Chapter Text
Joy calmed her breathing, and straightened her back. She stood still as she aimed the bow at the target. Her right arm smoothly pulling back the string, and her left hand holding the bow steady.
And with a twang and a swish, the arrow pierced into the target, right in the white next to the bullseye.
She sighs a bit, though more out of focus than disappointment. It was a calm day, so she figured she would get practice in and keep herself ready for whatever the woods would drag her into. Even then, it’s not always about killing, as arrows can reach where her pocketknife can’t.
But as she drew from her quiver, she heard a commotion back towards the camp, so she ran to the target and plucked her arrow before heading back. However, she kept her bow in hand.
As she gets closer, she sees a battered Liz being surrounded by her friends. And now Joy was worried. Liz was carefree and was usually alone without much issue. To see Liz of all people frightened, well, does no one any favors.
“Liz! Liz, what’s wrong?” Said Joy, right as she got to the group.
“They got Val, boss!” Liz said worriedly. “We were scouting Lava Realm, and some fire freaks took her! I don’t know what they’ll do to her! I don’t know, maybe fry her!”
“… here’s hoping.” Even Joy was surprised that came out but her self surprise stays hidden.
“Joy?! What the hell?” Liz shoved past the gang and up to Joy.
“What? You know how I feel about her, Liz. Besides, for all the trouble she likes to stir up she had something coming for a while now.” As Joy rebutted, Kyle and Iris felt a bit conflicted. On one hand, Val wasn’t the best to be around, but she was still on their side.
“Boss, come on. She’d do the same for you!”
“I highly, doubt that.”
“Joy… please, I am asking.” Liz pleaded, taking Joy’s hand in both of hers.
Joy’s eyes locked onto Liz, and her heartstrings got tugged as Liz’s black eyes were pained and stressed. To Joy, well, it was like a goddamn mirror. And then her mind cleared a bit more. Liz doesn’t trust most adults, and Val’s the closest thing she has as someone to look up to beyond Flora. Joy, could relate. She couldn’t save the adults that mattered to her, but now she has an opportunity to help another.
“Fine. But for you. Not for her.” Joy answered, tightening her grip as an unspoken promise.
Liz silently presses her forehead to Joy’s, and loosens her hands.
“Alright boss, let’s head out.”
“We? I thought I was handling this. I’d ask you where once we start patching you up-“
“Hey, I can lead you there better than a map. And besides, someone once told me that she’d ‘never give a task to someone else that she wasn’t willing to do herself.’ I’m coming with, boss.”
“Alright, alright. Then, we’re using the bike?”
“Hell yeah the bike! It’s actually still stocked enough, after all, it’s just Val, missing…” Liz weakened a bit at that last part. “But! We’re gonna get her. Come on!”
The bike was a purple and black hog with a passenger car with red flames and pointed front with the name “Val’s dagger” on the side.
“I see you got an upgrade?” Said Joy, secretly admiring the work.
“Yeah, Val liked it, and she needed somewhere to sit.”
As Joy sat in the seat with her quiver and bow to the side, she saw Liz strap on her own quiver and composite bow. Joy’s bow was a simple summer camp bow, with a few modifications to make it decent in survival. Liz however, sticks to a composite bow. She likes tinkering with it and it matches her lavender quiver. ‘Watched Hawkeye’ she says.
As the two raced off, Joy couldn’t help but gaze at Liz. She felt, proud, in a sense. Even though it was Val of all people who Liz wanted to save, Joy looked past that and appreciated the nobility in the rebel. And, in a deeper part of herself, Joy found the loyalty a bit inspiring. Even better was that Liz offered to tag along to face the same horrors just so Joy had a better chance.
But, to put that in words, was not Joy’s strong suit. So she sat in a reflective silence.
As the forest trees began to turn black and the leaves began to spark and char, Lava Realm was close. The two hopped off the bike and crept along the cracked obsidian and dusty ash. Each taking with them their bows, quivers, and a walkie talkie. Better a quick and easy ‘copy’ then a magical crystal that might just be accessible by everyone else in the realm.
Joy followed Liz as they crept through the realm, and sure enough, a small party of Ignesions built a lowly refuge. The clearing now obvious as the twisted trees were turned into a makeshift town of sorts, leaving the Ignesions to wander about and plan. Well, however magma golems plan, anyway.
Liz kept her eyes out and when they fell on a small wooden cage cart, she saw Valerie. Rather, her hands and face snarling outside to no one in particular. Her hope now matched her fear, and she taps Joy.
“There. In that cart. What’s the play?”
“… get the bike, and when I free her, I’ll signal for you to fetch us both.” She taps her walkie-talkie.
“Boss, I said I’m coming with you-“
“You did, and now I need you to be ready to haul us all out. Besides, it’ll be easier without Val worrying about you.”
“She ain’t gotta be worrie-“
“Liz, please. You’re the only one that can drive that bike.”
“I don’t like what you're implying, boss.”
“Liz. Go.” Joy put her hand on Liz’s shoulder.
And Liz just gave her a nod, and crept back to the bike.
Joy snuck down to the town, sliding down a hill of soot and sneaking behind shoddy buildings. She reaches the cart, and Val notices her.
“Joy? Is that you?” Val almost couldn’t believe it.
“Hello doll. Heard you and Liz had fun out here.” Joy’s tone seemed playful, at the worst time.
“You gonna get me out of here?” Val hastened.
“I, I haven’t decided yet actually.” Joy leaned back on the wheel of the cart.
“Very funny…” Val sneered.
“I’m not joking. For all the sh*t you’ve put my friends through these past few weeks, I now get to see you get what you deserve.” Joy snarled back. Half of her wanted this, and it seems she was giving this side fair exposure.
“Come on… you gotta let me out.” Val repeated.
“Why?” Bluntly went Joy.
“Well, as close as Liz and I are, I’ve grown to respect you, Joy.”
“Well, that’s mistake number one.” Joy said, though that was more aimed at herself. “Besides, this whole lot prolly knows you belong here, and they’ll burn us both once you’re out.”
“… I uh, well…” It seems Val was flat footed.
But Joy had a small plan cooking. “Simple, make your escape, and I’ll cover you. Follow where I head to, and Liz will pick us both up, alright?”
She passed Val her pocket knife to wear down the bars as Joy headed back out to the hill. She reached into her satchel, and some lovely smoke grenades in a net bag were pulled out. Heh, amazing what you can buy at a magic shop.
She ties them to an arrow, aimed high, and let loose. As that arrow flew upwards she shot another at the bag, bursting it open as the smoke grenades fell back down. The balls scattered onto the town and soon it erupted in smoke, with Ignesions panicking and stumbling.
But, Val had other plans, she was seen having the time of her life picking up fire elemental weapons and going on a vengeful spree.
“VAL!” Joy raced back down, despite her hand pressing the walkie talkie. She knows that Liz just got summoned prematurely, but…
God damn it.
Joy fired an arrow here and there as she made her way to Val. “What are you doing?! Liz is up back there!”
“They got something of mine! I ain’t leaving without it!” Val’s manic personality broke out again. It seems freedom does that to ya. She bursts into one of the poorly constructed tents, and when she broke out, she had what she lost. A intricate recurved bow with serrated arrows in the blood red quiver.
“PAYBACK TIME!” Val let loose, watching as her arrows gored out magma from the Ignesions.
Joy could only provide back up in a sense of survival for both of them. But as she heard a bike engine roaring, she saw Liz pop out from the smoke in the bike.
“Boss! Val! Come on!” She cried.
“Hello, love!” Val hopped in her passenger car, and Joy hopped behind Liz.
“Go!” Joy yelled.
Liz put the pedal to the medal as Val picked off any stragglers to the right and Joy aimed to their sides to cover the left.
Once the trees were a healthy brown and crisp green, only then did they stop. Joy just got off the bike and collapsed, while Liz got up to hug Val.
“Val! You’re alive!”
“Course I am! Well, Joy here did help with that. Oh! That reminds me. Here, as a token of my gratitude.” Val hands Liz a small Lava Realm emblem.
“And for you, Joy.” She plops the pocketknife next to her.
“Alright, come on! We’ll take you back.” Liz said as she helps Joy up.
“Yeah, here we were having a calm day before helping you shoot up a whole scouting party!” Snapped Joy.
“Eh, I can’t go back unless I give Flora a little peace offering. After all, I must make amends, right? Think of it this way, Liz dear. You and I are like sisters. And sometimes, sisters make mistakes.” Val seems to have completely dismiss Joy.
Joy simply sits in the seat, tired.
“Don’t worry about me, Liz. Tell ya what? I’ll signal you for your help.” She holds up the pick pocketed walkie-talkie.
Liz could only beam before heading back on the bike.
“You got it!” She cheered, before driving off with a tired Joy.
As the two returned, and told of what happened, Joy just tried to head into the cabin, but not before Liz stopped her.
“Thank you boss. I mean it. And hey, I’ll help Val get around. You know you can count on me.”
“Heh, you I can clearly count on. Val? Heh, gonna need a lot more magic.”
