Year 70.3

  *Emma yells back from Lily’s back as she scales down the trunk.*

  Emma: I’ll slow them down! GET EVERYONE READY NOW!

  *As they head to the front of the line, Lily starts to smile.*

  Lily: Who should we aim for first?

  Emma(TL): Archon and the others should be our priority. They’ll be the biggest threats. I can’t even begin to imagine how much destruction they alone could cause.

  *Reaching the outer gates, Emma watches as the seers slaughter their way through. She spots Ifirit, Haku, and Amara. Between them sits a younger elf atop a large spirit with eight giant furry legs. Its body is covered in a shell, and only its eye can be seen deep within, glowing. Watching.*

  Emma(TL): That must be the leader… I knew this would be one-sided, but I thought we’d at least last longer than this.

  *As Emma hops off Lily, she hears a familiar voice.*

  Lyra: You have no idea how glad I am to find you.

  *Emma unsheathes her fangs and points them at Lyra.*

  Lyra: He. Wants to see you. No one is allowed to hurt you. *Smiles* Unless you resist.

  *Lyra extends her arm with a pair of magic cuffs.*

  Lyra: So, what’s it going to be?

  Emma: Where are all your spirits?

  Lyra: *chuckles* They all stayed at home after eating their fill of Magic fruit.

  Emma: *Shocked* That’s why…

  Lyra: So?

  *Lily leaps out from the shadows, barely missing Lyra. Lily growls as she crushes the cuffs in a single bite.*

  Lyra: *Exhale* Thank goodness.

  *Lyra’s eyes glow purple*

  Lyra: I’ve been waiting for this.

  *Lyra pulls out her blades, and the two clash. Lily can only sit back and watch as the two swiftly dart around. Sparks fly as their blades lock into one another.*

  Lyra: You know, Archon headed to see the Queen just before we all got here. I’m sure they’re having a lovely conversation.

  *Emma pushes Lyra back.*

  Emma: Shut up!

  *Emma’s voice rings as her eyes begin to glow green. She reaches toward Lyra using her magic. Lyra turns and gasps as Emma throws a market stall at her, she cuts the stall and laughs*

  Lyra: Getting angry, are we, Nightwarden?

  *Lyra splits into four, Emma sends out her daggers, spearing through two of the clones. Lyra jumps back, and Emma charges her. As they lock blades, Emma leans in.*

  Emma: You of all people should know you won’t be able to out, cast me. You’ve never once been able to beat me, you’re weak!

  *Emma uses the Twilight Fangs to cut through Lyra’s blades. As Emma goes to stab Lyra, she notices a blade fly past and jumps back. Around Lyra float five knives. The other clone keeps Lily from aiding Emma.*

  * As Lyra sends the knives toward Emma, she dodges them with ease. As Emma dodges the knives, she overpowers Lyra’s telekinesis just as a blade is about to hit Emma in her eye. As the blade floats there, Lyra falls backward.*

  Emma: *Chuckles* Is this really? All you’ve got?

  *The sky turns dark, and Emma starts to look up. Lyra looks up, then runs away while Emma is distracted.*

  Lily: MAMA!

  *Lily shields Emma as the leaves fall by growing as large as she can before the leaves hit them. As the leaves settle, Lily shrinks down. Emma picks her up and looks around. Lyra is nowhere to be found.*

  Emma: Where the hell did she go? *Looks down* Lily, are you okay? Hide if you need to.

  *Lily nods before shrinking down further and hides on Emma’s person.*

  Emma softly: Let’s see who survived.

  *Emma watches as the seers have started moving forward, and Robin steps out from some rubble in front of the two.*

  Robin: I had a feeling she would back out.

  *Robin unsheathes a rapier and points it toward Emma.*

  Robin: I, on the other hand, waited very patiently. Show me how “Strong” the savior of the elves is.

  *Emma’s eye twitches with anger. She sheathes her daggers and closes her eyes. Her voice gets lower and distorts slightly.*

  Emma: Fine.

  *Robin is suddenly sent, crashing into some rubble as Emma exhales, she opens her eyes to reveal a mostly purple hue.*

  Emma: I was told I can only kill a few seers myself… *Smiles* You made that list the day I met you.

  *The air goes silent, Robin can hear nothing but Emma’s delayed footsteps as she walks toward Robin. She holds her blades out as she walks.*

  Emma: I was once told I wouldn’t need to kill the Seers.

  *Emma appears behind Robin.*

  Emma: But I’m still going to.

  *As Robin jumps back, waving their arm and sending multiple wind cutters toward Emma. Emma makes no attempt to move as she cuts through the spell with her Fangs. Emma then points her blades toward Robin.*

  Emma: *Distorted voice* I know you’re here, Lyra. I heard you click your tongue when Robin insulted you.

  *A scream comes from behind Emma as she looks over her shoulder. Lyra jumps out of stealth as she begins dodging Emma’s knives.*

  Lyra: Damnit, Robin. I thought you said you could deal with her by yourself?

  Robin: I didn’t see you doing any better before I jumped in.

  Lyra: Because you didn’t take care of her Spirit like we planned.

  *Emma’s eyes twitch with anger. She creates an earth pillar to send Lyra into the air. Lyra quickly releases a couple of blades and uses them to help defend herself in the air*

  *Robin lunges at Emma, and Emma smiles as she turns to Lyra. Robin grits his teeth in anger when one of Emma’s knives cuts his legs, and he drops to one knee. The knives now focus on Robin while Emma looks at Lyra, and she begins running toward her. Robin stands up, and his eyes begin to glow.*

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  Robin: Enough!

  *Robin's voice booms as he blasts Emma’s knives away with a powerful gust of wind. Emma continues to focus on Lyra, as her telekinesis is broken, she lands a kick, breaking some of Lyra’s ribs, and she is sent into the rubble. Robin pulls Lyra with another gust of wind and sends them toward the rest of the Seers. Emma turns toward Robin and turns her Twilight Fangs into dual Ice blades. Emma speaks with her eyes fully purple, but it is clear she is not speaking. *

  Her: As a green elf... You know better than to steal one of my kills…

  *Robin feels the Magic pressure coming from Emma as they attempt to look at her vessel, they blink and open their eyes in a room with water up to his ankles. He looks around in confusion. He turns around, looking for Emma, spotting a figure in the distance. Robin speaks, their voice slightly distorted.*

  Robin: Come on, Emma. Tell you what, here's a secret. All the Seers are trained to work with our inner selves. That’s why we went silent. Each Seer has doubled their strength.

  Distorted voice: Oh, I know who you are.

  *Robin’s inner self flickers and backs up a little. Their voice trembles ever so slightly*

  Robin: W-Who are you?

  Voice: Not you… I’m talking to ?んЯΙ????Р?Е?.

  *All of the purple leaves Robin's eyes. Robin blinks again and is once again looking at Emma, but they can’t access their Seer powers.*

  Robin: What did you do to me?!

  *Emma returns to her normal self and looks at Robin, confused/

  Emma: What’re you talking about?

  * Her eyes are mostly green, as Robin spots the purple, his legs give out. Emma furrows her eyebrows as she is further confused.*

  Emma: If you’re trying to distract me, I don’t know what you’re trying to gain.

  *Emma’s inner self speaks to her.*

  Voice: Soul.

  *Emma looks to Robin, they now have a soul light, and their vessel is gone. Emma looks in shock and softly speaks, but just loud enough for Robin to hear.*

  Emma: You’re not a Seer anymore…

  Robin: This has to be a spell. *Nervous laugh* Tell you what, Emma. Why don’t you break the spell and fight me? I’m not g- going. *Robin covers their mouth*

  Robin thinking: Why am I so afraid of her?

  *Robin tries to look at her vessel again, and the color leaves his face.*

  Robin: Where are my powers?

  Emma: I didn’t do it. But this also means you’re no longer a threat to me.

  *Emma walks over to Robin and begins cuffing them. As she walks away, she turns to look at Robin, his eyes open wide, but empty.*

  Emma: I don’t know if I prefer this or not. I also don’t know what caused it.

  *Emma creates a pillar to allow her to scout around and look for Lyra. Emma spots her being picked up by two Seer soldiers, a male and female, and runs toward them.*

  Male: There she is!!

  *The male elf with orange eyes points at her, the female with Purple eyes looks to him before running off, carrying Lyra away.*

  Female: I’ll send for help! Either capture her or keep her busy!.

  *Emma lands and the ground around them quakes slightly, Emma lifts Tempest Moon toward the Female elf.*

  Emma: Leave her here. I’m not done with her.

  *Emma squints her eyes as the Orange elf steps between them and lifts a large, heavy sword almost the size of Emma.*

  Male: I think you’re misunderstanding Emma. We’re here for you as well.

  *Emma runs for Lyra, but the male elf slams his club. Emma jumps back as a small crater is left behind. She glares at the elf, her lip quivers in anger. She runs toward the Male, releasing twenty clones. The elf swings wide, hitting four of the clones, and each leaves behind a smoke cloud. The elf swings his club with a smile as her blocks Emma’s clones with ease.*

  Male: I don’t know what they were worried about. If this is all you’re capable of. *He grunts as he swings.* Then that promotion is as good as mine.

  Emma: Promotion? *Scoffs* What good’s a promotion if you’re dead?

  *Emma speaks out, her voice from afar. The male elf clears the last of the clones, then turns to where her voice is coming from.*

  Emma: And I’m not talking about me killing you.

  *Emma sits atop some remaining rubble with a mask over her mouth. She points up to the visible corruption taking place in the branches.*

  Emma: You’re all just sacrifices.

  *The male elf leaps toward Emma, and as he swings, he hears her voice again, in a different direction. His weight throws him into the rubble as he swings his club. He stands up slowly. Straining himself with every movement. Emma slowly walks toward him, then sits on a nearby box. She pulls down the mask after the fog fades.*

  Emma: Twenty-one doses and you’re still standing.

  *Emma claps as she walks toward the elf and cuffs him. She drags the elf to a small group of elven soldiers.*

  Emma: Who’s in charge here?

  *Emma hands the Seer to one of the soldiers as Monica responds.*

  Monica: At the moment, that would be me or you, Captain.

  Emma: Okay… Stay focused on. *Emma stumbles slightly.*

  Monica: Captain!

  *Monica catches Emma, and she stands up, using Monica’s arm as support.*

  Emma: There is an. *She winces in pain* another seer that way.

  *Emma points in the direction she left Robin.*

  Emma: *Out of breath* I.. I need something to ea…

  *Emma faints, and Monica gets her on a cart.*

  Monica: I need one of you to get Emma to the Glade. Can anyone make it there quickly without getting spotted?

  *Two elves raise their arms, both green scouts.*

  Both: We can go.

  *The taller of the two speaks.*

  Louie: We can also make sure to give a report.

  *Monica nods, and the two elves head out. As they pull the cart, Emma’s eyes flutter open a little.*

  Emma thinking: I guess I still got some of the spores under my mask.

  *While they pull the cart, Emma rests until she hears the two arguing.*

  Louie: I told you, Shawn, we need to hurry; that way will take too long.

  Shawn: Yes, but that way is where we saw their leader last.

  Louie: Okay, that just means we can go by and get some info. We don’t need to fight them.

  Emma thinking: Wait… I didn’t check the soldiers with Monica…

  *Emma strains her neck, using all her might to look at Shawn, his soul white. As she turns to Louie, she notices a vessel inside him. She attempts to move her body, but fails. Louie looks back at Emma and notices her eyes open. He mouths the words.*

  “Louie: How was your drink?”

  Shawn: But we’ll have to move slower to avoid getting caught. Monica said we needed to hurry.

  Louie: And? Monica isn’t here to tell you to breathe. How’re we going to beat them without any information? They got slowed down just before the final gates.

  Shawn: That just means we’re winning. Remember what Captain Emma always said. We don’t need to defeat them.

  Louie: Yeah, but why not?

  Shawn: *Confused* What do you mean?

  *The cart stops.*

  Louie: Why even bother fighting, if you’re just acting like a meat shield?

  Shawn: Because. Emma told us before we signed up. There is a good chance we can die. But it will ultimately save the world.

  Louie: So… what if what she is saying is a lie to cover up the last lies?

  *Shawn looks at Louie, squinting his eyes slowly.*

  Shawn: If you don’t believe her, then why offer to help me take her? If you want to scout, I can take her myself.

  Louie: Yes, but if a Seer attacks, you’ll need at least two to stop them.

  *Lily pops out from Emma’s armor, oblivious. She stretches out and yawns, both elves watch her in slight confusion.*

  Lily: Sorry, Mama. I just needed to nap. How’s the fight going?

  *Lily licks her paw, then rubs her eye.*

  Emma(TL): Lily! Taller! Kill!

  *As Lily locks onto Louie, she begins to growl, doubling in size. Shawn looks at Emma and watches her eyes as she commands Lily. Lily continues to grow as she hops down between the two elves. Louie backs up and unsheathes his sword, his disguise fades, and he grins.*

  Seer: I was hoping to get closer, but I think I can manage an elf and a spirit.

  *The seer jumps back into stealth, but his smile fades as Lily, now six meters in height, continues to focus on him. The seer grits his teeth and charges forward, but Lily swipes at him, careful to avoid using her claws. The seer crashes into some rubble, and Shawn sheathes his blade as he turns to Emma. He pulls out an antidote and helps Emma drink it. She coughs as she gains control of her head and throat.*

  Emma: It’ll take a moment for the rest of my body to recover. Can you move us somewhere safe?

  Shawn: *Smiles and nods* Leave it to me.

  *Shawn pulls the cart near a damaged alleyway and flips the cart to hide them from view. He starts to head out, but Emma stops him as she weakly heads out.*

  Emma: You’ll just be killing yourself. *Looks back* And I’m still going to need a ride to Arie.

  Shawn: Yes, Captain. Here.

  *Shawn hands Emma a couple of Magic berries.*

  Shawn: They’re dried out, so they won't have much energy, but my daughter gave them to me before they left.

  *Emma takes the berries and smiles*

  Emma: This should be more than enough. She should be proud of her father.

  *The seer continues to run from Lily; she cuts him off every time, occasionally batting him into another building. As she slowly walks toward the beaten and bruised Seer, she stops as Emma comes out of stealth, she sits down and shrinks to her medium form, licking the blood from her paw.*

  Emma: I told you to kill him.

  *Barely able to see through his bruised face, the Seer points his blade at Emma.*

  Seer: *Scoffs* Try to scare me all you like, I know…

  Emma: I don’t care. But I know I can’t afford any delays.

  *Emma uses her blades to spiral around, slowly cutting the Seer.*

  Emma: A cut for every lie you tried to tell. For every life stolen today.

  *The seer grunts in pain before the area freezes around him. The knives freeze in place.*

  Seer: *Breathing heavily* Quit toying with me already and end this!

  *The Seer's face turns white as his expression fades. *

  Emma: And this one is thanks for using the rest of your Mana.

  *Emma pulls out her fangs from the Seer's body, and the two quickly leave. *

  Lily: I thought they were supposed to blow up even without Magic left.

  Emma(TL): I watched the Mana in his vessel drain. When it emptied, I killed him. It still had some, so I’d like to hurry and leave.

  *As the two head back to Shawn, they find him sitting on the flipped cart. Emma lies down on the cart, Lily rests on her chest.*

  Shawn: What happened to Louie?

  Emma: The Seer? He.

  *A loud boom comes from the direction of the fight from earlier, and Emma points at it as she closes her eyes and falls back asleep. Shawn quickly takes off, making it to the gates, where Ariella goes with him to the hospital.*