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chisuchina's entry
The sun was high in a cloudless, aquamarine colored sky when the Gold Rush ferry from the Isle pulled into its port on the northern end of Buckaneer Boardwalk and the low thrum of anxious excitement became so palpable Chisuchina could tell even her sister was on edge.
And Setsuna was never nervous.
It had happened during a two minute conversation over a rare lunch date between the two siblings earlier that week.
“On friday, you have to come with me to the mainland.”
“But I have-”
“You HAVE to be there, no buts Chi-Chi. The boat leaves at noon, I’ll tell you what rings to bring then.”
A simple nothing exchange, but it is what had landed Chisuchina here, amongst one of almost two dozen Gaians disembarking the Gold Rush and walking down the planking in an excitedly chattering crowd. There were so many people - the obvious groups of friends, here and there a few tag alongs like herself, and some people who had clearly happened upon the group by chance. For not the first time, Chisuchina found herself wondering exactly what she’d gotten herself into, her sister’s voice calling her attention back.
“What? I wasn’t listening.” she answered honestly at Setsuna’s questioning look, noting that they were nearing the end of the pier - and that there were not only five people already waiting for them, but she recognized them all as friends of her sister’s.
“Chisu, this is important. You remember the way I told you to go right?” the older women asked seriously, handing back her sister’s PDA, much to the teal haired girl’s surprise; she hadn’t even noticed it was gone.
“I do. But what-” Chisuchina didn’t get to finish her sentence, Setsuna having smiled in relief before turning to greet the waiting Gaians, leaving Chisuchina to, once again, wonder what exactly she’d allowed herself to be talked into.
By now, an expectant and excited hush had fallen over the crowd which pressed in on all sides, Chisuchina frowning slightly as she glanced from her sister her friends which were clearly her crew mates, but before she could ask a question all six had turned to face them and the hush turned to so complete a silence that you could hear the ocean water lapping up against the dock’s pillars and against the side of the ferry so many feet away.
“Alright everyone, I’m only going to say this once! There is only one path, if you don’t know it, buddy up with someone who does! Failing that, follow this girl!” Setsuna called out, pointing to her flabbergasted sister before continuing on. “Everyone CL 8 and below stand to the left. Buffers, get to buffing!”
Chisuchina was quickly jostled about as people shifted from one side to another, the cacophony of dozens of buffs being activated all at the same time almost deafening as she stared at her PDA. It was suddenly full of names she didn’t know, their dots spread out along the entire length of the course her sister had drilled into her head the night before. She looked up at her sister then with a sinking feeling.
“Setsu-” she began.
“Fleeters, remember, wait for the dervish!” Setsuna yelled above the noise even as she buffed a few waiting gaians herself, Chisuchina frowning.
“Setsu-” she tried again, loud this time.
“Everyone get into position!” the red head continued without pausing, Chisuchina almost growling as she moved forward now, grabbing her sister’s arm.
“Setsuna-”
The older women turned suddenly, startling her sister into silence with the intensity of her gaze.
“Make for the dots on your PDA. Don’t stop running. Not for one moment.” Setsuna instructed, tugging her sister’s Wish ring from her hand and replacing it with her own Sugar Rush one. “Take this and don’t. Stop. Running.”
Chisuchina could only gulp as Setsuna then grinned, and turned away.
“Bumpers ready!”
Three of her crew mates stepped to the very edge of the dock.
“Fleeters, on your mark!”
There were shouts of “ready” from several spots amongst the gathered crowd.
“Everyone ready!?”
This time a resounding cheer.
“Then let the first annual Boardwalk Dash begin!”
At that, the three “bumpers” hopped down the four short steps leading to Boardwalk proper - and into the gathered mob of anchor bugs, the air suddenly alive with shimmering hands as the trio knocked a clear space about 5 feet wide and two deep. Setsuna turned then to wink at her sister before grabbing hands with the two remaining crew mates on the dock and leaping down the steps into the open space with a feral howl. Chisuchina and the rest of the Gaians on the dock only had a moment to admire the furious tornado created by the simultaneous release of three fully raged Dervish rings, the animated flung almost halfway across the clearing. The rush of air and roaring light was quickly drowned out by the sudden and shrill whistle of more full raged Fleet rings than the younger girl ever cared to count, goosebumps rippling down her arms.
And then, came the shout.
“RUN!!”
It was like a miniature stampede, Chisuchina leaping down the steps and bolting for the bridge. The rusty clank of attaching bugs mingled with the pound of running feet and shouts of warning or encouragement, the glitter of energy butterflies on healing winds swirling over and around the running girl. Now she knew why Setsuna had insisted she put on the rings she had and was grateful for it as she slapped down attacking bugs with bump and duct tapped the ones she couldn’t simply leap over, single minded in her intent - to get to the next dot on her PDA. What awaited them at the first check point however was completely unexpected - a veritable wall of glowing Gaians.
“Now!”
The harmless aura of power that had surrounded the front six quickly became one of unquestioning menace, their shadows writhing and rising into the air in one terrifying, spitting, monstrous whole. The animated weren’t the only ones to stop dead in the face of six full raged Scaredy Cat rings, the cat’ers quick to shout out to the faltering runners.
“Don’t stop!”
“Keep running!”
Chisu swallowed and plunged through a sea of re-buffs and cries of encouragement. She and the rest were ready for the next cat shield, dashing past almost faster than they could be re-fleeted. So keen was she on simply getting to the end that she didn’t realize she’d made it to the end until a shout went up as she came to the pier leading out to the Boardwalk beach. The entire length of it was lined by cheering Gaians, Chisuchina slowing to a slightly embarrassed trot as she and the rest of the runners were showered in sweetheart buffs. Setsuna was waiting at the entrance, running forward to wrap her sister up in a hug.
“You made it! You made it! I knew you could do it!” she said, laughing as she hopped up and down so happily that Chisu couldn’t help but smile back.
“Of course I made it. I’m your sister after all, what, did you think you got all the talent in the family?” she answered teasingly before jabbing the older women in the ribs. “And if you ever sign me up for something like this without telling me again, I’m trading ring bags with you for a WEEK.”
Laughing now, the sisters fell into the crowd that was making its way for the after party that was to be held just outside the Colosseum, Chisuchina unable to deny the fact that she had had a good time.
Not that she’d ever tell Setsuna that
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