[center][h3][i][color=9966cc]Eclipse Princess[/color][/i][/h3][/center]

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ztTudSg.png[/img][/center]

[center][h3]Welcome Eclipse Princess![/h3]
[i]-"Become what you are."[/i][/center]

Princess snarled at the automated message, with all of its fake cheerfulness, though the personalized message she set for herself (another of Nietzsche's quotes nonetheless) made sure to keep her mind focused on the business at hand.

[color=9966cc]"First things first",[/color] Princess said to herself as she paced along the roof of the high building she had logged out for the last time. The building was just outside of the Black City and from her vantage point Eclipse Princess could behold the 'improvements' they had done to the headquarters of the Ebony Strikers in a matter of few hours. [color=9966cc]"Impressive, I admit, but to be met with the sight of this rabble first thing after logging in, almost makes me want to go out in the rain to meet Cassandra."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"Speaking of the devil",[/color] that was when 'Eris' received the mail from Cassandra, which 'Princess' read but didn't bothered with replying to simply inform Cassandra that she had received the message. [color=9966cc]"Either way, what's it about this Cassie thing? I should inquire her when we meet on the other side. For time, I have more to do."[/color]

Looking back at the sight before herself, Princess held back the urge to spit at the sight of the Sweepers manning the defenses of the Black City. She knew most of them too well and was known by them as well, for being one of the few non-Outlaws that made a point of hunting them down whenever she had the chance. Despite that, the fact that there was only one way to her destination forced Eclipse Princess to leap between a couple other buildings before landing atop the black walls.

[color=9966cc]"You are lucky I'm not here for you today, rabble, your defenses won't do nothing from this range. Try to get in my way and I'll make you remember that I have more than enough experience when fighting you lot."[/color] Eclipse Princess snarled the Sweepers that came to see what had happened, most of them recoiling when they noticed that it as Eclipse Princess before them. [color=9966cc]"Yes, put your tails between your legs and leave me alone, my business here is with the only person still worthy of respect in this guild."[/color]

After saying so, Eclipse Princess walked straight to Moon Rider's throne room, intent on having a meeting with the Black King about a certain business that most likely she knew of.

[center]• • •[/center]

The Black King was sitting atop her throne room, a lazed expression on her face with legs crossed. She noted the appearance of Eclipse Princess and beckoned her forward. Seems that the Deputy of the Ebony Strykers, Dark Wraith, was not present. The favors must have been in Eclipse Princess' favor.

[color=8493ca]"Yes? What is it Eclipse Princess. I have many things to do without a ruffian such as yourself entering my territory unguarded."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"Your dogs need a little more training, but that's not why I came here. I'm searching for an NPC and after doing a lot of research I concluded that it's somewhere within the Black City. Have you ever heard of the Storyteller?"[/color] Princess said with a disinterested expression in her face, even the 'great' Moon Rider wasn't a morning person? What a joke.

[color=8493ca]"And why should I answer a request like that?"[/color] Moon Rider said with a smug grin, casually fondling with the hilt of her beam saber. [color=8493ca]"The way I see it, you're after something that could potentially ruin my plans. Why would I openly try to make your life any easier Eris Valkeyr?"[/color]

If the Black King was trying to goad the other Player on then she was certainly trying her very best. There was no way she could be able to guess Princess' real life identity, unless she had specially did so with the help of the Sweepers. Just what was going on here?

[color=9966cc]"So that I don't make yours har-"[/color] Eclipse Princess was about to boast how Moon Rider's forces were comprised mainly of her favorite PVP target, thus she could be a major spanner in the works if she wanted to, that is until she heard s name that should not be mentioned on this side of her life.

[color=9966cc]"What have you said? How do you k... wait, I can see why. Do you mean to intimidate me because I have more than my fair share of enemies both here and there? That won't work, I'm sorry."[/color] Even as she said so, Princess had to fight the urge of drawing her blade on Moon Rider that was a matter of her personal life and safety. However, even if she (somehow) killed Moon Rider it would mean nothing to whoever controls her. There must be other ways to deal with this issue Eris though while staring at Moon Rider not as Eclipse Princess but as herself.

[color=9966cc]"What do you want?"[/color] Princess said, resisting the urge to log out and check if her body was safe.

The Black King sneered, relaxing further into her seat, seeming to relish on Princess' distress at the situation. The balance of power had now shifted, for now a Colored King knew her real life identity. Eclipse Princess was in a very vulnerable position and both girls knew that.

[color=8493ca]"What I want is for you to stay away from my goals Eclipse Princess. Or maybe I should start referring to you as "Eris" now? As for the quest you're seeking, abandon it. I have a faint clue of what you're doing and frankly I won't allow you to go through with it. Relinquish your goals and perhaps I will spare you any pain experienced in the real world,"[/color] Moon Rider said darkly. [color=8493ca]"Don't think I wasn't paying attention last night. You've become awfully close to that Cassandra girl..."[/color]

Princess swallowed hard, it was a very bad situation, especially since of all the Kings Moon Rider was the only one that had an unknown identity. But what she stood to gain by doing that? [color=9966cc][i]"No, perhaps I misjudged her from the very beginning. Associating with the Sweeper should have been an obvious clue, damn me."[/i][/color] Princess thought while clenching her teeth, grinding so hard that if it was her real teeth they would have chipped by now.

[color=9966cc]"Abandon my goals? Give up on everything that makes me be who I'm? I would prefer to die then become a slav-"[/color] Damn, that was way too low, at the mention of Cassandra's name Eris froze, she knew that this could happen but, why now?

[color=9966cc]"Leave her out of this! Cass- Cassie has nothing to do with this, she has a life to live, unlike I who chose this this path. Your business is with me,"[/color] Eris growled, baring her teeth at Moon Rider like a rabid wolf. Despite that, a sliver of panic was visible on her eyes, what if Cassandra was online no? What if they tried to do something to her while that? Such a weakness wasn't like her and frankly made Eclipse Princess want to throw up, thankfully an avatar wasn't able to do that.

[color=8493ca]"Oh? Bark all you want Eris; it won't faze me. You think I won't follow through with what I say? You obviously haven't made an enemy of me before,"[/color] Moon Rider said with a threatening glint in her eyes before shrugging. [color=8493ca]"But I guess that's really up to you. I mean, it only makes sense someone like you would be so paranoid. Someone with goals...who lives alone...and probably isn't aware of what's going on around her at this very moment,"[/color] the Black King finished, letting those words sink in.

Princess covered her face with a hand, no with her left hand, the very same one that was hurt on the real world right now, the one that Cassandra tended to. That was not right, for her to have to back down now, not after this much time, not when she has so little time left, but still, it would be so easy to end her life, or do even worse things while she was logged in this damn game.

[color=9966cc][i]"But, what can I do if I log out now? If there's someone on my room right now it would only make things worse. I have to assume that Moon Rider's word is worth of something now, which is impossible. Even if I bow down I might end up dead, but at least I have to..."[/i][/color]

[color=9966cc]"And, what ascertains me that you won't hurt Cassie even if I give up? A dirty coward like you might as well break her word without a second thought."[/color] Princess said, remaining as stoic as she could, while facing Moon Rider with a look that mixed rage, shame and disgust at the same time.

[color=8493ca]"Hmm, you're right. I guess you could say there really is now way for you to know if I'm being completely honest. Well then I guess you're just going to have to find out, aren't you Eris! Ahahaha, look how pathetic you are! Tremble at the quake of the mighty Moon Rider, Yoshino Tsugumi, Black King and supreme ruler of the Ebony Strykers!"[/color]

Apart from the fact that Moon Rider had just announced her identity-perhaps deliberately-there was just something...off with the Black King. The behavior was quite strange, the over the top and extreme emotions acting almost as if they were forced up front. But Eris wouldn't be able to think about that right now; not when her life was in danger in the real world.

[color=9966cc]"Yoshi-!? You damn whore, I knew you had something hidden",[/color] As Eclipse Princess said so, her mouth was almost frothing with Berserker rage, her heartbeats were so strong that she could feel her head being pounded even if it was something affecting her real body. [color=9966cc]"You expect me to not do anything now that I know of this?"[/color] With that said, Princess summoned her interface and hit log out button, Heavens be damned of what happen now, the only thing on her mind was making sure that Cassandra wouldn't be in any danger.

Truly an odd encounter, but one that was all the more unsettling. Moon Rider shrugged once more as Eris logged out and entered into the real world, the Black King acting most strange. What was perhaps the strangest of all was the fact that Yoshino Tsugumi was still sleeping soundly in her small guest room in the real world.