Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

As Natsume delivers a sweeping slice that splits open an ice jaguar cleanly, a form from above plummets! Her fuku having ice form around it as she leaps down, Sailor Uranus and Space Sword flash as she slashes apart a tall, club holding ice man to complete her descent!

Landing in a crouch before springing up, Sailor Uranus sees the scene, as well as Natsume. In the courtyard of the outer castle area, a few shattered ice scuptures are about. There are a goodly mess of scuptures lumbering and moving in your direction, animals and men of various size and shape. You don't notice any of the 'special' statues you saw before, however, Uranus.

Ami - You see Haruka take action, leaping down swiftly before your eyes.

With a nod between themselves, the Twins rise and begin to follow. Flying down at a controlled rate, they pause. "Coming, Ami," they offer, "We can fly you down as well."

Haruka remains crouched for a heartbeat.  Partly to make sure that her legs are okay after the landing and partly for simple dramatic flair; her hair and clothes cease their fluttering, the cleaved ice sculpture crumbling to formless snow.

Rising now to her full height, she looks across at the person before her.  "Is this a private party, or can I cut in?" Haruka asks with an amused grin.

As casual as her demeanor might have been, Haruka still has the presence of mind to quickly sweep her gaze across the frozen battlefield.

Still a decent number left, she thinks to herself, before noting, And none of Miss Nakahime's INTERESTING pieces either....

On finding instead the remnants of the girl's handywork though, she finds she can't help but smirk.  "I hope you still have some fight left in you," Haruka says playfully, before saluting her with the Space Sword in a show of mild respect.  "Because this fight isn't over, yet!" she punctuates, slashing at yet another creature.

Ami nods decisively, smiling to the twins gratefully. "Thank you." she replies, feeling a little foolish for being the only one who needs the help, and looking for the twins to begin, or guide her...

Stares dumbly at the blonde for a second after she lands. Her battle high seems to diminish slightly, just enough for her to wonder how she managed such a drop without breaking her legs.

"Hey..." she starts, just noticing the costume she is wearing. "Aren't you a..."

She never gets a chance to finish before another monster is already in her face. The questions would have to wait until the fight was over it seemed.

Nodding, "We'll take all three of you, then. Come on."

Artemis and Viluy both nod, more willing to take the non plunging way down if possible. "We'll levitate you down, then follow." At that, you feel yourself lifting, your other two compainons following suit.

"Wait, wait," Artemis butts in. "I'll wait up here...I'm not really up for a raw melee." Viluy shrugs to it, as you and Ami are lifted.

"We'll come back for you when it's over," Ptilol says, as the four of you are lifted...

OOC - Did rolling for Midnight myself for the sake of time constraints.

Natsume and Uranus battle on in the melee, striking out at statues of ice and mimicry! Felling an iceman rushing at her, Haruka neatly decapitates it while Natsume masterfully dodges and counters an ice bird, shattering it with a single blow! The battle goes well for all, until a shard of ice from the bird grazes Natsume's hand, causing her to wince as shallow blood is drawn.

OOC - 6 damage to Natsume, no lost grip on your sword.

Thinning the ranks with each swing, you nevertheless note there are plenty more coming...

Ami nods, a slight bit of worry creasing her features as she looks up at Artemis as they descend. "Be careful." she calls to her Mau. She tries to concentrate on what she'll face below, but a niggling worry about leaving him alone up there haunts her.

Shaking her head, she shifts her gaze below as they land...

The decent down begins slowly, yet as it does, no more than ten feet started:

A birdcry is heard, a majestic hawk of ice zooming in from a shadowed perch in a castle recess! Like a flier of light in the night, it soars towards the descending girls! It's frozen beak seems to have a beeline at your tender throats!

Cyprine and Ptilol both grimace, the former speaking. "Ami! Viluy! Get it, we'll drop you if we focus to attack!"

"Where the hell are they all coming from?!" Haruka cries out in frustration as the seemingly endless legions of ice begin to wear thin on her patience.  Hacking and slashing these critters is fine and dandy in her book, but really, this was getting repetitive and annoying.

Haruka looks around to see if there's somewhere or something that's helping to produce these fiendishly, frozen forces.

Ducking a clumsy blow from a bear ice statue, they seem to simply be coming from all around. You don't see them spawning, only gathering what's around. There are a fair number left, even though you and the other girl have dented the tally nicely.

Ami looks quickly to Viluy, hoping the other woman has enough wherwwithal to mount a more substantial attack than she can. Drained from the earlier ordeals, all Ami can think of is dropping something heavy on the bird.

Desperately straining as she reaches into her power over water and ice, Ami anticpates the bird's flight path, and calls a large icicle spike, and formed from the ambient moisture in the air, to knock the bird off course, and possibly, if she's lucky, nail it to the floor...

Gathering your remnants of energy together and forming it with your elemental control! A gigantuan spike of ice forms, bigger than the soaring hawk and impaling it! Raining down a icerain below, the incoming bird and counter projectile are both no more!

As this happens, Viluy grunts as well, a stream of water coming from her extended hand and striking the shards as they fall, adding wet water and dispertion to the fragments.

Ptilol nods and breaths a sigh as the bird is vaporized, continuting to lower you unhindered now.

Haruka grabs the girl, pulling her behind her.  "I'm going to try something so heads up," she tells her as power gathers in her hand as she tries to call the element of wind to her aid.

Hope this works....

In the midst of combat, she feels blonde haired girl grab her by the arm and  abruptly pull her to the side.

"H...hey!" Natsume manages to get out, after getting over her initial surprise over how incredibly strong the girl was. She did not look that much more built than herself, yet she nearly pulled her off her feet with one hand! "What do you think you're doing?!"

Her question is quickly answered when she feels...something...coming from the girl. The hairs on her skin are standing on end, but she can't tell why. The only thing she can tell for certain is that the blonde is concentrating mighty hard....

Musk-bot: Haruka rolls 2d6 and gets 10.

A +2 failure for the blonde one.

IC:

As Haruka yanks Natsume and concentrates her power over wind, she attempts to make a battering storm to topple her frozen foes! Wind begins to pick up, but as it does; a splatter of water and ice from above landing right between her eyes! Causing a series of confused blinks and headshakings, it fatally disrupts Haruka's concentration!

Thus, only a stirring wind passes over, doing nothing to seriously harm the ice creatures about.

Meanwhile, Ami, the Twins and Viluy land a bit away from this, safely for the moment. Yet the foes of frozen water are all about.

Ami shivers at the sight of this many enemies, well aware that's she's nearly tapped out. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she digs deep, trying to summon new life and energy to fight with...

Seeing your friends in danger lights a frosty determination in you, swelling your body with a burst of refound gumption and energy. Your tired senses focus again, your body feels more awake and alive.

Landing and wasting no time, Viluy begins to focus, the Twins joining the combat as well with red and blue blasts of energy!

Ami turns to the nearest attackers of ice, and narrows her eyes in concentration. She frowns, wanting to conserve her newfound energy, and simply concentrates on the ice covering everything, commanding it to rise up from the floor in jagged spikes, impaling the nearest attackers, and holding them in place...

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6+1 for Staglacite action. Or botching action. Whichever. and gets 8."

IC:

Using her newfound fuel, Ami causes spikes to rise up! Forming here and there form patches of ice she is able to control, several attackers are skewered! Most shatter on the penetration, though a few writhe on the pointy ice, caught and broken!

As this happens, an ice lion is met with a torrent of water that knocks it hard into a wall, and two others are hit with blue and red beams, melted!

As this happens, Ami catches something coming out of the corner of her eye! Dodging to the side on pure instinct, a catclaw just misses you! Another ice big cat is stalking you, it's previous attack coming far too close to making you catnip!

Natsume feels the air beginning to stir, only to settle back down just as quickly. At the same time, the odd presence coming from the mysterious girl in front of her stops.

"What...happened?"

Suddenly, massive spears of ice explode from the ground all around her, impaling the ice demons in great number. The ice was actually turning against itself? What was going on?

Haruka wasn't sure any real words could sum up how silly that whole series of action just turned out.  She holds her pose stiffly as the icy water sloshes off her face to the frozen ground below.

"....."

That sucked on a magnitude beyond measure....  The ground should just open up and swallow me here and now....

"That was SO not in the script..." she mutters as she decides to keep steady with the conventional and use her Space Sword once more.

"I... lost my concentration and botched..." Haruka tells the girl with a touch of annoyance coloring her tone, but she's not allowed to wallow in misery for long as the icy landscape reflects the hand of Mercury at work.

"Good work, Mercury!" Haruka calls out to the girl.  Better than me... she says quietly to herself with an annoyed sigh.

Ami stifles the urge to shriek as she's barely missed by the big cat, the direct and near miss driving her heart rate up.

"Nice Kitty..." She babbles nervously, keeping a careful eye on the ice beast staking her. Keeping a wary eye on the monster while she regains her concentration, preparing to summon he elemental control once more.

I'm burning energy like...well, like water! she moans in frustration. Seized by sudden inspiration she attempts to wrest constol of the ice creature...

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6+2 for neko-ken action and gets 10."

IC:

As this happens, you hear the sounds of a hiss, as Ptilol is engaged by another ice beast! Yet the happenings of the others and the cheer of Uranus are lost on you as you focus on the great cat!

A momentary war takes place over the icy fighter....and Ami is pushed back, the cat attacking after the failure!

OOC: * Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 5."

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 to save my own hide. and gets 3."

IC:

Seeing the fell charge herself, Ami darts to the side and avoids becoming a scratching post for the cat!

On seeing the scenario and rejoining the fray, Haruka notes the Ptilol is kicked fairly hard by a martial arts style ice figure, garnering a muffled outcry of pain.

As you slash away and cut open another foe, you see the battle is going! With your actions and the actions of your friends, the ranks of your foes are thinning! But, Ami is currently being dogged by a huge cat, just now avoiding a nasty claw attack.

Who to help first? she asks herself before hearing Ptilol let out a cry of pain at the strike.  I'll just have to trust Ami can take care of herself for now... Haruka tells herself as she raises her Space Sword into action against the pugilist of ice.

With your speed, it's a simple matter to dart across and stabbify the attack on Ptilol. Looking up with a nod and a quick 'thanks' smile of battle, Ptilol turns to Ami.

"Can you help Ami? I need to find Cyprine!" As she says this, though, Viluy cries out! Slashes across her leg by a katana bearing samurai scupture and a bit away of the main fray, Viluy's blood is drawn!

Ami shudders, deciding that interesting as her idea had been, she'd much prefer a quick end to this. Summoning her elemental control once more, and beginning to feel weary again, Ami tries for a quick finish summoning ice to rise up from the floor in a rush, impaling the beast like it's fellows...

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 for dear god, make it End! ;-; and gets 10.

IC:

Trying to penetrate the great cat is a good attempt, but Ami can't seem to quite summon the proper control in this state! So failing again, the cat lunges, teeth bared to chomp into the genius girl!

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."

Yet again, partly by fear, partly by reaction, Ami evades! As this happens, you h ear Viluy behind you. A cry, and not a happy cry at all. A cry of pain...

The cry of pain from Viluy sends a dread chill down Haruka's back that causes her to quickly whirl around.

Sailor Neptune....

...blood...

and...

...a sword...

The concern that originally motivated her action gives way to a roiling, fiery anger that consumes her mind at the sight.  It was as if a cold hand had clamped around her being and squeezed tight, as her rational mind was starting to black away and focus solely on the sight of an injured Sailor Neptune.

No, no, no, no, NO!  We are NOT doing this again!!

As if echoing the sentiments of its wielder, the blade of her Talisman is engulfed in golden light.  Haruka raises the blade high over head as words of a long past era leave her lips once again in this new age.

Space Sword... BLASTER!!

The words roar and cascade throughout the mall as the blast of energy erupts from the Space Sword! GLowing like a star going nova, it engulfts and utterly disintergrates the samural where it stands! Nothing is left of it after the blast passes, going onto impact loudly through another ice carving and then on a frozen over storefront a goodly ways away. From a casual look over here, you hope the mall has insurance, as that storefront is wrecked.

Viluy winces in surprise and shock, droplets of blood working down from the side of her leg near the knee - it's not even a terrible wound, just badly placed and a bit bloody.

"Haruka," she asks quickly, turning to you with a fair deal of shock on her face.

Haruka wobbles unsteadily for a moment before sinking down to her knees.  She plunges the blade of the Space Sword into the icy ground like a crutch as she keeps her head bowed low, breathing deeply in exhaustion.

The rational part of her mind knows that it wasn't Oxyite, but dammit if some small portion of her being didn't feel some small measure of contentment from the action.

Haruka raises her tired visage to regard Viluy, giving her a weak, but happy smile that spoke volumes of what she was feeling.

One small and insignificant win for me.... she muses.  But I'll take it.

Natsume stands there like a statue against the amazing feats of power being displayed. First the ice coming alive and impaling the demons, now the blonde girl exploding with energy and annihilating another. Though, she could not tell if what she was feeling now was sheer astonishment...or total inadequacy....

Whichever, I can't just stand here being useless. That last attack with that sword thing of hers must've used up quite a bit of her power by the look of it.

Seeing her collapse to her knee spurred her back into action. She immediately raced over to her, intent on acting as a barrier to whatever ice demons might see her as easy prey.

In the aftermath of Haruka's massive offensive, there is almost a lull around her as both Sailor Neptune and Natsume race to her. Hobbling slightly due to a leg wound, Neptune takes slightly longer to reach Sailor Uranus than Natsume. Perhaps this is just as well, because as you approach, one of the last frozen guardians still left here closes in to shatter the calm. A rather large looking professional wrestler type, it towers over Uranus!

Shit!

Not thinking twice about it, Natsume summons what remaining energy she has left into her fourth ki blast of the day, a new record it seems.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" She screams as she fires at the last monster.

* Hatbot --> "Midnight rolls 2d6-1 and gets 11."

Shitty luck, Natsume-chan.

IC:

You feel a bit of heat come from your fingers, but...as if drawing from an already overmilked well, nothing but a few stray sparks of energy propelling from your fingers!

Everyone besides Natsume:

You hear a 'GET AWAY FROM HER!' shouted at the top of someone's lungs, getting at least a bit of your attention. The Twins look away from their battle, Viluy turns and sees the situation, and Ami is still dealing with her own problem, however.

Ami hears the ruckus going on nearby, but she doesn't dare take her eyes off the giant ice cat. Grimacing in frustration at using up so much effort before the real fight even begins, Ami narrows her eyes at the beast, mentally reaching for the well of power within her, and once more tries to impale the swift beast from below...

It seems three shots a day is all I can manage.

She curses her lack of stamina and reforms her sword again. She charges full speed toward the monster before breaking into a leap, sword raised high, intent on cleaving the beast in clean in half.

Feeling your body protest in pain, you can't seem to gather enough energy to make a worthwhile attempt! In fact, your legs feel like they turn to lead, the tiger darting in!

....yet at the last moment, a beam of blue hits it in the side, sending it flying in several pieces! Cyprine's wand glows from the blast, Ptilol handing the battle the both of them were in.

"Ami," she calls, floating just above the ice and zooming over to you. You note she's picked up what looks to be  anasty bruise on her arm, but she's otherwise in good shape.  From what you can see, the battles going on are the last of it, at least...

"Are you okay?" she asks, taking your arm.

With a mighty splitting stroke of your ki blade, the wrestler is cut in twain, falling into two broken pieces! You land easly enough as ice chips rain down about you, falling into your hair.

Ami smiles weakly at the other blue haired girl, trying to catch her breath, and calm herself down. "Just...a little....worn out." She manages, pulling herself together with a sigh. "I wish they would hold still and let me kill them...Thank you, by the way." she smiles, a little steadier now.

Looking around, you can see that most of the battle seems to be over now. "Come on, Ami," she says, pulling you along. "We both think you need to sit down." There is an iced over bench fairly nearby, which you find yourself put on moments later, as Ptilol goes to check on Haruka and the other girls.

"We think that's most of that problem...We don't sense too many of them inside, but it's hard to tell." Cyprine admits this as she sits herself, showing signs of being more winded than she let on.

She breathes a sigh of relief now that the ice demon is vanquished.

That was too close...really...

"Are...you okay?" She asks the blonde haired girl.

Ami moans softly in happy relief as she sits down on the bench, despite the cool rear end she gains in exchange. As she sits down, she pully out her computer again, and sets it to scan inside the ice building, hoping the damping field won't hinder her efforts too much. As a secondary thought, in case of failure, she tries scanning for sources of motion inside the ice palace...

Ami - The results take a moment, and aren't 100 percent, but...

There do seem to be a few more icestatues inside, as well as something near the centerpart of the castle. The source of the anomaly....and you do detect some motion inside. Not a lot, but a few pings on it.

Ami looks over at Cypriene with a half smile. "My findings would seem to confirm yours...I don't sense a great deal, but there are a few inside, as well as the anamolus reading I found earlier..."

"I'm fine," Haruka replies with a smile, letting out a tired breath that fogs in the chilly air.  She brushes her hair back from her forehead and surveys the the settling landscape, which only a while ago had been occupied by conflict.

Pushing off the ground now with the aid of her Space Sword, "I'm just a bit tired, that's all," she tells the girl, trying to get up off the cold ground.

She lets out a small squawk as her uncooperative legs send her bumping into the approaching Viluy.  "Okay, perhaps more than a 'bit'..." she concedes, while leaning against her newly acquired support.

"Are you hurt bad?" Haruka asks Viluy, concern in her tone - she keeps one hand on the girl's shoulder as a crutch, while inspecting her with a critical eye.

A nod from the blue haired girl, her braid to the side bobbing a bit. "If they match up...then we'll go in and finish this.

In just a moment," she says quietly, sinking down a bit and using the bench to rest on.

Viluy eyes you as well, clear concern there. Her body is uninjured besides that bleeding wound on her leg. Otherwise, her fuku accents her talented body, the cold making it extra noticiable.

Neptune holds you, despite her own stagger. "Haruka....would you not do that again! You scared me," she says honestly. You can see her emotions of worry and fear plainly, the senshi of Neptune not hiding them. "And I'm fine otherwise." Turning at that point to hear Natsume's question, Viluy nods. "We're fine, thank you." Stopping to turn to the girl fully, "Are you alright yourself?"

Ami nods, sympathetically. "I can empathize." She agrees, sucking in a deep breath, and reaching for a second wind within herself, feeling unable to mount much in the way of an effective attack...

Now that the battle was over, Natsume had time to think, and rest, in greater detail. When they had first arrived, she did not have the chance to really appreciate who it was who had come to her rescue, but now that she had gotten a good look at all of them it was unmistakeable. She could recognize their uniforms from a 100 miles away....

"Ahhh....ummm....e....excuse me," Natsume asks, with all the timidness of a mouse, the distinctly blue haired girl sitting on a nearby bench. "W...would you...errr...I mean is....a...are you Sailor....S...Senshi?"

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6+2 for Musky, Please be good to me... ;-; and gets 13."

Ami is giving Mistress 11 a run for her moneyin bad dicing! >_>

IC:

Despite your efforts, you feel wiped. Nothing comes rushing to reinvigorate you at all, only your yawning tiredness.

Ami blinks at the tallish girl they'd come down to meet, puzzled slightly at the timid manner she's addressed in. Shy? Ami wonders. I always imagined athletic girls as rather outgoing...

"Un." Ami nods, smiling and trying not to let on how weary she's getting. "Well, some of us. These are some friends of ours, Cypriene and Ptilol." she replies, gesturing to Cypriene beside her, and Ptilol, nearby. "How are you? You didn't get hurt, I hope?"

Haruka smiles at the look of concern so clear in Viluy's eyes, the emotion thankfully recieved, but... "I can't make promises I can't keep," she whispers in the girl's ear, pausing a bit before continuing, "If it's to keep you safe I'll do it again a hundred times over.  And  that is a promise."

Separating from Viluy she finds herself teetering slightly and frowns.  Haruka tries to scrape the barrel of her reserves for the strength to see their task through to the end.

Come on Ten'oh, let's get it together! she tells herself.

"Ah...n...no, I'm perfectly fine!" Natsume says with overenthusiasm. Pounding  lightly on her shoulder to show her sturdyness. "You're...Mercury...aren't you? Sailor Mercury?"

* Musk-bot --> "Liddo-kun rolls 2d6 to get it together and gets 8."

IC: Marshalling your waning energy, you feel better after doing so.

Turning back to you, Viluy smiles gently. "I know...just don't do that again, please...." she whispers, leaning in for another destination on your face, lips meeting briefly. "Let's just finish this, Haru-chan." Spoken in a soft whisper, it is heard by you alone, a whisper full of thick emotion.

Ami bites her lip a little to keep from smiling too widely at the girl's sudden change of demeanor, and simply nods, smiling warmly. "Mm. That's right, Miss...?"

As this goes on, a voice shouts from above. "Mercury!" Artemis cries, the sounds of a scuffle upstairs heard on the tower. Looking up, you can see the human Mau grappling with another ice man, this one familiar from even this distance.  The spiky hair does it, really, as does the large body and familiar face. One that is burned in the memory of several senshi...

Oxyite, the statue you saw before. This time, it's moving.

Ami looks up and gasps, her face going chalk white as the all too familiar shape grapples with her Mau.

"Kami-sama...Cypriene...Can I get up there? Or can you and Ptilol catch him, if he jumps?" Ami asks urgently, almost pleading. "Maybe if he transforms?"

"Damn, we weren't paying attention," Cyprine murmurs, springing up and taking you swiftly. Tapping into her already siphoned reserves of energy, Cyprine sends the both of you racing up!

As you do so, you can see the Oxyite statue pressing Artemis against the back of the tower edge, head dangling off as he tries to send him falling!

Ami shivers, knowing she doesn't have much left for power, and she reaches into her subspace pocket for something she hasn't touched since the Senshi left for the 'Shadow' Tokyo.

Withdrawing a footlong silver tube with a black rubber handgrip, Ami presses the ignition switch, and silent begs the gem she used for the focus to hold together.

With a loud snap and a soft hissing sound, a three foot long blade of energy blazes to life! Ami starts a silent mental countdown, preparing to attack the moment the ice rendering of a nightmare comes close, her heart pounding...Hold ON Artemis!

The kiss was pleasant, well, more than a simple adjective could describe, and it was something Haruka wanted to relish if not for the commotion.  At the sound of Ami's concern she looks upwards then finds herself gaping at the sight of...  HIM....

"It looks like I really can't keep that promise with you," Haruka says guiding Viluy's gaze upwards as she grips the Space Sword tight.

On seeing the pair of Cyprine and Ami shooting skyward then at seeing Artemis' prediction, she calls out to the Mau, "Just jump and get out of there, Artemis!  I'll try and catch you."

Cyprine gives the weapon a nod and a glance, familiar with the tools Viluy and Eudial construct.

Racing, racing, RACING up, you zoom into the struggling Mau and ice creation! Slicing at it as you go by, you attempt to end the threat then and there!

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 for last second saves! and gets 11."

Dammit!

You swung too early for it, your blade passing by just before you and Cyprine zoom by, now a few feet overhead! As this happens, the two continue to grapple!

Artemis pushes off, taking advantage to  move away from the edge, a cat appearing where there was a human! "Ami, hurry," he half shouts, doding a vicious, ice cracking stomp! Hearing Haruka and seeing the giant above him, the Mau gulps a moment before leaping to the parapet. "Uranus, here," he calls, standing there a moment and looking up at Ami with a semi confident nod before jumping!

Ami gives a silent scream of frustration at how many things are going wrong today. "Cypriene...let me off here." She decides, committing herself...and raising her weapon, angling herself to slice the giant construct open as she falls, a sudden, manic curiousty wondering if this construct is as powerful as the real thing...

Haruka adjusts for wind and trajectory, before finally easing under the falling Mau.  Arms spread out wide she captures the feline package without much effort, holding him in her arms.

"Enjoy your trip, Artemis?" she manages to quip jovially at his expense.

"Thanks," he nods, looking up already at the battle above...

* Hatbot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 for a series of unfortunate events. -_- and gets 3."

Ami slices down, the electric force blade cutting through the arm of the Oxyite statue! It staggers as you land, arm clattering besides you but not detering the huge figure! It draws a Cosmic Blade of ice, slashing at you with it's intact arm, not feeling pain!

* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."

Yet ducking down even more, Ami's hair is only grazed and nothing else!

From her duck, Ami rises up slashing at the statue again, thinking of little else but cutting it to pieces as she swipes upward with the glowing blade!

Disregarding the notion of a man transforming into a cat, seeing Sailor Mercury in danger takes precedence in her mind. She searches the area frantically before her eyes fall on....

"Ptitol!" Natsume calls, hoping she got her name since just was just introduced to her. "Do you think you can fly me up there like Cypriene did?"

* Hatbot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 for a Han Solo moment. and gets 9."

Somehow parrying aside the blow with his own sword, the Oxyite statue leans in, stabbing at you!

* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."

* Shai`Hulud --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 for 'incoming!' and gets 7."

It penetrates your thigh, drawing a welling of blood from underneath your fuku skirt!

OOC - Fourteen damage. Update your stat post, Ami.

As this happens, a blue beam is fired from above in retaliation! Raising it's sword up, it makes a fair mimicry of Oxyite's own deflecting, yet it's blade is melted to send the blast flying aside and leaves it open!

Seeing Ami's state from her sister's POV, Ptilol frowns in worry, the stress of the situation showing through.

"Yeah, let's go," she agrees, nodding and taking your arm. With that you rise up, flying and soaring towards the tower top! Soon you'll be able to make your attack!

Natsume mimics Ami's action, signaling Ptilol to let her off, dropping next to the ice swordsman opposite from Ami's side.

I don't have much strength left in me. I'll have to rely on luck to keep me alive against...whoever this guy is.

Summong up the last dregs of her energy, she manifests one last ki sword.

"Get away from Mercury right now!" she demands. "I'll be your opponent!"

Not wanting it to make the first attack, she immediately commits to her own as soon as she makes her announcement. Coming with a slash to his torso.

Evading by shifting it's bulk back, it counters by outright tackling Natsume, it's sword gone!

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 4."

* Musk-bot --> "Midnight rolls 2d6 and gets 6."

Caugh by it, Natsume is plowed into the edge of the towertop, the wind knocked from her and her skull rattled by the vicious ice check!

OOC - Seven damage, Natsume. Ouch.

You are half poised at the edge of it now, your upper back and head dangling from the pressure Ice-Oxyite is putting on you! If you were to fall backa  bit more...fall, fall, fall, splat.

Struggling for breath, the fear of death begins to creep into her bones.  This is quickly followed by desperation as she reverses her grip on her sword and attempts to drive it into the ice man's side, hoping it will stagger him at least somewhat.

Seeing the situation go from bad to worse, Haruka hands Artemis over to Viluy for safekeeping.  "Let's see if this works..." she says, taking a running start and sending the Space Sword on a skyward journey in hopes of taking out the Oxyite statue!

* Musk-bot --> "Liddo-kun rolls 2d6+2 for possible Oxyite cleaving fun and gets 12."

This is fucking ridicious.

IC:

Heaving the Space Sword up, it flies in a soaring arc heavenward! Up it goes, up, up..up....and not up quite enough.Instead, it hits the side of the tower, a few feet too low. On this, it clatters and falls straight down, landing with a metallic ring.

Holding Artemis, Viluy just stares at the scene ahead of her, not really having mucn to say to it.

"Shoot me, that sucked hard..." Haruka comments with her head hung low.  She wasn't even sure she wanted to retrieve to the Space Sword now with how silly that just turned out.

"Do you think you have enough left in you for a Deep Submerge?" Haruka asks Viluy while still faced towards the ground.  "I may need you to spare me the humiliation by blasting me..." she comments in a tired mutter.

"And not a peep from you, Mau..." Haruka warns gravely.

Without waiting for a reply from either, Haruka scuttles off lamely to retrieve her errant Talisman.  Sad.  So very, very sad.

Ami shudders, panting with exertion, and makes her way over to where the new girl is grappling with the statue, and raises her lightsaber, swinging it in a low arc, to avoid accidentally striking Natsumi as she tries desperately to remove the thorn in both their sides...

OOC - Did the rolling for this myself. Apparently, the dice bots don't hate me as much. Go fig.

IC:

Plunging your ki blade into the statue's side, Natsume's blow is complimented seconds later by Ami's saber cutting into it's back and side! It stops moving, falling apart at two crushing blows! Ice weights heavily on Natsume as the magic animating it is foiled, pushing her back with a gust of weight. Far too close to the edge for anyone's taste, Natsume is a mere inch away from falling and the statue is leaning hard in it's dead ice pressure.

"I can manage a that or a small offensive with my Mosiac Buster," she replies, "But I don't know how much more past that..though firing up there?"

Artemis simply shakes his head minorly at this, enraptured with what he can see of Ami's struggle above. "Come on, Mercury!" he calls from Viluy's arms.

Ami grits her teeth, panic teasing at the edges of her mind. Oh god...this is my worst nightmare...if she gets killed after coming up to save me, I'll...I'll never forgive myself...

Switching off her lightsaber, Ami tosses it to the side, and lays her hands on the ice that once was a golem. Dipping into her Elemental contol once more, Ami narrows her eyes into slits This will take perfect timing...please let this go right... She takes a deep breath, and focuses on the obstacle threatening the girl's life, and commands the ice to shatter...

* Hatbot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6-1 for breakin' stuff and gets 8."

Drawing deeply into your own reserves of energy and control over ice, Ami puts her power forward! Your Talisman glows with a silver-blue light at this, putting it's own power behind yours! With a single crackle then another and then a breaking storm of ice chips, the ice golem remains blow apart!

The weight on Natsume ends in a shower of cold chips, her body automatically getting to lean forward and away from the edge of the tower and perhaps her lifespan.

Ami shudders in relief, not taking any chances, and snares the girl by the wrist, pulling her further from the edge. Slumping and panting with exertion Ami looks her over. "Are you all right?" she asks softly.

Natsume slumps down to the ground, her body still shaking slightly from the entire ordeal. That was one harrowing experience she never wanted to repeat for the rest of her days.

"Y...yeah, I'm fine. Thanks to you," she says, managing to smile. "Who or what was that thing? It was so much stronger than all the others...."

"Well...it was an ice golem." Ami clarifies, dropping to the floor of the hole in the tower and wincing in pain as she probed gingerly at the wound on her leg. "But it was in the form of one of our most formidable enemies, Oxyite."

"Oxyite, huh. Well if his copy was that strong I'd hate to meet the real thing," Natsume says with a bit of jest. "Anyway, I think I've had my fill of high places for one day..."

She stands up slowly, stretching out a kink in her back before extending a hand and offering to help Ami down the stairs.

The Twins fly in as this happens, setting down on the somewhat crowded tower top now. Both look a bit worse for wear, but not critically so. Leaning on each other ever so noticiably, "Wait - we should probably regroup before we head into the actual castle," Cyprine points out, Ptilol nodding agreement.

"And Ami...you're bleeding," the other Witch notes, a good part of your left side fuku staining crimson, as well as small droplet streams of blood trickling down the side of your leg.

Ami nods, sighing, and blinking slightly as Natsume stretches, feeling a stab of envy...and Stop that. Pervert.

She blinks and refocuses on the twins, then looks down at her fuku...which proves to be a bad move, because examining the damage makes the pain far more difficult to ignore. "Mm. I can still walk on it..." she ventures.

"We can get some cloth from Artemis' clothing," Ptilol suggests, eyeing in the injury. "For a crude bandage, so you don't wear yourself out due to bloodloss."

Cyprine frowns, shaking her head. "Though...Sister, if she can walk on it, we should hurry. Another crowd of those ice golems would be a terrible thing for us to have to deal with on top of all this."

Ami nods, smiling wanly and biting her lip. "Mm. I can't drag everyone down..." she nods. "When we regroup, I see what I can come up with on the way, but for now, we can't afford to delay." she replies, trying to appease both sisters at once.

Ptilol shows a bit of concern, again eyeing your leg. "If you can," she concedes, giving her twin a look. Cyprine nods agreement,  "Let's go, then. The others should be waiting for us down below."

Ami nods agreement, sighing a little in relief. "Is Artemis okay? she asks, approaching them, and turning and beckoning to Natsume with a shy smile. "I didn't see what happened..."

"Hm, hold on a second," Natsume says.

Without another word she quickly removes her sweater and the t-shirt underneath. She shivers noticeably as the freezing air touches her bare skin, the only top she has on now is her bra.

I'd better make this quick. In this cold I could probably get frost bite

As Ptilol suggested, she manages to tear a few strips out of the t-shirt and use them to make a rough covering for the wound.

"I don't know how long that will last, but its better than nothing I suppose." she says, already throwing her sweater back on.

Ami's eyes widen to comical proportion as she watches the girl strip down to her bra, and her cheeks burn a little as she stares in spite of herself.

Oh My...she's quite...healthy, isn't she? No! Not now. Later...I mean no!

Ami struggles to get herself under control, and manages to look at least mildly composed after Natsume finishes, though her manner is a bit more timid, now.

"Thank you..." She murmurs.

"Artemis...he's that man that...well...turned into a cat right?" Natsume says, noticing how utterly insane that sounded. "I think...Haruka, I think thats right, caught him after he jumped down."

She then notices the odd red tinge that has suddenly appeared on Ami's face.

"Umm, are you okay?"

Why does this always happen? First Usagi, and now this girl... "Uhm...I'm fine, just a little dizzy." Ami blurts, then switches topics, sighing a little. "At least he's not hurt, then..."

"You said you could still walk right?" Natsume asks. She leans down and wraps an arm around Ami's shoulders, and helps her to stand. "We should get moving."

Nodding at all this, "That should work well enough," Ptilol nods. "Hurry up so we can get going." Cyprine agrees, smiling slightly at the display.

Ami sighs inwardly, working hard to keep her expression at least somewhat undercontrol, blushing a bit more as she accepts the assistance from the taller girl.

I should...I should...Oh kami...uhm. Ami gibbers inwardly, smiling shyly in thanks. Oh Kami, I'm enjoying this... she thinks with resignation.

Haruka comes back to join Viluy and Artemis after retrieving her Space Sword. She has a strange... contemplative look as she stares at her Talisman, as if she's trying to sort out a mental puzzle.

Something about that Space Sword Blaster seems to have jogged something... but what? she wonders.

Her eyes, on their own, track their way up the length of Viluy's leg, finally settling on her wound.  What is it about that drew my....

Haruka's head snaps up as she grabs her partner excitedly.  "Can I try something, Viluy?" she asks, as she fiddles with the weapon in her hand.  "I don't know if this'll work, mind you, but I think I remember something."

Surprised but not letting herself show it too much, Viluy nods to Haruka. "Go ahead...but what exactly did you remember," Asking with a touch of curiosity, she nods and takes your resting hand with hers. She's a damn sight warmer than the blasted mall is right now, to the joy of your skin.

"Hm...this is taking a bit too long," Natsume says as they slowly negotiate the steps. "Hold on..."

Without warning, she scoops Ami up into her arms, trying not to agitate the wound on her leg.

"There, much better," she says as she begins sprinting down the stairs at a much faster pace.

* Hatbot --> "Midnight rolls 2d6 and gets 4."

Sprinting down the stairs, you find it dark in here, only star light points giving any illumionation as you head down the stairwell. It's unrailed stairs attached to the wall, with a central middle space that would be quite a fall if you slipped. Yet you do not as you head down into the darkness below...

It's not an ov erly long set of stairs, ending inside the ice castle.  An arched opening leads from the circular room-bottom, to what looks to be a open hallway going vertical to you.

"This Space Sword of mine," Haruka begins, turning said Talisman this way and that as she explains, "does more than just the Space Sword Blaster.  If I'm not mistaken, it can do things like heal, which I'm going to try," she says with a shrug, getting herself ready.

Now to give this a whirl....

* Musk-bot --> "Haruka rolls 2d6 for Space Sword related fun and gets 12."

Neptune's eyes widen in silent appreciation of that promise, keeping full view on the Space Sword as Haruka attempts to use it's powers...

And nothing happens. It doesn't even begin to glow.

Several seconds pass without anything happening. It feels as if you're doing it right, but....

Damn.

Going more normal at the pause, "Uranus, is something wrong," Viluy asks, at your rather unplanned pause.

Ami's eyes widen to near saucer-size, her arms automatically draping around the girl's neck as her blush turns bright red, staining her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. It's like she's teasing me, or something... Ami wails inwardly, trying to concentrate on their surroundings.

As you head down, you can begin to hear the Twins, assumidly, heading down the stairs themselves.

---

As Haruka's Space Sword is attempted to be used, Ptilol slowly levitates down to Haruka and Viluy's level. During this, Artemis also shifts back into human form - sans the Mercury Pen's affects.

Landing near all three as Haruka's sword tech fails, "Uranus, Neptune. That woman and Mercury have gone inside from upstairs already."

Haruka frowns at that.  "I know WHAT it's supposed to do, but I'm not quite getting the HOW very well..." she replies rather dissapointedly.  "It's like to trying to remember something you haven't done in a long time when you can't recall what that something is."

Once more into the breach? she says, hoping for the best.

Haruka closes her eyes, concentrating, trying to reach some sort of connection with her Talisman to get the desired result.

Work with me  here... she asks it.

"Where...where are we?" Natsume asks, after putting down Ami and scanning their new surroundings. "I only saw this place from the outside, what is all this for?"

Ami, somewhat settled now, but still blushing a bit, gracefully slips out of the girl's arms with a murmured 'thank you', and pulls out the mercury computer, scanning the interior of the castle as best she can, still favoring her leg a little.

"It's Celcia's new home...or she's trying to make it so." Ami explains quietly, the stillness of the frozen palace a bit unsettling. "She's someone...we ran into before. We thought she died, but apparently she got better."

Scanning....

You get a fairly reasonable read of the castle inside now that you're inside to scan.

Each tower is at one of the four corners of the castle 'square', leading down to the main floor.  On the main floor, the towers are attached to the outer square, which has a hallway between the outer and 'inner' square. The inner square is where the anomaly appears to be focused!

You can't tell where doors, if any, are to it, though.

As you can, you hear someone coming down quite clearly now. A quick glance shows that it's Cyprine, her sister absent.

Ami smiles, a bit uneasily. "Well, our target appears to be in the central section of the building..." she murmurs thoughtfully. Though I have no idea if we have the necessary stamina to win, now... "All that remains is to find a way in..."

She looks up, her expression lightening a bit as she sees Cypriene.

There's a mental click, if there ever was such a thing, as Haruka finally understands the 'how' to this new ability of her Space Sword.

An unseen connection forms betweens the pair of Outer Senshi as life energy trickles across this bridge, mending and soothing the wound on Viluy's leg.  To the injured girl, it feels like a warm blanket has been wrapped around her as the pain slowly recedes, finally fading to nothing.

A transfer of life energy between two vessels.

Viluy now has a bit of Haruka in her, a horrifying thought for some, perhaps.

I have so little strength left, I don't even think I can form my sword

To prove her theory, she tries to focus her ki, trying to will her sword into the existence. While she would usually feel a warm, tingling sensation as her power gathered and concentrated, now she feels absolutely nothing, just the freezing cold air of the castle.

Correction, I have none left...

"Before we go anywhere, would it be alright took a little rest," Natsume asked, slightly embarrased. She certainly did not want to become a burden like she was now... "I want to try and regain at least a little of my energy back...."

Cyprine carefully reaches the end of the frozen stairwell, smiling back to you momentarily as she reaches relatively safe ground. "Uranus and the others should be along shortly, one way or another," Cyprine says, eyeing Natsume.

"We can't sit around here; we're targets the longer we stay." With that assertion, Cyprine steps forward...

Gasping softly as gentle body warmth envelops her, Viluy's eyes close as she sighs thereafter, soothed and healed by Haruka's lifeforce. She almost seems to rise up a bit, as if to fly off the floor, before the effect ends. When it does, she stares at you with lumionus orbs. "Oh....wow...." she gasps again. "That's amazing...I feel so much better."

So enraptured, she completely forgets about the red haired twin whom has landed, and about Artemis, whom is conversing with her while the two of you are busy.

Ami nods in agreement. "C-Can we hold on just a moment, Cypriene?" She asks meekly. "I'm just about dead on my feet..."

Without waiting for an answer, Ami sighs, and struggles to reach for a second...third...any wind, really.

* Hatbot --> "Midnight rolls 2d6 and gets 10."

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6+2 for rejuv and gets 8."

Ami somehow finds another thread of energy, her body reacting to the stress by digging into reservers perhaps best left untapped. Yet it has the desired affect...

Natsume, for her part, still feels winded and tired, though slightly better. (+5 EP. GM's judgment call, so you don't pass out at a windblow your way.)

Cyprine relents slightly, nodding. "We do have to hurry, though." She looks edgier without her sister nearby, moreso in this den of ice and death.

Haruka opens her eyes once more.  Proud and greatly relieved that the Space Swords's ability actually worked and that she wasn't just imagining things.

She smiles at Viluy's reaction then blinks on noticing Ptilol with Artemis.  With a bit of a sigh, "Looks like it's back to work," she tells Viluy, indicating the red-haired sister of the matching pair.

"Ptilol," Haruka calls out, reaching the girl with Viluy in tow.  "Everything okay with Ami and the others?" she asks when they get within speaking range.

Ami smiles and nods, feeling much better. "Alright..." She agrees. sighing in relief, then turning to the new girl. "Are you feeling well enough to go on?"

As you walk, Viluy stops a moment just as you go, then reaches out. With a firm motion, she takes your hand into hers plainly and leans in close to you before the both of you carry on. "Thanks," she whispers again, a dawning smile on her face.

"They went downstairs in the tower," Ptilol explains, repeating herself. "That new girl ran off with Ami in her arms and Cyprine followed."

"Yeah, I managed to get a bit of my breath back," she answers. "I hope it'll be enough."

Ami smiles and nods a little shyly, proffering the lightsaber she'd retrieved when they left the tower.

"Could you use this?" She asks, blushing a bit. "I'm not much of a Swordsman, unfortunately, and this might help you conserve some energy..."

I hope she...focus, Ami.

"My pleasure," Haruka returns before what Ptilol says causes a blink then an amused smirk to cross her feature.  "In her arms?" she repeats before a chuckle gets loose.  "That new girl sure works fast.  The tall, mysterious stranger coming in to sweep the maidens off their feet?"

At the eyeroll she gets from Artemis and the amused chuckle from Ptilol, Haruka grins satisfied.  She once more dons her work hat as she regards the merry group.  "We should catch up with the others quickly though, in case there're any more nasty surprises waiting," Haruka says with a serious nod.  "And we wouldn't want them to hog all the fun either," she finishes with a playful wink.

"Now, if everybody is ready," she begins, before turning her attention to Ptilol, "Lead the way?"

Haruka takes a deep breath to gather the energy she'll need for the coming battle.  I hope everybody makes it out of this okay.

"Oh, thank you," Natsume says, accepting the gift. "This should be a great help."

She briefly studies the device. Hopefully it would not be too difficult to operate....

* Hatbot --> "Haruka rolls 2d6+2 to raid the inner energy rations and gets 7."

You feel better now, refreshed and restored. Like a gust of summer wind has chased away the cold. Viluy also looks better, having taken her own inner restoration project underway. Between that and your gift of energy, she looks rosy cheeked and energetic - a good combination for the relative time.

"I can lift us up, if all of you are ready," Ptilol nods, mustering her own energy before beginning to lift you up...up and away to the towertop.

As you fly up, Viluy stays quite close to you. Still smiling a bit and warm, Neptune looks to be quite happy. Artemis stays quiet after expressing his deep thoughts on your Natsume/Ami musings, more interested in the task at hand...

Ami nods, trying not to seem too flustered, and beckons the other girl forward. "We should get moving...Cypriene is right. Staying in one place will get us found faster."

This is absurd. Why is she affecting me like this? She's probably not even interested in girls like that. Mako-chan was the same way, right? Ami battles the urge to blush as the thoughts run through her head. I need to stop wishful thinking, and concentrate on other things. she chastises herself firmly.

"Yes, you're right," Natsume agrees, putting her study of the device aside for the moment. Hopefully she would figure it out when the time came. "This Celcia person, could you tell me more about her?"

Ami squirmed a little, coughing to clear her throat as they moved, and organizing her thoughts. Well. Yes, Data. I'll set my mind in order, and get my focus back. I hope.

"Well, from our encounters so far, we've been able to determine that Celcia is a powerful ice spirit, or being, of some kind, who came into being long, long ago." Ami begins, frowning.  "Unfortunately, she can survive without a body and or reincarnate, we've been unable to determine which."

She pauses to gather her thoughts, and not overload Natsume. "Early on in our...careers, I suppose you'd call them we encountered her briefly...shortly after which she attempted to remake the city in her image, Tokyo as her capital on a frozen Earth.  Perhaps you remember the blizzard she brought down in Japan?" Ami asked, then, without waiting for an answer, went on, her shyness hidden for the moment, as she warmed to her subject.

"We thought Mars' ofuda had dispelled her spirit, after being bodily destroyed by fire, one of her weaknesses. Evidently, we were mistaken." Ami sighed in irritation. "The fact is, we lack a great deal or pertinent information, which is vexing, and complicates the situation creatly..."

"Hm, so this Celcia person caused that huge blizzard..." Natsume says in contemplation. "If she's so powerful, why would she bother setting up shop in a mall like this? Maybe she's been weakened for some reason?"

"It's possible." Ami agrees thoughtfully. "But judging by the speed that frost overwhelmed the mall, We shouldn't assume that. From what Uranus and Neptune said, it's also likely her memory of how to use her powers is spotty, and the relatively slow speed means she's testing her own limits."

"Well, lets just hope she doesn't remember everything anytime soon," she says. "The last thing we need is another blizzard of that magnitude whipping up out of nowhere."

As you conversation goes, "Mercury," Artemis calls, as another group comes down the stairs carefully. With him are Neptune and Uranus, as well as the other Twin.

As the reinforcements approach, Natsume is able to recognize everyone except the senshi coming alongside Haruka. She recalled Uranus becoming particular incensed when she was injured fighting one of the ice creatures.....

"I'm glad you all seem to be okay," Haruka tells the others, sighing at the memory of how her attempted 'help' flopped so poorly prior.

Looking at each person now, "We're all ready and able to tackle the last level boss, right?" she quips, refering to Celcia, or Miss Nakahime, or whatever she calls herself.

Ami smiles in relief at the approaching group, still keeping a wary eye out for motion nearby as everyone catches up. "In theory." She agrees, smiling a little. "Though, we still need to enter the final level." she finished, pointing to the sealed off center of the castle.

Haruka looks to where Ami indicates before turning back to the girl and poses a question, "Is there a way in there or," there's a grin and an odd twinkle in her eyes at this, "do we have to make one?"

On catching the funny look and the amused one from Ptilol, "Oh, come on.  It's a legitimate question," she says with a bit of amused indignation as she tries to defend herself.

"There isn't a door or other way to get in? Rather that than wasting more of our energy," Ptilol notes. "Or could you manage a door Ami?"

"I could try a door." Ami agrees, somewhat doubtfully. "Though I'm not sure if I can do it without tipping her off before I make an opening. Would we be best off with a faster entrance?"

"Everyone, take a quick look around for an opening, but if nothing pops up," Haruka says tapping the ice wall in front of her with her knuckles, "let's find a hollow spot and invite ourselves in."

Looking at Ami specifically now, "Is there a way for you to scan or see through this wall, Mercury," Haruka asks now sporting a bit of a worried frown, "I don't like the idea of walking into a trap or having a gaggle of nasties waiting for us on the other side."

The Twins spread out, looking around the long, icy hallway. It's cold and bleak and sparsley lit. Save for the light of the Talisman of Uranus, it would be hard to see around.

"We don't see much of anything around here," Cyprine comments, idly rubbing her back.

Ami nods. "The initial anomaly I detected from the third floor is inside there." she replies softly. "Which....may be Celcia herself, or something entirely new."

"Something new?" Natsume asks. "What else could she possibly throw at us?"

Haruka nods to Ami.  "We'll just assume it's Celcia then, so we aren't caught by surprise if it is her."

Motioning for the others now.  "Okay, gather around children, we're going to be making ourselves an entry and we might have a guest on the other side," she announces with a grin, trying to take the edge off any tension the group might be feeling.

"Mercury," Haruka prompts the girl with a nod, "do your thing."

While waiting for Senshi of Ice to flex her elemental powers she asks Cyprine, "You're not hurt are you?" she says, while glancing at the girl.  "I saw you rubbing your back so if you're hurt, let me know, okay?"

"We're not hurt," Cyprine nods. "Just sore and bruised." Waving it away, Ptilol  smiles. "There isn't much this witch could throw at us to really hurt us." Letting some feeling seep into her voice, she smirks. "We're going to go in there and finish this."

Ami simply smiles tolerantly at Haruka, shaking her head slightly and raising her wrist, and reaching out to the ice in the walls barring them from the central section of the palace, speaking to the ice, almost.

Please...let us in? She asks, envisioning a large doorsnapping into existence in the wall...

Chuckling slightly.  "I love that reply and attitude," Haruka tells the pair with a wide, amused grin.

"What..is she doing?" Natsume asks, seeing Ami place her hand on the ice and appear to concentrate. "I thought we were supposed to make a door somehow."

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6+1 for open sesame! and gets 9."

Cyprine grins to Haruka, letting a bit of the other girl's spirit seep in. As it does so, Ami puts her power forth, expending her valuble energy...

The ice begins to crack a bit, yet...it stops, Ami pausing as her attempt is pushed back! You feel the anomaly beyond reacting to that...

Ami sighed, and took a deep breath. "I'm being blocked." She reports unhappily. "It's safe to say she, or it knows we're here..."

"Well, so much for subtlety and earning style points," Haruka comments, readying the Space Sword for use.

Channeling a portion of her energy into her Talisman, the blade takes on a golden hue as she swings at the icy impediment before them!

* Shai`Hulud --> "Haruka rolls 2d6 with a song and a prayer and gets 3."

Slashing out and causing an echoing din as the sword hits the ice, a blast of energy comes from the Space Sword! The ice wall breaks apart as if hasted under the assault, creating a large hole in the inner keep!

Yet as it does, a gale of icy wind gushes out, subzero temperatures freezing all the Senshi dead cold on a level far beyond the frigid air that you breathed in moments ago!

OOC - Everyone make a Body check +1. Success means you'll be fine. If not, you'll see. AMi may check with a -1 due to elemental alignment.

I'm not goign to list each roll, but the salient point is that Haruka bumbled hers.

IC: Resisting the cold air by various means - Ami automatically extending her power out, the Twins ducking back, Natsume by holding her hands in a defensive ward and missing the worst of it - most of the Senshi are undamaged. Yet near the mouth is Haruka, caught too quickly to resist! Frozen hard and shivering as bits of ice form on her skin, the Senshi of Uranus is chilled deeply! (10 damage)

Once the wave passes, Neptune quickly goes to Uranus, reaching out to her...and recoiling from the vicious cold she feels.

The screech that bubbled in her throat, yearning to be unleashed, was taken away along with her breath with that icy kiss.

Shivering uncontrollably as her body tries to regain its warmth.  "T-t-this i-is..." Haruka begins to say through her chattering teeth, "NOT a good day f-for me!" she manages angrily, clenching her eyes tight as she tries to get a hold of herself.

The Space Sword clatters to the ground before vanishing as Haruka wraps both arms around her shoulders to warm herself futilely.

I want to go home!  I want a blanket!

"Let me guess, that miniature ice storm we just weathered all came from Celcia?" Natsume asks. "If her presence alone can do this imagine what she's capable of when she's trying...."

"Cypriene! Is there anyway you can warm her?" Ami asks, moving closer, the daughter of a doctor part of her mind taking hold as she approaches the frozen senshi, keeping one eye back on the opening Haruka made. "I don't know how much the senshi transformation protected her, but if hypothermia sets in like this..." she trailed off anxiously, not pleased by the cool temperature of Haruka's skin.

"We can," Ptilol nods, readying what is left of her energy, while Cyprine does the same. Striding to her, the Twins begin to employ their powers...

Ami can see inside...a dark chamber. There is a blue light at the center, but you only get a glance. But it would fit where the anomaliy is...and did you see a body there as well as a few statues?

Artemis nods to Natsume. "Celcia's quite powerful with ice...we need to finish this before she freezes all of us."

* Shai`Hulud --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 for the twins. and gets 6."

Glowing red and blue respectively, a tendril of power forms between the Twins and arcs to Haruka. Her body glows red and blue a moment before the cold fades from her. This lasts a moment before the Twins both slump, Cyprine falling to her knees.

But Haruka does feel better, even as Ptilol leans against the wall for support. It looks to have drained what little energy they have left. "Feel better," Ptilol asks between gulps of air, Viluy echoing the sentiment as she takes Haruka's shoulder.

Ami bites her lip as she sees the condition of the twins, wincing. "How are you two?" She asks softly, seeing Haruka's color begin to improve slightly, checking the pair with a brief examination.

"We're...just a bit tired," Cyprine manages, slowly rising and breathing noticibly. "It's been a rough couple of hours," Ptilol agrees, giving Ami a smile.

Turning from Ami, Cyprine looks inside the hole. "That's it...let's get this over with." Resolutely as her condition allows, she heads over to her sister.

Ami reaches out. "Wait...Please, let us go in first." She smiles embarrassedly. "You've done so much so far...I don't want you to get hurt because you've exhausted yourselves helping us."

The warmth that Viluy's touch brings is of great comfort as she leans against her slightly.  Though her smile is without its usual vitality, it doesn't lack one iota of gratitude as she looks towards the Twins and Viluy respectively.

Small shivers still run up and down her spine, but she manages to stand a bit straighter on seeing how hard Cyprine and Ptilol are trying to scrape together the strength to continue the fight.  She takes a few wobbly steps towards the opening before stumbling backwards into Viluy's arms with a soft yelp.

"Leave me behind," Haruka whispers to her temporary crutch and support without facing her.  "Take Ami and deal with Celcia before it's too late."

Pausing, Cyprine nods, stepping back so someone else can take the fore...to the inside and what waits there!

"Stop that," Viluy says, without hesitation. "We've nearly there, Haruka...come on." Smiling at Uranus for a bit of encouragement, "We'll finish this and come out together and go home together."

Turning to Ami, "We'll go first. We're going to go in and finish this and save Miss Nakajima, too." Viluy comments strongly, pulling herself together firmly, as she's seen Haruka do before.

Ami smiles faintly and nods, but doesn't let Viluy get too far ahead. "Be careful. There's a few ice statues in here, too..." she warns, sticking close to the couple.

"You're so persistent and demanding..." Haruka quips, shaking her head, still a smidge tiredly.  "Whatever am I to do with you?" she asks rhetorically with a sigh, but nonetheless allows Viluy to guide her.

Calling the Space Sword back to her, she allows its golden light to cut through the gloom and darkness of the chamber ahead.  "Let's hope for something quick and easy," Haruka comments with a grin, before entering.

And thus, our heroes enter inside to the inner sanctum of this frozen castle. Inside is a fairly large room. It's largely devoid of decoration, being a functional inner cave. Save, that is, for a horned ice statue, carved to look like a woman in robes, and a tallish, bishonen man in armor. Both are familiar to Ami...

In the center of the room is a fluctuation point of blue and white energy. Great cold comes from it, rivulets of cold surrounding and flowing in and out for the center. In it is a body - partily blue skinned and nude, partly human skinned, a bit of white sweater, of lightly icey blue hair tied back in a bun. The statues turn as you enter, while the figure in the middle does nothing.

"That's it, that's the anomaly source," Cyprine nods quickly. "We can feel it!" A bit of bubbling, final excitement begins tos how in her voice as the object of your trial is in sight. Viluy, however, pauses. "It is her..." she murmurs to Haruka.

Haruka blinks at the sight before them.  It was one thing to think something to be fact, but to see and know definitively was another.

"Nagoya Nakahime..." she begins staring at the woman at the center of attention, "Celcia...."

"The source of all this," Viluy whispers back, grimly determined now. "And...hopefully, we can save her from this." Turning to Ami as the statues begin to move towards your group in earnest, "Can you detect anything about Miss Nakajima now," she asks, while keeping an eye on the ice golems.

"WE have a more immediate problem," Artemis notes from the rear, throwing your attention to the thread on hand.

"Get them..." A voice like the winds of Janurary comes from the floating body, vague yet distinct in it's own chilling way. "Kill the Senshi..." There is a pause, then, "No...You're...Help me," a quiet, deeply motherly voice calls, far different from Celcia's voice.

Ami focuses the gaze from her visor onto the woman at the center of the energy flux, switching the view to display a readout on the visor itself, not daring to take the time to pull out the Mercury computer. Using her peripheral vision, she scans the statues as well, making sure any new suprises are not hiding within.

Ami - The energy flux will take more time, it's quite complex to analyse!

The statues, however, look to be normal. You think. It's hard to be 100 on a few seconds of scanning, but you don't detect anything new.

Ami keeps staring at the energy flux, intently. To Viluy and Haruka, she whispers under her breath. "Stall her as best you can, until I can get firm readings..." she urges. "She doesn't know you, so you might be able to reach the woman you spoke of."

Giving a nod to Ami, "Nakahime!  Nagoya Nakahime!" Haruka calls out even as she readies herself to take on the approaching Orestes statue with her Space Sword at the ready.  "You're still in there, aren't you?"

Nagoya Nakahme? Obviously that was the woman in center of the icestorm, but what was she to the senshi?

"Tch, whatever," she says to herself. She would leave the woman to those who knew her. As the ice golems continued to advance, Natsume retrieves the beam saber weapon that Ami had given her. Now was the time to put it to good use. "Now...how do I start this up..."

She examines the device for a bit before finding what looks to be a switch just below the handgrip. A simple push and...

"WHOA!" Natsume says in shock as the energy blade shoots up suddenly, nearly taking her nose off in the process. "Cool..."

Ami -Your scan goes on. The enegies there are quite complex as you noticed - Celcia's power is there and manifesting all around, as well as the lifeforce of Miss Nakahime. The former seems to be trying to affect the latter in some way on every level.

The statues approach, the Orestes statue moving swiftly and withdrawing a short sword of ice! Taking it, he hurls it at the now energy sword packing Natsume, the light of the great techomagical weapon getting it's attention!

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."

Yet the shot misses, breaking apart when it hits the wall!

Ami - You aren't sure exactly how...but it's almost like the body in front of you is being...altered.

Seeing the attack at Natsume, Sailor Uranus wastes no time, going out with her Space Sword to rip apart the ice golem with a huge overhead slash!

* Musk-bot --> "Haruka rolls 2d6 to fight frozen forces and gets 6."

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."

It goes through it's left shoulder, slicing off the arm and a part of the shoulderblade! Greviously damaged, the statue turns to Haruka weakly as it's arm lands dully on the frozen ground, staggering.

Following that, Natsume sees her chance to counter, going for a side splitting swipe with her saber!

* Musk-bot --> "Midnight rolls 2d6 and gets 5."

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7."

Cutting through it's midsection like it's mere water, the statue is cleaved into two, destroyed and useless now! As this goes, Viluy finds her own target, and taking a breath...

"Mosaic Buster....Go!" Viluy orders, aiming at the Cynthia double!

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 12."

And...nothing. Glancing down at her bracelet in worry, Viluy softly curses. "The moisture damaged the nanobot launcher," she says, alarmed.

Taking the free chance, the remaining statue charges, using it's horns to try and gore Viluy, charging past the Senshi!

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 11."

But it misses completely, slipping and skittering on the ice! Seeing a chance, the Twins give it the last of their power...

"Ptilol, now!" Cyprine says, a thin band of blue energy joining a red one to try and constrict/melt the foe!

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."

So doing so, the bands melt through Cynthia's chest on impact, sending the copy to the reject heap!

Ami - It's...it's clearly manifesting from inside of Miss Nakahime, using her...

"....Help me! Please! I just wanted to live and make these beautiful statues," Miss Nakajima cries. "I didn't want to become this!"

"Nice," Haruka comments to the girl swinging the wicked lightsaber, giving her a smile that spoke of her approval, "keep it up."  But on seeing Viluy's situation, she rushes over to her side to help her with the Cynthia statue.

"Oh my god...." Ami breathes softly, sickened by what she's seeing. "Celcia....is doing something to her. Changing her..."

She approaches the woman carefully, feeling out of her element. "Rei-chan...where are you when we need you?" she moans softly. She narrows the scan to the energy itself, looking for ways to arrest the progress of the changes so time can be bought to uncover a more permanent solution.

Cautiously, pulls out the Mercury computer, needing more detailed information on the nature of the energy, and ways to redirect the effects...

"This is an amazing weapon," Natsume comments. It was about as powerful as her self-made sword, but without the energy drain on herself. She would have to thank Ami later for the gift.

She then notices Ami continuing her scans of the situation, and rushes over to her, determined to keep any ice monsters at bay while she worked.

The Cynthia statue is about finished, you notice. The Twins both slump down, Cyprine barely staying on her knees from the effort of managing another attack.

Viluy frowns at her bracelet, but returns the smile to HAruka and then turns to the woman of the hour.

Natsume goes to Ami's side easily enough, protecting the genious as she expresses her dismay at the current scenario.

Ami's computer begins to scan, but it's going to take a few. As this goes on, "It...It...Uh...." Miss Nakahime slumps forward, stunned momentarily. "Gave up her body for another year of life," the frigid, hatefully cold voice comes back, the head looking up now. Her eyes are now the darkest ice blue and frozen solid. "Froze the cancer right out of her...and she went along with it like I was some fairy to grant a wish," A cold, icy laugh comes, the energy solidfying around Celcia. "And she made such a wonderful vessel to create the beginnings of a protective force, didn't she?"

Slowly, the body begins to drop, more and more of it comsumed.

"Stop that!" Ami cries, horrified. Please! Give me something I can use to buy time!

Desperate, Ami reaches into her subspace pocket, retrieving one of her stun grenades, and thumbing the activation trigger, hurls it into the whirling mass of energy.

Please...even if it doesn't work, let it take her mind off of me and the woman she's possessed, even for a few seconds!

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6-1 for distraction tactics! and gets 10."

Throwing the stun grenade, you miss your mark and end up overshooting! It lands on the wall. Celcia turns to you after the missed mark, her attention diverted for a few seconds. As it does, "Help, please! Something! It's so cold!"

Ami - the energy is still gathering. If only there was something that could absorb the energy instead of Celcia...

Ami shivers and takes a rather desperate gamble. "I'm going to try something dangerous!" she tells the girl who'd found her way to her side. "Please...if you see something about me change for the worse...tell my friends not to hesitate to incapacitate me!"

Without waiting for an answer, Ami stretches out with her elemental control, dipping into the power of her Talisman as well...and calls to the energy swirling around the possessed woman. Come to me, instead!

* Musk-bot --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 for technoexorcism. and gets 5."

* Musk-bot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 4."

IC: Your Talisman begins to glow bright as you extend your control outward, contesting the flow of frozen power into Celcia! There is a moment of pure pause as the flow seems to stop entirely, almost confused as two wills battle for it!

Yet, at the last moment, your Talisman becomes incadensantly blue, blinding any who look at it! The flow begins to direct into it, freezing Ami's body deeply even as it races into the artifact! (12 damage from frost)

Celcia groans at that, the body staggering. "Help! Before...she comes back, help me!" Miss Nakajima cries. "This thing, it's a monster! I dont' want to be alone with it....please..." Slumping to her blue knees, sobs begin to wrack the shared body.

"Something about you change for the worst?" Natsume repeats. "W...what does that mean?!"

Unfortunately Mercury is already gone before she could finish the question. She sees her conjure some sort of strange object, just before her vision is consumed by blue light.

Ami shudders as her body is hit by blasts of unrelenting cold. Can't...stop...halfway... She maintains her concentration as best she can, unable to stop the pained gasps for breath as she does. Come out of her!!! Reaching out once more, Ami continues...

Off in the background as she is, Haruka can only stare (then rub her eyes) at the display centering on Ami and the energy anomaly.  Hearing Miss Nakahime's pleas spurs her into motion as she rushes to her side.

Kneeling now next to the changed ice sculptist, "Are you okay, Miss Nakahime?"  Haruka mentally wanted to stab herself with her Space Sword after the question left her mouth.  Of course she's not okay....  Gah!

Haruka tries to lay a comforting hand on her shoulder as she observes the changes wrought upon the woman.

Through half lidded eyes, she looks upa t you as Viluy races to your side as well. "Miss....are you..." she says weakly, then to your surprise, smiles. "The ones about Warrior? I'm not....alone here?" Shuddering with a chill as Ami continues to recieve the power, "Thank you..." she sighs, falling against you. Her body is ice cold, though you can feel her heart beating.

With a cresendo, Miss Nakajima's body pulses, the blue racing out of her in a stream...and heading right to Ami-chan! Her Talisman glows even brighter as she is consumed, falling onto her back as the light fades, energy all around her.

OOC - Ami's in a new thread.

The girl shivers, her transformation falling away.

"MErcury!" Artemis calls as the light subsides, racing to her side as well.

"She...she said...," Natsume sputters while everyone is gathered, all watching over the dehenshined Ami. Seeing her in her civilian form does not immediately register to her. "That...if anything bad happens...to stop her..."

"MERCURY!" Haruka shouts as a consternated look washes across Haruka's face.  She wants to go to her fallen comrade's side, but with Miss Nakahime...  "Viluy!  Go check on her!" she tells her worriedly as she keeps her hold on the woman to make sure she'll be okay.

She's breathing, but this cold... Haruka says to herself, feeling rather helpless.

Her eyes eventually trail across to Ami again as Viluy and Artemis reach her side.  Stupid and reckless!  You better be okay so I can chew you out, Ami....

Miss Nakahime is ice cold indeed, but breathing. For now, as long as she'll last this terribly cold. She needs to be warmed, fast.

Artemis winces as he touches Ami, growling without reasinging it. "Ami-chan, come up," he shakes her, trying to rouse the sleeping Senshi of ice. Slowly rising, the Twins also approach, coming up to Natsume's side, Ptilol gently taking Natsume's shoulder. "Over here," she says, pulling her tiredly as Cyprine exams the victim. "The energy is flowing into Ami now..." she murmurs, looking at Viluy, Artemis, then Haruka.

As Ami lies there, "No....no....They're...not....like that," Ami mururms, her entire body quaking in shivers and shudders.

"Is...is Ami trying to take thing into herself?" Natsume says to herself. "Damnit...I wish wasn't so goddamn helpless in times like this..."

Haruka situates Miss Nakahime in her arms to try and give her as much body heat as she can provide, while quickly casting her glance at Cyprine with her observation.

"Is there any danger if we move her?" Haruka asks.  "If we move all of us out of here, will it cause a problem with... Celcia being inside Ami?"  Her face turns rather grim, but she forces herself to continue.

"If we can't move her, then we'll have to find a way to get some heat going," Haruka indicates the chilled bundle in her arms with a dip of her head.  "I'm not sure how long she can hold out in this condition...."

Cyprine nods. "We'll need to do something...because I don't know if it's safe to move Ami," she says,s preading her hands helplessly. "Energy is still flowing into her and her Talisman."

Artemis holds Ami, "Ami-chan," he says intently, "Come on! Fight it, whatever it is! We're going to have a nice dinner at home, remember? Come on!"

Ptilol nods to Natsume. "We have an idea...I think we can help her." Turning to Haruka, Ptilol clears her throat. "We think Ami may need our help and our energy," she annouces. "We don't have much left, but...we need to have some way of helping her."

"...what end...I believe...friends..." Ami half gasps, her body recoiling as if struck. The energy swirls around her, even as Miss Nakahime coughs in Haruka's arms....

"I can give you all the energy I can provide," Haruka tells Ptilol with a serious look, "do whatever it is you need to do."

Shifting her gaze now to Viluy and Natsume now.  "Can you guys look for something to warm Miss Nakahime with?  Blanket, stuff to make a fire, anything like that."

"I'll give everything I can muster, even my life if I have to," Natsume says to Ptilol. "Its the least I can do."

Then, in response to Haruka's order, she leaves without question with Viluy to look for anything could be used to start a fire. Though with the mall turned into a giant ice cube, finding anything dry would be a challenge.

"We could use my coat, but...." Viluy trails off a moment, glancing at Natsume, then just shakes her head. "I guess that doesn't matter now, does it...?"

One more thing...and we can go home. Right?

Shimmering as her transformation ends, Viluy quickly removes her coat, taking it over and draping it over Miss Nakahime.

Ptilol nods, as Artemis voices much the same sentiment. "We can try and give her energy to help...fight whatever it is she's fighting."

Natsume - There isn't much around at the moment, sadly. It's a pretty barren room, save for the remnants of the statues you busted up.

Haruka gives Viluy a soft, slightly tired, smile.  "After all this is done, I'm stealing you away to my apartment," she begins, her tone shifting to a teasing one, "you owe me a cup of hot chocolate, at the very least, for this mall adventure, missy."

At Ptilol's suggestion she nods.

I know you can do this, Haruka whispers mentally, casting a glance at the Talisman that sat besides her.  I know you can help Ami, she told it.

But my life if I have to? she wonders, repeating the words of their temporary teammate.  A quick glance at the distressed Artemis cradling Ami's inert body firms her resolve.  Yeah.  Let's do this.

Haruka kisses the top of Viluy's head affectionately, passing Miss Nakahime to her partner.  "Here, watch her while I go and see if I can help wake our brave and reckless princess," she tells her with Space Sword already in hand as she stands.

Now beside the distraught and transformed Mau, she places a comforting hand on his shoulder.  "We'll get her back, Artemis," Haruka says, exchanging glances with the Twins to indicate she was going to begin.

Ruffling the catman's girlish hair playfully, she adds, "Besides, we're the good guys.  It's in our contract to get happy endings after all."

The statement was meant to soothe both their flayed nerves what with the daunting task that awaited them.  She wasn't really sure how this would turn out, but....

Holding the Space Sword with blade directed towards Ami, Haruka closes her eyes to concentrate.  Focusing on the flow of power within her and the rhythm of her own heartbeat she wills the Talisman's powers forward.

This HAS to work!

The group gathers around Ami, even as she half coughs, half cries, "I...won't...give up..." Viluy stays with Miss Nakahime, her coat warming the victim of Celcia's attentions.

Artemis has a reply, but it's lost as you begin your concentration...

Energy begins to glow in the blade, flowing from Haruka into Ami, joining the flow of cold that is already arcing into her freezing body! Yet a moment later, Ami's body goes rigid at it, glowing warmly...and then joined by a third string, managed by Ptilol who holds Natsume's hand to help direct and merge it into Haruka's effort.

The energy flows into Ami! Her color begins to return, warmth spreading off from her and heating the area around you. Her body twitches, as if caught in something....Talisman glowing...

Slash!

There is a moment as Ami's left side and stomach are slashed up by an unseen force, the skin there turning Celcia blue and bleeding hot blood out...

"Ami," Artemis hisses, some of the blood staining his white clothes as he holds her. "Haruka, Ami needs more help," he says, even as he supports his ward.

Hearing the plea from the Mau she re-doubles her effort, pouring everything she can muster into Ami.

More power goes into Ami, even as a chest gash rakes her body...she's bleeding and the blue is spreading, even as all the enegies flood her body and Talisman!

"Ami needs more," Artemis calls, looking wildly, worriedly at Haruka then at Natsume and Ptilol. "Please!"

She can feel the strength draining from her muscles as she transfers every drop of energy she has into the azure haired girl before her. It was a disorienting feeling, but she could not allow herself to fall, not yet. The senshi had given so much to Tokyo, she would not stand by allow one of them to die for doing it yet again.

The panic and desperation in Artemis' voice gets Haruka to release everything.  Calling on her powers as Uranus, her very life energy, she pushes all of it through the connection.

But....

Like an engine with nothing further to feed it, Haruka can feel herself grind to an abrupt halt as the noise and her surroundings begin to haze over as her mind drifts.

Maybe I overextended myself..? she muses as the Space Sword clatters noisily, slipping from numb fingers.

She opens her eyes to see if her efforts have awoken the sleeping princess, but the sight of the onrushing ground is the only image revealed before blackness.

Sailor Uranus falls to the ground, Haruka Ten'oh appearing in her place as she flops listlessly. A cry of "Haruka!" is heart throughout, as the glow around Ami reaches a fever pitch, the world seeming to be sucked into her starbright Talisman!

....

.....

.....

"Oh..." Natsume murmurs, as her eyes clear. Leaning against Ptilol, she feels exhaustion as she sees the scene in front of her. Bleeding and wounded is Ami/Sailor Mercury, breathing and opening her eyes slowly despite her injuries.

"Ami," Artemis says quickly, pulling the wounded girl into a hug of relief, even as Viluy gently puts down Miss Nakahime and goes over to her downed love, as her Space Sword fades back into her.

"Hey...we finally did it," Ptilol murmurs, as the chill and ice in the room simply fade away. Light bursts in from above, the relative gloom of the mall a siren spot of light compared to the darkness you were in momentarily before. The mall is returning with haste, the frozen keep of the Ice Queen vanishing into nothingness...yet as it does, there is a final burst of energy from Ami's Talisman! It spreads blue energy all about, taking a mere second to soak into everything around you and far farther afield.

When it's cleared, a ice blue bracelet rests on Ami's wrist, covered with intracate designs of falling snowflakes...

"Th...Thank God," Natsume sighs as she allows her legs to give out completely. Her body felt numb, to say the least. She doubted she would be able to move for a while. "Is...it all over?"

Ami dizzily opens her eyes, feeling...exuberant, but almost depleted. A sudden pressure around her abused torso makes her hiss in pain, but when she hears Artemis' voice, she smiles weakly. "Artemis..." she groans. "...Sorry...made you worry..."

"You'd better not again," he murmurs, letting go a bit. HIs face is lit up and smiling now, even a the normality of the mall reasserts itself over what was her palace, as it always was and always should have been.

"Yeah," Cyprine manages back in the direction of Natsume and her sister, as she goes to check Miss Nakahime. "She's still cold...and it looks like we need to make an exit now, before everyone recovers...."

Artemis nods, rising slowly and giving Ami a hand. "Come on, Ami-chan," he says quietly. "We're not quite done yet...we need to get out of here."

Ami nods, and takes the assistance, wishing the world would stop spinning and let her off, looking around. As she manages to make out a few still forms, sudden worry rears up. "Are they okay?"

"Hope so," Artemis murmurs, as you lean on his side. "We're going to have to help them...." Cyprine is wearly rising, holding the downed Miss Nakahime in her arms, and perhaps aided by the last of her magics. Viluy is also slowly rising with Haruka, who is breathing, if clearly drained.

Surveying everyone, Artemis sighs. "We did it...so let's go home."

Natsume manages to get back up on wobbling legs. As long as she took it slow and easy she would not have to worry about falling over...much. After this, she finally gets a chance to take a good look at everyone assembled, now dehenshined. Here were the senshi, standing there 'naked' in a sense, and she could only wonder what she should do in a situation like this...

'Play dumb?' she thinks. 'Yeah, that'd probably be best...'

And thus, the Senshi and company begin the long trek out, as the mall finishes defrosting.

But that is a tale for another topic.