Iron Sole (A,S,F)

While Luna was busy with Dick, their friends were spending their afternoon heading north. Both Stella and Ava were unsure about what they wanted to do for this round’s date, so when Ava mentioned that she and Felicia were going to visit the temple Stella had asked if she could come with. The two unsure women were climbing up the mountain together.

Felicia was with them, she just wasn’t climbing.

“I can’t believe I still have five more hours.” Felicia groused. Her own way up the mountain was being eased as Ava carried her up.

“This was your choice last night.” Ava reminded her.

“I know…”

“I asked you if you were sure last night, if you remember.” Her best friend reminded her again.

“I know, you told me so. I probably wouldn’t have done it if I’d known how long it would last. You have no idea how heavy these are.”

“I don’t?” Ava asked, feigning confusion.

“No!”

Ava lowered her arms, pretending to risk dropping the blonde.

“Fine…” Felicia acknowledged. “Thanks for bringing me up. I hate this walk at normal size.”

“You guys said this all happened because of… a cake?” Stella asked.

“Yeah. It came in the mail, this woman named Sally sent it.”

“Sally?”

“Yeah, did she send something to you too?”

I don’t think you’re sexually ready for my cooking. Stella remembered. “No, she said she wouldn’t this time.”

“Seems like that’s probably for the best.” Ava remarked. “I think we’re almost there.”

As she said, they were coming to the top of the stairs. The temple lay before them, ionic pillars supporting an orb that reminded them all of something that might be in their campaign.

“This is what we came for?” Ava asked out loud.

“Yep.” Felicia confirmed. “There are some beds in there, make sure you set me down on one before you go up to the front.”

The three of them kept going, heading into the temple. Felicia had already seen it multiple times, but her friends hadn’t, and so they were taking in every inch of the space.

Stella found herself blushing as she looked around at the various equipment. How would someone use that? She wondered, studying a set of ropes and straps hanging from one part of the ceiling. After turning red enough that she thought she might combust, she tried to distract herself by admiring a stained glass illustration of an armored woman, who seemed to be concentrating on a map.

These look just like God of Battle characters. Ava thought. She considered bringing the observation up, but stifled it. God of Battle seemed to mostly be making things up after all. Trying to dismiss the idea, she set Felicia down on the closest bed to the golden platform.

“So what do we need to do?” Asked the dungeon master.

Felicia explained. “Just step up there, and get close to the throne. Hopefully you guys can do it without me, but if not then I can join you and see what Katrina has to say about last night.”

So the two girls approached the throne. They stood together in front of its golden gleam and waited.

“I-I don’t think this is working.” Stella said.

White light enveloped the room.

***

Felicia blinked, her vision trying to recover from the flash. How was that easier to deal with when I was getting hit by it?

Her vision coming back, she saw both of her friends standing there. They seemed to be reacting less explosively than Dick and her had the first time, which was probably good.

“You guys good? If you hear voices telling you to strangle me, just warn me first, alright?” She tried to joke. Not getting any response, she tried again: “Guys?”

“We’re good. He seems nice.” Ava assured her. She seemed kind of distracted.

Felicia turned to Stella. She thought the chef might have fallen asleep, until she gave a small thumbs-up.

Inside her mind, Ava could hear her new Mentor speaking. His voice was a little gravelly, and the pauses in certain words made it sound like he needed to catch his breath sometimes. “It’s good to finally meet you.”

This is insane. It feels like the sort of visions I’ve given warlocks and clerics.

The gravelly voice sounded like it was chuckling. “In a way it is. I understand you face similar challenges to my own.”

Maybe?

“You don’t come easily to the sort of… sexual situations my wife enjoys?” He tried to verify.

I guess not. She slowed down, trying to figure out if there was a way to isolate her thoughts from what she showed him. Bringing up his wife felt confusing, and she already had a hard time holding back in regular conversation.

“I can’t hear anything you’re not thinking about, but there’s not really a way I’m aware of to shield your outer thoughts," He interrupted. “You don’t need to worry about holding back though, I’ve had enough criticism over the years to weather something a contestant accidentally says.”

Alright. She was grateful for that, and she felt like she could feel him nodding at that. You seem to know me pretty well, but this is the first time I'm meeting you. What should I call you in front of the others?

“You may call me Vaughn. I am Genet’s husband. I hope this feels alright, I’m trying to be gentler than my sister was with your friend there.” His gravelly voice intoned.

Thanks for that, I guess. You said you’re Genet’s husband? What’s that like?

“Good, nowadays. We used to fight too much, but things are better now. To get on topic, you’re here for help with your date?”

Yeah. Luna helped me with the technical parts, but-

“Getting started or wanting to get started is still a hurdle?” He finished.

You get it.

“Yep. I’ve prepared some stuff for you to pick from that can help. I’d like to come with you to explain my designs. I know you’ve tested Roid Rage a little, but I designed it so you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Or in this case, down a mountain and up a tower. Mind taking me with you to the tower? We wouldn’t be able to make it before my time with you expires without your transformation.”

Ava frowned. That sounds fun to try, but it’s Luna’s day. I’m not sure I want to Rage into her right now.

“I’m prepared for that too.” He reassured her. “It’ll only last as long as my timer does, but I can give you something to maintain it.”

Show me.

As she finished the thought, she felt a tingling that started at the edges of her torso. It was slightly cold, like an air conditioning vent. It started to spread, flowing down her legs and up her arms like syrup. Ava watched it cover her hands, flexing with her as she moved as if it was part of her skin. She ignored Felicia’s exclamations for a moment, still amazed at what she was seeing.

You made me Dax!

She sensed confusion from her mentor. “Dax?”

Dax Biggs? From Final Fight? He got stuff like this in the later games.

Vaughn relaxed. “Ah. I was actually inspired by Your Hero School, but that works too.”

You’re a weeb? Genet’s husband is a weaboo? Shit, sorry.

She could hear him chuckling, though it turned into a cough. “That’s fine, guilty as charged I suppose. I’ll concentrate on maintaining your armor now, I’ll talk more once you’re there.”

As he said that, Felicia’s shouts became harder to ignore; the short girl doing her best to physically shake her friend out whatever was happening to her. “Hey! What happened? I knew we should’ve told Genet we were coming, hopefully she can get you out of this.”

Ava used her new chrome plated arms to stop Felicia. “Hey, I’m back. He wanted to explain some suggestions he had to offer. Now he wants me to go to the Tower to see more, do you want to come with me?”

“I guess so? Does that hurt?” Felicia gestured to the metallic layer.

“No, I- I don’t know how to describe it. It’s skintight, but it doesn’t feel tight. It’s smooth, and it’s real magic. It’s the coolest thing I've seen since we got here.” She squatted down and stuck out her arm for Felicia to feel. “Did you want to come too, Stell?” She asked, turning her head behind her.

Their friend gave a thumbs-down. It almost looked like she was meditating.

“Are you alright with us going?”

A thumbs-up.

“Ok. See you later at dinner then?” Ready to move on, Ava hoisted up her roommate like they’d done together a thousand times. The athlete effortlessly carried her out of the temple, heavier chest and all. Coming back to the edge of the mountaintop, she jumped.

Back in the temple, Stella was listening to the soothing, whispery voice of her new Mentor, Concordia. “I’m glad you wanted to stay, though you never need to consider me. I’m here to ease your journey.”

Thank you.

“Of course. I saw your date with him, but I wanted to know if you’d be able to put in your own words what you like about him,” Concordia gently asked.

Stella tried to think, the words coming more easily in their mental link than if she’d had to say it. He’s very gentle with me. He’s alright with me being guarded and strange sometimes. He’s willing to try new things for me. He doesn’t hit me when I’ve done something wrong.

Stella thought she felt some sadness leaking through from the other side. Did I say something wrong?

“No,” Concordia whispered to her. “That all sounds lovely. It’s just that much of that should be the bare minimum.”

Stella fumbled for an apology. I’m sorry, you’re right. I’m just not used to it. My mom always told me to keep away from men to keep myself safe, so I don’t have many models aside from Dad.

“I know. That’s alright. Part of why I picked you was that my father was similar to your own. I was the oldest daughter, and so we have some similar experiences.” Concordia explained. “But neither of us have to worry about our fathers ever again. You came here for my help. Should we explore things that you may be comfortable with, to sort of dip your toes in the water?”

***

“Woo!”

Ava and Felicia were soaring through the air. It wasn’t flight, but to the athlete using her magical strength to jump through the air still made her feel like a superhero. It felt more like an amusement park ride that had failed its safety check to the blonde, but she was enough of an adrenaline junkie not to care.

As they made their way, they saw the island from a bird’s eye view. The library, the plaza, the water obstacles Felicia had constructed were all visible. They could see someone moving, heading towards Murphy’s but they were too high to see who the dark figure was.

There were a hundred more little clearings in the forest, all waiting to be used. But the two continued to the Tower, as Vaughn had asked of them.

They landed on the balcony, the shopkeeper giving no sign of noticing them enter from eighty feet up. “Ata?” the athlete said as she put down her friend. “We’re here to see the Mentor shop.”

The shopkeeper sprang to attention, eyes lighting up and ponytail bouncing as she stopped humming. “That’s fantastic! They were waiting for me here when I got back last night, I can’t wait to see what you think.” She pulled out a new binder that was waiting on one of her shelves and selected two pages to set down on the counter. “Some of these are re-purchasable, others will be replaced after buying them. Let me know which ones you want!”

From Vaughn, the Maker:

• The Forge Ahead, 9 BP: Necessity is the mother of invention. Ava receives a miniature forge. Once every three days, she can prompt the forge with a problem they are having, and the device will create an artifact designed to solve the issue.
• Volcanic Eruption, 5 BP: The hottest fires forge the strongest steel. The contestant will find physical activity arousing, which will continue to build up until she experiences an overwhelming orgasm. (Renewable)
• Adamant Shard, 2 BP: Leftover ore can still have a glimmer of use. This keepsake gives Ava one-time, temporary access to a transformation that lost a vote.

From Katrina, the Strategist:

• The Big Picture, 8 BP: One bedroom wall of whichever cottage Felicia is living in that round will be converted into a mosaic mural. It will be populated with clues and symbols of possible plans (supplied by the contestant's subconscious and mentor's curation.)
• Premeditatio Malorum, 4 BP: To face the possibility of failure is to begin to overcome it. The night this boon is purchased, Felicia will be given a prophetic dream of an event that, along their current path, will go badly for her. (Renewable)
• Insider Trading 10 BP: Knowledge is power. Felicia will be told a sexual act with a first-time bonus remaining. She will be given a 24-hour period during which they have exclusive rights to perform this act and will be compelled to complete it as soon as possible, pursuing it with ruthless determination

“That was more taxing than I expected.” Vaughn said to Ava. “I don’t have much time left, so I’ll make this quick. The Forge Ahead is great. It has downtime, so you should get it as soon as possible. I wasn’t expecting Genet to make it as expensive as it is though, which means it’s not what you should focus on until you can fundraise enough for it. The Adamant Shard is going to be great for some wow factor if you need it, but I’d save it for an emergency. Get Volcanic Eruption, and the hurdles at the beginning you’re worried about will be a lot easier.”

“Thanks.” Ava accidentally said out loud.

“Thanks for what?” Felicia asked, unable to hear the voice in Ava’s head

“Vaughn was giving me explanations on his stuff.”

“Oh. Your guy seems a lot gentler than mine.”

“I am.“ Vaughn agreed. “Katrina can be a real bastard sometimes. I’m running out of time, at least for this visit. You can always visit again, but can I ask for a few favors?”

Shoot.

“First, try to make sure Genet doesn’t overextend herself? She’s not as strong as she used to be, and sometimes she forgets that.

“Second, try to keep Helena away from the temple. She’s a good kid, and it’s not safe for her there.”

I’ll try? I don’t know how much power I have over either, but I’ll try.

“That’s all I can ask. See you next time.” With his goodbye, the soft metal coating her skin began to melt, disappearing as it dripped onto the floor of the shop.

“He’s gone then?” Felicia asked.

“Yep. He told me to get that middle one.” Ava explained.

“I suppose it would help, if that’s what you really want.” Felicia hesitantly agreed. “I was thinking about getting The Big Picture?”

“It sounds both useful and cool. You’ve got a lot of divination type stuff on yours, and that’s kind of like a renewable omen. You can afford it after yesterday?” Ava asked.

“With Power Creep, I actually managed to get more BP than I spent yesterday.”

Power Creep: Always the powergamer, gaining BP will cause Felicia to become increasingly horny. Gaining VP will grant her an amount of BP equal to half the VP received.

“Then I think that’s decided. Can we buy those then, Ata?” Ava asked.

“Of course!” The shopkeeper agreed. “Your purchase will take effect immediately, and the mural will be waiting in your bedroom.

“Want to go check it out then?”

***

An hour later, they were back at the Trident Cottage and able to see the mural that Katrina had installed. The centerpiece was a dog, specifically a dark, thin, and muscular one that was being given a bowl of kibble. In the upper right corner a beer, or some other sort of **** was being poured from a glass into a tankard. A shamrock sat lazily in the lower left corner, not immediately calling attention to itself.

Ava was perplexed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”