Let's hope you make the last hour count

[monsterihavebecome]

WHO: The Chaotics and those involved in the event
WHERE: Starting in Birchpointe square and expanding outward
WHEN: Late at night on the same day as the raid
OPEN/CLOSED: Open
PROSE OR BRACKETS: Whichever
WARNINGS: ....What the...

[It was a long and hard battle, yet slowly but surely the Chaotic menace was beaten back.

What was left by the time "late at night" gets blurry with "early in the morning" were only a few dozen individuals, now huddled together downtown, near the large trees that'd given the city its name. They were faced off against several fighters, two opposing forces that weren't, at the moment, actually combatting.

They were both waiting to see who would make the first move.]

Comments

Birchpointe Square

[chaotic_evil]

[The one that turned out to make the first move was a different entity entirely. A strange sound suddenly ripped through the heavens, echoing over the skies of Birchpointe, and the Chaotics in the square all raised their heads attentively at it. Then, little by little, their numbers in the back grew as stragglers wandered in from the streets, joining their fellows. As if summoned.

The Chaotics in the front of the group moved back at this point, making room for something; what became a little clearer when a dark portal opened up several feet above the ground. The portal swirled shadow and magic for many seconds before it dropped a shape and closed in on itself, the new arrival landing in a crouch and then standing to meet the gathered fighters.

It was a rabbit or, had once been a rabbit. He was emaciated and scraggly, covered all over in mangy, tawny fur that had purple striations at his extremities, like poisonous seepage had made it up from his skin. The fur was bare in some places, exposing metal plate, but veins and stringy muscle were obvious in others. One ear had been ripped in half, quite a while ago as it was now healed over.

His arms didn't terminate in normal paws though. They instead led down to large metal weapons, like oversized gun chambers that must have weighed a dozen pounds each, but he carried like they were nothing. Claws made a substitute for hands in the center front portions of these, and large cables- or tubing -led from just above his elbow back behind, and into, his back.

But it was his face that arrested attention. His grin was cruel, and almost too wide for his face. His eyes were cold and hard, like staring into a black void pinpricked by burning red embers. A muscle on his forehead twitched and revealed a third eye there, staring just as hatefully as the more normal two.

He met the assembled fighters with a smirk, then as if disinterested in them, half-turned to the Chaotics behind him. He raised one arm and in response, the Chaotics all peaked in interest, watching for the second half of the signal. When they got it- him slashing his hand down -they all sat down, like a military line going at ease.

Or dogs obeying their master.

The rabbit turned back to the assembled, a sick grin back on his face. He might answer to those that speak, but any that choose to fight would be ill advised of that notion, to judge by the wicked gauntlets on his arms.

Whatever happens though, maybe now will be some answers.]

[nailed_it]

[It's been a long day.

A very long day.

Yang's lost count of how many Chaotics she took down over the course of several hours. She's battle-worn, getting tired, and she's been put through the emotional wringer on top of that, and now some three-eyed creep decides to show up in the middle of town and do, well...that.]

Oh, you have got to be shitting me.

[Two seconds. Just two seconds without something else crazy happening. Is that so much to ask?]

[chaotic_evil]

[His ears, both torn and intact, twitched at the voice and he turned toward it, spotting Yang.

But it was his eyes sliding along to another member of her group that had his grin quirking up a little more, and his claws twitching in anticipation.]

[playersandpieces]

[He leaned back, struck with an uncomfortable prickle as the cold, evil eyes met directly to his.

Movement stopped him from reacting any further, and his attention turned to that instead.]

[nailed_it]

[It was Yang, her shoulders squared aggressively and teeth grit as she stepped forward towards the line of Chaotics and that...thing. Her movement put her between Daniel and the rabbit's line of sight, although her focus seemed to be entirely on the latter as she stopped and took up a stance, her own gauntlets held up threateningly.]

Explain.

[Her voice is cold and steely, anger simmering just under the surface.]

[chaotic_evil]

[His attention shifted back to Yang, and he chuckled in a raspy voice.]

What is it that you think you see?

[nailed_it]

I'm not here to play guessing games!!!

[She snaps the reply out, her gauntlets clicking ominously as she primes her weapon.]

Start explaining what you and these Chaotics are doing here or I start firing!

[chaotic_evil]

[He laughs again, harsher than before.]

They're mine.

[niconnect]

[...Well, ok, this is...new. Sort of. Psycho Bun sure did have control over the Chaotics, didn't he?

Still, if Nico is at all scared as she strolls in, arms behind her head, she's not showing it. In fact, she seems as nonplussed by this as she is...anything.

At least she could look slightly impressed, she supposes.]

Let me guess. You're the boss of these goobers?

[chaotic_evil]

[His gaze slid right along to her and he nodded, a smirk across his muzzle.]

I am.

[niconnect]

Uh huh.

[Gosh, man, she's really going to call you Psycho Bun at this rate with that winning smile of yours.]

So, you have a name? Any reason you want to give for coming to this place? Or are you gonna be mean and make me guess?

[chaotic_evil]

[It's an apt description.]

I do, but that doesn't mean I have to give it.

[niconnect]

I do have to make a reason up for you then, don't I.

[She shrugs.]

You know there'll be people who'll stop you, right, Bunbun?

[chaotic_evil]

[He shrugged, though it was unclear if it was referring to her first statement or her second, or both. He at least had words for the latter.]

No one has succeeded in doing so before now.

Besides, I'm in it for the fun.

[notquitedracula]

[Not all the defenders are exhausted, though some who aren't wish they were. Some things just aren't good or healthy for the soul. Luckily night has fallen, the spreading dark driving back the light of the sun.]

[In short, making the city a much more welcoming home to those still standing who felt more at home in the night.]

I have only one question. Why? And don't try the party line about it all being for fun - I know a message when I see one.

[The young man in the white coat hasn't drawn a weapon, yet. Given all the magic he's been throwing around all day, the argument could certainly be made that he doesn't need one. But the careful observer might note that an utterly unnatural, faint black-tinged red light is shining through his skin, just barely visible against the dark - and more brightly from the rings on his right hand. And it damn sure doesn't look at all healthy or natural.]

[chaotic_evil]

A message? [He seemed to roll that around in thought for a moment, before finally making a wide gesture at the city around them.]

Call it.... an experiment. One that went off pretty well, might I add.

[notquitedracula]

[He glances around at the city - seeing the general panic background, plus the property damage (some of which he was responsible for), and the people huddled indoors to escape from the ravening horde. Yeah. That'd be a pretty successful test for a terror army.]

You do realize that, having seen you do this once, we will be prepared for it to happen again. Enough infrastructure has been damaged to require extensive rebuilding, and with that, defenses will almost certainly be installed. You won't be able to do this again.

[He takes a step or two forward, toward the deranged little rabbit thing.]

And you can bet your fluffy ass that those of us who fought today will be better prepared, too. Don't leave here thinking you've won anything. Just leave.

[iamoutforyou]

[...Oh no.

Oh no oh no Oh No Oh No OH NO OH NO OH HELL NO.

To say that Mangle really wasn't expecting any of this would be a grosser understatement than saying that water is just a tad damp. All of those Chaotics around...and he's the fucking ringleader. If she had a heart, at this point? It would've stopped.

Still, her bone to pick with this asshole far outweighs the fact that every part of her programming is screaming run. She's survived being torn apart before...maybe this time...

Just maybe, they could get their revenge. She's not getting up close, granted--she knows a losing situation on her own when she sees it, but maybe she can be a distraction...]

It's been a while, you.

Main Street

[chaotic_evil]

[Fear not, for those that weren't in the square at the time of the strangest of meetings. You'll still have a chance to wonder just what the hell happened.

The sound that had gone off before went again, this time sourced from downtown, specifically the rabbit that had so mysteriously appeared. Whatever the reaction of the fighters, or if any Chaotics fall, he pulls away at the end of everything and makes an escape downtown, flanked by the largest beasts acting as bodyguards. Any remaining monsters go off with him, trailing obediently in his wake.

It's during this escape- no, rapid march out of town -that anyone else can react. They can try to stop it or challenge it somehow, but they are not guaranteed to victory.

How do they react to this spectacle?]

[strengthinkindness]

[Fluttershy is just about reaching her limit to how much of the ordeal she's able to handle. She's been doing her best to stay strong, to help those who needed it, and to be there for others who were fighting. But even with everything she knew she had to do, she coudln't stop the memories that the Chaotics' attack were bringing back. Already feeling overwhelmed as she was, the sight of the gruesome rabbit with its monstrous companions has her locked in place, the fear she had been trying to hold back for so long suddenly flooding through her.]

[hisheadintheclouds]

[Arthur was trying catch his breath. The saving giant stopping building from falling, saving people from certain death, the chaotics certainly left their marks all over him from his efforts. He was able to heal others but not himself, trying to stay positive in this midst of chaos was already proving to be so hard.

Just when he thought it was over, Arthur saw the rabbit and it's creatures dispersing. Then he saw Fluttershy, seeing her locked in place, her expression on her face said enough. Arthur rushed over immediately by her side to try and help her.]

Fluttershy!

[strengthinkindness]

[She didn't seem to hear him, too frozen in fear from the sight before her.]

[hisheadintheclouds]

[Kneeling down as reached out his fingers to hold her hand, he didn't want to surprise her too much. But he did want her to snap out of it.]

Fluttershy! We have to move!

[strengthinkindness]

[She jumped at the touch, her heart racing as more panic floods her mind. But seeing Arthur calmed her down, even just a little bit.]

A-Arthur...

[hisheadintheclouds]

[Arthur briefly caressed her cheek in comfort before he cupped his hands around to carry her.]

I-It's alright I'm here.

Let's get you to safety okay?