Anisa rolled to her feet, her anger and instincts demanding she strike. That she fight back. Leaping back at him, she saw him vanish in flames again, appearing in her blindspot and knocking her to the ground… hard! As she collided with the ground she could swear she bounced, but before she could be sure, a powerful kick was delivered to her gut. She tried to grab the leg as it hit, but it was gone as quick as it had hit, her body sailing towards the arena once more. As she did, she felt herself colliding with multiple Falos machines, their gold and red armor scattering around her and the copper smell of their few remaining organic parts spilling their blood over the streets filled the air. She swore she could taste it as well, but her helmet was still intact. As she flew she could feel the man from the other side of the Dragon Gem trying to reach her, his connection stronger so close to the arena. But she blocked it out. She didn’t need him. She didn’t need anyone.

No… she didn’t…

She cut off that thought, digging her claws into the ground and dodging out of the way of his kick only to suddenly find his fist in her gut, driving her to the ground, her spine rocked from the hit and the plates of her armor creaking from the strain. Before she could get back up, he grabbed her by her chest plate and picked her up.

“I truly thought… that if anyone could stay the course it would be you. You have always stayed the course even in the darkest of moments. Did whatever it took to see that next sunrise…”

Seeing her chance, while he was monologuing, she tried to lash out with her claws and kicks, but mid swing, she felt searing pain as flaming binds held her limbs in place. She strained against them, even as she could smell her flesh cooking in her armor.

”But… I suppose that was my mistake. I forgot the effects war has on people. How harsh the reality is… and I’m sorry for bringing this upon you. Upon your sister… I, of all people, should have been more considerate.”

His next blow knocked the wind out of her completely, her body panicking as her adrenaline made her body scream for the air it couldn’t seem to claim.

He shook his head, his helmet vanishing in a wave of flames. As she looked into this strange face, as she looked into his eyes, she saw something familiar. Something striking, but different than she recalled. Where there had been doubt and hesitation in the phantom memory, here she saw resolve. Here she saw certainty.

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Lady Unicorn began to slowly clap, “Well well! Here I was thinking you had gone traitor, but you went and captured her for us! Perhaps you are every inch the warrior I remember you as.” She smiled confidently, a varied army behind her. There were no Falos Knights or Mannequins behind her, and each one seemed to carry themselves with the kind of pride that only comes with some measure of command.

He growled, his eyes harsh, “This is…” he closed his eyes and locked them with Anisa’s. “Fine… the mission must be completed.” He threw Anisa’s now limp body into the entrance to the arena with immense force. As she flew, she expected to feel the impact of cold stone as he had been feeling this entire fight… but there was nothing. She was simply in a black void. When she opened her eyes, she saw… herself. Not the woman she had become, not the villain she once was…

The high school girl with cold eyes said to the armored warrior, “So… what ARE you fighting for?”

———

The Phoenix Emperor turned towards Lady Unicorn and her army.

So, about 400 lieutenant level threats. A few dozen Major and Captain levels, and 18 instant win conditions. All spread out to avoid losing them instantly. But she can’t help herself…

He said firmly as he traced a flaming line on the air with his index finger, “So, you went out of your way to do this for little old me?”

She narrowed her eyes and scoffed, “Hardly! While I’m sure we can deal with you as well, I was wanting to force Zora into a duel.” She laughed menacingly, “And as I stood triumphant over her broken form, I would bask in the victory of it all. The defeat of a true hero. But you?” She sneered, “A traitor? You aren’t even a footnote. Good for nothing to me but recognition and advancement.”

Hearing her words, he couldn’t help but laugh, entirely involuntary and uproarious. When he recovered, he smirked, “That’s all you want? A hero? Well, I know my reputation, but I think I can fill that role for you. I’ll take you all on, even with one hand tied behind my back.” He put his left arm behind him, golden chains of energy binding it to his body.

She blinked in confusion, before laughing herself, turning to her army and motioning them to laugh as well, “You expect me to believe you can take our entire force? We are every inch your equal and we outnumber you fou-“

He cut her off, wagging his finger at her tauntingly, small Star like flames appearing in its path and lingering in the air, “Yeah, that’s your first mistake. It doesn’t matter how many of you there are because only so many of you can fight me at once. Second mistake was giving me time to do this.” He snapped his fingers, the lights sailing out swiftly, several explosions going off in her forces. She looked at him in surprise and outrage only for him to wink at her playfully.

There go her win cons. No evaporating, lobotomized, or any other stupid bullshit that takes a week in sick bay to walk off. Remember to stay calm, stay the course, and see the job through. I just have to hold the line until Doug is back. Shouldn’t be too hard.