Marriage Woes
Alright, here is my first half-decent story. Half-decent meaning...it still sucks. Read if you're prepared to burn your eyes out.
DISCLAIMER: The Big Rocky Eye does not:
a) claim to own Golden Sun, or
b) accept responsibility for burnt eyes.
Chapter 1: The New Year
Today was the New Year, and the sunrise was just starting to shine its light on Xian. The clouds, lazily floating in the sky, were coloured a beautiful golden. The mountains in the distance, as well as the Alpine Pass were bathed in the divine colours of the rising sun. The trees and rooftops of Xian were likewise delicately laced with gold. And the sun itself, the massive flame of day, rose above the mountains and cast its light about, quickly bringing the darkness of night to an end.
Feizhi was so used to waking up early in the morning that in spite of herself, she woke up early enough to see the sunrise. She noticed her father, the great Master Feh, snoring peacefully on his bed. She mentally cursed herself for breaking her own vow: that she would actually get at least eight hours of sleep whenever she got the chance. Which was very rare.
She quietly exited the room, not wishing the wake her father up. He had decided that "Feizhi is old enough to go to the New Year festivities on her own", and she was going to exercise this freedom. To that end, she made plans with Hsu to go to the festival together.
Feizhi went to the river and washed her face. She was surprised to see no one there, because it was a Xian tradition to wash in the river. She went back to the school, combed her hair, and put on her best silk robes. After this was done, she quietly exited the school again. For good this time. Seeing that it was still very early, she decided to get a bite to eat.
Most of the restaurants were still closed, but Feizhi found one just past the mulberry trees. It was called the Sky Dragon Restaurant. She made sure her coins were with her; then, seeing that she did indeed have her money, went in. She didn't need to wait to be seated; the restaurant was empty save for a family seated in the back corner. The carts came around, and she took rice rolls from the first one. When the second cart came, bearing jellyfish, she was just about to order when someone entered the restaurant.
"Hsu! Over here!" Feizhi called. "Oh, Feizhi! Good morning!" Hsu said on reaching Feizhi's table. "Good morning to you too! Have a seat!" she replied, then called for another plate, bowl, cup and chopsticks. These were delivered promptly, and Feizhi poured tea for Hsu.
"Why are you up so early?" Feizhi inquired.
"I am too used to waking up early!" came the reply.
"I can't believe that I did not sleep in. I promised myself that I would sleep in."
Hsu laughed. "You are very funny, Feizhi."
"It is true!"
"This tea is excellent. I wonder what kind it is?"
"It is green tea. Nice and simple."
"How did you know?"
"I asked for it."
"Oh! How stupid of me."
"Ha!"
There was a pause while Feizhi asked for some chicken feet from the next cart.
"So, where do you want to go after the Dragons' Dance, Feizhi?"
"I want to go to the Lucky Tree. I have a wish that I want to come true."
"Everyone wants their wishes to come true. It is a good idea to go to the Lucky Tree."
"Then shall we go?"
"Of course."
There was a silence as they ate. Then Feizhi spoke again.
"I heard that there is an opera in town."
"It is called 'The Emperor and the Maid'. I have heard many great things about it from the classmates."
"My father wants to watch it. He loves opera."
"For some reason, I can not imagine the great Master Feh going to operas."
"He's going after the Kung Fu exhibition."
"You are a part of that, no?"
"I am. As are you. But the dance comes before; we can still go together."
"I know."
Hsu ordered three buns.
"I love pork buns. Don't you, Feizhi?"
"I like chicken buns better. But this is fine."
"It is a little sweet."
"I like it sweet."
"My parents don't like it too sweet. Says it blocks out the taste of the pork."
"I don't think so. Somehow they go well together."
A short pause.
"Is it true that your mother is a cook?"
"Yes, Mother is a cook. She makes the best meals. She left Xian on a trip, though. I wish that she would come back."
"So that is your wish?"
"One of them."
"What is the other one?"
"I...I don't want to say."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"
"It would be good to talk about it...but...no. Not to you. I can't."
"Why not?"
"It would hurt you terribly. I...I can't."
Silence.
"It's okay if you can't tell me."
"Thank you."
"I'm full. How about you?"
"I'm very full. I'll pay the bill now."
"No, that's alright! I'll pay the bill."
"I must insist that I pay the bill."
"Come on! I was here first; I should pay."
"It is not honourable to make a lady pay!"
"Since when do I ever think of honour? I even argue with my father, for the sake of Sol!"
"Do you care nothing of my honour?" And with that, Hsu shoved Feizhi's money into her pocket.
"Stop that! You'll ruin my silk! Just let me pay!" People in Xian usually fought to pay restaurant bills. It was considered to be polite.
"How about we both pay?" Hsu was willing to compromise.
"Yes, that is a good idea. Save us both some honour!" she agreed, smiling.
The sun was up now, and people started to appear in the streets, making it the lively place it always was in the New Year. Feizhi and Hsu walked along the long streets and paths, hand in hand, admiring the lovely decorations that people had painstakingly put up. There were lanterns, firecrackers and banners everywhere. "Good Health", some declared. Others, "May Your Heart's Desires Come True", "Ten Thousand Things Come True", and other such lucky phrases.
There were many stalls set up outside. By now, everybody was awake and awaiting the beginning of the celebrations. They passed their time by going to the stalls, occasionally buying something. Feizhi and Hsu were no exception; she was eating some homemade candy while he was fanning himself with his new fan.
"Why are you so obsessed over that fan of yours?" Feizhi asked, sucking on her candy.
"It's very pretty. Just look at it!" Hsu answered.
"It is pretty, but maybe you should look at some other things. The New Year only happens once a year, you know."
"Alright, Feizhi. Whatever you say."
And off they went, into the crowds again.
They ended up at Chang An Road, which was where the Dragons' Dance was to be held. And it was just beginning, with the people already under their dragons. The drumming started; the dance began.
It would truly be erroneous to call it a "dance", but, it works. As Feizhi and Hsu watched, they joined the crowds in the "Ooo"s, the "Ahh"s, and the clapping. There were three dragons: the white, the red and the black. All of their performances were amazing, but at the last minute, the white dragon's timing went awry by the black dragon's interference, which gave the red dragon a chance at the lucky lettuce. The other dragons realized too late, and the red dragon won. Everyone was ecstatic! The crowds went wild with clapping.
That being over, Feizhi and Hsu went off to the Lucky Tree. They bought two of the oranges and went to the side to write their wishes down. Then, they threw the oranges, with the object being to get them stuck, with the wishes attached with a piece of string. Hsu's orange missed (barely), but Feizhi had much better luck. She won some cheering and applause as her orange landed near the top, hanging by the string. She smiled.
The Kung Fu exhibition was beginning, and Feizhi and Hsu ran off to it, not wanting to be late.
After the exhibitions, Feizhi decided that she would not watch the opera; instead, she would go home and wait for the guests to arrive. Hsu went off the watch the opera, leaving Feizhi all alone. Seeing this, she pulled out a book from under her bed.
Dear Diary,
Today is the New Year. There was many things to see! The fireworks were very loud, but everyone was very happy. The Dragons' Dance was really good. I saw it with Hsu.
I made my wish at the Lucky Tree. This is what I wrote:
"I wish for Isaac to marry me".
The orange is at the top of the tree. I believe that it will come true.
So, there you have it. I don't think you like. But review anyways!...please?