Crypta, reading an outdated Evil Overlord Instruction Manual from the Sexist Old Days: hmm, says here I need to acquire an Evil Queen to assist me in my Rule of Terror and General Administrative Duties. I must follow what the Manual says
Mythsia, who has an extremely obvious crush on Crypta, and is getting more obvious every day: umm. ma’am. 😳 I would like to apply for that position 👉👈
Crypta: Excellent! This is why I hired you, because you are a Real Go-Getter
With a flash of light bouncing off the scales of his wings, Mythic Scarlet twirls in the air, firing off a jet of crimson and gold flame from the crystal atop his scepter. The kaiju shrieks, an ear-piercing noise as its flesh is scorched, and it swipes its massive claws down at Scarlet.
The claws clash off a psychic barrier the color of a stormy sky, bouncing back as Mythic Cobalt darts in between his teammate and their opponent. His wings, sleek and silver-feathered, buffet himself backwards as he raises his physical shield, deflecting another incoming blow. He hisses in pain as the force of the blow fractures something in his arm.
On a pair of bright green butterfly wings, Mythic Verdant flutters up alongside his companions. He makes a sympathetic noise to see how gingerly Cobalt holds his arm, and raises his staff. A stream of soft green light, lined with bronze pinpricks of light, flows into Cobalt’s arm, mending the bone with a cool numbness.
The battle carries on like this, the three Magical Boys throwing fire, shields, and all the tricks at their disposal at the gigantic robotic reptile. To the public watching through screens in Yokohama’s kaiju shelters, the battle is evenly matched.
But the Mythic Wings are nearing exhaustion. Twenty minutes of combat, slowly wearing the beast down, it’s draining their power. Even with the emergency reserves provided by their Mascot, it’s growing more and more difficult.
Finally, though, Scarlet’s fire cuts into something crucial. The kaiju’s electronic eyes flicker, flutter, and fade to darkness, and it stills in place. The trio hover in the air a moment, watching for signs of life, before descending to the cracked and damaged street.
In moments, the cleanup officers have started to surround the area, cordoning the robotic monstrosity off from civilians, and the populace have started to re-emerge. They swarm towards the edge of the yellow tape, clamoring for the Mythic Wings’ attention, holding up pens and markers and merchandise or even body parts to be signed.
“Everyone, everyone, thank you for your support!” Scarlet says, smiling and stepping forward. It’s an effort to keep his wings from shaking as he holds them up to impress the fans. “The Mythic Wings have to let the officers take over now, but we’ll be happy to see you all again tomorrow.” Ordinarily, he would love to stay and talk, but his energy feels as flickery as the kaiju’s eyes before powering down. He can feel it from his teammates as well. The usually energetic Verdant is trembling just slightly, and Cobalt is standing rigid, wings tucked against his back.
With a few more words to soothe and bid farewell to the crowd, Scarlet spreads his wings out. Verdant gathers up the cat-sized ball of fluff that is their Mascot, and Cobalt snaps his wings out to his sides. With a wave from all three of them, they take to the skies, and fly towards their Roost.
The flight back is only possible thanks to additional power reserves from Kasumi. The fluffy little Mascot’s unicorn horn is glowing, useless feathery wings fluttering hard as she pours energy into the three boys. Their muscles are all screaming for rest, even with the help.
They land on the roof of the office building, and they barely wait to get inside the stairwell before their uniforms and wings melt away.
“I’m so tired,” Verdant whines, as his elegant clothing gives way to a rumpled green buttonup and jeans, and his butterfly wings shrink into nonexistence--as he turns back into Sasaki Suzuran.
“Least we won,” Cobalt says. His pauldrons and greaves dissolve, replaced with a denim jacket and work boots. His eagle’s wings tuck themselves into nothingness as he becomes Kita Tsubasa.
Scarlet sighs, groaning as his dragon wings retreat into his back, armor and cape replacing themselves with a sweater and vest. “I could use a nap,” Moon Jae-su says, slumping inside. His friends mumble their assent as they enter the Roost after him.
It’s a mishmash of decor and styles in there. One shelf is full of minerals and gemstones, textbooks and folders stuffed full of papers and study materials scattered across a nearby desk. Potted plants are on every surface that sunlight can reach. The kitchenette is tidy, some dishes still in the sink from the last time they were here.
“You guys need some food?” Kasumi asks, floating up and out of Suzuran’s arms. With a puff of smoke, she takes her human form, a young lady wearing a puffy pink hoodie--though her unicorn horn and tiny wings are still visible.
“Yeeesssss,” Suzuran says, kicking off his shoes inside the door and making his way to the next room, where an oversized couch waits for them. Jae-su and Tsubasa follow suit, and there’s soon a pile of exhausted magical boys on the couch. Jae-su on the bottom, with Suzuran tucked against his side and Tsubasa nestled between the arm and back of the couch with the others in his lap.
They’re quiet for a few minutes, catching their breath and letting their exhausted bodies rest. Suzuran is the first to talk, wrapping his arms around one of Jae-su’s.
“I thought we weren’t gonna make it, for a little bit,” he mumbles.
Jae-su sighs and reaches an aching, shaking arm to pat his friend’s head. “...We did, though. We’ll be stronger for it next time.”
Suzuran sniffles a little and nods, tilting his head into Jae-su’s shoulder.
When Kasumi comes in with heavy bags of takeout an hour later, it’s to a pile of sleepy, exhausted boys all tangled up around each other. She decides to wake them later; food can always be reheated, and they’ve more than earned the chance to nap.
Crypta: Oh, nothing much. Just accidentally bound my soul to that of someone who should have been fictional, but somehow isn’t, and is now stuck with me for the foreseeable future.