Description: HORSEYS! Look at the pretty horsies! Elisabeth and Nanako come in on a pretty white one, Adelheid's got a black and silver BMW one, and Nagase's got a limousine one! (Winners: Adelheid and Nagase)
The afternoon sun lingers strong in the sky, and here in the Southern hemisphere, it is a blazing summer. Tropical Queensland is a perhaps welcome respite from the chill up north, all warm breezes and balmy evenings. Airfare and lodging are of course courtesy of Howard Media, where necessary, and so it is a vacation... though for some, such as Adelheid Bernstein, tonight's event is the main attraction of such a trip. Not that the beachfront accomodations weren't enjoyable. Nothing like a balcony overlooking the ocean to relax before a vigorous workout. Which is where the platinum blonde now races, mounted atop a sleek black and silver BMW sportbike. The ride is clean and near-cherry, and roars heartily as the Bernstein heir blasts across the parking lot, and gets a little bit of air racing over the hilly utility access into the yard where the fight is to be held...
A sandy clearing in the shadow of the plant's central, ginormous smokestack, dotted here and there with repair or loading equipment, and various utility buildings. Spectators are in the surrounding areas, temporary bleachers set up here and there, and large monitors set up in all the lots for those who couldn't afford or make it in time to get closer. There's only so much 'safe radius' around a fight like this!
The German-engineered sportbike sprays a bit of dirt free as Adelheid pulls up beside one of the smaller surrounding steel structures, skidding to a precise stop and dismounting evenly, a black-gloved hand raking back his windblown platinum mane. From there, he steps out onto the field, the young Bernstein clad in militaristic black fatigues and boots, and a skintight silver-grey tanktop. No need for a jacket in -this- weather, and the above-the-limit race to the site has his heart pounding, the lithe blonde drawing a refreshed, easy deep breath... as his alert crimson eyes scan the field.
As one would expect of a woman as elegant and graceful as Elisabeth Blanctorche, she arrives on time, but her choice of transportation is doubtlessly outdated, when one considers the modern marvels of the twenty-first century. While one of her opponents prefers to arrive on the back of a steel horse...
...Elisabeth prefers the real thing.
Racing along the outskirts of the power plant, Mademoiselle Blanctorche rides swiftly, reigns tightly in hand as she guides her snow-white steed. It garners the attention of those she passes, the eyes of spectators for the SNF staring with expressions of mild disbelief as the woman makes impressive time on the stallion's back. Jerking the leather reins, Elisabeth belts out a loud "HYAA!" and guides the horse to make an impressive leap over a few smaller pieces of equipment littering the power plant's yard.
Dark blue eyes survey the surrounding area before the woman looks down toward the platinum-haired heir of the "R" empire. Pursing her lips softly, the heiress tilts her head a touch before she lightly jerks the reins, the white stallion's hooves ceasing swiftly after. Despite the awful heat, the Blanctorche heiress seems none too bothered.
In front of her on the sleek black saddle is a tiny young Asian girl, her partner for the fight.
Kicking a foot off, the woman eases herself off the saddle before she holds her hands up, offering to pick the kid up before setting her on the ground securely. A few SNF crew members hurry out, to gather the horse's reins and lead him off. Elisabeth? She simply exhales, a hand rested on a crop at her side.
"Bonjour. It would seem you are one of our opponents today," she says, regarding Adelheid with little more than an indifferent expression. "Please. Do your best."
Elisabeth Blanctorche is... quite frankly... an adolescent boy's dream. But she also serves as an excellent role-model for young Momoko, on the eve of her twelfth birthday, who has been quite open about her wish to be even =half= as well-proportioned.
Yeah. It can get kinda unnerving at times. But Elisabeth, unsurprisingly, has been a true lady about it -- even going so far as to offer the girl a ride on the prize steed.
Riding the horse with Elisabeth would, itself, be an adolescent boy's dream in itself. But once she got over her nervousness, everything was peachy! She could focus completely on the ride over! All the sights and sounds, all the wonderful sensations, and -- perhaps most obvious to the young psion -- Elisabeth's own excitement. Most of Momoko's fights have been a complete segue from inaction to action -- but nobility would never let a main course be presented without an appetizer. Quite simply, Elisabeth has raised the young girl's expectations for a fight to a whole new level.
And with the girl's heartbeat pounding from the thrill, she almost doesn't even recognize that it's over until Elisabeth reaches up to assist her. Blinking absently, she looks over with a delusional smile, realizing what Elisabeth means after a moment. Eagerly, she slips off the saddle, allowing Mme Blanctorche to assist her to the ground.
"That was so wonderful!" she chirps, bowing formally to her partner. She still can't quite pull her eyes away from Elisabeth for a moment (it's a phase, honest), but once Adelheid is addressed, Momoko's pure business. "Do your best!" she echoes, waving both hands high in the air! But... rather than take the graceful approach, Momoko's already dashing down to the center of the ring, eager to get started! "It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Momoko, and this is Made... Ma... Miss Elisabeth Blanctorche!"
COMBATSYS: Momoko has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|
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Elisabeth 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Nagase has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
Well, she was a long, loooong way from Southtown. Having spent the majority of her beachfront stay locked within the confines of her drawn and shuttered, darkened beachfront lodging, well... she supposed it was time to emerge. So emerge she did. That was an hour or two back. With the collar of her jacket turned up against the breeze, Nagase sat, half-hidden in the cab of a forklift, a softly whirring laptop sat cozy in her lap.
The arrival of Rugal's son was noticed, drawing only a flicker of her red eyes up towards his direction. With a snort of quiet disdain, her eyes drop back down to the screen of her laptop, fingers flickering at a frenzied pace over the keys, accompanied by the sound of a rapid 'tap tap tap'. Elisabeth's entrance draws a roll of her eyes from the young criminal, and with a final keystroke, she slaps the laptop closed, locks it, and tucks it into her pack.
Swinging her legs out of the cab, she hops out and lands upon her feet, weaving her way through the crowd to enter the fighting area. Crossing her arms in front of herself, she uses the fingertips of one hand to push up the bridge of her glasses, looking first over Elisabeth, and then staring directly towards Momoko. "Hmmm... shall we begin?" she asks. And at that very same moment, the signal to begin was given, but Nagase does not move, shoulders slightly slumped, and arms crossed in a lazy stance.
COMBATSYS: Nagase focuses on her next action.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
Mr.Big heads to the Pacific Ocean.
A... horse? Well, that's certainly different. An adolescent boy's dream, maybe, but Adelheid is hardly your typical teenage male, nor are his dreams the same as others his age. No, it'll take more than a flashy entrance by a noblewoman... and uhm, another little, peppy girl... what is it with Adelheid getting booked to fight little, peppy girls? SOMEONE is making undue comments on his handsome features, maybe. Heck, he's even teamed up with one now! Though Nagase hardly seems to fit the mold, the Bernstein heir's reddish eyes lingering on the sudden arrival of his comrade thoughtfully. He can't exactly tell -what- she's planning, but he can definitely tell it's something. With the call to fight given, and everyone urging a good show... Adelheid does just that. His demeanor is similarly businesslike, for the moment at least... austere features calm and stoic, alert.
His gaze slips from Nagase, back to Momoko, then across the yard to Elisabeth, "Don't have to ask that twice..." the Bernstein heir replies, his smooth tenor ringing clearly across the span... a span he crosses in an instant, having no compunction about turning himself into the diversion for Nagase's initial assault, and perhaps taking the confident noblewoman down a peg to boot. That seems to be his primary concern, just now, dust splashing outwards along the apparently very windy, very fast path of his sprinting feet as he charges, and lunges, fearless, a gloved hand snapping in for Elisabeth's face.
Should he find that grip? It's an assault of a decidedly unconventional calibre, alarmingly strong hand crunching down around her features, and dragging her right off her feet, before -shoving- forward with the suspending arm, and blasting a torrential, bladed shrapnel of silvery wind-chi from his palm, into her face, point blank, "That's what I'm HERE FOR!!"
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth blocks Adelheid's Scorpion Deathlock.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
Boy's dream or no, the woman seems entirely business during the duration of the ride, as well as upon arriving and dismounting her snow-white stallion's back. It's rare the heiress has a companion on horseback, and even more rare it's a child as old as Momoko; therefore certain precautionary measures were taken, but ultimately the woman seemed to throw caution to the wind as she blazed ahead toward their destination.
When it's all over, long arms stretch out and offer the tiniest of smiles as she helps pull Momoko off the horse's back. The girl's enthusiasm is noted, but the woman otherwise keeps a calm, collected air about her as she sets Momoko down. A moment is spared for the kid, however, as the girl beams. It was wonderful? Blinking once, the dark-eyed heiress stares at the young Psion before she chuckles and pats her head.
Then it's time for business as usual.
Regarding the newest arrival onto the scene, the woman does little more than purse her thin lips, brows knitting ever so softly. Two on two? This should be interesting, to say the least. With observant eyes, the woman keeps her attentions on the two potentially dangerous fighters ahead of her and her exuberant partner.
It all begins when Adelheid makes the first move. Dark blues flicker promptly to the side, watching as he darts forward with impressive speed. It's fast and fearless, that gloved hand stretching out...but meeting little more than the sudden thrust of her palm against his wrist, knocking his grasping appendage aside with deft precision. "You're quick," she muses aloud.
But is he quick enough to avoid the sudden jerk of her leg out, the top of her boot aimed for his ribs.
Okay... Nagase's a little weird, Momoko notes! ... Mostly because the ebullient Psycho Soldier wannabe seems to have inspired instant distaste in the yellow-garbed ninja. And disappointed people are the ones who give Momoko the most trouble. Why can't everyone just be happy? Fighting is a show for the audience, after all!
5tMomoko glances back to Adelheid and Elisabeth for a moment, just before the match actually begins. Elisabeth's fine so far, and Adelheid is fine...
And then it's go-time! Momoko turns back to Nagase, but... finds her standing there, asking to begin. "... Right!" Nagase can stand there all she likes, but it won't stop little Momoko from rushing out in a sudden burst of speed, then throwing herself into a triple handspring! The third handspring is a doozy though -- the girl suddenly catapults herself forward in a twin kick at Nagase! "Yaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Nagase dodges Momoko's Medium Kick.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
An assault that Nagase seemed to be expecting. As Adelheid and Elisabeth launch themselves at each other, and do their little dance, Nagase's eyes drift away from Elisabeth to focus fully upon Momoko, lifting a brow at her exclamation. Needless to say, though, Momoko's sudden attack caught Nagase by surprise, the girl taking a quick step back, before catapulting herself backwards, flipping once as she travels through the air, well out of the way of any of Momoko's feet. Sailing backwards, a half-grin seems to dance upon Nagase's lips, as she then... flickers.
Her form blurs, and when she was once flying through the air, now she was crouching right before Momoko, where she lands, a hand slipping behind herself to grab ahold of the hilt of her ninja-to. Let's all just ignore the fact that there was a little plastic panda head on the very tip of that hilt, shall we? But despite the goofiness of the hilt, the blade that is revealed with a quick draw is decidely ~not~ goofy.
Nagase rises from that crouch, and spins upon one heel, attempting to draw the blade vertically across Momoko's front with a yell. Letting momentum carry her, she convults and twists her body to make another bottom to top vertical slash, spinning once more to make a third and final one, whether or not the others work.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth successfully hits Adelheid with Light Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
Note: Being overextended, and unleashing a blast of energy mostly into the air is decidedly -not- a good situation from which to cope with a quick counterattack. The swinging kick catches Adelheid in the ribs, though his tensed abdomen seems to resist more than cave from the impact, the youth himself sailing backwards a short distance, landing in a rather harsh crouch. Count on him to help out the momentum of that hit, right?
There's no time to lament the painful impact, however... no, the Bernstein heir lifts his intent, fiery eyes and smiles slowly... not a threatening thing, but it is dangerous. As evidenced by the invisible, but entirely tangible shockwave that echoes, blasting sand away as the young 'R' lieutenant all but -launches- from his crouch to full velocity, his feet not even touching the ground as he hurtles in on Elisabeth, both hands seeking to grip her by the fancy-schmancy jacket, swing her around rather forcefully, and haul her up... at which point she would join Adelheid on his gravity defying near-flight several inches above the ground, suspended at the front of the charge until that freight train of pain ends, rather violently and suddenly, by smashing Elisabeth's shoulderblades against the towering smokestack. Yes, this might well crumble some of the foundation's bricks, ah well.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Elisabeth with God Press.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
Her strike lands true, sending the Bernstein heir soaring to one side before he corrects himself and skids to a halt in a crouch. Elisabeth, on the other hand, slowly lowers her leg, dark blues peering curiously at the young man as he rises from the ground, that fiery gaze of his met with little intensity from the noblewoman. Seconds later, however, he launches forward at the woman, snagging her by the collar and thoroughly slamming her against the side of a smokestack. The resulting impact jars the woman, an audible grunt sliding past her lips before she clenches her teeth and shakes her head.
Upon release, however, the woman's fingers curl, slender digits wrapping around her crop's hilt before she withdraws it, thrusting it forward and sending three brilliantly shining points of light soaring at the Bernstein youth in retaliation. She only hopes her young teammate is doing well on her own.
COMBATSYS: Nagase successfully hits Momoko with Tricky Rounder.
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
Momoko is used to fighters who openly display their emotions. Happy fighters, aggressive fighters, moody fighters. ... Nagase is none of the above, and in true ninja form, it's hard to tell what she's thinking. Apparently this even extends to the psychic realm; even though Momoko doesn't really know how to make sense of the emotions swimming about her, or READ MINDS or any of that stuff, ... she's used to being able to read -something- of her opponents.
Nagase... may as well not even exist for the one moment when Momoko is kicking. This alarms her, as proved by her gaping mouth.
The fact that Nagase is suddenly in front of her again when she lands alarms her even more, the loose outer layer of her shirt shredded neatly in half by the sudden swipe of the blade, a trace of red bared upon her tummy. "Iyaaaa!" Another joins it as the younger girl staggers backwards, and then a third, her trendy shirt becoming a bit more loose than she'd like. Nothing indecent, though, thanks to the inner layer!
But... Momoko's also starting to topple backward from the unsteady defense. Instead of actually doing so, she falls onto one hand -- which just so happens to be enough of a fulcrum for her to shift her momentum =forward= again, in hopes of kicking Nagase with an upside-down kick before she can ninja away again. "Aaaa--- haaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Nagase dodges Momoko's Au Batido.
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
After the third rotation, Nagase stomps a foot downwards, steadying herself with that motion, positioning her sword smoothly behind herself, and slipping it back into her scabbard where it makes a satisfying (to her, anyways), click sound. Not that she had a lot of time to enjoy it, considering how quickly Momoko was pressing the attack! The weird way that the Psycho Power person was attacking almost caught Nagase off guard.
Almost.
Eyes flying wide open as the foot heads her way, the ninja decides that the simplest way was best. In this case, the simpliest way is stepping to one side, and ducking somewhat, just barely missing getting clipped. But with Momoko in a off-balance (Nagase thinks) position like that, well... that was just prime counterattack material, right? In a fluid motion that coincides with the successful sidestep, Nagase snaps out a hand to try to grab ahold of Momoko's outstretched, kicking leg. If that is successful, that hand would be joined with the other in grabbing that leg as Nagase would put her back into swinging Momoko up and... er... over there. By that convienent bit of industrial machinery.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth successfully hits Adelheid with Etancher.
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
WHAM! The crack of the God Press' successful conclusion is always a gratifying - and somewhat reaffirming - moment. The bricks crumble away along the exterior of the plant's mighty tower, and Adelheid drops back from the slammed Elisabeth... but not quickly enough to evade the swirling triad of searing, white-hot projectiles. He attempts to shift his guard into them, but each manages to slip past, exploding and driving the defending Bernstein back several staggering strides. The lightly tanned skin of his arms and face reddens from the heat of the chi, momentary flashburns divulging the successive impact... but it doesn't really seem to have phased the resilient blonde overly badly, his footing still stable, as he draws a deep, renewing breath.
And renews that subtle smile, slightly, alert eyes panning aside to consider Momoko and Nagase.... his intuition following the ninja better than his eyes, but she's definitely holding her own. And so is he. Rather cool and confident, the Bernstein heir looks back to his opponent, a wry gleam in his dark red eyes, "You've got to have something more impressive than that." He may not have his father's helpful prosthesis, but sensing chi and potential isn't -all- in the cybereye. No, Adelheid isn't slowing down or hesitating by the looks of things... he's just getting ready to turn up the proverbial volume.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid focuses on his next action.
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
Upon impact of chi on flesh, Elisabeth withdraws her hand, the crop in her hand slowly drawing back, eased gracefully back into its small hilt on her hip. There is no look of satisfaction or smugness on the heiress' face; instead she simply observes, lips pulled tightly across her soft face.
He isn't pursuing her? A moment is spared, eyes turning to the young girl and her opponent, briefly accessing her situation. Does the girl have more than she can handle? She hopes not. Her thoughts are, however, broken as she's spoken to, and with his mildly scathing insult comes the faintest of smirks from the woman.
"You're starting to get ahead of yourself," she warns, leveling her gaze on the Bernstein youth.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth focuses on her next action.
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Momoko interrupts Quick Throw from Nagase with Phoenix Arrow.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
Momoko is nothing if not balanced. Nagase can reach for the girl's leg... but it won't do much good, for as Momoko realizes she's whiffed her attack, she's already preparing to shift the next. Twisting about, she makes a tough target for Nagase's grasping hands as she's flung herself =towards= the ninja -- Nagase can wrench the girl's leg -- which does hurt -- but she can't stop it from coming =towards= her in a whirling, tumbling mass of kicking twelve-year-old! If her spinning momentum isn't enough to break Momoko free of the hold, then perhaps the intense, exceedingly warm aura of Psycho Power surrounding Momoko =would= be! "PHOENIX... ARROW!!!" cries the little girl -- just before lashing out with a single, full-extension kick to her aggressor's abdomen. Wham!
Alright. Now Nagase has learned what ~not~ to do with Momoko. While she wasn't quite expecting the kick before, she ~really~ wasn't expecting this one, and it shows. Releasing a bit of a surprised squeak as Momoko turns into a whirling mess of kicks, Nagase goes a bit wideeyed as the last kick connects -very- firmly with her abdomen, driving the air out of the SouthSynd retainers lungs. Stumbling back and away from Momoko, Nagase is, at least, quick to recover her balance and composture, if not her breath.
"Heeeey, -ouch-." she hisses breathlessly, sparing a glance towards the other pair of opponents. Staring contest. How droll. Eyes flicking back towards Momoko, Nagase flicks her arm in a certain way, a shiney metal object dropping from her sleeve into her waiting palm. Two quick retreating steps are taken away, and Nagase favours Momoko with a smile as she catapults herself backwards, and flicks out her arm... towards Elisabeth, sending the metallic dart barreling in the direction of the woman's arm. It was a kunai, by the way, with a happy panda head adoring the hilt, in a manner not unlike her sword.
Ah, so the Frenchwoman withholds an offensive... disappointing, but Adelheid can live with it. The platinum blonde considers the older fighter for another quiet moment, "Actually, I think you're just missing yours." The platinum blonde retorts. His only motion through this time has been a slow, pacing flank, keeping distance between himself and the heiress... but Nagase's plight is caught in the periphery of his vision, and something told him this would be a moment of transition. These are key in battles, after all, and he seeks to capitalize on Nagase's initiative. For a passing instant, two, three halves of a second.... the Bernstein heir just holds his gaze steady on Elisabeth. It might occur to the noble that Adelheid is holding her attention solely to play into the trap for those last few moments.
Of course, assuming she does realize it, before or after Nagase's sharp blade reaches her, Adelheid only moves once Elisabeth's eyes and attention falter towards that threat. And he moves -fast-, dropping into a twisting crouch and dragging a dark-bladed bootknife from his heavy footwear, the rotation ending as his arm whips out, and sends the black heft of metal whirring for Elisabeth's midsection. Despite the amount of careful timing to the motion, the whole affair is over damned quickly... one way or another.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth endures Nagase's Shooting Star.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth dodges Adelheid's Large Thrown Object.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
Out of the corner of Elisabeth's blue eye, she catches something, the glint of steel on sunlight as it leaves Nagase's person and whistles toward the noblewoman. For a moment there's a look of contemplation on her features; then she smirks ever so faintly and turns her body, letting that kunai strike her body, albeit in a less painful spot than it could potentially BE in. A soft hiss escapes the woman before a hand jerks up, ripping the ninja weapon from her arm and tossing it aside like the rubbish it is to a woman such as herself.
Adelheid's wit is met with little more than an unimpressed look from the dark-haired Frenchwoman. Missing hers? Keeping close eye, the woman watches as he paces around before lunging forward, giving her precious little time between attacks. His foot whips out and something metal whizzes at her, but with a swift step to the side she avoids potential pain. Then, with a frown, the woman rushes forward, lifting a leg and coiling it tightly before she kicks it out and high, to strike at his jaw with the heel of her boot. Following this, her hand grips the crop at her side, whipping out and lashing at the Bernstein youth as she plants her foot.
... Oh yyyyyyeeeeeeah, there's other people in this fight! Momoko's last SNF pitted her against two opponents, but they were attacking both her and each other. This one, it's a bit easier as she has a pretty lady helping her. ... and apparently drawing Nagase's fire.
It'd be in Momoko's best interest for her to pause for a moment and catch her breath. But the girl's just got too much energy, really.... and not enough experience to know when she's up against someone who clearly outclasses her.
It can be a positive trait, at times.
With Nagase not =right= on her, Momoko decides she's gonna help her partner out by running a bit of interference for the moment. She dashes straight for Adelheid's flank, leaping into the air -- and aims to latch her legs right around his neck! If she manages to get a grasp here, she'd sharply twist her arms and torso to the side, her legs following suit for a momentary chokehold -- which =ought= to be enough to give Elisabeth some assistance in her attack! "Iyaaaan!"
All these people flying around, and at the moment, it seems Nagase has been left all to her lonesome. Landing in a crouch, she slowly rises up to a stance, turning her side towards the other combatants, and frowning. Well then. "Might be time for a change of pace after all." she mutters to herself, dipping one hand into the pocket of her jacket, and removing a CD cover. Keeping one eye on the combatants, she pulls one of the sleeves of her jacket up to unveil her access drive, popping the tray open with a mental command.
And as she continues to change the discs, she keeps a wary eye on the proceedings. Momoko's proceedings, in particular.
COMBATSYS: Nagase focuses on her next action.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Momoko successfully hits Adelheid with Iyan.
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Momoko 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Elisabeth's Heavy Kick.
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Momoko 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Nagase
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Adelheid
Alright... getting sandwiched between opponents wasn't part of the plan, but the Bernstein style is all about improvisation. And move stealing, so what?!?! You want to fight about it? Adelheid whips the bootknife, to little avail... and Elisabeth wastes no time in moving to capitalize. The young Bernstein weaves backwards as she begins the rushing charge... and then he has Momoko on his shoulders? The sharp twist of his neck cracks audibly, but it's not bone breaking... just a bit of a sharp pain from the sudden not so chiropractic adjustment. Even with the Capoeira prodigy's rather unremarkable weight on his back, though, Adelheid completes his initial motion, gliding aside into a rather impressive sidelong dodge, that leaves Elisabeth's painful-looking kick with nothing to clobber but air.
Adelheid? He pulls up short from that leap, which may have loosened Momoko's grip... if not? It'll be loosened when the Bernstein heir sharply twists, driving his right elbow around and in for Momoko's ribs, looking to quite literally hammer the girl away from him as she 'dismounts', willingly or otherwise. He doesn't speak, not now, all his focus on the chaos of the mass melee.
Much to Elisabeth's surprise, the tiny Capoeira girl lands on her opponent before giving him a nice twist of the neck before she releases him from her grip. Indeed; capitalizing on this, Elisabeth rushes forward, attempting to deliever a sound kick to the Bernstein heir, but he's quicker than she gives credit. Her foot whips through empty air, landing solidly on the ground with a spray of gravel.
Furrowing her brows lightly, the woman takes not of his sudden advance on Momoko, and this doesn't bode well with the heiress. Making her move, the woman leaps into the air, a leg snapping out, to crash quite soundly against the young blonde's side. If she's lucky it'll be enough to separate him from the tiny Psion.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Momoko with Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Momoko 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Momoko... is in a rather disadvantageous position once she realizes Adelheid is dragging her along for a ride! That's gotta suck! But... not as much as when she leans backward, tries to backflip off of Adel, and gets soundly *elbowed* square in the ribs. A squeak escapes her -- hardly the most impressive of sounds, but you try getting your lungs forcefully compressed and see what sound =you= make, eh?
Maybe, Momoko realizes, Nagase may be a better opponent after all. And it's with that in mind that the girl, one arm clutched around her aching ribs, nonetheless chaaaaaarges into battle after the panda-lover! She doesn't mess around, really -- just vaults forward, lunges into a handspring, and lashes out with a rather fierce vaulting kick! "Haaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Momoko successfully hits Nagase with Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Momoko 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Good thing Nagase was keeping an eye upon Momoko, because there she comes. As far as kicks went, that really didn't look like the sort of kick that would be hard to dodge, so Nagase takes a stance, drawing a arm behind herself as Momoko approaches, preparing to dodge out of the way at the very last...
...
...quick little thing, wasn't she?
Solidly, the vaulting kick lashes into Nagase's ribs, knocking the ninja off of her feet. Her eyes snapping open as she flies backwards, landing flat unto her back, arm caught beneath herself. For a long moment, Nagase just lies there, staring up into the sky with a rather dazed expression on her face. Giving her head a shake, she kip-ups unto her feet, adding a bit of twist to her wrist to give the appearance of pulling... something out of her coat. In actuality, she didn't quite pull anything out. Instead, a ball of fire-like chi flares up in her hand, and with a "Haaaa~" she tosses it in Momoko's direction, the ball of flame falling to the ground, and dancing along it, with the occasional bounce, as it stumbles towards the Psycho Power person.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid just-defends Elisabeth's Light Kick!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 1/---====/=======|=======\====---\1 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Yes, light Momoko may be, but Adel definitely prefers life without excess baggage. Hiking with a backpack is bad enough, and his neck has had enough nasty twistingness. Nagase is definitely capable, and wily, and even if that Momoko girl can deal it back as good as she gets, from where he's standing... Adelheid certainly has a few moments purchased by his teammate's impressive blast and the dissuasive elbow applied to the waifish Japanese girl. So it spares his full attention for Elisabeth. Calculating eyes track the French woman's rush and leap, and at the very last moment, as that kick swings in and Elisabeth lands, the young Bernstein shifts, abruptly. He steps aside, the kick swinging for his ribs suddenly surrounded by a dropping arm.
The grin flashes, entertained now... in the midst of this little battle, his blood is definitely boiling. He was asked for his best, after all. And so instead of being kicked in the ribs, a hand grasps below Elisabeth's boot, jerking the leg harshly into his side... without ill effect, the velocity is actually augmented for that brief moment, as Adelheid takes one more measured sidestep, hoping to maintain his grip, drag Elisabeth around by one leg, leaving her a precatious stance at best for a few disorienting moments before he -slams- his left fist out, full bore into the front of her ribcage, seeking to drive her right to her back, on the ground, with a fervent, gutteral shout.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth fails to counter Scorpion Blow from Adelheid with Mirage Derriere.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 1/---====/=======|=======\====---\1 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
It would seem little Momoko is doing well on her own! This pleases her teammate to a degree, even if her cool features are otherwise blank. With this in mind, the heiress can focus a touch easier on her own fight. Unfortunately, however, it would seem by giving him a kick she does nothing to his defenses; no matter, she'll recover and make a retaliation. It's easy, right?
Wrong. As he attempts to lash out at her the woman's hand moves, a burst of white chi erupting from her fingertips. He's faster, however, and she's snared, drug by that leg before she's punched in the ribs and slammed mercilessly into the ground. It's a few seconds of downtime before the woman peels herself up and smooths her coat into its proper place. Then and only then does she look up at her opponent with the faintest of frowns.
COMBATSYS: Momoko dodges Nagase's Unrelenting Fire.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 1/---====/=======|=======\====---\1 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Dancing and bouncing? Dancing and bouncing is what Momokos do best! ... Of course, with what just happened to her ribs, Momoko has shifted over a bit into Showoff mode in order to take her pre-teen mind off the pain. And with a twisty ball of flame being lobbed at her from Nagase, the 11.98-year-old seems... a bit concerned! How come everyone else can throw fire and energy so easily, when she has to work so hard at it? It's not fair!
... But from behind her, Momoko can hear the sound of her teammate getting a workout of her own. Combined with a ball of flame flipping its way towards her, Momoko... pales a bit. "Sorry, Miss Yellow-jacket, I've got to help my friend!" And the girl backflips -- intentionally mimicking the flaming chi as she flips, and flips, and flips her way over towards Adelheid!
By that time, she's out of the flames' direct path -- and she's much closer to Adelheid! But more importantly, she's also adopted a rather pink hue. And her thumbs and forefingers are shaped like a heart. And she's not dancing, or swishing about -- just focusing her mind entirely on one, single-minded attack.
And a gigantic plasma cannon of love and happiness rockets across the path... straight for Adelheid.
"ES-PERRRRR!"
She hopes her partner appreciates the assist!
Miss Yellow Jacket? The look upon Nagase's face is pained. Observing Momoko's movements, Nagase follows the girl the best she can, mimicking every flip to the side, adding in a bit of a dash here and there... and as Momoko finds herself near Adelheid, Nagase finds herself temptingly close to Elisabeth. Too tempting. You see, as she was bouncing over there, there was a high pitched whirring noise from the access drive upon her arm. And then, as Nagase takes her final step, she explodes into action.
Almost literally. The noise stops suddenly as Nagase appears both in front of, and behind Elisabeth, moving in a blur of motion. Straight kicks to the head, torso, gut, the occasional punch, and the occasional swipe of the sword might be felt in the flurry of blows... in the strikes both before and behind Elisabeth. But when the flurry ends, the Nagase behind Elisabeth is the one that stays put, the other one vanishing.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth blocks Nagase's Mirage Assault.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Adelheid reflects Esper from Momoko with Dark Barrier.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Alright. Sometimes, a nudge just isn't enough. The massive charge of psi that Momoko starts gathering up off his flank is certainly noted.... it's hard to miss. Adelheid foregoes his assault on Elisabeth, giving her all the time in the world to pick herself back up off the dusty, dirty, rather uncomfortable ground as he leaps back, and twists to face Momoko, even as her tracking orbital ion cannon of really, really pink pinkness blasts in full-bore. Did someone say Kamehameha?!!?
Adelheid drops back only one step, before he braces his right palm and left shoulder in perfect alignment with the column of really, really girly energy. The kind of colourful pillar that would just totally emasculate anyone subjugated to its pastel depths. Adelheid is effeminate enough. And so he summons forth a shield over his shoulder and upper body, a coalescent disc of smokey grays and swirling silvers, the windy barrier holding strong as the Esper rocks in.
Just because the barrier holds doesn't mean Adelheid does, though, not entirely... his footing sliiiides gradually back across the sandy yard, boots digging for a foothold as he grits his teeth, the grey-silver shield fluctating madly in the ongoing torrent of vibrant psi. Then... something happens. Something Momoko has probably never -seen- happen to her lovely, pretty Esper before...
Windshear blasts -back- up the column, silvery blades of lancing, blasting, hurricane-force energy swirling back the way it came... in tandem with pink shrapnel that seems to have had its polarity reversed, the entire attack dissolving around itself and blowing back on Momoko like a plugged up shotgun as the Dark Barrier's power erupts past the meeting, clashing energies.
It would seem that Elisabeth has herself a new opponent. The sound of whirring catches the elder woman's attention, blue eyes snapping aside as she regards the incoming youth in yellow. "You," she says, quite simply. Then, a flurry of movements.
Twisting on her boot's heel, the elegant heiress maneuvers herself just out of that pincer assault from Nagase, though her slender arms rise up and shield her face, the occasional kick taken against her slender forearm before it's all over, leaving one of two ninja standing. Not particularly wanting to stand there, Elisabeth springs off her feet, a brisk hop executed before she stands aside, sparing herself a moment from the hectic fight, if only to catch a quick breath. That's when she spies Momoko making her attempt...and having said attempt ultimately fly back AT her. Another faint frown crosses her lips as the Bernstein youth displays his talents for the poor Capoeira prodigy. Suffice to say, Elisabeth's eyes are entirely on Adelheid at this point.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Momoko with Reflected Esper.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Momoko blinks stupidly for a few moments, cocking her head to one side as her Esper~ attack is swirled around, merged with that silvery windlike chi. "... Araaaa....?" she asks, as if the reversed shrapnel would actually explain what just occurred.
But there's one thing the girl realizes -- that it's, uh... nowhere =near= as strong as what she had unleashed upon Adelheid. So she doesn't really make any move to run away, instead just glancing over to Elisabeth and Nagase.
That's when the event horizon of the wave rushes into her, knocking silvery energy into the girl's eyes. "AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" she howls, curling her hands over her eyes as she falls, kicking and screaming to the ground.
It's about then that she realizes... that didn't really hurt so much at all. Sure, it stings, and she's =blinded= for a moment, but she knew where Nagase was last. Picking herself up, choking back tears for a moment (she has to look brave for the camera, her recent childish display all but forgotten) And she rockets off in that direction, leaping into a flip kick -- and if that lands, she'd vault up, swing her legs overhead, and crash down again for a second kick at 'Miss Yellow-jacket!' "And one, and twooooo!"
COMBATSYS: Nagase dodges Momoko's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Nagase just couldn't shake the feeling that it was a trap. Elisabeth was sitting there, looking all dumbfounded and such, and it was just so... perfect that she couldn't help but think that there was something sneaky going on in the mind of the woman. Running her tongue over her lips absentmindedly, her Ninja Sense warns Nagase of the capoeria artists coming. Bringing her arms up as if to block, Nagase tosses herself to the side, hitting the ground in a roll. She tumbles that direction for a moment, before ending the tumble in a crouch, red eyes flickering behind her yellow glasses towards Elisabeth once again.
And with a shout, Nagase physically runs in that direction, whirling on a foot to aim a short snapkick at the back of the Frenchwoman's head.
Sure, the return volley may not match the intensity of that blazing pink pillar... but at least it's returning, and not penetrating the Dark Barrier. Adelheid can live with that, though the momentary tantrum does bring a blink or two from the Bernstein youth, "Hmm." He murmurs lightly to himself, eyes scanning the yard. In the end, he chooses to pace rather steadily around the edge of their 'arena', away from where Momoko launches her failed assault, around towards Elisabeth from the flank opposite from the one Nagase chooses.
It's another diversionary tactic, albeit one that might be rather hard to decipher, particularly with how quick Bernstein has been to deal out punishment when Elisabeth's guard lapses for a moment. He approaches slowly, with predatory grace and alertness, centering his own attentions towards finishing this battle... and making sure Elisabeth feels the pressure of the constant risk of attack from his 'front' while dealing with Nagase's offensive.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth interrupts Light Kick from Nagase with Coup de Veine.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
The shrill cry of Elisabeth's young teammate earns her attentions briefly, Nagase and Adelheid otherwise ignored as the elder woman looks on with a look of concern. She's just a child, after all; this is likely a bit much for the girl, and it bothers her to a degree that she's paired up with her. She doesn't dislike the child, but she is a liability of sorts...at least to Elisabeth Blanctorche.
In any case, Adelheid is the least of her threats for the interim as he stands by, just observing. Nagase, on the other hand, proves to be a touch trickier and clearly bold. Charging after Elisabeth, the woman turns and coils a hand at her side. Is she readying to block her attack, like before?
Quite the contrary. As Nagase closes in and lifts a leg the Frenchwoman dips low before she rises up swiftly underneath the girl's jaw. While that leg crashes lightly against the woman's ribs, Elisabeth's fist crashes up into the ninja's jaw with a resounding crack, to send the poor girl soaring a few feet into the air. "HAAAAH!"
Oh, it wasn't =that= bad. Momoko just didn't realize that she =sounded= like a big baby, is all. Then again, hel-LO, eleven years old! She's got literally half - or less -- of the experience of anyone else in the fight, so ... well. She may not be as in control as she thought she was, is all!
But when she hears Nagase get smacked, she doesn't bother looking around for Adelheid. (See also: NAIVE) Rubbing her eyes as she looks up -- the pain's almost gone, and she can see clearly again -- she finds a ninja! "Okay, I got her, Miss Elisabeth!" she calls out, leaping after Nagase's falling form... well, backwards. It's a backsault -- and one in which she intends to kick Nagase a good three times before the ninja hits the ground. If she can, indeed, hit! "Ya-ya-yaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Nagase blocks Momoko's Folha.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
She knew it. Nagase had known it. Her world explodes into a rather lovely shade of white, and there's that wonderful sensation of flying. Likely because she was. Weighed down by internal machinery as she was, she was still light enough to fly a fair ways up into the air. There wasn't really a question whether or not Momoko would hit. But that didn't mean Nagase was ~completely~ out of options, not yet. The first kick snaps Nagase out of her reverie, and the second kick is met with a block of a sleeve, Nagase pulling both of her arms in the path of the kick. Stung, yes, but still. Using the momentum upward gained from the second kick, Nagase flips backwards, completely avoiding any further attacks as she... well... tries to land on her feet.
She kinda lands in a heap, all told. A hand rises to adjust the glasses on her face, and she rises up to a kneel soon enough, the access drive on her arm whirring and sounding, louder and louder... and she lifts her head to look up towards Momoko... and vanishes. Not to reappear later, but just totally vanish. In fact, she wouldn't reappear again for a few good seconds, where she appears behind Momoko, and tries to lightly set her hands upon her shoulders... trying to force every once of fire-seeming chi she has into the little girl.
Alright. Note to self: Elisabeth does not distract easily. Apparently the noblewoman has more of a head for the battlefield than her upbringing might suggest... but then not all privileged lives are easy lives, are they Mr. Bernstein? Adelheid doesn't waste any time, however, once it's clear the Blanctorche is indeed prepared to deal with his ninja ally. Nagase goes sailing high..
... And the platinum blonde comes rushing in with lunging, long fast strides. He barely touches the ground until he's pressing -hard- at Elisabeth's hopefully improperly defended flank, his approach lead by a thrusting, snapping axekick that launches him subtly into the air on its attempt to collide squarely with the French rider's jaw. At which point Adelheid would land on his other, anchoring foot, and spin a sharp three-hundred and sixty degrees to crack his bootheel down atop Elisabeth's skull, his other foot lashing up as he swaps up his stance, aligning a final, dismissive thrust with her face. Brutal, direct, and rather efficient as an offensive flurry.... Adelheid looks to take the fight out of Elisabeth right now, it seems.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Elisabeth with B's Destruction.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Adelheid
Addressed, the Frenchwoman's features shift, a momentary look of vague confusion on the woman's face before she glances over a shoulder, catching sight of Momoko springing into action with unmatched enthusiasm and zeal. Elisabeth is...briefly stunned by the display, but it draws the tiniest of smiles over her lips. "Very well," she replies, bowing her head in a nod toward Momoko. "Do your best, mademoiselle Momoko." A little encouragement never hurt!
As eyes return to Adelheid, however, they're treated with the sight of him approaching with a nice, delightfully painful kick to her jaw. Struck, the woman is volleyed about before she's kicked off and away, rather dismissive in nature. Her land is unceremonious and vicious; tumbling and rolling, the woman eventually comes to a stop in the dirt. Yes, that hurt, and it shows as she rises up, rubbing softly at her jaw while gazing rather intently at the Bernstein youth. It's a particularly cold gaze, one that could and very likely would freeze hell over.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Momoko blocks Nagase's Stealth.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Adelheid
"Right! You too, Miss Elisabeth!" See, she can call Nagase Miss Yellow-jacket, but... the obvious nom de guerre for Elisabeth would be uncouth.
But Nagase seems to take advantage of that one moment where Momoko's attention seems to be distracted to sneak in behind and set hands on her shoulders. Thing is... Momoko's got a little trick of her own. As soon as she feels that burning sensation, the girl drops to her knees, curling up in the fetal position. "IYAAAAAAAAAAAA!!" Aww, how cute. (Hey, stop making that gagging gesture.) But more importantly -- she's concentrating her energy into sustaining the fiery conflagration! Her form is bathed not only in orange, but in the milky, white-and-pink glow of Psycho Power! The fire, for the most part, is kept at bay by her psychic aura.
But the good thing is, Momoko knows where to put her foot if Nagase's gonna keep holding onto her. The girl flops forward onto her hands as the flames die out, her feet snapping backwards to cap Nagase in the kneecaps, if she should be so lucky! "HYAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Nagase dodges Momoko's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Adelheid
Sorry, Momoko. You aren't lucky today. For even when she is on her last legs, Nagase is ninja. And this particular move from the little 11-year-old didn't take more than a hop up and over that thrusting foot to dodge, Nagase landing in front of Momoko, her back to the little rapscallion. Flicking her right arm to the side, a kunai falls into her waiting hand. At the very same time, she brings up her hand, to push the bridge of her glasses upwards, adjusting the things.
Hopping forward again, she twirls in the air, launching a projectile not towards the little girl, but towards Elisabeth.
Alright. Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, and Adelheid definitely still has a few trick shots left in his repotoire. Elisabeth is wary, alert... ready. Or is she? Bernstein, rather than play the waiting game, decides to simply spring the trap. Sometimes, the simplest path between two points... is a straight line.
It's to that end that the young Bernstein summons his own still ample inner chi, and launches forward in a leap that nearly covers the distance of the field, bringing him in full-on at Elisabeth. His attack is nothing conventional, nothing like what the French woman may have come to expect from the son of Rugal Bernstein... no, the platinum blonde prodigy simply shoves out with both hands, pushing in disturbingly hard and fast for the center of her chest. ... at shoulder level, freaks.
At that point, hit or miss, win lose or draw, Adel pours an absolutely -tremendous- charge of windshear forth from both hands, a huge greyish disc similar to the Dark Barrier but quite substantially larger and -arcing- with bolts of dark power coruscates into being in an instant. The intent is for Elisabeth to be at the center of its formation, the eye of the storm... and that would not be a calm place. Swirling chi would fill from within, to without, and the sensation would not be pleasant. With a ravaging wall of sheer, tearing energy is usually best to be on one side... or the other, not cleaved right down the middle.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth blocks Nagase's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
[ \\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Elisabeth 1/-======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth fails to interrupt Dark Steel from Adelheid with Noble Brass.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
> ////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Nagase
> ////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
Another kunai? A glint of steel catches Elisabeth's eyes again, and by instinct the woman turns, to face the girl. Bracing herself, she lifts her arms from her sides, the sharp weapon striking her forearms, but otherwise doing little damage at all; she hardly seems phased by contact, and is likely more annoyed than anything. ...if she's capable of showing emotion. One down, one to go.
Facing Adelheid once more, the Frenchwoman squares her shoulders. Hit or miss indeed; lifting her hands, a burst of light erupts in her hands, to crash against that burst of chi that erupts from the young man's hand. Try as she may, however, it does little; as result the woman is sent flying back, despite the good defense she wields. Soaring, she lands in a soft heap a short ways away, not moving.
It's safe to say the Blanctorche heiress is out for now.
So... Miss Elisabeth is down. And Momoko probably doesn't have much left herself.
Not good!
But Momoko never gives up! She just gets beaten into submission a lot. So if she's going to go down, she's going to go down kicking!
With any luck, landing on her feet, spinning about, and cartwheel-kicking Nagase in the sternum before springing back to safety, that is. "Hyaaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Momoko successfully hits Nagase with Short Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Momoko 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Nagase
> ////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
And that's all she wrote. The fact was, Nagase was tired, and just about used all the ninja tricks she had. But! What did she have left? Little knives. Lots and lots of little knives. Falling backwards, to stumble down upon her yellow-clad behind, she has enough left in her to reach into her coat, and pull another panda-headed kunai from an inside pocket. With that done, she kinda just chucks it at the young prodigy. And then curls up to sleep for a bit.
COMBATSYS: Nagase can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
Even the cuteness of panda-headed lethal weapons can't withstand the flipkick of inexplicable and... kinda disturbing youth. This kid is like, the age -he- was when he'd barely really -started- his training. Granted, Adelheid was somewhere in her range, most likely.... but how does it happen without the mass of crazy that is Rugal? Evidently, there are other crazy things in this world! And right now, that crazy circumstance is going all kick-happy and defiant about giving up the ghost.
And hell, this is a fight! So Bernstein looks to finish it. As Elisabeth is blown away, his own dark crackling chi dissipating after the expenditure of so much power... but it was definitely worth it. It overpowered what she herself could offer, and it leaves him open to rush in at Momoko!
... not soon enough to help Nagase with her plight, but it's definitely soon enough to arrive like a bullet after the stinging kunai, looking to quite simply and abruptly haul Momoko up by her shirt, and flip her around, falling foward to simply -SLAM- her back first into the hard ground. It's humane. By Bernstein standards.
COMBATSYS: Momoko dodges Nagase's Shooting Star.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Momoko interrupts Strong Throw from Adelheid with Phoenix Arrow.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Momoko 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
So... Elisabeth is down for the count! Frowny-face! She was pretty cool, and she loved taking Momoko around for horsie rides! And Momoko was able to take down Nagase with a last-ditch kick! Yay! Leaning back in the nick of time she was able to avoid panda-faced doom as it whistled past! Yay!
But then there's this Adelheid meanie trying to grab hold of her again. What's up with that? Grabbing her by her already-torn up shirt when she's leaning out of the way of a kunai strike? BOOO!
But luckily, he'd grabbed by her shirt and not her arms or anything. That thing's flimsy! And Momoko's a bit too feisty to really be contained! So when Adel picks her up, She Of Pink just starts kicking the plat blonde i nthe face like crazy -- each and every strike laced with Psycho Power! "IYAAAAAA!" She eventually kicks herself free -- but because of the way Adel was holding her shirt -- the outer layer of which tears in the process of escape -- her trajectory is altered and she lands face-down on the ground! Oof!
But she springs back to her feet just the same, lookin to continue the fight with her teeth grit in determination!
Ow! OwowowoWOOWOWO. Okay. Slamming Momoko humanely to the ground just got a -lot- less appealing. Adelheid is -pummelled- clear of the deceptively cute girl with the deadly tantrums. And instead of putting Momoko down for the count, he himself is slammed to the dirt. Rolling up into a crouch, Adelheid whips his leg around, the ground itself erupting to either side in blasts of dust as a lance of silvery chi lurches forward, cleaving forth from the young Bernstein's booted foot and blasting a ragged, raging wake across the short distance seperating him from the - hopefully unbalanced - Momoko. Wait... hopefully? That girl is -obviously- unbalanced, but her attack may have left her open too!
Despite the intensity of the battle, and the punishment he just took... the platinum blonde does look a bit better for the wear than Momoko, or the 'napping' parties on the battlefield. Now if he can just keep that momentum a little longer....
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Momoko with Reppukyaku.
[ < > ///////////// ]
Momoko 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
GRR. Why can other people sling out energy like it's nobody's business, huh? What's up with that? And here Momoko thought she was =special= because she could stay in the air long enough to kick people six or seven times!
But no... as much as she'd like to, she's feeling the burn! Battle's setting in, and... well, she wasn't that tough to start with! So... jumping over that wave of chi is totally out of the question! She starts to, but gets clipped.. .and the wave of energy clips her legs, leaving her to fall face-first onto the ground! *WHUMP*
But her hands are extended, and with her last bit of energy, she clasps her hands into a heart shape. Energy spools up, the turbines start -- and then *WHOOOOOOM* Love and peace swarms out to engulf Adelheid whole, threatening to make him enjoy Athena-chan's singing! "Es...perrrr!"
It's a long shot though, and Momoko's eyelids flutter short shortly thereafter!
COMBATSYS: Momoko can no longer fight.
> ///////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Adelheid reflects Esper from Momoko with Dark Barrier.
> //////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has ended the fight here.
Love and peace!?!? Oh hell no, that's a big girly pillar of painful pink PSYCHO power. Adelheid may not be intimately acquainted with the nature of psi, but he knows being engulfed by a whole big mass of unknown energy is abundantly -not- a good idea. So his response isn't unlike before, and Momoko's blast of all-out pink fury lands not on Bernstein, not on the platinum blonde's gloved, outstretched palm, but against the swirling disc that is suddenly conjured before that extended hand, the coursing shield once more fluxing with volatile rippling power as the sheer force impacts it. Cascading pink shockwaves off in all directions as the attack is simply gobbled up and deflected by the oppositional chi, the remarkable barrier shielding Adelheid from the dangerous cannon once more.
Breathing heavily now, as the attacks dissipate, Adelheid slips back into a more relaxed stance as Momoko falls, "... ph.. phew." He breathes, giving a momentary smile. The announcer calls out the victors, and that, as they say... is a wrap. The Bernstein heir turns to head back to his sleek motorcycle.
Log created by Momoko, and last modified on 02:41:17 03/01/2007.