[center][img]https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/UXf39oCKpNdAcR393lLTUyQa0Ov6XG87uLcw4DOART8/https/cdn.donmai.us/original/98/7f/987f3e6fe1c42d1bdd9aac513e8cfc0c.jpg[/img]
[h3][color=fff79a]Kasugano Sakura[/color][/h3]
Level 4: 30/40
Location: On the Atomos over Black Bay
Word Count: 999
Points Gained: 2
New EXP Balance--- Level 4: 32/40 [/center]

	A pit of horror and dread began to build in Sakura's heart as she watched the living ship be devoured from the inside out. No matter how many fireballs she threw, more kept coming. At this point, some dissonance between her own spirit and Araisho's made itself apparent. Sakura, by herself, would certainly have had a full on panic right now. Or have jumped down into the fray and began wildly punching. But made more composed by Araisho's power, she managed to keep herself under control. 

	[color=fff79a][i](It makes no sense for me to jump down there. I was assigned with the Atomos. I'm one of the four ship girls onboard. If something were to happen to the Atomos, they'd need my help. Once the Atomos pushes up the river, they'll need my help. I can't be everywhere at once. This is a huge battle, and I have friends everywhere. What if I jump down there and then the Atomos crashes? No. The plan was to split forces evenly among both vessels- and that's what we're doing.)[/i][/color]

	Sakura exhaled. There. Fine! The rationality didn't help with her feelings, though. This war was even worse than she thought it would be. She knew it would be bad, but there was just [i]so much[/i] happening. At the very least she had tried to mentally prepare herself for witnessing...death.

	 She hadn't joined in on the navy's enthusiasm. But being nervous all the time wasn't doing much good for her spirit or resolve. She used to be so much more confident about this being a hero thing. Now, though? That facade of confidence was pretty much shattered. It didn't do anyone much good for her to be lying to them and herself, anyway. She'd never been very good at concealing her real feelings, as much as she wanted to put on a brave face. 

	These thoughts passed through her mind in the space between fireballs. Even now, fighting helped her think. But even this would be interrupted as the action came more directly to her.

	Sakura blinked in surprise as a small child deftly navigated from Shippy onto the Atomos.

	[color=fff79a][i](That kid, with the hat! What was her name again?)[/i][/color]

	The Atomos zoomed forward. She braced her legs, maintaing balance. Sakura whirled around. She knew what this meant- they were going toward the big bird. It was a good move? Certainly an offensive one, and she could respect that! It was also more fortunate than she realised. With her attention drawn fully to her own situation, she was made unaware of the dire situation facing Shippy and her crew. Bizarre transformation included. She was also barely even aware of some things, like where Hat Kid, Rika, and Ranger were. She just assumed they were somewhere on the ship, catching glimpses of them or what they were doing out of the corner of her eye. It was just so much! Even her fight with Bella was relatively contained. 

	It was Bella, though, who saved the day. She even sacrificed her hat to do it. Without her the bird definitely would have dodged their charge. Sakura found herself shrinking away from the Water Princess though. She was reminded of the woman she and Ranger faced down.

	[color=fff79a] "Woah..."[/color] Sakura said, eyes wide. There was both awe and intimidation on her face of Bella's pure destructive power and intensity. Sakura knew first hand that she was not someone to be taken lightly. 

	That was all she could say, though, as now they were on a collision course with a giant bird. Hopefully it didn't rock the ship too much. Just in case, Sakura hopped up onto the roof and grabbed Bella by the shoulder and arm, keeping her steady. 

	[color=fff79a][i](Wow that bird is really big.)[/i][/color]

	Sakura briefly glanced around as she heard- no, [i]felt-[/i] a massive laser be fired. She didn't get much of a good look, but she saw the light come from Shippy and saw it rip into the distant islands.

	[color=fff79a]"Was that good!?" [/color]She shouted to no one in particular.

 And now a giant Bowser, screaming in mad glee, was preparing to battle a boss monster. Geralt was also preparing to board it. It was awesome, in the true definition of the word. This was one hundred times the spectacle of her fight against the Water Princess. This even surpassed what little she saw of Ryu fighting Seth. This was a battle- not a duel, or 1v2. A battle of multi-versal proportions. It was...it was..!

	 [color=fff79a]"This is crazy!"[/color] She shouted, the edges of her voice shrill. She held on tighter to Bella, now for her own support rather than helping her friend. 

	Just like before, she managed to set her feelings aside. Geralt and Bowser could use her help. If they failed, the Atomos and everyone on it were in serious trouble. Lives were on the line. Keep being brave!

	Sakura charged forward. [color=fff79a]"Here I come!"[/color] She announced to her teammates. She leapt into the air and brought her fists down in a hammer blow onto the bird's body. She dropped down with gravity until she was at the bird's side. Combos and technique weren't necessary. Instead Sakura took a stance and just alternated strikes. Left elbow, right punch. She leaned into the strikes, her entire body sliding back from the impact of her own blows. She had to walk forward to stop from pushing herself out of range. She worked a relatively small area of its massive body, but her strikes still held a lot of impact. 

	If Geralt and Bowser did lots of damage, Sakura would take out a Friend Heart and push it into the bird. Maybe then it would fly away and leave them alone. She did learn from her fight with Karin that there were no negative consequences to attempting to Friend Heart someone or something. If she failed, she wouldn't lose any of her familiarity with the world around her.