Ruby and Grace were dueling against Connor. He had the advantage in sword play as he had practiced longer than Ruby. It was only the fact that he had two opponents and one of them had a longer reach that caused him to be on the backfoot at times. \u201cConnor, what, exactly, is your endgame?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs now really the time for a dialogue?!\u201d protested Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLord Typhoon shall-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not talking about Lord Typhoon, I know HIS endgame,\u201d interrupted Ruby. \u201cI\u2019m talking about yours, Spangly\u2019s, and Wreker\u2019s. What do you three get out of Lord Typhoon turning Earth into a planet of eternal storms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA place at Emperor Entropy\u2019s table!\u201d replied Connor. \u201cWith that place secured, I can finally become who I was meant to be!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026And what\u2019s that?\u201d asked Grace, now intrigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I don\u2019t know yet,\u201d said Connor. \u201c\u2026Wait, why am I talking to you?! I\u2019m supposed to KILL you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI dunno, I like talking right now,\u201d replied Ruby. Connor resumed swinging his sword, but Ruby blocked the blows and parried when needed. She then blocked so that their swords formed an X and they spoke across the weapons. \u201cI understand the need for clarity. Really, I do. I\u2019m a teenage girl and the world doesn\u2019t make sense. But death won\u2019t bring that clarity to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat would YOU know?!\u201d snarled Connor. \u201cYou look like you had no struggle whatsoever!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll admit, I\u2019m a very lucky girl to have a stable life, but-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to hear it! I\u2019ve heard enough of it on my home planet! Let me tell you, you\u2019d sacrifice anything and anyone to survive!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s what the current system of power tells you is working,\u201d remarked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, what, yours doesn\u2019t?!\u201d scoffed Connor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt used to. I was a baby when it was replaced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPah!\u201d Connor pushed Ruby back. \u201cYou\u2019re the one with the fire sword! You know what fire needs to do!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI also know how much control fire needs to simply warm a home, not set an entire city on fire!\u201d Connor went mad, swinging his sword like an animal! Ruby actually feared for her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBack up there, boy!\u201d called Grace as she pulled Connor off. \u201cConnor, I used to be beaten down by the system, but simply going along with it is giving into despair and-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cENOUGH!\u201d Connor then slashed the air and projected an energy wave from his sword that knocked Ruby and Grace down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is getting out of hand!\u201d grumbled Ruby. \u201cHe\u2019s just that desperate. What\u2019s going on with his planet?! I have to find out-! \u2026Something in my pocket feels warm.\u201d She felt around\u2026and realized the warmth was coming from her Transformation Seed! She pulled it out and it was glowing bright red!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStars and Petals!\u201d swore Grace. \u201cRuby, now\u2019s your chance! Call out \u2018Red Lady Rose of fire, I desire to bloom!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat, just like that?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t get that chance!\u201d called Connor as he rushed at Ruby. Grace blocked with her spear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNOW, RUBY!\u201d insisted Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight then,\u201d muttered Ruby. She then held out her Transformation Seed. \u201cRed Lady Rose of fire, I desire to bloom!\u201d The Seed then expanded and enveloped Ruby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNO!\u201d called Connor as he tossed Grace aside and swung his sword. The Seed then turned into a giant rosebud and blocked his blow. Grace then pulled Connor back as the rosebud opened into a giant red rose and out jumped Ruby in a new outfit! It was a similar outfit to Grace\u2019s but not as elaborate. She wore a simple red knee-high skirt, white tights and a white leotard, red opera gloves, red flats, a Comms Compact on her waist, and a red rose with a single green leaf in the right of her hair. Ruby looked herself over in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2026I\u2019m a\u2026I\u2019m a\u2026!\u201d she couldn\u2019t say it; she was so surprised and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026That won\u2019t save you!\u201d snarled Connor, snapping Ruby back to reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, but the training Grace and her friends gave me will help!\u201d declared Ruby. \u201cRound two, pretty boy! Let\u2019s go!\u201d The two then clashed and Ruby felt herself pushing back harder! She then punched Connor in the face\u2026and realized spikes formed at her knuckles. \u201cWha-?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re Thorn Attackers,\u201d explained Grace\u2019s voice. \u201cThey pop up when we need to give our punches and kicks just a little more oomph!\u201d Ruby goggled when she realized Grace didn\u2019t open her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cH-How are you-?!\u201d she spluttered. Connor then tripped Ruby up, but Grace slammed the end of her spear into his back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTeam Telepathy,\u201d replied Grace\u2019s voice. \u201cOne of the five basic powers of a Cosmic Rose. We also have flight, enhanced strength, enhanced speed, and enhanced durability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Flight, huh?\u201d asked Ruby, exercising her new telepathic abilities. \u201cI think I\u2019ve got an idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRARGH!\u201d Connor swung his sword and Ruby decided to test her flight out. She jumped up and found herself flying over Connor. \u201cCOME BACK DOWN HERE AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN!\u201d shouted Connor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never was a man,\u201d chuckled Ruby. Grace tripped Connor up and Ruby flew down (fist first) and hitting Connor in the stomach. It didn\u2019t kill Connor, but BOY, did it hurt! Connor laid there for a while, making Ruby wonder if he needed an ambulance. As her hand reached for her Comms Compact, Connor stood up slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll\u2026get yours!\u201d he hissed through the pain. \u201cWhen\u2026Lord Typhoon\u2026turns this\u2026miserable rock\u2026into a planet\u2026of eternal storms\u2026you\u2019ll drown\u2026along with the rest\u2026of the unworthy!\u201d He managed to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Drown with the unworthy, huh?\u201d remarked Ruby. \u201cWho\u2019s Lord Typhoon to decide who\u2019s unworthy or not? \u2026Anyways, I\u2019m calling an-!\u201d A bright flash appeared in the direction Connor took. \u201cWh-What-?!\u201d stammered Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRelax,\u201d soothed Grace. \u201cIt\u2019s just an emergency teleport. He\u2019s not dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe flash pattern is highly distinctive. I\u2019ve seen it a thousand times. \u2026In any event, Ruby, congratulations!\u201d Grace hugged Ruby with pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeck of a way to become a Magical Girl, but I like the results so far!\u201d replied Ruby as she looked herself over. \u201cI wonder how the others are doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019d better regroup with them and find out,\u201d suggested Grace. \u201cCome on!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ruby and Grace were dueling against Connor. He had the advantage in sword play as he had practiced longer than Ruby. It was only the fact that he had two opponents and one of them had a longer reach that caused him to be on the backfoot at times. \u201cConnor, what, exactly, is your endgame?\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1061,1063],"tags":[1060],"class_list":["post-7801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cosmic-roses","category-stories","tag-magical-girl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7801"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7802,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7801\/revisions\/7802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}