A/N: Anou, here's chapter four. I hope I'm not doing too horribly here. Please review! ^_^
Disc.: Today's fanfiction is brought to you by the suffix "-ing," as in "violating" and "copywriting," but also "forgiving" and "not suing." See, my disclaimer isn't even mine!!
Changing Worlds – 4
Professor Lupin was not the only person waiting for Dagger when she arrived at his offices that evening before diner. The headmaster was calmly sipping tea in one of the professor's armchairs. "Please enter, Miss Tribal, and take a seat," Dumbledore waved her in. The princess slowly entered the office and sat down in the other armchair, feeling just slightly nervous. Professor Lupin came in from a back room just then.
"Ah, Dagger, good to see you again." Lupin remained standing, and soon started pacing the room. "Would you please," he paused in his pacing for a moment, "let the Headmaster and I see what you called a 'Remedy'? We are interested in how exactly it works." He looked at Dagger expectantly. She was surprised at the request, expecting something more along the lines of another spell demonstration, and as such it was a moment before the princess removed the last of her healing potions from her extradimensional pocket(1).
"Here, sir, but it's my last one. I'd like it back sometime," Dagger said with a slight smile. Mother had always told her that her smile was one of her best features, and that she must always smile through the worst of it.
The Headmaster seemed quite amused by her words, and said, while suppressing a chuckle, "Of course, Miss Tribal. Remus, send that down to Severus for examination as soon as you can. Now, Miss Tribal, I do believe that your friends are awaiting you in the Great Hall." At his words, Dagger suddenly realized that her new companions were most likely worried about her, and she ran down to the Hall to eat dinner.
After the princess had left, Dumbledore turned to Lupin. "An interesting girl. I do believe that she is one of those who shall always live in Interesting Times(2). It's probably a family curse."
^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^
The next morning broke bright and early for the new Hogwarts Quartet. Dagger and Hermione had gone to sleep only after a late night Girl-Talk session, in which Dagger had found out that the other girl was slightly jealous of the princess because Ron like Dagger and not Hermione. Dagger, meanwhile, had no interest whatsoever in the redhead, who was clearly head-over-heels for her brunette roommate.
As such, the coming of the new day was not exactly a welcome treat. However, after an amusing breakfast during which Seamus got shot down while trying to flirt with Lavender, the first class was a slightly extracurricular Dueling Class. It had been added, Dagger was informed, the year before for 5th, 6th, and 7th students. Dagger had a sinking feeling that she was going to be calling up some old friends today.
And such was the case. Dueling Classes were held by all four houses at the same time, and as such all four Heads of House were present. It was McGonagall, surprisingly, who called upon Dagger for demonstration. (The Quartet had personally been expecting Snape to be the one to cause Dagger's exhibition.) "Miss Tribal," began the Transfigurations professor, "would you please step up to the dueling platform?" The princess sighed and obliged.
All eyes were on the summoner, and for the first time people noticed her horn, a feature generally hidden by her unique and thick hair. McGonagall was briefly explaining part of the situation to the gathered students, i.e. the fact that Dagger could use a different type of magic than everyone else here. When the professor had finished, Dagger looked at her questioningly. "Any preferences?"
McGonagall shook her head. "Whichever would do the least amount of damage to us," she said quickly.
Dagger nodded and quickly summoned Carbuncle. As she had no particular special stones on her, a brief shower of red lights fell upon her. The effect, however, didn't quite leave completely. It seemed as if tiny red sparkles were flickering in and out of existence around the princess's torso.
A snort sounded near the back of the group. "Is that all?" a snide voice remarked.
Dagger turned toward the voice to glare before saying loudly, "I'd like to be outside if I'm to pull out all the stops. That is," she paused looking at the assembled teachers, "if it's okay with you?" Some eyebrows were raised, though general assent was given. Dagger led the way out of the castle to a spacious area.
"Now," she said, using some of her acting skills for the crowd, "you'll see what this is all about." She pulled out her mother's rod and searched for a target, which appeared in the form of an innocent bush near the forest. The girl quickly summoned Bahamut.
The great dragon-beast came roaring down from the sky, which had suddenly turned somewhat dark. Bahamut soared over the classes collective heads before spinning upright near its target, letting out a nearly deafening roar. The dragon-beast reared back its head, gathering power for the attack known as Mega Flare. In a great blast, the creature loosed its power on the unsuspecting bush, leaving it in ashes in a split second. The class, needless to say, was stunned.
Dagger sighed in relief as she returned to herself. That was always the hardest part of summoning, she reflected. One tended to lose one's conscious self in the mind of the creature summoned. Carbuncle wasn't bad, as it barely was a beast. However, summoning Odin or Bahamut constantly was tiring mentally.
The princess was not the only one sighing in relief. Remus Lupin, for one, had been slightly worried at the state of his new student. He had seen her slump a bit when the beast was summoned, and watched her closely.
Also, Harry had been slightly startled at the prowess of his new friend. She could certainly startle the living daylights out of half of the teaching staff, that was for sure. And half of the school was now in shock that someone that small and innocent-looking could call upon a beast of such magnificent power. Harry grinned before running out to catch Dagger in a hug.
"That was brilliant, Dagger!" The girl grinned and blushed a bit at the praise. At the consent of the staff, today's Dueling Class was over, and the four friends returned to their common room.
^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^
The view out of the window was absolutely gorgeous. It made Dagger's heart ache for Alexandria, or Lindblum. Almost unconsciously, the princess began singing, a slow, almost haunting melody.
Ate monaku sama yotte ita
Tegakari monaku sagashi tsuzuketa
Anata ga kureta omoi de o kokoro o iyasu uta nishite
Yakusoku mo suru koto monaku kawasu koto bamo kimetari mosezu
Dakishime soshite tashika mete hibiwa nido to kaeranau
Kioku no naka no te ofuru anata wa
Watashi no namae o yobuko toga deki runo
Afureru sono namida o kagaya kuyuu kini kaete
Inochi wa tsuzuku yoruo koe uta gau koto nonai ashitare totsuzuku
Dagger was so into the song that she jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Hermione.
"Dagger, that's a gorgeous song. What does it mean?" The bushy-haired girl, ever curious, gently questioned her roommate.
"I can try to translate it. It's in my mother's native language." Dagger took a breath. "I have been searching blindly and with no purpose for a long time, using my thoughts of you to make a song to heal my heart. We didn't make any promises and we didn't exchange anything. We embraced and I was certain we could never come back to this. In my memories, can you call out my name? These flowing tears can become shining courage. Life goes on. Your song will continue on to tomorrow. That's as far as I got." Dagger glanced brief at her friends, noting the looks of slight admiration, and ran up to her bed, mumbling about needing some sleep.
At Harry's somewhat pleading look, Hermione shook her head. That girl needed some time alone, and she wasn't about to intrude upon it. It had been a long day, and before too long, the Gryffindor Trio made its was to bed.
*Yes, Dagger needs an extradimensional space pocket. How else does she carry all those weapons?
*From the old Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times."
A/N: Well, another chapter hammered out. Please tell me what you think of this. I'm seriously considering dropping it. I have no idea where this is going, if it's going anywhere, and I just need some feedback. Please R&R!! Also, lyrics to Melodies of Life and translation were taken from animelyrics.com. I don't have to skill to translate that, or read the kana for that matter. Umm, that's all for now. Ja ne!