Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4

[DracoOmega]

>"I do not think my world would be saved by allowing you to die, and I do not think it need fall because you live. We can still save both our kinds without either killing the other. We need only the will to take that path."

[Oldmansour]

>"I do not think my world would be saved by allowing you to die, and I do not think it need fall because you live. We can still save both our kinds without either killing the other. We need only the will to take that path."

>"You're a very determined woman, to still say that after dealing with Air." The blonde demon straightens. "I didn't think my path would be delivered to me, but here we are." she says as she walks away from you, kneeling down in front of Patchy, who's still a bit short of breath despite other improvements. She never was the healthiest of specimens. "We've found each other, after all this time."
>Patchy looks up at the naked demon, but unlike Sanae, is not transfixed by her champion. She looks at you and quietly says, "Thank you."

[DracoOmega]

>"Please be well, Patchouli. The woman you've been all these years, the one that Reisen is so worried for... I pray this is not the last we'll see of her."

[Oldmansour]

>"Please be well, Patchouli. The woman you've been all these years, the one that Reisen is so worried for... I pray this is not the last we'll see of her."

>Patchouli lets out a breath. "Does anyone stay the same... when something like this happens?"
>"This doesn't happen to just anyone, my Avatar." Louise says to her warmly. "You are special."
>"No. Not yet." The purple haired mage grasps Louise's hand. "But I will be." And she smiles as she pulls her hand away from Elis', a black ring with a blue gemstone set in purple metal now upon her finger. "I will be. Dark Water Descent." As before with Sanae, black light pours from Patchy's new ring and cascades down over her, obscuring her from view.
>Louise straightens and takes a step back. "She is your friend." she says to you.

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes."
>Let us wait for what happens, and hope this is still true afterward

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes."
>Let us wait for what happens, and hope this is still true afterward

>"The champion of the Terrans delivering an Avatar to her Champion. One of her friends, no less." Louise shakes her head in disbelief. "It is an irony I thought I would take pleasure in. Instead, I am puzzled why I am not. Perhaps I cannot enjoy irony at your expense, Hero. It feels... somehow wrong."
>When she finishes that sentiment, the blackness fades from around Patchy, revealing the new Avatar of Water. Her ensemble is a bit more revealing than Sanae's is, starting with a light purple blouse with a cutout over her surprisingly developed breasts. Her normal clothes apparently keep those assets well concealed. They do so for her legs as well, but now she sports a pleated skirt in dark purple with a black starry pattern embroidered upon it, and knee high black stockings tucked into high-ankled off-white boots. Frilly purple ribbons decorate the top of her boots, the gold bracelets on her wrists and the ends of her short sleeves. Two hairpins decorate the top of her head, one a blood-red spider lily, the other a silver crescent moon.
>Where Sanae emerged from her transformation with manic energy, the Avatar of Water seems at peace. Completely at peace, in fact. You've never seen her look so calm. Until she opens her eyes and looks down at herself. "Why did my clothes change?" she wonders aloud.
>"I actually don't know." Louise answers.
>Patchy looks up at her Champion and gives her a very pointed gaze. "And why are you naked?" she demands.
>The Water Champion blinks. "Are clothes really that important to Terrans?" she asks you.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile a little awkwardly
>"Typically, yes. It's just... other things seemed pressing enough not to make a point of it right now."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile a little awkwardly
>"Typically, yes. It's just... other things seemed pressing enough not to make a point of it right now."

>"Well I expect some decency from my Champion, so go put some clothes on." Patchy orders as she stands up, taking in the sights of the world around her. "We're not actually at the park, where are we?"

[DracoOmega]

>"No. This is a sort of... pocket dimension we constructed. It was modeled after the park, though; I picked a place with a lot of water in it that I knew well. I'd hoped it could be at least somewhat comfortable, given the circumstances."

[Oldmansour]

>"No. This is a sort of... pocket dimension we constructed. It was modeled after the park, though; I picked a place with a lot of water in it that I knew well. I'd hoped it could be at least somewhat comfortable, given the circumstances."

>"You created a contained space?" she asks incredulously as Louise recreates the clothes she put on when you were talking to her before.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I did have some help. There were three of us, working together."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I did have some help. There were three of us, working together."

>"That explains what I'm sensing. I knew there had to be more than one person involved in the construction of this place."
>"They built it to cage me." Louise informs her, her eyes closed despite her looking at her Avatar.
>"So not only were and your.... What do you call yourselves?" Patchouli asks you.

[DracoOmega]

>"We, uh... we don't really call ourselves anything, now that you mention it. Collectively, I mean. ...Friends?"
>Awkward smile
>"Curious how I'd never really thought about that before. It's been... a very hectic time, lately."

[Oldmansour]

>"We, uh... we don't really call ourselves anything, now that you mention it. Collectively, I mean. ...Friends?"
>Awkward smile
>"Curious how I'd never really thought about that before. It's been... a very hectic time, lately."

>"Friends, then. You and yours have the skill and power to build a contained space like this that's strong enough to hold a Champion?"
>Louise nods. "They do indeed. All attempts I'd made to escape this place failed."
>Patchouli regards you approvingly. "A laudable display of magical prowess."

[DracoOmega]

>"I did not wish to do her any harm, but nor could we allow her free rein to do harm to others. We did not know of the nature of Makai at the time, or why anyone might rightly seek exodus from that hellscape. As much as we oppose some of their kinds' methods, I do not think Makai is a penance anyone deserves."
>"My allies and I may not share a name, but we do have a purpose: and that is the preservation of life. Human life, youkai life, and also the life of the Champions' own. We do not believe that either of our kinds must fall for the other to have its safety and its peace, and are determined to create a future in which conflict between us is unnecessary."

[Oldmansour]

>"I did not wish to do her any harm, but nor could we allow her free rein to do harm to others. We did not know of the nature of Makai at the time, or why anyone might rightly seek exodus from that hellscape. As much as we oppose some of their kinds' methods, I do not think Makai is a penance anyone deserves."
>"My allies and I may not share a name, but we do have a purpose: and that is the preservation of life. Human life, youkai life, and also the life of the Champions' own. We do not believe that either of our kinds must fall for the other to have its safety and its peace, and are determined to create a future in which conflict between us is unnecessary."

>Patchouli's expression darkens. "You are wrong about one thing. Makai is exactly what some people deserve. People who use people, who abuse them. People who see people as tools, as resources. As payment." she practically spits the word.

[DracoOmega]

>"I consider it our duty to prevent such things from happening, wherever we are able."

[Oldmansour]

>"I consider it our duty to prevent such things from happening, wherever we are able."

>"I see." The Avatar of Water replies, her voice now echoing with the power of the waves. "May I ask your name?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Lotus."

[Oldmansour]

>"Lotus."

>"It appears then, Lotus, that we will have to conflict." she says rather matter of factly.

[DracoOmega]

>"And why is that?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And why is that?"

>"Because when I leave this place, which I will very soon, I am going to take revenge on the people that have wronged me. And from you have said, you will try to stop me. Unless I have misunderstood you?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Who is it that has wronged you, and how?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Who is it that has wronged you, and how?"

>"I shall take that as a no. To that end, my revenge is private. Unless you wish to aid me in it."
>"Oh, I'm quite sure that won't happen." Louise adds.
>"No, most likely not. But this woman brought me here, and quite likely saved my life in the doing. I owe her the asking, at least."

[DracoOmega]

>"I find it difficult to condone the willful infliction of suffering, but that goes just as much for whatever wrong was done to you. I do care, and I would defend you, had I known or been able. That is why we fight - to try and find an end to this struggle between worlds where no one need suffer. Where no one is harvested for their energy, where no one is caught in the crossfire of greater powers, where no decent person need suffer the horrors of Makai. I do not want us to be enemies, Patchouli."

[Oldmansour]

>"I find it difficult to condone the willful infliction of suffering, but that goes just as much for whatever wrong was done to you. I do care, and I would defend you, had I known or been able. That is why we fight - to try and find an end to this struggle between worlds where no one need suffer. Where no one is harvested for their energy, where no one is caught in the crossfire of greater powers, where no decent person need suffer the horrors of Makai. I do not want us to be enemies, Patchouli."

>The touch of a wry smile touches the lips of the Avatar. "How idealistic." Then the smile fades. "Suffering is inevitable, Lotus. Suffering comes with being alive, whether one lives in Makai or Earth or the Moon or among the countless planets in the cosmos." She clasps her hands at the small of her back and turns away from you, taking a few steps. "Now, this in and of itself is not an evil. With suffering does come gain, or at least the potential for it." She pauses and looks over her shoulder at you. "You have power. You will agree that suffering is quite often the price of power. But, if that suffering is borne willingly by the one seeking power, this is not an evil, yes?"

[DracoOmega]

>"To bear suffering willingly is not the same as forcing it upon another."

[Oldmansour]

>"To bear suffering willingly is not the same as forcing it upon another."

>"I completely agree. But as someone with power, you know there are many, many people who do just that every day. Every hour, even more often than that in some cases. And unlike the Champions, they are not concerned with survival. Some do it for greed, or sheer selfishness, or for the sadistic pleasure it gives them. If not all of the above. Would you defend them so quickly as you would others?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I would not defend their actions, and I would not stand idle and condone them. Some things must be stopped for the good of others. But that does not mean I would visit their own actions upon them. Suffering is not lessened by reprising it; that only fosters the cycle of hate that give rise to it."

[Oldmansour]

>"I would not defend their actions, and I would not stand idle and condone them. Some things must be stopped for the good of others. But that does not mean I would visit their own actions upon them. Suffering is not lessened by reprising it; that only fosters the cycle of hate that give rise to it."

>"Then, unfortunately, we will fight someday." the Avatar replies. "I have no desire to fight you either, but if I must, then I must. Because I will have my revenge. Revenge for a life wasted, a life that I only have because they needed a lamb to sacrifice. But take some comfort in this fact." she says as she turns back to you. "We won't have to fight now. Not only because I feel I owe you something for bringing me to my Champion, but because I do not believe you are a fool."