#214 Postby Pokota » Sat Aug 21, 2010 2:33 pm
<p>
Before any of the girls could object, King held his hand up to his temple. Moments later, Kota did the same thing.
</p>
<p>
The three girls just stared. What were the two crazy buffaloes doing? They were staring intently at... nobody, occasionally moving their lips as though talking, but no sound was coming out. A Torobbie hopped by. Out of sheer boredom, Nanoha started swatting at it. It took four hits for the ball of fluff to finally perish, and as it died in a rather lackluster poof of nothingness, out flew a piece of paper that looked oddly like an entry application.
</p>
<p>
Nanoha grabbed for it. It WAS an entry application. A perfectly blank entry application. She went over to the other two girls... who were just staring at her.
</p>
<p>
"What?" she asked, fingering her necklace nervously.
</p>
<p>
Usagi just gulped, but Hikaru said "Did... did you see that?"
</p>
<p>
Nanoha frowned. "What?" she asked again, a little more forcefully than she probably meant to.
</p>
<p>
"When you attacked that Torobbie," Usagi gulped "we saw the number twenty fly out of it."
</p>
<p>
Kota (who had been listening to the girls' conversation while doing... whatever he had been doing) broke his stance and went over to the girls. "That's what that number King was talking about earlier was about. It's part of the magic of the island - all can learn to see the Numbers of Life as players and monsters alike do battle with each other. It comes easier for those who have the potential to become Enlightened, but most people can see the Numbers before they get into any real trouble."
</p>
<p>
As he was explaining this, what looked like a bouncy red ball of fuzz zoomed past, followed by Esther. "GET BACK HERE! I NEED THOSE SOCKS!"
</p>
<p>
Before anyone could react, the red ball of fuzz was stopped by a person teleporting in. She raised her staff of wood and intoned a spell. "<font color=#888888>Βέλος μαγικού, απεργία αληθινή!</font>"
</p>
<p>
From the air above the interloper's head appeared an arrow of purest white, that seemed to glow. It spun in the air for a second, then shot straight for the stunned red ball of fuzz. As the arrow pierced the fuzzball, there was a small explosion of white fog. Out of the fuzzball appeared a pair of socks.
</p>
<p>
The three girls were stunned into silence. Esther walked over to the interloper and shook her hand. "Heca, thank you for that. The little Totocchi almost got away with the new socks."
</p>
<p>
King, however, ran into and tackle-hugged Heca. "Heca! You came after all! And where's your tail and horns?"
</p>
<p>
Kota and Esther just rolled their eyes and turned to the three girls, if just to avoid watching the lovey-dovey couple that could out-sweet pure cane sugar. Nanoha recovered first and gave Esther the empty application. "Here, miss Esther, here's my application!"
</p>
<p>
As Esther smiled and accepted the little sheep's item, a glow of yellow surrounded each of the three girls. Kota grinned and laughed. "Your first level-up! Way to go, girls!"
</p>
<p>
Each of the three girls repeated the strange phrase. "Level-up?"
</p>
<p>
Kota slapped his head. "I forgot, you're all new here. As you survive here on the island, you eventually grow stronger to suit the, um, suits you came in. The island grows you, in a way, but you can choose some of how you grow. For example, I chose speed while King over there chose power. Don't think too hard about it, just envision how you want to grow."
</p>
<p>
Each of the three girls closed their eyes and did just that. The yellow glow around each of the girls changed a little, to reflect their decisions...
<hr/>
Usagi saw herself becoming a warrior of stealth and secrecy, fighting with a discerning eye to see the weaknesses of her enemies. She also envisioned herself carrying the world on her shoulders, but not in the same way her mother often did...
</p>
<p>
Around her, the yellow turned into a purple aura tinged with gold. Her eyes hurt from trying to explain that to her brain.
<hr/>
Hikaru's vision was that of a beautiful singer, admired around the worlds. She saw herself fighting on behalf of her friends and family, taking blows that would fell lesser men and women so that others could escape, so that one day she could repay her debts...
</p>
<p>
Around her, the yellow deepened into the orange of the sunset. A gentle smile formed on her face.
<hr/>
Nanoha looked into her future, and saw a master of the wind and thunder, but also a keeper of the light. With endless reserves of magic and endurance, she would once more beat her enemies into submission, and also befriend them at the same time...
</p>
<p>
Around her, the yellow changed into the same greenish-blue as the sea. Her mouth formed words she couldn't pronounce.
<hr/>
The glows strengthened, and then faded away. King and Heca had joined Kota in the welcoming of the three girls to the island. "A Sheep, a Fox, and a Cat." Heca said quietly. "Do you know if they've met their Teachers yet?"
</p>
<p>
Kota shook his head. "They've just gotten here. They wouldn't know how to find their Teachers yet."
</p>
<p>
Esther held up a hand to silence the experienced trio. "Don't you three have something you need to be doing over in the Wharf? Get going before I shoo you forcefully. Don't forget I have some Eagle Powers left."
</p>
<p>
The two buffaloes and Heca each grabbed a small black box and pressed a button, then they disappeared in a burst of pale golden light. Esther turned to the Three Girls. "Now, we just need you to get Bunny Maid to fill this out for you. She's really finicky about stuff, too. She won't do it unless you bring her a pen. I could lend you mine, but I think it'll be better for you three to go hunt one down. You need to find some Totocchis and get the pens from them. Be careful, and don't be afraid to back off if you get in over your head."
</p>
<p>
Usagi and Hikaru started to dash off in search of the red balls of fuzz, but Nanoha remained behind. "Umm, excuse me, could you tell me how I-"
</p>
<p>
"The Magic Arrow spell that Heca used? I can't help you with that, but your Teacher will be able to. Come back with a pen and maybe the Skill Shrine will be open."
</p>
Let's all play Pokemon Crystal!------At the base of Mimir’s Well, at the foot of the World Tree Yggdrasil, there can be found an eye that had been removed from it’s owner’s face.
“Gross.” commented Fletcher.