The arena lay fractured and scorched, bearing the aftermath of battles past. Rain began to fall, not heavy, not light, but strange. It wasn't natural. It shimmered in hues of green and violet, like magic laced through every drop. The temperature dropped. The air grew tense.
At the center, Piper stood tall, soaked, her dark lipstick bleeding slightly at the corners. In front of her, regal and calm, stood Lisia, her grandmother. A goddess of flora, clad in white and gold, barefoot on cracked stone, eyes soft yet unreadable.
Lisia tilted her head. "Piper? What kind of mouth is that? Why are you cursing your own grandmother?"
Piper didn't blink. "Grandmother? Maybe on paper. But in my heart? You've been gone too long. You're nothing. I forgot you. Bitch."
The crowd stirred, but no one spoke. No cheers, no gasps. Silence.
From the commentary box, Mira's voice cut through. "Looks like Piper's on fire. There's old blood here. Very old. I think this match will be more than just another round."
Piper rolled her eyes. "Mira, shut the hell up. Not every damn word I say needs a damn reaction. I didn't think you were such a damn chatterbox."
Mira paused, then smirked. "Oh sweetheart, too bad. You're stuck with me until one of you drops."
Piper hissed. "Whatever. Pain in the ass."
Lisia's gaze drifted to Piper's neck. Her eyes widened softly. "The pendant. You kept it. Eileen's pendant. Piper, I'm proud of you, my sweet."
"Don't say her name. Ever."
The weight of those words filled the arena. Lisia's expression softened. Piper's hardened.
Mira's voice rose again. "Start the match already!"
As if on cue, the crowd snapped back to life with cheers. Mortis flapped his wings high above the dome, looking down.
"Sorry, girls. I can't watch this. My ego's too inflated today."
He soared off into the cloudy sky.
Kuina, watching from the arena gate, glanced up, whispering to herself. "Mortis... what's going on with you?"
Clara noticed. "Kuina? Are you okay?"
Kuina shook her head lightly. "I don't know. This whole tournament's spinning out of control. I'm just waiting for my match."
Her tone had sharpened. Kylie stood beside her, gaze soft, quiet for once.
In the ring, Piper raised her staff. A gust of wind circled around her, colored in purple and green. Magic tingled in the air.
"Let's see what you've got, Lisia."
She dashed forward with a scream. Her speed cracked the stone beneath her feet. Lisia raised her hand lazily and flicked her fingers. Instantly, the rainfall intensified, floral and thick. It clung to skin like mist.
Piper's eyes twitched. "Rain? Tch, cute. Won't help you."
She lunged, staff spinning. A wide arc, slicing the air toward Lisia's throat. It connected. A thud echoed.
Lisia didn't even move. "Cute. But not nearly enough."
Before Piper could recover, Lisia pivoted and slammed a foot into her gut. Piper's body bent, wind knocked out of her. She went flying.
Midair, vines burst from the ground, thick, veiny, and alive. They grabbed her mid-flight, snapping around her limbs and waist, locking her in the air.
"Fuck! What the hell is this crap?!"
Lisia walked toward her, hands behind her back like a teacher approaching a student. "That attitude. That temper. You're still my granddaughter. Whether you like it or not. I don't want to hurt you, Piper. This is just a fight. But that pendant... it says you still care."
"Shut up! I came here to win, not to cry about the past!"
She roared and tried to break the vines. Magic sparked from her skin, water magic flaring violently, but the vines only tightened. Her wrist cracked slightly. Blood trickled. Piper gritted her teeth.
"Let me go or I'll drown this whole damn arena!"
From the edge, Kuina turned to Kylie. "That red crystal around your neck. What is it?"
Kylie blinked. "Oh, this? Just a jewel, babe. But Piper's pendant? That's got weight."
Kuina frowned. "It's embedded in your skin."
"Fashion, Kuina. It's called suffering for sex appeal. I'd wear a rock if it looked hot. Want one? I'll get you a wedding one."
Kuina turned red instantly. "Kylie! Not now! There are people around!"
Clara, Lika, and Molly turned their heads at once.
"Wedding?!" Clara blinked.
Kuina scratched her temple. "I... what's a wedding again?"
Kylie smirked. "She said yes. That's all that matters."
Mira up above laughed. "Wedding bells? Mid-battle? I need a drink."
Lika stepped up. "Kuina... marry me instead?"
Molly scoffed. "Marriage sounds like a lot of paperwork."
Kuina chuckled. "Lika... if there's one girl I'd say yes to, it's probably you."
Kylie smiled, but her fingers clenched.
Clara clapped. "Okay! But maybe support Piper first?"
Back in the ring, the vines released. Piper hit the ground on all fours, spitting blood and rain.
Lisia didn't wait. "You want pain? I can give you pain."
She raised her hands. Thorned vines rained from the sky. From the godly booth, Ortus waved lazily.
"She's triggering it. Arrito, dome."
Arrito chuckled. "Ah, shit. Finally."
A magic barrier covered the divine booth.
Ortus smiled. "Kylie... better stretch. You're next."
The vines slammed down. Piper responded with a massive ice dome, her hands glowing.
"Fuck off already!"
A monstrous flower erupted from the ground, roaring. It lunged at her.
Piper gritted her teeth. "Not today!"
Her water blades formed in her palms, growing long and jagged. She jumped, slashed, spun midair. The flower's head rolled to the side.
"Bitch, I said NOT. TODAY."
Lisia shrugged. "Then let's test your limits."
Piper didn't wait. She burst forward, aiming for Lisia's throat. Lisia dodged casually. Then a geyser exploded from below, blasting Lisia slightly to the side.
Piper smirked. "Didn't expect that, did you, Grandma?"
"Nice move. Still not enough."
Suddenly, a red geyser burst from the ground, slamming Piper in the chest and flinging her into the air.
"WHAT THE FUCK?! BLOOD?!"
Piper crashed and rolled, coughing violently. She waved a hand, and a wash of pure water erupted from her skin, cleaning her.
"This fight's disgusting. But I'm not done."
She charged Lisia barehanded.
"Let's go fists now!"
"No thanks."
Every punch Piper threw was caught or blocked by sudden plant growth. Vines, roots, thorny bark. Nothing hit.
"Let Mortis become human," Lisia whispered.
Piper froze. "What?"
"He asked me. He wants to be human. To stop being... just a unicorn."
"Why? That idiot... He's perfect the way he is."
She looked around, panicked. "MORTIS! YOU IDIOT!"
No answer. Her eyes trembled.
Suddenly, a knee smashed into her gut. She gasped.
"Wh- how did you..."
"Because I know you."
Rage flooded her eyes. A shard of ice formed in her palm. She jammed it into Lisia's neck.
Gasps.
Mira shrieked. "PIPER STABBED HER!"
Kuina smiled. "Hell yeah."
Ortus narrowed her eyes.
Prestik whispered. "She messed up."
Lisia pulled the dagger out. Her neck healed instantly.
"That hurt."
"Tch... figured."
Without warning, a cactus burst from the earth and impaled Piper through the stomach.
"Guh-... fuck..."
Blood gushed.
Kuina roared. "PIPER!"
Molly screamed. "Get up! NOW!"
Mira gasped. "She's down!"
The cactus twisted. Piper screamed.
Far away, Mortis froze mid-air.
"Piper..."
He turned around.
Lisia sighed. "That mouth. You need to learn respect."
Kuina pushed forward.
"I'm going in."
Kylie grabbed her. "Don't! You'll ruin everything!"
"I don't give a fuck! I'll kill Lisia myself!"
Kylie smiled faintly. "That's why I love you kuina."
Molly was confused, "Are you sure you want to risk her and your fight?"
" I don't care, I love her! I protect her!"
Piper heard. Her eyes watered.
"My Goddess... sorry. I... lost..."
Kuina broke into a run. "I'm coming, Piper!"
Ortus narrowed her eyes.
"She's interfering?. Not. Happening."
To be continued...