legionmissions | THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Like many cursed objects, the cursed floppy disk containing Tsarista was unearthed by archaeologists, trying to excavate artifacts related to Earth's heroic history. Mystified as to why it was preserved in a strange container that seemed meant to protect it from corruption, they'd created a makeshift system to try to view the data on the ancient device.

Opening the .txt file of "Troubleshooting Windows '95" on it, opened up the world to a whole lot of trouble.

After breaking free -- and through the roof of the archaeology building of the university -- the evil queen cackles in delight at the new world she's found herself in. Nearby television "personalities" recording a puff piece in the park, quickly turn their camera drones on the escaped Queen, broadcasting her to the entire UP.

"At last! I'm free! And oh me, oh my, has the world changed. What a narrative mess it is now, so complicated. And fraught with conflict that isn't easily resolved. And there are so many new settings, in all these UP worlds! No matter. I'll fix it all. I'll make it so everything makes sense."

With a snap of her fingers, magic light pours through the nearby New Metropolis media archives, and everything from datachips, to rare paper books, to flexi tablets came pouring out, swirling around her in a storm of paper that quickly turns into a storm of words.

"My name is Tsarista. Queen Tsarista. And I'm going to turn this galaxy of blank pages into a carefully curated masterpiece -- ruled by me, of course!"

After the display, there's only one way to stop the bubble of unreality that's settled over New Metropolis: by going in and tearing it down from the inside.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fareeha had found herself on hourseback, armored with a sword hanging off her hip and a shield slung over her back. It took her a few moments to orient herself, but seeing the decrepit castle in the distance on a high lonely hilltop with a path leading directly towards it was a pretty clear indication of where she needed to go.

She rides up, dismounts, and brandishes her sword and shield; she's not exactly sure what she's running into, but she's smart enough to know not to go in unawares.

Hearing the evil enchantress toss some shade her way, she pulls her weapons closer against her as she eases her way into the castle.

"I don't try - I succeed. You'd be safer just relinquishing, ah --" And now she finally gets a look at the 'princess', "relinquishing the prince to me!"

The captive "princess" wasn't all that interested in staying captive, to be honest. Vance shifts, pulling at his bonds. Which are just a little too well done for him to get out of.

(If he could remember his telekinesis, it would be much easier.)

He looks up when the hero arrives, looking relieved. "You came!"

"No, I think I will be quite safe as I am," said Videl. She slowly stepped around the chair where Vance was tied, lazily stroking his hair with her free hand and smiling down at him.

"Don't be alarmed, my darling," she cooed. "I will dispatch this unworthy fool."

Videl raised her staff above her head and drew a symbol in the air in flames. She thrust her staff forward, sending the rune into the center of the room. A low rumble sounded, but it was not thunder. The rune shuddered, sending a shower of sparks in all directions, as it grew into the form of a dragon. The beast, composed entirely of flame, stretched its wings and roared at Fareeha, sending forth another flurry of sparks. It was easily as tall as two of Fareeha as it stood now on all fours.

From her place by Vance, Videl threw back her head and cackled. "Best of luck 'succeeding' against my pet, hero," she taunted.

Fareeha ducks behind her shield as its blasted with dragonfire. She can feel the heat curling around the edge, but miraculously her shield holds up. Once its abated and the creature lies in wait, she throws a glance over at Vance and Videl.

"Excuse me while I deal with this rude interruption - "

She turns her attention back towards the dragon, and then sprints forward with a courageous yell, brandishing her sword and raising her shield, to both cover her from its head as she darts close, and to use it as a secondary edge as she comes within striking distance. The heat is intense and she almost feels cooked inside her armor, but she's nothing if not determined.

Vance jerks his head away from the touch to his hair, baring his teeth in a show of defiance.

Only a show, of course, because the ropes were annoyingly tight. He hated feeling this helpless, especially watching his knight in shining armor going into battle.

Videl pulled her hand away from Vance with a soft chuckle. Such disobedience, she thought to herself. That would definitely need to be dealt with later.

But at the moment, there was a more pressing matter to address---one with a sword and shield who seemed quite intent on facing off against Videl's fiery conjuration. Videl took a few steps forward, holding her staff outstretched and trying to pour a little more magic into her dragon. She was confident that her princess was securely bound and wouldn't manage some miraculous escape just because the sorceress's back was turned.

"I believe that was my line," Videl shot back at Fareeha. A slow trickle of flame curled through the air from Videl's staff to the fiery dragon, something rather like a lifeline connecting the two.

The dragon roared again at Fareeha, sending a stream of fire in the hero's direction. It lifted its right foreleg and lashed out, swiping at Fareeha with flaming claws outstretched.

Fareeha gives Videl the barest flick of attention, but it's enough to notice the line of fire between her and the dragon.

Then her attention's taken by the stream of flames and she ducks back down beneath her shield, waiting for it to subside. When it does, however, she's met with a blow from its claws. The armor protects her for the most part, but she is flung to the side and battered up against the stone wall. It winds her, and he gasps for breath as she rights herself.

She glances up, taking stock of where her sword and shield have landed, and how far she is from Videl; if she can take out that staff, she'll have a better chance at taking out that dragon.

"Hold tight, Vance! Someone needs to learn when they invite injustice to their house, I will always come knocking!"

She springs up from the ground, making a move to collect her sword and shield before barelling towards Videl.

"Well, if you want to get REALLY technical about it..." There's something that niggles at him about 'injustice'. Or, rather, the 'justice' part of it. But that's who he is, isn't he?

Luckily, since this is going by story book tropes, whoever tied Vance up wasn't that great at it. Or had decided that, because of the large and floofy skirts, tying up his legs wasn't a priority. And, honestly, the skirts meant that standing UP from this chair without help would be difficult.

It does mean, however, that since Videl's standing close to him? He can reach out with one leg. And, as she's turned away from him? He instead kicks out at the back of her knee.

Videl lets out a laugh as her dragon knocks Fareeha aside like a doll, watching in delight as the battered hero tries to recover. How sad and fragile this hero is, bolstered by bravado but with little strength to call her own. What would be the most fitting end for such a creature, Videl wonders as Fareeha collects her gear. Burned to ashes? Steamed alive in her armor? Or perhaps torn limb from limb?

'Injustice' nags at the sorceress's mind, but she roughly forces it back. Justice? Hah! Justice is for the weak, for those unable or unwilling to seek out the power to put down injustice in their own lives.

Videl opens her mouth to hurl a scathing retort at Fareeha, but cries out in pain as Vance's foot connects with the back of her knee. "Aaargh!" Her left leg crumples beneath her and she falls forward, dropping the staff as she throws out both hands to catch herself. The staff clatters to the ground and rolls a few inches out of Videl's reach.

However, the spell remains unbroken, the magic flame still linked between the dragon and the head of the staff. The dragon whips its head around when it hears Videl cry out. It swipes at Vance with outstretched talons, mindful of its mistress's position on the floor. Fareeha is momentarily forgotten.

Vance's attack couldn't have been better timed; Fareeha takes the moment and - instead of gathering up her sword and shield, she rushes back to Videl.

It's a risk, because if this doesn't work, she'll be wholly vulnerable. She reaches for Videl's staff, intending to wrench it away.

It's a risk that's made a little less risky by the fact that the dragon is focused on Vance at the moment.

There's not really a way to brace for the swipe, nor a way to get away from it. Vance shouts as the talons connect, throwing him aside and into a wall. At least the chair hit the wall first, shattering under the impact but leaving Vance winded as he smacked the wall and then fell to the floor with a groan.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS - Modplot

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