2888/Barking Good Time

Barking Good Time
Date of Scene:	21 December 2025
Location:	Riverside Path
Synopsis:	Corona's been given a job, and today she's earning her paycheck! When the dogwalker she's harrassed akumatizes into the cowboy themed Wrangler, it's up to the Myseterious Mahou Amy to hold him at bay, just one lone gunman to another - at least until Sailor Moon and Star Devil arrive to back her up.
Cast of Characters:	Gabriel Agreste, Amanda Faust, Mai Elcamino, Usagi Tsukino, Molly Skyline

---

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
It's a chilly but still enjoyable day at the cusp of Juuban and Pikarigaoka, the sky full of clouds and water along both sides of the Riverside Path is calm. Those outside enjoying the afternoon is - mostly adults, for the children and teens are mostly busy at home studying for the last of their end of term tests - are bundled in coats against the coming rain and chill, and enjoying some of the outdoors and peace away from youth. The term will end on the 24th, after all, and those forced to worry about grades and prepare for their futures are hard at work in their bedrooms. Those forced to care for said youth - parents, siblings, grandparents - are eagerly enjoying these last days of school peace.

...well, mostly.

Katsuya Jonouchi hadn't exactly been one of those who studied hard, preferring to run around with his friends playing Card Games on Motorcycles and building and repairing his actual motorcycle until he could qualify as a mechanic. He's been doing that For years now, but that hasn't stopped him from picking up extra odd jobs here and there to make ends meet. He's got a sister to take care of after all, and he's got nothing against a bit of extra work here and there to make sure she's got everything she needs.

...which is why he's walking dogs along the Riverside Path, six leashes split between two hands, a bundle of treats in his pockets, and a couple doggy bags for all the inevitable poo, too, which is good, because he's got a big Akita finishing business on the side of the Path and another marking a bush as it's territory, while two Pomeranians, a Toy Poodle, and a good old-fashioned mutt wrestle amongst each other for a tug toy he'd tossed them so the big guy could have time finish business. It's a lot for one person to handle, but he's a pro, ready for anything.


That's what Jonouchi thinks, anyway. Hawkmoth knows better, and he's making a rare public appearance, conveniently out of sight with a glittering black-purple butterfly just waiting to land on a target. Hawkmoth has asked his new employee, Corona, to ruin someone's day, and this dog walking mechanic is about to have the oh-so-pleasant experience of being chosen.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Another school year almost over. It's a lot of what anyone at school is talking about.

    Amy is not ready. She's still figuring so much out. While she's started being able to think she may have a future, she's still got some things to sort out before she can imagine anything concrete or care about a particular path, and so like the others getting away from school students is getting a moment of peace, just... existing, feeling the cold air, mind wandering from cold winter days long past to whatever.

    She stops by a bench, sitting and holding gloved hands to her face, adjusting her scarf and exhaling into it to try and warm her nose. And the man with a half-dozen dogs catches her eye; she wonders how anyone manages to do that without the leashes getting all tangled. And if dogs are pulling at both arms how will he possibly use the scoop and bag?

Mai Elcamino has posed:
It's a novel experience, ruining someone's day on purpose on purpose, as it were. Cultivating day-ruining like she cultivates youma, an art form that can take a lifetime to master, that can redefine mastery... it makes Mai Elcamino feel truly professional. She feels so professional about it that she almost forgets she hates dogs, and is halfway through feeling like she might smile at someone without wanting to claw off their face when there's this guy with these dogs on the path in her way and

And he threw a tug toy and it lands near Mai and

they start wrestling near her and she can't get past this guy's one dog doing business over there and it's a BIG dog, and this guy's armful of other dog leashes and she hates dogs and that one is BIG and those ones are loud and yappy and doggy and CRINGE there's slobber and there are poop bags and Corona gives a full body shudder before she takes a step back and starts "Pelot--"

(she pauses midword to consider: she probably shouldn't actually fight if she doesn't want to fight today)

"GET your dogs off the path, you inconsiderate cretin!" she yells, flinging a hand out. "Do these heels look like they're made for soft ground??"

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Give credit where it's due, even in the midst of chaos Jounouchi's got a spine.

And boy, Is he in the midst of chaos now. Corona sets off a maelstrom of barking and whining when she yells where those poor excitable pooches can hear. a bunch of spoiled and much loved creatures, they've hardly ever heard anyone yell and their entire lives, and they're not taking their introduction well. Two of the Pomeranians start to bark at the kind of pitch and volume that sends glass rattling for mercy, the Akita doing its business leaps into the air and has to be yoinked back before it can go for the girl, incidentally causing it to land paw first in its own business. The two toy poodles back away hurriedly, tangling each other in their leashes, and Jounouchi -

"The hell, lady?! Why do you come out here and heels anyway huh? this is a walkin' path and these are dogs bein' walked! How's it my fault you ain't got the good sense kami gave a baseball player and went out in heels? Oy, come on youse lot, chill out a little, the mean girl's just loud, she ain't gonna do nothin'!"

That's what we call, famous last words.

Hawkmoth feels the pulse of annoyance and frustration - not just from Jonouchi, but the other people at the park who'd been trying to have some peace. Many of them direct disgusted glares - not at Corona, but Jonouchi, for his uncouth yelling and a young woman and his howling canine posse.

Jonouchi notices, too, scrunching his shoulders and muttering as he digs for a doggy bag and tries to get the poop up so they can get out of here.

Unfairly targeted as the source of commotion even as he minds his own business! all this will take is one more push and Hawkmoth will be able to seize those feelings of anger, frustration, and resentment at the unfairness of it all for his own purposes.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    "We're in a park why would you wear heels?!" Amy stands up and shouts, before really thinking about it.

    And Jonouichi goes on about how Corona has no sense and Amy, already having stepped in it, can only wave an arm at him and his words and nod as if to say 'see? SEE?'

    Although she is often too oblivious, today she senses something off, or maybe she sees the way someone's glaring... and sees which way they're looking, and then sees more people are glaring, and

    It's WRONG.

    "Shame on all of you! Someone gets mad they wore the wrong footwear, yells at someone, and you all get mad at him?! You're everything wrong with society! You're... you're... AAARGH!" she stomps a foot on the path -- nowhere near the dog's business, thankfully, as recognition that mundanely evil people like that will never listen to reason crashes into her not knowing where to begin explaining how wrong they are if they were.

    Which has kind of distracted her from the whole CORONA IS RIGHT THERE thing.

Mai Elcamino has posed:
"Oh I'm NOT? Me cago en todo lo que se menea!" says Corona, eyes flashing-- flashing dark energy purple-black. "Pelotillero! Apex WINGS!"

<< ding~! >> << FLIER FIN, MISTRESS~! >>

Immense purple-white angel wings-- two sets of them-- sprout from Corona's back, and she lifts from the ground and hovers aloft at an altitude of about two feet, which... in her heels she was taller than Jonouchi already, and... okay, an altitude of three feet. Need to be appropriately loomingly angelic after all. Meanwhile, she's irritable: "Pelotillero. If you know what it is I am asking for, do not correct me, just do it."

<< ding~! >> << YES, MISTRESS~! >>

Sneering, Corona flicks a bit of dark energy toward one of the dogs. "Actually, just fuck your day." It's not enough to turn the toy poodle into a youma. It's enough to make the toy poodle very angry. Corona checks her watch as she floats higher, then yells over to Amy, "Yours too, taking his side! The PATH is PAVED for a REASON."

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Someone calls out, echoing his sentiment, and Jounouchi's spirit rallies a bit. He's ready to gather his dogs off, when the other girl continues on, as she apparently catches sight of what he already knows - the big guy with all the dogs is always gonna be the bad guy here, and - oh hey whoa huh?!

"Whoa, whoa, I 'ppreciate the help little lady but -"

The dogs start to barking again, running around his heels, tangling even more. They don't understand supportive yelling - they just understand that there's yelling, and they don't like it, and he's trying to soothe them but they're getting riled up, especially because...

Jounouchi is not prepared for the mean girl that just yelled and spooked the dogs to start yelling again - in another language, at that, and he backs off a little, "Hey!" because the dogs are so riled up.

The onlookers aren't exactly shamed - well, some are, but mostly, they're just like, UGH their goes peaceful time on the path, there's no point in sticking around - only... then Corona has wings and she's taking off, and people start hurrying away much faster, because what's up with that?! That's not normal! What?! What?!

Jonouchi cannot run because he has dogs. Woe is him.

"Hey! You - you some kinda - yo, is this some kinda good fairy test, cause, cause I didn't mean for no trouble so how'z about we start over -" and then Corona attacks his dogs, throwing a bit of dark energy that knocks the toy poodle that had been closest to her back and makes it start screaming with rage and frustration and howls. It yoinks, and Jonouchi hits the ground hard as the leash goes lurching away, and when he falls the other dogs slip free, running for their little lives.

"No, no, nonononono, come on WAIT, COME BACK, SLIPHER, YOU COME BACK AT LEAST-"

And that's horror and anger and fear and dread and mounting terror because he has to get them back or he'll be in deep doodoo with the owners, oh fuck, all this for a little playtime, all this because of some girl, all this -

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
The akuma flits right over to Jonouchi and settles into the leash in his hand - the leash that belongs to his own family dog, one of the yapping, fleeing Poms. His little sister will be devasted if he doesn't bring 'Slipher the Sky Dragon the Pomeranian' back! HE'LL be devastated! AND IT'S ALL HER FAULT-

That's right, Hawkmoth says, voice smooth, in control. The image of a purple butterfly forms around Jonouchi's head. It's all her fault, but you'll take the blame, now won't you? You'll be the one having to pay for whatever these dogs need, not to mention if they decide to come after you! All this, when you just wanted to help your sister... just think. It didn't have to be this way. And it doesn't have to stay this way, either. Accept my power, Wrangler, and you'll get your dogs back - and revenge, too. All you need to do is bring me the Ladybug Miraculous!

"Yeah? All I gotta do is get you... what's a Miraculous, anyway?"

It's a red and black piece of jewelry.

"What, like for girls? You know? Yeah! Yeah, I'll help you get your girl some jewelry, and you'll help ME -"

It is NOT for - never mind! That's beyond the point! Go! Take the Miraculous!

Jonouchi's body flashes with purple darkness, and then, he stands as The Wrangler - a cowboy in dalmation print leather, a black serape, draping mask, bandages wrapped around his forearms and bullets in a belt across his chest, a great black leather lasso hanging at his waist, and a fall of cloth covering half his face. He's seven feet tall, and the hat on his head tilts low, casting his face in shadow. His lone visible eye flashes purple in the darkness.

"First things first, I'm gettin' you AWAY from my dogs!"

And he raises his gun to Corona -

Don't. She's not your real enemy. You real enemy is the world... because the world is going to kill those dogs if you don't hurry.

"Ttch, fine. You get away clean this time, girl! But only because them dogs matter more than you ever will!"

And he holsters the gun, lifting the black leather lasso, and swinging it, then hurtling it out -

And it snakes like a living thing, and lashes around the furious, dark energy attacked toy poodle, yoinking it to the Wrangler's side. As it does, the dark energy in the akuma spreads to interact with the dark energy in the attacked dog, and it transforms, becoming a horse-sized beast with slobbering fangs.

Mai Elcamino has posed:
Meanwhile, Corona, feeling much better again, flits higher, long jacket billowing. She smiles at the guy on the ground, terrified, face in the dirt, stupid dogs' leashes skittering away from him. The next time will be better, easier, it was difficult only because she started out in such a good mood, she reasons. She needs to hone her skill so that she can instantly infuriate people.

Corona starts in alarm as the gun gets pointed at her, and it's on the tip of her tongue to call for a shield-- when he doesn't-- but then OKAY that's a transformation all right. That's more dog than she wants to be in a mile of. For now, she'll float off to watch with fascinated horror and delight as this promises to get much worse.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy turns to Jounouichi as he speaks to her. Oh no, he's let them get to him, and she starts to give him a disappointed, pitying look before the dogs start up again and she realizes. Oh no.

    "Um, um..." She looks at the dogs, "It's alright, calm down..."

    A test? Amy looks over in horror, "Oh no, she's not a good fairy, you should run--" wincing as Corona attacks a dog and then everything goes to hell.

    Who will get the dogs back?! Wait she needs to fight Corona, which means she needs to find a way to disappear for a moment--

    Did he just say 'miraculous'? Who is he talking to?!

    And she stares as for the first time she's actually present to see someone get Akumatized. And then he aims at Corona uhhh that is actually OK? Maybe this is OK.

    She does smile as Corona is told she's less important than the dogs. Okay, you know what, this is good, he'll gather the dogs, she can handle Corona, and if he's focused on gathering dogs maybe he won't be terrorizing people. "That's right, get your dogs back and don't point that at anybody--"

    And he's already got one! ....Oh. Oh no. That's not good at all.

    At least Mai is floating away instead of... well, instead of anything else. "Uhh..."

    And she turns and runs for some bushes or something, trying to break line of sight.

    A moment later, Red is peering around some flora to see what the new Akuma is doing. Maybe everyone ran away and he'll have nothing to do but gather the dogs? ...Wait, then he'll have six of those and be trying to get the Miraculous.

    Shit.

    << Guys, we've got an Akuma in the park. Uhhh, need a purifier... >> Amy says into her communicator. Hesitating as she's not sure what she can do here...

    She can't stop him, and she can't purify him. So she needs to... keep him busy.




    "Hold it, pardner." Stepping out onto the path is the Mysterious Mahou, that is to say Red, in a white-and-red cowboy-ified versiuon of her outfit, complete with a white hat and cloak, holsters, and cowboy boots. "This town ain't big enough for the both of us."

    WHAT IS SHE SAYING that makes no sense uhhhh think of something else to say quick.

    "You... you... dark energy's no way to go through life son, you're lookin' for your dogs now but then you'll be terrorizing the populace and involving those poor innocent mutts in it too, and that's no way to go through life, wait I already said that bit. Uhhh. So how's about we settle this like... uh..." she moves her hand to a 'ready to draw' position, to see if she can bait him into going along with it.

    Someone... hurry! she thinks!
    

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi Tsukino had been enjoying a quiet night of studying where she did 40% study, 60% goof, and it had been going pretty well, all things said and done. Luna wasn't even chiding her for anything, even with all the goofing, and she was pretty sure she'd be able to get a C+ in Literature, maybe even a B, and probably another in History, and that was - that was incredible, if she thought about it too long.

So it's pretty natural that her communicator goes off, and she groans, deep in her throat.

"Usagi-chan, you are busy with your homework," Luna starts to say, meaning that there are others, and it doesn't have to be her charge, only - only the voice that comes over the line makes it clear that it needs to be someone like her.

She sets her jaw and reaches for her communicator.

MOON to RED: Be there in five, Red-chan!

Molly Skyline has posed:
After the fight against Viluy and Germatoid, one thing was abundantly clear to Molly: She is in no way ready to return to active duty. Not while she's still processing the ten months and change that she speant possessed by a horrible daimon. Not while she's still trying to get used to her body being her own again. Not while she's trying to catch up on an entire year of school so she can hit university at the same time Rashmi does. Not while she's trying to get her emotions, especially her fears, back in line; not while she's afraid to look in the mirror in case she sees Seriss' face, and afraid to go to sleep in case... Well just in case.

Not while she's still trying to adjust to life as an amputee.

That part's the worst, really. How long does it seriously take to get a prosthetic?

But then there's the call. Amy needs help. Given how hard Amy fought to get her back, there is no reality in which Molly doesn't answer that call, no matter what condition she's in, so she's out the window and henshins on the fly, and soon enough she's arriving on scene.

<< Okay I'm here, >> she thinks at her friends, before she's actually 'here' per se. Starcrash is already marking targets on her Battle Visor as her Flier Fin wings carry her at her best possible speed -- nevermind the way her hand is shaking as she grips Starcrash soo tightly her fingeres hurt. Amy and Usagi get little blue brackets with :) icons, while Corona and Wrangler get red ones with >:( icons, and an expanded array of targeting information (like lines showing their trajectories and crosshairs that suggest a firing solution). Oh, and a bracket for the dog, too.

Poor dog.

<< What's the plan? Who's the priority for some masssive firepower? >> she inquires, trying to sound a lot tougher than she feels.

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
This may have started bad, but like all villains, Hawkmoth specializes in making things worse. The Wrangler is seven feet of roamin' cowboy, now with enormous dog that he clamors atop, digging spurs into the demonic poodle to urge it on. The lasso that grabbed the pooch has now released it, and the Poodle Beast opens its jaws as it's head tips back in a howl.

Across the Riverside Path, from end to end, bridge included, other dogs howl in response - but it's more than just the five other missing dogs. It's every dog in range, and more dogs howling from far away as they hear the sound, and its clear that every dog in the city is up for grabs, from now on.

"Let's go an' get the rest of that there lot -"

And then the Mysterious Mahou, talking in the most bastard cowboy speech he's ever heard, and that's a lot considering he's a Japanese kid who grew up a little in Brooklyn being akumatized by a Frenchman who's never been to America trying to speak cowboy himself.

"Hot damn, little lady, that ain't nothin' I heard before, how'd you even get yo mouth to say all that there nonsense? This town's big enough for me... but it sure ain't big enough for you."

And oh NO he DOES pull out his gun, but he's quicker on the draw than Amy because of bullshit magic, and he FIRES -

A magic pullet in the shape of a barking dog, complete with gnashing teeth.

The poodle demon goes a-lurching forward, barkbarkbarking, and this is when Molly arrives, and a second magic bullet that's a barking dog is fired her way, and the wrangler lashes out his leather lasso-whip to yoink Amy up and out of the way.

"You lot ain't gonna stop me! I'm gonna get me that Miraculous thing, and my dogs!"

Mai Elcamino has posed:
"Me cago en tus muertos," Corona sneers, tossing her hair, even if she's not sure who she's sneering at. All of them. And then she literally just flies away. Flies away to like, the other side of the street the path is near and up on top of a building, but away. To watch.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    << Thanks! >> Amy quickly replies to the communicator before playing cowgirl.

    Amy's eyes widen as The Wrangler mounts up on his Dire Poodle. Oh no it's a mount.

    The howl... that's not good. But she presses on and goes ahead and does the bit anyway.

    She is so locked in right now that she does not, in fact, mentally score the moment with some western tune that's actually from a Toy Story videogame or whatever.

    She does look a bit embarassed at being called on how absolutely nonsensical that mess of words was, but... she's commited to the bit now! "Draw," she starts to announce, but he does draw faster and the gunshot echoes over the park, probably setting a flock of birds flying from some trees, and Amy goes down, knocked back and stunned, both from the wind knocked out of her and because that seriously just happened.

    She manages the presence of mind to grab the rope that's around her, for what little help that does.

    Her face lights up as she sees help approaching. "Star Devil! We have to stop him before he turns all the dogs into giant monsters!"

    She's flung aside all the same, but then she tightens her grip on the rope as she pushes herself back with explosions, which... may not be the smartest way to pull the cowboy off his dog, but uh, she's still sort of mentally in 'slow down and buy time' mode rather than turning to fight and attacking directly just yet.

Molly Skyline has posed:
<< Yeah I'm not sure if--WHAT?! >>

Molly twists to avoid the bitey bullet but it still grazes her on the way past with a shower of sparks, as it tries to bit down on her barrier jacket but just manages to leave a toothy gouge up the armor plates on her arm.

"What the hell was-- you know what?! Nevermind!" she shouts. "Starcrash, let's get started with a time/space barrier to hopefully contain this nonsense."

<< AFFIRMATIVE. DEPLOYED >>

As a barrier expands, enveloping the battlefield and encompassing everything with a slight color shift as Molly shuffles herself and her friends and foes one dimension to the left, the purple haired mahou dives, coming to a stop in the air fifty feet up above the action. Now, what to do; oh, right, Rashmi-chan said she should do grid removal. There's an evil cowboy and a dire poodle (seriously?) on the grid. So. Let's remove them.

<< Starcrash, charge Binary Flare, >> she instructs, << Maximum thermal output. >>

<< AFFIRMATIVE. ARMED. CAUTION: MAINTAIN DISTANCE FROM ENEMY COMBATANTS >>

<< Yeah I know I'm bad at self-preservation, but I'm trying. Thanks for looking out for me, Starcrash. >> Molly can feel her hand shaking, and does her best to quell that reflex. But it's hard. Her first fight after Seriss was back on the beach... that beach. And she didn't realize at the time but maybe that was... maybe that was bad. And she's terrified to return to battle, but nonetheless here she is, because she's gotta be. Can't let her friends down.

<< ...Fire!! >>

Wielding a staff one-handed is hard, but Starcrash helps and she trusts the firing solution on her display; twin beams of unstable energy come sizzling down at the cowboy, and where they do exactly what Ghostbusters teaches you to never do and the streams cross, they ignite into a powerful explosion.

Being careful not to let it off when her friends are in the vicinity, of course.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
At the Juuban end of the Riverside Path appears Sailor Moon. In her hand is the Spiral Heart Moon Rod, and on her mind is the worry of what kind of akuma it could be, and if it's one of her friends - also hey whoa that's a dog, what's up with that? Actually, as she runs along, there's a lot of dogs. One of them, a yowling Pomeranian, jumps right at her, and she yelps and catches it. "Um, dog, this is not exactly -" the barrier goes up, and any civilians in the area vanish... but not the dog in her arms. Um!!!

Sailor Moon is pretty worried about it, actually, but as she gets closer, she sees Amy yanking at the end of a rope, with a giant poodle monster and a giant cowboy riding the poodle and Star Devil flying on wings up above, and she just thinks.... HUH?

What is her life, sometimes?

"Guys-"

The Pomeranian barks! And barks! And it is impossible to hear anything else she says, as it goes, "ARFARFARFARFARF!"

This is why she's a cat person.

"Come on, okay, that's it, putting you down, getting you out of here -"

But when she puts the dog down, it doesn't disappear. It's there with them... great.

"Amy, I'm coming to help!"

And she slots in behind her friend and helps her yank on the whip-lasso she's got.

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
The Wrangler smirks as Amy gets knocked down by his bullet, spinning his gun like a truly stereotypical cowboy. He holsters it, just as Star Devil opens fire on him in turn, and the twin energy beams do indeed ignite in a powerful explosion when the streams cross.

BOOM!

He goes flying off the Dire Poodle, and rolls to his feet, snarling. The leash-whip-lasso is still clutched tight in hand, and he yoinks it -

Only for Amy to rally against him, yanking in turn. It's a tug of war!

And the seven foot tall cowboy themed supervillain is winning. Slowly, Amy is being pulled across the Path, closer to the villain, when ARFARFARFARFARF rings out, and startles him into loosening his grip.

"What in tarnation- Slipher?! That you boy?!"

It is, indeed, Slipher the Sky Dragon the Pomeranian, a red Pomeranian, barking his head off, beady little eyes bulging, mouth gaping. He runs right for the enormous Dire Poodle and challenges it, bouncing up and down with the force of all that barking.

The Dire Poodle, having been knocked down by the explosion, gets up and with a snarl, grabs Slipher with his mouth and hurls him at Molly.

"SLIPHER! YOU LITTLE RAT, THE HELL ARE YOU DOIN' TO MY DOG?!"

And Amy gets nearly yanked off her feet as The Wrangler turns on his mount furiously, only for Sailor Moon to get behind Amy and yank, forcing him back.

"Now it's two girls vs one giant cowboy and one whining Dire Poodle, and one screaming Pomeranian clinging to Molly with it's teeth.

The Wrangler snarls, and opens fire on the two girls pulling him -

BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK!

Five barking bullets, flying for Amy and Sailor Moon.

"DAMMIT! I JUST WANT THAT MIRACULOUS AND MY DOGS! AND REVENGE! THAT SO MUCH TO ASK?!"

That is an approximation of how I feel every day, Hawkmoth says dryly, commiserating. You'll feel better if you defeat these brats and -

"And take their Miraculous, yeah, I get it boss man, don't you worry none, I'll take 'em -"

These two don't - well, I don't know about that flying one, actually, but she doesn't have the Ladybug or Black Cat, regardless, so don't worry about stealing from them! Defeat them!

"I mean, that one there's got red and black, so soon as I get me my dog, I'll get that thing from her."

They can't hear Hawkmoth. But they can absolutely hear the Wrangler.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy is honestly amazed she's not losing the tug of war more. The enhancements to magical girls' bodies are no joke!

    Importantly, the Wrangler deciding to tug-of-war gives her a moment to think. So she'll get free of the rope, and then it's time to attack. Now--

    ARFARFARF! Amy looks over and then stumbles back as Wrangler's grip slips, and then familiar gloves grab the rope in front of her and help pull. "Sailor Moon! I'm glad to see you!" A couple salvos of minimissiles conjure around the two and launch into the sky.

    But then she notices the distinctive red pomeranian and IT'S BITTEN AND THROWN and that the Wrangler addresses it by name.

    "That's one of YOUR dogs! How could you?!"

    Shock and outrage on her face, she aims her revolver at the Wrangler and fires.

    With the rope and everything, her aim may not be the best right now. It's a good thing there's a barrier, that anti-materiel bullet is the sort of thing meant to go through a car door and burn the inside.

    Also, she was so focused on the bit she forgot she doesn't do actual firearms for a reason, one exacerbated when firing a ridiculously high-caliber round. Her arm snaps up from far more recoil than she expected, "Gah!" crying out, startled, as some of her magic absorbs the shock so she doesn't break a bone or something.

    Leaving her entirely off-balance and un-ready to dodge the first barking bullet coming at her, which smacks her on the face and BITES at her! "Ow! hey! Stop it! Get off me!" She tries to smack it aside with her hand and the gun, while another and possibly another hits her on the shoulder and latches on, leaving her swinging wildly to try and get them off her.

    The minimissiles from earlier rain down in a circle around the dog, scattering bits of burning stuff in hopes that it will balk instead of realizing it can charge through them.

    If anyone brings up the question of where the butterfly is, Amy responds, << The leash! Quit it, get off me! The butterfly is on the GET OFF the leash! >>

Amanda Faust has posed:
    As for the outfit: She didn't really put a lot of thought into it she just vaguely imagined a cowboy outfit and her henshin shifted a bit. It looks kind of cartoony given the color scheme: A white shirt (with red buttons and trim), white jeans, red hat with white trim (with her soul gem on the front of the hatband as a decoration), red cowboy boots and gloves, a white poncho over all of it, and on her belt alongside the usual two pouches are holsters for a pair of oversized revolvers. There's only the slightest bit of black corruption on her gem as she uses magic, as she started topped up, but the Wrangler is no doubt an eagle-eyed marksman.

Molly Skyline has posed:
"What--?! HEY!! What on Earth is--

Molly looks down at her arm, << THERE IS A DOG HANGING ON TO ME. >>

And in all honesty there doesn't appear to be over much that Molly can really do about it at the moment, she's fifty feet up in the air and she only has one hand and she's using it to hold Starcrash, and oh my God everything is going WRONG and she's not ready for this and she shouldn't be here and this poor dog is going to fall off and then he's going to FALL and it's all going to be HER FAULT for coming into combat when she's not ready ant putting everyone at risk and and and and and and and and

<< BREATH >>

Starcrash's advice cuts through the panic. Molly gulps a breath, and it exits in a rush as she gulps another, and a tear rolls down her cheek as she struggles to slow things down and calm herself. One problem at a time. Molly descends, her wings stretching out behind her as she comes to a relatively gentle (for her) landing on the gorund, going down to one knee and trying to make it clear to the pomeranian that there is, in fact, ground that it can run off on. And of course she gives the poor puppy a little encouragement. "Go on, little guy," she breathes, "Go on, get outta here."

Wether he goes or not, Molly has a job to do; but what on Earth does she do ne--

<< ADVICE WAS GIVEN TO TARGET THE LEASH >>

Oh, right. Molly watches as a fresh bracket appears on her Battle Visor, blinking red and yellow and indicating the leash, that Amy and Usagi are tug-of-warring on. Well, that's too congested for explosions, but... << Starcrash, arm Plasma Flare, thirty second duration or until the leash breaks.>>

<< ARMED >>

Molly sucks in a breath, unneeded for psychic communication but habits die hard. << Fire!! >> A sustained, super-hot beam blasts from the end of Starcrash, and the heat circuitry on Molly's barrier jacket flares to brilliance as she fires, the beam curving to strike the leash and stay on target as much as possible as Molly holds it.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The yappy little dog goes flying and Sailor Moon's eyes widen in horror until it lands on -

Molly oh thank goodness she did not come out here to see a dog die!!

"That's ENOUG- ow! Ow, ow, they're BITING ME?!"

The bullets are indeed biting her, three having hit Amy but two having hit her - one is dangling from her ear lobe, gnawing and gnawing, which hurts, but the other struck her collarbone and she whimpers and loosens her grip on the leash-lasso-whip to yank it off, wincing as skin tears and blood flows.

"What kind of bullets BITE PEOPLE?!"

She grips the bullet and throws it back, scowling -

"Moon Bitey Bullet Action!"

It's not a strong attack - but it's enough to knock the gun from the Wrangler's hand, making him hiss with pain.

And it's enough for Sailor Moon to make some spice, carving a circle in the air.

"Moon-"

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Slipher the Sky Dragon the Pomeranian yowls and arfs and whines the whole time he's clinging to Star Devil, and it's only when Star Devil has lowered him to the ground that he stops, and starts to shower her in slobbery doggy kisses.

Except, Tte yowling arfing cries have lured in the other dogs, concerned for their friend, and as the Wrangler takes note, he redoubles his grip while Amy and Sailor Moon are reeling.

"That's right! This is my dog! And I'll protect him from every dangerous thing! Don't you worry Slipher the Sky Dragon the Pomeranian, daddy's comin'-"

The hurled magically charged bitey bullet knocks his gun away and he scowls furiously, just before Amy's magically summoned bullets hit him right in the forehead, knocking his head back and throwing his hat off, though he stays on his feet. Stringy hair and monstery cloth still cover the one gleaming purple eye and he scowls when he straightens.

"Alright you little -"

The Plasma Flare strikes the leash, and the akuma inside the leash is a little panicked, while the Wrangler feels a burst of horror -

"DON'T YOU DARE, A MAN NEEDS HIS WHIP -"

What. No, seriously, what?!

The dogs rush onto the scene, and he commands them.

"ATTACK!"

The dogs do not attack.

Huffing in fury, he pulls out his second gun (every cowboy has TWO GUNS) and lifts it to fire on Star Devil, who was the last to fire, and then he doesn't keep shooting at her.

No, he lunges, right for Amy, and more specifically, right for her red-and-black jewelry, firing rapid fire.

"GIMME THAT MIRACULOUS-"

Hawkmoth sighs, deeply, because that is not a Miraculous. It's not. It can't be, there would be too, it's just some useless bauble, and it's pointless, and this akuma needed to get those dogs first.

Amanda Faust has posed:
Don't you dare, a man needs his whip!
    Amy opens her mouth. She... she feels like she should know a line for this situation, but nothing quite comes to mind.

    "You think so? It takes a real man to learn he doesn't need a whip." ...That sounded vaguely profound in her head.

    She does remember though, that they had cooked up something special that seems relevant to the situation, and she pulls a piece of candy out of her belt pouch and pops it in her mouth as she cocks the hammer on the revolver.

    But before she can like, bounce a shot off a tree and hit him in the back or whatever, he's aiming at her--

    BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

    Amy doesn't have time to name the attack, but thanks to the candy's magic, for just a few seconds, she can fire the unwieldy revolver while fanning the hammer, trying to shoot the incoming bitey-bullets down!

    She gets some of them.

    She dodges others

    But one knocks her off-balance, and another grazes her hat, sending it spinning off to the side of her head.

    She's ready for the biting this time, forming a gauntlet and grabbing the bitey bullet and tossing it off her before it can dig its teeth in.

    "What are you talking about, I don't have the Miraculous!"

    And then her eyes widen. The Ladybug miraculous would be a red-with-a-bit-of-black magical jewel, right? He couldn't have mistaken her--

    Her soul gem. where did it move on her costume?

    "NO! You can't take that!" the gun vanished from her hand before she grabbed the bullet, and now all 4'11" of her are trying to shove the Wrangler back with one hand while lunging to snatch the hat with the other! And his arms are way longer.

    "PLEASE!"

    She's never had anyone try to take her soul before, so she's kind of focused on this now!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
A golden circle is carved into the air.

The Wrangler goes stumbling back, spitting mad, angry. Dogs come running in, and Sailor Moon tenses up, ready to defend them, or figure out a way to not hurt them -

But the dogs surround the Dire Poodle, barkbarkbarking, and miraculously, the enormous dog growls but does not fight back, eyes flicking from dog to dog. Even animals know the truth: there's strength in numbers! Just as these three Mahou can take down one -

Amy's shriek drags her attention back, and her eyes widen in horror, as she realizes what the Wrangler is trying to do. She's worn the Ladybug Miraculous, and she knows its a pair of earrings, and that it wouldn't be on a hat, and more importantly, SHE KNOWS WHAT AMY REALLY HAS!

"HEALING ESCALATION!"

The silver beams of light burst out like ribbons, flowing around the Wrangler and Dire Poodle alike - and wrapping into a bow around the damaged leash.

"No more! This fight is done - how dare you try to steal that from my friend?!"

Molly Skyline has posed:
A torrent of bullets come flying for Molly, and she ducks but they mostly connect, hammering into her barrier jacket and... hanging on? Biting at her armor? The purplenette finds herself laying on the ground, trying to figure out just what happened as she gets back to her feet and

OH CRAP. That guy is going after Amy's soul gem! Molly is instantly aware of how catastrophically bad that is. She takes a step back; she shouldn't have come, now Amy's going to pay for it and it's all going to be her fault and

<< BREATH. MAINTAIN FOCUS >>

Molly sucks a breath, as she takes a step back, and ulps. The hostile target is right on Amy. Buster attacks and Finishers are not an option; she'll have to do something else.

<< Starcrash, overcharge Starburst Barrage, two hundred barrets >> she instructs.

<< ARMED >>

<< Okay everyone, >> she transmits to Amy and Usagi, << Close your eyes for a sec! Trust me!! Starcrash, FIRE!! >>

Molly swings her staff in a circle around herself, unleashing a torrent in all directions -- but most especially towards Mister Cowbowy who is busy attacking HER FRIEND. None of them are really damaging, they just explode into brilliant flashes of multi-colored blinding light, like fireworks but like, right here. In your face.

Molly's Battle Visor protects her from the worst of it, but even she is blinking rapidly by the end of it; but she's not hesitating, as she throws herself into action to just... rush the Cowboy and body-check him, with the bitey bullets still hanging on and chewing their way through her barrier jacket, which just isn't a priority right now as she runs into him and hopefully knocks him off of Amy. That's really all that matters.

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Most of the Barking Bitey Bullets are struck down as Amy fans the hammer - but those who get through are just enough to throw her off balance. The hat tumbles back. The Wrangler reaches, longer arms at the ready, grasping.

Amy screams. The Wrangler seizes the hat, and more importantly, the gem. He lifts it, even as the girl begins to scream -

"This Miraculous thing's gotta belong to the big boss now, girl-"

And then the flares go off, bursting bright lights, and he reels, unable to see anything, before Molly is on him, knocking him away. He keeps the hat in hand, dragging Amy's soul gem with him, separating them by a few feet -

And then the purifying light washes over them all, and by the time Moon Healing Escalation has ended, Katsuya Jonouchi is a normal man again and the akuma is a white butterfly, flying away from them.

Jonouchi blinks in bewilderment at the trio of strange girls before him, and then he registers that there's something in his hand, and... huh?

"Why do I have a hat? And... why am I on the ground? And... actually, wait, fuck, where are my do-" He is promptly pounced upon by six very excited and concerned dogs and his words wheeze out into nothing. Amy's hat falls from his fingers, her soul gem still connected, landing gently in the grass.

Hawkmoth shakes his head in disgusted annoyance when the akuma is purified - the butterfly flutters away, harmless now, and seeking out -

Ah.

Him.

He steps further into the shadow of the bridge, and when the purified akuma reaches him, it's captured again, the magic dissipating back into the Butterfly Miraculous.

"Another failure... but it certainly was interesting to how desperate that girl was to protect that gem. And how afraid the other was... I'm sure there's a way I can make use of this."

He vanishes into the dusk zone in a swift dusk port.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    "No, no! That's not the Miraculous!" Amy says, desperately.

<< << Close your eyes for a sec! Trust me!! >>

    Amy does trust her, of course!

    Flashes go off. Amy's used that kind of attack herself a lot. She waits, trusting in Molly...

    Although once Jonouichi speaks again, if Molly didn't give the all-clear yet, she risks a peek anyway.

    The danger is past, so she isn't desperately scrambling for it, but like Luffy, a large part of her mind is occupied by being very aware of where her hat is. She walks over and picks it up.

    "You got taken advantage of. Happens. I'm sorry we can't do more for you."

    She looks at him for a moment. "Don't... cave, to anyone who tries to make it out like you're the problem just for being there." And she turns and walks off, poncho billowing dramatically in the wind.

    And then she can finally relax.

    << Thanks, Molly, Usagi-chan... I couldn't have stopped him and got my soul gem -- my me -- back without you. >>

    << ...Do you think an Akuma would seriously take it all the way to Hawk Moth? ...Ugh... >>

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Your dogs really care about you," is Sailor Moon's sagely offered wisdom, before she literally runs after Amy. She didn't see this akuma, and he seems okay, so, just, she's going to check on the friend who almost got her soul stolen!

"Don't worry about it," she says as soon as she's close enough, her skirt blowing in the same wind as the poncho is billowing. "We'd never let him keep it, even if one of them did try to get it... still. That was pretty scary."

And it didn't even happen to her. Hopefully... hopefully it won't keep being something to worry about.

"I mean, he's got to tell them that's not the Ladybug Miraculous, right? Maybe... maybe he'll tell them to be more careful."

Molly Skyline has posed:
It's over. Is it over? It's over, right?

It's over.

Molly would like to rest her hands on her knees, but she can't, because one hand is holding Starcrash and the other hand is... well wherever it went after getting sucked through a collapsing portal to the Tau dimension or whatever it was Seriss was doing. Briefly, the purplenette wonders what happened to it there.

Who knows, maybe they're using it to clone a dark copy of her or something. Not that they could ever get back here anyway. Right? Right.

"Molly, stop thinking thoughts," she mumbles, opting for planying her staff on the gorund and leaning on it, while her heat circuitry glows, making her look like someone out of Tron (she doesn't mind that) while Amy collects her soul gem and both she and Usagi confort the poor guy and his dogs.

Molly sighs, and shakes her head. << I... I don't feel good, >> she transmits to her friends. << I'm going home to... get some Ramen, Mom always has leftovers. You can both come if you want to. >>

Amanda Faust has posed:
Still. That was pretty scary.

    The Mysterious Mahou nods.

    "...I know you wouldn't. But..."

    Usagi continues. Amy nods a little, again. "Obsidian's been pretty good about not... messing with that stuff. But still... I guess we should have a plan. They might not be very careful about accidents."

    "...I know you'd get it back, but..." Amy stops walking, and looks down at her hands. "What about my body? Lulu's just... stopped. Stopped breathing. No heartbeat. And if my magic's not affecting it anymore... it can't be regenerating."

    She clenches her fists, dropping them to her sides, and takes a breath and another step forward. "We should have a plan for that... Stupid oversight to have not thought of it before... especially when that heartstealer rifle was seperating everyone from their bodies..."

    Amy sighs, and looks up to Molly with a smile, waving. << Ramen sounds good! Let's meet you there! >>

    Ramen with her friends way beats going back to school, right now.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"We'd make sure someone took you to the infirmary," Sailor Moon says firmly, and reaches out to grip Amy's shoulder gently. "Hopefully this is a one-off but... it doesn't hurt to make plans, right?"

Right.

As Star Devil joins them, she's given a smile, but -

"...honestly, food always sounds good. And ramen is way better than studying, so... let's go!"