A Golden Opportunity

Fireshing had been draining her essence at an astounding speed. 

Although running after Goldie like a flaming torch had been fun, it was also exhausting. It would have been much easier to just set her body aflame, but then Fire would have been an easy target for the frightful knife thrower's daggers. 

As it was, she was having to do some acrobatics whenever a blade came her way. She didn't dare try a real offensive with the headache of having double vision. However, she had shot a few stray fireballs at her nimble nemesis to keep Goldie on her toes.

'I'm coming!' Bee told her through [The Other's Voice]. 

Fire had heard the announcement of Lost's defeat a moment earlier, but she had been unable to look and see the shape her partner was in. From the chipper sound in her friend's voice, Bee was alive and well. 

The redhead belatedly realized that her headache had subsided and her vision had cleared. That was more good news.

The floating Awakened sent her fiery friend a dose of encouragement, emboldening them both further. 

The end of the battle was in sight.

 Only GoldieRider stood in their way.

 The hooded warrior was not to be underestimated. Bee had studied her, and the woman was fierce. 

While she didn't know the name of Goldie's Aspect, it had to do with her dexterity. Not only was the phenom's mind adroit, but her physical capability was superhuman in its flexibility and control. 

Queen Bee had to work hard to master the skill of combat. For GoldieRider, that talent was as natural as breathing. It was as unfair as it was impressive. 

'This is not going to be easy.' Fireshing gritted her teeth.

'That makes it more fun, no?' Bee dismissed her friend's negative thoughts. 

Goldie also seemed to be enjoying herself. Her daggers spun around her fingers with frightening speed. 

Before the Queen could reach her partner, the agile Awakened let one of her blades fly. The point aimed straight for one of Bee's swirling irises, threatening to put it out. 

The floating duelist ducked once, and then a second time as the blade completed its path back to its owner. Bee had already noticed that the dangerous toys were tethered to invisible strings like yo-yos. 

Throwing a fireball at Goldie, Fireshing sent a weary message through their shared Memory. 'I am nearly out of essence.' 

'Reserve the rest,' Bee answered. 'You've done more than enough!'

Fireshing had taken out Sharkey, protected her from Lost when things went sideways, and held off GoldieRider all on her own. 

If she were being honest, the Queen had hoped for this epic match-up. Ever since Fort's assistant, Teddy, had praised the hooded duelist for her prowess, Bee had wanted a chance to challenge GoldieRider to see what she was made of. 

What better opportunity than in the semi-finals?

'It's my turn.' Bee's eyes shifted from green to blue to purple as she made her plan. 

Goldie's dagger returned to her fist and a cruel smile twisted onto her lips. She threw back her hood. Long hair flowed down the duelist's back, reminding Bee how hers had been cruelly hewn from her head.

'Time to return the favor.' 

Before she could, GoldieRider cut her eyes toward the fire-wielder and let a dagger fly. The weapon took on insane speed beyond what her gentle throw should have caused.

Fire hadn't seen it coming. She lifted her spear to deflect a moment too late. The dagger sliced a splinter from her shaft and lodged in her gut. 

'No!' Queen Bee did not like seeing her friend get hurt. 

'I'll be fine.' Fire gripped the dagger, determined not to let it return to its owner. 'Get her!'

Bee's eyes glowed with an incandescent light. No one hurt her friends. 

She surged forward, sweeping furiously at her agile opponent. 

There was something about Goldie. The long-haired powerhouse could move out of the way of her hits almost before Bee made them. Goldie wasn't anticipating the moves, but she was somehow reacting to them with frightening speed.

Queen Bee, on the other hand, could see Goldie's moves and predict them based on the woman's previous patterns. While Goldie was reactive, the fluttering Queen was proactive. 

Thus, they were locked in a stalemate. 

The battle raged on across the flotilla. After her first trip into the water, Goldie did not make the same mistake again. She was painfully aware of each and every edge and tripped lightly across them like she had been doing it all her life. 

Each hit was met with a responding strike. The two women acted with such grace and precision that an outsider would have thought it was a choreographed dance. The match was as beautiful as it was deadly.

If not for Fireshing's fatal wound bleeding out onto the platform, Bee would have drawn out the fight to see what else she could learn from Goldie's unique style. The ferocious artist was nearly flawless. 

Nearly. 

Goldie was far better with two blades than one, and Fireshing's stubborn grasp on one had her distracted. 

The only reason the black-clad beauty was able to wield them both was because they were part of a single Memory.

Dismissing and recalling one would mean losing her only means of defense for precious seconds, so she continued to tug on the invisible string. While Goldie was still managing to block the stings of her opponent, she was losing ground. 

'The pull is too strong,' Fire apologized to her partner through their connection. 'I can't hold it any longer...'

Bee felt a spike of exhilaration in Goldie. The dexterous menace thought she was about to turn the tide. 

The Queen narrowed her gaze. 'You've done well. On my mark, let the dagger go. Ready? Three, two, one, NOW!' 

'NOW' Fireshing echoed the call, releasing her grip. The blade ripped through her torso and the trickle of blood gushed in earnest. Pressing her hands to the wound, the redhead watched her fingers turn crimson as the life drained out of her. 

 The dagger whizzed through the air, landing lightly in Goldie's hand. 

But the woman's joy was short-lived. A second later, her stunning eyes opened wide. 

"How did you?" Goldie was unable to finish her sentence.

The [Unlikely End] was lodged in her stomach, sending a chill through the dagger-wielding duelist. Noble flooded essence into the blade.

Goldie screamed. She gripped her torso. And then she was no more. 

There was barely a rain of sparks to mark her departure. 

"GoldieRider has been eliminated." 

"Gilded Glory has been defeated. The Blazing Bees have won!"

Mercifully, the flotilla faded from view. All around Bee was a void of stars and at her feet...

"Fireshing!" The Queen fell to her knees. There was no ground to speak of here, and so the action did not cause her any pain. She gathered up her friend in her arms with a pained expression. 

The injured duelist groaned. "I'm ok, Bee. My wounds are already beginning to heal. That was a clever move. You did it!" 

"We did it," Queen Bee answered. There was no way she could have completed that battle without her teammate. They were truly better together.

"Do you want to go back and watch the other semi-finals?" Fireshing raised her eyebrows as she struggled to sit up.

"I think we have earned a rest, don't you? Whatever happens will happen even if we are not there." Bee helped her friend sit up. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll see you tomorrow." Fire smiled. 

They would meet again for the finals.