"Plutie. There's no need for that." said Neptune, raising her hands defensively as she stepped between Terra and Iris. "We're all friends here. There's no need to try to do anything like that. Terra here isn't even from our world or even a goddess! If you go too hard on her you might break her. And if you break her I'll have no choice but to fight back and I know Plutie will be very upset over both things. Please, please, just go back to Plutie?" she then quickly shot a glance to Terra.
"Don't make yourself a target for her. No matter what." she quickly tried to whisper back, trying to make sure Iris could hear despite knowing full-well that she could.
Terra however could feel some kind of power coming from Iris Heart and decided to ignore Neptune's warnings, and prepared to charge up a
Flare spell against Iris Heart while she was distracted.
"
Hmhm~ Why so sudden to get rid of me Neppy?~" Iris commented, zoning her eyes on her. "
Don't you like me anymore? After everything I've done for you, allowed you to regain your cute transformation, and even allowed you to make new friends, you still wish for me to not do what makes me me? Hmhm~ Well if you're that eager to not see me, why don't you just strike me down right now? I could do with the workout~" She then chuckled for a moment before Ben walked up to her.
"The knight lady's right, guys, there's no need to-"
Something stopped Ben in his tracks.
Iris Heart's very aura.
"So this is what it feels like to not fight E-rated guys."
However, it only stopped his tracks briefly.
Tiptoeing to reach the levitating Goddess' head and exerting his will to walk forward, Ben placed his hand on Iris Heart's head and begins to rub her hair.
"There there, you're still the little fella you were a buncha minutes ago, no need for a scare," Ben hums with a hint of nervousness in his voice.
This caused her to turn directly towards Ben with a somewhat angry expression. "
Hmhm~ So you're one to try to touch me with gentle kindness in order to turn me off, hmm? Such a cute little boy~ While my friends here know what you are with that cute little watch of yours, you couldn't possibly be able to defeat me as you are~" She commented as she began to make a move towards spawning forth her weapon. While all this was happening, Terra was about halfway through charging her Flare Spell. That was when Neptune decided to intervene.
Then Ben placed his hand on Iris's head. Instantly Nep sprung into action and, with a blinding flash of light, the young and lavander-haired girl was gone, replaced by an older-looking, more mature, stronger-looking, woman with cybernetic wings. One dive-tackling right into Ben to get him out of the way and quickly repositioning herself between Iris and Ben.
"Iris, please! Now is not the time for such a display. If you must attempt such a thing that I shall serve as your opponent, but no one else here shall be your target."
"
Oh?~ Hmhm~ So you finally had the intention to transform, did you Neppy?" She exclaimed as she eyed up the newly transformed Neptune and chuckled, even releasing a slight blush on her cheeks. "
You know... I do so adore the small, jiggly-puffy Neppy, but this form of yours is quite lovely too~" She exclaimed with a little interest in her eyes. "
And besides~ You still owe me for all our time together~"
Meanwhile Terra's Flare Spell was almost ready to be cast. She would aim it directly at Iris while her back was turned. While Terra early on would of backed down without a second, all the adventures she's had in her world including all the courage and confidence that had been given to her to help her build more as a person were coming into play now.
"Oof!"
Ben soon found himself pushed away from Iris Heart by Neptune.
"Guys, guys, I like a fine buttkicking as much as the next guy," Ben speaks nervously, "but I don't think there's a need to be hasty. Ploots here is an ally, friend, someone on our side."
Ben briefly turns to the transformed Neptune - Purple Heart.
"So, uh... what's supposed to happen now?"
During all this, Ben was tampering with his Omnitrix, dialing between holograms.
"
Are you really considering it, Benny?~" "
Sounds like things are going to get out of hand. I shall join you, Neptune." Vert exclaimed as she engulfed herself in a bright light and transformed into Lady Green Heart.
In her new form, she walked over to Ben and Neptune's sides, planting a hand onto Ben's Shoulder as well as Neptune's. "
Sounds like you get a taste of our combat abilities first hand, Ben Tennyson~ Neptune, it's good to be fighting alongside you again. Or should I be calling you Purple Heart just to keep things formal?~" "
Oh?~ Hmhm. So the little Green Heart decides to make her debut~ Remember when I crushed your spirit?~ How I made you submit before me and how you embarrassed yourself in front of everyone?~ "It's not fair! You all ganged up on me! I demand a rematch! Flat Goddesses aren't supposed to beat me! It's not fair!" And how you cried during all of that?~ Hmhm. How satisfying~" She exclaimed, putting on a Green Heart impersonation as she spoke that quote. "
Me? Submit to you? All you appear to be is a large jerk who just loves to bully everything for your own amusement. And I won't stand for it." "
Then by all means~ Come and try me."
That was when Terra's Flare Spell was fully charged and she launched it towards Iris Heart and successfully landing on impact, dealing a large amount of damage and knocking her over. Luckily she managed to lower the impact to keep the place stable. "
What... Who dares..." Terra then engulfed herself in a bright light as she changed forms completely, now sporting a entirely purple/pink look with long flowing hair, sharp looking eyes and red lipstick, alongside an illuminating Magical Presence.
"
I won't be intimidated by the likes of you. I know what you are from my world. People like you terrorise the innocent, and play with their opponents after they beat them horrifically. That's the very thing I fought against. And I won't allow you to hurt my friends! Not here, not anytime soon!" "
You will pay for your act against me~ Yaaa!" Iris then charged forward towards Terra out of anger and spawned forth her Blade in which Terra responded by pulling out the
Ultima Weapon, and slashed against Iris's blade, causing a strong clash and actually knocking Iris Heart backwards onto her back. "
What?! Impossible..." "
Incredible... To think that a girl like Terra was able to possess such power to deal damage with that magic attack, and successfully repel a sword attack..." "
I won't let you beat me, Iris. I can't afford to be defeated now. This world is in great danger if my fears are recognised, and I cannot allow a simple bully to disrupt our efforts. Revert back. Immediately." "
Hmph. If you think that one attack is enough to phase me, you're mistake---" "
Flare!" She then launched another Flare a few seconds after the first one and knocked Iris back even more. "
While in my Esper Form, I can afford to cast more than one spell at once with extra strength. It also adds to the fact that the Flare Spell ignores any kind of magic defence. Now I won't ask again because we all need to co-operate. Revert back to Plutia, now." "
I will not submit to you!" Iris then got back up and attempted to launch another attack towards Terra when she quickly cast
Blizzara against her, in which she successfully landed the attack and caused Iris to fall to the ground again. "
Downgrade. Now. You can't win against me in this state, not while I can keep my distance from you and launch my attacks." "
Hmph... This... isn't over..." And then she reverted back to Plutia after taking enough damage to knock her down to that state. "
Ow... You're a meanie..." "
Your guilt trip tactic won't work on me, Plutia." And then Terra reverted back to her human state and took a seat on the floor, causing Green Heart to fly over to her. "
You okay there, Terra was it?" "
I'm okay.. My Esper form takes a bit off of me when I return back to normal. I am a hybrid between Human and Esper after all so clashes like this are expected.." That was when Vert spotted quite the amount of slash wounds on her right shoulder. "
It seems you did take some kind of damage somewhere... You did mention a Ephraim being killed defending you so this is probably from that. Neptune, can you possibly heal this wound? It looks pretty bad and could bleed out at any moment."