Spring 2007 R1-7: Overdriven v. postalblowfish7 -- Celestial Eight

[LocoColt04]

Reference this thread for bracket information. Reference this thread for environment information.

You have from now until the 28th of February to finish your round. Good luck!

I was going to expand the environments for you, but I've decided to leave that in your hands. Pay attention to what's already listed in the Environment thread, and build upon it from there. I look forward to this season's tournament.



Remember, your characters have been teleported to this location via the powers of the gods/aliens (call them anything but judges). Because this is the first round, long introductory posts explaining your characters' journey prior to abduction are acceptable. In future rounds, try to keep them shorter.

Again, good luck, and more importantly, have fun!

[postalblowfish7]

Chase Prichard slowly opened his eyes. All he could see was an endless star field stretching out before him. He couldn't feel the ground beneath his feet. As if awakening from a dream in which he was falling from a great height he jolted and sat up.

'I was laying on my back?' Prichard thought to himself as he rubbed the back of his head. He glanced downward. It looked as if his arm came to a sudden and misty end, as his hand had disappeared beneath the vale of some white gaseous form. The space pirate from DX-27 lifted his hand from the mist to make certain it was still there. 'Where the hell am I?'

As if struck by a bolt of lightning he leapt to his feet. It was like standing on nothing at all, and as Prichard conducted the first visual survey of this strange new landscape his heart began to beat faster. Fear was something Chase Prichard was not used to dealing with. Clouds - there were clouds everywhere! As if he had fallen into some sort of dream Chase glanced about in a trance. 'I'm... I'm standing... on a cloud!' As if to defy his latest realization, the cloud he was standing on began to split into two different puffy shapes beneath his feet. Chase quickly activated the gravity boosters in boots just in time to escape the empty space that occupied where he had just been sleeping. 'What the hell is going on here!' he thought as he used the booster charge to make it to a nearby, and hopefully more stable, cloud.

He suddenly remembered his travel companion and beloved friend. "POKEPOKE!!" he yelled. The sound disappeared as if he was in a sound proof chamber. The air was thin here - and beneath the clouds all he could see was darkness. "POKEPOKE!!!" he yelled again, a slight hint of desperation and fear in his cry. His eye piece flashed to life. 'A telepathic signal!' Slowly before his right eye words began to flow like a stream of consciousness. "STARS SPACE DARKNESS CHASE AIR BLACK LIFE DEATH FEAR CHASE STARS DARKNESS FEAR FEAR," Pokepoke's thought patterns communicated pure thought rather than constructed language. 'Finally a lock!'

With his boots sufficiently recharged Prichard sprung up again and rushed toward the source of the signal. He found the slug-like Pokepoke, face glowing bright orange, on a nearby cloud. Chase put one arm around the Bon-Ton, feeling a little better knowing his trusted companion was with him in this new and strange dilemma. "I don't know what's going on here little guy, but I'm glad you're with me." The eye piece charged to life again, "SAFE FRIEND CLOUD STARS DARKNESS LOCATION CLOUDS DARKNESS SAFE FRIEND."

Chase chuckled, feeling more himself now. "I'm glad to see you too little guy, but don't feel too safe. I have the feeling that someone abducted us and brought us here for a reason. I also have the feeling that this isn't an ordinary cloud field - this is an arena."

Again the eye piece delivered thought to Prichard, "ARENA BATTLE FRIEND CLOUDS FEAR TOGETHER FIGHT FRIEND."

Again Chase chuckled playfully before taking a more severe tone. "Don't get too excited," he said to his slug-like companion, "we still have no idea what's going on here. But be ready to fight in a moment's notice - I have the feeling we're not alone..."

[Overdriven]

“You’ve gotten us lost, haven’t you?” Cassandra said, her tone making plain the number of choice words she had neglected in her accusation.

“Of course not, your Royal Highness. I am merely utilizing another route.” Aiden replied, a smirk of mischief upon his face.

“Right. We’re lost.” The Princess sighed. “And I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Isn’t it your title? Or would you prefer perhaps Divine Princess? Perhaps Your Holy Majesty? Oh, I like that one!”

“Do you never shut up?”

“Thank you, I’ll be here all night!”

The Spellsword would be shocked to find out that his words would not carry an ounce of truth to them soon enough.

They had entered a rather large copse of trees just as the second sun set over the country of Aeslia. Together, The Princess and the Sorceror, they had journeyed for just over a week, and had complete most of the trek to safe land. There had been assassins and soldiers on their trail the entire time, but they hadn’t yet come close to being captured. If nothing else, they were a resilient pair.

Aiden led the way, cutting and bashing his way through the underbrush with a short sword. They still had quite a walk left before they would exit the forest and get some rest, and already darkness was descending on the land. The mage picked up the pace. Chopping and driving ahead in silence now, he was aware of sweat glistening on his forehead. They traveled in silence for a spell, concentrating on their footing and navigating through the growing dark.

Until it was no longer dark, and there no longer woods to struggle through.

“Aiden?” The Princess asked, in an uncharacteristic use of his first name.

The Spellsword turned in a complete circle, sword in hand, to take in their new surroundings. They were in a room of the purest white he had ever seen. The likes of which no amount of cleaning would bring about. The only explanation for such a sudden transportation was one Aiden was quite aware of, and one he felt none of here.

“I feel no residual Arcana.” He said suspiciously. “We weren't brought here by any magical means I am aware of.”

“I don’t feel it either. But how else? And where are we?”

“You are here.”

Aiden jumped a little at the disembodied voice, eyes darting left and right in search of the source. He saw nothing but white. Cassandra drew up closer to him, her hand resting on the handguard of her rapier. Both were always ready for a battle.

“Where is here?” Aiden asked, eyebrows narrowed.

“A better question would be ‘Why are we here?’”

“Okay, I’ll bite. Why are we here?”

“You’re here to fight.”

Aiden glanced at Cassandra, who in turned nodded, all bantering gone between the two for a moment. He smirked at the slightly younger girl, before turning his gaze toward the pure white ceiling.

“Very well then. Come out and we’re happy to oblige.”

A sharp, twittering laughter surrounded them, its quality almost childlike. Aiden lowered his body slightly, eyes searching the room for an evidence of an attack.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The voice came, still chuckling. “You are not here to fight us. You are here to entertain us. Welcome to the Tournament of Arms.”

“We don’t have time for this.” Cassandra said to Aiden, before shouldering past him and repeating herself, louder this time. “We do not have time for this.”

“You must make time, Princess.”

“How do you know me?”

“We know a great deal. We know you care more for your people than anything else. We also know you wouldn’t dare let them come unto harm.”

“You couldn’t…”

“We had no problem bringing both of you to us. It would be just as simple to pull a kingdom into the stars.”

“Why would you do that?”

“There must be blood, Princess. Shed by the two of you, or taken from your people. In the end the choice is yours.”

For Cassandra the choice was simple. She had no problem sacrificing her life for her people. It was a fate she had prepared herself for since birth. Of course, she would much rather live. The one factor in the equation these beings didn’t count on, however, was her companions willingness to risk his life for her and her country. Cassandra cast a glance back at Aiden, her eyes making plain her intentions. He met her with a genuine smile and a glint in his eyes.

“Let’s do this.”

As he said it, the mage began a series of small movements in the air in front of him. The drawing of such sigils in the air required a deal of concentration that required him to sheath his short sword. He was efficient at it though, and was halfway finished before they were once again moved instantly from one point to another.

From white room to blue sky.

Aiden was concentrating so hard on his sigils that he didn’t even have a chance to take in their new surroundings. However, Cassandra was acutely aware. Even as the Battle Mage completed his runic drawing in the air, the Princess dropped to a crouch, one arm instinctively snaking around his right leg for support.

Glancing down, Aiden was quite surprised that they were on what could only be a cloud. He had never seen one from anywhere but on solid ground, and the view from atop one was stunning. They were high enough in the air that his breathing suffered slightly, but not enough for discomfort. As the young man took in the amount of clouds, and the strange fact that they could stand on them with no difficulty, he smirked down at the woman he was tasked to protect.

“Uncomfortable with heights Highness?”

“Only when I’m at a height no human should reach.”

“Again, I sense no Arcana in this.” Aiden said, frowning. “In fact, I am quite sure we’re not in Aeslia anymore. I don’t feel The Spark here.”

“Does this mean you can’t use Arcana?” Cassandra asked, as she tentatively rose to her feet, testing how solid the footing on the clouds was.

“No, I should have no problem. I draw most of it out of myself."

Cassandra turned away from Aiden, and he could tell by the way she stiffened that they weren’t alone. He turned slowly, not wanting to come across as openly hostile, and was quite shocked at what he saw. A man stood a distance away from them, on the cloud as well. He was dressed in clothes the like Aiden had never seen, and looked grizzled and strong. However, it wasn’t this man that drew his attention.

Floating not far from the stranger was a large sluglike creature, held up by means that Aiden couldn’t decipher. The creature didn’t look menacing, but the Spellsword felt that underestimating such a strange beast would be his downfall. Putting on a genuine smile, Aiden nodded directly at the man across from him.

“Would I be correct to assume you were transported here as well,” Aiden said, letting his left hand fall onto the hilt of the longsword at his left side. “And that you’re our first opponent in this “Tournament?”

Aiden knew what he had to do, and was fully prepared to do it. He’d let them say their peace, and then he’d have no choice but to fight on. Eloquent as he was, the young mage much preferred to settle things with actions instead of words. If taking out this man and slug-thing meant he and the Princess would get back to their own world, he would no hesitate. Not for an instant.

[postalblowfish7]

'Who are these museum pieces supposed to be?' Prichard thought to himself. He was looking at a brawn warrior clad in leather armor and a fair teenage girl in a cloak ornate in royal proportions. They looked rather out of place in this dreamscape. Then again, Chase felt like anything was possible in this surreal nightmare.

"Would I be correct to assume you were transported here as well," the armored warrior said, "And that you’re our first opponent in this tournament?" It was starting to make sense to Prichard now. He was indeed inside an arena, and the life of himself and his companion had just become blood sport.

Prichard wasn't about to waste any time with these two. If this was indeed a tournament, he would make sure that he and Pokepoke would not be humiliated in the very first round. The flare of competition gleamed in the space pirate's eyes. Pokepoke knew only that these two new faces were considered a threat by Chase, his best friend in the universe. He would defend his human companion to the death.

Prichard took a ready stance, one hand on the hilt of the massive electrically charged two handed sword strapped to his back. He began to concentrate his mind so the Bon-Ton could understand his commands as clearly as possible. Pokepoke easily picked up on Chase's thoughts. 'Ok buddy this is it. While this fool banters playfully we have a chance to make the first strike!' The Bon-Ton's face glowed orange as Chase's eye piece flashed back to life. "FRIEND RUSH SWORD ATTACK FRONT RUSH POKEPOKE STAY HOLD FRIEND RUSH POKEPOKE HOLD GO STAY RUSH HOLD"

'I think i like your plan old friend,' Chase thought, 'but get ready to hold that girl long enough for me to get a good blow at that swordsman. I have a feeling she's going to be the one to keep an eye on. Okay...!' The Space Pirate leapt to action! Activating his gravity boots he jumped from the edge of a cloud a dozen or so feet in the air as he arched his back preparing the most devastating blow he could muster from his two handed sword. He was baring down directly above the medieval swordsman when he launched his attack, a massive over-head slice downward with his electrified sword. Pokepoke's faced glowed orange as he started to attempt to hold back the female competitor using his telekinetic powers to paralyze her body.

[Overdriven]

Aiden couldn't help but tense up as a moment passed without a response from either of his fellow combatants. His wariness increased as the man moved a hand to the large sword attached across his back. In the same instant the floating slug-thing began to glow from within, and Aiden got the distinct impression they were dealing with a race of people or creatures that spoke without words.

The spellsword sent Cassandra a pointed glance, letting her know to be prepared for anything. She answered him with a solid nod, taking the initiative to draw her rapier. The Princess only got it halfway free of its housing, however, when she suddenly went stock still. Aiden frowned at her, as the girl stared straight ahead.

"Aiden," She said, her voice oddly strained. "I can't move."

That statement spurred the Battle Mage into action. He drew his longsword smoothly as he turned, the blade hissing audibly as it left the scabbard. He hadn't felt the use of whatever magic his opponents had used to disable Cassandra, which made him slightly nervous. How could he avoid an attack neither of them could sense?

As he brought his blade around in front of him, lowering his stance, he saw that the man had left the ground. Using some sorcery or technology that was unknown to Aiden, he had leapt high into the air, drawing his comparatively massive sword. The spellsword raised his own sword, gripping it tightly with both hands and shifting his weight to the right.

As the man began to descend, Aiden noticed something he hadn't quite picked up on before. Though he sensed no magic emanating from either the man or his weapon, he picked up on a wisp of something similar the way a tracker would notice smoke from a distance fire. His weapon was not magically enhanced in any way, but it carried with it one of the base elements used in sorcery. Aiden could sense lightning in the sword.

Unlike a weapon that Aiden would Empower, the sword didn't give away its element with a telltale series of small bolts traveling up and down the blade. Its energy was entirely internal, but no doubt just as dangerous. In response to this newfound threat, Aiden released one hand from his hilt, even as the man descended toward him.

"Terrorporis."

Aiden said the Arcane word as his free hand touched the base of his blade, and the effect was immediate. As Aiden poured magical energy into the blade from his own reserves, the longsword immediately began to form a barrier of a dull gray around it, made of pure and solid stone. The magically enhanced essence of earth looked as though it would increase the weight of the weapon dramatically, but it did not. It was merely an Arcane shell to defend against the conductivity of Argentuis, Aiden's sword.

"Illumico!"

In that same moment, Cassandra managed to struggle a variation of her Illumia enchantment out, despite her paralysis. Aiden had the presence of mind to close his eyes for a moment, well aware of just what the spell did. A brilliant white flash of light would burst forth directly in front of the Princess, for she was not able to direct where she wanted the spell to take effect in her current state. The bright light would momentarily blind any who were in front of it, which would include the space pirate, assuming that fancy eyepiece didn't filter most of it out.

The mage had just moved his hand back to the hilt when his opponent, whose name was still unknown, reached him. Aiden was thankful the man had decided on such a high leap, for it had given him a moment to prepare. The blades clashed together sharply, the sound produced much like that of a hammer on granite. Aiden had deflected the attackers sword downward as best he could, and immediately set about to counter attack.

Stepping and sweeping further to the right, he brought the sword quickly inward, aiming it at the man's stomach. As a cutting weapon, the sword wasn't half as efficient as it had been moments before. Now, covered in a layer of solid stone, it was more of a blunt force, but a force to be reckoned with all the same.

Should the blade strike the pirate in the stomach, it may knock the wind out of him, and would surely propel him slightly away from Aiden, giving the mage a moment to regroup and prepare to defend himself and continue to attack. Aiden followed the blow through, straining his muscles in both shoulders greatly to help move himself backward and away from the man as well, taking two quick steps to the rear and right.

As he elevated his sword to aim diagonally at the ground, he shot a brown eyed glance back at Cassandra to make certain she was unharmed. The pirate and Aiden were both about the same distance from her, but he had already seen what the man was capable of so far, and he had no idea just what else that strange slug-thing could conjure up.

[postalblowfish7]

'Magic!' Chase thought to himself as he was struck hard in the stomach by a sword that felt more like a wrecking ball. He was thrown away a good distance from the swordsman before tumbling to a halt on another misty surface. 'Magic, i can't believe it! What the hell are we going to do Pokepoke!' Prichard turned over in his mind, his eyes visibly wide in disbelief. He didn't even have enough time to activate his light class personal force field which he had forgotten about until this moment. After turning it on and getting to his feet, Prichard realized he would not be able to just 'go all out' and win this one. He was also starting to think he had been a bit foolish in blindly charging an unknown foe.

Chase stumbled to his feet. "Pokepoke, release the girl," Chase said out loud so his two combatants could hear. 'Let some of that telekinetic strength return Pokepoke,' Chase mentally dictated to his Bon-Ton companion, 'this is going to be tougher than i thought.' The orange glow from Pokepoke's blank face slowly burnt out, and the mental paralysis was lifted.

Prichard smirked. "Perhaps I acted too hasty, you're pretty good with magic it seams. I'm not sure where you two came from, but on my side of the galaxy magic is a rare gift seldom seen in these techno-mythological days. If this is indeed a tournament then perhaps I should've behaved more sportsman-like." He was still holding the two handed sword, the end of the massive blade resting on the cloud in which he was standing. "The name's Chase, Chase Prichard." He motioned to Pokepoke, who was still hovering in the same spot he had been since they had first awoken in this dreamscape. "That's Pokepoke, a Bon-Ton from 10 lightyears off the fading side off the Pudding nebula. Not that that's going to mean much to you two, judging by your ridiculous outfits." Chase smiled in slight mockery, one hand still clenched his bruised chest.

"So there, I bantered a little as originally requested by yourself swordsman. I believe it would only be fair to allow you to lead off the next attack." Inside Chase was glowing and Pokepoke could feel it. His smitten of soliloquy gave his boots enough time to recharge, Pokepoke some time to rebuild his telekinetic strength, and most importantly time for Chase to catch his breathe after being struck so hard in the chest. "MIND ATTACK READY CARE FRIEND STEADY CHARGED FULL ATTACK POWER READY WAITING STAYING WATCHING." Chase's eye piece flashed the Bon-Ton's thoughts. 'That's right little guy - now we know what we're dealing with, and we've had time to let our gear cool. Now we just wait for the next move - just watch me closely and be ready to help as soon as I'm attacked.'

Chase moved his hand away from his chest and once again took up his sword with both hands. "So come on mr. mystical swordsman," the space pirate said with an over-confident smile, "I'm waiting..."

[Overdriven]

The blow did much to dispell Aiden's initial worry about their first battle in the Tournament of Arms. As he hadn't but a moments time to speak with their hosts, he didn't actually know how dangerous the tournament could be. Would they be forced to kill or be killed? Aiden was hardly comfortable with that. The young mage was capable of killing those seeking to take his life, and would do so with no regret but a good deal of remorse. However, he would not risk such a thing with the Princess on hand.

If worse came to worse, he would sacrifice himself for her, and do his best to get her away from the tournament. Watching as his foe was knocked back from the blunt strike to his torso, Aiden felt slightly better about their odds of advancing in the next round, and hopefully impressing their hosts enough to merit a trip back to Aeslia. The man rolled lithely to his feet, holding his chest. He seemed to be able to take the blow well enough.

"Pokepoke, release the girl." The man said calmly.

As he spoke, Aiden turned his attention to Cassandra, noting that the slug-thing no longer was glowing as it had moments before. The Princess stumbled forward, as her body was released from the unseen force that had held it. Aiden strode immediately to her side, eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Cassandra, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She said quietly, seeming somewhat embarassed by how quickly she had been disabled.

"Perhaps I acted too hasty, you're pretty good with magic it seams. I'm not sure where you two came from, but on my side of the galaxy magic is a rare gift seldom seen in these techno-mythological days. If this is indeed a tournament then perhaps I should've behaved more sportsman-like."

Aiden kept his dark eyes locked on the man, as he heard Cassandra finally draw her sword. The idea that Arcana was so rare in their world, which seemed to be called Galaxy, didn't surprise Aiden. Their technology seemed quite advanced, which would account for it. With but a few exceptions, all attempts to mix technology with Arcana ended badly.

"The name's Chase, Chase Prichard." The man said, motioning to the slug. "That's Pokepoke, a Bon-Ton from 10 lightyears off the fading side off the Pudding nebula. Not that that's going to mean much to you two, judging by your ridiculous outfits."

"You're right, I have no idea what you're talking about." Aiden said, smirking. "Nice jumpsuit."

He was of course referring to the dark blue outfit Chase wore, which looked as ridiculous to Aiden as his traveling gear had to the Space Pirate. Clearing her throat audibly, Cassandra stepped forward, intending to have better manners than her protector.

"I am Princess Cassandra Aeslia," She said, motioning then to Aiden. "And this is Aiden Carteret, Battle Magus First Class."

"Spellsword." Aiden said bluntly, using the shorthand version of his title.

"So there, I bantered a little as originally requested by yourself swordsman. I believe it would only be fair to allow you to lead off the next attack."

Aiden raised an eyebrow and glanced at Cassandra, seemingly quite intent to take the man up on his offer. The Princess merely gave him a look that spoke volumes. If he was going to do this, she didn't want him to be stumbling into a trap. Her worry for him was quite touching to the young mage, and he winked at her in response, to which she rolled her eyes.

"So come on Mr. Mystical Swordsman," Chase said, grinning. "I'm waiting..."

Aiden no longer intended to stand on ceremony, but kept his eyes on Cassandra for a moment longer, until she caught his gaze again. He wasn't keen on walking into a waiting sword, and after a meaningful look The Princess knew his plan.

"Contegium."

As the word left the Spellswords lips, the Barrier of Four Moons, which he had been preparing as they were transported to the cloud arena, shimmered with light blue light for a moment, before becoming translucent once more. It should help defend against what Aiden had in mind.

Nodding at Cassandra, they both immediately sprang into action. Aiden moved in front of the younger girl, sprinting toward the Space Pirate. With luck the Barrier he had erected would help defend against whatever abilities this "Pokepoke" possessed, and as such would be able to help if it were to attempt and attack Cassandra.

Crossing the distance between them quickly, with The Princess hot on his heels, Aiden swung his long sword in a swift horizontal two handed strike toward the midsection of the man. It would be an easily parried attack, which is just what Aiden was counting for. Even as he swung the sword, he was moving low and the left, abandoning his original target.

In this same moment, Cassandra picked up on the maneuver, her smaller blade flashing up in a streak of blue light. She thrust the point ahead, her form much more accurate and efficient than her protectors. The tip of the rapier would be directed toward the Space Pirates left shoulder, in an attempt to slow him down further with the large sword.

Aiden had quickly moved to the side, and turned his attention to the Slug-Poke-Thing. Releasing the hilt of his sword, he directed an open left hand at the creature, and was uttering the short incantation to a spell at a manic pace.

"Perculio Avarcacium."

The two word spell took but a moment to speak clearly, and the effect was immediate. From the hand of the Spellsword came forth a dark blue ball of force, which was propelled from him with a speed and accuracy that would humble some of the best Longbowmen in Aeslia. The Shock Strike rocketed toward Pokepoke, seeming to part the air as it approached the creature.

On impact, the spell would blow back its target a good distance, landing them on the ground. In this instance Aiden wasn't sure if the Slug would hit the ground, but the spell also caused a spark of pain and momentary disorientation, as well as a sluggishness that lasted several seconds.

Aiden glanced sideways at Cassandra and Chase, trying to keep an eye on the Princess as well. She was an exceptional fencer, but he still had a responsibility to protect her. Luckily for her, and as Aiden knew, the handle of her rapier had a core of Baltias wood, which would prevent her hand from being shocked by the Pirates own weapon. Still, Aiden warned her of it.

"His sword is Lightning Empowered," He said quickly. "Don't let it touch you."

[postalblowfish7]

Bathed in blue light, Prichard stood ready as the spellsword charged him. He expected the knight to simply engage him in close combat, but the space pirate knew he would not last long one on one against this medieval magus punk. Within moments Aiden was upon Prichard, who raised his two hander to parry the attack. It didn't take him long to realize he was not the true intended target. "Nice try holotrash," Chase said with a smirk.

"His sword is Lightning Empowered," he heard the spellsword say as he breezed by, "Don't let it touch you." The cunning pirate's eyes moved just fast enough to notice that the royal Princess Aeslia was charging him with her rapier outstretched. "Goddamn rich girl" Chase muttered under his breath as he activated his gravity boosters. As he parried the girl's rapier with a flash of yellow lightning, chase's gravity boots shot him skywards and back about 25 yards where he hovered safely out of reach for a moment. 'How the hell did he know about my electro-blade?' Glancing over he suddenly realized where Aiden had been planning on striking. "POKEPOKE!" he yelled after watching the spellsword launch a dark ball of magus energy.

Pokepoke perceived the attack the moment it was launched. Perhaps a bit of magic was instilled in him in the mysterious Cave of Origin where he was first conceived... maybe his telepathy sprung from a well deeper than that of an over developed mind. Whichever the case, the Bon-Ton felt something new awaken inside of him as he witnessed the various magic abilities of their strange combatants. Each flash of magic was like a brilliant epiphany, and the Bon-Ton now knew what it was that he truly wanted to do if they ever made it out of this crazy dreamworld. He wanted to return to his spawning place someday. It felt unnatural, and flustered the creature for a moment.

'POKEPOKE! Get out of the zarfin way!' Chase screamed from the confines of his mind. The space pirate's concern might have been excessive. Pokepoke, while daydreaming a bit about things beyond his understanding, had suddenly found a new motivation in his greatest moment of peril. He had found a reason to make it out of this tournament alive besides just protecting his friend. The Bon-Ton's face shown brightly, a blank stretch of spotty skin glowing orange amidst the celestial maelstrom that spiraled in the sky above them. In an instant the Bon-Ton transfered his energy to the spot Aiden had been charging from the moment he launched the attack. To the spellsword it would've appeared as if the slug-like creature had just disappeared.

Now Pokepoke was behind mage, and prepared to launch an attack of his own. Using the last of his strength before he'd have to rest a few minutes, the Bon-Ton would attempt to lift the spellsword's body 70 or so feet into the air before releasing him to fall punishingly upon the ground bellow. Pokepoke wasn't sure if he would plummet through the clouds, happen upon a gap in the cloudy floor, or figure out a way to stop himself from falling. Whichever the case, it would be all he could muster. If the attack proved to be successful the orange glow would fade and Pokepoke would have to begin to recharge.

Seeing Pokepoke 'blink' to a new location, Chase began to run towards him. He disregarded the Princess who he thought to still be a good sprint away. Prichard knew that Pokepoke would have to recharge soon, and during that time he'd have to defend him - even if it meant going one on one with that spellsword. 'Don't worry little guy, i'm on my way...'

[Overdriven]

Aiden's heart dropped as he discovered the spell missed. The slug-space-thing had vanished. Aiden spun on his heel, holding his sword perpendicular to his body, searching for the creature. He vaguely noticed that the space pirate had abandoned his own battle, leaving the Princess to pursue. She opted against it, however, thinking it wise to wait on her protector.

Before Aiden could move to engage his opponents again, he noticed the slug begin to glow again. Perhaps this was what occured when the slug used it's powers? As if in answer to Aiden's unspoken question, he was lifted immediately from the cloud, heading straight up into the air. The shock from the upward movement hit Aiden instantly, and he almost dropped his long sword.

He managed to keep a grip on it as he ascended, the clouds falling away rapidly. He didn't know exactly what the slug had in mind, but the options didn't seem pleasant. Being propelled rather high in the air, Aiden decided his best option was to sheath his weapon, leaving both hands open if he needed to catch himself.

He had barely slid the weapon into the scabbard when the clouds began to rise up to meet him. More correctly, he was plummeting back toward them. Even as he fell, he realized that the clouds were, in fact, moving. There was a distinct possibility that he wouldn't even land on them. And if he did, from that height, there was a good chance he wouldn't be getting back up.

"Aiden!" Cassandra shouted.

The Princess had sheathed her own weapon, and was sprinting directly toward Aiden's plummeting form as fast as she could. As she ran, the rather dainty girl shrugged off her traveling cloak, gripping it tightly in one hand. She closed the distance swiftly, as Aiden realized he wouldn't be landing on the clouds at all.

The Princess reached the edge of the cloud cover just as Aiden was about to pass it, and the woman through herself to her stomach hard. As she landed she immediately through the cloak out at the Spellsword, holding tightly to one end. Aiden reached, strained, and caught the cloak in one hand. He swung in an arc downward, the momentum pulling Cassandra a little ahead across the cloud.

Aiden put his feet out, and was overjoyed when his feet hit the bottom of the enchanted cloud as solidly as they had the top. He pushed off, reversing the movement to propel himself back around and roughly onto the top of the cloud. He quickly sprung to a foot and a knee, kneeling next to Cassandra.

"Are you okay Cass?" He asked, brown eyes touched with concern.

"I'm supposed to be asking you that."

Aiden smirked, turning his gaze back up to the Space Pirate and the slug. All humor left his face. That slug-thing had tried to drop him to his demise, and that wasn't something he was keen on.

"Are you okay to fight?" Aiden asked, standing and staring straight at the man and his worm.

"Oh, I'm more than okay."

Cassandra stood next to him, drawing her own blade before he had even touched his. There was a quiet fury in her eyes as well, for more reasons than one. These two contestants in this sick tournament had not only tried to kill her protector, and a man co-responsible from pulling their country from the brink of open war, but also a man who had become a personal friend.

It was evident to Aiden that the use of that technique had left the slug thing weak. He based his assumption not on any evidence from the slug, but from the actions of its cohort. The man had taken up a defensive stance, making it seem as though perhaps the creature was weakened.

Aiden drew his sword smoothly, at which time Cassandra took off in a sprint. The sorceror had to run twice again as fast to catch up with the girl, who before this had never beem so aggressive in a combat situation. She was trained for self defense, not assassination, despite her current actions. Aiden pushed himself harder, cutting in front of the girl with the intention of attacking the pirate first.

The reached the man quickly, at the speed they moved, and Aiden immediately flashed his sword out at the man in a vertical upward slash. As he attempted this attack, Cassandra executed a smooth spin along his left side, her hair splaying out behind her. She completed the tight revolution, thrusting the point of her rapier ahead with great precision toward what she was able to hit on the man; his right bicept. Even as she attempted to pierce his arm, Aiden was reversing the grip on his sword. Upon completing the upward slash, whether it hit its mark or not, the Spellsword would drag the sword back down diagonally, attemping once more to get a solid cut on his opponent.

Depending on how resilient the pirates shield was, the attacks launched by Aiden would most likely slice him open if they landed. The Princess had opted for a less fatal strike, but one that would be a good deal more difficult to parry. Assuming, that is, his space age shield was unable to defend against it.