Personification Life, the Universe, & Everything [IC]

[Northwest Slobovia]

Captain Shnookums and the cyborg-bear-shark were swallowed up in the hissing flamethrower that billowed out from the center of the ring. The bear reared on its hinds and staggered backwards, roaring and swiping wildly in pain, Shnookums screaming along with it, [...] as the two became an indistinguishable mash of flames. The putto's screaming was abruptly cut at the cyborg-bear-shark fell onto its back, its thrashing ceasing,

Amanda winced and turned away from the sight, but was unable to do anything about the sound of the screaming or the smell of burning flesh. Both brought back images that danced before her eyes, making it hard to focus on what was in front of her. Fortunately...

"I RIDE MOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!" Teddy Roosevelt screamed as he began to literally melt in Amanda's hands, staining her clothes and skin were further gross rainbowy goodness. She was left holding a skeleton made of hard candy, which promptly crumbled into pieces.

“Yurgh! Looks like it's time to wash the windbreaker again.” She wiped her hands on her jacket, passing the giant lollipop from one to the other. Roosevelt's preserved mustache would make a fine souvenir of the day's events.

Looking around, Amanda saw no more visible opponents. She took a few steps towards Meri, wanting to check on her, before being made aware of a new situation.

"I'll always love you, Stephen!" Grandpa Twenty-Eighteen garbled cluelessly from his place in the [baby fence] pen.

Images only Amanda could see pulled her attention back to the past, but she forced herself to take care of business. There's whiskey at home, and a husband to make more, and then this will all go away for another day. Move, girl, move!

“Right! Focus! Moving!” A quick march brought her to the pen, and the lolly continued to make a fine club for bashing the baby fences out of the way. She turned to the Old Year. “Sir? Mr. 2018? There's somebody here you should meet.” She directed his attention towards Nine, and started leading the old man to him. Hopefully, he won't struggle, because it would be a shame if I had to drag-- Her breath caught suddenly and her heart raced. She muttered to herself, something only the keen-eared could hear. “No, girl, there's no more fire here. That's years ago. Calm down. Focus. Move. Lead the old man. Home soon. Safe there.”

[Giovenith]

"Grandpa!" Nine followed Amanda down to the pen.

"Yanny? Laurel?" Twenty-Eighteen questioned, waving around his cane.

The baby fences fell away, and with them, so did the pastel wonders around them. In a slow but blinding flash of white light, the yearly personifications were gone, and the Residents were left standing in the middle of a far off field, mundane as it ever was. Several things were still left over, like their injuries, stains, and battle souvenirs like Teddy's mustache, but generally, it was as if nothing happened.

Willow galloped over to help Giovenith off the ground, winded and sore as she was by the leprechaun beating she'd taken. She saw that he wasn't much better, as the flames hadn't completely missed him, leaving behind a few stinging marks of singed fur and peeled skin.

"You're hurt," she said, bringing her hand to her mouth to begin her healing smoke.

"No," Willow stopped her. "It's fine for now. Save it for when we get home, the others might need it more."

The girl paused for a moment, before reaching down and giving the pony a hug as gently as she could without hurting his sore spots. He winced a little but hugged back, accepting the moment.

"I don't know what I'm going to do anymore," she said, quietly. "When you're gone."

Willow didn't answer that immediately. There was no way he could. He understood it, but the whole thing was too complex to do proper justice right now. He settled for, "I'm going to be right here until then."

They separated and hurried after their companions. Giovenith offered small amounts of her smoke to heal the worst of whatever Amanda and Meri had received, saving the bigger stuff so they wouldn't have to drag her unconscious form back to the Building. Then, close in tow, they slowly made their way home through the new, spring grass.