Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 5: Diary of a Mad Magic Woman

A little human girl in a frilly pink dress skips happily to a big, polished
wood table, upon which a black cat sat next to a book. She was humming to herself as she jumped into the oversized chair at the head of the table.

Little girl
Ready for storytime, Oscar?

Oscar
I've been waiting on eager paws all day! Make it a good one.

Oscar the cat leaped on top of the girl's straight blond haired head and watched her flip the leather book's broken latch and open to a page near the middle. The girl began to read.

Little girl
"Hey diary, it's me again. Its 1050-001-UC so you know what that means. Coalition Carnage is here and it's my turn to-"

Oscar
No, no. Skip to something exciting.

She skimmed a few paragraphs, humming a catchy tone.

Little girl
Hmmm...ah! Here we go. "They teleport me to the Garden..."

Oscar
Oh yes...

Past

The Dawn took in her surroundings. She was in the Garden, her home planet's choice of geodome. Her smile may have told a casual observer that she was pleased with the pick. She whispered words and rose into the air, surveying the jungle warily. Dense foliage, vines, and lush green fauna prevented any ideas of a casual stroll on the jungle floor. Massive trees covered in green vines provided dark recesses for the illusion of safety, branches stretching like fingers of death. Beneath one such tree, she noticed, was a dead tortoise, its spiked shell overrun with vines that also snaked through every orifice. She made sure to stay above the tree line. The sudden appearance of a hundred foot long eel composed of purple energy surprised her. It moved through the sky like its underwater counterpart, violet colored lightning crackled over its outline. Its jaws opened wide, as if to roar at her, but a steadying increase of white light shone from within. Roxy, floating nearby, hooped in excitement.

Roxy
What is this!? A monstrous energy eel has appeared from nowhere! Is this the work of the rare Soul Style of Papuru Magic?

A beam of light exploded from its maw toward The Dawn. A gray brick wall quickly conjured withheld the assault long enough for her to whisper the incantation that instantly transported her fifty feet behind the energy eel. It made a wide, wriggling turn to pursue her. She began the arm movements for her next spell when the thin tip of a sharp, blue object stuck out of her chest. It was the business end of a sword held by Morihilus, who had attacked her from behind.

Roxy
A sneak attack by Superstar Morihilus has struck home! Superstar The Dawn may have taken her last breath!

The smiling fish man drew his face closer to her ear.

Morihilus
So amateurish.

The Dawn turned her head to peer at him. She didn't seem the least bit fazed by being impaled.

The Dawn
Agreed.

She then disappeared, leaving Morihilus floating alone. When she reappeared, it was with a kick to the back of his head. His burgundy skinned body exploded in water upon contact, raining down on the jungle below. The energy eel was close enough now to open its mouth again so she flew away from it toward the canopy of trees below. As she drew closer, she noticed movement among the tress, something that used Quickening and knew the eel was about to fire. She whispered, left hand outstretched toward the eel, right hand hastily making the necessary signs. The incoming beam was intercepted by a red bordered square portal, sending it through to another open portal, straight into the group of trees where she saw the figure moving. The resulting explosion encompassed nearly an acre of dense jungle, charing the vegetation and animals in its violet radius. She drew the image of a triangle in the air, reddish light flowing from her fingers, as she muttered the incantation. The eel continued its charge toward her and she frowned.