2014-03-04 - The Good, the Bad and the X-Egg
| Title: The Good, the Bad and the X-Egg | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Two of the Ohtori Guardians and their allies face a tiny cow-boy. Without their trump card along, how will they manage to stop it? | |
| Who: Tadase Hotori, Rikoru Koyou, Fuu Hououji, Sakura Akagi, Reika Aoki, Yayoi Kise, Nadeshiko Fujisaki, Ikuto Tsukiyomi | |
| Where: Yamanote High City | |
| OOC - IC Date: Tuesday, March 4th - Wednesday, December 11th | |
- +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Yamanote High City +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Tokyo is so large that it has no real "downtown," as it sustains a great
number of such areas. Yamanote taken as a whole, however, has many of the
traits one associates with that term, with dense commercial zoning, prices
as steep as the skyscrapers, and a vibrant mix of subcultures. Yamanote
represents the most Westernized part of Tokyo, and its people are considered
fashionable, sophisticated, and worldly. Their educated dialect forms the
basis of standard Japanese, and their area contains Tokyo's municipal
government, as well as the lion's share of its corporate headquarters. This
area's frantic capitalism keeps Japan on the world stage, but in losing
touch with traditional culture, the people here have gained a reputation for
cynicism, arrogance, and lack of empathy. Yamanote is surely to blame for
Tokyo's reputation as a place where one can purchase a tube instead of a
motel room, or experience the joy of being gently compressed into a crowded
subway car by white-gloved attendants.
The Yamanote area is large enough that it is difficult to generalize its
visual appearance. Western influence is, of course, generally stronger than
anywhere else in Japan, and this is reflected in the architecture,
especially the many corporate towers. High-rise apartment buildings are
common in the residential areas, both the glossy expensive type and the
distinctively Asian raw grey tower blocks favored by lower income citizens.
Parks are less common here than elsewhere, but their greenery crops up
surprisingly often nonetheless, especially where Yamanote borders the bay.
Reclaimed land and the natural Southern Cross Island are considered part of
the district as well, and the Ohtori campus that dominates the latter is
strongly influenced by Yamanote culture.
- +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* Players +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
It's a sunny and unseasonably warm day outside. Although exams are coming soon and students have good reason to be stressed out, the park is a good place for them to relax, unwind, maybe even take a nap. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, here...
Although the sound of playing children is filling the air, not everyone is in the mood to laugh. On a park bench, sitting alone, is a young boy in Ohtori Elementary's school uniform, with a child-sized stetson on his head. He looks ahead of him listlessly, hands balled up into fists...
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Plans are subject to change without notice; Fuu has been aware of this since early in her own elementary school years. But when the change of plans catches you while you're already on a train home - and requires that you get off, backtrack, switch lines, and go even further out of your way, they can get a little frustrating. But Fuu really can't say no to a request from her father, especially when her parents are already Officially Worried about their younger daughter getting lost and hurt on a rainy day ...
Well. At least it's not raining this time. And while she may be mildly frustrated, Fuu is still open enough to take note of the young boy who seems so out of sorts as he sits there ... and she can't bring herself to just walk on past.
"Good evening," she says gently with a smile and a polite bow, turning aside from her path to walk over to the Ohtori elementary-schooler. "Might I wonder what's troubling you ... ?"
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Sakura Akagi is wearing her regular Juuban uniform as she walks past the park. It's still cold weather, outside, but it's sunny enough today that she only has a jacket tossed over it.
She doesn't notice the weird kid right away. But she does see Fuu, a friend, so she politely waves to her as she walks past her in the park.
<Pose Tracker> Reika Aoki [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
It had occurred to Reika Aoki that not everyone could afford cram school. Thus, during finals, many students who could not looked to others to tutor in after school. And so Reika was helping organize a sister schools tutoring program. The majority of them that would actually take part went to Juuban and Infinity... and most people would point out that if people at Ohtori wanted tutoring or cram school, then most could afford it.
As Vice President of the Middle School Student Council Reika was all about fairness though, which meant Ohtori was still getting notice.
And thus, she was here with Yayoi, who she'd somehow managed to convince to do a quick doodle for it, hanging up fliers on the occasional tree at the park. Yayoi was holding them in a stack, being too short of stature to put them up, and Reika was putting them upon gingerly upon the poles and trees of the park. Given the blustery day, this took a while to do adequately, to keep them secured, as her hands fussed over making certain they'd stay there.
<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Tadase Hotori, like said boy, is wearing an Ohtori Elementary uniform. He's got a cape though, the boy doesn't, but he notices the balled fist, and decides to linger around just a little bit longer than he intended. He doesn't talk to the boy, but... he does ask the invisible, floating fairy king next to him a question. Softly, "Do you think that's going to be trouble?" He notices Fuu approach the boy, and decides to head over. "Hey Hououji-san. Takahashi-san." He smiles, but doesn't repeat Fuu's question, instead reminding the boy, "If the Guardians can help with anything, please let us know.
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru Koyou is on the job today! Specifically, one of her older sisters has convinced her father that what students really want before exams is an exotic snack. Rikrou has, therefore, been dragooned into helping man the family's impromptu taco stand, handing out flyers for their restaurant and making change. (Her elder sister, Ruriko, is handling the cooking.) However, a kid in a stetson is always distracting for her.
After all, Rikoru is very familiar with Stetson hats. She looks over at her sister. "Hey, nee-san, I'm gonna take a break, okay? I need to walk around." "Hey, we still have flyers to hand-" "I know, I know! Fifteen minutes." "...fine. But you better get back here."
Someone's already talking to the kid, though, so Rikoru decides to sit down with a taco under a nearby tree. It'd be rude to interrupt! Plus she has no idea what to say. 'Hey, you look like you like cowboys! I'm secretly a cowgirl saving the world from evil!' Yeah, no.
<Pose Tracker> Yayoi Kise [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Yayoi Kise is helping!-- no. really. She's carrying a stack of flyers, as the (much taller) Reika hangs them. She had been convinced, somehow, to do a small doodle. It's of a stack of books and a motar board on top and a ruler and a pencil. It's good for what it is, also, there's an apple and a worm from the apple also wearing a motar board hat. It's unsigned. Part of the arrangement might had been Reika keeping a secret of who drew it.
She looks over to the right and notices the strange hat, but not the boy offhand, as she looks over to Reika. There seems to be some smaller convergence going on over there.
Is this a fight about to happen? The boy has a weird gait around him.
"Reika, is something going on over there?" she asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
The boy looks up to Fuu and Tadase, apparently not recognizing the latter. His voice sounds distant as he speaks. "I've always wanted to go to America and be a cowboy. But my teacher said the Old West days were over, and that there was no use for cowboys anymore. That means my dream is impossible, isn't it? It's impossible... Impossi--"
Yamada's words cut off abruptly as a large, baseball-sized egg emerges from his chest. Although it's mostly white (with a tiny golden heart in front) at first, it rapidly turns black as it floats up, up, up into the air, and a large white X appears on it. The boy's eyes go blank, and he slumps over in his seat like a marionette with its strings cut, though he keeps speaking. "Impossible... Impossible..."
At the same time, a tiny, high-pitched voice can be heard emerging from the floating egg. It's faint at first, but grows louder and louder, speaking along with the child. "impossible... impossible... impossible... IMPOSSIBLE!" The X-Egg neatly cracks in half, and from it emerges a tiny, pitch-black humanoid creature. It's wearing a tiny cow-boy hat much like the boy's, along with a neck scarf. Its face is visible but simple, consisting only of angry eyes along with a cruel, toothy grin. Finally, a large, solid red X shape appears out of thin air and lands on its forehead.
"<HOOOWDY, PARDNER!>" it spouts, in slightly broken English, voice echoing in the air, its tone mocking. "Cowboys... are STUPID!" A pair of tiny six-shooters appear in front of its hands, spinning there until it grabs them and starts blasting away indiscriminately, shooting a nearby lamppost full of holes. He's not aiming at anyone just yet, giving them just enough time to duck away from the hail of bullets...!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi transforms into Youma Form Blaster X-Chara!
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru keeps eating her taco, watching the kid. She blinks when the egg suddenly appears out of nowhere. "The hell?" She stands up, feeling that weird tingling in her belly that tells her magic is happening. She wolfs down the taco - no wasting food! - and watches the egg - at least until the kid flops over. "...huh." She reaches into her pocket, stepping away from the tree. The sudden appearance of the stetson-clad, tiny...thingy makes her stop and stare again.
"...monsters are /weird/." She shakes her head. "Either way..." She takes her hand out of her pocket, now holding a small card. "ACE OF CLUBS, RELEASE!" She hurls the card into the air. A flash of light brings a revolver to her hand, which she aims up at the card. One shot - and when the glowing bullet hits the card, the light encompasses her. It forms around her, from the feet up - brown leather cowboy boots, silver spurs. Jean shorts, a pink shirt and a beaded leather vest. A gunbelt...and most importantly, a Stetson.
"DESERT STAR!" She points her gun up at the tiny X-Chara. "I take offense to that, amigo."
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou transforms into Desert Star!
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akagi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Sakura looks really surprised, blinking. Is that a... tiny evil cowboy? It doesn't look like Rikoru or one of her friends. Something seems very different about it. She looks around... and sees Rikoru is here! Well, that's good: she can probably handle it. Maybe it's something from her world - or, however that worked for the cowgirls - Sakura is still figuring all this out. But.... this doesn't mean she can't also lend a hand. As she reaches into her bookbag for her magic perfume...
"Henshin! Cherry Blossom! Splash!"
The cap flies off the vial, and her transformation begins as she uses the perfume bottle to spray her dress onto herself... socks, and even her hairstyle, put together with a floral clip.
Japanese Cherry Blossom runs over to check on the little boy and see if he's okay.
COMBAT: Sakura Akagi transforms into Japanese Cherry Blossom!
<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Tadase Hotori hears the boy's words, and when the egg appears, then is crossed out, he already knows what's coming. He doesn't wait around for anyone to react, he just does so himself, right away.
Chara Change: From a boy who is doubting himself to a boy who knows he can do this.
A crown appears on his head, and a golden staff that looks a lot like a scepter appears in his right hand. When Desert Star arrives on the scene, Tadase points his staff at the X-Chara and says, "Be careful, don't destroy it. We'll need to cleanse it." While this happens, he calls out, "Holy Light!" A yellow field of light forming and blocking the bullets that come his way.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori transforms into Chara Change!
<Pose Tracker> Reika Aoki [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Reika Aoki keeps her promises, while she'd prefer Yayoi take credit, she didn't argue the point with her. She'd done nothing but offer her a placid smile and a 'Thank you very much, Yayoi-san.' As she fussed over putting up a flyer, Yayoi calls something to her attention, and she looks that way of the boy. "It does seem like something strange is afoot, Yayoi-san."
The X-Egg erupts from his chest, changing the boy. But Reika's expression doesn't change, unshakeable even in the face of this strangeness. "Yayoi-san. We're needed."
Taking the pile of flyers from Yayoi, she puts them hastily away in her bookbag, before using the large tree that they were putting up a flyer on for cover.
Placing an azure décor within the compact, it lit up like a rainbow. A cheerful voice immediately speaks. "Ready?"
With a somber expression, she states the next line as if she were a samurai swearing a solemn oath to a daimyo against a sparkling sky blue field of magic. "Pretty Cure.. Smile Charge!"
A powder puff appears from the compact, flipping upward, the voice from within it continuing it's cheerful cry, "Go!" Deftly she catches it, her hand sliding into the strap as if it were an old and familiar friend. "Go go! Let's go Beauty!"
Now emotion does appear on her expression, as she sublime smile highlights her expression. Taking a breath, she blows upon the compact, powder flowing off as gentle as drifting snow.
It falls to her feet, before rising again, the gleaming magical snow changing her as it's buoyed upwards to her chest. There she places her hands, as it gathers into a cerulean starburst of color. Her back arches, and suddenly her hair grows ever longer, and sky blue, gathering in four long tresses. Taking the compact, she presses it against each of her face's cheeks, and they take on a subtle blush.
That gleaming magical snow gathers once again in her hand, which she holds gently in her palm in front of her face with motes of it falling all around her, "A noble heart, as pure as virgin snow.." She presses that snow to her chest, before jutting out her right arm, palm outward in a pose, with heels together, the final words are a clarion call to battle, "..Cure Beauty!"
The pact is placed calmly back at her side, as a blade of sparkling, gleaming ice begins to take shape from her palm, the hilt forming first, before trailing upward to create a full blade. It is raised in front of her face, as a salute before it's lowered as she calmly watches the boy with an analytical gaze, her tone the picture of serenity, even as she offers.. "I won't ignore your violent behavior."
COMBAT: Reika Aoki transforms into Cure Beauty! COMBAT: Cure Beauty performs an analysis on Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Cure Beauty has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Fuu glances away from Riku as she spots Sakura's wave out of the corner of her eye, and waves back briefly before returning her attention to the young boy ... and starts blinking worriedly as Riku seems to release a floating egg, and then just collapse. Followed by --
Is that tiny thing waving guns around? Yes. And shooting.
She does the smart thing, and *RUNS* away from the crazy special effect with live ammunition, skidding a bit as she rounds a corner and ducks behind a tree.
She's still aching and weary from fighting Qarzha; just thinking about combat makes what's left of her cuts sting and her bruises ache. But by the same token, if she's a Magic Knight and *she* went running ... what happens if this strange little being gets away?
She'll just have to deal with her father being upset - although hopefully this won't take so long that he really has cause to worry. And with that, she pulls on her glove-jewel, letting her bag disappear into it. "Belief becomes power ... winds, guide me!"
A green-colored whirlwind forms around her, armor materializing over top of her now-green school uniform, and it's the Magic Knight of Wind who steps back out from behind the tree as the whirlwind disperses. "So we need to capture and purify it instead of destroying it, right ... ?" she asks Tadase. That is Tadase, right? ... Well. She'll ask later, if the opportunity presents itself. "If so, then I can certainly assist you."
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Magic Knight!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Cure Peace listens to Reika, she watches stuff going on. Ah! Did something just happen to that boy! That was dreadful looking. They're far enough away that they might not had heard all the mutterings and words, but it's obvious that's not something that typically happens to people and something supernaturally dangerous is happening.
She hesitates, but just for a moment before she goes. "Right...!" she says as she follows suite, so to speak, she opens her own pink compact with the same rainbow light's as that same voice emits... 'Ready?'
Yayoi speaks her line with as much confidence as she can muster, It belays an actual inner confidence. "Pretty Cure, Smile Charge!" she says as she as the powederpuff appears, with a similar effect as she grabs it... and with the same voice from the compact, apparently, 'Go go, Let's go, Peace!'
Unlike Reika, who blows her powderpuff, she claps, effectivly , three times in a cherry manner, the transformations takes form, White cloth armlets, with yellow trim form, boots, with a similar, white trim..... a pretty dress with a white lined skirt, yellow, with a white front, and 'zapping' onto the front is a bright, large, yellow bow, popping into existance as if almost willed there by some form of electricity itself. and finally, with something akin to an almost comical pop, her hair grows much larger, complete with white hairhand with feather accents, coming into one large pony tail.
She gives herself just two gentle taps to her cheek, just the faintest hint of blush before she finshes..making hand motions out with every word.. "Sparkling! Glittering!....
This is where the hand motions end and she closes her fists just softly in a standard way (This time), "Rock, Paper.....Scissors! actually making the 'Scissors', before they come out to effectivly be Peace signs. "Cure Peace!"
When this is done she appears just to the right and behind Cure Beauty. "Um... so. I hit it. Right?" she asks as others go to do that, she gets the idea Beauty is observing this in detail before making a move. But.. maybe she should act?
Then this thing calls Cowboys stupid. "Wha!? Why are cowboys stupid!?" she asks. "That's... not a very nice thing to say about something." she says. As everyone attempts to leap into this thing, she seems about to fire...something from a 'Peace sign' made with her hands but stop. That's what heroe's do right? Fight the 'bad guy'? "C..cleanse it?" she asks. "So..So don't attack it?" she asks. She suddenly seems at a loss, looking at Tadase suddenly.
COMBAT: Yayoi Kise transforms into Cure Peace!
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
The boy seems unconscious but otherwise all right. Although the tiny X-Chara won't shoot in Riku's general direction, staying close to him for long might not be the wisest idea. Those closest to the evil cowboy sprite can feel its palpable aura of pure negativity wash over them, visible from afar as a wave of dark purple energy. Dreams are useless... Useless...
The appearance of a bona fide cowgirl has it take notice, but despite everything, this only seems to make it madder. "Useless... Useless! Useless!!" With each word it spouts, glaring at Desert Star, it grows a little bit more, until it's... the size of a large housecat! Well, that should at least be a tiny bit easier to aim at.
"<Shooooot!>" It calls out as it spins its tiny guns again, peppering the mass of intervening Precures, Perfume Warrior, Magic Knight, Guardian and, of course, magical cowgirl with a sadistic little grin, not to mention far, FAR more than six bullets per gun!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Impossible....Impossible... on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Impossible....Impossible... on Tadase Hotori. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Impossible....Impossible... on Japanese Cherry Blossom. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Hail of Bullets on Rikoru Koyou. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Hail of Bullets on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Hail of Bullets on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Hail of Bullets, taking 8 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cure Peace fails to brace Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Hail of Bullets, taking 17 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Impossible....Impossible..., taking 0 Fatigue damage! Tadase Hotori is Taunted!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Impossible....Impossible..., taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Impossible....Impossible..., taking 0 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! Fuu Hououji is Taunted!
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou fails to dodge Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Hail of Bullets, taking 15 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"...Whatever is wrong with him..." says Cherry Blossom, looking at the boy, "that thing seems to be part of the problem... maybe the cause! Like someone with their essence drained..."
She steps around the bench - quite carefully, for a Magical Girl, as she doesn't want to hurt the young man. She rolls aside as the bullets start flying, though they aren't aimed at her in particular.
Then she points at the slightly growing creature. "You there! If you're responsible for draining this boy's memories, then... I'll fight you no matter how small, or how big you are!"
Her only aim is to distract it for now... though, even standing dramatically and pointing, she feels kinda silly. Usually the thing is a lot more intimidating and less kinda-cute. But, guns are bad!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Hey Big Ugly on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
The Magic Knight of Wind ducks back around the tree for cover - hoping she's not subjecting the tree to unnecessary injury, but it's either dodge, or take the bullets herself - and she's really trying not to get hurt tonight. "Dreams are not useless," she responds to the little sprite-thing. "Without dreams, what do we aim for beyond the here and now?" She steps back out into view, bringing her left hand up. "Imashime no Kaze!"
The Winds of Admonition whip through the park, the power of Fuu's spell homing in on the little egg-sprite and attempting to bind it within a suitably small whirlwind ...
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Imashime no Kaze on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Tadase Hotori is shaken a bit by things, but he doesn't allow himself to be hindered by it, "It's not draining memories." He corrects Japanese Cherry Blossom, "It's his dream, it's just been corrupted." The thing has started fighting the people nearby, and Tadase settled on doing what he can to help, pointing his staff at the nearest cowgirl, and with a spell, protecting her with magical yellow light. "If you destroy it, you'll be destroying his faith in himself."
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Noblesse Oblige on Rikoru Koyou.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Cure Beauty raises her blade of gleaming ice again, parallel to the ground, beside her head, her expression one of intense concentration, "Here I go." What follows is a charge, interrupted by the fusillade. In serpentine motions she continues to move, at one point somersaulting into a hand stand with one hand, and springing towards the possessed child in order to close the gap. Corkscrewing in the air, she lands in front of the tiny chara, and the blade moves, probing his guard like a fencer, with light thrusts. It's a small target, so she takes her time.
As gracefully as drifting snow in a gentle breeze, she springs over it, slashing backwards as she lands with glittering sparkles trailing in it's wake. The lightest touch attempting to cause rime and hoarfrost to form over her opponent and hamper their movement.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty has used Drifting Snow Slash on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Beauty has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou accepts Tadase Hotori's Noblesse Oblige, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate and Withstand applied to Rikoru Koyou!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Imashime no Kaze, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Cripple and Trap applied to Ikuto Tsukiyomi!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to brace Japanese Cherry Blossom's Hey Big Ugly, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Ikuto Tsukiyomi is Quipped!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi perfectly dodges Cure Beauty's Drifting Snow Slash, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru tries to dodge around the bullets that come for her, but the little x-head thing is way faster than she expected! The little bullets pepper her, making her skid along the ground a little as she ducks left. "...ngh. Okay..." She twirls her revolver, then slips it back in its holster as she looks up at the thing. "You're no cowboy, not if you think it's all about shooting!" She thumbs the brim of her hat upwards.
"Looks like y'all need a lesson in what a /real/ cowpoke is like." Rikoru cracks her knuckles, looking up at the tiny little thing...and then nods. She is, after all, a boxer. This thing is tiny - she can't box easily. But...she looks over at Tadase, then grins. "Well, then I can't destroy it, can I? First lesson!" She points up at the X-Chara. "Being a cowpoke's about /you/. If you waste time caring about what other people want for you, how're you ever gonna get yourself a shining star?"
It's too small to box, and this kid seems to know what it is. (She can ask why later.) So that means it's a better idea to /talk/ the thing down by being the perfect cowgirl.
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has used Ride A Blazing Saddle, Wear A Shining Star on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Cure Peace watches as Cure Beauty leaps, corkscrewing through the air with her sword. She's so cool and graceful. Oh. right not a manga. Real life. stop admiring. There's work to be done. She then grows a stern face, well, as stern as she can get, it's time to help these people, and her friends, handle this thing. So..cleanse this thing!
"You're no match for my.... Shining, Sparkling, Jankenpon technique!". Her hands go ot, one, two... three! She can do it, she can win! her looks suggests one of slight desperation!...
Scissors!
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Pikarin Janken! on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Rikoru Koyou's Ride A Blazing Saddle, Wear A Shining Star, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Ikuto Tsukiyomi is Taunted!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi narrowly braces Cure Peace's Pikarin Janken!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Block ability activates! Ikuto Tsukiyomi is Taunted!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko Fujisaki is of course a pure, delicate flower who goes home after school like a proper young lady, and she's got to get home, and do homework for an hour, and dance practice for six, and help with the dishes. It's all very busy. She is certainly not the sort to go tearing around city streets even in circumstances of utterest peril!!
You'd think.
From around one corner, a tuft of sakura blossoms tying her hair up, and with Temari hovering around her like a venom-eyed goblin, comes a vision in plaid, the red cape of a girl Guardian and the red skirt of an Ohtori elementary girl whirling in the breeze of her approach. "THERE IT IS!" Temari yells down at her, and Nadeshiko's lip curls up in an over-aggressive sneer. "Already hatched...!" she grates out with a growl, and then reaches as though plucking something from her cape and WHERE DID THE NAGINATA COME FROM
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!" comes the aggressive growl as Nadeshiko's full-size naginata is pitched downrange with enough force that the air corkscrews visibly around it. She skids to a halt not too far from Tadase, almost assumes a ready stance, and then...realizes she just pitched her naginata halfway down the block. ... "Amu's not coming!" she shouts, instead, and then...goes to run past and get her naginata. Womp womp.
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki transforms into Chara Change! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Throw on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi narrowly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Throw, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Ikuto Tsukiyomi is Quipped!
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
Cherry Blossom's distraction works wonders on the little sprite, which turns around and focuses its attention on her exclusively for a second. "Useless!" is its eloquent answer, screamed out with tiny little fists raised in the air. Obviously, that thing is quite excitable.
It conjures up a tiny poncho to protect itself from Fuu's battering wind, which seems to work at first, but soon the piece of cloth flies away, and the X-Chara is sent spinning into the air, tiny swirls in its eyes. This does, however, have the side-effect of giving it just enough momentum to avoid Beauty's slash. The fact that the tiny poncho flew in front of her eyes right about then might not help, either.
But then, as it steadies itself, Rikoru gives it a little speech on what being a real cowboy entails... The X-Chara blinks at it, seemingly confused... then Cure Peace wants to play a game. Ever competitive, the tiny cowboy actually responds and throws...
Paper!
SHOCK AND GAH!!
But wait, what's that whistling sound...? Just in time to avoid being cleaved in half by a naginata with a blade nearly as big as it is, the X-Chara weaves to the side, though it does seem disoriented by the effort. "Usele~ssss..." Finally, it manages to steady itself again in the air. "Horses are... DUMB!!"
A massive wave of purple X-energy fills the area, reaching out straight to the hearts of those trying to pacify the creature... As the energy clears, however, something becomes urgently apparent:
It has summoned, and is now riding, a tiny, black, evil-grinning X-Horse!!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Lost Poncho on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Futility Wave on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Futility Wave on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Futility Wave on Rikoru Koyou. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Futility Wave on Tadase Hotori. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Futility Wave on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Futility Wave on Japanese Cherry Blossom. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Futility Wave, taking 1 Fatigue damage! Rikoru Koyou is Quipped! Rikoru Koyou's Block ability activates! Stun applied to Rikoru Koyou! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Futility Wave, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cure Peace is Quipped! Cure Peace's Fade ability activates! Cure Peace's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Tadase Hotori narrowly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Futility Wave, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Tadase Hotori is Quipped! Stun applied to Tadase Hotori! COMBAT: Tadase Hotori's counterattack, Majestic Defense, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki fails to dodge Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Futility Wave, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Quipped! Stun applied to Nadeshiko Fujisaki! COMBAT: Cure Beauty narrowly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Lost Poncho, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Beauty's Tactician ability activates! Blind applied to Cure Beauty! COMBAT: Cure Beauty's counterattack, Icicle Throw, partially gets through, doing 15 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! Critical Counterhit! COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom fails to brace Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Futility Wave, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Japanese Cherry Blossom is Quipped! Stun applied to Japanese Cherry Blossom!
<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Tadase Hotori tries to think of a good way to say this, "You don't have to avoid attacking it, just try to get rid of the dark emotions without harming the Chara that's been corrupted too much." Then a Naginata comes flying over, and Tadase looks in Nadeshiko's way, hearing Amu isn't coming causes him to frown slightly, but he overcomes that quickly.
Then all the X-Energy starts flying his way, and another wave of yellow light energy comes from his staff, partially blocking it, and then flowing forwards, trying to prevent the horse-riding X-Chara from doing much more harm.
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has used Royal Dungeon on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Tadase Hotori has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"What..." Cherry Blossom has never seen an attack quite like this before... She tries to brace herself against it, but the X attack hits her head on, and....
It overwhelms her, just a little. Not much physically, but... What is this strange sensation? It feels like ... the essense of giving up. Like something is gnawing at her to just walk away.
She straightens up... "It'll take more than that!" she shouts at it, trying to psyche herself back up again. Maybe if she gets up close and personal with it, she can get over the fear, so she runs in. And then... this is pretty crazy, but...
She tries to kick the horse. Try to trip it, really. If she can trip over the horse, then, surely the thing won't be that tough at all.
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Cherry Flip Kick on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Cure Peace is hit with some sort of dreadful, despairing wave, nrnrnr! There goes all that confidence she just won. "Ah--that.." she says as she still has as much muster as she can gather. "Won't stop me?" she almost kind of asks as she steadies herself. Yeah, that big wave of despair didn't really do her any good. It's making her just a litte frightened, a little scared. These are not feelings alien to her, even a little bit.
But something still needs to be done about this broken dream, right!? Right! She makes a peace sign again with her hands as she seems to strech them out from one another, causing little sparks between her finger as she fires off a short little bolt of electrcity at the cowboy like creature. "Ah.. I'll...." she thinks carefully. "Beat you with my shining, beautiful ..... glittering ray!" she says, as if trying to think up some sort of cool attack for a character in a Manga.
It's really just a short zap of electricity in the end.
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Glittering Ray on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Futility Wave, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Quipped! Stun applied to Fuu Hououji! COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Basic Archery, partially gets through, doing 7 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi!
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru turns to look at Tadase. "What? How do you - I /punch things/. How do you expect me to punch an emotion?" Rikoru is not really very familiar with how magic works yet, not even her own. Punching things is a much more familiar place. However, this distraction means that she is only kind of paying attention to the X-energy, and when it comes, she...well, tries to block it with her arms. This...would work better if it was entirely physical.
Rikoru shakes herself off, trying to fight off the sudden burst of apathy she was shot with. Fortunately, enthusiasm is one of her strong points. "Well...I guess I'll just not think too hard about it, then!" She forces a grin, punching a fist into the palm of her other hand. "I'll just have to show off how cool a cowgirl can be!" She jumps upwards, light gathering around her right fist. "Second rule: Ain't no time in this world for bullies and jerks! So why don't I teach you not to be one!"
She slams that shining fist out, letting out a loud and enthusiastic cry as she does so. Her revolver clicks, as the magic empowers the blow. That should make it hit the emotions, right? That's how this works?
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has used Miracle Straight on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Although she missed, Cure Beauty doesn't let it phase her, as the poncho is thrown over her, she reacts reflexively, trying to throw her blade through it, an icicle. She misses the poncho, even as it flies towards the Chara Guardian, and the poncho lands over her.
Now blind from the poncho obscuring her vision even as calm as Cure Beauty is, even she can't help but be a bit startled by the battle cry as Nadeshiko enters the fray. Another enemy!?
Reika skips backwards in anticipation of the throw. But it wasn't directed at her.
Another blade of sparkling ice begins to form in her hand immediately. She doesn't need to see. It was making so much noise. 'Usele~ss..' it says, and she retorts, "I won't allow you to put down anyone's efforts to achieve their dreams."
Unable to see, she charges the corrupted Chara Guardian atop it's tiny horse, pirouetting around in a wide backswing. She puts enough force in the swing to attempt to buffet it as she tries to shatter the blade upon it's guard, turning it into a shower of sharp little slivers of ice and shards of hail.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty has used Beauty Hailstorm Brand on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Beauty has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi perfectly counters Tadase Hotori's Royal Dungeon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Tadase Hotori is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi's counterattack, Spite, bursts all the way through, doing 21 Fatigue damage to Tadase Hotori! Critical Counterhit! Tadase Hotori is unable to keep fighting! Tadase Hotori is Quipped!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi narrowly braces Japanese Cherry Blossom's Cherry Flip Kick, taking 1 Fatigue damage! Japanese Cherry Blossom is Psyched! Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Block ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Whatever that wave of energy is, Fuu has no desire to get hit by it - and her bow and quiver materialize, with a bow already nocked on the string as she grasps the bow and the arrow's back end. Her arrow flies, punching a hole in the energy wave and flying on to clip the X-Egg's spirit - and then she takes a moment to look around, wobbling on her feet as she realizes she didn't do as much to protect herself as she might have.
"Iyashi no Kaze!" the Wind Knight calls out, summoning the Winds of Healing to help restore her, and then directing them at Nadeshiko - whom she doesn't know so much, but DOES at least recognize, and at Japanese Cherry Blossom, whom she *does* know in both civilian and magical-girl guises. A quick scan of the park suggests that others could use some help as well ... but Fuu can only divide her attention so far before her magic becomes ineffective, especially in the heat of battle.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Japanese Cherry Blossom. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Cure Peace's Glittering Ray, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Cure Peace is Psyched!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Nadeshiko Fujisaki's debuffs are cleared! COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Rikoru Koyou's Miracle Straight, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Rikoru Koyou is Psyched! COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Japanese Cherry Blossom's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Cure Beauty's Beauty Hailstorm Brand, taking 23 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Admittedly, Amu being absent is a...problem, and Nadeshiko is aware of it. But Chara Changing does a number of things to her personality, not the least of which is making her rather more short-sighted. But with no Amu...
Nadeshiko lays hands on her naginata just as the wave comes at her; she leaps backward nimbly, but she can't move faster than emotion. The wave flutters her cape and her heart at once, and she lands in a crouch with an uneasy stance. Without Amu...without Open Heart, isn't there only one way to do this? But she can't do that!
The blustering wind doesn't do a lot for her spirits, but at least gets her the energy to look the thing dead on again. She's got to work with what she's got. Fine. Her eyes dart around. ... ...there's a cowgirl here. ... ...OK, sure. "We have to calm it down! That evil energy comes from a heart that's given up! But we don't have Amu...let, Heart, here to cleanse it with her power!" And with that, she rushes in. "SO SETTLE DOWN, COWBOY!!" she thunders, and sweeps a wide arc with her naginata.
It won't kill even on a direct hit, because of magic.
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Sweep on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi narrowly braces Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Sweep, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Psyched! Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Block ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
A stray icicle and an arrow hit the X-Cowboy in spite of its new acquisition of a matching mount, but the projectile and layer of frost are shaken off quickly. Despite the X-Energy blasting at them, most of the group proves that their hearts are made of stern stuff.
Tadase is ready to mount a counterattack, and aims to trap the X-Chara, but the evil sprite will have none of it. It redirects the remaining flow of negative energy in the boy's direction, washing a massive wave of pure, overpowerring spite into his heart. Even despite this, the courage granted by Kiseki might be enough for him to hold on, were it not for a sound faintly heard of slow clapping, an infuriating grin sighted from the corner of his eye.
"Is that really it, boy king?" A boy, perched up a nearby tree, addresses the King's Chair of the Ohtori Elementary Guardians in a bored tone. The tall, dark, and handsome boy in a Juuban High uniform is simply lounging on the branch, as if he belonged there. He doesn't add anything to the younger boy's humiliation, but a look of silent condescension. Atop his shoulder, a tiny, invisible cat-boy pulls down his eyelid and blows a raspberry.
And although the observing Ikuto has made his presence known to anyone paying much attention to the fight's periphery, the group still has bigger fish to fry than an annoyingly blasé high-schooler. Cherry Blossom's attempt at tripping the horse is a good effort, but obviously the thing is too steady (not to mention floating, which works out rather oddly) to be unsteadied that easily. It does, however, open it up for an onslaught of lightning ("Us--"), punches ("--e--"), hail ("--less!"), and--
That last Naginata blow is stopped dead, despite its massive size, by the sudden appearance of horse armor. But wait! Cowboy horses don't wear armor! It promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.
"Cowgirls are UNCOOL!" the X-Chara spouts, responding to Desert Star directly for once, and producing a lasso that magically extends in her direction, aiming to bind her away so that she can't, say, pummel anything anymore. Then, the X-horse rears up and neighs loudly, and the X-cowboy grabs the saddle tightly (it seems to be just barely holding on, but judging by its grin this seems to be part of the plan) as its mount goes on a stampede across the plains!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Lasso Bind on Rikoru Koyou. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Tiny Stampede on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Tiny Stampede on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Tiny Stampede on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Tiny Stampede on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Tiny Stampede on Japanese Cherry Blossom. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Tiny Stampede, taking 4 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom perfectly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Tiny Stampede, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Tiny Stampede, taking 8 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Tiny Stampede, taking 12 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Cure Peace's counterattack, Flash Tackle, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou perfectly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Lasso Bind, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou's counterattack, Bronco Buster, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Tiny Stampede, taking 9 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
"Evil energy? So it's like an Akanbe then?" Though blinded, Cure Beauty speaks conversationally with Nadeshiko, as if she weren't in the midst of a heated battle. "If that's the case, then Peace-san and myself might be able to purify it, with enough spirit."
Since she can't see how Yayoi is doing, she asks aloud, "How are you managing, Peace-san? We may have to combine our efforts at a critical moment."
If she were able to express herself adequately, she'd admonish the little X-Chara or putting down cowgirls. But instead, she shows it how cool a Mahou Shoujo can be through her actions. Another gleaming blade forms in her hands. And as the creature stampedes across the map, she raises her blade to parry as the sound of tiny hooves and neighing gets closer. The blade is rent asunder by the tiny mount's rampage shattering into motes of sparkling snow.
She does not make a new blade however, instead attacking with her fists as it rides on by. A series of punches and palm thrusts, followed by her dropping to the ground, and kicking upwards from a handstand.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty has used Pretty Cure Wintery Flurry! on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Beauty has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Tadase Hotori [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Tadase Hotori's confidence is wavering, without Amu here... can he do this? Can he protect everyone? His doubts are clear, and though he's fighting them, he's already losing that fight. Kiseki shouts encouragement, "Of course you can, Tadase." Of course, that's when Ikuto shows up, driving the dagger of doubt home. The crown and staff fade, and Tadase steps back. And Kiseki returns to his egg, the opening sealing shut.
<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Ah-ha! Yes, that thing is... pretty terrible, even at its size, but it's not invincible, either. Cherry Blossom feels her kick strike against the horse. It hits something physical anyway, and though the creature is clearly made up of some bad emotions, that might be its undoing, too.
The one younger boy seems a bit overwhelmed. That's... certainly bad. And that older boy...
Cherry Blossom looks up at the tree, noticing the blase young man. Doesn't he go to her school? She doesn't talk to too many high schoolers, but it's the right uniform. Why is he up in a tree...?
Well, there's no time to worry about that. Nadeshiko explains what this creature is all about. A heart that's given up. "That... means, we can't give up, right!? I know we can all do it, if we work together. Just tell me what it is I need to do and I'll do my best too!" she shouts back.
She looks toward Rikoru and Fuu.... "Whatever you do, don't give up!"
And then the other girls, well, she doesn't know them, but they seem okay too. "And, um, nice to meet you, wish it was a better way!"
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Team Tactics on Rikoru Koyou. COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Team Tactics on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Team Tactics on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
The lasso settles around Ikuto, tying her arms to her sides. "...hmph. You think that's gonna stop me?" Rikoru closes her eyes, focusing. Her gun glows faintly at her belt as she grits her teeth and flexes her arms. She's not huge, but she /is/ muscular - and that becomes abundantly clear now, thanks to her short sleeves. Her upper arms bulge out against hte lasso. "Nothing can stop me from fighting for justice!" The lasso snaps as a golden light flashes out from Rikoru, adding magical might to her physical power - though the magical shockwave isn't strong enough to go past that.
Rikrou grins, raising her fists. "No matter what you say to me, no matter what you call me...I don't need it! You don't have to think I'm cool." She lunges forward, jabbing at the X-Chara with quick punches, none of which are really meant to hit. They're all setup. "I mean, I already know you're wrong! I'm definitely cool - and nothing you say can change that! I'm doing what /I/ want to do!"
And then comes the real hit - a powerful swing that glows with the light of the setting sun. When the blow strikes, it's with the sound of a gunshot going off. "CATTLE CRUSHER!"
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou accepts Japanese Cherry Blossom's Team Tactics, taking 0 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has used Cattle Crusher on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed. Cure Peace panics a moment, ah! This thing just begins going wild and she closes her eyes and blindly suddenly charges at the thing in a moment after a soft little moment of apparently electrical sparking up. She opens her eyes, alas, wasted energy for no effect. Maybe it'd had helped if she....opened her eyes.
"Ah!? Fin--Fine then!" she says to Reika. She musters what she can. "We'll... cleanse this thing! If it's like that then!" she says. She throws another jolt of lightning, this one hops about objects, as it races about trying to catch this thing off guard maybe!
"Uh-- Pretty Cure Chain Lightining!" she calls out. Okay. That makes sense, let's call it that.
She looks over to Cherry Blossom. "..R-right!" she says to her.
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Chain Lightning on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Japanese Cherry Blossom's Team Tactics, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki accepts Japanese Cherry Blossom's Team Tactics, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Cheered!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi narrowly braces Cure Beauty's Pretty Cure Wintery Flurry!, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cure Beauty is Psyched! Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Block ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Fuu braces herself against the miniature 'stampede' - a *one-horse* miniature stampede, yet - and tries to take as much of the force of it on her bracer as she can. "I'm really sorry, but I think I have to stop being gentle," she says with a wry smile as she lowers her arms after the X-Chara has gone on past.
And that's when she sees Tadase's transformation lapsing. So it *was* him ... interesting. She has bigger fish to fry at the moment, though - or rather, smaller cowboys to wrangle. Japanese Chery Blossom's words of encouragement are answered by a nod and a fast thumbs-up, and then she turns her attention back to the X-Chara as the wind picks up around her.
"I really don't want to hurt you, little one, but we can't let you keep running amok, either ... Midori no Shippuu!" And with that, Fuu unleashes the Emerald Hurricane, her most powerful attack spell, trying to focus the gale-force winds so that the X-Chara will be blown around but not blown *away* - and she's trying to keep the force of it under control, as well.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Midori no Shippu: Focused on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Cure Peace's Chain Lightning, taking 26 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to brace Rikoru Koyou's Cattle Crusher, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Rikoru Koyou is Psyched! COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Midori no Shippu: Focused, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
The X-Chara...manifests instant horse armor. But it vanishes, because cowboys don't wear armor. This logic makes total sense to Nadeshiko, but she frowns anyway because her empowering strike didn't work!!
She sets back a step, considering her options - which gives her the chance to whip her spear's shaft up and fend off the worst of that tiny, tiny stampede. "Ugh, I hate when they get on about something I barely know!" Nadeshiko grumps, pelted by a single horse, repeatedly. X-Charas are weird.
Tadase's had his doubts beaten hard into him, and Nadeshiko can't really do much for him now. Later. She'll get him some cookies and tea later. Yes. Japanese Cherry Blossom and Cure Beauty both offer their own advice, allowing the red-clad Guardian to puff up and nod. "Right! If you destroy it, you'll kill that dream forever! So we have to..." She looks at Beauty, who is apparently just effortlessly handling this whole thing. Nnnneh. "Yeah, that! Sure!"
And then, figuring that's quite enough of this planning thing for one moment, Nadeshiko hurries back in against the X-Chara, swinging an inelegant flash of naginata its way. "I said SETTLE, you!!"
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Flourish on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi narrowly braces Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Flourish, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Block ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
Ikuto continues watching the unfolding chaos silently, casting a side-glance and shaking his head almost imperceptibly at the sight of Tadase losing his crown.
Apparently not wanting to get pummeled further, the X-Chara crosses its tiny arms (in the shape of an X, you see!) in front of its face, somehow absorbing the brunt of Cure Beauty's CQC combo without being much worse for wear. Nadeshiko's naginata swings, not to mention Rikoru's own flurry of punches, meet the same tactic, but the last blow, the one that truly matters, manages to get through, sending the sprite flying straight into Cure Peace's chain lightning bolt. For a moment, it becomes quite apparent that X-Chara somehow have a skeleton, which lights up like a neon from the electrical onslaught.
And then, it lands into the Emerald Hurricane, and this time there's no magical poncho for it to use to take the brunt of the attack. The X-Chara swirls around, battered by the strong winds. When it finally stops spinning, it's obviously... Angry. Very, very angry. That's the opposite of settling down! Its eyes glow red, X-Energy swirls around it... "Impossible... Impossible... Impossible!"
"<DUEL AT DAAAWN!>" it shouts in more broken English, pulling out its twin six-shooters and apparently not knowing what a duel at dawn actually is, as it blasts forth with a curtain of bullets supercharged with X-Energy. There's no getting at the girls' hearts this time, they're charged up only to /hurt/... which may or may not be worse. Actual Cowgirl Rikoru, and the ones closest to her, are the ones being directly aimed at, though it really is shooting /everything/. "Bang bang bang bang bang!"
COMBAT: FINISHER! Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Boulevard of Broken Dreams on Rikoru Koyou. COMBAT: FINISHER! Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Boulevard of Broken Dreams on Japanese Cherry Blossom. COMBAT: FINISHER! Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Boulevard of Broken Dreams on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Hail of Bullets on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Hail of Bullets on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Hail of Bullets on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Hail of Bullets, taking 10 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Finisher, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Hail of Bullets, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Finisher, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Japanese Cherry Blossom's Block ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Beauty is definitely not effortlessly handling this thing, even if her external, unshakeable calm might give that appearance to a casual observer. 'Bang Bang Bang Bang' tips her off even though she's blind, as she starts skipping backwards, away, somersaulting and back flipping to narrowly avoid the next hail of bullets.
Elegantly, she divests her head of the poncho. Her four sky blue tresses of hair flowing freely in the breeze, as gleaming snow drifts all around her. And she senses something in Yayoi, her usual lack of confidence that drips from her voice, her self-depreciation. If she were Miyuki, she would know exactly what to do. Namely, she would tell Peace to be ultra happy, to smile, to psych her up through an impassioned speech. She's not Miyuki however, and she has trouble expressing how she feels in words.
So instead, she smiles at her. It's a smile full of warmth, despite her cool exterior, an expression upon her visage which gives voice to her unspoken words. One which tells her, 'Everything will be alright.' and 'I know you can do this.' at the same time. It shows that she cares, even if she cannot articulate the quiet strength she hopes that Yayoi will absorb from it. 'Throughout the world, let beautiful smiles bloom like flowers.'
"Ready yourself, Peace-san."
COMBAT: Cure Beauty has used Beautiful Smile on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Cure Beauty has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cure Peace accepts Cure Beauty's Beautiful Smile, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Peace is Cheered! Empower applied to Cure Peace!
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou fails to brace Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Finisher, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, taking 67 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Hail of Bullets, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Cure Peace's Fade ability activates! Cure Peace's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Naturally, the X-Cowboy shoots at everything and everyone; the Wind Knight dives for cover, but a number of the bullets connect with her anyway, making her wince as she rolls back to her feet. That probably could have been substantially worse, she thinks ..
She winds up near Tadase, and spares a question for the young boy: "Are you going to be all right?"
It's not much - but if nothing else, it's evidence that she's concerned for him and wants to help. And on that note, after Tadase answers, she turns her attention and her magic back towards the X-Chara with a cry of, "Imashime no Kaze!!" And once again, the Winds of Admonishment blow to try and trap and contain the little cowboy ...
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Imashime no Kaze on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Bullets! Japanese Cherry Blossom does what she can, which is... stand her ground, putting her hands out and raising her sleeves up to block against them!
It only occurs to her, a split second before they strike her, that this is the craziest thing ever. Why does she think that blocking bullets with kimono sleeves would ever work? And yet, somehow....
The X-energy strikes her. There's a flash, and she shuts her eyes, but... it's not enough to overpower her. Not enough to knock her down. She's a bit weakened... but, she knows this thing can be beaten. She knows it in her heart, and if she just has faith ...
She opens her hands, then presses them together in front of her face. Light builds up around her, and petals floating in that light. "I see. You're just full of negativity. But..."
"I bet you that this young man has lots of great memories that he can use to strengthen himself. He's seen cowboys on television and in books and movies... and... now that he knows there's a real cowgirl out there, wouldn't that give him strength too?"
A disc of light rises behind her, like a halo. It starts out red, slowly shifting to gold. "So be strong, and believe in yourself. We won't destroy it. We won't kill the dream. We'll just give it our strength, and... your dreams and memories can survive."
Cherry Blossom raises her hand, all of the floating petals collecting in the flickering light.
"Cherry Blossom--"
And then the purifying waves crash toward the X-Chara, with a burst of gold and the scent of springtime.
"Golden Sunset!"
COMBAT: FINISHER! Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Cherry Blossom Golden Sunset on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Cure Peace ah! she ducks and holds her head to the ground as bullets come blazing. Oh dear. This is slowly turning bad... he eyes get wide, they get a little watery---no! Nono, not now. What if Akane was here--she wouldn't hear the end of that! She merely looks to Cure Beauty...
...Right! Beauty needs her here and now, if they're going to cleanse this thing.
she gets back up to her feet and steels herself. "R-Right, Beauty!" she says. "I'm getting ready!" she says as she attempts to throw more lighting at this thing. "Pretty Cure... um.... POWER BOLT!" she yells. That's a good name. Let's go with that. It sounds perfect!
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Precure Power Bolt on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru's biggest strength is her willingness to get right up in the face of even the worst monster. Her greatest weakness is that she's always right up in the face of monsters. The X-Chara is no exception. Being too close means she can't even begin to try blocking the rain of bullets. She does her best - but it's not enough. She isdriven to the ground by the sheer force of it all, battered and bruised by the onslaught. (Due to rating issues, there is no blood.) She struggles to her feet, her hat almost hanging off her head.
"Rrrgh...you want a duel, huh? You want to see a /real/ cowgirl in a duel?" She takes a deep breath, then lets it out heavily, hsaking herself. She's standing on raw grit more than anything else right now. Raw grit and the solid knowledge that she is the coolest thing in the park.
Rikoru draws her revolver, aiming it directly at the X-Chara. "Well, let me show you a real cowgirl, then. Take a good luck, varmint. Keep an eye on this DESERT STAR!" She pulls the trigger...
And what comes out isn't a bullet, even a magic one, despite the loud gunshot. It is a torrent of light that bends beckwards around the barrel, flowing around Rikoru. She spins the revolver, holstering it as the light grows. Shades of sunset and starlight surround her as she takes a few steps forward, closing in even more on the X-Cowboy.
"I told you. I'm doing what I want to do. And no matter what you do, you can't stop me! There's nothing useless about that! Nothing uncool!" She draws her fists up, as the light flares brighter. She grins, despite her bruises. "Now, open your eyes and watch this! VENDETTA RIDE!"
And then Rikoru becomesa blur of fists. The light around her flares outwards, and each punch is accompanied by another of those loud gunshots, as if she were emptying her entire revolver into the X-Chara - several times over. Each blow is backed by the strength of her magic - and more importantly, by Rikoru's burning ambition to save the world and her unwillingness to listen to anyone trying to put her down. The best way to be a cowgirl is by example.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Rikoru Koyou has used Vendetta Ride on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Imashime no Kaze, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Trap applied to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Cure Peace's Precure Power Bolt, taking 8 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
"That's not a duel at all!!" Nadeshiko shouts back, and then is immediately pelted by tons of bullets. And Nadeshiko...dances. You would think a barking crazy woman would have trouble with that, but she makes it look easy, graceful. A barrage of shots, and she finds her footing, one, two, a glide, a whirl; she positions the shaft to ricochet one bullet and then glides through the swarm, easy as you please...but ending up actually quite a few steps away from its origin.
The way she's breathing says maybe that wasn't as easy as she made it look, either, even if she ends with an elegant flourish of her spear. But then she hears Japanese Cherry Blossom speaking, and she can't help but let her lips curl up in a nasty little grin. "That's right! Now lemme show you /my/ trick, cowpoke!"
Nadeshiko does not have lots of bullets to shoot. She just has one naginata. But she sets her stance, and Temari flutters around her head, eyes gleaming maliciously. This time, when she throws it, her whole spirit is into it, and there's a dull CRACK of air as the spear leaves her hand, rushes toward the chara, and hopefully skewers its hat, which by the laws of cowboys, pins the X-Cowboy to the nearest wall!
"Hit it now!" Nadeshiko shouts.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Torpedo on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Japanese Cherry Blossom's Finisher, Cherry Blossom Golden Sunset, taking 86 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi fails to dodge Rikoru Koyou's Finisher, Vendetta Ride, taking 65 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi perfectly braces Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Finisher, Naginata Torpedo, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Block ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
The X-Chara's eyes return to a normal color as it catches its breath from shooting that bullet barrage, actually taking a second, for the first time since it was "born", to reload its two pistols. This leaves it open to the powers of wind and lightning, which cause it to scream out in its tiny, annoying gremlin voice, but only represent the entrée in a buffet of pain!
Sakura is first, with her heartfelt speech, to unleash the full brunt of her magic power in the X-Chara's direction. The purifying waves of gold wash over the black creature, soothing it and washing away the X-Energy. Then, Rikoru pummels it with light, the setting sun, and a plucky, inspiring never-say-die attitude. Even though he's still unconscious, those words must have reached Riku's heart.
Nadeshiko is next to send forth the pain train, but for this one, the X-Chara manages to snap out of its increasing serenity to block the naginata with... its hat! It's actually incredibly resilient for tiny felt made out of bad feelings, but she manages to skewer it in half... while missing the X-Chara entirely.
However, the dark sprite picks up the two halves of its hat, looking at them in disbelief. Dropping them (they promptly vanish), it grits its teeth and manifests... a potted cactus! It's waved around, sending flying a volley of annoying, pickly cactus quills!
...To tell the truth, it's more annoying than anything else. It's obviously on the ropes. Will the Precures be able to finish this? To do pull off, with sheer cheer and unbeatable teamwork, what they thought could have been impossible in Amulet Heart's absence?
From the tree, Ikuto's cat ears (apparently this is now a thing, yes!) perk up as he leans in, suddenly looking very interested.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Cactus Quills on Rikoru Koyou. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Cactus Quills on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Cactus Quills on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Cactus Quills on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Cactus Quills on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has used Cactus Quills on Japanese Cherry Blossom. COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Cactus Quills, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Cure Beauty! COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Cactus Quills, taking 5 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom's counterattack, Blossom Burst, partially gets through, doing 9 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly braces Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Cactus Quills, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Cure Peace!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
The flurry of cactus quills is met with a thin block of ice which juts out from the ground. It shatters, and some of them still graze Beauty and the look in her eyes shows that she's perturbed.. but she's focused as well on what they have to do, given Nadeshiko's valuable information on how to end this..
Moving to stand beside Cure Peace..
Reika places her smile pact against her chest, it begins to glow, as a pinwheel starburst of gleaming motes of cerulean light. An azure field, framed by drifting snow forms around her. She spreads her arms out, as a warm, inviting gesture which belies the chill background, Pretty Cure!
She turns about, her arms moving as a dancer's might, the snow responding to wherever she moved, the wind following suit. Finally stopping, there's a coruscating globe of sky-blue light in her hand. Jutting one hand out, she draws an X, Beauty...] She juts a hand downward into a | between the X which grows outward forming a sublime masterpiece of transparent fractals, a snowflake. ...Blizzard!
The snowflake dissolves into a storm of sparkling snow, and ice that flows outwards into a storm over a wide area.
Joining her efforts with Cure Peace, it becomes a storm of raw purifying power, in the form of coruscating snow and lightning.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty has started a combo targeting Ikuto Tsukiyomi!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly counters Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Cactus Quills, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Fuu Hououji! COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Basic Archery, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Ikuto Tsukiyomi! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki perfectly dodges Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Cactus Quills, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou fails to dodge Ikuto Tsukiyomi's Cactus Quills, taking 9 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Cure Peace ahs!? and raises her arms and weathers the quills, ahh...owwww, this is painful!... :(
She shakes it off, however, as Cure Beauty joins her side. "R..Right--ready!" she says, she's filled with determinination now! it seems. Where did that come from!? He friend of course.
The compact glows and activates, a spark of electricity!
She puts her hand to the sky, in a peace sign, dramatically and calls out! "Pretty Cure!...."
Then a bolt of lightning shoots down from the sky, striking it as if she was some sort of lighting rod!
"Waugh! O.O!"
It's just a short moment of shock, but it's very obvious.
She then begins to spin, fingers charged with electricity. "PEACE...." and then she stops, jumping out towards the X-Chara unleashing the jet of powerful electricty which joins in with Reika's snow attack at the same time. "THUNDER!"
COMBAT: Cure Peace has joined the combo started by Cure Beauty!
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru is panting by the end of her onslaught, and barely able to move. Even these feeble, annoying cactus quills are too much for her to dodge. She tries - but it's clearly nothing but trying, and she is sent to the ground by the impact of the quills. Rokorus rolls to a halt, gasping. She briefly lies there...but it is only a second before she's forcing herself to her feet again, still grinning. "Is that all you got? Is that it?" She's shaking on her feet, but that won't stop her bravado.
"You think...you think that's what it takes to take down a cowgirl?" Rikoru laughs weakly...and then throws her head back and lets out a loud, high war whoop. It warbles high and low, lasting far longer than it really should. It's as if she doesn't have to breathe in any more, despite the fact that she was panting from exhaustion just a second ago. When it finally ends, she pumps a fist in the air. "ALL RIGHT! Now y'all just follow my lead!"
COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has used Rebel Yell on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Rikoru Koyou has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Beauty accepts Rikoru Koyou's Rebel Yell, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Surge applied to Cure Beauty!
COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Cure Beauty and Cure Peace have used Combo: Smile Pretty Cure Power Combination!, composed of Beauty Blizzard and Peace Thunder, on Ikuto Tsukiyomi. COMBAT: Cure Beauty has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Cacti do not work that way, Fuu thinks, even as she reflexively pulls another arrow out, draws it back, and lets it fly; it's less effective than it was when she tried doing this to the wave of materialized emotion, and a bunch of needles manage to sink into her - including some that wind up in VERY painful places. The two Pretty Cures, she notices, don't seem to be much better off, although they're still doing their best -
And then the Wind Knight remembers what Tadase said about needing to purify the 'spirit'. She shifts her bow to her right hand, raising her left arm with the jewel on her glove facing forward, and calls out once more ...
"Iyashi no Kaze!!"
The Winds of Healing blow around her once again, dislodging needles and soothing the pain of those injuries, and then reach out for Cure Peace and Cure Beauty, soothing their injuries as well. It's not a full healing effect, but if the X-Chara keeps fighting, this'll help them stay in the fight longer as well. But the Healing Winds have one more target this time ...
... namely, the X-Chara itself. In its case - or should that be "his" case? - Fuu is focusing less on 'healing injuries' and more on 'soothe and purify,' to the best extent of her magic to account for such a thing; slowly, her left arm comes down as she focuses more of her attention on the X-Chara.
She's got nothing against healing the little cowboy-sprite's injuries - the point of this was never to destroy it, after all - but she doesn't want to let it get back to hurting the rest of us.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Fuu Hououji. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Cure Beauty. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared! COMBAT: Cure Beauty accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Cure Beauty's debuffs are cleared! COMBAT: Cure Peace accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Cure Peace's debuffs are cleared!
<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Japanese Cherry Blossom still has strength left, after that attack. She holds out her hand again and creates a glowing flower; it pulses. The needles get partially through, stabbing at her hand. But the blossom also explodes outward, throwing petals at the little cowboy for an equal exchange, more or less. She lowers her hand a moment later, now looking tired, and rubbing at that sore spot. It's up to the cures now... it looks like... but she can possibly still fight if she must. So she gets ready.
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi accepts Cure Beauty and Cure Peace's Finisher, Combo: Smile Pretty Cure Power Combination!, taking 173 Fatigue damage! Ikuto Tsukiyomi is unable to keep fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko's eyes shrink to pinpoints as her spear neatly bisects the X-Chara's hat but /totally fails to actually hurt/ the X-Chara itself, and then she opens her mouth to say something MOST UNKIND.
But it never gets out beyond a few syllables because it uses 1,000 Needles. Nadeshiko's toes curl in her shoes, and she - glides. Again, but even smoother this time. She feels it; despite the rampage of needles coming at her, she glides from heel to toe, whirling effortlessly through the mass. She yields ground again, but it's not like she can do much more with the power coming down on that thing, and...
The needles stop. Nadeshiko is breathing no harder than she was before as the lightning and ice come down on the X-Chara. Did that do it, she wonders...'cuz if not...
She looks up to Temari, who looks back out of the corner of slitted eyes. To anyone else, it just looks like she's peering off at nothing out of the corner of her eye for some reason.
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
A purifying wind washes down on all assembled, vanishing those annoying quills, not to mention the cactus the X-Chara was holding. This actually seems to soothe it further, leaving it wide open to the Pretty Cures' mighty, dramatic storm! It flies around like a ragdoll, the joint powers of snow and electricity combining into pure magic, channeling their good feelings into calming the storm in the young boy's heart once and for all. This might not be what the Smile Precures would call an ultra happy ending... but it comes very, very close.
"Imposs... ible..." the floating tiny cowboy blurts out, weakly, as it curls up into foetal position. The Red X on its head, finally, cracks in two... and dissolves away. The bescarfed creature's sadistic grin is replaced by a serene smile, as the two halves of the X-Egg appear and close down upon it. The pitch-black layer covering it vanishes away, leaving only pristine white and a touch of radiant gold.
The egg hovers to the ground, where it lands gently. This is it. The Guardians and their friends have accomplished a small miracle, saving one young boy's dream--
A dark figure strides right past the fallen Tadase, moving too fast for anyone to intercept. A blink of an eye later, and Ikuto is standing where the egg used to be, with the small object in hand. For those who did catch a glimpse of him, the addition of black cat's ears and a long, swishing tail to his frame might come as a surprise. To the rest, it should be strange that such a person is there at all.
He stares at the Heart's Egg intently, much like a Shakesperian character holding a skull. He casts only the barest of glances at the assembled magical girls, as his fingers tighten...
Wait. Is he trying to break it?
COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi transforms into Chara Change! COMBAT: Ikuto Tsukiyomi has fully healed himself.
<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"Ah." Cherry Blossom sees the young man drop down. She... didn't notice the ears, before. But she did see him. "You-- who are you?" she asks. Though she guesses... she could look him up, back at school, but, she doesn't want to let on that she goes there or anything.
So she faces him, but what is he trying to do to that egg? "No, don't!"
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Inspiration comes from Rikoru and Fuu. Rikoru's exuberance reminds Reika very much of Akane, causing her smile to widen in the midst of her dance. At the same time, Fuu's breeze comes, washing away her physical fatigue. Cure Beauty imagines the combination as a lovely mirror reflecting everyone's efforts, and such gives her strength while combining her efforts with Cure Peace.
The purified X-Egg becomes a heart's egg, representing the boy's dreams, and her smile widens a touch. She doesn't know what it is, but the symbolism isn't entirely lost on her. "We did it, everyone." Which is when.. a dark figure grasps the egg in its palm.
Cure Beauty isn't startled, as it's hard to break that unshakeable calm. Cure Beauty doesn't wait for exposition or explanation. Cure Beauty acts, despite fatigue. Rushing forward with an arm guarding in front of her. What results is a calm attack in an attempt to grasp the egg and wrest it from the figure with her hands, while at the same time kneeing upwards into his chest.
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko, however, knows the score. And when she flourishes her hands again threateningly, her naginata is back there with a *pop*, because of magic. Temari has one too, for murdering the cat fairy with, presumably. "There you are you...thieving cat!" she roars out, and her tone is harsh and gutteral at its darkest. "PUT THAT DOWN! That's not your dream to touch!!"
Nadeshiko has roughly zero self-control in this state, so she's immediately dashing at Ikuto with full intent to take a swing at him. She is confident she can avoid the egg. If she can force him to drop it...it should be ok! Heart eggs float! Usually!
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
The Wind Knight lowers her arm the rest of the way as the X-Chara reverts to its - sorry, *his* - proper form and the eggshell closes up around it ..
Only to be picked up by a catboy. Fuu isn't nearly fast enough to get in Naginata-shiko's way, nor would she really WANT to in this case - but she's ready with her wind magic if the egg gets dropped ... and she can still speak up. "That egg belongs to the young boy over on the bench, if I'm not mistaken. And if you shatter it to spite us, I'm reasonably sure you won't walk away from doing so. Or jump. Or escape by any other means."
Of course, Nadeshiko may deck Ikuto before Fuu can finish SAYING all of that. As long as she doesn't deafen him, though ...
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed. Cure Peace is ready to victory pose! She's been practicing in the mirror for months, one, two, three spin! VIC----
"Waughghghg! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" she calls out the strange boy who's now squeezing the item they worked so hard to save! "Put it down! That's important!" she insists frantically!
Another person in the fray would just trip Beauty up, she figures.
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Rikoru pumps her fist again as the X-Chara becomes an egg once more. She grins...until Ikuto shows up. Then her grin fades as fast as it came, replaced by a scowl. She may be weak now, and barely able to stand...but she's /never/ put up with bullies. Rikoru reaches up to touch her hatbrim for luck. Unlike some of the others, however, she doesn't grab for the egg after that.
No, Rikoru is far more in Nadeshiko's corner here. She doesn't bother with nearly as many words, though. Too busy gasping for breath as she takes a step toward him - thankfully, she was very close to start with - and hauls off to try and punch him in the face.
<Pose Tracker> Ikuto Tsukiyomi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
Ikuto is asked who he is, and while he looks at Japanese Cherry Blossom as she asks the question (one of his ears even turns in her direction), he responds only with total silence. The several pleas not to break the egg doesn't directly go answered either, but some of the girls decide to go for a more direct approach.
He actually manages to weave out of the way of most direct blows, with catlike (would you believe that!) agility and grace, but three on one is a bit much. Some solid blows land, and the egg slips out of his grasp, falling into the hands of whoever will catch it... With an annoyed "tsk", he takes a few steps back from the fray, and leaps away, back into another nearby tree, diving into the nearby foliage too fast for the exhausted girls to realistically catch up on. At least this particular crisis has been averted!
The Heart's Egg, finally, floats out of reach, and back into the boy's chest. Color returns to his eyes, and finally, he stirs. "What was I..." he speaks out loud, seeming to regain his senses though not still entirely there. He's blurting out his immediate thoughts to whoever will come close enough to hear them, for instance. "I just had a nightmare. I was about to give up my dream, but then these people came and saved me. And there was a cowgirl! A real cowgirl!" He gets up, making goofy fingergun motions before pushing his stetson up. "I want to be as cool as her when I grow up." He grins.
<Pose Tracker> Rikoru Koyou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"Yeah...yeah, you run away, jerk." Rikoru finally sags as Ikuto makes his escape. Her outfit shimmers, then fades back to her school uniform as she slumps against a tree. "Next time I see that guy, he is /so/ going down..." She definitely isn't the one to catch the egg. She glances over at the kid once he gets better, though, then grins, reaching into her pocket.
"Hey, kid. You like cowboys, huh?" She pulls out a flier that she'd stuffed in her pocket before eating her taco before. (It totally happened!) "Come to Chaspala, I'll make you a real cowboy's meal." She holds the flyer for her family's restaurant out at him.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Beauty [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Beauty's priority wasn't Ikuto, it was the egg, so as Ikuto dodges most of her strikes, she ceases her assault the moment he stops. As it returns to the boy, and he wakes up, Beauty can't help but smile as he relays his dreams to Rikoru. However she puzzles it over in her head that Rikoru is also plugging a restaurant. Now she suddenly thinks of Rikoru as even /more/ like Akane, given her family's Okonomiyaki shop. Keeping the name in her head, she considers making it a point to eat there at some point in the future.
Turning suddenly, her azure tresses drifting in the breeze, she smiles at Yayoi, "You did so well, Peace-san."
And then she just walks away, not detransforming until she's out of sight of everyone.
.....and then she returns to the park to put up the flyers, as if nothing had ever happened. The sister school tutoring sessions for finals had to be advertised!
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
The Magic Knight of Wind smiles at the young boy, "That's good to hear!" she says. Without transforming back.
.... eh, it's probably just cosplay. Her bow and quiver were already gone, and she didn't bother pulling her sword out to threaten the catboy with. She bows politely and heads out ... waiting until she's out of view to revert to civilian form, and moving quickly once she reaches the street. She really DOES need to hurry now, but she won't necessarily be 'late' in a manner to worry her father.
She may need to look up one of her kouhai from the archery club later, though.
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko swings one, two, three, four, screaming violent-sounding growls in time with her flailing; and it's just about enough to force Ikuto out, combined with a little help. She doesn't drop the naginata so much as it vanishes in a puff of sparkles as she snaps a hand out and nimbly catches that egg. She manages it, somehow; magical grace or merely normal skill, who can say. Still; it picks itself up to fly back to its master, and while the others gather 'round to make sure he's alright, Nadeshiko spends a moment to look after that thieving cat's retreat.
"IKUTO TSUKIYOMI!" she roars after him. "GET BACK HERE, YOU THIEVING CAT!!"
He presumably does not.
