Distant Shores

by JRWStudios

Darjeeling had always wanted to go to real English school, and when she is accepted to a prestigious women's college in London it seems she's close to realizing that dream. But just how hard will it be for her to attend when everything is done so differently than back home? I only own my characters.

1. Prologue

Prologue: Acceptance Letter

Darjeeling smiled as she looked over the letter in her hands, her thumb brushing over the seal on the bottom. Orange Pekoe looked sad as she watched her friend zip a bag closed, before the blonde turned to her.

"Are you really leaving for England?"

"Yes." Darjeeling smiled. "They accepted me to their London campus, and have already put me on the roster for their Tankery club. The London campus, as in on land. Can you believe it? After being on school ships for so long I'll be attending a land based school."

"That's a little weird. Doesn't the UK have school ships?"

"Of course, but it seems the London campus had to be moved partially to land to keep up with their expanding Tankery program. I'll have to be on the ship for the second semester of my first year, and the first semester of every other year."

Orange Pekoe frowned, but nodded. "Promise you'll write to me?"

"Why would I not? You're my best friend Pekoe." Darjeeling smiled, folding her letter carefully before she walked over to her friend to hug her. "And I'll send you all kinds of tea that I find over there."

"Sounds like a plan." the younger woman sighed, but rest her head on the taller girl's shoulder. She didn't like the thought of her friend going to England on her own, and definitely not so soon after graduating from Saint Gloria's. She pulled away to produce an large manilla envelope from her bag, which her former commander looked at with interest. Opening it up the blonde couldn't help her smile when she saw the group picture of their entire Tankery club, standing proudly in full match uniform in front of a line of their tanks. The back of the photo was signed by all the members, even the first years that Darjeeling barely knew, and as she looked through the rest of the papers in the envelope she saw that they were letters from the members, wishing her good luck and reminding her to do her best. The woman smiled, and put the picture back in so she could close it.

"I'm going to miss everyone."

"They're going to miss you too. Try to come back and visit everyone, okay?"

"I'll do my best."