While affairs occur on the world of Gaea, the Mystic Moon continues to turn... Its story continues to be written, and will one day intertwine with that of its unknown twin, and begins in the country of Japan within Hagun Academy...

Earth. A planet which has seen devastating war in abundance. Where the world's armies were reduced in favor of mercenaries, under the control of an artificial intelligence network. Where magic and the spirits are known and studied in many schools. The Blazers, who can manifest the power of mana as unique superpowers, and actualize them as weapons known as Devices. The Maidens, who contract with spirits known as Arcana and use their powers as their own. And together they live alongside the Infinite Stratos, gladiators in armor who fight for the entertainment of the masses, alongside robots who have taken the burden of labor off of humanity, alongside many wondrous and miraculous technologies such as the Shizuma Drive, a power source which provides immense, nigh perpetual energy with no pollution. Even the power of the inner spirit and bizarre fighting techniques born from training and enlightenment exists alongside these things. The Mystic Moon, as Gaea calls it, is full of oddities, but also many parallels to that other world across the Aura Road...

But even now, in the age following the end of the Patriots, which secretly controlled most of humanity, evil organizations bubble beneath the surface, waiting to strike. The Blazers, the Maidens, the robots, even the super-powered fighters and vigilante superheroes which dot the planet must all come together if they truly believe the world must be protected...

Ikki Kurogane is a Blazer of Hagun Academy, eagerly training for his chance to become a true Mage-Knight, a Blazer protector of justice on Earth. Though his last year was anything but ideal, with him being forced to repeat thanks to obstructive authority, he nonetheless persists, to validate his own existence and fight others' perception of his uselessness. But even with that, worry lay on his mind. The previous day's events helped him alleviate some of it, but now that he was relaxing after his 20-kilometer morning run, with his new roommate Stella Vermillion, who he actually had to fight for the right to remain in the room he had before she arrived, thoughts of his friend Melody, sister of the mysterious bunny girl from "another world" Violet, rushed back in.

He gulped down sports drink from a thermos, staring into the distance... When Stella tapped him on the shoulder, her crimson enormous regal twintails and the loose back part of her hair flowing in the gentle breeze. It sure was something, seeing a fiery princess in a sports jersey. Ikki had to admit that his normal Japanese black-haired look was pretty plain next to her... But it was going to be next to her for the next two years now.

"What's up, Ikki? You look a little down all of a sudden." Stella gave a worried frown.

"Oh, nothing, just... I have a friend who used to attend the school here. She's been missing for a little while, and nobody really knows what happened, so..."

"Huh..." Stella frowned just a little more.

"I bet my sister'll ask me the same thing if I don't put my chin up when she arrives here. Especially after four years." Ikki gave a small chuckle and held out his thermos. "Here, have some. You'll need electrolytes after that jog."

"Huh? Wait, don't change the subject! It'd be like kissing you anyway!" Stella flushed a bit and huffed, hands on her hips.

"Oh!" Ikki completely missed the implication. "Right, you don't want my germs, do you?"

"Who said anything about THAT!?" Stella shouted right back, then muttered under her breath. "Maybe I want those germs."

"Huh?" Ikki didn't quite hear what she said.

"NOTHING! Gimme those electrolytes, buddy!" Stella outright swiped the drink from his hand and gulped it down.

Meanwhile, a small ways across the water...

Close to Hagun Academy was IS Academy. The academy dedicated solely to the education of young ladies who fought in the Infinite Stratos gladiatorial arena. Sports were the only thing those machines were allowed to do, due to their absurd power against the Japanese military during their first appearance. And their core black box could only be truly produced by their mysterious and frankly criminal creator, Tabane Shinonono. These powered suits were quicker than any jet, stronger than any tank, rivaled only by magic and the ever-legendary Metal Gears, which were falling out of style to combat cyborgs as it was.

Of course, something was odd about this year's batch of first-year students. Among the many ladies eager to represent their nation as an Infinite Stratos combatant... There was one man. Ichika Orimura. Through a stroke of fortune, an IS unit responded to him, and his life was promptly no longer under his control. He was sent to IS Academy after multiple incidents of dumb luck, thoroughly overwhelmed by just about everything, including as it turned out knowing he was in a class full of girls which included his childhood friend... Who also tried to attack him over something he couldn't have predicted--that they'd be roommates. He ran a hand through his short black hair while he ate breakfast beside her, trying to figure out how to break the ice. It'd been so long since they'd last seen each other, but being practically strangers was more than painful.

A new year, a new school, and a chance to shed her old reputation. While that honestly wasn't the most important thing about her admittance here, it was probably the biggest thing on Tsubasa's mind at this point. She only had one chance to make first impressions and she wanted to make it a good one. However, the issue lay in the fact that she didn't know how to talk to other people all that well anymore since she had spent the last few years living in a delusion. Rather than stressing though, she had decided to go for a morning run, an act that always seemed to help her relax even when she still thought she was some ninja of darkness.

That said, calling her a ninja wouldn't be far from the truth, she had just given up on the whole 'of darkness' bit and planted her feet in reality. As such, she was wearing a normal gym outfit as she jogged around the field. As she ran, she noticed a boy that had been jogging as well sit down and seemingly start flirting with a girl. She seemed to recall this particular pair had actually got into a fight the day before. She rolled her eyes slightly and jogged on past the pair.

Outside of Hagun Academy

Had this been the first day of classes, where all of the new students arrived, the front entrance would have been so congested as to make driving impossible. A sea of black and white and faces would have filled the sidewalks and spilled into both the parking lot and the roundabout where vehicles would go to drop off their passengers.

But it wasn't. It was a week before classes began, according to Tenma, where the first students started moving into their dorms. And there, alone and far more conspicuous for it, was a beige, camouflaged pattern military transport, a 'humvee' as some might call it. It quietly rumbled to a stop, sitting idle as the doors yet remained closed.

"Huh... Not that many people out there!" Tenma chirped, wings fluttering gently with excitement. She kicked her legs back and forth in her seat, holding a bag that carried a few spare changes of clothes and stuff to take showers with, and she played with the straps of her bright yellow and green helmet. She was told she looked too old to have one, but she always heard the people in this country had them at her age, so she wanted one too! The rest of her stuff was out of sight, out of mind. It wasn't important to her at the moment - this was her very first day of school! "Is this really the right place big sis?"

"Yes... Yes, I'm sure this is the right place."

She said so, though she looked on electronic devices just to make sure this was the right place. It had to be, surely?

Cammy White was used to a variety of operations and missions, though nothing quite like this. Most of her time had been dedicated to fighting off Shadaloo and other terrorist organizations that threatened the world's stability, fending them off alongside Delta Red and the street fighters that she had befriended over the years. It was a harrowing but ever-important task near to Cammy's heart to destroy Shadaloo, knowing that they had done horrible things to her and many others in her lifetime.

This, however, was a different kind of mission. One she was unused to, and at times a bit lost. When Cammy first met her compatriot, Tenma, she was inside a Shadaloo facility, the product of experimentation and other horrible atrocities. But Cammy knew she had to free her, for she knew that there were many others like her that wanted to escape their fate. Memories of the Dolls came to mind, and how desperately she wanted to free them, just as she had been freed. In any case, after Tenma was rescued, thus began the rehabilitation to help her live a normal life, or at least as normal as she could get. And unexpectedly, she made a remarkable transition. If they had made this much progress, then it spelled hopefully good things for anyone else they might find in Shadaloo's clutches, able to help them break free and live happily.

In any case, Delta Red always felt like a family, but Tenma was the first to make it feel... literal. Here she was calling her "big sis." It was embarassing, really. Tenma treated her like the mature one, but Cammy felt just as clueless when it came to certain things. Take Tenma's hat for example... Cammy thought it looked silly, but the former insisted this is what school children wore to school. How was Cammy able to dispute this? She had no childhood or memories of school, only... very uncomfortable, painful memories. So she was sure to procure one of those hats for Tenma to fit in... or at the very least make her happy.

"...Are you nervous, Tenma?" she asked, looking to the side. She seemed excited enough.

"Nervous? Hmmmm... that's silly!" Tenma laughed, giving Cammy a bright, wide-toothed smile. "Nervous is a bad feeling, I'm just excited!"

Tenma looked like a well off young woman in her late teens, with a developed body and stature and clothes to match. It was often that people, even those in her own family, forgot how old Tenma actually was. While physically she fit in with the school, chronologically she was five years old and some change, and with a mentality somewhere around ten or eleven. While she was a bright girl and eager to learn, there was only so much Delta Red could teach, both in the realms of academia and life lessons. As far as her abilities went, that was an entirely other can of worms that they weren't equipped for - which brought them here.

While Tenma was certain today was a week before school started, she was in fact mistaken - it was the day after school started, early in the morning, when most students were just starting to stir from their bed. Unawares of this, she played with the cloak over her uniform and withdrew her wings inside them, hiding them from view.

"Wanna come in with me? It'd be great!"

Hagun Academy

"Hey!" While she was drinking, Stella caught on to Tsubasa's silent snideness and slammed the bottle down on the picnic table. "You got a problem, buddy?" Her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Ikki raised an eyebrow. He noticed it too, but put a hand on Stella's shoulder. "Calm down, I'm sure she doesn't mean anything by it." He gave Tsubasa a warm smile. "You must be new here, just like Stella. I haven't seen you around."

Outside Hagun Academy

Shizuku Kurogane walked up to the entrance of the school with a skip in her step. Today would be the day she'd finally see her brother again, and that thought alone made her immensely happy. But even as focused as she was on that prospect, she took note of the odd new people also arriving at school for the very first time. Or rather, odd vehicle--she couldn't quite see inside, but it was definitely weird for a military vehicle to pull up at a school like this unless something serious was happening. Shizuku held her school bag in front of her like a good little girl, tilting her head and awaiting what may come next.

Hagun Academy Dorms

Violet polished her weapons in her room, several thoughts running through her head. The disappearance of her sister had concerned her greatly - but not out of worry, but out of the fact that the place Melody vanished to had brought up long buried memories in her mind.

For years, she had given up on returning to Zemuria. That she would make this new world, Earth, the mystic moon, her home. But that was foolish now. If those from the Mystic Moon could come to Zemuria, why couldn't she? if there was a way one way, why would there be another? Melody's revelation that she had managed to make her way to Zemuria shook her to the core. And yet, the Rabbit Faunus did not let it affect her openly. It was a new year, a new batch of students arriving at Hagun Academy and a new year of juniors to set an example to.

Finishing maintenance on her weapon and Orbment, she nodded in satisfaction. Placing Lunatic Crescent, her own vaunted huntress weapon, into its place in the leather case, she paused for a moment to admire it. It and the Orbment were one of two memories she had left of Zemuria; the only evidence to her that such a place existed. Without them, Zemuria may have been, possibly would have been nothing more than a childish fantasy in her mind.

Closing the case, she snapped the locks shut and stood to open the windows just in time to notice a military vehicle parked outside. Narrowing her eyes, she identified it as a Humvee rather than the Toyota Mega Cruiser the Japanese Self Defense Force would use. That made her curious - it meant it was certainly a foreign vehicle. While it was true that Hagun had several students from abroad - herself included - she didn't know what kind of instance would warrant a military visit to the academy now of all days. Was something amiss?

Grabbing onto her case and pocketing the orbment, Violet opened the windows wider and jumped out. Despite being several stories in the air, she landed gracefully and walked towards the military vehicle slowly. As the first member of the student council to notice, it was only natural for her to respond and see if there was anything she could do to help...

Cammy gave Tenma a nod, opening the door to and escorting her outside. Hagun Academy, while not one of the most prestigious or extraordinary of Japan's academies, still had extremely impressive facilities; a testament to the growing development of all kinds of warriors, with varying powers rising up in the world. Although Cammy still prioritized the hope that Tenma could learn to grow more as a person, as opposed to someone destined to fight all her life. Although perhaps it was a bit hypocritical, since Cammy struggled to see a life for herself outside Delta Red...

Walking outside for a moment, the two agents walked toward the school when Cammy stopped. She stood a bit wide-eyed for a second, seeing a young woman leap out of a high window in the multi-story building, with extreme precision and grace, landing unharmed and approaching them. Instinctively, she tensed up as if she was facing an enemy; such movements weren't out of the ordinary for the kind of people Cammy was used to fighting. However, the girl approached slowly and non-aggressively, easing some of the worries.

...If anything the rabbit ears she wore on her head kind of made her seem less threatening to boot. On top of it she was wearing a uniform. Presumably a student here?

"That's an impressive stunt you just performed. Where did you get your training?"

Okay, the warm smile was a bit surprising, though Tsubasa remembered quickly that the old stigma her classmates had placed on her no longer applied here. Also, if she was honest, she could see why this girl would be a bit flirty with a guy like him even after having a spat. Since she had been addressed, she might as well try and have a conversation with her new classmates. Problem #1 however, she had forgotten in that moment that she was in no way used to this. Problem #2, she immediately began worrying about leaving a good impression. Problem #3, she was a bit light headed from stopping suddenly to have this conversation. And Problem #4, this guy was really good looking and was talking directly to her. This things combined to make her incredibly nervous and she started talking with her head lowered and a rather noticeable blush on her face.

"O-oh, yeah, I-I'm Tsubasa...nice to meet you..."

What in the hell was that kind of introduction! Wasn't she the girl who proudly declared she was Tsubasa, Ninja of The Ebony Death in front of everyone she'd met just a few years ago! Where had all that confidence gone! Now she must really look like a joke, and in front of a cute boy too! So much for a good first impression. And to top it off, all these thoughts had just made her blush in embarrassment even more.

"Are... You okay?" Ikki rubbed the back of his head, but then bravely extended his hand. "Am I intimidating or something? Sorry if I am. Or maybe it's the sweat from the jog?" He let out a small, if slightly nervous chuckle. "Call me Ikki."

"And I'm Stella!" Stella threw out her own hand with way more confidence and a grin. "Nice to meetcha, fellow frrrrreshman!"

Tsubasa took the hand extended to her a bit hesitantly. She wasn't quite sure of Stella's tone, but it would make a better impression if she shook her hand, so...thats what she did. "Oh uh, I'm Tsubasa...and I wouldn't say intimidating as much as...nevermind, I'm just a bit new to this kind of introduction is all. Nice to meet both of you."

That....went better than she thought it would if she was honest. She had actually managed to sound like somewhat of a normal person. Alright! Her new life as a mostly average student seemed to be off to a good start.

"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." Violet said completely earnestly, holding her weapons case with both hands as if it were a suitcase. The place she trained was nowhere to be found in this city, nation or even planet, after all. Turning to the younger figure next to Cammy, Violet smiled.

"You must be Tenma, correct?" She asked. While she had seen a photograph before, she had asked just to be sure.

"Uh-huh!" Tenma nodded - as Violet had to turn around to see her as Tenma had snuck around like the child she was and tried fluffing her ears. "They look so coooooooool! They're kinda like my feathers, but furry! I wonder if they let you fly too! Cammy, Cammy, do rabbit ears let you fly?"

Cammy looked down at Tenma, her mouth opening to answer that question but left silent, still a bit surprised at the childish questions she continued to ask. Still, perhaps it was a bit unreasonable to expect her to mature that fast. There was so much about the world she had to learn in such a short amount of time.

Still, her initial silence turned into a genuine smile as she patted her on the head.

"No, Tenma, rabbit ears do not let you fly. But apparently they let you stick the landing."

"H-hey! That tickles!"

Turning around to respond to the sudden case of bad touch on her ears, Violet picked Tenma up and held her up like a parent would hold up a child.

"Alright, are you ready to go to your new dorm?" she asked, dropping the polite formal smile for a much more expressive one.

Not far from the entrance to Hagun, Clara was also going for a jog around the perimeter of the school. "Huh?" Clara murmured to herself, once she came across the growing welcome wagon...and the dark haired girl waiting by herself nearby. Since the other group seemed to have things handled, Clara approached Shizuku.

"Oh, are you touring the school today?" Clara asked, resting her hands behind her back. She looked over at the slam group growing over by the humvee. What was that about? "We're not open just yet, but then again, it looks like someone else is visiting too!"

Tenma's eyes widened as she was picked up. While she acted and behaved as if she were indeed a toddler or some such, her body was... considerably bigger. Had she not opened her mouth, or ditched the colorful, undersized helmet that she tried strapping to her head, she would have been unmistakable for someone Violet's age. Yet, Violet being Violet, she picked up the girl with no problem, wings and all.

"Yaaay~! Bunny's so strong! Maybe strong as Cammy!"

Cammy looked on, a bit puzzled by what was going on in front of her. This... fellow student, presumably, just picked up Tenma like she was a much smaller child, though Tenma herself didn't seem too bothered. Cammy herself never went to actual high school or middle school, as most of her formal education was done while she was a member of Delta Red and balanced knowledge of the world with her military training. Even so, she was able to recognize like most people that this wasn't exactly... normal.

Still, maybe Tenma was being a bit immature at touching someone's ears at first-meeting...

Cammy walked up to the girl carrying Tenma, looking at bit curiously at her. She at least seemed very familiar with the girl, if only in how she acted.

"I trust you've been debriefed about Tenma? Knowing about her situation?"

Violet couldn't help but smile as she looked into Tenma's excited eyes, feeling as if she was picking up a three year old toddler - then again, according to the briefings, she might not exactly be that far off.

"Yes." she answered Cammy's question. "We're aware of her... unique situation," she took a moment to try and word things diplomatically, "so please don't worry. We'll make sure that she's properly looked after and safe while she's here."

Hagun Academy

"I think the feeling's mutual, right Stella?" Ikki's smile returned.

"Yeah, I guess so..." Stella grinned in response. "Well, class is starting up soon, so wanna go in together, I guess...?" Even as she asked Tsubasa, she unconsciously stepped closer to Ikki.

Outside Hagun Academy

Shizuku took everything that happened in for herself. She recognized Cammy well enough through research, if not directly as a person. Delta Red, an elite task force was enrolling a student here... One with wings and an... Interesting personality. She said nothing, but quietly wondered to herself while she approached if they'd be any kind of threat to her brother. For all she knew, her father would covertly arrange for Ikki to be disappeared. Still, Shizuku attempted to look inconspicuous by holding her school bag down in front of herself, like any proper ladylike schoolgirl would.

Outside Hagun Academy

"Let's go!" Tenma cheered as she pried herself free - quite easily, shockingly enough - from Violet holding her. She landed on the ground and fixed her tiny little yellow helmet as she began to crouch... and then saw a young-old girl approaching. She was smaller than her, but she was probably older, but she was wearing the same colored clothes as her, and they matched the same basic shape!

"Hiiiiiiiiiii!" she beamed as she ran over to Shizuku, instantly looking her over and taking her in - before she gently bonked herself on the head. There was a special way to greet people here, and it was rude not to! As such, she bounded back a pace, wracked her brain for the words, and then bowed.

"How do you do? My name's Tenma! I'm in the... uh... big number grade! Nice to meet you!"

As she saw Tenma start to walk off and greet other students, Cammy gave a pat on Violet's shoulder.

"Should anything happen, or if you need anything of me or my associates, let me know and we'll respond as fast as we can. You or your superiors should know how to contact us."

Easing up the grip, she let go of the bunny-eared girl and waved Tenma off while she seemed to be content with her new position.

"Stay safe, Tenma! Have a good day at school!"

She rather sheepishly gave her much-younger colleague a waving off, unsure if this was how things normally went when someone was dropped off at school.

"I'll be sure to do that." Violet assured Cammy as she turned, looking at Tenma introducing herself to Shizuku. For a girl who was dropped off by a military special forces squad, she seemed to be fitting in quite well - for now, at least.

She made no moves to stop her, of course - there was no reason to, and if Tenma was going to try and make friends of her own volition, then that was all the better.

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