Nemeta's Sacrifice (The King of Ys: The Dog and the Wolf)

Nemeta reverently placed the herbs on her small stone alter. Using the butt of her ornate knife, she ground the herbs into a pulpy paste, a task made annoyingly difficult with one ruined arm dangling useless at her side.

The teenage redhead ate the paste in silence, nearly at once being granted the state of euphoria that always preceeded the omens given to her by the Goddess of Ys. She placed the chirping sparrow she had caught and bound that morning before her, and with one swift stroke of the knife ceased it's struggling.

"Belisama, accept my gift!" she cried.

* * * * * * * * * *

J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy VII)

She slithered slowly across the floor, oozing fluids in her wake. She could feel the power approaching, so near yet.. so far. With a tendril she reached out, testing the flow of energy blocking it's way.

It hurt! The pain seared into her mind, but she was determined not to be defeated. The evil force preventing her ascension was equally determined. A stalemate. But not for long.

Her son would be here shortly. And soon after, the game would turn in her favor.

JENOVA waited patiently. She was everlasting. The planet would not suppress her forever.

* * * * * * * * * *

Revenge Fulfilled (Yars' Revenge)

It had to fight. That's all it knew, really. Fight, and stay alive to fight again.

There was a time when knew nothing but the simple joys of work and procreation. But that was in the past. Now only fighting brought it joy.

The evil one waited patiently, shifting from one hue to the next in a mocking gesture of superiority. But it waited too. Hidden in the bizzare neutral zone, nothing could harm it.

The Qotile sprung! It sprung too, launching it's attack! Colorful lights filled it's vision. When all cleared, the Qotile was destroyed.

Yars had it's revenge.

* * * * * * * * * *

Rocket's Red Glare (Sailor Moon/Original Character)

Karen never figured out which occured first: the scream, or the bang of the fireworks. Either way, the visual seemed like a cloud of bubblegum pink that quickly turned an ominous black. It wasn't long before the scent of charred hair filled her nostrils.

Chibi-Usa was discovered halfway across the lawn, having been mercilessly dragged several meters by the force of the explosion. Her pigtails had vanished, and the paper wings attached to her back were blazing merrily. Hotaru joined in the screaming as she jumped on the flames.

Karen felt a desperate desire for a joint. And a camera.

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Shopping Spree (Jem)

Jetta crossed one leg over the other as she relaxed on her bed, counting the money she had illegally aquired from Eric Raymond. For the owner of a record company, he sure didn't carry much cash on him. Perhaps he had learned from the previous times she had swiped his wallet.

A knock sounded on her door. Before Jetta could hide her handful of cash, Roxy invited herself in and announced, "I'm going shopping. You want to come along?"

Jetta hopped off the bed and donned her leather jacket. "Sure! I'll even buy you a new pair of shoes, ducky!"

* * * * * * * * * *

Sisko's Command (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Benjamin Sisko made his way through the Promenade, glancing over the latest in Klingon jewelry at a vendor, nodding to the eager Bolian Ensign starved for attention, and checking out his Bajoran Colonel who had yet to notice his presence.

Sisko turned into a little shop decorated with fabrics from planets throughout the quadrant. Inside, he found the proprietor and a sniveling little alien he didn't recognize.

"Forgive me Captian, but this... person... seems to think I -" Garak began, but The Sisko cut him off and pointed at the alien.

"Your son forgives you, but you do not belong here."

* * * * * * * * * *

The Battle for Soul Edge (Soul Calibur II)

Talim felt the wind blowing through her raven hair as she gazed around the field. The girl breathed heavily, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and cleaned the blood from her lip. At her feet lay Mitsurugi, the samurai defeated and worn.

"I'm sorry. Please, try to understand," she spoke softly, looking down at the fallen warrior.

Mitsurugi returned Talim's gaze, knowing he had just entrusted the fate of Soul Edge into the hands of a teenage girl. Talim pulled on her shorts and turned away with a smile, hoping more of her battles would be fought with such passion.