Lessons

Enji’s ears rang as he regained consciousness. Though his vision was blurry, he could see an outline of what looked like massive animals walking on 2 feet. The largest one was in his face, shaking him and trying to talk to him. The voice seemed familiar, but Enji wasn’t listening.

‘’What happened?’’ Enji groaned.

‘’Good. You finally came to.’’ Hanzo continued.

Enji shook his head, sitting up slowly to stabilize himself. Looking closer, he suddenly shot up, screaming, and backing away from the sight before him.

‘’Hanzo!’’ Enji screamed.

‘’Yeah man. Looks like you don’t have any lasting injuries, Ren over there clocked you so hard we were worried we’d have to carry you out of here.’’

‘’Ren?’’

‘’Yeah, looks like we were all sent to this weird place. Me, you, Ren, and Sora.’’

Enji glanced over Hanzo at the pair sitting behind him, sure enough, it was his other foster siblings. Watching him and Hanzo and looking at the area around them. Probably looking for a way to get outside the forest. But their clothes. They were…

Enji burst out laughing. His confusion and minor pain completely erased. Doubling over and pointing at the pair far off, now fully paying attention to their brother. Enji looked at Hanzo and instantly redoubled his laughing fit.

Hanzo shook his head, confused at his brothers instant recovery. Looking over at Ren and Sora, who seemed equally confused. Enji was pounding the ground with his hand, completely ignoring his siblings confused stares. Ren stepped forward, slightly annoyed.

‘’Looks like getting knocked back hasn’t made you any smarter, but at least your head is still hard enough to take a hit without injury.’’

Enji instantly snapped on his feet. His earlier joviality now replaced by outrage.

‘’What’d you say?!’’ Enji yelled.

Hanzo stepped in between them, trying to hold Enji back from rushing Ren just like back at the Fushigi home.

‘’Everybody calm down, let’s just take a minute and try to think of a way to get out of here’’

Enji looked past him, eyes still blazing at his brothers little comment.

‘’At least I’m not trying to act all cool in stupid white pajamas!’’ Enji cried.

Ren looked at him confused. Quickly looking down at his legs, sure enough, they were covered by a strange white cloth, soft to the touch and completely embarrasing.

‘’White pajam…’’ Ren began. Trying to see himself better, though he couldn’t get a complete look, what he did see, all but proved his brother right, and Ren wasn’t happy.

‘’Where are my normal clothes?!’’ Ren screamed.

‘’You just now noticed you were wearing that?’’ Sora remarked.

‘’Shut up!’’

‘’I think it looks good on you.’’ Enji mocked. ‘’I especially like that cute little horn you have on the top of your head. Really sells the prince of lame look.’’

‘’You eager for another beating?’’

Ren started towards him. Fists already clenched to start another fight. Hanzo now had to physically stop the two of them from coming to blows. Continuing to shout insults at each other pushing harder while Hanzo strained to keep them apart.

‘’This is no time for quarreling!’’ Sora shouted in protest.

The two were not listening, pushing harder against Hanzo and arguing with each other, now dragging Sora into the arguement until Hanzo couldn’t take it anymore.

‘’ENOUGH!!!’’

A wave of power surged forward, knocking the quarreling siblings back, separating everyone from Hanzo. He looked around himself, confused at what had just occurred. The siblings looked at him stunned for a moment. Then they stood back up, and slowly approached, their earlier argument giving way to concern.

‘’How? How did I… I didn’t mean to..’’ Hanzo said nervously.

Enji and Ren approached their brother gently; each trying to comfort him and assured him that they were alright.

‘’Fascinating.’’ Sora muttered.

The brothers turned. Confused at their sisters sudden change of topic.

Pushing her glasses back, Sora stepped closer to Hanzo, seeming to study her brother like an exhibit. Circling him and occasionally poking at his chest. Before she just as quickly jumped back, slamming her fist into her hand.

‘’That’s it!’’ She proclaimed.

‘’What is?’’ Hanzo asked.

Sora pointed to her brothers in triumph, the way she did when she came across a major discovery or had the winning argument in her study group.

‘’We indeed are all wearing onesies!’’

The three of them looked at her, confused at her confident announcement, then looked at each other, then at themselves. Each noticing their own unique attire.

‘’NO WAY!!!’’

‘’BUT HOW?!’’

‘’Huh?’’

‘’Allow me to explain.’’ Sora began. It seems that somehow we were all transported here by an unknown method, and for whatever reason, we were sent here in this particular choice of clothing.’’

Her brothers each took their seats lining up in a row to listen better.

‘’In addition to the unique appearance, it seems that we were granted special properties, I assume in order to survive this new world. These abilities seem to correlate with our unique onesies appearance. For example, Enji seems to be wearing one that is shaped like a dragon, modeled after western adaptations. Which is how he was able to rush Ren earlier at faster speeds than should have been possible, and why Ren most likely assumed him to be a dangerous beast.’’

‘’Oh no. I could see his face, I knew it was him all along.’’ Ren calmly added.

‘’You sparkle headed jerk!’’ Enji shouted.

‘’Say that again, I dare you! ‘’

A loud slap sound echoed from Soras pointer, instantly silencing the two.

‘’Pay attention! This is important!’’ Sora scolded.

‘’Sorry’’ Ren said.

‘’Where did you get that?’’ Enji quietly wondered.

Sora cleared her throat. Her pointer facing Enji.

‘’As I was saying, Enji’s attire seems to be based off a dragon. If you look closely, he possesses wings on his back, scales and horns on his head. Which is why he has no visible injury despite the force of the attack and likely means that he can use the wings to soar through the air as well as increase his speed.’’

‘’So.’’ Enji excitedly included. ‘’You’re saying I can fly, move super-fast, have super hard skin, and are really strong?’’

‘’That does seem likely. Given what we have witnessed thus far.’’

‘’What about breathing fire? Can I do that? I always wanted to do that as a kid?’’

‘’Based on what we observed from mythological and modern adaptations of dragons. It is very possible that you could use a form of flaming breath ability. However, given that we are in a forest with very flammable trees and nature, I would strongly suggest refraining from attempting until we are in a controlled environment.’’

Enji let out a groan of contempt. Disappointed that he couldn’t try to burn down a tree. Sora pointed at the three of them with her pointer to continue. Her eyes gleaming, she was just getting started.