Searing looked around at the festive green and white decorations around town as she went to the dojo. It was obviously a holiday, but she wasn't about to ask what it was. The Gardevoirikkah signs told her enough. Additionally, it had been getting cooler, but not to the point where there was any hint of snow or ice. Still, she'd adjusted her growing latex wardrobe for it, switching the athletic top for a more normal long sleeve top. She'd also noticed a very visible change in what everyone was wearing, as the sudden proliferation of ankle length split front skirts was hard to miss.

Even Raven was wearing such a skirt. "Good morning, Searing," she said.

"Morning, Raven." Searing was quick to go on the defense as Raven started fighting her, as usual. They went at it for a couple minutes with neither yielding or falling, stopping only at an unspoken agreement, mostly based on Raven's arms stinging from all the impacts and Searing pretending that the same happened with her. "Good match."

"You too. I've got something special planned for today's classes this afternoon."

"Does it have anything to do with your recent absences and students skipping sessions?"

"Maybe." Raven went back to her prep work. "I definitely want you there."

The morning and afternoon classes went as they normally did. Thirty minutes after the last class, while Searing was doing some sweeping by herself, it happened. Raven and every single student made a dramatic entrance. "Searing! You have gone undefeated here for too long! It is time for us to claim victory over you!"

Searing was quick to get in her battle stance, then she took note of the menagerie of enchanted outfits everyone was wearing. Raven had a pair of wings on her back, talons on her fingertips, and tall heels on her feet. Some students had tentacles coming off their shoulders. A few had cat themed bodysuits, complete with digitigrade legs and claws. One even had a set of centaur legs on, paired with hoof shaped gauntlets on her arms.

"Well, if I'm going to be outnumbered like this. . ." Searing kicked the broom and spun it around like a staff before suddenly striking the centaur in the side, and like that, the fight was on. In the initial rush, Searing dashed forward, planted the long broom handle on the mat, swung up onto the centaur's back, and allowed the handle to come around and bonk her platform on the head.

Six tentacles from two opponents came up from her platform's rear and grabbed the broom. With Searing's aura reinforcing it, it did not bend or break, but if she did nothing, she would lose it. So, she did something: she stepped back onto the centaur's upper body, forcing her to tip forward. At the right moment, Searing let go of the broom. The tentacles, now with no resistance, pulled the broom right into the centaur's elevated flank, eliciting a reflexive dual kick that sent both of them flying into the wall and releasing the broom.

Searing righted her platform and recovered the broom in time to swing the bristle end at an approaching cat woman's head, sending her to the floor. From the other side, another tentacled woman grabbed Searing's ankles and pulled her off the platform. She didn't think it through and was rewarded with Searing rolling with the fall and right over her.

A trio of cat women pounced at the opportunity, quite literally, leaping at her from one direction, landing three flying kicks on her and sending Searing flying against the wall without her broom. "Heh. You've learned well." Searing got to her feet and turned around. "But you still-OOF!" She was interrupted by a hoof gauntlet to the gut, which surprised her more than it hurt her. Searing steeled herself as more punches came and she started to slump over.

"It's over!" The centaur woman proclaimed as she reared up to drop her forehooves into Searing's back.

Searing, naturally, did not let that happen. She quickly got back up and caught the cannons on the forelegs, stopping the attack. With a push and a twist, she dropped the centaur to the mat.

Raven launched herself forward, landing on the centaur's side and starting her attack. She and Searing fell into a familiar rhythm, then it changed. Raven brought a wing between them, keeping Searing from seeing the fist aiming for her face until it was too late, sending her staggering back. "Why won't you go down?" Raven ferociously asked as she leapt forward again and resumed the attack.

"I'm really tough," Searing said as she went on the defense. "You would not believe the things I've faced before." The wing blocked Searing's vision again, and it was quickly followed by a different attack, sending her back again. Raven advanced, aiming her heel clad foot at Searing's foot. Searing sidestepped the move before responding with one of her own, her flat soled foot landing hard on the side of Raven's ankle, forcing the winged woman down and getting a pained yelp from her. "Now fighting in heels, that's dumb."

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. . . . . . . ." Raven breathed out. "Oooooowwwww. . ."

"Hey, are. . . Are you okay?" Searing let her foot off Raven's ankle and noticed that the angle was just a bit off. "Okay, fight's over! Let's get Raven to the hospital." She went over to the centaur and helped get her to her hooves. "Hey, we're counting on you."

"I'm on it," one of the cat women said, quickly retrieving her phone. "Hi, yes, we need an ambulance to the dojo. . . Something with her ankle. She was fighting and her opponent stepped on her ankle. . . From the side, yes. . . Thank you." She hung up. "The ambulance should be here soon."

And soon, it was. The EMS women, clad in the usual tight latex of the world, gently got Raven into the ambulance. Searing dismissed the class, did some closing stuff, and, after locking the place, hailed a cab to go to the hospital.

Searing waited while the doctors did their thing. After an hour or so, Raven was wheeled out, her injured foot in a medical boot and the wings wrapped around herself. "Hey," Raven tiredly said.

"Raven, I'm so sorry," Searing said. "I've been-"

"No, I'm sorry," Raven calmly interrupted with a raised hand. "I should not have done what I did. Getting everyone some enchanted pieces in the hopes of finally beating you, and then. . . You were acting in self defense, you neutralized your opponent, and I remembered why I don't like fighting with heels. I can respect that, and the lesson from it."

"But I should have-"

"None of that!" The sudden firm tone stopped Searing. "You're in the penthouse at Moxxi's, right? I'll organize a Slaaneshmas party, and everyone will bring something. I look forward to seeing your purple and pink."

"Uh, okay? How about we get you home?"

"I'd like that."

As soon as Searing was back in the penthouse, she got online and looked up the two holidays she'd heard about. Sure, she could have asked Raven, but that would have been dumber than asking about swimsuits back at Crystal Prep.

Gardevoirikkah was a quiet week long holiday, honoring the goddess Gardevoir, the patron of clothing, construction, and discipline. To Searing's surprise, art was also associated with Gardevoir, but the way it was presented made sense. It took focus to make art, it was constructive, and it could be in the form of clothing.

Slaaneshmas, on the other hand, was a one day holiday honoring the goddess Slaanesh (something about that description didn't feel quite right to Searing), the patron of the body, senses, and pleasure. To Searing's disgust, the best way she could sum up the holiday from what she read was a day long orgy with seductively designed outfits and bindings, and she was not about to partake in that.

There was also something about a mysterious unknown goddess, who supposedly created the world just for the people, providing abundant land and bountiful harvests of all that could be desired. She also apparently got Slaanesh and Gardevoir to stop arguing and start cooperating with each other, allowing balance in everyone's lives. Being an unknown goddess, she had no holiday associated with her.

Searing suspected that she knew the unknown goddess's identity.

After reading more about Slaaneshmas, Searing went to the phone and dialed. "Hello?" Came a response after a few rings.

Searing spoke. "Raven, I'm going to be honest with you: I just researched Slaaneshmas and I do not want to celebrate it, so please, please, PLEASE, do not bring everyone over for it. Or anyone. Including yourself."

"Aww. . ." Raven pouted. "So you'll be celebrating it alone?"

"I want to spend it alone."

"Even if I let you have your way with me? I can bring all kinds of fun toys."

Searing pinched the bridge of her nose. "Raven, I said No. If you insist on coming over, I'm just going to tell you to go home."

"And if I insist on staying?"

"Then you wouldn't be letting me have my way with you."

"That. . ." Raven's tone changed as the words hit her like a bucket of cold water. "Huh. Hmm. . . What if I just come over to visit?"

"I'd be alright with a casual visit. CASUAL."

With the dojo closed, Searing found herself bored with nothing to do and no desire to go out. Sure, she could have gone to the gym, but the sheer abundance of Slaaneshmas stuff was disgusting, especially with all the things that were on display and on sale.

During the month between the end of Gardevoirikkah and Slaaneshmas, Searing did not leave the hotel. She still had regular Slaaneshmas reminders, with the hotel and its staff being redecorated to fit the theme of the holiday. Even the maids had a layer of purple and pink on under their uniforms.

Eventually, there was a knock on the door. Searing answered it. "Raven," she flatly said as she took in the woman's outfit from the ground up. Her feet were in six inch tall heels, attached to transparent purple and pink latex stockings. Up top, Raven wore more transparent pink and purple latex, covering everything but her head. The only thing keeping her somewhat modest was a purple monokini with pink mesh. Around her neck was a collar with a cleanly integrated digital timer, counting down to midnight. The collar also held the monokini in place, essentially locking the outfit on her. Her hair was very glossy and held back in a ponytail, a departure from the usual loose style.

"Merry Slaaneshmas, Searing," Raven said as she took in Searing's outfit: plain black latex. No heels, no fancy designs, nothing.

"Are you sure you should be wearing heels like that?"

"The doctors said my ankle was fully healed last week," Raven casually dismissed as she entered the penthouse with a noticeable sway to her whole body. "Besides, I'm not fighting you." She handed Searing a small remote. "I'll let you have this."

"What's this for?" The sides had a feminine outline on them, and in between them were a pair of sliders, each with a button next to them.

Raven draped herself over Searing. "I'm dressed and prepared for some good vibes~"

"No." Searing put the remote down on a desk. "I said casual, remember?"

"But it's Slaaneshmas. What fun is Slaaneshmas without a bit of fun?"

"We have different ideas of fun." Searing sighed and gently extracted herself from Raven's embrace. "Is there anything you do today that isn't related to. . . Fun?"

"No, not really."

A frustrated growl left Searing's mouth. "Well, let's figure something out." She looked to the side and saw the printer.

Raven saw the printer as well. "You have a latex printer in here?"

"Yeah. Use it if you want."

Raven giggled like a little girl as she dashed over to the computer and plopped herself in the chair with a little too much energy and enthusiasm. She was quick to boot it up and go through the tutorial.

Searing, happy that Raven was distracted, grabbed a room key and went downstairs to exercise. That room, at least, had minimal Slaaneshmas decorations, and with everyone busy, she would be alone.

A few hours later, Searing returned to the room. Raven was still at the printer, and based on the very faint buzzing, the woman had taken the remote and was using it on herself. "Raven?"

Raven turned around. "Hey, Searing~" she lazily said. She had a lopsided grin on her face and a long stream of drool that had puddled on her outfit. "I had fun. Good vibes are gooooooood~"

"Yeah, sure."

"I just wish I could try my new stuff now."

"You locked your outfit on yourself. Now cool down, clean up, get your new stuff, and get going."

"Yeah, yeah." Raven hit the buttons on the remote and the buzzing quieted down. She got up and went to the bathroom.

Searing pushed the chair aside before looking at the designs Raven had made. Each one was WAY more creative than anything Searing could have come up with, and she was impressed. There were even multilayer outfits, and she was very much impressed by those. "I bet Yang would-" Searing smacked herself before she let that train of thought go any further. "No, she's too good for this. Then again. . ." Another smack.

Raven returned a minute later, now a bit more composed and cleaned of her drool. "What do you think of those designs?"

"They're. . . They're nice."

"Thanks. I'm waiting for the printers to become better before I get one. Thanks for letting me take it for a test run."

"You're welcome. Now please, get your stuff and go."

"Alright, alright. You'll be back at the dojo next month, right?"

Searing considered the question as Raven collected her stuff. "I don't think I can. Not after that brawl."

"Alright. No hard feelings, right?"

"Yeah. I'm. . . I'm feeling tired right now. Have a good day."

"You too. Bye~"

Searing waited for the clicking of Raven's heels to disappear and the closing of the door before she relaxed at all, letting out a sigh of relief once she was alone. "When can I go home?"

Discord was waiting in the penthouse when Searing got back from breakfast. He had a black bowtie on. "Guess what today is?"

"Is it my last day here?"

"Yes, yes it is."

"SWEET CELESTIA YES! PLEASE, LET'S GET GOING ALREADY!"

Discord held his hands up. "Easy, easy. Just let me pack your things up first." He went around picking out and packing up all the things Searing had accumulated into a suitcase. "Be honest with me for a moment: is there anything here that you did like?"

"Well. . . The printer is pretty nifty."

"So you do like the latex clothes?"

"No, I only got used to them. The printer let me make whatever I wanted."

"A degree of agency, eh?"

"Hey, what about the BPS?"

"Just a few more stops to go."

Searing gave Discord a flat look of unamusement. "You're just doing this for fun now, aren't you?"

"I will neither confirm or deny that accusation." Discord loaded the printer into the suitcase. "I'm sure you'll like having this later."

"Just get me out of here."

A few minutes later, Discord had packed up all the goodies in the penthouse. With a snap, he vanished the suitcase away. "There we go. And now, it's time for us to leave." He put an arm across her shoulders and with a snap, they vanished.

Author's Notes:

Journey is ending
Fetish world behind us
There is more to come