[ooc] Adventure Story text: Chapter 7
"Man...I need some sleep."
Rubbing my eyes, I jumped out into the sun; we came to Slayheim by carriage to cheer for Reese at the Violin Contest, but...
"My internal clock is out of synch..."
Marivel, wearing a costume, also got out of the carriage, wobbling.
"Are you two all right?"
Reese's deer-like eyes were wide with concern.
"Ahh, I'm all right. Don't worry..." Marivel waved her hands slightly.
"You shouldn't have stayed up so late. Please, try to at least keep awake when my turn comes around!"
"I told you not to worry..."
You're not too convincing when you're about to get run over by a carriage, Marivel.
"This city is always so noisy...it never changes."
Reese frowned as he supported Marivel's back.
"My impression is a little different."
When I think about my mother who lives here, it pains my heart; it makes me want to ask why my mother abandoned us to live in this city.
"Really? There's nothing good here; I like Quartly a lot better."
"Maybe so...oh, is that the concert hall?"
"All right, let's go!"
Seeing Reese's face shine, I smirked. Shrugging my shoulders, I started to follow him, when I noticed Marivel looking at me.
"What is it, Marivel?"
"Reese usually acts more mature than you, but it's the opposite today. That's why watching humans in their growth period is fun," she said.
I didn't know how to answer her, but I could predict the expression hidden under her costume. I hastened my feet. Finding Reese and Marivel, after signing in and dressing up, I called them over to where I was saving them seats in the waiting room. Hey...? Isn't she...
"Violetta!"
The shoulders covered by blue chiffon turned back.
"Reese!? Are you here for the contest? This isn't an easy contest the likes of you can win!"
"You're still mad, right? I'm sorry."
"Don't give me that false modesty! You're just making fun of me aren't you!?"
"No, I wouldn't do such a thing."
"Liar! Like the time about the ribbon or...I don't remember much about it, but...about the day of the first snow..."
"That's not true..."
Glaring at Reese fumbling his words, she got red up to her ears and yelled, "That's enough! I hate you!!"
In the strangely tiring air, Marivel opened her mouth.
"You're almost up."
"Yes...oh?"
Standing up with the violin in one hand, Reese looked around.
"What's the matter?"
"My music scores are gone."
Reese turned pale and looked at Marivel.
"Did you look for it?"
"I know I placed it next to the violin."
We looked up at each other.
"It's Violetta! She took Reese's scores!"
"So she's the one! I am at fault...she never should have got away with it. Reese, Jack and I will retrieve the score. You stay right here and wait."
Reese nodded, almost crying.
"Shoot! Where is she?"
We looked around the hall, but she was no where in sight.
"The next performer is...Mr. Reese Farlain..."
I bit my lip at the announcement; there's no time left!
"Er...what should we do, Jack!?"
"I'd like to know that, too!!"
At that moment, a carefree voice called me from the back.
"My, it's Jack! How have you been?"
"Miss Anastasia!?"
She was wearing a dress with white bubbled laces, standing with a violin and a music score in her hands. Seeing the scores, an idea raced through my head!!
"That's it! Marivel, Miss Anastasia, I need your help!"
After I explained it, Marivel put on a wry face.
"Isn't that too flashy a performance?"
"Doesn't it suit your taste, Marivel? All right, let's go with that plan," Miss Anastasia said, chuckling.
"I guess it will have to do...we have no time left either."
"Okay, here we go!"
We dashed out of the waiting room, and ran towards the back row seats. Securing some space on the spot, I took out the scores. Trying to remember my design drawings, I frantically folded the papers up.
"The lights turned on, Jack!"
I caught Reese coming out at the corner of my eyes; he looked as scared as a sacrificial lamb.
"Marivel, Miss Anastasia, let it fly!"
"Leave it to me!!"
"Roger!"
They started throwing the musical score airplanes, one after another, onto the stage! The white planes flew steadily up, and then dived down onto the stage. Reese startled for a second, picked them up and spread them open. The audience fell silent, not expecting such a sight. In the midst of the silent hall, Reese finished spreading all the scores, and readied his violin. Tension ran through the hall. After a moment, a decorous tone flowed from the strings. Feeling eased, I fell back into the nearest seat.
--
"Sorry, Reese. It's probably my fault that you didn't get to win," I apologized, as the carriage clanked its wheels.
"Uh-uh. I'm happier for what you all did for me than getting an award...I'm really grateful."
Caressing the trophy he received as a special award, he moved his eye on to Marivel, sleeping quietly next to him, and gently smiled.
"But..."
"Don't mention it. I'll make apple pie when we get home, so let's celebrate then."
"That's a good idea. Let's send one to Miss Anastasia, too."
Reese laughed at me as I recalled the taste of pie in my head.
--
"What's this? You're telling me that girl was kidnapped!?" Marivel's loud voice resounds through the quiet castle walls.
"On top of that, we were the ones that guided the kidnapper to the Bubka residence..."
"We didn't think a kidnap could happen in this town..."
In our regular meeting room, Reese and I let out a big sigh.
"It's a heavy responsibility..."
"And besides, she's our classmate. We want to help her out somehow."
Marivel looked at us, amused. "You don't have any hard feelings about the contest?"
"That doesn't matter!" Reese bristled, as his face turned red, "I don't like holding grudges for every little thing."
"So, Marivel. This thug wants Violetta's big sis to carry the ransom to him."
"That smells like a dangerous trap..."
"Doesn't it!? So we want to do something about it."
"Hmmm..." Marivel, who had her right hand to her chin, looked up; there was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "How about this? I'll go disguised as Violetta's sister to the exchange site. Then, Red and Blue will come out, and capture the culprit."
"I can't let you do something that dangerous!"
"I think so too, Marivel. Please think it over..."
"There nothing to worry. Just believe in my powers."
"I know how powerful you are, but what if something happens to you?"
"Aah, that is enough!!" Marivel stood up and banged the table, "When I say it is all right, it is all right!"
--
As we walked home silently, our shadows were stretched long by the moonlight.
"Hey."
"Say."
We're congenial friends that even say things simultaneously.
"You think so, too?"
"Of course I do. If we go with Marivel's plan, it'll make us look like chickens."
"You said it! All right!"
We planted ourselves down on a nearby tree stump.
"First, the kidnapper will probably underestimate us as kids so..."
Under the half moon, our rescue plan meeting continued.
--
"Um...I brought the ransom money."
Just as we planned, we switched with Violetta's big sis and approached the culprit using our best girl voice; we shifted the time up from the time we told Marivel. Even so, this skirt thingy is really hard to move. It's also because I'm hiding Canacan's machete that we secretly borrowed.
"Good. Now hand over the money."
"Wait!! Release my sister first!" Reese yelled, with a trembling voice; he's quite an actor.
"Very well. Move it."
Violetta was shoved out and came running towards us, but stopped, surprised, recognizing who we were.
"Are you all right, Violetta!?"
As we trotted up to her, her eyes got even bigger.
"Y-Yes...but..."
(Just keep quiet and hide behind us!)
Jeez, get with it will you...she's a girl, so I guess we can't expect too much. As I thought to myself, the culprit approached us, clanking his spurred boots.
"Okay, hand me the money now."
"Y-Yes. Here it is." Reese hands out the bag of money. I stealthily fingered the machete through
the hole I cut out inside the pocket.
"Ya know little missies, you look quite cute for being a daughter of Bubka's."
It's turning out just as we thought. I looked over and nodded at Reese.
"Ya'll will sell for a hefty price."
Now!! I charged the back of the thug, as he gleefully fondled Reese's chin; I took out the machete at the same time, and pinned it at him, as he rolled on the ground.
"Huh!? You brat...what the hell!"
"Don't get any nearer than that...or else!!"
"Violetta, run away from here, now!!" Reese yelled, as he got in front of her, and covered her mouth.
"Okay! I'll call papa for help!!" Violetta gathered her courage, and started for town.
"You stupid brats...how dare you ruin my master plan! You're gonna pay!!"
Wiping off his cut lip, he pulled out a knife and stood up. In the same motion, he came charging towards us! No, I can't...I'm not ready to do something that might kill a man! It seems Reese had the same feeling as we both stood frozen with a naked blade in our hands. Like a slow-motion film, the oily face came closer and closer. Along with a great impact, we were knocked into the ground head first.
"That was a bad stunt you pulled, brat!"
As my head spun around in circles, he pulled his knife up above his head.
Darn it...!! As I closed my eyes, a familiar voice came into my ears.
"Qubeley!!"
Simultaneously with the voice, the ground under the thug mounded up. The giant metallic pillar that grew out of the ground opened its eyes.
"Hyaaa..!!"
A strong shock wave flared from its body, and it blew the culprit into the air. I was stunned at the sight. I watched the culprit stagger away, looking all beat up.
"It looks like I made it just in time."
From behind the metallic pillar arrived Marivel in a jumpsuit, taking of a semi-cracked pair of goggles from her head.
"Marivel, what is this...?"
"It's an advanced golem that incorporates Red and Blue into a bigger and stronger frame. Its name is Qubeley (test type)." After her explanation, she gave out a short command. Rumbling loudly, Qubeley dove into the ground again.
"If you've learned your lesson, you are to never leave me behind again."
"Y-Yes, Marivel..."
We sank our heads in dejection.
"You two were very brave though." Marivel winked and grinned.
"Really?"
"I am sure of it, although it would've been better if we didn't let the culprit run away."
"Marivel, you noticed it, too?"
"Well, I was just regretting that fact now..."
Then, we heard footsteps of several people approaching: Violetta and Mr. Bubka had brought the sheriff along. When we told them that we lost the criminal, Mr. Bubka and the sheriff
frowned for a moment, but Mr. Bubka took our hands, and thanked us.
"You've saved my daughter, heedless of the danger. Thank you, thank you."
We could tell how much he was worried by his sweaty hands. Smiling a little, I looked behind me. Violetta was standing in front of Marivel.
"I'm really sorry for...a lot of things."
"Don't mind it. I acted a little immature as well," Marivel smiled delicately, "Next time, come to my castle, all three of you."
Parting with the words, "I'll be waiting," she swiftly disappeared.