Hi...I cannot believe that I finally finished it! And I'm sure that none of you can believe it either! Just goes to show one thing: never turn in a story until you finished it. That's my advice to you kids.
Anyway, thank you all for supporting me, I certainly hope it's what you've expected...and that's all from me. So, without further interruption or delay, here is the rest of "Reminiscing About You".
It was night, and the Red Ruby made its graceful exit from the Pylarines. In her place, a myriad of stars decorated the vast canvas of space with their presence. The brightness of their sparkling masses were soon joined by the robust explosion of golden fireworks, indicating the commencement of a grand event on the land of the Ctarl-Ctarls: Laka-laka-laka e' Soko, or the Festival of the Three Moons. Every fifteen years, the satellite moons aligned in their orbits, which was commonly believed to be a sign of the presence of the moon deity Lako-Lako. Throughout the planet, a three-day festival filled with games, music, and dancing was held for all to honor and praise the cat-god. To the common Ctarl-Ctarl, it was a joyous holiday to spend with family and friends. To the wealthy, it was a solid money-making venture.
As the people rejoiced and the fireworks blasted, a slightly cool and soothing breeze made its way from the sea onto the shores of a small, heavily guarded island. It silently slipped past the watchmen and made its advances toward a well-lit palace, obviously decorated for the occasion. The wind gently blew up a wall into an open window, causing the sheer drapes to move like the veils of a belly dancer. Across the room it went, towards a large bed, and towards a sleeping Aisha Clanclan.
The breeze stroked the child's cheek gently, causing her to stir from her slumber. She had not opened her eyes, yet she instinctively knew that she was not at home. For one thing, this bed was much more comfortable. The mattress felt like it was stuffed with foam sponges (a rare commodity in this part of the galaxy), and the pillows filled with pinfeathers. The ample bedspread had the smooth feel of satin and it felt light, as it may have been stuffed with the down of baby gelzen (in adult form, they look like peahens, and taste like a cross between turkey and duck).
The second thing that tipped Aisha off was the smell of the room. Every week, Nani would decorate her bedchamber with the fragrant flowers native to Marcos Island, ranging from the tanginess of the baraunga to the delicate sweetness of the black washuue (her personal favorite). As far as Aisha knew, there were no flowers that carried the ocean's scent. The strength of that odor made her realize why her mother hated it so much.
As she finally opened her eyes and sat up, she investigated her surroundings and confirmed her suspicions. Almost every shade of gold was found within the room, whether the object was made of metal, wood, or any other element. It was certainly too extravagant for Lyxiana and Misao's tastes. Since she now knew that she was not at home, then where was she? Why was she taken? And most importantly, how did Caela and Nani fit into this? Sitting around would not accomplish anything, so Aisha got up and started to look around for clues.
While passing by a full-length mirror, Aisha noticed that her appearance changed. Her hair flowed straight down in its full length, and she was no longer in her school clothes. Instead, she was dressed in a white sleeveless floor-length nightgown which emphasized her already developing bustline. She started to worry, and she wanted to go home, but she brushed that feeling off by reminding herself there was a good chance that whatever she was looking for would be found here.
The sound of the fireworks interrupted her thoughts, so her next point of interest was the open window. After silently berating herself for forgetting about the festival, she looked down to the ground and saw a couple of guards. Then she went to the sumptuously carved door and found it locked. She pulled, pushed, and banged on the door in vain for a few more minutes until she fell on her bottom with a bump on her head.
*So that's what Dendrus meant about self-control* she thought as she rubbed her head.
Undaunted, she thought of some possible diversions as she sat on the floor....
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
The guards turned their heads upwards.
"Oh, please, GET SOME HELP!"
"What is the trouble, Lady?" asked one of the guards.
"I accidentally knocked one of the candles down, and now the room is on fire!"
Smoke billowed through the window as a reddish-golden glow increased.
"Stay tight, Lady Aisha!" said the other guard. "We're on our way!"
"Oh, please, hurry!" she yelled as the two ran off.
Once they were out of sight, Aisha went to work. She first blew out the candles that were illuminating the golden plates set up to simulate that glow, then put the bundle of lighted incense in a large vase of water. She then lowered the rope of sheets she tied together, then started scaling the walls. Her footing was unsteady at first, but she eventually caught on. Unfortunately, her attention was distracted again. As more fireworks shot up into the sky, she lost her balance and fell ungracefully to the ground.
Considering that she fell three stories yet still retained the ability to walk (albeit with a slight limp), Aisha thought she did well. But now was not the time for patting herself on the back, for she was still in danger. She untied the hooded cloak around her waist, put it on, and made her way towards the festivities on the other side of the island.