Time to wrap the mission up!

As you've noticed by now if you've seen previous missions, how this works is the third part in the Finale is where I usually get as creative as possible. It's also the spot for lots of action, which's what I've got a ton of here!

I don't wanna spoil anything, so I'll save my comments for the end of this extensive piece, which Mitch (Catrina, Cattaras, ext) helped me write. Enjoy!

 
by Dash (Later parts assisted by Cattaras)

 
Although the heroes had broken the four free of the prison, Aleena and the three princesses were still feeling their energies being sapped by outside forces. Simply interrupting the spell hadn't stopped it as Aleena assumed it rightfully should have. She couldn't focus enough to try to summon her cysuit to cover her so she remained unclothed like the princesses. She took a few steps forward, trying to clear her head, and collapsed.

Sebastian Dash rushed forward, catching her at the last minute, caressing her forehead, oblivious to the state of nudity she'd been left in, and trying to revive her. Catrina glared at the two but took a little comfort in seeing Dash's worry for the elf.

Meanwhile, the smoke started to gather in the middle of the room, sending off shockwaves that took most of the opposition off their feet, although the felines were able to adjust, Cyber Sunset just teleported to steady grounds, and the Jester King phased through it. The bigger ones, such as Sir Fumblies's brutes and the Black Paladin, were too sturdy to be knocked down. The shape reformed into something only vaguely resembling a human female, although instead of skin and clothes, her skin seemed akin to a dull metal. She smelled of brimstone, her eyes were akin to tiny burning stars, and the shape of her body was like an abstractionist statue version of a beautiful top heavy female.

The others starred. Even the Fifth Column and their ensemble of outside help stopped to stare at the new feminine figure. The Jester King floated up to her, his eyes wide open as if he looked into the figure of his very goddess and found it good.

"A sorcerer's summonist," the Jester King said in almost hushed and reverent tones which could be heard over the shocked stillness and silence blanketing the room. "Most sacred of all, all those who worship at the alter of summonings such as myself are required to bow down to serve such a force."

Cattaras wrenched his eyes from the naked, fading princesses to his own allies. "Hmph. Told you he'd turn on us."

Before Catrina could issue her own threats in response, the Jester King started to bow.. then suddenly pulled Mimi's pistol free and shot the summonist in the eyes, heart, leg, thigh, between the thighs, and head again. "Eh, I can't bow. Bad back and all of that."

The figure fell to the ground with a crash. Jester King landed in front of the corpse, taking a deep bow as Cattaras turned his head. "Probably holding out for something more monstrous."

"Pathetic wench." The Jester King spit on her body then turned to face the others.

"Seeing how easily we defeated your dark champion, would you still dare stand against our forces?" Fumblies said confidently. "And he's the wimp of the group."

"Yeah, I-" Jester King's eyes lit on fire. Literally. "HEY!! AM not! In fact, you should all cower before my mighty display in cowardliness! Bow before.. my .. awesome.. ness.. Is it getting dark in here, or is it just me?"

Noticing all eyes were on something behind him, Jester King turned around to see the risen figure of the being he'd referred to as a 'sorcerer's summonist..' (And as a 'pathetic wench.') He found the demon like dragon standing behind her. They cast a long shadow over JKotB's body. Smoke rose off the demon's putrid body. The thing looked at least a dozen feet tall resting on its hind legs.

"Oh," Jester King responded, face pale. Er.. paler than usual. "Look, if this was about that 'pathetic wench' comment then I could see how you'd misunderstand what I meant. I meant-" The summonist interrupted him by grabbing his body with blinding speed and hurling him into a group of Fifth Column members.

The mage walked up to her smiling as a Fifth Column (or Council of the Fifth if you prefer) lieutenant barked out orders at the mage! "What are you doing, you fool?! Control your beast!"

"Oh, but I am," the ancient mage said, eyes glistening with untold magic. "Destroy them all, my pet."

The creature turned to him and then, with a silent nod, started summoning smoke animal like ninjas, strange looking hideous abominations, and pre teens. Dangerous looking pre teens with bright purple t-shirts.

"Traitor!" A nearby general yelled out. "Destroy them, My Council of the Fifth!"

"Fifth Column, attack!" another called out. With that, the waves of Fifth Column member surrounded the traitorous mage and his summoned beast. "How dare you use us, you traitorous mage?!"

"You fools!" the mage yelled, failing to notice Sir Fumblies making a subtle yet significant gesture to one of his brutes. "As if I would share this sexy she beast with you.. I.."

The mage was interrupted as the Knob Goblin brute rushed with a shocking speed and slammed into the mage's side, sending it reeling. The demonic dragon swatted the beast aside with its massive tail, only to find Zanther Wolf jumping on the beast's back, biting into it. The spots where Zanther bit into the beast turned to solid ice and it let out ear ache inducing howls of pain. The summoned children immediately surrounded Zanther, pulling at his fur, tugging his ears and yanking his tail. Typical toddler stuff, actually, but Cattaras and Cyber Sunset still jumped and teleported in, respectively, to fight the demonic toddlers off.

"Do you fools think you could stand a chance against my great beast?!" The mage asked as a twisted version of a bear, with three 'eyes' of glowing emerald and four snakes instead of arms roared up and swatted away a Knob Goblin.

"Looks like my dance partner just showed up," Cattaras said, before roaring and diving into the battle against the eye-bear. He focused his chi into a powerful burst, focusing it into pure speed and strength. Moving almost faster than the eye could track, he was behind the beast, lifting it above Catt's head and slamming it down.

Sir Fumblies started barking out orders at his Goblins, Becky, and her Goblins. Then he expanded those orders to include the pirates and even the Fifth Column members. Some were reluctant, but they all listened to his unquestionable air of authority. The Council and Knob Goblin engaged a group of shadow enemies while Becky blasted the demon-dragon with a powerful snowstorm and devastating blasts of ice that forced it back.

Dash tried to get Aleena's energies stirring but realized he couldn't ignore the fight raging around him, so he leaned down, kissing her firmly on the lips, and then jumped in to aid Cattaras and Becky in the fight. Stirred by the kiss, Aleena's eyes slowly opened as she began to realize what was going on.

Cyber Sunset found himself nailed from behind by a shadowy figure! He fell to his knees, wounded and immediately surrounded when an odd, but soothing, tune caught his attention. A soothing light poured over him, letting him heal even faster than normal and boosting his energies. Then the music turned sinister, causing the shadowy figures around him to dispense. Confused, Cyber looked up, to see the foxlike bard, Todd Blackpaws, playing his chosen instrument, a light guitar. Todd smiled at the hero. "Nothin' like a lil music to set the mood, hm?"

As Todd, Fahari, and Vixen finished off the last set of soldiers, Cattaras, Becky and Zanther finished off the demon dragon, then joined Dash, Sir Fumblies and Cyber Sunset as they surrounded the mage and the sorcerer's summonist which the mage controlled.

"Give it up, you big ugly!" Becky said in an almost mean voice.

"We do have you rather outnumbered, so either surrender or I let my brutes have fun with your intestines," Fumblies said.

"We'll make this easy on you if you stop fighting," Cyber Sunset promised. "Although personally, I'd enjoy taking you down by force."

"You fools!" the Mage called out. "My beauty might be down to her last trick, but that is more than enough to deal with the likes of you! I shall summon forth your own darkest spirits!"

Cattaras growled from his fighting stance. "It's so sad when a whore is down to her last trick, y'know? As for dark spirits, I’ve handled the Dark before. Bring ‘em on!"

"Your 'dark ones' have some seriously weird kinks," Sunset said.

Cattaras glanced over at Sunset. "Who told you about that?"

"More importantly, why are you 'talking' about 'handing Dark?'" Vixen asked. "That guy was creepy.."

Cattaras growled, closing his eyes. Catrina answered before he could. "THE Dark, Vixen. Remember our little trip to Hey Daze?"

"Yeah, I heard that you.." Vixen started.

"ENOUGH!" Catrina said. "Say one more word about that trip- just ONE WORD bitch- and I swear when we get home I will kick your ass to the Big Mountain! Am I clear?"

"Whatever.." Vixen said. "Don't yell at me because he had a crush on princess Riko.."

"Yeah, he had a crush on someone, alright," Dash said.

An evil grin came across the muzzle of the Queen of the Feline Empire. "For that- AFTER I kick your ass I will give you to Cattaras for suitable punishment. We will see who he’s had a crush on." Cattaras glared at Catrina- then looked at the vixen... .

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, geez," Vixen said.

Catrina smirked. "Aww, honey.. I think he’s looking forward to our return now- aren’t you brother dear?" She stroked Cattaras’ chin, which he shied away from- though he didn’t protest her words.

Zanther just looked up at them with a confused squeak as if trying to figure out these weird people!

"Look, mage and.. ugly looking female thing, I guess," Cyber said. "How about you just summon your final line of defense so we can destroy it, and get this over with? I've got patrols to make, brooding to do, and possibly a duel projector to fix."

Todd smirked from another side of the room, preparing another song to lift his friends' spirits. "Aw man... why are all the good looking vixens either lesbians or with some mangy cat?" As Fahari growled at him- if softly he decided to change his tack. "Present company excepted from that ‘mangy’ remark."

Fahari noticed a billow of smoke, reflective in nature, forming in front of each and every individual in the room.. except Catrina. Fahari glanced down at Todd, then said quietly- but loud enough that everyone heard her. "Be prepared! I feel trickery about!"

With a flash of white light, they took form. Sebastian Dash stood looking at a smaller figure shaped like himself, right down to a mirror coated broadsword.

Todd chuckled derisively at their size. "How cute!"

Fahari shook her head. "It is not their size that is their danger- Watch."

A similar shape was created in front of the others.. For the "furries," the mirrors were slightly smaller in some cases and bigger in others, but in each case, seemed more animalistic than their counterparts. Vixen was the same size as her original- but her proportions made Todd whistle. "Oh man- are we gionna see THAT in a ca- er dog fight? Oh mama I’ve died and gone to porno heaven!"

Then Todd's shadow swung a mirror reflective guitar at him! Todd ducked, barely but looked shocked. "That can’t be me! I know better than to abuse a fine instrument like tha_" He had to duck another swing but he charged into the shadow Todd, the two going down in a growling dogpile.

The Fifth Soldiers found themselves being attacked by their own shadow versions as Aleena's own shadowy figure stood over her, beckoning for her to stand up and fight. Dash immediately turned and engaged it in battle, swinging his sword in defense of Aleena.

"Dash.." Aleena called out weakly. Dash parried attacks from both his shadow and Aleena's. They glistened and reflected the light like dull metal. Aleena's face shining with determination, she summoned forth just enough of her cysuit to cover her personal areas, and a 'tiara' over her forehead.. then closed her eyes in concentration.

Zanther Wolf's own mirror like wolf pounced him, but he spread his wings and flew. The mirror Zanther flew without wings, but lacked Zanther's skills in flight.. and his ice breath which made things considerably rough on the smoke mirror Zanther. It also made Zanther's glowing eyes seem to smile.

"More! More!" The mage called out, causing his sorcerer's summonist to redouble her efforts! More duplicates, smaller but quicker and stronger, started showing up!

"Oh great.." Vixen whined as she got double teamed by her own shadow and a mirror shadow of the black Paladin. Meanwhile, the Black Paladin was fighting off mirror shadow imposters of Jester King of Beast and a Knob Goblin brute. Fortunately, although they had the melee weapons, they seemed to lack the skills and abilities of our heroes.. and villains.. and whatever else. On the downside, they were durable as rock, slippery and swift as, well smoke, and seemed to reflect most of the skills of the real deals, even if the doppelgangers lacked the 'polish' of the people and beasts they reflected.

Oh and they could fly.. and every second that passed seemed to bring another copy into existence. Fahari peeled Todd's copy off of him and threw it into a group of copies, taking them all down. Todd started playing music to aid his allies in battle, but soon had to switch songs to helping Fahari fight off the beasts surrounding them!

Cyber Sunset found fighting his own mirror image disturbing. Aside from the fact he had a more feminine build than Sunset, he moved oddly, making him hard to defend against. Cyber countered by teleporting to get an advantage in the fight, but found himself facing down more and more enemies, who quickly adjusted to his tactics. Cyber found himself in trouble as well. As did Sir Fumblies and Cattaras.

Cattaras was taken aback and sent into a wall by a smoke copy of the Black Paladin! Despite being smoke, they packed a rock hard punch! Cattaras dug his feetclaw into the beast and flipped it over, then focused his chi, darting behind a smoke creature attacking Catrina.

Catrina starred at a new copy of Dash, but this one had blades instead of arms and hands. "This is going to be fun," Catrina purred. She used her chi power to vanish behind sword arms, and kicked it, sending it high into mid air. Cattaras used his chi power to leap up faster than most creatures could think; he blasted the swordarmed enemy mid air, sending it back at Catrina, who moved nearly as fast as Cyber Sunset teleported. She caught the enemy and slammed him head first into the ground!

Zanther Wolf engaged his enemy in battle at first, but soon took care of it for the moment. Then he swooped down to protect Becky who looked overwhelmed by the enemies! As Dash battled in the background, Wolf protected Becky with an ice shield. Becky was holding onto her toy yeti, looking so scared she might cry. Wolf nuzzled her with his nose, hoping to get her to fight when he realized..

She wasn't crying or even scared. She was meditating, ready to unleash something huge!

She wasn't the only one. Despite having her energy sapped, the kiss really had revived Aleena, who'd been focused in hacking into the weapons system of the very Council hideout itself. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly.. and the hideout weapons system came alive under her power! Weapons seemed to spring out of everywhere as the robots designed to defend the base quickly targeted into the room, targeting the shadow creatures and mage, as well as the sorcerer's summonist! However, the mage quickly figured who was behind it, and commanded for all the surviving shadow creatures to turn on Aleena.. to kill her!

Aleena didn't hear it, but Becky did. Her eyes popped open, as she unleashed a powerful snowstorm, designed to hit the shadow enemies! Although everyone felt the chill, it was clearly targeted at the shadow creatures and the mage. With a sigh, the mage created a runic pattern of magic lights, and stepped into it, vanishing. Teleporting away as his sorcerer's summonist vanished, no longer needed. The remainder of the smoke creatures vanished in a thick, black, and probably unholy blast!

The Fifth Column and Council of the Fifth turned, pointing their weapons at Catrina, Dash, Cyber Sunset and the others.. until the highest ranking admiral in the room held his hands up, signaling for them to stand down. There would be no fight on the way out for our adventurers.

Becky walked over to help the princesses. Her awesome display of power had really been the thing to turn the tide today, but it left her woozy and a bit tired.

Dash walked over to help Aleena to her feet. He had his longsword strapped to his back.. and Dash held the mirror sword he'd taken from his first doppelganger before it could vanish! Aleena leaned into him, not yet bothering to cover more of herself up.

Zanther drifted to Becky's side. He was just glad to have this insanity over with, and to have his friend Becky safe.. even if she seemed like a bad Becky sometimes.

As he did, Cattaras offered the redhead princess her dress. Cattaras's blushing could be seen through his fur. Catrina just rolled her eyes and chuckled at her brother.

Fumblies ordered his Knob Goblin to offer the other two princesses theirs. If nothing else, he should get a good reward out of this.. and he was pleased to see others respond to his commands so well. That trait could be useful to him in the near future and beyond.

Cyber Sunset helped the blonde to her feet so she could dress, telling her he was sorry her first experience in town was so miserable. He then helped the brunette up.

"Glad that's over," Todd said, possibly a little disappointed to see the princesses dressing so soon after the fight was over. Probably.

"I sense there are by far bigger fights coming up, including our greatest challenges ever," Fahari said. Still, she relaxed a little for the time being.

"Figures," said Vixen, frowning. "I just hope we get a couple weeks off first... I wanna hit a good bar in this town!"

And maybe dance for her drinks.

From the betrayal to the summons, and especially the character interaction and summoned shadows of most of the characters, I had all kinds of fun with this one!

Note the end? The order in which every player-character gets a line reflects the actual voting for the mission.. neat hm?

As of this writing (nearly the start of May 2011) we're still on the very next mission, which is a bit of a 'filler' mission and should take us up to the mission directly after that.. which should be our five year anniversary mission!

 
Oh, and I mentioned to Sunset's handler that I figured the brooding line was probably somewhat sarcastic. The handler responded with "No, I think that CS actually meant that. CS only has a really fuzzy idea of what 'brooding' means. To CS, brooding is 'striking a dramatic pose while on a rooftop and looking across an expansive city landscape.'"

And that's why the line makes me laugh so often when I read it.