Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

The next morning, Shouri returned to the waking world, blinking a few times as he stared at the ceiling and gathered his bearings. Taika and Pacifica draped themselves over him as usual. The TV was left on the movie channel they had been watching the night prior.

Two husks that once contained overflowing kernels of popped corn were crushed nearby, devoid of their delicious contents. A trio of cups holding various levels of water remained proudly standing on the nearby nightstand.

Movie night had been such a success they all passed out in the middle of it. Either way, today was going to be busy. He essentially roped himself into a pair of dates. He wouldn’t audibly admit to that, but that’s essentially what was happening.

He eyed the bathroom from his position in bed. Taking a shower would be pointless since he’d be not only going to the beach but also out on the town later.

Pacifica awoke next, her eyes meeting Shouri’s. She gave him a groggy smile before her brain started working and she realized it was time.

“Beach!” She sat up with such ferocity that it awoke the final sleeping occupant of the bed.

“Giorno...” Taika groaned, slowly rising against her will.

Shouri and Pacifica got ready to leave, while Taika lounged about. Shouri donned his white t-shirt paired with his swim shorts. Pacifica wore her typical everyday attire. They had emptied the bag to use to store their towels while at the beach.

“If you need me, use your tuner to contact me. I’ll have Pacifica’s on me,” Shouri instructed the fox.

“Si...” Taika yawned, planting her face into the mattress beneath her.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Pacifica bounced excitedly. She grabbed her Maestro’s hand and immediately bolted for the door.

“Guh! Careful with my arm!” Shouri tried and failed to calm the excited otter as he was being pulled out of the room.

“Oh boy oh boy oh boy,” Pacifica repeated the entire way down to the beach. She was passionate if nothing else, Shouri thought to himself. Seeing her happy was nice and provided a little dopamine for him.

They had gotten up early to beat the crowds – a wise decision. Shouri rented them a locker and they made some deposits: the towel bag, Shouri’s clothes, as well as Pacifica’s vest and sandals.

“Come on!” Shouri barely had a chance to close the locker before he found his other arm getting stretched by Pacifica dragging him down the boardwalk to the beach proper. She released him just before hitting the water, like a spacecraft shedding its boosters. The otter hit the water and dove right in.

Throwing her head back while rising from the water, Pacifica seemed to sparkle in the morning sun; it was enrapturing to her Maestro who remained on the beach. “Ah, the ocean, I missed it so much!” the girl exclaimed, enjoying the waves at her back.

Shouri shook off the charm of his otter-girl. He came to the beach to swim, and swim he would. Approaching the water, he noted the slight chill of the ocean – which was normal for this coast, but he knew he’d adjust to it. “Jump in! Jump in!” Pacifica demanded.

“Fine fine.” Shouri chuckled. He dove right into an oncoming wave, surfacing a moment later. He threw his head back like Pacifica had. Rubbing the water from his face, he caught sight of Pacifica who was just staring in awe. She too enjoyed the performance – her topless Maestro shimmering in the morning sun surrounded by the ocean.

And he was all hers right now.

“Sho.” She grabbed his arm.

“Eh?” The Maestro looked to his otter-girl.

“Let’s go on an adventure.”

Shouri held on to Pacifica’s back as she carried him further from shore. This mode of travel was possible thanks to a combination of factors. He glanced back at her thick tail which aided in propelling them forward and took a little stress off her upper body.

He also had read that water elements were capable of breathing in water by using their own personal rhythm. Rhythm that was restored as long as she was in physical contact with him – meaning she had the capability of carrying him wherever without having to bring her head above the surface.

Looking around, besides the endless coast that was the Lyberteran mainland, many many islands dotted the coast. An entire archipelago and Pacifica wanted to go to some of the uninhabited ones.

“Tap my left shoulder twice if you want me to stop. Right shoulder twice if we’re in trouble,” he recalled her guidelines before they had departed from the coast. A good idea on her part, just being around him gave her all kinds of them and she enjoyed it greatly.

And likewise, she had a calming effect on him – this wasn’t something Shouri normally did, just riding on the back of a Resonator out into open seas. Thinking about it though, he trusted this girl with his life. He thought it funny how close they had grown in such a short time.

He resumed keeping a lookout for anything crazy. Fortunately for their trip, they reached the first island without trouble.

Pacifica slowed as they approached the island and re-surfaced. “Everything good up here?” She asked.

“Yep, smooth sailing.” Shouri chuckled.

“Great! Let’s see what awaits us on this mysterious island!” Pacifica declared loudly, taking them to shore.

The pair set foot on the small island. Clean, untouched beaches and a small collection of trees that could barely be called a forest. “Wow...” Pacifica began walking towards the vegetation.

“Hey, wait up!” Shouri shouted, following his Resonator.

Treading carefully, the duo looked around in wonder. Very few people came out to these islands. They couldn’t sustain a permanent settlement being so small. Eventually, they would probably be washed away. A transient existence that could only be enjoyed at this moment.

“It’s beautiful here.” Pacifica came to a stop among the trees. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. There weren’t any other people around besides her Maestro. It was just them all alone here in these woods. “Romantic, isn’t it?” she asked.

“It does have a certain charm.” Shouri took in the ambiance with his Resonator. He found a spot under the shade of one of the trees and sat down.

Pacifica rushed over and plopped down next to him, leaning on his shoulder. In a surprise twist, he extended his arm out and wrapped it around her. “Sho...” she cooed.

Eyes closed, neither cared about the passage of time, just allowing it to march on without them. “I wouldn’t mind being stranded on an island like this with you,” Pacifica whispered.

Shouri raised a brow and smirked. “Couldn’t we just swim somewhere? You’re not that weak of a swimmer.”

“Don’t ruin the moment with your facts and logic.” She cuddled up to him more, wrapping her arms around his torso. “Just the idea of being alone, no worries about the world we left behind,” she sighed wistfully. “It’s just nice to think about.”

“Eep!” the girl squeaked suddenly as Shouri’s hand reached her head. He gently stroked her hair, earning another pleasured exhale. “Sho...”

After some time had passed the pair returned to the beach to check out another island. “Onward!” Pacifica pointed towards the island nearby.

“Yes yes.” Shouri shook his head with a smile. Getting on her back, Shouri was ferried over to the second destination in their island-hopping adventure.

Like the first island, the second was nearly untouched by human encroachment. There simply wasn’t any reason to settle on an island so small. The sea would swallow it up given enough time.

“It’s kinda sad to think about,” Shouri noted.

“What’s that?” Pacifica asked, spinning around to face her Maestro.

The Maestro gazed upon the footprints the pair left in the sand. “Just these islands will fade back into the ocean eventually,” he muttered, watching their imprints get washed away by the waves.

Pacifica hugged him from behind. “That’s not the right way of thinking of it,” she whispered to him. “We’re lucky to be experiencing these little specks of land while they exist. Very few would be able to say that.”

Such an optimistic way of looking at things earned a smile from Shouri. “I suppose you’re right.”

“I know I’m right, now come on!” Grabbing his hand, she dragged him along the beach to continue their exploration.

They were on their way to the third island in their little expedition when the waters began to get a little rough. Growing concerned, Shouri tapped Pacifica’s right shoulder twice, as instructed. The girl immediately came to a halt and surfaced. They split off for a moment, both remaining above the waves. “What’s going on Sho?” She asked, looking around.

“It’s getting a bit rough, maybe we should head back,” Shouri advised.

“We’ll be fine, we’ll be fine.” Pacifica didn’t see the problem.

Until it was too late.

As if fate accepted the otter’s challenge, a huge wave suddenly was over them and collapsed right over the pair. Immediately the duo was sucked underwater and separated.

Pacifica of course was fine, a little dazed by the water crashing on top of her, but her water-breathing kicked back in upon being forced underwater. She shook her head, looking around. Her immediate fear was for her Maestro: they had been separated and she had no idea where he was. Worse yet he was not a water-element – he couldn’t breathe in water like she could!

She had to stay calm, but that was a herculean task given that if he died, it’d be on her hands...

“SHO!” she cried out uselessly – the sound didn't carry underwater. “SHOOOO!” she screamed, head whipping to and fro as she wasted her rhythm on this fruitless endeavor. Then she spotted him, rapidly sinking into the abyss. “SHO!” She shot down into the depths after him, never once thinking if she could make it or not.

She managed to reach him – but they were so far under the surface now, that she doubted her ability to get him top side before he ran out of air. She shook her head - it wasn’t time to think that way! She wrapped herself around him and shot back towards the surface. It was so far away though...

In her head, she felt as if she heard Shouri speaking directly into her mind.

“L'onda di tempesta, Accelerando!”

And even more strangely, his rhythm connected with her – she could cast the spell! She didn’t have time to think, she just let it happen. On land the spell created a river of water, but what would it do while she was in the water?

As she cast the spell it felt as if the water was now pulling her to the surface! She urged herself to go faster and faster, riding this new current up to the barrier between air and sea.

SPLASH!

She burst out of the water with such force that she and Shouri were propelled several feet into the air. Time slowed to a crawl. They had made it. Somehow despite all odds, they were back above the cruel waves that had tried to snuff them out.

Landing back on the surface of the water, she heard Shouri coughing and gagging, but within all of that, he gave out a command: “L'onda di tempesta, Accelerando!”

Pacifica just let the spell happen, allowing the water to pull them rapidly toward the mainland. She hadn’t had time to re-adjust, so she laid on her back still holding Shouri, making most of the propulsion work fall on her tail.

Back at shore, the pair crawled onto the beach and collapsed; Shouri still having quite a nasty cough and Pacifica struggling to catch her breath. “I... told you so,” he managed to get out.

“And I told you we’d be fine...” Pacifica snarked back.

The pair smiled at each other, just grateful that little accident didn’t turn into a tragedy.

Taika meanwhile had fallen asleep during Pacifica and Shouri’s Great Adventure and was only awoken by their return.

“Che..?” She groggily sat up on the bed, the sound of the door opening having been the disturbance that stirred her from her sleep. The television was playing some kind of mid-day infomercial. Shouri and Pacifica walked around the corner, looking much worse for wear.

“Shower...” Pacifica groaned, locking herself in the bathroom.

“Well, I guess I’m wearing this.” Shouri frowned, his voice sounded much hoarser than when they left and Taika picked up on that immediately.

“What happened?” the curious fox inquired.

“Big wave made us eat shit.” Shouri coughed.

Taika was confused. “Che?”

After a coughing fit, Shouri elaborated. “We got hit by a big wave and got sucked underwater. Pacifica managed to save me, but I had to cast a couple of spells to get to the surface in time.”

Taika put together the pieces very quickly. “You almost drowned!?” she gasped.

“Sh sh sh...” Shouri looked to the door. “She already feels bad enough about it,” he told Taika. “Let’s just go and pretend it didn’t happen,” he whispered. Taika was still upset about this turn of events and would interrogate her water counterpart at their next opportunity alone.

“We’re leaving, Pacifica!” Shouri called out for his other Resonator.

“Have fun!” she shouted back.

Swapping tuners, he left the blue Pacifica-linked tuner on the nightstand for the black Taika-linked one.

They left roughly afternoon, giving them about four hours out on the town to match the four-ish hours he and Pacifica spent. “So what do you want to even do?” Shouri asked the vixen. She frowned. Where Pacifica went to the beach with Shouri, Taika didn’t have anything specific she wanted to do with him.

“Let’s go get lunch,” she decided.

And so the pair went to a little café. They opted to sit outside and enjoy the nice late-spring weather. “This is nice,” Taika exhaled contentedly, enjoying the light breeze that washed over them. People were meandering about the streets, just going about their Monday afternoon. Shopping, chatting, enjoying the pleasant weather. Everyone was in their own little world.

Shouri was bewitched by the raven-haired vixen before him as she people-watched. These rare moments of peace in their lives were always appreciated.

Their food soon arrived and the duo enjoyed their lunch in silence. Full of soup and sandwiches, the pair hit the streets once more. Taking in the sights before they ended up halfway across the continent was on top of their list. However, a particular attraction caught Taika’s sight. “What’s that?” She pointed ahead to some large machinery in the distance.

“Oh, looks like a small beach-side amusement park,” Shouri noted. “Wanna check it out?” He didn’t need to ask as his current partner’s tail was wagging excitedly while her eyes almost sparkled in excitement.

Heading down to the park in question, it wasn’t as busy as Shouri expected. Looking at the massive beasts of metal ahead of them, they seemed well-aged, like a fine wine. This must have been a long-standing establishment from what he had guessed.

The person at the ticket counter caught sight of Taika, as well as her associated tuner on Shouri’s waist. “Thirty notes,” they spoke gruffly.

Shouri raised a brow, noting the prices.

Adult Maestros (Ages 15+) $15

Minor Maestros (14 and below) $10

Resonators (All Ages) $8

They should have been paying seven notes less for their admission, but rather than raising a stink about it, Shouri decided to pay the “inconvenience fee” the employee had decided to tack on.

With that out of the way, they were admitted into the park without much fanfare.

There were of course many food and souvenir stands dotted around the main entrance. Given they just had lunch, however, the pair simply walked by taking in the sights, smells, and sounds. Some stalls seemed familiar – Shouri figured some of these people pulled double time and also worked at the hunter base camps at night.

They weren’t here for the cuisine, they were here for the rides.

The first attraction that caught Taika’s eyes was a large rotating machine, which Shouri explained was a carousel. They got on and rode around on the various animal-shaped seats that pivoted around the center base. A slow, simple ride to start their day at the park.

Next was the vortex. Taika didn’t understand what it was until it began. They were whipped around at high speed as the machine spun faster and faster. Eventually, she found they were stuck to the walls as the speed of the ride forced them against the walls, even going as far as to drop the bottom of the machine out to show it was holding them in place. She stumbled out of the ride and immediately collapsed.

Deciding to take it easy for the next attraction, Shouri took her to the haunted house. However, this was an incredibly lackluster experience as the two learned that they couldn’t turn off their night vision. As a result, they quite easily saw all the jump scares coming as if they had spotlights on them.

Moving on from that disappointment, they boarded what seemed to be a hollowed-out log on a river. They were taken down a track into several dark tunnels where Shouri decided to have some fun by explaining what couples normally did in these dark “tunnels of love”. Taika exited the ride too flustered to even take advantage of the situation.

Taika got to experience her first foray into driving at the bumper cars. After being quickly coached on the operation of the vehicles they were off. Thankfully the only malicious driver seemed to be Shouri as he targeted his Resonator. She got pretty good at dodging, that was until he began cheating by calling her detection spell, Rilevare l'intenzione, which broke her concentration as she was forced to cast the spell instead of focusing on her driving. She pouted until he got her some chocolate oranges and all was forgiven.

Ending their day, they boarded the Ferris wheel, which slowly took the pair skyward. Shouri yawned. “Did you have fun today?” he asked the vixen sitting across from him.

“Si!” she beamed, illuminated by the setting sun. “I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful today was.” The girl teared up a bit from sheer happiness. She leaned forward and grabbed his hands. “Thank you for being my Maestro Sho, thank you so much.”

Shouri returned her big smile in kind. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he whispered.

The duo exited the Ferris wheel and started heading towards the entrance; however, nothing was ever that easy, especially with the stigma around lunar elementals.

“Hey ninte-fucker!”

Shouri and Taika both stopped in their tracks. That angry voice was one they recognized. One that filled them with dread. Turning around they found the man and his earth bulldog from when they had attempted to train at the Riva Solare MA Office. Shouri grabbed Taika’s hand immediately and focused himself on her. She had got the hint and returned his gesture in kind, squeezing back.

“What do you want?” Shouri tried to keep his voice even.

“You fucking punk, after that stunt you pulled, they nearly took my license!” the man barked.

“The stunt I pulled? You know you were the one who tried to beat us up for fucking training.” Shouri retorted, really struggling to stay calm.

“Well, if you didn’t bring your filthy ninte in we wouldn’t have a problem, would we? Now you’re here ruining everyone’s day.”

Shouri took in a deep breath and exhaled. “Dude, what do you want? We’re already leaving.”

The larger man smirked. “What do you think?” He pulled his tuner from his side.

“Did you even take the Resonator License exam? Street fights are very specifically against the law. Is your license really worth it?” Shouri pointed out.

“It’s a good thing there’s an open-air arena here.” The earth Maestro pointed towards a large clearing not too far from where they were standing.

The lunar Maestro raised a brow. “No, I’m not fighting you dude, fuck off,” he spat.

“Typical ninte, always ready to run-”

“Actually Sho-” Taika cut in, “-let me at him.” The vixen smirked. Shouri was taken aback by her sudden confidence.

“Hmmmmm, okay,” Shouri decided. “If she’s cool with it, let’s rumble.”

A small crowd had followed the battlers down to the arena. Surprisingly there was a healthy mix of spectators that were rooting for Taika, with an equal number hoping the earth canine would smash his lunar counterpart into the ground.

“I suppose I’ll make a similar proposition as my sister: I never want to see your ugly fucking mug again if we win. And if you win, I’ll give you... 500 notes – fair?” Shouri declared.

“Easiest money I ever made. Make that ninte eat dirt!” the earth Maestro told his dog, who replied with a smug grin and cracking his knuckles.

“Should I wrap it up fast?” Taika asked her Maestro.

“Totes, Pacifica is waiting for us.”

A smirk rose on the vixen’s lips as she got into a fighting position. “With pleasure.”

The battle appeared to be one-sided at first glance. A large, muscle-bound dog-man against a petite fox-girl. It didn’t even seem fair.

“Colpito da una Roccia, Piano!” the earth Maestro began with his command.

The earth dog formed a decent-sized boulder and threw it in Taika’s direction. The lunar Resonator stepped out of the way. “How often does that work?” Taika questioned, keeping her eyes locked on her opponent.

“Typical ninte,” The earth Resonator growled. He charged the smaller Resonator and threw a haymaker, attempting to beat her down without the use of his magic.

Taika was simply nimbler, easily pivoting around the attacks, none ever even getting close to her. This only served to further frustrate the bulkier Resonator. “Use your ad-Lib!” the Maestro shouted.

“You got it!” The bigger canine jumped up and dove into the earthy battlefield as if it were water.

Shouri chuckled. “You really have one strategy and that’s it.”

Taika stood up straight, closing her eyes; ears pointed up and twitching with every sound. Even with the crowd around them, tracking the earth Resonator was a simple feat.

A couple of outside observers noted how still both Shouri and Taika became. One even noticed their breathing fell into sync.

The opposing Resonator burst out of the ground, attempting to grab Taika’s leg, but what he grasped was a whole lot of air.

“Fissare la Ombra, Allegro Staccato!” Shouri’s command was delivered and executed in such a small window it left no room for any counterplay. Taika unleashed a barrage of arrows, which struck around the earth Resonator and held firm in the ground.

“Nice aim! You missed!” the earth Maestro gloated.

“Did we now?” Shouri snarked back, knowingly.

“I-I can’t move!” the enemy Resonator groaned as they appeared frozen in place.

Taika raised a single hand into the sky. Shouri chuckled, knowing exactly what she wanted from him.

“Loro Formato Lunare Lago, Legato.”

The earth Maestro paled as a massive ball of ice began to form in the air. The audience watched in awe as it grew larger and larger, eclipsing the last remnants of sunlight cast upon the stadium.

“HEY!” Shouri shouted across the field. “Do you surrender?!” he taunted.

The larger man’s face contorted in sheer anger. “To a ninte!? NEVER!”

Shouri chuckled and shrugged. “Suit yourself. Come on Taika.”

“Right, Sho!” She flicked her raised hand forward ever so slightly before turning to follow her Maestro out of the arena.

“Where are you going?! THIS ISN’T OVER!” the opposing Maestro roared.

Shouri and Taika both looked back. “Yes, it is,” they said in unison, right as the giant space rock crushed the opposing bulldog, sending shards of dust and ice all over the arena.

The door to Room 59 at the South Riva Sranvi MA Office swung open. Pacifica perked up from her spot on the bed. Shouri and Taika trudged in and immediately collapsed onto the couch.

“That much fun huh?” Pacifica tittered.

“Amusement parks suck,” Shouri complained leaning back.

“Shower... but tired,” Taika similarly groaned.

Pacifica giggled. “I guess we’re gonna sleep good tonight.”