Post by Maeve Rakshasa on Jun 14, 2015 23:24:04 GMT
“You must be swift ...Like the ever blowing Wind...”
“...Free...Like the continual flow of Water...”
“...Sturdy...Sturdy and tough as the Earth itself...”
“...You must embody all of that.... With your spirit ablaze...With your heart fueled by Fire!”
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Maeve's eyes shot open in an instant as her lungs filled with a rush of air in a single frantic gasp. She looked around in a daze, her vision was still adjusting as she roused from her unconscious state. What happened? What was going on? These thoughts bounced around her head as she continued to wake up from her dream like state. Her golden eyes blinked a few times as she looked down to her scaled feet, her attention being caught by the soft crashing of the waves that brushed past her sensitive soles and up her thighs. She tilted her head as she looked at the water curiously... She reached down and cupped a handful of the dry sand only to stop and stare as she watched the sand effortlessly slip between her fingers.
A beach...She was on a beach.... When did she get there? She couldn't say for certain... She slowly attempted to stand up but stopped halfway when her knees buckled from an intense rush of pain that pounded at her skull. She held her head, and trembled, her face contorted into agony as she fought back the strange rush of pain that seemed to thunder about her skull. Her wobbly knees finally gave out forcing her to fall upon them. While crumpled on her knees she began panting heavily until the pain settled on being a dull throb aching in the back of her skull. “...What...What happened?” She coughed, attempting to vocalize her thoughts but couldn't due to her throat being sticky and dry from dehydration. She looked up to the clear blue sky in confusion as she tried to dredge up whatever memories she could. “...Where...Am I?”
She stood up, the wind blowing her sea-soaked cape and sandy hair lightly as she took in the full sight of the sea and sky. She winced slightly however, as a bit of a glare from hit the corner of her eye. She glanced down and saw both her helmet and her sword: Fateburn both slightly buried in the golden sand.
She reached down and picked up both, shaking them lightly forcing the sifting sands slide away before she reequipped herself. “This place isn't home... It's so different...The sky...It's so blue.” The draconic swordswoman muttered as she took a gaze around the mainland. The sight of a sandy beach and rolling hills of crisp green grass filled her vision causing her to gasp lightly. “It's also so...So Green...” She stammered in amazement.
“If this isn't home... Then that means...”
Her lip curled down to a quiver as the realization that her nightmare...Being banished and separated from her only friend...It was her reality. She was stuck in the mortal realm. Tears began to bubble in her eyes as she felt sorrow y'allnk at her heart. What was she going to do? What could she do?
“M-Miss? Are y'all alright?”
The voice of a young man caused Maeve's ears to twitch and her headfins to shoot up in alarm. She quickly rubbed her eyes, hiding her tears, before turning to the voice. Standing before her was a human teenager. He was rather small and lean, Maeve actually stood above him easily. He had a fair skin tone, boyish features, and dark eyes. His medium length, wavy, dark lilac hair was mostly concealed by: oddly enough, a brass cooking pot. Resting at his side was a crude wooden sword that had a taped up grip.
“Glad to see yer' up and at em! When I saw y'all wash up I thought fer' sure you mighta been done fer!” The boy said cheerfully to the rather confused looking dragoness “I didn't mean to have y'all wake up all lonesome and scared. Honest I didn't. I just scuttled off to fetch ya some water! Figured you'd want a drink condserin' ya'll just woke up...” He said before offering the girl a bottle of water. An offer Maeve graciously accepted. “Also glad to see that even space folk like yerself drink water. S'all I got! Yer a space man right? Er...Space gal? Sorry, slip of the tongue...” The chatty teen spoke watching as Maeve began to down the water.
With a little satisfied sigh, the dragon would bring down the now empty bottle of water and look to the human. “...Water is fine, thank you.” Maeve said bowing to the boy. “I'm also not a.... 'Space Gal' or whatever it is you said. I'm a dragon, from the demon realm. You must be a... Hyooman?” She said, toying with the foreign word a bit. That wasn't the right way to say it was it?
“Well string a bell on me and call me Bessie! Yer a dragon? Like a bona fide fire breathin' beastie? That's pretty startlin'! Yer cute as a bug!” Maeve tried to comment, most likely denying the younger boy's claim but he just kept on talking. “How could a swell gal like you be from a 'demon realm?' That sounds none too pleasant. No ma’am. You musta came here to Earth like a bat outta hell!” He chuckled as he adjusted the pot on his head a bit, to get a better look at the older dragon lady.
“Swell? How could you say that? We just met... We don't even know each others names!” Maeve pointed out, briefly wondering if all humans were this wildly accepting of others. In the demon realm, taking advantage of others and focusing only on yourself or your clan was the general status quo. So her initial distrust of the optimistic boy was a gut reaction from her.
“Shoot, are y'all sayin' I'm wrong? Should I be rilin' the townsfolk to get their torches and pitchforks?” He laughed in a cheery manner, which forced a little smile out of the dragoness. “Or Should I be introducin' myself to a new friend? My name's Scampi! Scampi Shrimp! My Ma calls me Scamp, but y'all can call me Scampi! How do ya do?” He smiled, offering his hand in an overly enthusiastic manner.
Maeve paused, staring at his hand briefly, considering what Scampi had to say before she smiled and took his hand into her own and shook it. “It's nice to meet you Scampi... I'm Maeve.” She said introducing herself with a smile of her own. “I'll be honest... I'm glad that the first mortal I met turned out to be so kind.” She giggled honestly, a weird weight being lifted for some reason upon meeting such a friendly face already.
“The pleasure is all mine Miss Maeve!” Scampi grinned withdrawing his hand. He paused however as he noticed the blade at Maeve's side. “Say, yer all geared up and with a sword to boot! Y'all some kinda warrior or somethin'? I reckon yer trained somethin' fierce.” He said eying the great cleaver known as Fateburn. “I can fight too! I'm gonna be a hero to make my Ma proud!” He beamed puffing his chest out with pride. “'Sides, with all the baddies runnin' amok blastin' towns like it aint nobody's business I gotta get strong to keep my home safe y'hear?”
“Baddies?” Maeve repeated, her ears perking up in alarm. “They're destroying towns? I thought... I thought the mortal realm was safer than the demon realm...” She said, clenching her fists as she frowned noticeably. Learning that the love for death and destruction wasn't solely a demon thing was more than a little upsetting for sure.
“Shoot no! I reckon that there's always some sort of baddy somewhere or another. Don't matter where you are I reckon.” He said nodding his head seriously for a moment. “...Still, that's why folks like us gotta get strong! We gotta save the folks who can't save themselves!” He beamed before drawing his wooden sword and pointing it at Maeve. “So how bout we have ourselves a good ol' fashioned tussle? I wanna see how strong y'all are! I'll even sweeten the deal, yasee if y'all win: I'll bring ya home and let ya have some of my Ma's world famous cranberry pie! How's that sound?” He said, excitement bubbling in his voice as he challenged the fully armored demon with little thought or concern.
“Wha? A challenge?” Maeve blinked, completely caught off guard by the sudden request. She seriously didn't think this would be a good idea, but the earnest look in the boy's eyes made it hard for her to say no. She'd just have to hold herself back a bit. She didn't really want to hurt the boy. She wasn't quite sure what 'pie' was but she liked cranberries so it must have been something good! She decided that perhaps it might not be such a bad idea to spar with the human as she initially thought.
So, with a nod, Maeve drew her great cleaver Fateburn and shifted into her stance. Her amber eyes fixated on the boy with the pot hat and wooden blade. “I'll accept your challenge and treat you like I'd treat any other demon. Face me with everything you've got Scampi!” She said in a thunderous voice as they began their battle.
Scampi readied into a relaxed (but sloppy) fighting stance with his wooden blade. The length and width of the blade made Maeve realize that the boy would most likely use a longsword if he were to carry a real blade. So he probably would be an all around type of fighter. Skilled with all aspects of a battlefield but the master of none. “Get ready!” Scampi called out suddenly interrupting Maeve's thoughts as he lowered himself down. For a brief moment Maeve could see a flicker of pale translucent aura covering his form before he suddenly sprung forward in a flash that was almost too quick for Maeve to process. “It's my secret move! Thunder Thrust!” He called out as he thrust is sword forward into the center of her chest plate in an instant. The sudden thrust caught Maeve off guard and ended up striking true as it slammed into her chest causing her to stumble back in alarm. A throb of pain radiated from the impact causing Maeve to lay a palm on her chest as she attempted to steady herself
“Tch... You're stronger than you look Scampi...” Maeve clicked her tongue as she returned to her fighting stance. “That attack was surprising, I wouldn't have expected something so potent from a mortal like you...” She said as she decided to take the boy a bit more seriously. At the very least he had some potential, maybe even the ability to tap into his ki if he was lead right.
“Shucks, Thunder Thrust is pretty nifty sure, but it loses some oomf if ya'll see it comin' y'hear?” He smiled. Maeve realized that what he meant to say was the move might be able to be used only a few times in a fight reliably. It'd be a good move to catch someone off guard with, as he did so with her. “But luckily I know my way around a sword! Check it out!” He cried as he ran at Maeve trying to cut her was a few quick slashes here and there. These were a bit more what Maeve was expecting however and she easily dodged or blocked them. The boy wasn't without skill, his form was mostly on the right track, he just lacked the experience of actual battle. “Yeehaw! Scampi Atttaaaaaccckkk!” He called out as he jumped up and attempted to slam the wooden blade into her head.
“You leave yourself open with big attacks like that!” Maeve criticized, stepping forward with one powerful stomp that kicked up a bit of the sand beneath her. “You telegraph your attacks not only vocally but through your motions.” She continued while she stepped towards the boy. “I could react to your moves before you even made them!” She called out as she shifted her weight and position readying her blade.
Before his blade even got near her head the boy would feel a sudden powerful impact to his gut. The burst of force was enough to knock the wind out of him. His eyes bugged out slightly as he looked down, the dragon had just struck him in the gut with only the hilt of her sword! “OUGHA!” He coughed, a bit of spittle escaping his mouth as the force of her non lethal strike caused him to fly back and roll backwards in the sand. Maeve's sharp amber gaze softened lightly as she watched the boy crumple and roll from the single hit. Did she put too much power into it? Did she take him too seriously? Was he actually hurt? Maeve began to panic as she hurried over to the downed human.
“WHEW-WEEE!” Scampi called out as he popped up, nearly instantly. “Y'all got more strength than a ragin' bull on brandin' day! I'll tell ya what!” He laughed out slapping his chest a couple of times (only to wince at the jolt of pain from her attack each time he did.) Maeve sighed a long sigh, all panic and tension fading seeing that the boy was spry as ever. She had thought she killed him! “Y'all sent me tumblin' good! I was seein' the stars for a fleetin' moment fer sure!” He laughed, walking up to grab his brass pot-helmet that had gone flying as soon as he was sent rolling. He dusted it off before sticking it back on to his head. “Dang, I don't think I can even compete with y'all! How'd ya get so strong-like?”
Running a hand through her ruby locks as she regained her composure Maeve would glance down to the boy as he asked about her strength. Flashes of her intense training with her father played before her mind first. She remembered being given her great sword, Fateburn, at an incredibly young age. She was just a pup yet she was forced to wield a blade bigger than she was and face her giant of a father. Their training, which would be considered relentless and brutal to most, was something Maeve genuinely enjoyed. Even though she had to fight her father with everything she had, oddly enough she always felt close to him while they had locked blades. Despite all the hardships she would face with her father later on she still had him to thank for instilling a sense of warrior's pride within her and a sense of honor.
The other memories she had were of Akemi. While she didn't learn nearly as much about raw fighting skill from her, she learned the importance of wisdom and clarity in battle. Akemi also taught her the importance of balancing the elements within one's soul to achieve the highest potential with one could with the ki within. Most of her 'training' was more akin to studying or meditating. Though there were a few times when the fox spirit would spar with her further increasing her strength. Mostly Akemi offered her friendship, kindness, and guidance that was invaluable to her.
“Miss Maeve? Yer eyes are all misty...Somethin' wrong?” Scampi said noticing that Maeve had gone quiet and tears again once again began to well up in her amber eyes. The girl swallowed, looking away from the boy as she fought back any further tears. She blushed with shame, she didn't want to look weak especially after his praise so she swallowed her emotion and stood tall before him.
“It's nothing... I was just thinking back to home.” She responded quietly before rubbing her eyes a bit. “Though, there was a lot of bad I still had something to treasure... Now I don't know if I'll ever be able to...” She inhaled sharply, fighting back emotions things again...”Nevermind, I suppose...I've gotten as strong as I am because I've worked hard and I've had a lot of guidance.” She said smiling softly though the sadness remained in her eyes.
“Say don't look sad Miss Maeve! How bout we getcha some cranberry pie! That'll perk ya right up!” He said with a big old smile “After all, y'all won it fair an' square.” He chuckled, pulling his brass pot-helmet up to get a better look at Maeve so he could give her a warm smile.
With hunger and fatigue driving her Maeve accepted the offer with a nod. “Alright Scampi. Lead the way...”
Cranberry pie is the greatest thing in the world. Mortals have it made. What Have I been doing with my life?
These thoughts ran through Maeve's mind as she happily ate the sugary but tart pie that Scampi's mother was apparently 'world famous' for. She was currently seated in the dining room of the ranch that the Scampi family owned. Thankfully it wasn't too long of a walk for them to get there for Maeve washed up practically right outside their humble little town in the southern isles.
“My Scamp! Yer friend sure is hungry! Y'all said she washed up on the beach right? She must be starving!” The teenagers mother, Lemon Shrimp, smiled offering the dragon demon another slice of her delicious dessert. The middle aged woman was smaller like her son, she had long lilac hair, fair skin, and dark eyes as well. Her long wavy hair was tied into a neat ponytail to keep it out of her face as she worked.
“Y'all just eat up till yer belly's full! I knew that Scamp scuttled off to play hero with that stick of his but I never would've guessed he'd actually find someone to save! Go figure! Guess my little Scamp really is a hero!” The woman smiled warmly to her son and his new friend as she took some of the dishes away as Maeve started devouring her second helping,
“Thank you very much Lady Shrimp. This food is divine.” The former heiress of the of the Rakshasa Clan bowed her head regally to the matriarch of the Shrimp household.
“Aw shucks shug, it aint nothin' but a thing. And just call me Ma, everyone does.” She laughed in a merry manner as she went back to collecting the dishes. “Scamp, why don't y'all help Pa and yer brothers out with the chores, lemme talk with Miss Maeve here alone for a bit...” She said as she was taking the dishes to the kitchen only to return moments later.
“Yes Ma, I'll seeya in a bit Maeve!” The boy said with a smile and a nod as he quickly got outside. The woman watched as her son hurried off to help out with the chores before turning her attention to Maeve. She patiently waited for the dragon to finish her second helping before speaking.
“So listen shug, I've been thinkin' on what my Scampi said: how you washed up without any knowin' where y'all ended up.” She said meeting Maeve's curious gaze before continuing. “Even if yer from some sort of beastie place I reckon you seem like a sweet little lady who's a bit down on her luck..Am I right?” She asked looking to the girl with a sweet smile.
Down on her luck was an understatement, she was trapped in a realm she had no idea about, she had no place to live, barely any money, and no one to turn to. She was in a lot of trouble. “...Yes I suppose I am in a bit of a rough spot...” Maeve uttered, with a slight blush. “T-Though I'm sure I won't be for long. There's no need to concern yourself with me.” She said quickly, trying to reassure the woman. “Your current kindness is more than enough for me.” She said with another regal bow of her head.
“Well shug, as much as I trust yer a capable sort... I'll be honest it aint easy ignorin' the plight of a youngin' who washed up practically in our backyard.” She said, her constant warm and motherly smile unfading. “So, I wanted to offer ya a place to stay till y'all get on yer feet. I'd be more worried than a turkey on a holiday if I just let ya go without offering to help. I wager Scamp would be worried sick about y'all if ya just scuttled away.”
Maeve blinked in alarm at the sudden offer. “Wha? Really? You're...That's so generous of you! There's no way I could accept!” Maeve stammered her embarrassed flush growing at her generous offer. Why would she put herself out for her? A random demon? It didn't make any sense. Though she had the same thought when Scampi easily accepted her as well. Maybe this family was just super kind? Maybe most mortals were just this kind? She wasn't sure....
“Oh it ain't nothin' but a thing shug! We've got plenty of room here, y'all can stay in one of the guest rooms till ya get on yer feet.” She repeated giggling softly at Maeve's reaction. “But, if y'all are gonna be stayin' we might have to put ya to work y'hear?” She added pointing a finger up. “Y'all will earn yer keep and maybe make some extra Zenni on the side. How's that sound?” She asked looking to the demon intently.
“...That will be great! Thank you... Thank you so much!”
With that, Maeve began living with and working for the Shrimp family. She quickly found herself getting into the groove of things (even if it had only been a few days since she started living with them. She was running errands, helping with stable chores, and helping clean around the house. While the work was hard Maeve found that it was worth it, the Shrimp family was nothing but kind to her and her accommodations were incredibly comfortable.
Despite working for the Shrimps however, Maeve still found time to keep up with her training. After all: according to Scampi there were people that were attacking the mortals. People capable of destroying towns by themselves. While she found herself a slice of peace she knew that there were other people suffering and that her skills with the blade needed to be sharp as ever. So at night, she would go training outside her new home.
“You must be swift ...Like the ever blowing Wind...”
Maeve began her usual moonlit work out as she always did. The dragon woman sprinted along the beach wearing a series of heavy weights that weighed down upon her. Her heels dug into the shifting sands as her powerful leg muscles tried to keep her going despite her being weighed down and the fact that she stood on uneven ground. Each heavy step told her to stop but she kept going. Each second she could feel fatigue building up and burning her but she pressed on. She had to be swift...Like the ever blowing wind. Swift she was, for even being weighed down and even moving on unstable terrain her movements were fast and hard to register to the untrained eye.
“...Free...Like the continual flow of Water...”
After running till she could barely stand, the draconic woman would sit and meditate. She emptied her mind of all emotion, all pain, and all thought. She let go of the ties and hang ups of her life briefly and spent her time focused on only the world around her. She surrendered herself to the flow of existence and slipped into her Serene State of consciousness. Remaining this intensely focused for as long as she did required equally intense discipline. Understanding and surrendering yourself to the flow required a will of iron. With this level of focus, this level of detachment one could move freely like water on the battlefield.
“...Sturdy...Sturdy and tough as the Earth itself...”
Upon refocusing herself she would go back to physical training. This time however, she was going to push herself not to be fast but to be tough, enduring, and strong. She did what she could to sculpt her body to be as strong as the earth itself. She had to push herself to the limit and build up her endurance. At the brink of her limitation she had to push herself to pass it without wavering. She had to be unmoving. She had to stay strong. She had to embody the term 'sturdy.' That was what it meant to be to be as tough as the Earth itself. That was what it meant to be an immovable warrior!
“...You must embody all of that.... With your spirit ablaze...With your heart fueled by Fire!”
After bringing her body and mind to it's limits she would stand. Despite every fiber in her being screaming at her to stop and rest she would draw her sword, letting her drive for justice and her passion for life fill her to the core. With a blazing spirit she would go through her katas. Each fluid movement she made was fast and unwavering. She had no doubt, no hesitation, and all the determination in the world to make herself better. To hone her skill to become a living beacon of hope. This determination pushed her body on and fueled her every action.
Swift as the Wind. Free like Water. Sturdy as the Earth. All combined with a blazing spirit and fiery heart. This is what Maeve of the Rakshasa Clan embodied as she let her great cleaver: Fateburn dance through the night. The steel of her blade caught the light of the moon as she effortlessly cut the air in a dazzling display of light and steel. She lowered into her stance as she gathered the balanced ki from within. Her heart filled with energy as she readied her attack. She closed her eyes briefly as she readied the next demonstration of her masterful skill with her mighty cleaver. “Disappear!” She hissed, almost instinctively as her molten amber eyes shot open and she stepped into her attack.. With another blinding flash she would strike her blade out five times. The chaotic rebellion star was her signature attack and as such the nearly untraceable display of swordplay she displayed was as natural as breathing to her.
She wasn't just satisfied with that however. She knew she could push herself further. Without missing a beat she fire out another chaotic rebellion star followed by another right after. The sand beneath her began to lift, practically holding in the air as she cut the air and ground like lightning over and over. The girl's eyes began to narrow as she felt her energy coursing through her. The runic tattoos meant to keep her demonic nature at bay started to burn away as the urge for more and more power began to surface in her heart. Maeve let out a roar of fire as her demonic aura exploded around her suddenly, sending fragments of black-red ki crackling into the air around her. With a chaotic snarl the girl looked up to the sky before jumping up. Charging all of her energy into her sword Maeve would spin through the air before slamming her sword down from overhead sending her crashing to the ground like a bullet. An explosion of ki and sand would shoot high into the air as soon as she hit the ground and buried her cleaver into the earth below. Mave panted, her tattoos returning to their full strength as a few lingering bolts of black and red electricity skirted around her form.
“I-I have to keep my cool.” She exhaled as she stood up and sheathed her blade at her side. She looked to the starry sky above as she tried to calm herself down. “...I don't have Akemi or the others to keep me in line should I lose myself... I could really hurt someone. I can't lose my cool” She thought back to the Shrimp family specifically and glanced back towards her current home. “If I lose myself I won't be able to protect anyone, let alone the people I care about. I have to stay focused... have to stay strong... I know I can do it!”
With that reassurance to herself Maeve would nod once and turn back to her current home. Though she was in an unknown world her mission remained unchanged. She had to protect the weak while keeping her personal demons at bay. She had no idea what lie in wait for her in her upcoming trials but she would face them with a balanced mind and body and a heart of fire.
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Word count: 4801
Bonus Modifiers: Medium Weights
“...Free...Like the continual flow of Water...”
“...Sturdy...Sturdy and tough as the Earth itself...”
“...You must embody all of that.... With your spirit ablaze...With your heart fueled by Fire!”
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Maeve's eyes shot open in an instant as her lungs filled with a rush of air in a single frantic gasp. She looked around in a daze, her vision was still adjusting as she roused from her unconscious state. What happened? What was going on? These thoughts bounced around her head as she continued to wake up from her dream like state. Her golden eyes blinked a few times as she looked down to her scaled feet, her attention being caught by the soft crashing of the waves that brushed past her sensitive soles and up her thighs. She tilted her head as she looked at the water curiously... She reached down and cupped a handful of the dry sand only to stop and stare as she watched the sand effortlessly slip between her fingers.
A beach...She was on a beach.... When did she get there? She couldn't say for certain... She slowly attempted to stand up but stopped halfway when her knees buckled from an intense rush of pain that pounded at her skull. She held her head, and trembled, her face contorted into agony as she fought back the strange rush of pain that seemed to thunder about her skull. Her wobbly knees finally gave out forcing her to fall upon them. While crumpled on her knees she began panting heavily until the pain settled on being a dull throb aching in the back of her skull. “...What...What happened?” She coughed, attempting to vocalize her thoughts but couldn't due to her throat being sticky and dry from dehydration. She looked up to the clear blue sky in confusion as she tried to dredge up whatever memories she could. “...Where...Am I?”
She stood up, the wind blowing her sea-soaked cape and sandy hair lightly as she took in the full sight of the sea and sky. She winced slightly however, as a bit of a glare from hit the corner of her eye. She glanced down and saw both her helmet and her sword: Fateburn both slightly buried in the golden sand.
She reached down and picked up both, shaking them lightly forcing the sifting sands slide away before she reequipped herself. “This place isn't home... It's so different...The sky...It's so blue.” The draconic swordswoman muttered as she took a gaze around the mainland. The sight of a sandy beach and rolling hills of crisp green grass filled her vision causing her to gasp lightly. “It's also so...So Green...” She stammered in amazement.
“If this isn't home... Then that means...”
Her lip curled down to a quiver as the realization that her nightmare...Being banished and separated from her only friend...It was her reality. She was stuck in the mortal realm. Tears began to bubble in her eyes as she felt sorrow y'allnk at her heart. What was she going to do? What could she do?
“M-Miss? Are y'all alright?”
The voice of a young man caused Maeve's ears to twitch and her headfins to shoot up in alarm. She quickly rubbed her eyes, hiding her tears, before turning to the voice. Standing before her was a human teenager. He was rather small and lean, Maeve actually stood above him easily. He had a fair skin tone, boyish features, and dark eyes. His medium length, wavy, dark lilac hair was mostly concealed by: oddly enough, a brass cooking pot. Resting at his side was a crude wooden sword that had a taped up grip.
“Glad to see yer' up and at em! When I saw y'all wash up I thought fer' sure you mighta been done fer!” The boy said cheerfully to the rather confused looking dragoness “I didn't mean to have y'all wake up all lonesome and scared. Honest I didn't. I just scuttled off to fetch ya some water! Figured you'd want a drink condserin' ya'll just woke up...” He said before offering the girl a bottle of water. An offer Maeve graciously accepted. “Also glad to see that even space folk like yerself drink water. S'all I got! Yer a space man right? Er...Space gal? Sorry, slip of the tongue...” The chatty teen spoke watching as Maeve began to down the water.
With a little satisfied sigh, the dragon would bring down the now empty bottle of water and look to the human. “...Water is fine, thank you.” Maeve said bowing to the boy. “I'm also not a.... 'Space Gal' or whatever it is you said. I'm a dragon, from the demon realm. You must be a... Hyooman?” She said, toying with the foreign word a bit. That wasn't the right way to say it was it?
“Well string a bell on me and call me Bessie! Yer a dragon? Like a bona fide fire breathin' beastie? That's pretty startlin'! Yer cute as a bug!” Maeve tried to comment, most likely denying the younger boy's claim but he just kept on talking. “How could a swell gal like you be from a 'demon realm?' That sounds none too pleasant. No ma’am. You musta came here to Earth like a bat outta hell!” He chuckled as he adjusted the pot on his head a bit, to get a better look at the older dragon lady.
“Swell? How could you say that? We just met... We don't even know each others names!” Maeve pointed out, briefly wondering if all humans were this wildly accepting of others. In the demon realm, taking advantage of others and focusing only on yourself or your clan was the general status quo. So her initial distrust of the optimistic boy was a gut reaction from her.
“Shoot, are y'all sayin' I'm wrong? Should I be rilin' the townsfolk to get their torches and pitchforks?” He laughed in a cheery manner, which forced a little smile out of the dragoness. “Or Should I be introducin' myself to a new friend? My name's Scampi! Scampi Shrimp! My Ma calls me Scamp, but y'all can call me Scampi! How do ya do?” He smiled, offering his hand in an overly enthusiastic manner.
Maeve paused, staring at his hand briefly, considering what Scampi had to say before she smiled and took his hand into her own and shook it. “It's nice to meet you Scampi... I'm Maeve.” She said introducing herself with a smile of her own. “I'll be honest... I'm glad that the first mortal I met turned out to be so kind.” She giggled honestly, a weird weight being lifted for some reason upon meeting such a friendly face already.
“The pleasure is all mine Miss Maeve!” Scampi grinned withdrawing his hand. He paused however as he noticed the blade at Maeve's side. “Say, yer all geared up and with a sword to boot! Y'all some kinda warrior or somethin'? I reckon yer trained somethin' fierce.” He said eying the great cleaver known as Fateburn. “I can fight too! I'm gonna be a hero to make my Ma proud!” He beamed puffing his chest out with pride. “'Sides, with all the baddies runnin' amok blastin' towns like it aint nobody's business I gotta get strong to keep my home safe y'hear?”
“Baddies?” Maeve repeated, her ears perking up in alarm. “They're destroying towns? I thought... I thought the mortal realm was safer than the demon realm...” She said, clenching her fists as she frowned noticeably. Learning that the love for death and destruction wasn't solely a demon thing was more than a little upsetting for sure.
“Shoot no! I reckon that there's always some sort of baddy somewhere or another. Don't matter where you are I reckon.” He said nodding his head seriously for a moment. “...Still, that's why folks like us gotta get strong! We gotta save the folks who can't save themselves!” He beamed before drawing his wooden sword and pointing it at Maeve. “So how bout we have ourselves a good ol' fashioned tussle? I wanna see how strong y'all are! I'll even sweeten the deal, yasee if y'all win: I'll bring ya home and let ya have some of my Ma's world famous cranberry pie! How's that sound?” He said, excitement bubbling in his voice as he challenged the fully armored demon with little thought or concern.
“Wha? A challenge?” Maeve blinked, completely caught off guard by the sudden request. She seriously didn't think this would be a good idea, but the earnest look in the boy's eyes made it hard for her to say no. She'd just have to hold herself back a bit. She didn't really want to hurt the boy. She wasn't quite sure what 'pie' was but she liked cranberries so it must have been something good! She decided that perhaps it might not be such a bad idea to spar with the human as she initially thought.
So, with a nod, Maeve drew her great cleaver Fateburn and shifted into her stance. Her amber eyes fixated on the boy with the pot hat and wooden blade. “I'll accept your challenge and treat you like I'd treat any other demon. Face me with everything you've got Scampi!” She said in a thunderous voice as they began their battle.
Scampi readied into a relaxed (but sloppy) fighting stance with his wooden blade. The length and width of the blade made Maeve realize that the boy would most likely use a longsword if he were to carry a real blade. So he probably would be an all around type of fighter. Skilled with all aspects of a battlefield but the master of none. “Get ready!” Scampi called out suddenly interrupting Maeve's thoughts as he lowered himself down. For a brief moment Maeve could see a flicker of pale translucent aura covering his form before he suddenly sprung forward in a flash that was almost too quick for Maeve to process. “It's my secret move! Thunder Thrust!” He called out as he thrust is sword forward into the center of her chest plate in an instant. The sudden thrust caught Maeve off guard and ended up striking true as it slammed into her chest causing her to stumble back in alarm. A throb of pain radiated from the impact causing Maeve to lay a palm on her chest as she attempted to steady herself
“Tch... You're stronger than you look Scampi...” Maeve clicked her tongue as she returned to her fighting stance. “That attack was surprising, I wouldn't have expected something so potent from a mortal like you...” She said as she decided to take the boy a bit more seriously. At the very least he had some potential, maybe even the ability to tap into his ki if he was lead right.
“Shucks, Thunder Thrust is pretty nifty sure, but it loses some oomf if ya'll see it comin' y'hear?” He smiled. Maeve realized that what he meant to say was the move might be able to be used only a few times in a fight reliably. It'd be a good move to catch someone off guard with, as he did so with her. “But luckily I know my way around a sword! Check it out!” He cried as he ran at Maeve trying to cut her was a few quick slashes here and there. These were a bit more what Maeve was expecting however and she easily dodged or blocked them. The boy wasn't without skill, his form was mostly on the right track, he just lacked the experience of actual battle. “Yeehaw! Scampi Atttaaaaaccckkk!” He called out as he jumped up and attempted to slam the wooden blade into her head.
“You leave yourself open with big attacks like that!” Maeve criticized, stepping forward with one powerful stomp that kicked up a bit of the sand beneath her. “You telegraph your attacks not only vocally but through your motions.” She continued while she stepped towards the boy. “I could react to your moves before you even made them!” She called out as she shifted her weight and position readying her blade.
Before his blade even got near her head the boy would feel a sudden powerful impact to his gut. The burst of force was enough to knock the wind out of him. His eyes bugged out slightly as he looked down, the dragon had just struck him in the gut with only the hilt of her sword! “OUGHA!” He coughed, a bit of spittle escaping his mouth as the force of her non lethal strike caused him to fly back and roll backwards in the sand. Maeve's sharp amber gaze softened lightly as she watched the boy crumple and roll from the single hit. Did she put too much power into it? Did she take him too seriously? Was he actually hurt? Maeve began to panic as she hurried over to the downed human.
“WHEW-WEEE!” Scampi called out as he popped up, nearly instantly. “Y'all got more strength than a ragin' bull on brandin' day! I'll tell ya what!” He laughed out slapping his chest a couple of times (only to wince at the jolt of pain from her attack each time he did.) Maeve sighed a long sigh, all panic and tension fading seeing that the boy was spry as ever. She had thought she killed him! “Y'all sent me tumblin' good! I was seein' the stars for a fleetin' moment fer sure!” He laughed, walking up to grab his brass pot-helmet that had gone flying as soon as he was sent rolling. He dusted it off before sticking it back on to his head. “Dang, I don't think I can even compete with y'all! How'd ya get so strong-like?”
Running a hand through her ruby locks as she regained her composure Maeve would glance down to the boy as he asked about her strength. Flashes of her intense training with her father played before her mind first. She remembered being given her great sword, Fateburn, at an incredibly young age. She was just a pup yet she was forced to wield a blade bigger than she was and face her giant of a father. Their training, which would be considered relentless and brutal to most, was something Maeve genuinely enjoyed. Even though she had to fight her father with everything she had, oddly enough she always felt close to him while they had locked blades. Despite all the hardships she would face with her father later on she still had him to thank for instilling a sense of warrior's pride within her and a sense of honor.
The other memories she had were of Akemi. While she didn't learn nearly as much about raw fighting skill from her, she learned the importance of wisdom and clarity in battle. Akemi also taught her the importance of balancing the elements within one's soul to achieve the highest potential with one could with the ki within. Most of her 'training' was more akin to studying or meditating. Though there were a few times when the fox spirit would spar with her further increasing her strength. Mostly Akemi offered her friendship, kindness, and guidance that was invaluable to her.
“Miss Maeve? Yer eyes are all misty...Somethin' wrong?” Scampi said noticing that Maeve had gone quiet and tears again once again began to well up in her amber eyes. The girl swallowed, looking away from the boy as she fought back any further tears. She blushed with shame, she didn't want to look weak especially after his praise so she swallowed her emotion and stood tall before him.
“It's nothing... I was just thinking back to home.” She responded quietly before rubbing her eyes a bit. “Though, there was a lot of bad I still had something to treasure... Now I don't know if I'll ever be able to...” She inhaled sharply, fighting back emotions things again...”Nevermind, I suppose...I've gotten as strong as I am because I've worked hard and I've had a lot of guidance.” She said smiling softly though the sadness remained in her eyes.
“Say don't look sad Miss Maeve! How bout we getcha some cranberry pie! That'll perk ya right up!” He said with a big old smile “After all, y'all won it fair an' square.” He chuckled, pulling his brass pot-helmet up to get a better look at Maeve so he could give her a warm smile.
With hunger and fatigue driving her Maeve accepted the offer with a nod. “Alright Scampi. Lead the way...”
Cranberry pie is the greatest thing in the world. Mortals have it made. What Have I been doing with my life?
These thoughts ran through Maeve's mind as she happily ate the sugary but tart pie that Scampi's mother was apparently 'world famous' for. She was currently seated in the dining room of the ranch that the Scampi family owned. Thankfully it wasn't too long of a walk for them to get there for Maeve washed up practically right outside their humble little town in the southern isles.
“My Scamp! Yer friend sure is hungry! Y'all said she washed up on the beach right? She must be starving!” The teenagers mother, Lemon Shrimp, smiled offering the dragon demon another slice of her delicious dessert. The middle aged woman was smaller like her son, she had long lilac hair, fair skin, and dark eyes as well. Her long wavy hair was tied into a neat ponytail to keep it out of her face as she worked.
“Y'all just eat up till yer belly's full! I knew that Scamp scuttled off to play hero with that stick of his but I never would've guessed he'd actually find someone to save! Go figure! Guess my little Scamp really is a hero!” The woman smiled warmly to her son and his new friend as she took some of the dishes away as Maeve started devouring her second helping,
“Thank you very much Lady Shrimp. This food is divine.” The former heiress of the of the Rakshasa Clan bowed her head regally to the matriarch of the Shrimp household.
“Aw shucks shug, it aint nothin' but a thing. And just call me Ma, everyone does.” She laughed in a merry manner as she went back to collecting the dishes. “Scamp, why don't y'all help Pa and yer brothers out with the chores, lemme talk with Miss Maeve here alone for a bit...” She said as she was taking the dishes to the kitchen only to return moments later.
“Yes Ma, I'll seeya in a bit Maeve!” The boy said with a smile and a nod as he quickly got outside. The woman watched as her son hurried off to help out with the chores before turning her attention to Maeve. She patiently waited for the dragon to finish her second helping before speaking.
“So listen shug, I've been thinkin' on what my Scampi said: how you washed up without any knowin' where y'all ended up.” She said meeting Maeve's curious gaze before continuing. “Even if yer from some sort of beastie place I reckon you seem like a sweet little lady who's a bit down on her luck..Am I right?” She asked looking to the girl with a sweet smile.
Down on her luck was an understatement, she was trapped in a realm she had no idea about, she had no place to live, barely any money, and no one to turn to. She was in a lot of trouble. “...Yes I suppose I am in a bit of a rough spot...” Maeve uttered, with a slight blush. “T-Though I'm sure I won't be for long. There's no need to concern yourself with me.” She said quickly, trying to reassure the woman. “Your current kindness is more than enough for me.” She said with another regal bow of her head.
“Well shug, as much as I trust yer a capable sort... I'll be honest it aint easy ignorin' the plight of a youngin' who washed up practically in our backyard.” She said, her constant warm and motherly smile unfading. “So, I wanted to offer ya a place to stay till y'all get on yer feet. I'd be more worried than a turkey on a holiday if I just let ya go without offering to help. I wager Scamp would be worried sick about y'all if ya just scuttled away.”
Maeve blinked in alarm at the sudden offer. “Wha? Really? You're...That's so generous of you! There's no way I could accept!” Maeve stammered her embarrassed flush growing at her generous offer. Why would she put herself out for her? A random demon? It didn't make any sense. Though she had the same thought when Scampi easily accepted her as well. Maybe this family was just super kind? Maybe most mortals were just this kind? She wasn't sure....
“Oh it ain't nothin' but a thing shug! We've got plenty of room here, y'all can stay in one of the guest rooms till ya get on yer feet.” She repeated giggling softly at Maeve's reaction. “But, if y'all are gonna be stayin' we might have to put ya to work y'hear?” She added pointing a finger up. “Y'all will earn yer keep and maybe make some extra Zenni on the side. How's that sound?” She asked looking to the demon intently.
“...That will be great! Thank you... Thank you so much!”
With that, Maeve began living with and working for the Shrimp family. She quickly found herself getting into the groove of things (even if it had only been a few days since she started living with them. She was running errands, helping with stable chores, and helping clean around the house. While the work was hard Maeve found that it was worth it, the Shrimp family was nothing but kind to her and her accommodations were incredibly comfortable.
Despite working for the Shrimps however, Maeve still found time to keep up with her training. After all: according to Scampi there were people that were attacking the mortals. People capable of destroying towns by themselves. While she found herself a slice of peace she knew that there were other people suffering and that her skills with the blade needed to be sharp as ever. So at night, she would go training outside her new home.
“You must be swift ...Like the ever blowing Wind...”
Maeve began her usual moonlit work out as she always did. The dragon woman sprinted along the beach wearing a series of heavy weights that weighed down upon her. Her heels dug into the shifting sands as her powerful leg muscles tried to keep her going despite her being weighed down and the fact that she stood on uneven ground. Each heavy step told her to stop but she kept going. Each second she could feel fatigue building up and burning her but she pressed on. She had to be swift...Like the ever blowing wind. Swift she was, for even being weighed down and even moving on unstable terrain her movements were fast and hard to register to the untrained eye.
“...Free...Like the continual flow of Water...”
After running till she could barely stand, the draconic woman would sit and meditate. She emptied her mind of all emotion, all pain, and all thought. She let go of the ties and hang ups of her life briefly and spent her time focused on only the world around her. She surrendered herself to the flow of existence and slipped into her Serene State of consciousness. Remaining this intensely focused for as long as she did required equally intense discipline. Understanding and surrendering yourself to the flow required a will of iron. With this level of focus, this level of detachment one could move freely like water on the battlefield.
“...Sturdy...Sturdy and tough as the Earth itself...”
Upon refocusing herself she would go back to physical training. This time however, she was going to push herself not to be fast but to be tough, enduring, and strong. She did what she could to sculpt her body to be as strong as the earth itself. She had to push herself to the limit and build up her endurance. At the brink of her limitation she had to push herself to pass it without wavering. She had to be unmoving. She had to stay strong. She had to embody the term 'sturdy.' That was what it meant to be to be as tough as the Earth itself. That was what it meant to be an immovable warrior!
“...You must embody all of that.... With your spirit ablaze...With your heart fueled by Fire!”
After bringing her body and mind to it's limits she would stand. Despite every fiber in her being screaming at her to stop and rest she would draw her sword, letting her drive for justice and her passion for life fill her to the core. With a blazing spirit she would go through her katas. Each fluid movement she made was fast and unwavering. She had no doubt, no hesitation, and all the determination in the world to make herself better. To hone her skill to become a living beacon of hope. This determination pushed her body on and fueled her every action.
Swift as the Wind. Free like Water. Sturdy as the Earth. All combined with a blazing spirit and fiery heart. This is what Maeve of the Rakshasa Clan embodied as she let her great cleaver: Fateburn dance through the night. The steel of her blade caught the light of the moon as she effortlessly cut the air in a dazzling display of light and steel. She lowered into her stance as she gathered the balanced ki from within. Her heart filled with energy as she readied her attack. She closed her eyes briefly as she readied the next demonstration of her masterful skill with her mighty cleaver. “Disappear!” She hissed, almost instinctively as her molten amber eyes shot open and she stepped into her attack.. With another blinding flash she would strike her blade out five times. The chaotic rebellion star was her signature attack and as such the nearly untraceable display of swordplay she displayed was as natural as breathing to her.
She wasn't just satisfied with that however. She knew she could push herself further. Without missing a beat she fire out another chaotic rebellion star followed by another right after. The sand beneath her began to lift, practically holding in the air as she cut the air and ground like lightning over and over. The girl's eyes began to narrow as she felt her energy coursing through her. The runic tattoos meant to keep her demonic nature at bay started to burn away as the urge for more and more power began to surface in her heart. Maeve let out a roar of fire as her demonic aura exploded around her suddenly, sending fragments of black-red ki crackling into the air around her. With a chaotic snarl the girl looked up to the sky before jumping up. Charging all of her energy into her sword Maeve would spin through the air before slamming her sword down from overhead sending her crashing to the ground like a bullet. An explosion of ki and sand would shoot high into the air as soon as she hit the ground and buried her cleaver into the earth below. Mave panted, her tattoos returning to their full strength as a few lingering bolts of black and red electricity skirted around her form.
“I-I have to keep my cool.” She exhaled as she stood up and sheathed her blade at her side. She looked to the starry sky above as she tried to calm herself down. “...I don't have Akemi or the others to keep me in line should I lose myself... I could really hurt someone. I can't lose my cool” She thought back to the Shrimp family specifically and glanced back towards her current home. “If I lose myself I won't be able to protect anyone, let alone the people I care about. I have to stay focused... have to stay strong... I know I can do it!”
With that reassurance to herself Maeve would nod once and turn back to her current home. Though she was in an unknown world her mission remained unchanged. She had to protect the weak while keeping her personal demons at bay. She had no idea what lie in wait for her in her upcoming trials but she would face them with a balanced mind and body and a heart of fire.
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Word count: 4801
Bonus Modifiers: Medium Weights
