Love Far Beyond the Ashes

Stalling For Time

Reine pov: I was telling the alternate dimension Amelia-senpai about how I got here; she looked pretty intrigued, but she also looked like she wanted to kill us, but I couldn't let that happen. Zeta was obviously annoyed that I was here and in danger, but I am only doing this so I can buy time to make up for last time.

"Reine, we can't keep this up," Anya said to me.

I was aware that I couldn't stretch this story out longer. I need to try my best to stall for as long as I can since Zeta didn't try to stall much.

"I'm going to kill you," the other dimensions Amelia-senpai said

"Wait, don't you think you should wait for Calli-senpai and Kiara to get here because if you kill us in front of them, they'll be sad?" I said

"True, and I do want to make everyone suffer as much as possible," the alternate dimension Amelia-senpai said I bit my lip, knowing I might have bought some time. "Fine, you have two minutes," she said.

"Two?" Anya said

"How about six?" I asked.

"You drive a hard bargain," the alternate universe Amelia-senpai said

I didn't know what to say to this, but she seemed to be wanting to let us get this extension, so this is a good thing.

"Why are you being so nice?" Gura-senpai asked

"Who knows?" the alternate universe's Ame said.

Gura-senpai didn't talk again; she just picked Amelia-senpai up and took her over to safety behind a nearby tree.

"Stay safe," she said.

"Gross, I can't believe another version of myself is better at dating than me," the alternate Ame said.

"You seem like you're super great." Gura-senpai sarcastically scoffed.

"Just because of that snarly sarcasm, I'm adding a few minutes to your time," she said.

I didn't understand what was going on, but Zeta seemed on guard more now than ever. This was odd. Sincerely, the fact that she added more time can't be good; she either needs more time to charge herself up or she genuinely is waiting, but I think it's the latter, and I can't think of anything she would be charging up.

Who in council has a charging attack? Nobody I'm aware of other than my sister.

We all stood there just watching, trying to figure out this alternate timeline. Amelia-senpai

Ina looked at Sana and nudged her away so she wouldn't get hurt. I didn't know why no one tried to move. Bae

"Anya, you should prepare your body so you don't shatter," I said.

Anya did agree. I felt her tense up, and she tried to keep her weapon form. Before, she couldn't talk when she was in this form, but I don't know when that changed. It makes sense, though it's still Anya. even if she's a blade

The other dimensions Amelia-senpai yawned, and they suddenly fell asleep. We all looked on in confusion.

"Should we just kill her?" Gura asked

"No, don't go near her." Zeta said

To be honest, I think Zeta is being overly cautious; however, since Mumei told her to be careful and that this situation is a ten on the danger scale, I think she has every right to be

"Mumei-senpai just said to stall, so we need to do that," Zeta said.

"Okay, but counterargument: what if Kiara and Calli get stomped?" Anys asked

"They won't, and besides, they have Ina and I," Gura said.

"And me too..." Ame coughed as she limped over to us, much to Gura's dismay.

"Lay back down!" Gura-senpai said it loudly but quietly enough to not disturb the pest.

"We said the five of us would deal with this, did we not?" Ame asked

Gura growled, but she couldn't deny that the five of them did agree on this, so she nodded, but she clearly wasn't happy about this.

"The two of us will protect you," Ina-senpai said.

"We will all protect each other," Gura-senpai said.

"All for one and one for all," Amelia-senpai said.

"Look, if she wakes up, we're the first line of defense!" I said

Zeta glared at me and shook my head.

"I'm the first line of defense, and you are the second, but a distant second, like you aren't going to fight ever." Zeta said

She really didn't want me to fight; clearly, she was mad that I'm here. I don't blame her if something happened to me on her watch; Mumei would kill her, but she could still be a little nicer about it.

"Look, Zeta, as long as she has me, we can win!" Anya said

"I don't know if you are strong enough," Zeta said.

"Look, I don't know what I can do. I know I'm weak, but the tiniest thing can help. That is the least I can do. Besides, you trust my sister a lot and you believe in her, so please focus some of that on me. I won't hold you back!" I told her

Zeta looked at me and nodded. She came up with an idea and made a loud whistle noise.

"What?" I said it in confusion.

"Give it a second," Zeta said.

A few seconds later, Axel came running over as if he were in a daze.

"She killed that woman with the halo," Zeta said.

Axel nodded and lunged onto the woman, beginning to punch her, but she never woke up once.

"Odd," Zeta said.

"Wait, explain that to me. Why is he in a trance?" I asked

"Oh, I tamed him," Zeta cheerfully said.

I didn't even begin to go into this, but I guess it is handy that the other Amelia-senpai woke up suddenly and said, "I fell asleep for two minutes, and this is what you do!" She screamed

Zeta began to laugh. "Get ready, Reine," she told me.

I squeezed onto Anya to get her prepared; we were going to need to fight.