With Lunar New Year, many people were beginning new things as a tie-in to the Lunar New Year Festivities. For some, they would be becoming new Animalians, while others would be beginning new, spiritual, beginnings. But in some cases, it wouldn't be unaccompanied by some, painful, trials.
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"Are these really the kinds of pranks they do in prank television shows in Japan?" asked Maggie of Ami via Skype, as they both watch as Evelyn slithered into what was supposed to be an elevator to her first punishment only to drop through a trapdoor that had been disguised as the floor of the fake "elevator", before sliding down a so-called "water slide" into a tin tub to begin her first punishment.
"Yes, it is." answered Ami, as Sabine introduced herself to Evelyn after she landed in the tub but before beginning to scrub her down. Similar to Heather's punishment, it was both painful and erotic, after a fashion. She was also doing a good job of doing a long, improving lecture on "hygiene for the scaly". What was probably the most embarrassing for Evelyn was the fact that she was being treated as a little kid.
"All I know is that if this kind of thing happened to me, I'd be suing the studio." said Maggie as Sabine began rinsing Evelyn with cold water before beginning teaching her about teeth/fang cleaning.
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Another special event was the Piper Family Reunion. While it was a bit different from other family reunions due to the size and "dispersal", it wasn't a public one tied to the Lunar Year of the Rat. But it was something to see Tachigami and Carrie serve as announcers for the entire Mister and Miss Zodiac Competition, and it was something to see Tachigami wielding an enormous blade similar to the one wielded by her namesake from Okami (which was more like a ceremonial piece due to its size).
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The biggest event was, of course, the Mister and Miss Zodiac Competition. But, similar to the Year of the Dog Competition, there were so many applicants that there was a preliminary Best of Breed Showdown to thin down the number of applicants before the competition proper. There was plenty to watch and look forward to, especially since Milly had the unofficial internet title of "under-mouse of Lunar New Year".
Because the Lunar New Year Celebration was a 15 days long, there was plenty to do, both on Heiya Island and in Lyre and Animalia.