Charm 2023 - 7 / FINAL

I was ready for whatever Naya would throw at me. Even without my full strength, I was Charm, the nine-tailed kitsune. There was no way in hell this energy sucker would take me down. My team was counting on me, and I had a crucial role to play in saving the universe. This lady’s days were numbered.

The battle that ensued was not one of powers and super senses, but rather one of pure fighting skill. I dodged and weaved, flipping and rolling across the floor as I launched my attacks. My opponent was fast, but I was faster, landing a leg sweep before springing back up to deliver a punch. She retaliated with a whip of her metal tails, sending me flying across the room to crash into the wall. In an instant, she was upon me, her tails slashing and hacking as my blood flowed. But I had her right where I wanted her. With her close, I smashed my forehead into her mask, cracking it. Again and again, I struck until the mask fell away, revealing her face. Without giving her a chance to react, I pulled her in, pressed my lips to hers, and inhaled deeply. She had my energy within her, and as I kissed this crazy bitch, I felt my energy restored.

Light glowed from my chest and my tails began to flow in circles, the two of us rising off the ground. Then my eyes took her in, and I froze before dropping her to the ground. The woman before me was not a normal one like destiny, but a kitsune. Her fox ears were purple to match her eyes, and the skin around her eyes showed dark lines of strain or over-reliance on the powers she had been stealing from other kitsune.

“You… you’re one of us?” I asked in horror.

Naya nodded, pushing herself up and showing that she knew I was a threat and that, at least for now, she wouldn’t attack.

“I stand before you today as the leader of the Order of the Fox, but it wasn’t always this way,” she said. “Once, I was a loyal member of the Kitsune Planet, dedicated to protecting the universe and fighting for justice. As time passed, I began to see the flaws in our system. The Kitsune Planet was too slow, too hesitant to act. We were always one step behind the true threats to the universe – the alien overlords who sought to conquer and enslave us all.

“So I made a choice. I turned my back on the Kitsune Planet and came here to start a new chapter of this universe. Here I used my powers to become their leader, and with their help, I transformed the Order of the Fox into a powerful force. Soon no one will be able to stop us… not even you. But you can join us. The Supreme Leader is too powerful to stand against, but if we’re with her, we can survive. Choose the side of survival, Charm.”

There wasn’t a chance in hell I would side with the Supreme Leader, but I had to wonder if this woman could be turned.

“My people stand together against the Supreme Leader,” I told her. “The Kitsune planet is back in business. We are ready to make a stand, and if you admit your crimes, you will have a fair trial.”

“I would sooner die,” she replied, then threw herself at me again.

“So be it,” I replied as one strike after another of hers came at me. Now, however, I was recharged. With my powers at the ready, I breathed in deep and created an energy shield around me that absorbed strike after strike of hers, then let it fade except for bubbles of energy around my fists which I used to pummel her. I let them fade and then grabbed her by the cloak and wrapped it around her neck, power surging and pulling us into the air so that I slammed her head into the ceiling, then let her fall.

“Last chance,” I said, standing over her with my light creating rainbows that glistened on the walls.

Naya’s eyes looked distant as she lifted her head to glare my way, and with what little energy she had left, she mouthed, “Fuck you,” and then tried to launch for one last attack. I stepped back And slammed the side of my fist into the back of her head. Her face collided with the stone of the ground beneath us with a horrible crunch. Metal tails during my way, but I slid back, grabbing the closest and using it to put the woman out of her pain.

It was over. Her body lifeless.

All eyes went to the corpse of Naya. It wasn’t a moment of glory or victory, however. This was one of my people, a kitsune… dead at my doing.

A shudder ran through me at the thought, and I knelt, hand on her chest. “Rest in peace, sister.”

Following a moment of silence, I stood and turned to face the crowd of women in their robes and fox masks.

Reyen stepped forward from the group, then went down to both knees. She bowed her head as she said, “I can’t even begin to explain how sorry I am, Charm. I never wanted to betray you, but I was so desperate. I thought I had no other choice. The Cult of the Fox had promised me so much - power, wealth, a place at the top. And I was so tired of feeling small and insignificant. I wanted to be someone who mattered, and I thought that joining forces with the cult would give me that chance.

“But I was wrong. I see that now. I see how misguided I was and how much harm I’ve caused. I never meant to hurt you, Charm. You’ve always been a hero to me, someone I’ve looked up to and admired. And to think that I’ve caused you pain... it breaks my heart. I know I can’t take back what I’ve done, but I want to make it right. I want to help you defeat the cult and bring them down once and for all. I know it won’t be easy, and I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But please, Charm - let me make amends. Let me be a hero, too. Let me stand by your side and fight alongside you like the true kitsune we are meant to be.”

Destiny did the same at her side, kneeling with hands out, head bowed. The rest followed suit, and I knew that the rest would listen to reason with Naya gone.

“I stand with you,” I told them. “We will figure this out—together.”

I would have to return to my team and let them know what had happened, return here, and take down the enemy infrastructure blocking this planet’s communications with the Kitsune Planet.

Until that day, Destiny and Reyen would have to lead the others in defense against the enemy, staying hidden as much as possible and preparing for my return.

I told them as much, but Reyen raised her eyes, full of concern. “Will that be enough? This is only the beginning. There are so many fortresses out there. Too many, I reckon. And if what Naya told us is true, they serve as a staging ground. The true enemy is preparing for a massive assault.”

“It will be up to you, then, to stand as the first line of defense,” I told her. “But you won’t be alone.”

Destiny stood then, motioning the others to do the same as she said, “We will prepare and eagerly await your return.”

With a nod of approval, I turned to find my portal and way back to my team. We had work to do, and if these ladies were correct, our days of adventuring and forging allies were over.

The true and final war was about to begin.