Blonde Exchange, by Boyce
Chapter1 : The Medallions
/ Tokyo \
It was a beautiful summer day in Tokyo. The birds were singing in the trees. Many people were walking in the streets, taking some fresh air. The girls decided to make some shopping on this sunny day. They already made severals stores, but they still had the energy to shop, most of them. They passed besides an antique shop.
Mina : Hey I bet they have some cool stuff in here. Why don't we check it out?
Lita : I don't know... Seems only junk to me.
Serena : I'm tired of walking. We should head home.
Mina : Come on... I never complained when you dragged me into your stores... Why can't we go inside just to take a peek? It won't be long.
Raye : It could be interesting. I'm sure there's some mystic stuff in there. I think we should go inside.
Mina : Thanks Raye! But anyway, if you don't want to come with us, you can head home, or into another place. We'll meet at the Temple before supper like planned, okay?.
Lita : Okay well, I'll head to the Temple with Serena, since she seems tired. What'll you do Amy?
Amy : Well, I'm eager to read this new book I bought at the library. I'll head at the Temple too if you don't mind.
Raye : Okay Amy. Well we'll meet you there after we're finish here. Are you coming Mina?
Mina : Yeah! See ya later Guys!
Serena : Bye Bye. Don't be late.
Raye : (To Mina) Yeah, like she's NEVER late...
The two girls entered the shop. Some little bells rang when they opened the door. A weird smell was floating all around the store. On the shelves were all sorts of objects : Dolls, Herbs, etc. The two girls entered, looking at all that weird stuff. When they passed in front of the counter, they saw an old chinese man, smoking a pipe. "Hello Girls. Please look around", the clerk said. "Thank you Sir", Mina replied politely.
Raye and Mina separated themselves. Raye went to see the scrolls and charms in the back of the store. Mina looked at all the stuff on the shelves. One particular item hold her attention. It was a nice little crystal in form of a snow flake. A little silver chain was holding it, so you could put it around your neck. She checked the price at 2500 yens. It was not very expensive, so she took it. When she returned to the counter, Raye was there, with all sorts of scrolls in her hands.
Raye : Did you find anything Mina?
Mina : Yeah... I like this crystal. Don't you think it's cute?
Raye : Wow! It's really beautiful.
Clerk : I see you are interested in buying the snow necklace. Do you know there's a legend attached to it?
Mina : A legend?
Clerk : Yes... It is said that somewhere else in the Universe lies a necklace that makes a pair with this one. When the snow necklace will be worn, the fire necklace will appear somewhere else.
Raye : And what will that do?
Clerk : I don't know. That's the only part of the legend I can remember...
Mina : (Takes the money out) Well legend or not, I'm buying this necklace. It's so cute.
Clerk : A wise choice, Miss. It will go well on you... You're not afraid of the legend?
Mina : No way... It's just an old fairy tale. (She takes her bag) Well, Thank you very much Mister.
Clerk : The pleasure was mine, girls. Bye
Raye : Good-Bye Sir.
The girls got out of the store, and headed toward the Temple. On her way, Mina took out the package, and passed the necklace around her neck. "Does it look good on me?", she asked her friend. "Of course Mina", Raye answered, smiling. Mina smiled too. "All right. Let's continue our walk then", Mina ended.
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/ Figaro Cave \
An earthquake occured that day near Figaro Castle. Edgar asked his friend Locke if he could make a round, to see if everything was okay. He accepted, and headed out of the castle. He had the permission to ride a Chocobo from Figaro castle. He headed toward the cave, South of the castle. He attached his Chocobo. Just before entering, he heard a familiar voice.
: Hey Locke! Going treasure hunting without me?
Locke : Celes... What are you doing here?
Celes : I was heading toward Figaro castle, and I saw you leave toward the cave, so I followed you. Where are you heading? To South Figaro?
Locke : Yeah... There was an earthquake today. Edgar asked me if I could check if everything was okay around here.
Celes : Mind if I tag along? (She winked)
Locke : Do I have any choices? You'll follow me even if I say no. But I never say no to a Lady.
Celes : All right then. Let's go!
She attached her Chocobo besides the one of Locke. They entered the cave. They advanced in it, encountering some weak monsters that they easily defeated. They progressed rapidly until they saw a light coming from the end of the tunnel. As they were walking, they heard a growl behind them. They turned and saw a Chimera. "That's weird... There's no Chimera in this part of the world", said Locke. "Yeah... Let's defeat it before it does any damage", Celes replied. Locke got his Wing Edge out, and Celes took the Atma Weapon. Locke threw his Wing Egde at the beast, cutting it in half. The beast growled, and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving a treasure chest behind. "Thanks a lot Locke. You didn't even leave me a little piece", she mumbled. "Sorry... I guess I don't know my strength", he replied, smiling. He was heading toward the treasure chest. He opened it, and inside laid 50 gold pieces.
Celes : What did it left?
Locke : Not much... About 40-50 gold pieces at first sight
Celes : (Looking inside the treasure chest) Jeez... Hey what's that? (She took a red thing in her hand) AH! You tried to hide this from me, didn't you Mr I-Have-To-Keep-All-The-Treasures-For-Myself.
Locke : What? What did you find?
Celes : (Opening her hand) It's look like a medallion shaped in a little flame.
Locke : A medallion?
Celes : Yeah... And since you didn't leave me a part of the Chimera, I'm keeping it for me.
Locke : All right All right! But I didn't saw it in the treasure chest, honest!
Celes : (Putting it around her neck) Stop whining, and tell me if it goes well on me.
Locke : You know everything goes well on you Celes.
Celes : (Blushing) Oh Locke. You always have the words to amaze me! Let's get going to South Figaro.
With these words, she headed to the exit. Locke was behind her. He transferred the money into his pocket, and ran after Celes. They got out of the cave. They could see the little town not too far away, and walked to reach it.
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/ Cherry Hill Temple \
The 5 girls were at the Temple. They had supper earlier on. Lita and Amy were inside, talking to each other. Serena, Raye and Mina were outside, talking, and looking at the stars. Serena was looking at the medallion Mina bought earlier in the antique shop.
Serena : It's so cute!
Raye : Yeah we know... It's the 14th time you say that Serena.
Mina : (Laughing) That's okay Raye. I you had come with us inside the store, maybe you would have spot it before me, and bought it, Serena.
Serena : Yeah... I regret it now! Oh It's so cute!
Raye : SERENA!
Serena : What?
Raye : You said it again!
Serena : I can't help it... Just look at it. Don't you think it's sooooooooo cute?
Raye : (Tear Drop) I give up...
Mina was laughing again. Raye was now looking at the sky, trying to forget about Serena. She saw a shooting star, and closed her eyes, to make a wish. Serena was still holding the snow medallion of Mina. She was looking at it with big eyes. Mina stopped laughing, and was now smiling.
Mina : Do you want to wear it a bit Serena?
Serena : What? YESYESYESYESYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Raye : I'm sure she won't be able to remove it, once she'll have it around her neck.
Serena : Oh yeah? I know it's not mine. I'll give it back to Mina right after. At least she let me wear it. She's a great friend.
Mina : Serena...
Raye : (Smiling) Sorry about that Serena.
Serena was so surprise to hear her friend apologize. Mina was about to get the necklace out of her neck. Suddenly, the snow medallion glowed in a bright white. "Hey what's happening?", said a puzzled Mina. But before any of her 2 friends could say a thing, Mina glowed in the same white, and in a fraction of second, the light disappeared, taking Mina with it.
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/ Cave, South of Figaro castle \
Locke and Celes had completed their mission. Everything seemed normal in South Figaro, so they head back to the castle, to tell their report to the king of Figaro, Edgar. They got out of the cave, and detached their Chocobo.
Locke : Are you coming to the castle with me?
Celes : That was my first destination, remember?
Locke : Jeez sorry Celes... Don't take it that way.
Celes : That was a stupid question Locke.
Locke : All right then! I won't ask any more questions if you take everything the bad way!
Celes : Okay Okay.. I'm sorry! I over-reacted. Are you happy now?
Locke : (Smiling) Of course! The Mighty Celes has apologized to me. AYE! (He runned on his Chocobo)
Celes : That Locke... He'll never change! AYE!
Locke was in front of Celes, running on his Chocobo. In the back, Celes was admiring her fire medallion. She loved it very much. At least she got something valuable out of this trip. Just as she gave an order at her Chocobo to run faster, the medallion glowed in a bright red light. She looked at it, stunned. Then the light envelopped her entirely, and when it was gone, another person was riding the Chocobo.
End Chapter 1