Chapter Text
Xiangling knew death was inevitable. It was a natural process in which every living being in the world was destined to die someday, sometime. Although would rather not have to die with regrets- which was why she wanted to make the most of her life. Maybe death wouldn’t seem so scary to her.
Except she never would have even entertained the thought that she may die on the battlefield- not fighting monsters or treasure hoarders, but grass, of all things!
“G-Guoba! Easy does it!” Xiangling panicked, hopping and dashing out of the lit grass, flailing as wisps of flame rose from her clothing. The small panda creature paid little attention, however, as it continued to munch on the piece of chili and spewing fire.
“Tartar sauce! Help Xiangling!” A blur of red and black sped past the lawachurl, blocking its fists with her greatsword, the ground around her immediately cracked as Beidou knew she would be unable to hold for much longer.
“I- What did you call me?”
“Later! Maybe after you extinguish the fire!”
“What the fuck? When did fire do so much damage-” Tartaglia, also known as Childe, quickly tucked away his bow as he produced two swords of water, making his way to the hoard of hilichurls. “Where’s that girl?! She should be coming in with that bird of hers right about now!”
As soon as those words left his mouth, a burst of purple struck the lawachurl straight in its head.
“As late as it is,” Dropping from her glider and landing impressively on the grass, Fischl tossed her hair back as she drew back her bow once more, her companion Oz passing her as he began his assault on the surrounding enemies. “I, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, rain down the magic arrow as it streaks through the night, praying that the violet lightning of retribution shall strike down the enemies of fate down from the sk-”
“Save it, princess!” Tartaglia shouted, rapidly slashing at the lawachurl as he electro-charged the beast, the shock preventing it from slamming its fists into the blonde-haired girl.
All the while, Xiangling watched out of the corner of her eyes as she absent-mindedly stabbed her polearm into a hilichurl. It had been harder for her to let out Guoba lately. For some reason, its fire did more damage to her team than it had previously. Was it a sign that the bear was getting stronger, or was it just the Gods fucking with her?
In time, the only enemy left on the battlefield was the lawachurl. Xiangling sighed. They’ve fought them more than they could count, but what was with these overgrown bulls and their massive health?
Suddenly, as if she had an idea, Xiangling smiled. “Guoba! Come on out!” Throwing the bear into the ground, which started eating from its stubby paws as it lit the fire surrounding them.
“Must your words bear resemblance to a Pokemon trainer?” Fischl shook her head disapprovingly, her bow half-drawn. She waved her hand dismissively at the Liyue girl’s confused expression.
“Beidou! Please stand in the fire!” Ignoring Fischl, Xiangling yelled.
“You trying to kill me?” For a second, Beidou seemed to hesitate, the look of uncertainty unfamiliar on the pirate captain; and then, as if understanding, she let out a laugh and prepared her sword, bursts of Electro energy surrounding her. “Ah- I gotcha! Not bad, Xiangling!”
In an instant, the surrounding electricity seemed to suck up the fire around her- charging the shield of Electro as Beidou gathered all the energy in her claymore- and swung.
Combined with Tartaglia’s Hydro attacks, which he had been busy with at the moment, the massive burst of Beidou’s overloaded effect knocked back the lawachurl- and finally, caused it to disintegrate into the air.
“Holy shit.” The Fatui Harbinger put away his swords with a quick flick of his hands.
“I seriously just wanna know- what the fuck does that bear eat?” Beidou brushed off small bits of ash and dirt from her clothes.
“An impressive display of the mystical violet thunder combined with the crimson hellfire of this bipedal creature. Even I, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, finds this worthy of a title for our enemies to fear in centuries to come!”
“Mein Fräulein means to say that the overloaded effect was very impressive. She suggests a name for this particular team combo.”
“Fuck, I don’t know,” Beidou leaned on her claymore, ignoring the look Oz gave her at her language. “Maybe like Murder Thunder or something.”
“I’m not surprised you’re terrible at naming.” Tartaglia crossed his arms. “Why are we doing this again?”
“Xiangling, you thought of the attack, so you could try naming it.”
The girl shrugged and helped her animal companion reach the top of her head. “...Spicy Explosion?”
“Y’know what, I’m going back to Lumine. Collect the bounty on the way, please.”
“Wait, the name’s actually not that bad.” Beidou patted the girl on her shoulder.
“Also, what’s a Pokemon?” Xiangling shot Fischl a weird look that Beidou didn’t really recognize.
“A… What?”
“Never mind.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not edible, Xiangling.”
“I-I wasn’t thinking that!”
“Sure…”