3.33 – Yuki-Onna

Aurora gasped, stumbling slightly as they stepped through the fire and found themselves back in Mistral’s sanctum. “That was amazing,” she said, dazed. “Are we out of the dream or whatever that was? Oh man, I hope we’re not being incepted right now.”

Mistral let out a soft laugh, though she was still catching her breath. “Yes, we’re out and fully awake,” she reassured. “I didn’t think I’d be able to do that to Rosshossho. I was honestly afraid he would actually hurt me.” Her expression turned serious as she looked at Aurora. “If you hadn’t been there with me, I might have been tempted into…” Her voice cracked, and she sniffled. “...into losing another person I love.”

Aurora sighed, reaching out to cup Mistral’s cheek, stroking it gently. “But that didn’t happen,” she said softly. “I’m glad I could be here for you. But I think, somehow, you would have found the strength no matter what. You’re my hero, after all.” She blushed, winking before wrapping her arms around her beloved.

“Mmm… Aurora…” Mistral murmured, holding her tightly and nuzzling her cheek. Her arms wrapped securely around her, warmth seeping between them, grounding them in the moment. She squeezed Aurora close, the embrace lingering, stretching into minutes. Neither spoke. They didn’t have to. This was comfort, solace—something deeper than words. But as much as they both wanted to stay like that, reality tugged them back.

Aurora hesitated before finally asking the question that had been gnawing at her. “Who was the other Mistral in your vision?”

Mistral stiffened, if only for a moment. Her lips twisted, her gaze momentarily distant. “…She was my predecessor,” she admitted. “Since she came too late to save my parents, I hated her for many years… but I still took up her mantle. She was a very old woman, despite how youthful she appeared while transformed. It was only by the grace of the Great Manitou that she was able to fight as long as she did.”

Aurora tilted her head thoughtfully. “I always wondered how you’ve been active since the golden age of heroes—like Vanguard. I thought maybe you were long-lived, like him.”

Mistral shook her head. “She was the Great Manitou’s Favored Daughter before me. Her entire life was spent chasing down the Beasts whenever they manifested, ensuring they did not tip the balance into complete chaos.” A faint smirk crossed her lips. “Now, I am their warden and their prison.”

Aurora let out a soft laugh. “Funny how these things work out.” She glanced down at her hands. “Even though the Great Manitou had nothing to do with it, I ended up being your archvillain’s prison myself.”

Mistral nodded, her expression solemn. “There is balance in everything.” Her fingers trailed along Aurora’s arm absentmindedly. “When I saw that she was locked inside you… I immediately recognized the parallels. I knew you would be able to understand me in a way no one else could. We were both burdened in the same way, from a young age.”

“Yeah.” Aurora nodded, a weight settling in her chest. They really had been carrying the same kind of pain.

Her thoughts drifted back to Mistral’s predecessor. “…What happened to her? Did you—” she hesitated, then asked carefully, “Did you ever have it out with her for hurting you?”

Mistral’s lips pressed into a thin line. “No. I thought about it. A lot. But she was too strong.” Mistral laughed softly. “And by the time I’d gained enough mastery over the Beasts to possibly defeat her without Garou, I had already come to terms with what happened. It wasn’t her fault that my parents, and so many others, died that night. It was just… fate.” Her voice softened. “She passed away, and in the end, she left me her cabin in the mountains. Her sanctum.”

Aurora swallowed, a faint pang of sadness settling in her chest. The heroine she had worshipped as a child—the golden-haired Mistral—had died in obscurity, her legacy carried on by the woman in her arms now.

She exhaled slowly, shifting gears. “…Speaking of Black Angel, when did she appear?”

Mistral’s expression darkened slightly. “A long time ago. Toward the tail end of the Golden Age.” She pursed her lips, eyes shadowed in thought. “My predecessor encountered her first. Her power, being so deeply connected to the Great Manitou, gave her an advantage against Black Angel’s void energies. It was a battle she was better suited for than I ever was. Honestly, when it comes to wielding the Great Manitou’s power, I pale in comparison.”

Aurora listened intently, her mind racing to piece together the history she had never been privy to before.

“She kept Black Angel’s machinations in check for as long as she could,” Mistral continued. “And when she passed the mantle to me, her last words were to look for the glimmer of light buried deep inside my nemesis.”

Aurora’s breath hitched slightly.

She had found that glimmer. And in the end, she had saved Black Angel, although she didn’t know all of the details.

“…Your past is far more complicated than I ever imagined,” Aurora admitted softly.

Mistral studied her for a long moment. Then, almost hesitantly, she asked, “Does it matter that I am not the heroine you originally fell in love with?”

Aurora blinked. Her heart squeezed at the question.

“No,” she said simply, but her voice carried the full weight of certainty. “You’re the one I’ve been following the longest. You’re my Mistral. I admire you all the more now.”

Mistral exhaled, a flicker of relief passing over her face.

Eventually, she loosened her grip, sighing. “…We should probably start looking for Snow Witch,” she murmured, reluctant but resolute. “As much as I’d love to spend the night with you in peace.”

“Mmm, that would be nice,” Aurora murmured, wiggling slightly at the thought of snuggling up together. “But you’re right. No better time for an ice witch hunt than while the iron is hot. Hopefully, we’ll be able to handle her now. I wonder if she has a vendetta because of the spirits you’re tethered to?”

“I can’t imagine that’s the case, given how erratic she’s been… but it’s possible,” Mistral admitted, shrugging. “Are you ready to go back? Actually—no, let’s make a plan first. I was thinking maybe…” She hesitated before shaking her head. “No. On second thought, let’s just find her as quickly as we can.”

Aurora chuckled. “If we do find her, you’ll definitely go head-to-head with her. I’ll help where I can, but I don’t have weather magic like you do. It’ll probably come down to the two of you, woman-a-snowwoman. Thankfully, I can tell my powers give me some immunity to extreme freezing conditions, even if they might mess with my wings over an extended amount of time.”

Mistral smirked. “Then maybe you should stay here while I fight her alone. There’s hot chocolate packets and imported instant ramen stowed away in some of the pots here in case of an emergency.” Without waiting for an answer, she turned and quickly stepped through the door.

Aurora shook her head with a knowing chuckle. “As if. She came at you on your turf. There’s no way you’d let me take her down without you, my proud and beautiful warrior-hero.” With that, she followed, unamused by how Mistral had made that decision so abruptly. There was absolutely no way she was going to stand back while her girlfriend was in danger. She would do everything she could.

Aurora stepped through the portal-door into Mistral’s apartment. Whether that door transported them across miles or into another dimension, she still wasn’t sure.

“You know,” Mistral said, her back to Aurora, “I was thinking about cutting the anchor on that spell to keep you safe.”

Aurora waited for her to finish, but when no continuation came, she grinned. “Oh, you’d really leave me stranded in your comfy lodge with all that ramen?” she teased. “Are you worried you might hurt me now that you’re back to full power? While I might be a bit of a rookie, I can carry my own weight.”

“Yeah…” Mistral turned to face her, her expression conflicted. “Still, I can’t get the thought out of my head. I don’t want her to hurt you, Aurora.”

Without another word, she threw herself at Aurora, gripping the front of her toga and pulling her close. She stared into her eyes. “I care about you too much to ask you to fight her with me. At least until I know whether or not I can hold my own against her now.”

Aurora hugged Mistral tightly, nuzzling her before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “Please care enough not to leave me out of things. Even if I couldn’t stand the cold, that would just be a setback. I can fly REALLY fast, you know, unless that sanctum is in another world or something.” She laughed softly, pressing her forehead against Mistral’s. “Planet hopping would be really annoying.”

“Being a superhero means taking risks. Besides that, I want to protect you too,” Aurora murmured, squeezing her hands.

Mistral stepped back just a bit, gazing into Aurora’s violet eyes. “I know you’re still young… but if you really feel this way, I won’t hold you back. And I’ll even ask if you want to hear my strategy.” She smirked slightly. “Despite what it might have sounded like earlier, I’m not going in without a plan. Do you want to hear it?”

Aurora nodded firmly, meeting Mistral’s icy blue gaze. “I’d love to.”

“Since you glow like crazy, I was thinking maybe you should be the distraction if you decided to follow,” Mistral suggested. “I can use my skills to hide myself in the blizzard she’s inevitably going to create and sneak up on her. Would you be willing to be my bait? Or, like I first thought, is that too dangerous?”

Aurora grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. “Fake being a firefly during a flurry? I’m almost insulted. Of course, I can handle that, no problem. Let’s do it!”

After a brief discussion, finalizing their plan, they gathered last-minute supplies. When they finally looked out the window, an intense blizzard was already building outside.

“I can’t say I know her too well, but it looks like she’s up to her usual tricks,” Mistral said with a dry chuckle. “I wish I had pulled more information out of her to discover any possible weaknesses, but I think a direct approach should work fine.” She turned from the window, glancing at Aurora. “Stay in contact with your communicator. I’ll locate you when you signal me. Is there anything you need before you go?”

Mistral walked into the kitchen and placed a kettle on low heat. “When we get back, this is a promise that we’ll return before the water boils off,” she declared, gesturing toward the kettle. “We’ll have tea or hot chocolate together and celebrate our victory. And then we’ll definitely have an extended snuggle.”

Aurora beamed at her. “There’s nothing else I need… except maybe a good luck kiss.” Without waiting for an answer, she glomped Mistral, pulling her into a passionate kiss. When they finally parted, both of them were flushed. “We’ll need all the extra heat we can get to fight this Witch.” She blushed, turning to leave, but Mistral caught her wrist with a sly smile.

“Mmm… if you get hurt out there, not only am I going to say ‘I told you so,’ but I’m also going to strap you down and nurse you back to health. And then you’ll have to explain that to your mom.” She winked.

Aurora laughed as Mistral finally let go of her wrist. With one last glance back, she left the apartment and rocketed into the stormy sky.

Wanting to remain highly visible, she activated her aura, allowing her inner light to flare brilliantly, making her appear incandescent against the swirling snow. The entire region was practically set ablaze with her radiance, turning the storm into a surreal landscape of shifting glows and deep shadows.

The cold still couldn’t touch her, so she hovered idly, waiting for her prey to be drawn out. But she wasn’t about to dawdle forever. Spinning high above the clouds, she surveyed the city below, covered in thick, roiling clouds.

“Jeez! You really are a one-trick pony!” Aurora taunted, hurling her voice into the howling winds. She twirled mockingly through the air. “Come out, come out, wherever you are, Yuki-Onna-chan!” she teased. “Or would you prefer Snow Witch? Maybe Snow White? I don’t even recall if you actually named yourself.”

Antagonization as a lure, Holly noted. You are quite committed to making her ego do the work for you. An effective, if unsubtle, strategy.

When no response came, her eyes narrowed. She plunged into the swirling mass of snow and icy clouds, illuminating the blizzard around her with her glow. The flurries absorbed much of the sound, muffling her voice and footsteps, so yelling wasn’t as effective. Her presence alone, however, should have been enough to draw out the Witch.

Yet no response. Curious. Either she is particularly patient or waiting for a more advantageous moment.

Finally, after nearly an hour of shining and calling out, she ramped up her glowing to the max, as though she was fighting a shadow incarnate with her inner light.

Maximum luminescence. A bold move, though it may serve as both beacon and challenge, Holly observed.

Moments later, a distant explosion rang through the storm.

Ah, Holly murmured, there it is. Impulse over calculation. She couldn’t resist.

Aurora immediately snapped toward the sound, rocketing in its direction. When she arrived on the scene, she found several cars smashed into one another. Flames licked up from their hoods, casting eerie flickering light through the storm.

Aurora started an internal countdown. She couldn’t leave those fires burning for too long.

This level of destruction does not suggest mere mischief, Holly observed. She has a purpose here beyond simply lashing out.

Though the pyres provided some illumination, Snow Witch was nowhere to be seen. But the skid patterns on the icy road made it clear—the drivers hadn’t crashed on their own.

Since it was the only clue she had to go on, Aurora quickly flew in the direction the skid marks led.

“What’s your damage, Yuki-Onna? Why are you wrecking a foreign city instead of Tokyo? Are their heroes too tough for you? Did you think Western cities would fall easier? Maybe you’re just a sad little gamer, reeling over your last MOBA loss. Are the people who beat you living here? I didn’t think Mistral did much MOBA gaming, but it’d be hilarious if that explained your grudge.”

You are relentless, Holly mused, amused. And with each word, you offer her more reasons to make this personal. You will get your fight soon enough.

The Snow Witch finally seemed pissed off enough to act against her. The winds shifted abruptly, and the flames from the wrecked cars below flickered in a sudden new direction. A moment later, a barrage of hail slammed against Aurora’s shield, pelting it relentlessly—but to no effect. The villain had underestimated her defenses.

Aurora flitted around playfully, scanning for where the hail wasn’t falling. When she finally found the gap in the storm’s fury, she shot out of the deluge and yelled, “Come out, come out, wherever you are, Yuki-chan!!!” She laughed, her voice carrying through the storm.

“Over here.”

Aurora turned her head and spotted her adversary standing in front of the burning wreckage. Snow Witch waved a hand dismissively, smirking. “What’s the matter? Is your friend still hurt and afraid of me? Hah… and all I get is some no-name hero. Why don’t you come on down, kusotori-chan?” She gestured imperiously. “Come down and try to take me down if you think you can.”

Aurora tilted her head. “You’re not going to add your name to your monologue? That’s not how it’s done, Snow Witch. Haa, doesn’t matter, I guess. Think as little of me as you want, but where I come from, I’m THE hero.” She grinned before continuing. “But really, why Saskatoon? Are you some lonely, wandering spirit? A rare keyboard warrior who actually decided to leave the house? Or are you just a regular human working with a spirit?”

She folded her arms and gave the villain a challenging look. “I mean, your English is perfect, sure, but from what we’ve heard, you’re from Japan. Unless you’re actually a local, I don’t get why you’d come here.”

Snow Witch blinked before tilting her head mockingly. “Where exactly are you from? The back of a turnip truck? Podunk? Nowheresville, BC?” After a pause, she continued, “As if you couldn’t guess. Or are you just a complete moron? I’m here to prove who’s the best weather witch in existence. And since Mistral is the most well-known, I’m here to defeat and HUMILIATE her! I’m going to beat her down and nail her to an ice crucifix for everyone to see… and I think I’ll be doing the same to you, glowbug.” She sneered.

Aurora smirked, shrugging. “Well, you’re definitely a local, considering your slang. Too natural. I’m from CA, not BC, by the way.” She gestured grandly to herself. “I just help out where I’m needed. So this is… how to put it? Some kind of one-sided dick-measuring contest you’ve got going on here?” Aurora shook her head. “Yeah, that’s what you’d call it. What did she ever do to you? Just exist? Be amazing? It’s pretty clear you’ve got no intention of using your power to help anyone but yourself, so I’m guessing that just grates you.”

Nice burn! Holly approved. That’s why I like you!

Snow Witch’s mouth tightened for just a fraction of a second. “Once I defeat your little Weather Witch wannabe here, I’ll be able to do whatever I wish. My reputation will be made. Then all I’ll need to do to make a living is sell my services to the highest bidder.”

Typical villain. Money and fame, no other real goals.

“By the way, since you don’t seem to want to come down, let me give you a hand…” The Snow Witch gestured, and Aurora instinctively flicked her gaze in the direction she was pointing. But she saw nothing.

Then, a massive hand made of pure ice plummeted from above.

Aurora’s instincts kicked in, and she twisted midair, flipping backward just as it came down. She pushed away from the descending ice palm at the moment of impact, diving straight for the ground with controlled momentum. The hand chased her, inches behind her heels, before she pulled up at the last moment, soaring back into the sky at nearly max velocity.

Sharp shards of ice skidded off her shield when the construct crashed into the pavement below, shattering into deadly fragments.

Her enemy shrugged. “Huh… you’re faster than I thought.”

Aurora flitted up to eye level, facing Snow Witch directly. “Yup. I’m probably one of the faster Sentinels. And that leads me to what I was going to say before you tried to crush me out of the blue—or maybe the white in this case.” She smiled, her tone light but firm. “There are way more powerful Sentinels than me, with a lot more experience. Even if you somehow beat me, Mistral will take you down. And if she didn’t? You’d be facing Vanguard sooner or later, and he’d humble you real fast.” She tilted her head, considering. “I gotta question your career choices, but I guess it’s too late now. You’ve already racked up plenty of property damage and probably worse.”

Her smirk widened as she raised a hand, light swirling around her halo. “But hey, if you’re into going around fisting people, turnabout is only fair play.”

A massive hard-light construct shaped like a massive fist materialized in the air beside her, glowing with golden intensity before rocketing straight at the villainess.

Nice call! Fighting fire with fire! Holly cheered for her.

The moment she summoned the fist, the blizzard around her surged violently. Snow Witch gestured sharply, and jagged spires of ice erupted from the ground. Aurora’s construct slammed into them, causing fractures to form along the crystalline surface, but the barrier held.

“If that’s the best you’ve got, it’s my turn.” Snow Witch cackled, raising her hands as sharp ice shards swirled to life around Aurora like a frozen cyclone.

Not waiting to see what else she had planned, Aurora shot straight upward, breaking through the cloud cover. She shaped another construct around herself for extra defense, but then an idea struck her. She grinned and reshaped her defensive shield into another giant fist, encasing herself inside of it.

Let’s see if this works…

This gives the term ‘fistfight’ a whole new meaning! Holly laughed. Go, go, go, go!

She plunged back down, turning herself into a literal rocket punch, spinning wildly, barreling through the clouds with the force of a meteor. If her theory was right—if she was in direct contact with the construct—she might be able to plow straight through whatever icy trap the Witch was cooking up. And if it didn’t work? She’d improvise.

As she charged down, ice shards shot up with terrifying force, punching into her construct. Some even started to pierce through. Tch, gotta adjust and harden it. She shifted the construct into a spiked glaive to cut through the storm with a brilliant pulse of light. The ground rushed up fast, the burning cars below crackling with heat and licking flames into the air.

At the last moment, Aurora pivoted, redirecting all her gathered momentum into a final, explosive strike. The glaive crashed into the thick ice walls, shattering them into a cloud of frozen shrapnel. She burst through, breaking into the open space beyond. The remaining force of her construct carried on past Snow Witch’s head, whipping her silver-white hair violently before smashing through nearby windows in a thunderous explosion of glass.

Aurora didn’t hesitate. The instant her real fist connected, she unleashed a concussive blast at point-blank range.

Snow Witch rocketed backward, crashing into the pile of burning cars. The impact triggered a violent explosion from one of the already unstable vehicles, engulfing the scene in a blinding fireball.

...Wait.

Aurora hesitated for just a fraction of a second. If cars explode on impact, are they actually safe in regular high-speed crashes? Or is that just exaggerated—

She forcibly shoved the thought aside. Not the time, brain.

Cars are absolutely not safe under these extreme conditions, but for day-to-day use? Perfectly fine, Holly chimed in helpfully. Was that question directed at me? It was so loud, I couldn’t help overhearing it.

Aurora barely had time to roll her eyes before the fireball roared, flames licking hungrily at the wreckage. Then, just as suddenly—

A figure rose from the wreckage. Snow Witch emerged, her expression twisted in rage. The flames flickered and died around her as she ascended, snuffing out completely as she lifted her arms. “Nice try… but it wasn’t enough!”

Aurora’s brows furrowed. Of course it wasn’t. That would’ve been too easy.

Snow Witch raised her hands to the sky, summoning a crackling bolt of lightning from the storm above. Aurora braced herself—

But instead of striking her, the lightning veered unexpectedly and slammed directly into Snow Witch instead.

Her entire body spasmed, hair frizzing comically as raw electricity surged through her.

Then, with a loud CRACK, the force of the bolt sent her careening into the side of a building.

“URGHHHH!” The Yuki-Onna staggered to her feet, hissing through clenched teeth, her legs twitching from the residual shock. “MISTRAL, you COWARD!” she howled into the storm, her voice swallowed by the howling winds. She swept her gaze through the swirling snow, searching desperately, but saw nothing.

Love the new hairdo, Holly gleefully chimed in.

Aurora let her construct fist dissipate, leaving behind a crater in the street, the once-pristine snow now churned into filthy slush. She clasped her hands together, gathering energy, and unleashed a double blast straight at her wintery opponent.

The beam shot true, streaking toward its target—only for the Witch to suddenly recoil, pulling her arms together to form an icy lens. The blast refracted, splitting into a dazzling rainbow that scattered across the storm.

A very beautiful and annoying move. It looks like Snow Witch figured out how to counter your blasts, Aurora.

Aurora narrowed her eyes, already repositioning. Yeah, That’s a new one.

At that moment, a sharp gust of wind struck from behind the Witch, forcing her off balance just as she tried to slip out of the deflected blast’s wake.

Mistral.

Aurora smirked. Gotcha.

Without hesitation, she fired again. The concussive force struck the Yuki-Onna cleanly, sending her skidding backward, carving a deep trench into the snow. The packed drifts piled up behind her, forming an impromptu cul-de-sac that left her momentarily trapped.

“Agh! You fucking ch-cheaters!” the Witch screamed, struggling to get back up. Before she could fully regain her footing, another burst of wind yanked her into the air.

“Do you really think so?” Aurora shot forward, closing the distance in an instant. Her fist connected hard with the villain’s face, sending them both plummeting toward the street below.

As they fell, Aurora summoned a construct mid-air, shaping it into a glowing straightjacket that snapped tightly around the Yuki-Onna’s struggling form. A fitting restraint for someone so consumed by madness.

Suspended in the air, Snow Witch thrashed and screamed, but the construct held firm. Aurora hovered there for a moment, dragging her captive closer. “That’s a wrap, Snow White.”

From the veil of the blizzard, Mistral stepped forward. The moment her presence was felt, the storm weakened, its force diminishing like a beast finally leashed.

The furious Yuki-Onna snarled, her eyes flashing an eerie, bright blue. In defiance, the storm surged violently once more, howling with renewed fury.

Mistral rose into the sky, arms weaving through intricate motions. “Aurora, she’s still manipulating the weather! Just containing her won’t be enough. I can keep it from spiraling out of control, but you need to knock her out—now!”

Aurora tensed, readying another strike, but before she could move—

A new voice rang out, sharp and feminine.

“Allow me!”

A blur of red cut through the flurry.

A woman in a sleek red coat appeared, her short blonde hair whipping in the wind. Red-tinted thin glasses gleamed under the city lights. Aurora’s head tilted slightly—something about her screamed otaku, like a crossplay homage to a certain gun-toting anime protagonist.

The newcomer strode forward, lifting an oversized firearm with deliberate, almost theatrical flair. She pressed it against Snow Witch’s temple and grinned maniacally.

“Bang.”

Interesting. This one has flair, Holly mused.