Through the rabbit hole: Witches edition
In the JCA universe, this story would take place after the fifth episode "Shell Game" of the first season, and it would be based on the episode of the same name.
In the Strike Witches universe, this story would take place sometime after the fifth episode "My Romagna" of the second season.
San Francisco, 1945
The 501st were in an emergency resupply journey, or at least three of its members were. But they were only there to supervise the supplies' load into the modified B-17D but as nothing interesting was happening there, they decided to tour around the bay city.
"I still can't believe Major Sakamoto gave us another chance to gather supplies after what happened in Romagna." Yoshika beamed as she admired the San Franciscan buildings and the landscape.
"Well, we did get the supplies they asked us to, more or less, and since I'm the only one who is from Liberion, she had no choice but to send me, right Francesca?" Charlotte said as she put her hands behind her head. "Francesca? Not again."
"I thought she was behind you."
"She was, c'mon let's search for her" and thus, both Witches began looking for the Romagnan Witch in the bay city.
San Francisco, present day
After the incident with the tortoise and the rabbit talisman, the four enforcers were killing the time in a donut shop, trying to stay away of their boss and from their magical boss's boss, though only Tohru was having a good time as he gulping through several donuts boxed.
"Ah, I wish we hadn't lost the speed talisman." Chow said with a mug of coffee in his hand.
"I wish Chan was never born." Finn added still upset with the how the whole thing happened.
"I wish one of the talismans would come to us for a change." Ratso said, and his wish became true as the Seeking Device began glowing and not long after Jackie's niece crossed outside the restaurant. "I wish I had a million bucks!" Ratso hopingly added as they headed outside.
Meanwhile, Jade was listening to music wearing over-the-ear headphones, not really caring about anything else other than showing off the rabbit talisman she borrowed from Section 13. As she got close to the school, she saw that no one was outside and when she took her headphones out, she heard the bell ringing.
"I'm late," Jade said as she got the rabbit talisman out of her back pocket, and using its magic she began running at superspeed, saving herself from the enforcers who were about to catch her.
"Sparks? Since when are there…." Jade wondered, "whoah, ah…!" She screamed as she traversed through a green portal, "that was weird." She added but she noticed she was fine, so she rushed to the school.
As she walked through the school's corridor, she noticed that there were some papers pasted over the wall as well as some framed pictures, "maybe they redecorated?" Jade asked to herself.
When she opened her classroom's door, she noticed that her teacher was now wearing a suit with a tie and was now he not she. "Sorry, wrong class." Panicking she closed the door.
"That was not Miss Hartman." Jade commented and then she checked the number hung in the door. "But this is my classroom, I didn't make a mistake." And she was going not going to embarrass herself again, so she did not enter it again and began walking through the corridor again.
"Where am I? This is still San Fransisco, right?" she asked to herself, and shortly after, she was just below where the framed pictures were hung. "Who are those girls?" Jade wondered looking at them, then her eyes were now focused on the wall newspaper, which had many articles pasted over, until one caught her attention.
It had the picture of eleven girls, in military pose, wearing very short dresses, "are they cosplaying?" she asked herself as she read its caption.
"March 1945, Venezia and Romagna under attack, the 501st Joint Fighter Wing up for the task." and she gazed at the picture again, then reread the caption again, "hmm, did something happen in Italy?" She wondered. "Wait a minute, 1945!? what the hey!?"
Panicking, she took a few steps back, then she got the talisman out again. "What did you do? You're the speed talisman, not the talisman-that-sends-you-back- in-time talisman," she asked it.
"The beam!" She remembered. "Kepler said I was messing with the time something-uum. Well, whatever you did, I'm gonna reverse it, fast."
And thus, she began running backwards, only to find herself next to a man using a suit reading a newspaper, who only side gazed her, "rrrr!" she roared as she ran again and now, she was in front of a store. There, a man was showing shirts, posters and other things she could not recognize, "get your signed merchandise of the most famous Witches from around the World," the man loudly announced.
"Witches? Is already Halloween?" Jade wondered as she got near the store's window to have a better a look. "More girls and they have animal ears! What's going on", she exclaimed.
Still puzzled, she went to a bench nearby, "where am I?" Jade asked in a worried tone taking a sit, "I really messed up with the time whatever Kepler said," but her thoughts were interrupted when she was lifted up.
"The talisman." Tohru asked in a neutral yet threatening tone.
"I don't have it," Jade replied chuckling nervously, but Finn showed her the glowing seeking device, which made her gulp. So, she began searching for it in her back pocket, until she heard a scream.
"Super Lucchini kick," Francesca shouted as she kicked Tohru on the chest, pushing him a little but still enough to let go of Jade.
"Just what we needed, another brat." Chow said visible annoyed.
"And this one is not even wearing pants." Finn remarked.
"Huh?" Ratso wondered if what he heard. "You're right." He added laughing as the two enforcers got their laser swords out and so did Ratso and they surrounded the two girls.
"Let's go." Jade said grabbing Francesca's hand.
"I can kick their butts." The Venezian Witch said bravely as she put herself in fight position, but Tohru then got behind the enforcers, with an enraged face, shadowing the two girls in the process, "or maybe not?"
Thus, the two girls began fleeing and Jade got the rabbit talisman out which made the two girls run with superspeed.
"What the!" Francesca exclaimed as both ran through several blocks of San Francisco in an instant.
At Section 13
Jackie Chan had already gotten her morning mug of coffee and was heading to his improvised office which also served as his training room. And was about to continue his research work of ancient civilizations, until the phone rang.
"Hello?" Asked the Chinese man.
"Jackie, you are a terrible guardian." Uncle said through the phone.
"Uncle?" he asked again wondering what he had done now.
"Jade's teacher phoned. She is skipping school." Uncle said which made Jackie check the box which had the rabbit talisman before, noticing it was now empty. "One more thing: These kinds of things never happened when I was raising you!" He exasperatingly added.
"They certainly didn't." He said to himself as he hung the phone; thus, he began searching for the missing girl around the base. "Kepler, have you seen Jade... aah!", in an instant, he jumped to the door saving himself from a green ray.
"Same beam almost fried Jade. Maybe I should move the emitter." Kepler said in a neutral tone.
"Uhh! Maybe?" Jackie frustrated said. "This is a safety hazard!"
"My chronoton beam is not a hazard," he explained, "if anyone were to be exposed, this scanner would reveal...", and his scanner began beeping, "a trail of particles..., leading out of the lab," and he began following the trace.
"And straight to Jade." Jackie added as he followed the engineer, wondering what mess Jade got into this time.
Somewhere in San Fransisco
Both Witches had been searching for Francesa for a while now, but with no results as no one had seen her. Though, Yoshika was still enjoying herself as she continued admiring the landscape.
"Shirley, look! A small train!" Yoshika said in amazement as the vehicle rode down the hilled streets of the bay city.
"It's not a train, is cable car." Charlotte added as she continued searching for her little partner.
"Woah, I've never seen one before." Yoshika said sparkling eyes. "Can we get in, please?" the Fusoan Witch begged as the car stopped in front of them.
"After we find Lucchini…" the Liberion Witch said, disappointing Yoshika in the process, "…or maybe… we can search for her from it."
"Yes!", Yoshika beamed and, thus both Witches got into the cable car and began touring around San Francisco.
Somewhere else in San Fransisco
Jade and Francesca had already ran through several blocks leaving the four enforcers behind though the Witch still did not know what happened.
"Huh, I've never seen that kind of magic before." Francesca added as she tried to grasp what just happened.
"Wait, you know how to use magic." The Chinese girl asked with a curious tone.
"Of course we do, silly, lots of people can."
"Where I do come from no one believes me." Jade disappointed said.
"And where do you come from?" the Romagnan Witch asked.
"You're not going to believe me," Jade gulped, "but I come from the future."
"Right…" Francesca said with skepticism in her tone.
"You don't believe me?" Jade asked annoyed. "I believed that you could use magic without proof!"
"Good point." she added and thus, Francesca's black panther ears and tail appeared.
"Woah! Are those real?" she asked bewildered.
"Of course!"
And Jade began touching her ears and then she went to her back to have a better look of her tail and she touched it, which made Francesa shudder a little.
"Hey, why aren't you wearing pants?" She asked as she could see a bit of her butt.
"Pants?" Francesca asked which led Jade to point at her blue high-water jeans. "Oh! those, we can't."
"Why?" Jade asked puzzled.
"Because we must be ready to sortie whenever we're attacked!" Francesca said as she showed off her hands how they flew.
"Yeah, right." Jade sarcastically added wondering what that had to do with the fact that she was only wearing panties.
"Hey! We're soldiers, I'm even part of Joint Fighter Wing!"
"Wait, now that you mentioned it, I've just read that a Joint… whatever is fighting in Venice and Rome."
"Yup, we're that Joint Fighter Wing," Francesca said as she grabbed her hand, "c'mon I want you to meet them."
Somewhere else in San Fransisco, near Jade's school
Jackie had already traversed the portal and now was heading to Jade's classroom, hoping to find her but as he made his way there, he checked the wall newspaper, "March 1945, Venezia and Romagna under attack, the 501st Joint Fighter Wing up for the task." Jackie read, "1945! Jade! what did you do!?" He exasperatingly screamed in the school hallway.
Afterwards, he read the other headlines, "The war is still ranging over Berlin," "Countless lives had been lost during the Vienna surrender," "Prague had been lost to the enemy."
"The world war is still going on," Jackie could not believe what he was reading, "I must find Jade," he said as he rushed to the classroom and opened the door harshly, only to find a professor in the middle of class.
"Are you looking for someone?" the professor asked.
"Yes, my niece, she's wearing an orange hoodie and blue jeans."
"A hoodie? A saw a girl wear orange clothing before but she left a while ago saying this was not her classroom."
"Thank you," Jackie said and exited the school and headed to the second place Jade could be. Shortly after, he arrived at his uncle's antique shop, only to find a clothes store in its place, "uncle must still be studying under Master Fong," he said to himself, and he stopped to regain his breath, "if Jade's not here and not at the school, she must be at section 13, asking for help," and thus he rushed there and an older phonebooth was there, "Section 13 is older than I what thought," but when he entered there, nothing happened.
"It's just a phonebooth, huh? ah…!", he screamed as he traversed through horizontal hallway and after dropping down a vertical shaft.
"Not again," Jackie added trying to stay standing, as the door slid open and shortly after, he was surrounded by soldiers aiming at him.
"Hello?" Jackie said as he put his hands up.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" asked a man in his forties wearing glasses, a suit with no tie.
"I'm no enemy My name is Jackie Chan and I'm archeologist and I'm just looking for my niece, she's 11 and about this tall," Jackie said as he showed how tall his niece with his hand.
"I see," the man said as he signaled the soldiers to stand down, though Jackie could not help it but wonder what was going on here, as he had been led to believe that Captain Black set up the section 13 but apparently, that was false. But his thoughts were interrupted as he noticed a girl was wearing some kind of machine in her legs with several wires attached to her and to the machine itself, thus he jumped avoiding the soldiers, and then he began disconnecting the wires of the machine, until the girl opened her eyes.
"What do you think you are doing?" the girl asked as she heard the whole conversation.
"I'm freeing you," Jackie said not believing the girl reaction.
"From what?" the girl questioned the archeologist.
"From them!" Jackie said as he pointed the soldiers who were again aiming at him.
"I'm helping them" the girl added still not believing what he was doing and, ears and tail appeared in her which stunned Jackie and then propellers appeared out of thin air at the bottom but shortly after, they disappeared.
"What's going on here?" Jackie loudly asked as he was getting more by every minute that passed, and the man signaled the soldiers to stand down, again.
"Mr. Chan, come with me," the man said in a neutral tone.
Somewhere else in San Fransisco,
Charlotte and Yoshika were currently riding the cable car, though only the latter was enjoying it as the Liberion Witch was beginning to get worried as they needed to depart back to Romagna tomorrow as Commander Minna had ordered them to.
"Look, it's Lucchini," Yoshika said as she got out the cable car.
"Yoshika!" Charlotte worriedly exclaimed as another cable car passed just when the Fusoan Witch was crossing the road.
The cable car passed leaving an unhurt yet shielded Yoshika behind covering herself with her free hand.
Charlotte sighed, putting her hand over her chest as she felt her heart returning to her, "c'mon," she added as both rushed to where Francesca was with a smaller girl.
"Shirley! Yoshika!" Francesca happily said as she had finally found them, and Jade was still surprised they were also not wearing pants.
"I want you to meet, what was your name again?" Francesca asked the Chinese girl.
"Jade Chan, nice to meet you" she happily said with curious look on her face.
"I'm Yoshika Miyafuji, nice to meet you too," she cheerfully added.
"I'm Charlotte, but everyone calls me Shirley," she said as she showed her hand, and Jade grabbed it.
"Ouch," Jade said as she was not expecting such a strong handshake, though Shirley only laughed.
"She has a magical talisman that makes you run fast!" Francesca said.
"I've never heard of something like that," Charlotte said.
"Me neither," Yoshika said as the only magical objects she had seen were swords.
"Can we have a look?" Charlotte asked with hint of skepticism in her tone.
"Why not?" Jade said as she grabbed the talisman from her back pocket.
"Thanks." Tohru said in a neutral voice as he took the talisman out of her hands.
"Hey, give it back." Jade angrily said as she jumped to no avail.
"Or what?" Tohru mockingly said.
"Or this." Charlotte as she kicked him though Tohru dodged it easily with superspeed.
"The crap?" Shirley asked dumbfounded not believing what just happened.
"Ouch!" the four girls said in unison as Tohru had kicked them on their knees and ended falling in their butts. Then, the summo disappeared into the streets shortly after.
"Now what?" Yoshika asked as they stood up.
"I need to get it back, my uncle is gonna if he finds out I borrowed it without permission," Jade stated nervously.
"How your uncle does even have that thing," asked Shirley as she cleaned her clothes.
"Long story," Jade gulped, "but how are we gonna catch him?" Jade asked now worried as there was no way they could catch him.
"I have an idea, let's hurry," and thus the girls followed Shirley as they ran towards who knew where.
A few minutes later, near the school
Finn was wondering what was going on this world, for instance the cars looked very old, at least from half a decade ago. What was weirder was the fact that most women did not wear pants not that he minded but he was not into that, but at least it was better than the prehistoric era, but he wished he was in the 1970s instead and shortly after a big white and black blur stopped in front of him.
"Good job, big T," Finn said as he crossed his legs.
"Where's Ratso and Chow," the Japanese asked.
"They wanted to help you, so they followed you."
"I told them to wait until I get back."
"Don't look at me, I tried to stop them."
Tohru sighed, "let's find them" and thus Tohru lifted Finn and began searching them with superspeed.
At section 13
Jackie Chan was man that could get to believe or at least different things even if they were strange but what this man told him, was something to unusual, eerie even, for him.
"So, you are in the middle of war against aliens and young girls are your only hope," Jackie trying to grasp what he just learned as he put his hands over head walking in circles.
"I'm afraid that's how things are, Mr. Chan."
"Jade, Jade, what kind of bizarre world you brought us into," Jackie said as he continued walking in circles, not knowing what to do.
"I must assume you did better in your timeline," the man commented.
"Not that much better, but at least we didn't need to resign to employ young girls!" Jackie commented trying to regain her composure.
"It's our duty, Mr. Chan and we're doing it willingly," the same girl of moments before said now wearing some sort of military uniform said as she entered the room, "if it weren't for Dr. Miyafuji we wouldn't even have the means to defend ourselves," she made a pause, "he has sacrificed as much as anyone of us."
"He has a point Flight Lieutenant Tsuruta," Ichiro sighed, "but as I assured you, Mr. Chan, we don't abduct girls."
"I better go find Jade." the archeologist said as he headed to the door.
"Let me aid you." Ichiro said as he stood up.
"Are you sure it is safe doctor?" the Lieutenant asked with worried demeanor.
"There hadn't been any attempts on my life for a quite a long time," Ichiro commented in a neutral tone with a polite smile. Still, it made Tsuruta look down in regret, and Jackie also noticed it, "and the fresh air would allow me to think more clearly".
"At least let me escort with you," the Lieutenant said.
"There's no need to worry," Ichiro said as he gazed the archeologist, "Mr. Chan informed me, he knows martial arts," he added making Jackie look at him with questioning look.
A few minutes later, in the sky of San Franscisco
Charlotte, Yoshika, Francesca, and Jade were currently flying over the different streets of the bay city, the latter being carried by Venezian Witch.
"I still can't believe they let us borrow three Striker Units with no questions asked" Yoshika said, trying to control the Liberion model.
"Well, I've just been promoted, so it's only natural they help us,"
"Plus, the fact you now outrank them!" Francesca added.
"Yeah, I bet that also helps." Charlotte added and the Witches continued searching for the enforcers.
As they flew, Jade still could not believe what just they told her, it still felt surreal to her that these girls belonged to an army that protected people whatever was a Neuroi, "so, let me guess this right you're soldiers that fight a war wearing these things and you can use shields to protect yourselves."
"Yup, that basically sums it up," Charlotte said.
"Cool"
"And y'all have those cyuuuute ears!" Jade added as she took a look of Charlotte and Yoshika's ears and tails.
"That also," Shirley said, "there he is," she added noticing a blur running at superspeed.
"Let's pursue him, Francesca at my right side, Yoshika at my left,"
"Yes ma'am," both Witches said in unison, and thus, the group began chasing the two enforcers.
"Yo! Big T, we've got company," Finn said noticing three girls had started to follow them, "and they're wearing some kind of planes on their legs," he added, and Tohru began speeding up even more.
"He's too fast," Charlotte said as they struggled to keep up with him, "how many of those things you say are there?"
"Twelve," Jade said laughing nervously, "but only this one does that," she said, "or at least that's what I hope", she added in a lower tone.
"What do we do?" Francesca asked as they had started to lose him.
"I have an idea," Charlotte added as they continued pursuing.
Meanwhile, on the streets of San Francisco
Two middle aged men were currently walking through the sunny streets, searching for a missing girl, though Jackie had other things in his mind.
"So, you have been dead for more than five years now," Jackie commented with his hands in his pockets, "it makes sense no one has tried to murder you recently."
"It certainly does."
"Your death must not have been easy for your family."
"I would be lying to you if I said it was."
"Then, why deceive them on the first place?
"Mr. Chan, there are some powerful people out there that want Witches to fail, even if we all perish in the process and as one of the lead developers of the Striker Units, I was an easy target."
"Some things stay the same even in different realities."
"Witches risk their lives to protect us and if they don't have the proper means to fight, they would certainly die in the frontlines."
"I understand why you did what you did, believe me I really do, but why hide it from your family?"
"There are some things you don't understand."
"It seems there are" Jackie added and both continued walking speechlessly after that, until the silence was interrupted by six revving engines.
"Jadeee!" Jackie screamed as three Witches passed flying over him, one carrying his niece.
"That's my niece, c'mon" Jackie said but no one replied, "Dr. Miyafuji? Where did he go?". He wondered but did not have time for that, so he began pursuing the Witches.
"Uncle Jackieeee!" Jade screamed.
"That's your uncle?" Francesca asked.
"Yep, that's him" Jade added as he disappeared.
"Yoshika!" the petite Witch screamed.
"I'm on it," Yoshika said, and then Tohru turned around and picked up Chow, "hey Tohru, what's up?"
"Where's Ratso?" Tohru asked.
"He said he was going to buy some things before we go back," Chow added, and Tohru continued searching for the last enforcer.
"Chan!" both said in unison and Jackie prepared himself to stop Tohru, but he dodged him and continued running at superspeed, "huh?", he said as while Jackie watched hopelessly how he disappeared into the streets.
"Bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day," Jackie screamed as he was lifted up, "not a bad day?"
"Hi Jackie," Jade said with a big grin.
"Jade! How did you, why did you, what did you?" Jackie added still trying to realize that everything he just been told seemed to be real.
"No time to explain, the bad guys are together again."
"It's now or never." Charlotte said.
"Roger that," the two Witches said as they flew away from each other.
"Jadeeee!" Jackie said as his niece disappeared once again.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Francesca will keep her safe," Yoshika told him with a smile on her face.
"I hope you're right," Jackie added, "bad day, bad day, bad day," he screamed desperately while Yoshika had started to aileron roll through the streets to pass under the wires and lampposts.
"And where did you get all that stuff?" Finn asked noticing Ratso was carrying many things in his hands, and now wearing a stamped, autographed shirt that said, 'The hero of Libau', "you know here and there" he added with his cheeks slightly red.
"Ready the orb," Tohru said trying to lose them.
"Right away big T!" Finn said.
But Tohru had stop abruptly as one some sort of shield blocked his path, then he turned around to other street, only to find another shield blocking his path.
"We're getting cornered," Chow said but Tohru saw that there was big gap between the third shield and the walls of the buildings nearby, thus he ran there.
And seconds later, the sound of crash was heard as the shield grew enough to cover the whole corner, and Tohru was now unconscious on the street.
"Ouch," the three enforcers said then, they tried to get up.
"Hyah!" Jade screamed kicking Finn on the chest, making an orb roll the floor and so did Jackie with Ratso.
"I'm gonna get myself unconscious," Chow added putting his hands up and then laid on the pavement next to his three partners.
"Huh, it actually worked," Yoshika said as the three witches got out of their Strikers.
"Told ya, it would work," Charlotte added, and Yoshika got closer to the unconscious enforcers to have a better look, "hey, that's Lieutenant Karibuchi."
"Who?" both Witches asked in unison.
"Long story."
"What's with the weird orb," Jade said as she picked it up.
"What's with the talisman," Francesca asked as she took it from Tohru's hand, then she began running at superspeed and shortly after, she tied up the four enforcers.
"It's nice, but Shirley's still faster."
"She's not," Jade countered.
"She is"
"She's not"
"She is,"
"She's not"
"She is,"
"What about a race?" Jade proposed.
"That sounds like fun!" Francesca excitedly added,
"Jade…" Jackie scolded her.
"I'm just saying," Jade added and Francesca then handed the talisman to Jackie and Jade did the same with the orb.
"Thanks for taking care of my niece," Jackie added, "and whatever this is," he said looking at the orb.
"She was no problem at all, Mr.…. Chang?" Charlotte said.
"Chan, Jackie Chan, and what are your names, by the way?"
"I'm Shirley Yeager."
"I'm Francesca Lucchini."
"And I'm Yoshika Miyafuji" the Fusoan Witch added cheerfully, which made Jackie raise an eyebrow.
"It's nice to meet you all of you," Jackie said calmly, and then he gazed his niece, "on second thought, you can have your race, that's of course, if Shirley wants to compete."
"Why not?" Shirley added carelessly, then Jackie he handed the talisman to Yoshika, to the surprise of everyone.
"Jackie!?" Jade appealed.
"I said you can have your race, not that you can participate," Jackie justified seriously as he could.
"Jackie, but I want to race against her," Jade appealed.
"And why do I have to compete?" Yoshika wondered.
"It would fair to have the race at the sky, and besides, you're the only who haven't tried the talisman," Jackie said convincingly as he could.
"Tch, like that's fair," Jade fumed crossing her arms.
"Well, if Yoshika's want to carry you, I wouldn't mind," Jackie added, "I saw how good she's flying those… strikers, so I trust her."
"Yoshika please!" Jade begged her on her knees.
"I guess I could that," she added chuckling nervously.
"What about them?" Francesca asked pointing the four enforcers.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of them," a Witch said as two soldiers surrounded the enforcers.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Tsuruta," Jackie added.
"How do you know her?" Jade asked.
"Long story," Jackie parroted her, but it also made Charlotte raise an eyebrow. "We better hurry," then, the three Witches put on their striker units and began flying where Jackie told them until they arrived at the school.
"Why here?" Jade asked.
"There's more than enough space to race, until Marin County." Jackie said pointing at the other side of the bridge, "thanks for the ride," he added, and Francesca dropped Jackie and he spun before landing.
"That was awesome," Yoshika said amazed.
"That sounds good to me," Jade said and then three witches descended and stayed flying just above the ground and Yoshika and Charlotte readied themselves to begin the race as Jackie went in front of them.
"To me too." Charlotte added.
"And to me three." Yoshika also added.
"Ready." He said extending his left arm to his side.
"Set." He said extending his right arm to his side as Yoshika tightened her grip on Jade.
Then, he raised both arms, "go!" he announced as both arms went down, thus, the two witches began flying rapidly.
"Go Shirley!" Francesca cheered her, but when she gazed at the archeologist, he was no longer there, "Jackie?" she asked to no one, "huh?"
At the Sky
"Go Yoshika!" the Chinese girl cheered yet Shirley had started to make some distance.
"I'm gonna try my best." Yoshika said, as she put more magic into striker and sparks had started to come out of it.
"Huh? They are actually catching me up." Charlotte noticing them closer, thus, she began using her inherit magic, leaving them behind again.
"She's too fast…" Yoshika added realizing there was no way she could possibly win against her in a speed race.
"Use the talisman!" Jade said and Yoshika got it out from her swimsuit, and it started glowing.
"Ah…!" Yoshika screamed as both flew at superspeed, easily passing the Liberion Witch, even moving her out of the way with a wind gust, "I'm gonna die!".
"What the crap! Not even a Jet Striker could catch with that." Charlotte commented in disbelief and shortly after she arrived at the other side of the bridge, where Jade and Yoshika were already waiting for her, though the latter one was trying to regain her breath.
"Told ya, it was faster." Jade proudly said.
"You're right, that thing's nuts." Charlotte commented.
"It's scary and hard to control." Yoshika said still panting a little.
"I guessed so; it must be even harder than a jet striker." Charlotte said.
"A what?" Jade asked with a curious tone.
"Long story." Charlotte added, and both witches began heading back to the start point.
At the same time
Jackie was in front of section 13, sighing at what he was about to do, "here it goes," he entered the phone booth and not long after, the door slid opened and once again, he was surrounded by soldiers aiming at him.
"I'm alone," Jackie said with his hands up, "I just want help to get back to my timeline." He added showing the orb.
"Stand down," Ichiro said as he got closer to the archeologist, "I've never seen something like that before." And Jackie handed it to him.
Ichiro started to examine the mystical object and began walking towards his desk followed by Jackie, and both took a sit.
"Interesting, I can sense it has great magic power, I must assume it came from your timeline, in the future."
"Indeed, it did, but its markings denote it was made at least a millennium ago."
"You're quite an antique expert, Mr. Chan." Ichiro commented now using a magnifying glass to better analyze it.
"My uncle is the expert, my job is about studying ancient civilizations," Jackie said, "speaking of family, I just spoke with your daughter."
"Did you tell her anything?"
"That's not my call," Jackie sighed, "but even though I just speak a little with her, I could tell right away she's a good girl, and I'm sure she will understand."
"I've been told that, Yoshika's is a good girl who uses her power to protect everyone, and I couldn't be prouder of her." Ichiro said as he took of the magnifying glass.
"Then, don't you think she deserves to hear it from you?"
"I've been thinking about that, but I don't want to put her a danger."
"What more danger could she be possibly on? She's a Witch fighting a war for crying out loud, risking her life every time she put on those Striker Units."
"I know that Mr. Chan. I do know that. I tried to delay her recruitment as much as I could, but since Witches are our only hope, her enlistment was just a matter of time," Ichiro swore, "at least I assured myself she's getting the best training she could possibly get and a Striker capable that can make the best use of her power," he added as he proudly gazed the machine he was working before.
"I just hope it isn't too late when you let her know she still have you." Jackie argued back but Ichiro continued examining the orb and seconds later it began glowing and it disappeared.
"There, if you rotated the base, it activates its contained spell, but I cannot tell for certain how many times you can trigger the mechanism, better use it when you're ready." Ichiro said as he handed the orb back to Jackie.
"Thank you, Dr." Jackie said and exited the base shortly after, leaving a thoughtful doctor behind.
A few minutes later
Francesca was sitting on the sidewalk, wondering what happened and where Jackie went until the Strikers were heard.
"So, who won?" Francesca added as she stood up.
"We won." Jade proudly said.
"Hey, if I had my custom P-51, I could have beaten you." Shirley said, "Who am I kidding, that thing's insane."
"And I thought the weight of both you combined would be enough compensate for Shirley's extra weight." Francesca commented making Yoshika blush.
"Extra weight of what?" Jade asked not quite getting what she was referring to.
"Nothing." Yoshika said, trying to get rid of her redness.
"You're still too young to get it," Shirley commented putting her hand on Jade's head.
"Too young to get what exactly?" Jade added frustrated noticing Yoshika was still red-faced.
"Nothing really." Yoshika added chuckling nervously.
"And where's Jackie?" Jade asked.
"Don't know, he disappeared after the race began." Francesca said shrugging.
"Jade" Jackie as he came running noticing the race did not took long as he expected.
"Jackie where did you just come from?"
"I needed to do something." Jackie said trying to regain his breath "c'mon let go back home."
"You know how to?"
"I know just how to" Jackie affirmed as he showed the orb.
"And what about the Dark Hand?"
"They're bad guys but this is not their world nor their time."
"If you say so." and thus the three Witches headed back to where the enforcers were tied up, as they arrived, Jade could notice that Tsuruta and the two soldiers had confiscated what Ratso had bought, though he was still using the autographed t-shirt.
"Jackie, can I keep that, please?" Jade pledged as she went to her knees.
"I bought all that stuff."
"Jade it's not ours, if he bought it, it's his, Lieutenant please." Jackie said and Tsuruta handed him the two dolls of Witches wearing striker units and some pins with the logo of different Joint Fighter Wings.
"But Jackie?"
"We don't have time Jade."
"Huh, I wanted to have souvenir."
"You can keep one doll." Ratso said to the surprise of everyone.
"Can I Jackie?"
"Why not?"
"Yes!"
"Oh, almost forgot" Yoshika added as she got out the rabbit talisman of her swimsuit, "here".
"Are you sure you're not going to need it? It could be useful for you to end the war?"
"Nah, we're fine, and that thing is hard to control."
Jackie sighed, feeling a bit guilty, knowing what these girls barely older than Jade currently doing, yet he also felt a bit relieved knowing that they seemed to be responsible and skilled enough to survive in this world. Still, he wished he could help them in anyway.
Then, Jackie turned the orb base and a portal opened, "be careful," Jackie added.
"Don't worry, we're gonna be just fine," Charlotte said putting her arms behind her head, "we've been doing this for a quite a long time, right?"
"Of course!" Francesca said with a reassuring tone.
"I guess you could say that" Yoshika added a with nervousness in her voice.
"I hope we meet again someday," Jade said, and the three girls hugged, "same," the three added said.
"It's time to go Jade," Jackie added, and she did so and then he tried to move the tied fourth enforcers to no avail, and the Witches were going to help him but then Tohru stood up, lifting the three enforcers and also crossed the portal.
Jackie just sighed in relief and readied himself to cross the portal.
"Continue using your power to protect everyone." Jackie added and he crossed the portal, leaving the three witches gazing at each other.
"My father used to say that." Yoshika wondered when he could had heard that.
"That was weird." Francesca said.
"Everything that happened today was weird, let's not mention this to Minna or Mio, not like they are gonna believe us." Charlotte stated.
"Understood," the two Witches said in unison.
"What about you Lieutenant Tsuruta? Are you going to make a report about what happened today?" Charlotte asked. "Lieutenant?" She asked again but she was long gone. "Huh? She already left, better hurry, we still need to buy some things for the rest" and thus the three Witches continued with what they were doing before.
Present day
Both Jade and Jackie traversed the portal unharmed and shortly after the four enforcers arrived still tied up and Tohru did not even bother to try to escape.
"Time continuum's good as new. But I still can't figure out how you made a wormhole without going supersonic." Kepler said as he checked his scanner.
"I did go supersonic. See, the rabbit talisman has magic powers." Jade explained the best she could, but she was not too convincing.
"Magic powers." Kepler added chuckling as he headed back to section 13.
"I'll prove it! Hey, Jackie, can I borrow the…" Jade said but Jackie just crossed his arms, "Heh. Never mind."
"And what do we do them?" Jade asked pointing the enforcers.
"We are going to turn them over to the authorities." Jackie said but then, the Shadow Khan appeared and enveloped them in shadows, and they disappeared on it.
"Or maybe not," Jackie added not really bothered the enforcers got away, they were bad guys but at least, they were human, that was better, way better, though he could not help it but wonder what expected for them in the near future in the quest for the rest of the talismans, "let's go home."
"I still can't believe they were fighting in a real war."
"Me neither Jade, me neither"
"And with no pants!"
"That also was strange, better not mention that to uncle."
"Roger that." Jade said making a surprised Jackie gazed at her, but she only responded with a big grin. Jackie just sighed loudly in response and they continue walking to the antique shop.
A few months later, on the Adriatic Sea
Sirens went off, loud explosions were heard all over the place and the battleship Yamato was shaking.
"What's happening doctor?" Tsuruta asked.
"It seems were being attacked." Ichiro said as he stood up.
"This was safe zone, I better sortie to see what I can do." The Witch added.
"Thanks Lieutenant" and both headed to the hangar, only to stop as they heard someone was crying.
"Yoshika…" Ichiro said bewildered, not expecting to her daughter so soon.
"Why?" Yoshika asked to herself, on her knees.
"Why can't a fly anymore?" Yoshika wondered and tears had started to fall.
"I'm so sorry, but I can't keep up that promise I made you." Yoshika apologized.
"Even after all these years, she still remembers it." Ichiro murmured recalling the last time he spoke with her daughter.
"I can't fly anymore, I won't be able to protect anyone," Yoshika lamented, no longer able to contain her tears, "not even Lynne" she added losing the little hope she still had in there.
"Stop crying Yoshika, you haven't lost the ability to fly," Ichiro said as a launch platform lifted, "look, these are going to be your new wings."
"It's a striker unit," Yoshika said surprised as she wiped the tears of her face, then she jumped into it and and the aft hangar opened, lifting her up.
"I wasn't expecting Yoshika to overwhelm the type-0 so quickly."
"I wasn't able to even start it, yet she seems to be in total control," Tsuruta added as Yoshika swiftly flew into the enemy.
"Stay safe out there, Yoshika." Ichiro wished as things did not happen the way he expected.
The end