Fortune Versus Stardom: The Boxing Challenge (for CaptainL and RedShinigami)

[CaptainL]

Going into this match, although Molly had pledged to uphold the spirit of the Superstars by giving it her all and rising to the challenge, she still wasn't quite sure how she would fare in her first real attempt at a competitive boxing match - it was new to her, and there was only so much that sparring could prepare her for the real thing. Now, though, she felt like she had settled into her groove, and her confidence was building more and more with every successful blow she landed. When she saw Lyra go staggering back from her uppercut, a smile grew across Molly's face - now, she was sure she might just win this match. And if she did...then it would only be a sign that she was bound for greatness!

She glanced back over her shoulder at Harmonia, wanting to make sure her girlfriend could see her in what was sure to be a moment of glory. She gave Lyra a chance to catch her breath, but just as quickly she lifted her fists, assuming a stance and getting ready to strike. Moving quickly on her feet, Molly closed in on Lyra. She threw a couple of feints this way and that in the hopes of catching the fortune teller off guard; if she could keep her guessing, she thought, it would help compensate for her visions. Each time she threw a punch, she just as quickly hopped to the side, putting her footwork to good use and never staying in one spot for long. But at last she would go for a right hook to Lyra's ribs, hoping to hit so quickly she wouldn't see it coming!

[Pegasus]

Molly held favor which would surely give her the win once the round ended and hand her victory. Lyra couldn’t let this stand. She qualified for Apex and even if this wasn’t an official bout, Lyra taking a loss meant she couldn’t hang with even an opponent of Molly’s caliber. She figured this would’ve been easier being Molly’s first fight, but even knowing that Molly would be a tough customer, Lyra vastly underestimated just how hard her opponent could hit. Lyra had to fight back and use her keen concentration to pull out her heavy artillery. If she was going down, she might as well drag this match out till the final bell and possibly win on spilt decision.

Molly launched a bunch of fake jabs to keep Lyra guessing, but Lyra had seen this a few times with other opponents. Try to psyche her out with multiple punches until she let her guard down and Lyra came out unscathed each time. She just focused on Molly’s grin and waited for the rib punch, but backed out to let Molly hit dead air. Lyra then reared back her right arm and hoped for the best with a swinging uppercut to the bunny brawler’s chin.

[CaptainL]

Molly was new to boxing, and while she had practiced it as a sparring method and a form of exercise through all her training with Harmonia, it wasn't until now that everything truly seemed to fall into place. She had never really had the need to apply her skills in a head-to-head physical contest, one where both participants were trying to win. Though this was little more than a spar in the grand scheme of things itself, Lyra was still determined to emerge victorious - and Molly had stepped up her game accordingly. There, she could see that while it may have been unfamiliar to her, there were plenty of ways in which the same tactics that had benefitted her in wrestling could extend to boxing as well. She could use the same speed and reflexes she used to set up her high-flying moves in order to blind her opponents with the rapid pace of her strikes. And while she had long since grown past the underhanded tactics she'd used as Chelsea's manager, she could still see how she could keep her opponents guessing!

This round was the culmination of all of that. Molly was faking Lyra out, she was coming at her faster than she was ready for, and it all seemed like a winning combination! Lyra's precognition definitely made her a trickier opponent to work around, but Molly felt like she settled into the rhythm where she was making her moves fast enough to throw her off. Now she just needed to work that same strategy into an even bigger, harder punch. And she smirked with a building sense of satisfaction as she grew closer and closer to what she was sure was the perfect moment...only for Lyra to jump out of the way at the last second!

Molly let out a gasp, seeing her punch land in the empty air. Even now, it seemed, Lyra could see her moves coming before she had the chance to land them! The Englishwoman looked back up at her foe, trying to raise a guard to defend herself against the blow she was sure was coming next...but it was too late to prevent Lyra from swinging out and hitting Molly in the jaw!

Molly's head went cracking back from the strike, one that was delivered with enough force to cause her to spin around on one foot. As she took a step back, she slipped and fell to one knee. Molly took in a few pants for breath, but even as she prepared to push herself back up, her heart quickened anxiously when she looked back at her foe. This was bad - if Lyra could see everything she was doing, how could she hope to keep up?

[Pegasus]

Jonathan was quick to count as Molly was knocked down to a knee and it was a shorter one considering Molly got up around 4. Lyra knew she had the match won right there and it seems she just needed to outlast this round to claim victory. A slight edge victory is a victory nonetheless and Molly has proven she wasn’t an easy opponent even in defeat. Lyra just went back to her defensive roots and goading Molly into coming forward. The timer sped down to the last 40 seconds of the round and it was all but a guarantee that Lyra was on the cusp of victory.

Molly had proven a lot to her and the universe provided her a good opportunity to challenge the bunny brawler. Even in her first real match, while non-sanctioned, Molly proved that Harmonia’s training sunk in real good and the new tactics weren’t just for show. If Lyra had this much trouble during boxing against Molly, what would an actual wrestling match be like?

[CaptainL]

Molly winced as she heard Jonathan start the count. She had fought valiantly thus far, but she still wasn't able to keep herself from going down. Now that she and Lyra were tied, there was more resting on this round than ever, and she was determined to make it count. She had practically forgotten they were only sparring - now, determined to prove herself and the Superstars as a whole, Molly had accepted that losing here certainly wasn't an option. But Lyra wasn't going to make things easy.

She wouldn't stay down for long - as soon as Jonathan came to the four, Molly pushed herself back up with a shove up against the floor. She watched Lyra carefully, her eyes narrowed, and she bit at her lip to try and keep her focus. She was too determined to let this keep her down for long. Now, Molly needed to pull out something good to keep Lyra from walking away victorious. With the round winding down, she needed to hit hard, fast - likely throwing everything into one powerful blow. The only problem was that Lyra could well see it coming. But if Molly could hit hard enough...maybe, it wouldn't matter.

Even when Molly rose from her knee, she still kept her stance low, bent over at the waist. Now she would put that stance to good use - she took off in a sprint to suddenly close the distance on Lyra, and when she got close, she would whip her fist up through the air, aiming an uppercut at the bottom of Lyra's jaw with the momentum she used to straighten herself!

[Pegasus]

Lyra had all the cards in her favor and the universe could see it as well she felt. This was no longer sparring. It was a match and both of these girls disregarded their surroundings in order to live in the moment. The gym around them was their battleground and they were nearing the end after tying for the last two rounds. If the timer ran out, Lyra would win on a spilt decision after knocking Molly down to one knee which would put the round score at 10-8 in Lyra’s favor making her the ultimate winner. However, Molly still had 30 seconds to score a knockout and it seems that is where she was heading for.

Molly hunched low coming in hot looking for just the right punch in order to end this match. She reared back a fist as Lyra couldn’t match her speed aimlessly shooting out jabs, but Molly had the speed to duck and dodge all around them. When she was cleared, Molly shot up a powerful uppercut snapping Lyra’s head upwards as it connected with her jaw! The mouth guard Lyra chewed on shot upwards out of her mouth as Lyra’s eyes went wider than fine china dinner plates. She just stood with her head snapped up as her whole body shivered and then Jonathan came over to check her out making her jaw was good to go. Lyra held a shocked look for a few seconds more before titling forward, but Jonathan caught her and checked her face seeing the eyes slowly fade to sleep. After shaking Lyra for a few seconds and checking the arms, Lyra was seemingly out like a light. A complete knockout.

“It’s over. You won, Molly. Lyra’s out,” Jonathan announced his decision as he helped Lyra over to her corner.

[RedShinigami]

Harmonia watched closels as the seconds went on and on to go down in this match between those two different girls. Lyra definetly was a boxer, everything in her moves, her timing and her tactic suggested that she at least had advanced training. Molly on the other hand just had used it to spar and to train with Harmonia. They did boxing training but they focused more on the wrestling side of things as LAW still was primarily about wrestling even with things like MMA, Keijo and yes boxing becoming more and more popular.

Harmonia bit her lower lip as she saw Mollys next big attack getting dodged by Lyra. The relentless fortune teller then sent her own attack into Molly and Harmonia whinced. Molly definetly had grown since she acted as Chelseas Manager and Wrestler with the British Bunnies but she still was a Lightweight and not as tough as the bigger women.

Or so Harmonia thought because to the surprise of everyone in the gym, Molly rose at the count of four and Harmonias eyes went wide. Now she saw it, after all they went through this was the ultimate prove. Molly Forster had been reborn as a shining new bright star in the galaxy of LAW and together they would make history.
"Come on Molly! You still have time! Speed and strength! SPEED AND STREEEENGTH!", Harmonia shouted with her hands around her lips, now it seemed like she was the easily excitable cheerleader Molly had always been but she felt good in this role.

Molly and she shared everything and so it was just fair that she was her" Hype Girl" now. "Yes Molly! You can do it! You are so much stronger then before! No one will ever dare to push you around again!", she cheered and pumped her fists in the air. "Burning like Fire!"

And then it happened, it went so fast that Harmonia and Jonathan barely could make it out as Molly swung an uppercut that would have laid out a heavier middleweight! Lyra sailed through the air and when she landed Jonathan came into the ring to see if she could go on.

Harmonias heart beat as fast Mollys always did when she cheered on Harmonia. What would happen? If Lyra was good to go then the match would resume and end with a victory by points. No, Molly had put in so much in this match and had shown all of them what she had became. She deserved it, she deserved a clear victory. And then Lyras eyes closed as Jonathan ended the fight.

"JAAAAAAAA, SUPPA GMOCHT SPOTZAL!", Harmonia screamed in styrian german, too excited for any other languages and almost forgot to ring the bell. She did and slipped between the ropes, closing the distance and holding her arms wide open as she grinned. "Molly, you did it...", she said and took a good stance for what was about to came...

[CaptainL]

Both girls had gotten fully immersed in the competition. They had forgotten everything else - the fact this was merely a spar didn't matter any more, nor did the fact they had only their respective corner-people to witness them. Molly had to win - there was no other option. She wasn't just here to prove herself, she was here to represent the Superstars. And the Superstars needed to dominate the competition at whatever they put their mind to. Molly had exceeded all expectations when it came to this match - she was keeping pace with a more experienced boxer, and had dealt some impressive offense of her own, even managing to take a round for herself. If the match ended here, even if Lyra won, Molly would have succeeded at demonstrating her potential. But she wasn't after that. She was here to win!

When all was on the line, Molly had dedicated every thought and every impulse toward her goal. Every step she made seemed to come to her by instinct; she moved as easily as breathing. Lyra tried to throw a few punches to keep her at bay, but Molly dodged each one, as though it was she who could see where each one would land. When she heard Harmonia cheering her on from behind her, she could feel her heart beating faster and harder, and she grew all the more determined to live up to the hype her girlfriend put forth for her, leaning in closer as her eyes narrowed in focus. Without breaking the pace, she weaved around each incoming blow, gaining on Lyra as she came closer and closer. Then, she drew back her fist, and she let it fly...

Molly could feel her knuckles bury into Lyra's jaw, and the sensation of the impact made even her wince. She turned her head aside and squeezed her eyes shut, shying away from her own power. She heard the crack, she heard the thud of Lyra's body against the ground...and only then did Molly look up to see her opponent sprawled out motionlessly on the ground.

Suddenly, the Englishwoman was shaken back into reality. She stood rooted to the ground, slipping the guard out of her mouth. Her shoulders rose and fell as she took in a few pants to collect her breath. But her eyes never strayed far from Lyra - who was out cold. Had...had she done that, she thought to herself? Was she...capable of this? Molly knew she had grown much stronger since her days with the British Bunnies...but now, she was surpassing her own expectations.

Moments later, Harmonia broke out into a cheer. And, as she rang the bell, Molly's face lit up with a grin. She knew it then - she had done it! She'd defied all odds, and taken Lyra down, proving she had the spirit of the Superstars in her! "YES!!!" she cheered, jumping up and throwing her fists in the air. Then, she ran over to Harmonia's side, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Moni!! Moni, I did it!! I did it!!!" She hopped up and down with glee, even as she held onto Harmonia. She couldn't help herself - she was too excited!

Getting down from Harmonia's arms, Molly soon turned around to face Jonathan. There, she cleared her throat, a blush crossing her face when she realized how silly her display must have looked. "Er...sorry, got ahead of myself there," she said. When she looked down at Lyra, she bit at the inside of her cheek. She really didn't know her own strength, did she? "She's...going to be okay, right?"

[Pegasus]

Lyra lost, but that’s okay. It was just a spar. Even if both women got lost in the competition, it never really mattered much as long as both women had fun and fought with all their hearts. However, something grew in Jonathan’s heart as he carried Lyra in his arms. His own student beaten at her own game and he shouldn’t have felt mad, but he was definitely concerned for her. That last punch really took a lot out of her and he felt her jaw to make sure it was still intact. Jonathan closed his eyes and he put down Lyra on the ground without saying another word. The bigger man dug around in his pockets silently as he pulled some things out of them and started covering his eyes. A mirror ahead would show the reflection of something else….as Jonathan removed his hands, the colors of his eyes were not normal turquoise….pure red. The color of his alter ego. The demon that now took control of him.

He heard Molly’s question as he looked down at Lyra and reached his palm down to cover her forehead as he closed his own eyes. Suddenly, Lyra sat straight up staring ahead and eyes wide open. It’s like the punch hadn’t even affected her at all and she had no serious injuries to her face. Jonathan snickered a little bit as he held out his hand for Lyra and the fortune teller silently removed her gloves accepting Jonathan’s hand back to her feet. She then looked off at The Superstars with rage filling her eyes.

“UNACCEPTABLE! This….this wretch beats me?! Unacceptable, I say! I hope Milord forgives me for I have sinned in failure. I must be ravenous in my repent, ” Lyra argued as she held her head down and held her left hand to her heart.

“She’s just fine. Now, I think it’s time for a proper reunion,” Jonathan finally replied as he turned around with a dark chuckle. “Jonathan did foretell my eventual arrival, correct? If not, I am The Anomaly. A being bent on power and destruction of the light. The thrill of chaos drives me. You should know, Molly. You once felt it, too. Have you tried burying those dark memories since your time here?”

[CaptainL]

Seeing how hard Lyra had been hit by her punch, Molly grew worried. It was just supposed to be a spar, after all - she didn't want anyone to actually get hurt. Maybe she had let herself get a little carried away, sure - but when she watched Lyra drop limply to the ground, going motionless, alarm bells rang through her head. But even then, the prospect that she might have hurt Lyra didn't worry Molly quite as much as what happened next - when, instead of answering her question, Jonathan went silent and covered his eyes. And when he opened them...Molly could swear that what looked back at her were a vivid red.

"...Jonathan..?" Molly's eyes widened as she began to back away toward Harmonia. In just an instant, the thrill of a hard-earned victory was gone - now, she was staring in shock and horror. It wasn't that Molly didn't know what was going on, however. What truly frightened her now was that she did. She knew of Jonathan's darker urges - as the two grew close, he confided in her about his struggles, and Molly did her best to provide what support she could. It had been a while since the subject was brought up. She had thought things had turned around for him, and that he was working to overcome the darkness in him. But she didn't expect it to rear its head here...and even worse, Lyra soon sat back up, not with the pleasantries and well-wishes Molly had come to expect from her, but with a roar of disgust!

She let out a yelp, raising her hands to defend herself. But if anything truly made Molly's blood run cold, it was what came next - when the Anomaly insisted that Molly, too, felt the darkness. Her eyes were wide and glassy; she wanted to look back at Harmonia, but in that moment she was transfixed with terror, unwilling to move a muscle from the spot, lest they strike the moment she took her eyes off of them. A shudder ran down her spine as her body trembled. What did Jonathan want with her? And what was he talking about?

"N-No, no..! I don't know what you mean-! I'm not...I'm not like that! Moni knows!!" She took a step back further, trying to get to Harmonia's side, but her heart was racing. Their spar might have ended, but it seemed there was something much greater yet at hand. And even if she had won, now, she felt powerless in the face of the Anomaly!