Some time after Stefan and the Gladius team set out to confront Azura, Misaki awoke in the medical wing of the Boltus facility. She tried to sit up, but her mother, Mai, and her aunt, Rachel, gently stopped her and urged her to rest.“Where’s Cassie!?”

  Misaki searched their faces and knew the answer without hearing it. Her eyes drifted to a nearby mirror, where she caught sight of her reflection. She reached up, touching the eye patch that now covered part of her face, and began to cry softly.

  Mai and Rachel sat on either side of her, wrapping her in quiet comfort as she wept.

  “I’m sorry!”

  “For what, Misaki?” Her mother asked, brushing her hair.

  “I can’t live up to you or Akari’s name… I failed to protect Cassie… And there’s no way I can be an idol now with this injury… Aunt Rachel, I should have joined the Sunshine Cadets when you asked me! I-I just wanted to prove I was a great fighter like Akari and Mom first!”

  “You are a great fighter, Misaki… You proved it at the tournament. You haven’t failed anyone, no one knew such monsters existed. From what I’ve seen of Azura, you’re the only reason any of you made it out alive…” Mai reassured her.

  Rachel placed her hand on Misaki’s. “My heart is always full when I see you, Misaki. Believe it or not, even though you’re Mai’s daughter, your eyes are the same shade of blue as Akari’s. Injury or not, I know that you can live her dream. An Idol’s job is to inspire others and make them smile. And you do that perfectly. Don’t give up…”

  Misaki sighed as she held both Mai and Rachel close. “I need you to let me go, I have to stop Azura.” Misaki wiped her tears.

  Mai looked at Rachel, who nodded, and then she looked back at Misaki. “You’re gonna need a fast ride to get there in time. Let’s go see your Aunt Bella.”

  The three of them found Bella in Stefan’s office, monitoring the situation. As soon as she saw Misaki, she rose from her seat and pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad you haven’t lost that fiery spirit of yours.”

  “I have some unfinished business. Can you help me reach Stefan and the others?”

  “Hmm, there might be some experimental flight additions to the Tealon suits… Oh no… I’ve seen that look before.” Bella turned her attention to Mai. “I already know you’re going to suggest something crazy.”

  “Well, remember that one time when I couldn’t reach my MAV?” Mai giggled.

  “Did you really suggest we catapult your daughter at breakneck speed across the city…”

  Misaki glanced back and forth between Bella and her mom. “What am I doing?!”

  “It’s because she’s my daughter, I know she can handle it,”

  Bella sighed. “Alright, kiddo. If you really want to go, you’re gonna get a taste of what it was like being a MAV pilot like your mom.”

  “Whatever it takes!”

  “That’s the spirit! Get your Tealon suit on and meet us outside.” Bella instructed.

  After Misaki changed, they met at a large launch structure. “I’m ready!”

  “Great! Get in that box,” Bella pointed behind her with her thumb to a small transportation container resting on a launcher.

  “Aunt Bella, you’re joking…”

  “She’s not!” Mai put her arm around Bella. “Funny, you didn’t hesitate to fling me into the sky back in the day.”

  “Because you weren’t going to be my future daughter-in-law…” Bella responded dryly.

  “Hey! Stop!” Misaki flushed

  “I suppose that’s true. Say hi to my son-in-law, Misaki!” Mai teased.

  “Grr! I’m getting in the box now!” Misaki stomped her way in and closed the door. They used the Comm Channel to keep communicating.

  “Once you feel the container start to lose velocity, jump out,” Bella explained.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Got it!”

  “She has no idea what’s about to happen.” Bella laughed.

  “I do! I think it’ll be a much-needed fun memory after the tragedy she’s experienced.” Mai replied.

  “Watch this,” Bella grinned. “Ready, Misaki?”

  “Ready!”

  “We love you!” Mai, Bella, and Rachel say in unison.

  Misaki started to respond. “I love you t—”

  FWOOM!

  Bella pressed the launch button.

  “AAAAHHH!”

  The sudden force of acceleration slammed Misaki against the back of the container.

  Misaki’s container quickly vanished from sight. Bella and the others held their sides from laughing so hard.

  “I…can… hear…you!” Misaki grunted.

  “We’re sorry, baby girl! We couldn’t resist!” Mai apologized, still laughing. “Good luck!”

  “Yeah…yeah…Be…back… soon….” The high speed kept Misaki pinned to the back of the container. Suddenly, she felt her ride dip downward. Wasting no time, she kicked the door open and leapt out, landing on a rooftop. Without breaking stride, she began sprinting across the rooftops toward the fight.

  ***

  While Misaki and Azura shouted at each other, Stefan found a landing spot so Rody could get the injured Cassius onboard.

  “You need… to face her,” Cassius said, gripping Rody’s shoulder as he sank into a seat inside the gunship.

  “W-what can I do… She’s stronger than me…”

  “He’s right, Rody, Misaki’s injured. I have no idea how she’s out here right now. We’re running out of time to save Luna and the city. We’ll support from the sky as best we can, but you can do this, Rody. I know you can!” Stefan said, trying to encourage him.

  Cassius spotted the cross around Rody’s neck. “Ask your God for help, perhaps He will have the answer for you. My gods seem to have forsaken me…”

  Rody grasped the cross his father had gifted him as the gunship lifted off. “God, please help me save Luna… Help me keep my promise to her…” He turned to see Misaki and Azura’s battle raging.

  Azura emerged snarling from the blast of Misaki’s explosive arrow, only to be met with Misaki’s knee slamming into her face. Misaki didn’t give her a chance to recover, unleashing a relentless barrage of punches and kicks.

  “Ow, Misaki! Why are you so mean to me?” Azura said.

  “You can pretend to be Luna all you want! I’ve already beaten her! So you’re still going to lose!” Misaki wrapped herself in her red flames.

  “She doesn’t know how to use this body! I do, cyclops!” Azura powered up her flames, forcing them to burn red—just like Misaki’s. “HAHAHA!”

  Misaki extended her scythe from its hilt and clashed with Azura. The two ground their teeth and growled, foreheads pressed together as their blades locked. At the last possible moment, Misaki jerked her head aside, narrowly avoiding decapitation by a flying Phalanx spear. “Ugh! These damn sticks again!”

  Misaki created space between herself and Azura, spinning her scythe above her head. Channeling her flames, she formed a vortex that tore through the Phalanx spears surrounding her, then conjured another aimed directly at Azura. “Flaming Tornadoes!” Azura charged through Misaki’s flaming creation, getting tossed between the tornadoes and losing grip of her katana.

  Misaki seized her moment and launched into a relentless assault, slashing at Azura with precision and fury. Her strikes pierced through Azura’s Teal shield, cutting her multiple times. Azura recovered quickly, turning to face Misaki head-on once more.

  Misaki swung her scythe in a wide arc, hooking it into Azura’s back and tearing through flesh as it cut deep.

  “Mmm, thanks for the pain!” Azura grabbed Misaki’s scythe and cut herself with it, then broke it. “I’m done playing now!” Azura laughed, and her red flames grew bigger and hotter.

  Misaki grimaced as Azura’s flames flared brighter, now clearly outmatching her own. Gritting her teeth, she shouted and tried to meet Azura’s intensity, but her fatigue and injuries dragged at her. With a sudden burst of fire, Azura knocked Misaki backward, forcing her to the ground.

  Misaki paused, struggling to catch her breath.

  Azura, in stark contrast, had regenerated every wound. She stood tall, her stamina seemingly endless, her eyes locked on Misaki without a hint of exhaustion.“What’s wrong? Dontcha wanna get me back for hurting your precious Cassie? Hahaha!”

  Misaki grew irate, unknowingly reopening her wound. “You’re going to pay for what you did to her!”

  Misaki charged at Azura, who remained still, unmoved by the oncoming attack. It took everything Misaki had just to push forward and resume close combat. But the heat radiating from Azura’s flames pressed down on her like a crushing weight, slowing her movements and leaving her vulnerable to Azura’s strikes.

  Azura was taken aback by Misaki’s tenacity and resilience. Blow for blow, they fought to a stalemate. Misaki stood toe to toe with her—and without hesitation, slapped her across the face. “I’m not afraid of you!”

  Azura flashed her sharp-toothed smile. “You should be…”

  With a powerful knee to the stomach, Azura knocked the last of Misaki’s strength from her. She seized Misaki by the throat and slammed her to the ground with brutal force. The others cried out her name as her flames flickered and went out.

  Azura extinguished her flames and calmly retrieved her katana.

  The surrounding area grew darker, lit only by the faint glow of the remaining lights and the eerie shimmer of the liquid Teal pit. “Hmm, should I cut you into little pieces? Or should I cut you in half like your girlfriend!? Azura taunts Misaki, standing over her.

  Misaki looked up at Azura, exhausted and panting. “Hey Luna… When you’re done… Letting that worm control you… I want to live Akari’s dream… Can I… Be a Sunshine… Cadet… Too?” Misaki smiled weakly at Azura.

  Azura dropeed her katana. “You… want… to be a Sunshine Cadet, Misaki?” Luna sobs, briefly regaining control of herself. Azura came back, shaking her head and falling to her knees, attempting to regain full control of Luna’s body.

  With Azura momentarily struggling to maintain control, Stefan swooped in and lifted Misaki into his arms. “I got you.”.

  Misaki realized her hood wasn’t covering her face and quickly buried her face in Stefan’s chest, hiding from view. “Don’t look at me, dummy!”

  “Then hold onto my back.” Stefan helped her shift onto his back, letting her ride piggyback as he prepared to move.

  Misaki gave Stefan a light karate chop to the back of his head. “What took you so long! I almost died…” She rested her head over his shoulder.

  “I was encouraging Rody. He’s our only hope now…” Stefan helped Misaki take a seat in the gunship.

  “Ow! Be careful! I’m hurt ya k-“

  Stefan kept his eyes closed and, mid-berating, leaned in to sneak a quick kiss on Misaki’s cheek, cutting her off mid-sentence. “When this is over, I wanna see you.”He grinned at her before returning to his pilot’s seat. Misaki turned bright red and could only manage a small squeak in response.

  “I better get a boyfriend for my troubles, too…” Vivian complained, looking back at Misaki. Vivian and Cassius both quickly looked away the moment their eyes met, avoiding the awkwardness of accidental eye contact.

  While Stefan retrieved Misaki, Rody rushed over to Luna and gathered her into his arms, holding her close.“Luna! I’m here! I know you can take control back!”

  Luna calmed down and returned Rody’s embrace. “Thank you, Rody… I’m all better now…” Azura slowly raised her head from Rody’s shoulder, her eyes still glowing with Teal light. Behind his back, she silently conjured Phalanx spears, preparing to strike.

  “Good, I’m glad—” Rody shoved Azura away the moment he saw her glowing eyes.

  “Don’t worry, Rody, it’s just going to be you and me now!” Azura smiled at him and fired the spears at Stefan’s gunship.

  “No!” Rody shouted as he turned and saw his friends’ gunship plummeting out of sight behind a cluster of buildings.