a small adventure

[Tsukiko]

(Closed to Crystal Suncrest)

Tsukiko clutched the piece of paper to her chest as she walked into the home. Outside it was simply a stone apartment that looked like all the rest but inside it held many wonders. The vixen’s eyes were wide as she looked to the skeleton of a small dragon and armor designs from many nations and weapons as well. There was also a ton of gizmos that begged to be played with. In the middle of it was a man with messy, gray hair and a gray goatee wearing a pair of goggles and work clothes twisting a screwdriver into a strange device.

Tsu smiled and bowed as she spoke. “Um sir?” She shyly tried to get his attention and when the man looked up. She would continue. “I saw this add outside that you needed a treasure hunter and I was wondering if you would take me for the job.” She flicked her tail as she prayed that he would say okay.

“You know, girl, this isn’t a game. This treasure is a collection of the finest treasure hunters of all time.” The man studied the girl. If he wanted a waitress she would be hired on the spot as she had a cute petit body and some nice exotic furry features. Then there was her clothing: strange armor of Akashima made for slight defense but maximum mobility. She was at least dressed for the part. She probably would do well, but then again no one believed him. “I guess I’ll take you.”

The youngest Doji stood at attention with a smile and perked up ears. “You mean it? I get the job?”

“Yes, yes. You get the job. Don’t run out yet, I’m expecting someone to help and we have to prepare. I’m Marduk by the way.”

“Oh, I’m Doji Tsukiko.” The vixen bowed this time a little lower to hide her blush. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Once done Tsukiko went to a chair to sit down and wait. She was excited that she was going to hunt down the treasure of the great adventurer Warren with good pay and even an artifact that suits her fancy. This was the kind of job that would prove to her that she was as capable as her mother was.

“Hmm Doji, that name’s familiar. I think she was a warrior and did a little treasure hunting as well.” The man smiled.

“Oh that’s my mother Ki; she was a great fighter.” Tsukiko expressed her pride in her mother and hopes that she would be just as great.

“Haha, yes that’s the one, I guess I’m lucky to have a person of great blood to help me.”

Tsukiko felt really good that it seemed the man was starting to trust her, and she was sure that she was going to do something great today.

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal had taken a liking to napping in unusual spots these days. Sometimes that meant sleeping on somebody's head. Sometimes that meant sleeping on a signpost or a weapons display. Last night was the best of all in her mind. Last night she slept in an old woman's purse. It was probably the most satisfying nap she had taken in quite a while, and the woman only asked one thing of the fairy in return.

The woman wanted Crystal to take on a job for a friend of hers named Marduk. It was an odd request to make of a small fairy, but the blue-eyed, silver-haired woman somehow seemed to think that Crystal was the best one for the job, and so the young fairy found herself entering the doors of what she liked to think of as Marduk's Manor. Although the place was not really called that, she felt she had to call it something, and Marduk's Manor had a nice little ring to it.

There were two people just inside the entrance. one was a young woman, while the other was an older man. Crystal figured that one of them had to be Marduk, and she was guessing it was the male, but she wasn't going to make any huge assumptions quite yet.

"Is one of you two Marduk? I'm here about the job." Crystal asked, gently landing on a nearby suit of armor.

"That would be me." The man said, looking her over.

The man looked her over for around two minutes before he finally nodded in approval.

"You'll do quite nicely. What is your name, little miss?"

"Crystal Suncrest." The fairy replied.

I don't mind a little bunnying as long as it's only light bunnying and it doesn't stray too far from the usual way Crystal would react. I mention this because without a small bit of bunnying, character conversations could take forever. By the way, if you have any problems with any of my posts, just let me know and I'll fix it.

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko sat and waited then she was rather astonished at what she barely saw enter, a small fairy that looked like a beautiful woman with wings. She was small as a mouse to the fox. The vixen slicked her tail as a slight instinct of her animal side thought it would be fun to try and pounce on the woman but her civil upbringing crushed the idea. Still the fact that the girl was perfect for the job seemed odd. “Don’t you think she’s a little small?” Tsukiko asked with a glance toward the man and then a curious look toward the fairy.

“Not at all, she’s a perfect size and she can fly.” Marduk smiled widely at the kitsune girl. “You’re just too big but I can fix that.”

“Too big?” Tsu asked a moment and then looked at the fairy. There was no way she could carry much treasure but then again Marduk said that she was too big.

“Yup. This treasure’s hidden in a door about the size of a mouse hole. Don’t worry I have a spell for you.”

Tsukiko got rather nervous as she realized that she was going to be exposed to magic that was meant to shrink her down. “Umm I don’t know if I’m ready to be that small.”

“Don’t worry I have to prepare the spell but since one girl’s already the right size it’ll be much quicker. Please excuse me and make yourselves at home.” The man left through the door and left the pair alone.

Doji looked at the fairy and smiled with a blush. “I’m terribly sorry; it was rude of me to question you. I’m Tsukiko, Crystal.” The woman bowed with her tail flicking with shame. “I pray I didn’t offend too much.”

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal looked the fox girl up and down before replying.

"No, no offense at all, I know that I'm small, and I was just as surprised as you, when I was told I'd be perfect for the job." Crystal finally said, as Marduk went off to prepare.

"You know, though, you are quite the cute kid, but I am curious why the man chose you, Tsukiko. Don't get me wrong, I am not one to judge based on looks. I'm sure he made the right choice, I just want to know a bit more about you since we will be partners and all." Crystal inquired as she flew around Tsukiko's head twice and finally decided to flutter just in front of the kid's face.

[Tsukiko]

It seemed that the fairy had turned the tables on Tsu by asking what he saw in her. “Well he knew my mother. She’s a famous adventurer and swordswoman. So I guess he figured since I had her blood then I’d be quite good too.” Tsu blushed as she felt the wing flaps fan her hair.

The vixen then sat down in a chair to wait. “I really hope this treasure’s going to be worth it.” The young fox girl smiled as she adjusted her tail. She was sure it would be, something in her heart said that it was going to be a great adventure. This man was a great collector from the proof of all the neat artifacts that were there.

Tsu smiled at her tiny friend as she waited then Marduk came in with a glowing potion. He smiled. “Now I need you to drink this.” The man handed the vile of liquid to Tsu.

The vixen looked at the substance while wrinkling her nose and was tempted to run out but she looked at the man and thought about the treasure then looked at the fairy. She didn’t want to let them down so she tipped the vial and chugged it in a most unladylike fashion. The vixen gagged as she felt her body shudder. Was it poison? The girl panicked and tried to stand but she couldn’t then her clothes felt loose and the world was starting to grow. In ten seconds the girl had vanished into her armor. After laying paralyzed in the cave that once was to do-maru she was wearing, the vixen stirred and left her shelter.

Looking down the vixen noticed that she had no clothes on or anything and she blushed. “Th, there’s no way I can adventure like this!” She yelled and covered her upper body with her hands and moved her tail for the lower part. Normally the girl didn’t care too much for modesty but when she was nervous being naked just made her more nervous.

“Oh my!” The collector said. “I thought the enchantment would work on your clothes too. Guess it wouldn’t, being a potion.” He laughed. “I’ll get you some doll’s clothes.”

Tsukiko brought her self to fold her legs and sit down on the soft cushion that now was big enough for her to have a race on.

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal watched as the young miss shrunk. the potion worked, but with some problematic results, yet it seemed that Tsukiko only noticed one of the problems of being tiny.

"Here, catch. They may be a bit airy in back, but they are my clothes, and I do need holes for my wings. It's better than nothing, though. I think your bigger worry should be your weapon. I can't say entirely for certain, but I don't think they make your weapons in my size, which is now your size too." Crystal said, tossing Tsukiko a change of clothes she carried with her at all times.

Crystal looked around for a bit out of curiousity, and just long enough to let the little miss get dressed. "So, Where do you suppose this tiny door is?"

Yes, it does mention the change of clothes in my registration thread, sadly.

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko took the clothes and while she thought about bowing in thanks, it seemed not a good idea to do so while naked. “Thank you,” was all the girl said as she dressed herself. The clothes seemed a little snug on the girl but not too bad though the skirt had a tenancy to be lifted by her tail when it raised for whatever reason. Thankfully being that small meant that no one but crystal would notice. “Thanks again.” Tsukiko then bowed this time as she felt a little more comfortable but still really small.

To be honest if she fell from her chair, she would break her leg on the hard floor underneath. And while she wasn’t afraid of heights normally the feeling of being tiny made her sit down and just wait. “I’m not really sure about where the door is.”

“You really need to get over that if you want to find the treasure.” Marduk laughed as he watched the small fox girl look over the edge, feeling afraid. “Guess you found some clothes, I got you a weapon though.”

Tsu smiled as she heard that she’d get an armament but when it was placed before her on a giant hand she wasn’t too happy. A steel sowing needled was all she would get. “Thanks, I guess it’ll have to do.”

“Don’t worry; I’m sure you can make use of it.” The old man smiled widely as he took out a scrap of paper and placed it down in front of Tsu, since Crystal could easily fly there. “The door is in the library garden. I haven’t found it but I found treasure hunter’s journal and it said it would be in the library garden. I think it might only be found by someone your size.”

“Oh . . . ” Tsu realized it was going to be tougher than she thought. Seems like she’d have to search for the door with her new friend and partner. “I’m sure we can do it.” The vixen said out loud what she wanted to keep inside to reassure her.

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal stared. The library garden was the best the man could tell them? Something about that didn't seem right. her bigger concern was why somebody would hide a treasure in a place where they, themselves couldn't get at it. chances were good that they wouldn't. which might mean they were still guarding the treasure. Either that or they never planned on coming back for the treasure for some reason. The only other option was they didn't think ahead. Still, a job was a job, and Crystal had promised that she'd do this one.

Crystal flew onto Marduk's head, realizing that the paper was too flimsy to hold more than one person at a time. He merely laughed as crystal began to make a bed out of his hair.

"I'm tired, and judging from the size of this mansion, getting to our destination might take a while. could you wake me when we get there?" Crystal said. She wasn't about to admit that it was her hyperactivity that had tired her out.

After a bit, Crystal remembered about her partner.

"Why don't you place Tsukiko up here too, in case she wants to take a nappy nap." Crystal added as an afterthought.

I'll leave it to you to describe the library garden in your next post.

[Tsukiko]

“Well, I guess since that I’m stuck with one up there two wouldn’t be so bad.” Marduk sighed as he lifted Tsukiko to his head. The small fox gladly stepped on the man’s head and sat down.

Actually the idea of sleeping wasn’t going to happen to the kitsune. The head was of corse round and while Crystal was happy to nap there the vixen couldn’t. In fact the fox girl found her self wrapping hair around her ankle to hopefully keep her from falling off.

“Hey stop that, it hurts.” The elder man complained and was tempted to shake his head but her resisted the urge to do such a horrid thing to the girls on his head.

“I’m sorry.” Tsu apologized as she let her leg go free and she concentrated on keeping her balance and simply laid in a rather uncomfortable position and wait for the man to make his way to the target point. It was like being in a bird’s nest of an incompetent nest maker but at least the hair was soft. Marduk kept his hair very clean and Tsu could thank him for that.

The journey to the library was riveting to the vixen. It was rather exciting to see the world as giants and to simply ride the ways to the library. The fox girl was rather worried that she might fall and so discomforted Marduk by holding on for dear life to some strands of hair.

Thankfully for both Tsu and Marduk the library was close and they were in the garden and no sooner than Marduk took Tsukiko and placed her on the ground.

“The Entrance is somewhere around here.” He said to the girls.

“Great, this place is like a forest.” Tsu brought her self to stand on the leaf of a low flower. “But the plants are flowers as big as me.” The little fox girl looked at the vast expanse of flowers and grass. The bugs would probably be like monsters. A wasp could impale her and an ant could bite her head off. This wasn’t going to be easy. "Um Crys? You're used to being this size. Are the bugs really dangerous now?" Tsu asked as she kept looking while wondering the dangers, not to mention that a cat would be like a dragon to her now.

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal looked at Tsukiko and remembered that she wasn't used to being so small. Her question was all but stupid if looked at in that light.

"I'm afraid they are. Those bugs can be a pain, same with the mice. The scorpions and snakes are the biggest threat our size though. I doubt that you can even comprehend how much of a threat scorpions and snakes are. As far as bigger creatures, just remember this, if they hit you, you are gonna be hurting, but your size will make it hard for them to hit you."

Crystal flew up high to see if she could spot anything suspicious, and came back down after a few seconds.

"I don't see anything too out of the ordinary. What we are looking for is likely an entrance to the underground hidden in the flowers, in my opinion."