Okay, So after a while... and I mean a while, yes sorry I was gone for so long D: Things got really hectic. By the way, Ash is a real person and he's very sexy. Back to the subject, I didn't like how long I planned for this 'awesome filler' (bleh) to drag out, so I'm kind of cutting it short. It was a fairly useless inside joke that I wanted to elaborate on but now I lost the motivation to continue it. Plus, I decided I wanted to make things a bit more Marching Band related, though this story will be sidetracked many times for this is a story regarding 'Pink Devils' and the members within it. More importantly Ariana Claire Shelby ;) Anyway, perhaps I'll elaborate on this A.S.S.S Later, but for now it's gonna be a pretty blunt ending and then I'm moving on.
~Omni
The lengths our group would go to was absolutely ridiculous. I rolled my eyes as I fixed the ear piece hidden in my ear. Lara was on the opposite end, practically yelling orders into my ear despite my assurances that I could hear her perfectly fine. I gulped and felt my body suddenly grow hot and tense as I began to approach him. I was glad he didn't see me walking his way; he seemed to be busy while talking to our bands Bass player Ike.
"Lara…" I whispered through clenched teeth, "He's busy, what do I do?! Turn around? I think I'm going to turn around."
"If you turn around, you will dishonor! DISHONOR!" she screeched, "Just keep going, he can't refuse a conversation from you."
I took in a deep breath and continued onwards, my knees were already beginning to tremble. I must have already become transfused within his presence, for my knees seemed to be ready to practically fall at his whim. Perhaps my senses were confused, and thought him a king… perhaps nature was pushing me to bow before such divine royalty!
It's almost like he knew I was approaching, oh his keen instinct…
I looked up just as his head tilted in confusion towards me, "Ariana?" his voice cooed, almost in sync with the light breeze that brushed past us.
I froze, even though we were now friends and had conversed with him on various occasions, I still found myself constantly floundering around him.
"SPEAK!" Lara's voice pierced suddenly through my ear piece, causing me to jump rather noticeably.
"Are you alright…?" he asked me
I looked down as my cheeks flushed a bright red, "I- um… wanted to…"
Ash seemed to chuckle at my shyness, "Hey Ike," he said, "Could we have a moment alone?"
"Sure thing man." He replied coolly and left us both.
The two of us alone didn't make me feel much better.
Ashthen turned towards me with a warm smile. Once I looked up, his eyes immediately locked against mine which didn't help relinquish my continuous reddening cheeks. "Now, what did you want to ask me?"
"Do you know about the junior curse?" I asked timidly.
His loud and joyous laugh filled the air, and it momentarily left me in awe at how the sun seemed to rise even higher with just a sweet moment of his ambrosial sound. "That old myth to give the new juniors a scare?" He looked at me with an amused expression, and playfully patted me on the head. "Don't you worry about it Ariana, trust me… its nothing but a myth. Even if it wasn't, I wouldn't let any sacrificial ritualistic group get their hands on you." He assured me.
I giggled like a little school girl at his protective comment. "Thanks… but my friends are doing this stupid thing you see… and… I don't know how to ask this of you."
"Shoot, it'll be pretty hard to get me to refuse a request from you Ariana. You seem to be my only weakness as of now-" Ash coughed after the last part and I almost thought I saw a light pink tint his cheeks.
No... he's not blushing...I'm not worth his blood's energy...
"I mean..." He continued and his mouth curved into a cute smirk that made my body tingle. "Seeing as how with your luck, I'll need to be around more often to rescue you. Now what is it?"
I let out a nervous laugh and tucked my long bangs behind my ear. "Will you attend a seance sleepover?" After sputtering the last syllable I immediately regretted asking him this, now he would think I was a freak!
"You don't mean…" he whispered incredulously and leaned in closer to my face. "You're actually going to try and contact Marching alumni?!"
"You know what we're doing?" I asked him surprised.
"Yeah, back in my junior year we planned this exact same thing but nobody followed through with it! Let me guess, you want me to be the honorable mediator between you and the picky spirits?!"
"W-Well yeah… if you don't mind of course!" I replied somewhat excited, it would be my first sleepover with boys, and more importantly with him. It yet surprised me at his knowledge of our plan, and how psyched he seemed to be a part of it, but I knew I could count on him for anything.
Ash scoffed, "Mind? Of course not! Where and when are we having this?"
"Tonight in the school's forest." I told him, a silly wide grin plastered onto my face. "Be there 7:30 pm sharp!" With that last comment I quickly left without another word.
"Lara!" I exclaimed excitedly, but a long period of silence filled my ear. "Uh, Lara?" I tried again. Soon in the background I could hear erotic breathing, and passionate sounds. I quickly took off the earpiece, Looks like I'll have to tell her in person… damn you Raisen.
~~~~ Forest
I clutched my overnight backpack tightly as I stared ahead at the dark forest before me. It was 7:27, 3 minutes until I officially had to be there. I was nervous, many things could happen tonight and the whole ordeal in fact was completely dangerous. What if he doesn't show? I shook off the negative thought because he had too, he assured me he would and he wouldn't let me down. Right?
I sighed as the time grew nearer, the sun was completely gone and I could feel the chills creeping up my spine, even through my red jacket and badly timed thin grey tights. The ground was muddy, and the roots were strangely placed. I was glad to be wearing my glow in the dark converse, which was both durable and useful for the current environment.
Up ahead I could make out a flimsy bonfire and hastily made my way towards it. Sitting around it was Lili, Aliquana, Barney, Lara, Raisen, Marissa, Evi and Reuben, but Ash was nowhere in sight. I tried not to let the emptiness which suddenly filled my heart show, but before I could utter a sound…
"BOO!" Ash's voice boomed from behind me. I turned around and shrieked in panic, sending a painful kick to his shin.
"Oh shi-!" I exclaimed, "I am so… so… sorry!"
Ash winced and rubbed his sore shin. "No no, I should have known better…" he assured me and flashed a perfect, white smile.
Soon after the fire had died down, the group rejoined in a circle around Lili's Marching Band themed Ouija Board.
Everyone was quiet, and I looked around tensely at my fellow friends. I didn't know if everyone was as worried as I was, I wasn't sure if they realized that depending on the outcome… nothing would be the same.
Both Aliquana and Lili had their hands on the arrow, ready to begin the communication while we all watched eagerly. "SPIRITS, ALUMNI OF SUNRISE LOW PINK DEVILS… MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN!" Lili's voice clamored throughout the eerily quiet forest.
A soft gasp escaped my lips as the arrow began to move wildly across the board. The jerking became so unbearable and a light electric shock could be seen for a split second which jolted Ali and Lili back. They watched in disbelief as the board levitated and suddenly flew itself into the dying fire. The fire that had been only a gust of wind away from being completely obliterated suddenly roared back to life.
The fire stretched out at impossible lengths, and I think we all feared for the desecration of the entire forest until it began to calm. Flames morphed, and to our uttermost shock, a fiery spirit like form emitted from the bonfire. "Who calls upon the spirits of the Marching Band?" it hissed.
"W-we do…" stuttered Lili who immediately regretted speaking when the spirit turned towards her with a piercing glare.
The fire crackled and seemed to shriek at the two girls, "And of what status are you to call upon such divinity?!"
"Drum Major" replied Ash, and stood confidently before the fiery spirit.
"Ah… worthiness indeed… how can I be of service?"
"I believe my friends; have a few questions to ask of you."
"Friends of Drum Major, elaborate upon your curiosity…"
Everyone seemed too frightened and after a moments worth of contemplation, I stepped forward alongside Ash. Normally I wouldn't dare do such a thing, but with Ash next to me, I felt like a completely new person. Confident, and less afraid of the consequences… because with Ash, I would endure anything.
"Is the sacrificial myth true? Are any of us in danger?" I asked the spirit without the slightest hint of fear in my voice.
The spirit turned to me, and I could make out a grave expression transfixed upon its face. "You… you're the girl, are you not?"
I gazed at the fire confused, "The girl…?"
"Yes…" the fire whispered, and seemed to be talking among many others which left me wondering if other spirits were also here. "Yes yes, you are the one destined for greatness… DCI…just like the drum major boy."
"Impossible, I am not worthy of such an honor…" I explained to them in disbelief, along with denial that someone as plain as me could ever get in.
"Hmm…Beware of the one who chases, for the mere absence is not as it seems…" the spirits voice hummed, "Back to your question, I'm afraid so… you are the first group to ever contact us like this. The way it works is for one to allow them to serve as a vessel in place of his/her fellow marching friends. That's the only way to call off such ritual."
The spirits voice confused me, what was it talking about… The one who chases?
Ash POV
"Is there no other way?" I asked with a hint of irritation. How could I have not known such things were happening, how could I have been so blind? Now my lowerclassmen were in danger, and more importantly, Ariana was in peril and I had to protect them.
"No, the Marching God must be appeased at all costs, or else Pink Devils will fall into a streak of bad luck, and fail to win any competitions." Responded the spirit sharply, who made it obvious there was no shortcuts this time.
I sighed with defeat, "Who must serve as such 'vessel' to save this year's class?"
The spirits demeanor became more devious and a light twitch of a smirk could be made out, much to my suspicion.
"With the sacrifice of the DCI aspirer, the girl… we shall retreat and let off 3 future classes."
The bargain made me burn with rage, how could they even think to ask for Ariana?! "Never, you Marching Spirits are sick! In fact, we don't need that blasted Davis Lemur! We can win 1st place without you…" I spat out, my words filled with disdain and newfound hate for the greedy bastards. Almost instinctively at the threat of losing my beloved Ariana, I had pushed her behind me and out of sight of the spirits.
The spirit burst into a ball of angry and large flames, "Your bold words have caused great offense to your god! Your twisted tongue no longer has any worthiness of our presence, we shall leave, and if we do not receive the proper sacrifices, don't expect to ever win again!"
I couldn't help but watch in satisfaction at the self-incineration of the spirits, the fire wiping itself entirely out. I turned to Ariana whose face seemed to be frozen in fear, "Don't worry Ariana," I told her softly and put my hands on her shoulders, "They won't come near you… not ever… and definitely not as long as I'm Drum Major of Pink Devils!"
Ariana shook her head, "Maybe… if it'll save 3 years worth of junior classes. Maybe, I should just do it, I don't mind for the sake of others."
Her words struck my heart deeply, and with anymore words like that my heart was surely to break. "Don't say that!" I yelled, and shook her as to knock some sense into her. "We don't need them… we don't need to keep appeasing them year after year! We need to stop the ritual, and win titles for ourselves!"
Marissa joined Ash's side and was soon followed by the others, "You're right." she told him. "Enough Is enough… and nobody is taking our best low brass marcher!" she cried.
"YEAH!" everyone screamed into the night sky, these spirits were in for a tough fight.
Raisen and Lara stepped forward, raising a bag in cool-people stances. "Yo, we got some marshmallows!"
"I gots some hummus!" exclaimed Barney excitedly.
While fixed in excited chatter, I took my seat next to Ariana while roasting marshmallows. I wondered when I could tell her, when I could express my feelings… and I wondered if she would return them. It would be a long night, and something told me that the encounter wouldn't be quite over…
Later that night, everyone was fast asleep in a makeshift 'safety circle' they had created. I couldn't sleep. How could I when there she was next to me lying so still and so calm. Her breathing patterns captivated me and I foolishly succumbed to its beckoning and addictive resonance. I wished upon her wonderful dreams, for in my life she appeared as one and I hoped to never awaken.
While watching her peaceful figure in the night I suddenly had an epiphany. This year I will lead Pink Devils' Marching Band into victory, and no 'Marching God' will be the foundation of which our accomplishment is based. This year's win will be the entire band, and marchers doing. I will leave a legacy that future generations of Drum Majors will strive to rise too! For Ariana Claire Shelby, this year will be the year of the Pink Devils' Marching Band!