The Gaian Guard was still holding out against Dame Petrify. Rosa called the Guard Commander. \u201cWhat\u2019s the situation?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBad, Lord President,\u201d replied the Guard Commander. \u201cDame Petrify and her forces keep pushing us back! We\u2019re being herded to the Mana Pools!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey must really need the Pools as an Entrooper Incubator,\u201d remarked Rosa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t afford to lose much more ground! We need reinforcements! NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll send who I can, Commander. Hold them for as long as you-.\u201d A noise interrupted her. \u201cWas that the door?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome of the Entroopers are turning around, my Lady,\u201d replied the Guard Commander. \u201c\u2026It looks like the Cosmic Roses and\u2026hang on, when did they swap to pleated skirts?\u201d Just then, he saw several Entroopers being flung into the air! \u201c\u2026Then again, they seem to have gotten stronger, Lord President! Yes! Dame Petrify\u2019s focusing her attention on them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m still sending Malachite over with our reserve Guards,\u201d directed Rosa. \u201cAssist the Roses as best you can!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith gusto, my Lady! Out!\u201d The Guard Commander ended the call. \u201cAll guards, I want groups of 80 men stationed at 20-meter intervals!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe barely have 80 men left, Sir!\u201d replied his second-in-command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, groups of 30, then! We have to surround them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the Guard Commander organized his forces, Dame Petrify and the Entroopers were engaged with the Cosmic Roses. \u201cIt won\u2019t matter,\u201d chuckled Dame Petrify. \u201cYour new skirts will not stop what will take place on Gaia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI dunno, I think we\u2019ve done a pretty good job so far!\u201d taunted Opal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou squishy people insist that you are a proper form of existence,\u201d dismissed Dame Petrify. \u201cYou\u2019re not solid enough and, as proven, even if you DO obey me without question, you still can\u2019t take becoming a proper life-form. Well, that\u2019s your evolutionary shortcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI dunno,\u201d remarked Bethany, \u201cbeing soulless has a huge disadvantage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy dear, being without a soul is a strength,\u201d scoffed Dame Petrify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve just had four examples of how weak a person is without a soul,\u201d said Ruby. Dame Petrify arched her stony eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026What do you mean FOUR, Earthling?\u201d she asked. \u201cYou only killed Lord Typhoon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Rockette,\u201d replied Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Banger,\u201d supplied Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Pebble,\u201d said Yazmyn. She then shuddered. \u201cCreepy, that\u2019s what he was!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lying,\u201d scoffed Dame Petrify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou got a means of checking for life-signs?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEntrooper Commander, prove to these liars that my minions are still alive.\u201d The Entrooper Commander obeyed and checked its instruments. \u2026Its eyes widened in terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTh-They\u2019re not\u2026they\u2019re not registering!\u201d it reported. \u201cOur ship recorded their deaths! At the hands of those girls!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT? IMPOSSIBLE!\u201d shouted Dame Petrify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNope,\u201d replied Opal. \u201cWe would have brought pieces of their corpses, but, well, we were too busy and that\u2019s just sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYOU MURDERED PEOPLE THAT KNEW THE TRUTH! PEOPLE THAT BECAME SUPERIOR! GAIA IS NOW FORFEIT! WHO DO YOU GIRLS THINK YOU ARE?!\u201d The girls smiled and summoned their weapons as the Entroopers attacked. Ruby began introductions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Ruby Kobayashi, the Red Dame, am the Rose of Fire!\u201d She scorched a few Entroopers with a slash of her blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Bethany Williams, the Blue Dame, am the Rose of Water!\u201d Bethany created a whirlpool as she swung her shield into Entroopers, then joined Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Yazmyn Jacobson, the Yellow Dame, am the Rose of Lightning!\u201d A few zaps from Yazmyn\u2019s guns knocked down her opponents and she joined her friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Pat Daniels, the Purple Dame, am the Rose of Gravity!\u201d Pat swung her hammer and delivered crushing blows on her opponents, then joined her sister Roses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Opal Garcia, the Orange Dame, am the Rose of Sand!\u201d Opal cracked her whip and created biting sand tornadoes that took down her opponents, then she joined her fellow Roses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Gabi Morales, the Green Dame, am the Rose of Plants!\u201d Gabi frisbee\u2019d her chakram into several Entroopers and carnivorous plants snatched them up and ate them as she joined her sisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Wilma Lux, the White Empress, am the Rose of Light!\u201d Wilma fired a stream of light from her lantern that fried several Entroopers, then joined her students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Grace Grayson, the Gray Empress, am the Rose of Balance!\u201d Grace thrust her spear into several Entrooper chests, then joined her fellow Roses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, Belinda Umbra, the Black Empress, am the Rose of Darkness!\u201d Belinda\u2019s scarf enveloped several Entroopers, then they vanished into nothing as it returned to her hands while she joined the Roses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBlooming wherever evil lurks so we may defeat it,\u201d continued Ruby as everyone posed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWE ARE THE COSMIC ROSES!\u201d the Roses finished as Wilma\u2019s lantern created sparkles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYOU\u2019RE SOFT IS WHAT YOU ARE!\u201d Dame Petrify said defiantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRoses, let\u2019s show our thorns!\u201d called Ruby. \u201cDAME FIRE SWORD SLASH!\u201d The blade set itself on fire and Ruby slashed horizontally, creating a wave of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDAME WATER SHIELD WHIRLPOOL!\u201d Bethany Spun around, creating a water vortex, then threw her shield, causing the vortex to fire it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDAME LIGHTNING PISTOL RAPID FIRE!\u201d Yazmyn pointed her guns at Dame Petrify, pulled the triggers, and multiple lightning bolts erupted from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDAME GRAVITY HAMMER CRUSHER!\u201d Pat swung her hammer up, then the head expanded, then she swung it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDAME SAND WHIP STORM!\u201d Opal cracked her whip and created a biting sandstorm that flew towards Dame Petrify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDAME PLANT CHAKRAM VINE!\u201d Gabi threw her chakram and a giant vine grew, following the chakram\u2019s path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEMPRESS LIGHT LANTERN FLASH!\u201d A bright light shot out of Wilma\u2019s lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEMPRESS BALANCE SPEAR JUDGEMENT!\u201d Grace twirled her spear and the scales on it rushed to Dame Petrify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEMPRESS DARK VEIL SHADOW!\u201d Belinda\u2019s scarf wrapped around Dame Petrify as all the attacks hit her. The scarf then returned to Belinda\u2019s hands as glowing cracks appeared on Dame Petrify\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN-NO! NO! YOU CAN\u2019T-!\u201d begged Dame Petrify. \u201cIT\u2019S-! IT\u2019S THE LAW! STRONG\u2026ALWAYS\u2026DESTROY WEAK!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe sounds like Banger now,\u201d remarked Gabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s gonna sound like a bomb any second now!\u201d yelped Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEVERYBODY TAKE COVER!\u201d shouted Ruby. Even the Gaian Guard took cover. Dame Petrify then exploded, her stony remains scattering everywhere. No one said a word as the dust settled. That was when everyone heard footsteps\u2026belonging to Malachite and the reinforcements he brought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuards, we\u2019ll handle the\u2026wh-what is going on here?\u201d asked Malachite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re fashionably late is what you are,\u201d chuckled Wilma. \u201cLook at you! The fight\u2019s already over and Dame Petrify is dead!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d protested Malachite. By now, all the Cosmic Roses were laughing at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook at you, Daddy!\u201d laughed Opal. \u201cAll dressed up and nowhere to go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to grab soldiers from all sectors of the citadel!\u201d protested Malachite. \u201cEven the shortest route takes a long time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it looks like your former boss failed against us again!\u201d declared Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN\u2026No\u2026\u201d strained an Entrooper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026It\u2019s alive!\u201d gulped Gabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnly just,\u201d remarked Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur\u2026primary\u2026mission\u2026succeeded,\u201d said the Entrooper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d asked Ruby. \u201cGaia\u2019s people are still very much flesh and blood, not stone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2026was not\u2026the primary\u2026mission\u2026\u201d replied the Entrooper. \u201cYour\u2026slaying\u2026of Lord\u2026Typhoon\u2026made\u2026the Emperor\u2026realize\u2026that\u2026Entroopers\u2026were\u2026being produced\u2026at an\u2026unacceptable\u2026rate\u2026 \u2026So we\u2026infiltrated\u2026the Mana Pools\u2026to learn\u2026their secrets!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT?!\u201d yelped Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose secrets\u2026shall be studied! \u2026The larvae\u2026sent their notes\u2026to Central Command! \u2026We shall\u2026make\u2026our own\u2026Mana Pools! \u2026We have\u2026succeeded!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, you haven\u2019t,\u201d said Gabi. \u201cThe Mana Pools aren\u2019t of Gaian design.\u201d Everyone looked at Gabi. \u201c\u2026Ordinarily, the Lord President and those they trust wouldn\u2019t dare reveal this secret, but there\u2019s a clause in the Gaian Planetary Constitution that allows us to say something should an enemy study it. \u2026The Mana Pools were constructed by the Terran Great Mages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cL-LIES!\u201d argued the Entrooper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. Terrans had landed on our planet and saw that we were mana-deficient, despite being great masters of magic. The Terrans were saturated with mana, but had no interest in anything beyond basic spells to enhance their technology. But basic spells couldn\u2019t drain off their mana, so they entered into an exchange of knowledge and became our staunchest ally. They built the Mana Pools based off of natural pools on their homeworld and connected theirs to ours. Hence why we use magic a little more liberally, not just to study, but to help Terra. Put simply, you haven\u2019t learned ALL the secrets and Terra\u2019s quite vicious when they learn that their secrets are threatened. \u2026Sorry, but you still failed your primary mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf\u2026what you say\u2026is true\u2026\u201d snarled the Entrooper with its dying breath, \u201cthen\u2026we have been\u2026merely\u2026delayed! \u2026Not\u2026defeated\u2026!\u201d That was when it finally died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026M-Miss Morales,\u201d asked the Gaian Guard Commander, \u201cis this true? Our Mana Pools are linked with Terra\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yes, it\u2019s true,\u201d sighed Gabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not good,\u201d remarked Malachite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come, come,\u201d retorted Wilma. \u201cTerra and Gaia are allies. They\u2019ll-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be Emperor Entropy\u2019s next target,\u201d interrupted Malachite. \u201cEntroopers transmit all their memories to a central computer upon death and the signal WON\u2019T degrade or be delayed across light-years. I must inform the Lord President of this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think we\u2019d better check upon our Terran Roses,\u201d Grace suggested to Wilma and Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight,\u201d agreed Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, you\u2019re leaving?!\u201d yelped Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, girls,\u201d assured Belinda. \u201cWe\u2019ll see each other. We\u2019re just going to check up on your silver and gold sisters on Terra and assess the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBasically, convince Terra to shore up their defenses,\u201d continued Grace. \u201cAnd raise the girls\u2019 levels to Dame like you six.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Quick question, about the new outfits-,\u201d said Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, that? Well, you WILL need to wear them against a strong enemy, but you can swap back and forth between outfits, just say the appropriate transformation announcement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYES!\u201d Yazmyn pumped her fist. \u201cYellow Lady Rose of Lightning, I desire to bloom!\u201d Her Transformation Seed did the usual thing and she leapt out of the resulting rose in her Lady outfit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEh, I dunno,\u201d said Opal, \u201cI kind of like the outfit I\u2019ve got now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSuit yourself,\u201d said Yazmyn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Gaian Guard was still holding out against Dame Petrify. Rosa called the Guard Commander. \u201cWhat\u2019s the situation?\u201d she asked. \u201cBad, Lord President,\u201d replied the Guard Commander. \u201cDame Petrify and her forces keep pushing us back! We\u2019re being herded to the Mana Pools!\u201d \u201cThey must really need the Pools as an Entrooper Incubator,\u201d remarked Rosa. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7387,"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-7856","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\/7856","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=7856"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7857,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7856\/revisions\/7857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}