AlterMyth - A Hololive Fanfiction

Nightmare Ballet

Prologue

Under the light of the silver moon, the dark and quiet grounds of the Fleur de Lune hotel was cordoned off by a crescent of flickering, menacing torches. A large formation of Grim Reapers massed at the gated entrance. There were a hundred or so foot-soldiers who formed the first rank and wielded a hodgepodge of pistols and clubs. Behind them, twelve reapers rode horses and brandished carbine rifles and wore menacing black sickles like sabers at their hips.

Gawr Gura watched the approaching army from the other side of the gate. The Atlantean shark-girl crept in the darkness of the hotel garden and peeked from behind the marble statue of an angel.

She steadied her breath, tore off her fishbone-shaped pendant and summoned her luminous aquamarine trident with a flash of powder blue light. She then drew her Single Action Army revolver with her nervous right hand.

A rifle-shot away from Gura's position, the Atlantean saw Jenma cocking her Glock 26 compact pistol. The manager was taking cover behind the boarded-up windows of the hotel lobby. All the while, Jenma kept a small plastic whistle close to her mouth.

Gura then turned her eyes up to the roof of the French colonial mansion-turned-hotel where Ame was taking position. The detective set down her long Krag rifle on the ledge of the roof and pointed her barrel downrange. Even then, Ame found the time to give Gura a confident thumbs up.

'I've got you covered.' Ame seemed to tell her.

Gura returned the gesture and returned her gaze to the Fleur de Lune's wrought iron gate. There, she found a tall lady that walked ahead of the formation of reapers with a cool, nonchalant and confident gait.

The tall leader wound back for a moment with a grunt and then broke the lock of the wrought iron gate with a single powerful kick that echoed throughout the yard. To Gura's surprise, the once formidable and majestic gate creaked open slightly ajar, defeated by the leader who then crossed the threshold.

From behind the statue, Gura saw the leader turn her eyes towards Ame on the roof. The leader cupped her hands over her mouth and cried out to the detective with a thundering voice.

"Good evening ladies! Our paths cross again, it seems." She then shielded her eyes from the moonlight with her right hand and added, "I can see you hiding there on the roof, Miss Watson. Nice spot, by the way. Excellent view!"

Gura knew that voice. After what happened on the RMS Teutonic, it was a voice that the Atlantean swore she would never forget - or forgive.

It was Jacqueline Chadwick.

The Atlantean was tempted to shout at Chadwick for her cowardice, but she kept her silence for now. In her stead, Ame lashed out at Chadwick.

"What the hell do you want, Chadwick!?" Ame sharply rebuked.

When Ame answered, Chadwick put a hand on her hip and proposed a deal.

"Now it would be a shame if we have to damage this pretty little hotel any more than we have to, Miss Amelia Watson. We don't have to fight tonight. So how about a trade between adults? Surrender Miss Ninomae and the so-called management trainee to me and I'll let you and the Atlantean walk out of this mess - scot free! But of course... we could perhaps cooperate a little more closely if you wish."

Work together with Chadwick again!? There was no way in hell that Gura would have anything to do with Chadwick or her goons.

"Why would I ever want to work with you!?" The detective shouted back.

Thankfully, Ame felt the same way as her.

"I know that you and the shark were the ones who defeated the Sea Serpent - not the pretentious aristocrat Lowry." Chadwick explained, "You've got a good head on your shoulders, Watson, so you can probably spot a good deal when you see one. Hell - with your attitude and skills, you might just have what it takes to wield your own scy..."