Unknown Happen Stance

Chapter 55: No Better Than Darcy

"Our challenge is not over, Musa and Evie but it wouldn't be fair to leave you no respite." The Cleansing Princess in the tiger-striped cloak, her face obscured by a matching eye mask, picked up a fan from the dresser. "As of right now, you are no better a hero than Darcy was a witch of Shadows." Musa groaned at her words.

"I'll make you pay!" growled Musa.

"That's the wrong answer and the wrong attitude," the Princess countered, her voice eerily calm. "You could fight all day here with me and you wouldn't be emotionally mature enough to beat me because of the dark shadows of grief and nostalgia of all you lost holding you back. Every time you've come up against someone acting just like you, and you fought alone, the battle ended poorly. Without your team, you are nothing but consumed by the most negative pieces of your imposter self. Remember Arista's words in your world: 'Yours will be the hardest to defeat, Musa, the Mogwai Shadow Rain Shard Residue that ended up in you will be more hesitant to reveal itself controlling you. It will bid its time to pounce on you as a parasite does to its host.'"

And without a word, the tigress witch huntress vanished from sight. Evie's expression twisted into a sour, startled grimace, as if she had seen a ghost.

"She said you could contaminate me?" Evie whispered, her voice laced with disbelief. "What was that force field I couldn't get through? It kept pushing me back."

"Protective Tiger Shield," Musa murmured, her own surprise evident. "In my Chinese-based world of Melody, the tiger in the Zodiac is a protective, grounded symbol. Legends say tigers ward off evil spirits. If she warded off both of us, that means there is a flaw both of us have yet to meet, waiting to shriek."

"Really?" Evie's eyes widened, a flicker of her usual vivacity returning. "I thought I was past this already. I told myself at the beginning of the year, 'This is why you don't attempt friendships with strangers who haven't lived through the Isle with you.' The shop clerk must have something worthwhile to keep that tiger witch at bay, or you wouldn't be safe in the realm of Auradon from Ben's father, the Beast."

Musa blinked, a slow realization dawning. "The only other thing that represents a similar protection is the goat, but white and gray aren't my colors, Evie."

"Nor is blue," Evie insisted, a familiar spark of fashion critique igniting. "It gives you too much of a depressive aura, Musa. You look better in red or purple, not pink and blue. Blue outfits hide your blue hair with black accents, and does not bring out your violet eyes correctly." Evie extended a hand to help Musa to her feet, the offer a small comfort in the face of their unsettling revelation.

This is currently super short for suspense purposes honestly. Adventuring Through Strategic Discomfort will have the episode 11 Mia and Me Centopia story cross over. _Lumna10.