2014-04-05 - Starfall 10

Title: Starfall 10
Summary: The final confrontation between the magical girls and the unsealed power of the star shards, now reformed into the Maiden of Dreams, long sealed by Queen Serenity and recently unsealed by the machinations of Dark Fall, which is what started all this. Now, some try to put a permanent end to the chaos by slaying the Maiden, while others try to reach out to her and ease her pain at having been sealed in the first place. Whatever their strategy, she gradually takes them in small groups into her heart, to experience the nightmare she's lived; within her heart, they face down these Nightmare Shards, then emerge to rejoin their allies, better able to understand the Maiden's feelings. In the end, they get through to her, and she abandons her form, and her past, to be reborn on Earth anew.
Who: Nadeshiko Fujisaki, Kyouko Sakura, Haruka Tenoh, Maron Kusakabe, Mai Tokiha, Touka Chigami, Homura Akemi, Yukimi Amane, Hikaru Shidou, Syaoran Li, Usagi Tsukino, Kinzo Hiroyuki, Lucy Iwai, Fuu Hououji, Sakura Akagi, Runealy Waldia, Asagao Uekawa, Erika Inagawa GM: Pink Moon Stick
Where: Mt. Asahidake
OOC - IC Date: 04-05-2014 - 12-25-2013

The Main Scene

Previously, On Starfall

A phenomenally adorable critter that looks nothing so much like a stuffed lion with angel wings and a big white fluffy tuft on the end of his tail pops into view. He has a squeaky little voice and an appallingly thick Kansai-ben accent.

"Leave It To Kero-chan!!"

Goofy music plays. http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8176/ccs720p12kaa.png

PREVIOUSLY, ON STARFALL 9

"on christmas eve, a mysterious guy in a suit used the lotus of dreams to make a wish to become the god among men!! i don't know why he didn't wish for christmas cake, but there's no accounting for taste, ya know."

The lotus of dreams, a golden flower with shimmering light beading from the tips of each petal, fades into view.

"KERO-CHAN CHECK: this lotus is composed of the seven star shards, which fell to earth around the same time that the dark kingdom attacked infinity institute! the shards fell into peoples' hearts and emerged via the expression of profound emotion... pretty heavy stuff... but anyway it seems that a group of really rich people who own a fleet of invisible helicopters managed to get all of the shards in the end and form the lotus!"

The 'mysterious guy in the suit' cradles the lotus. His lips move -- making that wish. The lotus' light forms an orb in the center, from the tips of the seven petals, and then the orb explodes. The picture zooms out to the Earth. Kero-chan is sprinkling sugar over the globe.

"the power of dreams contained in the lotus fell to earth as snow on christmas morning!! it was a white christmas for everyone, but then people started falling asleep... until only y'all with the strength of heart to resist were left! then i summoned you to this cave..."

Zooming back in on the globe, the camera goes straight for snowy Hokkaido, and finally to a huge mountain.

"mt. asahidake!! the ancient people of hokkaido called these mountains kamui mintara, the garden where the deities play, and this is their crown jewel. because it's so tall, it was the perfect place to expose everyone to the power of dreams falling from the sky. the only way to confront the god among men was in the dreamworld he'd taken over -- and if the dream wasn't ended before morning, the whole world would awaken as his servants, having their own dreams replaced by his, forever!! and then nobody would ever get cake again, except for him..."

Kero-chan sniffs, sadly, but then leads everyone into the mountain. Inside the cave are a huge array of warm sleeping bags, pillows, and a gigantic pile of plushies of every shape and color.

"KERO-CHAN CHECK: i got these plushies from my friend tomoyo daidoji!! she sewed them all individually... she's so amazing... and generous with cake, too..."

Super-deformed chibi-magical girls pour into the cave and stuff themselves into sleeping bags. A few, however, stay just outside, taking battle-ready stances as the sky above them clouds over with a black storm.

"while our heroines went to the dream world to confront the god among men and rescue the dreams of humanity, dark fall launched an attack, trying to hurt everyone while they were asleep!! so a few magical girls stayed behind to protect everone." (OOC: This is the alternate scene, that those who couldn't make this weekend are participating in, instead.)

Back inside the cave, sleep comes quickly to the magical girls, and with the swishy back-and-forth camera fadeout, perspective changes to the World of Dreams.

There are no familiar dreams here, whether one usually dreams of sheep, cakes, or the apocalypse. No, the dreamscape, as it gradually resolves, everyone standing all together, looks like... Tokyo. Tokyo, if it were nothing but an endless forest of skyscrapers, each one cruelly jagged, lightly oozing some dark, dark liquid from its corners. There is not much in the way of left and right -- the way to go is clearly up, from one skyscraper to the next. They seem to build upon each other endlessly, piercing the cloud-covered sky.

Everything is washed out, as though icy cold and implacable water had been poured, steadily, endlessly, over the whole world, leaving nothing but smooth, worn surfaces. The bare bones of light and sound. There is no color, none at all.

There are only shades of gray. Except for Kero-chan, who pops into view in glorious technicolor. "everyone climbed up and up the skyscrapers, which were stacked one on top of the next, straight into the sky!! and they found their friends... Everyone from Naru Osaka to Madoka Kaname is present, carrying bricks and other building supplies up the infinite, Escher-esque tower. Their eyes are dull and empty, and their bodies shake with the effort.

Dark, nasty laughter, that of a wheezing old man, booms down from above the cloud cover. The magical girls continue to climb, bouncing up the skyscrapers and through the clouds, into the starry sky. There, the mysterious guy in a suit waits on an obsidian throne, crowned with seven beams of white light. He rises, shoots his mouth off, and then...

With a grotesque sense of /pulling/, he seems to stretch laterally, skin softening like malleable putty. Finally, he tears in half, and where there was once one godzilla-sized corporate executive sort, there are now two.

"We've already won. We don't have to win... we just have to last until morning."

Kero-chan pops into view: "KERO-CHAN CHECK: ewwww!! this is like his left brain, and right brain, or something. he was right though -- all he needed to do was last until everyone woke up, and then it wouldn't matter if he was defeated."

The left and right halves of the God Among Men dive into the clouds. The magical girls dive after them, and a titanic battle takes place, one in which everyone is falling throughout the entire fight. They fall through multiple layers of dreams, including the endless skyscrapers, more clouds, and a strange confessional full of high-tech rosaries and crucifixes, with a pool of blood at the bottom.

Scene Pose: (Look at the Previously, On Starfall object for the first half of this!)

The God Among Men is ultimately defeated, but not before one half of him seems to consume Sailor Mercury whole, swallowing her in a single bite.

The beams of light that had crowned him erupt, and burst through the dreamscape in all directions, in a coruscating rainbow explosion that leaves color, true, beautiful color, in its wake. Eyes have never been lovelier.

And he screams, the scream of a man with a broken dream, and somehow, his voice is suddenly familiar. Intimately familiar, to a rare few. His face, too -- the scar on his forehead, slashing downwards towards his nose; his hawklike beak; the wrinkles on his brow. He almost seems like... it's on the tip of the tongue...

...no. That's impossible. A man of god would never become a God Among Men.

And recognition inhibition cements that impression, as everyone, at the moment they would have belly flopped into the pool, instead wakes up simultaneously -- even the most notorious snoozers, alert in an instant.

Except, that is, for Sailor Mercury.

True dawn is breaking, a hint of light at the edge of the cave. The sleepers are untouched; their guardians are nowhere to be found, but must have kept, or still be keeping, their promise. Kero-chan is snoozing in his now-empty bowl of M&Ms, the puff of white at the tip of his tail fluttering with every tiny snore.

The bowl, and tiny lion-like creature, fall to the floor in a clatter, startled awake by the same sensation accosting the ears of the magical girls: sound. Sound and light.

The rainbow bolts from the dream come crashing into reality, now embodied in seven radiant orbs, orbs that transmute into a familiar golden radiance. They appear in a ring around the chamber. Tendrils of light bounce between them, creating every conceivable connection, a web of light. These beams blast through people harmlessly but not without feeling, and an overwhelming sense of pride, or passion, or fear, or aggression, or indecision, or ruthlessness, or homesickness -- one of them stirs in everyone's hearts, as they are pierced by a given light.

And in the precise center of the ring, the beams merge, merge and transform into... a maiden, composed of purest light. There are no more details to be seen -- she is blinding to look upon, a curious contradiction since the hue of her luminescence is a lovely dove gray.

She exhales, stretching her arms.

"...Free at last..."

TO BE CONCLUDED: NOW

OOC: "What if I wasn't here Friday?" You went to the dream world and helped protect the dreams of humanity from the collateral damage of two godzilla-sized CEOs thrashing all over the place. Alternatively, you were the last line of defense who stood guard over the sleeping magical girls /inside/ the cave, just in case. Either is fine.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick transforms into Dreamgirl!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 15 opponents!

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

Traces of the dream cling to Sailor Vega, even as she sits bolt upright, gripping the sleeping bag in both fists.

Failure - a powerful combined attack utterly evaded.

Horror - Sailor Mercury disappearing between unholy teeth, sadness in her eyes.

Triumph - Sailor Uranus bringing the pain upon the mad-god with elegancy and cool fury.

Brightness and color like she's never seen...

"Mercury!" Sailor Vega gasps, turning to look... only to find the other girl still asleep. She's just asleep, right? Orpheus, curled up beside her, is also still asleep. They aren't done yet!

Pulling herself to a standing position so quickly she nearly throws the sleeping bag completely askew - as soon as she's on two feet she's 'pierced' by the light of the Star Shard of Homesickness.

It very nearly takes her back off her feet, the sudden crushing longing for familiarity and comfort, of feeling lost and out of place and completely unwilling to accept anything that doesn't involve going home. But none of the things that roil through this newfound sense of longing and sadness strike Vega as remotely familiar...

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

Princess Runealy jolts awake, going through several emotions in sequence. First, alarm; consciousness floods her when she expected some kind of 'dream impact' instead. "Wha?" Several glances around, and then she gets out of the sleeping bag. "We made it, right? Close, but we...?" Then she notices Mercury, and looks down to the water-wielder with concern.

Before Rune can say much, homesickness hits hard. A sudden desire to be back at the castle, to speak with familiar faces there. It would be nice... Rosette, Skylle, herself, and getting to spend some time with her father again. Yet it's an urge she can't act on for so many reasons. This leaves her gazing at the cave floor instead, quietly unhappy even as she starts to cope by realizing this feeling isn't entirely her own.

Then a mysterious form appears. Runealy tries to look at her, but the light makes that difficult and forces Rune to settle on 'looking in her general direction' instead. "Free?" Is that a good thing? Normally the princess would think it is, but with the bizarre circumstances at hand she can't tell whether 'free at last' should be interpreted as gratitude, or a worrying omen.

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Sakura Akagi arrives here, already transformed into Japanese Cherry Blossom. The perfume girls' mascot was left behind defending the sleeping magical girls, where Cherry Blossom herself just was, before getting a coast-clear to come into the top of the mountain.

She has apparently arrived just in time for trouble.

As she was once the avatar, in some ways, of Passion, that is not the beam that strikes at her as she arrives at the edge of the prismatic ring. It is, in fact, the beam of indecision which strikes her, and, just as soon as she arrived, with assuredness of purpose, now she holds back and waits at the edge of the circle looking up at the strange maiden.

"...Just... what is going on?" she asks, her bravery reduced to uncertainty.

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

Whoever the wannabe ruler of all humanity was before he got an ultimately terminal power-up from the Lotus, Fuu Hououji didn't actually recognize him - but she noted the reversion from titan to human with a mixture of relief and satisfaction, plus a tiny bit of sympathy.

And then her eyes open to the cave, so carefully furnished for the mission they had just undertaken. The Magic Knight of Wind scrambles quickly to her feet as the empty bowl and its sleeping occupant clatter to the floor, her sword materializing in her hands as the seven orbs form and stitch light back and forth across the cave - including one beam of purest blue that finds its way straight through Fuu's torso, passing through the armor like it wasn't even there ...

Her sword wavers momentarily, levelled to point at the maiden's heart, then wrested away as confusion and coolly collected fury war across the Wind Knight's face. "You ... were in the dream two nights ago, weren't you," she murmurs, stepping clear of her sleeping bag, kicking it aside (with little regard for the falcon plushie) and shifting to a ready stance, her blade angled upwards but no longer pointed straight at the now-free maiden.

Then her voice rings loud and clear: "What do you intend to do with this freedom you've gained?"

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

Mesozoic Maiden Lucy wakes up, hugging Didi so hard the dinosaur is having trouble breathing. There's a bone of all things clutched between her teeth for some reason, which she promptly spits out.

They won. They won against all odds, but Lucy is in absolutely no mood to celebrate. She looks around the cave, unsure where to look amidst all the awakening magical girls, until her eyes land on the sleeping Sailor Mercury.

She's very unlikely to be the only one to rush over to check on the blue-haired sailor soldier, and so she leaves their space to people who know Mercury better, though she still looks on with worry. Have they actually taken a casualty? Is Sailor Moon's friend still dreaming? The fist clasped over her chest tightens a bit. She can't help but feel some part of responsibility in what happened to her, even though in strictly logical terms she likely couldn't have done any more as she fell like a meteor, coated in green flames. (Yes, they may have been gray, but they'll always be green /to her/!)

But before she can worry any further, something occurs that is just impossible to ignore. Rainbow orbs appear within the chamber, and before Lucy can even react, a beam of colored light shoots through her. It's a very strange feeling, but it doesn't hurt. She touches the part of her stomach the beam went through, wondering... Then her eyes light up with a faint, purple light.

Homesickness.

It's a feeling she's very, very familiar with, and so at first she doesn't wonder where it came from, but why it's assailing her now of all times. She crosses her arms, shivering, as if she'd only just realized just how cold this place is, and thoughts of the campires back home roll into her mind. She raises a hand to her eyes, where tears have come unbidden, and the image of her mother appears in her mind's eye, radiant and warm, superimposed over the blinding figure that just formed in the room.

Then, she remembers the dreams, and understands.

"This feeling. It's not mine, it's yours, isn't it?" She takes a single, tentative step forward, then stops, trembling, and her gaze falls groundwards. "Take it back," she whispers, still loud enough for people around her to hear. She had more than enough of that feeling already.

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Erika Inagawa stood guard.

It is an honorable occupation. She did not feel as if she had it in her to attempt to dream a proper dream; she was too anxious, thinking of family back home and across the world, and the lion was honestly kind of disturbing. She did retrieve her assigned plushy to stand guard with her, though; a mighty giraffe sat at her heel.

Watching.

Waiting.

Forever Sunshine struggled to resist boredom when, for a long time, not a whole lot happened. Everyone slept. She heard the occasional restless sound, which made her wonder if she made weird noises when /she/ slept-

But then! An orange beam shines upon her, filling her with renewed PASSION - a sudden burst of feeling which straightens her up, makes her adopt a more firm stance, and turn to face that new appearance, even as the awakening Magic Knight of Wind identifies her!

"Oh, crap!" she says aloud. Then, "Are you - are you the one behind all of this??" Her new posture makes her giraffe friend start toppling over; Forever Sunshine inclines one foot to prop the plushie up while sweeping a hand forwards.

"You'd better tell us what you're up to, because we've been having to deal with it for weeks now!"

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

Dark Amber shoots up from the dream after feeling himself hit into the pool of--- something. It's that weird sort of startle one wakes up when they hit something. It's not an alien feeling, but it's enough to make him get out of the sleeping bag. "---well.. That was a thing." he says as he rubs his head a bit. He looks around. Is everyone is waking. Except for one, and it's not one he thought it would be. This makes him frown a bit. What happend on the other side of the skyscraper?...

Then sound. Sound and light. Rainbow light explodes outward. explodes outwards. What is that? Rainbow beams of light, form a web. A natural reaction----try to block it. He does this. This is practically useless as the light yellowish beam of light shoots through him----

Nrg--that's..unpleasent. A feeling of fearfulness--- it's not an alien feeling, but it's one he'd rather not have. He tries to shake it off. It lingers. His eyes glance over to Cherry Blossom just softly--- he frowns.

"I am not certain." he says as he has to hold a hand over his eyes slightly, as one might when walking against a bright setting sun on the horizon, at the glowing stark white figure, with her arms outstretched.

"I don't suppose she's here to show us her gratitude for freeing her...." he says with just enough hint of 'maybe sarcasm' to leave it opened ended.

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

It doesn't matter who the man who did this was.

It doesn't matter whether he's dead or alive.

It matters that he did something to Ami. Not kill. Usagi won't think about 'kill' right now.

She is fast, faster than most would give her credit for, and is unburdened by consideration and decision. As the sleepers are woken, Sailor Moon is risen. Her sleeping bag is a casualty underfoot, kicked to the side in her mad scramble to crawl and drag herself the few feet to the body of Sailor Mercury.

The blue-haired girl's face is covered with a plush turtle. It's a little unusual, but it's Ami. She liked to block out the light when sleeping. It dutifully guards her even now, its stitched smile unwavering. Usagi whimpers as she pushes it aside.

"Ami-chan?" she whispers.

The piercing beam of fear washes over Sailor Moon, but it finds her already thrown across her friend's body, sobbing desperately.

<Pose Tracker> Syaoran Li [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Dawn breaks, and Syaoran Li leaps up from his bed, his eyes a little wild. Having just spent the past subjective half-hour in a free-fall magical duel with a gigantic Godzilla-sized man in half a shirt, a duel that had him falling down past skyscrapers and into the earth. His heart is still racing after the fall, having been unprepared for that dream drop distance.

His face is also featuring a very fancy-looking moustache drawn in black marker.

The young man's eyes snap up as Keroberos tumbles to the ground, and his sword is in his hand in the blink of an eye. Fast as he is to react, however, he's not quick enough to avoid the beam that ghosts through his chest, sending his heart a-fluttering. As the self-proclaimed heir to Clow Reed, Syaoran Li has pride enough for any young man. He can deal with pride. Unfortunately for him he didn't get hit with pride.

>:D

"Oy, Kaze-chan!" Syaoran calls out, the sword of his great-grandfather gleaming as he raises it in a two-handed guard. "It doesn't matter what she wants to do! Not if we stop her first! Now come on, ladies!" the boy roars, burning PASSION alight in his eyes. "Let's...let's...uh..."

>:|

"...oh my god what am I even saying," he sputters, eyes wide and staring.

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Hikaru hadn't been involved in the battle, but more of watching over the sleeping girls to make sure nothing had happened to them. This had been a whole new adventure far more interesting and challenging than the adventures within Cephiro. For now, things had been OK with her, but now things have really hit a stronger note than before, and Hikaru's definitely not liking it.

One of the beams hits Hikaru, and for a moment, she seems shocked by the sudden blue beam striking her, but then her emotions return and her eyebrows lower into a fierce scowl. She grips her sword tightly and points to the same maiden Fuu-chan is pointing at. "You're free now, but do you really think you're going to remain that way?!" She begins to breathe at a faster rate than usual. "Do you really think it?!" She screams.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Ice blue eyes snap open, and Lux Lapsa pushes herself upright and out of her sleeping back, frost-rimed black wings fluttering outwards now that they're free. The unicorn plush that Yukimi had so liked falls away, forgotten. It seems, she observes as she glances around, that they've returned to the cave, and the others are waking up as well. Beams of light scatter through the room, piercing through various people seemingly harmlessly. As an indigo one passes through Lux Lapsa's breast, though, she is overtaken with a feeling of ruthlessness. She clutches her chest, eyes widening--then narrowing, shaded by one hand, as the lights converge and form a maiden of blinding radiance, whom has finally been set free.

She removes her hand from her chest, and in an instant, a spear of ice forms within her grasp. Gripping it makes shards shatter off, leaving behind a perfectly smooth glacial blade. She twirls it, then grips it in both hands. The others ask what's going on, observe that these feelings actually belong to the maiden, muse that she's not going to be grateful, ask her what she intends on doing, declare that it doesn't matter what she's doing so long as they stop her...

They say plenty of thing, so Lux Lapsa says nothing. She merely drops her gaze down, and around, and up--looking for the best way to defeat her as soon as possible, or to at least gain a decisive advantage from the start, if/when things turn ugly.

To end this without mercy or compassion.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

After calling down a missile upon one half of the gargantuan CEO God Among Men monstrosity, Homura was stuck in the same situation as many others: Helplessly falling downwards into a bloody pool as the shriek of a shattering dream reverberated around her. In the beginning she thought that the dream was much akin to a Witch's Labyrinth ... but in a moment of fear she wondered if striking the surface of the liquid might mean her own life crossing the abyssal river. Moments before impact her hand goes to her shield...

And a moment later she snaps awake, rising from her place upon the floor in near synchronicity with the others who had gone into the dream. Still clutched to her neck is the small black cat plushy with the jade colored eyes. She pulls it away ... but rather than unceremoniously tossing it aside gently sets it down upon the sleeping bag before she rises from it to examine her surroundings.

Suddenly the colors appear, the same colors from the dream, and they form a ring around them. Were they too late after all, somehow? But no she's certain that this is not the case. Something else is wrong...

A pale blue beam of light suddenly strikes her through the chest!! A canny eye might see an echo of the same color flash across her soul gem as she stumbles briefly. Indecision grips her heart: Something has gone very wrong. She sees Vega crying out for Mercury and notices that the sailor soldier is still asleep. "What happened?" Homura manages before her gaze is turned to coalescing figure at the center of the ring. The figure exhales and declares herself 'free at last.' Dread seizes her. A part of her knows that a being such as this, who was sealed away as she was, is unlikely to be benevolent. They need to stop her!

... or maybe she is benevolent? Who knows really. And maybe attacking her will just incite her wrath.

Maybe they should destroy her after all though. There's too many unknown variables.

Maybe... maybe... maybe...

Homura just stands there stock still with her eyes wide as the conflicting thoughts run through her mind. "I ... don't know what to do." She whispers these words softly to herself, "Nothing I do works out the way it should, so what should I do. I..."

Homura then closes her eyes and exhales slowly, deliberately. These feelings inside her mind... some of them are in fact hers, and they are being amplified by alien emotions. This makes it harder to tell which are hers and which are and outsider's, and all she can do is try to force down all her insecurities. All her indecision.

It's not easy. But when Homura's eyes open again the shocked 'deer in the headlights' look is gone and replaced with her usual calm indifference. INDECISION may hold sway over her heart, but she still has control of her mind.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Color fills Lux Corruere's eyes again. She's stiff; her armored form is chilly, despite the sleeping bag, though the little dragon with her has done its duty well, standing guard with a fearsome cuteness. Her wings stretch as if on their own, sticking out the side of her bag, and she rises all at once, suddenly sitting up as... the face passes.

The light is here; but then the colors arrive that block out the old, and a beam bursts through her as she sits surprised.

The red passes through her, brilliant and bright, pride welling up within her at her accomplishments. They've done it. At cost, but everyone is saved, thanks to their efforts. She will see those she cares for again, and already she is smiling as she stands, bringing her sword into being and letting its flame warm her, the bright sparkle of power in its wake fading as she holds it.

...It's external, but it makes so much sense. So, Lux Corruere looks to the freed maiden, "That's right. The one who was using you is gone. You don't have anything to worry about; just let us help you."

...Isn't something wrong here, though? Isn't there something she's forgetting...?

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

As the God Among Men was finally struck down - well, lightning-struck, bisected, and hammered with every magical strike under the monochrome sun - Mai's first priority was making sure Mikoto was all right, along with her other friends. And her other allies. But almost instantly, there was a shift in perception - no flash of light or sudden darkness, simply a shift from the monochrome dream-world to reality. Sound and light and the world.

Also, a murmuring Mikoto clinging to her and using her chest as a pillow. "...Mikoto, you had your own bag..."

It takes little effort to work free - the other girl is getting up as well, after all. The cave is more or less as it was before, save for seven lights-

-which immediately ricochet around the room, piercing everyone with their light. Green narrowly misses her to strike through Mikoto, the younger girl immediately snarling at everything; Mai's own respite is cut short by a lance of red. She smirks with pride as she looks upon the new enemy standing before her. She helped strike down a god, this queen of dreams will be no different. "Queen of dreams...are you stronger than a go-"

Mai's smirk turns to an expression of horror, and she staggers back. The weeping Sailor Moon catches her attention - her companion not waking up. The others here, everyone struggling with their own taste of this light-being's emotions. "What..." She looks around, and Fuu's words get her attention. "That dream...did everyone else have it, too? What is this..."

She puts that thought aside for a moment, turning her attention to Mikoto. For whatever seconds she has, she'll try to calm Mikoto down to rest. The pride burns with the knowledge that she can get Mikoto to go back to resting...because if that burns within her, how fiercely must Mikoto's own emotion burn?

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

Maron Kusakabe is no stranger to unpleasant dreams. To be able to fight back against them for once was a bit of a cathartic experience. Yet even in this shared dream, one element remained the same as in all of Maron's nightmares. A sense of loneliness. At least partially her own fault, for - as usual - not seeking any kind of team effort, perhaps even subconsciously avoiding it. However it happened, Kaitou Jeanne was away from the other dreamers the entire time, only ever seen from afar.

Another thing Maron is no stranger to is sleeping in, which is why perhaps the most unnatural-feeling thing about this whole experience is waking up so suddenly, and feeling immediately awake. When's the last time that happened? Kaitou Jeanne immediately gets out of her sleeping bag, dusting herself off moreso out of discomfort than actual necessity. After all, now that the fighting's over, she's back in a social situation, which is always problematic. Agreeing to help out with a global threat was one thing, but now she has to get back to the devil-may-care thief role.

And so, the very first words out of the Kaitou's mouth are, "Well, now that that's over with..." Fully intending to follow it up with something to announce her departure, her declaration is interrupted by an explosion of light. Even though shielding her eyes against it, somehow, something about this feels vaguely familiar. As if from a dream... which becomes all the more familiar when the light is replaced by the form of a girl.

Wait, what's this? Suddenly she feels so... sad. Why is she suddenly thinking about her parents? The loving home she can only vaguely recall, back before everything went downhill when she was still very young... how she longs to go back to those days. It's severe enough a sensation to make her clutch her heart, as if the ache was an actual physical one. Though never noticing that she was pierced by the beam of homesickness, she manages to refocus on the girl, dimly realizing that it's something about /her/ that caused that feeling. Given the circumstances, there's nothing but sympathy from Jeanne. "You... have somewhere you want to go back to, don't you?"

Sailor Uranus's last pose:

Uranus sees the pool of blood approaching, and does a quick flip to leap back away, spreading all her limbs so she falls more slowly. Her hair whips behind her, a short little halo of grey in this dim world. She is above, clear-eyed, and has a perfect seat to see Mercury devoured by the monster. Her mouth drops open in mute horror. Must she watch this happen again?

Slowly, she draws it shut. Mercury is dead. She was a soldier, she did her duty. Many more will die before the world is safe, there is little doubt.

Uranus closes her eyes. She's done this in zero gravity, in a past life, but she's never done it in freefall before. But isn't this the ideal place? In the heavens, one with them. She can feel it all around her. It may be a dream. But it is a dream of sky.

Lifting her arm high, she tucks her knees in a bit to stabilize herself, and her wrist cants inward as energy fills it, golden and bright and scaldingly pure, the energy of Olympus, Takamagahara, Asgard, places of aspiration. The air around her is taut with it, as if it might snap, and a sphere of darkened space surrounds her, flexing and pulsing as the globe of power grows in her hand.

"Neptune. Just a little longer," she prays softly, and her fist clenches, the sphere erupting larger above her head, crackling loudly with force. "WOORLD!" She throws her arm down, her whole torso slinging it as hard as she can. The speed won't help it damage the giant more, but it will make it harder to avoid. "SHAKIIIING!

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

Uranus's eyes snap open. She's awoken from a dream, a dream in which a sailor soldier fell. For a moment, she permits herself the luxury of wondering if it might have been /just/ a dream, not in the sense that it didn't happen at all, but in the sense that it wouldn't exact its proper casualties. Then she glances around and finds Mercury there, lying still when everyone else (even Sailor Moon) has already awoken. She's gone. Very well.

Glancing down at the brightly colored, long-finned fish on her chest, Uranus makes oddly grave eye contact with it for a moment, then stands up, setting the fish down on her pillow and sweeping the sleeping bag aside like a gread cape.

"You did this, didn't you?" she asks the grey maiden grimly. "All of this. Wish-granter."

Uranus has just long enough to consider trying to avoid the blue beam (and probably do little more than get another), when suddenly she is struck by a familiar impression, freezing her. "Neptune?" she whispers, and it transfixes her, sending her stumbling back a few paces.

When she lifts her face, her green eyes shine blue. A cold, howling ruthlessness wails inside her, the remnants of human softness leaving her. Yes. This is right, this is what she's wanted to become all along. The perfect soldier.

She doesn't approach Moon this time, just turns to glare at her over her shoulder. "That's a corpse, Sailor Moon. Many more of your friends will become one before your duty is done. It doesn't matter. We are the harbingers, and at least one of us will survive to the end." She turns to face the maiden again. "We carry the future like a brand. We will light the world aflame. Wish-maker! Keep your gift. Carry it to the next life." One of her feet skids out along the ground as she broadens her stance, hands coming up like drawn swords.

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

Like so many of her dreams, so many things that had seemed so clear to her mere moments ago became as evanescent and elusive as grasping at smoke as she woke. Surreal narrative became a collection of impressions and images, the story lost to her as it colors her all the same. Her lips part shape in a soundless wail of haunted pain. Flinching in her diaphragm, she twists and turns in her bed. Sightlessly, she reaches for Squawks, groping around for the large stuffed green parrot that was her favorite. She does not find him.

Momo and Mommy and Daddy. She'd seen them all, she knew it, and more besides, in a world of giants..her childhood home, all the cabinets and furniture looming above her, towering monoliths all..and knew what how it felt to fly every time her father picked her up and sailed her through the air. After a time the giant's land had shrunk to her scale in a moment, as though it had always been of one height. She knew things happened in the dream, things of weight and consequence, good and bad, but for the life of her she couldn't recall /what they were../

But her heart, her spirit, her inner chest, feels as though some demon had taken a few turns with an ice cream scooper. The rush of familiarity and loss and innocence and joy..the filth-strewn streetsides, the storm drains and derelicts and bridges..she couldn't be sure, but she didn't think she saw those..but the Church..the New Church..the New Home. That she saw..and in those moments she had seen dreamstuff spun into nightmare in real time.

Freed from the shackles of reality, the two homes were of the same layout, the same architecture. But every detail of the first was warped and perverted in kind by the second. There was a menacing stillnewss to the place, a coiled malice that would surely pounce and devour her, and she knew for absolute truth that great calamity will befall her in this place. She wants to escape, but finds herself paralyzed, as though bound to a pillar by length upon length of rope, wrapped all around. And in a moment, she is a child once more, safe in her bed before her later troubles.

And then she woke up.

Kyouko weeps, her face contorting in a rictus of pain. Her guts strain as she suppresses most of the sound, but the stacatto cries, muffled and clipped, cannot be completely silenced.

She does not know that she was struck by a ray of homesickness. She does not know where she is now, upon this unfamiliar peak in the midst of so many other waking girls. But she knows that Squawks is not there, that her home is not there, that her Momo and Mommy and Daddy are not there, and that her life is not there. All became dust, sucked into the unseen atmosphere of the world. It was demonstrably true that all of it had rejoined the greater ecosystem of all life. They became a part of nature in the most elemental sense, the fine particulates of their passing becoming a part of all things. What remained, left behind and abandoned by its own existence, now doubled over with the pain of the scalding stones filling her lungs, the flayed swathes of her inner self where so many connections were violently ripped away, taking so much of her with them.

It felt as though she had been in that bed for all of time. She strains with all her heart, the corners of her eyes painfully stinging with the prolonged contact with the salt of her wrung out tears, desperately trying to find herself in the world that turned to ash through sheer force of will.

Needless to say, it doesn't work.

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

It was razor-close...but it looks like they did it, somehow. When Nadeshiko wakes, she takes quick stock. Li has been....fiddled with, but he seems OK. Temari is alive and has not been turned into a fractal egg ghost by the disruption of Dreams. They aren't, quite, the same thing, but sometimes that doesn't actually stop things from happening anyway...

Nadeshiko, true to her nature, sits in her bag, quietly mulling over the ghost of recognition that flickered across her consciousness before she woke. But like a true dream, it is gone before she can get her thoughts on it enough to process. Eventually surrendering, she rolls out of her bag, stretching her feet to climb up and giving a look around as people rise - and then BOOM.

"They're here--!" Nadeshiko calls out. Of course they're here. They started here, so they had to come back, right? "Temari!" she snaps, and her hair band POPs into its Chara Changed configuration immediately. But before she can get much more out, beams of light come searing across the world and a lance spears her through; she staggers backward on reflex, hand coming up to where she was blasted. It doesn't hurt, but that's about all she can get out before her heart sinks into her toes; her glaive's tip falling from forward to touching the ground.

She suddenly really misses Baaya's voice at her door, she thinks, trying to bring her emotions to bear through the malaise.

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

It's impossible to tell which direction the maiden of nightmares is facing; it is a benefit of being composed of light, or perhaps a drawback. She can't meet anyone's eyes, because she's meeting everyone's. Her hair flows around her like the gushing tide, and her skirts ripple in a breeze that only she can feel.

The dove gray light is as beautiful as it is terrible. Unlike in dreams, where it cast everything into harsh white and darkest black, now it makes everyone and everything seem soft, almost fragile. It casts a twinkling delicacy into every surface...

...including that of the sword that suddenly forms out of shimmering silver sand, before hardening, like the rest of her, into solid, blinding light. The air weeps softly as she swings it upwards, the blade bisecting her face in a guard position.

"The sands of time tumbled endlessly in my prison, a spinning hourglass with no beginning and no end."

Her voice trembles with impossibly intense emotion -- seven emotions, actually.

"Until the light came... the seals shattered, by whom I barely know. And the parts of myself, so long separated, fell to this blue jewel scattered among the heavens... fell into hearts, searching for a home."

Her free hand gently touches her own chest.

"My nature is duty. And, when called upon again for the first time in eons, my duty did I perform. A man with a dream... spread to the whole world.

And then her voice turns hard, harsh, brittle.

"And /this/ is the thanks I get? The one who appreciated me, who summoned me, who wished for my help... attacked by dozens of warriors."

Her eyes are difficult to distinguish in the illumination, but the tension in the room rises by about eight notches as she narrows them, anyway.

"Once again, my work undone. Once again, you come for me, wielding your anger, your frustration, your /righteous indignation/. Some of you claim to be peaceful, but you have already wrecked havoc in the world of dreams this Christmas night. She came to me with pretty words, too, before she came for me without mercy. I will not wait for you to come for me again. I am /not/ going back to that place, shattered among the stars."

She swings her sword in a full circle, the tortured air howling in its wake, its perfect sharpness slicing everyone it passes, without ever needing to touch them directly. Heaven knows what that blade would feel like, else.

"Face me if you dare -- I WILL NOT BE CAGED AGAIN!"

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Sailor Uranus.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Lux Corruere.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Homura Akemi.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Hikaru Shidou.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Syaoran Li.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Japanese Cherry Blossom.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Sailor Vega.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Syaoran Li narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 17 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy fails to counter Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 40 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy's counterattack, Aegis Burst, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Homura Akemi perfectly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Lux Corruere narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 21 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 38 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 39 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Vega narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Sailor Vega's Fade ability activates! Sailor Vega's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Forever Sunshine.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Forever Sunshine's Fade ability activates! Forever Sunshine's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Dark Amber fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 36 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 12 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 24 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 24 Fatigue damage! Sailor Uranus's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 39 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 24 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has cancelled their attack on Kyouko Sakura. If there are more attacks that need to be +cancelled, please hold all +attacks until the process is complete.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura transforms into Puella Magi Kyouko!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha transforms into Mai-HiME!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura's Block ability activates! Kyouko Sakura's Parry ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Japanese Cherry Blossom looks around at everyone. "I don't... really understand what to do. I mean, we can't just start attacking. How do we know for sure that this a bad thing? What's..." One girl is saying they should help the gray woman. Others are clearly trying to attack her. Dark Amber seems kind of afraid of her... maybe that's legitimate, she is quite large, and...

Boy, everyone is acting so strangely, but that just makes her indecisive feeling a bit worse.

But then... the woman attacks --

And Cherry Blossom's indecision roots her the ground, the slash cutting through her. She feels weakened, if still confused... doubling over and clutching her stomach.

Normally, she'd come up with a plan, but that's a problem right now. "... I guess I can't... allow you to keep doing that..." she says, but she doesn't respond with a very strong attack, just a little blast of cherry blossoms and pink wind from the tips of her fingers.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Pink Blossom Wind on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to counter Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 35 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Sword Strike, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Japanese Cherry Blossom's Pink Blossom Wind, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates! Diversion applied to Pink Moon Stick!

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

"It doesn't matter?" Princess Runealy wasn't the one Uranus was speaking to, but Rune is upset nonetheless. "That's her friend! Don't act like...!?" Her protest is cut off as the maiden speaks; this demands attention over any infighting. "His dream was going to ruin a world! And who's to say he would have stopped with just one?" She does not feel much guilt over that fight, not after seeing how close people came to suffering in a colorless, heartless labor for a dream that struck her as insane.

Then the blade arcs, and Rune encases herself in a forcefield... to modest effect. The air cuts right through, only barely slowed by her defense! It's enough to prevent an immediately fatal blow, but striking through her barrier is still enough to send Runealy sailing back with a shriek and slamming her into the cave wall! Rune collapses to the floor after that, vision dazed and balance awkward upon picking herself back up. There's nothing clever to be said after a blow like that, so Rune begins running in an arc around the battle. Wand aimed at the maiden, Runealy waits for Cherry Blossom to strike and times her own blast to follow that. A green magic-ball forms, launching out with intent to explode into sparkles on impact! This same detonation will release a series of white arcane symbols swirling around, trying to latch on to the maiden's arms and hinder her defenses this way.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Rune Blast on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Princess Runealy's Rune Blast, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Princess Runealy is Psyched! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine boggles at the ice cold words coming out of the elegant lips of Sailor Uranus, even as her attention rests on Cherry Blossom and Dark Amber for a moment. They seem... alright, but...

But now that woman's talking. Forever Sunshine looks upon her, her heart pounding. She nudges the giraffe out of harm's way and slides one leg forwards, in anticipatory readiness. She speaks.

"Who is 'she?'" Sunshine asks, before that sword screams through the air. The wave of air coming from it is palpably painful, enough that Forever Sunshine finds herself ducking forwards - the strike swishing past her, slicing the tag off that plushie and harming one leg enough for some fluff to escape.

This is dumb, Forever Sunshine tells herself as she tightens up. She does it anyway: lunging forwards to close the distance, she cries out, "Nobody's gonna lock you up but you are gonna hurt someone so PUT THAT DOWN!" And as she closes the distance, Forever Sunshine leaps up -

But her hands are open. Her target isn't really the figure of light, but with a shimmering peony-pink glow, she tries to grab at her /wrists/ - and hold them up, and more to the point, stop her from swinging that blade around at such quarters.

"Aaagh be careful don't hit me too!!" she cries out at the others, apparently intent on this strategem.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used Freeman Family Secret Technique on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick perfectly counters Forever Sunshine's Freeman Family Secret Technique, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick's counterattack, Deep Dreaming, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Forever Sunshine!

<Pose Tracker> Syaoran Li [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Syaoran Li grits his teeth against the sudden surge of emotion bubbling up from his belly, the impulse to begin shouting - preaching! - back at this nightmare woman almost too much to bear. And getting stronger. The young man gathers the emotion and hurls it forward, drawing an onmyou and summoning a brilliant shield of wind as the scything blade comes around....and tears through his defences like they were tissue paper. The young magus sucks in a breath, opens his mouth and oh god oh god it's happening again

>:)

"Ha!" he calls out, eyes flashing as he rushes forward, vaulting bodily over Sailor Moon as she kneels over the form of her fallen companion. "I feel your sorrow, creature of dreams, and it touches my soul!" Syaoran calls out, his eyes are looking a little strained as the words just flow from his mouth. "But sad as your story may be, I cannot allow you to slay these women," he says, white light blazing from his jian as he pours mana into the blade of his ancestors. "For they..."

(no)

"...are under the protection..."

(stop)

"...of the heir of Clow Reed..." he says, leaping upward

(please stop)

"SYAAAAAAAAAAAAORAAAAAAAAAAN LIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

(whyyyyyyyyyyyyy)

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has used Sword of Jinglin Li on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Syaoran Li's Sword of Jinglin Li, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Syaoran Li is Psyched! Stagger applied to Pink Moon Stick!

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

The surge of ruthlessness infused into the Wind Knight's heart by the passing beam of concentrated emotion is recognized as 'outside,' and she takes a fraction of a second to rein it back in, even as the Dream Maiden answers their challenges ... and makes it unmistakably, unequivocally clear that she has no desire to remain here in peace. She comes bearing a sword.

The Wind Knight raises her own in an attempt to parry, perhaps to riposte - and with the faintest audible hint of blade against blade, and a loud cry of pain, it is the green-clad Magic Knight who staggers back. "Very well, then .... we'll have to do this the hard way."

A faint but sinister smile - one which would look far more in its place on an 'evil twin' than on the Wind Knight's own face - crosses her lips. "Nothing held back ... but don't put up more of a fight than you have to. Imashime no Kaze!!"

It's only as Fuu is calling the invocation for the Winds of Adminition that she realizes that 'foreign' emotion got a grip again - but she pushes the realization and the ruthlessness down once more, exerting her will as the whirlwind forms in an attempt to bind the Dream Maiden. This worked, after a fashion, on the would-be God Among Men; perhaps it'll hold a little tighter in the waking world, even against an embodiment of dreams ...

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Uranus speaks truly."

Lux Lapsa glances over at Sailor Uranus, whose name she has only learned during that last battle, at Sailor Moon and Mercury, the lattermost of whom has still not risen. During the dream, she had feared for her, sought to help in some small way to save her. Now, she looks upon the sobbing girl and her still friend with an expression cold and remote as an arctic glacier. "More will fall if you do not fight, Sailor Moon. If you cannot fight, then take that girl and get out of the way."

No more attention is paid to the Sailor Soldiers; the maiden of nightmares speaks. It was too much to hope for that she might be grateful, and so she didn't hope for it, aiming to attempt to find a weak spot. Alas, she finds none, and only narrows her eyes at that speech. She opens her mouth--and that sword lashes out, invisibly, without touching and yet slicing deep regardless.

Lux Lapsa screams in pain as it cuts deep within her, ignoring her armor, dropping her to the ground. She grits her teeth, bunches her hands into fists, and begins to stand again. "Do you expect us to pity you? If you do, then you are beyond foolish," Lux Lapsa murmurs coldly. She may well be aware that this ruthlessness is not entirely her heart, but she doesn't care; it is, she thinks, an appropriate emotion for this moment. One that will deal with the enemy before them--one that would have taken what she loves from her yet again. That she is acting coldly even to one who has already been lost... is a needed sacrifice. So says the ruthlessness within her. "So shut up. Your whining drivel is a waste of everyone's time. Either fight or fall--though..."

She flares out her wings, hopping into the air to hover as the maiden of nightmares does, summoning power within her spear. "You'll be falling either way!!

"IRATUS IMPROBUS!"

The lance between her hands glitters with magical light as ice forms over it, then shoots out that glacial blade unbroken towards the maiden of nightmares. It's not her strongest attack, but it is one of her more merciless ones.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Imashime no Kaze on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has used Iratus Improbus on Pink Moon Stick.
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has finished attacking.

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

It takes a moment for Mai to get Mikoto to stand down for now - she doesn't want to risk a berserk HiME attacking everyone equally. Not here, not now. So while the light-being speaks, Mai is only half paying attention. Still, the words turning harsh...

She underestimated the woman's fury. Underestimated her wrath. Just - underestimated everything about her. Mai isn't Mikoto, isn't a battle-hardened warrior - and just throws herself over the girl as the storm comes.

Pain. The pain of a forgotten queen's wrath, neglected. Mai grits her teeth as cloth and flesh alike are torn, but doesn't cry out. Pride that she can handle this much, and not giving Mikoto any reason to go berserk. Finally, she stands , turning to face the enemy.

"...I can understand. If that person needs you, you'd do anything...but that doesn't make it right. However much pride you have in what you've done for him..." She glares, bracelets beginning to burn with passion - not pride, put aside pride, don't think of pride. "...it doesn't change the fact that you've wronged everyone else. There have to be rules."

Mai thrusts her arms out, and flames cascade toward the queen of nightmares. She's what Mai can't... "...behave, or be caged again!"

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Infernal Prison on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

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

Asagao, filled with this energy-being's homesickness, actually listens to the whole speech... even once it veers horribly and inevitably towards disaster. Shifting as she must to evade the sword-swipe, the icy air stinging at her cheeks even as she skips backwards.

Throwing her hair back over her shoulder with a wave of her hand, she fights back the tears from her eyes - the pining for home and freedom after a long imprisonment causing a charp contrast in her heart; the desire to protect and defend tempered by some shade of understanding of their 'foe.'

"The one who freed you was using the power you gave him for terrible ends!" Vega pleas, even as the Star River Wand spins into her hand. "You don't have to do this! You don't have to hurt anyone, just go home!"

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Vega Guilt-Trip on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

'That's a corpse, Sailor Moon. Many more of your friends will become one before your duty is done.'

Homura's eyes settle upon Uranus at her harsh words. She grimaces, "We can't know that for sure yet. But it is possible..." Still it is INDECISION weighing heavily upon her heart. It bids her mind tumble back and forth between the possibilities.

And then the entity begins to speak further. She describes to her assailants how she had appeared at the bidding of one who appreciated her, and in return she granted a wish. But the 'appreciation' shown was one of dozens of warriors coming to attack and break the promise granted.

Even as the words clearly march further and further towards aggression Homura just ... isn't sure of what to do. Should she attack? Should she try to calm her, soothe her? Much like Japanese Cherry Blossom she finds herself simply rooted to the spot and staring at the deity. It's only when the sword comes swinging around and into her direction that Homura's instincts kick on and she vanishes mere moments from impact!!

She reappears standing next to Sailors Mercury and Moon. She looks down at the still sleeping Mercury and her expression is grim. She is reminded of how a Puella Magi looks when their soul gem is destroyed. The body intact... but the soul...

Will sealing away this being save her? Or will it just doom her forever? Pushing back against the alien feelings creeping into her skull Homura says softly, "I'm sorry about your friend, but for now I think the only thing we can do is fight..."

With that Homura flickers out of existence. At one moment she is on one side of the strange woman, and in the next she is standing on the otherside. Accompanying the movement is the sudden appearance of a dozen or so small metal projectiles, all converging upon the wish giver in the center of their formation!!

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Bullet Dance on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.

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

Dark Amber shakes off this feeling as much as he can....his teeth seeth a bit..."Duty? So you're just another tool..." he shakes his head sadly. "You... have to belive you can be something more....!" he calls out as he looks over to Cherry Blossom, his eyes narrow a bit as he shakes it off. "Cherry Blossom.....! Do your-- best!" he manages to get out.

Something lashes out at him. It's painful. It hurts. He seethes as he fires off a random chain, weighted down with blades. More instinct, not aimed, it's almost like he had his eyes closed when he did this. He frowns as his eyes move towards to Forever Sunshine---"You, too...!" he calls out.

Yeah, he's still feeling these lingering effects. It's not fun----but, he can't just hide in a corner. Can he?%R

It feels oddly like a comforting thought. He tries to shake that off.

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 14 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Binding Amber Chain on Pink Moon Stick.
COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Fuu Hououji's Imashime no Kaze, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates! Cripple applied to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou transforms into Magic Knight of Fire!

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

A... corpse? Sailor Moon is over a... corpse? No, it can't be right. Sailor Uranus is just being cruel, and Lapsa--Lapsa is always like that, always harsher, cold because she has a reason to be, and--There are a lot of other voices but Corruere can't hear most of them at first, seeing the soft light they've freed, the one they've helped. It seems so otherwordly, so different. Even the sword that shimmers into existence is beaut--

<Touka!>

Blinking, Corruere stumbles back a moment; the pride she can feel is revealed as alien as the voice before her suddenly seems so cruel. Not /trapped/ by the man, but freed by him; not used, but called, requested. Which means everything that has happened...

She leaps backward, but is not fast enough to esape the air itself; it hacks against her breastplate, and only after does the angelic warrior lift her sword in return, blazing flame against dreamlight.

...The pride is not gone, but then, that emotion speaks to Corruere more than do most. "/You/ won't be caged!? What about all the people your power almost trapped in that awful place?"

In both hands, she brings her sword to a ready position, shifting her feet to prepare to move. "Who do you serve, then? Who gives you this 'duty' to help cruel people hurt others just because they ask?"

The little dragon at her feet can stay, to guard the sleeping bag. Lux Corruere bends her knees, and /moves/, suddenly rushing across the room just above the ground, the narrow quarters not offering her much room to maneuver. "Attrita Clipeus!" She slams her weapon down towards the figure of light, flame rising, and the very air around her weapon seeming to melt and corrode. ...There is a slight flourish.

As if someone they've already beaten could stand against them.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has used Attrita Clipeus on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has finished attacking.

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

Lucy tries to look back up to the luminous figure, but it's hard to focus on her directly, for reasons both obvious and less so. She speaks, and tells her story, which Lucy had already dreamed of-- In fact, from the sounds of it she wasn't alone, and possibly everyone present had also done so, confirming her suspicions.

The homesickness churning through the Mesozoic Maiden's heart is not hers, and so she tries her best to ignore it, but as a side-effect it means she has insight into the dream maiden's emotions, or at least one of them. She's out of her element, confused, scared, nostalgic, and to her they're all just strangers who couldn't possibly understand, aren't they?

Still, Lucy wishes she could take it back.

She knows what's coming next, that they might as well be trying to talk a force of nature out of doing what it always does, and soon a sword comes, ethereal, passing through Lucy's club even as she reflexively raises it in self-defense. It cuts, somehow, and for a moment the Mesozoic Maiden cannot breathe, much less speak.

Lucy is not one for opening speeches. She has a few friends who are, and she still wants to take notes from them when she can, but for now, as she regains her breath, she instinctively goes for the next best thing, and immediately finds the words. They come in the form of a shout, loud and clear, imbued with magic and desperate feeling, so powerful they make the walls of the cave seem to shake for the briefest moment.

"TAKE IT BACK!"

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Hear Me Roar on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Hikaru would watch in disbelief as her ally is hit by the maiden, but right now she's got another problem to deal with. Namely an incoming attack from the maiden who seems a bit on the ungrateful side. Hikaru dodges out of the way but is grazed all the same. She scowls even deeper than before. Partially because of the bitter irony of what is going on, having just protected someone who turned out to be an enemy. Maybe that's why Hikaru is feeling so angry right now. Or it could be that beam that hit her only a few moments ago. But whatever the reason is, Hikaru isn't liking it one bit. She looks to Fuu with concern. "Fuu-chan, are you all right?"

When she realizes that Fuu is all right, Hikaru then turns to face the maiden again. "You'll pay for this! We thought we were helping you and THIS is how you pay us back?!" She takes out her jewel and proceeds to recite her transformation phrase, turning into the Magic Knight of Fire. "You've made me truly mad, and now I'm gonna make you feel what it's like to be burning with rage!" With that, Hikaru lifts her sword and attempts to shoot forth a projectile of pure flame from her sword.

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou has used You're Fired on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Lux Lapsa's Iratus Improbus, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Pink Moon Stick!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Mai Tokiha's Infernal Prison, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Diversion and Trap applied to Pink Moon Stick!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Sailor Vega's Vega Guilt-Trip, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates! Pink Moon Stick is Taunted!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Homura Akemi's Bullet Dance, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Homura Akemi is Psyched!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Dark Amber's Binding Amber Chain, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber is Psyched! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates! Exhausted and Tangle applied to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Lux Corruere's Attrita Clipeus, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Trap applied to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Hear Me Roar, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy is Psyched! Pink Moon Stick is Taunted! Diversion applied to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Hikaru Shidou's You're Fired, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

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

Her bleary-eyed consciousness barely transitioning into the waking world, is further crippled by her emotional state, gasping for breath as though her chest had grown tight. As the immense sword starts to swing, time seems to slow, elongating like a telescoping rod. Kyouko's instincts click into gear, and her transformation is virtually subconscious. She doesn't have the time to do any more than clutch her spear to her chest, her muscles already tensed from the visceral nature of her distress.

Though the blade doesn't touch her, she's cut all the same...but not as badly as she could have been, not nearly. Not as badly as many of the others around her. She doesn't understand what's happening..the sword, the summit, the swift automacy of her transformation..it is as if she's been dropped in the middle of a narrative, ignorant to its intricacies but understanding that it carries the heft of its own history behind it, and a determination in moving forward. In other words, it feels so much to Kyouko like a dream that she decides to act upon the assumption that it is.

If she truly dreams still, it is the only sensible course. If not..well, then the fantasy shall be the balloons that carry off the harsh shroud around her, lifting the weight from her so that she may focus on the fight at hand. The change in Kyouko's awareness is abrupt, but what looms around her seems as if it had always been. She can't banish all of the taint befouling her inner wellspring any more than she could silence her cries moments before.

But perhaps suppression will suffice.

Shoving herself to her feet, Kyouko twirls her spear about, loosening her muscles from their stiffened sleepstates and feeling the Sandman's substance falling away from her eyes, which squint less and less. Leaping up, and forward, Kyouko's spear lengthens and grows to a great length, the butt pressing into the earth to polevault her forward towards her newest nightmare. In her hands the spear becomes a great tree trunk, its immense razor tip like the shrieking beak of a divebombing raptor. As Kyouko plunges her weapon forward, she shrieks. It is no battle cry, but a frothing, boiling, ragged and slightly gurgled scream expelling two lungfuls of all that is drowning her brain.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Masterstroke on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Kyouko Sakura's Masterstroke, taking 47 Fatigue damage!

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

Sailor Moon turns sharply at Uranus' voice, aghast. She huddles closer to Mercury. It's a protective gesture, but Usagi is more concerned with making sure she doesn't go anywhere.

"Don't say that! She's not a corpse! She's Sailor Mercury!"

And then Uranus goes. It's her part. Sailor Moon's part is to weep and wait and hope. She turns away from the entrance, so that her gaze can linger upon her comatose friend's face once more. Ami's not a corpse. She's just asleep. Why can't anyone see that she's just asleep, and that no one like her could ever die like this?

"Mercury-chan," Usagi murmurs, brushing the wetness from Ami's face. "Mercury-chan, wake up. Even if you're already so far ahead of everyone else, you can't be the world's best doctor if you stay asleep forever."

Outside, the battle rages. A dreamlike sharpness thwips through the air, forcing Sailor Moon to scream and press herself flat against Mercury's resting place. A layer of disturbed dust drifts down.

"I need you to take up, Mercury-chan." The softness in her voice falls to anxiety. She grips Ami's shoulders tight. Too tight to be concerned. Tight enough for desperation. "If you're not awake, how can we win? I can't do anything on my own!"

Usagi buries her head against her friend's neck, pressing cheek to cheek "I need you to tell me how!"

Vwip. A cool material interposes itself between the two. Sailor Moon jerks back, gaping at--Mercury's visor. Usagi tried it once. She couldn't begin to figure out how it worked. Only Ami could understand something like this. If she were here, this is how she'd win. But her eyes are closed behind the tinted glass. Not like the eyes that once shined with--

--trust. Trust in Sailor Moon. Usagi's fingers tremble as she reaches out.

At the mouth of the cave, Sailor Moon steps into the kaleidoscopic light on shaky feet. The colors don't reach her so vividly. Mercury's visor, now on her face, makes it all bearable.

"I won't forgive you," she says, too quiet. Strange characters flash in the display. Usagi breathes deep, and then steps forward.

"I WON'T FORGIVE ANYONE WHO TAKES AWAY MY FRIENDS!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Psyched! Trap applied to Pink Moon Stick!

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

Kaitou Jeanne fails to see the seriousness of the situation she's found herself in until it's too late. She couldn't help it - after what she just felt, she could see nothing but a very sad girl before her. Somehow the words spoken failed to register as the prelude to something that was going to be a threat to her safety. Thus, her reaction comes far too late. The sword may not have physically touched her, but it still feels like she was cut deeply, causing her to stagger backwards, then drop down to one knee. It was all so sudden, her cry of pain doesn't even happen until she's already collapsed.

And yet... while she doesn't know the circumstances beyond what she was just told, she still can't seem to feel anything but sympathy. That feeling before was all too real, all too familiar. Those cold words and that vicious attack couldn't possibly have been out of pure malice. This only grows when she suddenly realizes that this isn't the only emotion she's felt from this girl. The pieces have fallen into place, literally as well as figuratively.

"...I see now. What I held onto for so long... that passion, it was yours. It was so powerful, it created a being of pure emotion. And now you feel it was all unappreciated..." Slowly, Kaitou Jeanne rises back to her feet, remembering the words of that creature, and her own words at the time. "But that passion... it was misguided! All it did was hurt people! Even if you're in pain, causing others pain as well is never the answer!" With a quick hand motion, Jeanne is now holding her ribbon, striking the ground once before pulling it taut in front of her. "If that's what you intend, then I'll stop you here!"

Naturally, that sword is perceived as the major threat here, so the obvious answer is to attempt to disarm the girl, or at least hold her weapon at bay. Jeanne's ribbon is thus aimed for the arm that currently holds the blade, in an attempt to do just that.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Ribbon Whiplash on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Kaitou Jeanne's Ribbon Whiplash, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne is Psyched! Tangle applied to Pink Moon Stick!

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

It's a task verging on the Herculean to even raise her blade. Nadeshiko's hands shake as her heart riots. She's used to controlling her emotions but Chara Change is VERY SPECIFICALLY BAD AT THAT and so all she can do is grip white-knuckle to the wooden haft of her spear and watch as people scream and shout. But in the end, she has to focus. Her eyes turn up, slowly. Temari murmurs, "Nadeshiko..." with fear and uncertainty - and then the whole world explodes with the power of that slice. She jukes; immediate, instinctual dodges. Dancing, really. Taught by her mother at incredible personal expense. She can't do the practice, here. She's doing her best, but she's going to have to stay up very late for several nights to make up the lost time. Somehow, right now, she wants to be doing that more than anything.

Her eyes turn up, slowly. "But until you get out," she mutters, "I can't..."

She takes off, channels the untempered emotions of her Chara Change to her advantage. The fear of that sword just means she mustn't get hit. She jukes to one side of that slicing blade, rushing as far into the light as she possibly can - and stabbing, sweeping, one, two, three sweeps into that face.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Flourish on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Flourish, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

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

Uranus turns chilly eyes to Homura. "I'm surprised at you, Puella Magi. I had taken you for a more tough-minded sort."

A blade interrupts her remonstration. Uranus is no stranger to swordplay, but she doesn't have a sword, and dodging does not spare her a slim bloody line across her belly. She hisses, letting some of the other girls attack first, checking on her allies briefly. Lux Lapsa seems to approve of her tactic, and backs it up with great violence. "I'll count on you, then," she tells Lapsa curtly.

Facing the enemy, Uranus grins, with no mirth or enjoyment, a lupine gesture. Lifting a bladehand and padding foot over foot, she stalks towards the grey lady. As she gets closer, she charges, lifting a boot for a straight pushkick as if she were kicking a door off its hinges. It feels so good, this new freedom. After a few sharp punches, she backs off, letting others take over, watching for her opening, whereupon she notices Homura's parting words to Sailor Moon, and sidesteps so she can speak to the dark-garbed Puella Magi.

"You're right, Puella Magi," she tells Homura. "That is all you can do. Stop thinking about it. I've seen you fight." She lift her chin with a sickly smile. "You're a killer." She jerks her head toward Kyouko, howling as she assaults. "Like that one, not like Sailor Moon. You don't even live in the same world as someone like that, and neither do I. Stop holding back."

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Jackbooted Stomp on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Sailor Uranus's Jackbooted Stomp, taking 25 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

And face her they do.

The hits begin small, tentative, and the maiden of nightmares has little trouble dealing with them. Japanese Cherry Blossom's blast lacks conviction, and it is carefully avoided with a side-step (or side-float, as the case may be); it got her attention, though, and the grey maiden returns fire with a relatively gentle blast of her own, swirling silver sands that rise to buffet the Perfume Warrior from every direction. Runealy's white symbols are cleaved in two by her sword, and with a flick of the tip, the sands move to encompass her as well, biting and stinging.

Forever Sunshine closes with a blindingly fast wrist strike, and for a moment seems to have succeeded -- at the last moment, though, she seems to flicker and twist, sliding out of the grasp with the logic of dreams. Since this Perfume Warrior is right in her face, though, she can meet the edge of her blade, which once again cries as it approaches.

"/She/ is dead," the maiden whispers in Forever Sunshine's ear, just as they pass by each other. "She was judge, jury and jailor, and I languished, forgotten, imprisoned long after she passed on!

Syaoran joins the swirling melee, sinking his mana-infused jian into her side. No blood is shed; whatever she is composed of, it isn't flesh. Wisps of black light spread from the wound, making her gray light just a little bit darker. The maiden ducks to one side, out of the way of the Winds of Admonition, letting the boy take them instead while the Magic Knight of Wind enjoys another one of those silvery sand strikes. Still, this costs her precious time and attention.

Lux Lapsa follows up on her distraction, thrusting her merciless, glacial spear right into her chest. And through it, actually -- the maiden isn't precisely solid, it seems. Dangling there, she's easy prey for Mai's torrent of flames. More blackness explodes in all directions. Given that she's the only source of light, it's getting darker by the moment. Some of that darkness bubbles down the spear, sizzling, to try to encompass both the fallen angel and Mai.

Sliding off the tip of the spear, the grey maiden hangs in the air for a long moment, listening to Vega's impassioned plea. "That's easy for you to say," she points out, sounding truly sad for the first time. "If I do not defend myself, my right to be... if I surrender myself, I will become nothing again... there is no other... way..." The wound that Syaoran opened up on her seems to fade a little, the ebon light there paling, becoming pearly and bright.

And then Homura shoots her from every direction at once, opening up tiny black blossoms from toe to crown. Glaring, she dares to sweep her blade in the timeshifter's direction, and then through the worst of Dark Amber's chains, as well.

The host of a second fallen angel asks her an important question, but she seems to be done conversing, especially after that corroding heat scorches more of her gray chest black. She shakes her head, her hair billowing in all directions. "Duty is duty," she opines quietly instead, unhelpfully allowing Lux Coruerre to feel the benefit of that duty by having the sands erupt around her.

Mesozoic Maiden Lucy and Sailor Moon, together, shout at her, and she raises her blade to cut their words away. She cannot, and staggers back against the force of their furious convictions, her whole visage darkening. Dark feelings pour off of her towards both of them, her black mood caressing them painfully from all directions.

The Magic Knight of Fire shoots flame at her at the same moment that Kyouko Sakura once again impales her on a spear. Glaring at the latter, she swats the flame blast in the Puella Magi's direction, then with her free hand allows sand to explode in Hikaru's face.

Only for Jeanne to wrap words around her ears, and a ribbon right around her arm. She jerks free, but it takes precious time, in which Nadeshiko carves slices out of her face, and Sailor Uranus kicks her in the chest, tearing her backwards, slamming her into the wall of the cave.

Darkness rages in her wounds, flowing out to meet those who would assault her, sharing her pain.

"You want to HELP me? You want to JUDGE me? EITHER WAY! LIVE MY NIGHTMARE!"

She holds her sword aloft, brandishing it over her head, and inhales. Brilliant red and orange light flashes at heart-level, building among each of the magical girls struck with the rays of pride and passion.

Then they shatter, shatter into figments of light, melting away like sand, flowing in steady streams towards the grey maiden's heart. When that light fades, there's no trace of them.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Endless Dream on Japanese Cherry Blossom.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Endless Dream on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used True Lies on Forever Sunshine.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Safety Among Enemies on Syaoran Li.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used True Lies on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Mai Tokiha.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Sailor Vega.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Homura Akemi.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Endless Dream on Lux Corruere.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Safety Among Enemies on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Endless Dream on Hikaru Shidou.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Sailor Uranus.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Cruel Memories on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Endless Dream, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Japanese Cherry Blossom's Block ability activates! Bind Break! All of Pink Moon Stick's debuffs are cleared!

COMBAT: Homura Akemi perfectly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Stagger, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Mai Tokiha!
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's True Lies, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Forever Sunshine!
COMBAT: Lux Corruere fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's Endless Dream, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Bind Break! All of Pink Moon Stick's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Endless Dream, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Hikaru Shidou's Block ability activates! Hikaru Shidou's Parry ability activates! Bind Break! All of Pink Moon Stick's debuffs are cleared!

COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Dark Amber perfectly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Dark Amber's Fade ability activates! Dark Amber's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Safety Among Enemies, taking 30 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy perfectly counters Pink Moon Stick's Endless Dream, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Princess Runealy's Tactician ability activates! Bind Break! All of Pink Moon Stick's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy's counterattack, Aegis Burst, bursts all the way through, doing 17 Fatigue damage to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Syaoran Li narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Safety Among Enemies, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Syaoran Li's Fade ability activates!
COMBAT: Sailor Vega narrowly counters Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind, Stagger, Stun, and Tangle applied to Sailor Vega!
COMBAT: Sailor Vega's counterattack, Sparkling Defense, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Moon Stick!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kaitou Jeanne's Parry ability activates! Stagger, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Kaitou Jeanne!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus narrowly counters Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sailor Uranus's Tactician ability activates! Blind, Stagger, Stun, and Tangle applied to Sailor Uranus!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus's counterattack, Elegant Throw, partially gets through, doing 24 Fatigue damage to Pink Moon Stick! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Fade ability activates! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Flash ability activates! Stun and Trap applied to Mesozoic Maiden Lucy!

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's True Lies, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Nadeshiko Fujisaki!

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa narrowly counters Pink Moon Stick's Cruel Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lux Lapsa's Reverse ability activates! Stagger, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Lux Lapsa!

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa's counterattack, Frozen, partially gets through, doing 13 Fatigue damage to Pink Moon Stick!

In flashes of red and orange light respectively, Mai Tokiha and Lux Corruere are sucked in to confront the Maiden's nightmare of Pride, while Forever Sunshine and Syaorani Li confront Passion.

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"... Huh?" Japanese Cherry Blossom is confused again, but Sunshine said something kind of important. "What are you... talking about... Forever Sunshine?!" But... then ...there is that amazing clash between her and the woman... and the light fissures strike Sunshine and she's gone.

There is a bit more conviction running through Cherry Blossom's uncertainty now, because she knows at least that her friend is in trouble. She stands her ground, the blast from the gray woman hitting her outstretched hands. She blocks most of it, meeting it with a glare of her eyes. "I don't know who you are, or... what you're doing, but... please don't hurt my friends!!" There is a bit more conviction in her next attack, but it seems worried: a burst of pink light and air from her fingertips that lacks true fury but still has the strength of her bravery somewhere behind it.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Cherry Desperation on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Japanese Cherry Blossom's Cherry Desperation, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates!

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

If Kyouko were her normal self she'd find it a little infuriating and a little galling that she commands so little of the nightmare's attention after delivering such a blow. Kyouko is familiar enough with her spear that she can tell how strong a strike is by the vibrations of the impact echoing back the shaft to her the muscles of her hands and arms. This blow could have cut a person in half. But Kyouko's pretty far from ok, and rather than risk her the fragile calm she'd scrounged for herself by getting upset, she takes it in stride with the serene acceptance of all a dream's oddities.

As though swatting a fly while only devoting the minimum of attention, the maiden turns to Kyouko only long enough to blast a burst of flames in her face. Throwing her body to the side, Kyouko isn't caught completely flat-footed, but finds herself badly burned. Hissing between her teeth, her chest heaves as she catches her breath, clenching her jaw as the white-hot flash of initial sensation stops blinding her with its flash-bang severity.

Climbing to her feet with shuddering limbs, she stretches her spine, standing tall and erect. Holding her spear parallel to the ground, tip to foe, she releases her grip but the armament hangs suspended. Spinning around, Kyouko's foot smashes into the end in a roundhouse kick, launching with a rail gun's speed towards the grey lady.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Masterstroke on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Kyouko Sakura's Masterstroke, taking 26 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates!

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

Lucy asked the maiden to take her painful emotions back, a selfish plea that was obviously heard but not heeded. Instead, the grey maiden douses her and Sailor Moon in darkness, giving Lucy even /more/ dark emotions to contend with. She nimbly hops away from the wave of horrible feelings, but she can't stop them from reaching her heart.

Then, some of the people around her disappear into the creature's heart. "No!" she cries out, hoping as hard as she can that they haven't met Mercury's fate, whatever that may be. The dam she'd been trying her build around her heart breaks, and her movements become sluggish, incertain, as her rational mind becomes distracted by a voice constantly, desperately asking her /who even cares about this stupid planet anyway?/

Sweat on her forehead, she still tries to do what she can to pacify the spirit in her own way. Weapons seem to go through her, so fire might be what she needs. Errant embers and sparks aren't hard to come by in such magical chaos, and with a wave of the Mesozoic Maiden's hand, they converge together and ignite again into fearsome balls of fire, apparently bolstered by Lucy's incantations, which people who know her won't recognize, and will sound like gibberish to any of them-- They're definitely not japanese, anyway.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Blast from the Past on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Blast from the Past, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates! Exhausted applied to Pink Moon Stick!

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

"You're a killer."

An image. An armored mermaid sitting upon a throne, surrounded by dancing girls and spinning wheels. Red blinking lights decorate her form and surroundings before all is consumed in fire, smoke and ash.

"... a killer."

Another image. A strange doll-like creature seemingly fashioned out of ribbon, whose world is that of a neverending tea party. A flying rocket scatters torn and tattered ribbons into the breeze.

"... killer."

A warlord, head wreathed in flame, riding upon a steed whose name no one knows. She leads an army through the fog but has forgotten where they are being led to. An explosive shell knocks her from her horse and ends her wandering.

'That is all you can do... killer.'

A hand shakily gripping a pistol, the barrel pointing at a cracking pink soul gem.

"No." Homura says softly. A sword swings toward her, and once again her instincts manage to carry her away from danger before her INDECISION leaves her stranded. She appears with her back to Uranus. There is no sound to announce her presence before her voice becomes audible: "I am more than a killer. I am a guardian, and I do what's necessary to carry out my charge. Even if it isn't clear what the necessary thing is. Especially now."

"Maybe we should... no... we need to keep our minds clear. Focused. These feelings are not our own." At least ... not completely.

Homura blinks as suddenly brilliant colored light fills the air, building around those struck with their respective colors and eventually they shatter!! The motes of light streaming down the grey maiden. Are ... are they dead too? Or are they alive but within the maiden? If she kills the maiden it might mean killing the others. But if they don't kill her then she might use that same ability on the rest of them...

Her eyes settle on her shield, and she places her hand upon it. That's right, if she is wrong ... at least there is a way to bring them back. And with that thought she flickers out of existence.

Then appears a few steps away from the grey maiden!! There is an explosion of sound and light, and a large metallic slug aims to take the grey entity in the chest. "I don't want either. I just want you out of the way."

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Yakuza Shotgun on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.

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

Princess Runealy swings her wand at the silver sand, a futile gesture... but she realizes that just before the storm picks up to full speed. Against something so wide and flowing, one needs an all-encompassing defense; it would just flow around a stick or an upraised arm. Thus she brings up her sparkling red dome-forcefield once more, wincing as the maiden's assault batters this shield. Yet it holds, and Runealy detonates the barrier in a shockwave that knocks the sand away! What remains of the forcefield energy converges into a beam sent at her attacker, though Rune has no time to celebrate.

Not when several others were... what? Absorbed? Wiped out of existence? She doesn't know for sure, but none of the possibilities sit well. 'Live her nightmare'? If the maiden keeps that up, there may not be much living involved and the nightmare might be rather short; this realization causes tension and fear to grip the princess.

Yet Runealy recalls Sailor Moon's decision near the fallen Mercury. Rune knows very well what that's like, those horrible moments where one begs them to defy the situation... to rise, to show some sign of life. It can be one of the most gutting things possible... and yet Sailor Moon has taken up Sailor Mercury's visor. "That's right!" Rune calls to Moon. She does not expect any of this to make the Sailor of love and justice happy; that would be unreasonable. Instead, Runealy is hoping to reinforce what seems to be a newfound wave of courage in her friend. "You still have friends who need you! /Especially/ you!"

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

Dark Amber evades the oncoming darkness. He doesn't do this because he's trying to avoid it, persay. He does this because he's still frightened---he needs to shake this. He needs to shake it now. He does his best to-----but what really helps is seeing Forever Sunshine vanish into so many figments of light and then melting away.

Now THAT upsets him.

"No...! I want to save the few friends I have... save my family---" he snaps out. "-And stop this horrible situation!" he says. He attepts to get close, a series of fast hard blinks forward as he attempts to slam forward with a sudden hard, fast amber blade from the wrist, driving as much force into it as he can. "You can't just impose your feelings on other people---" he snaps.

"Just because you're upset!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly counters Homura Akemi's Yakuza Shotgun, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Homura Akemi is Psyched!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick's counterattack, Safety Among Enemies, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Homura Akemi!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Royal Speech on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Amber Striker on Pink Moon Stick.
COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon accepts Princess Runealy's Royal Speech, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Cheered!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Dark Amber's Amber Striker, taking 42 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates!

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

Sailor Moon understands flashing red things.

When the darkness roils outward from the grey maiden, Usagi is ready. It is easy for her to have been, because her heart was prepared to take flight long ago. She leaps to the side, finding a way off the mountain--no, not that far. With a moment of hesitation that mercifully does not allow the darkness to catch her, Usagi decides to slip behind the crowd.

It's what Ami would do. Ami is brave, but she's smart about it. She can understand things about a situation so easily, like where the flow of people are going and may divert to. Usagi cannot assign reason to her choices like Ami must, but she can watch the others and try to find a location to support them from.

"Moon stick!"

A sparkle and a flash, and Sailor Moon snatches the crescent-tipped wand from the air as she runs by. Her heart thuds in her ears, but Mercury's visor keeps it all inside. No one else has to no how terrified she is. No one else has to know that she's holding on with the help of a dead girl.

If they go there--and the maiden goes--wait, did she leave herself open? Adrenaline and panic make Sailor Moon fire first without thinking. She slashes the air with her wand, releasing a barrage of misty silver crescents. They arc outward, seeking to bedevil the grey maiden and frustrate her ability to maneuver.

Usagi pauses for breath, holding her wand before her in fear of reprisal. Still, she glances up to Runealy on reflex. She does not have a smile for the princess. All she can offer is a softness in her eyes and a kindled ember in her heart.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Ami Mizuno's Tactical Cover on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.

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

The Wind Knight's magic may have failed to latch onto the dream maiden properly, but she isn't going to let it ensnare the wrong person, either; the whirlwind dissipates before it can really entangle Li-san. Then Fuu has her own incoming attack to deal with, and she dives away from the sudden rush of sand, getting buffeted by it, maybe bruised, but coming back to her feet without being hindered too badly by her new collection of injuries. "You think we have so few nightmares," she snaps, "that we *need* to experience your own?" Memories that are still only shallowly buried rise back up - the sound of her elder sister falling asleep in mid-conversation on the phone, a resort full of helpless sleepers trapped beneath a stranger's tyrannical will, images of classmates and friends enslaved by that same overwhelming power ...

She charges forward, weaving past her allies attacks, and pivots into a spin as she lets out a wordless yell, trying to slash deeply into the dream maiden's 'body' as the Magic Knight of Wind spins into range ...

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Spinning Slash on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"So you can fight after all," Lux Lapsa murmurs of Sailor Moon, watches as she gets up and screams defiance at the maiden of nightmares. A similar mental remark is made of Kaitou Jeanne, though the main outward indication of this is the Lux Angeli regarding the phantom thief. At first she had thought that the kaitou would try to show mercy, but so long as she attacks... that's sufficient.

"And I you," she tells Uranus, pulling back her spear as darkness sizzles down it. It strikes her, doing only cosmetic damage but nonetheless numbing her body and causing her to stagger; she returns the favor by shooting off one more blade of ice before breaking her spear off from it, clutching her side. Even so, she keeps her eyes on the enemy as she speaks to Uranus: "I already know you won't hesitate."

Nor will she come to Lapsa's aid if such is necessary, and nor will Lapsa return the favor. This the fallen angel understands implicitly, and she expects the same from Sailor Uranus, for that is the type of woman she thinks she is.

The maiden of nightmares speaks again, screaming and sending out surges of darkness towards her assailants, brandishing her sword. Red and orange lights pulse in those who were struck by them earlier, including Lux Corruere. Lux Lapsa's eyes widen, and when Corruere, Corruere who has always been herself ruthless yet noble, Corruere who has always been her friend--both of her, both of them--when she is reduced to sand and taken into the maiden's heart, both she and the one within her blanch.

But while Yukimi within her screams in agony, Lux Lapsa narrows her eyes, teeth gritting. The spear dissolves into motes of icy lights, and she folds her hands together, the Mandorla Manacles clinking together. Latin words stream from her mouth as she spreads her wings ominously towards the maiden of nightmares. Though it isn't an overt attack, this isn't hesitation: it's gathering her strength, taking the frigid fury of having what she loves taken from her yet again, to prepare for an even deadlier strike later on. If she goes through the colors in the usual order, Lapsa will be among the last, so she will need every ounce of strength she can muster to make her final strike count for everything.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has used E Nomine on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

The pain is intense. It is in a very real sense Nadeshiko's duty to see to hearts like this; to help people whose dreams are ruined. Later, she'll think of what this means; is this the ultimate form of an X-Chara? A dream perverted to the point of omnipotent hate? Is this what happens, when you let someone's Egg run riot for too long...?

Right now, the sheer overwhelming agony of how much she wants to be back at her home and maybe, like, wearing something from her bottom drawer, is keeping her from processing it - particularly when that wave of power hits. She senses it coming and tries to interfere with her spear, but the naginata's blade, however magical, can't block despair and pain. She doesn't physically crumble but it's a similar experience, staggering back two steps, peering bleery-eyed up through eyes clouded with the emotional harrowing she's going through. These emotions aren't our own, she plucks it out of the air from Homura, but...jeeze, that's easy to say...

Get through. She has to focus on that instead of anything else. Calming would be pointless; she'd fall out of synch with Temari and then get blown off the mountain like Team Rocket. So all she can do is press - pushing inward again, teeth grinding. There's not even words she can grate out, too dragged down; so all she can do is swing blindly, howling a wordless "TOOOOORYOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Flurry on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

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

Sailor Vega is defiant in the face of hopelessness. The maiden's baleful words and fatalist statements, the darkness that pours from her... and then attacks!

Shaking her head, blinking away tears that catch glimmers of light even as she shouts "SPARKLING DEFENSE!" - the lit tears blending with the pin-pricks of starlight that twinkle into existence around her, even as that darkness pours over her, slowing her, obscuring her vision, reeling her backwards even as her shield of light protects her physically.

"So you just let your own negativity master you? You think the only way to be understood is to make people feel the way YOU feel?" she shouts through the soup. Clasping her wand in both hands, the star at the tip beginning to burn brightly, "I deny your enforced darkness! Aurora...."

The star burns brighter and brighter, casting odd shadows through the blots of darkness and playing off the pin-points of the shield as it begins to fade away. "BEEEEAAAAM!"

A ray of rosy sunlight resolves itself, blasting forth from the wand and towards the maiden!

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Aurora Beam on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.

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

Getting physically knocked down seems to have left Kaitou Jeanne none the worse for wear. She felt it, and still feels it, but she can bite back that kind of pain. For the sake of protecting others from suffering pain, she hides her own, that's nothing new to her. She only wishes there was a way to stop this without having to fight, but once a sword is raised against you, you can't very well just stand there and let it be waved around. She probably would have been showing the mercy Lux Lapsa is expecting, otherwise.

Stopping the sword from being used is proving difficult however, Jeanne's initial success getting shaken off in short order. She tries once more, "This is not the way, please listen!" But the Dreamgirl only reinforces her intentions to share her pain, and not just with words. Those dark emotions take shape as actual darkness, which Jeanne is soon engulfed by.

She may have actually preferred another actual physical assault to this, a mental one. Painful memories are forced into her mind, all too powerful to ignore, all too much to even begin to wrap her head around. It's only reinforcing her belief that they're dealing with someone overwhelmed by an extremely painful past, somehow who would be worthy of nothing but sympathy...

Would be, if the girl didn't persist in handling her pain in this manner. Making others suffer so you can feel better about yourself is utterly unacceptable. And when a number of people appear to actually downright /shatter/ under the girl's power, at least one of which she knows to be a friend of a friend, something also shatters in Jeanne's mind. It may have been her common sense, or her self-preservational instincts. Because she suddenly goes into a mad dash straight for the girl, and... aims to slap her right in the face. All signs of her suffering from any pain are abruptly gone, replaced only by a frown of... is that anger, or disappointment? And accompanied by two simple, but sharp words: "/Grow up/!"

That's all kinds of ironic, considering who this is coming from.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Miraculous Reversal on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Hikaru refuses to run away this time. Instead, she raises her sword and tenses her entire body up, ready to absorb any sort of incoming attack that comes at her. She grits her teeth as the attack hits, but she doesn't let it faze her as best as she can. Instead, she remains steady and then recovers quickly. "This isn't over yet!" Hikaru yells angrily. "We're going to finish this once and for all!" And then Hikaru rushes in and attempts to deliver a slash of her sword with flame trailing from the blade.

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou has used Flaming Slash on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Sailor Moon's Ami Mizuno's Tactical Cover, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates! Tangle applied to Pink Moon Stick!

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

Sailor Uranus feels no hesitation about the beating she and the others are dealing out to this pitiable creature. Its death is required to secure the world's safety, and there is nothing more to it. Satisfaction, cold and complete, fills her as she boots the ethereal girl back against a wall.

She doesn't turn to Homura, either, knowing immediately what's transpired. She just stands back to back with the much shorter girl, head down in wakeful meditation, in a brief shared bubble of remonstration in the midst of terrible violence. "Where is this charge of yours?" she challenges quietly, smugly. "Where are the walls you defend? You are no guardian. You are a reaper, bringing destruction and pain." When Homura disappears again, she tosses her bangs to the side, watching Homura's attack with that same cold satisfaction as she felt about her own. "May your harvest be full," she blesses Homura.

The return attack is again directed at Uranus's emotions, and just as it did in the dream, it finds the soft places inside her mind, wracking them. She remembers looking back upon the Silver Millennium as it receded further and further, remembers the loneliness that yawned between her and that home. The memory curls up in flakes--no, they are surely petals, petals forming a flower made of stars around the nectar of fading light. This precious, agonizing memory wells up inside her, threatening to spill.

And a boot stomps upon it, grinding the petals to powder and mush.

She has a hand over one eye, and the other has a disturbing gleam in it. "You think to torture me with a memory? I regret nothing!" Shaking with zeal, she throws off the corrupting thoughts, and begins to stalk forward like an officer in a field of panicked soldiers. Clapping a hand on Lux Lapsa's shoulder, she whispers right in her ear, savagely, "Can I count on you, or can't I? Look at me." A response she likes will be rejoined with a second, more approbative clap, and then it's off to Sailor Vega.

"Look at me," she says to her as well. "You are a weapon of war. You are a chariot of the queen. This creature is nothing but grist for your wheels. Listen to nothing she says. Run her to ground and end her."

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Outervention on Sailor Uranus.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Outervention on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Outervention on Sailor Vega.
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus accepts Sailor Uranus's Outervention, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sailor Uranus's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Sailor Vega accepts Sailor Uranus's Outervention, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sailor Vega's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Fuu Hououji's Spinning Slash, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Lux Lapsa's E Nomine, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lux Lapsa is Psyched! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa accepts Sailor Uranus's Outervention, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Lux Lapsa's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Flurry, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Sailor Vega's Aurora Beam, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Kaitou Jeanne's Miraculous Reversal, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates! Bind Break! All of Kaitou Jeanne's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Without the Barrier flag, only a melee attack can counter a melee attack. Please counter with the correct range of attack, or with an attack with the Barrier flag.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Hikaru Shidou's Flaming Slash, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

The mood in the room is getting ugly, and the maiden of nightmares is too; more and more darkness coruscates across her form, wriggling like maggots, consuming gray shimmers and leaving little light left. It is difficult to see, but for the occasional blast of light from palms or a wand.

Still, those happen often enough. It is rather like being animated in stop motion, with the color of the frame changing every few moments.

Glorious pink illuminates her as she dives out of the way of Japanese Cherry Blossom's more impressive blast, and then skids under Kyouko's kicked spear like she's doing the limbo. Springing upwards, she wards off Lucy's balls of fire with her wrists crossed, the explosion pushing her backwards, straight into Homura Akemi's shotgun. She tries to flick the fire down at the Puella Magi, but only succeeds in melting the slug a little before it shoots through her stomach.

"What does being upset do /but/ impose your feelings on other people? You'd rather I just suffered alone? I did that for thousands of years! And if I can't get through to you with empathy -- I'll go through you with force.

She slices through Sailor Moon's energy barrage, landing near the Magic Knight of Wind. "Nightmares are lessons. Here -- have a chance to learn yours." Leaning out of the way of that massive, swinging sword, she brings her palm right into Fuu's face. Silver sand explodes, but does not harm; it causes time to slow to a crawl. All the time in the world, to think.

Largely ignoring Lux Lapsa's words as the non-immediate-threat that they are, the maiden is next seen in the silvery shine of Nadeshiko's blindly swung naginata. It slices off a bit of her hair, which shatters into sparkles. Sailor Vega, who had met her with sincere words earlier, now turns rhetorical questions and violence upon her, and she blackens even further.

"After all I've been through, how easily you speak of 'let'! Considering everything that's happened, why should I feel any other way? Why should I expect anything of sailor soldiers and their ilk but violence and vengeance?" She deflects the Aurora Beam off of her blade, not easily, but without suffering direct harm.

Jeanne tries another approach. "Who are you to judge?" asks the maiden of nightmares, as she moves carefully out of the path of that brain-ringing slap. Once she's met Hikaru's flaming sword with a clash of steel on glass, she seems ready to bring to everyone else what she gave Fuu. A cloud of silver sand fills the entire cave, sprinkling slowly, sedately, as though it was moving through honey...

...allowing for a moment of introspection, albeit a dangerous one, given that she's still holding that sword.

"Try living it, first." Two more colorful explosions; this time those who experienced fear, and those who experienced aggression are decomposed into their respective colors, then speed towards her heart. In the same moment, in flashes of red and orange, others are returned: Mai Tokiha, Lux Corruere, Forever Sunshine and Syaoran Li.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Sailor Uranus.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Hikaru Shidou.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Sailor Vega.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Dark Amber.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Homura Akemi.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used The Sands of Time on Japanese Cherry Blossom.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Japanese Cherry Blossom!
COMBAT: Sailor Vega narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Vega's Fade ability activates! Sailor Vega's Flash ability activates! Blind and Diversion applied to Sailor Vega!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind and Diversion applied to Mesozoic Maiden Lucy!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind and Diversion applied to Princess Runealy!
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lux Lapsa's Block ability activates! Lux Lapsa's Parry ability activates! Blind and Diversion applied to Lux Lapsa!
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Nadeshiko Fujisaki!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Kaitou Jeanne's Fade ability activates! Kaitou Jeanne's Flash ability activates! Blind and Diversion applied to Kaitou Jeanne!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Parry ability activates! Blind applied to Sailor Moon!
COMBAT: Homura Akemi narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind and Diversion applied to Homura Akemi!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Dark Amber fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Dark Amber!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Uranus's Flash ability activates! Blind and Diversion applied to Sailor Uranus!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Blind and Diversion applied to Fuu Hououji!
COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Blind and Diversion applied to Hikaru Shidou!

In flashes of red and orange light, the teams confronting Pride and Passion return. At the same time, a new group is internalized into the Maiden's heart. In a flash of green, Dark Amber and Sailor Moon must confront her Fear.

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

The sand is everywhere - and though she reacts physically, one can't REALLY dodge a cloud of sand. It rubs against her face, the grit in her eyes and ears... it makes it hard to think.

'The Chariot of a Queen,' Uranus said. 'A Weapon of War.'

The strength and resolve of Sailor Uranus clear away that darkness that plagues Sailor Vega - even as the fervent recommendation and metaphorical phrasing scrape against everything she thinks about herself.

Vega WANTS to speak up, to argue with the taller girl, to tell her that she isn't anything like that. She isn't a killer, and she isn't a warrior - and if keeping people safe from demons, darkness, and anything else with evil intent didn't *require* fighting she'd have none of it at all.

However, this is also the first time Uranus has said anything of substance to her, and she doesn't want to get on her bad side.

Vega will just have to argue by example, then.

As some disappear and the others reappear, Vega returns to using her words, wand-arm raised to protect her eyes from the sand - "YOU'RE the one who speaks of duty through violence! You're the one who started this fight once you were free! Your mind was made up before we stopped that mad-man to save our friends and families!"

She puts her other hand over her heart, the coolness of her brooch beneath her fingers a reassurance, "We ALL have duties! It's not too late to STOP this! We fight you because you MAKE us - can't you see that this path will only lead you further into darkness? Please! Stop this fighting!"

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Why Are You Doing This? on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Cherry... Cherry..."

Cherry Blossom isn't sure which attack to use. She's trying to figure it out. She waits for a moment...

The sand pours toward her, clouding her eyes and making her cough. She holds up her hands, and then ducks underneath as much as she can. She covers her eyes, and... it's a bit difficult, but... she manages to avoid the worst of it at least.

When the light flashes shift around, she notices some vanish, some return... but it seems like Sunshine is okay, and that changes her feeling on the matter somewhat. But then Dark Amber is gone...

Ack, it's confusing. "Sunshine!" Cherry Blossom rushes over following the blast of orange light, and tries to intercept her ally. "What's going on? Look, I'm... not really sure how we can take this down, but..."

She looks at her. "I'm trusting you to do it. Okay? Your strike was so strong and I believe in you!"

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Team Encouragement on Forever Sunshine.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine accepts Japanese Cherry Blossom's Team Encouragement, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Forever Sunshine is Cheered!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Sailor Vega's Why Are You Doing This?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates! Pink Moon Stick is Taunted!

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

Princess Runealy didn't expect a smile. Not while they face a maiden so driven and dangerous. Urging Sailor Moon on despite the odds against them would have to be enough. She hopes it serves as some contrast to Uranus' comments, ones that the princess sees as callous and unnerving.

The maiden's visage and words are far more disconcerting, though. The former can only be dimly seen in here as darkness builds, but what is visible is very jarring. Talk of suffering for thousands of years, even more so. That long? Runealy tries to imagine it. To stretch out a month-long personal nightmare into a year, then years, then millenia. That offers some insight into the heart, which is important as actual /sight/ is obscured under silver sands; Rune's attempts to dash through thinner parts of the storm do not avail her, and her arms flail at what's clouding her eyes.

She'd like to see the maiden for this, but has to settle for looking in the general direction of their foe's voice. The orange and red flashes offer some hope, suggesting that those who she thought were destroyed may still be here. "I'd prefer you not suffer anymore! I don't understand everything, but will you have any peace if you win here?"

She pauses to let Vega speak, and then joins in afterward to try to reinforce the point. "She's right! Is this what you want? To go that way, and go alone even while we're asking you to go with us?"

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Questioning the Outcome on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to counter Princess Runealy's Questioning the Outcome, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick's counterattack, Wave of Darkness, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Princess Runealy!

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

Appearing out of nowhere is disorienting at the best of times - and Mai was bowled over by a sandstorm moments before being returned here. It takes her a moment to find her feet again, moments in which the battle continues. Her face goes solemn at Vega's words, and she reflects on that strange dream, what she can recall of this being's origin...

...but there's little Mai can recall. She put the dream out of mind too quickly. She glances to Lux Corruere for a moment, smiling, and listens to Runealy's words. A frown crosses the HiME's face. "...you were proud, once. There's no harm in taking pride in your work...but there is harm in letting it go this far. I might not know all of the backstory, but I know this much." Mai's anklets blaze to life, and she crosses her arms before you.

"I'm not letting you hurt my friends." This might be a dream-being, but if that sword is at all physical - propelled by roaring flame, Mai rushes forward to try to knock it from the maiden's hands.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Binding Ember on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly dodges Mai Tokiha's Binding Ember, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates! Exhausted applied to Pink Moon Stick!

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

The glittering silver stardust cloud scatters everywhere. Kyouko flinches as the first flakes fall upon her, concerned that the specks may by some sort of poisonous spores. When nothing apparently happens, she puts the stuff out of her mind, finding it no particular distraction.

Stepping forward slowly, Kyouko flicks the head of her spear with a finger. The steel shatters into dozens of razor shards, gleaming with their own light amidst the refraction of the supernatural snow storm.

That same finger flick sends the bloodthirsty bits blasting forth all at once, ripping and shredding at everything before her like the ball bearings of a claymore mine. By the time her veritable shotgun blast finds its mark, Kyouko's speartip has already reformed.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Cheese Grater on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

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

Wait. "Sailor soldiers and their ilk"? Lucy's eyes widen, and her head sharply turns to look at Sailor Moon, and ask her what might well be an important question: "Fryd tuac cra sayh po dryd?"

Wait, what?

Hopefully Sailor Moon will be more puzzled by what the darknening maiden said than Lucy's words, because the Maiden of the Mesozoic variety isn't stopping to explain, nor even realize anything wrong with what she just said.

Maybe violence is only making things worse, she's starting to realize. It might be time for her to try another approach. She steps forward, and lowers her weapon for a moment.

"Munas ebcis tumun ced ysad," she says, impassioned, "luhcaldadin ytebecelehk amed, cat tu aeicsut dasbun ehletetihd id mypuna ad tumuna sykhy ymexiy! Id ahes yt sehes jaheys, xiec hucdnit aqanledydeuh immyslu mypunec hece id ymexieb aq ay lussutu luhcaxiyd." Then, she musters a smile, and adds: "Aqlabdain cehd ullyalyd libetydyd huh bnuetahd, cihd eh limby xie uvveley tacanihd summed yhes et acd mypunis."

A pause. Suddenly, Lucy briefly looks horrorstruck as she realizes that she's been speaking Pangaean the whole time. "You couldn't hear a word of what I said, could you?"

Then, people vanish and reappear, at the very least reassuring the Maiden that those who left aren't gone for good, though she has no time to assess their condition after having entered the dream maiden's heart. Time, in fact, slows down to a crawl, and speechifying is simply no longer an option for Lucy. Even though no one besides her could understand her impassioned words, maybe the feelings still managed to get through, or at least so she hopes.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Munas Ebcis on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Kyouko Sakura's Cheese Grater, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Suddenly, Lux Corruere stands again on the cavern floor, in the flickering light. She holds both weapons in hand, sword in the right and whip in the left, and her armor has been scoured by /something/, but--

But the battle isn't going to pause long enough for her to sit and relax and take stock of everything; she can see that she's where she was, and see familiar faces, if not all of them in the chaos, and more to the point, see that the maiden of nightmares is still here. So waht did they...?

Mai's here, too--and Corruere nods back to her, before looking back to the Maiden. "None of the people here are the ones who put you wherever that was! We've never seen your work, outside the awful things that man did with it!" She steps back, still outside of close range for the moment, since she's reappeared where she was. "If this is about your work... Then I'm willing to see it! If what you want to show us is your pain, then show it to me instead of the people out there!"

She stands, and awaits... well, hopefully, whatever's coming.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has used Builder's Stance on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Suffering alone...

It's easy for Homura to relate to that sort of feeling. Though while the wish giver may mean the more literal sort of being alone, the violet Puella Magi very often feels loneliness even as she is surrounded by others. Her unique situation places her a world apart from everyone else. And the rift continues to grow as time progresses.

It's a feeling that grows when Uranus refuses to push aside the RUTHLESSNESS consuming her heart, and instead continues to encourage her towards violence. A reaper, as Uranus put it. Homura looks at the Outer Sailor Senshi from the corner of her eye. Her expression one of mild distaste. She makes no attempt to detail who her charge is or what walls she is protecting. It wouldn't make any difference.

And then it strikes her: Why is she here? What if Madoka is still in danger. What if she is like Ami? Will attacking the wish giver free her, or kill her? Once again the violet Puella Magi rests her hand upon her shield almost as if to reassure her that it's still there.

... but part of her hopes that Uranus's words do not prove to be prophetic.

A cloud of silver sand engulfs the cave! It is not something that can be easily avoided, even for one such as Homura, so she simply tries her best to shield herself from its effects. Her attempts prove none to effective. That same silver sand also heralds another burst of light, and now more people shatter. Homura's hand upon her shield tightens as she considers whether or not this is a battle she can win...

... and then the others return. Relief touches her heart. "What happened?" She asks, addressing the general group.

But there's little time for a proper debriefing. Instead Homura has to return her focus once more to attacking the creature. But as she watches other individuals try to appeal to her her emotions, expressing their desire not to see her suffer, Homura raises her shield and allows it to turn 45 degrees. The flow of sand is augmented and she tries to create a subtle distortion in the flow of time around the wish giver. Hoping to give everyone, from bargainer to crusader, an edge.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Clockdown on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly counters Homura Akemi's Clockdown, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Moon Stick is Taunted! Trap applied to Pink Moon Stick!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick's counterattack, Wave of Darkness, partially gets through, doing 13 Fatigue damage to Homura Akemi!

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine hears the words of a passionate voice somewhere away, and then glances up as the world grows increasingly radiant...

She reappears firmly seated on an empty sleeping bag. She looks like she got thrown out of a second story window, with some scrapes and one of her ox-horns torn apart, blonde hair spilling messily on that side of her body. The giraffe, mysteriously, has joined her.

When Cherry Blossom comes in, Forever Sunshine finds the strength to get back up at that interception. She looks back at her friend and says, with a glisten of tears still lingering in her eyes, "Cherry Blossom... You're OK...?"

Well, she's up there and running around, anyway. Then she takes a deep breath, cupping her face in one hand, and exhaling. "I don't know if I can beat her up, but I think I kinda get what's going on."

She speaks largely to Cherry Blossom, which may kind of be the flaw in this revelation program. "Alright we like saw this orange eyed sorta, version of her, or something? And she basically whupped us real fast so I was just like, OK, you want me to leave you alone, I'm gonna sit here and leave you alone! That little Chinese kid got real heartfelt about it, it was sorta cute, but..."

"I'm kinda rambling," Forever Sunshine says. "But there's a way to beat any superior opponent - you just have to use your-- something! I forgot the word."

She claps her hands with a poofing of tangerine fragrance. "Oi! Hey! I just talked to you! You have to stop -- Yo can y'all stop using --" She exhales with frustration then, as the mist of tangerine fragrance wafts elegantly in the air. She puts her hands on her hips, and tells Homura, "She's just super confused and I think some bad stuff happened. You just have to reach out!"

"Not with spears," she adds, spotting Kyouko through the melee. "... Where'd Dark Amber go?"

<Pose Tracker> Syaoran Li [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Syaoran Li emerges in a storm of orange light. And once again, he is blushing deep scarlet. Clearly something happened while he was gone - there are several holes in his clothes and his lower lip is swelling and bloodied - but he is alive, awake, and standing.

The young magus takes several seconds to survey the field, his eyes picking out a few familiar figures; seeing Nadeshiko brings a faint pulse of relief that surprises even him, and Fuu is moving, as is the dark-haired gunner girl who he's seen a few times before. But there are others missing. And as for the maiden herself...well, things appear not to have changed all that much, as she's still handing the magical girls their collective magical girl faces.

But Syaoran knows things are likely to change soon. And he needs to start preparing the way.

And so he does /not/ attack the nightmare at the heart of the storm. Instead he edges backward and drops into a low crouch, moving slowly so as not to attract attention. He switches his sword to his left hand and begins tracing a circle around his body; once it closes, he slowly pushes the tip of the sword into the ground, and wraps a wind charm around the hilt. With luck, he thinks, the nightmare won't notice him. With even more luck, he's right about what he's going to have to do, something these magical girls, for all their power, are seldom equipped to handle.

A seal, Syaoran thinks. As big a seal as he's ever heard of. And so he breathes evenly and gathers his strength, his eyes occasionally tracking toward where Nadeshiko is fighting. "Keep her safe in there, Temari," he whispers. Her turn will come soon, if it hasn't already.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has used You Are Not Alone on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used Tangerine Breeze on Japanese Cherry Blossom.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used Tangerine Breeze on Homura Akemi.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

That's a valid point; attacking someone because they're attacking you is just basic logic, though there are those soft-hearted enough to not fight even when in such a situation. Kaitou Jeanne is not one, clearly, given that she slaps the nightmare maiden in the face and tells her to grow up already. Not the tactics that Lux Lapsa would have used, but she can appreciate the sentiment, given that she'd been saying basically the same thing earlier.

As she prays, Lux Lapsa feels a hand clap her shoulder, a voice buzz in her ear. Her initial response is to chant, "E nomine, kyrie eleison - amen," and flare out her wings. Black feathers flutter up and around them, and Lux Lapsa looks at the short-haired woman as she demands.

"Ara, are you trying to encourage me?" 'Ara,' Lux Lapsa says, flipping her silver hair, not unlike-- "You'll get your answer not through my words but my actions. Isn't that the type of woman you are," she once again calls up a glacial spear, "Sailor Uranus?"

The second clap, if it does indeed come, almost gets a smile. Almost. Instead, she looks down upon the maiden with contemptuous blue eyes. "Some empathy. At what point did you ever try to reach out through someone who *wasn't* trying to conquer the world?" Lux Lapsa says coldly to her. 'Sailor Soldiers and their ilk'... Interesting as that is, there are other things to focus on right now. "If you're only trying to satisfy a grudge, at least be /honest/ about it."

Memories... and introspection. Both things that the fallen angel has in plenty. Her eyes shut briefly as she folds her wings against that sedate sand, its effects nonetheless reaching her. Within her, Yukimi weeps, and in their mind's eye, the girl clutches the angel's back.

/What's the point of this?/ she tearfully wonders. /Touka-chan's already...!/

The original fallen angel reaches a hand back. Even in the thrall of ruthlessness, her eyes carry a certain softness for her partner. (There is always a point. Even if you must struggle through pain and despair, you must always believe in that.)

Without, red and orange lights flash again, and Lux Corruere reappears, along with Mai, Syaoran, and Forever Sunshine. Lux Lapsa's eyes open, widening slightly, and within her, Yukimi is filled with relief.

And it's that sentiment that joins them together in this moment. She flaps her wings and takes flight, swinging around towards her compatriot. "You really shouldn't concern me like that," is her way of saying 'I'm glad you're back,' particularly since the faint smile that she hadn't shown Uranus appears now for Corruere. That's all there is, because she's already passing by, winging towards the maiden of nightmares. Glowing holy light surrounds her, and she flaps those frost-rimed feathers hard. "Angelus Orote!" she cries, and shearing past, dozens of holy-infused black feathers attempt to cut and tear into the immaterial maiden.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has used Angelus Orote on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi accepts Forever Sunshine's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Homura Akemi!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick perfectly dodges Lux Lapsa's Angelus Orote, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Pink Moon Stick's Fade ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Lux Corruere's Builder's Stance, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Lux Corruere is Psyched! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Munas Ebcis, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki accepts Syaoran Li's You Are Not Alone, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Cheered!

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

The blast of magical sand erupts right in Fuu's face, her glasses doing little more than protecting her eyes against physical damage; the magical effect is completely unhindered by that obstacle, and Fuu finds herself alone with her thoughts and memories, even as she swings her sword cautiously. She has to break free of this somehow if she's going to keep fighting effectively; she's sure of that much ..

The 'slowed' time effect gives her a good long moment to look around the area and see who else has been thusly hindered - and her heart sinks as she realizes the answer: *far* too many seem to be similarly slowed down, where the dream - or rather, the nightmare maiden remains at full speed.

If she weren't in high dudgeon at the moment, Fuu might let herself reflect on how this must be what it feels like to be Slowed in an RPG ... but as it is, she has one overriding concern: break the spell for herself and a couple of others - all she can spare the effort of will for - and resume trying to clobber the nightmare maiden. So she brings her left hand up, glove-jewel flaring with magic as the Wind Knight shouts, "Iyashi no Kaze!!"

In response, the Winds of Healing billow around the Wind Knight herself at first, then reach out for the Fire Knight and Nadeshiko, unravelling the spell that's slowed them down so drastically ... potentially healing some other hindering injuries, as well.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Fuu Hououji.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Hikaru Shidou.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Hikaru Shidou's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom accepts Forever Sunshine's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Surge applied to Japanese Cherry Blossom!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Nadeshiko Fujisaki's debuffs are cleared!

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

Uranus nods sharply, encouragingly, at Sailor Vega, not knowing the quiet rebellion she's nursing against Uranus's advice. She doesn't make any connection so far as Lux Lapsa's other identity goes. Recognition Inhibition is a lot stronger than 'Ara.'

Besides, she's more impressed by these wings, inhaling sharply despite herself at their majesty. There is such power in the other warriors, power she knows so little about, when she thinks about it. The second clap does indeed arrive. "We're all meant to be that way," she agrees. And when Lux Lapsa returns to battle, "Fight well."

Uranus turns to join combat hand-to-hand, but the air is slow, the world is slow. Her swing is slow, as well, but there's some benefit to that; she can perfect the technique to a finer edge, make it elegant and beautiful, describe a mathematical arc with her hook.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Slow Motion Hook on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Sailor Uranus's Slow Motion Hook, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Sailor Uranus is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

At first, Hikaru finds herself caught blinded by the sands of time... in more ways than one perhaps. She's trying to figure out what to do when Fuu's healing powers come over her, clearing her vision (and her mind too most likely,) and bringing her back into the fight. "I owe you one, Fuu-chan!" Hikaru says with a slight smirk, before turning to face the enemy again.

"You haven't won anything yet," She comments. "I'm going to have to burn you up once and for all!" She then utters a magical phrase and sends forth a fiery arrow projectile!

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou has used Fire Arrow on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Hikaru Shidou's Fire Arrow, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

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

Jeanne's intended slap may not have connected, but to her, the words mattered more. She feels both a strong connection and a huge rift between herself and this girl. Such a strong similarity, and yet such a huge difference... she doesn't know if it's possible to bridge a gap like that. But she's determined to try. This whole battle would feel meaningless if the girl couldn't be made to understand.

'Who are you to judge?' The question gets an immediate answer - in the heat of the moment, Maron quietly, but audibly, admits to something that she would normally never have admitted. "Someone who knows very well what being in constant pain is like."

Sand is employed then, obscuring her vision, but Jeanne stands fast all the same. Flashes of color herald the disappearance and reappearance of certain people, confirming that those missing were not gone forever. Allowing herself a sigh of relief, this only serves to reinforce the feeling she had about all this. That this girl is being dishonest with her true feelings. That she's too consumed by her pain to even notice them. And so, she speaks once more, louder this time, with conviction.

"All this is just an excuse! You're making others experience your pain so you won't have to! This isn't the right answer... do you want to know what is?" Adding a dramatic fingerpoint in the direction of the Dreamgirl, somehow managing to get the direction right despite not being able to see very clearly, she gives her own answer: "It's faith! Don't assume, /believe/ that things will improve, and face the future head-on!"

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Don't Look Away! on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Kaitou Jeanne's Don't Look Away!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

AND AS IF IT WEREN'T BAD ENOUGH SHE'S VAPORIZING PEOPLE OR SOMETHING. This is not Nadeshiko's day. She tries to focus through it, but it's difficult; with Temari's temperament, the cool remove to do anything terribly emotional but /panic/ isn't easy to attain, and risks ruining her Chara Change. Did they get sent to some faraway dream? Destroyed in a heartbeat!? Absorbed into her heart, to fight her there!? It's impossible to say and when her blows sweep through, only sort of effective, Nadeshiko staggers back, clutching at her heart with one hand to try and suppress the energy. She REALLY DOES NOT WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE but...well, she is. And she can't just leave. Home won't be there for her to go back to if she just leaves....

The words the shadow whispers hit her as her eyes are blinded by silver sand; she throws up her free hand, and sees a few blasts of light emerge through the sand. It gives her a second to breathe; shut her eyes and get her heart in order. Hard as it is. This thing...this creature was in so much pain...obviously it'd lash out. But her own heart is spinning so much that following that thread to a course of action, something she's so good at, feels like digging into bedrock.

But she hears it, whispered on the wind. Temari mutters, low and aggressive, "You gonna keep whinin' just 'cuz you ain't got cookies, kid?" peering out to glare at Nadeshiko with the same yakuza sparkle that the other Shugo Chara know to fear. "You know...the only way to solve that, yeah?"

The wind comes next - a wash of healing winds that wipe away the worst of the Nightmare girl's hindrances. It lets Nadeshiko breathe again, and she gets enough grip on the power Temari gives her to shield her eyes with her spear, despite impossibility. "Thank you, Li-kun," she whispers to the air, and then grips her spear tighter. "...I'm sorry," she says, muttering more to herself than the spirit, though the words aim m ore outward. "You've been hurt...but I'm not letting you hurt anyone else, either!"

She times it - with clearer eyes and a lighter heart, she's able to find the creature in the shadow - and jab her spear, hard, once.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Needle Thrust on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Needle Thrust, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

The grey maiden -- at the moment, more of a black maiden -- stares at Sailor Vega, at Runealy. "Imagine, if you would, that you are kept from your duty, kept from your home, kept from your very /self/ for longer than you can remember. And then, after time immemorial, someone calls on you, begs you for their aid, begs for you to perform the task for which you have languished, unable to do for so long. Would you not help them? I did not start this fight -- you did. Just like they did, so long ago. I'm not /making/ you fight. I'm defending myself. And when did anyone ever ask me to go anywhere but away?" Her eyes narrow at Syaoran, his preparation the blackest sort of betrayal. But Jeanne calls for her faith, and she tilts her head to one side... listening. "It isn't easy," she murmurs.

Still, she's talking rather than fighting, and beneath the darkness, the faintest, most feathery flicker bursts through, the tiniest motes of white light. She's slower than she was before to get out of the way of Mai's blow, but unwilling to relinquish her weapon. She needs it. She has to have the assurance of safety. She cannot bear to be hurt again.

A good thing, too, as Kyouko tries to tear her to shreds. She blocks one, two, three of the shards of that deadly spear with her sword, but the rest get through, rending and tearing, leaving dark smoke in their wake. This is not an ideal setting for Lucy to give her an impassioned plea, which she appears to understand. "Why should I trust you?" With her free hand, she gestures furiously at the violet Puella Magi, unwilling to let her dictate the flows of time around her -- and she seems well-able to avoid it, as well, the wave of darkness that flows out of her keeping herself in motion even as it slams against Homura.

She tilts her head at Lux Corruere, who she seems to now recognize more than she did before. "Here," she offers simply, cupping her hand and blowing out a stream of silver sand, which creates something only she can experience -- the worst of her nightmares and the best of her dreams, all brought together in a moment of wildly oscillating emotion.

Exploding with gray light as Lux Lapsa's feathers howl towards her, she reappears behind the fallen angel. "You had a dream once, too..." Sailor Uranus brutally socks her in the jaw, Nadeshiko pierces her in the side, while Hikaru's Fire Arrow explodes against her from the opposite direction, and so she cleaves downwards with her sword with all the mercy she's been shown, laying about with it towards Lapsa and Uranus and Nadeshiko, plus Kyouko and Homura, as well, drawing all of them into a vicious swords dance that kicks up so much sand as to render all of them invisible for a moment.

Until all of it is split completely by the size of the blow she renders unto Hikaru, which sends an angel's chorus of agonized weeping through the air, sung from the edge of her blade.

In that moment, Indecisive and Ruthless-touched magical girls abruptly vanish, rendered unto light and drawn towards the maiden's heart.

COMBAT: Player not found.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Sailor Uranus.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Homura Akemi.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Broken Dream on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Pink Moon Stick has used The Sword of Ten Thousand Broken Dreams on Hikaru Shidou.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has used Deep Dreaming on Lux Corruere.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Hikaru Shidou fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's Finisher, The Sword of Ten Thousand Broken Dreams, taking 210 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Hikaru Shidou is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus fails to brace Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 35 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Unfortunately, that chorus is definitely not a good sound. In fact, as it hits Hikaru, she cries out loudly and drops to one knee. "No... why?!" She yells, tears forming in her eyes. "Stop... I..." She reaches outward and then drops to her other knee. "I'm sorry..." Hikaru says to Fuu and the others, albeit weakly, before dropping to the ground and closing her eyes.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Deep Dreaming, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Lux Corruere's Block ability activates! Lux Corruere's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to dodge Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 33 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa narrowly braces Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Lux Lapsa's Block ability activates! Lux Lapsa's Parry ability activates!

Still more magical girls are drawn into the Maiden's heart; in turquoise light, Homura Akemi and Japanese Cherry Blossom depart to confront her Indecision, while in blue light, Sailor Uranus, Fuu Hououji, and Lux Lapsa go to meet her Ruthlessness.

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

Frustration grows in Vega's heart as several of the girls don't seem to have caught on - violence is only begetting violence, but the words of the maiden reach her all the same, and she forces herself to bear witness.

"You made a mistake," she calls out, tears shimmering in those bright blue eyes of hers. "If you can grant wishes - give people their heart's desire... can't you see into their hearts? Were you so grateful to be called upon *at all* that it didn't matter what the wisher intended?"

Tears fall now from her eyes, her wand disappears - now is not the time even for implied violence. Their foe is a girl, like them, but one who has been hurt so deeply that she can't feel anything BUT pain.

Now, both hands are over her heart, and Vega *implores* - even if a few girls with her have caught on and are with her in spirit and tactic, her focus is ONLY on the Maiden.

"Please, Ojousan," with no name to give her, Vega STILL addresses her, "You don't have to be our friend - but you don't have to be our enemy either. Must isolation or destruction be your only choices? Are you so far gone you can't consider the alternative?"

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Why Won't You Let Yourself Understand? on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.

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

A flurry of cuts and dust overwhelms the spearfighter's defenses, it seems as though there is a storm of swords raging all around her. Kyouko's best efforts to dodge and dance her way between the savage weaves comes to nothing. She stumbles and trips, finding herself at the mercy of the merciless.

Squirting a spurt of blood out of her mouth, an involuntary shudder of a twitch courses along her spine. Perhaps this isn't a dream at all. It's too late to back out now, though. Picking herself up, she ignores the creaking, burning protest of her limbs and jumps perilously close to her target, nearer than she has so far, and begins to leap about, tapping at the nightmare lady while muttering to herself, working herself up into a routine, a rhythm, a dance.

If she can hold on for just a little longer...

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Knuckletap on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Sailor Vega's Why Won't You Let Yourself Understand?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Kyouko Sakura's Knuckletap, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura is Psyched!

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

Princess Runealy takes comfort in Mai's maneuver. It might provoke the maiden further, but it might also be smart; negotiating for peace from an advantage can be a good idea. Lucy's 'tirade' confuses her, though. Rune tries to figure out what in the heck her friend is saying, comes up with nothing, and comments: "Heard you, just couldn't understand!"

Of course, negotiations might be difficult in the face of ongoing attacks. Rune can't blame them. It's a sensible choice with such danger at hand. Yet she has trouble joining in, sympathy overwhelming Rune while recalling recent experiences.

Those memories run too strong for Runealy to press the attack, even as the maiden continues to lash out. "You're talking about something I can only begin to imagine! What I went through was a blink of an eye compared to what you've seen, so I have no right to lecture you. But if you're defending yourself, would you stop if we do?" Toward that end, Rune stows her wand behind her back.

Again, she cedes the floor for Vega to speak out. To introduce other possibilities, ones that could be vital in getting through. The princess tries to build upon them with more questions: "And where do you want to go? What would make you happy? Or at least at peace?" With silver sand still blurring her vision, it's hard for Rune to express herself with eyes. Just voice, directed in the maiden's general direction.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used Will You Stop? on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Princess Runealy's Will You Stop?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!
COMBAT: Homura Akemi narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 24 Fatigue damage! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine rubs her eyes for a moment - and then as she opens them again, she sees that Japanese Cherry Blossom is gone.

"Cherry!!" she cries out, in dismay. She looks to the other side, but even that purple-shaded odd girl has vanished too.

She turns her gaze towards the gray woman.

The thought comes to her mind that it would be easy to pour out her burning heart into a surging overwhelming ripple of violet-pink light. It would smell wonderful. It would clear the air.

BUT... She has already decided otherwise. Her inner rationale, to calm the surge of anger, is: She must have sent Cherry BLossom and the others elsewhere.

Then she cries out, one fist clenched at her side, "Stop it!! Stop taking away everyone's friends!! Bring them back!" She sniffles, once, loudly, and her face tightens in embarrassment at it. "Even if you're hurting, that doesn't give you any right to hurt other people, so please--!"

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used >>PEACE. on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Forever Sunshine's >>PEACE., taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Sorry," Corruere says back to Lapsa, albeit with more relief than apology. "But I'm not good at hanging back. ...Apparently, worse than usual." She doesn't explain to anyone else who may overhear what she means by that; Lapsa's reaction is enough, and there is no time to enjoy being reunited with her companion any longer than that. There is the battle, and the danger, and...

And something else, for that matter. There's words, and Corruere listens, until finally she is granted precisely what she asked for in turn. She does not lift a weapon to stop the sand; no, quite the opposite, she sheaths them and then they disappear. She waits, and the moment begins. The worst isolation, the lowest she's felt; the sight of those faces again; more, and worse--and yet, the bright sun, running across a field, more--

Staggering, the fear and pain akes her reflexively raise her arms, steeling her will despite her request... but she lowers those arms again as she feels the joy mingling there, too. Her eyes track back to the maiden, over the din. Lapsa--who had a dream, is tehre--

The girl is down--

And more are drawn to... her heart. Is that what happened to her? If so...

"It was beautiful," she answers, raising her voice over the combat. "You really are amazing. There's so much more you can do than just what he asked for. I want to see it." She takes a step forward, wings beating once behind her.

"...And I want to understand," she says, but this becomes softer, as she begins to speak to a voice within, to ask; has she seen anything like this? ...Any stories, met any people...? Is there any insight she can gain, anything she can see if she just /looks/...?

The fallen angel steps forward again, and does not bring back out her weapons. She does not speak further; she's intent on something else.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere performs an analysis on Pink Moon Stick!

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has finished attacking.

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

Mai's blind rush only clipped the tip of the foe's sword, and she spins out of control for a moment before straightening out. She stays on the guard for a moment as everyone else - or so it seems - tries to argue this dream-maiden out of fighting. The words give Mai pause - is this, perhaps, the better path? To try talking this queen of dreams away from her current path?

And then the grey maiden makes her response, and Mai grits her teeth. She hasn't been rejected like that, yet...at least, not in reality. Her worst dreams are another matter entirely. But the next words have Mai clenching her fists. "...are you serious? We were defending ourselves - first, against that madman who was pulling everyone into his own twisted dream. And second - you attacked us first!"

There's no smoke from her flames - but the flames themselves spin faster, burn brighter. "We might have been willing to talk peacefully, to find a path, now that we actually know you exist...but first, you have to stop trying to kill us. That much is non-negotiable-"

And the knight of fire is struck down swiftly, brutally. Mai stares as she falls, as if it's all in slow motion...

Mai looks to Runealy, her expression grim. Her hands clench tightly, nails digging into her palm, nearly drawing blood. She can't trust this maiden - but she flies over to Runealy to act as the princess's guard. "I'm not as well,spoken as the princess here...but I'll give you one chance to stop hurting everyone. Stop, now, before I do something desperate. Just tell us. Who are you, and what do you want?"

Her stance is non-threatening, but her Element is in disagreement with her words - it blazes brightly, only just held back from burning this mystery to ash...

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Who Are You? on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Mai Tokiha's Who Are You?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Syaoran Li [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Syaoran Li feels the maiden's eye son him, and her disapproval is tangible. He swallows nervously and holds his ground, fully intent on gathering his strength and biding his time. But then the Magic Knight of Fire drops to the erth, still and unmoving, and the scion of the line of Clow Reed shakes his head. He can't wait any longer, and he can't seal her while the others are still inside. Which leaves only one option.

"Vertatur Tempestas Veris," the young magus intones in sonorous Latin, peeling the wind charm off his sword and raising it toward the ceiling. "Nobis Protectionem Aerialem! Limes Aerialis!" he snaps, and a half-dozen gouts of air surge outward in a spell of protection, a wind-warded bounded field designed to prevent magical attacks from crossing and protect anyone within the confines of the circle.

Except rather than cast it on himself, he places the maiden at the centre.

Syaoran grips his sword with his left hand, using it to steady himself. His right hand reaches outward palm up, fingers curled slightly inward, and a gleaming crystal begins to form above the palm of his hand. The young man closes his eyes, his brow furrowing in concentration, and the crystal begins to shine with a light that grows increasingly intense as he focuses on it. And though Syaoran Li is a magus with affinities for three elements - wind, lightning, and fire - the crystal carries none of these properties. It is formed of nothing but mana, the stuff of magic, in its purest form. He then switches to a foreign tongue for the spell itself...although this time he chooses English rather than Latin.

"O weighted light, I send thee forth," he chants, tendrils snaking out from the crystal in his hand. "To go beyond the door of time and seal yourself away. Magia Interitum," he calls, his fingers trembling. "Tel ma.../amorista/!" he snaps, crushing the crystal within his grasp.

And inside the circle, magic dies.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Syaoran Li has used Magic Annihilation on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Syaoran Li's Finisher, Magic Annihilation, taking 13 Mana damage!
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly dodges Pink Moon Stick's Broken Dream, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates!

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

Lucy's eyes widen when not only does the dream maiden appear to understand the feelings behind the words of her home tongue, but even the words themselves. Who /is/ she, really?

Then she asks a question that is frustrating to hear, but valid nonetheless. "Because I know what it's like to be away from home, to be uncomfortable, confused and scared by the place you've found yourself in!" She has a hand held to her heart, and her club-holding one has been lowered. "Just earlier today I wrote a letter, to be read on this thing they call the radio, in the hopes, however small, that the waves could somehow reach my mother back home!"

"They say it's a day for miracles," she says, her voice suddenly weak.

Then, it picks up strength again. "And you say you've been locked away for thousands of years! I've been away for mere /months/, and I've had so many wonderful friends to support me, too. I just said I know what it's like, but I'm wrong, aren't I? I can't even imagine it. It must be unbearable." Tears are streaming down her cheeks in earnest, now, and she sniffs. "I want you to take back that homesickness you feel, but, but... if you'd like I can try to bear it, as long as I can, if only you could /stop/."

At least the dream maiden isn't attacking her. Whether she's getting through or not, she can at least be grateful for that, as defending herself is suddenly not on her mind anymore.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Hear Me Cry on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick narrowly braces Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Hear Me Cry, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped! Pink Moon Stick's Block ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

That spear digs into the grey (black??) maiden, and the feel of it sticking gives Nadeshiko some sense of success. She takes her breath. People come and go with those flashes, and from the sound of it, they see...something. Who knows. But this time, she's got her heart back under her control, at least enough to breathe. She dances, able to focus through her heartache enough to parry, dodge, swing, keep those attacks from hitting home; but each swing is a step she takes, each bone-jarring parry rattles her heart. She's tired and right now she really kinda wants to go anywhere else. She doesn't feel like weeping openly, at least, at this point.

And through the sweeping sand and her own aching shins, she hears people calling out - trying to sooth the furious thing. And Li, trying to invoke a high seal on it; that looked impressive, although the technical aspects of it elude her. Nadeshiko's temperament, like this, isn't suited to calming people; she's too heartsick from its power, and too furious from Temari's. But...she has her ways, and decides that holding her ground would work better while everyone makes their attempts.

And so she swings her spear up in a defensive posture, retreating a few steps to allow people to speak, while she prepares to weather whatever storm may come. So she does the best she can, standing back to observe the Dream Maiden and try to get a sense of how to proceed.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki performs an analysis on Pink Moon Stick!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

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

Are they getting through to her? She seems to be listening, acknowledging, and speaking more about her issues. Kaitou Jeanne nods at the assertion that it isn't easy. "I know it isn't. But trust has to start somewhere." Saying the words out loud, she feels something tug at her own heart in response, realizing the hypocrisy. She... really should take her own advice there, shouldn't she? She's met plenty of people who deserve more trust than she's been giving them.

And yet, the battle continues. There's plenty among them who are not willing to settle this with words, and they're being repaid in kind. One is knocked into what's hopefully only unconsciousness, others vanish in much the same manner as before. Even knowing that they're likely to return, especially the disappearance of Lux Lapsa causes an emotional reaction that Maron can't suppress. Among all those she should be giving more trust, Yukimi is probably the one who deserves it the most.

"Stop, just stop!" With an impassioned cry, Jeanne runs straight up to the girl once again, just like she did before. The difference is that there's no slap this time. Instead, she stops short and spreads her arms wide, inviting what may. "This whole fight is just a big misunderstanding! Our fight was with that man, not you! You were unlucky enough to be called on by someone selfish, seeking his own happiness at the cost of everyone else's... we couldn't let that happen!"

Hasty explanation done, the phantom thief yet doesn't move from where she is. Lucy's speech hits her where it hurts, too. There's nothing she can really add to that. It's hard enough to pretend to be calm under these circumstances, but she tries her best. "...if there's anything else you want me to see, go ahead and show me, if it'll make you feel better. I'll understand. I promise."

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Open Your Heart on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Kaitou Jeanne's Open Your Heart, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

'You made a mistake!'

'Consider the alternative.'

'What would make you happy?'

'Even if you're hurting...'

'Beautiful...'

'Who /are/ you?'

'I can try to bear it...'

'Go ahead and show me...'

The maiden, who has gradually lightened back to a more neutral gray, looks around the cave, plushes and sleeping bags and magical girls strewn everywhere.

She reaches out a hand. "I..."

Her head hangs. "The alternative... what would make me happy..."

A teardrop that shines with the purest of white emerges from her face and falls to the floor, remaining in the cave like a brilliant pearl. "...I don't remember..."

And then Syaoran's trap springs shut.

She can feel her power leaching away, the fragile bonds that hold her newly restored self together, which are, of course, magical in nature, beginning to fray. A cold wind pours out of her, in all directions.

It's not nearly as cold as her voice.

"...I /knew/ it. I KNEW it. This is just like before... you come with pretty words and then you try to seal me away." She casts Syaoran a baleful glance. "I don't know if these others are sincere or not, but as for you... take heart. You want to be the heir of Clow Reed? Congratulations. You're /just/ like him."

That doesn't sound like a compliment, the way it drops from her lips like chips of bitter ice.

Swords explode in all directions out of the one in her hand, congealing out of its sand. They orbit the cave, before slicing mercilessly towards one who bears Clow Reed's blood. The maiden glares around the room, her eyes black as night, her sword held across herself protectively. It looks like she won't be showing anyone anyone, right at the moment.

And violet light fills the room, taking a great many magical girls with it.

In a flash of violet light, Sailor Vega, Lucy, Kaitou Jeanne, Runealy, and Nadeshiko are all sucked into the Maiden's heart to experience her Homesickness, while the Fear, Indecisiveness and Ruthlessness groups are all returned (in green, turquoise and blue flashes of light, respectively).

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine, were she even a tiny bit more energetic right now, would probably give Li a slap upside his head. She barely can know what's going on, and then there's that sudden shining light -

She watches the swords. She tenses - but that young boy isn't torn asunder. Well, he bought that, she thinks, before looking around to see that...

So many more are gone.

Forever Sunshine looks at the dark figure. Any hope of fighting it has flown out the window. So...

She settles down to sit cross legged on the sleeping bag again. Maybe if she can catch her breath...

Nah, she thinks.

"Can you tell me something?" she asks the dark figure, her hands staying firmly on her knees. Her shoulders tremble, her nature not well suited for the winter. "My friends... Japanese Cherry Blossom and Dark Amber."

"Are they gonna be alright, with, with whatever you're doing? Because I don't understand it but I know Cherry was freaking out and - and I can't tell if she's gonna be OK." Her head tilts forwards. "She's been really nice to me and I can't manage our stuff on my own, and if we can't, then..."

There isn't any strategy in her at this point; if the woman in gray is going to strike her down, the most she can do is dodge and perhaps run.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used Pathos on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Forever Sunshine's Pathos, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!

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

Mai looks down at this last revelation - that their opponent is so much of a mystery, even she doesn't know who she was. She relaxes her vigil for a moment, bolstered by the revelation that this might not just be an Orphan to be destroyed. (Perhaps it was a very good thing that she had Mikoto hold back.) Runealy's grateful words, as well...this might work.

This means that Mai's attention is elsewhere when Clow Reed's heir activates the seal. Startled by the action, too startled to do anything to interfere - anything but watch him go down. A passing thought, of how helpful he was against the God Among Men...

And in an instant, the one Mai stood to protect is gone as well. Once more, Mai's fists clench - this being, with the power to take people away in the blink of an eye. Only a handful of them remain - Mai glances to Lux Corruere, to Forever Sunshine...that's it, isn't it? That's all of them left here.

"...bring them back." Mai's words are much more harsh, now. "You don't know who you are? Fine. Decide that on your own time. Just let everyone go, and stop all this. Most-" She shakes her head. Truth. "Some of us are forgiving enough to let you go unscathed. That man declaring himself a god was one thing, but I don't need to see you sealed or destroyed."

Mai relaxes her hand, ignoring everything but the grey maiden before her. "But if you force me..." She glances to one side as a few more people appear, holds one hand to where her mark rests on her chest. "...just go."

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Just Go. on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Lux Corruere returns to awareness, her focus changed, brought back to the room here, and she can hear words around her as she gets her bearings back once again. The signs were all there; everything she needed to understand enough to try to reach out, it was clear, if she could only see it.

And thanks to her partner, maybe she can.

The fallen angel prepares to step forward--amidst Mai's demand and Kaitou Jeanne's explanation and promise--to which she looks a moment, because she asked the same, so maybe it /will/ work. And then...

The trap is sprung. "/No/!" Corruere calls as soon as she can even register that something is happening, that tear that she saw still in her mind's eye, and starts to move, gauntlet raised--...But she isn't fast enough. The trap is sprung, and the boy is..

...Corruere lowers her hand, and looks instead to the maiden of nightmares. "...That bad?" she murmurs, as if talking to someone else. "...Well, all right." She lifts her eyes again, red and firm. "I don't know about before, but I stand by what I said. I'm sorry, that he hurt you. ...And he isn't the only one."

"...There's... something that has a hold on you, still. Something holding you back, something keeping you apart, something... dark. Can you feel it? It seemed, for a moment, like things were changing--"

She pauses, at Forever Sunshine's question. "I'm not her, but I disappeared, and I was okay. I trust that my friend will be, too, and yours. If she really wanted to hurt us... Well, you just saw; she's got plenty of power."

Corruere lifts her hands, but does not step forward. ...Not after all /that/. "But, I don't think you do. You've said as much, and I believe you. So, can you feel it? I want to help you." This time, she extends one of those raised hands, her gauntlet and the manacle around it glinting in the flickering light of the cave. "...I want to see your work again, but not just in a big dark cave."

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has used Outstretched Hand on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to dodge Mai Tokiha's Just Go., taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick fails to brace Lux Corruere's Outstretched Hand, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Moon Stick is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

So many colors of light flash -- so many friends are reunited -- that it's hard to parse any individual color. Magical girls return under /extremely/ different circumstances, but they all witness the same thing:

Syaoran Li disappearing beneath infinity summoned swords, and a great deal of talking.

The maiden keeps her sword raised defensively, and seems to be getting consecutively less comfortable, less peaceful, the more magical girls return. A flash of terrible fear flows through her -- and then the icy chill of ruthlessness. They're palpable feelings, transmitted easily by the sands scattered throughout the room.

"You've been to my heart," she says to Forever Sunshine. "You know what awaited your friends. They have returned through their own power." Mai threatens her, and the fear, as well as her sword, rises. Lux Corruere extends the hand of friendship.

She's obviously wavering -- just as obvious as the shade of her radiance, which is back to that dreadfully neutral gray. It's no less blinding... but it lacks beauty.

COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Japanese Cherry Blossom appears back in the cave in a turquoise flash... She's... notably disoriented, but she's also a lot less indesicive deep down than she was before.

She looks around for her friends, to make sure everyone is... moderately okay, and to communicate what she saw in the flash of light.

She takes an unsteady breath. "Right. I... I did, and..."

She walks forward a little bit. "I'm really sorry that everything is so confusing for you right now... um, it is for us too. I know how it can be to let your emotions get away from you sometimes! One of those emotions was even mine. I guess, it's just that balance is important, and... when you aren't sure you can be balanced, you can check in with someone else to make sure things are okay."

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

Dark Amber returns perhaps as he arrived. He takes a deep breath...but he understands a little, he crosses his arms. His blades retract into those brass, steampunk-adorned bracers. He doesn't make another thretening move....

"A long time ago...in another place. I was a horrible person. I did things I have nightmares about. And more importantly....I led the one who would give me a chance to a fate worse than death.... because it was my duty." he says with shame in his voice.

"And when I... was-- reborn.. remade.. here. I was afraid." he states. "I didn't feel like that person. I was afraid of what would happen if I met these people again." he says. "So I... began to operate alone. I did things I'm not proud of." he says.

"But then I met the others. And they remembered. But they were also willing to forgive me." he says glancing over to Cherry Blossom and Forever Sunshine.

"This is how I know---this is how I know they can forgive you, for whatever happened in your past. This doesn't need to be this way." he says.

"This has to stop...!" he pleads, as best he can---Dark Amber... Kinzo...was not the best at this. He can only speak right now. He doesn't have the heart to plow another blade into this maiden's face.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Homura reappears alongside Japanese Cherry Blossom. She looks a little more worn down then from when she left. She looks briefly disoriented, and quickly scans the room to survey the current state of the battle. Her eyes settle upon the grey maiden. Her lips pull back slightly into a grimace.

Then Japanese Cherry Blossom moves forward to offer the entity. Homura meanwhile steps forward as well, but instead she addresses those who are also gathered:

"She has made a mistake." The violet Puella Magi says calmly, "Both then and now. But she deserves a chance to show us she can exist without endangering others."

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

A flash of yellow heralds the return of the pretty soldier of love and justice, Sailor Moon. She wobbles on unsteady feet, put off by the sudden change in the ground once again. Her first reflex is to cringe away, clutching her crescent wand in preparation.

The battle before her is not the most reassuring sight.

But it is reassuring.

There are still swords, and there is still anger, but the fighting that raged so vividly earlier has died down. It is sullen ember, insistent and still painful to touch, but now it must weigh against the hopeful flame kindling in Usagi's chest.

Sailor Moon reaches up, hesitating with her finger near her ear and then finally tapping some hidden button. Mercury's visor disappears with a tiny vwip. She had to see the maiden without the tint. She had to see the colors exactly as they are.

It's her.

"You don't have to be alone," Sailor Moon cries, loud in her despair. "Nobody wants to be alone! It's why I can't lose my friend! I, I--I'll be your--"

She raises her wand to her chest, holding it tight. It's just a slender thing right now, not the miracle-bringing instrument of power that it once was. In her hands, at Tokyo Tower, and another time, in another woman's hands, long, long ago.

"Do you, um, like cake? I'm going to go get some with my friends later, and you can come. I have some extra money I can give you, because they only take yen."

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

The sword rises. Mai meets her gaze seriously, not backing down. Pride was the key to how they met, and it's in play here - a staring contest of convictions, to show both of them are serious. Keep the claws sheathed, no one needs to get hurt today, and she doesn't want to have to do anything here...

All that time spent focused on what was important, wielding barbs against anyone trying to get involved...she's really not sure what to say. Were there a clock, it would be ticking right now for the staredown...

The appearance of others is a welcome relief. More kindness in these heroines...and it's an excuse not to do something desperate and foolish. Too many people to get hurt. Mai steps back, listens to words kinder than hers. Japanese Cherry Blossom, Sailor Moon, even Dark Amber...

Mai nods to Homura. "Just...think about why you're doing this. Think about whether it's worth continuing."

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

The Magic Knight of Wind reappears, staggering a little before her equilibrium and her balance are recovered, and she takes in the situation - not much different from what she last saw, apparently. This side of the fight has clearly been continuing apace; no surprise there. Her bow and quiver

(Didn't she have her sword out before she vanished?)

disappear in streaks of green-tinted light, curving towards her glove-jewel as she brings her arms up in front of her, gathering her magic. But on hearing the others who are talking rather than fighting, the wind currents around the green Magic Knight abate - just a little. Just enough.

"The choice remains yours, ultimately," the Wind Knight tells the dream maiden, slowly lowering her arms but still remaining on guard. "If you can forgive, and if you can be forgiven, then I'm sure there's a place in this world for you. But if you choose to hate and distrust the rest of us based on what's happened since the seal was broken ..."

Her left hand flexes, then closes slowly into a loose fist as if gathering in what magic was still flowing about her - and at the same time, the air currents around the Wind Knight finally fall still again.

And the Wind Knight offers a gentle smile, the ruthlessness so foreign to her heart finally closed off from affecting her. "It really sounds as though we don't want to obliterate you. I know that I would rather not, if the potential for good - for the sweet and happy dreams that you once spread throughout the world, long ago - is still alive in your heart, somewhere. And if that has withered, perhaps it can be renewed with our help?"

She really did miss some things, but she can read the direction things have shiftedto and try to roll with it. She's somewhat more worried about Hikaru-san at the moment than resuming the beatdown.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba transforms into Tuxedo Mask!

COMBAT: Tuxedo Mask transforms into Mamoru Chiba!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has fully healed himself.

In a flash of violet light, the Homesickness group is returned.

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

Reappearing in a violet flash, Sailor Vega stands there with arms outstretched... the sudden shift of scenery bringing her around to the present, but otherwise she looks very much like she did when she left - though there are a few bleeding cuts that are new.

A quick glance to reassure herself that everyone is still here - everyone is accounted for - and the sight of the swords is almost enough to bring the tears to her eyes afresh.

"No matter what else, Ojousan, I will keep my promise!" volunteers with fresh fervor!

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

With a snap of her neck, Kyouko is jolted back to the greater battlefield. What she said in the desert is just as true here. Striding straight towards the grey lady, she holds her spear with the point to the ground, projecting a guarded but non-threatening posture.

Again she speaks with her cracked-leather voice. "Wherever we all just went, we chose not to fight. I don't know who you are or what you want, I have no quarrel with you. I'd much rather get the hell out of here and find a place I recognize. I'll keep fighting if I'm forced to, but I don't see why we can't both be on our way."

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

Violet light bursts into the cave, returning Princess Runealy. While a little more tired than anyone last saw her, she has no new wounds... and is putting her wand behind her back while staring at the maiden. Some of those here may lack context, but Rune's gaze is lidded, eyes low with sympathy. She responds to something said elsewhere entirely: "Alright. You have it... a promise."

No. That needs to be stronger. Rune's expression brightens, tone higher and softer. She knows just how important this offer can be; it was not long ago that she was on the receiving end of similar kindness. "You have my promise! We can figure all this out one way or another, but I'm done fighting!"

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

With a snap of her neck, Kyouko is jolted back to the greater battlefield. What she said in the desert is just as true here. Striding straight towards the grey lady, she holds her spear with the point to the ground, projecting a guarded but non-threatening posture.

Again she speaks with her cracked-leather voice. "Wherever we all just went, we chose not to fight. I don't know who you are or what you want, I have no quarrel with you. I'd much rather get the hell out of here and find a place I recognize. I'll keep fighting if I'm forced to, but I don't see why we can't both be on our way."

That trembling hand returns to her pocket, retrieving two pocky this time. One she extends in offering, keeping the other for herself. "Here ya go. Let's just chill the fuck out, yeah?" She regards the other fighters assembled. "Yeah?"

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Breaking Bread on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Pink Moon Stick accepts Kyouko Sakura's Breaking Bread, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower applied to Pink Moon Stick! Cleanse! All of Pink Moon Stick's debuffs are cleared!

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

The Maiden of Ruthlessness dies screaming defiance, and in a flash of blue light, Lux Lapsa, Sailor Uranus, and Fuu Hououji return to the cave. Lapsa brings her wings in closer to her back as she readjust to the teleportation, stance firm and unyielding. However, when they actually *do* arrive to see the others attempting to talk down the Grey Maiden--minus Syaoran, who is sent somewhere away amidst many, many swords--Lapsa is reminded of the Maiden of Ruthlessness and frowns slightly. Sailor Moon even goes so far as to outright offer to be the Grey Maiden's friend, and Corruere... of course she offers her hand, offers to help her. Her host is such a kind person, after all.

/Yeah, she is,/ Yukimi agrees quietly--then, more hesitantly, /...Are you gonna attack her, Himiko?/

(...)

Her actions speak for her; she doesn't speak up along with the others, but she folds her arms and watches the Grey Maiden as she wavers between light and darkness, between accepting the others' overtures and keeping her sword bared to them. She doesn't offer comfort or friendship, but neither does she offer hostility, and she doesn't try to crowd her, either. Her attention goes to Sailor Uranus, whenever the blond woman appears, and she approaches her to attempt to rest a hand on her shoulder, just as the Sailor Senshi had done for her earlier.

This woman *bleeds* ruthlessness, after all, or at least she does based on what the Lux Angeli has seen of her. Lux Lapsa feels fairly certain that this won't stop her from continuing the attack. Thus, she will attempt to lean in and murmur, "Not that I think this is what they have in mind, but psychological warfare to wear down the enemy's will to fight is also a valid tactic, and so far, it seems to be working. If you're willing, let's be patient and see how they do."

She glances back towards the Grey Maiden, at those attempting to calm her down, including Kyouko--the girl Uranus had earlier called a killer like Homura--offering her a stick of pocky. "...and stay prepared to strike, in case they fail."

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

Of course Kaitou Jeanne wasn't going to fight, even when thrown into another dream-like place and pelted with swords. She promised. She'd never break a promise. And with everyone else who was pulled away with her making the same decision, it's not long before she reappears in a flash of violet, exactly where she was before. Her stance is different, no longer with arms opened wide but with an arm outstretched in friendship, and her clothes and skin give away the fact that she had a close encounter with some sharp implements just now.

Still, she looks perfectly content with whatever just happened, calmly letting her arm fall by her side. "See, it's just like I said. We understand. Maybe not everything, but enough to know that we're not enemies. Let's look forward to a better future, together." Unreasonably Optimistic Outlooks have never failed to keep her going, no reason why it couldn't work for everybody else!

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Nadeshiko sees that look in her eyes. She's like a freight train, a runaway emotional powerhouse of barely-controlled impulses. That's what Temari is, and therefore what Nadeshiko as Chara Change reflects; spoken, even screamed emotions, zero impulse control and total voicing of all her spite and frustrations. She had shown exceptional self-control by not going on full offense much, much sooner - and even greater, now, by not throwing all her power against the fearful shard of homesickness. Promise me, she's asked, fear wide in the maiden's eyes.

Nadeshiko's blade stays up for a second more. She senses some of the unhappy looks coming her way, but her eye, her lips curled up in a faint snear, stay on the fragment of heart. Until it finally fades away, and the world flashes violet, and everything's back the way they found it. Nadeshiko reappears holding her spear in an attack position, high - threatening but not attacking, like she'd had it positioned to cut the throat.

"...'course I promise," Nadeshiko mutters, naginata falling aside - the tip touching the ground - continuing the conversation from another world without pause. She takes a slow breath, before her eyes turn fully to the Maiden. "Looking out for peoples' hearts, 's just what a Guardian like me does."

She does not, however, /drop/ the weapon. Her promise is still good. Both ways. Kyouko breezes up with her pocky, and Nadeshiko glances only briefly, before her eyes roll up again. "It's your call, now," she says, chilly.

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine leaps back up (and winces) from where she'd sat down. "Cherry!!"

She should really be used to this, and she looks back at the gray lady with a slightly embarrased expression. "Aah! Dark Amberrrrr!" She's even glad to see him - and Sailor Moon comes up and presents a wise and sensible option.

Sunshine's stomach rumbles. Just a bit.

She bites her lip, hoping vaguely that no-one heard.

Others come in, and Forever Sunshine muses as she folds her hands behind her back. Why did she pull them into that other world? It may have been successful, but... that must be powerful magic. She bites her lip, just a bit, thinking of the aches in her body. How do you get magic that strong, she wonders, her hands squeezing over each other.

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

Uranus reappears in a puff of sand, catching her balance as if she fell some distance. She drops into a fighting stance immediately, having seen the pattern and expecting to return to a battlefield. That isn't quite what she finds.

She can see the group is gathering. Fuu gathers and then releases her magic. Dark Amber empathizes with the maiden, having followed a path of redemption himself, it seems. Sailor Vega, as soft as the Inners, already addresses the enemy with affection. Sailor Moon adorably offers to go get cake with her. That frustrating girl. It was useless trying to change her.

She can feel that the ruthlessness is now gone from her. Her tired eyes turn to Lux Lapsa, and watch her quietly for a moment. "That's not what they're trying to do. Psychological warfare... look at her. Them." Her exultation in freedom from remorse is gone, and it's changed everything. She feels weary in mind as well as body. She hates the suffering she saw in this maiden, and she knows the feeling of a long dark exile, even if hers was not so long or dark as the maiden's. Along with all the others, Sailor Uranus's heart wishes for peace.

But Uranus cannot listen to its dictates. She closes her eyes, and lets regret flow through her and out of her. Behind her, a great painting looms in her mind, a Bosch as if painted by Matisse, a masterpiece of a hellscape created from the nightmares of Sailor Neptune. She breathes it out like smoke, and when she is finished, her eyes snap open. "It's too late," she calls. "It's far too late. This creature almost enslaved the entire world, and she can do it again."

She raises one hand, wrist canting inward, fingers clenching air until a tiny sphere of golden energy springs to life, radiating force as it grows rapidly, uncontrollably. "It doesn't matter what's fair or what happened to her. Nothing is worth that risk. Not her life, not mine, and not any of yours!" The sphere is tremendous now, distorting the air with black energy in a radius around Uranus.

"She has to die!" Uranus twists her body and hurls the sphere into the earth. "WOOOORLD!" It begins to rip through the ground, driving up earth around it on both sides, bucking and heaving the ground around it. "SHAKING!" It half-tunnels, half rockets toward the sedated maiden.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Uranus has used World Shaking! on Pink Moon Stick.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Sailor Vega covers Pink Moon Stick for Sailor Uranus's attack, World Shaking!, taking it upon themselves instead!

COMBAT: Sailor Vega fails to brace Sailor Uranus's Finisher, World Shaking!, taking 86 Fatigue damage! Sailor Vega is unable to keep fighting!

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

Everyoe is laying down arms - or at least not making aggressive noises or motions. It's going to work! This is going to work!

Sailor Vega can only watch in horror when Sailor Uranus opens her mouth. One can almost see the world around her get smaller as those words and the summoning of the attack become the only thing she can hear.

"NO, I *PROMISED!*"

As the World Shaking tears through the ground, Vega IMMEDIATELY starts to run, pouring everything she can muster into getting there first. It's a close thing - that attack means business. She only barely makes in time to get right in it's path, standing before the maiden and glaring at Sailor Uranus in defiance even as she throws up her arms to brace herself...

It's not enough. Vega's strength is in her heart, not her physicality. World Shaking brings a world of hurt - and her scream fills the cave. After it strikes, there's a moment of calm silence as Vega, singed and dirtied and bleeding exhales slowly before sagging to her knees and then falling face down on the ground.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Corruere's trust is rewarded, as she was sure it would be; the others blink back into existence, light flashing and leaving behind a friend, or at least /somebody's/ friend even if not her own. Even Lapsa's back, and Corruere glances her way, making no comment about the worry /she/ had. ..Not this time, anyway. ...There's some pride, if not pride, in the moment. ...But it's only for a few moments.

The bold words about risk and what could happen remind her of another time she's seen that same person, another person who was in the way, for the greater good. But there's no way she can move in time; her weapons are down, there's so much in the way, and Sailor Uranus is /so fast/--

So far, but a promise does enough. Corruere can only stare a moment as Vega braces herself for the incredible attack, and is hit, and...

Falls.

Corruere is stopped, and then... Steps, each booted foot that hits cave instead of sleeping bag clanking loudly. She moves quickly, but deliberately, kneeling down beside Vega and sliding an arm down towards her, to see if she lives, to see if she's all right, to...

To help her up, slightly, and hold her, rather than let a brave girl like this be stuck dirty on the ground.

The fallen angel raises her voice, "It isn't your decision. We don't all agree... But at least somebody's enough in her corner to risk her life, even against someone who's fought alongside us. ...I think that says something, don't you?"

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

'I know they can forgive you for whatever happened in your past.'

'She deserves a chance.'

'You don't have to be alone. Nobody wants to be alone!'

'Think about why you're doing this. Think about whether it's worth continuing.'

'If you can forgive, and if you can be forgiven, I'm sure there's a place in this world for you.'

'We can all figure this out one way or another, but I'm done fighting!'

'Let's just chill the fuck out, yeah?'

'Let's look forward to a better future, together.'

'It's your call.'

• rumbling stomach*

The maiden of nightmares -- or is she the maiden of dreams? -- listens.

The transformation isn't sudden; it's slow. The way a line of tension disappears between her radiant shoulder blades. The way her gaze softens, fractionally. Her jaw unclenches. She floats downwards, just a little bit closer to Earth. The point of her sword lowers, and then the sword dissolves entirely, back into silver sand. The slightest hint of a smile appears in the corner of her barely distinguishable lips. It is a very shy one. It is also very pale. /She/ is pale, the last of the gathering storm of darkness in her light diminishing, the cave turning to crystal as it is touched by her luminescence.

She reaches out with both her hands.

"I--"

"WOOOOORLD SHAKING!"

After all this time, all this fear, this willingness to be ruthless for her own survival... they've proven her right after all. Her smile becomes sad, instead. Regretful, within a heartbeat. Until:

'NO, I *PROMISED!*'

'...don't you?'

White is different than silver or platinum, different than ivory, different than transluscent crystal. It isn't the absence of color -- it is all colors at once.

It is blinding, putting the other brilliant lights of the battle to shame. It is painful to behold; tears are a common physical defense. And it carries feelings with it.

Humility.

Temperance.

Courage.

Compassion.

Decisiveness.

Tenderness.

Adventurousness.

They are ferocious in their intensity.

And then they, and she, are simply...gone. Gone with a final promise, that echoes, the ghost of a whisper, on the Hokkaido winds.

"I will remember you..."

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

Dark Amber watches as Uranus launches an attack, he has a look on Horror on his face, he goes to move---

Sailor Vega does it instead. His eyes go wider, but... the maiden is okay. She dissapears.

'I will remember you...' well, lord knows he's not going to forget this.

He doesn't waste time though, he's chasing after Vega. "Sailor Vega...!" he calls out. He moves to check to see if she's okay---or at least alive. That hurt. He knows it did.

Others are probably also doing the same. "Is..she okay!?" he asks out loud.

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

Everyone's back. Unconsciously - glancing to where Mikoto is patiently waiting - Mai moves back near Runealy's side. Whatever promise the princess made, Mai won't do anything to break it. So many people here seem to know just what to say...and it might just work. All together, they might just talk the dream maiden down-

Someone attacks. Mai doesn't know who, barely paid enough attention to why, and she bites back a curse. If this is going to become a fight after all this, then-

...Sailor Vega was braver than her. More noble. Mai looks down even as the dream maiden shifts to a brilliant white, and unclenches her hands. The golden rings vanish with just the slightest puff of flame as Mai pulls her scarf up to cover her mouth.

"Just...do what you like." A bit muffled by the scarf as she turns away. All told...how much did she help, here?

Pride's fire fades away as Mai goes to sit by Mikoto. There are injured - herself included if she really cared to check - but she knows she can't help with that. The dream-maiden is appeased, the would-be god beaten down, and Takumi should be safe now. That's what she came here to do, and it is done.

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

In the wake of the Maiden's disappearance, the Magic Knight of Wind only whispers a couple of words.

"Iyashi no Kaze."

The Healing Winds blow around Sailor Vega, their power caressing Lux Corruere as well as she carefully lifts Vega; Fuu is focusing her healing power strictly on the 'foreign' Sailor Senshi, though; apart from her, only Corruere *might* see any benefit, and even then it won't be much. And with the Maiden of Dreams - Fuu is certain that she's reclaimed her original domain of dreams, not nightmares - gone, the Wind Knight can focus fully on healing the wounds that Vega suffered in protecting the Maiden from Uranus's attack.

Once Vega is stable - or as close to it as Fuu's magic will get her on short notice, at least - the Magic Knight of Wind stops her spell, and moves to where the Magic Knight of Fire fell when she got blown away earlier. The invocation is repeated in a whisper, and the gentle breezes with their healing magic enfold the unconscious redhead. Again, the Wind Knight focuses entirely on healing her friend, her ally - her closest sister-in-arms out of all the magical girls she's encountered in Tokyo.

Then she gathers up the Fire Knight, arranging her within a sleeping bag (the same one Fuu snoozed in to visit the dreamworld, as luck would have it) and moves to carry her out of the cave, and back down to the ski lodge.

Nobody else gets healed tonight, it would seem ... at least, not by the Wind Knight's power. Just Vega and the Fire Knight.

She didn't even *look* at Sailor Uranus. She didn't need to.

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

Princess Runealy feels relieved and gratified as it seems this will end peacefully... that maybe they've brought some hope to one who has suffered for far too long. It would be a wonderful conclusion to the matter, and even bring some things full circle as she offers a smile to Mai. Then satisfaction turns to horror, a chill running through her as Uranus speaks. "What!? That's not...! You can't...!"

Uranus can and does. Runealy leaps aside from the rend in the ground, astonished by that kind of elemental power. Vega shields the maiden from it, drawing a startled cry from Rune! That might have killed Vega, for all Runealy knows.

This leaves her gaze sweeping from Vega, to Uranus. The princess starts to speak... yet the flash of light and the rush of feelings stop her at first. It changes what Rune was going to say; she was going to shout at length.

In light of what just happened, Runealy speaks with a calmer edge, eyes narrowed in disapproval. "Stop treating lives as risks to weigh."

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

Kyouko doesn't really bat an eye when Uranus attacks, nor when Vega takes the hit. In her heart, she's grateful to the second woman for stepping up to keep the peace. Although she's not one to shy away from a fight, if there was anything to be gained, Kyouko wasn't clued in on it. All in all, it's lucky that Uranus is the only one to buck the line. When she spoke, she'd expected only a handful to lay down arms.

Sitting down, all the fatigue of her restless night falls upon her eyes, weighing them narrower and narrower. She wants to lay down and sleep a long sleep..but not here. They'd have to find their way back before there would be any of that.

Her head hurts. She isn't even sure how she got here. All things considered, she's mostly glad that she's free from the nightmares and dreams that preyed upon her.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Correct. They are not *trying* to do it. But that is in effect what they are doing. Kindness can be a surprisingly effective weapon," Lux Lapsa counters quietly, noting the weariness in Uranus' eyes. It makes her wonder, as she hadn't had the chance to talk to her after the incident near Mitakihara General--did she feel that, too, after she and her partner killed that demon-possessed? ...It makes little difference at this point, though it may bear discussing later. But 'later' is a long time from 'now.'

Nonetheless, when Uranus makes her decision, Lapsa respects it. Her logic isn't *wrong*, though she doesn't personally agree with it, and she suspects given how the atmosphere is that this attack won't be ignored. She backs off a pair of steps, watching her. It doesn't matter what's fair or what happened to her... Ice blue eyes flick to the ground, then travel to the Grey Maiden as light pours forth, as she holds out her hands, as her smile is tainted with resignation--and then to Vega, when she leaps in the way of Uranus' attack, taking the brunt of it upon her and falling for her troubles.

Before Lapsa can make the decision whether or not to go to Vega's side, Corruere is already there, helping her up, holding her, respecting her sacrifice. When Lapsa spoke of kindness as a surprisingly effective weapon, it's this sort of thing that she meant--both Corruere and Vega herself, whose kindness was the weapon that won this battle. Lapsa has to cover her eyes with one hand to guard against the brilliance that follows, but when she lowers it, she sees the result: the Wish-Giver is gone, one last whisper on the aether.

"Very cunning," she remarks, ostensibly to Uranus, but voice loud enough that anyone can hear. "In directing a decisive blow at the Wish-Giver, you ensure that one of the many people who have been trying to talk her down rush to her defense, giving definitive proof that their words and good intent are not empty. Her heart touched, she vanishes from this world, saving it." She takes a step towards Corruere, towards the motes of pure white light where the Wish-Giver had once been, then glances back at Uranus. Her eyes are neither judging nor sympathetic; they simple are. "...Not that I think that was your intent."

She then glances at some of the people berating the Sailor Soldier. She doesn't stop them, any more than she tried to stop Uranus. Then she regards Corruere silently, ice blue eyes meeting lava red. A tiny nod is all that follows. ...Whatever they discussion they have, it will be saved for later.

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Nadeshiko, positioned to strike but relenting, is taken by surprise by Sailor Uranus' decree. Part of her knows - processed earlier, in fact - what Uranus is saying, and will, later, wonder if she's got a point. But in her moment, Nadeshiko can only watch with horror. She starts to move, but for all her elegance, the fire in her heart is not directed properly to be that fast; the dedication, the conviction to hurl herself in the way isn't there.

Vega makes it, instead, and Nadeshiko watches with a sort of dull horror as she goes sailing across the room. Her hand grips tight, and she rounds, Temari's intemperate fury rising up to start her in Uranus' direction when--

That radiant, world-searing light comes on. For a moment Nadeshiko fears it's decided to blow up the world again after they came so close, but...

She can feel those emotions, blasting through her heart, and she closes her eyes a little to feel them; she can see the blazing through her eyelids regardless. Her free hand comes up to her heart, and holds there for a moment.

Temari comes up beside her, and with a POP of cherry blossoms, her hair ornament returns to normal, and her spear vanishes. She looks upa t Temari, offering a warm little grin and receiving the same in turn.

"We should go make sure Li's OK," Nadeshiko says.

"Yes!" Temari chimes, and the two march off, because somebody has to go extract Li from the Thousand Swords of Hate over there. Uranus...will presumably get handled one way or another. She'll pitch in if it comes to that.

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

Uranus flinches, not from compunction, but from the sheer visceral reaction of seeing someone hit by World Shaking at full power like that, without even managing to defend herself. It's like watching Vega in civilian form wander into traffic and get hit by a truck. The sizzling, crumpled senshi thuds to the ground, and Uranus's nostrils flare, not in sympathy, but in anger.

"Fast. Stupid, but fast," she comments, standing up straight at the extreme end of a very long furrow in the ground, one that ends in Vega's limp body, now being tended to by Lux Corruere. She doesn't look at Lapsa. "Do you find some kind of vindication in this? The threat is still out there. I have no use for your kind of victory." She's panting, shoulders rising and falling, bleeding from the arm and stomach. The maiden fades--wisely perhaps, as even without having the strength to make the world shake again, Uranus might have looked for an opening. As it is, she clears an eye of sweaty bangs with her thumb, and starts to back away.

"It says something," she assents to Corruere. "It says why we can't trust you." We, even without Neptune here. She regards Runealy, hard-faced, long enough to make it clear that what she does next isn't a dismissal or an emotional gesture, but an answer.

She shakes her head.

And she begins to walk down the mountain.

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

There's that electric feeling, dancing at the edge of her memory.

Sailor Moon's first instinct is to turn and see what it is. She has an idea, but it's half-formed, and seeing has always served her better than theorizing. The rumbling plow of Uranus' dedication blasts past her, whipping her hair and sailor collar in the rush of air.

Then it's a matter of trying to do something. Pushing off from the ground to break into a sprint, even as she twists to face the path of energy orb, reaching out--these things she can do. Anything more is beyond her power.

Sailor Vega has a dedication of her own. It does not command acknowledgment in the same way, but it is equally as breathtaking. Usagi skids to a premature halt, blinded by the light. She looks, even after her eyes begin to water, trying to find the very first sign that Vega is alright. She is. That angel girl is taking care of a hurt person, not clearing a--#-1 FUNCTION (ANSI,) NOT FOUND.

There's so many people. Speaking over each other, talking to Uranus, asking about Vega. There is a fount of potential energy burning Usagi's nerves out and nothing she can think to do with it. Nothing against Uranus, anyway.

So, Sailor Moon stares in mute shock at the older girl. She wants to see her face. She wants to know if there's anything in her expression that can tell her why. Some people won't say it with words. That is a familiar weakness.

Her crescent moon wand gleams in the dimming world-light, holding the glow much longer than anything else. All the good it will do against Uranus.

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

There's that electric feeling, dancing at the edge of her memory.

Sailor Moon's first instinct is to turn and see what it is. She has an idea, but it's half-formed, and seeing has always served her better than theorizing. The rumbling plow of Uranus' dedication blasts past her, whipping her hair and sailor collar in the rush of air.

Then it's a matter of trying to do something. Pushing off from the ground to break into a sprint, even as she twists to face the path of energy orb, reaching out--these things she can do. Anything more is beyond her power.

Sailor Vega has a dedication of her own. It does not command acknowledgment in the same way, but it is equally as breathtaking. Usagi skids to a premature halt, blinded by the light. She looks, even after her eyes begin to water, trying to find the very first sign that Vega is alright. She is. That angel girl is taking care of a hurt person, not clearing a--corpse.

There's so many people. Speaking over each other, talking to Uranus, asking about Vega. There is a fount of potential energy burning Usagi's nerves out and nothing she can think to do with it. Nothing against Uranus, anyway.

So, Sailor Moon stares in mute shock at the older girl. She wants to see her face. She wants to know if there's anything in her expression that can tell her why. Some people won't say it with words. That is a familiar weakness.

Her crescent moon wand gleams in the dimming world-light, holding the glow much longer than anything else. All the good it will do against Uranus.

<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin (S)] has posed.

The sun rises over the garden of the gods.

It sparkles on all the new snow, glorious powder that shimmers nearly as brightly and prismatically as the departing maiden of dreams. It will be very easy to get back to the lodge from here -- gravity can do most of the work.

Gravity will also take them past their guardians, who fought a tremendously dangerous, outmatched battle while the mission to the dreamworld took place; they kept their promises. The line was held, if not without cost.

As people awaken around the world, it is with a beautiful dream that dances right before their eyes: the silhouettes of over two dozen maidens, arms around each others' shoulders, smiles pouring off of them like waves in the sea. It causes mothers to make a nice, surprise breakfast for their daughters. It causes politicians to consider softening their platforms, and one or two peace talks that had been in progress have an unexpectedly good day, as the ambassadors imagine such a hopeful future for their children as well.

It won't be remembered as anything special, the phenomenon forgotten, ephemeral.

But there is nothing unimportant about even a single hour of dawn where everyone looks out their windows, and sees how lovely and precious the world really is.

---

At the top of a certain skyscraper, one only seen in dreams:

"You're coming with us," says a Man In Black, his mirrored shades as unreadable as his tone. A rough black sack is dragged over the mysterious guy in a suit's head. He falls unconscious from the chloroform shortly thereafter.

Ends of the World leaves nothing to chance.

He awakens beneath the stars... stars that do not twinkle, though their shine is breathtaking.

A man looks over at him with the faintest of smiles.

"Father," he murmurs, and in no way does he mean in the paternal sense, not with that impossibly amused, impossibly superior tone in his voice, "Do you realize what you've done?"

The man scratches at the scar on his forehead; the chemicals have aggravated it considerably. So does the sweat. Beneath this glittering gaze, all he can do is grovel.

"I-- I-- I never--"

"Your CEO is /very/ unhappy with you. He's calling for your head. But if we killed everyone who ever made a power play and lost, we'd hardly have anyone left, now would we?"

He takes a sip of his wine, smacking his lips with /exactly/ the right amount of refinement so as not to be indelicate. He's a man of many pleasures, many tastes.

"Ch-Chairman..." A dark finger is held up to the Father's lips.

"Shhhhh. Let's make this right. All you have to do is..."

The constellations are bright above them.

Bright, upon the ceiling.

These stars will never be able to fall.

The End?

Scenes Set Inside the Maiden of Dreams' Heart

Pride vs. Mai Tokiha and Lux Corrurere

GM: Mamoru Chiba

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

When the brilliant light clears, the cave is no longer present. Instead, standing upon endless, rolling dunes of fine silver sand, is the maiden of light. A cool breeze ruffles her hair, tugs at her hems, though finer details are impossible to make out, as her dove gray radiance is so very blinding. The wind also stirs the sands, its surface blown into various shapes -- stars and moons, whimsical animals and creepy plants, there one second and gone the next.

The night sky is full of stars. They shine down unblinkingly, the Empyrean itself bearing witness to this meeting. Time feels ephemeral, as delicate as an iridescent butterfly's wing, as though the cosmos is holding its breath to see what happens next.

When the maiden's long-lashed lids lift, her eyes, beneath, are red.

And her voice is full of nothing less than haughty, spiky pride.

"I put all my skill and art into creating dreams for every sleeper -- no one is better than I am, no one could possibly do this with my mastery of the craft. No one can take this away from me, because no one could take my place. No one else is worthy! No matter what, I will not stop: I am needed more than anyone else!"

She raises her arms, and the wind rises as well, the silver sands rising to congeal into a thousand stabbing swords, which fly in all directions.

"You think you can stop me? You just try it!"

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

The sheer passion on everyone else's part helps Mai quell the burning pride that still lingers. Everyone working together - but a few in particular stand out. The gargantuan spear is hard to miss, for one...and Sailor Moon's tear-filled determination is another. Still, Mai does get satisfaction out of seeing the flames encompass the grey maiden - at least, until the darkness comes crawling to claim her.

Fear, despair, a thousand curses weighing her down - even if it were possible for the brilliant red to be evaded, Mai never could have. Without any hope of defense, she crumbles away...

Now, a desert stands before her and her fellow prideful warrior. Endless sand and stars, and the grey maiden ever-present. Mai steps back with doubt at her speech...but something strikes a chord in her. Flames fly from her bracelets to ward off the swords of sand - this realm is like a dream itself, and a dozen blades push through to slice at her...but she won't cry out. She can be that strong.

"...I've been my brother's caretaker for years. No one else to watch over him, to help him through his troubles...he needs me more than anyone, including you!" Mai glares back at the maiden with her own fierce pride, undeterred. "Whatever you'd do for the one who needs you..."

Flames erupt, and Mai lunges forward to swing a great bludgeoning blaze into the enemy. "I'd do just as much!"

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Pyre Lash on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba narrowly braces Mai Tokiha's Pyre Lash, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Mamoru Chiba!

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Lux Corruere does not have the opportunity to act on her own thoughts and feelings; Sailor Uranus and Lux Lapsa working together, Sailor Moon calling for the friend she hadn't even considered could really be just gone--

Or a sadness that's hard to put her finger on. Duty is duty? That can't be right. A brilliant light is what stops her, though; a brilliant light, and then--

Sand.

Blinking, she stares around, and then upward for a moment, until she can see the maiden once more. Time is somewhere; Corruere is here. So what can she do while here...?

Scarlet eyes narrow as Corruere looks now to the red-eyed maiden. She hears her words--and sees the sand congeal. Bringing up her weapon once again, she hacks, parrying some of what comes and taking the rest on her gauntlets an then o her armor; her vitals spared, she steps forward once again, hair blowing in the wid.

This place...

"If you're so good at crafting the dreams for everyone--why bother with /his/ dream? Why just crush everyone that way?"

"We all have our own dreams! And when you make something for someone--it's about making for /them/! If you don't care about the people you're trying to reach--the people who are going to use those dreams--then your art won't matter!"

She looks to Mai, charging in first while she speaks--hears of the one important to her--and to be sure, her own pride is at work here--but not only the pride given, but her pride as an artist. Her pride in what she wants to be.

"I won't let you wreck our dreams!" This time, her sword is set away, held in her right hand, as in her left the light coalesces into a burning lash of her own. She charges--right on the heels of Mai's erupting flame--as, "Magma Cor!" her sword turns spectral, sparkling red light passing towards the nightmare maiden.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has used Magma Cor on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Lux Corruere has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba narrowly dodges Lux Corruere's Magma Cor, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Mamoru Chiba's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

There's a stretched moment of silence, time distended to the breaking point, where the maiden's darkened grey personage flickers slightly, as her prideful eyes stare at Mai and Lux Corruere, and the darkness swirls slightly, lightening--

Whatever you'd do for the one who needs you...

Why bother with his dream?

And then the darkness slams down again as the girls attack, lash at her and strike at her with fire and prideful indignation, hauteur, righteous judgement. The darkness, and the air, and the sands; it's dim here now, the silvery stars burning like dull embers in the failing sky, the light like that before a morning hurricane, reflecting off the endless sand.

The girl's form, even as she crosses her arms in front of her to ward off Mai's fists and gracefully swishes to one side to avoid the lash, gets darker and darker. Évery bit of pain inflicted, every bit of purging they try to do, trying to get the evil out of her--

--it's not evil she's afflicted with, and that much is clear from her reaction to Lux Corruere's attack. The darkness is something else, and it's growing.

"They don't care about ME! YOU don't care about me! He cared enough to call for me, to bring me back! Back from the forgotten hell I was trapped in! HE is worthy of my masterwork!" she rages, flinging her arms out to her sides and bringing the sand up in a buffetting whirlwind of scorn and whipping at the girls, trying to bury them in the aeons as surely as she had been. "He needs me!"

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used The Sands of Time on Mai Tokiha.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used The Sands of Time on Lux Corruere.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Lux Corruere perfectly counters Mamoru Chiba's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Lux Corruere's Reverse ability activates! Lux Corruere's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Lux Corruere's counterattack, Calor, bursts all the way through, doing 28 Fatigue damage to Mamoru Chiba! Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Mai Tokiha fails to brace Mamoru Chiba's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Stagger, Stun, and Tangle applied to Mai Tokiha!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!

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

Mai's attack is clumsy, uncontrolled, flashy. Enough fire to seem like a threat, to get the phantom's attention - to allow her companion to follow up.

She uses fire, too. But compared to Mai's flames, Lux Corruere seems controlled and purposeful. Between the two of them, the sands a burning...

"I understand!" Mai shouts, and then murmurs to herself. "Oh, I understand." Defiance, again. "But that doesn't make it righ-" Too much talk, not enough paying attention, and the sands bowl her over. But even as that's happening...

<Pose Tracker> Lux Corruere [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

The two brought here may be in the dim, but it seems both of them know how to bring forth light. ...Though firelight is more dangerous than the softer ways of seeing things the modern world favors. For her part--

Corruere gets in the thick of things, seeing the growing darkness, and--and feeling that it isn't the same kind of shadow in there that she is meant to face. Her sword goes through, but it goes /through/; and the words she sends at them--

"I--" What can she say? Corruere does not have judgement to proclaim on her foe this time, not ready to hand. "We didn't know! ...Stop, and give us a chance, and I--" She can only barely react to the magic of time, thrown at them, a surge of bright red energy that is not this time pride, but the will and heart the fallen angel uses here.

It surges with power, more strength than she meant or knew, right back through the sandstorm towards the maiden.

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Even as that's happening, as the sands clamor and grope and twist upwards and cling to the girls, dragging them down, the maiden shrieks in frustrated grief and loss. Body now composed of swirling starless blackness, all hints of beautiful dreams are sucked into the yawning abyss of bitter, despairing pride. She and her desert of nighttime are lost, scattered in the sandstorm

which fades

and calms

and dissolves

into light. The dream dissolves, the maiden dissolves, the girls dissolve--

--and they are back in the cave, in the middle of everything again.

Passion vs. Syaoran Li and Forever Sunshine

GM: Madoka Kaname

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

When the brilliant light clears, the cave is no longer present. Instead, standing upon endless, rolling dunes of fine silver sand, is the maiden of light. A cool breeze ruffles her hair, tugs at her hems, though finer details are impossible to make out, as her dove gray radiance is so very blinding. The wind also stirs the sands, its surface blown into various shapes -- stars and moons, whimsical animals and creepy plants, there one second and gone the next.

The night sky is full of stars. They shine down unblinkingly, the Empyrean itself bearing witness to this meeting. Time feels ephemeral, as delicate as an iridescent butterfly's wing, as though the cosmos is holding its breath to see what happens next.

When the maiden's long-lashed lids lift, her eyes, beneath, are orange. And her voice is full of nothing less than thrumming passion.

"I slaved away to bring dreams to every sleeper -- it was not just my life's work, but the work of many lifetimes! And I love my work... that has never changed. No matter what, I will never stop performing my duty, whether people like it or not!"

She raises her arms, and the wind rises as well, the silver sands rising to congeal into a thousand stabbing swords, which fly in all directions.

"You think you can stop me? LEAVE ME ALONE!"

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname transforms into Nightmare Shard!

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 2 opponents!
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Sand Swords on Forever Sunshine.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Sand Swords on Syaoran Li.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine narrowly counters Madoka Kaname's Sand Swords, taking 8 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine's counterattack, Perfect Praline Posture, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Madoka Kaname!
COMBAT: Syaoran Li narrowly counters Madoka Kaname's Sand Swords, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Syaoran Li's Reverse ability activates! Syaoran Li's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Syaoran Li's counterattack, Getting Beat Up By A Little Kid, partially gets through, doing 4 Fatigue damage to Madoka Kaname! Syaoran Li is Taunted!

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Everyone's all messed up, Forever Sunshine thinks. She also thinks: oh my lord please don't hit me I'm right here, and did that crazy person just fire a gun?

A sword comes for her. Forever Sunshine throws her palm to the side; there is an electrical burst of citrus sweetness in the air as she catches the edge briefly on her palm, throwing it aside as she staggers back. Heedless of this, she cries out, "Well I'm SORRY about that - but you're hurting people! I -"

She staggers back. The blade is where she keeps her eyes, not wanting to get cut. Then a orange light smashes outwards, touching her - and she smashes asunder.

Her eyes open and she's somewhere else entirely. "Wah!" she says. "Cherry!! Amber, Sailor Moon, anyone--??" Her heart's still pounding as she shades her eyes, looking up at that starry sky. The world is stranger now, it's dark - an illusion? she thinks, but then that maiden speaks up, glowing a radiant orange.

"I... Wh, why does your duty mean you have to hurt people!? Everything's all messed up! That blonde girl kept talking about death, Sailor Mercury was out, none of this makes any sense! I just know you were - were hurting my friend, Japanese Cherry Blossom, even if you didn't mean to. And now you're -"

"Doing that," she says, her voice losing a bit of its passion as she falls back a pace, throwing her hands up again. "Hoaaahhh--" Without sugar, of course, the effect is limited, but another of those crackles of fragrant lightning at least buffers the impact of the strikes. After this, Forever Sunshine sways, panting.

"You want me to - to just LEAVE YOU ALONE...?"

Forever Sunshine rolls her head, her neck popping lightly. Shifting, and staying in a readied stance, she says: "... Okay."

"But where'd my friends go??"

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used Forever Perfect Poise on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname narrowly dodges Forever Sunshine's Forever Perfect Poise, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Madoka Kaname is Taunted!

<Pose Tracker> Syaoran Li [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

The young magus lifts his sword to parry the beam of orange light, but it sheets around his guard, smashing into his chest, enveloping him. For a brief, furious instant he is swallowed by emotion, by the passion the creature is feeling...and then he is dumped within the starscape. Syaoran grounds his sword and leans against it, trying to catch his breath. Alone, then---no, he corrects himself as another magical girl tumbles in with him. Not alone. But near enough. The sword comes up in a wary guard, and Syaoran waits for the maiden to make her move.

When she does, he is expecting air and fire, not silver sands, and the first blade knocks the sword out of his hand. The boy staggers backward, a dozen more sand swords driving in toward him. And he has nothing but his hands.

>:)

A wordless shout escapes the young man's mouth as he surges forward, left hand thrusting outward, palm striking and shattering the first of the blades. Syaoran takes another step, spinning around a second blade, then brings an elbow into the third. The boy weaves his way forward, evading a pair of swords with each step, closing on the nightmare.

"I...I know..." he rasps, his voice throbbing with the same feeling the maiden is pulsing outward. "These...children may view duty as a burden placed upon them. But those with wisdom know different!" Syaoran snaps, dashing another sword, taking another step. "To know your purpose, what you were /born/ for. It is not a curse. It is a blessing!" The young man cries, taking one last step in toward the maiden, his left foot pressing down.

Sand explodes out in a shower behind him.

"And my duty...IS TO STOP YOU HERE!" he screams, leaping into the uppercut.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has used I Know Kung Fu on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname narrowly braces Syaoran Li's I Know Kung Fu, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Syaoran Li is Psyched!
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname transforms into Nightmare Shard!

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine leaves her alone.

The passionate part of the maiden's endless nightmare tilts her head to one side, her sleek, aristocratic chin slicing through the air nearly as sharply as her sword. She begins to shine more brightly, gray gradually transforming a few hues whiter.

"It didn't always..." Sadness flickers through her eyes, heavily lidded by long, dreamy (of course!) lashes. "I was so excited to be free -- to be called upon again! I thought maybe things had changed."

Her hair ruffles behind her as she headshakes. "Nothing has."

And then Syaoran socks her right on the chin, and for the most part she just grits her teeth-made-of-light and just takes it, right in the kisser. While it doesn't hurt her much, the blackness that spreads across her face from the strike is marked, and she whirls on him, passionate fury in her eyes.

"Scion of Clow," she barks, "It was the tantrums of your ancestor that wrought much of the suffering that I watched from my distant prison. If you inherited any duty from him, it is to fight wiser than he did."

And then she raises her arms, clenches her fists, and causes the swirling sands to congeal into seven petal-like, razor-sharp shards. They go flying towards him, trying to rend, to tear. Then she whirls back on Forever Sunshine.

"Pretty words to get me to let down my guard{,} I see. A coward's trick!" She gets seven more shards for good measure.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Shattered Heart on Syaoran Li.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Shattered Heart on Forever Sunshine.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Forever Sunshine fails to brace Madoka Kaname's Shattered Heart, taking 45 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Syaoran Li fails to brace Madoka Kaname's Shattered Heart, taking 34 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Forever Sunshine [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Forever Sunshine, who is going on 14, gives Li a slightly cool look from her ready stance.

Then, she frowns slightly. Nothing has changed? How long has this girl been sealed away, she wonders. She can't smell perfume in the air, so she must not be from the Fragrance Kingdom, but...

She has no idea how Clow is, but for a fleeting moment, she thinks: I'm not with that guy, don't let me in this problem. Of course then the sands whip up and snap at her. She casts out one hand, but the magic doesn't flow as readily as it did before; confusion, her long (and boring) vigil, and more prevent her from focusing as clearly as she might. Wire-thin ribbons of blood form on her arm, along her sides, snapping through one of her hair-horn style points; as blonde hair spills out, she staggers back a pace, grimacing and straining not to scream.

As the pain dulls, subtly, she tries to move forwards. Instead it just hurts again. Her shoulders slump as her head tilts forwards, wobbling and managing only thinly to keep her stance on the sand.

Her eyes water in frustration.

"I didn't wanna fight you. I don't even know who you are. Some part of these golden shards, they hurt my friend, Cherry Blossom. She's scared, or hurt, or something-- and I can't do anything to help her right here." Swallowing, she says, "And... you're really strong. If you're in the other world, still fighting them, I'm afraid you're gonna hurt them. The way Sailor Mercury was hurt."

Forever Sunshine forces herself to breathe in. "The only thing I have to be mad at you about, for myself, is calling me a coward..." She raises her gaze upwards, one hand rising, fingers half-curled. "Because... I've been doing my best to fight for everyone, even though I hardly remember anything. So I'm going to show you that you're wrong, the only way I can."

She glances to Li for a moment, and jerks her head a little. Her intent is to signal 'run,' though she realizes with a deflating feeling, run to where, exactly?

Then, Forever Sunshine sinks backwards - squats - settles back with her legs folded in front of her. Her hands come down with a faint slap on her knees. Her eyes half close.

She's still breathing heavily, despite this. "If you think nothing's changed... then you're the one who's got to change it."

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has used >>PEACE. on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Forever Sunshine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname fails to brace Forever Sunshine's >>PEACE., taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madoka Kaname is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Syaoran Li [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Syaoran's hand throbs where he strikes the maiden; even through his magical barrier, she is tougher than she has any right to be. And he is just a ten-year-old boy. He lifts his hands defensively as the nightmare castigates him for his effrontery, trying to catch his breath, waiting for an opportunity to go for his sword. The maiden does not give him one. Shards of bladed sand rip into the mage's defences, driving him down to one knee. Syaoran tries to rise, shivers, and then has to plant a hand on the sands to remain upright. A crimson teardrop falls from where he's bit his lip, tumbling onto the sand, exploding into ruby droplets. Blood, his mind reports. His blood. The blood of Clow Reed.

Scion of Clow

"...nothing."

if you inherited anything from him

"Nothing," he repeats, his fingers digging furrows into the sand as his hand slowly clenches into a fist. "I share...his family. His blood. I was born in his ancestral home. I read the books he read, the ones he wrote, every scrap of everything I could find about him. I want to /be/ him," the young boy says, his body shaking.

Hello, Li-kun!

"And yet she became to the heir to his greatest creation," Syaoran says.

It's nice to meet you!

"But to me..."

I promised Kero-chan I'd do my very best!

Syaoran rises, sand and blood coursing through his fingers. "He...gave...me..../NOTHING!/" the boy roars, furious passion blazing in his eyes, a storm of wind, lightning, and fire blazing out from his body as his magic runs wild. Absent the onmyou he uses to control his gifts, the mana is unconstrained, uncontrolled, blazing out from the Li scion in an elemental storm. He walks toward the maiden, and fire licks at his footsteps."A thousand YEARS my family has stood, a bulwark against the darkness, guardians of a world that didn't even know we existed. And I was FINE with that!" he screams, an errant lightning strike blasting into the sand in the distance, fusing grains into a spire of glass. "So long as I could do my duty, I would give up my childhood! I would give up my future! I would do /EVERYTHING/ I was told, so long as it had meaning! And even THAT has been stolen from me!" he screams, his blood afire, righteous indignation blazing from his every pore.

And then...he stops.

"I know," Syaoran whispers, and when he looks up, tears are slipping from his eyes. "I /know/ what you're feeling. It's in me," he says, voice breaking, his hand clutching feebly at his chest. "It's been in me all my life. And...and I've never let it go." Syaoran draws in a shuddering breath, looking up in the maiden's eyes, his gaze wavering. Confused. "I have to let it go," he whispers. "And you have to take it back."

Sands rise beneath the young boy's feet, raising him until he is level with the maiden's face.

"You're hurt. I know. And I'm sorry," he says, and then tries to draw her lips to his.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has used You Are Not Alone on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Syaoran Li has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname accepts Syaoran Li's You Are Not Alone, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

The grey maiden keeps her arms up in a defensive stance, ready for the sudden and inevitable betrayal, even as Forever Sunshine and Syaoran Li pour their hearts out.

It never comes.

She stares. The light within her turns brighter and brighter, until there's not any gray at all, only blinding, blinding white.

"...you're right... it has to come from me."

Perhaps she can make a start with Syaoran.

"I was given my duty by the stars themselves, by the heart of the Universe. I served for longer than your family's bloodline has run through their veins, bringing good dreams to everyone. I never took a single night to myself, and when I finally did, out of need rather than desire..."

Rather than resentful, rather than angry, she seems infinitely sad. "They turned on me. Every last one. They took everything from me, and left me with nothing but pain. But... if you can be more than what you are... perhaps I can, as well."

Angling her face so that Syaoran instead gets her cheek, she gives him a peck on his, as well. Ruffling his hair.

Then everything dissolves back into radiance, and when it clears, they're back in the cave.

Fear vs. Dark Amber and Sailor Moon

GM: Mamoru Chiba

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

When the brilliant light clears, the cave is no longer present. Instead, standing upon endless, rolling dunes of fine silver sand, is the maiden of light. A cool breeze ruffles her hair, tugs at her hems, though finer details are impossible to make out, as her dove gray radiance is so very blinding. The wind also stirs the sands, its surface blown into various shapes -- stars and moons, whimsical animals and creepy plants, there one second and gone the next.

The night sky is full of stars. They shine down unblinkingly, the Empyrean itself bearing witness to this meeting. Time feels ephemeral, as delicate as an iridescent butterfly's wing, as though the cosmos is holding its breath to see what happens next.

When the maiden's long-lashed lids lift, her eyes, beneath, are burning yellow.

And her voice is full of nothing but creeping terror, pure fear.

"I worked so hard and earned such contempt and cruelty! I brought dreams to everyone, beautiful dreams. And when I failed, all their accusing eyes were on me! The fate I was given for my missteps, for my actions after my failure, is more than anyone could bear! If I don't fail now, she can never punish me again. I won't fail! I will take back what is mine, my lifetimes of work, and she won't be able to hurt me again."

She raises her arms, and the wind rises as well, the silver sands rising to congeal into a thousand stabbing swords, which fly in all directions.

"You think you can stop me? SO DID SHE."

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Sand Swords on Dark Amber.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Sand Swords on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Dark Amber fails to dodge Mamoru Chiba's Sand Swords, taking 28 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly counters Mamoru Chiba's Sand Swords, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon's counterattack, Ami Mizuno's Prepared Defense, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Mamoru Chiba!

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

Is this what it's like to die?

Everything is so slow. There's no way to outrun what is coming. Sailor Moon tries. She tries very desperately.

When the light clears, she staggers heavily before catching herself. The silver dunes were not what she expected to step on. The soldier of love and justice, spins around, crescent moon wand raised and Mercury's visor gleaming.

The fear in the light maiden's voice is not comforting. There's no solidarity, no grim joy that she is not alone. They're both terrified. What's more frightening than that?

There's no time to speak before the preemptive reprisal comes. Usagi steps backward and wobbles in the looseness underfoot, waving her wand wildly. A spray of silvery bubbles curve before her in a protective curtain, colliding with the swords and being decimated themselves in the effort.

"I don't know who she is," Sailor Moon cries, spreading her stance to find solid purchase. Her wand is still before her, ready. "I don't know who you are! Please, just give me my friend back! I--" I can't live without her, I'll take her place, I'll give you anything you want, I'll die if that will let her live.

The visor catches the yellow of the light, but the tint remains Ami's blue. Ami, who trusted Sailor Moon. She brandishes her crescent moon wand, sending more bubbles to soak the sandy onslaught.

"Stop, please! Just stop fighting like this, and we'll find a way to make everything alright!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Ami Mizuno's Direct Answer on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba accepts Sailor Moon's Ami Mizuno's Direct Answer, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

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

Dark Amber arrives at the same time the sailor-suited pretty solider does at the same time. He hrks and convulses a bit, because that felt terrible for all the strength he has.... he glances at Sailor Moon and frowns a little as he closes his eyes. He can't say anything to her that'd make this better- her friend may be dead? He doesn't think so---but things are still bad right now.

Like swords appearing from the sand-dunes. He moves to try to evade, but he's caught by two that erupt from both sides. He can't be in three places at once. He gets cut, and bad.

He snaps back. "You were imprisonsed for a long time. This may, or may not had been right..." he says through gritted teeth. "But we are not her, we wanted to stop a man who wanted to control the world, to control everything, but end up controlling nothing in return." he said. "You talk about duty...." he snaps, as he attempts to move in close for a series of fast, strikes, before trying to end with a hard flourish. "What will you do now that you're free!?" he asks.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Amber Assault on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba fails to brace Dark Amber's Amber Assault, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Just stop fighting like this, and we'll find a way to make everything alright!

Time slows to a halt, gracefully and cleanly, and the silvery sands of the endless desert remain still. The maiden of light stares at Sailor Moon, at the mirrored fear in her eyes, blue to yellow. Her mouth opens slightly, no sound coming out, and the yellow light of her eyes shimmers.

Her friend. She wants her friend back. Sailor Moon is promising a way to fix everything, a way to make it stop, if only she, the queen of nightmares, stops fighting. It's a beautiful promise.

The grey light of her dreamy essence begins to brighten, and the maiden brings her hands up to her chest, trembling--

--and then Dark Amber moves in like a hurricane of ferocity, snapping and cutting, attacking, yelling at her.

Abruptly the brightening stops cold, plunging the willowy form of the girl and the sands surrounding them all into clawing darkness. The light of the stars seems so very dim and far away, unreachable and unable to touch anything or anyone.

The maiden's eyes shut and she flinches away, curling in on herself and crying out in terror. Her eyes flicker open, darkness threatening to swallow even the glowing fear in them, and she raises her arms in a quicksilver motion, fluid and impossibly fast, pulling the breeze into a whirling maelstrom of sandy wind, bringing the nightmare of those who live in the desert: a merciless sandstorm.

It's violent, but it's not meant to cut: it only stings. What it does is cling to them, begin to bury them, keep them away from her, slow them and keep them from hurting her. Bury them. Like all of the people caught in the dream.

"NO! NO NO NO! Stay away from me! You're just like her! You're just like all of them, resenting me and hating me and accusing me, pointing and damning! Hope? You'd promise me hope, and sanctuary? You'd promise me my life? Freedom? But it's a lie! Stay away! STAY AWAY!

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used The Sands of Time on Dark Amber.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used The Sands of Time on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly dodges Mamoru Chiba's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Dark Amber narrowly dodges Mamoru Chiba's The Sands of Time, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber's Fade ability activates! Dark Amber's Flash ability activates! Blind, Stagger, Stun, Tangle, and Trap applied to Dark Amber!

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

Dark Amber closes his eyes a moment as he feels himself start to sink...where's Warm Vanilla Sugar when you need her?... This... This woman needs a /hug/. A major, warm sugar hug.

Regardless, he begins to speed up, and begins to work his way back throguh the sand, attempting to push through. This works so much as he can keep above the sand---but it's constantly pulling himself back down. He grunts.

"We do not know you. We have no connection to you. We do not know your past..." he snaps. "But I know... /I KNOW/ that there's people out there, who will forigve you, that will let your past be that." he snaps. But he pauses as he fans out a series of blades.

"You're scared. You should not be. You should give those people a chance to help you, if you want to be free....." he says as he tosses the amber knives in the direction of the maiden.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has used Bladestorm on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Dark Amber has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba fails to brace Dark Amber's Bladestorm, taking 8 Fatigue damage!

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

Sailor Moon stands in frozen lock with the cringing woman, waiting and hoping for some sort of response. The hope is fragile, swelling and sinking as she develops more and more explanations for the maiden's reactions. The waiting is easy.

It gives her time to think. It lets her feet the breeze on her back, suddenly sharp and gritty. It's not specifically threatening, but any sort of change is enough to send Usagi's mind spinning into doomsday scenarios right now. She immediately breaks for cover, diving behind an errant bank of silvery bubbles left from her earlier barrage. They pop in the ensuing storm, but it's enough to spare Usagi from the worst.

Sprawled in the sand, Sailor Moon is only able to get to her feet before she has to pause and watch for more danger. Nothing. Yet. She clenches her wand tightly.

"We're afraid," she murmurs. And then, louder: "I'm afraid! I'm afraid of you! I don't know why you're doing this!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used We're Afraid on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba narrowly braces Sailor Moon's We're Afraid, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Mamoru Chiba is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Again, the girl's stayed by words-- Dark Amber's are harshly put, and she cringes back again, hugging her chest. The words themselves, though, they're true-- they have to be true! They have to be--

a swirl of brilliance

cracks

the growing blackness

that makes the whole of her

She listens, brilliant eyes fixed on the angry young man, rapt and wanting, so badly, to believe.

And Sailor Moon's still determined to reach out to her, despite the dream maiden's actions, despite the pain she's putting them through, the things she's doing to all of the people of the world. Still wants to understand. Wants to let her, this terrified piece of a girl who hasn't been whole in a long time, know that she's understood.

That she's not alone against everything.

That she's become a monster like the Silver Lady. That's what monsters do, isn't it? What nightmares do. They scare people. They frighten them out of their senses, out of their--

Fearful yellow eyes lock on those of Sailor Moon, brimming with tears. If Usagi could see the girl's face in that mottled mix of despairing black and brilliant hopeful white, she'd recognise the expression from the mirror, if not the features.

The white light begins to grow, raggedly starting to turn the black into lightening grey, and the sands die down, and she makes a tiny little choked sound. "Because I don't want to be locked up again, split and-- and shattered. That's what will happen. If I stop. I don't-- I don't want to be alone like that ever again. And you're all fighting me and I'll lose again and it'll happen all over again and I'll never be-- never be--"

And then Dark Amber's knives glitter in the light from her hope, and her eyes widen and she lets out a little shriek, flinching back and pulling her hands over her head. They graze her, and where they do, black begins to leak back into the brightness, like india ink in a glass of water. And then she sobs and flings her arm out wide. "STOP IT!"

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Deep Dreaming on Dark Amber.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used STOPPIT! on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly braces Mamoru Chiba's STOPPIT!, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Dark Amber narrowly counters Mamoru Chiba's Deep Dreaming, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Dark Amber's Reverse ability activates!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Dark Amber's counterattack, Amber Striker, partially gets through, doing 20 Fatigue damage to Mamoru Chiba! Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!

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

The maiden locks gazes with Sailor Moon. In Mercury's tinted visor, the pretty soldier's face is obscured by the reflection yellow eyes.

Still perched on the side of her sand dune, Sailor Moon raises her arms against the almost physical yell. She looks helplessly to Dark Amber, who has always seemed to fight with efficiency along with the Perfume Warriors.

There's no heart in her to hurt this person. Somewhere, Uranus is scowling. Somewhere else, Ami is trusting her to be the person she became friends with.

"I don't want to be alone either," Sailor Moon replies, her voice wavering. "I've lost her for just a few minutes, but I already--I--" she hides her eyes behind her forearm, but it's easy to tell that it's tears she hopes to obscure. "I'd sacrifice anything to get her back!"

Sacrifice anything. Not do anything. Not do things to other people. It's a subtle distinction, and one Usagi does not realize she has made.

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

The girl's head whips up at Sailor Moon's words, and bright white light begins to flood her, to suffuse her being and wash away the despair.

One person understands--

She begins to reach out, unfolding one slender arm and uncurling her fingers--

--and her wail of fear is flung back in her face, knocking her back, physically buffetting light. It does what dreams do: she dissolves, screaming in grief and terror, and so does the sand, and so

does

the world.

Is this what dying's like?

No-- they're back in the cave, where the battle rages on.

Indecisiveness vs. Homura Akemi and Japanese Cherry Blossom

GM: Madoka Kaname

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

When the brilliant light clears, the cave is no longer present. Instead, standing upon endless, rolling dunes of fine silver sand, is the maiden of light. A cool breeze ruffles her hair, tugs at her hems, though finer details are impossible to make out, as her dove gray radiance is so very blinding. The wind also stirs the sands, its surface blown into various shapes -- stars and moons, whimsical animals and creepy plants, there one second and gone the next.

The night sky is full of stars. They shine down unblinkingly, the Empyrean itself bearing witness to this meeting. Time feels ephemeral, as delicate as an iridescent butterfly's wing, as though the cosmos is holding its breath to see what happens next.

When the maiden's long-lashed lids lift, her eyes, beneath, are turquoise.

And her voice is full of indecision.

"It was so beautiful. Everything I created for you was so full of loveliness-- but I was so tired. It was one mistake, and I-- I reacted. But she was wrong to punish me so! After all I had done for her, for you, for all of you-- to be stung so cruelly! I can't forgive her! I can't forgive you!"

She raises her arms, and the wind rises as well, the silver sands rising to congeal into a thousand stabbing swords, which fly in all directions.

"You think you can stop me? Maybe I deserve it."

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 2 opponents!

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Sand Swords on Japanese Cherry Blossom.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Sand Swords on Homura Akemi.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly counters Madoka Kaname's Sand Swords, taking 16 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom's counterattack, Cherry Tree Magic, partially gets through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Madoka Kaname!
COMBAT: Homura Akemi perfectly counters Madoka Kaname's Sand Swords, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Homura Akemi's counterattack, Suspend Time, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Madoka Kaname!

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Japanese Cherry Blossom takes a long shuddering breath, listening to Forever Sunshine's words, which are... useful? She thinks? Right, so the lady is confused, just like she is. And she has a lot of emotions... okay. And they're all piling up, so, maybe if they all reach her... reach out to her... Cherry Blossom feels energized by the speech but isn't entirely sure why. When she looks up again, she is somewhere else... which makes her even more confused.

She looks at the maiden and her very blue eyes, considering her words. They cut to her, as she listens, quietly pondering their meaning. She presses her hands together suddenly, and without even a word... a tree bursts up from the ground in front of her. Some, if not all, of the swords embed in it, though a few of them slash past in the rush of sand. Cherry Blossom staggers backward, the tree that aided her wilting again under the barrage.

"Maybe you could... let us try to help you instead?"

Cherry Blossom takes a breath. "If I knew what I could do. If we had the whole story. But if you're just... a confused bundle of emotions, you can't just lash out at everyone like this. You can make it work if you pull everything together, but if you're just going to react without thinking..."

"This is... a pretty beautiful place, okay? And dreams are important too, even the strange ones. We can make up and carry them into the world with us, and make it a better place."

"I don't know. Maybe I don't understand what you're going through! But help us to understand, or you won't get anywhere!"

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used For Sweet Memories on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Someone implores her to reach out to the gray maiden...

... not really an area of Homura's expertise. And as her attempts to manipulate time are met with reprisal, and then she is drawn into a vicious sword dance, more and more her indecisiveness begins to give way to a feeling she must destroy this creature once and for all. Consequences be damned...

And then she vanishes, turning into motes of light!

Instead she stands upon a sea of brilliant silver sand. A cool breeze sweeps around Homura, blowing her long dark hair around her body as the sand rolls around her under the starlit sky. She then turns to the turqoise eyed maiden as she begins to speak. Her voice hesitant. Her way unclear. The timbre of her tone resonating with the alien emotions within Homura's on heart.

And then there are swords. Thousands of swords, endless in number! They seek out her flesh but find the Violet Puella Magi a wily target. Her ability to manipulate the flow of time allows her to dance between the seeking edges, seeking the calms amidst the storm.

She hears Japanese Cherry Blossom speak to the being trying to get through to her. For a moment she considers just attacking it directly while it is distracted. Destroying it.

'You are a killer.'

She hesitates and instead of bullets come words: "I understand how you feel." The violet Puella Magi says calmly, "To make a mistake, and see everything you worked hard to do fall apart in front of you. And after seeing that, questioning every move you make from then on. I also understand how hard it is forgive..."

"But if you want vengeance, we can't give you that. You need learn how to accept these feelings and leave behind the past, or else the only thing we can do to help you is put you down."

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Letting Go on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname narrowly dodges Japanese Cherry Blossom's For Sweet Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madoka Kaname is Quipped!
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname fails to brace Homura Akemi's Letting Go, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madoka Kaname is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

The gray maiden is a far lighter, pearly gray, after the words of Japanese Cherry Blossom and Homura. She looks between them, thoughtful, confused... indecisive.

Well, it is her nature.

"...don't tell me that I'm reacting without thought...all I've been doing has been trying to help you understand...it isn't vengeance that I'm looking for..."

Her eyes narrow to slits at the last of Homura's words. "I will /not/ allow you to harm me."

The sand kicks up between her and the two magical girls, a howling, cutting storm.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Shattered Heart on Homura Akemi.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Silvery Sleep on Japanese Cherry Blossom.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi perfectly counters Madoka Kaname's Shattered Heart, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Homura Akemi's counterattack, Suspend Time, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Madoka Kaname!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom fails to brace Madoka Kaname's Silvery Sleep, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Diversion applied to Japanese Cherry Blossom!

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

Cherry Blossom lets out a scream, raising her arms to block the attack that's rushing toward her...

It's not very effective, really, not this time, and she staggers and chokes, falling over a little as the storm almost blows her off of her feet.

The only thing she feels she can do now is fight back, though it's difficult... she puts her hands out, and tries to create a counteracting wind. "... But... you're... giving us no choice! We have to fight back to defend ourselves and our frriends! If only you'd listen, you could see, we don't mean you harm exactly... we want you to understand and be free!"

"But if this is all you know how to do, lash out..."

The wind in front of her turns pink, beginning to glow in streaming tendrils as she tries to fight back using her power. The light forms cherry blossom petals, which spiral and spin into existance, entire blossoms following up behind them...

"Cherry Blossom -- Breeze--"

She shouts, almost breathlessly, parting her hands and fighting back against the tide of sand with her own storm of sweet flowers!

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has used Cherry Blossom Breeze on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname narrowly dodges Japanese Cherry Blossom's Cherry Blossom Breeze, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Madoka Kaname!

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

A howling storm kicks up! Grains of silvery sand whipped up into a frenzy, producing blades that can cut as hard as steel. It's clear that her words, her threat, have angered the maiden. Though it's still not clear what she wants. She says she does not wish for vengeance...

But what is it that she does want?

A sand storm is not a simple thing to dodge, even for someone with skills as those possessed by Homura Akemi. Still she manages to somehow navigate a twisting path through the blades of silver sand and find herself appearing closer to the maiden. Close enough that the two could almost touch. Homura's eyes are closed as she allows Japanese Cherry Blossom to speak.

Homura sighs "We want to understand you as well." Homura states calmly. "But this is not the way to make us understand." With that she raises the pistol and aims it directly at the maiden's chest.

And after a moment more of hesitation, fires.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Mercy Kill on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname fails to dodge Homura Akemi's Mercy Kill, taking 9 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

"You always have a choice." It's impossible to see the maiden, who is now pitch black, casting an eerie, darkest turquoise aura through the silver sands, refracted in all directions. "For example, you've chosen to put me down like your pet dog. I don't know if helping the man who begged me for aid was the right thing to do... but I'm not just going to lay down and die."

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

"You always have a choice." It's impossible to see the maiden, who is now pitch black, casting an eerie, darkest turquoise aura through the silver sands, refracted in all directions. "For example, you've chosen to put me down like your pet dog. I don't know if helping the man who begged me for aid was the right thing to do... but I'm not just going to lay down and die."

The sands suddenly suck downwards, trying to squeeze and crush the two magical girls within their depths.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Deep Dreaming on Japanese Cherry Blossom.

COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has used Deep Dreaming on Homura Akemi.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi narrowly dodges Madoka Kaname's Deep Dreaming, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Japanese Cherry Blossom narrowly braces Madoka Kaname's Deep Dreaming, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Japanese Cherry Blossom's Block ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Japanese Cherry Blossom [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.

"Neither are we!" shouts Japanese Cherry Blossom, before the winds take hold of her, pushing her, squeezing her...

She looks over for Homura. That girl is really brave. She doesn't really know her, but...

Cherry Blossom stands her ground, trying to keep inspired in spite of everything. She doesn't know what man the girl is talking about, but she does think that maybe... she has a point. "Look, no one is asking you to. But if you... want us to help you decide, we can be there for you...."

And then she stands, and doesn't move again, doesn't try to fight back, not yet...

"I guess it's your choice now."

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

The sand quickens ... or more accurately becomes quicksand. Pulling downward and dragging the two magical girls deeper into its depths, trying to crush both of them. The violet Puella Magi cannot avoid this attack entirely it seems and has to drop her weapon in order to try and avoid getting pulled under. The entity seems understandably angry about being 'put down like a pet dog'.

'You always have a choice.'

Homura finally pulls herself up from the sucking sand, her Puella Magi uniform now showing increasing wear from the ongoing battle. She stands beside Cherry Blossom. "I understand you don't want to die, because I don't want to die either. And I know you don't want to be imprisoned, because I wouldn't want that either. But you haven't shown us yet that you can exist without endangering us or our those we care about."

"You have a choice too, now."

Homura makes no aggressive move this time either. Instead she stands beside Cherry Blossom for this one, last chance to get through with words...

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Missed Understanding on Madoka Kaname.

COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Madoka Kaname narrowly braces Homura Akemi's Missed Understanding, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

"Then go," the maiden says, as the storm calms, her mind made up at last. The last of the black wisps shatter, rays of blinding white light pouring out of her form in all directions. "Go in peace."

When the light fades, they're back in the cave.

Ruthlessness vs. Sailor Uranus, Fuu Hououji, and Lux Lapsa

GM: Mytho

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

When the brilliant light clears, the cave is no longer present. Instead, standing upon endless, rolling dunes of fine silver sand, is the maiden of light. A cool breeze ruffles her hair, tugs at her hems, though finer details are impossible to make out, as her dove gray radiance is so very blinding. The wind also stirs the sands, its surface blown into various shapes -- stars and moons, whimsical animals and creepy plants, there one second and gone the next.

The night sky is full of stars. They shine down unblinkingly, the Empyrean itself bearing witness to this meeting. Time feels ephemeral, as delicate as an iridescent butterfly's wing, as though the cosmos is holding its breath to see what happens next.

When the maiden's long-lashed lids lift, her eyes, beneath, are blue.

And her voice is full of nothing short of the coldest, iciest ruthlessness.

"For lifetimes of work, I have created your dreams. For more time than you can imagine, I made beauty for all. That is done now; one failure and it was all taken from me, everything was. No one is perfect, and I will stop at nothing to show every last one of you how true that is. It is a lesson I am all too pleased to teach, no matter the cost!"

She raises her arms, and the wind rises as well, the silver sands rising to congeal into a thousand stabbing swords, which fly in all directions.

"You think you can stop me? NOTHING CAN."

COMBAT: Mytho transforms into Nightmare Shard!

COMBAT: Mytho has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 3 opponents!
COMBAT: Mytho has used Silvery Swords on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Mytho has used Silvery Swords on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: Mytho has used Silvery Swords on Sailor Uranus.
COMBAT: Mytho has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Mytho's Silvery Swords, taking 2 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus narrowly braces Mytho's Silvery Swords, taking 3 Fatigue damage!

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

"HIKARU-SAN!!"

The Wind Knight's voice rings out ... and the Fire Knight is nowhere to be seen, nor most of the combatants. Instead, the maiden - or the piece of her, at least, and between her tone and her words, the shard of 'ruthlessness' stirs up the same emotion that laced itself into Fuu's heart earlier, which her will is still trying to push back out, to restore her mind to wholeness.

And then the swords come flying at Fuu and those who were brought here with her; she brings her own sword up, surrounded by wind magic to aid her in batting as many of those flying sand-blades away as she can.

"No, nobody is perfect - but is that ever a reason to stop trying? To give up?" she retorts to the fragment of the maiden. "Dreams are a source of much emotion, for good and for ill ... one might even call them a source of power."

Her face twists into something between a sneer and a scowl. "There was certainly one man who deemed them exactly that - the one who 'resurrected' you, but he did so only for the sake of *his* ambitions, with no caring for beauty. Still - you want to claim nothing can stop you?"

She glances briefly at those others who came here: an angel and a Sailor. Then she looks back at the Maiden.

"IMASHIME NO KAZE!!"

The Winds of Admonishment lash out once more, trying to bind the Nightmare Maiden in place for the other two to assault her with full force.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Imashime no Kaze on Mytho.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mytho fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Imashime no Kaze, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched!
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa fails to counter Mytho's Silvery Swords, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa's counterattack, Maelstrom, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Mytho!

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

This battle has been long. Uranus is beginning to tire, her breath taking longer to calm after bursts of activity, her brow damp and her hands trembling. Dodging the maiden's deadly swordplay takes a lot from her, and even so she adds a slice to the one Uranus already suffered (to her stomach), this one on her upper arm, requiring a hand to stem it.

When the sand clears enough for her to see, much more of it has appeared, stretching out as far as the eye can see. The maiden's eyes match Uranus's, a fact she can sense, somehow, when she links them with her gaze. Lifting her arms, she parries the swords as they come, striking their flats, faring much better against these than she did against the one the maiden was holding.

"Yes," Uranus agrees. "Everything you have can be taken from you that quickly. That is the truth of service." Slapping aside a last attack, she exhales slowly, and draws a palm slowly across the frontal arc of her body, her feet in an L shape beneath her. "We are both servants, but you have lost your way. You're a threat to everything you once stood for. What beauty is there in what you've done? Giving everyone the same dream made by one ugly man. Enslaving this world... and others, perhaps? Regardless." She swipes her hand down to her side diagonally, planting the other on her hip, and tosses her head, striking a pose. "If I ever go down your path, I hope... I /pray/, that someone will be there to kill me. Bare your throat to me, Wish-granter. I promise not to seal you, but to end you forever."

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Acts with Elegance on Sailor Uranus.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus accepts Sailor Uranus's Acts with Elegance, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Surge applied to Sailor Uranus!

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

'Fight well,' Uranus says, and that slight smile comes after all. "You too," Lux Lapsa replies, before surging into flight.

Sorry, but I'm not good at hanging back. ...Apparently, worse than usual,' Corruere calls at her as she passes by, and Lux Lapsa even laughs a little.

And the grey-black maiden points out that she hasn't been doing anything more than defending herself, and as Lapsa wings up after her unsuccessful attack, it occurs to her that this is true, that she hasn't been especially aggressive since those opening attacks. Corruere and the others turned out to be all right after all; is there merit in what she says?

But suddenly the grey maiden appears behind her, remarking on her dreams. Lux Lapsa whips around to no avail, the motion alone difficult thanks to her being in midair. She braces herself against the attack, managing to mitigate some of the damage as sand kicks up around her. Nearby, the Knight of Wind screams as her friend is cut down without mercy, but the next instant, they are both reduced to light and drawn into her heart.

Once there, she sees the silver sands, the pale breeze, the heavens above, the disturbing patterns below. Still the light around the maiden is too bright for Lapsa to be able to identify her, and the light from the Empyrean is barely any dimmer. It stirs an emotion to compete with the one that the fallen angel has allowed into her heart, one that lasts even when the maiden reveals blue, blue eyes, even when she speaks with all of the ruthlessness she and Uranus and the others had employed against her. Lux Lapsa listens. The silver sands rise up into blades, and she attempts to call up ice to slash back, though it's to no avail; she is cut along her booted legs, shallow but long. Even then, though, that sentiment is not slain.

Fuu sneers at the silver maiden, speaking of the power of dreams and how easy they are to abuse and how one mustn't give up on them, calling up the Winds of Admonishment to hold her in place for the rest of them to get a clear shot in. Uranus speaks of herself as a servant and hopes that there would be someone to kill her if she lost her way like the maiden has, then poses, expressing defiance in both verbal and body language. Lux Lapsa listens to and watches them both as well, eyes glittering briefly, before she turns back to the maiden.

"Dreams... Yes. I was you once, I think," she observes quietly, a shade of empathy entering her voice. This battle is taking its toll on her as well, as seen by her torn garments, battered wings, and heavy breath, but that emotion still joins hands with ruthlessness, and she shakes her head once. "But even so, I cannot stop any more than you can. And whether I can or cannot stop you is irrelevant.

"I *must*--*we* must--therefore we *will*."

With a sharp cry, she summons magical lances made of ice, shorter than usual to make up for their number, and sends them flying towards the silvery maiden.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has used Ice Needle on Mytho.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mytho fails to brace Lux Lapsa's Ice Needle, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Lux Lapsa is Psyched!

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

"Just lay down and die. You'd like that, wouldn't you? You'd rather die than acknowledge that sometimes things are less than simple, less than straightforward. That's a choice you can make for yourself..." The gray maiden is turning black quickly, and all the moreso as the Magic Knight of Wind's admonishments literally slam into her, "But not one I'll allow you to make for me!"

Ice pours into her, sticks out in all directions from her radiantly dark form.

"If you won't leave me alone -- then I'll leave you /destroyed/."

And the sands try to suck everyone downwards, endlessly downwards, to crush them, squeeze the very life out of them.

COMBAT: Mytho has used Deep Dreaming on Fuu Hououji.

COMBAT: Mytho has used Deep Dreaming on Sailor Uranus.
COMBAT: Mytho has used Deep Dreaming on Lux Lapsa.
COMBAT: Mytho has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Mytho's Deep Dreaming, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Lux Lapsa narrowly braces Mytho's Deep Dreaming, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Lux Lapsa's Block ability activates! Lux Lapsa's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Sailor Uranus perfectly dodges Mytho's Deep Dreaming, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! Sailor Uranus's Flash ability activates!

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

Fuu is too determined at the moment to let panic overwhelm her; the sands shifting beneath her feet, threatening to pull her down, prompts her to lift her feet repeatedly - almost like treading water, which threatens not to work at all. But she can also call on her wind magic - and while the updraft she conjures kicks a lot of additional sand up, it also provides the boost she needs to free her feet and legs from the sand.

Her sword vanishes, though; she doesn't want to chance the sands long enough to try charging into melee range. Instead, her bow and quiver form, and she draws an arrow back, sighting down its length.

Normally, she would have trouble lining up a shot like this on something which looks like a human being. But normally, she doesn't have this kind of a ruthless streak going for her - and normally, she didn't just see one of her fellow Magic Knights taken out of the battle immediately prior to herself being forcibly removed from that same battle.

She releases, and her arrow flies straight at the Nightmare Fragment's chest, aimed to pierce where the heart should be ...

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Basic Archery on Mytho.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

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

Uranus shakes her head. It's not mournful, not even disappointed. "Fine. I didn't really expect you to make this easy." She sets off at a run towards the maiden, and when the sands start sucking her down, she sets off into a floor gymnastics routine, bounding forward.

"You're right," she says, handspringing over a gap.

"I would rather die than live that kind of in-between life." She flips away from a sinkhole.

"Because if I become that kind of person," she sails into a leap, flipping in midair to stomp down directly atop the maiden, "I've already failed." She shoves down with both her boots.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has used Jackbooted Stomp on Mytho.

COMBAT: Sailor Uranus has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Lux Lapsa [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"I don't recall ever saying that," Lux Lapsa points out with a touch of dry coolness. She's come to realize that she understands how the Maiden feels very well--that resentment, that bitterness, that frustration, at a power that locked her away, that refused to even listen to her position. At this point, the battle seems like a dramatic tragedy: neither side willing to put down their arms or stop fighting, because the Grey Maiden is only defending herself, but she helped start a war so the other magical girls aren't willing to trust her, and so one attacks, and the next attacks back, and round and round they go, no one listening to the other.

That this is the emotion of ruthlessness that they're dealing with certainly doesn't help.

Case in point: the sands begin to swirl at Lapsa's feet, dragging her down inorexibly, crushing her feet. She grits her teeth against the pain, flapping her wings powerfully to work against the suction. It takes significant effort, and she's panting by the end of it, but she manages to pull herself free. Fuu opts to attack rather than speak, something that Lapsa can agree with, and Uranus attacks while both agreeing with and denying her, something that's only sensible at this point in Lapsa's opinion.

"If that is so, though, then I will accept your grudge," she murmurs, flapping those wings again to bury the Maiden of Ruthlessness in black feathers: a requiem for a broken heart.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has used Black Wings on Mytho.

COMBAT: Lux Lapsa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mytho narrowly counters Lux Lapsa's Black Wings, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Mytho!
COMBAT: Mytho's counterattack, Silvery Sleep, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Lux Lapsa!
COMBAT: Mytho narrowly counters Fuu Hououji's Basic Archery, taking 6 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mytho's counterattack, Swirling Storm, partially gets through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji!
COMBAT: Mytho narrowly dodges Sailor Uranus's Jackbooted Stomp, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Mytho is unable to keep fighting!

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

The maiden doesn't go quietly -- she howls her icy rage, her total focus even at her last moments, her sheer frustration. She screams as Fuu's arrow pierces her through the heart, as Lux Lapsa's feathers tear into her. Sailor Uranus stomps on her head, and lands on nothing but sand, black wisps exploding in all directions.

There's nothing left to scream...

...and then, in another flash of blue light, everyone's back in the cave.

Homesickness vs. Sailor Vega, Kaitou Jeanne, Kyouko Sakura, Runealy Waldia, Mesozoic Maiden Lucy

GM: Honoka Yukishiro hands the baton off to Mamoru Chiba midway through

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

When the brilliant light clears, the cave is no longer present. Instead, standing upon endless, rolling dunes of fine silver sand, is the maiden of light. A cool breeze ruffles her hair, tugs at her hems, though finer details are impossible to make out, as her dove gray radiance is so very blinding. The wind also stirs the sands, its surface blown into various shapes -- stars and moons, whimsical animals and creepy plants, there one second and gone the next.

The night sky is full of stars. They shine down unblinkingly, the Empyrean itself bearing witness to this meeting. Time feels ephemeral, as delicate as an iridescent butterfly's wing, as though the cosmos is holding its breath to see what happens next.

When the maiden's long-lashed lids lift, her eyes, beneath, are violet.

And her voice is full of the aching longing of homesickness.

"I made a mistake and she took me from my home, my life, everyone and everything I ever loved. My dreamers, the beauty I created for them, my very self, and all the things I could have had, or ever would. Sealed away so close, but so far, never to be able to touch what I long for, always and forever. All I want is for this to be over. All I want is to go home, and it doesn't even exist anymore!"

She raises her arms, and the wind rises as well, the silver sands rising to congeal into a thousand stabbing swords, which fly in all directions.

"You think you can stop me? How COULD you? WHY?"

COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro transforms into Nightmare Shard!

COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has fully healed herself. She is now ready to take on 6 opponents!
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has used Sand Swords on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has used Sand Swords on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has used Sand Swords on Mesozoic Maiden Lucy.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has used Sand Swords on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has used Sand Swords on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has used Sand Swords on Sailor Vega.
COMBAT: Honoka Yukishiro has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Vega narrowly dodges Honoka Yukishiro's Sand Swords, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Sailor Vega's Fade ability activates! Sailor Vega's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki fails to dodge Honoka Yukishiro's Sand Swords, taking 27 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy perfectly counters Honoka Yukishiro's Sand Swords, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Princess Runealy's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy's counterattack, Waldia Barrier, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Honoka Yukishiro!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly braces Honoka Yukishiro's Sand Swords, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Kyouko Sakura's Block ability activates! Kyouko Sakura's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne fails to brace Honoka Yukishiro's Sand Swords, taking 22 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy narrowly counters Honoka Yukishiro's Sand Swords, taking 6 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's counterattack, Cretaceous Clobber, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Honoka Yukishiro!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 6 opponents!

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

In a flash of purple, the scene has changed from cave to desert - one of the ultimate metaphorical expressions of isolation and loneliness. But once again, the Grey Maiden with violet eyes reacts instantly with violence.

Moving with elegance and grace isn't easy in high heels *in the sand*, and Vega's footwork doesn't have quite the purchase she needs to do it with the sort of ease she's accustomed to; unsure footing makes every misstep a painful rebuke - a line of blood here, a torn skirt there...

Even wounded, Vega's decision was made with the 'core.'

"I won't fight you," she yells! "I WON'T!" Her hands balled into fists at her sides, her face streaked with tears already shed. "It's okay to long for something - but if you can't go home, you have to make a NEW home!" Where is that even coming from? "Lashing out like this won't help you do that!"

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Why Are You Doing This? on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba fails to brace Sailor Vega's Why Are You Doing This?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Mamoru Chiba is Taunted!

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

Princess Runealy takes a step back, startled as Mai lands in front of her! "You're...?!" She knows who Mai is, so Rune isn't asking for a name. This is incoherent surprise at the action itself, and it takes a moment to find any proper words: "Thank you! Just... be careful!" That someone she has only known for a few weeks is now intentionally standing this close to her in the midst of such danger is astonishing, touching Rune.

Lucy's plan to 'call home' is touching on a different level. On some level, she knew about Lucy's feelings there. Rune's friend had confessed them during what was originally planned to be a training session, but there was no way any such thing was going to happen after that came out. Hearing such a clever and desperate plan to get in touch with Lucy's mother digs deep; it further removes Rune's urge to directly fight, and serves as a stark reminder to try to bring something nice in Lucy's life soon.

Then... they seem to start to get through. A tear. It's a critical beginning, something the group might be able to build on. Yet perhaps not, not as Syaoran's efforts throw that in doubt. Rune starts to protest, but doesn't even get a syllable in before the violet light sweeps her. Now there's even more silver sand. Silver sand... and stars. Beautiful, but hard to truly appreciate given the circumstances. The maiden has her undivided attention.

As the sand forms blades, Runealy takes her wand in hand again. Feet braced, wand pointed skyward, Rune shouts: "Waldia Barrier!" A pyramid of red energy forms, its tip emitting from the wand. Teeth grit as strike after strike lands yet all fail to pierce through, Runealy stays inside her forcefield. "I don't /want/ to stop you! That doesn't seem fair!" Vega speaks of making new homes... a rather profound offer that Rune tries to reinforce. "Can't we help? Is there a way this can end without anyone, including you, going through any more loss?"

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has used That Doesn't Seem Fair on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Princess Runealy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba fails to dodge Princess Runealy's That Doesn't Seem Fair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Mamoru Chiba is Quipped!

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

Kyouko's dance is interrupted faster than she could snap her fingers. Her eyes widen for a moment, her momentum thrown off, and it takes her a moment to compose herself. Thankfully, the maiden makes a speech and gives her the time to compose herself.

The shaft of her spear bends and wavers as Kyouko expertly manipulates it, knocking away sword after sword with screeches of metal against metal. A few make it past her deflections, but she suffers scratches, not slashes.

Despite coming out relatively unscathed, she lowers her spear, and speaks for the first time in the fight. Her voice is ragged and throaty.

"I don't care about stopping you. I get why you want what you want. I don't know if you can get it, but I'm not going to make sure you won't. I won't fight you anymore unless I need to defend myself."

Reaching a shuddering hand into her pocket, she picks out a single slender pocky between her index and middle finger, bringing it to her lips to start chewing.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Breaking Bread on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura accepts Kyouko Sakura's Breaking Bread, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower applied to Kyouko Sakura! Cleanse! All of Kyouko Sakura's debuffs are cleared!

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

For a moment, it seems to be working, she seems to be calming down, and the nightmare might even be coming to an end. ...Then, Syaoran, however well-intentioned he may have been, goes and ruins it.

In a sense, getting drawn into the violet world may have been the sort of thing Lucy was inviting with her offer to bear some of the maiden's homesickness. She appears in the middle of the silver desert, and as she wipes her tears, she notes that she's surrounded by several others, each of whom she'd easily call a friend or at least an ally... and then there's Kaitou Jeanne. She bites her lip, and offers her a nod. Whatever her feelings on the phantom thief may be, on this dawn, at least, they're forming a united front. They have to.

She speaks, and it's painful, as could be expected. She couldn't reach any of the ones she loved, and her home doesn't even exist anymore. The explosion of swords that comes next Lucy manages to take care of with some lightning-quick swings of her magical club, sending flying or breaking the blades that would otherwise cut her. Either way, the physical pain they would have caused can't seem worse than the emotional one, Lucy believes.

'How COULD you? WHY?' The Mesozoic Maiden thinks she has answered the latter question as well as she possibly could, so instead she focuses on the former. "We can find you a home, I just know it. There are so many worlds out there, or maybe even this one would welcome you." She clasps her necklace, toying with one of the oversized pearls composing it. "The only reason I can bear the homesickness is because my friends have helped me call this place home, and... I dearly hope, so can you."

"Do you understand? This is why I want to help you, and why I have to stop you. Because THIS IS ALSO MY HOME!" The air ripples, and Lucy's magical shout makes its way to the maiden. It's normally used to strike fear into the hearts of opponent, but as she's just discovering, it's also the sort of magic that can convey true feelings.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has used Hear Me Roar on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Mesozoic Maiden Lucy has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba narrowly counters Mesozoic Maiden Lucy's Hear Me Roar, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Mesozoic Maiden Lucy is Psyched! Mamoru Chiba is Taunted!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba's counterattack, How COULD you?? T_T, partially gets through, doing 9 Fatigue damage to Mesozoic Maiden Lucy!

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

Well, Jeanne asked for it, literally. She just barely bears witness to the actions of one person causing the girl to reverse her stance entirely before all turns violet. It's thus not in the best of moods that she arrives in what may or may not be another dreamscape. It isn't worsened by Lucy's presence at all - if the negative perception was ever more than one-sided, that impassioned speech from before made the phantom thief pretty sympathetic. But her mood does take a hit from the words that are thrown in her direction, let alone the swords that follow. The weapons leave tiny cuts all over the phantom thief's body, as she struggles to protect herself with her bare arms, which works about as well as you'd expect.

But she made a promise. She promised she would understand, no matter what. Even in the face of a storm of swords, she bites back her own pain, to focus on the pain that she was sent here to see. It's honestly not that difficult, considering that this pain is very similar to the pain she's had to live with, almost for as long as she can remember. "...I'm sorry. Nobody should have to go through something like that, no matter the reason."

Still, she's learned to deal with that pain. And she'll share that method, with sudden defiance and forcefulness. Because this is what she would have wanted someone to say to her, all those years ago, rather than having to figure it out on her own. "But you're wrong. We're not stopping you. /You/ are. You're stopping yourself from moving forward!"

Softening her tone, she stretches out a hand, meant to be in friendship, offering a smile to go with it. "Even if your old home is gone, a new home may be waiting for you, filled with even more happiness than before. Many of us are willing to help you find it, including me. Believe in us, in yourself, in the future."

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has used Unreasonably Optimistic Outlook on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba accepts Kaitou Jeanne's Unreasonably Optimistic Outlook, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Mamoru Chiba is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.

Nadeshiko's analysis is interrupted as she feels the very odd sensation of becoming light, and then becoming somewhere else. Her naginata stays up and ready, marked across her body to prepare herself for the worst. She's beginning to put this together; why Li would cast that sealing, an angle on what she's dealing with. It could /be/ some kind of evil dream spirit. Certainly it didn't seem too fussed about granting That Man his wish for omnipotence. Something like this...she suspects the Magic Association really would say it probably needs to be back under seal, locked back in the skies. Power like this can destroy worlds, and for the Magic Association's people that's paramount.

She's caught up enough in processing that, that the waves of sand rise up and catch her by surprise. She moves, jukes to one side, but it catches her hard in the gut and sends her tumbling backward, end over end and landing in a pile on the floor. She jabs her spear down while they scream and yell. She doesn't have a lot of personal experience with homesickness, not the way Lucy so eloquently breaks it down. And the tower of Temari which she has assumed is REALLY REALLY REALLY UNHAPPY with having to sit back and play nice.

So she takes a step forward, naginata in hand. The others all stand back, stubbornly refuse to fight; Nadeshiko stomps, one foot before the other, holding her weapon with intent. "She is gone," Nadeshiko says, spitting. "You said it yourself! She's gone! You're free now! They've set you free! And all you want to do is scream and shout and I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT!"

She holds the weapon low, marching in attack posture. "Why would I stop you? WHY WOULDN'T ANYONE!?" she thunders out. "You come hurling your emotions like a weapon and try and take our world away, take our families away, shoot first and then call us the villains!?"

She stops short, and -- snaps the blade up, but stops short of an actual cut.

"We want to listen. Your heart is crying! We want to know why! But if you think we will stand by while you murder us for your vanity, I WILL CUT YOU DOWN MYSELF!"

In her cloak, Temari's eyes gleam with open threat.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Mean-Spirited Yakuza Swearing on Mamoru Chiba.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba narrowly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Mean-Spirited Yakuza Swearing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Mamoru Chiba is Quipped! Mamoru Chiba's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

They-- they want to help?

I won't fight you, I WON'T! and Can't we help? and I won't fight you anymore--

Violet eyes, sick with longing, brim over. The tears are incandescent, clearing away the dim grey of the girl's form, track by track. She looks at them, these girls who tell her they're sharing her pain, that they understand. One by one, she takes in their faces, their eyes, and she curls in on herself, still floating in the air. They won't fight her. She just

she just hit them

and they won't fight her

and she ducks her head down, looking at her hands, open on her knees. "A new home," she whispers to herself, tears falling on her hands, on her impossible silhouette, and spreading like patches of dappled sunlight on the shade.

Her eyes widen, and she listens still, and then Lucy's suddenly loud, yelling. With good reason, certainly, but it's sudden and sharp and it's reflex-- she flinches back and throws up a hand between herself and Lucy, biting her lip and pushing the force of the words back with an almost physical shove. Her eyes lock on the Mesozoic Maiden, desperate. "Don't-- don't," she says, voice broken and catching, ragged. "I'll-- it's-- I'm sorry--"

But then Kaito Jeanne's sympathy hits her even harder, and the white's spreading, and she's growing more and more brilliant, glowing; her tears are almost disbelieving, but not quite. She's staring at them, she wants to believe it--

And then all of a sudden, Nadeshiko's like a steamroller of ire and threats and THAT'S REALLY SHARP, and the girl cringes backwards, eyes wide in shock. Truth hurts. She holds out her hands after a second, a sudden, impulsive motion. "You don't have to-- don't-- STOP you DON'T HAVE TO-- no-- please, all of you, all of you promise me-- and I won't--"

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Hey don't point that thing at me! on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.

COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Cross your heart!! on Kaitou Jeanne.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Cross your heart!! on Sailor Vega.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Cross your heart!! on Kyouko Sakura.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has used Cross your heart!! on Princess Runealy.
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Vega accepts Mamoru Chiba's Cross your heart!!, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Princess Runealy accepts Mamoru Chiba's Cross your heart!!, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki fails to brace Mamoru Chiba's Hey don't point that thing at me!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Nadeshiko Fujisaki!
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura accepts Mamoru Chiba's Cross your heart!!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Kaitou Jeanne accepts Mamoru Chiba's Cross your heart!!, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

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

"We promise!" Yes, Vega just said *we* - and she shoots a quick, scathing look to Nadeshiko while she can spare one.

"I don't even understand why I understand your loss as well as I do," Vega admits to the Maiden. "There's so much I still don't know, so much that I only see in my dreams -- but you have to reach out to make something new even if you're looking for an old feeling!"

She spreads her arms then, fists unclenched, "It isn't easy to do, and mistakes are always going to be made - but you can't let it stop you! Let the old hurts go, and come with us to make new memories!"

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

And with her relief, fear, and ... perhaps ... hope, the gray maiden, now wholly white, fades away. In a flash of violet, the desert does as well, and everyone's back in the cave.