“Don't let go don't let go don't let go.”
“Misora-san, you are not helping,” Takane grunted, struggling to hold everyone whilst using her shadow magic as an anchor to latch onto the wall, “Now hold on, I'll try to pull us up.”
“I think I see a bridge over there. It'd be faster to just drop down.” Setsuna noted.
“Don't say drop!” Misora whimpered.
Slowly Takane let them down. As soon as they touched solid ground the Mysterious Sister was on her knees hugging the bridge for all she was worth.
“Oh sweet ground, I'll never leave you again, I swear!”
“Nice save, Goodman-san.” Setsuna smiled in thanks.
“Ha-ha, a trivial challenge.” Takane laughed, striking a heroic pose, oblivious to the multiple sweatdrops.
“Soooo... where are we?” Misora asked, getting to her feet and carefully peering over the edge of their landing spot, wincing at the sight of the endless drop they had nearly experienced.
“If I had to guess I'd say this is part of the library ruins,” Setsuna answered, leaning to look down beside the young nun, almost giving the panicky girl a heart attack, “Ojou-sama told me about a few places like this. She's in the library exploration club...” She trailed off, peering around into the darkness. At one end of the walkway was a boarded up door that obviously hadn't been used in some time. A few runes carved around it told her that not only was it magically sealed, but that whatever was on the other side was not something she wanted to be dealing with right now.
“...That way...” Kokone all but whispered, pointing off into the darkness. Setsuna and Takane almost jumped at the quiet girl speaking.
“...Right. Let's see where it leads.”
“Are we witnessing a battle between father and son?!” Kazumis voice echoed around the stadium.
“Sounds like the match is in full swing in there!” Mei exclaimed as she and Asuna approached the main gate. Then she saw the huge crowd trying to get in.”Oooh... I don't think we'll make it.” Asuna just grunted non-committally, looking around for another way in. It didn't take long.
“We'll have to go over the roof!” she declared, pointing.
“What? But... but...”
“Oh, don't be such a scaredy cat Mei-chan, we're both part of the tournament. We wouldn't be breaking any rules.”
“I... But... You... I...” Mei shook her head, “But what about your injuries? You're supposed to be resting, remember? Surely you can't- No, don't!”
To late. Asuna had already leapt up. Mei was fairly sure she could make out the thump as she landed, then again as her still recovering legs gave out under her. Sighing the mage looked around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly followed after her charge on her broom.
Setsuna was beginning to seriously consider forgetting the ancient laws and revealing herself as a half-demon to try and find another way out. This bridge didn't seem to lead anywhere at all, and the darkness was beginning to get to her.
“Are we even under the school anymore?” asked Misora from the back of the group, sounding rather bored.
“Complaining wont get us out any faster Misora-san,” Takane reprimanded, despite looking every bit as bored.
“Will you stop calling me that!” hissed the Mysterious sister, as if her disguise was still holding up, or indeed, ever had. Her only reply was a collective sigh.
“Hey, I think I see something ahead.” Setsuna said, stopping suddenly as she squinted ahead.
“Well alright! Land ahoy!” Misora cheered, pushing past her.
“H- hey! Wait a sec-” but she wasn't listening, to caught up in the dream of finally getting out of this dark pit. With a breath of exasperation, the others quickly followed.
The bridge finally ended as a giant pair of doors set into a stone wall that stretched off into the dark distance in all directions. And, surrounding the door...
“Tree roots? Are these part of the world tree?” Setsuna asked, reaching out and stroking one of the ancient limbs.
“I've heard its roots are spread all over the city,” Takane replied, her eyes flicking between the roots and Misoras almost comical attempts to pull open the doors, “For them to be this thick though... We must be quite close to the tree itself.”
“Well, that gives us a good idea of our location, at least.” Setsuna peered upwards as she moved over to help the young nun, trying to trace the roots back.
The doors themselves opened without much effort (once Misora had been shown that they had to be pulled rather than pushed) despite being at least three times the size of a tall man. Light streamed through the crack, blinding them for a second.
“Tcch. Man that's bright,” Misora muttered as her eyes grew accustomed to it. Then she saw what was on the other side. “Wahh!”
Lines and lines of Tankas filled the huge room, filing back as far as the eye could see. Setsuna immediately went for her sword and was pleasantly surprised to see Takane fall into a battle stance alongside her (she wasn't surprised at all to see Misora disappear in front of them, immediately appearing cowering behind the ever stoic Kokone).
“I wont be taken down so easily this time you perverted robots!” Takane yelled shrilly.
The robots didn't respond. There was a moment of tense silence.
“Uh... Hello?”
Nothing.
“They must be deactivated,” Setsuna observed, looking around, “Lucky for us.”
“So... no stripping?” Takane and Misora asked simultaneously, looking at her hopefully.
“As long as we're careful, I guess,” she shrugged.
“Ahahahaha! Well then! Now is the perfect time to use-”
“Uh, Goodman-san, I really wouldn't-”
“-My shadow-puppet technique, close in combat: Final move Nocturna Nigredinis!!!”
“Woah!” The rest of the group jumped back as a masked humanoid creature rose up out of Takanes shadow and wrapped itself around her.
“Now taste the righteous vengeance of a guardian of justice!” she yelled as she leapt to attack the unresponsive crowd, the shadow beast following.
“Wait! There might be-!” Suddenly sirens began blaring, bathing the huge room with red flashing light. “...an alarm. Hell.”
Line after line of Tankas began lighting up. Setsuna tightened her grip on her sword, while Misora and Kokone reached for their crosses.
Wii-
“Yaaaaahhhh!!”
Crunch. Shwing. Slam.
Setsuna blinked. Kokone blinked. Misoras mouth dropped.
“S- She's really lighting into them isn't she?” she stammered once she'd found her voice.
“She's actually pretty good.” Kokone stated quietly, tilting her head.
“I... I guess we'd better go help her. I don't think she needs it though.” Setsuna muttered under her breath.
“You go right ahead. We'll catch up.” Misora replied, grinning nervously.
Setsuna just rolled her eyes and charged after Takane, trying to ignore the mages manic laughter as she joined the fray.
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(Posted Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:33)
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