Dance Dance Revolution {85.6th finale}

[10th retro gm | paxton hayes]

Water flows through the arena, and if you listen closely, you can hear the boards of the building squealing with protest as they fight to stay standing. The foundation is crumbling, yet it still has enough power to keep the building standing. Water slowly rises into the arcade, and it’s rising higher and higher, and all you can see is the dance dance revolution machine away from the door. It’s here. This is where it’ll all take place. You know by calculations that only one more has to die if you wish to return home alive. This is it. All all comes down to this.

Who can dance better?

D8F - Dusk [Mattio] - 15.5
Blades
Self defense

D9F - The Last Unicorn [earthling] - 20.5
Self defense
Endurance


Good luck tributes. May the odds be ever in your favor.

[d10f ekta ram // [earthling]]

She had no right to continue onward. To once again lift her horn to the sky and fill it with the star light’s magic. She was as cursed and vile as the rampaging bull, as the devil himself. She had taken many lives and been unable to save her friends.

She could not cry any more -- not for all of their lives, or the wretched, twisted thing that had become her own.

Then the water came, cleansing her fut and mane, washing away the ichor and smoothing out her glossy hair

In the light of a new day, she found herself once more at odds with a strange creature. A new beat joined the one echoing in her ears. “Can you hear it too?” She asks, beseeching, exhaustion coloring her tone.


[Unicorn attacks Dusk; glaive/horn]

Kbv1FnQvVUglaive

[Deep Gash on Neck -- 10.0 damage]

glaive

[LAIN 🍽 1M | Mattio]

dusk - a hex girl

I've killed three people. Three whole people. Sokka's name shines through the night sky and I feel sick to my stomach. Is this how the ultimate primetime slot on a cartoon channel is decided upon? A battle to the death? A dance with the devil?

A deal with the devil?

Being a witch, it's always just been for the gags and the jaws dropping. I never intended to actually become as evil as I am now. If my math is correct, though, there's only two people left. It would be the ultimate act of selfishness to give up now, especially because the three fallen ones before me were just as determined as I am. I can't let them down, especially not Velma, who would probably adore some more time in the spotlight. Man, if everything goes back to normal, I sure hope her eye comes back.

The waters continue to rise, waves growing larger and larger. I'm scared to leave poor Sokka's side, but the water eventually matches my ankles, and it has no sign of slowing down. It takes all but a few moments for me to realize that I've got to get away from the beach. I climb up and rush to the nearest place of shelter; the huge arcade. Perhaps it's the only place that water won't enter.

Here it is though, the finale. One final person between my return and my downfall.

I cross my fingers that after all this, those that I've hurt don't hate me forever.

I look up at the opponent to see that it's not a person. It's a Unicorn. The same one that accompanied Velma before she fell.

I can't let this deter me from getting out and back home.

As Sokka said, Yeah, home.

"Can you hear it, too?" I don't know what she's talking about at first, but then I hear it. The music, every note. "Of course, a swan song." It's eerie and it doesn't fit. "How about something a bit more up-beat. We deserve to be happy, right? Let's be happy."

I challenge the Arcade's music with my own beat. My spear and sword rise for the final song of the show. My sword is the stick to attack the creature while the spear keeps a steady beat. While my sword falls, I feel the creature's horn pierce my neck. Finally, a strong challenger. Let's hope my music is stronger.

[D8F Dusk attacks The Last Unicorn D9F; rapier/sword]
c|Cm9GXqhlsword
1189 -- Shallow Cut on Forehead -- 4.5 damage

sword

[d10f ekta ram // [earthling]]

"Of course, a swan song."

A swan song. Unicorn rolls the phrase around a bit, testing the edges. There's magic to it. But is it the good kind of magic, the heralding of some miracle on its way? Or is it the cursed kind she's come to know so intimately?

"Let's be happy."

Unicorn bobs her head. "We are in agreement. We are the last, I'm sure of it now. We deserve this small piece of happiness."

With that, she shook out her mane in full, letting the luxurious curls coat her neck and tangle around her sparkling horn. Her hooves, freed of the jellies in the tsunami, tap out a steady beat.


[Unicorn attacks Dusk; glaive/horn]

f93heTEw76glaive

[Deep Gash on Chest -- 9.5 damage]

glaive

[LAIN 🍽 1M | Mattio]

dusk - a hex girl

"We are in agreement. We are the last, I'm sure of it now. We deserve this small piece of happiness." Her horn pierces me once again, but I hold back any screams. Stuck on a TV screen, this is what we deserve, right? A small piece of happiness. Her hooves match my beat, and slowly it grows louder than the manufactured one behind us. The pain singes from head to toe, but I can't let it show. This creature seems fragile, lonely. Her final memory can't be that of another's pain. It- It just can't be.

A smile on my face, my sword comes down on the creature, with my spear gently tapping on the dance floor to keep beat.

I'm beginning to have my doubts about whether or not this is the final song of the show, or my final song ever.

I pray it's the former.

[D8F Dusk attacks The Last Unicorn D9F; rapier/sword]
m35vMGBgavsword
1134 -- Miss -- 0.0 damage

sword

[d10f ekta ram // [earthling]]

The strange creature taps with their weapon, keeping the beat.

Together they set the pace. It is their song, their dance floor, their universe to command. "That's it," Unicorn whispers encouragement. Her voice is gentle, melodic without a hint of melody. She begins to hear something else in their shared rhythm, an echo of an echo that has nothing to do with Mario.

"That's it!" She calls, voice rising above the blinking machines. "I think - I almost - is that the sound of hooves? Your beat is so magical. Please, do not stop!"


[Unicorn attacks Dusk; glaive/horn]

Px0lAR_kT|glaive

[Stabbed in Stomach -- 9.5 damage]

glaive

[d10f ekta ram // [earthling]]

The beat carried her out of the arcade into the twilight.

The song of her hooves stretched far and wide.

Just as night fell, Unicorn found what she had always sought:

Another like herself.