Heart over Reason
<<Actuators damaged. Mobility compromised.>>
<<Initiating last-ditch effort mode. Overriding heat management subroutines.>>
<<IF I CANNOT HAVE YOU, I WILL DESTROY YOU!>>
Brace yourselves!
Lady Epindel! Get behind!
I know!
Urgh..!
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!
Lady Epindel. Be honest.
Your ankle. Can you fly with it?
...
Just once. I can fly. But just once.
Even through shards of glass?
Is that how you're going to play? Very well, I accept your challenge.
BFB, advance! Crush them!
...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?!
I-it's crashing down!
BFB! Evasive maneuvers!
<<Kinetic impact received... Sustaining optical feed loss.>>
<<Optics reboot in five seconds.>>
Now!
At that moment, Carmen drew her sword.
Tracing a straight line, the blade flew from Carmen's hand and sank into the BFB.
Hah! You just hit the armor!
It's a skirt! There's space between its armor plates and the actual chassis.
I know. I wasn't aiming for a killing blow.
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.
The nape of its neck! I saw it!
<<!!!>>
Hawk's... Hunt!
<<Cranial unit... disconnected...>>
<<Targeting subroutines disabled... Critical systems failure...>>
<<Marriage is... a death sentence...>>
Whew...
With this, the victory is ours.
We would like to retrieve our Captain now.
Or do you have something to say?
...
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!
We won't deny that.
We made a mess. Kicked up dust and caused a stir.
We just needed a little... courage to make it happen.
But we will receive our due judgment from him, not you.
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!
Are you hurt, Captain?
...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.
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.