The crunching of leaves sounded off as the heavy boots made their way across the dead and battered terrain. The boots were leather, with steel plated toes; making the owner seem far もっと見る intimidating. Yet, at first glance, the owner wouldn't seem intimidating at all. She looked as though she should only be seventeen years old, but her face was worn, her eyes tired and her body heavily tattooed in scars. Her red hair, which seemed like it had had better times, had been pampered and loved, was now tattered, and cut; now only being a short, roughly cut pixie-cut.

She walked briskly past the make-shift cabins that had been constructed in 安全, 安全です Haven, eventually making her way to the main キャビン which held their leaders and council members. She roughly pushed back the tarp and walked in, those who were speaking immediately silencing. The woman made her way to the large wooden 表, テーブル that stood in the middle of the room, throwing her gun down upon it along with a map.

"I see that あなた have finally returned, Bloom." A frail voice snaps, the red-head, Bloom, looking up and nodding. "Sorry I took so long, Miss, but あなた know how it is with those Croats; they never seem to keen on releasing their prey." The older woman nodded and made her way to the younger female; her withered and bruised hands trailing over the map. "What news have あなた learned?" She asks, Bloom grabbing a nearby pen. "Well, the witches haven't done anything new...everything is silent near Necropolis--but silence is never a good sign, is it?"

Those who were in the room began mumbling to each other; their voices filled with concern. "They've done nothing new? Are あなた certain?" Miss asks, Bloom nodding 'yes'. "There are probably a bit もっと見る Croats than there were last week, but there is no new development on the seals." Miss nodded. "Where did あなた see the most コート population? If we need to raid one of their villages, we'll need to know what we're up against." Bloom nodded and circled an area with the pen. "They've seemed to increase near the West. I'm not really sure why, though."

"Do あなた think that's where the monster shall be released?" A voices hisses, Bloom shrugging. "I'm not sure, Palladium, but if the witches were going to release something big, I believe that they would do it near Necropolis rather than anywhere else." The people nodded in agreement to Bloom's statement. "So, we'll send a team to diminish that group in the West tonight...try and get some supplies while you're out there too, will ya? We're running low on medicine and alcohol." A girl with long, dark, red hair snaps, walking over and handing Bloom a small list. Bloom took the piece of paper and pocketed it in her breast. "I'll try my best, Mirta...this reminds me, can I talk to あなた in private?" Mirta nods and follows Bloom out of the cabin.

"Yeah, what is it?" Bloom continues walking until they reach the キャビン with the words "TEAM FREE WILL" written in big, bold, white lettering across the doors. "Have あなた heard anything from Sky and his raid in the South?" Mirta frowned she sighed, rubbing her face; her finger absentmindedly trailing a jagged scar that ran across her left eye, the white pupil frittering in her socket as she did so. "I know あなた hate sugarcoating so I'll just be straight with ya, Bloom. The news hit us this morning that only one of them survived, which was Lucy, but...it turns out that she was infected and had to be--Tecna shot her down as soon as she made her through the gate." Bloom's face remained hard and cold to this news, though she was upset. "Did the Croats get them?" Mirta shrugged. "We're not sure, but Lucy had been pretty beaten up--more than usual if we 発言しました they were dealing with Croats. She had a large chunk taken out of her left leg and she had spikes imbedded in her back. We're thinking that the decays might have gotten to some of them before the Croats did." Bloom nodded. "Thank you, Mirta. Have あなた informed Musa that Riven will not be returning either?" Mirta nodded. "She was with Tecna when Lucy came in, so she found out then." Bloom nodded and dismissed Mirta, making her way into the cabin.

She walked in and greeted her フレンズ as she saw them. "Musa, Tecna, Layla, Roxy, Flora." She stated, the women turning and nodding their heads at her. "So, I'm guessing we have a new mission?" Layla asks, placing a cigarette to her lips and inhaling; smoke soon fuming out of her nostrils. Bloom nodded 'yes'. "I discovered a big pack of Croats in the West and we need to take care of at least half of them." The five nodded. "Are we going to need to go shopping as well? I saw あなた out there with Mirta." Flora states, putting her sharpened ナイフ down. Bloom chuckles and walks over, sitting down among them. "Yeah, seems we're low on booze and meds." They nod at her. "How many Croats are we dealing with?" Tecna asks. "I'm not sure...I didn't get a good look at how many there were while I was on patrol, but I'm guessing around eighty...or more." Tecna and Roxy both grinned. "Well then I guess this would be a good time to introduce あなた all to a little toy that Roxy and I have been working on for the past couple of weeks."

Both Tecna and Roxy got up from where they were sitting and made their way into another room, the two soon coming out holding gas masks and and small circular objects. "What are those?" Musa asks, raising an eyebrow. "These my friends, are called pestis'. They are bombs that Roxy and I have designed which carry a lethal gas." Roxy nodded and placed the weapon she carried delicately on a nearby table. "Using my knowledge on 動物 and Tecna's knowledge on science and technology, we created a hydrogen chloride bomb that never touches the projector--it only aims towards whoever you're trying to kill." Tecna nodded. "This bomb is easy to handle, light, and its power is very destructive. Hydrogen chloride causes severe burns to the skin and eyes, and with the amount we've packed in here, there's enough to suffocate whoever breathes it." The women were intrigued and Bloom delicately touched the small orb on the table. "All that can happen from one little ball? That's pretty impressive." Musa says, nodding in approval.

"But what are the masks for? If the gas doesn't go near those who launch the weapon, why do あなた them?" Flora asks, frowning. "Well even though the gas does not go near those who throw it, if we want to walk around wherever the bomb was thrown, we're going to have to wear it. The gas residue will still be in the air and will harm あなた if あなた don't wear a mask." Flora nodded. "But what about our skin?" Layla snaps. "I don't want to come back covered in burns, あなた know." Roxy chuckled. "It's called covering yourself in a shield." The three nodded, and Bloom smirked. "This is great, fantastic work あなた two." Tecna and Roxy smiled. "Grab as many of these as あなた can: we leave at nightfall." _________________________________________

The six women made their way quietly through the quiet and solemn wasteland, careful to not make a sound but also making sure that they were keeping their guard up. Bloom led the way, she keeping her gun raised high as her フレンズ trailed close behind her. "How far is this place, Bloom?" Flora asks, brandishing her ナイフ in the dark. "I'm not sure, but it didn't take me too long to get there...Tecna, can あなた tell our position?" Tecna stopped, as did the others, she soon pulling up a holographic map. "The blinking green サークル, 円 is where I--well we--are now. Where is this place?" Bloom stepped フォワード, 前進, 楽しみにして and pointed to an in the West. "You mean the hills of Xibir?" Musa snaps. "Is that where they are?" Bloom sneers, shrugging. "Well, I guess that's where they are." The five nodded and they soon continued their journey, eventually making it to the hills.

"So, how exactly are we supposed to get close enough to throw these things?" Layla asks. "Well we don't exactly need to get too close to them to throw it...we just need to throw them in the right spots." Tecna whispers, taking her bomb out of her bag. "And how difficult is that going to be? We don't exactly have all the time in the world to do this, Tec." Musa snarls, Tecna glaring at the fairy of music. "Well then follow my lead." She snaps, making her way slowly towards the bottom of the hill--the others following her lead.

She stopped when they finally reached the bottom of the hill, the rest gazing over the area. "You were right, Bloom, there are definitely a lot もっと見る Croats here than last." Layla says, Bloom nodding. "It's gonna feel so good taking these bastards out." Flora chuckles, taking out her weapon as well. "Okay so, I think we should スプリット, 分割 up into teams of two. Bloom and Musa, あなた two throw both of your bombs to the left; Layla and Flora, あなた throw yours to the right; while Roxy and I throw ours near the center. Got it?" The group nodded and soon スプリット, 分割 into their teams--each getting into position quickly.

There was silence between the group before it being broken によって the war-cries of Musa and Bloom as they ran near the village of Croats, throwing their bombs into their designated direction. It wasn't long before Roxy and Tecna did the same, Layla and Flora quickly following suite. "Put your masks on!" Roxy shouts over the coughing and squealing of the dying Croats. The group quickly places on their masks and raises their shields; watching in satisfaction as the gas spread and rolled over the hills; choking and burning whatever it dare touch. Croats ran and screamed, snarling and snapping at each other as they tried to escape the blanket of death that overcame their land. In a matter of minutes, the gas cleared, revealing the corpses of Croats that littered the fields.

Bloom grinned maliciously and the rest laughed harshly at the 'victory.' "That was totally bad ass!" Musa shouts, raising her fists out of happiness. "Yeah, well done あなた two! You've made the ultimate killing machine!" Layla chuckles, the two purple-haired fairy's bowing their heads as a thank you. "Alright あなた guys, time to get ourselves some payment." Bloom states, making her way into the dead village--the rest following to get their own share of the "shopping list."
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When they made it back to 安全, 安全です Haven, they were greeted によって nods and smiles as they walked in with their arms full of medicine and booze. "Nicely done, girls!" Mirta states, キス all of them on their cheek as a thank you. "No problem Mirta." Bloom says, taking off her mask. "Yeah, it was actually pretty fun." Musa says, laughing. Mirta chuckles and snaps her fingers, several other women coming over and taking most of the medicine and drinks from the girls' arms. "Hey Mirta, あなた forgot this." Flora teases, wiggling the bottle of gin. "Keep it--you've earned the right to celebrate!" Mirta laughs, nodding at the group before walking away.

"Well あなた heard her--let's celebrate!" Roxy shouts, the group laughing and making their way to their cabin; piling in the drinks as the night went by--their voices ringing out in ビクトリアス song as they all celebrated the small victory.

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Author's Note: Well this is chapter two. I hope あなた don't think that the girls are evil sociopaths now, haha. But あなた have to understand what war does to people. It changes people and who they once were. (which is why Flora is no longer this shy and happy-go-lucky girl) Some of あなた might wonder why Roxy is here. I thought that after Magix was attacked, Morgana and the other Earth 妖精 went to get Roxy and traveled to Magix to try and assist in defeating the Trix. I say they got there before the barrier was put up, they now not being able to leave the planet either. And Stella wasn't in this chapter because...I don't know, lol. She'll be in the next, for sure. btw the image credit for the Roxy picture below goes to link Hope あなた like this chapter: please comment!