View source for 2946/Wish Factory: Making Good on a Deal

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2026/02/19
|Location=Yumegahama Ward
|Synopsis=Veronica's mother has rolled into town to make sure that her daughter is well after learning that the Agreste Family are in Tokyo too. Unbeknownst to her, she's actually at the center of a plot between Hawkkmoth and a demon of green, Propheteur, and one akuma later, the demon has returned. Rashmi, Veronica, Laisa, Miho, and Amy are able to take down the youma Itzamna, but Propheteur escapes.
|Cast of Characters=145,127,41,156,266,107,25
|Tinyplot=Wish Factory
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>The streets pass by indistinct, blurry just like the people walking down them. The woman looking at them sighs, shifting slightly on her seat and turning away from the car's tinted window.<br><br>''No taste, absolutely no taste... So much for that man having opened a fashion business'', she thinks, lifting a cherry from a little cup in front of her. But she didn't see eye to eye with ''his'' tastes either. Nobody really understands the power of tradition. She fixes a hat that, much like the rest of her getup, would have been at home in the 1800s.<br><br>Except her dear hubby, of course. And she can only thank the Heavens Veronica has dutifully followed all the lessons they gave her.<br><br>The car turns, and the buildings on the woman's right give way to a spruce of azure, resting under a clouded sky. "Not bad", she says out loud. "I am pleased, they take good care of their beaches. I wouldn't want to be at a hotel with tastes so decadent", she observes, biting into the cherry.<br><br>"We should be rather close now", a masculine voice from the front seat says, just moments before the tips of his moustache are tinted with yellow by the stop light. "Just after this crossing, madam Aliénor", he adds with a twitch of his fingers.<br><br>"That's good news, thank you, Andre", Aliénor comments with an imperious nod, turning her gaze back to the sidewalk, not minding the now red light. She only needs to leave her luggage off and they are going to this Radiant Heart Academy. Maybe she will see for herself what Veronica saw in that school.<br><br>Minutes pass, and the light turns green again. Andre is about to start the car again, but Aliénor's right hand cuts through the air, grabbing his shoulder. "Wait, I changed my mind", she says, already unbuckling her seat and opening the car door. "You take care of business, I am going on a walk." Her heels clack on the ground and she turns her gaze down the sidewalk, at the familiar brown hue that attracted her attention.<br><br>"May I ask why, ma'am?" Andre asks from within the car, and with the speed of lightning, Aliénor replies. "No, you may not." She takes her bag along, and instantly closes the door, calling out. "Veronica, dear, what a fortuitous occasion. Let me have a look at you!"<br><br>Indeed, let her. What has she gotten to wear since she last was with them? A hoodie, of all things, and with cat ears sewn on it. And is she showing her ''midriff'' now? It's a good thing she came here instead of Frederick. This situation requires a mother's touch.<br><br>Many faces turn at Aliénor, and so does that of the person concerned, showing her a neutral expression. What is she doing here? Her mind races back to the conversations they have had, recalling messages and spoken words alike, but nothing she remembers hinted at a surprise visit.<br><br>"Mother, it is good to see you", Veronica replies flatly, nodding her head at the woman. Her mother gives her a wide smile. "It is good to see you too, Veronica. You have grown so much", she says, turning right next to Veronica and taking a mirror ornated with seven jewels of different colours to admire their reflections.<br><br>''So it has already started'', Veronica thinks, and waits as still as one of Laisa's statuettes for her mother to be done, knowing what she was going to say next, and trying to ignore the auburn locks mixing with hers. "Really our looks don't betray us", Aliénor remarks, putting the mirror away. "But Veronica, dear, you should have told us if you were tight on money", she immediately takes on a worried voice. "You have probably outgrown all of your old clothes, haven't you?"<br><br>Yes, and with a lot of glee, the brunette thinks, still keeping a flat flace. "Is that why you are here, mother?" she asks, facing her and giving her sleeve a light brush. The gesture doesn't get commented on.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>"Not directly, but... I was worried, dear", Aliénor replies, with eyebrows that suddenly turn into a severe slope. What has this place done to her, what has ''that'' man... But she could have forgiven him his poor lack of taste if he at least didn't bring to ruin Madame Graham de Vanily. Is this what he does now, corrupt ladies of good family?<br><br>"I heard Mr. Agreste was here in Tokyo, and I have never told you about the voices, but he is not a good man", she continues with a voice that hides none of her contempt.<br><br>Veronica has to do her best to hold back a scoff at that. No doubt about that, but surely not for whatever reason her mother is "concerned" about. She wonders how she would react if she could tell her all about Obsidian and his activities. "I am fine, mother. We have never really met."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:127|Laisa Samuiko (127)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Laisa Samuiko had no idea that there's going to be a surprise visit from Veronica's family, either.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... but she recalls that one of the things she very much has in common with Veronica is that neither of them have good families.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The moment she spots Veronica she is all smiles, walking up to her girlfriend while suspecting that nothing is wrong. 'Cute outfit' she thinks to herself. Laisa is really lucky to have such a charming girlfriend.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh. Something's wrong. Something about Veronica's body language and tone of voice and everything feels more and more wrong the closer she gets. Who is that woman she's with? Is it Laisa's imagination or is there a resemblance? Her pace quickens.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If Aliénor takes exception to Veronica's clothing, Laisa's probably isn't that much better. She's also wearing a hoodie with light blue to dark blue gradient going from top to bottom, with white glittery snowflake print becoming more apparent in the darker parts. It goes down far enough that it reaches halfway down her thighs, covering up her black shorts underneath. Her eyeshadow and lipstick, also... well let's just say that she's a bit unconventional with her choices, opting for darker colors. Also for her nails.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite her misgivings, Laisa doesn't want to make assumptions and she doesn't want to make trouble either. "Veronica-chan. It's good to see you, my dear. Who is this fashionable lady I find you with? I don't believe we've met."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>While the weather definitely hasn't warmed up enough for beach gear, it's still sunny enough to make a walk in Yumegahama a pleasant way to spend the time.<br> <br>Especially when news of a new soba stand in the area reached Rashmi's ears. And Rashmi Terios is nothing, if not a supporter of the culinary arts. *And* because a good lunch is even better in company, she made sure to drag Molly out of her building to accompany her.<br> <br>Thus, with full stomach and happy heart, she ambles down the street with her friend, chattering about light nothings. When she spots Veronica, however, she comes up short, putting a hand on Molly's shoulder. "Hey, lookit who--" She's about to raise her hand in greeting, but sees an *extremely* well-dressed woman accost her -- allowed, but unwelcome -- and pose with a mirror that wouldn't be out of place in Neptune's dimensional pocket. Thus, her greeting dies before the first syllable can be spoken, but she glances aside at Molly. "...Let's stick around, just in case. She might need a rescue."<br> <br>One does not work as a mahou without learning that 'rich' does not always equal 'right' after all.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth 2.0 (156)}} has posed:'''<br>A rarely considered aspect of Hawkmoth's powers is that he most certainly ''can'' target someone on purpose. Once his akuma connects with a victim, he ''knows'' them, intimately even, the source of their distress, their negativity the weakness in their heart, and, crucially, their ''name''. <br><br>This goes unconsidered chiefly because he rarely ''bothers'' with targeting the same victim over and over, on purpose, unless they have something to offer him (curse Usagi Tsukino and her ravenous cat for falling out of his hands with the Ladybug Miraculous!). <br><br>He can, though. And with a name and a face, he can ''choose'' to target most anyone he pleases, so long as their emotions cross the threshold of negativity he requires. <br><br>And, while, as a general matter there were very few lines he was unwilling to cross in pursuit of Emilie's health, the fact is, he's ''always'' happy to ruin the day of a British noble. <br><br>It's thusly a simple matter for Hawkmoth to cast the wide net of his empathetic powers and narrow it in on the chosen target. It's an ''easy'' matter to send one of his akuma to her, a woman already brimming with resentments and petty spites. It amuses him that her contempt for his true self would be her downfall. <br><br>There are those who have the chance to see the purple-and-black butterfly as it flies through the air, weaving with the wind, bobbing along at times as though it were a true insect, but none are so close that they can stop what happens next: <br><br>The purple butterfly lands on Aliénor's hat, and instead of seafoam green butterfly markings appear around her face as Hawkmoth speaks with her. <br><br>''Your contempt has been felt, Aliénor, and ordinarily, I would reward you - why ''shouldn't'' you seek to impose your justice on the man you hate so if it would get me the Miraculous. But this isn't about you, but about the relic.'' <br><br>He smirks, thoroughly amused. In his lair, where none can hear, he murmurs, "Now take it away Propheteur, and weave your curse of greed for me." <br><br>The butterfly had not been alone - a youma follows in its wake, hiding in the shadows of a building, waiting for the moment of transformation to arise.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, Miho normally would be running back at the school. Today though? She choose to run on the sands of the beach. Since its too cold to really enjoy the beach in a swimsuit, it doesn't mean the beach is close to those who use the beach to train. She's doing a different type of running though. The girl is digging her bare feet into the sand, gripping the sand with her toes as she runs. Its something her dad taught her to do for beach training.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miho's outfit is her normal blue sweat pants, light blue sports bra, and a windbreaker jacket. There's a duffle bag with protein snacks, and healthy versions of energy drinks stashed away. The girl finishes a few sand sprints, doing some stretches.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy spots Veronica as the Puella Magi is leaping from rooftop to rooftop on patrol -- a moment later, she's dehenshined and approaching from around a corner, and sees Laisa too, smiling and waving to them. "Veronica! Cute outfit!" she calls out, and approaches--<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But a motherly rich lady gets there first. Is motherly the right word? Matronly?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The way that Veronica freezes and flattens her affect is more chilling than any MOTW youma, and Amy stops, watching suspiciously.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Who actually carries around a hand mirror that fancy?'' Amy wonders. ''It looks like something out of a fantasy anime or game.''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Outgrown her old clothes? It takes a moment for Amy to remember that, right, for most people having nothing to wear could be a problem, and of course Veronica's mother doesn't know about her daughter's powers. Amy hasn't seen the girl flaunting wealth, so it may well be she doesn't have the personal resources to stay kitted out in finery-- although, had she the inclination, her powers are more than enough.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy's working out this social puzzle as fast as she can! But, provisionally, she thinks she's got at least a bit of the gist. But is this lady really so ''scary'' as to have Veronica like this?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...She's never talked about her mother, has she?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And Amy remembers the pang when she feared Ms. Siddig thought ill of her, and more distantly, the disappointment of her father. She takes a breath, and walks closer.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She started her patrol after school, so she's still in her uniform. She smiles, a mask over wariness. "Veronica. Good to see you! Who's your--" Wait, friend isn't the right word here. Who's your adult? "--mom?" she lands on, uncertainly.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh, and there's-- "Miho-chaaan!" Amy waves, smiling genuinely.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She wants to run over and kiss her on the cheek, but... is Veronica's mom(?) weird about that? Not that Amy cares for the woman's sake, but if she'd make Veronica's life hard... well, she'll watch how Veronica interacts with her girlfriend and mother(?) and keep trying to build the social picture.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>"You know, Veronica, that man has some weird ideas, and is it true his son goes to your school?", Aliénor looks close to Veronica's eyes. Has there never been any parent conferences? Is she sure, she doesn't have anything bigger going on? She tries looking deep into Veronica's eyes, but they remain still as stone.<br><br>"I think we don't really cross paths, mother", Veronica comments without much reaction. Has she really come all the way here just for the Agreste? That seems very forced, even for her. She never got the impression she loathed him so much from the few times they brought him up.<br><br>Luckily, Laisa's arrival spares her any more comments on Gabriel and Adrien, and warmth returns to Veronica's face as she eyes her girlfriend. Aliénor gives a full toothed smile too as she finds a new source of information on Veronica. Of course, of course, her stile of dressing is the same, but she would have figured it out anyway. There is lots of work here for her to do.<br><br>"What a ''charming'' young lady", Aliénor addresses Laisa first, giving her an analysing look. "Please, Veronica, why don't you tell me more about her? You look rather happy to see her. That's good. I was afraid you'd turn to stone if you didn't show us that smile."<br><br>Veronica stares up at her mother, and moves to Laisa's side, as she replies with a breezy tone this time. "Mother, this is Laisa Samuiko, my girlfriend." She takes Laisa's hand in hers, and gently nudges her shoulder against the purple-haired girl.<br><br>The woman's eyes shine with a cold light. "Oh, your girlfriend? Why didn't you say that sooner? We would have been overjoyed at the news." She tilts her head closer to Laisa. "Please, my dear, why don't you tell me a bit about your parents? I am quite sorry to meet you this way. Had I known, this... would have been a lot more elegant." She waves a gloved hand around, ignoring her daughter's disapproving glare.<br><br>Veronica was at Amy when she comes up, replying to her question with a slight tilt of her head. "My mother's name is Aliénor Perenna, and she is just here from London." The auburn-haired woman smiles at Amy. "You can call me Madame Perenna, or if you prefer my maiden name, Suffren de la Tour, dear", she adds with mellow viscosity.<br><br>But a fifth, sixth and seventh voices join the group, although only Hawkmoth's one goes unheard by the gathered girls. "Veronica, take the mirror, it's a relic!" Coralie speeds towards the brunette's mother, eyes fixed on the bag.<br><br>At the same time, though, the relic starts glowing a sickly gold, and lifts in the air, well out of people's reach. "''Give over your life to me, and we shall achieve great things''", the sixth voice says, and the shimmering light starts covering Aliénor, who is looking around with mouth agape.<br><br>The small hair on the back of Veronica's neck rises as she feels the powerful dark energy. Questions of how the water cat knows her name and what is happening intersect, but there isn't really time to do as the fairy says. Only time to transform.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>"Time to sign off on today's heist!" Veronica grins, clapping her hands above her head. A burst of silver-white sparkles streaks across the canvas of a night sky as her voice lifts into song: "Ready, set, go! <span style="color:#191970">I'll paint the sky and spread my colors through the moonlight</span>". The moonlit princess leaps into the air, catching sparkles with outstretched hands, the melody awakening the night itself. Landing with a twirl, moonlight trails behind her, and her hands hold her calling card and miniature cane. Elegant strokes write "<span style="color:#191970">Princess of Sarek</span>" across the paper, eyes shining with anticipation. Another clap fuses card and cane into a radiant staff, which she extends to full size with a flourish, her smile triumphant. "<span style="color:#191970">This heart of mine you'll see it glowing like a spotlight</span>"<br><br>As her song continues, she forms a glowing heart with her hands, and silver light bursts skyward, taking the shape of a cat falling into her arms. Its touch transforms her, a golden shine dying her hair, which braids itself as feline ears twitch into place and a ribboned tail unfurls behind her. "<span style="color:#191970">I'm leaping through the shadows dancing with my silhouette</span>", she spins with the rhythm, coating herself in a wave of silver light that explodes into her magical garments. Drawing her top hat in the air with threads of moonlight, the cat thief reaches out for it, crowning herself with a wink, concluding her performance with the last note of her song. "<span style="color:#191970">Tonight tonight, oh I'll, I'll paint the sky</span>"<br><br>As soon as the light of her henshin fades, so does the one surrounding Aliénor, and a young boy, fresh-faced and calm looks around from under his hood. His green eyes glisten as he notices Coralie, and he gives a small smile.<br><br>"Is this a welcome party... I did not think my presence was missed ''this'' much", he says in a soft spoken tone. "And with some old acquaintances too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>...Okay so there's Laisa-san coming in from one angle, and Amy-chan from another. That *should* be enough to stave off familial unpleasantness, but just in case...<br> <br>Rashmi turns to the nearby shop-window... only to find it full of kitschy souvenirs. ...Which would be *fascinating,* if they weren't in Tokyo of all places, and one only has to know which vending machines won't bite people today -- or at least don't *look* suspiciously bitey -- to get their kitsch fix. Still, she tries gamely to keep up a related stream of chatter, but that dies the *moment* Nicomachea alerts her to the inbound akuma butterfly.<br> <br>"Oh... swear jar," she mutters, turning to bring her full attention to bear, when everything just *falls apart.*<br> <br>First the woman akumatizes, then Veronica transforms, a *new* fairy makes an appearance, and by the time the mirror begins to add *its* Dark Energy to the chaos, Rashmi's already hauling Molly into the alleyway next to the souvenir shop.<br> <br>"Well *this* just went right to crap... Set Up!"<br> <br>A flash of golden light later, and before Rashmi even leaves the alley, she's preparing the battlefield.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">TIME-SPACE BARRIER</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">SUPPORT NETWORK</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>The familiar-to-all-but-Aliénor bubble of yellow-black static explodes outward to cover the surrounding few blocks, washing the world out in warm-sepia hues, as Rashmi's voice speaks up in her allies' minds.<br> <br>&lt;&lt; Sarek-chan, what's going on? And did you see where the akuma landed? &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:127|Laisa Samuiko (127)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Laisa is far too focused upon Veronica's current mood to really notice the butterfly. As far as she's concerned, this rich woman bothering her girlfriend is the biggest threat in the room. Yet she feels like she has to be polite, because depending on the connection she might ''really'' not want to pick a fight with her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's being introduced, and complimented. On the one hand, she is subtly dreading this. Angels do not rush forward where kittens fear to tread. On the other hand, Veronica's discomfort is reason enough for her to step in and... maybe... make things better somehow? Or at least less bad?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh. Her family is being asked about. Of course, Laisa was warned about this ahead of time. "I am of the Samuiko clan, from Osaka. You may have heard of us?" This is probably the first time in her life since breaking out of her family's curse that she's even slightly happy to say those words. She decides to omit the fact that she is the prodigal daughter of said family. Can she navigate this conversation without causing problems for her beloved?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sudden interruption of the water cat rapidly increases the awkwardness, only for the glowing of the relic and youmafication of the mom to drop all social niceties off a cliff.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ah... well... so that's that then."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Laisa sometimes hides her henshin, but she's done it publicly enough that she's no longer ''that'' concerned. She holds up her Rime Rosary as it glows. A mass of fog wraps around her, thickening until she's no longer visible. As it gradually clears away, Mou Fubuki's voice calls out, "Let me guess. You're one of the ones troubling Sarek-chan?" With a burst of wind, the Snow Angel is revealed in full. "You're not getting away with that, you know. Now would be a good time to get out of her mother and leave."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, she knows that's not going to happen. The barrier is going up, and she glances towards the page mage. &lt;&lt; Thanks... &gt;&gt; she transmits.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth 2.0 (156)}} has posed:'''<br>As the light of the Princess of Sarek's henshin fades and the young boy standing where Aliénor once stood is revealed, the youma that had been lurking in darkness surges forward and into the barrier, stopping only once it's close enough to what had once been Aliénor to bow. <br><br>It's a tall orange and frilly lizard-creature, two heads mounted atop its neck, one an iguana and the other a snake. The tips of its frills shine with vivid flamelets, and one of the youma's clawed holds a scythe, ornamented by many flowers of fire. The scythe is flourished in the same moment as the bow, and the lizard-like head speaks even as the snake-like head twists to watch the threat that is the Princess of Sarek. <br><br>"Welcome, my master, to the world once more!" <br><br>With these words of welcome spoken, the youma turns and hisses at the gathering magical warriors, flaring fire in opposition to Snow Angel Mou Fubuki's chill wind. <br><br>"Foolish warrior, now would be a good time for ''you'' to flee!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miho hugs Amy a bit, giving her a quick kiss. "Just doing a little bit of training at the...", she starts to say. She looks over, and notice Veronica starting to henshin. The girl points to Veronica. "We can't let her fight alone.", she tells Amy. The girl looks around a little bit before finding a changing tent close by. Miho runs into the tent, and quickly henshins into Yukihime.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yukihime notices Rashmi setting up the barrier. The mahou takes a deep breath, waiting to normal ding of the telepathy network to go up.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt; Is the Network up? It still feels a bit weird to talk mentally... &gt;&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yukihime puts in some earbuds. The fight song of the night? Villians and Heroes by Neffex. The mahou starts to shift her body into the rhythm of the song, as she calls out her naginata. The girl feels the theme of the song as she listens. Yukihime breathes out, and calls out 4 wolves, sending one to Amy while she keeps three with her. Yeah she loves the feel of this song.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:25|Molly Skyline (25)}} has posed:'''<br>To say that Molly was 'dragged along' is something of a misconception, since there is absolutely no reality in which Rashmi calls her and she doesn't show up. <br> <br> That said, the Soba that she bought went straight into her device's storage to be kept both warm and safe until she can eat it; the days where she would have just enjoyed the bowl of noodles in soup with shrimp tempura on top (four of them, she paid for extra extra) walking along have not yet returned. <br> <br> But, they might soon, with Molly excitedly telling Rashmi that there is at least an arm organized and on the way, she just has to receive it. <br> <br> Getting dragged into the back alley is a lot more accurate however, sicne she was not prepared for that. <br> <br> Moments later, the flailing and surprised teenager in her usual ripped jeans and whatnot is replaced by a device mage, clad head to foot in barrier jacket with softly glowing circuitry and a staff held in hand. "Alright then, who're we blowing up this time?" she asks, as her Flier Fin wings sprout into being on her back and she launches herself upwards. "I-- Oh no wait, it's obvious." <br> <br> &lt;&lt; Rashmi-chan, just say the word and I will open fire. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Huh. At what point did she internalize that certain types of people would think it weird to see her kissing a girl?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh, this lady's cool with Veronica and Laisa. Cool. So it's something else...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy smiles at the kiss and hugs Miho back, and then Amy's introduced. She curtseys. "I'll call you whatever you'd like to be called. A pleasure to meet you, Madame Perenna."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Man, if only she could just ''ask'', but this isn't a magical situation, she can't just OH WAIT A MINUTE.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#d70000">&lt;&lt;</span> Veronica, What's got you so on edge about her? Is there anything we can do to help? <span style="color:#d70000">&gt;&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then chaos begins. Coralie runs in. "I ''knew'' it looked like a magic item!" But she's only taken a step towards Mme. Perenna when light covers her and there's a voice. She looks around in alarm, "Who the heck is ''that?!''"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Veronica's henshining. "Uhh?" Are we just doing that here? Apparently!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's engulfed in the orb of light which cracks to reveal her wreathed in flame which leaves her in her costume.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks between the mirror, and Mme. Perenna, and Veronica, and Veronica, and then back to ...a boy?!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Veronica's mom turned into a boy? ...Well, Amy can't say there isn't precedent. But he's talking like a new person, not someone who just got transformed. "Who ''are'' you?" she asks, "Where'd you come from? And where'd her mo-- where'd Miss Perenna go?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh and there is a lizard. And not the friendly(?) one from the dorm. "Wait, ''what?!'' Who's your master?!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>Veronica's eyes widen as she hears Rashmi talking to her. &lt;&lt; Great choice &gt;&gt; she comments at the barrier's forming, while looking at the goat-boy and wondering how to respond. Her eyes fall on the necklace around his neck. She has read a description of that S before, but she would have never really thought she would have seen in person.<br><br>&lt;&lt; I think she landed on my mother's hat. But this doesn't look like an akuma, and that necklace... You know the Painting Ward I am protecting, right? It was used by the demons trapped inside. &gt;&gt; the Princess of Sarek replies, holding her cane up.<br><br>"Hey, so... Coralie, right? Filling us in?", Veronica asks the water cat, echoing Amy's question. "That is Prophèteur, the second of the demons. The one you are supposed to protect", she says, moving closer to the group of magical girls.<br><br>The goat demon looks at the cat thief curiously and caresses his own staff, but then turns to Mou Fubuki. "Protecting Wards, causing problems... We really only want people to be true to themselves. Is that really such a bad thing?" His hand goes over to caress the animal skull on top of his staff, and gold sparkles fall from the empty sockets.<br><br>"Now, now, Itzamna, let's be kinder. I appreciate the welcome, but these kids have much to learn yet. Still..." His green eyes fall on Rashmi. "I do want to leave, but you are restraining the path of fate. I will try not to make it hurt much." He raises his staff, and long and think golden spikes form in the air, and they immediately fire at Rashmi.<br><br>"This is true enough for you!", Veronica shouts, and the sphere on her cane glows with silver light. "We are taking that relic, and the woman you are possessing too. <span style="color:#191970">Transient Lunar Flare!</span>" The beam of silver light travels all the way to the fire lizard-creature, aimed at the iguana head.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:127|Laisa Samuiko (127)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a second youma here. Mou Fubuki raises her eyebrow at it and frowns. It's telling her to flee? "Now now now. How am I supposed to impress my girlfriend if I run away? Besides... yours would not be the first flame I've put out, nor the last."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is happening. They're doing this now. Well, maybe this interruption will derail whatever unpleasantness Veronica's mother had in store for them. Assuming that they can just get her back.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... they can just get her back, right?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wait... so you're one of the demons she warned me about? Here I thought you were like... gone, or something." When she looks at the boy more closely... yeah, goat-like features certainly have that 'demon' vibe. Under different circumstances her first guess would have been 'satyr' but nah... she's going to use the word that Coralie used.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am already true to myself. I don't need your guidance, and neither does anyone else. You strike me as the kind of person who pushes a lot of weird stuff onto a person and then tries to pretend it was their idea. This world has no need for your cynical views, and that's the cold hard truth."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Veronica is going after the lizard first, and Laisa may as well back her up. A spear of solid ice forms in her hands, and she skates towards the monster. "You've been warned," she states, before passing by the lizard youma and trying to jab him with the cold point.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth 2.0 (156)}} has posed:'''<br>"Master..." Itzamna says slowly, in too hesitant a voice for the word to properly register as a complaint. Still, within those two syllables is a world of hesitation and uncertainty. Surely, defeating this crowd is the way to go? But then, his master of all beings would know best... <br><br>Perhaps its for the best that he hesitated, because then his master is capable of striking the first blow, firing golden spikes at Rashmi! <br><br>"You will never have that vessel back," Itzamna declares, and strikes out with sweeping blows of his flaming scythe, cutting through the silver beam of light that came sweeping for his head, only to be jabbed with ice and hiss. <br><br>The snake head snarls at Snow Angel Mou Fubuki, and the lizard head growls without words. "My flames will put an end to your icy masquerade! Show some respect!" <br><br>A swish of a clawed hand, and a seed bomb is thrown at Snow Angel Mou Fubuki, exploding in flames the second it reaches within a foot of her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yukihime notices Veronica going after the lizard. So if she's attacking that one, then that must be the target. The mahou nods her head to the beat of the song, and goes into a dance. "Wolves of the Capital, Attack.", she commands. The girl goes into a dance, and makes just a single slash with her naginata as she spins the weapon around into a ready position.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A single wolf seems to follow the path of the slash, looking to attack the lizard in a wolf like pounce from the side. If it connects, the wolf turns back into a bead that returns to Yukihime's wrist. The two other wolves continue to stay close to the dancing Yukihime, while the one stays near Amy. She watches the lizard head. "Ice to meet you.", the girl puns...Yes, that was bad...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I...wow...that was horrible.", Yukihime says, shaking her head.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&gt; We only want people to be true to themselves. Is that really such a bad thing?<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"'''''EXCUSE ME.'''''" Amy puts one hand on her hip and points her thumb at her chest. "I am '''Magical Rocket Girl Red'''," she spreads her arms, "the Puella Magi of freedom to live as your true self!" She points at the goat(?)-boy. "And I've ''seen'' what other demons do to people! You turned them into monsters of greed, who'd destroy everything that ever mattered to them to make a quick buck!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...I mean, if you just targeted the ultra-rich, we'd never notice. ...Actually, ''are'' there a bunch more of you already out there-- nevermind."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shakes her head.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So what happened to V-- to missus Perenna, where'd she go?!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And Amy looks to the Princess of Sarek, "and are ''all'' the demons about Greed, or is there one for each sin, or what?" Propheteur... if that has another meaning in French, Amy doesn't know enough French to know it.<br><br>&gt; You're never getting that vessel back!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We'll see about that!" Amy turns towards the lizard-youma.<br><br>&gt; Ice to meet you! ...That was horrible.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No, it's fine! Let's show these demons a cold welcome! ...I guess that's a chilly reception?" She holds a finger to her chin, then shakes her head and conjured a high-caliber gyrojet rifle to start shooting the lizard with. Bang bang bang! "Keep going, we can snowball this! Also, ''I'm'' the explosive-user here, you! Our combined magic will send you back to hell and put you on ice! ...There's cold parts of hell, right?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>&lt;&lt; So... Okay so if neither of those is your mom's akuma, then-- oh boy, Master, thaaaaat's concerning. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>Some stories are complicated, and require stalling and unwinding of threads before a good answer can be arrived at. This is not that. Goat-boy bad, lizard-man serve, 'true selves' probably actually bad because Dark Energy makes for weird priorities.<br> <br>Her suspicion is confirmed a moment later, when needles form themselves out of gold dust falling from a skull-topped staff.<br> <br>Skulls are usually the best kind of indicator whose side one is on.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">SOLAR SHIELD</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>The problem with her new mode is, her toolkit of defenses is pretty bare. But good reflexes still allow her to put up a simple Shield in time to keep the needles from stabbing into her magically-tougher-but-still-should-probably-avoid-puncture-wounds flesh.<br> <br>The first thing Rashmi learns about her attacker is, there is *no* way that her Shield was going to survive an assault of this strength; Aloisia's Festungseid would probably have difficulty holding up against an attack like this. The second thing Rashmi learns is, solid projectiles have their own weakness, in that if they have mass, their trajectories can be altered by things in their way. So, while Rashmi's Shield shatters instantly, Propheteur does in fact fail to 'make it quick,' as bloody red lines open up all over the Devicer's Barrier Jacket, one drawing itself across her cheek... but wounded is not killed, and attacking her means he's not attacking the others.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">FLIER FIN</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>Golden wings of light unfurl from Rashmi's ankles, and she leaps into the air, pausing to turn and pull down one eyelid at the demon, sticking her tongue out in a gesture that may be uniquely Japanese, but the attitude common to young adults the world over.<br> <br>&lt;&lt; Star Devil, focus on the lizard! &gt;&gt; she shouts, hoping the bait gets taken. &lt;&lt; I'm just gonna try and get him away from this mess! I *promise,* I won't be stupid! &gt;&gt; Pause. &lt;&lt; ...*More* stupid! &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:25|Molly Skyline (25)}} has posed:'''<br>Molly's hand is shaking, and she clenches her grip tightly, knuckles going white under her gauntlet, just so she can make sure she doesn't do something super awful, like... dropping Starcrash. Because that would be terrible. Also embarassing. And she'd undoubtedly cry. <br> <br> Focus on the lizard. Okay she can do that. <br> <br> &lt;&lt; Okay lizard! Got it! And if you do something stupid I'm going to do something EVEN MORE STUPID to come and save you btu I mostly-promise I won't, like, uhm, actually let's not go there today STARCRASH! Deploy Vulcan Defense, then charge Plasma Flare, twenty second duration, lock target on the gross lizard. &gt;&gt; <br> <br> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#B70FFF">AFFIRMATIVE. DEFENSES DEPLOYED. PLASMA FLARE ARMED AND LOCKED.</span> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&gt;&gt;</span> <br> <br> A glowing ball surrounded by spell runs appears behind Molly, between her wings; and then, no reason to stand on ceremony, the Brit reasons. "Fire!!" <br> <br> She does her best to keep her staff on target as her Battle Visor shows brackets around the lizard, locking on to the target that's marked with red lettering and a &gt;:( face, along with trajectory information and targeting advice... but really, the fact that she's locked on target and this spell can curve to a limited degree reall is the best. A superheated, crackling beam blasts into the lizard, and Molly keeps it centered on the creature's chest as best she can. <br> <br> "Eyes up here, you, you..." Come on, think of an insult, stop being so nervous about everything in combat. "You, uhm, DRY FROG yeah that's it, EYES UP HERE!" And don't chase Rashmi. Or any of her other friends who are here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>Prophèteur purses his lips. "You thought us gone despite fighting our youmas all this time. Should we have put a name tag on them?", he asks disappointed. "This was always going to happen, you know? In due time, we will give people what they need." He squints his eyes at Laisa.<br><br>"I don't remember you. Were you busy that day? Or were you just in the back?", he asks confused. Mimemise really made it hard to get a good view, so he wouldn't exclude it. Though, he hardly recognises ''anyone'' here, besides the successor of their old enemy.<br><br>"You. I remember you", he points at Amy. "Surely you have some better desire than victory over us. Money? A beautiful outfit? Your own business?" He twists his staff, showing illusions matching his words. Something about looking at them... It makes them look desirable.<br><br>He met Red? Was he talking about the time Veronica was cursed to be a cat? She is not much sure when else they could have met. And she doesn't really care. Much like then, they are going to be put back inside. She should do better than this. It's her responsibility, and now Rashmi has gotten hurt due to Prophèteur.<br><br>But she has other concerns before she can be allowed to check on the Page Mage: despite her successful strike, Itzamna is hitting back at her, and Veronica leaps back to have the time to respond.<br><br>"<span style="color:#191970">Prismatic Wall!</span>" The barrier of moonlight forms, and for a few seconds silver and red clash, sending sparkles everywhere. Then there is a loud crack and the shield breaks, leaving Veronica to be hit by a strike that leaves a burn on her arm. At least she did not get the full impact.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth 2.0 (156)}} has posed:'''<br>"How foolish are you, to not even know the enemy you're fighting?" Itzamna sneers at Sarek, smug with satisfaction that even though the Transient Lunar Beam struck, they too had been able to land a strike, burning the Princess of Sarek. <br><br>His smugness doesn't last long - there's a wolf, lunging to bite at one of their legs, Puella Red firing at them, striking their back and side, and then - <br><br>Star Devil, with that sustained shot to the chest, and the youma cries out in rage and pain, summoning all their strength for a counter strike - the scythe is lifted and surges with flames, and a great sweeping arch of a strike sends fire roaring at the collected group of fighters, burning hot enough to scorch the asphalt and soften metal. <br><br>If it hits, it will hurt. <br><br>But the force of such a great swing has also left Itzamna open to counterattacks, momentum carrying him forward!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>With Propheteur failing to take her bait, Rashmi allows herself a moment's frustrated disappointment, before angling around and dropping back into the fray... and dropping *even harder* as she sees the firey beam sweeping towards her, and can only think to let gravity take hold for a few seconds, to keep her out of the beam's path. Those few seconds, as well as the moment of realization that preceded it, are some of the most harrowing of her life this year, but better a moment of abject terror than days of healing burns.<br> <br>This does, however, mean that there is an opening; and while she's not currently configured to *capitalize* on that opening, she can certainly make it bigger.<br> <br>An intricate Mid-Childan seal spreads out under her feet, and Nicomachea intones the name of an altogether new spell.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">BARRIER -- DECLINE</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>A single ball of wispy, golden light appears in front of Rashmi's outstretched hand, and darts down at Itzamna. Impacting his chest, just above the contact point for Star Devil's beam, it *splashes,* spreading out haphazardly to cover the demon in a patchy webwork of glittering, golden points of light.<br> <br>In point of fact, the spell isn't *entirely* sparkling. Based around the same framework as her shield-breaking Blades, the magic steadily, relentlessly, grinds away at Itzamna's magical defenses. In time, perhaps, it'll be as efficient as Boosting her entire team. But efficiency requires repetition, and spells have to start to be used somewhere.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:127|Laisa Samuiko (127)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The seed bomb lands directly in the path of Mou Fubuki's skates, and she trips over it as it explodes. The searing heat vaporizes her skates, sending her sprawling on the floor in a way that is most certainly ''not'' showy. The burns on her legs would have been a lot more severe if not for the magical henshin armor protecting the snow angel, but she's still ''hurt'' there.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Normally she could put ice on the wound, but with burns she's been told that's a bad idea. Well, this is off to a bad start.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Mou Fubuki picks herself up, she looks at the goat boy and frowns coldly. She's feeling a lot more power off of him than she'd like. Rashmi is trying to distract him. Mou may as well take advantage of the opening her ally is giving her, because the sooner they get rid of the lizard she can help with the demon.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the back of her mind she wonders what will happen to Veronica if her mom just vanishes like this. Sure, their relationship isn't great, but...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No. There's no time to worry about that. She has to fight.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I wasn't there the last time. I heard about you after the fact," she answers. "That said, that you're an enemy of Sarek is more than enough reason for me to fight you."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Because she had to pick herself up, she's standing on her singed legs just in time for the lizard youma Itzamna to throw another fire attack her way. It's wide and sweeping, and she can't dodge it with unsteady legs, so she holds up her hands and creates a shield of ice... which melts. She creates another, and another, until she is standing in an inch deep puddle that is only getting deeper. Her wings extend from her back, radiating a magical cold far below freezing, sacrificing her already hampered ability to move in exchange for more power. Eventually, it's not enough, and she cries out as the flames wash over her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet not all of her magic was being used defensively.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As her now melted wings fall from the back of her scorched henshin armor, and smoke rises up from the tips of her snow white hair, a giant snowball rises up from behind her. She doesn't want to speak at normal volume, but she's Snow Angel Mou Fubuki. She doesn't have to talk. She whispers, "Snow Heart Solstice," and the wind will carry her voice along with the flurry of snow and ice she sends at the firebreathing lizard.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Turning her eyes to the goat boy Prophèteur, she raises a hand in his direction and mutters, "Now... for you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yukihime has both wolves jump in front of her, and the first wolf takes the blunt of the attack. The Second wolf soaks up the majority of the impact after that before slash hits Yukihime. She winces as the slash burns through her suiken, and leaves a good burn/cut on her chest. That annoys her quite a bit before a few lines in the song hit.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yukihime starts singing the lines a bit. "...Today is the day. Don't waste any time, no its time to make a change...Up in your mind, rearrange. Start thinking you're the hero, out on your way...", she goes. The mahou goes into a very elegant dance that combines traditional miko prayer dance with modern style hip hop street dancing. The naginata goes into an elegant pattern as she uses her dancing to add to the naginata's movements.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wolves of the Capital, attack!", she says. The other 6 beads come off her wrist, and snow and ice come around to the beads to form the wolves. Yukihime's dancing with the naginata cause the wolves to attack from all different directions. Each wolf may not be the strongest of mahou attacks, its the combination of the wolves coming from all different directions to attack the Lizard.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When its done, Yukihime bows her head before slowly raising it. "But the good guy always wins, that's a given. Sorry, missed a few lines cause of the attack.", she says with a small wink. The mahou lets out a small breath, a blue fog coming out. Gawd, that's exhausting. And there's a loud growl from Yukihime's stomach.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They don't even answer her sass! But, Prophèteur remembers her. "You do?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then he tries to make an offer. Her mind begins arranging some quip about how she already got her wish, or her soul was already sold to keep the stars burning, and then his initial offers are almost laughably small...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or are they? It's true that money or a source of income would alleviate her fears about how she'll make it in the adult world, but still, even better would be, "You'll have to ''change'' the world," she laughs, "and make it one where ''everyone'' has what they need. But you can't do that, can you?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Damn her brain though, it doesn't stop ''thinking''. Trying to anticipate and be on guard against counter-offers, as Prophèteur will surely try to come up with something smaller, more selfish, and if some of those seemed kind of enticing, what if he finds something closer to what she actually wants for herself?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But what does she want?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To ''know'' that she'll still be cared for, even if she can't fight anymore, even if she messes up and can't fit into the world. (And her friends are making progress in assuring her of that, but there's still a bit of doubt inside her.)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...How is a demon going to offer ''that'', though? ..........<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's knocked out of her thoughts and out of the way of Itzamna's fire strike by a wolf that takes the hit for her. Do they melt or do they burn? "Wolfy--!" &lt;&lt; Thanks, Yukihime-chan! &gt;&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks at the source that's charging forward. Molly asks for a setup. "Alright, you, that's enough of that! If you won't go back to hell, how about you meet a ''Star'' Devil?!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy's launched towards the youma by an explosion and conjures a rocket-hammer with an explosive head, the hammer's thruster propels her faster and at the last split-second she swings underhand,<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#d70000">RISING BLAZER!</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and tries to whack him up into the sky as an explosive on the striking surface detonates on contact, to put him in position for Star Devil's followup attack!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not exactly a ''finisher'' itself, more on the level of shooting him with a few launchers at once and boosting the power with a callout, but it doesn't ''need'' to be more, just to set up for Molly!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:25|Molly Skyline (25)}} has posed:'''<br><span style="color:#14F7FF">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#B70FFF">ALERT: INCOMING THERMAL ATTACK</span> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&gt;&gt;</span> <br> <br> "I can see that!!" Molly twists in mid-air while her Vulcan Defense unloads on the incoming fire wave, which of course does very little to an assault of that nature -- but it's a spell with an uncomplicated mission so it goes ahead and does it anyway, blasting little shards into the fire wave that Molly is doing her best to avoid. "I-- Round shield!!" she yells. <br> <br> A globe of protective force envelops Molly just in time, to absorb some of what she fails to dodge. The rest leaves her Barrier Jacket pitted and smoldering and sparking, as she's hurled backwards into the side of a building with a loud 'Ooomph' escaping her lips. <br> <br> The purplenette shakes her head to clear the cobwebs. Her hand is shaking again. <br> <br> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#B70FFF">BREATH. FOCUS. YOUR SIDE IS WINNING.</span> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&gt;&gt;</span> <br> <br> And it's true... probably. Right? Molly gulps in a breath; her heart is racing. She forces herself to breath slowly, and regain her focus while her friends are unloading on Itzamna (her Battle Visor is labelling it 'Dry Frog' however). <br> <br> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#B70FFF">RECOMMEND A POWERFUL ATTACK</span> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&gt;&gt;</span> <br> <br> A powerful attack. Yes, she's good at those, and this is probably a good time for it. Molly tucks away her feelings about both the fact that her device is now leading her by the nose in an engagement that ought be relatively uncomplicated, and the fact that apparently she needs it. But. Focus. Powerful spell. Does that mean? <br> <br> &lt;&lt; Starcrash, charge Coronal Overload, uhm... retain fifty percent of mana for the rest of the fight, use whatever we have above and beyond that. Disengage safeties if necessary. &gt;&gt; <br> <br> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#B70FFF">AFFIRMATIVE. CHARGING.</span> <span style="color:#14F7FF">&gt;&gt;</span> <br> <br> Molly's Battle Visor flashes warnings about roughly half of her safety protocols being disabled, which... should mean she's still relatively safe, and she repositions, ducking around the corner of the building just for a moment while her spell charges. Luckily, it doesn't take long before Starcrash reports that the spell is ready, and Molly re-emerges into the battle. <br> <br> And... Amy has set her up!! She definitely cannot let her friend down, she needs to make sure she nails this. <br> <br> "...F-Fire!" she shouts -- no she wasn't shaky -- while keeping Starcrash trained on the lizard. A point of light flares into blinding brilliance at the end of her staff, an expanding ball of superheated plasma that collapses into itself and fires a searing beam half as wide as Molly is tall into the lizard, pushing the purplenette backwards in the process -- and detonating on impact with the lizard. <br> <br> As the beam tapers off, Molly's heat circuitry is glowing and steam hisses out of her vents as she gasps for breath. <br> <br> &lt;&lt; Thanks Amy-chan, &gt;&gt; she gasps. &lt;&lt; That was ''perfect''. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:145|Veronica Perenna (145)}} has posed:'''<br>Veronica isn't very perturbed by the youma's accusation, and she instead winks at him. "You know, they weren't doing much to make themselves distinguishable, trapped as they were. And if nobody told you, that's how we like it, so we are going to send your master back."<br><br>She clap her hands and sparkles fall of her hands. "Before you go, a trick just for you", she says with. grin. "Ready, set, go!*, timing it with the last word, Veronica watches herself become ethereal like many times before, and the fire slash through her. It kinda tickles.<br><br>"You have seen nothing yet!", the Princess of Sarek comments as she becomes visible yet again. "Let's crown this with my favourite magic trick!"<br><br>Her cane cuts the air and a trail of moonlight follows, falling to the ground in shimmers. Wherever the silver light touches, the ground ripples, and seemingly disappear replaced by a glistening sea.<br><br>A moon peeks out from under the water, and Veronica tilts her head, letting her top hat fall to her shoulder and outstretched arm, falling and disappearing into the illusionary sea.<br><br>The moon shines brighter: with a tap of her foot, more ripples appear in the waters, and with a rumble, her hat breaks out, gigantic and sweeping through the fire lizard with a burst of purification.<br><br>It arches in the air, and then falls at normal size into her waiting hand, ready to place it back on her head. The brilliance of the moon fades and the ground returns to normal. "<span style="color:#191970">Moonlight Masquerade!</span>"<br><br>Prophèteur scoffs at the attacks that are probably going to overwhelm his servant. He will let it deal with them. He has a mission to carry out, and should probably meet Hawkmoth himself.<br><br>"I have no intention to stay, but I will look forward to what you will do in the future", he tells Mou Fubuki casually. With his staff, he draws a sinuous S into the ground, and with a flash of gold, he disappears, taking mirror and akuma-hat with himself.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth 2.0 (156)}} has posed:'''<br>To say the attacks overwhelm Itzamna would be an understatement. First, there's the sparkling-but-really-glitching cover of Page Mage's Barrier-Decline, steadily weakening the youma's defenses, which, ultimately, is their body: wearing scale patterns, weakening the structure of their scythe, slowing down motion. <br><br>Slowing down is not necessarily an option, especially when pouring out flame. Mou Fubuki melts and builds herself back up, fire washing over snow and ice and making water, and he's smugly satisfied for a moment - but then, the fire is done, and Mou Fubuki is not. The Snow Heart Solstice strikes with purifying force, arresting movement, chilling the quite literally cold-blooded youma into something near to a stupor. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;he wolves of Yukihime strike, glancing blows from the side, scratching at times, biting at others - wolves are effective hunters not for their glancing blows but their coordination and their ability to corner and harass weakened prey, which is ''just'' what Itzamna is. Each strike wears at him, opening wounds, softening him up, and then Puella Red strikes him into the sky with her Rising Blazer - <br><br>And into Star Devil's shakily voiced attack, which launches forward and detonates, leaving the youma a pitted mass himself. One head is permanently lowered - the other is not long behind it, eyes half-lidded, scales disfigured, limbs weakened. <br><br>"Master," they say, not pleading. "It has been an honor to serve your return." <br><br>The Moonlight Masquerade strikes, then, and the youma knows no more purified into grand nothingness - with Propheteur gone, the heroes have nothing left to fight - and no one left to save. Alienor Perenna is gone, and Prophèteur has her body. <br><br>Hawkmoth doesn't quite watch, with Propheteur having claimed the akumatized vessel, but his connection to the Dark General is still there, what with his power offering the stable link of corruption that had allowed him to return. What he could feel through the thin link was... interesting. He'd have to make arrangements to meet the new player he'd added to the board.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:127|Laisa Samuiko (127)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mou Fubuki had her eyes on the demon. She was looking right at him. Now he's gone and she's just standing there thinking to herself that oh no, Veronica's mother is gone. Immediately she turns to the Princess of Sarek's eyes to see what her expression is, and in spite of Mou's own wounds she runs to her side. "Are you alright?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she turns to Coralie and asks, "Can you track them? I..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Track them and do what? Is picking a fight with someone that powerful what she wants to do right now? Well, yes actually, but is it ''wise'' to do so without preparation?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mou doesn't know what to do. Instead she steps closer to Veronica and gives her a hug. "I'm sorry this happened. We'll set it right, I know we will. Somehow."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She does not hug too tightly, though. Her legs still have burns that need to be treated. As for how she'll get back to RHA, well... she'll figure that out later.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>This is one of those times where Rashmi does not actually touch down onto the ground; some of those spikes grazed her legs, and the idea of putting weight on them *just* this moment is... the kind of thing one doesn't feel like testing. She takes a moment to survey the remaining mahou, glancing at an array of icons and status bars that hover over Nicomachea, and frowns. &lt;&lt; Okay if everyone can group up for a moment? I'm gonna give us a little help before we think about heading home. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">SOLAR SANCTUARY</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>When the mahou assemble a little closer than they were at the end of the fight, a half-dome Shield rises out to encompass the entire width of the street, then fill with a warm, soothing golden light. It's not a *heal* heal, but it'll take away some of the pain, restore some energy, and get people able to move... but it requires a bit of standing in this tanning bed for a few minutes.<br> <br>When the spell is good and going, she turns to Veronica, her face showing nothing but concern, worry for her Phantom Thief friend. "Sarek-chan, are--" she cuts herself off, shaking her head. "...No you're probably not all right, but it's *going* to be. We'll get your mom back and put that... Propheteur? ...back where he belongs."<br> <br>Even as she wipes the blood from her cheek, there's not a single word of recrimination; getting hurt is just part of the mahou job, and if it wasn't a threat tied to Sarek, it would have been one tied to someone else. Knowing who's wrapped up at the center of the madness this time, just tells her who to keep an eye out for, and in the near future Veronica will definitely find herself the target of cheering-up outings, to keep her spirits up as much as possible.<br> <br>
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