A Dragon's Pride

Sam was staring at the air in front of her as she reread the priority quest notifications. She assumed that everyone on their team got this, instead of another visitation from Cassandra, since they were split up. Goddess Damnit! Sam thought about where the two cities were and how long it would take people to get to the locations.

Sam then heard in her head, “Okay… this is getting reeeeally old already.” Sam could almost hear Laura’s frown.

“Laura? How are you in my head?”

“You swore, and I heard it because apparently you worship me.”

Sam got really defensive. “Laura, I like you, but I most definitely do not worship you.”

Sam could hear the shrug of Laura’s shoulders, “I mean, you most definitely have worshiped at my 'altar' already. I bet Talia would consider you a follower. In any case, I assume you swore because of the priority quest?”

Sam nodded, then realized Laura couldn’t see it. “Yes.”

Sam heard Laura chuckle over the connection. “I could hear the nod by the way. Also, your scrunched-up face when you realized I couldn’t see your nod. It’s weird. One second, Talia is also on the line.”

Sam felt like she was put on hold, but then heard Laura say, “Okay, took a second, but Talia helped me patch her into this. Complete bullshit that you know more about my powers than I do.”

Talia shrugged, “I was given total knowledge so that I can spread your holy word. Also welcome to the faithful, Samantha.” Sam could practically see the beaming smile Talia had. “I look forward to the next time we can pray together.”

Laura spoke with annoyance in her voice, “Talia, I’ve told you to cut that out.”

To prevent further bickering, Sam said, “Back to the task at hand. From what I remember, it would be tough for the group in Hardrock to reach either location.”

Talia chimed in, “Actually, they should be able to. Brooke just has to keep helping Sif with recovery. That’s the thing, though. The time to get to these locations is just a bit more than any of us needs to get there. So we would need to leave now, and we might have fifteen minutes to actually deal with the idols. They were also activated within moments of each other. This is clearly a trap.”

Sam said, “Trap or not, I don’t think they can take us, and if I lock onto one of them, I’m pretty sure they won’t be getting away from me, save for Hilde.”

Sam could hear Talia’s frown and thoughtful expression. Talia replied, “Except that going to stop these will take up a large portion of our day for little gain. They planned this, don’t assume we can just waltz in and succeed. How are your resources?”

Sam replied, “Mine are fine.”

Laura replied, “I’m currently low on mana, but if the three of us in Hardrock head to one by the time I’m there, I’ll be fine.”

Talia said, “I can’t stop either of you, but I don’t think we should divert. We’ll waste less time. Mary agrees with me, but I think that’s because she doesn’t want either of you fighting the other team and using your aura on them. I’m worried that they are using these to distract us, and they are planning something else, or that we are getting close to their base and they want us to pull away.”

Sam replied, “I’m going to go. I think I can handle one alone. Talia, could you do the math for me since I’m sure you have the details better than I do, but could I, in theory, get to both spots if I push it?”

Talia took a moment, “How fast can you go exactly?”

“Not sure my upper limit, but over two hundred miles per hour.”

Talia took another moment. “Then it depends both on how much over that speed and how long you are delayed at each location, plus your sense of direction. But yes, if you can go at least two hundred twenty miles per hour, then yes. It is theoretically possible if you leave right now.”

Sam took to the air and started heading north to not waste any more time. Sam said, “Okay, well, I’m on my way. I’m going to the northern location first. Then the northeast location. Am I getting help or not?”

Laura replied, “Isa and Brooke are thinking we should stay on our task.”

Talia replied, “Mary says she doesn’t want to fly that hard.” Laura and Sam could both hear the skepticism in Talia’s voice. “Well, good luck, Sam. Pray to Laura if you get into trouble. She will answer your prayers.” There was seriousness in Talia’s voice, but also teasing.

Sam felt Laura abruptly cut off the connection as Talia’s mirth came across the connection.

Mira watched on from the roof of the church and was shocked at how effective this plan had been. Merida had teleported as close to the city as she could, then got into Hilde’s storage, and Hilde ran the rest of the way. Merida had pointed out that they should leave the infected behind at least for the moment; otherwise, she would have to walk to the cities. Merida disguised herself so she could enter the church and then repeated the process for the second city.

After she had the ability to teleport right in front of the churches, the two had decided to go further than originally planned. Merida went around using the wand of charming, plus her own illusion magic on townsfolk and especially the guards, to gather a lot in one place. Then, after going back to base to get the infected, they released several Moobreys, which were also hit with the gluttony infection. Mira was certain that if she weren’t at the top of the church right now, she would be infected quickly. The idols were only placed after a massive outbreak had already started.

Mira was also grateful that she could cast invisibility on herself as the Moobreys had started to try and hit her with milk blasts from their breasts, which could apparently fire quite far. Now she just had to sit here and wait. How fun… and I can’t even light one damn building on fucking fire. She sighed, Maybe Merida will let me when this is fucking over. I wonder if it is this boring for Merigold, too.

Merigold sat perched on the roof much like Mira, but unlike her, she didn’t mind waiting. Stillness had become a part of her that she enjoyed. She was only disappointed that those below couldn’t appreciate her golden luster, as she had also gone invisible to prevent attacks.

For the first time since being pulled to this reality, her Call of the Spirits activated. She heard the spirits tell her, “A ferocious beast approaches from afar.”

Merigold asked, “Can ye tell me onything mair?”

It took a moment, but the spirits eventually replied, “The beast flies, and it flies alone.”

Merigold smiled and relayed the information to Merida.

Noo I juist hae tae wait for the fun tae come tae me.

Merida and Hilde were standing outside the capital walls. Hilde asked, “How does Kitty expect us to do this? Ellen is clearly going to be in the palace dungeon, which I’m sure is heavily guarded. We’re also both on wanted posters. There is no way we get there without setting off all sorts of alarms.”

Merida frowned at her girlfriend. “Hilde, love, are ye forgettin' ye’re fleet, and I hae magic?”

“People tend to notice when someone goes running past them at the speed of a car or faster. It’s known I’m fast.”

“Again, I hae magic. I’ll just turn ye invisible, and ye can then sneak us baith into the castle.”

Hilde tilted her head to one side, “Merida, I’m sure they will have something for invisibility. Just like they have a barrier to prevent you from flying into the city.”

Merida rolled her eyes. “Hilde, worst comes tae worst. I teleport us awa'.”

“And if they installed anti-teleportation measures?”

Merida replied, “Yon are amaist certainly for teleportin' in and no' awa', if they even hae them. Teleportation isnae low-level magic, and even the powerful folk here arenae all that powerful. Shair, wid teleportin' in and unleashin' a horde o' infected be a disaster? Aye. But wid ye spend a butt load o' money tae prevent somethin' likely tae happen less than once a century?”

“Hmmm…” Hilde responded, “I suppose I was thinking about my old world, and the show. As that is actually a standard defense we employ. This is supposed to be based on stuff Master would understand, so you might have a better grasp than I.”

“Grand.” Merida cast invisibility on Hilde and then stepped into her storage space.

Hilde found the trip through the city itself eerie. It had been a long time since she had seen so many copies of her sister out and about in one place, but these were also so lifeless. Hilde could see past the illusions thanks to Messing With The Code. Please, Master, don’t be wrong. Please save her.

When she reached the palace gates, she paused, not sure how to get through them with them closed and guarded. She let Merida out of her storage. “Any advice?”

Merida nodded, “Aye. Just Glitch tae the other side. Alternatively, I could fly us ower the wall. Assumin' there isnae somethin' preventin' that.”

Hilde replied, “I think we should proceed under the assumption that there is.”

“Dae yer shoon count as flyin'? I mind Ellen sayin' she jumped ower the walls when she was here.”

Hilde was about to retort, but stopped herself. That… that might work. “Okay, back into storage then.” Merida nodded and got into storage, and then Hilde stepped on solid air a few times and was quickly over the wall. Damn, that’s awesome. I’ll have to check if Cassandra will let me keep these shoes.

It took a while for them to explore the palace, and Hilde thought for a moment that Freya had realized there was someone in the room one time, but they got lucky. Merida reapplied the invisibility several times during the search. Eventually, they located the way down to the dungeon.

Hilde didn’t see any option but to fight the guards of the dungeon, though, so she got Merida out and informed her of the situation. Merida just smiled and shook her head. “Let me handle this, my bonnie lass.”

Merida simply walked down the steps towards the dungeon and approached the guards, who immediately placed their hands on their weapons and asked, “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

Merida infused her voice with magic and practically purred, “I’m here tae see the prisoner. My companion and I are tae be let in.”

Hilde saw the guards go slightly glassy-eyed as Merida spoke to them. The guards replied, “You… you two can go in. See the prisoner.”

Merida beamed an infectious smile, “Why, thank ye. Could ye please escort us in and unlock her cell?”

“Uh… Yes. Unlock the cell.” The guard intoned.

Hilde started to feel a little dizzy herself, as Merida’s voice seemed to be affecting her as well. Hilde placed a hand on Merida to steady herself.

Hilde said, “Merida… I think you’re hitting me too.”

Merida put a reassuring hand on Hilde’s shoulder to steady her, and then they followed the pair of guards inside. Merida had not expected another four guards to be inside. Hilde wasn’t thrilled to see that one of them was being played by Freya and another by Slevia. Hilde was about to leap into action and attack, but Merida was first as a bright series of lights went off in the room from Merida’s magic, followed by Merida shouting, “SLEEP!”

Hilde collapsed to the floor, as did everyone else in the room. Merida was the only one to remain awake in the room as far as she could tell. At least until she heard Ellen speak from further into the cells. Ellen said, “Merida? Is that you?”

Merida picked up the sleeping Hilde and went to where she heard Ellen’s voice. When she got in front of the cell, Ellen smiled. Ellen was currently in her own appearance, wearing what looked like a black latex bodysuit, but Merida knew to be Symbietta. Ellen said, “Oh, I’m glad to see you. How did you know I was here, though?”

“Long story.” Merida replied, “Let’s get ye oot o' here, and then I’ll tell it tae ye. One question first. Are ye still infected?”

Ellen shook her head. “They cured me once they broke the curse on the idol. Said it was too dangerous to leave me infected.”

Merida put Hilde down, spoke to her, and infused her voice with magic again. “Hilde, wake up.”

While Hilde’s eyes fluttered open, Merida went to get the keys from the guards. When Merida came back, Ellen asked, “So obviously you’re here to get me out, but how are you going to get me past everyone? I can’t do anything since I’m technically incapacitated.”

Merida inserted the key into the cell door and opened it, while Hilde opened her storage space. Hilde said, “Get in, and I will deliver you to Master.”

Ellen examined the space that had opened in midair, “Is there air in here?”

“Yes, now get in.” Hilde said, annoyed, “Before more guards show up. Merida, can you teleport us out?”

She shook her head, “I can once ye get oot o' the palace grounds. I can feel the difference. Also, I’m gey near spent. After this, I’ll need some time tae recover, but I do hae a couple o' teleports in me, though.” Merida looked slightly disgruntled by the fact she had been wrong about the anti-teleportation measures.

Hilde sighed, “You get in, too, then. I assume I don’t get another invisibility spell, do I?”

Merida shook her head, “Sorry.”

Hilde just nodded as Merida and Ellen stepped into her storage space. Hilde started sneaking through the palace, trying to get outside. She had almost made it outside when she heard someone say confusedly, “Hilde?” She turned to face the voice and saw Ethel standing there with two guards standing behind her.

Hilde bolted, crashing through a nearby window. A horn blew, and guards turned towards the crash. Hilde moved towards the courtyard wall, taking steps into the air to clear it. When suddenly, an axe hit her hard in the stomach, sending her flying back. She took a moment to orient herself and saw Freya, Maja, Slevia, Ethel, and two dozen guards in front of her.

Hilde thought, Shit, that was definitely time magic. Where is Talia? Wait… Hilde eyed Maja. It’s her.

Ethel spoke, “Hilde, surrender. You’ve no chance of escape. The empire’s finest are here to stop you.”

Hilde snorted out a laugh, “Please, if that was the case, you’d have just captured me already.”

Hilde kicked off the ground, trying to dash upwards. Knowing what was coming this time, Hilde prepared. She got caught in the time bubble Maja threw at her. Not as strong as Talia’s. Hilde saw Slevia move fast, but the time bubble had to break for her attack to land. Hilde kicked off the side of the axe. The guards had launched arrows at the bubble, but the arrows were blown off by the shockwave of Hilde’s kick.

Hilde had gained some height but had to repeat the feat another five times before she was finally high enough to clear the wall, and another seven times before she was over the side of it. Maja, Slevia, and Freya all followed as Maja had given them flight magic. Freya coated the ground with ice magic to make it more difficult for Hilde to escape.

Hilde was getting tired, and one mistake she knew could spell her doom. On the next time bubble, instead of dealing with Slevia’s attack, Hilde allowed it to hit her, but at an angle where it would send her flying away from the three of them and not back into the palace grounds. She also threw a spectral fist at Maja. The extra distance plus the distracted Maja allowed Hilde to land on solid non-iced ground, and with plenty of open road, she galloped as fast as she could, leaving them in the dust before Maja could get a new bubble on her.

While fleeing the capital, there were guards that she had to avoid; they proved to be a minor annoyance at worst. Once safely away from the capital, she pulled Merida out of her storage and got her to teleport them back to their lair. Once there, she released Ellen as well. Hilde checked her condition and found it wasn’t great. She held her side, saying, “Merida, would you mind going to get Master? I could use some healing.”

Merida nodded and went to fetch some help.

Ellen sat next to Hilde, “Thanks for coming to get me. I honestly thought I was done for.”

Hilde raised an eyebrow, “You figured we’d just leave you to rot?”

“Well… yeah,” Ellen said, a little embarrassed. “It isn’t like I can do anything today, or tomorrow. I’m going to be rather behind. There are only four more days after that.”

“Five.” Hilde corrected as she winced, holding her side. “This is more uncomfortable than I realized. There are six date nights, including tonight, plus the day after, which would have been the normal challenge day.”

Ellen nodded, “Okay, five. Still, I haven’t exactly been a team player.”

Merida came back with Mark. Mark leaned over and swooped up Hilde, pulling her into a deep kiss. When he broke it, he said, “I’ve got a big carrot for you later.”

“You’d better, Master. Also, what’s up with your kiss? It feels really good?”

Mark laughed, “I’m pretty sure the other team had similar comments about this class’s method of healing.”

Hilde looked at her HP, “Well, I need quite a bit more healing, Master, that’s for sure.”

Merida said, “Well, hurry. Merigold said she’s gey shair Sam is approachin' her position. I’m gaun tae go grab everyone else.”

Mark pulled Hilde into another deep kiss and another and another, continuing to make horrible one-liners after each kiss.

A minute later, everyone had joined them. Merida said, “Okay, everyone into Hilde’s storage. I’ll only hae enough mana tae teleport the two o' us, and then I’m gaun tae be clean oot. So dinnae expect onythin' frae me during this.”

Hilde opened the storage, and Kitty, Aubrey, and Mark. got inside. Chloe, however, was mixing various liquids. She then thrust a potion bottle at Merida. “Here, take this. It’s a mana recovery potion. It will double your current mana recovery plus give you a flat amount. Might be enough for you to do something.” After Merida took the potion, Chloe entered the storage, and it closed behind her.

Hilde and Merida turned to Ellen and smiled. Hilde said, “Sorry, we’re just running off the second you get back.”

Ellen shook her head, “It’s fine. Go, and good luck.”

With that, Merida teleported away with Hilde.

Sam noticed an odd scent in the air as she approached the first city. Is that… Milk? Oh… oh no… Sam looked at the city ahead and saw an unusual amount of gold and pink. Sam immediately reached out to Laura. “Hey, Laura, you there?” There wasn’t an answer. “Laura? Laura, sort of important. Please answer me.” Still no answer. Wait… was Talia being serious earlier… Fine… “Oh, Laura, please hear my prayer. I seek your guidance.”

Laura immediately replied, “Please not you, too. I have Talia mocking me enough with this.”

Sam frowned, “I didn’t want to, but you weren’t responding. I think I literally have to pray or invoke your name as a goddess and not as a person to make the connection. Anyway, let’s discuss that later. I’m nearing the location.”

“Okay… and?”

“It’s overrun with Moobreys. It isn’t as bad as the initial outbreak, but there are a lot of them.”

Laura swore, “Shit! I’m in Harper’s Haven right now, and we’re about halfway through purifying it. Another cow-girl outbreak would be bad, but no one is around to help you.”

“I know, even if I stop the idol triggering the cow-girls are already leaving the city limits.”

Sam’s conversation was interrupted as she got in range to detect someone seemingly sitting on the steeple of the church. She couldn’t see them. What alarmed her more, though, was the two enemies that appeared out of nowhere outside the city limits. Sam told Laura, “They are definitely here. Don’t know how many, though.” The one on the steeple vanished next. The two signals that had mysteriously appeared slowly moved towards the city.

Laura said, “Be careful. Good Luck.” The connection with Laura ended. Sam got the feeling that Laura didn’t want to distract her at a crucial moment.

Sam wasn’t sure what to do, as she figured the other team would attack her if she went for the idol. She circled the city a few times, pretending to try to get a sense of the situation below. She was really trying to spot the members of the other team. Shit. They’re stalling. They won’t act unless I do. If only I could see them, this would be easy. You know what fuck this, I’m a god damn dragon.

Sam let loose her dragon’s aura, blanketing the city as she dove for the church, unleashing her lightning breath at the clump of Moobrey’s in her landing zone in front of the church doors. She saw one of the two signals she assumed to be the other team start to move and move fast towards the church. Sam turned her head just in time to see Hilde hurling through the air, fist outstretched to punch Sam in the head.

Sam didn’t hesitate and focused her aura on Hilde and the rage she felt at Hilde getting away the last time they fought, and to Sam’s surprise, Hilde didn’t even flinch.

Hilde got blasted with Sam’s dragon aura right before her punch landed. Unfortunately for her, Sam was able to angle her head to take the punch on the horn. It still dazed Sam and allowed Hilde to get inside the church before Sam. Shit! SHIT! Hilde was screaming internally. Her aura control is scary for how long she’s been a dragon. I don’t think I can bring out the others. Hilde shook her head, knowing that if she fell and didn’t bring them out, they would be rightfully pissed at her. She opened her storage, and just as Mark, Kitty, Chloe, and Aubrey stepped out of it, Sam burst through the door. Sam had intended to immediately blast them with her aura, but she saw Mark and unleashed her water breath at the entire group instead.

They stared in horror as the breath weapon came for them. Mark dove towards Chloe to get her out of the way. Aubrey moved to try and lessen the damage by striking out at the jet of water, unleashing several milk blade slashes at it before diving out of the way. Kitty hadn’t topped on Mark’s cum before this, so her thoughts were slightly sluggish. Luckily for her, Hilde thought fast enough. Hilde closed her storage and then reopened it between herself and Sam. The jet of water quickly filled Hilde’s storage, and the second it hit capacity, Hilde went flying back, colliding with Kitty.

Sam shifted into her humanoid form, believing it better in the close quarters, since it also gave the others a smaller target to hit. She was pleased to see that Mark hadn’t avoided her blast completely and was soaked head to toe. She smiled. Great, check that off the to-do list. Now, time to deal with them. Sam flooded the room with her aura, but also focused it on Kitty. Kitty immediately collapsed to her knees just like Sadie had done as Sam charged the disarrayed group, heading straight for Kitty.

Hilde and Aubrey moved to intercept Sam. Despite her speed advantage, Hilde was having some trouble moving in Sam’s aura and couldn’t get a proper blow past Sam’s shield. Aubrey wasn’t having as much luck either. Sam kept disrupting her attacks so Aubrey couldn’t flow into another strike without hitting Hilde with her blade. Aubrey thought she was getting close to Sam’s fighting ability after they practiced together, but she realized just how far she was from Sam as Sam effortlessly crept towards the kneeling Kitty.

Chloe stood and started lobbing flasks at Sam. Mark now understood what Sam meant, that he didn’t know how to fight. Despite it being three versus one, Sam was making it look effortless, graceful even. Nothing wasn’t blocked, parried, or evaded. Sam even used her tail to grab a flask Chloe threw midair and redirect it to hit Aubrey.

Mark gave Chloe a few buffs as he didn’t dare wade into the melee, and he couldn’t get around it to the kneeling Kitty either.

All of a sudden, Sam turned towards Aubrey, while retracting all of her aura, and sent her entire aura and a stab of her sword, now crackling with electricity directly towards Aubrey.

Aubrey tried to meet Sam’s sword with her own, but it seemed to flow around Aubrey’s sword, effortlessly striking the gap in Aubrey’s armor near her left breast. Aubrey was flung back several meters as electricity flowed through her body staggering her as she bleated out as the damage was being converted into arousal. Sam finally took a hit, in the back, as Kitty had stood and unleashed a barrage of arrows at Sam.

Kitty found she could fire a lot more arrows than before she copied Brooke’s boon and far more accurately, too.

Mark was still staring in shock and awe at Sam. Her pupils were practically glowing, a fierce golden amber, with narrow vertical slits. He saw the graceful but devastating way she moved. She was a predator among prey. A predator who felt enraged that the prey would stand up to her instead of fleeing. Her gaze settled on him, and her expression softened ever so slightly. There was still a hunger in her eyes, but far more primal and full of lust. They promised that something savage and pleasurable waited for him as soon as Sam had dealt with some pests.

Aubrey started belting out the healing hymn to help everyone recover. Sam abandoned restraint and charged Aubrey to prevent her from completing the hymn. As she did, her body became covered in azure scales. She thrust her sword at Aubrey hard enough to crack Aubrey’s breastplate and send her flying. She took several more arrows and a kick from Hilde, but she didn’t care as Aubrey didn’t get back up. She caught Hilde’s wrist with her tail and slammed her into the ground. “One down, four to go.”

+15 CP Incapacitated Opponent (Sam)

Hilde used her Glitch to free herself and backed off. Sam didn’t change back into a dragon, but shot her lightning breath weapon towards Kitty all the same. Kitty managed to dodge just in time, thanks to her improved reflexes, but still got hurt from the blast. More importantly for Sam, was the fact that right behind where Kitty was standing was the idol on the altar that she needed to deal with. It did not survive her breath weapon. Sam grinned with pleasure as she went for Chloe. Hilde tried to defend her, but unless she wanted to take a hit that she could ill afford to with all the damage that had accumulated that day, there was little she could do to delay Sam.

Mark was willing to take those hits and dove towards Sam. He saw for the first time in the fight the slightest hesitation as she struck him in the stomach repeatedly. She looked down at him as he started to lose consciousness. “Sorry, Mark. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of after this.”

+10 CP Incapacitated Opponent (Sam)

Chloe threw a potion at Sam’s feet, causing a gaseous cloud to engulf Sam. She jumped back towards the exit to get out of the gas, unsure what it was, when she heard a loud snapping sound right next to her face as a slender hand extended over her shoulder. Quickly followed by, “Sleep!”

Then Sam heard nothing as everything went black.