"Ngh..." Erza laid there on the crater, completely down for the count. The attack Ragyo landed was brutal. So strong that she was still feeling it. And viewing this from the windows were Cynthia and the others, stunned by what they had witnessed.
"Miss Erza!" Asuka Hanzo bellowed out in shock.
"All of this...Was this a trap?!" Cynthia gasped. And right on cue, something else happened. The whole tower was experiencing a lockdown. The windows would shut immediately, metallic barriers going over them.
"Hey! What's going on?!" Rainbow Mika slammed her hands on the window, but it was no use.
"We've been locked in!" Asuka Kazama said with a pissed-off tone.
"Trapped...!" Ikaruga glared.
"Lady Ragyo has decided that you are not to leave this place whatsoever." An employee spoke up, now revealing her true colors. She and the rest of the employees of this tower, as well as the guards, had them cornered now. They all had smug looks on their faces, ready to serve their leader.
Now, they were targets.
The girls all stood beside each other, back to back. They were completely surrounded. But they were not going to go down without a fight.
"Tch! We'll show them!" Asuka Kazama took a fighting stance, her fists clenched. "Nobody traps us like this!"
"Heh! Looks like we're in for a brawl!" Rainbow Mika grinned, her confidence unwavering. "This is gonna be fun!"
Cortege Soldiers popped out from the other rooms in their usual battlesuits, locked onto the girls.
"Fine then...If that is the case..." Cynthia narrowed her eyes, opening her hand as she was ready to summon a Pokemon from her universe.
"I would highly advise against that." But then, someone else had stepped in, already expecting Cynthia to pull off a move. Her heels were heard as Cortege Soldiers stepped aside, making way for this gal.
With a smug look on her face, she appeared. A regal, military style getup a cruel personality. Fitting for this group. One of Ragyo's highest ranking members.
Her name was Charlotte Scherzen.
"Judging from that stance...you're going to bring a pet into this battle? That's not fair, now is it?" Charlotte scoffed.
"And who are you?" Cynthia questioned.
"Hmph! Show some respect. I am a high-ranking member of the Kiryuuin Cortege. Lady Ragyo's Vanguard Enforcer. Charlotte Scherzen! You mongrels would be best to address me as such. Right now, Lady Ragyo has dealt with one of your allies, if you haven't already noticed. If you're wise, I suggest you surrender now. You are already locked out. There's nowhere else for you to go."
"I don't recall needing your permission to leave." Cynthia shot back.
"Sheesh. This lady talks as if she's the leader." Asuka Kazama whispered to Rainbow Mika.
"She acts like it too." Rainbow Mika whispered back.
"Hmph! Such disrespect! Fine then! I will be the one to discipline you all! As well as bring a new toy into our fold!" Charlotte declared. "Grab them!"
With the order, the Cortege Members rushed forward to try and restrain the girls, coming from all sides. The time for battle was now.
"Come to me! Milotic!" Cynthia raised her arm, calling upon a Pokemon from her Universe. A beam of light shot down from above, manifesting her Pokemon into this world.
Appearing was Milotic.
And the second Milotic appeared, Rainbow Mika and the others leapt into battle. The battle was now fully underway. The entire building shook with each impact, the sounds of combat echoing throughout the tower.
"Milotic! Hydro Pump!" Cynthia ordered.
Milotic unleashed a powerful jet of water, blasting away a group of Cortege Members who were trying to ambush her.
"Just as I thought. A pet! How annoying!" Charlotte snarled. "You seem to be the leader here. I'll deal with you personally. I'll also have your pet become an Extar for me."
"An Extar?"
"You'll see soon enough! After I've beaten you!" Charlotte would then grip one of the scientist's ass, making her flinch and yelp. "Become my armaments!" The woman screamed as her body began to glow and then transform into a weapon. Her body morphed and twisted, her limbs contorting into the shape of a massive battle-axe.
"WHOA! WHAT DID SHE DO TO HER?!" Asuka Kazama shouted, stunned at what she saw.
"Her body...It turned into a weapon! A literal weapon!" Asuka Hanzo gasped in disbelief.
Charlotte, now wielding the axe, charged forward. Her movements were fluid and graceful, her body a blur of motion. She swung the axe, its blade slicing through the air with a deadly whistle.
Cynthia's eyes widened, she barely had enough time to dodge. The axe crashed into the floor, sending shards of marble flying.
"Milotic! Ice Beam!" Cynthia commanded.
Milotic fired a beam of ice, freezing a group of Cortege Members in their tracks. They were now immobilized, their bodies covered in a thick layer of frost.
The remaining Cortege members rushed forward, their weapons at the ready. Ikaruga would parry a slash from one of the Cortege Members, her sword flashing in the light. She would then counter with a swift slash of her own, disarming her opponent and knocking her to the ground.
Rainbow Mika, using her pro-wrestling skills, would grab a Cortege Member from behind, suplexing her into the ground. The impact created a small crater, the force of the blow knocking the wind out of her opponent.
Asuka Kazama would dodge a series of punches from a Cortege Member, her movements fluid and graceful. She would then retaliate with a series of kicks, each one connecting with her opponent's body, sending her stumbling back.
Asuka Hanzo, using her ninja skills, would vanish into the shadows, reappearing behind a Cortege Member. She would then deliver a swift kick to the back of her opponent's head, knocking her unconscious.
The four of them were holding their own, but the Cortege Members were relentless. There were too many of them.
Milotic would block Charlotte who came straight for Cynthia, using Iron Head to do so. A headbutt from Milotic's head knocked Charlotte back.
"There's too many of them in confined of a space...!" Cynthia grit her teeth. It was time to gain some distance and check up on Erza as well. "Ice Beam on the floor!"
Milotic would fire out an Ice Beam once more, this time targeting the floor. The entire floor would become a frozen, slippery surface. Some Cortege Members would slip and fall, while others would be forced to slow down.
"This is our chance! Let's go!" Cynthia yelled, leading the way.
The four of them made a run for it, but they were chased.
"Do you think you can escape that easily?" Charlotte smirked, not at all worried. She would then look to a fellow Cortege Member, needing a quick addition to her weaponry. "With the Island's grace...I can have as many Extars as I want!" She would slam her foot into the downed Cortege Member's groin area, her foot glowing pink as a pink aura formed around her leg. The girl screamed, her body starting to transform.
She became legwear for Charlotte, turning into a pair of metal-like greaves that attached themselves to her legs. They would then let out a bright pink glow. With new armor, Charlotte would speed up, skating across the ice with no problem.
"Milotic! Hydro Pump!"
Milotic would fire another Hydro Pump, but this one was dodged by Charlotte who used her greaves to leap high.
"You pests are nothing to me! Just wait until I make you all my new Extars! Lady Ragyo will be pleased!" She'd come down, ready to attack Cynthia. But before she could, Ikaruga blocked it with her blade.
The two swords clashed, Charlotte's axe meeting Ikaruga's sword. The impact was massive, a shockwave erupting from their clash. Ikaruga grunted, her arms shaking from the force of the blow.
And with a boost, Charlotte managed to overpower her blade, causing her balance to fail. Ikaruga yelped as she was knocked back by the force. And as that happened, Asuka Hanzo came in to help, slashing away at Charlotte.
"Ikaruga! Why you..! My turn! Secret Ninja Art: Whirlwind!" Asuka Hanzo spun around, her sword cutting through the air. But Charlotte, using her greaves, leaped over the attack and came down with a powerful axe kick.
Asuka Hanzo barely managed to dodge, the kick grazing her shoulder. She stumbled back, her shoulder throbbing in pain.
"Get lost! All of you! You're all just bugs!" Charlotte yelled.
"Like we're just gonna stand here and let you do that!" Asuka Kazama came in with a kick of her own, but Charlotte would just block with her axe.
"Hmph!" Charlotte then used her greaves to speed up, delivering a series of lightning-fast kicks, each one connecting with Asuka Kazama's body. Asuka Kazama cried out in pain, her body convulsing from the force of the blows.
She followed it up with a powerful hit to the floor, one that generated a tremendous shockwave that would knock back Rainbow Mika and the Asukas, and also stun Milotic.
"Gah!" They all yelled.
"You all!" Cynthia gasped before looking behind her. Alas, the doors were locked. All of them. So entering the next room via the doors would not do. That means the only option left was to break a wall. A wall that Charlotte wasn't about to let them break.
"You think you can just leave? You're not going anywhere until Lady Ragyo says so." Charlotte pointed at them. "The moment you set foot here, you were already her property."
"We are no one's property...!" Cynthia gave her retort. The fight was now back on. She couldn't afford to waste any more time. She needed to get to Erza and see if she was okay.
The Asukas and Rainbow Mika, though hurt, were not about to give up either. They got back on their feet right away.
"You won't be saying that for long. If you're struggling with me, you can't hope to deal with the rest of our Vanguard Enforcers." Charlotte taunted. "Now...hold still and let this happen!"
"I think not! Milotic! Flood the place! Hydro Pump!" Cynthia took a risky move. Milotic would unleash a high-volume blast of water from her mouth, this one hitting the floor itself. The water would spread across the floor fast, but thanks to the ice that was already there, the water would be even more slippery.
"Nh! You...!" Charlotte grunted as her greaves couldn't help her with this one. The whole room would be filled with aggressively swaying water almost instantly, making it even harder for the Cortege soldiers to move. It was a real struggle for them to even stand.
But the girls also had to deal with it. Still, it gave them a bit of an opening.
"Now's our chance!" Cynthia declared.
The five of them rushed for a wall. Cynthia had Milotic crash into it. She made a big hole for them.
"YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM HERE!" Charlotte screamed while being swept away. "NO MATTER WHAT!"
But with the water, it was difficult. The Cortege soldiers had to move through a watery environment to even get close, slowing them down.
The group made it out, finding themselves in a hallway that was surprisingly empty. And now they were on the move. A hallway with many rooms in various directions. The five of them ran as fast as they could, their feet splashing through the water that had leaked into the hallway.
"We gotta get to Erza!" Rainbow Mika yelled.
"But we're lost in this place now!" Asuka Hanzo said.
"This tower is bigger than it looks." Cynthia added. "But further destruction could lead us to the outside. Break as much as you can until then. Milotic, Hydro Pump!"
Milotic unleashed another Hydro Pump, this one blasting a hole in the wall. And another. And another. They were making their own path, a path of destruction that would hopefully lead them to the outside.
-----
While this was happening as the Moon rose up, Gwen, Katara and Noelle were currently unaware of what was happening outside right now, still at the Frost Brand shop. Although, a small bit of commotion was heard.
"Hm. Must be a party or something." Gwen said, holding some clothes. "Either way, we're almost done here."
"Good. I'm tired of this." Katara huffed. "This isn't what I expected to do here."
"I think we're almost done. It's nightfall already and Miss Emma promised to let us go after a while. Then we can go find the others." Noelle said.
"You girls have done well so far, selling this much." Emma stood there, proud of their work. "I'd say you're all naturals at this."
"Thank you, Miss Emma!" Noelle replied. It looked like it was time for them to wrap up.
"Yeah. But...I don't know if this kind of work is for me." Gwen sighed. "It was fun though."
"It wasn't as bad as I thought." Katara admitted. The girls chattered a bit about their experience here. But as they did, Emma's smile spoke something else. It had another side to it. One that involved keeping these three here.
For within Emma, like many on this island...
The Lust. It was desired to be unleashed.
Especially during the night. She looked up at the moon, narrowing her eyes. Emma knew one thing. The moon being present was bad news for her, in a very different way. Thus, she needed them now.
"You girls can get paid working here, I guarantee. If you want to use the currency at all. But the other kind of currency is far easier to manage on this island." Emma spoke.
"What is it?" Katara asked. And as soon as she did, with a flick of her fingers, Emma had the girls surrounded. By ice.
She easily manifested an ice trap for them, one that instantly formed and rose up from the floor. It was almost in an instant. Far too fast for them to react. The only one who could react nearly as fast was Noelle, but she was too slow. It encased them entirely, but not their heads, so that they could still speak. The ice was strong too.
"H-Hey" Gwen yelled.
"What is this?!" Noelle panicked.
"Was this...a trap?!"
"A shame for you girls. So innocent." Emma said, walking over to them. She looked down at them, a devilish smile on her face. "But tonight...I have a need for you three."
"What are you talking about?! Let us out!" Katara snarled. She tried using her waterbending, but it was no use. She couldn't move her hands to even get the water out. And she could feel the energy that created this ice wasn't something she could easily melt. Not like the ice she was used to. This was different. Stronger. Far stronger than what Esdeath had.
"I can't...My water..." Katara grunted. It was like her own bending wasn't enough to break it. The ice was pulsating with a unique energy. Emma's.
"I am the queen of ice here. My Ice Magic is far more potent than whatever you can do." Emma told her.
"You...You tricked us!" Noelle snapped. "You...!"
"Tsk, tsk. You shouldn't trust so easily, little girl. Not here. Not on this island." Emma said.
"But why? We helped you!" Gwen argued.
"Darling. I just needed some girls to fill my Lust Energy." Emma replied. "It's nothing personal. It's just...business. And pleasure." She licked her lips. "I've done it to many girls already. You three are just the newest."
"We were so careless...!" Katara closed her eyes with anger.
"Now. I do things differently with my lust. From this point on, you three will have to answer to me, at least for tonight."
"We won't. Let us out...!" Gwen tried to make a small flame appear by focusing. But she was unable to even generate enough magic for it.
Neither could do anything. True restraint. Just what Emma wanted. Laying them in her trap, she could have them all to herself, especially with the city in commotion due to what had just happened. No one to interrupt her whatsoever.
"I think you'd do great as a showgirl." Emma reached for Noelle's breasts, which were big. She would squeeze them through the ice, an interesting method of touching them. The ice had some give to it, almost like it was a solid and a liquid at the same time. A very strange sensation.
"Ah! Stop!" Noelle squirmed, unable to move her arms.
Emma's touch was cold, yet it sent a strange warmth through Noelle's body. She could feel the Lust Energy flowing from Emma's fingers, a tingling sensation that made her heart race. She tried to resist, to fight back, but it was no use. She was trapped, helpless, at Emma's mercy.
"You're the one with a lot of potential, you know. I can sense it." Emma said, her fingers tracing the outline of Noelle's nipples. "Your body...oh, your body is screaming for attention."
Her fingers would go further down her body, all the way to her pussy. She was able to touch it even with the ice, and a sensation would travel through Noelle that she had never felt before. It was a mix of pleasure and pain, a sensation that made her gasp.
"Your body is so sensitive. It makes sense though. I can read your emotions. The strong-headed girls tend to be the most sensitive ones after all." Emma would now press her fingers against Noelle's panties, touching her lips.
"Aaaaaah!" Noelle yelped.
"That's it. Let it out. Let the island hear you. Let it-" But just then, it happened. A shock went through Emma's body, halting her action. Her pupils dilated a she clenched her teeth, grunting. "No...Not now! This soon?!"
"Huh...?" Katara and Gwen looked over.
Emma let go of Noelle, stumbling back. As she did, her body started glowing with pink energy all of a sudden, pulsating rapidly. As it did, the unexpected was about to happen.
"You've got some nerve trying to show up now!" Emma held one side of her face, speaking to someone. She sure wasn't speaking to the three girls. "It hasn't even reached midnight yet!" She was angry, not at the girls, but at someone else.
"What's going on...?" Noelle looked at Emma.
"Ngh...!" As that energy rose and rose some more, rising rapidly, all of a sudden, an visage of another person would lean out from the side, trying to break free.
It looked like Emma again.
This surprised the trio as they saw a head coming out from Emma's head. Like a head trying to force itself out of the original Emma's body. The girls gasped, watching this bizarre and sudden event unfold.
"Agh! Get back inside!" The original Emma tried to push the other Emma back, only to be overpowered.
"You will not harm these girls! I won't let you!" The other Emma's upper torso forced itself out, now having her arms out as she tried to push the other Emma away.
"W-What's going on...?" Noelle was taken aback by this.
"This is...Is there...two of them?" Gwen was starting to understand it already. Something was off about Emma after all. And with a wave of her hand, she diminished the ice that restrained the trio, freeing them. It was the will of the other Emma that was fighting for control. The trio dropped to the floor, grunting a bit.
"You girls! Leave, now!" The other Emma told them. She had a serious, yet worried expression. One that was completely opposite to the other Emma.
"Silence! You're wasting a perfectly good moment!" The other Emma mocked, letting go of her face. With a powerful shove, she would force that other Emma back inside. But it was staggering. It made her body shake as she stumbled back, reeling from it. It left her rather befuddled.
Befuddled enough for the girls to run.
"Hurry!" Noelle yelled, dragging Gwen and Katara away. "We don't know what that was, but we can't stay here!"
"Yeah! That was creepy!" Gwen added. Katara was already ahead of them, bolting for the door.
"Wait! You...!" The original Emma turned back to normal, realizing her prey had escaped. "Urgh! That stupid girl! Always interrupting me at the worst times! Agh! But you three won't get away from me...The night is still young!"
"Huh...Hah..." The trio ran out of Frost Fashion as fast as they could, not daring to look back. The cool night air hit their faces as they burst out onto the streets.
"I think I understand what I saw back there!" Gwen panted, looking around for a place to take cover. The city was still alive, but the mood had shifted. There was an unsettling tension in the air. The commotion they'd heard earlier seemed to be getting louder.
"Let's get to a less crowded area!" Katara suggested. "Something big is going on nearby."
"What do you think you saw, Gwen?!" Noelle asked.
"She let us go. She could've kept us trapped there so easily with all that ice. But I think...there's another half of her! One that is still her but different in nature!" Gwen explained.
"A split personality?!" Katara gasped.
"I think so! She started arguing with herself after all! And it sounds like it might have something to do with the night."
"In any case, I want to be away from here as far as possible!" Noelle replied. "Let's find the rest! They should've regrouped somewhere, right?!"
But as the trio were running, it was revealed that Emma wasn't lagging behind at all. In fact, she had already made her way out of the shop. The moment she stepped out, a dark and sinister energy began to manifest around her. The atmosphere around her became frigid and oppressive, a wave of cold that sent shivers down the spines of anyone nearby.
And the girls who were still outside at this hour...they would all stop, sensing her energy. From this distance, they were able to feel it. It felt dark. Dangerous.
And also dangerous were those that already worked under Emma. Under her order, members of the Frost Brand appeared from the corners of the buildings, surprising the trio.
These women were all under Emma Frost's control, all of them under the Lust Connection she gave them. All of them had the same look in their eyes, a look of hunger, of desire.
All of these girls carried their own speciality from their respective worlds, holding different weapons like staffs, lances, daggers, katanas, all with an icy blue motif.
"Don't start leaving now." One of the women said. "Miss Emma always loves new talent after a bit of practice. She never stops at just one. So...kindly stay put!" She approached with her staff, ready to smack the girls with it.
Bending a nearby fountain, Katara would intercept the girl with a jet of water. The water smacked into the girl's face, staggering and befuddling her. Katara then bent more of the fountain water, having it slither around like a snake. The slithering water would then smack the other girls, knocking them over or making them slip.
One of the girls spun her staff around, using a kind of magic from her universe. As she did, she unleashed a spiral of magical energy at the girls. A spiral that was blocked by Gwen. She raised her hands, using her Manna to block it. The two would clash with their powers, one using magic, the other using Manna.
Gwen then expanded her shield, having it hit the girls at the same time, knocking them back. Noelle leapt into action too, manifesting her Grimoire. With her wand being pointed at the other woman, she released projectiles of water magic at them, hitting them hard.
"Roar of the Sea Dragon!" A huge mass of water shaped like a dragon roared to life, knocking down the last of Emma's guards. They screamed, engulfed by the fierce dragon-shaped water. "Now, Katara! Bend it!"
And there was a bonus. Noelle and Katara had some synergy together via their respective elements. Katara would bend the Dragon itself, gaining control of it. Now it was much stronger.
Katara had the dragon soar around the area, knocking down any other guards that came out. It even hit the walls of other buildings, but she had it carefully not cause too much damage.
All of that paved a way for the girls, the subordinates of Emma Frost being downed for the time being. They wasted no time and ran off once more, with Katara having the water dragon follow her for now. They made their escape, running through the city streets.
-----
They ran for a while, seemingly getting some good distance away from Emma Frost and her subordinates. There was no sign of any of them thus far. Then again, the trio were in a less-populated area within the area. Still, the commotion was still felt in the far distance. Whatever was going on, they were right in the middle of it.
"Alright...I think we lost them for now." Katara panted, having the water dragon disperse.
"That was too close..." Noelle sighed, leaning against a wall to catch her breath. "I still can't see Miss Cynthia and the others though."
"Maybe all that commotion is where they are right now." Gwen suggested. "Do we go there?"
"Not sure...This city is unpredictable." said Katara, unsure of that decision.
"Noelle. Don't you use Magic? Can't you sense Raven? She has magic too."
"Raven doesn't use the same type of magic as mine. I'm unable to sense her." Noelle told them. "But she can sense others regardless. We could hope that she picks up on us, but at this rate..."
"There you three are." Alas, they were found.
By Emma Frost herself.
She walked over, causing the trio to turn around and face her. An annoyed smirk was on her face.
"Did you really think you could get away from me that easily?" Emma taunted, her hands glowing with an icy blue energy.
"Stay back!" Katara yelled, getting into a bending stance.
"Or what? You'll splash me with a little water?" Emma scoffed. "Please. Water is nothing compared to ice. You're already at a massive disadvantage, girls."
"What was that back there?! There was another half of you we saw!" Gwen questioned, wanting answers. "Another half that actually saved us!"
"Hmph. I suppose no one can resist questioning that." Emma shrugged. "That nuisance you saw was just my other self. Another version of me from another universe."
"What?" said a surprised Gwen.
"I'm from my own universe and so is she. We may have the same name, build, voice, powers and everything, but I assure you, we're nothing alike. She's only half as ambitious as I am."
"But that doesn't make sense...It doesn't even sound like an Alternate Isotope." Katara was trying to make sense of it. If it was an Alternate Isotope, it'd be easier to understand. But that didn't seem to be the case since two versions of Emma were here instead of it just being the one. "Are you saying you..."
"Merged? Yes. When I came to this island, unlike many others, I received a unique benefit from the island's power. It dragged me and another version of myself to this universe, but instead of us being separate, we were forced together in one body. So you could say we're...twins sharing the same body."
"A fusion of two of the same people?!" Katara gasped.
"I've never heard of that happening..." Gwen noted.
"But there was a catch. A glorious on. As you can see, I am the dominant personality in all of this, while she lays within. And it makes absolute sense. This Island is a place for opportunists. Gals who are willing to push the boundaries for their own pleasure. And that is me. Through and through. All me." Emma placed her hands on her hips, boasting. "She's the opposite. A goody-two-shoes who tries to resist the island's influence. Apparently, the group she was in and the so-called bonds she made changed her. She was a lot like me back in her universe, but took a less ambitious path, forever siding with her fellow mutants. Pathetic, really. And now she's just here to get in my way."
"So...You're in conflict with each other?!" Noelle was shocked at that.
"Every single night. When midnight arrives, our personalities clash and fight over control. During the day and some of the night, I am still in control. Even when midnight arrives, I am still able to take back control. So don't get your hopes up. You won't be seeing her that much and she won't help you whatsoever!"
"...Now I get it." Katara understood it very clearly now. That was just what she needed to hear. "So then that part of her really was trying to help. Sounds to me like...she's the real deal and you aren't."
"Hm?" Emma's smile faded as she raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"
"I don't know much about your universe and what happens there. But if the Island picked two versions of you two to arrive, it sounds to me like that one is the real Emma. Not you!" Katara said with full belief.
"Hah! What a joke! As if you have the right to suggest that! For all you know, I could be the one true Emma. In fact, I fully believe that I am since I'm the one in control! Not her!" Angrily, Emma unleashed a cluster of ice at the trio, attempting to freeze. Only for Gwen to put a shield, swiftly blocking the cluster.
"There's a chance we can maybe get that side of Emma out. Maybe." Katara suggested. "I'm not exactly an expert on dealing with alternate selves. But if that version of her wants to help save others..."
"We can take her to Raven after we're finished. She might have something. But defeating her is the only way we can find out!" Noelle pointed out.
As for Emma, she wasn't about to let them talk any further. "How annoying! You'll pay for that insult, you brat!"
From the ground, Emma formed multiple icicles, all aimed right at the trio. They shot up high in the sky, raining down at high speeds like a meteor shower.
"Water Magic: Sea Dragon's Nest!" Noelle would call out, using her magic to create a dome of water around them. The icicles would crash into the dome, shattering on impact.
Katara would then go on the offensive. She bent water from the same dome, shaping into multiple water whips. She then lashed out at Emma, but failed to hit her. For Emma had generate a chilling aura around her. Once the whips got close, they froze almost instantly, shattering into pieces.
Gwen would try next, throwing discs of Manna at her. But those discs would freeze up as well, dropping to the ground.
"I have to say, your water is decent. But it's useless against me. I am the Ice Queen of this city. Everything I touch freezes. That includes your magic." Emma taunted, raising her hands. A massive blizzard would manifest around her, the temperature dropping drastically.
The trio shivered, the cold seeping into their bones.
"Now. Down!" With a thrust of her arm, she revealed one of her many powers outside of just using ice. For Emma was a master at manipulating one's emotions. And from this range, she sent a strong shockwave that would mentally overwhelm the girls.
It caused them to stagger, dropping to their knees as a huge headache was inflicted. They were all vulnerable.
"GAAAAH!" The trio screamed. Noelle got on one knee while Gwen and Katara got down on both.
"Ngh...V-VALKYRIE DRESS!" Quickly, Noelle went into her Valkyrie Dress, the water surrounding parts of her body quickly. As it did, she resisted the mental influence.
Afterwards, Noelle would take flight with the dress, going on the full offensive, her water lance in hand. Noelle yelled as she approached Emma, figuring that she would be less difficult to fight up close. And she was right. Emma would slide back, manifesting ice beneath her heels and skating away.
"Too slow, sweetie~! Emma scoffed as she skated around her. Noelle came in with a slash. The attack came close, but Emma would make it hard for Noelle to get close.
It was then Katara and Gwen would rejoin the fight. Katara bent the water from Noelle's lance, forming it into whips that would lash out at Emma. Gwen would also use her Manna again, firing off at her. This forced Emma to back away from the group, raising an ice wall to block their attacks.
She then raised her hands, the ice wall cracking as it shattered into a thousand pieces. The shards of ice flew through the air, each one aimed at the trio. Noelle, with her Valkyrie Dress, was able to dodge them with ease, her movements fluid and graceful.
Katara and Gwen weren't as lucky, but they were able to deflect them, using their respective powers. But the shards were relentless, a never-ending barrage of sharp, deadly ice.
Swiftly, bending the water from a nearby fire hydrant, Katara sent a large gush of water blasting out and sending the shards flying. Due to the shards flying around rapidly, some of them almost reached Emma, only to miss, slightly surprising her.
But that's when Gwen needed. Gwen would use her Manna, sending a wave of energy at Emma. The wave hit, causing Emma to slide back.
"Tch!" Emma skidded across the ground, her heels digging into the pavement.
Meanwhile, Noelle saw her opening. She closed the distance, her lance ready. This was her chance.
"Ah-ah! Girls your age should know when to not get ahead of yourselves" Emma shouted, her eyes glowing with a cold, blue light. She then slammed her foot on the ground, causing a massive pillar of ice to erupt from the ground, right in front of Noelle.
Noelle gasped, swerving to the side to avoid it. But that was a mistake. Emma had anticipated her move, and she was already there, ready to strike.
"Gotcha." Emma whispered, her hand glowing with a freezing energy. She touched Noelle's stomach, the cold seeping through her Valkyrie Dress.
"AAAAAARGH!" Noelle screamed in pain, the cold so intense that it felt like her insides were freezing. Her Valkyrie Dress would pulsate, the water around her body starting to freeze.
"Noelle!" Katara yelled. Due to the dress being made out of water itself, the ice affecting it was all the more potent as it was freezing all that magical energy.
Gwen would try to blast Emma with Manna, but this was when Emma had her back-up. From behind her, her girls would rise to their feet, having gotten up from their earlier assault. They formed a wall in front of Emma, blocking the Manna with their own powers, or by simply taking the hits.
"As I said...You will not be getting away that easily. I want all three of you. Especially you with the silver hair." Emma said, now walking towards Noelle. She was about to try and touch her again, only for Katara to act.
"Water Whip!" Katara lashed out with her whip, wrapping it around Emma's arm. She then pulled with all her might, trying to drag Emma away from Noelle.
She then raised her free hand, a wave of ice erupting from the ground, heading straight for Katara. Katara quickly let go of the whip, jumping back to avoid the ice. She then bent more water, creating a large shield to block the incoming ice.
The ice slammed into the shield, the force of the impact sending Katara stumbling back. She gritted her teeth, her arms shaking from the strain. Katara would then swerve the shield, making it into a spiral. It would wrap around the ice, crushing it.
However, in reality, what Gwen actually did was sink her Manna into the ground itself, masking it as it moved along the floor. She wasn't backing down. She was just trying a different approach.
"Here's what's going to happen. From this point on, as new members of the Frost Brand, and the youngest thus far, the three of you will-"
A sneak attack.
The Manna erupted from below, hitting Emma right in her back. The surprise made her lose her focus for a moment, causing the psionic pain to vanish from Noelle and Katara.
"Agh! What...?! You!" Emma turned, only to see Gwen was the source. Gwen gulped and trembled, hoping that was enough. But it wasn't. At least it saved Katara and Noelle from further pain, making Emma's back scorch. She felt the strong sting of that Manna, her chilling aura down in that instance due to her believing Gwen had given up. Her rage was clear.
"T-Thank you, Gwen...!" Noelle said while getting on her knees.
"I can see how dangerous you are...So I won't feel ashamed doing this!" Katara took Emma even more seriously now. And that came in the form of a type of bending that was brutal and vicious compared to what she does. One she use way less often than the other types of bending she has.
Bloodbending.
Katara raised her arms, focusing on the liquid within. Emma felt a strange force pulling at her, a force that made her feel like her own body was no longer her own.
"Wh-What is this?! You...!" Emma struggled, but it was no use. She was being lifted into the air, her limbs moving against her will. "How...How dare you...!" Emma snarled.
Gwen and Noelle were shocked by this. The two of them had never seen Katara do something like this before. To them, it was terrifying, yet it was necessary.
"I don't want to do this..." Katara admitted, her hands shaking. "But you've left me no choice! Besides...this kind of Bending won't be judged too much on an island that doesn't care...!"
She was wide open, completely vulnerable. This was the one thing Emma could not stop, a massive advantage they had over the Ice Queen as evident by the expression on her face.
...Which was merely a bluff.
"Just kidding~" With a smirk, it was revealed she had a way past this. Something beyond she was now. A flash of light erupted from her body, causing a wind pressure to form. The three girls flinched as they closed their eyes, Katara's Bloodbending still active, but barely.
As the light faded, it was revealed that Emma's body had been coated by something. She posed gracefully as the trio witnessed what appeared to be diamonds. Or at least a diamond-like substance covering Emma's body. Her body glistened with these diamond formations, which were all over her. They even covered her eyes too.
The second that happened, Katara lost control. "Gah...W-What the...?!"
"You think controlling my blood will help? Not while I'm like this." Emma spoke, a new kind of filter in her voice thanks to the diamond coating. "This is my secondary mutation. A diamond form! The perfect defense for a psychic like me. I'm truly cold-blooded sweetie!"
"Even my Bloodbending...?" Katara couldn't believe it. An actual counter to something so powerful? She tried again, moving her arms, but nothing happened.
"Again! You are all outclassed and beneath me! It was obvious from the start! Prepare to suffer!"
It was time for payback.
But...
"!!!" It happened again. When Emma tried attacking, the other Emma within interfered. She was trying to break free again. The diamond form began to crackle a bit as Emma groaned.
"Stay...IN THERE! Stop interfering! This is my turn! My control!" Emma screamed to herself. It made her stagger a bit. The diamond form wasn't as stable as it would be if she didn't have her other half fighting her.
"RUN...YOU THREE! GO!" The other Emma pleaded to them.
Seeing this, the girls took their chance. Their chance to flee once more. But this time, they had to make sure they could get away from her.
"Thank you...Katara! Now!" Noelle would shoot out a massive blast of water from her wand, letting Katara use it for herself. Katara bent the projectile, turning it into a massive stream. One that was intended to carry Emma away.
Gwen then added to it, her Manna amplifying the attack. The water stream became a raging torrent, a powerful force that lifted Emma off the ground.
"AH! YOU...!" Emma was carried away by the attack, unable to fight back as her other self was interfering with her powers. She was sent flying, crashing into a nearby building.
"GO! Now!" Noelle would grab Katara's arm, and Gwen would follow them. The trio took off, running as fast as they could. They didn't look back. They didn't want to.
This gave them the perfect chance to escape.
-----
Meanwhile...
Within a hidden part of Amor City.
Erza still laid there, her body still shaken from Ragyo's attack. She could not move right now in that crater. And it seemed that no in the city came to her aid. But one came for her capture.
Garnet Maclane. She had walked over, looking down at Erza with a smirk.
"Ngh..."
"I warned you and now look at you. The fact that you genuinely believed you stood a chance against Lady Ragyo is...laughable. But it also shows your potential. As I said, that potential is a valuable asset for the Kiryuuin Cortege." Garnet crouched down, grabbing Erza's hair. Erza yelped as she was forced to look at Garnet.
"Your body is strong. But your mind is weak. Let me fix that for you."
Garnet's eyes glowed with a faint light as she prepared to use her own Lust Energy to break Erza's will.
"It'll be an honor for you to serve under Lady Ragyo. Just think of all the things you'll be able to do..." Garnet whispered. "I can already imagine some of them. For I was blessed to experience Lady Ragyo's love. The way she made love with me...It is unmatched."
"Urgh...! Never...!" Erza snarled, trying to fight back. She tried to muster up the strength to push Garnet away, but her body was too weak. She was at her limit.
"Pointless. Now, prepare yourself...for the the greatest life you will ever live."
But then...
"!" Sensing something, Garnet let go of Erza, avoiding an incoming sneak attack. Some kunais flew in, but they missed her, stabbing the ground as she dodged. Garnet stepped back as the one who threw those kunais arrived.
Landing in front of Erza was someone else. Someone who truly did come to save Erza.
Someone that Garnet knew.
"Tch. Of course you'd show up now..." Garnet angrily said to the one standing there. A woman that is of a certain faction. The Heart Unity. "Sheik."
Sheik stood tall as she would pick up Erza, obviously here to save her. "This one isn't yours to possess.
"You...! The Heart Unity are always sticking your noses where they don't belong!" Garnet snarled. "As I'll let you leave this t-" But she was interrupted once more. With a narrow dodge, she avoided another sneak attack from afar. This time, it was from other members of the Heart Unity, women who all wore the same hooded robes, utilizing magic of their own.
The attacks came from all directions, forcing Garnet to back off. She was now surrounded.
"Hmph! Pathetic!"
And to her surprise, she would see that some of the Heart Unity members were carrying the members of the Fighting Furies. They were unconscious, but unharmed.
"We're all clear, Sheik!" One of the women called out.
"Good. Let's leave."
"Always so meddling! Lady Ragyo will hear about this!" Garnet knew she was outmatched. Mainly due to Sheik being a tricky one. Garnet knew very well how fierce Sheik was. With one final glare at Sheik, she turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the city.
Sheik watched her go as he then turned her attention back to Erza, who was still in a daze.
"Let's get you out of here." Soon, they were all gone, leaving the area.