Scene #2173: Aurora vs. Serafina

Owner	Pose
Fassad	As he walks into the arena, Fassad is washed over with nostalgia. He remembers his first time entering this arena, last year. The beginning of his connection with his Shinki, Serafina. Since then, the two have been fairly inseperable. She has been a constant companion on his journies. And, he is excited to be here again. Last year, Serafina managed to make it to the finals. He hopes that this year, she might become champion. And yet, he knows already: The competition will be tougher than ever. He waves to the audience, relishing in the cheers, even if they are mostly for his Olbern. Serafina stands on his shoulder, already wearing her armor. In her right hand, she holds a single rose, lifting it high. This is something Fassad taught her: How to act for a crowd. The Olbern lifts the rose up in one hand, and then throws it to a random spot in the audience. Aiming towards some children who are watching. Yes, appealing to the kids is a great way to be popular. Serafina knows this well! And, as Fassad stops outside the battlefield, Serafina leaps off of his shoulder. She lands in the arena, waving to the audience. Smiling. Unlike most Olberns, she is a bit less serious and childlike. She skips into the arena, smiling, shouting to the crowd as loud as her little vocal unit will let her. "Hey everyone! Listen! I'm Lady Serafina Christina Spryte Ari-Arcadia, the Third! And I'm going to go as far as I can this year, too!"
Aurora	Aurora slowly floats into the Arena, her Master is in the crowds, watching, that bright smile slowly coming to the Arnval's face She's nervous, she's not really a tournament fighter, she's not much of a fighter period. She'd rather win wars with words than with weapons. But, she entered this to prove something to her Master, to prove that her Master made the best choice and thus her resolve is steeled and she waves to the crowd, a bright smile back upon the purple angel's face. She lets out a small cheer and bows to the crowd present, the cheers spurring her on, some of them, no doubt are from her Master. "Thank you for your cheerful ways, everyone! I'm a first time here but I will not let that hold me back! I do hope you'll be rooting for me as I try to move on!" she starts, the slipway flash bringing the rest of her gear into play, holding both of her red-tinged swords. A great sword in one hand and a smaller sword in the other. With a look towards the Olbern, she gulps. A fencer. "MIss Serafina, I know we had our differences on the broadband but let's have a good dance, shall we? I do not wish to keep the crowd waiting in awe of two beautiful Shinki just standing here."
Fassad	The arena appears. A shinki-scaled recreation of the famous Roman Coliseum, save that this one is fully intact. An enormous sand-floored battleground surrounded by stone walls and a vast array of seating. Great canvas awnings shade the audience from the harsh sun overhead. As battles unfold, the floor of the arena is configured to change itself, raising pillars and stone blocks or opening pits in the sandy arena floor. And then. The countdown begins. ...3... ...2... ...1... RIDE ON The very moment the timer begins, the Olbern moves forward. A smile remains on her face. This, of course, is something Fassad taught her. The more heroic and dashing one is, the stronger. As she dashes across the arena, hovering just across the ground? She lifts up the buckler in her left arm for protection. In her right, her fencing sword is lifted up. Her hair flows behind her, and a trail of light from her jets traces her movements. "HAVE AT THEE!" Serafina shouts this dramatically, though it doesn't quite fit with her cute, high pitched voice. She starts off strong: Her sword is pulled back, and then, she flings it forward. She lets off the power on one jet, causing her to spin in a controlled manner. This wide spin stops after just one circle. With luck, she'll have cut Aurora across her chest straight from the get go. And, through it all, Serafina keeps the smile on her face. She lands on one foot, her jets still active to help her maintain balance as she already prepares for the inevitable counter attack.
Aurora	Aurora gives a shocked look on her face as the speed of that Olbern is quite high. As soon as that timer starts she's off! Aurora moves to bring her swords up tightly to her but the fencing sword kisses its mark, making a good slash upon the purple Shinki's chest, sparks flying from the impact that sends Aurora stumbling backwards a few steps from the force. It may have been a slice but it still had some power behind it. Aurora shakes her head and stablizes herself as she gets into her own attack stance. One sword high, the larger one. One sword low, the smaller one. "No response. So be it." she scowls lightly, her own jet powered armor launching her straight towards the Olbern, both swords at the ready. "En garde!" she shouts, eyes scanning the field... sand, pillars... she can use this to her advantage. "You might be fast but I don't think that buckler can do much..." she comments, almost copying the move Serafina did, though twisting horizontal so the spin heads vertical, bringing the larger sword down to bear upon the Olbern if her aim's right.
Fassad	Serafina finally repsonds. It only actually hit her a bit after the battle begins that Aurora even /said/ anything to her. Yes, she was far too caught up in the cheering and the fans. There is a bit of an awkward look on her face, as she tries to salvage the fact that she didn't respond. Serafina lifts her buckler to block, but is a bit too slow to respond. Aurora, a bit to fast. She's hit across the torso, and puts her jets into reverse to gain some distance again, before immediately springing forward again. Finally with her composure regained, she speaks, "Sorry that I didn't say somethign in response! But, I wanted to get right to the battle! Besides, the little bit of arguing we had before was a good thing! It clearly established that you're the villain in this narrative, due to being a shinki to a vampire! And I'm in the Union, so!" Yes, this is really how Fassad and Serafina think. But as she dashes in this time, her shield leads again. Except, this time, it's going in for a bash as opposed for being used as protection. Aiming right for the face. "ALSO BUCKLERS ARE AWESOME WEAPONS!" Yes, she gets way too heated sometimes.
Aurora	Aurora gives a sigh, "You're stuck up on that thing, aren't you?" she readies a defensive stance only to get smashed in the face with the buckler, prediction software seems to be on the fritz today. The impact sends her back a bit, tumbling with her swords dissapearing into the slipway and six attack drones shoot out from the jet armor, encircling the Tempesta with the red tips pointed directly at the Olbern. "That's kind of low, to base someone's class off their Master. But, if we wish to be vain and only see the surface, then that's okay... you ugly Shinki." She gives a light smile, the drones red tips slowly glow as they all start to spin around the Tempesta, Aurora slowly floating into the air with the tips still trained on Serafina. "See, what you don't know is Master treats me very well and treats even Union well too. But here, it doesn't matter Union or Confederacy, only Shinki to Shinki. None of this war should even apply here! But you wish to bring it with you like lead baggage on a one way trip to redemption-ville." She thrusts out her hand, pointing directly at the Olbern, "FIRE!"
Fassad	As Aurora talks, Serafina simply gets /mad./ She's huffing quite a bit, and puffing up her cheeks. She wildy waves her sword up at Aurora, obviously pissed. Especially at the whole 'ugly' part. As Aurora floats, Serafina starts to fly after. Angry. "TAKE BACK THE UGLY REMARK! AND THE OTHER MEAN THINGS YOU SAID!" And then she is blasted by multiple lasers at once. Her body gets scorched as they hit, dead on. Still, though. She's enraged. She must keep pressing forward! Even despite the attacks, she's still moving in. And attempting to backhand Aurora across the face, as opposed to actually using her weapon. For some reason. Fassad, watching this form the sidelines? He's facepalming just briefly, though trying to maintain compsure. He'll have to remind Serafina that she needs to remain calm at all times after the battle is over.
Aurora	The lasers keep up their assault, floating all around her as she flies backwards to try to keep her distance from the now enraged Shinki. Maybe this will cause her to make some mistakes. She give a light smile, only to have it wiped off her face with the crude, but effective, backhand. Floating there in a stunned look, the lasers focus once more, pointing to the Olbern in a way that the next shot would be a focused laser and defensive laser shield. "I knew it, you're crude and ugly. I think your Master needs to program some sensibilities into you." Aurora comments, only to back off a bit more, the flash of the slipway produces her high energy beam rifle in all its glorious purple. Targeting reticles line up in her eyes, focusing upon the Olbern's sword arm. "I wish you didn't have to make that reference to the small scuffle on the broadband, but, alas, you wish to fight with dirty tactics, I'll be forced to deal with you in a proper way." click, the lasers fire. A large purple beam from the gun and a focused set of beams from the ring of drones around her all come racing towards the Olbern. "I'm only just getting started."
Fassad	Though Olbern's arm is hit, she manages to keep a grip on her blade. And what's more, she keeps trying to chase after the Tempesta. She's not slowing down at all. If anything, this is simply just getting her more mad. Of course, getting reckless isn't necessary a good thing. But, as the comments about her being ugly continue, and dirty tactics? She tries to regain composure again, while continuing her attack. Though Shinki don't really need to breath, she mimics the action she's seen of taking a deep breath. She continues her flying rush after Aurora, only to keep going past her instead. Her blade, cutting as she does so. A wide slash, aimed at Aurora's center and side. "Heey! Listen! I'm getting worked up, and it's just your fault! But, no. I am not ugly nor crude! I am Lady Serafina! The shinki chosen to follow along with Prince Fassad! The assistant to the hero of the land! You simply made me lose my cool!" Once past Aurora, she turns to face her. Posing dramatically, with her sword lifted to the sky. Doing her best to be heroic and shining. Which honestly isn't that hard, considering she is an Olbern.
Aurora	The laser fire abates a bit as she keeps an eye on the Olbern, though, ending the laser fire without a good plan on what to do next allows that blade to cut deep, sparks flashing from the blade's impact, leaving a good gash where it was cutting into. "You're not a lady if you have to resort to a backhand to get your way!" she retorts, clutching at her side as she turns around to face the Olbern. "Stop trying to ham up your supposed nobility. It does no good on the battlefield." The slipway flashes once more, bringing just the greatsword back into view, held in both hands. The thrusters upon the jet fire up and launch the Arnval in a purple blaze towards the Olbern, a stoic look upon Aurora's face, "Be humble, accept some truths... for that, you'll be nobler than even kings and queens." she flips the blade, sharp side up as she makes a swinging uppercut with the sword, not aiming anywhere in particular, she's just hoping to catch something with it, "LIke myself." "Perhaps, you may come to understanding after the tournament though..."
Fassad	As the blade swings up, it strikes against Serafina's legs. She jets back immediatley, trying to put some distance between that massive blade and herself. Arnval Mk II... Can an Olbern really stand a chance against such? She glares at Aurora, before her face becomes calm again. "...Yeah. Being humble is important. But. This is a battle tournament. It's almost /all/ about style. The crowds are cheering, the people are excited. The willpower of the audience wants me to win! Feeling strong makes me more likely to win! Last year, I made it to the finals! I'm a hero to these people. And I get strength from that!" At the very least, she does seem to be relishing in the cheers from the audience, even if they aren't for her. And yes, she was a finalist last year. She strives to win this year. She can't give up now! She speeds forward, her sword leading. While it isn't a match for Aurora's in size, this Olbern has some ideas of how to fight against larger opponents and larger weapons. As her blade comes in, she puts her full force behind it. Pushing against Aurora's own greatsword. And then, she pulls back her left hand. Again, her buckler moves in, aiming for a bashing attack straight to the head, immediately followed by a second shield bash to the torso. "ALSO MY MASTER IS ONE OF THE BEST SWORDSMEN IN THE MULTIVERSE! You can't beat me when it comes to sword play!"
Aurora	Aurora's sent reeling from the double bashing from that buckler. She has to get rid of that thing somehow or maybe that sword. She backs up slightly, puttering away as her armor is dented from the blows as the greatsword dissapears, moving to her lighter blade. "I've come equipped with more than just that, Serafina. Shall we take this further?" The arena starts to change a bit, pillars bursting up from the ground with loud explosions as Aurora moves to handle the lighter blade in a odd fashion. "Shall we see how you deal with this?" with a flick of her wrist, she sends that sword flying at the Olbern, only to switch up and grab her beam rifle from the slipway again. A flick of a switch and a press of the trigger.... The beam rifle starts spitting out short bursts of large purple lasers, a spray and pray tactic if one would will. Keep the Olbern at range and perhaps things may go from worse to good. The sword? Really a distraction.
Fassad	As the sword comes in, Serafina lifts her shield, blocking it. Her entire attitude is still cocky. And then the beam rifle appears. AS the repeated bursts start flying out, Serafina finds herself in a poor position to defend, having had focused entirely on blocking the sword. And so, shot after shot strikes her, scortching parts of her body. She is forced back to prevent it from flat out runing her, moving to hide behind one of the rising and falling pillars, to take coverage. This is one of the main disadvantages of the Olbern models: They are primarily melee. And so, she will have to be clever. She starts bursting forward further, moving in time with the pillars. They're random, but she can still spot them as they start to rise up. And, as she gets closer, she makes a fast slash to one of them, at just the right angle, hopefully. It begins to slide off of its base, falling towards Aurora. And Serafina doesn't slow down. She moves in with the pillar as cover. Flying in from above, she jets downward, trying to stab Aurora from above. "A SWORD AND SHIELD ARE ALL ONE NEEDS TO FIGHT!" She actually really wishes she had a ranged weapon.
Aurora	Aurora's eyes close, her sensors trying to pick up the olbern admist the rising and falling of the pillars that plague her screen. "I know you're there..." she whispers, "Come on and play..." her voice gets louder... "you UGLY SHINKI!" she shouts. Her sensors blare, incoming, twelve o'clock! Her thrusters kick in and the sword grazes her chest wall again, sparking and leaving a crude mark on it while being far enough away to avoid the pillar crashing down upon the area. "Versatility on the battlefield is what one needs! Be it words, swords or guns!" she retorts, that gun going back on full auto as it leaves more purple beams in its wake! "I don't care on if you win or lose this, I care if you learn!" Some of the shots do hit some of the pillars around, bringing them crashing around in an attempt to get the Olbern to make a mistake.. trying to hit her either way with environ or energy.
Fassad	The continued rifle assault is throwing Serafina off, especially as pillars continue to fall around her. For each blast she dodges, another strikes her dead on. She tries to curcle aroudn Aurora. The comments about her being an ugly shinki... Yeah. That's still getting to her. Serafina thinks. What can she do? What would her master do in this situation? She thinks back. So many times she has watched Fassad practice training. And his words come to her. 'Sometimes, in battle, there is nothing you can really do, except keep moving forward. Calmly, and with a smile on your face.' And remembering this is all Serafina needs to keep going. She dashes in, her shield up. She tries to block any continued rifle attack. He face smiles. No longer will she verbally joust with her opponent. That hasn't been going well anyways. Instead, she just makes a disarming smile. As she keeps going at full speed, her shield remains at front. And, again, she goes in for a bash with it. Aiming for the torso. Aiming to push Aurora into one of the nearby pillars as it rises up.
Aurora	The laserfire stops, the smoke along the field interrupting her 'aiming' though when the Olbern comes after her, that smile does unnerve her, her guard coming down at just the wrong time, the full speed slam connecting and only stopping when she's smashed into that pillar, the sparks from her jet pack emit and the engines start to sputter, sending the girl downwards slowly. Aurora winces a bit, not used to such stunning attacks, but now the girl is close and in her own range. Well, when in Rome. Aurora winds up her fist and sends it directly at the Olbern's face, because she got hit too!
Fassad	The fist strikes Serafina in the face. Yeah, that's fair. Normally she'd complain that her pretty face is being hurt, but she did the same to Aurora. Instead, Serafina just backs up. Still smiling. No matter what, she has at least been doing her best through this whole fight. She at least has that. Her sword out, she gathers power in her jets. All energy is being pushed to the jets. And, she bursts forwards. One jet lets off, and she begins another spinning slash. Her sword held by both hands. She shouts out, screaming out a kiai with each spin, with each hopeful hit. But, as it stops, she is left winded. Floating in the air. She, quite literally, put everything she had into that attack. If it didn't work? Nothing else will.
Aurora	Aurora's panting, despite the lack of needing to breathe. This fight's been going on a while and she's needing to end it, that Olbern could quickly end the fight if Aurora couldn't. "Good wins against evil, yes?" she quips, only to pull her swords out of slipway once more, the girl having a bright smile upon her face. "A wonderful fight..." she quips once more, only for the spinning slash to cut deeply into the Shinki, what could be considered jelly starts dripping out at a steady pace and once more the impact of the sword does slam her against the wall again, a harder impact that sends the pillar going down. "My Master may be... a Vampire. She may work for the Confederacy... but she's humble.. .honest... and frankly, does more good than I think you'll ever see!" she shouts, the sparks of her jetpack ignite once more, the purple blaze surrounding her as she makes one last movement. "Ariah! This is for you!" she quickkly brings up both blades flat ends and flies straight towards the Olbern at high speed, wanting to slam the hard blades right into the Shinki!
Fassad	As the blades come in, Serafina pauses. Looking at it. She smiles still, but her face looks sad. A single thought goes through her head: 'Sorry, Master.' And, the moment it strikes, Serafina falls. Out of energy. The battle, lost. And Serafina crying a bit, though hiding it. And, as the arena's visualizer vanishes, Fassad walks in immediately. reaching down, he picks up Serafina, and pats her on the head, smiling. "You did a good job, Serafina. A fine job." He speaks softly, trying to comfort her.
Aurora	Aurora floats down as the visualizer vanishes and the damage dissapears. She looks towards Serafina's master and gives a polite bow, "She fought very well." she comments, "I enjoyed it, please, do take good care of her and perhaps get her a ranged weapon, sir. She could use the versatility."