Scholastic Forums » Rhythm Access (A Forumfic)

SpecterTheGreat · 6/22/2020 1:45 am

!!!! excitement !!!!

riribunni · 6/22/2020 2:31 am

Chapter Three

[Now Playing: Sofia by Clairo]

The stadium doors were flooded with citizens of all species and ethnicities, excited for the fighting festival to come. Families and couples chattered away, all drifting towards the large, arching gates of the stadium. The colorful materials of streamers drifted in the cheek-nipping breeze, sunlight beaming from above. The sun gave a bit of warmth to the chilly Saturday afternoon, but the water below the bridge the crowds walked upon to get to the stadium provided an extra kick to the wind.

A willowy teenager with stick-straight black hair adjusted her bun, glancing down at her phone every few seconds. Her light gray wings ruffled in the breeze that passed, the wings folding around her slightly to keep her warm, the girl snuggling deeper into her jacket. Pale slate-gray eyes gazed at the screen on her phone again, the girl shifting her relaxed stance to the weight of her other leg.

“Lia, you really need to stop paying so much attention to your phone,” an older male voice scolded. Lia’s eyebrows shot up as she turned to see her father walking towards her, mother close behind.

“Sorry, dad,” Lia laughed, pocketing her phone. With a dramatic sigh, she threw her hand over her forehead. “You know how I am.”

“Yes, and I know that you need to stop paying attention to your phone,” her father said. “We’re here for the festival, remember? It’s the first battle we’ll see live.”

“I know, I know!” Lia said, looking to the side sheepishly. “I was texting a friend about it.”

“I see,” her mother chimed, a kind smile on her face. “Well, no worries. Text your friend afterwards, okay?”

Lia nodded. “Of course, mom.”

It seemed she had spoken too soon-- her phone buzzed in her pocket and she couldn’t stop herself from grabbing it the second her parents started walking forwards. Trailing behind them with her attention focused on the screen.

[NOTIFICATION - DM on Statmix

nectarblossom_: i’m actually going to the festival today as well! i won’t be able to see u, tho. idk if i want to meet u quite yet lol ^_- ☆]

Lia couldn’t stop the smile on her face as she read the message from her online friend. She downloaded Statmix ages ago, way before they had moved to Beat. Back then, she created a fan account to get into Rhythm Access, trying to make some friends and look into the tournaments a bit. She met Nectar and became close friends with her, and before she knew it, she was in Rhythm Access hell.

When her family told her that they were moving to Beat, she could barely contain her excitement. She was moving to the place where Rhythm Access was held, the location of her dream high school, and so many more good things. Beat was a place like pure heaven to Lia.

To make things better, Lia had made a few online friends back when she started her account. Of course, when she moved to Beat, she told them all. (Not the smartest online etiquette, but she thought it was a good idea in the moment.)

Lia continued to trot behind her parents, thumbs flashing across her keyboard as she jotted out a response.

[STATMIX: DMS

honeybeebi: okay !!!!! i hope we can meet one day soon though

nectarblossom_ is typing…

nectarblossom_: we will, don’t worry! anyway gotta go ttyl <3]

Lia pulled her head back up, dashing to catch up with her parents. Her parents hadn’t noticed she had fallen behind, the two in deep conversation. Lia shrugged. Ah, what can you do.

She gave a glance around the long bridge, looking at the other people all heading towards the arena.

Another body crashed into her side, causing Lia to jostle and turn. “Hey, watch where you’re--”

“So sorry!” the girl who crashed into her said. Her brown hair collapsed into her face as she bowed slightly in a quick apology before rushing back to her path. Clasped in her hand was a pink cellphone, white screen up. Was she running looking at her phone…?

Jeez, she was in a hurry, Lia huffed internally. The tournament isn’t even starting soon.

“Lia, we’re almost ready to get into the stadium,” Lia’s mother called over her shoulder. Lia pocketed her phone again, hustling forwards to catch up with her parents. The family was now in front of the ticket booth, Lia’s father handing in the ticket. The ticket booth worker asked a few questions that Lia couldn’t pay any less attention to before the three were let through.

Lia’s heart was pounding, arms tense with adrenaline. Her eyes squinted as the harsh lighting of the stadium came through, directing crowds through stairwells to find their seating.

“4F2, three and four,” Lia’s father said, directing them all towards their seatings. The clock above the stadium shone through the staircase windows as they made their way to floor four, the time reading 3:42 PM. 4:00 PM was the first fight of the evening.

She was practically vibrating in her seat with excitement as the lights continued their flickering, the display hanging above the stadium changing to a new screen.

BATTLE COUNTDOWN - 17:32 REMAINING.

~

[Now Playing: Systematic Love by Camellia]

It was a hassle for Astra to try and slip through the crowds and get to the left entrance for fighters. The mask she had covering her nose and mouth was rather stuffy, the sunglasses that she wore almost too dark. Astra scrunched her nose up under her mask, sliding her sunglasses back up her face. She managed to make it in time-- her vocal coach decided to cancel practice today because of New Year’s. Astra was in no way complaining.

Making sure that the guard stationed outside the entrance caught sight of her, Astra handed over the plain white card to the guard. After a quick tap to a machine, the guard returned the piece of plastic, the door behind him opening wide.

“Good luck,” the guard said, but Astra paid it no mind. That was what he said to every fighter every time. She didn’t need luck to win. Even if she didn’t, they’d pay more attention to her loss, no? That was how it always went, and Astra couldn’t complain.

The hallway grew dark as the door shut from above, placing Astra in the pitch-black. Quickly, lights illuminated the walls and showed its way to another door. Again, Astra tapped her white card at the scanner to the side. The doors opened to another hall, this one adorned with large, egg-shaped doors, red and green lights above them all. Astra was familiar with the rooms-- changing pods, infamously used to change into costume so people don’t put together whose identity is whose.

Tapping her card on the nearest scanner beneath a green light, a ping

resounded through the hall. There was a short wait before the door in front of her rose above, opening the pod. Astra stepped inside, the door shutting behind her. The room was a bright white, painted a warm gold-yellow with the sunset-like lights. A bench was to her left, perpendicular to a large mirror with a desk below it. Next to the bench was a locker in a strange tunnel, and at the end of the room, another door.

Astra tossed the tote bag holding her goods to the side, popping open the locker after sliding the combination into the lock. The door opened to a familiar sight-- her performance outfit. The locker always slid up her costume, as it was programmed to do so. The oil-slick colored shirt caught her eyes first, eyes drifting down to see her favorite cropped jacket, her multitude of belts, and her signature leather pants. Of course, her babies-- her two microphone swords, of course, not actual children-- laid at the bottom of the rack.

Astra pulled the carefully-hung outfit off the rack, laying it down on a bench. It was a process to get changed into her outfit-- her belts giving her more issue than normal. The tote bag was emptied out as she busied herself with curling her hair, having slipped in a pair of bright-purple contacts in beforehand. She may not know the battle type for today, but she was in a purple mood.

Satisfied with her appearance, Astra grinned as she tucked her previous outfit into her tote, all of her materials inside. She placed it into the locker and closed it before scanning the receptor near the exit. The changing pod door slid open, filling the room with the bright lights of the fighter lobby.

The lobby for fighters was a sight in itself. It was a dome-roofed room, furnished in white and neon lights beaming from the floor, furniture and more. Fighters in all sorts of costumes were crowded about the room, conversing. People donned in elaborate and simple costumes were coming out of changing pods (a classic identity-hide trick invented by the makers of the game), species of all kinds readying their weapons.

Borealis stepped out, the changing pod door shutting behind her and changing to a green light above. Her belts made soft clinks as she walked, her microphones stashed comfortably in two holsters on one belt. The butterfly mask she always donned reflected bits of light.

Familiar masks passed by-- a full-face bunny mask, black domino, balaclava, it seemed like every fighter she could think of was here today.

The screen hanging above the tournament halls displayed the battle status for the lineup of that afternoon. In bright letting, Borealis could make out:

Borealis VS Raven

Pendulum VS Joker

Solamoon VS Opera Ghost

Bunni VS Abyss

Concerto VS Strigoi

Borealis huffed a grin to herself, proud to see her name up as the first battle. Against Raven, though...who’s she again? Oh well, I don’t care.

Borealis leaned next to the stadium door, a confident grin on her face. She knew her outfit looked well put together— she had gone over it at least twenty times in the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place. Instead of thinking over the battle to come, she observed the fighters around the circle.

Everyone seemed so...carefree. Exchanging wishes of goodwill to one another, the chime of “Bonne Annee” resounded throughout the lobby. A male fighter with long hair called out to ask if anyone had a spare hairtie, only to get shot in the forehead with a neon pink scrunchie. The guy responded with a weak “thanks”.

Out of the corner of her eye, Borealis noticed a girl donned in earth tones with shiny, black wings moving towards the battle hall entrance. Her combat boots made heavy noises as they padded across the floor, loose, dark gray pants hanging from her hips.

“So, you’re fighting me today, yes?” the girl smirked, not diverting her eyes from the crowd. “...who are you again?” Borealis asked, suddenly interested in her nails.

The girl from across sputtered, obviously offended. “I’m Raven. And I can’t wait to beat that ego of yours into the ground.”

“May the best woman win, Crow,” Borealis said, intentionally messing up her opponent’s name.

Raven rolled her eyes in response. God, she’s rude. “May the best woman win.”

riribunni · 6/22/2020 2:32 am

ok u know what?? i give up
i apologize for the weird spacing, i tried getting this to work too many times

meerkat · 6/22/2020 3:55 am

ohohohoho the excitementttt 👀

SongOfStorms · 6/22/2020 6:27 am

ooooohhhh im excited 👀

it's fighting time next time it seems

Astra · 6/22/2020 11:11 am

jslfjskdfs this chapter!!

oooo time for battles next

bio_luminescence · 6/22/2020 11:34 am

i love this so much!
aksjdjshf it's just so,,,,good,,,,

6/22/2020 11:42 am

Aakfj this is great!! Keep up the good work!

TwoPunchAxel · 6/22/2020 12:06 pm

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa

the story is so awesome

Last edited by TwoPunchAxel (6/22/2020 12:08 pm)

Time · 6/22/2020 1:27 pm

YES I LOVE IT YES. I LOVE IT.

I don't CARE if the spacing is weird! IT'S STILL GOOD!

SpecterTheGreat · 6/22/2020 1:41 pm

Aah, the hype OwO.
The part with the scrunchie made me laugh a little too much XD.

TwoPunchAxel · 6/22/2020 5:08 pm

time vs ark in a not deathmatch

Time · 6/22/2020 5:35 pm

@TS Nah you fightin riri

Who's going to win tho who??

riribunni · 6/23/2020 4:46 am

thank you !!!!! all !!! so much !!!!

Jack · 6/23/2020 11:14 am

BATTLE TIME BATTLE TIME

also Sofia by Clairo ;0

riribunni · 7/06/2020 9:16 am

Chapter Four

The double door in-between Raven and Borealis slid open, a fairy of short stature entering.
“Borealis and Raven, three minutes to showtime. Borealis, left tunnel, Raven, right. Okay?”

Both fighters let out noises of affirmation, entering the arching doorway. A loud cheer of “GOOD LUCK!” was hollered from a fighter from the couch, which both awkwardly nodded at while they clipped the microphones they were handed onto their costumes. The hallway the two entered faced a flat wall, the hallway breaking off to a curved left path and a curved right path.

Raven adjusted the leafy pin holding her braided bun up, walking down the right path with no hesitation. She knew this path well, even memorizing little things left by other fighters as good luck charms. Once, she had even left a sticky-note with shaky handwriting wishing good luck to a new fighter. It was the last time she ever did something like that. Too much emotional attachment involved.

The rumble of the crowd above grew louder as Raven kept her head high, walking to the familiar gates. The sight of the double sliding door in front of a strangely-medieval trellis gate always got her heart rate spiking just a little too much. She never argued with the adrenaline, though. It was a violent change of pace from her normal life.

The timer above the door struck two minutes and Raven started fiddling her fingers, adrenaline already starting to pump. The green light to the side of the light told it all to her-- it meant Borealis was already in the stadium. The announcer’s cheesy voice was playing through a speaker, keeping Raven informed.

“Our first fighter of the night is the princess of the stage,” the announcer chirped, Raven listening as she stretched her arms. “A graceful fighter with an elegant voice-- Borealis!”

Raven heard the roar of the audience in reaction to Borealis. The cocky fighter was probably flouncing across the stage, knowing her. Maybe doing a stupid backflip, Raven grumbled to herself.

A ping! resounded through the hall and Raven straightened her posture, head held high. A screechy note resounded as the doors and trellis gate opened and rose. When the opening came, Raven unfurled her wings wide, taking off into the high-ceiling arena and soaring about.

“Our second fighter is the dual-bladed ventus of demise-- Raven!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and cries of awe as she twirled horizontally mid-air, watching her pull off stunts left and right. She drifted to the ground, landing on the thick, lit-up glass floor.

“As you all know, since this is an official tournament, we’re set to Standard battle mode,” the announcer informed over the speakers. Borealis merely smirked at her opponent, causing Raven to return the gesture with an eyeroll. The announcer continued to ramble on about the rules before they finished.

“The rules have been laid down, now, it’s time to battle! Prepare to fight!”

Borealis popped her microphones from her sheaths, twirling them in her hands before the sword blades in both popped out. Raven was grateful for the protective layer that the fighters were forced to wear-- those blades would definitely hurt if they pierced her skin.

Raven popped the tips off of her side feathers, revealing her two dual blades as she drew them both out with the tips of her fingers, flipping them in her hands. The speakers from all edges of the stadium chimed in chorus, starting the countdown timer.

“3! 2! 1!
FIGHT!”

[now playing: toxic by britney spears]

The first violin riff rang through the stadium and Raven charged, dashing straight for Borealis. Borealis stepped to the side, gracefully avoiding the slashing movements.

“Stay still, would you?” Raven hissed, trying to jab at the other’s stomach. Borealis ducked, holding her blade above and pressing back to hold Raven’s blade still. Borealis brought one of her legs beneath Raven’s feet, sweeping her stance off the ground.

Borealis smirked from atop the other fighter, sword tip near Raven’s chest. Another violin riff sounded out, lining up in time with Raven’s smirk as she kicked both of her feet up, landing square in Borealis’ gut and knocking her off the Ventus folk fighter.

Borealis scoffed, clutching her stomach in over-dramatic effect. “Combat boots? Dirty play,” she cried from the floor. Gasps resounded from the audience. Borealis always knew how to get their attention.

“Legal game rules,” Raven shouted, a cocky smirk plastered on her face as she walked over to her opponent on the floor, throwing another kick at her. “Honestly, you were too--”

Borealis grabbed Raven’s boot and threw her into the floor of the ring. Borealis scrambled to her feet as she watched her opponent rolled onto her back, wings flaring out.

Borealis scrambled to her feet, readying her fighting stance again.

“What was that?!” Raven shouted, propelling herself back up with her wings, soaring as the vocals rang through the stadium. Her face was contorted with anger, scowl painted on her face instead of a cocky smirk. She twirled a dagger in her grasp, launching it towards the other fighter and tumbling back on the stage. Her landing broke into a full charge, brandishing her other dagger as she ran.

Borealis scowled, dodging the thrown weapon and tumbling out of the way of Raven, pulling out a sword to block the swing. “Honestly,” she grunted as the two pressed their weapons together, “Be less predictable.”

Raven scowled, muscles tensed as she continued to push the weapon out of her line of danger. “Stop talking trash.”

Borealis grinned, corner of her mouth drawing the smile into a smirk. “Why should I?”

Raven rolled her eyes, shrugging. “You let down your guard when you do.”

Borealis scoffed, her weapon’s force faltering for a brief second. “What do you--”

Raven took advantage of the opening, knocking the other fighter’s weapon out of her hand and shoved the other back. Borealis stumbled, adjusting her mask as she watched Raven scurry back towards her other dagger, grasping it in her hand.

“Bad idea, blondie,” Borealis called, grasping her other sword. “I still have a weapon.”

Raven didn’t respond, running as the other started running forwards, chasing the winged fighter. Raven had one location in mind-- the curved walls surrounding the bright floor of the stadium.

Please, let me be faster than her, Raven prayed internally, running as fast as her combat boots could take her. She cursed at the weight of her wings; the feathers fighting against the wind.

Raven finally approached the curved wall, not stopping her dash. Borealis skidded to a halt behind her and watched as Raven flipped off of the wall, gently touching Borealis’ nose as she was mid-air.

Raven landed on her feet behind Borealis, throwing her daggers with precision and pinning the sleeves of the fighter’s tasseled jacket to the wall. Raven couldn’t fight the grin that spread across her face as she watched the other fighter struggle-- mentally and physically. She could risk tearing her jacket and continue to fight, or accept her defeat.

“Choices, Bori,” Raven taunted, cheerful as she watched her opponent struggle. “You gonna choose your clothes over winning?”

Borealis scowled, hearing the beat draw to the final countdown. 12, 13, 14…

With a grunt, Borealis lunged forwards in an attempt to free herself from the knives. The fabric didn’t budge; the horn sounded out throughout the stadium to signal that Borealis’ time was up. The trapped girl swore under her breath as Raven came up with a smirk painted on her face, the fighter yanking the two knives from the wall.

“RAVEN WINS ROUND ONE!”

~

[now playing: make believe by kero kero bonito]

“Oh my god!” a tall, olive-skinned teenager breathed as they leaned even closer to the TV, trying to get everything through their poor vision. They instinctively grabbed the hems of their sweater sleeves, pulling them over their hands as they watched the cocky, raven-winged fighter defeat the siren in the first round. Specter focused on it all, the look on the fighters faces, the weapons, the bass of the music through the speaker--

“Specter, you know how that television can get sometimes!” a feminine called from the kitchen, followed by the clinks of dishes being stacked into cabinets. “Don’t sit so close to the TV. Bad for your sight.”

“But mama!” Specter protested, only to get shushed by her mother. Specter huffed a breath to themselves, clambering backwards and onto the couch. The vision of the television that they could get from their couch was blurry.

...At least Specter’s mom didn’t note them pulling out their phone and staring close to the screen, pulling up the Statmix livestream of the battle. Specter stared at the screen, a sense of longing filling their chest. It almost felt like a waste to spend their days on the couch-- watching the TV for battles, earbuds in their ears as they dazed off to music, or button-smashing their portable console to a cheap RPG game.

There was a part of them that had their constant attention on Rhythm Access. Sure, Specter had a little bit of battle training from a fighting class their parents forced them to take at a young age. However, they could only dream of being up on that stage, breathing in the adrenaline, fighting through pure instinct.

Specter sighed, rolling onto their side as they watched the battle continue. It was the final moments of the Borealis versus Raven battle, and the latter was clearly winning. They grinned, grateful to watch the black-winged girl fight with her whole energy, giving off a presence for the stage and radiating confidence.

Specter watched as the second round of the battle closed, deeming Raven the winner yet again. It was a best two-out-of-three, so Raven had won. Specter cheered to themselves, grinning as they watched Raven wave and walk out of the arena. The next battle was starting soon.

Specter rolled onto their other side, swiping out of the livestream and refreshing their feed on Statmix. A post from the official RA managers’ account from a few hours ago popped to the top of their feed, catching their eye.

NEW YEAR, NEW FIGHTERS! RHYTHM ACCESS AUDITIONS; OPENING 1/8/00! Specter’s eyes widened dramatically, holding the phone painfully close to their face as they strained to get some of the information out of it. Held at the stadium...minimum uniform required...weapons provided...bring your best self.

“Mama?” Specter called, voice drawing out the shout for their mother. “Can I go somewhere next Saturday?”

“Sí! Only if you have no homework!” Specter fought the squeal in the back of their throat. This could be it!

Specter bolted from the couch, rushing up the stairs to their room, shutting the door as quietly as they could. They pushed off the maroon bead curtain, rushing to their desk and throwing open the desk drawer. Rummaging through, they pulled out the printed papers from doll designer apps, the scraps of fabric they had sampled, the sketches of the chain whip that kept them awake with excitement.

With all the materials laid out on the desk, Specter smiled, grasping a swatch of maroon fabric tight. The fabric that they had plans for, for their signature jacket. It could all come true.

Next Saturday.

7/06/2020 11:14 am

!!!! Awesome chapter!!!

Time · 7/06/2020 12:26 pm

Yes! I agree with Rune!

Plus two forumfic chapters in one day! Amazing!

I'm looking forward to more future battles! Especially special ones with unique stadiums and different gamemodes!

DarkLordRebel · 7/06/2020 1:05 pm

Great chapter!
First battle was great to see- looking forward to the rest.

meerkat · 7/06/2020 1:26 pm

yesssss UGH SO GOOD-

Astra · 7/06/2020 2:00 pm

sO GOOD

SongOfStorms · 7/06/2020 2:59 pm

YESSS SO GOOOOOOD
thank u for the food it was spicy

Last edited by SongOfStorms (7/06/2020 2:59 pm)

SpecterTheGreat · 7/06/2020 4:34 pm

!!!SO COOL!!!
Wah I completely felt the excitement in the battle,,, awesome.

Also Specter made their debut 👀

EchoDraws · 7/06/2020 5:03 pm

OwO you write very awesomely!

Jack · 7/08/2020 8:40 pm

I am Looking 👀