Showdown In Haven's Crest PT 2

The two glared at each other. Though running on reserves, Celestia held her fighting stance, her hands still glowing. She planted her feet, bent her knees, and raised her palms, ready to strike if Divia approached.

Meanwhile, Divia snarled at the former princess, narrowing her red eyes—the Order's sigil etched into her pupils—as she poised her claws to strike.

A soft breeze stirred between them as Divia circled Celestia, searching for an opening. Celestia kept her guard tight.

"You're wasting your time," Divia said. "That pretty magic of yours…is running dry, isn't it?" She flexed her claws, dark energy swirling around them. "I can smell it, princess. You're nearing your limit, even with those few days of rest. You still weren't fully healed enough to fight…Someone like me." She smirked.

Celestia didn't respond immediately, but her jaw tightened. "Perhaps," She finally responded. "But even at my limit… I've faced worse than you."

Divia chuckled as she continued to amble around Celestia. "Worse than me, huh? That may be true." Another dark chuckle escaped her. "But you were stronger than. You carried a blade you no longer hold. With it, you probably would have cut me down with ease…but no, you're different than that warrior on the battlefield. You're no longer that merciless elf, slaying those who dare defy our precious kingdom. Isn't that right? Princess."

Celestia's eyes hardened at those words. "You're right," Celestia admitted quietly, remaining calm despite the provocation. "I'm not that person anymore…but don't mistake growth for weakness, Divia." Her hands shifted lightly. "I chose to put down my blade to keep myself from becoming the monster you're referring to." She took a small step forward, her foot inching up. "I've killed before," Celestia continued. "I've taken lives to protect my people, to defend what I believed in, even what my father believed in, and yes, I was merciless when I had to be…but make no mistake about it. Just because I no longer carry a blade… doesn't mean I can't cut you down."

Divia stopped circling, her grin widening to show fangs. Suddenly, a shriek of laughter erupted from Divia's lips due to Celestia's bravado. She whirled back, laughing maniacally as she leaned forward and stared at Celestia. "Big words from someone who can barely stand!" She lunged forward without warning, her claws outstretched and ready for blood.

Celestia didn't flinch. She smoothly ducked beneath Divia's claws, then surged up and drove her palms into Divia's side. To her surprise, the blow barely affected her.

Divia laughed again as she turned toward Celestia. "Weren't you listening, princess? I told you, you are weak!" Divia swung her arm back in a forceful backhand.

Celestia barely raised her arms in time. The blow hurled her sideways, sending her tumbling across the street like a discarded doll. She struck the ground and skidded through the debris before crashing back-first into a collapsed pillar.

"Ngh—!" She coughed through the swirling dust and struggled to rise.

"See? This is reality, princess!" Divia's words carried twisted satisfaction. "All that talk about growth, and yet when it counts, you amount to nothing!" Her footsteps echoed on the ground as Celestia glared at her, breathing heavily. "Just like that wretched family name of yours. Full of words just like your cowardly father!" She burst forward again.

Celestia's eyes widened slightly as she shifted to dodge Divia's right claw, which buried itself in the pillar Celestia stood in front of.

Divia swiped with her other claw, but light flared from Celestia's palm as she ducked beneath it and closed the distance. Planting herself directly below Divia, she thrust both hands forward and unleashed a brilliant yellow beam that engulfed her opponent, drawing a chilling, guttural scream.

"GAAAAHH—!" Divia shrieked, writhing as Celestia poured all her remaining power into the attack. "NO—THIS CAN'T BE—YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS MUCH LEFT!"

Sweat streamed down Celestia's temples, and her trembling legs threatened to buckle, but she remained resolute and forced more power into the beam. "We elves were always taught never to underestimate our opponents. A lesson you taught me, Divia."

Divia's screams rose to a fever pitch as the light wracked her body with violent spasms. Celestia held firm. "IMPOSS—IBLE!" Divia howled. "The Order's blessing—" Her screaming slowly subsided. “How…could I lose…to a fallen…princess…” Divia's eyes slowly closed as her face disappeared within the light. “Heh, heh, Heh. Just kidding."

Celestia's eyes widened in pure shock.

Before Celestia could react, Divia's clawed hand burst through the beam toward her face.

"Wha--!?" Celestia gasped, her concentration shattering.

Divia's claws clamped around Celestia's throat and drove her backward through the crumbling pillar, instantly extinguishing the beam.

"Did you honestly think that silly little light show of yours would work?" Divia's grip tightened, choking her as she lifted her off the ground. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop looking down on me!" Divia yelled, throwing Celestia straight through a few buildings.

Celestia tore through several stone walls, each impact knocking more air from her lungs. She finally skidded across the floor of another home as wood and rubble rained around her.

Across the square, Sylvanie landed on top of a building. "CELESTIA!" She screamed, seeing what happened to her sister.

"I told you before, Sylvie!" Yvonne appeared right over Sylvanie. "Eyes on me!" She hammered both wheel blades down onto Sylvanie's scythe, the impact driving the purple-haired elf through the roof beneath her.

The building collapsed in a cloud of dust and rubble, and Sylvanie struck the ground hard.

"I warned you," Yvonne said, her voice carrying as she landed gracefully a few feet away.

Sylvanie rolled onto her side, coughing hard and clutching her ribs. Blood ran from a fresh cut above her eyebrow as she panted. “Shut…up…” She rose, forcing herself onto her hands and knees, still gripping her scythe.

Yvonne approached and stopped beside her, looking down. "Just stay down, Sylvie. Please. You've done enough. You fought well, but—"

"But what?!" Sylvanie spat blood onto the ground between them. "I should just give up? Accept my fate like a good little slave?" She grunted in pain. "That's… that's what you want, isn't it? For me to…roll over and—"

"I want you to LIVE!" Yvonne shouted, frustration twisting her face as she kicked Sylvanie in the stomach, making her eyes widen in pain.

The kick lifted Sylvanie briefly before she crashed down with a cry of pain. "Damn it, Sylvie! I want you to survive this! Is that so wrong?!" Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her weapons. "The Order is winning! They've already taken half the continent! What good does dying here do for anyone?!"

Sylvanie writhed on the ground, clutching her stomach as tears streamed down her face and each breath came in a labored gasp. Despite the pain, she refused to release her scythe.

"Don't you understand?!" Yvonne fussed. "Giving up doesn't mean you're weak, Sylvie! Look at the pain you're going through right now, all because of some pointless rebellion! You can't stop the Order! No one can! So, why are you still fighting? Why are you still fighting me! Let it go! We've already lost our home! Our people! Our kingdom is done! There's nothing anyone can do. So, stop being so damn stubborn and give it up already!"

Sylvanie dug her fingers into the dirt, blood pooling at her lips as she fought for breath. Tears streaked her face, but defiance burned in her eyes as she slowly raised them to Yvonne.

"You want…to know…why?" Sylvanie rasped, pausing for breath between each word. "It's because…of that stupid…idiotic…human. That…same…insufferable…human, who finally gave…me and my sister…Hope again." She forced herself onto one elbow, shaking violently from the effort. "Something you…threw away…the moment you let them…put their stupid markings…in your eyes. Now you can't see shit past those Zealot's name."

Yvonne faltered briefly, then hardened her expression. "Hope? That human? Are you serious right now?" She gestured wildly toward the distant battlefield where explosions between Vexes and Meara could be heard. "He's probably dead already! Vexes was toying with him even before he activated his power!"

"Maybe…" Sylvanie admitted, forcing herself higher with her scythe for support. "But unlike you…" She spat blood onto the ground between them again. "I'd rather die believing in something…than live not knowing what I stand for."

Sylvanie's words hung between them, and Yvonne tightened her grip on her weapons.

“You stupid…stubborn…” Yvonne's voice cracked slightly before she steeled herself again. "Fine then.' Her wheel blades began spinning faster, the hum growing louder. "If dying is what you want so badly…then I'll grant you that wish!"

"Bring it…bitch," Sylvanie growled through clenched teeth as dark energy flickered faintly around her scythe.

"You stupid…" Yvonne kicked Sylvanie in the ribs again, lifting her off the ground before she crashed back down. "Do you have any idea what I went through just to get them to spare your life?!" She stomped down hard on Sylvanie's back, causing her to let out a blood-curdling scream.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Sylvanie's scream pierced the air as she clawed desperately at the ground, her nails breaking while her body convulsed in pain.

"I BEGGED them!" Yvonne stomped down again, drawing another scream as her voice broke with emotion and anger twisted her face. "I got down on my KNEES and begged those bastards to let you live! Do you understand that?!" Tears began streaming down her face. "They already took what I had. My family is gone! One of the first to be taken away before the Order even stood in front of that damn kingdom." She gritted her teeth. "I humiliated myself! I offered them what I had left so that they wouldn't execute you and Celestia on the spot!

Dark spots crowded Sylvanie's blurred vision as pain burned through her body. Her fingers slipped from the scythe as Yvonne raised her foot again. With the last of her strength, Sylvanie kept her eyes open, certain the final thing she would see was her best friend ending her life.

A sudden gust swept through the ruined building. Sylvanie blinked and found herself cradled in Oreon's arms several feet from Yvonne, his golden eyes fixed on her in a fierce glare.

Oreon glanced down at the dark elf in his arms, smirking faintly as his red aura surrounded them. "You look like shit."