2014-09-23 - Feng Shui 5

Title: Feng Shui 5
Summary: A peaceful day at the Hikawa Shrine is interrupted by an Orphan attack. Can the shrine be protected?
Who: Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Neptune, Prism Keeper Red, Prism Keeper Orange, Eri Shimanouchi, Runealy Waldia, Mai Tokiha, La Sirene du Nord, Scarlet Rune Maiden, Cute Wolf Tsukiko, President, Jadeite GM: Juri Arisugawa
Where: Hikawa Shrine
OOC - IC Date: 18 March 2014 - 09/23/2014

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Hikawa Shrine is lovely at the end of winter. It's the razor edge of spring, the season a word on the tip of time's tongue, and despite the stuttering of the occasional lovely day the weather cannot seem to spit it out.

No flowers have blossomed quite yet -- they're oddly late this year, all over Tokyo, buds rather than blooms -- but the austere tranquility of a beautifully kept Shinto shrine is starkly splendid even beneath a dull gray, overcast sky. Every surface glows with age, and with care.

The courtyard is loud with visitors, mostly schoolchildren buying good luck charms for the new season. They are a garden all on their own, at least a dozen different school's uniforms represented, from Ohtori teal, Juuban blue and Infinity red to Hokuo white, Mizusawa yellow, Kaisei green or Azabu orange. The shrine's head priest, an old man tiny in stature but outsized in presence, bustles to and fro in blue hakama, reveling in the attention, hawking charms at the top of his lungs while cheerfully and sincerely complimenting every pair of bright eyes or sunny smile that he sees. He gives blessings on demand, snapping and swishing his bamboo onusa with enthusiastic faith.

There are other things to do -- many students (and other visitors) take a quiet moment to kneel and pray in the haiden, offer donations (and wishes) to the beautifully carved box, or simply enjoy the scenery.

COMBAT: Akemi Tsukiyama has fully healed herself.

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

Rune is among those contributing Ohtori teal to the mix at the shrine. While she has visited a few of Tokyo's shrines before, it has almost never been with both a clear head and heart... so buying charms from one is a new idea to her; is it something just little kids are supposed to do? Or is it for all ages?

Visibly curious about the head priest's work, Runealy keeps a little distance while she watches. Her gaze occasionally wanders about, hoping to see whether any familiar faces are around. Despite being confused by the whole situation, she looks to be in a good mood... it's a chance to learn a little more about local culture, which has been very interesting so far.

COMBAT: Mei Akatsuki has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Reiko Touyama has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Among the Juuban blue is Ikiko, present to say her own prayers for the coming season and to get a feel for the strength of luck in the charms. Usually there's nothing special beyond the feelings of good wishes, but you never know.

As she looks across the crowd, she recognizes a familiar face. "Hi Rune!" she calls out, waving and heading in the direction of her friend. "Glad to see you! How are you doing today?"

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

There's also a glimpse of Ohtori mustard to be seen, offset with a flash of bright red. Wrapping her crimson scarf against the chill from that dreadful sky, Mai Tokiha makes her way up to the shrine with a friend by her side. She's feeling a bit better than she has for a few days - though frustration is a meager improvement from melancholy.

"...and unfortunately, I wrote the Science exam before everything happened, so that was a wash regardless. Sugiura-sensei was merciless, though - I'm not sure getting the chance to write late was a help or not." She raises a hand to massage her temple for a moment, then rummages in her pocket for a handful of change. More than she'd normally donate at the temple, honestly...but she could really use the luck right now. "At least it's done - which means I can catch up on everything else I've been neglecting. That's for another day, though. Today is praying for mercy in the semester to come - right, Eri-chan?"

The line for donations is a bit long, so there's time to chat and take in the sights. Even if the flowers are nowhere near blooming, it's at least a nice peaceful location...

<Pose Tracker> Akemi Tsukiyama [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

There have been Rune Maidens who were mikos. This much Akemi knows, if not for certain.

Akemi is not a miko. Her auntie, the former Rune Maiden, was close friends with the miko of their little town, often using her charms to help seal off areas so that she and Akemi could rest in peace. The wards just became part of the scenery after a while, part of hermit life on that forested ancient hill among the foothills and mountains...

Buying a good luck fortune, Akemi holds onto it, almost misty-eyed, feeling nostalgic. What is her auntie doing now, all alone?

("You could have used that good luck charm for the math finals. You barely missed getting a C.") Guma's voice sounds off in Akemi's head, souring the moment.

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

Rune had already been in a decent mood, but seeing Ikiko quickly improves it and the wave is met in kind. "I'm okay. Got through exams, at least." Barely. Her grades were nowhere near impressive. "So I came by here to see what this was all about! Ah... do you know much about it, by chance?"

<Pose Tracker> Reiko Touyama [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Reiko Touyama was also here amongst the garden of students that'd gathered to obtain charms. She was going to buy two. One for her, and the other- a gift. But regardless, she'd arrived all the same, and wow was there a lot a lot of people here. It was a bit overwhelming for Reiko, she didn't like huge, huuuuge groups like this. Regardless, all the same- she's commited to her task and she will see it through. Besides. She has a friend! Perched on her shoulder is a pleasent little red bird- Roy- who kind of looks overwhelmed too, Roy is tagging along because he wishes to know more about the purpose of these charms, perhaps. Or maybe Reiko made him come simply not come alone!

Sbe looks over to see Ikiko, and Rune. Both are girls she knows so she walks over and smiles. "Hello Ikiko! and Rune!" she says with a grin. "Are you here to get new Charms for the season too? Or something else?" she asks with wide eyes.

"Hey uhm. Have any of you. Seen Mei? I was supposed to be meeting her here. There's kind of a lot more people than I thought!" she says, though, primarily at Ikiko--who knows she knows Mei.

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

It's only fitting that the Kouhai be beside the Senpai, and so Ohtori poofy teal and white stood in solidarity with mustard, commiserating over exams. After everything Mai had been through, she felt that it was a better subject to be frustrated over than most.

"You'll do well at one of Sugiura-sensei's make up sessions at least. I bet you'll cook circles around her and her goofy cape!" Repeating the gesture, she found that she had a pitiful amount of change in her pocket, but she fully intended to contribute as well. "I think it'll take more than prayers for the next semester to have mercy on me though. I'll need the best luck charm this shrine has!" Her face might as well have had blue wavy lines of complete misery, as she waited beside her in the donation line.

Idly she looked around at the flowers, questioning inwardly why they were so late to bloom this year. She shakes off such thoughts... maybe she should take her friend's advice and plant some snapdragons soon, once she had time.

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Nori Ankou is knocking about with her book bag on her back; she has, however, put on a long dark peacoat over her terrifyingly teal togs d'scholarship.

She has gotten a charm and is toying with it idly, not looking much at her surroundings. Perhaps it's residual exam exhaustion.

<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

It's a beautiful night...a night of harmony between states, neither one nor the other but a joining of both alongside. Like the winter and the spring, the buds between the branches and the blooms, nature's serenity balances against the bustling busyness of the Shrine.

Perhaps there were once shrines where money was far from the thoughts and prayers of the holy people that lived there. If there are any now, then the Hikawa is not one of them. Nights like this are necessary to its survival. Her grandfather is clearly in his element, his spirits even higher than usual. Even Rei makes a point of being particularly friendly when things are so busy.

This year, that friendliness has been just sliiiiightly more difficult to maintain than usual. She doesn't show much sign, ensuring that her facial muscles stay relaxed, but every once in awhile her eye gives a fluttering twitch.

In all the murmuring bustling sounds of the crowd, a loud, cheerful, annoying laugh drills right into her head and gives it a sharp ache. Flinching a little, Rei's smile freezes for a moment. She recovers, and warmly hands a charm to a tiny little girl in a coat, taking the money from her clumsy little grip.

/U~sa~giiii/

She doesn't turn around at first. She doesn't dare. She doesn't dare turn around and risk seeing Usagi doing some /incredibly irritating thing/ that might set Rei off. Nope. Not before taking a deep breath...she does just that. Nothing less than a loud crash is going to get her spinning around.

Smooting her hakama, eye jittering a little, Rei turns and smiles warmly to Makoto. "Thank you so much for offering to help tonight, Makoto-chan..we're always a little short-handed this time of year."

Turning her gaze, eye tic'ing, her smile gets sliiightly more forced. "You too, Usagi-chan. I'm glad that you seem to be enjoying yourself."

The stress leaves her face, and she leans to the side to see the last of the group. "And you of course, Minako-chan. I'm sure that when this is over, my grandfather will thank you all again until he's knocked himself out."

Glancing down and smiling still, Rei tugs on sleeve. "This is the first time that I've had friends help out on a night like this. It's wonderful, thank you all again."

<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Ikiko nods; most of her grades were simply okay. "New good-luck charms for a new season," she explains to Rune. In a quieter voice she adds "Usually there's no real power in them beyond giving yourself a sense of hope, but nothing wrong with that."

She cuts her explaination short as she spots Reiko walking over -- save the magic-related conversations for later, when it's just magic-users around. "Hi Reiko! At this point we're just watching," she smiles, then shakes her head. "Haven't seen Mei yet, but I'll keep an eye out for her."

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Haha, no problem!" Makoto answers Rei, with a bright, warm smile and an easy laugh as she brings up a fresh box of charms to replace what's nearly run out. She's not much of a saleswoman, but on a day like this, she hardly needs to be - an extra pair of hands and a willing volunteer to fetch and carry, accept money from customers, or herd people is helpful enough, and all of these are things that Mako is willing and able to do.

She's also been keeping an eye out for Usagi, in the hopes of staving off any catastrophic crashes before they happen. With things this busy, though, that may not be enough.

"You're always working so hard," Makoto adds to Rei; "the least we can do is help out when you need us."

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

"Ohhh," Rune lets out that noise of new understanding as Ikiko and Reiko explain what's going on. "I guess I'm here to get one now, at least! Was never one to expect to get lucky in anything, but you don't turn it down if it happens. So, sure. I'll get a charm!" She can be heard whisper-repeating a few things, like 'no real power... nothing wrong with that.'

Then to Reiko, "Sorry, I wouldn't know even if I had seen her. Who's Mei? Or what does she look like? Maybe then I'd know?"

<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

This is difficult. This is difficult. THIS IS DIFFICULT.

Usagi knew shrine maidens lived under a lot of pressure, what with protecting Japan from various devil mens, but she never expected the sheer stress of--well. Usagi is not cut out for retail work. Not even divine retail work.

She is cut out for helping Rei. Every time she stumbles, every time she has no idea how to answer a question, she thinks with burning intensity of her friend's ability to overcome this--and is inspired! After internally wailing, of course. Failure, internal wailing, inspiration.

There is also the matter of Minako Aino--even if Usagi didn't know her true identity, she'd want to impress her. If there hadn't been similar situations with the other sailor soldiers, the level of immediate attraction Usagi felt for the Infinity student would have been a little weird. But it all makes sense! She's the princess! A really, really, really cool princess that Usagi must impress. Selling charms well will let Minako know that Usagi is a dependable magical guardian. This makes sense, because charms guard people. This is all fate.

The terror of responsibility comes with the elation of small victories.

"HA HA HA," Usagi bellows, laughing for effect as two girls from a lower Juuban grade walk off with their purchases. "Twenty-charm selling chain... achieved!" She spins around and wiggles her fingers at Rei affectionate dismissal. "Don't worry! After today's Rei-chan levels of hard work and maidenly beauty, I feel strong enough to come back and help next time! And after that, too! Forever."

The last bit comes out in a chirp. Can chirps sound threatening?

<Pose Tracker> Mei Akatsuki [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Mei is not known for showing up on time. Mei is also not known for patience. Combine those two together, add a crowd of students looking to buy good luck charms, and you have one tiny, irritated Jubaanite who has yet to get her hands on what she came to the shrine for. Boo.

The ten-year-old currently stands at the back of one line, idly playing some Hot New Game on her cell. She glances back up at the amount of people ahead of her every minute or so, scowls when she is not magically at the head of the line, and looks back down to see that her Flappy Bird has run into a pipe during the half-second of inattention. It's a vicious cycle, truly.

Wait...was she supposed to meet someone here?

Mei blinks as she lazily tries to recall if she'd made plans. But, to tell the truth, their apartment had been mercifully quiet this morning, so she'd drifted back to sleep after her initial alarm. Could she have had a text conversation that she forgot about after settling in for sleep, round two?

Nah, probably not. Besides, if she left to look for people now, she'd lose her place in line!!

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Kaioh [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Good luck charms, and prayers for the next season of school. Michiru Kaioh was not altogether certain that she needed them.

If she were to pray, it would be for roses to blossom again. But there was a beauty here as well - a certain kindness within the people here. There was a hope and a beauty to the grounds at this time.

And that was part of why Michiru had come. She still wore her school uniform, her maroon blazer, and striped green skirt and bow - socks and flats to round out the ensemble. It was a bit loud for her overall, but she had found a little place of peace - upon the fringes of the courtyard, taking quite an interest in one of the charms that someone had hung from the branches of the tree.

A moment further, and Michiru smiles to herself, her eyes hooding as she draws them low.

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

Clink. Clink clink clink. A fistful of change rattles its way through the bars of the donation box, and Mai does a quick prayer. Please, please let this be a better semester. And let Takumi's luck improve too...

Prayer out of the way, she gives Eri a sheepish grin. "I've heard legends of those makeup sessions...if it goes well, maybe I can just ask to do those instead of the history tests. It'd probably go better - that said, I think I could use a good luck charm too. Shall we?" It's not too far to where the charms are sold - and with care, one can even dodge the cheerful old shrine-keeper. Not that the compliments aren't nice, but...

...there's something completely unexpected. Two somethings, actually - even before reaching the counter, Mai blurts out her thoughts loudly enough that the subjects of her comment should have no trouble hearing. "Tsukino-san? Kino-san? I didn't know you were shrine maidens..."

COMBAT: Michiru Kaioh has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Minako Aino [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"It's no problem, no problem!" Minako says, waving a hand consolingly. "I've always wanted to be a real shrine maiden!"

Okay, probably not really a /real/ maiden, but selling charms and wearing a hakama certainly put her at least halfway there, right?

Right?!

"Here - you - go!" Minako says cheerily, emphasizing each syllablee. She leans down to give a little girl wearing an Ohtori elementary school uniform one of the shrine's charms. So far she hadn't managed to screw up too badly.

"/Twenty/?" she asks, turning her gaze towards Usagi. Minako had only sold fifteen. Deep within the heart of the girl with the red ribbon, a fire burns deeply -- the fire of competition! Obviously she needed to sell more, stat! Haruka Tenoh has arrived.

<Pose Tracker> Reiko Touyama [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Reiko Touyama sighs loooongily at Runealy and Ikiko. "No, it's fine she probably overslept. Or forgot. I bet she wasn't even paying attention when she was texting me." she says softly. So she in fact, does this again, tugging out her phone with the koi charms attached to it. She taps at the screen and a text kind of pops up on the upper half of Mei's screen, probably just as the bird needs to fly up into there to avoid pipes and being really annoying.

> Reikoi: Mei, where are you. I'm at the Shrinnnnne.

She sighs and gives Roy a knowing sly smirk and Roy kind of rolls his eyes, but otherwise keeps silent in a group this large.

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

A lovely afternoon, indeed.

One that is shattered into porcelain shards by a scream of terror, this perfect, glossy moment so broken that it can never be regained. The boy in question is a Hokuo high school student, who was unfortunate enough to be standing outside the stout honden fence, trying to sneak a peek onto sacred ground.

It quickly becomes obvious what alarmed him so, as the shadows cast by the setting sun animate with minds of their own, writhing like snakes. The acrid, metallic smell of toxin fills the air.

Faint wisps of gas are rising off of one of the stone lanterns that beautifully illuminates a shrine pond.

Then the shadows congeal into the source of this burning acid: twin creatures, one crimson and one azure, with wrong-jointed wriggling limbs that number twenty between them. Their fangs are as long as golf clubs, with sticky, hairy backing the precise color of an aging professor's beard --

-- until motes of red light ignite at the tip of every single one, and they begin to move in all directions, uncountable eyestalks.

Upon the approximation of their foreheads, at the top of their skulls, are long, sharp horns; and in between these, a sigil engraved upon their thick carapaces in harsh red light, light that occasionally pulses as though it, too, were alive.

A stampede of students start to clear the area.

There's a blue-and-white blur, and then a second scream, this one a piercing "KIAI!"

PSEUDO- COMBAT: Grandpa Hino has used Broom Beatdown on Juri Arisugawa. PSEUDO- COMBAT: Grandpa Hino has finished attacking. PSEUDO- COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly counters Grandpa Hino's Broom Beatdown, taking 1 Fatigue damage! PSEUDO- COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Bulbous Ten-Legged Anti-Broom Technique, partially gets through, doing 50 Fatigue damage to Grandpa Hino! Grandpa Hino is unable to continue fighting!

It all happened so quickly that it's difficult to follow, but the results speak for themselves -- tiny wrinkly bald loving Grandpa is swatted out of his flying leap, in midair, by the crimson beast's legs. He lands hard, bouncing across the courtyard to impact a supposedly three hundred year old tree, then slides down it to the grass with all the slow motion of a rock tumbling through molasses.

He does not rise, though he is heard to mumble, his last gasp before fading to the sweet embrace of unconsciousness, "...evil, begone..."

COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 14 opponents!
COMBAT: Reiko Touyama transforms into Prism Keeper Orange!
COMBAT: Runealy Waldia transforms into Princess Runealy!
COMBAT: Akemi Tsukiyama transforms into Scarlet Rune Maiden!
COMBAT: Mei Akatsuki transforms into Prism Keeper Red!
COMBAT: Ikiko Hisakata transforms into Cute Wolf Tsukiko!
COMBAT: Nori Ankou transforms into La Sirene du Nord!

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Clink. Clink. The amount of change that follows from her companion was much smaller. Her prayer though, was a bit longer. For what? It was an extremely long moment of silence where her mind frantically ran over the most important points of what to pray for. She almost forgets to pray that this semester treat her more kindly than the last.

When she turns to Mai again, all that somberness from the moment of silence has fled, a mask of cheer upon her expression, "Luc~ky~! I'm pretty sure I'd do even worse on one of her make ups." She follows her over to where the good luck charms are sold, having kept just enough... well she definitely wouldn't be able to afford the 'best' charm they had here. Fortunately, Eri didn't have the misfortune of meeting the aging shrine keeper.

Following Mai's gaze, she smiled as her eyes settled upon her classmate. She didn't exactly know her well, except in passing, but she lived at this shrine. It felt right to greet her at least, "Oh hey Hino-san, how are you doing?" Her presence was expected, but the others took her aback, "Mako-chan! Mina-chan! What are you two doing here?" She waves towards the almost invincible bunny, "Hey Tsukino-san!" Breaking from the line, she whispered conspiratorially to Minako and Makoto, "I don't suppose either of you could offer a discount on those charms?"

The commotion starts, as she is introduced to the cheerful shrine keeper after all, attacking... well, now he's down. "Someone should help him!" Her eyes widen in dismay, as she looks fretfully towards the others, Mai in particular. She wasn't certain if she was up for a fight so soon, but then again, Mai might very much want something to vent her frustration on. "Mai-chan. Are you..." She wanted to tell her it was alright for her to just go, to not take part, but she doesn't finish them, not wanting to insult her pride and protective spirit.

Torn by these feelings, she makes no theatrical display in her flight, heading for one of the shrine's flanks to gird herself for battle.

When she emerges her vine-scourge flickers forward, attempting to find a gap within the wriggling limbs and eyestalks to lash the creature with poisonous thorns. "All of the students are here today to pray for better luck in the new semester! Are you really so petty as to ruin that before it even begins!?" It's unlikely that the many-limbed and eyed monster would answer her, but she was upset, frustrated by that, and hoping to serve as some sort of distraction away from the fleeing students and fallen Hino.

COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi transforms into Puella Magi Eri!
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Venomous Lash on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Usagi nods eagerly at Minako. "Twenty!" She beams, thinking: I bet Minako-hime (Usagi has not worked up the nerve to call her this anywhere other than internal monologue, but it makes her thought-giggle) is feeling really confident in her loyal knight!

She swoons, hand on her cheek and almost dangerously heedless of balance. Who knew she actually would turn out to be a fabulous lady knight one day?

The blonde girl recovers with a jolt of purpose. Selling more for added confidence sounds like a good idea. During an appraisal of the crowd, her twintails go flying as she doubletakes. With a sudden glow in her expression, she bounces and waves with a reaching arm in an attempt to catch Michiru's attention through the crowd. "Michiru-senpaaai! Hiii!"

She does have to take breaths on occasion, and it is during one of these that her enthusiasm is pierced by the utterance of her name in a most stern manner. To be fair, anything other than Firstname-chan starts feeling a little stern for her. Usagi turns quickly, eyes wide--and wider still when she sees who it is. "Mai-chan?! Um--"

A scream. Usagi is attuned to this now. Through countless nights, she has learned too closely of the depth of the pain behind noises like this. "Um--sorry, I have to--"

Another scream: Usagi's own, dropping her charms to cover her mouth as Grandpa Hino goes flying. Her eyes dart from him, to the viciousness that did this, to her fellow pretty soldiers, and then finally to Mai and Eri. She can't even think of an excuse. Usagi bolts for a door.

She spins once she's inside to face her friends, gripping the brooch that even now hangs from her neck. What would a leader do? What should a leader do? Nothing comes to mind.

What would a brave knight do?

"Princess, please stay safe! We'll have to protect grandpa and all these people! Everyone--"

Usagi closes her eyes and raises a hand. "Moon Prism Power!"

Having Minako's brightness doesn't make up for missing Ami's. The absence almost stops Usagi cold.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

Throwing open a completely unrelated door and dashing with heroic speed to interpose herself between Grandpa Hino and his attacker, Sailor Moon arrives just in time! She skids to a halt, raising an accusing hand toward the beast.

"Grandpa is aided by beautiful maidens of economic and divine assistance today! I won't forgive anyone who attempts to shirk his broomly punishment!"

She spins on her heel, striking a fierce pose. "I'm the sailor-suited pretty soldier of love and justice, Sailor Moon! And, in the name of the moon, I will punish you!"

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Eri Shimanouchi's Venomous Lash, taking 5 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  Cripple applied to Juri Arisugawa!  

<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

All of this friendship and happiness is not unsavory to Nori Ankou, though she does turn to murmur something over her shoulder. A bluetooth headset? "I think it'll look good on your neck..."

How... nice!

Her eyes turn out towards the others there, a faint smile on her lips as she let her warm coat ward off the coolth of the air. The sight of Mai Tokiha makes that look get more somber and wistful. Nori's eyes turn to her feet....

And then darkness rises. No, not just darkness, Nori sees with wide eyes. Familiar shapes. As an old man leaps, a wiggly and adorable head pokes out from her book bag's flap and says, "It's them again!"

Nori replies, darkly, "It is."

A rush of third graders move in front of her as she reaches into her coat, drawing out -- is that an old model iPhone? No, it's a mirror, black and glossy --

Concealed by the flood of humanity, mystery and sea-spawned sorcery spill out. The air is filled with the scent of a sea breeze that promises secrets and curiosities galore, at least for a moment. When the third graders pass, Nori Ankou is of course gone.

La Sirene du Nord, most decisively, is not.

"Today, my dear twin-folk," La Sirene intones, raising up the charm that she acquired from somewhere, "You have committed a most dire deed, a fell fallacious act of foolish foolhardiness! In coming here today when the auspices are good, you sought to bring your doubtless dire and dark demands to d - fruition," we'll fix it in post, "BUT!"

La Sirene's fingers snap. The charm disintegrates as Batiste climbs to her shoulder. Her eyes gleam silvery-blue despite the light of day. "What you did not realize is the same mistake made by the ancient mariners. When they asked, one day, if I sail - what will happen? They were told, a great battle will be lost! An empire will fall! And they had thought that their enemies were the ones spoken of...!"

Batiste waves at Sailor Moon.

La Sirene sucks in a deep breath, and stalks forwards towards one of the creatures, seeing others moving to protect the fallen man. "RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY IS FUNDAMENTAL!" she declares, her voice ringing out like a temple bell. It's a little painful. "FOR THEY CAN STILL REMEMBER THE OLD WAYS--!"

COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Lovely Scream on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.

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

In spite of the grey skies, it's a nice day at the shrine. Donation made, prayers uttered, good luck charms available - Mai's actually feeling optimistic for a change.

And then everything changes when there's a scream.

Mai's head whips around, looking for the source of the panic. The congealing shadows are difficult to miss, and she goes still even as students start stampeding past her. Monstrous creatures, menacing and hungry, with that sinister air to them...A single word, uttered under her breath as she stands and stares at them. "Orphans..."

And then there's a warcry, and a wince-inducing impact, and there's no reason to hesitate. She's been ignoring her duties for too long - in more ways than one - but whatever else, she is a HiME. And the HiME fight the Orphans. A moment's glance around - no, she can't risk the shrine. Still...she nods to Eri. "If nothing else...this, I do have to deal with." And with that, Mai starts running towards the monsters. Flames flash brightly around her for a moment as she summons her Elements, and then Mai-HiME is ready to do her part.

"Everyone was celebrating after exams...and you turn up. That's it, though - I'm not letting you hurt anyone else!" Resolve is plain on her face as the golden rings carry her into the air - she's not stopping, rushing right toward the monsters with eyes locked on those stalks. And then - flame, blooming into brilliant light and heat to replace the stern gaze.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha transforms into Mai-HiME!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Devoted Scintillation on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly counters Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Moon is Psyched!  Cripple, Diversion, and Trap applied to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Spores, partially gets through, doing 6 Fatigue damage to Sailor Moon!  Stagger applied to Sailor Moon!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa perfectly braces Mai Tokiha's Devoted Scintillation, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Critical Brace!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to counter La Sirene du Nord's Lovely Scream, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  La Sirene du Nord is Psyched!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Spores, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to La Sirene du Nord!  

<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Rei's warm smile to Makoto melts like a candle as her mouth open and closes, her mind temporarily hung up on the thought of Usagi becoming a permanent fixture at the shrine...her friends are all wearing one of her spare hakama, and it isn't hard to transpose Usagi-miko into other shrine-set scenes.

Her attention and gaze snap around with the boy's screams. Things happen very quickly..horrifying bug-like monsters forming from the dark, visitors shrieking and panicking in a herd..and her grandfather's voice booming loud in the air. Rei's pupils dilate as panic floods into her lungs. When he's swatted across the air, her wild gaze practically trips over itself to keep up with the motion.

Time seems to elongate, and slow. She needs to transform, but there are so many people around..she needs to check on him, but she needs to fight..her heart starts racing, her feet frozen to the ground..

"CAWWWW!" "CAWWWWWW!"

A pair of piercing cries snaps Rei out of her hypnotic terror. Phobos and Deimos had been feasting on an uncommonly luxurious meal in the rafters of the main shrine, away from children who may look fearfully upon the strange crows. Now they bolt out into the open sky, swooping to Rei's grandfather's side with a stunning speed. After they land, both turn to face her, quorking loudly.

Taking it as a sign that he's safe, Rei shifts her attention..just in time to notice her friends running for a door. Following them, she lifts her transformation pen high with a shuddering arm, her nerves clearly heightened. Her voice is fraught with the subtle twitchiness of an adrenaline flood.

"Mars Power, Make Up!"

Without a further glance to her comrades, she bursts out into the open, heels stabbing into the cobblestones as she glares at the twin demons with open rage. Thrusting her finger forward like a spear, she points straight at them, voice still trembling with anger.

"Fool demons! Perish on this sacred ground! In the name of Mars, I will chastise you!"

COMBAT: Rei Hino transforms into Sailor Mars!
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used In The Name Of Mars on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa perfectly counters Sailor Mars's In The Name Of Mars, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Critical Counter!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Spores, bursts all the way through, doing 22 Fatigue damage to Sailor Mars!  Diversion and Exhausted applied to Sailor Mars!  

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"--oh, hi, Tokiha-san!" Makoto blinks in surprise at Mai and Eri, before quickly breaking into a smile again. "Eri-chan, too, hi. I'm not, really--" slightly embarrassed, she reaches a hand up to the back of her neck in an unconscious gesture. "We're just helping out a bit, since--"

The rest of the explanation of what she's doing here dressed like a miko is lost when the pandemonium begins. At the first scream, Makoto's head snaps toward the sound, the smile leaving her face in an instant - when Grandpa Hino goes flying, Mako's face goes hard and serious, and her eyes automatically find Usagi's.

She doesn't even think to make an excuse to Mai and Eri, so quickly does Makoto bolt after Usagi toward that nearby doorway.

Inside, she sweeps a quick look around at her fellow senshi, and Makoto follows Usagi's words with a firm nod. "We've got this," she says. "Let's do it."

Good thing she keeps her transformation pen with her no matter what. "Jupiter Power, make UP!"

Moments later, the tall senshi in green is taking the field alongside her comrades, following up Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars' declarations of battle with an angry glare. "Soldier of thunder and courage, Sailor Jupiter!" Her hand is already upraised, sparks snapping over her fingers. "We'll make you regret being so disrespectful!" As though to punctuate her statement, she throws out her hand toward the twin monsters, sending a thin bolt of electricity leaping towards the nearest one from her fingertips.

COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Jupiter Thunderbolt on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Jupiter Thunderbolt, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa is Quipped!  
COMBAT: Michiru Kaioh transforms into Sailor Neptune!

<Pose Tracker> Scarlet Rune Maiden [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

The homesick girl with the red braids is easily able to blend into the crowd at the first hint of trouble.

The next source of that deep red, minutes later, is long hair flowing in the breeze, complimenting a short-hemmed yukata.

"What dark forces have decided to pollute this joyous affair?" Her voice is deep, feminine. Scarlet-hued lips frown, an expression carrying into the amber eyes that seem to glow against the darkening light. "Your folly will leave to your doom."

The Scarlet Rune Maiden leaps down from a tree branch, silken fabric settling down around her. "You've clearly wandered into a hornet's nest here. Will you struggle? Will you accept your fate? Or will you two turn your wicked path to that of balance and light? It's not too late, you know..."

Looking to the others, the Maiden's expression falters. "Is the man alright? I'll provide cover if needed for the children." ("They're not all children...") Akemi's voice, now inside the Maiden's headm counters. The Maiden deadpans. "The children and the teenagers."

Raising a hand, the Scarlet Maiden calls upon the power of the Lotus rune on her back, summoning glowing red ribbons of energy to snake down her raised arm, which she then flings downward, creating a wide arc of red energy that sails from her fingertips. "Red Crescent!"

COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has used Red Crescent on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Scarlet Rune Maiden's Red Crescent, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Minako Aino transforms into Sailor Venus!

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Red [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

5...6...7...

/ok, you stupid bird, get past this one last pipe and I'll have a new--/

'Reikoi: Mei, where are you. I'm at the Shrinnnnne.'

"Oh crap, that was today?!" Mei says aloud, punctuated by an unhappy sound effect as her bird slams into the green pipe and plummets to the ground. She sighs at her very nearly beaten record, but closes out the app and begins pecking away at her own response.

> Friendly Meiborhood Prism Keeper: Aaaaaaah, I'm sorry~ T^T Where are

The sound of a scream startles her violently, her pointer finger hitting send on the message before she can complete it. Not that she cares now, of course. Something tells her her evening plans are about to take a turn for the unexpected.

(Well, is anything *really* unexpected when you're a magical girl?)

The red-headed elementary students darts into a concealed part of the shrine before she can see the monster, or the brief altercation between it and the aged attendant of the shrine. After a burst of crimson light and a hastily shouted transformation phrase, a pixie-like magical girl darts onto the field, carried along by her dainty, gossamer wings.

"Halt, fiend!" she calls out -- crossing off a new vocab word in her mind as she does so -- but finds herself speechless soon afterwards, hovering motionless in the air near the form of the newly arrived monster.

She's seen this before. She knows what it's capable of.

/Don't be scared. Don't be scared. Don't be scared./

"Everyone!" the young Prism Keeper shouts, abruptly changing her strategy and landing on the ground. A few other warriors have already arrived; she has to tell them. "This -- this monster attacked King Penguin!"

That...sounded a lot more important in her head. Red pauses, blushes, then slings a beam of red at the frightening creature. If they can bring it down early, then it can't try and hurt the shrine. Right?

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has used Paint It Red on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly dodges Prism Keeper Red's Paint It Red, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Diversion applied to Juri Arisugawa!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Minako might have been impressed by Usagi's energy if she didn't see it as an invitation for competition. She's just about to wave over two tall high school boys over when she hears a scream.

Minako spins on heel, her waving arm dropping down to her side.

It's a scene Minako has seen dozens of times before as Sailor V: a sudden evil arriving during a peaceful moment to attack the innocent. But no matter how many times Minako has seen it happen, it never gets an easier to swallow.

Minako's reaction is immediate; she's follows the other sailor guardians. They might have expected a calm afternoon selling charms, but it was clear now: that momentt was over with.

When Usagi insists that she stay safe, Minako swallows, hard. "I'm going to fight, too!" She pulls her transformation pen from inside her hakama pocket and holds it out in front of her.

"Venus Power Makeup!"

The symbol of Venus spins within the orb of her pen as a ribbon of stars rises from its cap, twirling around the blonde like a rhythmic gymnastics ribbon. Before long, Minako is not standing there, but Sailor Venus, the sailor suited soldier of love!

Sailor Venus joins the other sailor guardians out in the open, prepared to batttle this monster with everyone else and bring peace back to Hikawa shrine! Her eyes briefly flutter over the battlefield, at the number of magical girls out here fighting today.

Venus's lips quirk up in a smile.

"So many people have come here today to wish well for their futures! I won't let you put a stop to that! In the name of Venus, the Goddess of Love, I will punish you!"

COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used In The Name Of Venus on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly counters Sailor Venus's In The Name Of Venus, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Venus is Psyched!  Blind and Stun applied to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Spores, partially gets through, doing 12 Fatigue damage to Sailor Venus!  Diversion and Stagger applied to Sailor Venus!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

It would be difficult to ignore the bouncing and waving that was going on. From where Michiru glanced at the charm within the branches of the tree - her eyes lift up to look across the way towards... ah, there was Usagi. Laughter, unbidden, rises to her lips, and she lifts a hand as if to conceal such a thing.

It ends up sounding a bit like a giggle, overall.

Now, Michiru wouldn't shout back, but she does wave, lifting up a hand, palm outward, to acknowledge Usagi properly, before she begins to step forward through the crowd... it was that growing sense of darkness that tickles at the edges of her mind at first. Growing into a flood in the back of her mind, warning her of danger - two moments before the monster itself appears.

All mirth flees Michiru's features.

With another glance back towards Usagi, Michiru reverses her course, backing away from the monster, certainly to hide behind an outcropping or through a door... and Michiru Kaioh was never seen again.

"Neptune Planet Power... MAKE UP!"

And as Sailor Neptune leaps into the very branches of the tree, to hunker down there, it was then that she noticed the other magical girls that had gathered. Many were familiar to her, but what struck her as odd most of all at the moment?

There certainly were a fair few senshi out there.

From her perch atop the branch of the tree, Neptune straightens and flings out her hand as if slapping the air, a bolt of blue lunging from her fingertips to lash towards the creature. It was a small, fast bolt.

At least for now.

Neptune remains upon her branch for now, however - not electing to join the other warriors.

COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has used Gentle Undertow on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Sailor Neptune's Gentle Undertow, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Orange [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Prism Keeper Orange gets a half finished text and she just reads the screen name when---- screams! Screms all around! She frowns as she looks around, no time for Hi's and Byes!, she sort of takes a dive into a very well taken care bunch of shrubs- and Roy sort of darts off during the chaos to safety. This is not the best of ideas. (Because it kind of scratches her a bit!) but she transforms- and darts out, transformed into Prism Keeper Orange. She looks determined.

Red starts talking out, and so- she joins her! Landing with a dainty drop and gives her a glance. "So you've fought this thing before!?" she asks Red. She looks all around. She frowns, and points a finger and fires off a brilliant beam of orange light, to help back up her friend. "Well... you can't just go around hitting people because you feel like it!" she calls out to the monster. "That is rude!" she insists.

She asides to her friend. "How did you guys beat it last time?"

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has used Orange Beam on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

The initial scream catches Ikiko's attention. She looks at the youma, then glances at Rune and nods. Relying on the distraction, she ducks behind a nearby bush and quickly transforms.

Tsukiko steps out from behind the bush, glancing around to track Rune. The sight of the Prism Keepers brings a smile to her face -- the more help, the merrier! "Rune! Prism Keepers! Let's teach these youma a lesson!" the wolfgirl calls out, her voice full of determination.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Encourage the Pack on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Encourage the Pack on Prism Keeper Red.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Encourage the Pack on Prism Keeper Orange.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Encourage the Pack, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Princess Runealy is Cheered!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Encourage the Pack, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Prism Keeper Orange is Cheered!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Encourage the Pack, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Prism Keeper Red is Cheered!  

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

"Not paying attention?" Rune is incredulous at the idea. "You can send a short letter clear across the city in an instant, and that's so normal that you can just... do it without even really noticing?"

A scream prevents her from pursuing that question any further. She looks around for the source, eyes shooting wide as shadows move and the air turns foul. Fangs about as tall as most of the people here... this is definitely a problem, and Rune hurries aside to get away from the rush of fleeing students. "What are you!? Summoning--" Did the elderly head priest just leap into the fray!?

He did, and it did not end well. Any thoughts of all this being an elaborate show are dismissed in an instant as he's sent sailing. "Summoning Princess' Tiara!" Silver jewelry appears in one hand, passed to the other and brought to her head in one motion. "The Line of Succession, Transform!" A flash of red light replaces her Ohtori uniform with magical garb and wand. "Shrines are supposed to be important, safe places! So..." It's a thought voiced as a mix of fright and anger, as Runealy takes aim.

Tsukiko's words push this more toward righteous anger, drawing a sharp nod. "Right! Together, then!" Resolve thus bolstered, Rune shouts to the monstrous pair and finishes her thought: "So for all of our sakes, leave!" Then her wand lights up and unleashes a pair of green energy orbs at the red monster, ones that will burst into sparkling mists if they strike true.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Burst Orb on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Princess Runealy's Burst Orb, taking 13 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  Stagger applied to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to dodge Prism Keeper Orange's Orange Beam, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Prism Keeper Orange is Psyched!  

<Pose Tracker> Kanako Watanabe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

A ways down the street, listening and watching as the shouting and flashes of light begin, three people stand quietly near a quiet little cafe. "Madame," says the young Japanese man, uneasy. "Are you certain you don't want me to go? I am your sword, your--"

"Do you think me unfit?" the green-haired woman at the fore asks, her tone just a little sharp.

"Of course not!" he says, quickly. "But it is hardly Madame's place to fight the rabble."

The blonde beside them merely grunts what is probably supposed to sound like an agreement. The green-haired woman laughs, shaking her head. "Remember this, both of you," she says, and reaches out for the golden half-mask proferred by her blonde attendant. Her chestnut eyes turn back, glimmering. "At times, even the greatest must see to their ambitions personally." She turns on her heels, marching away; and halfway down the deserted street, she places the mask to her face, and breathes: "Apprivoiser," and is suffused in golden light.

Soon, on the temple grounds, there comes a shout: "Your forgiveness is neither desired nor welcome, Sailor Moon!"

A figure in black shoots up the whole length of the steps, cresting the torii and soaring over it - and touching down neatly atop it, casually defiling the symbolic door to sanctity. She is dressed in an unusual outfit; a black unitard bodysuit with gartered leggings that leave her thighs exposed, and over the leggings, boots that nearly reach her thighs, and then wrap back around to attach to the rigging of belt and suspenders that don't...appear...to actually do much of anything, in fact. The unitard is cut desperately low in the chest, but she also wears a heavy collar, covering her shoulders; and which rises up behind her head in the shape of, roughly, a card-suit diamond. And on her head, a very high hat, in the manner of certain oldschool military police. And, also, she's carrying a whip, because of course she is.

Gloved hands tug that whip tight, peering down from behind a golden half-mask, a strange emblem, like some long-lost rune, branded across its face. Her lips are set in a smug little quirk. "There is nothing petty about this action," she recites. "To strike while the enemy is exhausted from their labors is merely prudence itself, is it not?"

She sways her hip, one knotted hand casually bracing there, and her imperious gaze sweeps across the assembled coolly. "Your resistance is valueless," she says, loud and clear, her voice a low, commanding contralto. "You cannot possibly stop what is coming. But, I think perhaps the youma won't let you sit still long enough to listen to wisdom..." She tenses that whip, tighter, eyes ticking around the courtyard for a few moments.

And then she soars into the air, coming down with a neat click-clack of her heeled boots. Her whip lashes out immediately, a the edge sparkling before it releases a golden light and: "So I shall put you on the ground myself!" she cries out, a lash of terrible light racing away from the arc of her whip to bowl over Sailors Moon and Venus, a stray thread of energy seeking out the Cute Wolf Tsukiko at the same time. That completed, she stands upright, straightening her hat idly. "I shall teach you the futility of your ignorant optimism," she announces, and hurls out her arm again, whip tangling toward Sailor Mars' legs to sweep her off her feet and tie her up in the rope. Her eyes are imperceptible behind the mask, but she tilts her head theatrically as if to glare at the girl. "I'm afraid I do the chastising here," she notes, casually.

And then she blurs forward, taking a handful of steps to cover far too much ground -

And straight up socks Nori right in the kisser with a harsh left hook!!

"You may call me President. Now, cease your foolishness and depart."

COMBAT: Kanako Watanabe transforms into President!
COMBAT: President has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 5 opponents!
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has adjusted her boss levels. She is now ready to take on 9 opponents!
COMBAT: President has used Queen Sweep on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: President has used Queen Sweep on Sailor Venus.
COMBAT: President has used Queen Sweep on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: President has used Whip Wrap on Sailor Mars.
COMBAT: President has used Queen's Rules on La Sirene du Nord.
COMBAT: President has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The green Puella Magi's scourge fails to find purchase within all those limbs and eyestalks, but the thorns score across a leg all the same, leeching a little poison into the ichorous wound. Chemical steam explodes on contact -- thus rendering the poison impotent -- until the azure of the two monsters inhales. It coughs out a horrible rubbery ball of misery and Orphan-snot, but is definitely unwell.

It may also be a bit dangerous to be around it, with all that poison steam around.

Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus and La Sirene du Nord shout at the two creatures, and predictably enough the alien demonbugs do not respond verbally. Or, well -- their mandibles are in play, wriggling, expanding... their breath exhales, but instead of a self-righteous defense of their actions, out comes viciously acidic spores which cloud the air and mute the sound. La Sirene manages to avoid them, but those who do not have a deeply unpleasant experience in store. It is not dissimilar to being stung by a hundred gnats at once.

HiME Mai, however, charges straight through and emerges out the other side flames-first. They pour all over the crimson Orphan, and when the smoke and heat clear, it remains, utterly untouched. It appears to be entirely immune to fire.

It is not, however, immune to lightning, as Sailor Jupiter demonstrates with a sharp crack of thunder. The Orphan is not faster than Heaven's wrath by any means. Having struck its highest point, one of its eyestalks is now nothing but oozing slag. Incomprehensively shrieking its fury, it charges her jaws-first, potentially trampling Mai under its ten clawed feet along the way. The Guardian Princess' energy blasts impact on its legs along the way, slowing but not stopping it, and it alters its trajectory to attempt to mow her down on the way to Sailor Jupiter -- what was a straight line is now more of an arc.

Meanwhile, the Scarlet Rune Maiden scores a solid hit with her red energy on the azure Orphan -- it is momentarily purple from the combination, then permanently purple after Prism Keeper Red covers it with her purifying energy (apparently without further effect) -- and then, with the addition of orange, it turns an ugly brown. Small welts arise from Prism Keeper Orange's blast, which was of a different nature than Red's. The Rune Maiden's strike, however mitigated by that thick chitin, appears to have gotten its attention. It closes with her with cobblestone-tearing tromps, but is arrested mid-stride by the sight of a quick bolt of blue water.

It was heading towards the crimson Orphan's charging back, but with a burst of energy, the azure one leaps into the air and allows it to splash harmlessly across its shell instead. Now too far away to chomp anyone, several of the seemingly hundreds of eyes of the beast fix on the girls, blink, and explode solid streams of liquid agony in the Scarlet Rune Maiden and Sailor Neptune's direction, instead. Still more arcs towards the Prism Keepers -- and a spray burst tumbles down the stairs towards the sacred gate, the horii.

OOC: As in previous Feng Shui scenes, there is risk of severe damage to the scenery (appropriately played by Mytho)! (Some superficial damage is inevitable, but things could get A Lot Worse.) To try to prevent it with +cover juri=mytho and subsequent reaction, please ask first OOCly.

COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord narrowly counters President's Queen's Rules, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  President is Psyched!  
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord's counterattack, Les Mysteres, partially gets through, doing 17 Fatigue damage to President!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Poison Steam on Eri Shimanouchi.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Underfoot and Overclaw on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Underfoot and Overclaw on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used OM NOM NOM on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used The Eyes Have It on Scarlet Rune Maiden.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used The Eyes Have It on Sailor Neptune.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used The Eyes Have It on Prism Keeper Red.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used The Eyes Have It on Prism Keeper Orange.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used The Eyes Have It on Mytho.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi perfectly counters Juri Arisugawa's Poison Steam, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  Eri Shimanouchi's Reverse ability activates!  
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi's counterattack, Thunderous Crack, bursts all the way through, doing 30 Fatigue damage to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges President's Queen Sweep, taking 19 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates!  Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to dodge President's Queen Sweep, taking 22 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha fails to brace Juri Arisugawa's Underfoot and Overclaw, taking 15 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Princess Runealy fails to dodge Juri Arisugawa's Underfoot and Overclaw, taking 17 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange narrowly braces Juri Arisugawa's The Eyes Have It, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Prism Keeper Orange's Block ability activates!  Prism Keeper Orange's Parry ability activates!  Diversion applied to Prism Keeper Orange!  
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly dodges President's Queen Sweep, taking 15 Fatigue damage!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune fails to dodge Juri Arisugawa's The Eyes Have It, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Juri Arisugawa's OM NOM NOM, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates!  Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red perfectly counters Juri Arisugawa's The Eyes Have It, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  Prism Keeper Red's Reverse ability activates!  Prism Keeper Red's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red's counterattack, Rose Darts, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Sailor Mars narrowly dodges President's Whip Wrap, taking 11 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Mars's Fade ability activates!  Sailor Mars's Flash ability activates!  Cripple applied to Sailor Mars!  
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko covers Mytho for Juri Arisugawa's attack, The Eyes Have It, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to brace Juri Arisugawa's The Eyes Have It, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Diversion applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!  
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden narrowly braces Juri Arisugawa's The Eyes Have It, taking 3 Fatigue damage!  Scarlet Rune Maiden's Parry ability activates!  

<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

La Sirene du Nord exhales - and then pivots around, faced with a person in an unusually saucy outfit. Her brows furrow. "What -- Who the devil--?!" she declares to the President as she speaks her words. "No! I demand you take your devils and depart, and what is more, leave Sailor Moon a -"

She's coming right for her.

"lone"

La Sirene is socked clean in the side of the face. Her eyes are wide and her lips are shoved practically to the other side of her face.

EYECATCH! ~Battle Fantasia~

Fortunately, when seen from a different angle, it is clear that la Sirene was raising her left hand in order to render the salute so common to her battles, her fingers already raised and silvery magic running up her hand. The charm is completed just as the left hook strikes home, the combination of President's presidential fist and the ethereal chord of the invocation of Les Mysteres come together in an... unfortunate way.

La Sirene's boots, heavy as they are, often keep her well anchored. But they were clear of the sacred ground of the Hikawa Shrine. As such -- she flies back, squealing in dismay, skidding like a line drive across the grounds and seeming in great peril of leaving the shrine grounds entirely!

A cloud drifts across the sky. Probably nothing.

Batiste dismounts with considerably more grace than la Sirene is displaying, landing atop the offering box. Standing on his hind legs, he alertly identifies the one person present who he knows well - and calls out, "Sailor Moon! Remember - a whip is a weapon for one who seeks to impress, and to display mastery. It is a weapon as much of the mind as the body. Don't let it frighten you!"

He then leaps down and scuttles after la Sirene, who has not yet come to a full and complete stop.

COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Carpe Aonyx on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon accepts La Sirene du Nord's Carpe Aonyx, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Moon is Cheered!  Withstand applied to Sailor Moon!  

Mytho has left. Mytho has arrived.

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

The defiant shouts of those standing up to oppose the Orphan is emboldening - which helps a great deal when Mai sees the aftermath of her initial strike. Heat-resistant, or utterly immune to fire; while Kagutsuchi could settle the question, this probably wouldn't help the situation at all. Sailor Jupiter's more successful strike gets her attention for a crucial moment, and suddenly she's being battered around and hurled aside like a stray rock.

Cold flagstones take the impact as she comes to a halt, and relishes the moment to catch her breath. The Sailor Scouts seem to be banding together well, Eri's holding her own, and there's a few others she can recognize in the area. Even if the red one's fireproof, maybe she can back the others up - try to keep the monster's attention somehow?

And then a new enemy appears, and Mai grits her teeth. She shouts over to the masked woman for a moment - "Sorry, but these are something I can't ignore. Not when they're putting innocent people - and my friends in danger!" She takes to the air again, and focuses on the crimson Orphan. A flashy, dazzling blast didn't get through its hide...

A blaze ignites from the HiME's rings, and she charges the crimson Orphan a second time - this time with a trail of flames following her. At the last moment, she comes to a halt, bringing the pursuing flames around as a great fiery lash to strikes at the thing's head.

Everyone who's been helping her over the past week... She's got a lot of work to do to pay them back.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Vehement Ignition on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Tsukiko yelps as the errant lash slices towards her. A hard run keeps it from being a direct impact, but it still snaps at her ankles. Before she slows down, she sees the eyebeam lancing towards the horii. Making the most of her momentum, she dives into the way, the beam hitting her squarely.

The wolfgirl winces as she rolls to her feet. This so-called President's words irritate her, filled with cynicism and assumed victory as they are. "So you wish to speak your piece with violence?" she growls. "If that's the language you prefer to speak with... then I'll make you listen!" Dashing forward, Tsukiko leaps at the stranger with the whip, trying to slam into her feet-first before leaping away.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Overrun Bounce on President.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.

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

Rune looks up as a voice calls out to the gathering, startled. 'Valueless'? The President's words cut through her, leaving Rune stricken by this apparent new foe's demeanor. That distraction proves to be dangerous when one of the Orphans charges her; it's a split-second delay in the princess' attempt to jump aside, one leaving her stomped to the ground!

Moaning from the impact, Runealy picks herself up on shaky feet, surprised to discover that what started as blue is now brown. This whole situation is becoming very chaotic to Rune, and she tries to make heads-or-tails of anything about it. Her gaze settles on Tsukiko just as her friend intercepts a beam. Concern takes hold, and Rune tries to help.

Her palm thrusts in Tsukiko's direction, creating a paper-thin 'wall' of sparkling red energy about the size of a door. "Use this!" It tries to wrap around its intended recipient, some of it working as healing energy while other parts split off to take on the shape of miniature shields floating around Tsukiko in an attempt to protect her.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Comfort Ward on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"--Hey!" Sailor Jupiter protests indignantly when the self-styled 'President' makes her entrance by assaulting all three of the other Sailor Senshi. For a moment, Jupiter's focus begins to shift to the masked woman--

--but the demon bug is bearing down on her in a hurry with its jaws wide open, and as much as Sailor Jupiter wants to rush to the immediate defense of her friends, she can't do them much good if she's devoured before she can even act. As the creature bears down on her, Jupiter braces her stance, digging in her heels and raising both hands - and somehow manages to catch hold of two of those horrific-looking fangs.

The thing's momentum pushes her back several feet, and her arms strain with the effort of keeping those jaws from closing around her; her shoulders tremble with it, and even just being this close to such a beast can't possibly be healthy.

The remaining space between Sailor Jupiter and that menacing maw closes slowly, inch by inexorable inch.

But if that momentum can be redirected...

Jupiter's eyes flick upward for a split second, just long enough to see the HiMe rushing in trailing flame. She sucks in a breath - here's hoping this works - and HEAVES, throwing all her strength into an effort to wrench the Orphan around and into the path of Mai's attack by its own weight.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko accepts Princess Runealy's Comfort Ward, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Withstand applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!  Cleanse! All of Cute Wolf Tsukiko's debuffs are cleared!  
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Suplex on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to counter Sailor Jupiter's Supreme Suplex, taking 17 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Acidic Skin, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sailor Jupiter!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly dodges Mai Tokiha's Vehement Ignition, taking 23 Fatigue damage!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Mars wasn't expecting the youma to react to her words, not really. She was mostly venting. As venemous spores clog up the space, burning at her eyes and throat with a surprisingly fiery pain, Rei silently curses her indulgence. Next time she'll be quicker to shoot first.

Growling and scowling, Rei produces an ofuda, clutching it between fingertips as she brings her hands together to pray before her gaze.

"Rin!"

"Pyou!"

"Tou!"

"Sh---"

A piercing voice shouts, calling out Sailor Moon and cutting Rei off in mid-chant. Her brow furrows deeper, irritated with herself for losing focus on the mantra. Her eyes still sting and burn, but she blinks through the poison and the tears to squint out an oddly dressed woman sailing into the middle of everything.

Rei has no idea who she is, and her ears aren't at their best in the thick spore soup clogging the air, but she can clearly make out the newcomer calling them her enemies. She holds her ofuda aloft once more, resuming her chant from the beginning.

"Rin!"

"Pyou!"

"Tou!"

"Sha--"

The newcomers whip cracks through the air, painfully coiling around Rei's legs and yanking her down. Her hip hits painfully against the stones as she falls on her side. Gritting her teeth, she continues the chant without pausing.

"Kai!"

"Jin!"

"Retsu!"

"Zai!"

"Zen!"

The ofuda stands unnaturally tall, suffused with spiritual energy. Rei reaches back and slings her arm forward, hurling the paper prayer like a throwing knife at her attacker's torso.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen! on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

The immediate response is gross.

Sailor Moon isn't quick enough to realize what's coming at her other than 'attack,' but she is quick enough to do something about it. The pretty soldier raises her arms and digs her feet in; cringe as she might, she's not going to leave her position guarding Grandpa Hino. Not while her friends are here.

She's still allowed to make really disgusted noises while it happens. Once the true form of the insidious counterattack is revealed--biting?!--the pretty soldier lets out a warbling "aaaaAAAaaaaaaAAAaaa!" putting all the movement in voicing her displeasure that she's refusing her feet.

The rush passes. Sailor Moon raises her gaze, wiping at her eyes. She glances to her sides to check on the state of her friends, but then--"?!"

Are they being... counter-entranced as well?

How evil. The lunar warrior gestures with determination.

"Fine! For grandpa, I have a million billion justice speeches! HOLD IT RIGHT--eeek"

The sharp cruelness of President's attack comes rushing at her so quickly; Sailor Moon unstylishly abandons her justice speech to stumble backward in an instinctive movement to get away from it. Eventually experience (minor) kicks in and she throws herself to the side, indelicately flopping onto the ground. It does save her from being bisected, but it leaves her at the level of President's heels.

This feels like what President wants. Usagi quails internally. She begins to pick herself up, fearful of a followup attack, but she is forced to pause by the wisdom of--"Batiste?!" Abandoning her slow rise, Sailor Moon tumbles forward and pops back up to her feet, snatching her crescent-tipped want from a sudden shower of sparkles in the air before her. "Please make sure la Sirene is okay--o-oh, you know already--"

Sailor Moon puts on a fierce look and leaps forward to regain lost ground, bringing her wand up with both hands. "We won't abandon the people we're sworn to protect, especially not as assistant shrine maidens! So--EVIL JERKS, BEGONE AAAAA!"

That turned into a kiai somewhere in there. It's just yelling really loud, right? Sailor Moon yells her passion. Wow, she's really yelling. That is quite the set of lungs--wait, is the air rippling?!

It is. With supersonic crying.

And there's no tears this time.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Supersonic Screaming on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Supersonic Screaming on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Sailor Moon's Supersonic Screaming, taking 21 Fatigue damage!  Exhausted applied to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: President narrowly counters Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Overrun Bounce, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched!  President's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: President's counterattack, Unfair Trading, partially gets through, doing 20 Fatigue damage to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!  

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Poisonous steam roils forth at the Puella Magi in a harsh miasma. While it wasn't really, it felt like the creature was turning her own arts against her. Feeling as if her very pride was at stake, her scourge coils back into her hand. Magical power thrums down her arm, as she whips the tendrils sidearm. Just as the steam was about to reach her, each of the tips cracks.

At first the sound felt distant, but then came the echoing roar of thunder, as the concussive waves only narrowly part the steam in time. The bone-shattering wave of force continues forward at endless legs and eyestalks of the monster that did so. Inwardly she breathes a sigh of relief, as part of her can't believe that worked. The other part of her... well she felt a surge of confidence born out of her recent experience engaging a titanic wyrm witch.

The appearance of the supremely confident green-haired and masked woman in black however causes her to gape in wonder. However she heartens, as she sees Sailor V amongst the ranks of Sailor Moon, Mars, and Jupiter doing battle with her. Wait, why was wearing orange!? And what happened to her mask!? And still she wondered to herself why the green-haired Senshi always set herself apart from them... Casting side such reflection, she eventually calls out, "So what you think we should lay down and just let you have your way!? Go Sailor Senshi! Punish her! You'll be unstoppable with V at your side!"

Eri grins as she sees that Mai has lost none of her fervor after her hospitalization. "You look all fired up today Mai-chan! I think this new semester is going to turn out well for you after all!" This time her scourge tendrils move forward as if they had minds of their own, searching for an opening to rend and lash it's lengths against the creatures, leaving a floral scent in the air and fluttering rose petals in the wake of it's passing.

COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Rosary Wheel on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Sailor Moon's Supersonic Screaming, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  President's Parry ability activates!  Exhausted applied to President!  
COMBAT: President fails to dodge Sailor Mars's Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Analysis performed by Sailor Mars!  

<Pose Tracker> Scarlet Rune Maiden [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Looking to the familiar shade of red present in Prism Keeper Red, the Maiden nods, taking her words at face value. Penguins are kingly creatures, so there must be a king to rule them, the bear spirit Guma reasons. "A serious offense! We must take these youma down!"

("Do you know who she's talking about?") Akemi asks, mentally. ("Maybe he's like Gordon, that rabbit teacher from one of the other schools.")

If it's attention the Maiden wants, however, it seems to have it from one of the Orphans as it advances upon her. A bolt of blue water stops it, causing the Maiden to look around for the source. There's not much time to spare for this action- the Orphan splashes some sort of strange liquid at her. With no time to spare, the Maiden braces, gritting her teeth.

That's when another voice filters into the chaos. Someone not welcome, as she seems to be trying to help these weird youma. "Ah? What's your business here, then?" The Maiden tilts her head upwards towards the President. "What's exactly your relation to these youma?" When the President attacks, the Maiden's face creases in contempt, especially when the younger Cute Wolf Tsukiko is targetted. "It's time for you and your youma companions to settle down!" Pressing one hand to the ground, Guma borrows some of her innate power to send two ripples of power through the earth, hopefully causing a 'wave' of ground to violently jostle her opponents to their knees.

COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has used Hard to Bear on President.
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has used Hard to Bear on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Sailor Venus staggers back as the spores cloud the area; the ever-nimble Venus manages to avoid the full weight of the attack, but the spores still manage to sting the front of her arms and legs.

Venus grits her teeth, trying her best to swallow back the pain. As she does so, she catches a glimpse of the sailor guardian clad in red -- and her eyes widen.

"Mars-chan!"

Immediately, Venus prepares to take action -- but just as she does, another enemy makes their appearance. This one is distinctly humanoid, clad in a black unitard with long, lime green hair that wafts slightly in the breeze.

Venus opens her mouth and is on the verge of delivering a quip about President's unfortunate state of attire when she swings her whip out towards them, and Minako's natural athleticism finally gets put to good use.

Though it's far less graceful than the blonde would have liked. While Minako manages to leap out of the way, she fails to land on her feet. Instead, she tumbles gracelessly, injuring herself in the process.

Teeth clenched, Venus slowly pulls herself upright; her eyes scan the ground for her allies -- Jupiter wrangling with the monster; Mars directing her ofuda at President, even as she's pulled to the ground; Sailor Moon crying with such vigor that Venus can feel the air literally ripple.

/Go Sailor Senshi!/

She can't give up.

/Punish her./

They're the sailor guardians. No matter what happens, they have to protect everyone.

/You'll be unstoppable with V at your side!/

And that was just the encouragement that Sailor Venus needed.

"Don't think you can chase us off that easily!" shouts, directing a finger at President.

Sailor Venus directs two open palms forward, an orange heart forming in her hands. "Rolling Heart Vibration!" The heart bursts from her hands and twirls violently towards the President.

COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used Rolling Heart Vibration on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa perfectly counters Scarlet Rune Maiden's Hard to Bear, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Spores, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Scarlet Rune Maiden!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Neptune ought to know by now that one cannot linger in high places for too long.

Generally one is to do their dramatic pose, and then leap into the fray. Otherwise, well. Neptune starts to stand up a little taller on the branch as that wave of liquid yuck barrels towards her. She /meant/ to leap down from the branch to land upon the ground below, and rise to a stand then - and technically, she still achieved that goal. She was just helped along with it as the blast barrels her unto the ground below.

The rise back to a stand was a little less powerful than she intended, her hand lifting up to brush a lock of her aqua-coloured hair over her shoulder.

A breath in, and Neptune closes her eyes her moment to center herself. When she opens them again, Neptune's eyes briefly land upon Eri, her head quirking just a bit to one side as if asking a silent question - before her gaze alights upon the Orphan proper.

Hands go to her sides, and she twists them into fists, before flinging them forward to fire ~two~ beams this time. Beams that twist and turn and bounce, and leave the smell of the ocean in their wake.

And, Neptune could always imagine the sound of violins.

COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has used Current Crossing on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: President fails to brace Sailor Venus's Rolling Heart Vibration, taking 17 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Venus is Psyched!  
COMBAT: President fails to dodge Scarlet Rune Maiden's Hard to Bear, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Trap applied to President!  

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Red [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Yeah, she remembered correctly. These giant not-insect monsterthings are pretty much the worst.

Red's eyes widen as she sees a plant whip smack one of its legs and unleash a cloud of noxious looking fumes -- fumes she should really stay away from, if she has any choice in the matter. Not that she was particularly excited about getting up in those creatures' faces, of course. There's a reason her best attacks hit from afar.

Oh wait, if Reiko was here a few minutes ago, then that means--

"Orange-chan!" she yells excitedly when she spots her friend and teammate, evidently unharmed. The short burst of cheer is unfortunately temporary, however, as a series of explosions from behind her yank her attention back to the pair of youma, and to the stream of acid that is flying directly at her face.

Probably a good thing she looked when she did, in retrospect.

The girl lets out a startled yelp, unconsciously summoning a hail of roses and blasting them towards the oncoming attack. And thankfully, it is enough: the flowers take the damage in her place, withering and melting away with a quiet series of hisses and crackles. It's a grim sight, to be sure, but considering that could have been her face...

There's so much going on on the battlefield that she can barely take it all in, but the Prism Keeper does manage to lock onto her friend again, as well as a few recognizable allies: Tsukiko, Princess Rune, that one girl who helped her out when they were fighting at the theme park. "How did we beat it?" she repeats, slightly addled brain straining to remember all the way back then. Back to when she was the only Prism Keeper. "Just...the same way we beat everything else, I guess?"

Wait, this is a moment she can inspire her friends!

Wiping away her uncertainty with a confident grin, Prism Keeper Red pivots around and points to the formerly crimson monster, now covered in welts and brown splotches from their combined attacks. "By fighting them off with everything we've got!"

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has used Red-Letter Day on Scarlet Rune Maiden.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has used Red-Letter Day on Prism Keeper Orange.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has used Red-Letter Day on Prism Keeper Red.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red accepts Prism Keeper Red's Red-Letter Day, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Empower applied to Prism Keeper Red!  
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden accepts Prism Keeper Red's Red-Letter Day, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Empower applied to Scarlet Rune Maiden!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange accepts Prism Keeper Red's Red-Letter Day, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Empower applied to Prism Keeper Orange!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to dodge Sailor Neptune's Current Crossing, taking 10 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Neptune is Psyched!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Eri Shimanouchi's Rosary Wheel, taking 12 Fatigue damage!  Eri Shimanouchi is Psyched!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Orange [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Prism Keeper Orange eeks and raises her arms in defense and acid hits her, some sticks a little, and it burns and is generally not very pleasent in a lot of ways. She shakes off the feeling as best she can as she looks over to her friend--- and is inspired by Mei's declaration, aswell as Ikiko's words! Which is a little better than the inital statement itself. "Right! We have to our best!" she says with a smile as she turns her attention back towards the creature.

She looks down to her hand and summons up a berth of color energy into her hand and then looks back towards the beast. She fires off another beam of color, this time one infused with a hit of actual color energy.

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has used Orange Rush! on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly counters Prism Keeper Orange's Orange Rush!, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Exhausted applied to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa's counterattack, Spores, partially gets through, doing 19 Fatigue damage to Prism Keeper Orange!  Diversion and Exhausted applied to Prism Keeper Orange!  

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

There's a cracking sound as the structural integrity of a crimson chitin plate buckles beneath the strength of Sailor Jupiter's grip. Acidic steam rises from where she's touched it, but she is not so much as burned, the strength of her feelings made manifest in the strength of her gloves.

There's a whooshing sound as it tumbles through the air, straight towards Mai Tokiha's flaming lash.

There's a slamming sound as the sheer force of their combined swings -- fire immunity aside -- impacts. Dozens of eyestalks writhe with pain from Sailor Moon's supernaturally potent kiai in midair, wholly unable to defend itself in its moment aloft.

There's a crunching sound as it slams straight through the wooden floor of the porch. More steam and ozone drifts upwards from the hole.

Then there is only silence... until...

The Scarlet Rune Maiden brings force to bear unto the earth itself. Spores erupt from the crater harmlessly, but they distort what might have been devastating into equal harmlessness. Riding the geyer of acid, up comes the crimson beast--

--surfing the wave, which breaks over Mai and Jupiter -- and a precious, ancient piece of stone statuary, if it isn't rescued -- the Orphan lands in a messy sprawl, back in the middle of the courtyard once more. Sailor Neptune's twin beams of water douse it as a miserable afterthought, creating still more steam and another agonized shriek.

The azure Orphan turns to fix Neptune with one hundred vengeful eyes. The red rune on its forehead flares, light and heat spilling out to wrap around the distracted Prism Keeper Red and Guardian Princess, as well as the Scarlet Rune Maiden (it's red vs. red on multiple levels!) while it lowers its head and charges the Sailor Guardian. Eri's tendrils slow it down for a moment, tangling with eyestalks, before it tears free (leaving another pulped stalk behind, among the plant scourge), and once again the beast goes a little out of its way to try to mash the Puella Magi into the ground. It reflexively lets loose more spores from between its marred stalks to crash over Prism Keeper Orange's second attack, which seems less effecctive than the first in general, and then still more for good measure. It is a thoroughly unpleasant place to be.

COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Acidic Wave on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Acidic Wave on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Acidic Wave on Mytho.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Red Rage on Prism Keeper Red.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Red Rage on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Red Rage on Scarlet Rune Maiden.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Underfoot and Overclaw on Eri Shimanouchi.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used OM NOM NOM on Sailor Neptune.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Spores on Prism Keeper Orange.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden fails to dodge Juri Arisugawa's Red Rage, taking 29 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Princess Runealy narrowly counters Juri Arisugawa's Red Rage, taking 14 Fatigue damage!  Princess Runealy's Reverse ability activates!  Princess Runealy's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: Princess Runealy's counterattack, Aegis Burst, partially gets through, doing 11 Fatigue damage to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune perfectly braces Juri Arisugawa's OM NOM NOM, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Brace!  Sailor Neptune's Block ability activates!  
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi narrowly braces Juri Arisugawa's Underfoot and Overclaw, taking 7 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Eri Shimanouchi's Block ability activates!  Eri Shimanouchi's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha fails to brace Juri Arisugawa's Acidic Wave, taking 18 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red fails to dodge Juri Arisugawa's Red Rage, taking 31 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly dodges Juri Arisugawa's Acidic Wave, taking 7 Fatigue damage!  

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

President's hard punch on du Nord doesn't turn out in her favor; she eats a return hex that sears her, and she hisses. But she swats the power of the magic away before it can do much but tire her, and she rounds quickly on the oncoming wolf-girl. "Unlikely," she announces to Tsukiko, and then as the girl slams into her feet-first, President returns the favor in kind - lunging in, heedless of her own damage, to drive a powerful straight blow to the Cute Wolf's cute gut, spiking her toward the ground. She follows up harshly, lashing her whip a few times at the downed wolf guardian.

Her lips are curled up in a self-superior smirk after that one, sweeping the empty white sockets of her mask around. In that instant of battle assessment, Sailor Mars' ofuda contacts the bare skin visible through her low-cut unitard, and--nothing happens. She tips her head in lieu of arcing an eyebrow, tearing the ofuda free with a firm yank and then a casual crumpling. "You think me a monster? How rude. I am simply one who has assessed your chances...and sees that you have none!" She surges, galloping a handful of steps before, with a boxer's form, streaking a sharp jab straight for Sailor Mars' neck. The follow-through is interrupted by Usagi's shrieking, though, and President holds up one hand, attempting to weather the storm of that supersonic howl. Her feet shift under her, and she finds herself short of breath amid the howls. But when it clears, she squares her shoulders anew, realigning her posture and tipping her chin. "A million billion," she says, coolly. "You've no concept of economy." She says it with something like disgust. Well, apparently she is a banker, after all. She rushes to show Sailor Moon her disapproval, snapping her whip out to lash and lash the girl with her whip, the weapon blurring but for the loud CRACK, CRACK, CRACK!

But that flurry is interrupted when her footing is disrupted by the Scarlet Rune Maiden; but before she can do much about /that/, she is subjected to the Rolling Heart Vibration. She snaps up one arm, aiming to shatter the magic with a backhand. It fails; she staggers a few steps from the hit, but her guard is quite powerful! She's not down for the count after a hit like that, and rises up again, recentering herself like a pro. "If it were to be easy," she notes, looking Venus in the eye - as much as she can, with her own eyes obscured, "I would never have come." She snaps her whip, just once, roaring, "BET!" as she does, and a wave of golden light races saway from the edge of her whip toward Venus!

Then, finally, she turns her eye toward Nori, theatrically sweeping her head to peer at the distant magical girl and her long-distance tumble. "Stay down," she directs, coldly. "You'll fare no better on your next attempt."

COMBAT: President has used Queen's Dominion on La Sirene du Nord.
COMBAT: President has used Sharp Lashes on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: President has used Sharp Lashes on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: President has used Bet Wave on Sailor Venus.
COMBAT: President has used Queen's Rules on Sailor Mars.
COMBAT: President has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter covers Mytho for Juri Arisugawa's attack, Acidic Wave, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter perfectly braces Juri Arisugawa's Acidic Wave, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Brace!  Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates!  Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly braces President's Sharp Lashes, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Block ability activates!  
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord narrowly dodges President's Queen's Dominion, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  La Sirene du Nord is Quipped!  
COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges President's Sharp Lashes, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Mars narrowly braces President's Queen's Rules, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  President is Psyched!  
COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly counters President's Bet Wave, taking 15 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Venus's Reverse ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Venus's counterattack, Sailor V Kick!, partially gets through, doing 9 Fatigue damage to President!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange perfectly counters Juri Arisugawa's Spores, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange's counterattack, Orangella Obfuscation, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Juri Arisugawa!  

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

Not even singed - but at least Mai was able to do something to the creature. She rebounds wildly from where her charge met Jupiter's swing, and gives the Senshi a grin as she straightens out. "Nice! This thing's proving stubborn, though-"

Whatever enthusiastic assertion she was about to make trails off as the wave surges forth. In a panic, Mai brings up a fiery shield...which lasts for maybe half a second before getting extinguished outright. A second fiery burst manages to force her free of the acid before it can cause lasting harm, but again she's stuck catching her breath. This, just in time to hear the shriek, and see the aftermath of Neptune's attack.

She looks from one Orphan to the other. Stubborn enthusiasm is all well and good, but...

Cascading flames rise up at her command, forming a blazing wall to pen in one of the Orphans - but the azure one, in place of her original target. She calls out to those fighting it - one in particular, though she can see Runealy fighting the beast as well. "It just might, Eri-chan - but all things considered, I think I'm better off with the one that isn't fireproof. Any of you want to trade?" She grins brightly, trying to keep an eye on what the crimson one's doing.

...how young are some of these magical girls, anyway?

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Infernal Embrace on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Mai Tokiha's Infernal Embrace, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  Diversion and Trap applied to Juri Arisugawa!  

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Tsukiko yelps as she is slammed into the ground. As the President's whip lashes at her again, she reflexively curls underneath Rune's protective shield. While she flinches from the harsh impacts, the shield manages to keep the worst of the assault off of the wolfgirl.

Once there's a gap in the whipping, Tsukiko springs to her feet, then tries using the President as a springboard to leap clear of the immediate melee. She flashes Rune a thankful smile, but most of her focus is on the President.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Overrun Bounce on President.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.

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

So much noise, so many pouring their hearts out... it's a frightening rush to Rune. There are just too many things going on all at once to follow every detail; it's all she can do to spare the occasional hurried glance to Prism Keepers Red and Orange, to Tsukiko or Eri or Mai, to Sailors Jupiter, Moon, Mars, Venus, and Neptune... to La Sirene du Nord, too. Many of them are friends, others she doesn't completely understand... a few worry her, but right now they all seem to be unified in protecting the shrine, and that helps slow the pounding in her heart.

A flash of red demands her attention, and Runealy encases herself in a sparkling red dome to meet the heat. She's partially successful; the light does not pierce through, but grit teeth acknowledge that it's getting very hot even under her barrier. Chokingly so, making it hard to speak until an inarticulate shout detonates her shield to drive the burn away! What's left of the forcefield is quickly turned into a thin ray and launched back at the blue Orphan, though the Guardian Princess' gasps for breath make it clear she did not emerge unscathed.

Yet Tsukiko's smile - it feels good to help a friend who has been there for her so many times - and Mai's call help put her pain in perspective. "Trade? Alright! Just be careful, this one's dangerous too!" Sprinting in Mai's general direction, Rune gives her a concerned eye. Not out of any doubt in Mai's abilities, but simple regard for a friend's well-being... even if it is good to see her out and about like this even in the midst of a battle.

A raw shout, one still somewhat wracked by the heat she endured, heralds Rune launching another green orb. This one heads for the crimson beast, and splits apart in mid-air to become a shower of emerald sparkles!

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Scatter Orb on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sailor Moon takes in a breath. Okay.

That's a wave of acid.

The pretty soldier reflexively takes a step back, but being cut off by President has left her too far away from the splash zone to worry. Worry about herself, anyway. She bites her lip, eyes wide--but the magical girls fight on.

"Wow, they're really tough," she murmurs, tearing her attention away and putting it back on her own drama. It's about when President recovers from the shrieking--the two lock gazes, Moon's puffy-cheeked determination against President's cool disgust. When the imperious woman's whip snaps out, the pretty soldier neatly leaps to the side of the first crack, elated but cut short by the other two. She yelps, forced to abandon ground and spring backward to avoid the blurring, vicious assault.

It's a good thing President is distracted so that she can't press the attack. Usagi hunches forward, catching her breath again, too soon since the last moment. They can still win this. Right? Who is this woman that she can take her on with a glare, and what's her weird relationship with an old man who's maybe just a tiny bit too concerned with money and pretty young women?

Sailor Moon glances again to see if Grandpa Rei is alright. After that, it's only natural to check on Rei.

"Mars-chan!" shouts Usagi, taking advantage of President's distraction to reposition herself in support of her friend. "You figured something out, didn't you? Aaa, how do you stay so cool in times like this?! I'll follow you!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Rei-chan's Pristine Battle Coolness on Sailor Mars.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Wailing and battle takes place in the backdrop of la Sirene's long skid. Batiste catches up with her, even as she ends up near the torii gate. With some sleeve tugging, she rises upwards, unsteadily -

Cold words wash over her.

La Sirene's fingers curl loosely, her bangs hanging in her eyes. Batiste, wordlessly, climbs up her coat tails, curls on her shoulder, lending some iota of warmth. In her heart, for that moment, la Sirene feels dreadfully cold; a cold that radiates throughout her body.

"Perhaps you are right," she answers the President. "Perhaps I will not fare any better, against you. I can tell you are very strong..." She rests one hand on her cheek, eyes still hidden. "Stronger than me. And I will not say something about the strength of - of my allies, and tempt fate."

La Sirene swallows.

"But," she says, "I have learned that there is nothing for it..."

She raises her head, slowly. Her bangs fall away, and her eyes flash, her left hand still held in a loosely curled fist. Her right hand is in the pocket of her coat. "But to keep trying, even when you know you might fail. Do you have more to offer... than sharp words... and dire predictions?" Her eyes cut momentarily towards the Orphans, but then they return to the president, flashing all the brighter.

COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Before I Leave Your Eyes on President.
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars accepts Sailor Moon's Rei-chan's Pristine Battle Coolness, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Mars is Cheered!  

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

As her scourge returns, it takes a pulped eyestalk with it. With a mental command, the lengths unfurl and coil around it, trying to shake it off, as Eri stares down the thing. While she isn't unused to pungent smells from her time in the garden, the sight of it still makes her express her distaste. "Gross!" She waves at her handle just to make sure nothing left of it was on the weapon.

Out of the corner of her vision she notes the mysterious, supremely elegant Green-Haired Senshi staring at her, and silently asking what? She seems flustered at first, as if uncertain how to handle such an elegant being regarding her like that. Perhaps in that moment, she errs in trying to decipher what she's asking but she decides to address Sailor Neptune directly, "You're one of them right? I just... eto... never see you with them." The thought of her being with them though just seemed like it would be too much for her to bear.

The beast however, decides to single her a bit for a thrashing, and she stands her ground, as best as she can against the Orphan. At first, she fares well against the relentless assault of the Azure Orphan, standing her ground with the steadfast resolve of the oak, parrying as many of the blows as she can, before she's stomped into the ground with a crunch and a gasp. Crossed arms are her final defense against that flurry of claws, and the thudding sound as the creature mashes her arm sounds almost wooden. Rolling out of the way, she rasps out at Mai, "Really? I've never encountered anything you couldn't burn before! Here, let's switch partners!"

Green sparkles float off of her, as green runic circles appear all around the crimson orphan, bearing sun motifs. Suddenly sharpened stakes of bamboo and sticks arise as if from a Punji trap, as well as prickly brambles and briars arise. attempting to pierce it from all sides and below. "I always prefer to root out weeds the traditional way anyhow!"

COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Weald Advent on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Princess Runealy's Scatter Orb, taking 21 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Eri Shimanouchi's Weald Advent, taking 33 Fatigue damage!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

If only there were time to be satisfied at how well her timing worked out just now. Unfortunately, the battle won't wait; seeing the wave of acid coming at her, Sailor Jupiter throws her arm up defensively before her and leaps out of the way. She's not quite quick enough to escape entirely unscathed - acid splatters over her forearm and legs, leaving red marks on her skin where it burns - but she breaks the splash enough to protect ancient statue that's a piece of the shrine's long history, so at least that's something.

In the wake of the acidic wave, Jupiter's eyes sweep the battlefield that the shrine has become, quickly taking stock. The red monster is down temporarily, but not out yet - the blue one seems like the biggest threat around, but it's on the other side of a wall of flame for the moment, and that woman with the whip is still attacking Makoto's friends.

That single fact makes up Jupiter's mind for her - she turns on her heel, spreading her hands to either side of her, and a wind picks up around her that smells of roses. "Hey, 'President'!" Sailor Jupiter calls out, voice ringing with challenge, mocking scare quotes practically audible in the way she bites out the name. "You should know something about picking a fight with the Sailor Senshi--"

The wind swirls around her in a spiral of mounting intensity, and petals in shades of pink and red and gold scatter from her hands to fill the air, becoming a blizzard of bewildering color and dizzying fragrance rushing towards the masked woman.

"You'd better be ready to take us all on!"

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Flower Hurricane on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COIN FLIP: President flips a coin. It lands on heads!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Standing after her throw, Mars huffs some air from her nostrils in quiet frustration as the President contemptuously peels the prayer off of her. No youma then, just a woman to be put down..she can barely finish the thought before the President's fist slams into the side of her neck.

She doesn't fall, and instead stands tall. If the second hit had connected that might not have been the case. For once, Rei is happy to hear Usagi's wailing.

Tsking with bravado, annoyance, and a little pain, she cocks herself for a counterstrike..but El Presidente has already darted off to fight other foes. Usagi's voice breaks her concentration. Rei does a double take, a little incredulous at what she's seeing.

That last part though...Rei knew she should be the leader. Usagi-chan just practically said so herself! Standing a little straighter, she flips her hair and points to Usagi. "Just don't let her get away!"

Rubbing her neck with a darkening gaze, Rei cocks a fist back as she watches her opponent's moves. "Hit me, huh..." A fireball wreathes her hand..and as she throws the punch, that flame flies from her fist! "Well I can hit back!"

Twisting and dancing in midair like a dragonfly, Rei guides the hand grenade, darting it around the President to face her front before divebombing at her face!"

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Mars Attacks! on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Sailor Venus is so preoccupied by her own battle that she is only vaguely aware of what's going on with the beast the other magical girls are attacking.

That wave of golden light barrels towards Sailor Venus -- but she's not about to give in that easily! At the same moment the light leaves the whip's tip, Minako races towards it, then swings her leg out in one quick gesture, with all intentions of knocking the other girl to the ground.

"Sailor V Kick!"

The two attacks hit simutaneously: Venus's leg and President's wave of light -- and it's perhaps the force of the other girl's attack that kept Venus from hitting her mark perfectly. Still, Venus still stands, albeit unsteadily, a few feet back from where she stood a few moments before.

A few attacks race towards President, giving the resident orange senshi a second to recover from the attack.

"Economics? Math exams are over with!" And don't ask Minako how she did.

This time, Sailor Venus is going to try and hit President with a taste of her own medicine.

"Love-Me Chain Bind!"

COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used Love-Me Chain Bind on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: President fails to brace Sailor Mars's Mars Attacks!, taking 17 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Mars is Psyched!  
COMBAT: President fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Flower Hurricane, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Blind and Stun applied to President!  

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Red [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

/You know what? That was a really good moment we had there. Nice job, me. I know I gave you the leader role for a reason./

Prism Keeper Red's confident smile turns just the slightest bit self-indulgent, lingering in her powerful pose for several seconds longer. Probably longer than necessary.

/There might still be a way I can work in The Speech, if I really try. I haven't gotten to use that one in a while./

/I think I'll do it now, actually./

Red finally lowers her arm and begins the pre-speech twirl -- and then everything is bright red heat and blinding light, and the little rhyme she's so proud of vanishes from her mind as pain takes its place.

You know what they say about pride.

Red shrieks in a combination of surprise and distress, her wings leaping into action and carrying her out of the danger zone before she's burned to a crisp. But the damage is still there: several places of exposed skin are covered with light burns, her outfit is singed, and the very wings that flew her out appear to be melting at their edges. They've taken worse -- she's taken worse -- but it would probably be a good idea not to get too wrapped up in the moment again.

How about *they* get wrapped up instead?

"It was a mistake to attack me with my own color, you nasty bug," she says, the air of bubbly confidence wiped cleanly away. "I'll show you what red can really do."

The girl throws up her hands, and in a second, a mess of rose-and-thorn covered vines appears by her side, becoming more voluminous and tangled every second her arms remain in the air. When she is surrounded by nearly a garden's worth of roses, the young fighter throws an open palm towards the azure youma.

The vines swarm like serpents with six-inch fangs.

COMBAT: President narrowly dodges Sailor Venus's Love-Me Chain Bind, taking 13 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: President narrowly braces La Sirene du Nord's Before I Leave Your Eyes, taking 5 Fatigue damage!  President is Quipped!  President's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has used Rose Garden Wrath on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

That orphan glowers at her. And having found her composure, Neptune's gaze remains level on it in return. Another moment, another handful of beats - and the corners of her lips lift in the most subtle smile. Neptune brings up her gloved hands as it lowers its head and charges her...

And it was probably barely felt by the creature, the gentle guidance away from her that Neptune does. A little push to one side, a little hop of her own form to the other side, letting the creature charge merrily forward on its own way.

This leaves Neptune behind it, perhaps. Neptune takes a handful of steps in the direction of her momentum, an ocean wave surging from the ground and crashing over her, Neptune taking two handfuls of the water on its way down, the water coalescing and growing into two spheres angrily coursing with water. The other senshi were working rather well on their own, at least it appeared to her.

Even if in the end, they would not have the courage to finish it. Neptune felt that with every fiber of her being.

Twisting upon her heel, Neptune hoped to still be behind the creature, lifting those spheres to fire them into the Orphan's back, her eyes briefly tracking towards its twin.

COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has used Harsh Harsh Neptune on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to dodge Sailor Neptune's Harsh Harsh Neptune, taking 50 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Prism Keeper Red's Rose Garden Wrath, taking 31 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Prism Keeper Red is Psyched!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: President narrowly counters Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Overrun Bounce, taking 11 Fatigue damage!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched!  President's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: President's counterattack, Asset Management, partially gets through, doing 6 Fatigue damage to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!  

<Pose Tracker> Scarlet Rune Maiden [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

How young are some of these magical girls? If someone were to ask the sometimes overprotective Guma, it'ed be 'too young.' Yet, without so many ready to come to the aid of the people and, sometimes, spirits, the Maiden would hate to see the state of the world.

Burning light is cast, bearing down against Guma. She attempts to dodge, but the action comes far too late, leaving scorch marks on her body as she's cast away like a fallen leaf. Moving to one leg, she winces against the chattering of Akemi, who frets about in her mind. "I'll be fine, I just misjudged the attack," she says aloud.

It's one thing to miss out on dodging an attack, but to have to be called on it is another. "Now you're being annoying!" So.

How did the Prism Keeper defeat these danged things? 'The same way we beat everything else'. That's a good enough answer for the Maiden, as is Red's rallying cry. Watching Sailor Nepture's graceful handling of one of the Orphans, the Scarlet Maiden darts in afterwards, red energy artfully forming a dagger in one of her hands. "Ha," she lets out in a expelled sigh, curving around to carve a slash in the Orphan's backside.

COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has used Scarlet Knife on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Scarlet Rune Maiden's Scarlet Knife, taking 20 Fatigue damage!  Stagger and Stun applied to Juri Arisugawa!  

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Orange [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Prism Keeper Orange is caught by some horrible spores and they make her feel ill and terrible and weak. This experience teaches her that she doesn't want anymore of this specific bit of horribleness, so she summons her Chroma Wand and summons up a rotating orb of Koi around herself when the creature tries to follow up with yet, more of these horrible things. It seems to stop more from washing over her, which she is immensely thankfulfor.

She watches Red get hurts pretty bad by her OWN COLOR Which supposes, answering a question that had been bugging her. That in fact, that they were not immune to attacks of the same color. Of course, she winces all the same because that's still her friend getting hit. "It's okay Mei!" she calls out. "So this thing what's what! They can't do this to us, using your own color against you!" she calls out. And then, she /does/, and it is awesome and great, and makes her audiably sequeal. "Yessss!".

In turn, she summons some Koi from the tip of her wand, that hover about the tip, swimming in circles, before the sends the magical fish off with a wave of the wand, and off into the horrible creature assaulting the Shrine.

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Orange [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Prism Keeper Orange is caught by some horrible spores and they make her feel ill and terrible and weak. This experience teaches her that she doesn't want anymore of this specific bit of horribleness, so she summons her Chroma Wand and summons up a rotating orb of Koi around herself when the creature tries to follow up with yet, more of these horrible things. It seems to stop more from washing over her, which she is immensely thankful for.

She watches Red get hurts pretty bad by her OWN COLOR Which supposes, answering a question that had been bugging her. That in fact, that they were not immune to attacks of the same color. Of course, she winces all the same because that's still her friend getting hit. "It's okay Mei!" she calls out. "So this thing what's what! They can't do this to us, using your own color against you!" she calls out. And then, she /does/, and it is awesome and great, and makes her audibly squeal. "Yessss!".

In turn, she summons some Koi from the tip of her wand, that hover about the tip, swimming in circles, before the sends the magical fish off with a wave of the wand, and off into the horrible creature assaulting the Shrine.

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has used Schools of Pain on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to dodge Prism Keeper Orange's Schools of Pain, taking 18 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Mai and Eri's essential strategy of switching targets works beautifully: the prison of flame leaves the azure Orphan choking and gasping and boiling, boiling, while the Puella Magi's Totoro impression impales the crimson Orphan from all directions. They both scream, and as they do, their wounds explode with acid -- a new trick, if an old weapon -- boils gouting with concussive, burning force.

Runealy follows up with a shower of emerald sparkles of energy on the trapped crimson monster, and it tears free from its prison out of sheer desperation, again leaving parts of itself behind. This time it even loses a leg with a sickening squealch and a gout of black ichor, but it does have nine more, and it doesn't seem overly slowed as it rushes towards her at speed to bite hungrily at her. Its maws do not impact, however -- rather, some of its tendrils swirl into larger megatendrils and attempt to pierce her at forehead and shoulders, trying to draw her life force into itself.

The azure youma, meanwhile, quickly suffers the same jungle-like treatment as its fellow, wrapped up by Prism Keeper Red's briars like a spider's supper. Some thorns break against its hard chitin, but others penetrate. While it's held in place, Sailor Neptune's spheres erupt against it with monumental force, and the Scarlet Rune Maiden is quieter but no less deadly, her slash opening up an enormous weak point along its back. More burning ichor pours out of it towards the spirited warrior. Koi pelt it at all angles, and its pained thrashing -- likely to catch Orange and Red on the backswing if they're not careful -- tears it out of the roses and into the fire, as it were -- it lands at the Scarlet Maiden's feet, Sailor Neptune now at its back.

Like its cousin, it turns its remaining tendrils into something a bit more potent, attempting to make the latter's strength its own. There's an awful, hungry sucking sound.

Acid-coated thorns fall in all directions during the twin Orphans' escape, a byproduct that will eat holes through the thin walls and roofing of the main building if it isn't prevented.

COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Double, Double, Boil and Trouble on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Double, Double, Boil and Trouble on Eri Shimanouchi.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Devour on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Double, Double, Boil and Trouble on Scarlet Rune Maiden.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Underfoot and Overclaw on Prism Keeper Orange.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Underfoot and Overclaw on Prism Keeper Red.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used Devour on Sailor Neptune.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has used A Thorny Situation on Mytho.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has adjusted her boss levels. She is now ready to take on 8 opponents!
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly dodges Juri Arisugawa's Double, Double, Boil and Trouble, taking 3 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa is unable to keep fighting!

<OOC> Juri Arisugawa laughs -- whoops, I must have spent exactly to 0 <OOC> Juri Arisugawa says, "Don't worry, they're still there to slap around, one moment"

COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 8 opponents!

<OOC> Juri Arisugawa spots herself 1 Mana

COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord covers Mytho for Juri Arisugawa's attack, A Thorny Situation, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange narrowly braces Juri Arisugawa's Underfoot and Overclaw, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  Prism Keeper Orange's Block ability activates!  Prism Keeper Orange's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi narrowly counters Juri Arisugawa's Double, Double, Boil and Trouble, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Eri Shimanouchi's Reverse ability activates!  Stagger applied to Eri Shimanouchi!  
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi's counterattack, Kodama's Rebuke, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord fails to counter Juri Arisugawa's A Thorny Situation, taking 16 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord's counterattack, Moondrops Burst, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Juri Arisugawa!  
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red perfectly dodges Juri Arisugawa's Underfoot and Overclaw, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Dodge!  
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden narrowly braces Juri Arisugawa's Double, Double, Boil and Trouble, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Scarlet Rune Maiden's Parry ability activates!  Stagger applied to Scarlet Rune Maiden!  
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune narrowly dodges Juri Arisugawa's Devour, taking 12 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa drains 5 fatigue from Sailor Neptune!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy narrowly dodges Juri Arisugawa's Devour, taking 19 Fatigue damage!  Princess Runealy's Fade ability activates!  Princess Runealy's Flash ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa drains 8 fatigue from Princess Runealy!

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

Tsukiko bounds back at President with a familiar spring in her step, but this time she doesn't quite respond the same. She's made a springboard, but rather than shouting her distaste - she snaps out with her whip, coiling around Tsukiko's ankle and slamming her back down to Earth. Then whipping her around hard, spinning her into the courtyard wall as punishment.

Sailor Moon is running to support Sailor Mars, she notes, and she starts to wind up to respond...but du Nord is talking, and she tilts her head, a sidelong glare of golden half-mask. Her gaze is inscrutable, but she lingers on that look, silently watching du Nord for several seconds. The mask reveals nothing of what could go on beneath. But then, finally, she says a cold, "Yes," and turns to face her in full, lunging at her. She snaps her whip out, full extensions of the cord. It doesn't hit, but it doesn't have to, flashes of gold light racing away from the whip to try and bowl Nori over. President turns again, in the process of finding Sailors Moon and Mars, when she's double-teamed; Sailor Jupiter appears before her, hurling a leaf storm that forces President to bring up her arm to guard her face. "Hngh--" she grates out. At that same time, she's bombarded, a fireball erupting in her face; two steps yielded. And then the Love-Me Chain is coming, and President - hurls herself to the side, a surprisingly graceful move that neatly escapes the encircling chains. She lands with a huff, breathing heavily for a long few seconds before she's able to rise back up to her feet, reclaiming her center, even though she may be visibly off her best. She clenches the whip tight, considering for a long few seconds.

"Very well," she says, quietly. Then she's moving.

Sailor Venus gets the first pleasure of her company, the strangely-clad woman charging into her guard. "How about I give you one more examination, young lady!" she declares - and her fists blur forward, a series of rapid, dizzying punches slamming Venus relentlessly. "Now...count your injuries!"

Then she whips around, eyes finding Sailor Mars. She snaps her whip around with a quick movement, wrapping her up and then, with a howl of strength, swinging the Senshi of Mars into one of the pillars of the shrine's torii! "Your resolve is empty. A momentary anger. Useless."

Her eyes land on Usagi, and her lips curl up, silent. She doesn't even say anything; just a silent stare, confidence rolling off of her like a physical, overwhelming pressure.

Instead, she turns on Sailor Jupiter. "All of you?" she says, musing.

And then she's there - almost fster than the eye can follow, blasting into Sailor Jupiter's personal space and swinging a right-handed punch with all of the strength that has thus far been hurling people about like dolls. She might recognize it; it has the form of a boxer's punch. "As you wish," President says, quietly, in the heartbeat before impact.

COMBAT: President has used Asset Management on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: President has used Bet Wave on La Sirene du Nord.
COMBAT: President has used Asset Management on Sailor Mars.
COMBAT: President has used Queen's Dominion on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: President has used Puncher Rushdown on Sailor Venus.
COMBAT: President has finished attacking.
COMBAT: President has used Killer Punch on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: President has adjusted her boss levels. She is now ready to take on 6 opponents!
COMBAT: President has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly dodges President's Asset Management, taking 21 Fatigue damage!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord narrowly dodges President's Bet Wave, taking 16 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges President's Queen's Dominion, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Moon is Quipped!  Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Mars perfectly dodges President's Asset Management, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Dodge!  Sailor Mars's Fade ability activates!  Sailor Mars's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges President's Puncher Rushdown, taking 5 Fatigue damage!  President is Psyched!  Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates!  Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to counter President's Killer Punch, taking 67 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Supreme Suplex, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to President!  

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Another yelp from Tsukiko as the whip tosses her around. She manages to roll with the throw as she closes in on the wall, such that she thuds off of it instead of crashing /through/ it.

Getting to her feet, the wolfgirl glares at the President, taking a quick breath as she sizes her opponent up. If she's that good at hitting normal speeds of movement, then perhaps something faster...?

She dashes forward, circling the President, darting, feinting, doubling back, all to reduce the mobility of the whip-wielding woman.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Herd the Quarry on President.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.

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

Mai can't help grinning at the latest success - the blue orphan disliked fire, after all. She's already airborne when the explosions start, and she's able to more or less ride the wave upward for a moment. From above, she can see the state the temple's in - the damage the Orphans are causing, the panic of the giant monsters, the ongoing brawl between half the group and that masked woman.

Rings whirring, she descends rapidly to confront the Orphan. At least this enemy can be burnt. Things are strangely looking up, and a grin is finding its way onto her face. She glances quickly to Runealy - "Are you all right? Orphans can be..." - and shakes her head. "It's running scared - I think we can do this if we work together."

With a spin, she starts hurling thin lashes of flame at the thing. If it dislikes fire, maybe she can force it back somewhere she won't have to worry as much about what else gets burnt. As the flames lick out, she calls out to Eri. "Eri-chan! Things okay over there?" The red one does seem to hate plants...

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Turning Up The Heat on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Acidic blood splatters. Her scourge tries to slap it backwards and at it's target defensively, but against the corrosive blood it finds itself less than equal to the task. As it strikes her, she finds herself staggered backwards a step from the sheer force of the explosion. A shriek bubbles to her lips, but she forces it back down. "F-Fine Mai-chan! Don't worry! Are all orphans like this!?"

She finds herself circling the flanks of the battlefield, looking to the outskirts. Only to see Sailor Jupiter take such a devastating punch. Every time she watched her the strength of her character and her might towered over the battlefield. Even as she marvelled at the power behind that haymaker, and the figure that threw it, she decided to yell out some encouragement. "Jupiter! You're not going to let a little love tap like that get you down, are you!? You're the Sailor of Thunder, so bring it down on her! Let's see a real knock out punch!"

COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Bring the Thunder on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter accepts Eri Shimanouchi's Bring the Thunder, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Jupiter is Cheered!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to dodge Mai Tokiha's Turning Up The Heat, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Mai Tokiha is Psyched!  

<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Flashing gold light smashes into la Sirene du Nord, sending her staggering back against a stone pillar. Her face tightens up with apin as she looks up to the heavens, even as President turns away from her.

Forgotten, she thinks. Discarded.

Staring into the clear blue sky, la Sirene indulges in despair, letting herself wallow in the pains of the heart. Her eyes water over. Perhaps President is right, she thinks: she is too slow, too clumsy. The storm may be strong at times, but it is a strength that ebbs and flows... and what can't be controlled, she thinks - is it really useful?

Staring at the sky, the thoughts swirl in la Sirene's mind. The uncontrollable. Discarded places.

Her pulse quickens. But the thoughts don't gel together - because she sees a storm of things, sharp and glittering, rise in the air, poisonous and sharp.

Grinding her teeth hard enough to hurt, la Sirene holds up her black mirror. "NO" she answers the President, the mirror itself glittering darkly in her palm.

She pushes her will out, into the mirror, into that other world. Into the Sea of Tears... and the window opens, the portal unsealed for a fleeting moment, in one of the rare moments in the northern reaches of that drowned and mournful world. A moment where the clouds erode, and a wave strikes, with the dim white light of a distant moon shining through it. There is the distinct sound of a wave crashing on a shore -

And the spray bursts up into the air, dense and palpable, still glimmering with the inner luminance of that fleeting moment. La Sirene's teeth clench tight as she pushes it forwards, the sea spray rising up to its crest-- and keeping its way upwards. Each droplet steers its way to a thorn; the salt of the water and that glimmering stolen instant enough to neutralize acid in a fizzing of magical reaction. Thorns fall - but only thorns, and perhaps not even they, for long.

Shaking, la Sirene turns to look at the President as she moves towards Sailor Jupiter. She turns herself on her heel, raising up her left hand. "These places that children love... their time hasn't come yet...!!"

Her voice raises upwards. "And when it does-- I will be there, to cherish them, even so! Love does not die, it only changes its form, and I won't let you take them before their time-- Les Mysteres!"

Her middle and ring finger curl down, thumb extended proudly. "Attend me!"

With no pressure of time or reaction, the spell forms itself in its full fledging and vigor, silver lines curling around la Sirene's feet and a sea-sweet wind rising up beneath her before she strikes down, still holding the Black Mirror as if it were the pick for a titanic and unseen guitar. Striking the lines of force, there is a wail of distorted sweetness--

And palpable silver liquid flies straight at the President's back!!

COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Les Mysteres on President.
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.

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

Runealy decides not to get too close in light of the ongoing acid-sprays, even if she was attempting to 'trade places' with Mai. Seeing one of these monsters lose a limb in such a jarring way also causes her to step back with a gasp, given all the more reason to be cautious now! This proves to be well-founded when it chases her despite all that, and her attempts to jump backwards out of its reach eventually falter; one of the tendrils strikes her square in the head!

Rune feels a chill tear through her as it begins the draining process... something invasive, hurtful, and deeply wrong; a wracked cough follows as she swings her wand at the tendril in an attempt to break its link to her life, then she begins a stumbling run in an arc around the area. Anything to get some distance from that! Breathing heavily, Mai's voice reminds her that any of her friends could have been drained instead... something Rune wouldn't wish on any of them. Between gasps, Rune responds: "I'll be okay once we get rid of it! Don't let it get near you!"

Thus her wand begins humming with magic build-up, and after a few seconds Rune unleashes another blasting orb! This one is a bit darker green than most, and looks 'thicker', but works much the same; it tries to impact with her assailant and burst into sparkly mist if it connects!

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Charged Shot on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Scarlet Rune Maiden [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

As soon as her feet hit the ground, Guma keeps moving to avoid being caught by the beast. With the dying light of her energy blade, she blocks at the burning ichor blood as it dripps onto her and the ground, the red dagger disappearing from her hand in a dying wisp of light. Whatever's in that blood, it hurts, making the concept of attempting to try a stunt like that again seem foolish.

The distance she gains isn't enough to set her far from the Orphan as it lands at her feet. "Watch out," Guma warns Sailor Neptune, though her words may not be of much help. Attacking it may be better. Slamming her open palms against the earth, Guma calls upon the divine power of earth within to call a spike of earth underneath the Orphan to jut upwards, hopefully spearing some part of the creature.

That's not the worst of their troubles, it seems. ("The President seems to be gaining on that wolf girl, the siren girl, and the sailor girls!") Akemi worries away in Guma's head. "If these youma gain on them, they'll be done for," Guma mumbles underneath her breath. Then, more sympathetically, the Maiden calls out, "Hold on! We can endure this!"

COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has used Earth Spike on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Scarlet Rune Maiden has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Princess Runealy's Charged Shot, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Scarlet Rune Maiden's Earth Spike, taking 13 Fatigue damage!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

The tendrils lash out - and Neptune's was in the process of taking a step back when Guma's warning touches her ears. Neptune leaps - but a moment too late. Some of those tendrils find ways of wrapping around Neptune's arm. A moment, and Neptune pulls against the strength in the tendril.

A moment, and... Neptune cries out, a tired, sinking feeling rolling through her body. It felt as though her heart were pouring a little of its power into her arm, and to that tendril.

Neptune had an arm free. Enough to unwrap the tendril and toss it away from herself, taking a handful of steps backwards, bringing a gloved hand to her forehead as the dizziness threatened to swoon her.

Neptune's eyes track towards the Scarlet Rune Maiden then. "Thank you," she states. Another moment further, and she lifts her chin. "But you should be careful yourself," she adds, her tone of voice freezing a handful of degrees.

The other creature seemed well in hand. And Neptune was swiftly losing patience with this one. Neptune folds her hands in front of herself, and breathes out, her mind touching on waters - not of this planet, but one far away.

Neptune calls to them. And they answer.

An ephermal wave crashes over her, sending her hair and the hems of her sleeves crackling with the motion - but it leaves her entirely dry except for that mild disturbance. Her fingers clutch tighter, and another wave crashes - Neptune snapping her eyes up towards the creature as the wave swells behind her.

And this time, as it crashes around her, it flows, twisting up and lifting like a creature trying to take form itself, turning into a torrent that spirals towards, and attempts to strike the Orphan, battering it with pulse after pulse of ocean water.

COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has used Unrelenting Tide on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa narrowly braces Sailor Neptune's Unrelenting Tide, taking 15 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Juri Arisugawa's Block ability activates!  Juri Arisugawa's Parry ability activates!  Stun applied to Juri Arisugawa!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sailor Jupiter stands firm when the President turns to face her; her shoulders are squared, stance ready, eyes hard and defiant.

And then the woman simply steps past Jupiter's guard as though it isn't there, and the Senshi of Courage goes flying from the impact of the President's fist with her unprotected face.

She lands hard on her back - so hard she bounces before the momentum of the blow finally dies - and for a moment all she can do is lie there, ears ringing. Eri's voice reaches her as though from a long distance, as though she's under water.

But it does reach her.

"...Right," she grits, her voice still a little shaky, and with a great and determined effort, she begins to pick herself back up onto her feet. "Every bit. Because..." She looks to one side, and to the other; she looks for her friends, for her fellow senshi, and sure enough they are there.

"...like I said..." Sailor Jupiter holds out her hands, each to either side, but this time it's not to call the wind - she reaches for her friends, a wordless call. "...I'm not alone, either."

Her right hand closes around Sailor Moon's, her left around Sailor Venus'. She's only kind of managing to stay steady on her feet, but her voice rings out confident and clear once more, and there's a clear green light gathering around her, a stirring in the air.

"JUPITER POWER!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has started a combo targeting Juri Arisugawa and President!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

"Ahh!" Sailor Venus lets out a yelp of surprise as the lime-haired girl comes barreling towards her with a series of fast-moving punches.

Minako narrowly dodges, them -- a few even manage to graze her -- but by the end of it all, she's exhausted; Venus is panting slightly now -- and she's frowning. She can't be the only one out there who's starting to get tired.

And then she catches a glimpse of Jupiter; waves of worry wash over Minako as she watches the guardian in green slowly pull herself to her feet.

"Jupiter-chan!"

But then Jupiter unsteadily approaches her and Minako is suddenly overcome with a mix of emotions. Pride, confidence, faith... with the other sailor guardians, there isn't anything she can't do!

Orange light rises around Minako as she grips Jupiter's hand, then Mars's.

"VENUS POWER!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Venus has joined the combo started by Sailor Jupiter!

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Red [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Red might not be the brightest bulb, but she understands her mistakes.

So even when she sees the bright blue bug wrapped up in her vines, even impaled on a few of her thorn-spikes, she holds onto her head and does *not* celebrate prematurely. Even the small smile of satisfaction that begins to tug at her lips is wiped away when she sees the youma burst out, the thorns -- *her* thorns, now smeared with acid and ichor -- begin to fall towards the shrine.

"No!"

The girl kicks off the ground, wings buzzing furiously, unwilling to let her own attack be turned against the very place she is fighting to protect. She's not sure how she's going to stop them all, for it's a veritable rainfall of acid flecks and razor spikes, but she has to. If they were to damage the shrine--

But a spray of sea water emerges from nowhere at the command of La Sirene. The other girl who had fought to protect King Penguin. The one who had told her it was okay to cry, back when she was still fighting alone. It seems she's helped her out again, hasn't she?

Red pauses in the air and smiles as her thorns fall more or less harmlessly to the ground, her guilt absolved in the sea water. She can't say anything to La Sirene, for they're some distance apart on the battlefield. But she does smile, raising one hand in a thumbs up to get her attention.

Hopefully, that's all it takes to convey 'sorry my attack almost destroyed the shrine. also, nice save.'

Something else catches her attention now, though, in the form of an open wound on the azure monster's back. This girl has played enough video games to know a Big Boss Weak Spot when she sees one.

Time for an aerial attack.

Summoning the very essence of her color, a bubble of red begins to glow around the Prism Keeper, brightening and intensifying until it is nigh solid light and magic, the girl within rippling with the power she commands. She does not have time to say anything -- and she doubts the bug monsters would be able to understand it, even if she did.

So she just closes her eyes and thrusts herself forward, hurtled along by Chroma energy at the speed of a bullet, towards the uncovered weakness on her opponent's back.

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has used Red Comet on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Her opponent whirls, whip whizzing with her. It doesn't matter. Rei leaps up over the whistling arc of the attack, landing lightly on her feet with a toss of her hair. Pointing straight at her foe, her countenance is stern.

"Blowhard! You'll be scorched by my resolve!"

Clapping her other palm to her extended hand, Rei's fingers lace, both index fingers outstretched alongside one another. A crimson singularity forms just before her fingertips, a ruby orb that bursts open like a detonating egg, orderly color giving way to a spiraling vortex of fire and spidery tendrils of lightning..

Just then, Jupiter quietly grabs her attention from the corner of her vision. The tumultuous blaze retreats into itself, becoming a ruby pinpoint once more before vanishing completely. Turning from her enemy, she strides to the other Senshi.

Her wise widen at Jupiter's sight. She was looking well worn..the blow she suffered was obviously a terrible one. She smiles softly to Makoto, to Usagi, to Minako..taking Sailor Moon's right hand with her left, and Sailor Venus' left with her right.

Glancing at Usagi, her smile brightens as she bows her head slightly. Her words her quiet and quick. "Thank you for tending to my grandfather." Her gaze rises to the rest of them. In a confident and clarion voice, Rei adds her voice to the chorus as a column of crimson light grows around her, stretching into the heavens.

"MARS POWER!"

COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Prism Keeper Red's Red Comet, taking 17 Fatigue damage!  Prism Keeper Red is Psyched!  
COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Mars has joined the combo started by Sailor Jupiter!

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Orange [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Prism Keeper Orange eeeek! The monster trashes loose, she raises her wand and forces an momentary orange barrier in front of her which causes the monster's swing to hit it, pushing her backwards a bit, but not majorly damaged in. It's a nice breath of freshair compared to the last few hit's she's taken tonight.

Mei handles the protection of the shrine, so she looks on over to the beast again and steels herself best she can as she raises her wand skyard, charges a strong blast of energy, then lets it fly!

It starts out as an orb... but then explodes into a bunch of Koi!....

Which then explodes to even more smaller Koi. It stops at the second nesting of Koi, as she aims to more or less cover the beast in a spray of tiny tiny koi.

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has used Chroma Wand Cascade on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Prism Keeper Orange's Chroma Wand Cascade, taking 20 Fatigue damage!  

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Mars lays down the law. Sailor Moon clasps her hands together, eyes starry despite everything--it might come off as irreverent to the gravity of the situation, but this is the face of hope. Sailor Moon is not the best magical girl.

(that is a tie between Sailor V and Puella Magi Mami, Diary of Usagi Tsukino, vol. 4, pg. 298)

Then the fight grows serious. Jupiter rushes in--Sailor Moon adds a quick "yay!" as she moves laterally to get into a position to cover the others. They're all more natural at this, so it's better for her to provide ranged backup! She raises her wand--

--but it's getting dark. Venus relentlessly assaulted, Jupiter mercilessly struck, Mars busy evading. Usagi hesitates. What can she do? She looks for an opening and finds President staring in return. She backs down instantly, paling and falling onto her back foot.

What is it about her? President's confidence is psyching her out. She's so--mature? That feels like the right word. The idea that it's maturity Usagi is afraid of stirs up a host of anxieties completely inappropriate to the fight at hand--fears of older girls and boys and what they might think of her.

I'm not alone, either.

Usagi rises out of it, blue-eyed gaze going instinctively to Makoto. She's drawn into motion before she can think of what's happening. Her feet have found their mark, and a moment later her mind catches up with her heart.

MARS POWER!

Usagi takes the warmth of Rei's hand into her own. She can feel the other girl in her heart, or more likely imagines she can. A worry more deep than anything Usagi experienced today blossoms in her heart, concern for grandfather Hino and for the shrine and its visitors, friends and strangers. It doesn't crush her like it normally would. She feels like overcoming it. She feels like she can work through it all.

JUPITER POWER!

Usagi takes the strength of Makoto's hand next. Her heart is filled with pain more sharp than she could bear. Physical pain, yes, but emotional wounds as well. There's so much of it that it is all Usagi can do to wonder how one girl can live with it all. Not just live but stand here, her back straight and chin up, courageous and unbent. The pain won't stop her, whether it's from fists or derision.

VENUS POWER!

Usagi looks up, eager and fearless. Across from her is Minako. They aren't touching, but their hearts are already so close. Everything that happened at the winter dance makes sense now. Minako helped Usagi then, quickly and without reservation. She should have known then that she was Sailor V. Of course a legendary hero would have such a beautiful soul, so full of love as to rescue a complete stranger from something even as small as a denied dance. Even as the moon princess, she doesn't keep herself apart. Usagi hopes that if she ever becomes famous and important like that, she can be exactly like Minako.

"MOON PRISM POWER!"

The four sailor soldiers erupt in light, a halation of kaleidoscopic light surrounding their united circle until it is almost too bright to see them--even as featureless figures clad in dazzling white uniforms, they cannot be fully eclipsed. The passionate swirl of orange, green, red, and silver fairy-lights rise up, spreading outward over the battle-struck shrine, glowing so bright that the damage seems to disappear in the sparkling haze.

It all goes still with potential waiting to be invoked, a starry galaxy of twinkling desire hanging over them all.

"SAILOR PLANET ATTACK!"

The galaxy comes falling to Earth to punish the unforgiveable.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Moon has joined the combo started by Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Moon have used Sailor Planet Attack on Juri Arisugawa.
COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Moon have used Sailor Planet Attack on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: President narrowly counters Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Herd the Quarry, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  President's Tactician ability activates!  Tangle and Trap applied to President!  
COMBAT: President's counterattack, Unfair Trading, partially gets through, doing 20 Fatigue damage to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!  
COMBAT: President fails to dodge La Sirene du Nord's Les Mysteres, taking 31 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Moon's Finisher, Combo: Sailor Planet Attack, taking 165 Fatigue damage!  President's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Juri Arisugawa fails to brace Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Moon's Finisher, Combo: Sailor Planet Attack, taking 560 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Juri Arisugawa is unable to keep fighting!  

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The azure Orphan does indeed run scared from Mai's precision-point flames, but it's so panicked that it occasionally runs through them. More burns open up, spraying acid every which way -- now that deeper flesh has been penetrated, in fact, what pours out are not the purer streams, but the spores. The tides rip and tear at its hide, literally sending salt into the wound, despite its resistance to water itself. As with Mai's lash on the crimson Orphan earlier, it has no such resistance to force, and the ocean brings with it an inexorable, implacable erosion.

Prism Keeper Red takes advantage of all of this to deliver a body blow against the creature that sends it tumbling end over end with a mighty WHAM!

The crimson Orphan's chitin enjoys somewhat more success against the impact of Runealy's green energy orbs, but a long crack opens up, creating a massive weak point similar to the one previously opened by the Scarlet Rune Maiden on the azure Orphan. The latter girl brings forth the Earth once again, and this time widens the crack she's created, eliciting a ghastly shriek that sounds like a dozen hungry ghosts.

Prism Keeper Orange's koi pour in, coating its innards as well as its skin. It thrashes miserably. Then its keening cry joins its partner's, its other half's, harmonizing.

They leap towards each other.

The red runes on their forehead pulse once, before they both curl into balls, around one another. There's an explosion of force, and when the dust clears, two have become one.

Purple, of course. It is otherwise not a linear combination, however; twenty legs have been reduced to four, in a gross and gigantic charicature of a centaur, with weird backwards joints. What rises above it, impossibly supported by those mere spindles, is more muscle than carapace, throbbing with exposed veins and oozing gouts of acidic spores.

It rears back, in its desperation attempting to simply smash its whole self through Hikawa Shrine -- with Grandpa Hino very much lying in its path, much like everything and everyone else.

It rears back, and instead of falling to Earth, the sky falls to it.

The stars pour through it, the light of four hearts united as one blowing through its carapace as though it were an afterthought, which, in its weakened state, it is.

In a heartbeat, a wish, a prayer -- it has returned to them.

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

Eri cheers Jupiter on. President's gaze briefly tracks to her, a silent, blank-eyed judgment. "Don't flatter her. I'll be impressed if she can still speak after a blow like th--"

Sailor Jupiter is getting up. President's eyes follow over. It's a weirdly theatrical trait; fully aware that she cannot emote with her eyes, she emotes with the rest of her body. For instance, by planting one globed hand on the broad sweep of her bare hip, staring at Sailor Jupiter as she stands. "...Not bad," she concedes. "Perhaps you are of some concern, after all."

But apparently not enough. Tsukiko comes at her again while the Sailors prepare their moves, and President rounds on her during one of her manifold jukes - slugging her hard in the chest with a whole-body hook. "SIT," she commands, loudly.

La Sirene du Nord is doing her own thing, defying her in her way. Much of it sos internal that all she can do is weather the magic flying around. And she can't help but notice the awesome might gathering above her, and she turns toregard that in turn. It proves her undoing, in a way; she can't defend against Les Mysteres, and the silvery liquid drives into her mostly-bare backside, staggering the woman forward a few steps before she drives her heeled foot into the ground. She turns half-round, glaring over-shoulder. "A moment," she says, firmly.

She hears the words. She hurls up her arms, a boxer's block; protect the vitals, the face, the chest, though defending from above is a little novel. The light of eternity falls on her. She doesn't have the attention to spare to check on the Youma. She digs deep, concrete caving under her defiance, digging in and digging out, physical and mental. But her counterpoint, a single roar, is like a lion's declaration:

"APPRIVOISER! BETREIDA!"

A gold erupts not from her so much as from her mask; a counterpoint color, ensconcing her. A shield, wispy thin and yet iron hard, breaking the Sailor Planet Attack around her and shattering its might, sending threads of wonder careening around the courtyard against her bulwark. She falls to her knees, but the light doesn't betray her. She glares in defiance of even the twisting infinite power of the universe, and in the end....

In the end, the soft gold curtain of light she has invoked is all the light that remains of the cacaphonous collision.

She rises. Her stance is unsteady; one foot falling too-fast to hit the ground. She breathes, long, low breaths.

And she says, "Good...but it is not the light of Tau."

She holds her whip up. "Bet radiance shines throughout the world! WITNESS! BEEEEEEEEEEET!!"

And then she releases; the whip snapping relentlessly at the now-exposed Sailor Senshi, arcs of golden light like the claws of a lion lashing against them again and again and again and again and again, too fast to see, too fast to escape! She rounds, she raises it high, roaring, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARC!" before sweeping a golden blow down on the hide of Sailor Jupiter in particular; and then, for the coup de gras, she spirals the whip, terrible golden light racing away from her to pursue her other two assailants; a vast outpouring of defiant might!

COMBAT: FINISHER! President has used Lioness Lashing on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: FINISHER! President has used Lioness Lashing on Sailor Mars.
COMBAT: FINISHER! President has used Lioness Lashing on Sailor Venus.
COMBAT: President has used Bet Arc on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: President has used Queen Sweep on La Sirene du Nord.
COMBAT: President has used Queen Sweep on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: President has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko perfectly counters President's Queen Sweep, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  
COMBAT: FINISHER! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's counterattack, Silver Wolf Tackle, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to President!  
COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly braces President's Finisher, Lioness Lashing, taking 34 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Moon's Parry ability activates!  

<Pose Tracker> Scarlet Rune Maiden [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

("You might have been treating the sailor girl like she couldn't handle it herself, Guma,") counters Akemi, mentally. ("We need to watch ourselves. My body can't always keep up with what you want to do.") "Well-said," Guma finally says to Neptune, with a nod.

Turning to face the Orphans, Guma's breath halts as the two combine, creating an entirely new force they all must face. "Everyone, bear down, we must-"

Protect the shrine.

Guma didn't even need to say anything, really. All their hearts and minds were focused on the same endeavor, and while many of them were still reacting, the Sailor Scouts were combining their forces for a final blow of their own. The planets align in a blow that strikes at all three foes, critically smashing the combined might of the two Orphans.

The ancient bear spirit laughs whole-heartedly, smug at the very act of witnessing such an explosion of hope and resolve. "I hope the young girl will still have enough strength to realize what's just occurred. Nothing short of amazing!" She shakes her head, still smiling. "Haven't seen a display like that in a while. This era gets more and more interesting the more I experience it..."

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces President's Bet Arc, taking 13 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates!  Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates!  President drains 5 fatigue from Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord narrowly braces President's Queen Sweep, taking 7 Fatigue damage!  La Sirene du Nord's Block ability activates!  La Sirene du Nord's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges President's Finisher, Lioness Lashing, taking 69 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Venus is unable to keep fighting!  Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates!  Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Mars narrowly braces President's Finisher, Lioness Lashing, taking 38 Fatigue damage!  

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Tsukiko wheezes as the President's fist slams into her. The wolfgirl dashes out of the way of the Senshi's skydrop, and she smiles as the youma is turned into dust. One threat down...

...and a shockwave of energy to go. She dashes /towards/ the golden lashes, a silvery glow surrounding her as she hits top speed. The aura breaks through the golden shockwave easily, but her path is deflected just enough, missing the President by mere centimeters.

Tired and weak, Tsukiko charges at the President one more time. There is no grace, no agility to this attack; no, this is a near-feral leap of frustration and pummelling, taking the wolfgirl to the edge of exhaustion in an attempt to finally take down this dangerous adversary.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Gnaw Your Head Off!!! on President.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.

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

Runealy has had her breath taken away for a lot of bad reasons so far. Intense heat, fright, being smashed into the ground, and energy-drained. Now it happens again for a much more encouraging reason, as everyone works together to do something incredible... the Sailors especially so; she has no words, merely an inarticulate gasp while backing away and staring at what just happened. Awe-struck, it momentarily slips Rune's mind that there are still things to tend to.

Such as the gold bursts created by the President. Brilliant 'claws' in their own right. They are reminders that the shrine is not yet safe, that she and her friends are still in danger... and something flashes through her mind as she recalls something the President said. 'Sit.' It wasn't said to Rune, but she noticed it anyway. And now that this frantic battle is starting to thin down, she finally has a chance to address that.

"'Sit', you say? That's my friend you're speaking to, not some misbehaving pet to look down on!" Incensed, she takes aim. "Leave! Just... leave her alone, leave all of us alone, and leave! Waldiiaaa..."

That chant creates five green energy orbs, arranging themselves into a star pattern. A sixth floats into the center of the formation. "Burst!" This shout sends all six flying. "Reign!" And the final incantation causes them to split apart in mid-air. They turn into a wide shower of sparkles, shining with one goal; to strike out at someone whose power has made her frightened, but whose contempt for a close friend has made Rune very upset.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Princess Runealy has used Waldia Burst Reign on President.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

Minako's always been quick; it's part of the reason why she's the ace member of the junior high volleyball team at Infinity Institute. Unfortunately, tonight, her reflexes have failed her. When President lashes out, Sailor Venus is only barely able to get out of the way.

Only barely.

Minako feels herself stumble forward on unsteady legs; she can feel her knees bending in now, and she knows she's not going to be able to hold herself upward for much longer.

Her gaze, heavy-lidded now, turns briefly to the other sailor guardians.

"Everybody... sorry."

Sailor Venus crumples to the ground below.

<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

La Sirene meets the President's eyes when she says "a moment." Her eyes gleam with eerie light from within, subtle yet clear.

That light in turn is drowned by the sheer, stunning force of the combined might of the Sailor Team, and if it is weaker for being not quite complete, la Sirene du Nord doesn't notice. She gasps; Batiste stares in awe. The light is intense...

But not quite enough. As that luminous starry light fades, la Sirene feels something linger in her. She raises her hand - and even as President makes her run, she says, "Batiste... what is this...?"

"You haven't seen it before, cousin? It is always within you," the otter says, cryptically. "The light that never warms. Even in darkness it exists. You ride strange orbits - all of you do."

"Only in the light from that attack," la Sirene says, "Could I see it -" But her wondrous examination of her own right hand is cut short, as she sees that President is not merely glowing but is assailing the others.

Shaking as she is, la Sirene does not trust herself to invoke the charms. She runs instead...

She runs towards the light.

Golden glow shines in her face. She squints, she grinds her teeth again. Building up speed, she leaps up. Remember Cure White and Cure Black, she thinks. Remember grace and beauty and sorrow and how even the whale that breaches the sea is in its time a thing of grace and power and remember the clothes you wear and the dreams you bear aren't bindings but blessings -

"Do you know the Luxor game?" says a voice behind the President.

With a silver sparkle, la Sirene du Nord swings her right foot around to kick her in the back of the head, backed by speed and force.

COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Desdinova on President.
COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.

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

Admittedly, Mai's plan had been to get close to the Orphan and keep its attention - but she gives a nod to Runealy's advice. "They tend to be nasty..." She calls out to Eri. "Afraid so - but it's running scared, so let's give it something to worry about!"

Mai can't - or rather, won't - bring Kagutsuchi's full power to light here. Not where there's, well, anything valuable. But, even if she hasn't yet had that promised talk - maybe she can call on those flames. She narrows her eyes at the Orphan, even as it combines with its twin.

And then her eyes go wide as the light of the stars and planets comes to bear fully upon the monster, annihilating it - and without harming the shrine, at that. For a moment, Mai is struck mute in awe.

The masked woman, however, is not. The declaration of war demands her attention - and so she bears witness as the masked woman lashes out at the Sailor Senshi.

Mai comes to a landing on solid ground, near Eri, and looks directly at 'President'. "I was paying attention to your monsters more than you...but you're bent on causing mayhem and hurting people. I've got only one thing to say to that." She gives Eri a nod, then whispers the name of her Child.

The HiME's golden rings spin to blazing life, nearly white from the heat of the flames called forth. She crosses her arms, then spreads them wide - mimicing her dragon-Child as much as possible, and spools the flames upward. Like a blazing meteor, a grand ball of flame shines in the air above the masked enemy - but it does not fall. Not just yet.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Mai Tokiha has started a combo targeting President!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Neptune lets her eyes linger upon Guma a handful of moments more, a wayward strand of her aqua hair hanging in her eyes. Another moment, and she gives the other a nod, a secret little smile dancing at the edges of her lips.

There was something about that sight. Something about that sight of the other Sailor Senshi coming together - coming together and combining their power. It spoke to something deep within her. It felt altogether right, proper, and somehow very just.

Just as it obliterates a creature that stood in the way of the thing.

Neptune's heeled feet push against the ground, leaping away from the creature. She had plenty of space before, but she felt as though she needed to give it a little more. Idly, she did wish Uranus was here.

For this group, that coming together of the senshi. It was not for her. Not yet, at least. The ocean waters roll in again over her heart, leaving her cold once again.

It was with a long glance that Neptune lets her eyes linger upon Sailor Moon as she considers the others. But her vision was blocked momentarily. The other - the other that had been terrorizing this shrine. They still lived.

Turning her eyes that way, Neptune tears her gaze away from Sailor Moon, and looks within.

She finds the touch of the distant palace once again. And for a moment, in her mind's eye - she can see the spires and waves of Neptune.

Holding out her hands in front of herself, those memories coalesce into a ball of energy, shining, blue and bright. It held more than just power in its sphere. Holding it aloft, Neptune relaxes her fingers, letting the ball glide as it gains more and more mass, seeming to draw the water out of the very air.

"DEEP!" she intones, the ball responding with a low tone and a sunburst of light inside of it. "Submerge!"

Pushing her hands out in front of herself, the sphere flies out towards its target - it flies out towards President.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Neptune has used Deep Submerge! on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

It wasn't flattery, but Jupiter proves it far better than she ever could, standing tall after a hit like that and starting the rally of the Senshi against their foes. As the orphans are flattened by the might that the Sailor Senshi bring to bear, Eri is... awed, except it goes beyond awe. The Puella Magi can only stand there, stunned. And yet... there stands President, still as strong and tall as ever, she withstood it. She withstood /that/! How could anyone!?

There was a good amount of fear there as she comprehended the fact that President was not only up, but still sorely pressing the Senshi with the claws of a golden lioness. Sailor V goes down and her anxiety only increases. She'd never seen anyone who could take Sailor V down. "We have to help them!"

She needn't have bothered to call out the obvious though, as Mai is already there, defending them with all of the might of her heart, the strength of her affection. Sensing her plan when she offers the nod, she gets into position, leaping onto the low branch of a tree, angling herself so that she can catch Mai's attack and get a good angle on President from above. She whirls about, pointing at her. "Jupiter and the Senshi were more than some 'small' concern. They gave us all the foothold we needed!"

Her scourge suddenly erupts forth, with sudden explosive, twisting growth. Each tendril branching off and looping around each other and moving in chaotic patterns into one giant mass, thicker and more weighty than any tree trunk. It moves forward through the ardent light of Mai's flames. The fireball causes it to burst immediately into one colossal titanic mass of blazing foliage, before crashing down towards President as one giant holocaust. The giant footstep of some wrathful nature spirit, wreathed with the flames of passion by a god of fire. "Even if one of us goes down. So long as we keep moving forward, you'll never stop us!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Eri Shimanouchi has joined the combo started by Mai Tokiha!
COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi have used Combo: Shining Footsteps, composed of Ardent Light and Footsteps of the Kodama, on President.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

It feels like they aren't in a fight at all.

When Usagi remembers they're fighting someone, she wonders: why do people fight when they could feel like this?

Still dreamy, the shorter blonde girl squeezes Rei's hand and leans toward her. Her balance hasn't quite recovered from spending all that emotion. "I--I always want to be there for you," she blurts out, finally replying to her but doing it with the delirious truth-telling of a weary soul. Her cheeks flush.

Then there's that terrible roar.

Sailor Moon gasps, knocked breathless by President's mere act of finding her feet again. It's difficult to focus on what's she's saying. All Usagi hears is: I'm unstoppable. I'm better than you. Back on the ground where you belong.

She may be getting fearfully fanciful with her interpretation of things.

The whip is faster than the girl. Usagi makes a sudden, disjointed, ineffective attempt to throw herself in front of her friends, but all she can do against President's lightning and razors is rush closer. The pretty soldier is caught first across her waist, tearing an ugly gash through her uniform and flesh. Even as blood blossoms on the whiteness of her clothes, Usagi plants her feet, raising her arms in a courageous defense that feels both natural and alien to her.

The storm is brief and furious. Sailor Moon drops her arms without energy to further hold them up. They're crisscrossed with sharp wounds, her gloves in tatters of red ribbon. She stands, glad for the moment to still be standing.

Venus falls.

Usagi doesn't register it at first. She looks over, thinks oh, no--and then she thinks I'm failing to protect her. The pretty soldier leaps to her fallen princess' defense, staggering on the first step as she discovers a new brace of lashes on her legs. "Princess!"

She falls to a knee, gritting her teeth. Immobilized, she fixes President with her bright-eyed attention.

There's something to be done here. This can be overcome. Sailor Moon can work through this. Usagi can work through this. Bracing herself as best she can, the pretty soldier traces a crescent moon shape through the air with one hand, ending with a sharp cut in to touch the gleaming gem on her forehead.

"Moon Twilight--"

The lancing flash of silvery-white light joins the more passionate attacks of the other magical girls. It is Sailor Moon's last breath, gasped to express a single, desperate thought: I want to help.

"FLASH!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Moon Twilight Flash on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Rei's knee buckles slightly as the halcyon glow of their pooled strength fades and recedes, taking much of her energy with it. She'd been able to make out the start of the youma's last ditch charge towards her unconscious grandfather just before it was incinerated. Her stomach turned at her memory of the thought..and her heart sinks as she sees the President emerge, burned but firmly on her feet, whip in hand.

The counterattack comes swiftly, and mercilessly. Raising her arms to protect her face, Rei's tired muscles plant in the ground, a mighty roar tearing out of her lungs as she shouts down the golden lacerations. She stumbles when they cease..but she, too, still stands.

Minako falls just by her..over her shoulder Rei looks back with consternation, but her focus snaps back to her enemy. Raising her arms high, an incandescent burst of fire forms at her hands. Her right arm twists down in a half circle, stretching the fireball like bubblegum. Turning sideways and lifting her arms, she spins in a half circle, hurling the burning boa like a discus. As it flies, fangs form, and the face of a crudely realized dragon.

The fire lizard grows as it goes, feasting on the air to swell in size, jaws outstretched as it collides with its prey head on.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Searing Serpent on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Red [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

It's hard to say exactly why Prism Keeper Red -- why Mei -- likes magical girls more than she likes most other things in life. Especially since becoming one herself, she has been exposed to much of the more difficult aspects of their lives. The parts that looked so easy to just deflect with a smile and a clever word, back when she was only watching cartoons on Saturday, putting off her homework and bickering with Momo over the tv channel. She's learned about pain, about responsibility, about wanting to throw down the burden and give up. It has not been easy; in many ways, it is one of the most difficult things she has undertaken in her entire life, short though it may be.

But when she's on the ground, power almost spent, watching the two youma combine into one and being unable to stop it -- and she sees a veritable rainbow of light simply blow the threat away. When she turns her eyes to the source of that unbelievable power, and finds the four Sailor Senshi holding hands, invincible.

She remembers why.

She wants to be like them someday.

And she cannot let them down, now that one of theirs has fallen, and she's spotted the threat they had been battling all along. She has to press on.

"Orange!" the Prism Keeper say sharply to her friend, floating into the sky and summoning her Chroma Wand. "I don't have much left on my own. We have to do this together." She nods once, grasping the white rod with both hands, the last traces of her power beginning to pool around the crystal at its head. "Let's make this lady regret ever attacking us!"

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has started a combo targeting President!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

With the four of them standing in their circle - hands joined, powers united, their very hearts linked - as the light wells up magnificently around them and the heavens open, for that short time, Sailor Jupiter feels as though almost, almost everything is right.

(Almost, because there is one still missing.)

The light fades, but the radiance of it remains in Makoto's heart. Her hands squeeze Usagi's and Minako's to either side of her before she lets go, and begins to turn, looking for whatever's left of the enemy--

--only to realize too late that they're not finished. The President is still standing, lashing out with staggering power.

Jupiter barely has time to brace herself as the whip comes down. It tears across her back, a sharp impact that sends her staggering to one knee, grimacing with pain.

She sees Venus fall and there's nothing that she can do but cry out.

"You--"

Once again Sailor Jupiter struggles to her feet, only just barely standing through sheer force of towering fury. Her hands have clenched into fists, and they crackle with electricity, arcs of bright power crawling over her fingers.

"--How DARE you!"

With that shout, the Senshi of Thunder throws herself full-force at the green-haired woman, fists trailing lightning.

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Lightning Fist on President.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Prism Keeper Orange [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Prism Keeper Orange smiles exuberently as the Senshi unleash a combining attack that, like Runealy, takes her breath away, she has no lots of thoughts about, mainly- about how awesome it is, and wonderful and brilliant it is. She watches with bated breath as she holds her hands very close in front of her with wide eyes. Then the monster is merely no more.

"That was... Amazing!" she says as she suddenly snaps back into reality because she looks over to the OTHER problem occuring in the shrine. She'd known it was going on- but- you can't really give two things equal attention. Also, the Senshi were TOTALLY going to cream the jerk.

But now one of them is down and this kind of saddens Orange. The idea that the Senshi 'are invincible' was already quite destroyed and melted fifteen times over- but it still kind of makes her sad. It kind of reminds her of watching Sailor Moon get stabbed all over again.

But this time--- there's two of them! She looks to Mei and nods... "Right!" she says as she as she frowns. She takes up postion near Mei and takes her wand in two hands, throwing it out with a brilliant beam of orange!

COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has joined the combo started by Prism Keeper Red!
COMBAT: COMBO! Prism Keeper Red and Prism Keeper Orange have used Combo: Apples and Oranges, composed of Paint It Red and Chroma Wand Charge, on President.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Red has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Prism Keeper Orange has finished attacking.
COMBAT: President narrowly counters Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Gnaw Your Head Off!!!, taking 12 Fatigue damage!  President's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: President's counterattack, Unfair Trading, partially gets through, doing 19 Fatigue damage to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko is unable to keep fighting!  
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Sailor Moon's Moon Twilight Flash, taking 7 Fatigue damage!  President's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: President perfectly counters Sailor Jupiter's Lightning Fist, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  President's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: President's counterattack, Unfair Trading, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sailor Jupiter!  
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Sailor Mars's Searing Serpent, taking 5 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  President's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: President perfectly counters La Sirene du Nord's Desdinova, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  President's Tactician ability activates!  
COMBAT: President's counterattack, Unfair Trading, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to La Sirene du Nord!  
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Sailor Neptune's Finisher, Deep Submerge!, taking 46 Fatigue damage!  President's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: Sailor Neptune is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Princess Runealy's Finisher, Waldia Burst Reign, taking 32 Fatigue damage!  President's Parry ability activates!  
COMBAT: President narrowly braces Prism Keeper Red and Prism Keeper Orange's Combo: Apples and Oranges, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  President's Parry ability activates!  Diversion applied to President!  
COMBAT: President fails to brace Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi's Finisher, Combo: Shining Footsteps, taking 258 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  President is unable to keep fighting!

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

President's golden mask conceals all, but her movements are plain as day.

The whole arena comes down on her. "Oh?" she wonders, looking. "The Youma...then, all of you will be coming to me?" Her lips curl up, the sparkling light of Bet on her mask feeding into her. "Then show me all of your resolution!"

She's a blur of terrible efficiency. Tsukiko charges her; President takes the hit and then immediately slams back wih another powerful blow of her own, a ruthless disregard for her own safety that sees Tsukiko plowed right back to the ground. Then she turns, seeing Sailor Moon readying her own power. "I see you!" she shouts back, and physically /slaps/ the light away, an impossible sight. Her glove sizzles visibly afterward. She shakes it out painedly, looking for the next. That's Sailor Jupiter.

She moves into her guard with an expert's steps. "Easily. You'll never hit me like that!" she declares, and slams Makoto in the chest, tumbling her backward. "Is that the limit of your resolve!?"

Not so. Sailor Mars emerges, and President half-turns to watch her rise. "Dragon?" she mutters. She throws up her arms, absorbing the worst of the hit. But it burns, her gloves smoking from the power thus resisted. Her blank eyes find Rei in the aftermath. "...creative," she grants her, before she whips around. du Nord can't catch up to an infighter of President's skill that easily; the woman swings wide to deflect the blow with a hard slam to Nori's midsection, forcing her attack to simply sail past.

And then everyone unloads. She can only weather that fury; she sees Deep Submerge coming her way and lashes out with her whip, cracking the ball in twain, but it comes to her anyway and blasts her backward a dozen steps. Rounds; sees Runealy, winding up quickly. Arms glide up in another boxer's block, but the wave after wave of showering sparkles can't be blocked so compactly, and President finds her way to one knee for stability amid the rain. "That's your highest ambition?" she wonders aloud. "My flight? Or is that merely all you can think about in a moment of strife?"

The wave of color breaks against her guard, enough to let her potentially stagger up to her feet, but--

Mai and Eri.

She rounds on them. She's already apprivoised Betreida's power once to survive Sailor Planet Attack. That's already more Cybody energy than she /should/ be using, particularly in a fight Head didn't have enough stake in to dedicate more than Adult Bank. More than that, and she risks the Seal taking umbrage, and in Second Phase she doesn't know what that /means/. Which means...

Which means she throws up her arms and prepares to simply /take/ the falling ball of foliage and flame. "Ahh, now this is more exciting!" she dares to cry out, her lips peeling back in a smile, even knowing that power is far beyond her own limits. Her guard actually holds it up for a second on impact, hissing as she exerts all her strength once again, but--she can't----

                          "Apprivoiser! Daletos!"

               "Apprivoiser! Tzadikt! Star Sword! AMETHYSTE!"

A barrier of faintly shimmering green light snaps up around President; and at the same time, a figure in a skin-tight bodysuit and elaborate vest leaps in from the side, a massive glowing blade of laser light in his hand as he swings it hard at the almighty accumulation of fire and foliage.

The world turns to color and warring lights for a second. When all is done, the ball is of power is gone, and President is still on her knees; flanked by two others, in similar but distinctive outfits. One is a black-haired a young man; the other, a blonde young woman.

"Come, President," says the young man with the sword, the weapon flickering in his hands; the two help their struggling superior to her feet, her breathing heavy and her posture weak. She glares her eyes around, the blank gaze of that mask definitvely unreadable.

"The youma are gone, President," the blonde notes. "We must go."

President takes a long, ragged breath. "Then...it is time for Adult Bank to withdraw," she says. Her lips curl, though - just a final, pleased smile. "I'm interested by your resolve, magical warriors. I hope you'll show me more, sometime."

And then the three of them spin on their heels and leap the walls with a single, smooth motion.

<Pose Tracker> Juri Arisugawa [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Although the passage of the power of love papers over much of the damage to Hikawa Shrine with sparkles, there's much too much to wish it casually away. An ancient tree is uprooted; a pond nigh-destroyed, having become an admirable impression of a pile of rocks. And that acid-charred hole in the porch, that goes straight down into the Earth, threatening the foundation of the shrine itself if not handled carefully; that's a serious concern.

A concern that will be soothed in two days time, when a charity organization, a Tokyo heritage foundation, donates considerable funds to Hikawa in exchange for their temporarily erecting -- just for a year, just to celebrate a great local artist's passing -- a massive and moderately ugly piece of mirrored modern art out in the back, where the public will rarely even be able to see it.

Incidentally, Grandpa Hino was offered a truly ridiculous sum of money to sell the shrine last week. He turned the suits down with courtesy, with the firm integrity that does not come with age but with wisdom, with self-knowledge, but turned them down all the same. He paused for but a moment to consider the future of his granddaughter, but only one; given her father, she'll never want for money unless she chooses to. To sell the shrine would rather be denying her the future of her dreams, and he knows well the strength of her faith, the ferocity of her convictions. It fills him with a quiet pride, one he masks with crude humor, with wry rubs of his shiny-bald head.

He saved the shrine for Rei, and today Rei and her friends have saved the shrine for him. He may not have witnessed it -- but down in his gut, in his innermost fire, perhaps he knows.

Perhaps not.

Either way, he'll never tell.

Jadeite has arrived.
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.

AT THE TOP OF SENDAI HILL, TEN MINUTES AGO

"This way, quickly." Standing at the base of the steps, well out of eye- and earshot of the battle, a helpful shrine attendant escorts the fleeing student visitors of Hikawa Shrine around one of the corners of this mystical omni-intersection, and down one of its five hills by just a few extra feet, for good measure. He is clad in the same blue hakama and white kimono as Grandpa Hino, but on his tall, sleekly muscular frame, it is a far prouder, more magnificent sight. The colors go well with his sandy-blond hair, evoking as much White Knight as servant of the gods. His eyes radiate trustworthiness; his dark murmur oozes charm. At a time like this, when spirits are attacking the city, who wouldn't follow his lead? "I'll protect you. Just stay behind me..."

When their backs are turned, he extends a well-manicured, heavily callused hand. The hand is an excellent extension of himself: luxuriously tended and exquisitely hard-working. Also, coursing with energy darker than the dark side of the moon, darker than the blackness of space, dark as the heart of his true mistress.

Soon, it is holding a ball of another energy entirely, larger than his head by a great margin. It twinkles white and gold and silver and pink and green and blue, it sparkles with all the rainbows of the hearts, minds and spirits from which it has been drawn.

NOW

When the victorious magical warriors depart Hikawa Shrine, they are met with a surprise.

Jadeite stands amid a garden of fallen students, tended to extinction of consciousness if not life itself. There is precious little color left in their cheeks, and even their uniforms, so tenderly pressed each night to be worn to school the next morning, are dull. Drained. They will require immediate medical attention.

"My Dark Queen thanks you for the harvest, ladies -- and so do I!"

His derisive laughter bubbles behind him like foam upon the waves. It lingers long after he has vanished, with a twist of his heel and of the dimensions.