The Rostical Users - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

PKMY: "After inspection, you have an ability to project something similar to a bubble."

  Ashton: "A bubble?"

  PKMY: "It's the best way I could put it." *She shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head.*

  Ashton: "Oh okay."

  PKMY: "What I want you to do, is focus on your bubble-like shield."

  Ashton: "Alright."

  PKMY: "Hold the shield up as long as you can while I use Rostical on you."

  Ashton: (She knows Rostical-?)

  PKMY: "Got it, shithead?!"

  Ashton: *He coughed and stepped back startled.* "G-Got it?"

  Teresa: (It is best not to keep PKMY waiting-)

  Ashton: "You're going to be using Rostical-" *He paused and looked down.*

  PKMY: *She leant on her side, folding her arms.* "You got something to say?"

  Ashton: "I don't believe I'm that strong yet-"

  PKMY: "After giving me that whole, please allow me to continue speech?"

  Ashton: "..."

  PKMY: "You won't get stronger if you don't push yourself."

  Ashton: "True."

  PKMY: "Besides, I'll only be using weak Rostical."

  Ashton: "I see." *He mumbled, taking a deep breath through his nose.* "Okay, I'm ready when you are."

  PKMY: "Heh, when I'm ready?"

  Ashton: "Yeah-"

  PKMY: "FLAMING WHEEL, ICICLE EDGE"

  Ashton: "What-!?" *A ring of fire swirled around him, burning the grass.*

  PKMY: *She spun around, raising her arms into the air.* (Can you focus on two at the same time?)

  Ashton: (From what I've seen, a verse is usually spoken during Rostical-) *He waved his arms, causing the fire to burn out.* (But she didn't use any spoken verse-)

  PKMY: "Harh!" *She dropped her arms, causing four ice spears to blast downwards.*

  Ashton: *He looked up and waved his arms, causing the ice spears to jab into the ground around him.* (Phew.)

  Teresa: *She watched the ice spears shatter into nothing.* (Not bad Ashton-) *She glanced over to PKMY with an emotionless face.*

  PKMY: "..." *She leant on her side, folding her arms.*

  Teresa: (But, PKMY, skipping a training session and going straight to using Rostical?)

  Ashton: *His knees buckled, as he tried to stay on his feet.* "How-" *He took a deep breath, as the ring stopped glowing.* "How did I go?"

  Teresa: (His legs are trembling? Exhaustion?)

  PKMY: "Very good, you easily avoided two Rostical which were of opposite elements."

  Ashton: *He smiled, wiping sweat off his cheek.* "Thank you."

  PKMY: "I noticed you put out the fire with ease, but the ice shards easily pierced your wind shield."

  Ashton: (She's right.) *He had a flashback of the ice spears jabbing into the ground.* "So what does that mean?"

  PKMY: "I'm not sure yet, you're able to cast a wind barrier around you. I'll let you know once I gather more information."

  Ashton: (I can create a barrier? I didn't even notice-)

  PKMY: "Enough talking, you want to continue? Then stand up straight!"

  ----------

  *Alicia and Lance bowed in front of Season.*

  Season: "I see, so he wasn't there after all." *He spoke with disappointment, rubbing his chin in thought.*

  Alicia: "B-But we did overhear some of the villagers-"

  Lance: "Actually, I was the one that heard it-"

  Season: "Continue?"

  Lance: "Pssht, wateva."

  Alicia: "Apparently Millard has started a search for someone named Kath."

  Season: "I see."

  Lance: "So we like failed?"

  Season: (Kath? It couldn't be her? It can't be-) *He coughed, ignoring Lance.* "Just as you both were leaving, one of my researchers brought something to my attention."

  Alicia: "O-Oh?"

  Lance: "Was she that chick you were walkin' away with?"

  Season: "Chick?"

  Lance: "Ya know, that girl in white that was like, come to the research area."

  Season: "There are no animals in my manor?"

  Lance: "Don't worry." *He sighed, rolling his eyes.*

  Alicia: "What did she bring your attention towards?"

  Season: "The Unknown Territories."

  Alicia: "The Unknown Territories? What about them-?"

  Lance: "Wait."

  Season: "Yes?"

  Lance: "We walked all the way to that blasted village, and all the way back."

  Season: "What are you trying to say?" *He spoke in a stern voice, impatiently tapping his foot.*

  Lance: "Don't we get an award or somethin'?"

  Season: "Enough! I have enrolled you into Battling Oxident."

  Lance: "..."

  Season: "That in itself is a privilege, that can be your award."

  Lance: "An award? You didn't have to do that, I'm flattered." *He chuckled, waving his hand in front of his face.*

  Alicia: *She shook her head, exhaling in frustration.* "..."

  Lance: "Wait a minute, you never told us wat Battling Oxident is?"

  ----------

  Ashton: *He leant against the tree and stared at Teresa and PKMY, taking deep breaths.* "If you both don't mind me asking."

  Teresa: "Hoh?"

  PKMY: "Wat is it?"

  Ashton: "I know you said to Season that we'd be gone for seven days, but why does it feel like we're on a time schedule?"

  PKMY: "Yea, Teresa!" *She faced Teresa and leant on her side, folding her arms.* "Even though Ashton is making amazing progress, even I got that feeling too?"

  Teresa: "..." *She looked down, brushing hair out of her face.*

  PKMY: "Well, explain yourself?" *She grunted, impatiently tapping her foot.*

  Teresa: "Battling Oxident."

  PKMY: "Wat?" *Her eyes widened, as she gasped on her breath.*

  Ashton: "Huh?"

  PKMY: "Is it that time already?!"

  Teresa: "Indeed."

  Ashton: "Battling Oxident?" (I think I heard that somewhere before.)

  PKMY: "Yahoo!" *She excitedly jumped up, punching the air in front of her.*

  Teresa: "Battling Oxident is an arena held in Surpreon."

  Ashton: "Oh? How often?"

  Teresa: "There is no allocated time frame, but it varies from eleven months."

  Ashton: (Good grief, that's almost a year-)

  PKMY: "I'm so excited-"

  Teresa: (Perhaps you have forgotten it is too early to reveal yourself?)

  PKMY: *Teresa's voice echoed in her head, causing her morale to drop.* (Oh yea-)

  Ashton: *He slowly inhaled, catching his breath.* "Why were you so excited PKMY? What's so special about this Battling Oxident?"

  PKMY: "Wat's so special about it? Are you that stupid-?"

  Teresa: "People whom wish to sharpen their skills, or to battle for what they believe in, enter in Battling Oxident."

  Ashton: "So there would be a lot of people in there?"

  PKMY: "A lot? It's always packed!"

  Ashton: "But it's held in Surpreon?"

  Teresa: "Correct."

  Ashton: *He scratched his sweaty hair in confusion.* "But there wouldn't be enough room?"

  Teresa: "Battling Oxident is kept in a Spacial Funnel, concealed by using a powerful glyph that distorts the Astragons-"

  PKMY: "It's going to take too long to explain, just wait and see it for yourself."

  ----------

  Lance: "Fightin'? Awesome."

  Alicia: "I remember several people from my village entered Battling Oxident for the prize alone."

  Season: "Excitement fills the city when Battling Oxident returns."

  Lance: *He stared at Alicia, sighing like a child.* "Come on, stinky cow cow meow wow."

  Alicia: "C-Cow cow meow wow-?"

  Lance: "Don't bring up a story and not finish it, wat's the prize?"

  ----------

  Ashton: "From the impression I'm getting, Battling Oxident is a major event."

  PKMY: "D
amn right it is." *She grunted and smirked, forming fists.*

  Ashton: "What's the incentive? Surely not everyone is blood thirsty."

  Teresa: "Most people enter Battling Oxident purely for the prize, which is the Purifying Oxident."

  Ashton: "The Purifying Oxident? I shouldn't assume it's just a trophy?"

  PKMY: "Back in the days I came close to getting it once."

  Ashton: "Oh really?"

  PKMY: "They say that the Purifying Oxident not only boosts one's Neurons and Astragons, but also prolongs Astragons."

  Ashton: "What does that do?"

  PKMY: "It has the potential to make the user live longer."

  Ashton: "Good grief! I can see why it's popular now."

  Teresa: "I calculated PKMY would effectively teach you something of worth, giving me the intentions of enrolling you."

  PKMY: "Heh." *She smirked with an approving nod.*

  Teresa: "If you desired of course, Ashton?"

  Ashton: "I don't know." *He looked down to the swaying grass.*

  PKMY: "Huh? Do you know how many people want to enter Battling Oxident but can't?"

  Ashton: "I'm not keen on fighting." *He shook his head, staring at PKMY.* "Fighting people for no reason-"

  PKMY: "I'll be watching from the audience Ashton, I'd like to see how well you go."

  ----------

  Lance: *He looked to each side, shrugging his shoulders.* "If the city gets so excited, why is it quiet 'round here lately?"

  Season: "Most of my people are preparing for Battling Oxident as we speak."

  Lance: "Oh." *He coughed and sniffed, looking away.*

  Season: "Would either of you like to assist?"

  Alicia: "O-Of course." *She smiled, enthusiastically nodding head.*

  Lance: "Gah, I've got nothin' better to do, aye."

  Season: "Splendid."

  ----------

  PKMY: "Well I reckon you're ready to retake the exam."

  Ashton: "Excellent, what is it?"

  Teresa: (Your training skills are exceptional PKMY, but do not push him too far, his body appears to be at its limit.)

  PKMY: "Wat is it? Wat does retake mean?"

  Ashton: "Oh, umm?"

  PKMY: *She sighed, shaking her head.* "You've already tried it-" *She pointed to the tree with a bored expression.* "Just try and grab a leaf off the tree."

  Ashton: "Alright." (I think I can do this now.)

  PKMY: "You have three attempts."

  Ashton: "Just say when-"

  PKMY: *She suddenly flashstepped next to Ashton, grabbing his shoulder.* "Heh-" *She pulled him off the tree and flashstepped away.*

  Ashton: "Argh-" *He fell forward, coughing as if he was going to be sick.*

  PKMY: "I'm ready now! Yahoo."

  Ashton: (Come on, Ashton! You've done too much just to give up now!) *He grunted, positioning himself as if he was about to sprint.*

  PKMY: "I said now!"

  Ashton: *Sweat dripped off his face, as he sprinted towards the tree.* (I will not fail this, I need to protect my friends!-)

  PKMY: *She flashstepped in front of Ashton, looking down to the swaying grass.* "Finish crawling like a baby?"

  Ashton: "Wha-?"

  PKMY: *She tapped the ground, jumping into the air.* "..."

  Ashton: *He stared at PKMY's foot with widening eyes.* "How-?"

  PKMY: *She kicked the air, causing her to spiral at amazing speeds.* (Prepare yourself for my first critical hit!)

  Ashton: *He watched PKMY spin into a small ball, frozen with shock.* (How is she doing this?!) *His hair and clothes rapidly flapped back.*

  PKMY: "This attack is going to hit you so hard, you're going to see you own ass!"

  Ashton: "Neurons draw, Astragons repel, MYSTIC SHIELD"

  Teresa: (Ashton's first Rostical!)

  Ashton: *He spread his arms in front of him, as swirls of bubble-like lines enveloped him.* (Focus!) *He frowned with concentration, as the bubble-like swirls formed a shield around him.*

  PKMY: *She broke out of her rapid spinning, raising her leg in the air.* "Harh!"

  Ashton: *He crossed his arms, bracing himself.* "..."

  PKMY: *She screamed, kicking towards Ashton's head.* "H-Huh?"

  Teresa: "Hoh?"

  PKMY: (His shield absorbed my kick-?)

  Teresa: "..." *She watched PKMY's foot push back and forth with Ashton's shield.*

  Ashton: (N-No-) *He leant forward, as the shield popped.*

  *An invisible force knocked PKMY and Ashton back.*

  PKMY: "Heh-" *She straightened her body and landed with ease, watching Ashton tumble on to his back.* "Well that was one of your three chances."

  Ashton: *He slowly stood up, feeling defeated.* (She is unimaginably powerful-) *He noticed yellow leaves sway in the breeze, causing him to smirk with thought.*

  PKMY: *She waited for Ashton's next move.* "If you won't do anything, then I will!"

  Ashton: *He took deep breaths, raising his arms.* (She's able to move at a speed where I can't see her with my own eyes!-)

  PKMY: *She took a step forward and flashstepped.* "Thinking of a plan?"

  Ashton: "You won't fool me again!"

  PKMY: *She stared at Ashton's back with a smirk.* "Oh really?"

  Ashton: "Neurons draw, Astragons repel, MYSTIC SHIELD"

  PKMY: *She raised her arm, causing the air to ripple like water around her hand.* "Seven finger snap-flying palm strike."

  Ashton: *He slowly looked over his shoulder to PKMY, as a bubble-like shield enveloped him.* (The speed she moves, is unreal-)

  PKMY: "Grarh!" *She punched Ashton's shield, causing it to instantly pop.*

  Ashton: *He gasped, as PKMY punched him into the air.* (She still got me-!?)

  PKMY: "Argh-" *She spiral back, hitting the ground.*

  Teresa: "Hoh?" (The recoil of Ashton's shield knocked PKMY back.)

  PKMY: *She smirked, wiping her mouth.* "Yahoo, that's wat I want." *She stood up, watching Ashton hit the ground.*

  Ashton: *He coughed, overwhelmed with stress.* (That was my second attempt! Okay, think, relax-)

  PKMY: (I want to finish this with a bang! Should I use a powerful Azure? Maybe chain him in a Rostical combo?)

  Ashton: (The best thing I'm known for, is to think-) *He stood up and faced PKMY.* (Obviously charging like an animal results me flying through the air.)

  PKMY: (He's obviously not worth me using my Ougi-) *She shook her head with a slight frown.* (I need to remember, this is still a training session.)

  Ashton: *He heard the leaves bristle in the wind, causing him to smile.* (The wind, the dead leaves, I think I got it.)

  Teresa: *She stared at Ashton with an emotionless face.* (The odds are against him, what would he be smiling about?)

  PKMY: "Eh? Do we have a boost in confidence now?"

  Ashton: *He started to run away from the tree, cautiously keeping his distance from PKMY.* (If I keep running in a circular motion, I could perhaps-)

  PKMY: "I don't know wat you're planning, but the tree is in the opposite direction dumbass!"

  Ashton: *He noticed the air warp around PKMY's hand.* (If she's preparing her attack, she's going to flashstep shortly.)

  PKMY: "Seven finger snap-flying palm strike."

  Ashton: (Here she comes-)

  PKMY: "Harh!" *She pushed forward, causing a pulse of white aura to blast towards Ashton.*

  Ashton: (Long distance?!) *He stepped back, raising a small strip of shield in front of him.*

  PKMY: *She watched the aura form itself into a disc, slamming into Ashton's shield.* "You weren't expecting a different variant of my Azure were you?!"

  Ashton: *He grunted with exhaustion, as he struggled to keep the shield up.* (It feels like a car is pushing up against me-) *He dropped his arms to the side, causing the shield to pop.*

  PKMY: *She watched the aura explode the ground next to Ashton.* "Never underestimate your opponent."

  Ashton: *He covered his mouth and co
ughed, due to the dirt which blew past him.* (Okay, the plan worked, but that was way too risky.)

  Teresa: (I am intrigued, what is Ashton's plan? Does he even have a plan?)

  PKMY: "I don't know what you're doing, but here's another! Seven finger snap-flying palm strike."

  Ashton: *He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.* (I hope this works-) *The area started to shine white, as PKMY's attack blasted into striking distance.*