[Closed]

[justiceisdue]

Characters: aiursfavoredson, justiceisdue, soulparadox, dungenessmaster

Location: Romania

Rating: PG-13

Time: December 8th

Description: Team Three Aliens and a Clone head to Romania to take care of a fire breathing dragon.

Comments

my turn to say sorry for being a bum about tagging D:

[justiceisdue]

Selendis had braced herself for the pain, unsure if she would survive but determined to do just that despite whatever the injury to herself. That tiny shift in their resonation, though, changed the course of her thoughts in an instant when she saw the shield go up. Her instincts didn’t fail her this time, and she dropped down in time to feel the fire graze her shoulder armor, the heat intense enough to be painful. It was like all the moisture was sucked out of the air and her skin, but she stayed behind the red shield until the dragon exhausted its breathe.

There was no snow around them now, and if there had been grass it was blackened and smoldering. She could feel heat behind her where the trees had gone up in flames, but paid them no mind. For a brief moment, her emotions went through the ringer: she was absolutely furious with herself at that mistake, for endangering Karkat, for endangering Tassadar and Nataku and the entire mission. She was simultaneously frightened for herself and Karkat, surprised at the appearance of the shield, and thankful for the protection he had given her. It didn’t last long before she locked every emotion down hard and used that anger to focus on the dragon.

The kishin was doing its best to throw the other pair off its back, but the third head just stared her and Karkat down. It almost looked angry that she was still alive, the only damage being her surroundings and the hot spots on her armor. It snarled and snapped its teeth, but no more flames came forth. It has nothing left, she realized. That head had done what it could, and the other two were still being wrapped up by Nataku. All thoughts of her previous hesitation were pushed aside to be dealt with later, and she charged the dragon. Knowing its game was up, it struck out to meet her, toothy maw opened wide to crush her.

Selendis, fueled by her own anger and the resonation that concentrated it, was too fast for it this time. She was hardly aware of what was going on with the others, falling to the dragon’s right as its jaws clamped shut on empty air. The opportunity to strike was perfect, and Selendis hooked the blade of the axe under the scaly crest of the kishin’s jawline. She pulled up as the monster jerked to try and escape the close range, which only doomed it further. The blade bit deep, sliding right through the scales and the flesh, almost clean through to the spine and splattering hot blood all over her front. That head died with hardly a noise, its throat torn open before it could do anything.

One down, two to go. Selendis looked up at the other heads, then towards Tassadar and Nataku. The latter would know they were alright, even if she had some serious thinking to do about her actions. Right now, bringing down the kishin was priority.

and again, no biggie! o7

[dungenessmaster]

The shield faded away as the fire streamed past, as if it had been melted by the heat. Karkat hadn't known he could do that and even with the desire to protect Selendis, he was going to need more practice and kinshin eggs to maintain it for more than a few seconds. He was thrown for a bit, shocked that he'd been able to pull something like that out of nowhere right when he needed it, but Selendis's emotions snapped him back into the game. At the moment their resonation was good enough for him to clearly feel the fear, the anger, and of course the gratitude. It felt pretty good, but as Selendis seized onto her anger he did the same, easily amplifying it but watching her carefully; the Vriska chase had taught him what could happen if he sent her too much of that at once.

Fortunately it turned out he had nothing to be concerned about. She was furious, but she was in control, channeling the emotion in a way that made her nearly unstoppable. Grimly satisfied, Karkat bared his teeth and hung in there, enjoying his front-row seat to the death of a powerful monster.

[soulparadox]

Nataku did not understand what anger was. Yet, he could at the very least say that he knew that Selendis felt that way -- judging only from how he saw her eyes flare and the way that her body now appeared. The clone had a moent of feeling proud. At least, that was what he believed that he was feeling. Proud because he had been able to properly identify what it was that the other Protoss had been feeling with such little cues; proud because she did not need their protection to kill the head that had threatened to kill both Karkat and her. Yes, he would have to think more about what these feelings were at a later date. Now was most assuredly not the time to focus on what he had felt, because tehre were still two heads left to deal with.

Now they seemed that more more adamant to have them off their back since the one head was dead. He wondered after the idea that they could still live with one head gone, but he supposed that it meant that they were that much more spearated than he originally thought. Despite the calm and detached manner that he thought on these things, he tightened his hold that much more around the throats of the creatures. He could not decapitate them with how much of himself that he used to hold them together as they were -- snapping and thrashing about as they were to get free. All that eh could do was continue to tighten the hold so taht Tassadar would not be dislodged from where he was.

One of the ribbon ends turned to look to his Meister, hoping that he was faring all right. It seemed as though Selendis and he had the same idea in the sense of ensuring that all were safe. As safe as one could be anyway. He would have to ask after the shield when they were done. Little thoughts of this nature snuck in as he had already seemed to conclude that they would win. But, that was the conclusion that he had set forth even before they had started this battle. Nataku could not imagine another outcome, because it was not something that he wanted to have happen. The clone knew enough that it was possible, and he knew enough now what it was that he did and did not want.

Another interesting fact, he decided to note to himself, until the Kishin Egg was officially killed -- it seemed as though they could bleed. Perhaps, they need only hold on and allow the creature to bleed out. Or, they could continue to rely on their partners to finish the job completely. It will not be long now. These thoughts he shared with Tassadar. We have chosen well in picking these two to come with us. It was too soon to be calling victory yet he once more could not stop himself from donig so. Seeing that the two were well, it had filled him with a warm feeling. Enough to dispel the doubt that he had felt before when he thought they had fallen to the creature's fire.

He hoped that they would forgive him for these thoughts and actions.

[aiursfavoredson]

There was a barrage of emotion felt, but now was not the time to be distracted. He had every trust in Selendis and her partner to get the job done, and he had to uphold his portion as well. So when the dragon attempted to dislodge the pair from the captured heads, Tassadar slammed his hands down towards the scales. His long claws grasped onto what flesh they could, and he held on tightly as the dragon thrashed about.

He saw the way that his partner turned to face him, and was thankful to see that his partner was doing well. Nodding his head at the words spoken, it was something he found himself proud in feeling. There was little time for such considerations though given their situation, and Tassadar gripped the dragon tightly as Selendis attacked.

The Kishin Egg's movements shifted when the first head died. Using that to his advantage, Tassadar sent his intentions to tightly hold the dragon Nataku. He didn't hesitate with his gesture, and in the next moment Tassadar had released his hold and leapt off the side. The templar never once released his hold on his Weapon, and so long as Nataku kept his grip, the two heads would be forced down with them and brought into range of the other pair.

[justiceisdue]

Selendis was forced to give ground when the kishin increased its efforts to get loose, lashing out with its tail and wings. The two bound heads didn't even seem to notice her, but even in their fury they failed to dislodge Tassadar on their own terms. The heads went down with him easily, but probably wouldn't stay that way for long. One of them let loose another volley of fire, but it had no target save for more trees. The other head had the intelligence to try and twist down, intending to chew up Tassadar and the ribbon that bound it.

Another opportunity appeared, and Selendis took it without hesitation. Hefting the axe, she charged the head that had just finished spewing fire. Sensing the movement, it turned to look at her the moment she swung the weapon around, blade landing right between its eyes. Not exactly a killing strike, but the dragon jerked so hard it crashed into the other head, roaring in pain.

"Hold it!" She hardly had to remind Tassadar what to do, but the thrashing was getting bad enough she worried it would get loose. That, and she didn't want to accidentally strike Nataku if it managed to avoid her.

Blood pounding, she went for it again, cutting a deep path through its neck this time.

[dungenessmaster]

She might as well have saved her worry: Karkat could see Tassadar and Nataku's position clearly, and she would have gotten one hell of a jolt through resonation if it looked like she was about to hurt them. Even in the moment Karkat had to appreciate the other pair. He'd been wondering how the hell Tassadar planned to hold a dragon with a strip of ribbon, but it looked like trusting in Selendis's faith in the two of them had paid off. This wasn't easy, but they were making it possible, and as reluctant as Karkat was to admit it, this unheard-of-for-a-troll concept of interspecies teamwork was going well.

Two heads down -- even if the one his blade just bit through was still alive, that was mostly a technicality at this point -- one to go. It was almost over; he was still looking out for any funny business with the claws and tail, but it seemed to be out of tricks.

Growling, Karkat refocused and echoed Selendis's anger. This felt good. It felt right.

One to go.

[soulparadox]

It seems as though it is now up to them to finish the job. One of the ribbon ends turned toward the blade, as though to offer recognition for what Karkat and Selendis have already done. With the second head now disposed of, he wonders if the other can even really survive on its own. It is scratching about the ground, but it seems more in the throes of death than able to offer anything else. No more fire, no more resistance. He did not like how he has been swung left and right by the best all this time. Nor did he like that Tassadar could have fallen. Nor was he particularly fond of the thought that those who came with him could have died.

So many things that he did not like as he tightened his hold around the dragon's neck. He had the length now to be able to wrap around to properly choke the beast -- foam and bits of red splattering down from its mouth. Nataku always tries to explain how a ribbon can be used as a Weapon, and he wondered if Karkat could help him explain now. The tightening continued at an alarming rate as he quickly tore through the creature's neck to eventually decapitate it.

This was considered a victory -- somehow, it felt a lot more than the ones that had come before. Nataku wondered why.

[aiursfavoredson]

He did what he could to hold the beast in place, but he had every faith in Selendis and Karkat when it came to taking out the next head. They did so quickly and efficiently. Without waiting for them to deal with the third and final head, Tassadar could feel Nataku's intentions moments before he felt his Weapon beginning to tighten his hold.

When the head was severed from the dragon's body, he tugged on his arm to gesture for the young Weapon to recoil back against him even as the Kishin Egg slumped to the ground lifeless. It didn't take long for the body to disappear, and in its place stood two glowing and pulsating orbs.

'You fought bravely today, Nataku,' he murmured to his Weapon before eventually turning his attention to the other pair. 'I trust that you are without injury?' While there may have been some small injuries he couldn't see from a distance, he could not see anything substantial, and for that he was thankful.

[justiceisdue]

She was ready to take on the third head, but backed off when she saw the way the ribbon constricted around its neck. Had Tassadar told him to do that, or had Nataku done it on his own? She couldn't even begin to guess, considering how little she understood about Nataku's mind.

Selendis didn't approach until after the head hit the ground and the beast was reduced to nothing but the two red orbs. It was a short walk across the mud, snow and crisp grass, but she didn't let Karkat go until she was a few feet away from Tassadar. They had all come out of it mostly unscathed, but her skin still felt dry and tight from the fire. At least her armor wasn't hot to the touch anymore.

"Yes," she said, looking away from Tassadar, instead focusing on her partner. Most of her anger had faded when the kishin fell, but what was left was directed at herself. "Thanks to Karkat."

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat had been braced for more action as well, but Nataku beat them to it. And, he had to admit, as annoyed as he was with not getting the killing blow, it wasn't often someone got to watch a ribbon kill a dragon. That was almost cool enough to make up for the mild disappointment that came from the denial.

Once they reached the other pair, Karkat transformed back and went to grab one of the souls. Weird. One monster, three heads, two souls. He wasn't going to wring out his sponge over an issue like that, at least it had all worked out pretty well for their group, but it was still strange. "We're damn lucky it turns out I have all these secret powers to unlock," he answered, "and maybe we'd better get working on figure out what else we can do."

He crammed the soul into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Then, almost as an afterthought, he turned back to Selendis. "What the hell were you doing out there, anyway?"

[soulparadox]

"Just as bravely as you have fought, Tassadar." Nataku reverted back to his human form as he stood next to his Meister. His hand was on the Protoss's arm, a sign of the trust that he felt between them, in his own quiet way. "Karkat is someone who did his best for his Meister, too. That is all that there is to it."

The clone explained his own belief as to what had happened -- Karkat did not want Selendis to be hurt and so a power emerged to grant this Wish. He nodded once, agreeing with his thoughts, as he walked over to pick up the soul that had appeared. "Thank you for the meal." It seemed right to say before he opened his mouth to eat the glowing red orb. He chewed in a thoughtful manner, still trying to decide what it tasted like.

Swallowing, he decided. "It is delicious. I suppose."

[aiursfavoredson]

'Indeed, it was a good battle,' Tassadar murmured in return. He remained where he was as Selendis approached. Inclining his head to her answer, his softly glowing gaze still regarded her for any untold injuries even as she spoke to her Weapon.

He felt Nataku leave his side to go and retrieve the soul. As the question was fired from Karkat to Selendis, he thought it best to allow the pair to discuss what had occurred. That was why he turned to move closer to his Weapon. Selendis was more than capable of taking care of herself, and as Nataku ate his meal, he found himself amused by the commentary.

While it was impossible to see any amusement, the subtle chuckle within Nataku's mind was more than enough of an indication it was there. 'There is a flavour to the souls, Nataku?'

[justiceisdue]

"Complacency," Selendis said, as if that excused everything. Of course it didn't, but it was the truth. She'd spent her entire life knowing those shields were there, and her confidence had gotten the better of her. "A mistake. It will not happen again."

She wasn't oblivious to Tassadar putting some distance between them, even if she felt it was unnecessary. Then again, not everyone was as keen to sharing everything as protoss were. She could discuss it with him later, but at the moment Karkat had her full attention.

[dungenessmaster]

"Well, we were damn lucky this time," Karkat grumped in reply, "at least I was able to pick up the slack." He glanced down at his hands. "We should practice that move some more when we get back. I could barely keep that shield up, and there's no way a move like that isn't going to keep coming in handy."

Through resonance he had felt her doing something on the battlefield, even if he was unaware of the details. He already knew she hadn't meant to put them in danger, but he was still shaken up and a little aggravated. If he hadn't managed to find some crazy obscure power at the last second, Selendis would have been hurt, maybe even killed. He wasn't sure if he could be burned in weapon form, but he wasn't interested in finding out.

[soulparadox]

"I cannot say that there is a flavor, but when I eat one... I think it is delicious." He blinked a few times at his hands, before looking up at Tassadar. That seemed to be enough of an answer for him now. Nataku has mastered what it was to be considered delicious even if he still was not sure what his likes or dislikes were.

"I am still ... happy ... that you both are still with us." Even if he has mastered this very small feat, he still stumbled a little over the word 'happy' as though he was not sure that was the right one that he wished to use. All the same, he did turn toward Selendis and Karkat separately so that he may smile lightly at them.

To show his relief, to show he cared about their continued survival.