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Under the bright moonlight, a girl named Tiara materialized on the
rooftop of a building in a quiet city. "This town?"
A small furry head nudged out from behind her shoulder. "I'm sure of it," insisted Tiara's ferret partner Japoro. |
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Their conversation was interrupted by the attack of a humanoid shadow-creature.
In the quick fight that ensued, it was clear that the shadow was no match for
Japoro. After falling to the ground, the shadow crawled away and disappeared
into the night.
The two let it go, and Tiara looked up at the moon. "He's definitely here," she said. "Kagetsu, I'll get you." |
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Tiara and Japoro settled in a small, cozy room of a house in the town. That
night, Tiara had a dream. Beside a cool lake, soft with a light mist, Tiara
sat in her nightgown beside a kind-looking girl of the same age.
"It's been a long time, Sarah," said Tiara. "I've come to catch you." Smiling, Sarah answered, "It won't be easy, but I think you will be able to do it." |
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The next morning, the town was alive with activity. Tiara joined a local
school, claiming she was new there and her parents were busy elsewhere. As
the teacher was pointing out a seat for Tiara, a girl with dark green
hair caught Tiara's eye and a serious look crossed her face.
When school was over, Tiara remained in class to acquaint herself with a few girl classmates. As the green-haired girl walked up to them, a classmate introduced her as the class president Lena. |
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Later, when everyone had left for home, Tiara and Lena met again to speak
privately.
"How unexpected to meet you here," Lena began. "I wonder if the Elder is trying to make us compete. But we might as well cooperate to look for the Throne of Yorudo." Tiara's answer was curt. "I don't need your help." A young man walked up beside Lena. "Leon!" said Tiara, mildly surprised. Leon was Lena's partner. The ferret Japoro hopped out of nowhere and climbed onto Tiara's shoulder, then introduced himself to Lena and Leon. Annoyed, Tiara ordered Japoro to go away. Turning back to Lena, she made it clear that she did not want any interference from her. |
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Night came, and the streets were deserted once more. Japoro created a field
to stop time, letting him and Tiara freely roam the town for an hour. Japoro
felt the presence of the Throne of Yorudo. It was nearby, and it was moving.
Japoro was running with Tiara close behind. They would reach the Throne of Yorudo very soon. Suddenly, Japoro stopped. The tune of a flute could be heard clearly through the quiet air. Someone had made a wall to protect the Throne of Yorudo. |
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Walking into an open area, Tiara spotted Lena calmly playing a flute atop
a small house. Tiara demanded to know why Lena was concealing the location
of the Throne of Yorudo, but Lena would not give an answer. The two then
summoned a creature each to do their battle. In the brief scuffle the
followed, Lena's creature was impaled and defeated. Tiara's surviving monster
lunged for Lena, but Leon leaped forwards and beat it back.
With a sneer, Tiara dismissed her monster and began to invoke her greater powers. There was a sudden rush of wind; Tiara's magic had been dispelled. "A Neutralizer!" exclaimed Japoro. "Kagetsu must be nearby!" Tiara yelled for Kagetsu to show himself, and when he did not, she walked briskly away. Lena let her leave. |
| Back in her temporary home, Tiara was thinking of the time she was assigned her mission. The Elder was making clear the importance of the Throne of Yorudo and its retrieval. Tiara knew that if Kagetsu, the man who had stolen the item, would not return it, then she would be forced to kill him without hesitation. |
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As Tiara slept, she experienced the familiar dream again. Sarah mentioned
she was with her brother Kagetsu, and said, "Even if what you are looking
for is in you hands, it may not be the real thing." And the dream faded out...
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The next night Tiara put on her fighting outfit. Earlier that afternoon,
Lena had sent her an invitation to have a private talk. Tiara not only curious,
but angry about Lena's involvement. She had glanced at Lena so many times
during school that her classmates joked about it. Now, she would go and settle
matters once and for all.
Leon created a time-freeze field, and left Lena and Tiara alone on the rooftops. Lena began by appealing to Tiara to return to the Guardian World from which she came. Tiara refused to listen. Suddenly angry, Lena shouted, "Don't you care if Sarah dies? Weren't you in love with Kagetsu?" She continued to admonish Tiara for her cold attitude. Tiara brushed aside Lena's comments by attacking Lena's character. Rage stirred. The two girls struck at each other. Tiara transformed, and Leon came to aid Lena, but he was no match for Tiara's strength. Finally he called on Lena to grant him her power, and changed into a larger, stronger form. "It seems you're getting serious now." And Tiara smiled. |
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