By Chained Angel (ID#20570)
Chained Angel walked over to Astra while Round 3 went on at League War Aquatic. "Hi Astra. I wanted to check in on you after last round. No hard feelings?"
Astra realized that Chained Angel of the Star Force must have been referring to the defeat she and her league suffered during the previous round. "No hard feeling. You fought hard. We fought hard. I got in a few good psychokinetic punches here and there."
"I figured as much," Chained Angel said. "Some of the guys were worried you might have felt targeted. We've worked together a bit over the last year and they hoped you didn't feel like they took advantage of their knowledge of your capabilities."
"Kind of the point, isn't it," Astra said. "Using the knowledge you've gained of your opponent so you may better defeat them. That's how I knew to hit Wyldfyre just as he started to take a deep breath. He always does that just before he creates a fiery construct."
"Smart girl. I wasn't going to tell anyone he did that, but I'm glad you picked up on that nugget as well." Chained Angel said. "I told the boys I would follow up with you. Even though we clearly are strong women, they sometimes still think we are made of glass."
Astra pondered on Chained Angel's statement. Having been a young boy before becoming a morphon-powered girl, she was acutely aware of the awkwardness of social dynamics between the genders. She had memories of thoughts as a boy that seemed strangely alien to her now. "It's nice they care, I guess. Unnecessary, but nice."
"I figured as much," Chained Angel said. "We're having an after LW party at the HQ when everything is wrapped up. You're more than welcome to join us. Bring Futurina. It looks like the Star Force Junior League may be bringing home our first league family win."
Astra nodded. "I saw that. They are doing well against L.U.S.H. this round, but seem to have a slight advantage. L.U.S.H. took round one to OT, so I wouldn't count your chickens before they hatch though."
"We're going to have a party either way." Chained Angel smiled. "Starmaster is doing well with his league in Division four. He will have a either a gold or silver. Our match in Division 6 against the Freaks of Nature has been promising. I'm hoping we will win silver there, and the Junior League under Arcane Ace has done an excellent job. We have a lot to celebrate. And the more the merrier is how the old saying goes. Who am I to argue with tradition?"
"I'll check with Futurina and get back to you. We will try," Astra said.
"Just so you know, whether it is official or not, we consider you and her part of our family. You're more than welcome whenever you want to drop in." Chained Angel looked up as a cheer echoed throughout the chamber from spectators watching the current round of LW9. "There will probably be lots of parties going on over the next few days."
"I think you are right. There are several matches that are going surprisingly well for underdog leagues," Astra said. "Division One is assuredly going to WMD, but Avengers51 vs Villains Inc. in Division 2??? It is still a very close fight. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they go at it full steam in the last few hours."
"Agreed. Division 3 is down to the Avengers51 and Legacy of Spawn once again. Krystal does her best, but lord knows the Avengers51 isn't a league to be brought down by one person." Chained Angel said.
Astra pointed over to the Starbux kiosk. "Want one?"
Chained Angel nodded and the two of them moved over to the short line to the coffee stand.
"Division 5 is going to be another one to watch. Black Winter and Mystical Mayhem were with us a few wars ago, and they are tough competitors, and their current league, Merc Babes and Bastards, is holding their own decisively against the Avengers51 team there." Chained Angel chuckled. "Look at us, discussing sports and knowing what we are talking about. My grandmother would roll over in her grave if she heard me right now."
Krystal Fae wandered through the crowd, as if summoned by her name being mentioned in conversation earlier, and waved at Chained Angel and Astra. "Greetings. How are the two of you doing today?"
"Doing fine. Want to join us for a coffee?" Chained Angel asked.
"Not a coffee. Little Gem doesn't need to caffeine-," Krystal's hands went to her slightly bulging stomach,"-but I wouldn't mind a bit of conversation and a decaf iced tea."
"Then join us, please," Astra said. "How is the pregnancy doing?"
"Not like I expected, not that I expected to be expecting, if you can follow my derailing train of thought," Krystal said. "I've never been more aware of my body than I am right now, and something changes about it every hour or so. My feet swell, my back starts to ache. Cravings for strange foods. My magic hand handle that, under normal circumstances, but I'm encountering moments of auto-magical pregnancy."
"Auto-magical pregnancy?" Chained Angel exchanged a confused glance with Astra.
"Magic can happen both through deliberate effort or spontaneously. I've always prided myself by being able to control the random byproducts of my Fae-ri nature, but while my pregnancy advances, there have been some unusual side-effects."
"Times change," Astra said. "Your body is changing. With enough effort, anything can change. We were just talking about some of the recent shifts in league wars."
"Such as?" Krystal asked.
"Look at Division 6. Pain has always been a noteworthy opponent, but they are tussling against an Avengers51 league and winning." Astra said.
"And in Division 8, the Villains Inc league has taken a lead over the Avengers51 as well. It wasn't that long ago that the Avengers51 won wherever they were." Chained Angel moved up to the counter at the Starbux kiosk. "A decaf iced tea, an iced Polar Bear Mocha, and... Astra, what would you like?"
"Polar Bear Mocha? What's that?"
"White chocolate and raspberry." Chained Angel grinned. "I probably shouldn't, but it is my favorite."
"I'll try one." Astra said.
Chained Angel raised two fingers to the barista. "Two Polar Bears, please."
Krystal seemed a bit saddened. "It does sound good, but I better not."
"I'm sorry," Chained Angel said with an empathetic frown. "I'll get you one after you've had your baby. When are you having your shower, by the way?"
"I haven't set the date yet," Krystal said. "With my luck, it will be interrupted by a giant hydra crawling out of the Mediterranean Sea and threatening to eat Greece."
"Wow," Astra said. "When you come up with worst-case situations, you aren't playing."
"I don't think that exact event will happen, but something will come up, I'm sure," Krystal said as she took her tea. The dripping dew on the glass instantly froze into tiny ice crystals that fell off to the ground. "See what I mean."
"As long as it doesn't happen while you are on the battlefield," Chained Angel said as she watched the last shard explode upon landing. She picked up the other two beverages and handed one to Astra. "Let's grab that table over there. We haven't talked about what some of these heroes call costumes yet. Hey, there's Crossroads. wave her over."
The three heroines motioned for their other friend to join them, as soon they were joined by a fourth as they walked off and laughed together, enjoying a small, friendly respite during the ongoing challenges of League War Aquatic happening all around them.
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