The feeling of being disturbed in her sleep woke the young girl up. Her sister was already walking about their quarters getting ready for the day. Her eyes then meet with who woke her up, a raven haired woman in the familiar security uniform she had always seen around the complex.
"Good morning Fauna, sorry to disturb you but the boss would like to see some progress eventually," she teased poking Fauna again. Fauna giggled as she pulled of the covers and went off towards the bathroom.
"So, what's on the schedule today Chay?" the other girl asked while tying her dark brown hair back into a ponytail.
"That's Captain Fuchs to you, after all I am still your superior Flora no matter how special you two twins are," Fuchs said with a glare.
"Sorry Captain, what will we be doing today?" asked Flora trying to make herself look as pitiful as possible.
"We will be advancing your training along so that you'll be able to go into the field soon."
"Why? I thought we weren't going to be ready for a least another year."
"Plans change sometimes kiddo."
"I suppose so."
"Did I hear that we'll be able to go on missions soon?!" Fauna chimed in as she stepped out of the bathroom, now changed into a matching white jumpsuit her sister was wearing.
"Yeah, apparently they can't wait to put us into the field."
"Slow down you two, you're going to have to prove that you're both ready for what will be asked of you," Fuchs interjected.
"We can do anything that we're asked to do!" the twins shouted at her. Fuchs just sighed and turned to the door, motioning for the girls to follow her. They were so eager it almost felt wrong to teach them to kill, almost. As they exited the room they walked down the different blank halls and stairs that led towards the training grounds.
"Aren't we going to have breakfast first at least?" whined Fauna as they passed the cafeteria, but Fuchs showed no signs of stopping or responding. When they entered the training ground they were greeted to the familiar sight of gray panels that could revel any number of training implements, from weapons to weights. There was already a small number of enforcers there, some were chatting on the sides and others were sparring. All of them turned and saluted Fuchs as she entered before continuing their business.
"Everybody clear out, we need space for today's exercise!" Fuchs shouted at her subordinates. They all stopped and began to move towards the door quickly.
"Why do we need this much space?" Flora asked as she watched the different enforcers leave the room.
"Because for your first test, you two are going to have an all out spar."
"Wait an all out spar, you mean we don't have any restrictions?"
"As long as you keep the damage to a minimum. And don't use any of our tools in the walls." The twins looked at each other before grinning.
"So what do you wanna bet this time oh sister dearest?" Fauna asked with a wicked spark in her eyes.
"How about today's dessert?" Flora responded with her own wicked look.
"Really you two? A bet?" Fuchs sighed, "Well we might as well make it more interesting so how about whoever wins also gets to visit the Garden as well?"
"The Garden?!" both sisters turned an looked in shock at what Fuchs just said. They were almost never allowed into the Garden, as it was reserved for them only after they did exceptionally well in their training and studies.
"Why not, I'm sure I could pull some strings to bring whoever wins there."
"Well now I'm definitely not losing to you Fauna, I've been meaning to grow something new there for a while now." Flora said with confidence as she backed up into a ready stance. At the sight of this Fauna got into her own stance across from her sister, and Fuchs began to back up towards the door.
"Well I can see that certainly got you both motivated, so I'm going to wait out here and watch from a safe distance." Fuchs said as she left the room and activated the defensive barrier. As soon as she had left and pressed the button on the wall beside the doorway the room began to shine as a strange translucent film covered all the surfaces forming a cube around the room, blocking the two inside. 'This was going to be a great show,' she thought to herself.
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As the two sisters stared each other down waiting for the other to make the first move they noticed the barrier form around the room. They took in each other's looks, they have always looked the same with their light brown skin and long dark hair. But they each knew the other had certain tells for what they were thinking.
"I guess we really don't have to hold back this time," commented Fauna as she studied her sister looking for an opening. Suddenly a root grew up out of the ground under her wrapping around her ankle, as she tried to kick it off her sister attacked with a swift jab to the stomach. "That was a dirty trick sis!"
"Hey this is an all out fight and besides you had the same lessons I did, in a real fight nobody is going to play it fairly," Flora said with a smirk. As she moved to position herself for her next attack her sister began to mutter something under her breath as she bent down to free herself of the root keeping her in place. "What was that? Whining about how I'm not playing fair?"
"Nope, it was for this!" As Fauna freed her foot she began to back away quickly. She began to mutter something again under her breath. "Oh Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis, I call and ask humbly for your bow of divine moonlight." As she finished her chant a shimmer formed near where her hands were held outstretched.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me, you're using a Divine Relic against me so soon?!"
"Hey you're the one who just said nobody's going to fight fair." The shimmer of light soon stretched out into a silver bow with intricate carvings on it depicting falcons diving onto some unseen prey. Fauna reached out and took it, readying herself for an attack. Which was well anticipated as her sister swiftly kicked at the bow trying to knock it out of her grasp. Her sister missed her kick and that gave her just enough time to pull back on the bowstring, causing an arrow of silvery light to form which she quickly notched and released.
"Oh no." The arrow found purchase in Flora's side before she could react sending her flying towards the wall. She hit the wall at high speed resulting in a loud thud and a cracking sound. Flora soon stood back up staring at her sister with a half cocked grin like she was asking for more.
"Sorry if I broke anything!"
"Don't worry we can deal with that later, how about you worry about this instead!" As soon as Flora finished her sentence she reached out her arms in the direction of Fauna and roots began to shoot out of the ground all around them. Fauna began to notch more arrows to fire them at a rapid pace causing some to split and fall apart, but soon they began to over power her whipping at her body. She wasn't about to be defeated by some pesky plants so she shoot arrows in a circle around her to remove the flailing roots. Then she immediately ran putting as much distance between her and her sister as she could.
"You might be able to keep those off of you but not this!" Flora dropped to her knees and planted her hands on the ground in front of her. She started to call towards the plants of the nearby environment, asking them for their support in her endeavors. Then she started to pray. "Mother Gaia, you who has blessed the plants with your body and life force I ask of you to lend me your mighty strength to grow a creation of incredible power!" Suddenly the roots stopped chasing her sister and went back into the holes they had come from, seeing an opportunity to strike Fauna drew her bowstring back and notched an arrow but instead of firing she channeled her power into it until the arrow swelled in size. The ground shook as many green roots climbed out of the hole from before, they then began to combine into a massive stem where a flower bloomed from its tip.
"This will decide the victor!" They both cried out unleashing their attacks. A massive beam of energy burst from the flower clashing with the bright shining arrow flying from the beautiful bow. An explosion of blinding light filled the room and when the light faded only Flora was left standing, her sister laying on the ground.
"Well done to you Flora," praised Fuchs as she approached the unconscious twin pulling a small package from her pocket. Fuchs ripped it open and it let out a very strong odor, she then waved it around Fauna's face. Fauna woke up immediately at the unpleasant smell. "With that settled how about you two get fixed up and then we'll all have something to eat."