Practice Makes Perfect [Open]

[Merida]

Bulls-eye. Bulls-eye. Bulls-eye. If her shots were this precise, why couldn't they work on Loki? He had the means to reflect her blows like they were nothing, so it was his power that made her miss the mark--she hated missing a shot. Merida wrinkled her nose, notched another arrow, and it thunked against the red dot in the center. Tori was kind enough to help her set up a few targets around the farm so she could resume practicing on the ground and on Angus. Even still, she wished she had a means to fight back against any other god, but her cherished bow and arrows won't even scratch them.

Grumbling over this wasn't going to help. Merida walked towards the target, set her bow down, and began plucking her arrows from the fabric. It was looking pretty worn out so she'll have to either repair it or get new targets. Either would work. With each arrow in her quiver, she picked up her bow and started heading back to the house.

[Raal]

Finally, Firebrand was hot on the trail for the Crest of Earth.

After completely deserting the fight between Genesis and the forces of the Netherrealm (he knew he was unable to help, so why bother with it?), he went on his own quest. He found some information from a travelling merchant that a reflective, priceless-looking stone was taken by bandits in the woods. Well guess what? Those bandits had one of the things he was looking for. The Crest of Air. He did not return to the merchant since the Crest of Air was rightfully his to claim. He claimed it once, and now he claimed it again. Instead, he gave the merchant everything that the bandits had, and that satisfied the old geezer.

He had found the Crest of Fire just hanging out in a volcano. How appropriate!

Firebrand's next big stop was finding the Crest of Earth, which was around here somewhere. He was back in Moon Valley, where he had arrived. The stone had to be... ah! THERE! It was near some farm! The flying demon felt giddy with a nearly unchecked joy. He found three crests already! YES! Now only three more until the Crest of Infinity appeared! The bold demon took a dive from the sky, landing next to the stone with surprising accuracy.

Firebrand picked it up with a smile, carefully inspecting it for any damage. Content with what he saw, he dropped the pretty green stone into the human-skin bag on his newly found fancy golden belt he stole from the bandits. He did get a blacksmith to edit the belt to his liking, so now he could just insert a Crest into the belt buckle and have it activate its power without losing it! Joy and happy days!

His giddy mood was soon put on hold as a horse's distinctive whinny gave him away. Ah shit! Great, spooked a horse! Karma sucks!

[Mewtwo]

Nightmare lumbered through the field, looking for his next prey, it had been a long time since he had a good fight. A good soul to obtain, the war with the Netherrealm had gained him many souls, souls that he used to feed Soul Edge, he roared in anticipation of his next one as he could feel it…a soul that was just waiting for him to claim it as he gave a dark laugh. He was not here when the Netherrealm conquered the Moon Valley, but oh how he wished that he could have been here to fight it, it would have allowed him to claim more souls.

But alas for now he would have to make do with what he have now, he should have gone to another city, perhaps Isafaro where the rebels and Vulture troops were still fighting it out. Or another city where war was breaking out, these days there were lots of fighting, plenty of places to go to, if Nightmare could have grinned he would have, as he began to approach the house where the strong soul resonated from.

[Merida]

"An'gus?" What was he whinnying about? Merida rushed around the house to check on her spooked friend, bow and arrows still with her, and met a very strange sight. Whatever it was, it was scaring her horse, and it looked menacing to boot. Already she had an arrow ready, but she didn't aim. Not yet. "o' are yew an' wut do ye want?" This...thing could be like Loki. Maybe her weapons will be unable to touch him.

Then she heard a roar.

Merida looked at the source and felt her stomach sink. What...what was that? Where were all these creatures coming from? "TORI! ARIEL! SHINTA! NEX! GET 'WAY FROM THERE!" She shouted. Merida wasn't sure if they were home but she wasn't going to let that monster destroy the house!

[Raal]

Firebrand was about to answer the fire-haired lady that had approached him, until he was interrupted by a roar. Wow, that sounded powerful. The gargoyle demon cracked his knuckles in defiance. Challenge accepted! He heard it come from near the house, so that's where the source must be headed. The breeze blew in his outstretched wings, forcing him skyward like a kite.

Firebrand attacked the approaching suit of armor with a well-aimed fireball when he had a clear shot. He roared a challenge back, hoping that the walking tin can would focus on him and not the house. Ever since his quest for the Crests, he had grown ever so slightly fond of humans. Not too much, just a little bit. Some didn't kill him. Others tried, but it seemed they were hungry and had ordered extra crispy with a side of ouch. Firebrand was more than happy to serve hungry humans the fireball curry!

It seemed this demonic suit of armor was asking for a little fireball curry too!

[Mewtwo]

The closer he approached the house the clearer he was able to sense the souls in the area, it seemed that there were two strong souls here, that was a lot better then one. Soul Edge rumbled with hunger as he gave a dark laugh, he was eager to start the destruction, especially when the strong souls were warriors. When he got close to the house he was confronted with some sort of warrior in red armor, he tilted his head, ”Who are you? You do not look like any of the humans I have killed so far,” he said.

Most of the humans that he had killed were the ones either brave, or foolish, enough to confront and challenge him for whatever reason that they could think of. From glory, to money, to even their so called ‘justice’ he had heard them all, and he had struck them all down, so he wondered what was this thing’s reason for attacking him. Then the red armor being sent a fireball towards him, Nightmare blocked it with his demonic hand as it slammed against it, but left Nightmare relatively unharmed, ”You seem like a strong being, but I sense another strong soul near here, where is it?” he asked sniffing the area like a bloodhound.

He then assumed that the second strong soul was hiding inside the house as he lifted Soul Edge high, and then sent a strong shockwave of darkness towards the house as it rippled through the ground. If it connected with the house, it would cut it in half, as he eagerly awaited the second soul’s emergence.

[Ayen]

It was only Tori, Nex and Shinta who were inside the house when they heard the roar from outside followed by Merida's screams. The three rushed out of the house and came to a stop looking up to see Firebrand before their eyes came down on Nightmare. Shinta rushed back inside the house as Tori went up a wooden staff that was on the ground and kicked it up into her left hand with her foot and now held it with both. Ready to defend herself and her home if need be as Nex came up to her side.

“You have a plan?” asked Nex.

“Not really, replied Tori. “You?”

“One.”

Nex picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at Nightmare's head just in time to interrupt his motion before he could complete that shockwave aimed at the house.

“Soul Caliber IV sucks!”

[Merida]

"Toree!" Merida joined her companions, "Is this an evereeday thing for ye?" First it was that crazy god with the staff, then a creature colored red shows up, and now this...thing with a large, strangely designed sword! This was a nightmare. Literally. Angus was too terrified to approach the scene and had chosen to seek sanctuary in the forests. He always did feel safe there if a bear didn't come along.

Merida glared at Nex, groaned, and mumbled, "Dampot."

[Raal]

The Red Arremer cackled, amused at what Nex said. He didn't understand it, but he was amused nonetheless. Firebrand made a rude gesture at Nightmare, then let loose a rush of fire like a flamethrower. His fireball didn't do much, so maybe more power was necessary. Usually the streams of fire would roast anything. Firebrand kept his smile and replied, "I'm not human, dummy! Whatever gave you that idea?!"

He still could not talk in the common tongue, so everything he said was in growls, snarls, cackles, and other assortments of odd noises. Magic-based beings would definitely understand him though. After stopping the stream to taunt Nightmare, he let off another fire stream.

[Mewtwo]

Before the shockwave could hit the house Nightmare was distracted by a stone hitting his head, he growled in anger and looked at the offender, before he could respond to him, he was again distracted by the red warrior speaking in what seemed to be a magic tongue. No human would understand it, but as Nightmare was the result of dark magic he understood every word that was being said, ”Ah…so you are not human? A magic creature then? Such interesting species you are,” he said before said creature unleashed another flame at him. Again Nightmare would block it with his hand, ”I have no use for the souls of magical beings, human souls are what I require, begone from my sight!” he said to Firebrand before turning his attention to the humans.

”Now which one of you should I kill first?” he asked as his sword gleamed with darkness and his red eyes shone even brighter with malevolence.

[Ayen]

"Toree!"

“Merida! Are you all right?”

"Is this an evereeday thing for ye?"

“Uhh... Define everyday.”

“What planet are you from Gallifrey?”

”Ah…so you are not human? A magic creature then? Such interesting species you are,”

“Who the hell is he talking to?”

The two watched as the creature in the air fired, well, fire, at the armored man. Assuming that for now it was on their side. But it didn't seem to work as Nightmare managed to block it with...

“The hand!? Did he just block fire with his hand!? HAX! I call hax!”

”I have no use for the souls of magical beings, human souls are what I require, begone from my sight!”

Tori and Nex began to tense up as Nightmare turned towards them.

”Now which one of you should I kill first?”

“Listen here, Black Knight! Oh, I know all about your reputation. How you can continue coming in a battle after having your arms and legs cut off, and that there is no way for you to lose even as you charge full speed ahead into an angry Kristen Stewart but know this! If you take a step closer the great and powerful Merida will strike you down with her almighty bow, and Tori her staff and of course me...”

He took a deep breath and then screamed out his last line,

“WITH MY ASS!”

[Merida]

"None o' us!" Merida shouted, "Ye'll get out o' these lands an' never come back!" Merida drew back an arrow and aimed at his head, "Go! Now! Don't think we won't put up a fight! Our souls won't be worth it in the end!" The archer let the arrow fly and, hopefully, her aim will be true.

[Raal]

He scowled. Huh, fire did not affect him. Well whatever! It didn't bother him much, for he could use one of the Crests he had collected! Firebrand reached into the bag and pulled out the Crest of Air. He swapped the Crest of Fire with it, putting the red stone in the bag. After he locked the new stone into his belt buckle, he changed shape completely. Red skin turned blue, arms turned into large wings, and he grew taller. Now with the Crest of Air active, he could use the wind itself as a weapon, and properly fly too. He did just that, stay in the air.

Firebrand screeched, whipping up a powerful dust devil to swirl and spin around Nightmare. It attempted to fling him upward into the sky. He also had a bad feeling that the walking suit of armor had more tricks up his sleeve than just slapping his fireballs away and ripping houses down.

[Firebrand's Crest of Air form]

[Mewtwo]

Nightmare laughed at the pitiful attempt at the humans, and the strange being, at trying to attack him. It was little wonder that he was able to collect so many human souls, these humans weren’t as good as the warriors he faced in his own world, finally there was a place where Soul Edge would be able to feed with content with little danger of anyone attacking it and destroying it. However he looked on as the strange being pulled something out and inserted it into its belt before his appearance changed to a blue armor before it began flying around, ”Bah, flying? No matter I can still swat you away like the annoying bug you are,” Nightmare said as the being then tried to lift him off the ground with air magic, but Nightmare plunged his sword into the ground as it anchored him to the earth.

After that failed he would then counter by firing black electricity at Firebrand before turning his attention towards the human girl who held the bow before an arrow found itself embedded at his neck as he merely growled and took the arrow out before snapping it. ”Did you think mere arrows can harm me?” he mocked before walking towards Meredith as he swung his sword sideways, intending to cut her in half.

[Ayen]

“Look out!”

Tori intercepted the sideways swing by colliding her wooden staff against the soul-devouring blade giving Merida time to back away and regroup. Emerald green eyes staring into the glowing red orbs of the armored beast as Nex jumped up on his back to the surprise and horror of Tori.

“Get away from them you fiend!”

“Nex!”

“Prepare to meet Kali... in hell!”

Nex raised up his fist and slammed it down against the head of Nightmare.

And it hurt every bit as much as when he punched Loki in the face.

“AHHHHHHH!”