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Spring into summer, summer into fall, fall into winter, and so the seasons go. Around and around again with no ending. It was the cycle of life and for some reason it was what the young lady was thinking of as she strolled through the park with her dog striding along at her side. Abigail Miller was taking one of the last day’s before school started back up to walk her dog and enjoy the weather. There was a slight n** to the air but that just made the green park that much more enjoyable. It was hard to think she had been in this city for so long, in this country… Abby had been certain that she would have been able to convince her father to return to England but as time passed it had slowly drifted further and further away. The young woman had become so wrapped up in everything going on day to day that the extended campaign to return to ‘home’ had fallen to the wayside. It was only moments like this that really struck the teen, barely a teen at 13, that she really was stuck in this city, for better or for worse. Besides she had a mission now. She was to protect the city and its people as best she could from the forces of evil.
“Isn’t that right Sherlock?” She asked her companion, the large wolf looking dog that strolled along at her side, the leash more for show than anything else. The Alaskan Malamute German Shepard mix woofed softly at his girl’s comment, no idea what she was talking about just happy to hear her address him. His attention was quickly diverted from his girl when a familiar scent reached his sensitive nose. His soft bark of agreement changed to a louder, welcoming bark when he recognized the smell. He knew this human. He like this human. “Sherlock?” Abby glanced down at her dog in surprise at the tone of his bark, her hand tightening about the leash. The dog was very well trained but sometimes he forgot and it was best not to have him running off wildly.
Glancing in the direction the dog was barking wasn’t helping much. All she could see were some common birds and a flash of blue. Blue? “Oh! A bluejay. Are you barking because you see a bluejay?” Abby asked her dog, unknowing that that was not the reason for his barking. He was greeting her teacher who was somewhere near by and Sherlock wanted to play.
“Isn’t that right Sherlock?” She asked her companion, the large wolf looking dog that strolled along at her side, the leash more for show than anything else. The Alaskan Malamute German Shepard mix woofed softly at his girl’s comment, no idea what she was talking about just happy to hear her address him. His attention was quickly diverted from his girl when a familiar scent reached his sensitive nose. His soft bark of agreement changed to a louder, welcoming bark when he recognized the smell. He knew this human. He like this human. “Sherlock?” Abby glanced down at her dog in surprise at the tone of his bark, her hand tightening about the leash. The dog was very well trained but sometimes he forgot and it was best not to have him running off wildly.
Glancing in the direction the dog was barking wasn’t helping much. All she could see were some common birds and a flash of blue. Blue? “Oh! A bluejay. Are you barking because you see a bluejay?” Abby asked her dog, unknowing that that was not the reason for his barking. He was greeting her teacher who was somewhere near by and Sherlock wanted to play.
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The slight n** of fall was pleasant, he rather liked fall. It was a season that was between life and death...where things transitioned. The smells of fire places and the warmth of colors. It was a pleasant time of year, not to hot and not too cold. Clothing wasn’t as much of an issue as it was in summer or winter. It was for that reason that he also liked spring. He should check out his home planet, the thought hit him suddenly as he was walking through the park, see if the seasons were changing there as well and if so - which season.
For some reason, as he was walking, his right shoe started to feel a bit...loose. Looking down he discovered the reason - shoelaces. He had broken the other ones not long ago and his sister had gone to get him new ones as she was also getting a broken heel repaired. The lace length which normally came with the shoe was, in his opinion, too long so he had replaced them with shorter ones upon purchase of the shoes. The shoe maker however gave his sister shoe laces that did not match the broken laces but rather the original ones in length. It meant he could double lace them and then two the bows and bring them back to tie at his heel as well - they were that long.
And that was what he’d done, knotted them at the back after double lacing them in front. But it seems the right one had come undone completely. Sighing in frustration he went over to a bench in order to lift his foot up and bend over to replace his shoe. He really needed to just replace these laces, they weren’t safe.
Double knotting them he pulled the bows to the back and knotted the bows, making sure to secure it. It might look odd, he was sure if anyone cared to look down they’d think as much, but it was a need with these laces. Dogs at the park were common, so he thought nothing of it when he heard a dog barking. It all sounded the same, as far as little dogs yipped and bigger dogs had more of a bark. It was all the same.
For some reason, as he was walking, his right shoe started to feel a bit...loose. Looking down he discovered the reason - shoelaces. He had broken the other ones not long ago and his sister had gone to get him new ones as she was also getting a broken heel repaired. The lace length which normally came with the shoe was, in his opinion, too long so he had replaced them with shorter ones upon purchase of the shoes. The shoe maker however gave his sister shoe laces that did not match the broken laces but rather the original ones in length. It meant he could double lace them and then two the bows and bring them back to tie at his heel as well - they were that long.
And that was what he’d done, knotted them at the back after double lacing them in front. But it seems the right one had come undone completely. Sighing in frustration he went over to a bench in order to lift his foot up and bend over to replace his shoe. He really needed to just replace these laces, they weren’t safe.
Double knotting them he pulled the bows to the back and knotted the bows, making sure to secure it. It might look odd, he was sure if anyone cared to look down they’d think as much, but it was a need with these laces. Dogs at the park were common, so he thought nothing of it when he heard a dog barking. It all sounded the same, as far as little dogs yipped and bigger dogs had more of a bark. It was all the same.
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After a quiet ‘hush’ to the dog, pooch and girl continued their walk quickly making their way around a bend and nearly walking past a bench with familiar figure sitting hunched over on it. Abby would have walked right past Fai if Sherlock hadn’t given the leash a jerk as he trotted over to the older senshi, his tail wagging happily. The young girl nearly gave a sharp command to return the dog to her side when she realized exactly who the pooch was walking up too, and what Fai was doing. Apparently his shoe had come untied at some point so he had taken the seat at the bench to correct it. Still though, Sherlock shouldn’t have done that. “Sherlock, no. Kisigino. Heel.” He knew better, even with someone they both knew well it wasn’t ok to just trot up to them, not without her permission at least. It was best not to let him get away with bad habits. Sherlock knew this as well so even though he whined softly he followed Abby’s orders and returned to her side. He didn’t like it though.
Reassuring her dog with a pat, Abby greeted Fai. “Good morning Fai. Out for a stroll?”
Reassuring her dog with a pat, Abby greeted Fai. “Good morning Fai. Out for a stroll?”
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Surprised to hear a familiar voice, though really he shouldn’t be that surprised, he turned golden eyes onto the girl and her dog. “Yeah, just a walk. I wasn’t in the mood to run - I’ll do that later.” He could use the work out, not that his martial arts lessons didn’t provide enough. It was good for stamina and it helped, it gave him something to do on days he didn’t have training.
“Sherlock must have seen me before you did, if he was coming over and surprised you. Just a normal, routine, walk for him?” The green haired male questioned. He had been, as of late, wondering if he shouldn’t just color his hair black, let the dye fade out and leave him with his natural black color .The green looked good, it did, but it had been this color for so long. It had just been to prove a point to one of his siblings anyway, he’d proven he wasn’t such a stick in the mud, but he’d sort of kept it going...perhaps to shove it in her face or maybe just because he didn’t like the color coming out and didn’t care enough to dye it back to black? So just continued with the green.
“We can walk together if you’d like.” He offered after a few moments of silence.
“Sherlock must have seen me before you did, if he was coming over and surprised you. Just a normal, routine, walk for him?” The green haired male questioned. He had been, as of late, wondering if he shouldn’t just color his hair black, let the dye fade out and leave him with his natural black color .The green looked good, it did, but it had been this color for so long. It had just been to prove a point to one of his siblings anyway, he’d proven he wasn’t such a stick in the mud, but he’d sort of kept it going...perhaps to shove it in her face or maybe just because he didn’t like the color coming out and didn’t care enough to dye it back to black? So just continued with the green.
“We can walk together if you’d like.” He offered after a few moments of silence.
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“Yes, but he knows better not to go up to people while we are out. Don’t you Sherlock?” She tapped the pup in his head and wagged a finger at him when he looked up at her, “You know you aren't allowed to do that. We were just out for a walk to burn off some energy and to get you some exercise right boy?” It wasn’t hard to figure out what the dog wanted when his gaze dropped back to Fai and whined softly, his tail wagging slightly. With a chuckle Abby unclipped the leash and gave the dog permission which he promptly took. The big dog trotted over to Fai, not much more than a few steps really, and plopped his butt down right in front of the guy. A paw came up for a shake and his tail beat the ground, kicking up a light coating of dust.
Still snickering at her dog’s antics the young lady nodded. “It would be nice. I think Sherlock would like that as well.” It would be nice to just chat. To talk about normal life. School, family, work. Life in general. Nothing connected to the nightly antics of the city and its protectors although really that was such a large part of her life. Between the two classes she took and the extra time after that she was working on throwing balls accurately for the thing with the a*****e knight. Mentally she scowled at the memory of the knight who did help but was a total tool, she wanted to be good enough to beat him soundly the next time she ran into him. Stupid male.
Still snickering at her dog’s antics the young lady nodded. “It would be nice. I think Sherlock would like that as well.” It would be nice to just chat. To talk about normal life. School, family, work. Life in general. Nothing connected to the nightly antics of the city and its protectors although really that was such a large part of her life. Between the two classes she took and the extra time after that she was working on throwing balls accurately for the thing with the a*****e knight. Mentally she scowled at the memory of the knight who did help but was a total tool, she wanted to be good enough to beat him soundly the next time she ran into him. Stupid male.
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“At least he’s well trained and gentle.” Not all dogs which went up to people, at random, were. He’d seen, more than once, a dog so excited by meeting a person that they’d jump on a small child and knock them down. It was normally laughed off, the dog being lightly scolded, but there was still a point there - the lack of training and gentleness.
“He does like attention.” Like most dogs did, though not all. Reaching down with a hand to pet the dogs head, wiggling and moving his ears about, Fai was comfortable giving into the dogs silent demand for attention and affection.
“I think if I were to leave, without you both, he would move to follow me like a shadow.” Finishing with lacing up his shoe he set his foot on the ground properly. “We should continue, Sherlock could use the walk and I know I could as well.” It would be good to get the walk in before he headed home. Maybe he’d find something else to do today as well, though he did have things to do he could manage to fit something else in he was sure. “Which way were you heading?”
“He does like attention.” Like most dogs did, though not all. Reaching down with a hand to pet the dogs head, wiggling and moving his ears about, Fai was comfortable giving into the dogs silent demand for attention and affection.
“I think if I were to leave, without you both, he would move to follow me like a shadow.” Finishing with lacing up his shoe he set his foot on the ground properly. “We should continue, Sherlock could use the walk and I know I could as well.” It would be good to get the walk in before he headed home. Maybe he’d find something else to do today as well, though he did have things to do he could manage to fit something else in he was sure. “Which way were you heading?”
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“Nowhere in particular. Just walking randomly.” Abby shrugged and clipped the leash back on to Sherlock, best not court trouble after all, even as she came to stand by Fai. She continued talking even as she gestured for the older male to proceed first, where they went really wasn’t a big deal for her, “Sherlock likely would start to follow you, at least until I told him to come back. He is very well trained but never a good idea to push it,” Abby agreed. It had taken months to get the large dog to understand the basic commands and even longer for the more uncommon ones. Those were done in secret since it would have been pretty hard to explain to her father why she was teaching Sherlock like ‘guard’ and ‘protect’. There wasn’t a lot of ‘real life’ reasons behind either commands, not really.
Scratching her dog behind the ears the young lady strolled at the side of her teacher, just enjoying the walk. “So how have your classes been? Learn anything new?” Like Abby herself, Fai was taking classes on Kung-fu, he was actually the one who suggested the young senshi learn since it was a form that worked quite well with her skills in dance. “I’ve actually been asking my dance teacher for a wider range of styles other than traditional. What I know can only take me so far,” she added under her breath, a frown crossing her face as she thought back on the past fights she had been in. Abby recognized that she still had a long way to go but learning new moves, both in dance and kung-fu, would really help. It was frustrating not being the best at the new moves but she was still mastering them. Perfection would come in time. A lady must know when to bide her time before unveiling her radiance.
Scratching her dog behind the ears the young lady strolled at the side of her teacher, just enjoying the walk. “So how have your classes been? Learn anything new?” Like Abby herself, Fai was taking classes on Kung-fu, he was actually the one who suggested the young senshi learn since it was a form that worked quite well with her skills in dance. “I’ve actually been asking my dance teacher for a wider range of styles other than traditional. What I know can only take me so far,” she added under her breath, a frown crossing her face as she thought back on the past fights she had been in. Abby recognized that she still had a long way to go but learning new moves, both in dance and kung-fu, would really help. It was frustrating not being the best at the new moves but she was still mastering them. Perfection would come in time. A lady must know when to bide her time before unveiling her radiance.
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“Yes, I have noticed how well trained he is. I wish everyone trained their dogs so well.” If only. But most people at least had some amount of training done with their dogs, however there were the odd few who seemed to have no control over their dogs and no training at all. This was why he owned birds - not a dog. “I heard from our mutual friend that he did well when you were training with someone else...That is good.” The mutual friend being Venice and the training being what he’d heard she had done with another Ganymede knight. He’d heard from Seung about it, he and his friend talked a lot - typically over food. He was very glad her dog was so well trained.
“I’m always learning something new. I’ve also signed up for another style of kung fu..it also focuses on speed and accuracy but it is different. The two styles are easy enough to tell apart.” At least they were for himself, he didn’t know if they would be for everyone. Though with her learning the same style he was, Crane style, it was likely she could pick out the styles. “That’s good. Dance does help, surprisingly, not something most people would think. Even if it just balance and knowing your body and how it moves - how to move it. It helps.” And any little bit they could possibly have over their enemy in a fight was good, it could be what kept a person alive.
“I’ve started taking snake style kung-fu.” Figuring she would ask what style he didn’t wait for her to ask.
“I’m always learning something new. I’ve also signed up for another style of kung fu..it also focuses on speed and accuracy but it is different. The two styles are easy enough to tell apart.” At least they were for himself, he didn’t know if they would be for everyone. Though with her learning the same style he was, Crane style, it was likely she could pick out the styles. “That’s good. Dance does help, surprisingly, not something most people would think. Even if it just balance and knowing your body and how it moves - how to move it. It helps.” And any little bit they could possibly have over their enemy in a fight was good, it could be what kept a person alive.
“I’ve started taking snake style kung-fu.” Figuring she would ask what style he didn’t wait for her to ask.
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Abby glanced down at Sherlock fondly. It hadn’t been easy to train the large dog but it had been worth it. “Yes, it would be nice if all dogs were trained properly. That way there could be no accidents where people end up getting hurt and the dog ends up getting the blame.” Even though her voice was light and carried very little anger a slight english accent seeped in. An accent she was slowly losing the longer she lived here in Destiny City. Using the skills she learned in dance and kung-fu Abby controlled her anger at the thought of how an animal such as Sherlock could be the scapegoat for asses who didn’t know how to care for or train their dogs. How such a sweet pup could turn bad from just one horrible master. It didn’t help that Fai mentioned the training where that man had the gall to call her a bad mistress to Sherlock.
He threatened her dog and said that she should never have brought him. It hurt so much because it was true. She had put in him danger just by keeping him at her side. She was the one who would be a bad human if she ever had to give her dog the order to protect or if Sherlock chose to ignore her when she told him to leave an attacker well enough alone. It would be her fault if he got hurt or worse, killed. She hated to admit it but he was right, she never should have brought Sherlock along that night or any other night she went patrolling. But… but she didn’t think she was strong enough on her own yet. She needed him. The dog was her companion, her friend, and her protector. She would just have to be his as well. To do so she would need to get stronger. She had to.
“I need to get stronger. Better.” The young girl admitted, her fingers fisting in her jacket pocket. “Dance is all well and good but it's not good enough. All I have is dance and kung-fu.” Unlike so many others her skill was more ally directed not offensive. She was a child, even mentally she spat out that word with hate, in a war of monsters. Sherlock apparently picked up on her anxiety and gave the hand holding the leash a lick, prompting her to glance down at him and sink her fingers behind his furry ears. She couldn’t let her anger get the better of her. Abby took a calming breath and mentally counted to ten, twice… ok, maybe three times, before she was able to get her rolling feelings under control.
After taking a bracing breath, a deep, lung cleansing breath like the one taught in class, Abby focused on what Fai had said just moments before. No point in burdening him with her insecurities. “Snake style? How different is it from Crane?”
He threatened her dog and said that she should never have brought him. It hurt so much because it was true. She had put in him danger just by keeping him at her side. She was the one who would be a bad human if she ever had to give her dog the order to protect or if Sherlock chose to ignore her when she told him to leave an attacker well enough alone. It would be her fault if he got hurt or worse, killed. She hated to admit it but he was right, she never should have brought Sherlock along that night or any other night she went patrolling. But… but she didn’t think she was strong enough on her own yet. She needed him. The dog was her companion, her friend, and her protector. She would just have to be his as well. To do so she would need to get stronger. She had to.
“I need to get stronger. Better.” The young girl admitted, her fingers fisting in her jacket pocket. “Dance is all well and good but it's not good enough. All I have is dance and kung-fu.” Unlike so many others her skill was more ally directed not offensive. She was a child, even mentally she spat out that word with hate, in a war of monsters. Sherlock apparently picked up on her anxiety and gave the hand holding the leash a lick, prompting her to glance down at him and sink her fingers behind his furry ears. She couldn’t let her anger get the better of her. Abby took a calming breath and mentally counted to ten, twice… ok, maybe three times, before she was able to get her rolling feelings under control.
After taking a bracing breath, a deep, lung cleansing breath like the one taught in class, Abby focused on what Fai had said just moments before. No point in burdening him with her insecurities. “Snake style? How different is it from Crane?”
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“Or even where dogs hurt other dogs.” Neither was a good thing to have happen, in the end at least one dog was always getting the blame and having something bad happen to them. People really should have the self discipline to go and train their dog properly. The fact Abby had her dog so well trained, and she was young, was a pleasing thing - something other people should emulate.
“I know and you are - you will continue to get stronger. It takes time - as all things do. These things, the important ones, can’t be rushed.” Which he was sure she knew and understood. There was no way to rush the training it took to protect yourself, and others, not unless you wanted to risk injury to yourself and others among other things. He had no idea however what thoughts he had brought forth in the little girl's mind, about her dog and bringing Sherlock out with her on patrols. Had he known he might have said more, maybe not. But he said what he knew she should hear - what she knew.
“Dance and kung-fu are good starts. If it’s about magic...that will come in time - I’m sure of it. And not all magic is meant to attack people. If you had just that there would be a lot more hurt on both sides I’m sure.” Though perhaps that would end this war sooner, maybe even in their favor, and he wasn’t sure ending it sooner was a bad idea really. “Enough but you could try it. It’s more about precision and speed- going for the vulnerable areas on a person.” Which was, to a point, similar to crane style but also it wasn’t, as he didn’t mentioned balance, grace or evasion. But they had similar ideas. “If you want to come watch one night you can. I can’t promise I’m the best in the class - it’s a new style.” Which meant he was now the one learning - a lot.
“I know and you are - you will continue to get stronger. It takes time - as all things do. These things, the important ones, can’t be rushed.” Which he was sure she knew and understood. There was no way to rush the training it took to protect yourself, and others, not unless you wanted to risk injury to yourself and others among other things. He had no idea however what thoughts he had brought forth in the little girl's mind, about her dog and bringing Sherlock out with her on patrols. Had he known he might have said more, maybe not. But he said what he knew she should hear - what she knew.
“Dance and kung-fu are good starts. If it’s about magic...that will come in time - I’m sure of it. And not all magic is meant to attack people. If you had just that there would be a lot more hurt on both sides I’m sure.” Though perhaps that would end this war sooner, maybe even in their favor, and he wasn’t sure ending it sooner was a bad idea really. “Enough but you could try it. It’s more about precision and speed- going for the vulnerable areas on a person.” Which was, to a point, similar to crane style but also it wasn’t, as he didn’t mentioned balance, grace or evasion. But they had similar ideas. “If you want to come watch one night you can. I can’t promise I’m the best in the class - it’s a new style.” Which meant he was now the one learning - a lot.
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She knew that training couldn’t be rushed. She knew that in order to master not only dance but kung-fu it required time, time she didn’t have, not if she was to be an active and beneficial fighter in this endless war. Once she had decided to actively fight Abby knew it would take time but still, right now her options were to go out patrolling with others who were stronger then her or go out with Sherlock. Neither were perfect solutions as far as the young lady was concerned. Both put her companions at risk if they get into serious trouble. It was a no win situation as far as she was concerned and it stunk. The young girl remained silent as Fai tried to comfort her, suggesting that without her magic more would be hurt. The only thing she felt that he was right was that dance and kung-fu were good starts. Sadly her magic didn’t do squat, she wasn’t even certain it did anything. With no visible results on enemies or allies it was almost tempting to say that nothing occurred when she started to dance, her feet pounding into the ground to a beat only she could hear. However, in all fairness Abby knew she had only used her inherent skills a few times so she couldn’t say it was useless… she just felt like it was.
Either way, it didn’t matter at this moment. Not when they both were civilians strolling down a path in a park in the chilly sunlight of fall, Sherlock between them. It didn’t really matter that they were talking about fighting, about skills that would hopefully save their lives one of these days, not at that moment really. It was almost surreal to be talking about such things in the light of day. “I can try. It would be interesting to see the style at least.” Absently Abby worried her lower lip between her teeth as she did her best to figure out how to explain this new request to her father. Just to see Fai in the class wasn’t a big deal, she was just going to support her classmate in his new venture. But that was likely as far as it would go. Her father was already worried that her extracurricular activities was going affecting her school work, she didn’t think so but she was going to have to prove it first before she could think of adding more to her plate. It would be nice to have a larger range of skills she could call upon during a fight so she didn’t have to rely on others.
Either way, it didn’t matter at this moment. Not when they both were civilians strolling down a path in a park in the chilly sunlight of fall, Sherlock between them. It didn’t really matter that they were talking about fighting, about skills that would hopefully save their lives one of these days, not at that moment really. It was almost surreal to be talking about such things in the light of day. “I can try. It would be interesting to see the style at least.” Absently Abby worried her lower lip between her teeth as she did her best to figure out how to explain this new request to her father. Just to see Fai in the class wasn’t a big deal, she was just going to support her classmate in his new venture. But that was likely as far as it would go. Her father was already worried that her extracurricular activities was going affecting her school work, she didn’t think so but she was going to have to prove it first before she could think of adding more to her plate. It would be nice to have a larger range of skills she could call upon during a fight so she didn’t have to rely on others.
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“It isn’t a bad style, I like it. I still have to remind myself to think of that and it’s moves...rather than going to what I know best.” It was, at times, a little difficult to not fall back to what he had muscle memory of doing. He knew in time it would work out for him and he’d be able to not go right to crane style when working in the snake style lessons. Right now though...he still had a few issues, which his teacher understood and accepted. Being in a lower level class though ,something he wanted used to, some of his classmates weren’t so pleased when he slipped and used crane style on them...too bad on them really - it wasn’t his fault.
“If you do decide you want to try and learn snake style...I would suggest holding off for a while. You are doing a lot already and the crossover in styles might also become a thing for you - as it is for me.” He added as they continued their walk.
It really was a nice time to have a walk, the fall air was nice and crisp while not being too cold. It also wasn’t as hot, and oppressive, as it was in the summer at times. It made going on runs a lot nicer, easier, and something he didn’t mind doing for longer as well; though he would have something warm to drink once he got home.
“If you do decide you want to try and learn snake style...I would suggest holding off for a while. You are doing a lot already and the crossover in styles might also become a thing for you - as it is for me.” He added as they continued their walk.
It really was a nice time to have a walk, the fall air was nice and crisp while not being too cold. It also wasn’t as hot, and oppressive, as it was in the summer at times. It made going on runs a lot nicer, easier, and something he didn’t mind doing for longer as well; though he would have something warm to drink once he got home.
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Since the outcome was pretty much what Abby predicted it would be if she asked to take up this new form of kung-fu, along with crane style and dance practice, she murmured a quiet ‘I understand’. Yeah the reason behind it was different and she thought about explaining but kept quiet instead. It was too nice of a day to go into semantics about how she was smart enough to handle learning two similar yet different styles of fighting at the same time. Besides, she really wanted to master crane style before branching out. It took a lot of dedication and focus to really get good at something so she didn’t really want to split her attention right now, well any more split.
“Oh look, a robin.” She quietly pointed out the redbreastedbird that was flittering about in a bush off the side of the path. “Its nice to take the time to just walk sometimes, isn’t it?”
“Oh look, a robin.” She quietly pointed out the redbreastedbird that was flittering about in a bush off the side of the path. “Its nice to take the time to just walk sometimes, isn’t it?”
