(A/N: My first Chrono Cross fanfic! It is semi-AU (as in names I made up and occupations and more) and the characters are OOC because I haven't played the game in a while. Sorry, Mel is an obsessed teenager like me in this story, just to warn you. Chrono Cross is owned by Squaresoft, so sue them. But first, read my story.)
Colors of the Sunrise
Chapter 1: Termina! Yippee!
"Arrgh! There's nothing worth drawing here!" I complained, banging my fist against the wooden desk as I stared at my untouched piece of sketch paper. "How am I supposed to become a famous artist like Van Dillogne if I have nothing to draw?"
Melanie Hineka, or Mel as I prefer to be called, is a 14 year old girl of reddish hair and green eyes. She has a thin frame, toned from running around town at top after her brother, swimming in the ocean when her brother tips her out his boat, and throwing her boomerang around to fight those unwanted bullies. Her hair is long and always tied into a ponytail. She is hoping to become an artist like Van Dillogne, her role model with a lean body, straight purple hair, and blue eyes. He's…hot! He's only 18 and he's already famous. He has a great personality too, even though she's never met him. Oh, he's perfect…
Just so you know, I'm Van's biggest fan. With the measly amount of money my mother gives me for doing chores around the house, I have purchased a portrait of him and one of his paintings of the sea off his own balcony of his house! That picture was expensive, costing 5000 gil. But that didn't matter to me. His works are in high demand, so it was better to buy it then rather than now. I could easily make double for the painting if I sold it, but of course I won't. I actually appreciate his works for their beauty, not their market value. I've tried to imitate his style, but it's so hard. It probably would be a lot easier if I had access to those places he's seen, but what can I do with my small allowance? My mom wouldn't let me out very far anyway. She's very overprotective of my brother Korcha and I, even though he's 20 now.
"Mel! Come upstairs and help Ma cook dinner!" shouted my brother from the ladder. Living in Guldove is cheap, but we don't even have staircases! We always have to climb ladders, which doesn't add anything architecturally significant to our boring house.
"Okay, okay!" I yell back, scrambling out of my chair. "What's the rush?"
As I climb up the ladder my lips curl into disgust. "Fish fin stew again?"
Ma looks at me and apologizes. "Sorry. We don't have enough money to afford anything else," she says, handing me the ladle. I look inside to see if there are any traces of real meat. Oh yes, there is some! I better save that piece for myself because after all, I am a growing girl.
As we ate dinner on the floor with our wooden soup bowls, Ma said, "You know, if we sold that picture of yours, we could make a nice sum of 20000 gil right now. Then we wouldn't have to suffer eating fish fin stew everyday."
NO! It's not possible! Sell that picture by Van Dillogne? Never! I look at her, hoping for some other answer. "Isn't there another way?" I asked.
Ma doesn't understand. It's my allowance money, and I had to forego candy or jewelry for months in order to buy that! It's not FAIR…
"No…" she replied, not softening her stand as I tried pouting.
"What about getting another job?" I asked. There's got to be another way…I know it!
"No. The business in Guldove is really tight. Korcha and I are not able to find any higher-pay jobs. This is the only way out for now," she replied
"But…" I interjected, but Korcha interrupted me. "Give it up, Mel," he said, sighing. "It's mostly for you, anyway. What's a painting worth if we keep starving like this?"
I couldn't stand this anymore. "First of all, it was my money. Secondly, I need food because I'm still growing, just as you did when you were my age. And lastly, if you're just going to give up already, then I'm leaving!" I shouted angrily at them. "I'll find a way to make the gil that you can't! Just you wait!" With that, I sprinted out the door.
Maybe it was childish, but I had to cool down. I couldn't stand being useless and waiting for the doom to come. I would do something, even with the little skills I had. With that thought, I took Korcha's boat and headed to Termina. Screw them! It was going to be a new lifestyle for Melanie Hineka.
*****
Now this place is a place with opportunity! Termina was full of tourists as the afternoon sun shone upon the white buildings. Loud noises could be heard as she walked past the bar. Turning right, she went into Lisa's shop. The element shopkeeper said politely, "Welcome to Lisa's! Oh, hello, dear. You seem a bit lost right now."
"That's definitely true. I've had a rough time at home and I'm just looking around to find some of the interesting places here," I replied, relaxing a bit and actually having someone to talk to.
She replied, "Well this town is mostly a town of shops and stuff. Um…there is the old shack of Dario and Glenn Lancote, which is more like a museum now that they live at Viper Manor. There's also Van Dillogne's home that displays a few of his artworks in the hallway. Um…"
"VAN DILLOGNE?" I squealed. "Is it really true?"
"Yeah. He's quite the handsome guy, isn't he? I've heard a rumor that he's returning today from a trip in Porre. Don't tell anyone else that, though," she replied, smiling. "He's too young for me. I have my eyes set on Glenn anyway."
"Well he's probably just as handsome even though I don't know him," I replied. I was jumping at the news. He's really here! And if you're lucky, you can actually meet him! Oh my god! "Thank you so much!" I beamed. Giving her a quick hug, I left quickly and headed towards the bridge.
"Oh…the energy of youth…" muttered Lisa as I left. "And I'm not even that old…"
*****
After making a left, I entered the street of attractions. Right as I entered the street I saw the shack/museum that Lisa talked about. The blacksmith was next door with Zippa and Zappa, known to be Karsh's parents. But easily seen from far away was a white mansion two stories tall. That must be Van's home! Trying not to let my excitement control me, I forced myself to calm down. It's not like he would enjoy the company of a hyperactive girl anyway. Reaching the door, I see a sign that reads "Please come in" hanging there. Slowly turning the knob, I step inside the Dillogne mansion.
It's beautiful. The black marble tile floor reflects the lights from the large windows in the foyer. Upon the cream white wall hang paintings from mountain landscapes to portraits of his father. As I walked around, dazed, I accidentally collide with something, which turns out to be a woman in about her thirties.
"Oops…I'm sorry," I said, taking a step backward. She has short brown hair, a motherly figure, and brown eyes. She looks nothing like him…it couldn't be his mother…
"It's okay, dear," she replied. "Welcome to the Dillogne home. How may I help you?"
"Uh…h-hi…" I stammered, turning a bit red. "I was looking for Van Dillogne. Is he here?"
"No, not yet. He's supposed to be home very soon…but hasn't come back yet," the lady said. "Why don't I show you around? I still have a bit of cleaning to do."
"Sure," I replied. A tour of the house! Awesome! As she led me up the staircase, I was able to get a close up view of one of the paintings. It was signed Gogh Dillogne.
"Um…I have a question," I said to the lady quietly. She turned around, smiling cheerily. Pointing to the picture, I asked, "Was this painting by Van's father?"
She nodded. "Yes dear," she replied. "He used to be a great painter until his wife died. Then he went into business. It's really a sad story."
Sad story? Dad is a painter? Making sure this was completely in my brain, I then asked another question. "Could you tell me the story?" I inquired.
She shook her head. "Sorry, dear, but I must do my cleaning first," she responded. "I know Mr. Dillogne will be home soon."
Climbing up the rest of the stairs, we entered his room. It was orderly kept (probably because of this lady) except for a bit of dust of the furniture and the paintbrushes that lay scattered across his desk. Taking her cloth, she began to clean off the dust. When she purposely skipped over the brushes, I asked, "Aren't you going to put away his brushes?"
She replied, "He hates anyone who touches his brushes, so I leave them alone." As she continued to dust, she added, "He keeps them in a special order which I don't understand, but somehow he knows what brush uses which color, etc."
Looking around his room, I find his walls to be actually barren. He probably doesn't spend much time in his room, traveling the way he does! He had a few pictures of himself when he was younger, which were really cute. He has such adorable eyes! Another picture was of him and his mother, painted by his father, in a loving embrace. She's beautiful! That's where he gets his awesome looks!
The room was pretty empty except for his desk, chair, a bed, and a huge armoire. There was a door to the balcony, which I hesitantly asked the lady if I could go out there. She gave me permission, and turning the brass knob, I stepped into Van's favorite place.
I could see why. The view was absolutely gorgeous! Now that the sun was about to set, the reflection of the rays colored the sea with a beautiful reddish tint. At the very edge of the horizon another island was visible, perhaps being Guldove. Guldove…I wonder how Ma and Korcha are doing? But they wouldn't care about me, would they? They probably are glad that they don't have to feed someone as greedy as me and who complains all the time.
As I gazed at the horizon, a slight breeze swept across the balcony. Shivering a bit from the cold wind, I wrapped my arms around myself. Usually I would be home, cooking for Ma right now. But I can't go back now, not after what I've said…
"You look really cold right now," said a smooth, masculine voice. Jumping out of my reverie, I turned around to look. Right before me stood the one and only Van Dillogne, just as I imagined him, with his gorgeous purple hair and blue eyes.
(A/N: There you go. Doesn't this suck? Well please review! I'd really like some feedback. I know some of the changes are abrupt, and if you can help, please tell me!)