Not long into his quest to reach the Emperor’s palace, Blake began to feel rather exhausted. Being born at an inch tall did have its drawbacks. The tiny samurai suddenly heard a series of unfamiliar, mechanical clanking noises, as well as what sounded like applause, not far from his location. It sounded like some sort of traveling puppet show!
“I guess my trek to the Imperial Palace can wait!” Blake decided before making his way closer to the venue and sitting in the front row of seats. (Not that he took up much space on even one seat.)
“Greetings, one and all!” That feminine voice must have been the narrator for this show. “Be ready to witness the epic battle between…the Alabaster Tiger, and the Cobalt Dragon!”
The curtains opened to reveal two separate, monstrous entities - one resembling a fanged, mammalian creature with a white color scheme; and one with a scaly, blue, reptilian look. Once they started exchanging blows, Blake watched with excitement in his eyes, none the wiser that the hides of these ‘beasts’ concealed the gears and springs that made them function.
It looked as though the Cobalt Dragon had an advantage, but Blake would never find out who won this battle - a sudden poking feeling in his neck, and the samurai blacked out.
…………..
“Mmgh…” Blake groggily came to after some time. “Where am I?”
The surface he now lay on was soft flesh; the flesh of someone’s hand. Taking a good look, Blake noticed that the woman whose hand he rested on had pink hair, matching eyes, and was wearing lightweight clothing, with hints of fishnet in certain areas. He’d been kidnapped by a ninja! A kunoichi, to be exact.
“So, Issun-Blake, you’ve woken up already…” the giantess addressed the samurai in a somewhat hushed voice. “You may call me Cherry.”
“H-hello, Cherry…” Blake shyly greeted the kunoichi. “So, um, who won the fight? The tiger or the dragon?”
“We don’t have time for that! I knocked you unconscious with a numbing dart and brought you to this abandoned teahouse for a reason.”
Blake blinked in confusion. “And that reason is..?”
Nodding, Cherry responded…