Miracle

The Coming Storm

"Do you have my information?" Cinder asked, meeting with Lil' Miss Malachite at her tavern.

"Of course I do, darling. Lil' Miss always delivers. Although, I can't promise you'll be pleased." Lil' Miss said, while Cinder glares at her. "Word is they were seen boarding the Argus Limited a few weeks back. While that isn't exactly far from here, Argus is rarely a destination for folks. Chances are they'll be going straight to..."

"Atlas." Cinder said, walking away while Lil' Miss smiles at her intuitiveness.

"You know, you turned out to be quite the interesting customer...Cinder."

Cinder stops in her tracks upon hearing her name. She turns around to face Lil' Miss again.

"It's not often a single client brings me double the business." Lil' Miss said, tapping her cigarette holder into an ashtray.

A creak is heard from the walkway above, Cinder looks up to see who it is.

"Wait..." Cinder said.

A pair of high-heeled boots are shown, and Hush is shown to be lowered before its owner places it behind her head. A certain multi-colored girl of pink, brown and white stares down at Cinder from her position...

"Neo?" Cinder asked.

"Maybe put away the good glasses." Lil' Miss said, looking at her henchman.

Neo jumps down and lands a strike on Cinder, only for her form to suddenly shatter. Neo then reappears from another direction and knocks Cinder back.

"What are you doing?!" Cinder exclaimed.

Neo proceeds forward and continues to land blows that push Cinder back to Lil' Miss' table. Lil' Miss stops the ashtray from falling off the shaking table and holds her hand, as if to tell her two bodyguards not to intervene. Cinder pushes off of Lil' Miss' table and begins to fight back, using hand-to-hand to counter Neo's strikes. She then kicks Neo up and the two fight on the bar counter. Neo knocks some bowls into Cinder before the latter throws the umbrella wielder off the counter. Neo lands gracefully back on the ground. The two continue trading blows until Cinder is launched towards the ceiling, she pushes off of it and Neo barely dodges the flaming fist that shatters the table below her. Cinder jumps up to the balcony railing and looks down on Neo.

"That's enough, ladies!" Lil' Miss said, while the bodyguards draw their weapons at the two combatants. "I love dinner and a show, but it's time to take it outside."

Taking the gangster's advice, Cinder is pushed through the window onto the empty street with Neo following her.

Outside the tavern...

Cinder lands back on her feet while Neo's form shatters again.

"Hmph, nice trick." Cinder said, standing straight up to look around for Neo. "You've gotten stronger...so have I."

Cinder conjures a fireball that she launches behind her. Neo blocks the blast with her umbrella. Her clothes are slightly torn and tattered and she wears the hat that once belonged to Roman Torchwick. She steps forward and angrily glares at Cinder.

"I don't have time for your misplaced blame, girl. I didn't kill your boss. If you want revenge, take it up with 'Little Red'." Cinder said, annoyed.

Neo charges forward.

Cinder conjures swords and uses them to block Neo's attacks, "You're not the only one with a grudge against Ruby!"

One of Neo's attacks hits Cinder in the face, causing her to activate her Maiden powers, blowing Neo back a few feet.