Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own DB/Z/GT or any of it's characters, settings, etc. Only products of my brain are all who inhabit Faiasei and Parseri.

Author's note: I've decided to go back and revise this story while writing the new chapter. That dang Dragon Ball Xenoverse game has reawakened my inner DBZ geek. This story was originally inspired by another story on this site by AnthyRose: The Radish and the Sprout, and a lot of work that went into it was the product of a good friend, Meca-Vegeta. I can't thank him enough for the hours of brainstorming and Role-Playing to write this story.

This chapter was revised from its previous version that I wrote nearly a decade ago. Much of it is the same, but I tried to improve the grammar, refine and edit some facts for clarity... and really make Parseri less of a baby.

((10/26/2017 - NINJA UPDATE))

Prologue

A long time ago, a young woman held her shawl close to her body as she gazed up into the nothingness they called "space." It had been a month since she had watched her soldier's flying machine lift off into the stars. She didn't know that he would never return. He didn't know that she was with child. The child was unexpected… as unexpected as the love that they had felt for each other. A violent soldier of the Saiyan race had fallen in love with a spirited fire dancer of the Faiajin people. Her name was Hoteri, and her soldier had been the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

He had been taken in by her beauty as well, never quite seeing anything like her in his long life either. In the months he remained on the planet that he was supposed to be razing, he had found himself incapable of carrying out his mission. He could blame his own restraint or the power of her indomitable spirit… but he could not bear to rid the universe of her light. And so he left with the promise that he would return some day. Perhaps he truly meant to keep that promise… but Hoteri would never know. And now she was left with the consequence of their love.

She knew the child would be condemned to a life of shame, but she would keep it. She would hold onto the proof of their love and love the child more than anything.

When the child was born, Hoteri gazed fondly into a pair of amber eyes to match her own. The tiny baby girl may not have been blessed with hair of her people's fiery hue and may have been burdened with a tail of a Saiyan… but as she grew she had been blessed with a strength and speed that outshone many of her kind.

Hoteri may have had to move on with her life, and though she chose another to love and raise a family with, she sincerely hoped that one day her soldier would return. She hoped he would one day meet their daughter and be proud or her strength and her spirit. Their daughter who she knew would do great things, even though throughout her young life she wanted nothing more than to be accepted by her people.

This is her story…

Chapter One: The Mutt-girl

An average height young woman, donning a simple brown shift ran barefoot down a road with a smile, a hoe and a small lunch wrapped in a handkerchief. The sky was a beautiful bright orange and it was the perfect weather for fieldwork. She was heading towards her family's radish field to tend to the crop with an extra spring in her step.

Her name was Parseri, and far more was strange about her than just her name. Unlike your typical Faiajin, this girl was not blessed with the smooth, fiery hair of her people. Short and messy black hair framed her face, streaked with orange that would remind one of low burning embers. As if this were not strange enough, a long furry tail- brown and speckled with orange could easily be spotted hanging below the hem of her dress, often twitching and waving around her ankles.

When she arrived at the field, she set her lunch down with a wistful sigh. There were more weeds than the previous week due to more rain than usual. Rain was good… but too much was considered a bad omen and really only attracted weeds. The radishes and many other crops that her people grew were able to thrive off of very little moisture.

She worked the weeds from the soil until the second sun hung high in the sky before she took her lunch. Sitting on a stump, she drank from her canteen and snacked on a few dried strips of meat while she watched the wind make the taller weeds sway on the far end of the field.

A bad omen indeed…

She drank from her flask again, quietly remarking on how much taller this week's weed intruders were than previous weeks. And it couldn't have come at a worse time. Tomorrow were the trials… and she was finally old enough to compete for a place in the Warlock Army.

Glancing up at the sun, she figured she could give herself a few more minutes of a break before getting back to work. Parseri hopped off the stump and strode in between two aisles of radishes. Wiggling her toes when she came to a stop, she smiled down at the familiar soil for a moment… waiting… listening… feeling the wind and the beat of her own heart…

…And then, she started to dance.

It began with a soft rocking back and forth from her heels to the balls of her feet. Closing her eyes, Parseri began to turn on the spot, moving her arms with the sway of her body. She didn't hum… didn't make a sound, she only listened to her beating heart. Her inner drum.

The Warlock Army was made of up two parts- Warlocks and Witches. The Warlocks were the main force behind the army of course, but their strength was multiplied by their Witches, more commonly known as Fire Dancers.

It took a strong connection to one's self and the world around you to become a successful Fire Dancer… or at least that's what her mother had told her.

Feel your inner drum… and dance. Let it be one with nature and you will find your connection.

"Whatcha doin, Mutt-Girl?" A chirping, youthful voice broke her from her reverie.

Parseri turned to see two identical tiny face peeking at her from over the fence. They were the twins Kashou and Yakedo, children of another farmer of the road. Irritated by the interruption, she moved back to the stump to snatch up her hoe.

"Mutt-Girl…" Her left eyebrow twitched in annoyance, "That's a new one… And where did you pick that up?"

"From Hiito!" Yakedo replied.

"Of course." Parseri rolled her eyes, "No surprise there."

"Hiito is really smart." Kashou sneered, "He says you're trying to be a Witch, but you can't do it."

"Is that so…" She replied in a bored tone as she turned to start hoeing weeds again. Maybe they would just go away.

"Yup." Yakedo chimed in, "He says you're too stupid to figure that out, though. That's why we're here."

"He said your father was a lumbering beast with half a brain." Kashou grinned proudly as if he had been let in on a secret too good not to tell.

Parseri froze, standing upright again and gripping the wooden shaft of her hoe.
"A lumbering beast, huh?" She paused, keeping her back to them. "So that means I'm part beast too, right? I'm a monster…"

The twins remained silent for a moment, clearly not thinking of this earlier.

"Do you know what monsters eat, by chance?" She glanced over her shoulder, glaring eerily.

The twins shook their heads. She turned with a large, toothy grin.

"Children."

The two boys took a step back in alarm. They clearly hadn't thought this through.

"I've been so… hungry. It's been so long since I've had a good snack… I've been thinking of taking a bite of my little brother… but you know…? I actually like my little brother."

She took a step forward, brandishing her farming tool.
"Maybe… I'll just eat… you two!"

With an animalistic snarl, she lunged forward, swinging her hoe wildly as the twins shrieked in terror. The two sprinted back down the road from whence they came, screaming bloody murder and leaving Parseri alone once more.

"Hn." She huffed irritably, "Little brats."

Returning to work, Parseri began hacking angrily at the weeds plaguing her family's field.
"That lousy Hiito…" She grumbled, "What I wouldn't give to knock him straight on his-"

"Careful now, Mutt-Girl…" An arrogant voice drawled from behind her. She snapped her head around to find a tall and built young man leaning against the fence that had recently been vacated by the twins.

She turned fully to face him, glaring at him with bright amber eyes- the only real proof of her Faiajin heritage.
"Go away, Hiito! You're not welcome on my family's property!"

"Don't forget that my father's the village elder." He hopped over the fence with a smirk, sweeping a fiery red lock of hair out of his eyes as he approached her.

"Shut up, you pompous asshole. At least think of an insult that isn't lame. A child could come up with better." She hissed up at him, spitting her words like venom.

"Really… then how about abomination?" He grinned broadly, clearly enjoying the rise he got out of her.

"Better than being a damp jackass." She bit back, earning the savage pleasure of wiping the smirk off his face.

"Guttering twit." He snarled down at her.

"Low-burning sludge." Parseri got right in his face, refusing to back down.

"You… You don't have the right to speak to me like that!" Hiito snapped, losing his temper, "You're not even true Faiajin. You're just a filthy, disgusting hybrid mutt and we have no place for you among us- much less the Warlock Wars! You dare say that I'm low-burning? Look in the mirror. You look like the dullest forgotten embers imaginable. Why are you even practicing?! Do you really think they'll let you in?"

Parseri's face twitched, trying to keep her emotions in check. She didn't want him to know that the same-old crack at her hair coupled with the stress of the trials tomorrow had actually gotten under her skin.

"That's enough Hiito!" Another voice behind them shouted. They turned to find that two more people had arrived by the fence- Parseri's best friend and her secret crush that she had known since childhood. She never knew why they accepted her as a friend, but every day she was grateful for it. The one who had shouted was named Moesakaru… and he was the definition of beautiful in Parseri's eyes. He was tall and strongly built with a gentle face underneath his messy orange hair. His golden eyes flashed angrily at Hiito as he spoke with a threateningly calm voice,
"Leave my friend alone."

Hiito turned fully around, scoffing with a hand at his hip.
"I don't get you Moesakaru... Your father is our highest ranking warrior. Why do you waste your time hanging around and protecting this mish-mashed piece of garbage?"

"Because she's our friend you jerk!" Her best friend, Enkou finally spoke up, clenching her fists as she hollered at him, "Just because your dad's the village elder doesn't mean that you're more talented! She's far faster and stronger than you, even without physical training! And you know it, too. It really digs at you to know that she's actually better than you, doesn't it?" She finished, with a smirk.

"Get off your pedestal, woman." Hiito hissed at her, "This freak is of no worth in our village. In fact, she should be cast out!"

Moesakaru hopped over the fence and took a single step forward in warning. Thankfully, Hiito took the hint and glared at him as he started to walk away,
"I'm leaving... don't worry, I'll leave you two to your mutant friend!"

After he was out of sight, Moesakaru and Enkou turned to smile at their friend... only to find her lowered eyes filling with tears, fighting to hold them in and not add to her shame as she shook in silent rage. She was used to this. She had been an outcast of sorts her entire life, so she was used to these kinds of taunts… but his words had hit harder today than normal. The trials were tomorrow and there had been so much rain as of late. A bad omen…
"I hate him…" She hissed through grit teeth, "Hate him…"

Moesakaru gripped her shoulder to make her look up into his eyes. He smiled warmly at her,
"It doesn't matter… he's a jerk. Just forget about him."

But Parseri couldn't bear to look at him.
"I want this so much…"

"Then you'll have it." Enkou hopped over the fence to join them. "I know you can do it. Don't listen to him, 'Seri, he's just jealous of your talent. You're so much more advanced than he is in magic and sports... and he's the village elder's son." She scoffed in light laughter, "Traditionally, he's s'posed to be the best, but he's not. He's just using your differences as a scapegoat for his shame."

Scrubbing her eyes irritably to push back the threat of tears, Parseri drew in a few sharp breaths as she averted her gaze. Enkou frowned. She was two summers older than Parseri and Moesakaru and already a fire dancer… she remembered the all-consuming doubt and stress that went along with the Trials.
"Hey… you're already better at this than even some of the dancers in my rank. Just show them what you've got! I know you'll make it. You'll pass the Flame with flying colors and you'll win the Race. You're faster than all of them. Why are you letting that bastard make you forget that?"

"I dunno…" Parseri sighed, successfully quelling her will to weep, "I just wish… I just wish I was like everyone else. I hate this hair and this tail…" She glanced down at the furry appendage waving somberly at her ankles.
"I'd have a better chance getting into the army without them."

"You have the best chance because of who you are." Moesakaru corrected her, planting a firm and reassuring hand on her shoulder, "And I know that we're both going to do great tomorrow."

Parseri didn't reply, still looking down in shame and sniffled. He smiled down at her and pulled her to his chest in a gentle embrace. She blushed, stunned for a moment and then slowly closed her eyes and returned the embrace.
"How about we help you in the field and then all walk home together?"

Her eyes shot open as her face grew hot as she smiled meekly and gave a single nod. For some reason she always acted this way around him... so giddy and foolish at the same time. He must have noticed by now how she felt after all these years… and yet he never said a word about it. He certainly never treated her coldly, so he must either not have caught it or he didn't feel alienated. She spotted Enkou behind them, grinning knowingly with a playful roll of her eyes. She smiled, still blushing like a child in puppy love… and here she was, already twenty summers old. One would think she would have grown up by now…

.~*~.

As the sun began to set, they all walked home together and saw each other off at the front gates of each of their houses. Enkou's house came first, and she waved energetically at her two friends before she went inside. They returned the farewell with happy faces, promising to see each other the next day.

Parseri's house was next, and Moesakaru smiled down at her,
"Well... see you t'morrow. I know you'll make it in! We both will!" He gave her a thumbs up with a smile that would warm anyone's heart.

She waved as he turned to leave… But suddenly found the ability to conjure the courage within her to stop him and ask a question,
"Uhm... Moesakaru..."

He stopped, looking over his shoulder, "Yeah?"

"So… Tomorrow is an important day for me..."

"I know." He chuckled, "What do you think we've been talking about?"

"Right… Well... uh... You like making bets, right?" She looked down at her hands, clenched around the hem of her dress.

Moesakaru turned around and tilted his head to the side in wonder,
"What kind of bet?"

"Uh..." She fidgeted a little until she finally blurted her answer out, "If I make it into the warlock army tomorrow, would you… give me my first kiss?" She immediately looked away as her cheeks turned a light pink shade.

Moesakaru sighed with a knowing smile and replied, turning away so she wouldn't see his face,
"I can't do that, Parseri; I couldn't leave something like this up to chance... especially if it's important to you."

"Oh, well I..." She stammered as her face turned bright red, looking down.

Stupid. That was so stupid.

He turned around with his warm and gentle smile and stepped forward, eliminating the space between them. As he took her chin in his hand to tilt it upwards, his eyes gazed into hers… Oh, she felt her very soul melt in them. His face began to inch closer to hers and her eyes drooped shut. With a soft smirk, Moesakaru lazily closed his own until their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss.

For one blissful moment, Parseri felt like she was floating… and then it was over.

She slowly opened her eyes, coming out of her trance, to meet his golden eyes. He smiled then, planting a small and soft kiss on her forehead before turning and walking away towards his house. He waved at her over his shoulder, not turning back.
"Goodnight, Parseri! You're gonna make a great Fire Witch!"

Parseri stood at her front gate, watching him go, until she saw him disappear from sight. It took her a long moment to remind her lungs how to breathe and to calm her rapidly beating heart… She allowed herself a single giddy squeak of joy before turning to wander into the house where the most appetizing of smells greeted her. Breathing in the scent, grinned with a sigh.

"Mmm! That smells great!" She poked her head into the kitchen where she found her mother, Hoteri, stirring the contents in a large black pot, "I'm home, mom!"

Hoteri turned her head with to greet her daughter with a lifted brow, "Ah, Parseri, you're back! Perfect timing, too… You know the twins' mother came by to visit not long ago and I must say I heard something rather strange."

Parseri groaned, knowing exactly what was coming.

"She said," Hoteri continued, turning back to her cauldron, "that you had threatened to eat her boys, and then continue you monstrous rampage and devour all the children of the village…"

"Okay, I didn't go that far." She objected.

"Parseri…" Her mother scolded lightly.

"Oh, those brats probably had it coming." Another voice spoke behind them. Raito, Hoteri's husband and Parseri's step-father had entered the kitchen. "They spend too much time with that spoiled Hiito afterall… Mmmm, that does smell good."

"I am well aware those little imps probably started it," Hoteri scowled into her soup, "but Parseri is a grown woman who shouldn't escalate things."

"Oh things will escalate with or without her help. Such is the way of simple folk." Raito waved a dismissive hand before turning to his step-daughter. He smiled down at her with a rough tousle of her already messy hair. "How about you go out back and fetch your brother from the backyard, Glow-bug?"

Flinching at the nickname, Parseri ducked away from his hand, "Yeah, yeah, yeah…"

Parseri knew little of her real father, but she had known Raito all her life. He had been there when she was born and had loved her as his own, so she was content with only acknowledging Raito as her father, and he couldn't be any happier at that fact. They were a strange, but happy and loving family.

Parseri stepped out into the backyard and sighed up at the two setting suns, replaying a few scenes of her day in her mind… the most recent playing more vividly than others… She smiled giddily, touching her lips gingerly as the image danced around in her head. She couldn't help but giggle wildly, hugging herself as she spun on the spot.

"You're acting weird." A young and bratty voice called from above her.

With a 'huh?' she looked around until her little eight year-old half-brother came into view, perched happily on the roof with a mischievous grin on his face. She gave him a looks of daggers with a staged, evil grin,
"Moetsuku..."

His grin widened before he pounced, tackling her to the ground and knocking the air out of her with an 'oomph!' The little boy crowed victoriously as he captured her nose between the knuckles of his middle and forefinger.
"Gotcha!"

Parseri flipped him over her head, scooping him up in a one-armed headlock while clamping her knuckles around his nose,
"The tables have turned!"

He squirmed out of her grasp and ran into the house calling back to her with laughter,
"You can't catch me, big sister!"

A big, bright smile spread across her face as she dashed after him,
"Oh can't I? Wait and see little brother!"

She caught up with him just as he was about to enter the kitchen, bending and whipping the rug out from under him in a flash. The boy slipped and fell flat on his face, earning a crow of triumph from his sister,
"Yes! Victory is mine!"

"Oh yeah?!" He shouted and in an instant, he leaped onto her back, pounding on her head. She laughed and fell down to the ground to humor him. Soon they were just two siblings getting into a humorous scuffle on the living room rug, laughing and throwing weak, playful punches.

Hoteri entered the room, blinking down at the two for a moment before she cleared her throat to get their attention. They looked up at her absently as she smirked,
"Dinner's ready."

.~*~.

They all sat around the table, sipping on broth and nibbling on vegetables. Raito took a sip of his dark red wine from a wooden goblet and smiled at Parseri who sat across from him,
"So, you ready for the witch trials, Parseri?"

"About as ready as I'll ever be." She replied with a shrug, digging into her salad. "I know the odds might be stacked against me, but…" She glanced up to her mother with a smirk, "I'm going to give it everything I've got."

Parseri couldn't put her finger on it, but since she was old enough to understand, she had always remembered wanting to join. It seemed to quench a thirst that she couldn't explain even to herself… A thirst that seemed ancient in a way…

Hoteri beamed with pride, as she shared a glance with her daughter before looking at Moetsuku who was grumpily picking at the vegetables on his plate,
"Moetsuku, eat your greens."

"But mama! They're gross!" He complained.

"C'mon little brother, you'll grow up big and strong! Just like me!" Parseri smirked, taking an over-exaggerated bite of a crisp, green stalk.

"You're not strong, you're a girl!" He stuck his tongue out.

As Parseri stuck her tongue out back at him, Moetsuku stuck his fingers in his mouth to pull his lips back into the froggiest face possible. Hoteri sighed.
"Parseri, stop escalating things. You're not a child anymore."

"Aw mom, I was only playing with him!" She chuckled, scratching the back of her head. Raito and Moetsuku joined in, snickering as Hoteri sighed, shaking her head. The family's happy laughter could be heard out on the dirt streets.

.~*~.

It's imperative to mention at this point in our story that a few months prior to this day, millions of miles away in deep space, there was possible reason for the bad omen of rain.

A tall, green-skinned soldier in strange armor entered a large room, where a small, reptile-like man sat in a large floating throne. The soldier bowed before him and spoke in a refined voice,
"Lord Frieza... The Hannasei is ready for sale."

The cold and icy creature grinned, baring his teeth,
"Very good, Zarbon."

He pushed a button on his throne and floated over to where a large map of the entire universe slowly slid down from a slot in the ceiling. He took out a large black permanent marker and crossed out a planet with the name Hannasei under it in two swipes, the marker squeaking comically as he did so.

Squeak, squook.

"There."

A large drop of sweat rolled down Zarbon's forehead as he raised an eyebrow... an expression he quickly disposed of before Frieza turned around and spoke with an evil smirk.
"Now Zarbon, I want to take over the Fire Planet. Send a troop to Faiasei."

"Faiasei…? But Lord Frieza- That planet is practically living in its stone age. It holds no threat and the scans have shown little resources available worth wasting the time for. All in all my Lord, the planet's not worth much."

"Well, what do you think terraforming is for, you fool?" Frieza sneered, "Its location is prime and I want that planet under my control, Zarbon. If you don't want to do it, then send the monkeys instead. They seem suitable for a job of this size."

"Yes, Lord Frieza." Zarbon bowed and left.

Frieza smirked as he left and then turned back to his large window, "My expansions and conquests seem to be coming along swimmingly… Soon I will control the universe in its entirety. All will bow to Lord Frieza..."

The tiny tyrant cackled to himself far longer than may have been appropriate.

.~*~.

When the first sun began to rise, cloaked figures began to travel to the grounds where the ancient fire rituals once took place. Now this was the site used for the Warlock games where new recruits for the Faiajin Magic Army were found through tests and trials. The first event was for the young men... hand to hand combat- Their task being to simply knock their opponent down without the use of magic.

First up, Moesakaru would be fighting a young man by the name of Hotto. He was short, bulky and very, very quick... but Parseri knew that Moesakaru would be more than enough to take him down. She was more worried about how he would fare against Hiito. As she predicted, Moesakaru blew through his first three fights, and in no time at all, Hiito was up.

The two young men glared at each other from their respective side of the ring drawn in the dirt where the fights were held. Hiito stretched, smirking over at his opponent.
"Scared you'll lose?"

"You wish." Moesakaru replied slowly in a low tone.

"I want a good clean fight, you two..." Sakkidatsu, the master fire mage called, bringing everyone to his attention. He raised his right hand, and formed a large fire ball in his hand. "Ready?"

Moesakaru and Hiito crouched into a stance to show that they were ready to lunge at each other with extreme prejudice. Sakkidatsu fired the flame into the sky where it exploded; announcing the beginning of the match and the two youths burst forward, not about to hold anything back.

Moesakaru got the first punch in, ramming his fist across Hiito's jaw. The Faiajin hissed in pain and quickly retaliated, shoving his knee into Moesakaru's gut.

Parseri winced, watching the battle continue. Unfortunately for her, she wouldn't be able to witness the end of the fight or she would be late for her own event. The women were doing their fire dancing competition during the men's fighting competition. After both were done, everyone would have to compete in the Great Race.

With a regretful sigh, she turned from a fight that she prayed Moesakaru would win and made her way along a path leading up to a plateau.

.~*~.

She arrived at the great fire as the Fire Ceremony Trials were about to begin. To pass the test, they had to perform the sacred dance that would feed the fire's power and grow while staying in sync. If a dancer would trip up and miss a beat or step, they would not be worthy. During times of battle it was important that the fire dancers remained focused on the drums of war, so the dance would have to be learned by heart. The steps of the dance were ancient and the teachings were passed down from mother to daughter for generations, every turn or sway becoming second nature.

The fire was important, as it gave power to the warriors during battle. The women also had to go through physical conditioning, because the stronger the fire dancer, the larger the fire. The larger the fire, the stronger their warriors could become. It was a very high advantage they had, being that most of their warriors were already considerably strong.

An old lady by the name of Nebuto, shrouded in robes greeted them.
"Well then," she croaked. "You all know why you're here, and what you're to do. I expect you all know the correct steps and beats by now, so I should not have to instruct you any further."

She tossed a conjured ball of fire into the large pile of wood, setting it aflame.

"Remember, feel the beat from your inner drum. Hear the music from your soul. Listen to the sirens of war within yourselves and dance, giving the fire life. It is true, that when during a real war, there would be percussion, but to get into the Fire Dancer district of the Warlock Army, you must prove that you have the percussion within. We aid our warriors with our spirit. You may begin on my signal."

Nebuto cast a stern look around at them as they all formed a ring around the burning wood, watching and waiting patiently. A second later, she reared her head back and gave a long shout to the sky.

"Let us prepare ourselves for the prey!" She called.

"Hah!" The prospective witches roared in reply, standing at the ready.

"The storm is about to break!" Nebuto continued.

"Hah!" They cried again with a stamp of their heels in the dirt before joining Nebuto in the rest of the chant,

"We shall stand fearless
We shall stand exalted in spirit
We shall climb to the heavens
We shall attain the zenith the utmost heights!"

"Hah!" Nebuto cried, throwing a blast of red sparks into the sky, signaling the girls to begin.

Parseri moved with the others, stepping forward and then backward in perfect rhythm. The dance was long, and some of the witches lost rhythm, or tripped and were disqualified. After a while there were only five left out of the twenty that had come. Parseri couldn't help but smile as she continued dancing with the others. She could feel the fire growing stronger, reaching higher and higher into the sky.

They would dance upon the balls of their feet and take a few steps forward and backward, before planting their feet firmly on the ground with a stomp, swaying and sweeping their arms in grace. There would be paces that were quick and lively, others slow and deliberate in their movement... and the great flame would blaze higher, brighter, and stronger with each step and sway to mimic their movements. Flickering sparks of ember soon began rise up to litter the sky that echoed with the crisp, unified sound of feet striking the earth in dance.

Nebuto fired her red sparks into the air once more with a proud smile upon her face. Parseri and the other four competitors stopped dancing to cast the old woman a glance before gazing up at the great flame with satisfaction.

She slapped a hand against her own chest, chanting once more:
"This is our land that rumbles!"

"It's our time! It's our moment!" The five girls chanted in reply with a stomp.

"This is our land that defines us!"

"It's our time! It's our moment!"

A loud resounding 'hah!' echoed through the air as Nebuto and the five successful dancers raised their fists to the sky. The old witch lowered her gaze from the fire to look at them.
"I am very proud of you young ladies. Go now and complete your trial. The great race is about to begin at the town square."

.~*~.

Parseri and the other four girls, made their way to the town square. The other girls were; Kukko, a short, red-headed girl with a temper as quick as Parseri's, Roosuto, a tall, gangly young lady with long, flowing blond hair and orange eyes full of pride, Woomu, a gentle-looking girl, and Shizuru, a fiery young girl who was a somewhat friendly acquaintance of Parseri's. She looked at her with an encouraging grin that said, "We're going to make it."

As the crowded town center came into view, Parseri could see the other Faiajin she would be competing against. She saw that Moesakaru had made it to the race, but also spotted Hiito, standing tall next to his father with a smug grin upon his face. He had noticed her as well, and he narrowed his eyes with irritable disappointment that she had also passed her first test. She bared her teeth in a low growl as she took her spot at the starting line.

The master fire mage, Sakkidatsu called order to the vast crowd. Even though most of the competitors in the great race were men, Parseri, Kukko, Roosuto, Woomu and Shizuru took their place at the starting line alongside the men with great pride and spirit. They would all try their best of course… but Parseri was competing to win.