Wedding Wars: For the May Bride · Chapter 11
Heart over Reason
Arms Dealer
...It's almost time.
When the bell tolls, this festival will end with my victory.
Argh...
Arms Dealer
Oh well, looks like no one else is coming any time soon.
With this, I declare myself the champion of—
???
Says who?
Arms Dealer
Huh?
Carmen! Epindel!
You're both hurt!
Carmen
Haha, apologies for the slight delay.
Epindel
Not battered—at our best.
Arms Dealer
And the brides I hired...
Epindel
We dispatched them.
Arms Dealer
H-hold on a second, both of you.
Let's think for a minute.
As I told you before, I have no intention of marrying your Captain.
There is nothing as silly as being serious about this kind of matter.
I believe we agreed on that earlier.
Epindel
Such a shame.
We are both quite serious about this.
Arms Dealer
Seriously...
Now?
Carmen
There is nothing to be ashamed of about being serious, about being honest with yourself.
If you are unable to understand it, then we have no more to discuss.
Arms Dealer
This is ridiculous...
...Very well. It appears negotiations are over.
BFB, reactivate!
BFB
<<Two thieves detected. Initiating offensive protocol.>>
<<I will steal your heart with my overwhelming firepower.>>
<<Because that is undeniably the greatest love!>>
Watch out!
Carmen
Heiress of Orlan?
Care for a team-up?
Epindel
Join me if you wish to. I couldn't care less.
...Incoming!
BFB
<<Actuators damaged. Mobility compromised.>>
<<Initiating last-ditch effort mode. Overriding heat management subroutines.>>
<<IF I CANNOT HAVE YOU, I WILL DESTROY YOU!>>
Brace yourselves!
Carmen
Lady Epindel! Get behind!
Epindel
I know!
Carmen
Urgh..!
Arms Dealer
Your shield deflected the BFB's withering fire?
Impressive... The BFB's autocannon is loaded with shells that penetrate the thickest of walls.
...But it also carries enough ammunition to deliver three whole minutes of sustained fire.
Let's see how that toy of yours holds up against a stream of lead!
Carmen
Lady Epindel. Be honest.
Your ankle. Can you fly with it?
Epindel
...
Just once. I can fly. But just once.
Carmen
Even through shards of glass?
Epindel
Is that how you're going to play? Very well, I accept your challenge.
Arms Dealer
BFB, advance! Crush them!
Carmen
...Now!
Carmen stomped the tile beneath her and slid across the floor, sending sparks everywhere.
She tilted her shield, and the incoming projectiles striking its surface ricocheted in a new direction.
Until they hit...
...The chandelier?!
Arms Dealer
I-it's crashing down!
BFB! Evasive maneuvers!
BFB
<<Kinetic impact received... Sustaining optical feed loss.>>
<<Optics reboot in five seconds.>>
Carmen
Now!
At that moment, Carmen drew her sword.
Tracing a straight line, the blade flew from Carmen's hand and sank into the BFB.
Arms Dealer
Hah! You just hit the armor!
It's a skirt! There's space between its armor plates and the actual chassis.
Carmen
I know. I wasn't aiming for a killing blow.
Arms Dealer
What do you mean—
...?! Where did you come from?!
A single leap wouldn't have sufficed.
But Epindel had an extra foothold. By kicking off the embedded sword...
She soared through the air.
Epindel
The nape of its neck! I saw it!
BFB
<<!!!>>
Epindel
Hawk's... Hunt!
BFB
<<Cranial unit... disconnected...>>
<<Targeting subroutines disabled... Critical systems failure...>>
<<Marriage is... a death sentence...>>
Epindel
Whew...
With this, the victory is ours.
Carmen
We would like to retrieve our Captain now.
Or do you have something to say?
Arms Dealer
...
ARRRGH!!! Do you have the slightest idea how much that cost?!
Why did you do this?!
You said yourself you weren't looking to get married!
Epindel
We won't deny that.
We made a mess. Kicked up dust and caused a stir.
Carmen
We just needed a little... courage to make it happen.
But we will receive our due judgment from him, not you.
Arms Dealer
Whatever! Idiots! Morons! Do as you'd like! See if I care!
BFB! BFB, my child! Oh the humanity!
Don't worry, I will fix you up soon. You'll be good as new... AAAHHHHHH!
Epindel! Carmen!
You did it!
Carmen
Are you hurt, Captain?
Epindel
...Captain. I am glad to see you in one piece.
Two brides, covered in soot and grime, dresses torn.
But on that evening, they shone brighter than ever.
Oh.
The bell. It's ringing.
Six o'clock in the evening.
The peal of the church's belltower rang through the air, heralding the end of the festival and the birth of a new May Bride.
Story and illustrations © Studio B-Side. An unofficial reading archive — for questions or requests, see the About page.