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—START—
Someone kicked the door open.
Someone kicked the door open with enough force for it to fly off it’s hinges and hit Minamizaka as he was explaining why exactly Twin Turbo could not just stomp harder on the ground to run faster.
The booming sound had not been a good enough warning and as he was hit by the door all he could ear was his trainee’s panicked yelps before he was on the ground.
Silence reigned for a singular instance.
A sweat covered Sounds of Earth striking a pose by the entrance had arrived, leg up as the responsible for the sudden assault.
“O magnifico teammates of mine, this with great honor that a simple artist reaches for your senses and beings for a query of untold repercussions if wrongly handled” Completely ignoring the scene she’s just caused, stepping up to find that only Nice Nature and Twin Turbo were in the room.
One staring at her while the other screamed, scrambling to reach the man under the piece of wood. “AH! TRAINER!” The blue blur was immediately hovering on the man, running frantically around the door to find if any body part of his was visible.
“Earth” Nature sighed, deadpanning directly at her junior and extending a hand downwards where their trainer laid. “why?” So much disappointment coming from that word that the exuberant girl felt small at the eyes of their senior.
Nice Nature really tried her best but her team could be so tiring sometimes.
One blink, then two before Earth recovered from the stare. “Such an unfortunate mishap” Nervously Earth laughed, closing in to where Turbo was already lifting the door off of their trainer, yelling at him to ask if he was fine. “Directore, does thy hear the light’s call?”
Worry for the possibility of having hurt her trainer in her voice.
Shaking off the dust and dirt Minamizaka got off the ground relatively fine. “I-I’m fine, I’m fine” Rubbing his shoulder which had been the most hurt part of his body. “Just a bit sore he he” He didn’t seem to be giving it much importance.
Clinging to his suit’s jacket was Turbo, cheeks puffed as he looked really hard at him. “Turbo I’m fine, really” He said patting her head.
“Trainer better be!” She yelled, those twisting purple eyes trying to laser through his skull with how much she was staring.
The moment he finally recovered completely Minamizaka did end up scolding Earth for her choice of actions, and that the flair was not worth the bill to the team’s budget. “Just don’t go around kicking more doors Earth, Tazuna won’t be happy if that happens often” Still he didn’t seem all that annoyed with her.
Turbo stood beside Minamizaka and just repeated every five words the man said, like she too was scolding. “R-right, if the directore commands so I shall comply” Her laugh was awkward with the mention of one particular person, still she kept her spirit intact.
Nature watched from the side, like a kid watching their dad berate a younger sister for their actions. “Trainer’s just too soft with all of us” Nature couldn’t help but sigh seeing that.
Deciding that it was better if she cut in. “Now what was so important that you had to enter like that?” Fists on her hips as she walked up to her.
“Ah” Almost forgetting her ‘divine mission’ Earth’s energy returned. “Turbo, Nature we have a calling of destiny we need to fulfill” Then she posed, one arm to her hip and the other dramatically pointing towards the door. “Matikanetannhauser, Ikuno and mio sole already find themselves waiting for us at the gates so we can realize it”
“Machitan, Dictus and Royce?” Repeating the people she mentioned Turbo’s eyes spark with fire. “Alright!! I’ll catch them and get to the bottom of this!” The engine roared and without considering anything else the little girl burst into a run towards the academy’s exit.
Earth dramatically bowed for a goodbye before running after her, her duty finished.
Thus only Nature and Minamizaka remained in the room, she glanced at him, he looked back, then she squinted her eyes, he softened his, she rolled hers, he lifted a brow.
Her brow trembled, he smiled, she sighed then nodded.
And entire conversation happens within seconds by them just looking before Nature groaned. “Okay trainer, I’ll make sure they don’t cause too much trouble” Dejected she waved goodbye, running out the door to where they said they’d be.
Leaving the trainer alone, in a really messy team room and a broken door.
Minamizaka had some things to clean up.
---
Their divine duty required a visit to the mall, at least that’s how Sounds of Earth put it the moment Nature reached the rest at the gates.
Machitan didn’t bother asking why, Turbo was already running in the direction of the nearest mall — which she doesn’t know where it is, just sprinting in a random direction — with Earth chasing after her without thinking too much either.
At least she did know where they had to go, correcting Turbo by turning her around completely, still they didn’t stop when passing by the gate again.
Which meant the other three had to chase right after them to stop them from getting into trouble. “Why exactly are we going to the mall?” Was what Nature asked the moment they had reached them.
“I’d quite like to know too” Dictus spoke passing by everyone with a longer stride, putting herself in front of Turbo to control her uncontrollable pace. “Such arrangements would normally require previous agreement if your intention is for us to hang out”
“HEY!?” The blue gremlin was not amused by that, trying to run faster than her but she was being blocked.
Matikanetannhauser blinked, looking forward then back to look at every single one of her teammates. “Oh, we’re supposed to do something?” Cluelessly asking.
“Matchi” Nature sighed, matching her pace with her and closing in on her. “We’ve talked about this, you don’t just follow crazy plans without knowing them first” Her voice soft when speaking to her.
“He he, it sounded fun thought, going out with everyone” Smiling so purely that she cut any more words from Nature, who’s face burned as her ears flattened against her head just by seeing it.
Inside she was screaming though. (Goddesses damn it why are you so adorable!!) Her own tail wrapping around her thigh to regain some composure.
Earth blinked once, the question finally processed in her mind. “Ah, yes our mission” Opening her arms as she ran Earth prepared her message. “The winds spoke to me like a soft tune carrying secrets, in which they reveal the most urgent of information”
Taking a moment to breathe — running and talking at their speeds wasn’t usually recommended — before affirming. “Tomorrow is the Trainer’s Buon compleanno”
For an instant only hoofbeats were heard, making their way towards said mall.
…Then…
“WEH!?!?!?!” Twin Turbo was the first to react. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN TOMORROW!!??” There was an urge to stop and tackle Earth into explaining more but she just kept running. “WE DIDN’T GET HIM ANYTHING!!!”
Matching her was Machitan, with the same volume. “WHAAA???” Her hands pressing her own cheeks like an old drawing which name shall not be uttered.
“Ha ha ha~” Heartily Earth enjoyed her teammates reaction. “My vocals created the same melody when I learnt of this” Earth agreeing with their sentiment.
“How troubling, I never really thought of this before” Royce spoke for the first time since they had met up, having stumbled a bit when Earth revealed the reason. “It is now time for us to fix this then!” Sparking a fire in her eyes. “So charge forward Canopus”
“But of course oh beautiful masterpiece” immediately swooning to her side Earth’s tone turned mellow. “I planned this endeavor for this exact purpose, g-”
Cutting off the soon to come chant of intentions Royce spoke. “Getting our dear orchestra directore his due gift?” Predicting the exact words that Earth was going to say.
“Dear me…it turns out that you have my partiture already has already been figured out” Earth’s cheeks flushed red fully embracing how she was fully read by Royce. “Hearing it from your chorus is heavenly~” Her tone smoothing as she batted her eyelashes at her girlfriend.
Royce answered by turning to look at her without slowing down, smiling deeply at her. “Is that so?” Were they not running Royce would have cupped Earth’s cheek.
“URHG, Dictus!” The orange ears of the tall Uma turned into Turbo’s direction at her whine. “They are doing the weird voice thing again!” The girl complained as she shook her arms, attempting to accelerate to not see it.
“Cease your flirtatious manners please” And Dictus agreed with the sentiment, the mall soon coming to her field of view. “We are arriving” Her pace fastening too so to not let Turbo get too much ahead of her.
Royce didn’t argue, focusing forward leaving Earth with one last glance as the other dramatically agreed to the ‘distance from her muse’
Dictus just turned to look, her glance moving from them to Nature and Matikanetannhauser who seemed to just be running in their own world. They eventually reached the entrance, slowing down with a bit of fatigue as the automatic doors gave them entry to the mall.
Pushing her glasses up Ikuno stood straight looking at her team. “Before we continue inside it is imperative we set a goal” A plan to search for a proper gift was what she was proposing. “Taking into consideration the likes of our trainer, the amount of capital we hold, items he already possesses, our own likes and many other factors must be considered to make the ideal pick” Her explanation stretched for some more time, many factors and ideas thrown out before she said. “Any questions?”
Standing in front of her only Nature remained. “They left the moment you said plan” Staring at one another, their ears almost synchronizing in the way they moved. “Over there” Natie’s hand pointing at a Turbo glued to a showcase of remote-controlled toy cars, Matikanetannhauser looking through various pastries of a bakery near it with Royce while Earth hovered behind them trying to get their attention to a merch store nearby.
“Hmm” Ikuno looked unflinchingly. “They are not going to focus on the task ahead, are they?” She asked without turning around.
Her senior huffed amused. “Nope” crossing her arms and getting to Ikuno’s side. “In 2 minutes, they won’t even be here, but lost on the mall” Her twin tails moving as she shook her head.
There was a small pause. “Then it is up to us to do right by trainer then” Nodding to herself Dictus reached her conclusion. “Let’s scout for proper gifting material” Marching towards the upper section of the building without slowing down fully expecting to be followed.
Nature tiredly looked, debating if she should stay here to keep her team out of trouble or not. “Sure thing” Glancing towards Machitan once more with a soft smile before she was out of her sight.
And while following two people searching through various items for a gift would be interesting, our focus remains on the chaos Gremlings.
Turbo didn’t waste any more time entering the toy shop, quick steps rattling the floor as she approached the cars section.
Models of remote-controlled ones and static ones all shelved neatly as the escape artist of team Canopus went one by one, eyes wide and grinning as she listed them all. “How cool!!” Quickly moving to another shelf. “Awesome!!” Then to another.
It was like a storm had entered the store making rounds around the same aisle with excitement and awe in its eyes. “Ikuno, Ikuno, look at this!!” Nobody answered her, the echoes of other people around talking in the store being the only voices around.
“Ikuno?” She turned around, then to the other side again. “Machitan? Earth?! ROYCE?! NATIE!?” Slowly her eyes widened with panic, finally realizing that she was alone.
Leaving whatever she was holding behind and running out of the store and looking at the entrance.
There was nobody there. “ARHG!” She turned her head towards the bakery where she vaguely remembers seeing Machitan, running to a place where she could see the inside of it in case they went in.
None of her teammates were there either.
…
“IKUNO!!!!!!”
Turning away from the lovable screaming child, we go inside of a merch store where we find that Sounds of Earth is hovering by the side of an employee, Royce and Matikanetannhauser watching as she explained things to the poor worker.
“It is such that Canopus prospers” The poor man had been restocking the keychains quite calmly when a wild Sounds of Earth approached them, grabbing unto his shoulder like an old friend while she explained why the disposition of the keychains was wrong.
They were randomly placed and Canopus was not all together — chance tends to do that — Earth could not allow such a travesty. “Capisci? My troupe should not be kept apart even through our marketable keyholders”
Royce seemed to be waving Tokai Teio plushies as a form of encouragement for Earth, a performance of elegance and chaos that looked hilarious from the outside. While that happened Machitan’s eyes followed the movement of the Teio as if hypnotized by their waving movement.
“I…I can’t just-” Shushing the man with a zipping motion Earth extending their arm upwards.
“Scuse, in your hands lay Canopus integrity, do right by us” With that the poor man was finally let go from the claws of Earth, walking towards Royce with a content smile . “Now, whatever were we looking for before?”
“Oh, oh, a present for trainer” Machitan raised her hand enthusiastically in her other hand a chocolate bun she’d bought before at the bakery before. “We could get him some sweets or maybe a plushie of everyone!”
“Trainer already has a plushie of all of us” Pushing her glasses up Royce mentioned. “I’ve seen them lined up on his office”
“Gah, then sweets?” Machitan offered again, lifting her bun to emphasize her idea. “Those always make me smile!” And she’d love it if someone gave her sweets for her birthday.
Earth nodded. “a worthwhile candidate, to find a pastry worthy of our trainer however we must scout the entire structure” Turning towards the door of the merch store without looking at anything else for they were not of interest anymore.
Thus they walked all through the mall, entering any interesting store along their way following the pace of Sounds of Earth whose spirit and image for a gift was the lead while Royce and Machitan complimented it with their input.
As they walked suddenly the intercom came to life. “EJEM! To the individuals Ikuno Dictus, Royce and-” A thud, like the person speaking had been pushed aside suddenly and rather harshly. “ACK-”
“IKUNOOO!!” A deafening screech tore through the ears of every present Umamusume and human “ROYCE!!! NATIE!!” It was Turbo, it was Turbo screaming her heart out on the announcement. “WHERE ARE YOU?!?”
Turns out a cop eventually found her, offering to use the coms to call for the people she was missing into the security office for them to meet up. Turbo was not patient enough to let him finish however and took action herself.
“YOU LEFT ME!!” Earth turned to look at Royce, Royce to Machitan and Machitan to Earth. “WHERE ARE YOU!!?!” Then the three ran as fast as they could, as someone seemed to push Turbo out of the microphone.
Up some stairs, passing by many people turning around to look at them, they ran towards where they more or less knew the office was.
It took them a couple of minutes to reach the office of the cop, there Turbo clung unto Nature like a tick, gripping with her hands Nature’s shoulders while she used her legs to hold unto her waist. “Natie!! You left me!” Still altered the pout was visible.
Right then the sound of steps turns her ear to the side, seeing that the rest of her team had arrived to whom she just huffs, small tears in her eyes and she just turns back, forehead in Nature’s shoulder.
Ikuno, besides them just sighed turning to them, in her hands a small box wrapped in a very neat white paper with a red bow. “I calculated 20 minutes before we would be called looking for us” She then turned to look at Nature. “How much?”
“Twelve” Answered resigned the girl. “Good thing you had a plan to buy something or we would have been here for hours” Her gratitude to Ikuno’s fast mind was something big right now.
“Ho ho ho, it would seem that we-”
A hand covered her mouth. “No” Nature said. “12 minutes, that’s all you took to make a fuss of buying a gift” Giving her head a small pat before looking towards the exit. “we leave now”
And so they marched — Turbo still holding unto Natie with Machitan grabbing a hold of the girl’s arm, Royce and Earth holding hands — towards the sunset with smiles — not all — on their faces.
Will team Canopus ever get that gift to their trainer? Will someone die along their way back to Tracen? Find out on the next chapter of…
CANOPUS.
—END—
—Mystic—
