Fairy Navigator Runa is a Shōjo manga based on Japanese novels of the same name, which ran from 2008 to 2010 in the magazine Nakayoshi. The manga is a collaboration between the novels' author, Miyoko Ideka, and artist Michiyo Kakuta. It's published by Del Rey Manga.
Runa Rindo was abandoned shortly after birth and left at a school for foster kids, her only clues to her parents' whereabouts being a mysterious box and pendant. When she reaches fourth grade, she encounters two strangers, Mokke and Suneri, who can turn into animals both normal and chibi-sized. They claim she is the Legendary Child and a fairy princess, and the only one who knows where the Jewel of Everlasting Time is. While skeptical at first, and unwilling to jump at the call, Runa realizes she must act when an evil fairy kidnaps her friends.
While the fairy is defeated and redeemed, Runa realizes that staying at the school would endanger her friends. She sets off with Mokke and Suneri to find the Jewel in the hopes it can grant a wish before falling into evil hands.
This manga contains examples of:
- Accidental Misnaming: Runa consistently mispronounces Sae's name as Che.
- Animorphism: Some fairies have an animal form as well as a human one.
- Because Destiny Says So: Runa is destined to find the Jewel of Everlasting Time, whether she wants to or not.
- Blow You Away: Kamachi's element is wind.
- Extra Eyes: Runa has a third eye on the back of her neck.
- Eyes Do Not Belong There: Runa's third eye on the back of her neck, concealed with a scab and later a ribbon.
- The Fair Folk: Some fairies are antagonistic, such as Kamachi the wind spirit and Shizuku the mermaid.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Runa is desperate to be normal despite her powers and tries to refuse the call at first.
- I Have Your Wife: Kamachi kidnaps Sae, Runa's best friend.
- It's Not You, It's My Enemies: Runa gives this reason for leaving the academy, not wanting to put any more of her friends in danger.
- Left Hanging: Del Rey cancelled the English translation of the manga after two volumes were published, leaving the series on a Cliffhanger.
- MacGuffin: Runa's pendant, the mermaids' crystal ball, and the Jewel of Everlasting Time.
- Magical Girl: Runa uses the power of her third eye to purify corrupted fairies.
- Making a Splash: Shizuku is a mermaid who uses water to attack.
- Mermaid in a Wheelchair: Shizuku, a mermaid with water powers, uses a wheelchair to get around on land.
- Not Herself: Runa struggles to control her other form at first, coming dangerously close to killing Kamachi.
- Our Fairies Are Different: 'Fairy' here seems to refer to anyone with magical powers, whether they be humanoid, animal, or mermaid.
- Parental Abandonment: Played straight, but Runa later finds out that they died shortly after leaving her at the school.
- Refusal of the Call: At first, though Runa finds she can't fight fate.
- Sirens Are Mermaids: Shizuku uses her siren song to entrance the heroes.
- Tender Tears: Runa is prone to these, as she refuses to kill her opponents and is horrified when her other form tries to.
- Third Eye: The source of Runa's powers is a third eye in the back of her neck.
- This Is Unforgivable!: Runa's other form declares she will not forgive Kamachi for kidnapping Sae and hurting Mokke and Suneri.
- Youkai: Kamachi, a weasel-like creature based on the Kamaitachi.
