Dinner Preparations
AN: I own nothing in this story. Changed the format around to be a series of drabbles. Please R&R and enjoy!
Tifa stretched out on her pile of treasure and gave a belch, smoke wisping from her wide maw. The female dragon scratched her yellow stomach with a claw and thought of recent events.
She had finally moved into a new cave and had scoured a few of the local kingdoms, finding a suitable one rich in gold and jewels. Kidnapping the princess was simplicity itself and although she was rather thin, had made for a nice meal. The knight that had come after her was also scrumptious, although first she had to strip away that horrid tin covering surrounding the flesh.
But now she was bored. Her inherited avarice was stirring within her and she wanted more. But what kingdom to invade? Wutai was taken care of, their loud mouth princess currently digesting in Tifa's stomach. And Nibelheim was too poor to be of consequence. Her sharp ears picked up movement coming from outside her cave, interrupting the dragon's thoughts.
"Cid, have you heard?" A female voice asked.
"Damn it Shera, what is it?!" A gruff male voice responded.
"It's the prince of Shinra, he's holding a ball! Oh if only we could go, it'd be so lovely!"
"Stop daydreaming and help me pile up more dirt. And then let's go to the pub, okay?" Shera sighed and nodded. Tifa waited a few moments but the only thing she heard was the plopping of mud together. Tifa considered eating them but she was already pretty full. So she let them leave unharmed and pondered the new information she had discovered.
"A prince eh? This could be interesting..."
Prince Reno Valentine the Third sat beside his father, King Vincent Valentine the Second. A soot covered dignitary from Wutai was prostrate on the floor before them.
"I beg you Sire, lend aid to the surviving people of our kingdom!" The King's oddly colored eyes gleamed and he nodded.
"Very well, but first tell me more of this dragon that carried away Princess Yuffie."
"It was a fearsome beast with black scales and the most terrifying eyes. Scores of our people were swallowed whole by it's jaws..." the emissary shuddered at the memory. "That's all I can say." Vincent motioned for his advisors to lead the man away and also sent the treasurer to follow him.
"So my son, what are we going to do about this dragon?"
"Kill it of course!" Vincent smiled.
"Good answer, but wait until after the ball. You might finally meet a bride among one of the young ladies." Reno sighed.
"I suppose we'll see, won't we?" The Prince responded, running a hand through his crimson hair.
The night before the ball a massive black shadow obscured the moon for a split second. Flying through the clouds, Tifa quickly landed in a grassy field a few miles from the castle. A pair of cattle that had been peacefully grazing started to low in fear before the dragon gobbled the both of them up. Looking around, she then moved to the next phase of her plan. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the form she wanted and her body responded. Her mass started to decrease and her wonderful scales turned pale, before being absorbed into her flesh. A few moments later the dragon had become a human female.
Tifa looked down at her naked form, satisfied that the magic had worked. A light soon came bobbing through the darkness and Tifa hurried towards it, her face donning an expression of terror.
"Please help me!" The farmer who carried the lantern quickly covered her up in a brown cloak and led her back to his tiny hut.
"It's alright, rest awhile until you've regained your strength." Tifa thanked him profusely, quickly spinning a tale of fleeing from Wutai and the terrible dragon that had caused so much destruction.
"How terrible...but don't worry, you're safe now." Tifa thanked him again and soon drifted off to sleep.
The next morning she woke up bright and early, showing none of the fatigue she had the previous night. The farmer had left a plain outfit out for her and she got dressed. It was around this time that the goodhearted man had come in for his morning meal.
"Ah, you seem better!"
"Much thanks to you kind sir, tell me, do you know where I could find a dressmaker in these parts?"
"You're not thinking of attending the royal ball are you?" Tifa nodded and smiled at him.
"Yes, I've been so eager to meet this prince and maybe I can succor aid for my poor nation..."
"Well I don't know if she'll serve you but there is one place I know of." The farmer said. Tifa listened with gleaming eyes as the man gave her the directions.
Silk draperies hung in the air as night fell and the nobles with their carriages drove up to the castle gate. But the poor weren't forgotten and allowed in as well, King Vincent being an enlightened ruler and no tyrant. Reno was currently dancing with a blonde countess and trying his very best to keep the boredom from his face. A woman then entered the ballroom, her long black hair catching the light and keeping it. Her brown eyes flecked with red met his and the prince found it hard to breathe.
Her dress was the same shade as her hair and she moved closer to where Reno was, the blonde countess forgotten. She approached and smiled at Reno. Giving a bow, she then reached out a hand.
"May I have this dance, your highness?" Reno nodded and entwined her arm with his.
"But of course. What's your name?"
"Tifa Lockhart, your highness."
They danced for hours and hours it seemed. Eventually though Tifa stepped away from Reno, a coy smile on her face.
"Would you like to watch the stars out on the balcony with me, your highness?"
"Yes I would...."
As she led the foolish human outside, Tifa had to admit it had been fun infiltrating the human society like this. Although she thought her current form repulsive compared to her magnificent true self, it seduced humans wonderfully. But she turned her attention to the present as she reached the balcony, turning to Reno and flashing a smile.
"Where are you from?" Reno asked.
"Wutai..."
"And you managed to escape the dragon?"
"In a manner of speaking, but I'd rather not talk about that now." Reno moved closer and nodded, arms wrapping around Tifa's body.
"What do you want to talk about?" Tifa smiled again and before Reno could react her arms were wrapped tightly around his middle, the strength in them colossal. The prince also noticed that she was growing larger.
"I want to talk about my dinner," Tifa said, now in her true form. Reno was in her claws and with a beat of her wings the black dragon flew into the air. "I suppose you won't fall for a pretty face again, will you my highness?" Tifa mocked.
"We'll see won't we?" Reno replied, although he had a feeling he wouldn't make it out alive. Tifa just laughed, the sound echoing through the night.
"That's great! I like it when my meals are so sure of themselves!"
No one in the kingdom ever saw the prince again and as for Tifa...she learned that redheads gave her terrible heartburn.
