[April MC 0089]
[37th Non-Administrated World, Elphora]
[Farsh Prairies, Minawa Villa]
To celebrate Fuuko and Ellyja passing the TSAB Mage Exam a party was planned, with many friends and family invited.
The location, Koji and Maren's villa built after they got married and where Fuuko spent her days as a child.
A big house with many guest rooms and with a fantastic view of Elphora's vast grasslands.
"Waa~" Elly awed at the scenery, "It's huuuuuge~"
"Hehe, pretty amazing, huh?" Fuuko puffed her chest with pride. "I grew up here."
Elly nodded, "It's gorgeous and the wind feels good too."
"Yep. Morning, evening or night, the wind blowing here is always gentle. Even during the summer it's cool thanks to the mountains nearby." Fuuko explains.
"By the way...is that the moon?" Elly looked up at a shining round body in the sky, "The sun is over there so..."
"Yeah, that's the moon."
"Even though it's day it's glowing like that. And there's only one moon too...How strange."
Fuuko nods, "Yeah, that moon shares a symbiotic relationship with this world, mana constantly flows between here and there, it changes colors every month."
"Wha? Changes color?"
"Is it that strange?" Fuuko stared blankly at Elly.
"Fuu-chan was born here so it's normal, but for everyone else..." Elly paused, "Speaking of everyone..."
"What?"
"You parents sure know a lot of people..." Elly sweatdropped as she looked back at the villa and saw many people helping around, setting tables and preparing the food for the barbeque."
"It comes with the job...I think..." Fuuko sweatdropped as well, so many people came just for a simple celebration...her parents sure exaggerate.
Not counting Nanoha, Fate and Hayate helping Maren in the kitchen, there were over a dozen guests outside helping with the preparations.
Although Shamal wanted to help cook, everyone thought best for her to just help with minor tasks.
Among the guests were the Subaru, Ginga, Teana, Nakajima sisters, Vivio and her friends, Erio and Caro, as well as the Wolkenritter.
Fuuko and Elly weren't allowed to help because the party is for them, giving them a lot of free time until everything is ready.
The two girls sigh...
"If there's nothing to do, might as well rest~" Fuuko stretched her arms and let herself fall back to lie on the soft grass.
At first, Elly was surprised at Fuuko's loose behavior, but she's home...it's probably been a while since she last came here.
Elly quickly followed by sitting and enjoy the scenery.
"Say...Fuu-chan."
"Hmm?" She hummed once while looking at the sky.
"What will be of us from now on?"
"....Isn't that obvious? We're going to keep breaking through all obstacles in our way."
"Eh? You mean...together?"
"Thought I'd rise to Enforcer on my own?"
"Ah...well..."
"Really..." Fuuko sighed, "After all the trouble I went through to help you train...Did you seriously think I'd leave you behind?"
"Fuu-chan..."
"D-don't get the wrong idea, okay? It'd be annoying to train another partner, and there aren't many people that follow the orders of someone younger."
"Mhmm." Elly nodded with a smile and teary eyes.
"W-we've made it this far together, so we might as well go all the way." Fuuko looked away with her cheeks dyed red.
"Mhm~Mhmm~" Elly nodded twice, "As I thought, Fuu-chan is the best! Lov'ya~"
Jumping Fuuko, Elly clings to her as if they're sisters.
"W-w-w--w-w-whaaaaa?!" Fuuko panicked at the sudden skinship.
"Rubrub~rubrub~" Elly rubbed cheeks with Fuuko.
"Sh-Shtop ihht."
"Oh? This isn't enough? Then how this!" Elly slipped her hand under Fuuko's shirt.
"Kyan?!" Fuuko let out a yelp as her dyed cheeks became redder.
"Tickletickletickletickletickletickletickle~~"
"GYahaah-s-stop-ghahahahhaahahaah!!" Fuuko laughed out loud.
When Elly stopped, the two were catching their breath, one with tears on her eyes from laughing too hard and the other tired from all the tickling.
"W-what's with you?!" the fox-girl asked.
"H-haha...just felt like it."
"Honestly, you're really--" but before Fuuko could finish, Koji's voice was heard.
"Heey~ Ellyja, I found an album with picutes of Fuuko during her childhood, wanna see?" Koji shouted from the door.
"Really?!" Elly's eyes glint.
"Go on ahead."
"Eh?" Elly blinked, looking down at Fuuko.
"Because someone attacked me with a Full Drive Trickle Strike, I can't get up."
"Ahahaha..." Elly sweatdropped.
"Go on. I'll catch up."
"Okay." Elly got up and ran towards the house.
Hearing her partner's steps get farther and farther, she sighed.
"I won't last if you keep doing these things to me..."
Basking in happiness, Fuuko couldn't ask for anything else, except for these days to continue on forever.
".........wait a minute." She frowned in thought.
Album? Childhood pictures?
"GEH!" She jumped.
Fuuko remembered all sorts of embarrassing photos of her that were taken, like the frilly dresses she used to wear.
Sure, at that age she thought they were cute, but now...
"GAHHH!! Stop embarrassing me!" Fuuko boomed as she ran towards the villa.
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With everyone gathered at the party, Koji and Maren stood in front of the guests to give a small speech.
"Ahem...we're all gathered here to congratulate Fuuko and Ellyja for passing Rank A Mage Exam."
"They proved their worth as both individuals and as a team by overcoming intimidating odds and completing the mission." Maren added.
"Though they passed this exam, what awaits them is a hard road towards becoming Enforcers--" before Koji finishes, Chrono interrupts.
"You're one to talk. You didn't even take the Enforcer Exam..." Chrono grinned, giggles were heard among the guests.
Koji sweatdropped, "Hahaha...A-anyway, if these girls work together, they'll surely reach their dreams."
Finishing the speech, the guests applaud while looking at Elly and Fuuko.
Maren steps forward, "Well then everyone, please relax and enjoy yourselves in this party. Being a sleepover, the guest rooms have been prepared."
"And with that said, cheers!" Koji raised his glass.
"Cheers~!"
The party starts, and those with an appetite quickly gather around the barbecue grills.
Subaru, Nove, Wendi and Sein already digging in.
Rein and Agito ran around, from table to table collecting several types of food.
Whenever off-duty, the two unison devices would change their forms into Full Size to blend in.
Although they get along, there are cases when they have their usual fight...
With the harvest complete, they both stopped by Signum.
"Here Signum, try this~" The girls presented their plates at the Blazing General.
Exchanging glares, they look at Signum again and smile.
"Signum try these, I picked your favorites." Agito gets closer.
"I picked Signum's favorites too, try them~" Rein follows
"A-aah..." Signum replied not losing composure.
"Hey shorty, why don't you go back to your master and leave me and Signum alone?" Agito sneered.
"Why don't you go mingle with someone else, you're always sticking close to Signum." Rein countered.
"I'll do that later, now I want Signum to try the food I picked for her."
"What a coincidence, I want to do that too."
The two start a fight over who gets to feed Signum first, with Agito pointing out that Rein has Hayate and Vita.
Meanwhile, Chrono and Acous quietly enjoying the party at a corner.
As for Fuuko, she was standing near a table, picking food to her plate and nibbling when...
"Fuuko." Fate approaches the golden-eyed girl.
"Ah, Fate-san." Fuuko turns around, looking up at the blonde Enforcer.
"Congratulations on passing the mage exam." Fate smiles.
"T-Thank you." Fuuko blushed a little.
"So, what are your plans for the time being?"
"Hmm, continue training and also study for the Enforcer understudy exam...and keep an eye on that girl." Fuuko looked at Elly, who was speaking with her idol, Teana.
Ever since Elly became Fuuko's partner, she got to meet Teana.
That reunion made Elly so happy that she cried, reminding Teana of when Subaru saw Nanoha again at the end of their mage rank exam.
After that, they got to meet eachother many times in parties and other events, as well as contacting via mail.
Fate looked as well,"Concerning that, I spoke with Teana the other day and we were thinking of taking in each of you as our aides."
"...eh?" Fuuko blinked in surprise.
The offer was within her expectations, but to come this early...
Fuuko noticed Elly looking at her, it seems the conversation flowed that way too.
The two had promised that they'd work together towards becoming Enforcers, and now they have to split up.
"I see..." Fuuko spoke, forcing a smile. "For now I'd like to focus on the task at hand, when that is done, I'll give my reply."
Fate nods, "I understand." She pets the girl's head, "Don't worry about it and do your best."
"O-Okay."
"Fate-mama, hurry up or we'll eat all of it!" Vivio waves, calling Fate.
Fate turns around, "I'll be right there." then looks again at Fuuko, "I'll be going now, enjoy the party, okay?"
"Yes, Fate-san too."
Seeing her go, Fuuko gets a telepathic message.
(Fuu-chan...) Elly's voice echoed in her mind.
(It's okay, I didn't give a reply.) Fuuko looks at Elly from the corner of her eye.
(I-I see...)
(How about you? This is the perfect chance to work at the side of the person you admire.)
(I guess it is...)
(So? What's keeping you from accepting?)
(What you said before...)
(Hmm? What? I don't remember saying anything...) She feigned ignorance.
(...Won't you be lonely?) Elly asked.
(What? Do you know who you're talking to?) Fuuko raised an eyebrow, (Besides, Fate-san and Shari aren't strangers.)
(I'd be lonely...)
(Hey, hey...what are you talking about? It's Teana Lanster, your idol! You get along, don't you?)
(T-that's true but...)
(But what?)
(Teana-san is Teana-san...Fuu-chan is Fuu-chan. It's not the same if you're not there.)
(Guh....) Fuuko remained silent for a while, a streak of red across her face. (...You really know when to sucker punch.)
(S-Sorry, I didn't meant it that way.)
(*sigh* Anyway...don't think about it right now, we're in the middle of a party and you're making that gloomy face.)
(Haha...look who's talking, you're scowling.) Elly giggled.
(That's more like it.) Fuuko smirked. (Come on, let's go over to that table before Subaru-san and the others eat all the wild boar meat.)
(Eh? Wild Boar?) Elly walks over to Fuuko and the two head to the table.
(Didn't you know? Elphora's wild boar is the best!) Fuuko grinned.
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