"The Search for Lost Statues The Statues of the Lost Future" By robblu (https://pastebin.com/u/robblu) URL: https://pastebin.com/CQa0iK3c Created on: Sunday 31st of July 2016 04:54:43 PM CDT Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 03:30:40 AM UTC The Search for Lost Statues by L-exander909, Jul 28, 2015, 9:54:29 AM Literature / Prose / Fiction / Fantasy / Short Stories "Are you sure this will work...?" At first, the girls are very reluctant to follow through with the experiment when I suggested them to remove their clothes. After some clever persuasion with the help of my trusty golden pocket-watch, the four lovely maidens stripped off their school uniforms, revealing their heavenly nude forms before me. "Now turn around, but make sure you can still see me." Scene1 by L-exander909 Using the guise of a professor working for the academy, the four girls, Hanamiya Nagisa, Sasaki Kaori, Hasekura Airi and Furukawa Yui, are all summoned into this empty classroom by me under the pretense of a short, private experiment for extra credit. At first, things seemed quite out of place because extra credits are not usually offered through exercises as simple as these, but nonetheless the girls arrived as expected. Even under the influence of my control, the girls appear to maintain a fair degree of modesty; despite agreeing to the experiment's odd procedures, their faces are still blushing profusely, a clear indication that the girls are embarrassed of their current circumstances. "Rest assured, I will not take pictures or anything of the sort - this is strictly for educational purposes only." I said as I prepared my specialized smartphone hidden in one of my lab coat's pockets. "We trust you, Professor Alex." Kaori suddenly spoke, something that she shouldn't be able to do while being controlled. "If it is for the sake of science, then let's conduct this experiment." "Very well. I'm glad that you understand." After turning on my smartphone, I point it at my first specimen of choice, Airi. To be honest, I've only randomly picked one subject out of the four girls because comparison here is simply impossible - each naked beauty presented before me are attractive in their own accord... of course, with the academy's gossip going around like nobody's business, it wasn't hard for me to decide who to choose among the countless students in Uchihama Academy when I collected the information about the 'Four Maidens of Uchihama'. Now that they are here and lined up before me, I fully understand why they are given that honorary title. "Now make sure you hold very still." With the press of a button, the smartphone emitted a continuous flash towards Airi's direction. The light of the flash covered Airi's body, and it is steadily carrying out its built purpose. Scene3b by L-exander909 Slowly but surely, the flash's light is converting every living cell on Airi's body to gray, lifeless stone. At first, the effects aren't visually obvious, but as it progressed, Airi's smooth skin began to show a uniformed texture, and the cracking noises emerging from her petrifying body became audibly louder as time passed. Airi, knowing that this is the experiment that I speak of, obediently remained silent and made sure that she is as still as possible for the solidifying effect to carry out its work with her nude body. Three full minutes have passed, and I dutifully lowered the smartphone. Between Kaori and Yui is Airi, but no longer a student; after being subjected to the petrifying ray emitted by my smartphone, the girl is now but a solid mass of lifeless stone, a freshly made statue that will forever hold that pose until the end of eternity. ========== Scene4 by L-exander909 "Wow... this... this is... amazing!" "Airi... can you hear me?" "......" Seeing Kaori trying to solicit a response from the petrified Airi, I couldn't help but to resist a chuckle - silly girl, statues are simply statues, they cannot talk, think, feel, move, they're virtually just... statues, and the only thing they can do is to hold still. "The experiment worked! This is wonderful, Professor Alex!" Normally, a sane person would become confused and later terrified when they have witnessed and learned that a living person has just become a sculpture right before their eyes. For the remaining three girls however, they only proceeded to examine, admire, touch and occasionally glomp the Airi statue out of curiosity. I wonder to myself, how innocently naive these girls can get? "*ahem* Back to your places, ladies!" "Ah! We're sorry, Professor Alex!" The commotion just now is more than enough for my smartphone to recharge for the next transformation process. "Who will you transform next, Professor Alex?" Nagisa voluntarily asked. Of course, her enthusiasm is quickly rewarded. Another three minutes, another recharge. This time, it was Yui's turn. Everyone remained quiet as I conducted the 'experiment' on the four maidens, and now only one remained in flesh, bone and blood while the rest are effectively immortalized as flawlessly sculpted nude statues, their shy poses and captivating smiles forever frozen in place. "Professor Alex..." Scene5 by L-exander909 Before I solidify the last living member of the Four Maidens of Uchihama, Kaori spoke with a surprisingly weak voice. I lowered my smartphone and examined Kaori, only to find out that Kaori's eyes are wet, her teardrops welled up at the corner of her eyes, ready to flow down her cheeks if she moves as much as an inch. "I'm... I'm scared..." "There's nothing to be afraid of, Kaori. This is an experiment after all." I tried to reassure her in the attempt to calm her down. Even though she is still maintaining her smile, Kaori looked like she could cry at any second now. "If... If I turn into a statue... will I die?" I kept quiet for a moment. When the victims are transformed into statues using the smartphone I am carrying now, they are beyond any hope of restoration. The conversion of flesh, bone, blood and fiber to stone, marble, granite and etcetera, so far, is only a one way process, and the way this smartphone is invented, I doubt that the method of reversing the petrification effect exists. Kaori, of course, doesn't know that, and I don't intend to let her know the dreadful truth that is the fate I have bestowed upon her friends in this classroom. "No... no you won't. After this experiment is complete, I will add extra credit to everyone's academic records as promised." "Professor Alex..." Kaori spoke again. This time, she didn't sound as weak as before... rather, it seems that my persuasion has worked. "When this experiment is over, promise me that you will restore me first... OK?" "I... " Breathing in deeply, I raised my smartphone and aimed at Kaori. "I promise." ========== "What do you mean, turn the statues back? This is unheard of, especially from a guy like you!" "Listen. All I'm asking from you and the R&D department is to find out a way where you can reverse the effects of this smartphone you gave me. The forward process is simple enough, are you going to tell me that the reverse is impossible?" "Well, I didn't say 'impossible' per se, but..." "That settles it then. Don't worry, if it's money, artwork, or... 'volunteers', I can get you as many as you want. The others don't have to 'want' this upgrade, but I 'need' it. Do you understand me?" "Eh, alright sure. The guild won't be pleased that we made something like this!" "Just leave them to me, you handle the thinking and inventing." ========== --- 5 YEARS LATER --- Scene6 by L-exander909 "It's been a long time, hasn't it... Kaori?" 5 years have passed, and I still remember the promise I made to you as if it happened only just yesterday. I apologize if I heartlessly petrified you after I made that promise though, but a job is a job... and as a member of my guild, I have to finish it no matter what. If it's any consolation, the net worth of 'The Four Maidens' statue collection is now officially over 50 million dollars... only the wealthiest people with appreciation for (nude) art would dare to pursue the ownership of the collection. Thankfully, through some deals and side jobs, I happen to be one of them, and I happen to be the current owner of The Four Maidens. Kaori, you alone worth 17 million dollars, the most expensive statue among The Four Maidens. Though I have once said that it is impossible for me to tell who is the most beautiful maiden among the four back in that day, but it would appear that the world has favored you over the other three. Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong... but the day you plead to me about your fear of becoming a statue has, apparently, made you special. Not that it would make me neglect Nagisa, Airi and Yui however - throughout the time The Four Maidens have decorated my mansion, I have vigilantly taken care of the statues to make sure that they remain as beautiful as they are during the day we met in the Uchihama Academy... be it cleaning, polishing and waxing, I have ensured that The Four Maidens never missed a day of maintenance so that when the day comes where The Four Maidens are restored to life, the four nude beauties will be as graciously enamoring as I remembered. And to keep that promise, I personally made sure that at the corner of Kaori's eyes, there will always be a drop of water that will act as her teardrops, a symbol of promise that I have made, and decided to keep. Sure, the guild has questioned me over the unusual ethic, but after presenting some clever points, they eventually agreed to continue the research for a method of restoration 'should mistakes happen during the petrification process'. Looking back at The Four Maidens, their smiles always made me wonder if they are happy with the condition of their life as decorative statues in the mansion. I was told by my fellow operatives that statues can sometimes retain certain levels of consciousness in them where they can still see, hear, feel and think like normal human beings, albeit at varied degrees between each petrified victims. If that is true, then I sincerely hope that Nagisa, Kaori, Airi and Yui can enjoy the maintenance they experience on a daily basis, the process of cleaning, polishing and waxing likened to a bath and a relaxing massage, as well as being blanketed by the pleasantly warm sunlight coming from the windows. As for company, I've also placed an antique gramophone to repeatedly play a different recording everyday so that the statues wouldn't be lonely in this mansion while I am away. On a related note, I wouldn't think they are comfortable with guests examining the statues during the occasions where I host an event in my mansion. I've also caught several instances where workers are found fondling the statues without my permission, which is the reason why I only hire female workers. If, and I mean 'IF' The Four Maidens felt that, it must have been a very terrible experience for them... In fact, if the hypnosis I've placed on them during that day in Uchihama Academy has already worn off, wouldn't they have scorned and hated me everyday as they lived their lives as statues in my mansion? I shudder to myself every time when I think of the possibility. Regardless, I am ready to face the consequences. Whether they will love me for how I have carefully taken care of them? Or will they plan to murder me outright for turning them into objects for 5 years? Only time will tell, and perhaps, just perhaps, that time will come soon, or may never come at all. The Statues of the Lost Future by L-exander909, Jan 13, 2016, 4:19:42 PM Literature / Prose / Fiction / Fantasy / Short Stories Isolation, the agony of loneliness. Though she is immortalized as a body of stone where her youthful beauty is perfectly preserved for ages to come, Kaori could feel her tears begging to break away from her eyes and flow down her cold, smooth cheeks. But at last, her tragic story is not to be told, as the tears were not hers to begin with... she maybe a statue now, but Kaori can ascertain that she isn't a dumb one - how can statues possibly cry? Even though her bare, solid skin could feel the warmth of the sun and the breeze of the ocean winds, that is simply the heat of the world revolving around Kaori, nothing more; her only visible form of reaction is to remain in her place and watch as time pass by quietly. How long has it been though? While the girl is a statue, the strange sensation of being one is never quite understood by her. As day and night went by without her taking even a single physical action as a statue, Kaori could still perceive the world around her, albeit at an... 'abstract' degree. Although Kaori has been petrified into a stone sculpture, she is still able to think and collect her thoughts from time to time. Granted, Kaori does fall asleep sometimes where her mind becomes completely blank, but it can never seem to last quite long according to her memory, so most of her time is spent on either trying to get a better understanding of her current state, examining her surroundings for any objects of interest, reflecting on her past or at the very least, ponder on some form of philosophy that crossed her mind. Despite having an active mind, her senses became muddled through time. Kaori couldn't tell how long has it been ever since she was petrified by a strange light emitted from some kind of a device... she can't even exactly recall who did it, or why was she subjected to this treatment. All she could remember is that all of this is the result of her willingness to participate in this 'experiment'... after that, she is lowered into a stuffed crate and brought to a fancy house, where hundreds of people had a clear sight of her stone cold nude body. It was an absolutely humiliating experience at first, but Kaori eventually grew accustomed to it. After all, if she was made for the purpose of demonstrating her goddess-like beauty to the world, then this feeling is not something a statue like her should be feeling. As a matter of fact, she went through this kind of ordeal for quite a few times - being a valuable work of sculpture art, Kaori never had a permanent residence... at one time, she is being displayed in a museum for fine art, and at the next moment she is inside a mansion belonging to a rich owner. The vicious cycle would occur every time she is to be moved elsewhere : from a place where her beauty is displayed, back to an auction room, and then to another place where she would be placed on a pedestal to continue what she does best... this cycle has been repeated for countless times, and Kaori didn't bother counting because she knew that she will lose count in the end... so why bother? She has more important things to do... like standing still and be pretty and beautiful for as long as time lasts. The cycle didn't last forever, however. As of now, Kaori couldn't remember when was the last time she is brought to another auction house where she will be sold to a new owner. Her current price stands at 17 million dollars, as far as she could remember, but that's not important for now - from then onward, she has stayed in this immaculate mansion longer than she could recall... the cycle has been broken, she could say, but how could a statue possibly know? Regardless, her time in this mansion is probably the most memorable one for her in the long run - her stone body is practically polished everyday, a sensation akin to the feeling of having a relaxing bath... the first time Kaori felt dust and grime being skillfully removed from her dirty skin was absolutely heavenly. Even then, to have someone touching her nude body freely isn't something she could readily accept, but why does it feel so familiar? The way the hands touched her as water and cleaning fluid is being applied to her petrified body reminded Kaori of someone she knew a very, very long time ago, someone very dear to her, but who could it possibly be? Everyday from then, Kaori tried her best to think using her fogged mind about who this person could be... the luxuries she enjoyed in this mansion didn't help much, however - every time she is being polished, her mind simply wanders off... and then the owner had the good intention to play music to her which disoriented her thoughts, causing Kaori to happily dismiss her current findings to hum enjoyably with the music in her mind. Such a living isn't so bad, the statue thought, but it doesn't hurt to know who this kindhearted owner is; no one has ever taken such good care of her before, Kaori should be thankful of this! Soon after she was brought into her new owner's mansion, Kaori noticed that her current owner has brought in more statues. From where, she doesn't know, but the owner had the right idea to have the statues displayed together with her - Kaori couldn't quite explain it, but she 'felt' the same sense of familiarity from the presence of her new friend. Have they met somewhere before? The girl thought... before she could find an answer, a third and fourth statue was brought into the same room as Kaori's, and they all shared the same feeling Kaori felt. Were they made from the same line? If so, would that make them Kaori's close sisters? "Together... at last..." Kaori's mind happily acknowledged the fourth new visitor's arrival. For some odd reason, she knew that the fourth statue is the last one to come in order for the group's reunion to be complete. Then, in the moment of joy, Kaori did something unimaginable, something that should have been impossible for her... She opened her eyes. ========== For a long moment, Kaori didn't believe it with her eyes - the girl was blinking, breathing, and seeing the white ceiling over her. She wiggled her toes and fingers and shrugged her body, everything felt so alien and surreal - for a long time, Kaori was a statue whose only capable action is to not do anything... but now, she is a living human. The girl pushed the silk bed sheets covering her body away, revealing her young, divine form in the flesh. For a moment, Kaori blushed at the notion of being naked, but she quickly shook off the embarrassment and got off the bed she was lying on. The girl is currently in a lavishly decorated bedroom, presumably one of the many that can be found in the mansion she is currently residing in... but, why is it so? How did it all happen? Some moment ago, Kaori was a statue in the display room, and now she is a living girl that has just woken up from her long slumber. Was it all a dream? It couldn't have been... Kaori curiously touched her own body, her flesh and skin as soft as a human's when it should be as hard as stone... "Ahh, Kaori! You woke up!" After Kaori exited the bedroom she slept in, a voice called out for her from one end of the corridor. Kaori looked towards the source of the voice and found a naked Airi greeting her. "It's been so long... I've missed you so much!" "Airi... what... what happened?" "You slept for the longest among all of us, you sleepy head~" Without a moment's warning, Airi moved in closer and hugged her long lost friend tightly. "I can't believe it for myself either... we're all humans again now." Kaori wanted to ask more questions about what happened to them, but a warm sensation built up in her chest as Airi's embrace pressed their generous bosoms together. At a lost for words, the girl could do nothing but to hug back and shed a tear of happiness; despite the circumstances, it is great to be reunited with long lost sister for who knows how long. "Where is everyone else?" ----- "So how high did your last owner bid you for?" "Ten million dollars. After that, I was shipped to Canada..." Yui took a short sip from her tea cup after she spoke. An hour ago, she and her partner, Nagisa, were both statues in the display room before they both woke up to find out that they are no longer petrified. Airi was the first one to find them in the mansion after the strange occurence... "Then I was put in a flower garden, where I watched the flowers day in and out... some birds have even taken a liking of me." "Must have been tough... I know Airi is bought by a mayor to be placed in a city park, while I'm stuck in a museum for modern art." "And finally the professor bought us all for eleven million dollars..." "Not Kaori though, I believe she costed 17 million!" As if they have just mentioned the devil's name, Airi brought the first diva of The Four Maidens to the guest room. Together by L-exander909 "Sisters!" Overjoyed at the sight of her long lost friends, the girls rejoiced at the reunion and gathered together after their long petrification and separation. "Together, at last... how long has it been?" "50 years..." Airi said. "It's been that long, and things didn't change for a bit!" "But we all had our experiences with the world." Yui added. "It was a great learning opportunity to see the world through a different perspective." "But where is Professor Alex though?" As soon as Nagisa brought the name up, The Four Maidens immediately went silent and looked at each other for answers. Airi then spoke up. "About Professor Alex... he left me this note : 'Meet me in the display room once everyone has woke up.' " "Display room...?" As if they have lived in this mansion for a long time, the girls navigated their way to the display room in this mansion. As they get closer to their destination, their ears gradually picked up some familiar tunes coming from the display room... recognizing the music that is being played, The Four Maidens couldn't help but to hum correctly to the music they heard, a melody they have learned to memorize during their stay in this mansion as immobile objects of art... "So I was right... it was everyone!" Eventually they arrived to the display room where they used to be displayed in. Asides from the four pedestals that used to be theirs, a frail old man could be found on a rocking chair listening to the music played by an antique gramophone on a table in front of him. The Four Maidens looked at the old man quizzically, though they already have a rough idea about who the person really is... as The Four Maidens gathered presented before the old man, the aged professor finally spoke. "Girls..." While it's difficult to tell from Professor Alex's old face, Kaori, Airi, Nagisa and Yui know that he is trying his best to put on a smile for them. "The experiment... was a success..." "We know, Professor Alex. We know." "And... I'm sorry... I'm... sorry... I... am... sorry..." As the rocking chair slowly came to a halt, the record played by the antique gramophone ended. Though The Four Maidens didn't want to admit it, they had to in order to pay respects to the late Professor Alex... "Thank you." The girls spoke gently in unison. ========== "So, have you made your decision?" Kaori nodded, her face filled with confidence and determination. "This time, I won't be afraid." "I'm sure Professor Alex will be proud of you." Although The Four Maidens are presented with the option to inherit Alex's mansion as theirs, The Four Maidens reached a consensus to decline. Instead, what they had in mind is an entirely different idea... a crazy, yet sensible idea that they all resolved to follow through. "Once we do this... I'm pretty sure that we will never become humans again, where we will remain as beautiful statues for what I believe to be an 'eternity'." Yui calmly briefed The Four Maidens as she set up the professor's smartphone to utilize the same function he did 50 years ago to transform them into statues... and as she already mentioned, this will probably petrify them for good, and no one else on the planet will probably have the right idea restore them back to life. "We went through being statues perfectly fine, so I'm sure we'll be okay with it." Airi commented as she get into position together with her sisters. "What do we call ourselves by then?" "I've programmed the camera to name the picture 'The Four Goddesses'. Since the petrification effect prevents us from aging, this would technically make us immortals... therefore the name." "Great idea!" With the sun rising in the horizon, their time has almost come. With the settings in place and the camera counting down, Yui hastily joined her sisters for the one and only group photo they take for the final moment of their mortal lives before they are once again transformed into stone. "Remember - even if we are to be separated, know that in our hearts, we will always be together thanks to Professor Alex." "For Professor Alex" The Four Goddesses chanted as they held their poses and stared at the camera. Soon, the camera started emitting a rapid series of flashes at them, a feeling all too familiar to the girls 50 years ago in that classroom back in Uchihama, where they stripped before their professor in order to participate in an experiment... an experiment that would soon immortalize them as flawless works of sculpture art, and set them flowing in the river of time towards the future unharmed... Seconds turn into minutes, The Four Goddesses, Kaori, Nagisa, Airi and Yui remained loyally still and allowed their bodies to freeze up and harden under the flashing light's effects. As colors drained slowly away from their nude, heavenly forms, every living fiber of their beings eventually returned to being stone, as hard as the ground itself, a feeling they've grown accustomed to for 50 years on this world. With the petrification process complete, The Four Goddess stood still and welcomed the warmth of the new day's dawn behind them. This time, Kaori knew better to not cry out of fear. Statue by L-exander909 As days passed by, The Four Goddesses decorated this beautiful part of nature with their graceful forms, where they witnessed day, night, wind, rain, storm and the occasional wildlife. It was until weeks later that they have been found and are collected again. Though they will be separated by different bidders and collectors in the future, the goddesses knew that in their existences as living statues, they would see the world through these ordeals... and as years continuously pass by them, they would move one step closer to the future, towards what may very well be the end of eternity. But until then, they would savor every moment of their new lives as objects of art, their gratitude forever indebted to a man who made it all possible by petrifying them into statues, their beauties preserved in time where they shall never age for as long as their body is stone. THE END