Okies. Yes I have been really busy this summer. We got a new computer and all this stuff wasn't working so I couldn't post for a while.
Well here's chapter three. Just a fluffy little bit of work.
And YES Albel will still be gushing over his chocolate bananas! I'm really hungry for some of those right now…
Anyway, here's chapter three!
Chapter 3: Birthday Memories
Nel rushed to the hole in the wall, a bright smile on her face. Today was a special day. A VERY special day! So special that she had been thinking about it for the past month!
It was her seventh birthday!
Nel had known Albel for over a year now, and he knew perfectly well when her birthday was. He had promised to get her a gift. He had PINKY SWORN to her!
You never break a pinky swear!
In the past one and a half years, Nel's short red hair had grown down past her shoulders. She had grown a bit taller, and the colour of her summer dress had gone from white to a light blue.
She smiled when she saw Albel waiting for her. Her smile brightened when she saw the mischievous smile on his face.
"Hey, Nel!" He greeted her as she sat down. "Seven now, I see?"
Nel nodded. Albel, now being eight, had celebrated his birthday a few months earlier. Just like Nel's hair, Albel's had gotten longer at the back, although he kept the bangs short (but still long enough to fall in front of his eyes). He held it back with a simple tie.
"It's funny though…" she admitted, placing her head in her hands. "I don't feel seven. I still feel the same." The Glyphian chuckled and copied her movements.
"Don't worry. It's normal." He reassured her. "But, just to make your birthday official…"
He moved one of his hands behind his back, bringing it back in front of him to reveal a narrow box.
"Happy birthday."
Nel's eyes shimmered in a way that only Albel knew. He loved it when her eyes shone like that. It made him feel happy inside knowing that he was the one that had made her eyes fill with joy.
"I know how much you like music…" He started as she untied the ribbon. Nel lifted the lid and gasped at the contents. Being as gentle as she could, the Aquarian lifted the gift out as if it would shatter if she were any rougher with it.
"A… dragon bone flute?" She looked at the beautifully carved gift, admiring every design engraved into it.
"Yep." Albel said, pleased with the fact that she liked her gift. "It's made from the bones of one of our old dragons. His name was Ramoth." Nel glanced at him with worried eyes.
"You mean you killed him?" Albel shook his head.
"No… he passed away." He replied. "Take good care of that, okay?"
Nel glanced down at the flute with uncertainty. "Are you sure you want me to have this?"
"Of course!" He said with a determined look on his face. "I was said to give it to someone special to me. You're the person!"
Nel flushed slightly at his words. "Thank you, Albel. This means a lot." She smiled gently at him, causing the Glyphian to turn a light shade of pink.
"Uh… you want to try it out?" he asked.
"Oh! Right!"
Lifting the flute up, she placed the mouthpiece to her lips. As she exhaled, a gentle, soothing sound extrude from it. Both Nel and Albel could only admire the sweet melody.
"Have you ever played this before?" She asked, glancing down at the instrument in awe. Albel shook his head.
"Nope." He replied. "You're the first."
Nel smiled again and placed the flute up at her lips once again. After adjusting her fingers, she soon started experimenting with notes, figuring the instrument out quickly.
Albel snorted when a horrible high-pitched note reached his ears. "You call that music?" he teased. Nel frowned and poked him in the forehead with her flute.
"Watch it, mister!" She growled. Albel laughed and caught her hand.
"Don't worry! I was just joking!" Nel pulled her hand away from him along with her flute.
"I just want to get the hang of it first…" she muttered. Albel nodded and waited patiently, crossing his arms as he continued to listen to her. As he watched, a tune started to form. Nel, noticing the same thing, repeated the same notes.
Albel grinned. "I like that! Keep going."
And so, throughout that afternoon, Nel and Albel created a tune together; piecing in bit by bit each set of notes until their song was perfect. Afterwards, Nel played the tune for Albel, not making a single mistake. The tune flowed through the wind, making it feel like the wall between them was completely gone.
No words were said between them. Nel soon played the tune again while Albel leaned against the wall, listening to her play.
"You know what I would like right now?" Albel asked after she finished. Nel looked through the hole curiously.
"Chocolate bananas?" She guessed. Albel laughed and shook his head.
"Well that too…" He started. Nel rolled her eyes, but continued to listen to him. "I want this wall gone." He said. "I want us to be friends and not have something like this stupid wall or the war holding us apart.
"Well they haven't fought for a while…" Nel said. "Maybe there's a chance for peace.
"I wish." Albel muttered, rolling his eyes. "Grown-ups are too stubborn to do something like bring peace." He crossed his arms in finality. "They want power. That is all they'll ever wish for."
Nel blinked at him through the hole. "Are you going to be like that?" She asked. Albel shook his head.
"NO WAY!" He cried. "When I grow up, I'm gonna destroy this wall and kill anyone who thinks otherwise!"
Nel laughed at his plan, silently wishing the same thing. Bringing the flute up to her lips once again, she began to play the tune.
Albel let himself fall to the ground, letting his foot tap against the wall with the music. Nel smiled and picked up the pace, catching up with the beat that he was making. She soon finished and glanced at Albel through the hole.
"Albel… you mentioned something about a dragon ceremony a couple of days ago…" Albel opened an eye to look at her. "When is it again?"
"A few years… when I'm twelve." He said, gazing at the sky.
"Is it scary?" Nel asked. Albel closed his eyes again.
"Well… if you fail… you get burned to a crisp…" he said lazily. Nel's eyes widened.
"Are you serious!" she cried. "But… what if you fail! How will I know!"
Albel sat up to gaze at her. "We'll worry about that when the time comes." He said with a smile. "For now, let's just do our job and be careless kids, okay?"
Nel laughed and nodded. "So…" She said glancing at her flute. "How did that song go again?"
Albel choked. "WHAT?" he cried. "don't tell me you forgot already!"
Nel laughed and waved it off. "I'm joking, of course!" Albel shook his fist at her.
"You'll pay for that…" he growled. The Aquarian rolled her eyes.
"Say that for after you tear down the wall." She teased.
Albel rolled his eyes, letting himself fall down again.
"You know what would be good right now?" He said with a lazy grin. "Some chocolate bananas."
"Is that all you think about?" Nel asked, an incredulous look in her eyes. Albel grinned, his crimson eyes shimmering in amusement.
"Yes." He replied, that same smile plastered on his face.
"You can be so weird sometimes!"
"Look who's talking!"
"How am I weird?"
"You just… are!"
"Well you're weirder!"
"Am not!"
And so the fight continued, until the two were so exhausted from yelling, that they barely had the energy to stay sitting up. Now both leaned against the wall right next to the hole.
"See?" Albel panted, closing his eyes. "We need chocolate bananas for energy."
"Or a banana milkshake…" The redhead replied from the other side. Albel turned his head to look at her through the hole.
"Are those good? I've never had one of those before…" It was Nel's turn to choke.
"WHAT!" she shrieked. "You rant ON and ON about chocolate bananas and you've never had a banana MILKSHAKE!"
Albel laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head lightly. "Well… um…" He laughed again. Nel blinked at him.
"You're nuts."
"Am not."
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
"GAH! We're acting like the grown-ups!" the Aquarian cried, pulling at her red locks. Her eyes became blurry with tears. "I don't wanna be like the grown-ups!"
Albel's eyes widened and he bit his lip. "No… please don't cry." He said, slightly upset himself. "It's normal for friends to argue every once in a while…"
His hand reached out through the hole, gently wiping the tears from her eyes. "It's okay, Nel…" He cooed. "It's alright…"
Nel glanced up at him, her lips curving slightly into a smile. Albel grinned.
"Better?" He asked. Nel nodded.
"Yeah… thanks."
Sudden cries from Airyglyph caught their attention. Albel let out a sigh of frustration.
"I have to go, Nel…" he said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Happy birthday again!" He added before running off.
Nel smiled, clutching the flute in her hands. She would treasure this gift forever. Not only was it a gift from a friend… but a gift from a friend on the other side of the wall.
"I'll never forget this, Albel…" She whispered, silently knowing that he would not hear her. "I promise."
Albel gazed at the sky, a scowl evident on his face. His lips curved into a frown as he glanced over at the rest of the group that lay sleeping around him.
All were there under his gaze…
All that is, except for Nel.
His eyes narrowed; words such as 'ambush' and 'traitor' entered his mind. His left hand flexed slightly, making a slight scraping sound as the metal claws scraped against the hinges.
"Where the hell is that maggot…" he growled, quietly enough so that nobody was stirred. He pushed himself off his ledge, landing lightly on the ground as he exited the cave that they were using as shelter.
He trekked further away from the group, trying to find the missing member of their team. Bah. It wasn't as if he cared! But if she was missing in the morning, there would be some serious problems.
The Glyphian scanned the area when a familiar tune reached his ears. "W-what?" He breathed, his pace quickening as he headed towards the sound.
It couldn't be the same song he had heard so many years ago… The song that only they knew…
The song ended just as Albel reached a clearing. He frowned in disappointment as his eyes fell on the red haired woman.
"Where the hell have you been?" He barked, causing Nel to turn around in surprise. One of her hands quickly moved to her back, causing Albel to raise an eyebrow. It didn't look like she was going for her blades. No… it was as if she was hiding something.
"Whatcha got there?" He asked in an almost childish tone. Nel scowled at him.
"Nothing, Nox." She replied darkly. Albel rolled his eyes.
"Whatever… but what the hell are you doing out here? You should be back with the others." It was Nel's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Since when have you been so worried about my safety?" She asked suspiciously. Albel glared.
"It's not me that's worried. Those other worms would be worried if they found you gone." He replied darkly. Nel rolled her eyes.
Typical Nox…
"I guess we should be getting back then…" She muttered, gazing back in the direction from which she came. Albel shrugged.
"Whatever…" he said, turning on his heel. His pace slowed down slightly and he looked over his shoulder. "You coming?" He asked in a slightly annoyed tone. Nel glanced at him and nodded, soon falling into stride with him.
"Zelpher?"
"Yeah?"
Albel glanced over at her solemnly. "That song… were you the one playing it?"
Nel's brow furrowed. "What music are you talking about?" She asked curiously, her emerald eyes shimmering slightly.
The Glyphian gazed at her for second before turning back to stare ahead of him. "Nevermind…" He murmured, staring at the ground.
The song… he was positive thatit was the song that she had played so many years ago…
Or maybe he was just hearing things…
But hearing things didn't seem so bad anymore… right now he would kill to hear her again.
Bah. She was dead. Nothing more than a memory and a distant song now.
And that's all she would ever be.
TBC…
Done! I've made it so you see what's happening in the future as well. It will make it more interesting in my opinion.
Sorry if they're OOC. Can't help it. ;
Reviews please!
