There was no practice, but Cory was still on the ice. The tall boy wore a read hoodie and a pair of black sweat pants that got tucked into well maintained hockey skates. Despite his somewhat broad frame, he’s oddly graceful. He maneuvers smoothly enough to be mistaken for a dancer, but he’s capable of moving fast against the ice like racer. He seems to be in his own world, going through his own set of drills. He does circles, zig zags, sprints. Occasionally, when someone falls nearby him, he stops to help them up.

" Okay Setsumi, If you go to fast just calmly slow down and not panic like last time. Okay? No! Okay." Setsumi debated to herself while her lungs tightening as she tiptoed onto the ice. Now lets review, It has been 3 years sense her last attempt to skate. The first attempt, showed her the laws of gravity, by taking one object going at high velocity into another object that was standing still. The outcome would be simple, the moving object's face would meet a plexiglass wall. A sudden meeting, but one that would never be forgotten. Which made her first attempt, the last one. So why was she doing this in the first place? Stupidity perhaps? Or maybe the ice rink called to her, begging her to come inside each and every time she'd walk by after school.

So here she was, stepping out onto the ice. A deep breath and, 1, 2, 3! Setsumi pushed herself from tiptoeing to full on moving her legs back and forth to mimic the other skaters. The blade gliding along the icy surface in a slow, but strangely elegant fashion. Her knees wobbling as slowed to a stop, heart racing in a mixture of fear and excitement. Oh how thrilling! She thought, not paying attention to her surroundings for the fact she stopped right in the traffic zone of the other skaters.

" Hey watch it! " A young man yelled as he passed by, another skater bumped into her arm as they too skated right past. " Oh! Oh sorry!! " Setsumi apologized before turning around, her skates slipping out from under her. Before she knew it, her feet were in the air and her back was on the ice.

Cory watches as the other boy absentmindedly pushes the girl on to the ice. There’s a quick shout to watch out followed by a thud. He shakes his head. Even he knew better than that, and he spent most of his time shoving people onto the ice. The guy didn’t even have the manners to help her up. Come on, couldn’t people at least act decently?

He skates toward the boy that pushed. When he gets near the boy, Cory gets in close to his side and moves fast. The motion is enough to send the jerk-boy off balance a little, so the boy lands on his butt as well. And that’s what you get for being a jerk. Somewhat proud of him, he decides to go over to help the girl.

With an odd amount of elegance for a man of his stature, he glides along to the girl’s side. He extends a hand and bends down to get on her level. As his eyes meet hers, revealing them to be the same shade of green-blue as hers, he smiles broadly, “Need a hand?” His Japanese has a slight accent to it, possibly French, but it’s more than passable.

Eyes wide open like a baby deer caught in head lights. Setsumi stared at the young boy whom had pushed her. Really?! Was that necessary! She thought before catching sight of another boy sticking up for her. He even went as far as doing a bit of justice, throwing himself into unknown territory to help a damsel in distress, kinda the same thing she would read in her fantasy novels. Except this knight wasn't so shiny and he was approaching, wait, he is actually approaching her. Setsumi stared at the boy as he extended his hand, her expression stuck in a blank yet baffled pose. This was actually happening! Really?! Setsumi blinked, suddenly realizing she was laying down on a wet, germ infested ice no less! Who knows how many people had been injured or possibly impaled by their own blades on this ice!

Setsumi gasped as she quickly scrambled her arms and legs about until she was sitting up right.

When he was close enough to make eye contact Setsumi could feel her heart beating in her throat. Was he french? Whats up with his accent? She thought before realizing he was actually talking to her. "Wait..You are actually talking to me? Oh! Of course you are talking to me. That was silly of me. Umm... NOPE! Don't need any help here. um Thanks!" She gave him a short two finger salute, while nervously complimenting it with a stuttered laugh.

" Thank you for your concern though, you didn't really have to stand up for me. It was my fault after all for being in the way. " Setsumi, cracked another awkward chuckle laugh while she wobbled and strained to get herself back up on her feet. When she did manage to stand, her posture was more like a.. Well a duck. Her knees were buckled inwards and her feet spread out like an awkward little blue fowl. Her arms even flapped before she managed to get her self some what balanced, but even then her arms were outstretched like a bird (poorly) trying to take flight.  

 " See Noooo problem!"

The girl looks at him like a deer in headlights, and he wonders if he did something wrong here. Maybe she was just the nervous type? However, it was true that he was kind of imposing looking. He was 6’2” and about 210 lbs, so he knew that he came off as scary to some. Also, what’s with girls always putting themselves down when they made a mistake? So silly of me. He shakes his head, “Falls can be a little disorienting. And I didn’t mean to surprise you if I did.” Cory backs off as the girl says she can get up by herself. If the girl didn’t want help, he wasn’t going to impose himself. “Alright, I figured I should offer help. It was rude of the last guy not to do such.” However, he keeps within arm’s reach as her balance seems a bit off.

When she manages to right herself, it takes him all the willpower he can manage not to laugh. The duck stance is hilarious, and he wonders if she plans like skating across the rink like that. “You’re a beginner, right? You're doing wonderfully, but are you sure you don’t want any help? I’ll even teach you how to skate backwards,” he says while skating backwards around her with a goofy grin. This would be more amusing than practicing drills by himself after all.

Oh what a show off. Setsumi thought, her nose scrunched as the boy circled backwards around her. She wasn't even skating at this point, her skates were just slowly, very slowly, sliding on the ice with her butt sticking out and her knees together and bent forward. It almost looked like she was in a feeble position, only she was up-right and on skates.

Setsumi's eyes followed the boy and his sheepish grin. Of course she was a beginner! She wouldn't have this problem if she was a professional! Then again, now that she had time to actually think...Why the hell did she get out on the ice in the first place? She never had any interest in skating before, so why now? I mean it was a ice rink... which is made of ICE! Ice that covered the trees, ground, and oh just about EVERYTHING in Tokyo. So was she insane for doing this? Yes or at least that was the conclusion as she very, very, very carefully retracted her arms back to her side.

" Yes, I am a beginner. Bu-But I don't need help. I mean after all this isn't so har

Spoke too soon.

It only took one step, one freaken step for Setsumi to loose her balance...Again. " Oh Jesus!" Setsumi yelped, her arms going back out and her wacky duck dance began once again. Thankfully it didn't last more than a few seconds before regaining some balance to be able to speak instead of worrying about falling.

" Okay, I lied, YES help me." She said, correcting her first statement of not wanting help. " My name is Setsumi Memiko, and what might your name be backward's skater man?"

Amarissa needed an outing and today painting just wasn't going to cut it. So she decided instead to go practice one of her other, albeit lesser seen, hobbies. Dressing warmly in a blue turtle neck with matching plaid skirt in white, silver and blue and white leggings, Ama pulled her hair up into a voluminous pony tail then grabbed her skates, also blue with white laces, and shoved her feet into white and silver running shoes. Looking in the mirror she sighed, sometimes she could be really ocd with her clothing choices.

It was a short jog to the ice rink and by the time she got there so had many others. She observed lots of people simply hanging out in booths around the rink, but there were plenty of people actually on the ice. Sitting on the edge of the rink, Amarissa began to exchange her shoes for the skates and lace up. She watched as a girl, obviously a beginner, wobbled and fell several times. It was kinda cute, with the whole duck stance thing, she looked like a little bird trying to fly for the first time. Amarissa set her shoes in one of the cubbies and then pushed off onto the ice.

The moon senshi was a little rusty herself and she started slow. She went through a series of short drills, circles and zig zags and bit of backwards skating. It was like riding a bike and her hair fanned behind her as she worked, catching the light and glinting silver. All the time, Amarissa was keeping an eye on the other girl. Suddenly, she wheeled back ward and the moon senshi came up behind her, steadying her with a light grip on her upper arm just as she was introducing herself to a handsome, friendly guy. "Sorry to interrupt, you looked like you could use some help but I see you appear to already have some," she said, smiling and then releasing the girl's arm once she seemed stable.

Cory’s glad the girl manages to part herself back in an upright position without his help. Stopping his circles, he stands back in front of her as she addresses him. However, he begins to look let-down when the girl claims to not need his help. That would have been entertaining to teach someone to skate, and he never got to hang out with girls on the ice. But back to boring drills it seemed like.

The girl loses her balance again, and he tries to jump into action to catch her, but a silver-haired girl catches her first. He gives a relieved sigh as the girl doesn’t fall yet again.

“That’s a sudden switch,” he says with a laugh as Setsumi asks for his help. He looks at the silver-haired girl, “You are free to join us. Cory by the way. However, maybe I’ll take backwards skater man as my moniker.”

He backs off a little and points to a spot on the other side of the rink. “Alright, Setsumi, just walk to that side. Because you’re wobbly, keep your eyes focused on one spot. If you keep focused on a single spot, your body will better be able to keep balance. Sort of like when people feel seasick. And don’t worry I’ll be here to catch you if you fall.” He looks back at the silver-haired girl, “And maybe her too if she wants to help out.”

Across the edge of the ice, a man in the stands whom had been idly watching the numerous people and seemed like a father of a child or somebody's companion otherwise focuses on the young woman and male. So young, so fresh, so innocent.

So...delicious.

The entity was head to toe with a black trench coat. A black hoodie covered his head as defiant brown eyes stared out at the two on the ice. This area was crowded though: no attention could be drawn any more than needed, at least not until that energy was his...

He stands up and walks to the edge of the rink, a larger, wide open area where any number of skaters could mount and dismount from the ice. He drops a black crystal onto the ice, as it subtly begins to dissolve into the sheet. The mist that comes from the top layer of the ice begins to have a very thin layer of black particles in it.

All people on the ice begin to feel increasingly lethargic and slow. Senses numb gradually and thoughts begin to be clouded.

Everything was happening so fast. One minute she was loosing her balance, the next she was once again rescued by a mysterious stranger who showed up out of no where, ironically just in time too. Setsumi's eyes made contact with the girls as she first caught her by the arm, balanced her, then let go. Baffled at the quickness she seemed to just stare at the white hair girl with some what of a shocked and thankful expression.

" Oh! Thank you." Setsumi spoke, finally realizing that she had zoned out and completely ignored the other girls comment about the boy. " You mean backwards skater man?" Setsumi asked, turning her head to Cory when he spoke up and said his name. Her eyes trailing over to the empty part of the ice rink which he gestured towards. " I don't mind having two teachers, but how am I suppose to walk over there?" Setsumi asked. Then she remembered that there was a rough part on the blade that was used to 'slow' skaters down.

Her gaze dropped to her feet, where she then examined the blade. Her cheeks flushed when her eyes locked onto the toothed ribbed part of the blade. Now that is just embarrassing. Setsumi sighed, taking a step forward using the rough part of the blade to get a grip on the slippery ice. She then proceeded to tip toe to the least crowded part of the ice rink.

In the process of tip toeing, blue eyes trailed over to the side of the rink where the exists were. A small smile forming on her lips as she pondered the idea of actually learning how to skate a little more. Maybe learning how to skate wouldn't be so bad after all, with two teachers of course. When she finally got to the empty part of the rink she turned around to look back at Cory and the other girl. Behind them a little ways down the Ice Rink someone else caught her attention, the site of the strange looking man in a trench coat standing at the edge of the rink towards one of the exits. She stared at him for a minute or so. Watched as he dropped something onto ice, but before she could make out what it was, it had vanished. Unsure of what she had just saw, Setsumi shrugged and looked back at Cory and the other girl. A strange feeling over coming her as she stood there waiting to be taught how to skate by the two obviously better skaters.

" I don't feel so good." Setsumi mumbled, feeling a little tired all of a sudden.

Amarissa smiled back at the other two, despite the shocked look on the girl's face. "I'm Amarissa and of course I'd be willing to help if I can. Though you seem quite proficient yourself," she replied. She watched as the girl examined her skates, noting that she didn't know about the ribbed blade. This might be tough after all. Setsumi began to slowly make her way across the ice and Amarissa just watched, occasionally looking around the rink at the other skaters.

It only took a moment for her to notice the figure in the black coat and a feeling of anxiety washed over her. Her features tightened as she watched him drop something onto the ice and noticed the immediate effect on the skaters as everyone slowed down. Setsumi muttered about not feeling good and Amarissa nodded. She could feel it too, but not as heavy. "I need to check on something. You'll have to excuse me," she said to both of them. Then she looked square at Cory with a very serious expression. "Get these people off the ice. I can't explain right now but I have a bad feeling," she told him.

Making her way off the ice, she quickly stripped her skates and left them in the cubby with her shoes. Then she strode off into the crowd and ducked down a side hallway. Finding an empty employee break room, Amarissa quickly transformed, sent a text out to the team, and then went back out into the main room. She could still see the man standing there, just watching his handiwork. Her bow materialized in her hands and she took her stance, charging the arrow with her energy. "Moonlight Silver Arrow."she stated quietly before letting loose, aiming for the base of the man's neck.

Cory smiles as Setsumi slowly moves across the ice. “You’re definitely getting the hang of this.” Today was shaping up to be a good day, skating with the two lovely ladies.

Cory’s feels his mind getting hazy like right before someone falls asleep. There is all this mist everywhere though… why was it so warm? No, it was still cold. He can’t quite connect what exactly is going on, but he sees Setsumi beginning to get a little woozy as well. “Whoa,” he says, sliding over and puts an arm around to keep her from falling. Something was wrong here.

Amarissa gives him a command, and it takes a few moments longer to process it. “Yeah, ok. Good plan,” he says. He pulls Setsumi toward the edge of the rink, “You should leave.” And then he skates back to the middle of the rink. In a booming voice, he yells with authority that he didn’t actually have, “EVERYONE, OFF THE ICE NOW!” Like a dog herding sheep, he circles the crowd and pushes them toward the exit.

Out of nowhere, a silver haired girl wearing a skirt and armed with a bow appears just outside of the ice rink. “Umm… no time for figure skating lessons right now. You should probably leave.”  However, then she shoots at the man wearing the trench coat, and Cory watches with horror.  It appeared that they were under attack now.

Keitha had received a message from Ama to meet her at the skating rink, she sighed walking down the street. She had been a little late past the time Ama told her to meet her because she had to sift through one of her unpacked boxes for her ice skates. When she reached to ice skating rink she had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She sent a silent prayer that there wasn't anything bad or evil on the ice skating rink. She sighed again knowing that most likely was not the case.

She hadn't even been able to grasp the handle when the door burst open and people started pouring out. Keitha groaned and ran against the crowd to enter the building. Once the crowd had thinned and she didn't have to shove anymore she went into the ladies room to transform.

When she was done transforming she entered the ice rink she saw Ama's arrow fly. She didn't want to draw attention to herself so she stayed back walking slowly waiting patiently.

The numerous people on the ice, while beginning to feel tired and sluggish, initally looked at Cory as though he were mad. Who was this kid to tell them to get off the ice? A few of them gave him some...colorful...words of refusal and went about their business. A few left the ice noting that they weren't feeling well and that he may have known something about it.

However when Sailor Moon pops out of nowhere and fires an arrow of magical light at a man in a black trenchcoat, that's when the panic ensues. People begin to stampede off the ice, one knocking Setsumi down and another bumping into Cory as they left. One of the people trips over the rail and falls over hitting their head against one of the bleachers, unmoving for a moment.

When the arrow landed in the back of the neck of the man with a trenchcoat, he staggers forward momentarily, before he reaches to the back of his neck and crushes the luminescent arrow, causing it to dissolve into sparkles of energy. It turns to where Sailor Moon was and smirked.

Tapping the foot with his ice, the energy that had been absorbed begins to gather to one point and bursts out of the ice, animating both water and fluid into the shape of a large ice serpent. The creature seemed to be able to stretch without limit out of the ice as it would rise to a height of eleven feet, before lunging forward at Amarissa, maw open intent on swallowing her whole!

Setsumi was lost in her own thoughts. The haze of the mist causing her to slow down and become out of sink with reality. It was like seeing bad skips in a movie, nothing seemed to flow right together no matter how hard to try and stay focus. Lost in what was actually happening, Setsumi couldn't help but notice the strange faint purple particles floating around the rink. What was it? An why did it make her feel this way? While pondering that thought she hadn't noticed Cory leading her out of the rink.

'EVERYONE, OFF THE ICE NOW!'

That certainly snapped her back into reality, jumping when Cory suddenly yells. Big blue eyes widen with fear, lock onto the girl who suddenly makes an appearance by firing a bow made of light at the guy with the trench-coat! Now thats something you don't see every day. Setsumi jumped, her heart pumping with adrenaline. She shot the guy! She actually shot someone with an arrow made of... Wait it was made of light?! How is that possible? Setsumi gasped, amazed and yet rightfully terrified.

However that amazement was quickly replaced with more terror when the people on the ice began to panic. The exits quickly became a danger zone as people rushed to get out of the rink. Before she could even get out of the way, a group of people came rushing towards her. One, the same freaken man who ironically knocked her down before trampled right past, his arm catching Setsumi off guard knocking her to the ground.

" How very unpleasant." Setsumi whimpered, getting down into a fettle position in hope of not being stepped on. When no one else was running past her Setsumi lifted her head up to look out onto the ice. Worried for Cory's safety sense he was still out on the ice. Her eyes grow wide and mouth gaped at the sight of the serpent forming from the ice on the rink. " What the hell is going on around here?! " Setsumi cried out, her arms trembling as the icy snake grew. As it reached eleven feet Setsumi looked out at Cory with fear and concern. Worried that this thing would attack him while he was out on the ice, but her surprise it chose a different target to attack. The girl who had shot the man with the arrow, it had chosen.

" LOOK OUT! " Setsumi yelled.


(( Sorry for the late and horrible post. x-x ))