"Okay, you know Marble Screw, right?" she enthuses. "Triple Marble Screw." She's sensitive to the lack of recognition in Cure Brown's eyes, and backtracks instantly. "Wait, no, let's not do that one. Um, okay, we'll call it Brown Spectrum Assault. Every shade of brown." She pumps her fist briefly. "Here's what we do. Cure White will throw it at the wall, and when it hits, both of us will dive in and slam it!" She gestures with her shoulder. This feels weird; she barely needs to say a word to White, but Cure Brown's new, so she wants to be polite. "Got it? Let's go!"

Without waiting for anyone's assent (they're all Cures, after all), Black backs up, waits a moment, then starts charging the monster, trusting that by the time she gets there, it will have been tossed.

COMBAT: Cure Black has started a combo targeting Sakura Akagi!

<Pose Tracker> Cure White [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure White is caught mid-backflip by those terrible claws, and is sent tumbling across the room with a surprised shriek. She lands, hard, her boots sending cracks into the tile floor as her knees flex, taking most of the weight. The rest goes on her bottom as she falls, and she rubs it painfully.

She bursts out of the dust cloud created by her impact just in time to hear Forever Sunshine's explanation. The use of her position to aim the Tangerine Storm does not get her to bat an eye; she's always willing to extend trust to others, in battlefield situations like this. Her partner has spoiled her for that, and sooner or later she'll be let down, but it hasn't happened yet, nor today. "Thank you for the explanation," she says pleasantly, dipping a neat bow towards the Perfume Warrior. "We're happy to draw its fire for you, but I believe you underestimate yourself."

"Please excuse me," she finishes, launching into the air at Black's call. She tries to land /on/ the youma, but she'll settle for /near/ -- either way, she waits for it to move, then does her best to redirect its momentum over her shoulders and into the wall. Either it's a very cool-looking flowing display of aikido technique, with her swirling dark hair, white skirts and outstretched palms, or she's about to have a ton or two of crystalline youma sitting on her.

"Ah, Brown Spectrum Assault," she adds, a little after the fact. It feels weird to say it without having it just burst out of her, but she's not unenthusiastic.

COMBAT: Cure White has joined the combo started by Cure Black!

COMBAT: Arf narrowly braces Madobe Kuroi's Viewtiful Pea, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched! Arf's Block ability activates! Arf's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Kaitou Jeanne seems to be taken entirely by surprise when the youma is suddenly teleporting all over the place. Inevitably, she takes a punch to the face, which... breaks her right in half?!

It probably doesn't take anybody long to notice that was only a straw dummy that Jeanne left in her place. The only solution to an enemy suddenly being everywhere is to suddenly be nowhere, which is exactly what she seems to have done. Unless you happen to be looking upwards, to see the phantom thief hanging from the ceiling by a wire extending from the bracelet on her right arm.

Having had her eyes on the 'prize' the whole time, she's taken special notice the way it glowed just now. She must have been more right than she realized, it /does/ seem to be some kind of power source for that creature. Which makes it the ideal spot to target for more than one reason.

Taking advantage of the fact that she's being paid attention to for the moment, Jeanne goes into a swinging motion, biding her time until she can get a good bead on the shard. Then the wire dislodges, dropping her down directly in front of the passion youma. Her action is quick, simple, and centered directly on the center of the creatures's chest: a single, full-force spin-kick. Then she attempts to immediately hop backwards, fearful that something might explode in her face as a result.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Attacking The Glowing Spot on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Arf [None] has posed.

With the flower blast pinging into her - Arf pulls away, letting them slam against the gloved arms as she skids backwards. "That's not... happening!" She remarks, skipping backwards - taking the shot full on despite the 'ability' to shield. She doesn't have a device. Hers is all magical - and it take a bit out of her. More than a bit, actually.

"Who even cares about your friends! There's enough of you to go around!" She bites, kicking backwards and then once more, launching herself up and away - she seems to keep going. "What's the point here - there's too many around to get my fill. I'd go hungry no matter what." She answers herself, then seemingly vanishes - except for the somewhat spry dog-like/wolf-like beast high-tailing it away as fast as she can.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Fighting fire with fire, it turns out, was more effective than might have been expected, at least where Lucy is concerned. She hops away and prepares to scoop up more of the flames...

Jeanne appears to be teasing Lucy, and she's not sure how to take it. But before she can respond with some sort of club pun of her own, she's spotted by Cure Black, whose misconceptions about her name she has yet to clear up. (You see, she's actually Sailor Dinosaur Planet.) Runealy also seems confused by this, so well, Lucy might as well properly introduce herself, then. "Ah, it's good to see you too, but--" The sound of an errant lovebeam drowns out the rest of her sentence, though the end is still audible, "--we need to talk when we get a chance!"

Suddenly, there seem to be many more of the passionate youma, and their onslaught is quite a lot to take as Lucy hops out of the way of one's blow, only to have to parry another's with her club. She manages to keep it up for quite a while-- she's fast! --but after hop-hop-hopping across tables, one of them tips over and sends her crashing to the floor, where she's left wide open for three of them to juggle her around.

She's sent flying, and manages to retain enough mobility to skid to a halt not far from the two Cures. She's called over-- wait, didn't Cure Black hear what she just said? "Ah?" What's a Marble Screw? "Ah?!" Shades of brown?! "Ah?!?"

And the two Cures rush ahead, before she can clear up the /dreadful misunderstanding/. Oh, well, maybe it's not that important. Rushing to catch up, she surges forward, kicking, punching, clubbing, headbutting and biting in turn. Her fighting style has never been terribly graceful, but her confusion is not really helping. She really does want to help, though! "Precure Brown Marble Screw Assault! --ah, wait, no!"

She's doing her best and truly wants to help, but it's a bit hard to coordinate with people who are mostly strangers, especially when there's such a /dreadful misunderstanding/ going on! Still, slamming into the enemy is slamming into the enemy, no matter which way you cut it.

COMBAT: Cure Brown has joined the combo started by Cure Black!

COMBAT: COMBO! Cure Black, Cure White, and Mesozoic Maiden Lucy have used Taijitu Taijutsu and Prehistoric... Phreestyle? on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Cure Black has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure White has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi perfectly counters Princess Runealy's Rune Blast, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi's counterattack, Passion's Flight, bursts all the way through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Princess Runealy! Stagger and Trap applied to Princess Runealy!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Storm, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Tadase Hotori's Staff Strike, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Tadase Hotori is Psyched!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Kaitou Jeanne's Attacking The Glowing Spot, taking 24 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Fighting fire with fire, it turns out, was more effective than might have been expected, at least where Lucy is concerned. She hops away and prepares to scoop up more of the flames...

Jeanne appears to be teasing Lucy, and she's not sure how to take it. But before she can respond with some sort of club pun of her own, she's spotted by Cure Black, whose misconceptions about her name she has yet to clear up. (You see, she's actually Sailor Dinosaur Planet.) Runealy also seems confused by this, so well, Lucy might as well properly introduce herself, then. "Ah, it's good to see you too, but--" The sound of an errant lovebeam drowns out the rest of her sentence, though the end is still audible, "--we need to talk when we get a chance!"

Suddenly, there seem to be many more of the passionate youma, and their onslaught is quite a lot to take as Lucy hops out of the way of one's blow, only to have to parry another's with her club. She manages to keep it up for quite a while-- she's fast! --but after hop-hop-hopping across tables, one of them tips over and sends her crashing to the floor, where she's left wide open for three of them to juggle her around.

She's sent flying, and manages to retain enough mobility to skid to a halt not far from the two Cures. She's called over-- wait, didn't Cure Black hear what she just said? "Ah?" What's a Marble Screw? "Ah?!" Shades of brown?! "Ah?!?"

And the two Cures rush ahead, before she can clear up the /dreadful misunderstanding/. Oh, well, maybe it's not that important. Rushing to catch up, she surges forward, kicking, punching, clubbing, headbutting and biting in turn. Her fighting style has never been terribly graceful, but her confusion is not really helping. She really does want to help, though! "Precure Brown Marble Screw Assault! --ah, wait, no!" Still, slamming into the enemy is slamming into the enemy, no matter which way you cut it.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Cure Black, Cure White, and Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Combo: Taijitu Taijutsu, taking 98 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Black, Cure White, and Mesozoic Maiden Lucy are Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Darts back behind the youma, taking advantage of the momentary distraction. Grasping her spear in both hands, she stands in place, stabbing forward with both hands. Her spear grows long as Kyouko's arms churn forward, becoming immense in length as she attempts to stab through Passion's heart.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Masterstroke on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Elixir Red [None] has posed.

"He'll learn. He just needs a little time to come into his own," Asuka says, taking a second to sip at her freshly-arrived Long Island.

This time, Elixir Red doesn't even get the time to really respond; almost immediately, there's a torrent of blades to deal with, and while he manages to parry a handful of them, he can't deal with /everything/ in front of him. Remaining under some pretty heavy pressure, he manages to force out, "Who even is Pisard?!" before yet another stab comes in for his leg.

Bringing his blade up to parry again, Red ends up having his defenses /totally/ blown through by that wave of flame. He hangs on, though, hissing back at Mai, "Again -- I'm not leaving without you, Pure Maiden!" Staggering forward, he bats away a few pink sparks with his sword, coming in for an uppercut slash at Mai -- only to follow it up with a hop back and a dash in toward Amu with his blade, followed by a cleaving continuation toward Dark Amber. It's clear from his hasty motions that he's starting to get a touch desperate...

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Forward Down Down-Forward Punch on Mai Tokiha.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Close Shave on Amu Hinamori.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Close Shave on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Kyouko Sakura's Masterstroke, taking 36 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Dark Amber narrowly dodges Elixir Red's Close Shave, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber's Fade ability activates! Dark Amber's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori fails to dodge Elixir Red's Close Shave, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Elixir Red's Forward Down Down-Forward Punch, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Elixir Red is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Cherry Blossom is still on the ground. Her eyes are shut, and she's not moving... officially out of it. But at least still alive.

The Passionate youma tries to slip away from Tadase's next staff strike, but he strikes regardless, slamming into her. As he runs off to try and see what Arf is doing, her attention turns away from him.

The Youma does hear what Runealy is saying, and it seems to make her a little angry. Light, Citrus, she braces herself against them, then, toward Runealy, she counters with a wave of flaming petals. "You who only fight because you have to, because you're SAD, you don't have any passion at all! I'll destroy your weakness, your reluctance--" She may have had more to say, but Kyouko gets a slash in on the creature, which staggers it heavily.

She begins to throw waves of fire at Runealy, Kyouko, and Erika. "If you just listen to me, we'll have so much fun...."

Jeanne, who has her eyes on the prize, strikes at the creature's chest. There's a counterburst of light from the gold glowing shard as it shoots an individual flame, trying to shove her away!

She turns on the Cures last -- all three of them -- as they slam into her with powerful technique and fighting spirit! The youma looks pretty dazed by this combinatory assault, the shard flickering less brightly for a moment. But she does have all three of them in the same spot...

So she seems to grow larger, her hair and arms all pulling out at once. With an enveloping gesture, the smoke and fire and golden locks all reach to grab at the Cures (and honorary Cure) and pull them inward!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Princess Runealy.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Erika Inagawa.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passions Flare on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Flight on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Flight on Cure Black.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Flight on Cure White.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 29 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa narrowly dodges Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa's Fade ability activates! Erika Inagawa's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne perfectly dodges Sakura Akagi's Passions Flare, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kaitou Jeanne's Fade ability activates! Kaitou Jeanne's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Cure White perfectly dodges Sakura Akagi's Passion's Flight, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! Cure White's Fade ability activates!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy narrowly counters Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Princess Runealy's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy's counterattack, Aegis Burst, partially gets through, doing 4 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Cure Black fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Passion's Flight, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Stagger, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Cure Black!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori covers Mesozoic Maiden Lucy for Sakura Akagi's attack, Passion's Flight, taking it upon themselves instead!

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"I think," Warm Vanilla Sugar says. "That this guy is not who I am thinking he is."

"None the less, he deserves our pity and help. He's obviously been corrupted and needs to be purified. To be protected and saved. We can do this. To remind him of who he once was. Together, we can do this, and I know that we will not bend or bow down to anything!"

Warm Vanilla's words, while short overall, spread out towards her friends, to fill them with power and strength now, to urge them onwards to better and bigger things that could help them do what they must. "Together we can make! We can save both him AND Cherry Blossom from this evil that has struck!" Go go support powers! Warm Vanilla's at least somewhat content that she doesn't have to worry about being attacked at this moment.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Warm Encouraging Love on Dark Amber.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Warm Encouraging Love on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori perfectly counters Sakura Akagi's Passion's Flight, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori's counterattack, Majestic Defense, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Dark Amber accepts Warm Vanilla Sugar's Warm Encouraging Love, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Dark Amber is Cheered!

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori does not seem to be directly attacked, but he does try to move to intercept one of the attacks that's coming at the others. He steps in front of 'Cure Brown' and calls out 'Holy Crown.' The crown of golden light cuts off the attack's pathways to Tadase and Lucy. He smiles, and it's then that he notices the enemy seems to be flagging, looking at the other people fighting this enemy, he calls out, "Cures! Others who are fighting this monster, join me in an all out overwhelming display of strength!" He points his staff at the thing, and as he does, he calls out, "Cleansing Decree!" A beam of white light focusing on the thing, both damaging enough by itself and serving as a focal point for the attacks of others.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has started a combo targeting Sakura Akagi!

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Too fast - just too fast. Elixir Red went for Mai first, and by the time the sparks had cleared from blade meeting Elements, he'd already gone after the others. At least he seems to be leaving Diva Heart alone - and knowing that her bracelets can in fact block a sword is something, at least.

Still, if he's hasty, then maybe the group fighting him can finish this. Mai dances through the air to join up with the girl with the pom-poms. "Thanks for standing up for me. I'm going to try doing something about that blade." And with that, she rushes forward, blazing bracelets lashing out to smash the fiery sword.

Is this really a good idea?

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Binding Ember on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Dark Amber [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Dark Amber nrg... that term... Pure Maiden! Pure Maiden! PURE MAIDEN. It's so familar. So /important to him/ and he's having a hard time figuring that out too.

He dodges out of the way of the hard slices Elixir Red seems to be leaving in his more desperate wake. "You won't be leaving here with her....!" he snaps. "Not now. Not ever." he says with a little more conviction. Why is that?

He feels like something horrible may happen if she's allowed to be taken.

He attempts to follow up with more blade strikes.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Blade Strike on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Kyouko's attack was graceful and perfectly executed, but she eats a mouthful of fire before she has the chance to appreciate it. She attempts to jump away, and slips on a napkin discarded in the chaos. Tripping over herself with a pained grunt, she's helpless to the singing flames washing over her.

When she comes to her feet, her burns are significant, but she grins and spits on the ground. Almost sauntering up, she taps the youma on the back of the head, gently first, and then rapping harder. It isn't enough to hurt, just to irritate.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Knuckletap on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

"I told you to leave alrea--kyaa!" The rain of razor blades strikes all around Amu, throwing up a cloud of dust and debris. The floor she's standing on has probably long since lost its finish. Sorry, whoever's job it is to mop and wax!

"Ah.. w..well, thank me once he's gone!" Amulet Heart is a little nervous about this older girl thanking her for things, but... Well, she'll just have to live up to that thanks! With a shower of sparkles, the pom-poms vanish, and she holds her hand out to the side. "Heart Rod!" A baton spins into existence, with crystal hearts on either end. "Just be careful! I can't ask a waitress to put herself in danger here, Miss... um..." Amulet Heart gives Mai a questioning look for a moment.

She's not idle otherwise, though, lifting her baton. "You keep running amok, and that's not something we'll stand for! Spiral.... Heart!" With a flick of her wrist, Amulet Heart sends the baton flying through the air, spinning toward Elixir Red!

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has used Spiral Heart Boomerang on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Warm Vanilla Sugar's Warm Encouraging Love, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Cure White [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

It's like Cure White never stops spinning -- the youma crashes into the wall, but she's still spiraling around, and somehow manages to move straight through the fiery retaliatory maelstrom and emerge from the other side, untouched. This does not happen without fierce concentration and effort on her part, though, nor without a thorough singing of her poofy topknot, and she doubts she could do it again.

She winds up next to Forever Sunshine, on the other side of the room. (This precludes helping, or even hearing, Tadase Hotori, but so it goes.) "It's your turn, now," she says brightly. "There are so many of your friends here," the Perfume Warriors are obviously connected, in how they interact with each other, to say nothing of the theme of their magics. "Be their strength!"

COMBAT: Cure White has used Be Their Strength on Erika Inagawa.

COMBAT: Cure White has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa accepts Cure White's Be Their Strength, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa is Cheered!

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Princess Runealy lands in a heap as she's struck in mid-air, hurt both by the assault and the words that follow. "You're kind of right. I do have to do this, there's absolutely nobody else who can take on the things I have to!" More fire descends; she detonates a forcefield around herself, deflecting some of the flames but not all of it... much of the fire strikes clean, drawing a pained cry as she writhes under it! A cursory attempt to direct the detonation into a thin ray at the youma barely hits, as the princess is too hurt to aim very well.

Yet she picks herself up, extinguishing the fire with a tiny 'forcefield burst' around herself. "And I feel pretty awful, so maybe you have me mostly figured out. But you're missing one thing... I'm not fighting for fun! This is frightening, and I could die here!" Her eyes are wide, words punctuated by tiny gasps. "I'm not going to find my passion in fighting, but if I have to fight so I can survive and find it... if I have to fight so people who have wanted to be my friends will survive, then no matter how sad or scared I get!"

She waits for Chara Change's light-ray, somewhat familiar with the tactic he's trying to set up; usually the princess is the one who enables it, but she has no problem being the 'follow-through' in such a plan. "Right!" She waits, then begins firing a series of explosive energy-balls in the area around the Passion youma; no one shot will be a direct hit, but Rune is trying to catch it in the edge of several bursts... something to keep it busy while Runealy finishes shaking off the effects of both the monster's words and flames.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has joined the combo started by Tadase Hotori!

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Sweet Pea blinks a bit blankly at Arf's ascertations. She has always honesatly kind of felt that she didn't have many friends. She mentally starts counting friends off to try and indicate that yes she doesn't have many friends. Sakura, of course, Aimi. Okay really all the Perfumers but that's---okay that SEEMS like a lot but that doesn't count because they're also coworkers. Okay. there's Rune, Tokiko, Madoka, Eri, Minako and...

Huh, Madobe thinks. No, she must be like, wrong about that. Maybe some of those people are just like people she wishes she was friends with? That seems more likely.

She looks towards Rune for a moment, biting at her lip, then down to Sakura. Maybe now's not the time to freak out. She's still okay. She looks okay. She has to believe that opening fire on this thing will help her. Erika's words gradually hit her and she shakes her head, recovering.

"She's--I think she'll be okay. I mean. If we beat the monster. I'm sure of it--I...hope, anyway. I mean. I really hope."

She brings both weapons up towards the youma, but it's hard to get a bead when it's pulling people in. Eventually she jumps to the right and takes a quick popshot. "Can you--can you get the, uh, the thing? Do we need the thing?"

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Sweet Pea Strike on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

She underestimates herself? Huh, Forever SUnshine thinks. She tells the three, "I'll do what I can. Cure Brown, help 'em!" And so the name -Spreads-.

A smashing set of dishes sadly keeps her from hearing Warm Vanilla's encouraging words. Cure White, however, is a reasonable substitute. She purses her lips, nods once, and then adopts a firm yet responsive martial arts stance - just in time for fire to wash over her, singing her face.

She grimaces. She then turns towards Arf - who is fleeing.

Forever Sunshine nods once. The validation of her powerful 'qi' is almost as good as Cure White's encouraging words. "Sweet Pea, keep a bead on her! Vanilla, Amber, try to keep him from doing that thing -"

A deep breath, and then an exhale. She looks at one hand.

She raises it - and answers Sweet Pea. "Gold and treasure is a pretty lousy jewel compared to our friend!!"

MESSAGE? Maybe she's just having sour grapes over a wish.

Either way, an emanation of peony-scented light ripples outwards, Forever Sunshine sucking in a great breath. She reaches over to touch Tadase's wrist, granting him a momentary vibration of immense Flower Power, before telling him, "I need a moment. If you can't finish him off... I'll clean house for you!"

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has joined the combo started by Tadase Hotori!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"Brooown Spectrum..."

Sprinting, Cure Black shoves into a flying leap, rotating in the air to put her shoulder first, and rams herself into the crystal monster with a powerful impact, side by side with Cure Brown.

"ASSAULT!"

The force they manage to put out together is breathtaking, and after Nagisa shoves her feet into the creature to gain distance, landing some distance away, she happily rushes Cure Brown and grasps both of her hands. "Yes! I'm so glad to team up with you again, Cure Brown! You're really tough! Hey, um..." She glances around, and leans in to whisper. "Where do you go to school?"

Tadase's call brings a grin to her face. "Right!" Black squeezes Brown's hands tightly, shaking them a little in her enthusiasm. "Let's all join together!" Releasing Brown, she turns, swinging a finger worthy of a defense attorney at White. "White, it's time for Marbl...!"

White is over across the room, and hasn't heard. Black's head flops forward with a sound like clocking wood. Meanwhile, the combined assault is already charging up. "I don't believe it..." she moans.

Turning around, she grasps Brown's shoulders instead. "You do it, Cure Brown! I'm behind you all the way." Just... not with a beam. She can't do any alone.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"Actually, you'll be lucky to leave with your dignity, Elixir-san," the Wind Knight points out to Elixir Red with an ever-so-polite smile. Another wave of power comes from Warm Vanilla Sugar, suffusing the Wind Knight and raising her spirits further; Fuu raises a hand briefly to the Perfume Warrior in thanks, then focuses her full attention on the Apothecary minion.

"It seems you haven't been chastised quite enough ... Imashime no Kaze!!" The Winds of Admonition come forth once again, trying to re-secure their grip on Elixir Red and hold him still. Hopefully somebody can capitalize while he's (relatively) immobilized.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Imashime no Kaze on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Black has used Go Go Verone! on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Cure Black has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy accepts Cure Black's Go Go Verone!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy is Cheered!
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Imashime no Kaze, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Trap applied to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to brace Dark Amber's Blade Strike, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber is Psyched!
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to brace Mai Tokiha's Binding Ember, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Amu Hinamori's Spiral Heart Boomerang, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Amu Hinamori is Psyched! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Just as Jeanne suspected, something /was/ going to explode in her face. Good thing she had the foresight to anticipate it, her immediate backpedaling putting enough distance between her and the youma to be able to escape the counterblast. Though she'd normally be at least grinning when managing to be one step ahead, her face remains an emotionless mask this time. It's the youma's words. She hasn't been responding to them, but they have been finding a mark. And what she heard just now particularly hit home.

"...people are capable of finding far greater passion through their sadness than you realize. They gain strength through adversity, it gives meaning to their passion. What gives you the right to make light of their circumstances? You, whose passion..." DRAMATIC FINGERPOINT. "...is nothing but a facade!"

That's it. Time to finish this. Though the others present may be setting something up of their own, the loner thief of course doesn't directly join in. Which is just as well, an assault from multiple directions may be best here. Jeanne's contribution is started off by her holding aloft her gadget-summoning magical device, the Petit Claire, with the words "In the name of God!" A single pushpin is expelled from the Petit Claire's pink orb, and quickly snatched up by Jeanne between two fingers.

"You, a demon born in darkness... I'll seal you here!" Well, this may not work exactly like a sealing, but it's demon-like enough, and it looks like there's dark forces involved, so it should have an effect nonetheless, she judges. With a sharp movement, Jeanne sends the pushpin in the direction of the youma, yelling out the obligatory "CHECKMATE!!"

Upon impact, the harmless-looking pushpin will cause a cascade of holy energy to burst forth from its tip, sure to ruin the day of any creature born of darkness.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Kaitou Jeanne has used Checkmate! on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

The three Cures' attack, misunderstanding or no, works to devastating effect. Lucy wishes there was time for a celebratory high-five, but the Passionate youma has another idea, in the form of a most deadly group hug. Before Lucy can be pulled in, however, a giant crown, of all things, appears between her and the youma, getting drawn in instead of her. "Ah?!" Lucy manages to stammer out a confused "Thank you!" to the boisterous boy king, whose help she's not entirely sure she needed, but can't really spit on.

"Ah?-- Infinity," she blurts out to Cure Black without thinking, though it's not like she's made much of a secret of her identity to her fellow allies of justice. Then, Black grabs her hand, and prepares for another crazy team attack she may not entirely be ready for, but with White too far away, it seems she'll be leading the charge this time, so to speak.

"Right! Then lend me your strength..." She feels them! The burning flames of friendship! Black's enthusiasm is infectuous, and Tadase's call to action decisive. "...and hold on tight!" What?

Lucy lifts her club high, and the red gem within lights up with a dazzling flame. Holy fire bursts out of it, engulfing both Lucy and Cure Black (who'll notice that it doesn't hurt-- and is quite pleasant and invigorating, actually?), and a second later, the Maiden's hair appears to have been swapped out for a trail of green flame, as she swirls around (if Black is still holding on, this might be a bit of a theme park ride), gathering the ambient raging inferno into her club, not all of it, but enough to clear the immediate area of them for a moment-- and shoots an enormous surge of holy flames at the youma! "BLAZE OF THE GODDESS!"

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has joined the combo started by Tadase Hotori!

COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Tadase Hotori, Princess Runealy, Erika Inagawa, and Mesozoic Maiden Lucy have used Combo: Royal Alliance, composed of Cleansing Decree, Leading Shot, Perfume Destiny!!, and Blaze of the Goddess, on Sakura Akagi.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly counters Kyouko Sakura's Knuckletap, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura is Psyched!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi's counterattack, Passion's Flight, partially gets through, doing 5 Fatigue damage to Kyouko Sakura! Tangle and Trap applied to Kyouko Sakura!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly counters Madobe Kuroi's Sweet Pea Strike, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi's counterattack, Passion's Flight, partially gets through, doing 5 Fatigue damage to Madobe Kuroi! Stagger, Tangle, and Trap applied to Madobe Kuroi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi perfectly braces Kaitou Jeanne's Finisher, Checkmate!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Brace!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Tadase Hotori, Princess Runealy, Erika Inagawa, and Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Finisher, Combo: Royal Alliance, taking 86 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tadase Hotori, Princess Runealy, Erika Inagawa, and Mesozoic Maiden Lucy are Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Elixir Red [None] has posed.

As Warm Vanilla Sugar extends her sweetness to the group as a whole, Elixir Red continues to feel rather acutely outmatched -- and he's regrettably pretty certain that 'it's my first day' isn't actually a valid excuse here. As the team continues to outmatch him by blade and pom-pom, he keeps his blade up to parry. Mai's strike at his blade bowls him over, though, meaning he's not actually in that great of a position.

The Winds of Admonition hold him still for a few seconds, and he throws up his hands weakly in desperate protest; the blades rain down, and the baton smashes into him. He winces, once again scrambling to his feet as the pressure stays on.

Twirling his blade around with surprising smoothness, he calls out, "I -- I'm getting tired of this! Why don't all of /you/ just leave?!" he demands of them, though with a last glance at Mai, he adds, "Except you. You need to... not... do... that." Blade raised high and pointed straight down, he calls out, "Elixir Red Firebird -- L'oiseau de Feu!" The blade slams into the floor of the diner, and a great firebird erupts therefrom, scorching all of those closest to the General.

It, too, smells powerfully of sandalwood -- and just a hint of fig leaves.

COMBAT: Elixir Red has used Minor Irritation on Warm Vanilla Sugar.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Elixir Red has used L'oiseau de Feu on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Elixir Red has used L'oiseau de Feu on Amu Hinamori.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Elixir Red has used L'oiseau de Feu on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Elixir Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Dark Amber perfectly counters Elixir Red's Finisher, L'oiseau de Feu, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Dark Amber's Reverse ability activates!
COMBAT: Dark Amber's counterattack, Amber Gate, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Elixir Red!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha covers Amu Hinamori for Elixir Red's attack, L'oiseau de Feu, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to brace Elixir Red's Finisher, L'oiseau de Feu, taking 106 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Fuu Hououji is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar narrowly braces Elixir Red's Minor Irritation, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Stun and Trap applied to Warm Vanilla Sugar!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Elixir Red's Finisher, L'oiseau de Feu, taking 35 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

There's a scream of pain as the firebird's emergence engulfs the Magic Knight of Wind, flinging her bodily across the diner -

THROUGH the front windows -

and out into the street somewhere, her armor barely maintaining its solidity just long enough for her to crawl back out of the roadway proper. Then the actual hardened 'armor' starts to crack and chip, as if belatedly showing the damage that it's suffered ...

The Wind Knight doesn't revert to her civilian guise, but it takes every microgram of her will to keep her identity covered. She's out of the battle; she can't do anything else to help her allies, her friends, who remain in the fray.

<Pose Tracker> Dark Amber [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Dark Amber eyes go wide......those words, he knows something nasty is coming. "Watch out!" he calls out as he throws his hands up. In the space before him, a brass gate appears, it's completely circular, with steampunk-styled runes surrounding the edges, as it opens. An amber colored beam leaps out of the amber void just beyond the gate to lash out at the incoming attack! The two collidie midpoint....and both apparently fizzle out. The gate prompty closes and vanishes just as soon as it appeared.

"Nrg... tough. But... Not unstoppable..." he says to himself as he watches him wipe the floor with Fuu... Fuu!

He frowns as he attempts another hard strike forward into the man. "Leave her alone!" he snaps! "You've lost!"

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Blade Fighting on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Warm Vanilla Sugar... manages to avoid and not get as badly pained and burned by Elixir Red's flames. She stares at him for a bit. He seems angry. Upset. Like he's been having one really bad day.

She knows the feeling. She wanted to make more progress on the gifts she was making for her friends, not get beaten up badly. She didn't want to see her friend suffer like this, nor did she really think she had been doing all that well here. There's a lot of depressive and angsty thoughts in Warm Vanilla's head right now about all of this.

And yet somehow she's still smiling, still feeling happy, even about her mistakes and everything. And among all the thoughts in her head, there's one that shines the brightest.

• This guy just needs a nice, warm hug.*

And thus, she goes up to him, using her magical powers for added warmth and vanilla scented sparkles... and just flat out attempts to hug Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has used Can't Keep Her Down on Elixir Red.

COMBAT: Warm Vanilla Sugar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Elixir Red fails to dodge Warm Vanilla Sugar's Can't Keep Her Down, taking 36 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Warm Vanilla Sugar is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Kyouko and Sweet Pea both take individual shots at the Passionate youma, with just a rap and a knock followed by fired flowers. She strikes out with a wave of her claws, firing a few bladed petals at the two other young women.

The beam of combined power, with Tadase's energy, Runealy's orbs, Sunshine's peony power and Lucy's fire, seems to do the worst to Passion's Cry, causing her to wail in pain as the light and energy strikes her. And Jeanne goes for the Checkmate...

Denied, as she locks eyes with the golden-eyed creature. The prize of that golden, glowing shard is so close she can almost taste its power in the air, but the youma blocks the thown pin with the long fingernails on her hand. "I'm afraid I'm... no demon, only real emotion. You think my feelings aren't real? Do you even love what you do?"

She crosses her hands over the shard in her heart. Golden light floods from it, and around her. Her hair flickers and flames, as she seems to be drawing on the energy within...

There's a certain beauty to it, almost. But then comes the pain. Gold flames sear from the youma, blinding light tracking down those who have given her grief. She's looking at Jeanne right now, just to keep her in her sights, but those who attacked her in combination are also targetted. "I... have so much love to give back to you...." she says, almost strained.

COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly braces Dark Amber's Blade Fighting, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Elixir Red's Block ability activates! Elixir Red's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Torment on Madobe Kuroi.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Torment on Erika Inagawa.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Sakura Akagi has used Passion's Torment on Kaitou Jeanne.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai is struck, abruptly, by how young Amulet Heart actually is. She shouldn't be involved in this fight, shouldn't be putting herself at risk to help Mai. Mikoto shouldn't be old enough to be involved, let alone someone so young...and then Mai's called a 'waitress'. ...accurate enough. "Mai. Call me Mai."

The enemy's strong, and getting on Mai's nerves, and then there's a grand firebird to burn away everyone except Mai. To leave her as the last one standing. Unacceptable.

Mai's right next to Amulet Heart - it's a moment's action to push her out of the way, take the attack in her stead, because if anyone deserves to live through this it's the youngest of them, not....

And then there is an inferno, completely engulfing the HiME.

Then, a strange cry screaming out, a glimpse of green eyes - more than a simple human should have. It's an exertion of will to keep the Child from truly manifesting...but Mai is the HiME of fire. This is her element. Flames, and putting herself on the line...

A sudden wind whips the billowing flames around, Mai's bracelets spinning to a feverish whine - and with a furious shout, it's her turn to unleash the inferno.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Princess Runealy.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Mai Tokiha has used Ardent Light on Elixir Red.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Tadase Hotori.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Flames of Passion on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori fails to brace Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 34 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 28 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Elixir Red accepts Mai Tokiha's Finisher, Ardent Light, taking 97 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Erika Inagawa narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Finisher, Passion's Torment, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Finisher, Passion's Torment, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy fails to brace Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori sees the attacks land, and only too late, too late does he realize it wasn't enough. He gets burned for his mistake, he gets burned for it hard. But he keeps standing, just because he screwed up doesn't mean he lost. "Keep going at it!" He yells, pointing his staff at the monster one more time, "Holy Crown!" As before, the attack serves to restrict the monster's movement, a ray of golden light forming a barrier of golden light in an attempt to prevent the monster from moving.

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Fire. Why did it have to be fire? Amulet Heart is ready to fend it off, raising both arms in front of her... but then she finds herself pushed out of the way! Nearly losing her balance, Amulet Heart flails both arms, but manages to stay on her feet.. and her eyes widen as she sees the flames engulf the waitress. "Ah... Mai." There's a moment's pause before she speaks up, offering her own name. "I'm Amu...let Heart." No, there was no pause mid-name there. Not at all. "Th..thanks for saving me there. But..."

She stands up straighter. "But there's still something I have to say!" Frowning slightly, she looks straight at Elixir Red. "She doesn't want to stay with you! Don't you know that girls don't like guys who are too pushy? Besides..." Amulet Heart lowers her head slightly, visor partially obscuring her eyes. "It's seriously uncool for a guy to act like this."

Lifting her head again, Amulet Heart points toward Elixir. "I can sense it in you... Negative Heart: Lock On!" Pink energy begins to form around her chest, and she pulls both hands back up to the padlock-shaped locket there, bending her fingers into a heart shape. "OPEN HEART!" First slowly, then more quickly, a series of giant pink hearts shoot from the padlock, through her fingers, and focus on the very uncool man!

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Royal Dungeon on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Amu Hinamori has used Open Heart on Elixir Red.
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Elixir Red narrowly dodges Amu Hinamori's Finisher, Open Heart, taking 44 Fatigue damage! Elixir Red is unable to keep fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Princess Runealy calls back to Sweet Pea, "Alright! We'll have to go with that!" She blinks several times, astonished by Jeanne's retort to the Passion youma. It's surprising, but in a good way. Far more so than watching Fuu go flying out the window, something Rune will have to check on as soon as she gets the chance.

More fire rips through the area, bringing the princess back to the 'here and now' of the fight. Boot wings light up, rocketing her away from one blaze... only to find another one changes course to overtake her as a result! Rune falls to her knees, thrashing and covering herself in forcefield-energy to put it out... but this time her stance is very loose and exhausted when she rises. "Feelings, you say. Feelings. As in more than one!" This realization seems important to Rune, who lowers her wand and presses the topic. "If your passion is real, then what else is? Is there something more to you than fighting? Can you tell us about it with something other than golden fire?"

These aren't taunting words; it's a serious inquiry, an attempt to reach out.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly dodges Sakura Akagi's Finisher, Passion's Torment, taking 61 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is unable to keep fighting! Madobe Kuroi's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura perfectly counters Sakura Akagi's Flames of Passion, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura's counterattack, Latticework, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi!

<Pose Tracker> Elixir Red [None] has posed.

"What she wants doesn't matter!" Elixir Red shoots back at Amulet Heart as he's chastised for his actions. "The power inside her could change the world! A world of eternal bliss, for everyone -- how /dare/ you get in the way of that!" As he's sassing back, Warm Vanilla Sugar sneaks up to him, and -- gives him a nice, warm hug. He looks downright furious when it happens; he thrashes out of it after a few moments, thoroughly exhausting himself in the process -- /and/ pushing himself directly into the path of Dark Amber's blades.

Inferno meets inferno -- and Mai's is stronger. The flames lick at the youngest of the Elixirs' body, and he recoils, crying out -- only to have it followed up with a barrage of hearts. The two combined are too much for him, and when the dust clears, he's slumped forward, clutching his chest in hopelessly generic shounen pain.

"Nnghh... fine! Enough of this -- you've won the day, Perfume Kingdom," he growls out, staggering back toward the door. "But this -- /none/ of this -- is over! And you /certainly/ haven't seen the last of Elixir Red! To prove myself, I'll..." He ducks out of the diner, around a corner... and like that, he's gone.

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

"Huh," says Amulet Heart, looking confused. "It sounded like there should have been more to that speech."

<Pose Tracker> Cure White [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure White's eyes widen at the raw display of power from so many people, so quickly -- magical girls, magical boys, youma, dark lieutenants. She can feel the very air tremble with the passage of all this strength, and briefly and reflexively holds a hand to her heart.

Some of it is awe-inspiring, like Mai's tremendous gout of flame, and Lucy's, across the room. Some of it is horrifying, like the blast that knocks Fuu through the wall, and the golden flames that suffuse so many nearby.

But when the sparkles clear, the shard-monster is still standing. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" shouts the girl, as she rushes up, low and tight along the ground instead of any sort of dramatic handspring; those she saves for the last moment, bounding up and over the youma to come down in the back and apply a few more of those tricky kung fu pressure points, trying to immobilize it as best she can.

"Now, Cure Tangerine!"

What can she say -- she's caught up in the moment.

COMBAT: Cure White has used Kansetsu-waza Joint Lock on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Cure White has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Warm Vanilla Sugar would go after him, but she's feeling rather tired, so just lets him go for now. "Maybe he meant to say that he'll go back and get all their plans for us?" She says in response to the fact that Elixir Red cut out his speech.

She does, though, go back to check on her friends. Maybe with Elixir Red's defeat, the youma vanished and they could take Cherry Blossom away so she can rest up and feel better. One can only hope.

At least until she remembers about the Wind Knight, rushing over to help her. "Oh! You okay? I mean, you're not hurt too badly, right?"

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sucking in a deep breath, Forever Sunshine faces towards the creature. Golden flames lick outwards, washing over her again. Her hair buns are damaged, not surprisingly; golden locks spill out as she says, her fingers clenching together, forming fists again.

Then they relax.

"Maybe your feelings are real... but we can only judge you by your actions. You came out to hurt our friend... you started to fight us. I don't understand who or what you are, but people are getting hurt!" Such as Fuu, who goes flying in the background of the shot.

"And if you're a being of pure emotional energy..."

She raises her right hand. Pink light manifests around it. She stares at the youma directly. Erika Inagawa breathes out; Forever Sunshine breathes in.

"Then you'll have to deal with my own emotions, echoing in counterpoint with your own!" And then, SHE IS DUBBED

And lunges forwards. The pink light around her hand ripples outwards, washing over her arm like surf as she kicks off the ground to get at a better angle. She considers if she should go for that golden spot, but decides it's probably composed of pure evil - instead she reaches downwards as she descends.

Her aim: To land in a perfect hand stand on the youma's forehead.

• pap*

Forever Sunshine - or perhaps Cure Tangerine - balances perfectly there, the echoing light on her hand rippling up and along her body with a sonorous chime like a singing bowl. The scent of a bunch of peonies in a warm summer puddle fills the air.

Another breath inwards.

"Pink Peony Overdrive," she intones.

The energy slams downwards like the sea bursting through a dam. Pink light pours downwards, splashing and rebounding off the ground - perhaps beginning the process of undoing that which magic has wrought, or wrecked. Of course, it may get immediately knocked over if people start chasing after a golden sneetch, but what can you do?"

<Pose Tracker> Dark Amber [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Dark Amber seethes... "Elixir Red....you better hope not..... I'm not playing nice next time..." he says as he just angrily shoves his blade into a table next to him, he then pulls it out as he just takes a deep breath. Argggh. he looks over to Warm Vanilla Sugar. "Thanks Vanilla Sugar..." he manages with a warm smile. He looks over to Mai and Amu. "Are you two all right?" he asks as his eyes trace over to the happening on the otherside of the room. He begins his manner of walking over there.

"Forever Sunshine----what the hell is going on over there!?" he yells out. "WHEN YOU'RE NOT BUSY KICKING IT'S BUTT THAT IS!" he asides with a huff.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Erika Inagawa has used Pink Peony Overdrive on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Madobe Kuroi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Sweet Pea just can't avoid love from Sakura, even if it's super evil hyper passion love. The flames smash into her and Madobe--just gives up. She tumbles over and back and lays there, sobbing into her arms.

She couldn't even help her most important person, shee thinks miserably. She couldn't even do that. All because of...of...that /bitch/.

Well okay Arf is like only half dog but that's besides the point.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Another tidal wave of fire. This time, Kyouko's prepared. Kyouko's eyes gleam with a light both feral and focused as a grid of shimmering red energy forms in a wall before her. The flames deflect against the magical barrier, washing away harmlessly. The fence falls away as Kyouko steps through, and holds her spear above her head. It grows and grows, bending as its haft becomes chain-linked.

Within moments, Kyouko walks beneath an immense cloud of twisting, darting, slithering snakes of chain and razorblades. She grins wide, and starts snapping her fingers as she walks forward, like she's in West Side Story, shimmying left and right as she does. Midway through her stride, every head of the hydra of spears ensconscing her surges forward in an all out assault on Passion's Cry.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Kyouko Sakura has used Prominence on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"Then we're in the Sister Schools together," Black exults. "Infinity's pretty cool, and their sports teams are tough. I go to Juuban."

She nods repeatedily and readily to Cure Brown's exhortations. "Right!" Closing her eyes, she tries to focus her strength on channeling holy energy to Cure Brown, just like she just for Cure White. When she opens them, she notices instead that she's on fire, and grimaces, lifting a leg protectively, before forcing herself to calm down.

"Grab on...? Right." Black is not a diffident girl, and she throws her arms around Brown's shoulders and neck, hanging on for dear life as she begins to spin, centrifugal force sending her legs out to the side. "WhoaOOaaOOa..."

The sacred energies seem rather Cure-like, reaffirming Black's feeling that she has correctly identified these girls as other Cures, and that White is being overly cautious in her assessment. "All right! Pu-Ri Kyu-A!" she shouts, as Brown's attack strikes home along with all the rest. When the dust settles, though... the passionate being is still up. "Wha... no way..."

The counterattack blasts Brown out from under her, separating them as Black wobbles to her feet. "How can you do something like that?" Nagisa shouts. "Brown, hang in there! I've got her!"

Charging forward, she drives her front foot into the ground at the last second and skids the last few meters, swinging into a roundhouse kick to the side of a passionate leg.

COMBAT: Cure Black has used Leg Kick on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Cure Black has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Despite the coordinated assault and Lucy pouring almost all of her remaining magic into that attack, Passion's Cry is still there, drawing from the power of that golden shard. "No!" Not only that, but it retaliates, with a torrent of flames to rival Lucy's own! Still momentarily flame-haired from finishing move pyrotechnics, she holds her club forward, drawing in as much fire as possible. It actually seems to work well for a second or two, until...

Lucy is knocked right off her feet (and Black right off her), and the firey highlights are punched right out of her hair by the wave of flames that's just too massive for her to contain. Still, with barely any strength left in her, she gets back up, shaking and gritting her teeth. "What you're showing us isn't love!" she shouts. "Love hurts, sometimes, but that's twisted! Love and friendship are warm, comforting, they bring happiness, hope and safety, like a flame you share with everyone!"

And she charges in once again, using an attack that'll seem quite familiar (Recycled stock footage? Oh, my!) but oh, so appropriate.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Blast from the Past on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Tadase Hotori's Royal Dungeon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Stagger and Tangle applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Cure Black's Leg Kick, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Cure White's Kansetsu-waza Joint Lock, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Stun and Trap applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Dark Amber has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Blast from the Past, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Sakura Akagi!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Erika Inagawa's Finisher, Pink Peony Overdrive, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Kyouko Sakura's Finisher, Prominence, taking 126 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.
COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has joined Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Jeanne gasps in shock as her pushpin is deflected. That's /never/ happened before. How, she silently wonders. And why does /it/ suddenly sound so sad? If it looks like a demon, sounds like a demon, and acts like a demon, then it has to be a demon, right? Trickery is what demons are all about, of course those feelings aren't real. It can't be. ...can it? Too late, the seeds of doubt are already sown. And being questioned about her own feelings regarding what she does shakes her resolve. "I... I..."

She just can't manage to look away from those eyes. Even if deep down she suspects this must all be a trick, she fails to convince herself that it's impossible for this... creature to have feelings of some sort. Too late she notices that all this also serves as the setup to an attack. Unable to move in time, the bright flames wash over Kaitou Jeanne, who closes her eyes tightly and desperately tries to defend herself by crossing her arms in front of her. But this is magical fire, that can't possibly be enough to protect from that.

And yet, when the flames die down, the phantom thief is still standing, having survived surprisingly intact, all things considered. The only hint of what just happened is the shimmer of some kind of translucent barrier, quickly fading out of existence as Jeanne drops to one knee, having failed to notice what exactly happened herself.

"...I don't want it," she speaks in a tiny voice. "What you're doing, what you're saying... it's causing only pain. If that's what you call 'love'..." Her eyes flying open, she states more resolutely, "...then who needs it?!"

In a flash, Jeanne is back to her feet, a ribbon wand in her hand. Though seeming more fitting a 'weapon' in gymnastics, the phantom thief uses it with great effect to slice other things to ribbons with. Which is exactly what she attempts to do here, by means of a single lash delivered in passing as she speeds by the passion youma.

Huh, tears appeared in the corner of her eyes... when did that happen?

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Ribbon Slash on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Dark Amber has fully healed himself.
COMBAT: Dark Amber transforms into Dark Amber!

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Cherry Blossom would be really hurt to realize that the Passion that, in part, came out of her, came down so strongly on her friend Madobe. But maybe that's because they're friends, too... She really does care after all...

Golden light comes down and pins the youma back, stopping its continued charge. Runealy speaks to it about emotions, and it seems... puzzled. "My ambition, my desire... can't you see, having passion is all that matters..."

This is cut off by some pressure point kung fu applied directly and with prejudice. She's not sure at first who Cure Tangerine is, but she has a pretty good idea when Forever Sunshine rushes in with her power attack. The energy blasts into her, melting into her face... followed by stabs and stabs and stabs from Kyouko's spears. The energy stabbing combination causes the smoke and flame flesh to dissipate. Each new stab causes a flickering wound, a flood of red petals burning up in rippling fire as the entire monster lets out one final, pained scream...

And the golden shard drops down to the ground, still smoking slightly.

COMBAT: Dark Amber transforms into Kinzo Hiroyuki!

COMBAT: Asuka Tominaga transforms into Asuka Tominaga!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to brace Kaitou Jeanne's Ribbon Slash, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is unable to keep fighting!

COMBAT: ITEM TRANSFER! Cure White has transferred Shard of Passion to Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Another useful thing of being particularly skilled with a gymnastics ribbon is that you can use it to quickly and easily retrieve items from a distance. Which Jeanne promptly does, as soon as the shard hits the ground, pulling it towards her and into her waiting hand. "...I've got what I came for. Adieu!"

She didn't sound quite as pleased about it as one might expect, but she did the best she could faking it. She moves to make off with it all the same, immediately making a mad dash for the front door.

COMBAT: ITEM ESCAPE ATTEMPT! Kaitou Jeanne is attempting to escape with Shard of Passion! They must run for 2 more turns!

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: ITEM TRANSFER! Cure White has transferred Shard of Passion to Cure White!
COMBAT: ITEM TRANSFER! Cure White has transferred Shard of Passion to Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Once Elixir Red is gone, the flames around Mai finally die down, something white fading away with them - and Mai's defiant scream finally ends. The bracelets and anklets are still turning, still holding her up in the air - but she quickly slumps into a nearby surviving chair. Or stool, more likely, the chairs didn't do so well.

After slumping a moment, she looks up to Amulet Heart, looking tired but content. "Don't worry about it. You shouldn't have had to put yourself on the line in the first place." She chuckles, a moment. "But some guys just won't listen, will they. I almost hope he's involved with the other creep."

She wipes a bit of hair from her brow as the other...thing is defeated, and someone's running off with a golden crystal. Not one ounce of movement to stop her, just a quiet admonition of "Right. Anyone else wanting to fight over whatever, take it outside. Linden Baum is closed for the day."

And then Mai hangs her head, because she really doubts she'll have this job come tomorrow.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

As the golden shard sparkles off into the grasp of people who are not Buddhists, Forever Sunshine (Cure Tangerine??) lunges immediately towards where Cherry Blossom and Sweet Pea have fallen. She cannot do a great deal, but she can see if they are genuinely - deeply hurt, or if they're just...

She ends up giving Sweet Pea a firm hug, without words, and moving then to help the others slip loose.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Princess Runealy calls back to the monster, "It's /most/ of what matters! But you have to care about others' dreams too! Without that, you'll wind up doing something you can never take ba... ah!?" She's interrupted by the Passion youma being struck down, and it's hard to argue with anyone who did so. That thing was dangerous, and everyone had good reasons to finish it off. The similarities in her previous situation compared to what the monster said are striking, enough to turn her contemplative. Rune's head lowers. "I wonder if that's how I would have wound up, if I didn't start listening to people..."

Then the shard falls. She knows what it represents. It's a significant portion of a wish, one she could use to realize her dream. Despite that, Jeanne's attempt to leave with it is met with no real protest on Runealy's part. Instead, she stares at Cure White and Black. "As much as I wish you were wrong, you're not." Whatever that's about, Rune then begins to walk over to check on Cherry Blossom and Sweet Pea. She heard Mai's announcement that this place is closed... Rune just isn't leaving yet.

Runealy glances down to Erika to ask the group generally, "Are you okay?"

<Pose Tracker> Warm Vanilla Sugar [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Warm Vanilla Sugar goes over to assist Forever Sunshine, frowning at the sight of her friends. "I hope everything is going to be okay..." She gives Princess Runealy a quick hug before looking around a bit more. "So... other than the Apothecary making a mess of things, how's everyone doing?"

<Pose Tracker> Amu Hinamori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

As the flames die down, Amulet Heart glances around the cafe. "So, um. Sorry about the mess, Mai." Even though it wasn't directly her fault, she still feels the need to apologize. "Don't worry! I'm sure they won't fire you over something like this! It wasn't your fault either." Pause. "Except the burned floor there." She may not actually be helping a lot.

Amulet Heart actually does not know the significance of these shards, so she's not quite sure why it's what the famous thief, Kaitou Jeanne, is here for. "...Kaitou Jeanne was after something here?" It seems even Amu knows about her!

COMBAT: Cure White has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

At least the shattered window can't be blamed on Mai, right? She's just a waitress, not a bouncer ... and she certainly can't be strong enough to bodily fling somebody through a plate glass window hard enough to break it.

Meanwhile, Fuu is still holding her transformation together by sheer force of will, even teetering on the brink of consciousness.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai can't help but smile again at Amulet Heart's words. "...well! I suppose I'll just have to hope for the best, right? So don't worry about it." There'll be other jobs. Or maybe this one will turn out, once things get rebuilt. ...it's probably going to be a few days at least before the diner's in operating order.

Having had at least a full forty seconds of rest, Mai pushes herself to her feet. A moment's concentration dismisses her Element - who cares who's watching at this point - and she goes to check behind the counter to make sure none of her coworkers are injured back there.

...and if, on the off-chance any of the orders got finished before everything caught fire, someone can get their meal on the house. Longshot, though.

<Pose Tracker> Erika Inagawa [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"I'm pretty worried about Cherry Blossom but we were kind of working on a surprise kinda, basic, thing," Forever Sunshine tells Runealy. Sweet Pea gets another squoze. "I think we'll recover, though. Thanks for helping!"

She hopes this is all true, and Jeanne is not going to now own JCB's soul.

<Pose Tracker> Cure White [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure White smiles at 'Cure Tangerine', nods gravely at the Princess, and then moves along to the original victim of the scene, Mai Tokiha, local waitress. She tilts her head thoughtfully, surveying the wreckage of the restaurant. There are some scorch marks and overflung tables, but nothing so terrible that it can't be repaired.

Simply bowing, she picks up a broom and starts sweeping the dust out. Somehow or other, the cracks in the tiles seem to be disappearing with each brush of the bristles -- when magical girls clean, they /clean/. It's the power of love. Or perhaps the power of...

"When do I get to have a burger-mepo?"

COMBAT: Amu Hinamori has left Cure White's item contest. Please check it with +item Cure White.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

About time. Now that the prize is back in sight, it's time to go for it and go. She doesn't know the girl holding it now, not that it would stop her from leaping forth and making a snatch at it while everybody's processing the demon's death.

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Kyouko Sakura has used Item Grab on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne fails to dodge Kyouko Sakura's Item Grab, taking 11 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura successfully grabs an item from Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

The monster is gone, and so is the Apothecary's agent for that matter. Lucy would sigh in relief, but then Kaitou Jeanne swoops in and grabs the shard... The beauty of Cherry Blossom's heart, she called it? What does she know that the rest of them don't? And does this mean that Sakura won't be the same without it?

Lucy wishes she could be by her friend's side, or finally clear up the misunderstanding with the Cures, or call Maron to see if she's all right, or even just walk away and let the greedier people fight it out over the shard like she did last time, but she can't, not with that on the line. She barely has any magic left and she's exhausted, but she's still going to try, acrobatically jumping to leap-kick the current holder-- and that would appear to be Kyouko!

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Yoink! on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura perfectly dodges Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Yoink!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori watches the fighting over the starite start, and speaks. "Nobody is running off with that until I hear a good reason why they should have it instead of the girl it came from in the first place." And to accentuate that he's serious about this, he points his golden staff at Kyouko, "Holy Crown!" A golden beam bursts forth, magical light forming a physical barrier that attempts to ensnare Kyouko. "This goes for all of you." He's drawing on Kiseki's attitudes as he speaks.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Royal Dungeon on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

...no one, except the magical community, seems to be hurt. So at least Mai has that. Cure White's help is appreciated...even if the girl seems far better at cleaning than Mai is. It's like there's the set of useful magical powers, versus 'lots of fire and destruction'. Though at least that beats an ominous sword.

...something asked for a burger. "...there's one overcooked one left on the grill, it's yours if you want it." Mai doesn't know who or what was speaking, and honestly she doesn't quite want to know. Whatever it is, if it wants the leftover burger she will serve the leftover burger.

...and more people are getting into the scuffle over some strange golden crystal. Probably better done here than in the light of day, but... "Whatever you're arguing over, do it calmly. Anything else gets broken in here, you're paying for it." And now back to focusing on post-battle cleanup of destroyed furniture, shattered building, and unconscious heroes. Mai's going to be at this a while, even with help.

Oh well. At least she'll have a hug when she gets home.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly braces Tadase Hotori's Royal Dungeon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura's Block ability activates! Kyouko Sakura's Parry ability activates! Stun and Trap applied to Kyouko Sakura!

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori fails to grab an item from Kyouko Sakura!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Black clenches her fists, and jogs up to stand next to Tadase. "Yeah! We need to put that thing back inside her!" She isn't yet willing to engage in violence over what she doesn't understand, since Tadase has snared Kyouko, slowing her escape.

"Give that back to the girl it belongs to!"

COMBAT: Cure Black has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Princess Runealy [Ohtori Academy (7)] has posed.

Princess Runealy stumbles slightly when she's embraced by Vanilla Sugar, but the gesture is met in kind. "It should be. So long as they," a gesture down at Sweet Pea and Cherry Blossom, as Rune is careful not to use their other identities in the middle of the Linden Baum. "Will be alright." A flash of red light engulfs her, reverting the princess to being her mundane self.

Sunshine's reassurances draw a deep sigh of relief. "That's good. I don't know what I'd do if any of you were to..." Rune's voice trails off. "'Thanks for helping'... just glad I could. All of you mean so much to me!" Nonetheless, Runealy begins backing up a little; she plans to go check on Fuu and then depart... doing her best to ignore the fighting going on. At least this time it's relatively low-scale.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy transforms into Runealy Waldia!

COMBAT: Runealy Waldia has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Jeanne has absolutely no clue about what powers the shard she grabbed actually holds. Originally, it was all just part of an elaborate ruse to mask why she was actually here. But after seeing that emotion creature, and the power it got from the shard, she's now quite sure that she'd rather hang onto it. She can only trust herself not to misuse its power. Heck, even if she wanted to, she wouldn't even have the faintest clue about how it's used. That makes it double safe!

And then some crazy girl with a spear comes after her, grabbing the shard away from her. Definitely not somebody very high on the list of people that she might be okay with having this. "Oh no you don't!" She goes in hot pursuit, but doesn't attack immediately, instead reacting to the claim that it should be put back where it came from. "What, are you nuts? I won't let you put that monster-creating thing back inside of her!"

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Taking A Breather on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne accepts Kaitou Jeanne's Taking A Breather, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Kyouko's got what she came for, and she's going to do what she can to make a break for it..she'd foolishly used up too much energy fighting the youma, and wouldn't be able to blast her way out. She'd have to count on agility to thread through her rivals and the girl's misguided friends.

Time to find out if all that DDR is good for anything outside of an arcade..

COMBAT: ITEM ESCAPE ATTEMPT! Kyouko Sakura is attempting to escape with Shard of Passion! They must run for 3 more turns!

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

All right, so Lucy's first attempt at lunging for Kyouko didn't quite work out, as someone from offscreen whistles and she gets a yellow card from the referee for her trouble. Will her second one succeed, this time with feeling (plus a somewhat unnerving feral roar)?

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Yoink! on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly dodges Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Yoink!, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy fails to grab an item from Kyouko Sakura!

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori takes a different approach to taking the starite from Kyouko. He points his staff at Kyouko and says, once more, "Holy Crown." Superficially, what he's doing is similar. The difference here is that he's targetting the starite, a balloony crown of golden light trying to form around it and fly towards Tadase. During this, he tells Black, "I don't think putting it back in is a good idea, but letting people who offer no explanation for why they should have it have it is at least as bad." His chara-change steeled eyes settle on the starite, whether it's in his hands or not.

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Tadase Hotori has used Royal Tax on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly braces Tadase Hotori's Royal Tax, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura's Block ability activates! Kyouko Sakura's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori fails to grab an item from Kyouko Sakura!
COMBAT: Cure White transforms into Honoka Yukishiro!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Black looks down at the ground miserably. "Monster? It will change her again?" She glances at Tadase, and further out, Brown. "I don't know what to do..."

She bites her lip. "H-hey, I hope you're right," she says to Tadase, "but I don't think I can help you. I don't want to fight other Pretty Cure unless I'm sure there's a really good reason. Do your best, okay? You're a really brave boy." She leans down to offer this praise, and though it's totally sincere, it's obvious she's not really awed by the King. Perhaps if she saw him in his home environment.

COMBAT: Cure Black has left Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Despite other people's best efforts, spear-girl yet retains her hold on the shard. That works out for Jeanne, seeing as how she's right behind. She just needs to create an opening, which she attempts to do at the first opportunity. "I don't know who you are, but I can't let you keep something that dangerous. Here, you can have this instead!" With that, she flings an object a short distance ahead of the fleeing Kyouko. It looks suspiciously like a cartoon bomb, all round and black and with a lit fuse.

And it sure does explode, but instead of something more damaging, what it instead causes is a bright display of colorful fireworks. Hopefully, the perfect distraction for Kaitou Jeanne to crash into Kyouko from behind with full force, attempting to bowl her over, grab the shard in passing, and just keep on running. A little heavy-handed pick-pocketing is no big deal. All part of the trade.

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Kaitou Jeanne has used Flashy Thievery on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to counter Kaitou Jeanne's Flashy Thievery, taking 13 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura's counterattack, Shoo!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kaitou Jeanne!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne successfully grabs an item from Kyouko Sakura!

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Growling as she goes down, the lights are still flashing in her eyes as the first girl manages to get her legs tangled, making off with the shard. Picking herself back up, she spitefully lashes the butt end of her spear at the other girl. It doesn't really do any damage, but it makes her feel better.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Knuckletap on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

You will no longer hear messages on channel <Public>.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne fails to brace Kyouko Sakura's Knuckletap, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura is Psyched!

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to grab an item from Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

After crashing into a wall for the second time in attempts to catch people even more acrobatic than she is (turns out, there IS something nimbler than a dactyl!), Lucy picks herself off again. Her magic is starting to fail her, and once again, it increasingly looks like she'll have to fight to win if she wants to walk away with the shard.

"...I second what she says," she tells Tadase, referring to Cure Black. "My deepest apologies," and she sounds like she means it.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has left Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori manages to prevent himself from flinching on being addressed that way, and his eyes follow the starite as it moves. His staff points at Kaitou Jeanne this time, and he repeats the probably rather recognizable routine by now. His shout of "Holy Crown!" results in an attempt to lock down the thief's movements, to prevent her escape.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Royal Dungeon on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne narrowly dodges Tadase Hotori's Royal Dungeon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne's Fade ability activates! Kaitou Jeanne's Flash ability activates! Stagger applied to Kaitou Jeanne!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori fails to grab an item from Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Jeanne's movements are that of someone very much used to fleeing, even dodging between beams of light. Having to put in the effort alone slows her down a little, but not by much. She loudly complains, "Hey, stop that!" But of course doesn't stop herself. "The more beams and spears people throw at me, the less I'm inclined to listen to them, funny how that works!"

COMBAT: ITEM ESCAPE ATTEMPT! Kaitou Jeanne is attempting to escape with Shard of Passion! They must run for 2 more turns!

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Kyouko is hot on the heels of the pursuit, a little winded from the fight, but still kicking. Filling up her lungs, she screams and snarls and shouts incoherently, shrieking her lungs out in an animalistic bellow.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used RAWR on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne fails to brace Kyouko Sakura's RAWR, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne is Quipped!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to grab an item from Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori replies to Kaitou Jeanne, "I haven't done anything to hurt you, just to prevent you from leaving with that thing. I don't want to hurt you, but I won't allow you to steal it if you don't even bother to explain why." He points his staff at the Starite, calling "Holy Crown!" And attempting to return it to him in the same way he tried on Kyouko, "If you don't give me any reason why, I can only assume you're acting in bad faith."

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Tadase Hotori has used Royal Tax on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Didi the Dinosaur walks out of the kitchen, an overdone steak in his mouth. "Chongrats! Chou did it, Lufy!" He chews, chews, and finally swallows the thing effortlessly, even though it's like half as big as his entire body. Lucy smiles at the sight of him, though she doesn't seem to terribly be in the mood for his antics.

Sakura looks like she's being looked after by her friends, which is good. She'll follow up on her later, but right now there's no sense in crowding around her further. Instead...

"I am Mesozoic Maiden Lucy," she finally says to Cure Black, and within earshot of White. "I am terribly sorry for the misunderstanding, although it was a pleasure to fight by your side."

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Black turns to Brown, startled out of a budding bout of rumination. "Oh, hey. Nice to meet you. Welcome to Japan, then! I'm Cure Black. I'm not supposed to say my real name, though, Lucy-san. Maybe I should just keep calling you Cure Brown? I don't want people to know your real name."

There are two issues here. Lucy's 'magical girl name' sounds like a real name with some adjectives, and Black is assuming there's a foreign country called Mesozoa.

"I like your club," she compliments. "You must have strong arms."

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne narrowly dodges Tadase Hotori's Royal Tax, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne's Fade ability activates! Kaitou Jeanne's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori fails to grab an item from Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Oh god spear girl has gone insane. That only makes Jeanne run even /faster/. "H-Hey, no hard feelings, right? It's nothing personal!" The faster running thankfully helps her in avoiding the light trying to pilfer back her prize. Tadase's accompanying statement gets an incredulous, "You're joking, right? I'm Kaitou Jeanne! Stealing is what I /do/!" Though since some kind of explanation might actually help, she continues, more seriously, "...but if you must know, the reason is simple this time: I can't trust any of /you/ with it. I'm taking it to keep it safe. Believe what you want, but that's the truth."

COMBAT: ITEM ESCAPE ATTEMPT! Kaitou Jeanne is attempting to escape with Shard of Passion! They must run for 1 more turn!

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Huffing and puffing and chugging along, Kyouko attempts to make a snatch and dash of the shard before this thief manages to make off with it.

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Kyouko Sakura has used Item Grab on Kaitou Jeanne.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne narrowly dodges Kyouko Sakura's Item Grab, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne's Fade ability activates! Kaitou Jeanne's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to grab an item from Kaitou Jeanne!

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"I don't mind Cure Brown," Lucy admits with a smile, not actually picking up on Black's faulty logic because the conclusions she came to are actually correct. She assumes the Precure is just that clever. "I noticed that people don't realize that 'Lucy' and 'Lucy' are the same person, so either is fine." Recognition inhibition is a bit of a weird concept, even when one is used to it, so maybe this sentence won't make that much sense. Still, there's a strange difference between "magical girl name" Lucy and "real name" Lucy, even though both are pronounced the exact same way.

"Thank you," she answers to the compliment, and to the welcoming, too. "You and your partner are very strong as well, and energetic, too. I could barely keep up." She grins. Then, something hits her, something she wanted to tell the Cures if she ever saw them again, to gain information or to warn them, she's not sure... "Do you know someone called Dark Precure?" she asks, suddenly serious. "She's very dangerous."

<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Tadase Hotori understands this explanation, and he lowers his staff. "Okay, go, but I want to talk to you soon. I'm Tadase Hotori, King's Chair of the Guardians of Ohtori Elementary, and you are cordially invited to our next tea party." He looks towards the others, letting Jeanne go, "I'm looking forward to seeing you there, Kaitou Jeanne." The staff and crown fade as the chara change ends.

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori transforms into Tadase Hotori!

COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has left Honoka Yukishiro's item contest. Please check it with +item Honoka Yukishiro.

<Pose Tracker> Kaitou Jeanne [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

With a mighty leap, Kaitou Jeanne makes it to the rooftop of a nearby building, narrowly escaping Kyouko's grasp. In the same motion, she turns in the air, flinging something directly at Tadase... but it lands harmlessly at his feet. She then quickly goes into a movement pattern that involves turning a lot of corners, focusing on cutting off the line of sight with her pursuit, until she's reasonably sure that she's in the clear. Not that she ever stops running, not until she gets far, far away.

The object at Tadase's feet is one of Jeanne's notice cards. This one reads simply, "I accept your invitation. -- Kaitou Jeanne" Did she actually write that in mid-air, or does she have these things prepared in advance? Like many things about the phantom thief, it is a mystery.

COMBAT: ITEM ESCAPE ATTEMPT! Kaitou Jeanne is attempting to escape with Shard of Passion! They have successfully escaped!

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has cleared her item contest.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Black [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Black smiles the smile of a Japanese person feeling guilty. "I'm sorry about that, we're not always good with foreign names, so Lucy and Lucy might sound different to us." No, she's not getting it.

She nods enthusiastically. "White is amazing, isn't she? And so graceful." She rubs her chin thoughtfully. "Dark Precure... Dark... oh," she looks embarrassed. "That's probably me, right? You know how my name is 'Cure Black'? 'Black' is English. It means 'kuro,' you know?" She's trying to help the Mesozoic immigrant--that doesn't sound like an English-speaking country. "And I can't imagine a darker color than black, so..." She is rubbing the back of her neck.

"I don't think I'm that dangerous though. Tough's different than dangerous, right?"

<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.

Storming back from her fruitless chase, she heads for the door, but not before glaring daggers at Tadase Hotori, getting a good, long look at his face as she does.

<Pose Tracker> Mesozoic Maiden Lucy [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"No, no, I mean..." Lucy is starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, Cure Black isn't /that/ clever, and with White busy cleaning just over there, this conversation could go on for a while--

Oh no. Maron!!

"Anyway, I'd love to stay and discuss further, but I remembered that I have a friend who may be worrying about me!" Lucy blurts out, not realizing that said friend just leapt out a window with an artifact of horrifying power. "We can speak later, though!" She waves as she dashes away, figuring that the duo has enough clues to find her if they really want to, since she just told Black her school and her real name. (Her REAL real name, not her identical but secret magical girl name! --ah, confusing!!)