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Firelink Shrine is quiet. Abnormally so, considering the sheer amount of visitors from across the fog that ended up here at the most chaotic of times. The old ruin housed plenty of temporary and permanent residents, but it seemed empty today.
As if someone warned them of the brewing storm.
Clover didn't really notice though, they were too busy fixing up their crossbow. Sitting by the Bonfire, they hummed a soft tune to themselves, something they remember hearing from their parents when they were younger.
A lot younger, that is, considering their parents have been gone for quite some time now. But the notes played clearly in their mind, a song of the tragedy that befell the nomadic vaqueros they were descended from.
What the music lacked in lyrics it made up for in melancholy, the melody that begins swelling with prideful honor, only to end in a sombre defeat.
Story of their life really. They may have been a proud bounty hunter once, but now that they were Undead? It was a different story. Sure they were stronger, but being human was nicer on account of not being cursed to live forever.
Their musings are broken by a silhouette moving to stand in between them and the Bonfire. Crimson eyes stare down at them, uttering only one word,
"Warlock."
It's said not too unlike a curse, a level of disdain evident in their voice that makes it clear this is not a friendly meeting.
Clover decides to return the energy,
"Pyromancer."
They spit it out like it's something bitter.
The figure smiles, almost gently,
"Clover, I've decided now is as good of a time as any to make good on my promise."
The Warlock grins,
"Ive been waiting for ya, Chara."
Chara reaches beneath their cape, and Clover only has a moment to react, jumping back as a flash of steel barely misses their midsection.
"Oh you're no fun." The self-proclaimed demon pouts, watching closely as Clover readies their crossbow.
"What kinda fun is a battle that ends before it begins?" The cowpoke asks.
"The efficient kind."
Clover wants to laugh, but they know Chara is being dead serious. The quicker this ends in their favor, the more of their point will be proven.
It's a momentary stand-off. Chara idly flipped their knife back and forth, waiting for their partners' miniscule patience to run out.
"C'mon Chara, you said you wanted a fight! Quit standin' around and come at me!"
"I did not know that you wanted little old me to lead this dance."
A cloud of smoke pours from Chara's mouth, shrouding the shrine-turned-arena.
"Very well then."
Clover watched as the light of the Bonfire was almost snuffed out. Their pardner intended on killing them.
"Let's waltz!"
Chara cackles, watching Clover whip their head around trying to find them.
Just as they get behind them for a backstab, Clover turns on their heel, headbutting them. Hard.
There's spots in their vision as Clover puts a hand out, a Hex sparking to life on their fingertips. Chara only has just enough time to drop into a lower stance as Black Flame explodes above them.
"I have been a terrible influence on you, Clover."
"Ya sure have ya damn demon."
The fumes clear, Chara tries to re-cast it, but the wind-up is too long and the Warlock manages to gain enough distance to be out of the cloud.
"Yer trick aint gonna work twice."
"You still can't hit what you can't see~" Chara sing-songs, intent on baiting Clover into doing something predictable.
"I think you've forgotten bout' my little friends."
Clover raises their hand, grasping their Tailisman. Five dark orbs appear above them, their glowing eyes search the smog intently, before firing off into it.
It's quiet for a time, but Clover knows they haven't won. Even though Pursuers is a fantastic spell, Chara surely knows how to evade it.
The hairs on the back of their neck stand up just as a massive ball of fiery magma shoots out of the smoke. They try to dodge, but they feel the heat sear their left arm.
"Did you really let your guard down against me? Do you think I'm weak enough to go down in one attack?" Chara emerges, the smile on their face looked predatory, like a beast sizing up its next meal. But Clover saw the blood staining their middle, so they must've taken at least a bit of damage.
Not bothering to retort the taunt, they quickly fire off a bolt from their crossbow, black energy lacing the projectile as it soars.
Chara grabs it mid-air, even as they feel their skin bubble from the Hex, they continue to smile,
"Oh? Have you decided to get serious?" They throw the bolt like a dart, it bursts into flame on the way over to the Warlock.
"Don't answer that, I know you've been trying very hard to fight me." Chara laughs again, and Clover snaps,
"Shut up already so we can kill each other goddamn it!"
They fire off a volley of bolts towards the Pyromancer, intending on closing the distance so they could use Dark Bead for a cannon-blast of damage directly into their pardner's smug face. Chara takes the hits head-on and sneers as they get close,
"Idiot."
Clover remembers one of the most devastating parts of Chara's arsenal far too late as they stomp the ground. They crack the stone beneath them as pillars of flames erupt upwards. They manage to wave their hand fast enough to bring out Dark Orb, black and purple malice hits Chara dead on, even as the cowpoke screams from the blistering heat.
The air crackles with magic.
The flames die down and the dark melts away as the two rise to their feet.
Chara desperately charges at them, yelling with frustration as they two-hand their knife, burying it into Clover's throat.
At the same time, Clover shoots one final bolt into Chara's forehead.
"…"
"…"
"...Hah…" Clover gurgles.
"A draw, then." Chara decides, already feeling their life slip away for the hundredth time.
Clover drags themselves even closer to Chara, kissing them gently on bloody lips.
They lie there for a time while death claims them once more, turning into ash upon the wind.
The Bonfire behind them roars to life as their bodies are reformed in the flame and bones, spitting them out onto the ground.
"Clover."
"Clover what the hell was that."
"Hmm? What was what?"
"Dont act coy, what's with the kiss."
"I think I love fighting you."
"..."
"I love fighting you too."