The three girls got off of the boat.
Their garb was... unusual... for where they had come from, but here on the island nobody would take a second look at the outfits.
The youngest was a pink-haired teenager in a set of fox's ears and tail. Her deep purple skirt came down to her knees, but her clothing seemed built for practicality and mobility over fashion and impressiveness. There were pockets everywhere, and the girl looked ready to carry whatever she found here on the island. Her jacket was the same purple as the skirt, and under that was a modest brown t-shirt. Her hair was done up in short double pigtails that didn't go past her neck, topped at the top in what looked like two yams made of knotted hair.
The second girl was somewhat older, but not by much. Dressed in a sheep costume, her auburn hair came down to her waist. Like the bunny-girl, her hair was in twin pigtails; but instead of knotted hair, they were kept in place with a light pink ribbon and a jet black ribbon. Her pale yellow dress was tied at the waist with a bright blue sash, and around her neck was a necklace adorned with a simple red jewel.
The third girl was the most normal of the lot, at first glance. Dressed in a cat costume, the maroon-haired girl wore a moderately revealing get-up that was designed to draw the gazes of boys. The top was orange, only slightly darker than her skin, and her shorts were blue jean shorts that came down halfway between the thigh and the knees. Her belly was bared, and on her left shoulder she carried a plain brown bag.
The fox-girl yawned. "Wasn't Hime-chan supposed to meet us here, Hikaru?"
The catgirl shrugged. "Chiba-chan, if Nonohara told you that, then she told us two different things. I was told she'd only be able to meet us once we applied to be part of the game. Did she tell you anything, Takamachi-chan?"
The sheep just said "Let's get this taken care of. The sooner I can get into a bed that doesn't move around during the night, the better."
Chiba Usagi (the fox-girl) and Hibino Hikaru (the cat-girl) both nodded in agreement with Takamachi Nanoha (the sheep-girl). The "three-day voyage" had been anything but luxurious for any of the three. Hikaru had been invited to the island by Nonohara Himeko, to join in the contest to see who would win "The Grand Prize". Usagi had been... volunteered... by her mother and father to investigate the ruins and relics of Caballa Island. Nanoha had snuck on board the ship and, instead of being thrown overboard by Captain Stan, was roomed with Hikaru and Usagi on the condition that she not tell anyone how she got invited to the island.
The three girls, upon disembarking, were met at the docks by a person dressed in an eagle suit. In his (her?) hands was a clipboard and a pen. He (she?) looked at the unusual trio and smiled. One invitee, one stow-away, and one VIP... and they're another bunch of outside magic users. Oh well, once they leave the docks they're under the island's control. Spreading his (her?) wings out, he (she?) announced to the trio.
"Welcome, Chiba Usagi, daughter of Mamoru and Usagi. Welcome, Takamachi Nanoha, defender of Tokyo. Welcome, Hibino Hikaru, who is perceptive of everything. I welcome all three of you to Caballa Island!"
As the three girls stepped forward nervously, each of them felt as though something about them had changed. Nanoha reached for her necklace. Usagi's hand dived into one of her many pockets. Only Hikaru did nothing in light of the change. The Eagle-person smiled mysteriously.
"I see you have noticed the sealing spell. It's as much to keep the island safe as it is to keep the world safe. Nothing gets in without becoming subjected to the rules of the island, and nothing leaves without forgetting what they have learned. Unless, of course, you leave with the blessing of Poseidon, but those who gain that blessing seem to want to stay on the island."
Now Usagi and Nanoha were alarmed. Usagi was the heiress to the Silver Crystal, or the Ginzishou, while Nanoha was the best mage that the Time-Space Administration Bureau could send to such a place. Both were extremely powerful magic users in their own right, yet to be cut off from their power... Hikaru, however, was delighted. She had always known, in her heart, that her rival Himeko had magic powers; but to know that her powers would be of no use on the island gave her a sense of hope. However, Usagi and Nanoha were looking at the items in their hands with a sense of loss.
The Eagle-person noticed their sense of loss, and smiled. "Not destroyed, only sealed. If and when you leave, you will have grown wiser, stronger, less reliant on outside power and more reliant on the powers that you have always had within yourselves. The connections will be reforged, but they will serve only to strengthen you. Warriors. Wizards. Defenders. Explorers. All are drawn to the island. Please, ladies, enjoy your stay on Caballa Island. There is more than one destiny in store for you."
The Eagle-person snapped his (her?) fingers, and the three girls were transported to where the game begins for all. A town of beginnings and wonder, where dreams begin to take form, where the foul touch of Chronos had yet to pollute the land... the town of Blooming Cora.
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(Posted Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:43)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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