The Original Chronicles of the Nightshade

The Return of Victor the Great

The first thing that went through her head was the shock that she was actually about to have her first public super battle. Not some back alley squabble that ended with a melodramatic moment of shattered ego. Payne Tower and the surrounding buildings were slick with rainwater, the clouds waiting with bated breath. The streets were already being cleared and blocked off, leaving two cars and a 18-wheeler to their disposal. The ground forces were evacuating what little people were still in the buildings, and making plenty of space. This was her against him on the battleground of Tsunami Bay. There will be smashed buildings, property damage, a clean up crew. Things she use to avoid had now her reality.

She couldn't help but smile, masking her tense muscles. "Hey, Vic! How's the face?"

He sneered, tightening his mask around his face. "I'll heal."

"I don't know, man." Nightshade swallowed. "It's been a long time and you're still wearing a mask. The ladies are gonna start wondering--"

"Listen here, punk!" Victor snapped, his voice carried in the wind and into her ears. "Listen well. This is where you stop. This is where you will end. There will be no grand battle. No mourning for your incarceration. It will be a swift judgement by my hand."

Are you going to run? Nightshade's smile disappeared as she felt herself prepare to do so. I've run all of my life. But this time. She thought about every moment that brought her to this point, and she dug her feet into the ground, scales ripping shut as she balled up her fists. "Bring it on, pretty boy!"

His feet floated off the ground and there was a loud boom! As he flew himself toward her, fists prepared to exact his self-righteous crusade. She waited staring him down, as her flight tried to take her away from here. I stand up to him. I'm sick of the running. I'm ready to fight.

She leaped over his gliding body, watching it scream below her, close enough to touch, drowning her nose in his vanilla stench. When she imagined her first fight, she thought about all the things that would make it happen. Belle made it sound like super battles were a violent gesture of ideals and beliefs being stroked on a city canvas, struggling for what was right and wrong. She thought her first fight was going to be about ideals, not a one-on-one grudge match with a hero for a pension for pride.

Landing on her feet, she inhaled the asphalt destroyed by Victor's fists. "Come on, Vic, I thought you were fast."

He floated up again, looping around with another punch, but she jumped again, higher as she twirled around a light pole and perched on its top.

Victor whipped around and Nightshade saw his face turn red. "Give back what belongs to me."

"Oh, you mean this?" She dangled the Medal of Valor in the air, and watched it swing in the air. The clouds didn't make it glimmer as the dull reflection taunted the great hero.

Victor launched himself towards her again, this time, jutting out his arms to his side. Nightshade exhaled as she jumped backwards from his next attack, tumbling back to the ground. She nearly didn't move out the way before a fist slammed into the sidewalk Nightshade let her finger relax before she released her claws and dug into the side of a building, the brick dropping chunks of itself toward the ground.

"You've been busy." Victor called, shooting up into the air.

"Girl's gotta eat," she winked.

Victor frowned, blinking at her, before haphazardly launching himself towards her again.

She dropped down and watched him stop short of smashing into the building, the force of his touch shattering the side of the wall. Nightshade couldn't help but swallow as he glowered down at her. She could feel his anger swell and she could hear Belle's voice coaching her. Use that anger. Manipulate it to your advantage. Right now, you are in control.