Safer and southern belle vs. Zanza and Mangione (Sea Coast)

[Aex]

An eerie haze is cast over the night on the steep beach. A natural cape lies ahead a few hundred feet, and the ocean spans beautifully southward. A few meters to the north of the seashore there lay a quaint forest edge. Tranquility is abound as the water rakes against the shores.

But yet... the crunch, crunch, crunch of footsteps walking in the sand, one pair from the north heading south, one from the south heading north, beckons the end of this silent night. The footsteps belong to two powerful warriors, but why they come is unknown to all but them. They walk, ready to fight.

As they draw near, the beach quakes in Mother Nature's sense of urgency. A true battle of will would be coming soon. But who would be fighting?

[Safer]

OOC: Oh lol’d.

BiC: Tokumaru ran his hands through his hair. The nighttime breeze was plentiful at this high of an altitude; it was as if he could feel the windy updraft in each of his feathers on his back. The stars glimmered in the night sky, as a full moon radiated in the distance. The samurai loved flying, for it was the sky that remained the only place he could find peace.

But tonight, he did not float amongst the clouds for peace. He had received a message earlier that day of a grand, world-wide tournament that would be held over several land masses over the world. It seemed like a grand proposal for the samurai, who was elated to find that his first arena would be at Cape Schavare, a lovely little beach which he had enjoyed a lot in his childhood. Forests lined its shores, and the moonlight pieced the ocean with feather-soft lightness, giving it a mystifying field.

Tokumaru had been told he would be fighting with a Hylian warrioress, against two other warriors of human descent. An interesting proposal, Tokumaru had thought; he was instantly interested. The Heavenflame had not had a team fight since he had fought with the late Blitz against the now-good Dragonic Overlord, Drago. Obviously, he was aching to stretch his team muscles.

The clouds soon parted, revealing the quiescent beach below. Tokumaru could see people coming up from the forests and northern shores, still too far to see eachother from the ground. At his vantage point, Tokumaru could see all three of them, and set his eyes on the lone warrioress approaching from the south.

“Hmm… this will certainly be interesting. I haven’t worked with Hylians since… heh. It’s been far too long.”

Pointing himself downward, the Heavenflame descended down towards the warrioress.

I do hope I don’t startle her…

Landing on the ground behind the warrioress, the samurai placed a hand on her shoulder. She perked up, and whizzed around, but Tokumaru already stood in a nicer position.

“Good evening, milady. Are you ready for the trials that await us?”

OoC: Short post. Sue me.

[southern belle]

Bella walked through the forest, enjoying the night breeze rustling through the leaves. It's a pity the battle isn't here, she thought, looking around at the trees. This forest is lovely. Bella pulled out her invitation and looked at it. A two on two battle on the beach of Cape Schavare. She read aloud to herself. "Your partner will have black hair and..." she paused, and stared at the slip of paper. "...wings?" She blinked. "Right, well, I guess I won't have any trouble knowing who I'm fighting with."

Bella noticed the trees were beginning to thin, and slipped the invitation back into her pack. Don't wanna be caught off guard, she thought, stepping out of the trees. She looked across the cape to where two fighters were exiting the forest. "No wings..." she mumbled. "Wonder where my partner is?" Just then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Bella nearly jumped out of her skin, and whipped around to see a winged man wearing a white kimono. So much for not being caught off guard...

“Good evening, milady. Are you ready for the trials that await us?”

Bella blinked for a moment, still not quite sure how to react to someone with wings. After a moment, she grinned. "You bet I am." She looked across the beach, and saw their opponents had gotten much closer. The moonlight shone on them enough so that they could be clearly seen. One was a guy with curly black hair; he already had his sword and shield out in his hands. The other was a young woman wearing a dazzling lavender kimono. Bella blinked in surprise once more. Who would've thought... she thought to herself with a grin. She noticed how determined her opponents' faces looked, and looked back to the winged man beside her. "It looks like our opponents are ready as well," she said. Bella walked out to meet their opponents, her partner beside her.

OoC: Okay... Mine's short too. >.> It looked a lot longer in the textbox. XD And also, Safer, I know that Tokumaru's an angel, but Bella wouldn't know that, so that's why I referred to him as a "winged man". ~_^

[Zanza]

Aurora rode along the bleak north shores, seemingly lost in thought whilst the wild sea wind tossed her golden hair back and forth across her eyes. She glanced again at the parchment in her delicate hand. “Congratulations! You have been invited to battle…” Invited? Since when is someone invited to battle another? She read on. “…in a glorious multinational tournament. This is a partner battle. Your partner, Percival Archibald Mangione, is human, has curly black hair, blue eyes, and carries a sword and shield.” She looked up and scanned the cold, bitter coast. Nothing. No sign of any man anywhere on this desolate shore.

Sighing, the half-elf folded the parchment carefully and tucked it into her kimono. Taking up the black leather reigns of her sturdy mount, she kicked the gelding she had borrowed into a steady canter. With expert ease she directed him into the surf, sending white sea foam and water spraying into the chilly air as they crashed through the barrier that separated land from sea. This was the first time she had been out of the Dome in two years. The exhilarating sense of freedom caused her heart to soar. Laughing, she urged her horse faster. Grudgingly, the gelding picked up the pace, galloping wildly through the tidewater.

Suddenly, a dot appeared on the horizon, growing steadily more man-shaped as they approached. Aurora’s keen eyes picked out his wavy black hair and white jacket before he was even aware of her presence a half-mile behind him. Strapped to his waist hung a sword. Satisfied, she continued racing along the wet sand toward the solitary warrior.

She slowed as she approached, not wanting to startle the young man. About twenty feet from him, he whirled, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. “Hello there,” she called, setting herself regally atop the horse as it slowed to a walk. “I mean you no harm, sir.” Still he said nothing. “I was wondering if you are…” she pulled out her letter and studied it, “Percival Archibald Mangione?”

A flicker of surprise echoed in the man’s blue eyes. “I am,” he said simply. “How do you know me?”

Aurora waved the letter. “I received this a few days ago. It says we are to battle together against two others at Cape Schavare.” She gestured vaguely ahead of them. “I believe the Cape is close by. She drew up even with the swordsman and reached down. “I am Aurora Flemming. I am honoured to fight alongside you.”

He took her hand and shook it briefly. “You may call me Percy,” was all he said.

“Would you like a ride? I think we still have a few miles to go before daybreak.”

Percy nodded, then hesitated.

“It’s ok. He can take two.” She shifted forward and smiled. “I’ll drive.”

The young warrior inclined his head and mounted up. With a click and a kick, they set off, racing once more along the grey coastline.

After a time, the setting moon slid out from beneath some clouds. Aurora squinted, thinking she saw some winged creature in nocturnal flight. The beast descended towards the shore, and it was then that Aurora saw it was a winged person. “I think our stop is just around the bend.” She slowed the sweating horse, bringing it to a walk so as to let it cool down before they dismounted. As they curved around the bend in the shore, they saw two dark silhouettes about 500 feet away down the beach. The crystalline shore curved around in a graceful half-moon crescent, a sleeping forest set back from the tide line. The two combatants dismounted, and Percy drew his sword and shield as Aurora tied up the reigns. “Goodbye, friend,” she whispered in the beast’s feathery ear as she slapped his rump. The horse whinnied and shot off back the way he had come.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Percy asked. “I mean, we might need him later when we leave.”

“He’ll be around. Horses never stray far.”

The two fell in comfortably with each other and approached their opponents. Aurora involuntarily gasped as she beheld a brown-haired Hylian among one of them. “Bella!” she called out. The Hylian looked up and smiled. How ironic. With the Hylian archer stood an impressive winged man. He carried a katana, and to Aurora, he seemed like a samurai in angelic form. Maybe he was. He would be a formidable opponent, no doubt.

The sand sparkled underfoot in the silver moonlight, as the waves crashed into the shore. Dawn was only a few precious minutes away. All life was still, gathering their final strength for the trials of the coming day. For now, the quiet tranquility of the morning was unbroken. For now.

OoC: I'm so excited! I haven't had a real battle in who knows when! :XD 'Course, just my luck that they put me against Tokumaru. Yippee! Oh, and for a little self-congratulation, I really liked that last paragraph if I do say so myself.[/shameless boast]

[Mangione]

The night breeze began to chill Percy as he zoomed down the dark road on his motorcycle. The trees on each side of the road bathed the young warrior in a deep darkness. The moon and stars shone above in the night sky, providing what little light they could offer, and the headlight on Percy's motorcycle only helped to illuminate the first 20 feet of jet-black asphalt in front of him. All else was darkness. Percy revved the engine with urgency, in order to reach the place where his invitation summoned him in due time. Halting the bike to a stop, Percy took out the envelope containing his summon. He stooped in front of the headlight, and paroused the message once again to reinforce his comprehension.

"Percival Archibald Mangione, you are hereby invited to the Warrior's Tournament..." He read on. "Your first battle will be a team match taking place on the beach at Cape Schavare. When you arrive there, meet up with your partner, Aurora Flemming." Percy looked down the page and found himself staring at a picture of a girl. She had dirty-blonde hair, with light blonde streaks mixed within. She had pointed ears and a heart shaped face: the look of one of an Elvish breed. Below the picture was the caption "Aurora Flemming" which confirmed her identity as the one with whom Percy would fight beside in the impeding confrontation.

Riding on further, Percy noticed a gradual thinning in the trees. He started to smell the salty aroma of seawater as it dashed itself against the coast. He felt the moisture in the air began to increase as the atmosphere in front of him began to get mistier. And in the distance, toward the south, Percy began to hear the sound of waves washing up on shore, although it was almost completely drowned out by the roar of the engine underneath him. As his bike reached the top of a hill, the view of a beach was spread out in front of him, and further down the road was a Dead End sign, which signalled the end of the necessity for motorized transportation. Percy climbed off his bike, and watched it begin to shrink slowly. Once it was the size of a child's toy, Percy grabbed it and placed it into his satchel.

"I guess I'm hoofing it...again." Percy said to himself as he made his way down to the beach, passing through a thin layer of trees that seperated the dead end of the road from the sand below. The tranquil rolling of the waves complemented the calling of seagulls that seemed to immerse Percy into this somewhat tropical setting, and made him forget, if not for a short moment, his urban life. Percy began to walk down the beach, heading toward a rocky outcropping that he had seen in the distance. He figured that if there was a Cape Schavare, that would be the best match. As Percy walked, he picked up what sounded like a horse behind him, but he shrugged his shoulders and continued, figuring that it was his own footsteps. After a while he heard the unmistakible snorting of a horse, about 15 to 20 feet behind him. Drawing his sword, Percy turned around quickly to face the horseman.

"Hello there. I mean you no harm, sir," the mounted one said in a feminine voice.

Percy stared at the figure. It was definitely a woman, although her features were a bit hard to make out in the darkness.

"I was wondering if you are..." the mounted woman began to say. Pausing, she took out a sheet of paper and began to read it. "Percival Archibald Mangione?"

Percy head turned in reaction to the sound of his full name. "I am. How do you know me?"

The girl held the piece of paper in her hand and began to wave it. “I received this a few days ago. It says we are to battle together against two others at Cape Schavare.” She pointed in the direction that Percy was headed. “I believe the Cape is close by."

"At least I'm headed in the right direction," Percy thought to himself. The girl rode her mount closer to Percy's position and stretched out her hand. “I am Aurora Flemming. I am honoured to fight alongside you.”

Percy took her hand and shook it a few times. “You may call me Percy.”

“Would you like a ride? I think we still have a few miles to go before daybreak.”

Percy nodded, then hesitated.

“It’s ok. He can take two.” She shifted forward and smiled. “I’ll drive.”

Percy accepted the offer and climbed atop the horse. As they rode, Percy got a better look at his new partner. She did have blonde hair as the picture indicated. The lighter streaks flowed down her head and came together into a ponytail that lay on top of the unicorn motif which adorned the back of her silky lavender kimono. The two warriors rode further down the beach. Percy stared at Aurora; her head was turned toward something. He looked at the direction she was looking in, and saw what looked to be a large bird flying through the sky. Looking at it longer, Percy realized it was no bird, but a man with wings. He watched the winged man swoop down and land next to another figure about a good way down the beach. When the two went around a bend in the shoreline and got closer to the other pair. Percy figured immediately that they were the opposing pair mentioned in the letter, and Aurora must have known to, as she brought the horse to a standstill. The two dismounted and Percy drew his sword. Reaching into his satchel, he took out his shield and held it firmly along with his sword. Percy turned toward Aurora as she whispered something to the horse which apparently was a signal for it to run off in the opposite direction.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Percy asked. “I mean, we might need him later when we leave.”

“He’ll be around. Horses never stray far.” Aurora responded.

Percy and Aurora took the time to chat a little bit before they met their opponents. Standing on the shore was a brown haired Hylian archer. Next to him was the winged man that he had seen earlier. He looked strong, like a mix between an angel and a samurai. In his hand was a good sized katana.

"It looks like we got our work cut out for us, Aurora," Percy said. "That katana-weilding angel dude doesn't look like he'll go down too soon."

The sky got brighter as the warriors lined themselves up on the beach. The first light of dawn would signal the start of the battle. Percy clutched his sword tightly, waiting for the inevitable. This was it, and there was no turning back now. Percy got his wits about him and stared at the opposing pair as the eastern horizon grew brighter and brighter.

[Safer]

Tokumaru smiled. The sky resonated a beautiful light in the magical dawn hour of the day, the most beautiful of times that brimmed with the awakening of the world. For the first time in awhile, the samurai was grinning at something other than a defeated foe, it made him happy inside to be able to stretch his muscles again for a spar.

“Milady,” Tokumaru said to the Hylian warrioress politely, “before we fight these foes… might I ask your name?”

The warrioress turned her head to Tokumaru with a smile. “It’s Bella.”

“A pleasure to meet you, lady Bella. I am Tokumaru Kyô, the Heavenflame Samurai.”

The sand crunched with a calm sound underneath their feet as they progressed up the beach, eyes fixated on the two figures coming closer from ahead. As the goldenrod beams of light that were the dawn reached out from the horizon, Tokumaru placed a hand on his legendary blade, the Hinotama. A small crackle of Heavenflames radiated from it to Tokumaru’s touch, signaling that the blade was just as eager to fight as its owner was.

Once the four combatants were a good twenty feet away from eachother, Tokumaru smirked, and looked over to Bella.

“Get ready,” he said calmly, clenching the grip on his sword. “This battle starts now.”

And in that instant, Tokumaru disappeared in a sea of flames, instantly reappearing right behind the warrior with the shiny jacket.

“Haha, good day to you!” the samurai said, adverting the attention of the two warriors. “En garde!”

Faster than a speeding bullet, Tokumaru rammed the hilt of the Hinotama eloquently into the warrior with the jacket, as he flipped in front of his two foes. Bella ran up beside him from behind; the samurai nodded to his partner.

“This shall be fun!” Tokumaru said nonchalantly. “Who might you all be?”

The mistress in the lavender kimono brought forth a bow, taking an arrow from her quiver. “I’m Aurora Flemming.”

The man in the jacket brought forth his own weapon, a short Gladius. “And I am Percivel Magione.”

The waves crashed upon the shore more vivaciously now, the swells quaking with the resonating energies coming from the warriors. The Hinotama suddenly was encased in its usual casket of Heavenflames, as Tokumaru swung it around expertly, its steel glimmering in the morning light.

Bella smirked, drawing forth her bow. “I’m Bella.”

Tokumaru held a hand into the air. “And I am Tokumaru Kyô.”

A bullet of flame shot up into the air, crackling off into the sky. “Let’s begin!”



Almost instantaneously, Tokumaru unfurled his wings and jumped into the air, barely evading a quick arrow shot by Aurora.

“Bella, you take the half-elf!” Tokumaru yelled, holding a hand out to Percy down below. “I’ve got the swordsman.”

Bella nodded affirmatively as a ball of fire shot down towards the gladius-wielding swordsman below. Percy easily evaded, but was soon confronted by Tokumaru, who flew steaming fast down to the ground, lashing out several heated sword slashes. Much to Tokumaru’s surprise, Percy had quite a bite to him, and was dodging the samurai’s basic techniques with ease.

“Heh,” Tokumaru said, getting a bit more aggressive, “now this is going to be interesting.”

[southern belle]

OoC: Bah... I started typing this up and then accidenly closed the window and lost it all. >< And now I attempt to recreate it...

BiC: As the two warriors began their battle off to the side, Bella looked at her opponent. The weren't much more than five feet apart, and Aurora already had an arrow ready. She knew that by before she could even get an arrow nocked, she would be shot at. She'd have to be creative.

Bella reached up to her quiver, and an arrow was promptly shot at her. Grinning, she let the arrow slip back into her quiver and rolled to the right. She stood, quickly exchanging her bow for her short sword as she did so. She raced for her surprised opponent, slashing wildly at her. Aurora stumbled back to avoid the blow, and Bella pursued her, launching swing after swing at her foe. Her attacks, though rather wild, came very fast, leaving no room for her opponent to fire. Eventually Aurora was forced to discard her bow and draw her rapier.

Bella continued to push her back, though now her opponent was countering her attacks, and even getting in a few jabs of her own that Bella had to be very careful to avoid. That didn't worry Bella much, however. So long as she could keep pushing her back...

Bella felt water seeping into her boots and grinned. She'd made it into the water. She launched another attack. At that same moment, seaweed enveloped Aurora's legs. The half-elf blocked the blow and looked down in confusion. Long, slippery strands of seaweed had wrapped themselves around her legs, and were climbing up her. She moved to cut herself free, but Bella jabbed at her stomach with her sword, forcing her attention away from the weeds, which continued to bind her.

She dogded a viscious stab from Aurora's rapier, and noticed the full quiver on her opponent's back. Her opponent twisted around and swung at her once more, and Bella ducked underneath the swing. Before she came up again, she cut the strap of the quiver, sending the half-elf's arrows into the ocean. She got a jab in the arm for her efforts, but felt it was worth it to rid her opponent of one of her weapons. She rolled away and stood once more, holding her sword ready.

OoC: Meh... it could be longer, but I was starting to run out of creativity, and I didn't want my post quality to suffer by making it too long. >.>

[Mangione]

Percy glared eye to eye at the opposing pair, who were now no more than 20 feet away. The dawn had come, and the battle was about to commence. He watched as the angel samurai dissapeared, enveloped in flames. Percy turned around to see that he had reappeared right behind him.

“Haha, good day to you!” the angel said, adverting the attention of the two warriors. “En garde!"

Before he could react, the angel samurai gave him a quick blow with the hilt of his katana. It didn't hurt much, but it did managed to startle Percy a bit. After beckoning for his partner, he began to speak.

“This shall be fun!” the angel said nonchalantly. “Who might you all be?”

Aurora took an arrow from her quiver and began to string it to her bow.

“I’m Aurora Flemming.” she said.

Percy unsheathed his sword, which had been sheathed before in the previous period of tedium, and presented it.

"And I am Percivel Mangione."

The Hylian archer began to grin, as she revealed her bow.

"I'm Bella" she said.

Percy eyed the angel's katana, which now seemed to be enveloped in an aura of fire. He held his hand in the air and spoke.

“And I am Tokumaru Kyô.”

Time seemed to stretch for Percy, as it typically does when one winds up in a tense situation such as the beginning of a battle. All was quiet. The four fighters were preparing their weapons and their courage for the ordeal which was to begin in a matter of seconds. Percy gripped his sword and shield in his hands and continued to watch.

Suddenly, a ball of fire shot forth from Tokumaru's hand and headed skyward. "Let's begin!" he shouted. And with those words, he spread his wings out and shot up into the air with a flash. Percy closed his eyes and concentrated, his sword beginning to glow as he focused energy into it. He opened his eyes to see a ball of fire heading straight for him. Percy flipped out of the way, avoiding the heated shot, but was attacked right away by Tokumaru, who had flew down to the ground like a shot and who was now slashing at him with the flaming katana. Using his fencing skills, Percy kept the angel at bay, countering all of his moves.

Flipping back, Percy reached his arm back, and using his foot as a pivot, swung his sword hard at Tokumaru, releasing all of the energy stored within. The force of the impact caused Tokumaru to stumble and fall. With the angel down for the moment, Percy quickly reached into his satchel and grabbed the shrunken motorcycle. A torrent of sand flew up as the back wheel of the motorcycle dug into the ground as it raced off. Tokumaru shook the sand from his body and wings, and flew into the air in hot pursuit of the bike. Percy turned around to see the angel gather fireballs into his hands and hurl them into his direction. Percy drove the bike in a sidewinder movement, to avoid the incoming fireballs. His right hand grasped his sword tightly, as he gathered energy into his hand. The motorcycle zoomed down the beach toward the cape, turned around, and headed back the other way. Percy watched from his vechicle as Tokumaru gained on him, like an eagle after a hare.

As the energy continued to gather, Percy's sword hand began to emit a bluish white glow, a signal to Percy that his attack was almost ready. From out of the blue, however, Tokumaru appeared in front of him and hurled a fireball straight at him and the motorcycle. Percy saw the ball and jumped from the bike, watching as it exploded into flames. Percy landed on his side, and rolled a few times on the beach. After quickly getting on his feet, Percy aimed his sword and fired a large blue orb of pure energy from the blade. The energy crackled and sparked as it whizzed through the air, heading straight for Tokumaru.

[Zanza]

Aurora floundered awkwardly in the water, the greenish aquatic entrails snaking around her legs and starting onto her torso. She slashed futilely at the clinging vines as they wound tighter and tighter. Saltwater splashed into her eyes, momentarily blinding her. Frustrated, she lashed out against her Hylian adversary. Bella easily evaded the annoyed blow.

Suddenly, a weight slid off Aurora's shoulders, and with a spray of sun-kissed splashes, her quiver dropped into the ocean. Horrified, she spun haphazardly, scrambling for the most precious possession in her arsenal. And as she did, a great wave crested in, smashing her already entangled figure under the sea. All she could hear was the roar of the mighty waves as she tossed helplessly end-over-end. The kelp continued to snake around her, reaching for her arms to draw them into their salty embrace.

After what seemed like an eternity, she flopped up onto shore, like a bloated beached beluga, spluttering and cursing profusely.

That does it!

Rendered almost immobile by her leafy captors, there was only one thing left to do. Bella walked a few paces towards her captured opponent. “Ready to give up now?”

Aurora smirked, a cold, mysterious smile that threw doubt into the Hylian’s triumphant face. She closed her eyes and concentrated, willing herself to forget the beach, the girl standing above her, the surf, the seaweed tapping at her chin. Somewhere, an explosion rocked the ground, and Aurora fought to keep her attention on the meager energy she had began to gather within herself. Magic had never been easy for her. Her human blood just wouldn't allow for such an exotic gift. Her brow furrowed in deep concentration, as she momentarily cursed her geneology. Come on! Please, just this once!

With an blinding flash, the seaweed exploded from her body as white pure light blew out of both curled fists, incinerating her aquatic chains. Bella ducked the flash, not knowing just how harmful it might be. In that second, Aurora jumped to her feet and charged her distracted competitor. In the last instant, Bella slashed out at her imminent attacker, a feeble slow swipe to the middle. Aurora dove for the sand and rolled, throwing a punch into the Hylian’s unprotected side as she completed her somersault. Bella grunted and stumbled into the shallows. Instantly, Aurora was on top of her, throwing blow after weaving blow into the girl’s face. Bella retaliated with her short sword, trying to get a good cut into the dancing half-elf.

Finally, Bella feinted left, then whipped up towards her opponent’s face. Aurora ducked and back-flipped out of the tide, narrowly escaping some approaching botanical sea-life. Bella ran after her, trying to press her advantage. However, Aurora rolled sideways, pulling a bowie knife out of her boot as she did so. As she spun off the wet turf, she threw a kick out at Bella’s unprotected mid-section, causing the Hylian to dance off to the side, With the speed of a poised snake, Aurora spun back and slashed at the leather strap around the Hylian’s shoulder. With a satisfying thump, Bella’s quiver fell to the sand, scattering her arrows.

“Now we are even.”