Arela points to a word and an accompanying diagram in the book she'd given to Starlight and I. “Try again. Alos,” she says, a small rune appearing in her palm before a storm appears in its place, dissipating quickly. “Channel your inner frustration, your confusion, into the rune lattices as you make them.”

Starlight nods her head before she holds up her palm and tries it once more. “Alos,” she says, the rune forming before repeating what had happened with Arela's spell… only it's smaller.

“Good, good, but try and keep the lattices more precise. That way the spell is more powerful,” Arela explains.

I've been observing both Arela and Starlight as they performed the spell, wanting to see some examples before trying it. Seeing Starlight succeed, I finally make my first attempt at the spell. I hold up my palm and read the rune. “Alos,” I say. The rune appears in my palm, glowing brightly before disappearing, and… nothing else happens.

Hikan's sitting nearby watching the little lesson with a smile on his face. He glances at Shell as she sits next to Arela, jerking her hand and saying, “alos” over and over again, but having no luck at all with it. He grunts a bit, looking to his shoulder and seeing Cataclysm with his four front legs on the back of the bench, watching the landscape go by. He shakes his head again and settles back in, closing his eyes.

“Hmm… That's strange, it should have worked. You did everything perfectly from what I can tell,” Arela says, humming in thought as she looks at me.

I think it over for a few moments. “Well, the magic that I can already use is purely inherited,” I start, half talking to myself as I think out loud. “I haven't had to practice it at all… Maybe my body isn't used to learning new magic somehow, if that makes any sense?” Arela hums in thought.

“I suppose…” She looks to Starlight, seeing her practice over and over. She giggles. “Don't get too magic happy, Starlight. You could accidentally create a real storm.”

Starlight's latest attempt fades and she clenches her hand and pulls it back into her lap. “Sorry,” she says, giving a sheepish grin. “I just get a little too into learning new spells.”

“It's fine, really,” Arela says. Starlight smiles before her head turns to look at Cataclysm as his claws start to click against the window, the outskirts of Canterlot coming into view as we start to pull into the mountain city.

Hikan opens his eyes and leans his head back to look out the window. “Ladies,” he says. “Welcome to Canterlot.”

I look out the window and am awestruck by the large city. “Wow…” I say quietly.

“It's huge…!” Shanghai adds from my shoulder.

“Wow… It's almost like Koganusan…” Arela breathes. Hikan looks at her. “A very famous dwarven city, known as the Capital of Trade and nicknamed 'The Laboring City' by Lleiyans back in the day. It had large statues of the twin ancestors, Rickul and Grosh, on either side of it's gilded gates.”

“Oh,” Hikan says, blinking before giving a smile. “That sounds a lot like Canterlot. Certainly a place for the hustle and bustle of trade and economy, though, here, Celestia and Luna rule the heavens.”

“That sounds like Triyte and Litgh,” Arela notes, before shaking her head. “Either way, I loved Koganusan. My mother used to take me there for the famous Dwarven treat, rsiuli. Gods, I loved that stuff.”

“Well,” Starlight says, getting to her hooves and letting Cataclysm jump up onto her shoulders. “Let's hope you enjoy it here, too.” It isn't long before the train pulls into the station, brakes screeching as we come to a stop. We make our way off the train, stepping onto the platform as the sun is starting to make its descent in the sky.

“Alright, guys,” Hikan says, taking in a breath of air. “First things first, we need a place to st-” A loud growl interrupts him and, as he turns his head to follow its direction, Shell puts a hand to her stomach, eyes wide in embarrassment.

“U-um,” the disguised Changeling stammers before giving a nervous smile. “Excuse me…?”

“Seems like someone's hungry,” I note with a grin. Shell gives a nervous breath of laughter. Hikan watches for a moment before he puts his hand to the pouch at his hip.

“Hm…” Hikan hums, thinking for a moment. “There should be enough for us to get a good meal before we start trying to ration…. Any preferences for what we eat?”

I shake my head. “Don't worry about me,” I say. “Being half Yokai, I don't need to eat as often as humans.” I then glance at Starlight. “Or ponies, I guess,” I add.

“I'm curious if they have something that milord had me try once, I believe they were called… donuts?” Arela says, finger to her chin as her brow furrows in thought adorably.

“I do remember Twilight telling me about her favorite pastry shop,” Starlight says. “I could actually go for some Bitalian food right about now….”

Hikan is quiet for a moment before he lifts a finger. “How about… we find a Bitalian place for dinner, then go to Donut Joe's for dessert,” he says, ignoring the surprised look from Starlight. “How's that sound to you guys?”

“Again, I won't be eating, so I'm fine doing whatever,” I answer.

“I love it, let's do it,” Arela says with a smile.

Hikan nods and smiles before turning and pumping his fist into the air. “To food!” He says excitedly before heading towards the platform booth to get a map of the city. With the map in hand, and several odd looks in our direction, he begins to lead us through the city, following the route the ticket pony had provided us. Shanghai is looking around in awe, oblivious to the surprised looks she's getting.

Arela is likewise looking around in awe, although she is noticing the stares. She shivers as the few pegasi around stare at her wings in particular. Hikan mostly ignored the crowd before the angel shivered.

“Hey,” he says softly, slowing down to keep pace with her. “What's wrong?”

“J-Just a few lustful stares, I-It's fine, I got a lot back home, too,” she says unconvincingly.

Hikan raises a brow before looking out at the crowd. He lifts his hand and puts his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in protectively. “C'mon,” he says quietly. “Let's just find that Bitalian joint.” She nods, leaning into him as they walk. After a few more minutes of walking we find our way to the front of a mostly white building with a deep purple roof. Gold cursive writing above the door spells out, “La Mela Dorata.” We go inside and find that the line, though moving, is rather backed up. Arela frowns, but continues leaning into her Devoted.

“I'm glad I don't need to eat yet,” I comment, eyeing the line with a small frown. Then, out of nowhere, a small, heavy bronze looking box falls on Hikan's head. A note is attached to it.

“GAK!” Hikan starts, his head falling forward as the box falls towards the ground before getting caught in a turquoise aura. Starlight levitates the box up into her hands as the man rubs his head. Taking the note in her other hand, she starts to read it out loud.

“Hello, young Hikan. This is Stateran. I nearly forgot to give this to you. It is a Bali, a great weapon of the dwarves. It only requires you to fill it's cartridge with magic to reload. As for the appearance of it, on your head, I figured it would be easier to displace it with my temporal magic. Sorry if it hit you on the head, I was aiming for in front of you. The magic must be raw alone. Any kind will work, as long as it is raw. It refines it itself. Also, this is a top of the line model, from the peak of the dwarven empire, so treat it well. Signed, Stateran.” Starlight looks up with a confused look. “Why on Terra would he give you a weapon of mass destruction?”

Hikan looks up with an annoyed look. “Why would anyone ever give anyone else a weapon of mass destruction as a gift?” I ask, an eyebrow raised. Another note falls, this time landing on Hikan's face. The assassin pulls the note off, his brow ticking a little before he reads it out.

“This item has been given to you because I have seen your future, and it is not pretty. You will need this weapon. I cannot say when, but it will happen. Know that I never give these out anymore, as the war during the Cataclysm of Lleiya saw so many of these in bandit hands that I had to intervene. Don't make me come down there and retake it. Sorry that I didn't explain this on the first note, there was little room. Stateran,” Hikan finishes, putting the note down with a pat of his hands against his sides. “Well… I'll just take that and put it somewhere safe.” He plucks the box from Starlight's hand and sticks it into the pouch on his belt.

He looks up to see several ponies staring at them, some putting a protective arm around their children. “...What, you guys don't get gifts from Gods?” The man asks the crowd, looking around. Some seem even more worried and others just roll their eyes, but the effect was the same as they all look away. The rest of the wait is much less eventful and eventually we make it to the podium to be seated.

“Welcome to La Mela Dorata,” the hostess greets, looking at her chart of open tables. “How many are in your-” she looks up and goes wide-eyed when she sees us. “...party?”

“Um,” Hikan hums, looking around and doing a quick head count. “A table for five please.”

The mare blinks for a few seconds before tearing her eyes away and looking towards her chart again. “Uh, t-table or booth?” She asks, looking up again, albeit nervously.

“Hm… guys?” Hikan questions, looking at each of us.

“Again, doesn't really matter much to me,” I say.

“A booth sounds good to me,” Arela says, nuzzling Hikan's arm.

“Definitely booth,” Starlight agrees.

The hunter nods before giving a smile and looking back to the hostess. “Booth, please.” The mare nods her head and grabs some menus and silverware rolls.

“If you'd please follow me,” she says, before leaving the podium and walking further into the restaurant. Hikan nods and follows after her, putting a hand over Arela's as Shell, Starlight and I follow. She leads us through to the back of the restaurant to a booth that hugs and curves with the corner of the building. She sets the places before stepping back to let us take our seats. Hikan moves out of the way to let us take our seats first. Arela pulls Hikan with her to the back of the booth, then pats a spot next to Hikan for Starlight, giving her a knowing smile. Starlight gives her own smile before she slides in next to Hikan. Shell takes the chance to slide into the booth on the other side of Arela. I sit down on Starlight's other side, deciding to give Shell some space, knowing she's still bad with being near people other than Arela.

Arela smiles, wrapping a golden wing around Shell comfortingly. Shell lets out a small breath and relaxes before the hostess speaks up again. “Your server will be with you shortly,” she says, giving a small bow of her head before scampering away a bit more quickly than was necessary. I watch the hostess leave, a small smile on my face, though with a hint of embarrassment in the expression.

“I think we, uh… 'surprised' her,” I comment.

“Well, to my knowledge, most High Angels or angels in general in other worlds don't have golden wings like me, much less as large as mine,” Arela notes. She lightly runs a finger down one of Hikan's wings. “And my Devoted is practically in the same boat.”

“That's… not what I meant…” I say.

“It's because we're not ponies,” Shanghai pipes up, my cheeks burning slightly as my Fairy reveals the blunt thoughts I was trying to convey in a more friendly manner.

“I think it may be a bit more than that…” Shell says, pressing her pointer fingers together nervously.

“Like the fact that three of us aren't native to Terra at all?” Hikan asks jokingly, lifting up a menu as he tries to play off the shiver that had run down his body at Arela's touch. Arela grins a bit at this, making a glance to Starlight and subtly motioning for her to try it. Starlight frowns a bit at this before picking up a menu… but then she glances at Hikan's wing. After trying to hold it, she smiles mischievously before doing the same as Arela had before. The man's entire body arches and shivers, a chattering noise coming from him. “Chchchch- Would you two cut that out? That is so weird!” He says, not agitated or angry, but definitely weirded out by something.

“Hello, my name is Gaelle, and I'll be your waitress for the night.” The sudden statement has the young man looking up to see a griffoness that resembles a blue jay standing at the front of the table with a pen and pad. “Can I get you guys anything to drink?”

“No, I'm okay, thanks,” I say, shaking my head.

“Water, please,” Arela says politely.

“I'll take water as well,” Starlight says with a smile. “But could I get some lemon with that, too, please?”

“Of course,” Gaelle answers, scribbling in her notepad before turning to look at Hikan and Shell. “And for you two?”

“You don't happen to have any green tea, would you?” Hikan asks, giving a little grin when the griffoness nods. “Great, I'd like a cup, please.”

The waitress nods her head before looking at Shell, the disguised Changeling shrinking back a little. “U-um,” she starts, looking at each of us. “I-I'll take, um… green tea?” The griffon smiles at her reassuringly before scribbling down Shell's order.

“Alrighty,” Gaelle says, giving us a smile as she puts away her pen and pad. “I'll be right back with your drinks and I'll get your orders.” With that, she nods her head, turns and walks away. She walked with a certain practice, something small but noticeable that turned more than a few heads in the restaurant.

“She seems to like the attention of men,” Arela notes, watching her.

Hikan watches her go with a critical eye. “She certainly does…” he murmurs before his eyes travel to other patrons. “...The mares don't seem too deterred either, though….”

“Hmmm…” Arela hums in thought.

I watch Gaelle leave. “It doesn't seem like she's trying either,” I comment. “It seems to come naturally to her, almost as if she put a lot of practice into it…” I'm quiet for a moment as I begin to faintly feel a sensation that I've never felt before. Then I add very quietly, under my breath so that not even Starlight next to me can make out the words, “though it's oddly effective…”

Hikan's eyes narrow for a moment… before he picks up his menu and starts looking through it. “What she does on the side is her own business,” he says quietly, Starlight blinking at him.

“Are you saying she's a-” she starts only to be stopped by his look. “Right, her business, not ours.” She picks up her own menu and looks through the dinners. Arela frowns at this.

“Reminds me of one of my old friends who taivente,” Arela says with a shiver. “She was sent to Triyte's Wastes for almost killing a man from not stopping.”

Even Hikan shivers a bit at that. “It's probably best we don't bring it up,” he says quietly, eyeing a picture of stromboli.

“I can't sense any lust from her…” Shell suddenly speaks up in quiet whispers. “In fact… she seems genuinely happy to be here…”

My brows furrow in confusion at that. “What do you mean she seems 'genuinely happy to be here'?” I ask.

Shell flinches a little. “I-I mean, she wants to be here,” she tries to explain. “It feels like she wants to be here rather than… somewhere else….”

“Well, why don't we ask her about it?” Arela suggests.

Starlight winces a little. “Maybe we shouldn't,” she says slowly. “Sometimes… ponies run from the pasts they're ashamed of… Prying isn't really polite anyway….”

I'm quiet for a moment, looking down at the table. “But sometimes bottling up your feelings and just running away from your problems can be just as bad…” I say a little quietly. “Sometimes it's better to tell someone and seek help instead of hiding…”

Hikan is quiet for a moment before his eyes catch a flash of blue coming towards them. “Not a word to her,” he says definitely. “Her business is hers and hers alone until she invites us in. That's how it's always been and how we should remain moving forward.” Arela shrugs and lays against her Devoted.

“Alright,” I say simply, pushing the dark thoughts from a few moments ago out of my head. Starlight and Shell nod their heads just before Gaelle stops in front of our table, carrying a tray with our drinks on it.

“And here you are,” she says before reaching up to take one of the glasses. “Water for the angel, water with lemon for the unicorn, and green tea for the, um…” she pauses at Hikan, her eyes resting over him. “Um, dra- for you sir, and for the mare.” She finishes serving the drinks before straightening up and smiling once more. “Are you guys ready to order?”

Arela nods. “I'd like the… Kenoli?” Arela shakes her head. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

Gaelle nods her head with a smile. “Trust me, it's a lot better than it sounds,” she says, giving a little wink before looking towards me.

I smile sheepishly as I answer. “Actually, I don't need to eat very often, so I'm not having anything,” I say to Gaelle. “Unless you want to try something Shanghai?” I add, turning to look at Shanghai.

Shanghai thinks for a few moments, looking at Hikan's menu. “The, um… rahv… eye-all… Um…” Shanghai struggles to pronounce 'ravioli'.

“You want the ravioli?” The griffoness asks the Fairy, giving her a patient smile.

“Um, yes, that looks nice,” Shanghai says with a smile. “I'll have that, please.” Arela smiles at Gaelle.

“Alright, sweetie,” Gaelle says, scribbling in her pad before returning Arela's smile and looking towards Hikan. “For you, sir?”

“I'll have the stromboli,” he says, giving a small smile as she nods and writes his order down.

Finally, the waitress looks towards Shell, the mare shrinking a little. “U-um, I'll have the… pasta sampler…?” she says quietly before she receives a warm smile from the griffoness.

“Coming right up,” she says, flipping her notepad closed and slipping it into her apron before taking our menus. “I'll be back with your orders ASAP. If you need anything, don't hesitate to wave me down!” She smiles one more time before turning and leaving towards the kitchen.

I watch her leave again. “She seems like a nice person,” I comment. “And she didn't seem to have been fazed by our mish-mash group either.”

“I think I could allow her in, if that's okay with you, my love,” Arela tells Hikan.

The assassin blinks at the sudden suggestion before giving a little chuckle. “Where did that come from, Arie?” He asks in good humor. Arela blushes.

“I-I well, Starlight opened me up to the idea, s-s-so…” she explains.

Starlight blushes. “D-don't drag me into this!” She says hastily, holding her hands up. “That was totally just an observation.”

“H-Hey! Don't leave me with this!” Arela says. Hikan looks to each of them before giving a little laugh while Shell looks thoroughly confused.

“Oh, I can see it now,” Hikan says before taking on a joking stage voice. “'Hey, miss waitress, do you want to join me and my Devoted as a part of our herd? It'll be great and we have cookies!'” The hunter snickers a bit at his own joke.

“Well, I do like cookies,” Hikan's eyes shoot open as he looks up to see Gaelle refilling Starlight's water glass, looking at him with a smirk and mischievous eyes.

“I-I-I-I-” Hikan stutters out before I speak up with a grin of my own, feeling a little mischievous at the moment.

“You did technically offer it to her out loud,” I start. “And she did technically accept the offer. I think it would be rude to not let her join us at this point.”

“I think it would be interesting, at least. Besides, another avian would be comforting,” Arela points out.

Hikan looks to each of us before his head sinks down and hits the table. “How do I get myself into these things?” Comes his muffled voice as he shakes his head into the table. I try to hold back a small snicker at his reaction… The key word being 'try'. Starlight's eyes jerk towards me before her lips puff out and she puts her hand up to cover her mouth as a small giggle escapes her.

Gaelle smiles at us before putting down the unicorn's now full glass. “Thanks for the offer,” she says with a simple smile. “But I've got my own little family to take care of.” Her head jerks a little towards the kitchen. “That's your order. I'll be right back.” With that, she turns and starts to walk back to the kitchen.

Arela sighs, but leans further into Hikan. Hikan lifts his eyes, but leaves his chin on the table. “These things really do just keep happening,” he mutters.

“You know,” I say. “She does seem like such a nice person. I honestly wouldn't mind if she were to join us.”

Hikan looks up to watch the griffoness disappear around the corner. “She does seem to lighten the room,” he says before he leans back and shakes his head. “But you heard her. She's got her own family to worry about, and have you guys forgotten why we're here? Juno could attack at any moment and we can't stop to watch out for someone else. She'd just end up getting kill-” A loud crash from the front of the restaurant interrupts him before a feminine scream fills the air. Many of the restaurant's patrons jump to their hooves and rush to the front of the building.

“What the hell…?” Hikan mutters, Starlight and Shell already moving to leave the booth.

“I have a feeling that's our cue to do something…” I said, getting to my feet quickly.

“I was looking forward to trying that… Um, 'ravioli',” Shanghai says, her voice slightly disappointed. “But if someone's in trouble, then the best thing to do is help them.” Arela nods, flying out of the restaurant to the front of the building. Starlight, Shell, Hikan and I join her not long after and Starlight's eyes quickly widen alongside Shell's before the unicorn throws her eyes into Hikan's side, trying to make her forget what she'd seen. I simply stare, wide-eyed, unable to look away.

A bright blue pegasus mare with a soft green mane is lying in the street, her body twisted, broken, and naked, blood pooling out from the dozens of stab wounds in her abdomen, but her face is the most nightmarish of all. Her eyes and ears had been removed and her mouth gapes, gasps, and chokes as blood pours out from between her lips. The hunter stares at the scene before we're all pushed out of the way by a blue blur.

“Gentle Breeze!” Gaelle shouts, running forward before she kneels over the mare. Her hands hover over the pegasus as tears well up in her eyes. “Oh… what did they do to you…?”

The mare jerks her head a bit towards the presence before her lips start moving and unintelligible groans escape her lips, weak and strained as they are. Gaelle breaks. She lets her tears fall and sobs start to wrack her body. “What happened…? Ge, who did this to you? Where's Garrick? Ge… where's my cub!?”

The mare stops her groaning and coughs, black ooze spurting from her mouth before she lays still. Gaelle's eyes widen and she puts her hands over her friend's shoulders. There's no movement for several moments before Gentle Breeze's arm begins to move. It raises up before her fingers press into the pool of her own blood that had formed around her head. Her hand comes back down, her clean palm brushing the ground until it feels a space big enough for what she needs… and begins to write.

The griffoness' eyes stare as the message forms before her… until the pegasus' hand suddenly convulses and rubs one last line before lying still for good. Gaelle stares at the message before tears well up in her eyes once more and she shakes her head. “No…” she says quietly, her arms wrapping around her friend. “No. NonononoNOOOO!!!” The waitress' pained scream fills the air as she throws her head back and flares her wings before dropping her eyes to cry over the dead mare. I finally manage to tear my eyes away now that my view has been obstructed. I hesitantly look at the scribbled message on the street. It reads 'CHT' with an awkward arrow pointing down to the word 'Garrick'.

“…'CHT'…?” I say out loud in confusion. “Is that an acronym for something…?”

Hikan's eyes narrow. “Shell,” he says sharply, jerking the disguised Changeling's gaze to him. “Scan the crowd for emotions that don't match the situation.”

The mare stares at him for a moment before she nods her head and closes her eyes. Her ears swivel and her eyes scrunch and relax for several moments before they fly open. “Down the alley, across the street,” she says, not looking in that direction. “There's a stallion watching. He seems… almost giddy.” She shivers at that. “And on the other side, at the edge of the crowd, there's another that feels… relieved. …They're starting to move away now.”

Hikan nods his head. “Starlight,” he says quietly. “Use your staff and go after the one in the alley. Arela, follow the other one from the sky. It's important that neither of you are seen.”

The unicorn stares at him for a long moment before she wipes her eyes, hardens her gaze and nods. She summons a small portal and pulls out her staff before she disappears completely from sight. Arela wipes her own tears and flies up, muttering, “Falis,” and disappearing as well. Hikan takes a deep breath before he looks at me. “Alex… could you talk to Gaelle?” He asks. “I'm… not exactly gentle.”

I look at Hikan for a moment. “S-Sure,” I say. I take a deep breath before approaching Gaelle. “Excuse me, Gaelle,” I say gently, carefully putting a hand on Gaelle's shoulder. The shaking griffoness suddenly stills before lifting her gaze, the feathers on her face soaked and eyes red.

“O-Oh, it's you,” she says, rubbing her eyes and standing up as the guards start to rush through the crowd. “Y-You're that girl from earlier… What… What do you want?” She isn't being rude but she definitely isn't doing well.

“This pegasus here,” I start, gesturing to the corpse. “It seems like she was a good friend of yours. Also…” I pause for a moment, having a bit of trouble figuring out exactly what to say. I'm not sure if I'm any better than Hikan for this type of thing, but I do know that either way I'm definitely rather blunt at times. “It seems like your child is missing. I can tell that you're really upset about it. Me and the rest of the group I'm with would be willing to help you, but… Only if you're willing to accept our help of course. We can't force it on you.”

Gaelle stares at me for a moment before giving an extremely shaky breath. “...I don't think anyone can help now,” she chokes. “The only thing left is to… go back….”

My brows furrow a little stubbornly. “It's never too late to try and get your kid back,” I say firmly. “If we know where to look, I'm sure we'll be able to do it. If you know where to start, then please tell me. I can't just ignore something like this.”

Gaelle looks at me for a moment before she takes another breath. “...Not here…” she says quietly.

My eyes narrow a little. “What do you mean by that?” I ask. Before Gaelle answers though, I realize something and look at the message on the street. “…Does it have something to do with this message?” I ask. “Maybe you know what 'CHT' means?”

Gaelle stays quiet but she nods her head. “Just… follow me,” she says before she starts back towards the doors of the restaurant. I follow, giving Hikan and Shell a glance and a 'come on' gesture with my hand as I pass them. Hikan follows after us, nudging Shell gently to make sure she's with us.

The griffoness leads us back inside and to the back of the restaurant, through the kitchen and into the storage room. She turns and looks at us before she lets out a sigh, sinking down to sit on a box with her head in her hands. “What am I doing…?” She mutters quietly.

“Just relax,” I say, putting a hand on Gaelle's shoulder. “We're going to help you, alright? If you know what 'CHT' means, then you need to tell us. That'll make it easier for us to track down Garrick, I just know it will.”

The waitress turns her gaze up to me before she takes a deep breath. “CHT stands for the Circle of the High Tower,” she starts. “They're an organization that started in Canterlot's underground hundreds of years ago. They control just about every branch of crime in the city. Drugs, theft… prostitution…” She stops and looks towards the ground. “They run the entire underworld…. Years ago, when I was young and desperate, I… approached them. At first, I just danced in a few clubs. Y'know, just sort of showed myself off for a few extra bits… but it didn't stop there. They… they approached me and told me to stand on a street corner. I… I didn't want to, but… it wasn't a request. I was forced to go out, night after night, and do… such horrible things… I eventually got another job that paid enough that I could quit, so… I just stopped showing up. They tried to contact me but I ignored the messages… and so they decided to be more… direct. One night, after work, I was kidnapped and they… they tied me to a bed in some warehouse somewhere. The Circle hired a local gang to watch over me for… Gods, I don't know how long… and they… they-” She stops and looks towards the ceiling, trying to hold back her tears as she tries to gulp in air. “They… took turns on me… One after another, they raped and tortured me, always driving me just past the point of breaking before they stopped… I don't know how long they held me there, but it didn't stop until the warehouse was raided by the guards… The Circle didn't contact me after that but… They had achieved what they wanted… I got pregnant. Garrick was born, and for the longest time, I thought we were safe… but a few weeks ago, they sent another message.”

“They wanted Garrick… They said he was their creation, their property… They wanted me to give them what was rightfully theirs… but I refused. And now… now Gentle Breeze… They must have ambushed her while she was bringing him to me… Don't you see now?” She looks up at us with a desperate look. “I can't escape. The only thing I can do is go back to them and hope they have mercy on me and my little cub…”

I'm silent for a few moments, a mixture of anger and determination on my face. The word 'scum' just repeats in my mind over and over. “No,” I suddenly say firmly, getting a surprised look from Gaelle. “Hikan,” I continue without turning. “We're going to topple a criminal syndicate. And I refuse to change my mind. I'll do it myself if I have to. This is outrageous. I refuse to let this scum remain in Canterlot.”

“I wouldn't have it any other way,” the hunter answers, barely contained malice in his voice. “Starlight, what did you find?” He turns to look towards the cracked door before it opens and the unicorn shimmers back into existence.

“Aw, I thought I had you…” she mutters before her face turns serious. “I followed him for quite a few blocks before he got into a carriage and took off. I couldn't keep up with them after that.” Arela comes in next, seeming to be holding back her own anger. It's obvious she'd heard the news.

“I know the pain of rape well, Gaelle,” she says, wrapping an arm around the griffoness. She looks to Hikan. “The stallion I followed got into a carriage as well. However, I was able to keep up with it. It arrived at a dilapidated, two-story house alongside another carriage, presumably the one Starlight mentioned. The two stallions got out and were greeted by a dark gray stallion with a scar over his left eye that went down and through his lips. After that, the three went inside. Because I had already been gone so long, I decided to return and report my findings instead of following them inside.”

“Probably for the best,” Hikan says before looking to us. “We go in and see what we can find. Our primary objective is Garrick, assume everyone else is hostile.”

“Wait,” Gaelle interrupts, drawing the hunter's gaze. “You actually plan on going in there and fighting the Circle? You're either stupid or have a death wish.”

“Pretty sure he does,” Starlight says with a shrug, drawing an annoyed look from Hikan. “Besides, we can take care of ourselves.” The griffoness gives her a look of disbelief before the assassin notices and gives a chuckle.

“Trust us, Gaelle,” Hikan says. “This isn't our first rodeo.” To make his point, a whirring noise sounds out and the black and orange clawed gauntlets form over his hands and forearms. Taking his cue, Starlight summons her armor and sword, Cataclysm coming to peek out over her shoulder.

“The last thing you'd want to do is underestimate any one of us,” I add. I pause for a short moment before suddenly unleashing a two-Spellcard combo in order to prove my point as well.

Reverse Sign「Turn Over」

Bolt Sign「Lightning Strike」

Gaelle is caught off guard as the first Spellcard suspends her upside down before a lightning bolt shoots from my hand… and strikes right next to Gaelle's head. After giving Gaelle a couple moments, I return her to the floor, right side up. Arela simply summons her WarSuit and halberd, blinding everyone for a moment and making the griffon's eyes widen at the armor's size.

Gaelle blinks for a few seconds. “O-Okay, point made,” she mutters. “You… can you guarantee I'll get Garrick back safe…?”

Hikan gives a sad frown and looks to the floor. “I'm… sorry, Miss Gaelle,” he says quietly. “But… nothing is ever guaranteed in situations like this. I won't sugar coat it… I'm not good at it. We will go in, and we will get you answers… but I don't know what those answers will be…” In response to this, I roughly punch Hikan across the face.

“Don't say that, dammit!” I shout at him, extremely agitated. “The whole point of doing this is to get Garrick back! If we can't get the kid back safely, then everything we're about to do will have been pointless! I refuse to tolerate that!”

“Agreed. I won't allow a child to die,” Arela concurs.

Hikan puts a hand to his face as he stumbles a bit. He rubs the spot for a moment before he looks up at me. His eyes aren't angry, not violent or wrathful… but sad and knowing, showing years on years of horrible experience. “...Guys, you need to be just as ready as I'm trying to make her,” he says, nodding towards Gaelle. “His chances are extremely high but… we're going into unknown territory… I'm hopeful but… it's the truth.”

I remain silent, a defiant expression on my face. After several moments, I cross my arms and turn to face the door of the storage room with a 'hmph'. (Literally the only reason why we're doing this is to save this kid Garrick) I think to myself. (Letting the kid die is stupid, wrong and completely against the fundamental goal. Idiot…) Arela gives him a sad look, as well as Gaelle.

“I know war, and I know it well. Even if this isn't a full fledged one, I know how it works. They will use any edge they can. If it means killing innocents, they will do it. I have seen countless peoples fall to fire and brimstone, to becoming naught but slaves, whether for sex or otherwise,” Arela's look is full of fire and steel as she turns to Gaelle. “But I will do all in my power to save your child.”

“I won't accept any harm coming to that child,” I say darkly, not moving or turning an inch.

Hikan's gaze looks between each of us before giving a sigh. “...Let's… get going,” he says, turning to exit the storage pantry. “It'd be best if we could fly. Starlight-”

“Yes, Hikan,” she says, coming up behind him and patting the back of his shoulder. “I can keep up.” She flashes him a reassuring smile. He hesitates a moment before giving a small smile of his own.

“Let's get this show on the road,” he says before looking back and hardening his face. “And let's show these bastards a good time….” With that, he leaves the pantry and starts on his way out of the restaurant.

Hikan kneels down on a rooftop three buildings down from the dilapidated two story that Arela had led us to. An orange visor covers his eyes as he scans the building. “What's the situation?” The visor raises up and he looks behind him to Shell and Starlight, the unicorn tapping her finger on her sword blade after asking her question. Hikan turns back around and puts his back to the small wall before answering.

“The building is just a cover,” he says. “There's an entire complex underneath it, spreading out underneath the buildings to either side and the street. Four rooms, the biggest being a storage room and the others housing several heat signatures. I count seven up in the house itself and I counted a total of forty-two on the lower levels. ...This isn't going to be fun.”

I then speak up suddenly, having been quiet the whole way here. “I was thinking on the way here,” I start. “I realized that, yes, several Yokai from Gensokyo appeared in Ponyville, but…” I pause for a moment and give Hikan a look before continuing. “That's not to say that Ponyville is the only place they've appeared in. I'd recommend caution as we proceed. We have no idea who or what we might encounter. Who knows? It's not outside the realm of possibility that the Circle could have picked up a Gensokian whose skills happened to interest them.”

“If they have, then the threat level goes from being two to three, and not a low three either,” the hunter mutters, scratching his chin.

“Indeed, and there's something more going on. A child of Triyte is near. Not a blood relative, but a creation… I sense occult magic,” Arela says, shivering next to Hikan.

“'A child of Triyte is near'…?” I repeat, somewhat confused. “What do you mean?”

“A Fallen Angel,” Arela replies with a quiet growl.

Hikan raises an eyebrow before he lets his gaze fall towards the rooftop. “...Anywhere near our target zone?” He asks. Arela hums in thought, wings glowing a little.

“...No, in some kind of dungeon, further below,” Arela informs.

My eyes widen and my brows furrow. “In a dungeon…!?” I say. “I'm not sure what a Fallen Angel is, and even though it sounds like it could be something unpleasant or even unfriendly… Putting anyone in a dungeon is wrong.” I then turn to the building. “I'm personally making it a secondary objective to free them.”

Hikan thinks for a moment before he lifts his hand and rubs his face. “This is quickly starting to become a level four mission…” he mutters. “Maybe even five…. Not something I wanted to drag you guys into on the first go around….”

“I'm sure we'll be fine, my love. This isn't my first battle or infiltration,” Arela assures, hand on Hikan's shoulder. The assassin looks to his Devoted with a worried look before he lets out a relaxing breath.

“You're right,” he says calmly before going back into tactician mode. “Alright, first, we need to take down those seven guards and find a way down to the sublevel. Shell,” the undisguised Changeling looks up, “you're going to play the distraction.”

“Um…” the Changeling hums, putting her index fingers together. “H-how would I do that?”

Hikan grins. “Easy,” he answers. “Walk right on up and sway those hips a bit.”

Shell's face and fingers fall at that. “I, um…” she says hesitantly.

I'm silent before speaking up hesitantly. “I mean… if it works, then…”

Hikan smiles at the Changeling. “You'll be just fine, Shell,” he says. “Because while you're outside, Starlight and Shanghai will infiltrate the top floor and take out the guards.”

The suggestion catches me by surprise and I'm about to protest… before I stop and think about it. “…I guess that would be fine…” I say hesitantly. “I just hope it isn't so far away that Shanghai gets hurt. I'm still not sure how far she can go while retaining her pseudo-invincibility that comes from sharing my life force. There might not even be a limit, but still…”

“She still has that combat mode, right?” The hunter questions.

“Yeah, but…” I answer. “You remember what it looked like, don't you? I'd think the Circle might try to capture her if they saw that. I can't say how successful they'd be, but I still wouldn't want to take my chances.”

“Just checking,” Hikan reassures. “Just in case they get into a tight spot.” He looks towards Starlight and Shell. “No mercy. None at all. These guys are killers. Murderers. We take them out, all of them.” The unicorn stares for a moment before her eyes narrow.

“Right,” she answers, her voice taking on a darker tone as she draws her sword off her lap. Shell simply nods her head.

“I'm not sure how comfortable I am with Shanghai potentially… killing people, but…” I say slowly before steeling my gaze. “In a situation like this, I guess I have to be ready for extreme measures.”

Hikan looks to me before giving us a sympathetic look. “I'm sorry, Alex,” he says. “I know you're a pacifist… but this isn't a game. These guys won't give us a second chance or hesitate, so neither can we…”

I'm silent for several seconds. “…I know,” I finally say. “Alright Shanghai, you heard everything Hikan said, right?” Shanghai nods. “Then go with Starlight. Don't show any mercy, but save your HDD as a last resort, okay?”

“Okay,” Shanghai answers, drawing her broadsword.

Starlight gets to her hooves as a portal runs over her sword, exchanging it for her staff. “Let's get going,” she says, holding a hand out and helping Shell up as she takes on her mare form. With the Changeling disguised the mare activates her magic and her body starts to disappear starting at her hooves.

“Um, hang on…!” Shanghai says quickly, causing Starlight to stop, returning to being completely visible.

“What's wrong?” Starlight asks Shanghai, a little confused.

“Um…” Shanghai hums. “If you go invisible, then I'd lose you and wouldn't be able to follow you. I don't think that would be a good thing.”

Starlight is quiet for a moment. “Maybe if you hold on to me, I can get us in close,” she suggests.

“Okay,” Shanghai answers. “That would make it easy. If I'm holding you, then there's no way I'd lose track of you.” Shanghai then grabs onto Starlight's shoulder in the same way that she does with me.

“Alright,” Starlight says before her horn lights up again. “Let's do this.” her body slowly fades away and disappears completely. It looks like Shanghai is grasping the air itself. After a few moments she suddenly vanishes as well and Shell blinks.

(Amazing) I think to myself, staring at the spot where Shanghai had vanished. (Looks like she can even pick up abilities tied to unique items)

“I-I guess that's my cue…” Shell says before going to the edge of the building, wings flaring into being in green flames before she jumps over the barrier and floats gently to the ground in an alleyway. The Changeling smooths out her clothing for a moment before walking out of the alley and starting towards the hideout, adding a sway to her hips. After a minute or so, I notice as Shanghai becomes visible again and slips inside a window, entering the second floor of the target house. After another couple of minutes, the windows of the second floor light up with a faint flash of bluish-white light. Shell had managed to lure the two guards from the ground floor out front, and has them distracted with her… wiles. One of Hikan's gauntlets then begins to whir as it forms a sort of sniper rifle on the end of his arm. He then takes aim down the scope and…

Thump! Thump!

He fires two shots, the silencer on the rifle reducing the bangs to dull thuds. The two guards fall to the ground dead, a hole in each of their heads. The gauntlet returns to normal and his wings unfurl as he then silently jumps off the roof and heads for the two dead guards, Arela quickly following suit. After a moment, I simply follow them. At the building, Hikan drags the two bodies inside. I follow him inside as he drags the first in, standing to the side just inside the door. Arela summons her armor and halberd, standing by another doorway, making sure we aren't disturbed by any other guards. Shell's disguise fades away, standing off to the side, out of the way. As Hikan drags the second guard inside, Shanghai and Starlight come down the stairs. Shanghai flies over to me quickly, a big smile on her face.

“Hehe, guess what Alexandria?” she asks, clearly excited. She then continues without waiting for an answer. “I beat up all the guards upstairs all on my own!”

“Really?” I answer. “Well, good for you. That's really impressive.” Shanghai's smile is absolutely beaming. Starlight's eyes look to the little Fairy, but she quickly looks away, going to stand next to Hikan as he closes the front door.

“Did she take care of it?” Hikan asks, his normally warm tone gone and replaced by the voice of the assassin.

Starlight only nods her head. “Y-Yeah, she got'em,” the unicorn says, drawing the hunter's eyes to her. He takes one look over her then glances at Shanghai, before he turns back and nods his head in understanding. His gaze jerks away from her and down the hall.

“Okay, guys,” he says, drawing our attention. “This is where things get dicey. From here on out, no more stealth. We get in, we hit hard, we get out. That's the plan. Any questions?”

“Just one,” I say. “What's our first target? Garrick, or the Fallen Angel?”

Hikan's visor reforms in response and he looks towards the floor. “...I think the cub is in one of the back rooms on the first sublevel,” he mutters. “At least, that's where the smallest heat signature seems to be tied up. If I'm reading this right, there's a ton of magical energy being dispersed around down there and every line leads back to another heat source farther down on a second level, albeit it's just the one room.” He looks back up after the analysis, the visor lifting up. “The cub's closer than the Fallen Angel, but there's a hell of a lot more guards between us and Garrick.” He stops and looks around to each of us.

“Wait,” I say suddenly, furrowing my brows. “You said that there's a bunch of magical energy being fed from the Fallen Angel through lines all over the complex, right?” Hikan nods. My eyes widen as I realize what's going on. “A generator…” I whisper. Then my brows furrow even further in anger. “They're using the Fallen Angel as a damn magic generator…!”

“That's… That's despicable! A filthy tila they may be, but being used as a living battery…” Arela growls.

Hikan looks towards Starlight and Shell, and the unicorn doesn't look happy. “I think we may have to split up for this one,” Starlight says. “As much as I hate to say it, that seems like the best option.” she looks at Arela, Shanghai and I. “If you three go after the Fallen Angel, the rest of us should be able to grab Garrick.”

I look at Arela. “Alright,” I say. “Sounds like a solid plan to me.” Arela nods.

“It shall be done, my love,” she says resolutely.

Hikan looks at each of us in turn before his armor whirs to life onto his arms. “Then let's do this,” he says before starting down the hallway until he stands in front of the wooden door under the stairs. He pulls it open to reveal an elevator on the other side. He looks to us and perks an eyebrow. “Who wants to go first?”

“I think you guys should go first,” I say. “Your elevator ride will be shorter, and you'll still have to navigate to Garrick's room after that. We just have to ride the elevator down to a floor which is just a single room. Doing it that way should maximize efficiency.”

Hikan nods before looking at Shell and Starlight. “Let's go, then,” he says before stepping into the elevator. Starlight nods her head and enters the elevator, Shell right behind her. Hikan closes the door and a soft rumbling sound fills the air.

After a few minutes of waiting, the rumbling sound returns, something clinking and banging into place behind the door several moments later.

“These land transportation methods are so primitive…” Arela groans.

“Well, it's all we've got to work with right now,” I tell her. “Don't worry, you can just let me work the elevator if you want. Though it's really simple. All you have to do is get in and press the button for the floor you want.” With that, I step into the elevator, Shanghai having taken her usual spot on my shoulder.

“Ugh, fine…” Arela groans again, stepping inside. I look at the panel inside the elevator. There are two buttons: 'storage level' and 'generator room'.

“Well, it can't be any more obvious which one we're going to…” I mutter as I hit the latter button and the elevator jerks as it starts to descend. Arela's wings fidget a little in the small, cramped space.

Soon enough, the elevator shudders to a halt and the doors screech open to reveal a large room. On the far wall is what appears to be a girl suspended in a strange machine.

A young woman with charcoal black feathered wings and pale as snow skin is wrapped in chains and connected to a bunch of tubes, sprouting from her back and the rest of her bare body. There are cuts on her cheek and abdomen, but otherwise she's perfectly clear skinned.

She has deep purple hair tied in a wild set of pigtails, so long as to touch the ground. I realize in surprise that her eyes are just like mine, only the colours are reversed, like if I were to look in a mirror: her left eye is crimson red, matching my right eye, and her right eye is a vibrant purple, exactly like my left one. She looks like she's running on fumes, and, upon closer inspection, she has signs of being raped, if the dried white stains on her face are any indication. The smell of it can be smelt from even where we stand. Arela growls under her helmet at this.

This growl catches the attention of the other person that was already in the room. This other woman turns around to look at us. She has shoulder-length brown hair with two long pigtails that go down to the small of her back, and brown eyes. She's wearing a white button-up shirt and a red ascot as well as rolled-up, beige shorts. Finally, she has brown loafers and a piece of chalk behind her ear. “Oh…?” she says. “What do we have here…? Intruders in my personal workshop?”

I furrow my brows. “Who are you?” I ask her. “You seem as if you're… human.”

“My name is Rika,” the woman answers, introducing herself. “I seem like I'm human because I am human. And by the looks of things… you're a Yokai.” My eyes widen at this.

“Are you…” I start, knowing that it was possible, having even brought it up to Hikan earlier, but I'm dumbfounded regardless, not having expected to find someone so soon. “A Gensokian!?”

“Oh!” Rika says. “So that means you are too. That's perfect actually. I've been trying to find someone that could even be remotely strong enough to test my newest creation on.”

“I take it you're the one who took this girl and used her as a battery?” Arela asks, tone like ice.

“Hmmm…?” Rika mumbles, finally taking full notice of Arela. “Ah, you look rather impressive. But you don't look like any Yokai I've seen before. Anyway, to answer your question, no. I didn't do this. I just so happened to be passing through the area with one of my prototype tanks when one of the members of the Circle stopped me and offered me to join. I initially refused, but then when they mentioned about such an advanced and unbeatable power source that I could use to make tanks to my heart's content… Well, I simply couldn't refuse.”

“Despicable,” Arela harrumphs, brandishing her halberd. “I suppose I must show you the might of the Angels of Lleiya, then!”

“I may only be half-Yokai…!” I start, shaking off my surprise before shouting as I sweep Die Leaguer out of my pouch. “But even half-Yokai can kill a human with ease!”

Rika grins. “Oh, but you won't be fighting me,” she says. “You'll be fighting my newest tank. I did say before that I'd been waiting a long time for someone even remotely strong enough to test it on.” She then brandishes a remote from her shorts pocket. “I present to you the improved version of my previous masterpiece…” she begins dramatically before pressing a button on the remote. The floor between her and us opens up and a large, winged eyeball with tentacles, an Omega symbol on its lower eyelid, comes rising out of the opening. “The Evil Eye Omega!!!” Arela growls again at this.

“Foul beasts…” She rushes forward, halberd poised to lop off one of the tentacles. As Arela brings her halberd down on a tentacle, the blade rebounds off, barely leaving a mark.

“Hahahaha!” Rika laughs. “The resilience of the Evil Eye Sigma, the previous model, was already top-notch! With this model, I've taken that resilience and cranked it even higher! Trying to damage the Evil Eye Omega is futile!”

I inspect the strange weapon that Rika claims is a tank. “Hmmm…” I hum to myself in thought, looking at Shanghai. “Shanghai, I want to try and see if we can overpower this thing. I want you to activate HDD and then attack with the strongest thing you can think of.” Shanghai nods before activating her CPU form.

“Hmph,” Shanghai harrumphs, now in her CPU form. “I'll burn you to ash!”

Shanghai「Agni Shine」

Shanghai then activates her very own Spellcard, unleashing a barrage of large fireballs. As Shanghai declares the card, I look at Die Leaguer. “I wonder…” I whisper to myself, taking two orbs - the Explosion Orb and the Flame Orb - at once. Just as Shanghai unleashes Agni Shine, I throw the two orbs simultaneously, and they fly through the air, stuck together. As they collide with the Evil Eye Omega, a massive, flaming eruption occurs, Shanghai's Agni Shine arriving and just adding to the intensity of the mix. There's a big cloud of smoke left behind when all the flame dies down. Rika is staring intently as the smoke clears, evidently wanting to know how her tank fared in the face of the attack.

As the smoke clears, it reveals… That the Evil Eye Omega still stands. It's badly charred, and its wings are a little torn, one tentacle even having been burnt off, but it's still very much functional. “I see, I see…” Rika mumbles to herself. “So there are still attacks that are capable of doing heavy damage to the Omega… Hmmm… I'll need to continue my research on defensive measures then. Anyway, let's now test the offensive capabilities of the Evil Eye Omega. Attack!”

The Evil Eye Omega complies to the command immediately, closing its eye and folding its wings over the eye for a few moments before flaring its wings again and opening the eye wide, a large, blue beam of pure energy emitting from its pupil, directed straight at Arela. My eyes widen. “Move!” I shout as I tackle Arela, somehow managing to shove her out of the way despite her heavy armor… Only to take the full force of the beam in her place. “Ngah!!” I shout in extreme pain as I'm slammed against the elevator door from the power of the attack. My consciousness begins to fade a little, and all sound becomes vague as my vision darkens. I fight to stay conscious, but that last attack really was nasty… And then I feel an odd pushing at the back of my mind as I slowly come to again.

“Hmmm… That's no good…” Rika says, looking at the damage the tank had just sustained. “Though the offensive capabilities seem to be in working order. It may just be a half-breed, but it's still impressive to take down a Yokai in one-”

“You son of a bitch…” I growl murderously, cutting her off, rage beginning to flow through me. “Don't ever call me a half-breed!” I then get to my feet, a look that could almost literally kill on my face. “Shanghai, Perfect Freeze the tank.” Shanghai, still in CPU form, complies.

Shanghai「Perfect Freeze」

The tank freezes solid before I throw the Flame Orb and Storm Orb at it together. The two orbs collide with the frozen tank, causing a violent, whirling cascade of fire. I then take the Lightning Orb in my hands and charge it with as much lightning magic as possible. I then grab the Explosion Orb and throw it along with the charged Lightning Orb.

Electric Sign「Ultimate Discharge」

As the orbs come into contact with the thawed and now badly damaged tank, a massive explosion of pure lightning erupts, electricity arcing across the whole room, centered around the tank. It takes several minutes for the electricity to die down, leaving nothing but smoldering remains where the tank used to be. Rika stares at the remains, eyes wide.

“Buh… Wha…?” she utters incoherently. She then looks at me, fear clear in her eyes. I simply glare at her, my eyes shooting daggers.

“Your tank is gone,” I say flatly. “Do you want to try a direct one on one with me, or will you release this girl right now?” Rika stares at me.

“I-I'm just a normal human…” she says, fear overflowing in her voice.

“Right. Now,” I say much more forcefully. Rika immediately disengages the machine, the girl in it falling to her knees in front of it. “Now, GET OUT!” I scream at Rika, who immediately bolts to an emergency staircase in the corner. A sign on the door states that it goes to the storage level. As the rage fades along with the faint urging sensation at the back of my mind, my actions from the past ten minutes finally register with me. I stare down at the floor, wide-eyed, and start shaking. Arela says something to me, but I don't hear her.

“What the fuck came over me…?” I whisper to myself. “I… I've never been like that before… Never, for any reason… Wh… What the fuck happened…?” I wrap my arms around myself, beginning to shake more violently, wide-eyed gaze fixed to a point on the floor just in front of my feet. Arela places a wing on my shoulder and I freeze up.

“Alexandria, calm down. We don't have time. Any minute now someone could bust through the door and kill us,” Arela urges. I barely register her words after several moments and I slowly and distractedly nod my head, still staring at the same point on the floor. “Good. Now come on, let's go.” Arela says, pulling the unconscious Fallen Angel with her. I mindlessly follow Arela into the elevator, staring off into space through the floor about a foot in front of myself, thinking about what I'd just done.

(What the actual fuck came over me…?) I think to myself. (Am… Am I starting to lose it…? Am I… succumbing to my Yokai half…?) Once the elevator doors open, I step outside and sink to the ground, my back against the wall next to the front door. (Am I really just like my mother after all…? Am I really just another… Seija Kijin…?) As my thoughts sink into the deepest depths they can possibly reach, my awareness of what's been happening around me having been lost a while ago, a very strong urging sensation suddenly pressures me within my mind. Too depressed and self-doubtful to even worry about it, I don't even try to fight it.

…

……

………(Heh)

“Ah…!?” Shanghai utters suddenly, startled, letting go of my shoulder.

“Shanghai? Alex?” Hikan asks. “You guys okay?”

I remain silent. “Ah, um…” Shanghai stutters, clearly distraught. “Alexandria's mind started to feel all weird suddenly.”

I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Hey… you doing okay?” Hikan asks, a worried tone sinking into his voice.

After a few moments of silence, I finally speak. “…Awww, you're worried about me?” I say, incredibly mocking.

Hikan's hand leaves my shoulder. “Yeah,” he says shortly, suspicion in his voice. “Why wouldn't I be?”

“Ooooh, I don't know…” I answer, still mockingly. “Maybe because…” I then lift my head to look Hikan straight in the eye, revealing the mischief in my eyes and the shit-eating grin on my face. “…All the women you care about seem to end up dead?” I finish standing up.

Hikan's eyes widen and he steps back. After a moment, his eyes narrow. “Measure your next words very carefully, Alex,” he says in a low tone.

“Just think about it,” I say. “It's true, isn't it? Can you remember any women that you've cared about that are still alive?”

“Alexandria-” Arela makes to say.

“Maybe you're next?” I say to her, cutting her off. I then begin to casually inspect my nails as I continue. “If you think about the trend, it's a certainty that you'll die prematurely… And it's all because lover-boy fell in love with you.”

“That's enough, Alex,” Hikan growls, stepping forward as his eyes harden in the sign that the actual Hikan is coming forward. “I don't know what you had to do or see down there, but whatever it was does not, and will never give you the right to bring up things like this.”

My grin widens. I'm having a lot of fun right now. Stabbing Hikan right where it hurts most… Never before have I enjoyed anything this much in my life. “Who knows?” I start. “Maybe your little angel will die today? Maybe even…” I suddenly rush behind Arela, grabbing both her arms and pulling them behind and up, preventing Arela from being able to do anything. All this happens impossibly fast, surprising everyone present. “…Right now.”

Hikan is in front of Arela in the next instant, his arms wrapping around her as his wing blades form and press against my throat. “…Let go…” he says, his murderous intent so clear that any doubt in the air shrivels up and dies.

(Perfect…) My grin widens and my eyes sparkle. “Ah, the rage and hatred filling your voice…” I say. “It's music to my ears.” As I finish speaking, I release Arela.

Hikan drops his blades and puts his hands on Arela's shoulders. “Star, Shell,” he barks, the two mares rushing me to stand behind and in front of me. He lets his gaze go back to his Devoted. “Are you okay?” He asks, voice shakey. She nods numbly.

“Y-Yes, I'm fine,” she affirms. He lets out a heavy sigh and hugs her tight.

I laugh darkly. “Are you maybe naive or something?” I ask. “I don't necessarily need to be close to someone if I want to kill them.”

Reverse Sign「Turn Over」

Suddenly, Hikan finds himself between Starlight and Shell, and I'm standing next to Arela, lightning sparking from my hands. Hikan's eyes widen in surprise. “Alex, stop!” He shouts, stepping away from Shell and Starlight. “I don't know what you're playing at, but stop it, right now!”

(Finally. Exactly what I wanted to hear) My grin widens greatly as I show off my teeth. “Make me,” I challenge. Hikan steps forward, reaching me in what seems like two steps.

“You do not want to do this, Alexandria,” he says darkly.

“Maybe I do,” I answer a little teasingly. “How do you know what I do and don't want to do? Maybe I'll just keep trying to kill your little angel until you kill me instead? That sounds like it could be kind of fun.”

“No, it doesn't,” Hikan says quietly. “Dying is not something you want to do, and I don't make a habit of killing my friends. Now, cut. This. Out.”

“I see,” I say, a small grin still on my face. “So the reason why it's so hard to frustrate you is because you see us as friends? Alright then, if that's the case…” I glance over to Shanghai, who's behind Hikan, off to the side. “Shanghai, could you be a dear and stab Hikan in the back?”

“N-No!” Shanghai shouts. My expression falters for a split second. “You're suddenly acting all weird! Please, snap out of it!”

I pause for a moment. “Fine,” I say, shrugging. “I'll just do it myself.” With that, I jump into the air, quickly flying behind Hikan before firing a bolt of lightning towards his back. Dorkifu revs to life, and he turns, throwing up his arm-wing, tanking the lightning bolt with the glowing orange sail before he jumps after me, his back wings flaring. “Arie, you and the others get Garrick back to his mother!” He shouts as he flies at me.

Arela stares for a bit, before quickly grabbing the other Angel and taking Garrick's hand. “Come on!” she cries, rushing down the streets. Starlight and Shell run after her, Starlight throwing a look over her shoulder as Hikan reaches me.

The assassin blinks out of sight before appearing over me, twisting his body to bring his leg down in an axe kick. I notice him appear over me, and I effortlessly avoid the attack.

“Too slow!” I taunt, retaliating with a tightly compacted pattern of small sparks. Hikan draws his arm wings together and lets the bullets slam into him, grunting a bit as they detonate. He throws his arms apart before boosters form on his back and launch him forward, his fist reared back.

I fake a yawn, moving to the side lazily. “Are you even trying?” I ask almost genuinely incredulous… Almost. The man comes to a stop and swings around, his leg coming up to shoot towards the side of my head. I simply duck under the painfully predictable kick before retaliating instantaneously with a lightning bolt to Hikan's stomach as I shout at him. “Stupid!”

The assassin is pushed back from the blow, his abdomen smoking as burn holes sizzle. And he looks up with a smirk. “Only if I was fighting alone.” A buzzing sounds out next to me and a bright flash and a concussive blast detonates next to my head. My eyes widen in surprise, and I try to quickly move away from the noise… Only to be partially successful as the blast clips my head, the force of impact causing my vision blur.

“Finally getting serious, are we?” I say after a few moments, shaking my head as my vision clears. “Good.”

Thunderous Sign「Thunderbolts」

Suddenly, many lightning bolts begin to rapidly strike random locations in a 25-meter radius around Hikan. “…Now I can too,” I finish with a smirk. Hikan lets his visor form before he starts dodging the bolts.

“This is ridiculous,” he mutters before his other three wisps form. “Take her.” The four wisps buzz around me, keeping just out of reach before one of them rushs my face and the others keep me mostly contained. I do a stationary midair backflip to avoid the rushing wisp.

“Are you trying to make things difficult?” I ask him mockingly. “I do love a good challenge.” I then start adding a ton of sparks into the mix for Hikan to dodge as I continue to effortlessly dodge each wisp as it charges at me.

Hikan rushes out of the way, raising his wing-blade to tank whatever he can't dodge, wisps suddenly rushing at me much faster from every angle. The moment one passes or glances off me, another zooms in.

“What pests,” I say, no longer able to shoot sparks, being forced to focus on dodging the wisps. “Don't you understand the concept of personal space?”

Repulsion Sign「Push Away」

Suddenly, the wisps are very forcefully repelled away from me by my magnetism magic. “Finally, I can breathe,” I joke as I resume my assault of sparks, the lightning bolts from before still striking around Hikan.

Hikan lets out a growl before he looks up, one eye turning orange. “I've had enough of this,” he mutters before his back wings form a shield over him. “Trump Card; Dragon's Rule.” Dorkifu whirs to life like never before, his wisps suddenly disappearing in dust as burning orange lines start to dart over his form. Black armor starts to pour over his body like waves until it covers his body completely. Two amber orbs burn on his chest plate as twin cannons form on either side of the growing wisp extensions on his wrist. Claw-like armor forms over his boots, vicious armor going up his leg to form into spikes that jut out and away from his knees. Boosters form on his back as more cannons take shape on the arcs of his wings, the last wisp extensions forming on his shoulders. A draconic helm forms over his head before his orange visor materializes and slams down over the helmet's red eyes.

“Fancy~” I say mockingly. “Where'd you buy it? I think I-” I'm cut off as Hikan's clawed gauntlet grabs me by the face, his boosters flaring as he slams me into a brick wall, the force of impact causing it to crack. All this happens in the span of a split second. Shanghai's blood-curdling scream of pain is the last thing I hear as I black out.

End of Chapter 1

Author's Note

Here it is! My new story, which is technically part two of my first story, Daughter of Gensokyo. Expect some dark themes and otherwise mature content throughout this one. Hence the tags. Anyway, for those of you who decide to continue on from Daughter of Gensokyo and read this one, I hope you enjoy! Chapter 2 is underway.

This story in its entirety is in collaboration with Pyro Mance. Please go check out his stories, especially Paradise Lost: Kill the Memory, which is the story that this one is in collaboration with.