2017-01-29 - Kotatsu of Sorrow

Title: Kotatsu of Sorrow
Summary: On a brutally cold day, there's trouble when Labyrinth tries to claim the last kotatsu in the shop.
Who: Westar, Cure Passion, |Cure Pine, Cure Fortune, Garnet, Sailor Jupiter, Kasagami Araki
Where: Shibuya Shopping Ward
OOC - IC Date: 2017-01-29 - December 24, 2014

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.

"One remaining, folks, one remaining! After this, we are out, out, out of stock - so it'll be sold to the highest bidder!"

There's a commotion in front of an appliance store in Shibuya - many shops have closed up entirely in light of the brutal winter storm, but others have lights on as they attempt to peddle in the snowpocalypse. Those places selling home appliances have notices in their windows - electric blankets are out of stock, space heaters are sold out, anything even remotely connected to warmth is harder and harder to get...except for this. One final prize, and the shop's seedy-looking owner is milking it for all it's worth.

"Twenty thousand! I'll pay twenty thousand!"

"Twenty-two!"

"Twenty-five!"

The shopkeeper rubs his hands together, grinning as he mutters to himself. "Saving stock for the very peak...sometimes I surprise even myself!" And then he calls out to the shivering crowd. "How about thirty, do I hear-"

"One Data Diamond!"

The crowd, as a whole freezes. The voice came from above - standing atop a snowed-in delivery truck stands Westar, Executive of Labyrinth, bare-armed and slowly frosting over. In one hand, he holds a yellow diamond. Those who had seen his actions before murmur, and some start to try to get out of the way; others are a little bolder, if diminished by the cold. "Who are- " "You can't-"

"I am Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Lord Mobius! This device, which brings joy and warmth..." He shivers a moment, rubbing his arms for warmth, then continues. "...now it shall bring you misery, and belong to the forces of Labyrinth! N-n-n-nakewameke! Obey my command!"

The diamond is flung, striking the small table on display to a desperate crowd. Smoke billows, and many start running - and then there are shouts and cries of panic, as a monster is revealed. Robotic in appearance, towering and broad, with legs strong enough to withstand the deepest snow.

It's very wide, wearing a colourful quilt as if it's a cloth - and from where the edges brush the ground, steam can be seen billowing up. It's a giant robotic table, with cloth and heat - its name is known to all, and joy turns to misery as it bellows out its identity.

"KOTAAAATSUUUUUU!"

COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!

COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 4 opponents!

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

Someone would have to be *incredibly* desperate--or incredibly determined--to brave the winter storm and torrential snows for... really just about anything. Christmas Eve marks the beginning of winter break for students, but it's also a day of love for couples. Makoto hasn't had a date in a long while, and the last person she dated turned out to be... not really interested in her for her, let's put it. At her apartment, she has a working kotatsu, and her stove is still operational, and she's got sweaters and hot chocolate aplenty, though admittedly she's running low on groceries after such a long snow, but what gets *her* out into this storm is looking out the window, thinking how romantic it would be to watch the storm while cuddled up with someone nice on the couch under a blanket, and whispering, "Senpai..."

Half an hour later, Makoto Kino is loaded to the gills with warm clothes, from hat to scarf to mittens to coat to leggings to boots, determined to do--/something/, she's not exactly sure yet, but it feels right to get out there and haul around in the bitter cold. At the very least, it takes her mind off her romantic woes, so at least it's working.

But then, as she makes her way through Shibuya, she overhears the bellow of a monster, and turns to see a kotatsu Nakewameke rear up over the crowd through a plume of smoke.

"Westar?!" she utters--the yellow diamonds are his, right? Though, either way, this is *exactly* what she was looking for! With the snows this thick, she barely needs to duck into an alleyway to transform, but some habits are good to maintain.

"Jupiter Star Power - Make Up!"

A moment later, Sailor Jupiter appears, leaping down in front of the kotatsu with a look of anger on her face. "Westar! How dare you turn one of the most beloved items of winter into a tool to gather misery?! Even if Santa Claus forgives you, in the name of Jupiter, I will not!!" Jupiter twists around and jerks a thumb at her face, glare fierce and ferocious. "The sailor-suited pretty soldier of love and courage, Sailor Jupiter, has arrived! I'll fill you with so much regret, it'll leave you numb!!"

COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used In The Name Of Jupiter on Westar.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's In The Name Of Jupiter, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! Diversion and Stagger applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Earlier~

The Yamabuki animal hospital is crowded to the bursting with stray animals. Warming blankets and portable heaters are on everywhere. And right now three girls are experiencing the miracle of life as a mother gives birth to puppies. "Merry Christmas everyone." In a corner crowded by surge protectors that have been daisy chained only by necessity, an adorable fairy cat shivers.

Her heater had been taken to help warm the expecting mother and the swell of heat not being directly on her just isn't enough for her after being accidentally exposed to the draft from outdoors caused in the aftermath of a fairy tone(Or fari tone) rampage. Right now the fairy tones- free of their katamari predicament are working a plug into the last remaining outlets of a unit brought they just brought out of storage, "Y-y-you're a-a-all l-l-lifesavers n-nyaa!" Fari proudly clicks on the switch to high- and the coils start glowing red. There's the sound of a fuse guttering out and then the whole hospital goes black.

For a few seconds there's only silence other than the mews of kittens and the barks of puppies before one of the fairy tones pipes up, "Hibiki did it~fafa."

Now~

After all the animals were moved, a process which only took only a few /hours/ of trudging through snow in one of the worst storms ever- the girls were on the look out for something a little more energy efficient so the Momozonos didn't suffer the same fate. This took them to Shibuya- which means they transformed for the trip, since the trains weren't actually running.

"Sold out?" Inori Yamabuki shivers as she looks at the sign, then at her companion. "Even in the city... we can't afford a whole kotatsu. What do you think? Maybe the next store will have something?"

But then, "One Data Diamond!" 'buki freezes, "Right now!?" 'buki looks with disbelief. She thought the storm would deter even Labyrinth. She thought /wrong/- as she gestures for Setsuna to follow down a frosted alleyway.

"Change! Pretty Cure - Beat Up!"

Girded for battle, Cure Pine leaps into the snow just outside of the store, "Westar! It's too dangerous outside for you to be doing something like this to desperate people who just want to stay warm on Christmas!" Driving straight forward, she rears back her fist and after a short hop drives it dead center into the table portion of the Nakewameke.

COMBAT: Inori Yamabuki transforms into Cure Pine!

COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.
COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Exhausted applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Setsuna Higashi is on a very important mission. She is also very, very, very chilly. She's bundled up in extra layers, tights on under her pants and a red coat and boots and scarf and gloves and her face is chilly too. But at least the exercise was good. After all...

Earlier, Setsuna, who's often happy to help out with Buki's family's animal hospital--helped move rather a lot of animals to her house, and it was good for her to get out of the house on the one hand... But on the other...

Well, on the bright side the trip was easier when transformed. But on the downside, she's not anymore. Regardless she stands there with Inori, looking up at the same sign, her scarf wrapped around her mouth and nose. She looks guilelessly with big red eyes at her ompanion over the sign, shivering again herself. When Buki asks, Setsuna reaches up to pull down her scarf, "It's worth--"

Setsuna stops. Setsuna blinks. ...And Setsuna recognizes the voice. Rushing along with Buki she darts into the alley and...

"Change! Pretty Cure! - Beat Up!"

Likewise prepared for battle, Cure Passion somersaults into the snow beside her teammate. "Westar!" The pink-haired Cure calls, imperiouly. "...Don't tell me you /like/ this weather." A shake of her head before she rushes forward after Buki, darting to her side. "I won't let you hurt these people /or/ keep that kotatsu!"

She leaps up and punches straight down for the Nakewameke--and then spins midstrike to kick it with concrete-busting force.

COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!

COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Flash Feint on Westar.
COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki transforms into Crimson Rose Duelist!

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

The freezing cold isn't too much of a problem for one Kasagami Araki. The other Executive in the area happens to find the chill weather thrilling in an extreme-conditions kind of way. It helps that Kasagami's a fan of certain American survival tv shows.

Her (newly replaced) black coat is bundled up around her, scarf tight about her neck, and thus it is that her Student Council Uniform is almost completely hidden. There's also a suspiciously sword-shaped bundle of cloth in her left hand. A very long one in fact.

Her target isn't the shifty store selling overpriced appliances. No, it's the coffee shop next door that's stayed open against all odds. It's a mixture of impossibly loyal salarymen, teenagers out on a lark, and a punk or two with a taste for coffee. After a quick razzing of one punk and one Ohtori student out way past curfew, she's ordered a nice, strong coffee to keep her warm in her own egregious violation of school rules.

Being Student Council has it's upsides.

And then there's an explosion, people fleeing from the store next door. Sipping her coffee as other people hunker down in fear, Kasagami jogs over to the door of the coffee shop. She leans out, one eye narrowed, as she scans what's going on. A massive...is that a Kotatsu!? A swivel to Westar, then to Jupiter. She listens, observes, and grips her sword. The way he speaks, about misery, about this Mobius...definitely someone here to cause pain and misfortune. And on Christmas Eve of all nights!

A Dark General has come to harm her Kingdom in the making, and it sparks a deep rage in Kasagami. The coffee shop is filled with a wonderful scent, a whirlwind of roses sweeps past her, the young woman left with red highlights and a coat festooned with the floral crimson petals. Those in the shop are left bewildered, several passed out.

WHAM! That's the sound of a door being thrown off of it's hinges as the Crimson Duelist stalks through the snow towards the giant Kotatsu youma and it's creator! She stops, even as Jupiter finishes her speech and Pine goes punching like no one's business! Her coffee-holding hand reaches out, and points at Westar, sword arm at her side as she leans at an elegant yet rakish angle! Point!

"What kind of /Executive/ goes out and ruins the most romantic day of the year!? Who're you to stop lovers and friends from snuggling under the warmth of a kotatsu!? I, who will be this world's King, won't allow such a thing! Go warm up back home with your own friends and family!"

And then, her coffee cup is sipped once, before she gives a perfect baseball pitch. That now rose-scented, petal-adorned cup of expensive latte flies for the offending other Executive's face!

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Warm Up Westar-kun! on Westar.

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Iona Hikawa [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Iona Hikawa isn't here! She's back at home under her own kotatsu. She likes her kotatsu, all toasty and warm. She even has a friend over!

Well, said friend is Glassan, a familiar fairy, who has snuggled inside the kotatsu as well. They sigh, content in the fact that they're inside the warm house, and not outside in the freezing cold.

But from where Glassan is sitting, she has a view to the outside, and Glassan's eyes catch motion from the outside-- smoke. The fairy slides out from under the quilt and makes her way to the window, causing Iona to stir and watch her fairy. Glassan looks out the window for a few moments, before suddenly turning to Iona in a panic. "Iona, there's trouble at Shibuya!"

Iona immediately pulls from the kotatsu, and grabs her mirror. "Right."

So it's no surprise when Cure Fortune comes streaking out of the skies, boot aimed directly for the Kotatsu. If it hits, all the better, but regardless she rebounds off the impact, flipping in the air and landing a few feet away. Unlike a few other Pretty Cures, Cure Fortune doesn't mince words, she just stares daggers at the Nakewameke, and its controller.

COMBAT: Iona Hikawa transforms into Cure Fortune!

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Kick on Westar.
COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Flash Feint, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched! Exhausted applied to Westar!
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Kasagami Araki's Warm Up Westar-kun!, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Kick, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune is Psyched! Stun applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.

It's brutally cold, and the number of available kotatsus has just dwindled from one to zero as a towering robot of steel and darkness looms. Its colourful quilt-mantle sweeps over snowbanks, melting them in moments as a promise of what heat this appliance-turned-monster could be providing...had Labyrinth not hijacked it.

This, however, has not gone unopposed. Westar hears his name called, and turns to behold Sailor Jupiter - glowering in fury, and shouting accusations his way. He answers her pose with one of his own, slapping a hand on his bicep. "Neither you nor Santa need to say anything - everything belongs to Mobius! This is just going to belong to him a little sooner - and good luck bringing that much regret! My arms are already going numb!"

The sleeveless outfit may have been a mistake.

That half-frozen arm gets thawed in a hurry as a hurled cup of coffee splashes against it, eliciting a surprised yelp. The Labyrinth Executive's gaze is drawn over to the Crimson Duelist, confusion on his face at the new challenger. "What kind?! An executive of Labyrinth, that's who! Who do you think you are - it's Mobius who will rule this world, and under his supervision, there's no need for any of this 'romance'! So just step aside, and let-"

Wham! Wham! Wham!

In rapid succession, three Pretty Cure make their entrance with staggering efficiency - Cure Fortune's silent kick strikes from one angle, Cure Pine's punch dead center, and Cure Passion's kick blindsiding the giant machine-monster to finish the job. The triple impact sends it staggering one step, then another, and it lands heavily against the side of that greedy appliance store.

Somewhere, a gauge drips as its owner realizes the damage this late opening has brought him.

"Dangerous?! It's dangerous for you to jump around in weather like this! And I don't like it, Eas - if Mobius just controlled temperature here, we wouldn't have this problem!" He rubs his hands together, privately bemoaning his lack of gloves. "But just try to stop me - or better yet, come back to Labyrinth! We'll have a kotatsu soon!"

"Nake...." Slowly, the kotatsu-monster rises up once more, colourful mantle billowing out. There's a sudden rush of heat as the cloth parts a moment - swiftly replaced by the return of that bitter, bitter cold. "...wameke!" From beneath the mantle, hidden arms suddenly fling wide, hurling projectiles at Sailor Jupiter and the Crimson Duelist - the fruit most suited to a kotatsu, friendly citrus fruits.

And then it lunges forward - and the very air seems to hiss as it lashes out at the Precure who struck it. The hands at the ends of the arms are like coils, and they're glowing - instantly evaporating whatever snow they touch. Careful, they're hot...!

COMBAT: Westar has used Orange You Cold? on Sailor Jupiter.

COMBAT: Westar has used Orange You Cold? on Kasagami Araki.
COMBAT: The entered attack name could match more than one available attack. Please try being more specific.
COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Fortune.
COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Pine.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!
COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 23 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to brace Westar's Orange You Cold?, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Jupiter!
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki perfectly dodges Westar's Orange You Cold?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Cure Fortune!
COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Cripple applied to Cure Passion!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs71P6z9LZ8

She's glad that there are others here. Fortune and Jupiter and more! She didn't expect so many with everyone to show with so many stranded by the snow. Impact is made- alongside the other two Pretty Cure. And Pine tries to kick off of it- only to be struck in mid-air by an arm coil- glowing red hot by her right arm. It strikes her down to the street, crashing her into concrete, and causing a giant furrow in the snow flurries. "Gh-hothothothothot-"

Pine rolls over to stick her right arm squarely in the ice. "Ahhhhh~" Relief radiates off her as much as heat when the snow does it's work of cooling the burn. There's one long exhalation as she rolls over in the snow. "Just a second... need a second..."

Drawing herself up to her feet she dusts snow off with her good arm to give the other one a look. After a quick inspection. "All I want to do is get home to make sure a litter of puppies are doing alright. You're the reason we're having to jump around in the snow."

You know it's strange. Christmas is supposed to be a romantic holiday! And yet she didn't feel any regrets for having noone to spend it with like that.

To her taking care of that litter of newborn pups was the best possible way to spend her Christmas.

There's a look of desperation she gives sidelong to Cure Passion. The puppies were definitely in good hands and good company but...

But in that shared moment, something passes between them. And with a nod, she takes off into a run- as she pumps hard and vaults up into the air-

The two girls meet in the air, Pine descends in time with her- a single bright boot extended. The two of them drive hard into the Nakewameke with two shouts in unison, "Double Pretty Cure Kick!"

And just after impact- she adds one thing, "And call her Cure Passion - It's Christmas!" Wait is she implying that should be Westar's Christmas gift to Setsuna!? How greedy! And after he went to all that trouble getting them a Kotatsu!

COMBAT: Cure Pine has started a combo targeting Westar!

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

Westar tells Jupiter that she'll have a tough time making him feel any number than he already does, and Jupiter--pauses. "Yeah, that's a good point," she grumbles, eyeballing him. Her own transformation gives her some protection from the elements (otherwise, there's no way she could have made it through the North Pole in a mini-skirt), but apparently not everyone's so lucky. "If you're so cold, why did you even come out here?!"

But before he can answer, several Pretty Cures CAREEN in, two chiding Westar for basically the same in, one not even wasting her breath. They're not the only ones to arrive; the Crimson Duelist appears, talks about how *she* is totally going to rule the world kthx, and pitches her cup of coffee at the enemy. Jupiter, however, is furrowing her eyebrows at her. Sailor Moon told her about her kidnapping, and described the people responsible... And this woman...

"Hey," she says angrily, squaring up against the Crimson Duelist. "Are you--"

WHAM.

Jupiter, don't forget: you're still fighting Westar and his Nakewameke.

Skidding back along the snow under the cannonball size and force of a delightfully fruity mikan orange, Jupiter struggles to get back onto her feet. That really blind-sided her--teach her to look away while fighting an enemy! As much as she hates having to fight alongside someone who kidnapped one of her best friends, she can't just ignore the Nakewameke, as Westar has so kindly reminded her. After a moment, Jupiter shoves the giant mikan off herself and into the air with a mighty and angry roar, then staggers up to her feet, glaring at the monster. As the orange begins to fall, she rears back her fist--and then POW! She punches it right back into the Nakewameke!!

Or punches clear through the orange. You know. Either or.

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

Jupiter, for her part, gets a look. Mostly of confusion. "...Huh? Do I know you?" Someone hasn't gotten the memo about the sailor senshi, it seems! But then there's more important things going on! Like Westar. And giant kotatsu's!

That eye narrows harder, glaring right into Westar's own. Teeth grit, before she turns her attention to that attacking youma! It's huge! "A world without love and romance isn't something I'll accept! Sounds like you're my competition then! I won't hold back!"

And as much as she'd like to tangle with Westar, there's a giant kotatsu rampaging! Specifically, tossing fruit! Lots of fruit! An entire market's worth of fruit! At first Kasagami has to step to the side to barely avoid the first barrage, whistling as it rakes a cut across her shoulder! "This better not be simple conbenie fruit!"

Then her sword flashes, slicing aside several more of the incoming delicious edibles! A spin, a cut, pause. That sword moves like lightning despite it's length, slashing aside fruit like a blender. What she can't cut, she dodges in great pirouettes and jukes, a dancing, elegant style that finally sends a shower of flying fruit up into the air! She wipes the near-frozen sweat off her brow, straightens her now slashed-up coat, and catches the fallen fruit along the length of her blade!

"That's not a weak youma. I'll give you that, Executive of Labyrinth! Let me show you the power of the Disciplinary Executive!"

Then, she leaps up, rebounds off of the side of the coffee shop's wall, and flies high above the fruit-flinging kotatsu!

All around her sword, those halves of fruit are consumed by growing roses! Happy fruit blossoms into dark crimson flowers! They grow more and more numerous as Kasagami floats in the air. Both hands grip her sword! And then she makes a single slash in the air as she gets some impressive hang-time, hair and coat fluttering as she sports a cocky, self-confident smile.

Those very same petals around her sword gather in a dance more appropriate to spring, and with just as much warmth. It's a dance of life, ambition, desire and longed-for romance all wrapped up in those magical crimson rose petals as they begin their dance.

They slice more keenly than any sword should they touch the kotatsu, but against the Pretty Cure and Jupiter? Nothing more than potentially allergy-choking roses so known to Ohtori.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Passion appreciates the others here too; she even sees Fortune. But she has things to say, more than usual for her. "I happen to /like/ romance, Westar!" Passion heard the words that inspired that line though, glanced over to see Kasagami's approach. "But even if I didn't I wouldn't come back to Labyrinth! I don't care if you have a kotatsu, I have a kotatsu too!"

She ducks under to recover from her kick, "And even if it gets really, extremely, unbearably cold here, I'd still--" Turn, "Rather stay" bend at the knees, "On earth!"

But just as she's moving to strike again, the Nakewameke charges, and instinctively Passion throws her arms up before herself as she leaps away. This proves to be a mistake; it's /hot/, burning her forearms as she grits her teeth in pain.

"Hey!" she calls out to Kasagami, "Stop it with the Executive stuff! Don't think I've forgotten the last time I saw you!" Passion starts wheeling back, and catches Cure Pine's words, looking to her as she mentions the puppies. "Right..." She smiles faintly. "That's why we're here!" Pine looks at her in desperation, and Passion looks at her like every time she gets to share something with her friend is the first time. She nods back--and takes into a run, moving the other direction, bending and /leaping/ into the air--

Passion descends in time with Pine, a single red boot extended. She shouts with her, "Double Pretty Cure Kick!" as they impact.

As she's bouncing off she hears Pine's addition, and makes it to the ground in a stuck landing beside her. "Thank you, Pine!"

COMBAT: Cure Passion has joined the combo started by Cure Pine!

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Orange You Mad!! on Westar.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Orange You Mad!!, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Westar!
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Dance in the Petals on Westar.
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: COMBO! Cure Pine and Cure Passion have used Combo: Merry Christmas with Love Signed Pretty Cure!, composed of Pretty Cure Fresh Kick, on Westar.
COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Fortune continues to watch the Nakewameke, attempting to try and predict its actions to avoid them, or find an opening to attack the monster.

But the Nakewameke lunges first, and Fortune tries to dodge by leaping away, but the Nakewameke strikes true and she gets a lot of hot coils applied directly. The force slams her down to the ground, and she rolls to a stop in the snow. On the bright side, this does cool her down just a little bit. On the not so bright side, as Fortune stands back up, the marks of the coils still glow a little red.

This is when she notices the others. The girl that she vaguely remembers from the ice cream, two other Pretty Cure, and... well, she's not sure if she's seen Jupiter before, but she's there. That's when she turns back to the Nakewameke. She doesn't spare anyone any words, as she lauches forward again, to try and hit the Nakewameke as many times as she can, with her punches.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Flurry on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine and Cure Passion's Combo: Merry Christmas with Love Signed Pretty Cure!, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Pine and Cure Passion are Psyched!
COMBAT: Westar perfectly counters Kasagami Araki's Dance in the Petals, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!
COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Quilted Mantle, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kasagami Araki!
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Flurry, taking 7 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.

There's sizzling, as those coils are exposed to the air - but as the Pretty Cure are driven back, the Nakewameke pulls them back under its mantle with a shiver. It's cold out, after all, even for giant robot monsters with built-in heating elements.

That says as much about the cold as anything, really.

Westar sprints through the snow, muttering rapidly about the cold as he keeps getting caught in snow banks, ice slicks, or snow balls from particularly cheeky children - but in short order he's at his monster's side, giving it a bit of a shove to dislodge it from the building. It takes a stomp forward, and then a second, groaning at the cold...

And then an orange clips it right between the eyes.

"Hey! I'm out here for the same reason you are - to get something warm! Nakewameke, don't take that lying down - " And then, just as abruptly, there are flower petals everywhere, courtesy of a would-be world ruler. He blinks at her declaration, seemingly baffled - and then the Nakewameke bellows as it charges into the flower storm, sweeping a strangely durable quilt through the razor-sharp petals.

The scent of flowers fills the air, for a moment.

Then there's the menace that is Pretty Cure. Pine has a demand, and Passion has a response - Westar whirls on both of them. "You like...do you know how you sound?! And - wait, you already had one this whole time?! How could you?!" He folds his arms, glowering, and frowns all the more at Pine's words. "She's - you know what? Fine! If she's saying things as weird as that, then she's too far from the Eas I know - don't think I'll share the warmth after this, 'Cure Passion'! Cure Pine, Cure Fortune - you'd better prepare yourselves!"

Stomp. The Nakewameke takes a step forward, and spreads its quilt wide. For a few, blissful moments, warmth fills the air again - warmth enough that the snowbanks nearby seem to recede just a bit, to make one forget that it's brutally cold out -

And then it's gone in an instant, bringing the cold back with brutal force. In that moment, a hand lashes out to snatch at Sailor Jupiter; a table leg stomps down towards the Duelist; and the quilt slams back down in front of the Cures, shutting them out in the cold harshly.

From atop the table, finally warming up, Westar calls out. "Cry more! Wail more! Your grief, misery, and shivering will fill the Sorrow Gauge!"

COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Sailor Jupiter.

COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Kasagami Araki.
COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Pine.
COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Fortune.
COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Cure Passion!
COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cure Pine!
COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune's Fade ability activates! Cure Fortune's Flash ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cure Fortune!
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki fails to brace Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Kasagami Araki!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Sailor Jupiter!

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

The reaction Sailor Jupiter gets for her budding anger from Kasagami is puzzlement, and between that and getting beaned with a giant orange, it helps Jupiter remember that Sailor Moon was kidnapped as *Usagi*, not Sailor Moon, and so grilling the Crimson Duelist haphazardly might do more harm than good. Unfortunately for Jupiter, she's not the cunning, savvy type with a way with words, so this realization means all she can really do is glare at the Crimson Duelist a whole lot before focusing back on the Nakewameke. ...Which is hiding its heating coils back under its blanket. Why did she think it was a good idea to go out into the snow, again? She can't even remember anymore!

(Success.)

Cures Pine and Passion scold Westar a whole bunch, insisting on Passion instead of Eas as usual--Jupiter slides Passion a half-smile for that when Westar finally submits--and then braces herself for the incoming Nakewameke hand. She can't quite avoid it, there's just too much snow around to make dodging easy, but with her arms braced, she at least makes it so she's got room to maneuver when the monster picks her up, rather than being squeezed half to death. It's got a hell of a grip, though, and it takes almost all her strength to keep it that way. So, what's a girl to do when she can't use her muscles?

Use her magic.

With a roar, the lightning rod emerges from Sailor Jupiter's tiara. There was but a moment of glorious warmth before the Nakewameke attacked, and she'll have warmth again once she gets home, but until then--! "The only one who's going home crying tonight is YOU! SUPREME..." Lightning bolts crash down from above Jupiter, crackling around her tiara rod. Then they shoot forward, directly for the Nakewameke's face. "THUNDER!!"

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder! on Westar.

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's Supreme Thunder!, taking 22 Fatigue damage!

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

A durable blanket shield! Kasagami tch's in annoyance! Thing thing is smarter than it looks, or perhaps, it's master is just that crafty! Kasagami sticks her landing, and sees that leg coming! But it's too huge and fast even for her to immediately leap out of the way! Her good eye goes wide as that foot stomps at her, and she brings up her blade at the last second! Cruuuuunch! There's the sound of steel on steel, cracking concrete, and flexing muscles as Kasagami struggles to not be squished beneath that foot! She can feel her bones creaking under the very weight!

With a howl, Kasagami's right hand punches the blunt end of her nodachi, hard enough to get her just /that/ much room to maneuver! She takes a near-perpendicular leap away from that smashing leg just in time for it to crash down! She's sent flying even further, smashing right back through the window of the coffee ship and crashing amidst a table! SMASH!

She doesn't rise for a moment, groaning as she does. A deep, sucking breath, and she lets out a low chuckle. "So that's the power of a General, huh? This is so FUN!"

Then, she bursts out of the coffee shop, adding a second exit to the poor business! Crashing through the wall, her sword is held behind her as a swirling vortex of petals and pure, crimson energy runs along her sword. That magic-heated blade practically sizzles with the power and weight of her dreams before she tries to bring it down right on the table portion of the giant kotatsu! It's as if she's holding a Nakawameke-sized sword made mostly out of roses, swung down in a perfect example of an aerial, leaping samurai attack! SLASH!

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Falling Petals Cut The Soul on Westar.

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Well- at least he did it!

Pine skids on snow after flipping back from the impact and waves out her arm again. Getting too close to that thing was only exacerbating the burn there. But then- "Wait no don't-!" Is there anything worse than stepping out in the cold once you were getting warm and toasty? The instant drop of temperature from the Nakewameke turning it off causes her skin to feel like she was dipped in a frozen bath. As she crosses her arms and shivers. "W-W-Who could pre-pre-prepare themselves for t-t-that?" She shivers and shakes and suffers and tries not to rub her burned arm too hard.

"W-W-Was it r-r-really this cuh-cuh-cold before? I-It feels l-l-like it got w-w-worse-"

Pine trudges forward at the Nakewameke. One step after another. It's cold so it's slow going and it's likely the Nakewameke is going to come after her any second and then- lightning zooms overhead to strike the Nakewameke.

She takes a very short hop forward and kicks it in one of its shins!

It's not a strong kick relatively speaking, but right now it is super cold! "Th-Thanks for the- Oh-Opening." She offers to Jupiter. She wants it to sound enthusiastic but right now that's tough!

COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Fresh Kick on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Kasagami Araki's Falling Petals Cut The Soul, taking 37 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine's Pineapple Fresh Kick, taking 2 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Fortune lands from the punching fit again, and listens to Westar's speil about why he's here, and his response to the other Magical Girls here too. In fact , here now is Fortune's time to actually wax poetic for once. "I have a kotatsu too! It's nice and I want to go back into it!"

All right, so Fortune isn't the best at Speechwriting. However, she does prefer actions over words, and the Nakewameke suddenly brings in the cold, causing Fortune to shiver as the cold freezes her skin. She rubs her body for a few moments, teeth chattering.

She considers options for a moment to warm herself up, and the Cure reaches for her mirror... but she decides against it. Pine Arabian could work, but she's not sure she wants to replace snow with sand. Not yet. So instead, she tries to punch the Nakewameke right dab in the middle of the table, putting as much strength as she could into it.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortunate Punch on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Passion sticks her chin out defiantly at Westar's question about how she sounds, and frowns suddenly at 'How could you!?' She opens her mouth as if to say something, but Westar moves on to Pine and suddenly...

"Hey! I don't sound weird!" It's very... defensive, though she glances around and spots Sailor Jupiter smiling at her a little, which helps her abrubt self-consciousness. But before she can say anything more than that, it's suddenly warm, amazingly warm--

And then the cold is /back/. It's even worse than before! The red Cure can't help but shiver, rubbing her upper arms for an instant before she gets control of herself. "S-super cold, P-Pine. I d-don't know i-if it was this bad before." Her burned arms still hurt. In fact they hurt /worse/, and she feels so tired.

But there's lightning above, and Fortune crashing in; so not long after Pine goes in, half a second, Passion hops upward to punch once, punch twice, and then spin with a couple of light kicks on her way down.

"W-why d-does it /get/ this c-cold!?" she complains to Pine.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passion Pinwheel on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Passion's Passion Pinwheel, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortunate Punch, taking 9 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.

The Nakewameke has a tight grip on one of those facing it- and it brings Sailor Jupiter closer to those glowing eyes on the table's edge. This proves to be a mistake, as a storm of lightning blasts it in the face, repeatedly, forcing it to release the girl let it be electrocuted. One stray bolt blasts the part of the table where Westar stands, and the Executive topples from a suddenly unstable perch.

It's fine, the awning of the appliance store broke his fall. Unfortunately, it also broke.

Laughing maniacally, the Crimson Duelist forms a great blade of rose petals and dreams of world domination, slashing at the Nakewameke. It doesn't cut through - but the entire beast shudders from the impact. Upon seeing the three Precure coming for it, it hunkers down, bringing the bulk of the table to bear against the feet and fists of Passion, Pine, and Fortune. Fortunately for the monster...

It is very, very cold.

"Fun? Fun?!" Emerging from where he toppled, Westar stares incredulously at Kasagami. He seems utterly baffled, and turns to the three Cures out in the cold. "I don't think any of you have said this was fun before. It's not a panda train, after all." He tilts his head in puzzlement, then claps his hands, rubbing them together - why doesn't Mobius's outfit have gloves or something?

He turns, abruptly pointing at Cure Fortune. "You too?! What is it with you Precure and actually having ways to stay warm?! The mansion is freezing - Labyrinth needs this kotatsu more than any of you do!" Even he seems to be feeling the cold, matching Pine's shivering as he shakes his head at Passion. "It's ridiculous, right? It shouldn't be this cold - and it's not Soular, before you even start! Just let Mobius fix things!"

Finally, he runs over to give his Nakewameke a nudge. "Come on, get up! We can finish this quickly - just get fired up, and deal with them all at once!" Slowly, the kotatsu-Nakewameke rises, steam billowing from beneath its quilt all over again.

"KOTAAAATSU!" Its eyes seem to glow as it charges forward suddenly, sweeping its quilt left and right as it bears down on the group as a whole - but it seems to lock eyes with Cure Fortune in particular, this time. "BETTER STAY WAAAARM!"

COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Cure Pine.

COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Kasagami Araki.
COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Sailor Jupiter.
COMBAT: Westar has used All Fired Up! on Cure Fortune.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 34 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly braces Westar's All Fired Up!, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched!
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki narrowly dodges Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to counter Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 33 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Jupiter Thunderbolt, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar!

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

"Oh come on! Flashing steal! Bursting magic! Contests of strength, power, and cunning! Labyrinth Executive! Next time, I want it to be you and me!" A challenge, and a far-too-happy grin scent Westar's way from Kasagami! Someone might be a fight junkie here!

At least Westar seems to care about his subordinate newly acquired kotatsu monster. As the thing charges, Kasagami does a roll to the side, that massive quilt barely catching her across her side hard enough to rip off her coat completely! Even some of her student council uniform gets shredded as she's sent flying into a light pole! WHAM!

Steel stabs to concrete, and she wrenches herself up to her feet again. Dusting off a slurry of snow on her back, Kasagami takes a deep breath. She pulls up her sword, and then, takes up a thrusting stance. Knees bend, and then she charges the quilt-wielding creature! Just before she rushes past, there's a moment where her body shimmers, and her sword glows. She doesn't pause as she makes a single stab through the Nakewameke.

Those keen eyed might notice that, for just a moment, two swords existed where Kasagami thrust. Surely a trick of the eyes!

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Crimson Cage Lite on Westar.

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Westar brings up an excellent point on the benefits of living in a world where everything is decided for you- even the climate. "It's u-usually not this cold though."

It's almost unnaturally so- she has her suspicions that Dark Fall is maybe up to something and Westar just isn't in the loop... which given what she knows about even Westar's own comrades and how they treat him is an entirely fair assumption- however she doesn't know for sure. So she doesn't voice that aloud. Fortunately the longer she's in the cold the more she adjusts to it.

But in comes the Nakewameke, sweeping with a blanket that she suspects is heavier than a titanium plate. Putting up her arms as her guard at the last second, she tries to roll with the force of the swishing blanket. But even so as heavy as it is, as strong as the Nakewameke, it drives her back across the street.

She exhales a few foggy breaths before- "I mean- you're right that it's miserable when things hit extremes, but a world without winter is- too sad to think about. It's a world without building snowmen, or enjoying the warmth around the kotatsu. Or seasonal food, like- like oden- or roasted chestnuts- or- or- just quiet moments where a kitten snuggles up beside you to stay warm!"

She's about to say something else, about taking the good with the bad. But as the words are about to leave her mouth she thinks about how someone like Soular might use it against her. She opens her mouth, and it gives her pause. How weird is it that he's not even here and she's thinking about how he might poke holes in her argument?

But she tries to pick it up again. "Oh! And what about Christmas. Spending time with people you-" Her eyes flit over to Setsuna, "-care... about..."

Wow isn't that an awkward silence. Cure Pine has officially decided to keep her mouth shut as she storms forward to leap and smash her knuckles into the thing.

COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.

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

Jupiter, whose arms are currently occupied, throws Pine a wink. "No problem!" she shouts. Should she really be that unfazed by the cold...? Rest assured, once she gets back home, she'll be feeling it again... Though she, too, has a kotatsu at home, so home also means she'll have a solution to the cold problem. When Passion complains to Pine, Jupiter pipes in, "Yeah, it's usually not *this* cold--but sometimes you get these really intense snowstorms. It's just a thing that happens."

Or it might be some kind of Dark Fall plot, but for now, Jupiter genuinely believes it's just really bad weather. She's been a bit behind on the magical girl news lately... But when Westar starts complaining, she scowls, far less sympathetic.

"You should've thought of that ages ago!" she shouts at him. "How long've you been terrorizing Earth?! You should know the seasons change and winter can get really cold! If you hadn't put off getting a kotatsu until there was a blizzard, you wouldn't have this problem!"

Unusually logical for Jupiter. It helps that it's just the plain truth. When the Nakewameke unhands her, she lands with a soft *piff* in a nearby snowback, eyes determined. That kotatsu blanket weighs down heavy upon them, and with her tiara's rod already out, she starts to call another bolt of lightning down. "JUPITER THUNDERB--"

• Boff*. That's the sound of something heavy landing on something soft.

Ahh, terrible as the blizzard is, the snow really is beautiful...

Slowly, a lump bulges out where Jupiter was smacked down. Slooowly, the lump pushes up. Sloooowly, the edge crawls closer as someone pulls it nearer. And then, finally, Jupiter HEAVES the blanket back over her head, herself heaving for breath. She's looking awfully battered--and *awfully* mad.

"My guardian Jupiter! Create a storm! Call the clouds! Bring down the lightning!!" she calls as electricity writhes around her like something living, whipping back and forth around and before her as she calls the magic of several bolts into one. "SUPREME..." They merge together. "THUNDER..." They begin to transform-- "DRAGON!!" --and an enormous dragon made of pure lightning emerges, opening its snout and roaring in defiance as it charges towards the Nakewameke. It pauses but a moment to consider its prey; then it dives for the Labyrinth monster, maw gaping wide, in an attempt to swallow it hole.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder Dragon on Westar.

COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

"T-the mansion is pr-pretty drafty," Passion admits in an aside to Pine that nevertheless ends up loud enough to hear before of the effort getting words out in the cold. But Westar's obviously cold too, shivering away, and Passion can't help but feel that commonality, bonded by serious cold.

"S-shouldn't b-be," she agrees despite herself, and then speaks up, "H-he wouldn't t-tell you if it was him! R-remember the h-heat w-wave!?"

Passion would really, really like to remember that heat wave right now.

But she glances to Pine. "I-is that s-so?" That's a relief. But in comes the Nakewameke, and Passion unclasps her arms to try to dig into her position with arms crossed in front of her... and slides through the snow until the arm impacts her and /she/ impacts a wall, hard enough to knock the wind out of her and send pain all through her back radiating outward. "Uh--"

While she's sliding down the wall she can hear everything Buki says in defense of winter, and they're nice, lovely words. She drags herself out in the middle, and is there in time for Pine to look at her and mention Christmas. "I'm.... Really looking forward to that," she says with a little smile, and looks up to Westar and his Nakewameke again. ...Just in time to hear... 'You should know the seasons change and winter can get really cold!'

Passion's head turns in embarrassment. She looks very battered, too. But she looks up again, "Jupiter's right! You could've just bought a kotatsu! Mobius-sama's stipend accounts for things like that!"

But Passion herself sets her stance, takes a breath, and gets ready. "Pine!" she calls, "It's time!"

COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Beat... UP! on Cure Passion.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Passion accepts Cure Passion's Beat... UP!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Fortune watches, and jumps back just as the Kotatsumaneke lunges at her. The impact hits, though Fortune manages to avoid falling and skids backwards due to the impact. "I keep my kotatsu after I'm done with it?" Perhaps, to the untrained eye, Iona's desire for not spending money may be a little weird, but maybe this guy is commanded by Lord Mobius to throw their Kotatsu out every year? This does puzzle Cure Fortune a bit. "I also wear coats!"

Still in her post-skid location, Fortune just re-orients herself to keep her standing, then spins the dial on her bracelet. "Fortune..." She waves a hand above her hand and five stars appears. "Star Ring!" The stars turn into rings, which fly towards the Nakewameke to try and bind it.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Ring on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Kasagami Araki's Crimson Cage Lite, taking 19 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger applied to Westar!
COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Finisher, Supreme Thunder Dragon, taking 36 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Ring, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tangle and Trap applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.

Steam is billowing out from beneath the Nakewameke's quilt - the heater seems to be working in overdrive, enough to take the edge off the cold. It's a constant war of temperatures - delightful warmth versus deadly cold, and perhaps a little worrying that the former is coming from the robotic monstrosity.

Kasagami continues to be just a little manic, but Westar can't help but grin. He doesn't answer her challenge verbally, but the flexing of one bicep might be answer enough - his fists are ready. For now, though, she's going after the Nakewameke - and an impossible second sword is enough to punch through something metallic, beneath that quilt. There's a hiss of steam, and it groans...

Cure Pine gives a passionate defence of Winter, and for a moment Westar seems lost in thought. It's not the snowmen or kotatsu as much is it is the food - but oh, is there ever some delicious food this time of year. But then she mentions the reason for the season, and... his expression becomes frostier, as if doused in something truly chilly. Fortunately, she follows up with punching his monster, which is much less ambiguous. "You can't distract me with snacks that easily, Cure Pine - this kind of weather is just plain miserable!"

Cure Passion - Eas - follows up with a few good points. Namely, that the mansion is cold, and that Soular is often a jerk. Sailor Jupiter also has a few hard-to-refute arguments to throw into the mix, and Westar is left looking between the two of them for a moment. "It wasn't this brutal in January, Jupiter! This kind of cold is ridiculous - and I tried to get a heater! This guy was sold out of everything!" He folds his arms with a huff. "And Soular's been warning me about his plots lately, I'll have you know! We're working together these days, 'Cure Passion' - isn't it time you did the same?!"

And then his argument is interrupted by a massive lightning bolt. "Wh- Nakewameke! Don't let it hit your diamond!" The monster, obligingly, lurches - narrowly avoiding obliteration, and letting out a massive groan as the voltage ravages it. Starlight shines down, pinning it in place moments later, and Westar whirls on the third Cure here. "You - you don't have a coat now! How are you staying warm, it's freezing!"

A beat.

"You know what, enough of this! Nakewameke, it's time we finished this - if Pretty Cure and their friends want to be warm so much, then let's give them exactly what they want and get out of here!" He claps his hands, the diamond on his belt shining a moment - and the kotatsu glows an ominous yellow in response. It lurches forward, shaking off the last of the voltage, and flings the quilt open as it charges. A veritable wave of heat slams out, melting ice with a hiss, dazzling and dazing all in sight...

And covering as the overcharged kotatsu stomps over delivery trucks, snowbanks, and magical girls opposing it. "OVERHEAAAATED!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Sailor Jupiter.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Fortune.
COMBAT: Westar has used No Sleeping In The Kotatsu! on Kasagami Araki.
COMBAT: Westar has used No Sleeping In The Kotatsu! on Cure Pine.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates!
COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's No Sleeping In The Kotatsu!, taking 21 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune's Fade ability activates! Cure Fortune's Flash ability activates!
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is unable to keep fighting! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates!
COMBAT: Kasagami Araki narrowly dodges Westar's No Sleeping In The Kotatsu!, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates!

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

"You're supposed to get a heater BEFORE it gets this cold! It's too late once there's a blizzard chucking snow everywhere!" Jupiter argues back at Westar. A part of her marvels at the sheer ridiculousness of arguing about space heaters while fighting a space heater monster. Westar's just that kind of guy. It *is* true this weather is inherently miserable, though...

Soular--that was the snooty smarty-pants, right? Jupiter remembers fighting him once, almost a year ago. He'd had his monster kidnapping children, the scumbag. It's been a long time, but rest assured he'd get a fist to the face if he were here.

Jupiter does notice Passion turning her head away, looking embarrassed, when she talks about the changing seasons. Wait--did Passion forget? It's true the cold wasn't as bad last year, though. "It's okay!" she reassures her all the same. "A couple more months and it'll be spring again, sure enough!"

But for now, Westar commands his Nakewameke to end it. Sailor Jupiter prepares to brace the attack--but going from super-cold to super-HOT is too much of a surprise. The wave of heat slams into her, sending her flying into a building as it melts ice and snow in its wake. Jupiter coughs, heaves, and shakes as she attempts to get back up--

WHUMP.

That would be the snow from the roof of the building she'd crashed against landing on her all at once.

After the battering Westar's monster gave her, which was a hell of one that has already left her badly worn out and unlikely to actually be able to continue the attack, it'll be a while before Jupiter digs herself out. It's up to the others, now...

<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRJ1SCensI

Jupiter makes an excellent point and Pine's jaw drops, "Wait- that's what it's about? He was just- he didn't anticipate... winter..."

Her head hurts- and she's fairly sure it's not from a Nakewameke impact But Pine says it's time- "Right! A hand moves to her Linkrun."

If she was complaining about the cold before though, that's soon not a concern. As the Kotatsu charges up to overload- this feels surprisingly familiar. In the way she kind of hopes its power sputters out. But no. Apparently Mobius Data Diamonds are super energy efficient as it begins it's heat wave slams into her. Suddenly it's like being in a desert on the hottest day of the year, as she breaks into a sweat instantly. Turns around, and starts to run away from the path of its rampage.

Maybe she'd even make it- except the melting snow becomes slushy ice right before it starts to evaporate, and she slips.

And a monstrous footstep then crashes down beside her, knocking her out of the way with a shriek. She almost loses grip on that Linkrun in mid-air, but her fingers spasm down on it hard enough to keep it in her grip as she rolls across the sloshy wet ground.

And now her clothes and hair are wet. This is going to be super awful once she's out of range of the Kotatsu monster's heat. Fortunately she can transform back- but she still might be miserable.

But Passion was counting on her to stay in this fight- and Jupiter has vanished under an awning's worth of snow, "Ki-Kirun!" Kiii~

A fairy key hops out of nowhere, bounces around in mid-air, then inserts itself into the top of her Linkrun. Running her fingers across the screen, a bejeweled flute shimmers into existence, which she catches, then spins into a flourish by her face like an actual flute, "Heal Harmony of Faith! Cure Stick- Pine Flute!"

Playing the keys with concentric circles of light and sound- faith and belief personified- she waves it while saying the words of the spell writ in her heart, "Nasty Things- Nasty Things fly away!" A hop at the end, before she uses it to draw a diamond in mid-air with the tip of the flute, "Pretty Cure Healing Prayer-" Jutting it back, she casts her arm forward, launching it through the air. "-FRESHHHHHH!"

Trailing streams of gold, carrying a faintly tropical scent- it careens towards the Nakewameke before bursting into impact, gold hearts upon hearts. She twirls the end of the flute like a baton to try to maintain the spell and heal the wrongness binding the creature together, "Haaaaaaaaaaaa!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Pine has used Precure Healing Prayer Fresh! on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.

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

Fleeex. Okay, that's a pretty good bicep. Kasagami slowly nods, and shoots a cocky thumbs-up! If anything, she looks even more excited than before. Unfortunately, before she can literally throw a glove or otherwise toss him invitations for fists and swords and milkshakes, in charges the massive kotatsu with thatburst of overheating air! Even Kasagami gets caught up in it, the young woman URK'ing in surprise! The wind sends her flying upwards, even as it manages to rip apart her boots and the leg-cuffs of her uniform! She's left barefoot, in the air, and her toes are freezing!

Thankfully she can only feel one set, but it's a small comfort. "Th...THOSE WERE MY FAVORITE BOOTS!"

Never mess with a piece of Ohtori Student's fashion. Her eye narrows to a slit, and she raises her blade high with one hand! Her entire body glows red, and the air around her becomes a whirlwind that attracts not snow, but more of those sharp crimson petals! Even from her wounds, red bruises seems to turn to even more petals, until high above, there's an absolute sea of the things. Kasagami strikes a pose, imperious, merciless, and with just a hint of that manic desire in her eye as she lands atop a light pole. Her free hand points.

"When I, Kasagami Araki, rule this world, there will be no suffering through despair of evil monsters!" She proclaims loudly, before giving an almost casual swipe of her blade.

"Bloody Rose Storm."

Like a dimly sparkling waterfall, the crimson tide of flowers falls, swirling and rotating around each other to make a deluge, magic burning hot thanks to the weight of her anger, and pure hatred of the monster before her. There's something horribly personal in her tone, a burning fury not quite yet unleashed as she throws down the last of her magic.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Kasagami Araki has used Bloody Rose Storm on Westar.

COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Fortune points directly at Westar. "The desire to protect this city keeps me warm!" And a beat passes, and the Nakewameke stomps around. Fortune tries her best to dodge and weave past the stomping, but it doesn't quite take. On the one hand, she doesn't get stomped. Which is nice. On the other, well, she does get kicked like a football down the street, rolling to a stop into another snowbank.

Fortune stands up slowly, arm making way for her legs propping herself back up. When that's done, she turns towards to the Nakewameke and spins her dial.

"Pretty Cure!" She raises her hand, and dozens of tiny twinkling stars appears all around her. "Star Streaaam!" She lowers it to point directly at the Nakewameke, and they all rush towards it, aiming to fill it up with wonderful relaxation!

COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Fortune has used Pretty Cure Star Stream on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Jupiter's reassurance gets Passion looking up at her again, giving her a hesitant smile. "Thank you..."

But Westar has things for her to hear, too. "He has?" Passion answers, eyes widening in surprise. That's very much the opposite of any answer she was expecting. But her eyes narrow again and set. "I'm not going back, Westar. I--" The lightning bolt crashes in and Passion is suddenly more concerned with hopping back out of the way a little further than talking.

"Westar! Don't--"

The pink-haired Cure feels the searing heat as it washes over her, and she immediately moves to plant her foot enough to spring herself out of the way. She half-succeeds, and is hit mid-air, hit straight in the shoulder and then the chest and slammed backwards and out of the kotatsu's path rather than being completely trampled over foot; she hits a car, falls into a snowbank.

Falling to the ground, Passion lands in a crouch, huffing for breath for an instant. The warmth of pain suffusing her body at least makes it easier to ignore the chill settling back in. She'll need that for wat's coming. She looks immediately around, sees Jupiter gone, Pine befor eher--

Pine's still here. As she starts to summon her flute, Passion takes a breath and closes her eyes. Her hand stretches out, ling fingers at a point. "Akarun!" With a happy trill, a tiny fairy in red with a little key spins around her hand, bouncing around until she calls, "Sing! Rhapsody of Happiness! Passion Harp!" Akarun hops into the instrument. She opens her hand and it bursts into being in her hand, the cap clasped in her other hand and brought down to complete her implement. Bringing it in close to her chest, she strums a few notes. "Roar, O Storm of Happiness!" Another strum before white feathers whirl up behind her and red hearts begun to bubble up all around her and she starts to twirl in place.

"Pretty Cure...!" She spins, more and more, finally lifting the harp up above herself. The hearts and featres move faster and faster, "Happiness Hurricane!!"

Harp in one hand, she holds it out as her magic crashes towards the Nakewameke, to engulf in pink, purple, and red hearts, one of the larger seeking to bubble up all around and envelop it completely.

She waves her harp, "Haaaaah...!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Kasagami Araki's Finisher, Bloody Rose Storm, taking 33 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Fortune's Finisher, Pretty Cure Star Stream, taking 70 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Finisher, Precure Healing Prayer Fresh!, taking 150 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Cure Pine is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 88 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.

There's a moment, immediately after the Nakewameke's rampage, that it is weakened. That oppressive heat fizzles out for a moment, the relentless metal legs sag in exhaustion, and the monster is vulnerable. After a rampage like that, however, who would dare to stand against it?

Everyone, that's who.

Arcs of distant lightning dance over one leg, pinning it for a moment. Kasagami's proclamation is heard - answered with an abrupt "When you WHAT?!" from Westar - and swiftly followed by a deluge of rose petals. Roses, once more - but a tidal wave that even that terrific quilt can't easily brush aside. The Nakewameke defends as best it can against the would-be world ruler, bringing up the quilt to shield itself...

But even as winter's chill starts to win the war against Westar's monster, Cure Fortune proclaims her inner warmth. Desperation, glittering in the darkness, a torrential river of stars from another angle. The quilt is held to block the petals, and ill-positioned to guard against the stars - and once the first star finds a wrinkle in that defence, it's as good as shattered. Countless stars, in a stream, blow open the quilt to reveal mechanical workings within - along with a clear shot at the diamond empowering it. Black smoke sizzles from every impact, the monster staggering

And then there is music. A flute of faith, invoking a prayer of healing, barrelling in as a shining yellow diamond with enough good to contrast against Labyrinth's darkness. A harp of passion, invoking a rhapsody of happiness, swirling around the prayer with a whirlwind of crimson. The twin powers strike home - and with a crackle, assembled forces billow in a storm of light and warmth enough to drive back winter's bite for a handful of minutes. It's blinding, it's roaring, and there's a faint little 'fizzzzzz' from within.

When the light fades, an ordinary kotatsu remains, on its side in the snow. Much of the street has been put to rights - though the storefront of the appliance store has seen better days.

From a nearby snowbank, a hand punches out to grasp a stop sign. Carefully, Westar hauls himself out, looking at those still standing, well aware of the melting snow. "...it's too cold for this. Until next time, Pretty Cure!" He turns, and starts to dash-

-stopped short for a moment by the fact that his hand is frozen to the post-

-and with a yell, ripping the sign from the concrete, and running off with it. He'll...just have to thaw out his hand at the mansion.

The warmth of victory might linger for a few minutes, but winter's chill is slowly returning. Snow gently descends on the now-mostly-evacuated area, blanketing the battlefield in white. And...there's a free kotatsu up for grabs, apparently.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Cure Fortune watches as the monster fizzles and the Kotatsu remains. But she doesn't smile, as now that the combat is over, the cold starts to set in.

Fortune looks at the other magical girls, the Rose Duelist, Cure Passion, Cure Pine, and even Sailor Jupiter, before she turns away. Wings expand to allow her to fly, and with a leap she zooms off into the distance.

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

Westar flees, and finally, the powers of the magical girls combined destroy the creature! Kasagami actually watches a little bit in concern as Westar /rips out the sign frozen to his hand/!

"H..HEY! USE LOW HEAT ON THAT! You'll get frostbite burns." P...poor Westar.

Then, she pitches herself off of the lightpole in exhaustion, landing on a comforting bed of rose petals just above the snow. Shudder. Shiver.

"H...hey. Anybody care if I make off with that kotatsu? My feet are freezing!"

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Passion can't argue with it being cold. Her attention is fully on Westar once he pulls himself out, and then--

She blinks at the fact that he's frozen, and then sighs as he just rips the sign out. Her forehead and fingers meet in the middle as she finishes that sigh. It's kind of a big sigh.

In that span of time Fortune disappears, and Kasagami falls above the snow and asks... That question. Passion frowns. "No, you can't steal the kotatsu! It goes back to the store!"

The red Cure crosses her arms, with only one glance to her yellow Cure partner. Somehow, the fact that she's already starting to shiver again doesn't break her glare.