"Little Dragon" Lunar 2 Ruby/Nall doujinshi translation doujinshi by Garden Garden translation by R. Capowski (racapowski@sceneryrecalled.com) ***************************************************************************** pg. 1 LITTLE DRAGON [The line art of the cover, featuring Nall and Ruby in their human and dragon forms.] pg. 2 FOREWORD [Jean poses, but is upstaged by Leo.] H'llo - or, perhaps, pleased to meet you - all you Lunar fans, you rare breed (?); Mizuka Kodzu here! (heart) This time, to commemorate Lunar 2, we've brought you the first volume in a series (?) of "after the game" stories. I'm so thrilled the publication went smoothly! (heart) But I'm sorry that this isn't a thick book like the one we did at the time of Lunar 1. Even better, the human Ruby on the cover has an awesome color for her hair... eh heh heh. I wonder how many people realized it was Ruby before I said that. We were so nervous, since it's not the same as the Ruby in the settei shiryou shuu. ...We changed it... Sowwy! (^_^; Anyhow, this is the volume featuring Lunar's most popular couple, Ruby and Nall. If you enjoy your read even only a little bit, we'll be happy. pg. 3 A CONFESSION TO HIERO [Lucia approaches Hiero.] Lucia: ...Hiero. I... I've never said anything like this before... (*hesitate*) Um...I don't know quite how to say this... I... Hiero... Hiero [thinking]: (*panic*) Th...this is it! Lucia [embarrassed, giggling]: The clothing on the rear part of your body is broken! author's note pointing to Lucia: being indirect Hiero [crying]: Could you just say "the seat of your pants is out", please?... (Lucia... How embarrassing... It's just too much...) END pg. 4 LITTLE DRAGON [Ruby and Nall, in their baby dragon forms, sit on a rock beneath the Blue Star.] pg. 5 [On Machine Mountain/Taben's Peak...] Voice: Hey there--! Wake _up_, Nall!! [Human Nall opens his eyes to see...] Luhna: How much longer are you going to sleep?! It's morning!! [Nall is shocked...] pg. 6 Nall: *GAH--* LU-- [He bolts upright in bed, only to discover Ruby, not Luhna, hanging over him.] Ruby [annoyed]: *Oh--hh...* [flap flap] [Ruby flies to the door, but turns around and throws Nall a wink.] Ruby: You're the boss around here, Nall... and a sleepyhead sets a bad example for the kids! [Nall watches as Ruby flies to the two pajama-clad kids waiting at the door.] Ruby: Breakfast~~, everyone!~~ (Morning!) Boy: (Mornin', Ruby...) Girl: (*yawn*) Nall [thinking]: Is that _you_, Ruby?... pg. 7 [Nall sits in bed, thinking, as birds tweet outside his window.] Ruby [thinking]: --I wonder how many times the sun has risen since then. [She thinks of the crystal chamber in the Blue Spire.] Ruby [thinking]: Since that day-- Ruby [shocked]: Hiero!! pg. 8 [We see a fraught Ruby flying after a somewhat sunny Hiero.] Ruby: You know you're not supposed to do anything dangerous, right!? Lucia told me to look after you! She told me to tell you that! So then... (Um...um...) [Hiero smiles.] Hiero: ...Ruby - thank you. [Ruby looks on with tear-filled eyes as a beam fires from the Blue Spire to the Blue Star above.] Ruby [thinking]: --And then pg. 9 [We see Ruby in the present, gazing sadly at the Blue Star.] Ruby [thinking]: Hiero took off. To where Lucia was waiting - the Blue Star...and-- Girl: RUBY, IT'S AWFUL!! [A nearby girl looking over a newly-stinky baby in a bassinet interrupts.] Girl: He's going! Ruby: (What?) (*ew*) Boy [pointing]: Ruby! The laundry's flying away--! pg. 10 [Nall, calm and collected, finally arrives on the scene.] Nall: Hey--! Ruby--! *I* have decided to start your lessons in becoming an adult dragon-- Ruby [flying by]: SORRY, NALL!! ANOTHER TIME, HUH! (I'm busy right now!) [Nall stands by, stunned.] Boy: Way to blow it, Nall. pg. 11 Girl [hauling laundry]: Ruby's busy! (*oof*) Boy [counting on fingers]: Yeah, with cleaning, the dishes, meals, then taking care of kids, and then... Nall: ......All that? (What's she up to?) [Back to Ruby, fluttering in the forest.] Ruby: Now, let's see... that laundry that got blown away... [Suddenly, Nall comes up from behind and whaps Ruby on the head.] Ruby: Ow! pg. 12 Ruby [rubbing forehead]: (Owww...) Wha-- AH! _NALL!!_ WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA ALL OF A SUDDEN!! Nall [calmly]: ...Ruby, y'know... about Hiero... Ruby [all of a sudden]: OH! THAT'S RIGHT! I-- Nall: ...... Ruby: I'VE GOT SOMETING I WANT YOU TO TEACH ME, NALL!! pg. 13 Ruby [winking]: I wanna try to assume a human form like you do, Nall-- (*heart*) How do you do it? [Nall thinks a bit.] Ruby: (Tell me, tell me--! (*heart heart*)) Artist's Note Near Nall: can't resist Ruby Nall: ...I guess I've got no choice... I'll tell you beforehand - only fully mature dragons can handle this. The technique is difficult! Ruby [hopeful]: (Yeah, yeah!) Nall: I almost couldn't do it myself! First of all, you have to concentrate and get a picture of your human form in your mind. Then... ...huh? pg. 14 [Ruby has instantly transformed into her human self - somewhat like the form shown in the Lunar settei book, but in a frilly skirt, a light, short- sleeved blouse with lacy collar, and Mary Janes.] Ruby: ...I did it... (*wow*) That was pretty easy!... [Nall, meanwhile, is furious.] Nall [seething]: GRRRR... (_Easy._ Easy, huh? Heh heh...) Ruby [thrilled, turning to leave]: I'm gonna go show everyo-- Nall [clamping onto Ruby's shoulder]: HOLD IT. pg. 15 Nall: ...you. How long are you planning on camouflaging your loneliness with this "busy" routine? [Maybe until you get up in the morning and actually start doing stuff, Nall. Anyhow, Ruby, devastated, breaks Nall's grip and turns to walk away.] Ruby: ...how could you say that?... Nall: Could you say any different? It's no use trying to hide it from me! [Ruby does not turn to face Nall.] Ruby: You really are cold! You know, I'm... _I'm an adult dragon!!_ pg. 16 [Nall, like the jerk he is, claps her on the head condescendingly. Ruby starts to cry.] Ruby: --......*sob* Ruby [thinking]: But--but-- if I stop, I start to think... [Ruby flashes back to a happier time, adventuring with Hiero.] Ruby [thinking]: Hiero and I have been together for about as long as I can remember. Always! Everywhere! Being with him was second nature to me. pg. 17 Ruby [crying, thinking]: But, now, Hiero's gone. I'm not by Hiero's side. [Ruby once again remembers a moment with Hiero, both of them smiling.] Ruby [thinking]: And now that I'm not on his shoulder, I feel like I'm not myself. pg. 18 [Everything goes black.] Ruby [thinking]: I'm so lonely, Hiero. So lonely... [Because, for some reason, Nall feels he hasn't been enough of a jackass this doujin, he grabs Ruby's tear-stained cheeks and squeezes them condescendingly.] Nall: MORON! Ruby [angry]: Wha--...!! Nall: You're the one spouting all the dewy-eyed baby stuff, aren't you? Even though you've never yet experienced a _real_ good-bye! Ruby: ...ah... Nall: Look. pg. 19 [Nall looks at the Blue Star.] Nall: Look up at the sky, and the Blue Star's always there. And so are Hiero and Lucia! Keep thinking that you'll see them, and you will. Just hang in there. Hiero believed it! That's how he got to the Blue Star in the first place, wasn't it? Your pal Hiero - would HE want you to be ready to blubber like this? Ruby [thinking]: Oh... Ruby [smiling]: I guess not... pg. 20 [Ruby looks up at the Blue Star. So does Nall.] Ruby [thinking]: I look up at the Blue Star and both Hiero and Lucia are there. And yet... Nall [hesitating]: ...And, y'know - I'll be with you, so... Ruby [suddenly]: ...maybe it won't be so lonely? [Nall is startled. Ruby smiles.] Ruby: ............ Maybe not! pg. 21 [The two walk off, hand in hand.] Nall: ...hey. You think Hiero got to Lucia safe and sound? Ruby: _Naturally!_ [pointing] (Hey! Found the laundry!) pg. 22 [A close-up of Ruby and Nall's clasped hands.] Ruby [thinking]: That's my Hiero, all the way! END pg. 23 INFORMATION Other LUNAR Books Available through Mail Order Blue Star (Lunar 1) released 8/97 * A5 size * 48 pg. * full-color * 500 yen * 100 g A Jessica & Killy book, the first in the series. One (unexpectedly popular?) Ghaleon 4-panel comic included. Nonbiri Ikou [Take It Easy] (Lunar 1) released 5/98 * A5 * 68 pg. * full-color * 600 yen * 130 g Nash & Mia book, #2 in the series. Xenobia 4-panel comic included. Althena (Lunar 1) released 12/98 * A5 * 88 pg. * full-color * 700 yen * 180 g Arhes & Luhna book, #3 in the series. Faithia & Rouyce 4-panel comic included. Silver Star Fan Book (Lunar 1) released 10/98 * A5 * 108 pg. * printed in 3 colors * 600 yen * 200 g Lunar 1-only book; includes results of fan survey. 13 guest artists - wow! *LOW IN STOCK* Yuki no Maichiru Sono Shita de [Beneath the Fluttering Snow] (Lunar 2) released 12/98 * B6 * 16 pg. * printed in color * 300 yen * 60 g Short manga set on the way to the northern village of Lusan [Zulan]. Also includes the Valgan [Destiny] Emperor Leo. *heart* (<--*grimace*) [That was a pun on "Jungle Emperor Leo", the original title of the early Kimba the White Lion anime.] We'll also be releasing some books on Evolution, Sakura Taisen, and Eberouge, as well as some original books. We also occasionally make merchandise. Out event participation is centered around [Comic] City; we participate in the big show in Tokyo and twice a year in Osaka, in summer and winter, under the name "Garden Garden". About mail orders: we might not have a big stock on hand of certain items. Therefore, please send for our latest flyer. [Note: I'm using the word "flyer" in reference to what Garden Garden calls a "paper" ("peepaa"); it's a flyer-size pamphlet that gives some basic information about a doujinshi circle and lists the books it has for sale. I'd normally translate the noun "peepaa" as "newsletter", but the item to which it refers here isn't that meaty and is used to solicit sales. If there's a specific English term used for this publication among doujinshi aficionados, please let me know.] The flyer is published on an irregular basis. Those interested, please specify the number of the latest issue you have and that you would like the new flyer, include a long #3 envelope (self-addressed and stamped, using an 80-yen stamp) for the reply, and send it to the address on the back page. pg. 24 AFTERWORD [It's accompanied by a picture of Rong-fa and Mauri.] --So - how did you like it? To be honest, I'd wanted more of Ruby & Nall fighting and stuff, more wackiness, but it finally ended up like this. But I like it well enough. And I even got to draw human Ruby! (*heart*) pg. 25 Anyhow, the human Ruby, baby!! (Who am I calling "baby"? *stress*) She is, however, greatly changed from the settei shiryou shuu [from the Lunar 1 + 2 Fan Book released in Japan], as I believe those who have seen the book will recognize. This is, however, the best Ruby I myself could envision. I mean - her clothes and stuff [meaning, for the original settei Ruby] just look so cheap~! Ruby should be wearing something more frilly and cute! (<-- my own idea, pretty much) ...still, though... Forgive me; I thought it suited her pretty well, as it's not something I've ever worn myself... (*cold sweat*) Nall's pretty grown-up for Nall~! (*heart*) But he has to put on a big front for Ruby, you know! Ruby & Nall really are such a cuuuuute couple and so crazy about each other~! If I have another opportunity, I'd absolutely!! love to draw them again. But I don't wanna draw Nall's outfit anymore... (*grimace*) Anyhow, that's it. Next up, I have plans for for a Rong-fa & Mauri book. By the way, this series will be 5 volumes in total, so please bear with me. If you have any thoughts or opinions about the book or the Lunar series, I'd be thrilled to receive your letter at the address on the back page. I'll be sure to write back. 1999.5.3 Mihana Oz pg. 26 BONUS MANGA ZOPHAR'S DELIGHTFUL FRIENDS (?) #1 Zophar [thinking]: Curse you, Lucia... Zophar: GHALEON!! [Ghaleon teleports in.] Ghaleon: ...Yes, Lord Zophar. label on Zophar's forehead: Zophar [The artist was worried we wouldn't recognize him.] Zophar: Lucia... What are she and her friends _doing_? arrow pointing to throbbing vein on Zophar's forehead: ah- Zophar [throwing self down in a huff]: I am just so mega-_BORED_!! Ghaleon: *Please refrain from the "mega"s. You can stop any time.* Zophar: What the hell could they be _DOING_!? *seethe* They've logged 80 hours of play time already! Ghaleon: ("Play time"......?) arrows pointing to more throbbing veins in Zophar's head: ah- ah- pg. 27 Zophar [with a shock of realization]: What-- They're at the White Dragon Cave right now - _farming gold and experience points!_ WHA-- [Zophar, by now completely stressed out, turns around to face Ghaleon. Ghaleon stares back, unblinking - apparently unaware, unlike the shoujo-esque background of roses and fluttering flower petals that frames him, that he is wearing a chain of flowers on his head.] author's note: flower ring title of book Ghaleon is holding: NOTES ON LUCIA'S MOVEMENTS notes scribbled on book by fairies: Secret - no peeking! Byyye, Ghaleon--! seekrit notes [flower doodle] [Zophar, dumbstruck, stands staring.] Zophar: ......... Narration: And so Zophar is thoroughly convinced - this Ghaleon...is a man to be reckoned with... Ghaleon [giving Zophar a strange look]: ? (What's with you?) note on flower ring: the fairies put it on him Author's Note: Ghaleon too, I guess, but Zophar's all wrong! Zophar's not Zophar! Oh, well (musical note) (<--bad attitude to take) Continued in Volume 2...!? pg. 28 IF LUNAR WERE A SCHOOL a serial project [A cheery Remiena holds a donation box; Ramus is trying to sell tickets to a flustered passer-by.] Remiena: DONATIONS, PLEEEEEASE! (We also take loans! (*heart*)) On donation box: DONATIONS HERE (heart) cash MEGA-appreciated!! Ramus: And at night, when the students are away, we have a *thrilling* Seven Wonders Powder Puff Tour!! Lotsa girls--! (One ticket, only 2,000 yen!!) Passer-by: "Powder Puff"......? note near Ramus: Hold on! (sweatdrop) What kind of a school is this?... note on Remiena: student body president because she's the daughter of the chairwoman; school used to be distinguished, but it's seen better days, so she's running an aggressive donation drive (or is that her cover story?) "LITTLE DRAGON" Publication Date: May 3, 1999 Produced by: Garden Garden Publisher: Ryokuyousha Mailing Address: Yumiko Sano 2-7-6 Gohongi Meguro-ku Tokyo 153-0053 Home Page: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Denei/2171 E-Mail Address: ozgarden@mua.biglobe.ne.jp