[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjk2LmFkZDhlNi5USFZ1WVNCT2IzZy4w/sundae-ice.regular.webp[/img][/center] [hr] The approaching Marines, thirty in all, stopped when they saw the cloaked figure that stood in the middle of the path that led to the clearing a townsperson had told them about. They had been told that there was a moderately-sized group of bandits that had made their home in the woods of Corona Island and were giving the nearby civilians trouble, so they weren’t too surprised to see what had to have been a guard on watch. What confused them, however, was the fact that the guard didn’t seem to show any indication of warning their friends. “Who goes there?” an older man shouted. Other than his green hair, which was gathered up in a sort of topknot that resembled a tree, the most notable feature of his was the long, white coat that fluttered from his shoulders, the word “Justice” emblazoned on his back showing that he was at least a captain. “If you don’t answer us, we’ll be forced to–” He didn’t finish. The cloaked figure suddenly dashed forward and leapt into the air. They landed in the middle of the group, right on top of an unlucky soldier. Without missing a beat, the stranger took hold of the Marine’s face and slammed his head into the ground, knocking him out cold, before they jumped to their feet and lashed out at the nearest Marine with a left hook. The last thing he saw before he fell unconscious were glinting silver eyes and a wide grin. [hr] [i][color=lightblue]”Are they here for you guys?”[/color] “I’m not sure,” Marcus said as he poured water onto a campfire. “Best I can figure, the guys who were harassing that family you told me about caused too much trouble and someone called the nearest Navy base, so they came out to wipe out a bandit camp, but they’ll find us, instead. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough here to even take on a full platoon of Marines, so we’ve gotta book it before they find us.” [color=lightblue]”And if they do?”[/color] Luna asked, though she feared she already knew the answer. “They’ll execute us on sight,” the old veteran sighed grimly. “The World Government most likely feels that they can’t afford to have any survivors from the Empire, afraid that we’ll gather a force large enough to start trouble, so they’ll wanna solve the problem before it becomes one.” Suddenly, someone shouted from behind, making Luna and Marcus turn. Another scout ran up to them and said, “The Marines are coming up the path!” “Shit,” Marcus growled as he looked around the clearing. Under his breath, but still more than audible for Luna’s sharp ears, he thought aloud, “We’ve still got supplies that need to be loaded and thanks to the scuffle with the princess earlier, we don’t have as many able bodies as we should…” Looking around the clearing, Luna saw most of the men and women still carrying crates and barrels deeper into the woods, most likely toward a ship they had hidden away at the back of the island. When she saw some of them still had bandages on or were limping, she couldn’t help the twinge of guilt she felt. She took a deep breath and told Marcus, [color=lightblue]”I’ll keep their attention, you focus on getting everyone out of here.”[/color] “Out of the question,” Marcus said. “We just got our princess back, we’re not gonna risk losing her, again!” [color=lightblue]”Thought I told you to stop treating me like a princess,”[/color] Luna sighed. She looked up at the taller man and continued, [color=lightblue]”Listen, it’s my fault you’ve got wounded. It’d leave a bad taste in my mouth if something happened to any of you because I got a little…overzealous with my fists.”[/color] She smiled and added, [color=lightblue]”Besides, you told me that the Empire’s alive so long as there are people to remember it, right?”[/color] [b]His[/b] face flashed through her mind and she added, [color=lightblue]”If I let the Navy snuff out these cinders, then there’s no hope of that fire reigniting. No hope for him…”[/color] Marcus looked at Luna in silence for a long time, then sighed. “Alright, fine,” he relented. He was quiet for a moment, then added, “Be careful.”[/i] [hr] Luna was having the time of her life. There were only a couple of situations in which she felt she could truly enjoy herself: at a bar with a good drink in hand and equally good company nearby, or a good fight. She could feel her heart thrumming in her chest, the familiar rush of adrenaline each time she narrowly dodged a swing from a sword or dashed out of the sights of a rifle. Her senses were on high alert, her ears alerting her to the subtlest sounds and her sharp eyes picking out every detail of each soldier as easily as if it were the middle of the day. She was in the zone and she had found her rhythm. She grabbed one Marine by the collar of his uniform and swung him in a wide circle, using him as a weapon to knock his friends aside, before she threw him at a group of three soldiers who had taken aim with their rifles. As they fell to the ground, one of them reflexively pulled the trigger, nearly missing Luna. She moved toward the rifleman with the intent of knocking him out before he could get back to his feet and get another shot off when her instincts suddenly screamed at her. She jumped to the side just as an arm clutching a sword stabbed out at her from a tree. She gritted her teeth as the blade grazed her side, drawing blood. She held her hand to her wound as the captain stepped out of the tree as easily as if he were walking through a curtain. [color=lightblue]”Well, that’s an annoying ability,”[/color] she grumbled. “I’m glad you think so,” the captain replied as he aimed his sword at Luna, though he never took more than a step away from the tree. He looked around at his unconscious and wounded men, surprised to see that none of them seemed to have been killed, then turned his focus back on Luna. “It’s impressive that a lone girl like you was able to take on so many of my men by yourself. My name is Captain Stewart Arbor. Might I ask yours?” [color=lightblue]”Sorry, Cap,”[/color] Luna responded, [color=lightblue]”but chatting with you is kinda the last thing I wanna do.”[/color] Captain Arbor regarded Luna for a few moments before he said, “That’s fine. In fact, I think I might know who you are. You see, fifteen years ago, I led my men to the island of Eclipsis under the orders of my superiors.” Despite her cloak, the captain could easily tell that his opponent had visibly tensed at the mention of the island. “I was under orders to not spare a single soul on that infernal island. I won’t lie, it left a bad taste in my mouth to order the executions of civilians, but I’m proud that I was able to help nip the rebel element in the bud before it became a problem. While there, I happened to catch sight of Emperor Nox, himself, as he fought one of my comrades. You move almost exactly as he did back then.” A grin crossed his face as he finished, “The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it, Princess Luna?” Without warning, Luna charged at him and threw a punch. The captain jumped back into the tree just in time and Luna’s fist crashed into the tree, splintering the trunk. He reappeared several yards away and called out, “Men, stand down! It’s clear none of you are a match for her, so I’ll handle her.” Since the captain knew who she was, Luna decided it was time to stop holding back. Electro began to arc all over her body as she pulled her cloak off, revealing her snowy hair and wolven features. She wore a black leather jacket with a white shirt underneath it and a pair of worn jeans. [color=lightblue]”So, you were there,”[/color] she said, her voice low and dripping with barely restrained anger, [color=lightblue]”and not only did you never stop to think about what you were doing, but you [i]personally[/i] helped kill my people?”[/color] She turned to face the captain and cracked her knuckles. [color=lightblue]”You know, I promised myself I wouldn’t do this. I don’t like the mindset I need to be in to do this, but for you? I’ll make an exception.”[/color] She took a deep breath and took a low stance. Her left arm hung loosely while she brought her right hand up toward her mouth, her hand curled in a loose fist. Gone was the grin she had when she fought earlier. The captain took a step back as he saw the look in her eyes; there was no excitement there. Her eyes were more like steel and as cold as the moon. [color=lightblue][b]”Way of–”[/b][/color] A sudden crashing interrupted her as something large charged through the woods. She straightened up, abandoning her stance, ready to respond to the new threat. At first, she thought it was back up for the Marines, but she quickly realized it was coming from the wrong direction. In fact, whatever it was was coming from the direction the camp was. She let out a curse, thinking Marcus had left his men behind to help her, only to stop in her tracks when she saw the biggest grizzly bear she had ever come across tear its way through the Marines.