Collab Post with @DigmataCollab- Cristina and the Imperial Siblings
Cristina watches as the last of the autonomous training dummies sliced in half by Sinagtala’s new power. Fighting without her Noble Arm’s usual powers is a little jarring but one that she got a bit of experience, still she knew that it won’t be enough especially against someone like her sister but she won’t exactly improve fighting dummies she already memorized the attack patterns of.
She let out a sigh, going back to the controller and now turning up the dial to nine dummies simultaneously. This is getting boring, she hopes adding numbers and variety could spice things up, not that she had much hope. Maybe she should just get training sword and use that instead.
Audible, not too loud, not too soft, but poised footsteps echoed behind her, as Imperial Princess Fukuyo entered the room, saying, “Ms. Bernardino; fancy a spar? Mere drones won’t be enough for people like us… And I have a bone to pick with you.”
Cristina was about to press the activation button when she heard the Imperial Princess entering the room. Well she was right, after everything that happened, it will take more than drones to push her to the limits. Her having a bone to pick is a new thing, she had an idea on why though.
“Is this about your brother?” she asked as she set the cleaning drones to clean up the arena and give the princess her time to warm up.
“Don't worry, I’m not interested in him.”The Princess smiled and said, “Thank you; he’s too good for this world, and that is not entirely a compliment.”
She then drew her Noble Arm, a katana that blazed with a fiery orange glow, as though hungry to burn and grow, and said, “Let me reward you for that…”
“Not everyone will see your action as such.” Cristina spoke as she raised her Noble Arm, it is notably shorter than Fuyuko’s blade but it seems to hold up against the glow well.
“She's not telling me everything.” Cristina’s mind spoke.
”Well maybe she'll loosen up after this.”Cristina smiled as began her charge against the white haired woman, when was the last time she entered into a spar? It's been so long since the last one.
Fukuyo counter-charged, the fifteen-year-old (or was she now sixteen?) following up with a flurry of swift cuts and parries, all of which heated the air close to her; unlike Huo Ren, she seemed immune to her own fire. Every time she struck Cristina’s sword, or Cristina’s sword struck hers’, sparks flew through the room, lighting things up as the Princess reveled in the adrenaline of the fight.
She then asked, “Are you immune to heat? Genuinely wondering.”
Cristina responded through her own attacks and dodges, sometimes using her ability to blink to mix-up her position and get the initiative of the battle. She must admit though, the Imperial Princess will beat her in a straight fight.
Luckily she had other ways of fighting back.
“You just get used to it.” Cristina answered as the two of them entered a blade lock before blinking to a distance. From there she swung her blade and stars white flames were created.
“Dodge.” she spoke as they got launched to Fuyuko.
The white flames seemed to wane as the stars that held them shrank and dwindled, allowing the Princess to sidestep, parry, and then just swat them aside, before she slashed down, unleashing a vertical wave of flame at Cristina, a flame that would also hide her exhaustion from using what ability had deadened her opponent’s miniature stars.
Cristina would look at her shrinking stars as she saw that Fuyuko's Noble Arm is in play, she wasn't sure what but it seems using fire is not effective. She threw another star at the coming wave but this one instead exploded into light, blinding Fuyuko for a few moments.
In those moments, Cristina blinked at Fuyuko as her blade went for the neck. She knew this attack won't kill her, she's after all coveting the throne.
Cristina stared at the princess as a feral smile entered her face.
“Getting tired?” she asked with a little teasing.
Princess Fukuyo had yanked herself away just in time, trying to clear her eyes before responding, “I can see why people like you; you’re a dominating opponent.”
She then surrounded herself in a ring of fire, before saying, “Why don’t you attempt to blink through this?”
Then she launched another flurry of attacks; cuts and slashes that were the lead-up to a thrust!
Cristina's eyes widened as she saw the circle of fire, she could blink away outside but she needed time. Time that Fuyuko won't give, forcing the freelancer to solely rely on her swordsmanship to survive the onslaught. She managed to parry the initial attacks just fine but managed to land on her clothes.
And Fuyuko's thrust drew the first blood on her cheek.
This is good, she's a good opponent.
She wants to throw everything out.
She entered a stance, before a flash of light entered Fuyuko's eyes. When she opened it back, she saw Cristina throwing her entire body for a jumping strike. Is that a desperation tactic? Or something else?
Imperial Princess Fukuyo was no fool, and despite the personal embarrassment to her, she threw herself back, hoping that the heat of her ring of fire would be enough to slow down Cristina, even as she planned to attack with fireballs from range - She knew enough about how dangerous an opponent the freelancer was.
Enough to guess about what she was planning…
Cristina's form disappeared as materialized dangerously close to the princess, as she stretched her sword to her stomach. It doesn't matter if she saw it coming if she's fast enough.
The Imperial Princess yanked her sword down, barely parrying Cristina’s thrust as she was staggered back again, while Cristina’s clothes were engulfed by the ring of fire covering the Princess, with predictable consequences.
“I’ll purchase you new clothes later,” said the white-haired girl. “So, do you wish to continue?”
Cristina took advantage of the short stoppage to catch her breath, she really got her there.
But she can feel it, in every exchange she's getting more tired. Just a bit more and she could win.
“Are you trying to quit now?” she quipped and took off her burnt jacket and raised her blade once again. This time the blade glows white and Fuyuko's ring of fire slowly dissipates. She won't be able to blink away now but the imperial princess won't be able to use her flames as well.
“Because I know you want to see how this will end.”The final stage will be decided by pure fighting ability, just like they did at those halls back then.
Cristina charged with a blade ready to parry Fuyuko's counter and press on.
Fukuyo attempted a clean cut at Cristina’s midsection, ducking to lower her profile as she dashed towards her opponent.
Cristina easily made the parry as she saw the attack coming but that is not the only thing she did. She let the blade slide past her, allowing her to get close to the imperial princess.
And deliver a powerful punch to her liver. She was too focused on the sword to forget her hands.
Fukuyo’s ducking posture, which ensured that her stomach was scrunched in, made her liver harder to reach, but all that did was lessen the damage of Cristina’s punch as it hit.
Staggering backward, the Imperial Princess grinned as she said, “You win.”
Cristina was about to follow up the attack with a tackle when Fuyuko's forfeit snapped her back and made her stop.
“You still have the energy to continue.” Cristina is not asking, she is simply stating a fact.
”Well I do as well but I would like a serious duel someday, I really enjoyed this while it lasts.” she however acquisized before letting her body fall to the floor and lay herself down.
This fight drained a lot for both of them.
“That bone to pick of yours, how exactly did I get it? Or are you really just that protective of your brother.” she asked the Imperial Princess as she sat back to the floor, wiping the blood on her cheek.
Fukuyo sighed as she sat down, cross-legged, and said, “I don’t like easy victories; even defeats are preferable to them. And quite frankly, my brother is too… easily moved by positive emotions. By that, if he shows more than causal interest in you, I get to win easily, shunt aside my cousin, who’s next in the line of succession because he is male, but lacks a Noble Arm, and then become Empress of Japan.”
Her eyes glinted a little, as she repeated, “Again, I do not like easy victories.”
Cristina patiently waited for the end of Fukuyo’s explanation, she didn't know what to expect but it wasn't Fuyuko wanting to make things harder for herself.
In fact she doesn't believe it in a bit.
”Forcing your brother to fight you because you want a challenge? Don't you think that's a little cruel and selfish of you?” she pressed on the Imperial Princess.
Maybe she's stepping out of bounds but the necessity of manners has been gone since they clashed blades. She wouldn't exactly call herself a friend but thinks they are definitely more than acquaintances.
Princess Fukuyo’s eyes narrowed as she said, “
Shinyahito is soft, emotional, overly kind, and yet, when he has his mind set to opposing something, he is as hard as granite. His goal for opposing the revision of the Imperial Family’s succession laws is not because he is against women taking the throne, but because he believes I’d bring back the dark days - A past he is afraid of. My brother is a boy of contradictions; soft and spineless unless certain of his own correctness, and afraid that the past crimes will return if anyone but him had power. What a self-centered, yet well-meaning… If he wants a fight, I am not letting him throw it.”
Once again she listened to Fukuyo and found herself even more confused at her thought process but despite that she felt a bit of respect for these two siblings in her.
“So you wanted your brother to stand for his beliefs regardless if it's against your dreams. I can't be mad about that.” she rationalized.
“I don't know what to feel about it…”
After all, she has no dreams after getting her sister back and she doesn't know what she’ll do about it…
“Yes,” the Imperial Princess confirmed. “He does not need to be… distracted from that.”
Cristina let out a sigh. What Fuyuko means is that she better not see her wooing or being wooed by the Imperial Prince. In theory it should be easy enough to do.
In practice, they are about to have a mission together so she better prepare herself.
“I do think that your brother is cute though.” she confessed to the Imperial Princess. What is she going to do, start the round two of a spar she just won?
The response was a frown and a half-sincere, half-banter request, “Find someone else.”
“We’ll see.” She responded to Fuyuko's banter.
“If I ever find myself developing feelings for him, you’ll be the first to know.”A rare smile was the response.
______
Cristina entered the room Shin-, no his highness Shinyahito told her to get in for her mission brief with a neutral expression on her face. She supposed she could just blink her way and jumpscare the prince but that might possibly be too much even for him.
Wait, is she supposed to call him his highness or his excellency. She wasn't really sure and there's the part where she's not really a follower of whatever throne the siblings are fighting over.
You know what screw it, she’ll just act as she wants until she is instructed to do otherwise.
The freelancer opened the door and entered.
“You summoned me, your highness?” Cristina spoke with a small bow before the prince.
Crown Prince Shinyahito could not hide his smile at seeing Cristina, but he could nod in acknowledgment as he stood on the head of the small Molave wood table, once used by Trinidad Academy’s Student Council. He then said, “So, it seems the others haven’t arrived yet. Very well, I’ll give the latest news first - Admiral Yi Yeol has sunk the Russian and North Korean fleet to the bottom of the sea; the South Korean and Japanese Fleets will be heading south to reinforce us and the United States Navy soon.”
He then mused, “Even then, we’re going to need you and the others who volunteered for the navy mission; to be honest, I won’t lie - We need teamwork to bring down the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Aircraft Carriers. But…” he prepared to admit something, “There’s something else - No, it’s not what you’re thinking. No, it’s something your old friend,
Cornelio Malong, told me just a while ago - The various warlords composing the rival ‘Continuation Government of the Philippines’ have gathered in Davao and Lubao, where they are gearing up for a counteroffensive against us backed by Chinese weapons. The ones in Lubao led by Flores Pagkanta Corriente have been deliberately driving refugees to the National Capital Region, where Manila resides, to use up our remaining supplies.”
Looking at her, Crown Prince Shinyahito spoke, “We need to deal with the problem she poses, but we also need to feed the refugees…”
Cristina looked at his Shinyahito as he gave the brief, so could be a professional. She'll give him this one in his favor.
Her eyes perked up when he mentioned the new warlords, their heads fetched for a high price one he couldn't avail due to her being part of the Military. Not like she cared for it.
“And what will you do about it? As a freelancer I am not paid to say my ideas.” she spoke to the prince.
“Unless you want to order an assassination, it's been a long time since I took one. Got my most intense missions from there.” she recalled.
Duels in her Imaginary Space to the death.
The feeling of your enemy clinging onto life in an attempt to ensure she dies first.
The sound of your heart beating as you try to be the last one standing. Missions like these are the best for her unfortunately she cannot show her excitement before the Prince.
“Regardless, it is the fastest way I can see to solve the problem.”
Crown Prince Shinyahito pondered the temptation for a moment, then said, “It’s bad optics; if I order their assassinations, it’s going to look like Japanese interference in Philippine affairs. Instead, I was going to ask you if you want to distribute Rice with me to a refugee camp… but we can select one suspiciously close to Lubao, where Flores Pagkanta Corriente is still lurking?”
“Who said about you ordering me to perform an assassination?” Cristina asked with a raised eyebrow to the prince. “I'm pretty sure the government won't mind if you simply suggested the idea right?” the mercenary asked the prince with a shrug. “...but if you need to consider how you look, your image as a benevolent heir would be crucial if you want to fight your sister.”
Silence permeated the two teens who might be doing too much for their age before Cristina spoke once again.
“Are you sure you want me to be there, you must have an idea about my reputation.” Cristina asked the prince.
Despite being legally safe from the consequences of her ‘friendly fire’, her image get a little infamous as a bloody heartless mercenary hired by Obsidian.
“It might harm your fight with your sister.”
8
Shinyahito arched an eyebrow, then said, “I care that you’re intelligent and competent. As it is, I heard about the incident; it was a matter of bad timing and it’s no one’s fault… which is terrifying. But you’re still here, aren’t you? Because you want to keep fighting.”
He sighed, then added, “Besides, distributing rice might be good optics for you too, if that’s the case…”
“And what if I told you that it wasn't out of the kindness of my heart? If I told you that I’m only going to get my sister back or die trying, would you still want me by your side?” Cristina spoke as her averts from Shinya’s gaze.
“If I told you that I will burn this world with you in it if it means she gets a better life, what will you do?” she asked the Prince while one of 7her hands was in her pocket.
“Yes to the first two questions,” the Crown Prince said without hesitation. “As for the last one… I’ll fight if it comes to that.
If.”
His eyes glinted, showing steel and anger behind his gaze, “When every option is exhausted, I’ll fight, even if it means going against you. But it is not that day yet and I will keep working to avert that day. Until then… Let’s work together.”
Cristina felt stunned by the Prince’s answer, she expected him to be stunned and a little hesitant. Or veer on one side stupidly.
“Your sister is right, you are indeed a naive stubborn headed idealist.” she spoke as reveals the item in her pocket.
The burner given to her during the peace talks, an escape to everything given to her by that pirate.
“But it wasn't a bad thing.” she spoke as she crushed and burned the thing in a fireball.
She then stared at Shinya with a smile on her face. “I look forward to working with you, your highness.” she spoke to him.
She wasn't convinced that her and her sister's story will have a happy ending.
But perhaps she could guide the siblings to what she would get.
Shinyahito returned her smile and said, “So, want to give out food together?”
“Sure.” the girl spoke to the prince. “Just don't be surprised if something went wrong, I just have a record of being unlucky...”
END 
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