The Enemy of My Enemy!

Keiko Chiba and Akiko Fujiwara both grew up in one of the small towns in the Yamanashi Prefecture. Neither had ever been out in the more rural parts of Japan and the closest either one came to a horse was an occasional sighting at a festival. Masako had once expressed an interest in riding a horse one day, even betting the two of them that she'd be the first one to have the guts to go riding. Guess she's losing that bet...

This ride however put all other horse rides they could have imagined to shame. Keiko made the mistake early on of looking down from the flying mount; something she didn't do for the rest of the trip, keeping her eyes sealed shut out of sheer terror. Akiko held it together longer, seeing a bird's eye view as the winds whipped through their hair and clothes, as she held on for dear life.

Finally, after a harrowing few hours, the group landed in the town of Merwindolyn where everyone disembarked, much to the girls' relief. Looking around, the town was a far cry from the capital they had fled, mostly comprised of modest wood and stone structures built in harmony with the environment. There looked to be hundreds of people in the immediate area as their landing seemed to have gathered quite the spectacle. At the center of attention was the village elder, an old woman who was assisted by several attendants.

"Are these the ones?" she asked, before Kenji nodded in acknowledgement. "There was supposed to be three of them."

"These were the only ones that made it out of the Temple," Kenji confirmed. "If there was a third, I didn't see her."

"Our friend got trapped!" Keiko exclaimed. "We have to go back to rescue her!"

"Out of the question!" Kenji warned. "Going back now without any kind of plan would be a death sentence."

"So, what happens to her? They're going to kill her?" Akiko demanded.

"It's possible," Kenji admitted. "A lot depends on what they find on your friend. She might get sold to a labor camp, and that's if she's lucky. Otherwise, well... " he trailed off, but the look on his face made both Akiko and Keiko cringe at the implication.

"Unfortunately, this is the reality for those of us who live in the Empire," the old seer explained. "This town and barony are among the few who still resist the Empire's rule although it may very well be only a matter of time. As for why we brought you here, it is prophesized that a warrior would one day be instrumental to leading the Empire's downfall."

"OK, that sounds like a pretty lousy deal for you and your Empire," Akiko admitted. "But I'm not hearing that that has to with us. We have nothing to do with any of this. We never even heard of your Empire until today."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Miss Fujiwara," the old seer corrected. "Because... you are not just Akiko Fujiwara. That's who you are now. Another life... your past life... in this world... you were that great warrior. His name was Akira Fujiwara, and he was perhaps our greatest warrior until he saw the corruption that was building within the Kingdom. Tragically, he was fell to treachery before he could escape his time in the Emperor's service."

Akiko recoiled in shock. "Th-that sounds crazy...!"

"Actually..." Keiko offered, "maybe that's why you've started turning into some kind of super samurai when someone threatens you."

Kenji spoke up, "Akira Fujiwara was my Captain, my mentor and my best friend. His death is on my conscience, and something I have personally vowed to make right."

"Wait..." Akiko looked at Kenji more carefully, "your Captain? How is that possible? If he was your Captain, then he'd have to have been close to your age, right? I mean... let's say I buy the notion of reincarnation as someone's spirit passing from one life to the next.  If this Akira Fujiwara died only recently, like within the last year or so, shouldn't I only be a year old at most?"

"Actually Akiko, that would be true if we were in the same universe," Keiko chimed in. "But this appears to be a different world, which means a completely different timeline. Events that are happening now in this world could end up happening decades in the past in ours."

Akiko looked at Keiko with a gimlet eye, "You're buying all this goop of reincarnation, alternate worlds and time jumps? You of all people, Miss Science Geek?"

"Well, when Miss Late for Class starts slicing up trained soldiers like filleting fish, let's just say I start getting a little more open minded," Keiko admitted.

"OK, well, let's say everything you say is true," Akiko allowed. "What exactly are you asking from us? I mean, it sounds like your people are still facing a tough spot, and even if I'm supposed to be some reborn warrior, I'm still just one person. It's not like I can just wave my hand and make some army to liberate your people."

"No," the old seer admitted. "But what we would ask of you is to come with us and see the Kingdom for yourself. Whether it's just to rescue your friend or the greater good of our world, our interest align. Help us in our struggle, and we'll do whatever we can to find a way to rescue your friend."

Akiko and Keiko looked at each other with resigned expressions. "I guess if we want to save Masako, this is our only chance now," Akiko sighed. "How do we start?"

"As his closest friend in life, if anyone can help you awaken Akira's spirit, it would be Sergeant Kenji Takeda," the old seer answered. "If you can do that, we will have gained a powerful ally."

Keiko shrugged, "OK fine, but what am I supposed to do? Stay in the back and write science reports?"

"This is a world of magic, young one," the old seer shook her head as she examined Keiko. "We all have a role to play in this fight, and I sense you have more potential within you than you realize. You have an affinity for the technical and mathematics that can be channeled into something useful, even here. If you're willing to learn, we can begin your journey alongside Miss Fujiwara to rescue your captured friend."