Jaclyn and June had met up and were walking together, talking casually about various things, hanging out separate from the group as a sort of girl's night. The two were blissfully unaware that elsewhere in the three cities, Perseus was busy fighting for his life. “So how does it feel to still shop at Hot Topic in the year of our lord, twenty fourteen?” Jaclyn asked teasingly. June rolled her eyes at Jaclyn. “I don't know, how's it feel paying more than full price for bleach washed and pre-ripped jeans?” The two chuckled at their mutual jabbing. Jaclyn changed the subject. “So I heard you broke things off with Percy after the test dates.”
June sighed. “I was going to give him more test dates but… I don't know. I didn't feel much of a spark even after a really romantic candle lit home cooked dinner. I mean he is at least good at following a recipe and getting proper cooking times and I was really going to give him more time to see if I could develop feelings.” Jaclyn looked at June. “So what the heck happened? Why'd you dump him?” June lets out an exasperated sigh. “I uhhh… found someone I clicked with better. Wasn't sure how to drop that though.”
Jaclyn let out an exasperated sigh. “I mean I guess that's understandable. At least you dumped Percy before starting your new relationship.” June doesn't respond. Jaclyn glared at her. “Tell me you didn't.’ June shuffled. “Technically I met the other guy first, but I felt bad about the miscommunication. Besides, neither got serious enough to go exclusive.” Jaclyn put both her hands together up near her face and did a big inhale before quickly chopping them down. “Boi!’’ She then takes a moment to continue. “Monogamy is the standard, the norm, and if you want to deviate that's fine as long as you communicate that.”
June shrugged. “Well Percy was fine with the break up anyway.” Jaclyn groaned in frustration. “Bring the other boyfriend to meet Percy and I promise you he wouldn't take it well. He may be good at remaining composed but trust me he's hurting at least a little bit. Even if he wasn't necessarily in love. You're lucky we already agreed to work together to fight MacGonagall, otherwise I'd be making fists and asking you to square up for being so stupid.” June sighed. “It may not have been the best move but at least I let Percy go once I knew who I preferred and didn't drag him along.”
June then suddenly stopped walking. “Do you feel that?” Jaclyn glared at June more. “What I feel is that you're a moron and should feel bad.” June looks at Jaclyn. “I'm serious. I think I felt the Vail shift.” The two both looked around when a woman approached them in the street, with a massive hammer with spikes on one end of the head like a tenderizing hammer and a pick on the other. The woman was pale, practically snow white, slender, had white hair with cyan highlights, and light blue eyes who was wearing what looked like a white kimono. “Nothing personal ladies, but I got paid a good amount to take out some guy and his friends to keep them from messing with the clients plans.”
She slides on ice towards the two as the street clears and people scream. June isn't sure what kind of memory the Veil will replace this with for them but that isn't her concern right now. Both June and Jaclyn have to jump to the side to avoid the massive hammer from slamming down on them. When the hammer impacts the ground not only does it create a creator but ice spikes jet out from the impact zone. June grumbles. “So you've been paid by MacGonagall who sees Percy as a threat and decided we're guilty by association? Guess it doesn't matter, regardless of why I now have to defend myself.”
June put out her arm. “Come forth, coil of the magic god, Hecate.” Her metal glove cat claw-like weapon manifested on her hand. Jaclyn sighs. “Looks like I have no other option but to fight alongside you. Come forth, candelabra of the night god, Nyx.” Her weapon appeared in her hands in a rush of dark fire. The woman with the hammer frowns. “And here I was hoping for an easy paycheck. Still, you too are caster focused. The cudgel of the snow god, Chione, is a heavy hitter with a melee focus. All I need is one clean hit, and it's all over.”
The woman charged at Jaclyn who created a wall of black fire to force the woman back. “Good luck getting close, my weapon has the opposite attributes to yours.” The woman growls and turns her attention to June and goes after her. June leaps back by creating fire under her feet to her for a short time. “I may only be able to use one at a time, but there isn't a damage type I can't exploit. You picked the wrong fight lady.” The woman growled a bit as she considered her next move.
Jaclyn took this opportunity to attack, sending a big ball of black fire at her assailant who slammed her hammer at the ground to cause another indent and ice spike growth that blocks the fireball. June then closes in from behind the woman and tries firing flames out of her palm like a flamethrower attack. The woman is hit with flames but quickly spin-swings the hammer at June. Unable to dodge in time she stopped her own attack to pull her arm back and create a shield out of rocks to take some of the blow. June is still sent into the wall of the building next to her, getting the wind knocked out of her.
Jaclyn sent three more fireballs at the hammer-holding woman who managed to block one with her weapon as the other two impacted her sides. She let out a roar before turning her attention to Jaclyn and charging at her. Jaclyn flame jumps backwards avoiding three big swings before retaliating with a large fire blast that explodes on impact with the hammer and causes the woman to slide backwards. She then screams out in pain and arches her back. June had managed to get up and claw at her.
The woman took a hand off her hammer to swing at June, slugging her in the face before taking her weapon in hand and trying to pulverize June. When June dodges the hammer, the woman quickly turns around and swings at Jaclyn before she can go for her back. “Stop trying to flank me, I'll catch one of you eventually. You think you have the upper hand because it's two on one? I'll just have to show you the gap in our experience.”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
The woman slides to gain some distance and grips her hammer so tightly that her knuckles would turn white if her skin wasn't already so pale as energy wells up around her. Ice crystals start forming around her and glow like sharp ice lanterns. “Behold, the true power of Chione! I'll turn you into pincushions! Take this, Hailstorm Rave!” She swings her hammer with mighty force despite being some distance away and the glowing ice spikes are fired like a phalanx of spears as more are created and sent at the two.
Both June and Jaclyn try creating walls to block the black fire, destroying most of the ones going for Jaclyn but some stuff still gets through. Despite creating a two layered wall of ice and earth June takes some glancing hits as well. “She's got us backed into a corner!” Jaclyn grumbled. “Not for long.” She draws more energy from her weapon to create a bunch of balls of black fire and shoots them rapidly at the woman. “Two can play at that game. Starless Night!” Black fire meets white ice in the air as the two attacks compete against one another. Jaclyn puts more energy and focus into her attack. “My weapon is a caster type, it was made for this sort of attack!”
Eventually the woman is overwhelmed and takes several blows that singe her outfit. Both attacks end with their creators huffing from exhaustion. Out of breath from the effort of the attacks. June, however, still had plenty of energy and rushed in. Looking to end the fight as quickly as possible she goes for a punch to the face. The woman got up from her hunched over position in time to see the attack and her eyes widened, clearly lacking the time to dodge or block.
A second surge of energy pulsed from the woman, one so strong it pushed June backwards. “W-what the-” the dust clears to show the woman's eyes are glowing white as an immense power oozes off of her. “I'm going to make you regret ever being born! By the time I'm finished with you your limbs will be as black as that ridiculous outfit with way too many belts! Seriously, you look like a freaking JRPG character with those damn things!” Jaclyn scoffs. “Says the Yuki-onna looking wench. Also, what in Hades is going on?”
Jade takes a few steps back. “That ice witch is capable of Unison, she's drawing power from her Armatus directly. Even two on one I'm not confident we can win. Maybe we should consider calling backup and playing keep away.” The woman laughs in a distorted voice. “Call for reinforcements? Ha, that would be an excellent strategy if not for the fact all your friends are a little preoccupied with their own fights right now. Your trident holding friend is currently facing the second strongest Armatus holder I've ever met. As for your healer… well let's just say he’ll be bagging for death by the time his opponent is done with him. Now come at me with everything you have if you dare, you'll find death’s embrace as cold as winter’s breath!”
June and Jaclyn locked eyes for a moment and nodded. There was one maneuver they could think of to even the odds. As the hammer holding woman charged at the two with renewed vigor and floating glowing ice javelins following her movements, June steadied herself and put her weapon hand on Jaclyn’s shoulder as she stood behind her. “You better make this count, because I'm not sure we'll get a second shot at this.”
Jaclyn pointed her candelabra forward but the energy welling up coming from June was unstable and the two were forced to dodge a massive slam followed by several projectiles. “Are you not focusing or something, June?” June let out sounds of frustration. “The guys made it look easy, but it's actually really hard.” Jaclyn practically screamed at June. “Well you better figure out how to do it quickly because we don't exactly have many options.”
The duo are forced to dodge in different directions as more glowing ice spikes are sent after them followed by the woman swinging her weapon at June who does her best to try and dodge in a direction that brings her closer to Jaclyn. Jaclyn fires a few shots to try and get the woman's attention for long enough for the two to meet up again. This time June puts both her hands on Jaclyn's shoulders and grips tightly. So tightly that her weapon draws blood from the shoulder.
Jaclyn grunts in pain but feels the energy surging once more. This time much stronger and more stable. She aims her candelabra forward as she gathers as much energy from herself and June as possible as black fire gathers into an intense inferno as the woman closes in on the two. She hesitates for a moment when the energy from the two pulses. “What the-” Jaclyn takes the opening to attack with everything she has in a single attack. “Eat dirt witch! Obsidian Eclipse!”
A massive plume of black fire and smoke billowed out in a rush like a massive dark flamethrower covering the woman and her glowing ice spikes in darkness and fire. When the attack passed the woman's kimono had several burn holes in it and the woman could barely stand. Wobbling on her feet she did her best to continue fighting despite her injuries from taking such a massive hit directly. “How… how… HOW!?!?” The woman screamed before letting out a half hearted “You can't even use Unison.” Before flopping face first into the pavement. Several trees on the side of the road had caught fire and the two could hear sirens. They decided it was best to leave the area.
Once the two were clear, they stopped and let themselves catch their breath. Once the two were more relaxed Jaclyn put her hand on June's shoulder. “That was good teamwork back there. Now where was I? Oh right, telling you off. You're about as dense as a fruit cake.” June looked confused. “My apologies for not knowing what you mean after that intense battle.” Jaclyn raised her voice. “If you had even the slightest hint of what Percy has been through you wouldn't be playing these cruel games.” June grumbles. “Well thanks for breaking our Bechdel streak.” Jaclyn blinked a few times. “Our… what?”
June created some distance between herself and Jaclyn. “You've never heard of the Bechdel test? It was created by a cartoonist in the eighties who was sick and tired of seeing male dominated stories. it's used in stories and to pass the Bechdel test you need two named female characters talking about something that isn't a man.” Jaclyn got visibly upset and raised her voice. “You think I give a Beaver Dam about something like that right now?! Don't think that changing the subject is going to make me forget how much of a jerk move you pulled. What you did to Percy, even if you did it to avoid hurting his feelings, will likely have the opposite effect if he ever finds out about the other guy and that he's the reason you changed your mind.”
June sighed. “Then don't tell him. It's that simple. Why do you care anyway? It's not like the two of you ever dated. You ended up with someone else too, remember?” Jaclyn groaned. “Percy wasn't in the best place when we met and that was more like a missed connection. I never played games with his heart. I still care about Percy, he's friends with my brother and now that I know why he pushed away my advances when we were younger all I want is to see him find happiness. That sure as shit ain't happening as long as people like you keep playing games like this. I'll put up with you as a teammate because we have a mutual goal, but you better stay far away from Percy from now on. Last thing he needs right now is another heartbreak.”
June sighs and looks down at the floor. “It was never my intention to hurt him. I wasn't thinking about that. It's not like I had malicious intent from the start. I'm just… I made a mistake okay. I'm only human. That ice witch said both Hector and Percy were also in the middle of fighting, we should probably go find them. I'll… track down your brother and you find Percy.” Jaclyn nodded in agreement. “I almost forgot about that. Let's hurry up and find them.”