Chapter 30: Grand Finale Part Four
"You're outmatched, I hope you know." The creepy twins said simultaneously. Reader continued to shift his gaze back and forth. He finally concluded that his telepathy was going to be useless and only cause him confusion. This was rather unfortunate, due to him being the least effective in actual combat. He staggered slightly, still shaken by the last attack. The girls continued to move towards him, working in perfect synchronicity. Reader, learning from his mistakes, had stopped trying to read their minds. It provided little comfort however, due to his dependence on that particular skill had turned into his biggest weakness. Still, he held himself out in a fighting stance, not willing to back down.
"Come at me as you may, I cannot back away from the young lass under my care." Reader said. He changed tactics, mumbling out an incantation. "Dependence, burdening weighed down on the heart and soul." The twins immediately recognized it, and began to attack. No longer burdened by thought, Reader continued to chant while expertly deflecting the attacks. Using his open palms, he moved most of the punches out of the way using the path of least resistance, though two against one had led to a few connecting. Reader took them as well as he could, refusing to break concentration. "Taken away is the gift..." Reader ducked a swift kick, taking a step backwards as the other twin made her way into the opening the attack left. "...granted to us by the ancestors. A reality stemming from the loss of what was once ours."
His fluid motions made it easy for him to cast in the middle of hand to hand combat, something he always had a leg up on between him and his allies. They could do it as well, but it was something that came a second nature to him. "Null Field!" Reader finished, sending a slight spark through him and his opponents. He made sure he covered the entirety of Sugarcube Corner in an anti-magic field. His intuition proved to be insightful, however, as the twins were immediately disorganized. "It was a clever ploy, and I commend you two for using mind magic in such a unique way, but know that it will take more than a few tricks to take me down." Reader went back to his time training and meditating at the monastery, where he found his inner peace after becoming filled with mind numbing fright.
"...well, it was fun while it lasted, right dear sister?" Reader sighed in relief as they finally stopped talking in sync.
"Yeah. I kinda wish we could have gone after one of the cute ones, though." The other sighed.
"I know, right? Bald men are so unattractive." They both giggled, Reader watching their actions for anything sneaky, but other than that, remained fairly uncaring at their direct insult.
"I suppose I am unable to convince you two to leave peacefully." Reader responded, his tone strict and solid, contradictory to his stance.
"Dante would be very displeased with us if we just gave up." One of the sisters said, walking towards Reader. Reaching up her sleeve, she pulled out a police style baton, her sister doing the same.
"You never want to disappoint him..." The other said, giggling quite cutely, or at least it would have been if they weren't complete sociopaths.
"Then don't go back to him. You can leave him and start a new life." Reader said, trying to find a way to not resort to violence. "You are both very skilled, obviously."
"The offer is appreciated, but I doubt any of you can do for us what Dante does..." She laughed, shaking her head.
"This Dante fellow...why do what you are doing for him?" Reader asked, trying to make heads and tails of the strange duo.
"He saved me and my sister, metaphorically speaking. I assure you that the details of our upbringing would be enough to make you cringe with gut wrenching fear..."
"Our parents were rich and spoiled us." The one telling the story stopped and glared, the other giving her a mischievous smile.
"Cast out onto the streets, we had to do anything in our power to survive...and I mean anything."
"We were bored, so we left. And the anything part was fun and you know it!"
"Seriously?! I am trying to tell the story here, not you!" she yelled.
"Sorry. Continue." The other one said smiling. Reader, in all of his years and all of his opponents, have never come across a stranger pair. Why a couple of lovely young girls such as them preferred this kind of life was completely beyond him. They certainly were powerful, but most definitely odd.
"Since she insists on constantly interrupting me, I'll cut to the chase. Dante saw our potential...as well as our 'potential' and decided to take us into the group. It is fun, and we are never bored."
"Sis, I am getting bored. Let’s finish this job so we can go have some fun!" The other twin approached her from behind, wrapping an arm over her shoulder and the other around her waist. She sighed, no longer finding the strength to really complain.
"Oh behave, Rusalka." The one called Rusalka pouted, and climbed off her sister. "We will go get some ice cream when we are done. Will that be fine?"
"Ice cream?!" Rusalka said, her eyes lighting up. "You're the best, Belili!" She turned towards Reader, grinning. "Before we kill you, where would you recommend getting ice cream?"
Reader looked at the pair, it seeming that all seriousness has left them for the moment. He wasn't sure if this was some strange battle tactic or not, so he chose to remain focused on them. "You two...are currently trying to extinguish my life force...and you are asking me about ice cream?" He was slightly disturbed by her simple nod, Belili shaking her head in embarrassment.
"Really? We are in the process of trying to kill him. Just because our little act failed, doesn't mean you have to start acting like an idiot." Belili scolded Rusalka. She sighed and nodded, getting her focus back to what's important at the moment.
"I am sorry, both of you." Rusalka apologized.
"Sis...why are you apologizing to him?" Belili asked.
"Because..." With no warning the baton flew out of her hand, striking Reader in the head. He recoiled back, gripping his aching skull. Both sisters grinned charging Reader quickly. Belili quickly swung, Reader instinctively blocking the baton. It hurt like hell, and Reader surely wasn't going to not feel it later, but the surprise attack threw him out of his rhythm. Rusalka quickly kicked her weapon back into her hand, and started to strike at Reader, while all he could do was back away to avoid the strikes now. The ringing in his skull finally subsiding, he noticed himself quickly getting cornered. Regaining his stance, he quickly pushed the batons out of the way as they swung at him, finally refusing to give any ground.
"Not bad, old man." Belili said between swings.
"You're still outnumbered though!" Rusalka chimed in, grinning happily. Reader was content with holding his ground, but against the two opponents, it was hardly a fair match up. Even still, his priority was protecting Pinkie, who he was considerably thankful, if not a bit nervous, that she hasn't come down yet. The cakes, owners of the establishment, were generally given money by Pinkie for a hotel room when she planned night time parties.
"So...I take it...you have friends attempting to kidnap the other maidens?" Reader asked, between blocks and guards.
"Yeah...but..."
"Not much you can do about it!"
Rusalka's baton made a line straight for the top of Reader's head, not giving him enough time to block, having just blocked a fierce low blow from her sister. Reader braced himself for the strike not sure if the lack of pain was from being killed or knocked out. He looked up, eyes starting on the hand clenched to the wrist of Rusalka and following it to the face of a very angry looking farm girl. He began to ponder many things, even though now wasn't the best time to do so. Why, how, when, and most importantly, what?
"If ya'll think I'm gonna stand around while ya beat on my friend here, you're in fer a world of hurtin..." Applejack said, using her strength to quite literally hurl the younger Rusalka at the front entrance, hitting the wall and sliding down, her face sewn with pure confusion. "I got this one, I hope yer able to handle one little girl." Applejack said, chuckling as she approached the downed Rusalka. She quickly scrambled to get up, her face easily giving away her surprise.
"Miss Applejack, I have no clue as to why you are here, but I will most certainly be the last to complain about it." Reader said, pushing the solo Belili back from her location, no longer burdened by the two on one fight he was experiencing. "Be careful, though. As strange as these two act, they are indeed good..."
"Applejack, was it? Do you know where we can get some good ice cream?"
"...fighters..." Reader was done. Talking anymore would be a waste of oxygen and kill his brain cells faster than spending time with Catacomb. He would be patient until the problem of the twins was dealt with.
Reader stared down Belili, who hadn't lost her confidence even after having her sister separated from her. He could tell she was definitely the better fighter, by how she held herself just beyond his attack range, but within her weapon range. That and he could see Rusalka flailing around like a madwoman trying to strike Applejack, who seemed to have no problem putting him to shame by blocking all the attacks without even wincing. His lack of focus almost cost him, as Belili immediately took note and attacked, quickly and efficiently. Reader pushed the weapon away, following up with a fluid counterattack, aiming an open palm at her stomach. She moved out of the way quickly, but not before feeling the pressure from the attack itself slightly rattle her. Going back to keeping her distance, she put her hand on the spot, gently rubbing it to ease the odd feeling.
"You got some interesting moves..." Belili complemented.
"Same to you as well. I wish to further express my disinterest in this childish fight, and I do wish to offer you the olive branch." Reader said, watching her.
"...What?" Belili asked, trying to figure out what he was talking about.
"A stop to all this senseless fighting." Reader explained, watching for reactions.
"Sorry, but unless you're willing to hand those girls over, which I do doubt, the answer is going to be no." Belili said.
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"You are so much more fun than he is!" Rusalka said, swinging happily at the cowgirl. Applejack blocked each blow, shrugging them off time and again. Applejack followed with her own strong punches, striking nothing but air. Her sporadic fighting style made it difficult to figure out where she was going to strike and how long she actually planned on staying in one place.
"Get back here ya slippery harlot!" Applejack yelled out in frustration.
"You're one of the girls we have to bring back, right? Oh if we bring back two, Dante will surely reward us!" Rusalka smiled happily, assaulting Applejack with a flurry of blows driven by further excitement. She was able to block them, but she wasn't exactly sure how much more abuse her body could take. "Ninja guy is soooo boned!" She giggled, surprising Applejack with a swift kick to the ribs. Applejack was tough, but even so, she felt as though they were definitely going to bruise.
"Why don't ya just quit while yer ahead, before ah knock ya into next week!" Applejack said, jabbing quickly at her opponent. Rusalka dodged, though barely, as the attack missed, though striking the wall behind her. For the first time, she got to see what she was up against when it came to Applejack. She pulled her fist from the wall, having made a fairly deep hole within the drywall. This would not have been an issue had she not pulled her hand out, unscathed.
"Wow, what are you made off?" Rusalka asked, a bit nervous.
"Hard work and an honest living." Applejack said, grinning. "Makes ya ready for anything." Applejack decided that it was no longer time for fooling around. She changed up her posture, stretching her legs outward and lifting one up, before quickly dropping it onto a table by the two. A normal response from this would have been the table snapping, but having kicked apple trees for almost fifteen years, the result was exploding. Not even in the figurative sense, as the force completely shattered it, sending splinters flying everywhere. Not a fan of pointless property damage, she did make a mental note to replace that table, but the point had easily gotten across to the younger of the twins, who gave a subtle gulp.
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"Did she just explode the table?" Belili asked, looking over at Applejack and Rusalka. Reader, just as curious as his opponent, gazed over as well.
"I...I think that she did." Reader said, glancing at the shattered remains of what used to be a solid sturdy wooden table. Sadly his favorite too, but sacrifices had to be made. "With that interesting revelation aside, are you sure you don't want to forfeit?" He could tell her confidence was shaken, her eyes starting to show doubt and fear.
"I am afraid we cannot." Belili said, her tone remaining stoic and unchanging.
"I am going to come out and say it. You are being completely stupid. What possible future could that foul excuse for a life form possibly offer?" Reader asked, slightly angry.
"SHUT YOUR DAMNED MOUTH!" Belili yelled out. Even without being able to read their minds at the moment, he was skilled enough to know that there was a whole side to the story that wasn't being told. Her eyes were saddened, easily burdened by something that forced her to give up the kind of happiness that her sister obviously relished in constantly.
"You know for a fact that this Dante fellow is trouble." He has done this many times, so by reading their reactions to his comments, he pretty much could draw a line to whatever information he needed. "You are not stupid, not by a long shot. You only wanted to protect your family, so you stuck with him. He had power, wealth, and was obviously an icon you could relate to your upbringing." He could tell she was starting to crack at this point. Her gaze was faltering, a slight quiver in her lip, holding back emotions. "You went to him to protect your family from a cruel world, and now you stay to protect her from him."
"Quit...quit it! Stop doing that! We know all about you!" Belili shouted, swinging at him quickly. He dodged, moving out of the way and stepping behind her.
"You have suffered terribly for your younger sister, haven't you? Bottling it up so you can continue this farce. We can change that, protect you from him as well if you let us. You don't have to continue to suffer." Reader spoke honestly, drawing from his lifestyle change. He believed, as no one can lie to him, they deserved to hear nothing but the truth from his mouth, with the exception of personal secrets and such. With this, and the way he spoke, it was hard not to believe him, as much as she despised herself for doing so.
"He is here..." Belili said, staring at the ground in front of her. "The last attempt failing, Dante himself...is overseeing this operation. He sent targets after all of you. Using our magical link to each other against you, we were supposed to be able to overpower you...Applejack was handed a more underhanded professional, who we swore followed her and that knight out of here."
"You have made the right choice, miss." Reader said as he continued to stand behind her. He wasn't stupid, either, and didn't just assume she was going to stop, but he would no longer continue to threaten her as well.
"I sure as hell hope so. I don't want Dante anywhere near her, you got that?!" Belili threatened, maintaining her own ground. "Rusalka we are d...why the hell are you sitting on the ground?"
"She blew up a freakin table...with her foot!" Rusalka said, shrugging her shoulders. "What do you expect? I like living thank you very much!" Applejack leaned against the wall, shrugging.
"I wasn't gonna attack her if she just gave up? What kind of person would that make me?" Applejack said, rubbing her sore arms.
"And I promise you that the rest of us won't lose either." Reader reassured Belili, reaching for the weapon in her hand. She gave it up without hesitation, taking a seat against the wall soon after.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked, wallowing in obvious doubts. Reader, for the first time, laughed lightly, drawing attention from the girl.
"Miss, I would be willing to stake my life on my claim. I would let you kill me personally if any of them were to lose." His bold statement drew in the gaze of everyone in the room, shocked at his sudden state of confidence.
"Awfully bold of you. And what makes you so sure?" Belili asked, looking up at him.
"I have yet to lose a wager." Reader stated gleefully. Even after the tranquil training, old habits really did die hard. "Speaking of lost though, Applejack?" The woman in question shifted her gaze over to him curiously. "What exactly happened?"
"What do ya mean, partner?" Applejack asked.
"Why are you here when I watched you leave earlier?" Reader clarified. All the heads turned towards her, all of them wondering the same thing.
"Funny story, actually. The queen of the changelings saw ya'll comin' a mile away, so she devised a plan. Well, long story short, yer ninja buddy you were talkin about is in for a heck of a surprise." Applejack laughed.
"Well that was one question answered. Where is Pinkie at though?" Reader asked.
"I have er' tied up in her room." Applejack said, chuckling. Reader and Belili stared awkwardly.
"Kinky!" Rusalka cheered out, waving her hands in the air.
"...You know, it is better not to ask sometimes." Reader said, shaking his head.
"Oh cut it out!" Applejack said, slightly flustered now that she realizes the implications in which she has said.
"Let's go let her out..." Reader said, shaking his head. He started up the stairs. He stopped and turned around. "Miss Belili, Miss Rusalka, are you coming as well?"
"If you're sure." Belili said, slightly unsure of her supposed new allies.
"I am sure. Also, Miss Rusalka, you are actually in the place that has the best ice cream."
"Really?! SWEET!" Rusalka cheered happily.
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"Pinkie, how in tarnation did ya manage to get out?" Applejack asked, staring at Pinkie as she remained seated on her bed with a cup of hot cocoa.
"Well, I was confused when you left me up here all tied up, so I decided to get out to see why you did it. I noticed you all were fighting, so I decided to sneak on by to the kitchen to make myself a snack. Afterwards, I went back up and decided to let you all continue." Pinkie said, finishing her cup of cocoa.
"I am not even going to begin to question how you pulled that off, but you never did answer the question." Applejack said, still confused.
"Like this!" Pinkie quickly slipped into the ropes, pulling them back up until she was definitely secured, and the she effortlessly wiggled out of them. Applejack had been wrangling and roping for most of her life. There was no way it should have been that easy. "It was easy!"