"Midori? Are you really okay?" asked one of the news anchors back in the studio.
"Other than being attacked by Dark Magical Girls, a kaiju, surviving a helicopter crash and being damn near ready to kill for a cheeseburger at this point - I'm fine," said Midori. "Well, that and I could really use another dose of painkiller. And coffee. Not necessarily in that order."
"So, uhm, what's the status there on the site?" asked the news anchor, still a bit put off by recent events.
"What we've been able to put together with statements from the magical girl, the ninja boy, his guardians, and a talking ferret..." began Midori.
"A wha?" interrupted the news anchor.
The camera obligingly shifted to a small bandaged furry creature, who waved at the camera. "Hello."
"...Did we change to a magical sentai girl show and nobody told me?" mumbled the news anchor, though the microphones picked it up.
"No, Shiro, this is not a magical girl show," said Midori. "In any case, we have Yuuno Scrya here - magical ferret."
"I keep telling people, I'm a real human mage from Mid-Childa, I just heal faster in this form," complained the ferret.
"Oh, so you're like an animagus from the Harry Potter novels," said Midori.
"Ah, I'm not familiar with that series," admitted Yuuno.
"We also have the ninja-in-training Naruto Uzumaki," said Midori, indicating a boy in torn orange clothing who was sitting on a chunk of rubble who waved at the camera.
"He's a ninja? In orange?" asked the news anchor, Shiro Yamanagi.
"Magical ninja type, not stealth ninja type, as I understand it," said Midori. "He was assaulted early on by the Dark Magical Girls and was unable to directly assist in the battle, but he was instrumental in getting several people to safety."
"Ah, a ninja hero then," said the news anchor.
If anything, the boy's cocky grin turned up two notches and he nodded once. Though he still looked like a decent breeze would knock him down.
"We've also been joined by Captain Lindy Harlaown of the Time/Space Administration Bureau, also known as the TSAB," said Midori, indicating a woman who was standing near where two of the magical girls from earlier were apparently resting and talking.
"So you've put together what occurred?" prompted the news desk as medics, some in odd uniforms, ran around in the background. "Just so you know, there are 2 deaths blamed on the Dark Magical Girl attack and the kaiju's appearance. 117 injured."
"The number may go up," Midori warned the news anchor. "Economic impact will be heavy enough, this block of downtown Uminari has been all but leveled and there is scattered damage over a five block area as well. If not for these magical girls, the ninja, and the young animagus here - the death toll might be much higher."
"So how did this start, Midori?" asked Shiro.
"The young magical girl was in her civilian identity when she was detected as having magical power and attacked," said Midori. "According to Captain Harlaown, several other unexplained assaults in the area with the victims being chosen for latent magical talent apparently occurred within the past few weeks. These Dark Magical Girls are believed to be the ones who attacked them, usually without warning or from ambush in order to steal the 'magical heart' or something of that nature."
"Sounds like a typical magical girl plot, gathering such things in order to open a gateway for a demonic invasion or something on that order," mused Shiro. "I think my daughter watches a series with that plotline."
"True enough, Shiro," said Midori. "Captain Harlaown tells me she and her team are in charge of hunting down items of powerful magic that threaten dimensions, one of which is apparently responsible for all of these events. They didn't know one had arrived on Earth until this fight, when it was glimpsed during the battle as it unfolded."
"Any idea what this 'artifact' looks like?" asked Shiro.
"Details are apparently being withheld as the TSAB is now in contact with the local authorities," said Midori. "From what she tells me, the TSAB normally operates in secret around worlds like our own - to avoid influencing our world or bringing additional troubles our way. Due to the scale of events last night, their 'secret status' has pretty much fallen apart and they've contacted our government to render assistance."
"Our weathergirl tells us that sounds like the Prime Directive from 'Star Trek'," said Shiro.
"In any case, with TSAB help," said Midori, "we may be able to solve some of the problems associated with the level of destruction here."
The ninja boy behind her started talking to Captain Harlaown, stroking a small white-gold fox cub in his lap.
"So, Japan had superheroes who came forward last night and then vanished," said Shiro. "I recognized some of them from the 'urban legends' out of Azabu Juuban up in Tokyo. Those were the 'Sailor Senshi' and I think one was the famous 'Sailor V.'"
"Right you are, Shiro," said Midori. "Right now the names are being withheld as many of the superheroes we have here in Uminari City are underage."
"-and when exactly were you going to tell us that you were a magical girl superhero out fighting the forces of darkness?" asked Nanoha's mother as she stood in front of the bandaged girl and managed to loom over her.
"Wehhhhh," indicated a teary-eyed Nanoha. This wasn't how it was supposed to go, and while her mother was a very easy-going individual - sitting here on a chunk of rubble while emergency personnel rushed around wasn't exactly conducive to anyone's peace of mind.
"So, 'young ninja hero' - what are your plans here?"
Naruto didn't stop stroking the little fox's fur. Sure was a cute thing with the little gold lines on an otherwise white fox. It had calmed down a lot since he'd freed it from the rubble and just held it and stroked the fur. "I don't have much, and when that one gal attacked me - something happened. I dunno what all happened, but it hurt. And since then I've been kinda shaky and feelin' weak and..."
"And passing out at odd times," said Lina from nearby as Ifurita was abruptly there to catch him before he could fall over.
"I understand you probably don't trust us," said Captain Harlaown. "However we do have medical facilities and are a little more advanced in the treatment of injuries resulting from magic."
"That will be fine," said Ifurita from where she was easing Naruto down onto a spread blanket and keeping an eye on the fox-critter.
"It will?" asked Lina.
"Medical care is necessary for the young Master," said Ifurita. "However, I think it would be beneficial to stay on this world as much as possible."
"Why?" asked Lina.
"He indicated significant pleasure at the description of himself as being a 'young ninja hero'," indicated Ifurita. "A pleasant environment is likely to aid in his healing."
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(Posted Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:27)
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