The stench is overpowering. No matter how much the girl’s mind and body scream for her to extricate herself from this situation. Every second she spends sitting here, the stagnant smell of smoke wafts up and forces itself into her nostrils. Putrid white and gray snakes of smoke expand menacingly in an inevitable march to her face. Yet she knows that she can’t look away toward the exit or even the ring which stood nearby in all its dilapidated ignominy. Casting eyes toward places she’d rather be is dangerous, too dangerous. It’d suggest she has no interest in what the man before her and from whom that smoke is coming. So she forces herself to sit and suffer through it, even as the smoke stings her eyes. Her eyes water as a last desperate defense against the noxious assault.
?? <“Hey, you really think you’re doing something big don’t you?”
Words can’t describe just how much she wants to avert her eyes from the cigarette from which the smoke originates. It’s a disgusting habit that seemingly every other person who steps into these run down places has adopted. This isn’t just a case of an addiction or a simple obnoxious habit though. No, this is the natural state of the man from whose mouth the cigarette hangs. His stern, weathered features speak to the hardness of the life this man’s led. Much as she’s not been party to the finer details, Yuna knows that none of those wrinkles, imperfections or scars on his face have come from anything respectable. Even leaning back in his chair as if disinterested in the events around him, she knows that he’s the kind of man who can turn bitter and dangerously destructive in a split second.
Yuna’s lived with him for most of her eighteen years. In all of that time - an entire lifetime for her - she’s sure she’s never seen him without a cigarette lit or a packet of them in his pocket. Their smoke and his presence are oppressive and inseparable. Like a lit cigarette he can cause harm to others passively or directly. Simply being around the man can poison people and turn them into blackened souls. Upset him and he will apply more direct methods, like a red hot cigarette pressed to bare skin. It’s why she doesn’t dare look away from the man despite her heart’s desire to be anywhere but here. Her father is a difficult man who needs to be shown deference, whose presence she forces herself to endure just like his horrid smoking habit. So when he asks her a question she doesn’t dare speak. She just sits there and lets him speak.
Gorou Saito: <“You have any idea what a disgrace this is?”>
He takes another hit from the cigarette while glaring daggers at her. They stab her meek defenses, they draw blood, but she continues to sit there in silence. Anything she says now is just going to trigger that more direct side of Saito Gorou. Yuna’s on the verge of tears just being in his dictatorial presence as it is. She folds her hands in her lap and waits for him to lose interest in her. It’s no use.
Gorou Saito: <“What the hell’s going on in that head of yours?”>
Now his tone has sharpened, a hatchet waiting to fall on her exposed neck. Continuing to just listen to his questions is only increasing the risk of her suffering at his hands. She’s been very good at avoiding that growing up. Most of the time he’s been off seeing to his business ventures; while unspoken she understands that he’s a Yakuza boss. Too many shady types hanging around, too little explanation for his relative wealth. From as early as she can remember she’s always played the quiet good girl who does as her father commands. If he decides that she’s going to be a wrestler in his newest shady venture, then she’ll be in idol like gear playing to a crowd of scum and villainy. If he demands an answer to a question, she’s going to provide him a response. This answer will be dangerous as it’s not what he’ll want to hear, but there’s more danger to not responding at all. So she clenches one hand around the other and summons her courage.
Yuna: <“I had to go on hiatus to focus on my studies, otou-san. I thought you’d be proud of me for being a serious student.”>
Saito Gorou is unmoved. His brow furrows over his tinted glasses.
Saito Gorou: <“And leave Kansai Girls’ Battle high and dry. If my own flesh and blood isn’t out there smiling for our important business partners, how’s that make me look? It’s disrespectful for all of them. And now you’re telling me you’re not coming back?”>
Yuna hesitates. She knows what he’s capable of, she’s heard stories spoken by people around her. Yet the truth is what he’s demanding, so she has little choice but to continue.
Yuna: <“I - I want t-”>
She’s got little time to react as her father’s arm shoots across the table, his hands digging into her hair. Here it is. The side of Saito Gorou that she’s heard stories of but rarely seen hints of. Is she going to die at the hands of the man who was supposed to raise and protect her? He’s strong. He yanks her towards him, to the point that they’re face to face. Yuna’s eyes water from the unwanted mix of fear, smoke and pain.
Gorou Saito: <“You think you can make that kind of decision without me? I gave you the opportunity to become a star, and you’ve just been a damn joke! You embarrass our name enough with your failure in that ring, but you not being there at all is even worse! Take responsibility and get back out there.”>
She strains against his iron grip, her hands instinctively moving up to grip his wrist in an attempt to wrench herself free. His grip only tightens as he continues his lecture.
Gorou Saito: <“Or do I need to teach you a lesson? Huh? Is that what you want?”>
Yuna struggles to fend off tears as she responds.
Yuna: <“No, of course not otou-san.”>
He blows smoke in her face, causing her to cough as her body resists the noxious fumes.
Gorou Saito: <“Then you’re going to volunteer for the gravure book that Ota-san’s putting together.”>
Ota is a slimy little man with a rat like face and a reputation for being very hands on with the other girls. Just the thought of being near him is revolting. To be told she was going to pose in swimsuits or lingerie in a shoot where he was in charge? No. Even as terrifying as her father is, Yuna won’t bow to his wishes here. She surprises herself by answering with an edge to her voice she’s never heard before.
Yuna: <“Absolutely not! He’s disgusting, and none of the girls should have to work with him. I won’t be exposed and vulnerable in front of him! I refuse!”>
Silence so full you could hear a pin drop. Yuna can’t believe she just said that to her father! Judging by the silence, he can’t either. When he does respond it’s in a deep, accusatory tone.
Gorou Saito: <“What did you just say?”>
Tears rolling down her cheeks, Yuna refuses to relent.
Yuna: <“I refuse!”>
His grip tightens, causing her to yelp in terror. This is it, the end of her short life! No one defies Saito Gorou and walks way in one piece if at all. Even his own flesh and blood aren’t safe.
Gorou Saito: <“I wasn’t asking. You’re going to model for Ota-san, or I’ll find someone else to teach you a lesson.”>
Yuna winces as he blows more smoke into her face, hand still holding her hair in a vise grip. Her hands tensed around his wrist, trying in vain to free herself from it. To free herself from him. This was it, the moment where Saito Yuna understood that she had to flee from this life. She had to be free from all of this if she wanted to be happy. All of the opportunities for a happier life were east, and she had to get there as soon as possible. Yet when she opens her eyes to send a wordless message to her oppressor, there’s a different face centimeters from her own. Through the white smoke she hates so much is not the face of a hardened Yakuza, but a violent legend of the ring.
Shiori Shuko: <“Who do you think you are? Some kind of beating heart of Galaxy Defense Force? What a disgrace. You don’t just get to pick up a win and walk away, bitch.”>
Just then the scene ends with a sudden jolt. Yuna opens her eyes in a hurry only to realize that her surroundings are different. No filthy club, no degenerate types leering at her. Just the soft off white walls, simple writing desk and soft bed beneath her that she’s called home since running away from that life. More or less. The furnishings are the same but the locale has changed. Rent in Tokyo was extremely expensive, so much so that even the steady paycheck of Miracle Galaxy Pro wasn’t quite sufficient. Since joining the promotion, she’s lived in a shared apartment with someone who was hand picked by Tatsumaki Aoi. At first it was Takeda Hiromi, but thankfully the ‘chosen one’ has since moved into the dorms at the dojo.
Now? Now Yuna’s roommate is the trainer who’s taken an interest in her in ring development. Just why is still beyond Yuna. To be honest she doesn’t think she’s really worth Suzumi Mizuki’s time. Everything she ever does is a failure, and her development is extremely slow at best. And yet Mizuki sticks with her and keeps pushing her to improve. Yuna reaches up to her forehead - it’s damp and clammy. What’s going on? It’s as she replays the memory in her mind that she realizes it was a dream. Why else would Shuko Shiori have been there?
She shakes her head to try and force the lasting mental image of Shuko Shiori out of her thoughts. Yet even now in the safety of her room she can smell the smoke of the bloodthirsty veteran’s cigarette of choice. A pungent scent that hangs heavy in the air and, in Yuna’s imagination now, blends with the iron rich smell of blood. It represents incredible danger much the same way that her father’s cigarette smoke did. What’s there to do about it though?
Mizuki: <”Hey Saito! You still sleeping in there?”>
Truly it’s a problem. To be honest Yuna had been so very sure that such danger was far behind her ever since she fled from her father’s household. Years of struggles free from those worries, all out the window now that the deathmatch queen of Joshi Pro-Wrestling has her eyes on Yuna. Once again that oppressive smoke looms large in her memory and imagination. What’s Shuko Shiori’s specially selected killer going to do to her? Will Yuna be physically able to keep fighting for love and justice after the match fate has thrust upon her? Should she just duck the match to avoid the pain that’s coming her way on special order?
Mizuki: <”Saito!”>
Yuna hears her roommate’s voice just barely through the noise of her thoughts. Did Suzumi Mizuki need something? Or maybe she knows exactly what’s on Yuna’s mind. Goodness, was it written all over Yuna’s face? It must be, right? After all she tends to wear her emotions on her sleeve, it’d make sense if someone with Mizuki’s experience could just read all of it easily. Just like a billboard advertising the stress and concern racing through Yuna’s mind. Hardly something that an accomplished legend should be concerning herself with though. Bringing it up will just strain the relationship they’re slowly building. Best to leave it be and - ow!
Mizuki: <”Saito.”>
Yuna sits there holding her head more out of defensiveness than pain as the decorated veteran lightly chops her on the crown of her skull. Nothing mean spirited, just enough to break Yuna out of her racing thoughts. Suddenly things are much clearer, and Yuna gazes up at her trainer/roommate quizzically.
Yuna: <”Wha- oh, Suzumi-san! I’m sorry, did you need something?”>
Mizuki: <”Time to get back to the dojo.”>
She stands over the seated Yuna, hands on her hips. Of course - she must be upset, and understandably so. Ever since she shocked the world by pinning Andrea Corss, Yuna’s training regimen has gotten exponentially more difficult. Yuna must have just slept in on a big training day and Mizuki’s clearly annoyed with her. Best to not delay her mentor any further! Yuna shoots up to her feet and frantically looks around for her running shoes. Where did she put them?! This train of thought is broken by a hand suddenly taking grip of her shoulder. The Magic Princess looks down and realizes that Mizuki is also making eye contact, eyebrow raised questioningly.
Mizuki: <”You okay? You’re super zoned out this morning.”>
Yuna blinks and then shakes her head. No reason to trouble Mizuki with her problems.
Yuna: <”N-Nothing, Suzumi-san! Let’s get going!”>
Yet Mizuki steps closer and presses the issue.
Mizuki: <”This isn’t nothing. You’ve usually got a ton of energy or you’re stumbling over yourself to apologize. I can tell there’s something on your mind.”>
She’s figured out something’s up! Yuna sighs and looks away, hoping to avoid the conversation.
Yuna: <”It’s nothing, I promise. Just a bad dream.”>
Her roommate squeezes her shoulder, a sudden tightness that gets Yuna to look back at Mizuki.
Mizuki: <”You sure? I need you to be 100% focused from here on out. Shuko’s throwing an absolute murderer in there with you, and you need to be sharp. Remember what I told you about that being one of your biggest shortcomings?”>
Yuna nods slowly.
Yuna: <”Yeah, of course!”>
Mizuki smiles a little.
Mizuki: <”And what happened when you literally took that to heart?”>
Despite the graveness of the challenge ahead, Yuna laughs lightly.
Yuna: <”A miracle.”>
Mizuki’s smile widens and somehow things feel a bit lighter.
Mizuki: <”Exactly. And we want another miracle to happen against Shuko MURDER-Gun, right?”>
Okay yes, this makes sense! It might take a miracle for her to get a win against the latest brutal fighter chosen by Shuko Shiori. All the same, Yuna has no intention of letting go of that elusive sensation of winning. She’s spent so many years a loser that she’s desperately holding onto that moment, that feeling. Despite the constant failures of six years, it’s not impossible for Saito Yuna to win. And so she has no intention of doing anything other than winning against Dixie Boone.
Yuna: <”Absolutely! I know that Shuko-san’s going to be sending her whole unit after me if that’s what it takes. It’s terrifying to think about, but I can’t do anything besides fight against the idea that brutality is the right way to achieve success.”>
Mizuki nods sagely, as if understanding something that Yuna herself doesn’t quite see yet.
Mizuki: <”So let me help you focus. What’s on your mind?”>
While she feels more relaxed now, Yuna’s loathe to bring her father into things. But she can’t just deny what’s filled her thoughts since waking up can she?
Yuna: <”Just - well, I guess that Shuko-san’s on my mind. I can still smell the smoke of her cigarette. I’m - I’m afraid of what she’s going to do to me.”>
Mizuki: <”Well you can’t do anything about what she wants to do to you. But you can fight her hard. What was it you told Andrea Cross and SAEKO about your heart?”>
Yuna: <”That it’s strong and full of passion, and they’d have to stop it from beating to stop me. And that not even they could do that?”>
Mizuki nods and lowers her hand from Yuna’s shoulder.
Mizuki: <”Yes, that’s it! You made yourself the beating heart of Tatsumaki-san’s vision for Miracle Galaxy Pro. You know what that means?”>
Yuna shakes her head; honestly she has no idea.
Yuna: <”I don’t think so?”>
Mizuki: <”It means you’re not the girl who went 0-170. You, Saito Yuna, are a hero.”>
A hero. Her. The woman who until a few days ago was the easy bet to be pinned or tapped out in any given match. A girl who always ended up an afterthought who just took up space. It was crazy, it was ridiculous and nonsensical. But the more she thinkst about it, the more she realizes it’s the only possible answer. Yuna leans back against the wall, still not sold on the answer she’s found to the deep reaching question of who she’s become. Rather than the smiling normal girl who no one remembered, she’s become something altogether new and unexpected.
Yuna: <”I’m a hero?!”>
Mizuki nods in satisfaction, then nods toward the door to Yuna’s room.
Mizuki: <”You are! Now come on, hero. Let’s get back at it.”>
*******
The Great Floral Kingdom
(Shinjuku Gyoen)
3/17/23
Even within the hallowed, peaceful grounds of this land of beauty beyond measure, the rumors have spread. Behind every flowered corner, whispers of dark forces lurking in the shadows. Every conversation here has the undercurrents of fear and doubt. A woman can feel it in the air - the band of death dealing warriors is on the march. Their eyes are locked firmly on this incomparably beautiful place, their intentions clear. They’ll destroy the very happiness of every single man, woman and child in the realm. Soil to be fertilized with the blood of the innocent. All because they had been humiliated at the Battle of the Sacred Hall.
Our heroine knows full well what the army of the dark lady is capable of. As a woman of ignoble birth, she never thought that one day she would be the force that stood between love and joy and the looming anguish and terror. She never anticipated that this would be her role to play. Her hand reaches out to stroke the petal of a flower just starting to bloom. Its colorful petals are just visible, showing great promise for a beautiful future. Like this flower she too once was sheltered, afraid to show her true colors for fear of being withered away by a cold, inhospitable world. That victory at the Sacred Hall changed things.
Quick, decisive and unexpected. That’s how a simple girl becomes a heroine. An adventure that no one could have predicated has become reality. Yuna, born of the western realms, has become the courageous heroine leading the defense of all that’s beautiful and happy in this magical world. She doubts herself daily, wondering if her first victory over the darkness was merely chance. Her mind wonders if that victory is sustainable, or if she’s merely doomed to suffer for one miraculous fluke. Everyone in the kingdom’s defense force looks to her as the guiding light. The woman who defied the odds to protect what she held dear, and now to whom the whole kingdom looked for hope. So long as her heart beats, that hope is alive.
It’s not a mantle she would’ve invited upon herself, but it’s there regardless. Perhaps it’d be easier for her to defer to the legendary heroes who led this kingdom. Surely Queen Aoi and Lady Mizuki would be more than capable of the charismatic leadership needed to lead the way to victory. Yet it was they who looked to her, relied on her, believed in her. Yuna shakes her head as she turns to take in the sight of a tree full of cherry blossoms just about in full bloom. Whether she feels deserving of the mantle, it’s hers. The pressure she feels is enormous, but she no longer wishes to curl up and hide. At least most of her doesn’t wish to. Things are slowly changing, and she wants to be the hero everyone thinks she is. Even if she doesn’t feel worthy sometimes. This has become her home, and her heart is full of love for it and everything it stands for.
So she stands here preparing herself for the arrival of that home’s enemies. Enemies whose wrath she’s incurred, and therefore whom she must somehow defeat. An awesome responsibility for a woman who until recently struggled to achieve victories of any kind. As she ruminates on her self-imposed new reality, Yuna feels a different set of eyes following her every movement. It’s not just the army of death who are keenly interested in what she’ll do next. Queen Aoi, Lady Mizuki, the masterful adventurer Kasey, the incomparable global heroine Hixx sisters, the gallant and kind knight Yua and the aggravatingly self assured novice adventurer Hiromi. All of them on the front lines with her, but looking to their new magical heroine to lead the stand against their great enemy.
Maybe it’s the stuff legends are made of, but Yuna feels nothing like a legend. Can she truly protect the kingdom with powers that she feels are merely meager at best? What’s a girl to do when she’s suddenly the victorious hero after being the laughing stock of the world? It’s a thought process she’s gone through many times since the battle. There’s no easy answer, nothing that satisfies her mind which seems determined to find some possible concern to dwell upon until it becomes an insurmountable challenge. Out of the corner of her eyes she sees an elegant figure in a flowing red gown. She’s followed by a girl wearing an overconfident smirk that somehow matches her leather adventuring gear. And just there - behind the tree which has entranced Yuna - a girl in a simple dress adorned with a subtle pattern of stars. All of them see her as the heroine who can lay low the plans of the Shuko Army. Blowing another concern out of proportion isn’t going to help them; somehow she has to be the heroine they need her to be. The woman in the red gown, Lady Mizuki, holds a rectangular box in her arms.
Lady Mizuki: <”There you are, sorceress! We’ve been looking all over for you!”>
Yuna shakes herself from her circling thoughts and smiles. The Queen’s right hand woman has been the kindest of souls to her. From the date Yuna swore herself to the cause, the lady has been there to help hone Yuna’s magics into stronger, if not perfect, weapons.
Yuna: <”Oh, my apologies Lady Mizuki. I’ve been pondering many things. The next great battle against the Shuko Army is nearly upon us.”>
The lady smiles demurely, a smile that could set hearts aflame for miles around.
Lady Mizuki: <”You’re right, and that’s why we’re here. The people of the Great Floral Kingdom come bearing gifts.”>
Lady Mizuki generously extends the box forward, further stoking the fires of Yuna’s curiosity. What is it that the demure second ranking woman in the kingdom is presenting to her? Obviously something fine and delicate which she should handle with the utmost care lest it be damaged by fumbling hands. What other kind of gift would such an elegant lady offer? Yuna’s hands work intricately to pry open the lid to the box, first one corner, then another. Her eyes are firmly glued to the contents within as they’re ever so gradually revealed. First there’s silken red fabric similar to the gown Lady Mizuki wears. Yuna gasps at the sudden addition of sparkly ice blue crystals - or perhaps sapphire essence? Exquisite lace trim lines the cuffs and hem, but what is it?
Her jaw falls open as she lifts the gift out of its box and reveals it to be a long blue coat with pink and white accents. It seems so familiar to her, but from where?! Yuna casts an eye to Lady Mizuki, who nods encouragingly. This coat is hers to wear, and Yuna hesitantly slips one arm into a sleeve and then the other. It’s a little short and doesn’t reach her ankles, but otherwise it’s a perfect fit! It’s so fanciful that she gives it a twirl on a whim; unlike a gown it doesn’t swirl around her legs, but it still looks gallant and awe inspiring! As she completes her spin, Yuna meets Lady Mizuki’s eyes.
Lady Mizuki: <”I’m glad you like it, sorceress, and I hope it serves you as well as it served me.”>
Of course it will - wait, served her?! That’s where Yuna’s seen it before! In the queen’s courtroom there’s a tapestry of Lady Mizuki from her days upon the high seas as a privateer! This is unquestionably the coat which she wore as a captain, but why is it that Yuna’s being granted such a thing?
Yuna: <”The Captain’s Coat?! I can’t possibly accept this gift, Lady Mizuki! I’m not worthy!”>
The lady is unmoved.
Lady Mizuki: <”Oh? But I thought the only thing stronger than your arcane skill was your proud heart?”>
Yuna blushes at her words being thrown back in her face like that, especially by such a famous hero. She tugs at the sleeve cuffs and sighs.
Yuna: <”Well yes, but..”>
The lady steps closer and taps the taller sorceress on the nose.
Lady Mizuki: <”Is the vanquisher of Andrea the Cross and SAEKO not a heroine?”>
Yuna blushes more, then laughs nervously. The lady knows how to push her buttons.
Yuna: <”I am, well - I think I am. And even though I wonder if that was just an accident, I did defeat them.”>
The squire in adventuring gear stares right into Yuna’s eyes and smirks in the most unbearable of ways.
Novice Adventurer Hiromi: <”Hey, if you don’t want the legendary coat of Captain Suzumi, I’ll take it! In fact, maybe I deserve it. Queen Aoi chose me to serve her, so it’s almost destiny that I would be the one to wear it into battle. Hand it over if you w-”>
Yuna glares at her.
Yuna: <”No. I’ll keep it! I’m humbled to wear the very coat which Lady Mizuki wore into so many dramatic, legendary victories. In the battles to come, I’ll work hard to ensure its legend only grows! Thank you, Lady Mizuki. I won’t let you down.”>
Such a gift means the world to her. She remembers when she was toiling away in the gambling den her infamous father operated out of. Just a simple girl trying to do right amid every den of iniquity known to humanity. To think that little girl, smiling despite the tattered clothes and covering of dirt upon her person, one day being bestowed with a legendary garment of heroes? It seems like merely a dream, but here she is! Never did she think a day like this would come, and now tears roll down her cheeks. Truly a new beginning, one that’s sent her heart racing! This special moment is shattered by a sharp voice which accosts her as it echoes throughout the kingdom. The Shuko are here.
Dark Lord Shuko: <”Sorceress Yuna! Show yourself!!”>
Yuna spins around to see the notorious Dark Lord herself. The cold steel of her black armor accentuates Shuko’s demonic presence. Subtle entropic energies waft from the woman’s form, darkening the walkway beneath her. Nearby flowers and plans begin to wilt at the mere presence of the evil Shuko. A woman who brings death in her wake and lays waste to whatever raises incurs her wrath. How anyone could look at Shuko and see anything other than a woman who had to be stopped was beyond Yuna.
Yet there were people who believed what Shuko believed, and one of them is standing just over the Dark Lord’s shoulder. A small woman whose arms have been kept bare so as to show off the muscle built up in crippling her foes. A chain hangs around this woman’s neck, and the callous expression on her face promises destruction. Yuna’s heard stories of this thug, a former bandit whom was too bloodthirsty even for an infamously violent band of knaves. Rumors had it that she would stop at nothing to inflict just a bit more pain and suffering to her victims. And that her years of experience in horrid villainy had made her quite creative in her methods of physical destruction. The Butcher of Boone. This is whom the Dark Lord has brought to bear against the peaceful kingdom Yuna’s sworn to protect. Two months ago Yuna would have hidden herself away from the menace which stood before her. Now she just did her best to meet the knave’s eyes through her tears. It’s time to be the hero. She steps forward, letting her new coat and the allies nearby buoy her with confidence.
Yuna: <”I’m right here, Dark Lord! Why have you come here? It’s not yet time for our battle.”>
Shuko scoffs at this.
Dark Lord Shuko: <”I go where I want, when I want. You see, I haven’t forgotten the way you made a fool of my lesser recruit at the Sacred Hall. Did you really think your fluke victory would lead to anything more than you lying face down in the mud, covered in your own blood?”>
Yuna’s eyes stay locked on the Butcher, who in return makes no move other than to glare at her. Probably imagining all the ways that she can break Yuna’s magical bones. Rather than dwell on that Yuna casts her eyes back upon the Dark Lord whose fury she’s stoked. Just the sight of her, the knowledge of what she believes, is enough to inflame the sorceress’ own fury.
Yuna: <”Do you think I’ve forgotten the feeling of that victory? Do you understand what it felt like to toil away year after year in the hopes of becoming someone who could make a difference for the better? What it’s like to have every single cantrip and spell you cast blow up in your face at the worst possible moment as the whole world watches on? The despair when you wake up every morning with only countless muscle aches and humiliation as company? Knowing that I’d probably fail in every quest I took on and being laughed at as I struggled was far worse than any amount of pain you can inflict on me. Do your worst.”>
Shuko: <”Oh, don’t worry. That’s exactly what we’re going to do. This whole place is going to be demolished, set aflame and painted with the blood of you and your friends.”>
She stands tall, arms on her hips as she tries to cut the most heroic figure possible. If she acts like a hero, maybe she can maintain the confidence she needs to withstand the evil that’s come to her home. Shuko laughs derisively and takes a step toward Yuna, the ground and life around her shriveling into darkened husks. Those poor beautiful flowers will never have the chance to bloom into gorgeous blossoms that bring smiles to the faces of one and all. Her blood boils just to think of it. So despite the likelihood that she could be blindsided and battered right here, Yuna takes a step forward herself. Magic crackles in her left hand as she summons the arcane strength which her years lost in the wilderness of failure have honed.
Yuna: <”That’s not going to happen. You may have gotten your way in every other land you’ve set foot in but I won’t let you do it to my home. When I was lost, broken and ready to give up on my dreams, Queen Aoi found me and offered me a place in her court. It’s here that I’ve finally been able to make a difference, make people smile and give them hope! This is the one place where even a lowly sorceress like me can become more than she was. It’s a uniquely special place where anything is possible, but that all dies if the Shuko Army gets its way. And I will not allow it! Despite everything I’ve been through, I stand here today a stronger woman than I’ve ever been. You and your thugs may have raw physical strength, but I can match you with something even more powerful.”>
She looks back to Lady Mizuki and the Novice Adventurer and smiles. Her eyes catch a glimpse of the simply dressed girl from beyond the stars hiding behind the tree. All of them are looking to her in this moment. Yuna turns her attention back to Shuko and the Knave of Boone.
Yuna: <”Your strength comes from violence, intimidation and brute force. Mine comes from the people who believe in me and support me. They’re always there to fight at my side because they believe that this should be a place where justice and love prevail. Call it foolish and misguided, but at the first battle we dominated those who wish to make this realm a dark place where might is right. In this battle to come, they’re looking to me for hope. Perhaps I angered you by my victory, but I’m proud of what I’ve done. I understand that you’re going to do everything in your power to destroy me now. I welcome your challenge, but I want you to understand that I fight with my emotions, not merely raw force. They drive me to greatness, and I wield them like a the sharpest blade in creation! The love I have for my home, my allies and the people of this realm keeps my heart beating in the face of insurmountable odds. Do your worst and it still won’t be enough to stop that heart from beating.”>
She then jabs her right index finger at the Butcher of Boone.
Yuna: <”I know who you are as well. The stories of your unspeakable blood lust proceed you. When we clash, you will unleash all of that upon me. You’ve ended legends and livelihoods with your brutal fighting prowess, and I’m sure that Dark Lord Shuko has instructed you to do that to me. Anyone who believes that a battle with you is a simple matter is a fool of the highest order! Every second of the combat with you will be filled with increasing damage to my body and pain that is indescribable. You’ll beat me down every time I fight my way to my feet. You’ll try to break my bones and spirit so you can leave me in a shattered mess in the middle of the field of battle. You’ll wound me in many places, making my blood flow all over the beauty I want to protect. That’s what you do, and I’m sure it’ll make you exceedingly happy to see me suffer for the crime of defying your Dark Lord.”>
Yuna shivers at the thought, almost breaks in a moment of doubt. That’s when she remembers the people around her who’ve made her believe in herself.
Yuna: <”And it won’t. be. enough. I’ve already been battered beyond belief by members of the Shuko Army and came back to fight even harder to defeat your horrid plans. Faced with a woman too violent for a violent profession, all I can do is fight with all my heart to put you down. I will break your resolve by refusing to quit no matter how hard you hit me or what you break. I will find the strength to hit you back just as hard. I will drive you and the Shuko Army back into the shadows where you belong! Even if it costs me everything, I will stop you from drowning the world in blood. Even if I fall, I’m not stopping until I’ve taken you all down with me.”>
She throws her arms out to either side, the magic crackling in both hands and surrounding her with a glowing pink aura.
Yuna: <”There may come a day where the hearts of the good falter. This is not that day! So long as my heart beats in my chest, so long as the people of my home believe in me as I believe in them, I will not falter. My history has been full of misery and failure, but that chapter has closed. The page has turned and now I’m in a new, unknown adventure! The feeling of that first victory is indescribable, but I know now that it was just the beginning. And my heart yearns to feel it again, to be full of satisfaction that I’ve brought smiles to faces, filled innocent hearts with hope and defeated the forces of darkness. So I have no choice but to channel my entire being into this battle. I can’t lose. I won’t lose. Shuko MURDER-Gun.. I mean - the Shuko Army shall not pass into my beloved kingdom. In the name of Queen Aoi, I will punish you!”>
She thrusts her arms forward, magic energy shooting out like laser beams across at Shuko and the Knave. While she can feel her body weakening from the drain the magic places on her, she persists in her attack. The love of her allies keeps her going. And as she continues to fight she hears a young voice call out from the verdant garden behind her.
Voice: <”YUNA!”>
The child from her exhibition with the girl from beyond the stars! To protect that smile, Yuna presses onward despite the pain coming her way. Meanwhile Mizuki, Hiromi and Hoshi Sato all stand around watching as Yuna poses dramatically atop a park bench in the entrance coat Mizuki gifted her. Today’s a special film shoot for a mobile game that’s sponsoring some of the wrestlers in MGP for the next show. Since it’s fantasy themed they all wear various cosplays that none of them would dare wear in public otherwise. And yet they’ve spent the last few minutes watching as Yuna posed while listening to something on her phone. Though the younger girls look to Mizuki questioningly, she just shakes her head.
Mizuki: <”She’s going to be just fine. In fact, it’s Dixie Boone who should be scared. Yuna believes in herself, and that’s incredibly dangerous even for Shuko’s team of killers.”>
It’s then that Yuna hops down and returns from the world of fantasy. She looks to each woman with her, even Hoshi who isn’t a member of Galaxy Defense Force, and feels at home. This is what she’s fighting for. She strikes a pose and makes a final announcement.
Yuna: <”Together we’ll stop Shuko MURDER-Gun dead in its tracks, and I’m striking the next blow! GDF, take… off!”>
******
Epilogue: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
3/20/23
Just a few days now. In six days the next chapter of Yuna Saito's life begins. Her first formally in the role of a galactic heroine. Though this has been thrust upon her, she's embraced what seems to be her destiny. It's utterly bizarre not having the company of expected failure and certain doom now. Not exactly empty, not exactly full. Whatever this new reality is, Yuna is irreversibly changed. Since she's changed, she's started trying some new things. Or rather, retrying some things she once disliked to see if the heroine she's become takes to them any better.
Hence why she's still out and about at 11:39 pm. The drinking party with the of age members of Galaxy Defense Force ended about ten minutes ago; at this moment Yuna's walking down a cramped narrow side street in Shinjuku. So little room to either side that she can't even fully extend her arms to her sides. Neon lights rapidly fill the void with obnoxiously bright flashes of color. It's not aong street by any means, but after a few drinks and in these conditions it's a disorienting maze.
The warmth of friendly comradery lingers on, but she soon forgets it. Her ears pick up unexpected sounds. Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Telltale noises of footsteps, and they're gaining on her! Yuna stands still for a moment to confirm that they're not just her own steps. As the sound continues, she glances over her shoulder. Someone's hurriedly trying to catch up with her? At this time of night? It can't be anything or anyone good.
So she takes off on foot again, head held high and trying her best to mind her own business. Yet the footsteps pick up the page to match hers. Why is she being followed? Amid the myriad scents hanging in the air, one stands out to her above the rest, pungent and threatening. Someone is smoking a cigarette. Suddenly her mind conjures images of someone in a flashy suit tailing her. Someone from Kansai, someone with a scar on their face. Someone looking to start trouble with her on behalf of the Saito syndicate.
She quickly realizes that she's not going to avoid the person catching up with her. No escape. What's she to do? As she nears the door of hole in the wall bar, she catches sight of her reflection. In this desperate moment, likely pursued by a ghost from her past, she sees that stone cold confidence which she noticed in the HARD OFF mirror. And just the same her awareness is pulled back a degree. This time not so much that she's watching a show of her life with abnormal thoughts. Those thoughts are more conversation than monologue.
Yuna: <"What..">
Her reflection purses its lips and frowns.
Reflection: <"Someone from the Osaka Saito syndicate? How trite. They frighten you?">
Yuna nods emphatically. The scent of the smoke alone drives her panic into full gear.
Yuna: <"That smoke - the same cigarettes that ot-">
Her reflection's lips turn slightly upward.
Reflection: <"It is a repugnant smell. One moment.">
She feels herself stop, turn around to face the sound of the click clack of her pursuer's footsteps. It's a woman in a slinky cabaret dress like you'd see at a cabaret. That damn cigarette hangs from her lips as she approaches Yuna, then stops to check her phone nearby. The audacity! Just standing there as if it's totally fine to linger so close to someone with a cancer stick set aflame. This will not stand! Yuna feels - no, sees - herself step up to the woman and glare at her as if she'd committed multiple murders in Yuna's presence.
The woman: <"What? Can I help you?">
Yuna feels the indignation flow through her as her voice speaks.
Yuna: <"Put it out.">
When this doesn't happen, Yuna's hand swings hard right for the woman's face. If she won't put the cigarette out, Yuna's going to force her! Yuna's hand smacks the offending item out of the woman's mouth to the ground. There's a sharp burning sensation from the embers that land on Yuna's bare hand, but she thinks nothing of it. Necessary pain for the end she's acheived. That stupid woman looks to her incredulously, though, and Yuna glares down at her, daring her to make a move. After a second the woman scurries off like a scared little mouse. And that's when Yuna feels the viewer's perspective of her actions end. She looks back to her reflection, but it's just her usual slightly confused expression. A thought occurs to her.
The thought: <"That does it. Go get to the train, hero.">>
Yuna nods. Buoyed by a sudden confidence she redoubles her pace and heads to the intersection nearby. She descends into the bowels of the subway and safety. Yet the journey downwards doesn't explain why she had that kind of slip again.
Yuna: <"Nothing. It's nothing..">
