"Might Makes Right?" Part I by DedOnArrival

"Hey! I know you can hear me, damn it!" The red-headed rogue yelled, awakening the elf from her slumber. "Get out here! I'm ready to settle our score!"

The green-haired assassin yawned, throwing the fur blanket off her naked body.

Hmm...sounds like the bandit queen has returned for another beat-down.

"Back so soon? Guess you didn't learn your lesson the first time around, eh?" she called back from within the moderately-sized stone fortress as she fastened her snake-themed armor in place. As she grabbed her weapons, she chanted in her native tongue, summoning her pet snake Keltan, who obediently wrapped around her waist and crotch.

"Quite the contrary! I've learned more than enough to kick your ass outta my home!" she retorted.

"Hohoho!" the former assassin laughed, stepping out onto one of the second floor balconies. "Fat chance! Like I said before...you're 500 years too early, Risty! But since I'm feeling generous today, I'll entertain your folly!" She drew her curved sword and her straight-edged dagger. "Let's go!"

"Fuh! Bring it on, pipsqueak!" the Amazonian figure below her spat, readying her shield and mace.

"You asked for it! Seiyaaaa!" The elf leaped from her perch, swinging her sword in an overhead arc.

Metal clanged on metal loudly, much to the mercenary's surprise. At the last possible moment, Risty had brought her weapon to bare to meet Echidna's attack head on.

"Back off!" the bandit warned through clenched teeth. She pushed with her mace with all her strength, throwing the smaller fighter off balance. Risty didn't hesitate for a second, following through with hard front kick to the elf's midsection.

"Ooooof!" Echidna stumbled backwards from the force of the strike, ending up on her back and coughing. Desperately she tried to get some air back in her lungs as tears clouded her vision.

I...impossible! How'd she get so strong so quickly?!

"Take THIS!" the fiery-tempered thief jumped, intending to drop her elbow across her opponent's throat.

"Eek!" Echidna rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a painful end. As quickly as she could she jumped to her feet to face her foe. "You...you've changed! But no matter! There's no way you'll ever beat me! Soryaaaaa!"

She swung her curved sword in a horizontal fashion, which Risty blocked almost effortlessly with her shield. In reprisal the taller fighter swung her mace with such force that she managed to shatter the elf's primary weapon with a bone-jarring crash, leaving her only with her dagger.

Risty laughed at her opponent's predicament. "Hahahaha! What now, twerp?" She threw down her mace and shield. "Here, I'll even things up."

"Why, you-!" the lone wolf could feel her blood begin to boil. "You'll regret your insolence!"

She launched her dagger at the red-haired woman's face, a move the thief hadn't expected. Risty twisted her head, but the edge of the blade still managed to leave a small slash on her cheek. Before she could even curse herself for her carelessness, the shorter fighter's left foot collided with her chest, landing a clean running side kick on the bandit queen.

"Uungh!" Risty groaned in pain.

She raised her hands instinctively, knowing full well the elf wouldn't stop there. Echidna's strikes felt like razors against her skin. Even though the rogue was able to deflect most of them, she could still feel cuts opening up underneath her armor.

"Fool! You've sealed your fate!" She swung her left foot around in a high arc. "The martial arts of my tribe have been perfected over countless generations! You don't have a prayer! Teiyaaa!"

Gotcha!

Risty's left palm absorbed most of the force of the blow, and she immediately wrapped her right arm around Echidna's leg and pulling it close to her body. She then spun to the right, lifting the mercenary off the ground and slamming her back-first into the trunk of a tree.

"Guuh...!" the elf's eyes went wide in shock as stars filled her vision from the concussion. Her body went limp and fell forward, right into her opponent's waiting arms.

"Let's see how long you last, lightweight!" The thief taunted, locking her bearhug in tight.

Risty bent her legs, and then suddenly straightened them while simultaneously pumping both of her fists into the small part of Echidna's back.

CRRKK!

"Uwaaa!" Echidna cried out in pain. "How dare you! Ungh...r-release me!"

"No way! Horaaa!" Risty let out a ki-ai, crushing inwards with her arms.

"Kyaaaa!" The elf shrieked as the bones in her spine popped and grinded against each other.

She pushed desperately on Risty's toned, muscular arms with her hands trying to make some distance between them, but to no avail.

"Give up, punk?" Risty asked, tightening her grip slightly.

"Uugh...go to hell!"

Echidna pulled back her right fist to strike, but before she could the taller fighter shoved her face between her opponent's breasts and jerked with her arms.

"Iyaaah!" the ninja of the forest felt tears start to fall down her cheeks.

C-can't...take much more...of this...! Keltan...help me!

Her loyal pet unraveled itself from his place around her waist slightly. Seeing an opening in Risty's armor on her legs, the reptile sank his fangs into her flesh and injected her with his venom.

"Shit!" The bandit queen swore, dropping her foe and reaching for her new wound. "Sneaky little bastard...ooh, my head...what'd you d-do...nngh..."

Risty slumped to the ground, a mix of nausea and sleepiness overtaking her.

"Sweet dreams!" The elf waved to the rogue as she kissed her scaly companion.