Mary Anne coughed and spluttered as the world re-materialized around her, suddenly choked by the acrid, sulfurous, bloody air that now surrounded her. Hey big, brown eyes widened as she looked around herself, desperate to get a sense of her new surroundings. They were as unfamiliar as they were unsettling. She was in some kind of cave or cavern, almost perfectly circular, with the walls formed of orange-red sandstone. It was illuminated by flickering torches mounted along the walls, and the cavern floor was covered with sand. Bloodstained sand. To Mary Anne, it seemed like some kind of macabre gladiatorial arena. That thought stiffened her resolve. Mary-Anne was feeling more than a little unbalanced after what had happened in the church. Seeing the tables turned on the Star Sentinels so suddenly and so completely was unnerving. But the magical girl knew she had no time to be hesitant or unsure. People needed her. Her friends needed her. They could be in trouble, and Mary Anne was never, ever going to let her friends down when they were in a pinch. It didn't matter who or what she had to fight, she was going to do everything she could to make sure they were safe.
Mary Anne's conviction grew still further when she noticed she wasn't alone. She hadn't noticed them at first, as they were leaning idly against one wall of the cavern, hidden in shadow, but there was someone else there with her. They seemed to notice the magical girl's attention and pushed off from the wall, striding confidently out into the center of the arena. It was a demon, and one that cut an intimidating figure. She was clearly feminine, but she was taller than any woman Mary Anne had ever seen before. The demon had faint, red skin and, while it was subtle, her features reminded Mary Anne unmistakably of some kind of snarling beast. Her eyes were those of an inhuman predator, and her face was a little too lupine to be human, and when she grinned maliciously at Mary Anne, she showed pointed teeth. Besides that, the most remarkable thing about her was how muscular she was. Mary Anne knew more than a few athletes in her college classes, but this demon put them all to shame with her rippling abs and toned, powerful thighs. The leather harness and tight leather shorts she was wearing certainly left none of it to the imagination. Her black hair was wild, and as she half-grinned, half-snarled at Mary Anne, the magical girl had no doubts about which of the seven sins she was facing.
"Wrath," Mary Anne said levelly. She was already readying herself for a confrontation. Fighting wasn't in her nature, but many long and hard battles had taught her not to hesitate when she was fighting for her friends.
Wrath laughed, showing teeth. "Got it in one, princess."
Mary Anne sniffed, irritated. Princess? It was true that the two of them made for quite a contrast. Mary Anne was far smaller, and her immaculate sailor uniform - as feminine as all her other clothes - suited her perfectly. Her reddish-brown hair was held back in two neat braids with small, red ribbons at the end, and she knew her freckled cheeks gave her an innocent, fresh-faced look. But she'd soon show this demon she was far from a helpless princess.
"I gotta say," Wrath jeered. "I'm a little disappointed you're the one I got landed with. You look weak. But maybe I'll make something of you yet."
"I'm not weak," Mary Anne shot back, through gritted teeth. She was already chomping at the bit to wipe the smirk off of this demon's face. There was something in the air that was making it easy for her choler to rise. The scent of dust and blood and sweat. "I am Sentinel Red, and I'll punish you!"
"Fine, then." Wrath spread her arms, her stance open. "Come on. Do it."
Mary Anne hesitated. For all her anger, she was able to see that there was something a little too easy about this. A little too straightforward. This demon was setting a trap for her, even if she couldn't see how just yet. But if Wrath wanted her to attack, it seemed sensible to do the opposite. So, instead of charging forwards, Mary Anne just folded her arms and waited. Maybe there was a better way out of this than simply fighting. She hoped so.
Wrath sighed, clearly disappointed. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"
"I'm not gonna give you what you want," Mary Anne answered softly, unmoved. "I know you want to corrupt me - and I'm not going to let you."
"That so?" Wrath grunted. "Let me guess. You're the nice one. The kind one. Much too kind and nice and delicate to ever fall prey to the sin of wrath, am I right?"
Mary Anne knew she was being taunted, but she nodded anyway. At the risk of being prideful, she thought it was true. She simply wasn't an angry person. She couldn't remember the last time she'd ever snapped at someone or lashed out at them, or even said something passive-aggressive or impatient. She'd always lived her life according to the motto that kindness made the world a better place.
"Lies!" Wrath snorted viciously. She sounded so full of rage, Mary Anne took an automatic step backwards. "I see your heart, princess. You're not as nice as everyone thinks. There's something burning inside you, raging every time someone treads on you or takes you for granted. You're angry."
Mary Anne shook her head in instinctive denial, but Wrath's words had her doubting herself more than she would have liked to admit. It wasn't true, was it? Now that Wrath had planted the seed of doubt, it was difficult to erase. Was she really certain that she wasn't that kind of person? Could she be completely, one-hundred-percent certain? Mary Anne couldn't deny that she was sometimes irked at how other people behaved. She liked being kind and spreading kindness, but sometimes other people could be so inconsiderate. Even her friends, every now and then. Mary Anne wasn't immune to feeling frustrated over that. Sometimes, very frustrated. But she never said anything, never expressed it. That didn't make her an angry person, did it?
"I'm... you can think whatever you want!" Mary Anne retorted huffily. She kept her arms defiantly folded.
"So be it," Wrath snarled. "But tell me, princess, if you're not gonna fight me, then who's gonna save your friends?"
A pang of concern shot through Mary Anne's chest. "My friends?" she hissed. How dare this fiend try to use them against her?
Wrath's grin grew wider. "They're already succumbing."
"You're lying!" Mary Anne cried furiously.
"Am I?" Wrath's nostrils flared angrily. "Are you really that certain? Certain enough to stake their souls on it? Some of them are holding out, but others... Nea, Zaina, and Tomi. They're weak fools."
Each of the names Wrath listed was like a knife through Mary Anne's heart. She hated to even think bad thoughts about her friends, but there was a reason those three were the ones she had been most worried about. They sometimes struggled with focus and bravery, especially alone. With the way they had been separated, Mary Anne couldn't help but be deeply concerned that they might be falling into serious peril. If she wanted to save them, she might not have any time to lose.
"So," Wrath continued. "Are you gonna fight me? Or are you gonna stand around doing nothing while my friends get their hooks into yours?"
Mary Anne closed her eyes for a brief moment, weighing her choice. When she opened them again, her hesitation was gone. She mustered all her magically-granted strength, and launched herself across the dusty, bloody arena at the demon tormenting her. Once she decided to fight, she was so caught up with anger that she forgot to summon her weapon - but she knew she wouldn't need it. Her bare hands would be more than enough. Even Wrath was caught off balance by the burst of speed Mary Anne was able to muster, and the magical girl slammed fist-first into the demon before she could defend herself. To Mary Anne's disappointment, Wrath wasn't sent flying off her feet by the blow, but the demon nonetheless stumbled backwards, grunting in pain. Mary Anne, determined to press her assault, pursued her doggedly, throwing punch after magically-infused punch, each one exploding with bright starlight as it landed. The adrenaline rush of combat was giving Mary Anne fresh strength, and despite her concern for her friends, she found herself grinning a wicked, sadistic grin. If she had to fight this demon, why not at least enjoy it a little?
Wrath soon proved not to be such a pushover, though. Despite being on the back foot, the muscular demon threw out a series of quick jabs that were deceptively quick, given her size. Mary Anne was able to avoid most of them, stepping and jumping elegantly around them with enhanced agility, a few still hit home. In her adrenaline-fueled state, however, they barely caused Mary Anne any pain. They just pissed her off. Who did this demon think she was? Mary Anne was a magical girl. A Star Sentinel. Her life's mission was to protect the innocent, and punish evildoers. Usually, she found more meaning in the former, but right now delivering some punishment felt particularly appealing. This demon didn't stand a chance against her, and Mary Anne was determined to prove it. She rolled with the punches with an expertise and viciousness she'd never quite had before, building new momentum and using it to keep up her relentless attack on Wrath.
"Damn," Wrath grunted, through gritted teeth. "Guess you got some fight in you after all."
She was trying to sound cocky and assured, but the pain in her voice was obvious. Mary Anne picked up on it right away. Victory was already within her grasp. That knowledge only fueled her savagery as she lashed out again, and again, and again. She was desperate to see Wrath humbled and brought to her knees. And to save her friends, of course. But seeing Wrath defeated was what she truly craved. After the way the demon had taunted her earlier, Mary Anne was determined to repay each and every insult. However, as she lost herself in thoughts of triumph and revenge, she accidentally let down her guard just enough for Wrath to exploit it, with a well-placed kick. Mary Anne cried out in shock as her legs disappeared from underneath her, and she was sent tumbling into the ground.
