Part 4
My hand grabs on weakly to the river bank. I don't even know how far along I was swept, but the stream is finally slow enough that I can pull myself out partially.
Ugh, my whole body hurts. If only Asia was here to heal me … Asia. As my thoughts darken with the memory of how I lost hold of her, a shadow falls over me.
“End of the line for ya, pardner,” the pony in the crystalline armor tells me in no uncertain terms.
“Kch.” Dammit. I can't even get up. I'm sorry, everyone.
I close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable blow, but it never comes. Instead I can feel the surge of demonic power closing in.
Crack!
When I open my eyes again and look up, I can see Applejack's surprised face beneath the broken exterior of her helmet, reeling from the impact.
She stumbles back and gets into a fighting stance again. “What in tarnation? This thing was supposed t'be magic-proof.” Her eyes are fixed on someone in the distance.
Looking in the same direction, I can see Buchou approaching slowly. Her right hand is engulfed in the swirling red and black Power of Destruction. She looks so calm, but her eyes are fixed on her opponent. “This isn't magic,” she explains. “It's condensed demonic energy. It'll destroy everything it touches, before it can be absorbed.”
Growling, Applejack opens her saddlebag and flings some horseshoes into the air. “I'm not done yet.” She whirls around, hitting them with her tail and sending them flying at Buchou at highspeed.
But Rias simply holds out the palm of her other hand, deflecting the projectiles with her barrier. In the blink of an eye, she's gone, unfolding her black wings and closing the distance between herself and her opponent faster than the eye can see.
Appearing right in front of the startled farmer, she strikes with her Power of Destruction, sending the pony flying into the air.
“No way!” Applejack croaks, her armor disintegrating into a thousand pieces, even as the transportation magic begins to engulf her. She's gone, before she even hits the ground.
[Princess Luna's Rook retires.]
Incredible, Rias-buchou! You took her down with just two hits! There's a moment of silence, then she turns around and wordlessly pulls me out of the river. She kneels down and places my head in her lap while I lay on my back.
Were the circumstances different, I'd be crying for joy at this situation. As it is, however, I'm mortified, even as she places her hands on my chest. I can feel a tingling sensation as she dries my clothes off with her magic. It feels warm. “I'm sorry, Buchou,” I mumble. “I couldn't protect them.”
She shakes her head slowly. “It's not your fault, Ise,” she admits quietly. “I shouldn't have sent you in like that. The entire game, she has been one step ahead of me. I should have seen it coming.”
She digs something out of her skirt pocket. Unstopping the small vial, she holds it in front of my face. The last of the Phoenix Tears. Weakly I raise my hand and close it around hers. “You should keep these for yourself, Buchou. We can't lose our [King].”
“Don't be stupid. You can't even stand up. If I lost you as well …” Something wet hits my cheek. Is she … crying? Only now do I realize that her hand is shaking. Buchou. She cares deeply for each of her servants. Seeing us fall one by one, must have really taken a toll on her. “Drink.”
I lower my hand and nod slowly. “Yes, Buchou.”
Putting the vial against my lips, she pours the liquid into my mouth and I swallow it. I can feel it taking effect immediately. It's not the same as Asia's Twilight Healing ability, it doesn't have the same caring warmth to it. But I can feel my wounds heal and my strength return.
“Can you get up?”
“Yeah.” I wouldn't mind continuing this lap pillow a little longer, but right now I have to be strong. After the fight against Raiser, I swore that I would never make Rias cry again. Looks like I've failed already. “What are your orders, Buchou?”
“Rias Gremory!”
I whirl around, checking our surroundings. What the hell was that? Feels like the earth itself was shaking with the sound of Princess Luna's voice.
“Royal Canterlot voice,” Rias mutters darkly.
“It looks like we're both down to one servant! Come! Let us end this game! We shall await thee at the central square!”
Buchou takes a deep breath and then nods. “Yes, it's time to finish this.”
“This could be a trap,” I point out. And a fairly obvious one too, if even I can see it.
“I don't think so, Ise. But even if it is, we're the only ones left. I'd rather face them head on than get chased down.” She turns towards the enter of town. Then she does something unexpected, holding out her hand to me. “Let's go. We'll face them together.”
I gulp, before taking her hand. It feels so small and soft. Sometimes I forget that she's not just a high-class devil and our master. She's also a high school student, not much older than myself, and I can't help but wonder how much of her confidence is just an act to keep our spirits up. All I can do right now, is to support her to the best of my ability. “Yes, Buchou.”
* * *
We arrive at the town square, where the fountain is. Ironic that this should be the place for the final fight, the same place where we had the first engagement of the game, which was also two on two. The only difference are the players, and the fact that the giant tree in the background is nothing but a smoking ruin now, silent testament to the fierceness of our struggle.
“So you came,” Luna says simply. She's standing right out in the open with Spike. So it wasn't a trap after all.
“Naturally,” Rias declares, running her fingers through her long, crimson hair. “As the heir to the noble House of Gremory, I cannot ignore such a brazen challenge.”
I lock eyes with Spike, and without even meaning to, the Boosted Gear appears on my left arm.
[Boost!]
He's staring back at me. The claws at his sides are balled into fists. There is a connection between us that can't be denied. We both carry the legacy of incredibly powerful dragons, Spike as the son of a Dragon King and myself as the Red Dragon Emperor.
[Boost!]
But that's not all. Over the last week we've become friends. We fought together, watched each others' backs and survived the Everfree Forest as a team. As a result, both of us have grown stronger.
[Boost!]
I take a step forward. “Buchou!” I say loudly. “Hyoudou Issei, requesting permission to fight the enemy [Pawn] one-on-one.”
“Ise?” Rias seems perplexed, and I look over my shoulder at her.
[Boost!]
“Please, Buchou. This is something I must do alone. The opponent is a real dragon. In order to become your [Strongest Pawn], I must defeat him.”
Spike also takes a step forward. “I feel the same way. I have to do this. For Rarity, for all of our friends and for myself. Please allow it, Princess Luna!”
[Boost!]
Feels like even Ddraig is getting pumped for this fight. Only Princess Luna has a complicated expression on her face. “What do you say, Rias Gremory?”
Buchou sighs, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Can't be helped. They seem determined to do it. I'm willing to grant my servant's request, if you are.”
There is a long pause, but eventually Luna nods. “Very well.”
[Boost!]
With our masters' approval, we both charge across the large square, when suddenly something odd occurs.
[This is it, Celly. Wanna give me your measurements right now, so we can get you fitted for that maid outfit?]
Huh? Is that Sirzechs-sama's voice? What's he talking about?
[Hah! Dream on! You better start learning some tea recipes. I've got your apron right here. I've already won this bet. You just don't know it yet.]
Was that Celestia? What kind of bet is this?
“Spike, cease immediately!” There's Luna's Royal Canterlot voice again.
“Ise, stop!” Buchou?
Both Spike and I skid to a halt in the very process of coming up against one another. We're left standing there with our arms half extended, both brought up short in the process of landing the first punch. Our fists hover inches from the others' face. It looks like a scene right out of a cheesy manga.
[Oi, what's wrong. Why did they stop?]
Azazel's voice. The one to follow up on that is Discord.
[Michael? What's that blinking red light mean?]
Archangel Michael-sama, the referee for our match, says it in a completely calm tone, as if it had nothing to do with him.
[Oh, my bad. I must have left the mic open.]
Team Luna (members still active): 2
Princess Luna [King]Twilight Sparkle [Queen]Rainbow Dash [Knight]Fluttershy [Bishop]Rarity [Bishop]Applejack [Rook]Pinkie Pie [Rook]
Spike [Pawn]
Team Gremory (members still active): 2
Rias Gremory [King]Himejima Akeno [Queen]Kiba Yuuto [Knight]Xenovia [Knight]Asia Argento [Bishop]Gasper Vladi [Bishop]Toujou Koneko [Rook]
Hyoudou Issei [Pawn]