Stitch Triverse, BOOK 1: UNION

Chapter 2: C O N F L I C T E D

Chapter 2
C O N F L I C T E D

Chitama Forest. A place known for its natural beauty. It was smack dab in the center of the island of Izayoi and was well-known for being the bridge to all sorts of places on the island- Tomo Lake, the Tsunagu River, the many caverns and woods about, the list would go on and on. Being near and dear to the town, one would expect this forest to be rather ordinary... but alas, that wasn't the case.

Out near the middle of the forest and where the marsh met the oceans nearby, there stood a gigantic stone ensnared by roots. At first sight, it was just a useless moss-covered stone. But to the islanders around, this was called the island "utaki" or island "place of spiritual belief"- which meant the islanders would come to wish and pray for well being in the hopes that spirits above would listen.

This gave it the official dub of the Spiritual Stone. It was a monolith that exuded energy unlike anything seen. It was a source to many of the island's mysteries. It was used for purity and even craved for notoriety. And all in all, it was like the "heart" of the island due to its location.

The peace of this stone wasn't in vain though, as like every day, someone stepped up to give their own wish and prayer to the mythical Spiritual Stone of the island. But it wasn't your average anyone either.

"Oh, great Spiritual Stone..."

Standing before the Spiritual Stone, like any other day, was a young girl. She seemed tall for her age, and had tan skin to her. A round head and athletic physique also added, with eyes closed upon placing her hand on the stone.

Her apparel was a nice red and yellow floral shirt, a pair of navy blue slacks that met to her knees, and a pair of red and yellow sandals with a heart emblem right at the junctions. More striking than all of this was her hair, two bangs that sat side by side her head and her ears and twin sets of triple pigtails caught in crystal blue braids added, an odd hairstyle, but on a Japanese island, it wasn't like there were any stranger out there. She continued with her wish despite nary any first impressions.

"I know I usually come with a wish, but today I wanted to switch things up. Sometimes I have to wonder... if there exists other places out there. My friend Stitch'd know just what I'm talking about. And my mind's on those who really live out there, breathe out there," her hand slowly tread downward across the stone.

"I hope it isn't too much of me to wish... that someday that I get to see those worlds. Land. Sea. Sky. Whatever it may be."

Her hand kept straightly on there, a sense of bravery reaffirmed.

"And as always... if that can't be done, I still hope you can keep my Daddy safe... so he can come home to me and Gram. Especially for that BIG Aguni Island trip he's taking me and Stitch on."

The girl took her hand off the stone and stood back, opening her brown eyes. "Just... you didn't hear that from my lips, Spiritual Stone. But... If you could... Thanks."

She gave a smile that not only seemed sincere, but seemed as if to cover the girl's own sentiments and care. Only one type of girl would try and be so rebellious yet adventurous. A tomboy.

And that's just who it was. The girl's name was Yuna Kamihara, a 10-year-old with a rough and tough attitude... but remained sweet and able for those around her as well. A tomboy in all aspects, she was known around Izayoi Island for her knowledge as a blackbelt and owner of the Chitama dojo in the martial art of karate (having taken over the role due to her grandfather's passing). She also was known for following mysterious spirits on the isle, much akin to her grandmother.

Yuna looked up at the stone after her wishery to find that the Spiritual Stone had given an afterglow... a faint aquamarine afterglow. To an experienced eye in spiritual signals, this'd imply that the spirits above the skies would've been pleased as punch to hear your wishes. And one would have to be of kind heart and not of selfish mind in order for the spirits to keep your wish alight without it burning out.

Speaking of mysterious spirits, beings unlike any animal seen before watched her from atop the forest's trees. Blob-like creatures with leaves atop their heads. Eyeballs with anthropomorphic features. Floating fireballs with faces. These only fit some of the bill of whom were watching, as any rational person would scream at the sight of these weirdos.

The on-lookers were some of the island's "yokai". These creatures were legendary- embodying elements of some kind, causing mischief for others or even moreso, are just lost spirits whom require a helping hand. Yuna herself has met many of these and even befriended them in previous experiences.

But this wasn't the only being she was friends with- human or yokai alike, as the serene grace of the island winds in the forest and the glow of the Spiritual Stone was to have another visitor... another friend...

"Oh, Yuna! Yuna? Olly olly oxen free!? Gaba tay!?"

The being that marched and shouted through the forest greens was a buggy voice, one that seemed like it was still learning the native tongue of Earth.

He was a fair blue creature, with notched ears, a mix of blue and light blue furs and a simply bug-eyed expression that gave the look of a disfigured dog who may have been run over one too many times with a truck. Yet as mean as that sounded, it was factoid that this look wasn't mere coincidence. The girl recognized the voice a mile away though.

"Huh? Oh, hey Stitch! What's up?"

What Yuna said seemed true. This blue marvel was Stitch, the beloved Experiment 626 created by mastermind Dr. Jumba Jookiba, self-proclaimed "evil genius" and the very creator of over 600 various genetic Experiments. Stitch was created for nothing but evil, nothing but destruction... but it took the actions and love of a single human girl named Lilo in Hawaii to change things.

Nowadays, Stitch's home is here on Izayoi Island, living with Yuna, the one who keeps Stitch on the lease of good, and her grandmother. Let's not get into the details...

"Isa done tay's Stone small-talk today?" Stitch gave a shifty-eyed look.

Yuna, hiding the fact of her Dad well, chimed back- "Duh! I was wishing to be the best in karate! Like always!"

Stitch could have easily read Yuna's reaction as a guise to cover her butt, since even he knew how much she missed her father. However, not today, as he realized something going down.

"Ah- never mind about Daddy Dearest! Meega rushed by to tell tay, something big isa going down in Chitama Town! Everyone's there- even Penny in her ugliest dress! Blech!" Stitch droned.

Yuna didn't look all too impressed at the mention of a girl named Penny. "Really? You came all this way to tell me Penny's in town square?" Yuna guffawed. "What's she doing, flaunting that so-called "wonderfulness" again?"

Stitch corrected with that usual alien tone of his. "Naga, naga... she's welcoming? Something about new townsfolk?"

Yuna's eyes widened a bit with a slight gasp. "Oh man!! Today's the day those new townsfolk move in, don't they? The ones that Penny's Dad has been squabbling on about for the last week or so!"

Stitch's nod only confirmed things were just as he said, something BIG was indeed happening in Chitama Town. Yuna bucked up and nodded confidently, as if taking on a challenge of some kind. "Right! Then let's jet our way to town, right?"

Stitch replied with a simple answer- "Ih, maka maka!"

With that, the duo of red and blue dashed off out of the forest. What they didn't catch was one of the yokai in the trees, one with a leaf atop its head known as a simple "kodama", waving at Yuna as she left. While unnoticed, the thought counted, right?

However, Yuna's leave throughout the trees and greens of Chitama Forest wasn't without a thought in her mind... a thought of something else, a certain trip again-

"I can't wait... Dad's supposed to be messaging me back soon about our trek to the legendary Aguni Island! Man oh man, it's exciting! We could go harpoon fishing, or I could show Daddy how to bust up some sweet sugarcane, or, or-- Darn it, I can't sum up everything into words!!"

The excitement seemed to only add to whatever excitement was coming into town... speaking of, just what was going on in town that left such a buzz abound?

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Chitama Town was always the center of attention on Izayoi Island. It was a market square, straight to the point. Grocery markets, electronics shops, even clothing, trinkets and other goods were sold here. And all from the best island materials out there, from the strongest fabrics to the freshest fields of corn or the tastiest milk to come from cows on the isle.

But the porpoise adorned "Welcome" sign wasn't just a place that signed Chitama Town territory, it was actually a lot more... welcoming today, no pun intended.

The front of the town was all dressed up with a stage platform and a bunch of fancy decorations. Carpets and even polished drapes to boot. Before this rather glorious stage in front of the "Welcome" sign, alot of the islanders stood, young and old. Their confusion seemed on high, as even they didn't know what was so important about today.

"Well, color me surprised... I don't know why this fancy free event was planned!" one of the fish vendors quipped.

"Wasn't there murmur of new people moving in, perhaps? I swear, I heard that in the grapevine!" another vendor added, a woman bread vendor. More and more added to the commotion.

As if on cue, Yuna and Stitch ran right up to the event, spotting two people in the back that they knew off by heart.

"Taro, Sae! Hey there!"

"Aloha, guys!"

The two people Yuna called out to were friends of hers, easily identifiable from their own ways. The first was Taro, a young boy with a bowl-like dark blue haircut (with one hair sticking right up), and a simple attire of a beige shirt over a light blue top, turquoise shorts and a pair of baby blue shoes. He also had a pair of glasses over his grey eyes. To call him geeky would've been an understatement, but he had his moments, especially given the fact Yuna is his dojomate and sensei.

But the other, Sae (or as her name suggests, Sasha), was a girly girl with rouge brown and messy hair, a pair of beady lashy purple eyes, and a skirt and shirt attire that seemed alike that of a sailor in sense, frilly skirt aside. She was always the fashion freak of the group and moreso, Yuna's better friend. One would never truly believe that a tomboy and a girly girl could be besties, especially with the clash of personalities... but this is actually true between Yuna and Sae.

Nonetheless, Sae took notice and waved to Yuna as the two walked up to the commotion going on forward with the stage.

"Oh, hi there Yuna!" Sae gladly said to her.

Taro followed shyly. "Oh... H-- Hey there Yuna..."

Yuna questioned the rather popular look of the front of the town easily. "Hey, why's the town in such a dilly-dally mood right now? And why the big stage? Stitch being congratulated again for stopping that shark attack coming for Suzuki the other day?" Stitch shrugging after.

Sae shook her head. "Nope. We actually haven't gotten anything out of Penny or her Dad why this big stage is here."

Taro worked in shyly with his usually wheezy voice- "I heard that it's because of some big important new townsperson moving in."

Yuna nodded with Stitch following her lead. "Yeah, I heard that too! Though, if it is for new townsfolk... don't they think they overdid it a bit too much?"

Stitch had also put his piece in right after Yuna did. "Ih, especially with the red carpet. Izayoi's naga no Hollywood..."

Before Yuna or the rest of her friends could even make any other judge, a voice called out from the top of the stage... one that Yuna didn't quite wanna hear today or any day for that matter.

"Ladies and gentlemen! And blue freaks, of course..."

All eyes were up on the stage platform to see that a rather fluffy-haired blonde girl had taken to the stage with her balding father, the Mayor of Chitama Town. The girl had a puffy hairstyle with a pink ribbon tied in it. But unlike her usual guise, she had a stellar pink dress with black ribbons and a pair of high heels, much unlike any of the young souls on the island. An attire like she sported would've cost hundreds and hundreds of yen to get.

This... was Penny. Penny is known as the richest girl on Izayoi Island due to her relation to her "Daddy", the Mayor of Chitama Town, a pudgy and balding man with a fan and classy complex. She also had a relation to her brother Kenny, a taller and older bully whom, alongside his own friends, is used as servants for the young blonde terror.

While Penny always liked flaunting her belongings, riches and pride to other girls, there was one such girl who never bought into that and fought constantly with her- Yuna. No matter what, Yuna, Stitch and Penny never have and never will get along, and that goes double for her brother and company too. It's the struggle of a stubborn spoilt brat between that of a tomboy and her best friend, "the stray alien from the forest".

"Welcome to the Izayoi Island Welcoming Committee for the Trio of New Islanders!" Penny said, laughing with zeal.

It wasn't REAL zeal though, the two recognized. Yuna looked at her with a raise of her eyebrow, nudging an angry Stitch nearby after the "blue freaks" comment. "Stitch, chill... you'll get your chance later!"

"Now, this whole thing wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for my Daddy arranging this wonderful event... isn't that right?" Penny's father replying with a simple "Mm-hmm..."

"So before we begin this event, I'd like to say that we all give our new islanders a big warm welcome as we call them up here bit by bit! It's not called island unity without the unity!" Penny again, laughing as though hiding a simple hatred.

The rest of the islanders clapped, even Yuna (appearing to be nice), as she muttered quietly to herself.

"Yeah, island unity from you, my butt..." she spotted the hypocrisy in Penny's tone. Stitch couldn't help but snicker at her comment.

"Right! So... first up, we have an islander who comes from Osaka. They came from far ways to be here, so give it up for... Jenna?" she stopped, checking in with her father.

"Yeah, that's her name!", as Penny waved forward a new girl to the island.

Her dark skin and afro seemed to be the biggest clicks as every one of the Izayoi islanders could see that pint of Osaka style, from the heart-emblemed belt she wore to the green eyes of hers.

"Yo! Name's Jenna, from the old-school Osaka place to you guys on Izayoi! Boy, am I glad to set up base here!"

...Silence fell. Penny's eyes twitched from her stand, she was beginning to think Jenna was already a mistake to add to the island. The islanders around were varied between smiles and grins to make her feel welcome to unsure expressions.

Sae and Taro could only grimace a smile at the weird lingo she was spewing. "You heard that, right Taro?" the young Hanagaiken said.

"How could I not? That... 70s terms?" Taro questioned.

Yuna though, was a little more accepting. "Well, at least she's got a charm behind the out-of-date terminology, right? I think?" giggling afterwards.

"Thanks, y'all!"

Jenna walked off the stage, as Penny walked back on, scratching her head in confusion and even badgering her "Daddy".

"Well... that was Jenna. You sure that was the first islander, Daddy?" her father happily nodding without delay with another "Mmm-hmm...", much to her daughter's disgust. But she moved on regardless.

"O-- Our second islanders come from Hong Kong, another longer ways, right?"

After Penny said this, Yuna instantly perked up, getting an idea as to who it might've been.

"Hold up! Hong Kong?!", the young Kamihara said.

"She and her... goat... freak... have come in with her family via a job transfer. Give it up... for Yoko?"

She again stopped to check with her father before nodding and sending the duo up on the stage.

Climbing up, the blue-haired Yoko and the equally as magenta Milston looked of a different style to that of the islanders, but this was obviously city style standing out. However, Yuna and Stitch especially were excited from these names. Did they know them from somewhere?

Yoko started as she stood on the stage. "Hi everyone! My name's Yoko! And this little guy's Milston!"

The Experiment gave his trademark sound- "Keh!"

"And we're SO pleased to be on Izayoi Island with you guys. Being from Hong Kong, we've got a bit of cutesy city style to bring with us, so don't hesitate to chat it up with us! After all..."

Yoko followed up with a fold of her hands and a sparkling of her eyes. "Would I lie?"

Penny again looked horrified at this, as she thought "Really!? What's with all the freaks moving here? Why is it that nobody NORMAL is moving to Izayoi instead of more friends who'll likely go with Yuna and her blue freak!? And what's with her pink lamb!? Is that one of Stitch's stupid cousins?"

Now, the islanders actually clapped at her, with one of the vendors saying "She's actually pretty cute for someone fresh from Hong Kong!"

"I concur!" another one slated back.

Suddenly, surprising to the other islanders around, Yuna and Stitch popped up and yelled out to Yoko and Milston "Yoko, Milston, let's go!! Whoop whoop!!" in chanting way, helping the audience effect that much more.

As a matter of fact, Yoko and Yuna did know eachother before. A long while back, Yuna took a trip with her grandmother Obaa to Hong Kong, where Yuna made friends with Yoko here. After a conundrum involving an Experiment in the city, it was ultimately decided that Yoko look after Milston as Yuna and the others headed back to their island home. It's been a bit of time since, but one would imagine the duo seeing the opposite duo left some big rekindling on the both of them.

As Yoko waved at Yuna with a giddish glee and stepped down with her pal Milston atop her head, Penny still looked mortified. Both of the recent islanders she brought up to the stage had something terribly wrong with them. Or at least, in her expectations (which were shallow per the norm for her), they were "terribly wrong".

Penny shook off that feeling though, about to move ahead. Yuna and Stitch on the other hand, looked as though they had to book it.

"I'd love to stay and see who the last newbie to town is, but I gotta go. Dojo practice calls and then we gotta snag some flowers for Gram for a soup she's making!" Yuna stated to Sae and Taro.

"Well, OK, we'll let you know how it turns out!" Sae said reassuring Yuna.

"Aloha!" Stitch yelled in trademark way.

"Right, later!" Yuna and Stitch gave their leave as they ran nearby the wayside of the forest, taking a shortcut to where Yuna's Chitama dojo laid...

Good thing they backed out though, as Penny seemed to drone on and on about this next townsfolk- "So, our next and last of our newbie comes from New Town over the shores... she's super rich, super popular and maybe a bit tacky to add to our town given yours truly. Please welcome..."

Penny checked in with her Dad again. "Jessica, right?" following with another nod and a repeat of her name.

One look at the girl stepping on stage now and the islanders knew... even Penny, that they had another rich rival to stomach. Penny was bad enough, but now this caramel-haired girl seemed to only add to the problem. Her purple and lashy eyes opened up to the audience and she started her spiel with her infamous maribelle accent.

"Well, you must be the islanders I'll come to know here on Izayoi, hmm? Well, I suggest you don't get tired of me, 'cuz we'll roll along just fine, right?" she finished with a laugh.

...Awkward wouldn't even begin to describe the feeling that pun of hers left. The occasional groan, silence and cough all followed, with every islander, young and old baffled at how bad her pun was. Even Penny, the usual island show-off, gave a sinking look at that.

"...She's got a lot to work on before she settles in."

She was right too, her New Town mannerisms just stuck out like a sore thumb already.

Jenna. Yoko. Jessica. The three new faces that would see action in the island were now put forward to the Chitama Town faces. Some were welcomed, some may need some work.

However, island life only seems to go forward, not backward, as Yuna and Stitch seemed out and about for the rest of the day and the new islanders getting settled in... alas, just how would newbies like them settle in?

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