Chapter 7: Acquaintances

Ho hum hum…you know, this is going to sound random, but if they ever make a DK anime and if they dub it *gags*, I think Lex Lang would be a good voice actor for Tetheus . Anyway, onto the fic…and I like subs better =P Though sometimes the dubs can be good…

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         Tintlet wandered through the trees, several water lights flying around her. She giggled whenever one of them talked to her, their voices so small and yet so perky and energetic. She wondered what it would be like to be a faerie… It's so nice and beautiful here…and you could have special powers to heal and be…free… She sighed and sat down at the end of a log, her long hair trailing behind her to the ground. The sunlight shone down upon her and she guessed it was early afternoon.

         "I wonder what everyone is doing now…" she asked to herself softly as a small bird flew down to her. She held out her hand and it perched on a slender, outstretched finger. "You're free," she said to the bird. "But I'm still in a cage…"

         "I don't think this place is so bad," a voice said behind her.

         Tintlet jumped, startling the bird. She glanced behind and blinked. There wasn't anyone there. "Hello?"

         "I'm here."

         She turned back around and blinked when she saw a handsome, long blonde haired, pale blue-eyed faerie elf standing in front of her, looking at her amused. He looked to be about her age, though one could never tell when dealing with elves, and was wearing a white shirt with jeans. "H-Hello…"
         He smiled, making her blush slightly, and bowed. "Greetings, Princess Tintlet of Draqueen, daughter of Dragon Lord Lykouleon and Dragon Queen Raseleane, to the Faerie Water Realm." He straightened. "I take it you had a safe journey."

         "Um, yes, I did," she stammered and looked down at the bird down at her hands so as not to show him her blushing face. Wow he's cute… "And you are…?"

         The elf blinked. "Ack! I forgot about that didn't I?" he laughed and grinned. "I'm…Rune," he said, pausing slightly. I can tell her who I really am later.

         "Rune?" Tintlet repeated, looking back up. Where have I heard that name before…?

         "That's right," Rune said as he took a seat next to her. "How are things in Draqueen?"

         Tintlet blinked and looked back down. "Um…fine, I guess…just the same…" Oh my gosh, he's sitting right next to me!! EEEEE!!!

         Rune blinked and smiled a little. "The water lights tell me they saw you streaking down the road on the way here. Energetic, aren't you?" he said chuckling.

         She sat there, not sure of what to say. Sure, she could be energetic at times, but now for some reason she couldn't think up any sort of question. She realized that Rune was asking most of them and that she was being rude by not answering, but she was stuck! "Um…"

         The elf prince sensed her uneasiness and coughed, changing the subject. "Er, do you like animals?" he asked, motioning to the bird that was still in her hands.

         She blinked. "Why, yes I do," she said smiled as she lifted the bird up to her face. "They're just so adorable…" Tintlet gently stroked the small bird's head, making it chirp a little. "There was this dog, er well I guess you could call him a dog," she added at an afterthought, "named Crewger. He'd always keep me company whenever my parents and the Dragon Officers had to go somewhere. He'd even talk to me," she added smiling at Rune.

         Rune blinked. "You could…talk to him?" Was that one of her gifts?

         "More or less," Tintlet said as she released the bird back into the air. "It was mostly him talking. I couldn't really talk back, just understand."

         "So…you can understand what the bird is saying?"

         "I still get confused," the princess said, giggling a little. "They talk like a mile a minute and its hard to pick up what they say." She turned to Rune. "What about you?"

         He looked up thoughtfully. "You're right, it does take a while. But after a while you get the hang of it. What she is saying right now is 'Thanks for the love and gentleness you have given me. My clan will always look out for you.'" He turned to her. "Seems you have some allies now…" Rune blinked when he found her staring at him. "Uh…"

         "You know…you really look like a girl," she said bluntly.

         Rune fell over then clambered back onto the log. "Why do people always say that?!"

         Tintlet placed a hand to her mouth, giggling. She stopped and turned to him smiling. "I guess its because you look both beautiful and handsome at the same time, especially with that long hair of yours."

         He blinked and turned away, blushing slightly. "Well its not like I wanted that," he said irritated. "It gets really annoying when some guy tries to make a move on you, you know?" He heard her stand up and turned around slightly. "Princess?"

         Tintlet stood there, her hands clasped in front of her, only the side of her face visible to Rune. "No…I don't…" she said sadly. "I really don't know anything that happens outside the palace walls…" She looked around her, a sad smile on her face. "I was never allowed to go out, and I know my parents really didn't like that, but they were just concerned over my safety. I decided on my own to come here, in hopes of gaining some freedom, but…" She turned so that she now fully faced the elf. "Even though his place is so beautiful and that I can walk freely among the trees, I know that here I am still in a prison."

         Rune stared at her as the wind blew between them. The sad smile on her face pained his heart and he wanted to tell her that she was free. But he knew she was right, for it was the same with him. The only outsiders that ever came were either other faeries or some travelers who had last their way. He had always wondered what had happened to the princess after the curse that Shyrendora had placed upon the unfortunate princess. He, too, had not been affected by Miyabi's spell. The thought of what had happened to the water light saddened him and he looked down.

         Tintlet blinked. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to place my burdens upon you…"

         "No, no, I was thinking about someone else…"

         She blinked. Someone else? Had he not been listening? The thought irritated her. "Oh I see!" she snapped.

         Rune blinked. "What?"

         "You weren't listening to me this whole time were you?!" she yelled angrily.

         What?! "No, no! That's not what I mea—"

         "Here I am thinking that you'd at least be kind enough to listen to my troubles when you go off thinking about something else!" No! She knew she was blowing this out of proportion and sounding rather selfish but the dam had finally broken and the stress that had been building finally released itself.

         "What?!" Rune yelled angrily as he stood up. "Now see here, I have my own problems, too!"

         "Yes your problems! Its always everyone else's problems that I have to listen to!" she cried, angry tears falling down her cheeks. "No one ever had time to listen to me!" Stop…

         "Well if you ask me I think your sounding rather selfish if you want to be always in the center of attention!" Rune snapped.

         His words stung her like a knife as she stood there shocked. "I'm cursed to die in a year and you think I WANT to be in the spot light now?!??! YOU'RE SUCH A JERK!!" she screamed as she ran off, tears streaming.

         Rune blinked. "Oh cripes…wait Tintlet!!!" he yelled after her.

         "I think you blew it, Rune…" a small voice said behind his ear.

         He blinked and glanced down to see a strawberry colored haired, bright green-eyed water light looking up at him. "Mi…Miyabi…?"

         The water light gave him a weak smile and yawned. "The yelling woke me up…" She stared at the direction where Tintlet had ran off. "You didn't address her as Princess either when you called out to her," she said grinning up at him.

         He flushed. "Oh, hush! Anyway, how long had you been there?!"

         "…I've always been here…remember?" she said in a soft voice.

         Rune wanted to whack himself. He gently picked up the weak water light and held her up in his cupped hands. "I'm sorry, Miyabi…I forgot that your powers…"

         She smiled. "Don't worry about it now, Rune…you should go after the Princess."

         "Gack! You're right! You cause so much trouble, Miyabi!" he said mockingly as he placed the water light back on his shoulder. "Just hang on, okay?"

         Miyabi nodded and Rune sprinted off into the direction Tintlet had gone. She missed flying, though she had learned to live without it. She was happy to be with Rune all the time, and that was good enough for her. Seeing him happy made her even happier, even though she knew Rune could never love her like the way she loved him… Demo…kamaimasen… She looked up at Rune, seeing the deep intent in finding Tintlet again in his eyes and smiled. As long as she was with him, it didn't really matter in the end whether he loved her not, and that was all she wanted.

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KAWAII!!! T_T Well, will Rune find Tintlet and say sorry for being a jerk? . That was rather extreme… but I coulda made it worse by having her slap him.