high_seas | (no subject)

[Mana hadn't slept well since that message she posted. She'd been sure of herself at the time yes, but everything after... especially after Rikka responded to her like that... it had a profound effect on her. Everything in her head focused on why Rikka had responded the way she did, what she had to do, what the voice in her head wanted...

... and then, when morning came, just like that, it became so clear.

She knew what she had to do... Rikka and the others, they had betrayed her... they weren't the precious people she knew...]

Cheryl...

[Mana's fairy partner didn't have to say anything in response; she knew what Mana wanted. Quickly, she took her commune form, and flew into Mana's hands]

Precure... Love Link...

[In a flash of light, Mana transformed into Cure Heart, and with a somber expression on her face, left her room - but not before sending a message to Alice, Hubert, and Gaius.

None of them belonged in this world. Something had been done to them all... they had to set all of them free...

... and there was only one way to do that...]

They all have to die... I love them... and they all have to die...

[Before very long, Cure Rosetta was upon Mana. The look on her face was decidedly dark, and even after transforming it was obvious she had been crying a lot.

She was convinced, now, that Henry in particular had been manipulating Rikka. While all she knew was that they'd talked, she had convinced herself that it was something far more sinister than that.

Regardless of it being by force or not, Rikka had been corrupted and set against them.

She couldn't trust anyone but those who heard it, now. That voice. But Mana most of all.]

They've taken her from us...

That magician especially... I should have stopped him before... I had the opportunity...

... I know, Alice.

[she stopped, and turned towards Rosetta, showing the other girl a sad smile]

She said... I wasn't her prince anymore... Maybe, in a way, she's right. I can't be the Happy Prince this time...

[she smiled again, several tears rolling down her cheeks despite it all]

I have to be the devil... I have to be the devil, and do horrible things. The voice... she told me that... You'll help me, right? You'll help me save them...?

[Rosetta's eyes shimmer, but nothing comes.

Apparently, she's had enough of that by this point.]

Yes, of course...

She's been tainted... That's the only way we can set her free...

Any of them... Everyone that should not be here...

[Mana nodded, and reached forward, taking Alice's hand]

Then... we'll do it together. Because we love her so much...

... it can only be us who does it...

[She closes her eyes, and nods quietly.]

It's the only way to stop her suffering... so long as she's here, others will use her... hurt her...

[She looked up, a darkly intent look in her eye.]

...and after we save her... everyone else...

They'll all die, as well..

Yes... they'll all die...

[Mana squeezed Alice's hand, before forcing her expression into a smile]

Let's do this... and then... then we can join our master, and... she'll let us join them...

[Cure Heart wiped her tears away, and released Alice's hand. Saying no more, she turned and moved to find Rikka... or anyone else they could take care of]

[They won't have to look very far. She's... pretty much been expecting them, the way they've become gradually less stable over the last week. And so she's standing right out on the beach of Green Breeze Island, waiting for them out in the open, Raquel floating next to her head.

Just because she expected it doesn't make it any easier to seem them coming toward her like an execution squad, and it's a huge effort not to start shaking. Or running, for that matter. But as they approach, she takes a defiant stance against them.]

I guess it's going to come to this after all. I was hoping... I wouldn't have to stand against you. But there's nothing for it now. [She holds out a hand sideways to her partner.] Raquel... it's time.

[The plushie obediently turns into a Lovely Commune, and Rikka starts the motion she knows like the back of her hand.] Precure... Love Link! [A flash of icy blue issues, and when it clears, she's transformed. Not that anyone expected anything different. And she takes the pose the other girls are more than used to seeing by now.]

The light of wisdom... Cure Diamond! [And after she finishes that, she brings her hands up in front of her, forming... wait, that's not her announce...] It seems you've lost your love, Mana... Alice. [She brings them up into a heart, sliding it aside her, fighting to not cry at them. It'll be a problem in about five seconds if she does.] I, Cure Diamond... will get your heart-throbbing excitement back!

[...Nope, those are definitely tears in her eyes, and her voice definitely cracked. Oops.]

Edited (lol words) 2014-01-11 04:39 (UTC)

[for what it's worth, Heart's eyes are full of tears too. And upon hearing Diamond's words... at her declaration, they begin to stream down her face, they begin to fall profusely]

R-Rikka... I realized something...

I have been selfish... I've been putting my desires before what's neccessary... if I'd have known better before, I...

[sniffle]

I should have destroyed Regina before they could hurt her... before they could take her back and make her suffer...

...

I won't make that mistake with you!

Edited 2014-01-11 04:57 (UTC)

Yes, it's the only way to make certain you no longer suffer, Rikka-chan...

[Rosetta, meanwhile... as evidenced by her red, bloodshot eyes had indeed already cried a lot in the past week. At this point, even if she tried, it would be difficult.

Instead, she gives a steadfast nod in affirmation of Heart's words.]

They're going to keep making you suffer - the people and beings in this world won't rest... I thought if I kept you safe, I would be able to keep Mana-chan safe, because then she would not have to be hurt or put herself at risk to save you, but...

I see now... They've turned you against us... Against me.

[Her hands balled into fists, her body shaking.]

Henry-san tried to use you against me... It was his magic that made you scared of me, wasn't it?! He's corrupted you! Probably others, too... He'll be next...

[Her eyes narrowed, body still shaking.]

But you... we have to free you, Rikka-chan!

[Oh God oh God oh God they're coming they're going to kill her- no, no, no! Can't give up yet... but boy, it is really tempting.

There's really not much else to be said, is there? They could take for a long time, and they wouldn't get anywhere. That would be pointless. So... yeah.]

I... I refuse to believe that. I'm... I haven't been suffering. I've been scared, and alone, and worried, but I've been waiting for the day this all ends, and we can go back to how we were. I'm... waiting for that day. And if there's anything I can do to make it come... I want that. With all my heart.

[She sighs heavily, then lets out a loud shout for no apparent reason except to do it, and maybe a lot of frustration she couldn't really vent. Not that she'd have told them that.]

Fine! I don't think talking to you is going to help... if you're going to free me, then you're going to have to do it the hard way. I'm not going to give up. Not even for you! I don't want to do this. But if this is the only way, then...

[Diamond shakes her head, before settling into a battle stance, saying nothing more.]

[Mana grit her teeth. Every single one of Rikka's words stung... but she had said enough. The time for words was now over.

Letting out an anguished yell, Cure Heart charged forward, her speed sending out a burst of sand in all directions. She came at Rikka like a bullet, swinging her fist at the other Precure's torso as fast as she could]

[Rosetta, infuriated, bursts forward at the same time, sand flying around her as she erupts towards Diamond.

No, no, no. She KNOWS she's right. Rikka was being manipulated, she was being controlled... But she knows - knows - its not as easy as simply having Heart purify her. No, there's only one way to release her, one way to stop her from hurting...

She slams her foot into the ground as she nears, sending up another burst of sand. While Heart's fist goes for her torso, Rosetta falls low, sweeping one leg out for Diamond's.]

[Oh God oh- no, stop that. Panicking isn't going to get anything done... except those are definitely still Cures coming at her, and one's Rosetta, which means she's at a disadvantage on the ground and in melee. Except the other one's Heart, which means she's at a disadvantage in the air and at range... um. That's kind of everything...

...well, the first priority is not to be "saved". Diamond dives off to the side, springing off a hand in the sand and cartwheeling aside, barely sticking the landing onto her feet and stumbling back a step. There's really no way to take control anymore... and the moment she tries to spring forward and counterattack, her legs refuse to move. Damn her good intentions. They work enough going backward, though, and she leaps backward onto the strong leaf of a palm tree.]

[Already, Rosetta was up and scrambling after Diamond as she flipped away. Her strong legs carried her quickly, and she took a flying leap... not at Diamond, but at the tree she'd landed on.

As she did this, she also flung out a hand.]

LOVE HEART ARROW!

[It was just a precaution for now, as she gripped it in her hand and otherwise sent a boot smashing into the tree, causing it to literally explode into large, splintered pieces.]

[and with that done, Mana is going to attempt to leap up and kick at Rikka when she inevitably falls, aiming her kick to strike Rikka in the stomach]

[Mentally, Rikka wants to shake a fist at the traitorous laws of physics that are going to get her very, very killed. Externally, she frowns, and waits for the just the right moment, putting her hands on Heart's outstretched leg and pushing herself up and out of the way, and pushing Mana down enough to get herself away from danger.

She wants to take up her Love Heart Arrow, like Rosetta already has and probably intends to use soon, but... she kind of wants her hands free... choices. But no, she'll need that sooner rather than later. Holding out a hand above her head as she sails, she calls, "Love Heart Arrow!" The weapon coalesces into light above her, and she reaches out for it, gripping it with her right hand, and already realizing she's got a problem; that stopped her momentum dead in the air, and she's just hanging there for a second. A second she doesn't have, more than likely.]

I can't... I can't just keep defending, but...!

[due to Rikka's forced change in momentum, Mana falls, hitting the ground with a thud. She's stunned for a moment, but pushes herself up...

... and frowns. Both Rosetta and Diamond have their Love Heart Arrows, but Mana's is useless on people...

... but she did have something she could use.

Roaring with anger, Mana's hands clenched into fists, and she became surrounded in a pink aura. Then, in a flash of speed greater than before, she leaped up at Rikka, eyes burning with anger.

And as she swung, Rikka might be reminded this power up increased more than just speed...]

[Oh, yes. Yes, she did, and Mana had somehow moved faster than she'd expected, almost faster than she could perceive - one moment she was on the ground, and the next she was just there, and there's a fist coming and no time to dodge or block or freeze it or panic-

It connects, and Diamond flies backward at terrible speed, flying what must be a couple dozen feet before bouncing once, twice on the sand and rolling a distance to a stop. While she files, she's screaming, but she's trying to force her head to work through the pain - and the betrayal. Whatever else this looked like, Mana just punched her and meant it, and she was forcing herself to rethink how to handle this. She couldn't just defend. She had to... she had to do something, or she really was going to die.

Forcing herself to her feet slowly, pushing off the ground with Love Heart Arrow- not in hand; when had it flown ten feet away? Nope, she needs that. She breaks off at a run to retrieve it, diving and hoping she'll grab it without getting knocked out of the way first. Without that, she's sunk. Twinkle Diamond won't stand up to Rosetta Reflection, and Mana's anger - righteous anger, as far as she was concerned - was probably enough to power through, to say nothing of her sheer stubbornness.]

[As Diamond scrambles, Rosetta lands, and levels her Love Heart Arrow in the direction her other best friend and love is headed.]

Precure... ROSETTA REFLECTION!

[The large, clover-shaped energy shield bursts to life before her... before she just gives a hard push forward, launching it like a wide, energized, battering ram across the beach.]

[The dive just isn't fast enough. But she might... she's got to get it, or she's sunk... she's going to...!

Diamond's hand closes around her Love Heart Arrow just in time to be blown thirty feet into the air and a long, long distance away. There's a long moment where she doesn't seem to react at all, but she forces her body back into motion, one arm jerkily bringing her weapon in front of her.]

Precure... Diamond Shower!

[A hit on the tambourine, and ice spreads out in a curve behind her, like a ramp she slides across, and she builds it with enough of an incline that it bleeds her momentum, leaving her standing in midair on a platform of ice quite some distance away. From here, she can just make out Heart and Rosetta - this form helps her vision quite a bit, otherwise she'd have lost them quite some time ago. Taking stock, her right arm isn't moving quite right, and she's got bruises everywhere, even through her amazingly tough Cure costume. There's a big one on her stomach she's trying not to think about, because it's going to be there for a week or three; her left hand goes to it, and she winces. Everything hurts, and they'd only been fighting for maybe a minute, including flight time. This was a whole different league from what they did at home; another big hit like that, and she'd probably pop out of her form.

She needed help. As much as she wanted to keep this her problem, as much as she didn't want to trust anyone else not to hurt her friends... she couldn't do it herself. Reaching for her journal she'd kept behind her back since she transformed, she opened it briefly to share a simple message:]

Please, help me...

[In the heat of the sun and the stress of combat, that's all the has time for - Diamond feels the ice starting to give under her, and she hastily returns the journal to its nook at her back before freefalling toward the sand.

[It's a good thing that Henry's been keeping a close eye on his journal after everything that's happened. He hears Rikka's message immediately and wastes no time in heading out to find her.

And oh boy, is it an interesting situation he sees when he does. After what Alice had said to him, he was afraid that this'd happen, but he'd been hoping it wouldn't. Still, nothing to be done about that now. He needed to make sure that this wouldn't go horribly wrong.

He decides to to let himself be known in the most direct way possible.

By taking out his Ruin tome and shooting a blast of dark magic at Alice.

He's toned the spell down a lot, since he's not intending to kill or seriously injure her, but with how powerful his magic is, it's still going to hurt a lot if it manages to connect.]

[Rosetta, right then, is focused completely and totally on Diamond. Nothing else in the world, besides Heart alongside her, seems to matter to her. In some twisted effect of her twisted desires mixed with her actual love, nothing else DOES matter to her right then.

So, she doesn't see the incoming Ruin until it's almost right on top of her.

She reacts quickly, throwing up a free hand and generating a Rosetta Wall from it. But it's a small shield, and she barely has time to direct it. It absorbs a portion of the attack, but otherwise... She screams as the REST hits her.

Unable to keep her concentration - or perhaps once again feeling that bit of uneasiness flowing through her powers, powers that are supposed to vanquish evil and dark thoughts - the Wall shatters and she's flung back, slamming into the beach.

Only a moment later, though, she's rising up again, murder in her eyes.]

You, again...! I warned you, Henry-san! You will not take her from me!

ROSETTA!

[Even possessed, Mana is still Mana. So when she sees Rosetta get blasted, her attention is diverted from Rikka to her partner, and then to the one who attacked her. Mana's lips curl into a snarl, and she turns towards Henry... before launching herself at him, fist drawn back in preparation to punch the mage's head off.

Unfortunately, this is an act of impulse... and doesn't acknowledge anyone else on the battlefield]

[As she falls, Rikka tenses and waits for something to hit her. When it never comes and there's shouting in the distance, she chances a look over... and sees the darkness cross Alice, and she knows her backup has arrived and painted a big target on his damned face. On one hand she's glad for the covering fire. On the other... he's not going to last without her help.

As she hits the ground, Diamond lands in a three-point crouch in the sand to not stress her legs any more than they already were, before pushing off in a dash for Henry.]

Hold on... I'm coming!

January 11th [frontdated] - event thread

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