Hi all! Remember me? The slow starter who sucks at updating?
You will never guess what I am about to do! Get on with it! Shocking isn't it?
Enjoy!

Oh one thing though, later on in this one there's a tricky name it's pronounced Or- rell- lee-us. But spelt Aurelius like the word 'aura' with 'elius' tacked on. Ok? Thanks! Now,
ENJOY! ! !

A guard bracing himself and explaining some things.

Rida was to be one of the guards at the party. And as he'd been told over and over again ever since he'd decided to go for this easy job, he was to blend in. As in, all ten 'special' guards being just under eighteen sort of blending, as in -if a girl at the party asks you to dance with her you dance your little damn ass off- kind of blending, as in pretending to be one of the party-goers and not looking self-conscious type of blending.
That type of blending.

The corporate fashionoids and their matching guests were to feel totally and completely at ease. Nothing could go wrong, although the hotel was now five years old it was still relatively new and was only now starting to get a real name for itself, this was one of their biggest customers yet and all the stops had been pulled out. The overly-huge ballroom with the domed mother of pearl ceiling, the arched doorways, the too-shiny polished floors, the beautifully tempting food that had been prepared, filling up the two brand new marble tables- each two and a half metres long, pressed in to the walls at the very end of the ballroom.

If they were going to go that far for the food, hiring the very best chefs galaxy wide that they could get their hands on just to help their own extremely overpaid head chef and his crew, it only made sense that they'd do the same for security.
But the thing was, they couldn't, they could hire as many professional guards as they liked –they had the money to burn- but wouldn't it be offsetting? Alarming even, to have guards situated at every gap of the room watching them all, like hawks?

The 'customers' had made it irrefutably clear that although the focus of the party media-wise was to build relations and celebrate their brand new line
-designed, advertised and made through their combined efforts, it would be expanding galaxy wide-and to celebrate the new conglomerate duo 'Modern look' and 'Beauty extreme's' first exploit together.
Another major reason was to relieve tensions and improve relations between the two companies' well paid workers. They wanted this 'alliance' to work but that wouldn't happen without the workers being relaxed and respectful to one another on both sides. They wanted a relaxed and enjoyable evening full of mingling and an understandably gratifying boost of morale.

There was no way it would work with the security like that, no it was better, the head of security and the hotel manager concluded, if there were just a few guards mixed in with the crowd, all highly trained and for clandestine sake only around eighteen years old. The regular security team would be just outside and at the monitors, providing a relaxed and safe environment for the party. The hotel manager was sure it would work, the guests attending the party had been checked up on and those that did have sons under the age of eighteen weren't planning on bringing them along, it was almost too perfect.

This way the hidden guards could calm any issues down covertly –if necessary- and help the guests enjoy their festivity in peace.

It was because of all this that Rida had been given the job, a lucky break for him, he figured, great pay and easy as all hell. He'd been surprised at the uniforms though, the head of hotel Poiga's security explained it to him, the outfits were nice enough that they'd fit in but at the same time warded off chances of them being interfered with – like being asked to dance by daughters of the guests for example. It all been explained to him so many times he'd grown bored of it, Rida sighed out loud standing just outside the ballroom's huge arched double doors no matter the reason, why the hell do I have to wear this belt?

Switching over to D'jok and Micro-ice's super enjoyable entrance to the party around a half hour later.

'Mei, c'mon please, I've said I'm sorry' D'jok groaned pleadingly.
'You let me down again D'jok, I swear I know my mom can be hard to handle I do but she's my mother and she's important to me. You made us late again, I WANTED her to see how much you'd grown, how good a boyfriend you are, I wanted the two of you to get on' She sighed 'maybe that's impossible, I'm sorry but for just once in the hover car on the way to a party I thought it would be nice if instead of nagging or complaining or, or little digs at each other, I thought it'd be cool if there was I don't know chatting and friendly banter or something'
Banter? Micro-ice thought, awkwardly standing beside the two facing off to each other.
'Me and my wild fantasies' she laughed dryly throwing her manicured hands up in the air and turning on her heel, sweeping off.
'Mei, wait up, Mei!' D'jok tried to chase after her but whatever was up with the floor and his pair of luminescent green sequined shoes… the two just weren't mixing. Or were mixing too well, his feet were slipping all over the place as he tried to run after his girlfriend, Micro-ice would've laughed out loud if he hadn't known how upset D'jok was.
He still let out a little half cough/chuckle though. The scene was just too crazy and silly.
D'jok began engaging in a half-split, he waved his arms franticly trying to pull out of it as his feet spread farther and farther apart one in front one behind.

Micro-ice could hear the guard at the door holding his sleeve up to his mouth and making long, scary, creepy muffled noises. He rushed forward placing both of his hands under D'jok's armpits and heaved, pulling upwards with all his might.
D'jok was heavier than he'd thought, he tried to pull and pull 'ah' D'jok winced and Micro-ice heard a crack, he froze, 'no, no, keep going, keep going' so he continued and tried pulling him to the side instead of upwards, it worked better, the two light bulb feet held out at impossible angles relaxed slightly and Micro-ice let out a sigh of relief before the momentum of D'jok's body got too much for him and he fell over as D'jok's body toppled to the side.

The lone hotel guard stationed at the door didn't even try to hide his laughter this time, it came out an explosion, definitely c4 a voice at the back of Micro-ice's head said in a sly joking tone, oh wait the effects are lasting a really, really long time, might be nuclear!
Micro-ice's brain halted a second
Huh? What's C4 and the, the N thing, that thing with an N, meant to be?

He was distracted by the hotel guards continuous howling, he clutched his large belly as it wobbled, squeezing it into himself, the effect was disconcerting, it looked as if, if he squeezed it any harder, it would burst! The guard kept on laughing slamming his big hand into one the doors of the double doors he was guarding again and again 'SMACK! SMACK! SMACK' Micro-ice stared and grinned having to hold back laughter himself from seeing the guard's over-enthusiastic amusement.

But D'jok was starting to hurt him now. The full weight of his body was holding Micro-ice down, pinned to the floor like a frog being prepped for a twelve-year-olds expert dissection.
He looked around people were starting to gather around them now drawn to them by the laughter.
He looked at the guard he was starting to lose wind now, wheezing and sliding his back down the wall he was leaning on, still holding his belly to him and nuzzling his face and chest in it like a plush toy. 'Heh…heh…heh'

Micro-ice pushed D'jok's head off his chest, but could move anything else by himself.
'D'jok, D'jok, c'mon' he whispered hastily.
'Yeah I know sorry I'm just… relieved and…sore,' he said waving one of his hands in an 'it's fiiiine' movement.
'D'jok you may not be much taller than me in your mind, or much heavier, but you are. Your crushing me! C'mon give a guy a break.'
'Well, this is a role reversal.' Usually you helping me you mean thought an exasperated Micro-ice
'D'jok!'
'OK, OK'

Micro-ice caught the eye of someone in the growing crowd, a guy their age, dressed in a black suit exactly like theirs. Glaring at them with such hot menace that Micro-ice winced. Micro-ice shifted his neck (the only body part he could really move) upwards slightly, yep, gaudy belt. The boy scowled at them almost accusingly, huh? Micro-ice wanted to mouth but the guy had suddenly whipped his head to the side looking at something they couldn't see, pale, eyes filled with fear.
Micro-ice turned to look as D'jok groaned and struggled to get up.
He saw the flash of a light bulb in the distance, behind the still-growing crowd; he knew it was arcadia news- who else could it be? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0000oooo.
He pushed D'jok in the face, away.
He felt like screaming.
MEI WILL DUMP YOU THIS TIME! HER MOTHER WILL BE WORSE! ARCH WILL GIVE US EXTRA LAPS! EVERY GIRL IN THE GALAXY WILL SEE THIS! SINEAD WILL SEE THIS! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WORSE HE'S GONNA BE?! MOVE!
He felt hopeless, trapped as D'jok struggled, almost in slow motion he could see everything happening, the confused pointing of the fancy guests, he could see tomorrows headlines appear before him as if in a dream 'Style-less Snowkids Crash Super Party' Could feel the hatred and also the embarrassment of Mei's mother, as he saw the flashing light grow closer and closer, but suddenly someone was beside him pushing D'jok off so that he could breath with a gasp, linking his arm and pulling him along, he caught a glance at a gold belt the guy from before? 'Grab him, help me!'
He means D'jok.
Obedient to his new 'hero' Micro-ice numbly followed his brains simple instructions and his saviour's barked orders. Dragging at D'joks other arm, through the crowds as he felt their heads turning. It's not gonna make a difference, they'll still find us, and worse this guy's gonna have to deal with it too after trying to help us!

'Damn it! They'll still find us' the boy voiced Micro-ice's thoughts. The dead weight of D'jok was stumbling as they dragged him too fast, he looked around at the crowds and made some vague grasp of realization at the situation they were in, Micro-ice judged from the look of horror slowly dawning on his friend's face that he'd figured out what the consequences would be.
He stood up properly, trying not to slip on the lacquered floors, moving with them in a glide motion, as if he were trying to ice skate. The new friend didn't remark on this, he just pulled him along even faster, unable to read the stranger's face, Micro-ice figured they were done for.

But they had to try something. Remembering something D'jok had once done for him, to save him from a dreadful fate. – The fate he couldn't remember, it was a school field trip to genesis he knew that much, D'jok had acted normally, acting like nothing had happened even though everyone in the class had seen, this time he could do it to, but instead of a teacher this time it would be live Arcadia news.
He had to give it a shot, or laugh it off if it didn't work.

He let go of D'jok's arm and slipped away, through the crowds.

/
Realising that his load had suddenly grown 'Huh? Fuck where's the other guy gone?' is he thinking of leaving the blame to me and this moron? 'Shit.' The heads turning to look at him as they passed through the crowd were making him wince. His job was being ignored, not whatever this farce was. Finally they emerged from it and he made a beeline for the back entrance not even stopping to think of the stares he was getting from the people who had opted for not joining the crowd, among which he was sure to find his boss. His job was being ignored, not whatever this farce was, he opened no one had gotten a good look at his face.

They slid into the fire exit. The door making a too loud crash behind them as it slammed.
Rida exhaled. This 'well paid and easy' job didn't look like it was going to be as easy as he'd thought.
/

Micro-ice made a hasty treat towards the reporter.
'Cieda Harpie here folks' thrilled the deep-purple skinned Zetsa woman 'Dressed to kill as you can see, in this beautiful polish pink ensemble, a design exclusive to the new line that this party celebrates.' She laughed and gestured down towards the pretty pink mini-dress she'd picked out in the exact shade of her own bubblegum bob, it contrasted oddly with her Amazonian figure yet at the same time seemed feminine and cute.

'And before the parties even started there's been some very interesting activity' she chirped 'spectators gathered here claim that they have just witnessed not one but two' she held up two of her three purple fingers for emphasis. 'Of the-'

'Snowkids!' Micro-ice interrupted from behind her waving at the camera over her shoulder.
'Micro-ice! I certainly didn't expect you to be here tonight!' she turned to the camera gleefully 'I'm sure Micro-ice needs no introduction, one of the strikers of the Snowkids the number one team in the galaxy! What in the world are you doing here?'
'For the party of course, me, D'jok and Mei are all here to enjoy the celebrations and the great food hotel Poiga's offering up tonight.'
He caught sight of Mei walking quickly towards him, almost running, her eyes were worried and confused but her face was firmly set in lines of irritation.
He ran theatrically and linked her arm pulling her over to the camera.
She gave him a what the hell are you doing look buthe ignored her and carried on.
'Although I'm sure Mei is here more for the fashion than anything else'
Cieda Harpie was eating it up now, he just needed Mei to go along with it -and for Cieda to forget about asking anyone who'd seen D'jok in the social-life destroying shoes why they were crowded around the entrance.

'Mei you're certainly revered as one of the fashionistas of the galaxy hailed for setting up the huge long hair/ponytail trend that's been going round all season, what are your new looks planned for spring on the southern hemisphere now that winter is finally bidding it's hasty retreat'
'What um' she said, looking at Micro-ice for help 'your mother' he mouthed, years of acting classes and shooting for advertising contracts took over and she was a professional celebrity again 'Yes, I'm really happy to start the spring off here at modern look and beauty extremes' party. Everyone here is calling it the fashion party of the year and I'm so glad I came, I've always loved the two companies separate work especially beauty extreme's dresses and shoes but now that their working together I've got a feeling I'm going to be doing a lot more shopping!' she giggled and Cieda joined in 'For this season I've got a whole rack of ideas! Anything's possible and I have to say I'm pinning a lot of my hopes on the new line, however as you can see tonight I'm wearing a-'
Micro-ice drifted away, the crowd of fancily dressed gawkers and models was now beginning to thin, although a few were staying to gawk at Mei and Cieda instead.

Now where have D'jok and the other guy gone?

He couldn't wait to tell him about how he'd saved his ass with the same trick they'd used on the field trip to Genesis.

Crisis officially averted he thought proudly.

Twenty metres directly in front of the Akillian stadium

The blanket of whiteness stretched in all directions, if it hadn't been for the sight of the stadium anyone would think it went on forever.
The snow here in this spot, although on rare occasions trampled on by the Snowkids coming and going by foot, has more or less been left alone since it tu7ook up position sixteen years ago when a certain scientist that would become, by a twist of fate, a pirate, clashed with the man who'd hired him.

Peaceful as the snow here seems, there is something beneath it, something buried long before the scientist and the man were even born. Below the snow, and below exactly nine feet of hard frozen ground, there is something.

It begins to snow, the white dots spiral down as if engaging in a dance they billow and weave changing course and dancing with one another, the dots of snowflakes gather and fall onto the white, hollow earth.
And below the many, many thick layers of snow that have fallen onto this ground and never melted, below the hard frozen ground, a once-warm and soft red shawl exists, velvet, once beautiful and highly coveted, once loved and cherished, this shawl exists down there now, in the darkness, now faded and old but still full of love, of the memory of the one who put it there and above all still mindful of its purpose, you see, this deep rose red robe had been slowly and gently wrapped around a girl's corpse, so that it could at least in some emotional metaphorical way, always protect her body from the cold above.

The skeleton inside the shawl enclosed deep within the ground, remains motionless as ever but with no warning, suddenly, begins to glow for a moment, a strange light blue colour, where no can see but the red blanket and the old earth caked around it. The blueness rises out of the skeleton highlighting the crumbly earth way down below, stops and shrinks into a small little circle of blue, like the light from a torch.
It rises upwards, there is only darkness below, even the layers of brilliant white snow are turned black in the absence of the light. But even the smallest light shines in the dark, it turns the colour of dark brown earth to blue then white to blue then finally the blue ball of light rises out of the snow completely emerging into the air, it hovers for a moment just above the ground as if it might sink back down at any moment.
But then halts and begins to change, not suddenly growing outwards as you'd expect but slowly turning, suddenly leaps and latches onto a snowflake right before it joins the blanket on the ground, then the blue ball of light bumps to another snowflake and leaps to another and another and another, up and up and up.
And then in the blink of an eye, the image of the ball is replaced, and a small and pretty light blue girl is trying to catch snowflakes in her hands.
She grows up slightly, her straight hair growing longer, her chest and body maturing and her height increasing slightly also, she is around nineteen and very beautiful.

She stops for a moment, standing very still and cupping her naked blue hands together, looking up at the sky and the snow spiralling down. A snowflake falls gently down seeming to want to accommodate her, swaying like a feather, she looks at her hands as it drops down directly above them. But it goes straight through them, disappointed, and she peeks through her fingers to see it disappear into the whiteness of the ground.

She sighs and rubs her arms slowly and methodically, almost too purposeful, as if she is only pretending to feel the cold, she stays there a moment and a warm looking blue duffle coat appears. She stretches her arms into them and the round wooden buttons do up automatically, the coat cuts off halfway down her thigh, she is covered now, the cuffs of the coat pull down slightly so only her fingers can be seen, she clenches her fists. The cute duffle coat makes her look like she's in camouflage, it is the exact shade of her skin.

She looks up and starts walking towards the stadium, her blue feet disappearing into the snow with each step.

She passes through the door and looks around appearing confused.
She walks down the corridor sure that she will find her goal one way or the other.
She passes through two walls as she goes down the corridor, halfway through the second one she pauses to look at Clamp enjoying a hot coffee and some time to himself in his room with a good book. In his navy blue rocket launcher pyjamas. She raises her ethereal eyebrows and moves on.
Eventually she comes to the corridor leading to the two shared dorms of the Snowkids (girls and boys). Ignoring any doorways she happens to pass, she walks straight down the corridor.
She stops at the dead end, not even glancing at the right turn that is available to her.

She goes through the wall and looks around, she is in a very dark room, she cannot touch the light switch and even if she could she isn't sure whether or not it still works, but she knows where to go even without the light, she turns to the left and walks, her own blue glow casting a small circle of light around her feet. She stops suddenly knowing even without the light that she is at one of the walls of the large rectangular room. She kneels down slowly, and touches the wall with her pale coloured hand, a box slides out of what seems to be solid wall it floats for a moment then rests on the ground between her and the wall. She is looking down at what appears to be an old wooden jewellery box.

She reaches her hands forward, but hesitates, can she open it? She swallows, and slowly places her hands on the old wood, yes she can, she can do this.
She swallows, and whispers to the wood, knowing her message will never be heard by the one she wants to hear it, or by anyone else.

'I'm sorry Aurellius. '

She takes a deep breath and opens the box.

/

This took a full month AND A HALF because my laptop was destroyed, I've had a new one for the last two weeks but I had to start from scratch on the story because my files were wrecked. Updating is harder than it seems huh? Especially with a cruddy old laptop. But it's ok because while I was writing the idea for Rida was introduced and he's gonna be pretty useful for the story... if I keep him. Should I? TELL ME!
Please tell me what you think, accept my apology for the late update and make suggestions!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, what did you think of Cieda Harpie? What did you think of D'jok being the one to embarrass himself and get saved? FOR ONCE! Ok never mind if you liked that one I laughed to myself with evil glee as I wrote about the accidental splits on the polished floor, imagine his face! Ok sorry, it's just that I've discovered that I just
really love embarrassing D'jok but I won't overdo it, or will i? Realistic? Enjoyable? Crappy? Tell me!
Pretty please?
Love from the Streetpixie 3