================== ARRIVAL ! A STRANGE NEW WORLD ! ==================
Saturday afternoon.A warm spring day.An amusement park had opened several weeks ago.Already
its attendance was in the hundreds.Hiroshi Mizuno,a nice looking seventeen year old student at
Kuramashi High School with long black hair,was enjoying himself.As he was passing by a video
game arcade,he noticed two of his classmates playing a martial arts fighting game.One was a girl
with brown hair done in a ponytail.She wore a green t-shirt,blue jeans,white sneakers and a brown
jacket.Her name was Kyoko Shima.The other,Yuji Kinomoto,wore brown pants and loafers and a
light green shirt with long sleeves.
"Take that!"Kyoko said as her fighter gave "his" opponent a devastating uppercut,which seriously
displeased Yuji.Nearby,Kunichi Honda,who was shorter than Hiroshi and Yuji,watched all this,not
without interest.This boy with the light brown hair wore a rather baggy red sweatshirt,black pants
and white sneakers.Not far away,a blonde haired fifteen year old girl wearing a violet blouse with
a green skirt and dark blue slippers was with her ten year old brother who had brown hair,a blue
shirt with red trim,brown pants and white sneakers with blue trim.Those two,Sakuya and Daisuke
Keido,had just left the ferris wheel when Sakuya saw Hiroshi and called out to him.He,for his part,
was pleasantly surprised at the two siblings coming at him.At that moment,Kyoko and Yuji,along
with Kunichi,got out of the arcade,Kyoko's excitement at beating the raven-haired boy at the
fighting game got on his nerves.
"Oh,yeah!That was fun!"Kyoko exclaimed.
Yuji's reply was an exasperated "Hmph!"
"I guess you guys enjoyed yourselves,huh?"Hiroshi asked.At that moment,Kyoko saw Sakuya and
Daisuke coming closer and greeted them.Kunichi watched the girls greet each other.
"Hey,Sakuya!Daisuke!How are you guys doing?"Asked Kyoko.
"Well,Kyoko,as you can see,"Sakuya replied,"Daisuke wanted so much to come to the park I just
couldn't say no to him."
While the girls were talking,Daisuke had seen Kunichi.
"Hi,Kunichi,"Daisuke said."How are you?"
"I'm fine,I guess,"Kunichi said in a timid way.It was then that Hiroshi decided to involve himself in
this particular matter.
"So,"he said,"where does anybody want to go next?"
Daisuke was the first to reply.
"Hey!There's this cool new ride not far away!C'mon guys!"And with that,he took off like a shot.
"Wait for me,Daisuke!"Sakuya exclaimed as she went after her little brother.That seemed to settle
that.Soon,the other four youngsters went after the siblings.
The facade of this particular ride was that of a forboding grey cavern,on top of which a fearsome
looking red reptilian creature with bat-like wings crouched,watching out for any who dared enter.
At one side of the entrance was a large white sign.The red katakana read,"Tsuchirou to Doragon"
or "Dungeons and Dragons".It was at the gate leading to this ride that Daisuke called out,"C'mon,
onechan!"Onechan:Older sister.As soon as Sakuya reached Daisuke she said,"Are you sure you
want to go on THIS ride?"For some reason,something about the ride unnerved her.A rather
annoyed Yuji gazed upon the ride in question."You actually want me to go on this joke of a ride?"
"Why not?"Kyoko asked."It won't killl you."
Yuji watched the others.It was clear that Sakuya did not want her kid brother out of sight.Hiroshi
looked at the ride with some interest,as did Kyoko.As for Kunichi,he was willing to go along the
others.Yuji was outvoted.
"I guess we're all going together then,"Hiroshi said.
"It sure looks like it,"Kunichi said."That is,if you guys don't mind my tagging along."
"Why should we mind,Kunichi?"Kyoko said."You can come along if you like."Kunichi's only reply
was,"Thanks,Kyoko."
Soon enough,all six climbed aboard a red car with painted yellow flames.Hiroshi,Sakuya and
Daisuke on front,Yuji,Kunichi and Kyoko on back.The car then slowly rolled towards the cavern
entrance.They did not notice an omnious gleam on the eye of the dragon guarding it.
"Wow!"Exclaimed Daisuke."This is it,guys!"
Once the car entered the cavern,darkness surrounded them.A darkness broken by simulated
torchlights shining on two papermache dragons,one red,one blue,hanging from the ceiling,chasing
each other in a circle with simulated flames coming out of their mouths.This was followed in the
next chamber by a scene of a battle between an army of knights and one of monsters of varied
descriptions with a tall tower standing in the background.
"I've seen better images in a kid's coloring book,"Yuji commented with an annoyed tone of voice.
"Quiet!"Kyoko replied.The six in the car were so preoccupied gazing at one outlandish scene after
another that they hardly noticed dozens of little lights popping up ahead of them.By the time they
did notice,it was already too late.The lights began to spin in a circle at such speed that they formed
a ring that glowed brighter and brighter.
"W-what's going on ? ! ?"Kunichi asked.
"Hang on,guys!"Hiroshi replied."This could be rough!"
Rough,indeed.All six were pulled toward the ring which turned out to be some sort of door.They
found themselves flung outward.Ultimately,they lost consciousness.
Hiroshi was the first to awaken.He stood up groggily.Slowly he realized that the clothes he wore had
somehow been . . . changed.The orange sweater with yellow vertical stripes,blue jeans and grey
sneakers had been replaced by a light green shirt with long sleeves,black pants,grey gloves and boots
and a brown open vest.Hiroshi looked around for any sign of the others.When he did,he saw that
they were unconscious but otherwise unharmed.Like him,their clothing had been altered.Kyoko
wore what appeared to be a strapless one piece grey swimsuit with black boots that reached to the
thigh,a green vest not unlike Hiroshi's,only hers was shorter and gold wristbands.Sakuya wore an
orange minidress with brown ankle boots and a thin black sash around her waist.Daisuke wore
black pants,brown boots and wristbands,a short grey open vest and a red headband.Kunichi wore
a yellow short robe,brown pants,a white open vest,a brown belt with an ornate silver buckle and
grey boots.Lastly,Yuji was clad in grey chainmail,a purple long tunic without any sleeves,a black sash
bigger than Sakuya's,and brown gloves and boots.Soon enough,they began to recover consciousness
and began to look around.
"Where . . . where are . . . we?"Sakuya asked.
"I don't know,"replied Hiroshi.
"Uh,guys . . . " Kunichi said."I think there's something you should see."
He was pointing at a dark shape high in the sky which turned out to be a black dragon swooping
down on the six youngsters.
'LET'S GET THE BLAZES OUT OF HERE ! "Yuji yelled out.Suddenly,they all began to run as though
their lives depended on it,which they did.Kyoko then noticed something nearby.
"Look,there's a cave!"She exclaimed.
"Quick!"Hiroshi shouted."Let's get inside!"And,with that,they all went in.The dragon had been unable
to snatch them.
"This is dark,"Sakuiya said.
"Yeah,"said Yuji."Somebody better turn on the light or something."
As in response,there was light which banished the gloom.Startled as they were by the light,they were
even more startled by what they saw : a short bald man with a bulbous nose,a long white beard with
moustache ad thick white eyebrows who wore a fancy green monk-style robe with white trim and
black ankle boots.When he saw the six youngsters,he said only one word :
"Greetings."
All six of them shared a puzzled look at this strange midget,who proceeded to speak : "I am called
Tsuchirou no Sama,which in your tongue means 'Master of Dungeon' or 'Dungeon Master'.I am aware
of your current plight and can help you."He then walked towards them.Suddenly he gestured at
Hiroshi,who found himself holding a grey stringless bow."The Bow of Blazing Arrows is yours,
Ranger."Then he turned to Daisuke,who now held a metallic sphere with a wooden handle."You hold the
Breaking Mace,Barbarian."It was then Kunichi's turn,and he had a blue pouch on his belt."I give you
the Pouch of Many Things,Magician."Sakuya wound up wearing a green cape with a hood."To you I
give the Cloak of Hiding,Thief."Yuji now held a rectangular silver shield with a red lion's-head
design."Yours is the Shield of Impenetrability,Cavalier."As for Kyoko,she now carried a brown
quarterstaff,which she could extend or shorten to any length."You now carry the Staff of Reaching,
Acrobat."
"Just what are we supposed to do with these?"Yuji asked.
"You will know,"Tsuchirou no Sama said,"at the right time."At that moment,outside the cave,the
dragon was blasting away with lightning which came out of its jaws.Those within could feel the
rumbling.Then,without warning,Daisuke,gripping his mace's handle with both hands,rushed out of
the cave,much to Sakuya's distress.
"DAISUKE!"Sakuya yelled out."It's too dangerous!"
But Sakuya's little brother was already outside,facing the black dragon.Nearby,hidden in the tall
grass,a small white unicorn with a light pink mane,a stubby yellow horn and black doe-like eyes,
was watching.Daisuke slammed the mace to the ground,causing it to shake,making the dragon
lose its balance,but only temporarily.The other five came out of the cave and saw what Daisuke
did with his weapon.The dragon,however,had regained its balance and was now preparing to
strike at Daisuke!
Saturday afternoon.A warm spring day.An amusement park had opened several weeks ago.Already
its attendance was in the hundreds.Hiroshi Mizuno,a nice looking seventeen year old student at
Kuramashi High School with long black hair,was enjoying himself.As he was passing by a video
game arcade,he noticed two of his classmates playing a martial arts fighting game.One was a girl
with brown hair done in a ponytail.She wore a green t-shirt,blue jeans,white sneakers and a brown
jacket.Her name was Kyoko Shima.The other,Yuji Kinomoto,wore brown pants and loafers and a
light green shirt with long sleeves.
"Take that!"Kyoko said as her fighter gave "his" opponent a devastating uppercut,which seriously
displeased Yuji.Nearby,Kunichi Honda,who was shorter than Hiroshi and Yuji,watched all this,not
without interest.This boy with the light brown hair wore a rather baggy red sweatshirt,black pants
and white sneakers.Not far away,a blonde haired fifteen year old girl wearing a violet blouse with
a green skirt and dark blue slippers was with her ten year old brother who had brown hair,a blue
shirt with red trim,brown pants and white sneakers with blue trim.Those two,Sakuya and Daisuke
Keido,had just left the ferris wheel when Sakuya saw Hiroshi and called out to him.He,for his part,
was pleasantly surprised at the two siblings coming at him.At that moment,Kyoko and Yuji,along
with Kunichi,got out of the arcade,Kyoko's excitement at beating the raven-haired boy at the
fighting game got on his nerves.
"Oh,yeah!That was fun!"Kyoko exclaimed.
Yuji's reply was an exasperated "Hmph!"
"I guess you guys enjoyed yourselves,huh?"Hiroshi asked.At that moment,Kyoko saw Sakuya and
Daisuke coming closer and greeted them.Kunichi watched the girls greet each other.
"Hey,Sakuya!Daisuke!How are you guys doing?"Asked Kyoko.
"Well,Kyoko,as you can see,"Sakuya replied,"Daisuke wanted so much to come to the park I just
couldn't say no to him."
While the girls were talking,Daisuke had seen Kunichi.
"Hi,Kunichi,"Daisuke said."How are you?"
"I'm fine,I guess,"Kunichi said in a timid way.It was then that Hiroshi decided to involve himself in
this particular matter.
"So,"he said,"where does anybody want to go next?"
Daisuke was the first to reply.
"Hey!There's this cool new ride not far away!C'mon guys!"And with that,he took off like a shot.
"Wait for me,Daisuke!"Sakuya exclaimed as she went after her little brother.That seemed to settle
that.Soon,the other four youngsters went after the siblings.
The facade of this particular ride was that of a forboding grey cavern,on top of which a fearsome
looking red reptilian creature with bat-like wings crouched,watching out for any who dared enter.
At one side of the entrance was a large white sign.The red katakana read,"Tsuchirou to Doragon"
or "Dungeons and Dragons".It was at the gate leading to this ride that Daisuke called out,"C'mon,
onechan!"Onechan:Older sister.As soon as Sakuya reached Daisuke she said,"Are you sure you
want to go on THIS ride?"For some reason,something about the ride unnerved her.A rather
annoyed Yuji gazed upon the ride in question."You actually want me to go on this joke of a ride?"
"Why not?"Kyoko asked."It won't killl you."
Yuji watched the others.It was clear that Sakuya did not want her kid brother out of sight.Hiroshi
looked at the ride with some interest,as did Kyoko.As for Kunichi,he was willing to go along the
others.Yuji was outvoted.
"I guess we're all going together then,"Hiroshi said.
"It sure looks like it,"Kunichi said."That is,if you guys don't mind my tagging along."
"Why should we mind,Kunichi?"Kyoko said."You can come along if you like."Kunichi's only reply
was,"Thanks,Kyoko."
Soon enough,all six climbed aboard a red car with painted yellow flames.Hiroshi,Sakuya and
Daisuke on front,Yuji,Kunichi and Kyoko on back.The car then slowly rolled towards the cavern
entrance.They did not notice an omnious gleam on the eye of the dragon guarding it.
"Wow!"Exclaimed Daisuke."This is it,guys!"
Once the car entered the cavern,darkness surrounded them.A darkness broken by simulated
torchlights shining on two papermache dragons,one red,one blue,hanging from the ceiling,chasing
each other in a circle with simulated flames coming out of their mouths.This was followed in the
next chamber by a scene of a battle between an army of knights and one of monsters of varied
descriptions with a tall tower standing in the background.
"I've seen better images in a kid's coloring book,"Yuji commented with an annoyed tone of voice.
"Quiet!"Kyoko replied.The six in the car were so preoccupied gazing at one outlandish scene after
another that they hardly noticed dozens of little lights popping up ahead of them.By the time they
did notice,it was already too late.The lights began to spin in a circle at such speed that they formed
a ring that glowed brighter and brighter.
"W-what's going on ? ! ?"Kunichi asked.
"Hang on,guys!"Hiroshi replied."This could be rough!"
Rough,indeed.All six were pulled toward the ring which turned out to be some sort of door.They
found themselves flung outward.Ultimately,they lost consciousness.
Hiroshi was the first to awaken.He stood up groggily.Slowly he realized that the clothes he wore had
somehow been . . . changed.The orange sweater with yellow vertical stripes,blue jeans and grey
sneakers had been replaced by a light green shirt with long sleeves,black pants,grey gloves and boots
and a brown open vest.Hiroshi looked around for any sign of the others.When he did,he saw that
they were unconscious but otherwise unharmed.Like him,their clothing had been altered.Kyoko
wore what appeared to be a strapless one piece grey swimsuit with black boots that reached to the
thigh,a green vest not unlike Hiroshi's,only hers was shorter and gold wristbands.Sakuya wore an
orange minidress with brown ankle boots and a thin black sash around her waist.Daisuke wore
black pants,brown boots and wristbands,a short grey open vest and a red headband.Kunichi wore
a yellow short robe,brown pants,a white open vest,a brown belt with an ornate silver buckle and
grey boots.Lastly,Yuji was clad in grey chainmail,a purple long tunic without any sleeves,a black sash
bigger than Sakuya's,and brown gloves and boots.Soon enough,they began to recover consciousness
and began to look around.
"Where . . . where are . . . we?"Sakuya asked.
"I don't know,"replied Hiroshi.
"Uh,guys . . . " Kunichi said."I think there's something you should see."
He was pointing at a dark shape high in the sky which turned out to be a black dragon swooping
down on the six youngsters.
'LET'S GET THE BLAZES OUT OF HERE ! "Yuji yelled out.Suddenly,they all began to run as though
their lives depended on it,which they did.Kyoko then noticed something nearby.
"Look,there's a cave!"She exclaimed.
"Quick!"Hiroshi shouted."Let's get inside!"And,with that,they all went in.The dragon had been unable
to snatch them.
"This is dark,"Sakuiya said.
"Yeah,"said Yuji."Somebody better turn on the light or something."
As in response,there was light which banished the gloom.Startled as they were by the light,they were
even more startled by what they saw : a short bald man with a bulbous nose,a long white beard with
moustache ad thick white eyebrows who wore a fancy green monk-style robe with white trim and
black ankle boots.When he saw the six youngsters,he said only one word :
"Greetings."
All six of them shared a puzzled look at this strange midget,who proceeded to speak : "I am called
Tsuchirou no Sama,which in your tongue means 'Master of Dungeon' or 'Dungeon Master'.I am aware
of your current plight and can help you."He then walked towards them.Suddenly he gestured at
Hiroshi,who found himself holding a grey stringless bow."The Bow of Blazing Arrows is yours,
Ranger."Then he turned to Daisuke,who now held a metallic sphere with a wooden handle."You hold the
Breaking Mace,Barbarian."It was then Kunichi's turn,and he had a blue pouch on his belt."I give you
the Pouch of Many Things,Magician."Sakuya wound up wearing a green cape with a hood."To you I
give the Cloak of Hiding,Thief."Yuji now held a rectangular silver shield with a red lion's-head
design."Yours is the Shield of Impenetrability,Cavalier."As for Kyoko,she now carried a brown
quarterstaff,which she could extend or shorten to any length."You now carry the Staff of Reaching,
Acrobat."
"Just what are we supposed to do with these?"Yuji asked.
"You will know,"Tsuchirou no Sama said,"at the right time."At that moment,outside the cave,the
dragon was blasting away with lightning which came out of its jaws.Those within could feel the
rumbling.Then,without warning,Daisuke,gripping his mace's handle with both hands,rushed out of
the cave,much to Sakuya's distress.
"DAISUKE!"Sakuya yelled out."It's too dangerous!"
But Sakuya's little brother was already outside,facing the black dragon.Nearby,hidden in the tall
grass,a small white unicorn with a light pink mane,a stubby yellow horn and black doe-like eyes,
was watching.Daisuke slammed the mace to the ground,causing it to shake,making the dragon
lose its balance,but only temporarily.The other five came out of the cave and saw what Daisuke
did with his weapon.The dragon,however,had regained its balance and was now preparing to
strike at Daisuke!