[center][h3]Edge of the Blue – Open Ocean[/h3]
Ace Cadet's [@Yankee], Sakura's [@Zoey Boey], Junior and Kamek's [@DracoLunaris], Hat Kid's [@Dawnrider], Geralt's [@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN][/center]

Sure enough, the girl didn't plan to take bifurcation lying down, no matter how conflicted the situation with Seaplane Tender left her. For all Sakura's skill skill, the Abyssal realized, she didn't know how things worked around here—what war truly meant. She was innocent and naive to believe she could achieve victory while her foe still floated. And it would be the death of her.

Sakura unleashed a brilliant fireball of ki, but even at full strength it fell well short of an artillery shell's travel time. Knowing full well the power of that azure flame, the Water Princess lurched to the side out of its way, and gave her retort. The tire-sized shell fired a touch early, slowing it down just enough so that the street fighter could twist partially out of the way as she advanced, and suffer a bone-breaking blow to the arm rather than a fatal one to the chest. With ironclad commitment, however, Sakura sped on. The Water Princess raised her tail to snap shut on the incoming fighter only for a series of small explosions beneath her to throw her off. Where they came from she didn't know and couldn't find out. Sakura was hear, and the Abyssal moved with desperation. They clashed upon the open ocean.

Seaplane Tender swung her arm hard enough for the force to send up sea spray, but Sakura went low. The Abyssal's nails clipped through one of her opponent's new ears, rather than her throat, and at the same time Sakura landed a brutally-aimed elbow. Breathless, Seaplane Tender reeled back, and suffered the girl's beatdown. When she went for the sweep, however, the Abyssal's bloodied eyes cracked open. She leaned back, raising both legs off the ocean's surface, using her tail as a third leg. When she bobbed back forward, her hand clutched one of her bombers tight. A slap of her tail against the ocean's surface thrust her forward. “....Adieu!” With the last of her strength she slammed the bomber into Sakura's stomach, and the world went away.

It came back a few moments later as overloaded senses reluctantly got back to work. The Water Princess lay half-submerged in the water, her left forearm a grisly stump, her body broken and burned. Yet still the stubborn thing didn't die. Her half-melted eyes stared listlessly upward as she whispered. “Cold...so cold. And dark...don't want...to sink...again...”

[center][h3]Dead Zone – Library Ruins[/h3]
Blazermate's [@Archmage MC], Banjo & Kazooie's [@Dawnrider], Bowser's [@DracoLunaris], Sephiroth's [@ZAVAZggg]
Plus Nero, Dante, V, Ms. Fortune, Sans, Mr. Bones, Linkle, Jak and Daxter[/center]

Despite his implicit intentions, the black-robed photographer did not leave Red Team ready and rearing to take on the zone boss, and in fact left quit a tumult in his wake. Mixed feelings rummaged among the gathered fighters, from alarm, to relief, to worry, to anger. And Bowser wore his on his sleeve. For all his self-styling as a dastardly villain, he'd taken quite a shine to the sunny Hylian from the first few moments they adventured together back in 1-1, and her loss drove him close to boiling point. From there, all it took was one snarky snot to bubble him over.

Before anyone could do much of anything, the Koopa King had fixed Sephiroth a heaping knuckle sandwich and express-delivered it to his kisser. As he hurtled backward, Nero groaned. When dealing with a red-eye, he knew what that meant. If the long-haired swordsman thought he would get much out of picking a fight with this group, however, he had another think coming. These people were hurt, confused, and angry—and more than willing to give a smackdown where it was due.

When Sephiroth dove forward to attack, in addition to whatever defensive measure Bowser himself took, he found himself assailed by a storm of gunfire. Blazermate's turret dutifully plugged away at him, but Jak started blasting, Dante riddled him with gunfire, the Doom Slayer let loose some buckshot, Donovan threw a fireball, and even Nero himself took aim. With Color Up, Nero's Blue Rose unleashed two demon-charged revolver rounds that buried into Sephiroth's exposed chest and twisted through his body, changing direction repeatedly as they bore through his flesh. When all was said and done the swordsman could only sink to the ground, riddled with holes, as the gun-deficient Nadia looked on with mouth agape. 

“...Think ya got him, guys? Holy meowly...”

Griffon and Shadow approached, regarding the scene with interest. “Hell'd I miss?” the demon bird demanded, chucking a sphere of light V's way. 

The mysterious one held the spirit up, seeing the face of Marie inside. A look down confirmed that Shadow found Raidou's. [i]We may be compatible,[/i] V reasoned, but what he said was, “The machine is right. There's no telling how long we have until oblivion takes this place. Let us depart for greener pastures.” He did not offer anything more than the suggestion, however. The matter of dealing with Sephiroth lay before them, as did the ultimate decision of Red Team's de-facto leader concerning where he wanted to go.