originally posted in:The New Dojo
"I'm coming!" Akira said as he hopped off his chair and ran to the door. Setsuna opened it wide which allowed the siblings to walk outside.
They walked into what looked like a run down town in the middle of the woods. All of the homes were made of rotting wood, including Zane and his family. However at the head of the village was a massive mansion that floated on top of the ground. A purple dome covered the village, and Zane remembered why. To avoid detection the Nightingales had their own pocket dimension that changed locations every day. Today, it was in the middle of the woods. Hundreds of kids were packed around the centre and Zane saw the large Salmon ladder they stood around.
English
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"So, where do you guys think we'll end up tomorrow? I'm hoping for a mountainside village."
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"A mountain side village? Why the mountains?" Aki asked his older brother. "Won't those be like...cold?"
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"Exactly! Plus there might be a chance for snow! I loooove the cold, it's just so relaxing." He exclaimed.
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"But...it's so cold." Aki said quietly. "I hope we land on a beach." Setsuna then said. "You can play in the snow all you want little brother but I want to sink in the sand and relax in the sun..."
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"That sounds terrible, plus wouldn't you get sunburnt? You haven't really been known to tan well and burn easily."
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Setsuna punched Zane in the shoulder as he made fun of her. "Oh I'll do what I want Zane!" She told him as they got to the crowd.
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He chuckled at seeing her reaction. "You get irritated waay to easy big sis. How are you gonna ever get a boyfriend if your always angry?"
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"Why would I have time for a boyfriend if I'm too busy dealing with you and your sassy comments?" She rebuked. Her face flustered but Zane saw the smirk at the corner of her mouth.
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He grinned as he then hopped up in his older sisters shoulders, messing with her hair. "I think you'll be able to manage."
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Then, the bustling of the crowd went to a dead quiet. He could see above the black cloaked crowd the small radius that cleared around the ladder. A woman, her cloak around her but her hood down revealed her face. She was an older woman, likely in her forties. She had greying blond hair and piercing old eyes that were intimidating to anyone. She looked around then spoke. "...You, boy." She said as she pointed to a small boy in the crowd. "You're first. Go."
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A feeling of dread came over Zane as he hopped down from his sisters shoulders. He watched the boy that was called out, praying for him to succeed.
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However, Zane remembered that this boy did anything but. As the small boy grabbed the pole and pulled himself up, he tried to lift the pole to the next step. But, the pole hardly made it and the boy crashed into the ground. The mistress, the old lady, pulled the whip from her hip and smacked it at the boys back. "Get back into line!" The Mistress yelled. The boy ran back into the crowd as the mistress pulled another child up to the ladder.
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"Geez, mom seems extra ruthless today.....You think any of these other kids are gonna pass?" He asked his siblings.
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"Are these kids going to pass...?" Setsuna repeated. "I don't think any of us are going to pass..." Akira said with no confidence as the second child fell from the ladder after making it to the second level.
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"Common Aki, have a bit of confidence in yourself. We've been training for this kinda stuff, so we should be fine!"
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"Ya, but I'm only six. You're seven. Huge advantage there." Aki told Zane as the line diminished ahead of the siblings.
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"One year is nothing bro, just believe in yourself and know that your big brother and sister believe in you!"
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"Nah. He's gunna fall." Setsuna said with a sly grin. "Awe man!" Aki then let out. The line continued to grow shorter.
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He chuckled as he threw his arm around his brother. "She's just teasing you Aki, you'll be fine."
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"Really? Cause I think you're both gunna fall before you make be fourth level!" Setsuna then challenged her brothers.
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"Is that a challenge I hear? I bet I can make it to the top!"
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"That so?! Then let the games begin little brother!" Setsuna told Zane. Then, the siblings found themselves in front. The mistress looked at the group with a stern glare as she pointed to Aki. "Akira! Stop cowering behind your brother. You are doing the ladder no matter what do you may as well go first!" She demanded.
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Zane patted his brother on the back, trying to reassure him. "Remember Aki, you got this." He said with a grin on his face.
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"...ya." Aki still said unconfidently as he walked up to the ladder. He grasped the pole and Zane saw the shake in his hands. Then, he lifted himself up. He did a pull up, then dropped, then jumped up with his body and got the pole onto the second level cleanly.
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"That's it Aki...Keep doing what you're doing!" Zane whispered