2015-04-18 - Invasion! The Fall Of Nephrite!

Title: Invasion! The Fall of Nephrite!
Summary: The stars are finally right for Nephrite of the Dark Kingdom to make his move. An army of youma is invading Tokyo from all corners, and the situation's desperate. After something like this, can he ever be forgiven?
Who: Nephrite, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Moon, Endo Naoki, Lera Camry, Fuu Hououji, Cute Wolf Tsukiko, Poissonnier Kuniko
Where: Tokyo
OOC - IC Date: 24 June 2014 - 04/18/2015

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

At night, Tokyo's lights blot out the stars themselves. Countless streets of countless businesses shining brightly - from the illuminated windows of shopping districts to the warning spots atop Tokyo Tower, the city is a beacon of light in the darkness. Brilliant, vibrant, thrumming with life and hope for its millions of inhabitants.

The air tonight is heavy with promise - charged with energy, pressure high, every warning sign of a pending storm. The clouds overhead, illuminated by the city from below and heavens above, rumble periodically - they have yet to split asunder, but they are sure to soon - and the coming storm is a terrible one indeed.

Then, without warning - lightning. Tearing across the skyline, blazing potently and violetly. An unnatural colour, for an unnaturally persistent electric storm - one that rages, roars, arcs, until even the lights of Tokyo are going out. Then, the the bolts gather, blowing apart clouds and any persistent hope that the twilight storm was natural. Revealed in black skies is a face - marked by eyes and wreathed with hair both more crimson than blood. Her gaze is sharp, judgmental, and seems to pierce the heart of every soul who dares look up to the heavens.

She speaks - a voice that haunts nightmares, that embodies unrelenting despair and death, that rings with a terrible chill and heat all at once. "Long has the Earth awaited its queen...but I see before me a realm as yet undeserving. However, my herald has begged and pleaded for a final chance to prove himself - and so it is granted. Nephrite has failed me time and again - so he will bring me the Moon Princess, along with all you who crawl beneath my gaze, or not at all. Those who are not yet permitted to die until I feel mercy know who they are; the rest among you may submit or perish as you wish."

Her face vanishes from the skies, leaving only darkness in her wake. The gap in the clouds shows only skies, and the stars above - brilliant stars, shining with unnatural light, shifting ever-so-slowly into perfect alignment. As the last star falls into place, their sheen grows ever-brighter...

And the air splits apart all over Tokyo. Rips in the air revealing an ever-deeper darkness, a tangible malice - portals. From each of them, forms step forth - some slinking or dragging unnaturally long limbs, while others march with a military precision. Many are similar, but no two are alike, and all of them are far from human

To those knowledgeable, youma.

To those with less knowledge, a waking nightmare.

Screams of fear begin to resound from everywhere - crises beginning to form all over the map. Flames erupt from some youma, frost from others, while yet others prefer their menace to come from tooth and claw. Alarms go off across the city as buildings are assaulted, cars flipped, civilians chased.

Eerily, as bestial or monstrous as some of them may be, most move in some kind of order - there are groupings of varying numbers, with formations following patterns. Here, a septet of canine-seeming figures - dominated by one pack-leader - move with swiftness and purpose. Here, a lumbering quartet of bear-monsters remain in a near-rectangle that never deviates - whatever obstacles might briefly impede one or another. Archers and elementalists, near-humanoid or completely monstrous - all looking back, occasionally, to their leader.

Arriving last, striding from the largest portal, is a long-haired man in a military uniform. Nephrite, of the Dark Kingdom - as promised. He shudders to himself, and then a cruel smile comes over his face. "At last..." And then his voice rings out - silken, yet commanding. "Youma of the Almagest! This is the day we have awaited - go forth, and claim this city for the Dark Kingdom!"

COMBAT: Nephrite transforms into Grand Army of the Stars!
COMBAT: Nephrite has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 8 opponents!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

The last couple of days have been less than relaxing for Fuu Hououji: the youma in the park, the glasses-wearing X-Chara at Ohtori, the deer in the depths of Library Island ... and now a general declaration of outright war. The visage of Queen Beryl looming over the city is not a sight that Fuu is going to forget quickly, no matter how much she wants to - and the declaration of war, such as it is, is all the cue she needs to find a secluded alley and transform into the Magic Knight of Wind.

She doesn't even worry about hiding herself after that - even if civilians are still fleeing for safety, it's more important to get out there and protect them than to lurk around in hopes of avoiding anyone who MIGHT recognize her, now or later. If anything, the Wind Knight doesn't mind the idea that she might be recognized - as a protector to civilians, or even as an enemy to the monsters pouring out of those rips in reality.

And if any youma don't figure out quickly that the glasses-wearing blonde in a green outfit and gold-trimmed armor is an enemy to the Dark Kingdom, they'll likely get the idea as soon as they taste her arrows, or - if push comes to shove - the edge of her blade. The Wind Knight is primarily relying on her archery skills, though - particularly with an eye to saving her big spells for when she really needs them.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Magic Knight!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Basic Archery on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

With the weather threatening a storm, Ikiko had been planning on skipping her patrol tonight and just staying home, watching the clouds from her room and listening to any rain that might come.

But once the face appears in the sky, she knows that today is not a day for relaxing -- the city is in danger, and it's up to its magical guardians to protect it from the invading darkness.

Moments later, Cute Wolf Tsukiko is bounding across rooftops and lightposts. The pack of youma-wolves catch the wolfgirl's eye, and she leaps to intercept them. "Go back from where you came from, canines of darkness!" she shouts at them. "This city is not your territory, it is defended, and you WILL be defeated!"

COMBAT: Ikiko Hisakata transforms into Cute Wolf Tsukiko!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Bark! on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite perfectly dodges Fuu Hououji's Basic Archery, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Dodge!  Nephrite's Fade ability activates!  Nephrite's Flash ability activates!  
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Bark!, taking 1 Fatigue damage!  Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Makoto hasn't slept much.

She tried for a while, not wanting to make her friends worry after they came to stay over for her sake, but the air last night felt oppressively heavy and there was far too much tangled up in her head, a storm of conflicting feelings in her heart.

When she did drift off for an hour or two in the dark hours of the morning, her dreams were violent, echoes of an old, old tragedy from another lifetime.

Today has been a little better, but not much. She feels raw from lack of sleep, and the charge in the air in so thick she can almost taste it. She's not Rei, can't claim any kind of prescience, but even so every last nerve in her body seems to crackle with the inescapable knowledge that a storm is coming, and when it breaks, it will be very, very bad. Every low growl of thunder has her looking anxiously to the windows.

She was in the kitchen area of her little apartment, fussing distractedly with cleaning up some of the sticky remnants of a much-needed session of comfort food - but when the first flash of lightning rips the sky, Makoto jerks with a gasp as though physically struck. In the next moment she's bolted to the door, throwing it open to look wide-eyed at the sky as Queen Beryl looms large over the city and makes her proclamation.

'The fated confrontation,' Nephrite had said.

Makoto whirls in place, looking to her friends.

Very soon after--

"There's way too many of them!" Transformed, Sailor Jupiter runs a short distance ahead of Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury, taking in the sight of the army of youma with eyes gone fierce and determined. Without breaking stride, she throws her hands out to either side and calls the wind around her; the hurricane tumult of petals follows her like a cresting wave as she charges straight into the thick of a group of monstrous creatures, disrupting their ranks with the blinding flurry of color and battering wind. "If we're going to stop this, we need to find Nephrite!"

What basis she has for thinking that confronting Nephrite will stand a chance of putting an end to this madness, Makoto couldn't tell you. There's simply not a doubt in her mind: she's going to have to face him sooner or later.

Might as well be sooner.

COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Flower Hurricane on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Sailor Jupiter's Flower Hurricane, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Blind and Trap applied to Nephrite!

<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

It's been awfully rainy lately, which has led to Lera Camry carrying an umbrella with her more days than not. Even when rain isn't in the forecast, sometimes she wants to be ready. She feels glad of it when she sees the lightning crack overhead, the sky's rumbling making her jump. The thunderstorm she expected is here.

Except that it isn't the expected thunderstorm.

Her eyes widen -- at the appearance of the queenly apparition in the skies and then the emergene of those rifts, dropping youma into the city. Literally, sometimes. "Oh, no..."

<They're all over the city.>

"Only one thing to do for it," she says. She pulls the pen out of her coat pocket, holding it in the air. "Soaring fire, burning spirit! Soaring Sky, SET UP!"

Light shoots up around her, emanating from the ground. She does a turn, hair flicking to the side. A golden charm, with a feather, appears in her hair with a flicker of light; in a flash, her uniform is replaced by a silver shirt, a pair of black pants, and a long green coat with red lining. Her pen turns, shifting, into a broadsword. As it finishes, Lera jumps -- and a ring of light explodes from her feet.

She shoots into the air, then, and leaves a trail of red-orange light in her wake. She spots the portal that Nephrite is stepping out of a moment later; then she sees Sailor Jupiter running up the street, crying out. Lera drops from the sky, then, her left foot swinging down for a bear-like youma's muzzle in a spin kick.

She comes down near the lightning-wielding Senshi. As she lands, she calls out: "Glad to see you're here! These things are all over the city!"

COMBAT: Lera Camry transforms into Barrier Jacket!
COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Spin Kick on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Lera Camry's Spin Kick, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Lera Camry is Psyched!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

For Tokyo, this is a day of destiny - for some, it could be the most important day of their lives. For the Blue Ribbon... it was Tuesday.

And Tuesday being in the middle of the week, commonly a dead zone for culinary establishments, one of the contacts of the erstwhile lapine GORDON had invited him to host a tasting menu at a small bistro. As the theme involved several different sorts of fish, he had brought along a protege.

Then, well...

Things got bad.

There are screams from within the bistro; then the door slams open, a small fiery youma escaping from an ably thrown knife. Shortly thereafter, a soft green light and a potent scent of sage and thyme emanates from the door.

From that same doorway emerges Kuniko Saito, clad in sea-blue and with her carving blade held warily forwards. It is not ideal for war, perhaps, but in the face of this chaos, it is a comfort if nothing else. Looking upwards, the young poissonnier mutters, "How could there be - so MANY of them? It's like a farmer's market of madness!"

A stentorian voice barks from within the bistro. Kuniko turns her head. "-- I know. I'll be careful. -- I know, Chef!" Turning back around, her lips purse. What to do?

And then she sees a familiar sight in the distance, over a nearby building. The glittering pink petals of -- "Ah! Sailor Jupiter?" And so she begins her run, weaving through a narrow back road -

Whereupon the diminutive youma, fiery and sharp-toothed, leaps out at her. "Gahh!!" Kuniko says, running too fast to stop, and so instead her blade comes down in a purely reflexive machete-chop on her way past. Will it be enough!?

COMBAT: Kuniko Saito transforms into Poissonnier Kuniko!
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Boning Knife on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite perfectly dodges Kuniko Saito's Boning Knife, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Dodge!  Nephrite's Fade ability activates!  Nephrite's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

"You really think we can do this?"

Black and purple mark Endo's path across the rooftops of Tokyo. The Intelligent Device the boy carries is burning with magical light, shining in bright defiance of the 'stars' above, and the things that have descended from skyward.

When he started this day, he didn't expect he'd be trying to stop an army. Mostly, he expected he'd be re-stocking the coolers at the 7-11. Regardless, he's moved through the stages of acceptance in several long minutes, pinging from fear, to anger, to acceptance. Acceptance was the part where he picked up the sword.

His device, Stern, feeds him information as he moves, sending the sleek looking, faux-Belkan knight on the quickest path to the nearest squad of hulking, semi-humanoid Youma. There's little finesse in his engagement, all brute force, the sword he carries used like a battering-ram as he goes bowling into the middle. After that, he starts cutting.

COMBAT: Endo Naoki transforms into Barrier Jacket!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Blueshift on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Endo Naoki's Blueshift, taking 22 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Sprawled out in her pink pajamas, Usagi's snores resonate throughout the small apartment. Long ago had she fallen off the futon she'd been given to sleep on as a guest, but the hard surface didn't rouse her one bit. If anything, her sleeping self took it as a challenge to her 'dream cred' to keep her dreaming of more pleasant things. Like the arms encircled about her right now. 'Sailor Moon- I've loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you.' 'Aaa, Tuxedo Kamen-sama!' His lips came ever closer to hers, as her eyes glittered with anticipation. "Usagi-chan!" 'Tuxedo Kamen-sama~' "USAGI!"

In the dark, claws flashed with predatory deftness, and a screech of ITAI rends the air of the apartment. Backed up against the futon, Usagi was holding her clawed face, eyes sparkling with tears as she she faced off against her irritated cat mentor who was pointing a paw towards the open window. "Luna! What's the big i-" Usagi's gaze follows the paw to the window, "-dea. Oh."

Taking the long discarded covers with her, as if it were a thin shield against the terrors of the night, she moved towards the window, the adrenaline of pain and fear wiping away the sleepiness from her eyes. 'Nephrite has failed me time and time again - so he will -' Something inside of Usagi just sagged, fear of the Dark Queen, and depression over last night's events intermingling to put her in a spiralling emotional downswing. "It's going to be just like the Tower all over again." She says softly, "Except this time they're telling us they're coming." Luna tried to prod helpfully, "The city needs the Sailor Senshi."

"Yeah." Usagi finally looks at Luna again, "But I don't think Jupiter should go. Can the city not need her for just one night?" She looked over her shoulder, towards Mako's kitchen, towards the door where she stood. "Even if his love was fake, hers was real. Noone should ever have to fight someone they love." "That's not your decision to make, Usagi-chan." The feline pointed out crossly. Sighing in defeat, she suddenly looks up at the sky, towards the heavy cloud cover searching for the moon, and not finding it. Turning again to face Makoto, she sees that determination in her eyes and knows she won't dissuade her. She turns to Ami, a rock whose return proved that nothing was impossible so long as they were together. Within them, she finds determination of her own. "Mako-chan. Ami-chan. Let's go!"

Just within sight of the army's vanguard, a silhouette of another Pretty Guardian stands behind Jupiter. A clarion call cries out, challenging the figure in the military uniform. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" The cloud cover breaks for just a moment, revealing only a sliver of silvery radiance, revealing the figure. "Girls aren't damsels which you can carry off at a whim! I will never forgive any man who treats our hearts like toys which he can grasp or cast aside for his own amusement!" While it's obvious that she's talking about the army's purpose of taking the Moon Princess, her speech seems like it holds something else, a message directed solely at Nephrite.

Gracefully she spins, belying her usual clumsiness, twintails circling and remnant petals of Jupiter's attack dancing around her, "I'm the Sailor Suited Pretty Soldier of Love and Justice: Sailor Moon! And in the name of the moon-" She points gloved fingers towards where she thinks his position is within the throng of Almagest Youma. One of certainty, and promise. "-I will punish you!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Needless to say, the instant Mako-chan needed her, Ami was packing up her things and getting ready to spend time with her. She's slept a little better than Makoto, but not by much; even if she's mostly found her stride again, there's still a little part of her that feels guilty for neglecting her friend for so long, and desperately wants to take care of her in her moment of heartache.

It's during one of her own irregular attempts to sleep that the lightning rips through the sky -- and it's when Makoto gasps that Ami sits up, looking to her dear friend. "Mako-chan?" Ami asks, before --

"Understood!" Sailor Mercury replies to Sailor Jupiter, bringing two fingers up to her ear and swiping them across her face; her visor appears in a small flash of light, and she sweeps her gaze across the battlefield that Tokyo has become, trying to get a better sense of the situation as well as the youma themselves...

... and hopefully, find Nephrite.

As she takes in the situation, she follows Jupiter's lead, thrusting her hands out and letting loose a blast of icy water as Sailor Moon delivers her speech.

COMBAT: Ami Mizuno transforms into Sailor Mercury!
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Mercury Aqua Mist on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: You don't have an incoming attack from Moon. Please check +queue to see your incoming attacks.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Moon is Psyched!  Cripple applied to Nephrite!  
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has cancelled their attack on Nephrite. If there are more attacks that need to be +cancelled, please hold all +attacks until the process is complete.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has fully healed herself.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Mercury Aqua Mist on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Sailor Mercury's Mercury Aqua Mist, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

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

The army of the stars reigns not unopposed - wherever the darkness looms, light is shining to meet it. Individual clashes are beginning across the landscape as the ever-lasting fight rages on - but the overall picture is grim. There's too many youma for any one champion to even think of fighting, and many are able to run unopposed.

Others have found particular nemeses. Taken aback by Tsukiko's challenge, the Canis Major septet break into a circling run. "And are you claiming this as your territory, little puppy?" "It might not be our territory yet..." "But that's sure to change shortly!" Circling, snarling, aiming to herd her to where she can't escape.

Arrows start flying through the air at a small company of youma - who scatter to avoid injury, but are at least diverted from the civilians they were chasing. "Arrows? Rukbat, is someone seriously challenging us?" "...you know...she looks familiar. One of the ones who helped kill Arkab, Ascella." The pair who spoke originally - conjoined twins standing back to back, each with one hand on a great black bow - grin tooth in response and start drawing back an ominous-looking arrow. "Well, then, if she wants to play at being a hunter..."

A raging wind whips through the street, scattering flower petals in its wake - half a dozen youma arresting their wild charge in hesitation. A blast of ice water follows in the wind's wake, bowling several over, making the terrain that much more treacherous, and hesitation turns to anger. The hated Senshi have appeared, with allies...

From nearby, the quartet of lumbering bear-like youma shift positions in response to one of their number receiving a boot to the head - they charge as one, each swiping a clawed fist at Lera as they pass. The second one's moving a little slower, though...

Endo's rampage injures many - but each youma he strikes pulls back in response, until there's a small clearing around him. Wary, but grinning cruelly, the youma dig into their own wounds - and a terrible light shines in response. Restoring the balance...and explosions hammer the area

Kuniko's foe is one of many - seven in all, each nimble and burning with fury. The one pursuing her flips back out of the way of her knife a second time, judging her carefully....and then starts hurling tiny fireballs. Its siblings follow suit - but rather than targetting the chef, they start targetting the restaurant, seeking to set it ablaze.

And then, a challenge rings through the night, and the youma stop for a moment. Most resume their rampage for a moment, but those closest to the portal turn to their general for orders.

Nephrite looks upon the Senshi, the others fighting his youma here - and takes a moment to take in the battle as a whole. Chaotic as the ever-turning heavens - but inevitable all the same. His eyes lock onto Sailor Moon, from beyond the army that separates them. He sneers, but does not answer directly.

Instead, his Youma answer - a quintet of graceful ones, seeming like they're made of pottery - and unleashing a torrent of water to match Mercury's, barrelling down the street.

[OOC: There's a bonus attack this round on Mai Tokiha, representing the restaurant; whoever covers this should have a plan in mind for fighting the fire, or evacuating people. The first of many civilian targets!]

COMBAT: Nephrite has used Hunters Of Orion on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Bane of Antares on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Ursa Minor on Lera Camry.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Lights of Libra on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Pyroclastic Pleiades on Kuniko Saito.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Age of Aquarius on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Age of Aquarius on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Age of Aquarius on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Star-Crossed Peril on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Nephrite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly counters Nephrite's Bane of Antares, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Fuu Hououji!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Trick Arrow Shot, partially gets through, doing 8 Fatigue damage to Nephrite!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko perfectly counters Nephrite's Hunters Of Orion, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko's counterattack, High-Speed Kick, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Nephrite!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly dodges Nephrite's Age of Aquarius, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! Sailor Moon's Fade ability activates! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly counters Nephrite's Age of Aquarius, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Jupiter Thunderbolt, partially gets through, doing 3 Fatigue damage to Nephrite! Critical Counterhit! Nephrite is Quipped!
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury narrowly dodges Nephrite's Age of Aquarius, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Sailor Mercury's Fade ability activates! Sailor Mercury's Flash ability activates! Stagger applied to Sailor Mercury!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki fails to dodge Nephrite's Lights of Libra, taking 32 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly counters Nephrite's Ursa Minor, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Lera Camry's Reverse ability activates! Lera Camry's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Lera Camry's counterattack, Sentinel Cross, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Nephrite!
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito narrowly counters Nephrite's Pyroclastic Pleiades, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Kuniko Saito's Reverse ability activates! Diversion applied to Kuniko Saito!
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito's counterattack, Harissa Pepper, partially gets through, doing 8 Fatigue damage to Nephrite! Blind and Diversion applied to Nephrite!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon covers Mai Tokiha for Nephrite's attack, Star-Crossed Peril, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to brace Nephrite's Star-Crossed Peril, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Sailor Moon!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Two bows against one? That's hardly the most sporting of opposition - but the Magic Knight of Wind isn't going to back down from the youma, not just because she's out-bowed. She nocks another arrow to her own bowstring, and looses, trying to knock the twin youma's arrows out of the air, or at least off-course ...

And it doesn't really work as intended. *One* arrow is knocked astray, at least, and she can only hope it hits a wall or something instead of a person. But the other arrow only winds up spinning, and spears through the Wind Knight's shoulder - which is going to play absolute HAVOC with her own archery. And she knows it. The twins probably know it too, at that rate. At least the Wind Knight harvests the meager satisfaction of her arrow striking home at the end of its flight - and then she takes further action to try and reduce or limit the threat.

"Winds of Admonishment!"

And with those words, she unleashes one of her signature spells, the tornado that usually serves to hinder an enemy's movements and attacks - and although it didn't do so well against Arkab, the Wind Knight is pouring more power into the whirlwind this time. If other youma stray close enough, she's more than willing to catch them in the vortex as well; perhaps their bodies will be more effective at hindering Rukbtat and Ascella than the winds alone would be.

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

Tsukiko faces down the Canis Major pack, watching the septet as they try to encircle her. While they have the advantage of numbers, her familiarity with the tactics gives the wolfgirl a slight edge. She lashes out with kicks at the approaching youma, forcing them to break off their attacks to avoid being hit.

It's an impasse, and not one that can last. Tsukiko stares down the pack leader, eyes flicking just enough to keep the others in peripheral vision. "You have a skilled pack," the wolfgirl admits. "I might not be one for leading, but I do stand as a protector for the dogs in this city. That makes me an alpha of sorts to them, even if they rule themselves."

She steps left, then dives forward towards the right, heading straight towards the Canis Major alpha. "So, as alpha, I will defeat any who threaten them!" Tsukiko snarls, her fanglies lengthening as she snaps at the youma-wolf leader.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Silver Fangs on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Admonishment on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Winds of Admonishment, taking 17 Fatigue damage!  Fuu Hououji is Psyched!  Cripple and Trap applied to Nephrite!  
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Silver Fangs, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!  Cripple applied to Nephrite!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"Sa--" Sailor Jupiter catches herself just in time to keep from calling out Kuniko's actual name, realizing with dismay as she does that she isn't sure what name *either* of her arriving allies uses on the battlefield. There's not going to be any time right now to ask them in the middle of all this chaos. She raises a hand instead, a quick and wordless salute of greeting to both Kuniko and Lera. "There's a Dark General in charge of them somewhere!" she calls urgently. "He's the one we need to beat!"

Easier said than done - Nephrite could be anywhere for all Jupiter knows, and though she takes it as an item of faith that Ami's supreme analytical abilities can determine the Dark General's location, if it hunting him down means leaving his youma to rampage unchecked through the streets--

The torrent of water bearing down on them interrupts Makoto's line of thought, and she reacts on reflex, both hands splaying in the air before her and setting it ablaze with electricity; the terrific HISS of steam that boils up when lightning meets water nearly knocks her flat, but even as it does the energy arcs back to the pottery youma as well.

They could get bogged down here fighting youma until it's too late, Mako thinks desperately, but they can't leave people to get hurt either. She casts an urgent look toward Sailor Mercury, hoping her teammate is forming some kind of strategy, and then Sailor Jupiter does what she can in the moment: breaking into a sprint, she charges the water-bearing youma. Skidding along the remnants of Mercury's ice with the ease of a born skater, she slides into their midst, grasping for the nearest youma with the intent to use her momentum and swing it hard into its fellows.

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Suplex on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Supreme Suplex, taking 14 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Nephrite's Fade ability activates!  Nephrite's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Lera glances at Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury, but she doesn't have time to smile or make a joke with Sailor Moon tonight. There are too many people here, and worse than that, too many youma. Queen Beryl declared war on the entirety of Tokyo; the Midchildan isn't inclined to see her adopted home sacked by youma. She glances at Makoto; she doesn;t have to think about it for long.

"I saw a big portal ahead," she says. "When I was up there. Let's go!"

She turns, then, running forward. While she does, the four bear-like youna rush at her. She pulls her broadsword apart -- separating it into two sabers.

The twin sabers cross, then, locking together with a spell that erects a barrier around the blades. Then she pulls the swords apart and dances with the claws. She catches each claw swipe with parries, a flash of red-orange light erupting with each.

Lera launches after them, then, as they rush past. "Oh, no you don't!" she yells after them. A magic circle alights under her feet, as she runs across the ground. She leaps at the first bear, swinging her left saber backward as she does. It slashes -- and then she jumps past, the right saber swinging for another of the bear-lika youma.

Lera jumps to swing the left saber down in an overhanded chop at the back of a third youma, cutting for its back with a rough one-handed swing.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Rapid Skyfall on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite perfectly braces Lera Camry's Rapid Skyfall, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Brace!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

Endo isn't fast enough to clear the area before the Youma explode. He tries, beginning to make a mad-cap dash for the edge of the roof, only to be flung the rest of the way by the blast of light from the creatures detonation. He twirls gracelessly through the air, smashing across rooftops and coming to rest against an overlarge air conditioning unit.

His eyes, when they focus again, take note of the color and shapes he can spot in the distance. Flashs of lightning, moonlight, water, red-orange streaks, all things he's learned to recognize by now. Things that say he's not alone, and he should get back up and do his part.

So he does. The knight pushes himself to his feet, beginning to head toward the other fighters in the pitched battle. On the way he keeps an eye out for other targets, veering off-course toward clusters of Youma when his device prompts him. The bigger, the better.

The blade continues flashing in violet arcs, seeking to dig itself into whatever it can as he presses forward.

COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Blueshift on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Endo Naoki's Blueshift, taking 27 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

While Sailor Moon can't see Nephrite, she swears she can feel his baleful gaze, the curve of his lip, that contemptuous sneer all from where she was. It causes her to straighten nervously, feeling a tingling down her spine. And yet- "Wow that's a lot of water. It's really impressive Mercur-eeeEEE!" The realization hits her as she holds up her hands, waving them as if to fend them off in a panic. And yet, in the distance, she sees a restaurant burning, hears the screaming suddenly pink boots leave the ground.

No longer clumsy 9th grader Usagi Tsukino, Sailor Moon performs a series of aerial spins and turns, as currents of water sweep up off the ground to try to grab her, to cast her down, and to drown her. As they come closer and closer, the movements no longer seem calm and graceful, but instead panicked and frantic again. One shriek after another as she dives out of the way, rolling on the wet street before coming up to her feet. Arms pumping at her side, she runs as fast as she can, with exaggerated movements a huge tidal wave of water appears to be coming to get her from behind! "This is the worst gym class ever!"

And yet, her seemingly purposeless run other than to dodge the water from the aquatic Youma has a purpose indeed. As all of a sudden, Sailor Moon stops right in front of the burning restaurant, taking up a wide stance, and spreading her arms wide in a gesture that seems to dare it to 'Come and get her!'

The waves crash down on her all at once, cresting over her and knocking her down, and she vanishes beneath the surface. The water floods throughout the restaurant, turning a goodly amount of the flames into heated steam. Only briefly out of sight of the Youma, Sailor Moon's head breaks the surface, with a gasp, and gargling noises as she spits out the water, one mouthful at a time. "Gack-Pyugh!" Grasping ahold of a table as a liferaft, she takes a while to catch her breath, whining just a little. "Why are my plans always so painful? Mercury should come up with the plans from now on."

Not long after, Sailor Moon leaps out of window shattered by the torrents of water, droplets of shimmering water falling off of her. For just another moment, the clouds break, silvery radiance streaming down all around her. And in her arms, is soaked little girl with a Totoro backpack and twintails. Her boots clack upon the pavement of an alleyway as she descends, as she puts her down on her feet. "You're safe now. Just remember that you were saved by the one, the only, Sailor-" With eyes wide in admiration, the little girl smiles in delight which overwhelms her fear, "You're Sailor V!"

"What makes you think-!" Sailor Moon's shoulders slump in irritation, but then she simply puts up two fingers in a V for Victory as a salute by her forehead, laughing awkwardly rather than finishing her correction of her. "You need to run!" The girl nods, and with one final wave, takes off down the alleyway. One long breath after another, Sailor Moon turns to face the Youma of the stars which had almost certainly followed, using the salute to take her tiara off her forehead to rest upon her palm. Spinning around, light floods throughout it, turning it into a shimmering disk of moonlight, one of blinding radiance and righteous fury. Crooking her arm back, she grasps it between her fingers "Moon Tiara-" And then she hurls it, "-ACTION!" A disk of moonlight that Nephrite hated so much, trying to carve through his army of the stars and blot them out one by one.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Moon Tiara Action on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Sailor Moon's Moon Tiara Action, taking 43 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mercury [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Water overpowers water, and Mercury does her best to hurl herself out of the way; it's a close call, and to get herself out of the path of the torrent, she has to hurl herself hard to the ground. When she gets back up, she's not nearly as confident in their chances as she was before -- her gaze moves up to Nephrite, looking back at him just as he looks at them. Though she can't quite meet the gaze from where she is, her visor indicates that she's looking in the right direction, at the very least.

"Sailor Jupiter -- he's that way!" She can't offer too much more than that -- the sheer number of youma, coupled with Nephrite's own immense power, make it difficult to get more than generalities... but she can at least see that much.

Raising her hands high, she turns now to Sailor Moon. Giving her some assistance and cover as she helps the average, everyday people of the world is a priority; accordingly, she thrusts them out again, fingers splayed out as she calls, "Sabao Spray!" She creates a thick mist between Sailor Moon and the advancing youma, doing her best to buy the other girl some time and space.

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Sabao Spray on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly dodges Sailor Mercury's Sabao Spray, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite's Fade ability activates!  Nephrite's Flash ability activates!  Stun applied to Nephrite!

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

A fireball barrage towards Kuniko where her knife failed?! How irritating. Profoundly so. "If you like heat so much," she growls, reaching into her pocket (or elsewhere, really, thanks to Mise-en-place's magic) - and hurling out a canister at the youma. A bomb?

No.

A fireball hits it - and smoked pepper paste smashes everywhere, forming a spreading cloud as it burns! Kuniko's eyes water, but she at least is spared the brunt of it. Besides, she's used to it.

But - "Wait, how many of these are there?!" Her attention turns back towards the restaurant in horror. Chef's sage and thyme invocations might keep a Youma from busting IN, casually anyway -- but they won't work if they just burn the building down! And then -

Comes Sailor Moon.

Kuniko steps forwards from the alleyway after this, sliding her blade into the waistband of her pants. (It works. Don't question it too hard.) The little girl runs forwards, and past her, and now of course she has the benefit of the Poissonnier's particular flesh between her and evil.

But soon, nobody will be safe. Not if this keeps up, Kuniko thinks. The sight of Sailor Moon's tiara becoming a disk and flying towards the demonic creatures makes something shift in Kuniko's mind, but in the heat of battle there is no time to amplify this thought. Instead she says, reaching over through the hidden spaces of her Mise-en-place: "Sailor Moon!"

Lamb-scented steam wafts from around her as she steps out into the street. "Such valor and agility deserve their reward. Here!" And with a few mystical-seeming passes (really just dish prep in the silvery half-virtual light of cooking) it comes forth. Kuniko telegraphs what comes next -- before it's thrown.

A rose?! No. A nori-wrapped improvised hand roll -- but the filling is steamy tan couscous, the 'rose petals' thin slivers of fresh-cooked red tuna, and the seasoning a sweet mixture of ponzu and -- is that slivered roast almond? It IS.

"I am with you!" she declares then, coughing a little at her own dramatics -- even as she steps out, standing at the right flank of the bun-headed heroine. "Besides," she adds in a more depreciating tone, "I owe Sailor Jupiter. Let's catch up with her!!"

The thought returns to Kuniko for the umpteenth time. /Are/ they sisters or something?

COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Tekkadon au Couscous on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon accepts Kuniko Saito's Tekkadon au Couscous, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Empower applied to Sailor Moon!  Cleanse! All of Sailor Moon's debuffs are cleared!

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

A howling pack of youma, embodying the compatriots of the night's brightest star, swarm around Tsukiko - but none of their strikes are able to reach the swift wolf-girl. The leader meets the stare head-on, snarling in challenge - and then flashing silver fangs find their mark, taking her down.

The youma under the sign of Sagittarius start taking aim at more civilians - save for Ascella, whose archery duel with Fuu gets more-fast-paced, until finally something gives way...in the form of a howling whirlwind, ensnaring the archers, blowing arrows off course.

Endo and Lera both charge the youma with blades of orange and violet. It's teamwork, going back and forth between them; the bears are momentarily driven back, and numerous smaller youma cut down entirely between the pair. The youma under the sign of the scales are too injured to repeat their cruelty from before, and so the army takes a moment to reclaim some distance.

The water-bearers' storm goes awry from what they had planned - several of them, tracking Sailor Moon, extinguish their own allies' flames. Others still find lightning leaping up the water streams, formations blown apart by the clash of the elements - and the remaining water turns to mist at the chilling command of Sailor Mercury.

Jupiter's charge hits the remaining youma of Aquarius like a bowling ball - several scatter in light of the impending rampage, but one is hefted and hurled after them - the water storm will not be repeating itself.

Peppers meet fire, and capsaicin joins mist in blinding the youma to what's coming next - brilliant light, arcing through the night, piercing the lines of the youma with shining fury. At the end of the discus's path, Nephrite stands - leaning to one side as the tiara tears past him.

For a moment, as the youma army has been split in two, the general is visible - staring openly at some of those who have come to challenge him. The clouds overhead rumble, and he shakes his head. "No. They may have banded together, but you are an army known to Ptolemy - the stars dictate victory this day. Charge."

Hesitation, briefly - and then a host of youma charge. More regal in appearance, Nephrite's personal guard - each with shards of jewels embedded like mockeries of crowns. Their claws shine with sickly azure light as they swarm forward, intent on attacking all those interfering...

Save the sword-wielders. The bear-youma rally, and attempt to conquer them with raw force. As the wild charges begin, one band of youma sets off for a new target - bulky, embodying the sign of the bull, storming towards a major street. If left unopposed...that way lies residential districts.

COMBAT: Nephrite has used Ursa Major on Lera Camry.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Ursa Major on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Kuniko Saito.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Taurus Terror on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Nephrite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly braces Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Block ability activates! Exhausted applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!
COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly dodges Nephrite's Ursa Major, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates! Stun applied to Lera Camry!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly counters Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon's counterattack, Sailor Body Attack, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Nephrite!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to dodge Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Fuu Hououji!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter perfectly braces Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito narrowly braces Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Kuniko Saito's Block ability activates! Kuniko Saito's Parry ability activates! Exhausted applied to Kuniko Saito!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki narrowly counters Nephrite's Ursa Major, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Endo Naoki's Reverse ability activates!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki's counterattack, Asteroid Rush, partially gets through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Nephrite!
COMBAT: Lera Camry tries to cover Mai Tokiha for Nephrite's attack, Taurus Terror, but cannot get there in time!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji tries to cover Mai Tokiha for Nephrite's attack, Taurus Terror, but cannot get there in time!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko covers Mai Tokiha for Nephrite's attack, Taurus Terror, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to dodge Nephrite's Taurus Terror, taking 25 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury narrowly braces Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Sailor Mercury!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

The lofty title of Magic Knight notwithstanding, that really *IS* an awful lot of youma, and the Wind Knight finds herself overwhelmed by the fray even as she strives to escape from melee in favor of continuing to rain arrows upon the swarming monsters. The sight of a pack headed towards a residential district spurs her to greater urgency, as well - but the enervating strikes of Nephrite's hand-picked marauders slow her down too much, and she can only hope that somebody else manages to cut off the bull-like pack of fiends before they can break through.

Fortunately, somebody does - and it's a familiar face who does reach that road to cut them off, at that. But if the Cute Wolf has already taken as much of a battering as the Wind Knight has, how can she hope to hold the line? She also spots Lera trying to intercept the bull youma, and the magical warrior from afar seems noticeably weakened as well.

That, at least, is something she can help with.

"Winds of Healing!" calls out the green-clad Magic Knight as she reaches her familiar allies, and the soothing, balmy breeze envelopes all three of them; full healing would take time and attention that can't be spared in the middle of the battle, but at the very least, she can restore some of the strength they've already expended and help recover from the ailments inflicted by their enemies. "Tsukiko-san, Propane-san, let's cut these monsters down to size!"

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Healing on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Healing on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Healing on Lera Camry.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko accepts Fuu Hououji's Winds of Healing, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Cleanse! All of Cute Wolf Tsukiko's debuffs are cleared!  
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Fuu Hououji's Winds of Healing, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared!

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

With the Canis Major septet defeated, Tsukiko looks across the battlefield that is Tokyo, eyes widening as she spots the astral bull picking up speed towards a residential area. The wolfgirl bounds over, shouldering her way through the rushing onslaught of Nephrite's personal guards.

A few wisps of azure light still cling to her as she closes on the bull. "Hey, beef!" she yells at it, darting past its head. "I'm going to take you down for barbeque, you overgrown--OOF!"

The bull broadsides Tsukiko with the side of its horns as it turns its head to look at her. The impact sends her sprawling across the street, but at least its advance was halted by the distraction. "Maybe I should practice that a bit more," she groans as she stands back up.

A familiar healing breeze wafts by, extinguishing the lingering azure lights, and Fuu's words reach her. "Right!" Tsukiko calls back to her friend, then stands up and grins at the bull. "I think you're gonna need some tenderizing!" the wolfgirl says, darting forward to repeatedly pummel the astral beef.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Flurry of Kicks on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Flurry of Kicks, taking 3 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

There are so many of them, Kuniko thinks, even as a jeweled creature lunges forwards -- Kuniko catches one on her forearm, blocking it with a step forwards, and leaving her in the slightly awkward situation of being momentarily /hugged/ by the youma.

Sort of. It's more of a clumsy grapple. Kuniko addresses it by twisting and shoving the creature off, breathing heavily as she does; its weight was not trivial, nor was its passage unfelt.

Even so. Even so, she's advanced. She's nearer to others. Sailor Moon has already had service. What else can she do? Well, despite a sore arm (and why DOES it ache so much? is this a curse of the stars?) Kuniko can use her OTHER hand, as well as a piece of chilled but well seasoned meat, some other prepared stuff from the tasting menu - a couple more strips of nori to paper it over -

"Jupiter!" A triangular rice ball flies towards the senshi of oak and thunder!

"Uh - Europa!" Another one towards the tragically misidentified, if valiantly addressed, Sailor Mercury, who Kuniko has not had the privilege of meeting in person.

And one left for herself. Kuniko wolfs it down, with apologies to Tsukiko.

Cold chicken, tangy with spice, mixed with perfectly cooked white rice and the smoky-spicy flavor of fresh made babaganoush... truly, a heartmoving combination.

COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Babaganoush and Shawarma Chicken Onigiri on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Babaganoush and Shawarma Chicken Onigiri on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Babaganoush and Shawarma Chicken Onigiri on Kuniko Saito.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito accepts Kuniko Saito's Babaganoush and Shawarma Chicken Onigiri, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Cleanse! All of Kuniko Saito's debuffs are cleared!  
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter accepts Kuniko Saito's Babaganoush and Shawarma Chicken Onigiri, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Cleanse! All of Sailor Jupiter's debuffs are cleared!  
COMBAT: Lera Camry accepts Fuu Hououji's Winds of Healing, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Cleanse! All of Lera Camry's debuffs are cleared!

<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Lost in the confusion, Lera isn't really sure when she ended up fighting next to Endo Naoki. She isn't even surprised by it, at first; they've fought youma together before, and she falls into a natural pattern. She realizes, belatedly, that he is there with a start. "Endo-san!" she calls out. "I think there's a lot more of them than we counted on!"

She grits her teeth, turning as the bears make a desperate charge against her. The girl sucks a deep breath in, then begins to weave between them. The first claw slash comes down, hitting the concrete and cracking it -- and then she's into the air, a flash of light shooting out from her feet. The ring blitzes across the ground, as Lera rises up, and looks down at the bear youma. She glowers.

<Lera! Over there!>

Lera turns her head -- Sky indicates the direction with a quick bit of telepathy -- and her eyes widen, as she sees the bull-shaped youma rampaging down a street. She sucks a breath in, doing a tight roll in the air. She readies herself to charge -- and then the bull rips away from her. "No!"

And then another swipe of a bear's claw nearly takes her out of the air. She does a tight twist, barely turning around and ducking aside from the slash. She can't quite manage to thank Fuu for her assistance; the Wind Knight sends a wash of green light over her, some of that sluggishness leaving her.

It's well-timed.

Lera's eyes widen, a bit of panic hitting her as she realizes she could be surrounded and overwhelmed. She suddenly launches forward, then; another ring of light shoots from her feet, and leaves a zig-zagging trail of red-orange light in her wake. She slams her shoulder at the bear, before breaking past and shooting for the next!

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Line Burst on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Lera Camry's Line Burst, taking 25 Fatigue damage!  Lera Camry is Psyched!  
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury accepts Kuniko Saito's Babaganoush and Shawarma Chicken Onigiri, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Cleanse! All of Sailor Mercury's debuffs are cleared!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

Endo is all awhirl, big and sweeping arcs that gouge anything unfortunate enough to be in their path. "There's a lot, Lera-san!" His acknowledgement is a bit of an understatement. "Be careful!" He's working with her enough that his motions fall into step with hers. His barrier jacket is beginning to show the wear that the night has taken, every few seconds a new slash or scrape added to the armor.

<TWO TARGETS, LEFT. RIGHT. REINFORCMENTS APPROACHING.> His device delivers a torrent of information, and in the corner of his eye he can see it happening, Nephrite's honor guard, the bull, a dozen other shapes. Then, the bears again.

"Let's go!" When the ursine Youma begin to rally and rush forward again, Endo moves to meet them. Circles of light burn to life around him, launching him forward in the wake of the Midchildan lightning bolt. He goes into claws and teeth, hissing as he feels the monstrous forms dig into his armor.

He hits back.

Again the circle appear, lending him momentum, sending him spinning in whirling circles through the Youma.

COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Radial Velocity on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Endo Naoki's Radial Velocity, taking 58 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"Thank you, Mercury!" Her fellow senshi has given her a direction, and that's all that Sailor Jupiter needed - a call of thanks and a nod of emphatic gratitude, and Makoto turns to orient herself the way that Ami pointed, the direction that Lera saw earlier from on high. At that moment, as though cued by Sailor Mercury's declaration, Sailor Moon's tiara slices through one of the youma and for a moment, like everybody, Jupiter sees him clearly.

Then the jewel-studded youma surge forward.

Kuniko's voice calling her name catches her attention, and she looks in time to see the onigiri coming her way. Her hand snaps up to snatch it deftly out of the air, and Jupiter flashes Kuniko a quick, grateful grin. "Thanks!" she calls back, and not just for the onigiri, before she nomfs it down - no time for manners, but it doesn't matter, she can feel the surge of energy that it gives her, bringing everything into focus. When one of Nephrite's guardian youma slashes its claws down at her, she whirls to meet it, stopping its assault cold with an iron grip on its forearm.

At her side, the clenched fist of her other hand sparks with electricity.

"NEPHRITE!" Sailor Jupiter bellows at the top of her lungs - like she did the other day, knowing he can hear her - and then she hauls back and throws every bit of her strength into driving her blazing fist into the youma, fully intending to plow straight on through.

What she'll do then, when she's face to face with the Dark Kingdom's General, Makoto doesn't know. The clarity she felt under the light of last night's moon has not returned. But all the same, she has to do this.

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Lightning Fist on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's Lightning Fist, taking 19 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Jupiter is Psyched!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Mercury's cover is much appreciated, as her Sabao spray covers the battlefield in obfuscating mist. "Thanks Mercury! That was really scary!" And yet out of the Mist flies something. An attack?! No! A rose? No! She raises a hand, and catches a nori wrapped hand roll. Her eyes widen all of a sudden, as she wipes away a sudden fleck of drool from her mouth from the aroma that drifts off of it.

Looking up at Kuniko, her eyes sparkle, as if she'd just been handed a thing of absolute beauty. She bites into it and- "Aaaahhhhh!" She has no idea what half of these flavors even are, but it is has placed her in a temporary state of food Nirvana. A transcendental place where all is good in the world and tasty. "And I'm with any pretty girl who can make something so delicious!" Recognizing her from the New Year, she waves the half-eaten roll her way, before lowering her head and devouring the rest of it with puffed up cheeks like some greey hamster who just got away with a treat. Once finished, she wipes her mouth and- "Oh! That's right! We need to get to Jupiter!"

Charging back into the fray, Sailor Moon moves within the gap she created within the ranks to try to move right for the Senshi of Thunder and Courage, looking up towards the sorely beset American Mage-Adventurer. "Propane-chan!" Her gaze then sweeps towards her fellow Senshi, "Mercury! I need to make it to Jupiter! Can you cover me?" And yet, as she does, Nephrite's personal guard closes in. Azure light clashes against the glow of her tiara as it manifests back upon her brow. As they close in on her. Sailor Moon leaps into the sky, improvising. "Sailor-" Crossing her arms in front of her face, she barrels right back down into them, trying to physically crash through them. "-Body Attack!"

Let it never be said she didn't have courage, jumping right at such monstrosities. And yet, she doesn't have force enough to plow right through them. A clawed swipe clashes against the gloves she wears, as sturdy as any armor. The impact of her against the claws throws the Youma off-balance, preventing the strike from cutting any deeper, and as for Sailor Moon- She lands flat, on her bottom. On the street. In the middle of the army.

For a moment, her eyes become tiny dots, as she stares at just how many are now arrayed around her. Getting to her feet suddenly in panic, she starts exaggerated laughter, with one hand which held the moon stick on the nape of her neck in embarrassment as she leans forward, "Ahahahaha gomen gomen! I guess that was a bit forward of me!" Putting her hands in front of her face at the unimpressed Youma, she looks and sounds even more panicked, "Aaaaa! What would Sailor V do!?"

Catching a glimpse of Jupiter off to the side, descending on Nephrite, she calls out in even more of a panic, "Jupiter! Don't try to face him alone! Wait for us!"

Realizing that she isn't likely to listen while locked in combat with the Shitennou, Sailor Moon's face suddenly becomes filled with resolve as she stares at the closest Youma. "Get out of my way! Jupiter needs me!" And that is to aim a high kick at what resembled the Youma's jaw, hoping it was made of glass rather than stars, her battle cry sounding throughout the night. "Sailor Moon Kick!" It is also possibly what Sailor V would do.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Sailor Moon Kick on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly dodges Sailor Moon's Sailor Moon Kick, taking 2 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Moon is Psyched!  Nephrite's Fade ability activates!  Nephrite's Flash ability activates!  Stun applied to Nephrite!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mercury [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Throwing up her hands to guard her eyes from that encroaching, sickly light, Sailor Mercury feels as though she's starting to lose ground to the youma. She starts moving toward Kuniko -- a lucky moment of chance, as it puts her in neat position to catch that incoming, invigorating onigiri, which she hastily wolfs down. Usually she'd eat more delicately -- but there's a bit of a time crunch here!

Switching her trajectory to head toward Sailor Moon and form up, Mercury wipes her mouth -- again, indelicate, but the present moment presents no opportunity for delicacy. (But evidently, one for delicacies.) A few swiping claws graze her as she moves.

Swinging her arms out to either side, she cries out, "Shine Aqua Cutter!" Blades of ice form all around her, whirling about her midsection. She moves alongside Sailor Moon, hoping to use the blades to clear a path for the pair to catch up with Jupiter.

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Shine Aqua Cutter on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Sailor Mercury's Shine Aqua Cutter, taking 14 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

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

Emerald winds carry the aroma of babaganoush through the streets; while the youma seem neither bothered nor interested by the smell, it's an environment that bolsters those who stand against the darkness. The darkness is deep, the air oppressive...but a little less so, perhaps. There's a glimmer of hope.

The youma under the sign of Taurus, charging forward, meet opposition. A handful are literal bulls; others are burly, or simply unswayable. At last, reaching a junction, they're met by opposition - Tsukiko, standing against the line. Behind her, a fearful wakening witnesses the wolf-girl standing against a small horde, alone but undeterred. One of the youma - towards the back of the small herd, possibly a commander - snarls. "Why are you getting back up - just let us throoooough!"

The constellations of Ursa Minor and Major, at last, go out. In the complete and total chaos of the battle, the youma that surrounded Lera and Endo have met their end - a tandem set of swordplay cutting a swath through them, and the lesser youma riding on their coattails. It's slow and steady progress, but the army is gradually being whittled down. The sign of Libra has regrouped, though, and brilliant light begins to blaze once more...

Nephrite's personal guard, sent forward, do what they can to maintain the rearguard. A dozen or more surround Sailor Moon - but the first to step forward is sent staggering back from a blow to the jaw, and none are sure who should be the second to step forth. Mercury unleashes blades of ice to help settle the decision, and the remnants of Nephrite's personal guard charge the duo once more.

And Jupiter hits one guard youma like a thunderbolt - it's sent flying, to skid along the ground until it reaches Nephrite's feet. Sluggishly, it starts to rise...and then a boot slams down on top of it. The distance between them mostly clear, Nephrite meets Jupiter's gaze.

"Jupiter. You..." He trails off. The clouds overhead rumble ominously, violet lightning crackling, and he shakes his head - eyes blazing crimson when they meet the Senshi's once more. "You stand in my way again. How many times do you need to learn the same lesson?!" Power gathers in one hand - and after a moment's pause, lashes out in the form of glowing chains.

On the battlefield at large, youma are rallying once more - the archers of Sagittarius emerging from whirling winds, preparing to attack anew; the hounds of Canis Majorus having chosen a new leader; the stampede of Taurus continuing to battle Tsukiko on the bridge.

COMBAT: Nephrite has used Taurus Terror on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Corona Erebus on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Unrecognized attack. Please check for typos in the attack name entered.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Hunters Of Orion on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Hunters Of Orion on Kuniko Saito.
COMBAT: Unrecognized attack. Please check for typos in the attack name entered.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Lights of Libra on Lera Camry.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Bane of Antares on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Nephrite has used Chains of Andromeda on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Nephrite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to dodge Nephrite's Taurus Terror, taking 26 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to dodge Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Sailor Moon!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly dodges Nephrite's Chains of Andromeda, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Tangle and Trap applied to Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito narrowly dodges Nephrite's Hunters Of Orion, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Diversion, Tangle, and Trap applied to Kuniko Saito!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki narrowly braces Nephrite's Bane of Antares, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Endo Naoki's Parry ability activates! Cripple applied to Endo Naoki!
COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly braces Nephrite's Lights of Libra, taking 9 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury narrowly dodges Nephrite's Corona Erebus, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Sailor Mercury's Fade ability activates! Sailor Mercury's Flash ability activates! Exhausted applied to Sailor Mercury!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Nephrite's Hunters Of Orion, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Fuu Hououji!

From afar (to Nephrite, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mercury), Sailor Jupiter (Mako) nod. Mako's gonna do some yelling, try to push some buttons. After that it kind of depends on whether or not it seems like she's getting through at all.

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

"How about if I chase you back to where you came from?" Tsukiko yells in retort to the commander. She lunges forward, trying to deftly step through the crowd to deliver a more physical rejoinder, but the herd of Tauruses tighten their ranks, shoving her around and pushing her back.

A herd...

The wolfgirl grins, then dashes forward again, this time circling around the cluster of youma. With feinting kicks, she tries to force them to crowd even closer together; with snarls and snaps, she seeks to intimidate the ones in the front. If this goes well, she'll have them boxed in; if she gets lucky, perhaps they'll stampede over their commander (and away from the residential area).

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

<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"We'll get them!" Lera calls back to Endo, though she is far from certain of that. The girl comes to a step, her bull rush at ridiculous speeds ending when her feet kick into the ground. She turns her head, looking around; she lets out a deep breath, before she spies the youma guarding Nephrite that face off against the Sailor Senshi. She vaguely makes out the exchange between Jupiter and Nephrite.

Then she sees the chains shoot out for Sailor Jupiter. Her expression screws up in anger, her hands clenching around the hilts of her swords. "Don't--don't mock her! You don't have any right! She should stand up against you, when you're trying to wreck a city like this!"

Lera doesn't have key context, perhaps.

Lera turns, eyes widening. The blast of light comes down at her; she raises her swords and a barrier, hastily made, flashes to intercept the energy burst at the last moment. It briefly casts a bright shadow behind her, as the barrier shudders to hold. The moment the blast is repulsed, it fades. That is, suffice to say, not a type of spell she has a good command of.

She brings her paired swords together. They connect, reforming the broadsword with a click, and then she shoots off for those youma. Lera lets out a loud yell, swinging her sword back over her shoulder as she descends for youma. Plasma flashes up the length of the sword. "Time to tip the scales!"

She swings the sword down over her head, chopping it towards Libra. The blade chops down -- and then a fiery blast shoots up, in a focused edge of explosion where the blade cuts down.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Inferno Slasher on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.
COMBAT: You don't have an incoming attack from Herd. Please check +queue to see your incoming attacks.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly dodges Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Herd the Quarry, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Nephrite's Fade ability activates!  Nephrite's Flash ability activates!  Tangle and Trap applied to Nephrite!  
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Lera Camry's Inferno Slasher, taking 43 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

While initially, the momentum of Sailor Moon's drive buys her some time, Nephrite's elite guard manage to catch up. One slash of corrupt azure claws at Sailor Moon's flank causes her to scream in agony, emboldening the others to press her. It's a miserable advance afterwards. One desperate leap gaining her only another strike at her side that knocks her out of the air. Sailor Moon crashes to the ground a short distance from Jupiter, and after rolling upright comes to the stop.

Pressing up on one trembling arm. She looks up not at the Shitennou, but Jupiter, who always looked, so much stronger than her. It took all she had to just even keep up with her, and she'd fallen at the end. Her eyes sparkling with drops of water from pain she so despised, she reaches her feet, determined to be of some help to her. And despite her words earlier, she suddenly understood. It hurt even to speak but the words come slowly, "She won't ever stop because-"

She swallows looking suddenly at the Shitennou, who looks so powerful in the middle of his army, "-because Jupiter-chan has her own pride! She isn't the kind of girl to leave her fate up to a guy. Not even when her heart gets broken again and again. She keeps on fighting of her own accord, harder than ever!" Sailor Moon whispers softly, "That's who she is."

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Jupiter Pride on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter accepts Sailor Moon's Jupiter Pride, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Jupiter is Cheered!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

Endo does a better job at forming a barrier for the next attack, magic forming into a hastily-made shield that the youma's beams explode against. It sends him staggering a few steps backward, wobbling and nearly tipping over the edge of the roof he's standing on when he hits its rim. He teeters back and forth for just a second, then pushes himself forward again.

"Over there!" He points this out a bit late. He doesn't follow Lera this time, though it doesn't mean he's not going to lend support. He plants his Device into the ground, fingers gripping the hilt tight. Distractions are forced to the back of his mind as he channels the spell, working one of his less-used spells.

Triangular symbols whirl into focus in the air around the Device, making bright sparks as they begin to divulge a dozen spheres of energy. They streak through the night sky, threading toward the ranks of Libra and exploding violently.

COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Meteor Shower on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Endo Naoki's Meteor Shower, taking 24 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

The Magic Knight of Wind tries to counter the incoming arrows with another wind barrier; thankfully, her healing spell has let her use both arms to the fullest again -

But that doesn't help QUITE as much when the arrow that gets through her barrier snags her sleeve and pins it to a brick wall. A moment's work should let her get loose again, but it's not a moment she can take when more arrows are about to come her way. And ...

Well, to be perfectly honest, the waves upon waves of youma are getting on her nerves, too.

"STORM-DANCE OF KAMAITACHI!!" shouts the Wind Knight, ramping up her magic and sending a much bigger tornado into the ranks of Nephrite's monsters. There most likely WILL be some collateral damage as a result of cutting loose like this, but live civilians have generally gotten out of the battle zone by now as far as she can tell, and property damage is going to be unavoidable if the monsters keep rampaging like this. She's mostly focused on making sure the tornado manifests in the thick of the youma and well away from her allies; the rending winds lash out amongst the youma, slashing into them like the mythical sickle-weasels themselves are said to do ...

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Storm-Dance of Kamaitachi on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Storm-Dance of Kamaitachi, taking 41 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

It's no surprise when the chains lash out. After the last few times, Sailor Jupiter half expected it. But even knowing it's coming is scarcely any help when the magical chains whip at her almost too fast to see - she throws herself to the side in a desperate dive, arm thrown up to shield herself, and hits the ground in an uncontrolled and bruising tumble. Even then, she doesn't entirely manage to escape being snared; the chain is tangled around her forearm as Jupiter surges back up onto her feet, but at least she's managed to keep some freedom of movement, at least for now.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She faces Nephrite head-on, all at once impassioned, furious, desperately searching for something she can't even be sure is there - she knows she's being reckless, knows that her friends have good reason to be worried, but there's a question drumming in the wild beat of her heart and she *has to know.*

"Look around, Nephrite!" The impatient gesture that punctuates her shout is brought up short by the snaring chain. "All of this - so much pain and suffering and destruction, what's it all for? What's *so important* that it's worth all this?"

There are tears glittering in her eyes, fury and grief, but she hasn't realized it yet even to blink them back. "Destroying the whole world just so that your Queen can rule over it, are you really okay with that? Is this really what you're supposed to be doing?!"

It's the same question, the one that she's been asking all along because it doesn't make *sense* to her, it never has: "What do you *WANT,* Nephrite? What are you fighting for?!"

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used To The Sky That Is Still Dark on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's To The Sky That Is Still Dark, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mercury [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Sailor Mercury isn't a particularly stellar close-in fighter, and as a result, she can't quite defend herself as well as she'd like against Nephrite's elite youma. She winces at scratches and claws, trying desperately to hang in there despite encroaching exhaustion and wounds; she can't fall -- she has to be there for Mako-chan!

Looking to Jupiter, Ami opens her mouth wordlessly -- she wants to have her friend's back... but there's nothing she can add. This is a battle that Sailor Jupiter has to face for her own sake -- she can't offer the same sort of support Sailor Moon can.

So instead, she turns her attention to the remainder of Nephrite's elite guard, striking a resolute pose. "Aiding the sort of person who'd play with a girl's broken heart... that is unforgivable!" Bubbles begin to roll off of her on all sides, rather than the earlier directed blasts, as she says, "In the name of Mercury -- douse your head in cold water and repent!"

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used In The Name Of Mercury on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite narrowly braces Sailor Mercury's In The Name Of Mercury, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Mercury is Psyched!  Nephrite's Block ability activates!  Nephrite's Parry ability activates!  Diversion and Tangle applied to Nephrite!

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

The commander of the youma force facing Tsukiko is slightly more clever than her destructive minion - she starts shouting orders as the monsters start to churn in confusion. Still, they're being driven back to the battle at large...

The battle doesn't seem to be over yet, courtesy of a flanking maneuver pinning in Fuu and Kuniko. Youma from a separate portal are in the midst of joining the conflict near their general....but their arrival is cut off by a tempestuous, cutting wind. An imposing storm, to buy a few minutes' more grace...

But the army immediately present is being whittled down - attacks from Lera and Endo taking their toll on some of Nephrite's better youma, the guard hesitating in face of Mercury, rampages cut short. It's a few moment's grace, at best - milling in uncertainty, no one youma willing to be the first to charge in, but preparing to attack anew as a whole.

Confronting Jupiter directly - even as she gets Sailor Moon as backup - Nephrite is taken aback. He scowls as she insists on talking instead of fighting, shakes his head in disbelief at the tears - tears? For his sake?

Why are they familiar? Why does he remember them?

Lightning crackles overhead once more, and he turns his full attention to Jupiter as she makes her entreaty. He may as well entertain her last words - he looks about the battlefield. A city - damaged, terrified, with youma crumbling to dust on all sides. Chaos and devastation run rampant.

"...it's what Queen Beryl ordered. It's- what I'm supposed to be doing?! What would you know about that, Sailor Jupiter? What would you know about any of it?!" He reaches out, summons his blade - gleaming crystal, darkened by shadow - and lunges forward. "You want to know what I want?!"

He looks into her eyes, sword raised high...and stops. He stands there, ready to strike, holding the blade high...and rather than burning crimson, his eyes seem...almost empty.

"...I don't know."

Kunzite has arrived.

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

The army of youma clashes against the assembled magical girls, and at their head, Nephrite sends his personal guards away from him and takes on the Sailor Soldier who roars his name, who demands to know what he fights for, why he would be so destructively loyal to a Queen who seeks to rule the world. It's all very dramatic, but dramatics can't be properly appreciated without an audience.

An audience of one watches from the other side of a teleportation, and when Nephrite hesitates, he moves.

"You don't know? Tsk. In the end, this is all we could expect from you..." sounds a deep voice from behind Nephrite. A tall, tan man with long white hair materializes behind him, floating a few inches from the ground, one gloved hand upraised. Glittering black energy coalesces around it, and the next instant, it shoots out, punching clean through Nephrite's body. Of course, it won't be clean for much longer after a massive wound like that.

The white-haired man looks down on his compatriot with pitiless, uncaring eyes. "Queen Beryl told you you had but one chance left, Nephrite," he says in the same tone that a kindergarten teacher would use to chide an unruly child. "How unfortunate for you that you chose to waste it."

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

She holds her breath, the chain taut against her arm, standing braced and ready for the sword to come down - and in that moment, as Nephrite hesitates and the mad fire goes out of his eyes, Sailor Jupiter has her answer.

She can't fight someone she wants to save.

She shifts her weight, straightening out of her combat stance. The glimmer of tears lingers faintly on her lashes, but all of the fury of a moment before is gone and her eyes, her whole face is alight with earnest sincerity, the faint beginnings of a hopeful smile starting to form on her lips. The magical chain goes slack as she reaches out, extending her hand palm up in invitation.

"It's not too late to stop," she says.

But then Kunzite appears out of the darkness, and it is.

It happens in the space between heartbeats, too fast to stop. Makoto has barely had a chance to process what's just happened when the chain formed from Nephrite's power evaporates; she can only react on reflex, lunging to catch him as he collapses.

"What...?" Still supporting Nephrite's weight, Sailor Jupiter sinks to her knees on the ground, staring down in horrified disbelief at the grievous wound.

When she looks up at Kunzite, her eyes blaze with emerald light.

"...sacred eagle, Aquila..." Her voice is low as thunder, shaking with intensity. "...Io, Callisto, Ganymede, Europa..." The gem at the center of her tiara erupts with a light that matches her eyes. It curls up off of her, rising like steam.

"...Jupiter Power...!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has started a combo targeting Kunzite and Nephrite!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Every movement hurt. Even the smallest ones. Sailor Moon would swear that even her odangos hurt. She moves forward one step at a time, posture hunched over, as she makes it to just behind Jupiter. She listens to Nephrite yell. She watches him summon his blade.

Instinctively she thinks of pushing Jupiter out of the way. But then he stops. And she sees the eyes of an empty man. She finds in that moment, that it's very hard to truly consider him unforgivable, despite what he did to her friend's heart. Instead she just finds him sad.

And
then
he
no
longer
has
part
of
his
chest

Sailor Moon's eyes don't follow him as he falls to the ground, eyes sparkling with tears as she instead looks upon the visage of cruelty that took his place. It wasn't that she particularly cared for Nephrite, despite having sympathy for him in what might be his final moments and for the first time feeling compassion for what little humanity she'd glimpsed.

It was that she loved Makoto Kino enough to know what such a death, after his hesitation would do to her. It was that she hated such abject inhumanity as this act of betrayal. No words of condemnation come from her at first, despite how right it feels to do so. She just can't find the words.

So despite the sudden overwhelming nerveless feeling in her hand that threatens to let the Moon Stick fall. Despite the weakness in her knees that threatens to make her helpess against gravity, where she could be sent to the ground or to hug her friend, and cry- she stays on her feet.

When it comes from Jupiter, who in that moment never felt more strong to Usagi, the call isn't just entirely expected. It feels right. It gathers in her fingertips. She feels it in her sparkly pink nail polish, the energy of her guardian celestial body welling up within her, then suffusing her entire form with a deep pink. In the end she found the appropriate words after all.

"Moon Prism Power!"

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

<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Everything happens quickly. Lera's sword cleaves through another youma, and then she turns again to look at Jupiter. She gets ready to lift off the ground, back into the air, and then she sees Nephrite's sword stop. There's a moment, there, where she can hope that everything will be fine. Where, maybe, Nephrite will stop this mad course of action; where, maybe, he can be reached when she never thought that a possibility.

Kunzite puts an end to that. Her mouth opens in shock and her eyes widen, but it takes a second for her to believe that. She takes a step backward, shaky and unsure.

"Oh, no..." she murmurs. She feels her eyebrow twitch, involuntarily, and her cheeks get hot with anger. At first, there is a peculiar disassociation, as her mind reels from the sudden violence to realize that she is outraged. In the next, she spins, her Intelligent Device swinging down into a youma and knocking it aside. That brings her face to face with some of that army of youma.

Words fail her. Light crackles in front of her, as she points her sword straight in front of her. The blade splits down the middle, and between the separated blade, crackles of red-orange lightning leap.

The crackles of energy gather and grow, until they form a bead of white light. It first, blasting from the sword and turns into a massive beam of white energy tinged gold and red. It shoots into the youma army; the recoil pushes Lera back, her teeth gritting with poorly contained anger all the while.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Lera Camry has used Aurora Burst on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

As the squad she's facing falls back in confusion, Tsukiko takes a moment to leap to a nearby rooftop to get a better view of the battlefield. The other forces of the dark army are in various states of disarray, shattered by the attacks delivered by the other magical girls.

A flash of dark energy catches the wolfgirl's eye, and she turns in time to see Nephrite get impaled. She cannot hear the words spoken by Sailor Jupiter, but the heartfelt fury is as easy to see as the magical light that gathers to the Senshi of Thunder.

"Let us bring a swift end this battle," Tsukiko murmurs to herself, frowning as she turns to face the remains of the stellar army. She takes a deep breath--

--and howls.

Wordless as always, the howl nevertheless is laden with feelings: a clarion call announcing a triumphant rout, the protective defiance of those that guard the city, the sense of hope within magical girls; there's even a respectful note for the fallen general, like a swordsman's salute.

The howl also has an undercurrent, equal parts threat and promise, plainly audible to the army of the stars: Leave. Leave now, and never return to threaten this city, else your life is forfeit.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

The tide of the battle is turning, it would seem; somehow the massed magical girls of Tokyo are holding their own and pushing back against the multitudes of youma. In the middle of this, the Magic Knight of Wind sees the youma trying to get into a scissor maneuver even as her tornado cuts off their reinforcements.

She yanks the arrow free from where it was pinning hse sleeve, and casts it aside. "Let's push the advantage while we have it, everyone!" she calls out - at least to those of her allies who are within hearing; a lot of them probably aren't. And the Wind Knight has no knowledge of the fact that the Dark General who was spearheading the invasion is no longer part of the invading force, in any meaningful manner.

If she did know ... well, it wouldn't change anything, so long as the youma are trying to continue their rampage.

She stretches her arms out to the sides, then draws them in and back as the winds gather about her, ruffling her uniform and mussing her hair. Her gaze flicks back and forth behind her glasses, double-checking where her targets are ...

"EMERALD CYCLONE!!!"

And she unleashes the full fury of the gale upon those youma who remain within her attack range.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Emerald Cyclone: Full on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Soulful Howl on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mercury [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

In an instant, Makoto's efforts -- the strength of her maiden's heart brought to bear -- are dashed. That wound... Sailor Mercury knows that kind of wound could be fatal, and allowing a second, of any type, almost certainly would. She flinches, for a moment... and all she can do is keep her gaze on the wound, and on Makoto.

When Sailor Jupiter starts to speak, Mercury turns, nodding wordlessly. She doesn't want vengeance for this -- but even if Nephrite was their enemy... this sort of cruelty -- this is absolutely unacceptable. Kunzite -- and all the youma of the Dark Kingdom -- need to be pushed away. Then, hopefully, they can do something to help the fallen General. It'll be dicey, but... they can't do /anything/ the way things stand, so...

Makoto calls, and Ami answers. Her body shaking, she begins to well up with bright blue energy, just as Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter do. She looks to Makoto, expression resolute. Firmly, she announces:

"Mercury Power!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Mercury has joined the combo started by Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mercury have used Combo: Sailor Planet Attack, composed of Sailor Planet Attack, on Kunzite.
COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mercury have used Combo: Sailor Planet Attack, composed of Sailor Planet Attack, on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Emerald Cyclone: Full, taking 77 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Lera Camry's Finisher, Aurora Burst, taking 135 Fatigue damage!  
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Finisher, Soulful Howl, taking 65 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite is unable to keep fighting!  
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to brace Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mercury's Finisher, Combo: Sailor Planet Attack, taking 441 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Nephrite is unable to keep fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

It's hard not to notice when the world stops so suddenly. When the Youma army falters and stills, so does Endo. His eyes turn skyward, to the sight of Nephrite's fall and Kunzite's arrival. The brutality of the act registers well enough, though its greater significance is, perhaps, lost. But the reaction of the other combatants lends weight to it, all the same. Enough that Endo, like the opposing army, stands stock-still.

<KNIGHT. LET US END THIS.> The synthesized voice of his Device cracks out a firm reminder.

"Right." And then he's focusing on the army again, pressing the advantage. He grips the weapon tight, the whole blade flaring to life in lurid purple.

When he swings it, all the energy comes out. Nearly everything he has, all of it fanning out into a sweeping crescent of light that tears across the ground and into the lines of youma. The sword comes to the ground with a crash once the swing ends, Endo leaning against it, the Device belching out steam and the knight breathing heavy.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Endo Naoki has used Debris Disk on Nephrite.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nephrite fails to dodge Endo Naoki's Finisher, Debris Disk, taking 66 Fatigue damage!  Nephrite is unable to keep fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Green joins with Pink. Pink with Blue. Blue with Green. It spirals out of each of them, through their fingers, the hearts and voices of the Senshi joining in unison

"Sailor Planet Attack!"

It pulses forth in such ardent light that flows outward over the battlefield and tries to consume both Nephrite's likely murderer, and the remainder of Nephrite's Almagest army.

COMBAT: Kunzite narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mercury's Finisher, Combo: Sailor Planet Attack, taking 33 Fatigue damage!  Kunzite's Block ability activates!  Kunzite's Parry ability activates!

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

Betrayal. Subtle, insiduous, abrupt when finally come to fruition. Nephrite can only stare into space in shock for a moment - how could this have happened? This...abrupt revelation, this blatant knife in the back?

Is he more shocked at Kunzite's actions toward him, or his own actions to Beryl?

'I don't know,' he'd said. Pitiful last words, in a way - but enough to condemn him, on this final chance. He begins to fall, slowly turning as he does so. Kunzite's face - for all that he was stabbed in the back, Nephrite wants to see the expression on Kunzite's face. A few last words for his murderer... "I wonder when Beryl...will tire of you." And then, his strength is gone.

There's comfort, unexpected - a gradual softening of his fall. He's dying - he can feel it, there's no mistaking this feeling - but...

Nephrite's personal guard rushed in as he fell - but with the executor having been one of the other generals, they hesitate. Perhaps their duty can be shifted so easily? Are they mustering their forces for a desperate assault on Kunzite? Or are they preparing for an attack on the Senshi? Before a decision can be made, light comes forth - planetary judgment, enveloping these invaders.

The remainder of the army is likewise of torn loyalty - for a moment, they pause, preparing to make their own decisions of whose command to follow. And then -

A howl, filled with triumph, respect - and warning. One that rings through the bestial youma first, and urges them to flee. Shuddering, nearly withering at the sound, they bolt.

A brilliant beam of gold and red, tearing into a portion of the army - a mighty blast to shatter what formations remain, filled with wordless anger.

An emerald whirlwind - grabbing a company of archers, and hurling several into the skies - and scattering others in all directions.

A single swing, filled with shock and audacity at the betrayal witnessed, tearing through an entire line.

And the brilliant light of judgment, where Nephrite and Kunzite stood.

Some of the youma survive. Mighty as the attacks are, there's too many to wipe out the lot at once...but it cements the loyalty of the dark creatures. Each for itself - a total rout, survivors fleeing for the nearest flickering portal, hurling themselves into darkness once more in an all-out retreat. As dust settles, as the air clears...not a single youma remains. Whether fleeing in terror or joining the ranks of the annihilated - they have all departed the Earth.

In Jupiter's arms, Nephrite takes a shuddering breath. Few enough remain. Light, brilliant, purifying - shouldn't this be erasing him utterly, like it did Jadeite before him? Strange...not that it matters. It doesn't change the fact that he's dying.

It's quiet. The sheer power unleashed disturbed the clouds, and a gentle rain begins to fall. Nephrite looks up - at where the stars are obscured. "...after all this...what did I want? I...didn't understand. Why I couldn't stop thinking about you..."

Another breath, and he looks to the face of the one holding him. "...you kept trying to reach out. Foolish...so very foolish...but you were right. You saw something even I did not...something I had forgotten, long ago..."

He closes his eyes. "...it seems the stars...will never be right for us."

In moments, Nephrite is nothing but glittering dust.

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

Kunzite doesn't even sneer down at Nephrite. His pale blue eyes are that of a man simply watching over a final, mildly unpleasant task: cold, with neither hatred nor regret. There are veterinarians more emotional about putting down old dogs. Nephrite's parting remark merits the first emotional response since his appearance... but it's a slight, condescending smirk.

"I am not worried about that," Kunzite replies. "And soon, you shall worry about nothing at all."

His ticks his head up as the Sailor Senshi, lead by Sailor Jupiter funnel their rage in an overwhelming, massive orb of magical power. That is of somewhat more concern to him than Nephrite's honor guard, who rightfully hesitate around him. The Sailor Planet Attack surges out in every direction, and Kunzite, seemingly indifferent to the fate of the army--there are many others here raining down their own hails of destruction, after all--calls up a swirling barrier of darkness around him. He does not do this with any appreciable effort or even movement. The massive power of the Sailor Planet Attack overtakes him and his orb barrier, awashes him with light, and obscures him from view for a moment.

When the power dies away, Kunzite is still there. So is his barrier, somewhat dimmed. The Shitennou is frowning.

"Hrm," he rumbles. "That singed." He focuses in on Jupiter, Moon and Mercury. "Perhaps you Sailor Soldiers have some power after all."

He neglects to mention that it was his strongest type of barrier. There's no need to allow them to know that. Instead, Kunzite floats up into the air, barrier and all. "Unfortunately, I am only here today to dispose of garbage on Queen Beryl's behalf." He smirks down at the Sailor Soldiers, as well as the Midchildan mages, the wolf-girl, the magical chef and the Magic Knight. They all fought well; he'll have to make a note of them. "I am Kunzite of the Shitennou, strongest warrior of the Dark Kingdom," he declares. "Our next meeting shall be our last."

Then the barrier flashes and vanishes, taking Kunzite with it. The heavens are empty now with their would-be king gone--though in another moment, they'll have another, once Nephrite spends his last words on Sailor Jupiter.

2015-04-18 - Invasion! The Fall Of Nephrite!

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