The Second Archon War: Animula Choragi 17

Animula Choragi 17: Look Down

Clenching and unclenching his fists, Iron Mask looked around the room at his underlings and seethed. Even that fool Mégret was shuffling papers and not looking at Iron Mask. The idiots knew who was really the one running France, and it wasn’t the balding moron with the suit. No, Iron Mask ruled here. It was his power, his abilities that had created this so-called government. But now, even here, those damn demons and their tools were trying to usurp him. 

“So, Jeanne finally shows her true colors,” Iron Mask growled. “The Vision is the last straw, along with what that Damned Woman has been up to.” 

No one had to ask about who that Damned Woman was. Iron Mask had been ranting about her for weeks now. 

“The move to unionize, it’s something we can check. And we can stop Mayor d’Orleans from forming her own cape team,” one of the flunkies said. “The courts are in our pocket, if we use Judge Lavoisier-” 

“It is not enough to crush them in the courts! That Damned Woman has fought us there time and again, and suffered defeat after defeat. She does not learn! Indeed, now she has a Vision! Yennifer Lustria will not stop simply because we fight her in the courts. Besides, that will take too long. No. We need a harsher lesson,” Iron Mask growled. 

“What about her girlfriend? The actress, Fontaine?” 

“Pah,” Iron Mask made a face, though no one could see it. He never took off the source of his powers. Not even when he slept. Most Parahumans didn’t need a totem, but he did. Oh, he could make another one, but that would take time. No, he kept his mask on at all times. Especially now that he could copy Vision Holders. His second trigger had been traumatic, but seeing the Storm Range rise up and obsolete the entire human race had been enough. 

Fuck Cauldron, and fuck Fatima Tabib, but she was right. The Archons were a threat. 

“De Fontaine is a slip of a girl and a fool. She’s nothing but a notch on that dyke’s bedpost. No, it’s Lustria who’s the problem here. She was bad enough before the Knights recruited her, but now she’s a true menace,” Iron Mask said. If he thought he could get away with assassinating her…but no. The Anemo Archon might be sleeping, but if he turned his gaze on France, it was over. Bad enough that he posted those embarrassing pictures of Iron Mask and the Minister of Labor’s wife in the middle of their affair. Damn that stupid green twink. 

“Then how do we deal with her?” Mégret demanded, sounding exasperated. “We can’t just kill her, and we can’t use the courts. So how?” 

“She’s cozying up to the Chinese refugees. Ratchet up the anti-immigrant rhetoric. And go after the ones closest to her. Arrest them and threaten to deport them. Then have counter protesters stand against her. Play up her connection to the Knights. She’s a damn captain! Point out she’s a pawn of the Archons. The people hate that,” Iron Mask ordered. 

The flunkies nodded, and they all hurried off to carry out Iron Mask’s orders. For his part, he went to the window, peering out at the city. Paris was his. France was his. He would not allow some idiot lawyer to ruin his country. It was he who had held France together in the days of chaos. It was he who had prevented the anarchy and lawlessness that had plagued so much of the world. 

Now the damned Archons and their puppets wanted to take it all. No. He would control all this. It had taken years of work and scheming. He would not let it slip through his grasp and become yet another irrelevant con man trying to make a living charming old biddys again. 

On BastilleBastile Day, he would end Lustria’s coalition and enforce his order once more. 

Slowly, the colors of the room stopped swirling, and Fortuna could no longer hear them, meaning they vanished. Her body was slick with sweat, and she was breathing hard. That…had not been a good trip. Stumbling out of her room, she found her usual guards there by their breathing. Her steps were wobbly, but she steadied herself on the doorframe. 

“I…I saw…I saw the next Endbringer attack,” she gasped. 

“Er, Asset Tyche, are you…?” one of the guards said. He sounded embarrassed. 

 For a moment, Fortuna was confused. Then she realized she was naked. Right. She’d taken her clothes off so she could see better. Which was stupid, because she was blind. That didn’t make sense now, but it had when she’d been dropping Dendro-infused LSD. 

“Is it urgent?” one of the guards asked. 

“Yes, it’s an ENDBRINGER attack!” Fortuna said, blushing but ignoring her nudity. Prophets sometimes did find their auspices sky-clad. Then she hesitated. “But…maybe I should put on some clothes first.”

“Do that, we’ll call the Director,” the other guard told her. 

Fortuna tried to find some clothes that didn’t stink of marijuana smoke, but, well, she hadn’t exactly done laundry lately, and they were scattered about and hard to find since she couldn’t see them. She ended up stuffing herself in a robe that was a bit stinky and very wrinkled, but didn’t have any stains she could feel on it. She also put on a pair of sandals and grabbed Eighty^2. She didn’t need anything else, not for this. 

Sandals flapping against her feet, she hurried with her cane and guards to Dr. Mother’s office, where, to her irritation, she heard Albedo’s voice. 

“Ah, Asset Tyche. Good. I was just informing the Director of my projections for the Endbringer Cycle,” Albedo said. 

Fortuna glared in his general direction, and hoped it caught him. “That’s what I was going to do! Are you reading my mind somehow?”

“Do not pitch a fit, dear. I asked Albedo to give me his predictions on the Endbringer Cycle six months ago, and he updates me weekly. He’s predicting the Behemoth will attack somewhere one of these dragons is active. Probably Theresa Richter. We’ve not really seen her fight, and the Warrior is probably interested in that.” 

“Yes, it’s going to be a land of rot and death, but one that is newly reborn. The King of Earth will rise up and-”

Dr. Mother’s tone became harsh. “Have you been smoking pot again? Fortuna, if you’re high, I’m not listening to you until you’re sober. You know we tolerate your drug habit, but this is unseemly.”

“I’m not an addict, I need the drugs to open my inner eye!” Fortuna snapped. Well, OK, she might be a bit of an addict now. If it wasn’t mushrooms, it was hashish, or LSD, or pot or…whatever. It wasn’t the drugs themselves so much as the sensation of seeing the future. Of floating outside of time. Yes, she did it to help others, but that connection to Fate, to the universe…it was an ecstasy beyond all mortal pleasures.

“There is still lysergic acid diethylamide in her system. The odor of cannabis is older,” Albedo said in his usual monotone. It made Fortuna want to stick her tongue out at him, but she was a mature adult. So she just glared. Though something told her that made her look foolish, since she had no idea where he was actually standing.

“The point is, I SAW the attack! He’s going to fight not just the dragon of life, but the angel of death who has been reborn as-”

“Thank you, Albedo. That will be all,” Dr. Mother said.

Albedo nodded, then turned and left without another word. Fortuna’s heart leapt. Finally! Dr. Mother was really listening to her again!

“Fortuna, have a seat, please,” Dr. Mother said, and Fortuna eagerly fumbled for a chair and dragged it over, ready to tell all she had seen. 

“Fortuna…” Dr. Mother took her hand and squeezed. A part of her was worried. But she was always worried when she had to talk to people these days. She could see all of Dr. Mother’s future laid out before her in a dozen twisting paths. Well, when she was high, she could. But as for her own future…that was completely blank. Fortuna had no idea what Dr. Mother was about to say, because it was about her. And that was worrying, because that was the only future that was hidden from her. 

“You need to take a vacation. And go sober,” Dr. Mother said gently. 

Fortuna blinked. That…was not what she had been expecting Dr. Mother to say. “But, don’t you want to hear my vision? And, if I getgot sober, I can’t keep having them!” 

“You told David his futures while sober,” Dr. Mother pointed out.

Fortuna blushed. “That’s…because I read all of them after smoking peyote and licking toads. I just wrote them all down and then recited them to him.”

“Licking toads. I don’t recall authorizing that,” Dr. Mother said, her tone foreboding. 

“I…might have gotten them from Honey. But they helped! I have to vary the drugs, to prevent becoming addicted to any one.”

“Fortuna…you’re spending more time high and disconnected from reality than you are awake. Your visions are powerful, but they’re vague. Prophetic.”

“What’s wrong with prophetic!? That’s what you want from me, to see the future!” 

“Prophecies are often only useful once they have been fulfilled. It’s not like the Path. It’s not reliable. You’re still…well. You’re still healing. We’ve never seen a parahuman destroy their own powers like that before. I’m worried about you. And about what the Simurgh said to get you to blind yourself.”

“Ziz set me free! That’s what she DOES. I told you, she’s the Dragon of Emancipation! She’s here to free mankind, not enslave us!” 

“She’s an Endbringer. She’s here to destroy us all at the command of Scion.”

Fortuna gritted her teeth. They just refused to believe that the Simurgh had turned her coat! It was so obvious! Both Barbados and Buer had worked on the Simurgh! She was dead, and it was Ziz who walked the earth now. But because she’d pointed out the poison at the heart of Cauldron, no one wanted to listen. 

Well, David had. Sometimes, Fortuna thought he was the only sane one left, next to her. 

“Fortuna…” Doctor Mother took a deep breath, and squeezed Fortuna’s hand. “I’m putting you on medical leave.”

The words were like a bucket of ice dumped all over Fortuna. “I…what?” 

“You’re self-medicating with drugs. You’re out of control. And your visions are…of questionable relevance.”

“They’re prophecies! I am reading Fate!” 

“We don’t know exactly how Vision Holders Fate reading works, but you’re not the only one with these abilities. You are, however, suffering from a great deal of trauma. You’ve not had a vacation or any time off in twenty-five years. It is time for you to take a rest. And get clean. You can’t spend all your time high.”

“But, but-!” Hot tears came to Contessa’s eyes, and she dashed them away in anger. No! “I’m still the one who can guide us to a future where we win! Where humanity survives!” 

“And can you guide us to a future without the Archons?” Doctor Mother demanded.

“What about Nahida!? You all agree she’s necessary for the survival of mankind! Without her, half the world would be starving right now!” 

“Nahida can be allowed to live, though we will have to find a means of controlling her. The rest, however, must go. Would you see to it? Would you guide us to that future?”

“I…I would help stop the Tsaritsa, but…but if we killed an Archon…”

The vision that seized Fortuna came without warning, or the need for a high. All of Southeast Asia, destroyed in an endless lightning storm that blighted the land. She saw an endless cyclone enveloping all of Europe and Northern Africa, the air itself ripping apart all living things. Rain, endless rain, that drowned nearly every major city on Earth Bet as global ocean levels rose over a kilometer and all fresh water turned to blood. And if Nahida died…a monstrous jungle that unleashed horrors that would devastate all of the Middle East and India, while wildlife attacked humanity in berserker rage. 

“We, we can’t just kill an Archon! That much power, unleashed, it-”

“I don’t think you’re our enemy, Fortuna. But you’re not well. You’re no longer focused on the goal of humanity being free from alien outsiders. That is what we must strive for. We cannot allow Scion to destroy the world, or the Archons to rule over mankind and stifle us for millennia either. You need rest. Which is why I’m putting you on medical leave.”

Fortuna sat there, feeling stunned and adrift. This…this couldn’t be happening to her!

“I’m also getting you out of Cheyenne Mountain,” Doctor Mother continued. “I think an actual, restful vacation will be needed. You will have limited access to Doormaker, and whatever funds you need. You’ll have bodyguards assigned, of course. You’re still important to me, not just as an asset, but as…as my daughter. I hope you understand I’m doing this for your own good, Fortuna.”

Feeling dizzy, Fortuna licked her lips and asked, “How…how long am I out?”

“Until you get completely sober. I won’t force you to quit, but your bodyguards have orders not to let you have any really powerful drugs, and they won’t help you do anything illegal.”

So she wouldn’t even be able to see the future. Fantastic.

“Let…let me at least tell you…about the Behemoth’s next attack,” Fortuna begged. 

“Of course.” Doctor Mother let go of Fortuna’s hand, and she heard her chair squeak. “Alright, I’ve got a recorder on and my laptop ready to take notes.”

Dully, Fortuna laid out what she’d seen: the Behmeth attacking a land plagued by the dead, and fighting Theresa Richter, the Dendro Dragon. Then, burning butterflies that had to be Farasha had arrived, revealing themselves to be a dragon as well. The Behemoth was driven off, and the dead restored to life. 

It had all been a lot more symbolism than that: Theresa had been a flower growing out of a computer screen, the dead had been dressed in  the remnants of an ancient priest’s uniform and the battle had taken place on a ruined temple that had become a rice paddy, and so on. But she tried to make it as, well, sane sounding as she could manage. 

“Very well. I’ve got it all down. Enjoy your vacation,” Doctor Mother said. 

Shakily, Fortuna reached for her cane. “If, if I have another prophecy-”

“Your bodyguards will write them down and send them to us. Our analysts will look them over. But don’t focus on that. Focus on resting. We’ll check in on you in a month.”

“But, the Tsaritsa’s invasion-”

“You yourself told us it wouldn’t begin until August. That’s more than a month and a half away.”

“The doom awaiting Wyatt-”

“They’re taking every precaution. Wyatt is still reigning in Honey.”

Shoulders sagging, sightless eyes full of tears, Fortuna hung her head and nodded. She heard the soft click of a button, then, “Alright, Pellick. We’re ready for you and your team.”

The door hissed open, and heavy boots stomped on the ground. Two people, both walking in step. Military?

“Ah, you must be Miss Fortuna,” a man’s voice said. Pellick’s? “I’m Geoffrey Pelleck, of  Saint Security. We’ve been tasked with your wellbeing.”

“Hey. I’m Deyha May. Me and Geoff here will be your bodyguards,” a husky woman’s voice said. 

“The Saints are a private security group I’ve assigned to you. They report directly to myself,” Doctor Mother said. “I have made reservations at a resort on the island of Fira.”

Fortuna’s stomach churned. Back to Greece. Back to being an ignorant peasant. “I…I don’t want…to return there.”

“Where, then? You cannot simply stay in your rooms,” Doctor Mother said, sounding exasperated. 

Fortuna thought a moment, then said, “Disneyland.”

“Ha! A girl after my own heart!” Deyha laughed. “We’ll get along fine, ma’am. I might not look it, but- oh.”

“It’s fine,” Fortuna sighed. “You can make all the blind jokes you want.”

“It would be easy enough to get you rooms at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim,” Doctor Mother said, fingers tapping away. 

“No,” Fortuna said, shaking her head. “I…I want to go back to Paris. I…I had fun there. For a little while.”

“That’s fine. The Musketeers are our allies. I’ll make the arrangements. Go pack your things. By the time you’re done, I’ll have them made,” Doctor Mother said. 

Fortuna nodded, then tried to walk to the door.

“Woah! Wall there, ma’am,” Dehya said, and a hand gently guided Fortuna to the side. 

“Careful, Miss. Wouldn’t want you to get hurt our first day on the job,” Geoffrey said.

Fortuna didn’t care. She let Deyha guide her back to her rooms, where she packed a few things. What was the point? All she had were a few wrinkled robes and old suits she didn’t want to wear. 

“Uh, would you be offended if I told you we should burn this stuff instead of packing it?” Dehya said, sounding mildly disgusted. 

“Don’t try to smuggle any drugs. We’ve got orders to help you get sober,” Geoffrey added. 

“I’ve got money,” Fortuna sighed. “I guess I can just buy new clothes. Not that I can see them.”

“No problem! I’ve bodyguarded a lot of rich clients. I’ve got an eye for fashion. We’ll make sure you look chic,” Dehya assured Fortuna. 

“Door me. Disneyland Paris,” Fortuna said, feeling utterly defeated. 

She felt the faint whoosh of air, and a moment later, a door creaked open. Fortuna stumbled through. What was the point? She had tried to share her visions, tried to do the right thing, tried to guide those she loved down the right path. But there was no justice in the world. 

“Disneyland?” Furina asked, looking up at Charlotte’s grinning face. 

“Yes! Barbara has four tickets! It’ll be awesome! They don’t have Disneyland in Teyvat, do they?” Charlotte asked. 

“Ah, no, I’m not even sure what this Land of Disney is,” Furina said, and glanced across the table at Yennifer. It was the 23rd of June, and school had just ended for the summer for Charlotte and Barbara both. Furina and Yennifer had not only been working hard at their respective jobs, but had been organizing the protest on Bastille Day in three weeks time. At the moment, they were relaxing and enjoying a meal Furina had made herself: Macaroni, with red sauce. Granted, said sauce had come out of a can, but Furina considered it a victory as she had never cooked for herself before. 

“It’s an amusement park. Do you have those?” Yennifer asked. 

Furina frowned, thinking. There were the Public Gardens, and there were various parks. “A park of amusement? So, a holiday place? I did have a villa I occasionally visited, and it was popular for the rich to go boating or hiking.” 

“Oh my god, Furina, if you haven’t been to an amusement park you have to go! Barbara and I LOVE Disney! They have some of the best musicals! Yen likes it too!” Charlotte gushed. 

Yennifer rolled her eyes. “I’m not nearly as into Disney as you are. I haven’t been to an amusement park since I went to Alton Towers when I was in England.”

“Then you totally have to go!” Charlotte declared. “The tickets are for Tuesday, so Furina has the day off, and I know you’re not in court that day!” 

“It…could be fun?” Furina said, glancing at Yennifer. 

Yennifer shrugged. “I suppose a day off wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, it would be fun to see how you react to Disneyland. It’s supposed to be the most magical place on earth.”

“Is that where Jesus died, then?” Furina asked out of curiosity. Charlotte snorted juice out of her nose, and Yennifer had to fight back laughter. “Ah, I take it not, then?”

“Jesus…died in Jerusalem. Why on Earth would you think Disneyland is where he died?” Yennifer managed, fighting back a grin as Charlotte continued to snort in amusement. 

“Well, if it’s the most magical place in the world, it only makes sense that it would be where you can find dead gods’ remains. Though I doubt that would be very amusing, those sorts of places end up horribly cursed,” Furina said with a shrug. 

“Er, they mean it’s the most fun and interesting place on Earth. Not that it’s actually magically powerful,” Yennifer said, shaking her head. “The most magically powerful place on earth would be…hmmm…”

“The Storm Range or the Narukami Trench,” Charlotte said. “We studied them in our Geography class. The teacher was really excited because the Archons have completely changed Earth Bet’s geography from other known Earths’.”

Oh, I hope I don’t do that, Furina thought to herself. 

Well, you certainly have the capacity, but I can’t say I recommend it. Unless you wanted to create a nice freshwater lake. I am fond of those.

Let’s not and say we didn’t. 

“Ah, well, I suppose a place chosen for its delights and fancy would be a welcome change of pace. Though you’ll have to show me around, I’m afraid I know nothing about this Disney or his lands,” Furina said. 

“Seriously!?” Charlotte said, and stood up. “Ok, Yen, we HAVE to show her a Disney movie! Like, the Little Mermaid! That would be PERFECT!” 

“I’m afraid I have to leave in a few minutes for tonight's performance, but maybe on Monday we can watch it,” Furina said, checking her phone for the time. 

After finishing her food and putting on a bit of makeup, Furina dashed out of the house after bidding Diana goodbye and headed for the nearest train station. She hadn’t gone far when something started bothering her. At first, she couldn’t put her finger on it, but then she noticed two large, scar faced men in sunglasses and dark hats were following her. The street wasn’t terribly busy in the mid afternoon, so they stood out. Furina hastened towards the subway, hoping she was wrong. 

She wasn’t. They followed her down, and she was beginning to legitimately panic as she descended the stairs, the men not far behind her. What was she going to do!? 

Relax. You’re the Hydro Archon. Those buffoons couldn’t harm you if they wanted to. 

Oh, right. I, um, I just…I’m so used to just being an ordinary mortal…

Well, now might be a good time to at least use your false Vision to ward them off. And you do have that pepper spray Yennifer bought for you. A thoughtful gift, that. 

Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath, Furina took the can of spray out of her purse and gripped her Vision with the other, then spun on the two toughs. She was the Hydro Archon! She could handle-

All of the blood drained out of Furina’s face as the two men cornered her against the wall. She might be the Hydro Archon, but right at the moment, she just felt like a small woman up against two very large men. 

“Now, now, we don’t need any of that, do we?” one of the men chuckled, nodding to the can of spray. 

“S-stay back! I’m warning you, I have a Vision!” Furina said.

The second thug snorted. “One you don’t even know how to use, do you? Besides…”

He snapped his fingers, and sparks and flames blossomed in his hand. “...we got powers of our own. Now, you listen here.”

“You need to stop being such a busybody. Unionizing a theater?” the second of the thugs said, shoving Furina into the wall. Furina could barely tell them apart. They were both built like brick walls with noses that had been broken more than once and cauliflower ears. “That’s fine. We won’t make  a fuss about that. But you signing up for the Mayor’s cape team?”

“Now we have a problem,” his twin growled, holding his flames close to Furina’s face. 

Furina felt a growing sense of outrage. How dare these thugs accost her! Bad enough that she thought they merely were after her body, but to seek to intimidate her!? “You would stand in the way of Justice?!” 

“You’re the one fucking with France’s justice, you and your sale gouine lawyer girlfriend, you-”

That was, quite simply, enough. Furina had been on Earth Bet long enough to know that was a grievous insult. Rage filled her, and her Vision flashed. A moment later, three water orbs floated out of the Vision, causing the thugs to swear and step back. 

“Using cape powers on us!? You- huh?” 

The orbs resolved into three adorable little creatures! One was a seahorse with a ribbon on her head, the other an octopus with a tophat, and the last a crab with a bonnet. The little creatures floated up in front of the thugs, who blinked at them, then laughed. 

“Are you serious?! This is supposed to scare us?” one snorted. 

“No,” Furina said. “This is.”

Then she sprayed them with pepper spray, which caused both men to howl in pain and cover their eyes. One tried to conjure up fire, the other to transform into some sort of rock covered golem. Furina kicked one in the balls, and her crab companion launched a ball of water at the other’s jewels. Both men curled up in pain. Sniffing, Furina stepped over them, her companions floating after her. The others in the metro station cleared the way for her, staring at her wide eyed. Furina simply got on the train with her new pets and took a seat.

Smiling, she looked down at the watery summons. They were… quite real. Not merely water formed into the shapes of creatures, but Hydro Mimics. Had…had she just created them?

You have indeed. They’re manifestations of your Will. Unfortunately, I am afraid that they will be precisely as adroit at combat as you are.

Which is to say, not at all? 

Mmm, indeed. They will endeavor to protect you, but, alas, they are mostly for show. Best to rely on your Champion.

My Champion? Who’s that?

My dear, if you haven’t figured that out yet, you really are quite hopeless. 

It didn’t take much thought for Furina to come up with the answer to that. Yennifer? She’s my Champion? Did I… appoint her? 

To a degree, more that she appointed herself. The girl is quite devoted to Justice, and to you. 

That made Furina feel all warm inside. If Yennifer had been there, she wouldn’t have been worried about those thugs at all!

During the train ride, Furina considered her new companions. She would have to give them names. She held up the seahorse with a bow, and considered her for a moment. The little dear smiled and waggled her tail. So cute!

“I name thee Surintendante Chevalmarin!” Furina decreed and set her new companion down. The other two looked up at her expectantly, and Furina picked up the carb with a bonnet next. 

“Hmm, I think…you shall be known as Mademoiselle Crabaletta!” 

The crab gave a dignified bow, then floated away when Furina released her. Last, she bowed to the little octopus with a top hat, who returned the gesture gravely. “And you shall be…Gentilhomme Usher!” 

He spewed out a few bubbles to show his approval. Furina grinned, then glanced around the train car. Several people were staring at her, and a few had phones out and were taking pictures. One woman, upon meeting Furina’s eyes, came forward timidly. 

“You…you are Furian de Fontaine! I’ve seen you in Les Misérables! Can…can we take a selfie?”

“But of course!” Furina agreed, seizing the phone and embracing the woman. They posed cutely, along with Furina’s new pets, and took several pictures. 

After that, Furina was practically mobbed by eager traingoers who wanted an autograph or picture. She grandly acquiesced to all of them, and very nearly missed her stop. She gathered up her companions, who trailed behind her in the air, leaving a trail of bubbles in their wake. 

When Furina arrived at the theater, she showed off her new pets to her co-stars, causing enough disruption that Émile had to ask her to “put them away.” Furina didn’t wish to simply dismiss them, so she set what she dubbed her “Salon Solitaire” to the task of assisting the stage crew with performing simple tasks, which they proved quite adroit at. 

Everyone was an old hand at preparing for the play, and this was their Thursday showing, meaning it wouldn’t be especially busy, and they didn’t have a double booking as they now did on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Still, by the line outside and the presale, they would once more have a full house. That meant Furina could look forward to another healthy paycheck, and she dreamed of buying Yennifer another new dress. Something that would make her feel beautiful. And maybe something racy that only Furina would see in the bedroom. 

Wait, where had that thought come from? 

Still, the curtain rose and the play began, and Furinaan waited for her cue. When it came, she rushed out with the other seamstresses, beginning her first song. 

Just as she’d taken her place, however, the house lights came on. The audience cried out and gasped, then shouted in outrage as the doors burst open, and armed guards stormed in led by, of all things, a mime. 

Ah. It seems the next act begins, Focalor’s voice said. Tread carefully here. But do not flinch. 

“What is the meaning of this!? We are in the middle of a performance!” Marcel blustered, rushing on stage from the back. 

The guards, who had on face-obscuring helmets and were dressed in black armor, carrying riot shields and wicked-looking guns, stomped onto the stage, where Furina recoiled slightly. What was going on?

“We have a warrant for the arrest of Furina de Fontaine,” the leader said, holding up a paper. “For the use of cape abilities in assaulting an officer of the law.”

“I have done no such thing!” Furina snapped, stepping forward and glaring at the officer. “I have not used my abilities to harm anyone, much less one of your guards!” 

“That’s her,” a man in a red colored jumpsuit said. For a moment, Furina didn’t recognize him. Then, she gasped. 

“You’re the man who accosted me on the subway!” she said, pointing a finger at him. “You and your companion threatened me and tried to assault me!” 

There were cries of outrage from the crowd as the second thug stepped up, now dressed in leather. Both had shaved, but both still looked like thugs. 

“This is Feu Follet and Bitumen, both members of the Mousquetaires,” the head guard said smugly, as Pantomine folded his arms and glared at Furina. “You admit to assaulting them with your Vision!” 

“I did no such thing! They grabbed me and threatened me! I thought they meant to drag me away and abuse me!” Furina huffed. She actually had thought exactly that, so her outrage was no act. “I threatened them with a can of simple pepper spray, which is perfectly legal! When they laid hands on me, I sprayed them!” 

There were shouts and jeers from the audience, and Pantomime motioned to Furina as the guard captain cried, “Arrest her!” 

Before they could do so, there was a roar of water, and the guards were nearly washed off the stage and Julie and Barbara ran forward, Vision’s glowing, controlling a wave of hydro together. 

“You will not lay hands on her!” Julie cried. 

“Fascist pigs! Off our stage!” Barbara shouted. 

The other actors roared their agreement, forming a wall of flesh and shoving at the guards, who were momentarily knocked back as the audience screamed and shouted, some of them throwing their bills or other objects at the guards. 

Feu Follet’s fists ignited, and Bitumen’s skin grew covered in black asphalt. If this continued, it would turn into a full blown battle between the actors and the guards, with the audience caught in the middle. 

Enough. 

Everyone froze, all eyes turning to Furina. She forced back her power a little, then stepped forward, her Salon Solitaire floating protectively around her. She strode right up to Pantomine, who forged a sword of invisible force and pointed it at her. 

Instead of fighting back, Furina held up her hands, wrists up. “If you must arrest me, then do so. But know that this is a gross Injustice! I am a woman who was merely defending herself from two thugs, who did not identify themselves as officers of the law, but instead threatened me and my friends with bodily harm!”

Pantomime sneered at her, but formed handcuffs from nothing and slapped them on her. 

“Arrest the other Vision Holders as well!” the guard captain ordered. Julie and Barbara looked to Furina, but she shook her head. Reluctantly, they allowed themselves to be handcuffed as well. Then, all three of them were grabbed by guards and hauled out of the Theater. There was even a bit of dark comedy, as the guards tried to figure out how to handcuff Furina’s Salon Solitaire, but mostly ended up completely soaked from manhandling the hydro mimics. 

In the back of the police van, Furina looked at Barbara and Julie, who were both still dressed in their now rather disheveled costumes. “Thank you,” she said quietly. 

“We wouldn’t abandon you,” Barbara said firmly. 

“You’re not going to, um, destroy the police station, are you?” Julie asked nervously.

Furina blinked at her. “Why on earth would you think I could even do that?”

Oh, right. She could now. But still, that was a very silly question. 

Barbara and Julie shared a look, but then Pantomine and two armed guards climbed into the back of the van as well. “Take their Visions,” one of the guards ordered. 

Furina huffed, but reluctantly allowed hers to be taken, along with Julie and Barbara’s. Then they were shackled to a bar, and the van drove away. 

Now what? Furina thought, feeling despondent. What have I done? 

Exactly the right thing, I think. Focalors reassured Furina. Oh, this will be most entertaining. Just as I’ve planned. 

That made Furina feel a bit better, though also rather irritated at her mother. You planned all this? 

Not in every detail. It’s nearly impossible to know your own future, and since you are me, I can’t see your future hardly at all. Instead, I have been setting things up for a number of contingencies, of which this is only one. Now, they shall play out, and that, my dear, I can foresee.

Well, at least someone has a plan. I’m just making this up as I go. 

Don’t tell anyone, but I did that an awful lot myself. Sometimes, the best plan is to simply wing it. 

And here I thought you were the mistress of prophecy and planning.

Oh, that too. It’s just that once you’ve concocted one century-spanning plan, everyone assumes everything you do is some meticulous wonder of foresight. When in reality, you just take the credit for everything serendipitous that comes your way. 

Well, I hope you don’t mind taking credit for me ending up in jail, then. 

Oh no, that I will struggle against as much as you. This is just the first act. You’ll have to wait for the climax for something wondrous to happen. 

Sighing, Furina slumped into her seat, manacled at wrist and ankle. Part of her hoped someone would save her from this, but she was rather certain she’d have to get out of this herself. 

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Yennifer awoke from a frightening dream. A moment later, her phone buzzed, and she read a text from Marcel.

Then, she took up her sword.