Chapter Eight This Heat

Twilight...

This... was...

I had been swinging my blades so fast I had not noticed the burning aura around my body. It started out small, a warmth of anger and pain, hesitation had been thrown out the window by this intense heat. All my emotions soon joined in, they came on display in front of me forming something indescribable, setting a path for me. No thoughts, only what was and what I must do. The beast before me charged with such force I could only redirect its path along my blades forming them into a staff like stance. Breathing deep I followed the blow letting myself be drawn far down the snow path. I had never even seen the attack, before I knew I had countered leaving another long graze near its neck. When it looked to me, when it looked! Feelings passed... so much passed by me like a wave crashing down. This battle was long from over and we both knew it. Clashing once again... and again, and again and again and again and again!!! My blades had become aglow as well, burning in my grip as I slashed, the same spot, that was the only way. If I didn't I would never hurt it.

I had awoke to a scream. when I found them like that... blood! Anger, heat. Sun had taken to their side, and I attacked. The burn was to much and I got the feeling it would never fade. It charged again I let it's horn's get close before I spun on my feet my new stance putting me on it's side, and I swung. Sparks formed at the failed attempt at cutting its hard scales. A few more passes at me had come, all blurring together like a dance. I had seen something light up on it's horns a few times that worried me. It was a deep bloody red, almost like electricity. We were told that was the element Dragon and only the strongest creatures could wield it. It had already breathed fire at me a couple times, which I had barely been able to dodge. While I was contemplating this the creature had stopped it's attack, for a brief moment it held a low stance. Then it roared and took to the skies.

I watched it fly higher and higher, the sky turned darker with it's presence and with it something was forming. Suddenly there were crystals of ice that fell as they appeared getting larger the closer they got to the ground. I weaved to and fro, occasionally deflecting the projectiles off my blades. This continued on for several minutes before it dived back down, I had only barely dodged the slam, as I was getting up my spine tingled. Quickly noticing the blue electrical current around its horns and when it brought its head down I could only watch before the blast hit me. For a moment I was sent flying, sliding back I struck my blades into the ground to slow myself. It charged again it's horns now glowed red. I jumped out of the way but I was to slow and it had struck my right leg. There was a burning sensation as I tumbled to the ground. I could see the mark it burned through my armor and the singed flesh on my right caff. That was all the time I had to analyze my situation before it charged again.

I couldn't run, time seamed to slow. I planted my left leg deep into the snow and brought back both of my blades. The moment it reached me I pushed off flying under it and swinging with all my might and will. I heard a satisfying crack and tear before I fell. It passed over me and with a mighty crash I heard it fall. The last thing I saw was the girls and Sombra running towards me before I blacked out.

The Next Village

Twilight had woke to the sounds of hushed talking. The first thing she noticed was the softness of the bed. Sitting up she stretched and yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes she noticed her surroundings. It appeared to be a small medical room, pots full of herbs and glass vases full of chemicals were on the walls. Her mind wondered to the fact that she was not wearing her glasses. She hadn't been since her first week here. Apparently they had a very good understanding of the senses in this world and had developed remedies to help return sight. Glasses were only worn to help prevent loss of sight from reading since the potion was not recommended to be taken very often, apparently to prevent a dependence.

She was about to stand up when the door opened. "Twilight!" Tikia said rushing to my side.

"You're okay!" Tokia continued as he joined his brother. Twilight noticed Cheka enter after closing the door, Cheka gave a small wave and a smile joining her hunting companions at the bedside.

Twilight smiled ecstatically at her friends behavior "You are to! I was so worried about you all after we left! What happened?"

Cheka rubbed the back of her neck and gave an awkward glance to the twins who nodded back. She cleared her throat before speaking. "Well you see it charged at us and we were super ready to beat its scaly ass but um..." She paused before looking down. "It flew right over us! We all were so confused but it just kept flying off into the distance! By the time it was gone and we realized it wasn't going to attack we tried to find you two but you were long gone. So we decided to meet up with you here, your friends told us what happened! If we had known you could put up a fight against an Alatreon we would never have even bothered trying to send you away from a damn Kushala!" She took a deep breath then smiled weakly at Twilight.

"Wait Alatreon? That's the name of the thing that attacked us?" She got out before her mind caught up. "Are Sombra and the girls okay!?"

"Relax Twi..." Tikia gestured to the door

"...They had a broken arm and some cuts nothing fatal." Tokia finished.

"Yeah they said that it was nothing major but before they could stop you, you ran off chasing that Elder Dragon! I can't believe it you beat something that some hunters would only dream of finding let alone killing!" Cheka laughed out. "Supposedly from what the researchers said after they retrieved its body, it was close to the end of it's life and was trying to get a good fight in, very aggressive creatures tend to do that. It's scales were probably weaker and it probably didn't have all of its strength to use it's elements properly, explains why your bone swords were able to pierce its scaled at all."

"Were just happy... Tikia started

"...That you're okay!" Said Tokia

"Thanks guys I'm just glad everything worked out." Twilight said while she inspected her scared over leg.

Cheka noticed her looking and said "The doctors, said your leg should be healed up plenty but the scar will stay, Dragon attacks seem to leave scars easily. I would love to stay and talk to you about your fight but we have to leave. There was a message left for us by the guild saying we were to return to provide relief effort for another village north west of here. When you're ready your friends have a surprise for your at the lodge down the road north of here. This is Sonta Village the lodge is called Oto In, it was great seeing you again Twilight hopefully when this is all over we can spend more time together!"

She hugged Twilight and they said their goodbye's before leaving. Twilight got up and found her stuff in the corner but couldn't find her weapons. After double checking that she had everything she went out the door and exited the building. Finding herself on a stone road she took north to find her friends.

When she entered the lodge she was greeted by the sight of Sombra polishing the strangest looking hammer she had ever seen. The thing was huge! With black steel and a huge gun hammer on the back it looked like a revolver had been morphed into a tool for bashing. The hammer had to be custom fit for his unnatural size. She had made it over to him and when she was closer she noticed his left arm had a massive scar on it, in fact she noticed a lot about him. He was only wearing some black slacks and a dark tee shirt, his normal armor nowhere to be seen. Seeing him like this was almost jarring. Gone was the King in his place was a tough looking young adult. It was strange.

Sombra noticed Twilight's approach and set aside his weapon. Standing up he went over to her and smiled. "It's good to see you're all right."

"Same for you if you don't mind me asking where did you get the hammer? And is your arm okay?" She asked curiously.

He Laughed at her look of wonder "To answer your questions, the arm came from trying to protect Silver and Diamond that beast was tough I'll give him that but they only got cut's from the impact with the cave wall so I guess I did my job, the hammer on the other hoof was a gift from the blacksmith in town, he called it the Gun Hammer and said that I might be the first to be able to wield it properly do to my size, after the week we have been here I've definitely been able to to train and strengthen myself to use it better and the longer I eat this worlds food I am sure I can master it."

"Oh that's great to here! I can't thank you enough for saving them! You kno... DID YOU SAY A WEEK!?" She suddenly yelled.

Chuckling at her behavior he nodded. "They said it had to do with entering the Demon Blade state for the first time taking a lot out of a hunter. Now would you like me to take you to see the others?"

After Twilight got out of her state of shock she agreed to follow him, they went around the lodge to what was supposedly a training ground set up for passing hunters. it was a massive building almost like a coliseum mixed with an indoor high school gym. He took her to a locker area just inside the gym and stopped in front of a full size armor locker.

"This is a gift the town has payed for in full using the creature you slayed, it is yours." He said before opening up the locker to show a full set of armor and two blades. The armor was almost like a dress but cut short with black scales running down the entire length. The horns had been used to accent the joins and the headpiece was built almost like a crown. The swords at quick glance were almost completely made out of the horns with the handle being wrapped in the creatures hide.

"Are those my..." Twilight began.

"Yes they took your old swords and remolded them." He said to her. "What are you waiting for? Put it on I will wait for you by the entrance."

She did as he said feeling the knew armor over her for the first time felt strange. Almost like when the monster had looked at her, a wave of power, but now instead of trying to crush her that power was lifting her up. The blades felt light in her hands as she gave them a few test swings. Soon she excited the locker and found Sombra waiting for her. He beckoned her to follow and led her into the gym and what she saw almost made her jaw drop clean off. There stood the five new members of their group and Sunset as if they had been waiting on her, and based on Sunset's smirk they had been. The thing that made her jaw drop though was the gear all of them were wearing.

"The guild heard about our quest and decided to fully fund it, and after what you did for all of us the girls wanted to chip in their own effort and have been training nonstop, their armor and weapons just got finished yesterday by the smithy and I have got to say that woman may be the best smith I have ever seen." Said Sombra from behind her.

She started at the left side of the room inspecting their new outfits one at a time, Sunset was first her blue and orange armor had a royal feel to it matching the great sword she held that looked almost like a fin or tail. It didn't take long for her to figure out the monster it was made from. She had studied hard before leaving on their journey learning all known monsters on the continent. She had to be prepared for anything they came across. Sunsets gear was made out of the water monster Lagiacrus a very impressive set. Next in line was Applebloom her gear was made out of the Baroth its ridge like shell being easy to discern. Her weapon a switch ax a transforming weapon made from the same material, she looked quite fierce. Scootaloo's was a mixed weapon and armor combo, a Rathalos long sword with Rathain armor. The armor made her appear to be like a warrior princess. Next and probably the most stunning was Sweetie Belle, white fur and orange claws played across her very provocative looking armor. It could have easily been mistaken for some king of underwear if it was a bit shorter. Her very well endowed chest and hips didn't help the case much. Her weapon, a lance, was made from the same monster, the snow wyvern Barioth. To her side was Diamond wearing Rathalos armor and wielding a Rathian heavy bowgun, a quite intimidating combo. She was only out shined in fearsomeness by Silver Spoon who wore a very revealing set herself, just like Sweeties it showed off her curves, she didn't have as big of a chest but her butt made up for that quite a bit. Her gear was made from Diablos a creature known for its destructive power, how they took such a bulky monster and made a set that was so beautiful was beyond her, the bow she held also made from Diablos had two large horns forming its shape. Taking in the sight of all of them she couldn't believe her eyes it was outstanding.

Suddenly as she watched the group a voice spoke to her, it simply said one word, "come." The rest of the group didn't seem to hear it as they talked among themselves, Sombra had walked up next to her and got everyones attention "To Twilights recovery!" he shouted and raised his hammer giving a mighty cheer, everyone followed along and soon they were all cheering together. But even through all the excitement Twilight couldn't shake the foreboding feeling she got from that voice.

Author's Note

Hey everyone If your curious about the armor set's go ahead and look up the monsters they were all some of my favorites from Tri and I want to give them a slightly different look to fit the characters, either way hope you enjoyed the knew chapter.