Mai-X-Project Act I: Zero Hour Part 2 [Complete]

Atlas swiped her card out of the air, to her only one Universe mattered, she would return home, regain the other Biometal Models...then burn Mai to cinders for their battle in that machine filled deathtrap they had fought in months ago.

eyeing the card for a second she looked up at Yang "I think I know who I am using my card on if I need it"

---

Alucard stopped smooching Ragyo Gomez Addams style to grab his card, pulling away for a second he smiled, "Oh, I know just where I am going" winking from behind his shades to Ragyo, "Maybe we can spend more time together if I use this card early, my blood splattered Venus"


---

Yang recreated her suit and grabbed her card, travelling back to the rest of the group, "Sounds fun...I wonder where I will end up" she said, knowing in her head where she wanted to end up.

Flashing her card at the victor of the last fight "If you need me Galaxia I'm only a card swipe away" Yang said with a wink

Fiona was shocked at the display before her. She had never witnessed anything so powerful in all her life. Sure everyone else here is strong in their own unique ways but, those two had it all. Strategy, power, fighting ability...you name it. Fiona was impressed and that was hard for her to admit. Being impressed meant that Fiona was outmatched..for the first time since she was appointed the Supreme role, she had felt defeat. Losing was not what she was use to and having someone a lot more powerful than her really pissed her off.

Callisto was shocked as well. Her face said it all. "HOLY MOTHER OF ZEUS! Those two are better than our God's at home." Callisto scrunched up her face and looked over at Alphard who was watching the ending fight intently. All three of them were surprised.

Alphard actually held up her hands to start clapping because this was the best fight to her. "That was marvelous. Well done. Everyone's fight was great but this one.....no words."

____

After they were done analyzing the fight. The turned their attention to what Arika was saying. A world of their own? The possibilities ran through their minds.

Callisto stood there with excitement on her face. "HA......MY WORLD. A world where Xena still exists but she is defeated by my hands. A world where I am the strongest and can make up everything?"

Fiona threw her cigarette down with force. Her smile grew wide and she put her hands on her hips. "Salem Witch Trials. That's my world. Hands down." She flipped her hair to the side and laughed.

"How boring. I kind of figured you would do that. I think my world is going to be filled with wars and destruction. There is no save haven for anyone. Bombs going off in every directions....." Alphard was cut off on her daydreaming with Callisto's outbursts.

"You call that boring? Well....mine will be Rome and Ancient Greece!" Callisto held out her hand to the sky with her mouth open.

"Really...."Fiona eyed her.  

____

All three of them were snapped back into reality when Arika started talking. The cards showed up in front of their faces and eyed it. "For emergencies? That is a good idea." Alphard said.

"Who knows if I would need it? I think I will be fine but I will take it just in case." Callisto said.

"I like it. This gives me so many ideas. I can start planning now." Fiona injected.

Haruhi and co. landed flat on their asses with the conclusion made. It took them all moments before they heard all of what was said after.
"Right...my own universe...sure..."
Their words left their mouths slowly and all at the same time. They didn't even bother to glare at each other. They simply nodded at Arika's offer and accepted the cards given to them. None could move. They simply sat there and tried to listen. Looking up at Alucard, Ragyou snapped out of her trance and grinned in approval. This time Haruhi was too stunned to do a thing.

"Okay, first off," Etna shot a death glare at the psychaotic Arika, "don't Facking touch me again. Second, don't Facking touch me again!"

Then the demon girl began to think pensively about her choice of world and a GEM card.
She already had in mind what she wanted.
In Etna's ideal world, everyone would bow down to her as their demon lord. Everyone would comment on her nice body. Every demon will tremble beneath her. Beauty queen Etna would be deemed the most powerful.

As for the future assistance, Etna wasn't quite sure who she would call for.
She was already forming quite a...bond with Satsuki Kiryuin. Everyone else could drop dead.
The demon girl snatched a random card, exmaining it.

"I suppose it can't hurt to bring it with me."

"Interesting." Satsuki commented as she took one of the cards, "Perhaps it's time I relied on others for a change."

In all honesty, Satsuki didn't need an ideal world for herself. She was already living it. The only difference is, she was forced to bend it to her will. She wanted to create a whole army strong enough for a rebellion.

Flashing her card at the victor of the last fight "If you need me Galaxia I'm only a card swipe away" Yang said with a wink

The victorious Golden warrior, having collected Arika's magic card, returned a genuine smile. One that knew what the future held if Arika isn't dealt with soon.

"Pity you won't survive. Now, to reclaim my rightful place. Mai Tokiha, don't you dare perish..."

Once Kagura had reached for the trading card, imagining the possibilities of controlling an entire world, her crimson eyes began watering up, "So, this is a taste of freedom. A world of my own, where things can go my way for a change. There's only one place on Earth that interests me. Where I am the Master and him; the puppet."

Kagura started laughing out loud. Partly due to the stress of watching the catastrophic battle, and part feeling a little confident about her choice of universe.

"Nothing will stop me from seeking you out. Making you cower on your knees; begging forgiveness for what you have done to me. And you will cry me mercy...and I will have NONE."

---

"Purrrrrfect," said the mousy little imp, knowing this Summon Card system had peaked their interest. "Now, if you would all direct your attention to the nearest portal! ZOO-PA!"

All the villains were suddenly placed in front of their respective portals! Arika skipped about in front of them, giving them a few words of her own encouragement.

"GAMBATE! GOOD LUCK! For the rest...this is goodbye," SOB! SOB! "Some of you won't be coming back or returning to your worlds~ AND REMEMBER! I WILL BE WATCHING YOU~~~~"

The control Arika had over the villains held them in place like small dolls, launching them all one by one into their portals. Arika waved goodbye to all her "Slaves", cackling in uncontrollable fashion.

"SO LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG, EX-PRINCE ALLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIII"

Once the portals disappeared, Arika pranced over to stare at once beautiful landscape, now ruined by the tournament. Until now, the Ant God *never*took a gander at the scenic landscape from her favorite Julie Andrews picture. To see it lit up like the surface of the sun; well...it brought her great joy. She dropped to her knees, feeling the satisfaction rise from within.

"BEHOLD! MY MASTERPIECE IS COMPLETE!!!" cried out Arika, sobbing her eyes out like a madwoman. "I'm so happy~"

Out of nowhere, one of the surviving villagers...a "special" yokel looking fellow, walked up the hill and stared at Arika's "masterpiece."

"Heyyyyy, not bad! But did you see Wacky Delly!?"

ARIKA FACEFAULTS...destroying the planet.

"Gabby-chan!" shouted Mai at the top of her lungs, attempting to catch up to her friend. She raced through the woods in-flight. The dense forest of this blackened world of shadow. This entire world was so pitch black, even Mai's Element could barely give off any light! Other than that, it seemed harmless. Her and her friends had just arrived an hour ago, with no sign of Arika or any of her forces.

"Expect the unexpected," Mai repeated in her mind, before inhaling and exhaling her fears out. "I'll keep that in mind, Midori-chan."

As she flew over the trees, she could see a feint light that resembled Gabrielle's. "There you are!"

Touching down on the ground, she could see that it was indeed Gabrielle. Why she ran away from the group is unknown, but Mai didn't care. What happened back in the city of machines...Mai understood fully. Loss is the greatest form of pain.

"Gabby-chan, it's not safe on your own," calmly said Mai, walking up to Gabby, placing her hand on hers. "Let me help you."

“Heyyyyyy!! Hey Mommy, look what Mama A gave me today. I think it’s a paper snake but it looks like a pile of poop.” A little girl said as she ran up to her fiery mother. Her laughter rang out through the woman’s ear, it put a smile on her face whenever she walked into the room.

“Hey, Krista…I worked hard on that piece of paper for you. I’m not an artist like Mama G is.” Ahmes said as she walked into the room.

Gabrielle stood there laughing her head off while leaning against the wall. “Hey, it’s not funny……But…” Ahmes said while walking slowly to her. Her strutting made Gabrielle stop in the middle of her laughing spree to look up at her with a shocked look. Her eyes widened, turning her smile turned to one that made her look ravishing.  Her blue eyes sparkled as the woman got closer to her.

“Welcome home, my sweet. ” The Egyptian Goddess put a hand on Gabrielle’s stomach and smiled. “And you too.” Ahmes grabbed hold of Gabrielle’s hand and started to close in on her lips but was awaken by darkness.

Ahmes disappeared and the area around Gabrielle was so dark that she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.  The fiery woman grabbed her head in a fit of freight, she was terrified of the dark.

“Wh-at….where…am I? How did I get here…..” Gabrielle was deep in thought, remembering the events that happened just a bit ago. “Ahmes……..” Gabrielle started to shake with sadness. She walked away from the others so that she could think. Get her head on straight and of what to do. Her anger is over taking her and she didn’t want to get these people hurt. They’ve become her friends after all and would hate for them to get in her crossfire. One small move and single every one of them could be killed with just a finger. Plus…Gabrielle put a hand on stomach. She didn’t want them to find her secret out.

She was taken aback from the sound of her name being called out to her. It was Mai. Gabrielle stopped in the middle of the walkway with her back turned to her. Mai took her hand Gabrielle lost control over her emotions.

“Mai…………I…..I’m….” Gabrielle couldn’t speak, she was clearly devastated. Her life has been nothing but horrific deaths and wars. It’s taking every single bit that she had to stay sane. “I’m so sorry….I didn’t mean to hurt any one of you….I…..” Gabrielle brought her hands up to her head.
“But, I’m okay. I can do this.” Gabrielle punched herself in the face….clearly going crazy of what happened. It wasn’t her at all. She was like a puppet on a string, not getting everything off of her chest is her greatest enemy.

Xan squinted in the darkness, crinkling her nose in annoyance. The darkness didn’t bother her, to be honest she was actually rather enjoying it. There was just something freeing about such all-encompassing blackness; a certain peace to be found in the smooth roil of unending shadows.

She was sitting with her back against a tree around the campfire with the others, having just finished stuffing her face with meal she and Mai had fixed for everyone. She had no idea what half these foods were, but she was absolutely going to find out.

She was largely silent at the moment, more interested in getting up and doing something than sitting and chatting. She wanted to explore the area a bit to make sure it was safe. Not everyone here had her battle-heightened sense of impending threat, so a quick survey of the immediate area just made sense to her.

That, and she just wanted to explore and test herself in a new environment. She and Midnight had developed a system ages ago that would allow the Wyvern to guide her in darkness without any form of verbal or mental communication. Sure, she could just talk to Midnight and allow the Wyvern to guide her vocally—or even psionically—but where was the challenge in that? Where was the fun?

Your definition of fun needs work. Midnight informed the blue-eyed woman psionically from her perch on the woman’s right shoulder.

Xan grinned widely into the darkness, sending out a playful ball of her blue-white Guardis magic just to see what would happen. It lit up the area it moved through a bit, but overall was useless as a light source.

You need to work on your morals. Xan replied to her Familiar, earning her a psionic snort.

I learned them from you, oh bipedal one.

Xan laughed aloud at that, undoubtedly startling everyone around the fire due to her previous quietude.

By the Flow, Xanda if you— Midnight cut off her psionic complaint when Xan ignored her, pulling out her flute anyway. Dammit, Xanda!

You sound like my wife, Midni!

Midnight grumbled incoherently into Xan’s mind as the woman started playing a soft tune; letting the music flow and roll around her and those with her. A little bit of magic turned the music into Sonomancy, and she smiled with her eyes when the notes of her song became a palpable essence; swirling around her and her allies in a tangibly soothing way.

Midnight relaxed on Xan’s shoulder in spite of herself, tail draping loosely around her Bonded’s neck, as the Sonomancy caused the tension to flow out of her. Sometimes she wished Xan had never learned the art.

"Ah man I'm bored. I wanna stick it to those bastards from before already!"

Lucchini raised a clenched fist in the air and shook it.

"Besides..." she continued on,

"Its so dark I can't even see my hands! My hands! I've been transformed with Ombra for five days straight for her night vision. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up with my magic reserves."

Crossing her arms and legs, Lucchini sighed.

"Not to mention if something attacks us here my fire magic is next to useless until I learn some new ways to manipulate body heat."

"Master are you too cold?" Saber asked diligently

Midori looked up from her beer at her servant "Saber, I'm fine"

"How about too hot? I can fetch you some ice or water if you want" Saber asked again

"Saber, I am a healthy 17 year old" she said taking a long swig of her alcoholic beverage

"How about some food? I could use some myself" Saber said with a slight bit of drool at the thought of getting to eat her fill for once in a while

"Nothing, Saber, if you are hungry get something to eat...though I would like to know more about your life, not everyday you get to speak to a legendary hero" Midori said flashing her famous smile and wink

Saber eyeballed the rest of the group, grabbing her master's hand and pulling her away to a distance where no one could hear and began her tale "I was born under the name Arutoria Pendoragon..."

She was taken aback from the sound of her name being called out to her. It was Mai. Gabrielle stopped in the middle of the walkway with her back turned to her. Mai took her hand Gabrielle lost control over her emotions.

“Mai…………I…..I’m….” Gabrielle couldn’t speak, she was clearly devastated. Her life has been nothing but horrific deaths and wars. It’s taking every single bit that she had to stay sane. “I’m so sorry….I didn’t mean to hurt any one of you….I…..” Gabrielle brought her hands up to her head.
“But, I’m okay. I can do this.” Gabrielle punched herself in the face….clearly going crazy of what happened. It wasn’t her at all. She was like a puppet on a string, not getting everything off of her chest is her greatest enemy.

"Ehhh," Mai blurted, in response to Gabrielle's self-punishment, "the first thing you need to do is stop blaming yourself for everything, Gabby-chan."

The HiME sat down with her fellow fire manipulator, with their hands still connected. Mai activated the Element around her ankles and noticed immediately what they were sitting on a fallen tree branch.

"Memory of Mother" from Little Snow fairy Sugar starts playing:


Pulling Gabrielle in for a tender embrace, Mai stroked Gabrielle' hair gently and never stopped. "You're like me; never knowing peace. Always looking behind your back, believing that something terrible will occur again," Mai stopped, her hand gripping Gabrielle's a little tighter. The thoughts of Reito and Arika swirling in her mind. She had to take a second to brush them away for her own sake; and Gabrielle's.

"But now, we can make a difference. Arika cannot keep us here forever, Gabrielle. Somehow, someway, I will bring Ahmes back to you."

Mai then locked eyes with Gabrielle, "yes, I heard her name during the fight. This dimensional world of Arika's was made possible through HIghly Advanced Materializing Equipment. I'm sure Ahmes will return. Until that happens Gabby-chan," wiping a tear from Gabrielle's eye, "don't blame yourself for the doings of others. Arika is to blame; not you."

Mai met her lips with Gabrielle's forehead; then winking at the little bundle of spark.

"Shinjite, Gabby-chan."

[Shinjite meaning "Believe" in Japanese]

---

Back at the campfire, Hikari enjoyed what could very well be, the last of the food supply. Upon finishing his shrimp dumpling ramen combo, he began chugging down the sake as if it were water.

"Man, all this way to end up in a place much bleaker than the last. Five days of hearing Midnight and Xan hiss at each other and Saber staring at me like I'm Charles Manson is not what I had in mind, either," he mentally chuckled. "Now, there's something that bothers me about this place. I don't think my comrades have noticed it yet."

Hikari looked around to scan all of his peers one by one, they were off in their own world. "Our limited supply of healers won't make it easy if that wacko Arika decides to drop another overpowered RPG boss."

He then saw Lucchini complaining and Ryuko over to his right being a grumpy head with Senketsu. "Heh, the convenient healer assistance can wait. We didn't do so bad, now did we?"

The swordsman threw away his bowl and started walking around the campsite and beyond. "That strange moon," he muttered. "It's glows every 10 minutes..."

Hikari then heard a noise, but didn't flinch as it was a quick snap, what usually indicates a sneak attack. Back in 2004, the highly trained United States marines tried to get the drop on Hikari during a raid in Afghanistan. Through vibration and sound, he took them down one by one. The only one to get the drop on him lately has been Arika. Inside, he wanted desperately to correct this. Hikari went over to the real noise maker of the group, "Yo, Xan! Check this. I was going down on a my girlfriend one time and I says to her, "Geez you got a big pusssy! Geez, you got a big pusssy!" She asks me, "why did you say that twice?" and I said, "I didn't!"

SMACK! "The Hell?!"

In his head, Hikari heard Rain's voice...somehow?! "You're such a man, I swear. Now you've got yourself trapped in a vortex maze. Can't you do anything without me? Oh and by the way, it took you a long, LONG time to get all this~"

Hikari mentally replied, "Why the Hell did I imagine you sassing me!?" The swordsman just snorted and through his arms up behind his head, "Guilt. I'm coming home, baby. Let your man save the world."

Hikari was so out of it, that he forget Xan and Midnight were there for a second, "Shit, sorry, Xan!"

He then pets Midnight in a rough way, "How you doin', Spyro?"

The man in black laughed until quickly changing expression as he saw that strange moon glow yet again.

"Do you two spot anything interesting? With Midnight's nocturnal abilities you were telling me about two days ago, we should keep moving soon. Even if it means a heightened chance of getting tore up in Arika's fun house."

Hikari reaches behind him to feel the sheath of the Moonlight Blade. "Keeping this handy; for close encounters. Know what I mean?" nudging Xan in her rock hard abs.

Ryuko was having a little bit of trouble with adjusting to the darkness while she was eating her last bowl of shrimp and ramen combo dish. The surroundings irked the teenage girl greatly. Ryuko wasn't sure what kind of creature or enemy she and her new friends would stumble upon.  

Luckily, there weren't any suspicious beings in sight. Not yet anyway.

"Calm down, Ryuko." Senketsu assured, "there's nothing to be worried about."

The teenage girl frowned.

"Easy for you to say."

With everyone else seeming so mopey (Hikari being the only exception for his outburst) Lucchini decided to try and get them moving. She started with Ryuuko.

"Hey! How did you enchant your clothes to talk?"

With the total darkness, only Lucchini's emerald eyes could be seen as her raven hair and tanned complexion melded with the rest of the environment. She looked like that Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, as the rest of her body also seemed to disappear except for her white flight jacket.

"I was already talking when I had first met Ryuko." Senketsu explained "I was stuck in ruble and ruin until I sensed a human with blood. That's when I discovered Ryuko and convinced her to try me on. It wasn't easy at first, since Ryuko was quite pleased with how the battle outfit appeared."

"Damn right I wasn't pleased with it!" Ryuko quipped with mild annoyance, "It was embarassing! I didn't want to wear it at first. But, during my first duel with Satsuki Kiryuin, I realized I'd have to take a risk if I ever wanted to avenge my father. So, I teamed up with Senketsu and embraced the power of the kamui. I had to in order to break down the obstacles that were keeping me from learning the truth about my father's death."

"Oh wow!"

Lucchini peered closely at Senketsu. She looked back up at Ryuuko.

"So, your dad is gone too? I don't think mine is dead but...well he hasn't been around. Its just Mama."

Luu Sky Sapphire wrote:

She was taken aback from the sound of her name being called out to her. It was Mai. Gabrielle stopped in the middle of the walkway with her back turned to her. Mai took her hand Gabrielle lost control over her emotions.

“Mai…………I…..I’m….” Gabrielle couldn’t speak, she was clearly devastated. Her life has been nothing but horrific deaths and wars. It’s taking every single bit that she had to stay sane. “I’m so sorry….I didn’t mean to hurt any one of you….I…..” Gabrielle brought her hands up to her head.
“But, I’m okay. I can do this.” Gabrielle punched herself in the face….clearly going crazy of what happened. It wasn’t her at all. She was like a puppet on a string, not getting everything off of her chest is her greatest enemy.

"Ehhh," Mai blurted, in response to Gabrielle's self-punishment, "the first thing you need to do is stop blaming yourself for everything, Gabby-chan."

The HiME sat down with her fellow fire manipulator, with their hands still connected. Mai activated the Element around her ankles and noticed immediately what they were sitting on a fallen tree branch.

"Memory of Mother" from Little Snow fairy Sugar starts playing:


Pulling Gabrielle in for a tender embrace, Mai stroked Gabrielle' hair gently and never stopped. "You're like me; never knowing peace. Always looking behind your back, believing that something terrible will occur again," Mai stopped, her hand gripping Gabrielle's a little tighter. The thoughts of Reito and Arika swirling in her mind. She had to take a second to brush them away for her own sake; and Gabrielle's.

"But now, we can make a difference. Arika cannot keep us here forever, Gabrielle. Somehow, someway, I will bring Ahmes back to you."

Mai then locked eyes with Gabrielle, "yes, I heard her name during the fight. This dimensional world of Arika's was made possible through HIghly Advanced Materializing Equipment. I'm sure Ahmes will return. Until that happens Gabby-chan," wiping a tear from Gabrielle's eye, "don't blame yourself for the doings of others. Arika is to blame; not you."

Mai met her lips with Gabrielle's forehead; then winking at the little bundle of spark.

"Shinjite, Gabby-chan."

[Shinjite meaning "Believe" in Japanese]

Gabrielle gritted her teeth together, making them crack along each other at what Mai was saying. She understood what she was talking about. She shouldn't blame herself for anything, but that is something that she was use to. It was all she ever knew. Growing up, she hid her heart from everyone with a mask of happiness. The happy side exists but at times people could see right through her. That it wasn't real. Gabrielle developed that side because she convinced herself that her life events never happened. The horrors of what she went through was so intense that she blocked it from her mind.

Taking Mai's kinds words into her heart, she lifted her head up to look at her. Her orange strands plastered to her face from her tear stained cheeks. "You heard right....Ahmes is my wife. I would do anything to get her back. She is my life, I can't do this without her. Arika is just like my father........promise me you will get Ahmes to me. I will do anything. My kids are all by themselves right now without her. I can't imagine the thought of telling them that Ahmes is dead....she can't die. She is a God. I should be the one that is dead, not her. "

"You have gone through so much as well. Everyone has, but I need to tell you something to get it out there. Something that has plagued my brain since I was little. I just found out about these events four years ago and they are still haunting me to this very day. In fact I'm still leaving in it."

Gabrielle moved away from Mai to get a full picture of her. What she was about to tell her needed her full attention and emotions. "Before I start, I need you to promise me something. No one else knows about this until I decide to bring it up to the others. This story is about my life, about Ahmes and my family."

Gabrielle closed her eyes and started visualizing her past. The little girl that she was, was running around laughing her head off. She looked so happy and free. Playing with her friends that were clearly much older than her. She was in heaven.

"My life started out amazingly well. My mother was the High Phoenix, growing up with her and my twin sister was the best experience any child could endure at that time. Families around that area always fought with each other or they were off battling wars. The area that we lived in was crowded with mythical creatures and Gods.....it was like a painting out of an old museum. It didn't seem real but it was. Anyway, my mother intrusted me with her helper, Ahmes. Just like her parents did before her, Ahmes was always with me. She never left my side. I was a rascal and my sister was the good one." Gabrielle smiled and started laughing at good memories.

"One day, I was outside with Ahmes when something attacked our town. She went off to investigate while she told me to hide in the house. My sister was somewhere else so I didn't think anything of it at the time. A few hours past while I was asleep and heard a loud bang at my door. To my surprise, it was my father. A man who terrified me, I couldn't look at him without shaking. Specter is his name and he is the ruler of Abaddon and Hell.....yes, Satan. Day after day he would beat me up and abuse me and my sister. Till this day, I can't remember everything that he did to me but on this day...he took everything away from me. He raped me, putting a curse on me and he also ended up killing my mother. This song played during it.....this song......I listen to every time I get upset......" Gabrielle paused and grabbed MP3 out of her pocket and have the ear piece to Mai.

"All of her power went inside of me that night and Specter gave me something that I can't get rid of. If anyone kills him....I die. You know the legend about Phoenix's that they are reborn from their ashes? Well, Specter found a way to put an end to that. He killed my childhood and I ended up with this power....a power to kill every living thing on the planet. I was taken by an orphanage soon after that. I grew up there and came back to Abaddon where I met everyone again. I didn't remember anything that happened in my past, everyone else knew....but me...no. They hid it from me for good reason. Ahmes took me in again and we ended up falling in love. We have to hide the fact that we are secretly married because homosexuals are locked away and tortured. After Specter found out, he turned into Ahmes and raped me again...this time....I got pregnant. Ahmes thought it was a mistake and almost left me. She soon found out what happened and she almost went and killed him. By doing this, he ended up hurting me so bad that I lost the baby. Soon after that we actually ended up have 3 kids together......and.........." Gabrielle stopped and put a hand on her stomach.

"And another one along the way. Yes, that might seem questionable but strange things happen in my world where women can still get another woman pregnant. You can thank my mad scientist doctor for that. So....that is my life story. So many events that have happened to me......are so horrific that I made different personalities form. The one you saw was only the beginning of the one, the ditzy one of course and...my phoenix side. I could go more in depth with this but I think you can understand what happened. My world is unlike any other by the way."

Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders and huffed. "Now you know. Don't worry about the baby...." She threw her arm out at her.

"Don't know much about my mom." Ryuko replied, "Dad told me she died in an accident when I was a baby."

"Oh...oh wow. I...Sorry for bringing that up."

Lucchini sat next to Ryuuko again instead of standing beside her. Now that she was in the view of the fire, it illuminated her body and face, the Cheshire Cat likeness replaced by reality.

"What else is there?"

"No, it's fine, Lucchini." Ryuko assured the short girl beside her. Now it felt like she made the mood sour even more.
Suddenly an idea popped into her head.

"So, Lucchini, you mentioned a girlfriend back in your world, right? What's she like?"

Two pair of faintly glowing tourmaline-blue eyes drifted lazily over to Hikari; Xan continued playing her flute, altering her sonomancy slightly to layer it further. Now, in addition to soothing her allies, the music itself would work to ward away unwanted company. The longer she played, the more layers she could add and the more secure their location would become.



Midnight purred slightly at Hikari’s attention, butting her head gently against his hand in protest when he stopped. Xan’s eyes crinkled in amusement as she watched the pair.

“Xan’s getting twitchy,” Midnight replied since Xan was busy with her layering. “She wants to go scout a bit, doesn’t like all this inaction. I didn’t see much when I flew around earlier, though. Lots of trees and some critters a few miles away, but I couldn’t find any concrete traces of a threat.”

The Wyvern seemed to shrug, head-butting Hikari’s hand when he’d once again stopped his scratching.

“She’s layering some protection right now, though.” Midnight continued. “Won’t stop an attack, but if anything crosses the magic she’s using we’ll both know it instantly, no matter the direction it comes from.”

Xan’s eyes flicked down to Rhoddchariad, which lay in her lap glowing a gentle lavender, then flicked back up to Hikari; silently telling him she was ready for anything, despite her relaxed posture. After just over a century of fighting—either for glory as an Æsan or for peace in the Quintusian military—she’d long since mastered the art of constant preparedness.

Midnight squeezed Xan’s shoulder sharply, letting the woman know it was time to move on to another Layer, and the tune changed again.

Blushing, Lucchini looked away to gain some composure. Clearing her throat, she said,

"That's right. Her name is Maria Pier. I guess you could add the "di Romagna" part, but thats just Romagnan for "from Romagna". She's the Duchess, and so the ruler, of my home country. She's sweet and kind, and so beautiful. And so understanding! We talk for hours and she remembers and gets into the conversation. I love her because of how much she gets me, and well...when we're intimate too haha."

"I see." Ryuko commented as she finished drinking her last bit of juice. "I really don't have time for pursuing any romance. But, I'm glad you were able to."

The seventeen year old watched the flames starting to flicker and shrink.

"Oh, crap! The fire is dying! We better find more wood."

"Oh I can fix that!"

With a wave of her hand, the fire shot up a foot in the air. Lucchini grinned at her handiwork.

"This I can still control. So don't worry!"

firesphere306 wrote:"And another one along the way. Yes, that might seem questionable but strange things happen in my world where women can still get another woman pregnant. You can thank my mad scientist doctor for that. So....that is my life story. So many events that have happened to me......are so horrific that I made different personalities form. The one you saw was only the beginning of the one, the ditzy one of course and...my phoenix side. I could go more in depth with this but I think you can understand what happened. My world is unlike any other by the way."

Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders and huffed. "Now you know. Don't worry about the baby...." She threw her arm out at her.

Mai took a minute to let everything sink in. She knew her new friends came from various parts of the Multiverse, so how Gabrielle's world operated, didn't surprise her. What caught Mai's attention was how fortunate Gabrielle was to have a loving mother, a wife and children to call her own. Yet, she was equally unfortunate to lose her child. Something she couldn't even begin to imagine. Her and Tate never spoke of having children; Mikoto already felt like in. Chie and Aoi had always commented on Mai's maternal instincts, something she thought could translate into a real family.

Removing the ear piece, Mai hugged Gabrielle closely to her warm, busty chest. "Your world is scary, Gabby-chan. To know a world where your fate is practically sealed? Not only that, a world where people like you and Ahmes are persecuted. No one deserves that."

Mai then pushed Gabrielle's shoulders away slowly, looking deep into her eyes to give her the honest truth. "Your secret is safe with me, Gabby-chan," Mai said with her gentle smile, "however, you cannot live like this forever. I will not only keep my promise to you, I will also find a way for you to become strong enough to break the laws of your universe to defeat your father WITHOUT sacrifice."

At that moment, Mai was adamant about what she had stated. So much that she seemed almost possessed, "I was forced to kill my own friends to become the bride of a sick and twisted overlord. THEN I WATCHED MY FRIENDS, MY FIANCE, AND MY BEST FRIEND DIE BEFORE ME BECAUSE OF ARIKA!" Mai shouted with frustrated anger, remembering that Gabrielle needed the strength right now, not her. Instead if apologizing, Mai just says, "We're the same, Gabby-chan."

Reaching down to grab Gabrielle's hands, the carrot top HiME held them for a good while before whispering, "We're the same."

Mai stood up once more, activating her Element completely. "Let's go, Gabby-chan. Next time, come to me, okay? I'll always be here."

WolvenBane08 wrote:“Xan’s getting twitchy,” Midnight replied since Xan was busy with her layering. “She wants to go scout a bit, doesn’t like all this inaction. I didn’t see much when I flew around earlier, though. Lots of trees and some critters a few miles away, but I couldn’t find any concrete traces of a threat.”

The Wyvern seemed to shrug, head-butting Hikari’s hand when he’d once again stopped his scratching.

“She’s layering some protection right now, though.” Midnight continued. “Won’t stop an attack, but if anything crosses the magic she’s using we’ll both know it instantly, no matter the direction it comes from.”

"That's a nice melody she's playing. Since coming here, music hasn't exactly been a privilege."

Hikari looked away for a second to see some of his crew members trying desperately to create a stronger fire.

"At least we know we can hunt something around here. Mai doesn't have any hang ups about roasting a good boar or squirrel, if need be. You gotta have the Japanese," Hikari slyly commented; still oddly curious about the object in the sky as he looked up. He turned to Midnight and gave her another rough pat on the skull.

"We'll regroup and start heading out then. Mai and the Gabrielle kid will follow along. Just don't be surprised if the poor sap Xan picks up is dead before it has a chance to ambush us. Let's go,"

Marching back to the campfire site, his heavy books crushing twig after twig, "Giving away our position isn't like me, but it's a risk I'm willing to take," Hikari spotted the others having their little fire issues. "Save it, Italiana. We're moving out in a few; Mai told me earlier that she'd catch up with us. I'll go on ahead for now, just pack up everything. Follow my trail in 5 minutes."

He noticed Ryuko left her juice bottle on the ground, "Didn't anyone tell you littering is bad, Matoi? Honestly, what is it with women and taking out the trash?" joked the swordsman before running at basic human speed into the next area; just to be safe.