Magical Student Sunset! (MLP/Negima)
- Thread starter SoothingCoffee
- Start date
SoothingCoffee
Umumumu
- Location
- The Library
Just right after Kyoto Arc, but before Wilhelm. When Negi asks Eva to train her.
siflux
Inveterate Lurker
- Location
- Living Inside the Internet
Chapter 60, basically right after the Kyoto arc. Literally the first thing Evangeline is shown making Negi do for training.
Edit: Ack, I've been ninja'd by the GM.
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[X] Sleep for tomorrow.
-[X] If the noise from the sparring keeps us awake, try to meditate and recreate the feeling we had that night on the bridge. Given the damage that occurred then, practicing out here would probably be far safer.
If we are going to do this, we might as well get something useful done as well. It is worth remembering that Ku-Fei is unable to use magic to augment her abilities*, and would therefore be unable to teach us how to do so. (And even if she could, that's far closer to Earth Pony magic, so we wouldn't be able to really leverage our skill at unicorn magic) As was clearly shown in the latest update, Sunset's biggest weakness with regards to performing martial arts is her poor physical stamina. Without using magic to compensate, the only way to rectify this would be a long, grueling training regime, which isn't really viable until we have access to Eva's resort, with its altered rate of time. And even then, we'd probably be better off working on improving our magic, instead of just copying what Negi did in canon.
As an aside, it is worth remembering that the fire and explosions is only the outside of Sunset's magic. Deeper down, which it seeks that she is in the process of starting to work out, is to understand people and bring them together (or drive them apart, as she did in the first movie.) Her cutie mark isn't just a sun, it is also a yin-yang symbol. (This became even more obvious in the fourth movie, when she gained the magical ability to hear the thoughts and see the memories of those she came in contact with.)
*From the wiki:
-[X] If the noise from the sparring keeps us awake, try to meditate and recreate the feeling we had that night on the bridge. Given the damage that occurred then, practicing out here would probably be far safer.
If we are going to do this, we might as well get something useful done as well. It is worth remembering that Ku-Fei is unable to use magic to augment her abilities*, and would therefore be unable to teach us how to do so. (And even if she could, that's far closer to Earth Pony magic, so we wouldn't be able to really leverage our skill at unicorn magic) As was clearly shown in the latest update, Sunset's biggest weakness with regards to performing martial arts is her poor physical stamina. Without using magic to compensate, the only way to rectify this would be a long, grueling training regime, which isn't really viable until we have access to Eva's resort, with its altered rate of time. And even then, we'd probably be better off working on improving our magic, instead of just copying what Negi did in canon.
As an aside, it is worth remembering that the fire and explosions is only the outside of Sunset's magic. Deeper down, which it seeks that she is in the process of starting to work out, is to understand people and bring them together (or drive them apart, as she did in the first movie.) Her cutie mark isn't just a sun, it is also a yin-yang symbol. (This became even more obvious in the fourth movie, when she gained the magical ability to hear the thoughts and see the memories of those she came in contact with.)
*From the wiki:
lavanderjasmine
Master of decoration
- Location
- R'lyeh
[X] Watch the spar
Ardion Prosili
An (im)Perfect Cell
[X] Sleep for tomorrow.
-[X] If the noise from the sparring keeps us awake, try to meditate and recreate the feeling we had that night on the bridge. Given the damage that occurred then, practicing out here would probably be far safer.
-[X] If the noise from the sparring keeps us awake, try to meditate and recreate the feeling we had that night on the bridge. Given the damage that occurred then, practicing out here would probably be far safer.
Camping Trip Pt. 2
SoothingCoffee
Umumumu
- Location
- The Library
You stare longingly to the tent. Your eyelids feel heavy, and a yawn bubbles forth from your throat. There's a fog at the back of your mind, weighing you down, shoulders drooping. You're tired, and you want to rest. Sleep, or maybe even a couple hours of nap. The others could wake you up whenever it's time for dinner, or if they need anything from you. Some part of you frustrates with how nominally challenged your stamina is, but there's nothing you could aim your agitation towards other than you.
But you're not here to just laze, and have senseless fun. You're here to train -- get better, and you're not going to get better if you let fatigue gets the better of you. It's now or never -- and procrastination will always lead to another procrastination until you realize it's all too late, and you're a homeless bum begging on knees on the side of the street for money, and food. You grimace at the image, shudder, and force yourself to gulp a lung-full deep of air.
"Yeah," you nod to yourself. Slapping your cheeks lightly to blow the fog away as you turn to the sound of battle. Or at least, a vague direction of the battle. "Okay,"
You crouch, short grasses brushes against the knees of your cheap track-pants, and brown dirt scuffing them furthermore. It takes you a couple minutes to realize that you are crouching, and another minute minute that you're not sure why you are crouching. You pause, but by then, you're already at the edge of the camp. The increasing noise of battle -- a light tremor on the earth, telling you that you're going the right way.
You hang your head with a groan. "Damn it," you mutter. Must be more tired than you had thought. You feel your cheeks flush in embarrassment as you clamber up to your --
Suddenly a thought occurs to you, and your head snaps up. "That's it," you whisper, snapping your fingers. You don't want to disturb Ku Fei's and Nagase's spar. You may not have sparred before, but you have fought, and you know how even the littlest distraction could mess with the flow of a battle, much less a spar.
Nodding triumphantly at you soundly made reasoning, you resume back to your totally purposeful crawl.
Through the low-hanging leaves brushing above your head, and tall bushes on your knees, it's not particularly difficult, or long to find the training ground. As Nagase has mentioned before, the place is nearby, and all you need to do is follow the clashing of battle, and careful as not to trip on rocks, or slip on muddy ground.
Thus, it is through the underbrush of brambles, tree-trunks, and with extra scuff-marks on your cheap but sturdy clothing, that you finally catch sight of the mentioned clearing. It is rather normal, as clearings go. Or at least, you think it's normal.
You peeking behind one of those trees.
You sigh quietly at the whole inanity of what you're doing. Surely, they wouldn't mind you watching them spar, but still, you've commuted to the act. With a shake your head, you turn to the middle of the field. Or rather, the person on the middle of the field. Ku Fei stands in a stance that you're familiar with -- one from the many that she had taught you a few days ago. Legs wide, firmly on the ground, waist twisted slightly to the right, and arms slightly apart.
Then Ku Fei moves. Turning into a blur -- a flurry of motions. Like a hurricane. Too fast -- so fast that the back of your eyes hurt trying to keep up with her. Twists, and turns at such speed you never thought a human could even do. Steadfast, and firm, yet managing to look so graceful in her form. You are reminded of the couple times you've practiced the martial art, and couldn't help but wince in embarassment. In comparison, you're more like a stumbling duckling.
You shake your head. Then a thought occurs to you. "Where's Nagase?" you mumble.
Aren't the two supposed to be sparring? Or at least, you think they're supposed to be. You guess there is a chance that they practice separately, but then what's the point of having a training-slash-camping trip together if they're not going to train together --
srk
You pause, nose twitching. A movement over the peripheral of your vision. You crawl slightly to receive a better view -- closer.
srk
Another. You notice, in that aware-yet-not-aware kind of way, the twitch in the grasses. There's a blur. Something moving. You are beginning to notice the little things. The change in the air, the glint passing through the field, the faint thuds on the ground -- audible merely because you're searching for them -- and the meaty collision between flesh, and flesh. Fist against fist.
Realization dawns on your as your answer is answered. Nagase is here -- has always been here, but you just didn't know it yet. Ku Fei's movements are too fast for your keep track off, turning into a messy blur of flying limbs, and colors. Nagase, in comparison, seems to be too fast for you to even see in the first place
You tremble slightly after that fact, sitting on the ground of the forest. Fear, and excitement rushing in to reach for the top. Sure, you are capable of teleportation, but there's something different about being so fast you look like you're ripping a hole in reality, and actually ripping a hole in reality to get to point B. The latter is easy for you -- not so much on the former.
And to do it constantly that you're practically invisible...
You wonder if you can find out how she does that, and if you could do that too.
Especially if you could do that.
You shake your head, snapping that line of thought for later as you return to the field. Ku Fei hasn't stopped moving -- blocking the seemingly invisible attacks. She's also gaining scuff marks, you note. On her outfit, her shoulders, and even her legs. See the sheen of sweat forming on her brows. It makes you wonder how long Nagase could keep this up, because from what you're seeing -- or at least, what you're capable of seeing, it doesn't look like Nagase is stopping, and this looks like it's going to be a battle of attrition.
You suppose that it's inaccurate to compare her to a hurricane -- she's more like the eye of the storm, while Nagase itself is the storm. A seemingly invisible storm, granted, but a storm nonetheless--
There's a loud snap. Or a clap, you correct yourself. Less like a snapping bone, and more like a particularly excited high-five by a pair of giants. Loud enough to give you a good scare for your heart, and jump a centimeter off the ground. "Ack!" you squeak, palm over your chest -- heart pumping loudly, and eyes right to the field.
For the first time since you are here, you finally see Nagase. Standing before Ku Fei, her arm extended -- hand curled into a fist. Your eyes travel along it with held breath -- a thin sheet of sweat over her muscle-defined limb, still visible despite the distance. Another hand meets, tan, and a palm instead of a fist.
"Caught you, aru," Ku Fei declares -- a slight tense edge around her lips. Sweat trailing down from her forehead, and to her chin. "You're fast as always, Nagase, though you got sloppy at the end,"
"Hehe," Nagase nods, smile easygoing as ever. "I was trying something new, de-gozaru," she admits. "But I suppose I'm not quite there yet, de-gozaru. However--"
Another loud clap-like noise. Both of them move. Ku Fei's free hand snaps back to the right, palm meeting another fist. You blink -- open your mouth, before clicking it shut. "What?" you mutter.
There's two Nagases.
"Aru?" Ku Fei tilts her head, then her eyes widen --
Another clap. Your roommate's leg lashes out -- sandal clacks against another fist. Another Nagase.
There are now three Nagases.
Your mind boggles. How? That's not an illusion, for sure. Illusions don't work like that, else Ku Fei would've hit air. Unless it's a different kind of illusion, but that makes less sense. She couldn't have created a copy of herself, could she?
That's... that's ridiculous.
"Ehehe... Nagase. This is new, aru..." you hear Ku Fei trailing off. Eyes closed, and smile forced. Limbs trembling as she stands one leg on the ground.
You think there's a sharp edge appearing on each Nagase's smile. "It's something else I've been working, de-gozaru," the three of them speaks in unison. It would've been creepy if you're not so fascinated.
"Ah, I see -- aru!" Ku Fei yelps, jumps and --
Ku Fei's standing on none of her legs. A new Nagase holding her leg with an iron grip.
There are four Nagases, now. All physical. How utterly ridiculous. "Do you surrender?"
"Ahaha." you see her struggle. Then stops. "There's nothing I could do like this -- completely, unexpected, aru!"
"Well, I am a ninja, de-gozaru," Nagase points out -- as if hat would explain everything.
Maybe it does to Ku Fei -- it certainly doesn't to you. You palm your face with a sigh. What does a ninja got to do anything with making physical copies of yourself?!
"Eh, Sunset?! You're here!"
Your head snaps at the sound, your eyes wide in shock as your palm slides down. "Oh." you intone flatly, ignoring the heat on both of your cheeks. "Did I just say that?"
Nagase gives you a thumbs-up. "Loud and clear, de-gozaru,"
"Oh." you repeat. Awkward silence permeates in the air as you try to say something else. That's probably just you. "Well then." You conclude with a nod.
Nagase replies with a nod. Four collective nods, to be exact, then the Nagases turn collectively to Ku Fei. "How is it, de-gozaru?"
"Aiyah, I give, I give," Ku Fei says. The Nagases promptly release her, and her feet touch the ground. "Hee..." she chuckles sheepishly, lips quirking as pink enters both her cheeks. "It feels a little embarrassing losing in front of your apprentice, aru,"
You open your lips, then shake your head when you still have nothing to say. You suppose it doesn't feel right calling Ku Fei your mentor after just one session. "It's, uh, it's fine, Ku Fei," you try. Blinking, shaking your head. "Really."
"Aru..." Ku Fei trails, scratching her cheek. "If you say so. Still, I'll get stronger next time, aru!" she points a finger to the Nagases. Well, one of the Nagases. "Then I will win!"
Said Nagase smiles, eyes crinkling. "I expect no less, de-gozaru. But I will also get stronger by then,"
You stare for a moment, and then grin. "Yes, yes," you push yourself up to your feet, grimacing a bit as you brush off the leaves, and dirt from your legs. Gingerly, you walk up to the middle of the field. The two incredible people that could definitely beat up people twice their age -- not that you have any say about that -- turn to you. "I also want to get stronger," you admit, directing it mostly to Ku Fei.
She beams at that. You may only have one Mentor... well, none currently, but you know how they work. Even the humblest of them all likes being depended on. To a degree, of course. Too much, and you're just as good as a spoiled rotten brat who shouldn't even try getting better.
Then you turn to the Nagases -- one of the Nagases, and despite yourself, you can't help but glare a little. "Which, by the way, how did you do that?" you gesture to them all.
"Well," the Nagase you're talking with starts. The other Nagases seem content to simply idle -- two of them are even wandering around the field without aim. Frankly, they're a bit creepy, but Ku Fei seems completely fine. You're not sure what that means. "I'm a ninja, de-gozaru, so it's obvious for me to make Shadow Clones," she says in that matter-of-fact tone.
Your eyes twitch. "That's not an answer," you do not pout. "And what the hell are Shadow Clones?"
Nagase shrugs. And you have to blink, because the other Nagases are gone, and now there's only one Nagase in the field. "They're clones, de-gozaru," you think she's doing it deliberately.
You give her a look, then you huff. "Oh, fine," you grouse. "Then what about," you make a vague gesture with your hand.
"Shundo, aru?" Ku Fei offers.
You give her a blink. You do not know what that means. Sure, Instant Movement sounds pretty self-explanatory, but... "I think?" you narrow your eyes to Nagase.
Nagase gives you a nod, and a smile. "Indeed, de-gozaru,"
You tilt your head with a frown. Eyes curious. "How do you do that?" then you ask the important question. "Can I do that?"
"Oh?" Nagase tilts her head, eyes crinkling. "Do you want to know how, de-gozaru?"
You open your lips. Pause. You turn to Ku Fei. "Can I?"
Ku Fei blinks, giving you that empty clueless look. "Why can't you? If you want to, then you should, aru!" she cheers.
"Heh," you scratch the back of your ear sheepishly. "I suppose so. So..." your eyes slide to Nagase.
Nagase hums, tilting her head. "Well," she finally says. "We can practice together tomorrow, de-gozaru. I'm sure we're all tired, and --"
As if on cue, you feel your stomach rumble. Beside you, Ku Fei's stomach is doing the same. You ignore the blush on your cheeks as you look up. How long have you been up here? The sun is beginning to sink, now.
"-- hungry," Nagase finishes.
"Heh," you scratch the back of your neck. "Uh," it occurs to you that you don't know how you're going to get dinner. "Uh..." you blink, looking down to the both of them. Smiling faces back at you. Almost expectant. "What are we going to get for dinner? Or rather, how?"
"Fishing, aru!" Ku Fei declares excitedly. Then she turns to Nagase with a grin. "The one that gets the most wins, aru!"
Nagase chuckles. "We shouldn't overfish, de-gozaru, but..." you think you see her eyes sharpen, if that's even possible. "You're on."
You look at the both of them. They're looking at you. You quirk your lips. "I... suppose?" you try. "I don't know how to fish, though..." you say.
"Don't worry, aru!" she pats you on the back. You grunt at the sudden force, almost stumbling. "You can always watch us -- we're definitely going to catch dinner, aru,"
Nagase nods, agreeing. "There's a lot of fishes, de-gozaru,"
As it happens, they're both right.
Even if they end up having to release most of their fishes.
You also never thought fishing would or could be that tense.
You learn something new everyday, you suppose.
You lean back, and simply... relax. Hot, almost scalding water surrounds your body, drowning you in the simple pleasures of life. Muscles you never knew were tense loosening, and you could almost feel yourself melting, becoming this life-sized marshmallow doll with gooey inside. You make a small note in the back of your head to start going to the bathhouse after all of this is done.
You shift slightly in your barrel-shaped and barrel-sized tub to a more comfortable position. It's definitely bad for your posture, but you really couldn't care any less right now. "Ah, this is the life," you sigh.
"Indeed, aru," Ku Fei replies from your side, chin-deep into her barrel-tub. Eyes closed.
Nagase hums in agreement, sitting in her own barrel. You do not know how she manages to procure these barrels, but you're not one looking for a gift horse in the mouth. "Though I'm more worried about you, de-gozaru?"
You quirk an eyebrow, not really turning to her. "What do you mean?"
"Your water," she comments. "It was still a scalding hot when you went in, de-gozaru,"
You wave a dismissive hand. "It's fine for me, Nagase-san,"
Another hum. Not quite agreeing, but compromising. "Please call me Kaede, Shimmer-san,"
You look up to the sky. Twinkling stars spread around the black canvass. Lit slightly by the three quarters full moon. Briefly, you wonder what Nagase is implying, but you realize you don't particularly care. "Then please call me by Sunset then... Kaede," you nod.
"Naturally, de-gozaru,"
A pause, stretching into the end of the conversation. A blanketing silence as you sink into the comfort of your barrel-tub. There's certainly something... pleasant about outdoor bathing, however unconventional you are doing it.
"Hey," Kaede calls, breaking the silence. You glance at her. "Why do you want to be strong, de-gozaru?"
You blink. First in surprise at the suddenness, followed by confusion, and finished by dry bemusement. "Why do you ask?" you return.
The ninja lets out a long hum. "Well, there's nothing wrong with trying to get to know each other, ne?" she asks. "And everything has a reason behind them, de-gozaru,"
"Heh. I suppose not," you admit. Ku Fei is your Kenpo teacher, and Nagase's going to teach your something tomorrow. And you suppose, they are your friends.
Friends. Even now, the word still feels weird in your head. Heh. Really -- it takes you getting thrown into another dimension to even get one. You wonder what that says about you.
"But why don't you go first," you shoot back, smirking. "You asked first, after all, so it's only fair,"
"Hmm." Kaede smiles, before chuckling. "There's no way I could fault that logic, de-gozaru..." she trails off, looking off a bit thoughtful even with her perpetually squinted eyes. "Well, I want to be strong because I love what I am doing, de-gozaru."
"Oh?"
"Indeed." she nods. She doesn't elaborate further.
"A bit simple," you can't help but comment.
Kaede simply shrugs. "Some people have deeper reasons for why they do what they do -- but others have simple reasons, though that doesn't mean they're any less good, de-gozaru,"
"I want to be strong so I could fight tough people, aru," Ku Fei chimes in suddenly.
You blink, and then crack out a grin. "Heh. My turn then?" there's a lot why you want to be strong. Because you like being strong -- the power to do anything you want. Because you dislike being weak -- being useless, and treated like a stain off the street. Ultimately, though? Heh. "There's... someone that I would like to reach," you say.
"That's not a bad reason to grow strong, aru," your roommate -- and friend, you suppose -- puts in.
You shrug, and your mind wanders. A tale of a man who flew too high, and too close to the Sun. You wonder if there's a relation, somewhere. You wonder if you're going end up like him.
Do you even care?
"No, it's not," you reply. Then you shake your head, stretching your arms up with a loud yawn. "Mhm."
"Think it's time we get out, de-gozaru?"
"Yeah, sure," you nod. "The water's getting cold on my side, anyway,"
"Ah," if you could read her face properly, you would guess she's giving you a dubious look. "I see, de-gozaru,"
You stand up. Water splashing slightly from the movement, and then you blink, looking over the waist-length rim of the barrel. For some reason, it looks higher now that you're inside. You cast a look to both your friends, fidgeting slightly, ignoring the red crawling up to your cheeks. "Err -- how do I get out of here?"
Ku Fei lets out a bubbly laugh.
You glare -- not pout.
- 2 -
Nightmares.
They're certainly not an uncharted territory to you. Even before Princess Celestia had stripped you from her Apprenticeship, even before she had taken you in. Dreaming of things you don't remember in the morning, but know that it's something nightmarish. The first month you were in Japan had been nothing but full of sleepless nights, but they come, and go. Sometimes you even ignore them. Wake up, and return back to sleep.
For some reason, you can't go back to sleep now.
You heave out a silent sigh, staring at the dark ceiling of your tent -- illuminated ever so slightly by the three-quarters full moon. Ku Fei sleeps on your right, snoring lightly. Kaede is on your left, breathing evenly.
You dare not to move, wedged as you are. Accidentally waking them up would be awkward. You let out another silent sigh. It's a little humid, in here. Not entirely uncomfortable, but not exactly comfortable -- stray touches, and grabs from your tent-mates regardless.
You close your eyes, suddenly sensitive of the noise beyond the tent. Of the noise inside the tent. Kaede's even breathing drifting to your left ear, Ku Fei's light snoring on your left. The noise of crickets from outside, and the occasional birds of the night.
You can't sleep.
[] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
[] Bear with it. Try to sleep. Or don't, if you can't, but just bear it in. Close your eyes. It shouldn't be long before morning arrives, right? Right?
[] Write-in
But you're not here to just laze, and have senseless fun. You're here to train -- get better, and you're not going to get better if you let fatigue gets the better of you. It's now or never -- and procrastination will always lead to another procrastination until you realize it's all too late, and you're a homeless bum begging on knees on the side of the street for money, and food. You grimace at the image, shudder, and force yourself to gulp a lung-full deep of air.
"Yeah," you nod to yourself. Slapping your cheeks lightly to blow the fog away as you turn to the sound of battle. Or at least, a vague direction of the battle. "Okay,"
You crouch, short grasses brushes against the knees of your cheap track-pants, and brown dirt scuffing them furthermore. It takes you a couple minutes to realize that you are crouching, and another minute minute that you're not sure why you are crouching. You pause, but by then, you're already at the edge of the camp. The increasing noise of battle -- a light tremor on the earth, telling you that you're going the right way.
You hang your head with a groan. "Damn it," you mutter. Must be more tired than you had thought. You feel your cheeks flush in embarrassment as you clamber up to your --
Suddenly a thought occurs to you, and your head snaps up. "That's it," you whisper, snapping your fingers. You don't want to disturb Ku Fei's and Nagase's spar. You may not have sparred before, but you have fought, and you know how even the littlest distraction could mess with the flow of a battle, much less a spar.
Nodding triumphantly at you soundly made reasoning, you resume back to your totally purposeful crawl.
- 2 -
Through the low-hanging leaves brushing above your head, and tall bushes on your knees, it's not particularly difficult, or long to find the training ground. As Nagase has mentioned before, the place is nearby, and all you need to do is follow the clashing of battle, and careful as not to trip on rocks, or slip on muddy ground.
Thus, it is through the underbrush of brambles, tree-trunks, and with extra scuff-marks on your cheap but sturdy clothing, that you finally catch sight of the mentioned clearing. It is rather normal, as clearings go. Or at least, you think it's normal.
You peeking behind one of those trees.
You sigh quietly at the whole inanity of what you're doing. Surely, they wouldn't mind you watching them spar, but still, you've commuted to the act. With a shake your head, you turn to the middle of the field. Or rather, the person on the middle of the field. Ku Fei stands in a stance that you're familiar with -- one from the many that she had taught you a few days ago. Legs wide, firmly on the ground, waist twisted slightly to the right, and arms slightly apart.
Then Ku Fei moves. Turning into a blur -- a flurry of motions. Like a hurricane. Too fast -- so fast that the back of your eyes hurt trying to keep up with her. Twists, and turns at such speed you never thought a human could even do. Steadfast, and firm, yet managing to look so graceful in her form. You are reminded of the couple times you've practiced the martial art, and couldn't help but wince in embarassment. In comparison, you're more like a stumbling duckling.
You shake your head. Then a thought occurs to you. "Where's Nagase?" you mumble.
Aren't the two supposed to be sparring? Or at least, you think they're supposed to be. You guess there is a chance that they practice separately, but then what's the point of having a training-slash-camping trip together if they're not going to train together --
srk
You pause, nose twitching. A movement over the peripheral of your vision. You crawl slightly to receive a better view -- closer.
srk
Another. You notice, in that aware-yet-not-aware kind of way, the twitch in the grasses. There's a blur. Something moving. You are beginning to notice the little things. The change in the air, the glint passing through the field, the faint thuds on the ground -- audible merely because you're searching for them -- and the meaty collision between flesh, and flesh. Fist against fist.
Realization dawns on your as your answer is answered. Nagase is here -- has always been here, but you just didn't know it yet. Ku Fei's movements are too fast for your keep track off, turning into a messy blur of flying limbs, and colors. Nagase, in comparison, seems to be too fast for you to even see in the first place
You tremble slightly after that fact, sitting on the ground of the forest. Fear, and excitement rushing in to reach for the top. Sure, you are capable of teleportation, but there's something different about being so fast you look like you're ripping a hole in reality, and actually ripping a hole in reality to get to point B. The latter is easy for you -- not so much on the former.
And to do it constantly that you're practically invisible...
You wonder if you can find out how she does that, and if you could do that too.
Especially if you could do that.
You shake your head, snapping that line of thought for later as you return to the field. Ku Fei hasn't stopped moving -- blocking the seemingly invisible attacks. She's also gaining scuff marks, you note. On her outfit, her shoulders, and even her legs. See the sheen of sweat forming on her brows. It makes you wonder how long Nagase could keep this up, because from what you're seeing -- or at least, what you're capable of seeing, it doesn't look like Nagase is stopping, and this looks like it's going to be a battle of attrition.
You suppose that it's inaccurate to compare her to a hurricane -- she's more like the eye of the storm, while Nagase itself is the storm. A seemingly invisible storm, granted, but a storm nonetheless--
There's a loud snap. Or a clap, you correct yourself. Less like a snapping bone, and more like a particularly excited high-five by a pair of giants. Loud enough to give you a good scare for your heart, and jump a centimeter off the ground. "Ack!" you squeak, palm over your chest -- heart pumping loudly, and eyes right to the field.
For the first time since you are here, you finally see Nagase. Standing before Ku Fei, her arm extended -- hand curled into a fist. Your eyes travel along it with held breath -- a thin sheet of sweat over her muscle-defined limb, still visible despite the distance. Another hand meets, tan, and a palm instead of a fist.
"Caught you, aru," Ku Fei declares -- a slight tense edge around her lips. Sweat trailing down from her forehead, and to her chin. "You're fast as always, Nagase, though you got sloppy at the end,"
"Hehe," Nagase nods, smile easygoing as ever. "I was trying something new, de-gozaru," she admits. "But I suppose I'm not quite there yet, de-gozaru. However--"
Another loud clap-like noise. Both of them move. Ku Fei's free hand snaps back to the right, palm meeting another fist. You blink -- open your mouth, before clicking it shut. "What?" you mutter.
There's two Nagases.
"Aru?" Ku Fei tilts her head, then her eyes widen --
Another clap. Your roommate's leg lashes out -- sandal clacks against another fist. Another Nagase.
There are now three Nagases.
Your mind boggles. How? That's not an illusion, for sure. Illusions don't work like that, else Ku Fei would've hit air. Unless it's a different kind of illusion, but that makes less sense. She couldn't have created a copy of herself, could she?
That's... that's ridiculous.
"Ehehe... Nagase. This is new, aru..." you hear Ku Fei trailing off. Eyes closed, and smile forced. Limbs trembling as she stands one leg on the ground.
You think there's a sharp edge appearing on each Nagase's smile. "It's something else I've been working, de-gozaru," the three of them speaks in unison. It would've been creepy if you're not so fascinated.
"Ah, I see -- aru!" Ku Fei yelps, jumps and --
Ku Fei's standing on none of her legs. A new Nagase holding her leg with an iron grip.
There are four Nagases, now. All physical. How utterly ridiculous. "Do you surrender?"
"Ahaha." you see her struggle. Then stops. "There's nothing I could do like this -- completely, unexpected, aru!"
"Well, I am a ninja, de-gozaru," Nagase points out -- as if hat would explain everything.
Maybe it does to Ku Fei -- it certainly doesn't to you. You palm your face with a sigh. What does a ninja got to do anything with making physical copies of yourself?!
"Eh, Sunset?! You're here!"
Your head snaps at the sound, your eyes wide in shock as your palm slides down. "Oh." you intone flatly, ignoring the heat on both of your cheeks. "Did I just say that?"
Nagase gives you a thumbs-up. "Loud and clear, de-gozaru,"
"Oh." you repeat. Awkward silence permeates in the air as you try to say something else. That's probably just you. "Well then." You conclude with a nod.
Nagase replies with a nod. Four collective nods, to be exact, then the Nagases turn collectively to Ku Fei. "How is it, de-gozaru?"
"Aiyah, I give, I give," Ku Fei says. The Nagases promptly release her, and her feet touch the ground. "Hee..." she chuckles sheepishly, lips quirking as pink enters both her cheeks. "It feels a little embarrassing losing in front of your apprentice, aru,"
You open your lips, then shake your head when you still have nothing to say. You suppose it doesn't feel right calling Ku Fei your mentor after just one session. "It's, uh, it's fine, Ku Fei," you try. Blinking, shaking your head. "Really."
"Aru..." Ku Fei trails, scratching her cheek. "If you say so. Still, I'll get stronger next time, aru!" she points a finger to the Nagases. Well, one of the Nagases. "Then I will win!"
Said Nagase smiles, eyes crinkling. "I expect no less, de-gozaru. But I will also get stronger by then,"
You stare for a moment, and then grin. "Yes, yes," you push yourself up to your feet, grimacing a bit as you brush off the leaves, and dirt from your legs. Gingerly, you walk up to the middle of the field. The two incredible people that could definitely beat up people twice their age -- not that you have any say about that -- turn to you. "I also want to get stronger," you admit, directing it mostly to Ku Fei.
She beams at that. You may only have one Mentor... well, none currently, but you know how they work. Even the humblest of them all likes being depended on. To a degree, of course. Too much, and you're just as good as a spoiled rotten brat who shouldn't even try getting better.
Then you turn to the Nagases -- one of the Nagases, and despite yourself, you can't help but glare a little. "Which, by the way, how did you do that?" you gesture to them all.
"Well," the Nagase you're talking with starts. The other Nagases seem content to simply idle -- two of them are even wandering around the field without aim. Frankly, they're a bit creepy, but Ku Fei seems completely fine. You're not sure what that means. "I'm a ninja, de-gozaru, so it's obvious for me to make Shadow Clones," she says in that matter-of-fact tone.
Your eyes twitch. "That's not an answer," you do not pout. "And what the hell are Shadow Clones?"
Nagase shrugs. And you have to blink, because the other Nagases are gone, and now there's only one Nagase in the field. "They're clones, de-gozaru," you think she's doing it deliberately.
You give her a look, then you huff. "Oh, fine," you grouse. "Then what about," you make a vague gesture with your hand.
"Shundo, aru?" Ku Fei offers.
You give her a blink. You do not know what that means. Sure, Instant Movement sounds pretty self-explanatory, but... "I think?" you narrow your eyes to Nagase.
Nagase gives you a nod, and a smile. "Indeed, de-gozaru,"
You tilt your head with a frown. Eyes curious. "How do you do that?" then you ask the important question. "Can I do that?"
"Oh?" Nagase tilts her head, eyes crinkling. "Do you want to know how, de-gozaru?"
You open your lips. Pause. You turn to Ku Fei. "Can I?"
Ku Fei blinks, giving you that empty clueless look. "Why can't you? If you want to, then you should, aru!" she cheers.
"Heh," you scratch the back of your ear sheepishly. "I suppose so. So..." your eyes slide to Nagase.
Nagase hums, tilting her head. "Well," she finally says. "We can practice together tomorrow, de-gozaru. I'm sure we're all tired, and --"
As if on cue, you feel your stomach rumble. Beside you, Ku Fei's stomach is doing the same. You ignore the blush on your cheeks as you look up. How long have you been up here? The sun is beginning to sink, now.
"-- hungry," Nagase finishes.
"Heh," you scratch the back of your neck. "Uh," it occurs to you that you don't know how you're going to get dinner. "Uh..." you blink, looking down to the both of them. Smiling faces back at you. Almost expectant. "What are we going to get for dinner? Or rather, how?"
"Fishing, aru!" Ku Fei declares excitedly. Then she turns to Nagase with a grin. "The one that gets the most wins, aru!"
Nagase chuckles. "We shouldn't overfish, de-gozaru, but..." you think you see her eyes sharpen, if that's even possible. "You're on."
You look at the both of them. They're looking at you. You quirk your lips. "I... suppose?" you try. "I don't know how to fish, though..." you say.
"Don't worry, aru!" she pats you on the back. You grunt at the sudden force, almost stumbling. "You can always watch us -- we're definitely going to catch dinner, aru,"
Nagase nods, agreeing. "There's a lot of fishes, de-gozaru,"
As it happens, they're both right.
Even if they end up having to release most of their fishes.
You also never thought fishing would or could be that tense.
You learn something new everyday, you suppose.
- 2 -
You lean back, and simply... relax. Hot, almost scalding water surrounds your body, drowning you in the simple pleasures of life. Muscles you never knew were tense loosening, and you could almost feel yourself melting, becoming this life-sized marshmallow doll with gooey inside. You make a small note in the back of your head to start going to the bathhouse after all of this is done.
You shift slightly in your barrel-shaped and barrel-sized tub to a more comfortable position. It's definitely bad for your posture, but you really couldn't care any less right now. "Ah, this is the life," you sigh.
"Indeed, aru," Ku Fei replies from your side, chin-deep into her barrel-tub. Eyes closed.
Nagase hums in agreement, sitting in her own barrel. You do not know how she manages to procure these barrels, but you're not one looking for a gift horse in the mouth. "Though I'm more worried about you, de-gozaru?"
You quirk an eyebrow, not really turning to her. "What do you mean?"
"Your water," she comments. "It was still a scalding hot when you went in, de-gozaru,"
You wave a dismissive hand. "It's fine for me, Nagase-san,"
Another hum. Not quite agreeing, but compromising. "Please call me Kaede, Shimmer-san,"
You look up to the sky. Twinkling stars spread around the black canvass. Lit slightly by the three quarters full moon. Briefly, you wonder what Nagase is implying, but you realize you don't particularly care. "Then please call me by Sunset then... Kaede," you nod.
"Naturally, de-gozaru,"
A pause, stretching into the end of the conversation. A blanketing silence as you sink into the comfort of your barrel-tub. There's certainly something... pleasant about outdoor bathing, however unconventional you are doing it.
"Hey," Kaede calls, breaking the silence. You glance at her. "Why do you want to be strong, de-gozaru?"
You blink. First in surprise at the suddenness, followed by confusion, and finished by dry bemusement. "Why do you ask?" you return.
The ninja lets out a long hum. "Well, there's nothing wrong with trying to get to know each other, ne?" she asks. "And everything has a reason behind them, de-gozaru,"
"Heh. I suppose not," you admit. Ku Fei is your Kenpo teacher, and Nagase's going to teach your something tomorrow. And you suppose, they are your friends.
Friends. Even now, the word still feels weird in your head. Heh. Really -- it takes you getting thrown into another dimension to even get one. You wonder what that says about you.
"But why don't you go first," you shoot back, smirking. "You asked first, after all, so it's only fair,"
"Hmm." Kaede smiles, before chuckling. "There's no way I could fault that logic, de-gozaru..." she trails off, looking off a bit thoughtful even with her perpetually squinted eyes. "Well, I want to be strong because I love what I am doing, de-gozaru."
"Oh?"
"Indeed." she nods. She doesn't elaborate further.
"A bit simple," you can't help but comment.
Kaede simply shrugs. "Some people have deeper reasons for why they do what they do -- but others have simple reasons, though that doesn't mean they're any less good, de-gozaru,"
"I want to be strong so I could fight tough people, aru," Ku Fei chimes in suddenly.
You blink, and then crack out a grin. "Heh. My turn then?" there's a lot why you want to be strong. Because you like being strong -- the power to do anything you want. Because you dislike being weak -- being useless, and treated like a stain off the street. Ultimately, though? Heh. "There's... someone that I would like to reach," you say.
"That's not a bad reason to grow strong, aru," your roommate -- and friend, you suppose -- puts in.
You shrug, and your mind wanders. A tale of a man who flew too high, and too close to the Sun. You wonder if there's a relation, somewhere. You wonder if you're going end up like him.
Do you even care?
"No, it's not," you reply. Then you shake your head, stretching your arms up with a loud yawn. "Mhm."
"Think it's time we get out, de-gozaru?"
"Yeah, sure," you nod. "The water's getting cold on my side, anyway,"
"Ah," if you could read her face properly, you would guess she's giving you a dubious look. "I see, de-gozaru,"
You stand up. Water splashing slightly from the movement, and then you blink, looking over the waist-length rim of the barrel. For some reason, it looks higher now that you're inside. You cast a look to both your friends, fidgeting slightly, ignoring the red crawling up to your cheeks. "Err -- how do I get out of here?"
Ku Fei lets out a bubbly laugh.
You glare -- not pout.
- 2 -
Nightmares.
They're certainly not an uncharted territory to you. Even before Princess Celestia had stripped you from her Apprenticeship, even before she had taken you in. Dreaming of things you don't remember in the morning, but know that it's something nightmarish. The first month you were in Japan had been nothing but full of sleepless nights, but they come, and go. Sometimes you even ignore them. Wake up, and return back to sleep.
For some reason, you can't go back to sleep now.
You heave out a silent sigh, staring at the dark ceiling of your tent -- illuminated ever so slightly by the three-quarters full moon. Ku Fei sleeps on your right, snoring lightly. Kaede is on your left, breathing evenly.
You dare not to move, wedged as you are. Accidentally waking them up would be awkward. You let out another silent sigh. It's a little humid, in here. Not entirely uncomfortable, but not exactly comfortable -- stray touches, and grabs from your tent-mates regardless.
You close your eyes, suddenly sensitive of the noise beyond the tent. Of the noise inside the tent. Kaede's even breathing drifting to your left ear, Ku Fei's light snoring on your left. The noise of crickets from outside, and the occasional birds of the night.
You can't sleep.
[] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
[] Bear with it. Try to sleep. Or don't, if you can't, but just bear it in. Close your eyes. It shouldn't be long before morning arrives, right? Right?
[] Write-in
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- Location
- Ukraine
[X] Bear with it. Try to sleep. Or don't, if you can't, but just bear it in. Close your eyes. It shouldn't be long before morning arrives, right? Right?
Nagase is her family name, Kaede is her given name. So either you have mixed the two up, or Kaede is being very rude here.
- Location
- Just passing through.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Bear with it. Try to sleep. Or don't, if you can't, but just bear it in. Close your eyes. It shouldn't be long before morning arrives, right? Right?
You're going to have a training session soon Sunset, just rest and recover your strengh.
You're going to have a training session soon Sunset, just rest and recover your strengh.
SoothingCoffee
Umumumu
- Location
- The Library
[X] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
How much noise does teleporting make? Also, something to be said for just lying down outside under the moon and stars... and seeing the sunrise. Not like Sunset will be cold or anything.
How much noise does teleporting make? Also, something to be said for just lying down outside under the moon and stars... and seeing the sunrise. Not like Sunset will be cold or anything.
SoothingCoffee
Umumumu
- Location
- The Library
Not unlike the muffled sound of a popped balloon, but with a little tink.
Welp, that's out then. Probably louder than just getting up.
[X] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
Trying to force sleep is just going to make it harder. Getting some fresh air can help getting some better help. Also this smells like we could get some interesting character development
Trying to force sleep is just going to make it harder. Getting some fresh air can help getting some better help. Also this smells like we could get some interesting character development
I can vouch for this at least. Fucking insomnia man.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
[X] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
Hmm so we apparently are able to deal with hot things more easily than normal people with no issue, good to know.
Hmm so we apparently are able to deal with hot things more easily than normal people with no issue, good to know.
SoothingCoffee
Umumumu
- Location
- The Library
Sunset is particularly resistant to heat or fire, and a little explosion.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
Well hopefully that will turn out to be useful in the future. Also I'm going to assume the resistance is from repeated exposure and you can't persuade me otherwise.
Kaede you are a ninja that can make physical clones of herself you have no right to be skeptical about someone else being a bit more resistant to heat than normal.
[X] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
[X] Write-in: Solve magical equations in your head until the soothing, repetitive thoughts let you drift off to sleep.
I find some of these decision points to be kind of odd and arbitrary. We just had one on whether to sleep or go watch a sparring match, and now there's one about how to respond to not being able to sleep. They seem like low-investment, unimportant decisions.
I find some of these decision points to be kind of odd and arbitrary. We just had one on whether to sleep or go watch a sparring match, and now there's one about how to respond to not being able to sleep. They seem like low-investment, unimportant decisions.
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There is this in the list of our known spells though:
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[X] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
-[X] Use Starswirl's Silent Step to teleport out from between them without waking them up.
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[X] Try to get out. Get some fresh air. Take a walk, maybe. Who knows, maybe you're going to be tired enough to get sleep?
-[X] Use Starswirl's Silent Step to teleport out from between them without waking them up.
-[X] Use Starswirl's Silent Step to teleport out from between them without waking them up.