White Reflection

Shiroi was bored. Unusual in itself for the eight-year-old Blue Eyes White Dragon, but when the feeling occurred, it never lasted long. There were a million things to occupy a young dragon in the shadow realm, and Shiroi had three siblings to torment and play with as well to keep him amused. The problem was, today there was to be a ceremony, and Shiroi's mother wanted all of her children near so she could keep an eye on them. Which meant no playing in any way that might get the four little dragons dirty.

Midori, the youngest of the four Blue Eyes and the only girl in the group, came out of her dressing room, the strain of keeping herself in a human form showing on her face. Her soft silvery-white hair had been woven into two pretty braids, her face for once cleaned of all dirtiness, and dressed in a lovely silver-blue dress. She didn't look happy.

Poking his little sister, Shiroi whispered, "Your tail is showing."

Midori blushed, pulling her tail in under the folds of her dress to hide it. "I don't see how you guys can stay in your human forms for so long! It's hard! I can hardly shift the whole way; the tail always sticks out."

"That's because boys are just better than girls," Shiroi teased.

Midori's eyes flashed anger, and Shiroi shrieked in laughter and ran across the great hall as she chased him, fury all over her face.

There was a gust of wind as their mother winged after them, landing between her two squabbling children to separate them. "Shiroi, don't tease your sister. And Midori, try to act ladylike for the next three hours; you know this ceremony is for you."

"I don't see why I have to get engaged anyway, mama…" Midori pouted. "And he's not even a dragon! How can I marry him?"

"Because this marriage will bind two of the greatest families in the shadow realm," her mother explained calmly. "It will merge two kingdoms, and will be good for all that live in those two kingdoms. Now please behave until the ceremony if over, won't you? Tuck in your tail, and try to relax." She turned her great dragon head to her son. "And that goes for you as well. I don't want to see you or your brothers fighting while the guests are here."

Both little dragons nodded, murmuring, "Yes, mama."

**

The engagement ceremony was even more boring than waiting for the ceremony to start. Dozens of presents were given, all for Midori of course, making her three older brothers grumble a bit in jealousy. They wanted presents too. Midori was acting like a perfect little lady, which also irritated her brothers. She was more fun when she was romping around in the field with them, chasing the kuribohs, getting dirty and wrestling.

It got a little more interesting when the guests of honor began arriving. The parents of Midori's soon-to-be-fiancée paid their respects to the little Blue Eyes' mother, and then presented their son.

The little Dark Magician was seven-years-old, and looked truly nervous about this whole thing. His magician robes were almost too big on him, the hood almost hiding his face, his pale blue eyes blinking out uncertainly at everyone. He clutched his miniature Dark Magician staff tightly as he ascended the staircase to meet his future wife for the first time.

"Hansha, this is Midori," said Midori's mother gently. "These are her elder brothers; Shiroi, Kin, and Gin. We are all very happy to meet you."

Midori smiled kindly at the nervous little Dark Magician, extending her hand ladylike for him to kiss. Hansha took it, glancing nervously back at his parents, and when they nodded encouragingly he quickly kissed the back of Midori's hand, and dropped it as if it'd burned him.

The Mystical Elf spoke the ceremonial words that bound Midori and Hansha into their engagement. Hansha looked so distressed, Shiroi couldn't help but laugh at him.

"Chill," the little Blue Eyes whispered to the little Dark Magician, "Midori's not really all prissy ladylike as she seems right now. And she's not too keen to marry you either."

Hansha glanced over at Shiroi, his eyes narrowed in an irritated glare. Lifting his little dark magic staff, he bonked Shiroi hard on the top of the head.

"Hey!" Shiroi yelled. Everyone in the great hall was silenced at the little dragon's yell. Shiroi quickly shifted into his dragon form, which wasn't much larger than the young Dark Magician, and tackled Hansha. Caught up in their fighting, the two tumbled down the stairs.

Hansha broke free of the tangle he and the young Blue Eyes were in, taking off running across the great hall. Shiroi spread his wings and flew after him.

Expelling a frustrated sigh, Shiroi's mother shot out her long dragon tail, wrapping it around her son and dragging him back. Hansha's father cast a spell that caused his son to come floating back as well.

"You two are going to be family one day, so you're going to have to get over this sort of childishness fast," Shiroi's mother snapped. "Is this understood?"

Shiroi and Hansha looked at each other angrily, sticking their tongues out at one another.