The Rostical Users - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Wendy: *She suddenly appeared in front of Ashton with an evil-like smirk.* "If you have enough time to say what's happening, then you must be powerful."

  Ashton: "U-Unacceptable-" *He raised the log in front of his face in a defensive manner.*

  Wendy: *She raised her hand and sliced it downwards, cutting the log in half.* "Harh!"

  Alicia: *The sounds of the timber cracking, caused her to close her eyes in shock.* (Th-This is scary, I-I don't want to fight-)

  Ashton: *He stumbled back, staring at the small pieces of log in each hand.* "H-How-?"

  Wendy: *She jumped forward, ignoring the splinters of wood and smirked.* "You act like a leader-"

  Ashton: "You don't need to be a leader to know this is not acceptable!-"

  Wendy: *She spun around, causing a ring of sparks to light up her armour.* "Harh!"

  Ashton: *He leant back to regain his balance and instantly noticed the large bow in Wendy's hand.* "Oh no-"

  Wendy: "Harh!" *She fired three arrows into Ashton's chest, causing him to gasp.*

  Alicia: "A-Ashton!" *She stepped forward, slowly overcoming her fear.*

  Ashton: *He buckled at the knees and leant forward.* (Stay on your feet, Ashton!)

  Wendy: "You're not going down?" *She slightly lowered the bow in curiosity.*

  Ashton: *He dropped the logs and looked down at the arrows.* "I-I won't ever give up, i-if my friends are in trouble."

  Wendy: "You take my Neuron boosted projectiles in a weak spot, you defend the weaker one, you tell me what's wrong. They say, if you act like a leader, look like a leader, usually, they are a leader."

  Ashton: *His vision started to blur, causing him to unintentionally ignore her.* "Alicia, run-"

  Wendy: ""Since you're captain levelled, Ougi."

  Ashton: "Oh gee?"

  Wendy: *She raised the bow and pulled the string back.* "Fletcher's Enfilade." *She shot a stream of bright fluoro green sand into the air.*

  Alicia: "H-Huh?" *She looked up and watched the green sand sparkle in the air.*

  Ashton: "What did you say? I didn't hear-"

  Wendy: "Strike!" *Her words caused the sand to burst and scatter above Ashton.* (This technique isn't completed, I was recently taught it by Zephyr.)

  *A string of sand suddenly blasted down and hit Ashton in the stomach.*

  Ashton: "Argh-" *He coughed and leant forward, ignoring the ring of sand in front of him.* (S-Sand? It felt like stone-)

  *Eight more strings blasted down towards Ashton, knocking him off his feet.*

  Alicia: "A-Ashton!"

  Wendy: (If this technique was completed, it would've had the power to pierce through his body.) *She discreetly flicked the string on her bow, causing the entire sand to blast down.*

  Ashton: *He looked up and an eruption of sand blasted him into Surpreon's outer barrier.* "Argh-" *He coughed out strings of saliva, as a dark dirt cloud enveloped him.*

  Wendy: "Now, hostage." *She spoke in a positive tone, facing Alicia.*

  Alicia: *She slowly looked to her side and watched rocks rain around the dirt cloud.* (A-Ashton-)

  Wendy: *She walked towards Alicia with a satisfied smile.* "You're coming with me, girl."

  Alicia: "N-No." *She took several steps back, raising her hands.* "I-I don't want to hurt you."

  Ashton: *He crawled out of the dirt cloud, as blood ran down his mouth.* (Tssk, I'm absolutely useless.)

  Wendy: "No?" *She stopped and thought to herself.*

  Alicia: (H-How dare she do that to Ashton.) *She thought to herself in fear and anger.*

  Wendy: (Who cares, I'll just kill her as a warning.) "Yes a warning, bwaha."

  Alicia: *She stood in a battle-ready pose and took deep breaths.* "Icy swirls call down upon me, frigid skies grant me power, ICICLE EDGE"

  Wendy: *She looked up and noticed the ice spears materialising in the air.* "W-Water?!"

  Alicia: *She looked down to her glowing pendant, sighing with sadness.* (Does this come with adventuring? Is it possible to avoid this?)

  Wendy: "No!" *She screamed with fear, recalling the incident with Season earlier that day.*

  *An ice shard blasted down and jabbed into the ground in front of Wendy.*

  Wendy: *She stared at the ice, causing her to tremble.* "N-No-" *Several ice shards blasted down, stabbing her in the arm.*

  Alicia: (Ashton's right-) *A tear ran down her cheek, before falling forward to the ground.* (Violence is unacceptable.)

  Wendy: *She screamed in fear, dropping the bow.* "I'm a captain! I've always completed my missions, Kath, help me-?!"

  *Four of Season's guards rushed out from the entrance of Gasher Hills.*

  Wendy: "I-I-" *Two ice shards pierced into her legs, immobilising her.*

  Guard: "It's Wendy! Quick! Strike her down now!" *A nearby guard threw him a large axe, causing him to jump high into the air.*

  Wendy: *She slowly looked up and noticed the guard directly in front of her face.* "Wha-?"

  Guard: *He firmly held the axe with two hands and sliced downwards, heavily landing on the ground.* "..." *He stood up straight and stepped back.*

  Wendy: *She stared at the axe dripping with blood, which caused her to stare at the guards with anger filled eyes.* "Y-You."

  Ashton: *He lay on the ground, twitching to stay conscious.* (W-What's going on?) *He coughed out dirt and fell unconscious.*

  Wendy: "G-Gah." *The ice around her shattered and sparkled in the moon's light, causing her to fall to the ground.* (I'm, I'm free.)

  Guard: *He shook the blood off the axe and noticed Ashton and Alicia unconscious.* "You two! Take her, and take him! Report to me at Season's hall immediately!"

  Guard A: "Sir!"

  Guard B: "Understood!"

  ----------

  Guard: *He ran into Season's throne room covered in sweat.* "S-Sir." *He panted with exhaustion, kneeling down on one knee.*

  Season: *He noticed the guard's condition, causing him to stand up from his chair.* "What happened?"

  Guard: "I was doing an overnight patrol to ensure everything was in order."

  Season: "Yes?" *He impatiently tapped his feet, wanting to know what happened.*

  Guard: "We were heading back to Surpreon, when we found those two."

  Season: "Those two? Who?"

  Guard: "The two that were here earlier, that helped fight that Scoldrant in Gasher Hills."

  Season: "How or why were they unconscious?!"

  Guard: "There was Wendy, ice everywhere, an aftermath of a battle."

  Season: "Calm yourself!"

  Guard: "S-Sir!" *He lowered his head and took a deep breath.*

  Season: "So you're saying that Alicia-"

  Guard: "Who? Sorry, sir?"

  Season: *He sighed due to impatience.* "The girl with the ice elemental affinity, did she defeat yet another captain?"

  Guard: "That would seem to be the case but-" *He paused, nervously sighing.* "Wendy looked off I'm not sure how to explain it, even just from her appear-"

  Season: "That would be all. Dismissed."

  Guard: "Sir!" *He sounded slightly surprised, kneeling back onto his feet.*

  Season: *He watched the guard walk backwards with his head lowered in respect.* (The same captain from before, what are the Consultants planning?)

  ----------

  *Ashton and Alicia lay in single beds next to each other, with people swarming in and out of the room.*

  Medic: *He waved glowing stones over Alicia and Ashton.* "She's stabilising faster than him." *He mumbled to himself in thought, before rushing back out of the room.*

  ----------

  *A nurse walked outside the Inn catching Teresa's attention.*

  Teresa: "Is it plausible for us to be present whilst they recover?"

  Lance: *He stood behind Teresa, yawning in a drowsy-like state.* "..."

  Nurse: "Yes, don't be too loud though, there are others sleeping." *She opened the door, causing Teresa and Lance to walk in.*

 
Teresa: "You have no need to worry about me." (But I believe Lance will cause a pointless scene.)

  Lance: "'Bout time, gah, I can't believe it."

  Teresa: "Hmm?"

  Lance: "Some bitch kicked me out of the Inn while I was effin' sleepin'." *He walked into the quiet, low lit corridors of the Inn.*

  Teresa: (Despite being said in front of him numerous times, he still has no idea the cause of this.) *She led Lance to a door, opening it.* "Here they are."

  Lance: "Who wat are?" *He followed Teresa into the room, rubbing his eyes with frustration.*

  Teresa: "Who else? You have not asked of them."

  Lance: *He looked at Teresa in confusion, before noticing Ashton and Alicia in the beds.* (Wha-?!)

  Nurse: *She walked over to the bed and turned off a can-like device, which emitted a high pitch sound.* "..." *She silently picked up the surrounding Rosterology items and left the room.*

  Lance: *His eyes widened, rushing over to Ashton's bedside.* "W-Wat happened?!"

  Ashton: *He slowly opened his eyes, noticing Lance.* "Hey-"

  Lance: "Don't hey me Ash you hideous shit fart, what happened?!"

  Ashton: *He chuckled at Lance and sighed.* "We were attacked-"

  Lance: "No shit, how?"

  Ashton: "You know, by unacceptable violence-"

  Lance: *He grabbed Ashton by the scruff of his shirt and frowned with anger.* "Don't bullshit me, who did this to you?"

  Ashton: "It was Wendy. She came out of nowhere."

  Lance: "W-Wendy." *He looked up and grunted in anger.*

  Teresa: "Wendy has now been eliminated."

  Lance: "Defeated? Pssht wateva." *He released Ashton and looked away.* "I didn't care anyways."

  Alicia: "I-I've killed another person." *She whispered to herself, regaining consciousness.*

  Ashton: *He grabbed the sheets causing them to wrinkle.* (In that confrontation, I was useless, I was unacceptable! I am nothing to this team!)

  Lance: *He turned away and sighed.* (I had no idea my best friend was getting hurt!)

  Ashton: *He looked up to the ceiling and discreetly frowned.* (How can I trot around saying I protect people, if I can't even protect one person-?!)

  Lance: "Oi, Ash, be careful next time." *He mumbled, catching Ashton's attention.*

  Ashton: "Okay."

  Lance: "H-How hurt are ya?"

  Teresa: "From a quick observation, Season has used a highly advanced Rosterology item."

  Lance: "Huh?"

  Teresa: "It has healed their wounds significantly. Despite knowing this, how are you both feeling?"

  Ashton: "Not too good." *He mumbled, keeping a brave face.*

  Alicia: "I'm a murderer."

  Lance: "Murderer? Aye?" *He looked at Alicia, before sitting on the edge of her bed.*

  Alicia: *She made eye contact with Lance, causing her to quickly look away.* "Th-Those are the facts, I killed another person and there's nothing you can say to change my mind."

  Lance: "Well-"

  Alicia: "S-So, just go away."

  Lance: "Nah ya not, you dumb cow."

  Alicia: "I-I'm not a what?" *She mumbled with uncertainty, glancing at Lance.*

  Lance: "Ya not a murderer."

  Alicia: "L-Lance?" *She stared at Lance filled with confusion.*

  Lance: "I haven't spent a lot of time with ya, but I know two things."

  Teresa: (I am confused? Alicia and Ashton encounter an enemy, and now the entire party acts different?)

  Lance: "One, is that you ain't a murderer, and two, if it wasn't for you, Ashton may not have survived."

  Nurse: *She quickly walked into the room, reading sheets of paper.* "Sorry to interrupt, but you two need to leave now." *She glanced at Teresa and Lance, before inspecting the equipment around the room.*

  Alicia: (Lance, have I been wrong about you-?)

  Lance: "But despite those facts, your face still annoys me, your breath sometimes stinks, pretty sure I catch ya fartin' and-"

  Alicia: (Why do you say such-) "J-Just, go away."

  Lance: *He pushed himself off the bed and faced the door.* "I'm really glad you aren't hurt, Ash, oh, and fugly wugly cruncha." *He tilted his head to Alicia, violently picking his nose.*

  Alicia: "Eww-"

  Lance: "Don't tell me what to do." *He chuckled and walked out of the room, causing the hallway to creak with every step.*

  Teresa: *She looked at the nurse, preparing herself to leave.* "I will see you both at a better hour-"

  Ashton: "T-Teresa-" *He looked up to her, as if he wanted to say something.*

  Teresa: "Hoh?" *She walked up to him and leant down.* "What appears to be the problem, Ashton?"

  Ashton: (Despite the possibility of involving myself in something that's completely unacceptable, I believe, this may be for the best.) *He started to whisper in Teresa's ear, causing her to nod her head.*

  Teresa: (Like I said to Season, I was intending to see her shortly-) "Of course, I know someone in The Great High Plains that may be able to help you."

  Ashton: "Are you serious? Th-Thank you, I really appreciate it." *He smiled with appreciation, resting his head on the pillow.*

  Teresa: *She stood up and walked past the nurse.* "When will they be ready to leave?"

  Nurse: "They should be fine at noon."

  Teresa: "I see." *She walked out of the room and down the corridor.* (The thought of how PKMY will react to another visitor intrigues me.) *She opened the door to her room, deep thought.*

  ----------

  *Ashton ran down a dark stone corridor, causing his footsteps to echo several times.*

  Ashton: "Lance, everyone, quickly!"

  Lance: "I can't, the captain is too fast." *He ran behind Ashton, awkwardly breathing though his mouth.*

  Ashton: "Don't give up, Alicia, Teresa please hurry!"

  Alicia: *She ran holding one of her shoulders, as blood poured down her arm.* "It hurts!"

  Teresa: "I am a researcher, you should not have allowed me to fight-" *She collapsed onto the ground and lay in a pool of her own blood.*

  Ashton: "No! Teresa!"

  Alicia: "N-No, he's gaining on us." *She left behind a trail of blood, as she whimpered behind Lance.*

  Lance: "He's too quick."

  Alicia: "Ashton-" *She suddenly wheezed and gagged.*

  Ashton: "Alicia?" *He looked over his shoulder, noticing Alicia.* "Alicia!"

  Alicia: *She looked down and noticed a large ice spear through her chest.* "H-Hurts-" *She fell to the ground, smashing the ice to pieces.*

  Lance: *He continually panted, looking for a place to hide.* "Ash! Here quick."

  Ashton: "W-What?"

  Lance: *He ran ahead of Ashton and hid behind a very large stone pillar.* "I think we lost him, aye."

  Ashton: *He ran behind the pillar in front of Lance.* "G-Good thinking." *He took the time to catch his breath.*

  Lance: "I'm glad you made-"

  *A large sword pierced through the wall and Lance's neck, causing him to cough out blood.*

  Ashton: *He gasped into consciousness, finding himself in his bed.* (Good grief-) *He looked around, wiping sweat off his face.* (That was an unacceptable dream.)

  *The sounds of several villagers could be heard outside.*

  Ashton: *He yawned and sat on the side of the bed.* (At least I feel much better-) *He reached for his clothes, noticing the vacant bed next to him.* (They've moved Alicia?)

  *Sunlight seeped through the cracks, lighting up the room.*

  Ashton: *He put on his clothes and walked out of the room.* (I feel really fantastic-) *He walked down the corridor with a slight spring in his step.*

  Teresa: *She noticed Ashton open the Inn door, causing her to lean off the wall.* "So are you ready?"

  Ashton: *He closed the door behind him and looked up.* (Teresa?) "Where? What are you doing?"

  Teresa: "Your training will commence as soon as we head to The Great High Plains."

  Ashton: (Oh that's right.)


  Teresa: "Have you forgotten?"

  Ashton: "No, not at all."

  Teresa: *She started to walk away, causing Ashton to quickly follow.* "Then what is with the uncertainty? Changed your mind with what you asked me?"

  Ashton: "No, it's just, what about the others?" *He looked over his shoulder, glancing at the Inn.*

  Teresa: "Do not worry, I have left them something to do. They will not be forgotten."

  Ashton: "Oh, okay?"

  *Teresa and Ashton walked out of Surpreon, crushing the tiny white pebbles under their feet.*