Zoey Boey

The Marauders (2018)

happy new year question mark?

World of Light

Kasugano Sakura

Level 3: 21/30
Location: The Blue Sea --> The Atomos. Talking to @DracoLunaris and @MULTI_MEDIA_MAN
Word Count: 937
Points Gained: 2
New EXP Balance--- Level 3: 23/30

Sakura was a crying mess, absolutely overwhelmed. She was being held up by two people she had freed from Galeem's control. The Water Princess was so much nicer than she was just a few moments ago. And it was because of her. And Ranger was free and friendly, too. Sakura was relieved beyond measure.

(I did it. I really did it! I saved the day! I saved the day for the first time ever! Is this what Ryu feels like every day!? No wonder Zangief poses so much! I would totally be posing right now if I wasn't on the verge of passing out.

...I think everything's gonna be okay.)

"Oh, man," Sakura said quietly. Fortunately, Kamek arrived. She was happy to see that wizard. That wizard and his army of mini wizards. One of them, dressed it white, began casting a spell. Sakura couldn't feel the difference at first but she was sure she would feel better over time.

"Th-thanks, Mister Kamek." She thanked the wizard with a smile. She limp-floated unsteadily towards the Atomos. She looked over her shoulder to see Kamek and the Water Princess talking. She heard what they were saying. Poor Kamek! Poor Water Princess...there was so much sadness in this world. Sakura wanted to shout something encouraging but she couldn't think of anything. They were having a moment, anyway. Sakura was many things, but 'eloquent' was not one of them. Kamek, however, had a way with words. Besides, the idea of shouting made her lungs hurt. She looked over to Ranger, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Do you even have a name? Is it...r-rude to ask shipgirls their name? Seaplane Tender doesn't sound like a real name. Are you, like, Ace Cadet? Where it's just titles?" She asked with a whisper, still curious.

Sakura felt something tick over, and she felt like she wasn't going to get any worse. The blood stopped seeping from her wounds, and she breathed a sigh of relief. That part of her ear was still missing, but it was healed over. Once up the ramp she beelined for the nearest chair and flopped down. For a moment she just closed her eyes and sat back, breathing in deep. After a moment she laughed quietly again, wiping the remaining tears off her face. "Hi Junior!" She called out, voice strained.

"Oh, man. Hey, Mister Geralt." She waved with her good arm towards the witcher. "That was pretty crazy, huh? Phew! So m-much for just a recon mission." She rubbed her eyes. She smiled bright, her teeth still reddened by her own blood. She gave a thumbs up towards the healing Kamek clone.

"I just wish we could have saved all the ship girls. They...they have it rough out here." She coiled her new cat tail in her lap and cast a sympathetic look towards Ranger.

"But, still. I think today was a good day. We figured out one way to stop the Abyssal fleet from regaining numbers- just give 'em all friend hearts!" She said, tired face brightening further with enthusiasm. As her wounds were healed she became more and more able to express herself fully. Now she was sitting up straight in her chair like she usually did.

"Man, I'm tired. And hungry. Do they have white rice where you're from, Mister Geralt? You look like-" She hesitated, finding the right words. "Well, you look like someone from the past of my world, but a fantastical version of the past. I hope that's not rude or anything? I bet you have a lot of cool stories, though, huh? Well, now I do, too." She said proudly. Sakura sat back in her seat. Then, she raised both of her hands, palms outward. She moved them apart as if she were placing the word in mid air.

"The time I jumped out of a flying box, flew on water, fought a princess from the abyss, and saved the day." The headline seemed to read. She smiled, and sniffed. "I'll leave out all the crying, though." She joked. Sakura yawned, stretching out her back and arms like a cat. She leaned back up against the chair and crossed her arms, looking at her two new friends. Her enthusiasm subdued by exhaustion but no less potent.

"I guess I'll get to tell it to Cadet, Peach, and the others, huh? At dinner, I guess." Sakura said. "...You should really try some white rice, Mister Geralt. It's my favorite food. Since I was like, two years old. Or sushi. Sushi is a Japanese speciality. Japan's where I'm from, by the way. Well, it's real name is Nihon, or Nippon. It means sunrise land! Isn't that a great name?" She asked, grinning. Her cheeks were still wet with tears and salt water, and the corners of her mouth were red with dried blood. But the taste of victory was far stronger than the taste of iron. Pain was temporary and ignorable- Sakura didn't want to wallow in it. She wanted to talk with her friends! There were few things she loved more than getting to know more about interesting people.

With Kamek there she knew the Water Princess was okay. And from what she was hearing as she was carried away she knew she couldn't say anything nearly as effective as what he was saying. He said something really sad, too, about his son. Every day she was humbled by the strength of others. She could only hope to try and live up to their example.

Steelbird Landing [STILL ACCEPTING. 2/4 SLOTS TAKEN]

Well, here's my character. I did the character sheet in first person since it seemed to be in second person? Felt like an interview. Either way it helped me find my character's voice.

Let me know if there's anything I should change or add. Much like my character, I might have been over ambitious, lol. But I had fun creating her anyway.

I also guess I should send you a PM? Or should I wait until everyone's characters have been confirmed to see if I got in or not?

The Oilburner

Belly Button

Me (looking cute) and my MACHINE GUN! It doesn't work yet but it will! Don't tell anyone that it doesn't work, or else I'll shoot you with it when it's fixed.

---

¤ Age, approximately.
NINETEEN! I'm Nineteen. I counted. I remember the very m-m-moment I was born, y'know! I was there th-the whole time! I can say, without a doubt, one HUNDO percent, that I am Nineteen, Three Months, and TWO DAYS...young.

¤ What Are You?
The Oilburner.

Someone who needs heat, and casts away shadows with light and flame alike. Always trying to "burn the midnight oil" as much as possible.

¤ What defines you?

Sharp. With a capital S.

¤ Who are you?
Hmm...well...I don't even know where to start! At the beginning, I guess. Nineteen years, three months, and two days ago, I was squirted from a vagina. You probably already guess that, that's true for everybody. Unless you got cut out? Anyway my mom's name was Braid and my dad's name was Who-Gives-A-Fuck, I dunno, he wasn't there.

I was actually born in Steelbird Landing, wouldn't you believe it? Back in the bad old days! Braid, my momma, she was a good lady. Real pretty, if you ask me, and smart as a c-c-cookie. The only thing I don't like about her is that she named me Belly Button. I wish she woulda named me Ponytail or Bun, or...Piercing. Something. Belly Button...I guess she thought it was cute? She was that kind of lady, my momma. She wanted me to be smart, she did! I am. Lucky I was BORN smart, pretty sure. Most people in this world are just born dumb idiots, but me, I was born smart, real smart. A f-f-fucking genius. But I still had to learn, just like everyone else!

Now my momma she had it bad. While I was born in S-s-steelbird Landing, she wasn't. My dad, Who-Gives-A-Fuck, (momma never told me his name) was a bad man. A real bad man. Let's j-j-just say that little old Belly Button wasn't a mistake, but she sure as shit wasn't intentional, either. Least not on Momma's part. But she loved me anyway because Momma Braid was the best woman to ever live. Now Gives-A was the leader of a bunch of pricks up north. Holed up in a couple of old city blocks. Anyway they hated everyone and everything. E-e-even each other! And the leader thought he owned everyone. Everyone believed him. S-s-so I guess that means he really d-d-did own everyone? Anyway my momma decided to run away from his DUMB ASS and she took books from the library with her, and she took me with her, too, and I was inside her because I was just a gross little fetus lookin' thing at the time. (I know, because I remember!)

Well he hated that. But fuck him, he's probably dead by now. She ran ran ran, with a few others, and most of 'em made it to Steelbird Landing. And my momma decided I was gonna be the SMARTEST boy that ever l-l-lived! But I was a girl, but she said that's okay, because, again, best person ever.

Aaanyway, so I grew up here! And I read those books every day, e-e-even if I didn't understand them. Momma taught me the few words that she knew. She found picture books for me, alphabet books. And I loved loved loved it, almost as m-m-much as I loved her.

My childhood was lots of books. I r-ran off by myself to scavenge more books. I traded for them, did tasks and favors. Y-you'd be surprised how many people still have books! They just use them as doorstoppers and table-evener-outers and plates or toilet paper.

M-m-my favorite was ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS engineering! Science fiction inspired me! Old pictures of beauty beautiful things that we forgot how to build. Steelbird itself is built on the remnants of an airplane! People u-u-used to get in 'em and, and, like, fly all over the world! Like birds! Once I figured stuff like that out, there was no stopping me. I wanted to be just like those people. I wanted to make great things! So I did! I DID make great things! I'm REALLY REALLY GOOD AT IT! Engineering and CHEMISTRY and MATH and LITERATURE! There's SO MUCH! INFINITE KNOWLEDGE! My appetite for discovery has never been not whet. My momma gave me a book about a caterpillar who ate and ate and ate, until it became a beautiful butterfly and flew away.

That's gonna be me someday.

A-a-anyway, where was I? Oh yeah! I started making toys! Simple ones, out of wood. Then I added m-moving parts that the other kids could move with their hands. My goal was to make things that if you pushed a button something happened, and I d-did that, too. Because, y'see, I'm really smart. And I learned to be smarter.

SOME kids thought they could take advantage of me and take and steal the toys but I set them straight by setting their hair on fire. NO ONE messes with Ms. Button.

That's when I discovered I'm, uh, a bit of a fire bug. It's not that big of a deal, really, nowadays I g-get it out of my system when I'm welding or heating metal. B-but sometimes I need to find a nice secluded spot and j-j-just raze something. Just an itchy itchy itch in the back of my head, I guess, sometimes. I've always liked blowing things up almost as much as I liked making other things. N-now making things to blow up other things up? W-well, THAT IS THE DREAM, IS IT NOT?

Wasn't all fire and brimstone! I looove chemistry. Very necessary for blowing things up. Not quite as good at it, YET. I made a water purifier! It was really shitty and it broke but I'm making another one. I also make bear traps and regular traps and, I guess, uh, infrastructure! I love making things. This post-apocalyptic world makes for g-g-GREAT challenge. Y'know? So many things to learn and do and see- it- it it- it's all too much! I can BARELY CONTAIN MYSELF! Sometimes I just wanna--- EXPLODE! But I can't do that, so instead I blow up other things! Sometimes. Like I said, it's not a big deal, really.

Naturally, as all great women of science do, I wish to SHARE my knowledge with the rest of the civilized world! Unfortunately most people in this backwater town are too dumb. But but but that's okay. My momma helps organize things. I would LOVE LOVE for there to be a library in Steelbird Landing! Best d-day of my life, that would be. I'm working it! Plus, that means everyone would give me their books for FREE! As long as I got to put them back. And I would put my books there, too! And if anyone tried to steal from it- I would just set them on fire!

And I FARM! I try too, anyway- I got help from some of the local subsistence farmers! I made little pulley systems that increase the farming, so you just pull one thing and all of it gets watered. And rainwater collectors! Potatoes! I love potatoes. Potatoes are the best thing in the world, second only to books, second only to Momma. You can use them to eat! And you can use them to make ALCOHOL! And alcohol can be used to set things on fire. And also trade! And also BATTERIES!?!? God isn't real but potatoes are evidence that he really really is!

...I hate the jungle. And all those monsters. Those freaks and savages in the woods like my biological father. And those people who believe in fake gods. Makes me sick sick sick to my stomach. Everything would have been FINE if nobody went crazy. But no! The disasters weren't enough. One day they're all gonna be dead and gone and only the sm-SMART people like ME will still be alive!

I have followers! Friends! They like me! I'm trying to teach people how to r-r-read. Improving literacy rates is vital for the growth of any society! I'd love to get it at at least 10%! The more people who knows how to read, the more people can teach other people how to r-r-read! It's like a disease! But a good one. The vaccination for literacy would be brain trauma, I guess. And I'd be a super spreader! Watch out, I'm contagious! Haha! Wait, no, maybe that's not the best metaphor. Did you know cholera spreads from dirty water?

But yeah anyway, I think people like me. Well, they haven't tried to kill me in a while, anyway. I'm a regular en-en-entrepreneur! I mean I wanna work on cars and everything but..there's too much! Right now I'm focusing on literacy rates! The Steelbird Public Library will take over the world! All the little kiddies will be even smarter than me. Well, maybe not, but st-st-still.

Anyway yeah that's me. You asked who I am and you got me!

By the way...you can just call me Bell, or Button, or Ms. Button. It's- it's fine, r-really.

---

¤ What do you want?
Some day...some day I wanna burn that whole damn jungle to the ground.

After that, I wanna build a car.

Then...? I wanna make a new Steelbird. An airplane! I wanna make a new Steelbird and fly, fly, fly away, far from here. Then I'll return with treasures and knowledge! There's gotta be someplace out there for people like me. I've seen pictures of places where there IS no jungle. They can h-h-help us.

¤ What do you believe?

Truth. Truth truth truth. I think the truth is that we had something really good going and then we all screwed it up. Nature threw a little temper tantrum and all the weak-minded l-l-LUNATICS took the opportunity to go on murderous rampages. Steelbird Landing, and places like it, are the ONLY hope! Every where else is full of BRAIN DEAD MORONS! One day things will get back to how they used to be. I'm probably not gonna live to see it, though, but SOMEONE will, and they're gonna look at a big statue of me and say "Gee thanks, Belly Button, you really had something good going on."

¤ What do you follow?

If you're anywhere near as smart as I am, you probably g-guessed it. That's right! My kneecaps. No HAHA, no, it's my NOODLE, of course! My brain, my mind, that wonderful p-p-pile of electrified grey matter rattling around in my noggin! It's NEVER lead me astray. It IS me, actually. I'm my brain! What else would I follow, if not me my brain?

¤ A scarcity embodied:

(Time. Button has so much she wants to do and not enough time to do it. She was born in the wrong time. She yearns for a time that has past. To her, everything moves so agonizingly slow.)

¤ Basic Instincts:

I always have goggles and a mask. If not on my face, then on standby! Never know when a bunch of small particles are gonna fly in your face.

I always return to my garage.

...And I've got a lighter or a flint and tinder or a matchbox or a tinderbox on me. Just a little something to start a little fire.

¤ Spill Your Guts

¤ What do you most regret doing?

One time one of my fires got out of control. Someone had built a homestead on the outskirts- I didn't see it there b-b-because I was so excited, I really had the itch that time. I don't think there was anyone inside. At least I hope there wasn't. I didn't check. =

¤ Who do you owe?

I owe my Momma everything.

¤ What/Who are you addicted to? What are you willing to do to acquire it?

I'm addicted to...knowledge. Books. Stories. Scrap. I NEED a project to work on. I need to be DOING something, otherwise why am I even alive!?

¤ Who's intentions do you question?

There's a w-woman named Vineleaf that comes around to my garage. She says she only wants to learn how to read but she looks at my gadgets and my toys and my engines. And she looks at me when she thinks I'm not looking. I don't know what she r-r-really wants from me, but sh-she really creeps me out.

¤ Who wants you all to themselves?

People in faraway places. Who-Gives-A-Fuck, probably. They hear about my hands and my brain and they want to get at me but I'm a solo operator! I'm a WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE! NO GODS NO KINGS!

---

Hear the Whispers...

S-s-sometimes, when one of my fires goes REALLY, REALLY HOT, and it's really really dark, and I'm really really all alone, I feel like it talks to me. I know it's not real. I know it's just that nasty nasty nasty l-light, up over my head. But it tells me to keep burning. It feels like I go on fire, too, and it feels good. I feel like I can turn into the King Midas of the inferno, and everything I touch melts away in my hand. I'll drown in the ashes. When it's over, there will only be cinders and peace. A Great Phoenix will rise and rule and soar and look upon my finest work and respect me. The Great Phoenix- that's what the fire says to me sometimes.

It's scary. I don't want the Phoenix to come h-h-here. Only SOME things need to be destroyed. Other things need to be BUILT. And I get to choose. Only me. Only Button.

So I usually bring a book to read while I'm setting fires. Just in case I need to get my mind off things.

---

¤Your theme song goes here, if you are so inclined.

How The Leaves Fall

@Hedgehawk

lmaooo. i gotta admit it was a shot to the old self-esteem that I thought you'd rather have nobody than me, lol. i was rolling with it though, so no worries there. but weyyy okay, i'm on! very cool.

How The Leaves Fall

damn. that bad, huh? oh well, have fun everyone.

Steelbird Landing [STILL ACCEPTING. 2/4 SLOTS TAKEN]

Ooh, interested! I remember this RP, actually! only 6 people were allowed and I felt like I wasn't gonna get in. But this time, I'm just gonna go for it whether I get it or not.

How The Leaves Fall

Okay, here's my second character sheet cause I'd like to be in this, lol. This is for Standard Character!

Emily Dawson

Emily Dawson

"Live, laugh, love. Or, don't, I guess. Up to you, really, I mean, that's just generally my rule of life but I guess some people think it's kinda cheesy I guess, I dunno."

Name: Emily Dawson
Gender Female
Age: 18
Sexual Orientation: Asexual
Position Applying For: Standard Character
Personality:

Emily is talkative. A chatterbox. When there's no one around to talk too, she talks to herself. Or she'll just talk to herself right in front of someone else if the other person isn't being receptive. It's an unbreakable habit. She'll talk about literally anything for way too long.

An extrovert, she likes making new friends, even if she can be bad at it. She's genuinely a friendly person with a compassionate heart. If anything she can come off as too friendly, too quickly, having declared best friendship on multiple occasions. A quirky sense of humor does or doesn't help. Either way, Emily gets attached to people and concepts very quickly. This leads to her being overemotional in certain situations and extremely attached to the fictional characters of the fictional books she loves reading.

Emily is also extremely curious, and she loves to learn about people, events, anything. It's why she wants to be a journalist and historian for the Westcliffe newspaper. Or a librarian. She's trying to put her words down onto paper, where they won't be forgotten. And also where they won't annoy people so much.

Despite being quite intelligent, Emily is also dumb. The difference between "book smart" and "street smart" has never been so obvious. Common sense is something she lacks entirely. Usually this results in an entirely unwarranted self-confidence. Perhaps it's just her unyielding optimism. Emily only has uncommon sense. Weird sense. Highly specific and rarely applicable sense. And fiscal sense- too: she's good with money.

History/Bio:

Emily was born to Dave and Sarah Dawson. She's the youngest of two brothers and one other sister, all only a few years older than her. Dave, June, Mark, and then Emily, from oldest to younges.t One might think this fairly large family is the reason she's so talkative. Perhaps in order to get a word in edgewise she developed this tick? Nope. If anything, she's the reason people get talked over. Some part of her brain had it's wires crossed during development.

Emily still grew up loved in her house, and she often ended up being the mediator of family conflicts. Her brothers and sister often picked on each other but they quickly decided she was off limits. She was far too easy of a target and they all just ended up feeling bad about it.

Emily took an interest in reading, writing, and exploring. Much to her parents chagrin she would head off into the woods by herself to climb around. That, or diving into the library to learn so many useless factsshe could fill the "dead spaces" in conversations with. Eventually she tried developing a few ideas of her own.

Given her athletic nature she ended up founding a cheerleading club. As of today she is the only member, but she got the uniforms designed and everything. She also founded the Crown of Dragons club and the Journalism club, for her favorite book series and one of her favorite hobbies. She's the only member in both of those, too.

Most everyone around town knows about Emily and her strange proclivities. She has no real close friends, but it's not like she's entirely disliked. People just decided she was harmless. She has acquaintances galore, which is good enough for her. But a real best friend is what she really wants. That, or a boyfriend, or a girlfriend. Emily doesn't quite yet realise she's asexual and doesn't understand why some of her classmates kiss each other so much, but it seems like the thing to do so she's been attempting to emulate.

She graduates soon and she'll have to find a job. That'll mean doing a job interview, which she's sure she'll nail the fourth or fifth or eleventh time she tries it. Or maybe she'll just make up her own job? She doesn't really know.

How The Leaves Fall

...on a COMPLETELY unrelated note, if one submission doesn't work out, could someone apply for another one? Or will it be too late by the deadline?

How The Leaves Fall

Okay, here is my submission for DeWinter heiress. Let me know if there's anything I should change or add!

Waverly DeWinter

Waverly DeWinter

"Nothing burns like the cold."

Name: Waverly DeWinter
Gender Female
Age: 18
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Position Applying For: DeWinter Heiress
Personality: Waverly is an assertive young woman with an expertise in social graces. She is chipper, polite, and knows her manners. She is amiable and humble. However this is somewhat of a front. Waverly is an introvert who is a master at prending to be an extrovert.

She puts up this facade because she knows more people will like her that way. Waverly is manipulative and likes being in control of every situation. Especially social. She feeds off the admiration of others. A perfectionist, Waverly can be very harsh and domineering.

When things don't go her way, a volatile temper reveals itself. She can become wrathful, and she holds grudges long past other people might have forgotten them. She wants everyone to respect her and like her. She is a fierce believer in the traditions and values of Westcliffe. Any threats to the DeWinter family or her own social status are absolutely unacceptable.

Beneath even that is an insecure woman who has always failed to live up to her own expectations. Waverly loves cats, plants, knitting, the theater, and soap operas. As well as fashion and art. But one rarely, if ever, gets to see Waverly DeWinter with her guard down.

History/Bio: Born into the DeWinter family as it's heiress, Waverly took the task to heart. She wanted nothing more than to fulfill the expectations of her parents. She wanted to live up to the long and proud legacy of the DeWinter family. When she was done, Westcliffe would be a shining small town beacon, beautiful and perfect, just like herself.

To that end she began 'developing' herself. Everything she thought people would like and respect, she adopted that into her outward personality. Charisma, business, her academics. She created a loyal group of followers. She organized charity events and fundraisers. Her true self, flaws and quirks and all, receded. Eventually, the mask became her face, as it were. Her reputation preceded her. Behind the scenes her perfectionist ways had people calling her a 'witch' behind her back in more ways than one. School plays, school baking events. It all had to be perfect. It didn't matter if there was hardly anyone in the town. The majority of the small class of students were under her thumb. Perhaps a few annoying stragglers or forgotten ones or broken toys who didn't fit in, anyway. Everything and everyone had to be just right.

Most of all, most MOST of all, the Halloween festival had to be IMMACULATE. Somewhere, Waverly's genuine love of Halloween propels her ever forward into making sure it all goes exactly to her 'parents' plan.

World of Light

Kasugano Sakura

Level 3: 20/30
Location: The Blue Sea.
Word Count: 1,115
Points Gained: 2, -1
New EXP Balance--- Level 3: 21/30

As the light took effect, Sakura winced, not knowing what to expect. The wince faded into wonder as unknown side effects of the Friend Heart began to take shape. It is a fortunate thing that the Water Princess turned out so friendly, because Sakura's defenses as her jaw dropped in wonder at the startlingly beautiful display. The missing arm grew right back, the color returned to the Water Princess.

The most shocking thing was the look in the Seaplane Tender's face. She looked...really nice. Sakura said nothing. Numbly she rose to her feet as the Water Princess looked over her and began asking for help on her behalf. Because she was worried about Sakura, all of a sudden. Both pairs of Sakura's ears were still ringing from the detonation this very woman had just placed upon her! Now they were friends! (Sugoi!)

"W...wow. H-hey! Y-yeah, that's the, uh, the Atomos. My friends are up there. My name is...Sakura, by the way...? M-man. I didn't think it w-would work th-that well." She said, eyes like saucers.

The water Princess was gentle, ginger...tender, even. Sakura began to tremble and tense up, biting on her lower lip.

(I knew it. I KNEW IT! TENDER AS IN CHICKEN AS IN NICE! I KNEW IT ALL ALONG!) Sakura screamed in thought to herself.

The surprise subsided and Sakura almost exploded. Figuratively, this time, out of joy. Fortunately, her new additional modesty helped her out. It granted her a crucial few seconds of composure as she stared at her bloodied hands and clenched them in amazement. A big stupid grin appeared on her face. Sakura's brown eyes began to wet with tears.

(PEACH AND GERALT AND KAMEK AND CADET AND RYURYURYU AND EVERYONE WILL BE SO PROUD OF ME! I DID IT! I REALLY DID IT!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! OW OW OW THIS HURTS! BUT I'M THE BEST! I'M GONNA-) Before she could start wildly celebrating, the brave Ranger arrived to help her new ally. If she had started yelling in victory, this encounter might have been harder to handle.

Sakura gaped and considered the situation from Ranger's perspective. Though she was still elated, her mood was brought down. She had almost forgotten the nature of her new ship girl powers- the absorbed spirit of a dead person. Someone who was loved and who would be missed. One of Ranger's friends. The whiplash caused the brewing tears to flow freely. Sakura smiled bitterly, pouted proudly, and then groaned in some emotion she didn't know the name for. The term one might use would be overwhelmed. The ecstacy of victory undercut by the consequences of war.

Sakura blinked and steadied herself on the water. Her face became serious once again. One last surge of resolve. She interposed herself between the Water Princess and the heroic Ranger. "Hey...you." She said, still not knowing Ranger's name.

Sakura frowned in concentration as she tried to think of the right words to say. "I...I'm sorry about your friends. But- you have- to- understand- that..." Sakura fumbled over her sentences. Whatever momentum she had going there had sputtered out with the emotional whiplash.

(Oh, screw it.)

"Wow wooah!" Sakura shouted flatly. She pointed with her unbroken arm to the sky behind Ranger. "What's that in the sky! It's a huge monster! Look out!" Sakura said like she was on the stage of her middle school play.

Regardless of whether or not her deception was effective, Sakura put her actual skills to use. She dodge rolled forward at full speed. It had nearly zero start-up before she was going ridiculously fast. Then she erupted upwards with it powerful yet nonlethal knee to Ranger's shoulder. She tapped her chest, and summoned forth a Friend Heart. She took it in both hands and slammed it down onto Ranger's chest as she descended. A vigorous, powerful, metaphorical, and ultimately unnecessecary display. Sakura coughed and grabbed Ranger by the arm. A trickle of fresh blood trailed from her lips and down to her chin.

She steeled her lungs and steadied her voice. "Nice to meet you, I'm Sakura! Listen, I know you're probably really mad at the Water Princess, and I understand. She's done terrible things. You lost people- lost your friends. One of your friends lended me their power in this very fight," Tears flowed as freely as her words. Her eyebrows were knitted together with concern and admiration and bittersweetness. "And that's terrible. I'm so so sorry. But it wasn't her fault," She jerked her good thumb over her shoulder towards the confused french woman.

Sakura then placed both arms and began to shake Ranger's shoulders. Her right arm, the broken one, made a gross noise and squirted blood. "It was Galeem! You have to remember the light, right? That awful light! It ate everyone and forced them to its will! Galeem! It makes people stupid and violent! It got all of us! But you're free now, and SHE'S free now! Everyone is being made to kill each other for no reason! We can't let Galeem make us kill each other! We just can't, okay!? I'm sorry about your friend and you are SO brave and strong and can I hug you? Guh..." Sakura's heroic energy was as spent as her breath. Her Ki was leaving her, no longer generated by combat.

Her legs were jelly and everything hurt. Emotionally and physically exhausted she collapsed onto Ranger and wrapped her arms around her. Unburdened by killing and lifted by victory, her spirits were as high as ever. But that was all she had going for her. There was an awkward clanking as their harnesses bounced into each other. Sakura breathed heavily. The blood from her mouth and tears from her eyes stained Ranger's shirt. The Abysall infused Ranger wasn't the most comfortable hug, but it would do. Anything would do. Ranger could probably detect that if she let go, this strange, enthusiastic girl would fall onto the water.

"Oops...w-what's your n-name... by the way?" Sakura added, weak. She smiled, pained. Her teeth were shiny and stained red. Turns out the 'later' of dealing with her wounds was actually more of a 'sooner.' Her adrenaline was fading. Considering the lives lost at sea in this battle, she felt a little bad about feeling so good about herself.

Her weary brown eyes searched the skies for the Atomos. When she found it she raised her unbroken arm and waved. Then she turned around, pushing herself off of Ranger just barely enough to give the Water Princess a thumbs up and a smile.