"Bah," the cockatrice scoffed. "Five-Seven-Nine, Garnet, you could be any old gem. If the Masters have names, if Vargas has a name, then surely they must be better than designations and-- there must be a point to them!" But if Garnet did not want to believe that names were any good at all, they could stick to their lousy, non-descriptive numbers.

To say that they were disappointed when Five-Seven-Nine corrected them, sticking loyally to their Masters, would be quite the understatement. Still, they realized that they were better served staying their tongue, for now. "You must really believe I am a fool," Gatto chirped, leaning their head forward and letting their mandibles click against their razor sharp beak. "The Old Champions survived on their strength alone," they recited, "we were never together. We killed each other, given half the chance. And oh, how the Masters loved it, did they not?"

Their tail swished behind them, their spines prickling and the barb on the end smacking away some pebbles. "They want us to betray each other, to play their game. You say together, but how far does that go?" The cockatrice fixed their stare upon the much smaller hybrid, disappointed at the truth.

"The youngins aren't as bad as you think they are. We were once like them, you know." Gatto could almost remember it; a time before, when they had believed in someone. And then, they had been betrayed, and they had killed, and fought, and lived. It was strange how they couldn't remember anything more than the hazy sensation of betrayal. "But I suppose it is easier to just do what we were meant to do. I just didn't think you were the kind to take the easy way out. Especially with how gifted you are."

@Garnet Five-Seven-Nine

[m for Nasty Mean Words]

The garnet began to walk a rather treacherous line, feathers puffing up despite its best efforts to maintain composure. "I am not just any old gem, unlike you, Agate Two-Three-Six. Overseer Vargas has allowed me to choose a name for myself. To earn a name for myself. To make a name for myself," it nearly hissed, ears back, "but, if you keep up with this - there's no way you'll get those allowances." It had worked hard, survived many dangers to get this far, to get this close to something resembling an identity, to be remembered as a loyal servant to a loyal Overseer. There was no turning back, there never could be.

Garnet Five-Seven-Nine was so virulently stuck in its way that it could only default to circular reasoning to keep itself stable in this. It seemingly didn't care to listen to reason, caught up in the moment.

"They did not need to be together, then. We simply did what was necessary to survive and prove ourselves worthy of a continued existence, as we should now - circumstances require that we come together against these Youngers," Garnet spat, wings flaring and tail arcing upwards, "before they ruin everything with their petty rebellious thoughts and conspiring against the Masters. One has already fallen and awaits punishment." The tiger's eye, it detached, spitting its example like a threat, an unspoken would you like to be next? aimed at the agate. "We would be together for as long as needed, then go our separate ways into hibernation, preparing."

Once Agate finished drawing (what it believed to be) a false analogy between themselves and these Youngers and claimed that it was taking the "easy way out" by service, Garnet scowled. "Life is war, fuckass," it bristled, wings spreading to their full span, "there's never going to be anything easy about it and you can't soften the blow by thinking the power of friendship can get you to the finish line first. You've made a good example of that."

Words venomous, the champion reared up, took to the air. It gauged its trajectory for only a moment before diving directly at Agate's face, all four webbed feet white-hot and primed to reduce feathers and flesh to smoldering nothing. There was no point in just waiting when it could deal with this itself, take this idiot's tongue where it could.

Round: 1/5
Attempt: Smack Agate's face with burning-hot peets
Defense: Being an angry projectile
Injuries: None

@Agate Two-Three-Six

Gatto had thought that if they just spoke and reasoned with Garnet, that they could reach some sort of understanding; they had figured that they had a chance of convincing them that their goals were not so dissimilar. They had, foolishly, believed that Garnet wanted what was best for itself, and that they could coax them into seeing that the Masters were abusing them.

But reason had no place here, and as the hare-hybrid lunged at them with burning feet, slamming down on their face with a sharp, pungent smell. Instinct kicked in, and although this was not a Trial, they had no reason to believe that they would pupate should they be struck down. The fellow Champion attacked them, and reasonably, their reaction was to believe their very life was on the line.

"Five--" The cockatrice screeched, before snapping their vicious beak and mandibles at the creature. They managed to connect with something, but considering the fact the Garnet was burning their face with scorching feet, they thrashed their head to the side and tried to throw the creature away. "Seven!" They squawked, "NINE!"

They spread their wings and flapped furiously, rising into the top of the cavern and nearly flew into the ceiling. "You're about to make the last mistake of your life, attacking me!"


@Garnet Five-Seven-Nine
Round: 1/5
Attempt: Deter via fancy new Mandibles!
Defense: Flail about
Injuries: This BIRD is on FIRE

In all honesty, Gatto and Garnet did not have too different of goals. They both simply sought survival; Agate just so happened to have a method to it that directly opposed its, and this had been a long week of emotional turmoil. It was bad luck - for which party was yet unknown - that the cockatrice ended up tipping it into a bit of a harebrained (hah) breakdown state.

At least, though, Garnet had experienced fighting and protecting itself as the little guy in combat. The mouth it had latched onto and was burning started to thrash side to side, the ground rapidly shrinking below. It made the mistake of spreading its wings to balance itself, since they caught air and flung it towards the ceiling in a fell swoop. Squealing, it momentarily lost its grip on its magic and rubbed its paws against its chest.

Flapping away from Agate, it squawked back, "will you make it my last mistake, traitorous dolt? Or will it be yours?" As it yammered on and on, it warmed up for another assault, swooping and dive-bombing at the cockatrice - hopefully from the side - to draw its claws and paws down their neck. "If you lay a single claw on me, Two-Three-Six, the Overseer'll have your head!"

Round: 2/5
Attempt: Drive-by feather burning.
Defense: Being an angry projectile (again.)
Injuries: Being tossed-related injuries and slightly burnt paws.

@Agate Two-Three-Six

Still smoldering (what else was new, frankly Garnet should have known that they were just as used to being on fire, being that they shared an element) the cockatrice spread their jaws and let out a screech, talons flexing midair. "Hah! If the Overseer ever finds what's left of you!" They saw the smaller winged beast lunging again and twisted out of the way, but only barely-- this time only the edges of their feathers getting singed in the process.

"Maybe I'll eat you, gem and all, prey," the Agate threatened in a low hiss, flexing their talons and swooping after the Garnet, reaching to snatch them out of the air. It was only briefly through the haze of betrayal and anger that they realized what they were doing-- what they both were doing. Now that the fight had started, there wasn't a good way to end it without backing down and proving Garnet right.

... But killing each other, wasn't that just what the Masters wanted? The thought pierced through their thoughts, the spines along their spine standing straight up in a vicious bristle. They managed to connect, their talons closing like a vice grip around the smaller Champion as they landed into the stony floor bellow.

"-- Have some sense," they crooned, "or I'll make you see things my way, one way or the other."

@Garnet Five-Seven-Nine
Round: 2/5
Attempt: Grab Garnet with their claws!
Defense: Defensive spines, ACTIVATE
Injuries: This BIRD is on FIRE

Despite being used to being on fire, it still wasn't fun. Garnet twisted midair at the threat, wind battering against its body from above. It was a hair too late, and a shot of fear briefly paralyzed it as they both fell down, down, down.

The garnet snapped back to reality as it met the floor, a jolt of pain shooting through its legs as it landed awkwardly atop them. Ruby-red eyes rolled as it writhed beneath Agate, facing it with a tucked chin and battering claws and wings. "Only if you have any first," it hissed, ears back, "you insolent cracked gem-! I'm tired of dealing with you rebellious scum, you fools! Every single time, you -"

It suddenly cut itself off, eyes narrowing, and curled up, sharp beak lurching to carve into Agate's toes.

Round: 3/5
Attempt: Bite Gatto's toes!!!
Defense: Flailing...
Injuries: Being tossed-related injuries, slightly burnt paws, sore legs.

@Agate Two-Three-Six

The hare-brained hybrid snapped down on the soft flesh of Gatto's talons, and it took everything they had not to flinch or withdraw. Instead, they clenched down on Garnet, and willed the stone on their shoulder to react. Their feathers bristled as they summoned the strength, trying to remember how to make their own flesh burn as Five-Seven-Nine's did. They could just about remember.

The feeling of fire in their lungs, spread through their veins. With strangely fitting expertise, the Champion's feet caught fire immediately, the prison they had caught Garnet in suddenly a raging inferno. The pain seared up their legs, trying to catch on the low hanging feathers, but their crimson eyes burned.

"We are both Champions, Garnet," the Agate hissed above the crackle of fire, "there is a reason for that. We are both strong, and not even Death itself can take us. The sooner you realize that the Master's are holding us back, the sooner you'll be free."

They felt a pang of guilt, doing things this way. But sometimes, to get through a thick skull, you had to dash it against the stones. Gatto was stubborn, too. They were... Practically brothers, in a way. If only Garnet would listen.

@Garnet Five-Seven-Nine
Round: 3/5
Attempt: Taste of your own hot, hot medicine
Defense: accepting one's own fate
Injuries: This BIRD is on FIRE

Agate's grip tightened on it - even with the cuts inflicted by its beak - and the hybrid received a grim reminder that, hey, a bigger creature burning you with the same magic was going to hurt a lot worse. It recoiled sharply, tongue most certainly burnt to a crisp and beginning to boil and bubble with a scar. The rest of its body lit up, immediately (and literally) igniting a fierce flight response.

Garnet kicked and squealed frantically, hind legs scraping against its cage's ankles and front paws pushing as hard as possible against scalding-hot restraints. All it could think of as feathers and wing-flesh took flame and became smoldering ash was escape. Its chest felt too small to contain all of the air it was gulping.

It didn't want this. It didn't want this - !

The garnet felt the cool release of air, and rolled slightly down the incline of the floor - fortunate, as it somewhat suffocated the flames crawling across its entire body. A strange wetness slid down its cheeks and some invisible grip was tight around its throat as it shambled to its feet. "Schhhtop it -" it croaked painfully, "stop. Stop it." The sound came out as a sob.

Garnet could taste blood and salt. It distantly remembered the pain of nearly being ripped apart, of being carried across the sands, dragged by a paralyzed foot, hoping, praying, looking for mercy.

Round: 4/5
Attempt: Get away get away get away get away get away.
Defense: Flailing...
Injuries: Being tossed-related injuries, slightly burnt paws, sore legs, literally being on fire.

@Agate Two-Three-Six

The little creature managed to get away, tumbling away and turning into a smoldering pile of ash. Gatto stood tall above the defeated lump, though even now they knew all too well that looks could be deceiving. They stomped out the flames on their talons, and slowly stalked toward Garnet, head held high.

"Imagine a world," Gatto spoke urgently, wings spreading out at their sides and prepared to take flight or buffet away a sudden, unexpected attack. "Where we make the rules. Where you don't have to run anymore, where-- betrayal, doesn't happen. We don't have to fight each other anymore, Garnet. You're brilliant at avoiding death, but at what cost? Aren't you tired, Champion? Tired of hurting?"

They cautiously lowered their beak, mandibles brushing against their beak with a horrible sound. "I am sick and tired of being an experiment. I am tired of the bloodbaths. We won. For what? For another chance to die." With eyes glistening, they offered Garnet a chance.

"Think about what I'm saying. I will let you go, Garnet, but if you turn me in to the Masters, if you betray this kindness..." Their feathers bristled, spines clicking against newfound scales upon their spine. "I will find you when I am done with them."

@Garnet Five-Seven-Nine
Round: 4/5
Attempt: Listen to me listen to me listen to me!
Defense: Wary approach
Injuries: This BIRD is on FIRE

Garnet tried not to stick around as Agate approached, talons on fire or not. Legs sprawled out and near-paralyzed with the unrelenting pain coursing through them, it lowered its ears and tried to scuttle away any distance. But, its limbs would not cooperate. Its chest hurt so bad. Ruby-red eyes looked - dazed - at its wings, tattered and burnt to bits. The garnet couldn't keep its head up for long, though, with the dark creeping in. It wanted to slip away into the dark of a chrysalis, but not here - not now.

It, unfortunately, had no choice but to listen to what the cockatrice had to say. What they had to offer in their perfect little utopia. A world without betrayal. Without running. Without fighting and consequence and hurting like this. It - it didn't seem like a world worth living. It would be purposeless. All Gembound would have to go seeking. Yet, through a muffled sob, Garnet answered, "I'm so tired."

A soft wheeze echoed from its tiny little lungs, "I'm so tired... this - this new time. It's not like the past. There's - there's nothing left of the past except for... except for the Masters. I can't - I can't... turn my back on them." Garnet flexed its claws, reaching out to drag itself toward some hidey-hole it had spotted. Its muscles and limbs and everything shook and it quickly gave up. The adrenaline that allowed it to escape had quickly run dry. "I'm tired of - having hope." Of what sort, it didn't clarify.

It was definitely for a return of the old days. For remnants of its long-dead comfort zone.

The cockatrice offered to let it go, on terms that it wouldn't tell the Masters, and Garnet sighed miserably. Agate didn't understand the power of the Masters but - they would discover it soon. "Don't go - not yet, please," it begged, despite being in no position to, and stared towards the nook in the wall, "I won't - won't turn you into the Masters, if - if you take me... there. I need to - I need to -" It choked around the words, sputtering and coughing up whatever was in its stomach.

Round: 5/5
Attempt: Hide hide hide hide hide.
Defense: Flailing...
Injuries: Being tossed-related injuries, slightly burnt paws, sore legs, literally being on fire.

@Agate Two-Three-Six