>>5336329“We’re going to scout No-Man’s Land, but we’re going to be prepared.” You announce, the twinkle in Amara’s widening eyes almost beating Gina to the punch in terms of realization. “Who wants to be crowned as a Queen, first?”
As enthuses as Rath is at the prospect, she gallantly concedes the honor to the youngest among you. Reaching out, you feel your hive beat in time with your heart, resonating with the biomass of the young girl before you as something shifts in both of you, then tightens. Your little one’s eyes go as wider than you’ve ever seen them as her dress is swiftly covered by a sleek set of armor, the glossy carapace that armors her arms, legs, and torso shimmering a vibrant blue at one angle, then a stunning earthen tone in the next. Her wings snap into existence wide and shimmering with a dazzling rainbow of colors—four wings, almost fairy-like in appearance, or so you think. It’s when a cat-like tail of chitin whips out behind Amara that you realize she’s adopted a form closer to that of a dragonfly than anything close to your typical swarmling. Your young ward’s too thrilled for words…and so, too, is the brawler you turn your attentions to next.
You were expecting a bulkier frame, to be sure, but the powerful blast-plating that’s suddenly layered over Rath’s muscle-bound form reminds you starkly of the Metall Geschoss, at least until your liquid-chitin biomass hardens around her temples into a kabuto-like helm reminiscent of stag beetle samurai. She’s flexing the fingers of all four limbs, testing the limits of the armor when another pair of arms erupt from her back, and no sooner are the appendages of muscle and magma formed than they’re covered by a fresh set of reactive gauntlets, the suit’s swiftness earning an appreciative (and almost villainous) staccato laugh from the redhaired brawler.
{Saving the best for last, I see} Gina winks, her private words bringing a smile to your face as you turn your newfound power on her. The skin-tight armor is without a doubt the thinnest of the lot, but its frail appearance belies a peerless defense that’s only augmented by the tightly-knit gossamer cloth that highlights the violet shell. A single pair of dress-like wings unfurl down your girlfriend’s back, a luna-moth’s rare elegance the finishing touch on a breathtaking piece of light armor.
“We look like magical girls!” Amara squeals with delight, darting around Rath and Gina to inspect them from every angle.
“This feels like some kind of…insect-themed Symphogear shit, right here.” Gina hums, appraisingly, doing a little twirl that you and Rath can’t help but admire. The brawler to your left mutters something under a smiling breath that you could’ve sworn was ‘SymphoGay’, but you shake off the though with a few more pre-flight preparations…not the least of which is ensuring all four Halos present are active and shining.
(Continued)
