[@Ariamis][@Card Captor] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4Q1QloC.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180804/59e33c13301c63b568e5eb178a837406.png[/img][/center] Tenebra was distressed. Too many things had happened at once, even a short time after the revival. After being used and discarded by Justine once she had turned a new leaf, the darkness awaited her. Only for fire to inhabit her lungs, as she gasped into life over more. A silver haired being had pulled her off, that could pass off as her sister. She had been brought to an strange dimension she had only heard of… and to a tournament with a certain silly, very anime-like premise. The swimsuit was particularly embarrassing. But before she could make any sense, she was dragged in a competition for the dimension crumbling. She didn’t want to make it crumble. It was a fancy beach! If Amy and SoulBurner were alive, they would certainly enjoy it too. The things were changing, and enemies of the past were friends, and friends of the past were enemies. It hurt her regenerated brain… as she saw and witnessed what had happened. She had little time to hesitate, after seeing dearest Elroy and the will of Sakura duking out in her stead. She would do what she was revived for. Yet...things gnawed at her mind. Was this alright? The so-called Queen bout had ended with blood and grief, and here and there signs of things not being alright were there. Justine was not bound in chains, that scoundrel, tyrant and soul-ravager all in one. Yes, for her youth, she did exactly realize what Justine had done to her, and to other girls. Being locked away in anguish would have been acceptable, but each breath hammered on her like someone was trying to hammer nails to her beating heart. How could they allow her...to go unscathed after what happened? How could they, the same people who had driven her first team to Death. She had tried to find solace on the cat-like Regent, regal and matron-like, but she too was facing the first stages of despair. And to top it off, Lily was coming. She had tried to begrudgingly accept her, but she had switched sides once. Maybe it was for the best, as the rat was a deceitful being… but she had a feeling she wasn’t any better than the others. She just gripped her healing artifact, squeezed dry. She hoped this storm passed by and she had to focus on the match. Lily herself could not believe what she saw when she first saw a certain the listed matchup for the tournament; Tenebra vs Elroy. As far as she knew, Tenebra had died at Justine’s hands, yet somehow she was there. She knew she was not a copy or an illusion, but the real Tenebra herself. This was because she had met her before in an arduous battle; one that ultimately cost Lily her first friend she made when she began her life in the world of magic. When the match ended, with Sakura having won in Tenebra’s place, Lily went to seek her out, trying to find answers to her questions. Finally, she found her at a remote location in the summer islands, seemingly basking in the warmth of the sun. [color=fff200]”Hey! Tenebra!"[/color] Lily called out to the girl as she approached her, followed by a big hug. [color=fff200]”It really is you! I thought you died! What happened?"[/color] She asked, and spun her around in the embrace. “[color=aba000]Woah there Lily[/color]” Alexander pulled the girl back “[color=aba000]I understand your enthusiasm, but give the girl some room to breathe. She’s not looking too good.[/color]” Tenebra reeled at the touch, the gravity wobbling at the area a little, before her eyes rested on the duo. “Wahwahwahwah! Oh… It’s you.” She said, half-distracted by something. “Also him too.” She sighed. “I don’t know… Lily. I was gasping my last breath one moment, the other a certain winged girl pulled me out from the darkness to fight for a Russian cat against ...Elroy.” The paused when she mentioned his name was remarkable, as well as her tired expression turned to a wistful look. Then she looked at Alexander, and smirked a little.”Heh, can’t compare.” She muttered. “Then Sakura beat Elroy… she is crazy good.” She added. Lily calmed down at Alex' suggestion, and released Tenebra. [color=fff200]"Oh, right! Sorry."[/color] She blinked at the answer the somewhat strange girl gave, looking quizzical. [color=fff200]"A winged girl, huh…The Russian cat girl must be Dina then."[/color] She afterwards nodded with a smile. [color=fff200]"Yeah, Sakura was awesome! She went all ka-pow and blammo on him! So cool!"[/color] “I couldn’t lift a finger. I couldn’t. Elroy was too dreamy.” She mumbled. “I have to be worthy of these two. I have to fight Penny and win!” She then indicated. “[color=aba000]Dreamy?[/color]” Alexander raised an eyebrow “[color=aba000]I would think that would make fighting him more appealing, or something[/color]” He shrugged “[color=aba000]But it sounds like you’ve been dead for quite awhile. Were you just dragged back to the land of the living and told to fight, or did someone take the time to bring you up to speed on what’s happened since you died?[/color]” “What are you, stupid?” Tenebra said, flustered. “I can’t just scratch a stud and then date him. I think.” She added. “I was told things, but only pertaining to the fight.” She then confessed. [color=fff200]"So you’re competing to prove yourself. "[/color] Lily realized, a hand on her chin. [color=fff200]"Penny’s going to be a tough opponent, but I’m rooting for you, Tenny B! Anyway, so you like Elroy, huh~?"[/color] She asked coyly. [color=fff200]"Have you told him how you feel yet?"[/color] It was then when Lily’s tact, likened to a bull in a china shop made Tenebra short circuit, unable to answer. She fell to her knees, reddening like a tomato. Lily was taken aback by Tenebra's reaction. "Oh, umm…" “[color=aba000]Unless he’s petty or insecure as hell, you can most certainly ‘scratch a stud and then date him’, if said scratch comes from something like a tournament match.[/color]” the painful irony of Alexander of all people giving relationship advice wasn’t lost on him “[color=aba000]But if you keep running from him, then you’re not going to make any progress. Hell, he might start to think you hate him or something. I know I would if a girl seemed to go out of her way to avoid interacting with me.[/color]” Lily managed to smile a bit despite the awkwardness. [color=fff200]"What Alex said is right. I know it can be super scary, and you can get flowers in your stomach, but being silent is not the answer."[/color] She took Alex' hand. [color=fff200]"I was like that too...Scared to admit how I really felt. But I had a friend who helped me overcome that hurdle."[/color] She blushed a bit. Tenebra looked at Alexander, tilting her head. Then she shook her face, blushing like a tomato, and teleporting him far away off the island. “Shut up!” She said, almost on her breaking point. Lily gasped when Tenebra spirited Alex away with her magic. [color=fff200]“Alex! What did you do to him? Where is he?”[/color] She asked frantically. Tenebra eyed her hands, before looking at Lily. “I um… he’s on the other side of the island. With a bunch of cat...girls in bikini? Yeah, that.” Tenebra replied. --- Meanwhile, as Alexander kept dodging and deflecting the attacks of catgirls overly excited to play Keijo: “[color=aba000]Where the fuck am I!?[/color]” --- Lily blushed hard at the revelation, and stomped her foot on the ground. [color=fff200]"Y-You bring him back right now!"[/color] She sounded genuinely angry, her eyes shining yellow and her hair crackling with electric energy. [color=fff200]"Or you'll get a thousand voltages!"[/color] Tenebra looked at Lily, her gaze sharpening, as she waved her hand and brought Lily's boyfriend, on top of Lily. "He was being pretty intrusive." “[color=aba000]Gah[/color]” Alexander groaned as he got up “[color=aba000]where the hell [i]was[/i] that!? I didn’t even know there were that many catgirls on this island...at least I think that was on the island.[/color]” He then noticed Lily on the floor and helped her to her feet. Lily was dizzy from the impact of Alex landing right on top of her, and her eyes briefly spun before she recovered. [color=fff200]“Oof...Watch where you drop my boyfriend next time, Tenny!”[/color] She groaned, and blushed when Alex corroborated Tenebra’s ludicrous answer. She pouted. [color=fff200]“So it is true...Tenny, do you know something about them?”[/color] She asked with her arms crossed, looking surprisingly serious. [color=fff200]“Because I need to tell them to back off if they know what’s good for them.”[/color] "Absolute direction. It seemed one of the safest most secluded places." She then eyed Alex. "Oh, maybe I should spirit away Alexander for practice with Elroy then." Tenebra smirked coyly. “[color=aba000]How about not teleporting me away, did you ever think about that?[/color]” Alexander snarked Lily puffed her cheeks. [color=fff200]"Well, that might not be as-"[/color] she blushed again, and walked briskly to Tenebra, putting her hands on her shoulders. [color=fff200]"Ok, that's enough! Don't send anyone anywhere for now!"[/color] She sighed, and grabbed Alex' arm with her own. [color=fff200]"Anyway, I think me and Alex will be going now. I'll see you later, Tenny."[/color] Tenebra raised an eyebrow. How come someone so old have less maturity than herself. "That what was I … revived for." It was then when a shadow encroached Lily, and swooped from up the Sky. Dark wings enveloped the magical girl, as a voice whispered to her ear. "Making friends with our little teleporter, sparkplug? We have to talk, little revenant." It was Sann. Alexander pulled Lily out of the newcomers grasp “[color=aba000]Damnit, don’t just ambush people like that you weirdo![/color]” he looked to Lily, who he had pulled into his chest “[color=aba000]She didn’t do anything weird to you, did she Lily?[/color]” Lily was taken by surprise when Sann arrived, but quickly realized who it was as Alex pulled her out from the Valkyrie’s roost and right into his embrace. [color=fff200]”I’m okay,”[/color] Lily answered, though she sounded more quiet than usual. [color=fff200]”Anyway, what do you want?”[/color] She glanced back at Sann. Sann just raised an eyebrow, before smiling. A dark fluffy oppressive darkness engulfed both as she wrapped herself on Alex's back and around the couple. This time, though, there was a sharp difference. Alex himself would find it difficult to struggle free of the feathery embrace. “What a gallant Knight… Sann was just being friendly.” She said, before closing Alex to whisper. “Sann would love to play...but I have business with my charge there, and besides… pappy Odin told me to keep my hands off Sol’s chosen out of professional deference. Gods and the like.” She then giggled, as the wings opened free, but not before giving Alexander the cheekiest peck on the side of his face, before freeing both. “See you around, Lord of Beasts…” Alexander rubbed the spot where she kissed him, as if trying to wash it off “[color=aba000]Weirdo[/color]” he grumbled Tenebra was eyeing Sann. She wanted to say something but she sheepishly bowed down to the quirky interloper. She owed her life. She had expected some sort of talk, or command. “My, are you alright?” She said, as she knelt in front of Tenebra, her eyes facing her downcast face. “I’m fine.” “Tenebra…” “...I don’t understand what’s going on. I...I mean, I am supposed to fight for what? Penny? But she’s my next opponent. And I let that stud flee.” She then began to talk, slowly opening up. “And there’s ...Justine of all things… I miss my friends. And Penny’s last opponent was...was...I mean.” Lily grit her teeth, offended by Sann’s flirty move. [color=fff200]”You harpy...”[/color] She grumbled. However, before she could say anything further, Sann had already moved on to address Tenebra, causing her to blow a raspberry and cross her arms in an annoyed manner. “[color=aba000]Do you think we should just find Elroy and lock the two of them in a room somewhere?[/color]” he asked Lily “[color=aba000]Because at this rate, she’s not going to make any kind of progress at all.[/color]” [color=fff200]”You’re right on that one, Alex,”[/color] Lily answered with a sigh. [color=fff200]”Hey Tenny, if we bring Elroy to you, will you tell Sann to stop bugging us?”[/color] Tenebra looked at Lily, her eyes a glimmer of hope. "I mean… I will try." It was then when Sann smiled, as her sight rested against her. "My, such fighting spirit. But Elroy's gone." Sann would then drop the fact. "Apparently he is gone. Penny's last fight upset a lot of people, dear." You could probably hear the sound of Tenebra's dream crashing down. "NO!" She squeaked. "You lie!" "Why would I lie when you can find people with your gift?" The winged lady said. "I am sorry, Tenebra. I will find someone for you." "But I need you to do something. I need you to step down from the fight. Your opponent is her Majesty." She added. "But I…" "No buts." “[color=aba000]...Crap[/color]” Alexander felt a slowly creeping sensation of dread “[color=aba000]Lily, are you also getting a really bad feeling about this, or am I just crazy?[/color]” This whole thing felt like it was spiraling out of control; first, what was a simple christmas party was hijacked by a nutjob, and now the resulting tournament was getting infected with politics. Or at least that’s what it felt like. Lily was so stunned by Sann's revelation that for a couple of seconds she didn't respond to Alex. [color=fff200]"...Oh, uhh…"[/color] She felt terrible at having lifted up Tenebra's hopes only to dash them, and bit her lip. [color=fff200]"You're not the only one, Alex. We might need to do something before Ascendancy decides the tourney is not worth it anymore."[/color] She took a step away. [color=fff200]"I want to go check on a few things. Tenny and Sandy, you wanna go with me?"[/color] She asked to not sound rude. “Sann would love to, but I do have a match. With these changes happening around, who knows what might happen.” Sann deflected Lily, with a smile. “That mirror does spark the wildest dreams in people. Figures… even Elroy believed it could hold him somehow in this dimension.” Sann would then caress Tenebra’s chin. “Leave this for us, child… you should stick to plan B. I’m sorry.” said the Valkyrie. Tenebra for the most part shook her head sheepishly. “...I will go…” She said to Lily, motioning to walk. “NO!” She snapped. “I DON’T WANT TO!” She snapped, a furious spacetime warp gathering around her. “Don’t be silly, what can you do? Beat Penny? And what for…” Sann said, before tapping Tenebra on the back, leaving some sort of...runic enchantment. “I WILL. I WILL BEAT PENNY! I WILL BEAT JUSTINE! I WILL BEAT ALL OF YOU! FOR SOULBURNER! FOR AMY!” She said, before warping off. “Whoops.” Sann would then deadpan. “It seems she snapped. Ah well, Granny Kitty should be able to handle this.” “[color=aba000]...Well [i]that[/i] was deeply concerning.[/color]” Alexander commented “[color=aba000]geez, just what happened to that girl?[/color]” Lily gasped at Tenebra's outcry. [color=fff200]"Wai-Ah! She's gone!"[/color] She slowly shook her head as she held her arm. [color=fff200]"She must have been through a lot...Well, if there's nothing else, we'll be going now. Bye, Sandy."[/color] She half-heartedly waved at Sann before turning and leaving. "Fare thee well." Sann would reply, as she watched them leave… a hint of a smirk forming in the corners of her mouth. “[color=aba000]This whole thing feels like it’s starting to spiral more and more out of control[/color]” Alexander said as he and Lily walked away “[color=aba000]I’m starting to wonder if we’ll even reach the championship before it all dissolves into chaos.[/color]”