2015-06-20 - Princesses on Ice

Title: Princesses on Ice
Summary: The series of grand events to find the best princess continues with a figure skating competition. Olympic skaters on hand to search for the best talent has drawn many to take to the ice, displaying their elegance and skill. There may be darker emotions at work, however... There may also be monsters.
Who: Kunzite, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Fuu Hououji, Cute Wolf Tsukiko, Cure Rhythm, Nori Ankou
Where: Snow Rain Ice Rink
OOC - IC Date: 25 July 2014 - 06/20/2015

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

Among the fantastical feats of architecture to which Tokyo is home, the Snow Rain Ice Rink is if nothing else the most crystalline. While the exterior is flat and plain, the interior - to which admittance is available at a discount today only - has the seeming of a grand jewel. Today, in celebration of the figure skating competition, the lights scintillate through the full spectrum. Between the walls, roof, and ice rink itself, it's as if one had stepped inside some miraculous rainbow crystal.

Today's competition is, for the most part, a light-hearted one. A few professional skaters stand ready to show off their best - but the purpose is as much to nurture growing buds as it is to praise flowers in full bloom. All manner of outfits can be seen, from flashy costumes to athletic skating outfits to fluffy parkas, and the faint chill of the ice has already served as welcome reprieve from an oppressive July heat.

The number of skaters on the ice is well into the dozens already, with more joining the ice every minute. Janelyn and Mischa - the Olympic figure skaters who are serving as the 'judges' of the festivities - take turns joining the rink. Lazy orbits around the skaters, giving quiet corrections form and flow, advising how to better claim the ice as one's own arena. Only moments ago, the harsher judge Janelyn departed the rink in favour of the dashingly handsome Mischa - who offers a warm smile to every skater he coaches through a spin, jump, or simply keeping balance.

Overall, it's a refreshing atmosphere. It's just cool enough to keep the ice pristine and scintillating in a gorgeous rainbow spectrum, there's laughter and applause from all corners at failures and successes both, and there's a handsome Olympian figure skater commenting on how promising candidates might serve as a partner for competitions - whatever could go wrong?

<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Kanade tried to keep her balance as she glided on the ice. It had been ages since she had practice skating, but she was certain it was like riding a bicycle. Once learned you never forgot it. Although, usually when Kanade went skating she had Hibki with her to catch her or at least keep her steady so she wouldn't fall over. However, she was on her own due to her friend wishing to gleefully taking part in a hockey game in the ice rink in the next building.

Hibiki had invited Kanade to take part in it, but she had to decline since Kanade imagine she would be more of a nuisance then a worth while player. At least figure skating was more her speed..at least she hope it was. She carefully studied the people around her and slowly attempted to get herself to spin.

"1...2..3!" she declared. She spun and had immediate regrets as she soon became busy. Kanade held her head as she let her vision refocus. "Maybe I should stick to doing figure eights," she mumbled.

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Nori Ankou is certainly pleased at all of this coolth. The north wind blows cool, and Japan in this weather has been anything but. She is not quite one to love the ice, but it's certainly nicer than the steamy weather outside.

She is wearing black leggings, black skates (of course she had her own skates, even if they saw little use), a black fabric jacket over a top (guess what color? - wrong - dark blue!) Her hair is flowing free as she lingers near the seats where one can don or remove one's skates, awaiting her term with the handsome Olympian.

There may be minor <3_<3s going on.

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

Fuu Hououji is nowhere near ready to actually compete at ice skating. She's lucky to stay upright and in motion simultaneously, when you get right down to it - although she IS still trying to wrap her head around the operating principles of ice-skating. As for actual FIGURE-skating ... well, she doesn't fall back on Internet slang, ever, but 'lol nope' would otherwise sum up her thoughts on the matter.

She's here, though; mostly it's to cheer on any of her friends whom she sees in the competition, and possibly to see if she can pick up a few more pointers to guide her own occasional efforts when it comes to skating more or less gracefully. For that matter, what she learned about dancing at the Princess Seminar might help too - it would be hard to learn anything that makes her much worse of a skater.

Her own skating dress is a simple one, emerald green in color, with a bit of lace trim on the sleeves and along the edge of the skirt. At least she'll look good when she's not falling all over the ice ... but, she *is* on the ice right now, and if nothing else, maybe she can help make others feel less bad about their skills. She might even attract some useful advice before she gives up and retreats to the benches to watch.

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

Skating might not be something that Ikiko is especially good at, but it's still an enjoyable pasttime -- the feel of floating across the ice, the sight and sounds of other people having fun, the generally cheerful atmosphere. The chill air is a nice contrast from the heat of outdoors, which is another point in favor of skating today!

Still, she has a decent knowledge of her limits, so most of her skating is focused on keeping her balance on tight turns. After making sure there's a decently clear stretch of ice, she skates forward at a swift pace, then corners hard at the end. Sometimes she manages to turn it into a spin; other times she loses her balance. No matter the result, there's usually a smile soon on her face.

As she goes past the stands, she spots Fuu sitting on a bench. "Hi Fuu!" the younger girl waves, skating over to the side of the rink. Ikiko's outfit isn't fancy; it's just her normal cool-weather clothes. Practical, and more befitting of her talent level.

<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Leave it to Luna. It is the eternal curse of the moontouched cat that whenever she speaks on a subject, she directs Usagi Tsukino's boundless energy in an entirely unintended direction. It is inevitable that Usagi Tsukino would end up here today after she found out, "Of course I'll be great! Didn't you say I was a world class skater during the Silver Millenium?"

The cat's eyes lit up, desperately grasping for any way to better link the girl into the past, until a terrible thought occurred to her, "Wait- how many times have you skated, Usagi-chan?" "Not even once!" Luna's head dipped, before sighing melodramatically. "Well maybe it'll all come back to her."

That is what brings Usagi to the figure skating competition today, even more enthused at the thought of impressing Olympic figure skaters, and in her whirlwind of energy, she'd brought as many of her friends as she could muster with her. "Just you wait Ami-chan! I'm going to impress everyone again!"

Now in a white skating dress with red frills, she hops on one foot to try to put on the first skate, managing to slide it on and lacing it after a comical dance. Putting down the first foot, and finding it wobbling on the blade, she then tries the same method to the other, "Aaa-aaa-aaa! How am I supposed to even put this on!?" Losing her balance on trying to hop on a single foot now, she stumbles right into her friend, "Aha, sorry Ami-chan!"

She's not even on the ice yet.

Eventually through a mix of sitting down to put on the second rail, clutching to Ami-chan to get up, then clutching the side of the rink with a death grip, she manages to make it to one of the openings onto the ice. Catching sight of Nori and Kanade, she waves enthusiastically in a 'Hey hey look at me! I'm about to do something amazing!' before turning to Ami again, "Just watch me Ami-chan! I'm sure I'll be able to teach you plenty of things"

And then, she's on the ice, lit up by such scintillating colors that it felt like being in the midst of a prism. At least her bottom is, after her legs immediately slip out from under her and she lands right on it with a wince-worthy impact. Her eyes immediately sparkling with tears, she puts her hands under her chin, "My spectacular debut!" She laments. From her place on the sidelines, Luna puts a paw over her head, as it slowly slides down her face, right to her nose.

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

Unlike many of the attendees, Ami Mizuno has only modest fantasies of being swept away on the ice. Even though ice is very much her element, this isn't an area where she feels as though she can cut loose and show off... which means instead she's being kind of shy about the whole thing. She hasn't even finished putting on her skates yet; she seems to intend to take the whole thing at a sedate, pleasant pace.

She's been relatively quiet, too -- though she's at least supportive of Usagi, giving her an enthusiastic, "I'm rooting for you, Usagi-chan!" It's not ten seconds before she has to frantically pop up, abandoning her own efforts to get her skates on to catch Usagi; she manages it by inches, propping Usagi up as best she can before hastily getting her skates on to help.

Moving with Usagi, she takes her skating at a nice, sedate pace -- which is good, because it means she's there to help Usagi back up, saying, "It's okay, Usagi-chan. Your debut can recover from a fall or two," with a glance to Luna.

<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Kanade was busy adjusting the ribbons on her white figure skating dress when she heard the voice of Usagi. "Usagi-san!" Kanade greeted with a wave to the girl and her friend. It was nice to see she wasn't alone here. Then Usagi fell on her bottom and Kanade couldn't help, but wince in sympathy knowing fully well how much that hurt.

She skated over to Usagi as she heard her wail. "You okay, Usagi-san?" she asked looking to Usagi and her friend who was helping Usagi back on her feet. She wasn't quite sure was her name yet.

At the same moment, Hummy tapped the ice and shivered as her paw brush against it. "Nya! That's too cold," she shivered and hugged herself to warm up. "Hope we get hot chocolate after this." Curiously, the little fairy let her gaze wander and then it spied upon a familiar figure that instantly made her day.

"Nya! Luna-chan!" Hummy greeted cheerfully as she pratically bounced to her. "What are you doing here? Are you skating too? Nya? And do you know where I can get hot chocolate?" She wrapped her paws around herself. "It's too cold in here."

<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"You really think so?" She asks of Ami, who was a much better skater than her after wiping away her eyes and sniffling. Before looking up at Kanade, master of sweets and also apparently much better skater than her. Wiping her eyes again, she nods, "Yeah, it just took me by surprise! I thought I'd be better at this! Oh! Kanade-chan! Meet Ami-chan! She's one of my best friends!"

Fortunately, Usagi had not one, but two girls to help her up. And she takes full advantage of that, one hand to each. With their supportshe finally gets back up on her skates. Which is a good thing, as it may take all their might to keep her upright and them with her, as she immediately begins overbalancing, forwards, then backwards, in their respective grips, little panicked noises coming from her lips. "AAAAAAAA! WHY IS THIS SO HARD!?"

Luna, upon hearing the fairy cat's voice recoils as if a giant mastiff had stepped out in front of her, "You again!? What are you doing here! Are you following me around!?" She backs up a step on her place on the sidelines, pointing with a paw, "Probably at one of the vendors. How are you going to get any though- Wait-" A kitty brow twitches, just above her right eye, "-did you just call me Luna-chan? When were we ever that familiar!?"

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

Elsewhere, in the rink's control room, the other half of the Olympic duo oversees the 'competition' via countless video screens. It's a grand feat of technology, creating windowed spotlights on each and every skater on the ice - and comparing them to footage of known persons.

"Let's see...if she was supposed to be a graceful and elegant figure skater, then..." Janelyn examines one screen after another. Ikiko's enthusiasm garners a moment's attention - but the body type comparison leaves that window to be filed with 'skating potentials'. Fuu, retreating from the ice, is tossed into the rejects pile after a moment's consideration. Kanade is active enough to be worth some consideration...

One window catches her eye - the one featuring Usagi (and behind her, Ami). She watches the blonde-haired skater for a moment before finally scoffing. "As if the Moon Princess could ever be so disgraceful..." Absolutely rejected, no point even checking against the records. The next window is Nori's, which...

"What?! WHAT?! HOW DARE HE!"

~*~*~*~*~

Down on the ice, the skating is going about as well as can be expected. There are feats of elegance worthy of applause, disastrous collisions inciting laughter, and at least two cats in the stands watching the full goings-on. Fuu's friends skate by, waving cheerfully to her; Ami and Usagi are given a wide berth; Ikiko finds herself passed by a grade-school boy giving her a stink-eye. And Nori-

There are gasps from the surrounding crowd as Mischa approaches Nori directly, without hesitation or deviation. "An elegant style, young miss - would you care to try a few paired moves with me? You do seem like you could be a fantastic partner..." Spinning once as he completes his approach, he bows low and holds out a hand.

It's a picturesque tableau, and half the rink seems to be holding its breath...up until the moment that a voice screams out. "MISCHA! What do you think you're doing - are you that determined to replace me?!" Skating furiously enough to send sprays of diamond dust from each screaming scrape of her skates, Janelyn non-vocally demands a passageway be cleared- diverting her course only just enough to avoid colliding with Usagi.

Mischa turns towards her, surprise on his face swiftly turning to head-shaking disappointment. "Now, now, Janelyn. I told you before - I need a partner who can keep up with me. Since you aren't fitting the bill..."

"You - I'm your partner! Me, and no one else!" Her eyes seem to glow red - and then there's a dreadful feeling in the air, a dark terror seeping into the atmosphere beyond even an athlete's fury. "If you seem content to go flirting...then I'll have to remind you!" She screams, once - and in an instant, transforms.

Outfit turning as crimson as blood, strange attachments appearing over her ears, skin shifting to an unnatural colour... The difference between a mortal skater and a youma of the Dark Kingdom is surprisingly small, yet impossible to ignore. She stands - seeming more athletic than before, still wearing her skates, and glaring with a dire fury. "Mischa...I'll make you remember."

COMBAT: Kunzite transforms into Youma Form Zoylin Gellers!

COMBAT: Kunzite has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 6 opponents!

COIN FLIP: Nori Ankou flips a coin. It lands on tails!

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

The distant sight of Usagi and the slightly-less-befriended Ami Mizuno makes Nori look over, raising her eyebrows. She smiles, but before she can sail over - ah, Mizuno and.. Kanade? She can't hear the name clearly. But someone's there for her. That's good.

Her head turns - Mischa's coming.

Nori's lips part. For a moment she is surrounded by a framework of roses. (No prize for guessing what color they are.) Her eyes widen, as she straightens upwards, balancing neatly on her skates as she reaches forwards, to take that hand --

And then in comes another woman, screaming in dismay. Nori looks quietly and tremendously satisfied at this outcome; it practically radiates from her, the emotional equivalent of a cat purring. She raises a hand to her cheek and watches Janelyn with a curious expression as she seethes, doing her best to stay attached to Mischa.

The look doesn't so much vanish as freeze into place, laden with anxiety beneath the surface, when Janelyn starts to change. Finally, Nori speaks. "Mischa, is she...?" Well, that's an open ended question, but Nori is thinking very acutely of the fourteen meters between her and the locker where her athletics bag - and within it, the Brazen Pharos and its Black Mirror - are stowed.

<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Kanade gave a smile at Ami and nodded in her direction. "Nice, to meet you, I'm Kanade. I'm usually with my friend Hibki, but she's-" She trailed off as sudden yelling echoed around the rink. She looked over and saw the legendary olympic skaters with another girl.

Kanade blinked in confusion. Were they arguing? She knew of all people knew it was common for partners to argue, but this seemed more extreme. Then, to her horror, Janelyn transformed into a form that could only belong to that of a demon. "What on earth?!" Kanade cried as she pointed. She seriously doubted this was part of the competition.

Up on the bleachers, Hummy grinned at Luna. "We'll, we're friends aren't we? Therefore, I call you Luna-chan. Nya! It's a cute name for you!" Her ears twitched at the sudden yelling and glanced over at the rink. "What is that lady yelling about? Nya? Do you think she's cold?!" Then the woman transformed and Hummy jumped in shock. "NYA! WHAT IS THAT?! THAT CAN'T BE SAFE!!"

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

"Ikiko-san, hello!" Fuu smiles as the younger girl greets her - just as Fuu is taking a break from skating. "You're doing well, I see ... better than I am," the glasses-wearing 9th-grader admits with audible chagrin. "I have to wonder if you might teach me a ..."

Suddenly there's trouble on the ice, as Janelyn cuts through the crowd towards Mischa. An argument breaks out ... followed by a monster emerging where the champion-level skater was standing scant seconds prior.

"If she was a demon all this time," Fuu asides to Ikiko, "does that mean they'll have to strip her of the medals and other awards she's won?" Despite the seeming airheadedness of the question, though, Fuu is working quickly at digging in her bag for her glove-jewel. No time to finish taking her skates off - she'll have to let the transformation handle that for her. Of course, she also has to get some kind of cover sorted out so she CAN transform out of sight. If push comes to shove, hunkering down behind the rink's wall might suffice.

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

"It's nice to meet you, too, Kanade-san," Ami says, with a smile; she lets the cats interact on their own. She likes cats -- but it's far and away the most ideal to let the cats interact and just /watch/, because cats are at their most adorable when interacting with, well, other cats.

Usagi's continued screaming gets a frown from Ami; she really wants this to go well for Usagi... and unfortunately, what /actually/ happens is it gets a lot worse well before it gets better. Without even thinking, she reaches down and pulls forth her henshin pen, gripping it tightly with one hand and attempting to pull Usagi along with her toward -- and perhaps even /over/ -- the rink wall.

This couldn't be worse-timed, either; for an instant, it seemed like Ami might be about to make another friend. ... perhaps there'll be an opportunity afterward, but...

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

Ikiko gives Fuu a smile a widening smile as the older girl starts asking for help; lending a hand to friends is always enjoyable! The sudden emergence of a youma wipes the smile away quicky, and the younger girl is suddenly glad that the Lycan Locket rests around her neck most of the time.

Of course, trying to find a place to transform can be a trick, especially in a wide-open space like this. Still, the wall of the rink might work, especially if she crouches down on the right side.

Ikiko skates a meter or two further along the wall to give herself a bit of space to maneuver without colliding with Fuu, then clambers over the rink wall. She crouches, watching the crowd (and the youma!) as she waits for a good moment of distraction before transforming.

<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Mischa passes her by to teach... Nori. Usagi falls again onto her posterior, despite the best efforts of the others, perhaps even pulling them down on top of her. But while there this time, her eyes are glued to Nori, and Mischa. The pair look so elegant together. "It's like something out of a dream~" She says, cheeks pinkening until. Her whole body suddenly stiffens at the first call of 'MISCHA!' like it sent electric shockwaves through her.

Usagi turns and watches, and despite her usual lack of perceptiveness, she feels something beyond mere jealousy, something that's more like- there it is, that dread feeling in the air. "Aaaa! She's a-" She's about to say a Youma, but looking up at Kanade, she instead coughs and changes it in an unsubtle way, "-an incredibly jealous girl! Something tells me we should get off the ice!"

She does, not by walking off, but being tugged off by Ami in a doubled over position, immediately taking cover behind the edges of the rink. From cover, she unlaces her skates, and tugging them off from her crouched position, and continuing to crawl from under cover.

Luna on the other hand was still having to deal with the befriending force of nature that is Hummy, "I don't remember agreeing to that! And cute!?" Luna looks one way, then the other, making certain noone she knows was watching before muttering, "Well I guess it is pretty cute. And no she's probably just having a quarrel with her partner..."

But then Luna's eyes fasten onto this ill-feeling that suddenly raises every hair on her body, "Oh no! Janelyn is a YOUMA!" Before turning and snaps at Hummy, "Of course it's not safe! She's the reason why it's not safe!" Tapping her collar, a small alarm suddenly sounds from Usagi and Ami's communicators as Usagi crawls away into cover, signalling the imminent danger alarm. "As if we didn't already know Luna!" Usagi whispers a little too loudly, as she silences the communicator's alarm, and puts a hand to her transformation brooch.

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

The shocked silence that had surrounded Mischa's approach toward Nori - deepened by Janelyn's vocal objections and subsequent transformation - breaks as the first screams can be heard from the surrounding skaters. The vast majority of the crowd struggles to skate away from the quarrel as quickly as possible - though how quickly that is, on uncertain ice, varies incredibly widely. The fastest manage to reach the doors, only to find corrugated metal beyond. "The...the exits! They're locked!"

In spite of the panic - normally a delectable aroma to creatures of darkness - Janelyn's furious glare only intensifies as she stalks forward. "You belittle me at practice, you claim the glory in interviews, you go flirting with every pretty face - and you say /I'm/ the bad partner? I'm the one staying on task - and you've got work to do!"

Mischa's hand, so gently holding Nori's, tightens. "This really isn't the time, Janelyn. Do you really want to do this, in front of all these-"

The skater in red lashes out violently - catching Nori and Mischa both with a spray of frost from her skates, one that forces the two of them apart.. "Lord Kunzite ordered you to do this, so stop fliring and DO IT!" With one hand, she grabs her (former?) partner's shoulder, causing him to scream as dark energy washes over him...

...and when it clears, he's standing taller. Dressed in a cape and tuxedo-like outfit, skin also shifted to an unnatural tone, spikes jutting from his joints - Mischa has become just as inhuman as Janelyn. He sighs, and then holds out a hand to his partner. "We'll finish this later - but true. For now, the mission - a shame, that the best skaters are those most likely to be our target. So many potential partners..."

She punches him in the arm, and turns to the terrified crowd at large.

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Homewrecker on Nori Ankou.

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Homewrecker on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Kunzite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite accepts Kunzite's Homewrecker, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Kunzite!

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Nori can see Usagi and her friends scuttling around. Oh good, she thinks. They'll be safe.

'The exits! They're locked!'

Or, she thinks, maybe not. Nori pulls a minor face. It is perhaps notable to Janelyn that she is not panicking - she looks concerned but not terrified. Her heart, of course, is probably already a thing of most profound darkness, but that has more to do with the hair, clothes, general demenour, etc. She returns Mischa's handsqueeze. On reflex. And then -

"Kyah!" She's forced backwards, away from that handhold, her feet skidding -- and indeed, she does have at least familairity with skating. She ends up with her backside hitting the edge of the rink, but she stays upright, looking up as - "M... Mischa... Were you - all this time -?"

Her toes curl inside of her skates. Her eyes prick with tears. Of all the things, Nori thinks to herself. I thought my wish was coming true, but he's really--!!

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

Fuu peeks over the wall briefly to see what's going on with the youma-vs.-human argument, then - as it turns into youma-vs.-youma - ducks out of sight again, yanking the glove-jewel into place on her left hand. She doesn't even bother calling out the usual invocation, simply willing her Magic Knight armor to form around her, which it does with the usual green-tinged whirlwind.

The green-clad Magic Knight leans into view around the edge of the wall nearest where Fuu had been sitting, and with a call of, "Winds of Admonishment!" she bids another whirlwind to manifest, trying to catch Janelyn with it and hold her where she is. Hopefully somebody else can unlock the exits - or she might have to put her sword to that task instead of focusing on the youma.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Magic Knight!

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Admonishment on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Kanade could barely say a word before Usagi and Ami left, because it was then the fight with the yoma and Mischa grew worse. "They really don't have a stable relationship," Kanade muttered and then the words left her mouth as Mischa was suddenly forced to transformed into a demon like creature with very tacky tastes in tuxedos.

Kanade glanced around, hearing the screams of the people who were panicking. The cries of "The doors are locked! We're trapped! Help!" made her blood boiled.

Kanade glided off the ice and perfectly hopped off the rink to hide out of sight.

"Ruining a perfect day for people to have fun skating and making new friends!" She brought out her precure Module. "Unforgiveable!" she cried out. In seconds, Kanade's regular form vanished and Cure Rhythm took her place, but strangely enough she still had her skates on.

Barely having any time to wonder how this was possible, she raced back onto the ice. Her eyes looked to Nori who had been tossed aside during the fight and she fumed. "Oh dare you drag innocent people into your squabble!" Cure Rhythm yelled and then ran to attempt to give them a good hard kick.

Hummy dove under the bleachers for safety and watched Cure Rhythm. She didn't know where Luna ran off to. She just hoped she was okay.

COMBAT: Kanade Minamino transforms into Cure Rhythm!

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Pretty Cure Kick on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Winds of Admonishment, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Cripple applied to Kunzite!
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Cure Rhythm's Pretty Cure Kick, taking 17 Fatigue damage!

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

Well, a panicked crowd isn't a good thing, especially with the exits locked. On the other hand, it also means that people are also paying less attention to everything -- and every/one/ -- else.

"Lycan Locket!" Ikiko whispers as she touches the locket around her neck. There's a silvery glow, and Cute Wolf Tsukiko appears, leaping onto the wall of the rink.

The wolfgirl's footing is slightly unstable; it looks like the skates were partially affected by the transformation. "Whoa! Wasn't expecting that," she yelps as she tries to keep her balance. Hopping down to the ice, Tsukiko glares at the two youma as she starts circling around them, a growl rumbling in her throat.

COMBAT: Ikiko Hisakata transforms into Cute Wolf Tsukiko!

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Moonlight Growl on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"Moon Prism Power- Make Up!"

In a flash of ribbons, Usagi Tsukino is girded in a Sailor Fuku. From her new position atop the stands, "Hold it right there!" A spot light comes on, causing her to become an odango clad silhouette, with bright radiance shining behind her, "When you're in a committed relationship, it's terrible to flirt with other people without breaking it off first! I'll never forgive any guy who leads on girls like that!"

Wait, is her speech directed entirely at Mischa!? "Also it's really terrible that you're both Youma trapping the people here to try to catch me. You really missed the mark, didn't you?"

Looking pleased with herself, she actually wags a finger and sticks her tongue out with a 'pbbbtt', as the spotlight turns off, a tiny cat in the booth the cause of it powering down as she calls out, "No! They were almost completely on target Sailor Moon!"

"What!?" Sailor Moon turns to Luna, suddenly sounding entirely awkward "O-Oh right! Well they don't have me yet! Mercury and I will put a stop to this! Sailor-suited Pretty Soldier of Love and Justice: Sailor Moon!" She spins around, pointing one arm over the other, "In the name of the moon, I will punish you! Now get away from Nori-chan!"

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon!

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite narrowly braces Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Moonlight Growl, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Diversion applied to Kunzite!
COMBAT: Kunzite perfectly dodges Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kunzite's Fade ability activates! Kunzite's Flash ability activates!

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

"Mercury Power - Make Up!"

Joining the battle in perfect tandem with Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury looks to her fellow sailor-suited warrior with stars in her eyes. No matter how many times it happens, Usagi's speeches are always downright stunning and it's a joy to be next to them.

Bringing a finger up to her ears, she swipes it across her face and calls forth the Mercury Goggle (no S - that's how you know it's her trademark)! She doesn't take the time to really analyze the pair of youma just yet, though; instead, she takes a moment to form a lance out of ice.

Launching it forward from her hands in short order, she aims for Janelyn. It's a simple, straightforward attack -- one that probes their defenses.

COMBAT: Ami Mizuno transforms into Sailor Mercury!

COMBAT: Ami Mizuno has used Ice Lance on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Ami Mizuno has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Ami Mizuno's Ice Lance, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Ami Mizuno is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

The panic by the exits only grows more frantic over time - the seal, such as it is, being clear on all sides. In this fear, Mischa and Janelyn revel - up until howling winds rise up to swirl around the pair. The two are pinned in place long enough for Cure Rhythm to split them apart with a skate-bladed kick - Mischa hissing as his tuxedoed arm receives a neat cut.

In grand circles, Tsukiko orbits the two - a pint-sized sight to divert the pair - but as time goes on, the two drift together. Together - but not entirely pleased to be in that position.

"Troublesome wretches - what now, Mischa? Any plans to flirt with the rest of them?"

"Perish the thought, Janelyn. We are the Zoylin Gellers, after all - and Kunzite has demanded that we bring him Sailor Moon. That mission comes before anything"

Their discussion is interrupted by a spotlight, and an odango'd silhouette. An admonishing speech, one sure to pierce their hearts....

Janelyn looks at the fallen Nori. "Well, Mischa. That girl you were flirting with certainly isn't our target - so would you mind explaining yourself?"

He's quiet for a moment. He's saved from answering, in the end, as an ice lance flies through the air to catch the glowering Janelyn off-guard - sending her sliding back along the ice, With a moment's pause to smirk to Nori - still handsome, in a monstrous kind of way - he skates after his partner. "Now, now. We can discuss this after everyone opposing us is dead."

The two skate together for a moment - spinning in a close knot - before breaking apart at high speeds. Each circles around the rink with grace and speed - Mischa spinning elegantly with bladed kicks slashing out at Cure Rhythm, Fuu, and finally Sailor Moon. "Where is it? The elegance Kunzite spoke of?"

Janelyn, meanwhile, rushes in with more brutal strikes at Sailor Mercury and Tsukiko. ...then, she circles back Nori's way while Mischa is distracted. "Don't think I'll let you get away with trying to steal my partner."

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Multiple Axel Kick on Cure Rhythm.

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Multiple Axel Kick on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Multiple Axel Kick on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Sit Spin Slasher on Ami Mizuno.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Sit Spin Slasher on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Pair Lift on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Kunzite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite accepts Kunzite's Pair Lift, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate applied to Kunzite! Cleanse! All of Kunzite's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to brace Kunzite's Multiple Axel Kick, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Moon!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to counter Kunzite's Multiple Axel Kick, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Sword Strike, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kunzite!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly dodges Kunzite's Sit Spin Slasher, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Cure Rhythm narrowly dodges Kunzite's Multiple Axel Kick, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Rhythm's Fade ability activates! Cure Rhythm's Flash ability activates! Stun applied to Cure Rhythm!
COMBAT: Ami Mizuno fails to dodge Kunzite's Sit Spin Slasher, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Exhausted and Tangle applied to Ami Mizuno!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Cure Rhythm's kick seemed to have done the trick and breaks the pair up momentarily. She then gazed up at Sailor Moon's appearance and looks to the other girls in the fight. "I think we have better teamwork than you two!" she snapped at the pair. Then Mischa spun at her with his sharp blade spinning in the air.

Rhythm jumped but not in time to avoid her legs to get nicked by the enemy's blades. She winced and almost stumbled as she landed. "That stings," she muttered as she stood. "There maybe two of you, but that's not enough to beat us!" She leaped to attempt to take a punch at Mischa.

Meanwhile, Hummy crawled under the bleachers and made her way to the rink to get a closer look. It was hard to see from on top of the bleachers.

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Pretty Cure Punch on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to brace Cure Rhythm's Pretty Cure Punch, taking 18 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Sailor Moon - Sailor Moon's calling for her? The sense of quaking cold darkness in the heart of Nori Ankou vanishes for a moment, as she looks with wonder towards the sailor-suited soldier of love and justice.

Something in her... a cloud lifts. It will be back, of course; it is part of her for better or for worse, but for that instant she feels warm and light and wifty. She looks towards Mischa, or what was Mischa. He skates off... after his own partner.

Nori leans forwards. Because Janelyn is coming back towards her. And what does she do?

She skates towards Janelyn. "I did no such thing," she calls out. "If he's reluctant to work with you," as she switches feet with another powerful forward stroke, accelerating, "Then maybe you should," another, "look at," another, now she's getting closer -

Does 'not perishing by water' apply to ice skating? Nori wonders. This particular nuance on a blessing, perhaps metaphorical, regarding safety from shipwreck, suddenly seems really important. But, full of the fury of a Nori scorned, and the sudden warm loose soft strength that Sailor Moon has put into her heart...

"yourself!!" And with this she ducks low to try and smack into the side of Janelyn's knee, hopefully skating past after, to safety!

COMBAT: Nori Ankou fails to brace Kunzite's Homewrecker, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Nori Ankou!

COMBAT: Nori Ankou has used Sideswipe on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Nori Ankou has finished attacking.

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

When the skate's blade comes slashing up at the Magic Knight of Wind, her first thought is to materialize her sword to block it.

Unfortunately, her sword doesn't QUITE materialize with the speed of thought, and Mischa's spins are too fast and forceful for her to block all that effectively. Rather than getting her face sliced open, though, the Wind Knight manages to defend just well enough that she instead gets kicked further away from the rink, taking the end of a bench in the small of her back. Which still hurts pretty badly; it's good thing the backplate of her armor keeps the impact from breaking anything.

Right, so, no swords tonight at that rate. She manifests her bow and quiver instead, pulling out an arrow as she maneuvers herself up to one knee. Technically she should be fully standing for a proper archery stance, but this will do in a pinch ...

And her first arrow flies, aimed to try and catch Mischa at a slow point in his turns on the ice.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Basic Archery on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

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

Ice might not be Tsukiko's terrain of choice, but the skates do add more options than they take away. As Janelyn strikes forward, the wolfgirl darts sideways, putting on bursts of speed as she tries to keep ahead of the youma's slashing skates and changing directions to keep Janelyn from guessing her next move. It seems to work, although it's tough going.

As Janelyn starts skating after Nori, Tsukiko skates a small loop and then starts charging towards the youma. "Turning your back on a predator? Not a wise move!" the wolfgirl grins, her fanglies showing as she leaps twice -- once to gain height, then a second time as she brings her skates down on Janelyn!

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Overrun Bounce on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite narrowly braces Nori Ankou's Sideswipe, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Kunzite perfectly dodges Fuu Hououji's Basic Archery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! Kunzite's Fade ability activates! Kunzite's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Overrun Bounce, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched!

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

Pumping a fist high into the air, Sailor Moon cheers, "Nice shot Mercury!" Putting her hands out, she starts gesticulating with her palms at the youma pair, to try to distract them away further away from Nori, "W-Wait! I'm the one you want!" Suddenly they skate at her with incredible speed, and Sailor Moon finds herself gawking at how marvelous they are as a pair despite the discord.

A bladed kick comes her way, and all she can do is cross her arms and try to endure, only to be flung away casually with a shriek, her Fuku slashed in multiple places. Knocked onto the ice proper, she strikes it with a painful thud. Propping herself up on one arm, she slowly draws herself back up into a kneeling position just as she watches Nori attack Janelyn panicking somewhat, "Nori-chan! It's dangerous! That's a real Youma! You need to get clear!"

Wiping away her eyes, she rises to a standing position and starts to run forward on the ice, it's painfully awkward at first, but as she picks up momentum, she's able to gain enough traction to cross towards them. At the last moment, as she draws back a leg to send a powerful kick Mischa's way she starts to shout, "I'll show you elegance! Sailor Moon K-ah-whawhawhatisAIEEEEEEE!"

That's the moment that blades sprout out from her boots, turning them into skates, causing her feet to slip out from beneath her. Fortunately for Sailor Moon, the entirely spectacular fall causes her to gain some air time, sending her bladed boots upwards in a rising kick aimed towards Mischa's upper body. Unfortunately she then falls on her butt, which was getting quite cold from all of these incidents. "LUNA WHY CAN'T I SKATE WHEN I'M TRANSFORMED!" She wails from her place on the ground. "THIS IS UNFAIR!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Sailor Moon Kick on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Sailor Moon's Sailor Moon Kick, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Psyched!

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

Ami attempts to get some separation between herself and Janelyn, but unfortunately, the sailor-suited soldier can't quite manage it -- those strikes bite in hard, and she winces back from them. Maybe coming into mid-range was a bad idea, she reflects; maybe it'd be better if she /didn't/.

Starting to backpedal, Sailor Mercury crouches down near the wall, looking both of the youma over carefully. There's bound to be some kind of weakness there -- she needs time to figure it out, but... there's /something/, right?

She keeps an eye squarely on Sailor Moon's advance, hoping that it doesn't go /quite/ so poorly as hers. She takes a few nice, even breaths, trying to get herself steady.

COMBAT: Ami Mizuno has used Mercury Goggle on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Ami Mizuno has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite narrowly dodges Ami Mizuno's Mercury Goggle, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kunzite's Fade ability activates! Kunzite's Flash ability activates! Analysis performed by Ami Mizuno! Diversion applied to Kunzite!

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

Mischa, circling the rink, bears a confident smirk as he lands after yet another jumping spin. He slows to turn - spies the arrow coming, and turns the turn into yet another spin to evade the arrow. "Really, now. Did you think it would be so easy-" He's cut off, abruptly, as Cure Rhythm's ballistic charge lands with a fierce punch - apparently, he'd been listening for the sound of skates. Likewise, the diving kick of Sailor Moon from above catches him off guard; the bladed kick opens up a few more cuts in that dark tuxedo. "You - how did you jump like that?! You were supposed to be the clumsy ones!"

Janelyn, on the other hand, is in a terrible enough fury that she doesn't expect any kind of counterattack - the wild tackle sending a perfect track off course. She snarls in return - "I can't believe this - you're taking his side? Have you gone and deluded yourself into thinking you're the one who will make him stop wandering?" A falling wolf-girl slams skates into her shoulders, cutting off further condemnation, and she skates backwards to buy a bit of distance from Sailor Mercury's watchful gaze.

Retreating from wild charges and absurd leaps, the two skaters find themselves back to back. "...Mischa. They're mocking our skills - what kinds of partners we make. I think they're taking us too lightly."

Mischa nods, casting his gaze around. "Well, then. If you think you can keep up - it's high time we showed them the Dark Kingdom's strongest combination-"

"I don't care about your partnership. On the battlefield, victory is the only thing that matters."

The youma skater duo gasps in tandem, looking up to the roof supports - where a white-haired man with gold eyes hovers high above the ice. The ever-shifting colours shift to a shade of pink, illuminating Kunzite of the Dark Kingdom and his condemning look. "If you're going to kill Sailor Moon, do it now. No more prattle, no more debate. Act, or perish."

The two youma look at each other, nod, and clasp hands. They skate in tight circles, rotating faster and faster, until Mischa is spinning almost too fast to see. "We'll show you...the greatest of our skating techniques! The..." Janelyn, slowly, stretches out - orbiting Mischa blindingly fast before finally cutting loose in a wide swath.

All the pent-up momentum carries the pair around the mercifully largely-abandoned rink with terrifying speed and force - the ice splitting open in their wake as they cut through everyone around them in a single motion. "...DEATH SPIRAL!"

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Death Spiral on Sailor Moon.

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Death Spiral on Cure Rhythm.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Death Spiral on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Death Spiral on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Death Spiral on Ami Mizuno.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Death Spiral on Nori Ankou.
COMBAT: Kunzite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly dodges Kunzite's Death Spiral, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Sailor Moon's Fade ability activates! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Cure Rhythm fails to brace Kunzite's Death Spiral, taking 51 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to dodge Kunzite's Death Spiral, taking 53 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to counter Kunzite's Death Spiral, taking 46 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko's counterattack, High-Speed Kick, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kunzite!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon covers Nori Ankou for Kunzite's attack, Death Spiral, taking it upon themselves instead!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to dodge Kunzite's Death Spiral, taking 46 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury perfectly dodges Kunzite's Death Spiral, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Sailor Mercury's Fade ability activates! Sailor Mercury's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

Rhythm managed to land a punch before spinning and landing again on the ice. She made her wish she could be in Pretty Cure form while skating more often, it seemed to give her a better sense of balance for skating.

However, her luck seem to ran out as the yoma pair decided to team up for a death spiral. Wasn't that a figure skating skill?! There was no time to move and she attempted to brace, only for Mischa and Janelyn to hit her hard. Rhythm flew and slammed back into the wall. She hissed in pain as she struggled to stand up and held her arm tightly. "That...hurt," she muttered softly.

From the sidelines, watching through the opening Hummy gasped seeing Cure Rhythm in pain. "Nya! This isn't good!" she muttered, unable to stand to seeing her friends get hurt. Without thinking, she leaned out further as if getting an inche closer would ease the girl's pain. "Nya, wish there was something I could do-NYA!"

Suddenly, the little song fairy lost her footing and slipped onto the ice rink. Desperate to go back the way she came and get off the battle field, Hummy tried to run, but the affect only caused her to slip even more. Before she knew what was occurring, Hummy found herself sliding on the ice as if she was part penguin and flew in a straight line to the pair of yoma as fast as a bullet.

This was dangerous! If she wasn't careful, she was going to bump or worse cause someone to trip over her!

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Cats On Ice on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Cure Rhythm's Cats On Ice, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Kunzite!

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

"Well-" Sailor Moon looks at Mischa in chagrin, she hadn't jumped like that on purpose, it was because she slipped and fell! "-I'm just talented like that!" Climbing back to her feet and trying to ignore her cold and sore bottom, she looks towards Mercury who has her goggles on, "Mercury-chan! Do you see anything? We need to get an advantage here!" As she trusts Mercury's assessment completely.

On wobbling legs, another presence takes Sailor Moon off guard, like an electric shock, she looks upwards in fright, "Kunzite!" How could she ever forget how casually he'd turned aside their strongest attack? But she has no time, to quaver in fear, because the two are coming, blindingly fast and powerful in their technique. Panicking at the sight of Nori being so close to the center of the attack, she starts trying to walk towards Nori like she were some awkward penguin on bladed feet. But they're coming, and so Sailor Moon on instinct, desperately leaps before it even comes.

Odangos whirling, she turns, once, twice, three... four times into a /quadruple axel!/ The holy grail of competitive figure skating, she performs it on complete accident, before landing on one leg, skating backwards towards Nori in the camel position, leg outstretched, "I-I jumped! I did it!" But with no time to celebrate given the imminent deadly attack she reaches out and grasps ahold of Nori as she skates by, puts her leg down. "Nori-chan! You've got to trust me!" Without any more warning she scoop lifts her high into the air as elegantly as any Olympic duo, with one hand on her hip, and another on her leg, bringing her high above her leg.

Closing her eyes to steel herself against the coming pain, she leaps again, bolstered by her strength as a Mahou Shoujo, managing to turn once, twice- is another quadruple axel imminent while holding someone!? No the Death Spiral hits her head on, avoiding Nori only because of how high she was spun aloft, she's struck head on, taking the blow that was meant for her. Her shriek, as she's knocked out from under Nori, then slammed to the ground with incredible force is rather loud. She skids half-way across the arena, before striking the edge of it, and falling still.

After a moment, she moves again, but only to curl up into the fetal position, making horrible choking noises as she sobs in agony. Her whole body trembling with shock, she manages only to climb back to a single knee with some effort, her eyes wet with tears, "T-Thank goodness! Y-You're alright." Well despite the fact she probably fell, but that pain is nothing compared to getting hit by the Death Spiral!

Raising the Moon Stick, she points it at them, unable to even climb up to her feet again after taking such a colossal blow, the crescent moon glows, the silver crystal affixed to it glimmering with silver light, "Moon Twilight-" Suddenly, shining bloes of moonlit radiance fly off of it, spreading about the arena, before converging on Mischa and Janelyn's position in an attempt to strike them both. "-Flash!" They detonate with the brilliance of twilight, when Earth's celestial partner first comes into view, silhouetting anyone who remains in the epicenter with hues of violet, orange, and silver.

After Luna stops holding her breath at the sight of Sailor Moon crumpling, and takes a long one after she gets up, she spots Hummy in on the ice. Leaping up onto the railing of the rink, she shrieks out, "You nitwit! Get out of there! You're going to get yourself hurt!"

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Moon Twilight Flash on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite narrowly braces Sailor Moon's Moon Twilight Flash, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

After that slam, Nori answers with unwonted heat, "No, I am saying you are awful!" She's survived for now; she pivots around, skidding to a halt and looking towards the space leading to the locker room. Oh, she thinks, Batiste would be bringing me my bag now, and everything would be well, and all manner of things would be well--

If they weren't teaming up.

That momentary head-rush of friendship is fading. Sailor Moon has her friend. Cure Rhythm has her kitty. Even the Magic Knight has her fiery friend. Nori Ankou's friend is far away - and he is the only one. Other Sirens, even if she knew them well, would be enemies.

She really is alone. And then -

Spinning, jumping, coming nearer, is Sailor Moon once more. Nori looks up at her, and doesn't have time to think. She leans into the scoop - and finds herself risen up high. "You - Sailor Moon, you came back -- Gah!!" She lands in an uncomfortably splayed position, but she skates swiftly, nearer to Sailor Moon, crouching near her. "Sailor Moon --"

Even as she raises the Moon Stick, Nori scoots behind her. When Luna yells, Nori, naturally enough, thinks it's aimed at her. Her head lolls forwards.

She curls herself downwards as best she can. It is not, perhaps, the most adaptive of reactions. 'I wonder,' she thinks to herself: 'Is it like this for all of them... Every time?'

COMBAT: Nori Ankou has finished attacking.

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

Tsukiko lashes out with a kick as the two youma spin around, but the momentum is not in her favor, and she is sent sprawling by the collision. The wolfgirl winces as she stands back up, looking around at the others. The fight doesn't seem to be going that well, especially against two youma fighting in their ideal environment.

Still, all of them are still fighting, and Tsukiko refuses to give up as long as there's still a chance. As the blast of Sailor Moon's attack starts to clear, the wolfgirl is skating forward, circling around the two youma, feinting kicks at them and trying to keep them off-balance -- and immobilized.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Herd the Quarry on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Herd the Quarry, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Trap applied to Kunzite!

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

Not only is her arrow dodged, but the retaliatory Death Spiral lives up to its name, even with the distance that the Wind Knight hoped was going to protect her against what had been a primarily close-combat pair of opponents. And this time, her only option for evading is to go flat on the floor ... which she's in an awkward position to try for, honestly.

And it doesn't offer that much more protection, either, as she finds out when the spiral lashes across her body. She doesn't take the time to look but she's *certain* that she's bleeding now ... not that she has time to investigate, or to try a healing spell on herself.

She gets back to her feet, wincing as each movement reminds her how badly she's hurt, Maybe she *should* heal herself ... but there are a couple of people on the ice who look substantially the worse for wear.

"Winds of Healing!" the Magic Knight calls out, saving some of the spell to staunch her wounds, but sending most of it to Sailor Mercury and to Nori Ankou. At her first glance, Sailor Moon looked like she might benefit from it too, but by the time Fuu starts casting the spell, she has to wonder if that was as bad as she thought ...

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Healing on Nori Ankou.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Healing on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Nori Ankou accepts Fuu Hououji's Winds of Healing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Nori Ankou's debuffs are cleared!

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

As the ice splits open from Mischa and Janelyn's spiraling speed, Sailor Mercury dives over the boards completely; it's a last-second dive, but it just barely clears all that tearing, splitting ice. Breathing a momentary sigh of relief, she takes a second to say, "They're very fast -- try to keep them under pressure!"

Sailor Mercury thinks she has at least /some/ idea of how to keep them under that pressure, too; if their strength is their reaction rate, then... it's safest to reduce the amount of time they have to react to things, right?

Right.

Throwing up her hands as she stands up, Sailor Mercury calls out, "Sabao --" and then thrusts them out forcefully, wreathing both youma in bubbles as she finishes, "Spray!"

As she does so, she's wreathed in those pleasant, healing lights; she breathes in deeply, feeling herself invigorated.

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury accepts Fuu Hououji's Winds of Healing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sailor Mercury's debuffs are cleared!

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Sabao Spray on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Sailor Mercury's Sabao Spray, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Blind, Cripple, and Stun applied to Kunzite!

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

As the Death Spiral is unleashed - a figure skating classic turned into a more literal horror - there are screams from those portions of the crowd not pounding at the doors - fear, for the sake of those still struggling on the ice. As the last devastating circuit slows to merely swift tandem skating, Mischa and Janelyn laugh. "This is our partnership - the strongest combination!"

From above, Kunzite looks over the rink with more judgmental eyes. Sailor Moon still breathes - not a single enemy outright slain - and he lets out a sigh. "Disappointing. Was that really your best?"

The skaters, glancing up in fear, move to begin the spiral again - and then a ballistic cat trips up Mischa. Perfect poise becomes frantic flailing becomes falling to the surface of the ice, Janelyn sliding briefly out of control. "You - how can you have -fallen- like that, you - AAAAH!" Radiant moonlight shines and sears, hammering both skaters with its light. High above them, Kunzite lets out a hiss as he's a moment slow in putting up his barrier.

Separated by a stray cat, seared by moonlight, the two youma have turned from predators to prey - Tsukiko's assault driving them further into a corner. Sailor Mercury's bubbles swarm the pair, briefly trapping them in blinding bubbles, and they shout in furious defiance.

Kunzite heaves a sigh. "Enough of these disappointments. That was your chance, and you wasted it." He snaps his fingers, and a dark orb appears - embedding itself in the air conditioning systems, and forcing them beyond full power. Icy winds bear down on the entire area, freezing everything - the bubble-wreathed youma first and foremost, but all those on the ice, all those pounding at the doors...the cold is setting in.

"I'll return to claim the ice statues you'll become." With that quip, Kunzite fades from sight as the temperature drops...

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Growing Chill on Cure Rhythm.

COMBAT: Kunzite has used Growing Chill on Sailor Moon.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Growing Chill on Nori Ankou.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Growing Chill on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Cold-Hearted on Fuu Hououji.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Cold-Hearted on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
COMBAT: Kunzite has used Cold-Hearted on Kunzite.
COMBAT: Kunzite has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite accepts Kunzite's Cold-Hearted, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Trap applied to Kunzite!
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly braces Kunzite's Cold-Hearted, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Block ability activates! Cripple and Trap applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!
COMBAT: Cure Rhythm narrowly braces Kunzite's Growing Chill, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Cure Rhythm!
COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to dodge Kunzite's Growing Chill, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Sailor Moon!
COMBAT: Nori Ankou narrowly braces Kunzite's Growing Chill, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Nori Ankou's Block ability activates! Nori Ankou's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Nori Ankou!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji perfectly counters Kunzite's Cold-Hearted, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Storm-Dance of Kamaitachi, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kunzite!
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury fails to brace Kunzite's Growing Chill, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Trap applied to Sailor Mercury!

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

While Tsukiko's outfit does help warm her, it's not that effective against magically-overclocked air conditioners. Her skating is slowing down, and she's shivering pretty badly. Running a hand through her bangs, the wolfgirl takes a strand of her hair and holds it in her cupped hands.

"W-wolf's Blessing!" she breathes, blowing on her hands in an effort to warm them up -- and perhaps help warm up her spirit.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Wolf's Blessing on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.

COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Wolf's Blessing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.

"Hummy!" Cure Rhythm cried as she saw the familiar cat knock over the demon skating pair. It would have ben quite hilarious if Rhythm wasn't so worried for the fairy's safety. With shaky legs, Rhythm flew on her skates and scooped up the cat.

Hummy looked dizzy as Rhythm checked her over. "Nya, ice is cold," Hummy muttered. "And those two skaters aren't harmonized." Rhythm laughed softly to herself as she lifted Hummy over to the sidelines. "Stay here, it's safer," Rhythm instructed before going back to join the battle.

Hummy shook her head to rid herself of the dizzyness, when her memory clicked upon hearing a voice from behind. She glanced up to Luna with an innocent grin. "Nya! Thanks for caring about me, Luna-chan!"

At the same moment, Rhythm raced back to the battle only for Kunzite to appear. She was ready to snap back at him, when blast of icy winds struck her down. Rhythm cried in pain as the cold clung to her skin. It was so cold it was hurting her lungs. She glanced to her other battle companions, many of them unable to move in this frozen states.

"Have to do something," Rhythm muttered. "What would Melody do.." She glanced up where the source of the icy winds was coming from and an idea struck her. "Hope...this...works," she grunted forcing herself to stand up. She hugged herself for warmth as she prepared and launched herself in the air at the air conditioning. One punch, all she needed was one good punch and break the source of their trouble.

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Pretty Cure Uppercut on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Cure Rhythm's Pretty Cure Uppercut, taking 30 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Soothing winds wash over Nori. They feel funny, now, she thinks. It's not the first time she's felt them, after all. They give her the courage to at least straighten up -

And then the world becomes ice. She slams back against the wall, which at least means she is flash frozen in a way that will be hard for Kunzite to collect later.

Am I becoming an iceberg...? she wonders: Is this how the northern ice feels...? It's almost so cold I can't feel it...

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

An artificial blizzard begins to howl through the skating rink ... and the Wind Knight shouts, "STORM-DANCE OF KAMAITACHI!!" as she unleashes stormy winds of her own, magic against machinery. It's not enough to protect her allies, but the tornado is enough to protect *her* - if only just barely. But it won't last; if the air conditioners don't break from the overclocking, or something, then she's going to succumb to the cold as well - it just might take a little longer.

She readies another arrow, hoping that Cure Rhythm's punch will disable the system - sure, it'll stop the air CIRCULATING, but that's less of a worry than freezing to death ...

Then she leaves her tornado to take care of itself and focuses on gathering her magic, her body moving through the long-practiced routine of nocking an arrow, lowering her bow, pulling the string back, and allowing her arrow to point at the target - at the two youma skaters. The wind picks up around her - maybe just eddies from the Storm-Dance of the Kamaitachi, but those who've seen the Wind Knight prepare this particular attack might pick up on her true preparations ...

"Gale Arrow!!"

The bowstring twangs softly, and the arrow is propelled towards Mischa and Janelyn not by the bow alone, but by a powerful wind that steadies its flight as well as hurling it forward.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Gale Arrow on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

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

Nodding swiftly to Mercury, Sailor Moon repeats, "Right! Can you make it harder for them to move as they pl-aha, you did it Mercury!" Sailor Moon lets out a pained cheer, even as the battlefield is covered in bubbles which burst into mist. "Stay behind me." Sailor Moon says softly to Nori. "If you see an opening, then run."

But she never gets the chance to follow up on Mercury's advice, for Sailor Moon is witness to the true depths of Kunzite's cruelty once more. Just like the time she watched him punch a hole through Nephrite's chest. He abandons his Youma to die to his own trap, an orb of dark power. It's all she can do to stare, with wide eyes, "Kunzite! You'd just abandon them!?" But then a moment later, the cold overtakes her, she's shivering so much that her teeth start to rattle, and she crosses her arms just to ward off the chill.

"Who w-would c-c-care a-a-a-a-about you!?" That's the sound of Luna being overwhelmed by the cold too, with her retort to Hummy.

Standing up fully, she notices that her legs are becoming extremely numb, as rime forms over them. Looking around to the people pounding on the doors, with the pounding grow less as the cold overcomes them. Closing her eyes, she remembers the promise she made on Tanabata. It wasn't a promise that she intended to keep entirely by herself. There was Pretty Cure here, a wolfgirl, a Magic Knight, and her dear friend and fellow Senshi, Sailor Mercury. But it was a promise that she intended to keep all the same.

Even as ice forms over her odangos, Sailor Moon makes a slow, trembling movement with her hand, the moon stick shining with energy as she spins it in a flourish. With her legs caught in frost, she couldn't exactly turn as effectively, so she holds the Moon Stick High, light glinting off it amongst even this storm of freezing air. It shines, pinwheel like, as stardust floats off of it, spreading across the arena, "Moon Healing-"

She uses the Moon Stick to draw a perfect circle of moonlit luminescence, before pointing it between the air conditioning systems above, and the figure skating Youma partners below. "-Escalation!" The circle bursts into stardust, as spheres of healing radiance shines across the skating rink. But can it possibly banish darkness this deep?

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Moon has used Moon Healing Escalation on Kunzite.

COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kunzite fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Gale Arrow, taking 39 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Fuu Hououji is Psyched!

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

Under many circumstances, Sailor Mercury is friend to the cold; here, however, it's just too much, and she feels her muscles starting to shut down from the cold. Shivering, she huddles behind the wall still, trying to get over the sudden chill. She swallows hard, breathing out and watching her breath crystallize.

"Everyone -- try to keep moving and stay warm!" is all Ami can offer for this one; she's /hoping/ it doesn't come to that, but... if only Rei were here...

She feels as though she probably /shouldn't/ do anything else for now, lest she add more ice to the already chilled battlefield-- so she just keeps bobbing in place, trying to stay warm and prevent the formation of ice crystals.

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Tactical Advisory on Sailor Moon.

COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has used Tactical Advisory on Sailor Mercury.
COMBAT: Sailor Mercury has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon accepts Sailor Mercury's Tactical Advisory, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sailor Moon's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Kunzite narrowly dodges Sailor Moon's Finisher, Moon Healing Escalation, taking 83 Fatigue damage! Kunzite is unable to keep fighting! Kunzite's Fade ability activates! Kunzite's Flash ability activates!

<Pose Tracker> Kunzite [None] has posed.

Abandoned by Kunzite, the youma pair struggle against the ice - Mischa draping what's left of his cape protectively over Janelyn - as the cold gradually sets in. The ice cracks, the path carved by the Death Spiral splitting wider and wider.

The crowds near the doors shiver, cold washing over them as well - an unnatural chill, beyond any the machinery should be able to produce. Frost spreads its tendrils over everyone and everything, and all seems lost...almost.

In desperation, a windstorm strains against the power of the possessed air conditioning system - warding off the chill for a few desperate moments. Tsukiko's prayer largely brings warmth to herself, but a few heartbeats of hope seem to spread through the area. And driven by a wild thought, Cure Rhythm leaps up to plant a fist firmly in the heart of the dark power.

It cracks. Not entirely, but it's a weakness - and the terrible chill begins to die down. Still brutally cold, but survivable.

The wind howls anew as Fuu unleashes an arrow at the two youma - the force of the arrow's passage catching them in its wake, slamming them together as they careen toward the wall. Frozen bubbles are carried with them, ice crashing against ice in a cacophony - and then there is radiant moonlight bearing down on the pair.

They struggle to move, in spite of everything. Self-sacrifice could save one of them, teamwork might save both - but screaming invectives against the other, each is too caught up in blaming and trying to sacrifice their partner to accomplish anything. The light crashes into the injured pair of youma, purifying - and with a cry of 'Refreshing!', the two fall.

Ordinary humans, restored to their normal forms, lie where the youma had stood. The area immediately around them is restored, the dark orb gradually dwindling in power...and with a shuddering clack, the barriers over the exits open themselves. Letting out a relieved cheer, the crowd wastes no time in escaping the ice rink.

But the important question goes unanswered. Who was the best skater?