Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

“YOU did this to me.”

“Why did YOU abandon me?”

“Why didn’t YOU try harder?”

“YOU were too late.”

“I suffered because of YOU.”

“Sho! Sho! Sho!”

“Wake up! Sho!”

Shouri’s eyes snapped open, as he took in a lung full of air. His face was wet, a cold sweat drenching his form. The room was dark, time unknowable. The only light he could see was the gentle red glow of the rhythm swirling in Pacifica’s eyes.

“Are you okay?” She gently wiped the tears from her Maestro’s cheeks.

“Nightmare,” he replied shakily.

“I could tell, it woke me up.”

“Sorry.”

His eyes widened as he felt Pacifica’s lips on his own. “Don’t be,” she whispered, resting her forehead against his. “I’m just worried about you, we all are,” She nuzzled his face as she ran her hands up and down his back, and wrapped her tail around his legs.

“I-I promise I won’t abandon you,” the Maestro whimpered, tightening his grip around his precious Resonator.

“I know you won’t. Let me be your rock, I’ll take away your pain,” Pacifica’s words were sweet like honey - warm, soothing, inviting. Despite the vivid nightmare he had been roused from only moments prior, Shouri found himself easily falling back asleep.

“YOU!”

As soon as he returned to the darkness of sleep, the nightmare began anew.

“While YOU were comfortable, I hungered!”

“YOU laughed and loved, while I cried alone!”

“YOU-!”

“SHUT UP! Leave him be!” Pacifica’s voice sliced through the darkness. Cracks of light shone through the shadows.

“Sho, it’s okay.”

“I’m with you.”

“You are not alone.”

He could feel her warmth, her touch, her rhythm. Pacifica took hold of him, pulling him close. “I’m yours Shouri, my precious Maestro. I won’t let anyone take you away from me.” She stroked his hair, keeping him close to her.

And before they knew it – they were awake.

“Sho…”

“Paci…”

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

“NNnnngh.” Pacifica covered her ears with her hands and curled up, burying her face into Shouri’s chest.

“There there.” He smiled, holding her while Rebecca groggily turned off the annoying alarm.

It was Wednesday morning, and Shouri would face it together with his precious Resonators.

“Make him give us morning shifts for the rest of the tournament,” Rebecca demanded of Shouri as they leisurely walked into the stadium. Unlike the day prior when they worked the afternoon, there were far fewer people in their way in the early hours of the day.

That wasn’t to say there were no people, plenty of fans were waiting in line to shoot the quartet nasty glares as they strolled right past security with their staff badges.

The assignment today was similar to yesterday: they’d be working as emergency healing staff in the main arena when the battles went awry. As weaker teams were steadily eliminated from the competition, the overall power ceiling rose, and with it, the very real chance of injury for the competing Resonators.

“Sho, ho fame,” Taika complained, rubbing her gut sadly.

But first, their group’s medic/healer needed breakfast.

“Good morning, Mister Tomoshibi!” Elijah practically sang as the group entered the staff room. Looking around, Shouri noticed the rest of the staff were staring at the Klein heir like he was a stranger.

“G-good morning, Elijah.” Shouri shakily waved to his employer. He shuffled over to the breakfast bar, Resonators in tow, to get himself some food.

“What’s his deal?” Shouri mumbled, not intending for anyone to answer. However, one of the staffers heard him and leaned in to answer the query.

“Dunno, he’s been in a really good mood all morning, nobody knows what’s up,” they informed him.

“I see.” Shouri shot a glance at the Klein heir, who was boisterously laughing with one of the other members of the tournament staff.

What was the strangest thing of all though was Zino, usually he wore an angry brooding expression, one that read simply as “fuck off”. But the dinosaurian this morning appeared more neutral than anything. He simply ate his food, no scowl, no growl, no fuss.

“Hmmm…” Pacifica stroked her chin in thought.

“Hm?” Shouri shifted her gaze to his otter.

“Nothing,” she sang, refocusing her attention on filling her plate.

“Weird girl,” he decided, moving food to his plate.

Breakfast obtained, they went to sit down, but as soon as Shouri’s group sat at the table, Elijah and Zino stood up. “Have a good day Mister Tomoshibi.” With a short wave, Elijah and his Resonator departed.

“Wow, rude,” Rebecca huffed.

“He’s a busy guy, leave him be,” Shouri said, before taking a fork-full of food into his mouth.

“No Sho, he’s actually avoiding us,” Pacifica chimed in.

“Oh?” Shouri shot a side-eye at his otter. She smirked smugly while eating her meal. “Stop reading people’s minds,” he chided her.

“Tell people to stop being so easy to read,” she snarked back.

Shouri smirked and gently shoved the girl, who shoved him back with her tail.

Taika and Rebecca exchanged a glance, shrugged, and decided to eat their breakfasts.

Back in the dugout, Shouri and his Resonators relaxed on the bench as the field staff worked on the arena floor.

Unlike the afternoon shift, they had the pleasure of working yesterday, the morning festivities were subdued in comparison. Halfway through the week, even the most diehard fan was beginning to be worn down.

Alas, the show must go on.

Shouri’s tuner beeped. It was time for round one.

Maestro: Emelia Ayame

ROUND 3 MATCH 1

Maestro: Carmo Aloisio

Roster

Roster

Albarich - 77%

VERSUS

Cesarina - 100%

Ritika - 89%

Flavien- 100%

Soot - 91%

Mirsada- 100%

“What…?” Shouri gasped, staring at his tuner.

“What is it?” Taika peeked over his shoulder; her eyes widened. “Why do they already have less rhythm?” She pointed at the screen.

“I dunno…” The Maestro furrowed his brows.

Shouri studied the field, hoping to get some more insight into Emelia’s condition.

To the right was her opponent, Carmo. He was pretty average all things considered. His clothes weren’t flashy, tuners clipped to his side just like one expected out of any other Maestro. He was calm, cool, and collected despite being on one of the biggest competitive stages in the circuit. Even his three Resonators backing him idly chatted amongst themselves.

Seasoned competitors, clearly.

On the other side, there was a very strange quartet gracing the field. The Maestro was a blonde woman, pale in complexion, clad in tans and browns. The tuners adorning her chestnut-colored shorts were black, brown, and red – Lunar, Earth, and Fire.

One of Emelia’s Resonators was helping clean off her clothes, a brunette cat-girl, the smallest of the trio of Resonators. By their side was a sky dragon, bearing great black and purple wings, he stood at the alert, but was the most scuffed up. Regardless, he was unbothered by his ruffled state and remained focused on his adversaries opposite of his group.

Finally, was the strangest member of the team, what appeared to be a normal human, though on closer inspection their skin was an unnatural sandy brown, appearing grainy, even at a distance. Upon further inspection, Shouri realized this was the same group they saw in the street fight the night they arrived in Naiza.

“Sho,” Taika snapped her Maestro out of his thoughts. “How much time until the fight starts?” she asked.

“Like five minutes, why?” Shouri replied.

The healer grabbed his hand. “Come on!”

“Wha-?! Taika wait!”

“We’ll be back!” Taika yelled back at their fellow companions.

Before Rebecca or Pacifica could get in a word, Taika had pulled their Maestro out of the dugout and ran onto the field.

“Uhg, what the heck, I can’t believe this keeps happening!” the cat girl complained while she continued to dust off her Maestro’s clothes.

“There’s nothing we can do about it, Rika; I’m just glad we got here in time,” Emelia chuckled sheepishly, pulling her long tresses in front of her and quickly running her hands through them to check for debris.

“Hey, who are they?” The dragon-man pointed to the approaching fox and Maestro.

“Oh, they’re a lunar that’s on tournament staff!” Ritika exclaimed, noticing Taika’s element and staff badge even at a distance.

Shouri and Taika reached the quartet, stopping short and getting a better look over the competitors. “Hey, are you all okay?” Taika asked.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Emelia tried to laugh it off, though her tone betrayed her words.

“Just some early mornin’ practice, got a little out of hand,” the dragon spoke.

“Al, we were jumped again, you can be honest with these people - they’re officials,” Ritika chided the dragon.

He rolled his eyes. “We got Emily here in one piece, that’s all that matters,” Albarich grumbled.

“La Bella Vita, Rubato,” Shouri cast.

Taika stepped up and began to heal Albarich.

“Hey wait a tic!” the dragon protested.

“Zitto!” The fox snapped at the dragon, dulling his edge. “You’re about to go into battle, I won’t rhythm burn you, just shut up and let me heal you.” Her eyes glowed with vibrant blue rhythm as she glared the man down.

“F-fine… thanks,” he quickly acquiesced, shirking into his heavy jacket.

Once she was done with Albarich, Taika moved to Ritika. “Oh, my goodness, you’re great at this,” the cat purred, relaxing under the healing waves.

“What happened?” Shouri questioned the competing Maestro while his Resonator worked on healing hers.

“I can’t say here,” Emily admitted quietly, her eyes darting around nervously.

There was something about this girl and her Resonators that piqued his curiosity, for better or worse. “Come to the dugout after the match,” he decided.

“Eh, why?” Emily blinked, eyes widening.

“I want to know what happened,” he replied.

“Let’s take him up on his offer, Emmy,” Ritika advised.

“I agree with the kid,” Albarich spoke up (and earning a pout from Ritika, the “kid” in question.)

“Okay!” Emily smiled. “We’ll see you after the game!”

And with that, Shouri and Taika quickly made their way off the field so the match could get underway.

“What’s going on?” Pacifica immediately questioned her companions upon their return to the dugout.

“Something is going on with her and her Resonators, so we’re going to find out what after the match,” Shouri informed the uninitiated pair who had remained in the dugout.

Shouri checked the tournament app one more time before the match started.

Maestro: Emelia Ayame

Roster

Albarich - 96%

Ritika - 97%

Soot - 100%

It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough. With a smile, Shouri rested a hand on Taika’s head and gently stroked her hair, the vixen leaning into him as he did so.

“Maestros!” the referee’s voice signaled the start of the festivities. “This is a three-on-three battle! Substitutions may occur when a Resonator returns to their Maestro or when a Resonator is no longer fit for battle! Goal is zero percent rhythm remaining!” The ref was on script as usual, even pausing in the same place to catch their breath. “Please make your initial selections, you have thirty seconds!”

There wasn’t even an ounce of hesitation in Emily’s selection – Albarich stepped forward at the same time as his tuner was drawn.

Carmo on the other hand, took twenty-five of his allotted thirty seconds for selection. He opted to play his bird Resonator, Mirsada, for this engagement.

“Solar versus Lunar, how interesting,” Rebecca commented.

“Why’s that?” Pacifica asked.

“Solar and Lunars are weak and strong against each other. But Lunars aren’t used much, so Solars are usually a free pick since you don’t have to worry much about running into weaknesses,” the vixen explained.

“Oh! So, this is a rare kind of fight!” Pacifica realized.

“At least in competitive, yeah.” Rebecca nodded.

Both selections made, the ref raised a hand into the air. “You have thirty minutes - you may begin!”

Albarich took flight immediately, with Mirsada right behind him, though it quickly became apparent who the stronger flier was, as the dragon cleared the distance between himself and his solar counterpart in a matter of seconds, throwing a punch straight into the man’s sternum.

Not expecting such a quick attack, Mirsada was grounded, while Albarich hung in the air.

“MenteLuce Offuscata,Lunare,Fortissimo!” Emily shouted the follow-up attack.

Shouri shook his head. “What the fuck?” His attention was now fully on the other lunar Maestro. The way she had called those spells sounded as if two people had shouted it out at the same time, but they both had Emily's voice. It was strange and jarring, making Shouri question what he knew about how vocal cords worked.

“That’s what that Ophira chick did yesterday when she stacked those three spells, that’s what that sounds like!” Rebecca pointed excitedly at Emily.

“How the fuck…?” Shouri muttered in wide-eyed shock.

“Luce del Sole, Rubato!” Carmo cried out to counter.

Mirsada formed a ball of light energy to match the dark energy forming in Albarich’s hand. Though the difference in skill was made abundantly clear as with his free hand, the dragon waved it out, a flash of purple energy bursting from his opponent’s head.

“AUGH!” Mirsada cried out in pain, his spell dispersing from the broken concentration. Capitalizing on the situation, Albarich finished his Luce Lunare, now throwing his other arm out. A wave of midnight purple energy washed over the downed solar Resonator, completely enveloping him in it.

“BREAK!” the ref shouted. “Mirsada, exit the field now! Carmo, please make your substitution, you have thirty seconds!”

“What happened?” Taika questioned. They had both been making their respective element’s basic spells, but to the outside observer, Mirsada just stopped.

“I think that was Mente Offuscata, it’s a lunar attack spell that attacks the target’s mind. It breaks concentration while dealing damage,” Shouri explained, recalling seeing the spell described in the Lunar field guide he had bought.

“Man that’s so busted,” Rebecca commented.

“From what I read, it’s pretty easy to miss if the caster doesn’t have excellent spatial awareness,” Shouri informed her.

“Well, that guy does I guess,” the fire fox chuckled. “Damn.”

“RESUME!” the ref’s shout drew the attention of those in the dugout.

The battle resumed with Albarich still in play against a species Shouri and his team were familiar with: a red panda. Though, unlike the one they knew, this particular alluridae was a woman – the one known as Cesarina.

And she wasn’t playing around. As soon as the battle continued, she cleared the distance between herself and Albarich

THWACK!

Even blocking with his wings, Albarich was thrown back by a blazing kick. Cesarina didn’t allow a moment of breathing room as she continued her assault, pursuing her flying opponent. However, she missed her second kick as Albarich made his way skyward, out of reach of her follow-up attack.

Cesarina wasn’t dissuaded from halting her assault; she took to the skies with fire underneath her. She threw up a foot to axe-kick her opponent.

“Now! Esaurimento, Lento!” Emily commanded.

Albarich smirked, catching the kick, and in that moment, locked eyes with his target. The woman faltered as they fell from the sky, both concentrating on performing their attacks over staying airborne.

Cesarina barely managed to avoid smashing into the ground as her eyelids became impossibly heavy.

“Cesarina! Snap out of it!” Carmo shouted, though his cries fell on deaf ears, as a moment later, the woman hung her head.

“Loro Formato Lunare Lago, Legato!” Emily refused to let sleeping pandas lie and ordered yet another attack.

Up in the air Albarich’s hand went, beckoning an icy meteor down from the heavens.

“Cesarina!!” her whole team screamed as loud as they could, hoping to stir her from her magically induced slumber.

The fire Resonator’s eyes snapped open!

…right as the meteor made impact.

BOOOM!

The colosseum shook as dust and debris were thrown up by the massive assault.

“HALT COMBAT!” the ref’s voice cut through the obscured battlefield, as the cloud settled it revealed the results of the battle.

Albarich stood straight, taking deep gasps of air, his red eyes fixated on the spot where his adversary lay. Cesarina was unmoving in the middle of a small impact crater in the center of the field. Taika scooped up her bag, and rushed out, Pacifica close behind.

Shouri sighed as he got off the bench. “Dude really knows how to go all out,” the Maestro grumbled.

“He at least just broke her rhythm and didn’t try to kill her like that blue chick from yesterday,” Rebecca laughed, leaning back on the bench. “I’ll stay here, be back soon.” She motioned for him to go.

The Maestro nodded and made his way out of the dugout and onto the playing field. Taika and Pacifica had already checked vitals and awaited their Maestro for any further action. “Negative two percent rhythm, she should just need a quick patch and she’ll be good,” Taika informed Shouri.

He dropped a hand to his waist, grasping Taika’s tuner. “Make it happen, La Bella Vita, Rubato.”

One quick heal later, Cesarina returned to the waking world. “Fuck, anyone get the license plate of the truck that hit me?” the panda groaned, sitting up and shaking free some dirt and ice chunks.

“No, but you’re out for the rest of the battle,” Shouri informed her.

“Fuck really?” Cesarina set her sights on Albarich who stood arms crossed, waiting for the defeated red panda to clear the field.

“Man, that dude is a monster, shielders should NOT have that much power.” She brushed back her hair. Shouri stole a look back at the dragon man, humming to himself in thought. With Cesarina given a clean bill of health by the medical team of Taika and Pacifica, they helped her off the field and the trio returned to the dugout.

“She looked fine,” Rebecca commented as soon as they returned.

“Yeah, though I feel like he only did as much damage as he needed to,” Shouri mused.

“You think so, boss man?” The fire Resonator glanced at her Maestro.

“It’s just a feeling.”

“You may resume!” once more, the side conversation came to an end as Albarich was now facing the third member of Carmo’s team – Flavien, a water element based on the blues decorating their hair and clothing.

“Al! Come on back!” Ritika shouted.

“I got this! Let me stay in!” Albarich yelled back.

“I am not dragging your ass back to MA Office again, tag me in!” the cat-girl barked.

“Tch!” Albarich clicked his tongue, stealing a glare back at his opponent.

“Don’t let him! Ghiccaclio, Fortissimo Staccatissimo!” Carmo barked.

“Riflettore Musicale, Fortissimo!” Emily cast in response.

As the lunar dragon made his retreat back to the sidelines, Flavien unleashed a hell storm of bladed ice, but Albarich held out an open palm, creating a barrier of purplish light. As soon as the ice attack made contact with it, the spell was reflected back at its caster, forcing Flavien to focus on dodging, allowing the swap to occur scot-free.

When Albarich crossed the line in the dirt, Ritika ran onto the field in his place. What’s more, she didn’t just change places with her ally, she charged full sprint straight at Flavien.

“Manga de Agua, Fortissimo!” Carmo commanded.

“Too slow!” Ritika pulled her hands back as if holding a weapon, and in that brief moment, one formed in her hands, made of sand.

“Sotto! Prigione di Ghiaccio, Fortissimo!” came another hurried command from Carmo.

THWACK! CRACK!

Just in the nick of time, Flavien used his spell to flash freeze some water onto his arm to act as armor. Given how quickly it was formed, he wasn’t able to don a full set of ice armor. He did manage to block the brutal swing of the improvised weapon made from the sand Ritika wielded. The force of which sent the water Resonator back. Ritika propelled herself away from her opponent just as he did with her. Flavien shook off the shattered remains of the ice armor he had attempted to make.

“Oh! She has the same ad-Lib as Kaira!” Pacifica noted.

“Yeah… but she’s doing something crazy with it. Most users of Scudo di Sabbia use it defensively, an automatic protection. This girl is using it offensively, and at a crazy high level.” Rebecca had stood up. She walked to the fence to take in the craftsmanship at work.

“The shape is kinda unique though,” the fire fox chuckled.

Ritika smirked, holding a giant crescent wrench made entirely of sand. The cat girl spun it around before resting the tail end of it on the ground next to her with a heavy thud. Maintaining her confidant grin, she waved her opponent towards her with her free hand.

Both Maestros stared each other down from the opposite ends of the field. They watched as the other took in a breath to call their next spell.

“I venti che battono il sahara!”

“L'onda di Tempesta, Accelerando!”

The two opposing Resonators stomped down in front of them. From Flavien’s side, a river of water sprung up trailing from his spot towards Ritika. However, where the earth Resonator had made her mark in the dirt a savage wind kicked up, then a vortex of sand that rapidly spread out, whipping around the colosseum and reducing visibility.

“Fuck!” Carmo cursed. “Precipitazioni Frontali, Accelerando!”

A streak of muffled blue light shot skyward, seeding the clouds that were amid the sandstorm.

THWACK THWACK THWACK

The raging dust storm only cleared in time for the referee’s shout. “BREAK!”

Rain started to fall in the colosseum, revealing the fate which had been obscured by the shifting sands. Ritika stood over Flavien, who laid on the ground, breathing hard, but still conscious.

The earth Resonator held herself up by her sand wrench, haggardly taking in deep breaths as she glared down her defeated opponent, arms trembling.

“This game’s winner is Emelia Ayame!”

Lunar or Earth, it didn’t matter – there had been a winner determined, and for that, the crowd went wild.

With that declaration of victory, Emily ran onto the field and caught Ritika who fell right into her Maestro’s arms.

Shouri reviewed the results on the staff app.

Maestro: Emelia Ayame [WIN]

ROUND 3 MATCH 1

Maestro: Carmo Aloisio [LOSS]

Roster

Roster

Albarich - 9%

VERSUS

Cesarina – DOWN

Ritika - 7%

Flavien- DOWN

Soot - 92%

Mirsada- DOWN