Chapter 7
A series of gasps spread through the room as Pandora's arms wrapped around Gordon, her head resting on his shoulder. Gordon felt his cheeks burn like fire. She must have been very scared to hug him like this. Pandora pulled away, her cheeks a rosy red and a nervous, but rather cute, smile spread on her face as she giggled.
"I'm so glad you came! I thought no one would find me..." Gordon smiled as she pulled the shackles (that happened to only by liquorish) off his paws.
"I was worried sick about you, lass... I had no idea what happened to ye..." Pandora giggled as the lead bear came and kneeled by her.
"You're highness... You know him?" Pandora smiled and nodded.
"Hai, He saved my life not long ago... I don't know how on earth Gordon could ever be a traitor..."
"He is a brother of the ex-King Waffle, whom the dragon rider worked for!"
Pandora raised an eyebrow. "Dragon-rider?"
"Hovis, to be correct... Long before me and my brothers got the house, he had apparently been coming here to rule the world as the dragon-rider, until Waffle came and took over as king. We found out that the dragon-rider was Hovis and Waffle told the bears that Hovis worked for us... Then they chased us out of the world." Gordon explained. The lead bear growled and drew his sword.
"You were leaders of dragon-rider, the one who chased half-of our kings away!" Pandora Stood between Gordon and the bear, facing the angry creature.
"Wait... But they had no idea Hovis- or... 'The dragon-rider' had even been coming here... and they didn't know when he started working for them... So they have no blame for that!" The bear lowered his sword and thought. He placed it back into its scabbard.
"I suppose..." He muttered reluctantly. Pandora smiled and faced Gordon, still blushing slightly.
"Pandora... We had better be going... Katilda's party will have started by know!" Pandora gasped in realisation.
"Oh my goodness! You're right!" She turned to the throne and run up the step's, picking up the crown and sceptre, then carried them down. She kneeled down before the bear and placed the crown and sceptre in front of him.
"I'm sorry... This is a wonderful world, I swear... but I'm certain I could never lead it... I'm sorry." The bear lowered his head.
"...Very well... I guess you cannot be forced to stay here... We shall escort you and you're..." He stopped, looking over at Gordon, thinking of what to say "... friend, back to the portal."
A smile spread across Pandora's face as she turned to face Gordon, who was also smiling.
Both cats followed the group of small bears. The journey being silent as no one dared speak. Gordon glanced over at Pandora in wonder. His gaze caught hers for a split second before she looked away, her cheeks going rosy red.
He couldn't help but feel she was hiding something... a feeling maybe? But he was far too concerned about another thing to focus entirely on that. Something about Pandora seemed to stand out.
Was it her kindness?
Her gentle nature?
Her will to protect those closest to her?
Gordon wasn't sure, but he knew one thing for certain. It seemed to be affecting him in a certain way, and it felt so familiar... he just couldn't quite grasp it.
Pandora found her gaze fall on Gordon once again, to see him staring at her. He gave her a little grin. She returned with a small smile, and looked away, feeling her cheeks burn up. Gordon sighed. Her blush was so cute...
Wait... Did he really think that? What could have led him to think that?
The two cats and the bear guards arrived at the familiar door.
The portal back home.
"Here we are..." The lead bear sighed and turned to Pandora "It is a shame you must leave, Miss Pandora..."
Pandora nodded. "I guess, but I know I don't belong here..." She gasped remembering the golden necklace around her neck and reached to take it off.
"Take it with you," The bear said gently, "It'll remind of our world..." Pandora smiled and blushed lightly, as her paw gently touched the neck item.
"Arigatō... Thank you..." Gordon smiled as Pandora gave him a little giggle and grin. Gordon felt a slight burn in his cheeks as he returned her gesture.
The door flung open. Without warning, both cats were flung into the bright light.
Gordon felt his face impact into the carpet of the hallway. He groaned and lifted himself up into a sitting position; his head spinning wildly, his body ached. He realised something in a millisecond.
Where was Pandora?
His ear twitched and his head shot towards the magic door as it flung open and out shot a ball of chocolate brown, screaming, towards him. He tumbled back as the other cat was flung at him. He opened his closed eyes, though his body ached. His vision was blurry, but the main colours her saw were blue eyes and brown and white fur. His senses began to return, and he felt something soft against his lips.
His vision finally clear and he began to wish it wouldn't have. Pandora stared up at him, wide eyed, their noses touching, their lips locked together.
Gordon felt his cheeks burn like lava as he pulled away and scrambled of her, letting out a small cry. "I-I am so sorry, lass!" He yelled, unable to get rid of this unfortunate and embarrassing accident.
Pandora was silent. Her cheeks burning up as well as she sat up. It may have been an accident... but technically, they had just kissed!
She slowly stood up and brushed her fur down, her expression was emotionless... and it scared Gordon. To not know what her next emotion was. Anger? Disappointment?
Pandora lightly smiled and giggled gently patting his tense shoulder. "Don't worry, Gordon... I know it was an accident... You don't need to look so worried, after all... We have a party to get too!"
The party!
Gordon's mind immediately snapped back into place as a warm smile spread on his cheeks and he nodded. In joy and relief.
"Aye... We had better get going!"
Both cats walked out the door, almost like nothing had ever happened. But both knew otherwise.
Gordon was still thinking about what new feelings had been creeping over him the past few days, and Pandora was wondering about the little accident that had just occurred. How Gordon's lips had pressed against her own for a few, too short, seconds.
You like him... Baka...
That voice...
Pandora strayed behind Gordon, and whispered, "What do you want now...?"
She could feel a cold breeze. She turned her head towards the left. She saw herself, purple, jagged ribbons bounced, tied around her deep, dark, brown fur, almost the colour black. Dark blue eyes gleamed as a wicked grin spread across her face.
"Now, now my good side... I only wish to advise you for both our sakes." Pandora frowned
"You mean tell me what evil act you want to commit though me?" The shadow cat shrugged.
"Say what you will... Whatever you feel, I feel it darker... and I feel lust!"
Pandora edged away in disgust, "I'm not lustful, shadow!"
The other cat growled in anger and annoyance. "NO! Of course not! And call me Paramora, that's my actual name!"
Pandora scoffed and crossed her arms. "You're a shadow... An illusion... You don't need a name!"
Paramora huffed and copied Pandora, folding her arms and looking away from her. "Touché, my friend... Touché..."
Pandora sighed and faced Paramora, "Well, why are you lustful? You said you can't feel for the good, and if I like Gordon, then you must feel for..." Her shadow slapped a dark paw against Pandora's mouth, shutting it instantly. Her cold voice chilled her ear as she spoke.
"Every cat has a shadow, Good or evil, to balance them, like you and me... And Gordon and Goreo..."
Pandora tilted her head at Paramora, "Goreo? Gordon has a-?"
"Dark side, Yes... Everyone does you Baka!" Pandora sighed irritated, wishing this 'Paramora' would just go away.
"Gathered... How come you know?"
"We shadows can see each other... Like you mortals can... But only our opposites can hear and see us, no other mortal... We live to give you advice and make you look ridiculous."
"What are you-?"
"Pandora... Are ye alright lass?" Pandora's head snapped towards Gordon, looking at her weird, rather worried.
Pandora felt her cheeks burn as she faked a smile. "Uhh... Bi ... I'm fine! Why do you ask?"
Gordon bit his lip slightly, "You were talking... and you sounded like you were conversing with someone else..."
Pandora gulped, "oh... No, just... thinking aloud... sorry... Umm, How far to Katilda's house?" Paramora nudged her.
"Smooth move, Baka!" Pandora ignored her and smiled as Gordon shook his head and turned away.
"N-not far now, lass..."
Gordon felt dark, cold paws fall on his shoulders.
He looked to his left.
There saw himself. Rough, dark fur, dark green eyes gleaming, his evil expression complete with a giant, toothy grin.
"You've always been into the crazy ones, laddie!" He had a cold voice, tied with a Scottish accent just like his own.
Gordon growled, "Not now Goreo..." He hissed. Goreo raised his paws off of Gordon's shoulder, his right paw lifted to the black shackle on his left paw.
"What? To scared to admit yer feelings, lad?"
Gordon didn't respond. He just turned to look at Pandora; she hung her head, trying to cover her blush in the shadows. He sighed, still ignoring the smart remarks coming from Goreo.
"Umm... Lassie?"
Pandora's head shot up at him, her blue eyes innocently gleaming as she tilted her head, a little blush hidden in her cheeks.
"Hai, Gordon-san?"
"Such an adorable accent..." Goreo taunted, nudging Gordon.
Gordon coughed to drown out the voice of his shadow. "Uhh... Are ye looking forward to the party?"
"Oh, Hai! It'll be great, I just know it!"
Gordon chuckled, "Aye, I agree..."
A tense silence filled the air once again as the cat's shadows disappeared in boredom, and they finally arrived at the small cream house, a white fence going around to the back. The smell of cooking food aroused the area, almost making Gordon drool. A cloud of gray smoke danced into the air as the two cats opened the gate and walked down the pavement up to the house, knocking on the red door.
Katilda opened the door and gleamed at the sight of Gordon and Pandora.
"Good to see you made it you two... Me and Waffle were starting to think you got abducted by aliens or something..." She then frowned and blushed, "and, believe me... You DON'T wanna know what Blik thought..." Her expression suddenly lifted as she stepped aside from the door and raised one arm inside the house. "Well, don't just stand there, Come on! The party's just getting started out back!"
Gordon and Pandora smiled in unison and stepped into the house, wiping their feet against the green floor mat as Katilda shut the door and then directed them to the garden.
As they walked out into the garden. To the left of the entrance was the strong odour of cooking meat on the grill. Waffle was flicking through variations of CD's that had once been piled neatly by the small karaoke near the large tree and at the edge of the garden, white petals blowing from the flowers sprouting on the tree. A song was currently playing, though Pandora couldn't quite remember the name, though the beat and tune of the song sounded ever so familiar. Gordon approached Mr. Blik, who was currently tapping his plastic fork next to his Root beer bottle on the blue table, complete with five matching chairs and a plastic white plate, fork, knife and tissue for each chair.
Mr. Blik looked up at Gordon, smiling cheerfully, though he wasn't as enthusiastic to see the chubbier cat.
"Took you long enough!" He grumbled. Gordon continued to smile.
"Well... Pandora wasn't... entirely in this world when I found her..." He chuckled lightly as the black cat looked at him in confusion.
"What does that mean?" Gordon sighed and walked away from his older brother.
"Oh, nothing... nothing..." He assured. Hearing his brother mutter a simple 'Whatever...' he walked over to Waffle, still flicking through the disk collection.
"Heya, Laddie... Whatcha doing there? Waffle looked up and grinned his usual goofy grin.
"Hi Gordon! I'm just looking through Katilda's karaoke collection!" Gordon cocked an eyebrow.
"Karaoke collection?"
Waffle nodded frantically, looking as though he could hardly hold his excitement "YEAH! We're gonna do karaoke later!"
Gordon smiled, "oh, sounds fun!"
"K-K-Karaoke?" Pandora shivered, repeating Katilda's words as a grin formed on the yellow cat girl's face.
"Yup! After I was cleaning my attic and I found a bunch of old CD's... Some even have Japanese songs on there!" She chuckled "HUH! And what a coincidence, you speak and sing Japanese!" Pandora didn't laugh or smile, instead, she looked worried and upset. Katilda grinned and pat her companion heartedly on the back.
"Hey, don't worry about it! EVERYONE'S gonna sing... Even Blik!" Pandora's ears perked.
"He said he was going to-?" Katilda shook her head and chuckled lightly.
"Weeeeell... He didn't say yes EXACTLY... But I'm sure I can convince him!" She claimed confidently.
Pandora nodded slowly, not knowing what else to say. Katilda had already turned back to the cooking food. She grinned.
"Food's almost done guys!" She called to them all, with it, came the different responses:
"About time!"
"SPLEE!"
"Great!"
Pandora smiled. Walking over to the blue table. She sat between Waffle and Gordon, opposite them was Blik, facing Gordon.
"You're necklace is shiny!" Waffle chorused, pointing to the neck item on Pandora. She smiled and placed a paw delicately under it.
"Arigatō, Waffle-san..." Waffle grinned.
"Is it from Japan? It doesn't look Japanese... What's it like back in Japan?" Waffle seemed to be losing focus on each question as he asked them. Pandora giggled slightly and held up her paws slightly.
"Slow down Waffle-san... No, this isn't from Japan and what's Japan like? Well... It depends... I think the best opinion for you can only be your own... but to know whether it's really great or not, you have to go there..."
"Ohhh... But do you like it there?" Gordon's ear perked up slightly as Pandora sighed.
"Well... I grew up there... So it's basically the most magical place for me... My home... Though I'm not sure Rose thinks so as much..."
"Rose?" Waffle cocked his head as Pandora sighed sadly.
"Oh, my older sister... the second oldest being Snippy, my brother, and then the youngest in my family would be Evangeline or, 'Eve' as we always call her... hmmm... You and Eve would get along... You're both very energetic... Kind... and like a type of Amphibian..."
Waffles ears perked up. "Newts?"
"She likes Newts, but has a pet frog named Siebel."
"Oooohhh, Froggy!" Waffle chorused causing Pandora to giggle.
Katilda then came over with two plates, each filled with the food. "Eat up guys!" She laughed cheerfully, going back to the grill for the rest of the food.
Pandora had never felt happier. Everything seemed so perfect. Everyone was sharing stories and jokes, even Mr. Blik seemed to be having a good time, well, except when the stories revolved around him being humiliated, which, unfortunately happened to be most of the stories. Pandora listened more than she spoke, and Gordon noticed this. She seemed very uncomfortable about speaking and most of the time, didn't seem heard, though he heard her every word, ringing like bells, clear and loud.
He wasn't paying too much attention to the conversation around him, his mind seemed distant. Trying to figure something out, something that had been bugging him constantly, but he still didn't know what it was. It just annoyed him so much!
The sky was a bright orange by the time they were done with the food, out mostly out of conversation. Katilda grinned and jumped up.
"Right! Who's up for some fun!" All eyes looked up at her, standing on her chair. Blik raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean? We're having fun already aren't we?" Katilda nodded, still keeping her excited expression.
"Yeah! But I meant something more... Interactive!" Pandora gulped. She knew what was coming as she slumped lower into her seat.
Katilda launched off her seat and hopped to the karaoke machine, kicking the microphone up and catching it in her right paw.
"Oh no..." Blik groaned, slamming his head into the table as Waffle cried out his usual 'Splee!'
Gordon grinned.
"Aye, sounds fun! Eh, Lassie?" Gordon turned to Pandora, face hidden in her paws, slumped into her seat. Gordon frowned.
"Umm... Lass?" Pandora's head shot up at him as he gently tapped her shoulder. A slight look of fear and confusion on her adorable face.
"Hai...?" Gordon smiled softly, feeling his cheeks burn again.
"Umm... Are ye alright?" Pandora smiled and nodded, looking at her toes.
"Oh, Hai... Hai... I'm fine... Just a bit... worried..." Gordon tilted his head as Pandora played with her thumbs.
"About singing? Don't be scared lass... It's only for a bit of fun!" He smiled reassuringly before lightly patting her shoulder, grinning, "Besides... I'm sure you'll sound amazing!" Pandora felt her cheeks burn like fire. She couldn't help but smile as she faced him.
"A-A-Arigatō... Gordon-san..." Gordon gulped as his eye sight locked on hers. Staring into her glowing, blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the moonlight.
Moonlight?
Gordon looked up to the sky to see the stars and moon were beginning to take their positions in the near dark sky. The moon and stars apparently shining brighter than he had ever really noticed before. Pandora also looked up at the sky.
"Dono yōna utsukushii yoru... Just breathe taking..." Gordon's gaze fell upon her, unknowingly, as a goofy smile crossed his lips and his eyes half closed.
"Aye... Indeed..." He wasn't sure if he really got what she was talking about, but at least gathered it was something to do with the beauty of the night. He sighed, still watching her. The breeze gently brushed through her chocolate brown fur, the small pink flower, lightly waved behind her ear as she still smiled softly, looking up into the night.
Both cats heard a noise. They turned to see Katilda ran into her house before she came back out in a millisecond, carrying a small cardboard box. "Guys, gather around!" She grinned.
Waffle, Blik, Gordon and Pandora went over to her by the karaoke machine as she spoke. "I wrote all our names on four pieces of paper each, so everyone'll get a chance to sing at some point! Now then, let's see..." Her paw dug into the hand a moved about, as she looked out to the sky. After second of anxious waiting, Katilda finally drew her paw out, with a little piece of triangular paper. She looked down at the paper, placing the hat on the floor, and then used her now free paw to hold Waffle back from looking at the paper.
Katilda grinned and looked at the crowd, waving the paper lightly. "...Pandora!"
Pandora's face flushed as she gulped. "Ohhh... Sushi and noodles..." She muttered just before Katilda grabbed her arm and dragged her to the collection of CD's. The remaining three cats walked back to the table and began to move their chairs closer to the karaoke machine.
"HA-HA! What are the odds?" Katilda nudged Pandora whilst flicking through the disks. Pandora picked up a disk, one entitled, 'Maroon 5'. She sighed and placed it down on the pile she got it from.
"I-I'm not sure about this, Katilda-san..." Katilda chuckled and picked up a plain white CD box and grinned.
"Relax, Pandy... It's only a bit of fun! Nothing to get your tail tied into a knot about!" Pandora looked to the floor with a plain expression.
"I guess so..." Katilda grinned holding out the disk to the brown cat.
"Good! Here... You may know some of these songs!" Pandora looked at Katilda with a raised eyebrow and reluctantly took the box, immediately turning to the back cover.
There were only four or five songs, but she recognised them very well.
Aya Hiroshige - Hikaru Michi (the shining road)
Dreams of an absolution (sonic 06)
Candy - Riyu Kosaka [DDR]
Butterfly- [DDR]
Pandora looked down the list and couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Shinji rarenai... How did you know-?" Katilda shrugged one shoulder and chuckled.
"Lucky guess! Love 'DDR' so I decided to download some of my favourite's on... Whatcha gonna sing then Pandy?" Pandora smiled and placed her finger on the disk box, above the song of her choice. Katilda leaned over and grinned, taking the CD from her. "You got it Pandy!"
"This is stupid!" Blik groaned as he slumped in his chair. Gordon, sat next to him, frowned.
"You could at least TRY and be enthusiastic Blik... After all... this isn't YOU'RE party..."
The black cat crossed his arms and mumbled "Be better if it was..." Blik waited for his fat brother to go into another lecture of honour and respect. He closed his eyes, awaiting the ear numbing sound.
Silence.
Blik opened his eyes and looked at Gordon, staring at the floor, a rather dreamy expression mixed with sadness spread across the white cats face.
Blik cocked at eyebrow. "What's with you?" Not that he cared so much. He was just curious to know why his brother was sat there, staring at the grass like an idiot.
"Aye, Blik... Too be honest, I don't know... I've been developing... Feelings... for Pandora over the past few weeks and..."
'Don't care!' Blik thought as he grumbled and slid down into his chair.
"...I... well... I can't say for certain but..."
Blik lifted his root beer to his lips and began to gulp down the sweet liquids inside.
"I think I'm in love with Pandora..."
The root beer spilled all over the grass in front of Blik as he squirted out the drink from his mouth.
"WHAT!"
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