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Thundercrash (w/DeviousFish)

Too her relief, the collar vanished just as she had planned. For a split second, she'd almost been worried. She rubbed her neck and breathed deeply. The bolt of electricity hadn't done nearly as much damage as she had thought it would, though. It wasn't her strongest charge, but she was pretty sure it could have knocked out an elephant. Okay, so maybe this guy wasn't all talk after all. A stronger bolt was all that was needed, it would just take time to build it up. She tried not to let the surprise show on her face.

"Don't bother replacing that old thing," she said with smirk. "Pretty sure the state has a nice orange jumpsuit picked out for you. I'd hate to disappoint them."

Yes, she still felt good enough to joke around. When she saw the points of light appear above him, she knew she needed to move. As they hurtled towards her she sprang upwards, taking flight to dodge the assault. Unfortunately, she was a bit slow and a couple of them struck her leg.

"Ouch!"

Hissing in pain, she looked down to see tiny points of blood on her porcelain thigh. The wounds were already starting to close as she looked on, but that was the first time anything had been able to hurt her in years. She glanced angrily back at the silver haired man on the ground. Punching him in his smug little face was seeming more appealing by the second.

"Oh, it is so on."
 
"Actually, the intention was 'off.' You ruined my clothes, so I'm returning the favor." Silver Soul pointed at her and made a circling motion with his finger. Rings appeared around Sparkler's wrists and ankles. Rather than simply tightening, they began to pull her limbs in four different directions. Each one had the strength of a grown man, gripping her and trying to pull her with all his might. And if that had been all, it wouldn't have been a problem.

But as soon as the rings started to pull, Silver Soul launched another volley of needles at her. None of them were aimed at any vital points, although even if they were, the holes they left would have been small and healed too quickly to kill her.
 
It took her a moment to think about what he said. Clothes. Off. Color slowly grew in her face at the implications. Before she could snap back at him, the rings materialized around her wrists and ankles, slowly pulling her into a spread eagle. Gritting her teeth, she strained against her bonds. They were stubborn and jerked her limbs back into place when she eased up in the slightest. She tried to fly away, but it was like she was dragging dead weights. She paused, panting and planning to throw all her strength into her next efforts to free herself. But then the needles appeared and she gasped. Fight as she might, she wouldn't be able to dodge in time. There was nothing to do but endure it. She braced herself for pain and closed her eyes against the onslaught.

The shimmering little silver needles whistled through the air, assaulting her body. They nicked her skin and punctured holes through her suit and gloves, popping stitches and snagging threads. In just a matter of seconds, the piercing rain was over and she opened her eyes. There were small, slowly closing wounds on her arms, neck, and torso. Her blue suit was covered in tiny gashes, and her skin could be seen peeking through. With too much exertion, she was pretty sure some of those tears would run and show quite a bit more skin than she'd like. Well, all the more reason to finish this before she exposed herself. It wasn't very professional to go around giving villain's peep shows.

"I guess that makes us even steven, huh?" she spoke dryly and glared down at Silver Soul. "But that's enough of this."

With that declaration, she threw all her strength into breaking the bonds at her wrists. It didn't take as much effort as she had thought, the cuffs had served their purpose and probably had weakened. Slamming her wrists together with tremendous force, the bindings there shattered and disappeared. A similar effect occurred when she clawed and tore at the ones on her ankles. It was a pleasant surprise to find she could break those nasty things. A valuable piece of knowledge for if he ever tried to fit one of those collars on her again. When she was free, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Silver Soul with a smirk. He was no joke to be sure, be she suspected he had played his trump card.

"Okay, now where were we?" she said, tapping her index finger on her chin thoughtfully. "Oh, that's right. I was about to smash your face in!"

For that little display, he'd earned himself a solid smack. Twisting around in the air, she dove towards him, fists crackling with electricity. If he didn't act quickly, he was going to get a high voltage right hook to the jaw.
 
Silver Soul did react quite quickly, jumping back as she approached, but she still managed to clip his jaw. He staggered from the electricity, and presumably the impact, but once again managed to stay on his feet. He held up his hands, and a translucent sheet of silver appeared between them. It probably looked like it was meant to be a shield, until five others appeared on all sides of her and drew together, trying to trap her.
 
Sparkler reared back to deliver another blow. He'd managed to avoid a direct hit with the last one, but she wasn't going to let him get by with just a little shock. That wasn't nearly enough punishment. It bothered her that her electrical attacks weren't very effective against him, but she didn't have time to think about it now. She'd just have to up the voltage a bit. If not the shock itself, the heat alone should put him out.

She reared back to try and bring the next punch home, but was stopped short. Bam! Her hand hit a wall instead of flesh and cheekbone. So the jerk had raised some kind of shield. Then, catching movement out of the corner of her eye, she saw there were more walls closing in. He was trying to restrain her again.

"Not gonna happen."

If those barriers were made of the same stuff as before, it shouldn't be that hard to break through. She drew back and body slammed the one in front of her.
 
These were apparently tougher than the thin bracelets she'd shattered earlier, but the wall still cracked noticeably as she slammed into it. Unfortunately, her straight trajectory and momentary stop gave the other walls time to join together and form a little box around her.

On the bright side, Silver Soul was visibly straining, though he was trying very hard to hide it. His voice was a little unsteady as he continued to taunt her. "There now, that's a good look for you. I think we could put you in a museum. They'll call anything art these days. Although to be fair, I think I'd rather keep you for my... private collection."
 
The woman let out an indignant huff and blew a strand of hair out of her face when the wall failed to shatter satisfactorily. She stared, annoyed at the barrier in front of her. Then she saw the crack and was encouraged. It just needed a little more work. Now that she was boxed in, she had less room to maneuver, and it was going to be tricky. She shifted back, as far as her confines would allow, and threw herself at the cracked wall again. And again.

"Private Collection? I don't think so," she said, pausing for breath and renewing her work on the wall. "The only thing your going to be collecting is dust...urk...in a dark...hff...prison cell!"

She punctuated each phrase with a blow to the barrier. Her shoulder was starting to hurt, but she had seen the strain in his face. It had been fleeting and he had nearly hidden it, but she was sure she was wearing him down. Maybe one more should do it? Her body crackled with energy and she let out a yell as she threw herself with all her might at the wall again.
 
The cage shattered, which apparently had some effect on Silver Soul, who actually fell to his knees with a muffled cry. He was quickly back up on his feet, but he was now panting heavily. A few hairs were starting to come loose from his loose-yet-impossibly neat braid.

"What, I'm not allowed to have a hobby?" He held up his hand, and an enormous silver hand materialized in the air between them. It flew towards Sparkler and tried to grab her.
 
Tumbling out of the cage, Sparkler sprang to her feet again with a triumphant smile. Her grin widened when she saw her opponent fall to his knees. This fight was almost finished.

"Considering your current choice of hobbies includes murdering people? No." she responded, also reminding herself why she was here.

She strode toward him confidently, preparing to attack again. Then, she stopped and stared, rather stunned. Holy flying appendages. Was that a giant hand? Yes, yes it was. Flight, suddenly, seemed like the best option here. Tripping backwards over her own feet, she made a hasty retreat to the sky, hoping to gain some distance between herself and this new apparition. If she didn't get caught, she'd circle back again when she was sure she wouldn't get swatted like a fly.
 
The hand followed her around for a bit, but she was faster and more maneuverable than it. After a few seconds, it returned to Silver Soul's side, wiggling its enormous fingers in apparent anticipation. It followed her movements with smaller movements, always staying right between her and her enemy. The message was clear; you want to get to me, you'll have to get through the hand.
 
How many of these projections was she going to have to fight? She sighed, impatiently. Then, she remembered the the first of his silver constructs, the collar. He had been forced to abandon it when she had electrocuted him. Maybe she'd get the same result from giving him another little jolt. She raised one crackling arm and with a flick of her wrist, released an experimental arc of electricity at him. Hopefully, it would make a connection and force him to drop his defenses. If not, she'd have no choice but to assault the hand directly.
 
Although Silver tried to move the hand to block the path of the electricity, its arcing path made it hard to predict. The bolt struck him, and the giant hand vanished. He looked up at Sparkler and, although he was breathing hard, he smiled. "Is that all you've got? I like how it tingles... can I have another?"
 
It worked, but he didn't seem to be damaged. She was beginning to wonder if his suit was insulated or something. He had indicated that it was special and expensive. That would explain why her normally devastating attacks just weren't bothering him. Still, neoprene can only do so much. If it was his suit that protected him, it would make him a poor conductor but enough voltage could push the current through, right? Sparkler sort of wished she'd paid more attention in physics class. If she cranked up the heat enough, she suspected he wouldn't be so smug.

All I've got? Tch. Hardly," she said, eyebrow raised trying to seem unconcerned. "But trust me, you don't want it."

Her first concern with unleashing every ounce of her power, was whether or not he would die. It technically only takes one to kill a human, if he received the full brunt of fifty thousand amps of electricity, what would happen? Even if he wasn't exactly normal, how could he survive? She considered herself a merciful hero and hadn't killed an enemy in combat yet. Did she really want to start with him? No, he needed to see public justice like all the others. The second lesser concern, was that she'd be completely exhausted after a charge like that. Not that it mattered much, he couldn't possibly be a threat afterwards. Still, she'd try to take it to the mat at least one more time before she resorted to that. If he thwarted her attempts to subdue him again, well... she'd do what she had to.
 
Silver Soul laughed, that same high pitched, creepy giggle from the television. "Oh, my pretty Sparkler... I want everything you've got, everything you are. But, I can see why you would be reluctant. Why should you give this your all, when I haven't?" Before she even had time to process what that might mean, he hurled himself into the air, the concrete cracking beneath him, and flew directly at her. As he reached her location, he raised both of his hands and swung his balled fists down at her.
 
The giggle sent a shudder down her spine. It always had, even when she had watched the morbid video. The next thing she knew, he was hurtling through the air towards her. Her mouth gaped open in a look of complete shock. She had thought she had him figured out. Since when could he do that? There was no time to flee and little time to react. Her astonishment only serving to further cripple her. Instinct kicked in at the last millisecond and she crossed her arms in front of her to block. His fists fell with stunning force, sending Sparkler suddenly rocketing earthward. She hit the pavement with a sickening crack, splitting the ground where she made impact. For a moment, all she could do was lay there stunned.

"Y-you...you...how..."
 
While she was still stunned from the blow, Silver Soul dove down after her, bending his leg to slam his knee into her stomach. "How? Come on, did you really think it would be so easy? If all I could do was hands and collars and cages, do you think I could have defeated Larksong? My, you think so little of her... of course, I can't blame you. She was quite pathetic. But you are even more so! Are you all out of fight? Maybe you really were giving it your all before... in that case I can't imagine how you've gained such a reputation. I suppose I shall have to show this city of yours how weak you really are..."
 
It was true, she had thought it would be easy. It was also true that she did not think too highly of Larksong's abilities. The woman was a fellow hero, and she pitied her for her tragic fate, but was it really that surprising? No, she hadn't been giving it her all before, because she had felt sure of victory. Now, lying on the concrete floor, feeling her injuries knitting, she began to doubt. But to say that she was out of fight? That was far from accurate.

As he dove towards her, his approaching figure and verbal onslaught snapped her back to reality. Did that man really have the audacity to insult her? Fire rekindled in her eyes and she reached up to catch the assaulting knee. Unable to fully stop the force of the blow, his knee smashed into her stomach with her hands clutching it. She wheezed as the breath was forced out of her and she was driven further into the ground. The potential damage had been reduced though, and gasping for air she seemed to recover quickly.

"Don't gloat. I'm not through yet," she hissed. "Pathetic? And what about you? You've got all this power and what do you do with it? Go around picking fights and killing people. For what? To feed your stupid ego?"

Gritting her teeth, she dug her her fingers into his knee. She hoped it hurt. Whatever thoughts she'd had of holding back with him had long vanished.

"I'll admit, I didn't think Larksong was all that tough. But she was a hero and didn't deserve her fate. You're nothing but a common bully," she spat. "It is YOU who are pathetic!"

With that, she mustered all her strength and shoved at the knee in her grasp. If she could just push him off of her, then she'd show him. He couldn't mock her and get away with it. She would give him every bit of that power he was asking for and then some. The mightiest electric charge of her career would be all his. And he would be so very sorry.
 
It was a strenuous effort, but Sparkler managed to overpower Silver Soul, throwing him back. Rather than diving right back into the fight, he took a few moments to straighten his hair. "Let's assume, for a second, that you're right, and I am pathetic. How low does that make the ones I have defeated? The ones I have killed? And believe me, you are going to count yourself among them soon enough." He started to walk back towards her.
 
"It doesn't make them lesser than you," she replied as she rolled to her feet, staggering a little. "It just makes them victims of your sick mind. Victims who deserve to be avenged. I won't be defeated by you."

Despite what she said, she too felt that those unfortunate, weaker souls were lesser beings. The only difference is that she had feelings of benevolence instead of disdain towards them. The people of the city were her wards, powerless and pitiful, needing of her guardianship. Even most of the criminals were only rebellious children to be disciplined. They loved her for protecting them and she loved them for loving her. It was a comfortable symbiosis she had established over the years and Silver Soul was threatening it. Whatever her self-righteous orations, that is what she was feeling in her bones.

"You know," she said, trying to sound casual, as she dusted herself off and kept a keen eye on his proximity to her person. "Its getting kind of late. I'd say its been fun, but its time to wrap this up."

Power coursed through her body as she prepared for what she believed would be the final assault. Electricity crackled around her and the air hummed with her energy. Maybe if she had stopped to consider, she would not be choosing to pour all herself into this single attack. But she was certain that it would work. She felt angry and threatened and wanted to hurt him and bring him to his knees in one gloriously devastating blow. THAT would put him in his place. The electric attacks had been less than satisfactory before, but that was only because she was holding back, wasn't it? Wasn't it?

"I'm gonna give you one chance. ONE last chance. Back down now. This is your one chance to surrender yourself to justice or face the consequences," she threatened as he approached, even knowing what his answer would be. She still had to say it. It was part of her creed to do so.
 
Silver Soul stopped in his tracks. "Oh, that's a tough one. Let's see... justice, consequences... justice, consequences." He tapped his chin theatrically. "Well, in my experience, there is no justice in this world, so as amusing as it would be to see your idea of it, I'll go with 'consequences.' He resumed his approach, reaching a hand out towards her.
 
"Fine then," she snapped.

She had given him a warning, she told herself. Whatever happened now was on him. Her eyes flashed and energy pulsed through her body. By now she'd had adequate time to build up her power to overflowing. When he was close, she lashed out with everything she had. The room lit up with blinding light and a thunderous explosion as the lightning connected with Silver Soul. Stray sparks and errant trails of electricity jumped and arced around the abandoned subway, seeking an outlet. There was no escape, no recovery this time, Sparkler was sure. She would melt away his resistance with the heat like the sun and fearsome energy like a tempest. If there was anything left of him, it would only be a stuttering, charred mess, eager to be taken into custody. Feeling assured of her own victory, Sparkler lost herself to the roar of her own power, pouring everything she had into the enemy.
 
The surge of power stopped Silver Soul in his tracks, and he screamed as it coursed through him. Throughout the onslaught of energy, he struggled to move forward, but couldn't make any headway. His braid came undone and his long hair flowed out behind him. When the electrical blast stopped, his clothes were all but destroyed--a few scorched scraps of cloth were all that was left, and his bronze skin was severely burned. He slowly fell to his knees.

And then, his charred skin began to repair itself. Before her eyes, the burns vanished, and Silver Soul stood up, dusting himself off. He once again straightened his hair, then looked down at his ruined suit. "Again? I thought we were even but you had to keep pushing it." There was pressure as, once more, silver bands formed around her wrists, ankles, and neck, and she was lifted a few inches off the ground. "Now, do you have anything else? Are you out of juice already?" He reached out to put his hand on her cheek.
 
His screams reached her ears and she smiled in triumph. She had bested him this time, she knew it. When the tide had gone out and she had used almost every last bit of her energy, she glanced over at his fallen form with pride. Smoke poured off of her body, every muscle in her body ached, and she felt tired and unsteady... but damnit she had won.

As she was relishing her victory, something unexpected happened. Something she had seen a thousand times before on her own body. His burn wounds began to shrink, close, and disappear, replaced by new, flawless, tawny skin. When he stood up, she took a staggering step backwards. Her mind raced and she tried not to panic. How was this possible? Did he have the same powers as she did?

Then those blasted rings appeared. She snapped her fingers trying to generate a spark, a light, something! It fizzled between her fingers and went out. There was a little left, but not enough to attack. Not that she thought it would do any good. As she was lifted off the ground, she struggled fiercely against her bonds. But either they were stronger, or she was weaker. They barely budged.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted when he reached for her. "This isn't over!"

It was a bluff. A horrible bluff. The strain she had rashly subjected her body to had not only expended most of her electrical reserve, but had left her body and other abilities in poor condition. All she had left was her spirit and little else.
 
Silver Soul laughed again as he caressed her cheek. "Oh, you're right. This is far from over. But if you're in such a hurry to get started..." He stepped closer, continuing to stroke her face as he reached out and put his other hand on her shoulder. He slid it down, trailing his fingernails across the cloth, over the mound of her breast, circling around to her side. There he found a tear in her leotard, which had been greatly expanded by their struggle, and slipped his hand inside it, tearing it wider as his fingertips continued to explore her skin. He began to move the hand on her face as well, sliding one finger along the base of her ear and slipping around to the back of her head, where he teased her hair with his fingers. His lower hand continued its path down and around until he settled it on her bottom, spreading his fingers wide to cup her cheek.

Once both hands had found their places on their bottom and her head, Silver Soul pulled Sparkler to him, pressing her body against his bare flesh while forcing his lips against her own. Down below, something hard was pressed against her nether regions.
 
Her mind had still been swimming with questions, when he began his advances. Who was he really? What was he? How could he survive her attack? But everything came to a sudden and complete stop when she became aware of his wandering hands. One had started at her cheek, which was bad enough, but now it had begun to slip to other more dangerous places. What had he meant by "get started"?

"S-stop! What do you think you are you doing?!"

In shock, she gaped, her mouth opening and closing, unable to speak further, as his hands explored her proprietorially, like a lover. All her thoughts came to a grinding halt, unable to process this new information. This was not what she had been expecting. She couldn't think how to handle this. His fingers were tracing a path of cold fire across her body, eliciting from her involuntary reactions she neither desired or understood. At his touch, her breast peaked from beneath the thin fabric and when those same fingers found the smooth surface of her side and back, unwilling shivers ran up her spine. She could only manage a small cry of indignation as his hand cupped her bottom and rested there unbidden. It seemed so unreal. Never had anyone touched her like this, much less against her will. No one had dared.

When she was pulled to him, her eyes widened with fright and surprise. Her face flushed, girlishly embarrassed at the contact with his bare skin. As his lips attacked hers, her sweet mouth was open and pliant, still struck dumb in a disbelieving stupor. Gentle, chaste kisses of guileless, simple boys had only ever graced these lips before. She could not fathom an enemy staking claim on them.

It wasn't until she felt something hard near her thighs pressed close, dangerously close, to her most intimate of places that her mind awoke. Terrible dread crept in as she finally grasped the reality of her situation. It washed over her like cold water and her face blanched and her body stiffened. Her open mouth snapped closed against his and she pressed her lips into a stubborn line. She tilted her head, trying to jerk away from his firm grasp tangled in her blue locks. Heart racing, she thrashed against his embrace, pulling and straining at her bonds until she began to bruise her wrists and ankles. This would not happen. This could not happen. Not to her! Not to the hero of Faire City. It was impossible!
 
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