Chapter 9: Bonding

WHEE!! Colorado was so nice!!!! ^.^ Wish I could have gone mountain climbing…better yet, I wish I could have ridden T_T But they ride western style…I've only ridden in English….;; Right, back to Sleeping Beauty, er Tintlet, er Faerie…WHATEVER!! O_o

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         The next five months seem to pass by quickly for Rune. The young elf prince had yet to reveal his title to Tintlet, but he didn't really feel the need in telling her. She seemed to enjoy his company as much as he enjoyed hers. He wondered why. He had never been alone, what with all the water lights that inhabited the Water Realm. Even now, as he was turning this thought in his mind, Tintlet was sitting in a field of flowers, several water lights dancing around her. He was watching from a low hanging branch, his back against the tree, one leg dangling from the branch. What is it? he wondered.

         "Rune…RUNE!!"

         He jumped up and nearly fell of the branch. When he felt his balance return, he looked up to see Miyabi sitting on a smaller branch, frowning down at him. "Miyabi? How long have been there?"

         "I'VE BEEN UP HERE CALLING YOUR NAME FOR THE PAST TEN MINUTES!!!" she yelled, a vein popping.

         Rune sweatdropped. "Sorry, Miyabi…"

         The water light looked at him thoughtfully. "What are you thinking about?"

         He blinked and looked up at her distractedly. "Eh?"

         "You're not paying attention to me…" Miyabi said, narrowing her eyes. She jumped down onto his head and stood up. "Rune! You better not be thinking about anything pervertish!!" she yelled as she stomped on his head.

         "Ow!" he laughed. "I'm not, I'm not!" He gently picked her up and she stood on his palms, her arms crossed with a defiant look on her face. "Yeesh, you know me better than that!"

         "…" The water light turned around and let her arms hang. "I know…"

         "Then what's the problem?"

         "…" I can't tell him… She turned back around and smiled. "You were just acting weird! I was just checking to make sure!"

         Rune blinked, looking at her. "You sure?"

         "Mhm!" Miyabi twirled around and jumped onto his propped up knee, still keeping her back toward him. "I think the water lights have grown very fond of the princess, don't you agree?"

         "Seems so," he agreed, letting his hands droop back down onto the branch.

         There was a moment of silence. "Rune, what do you think about Lady Tintlet?" Miyabi asked in a soft voice, not turning around.

         He blinked. "What do…I think?"

         "Yeah."

         Rune looked up thoughtfully. "Well…she's nice, innocent, gentle…definitely not a spoiled princess," he added laughing. A thought came to him and he stopped, still looking up into the high branches above him. A breeze flew through, making the soft green leaves rustle and Rune's hair blow around him. "Almost as if she was…" A faerie… he finished silently.

         Miyabi stood there, her hands gripping the hem of her shirt. She knew what Rune was thinking. She had been with him for so long now, she believed she knew him better than he knew himself. She had also known to expect what he was feeling, but yet she couldn't bear the thought now that it actually had come to an existence. The water light felt the tears welling up in her eyes and hastily brushed them away. One more month until the fated time would come. One more month until her power to counter the curse that Shyrendora had first placed would be tested. Just one more month…until Rune leaves me…

         Tintlet, her white dress splayed out on the ground as she sat in the field of flowers, watched the water lights zip around her. How bright they were, casting multitudes of bright colored sparkles down upon her. Hana-Kusuku was sitting on her right shoulder, telling her things about the Water Realm. Normally she would listen to the water light, but there was something else that seemed to take her mind's attention away. Something that had been there since she had entered the Water Realm. Something that she did not quite understand…

         She could vaguely hear Hana-Kusuku saying that she thought Shian had a crush on Ringleys and she could hear herself giggling at the thought. Yet, she seemed to be so far away from where she actually was. Maybe this is all…just a dream… she thought to herself as Hana-Kusuku continued to talk. Maybe I'll wake up and find myself back in Draqueen… The thought of her parents created a sharp stab of pain in her heart. She missed them very much, having not seen them since she had arrived to the Water Realm. Tetheus had been the main Dragon Officer who had come down to check on her, Kai-stern being the other. Her parents had sent with them gifts and words of love, but it wasn't the same. She knew that they were too busy back in Draqueen, and now with Nadil's army roaming about, rather dangerous to leave.

         But you are not any safer… a voice suddenly said in her head. Your parents have sent you away from the protection that you need. These…faeries cannot protect you from…me… The voice began to take shape in her mind and a pair of red-purple eyes seemed to pierce right through her soul. Princesssss… A head was now taking shape. Long, silvery white hair swirled about the woman's face, three red striped markings forming. A long hand was slowly reaching out to Tintlet and it suddenly grabbed her throat.

         Tintlet wanted to scream, to cry out, but she couldn't open her mouth, much less move or hear what was going on around her. Everything around suddenly became dark and the only thing that she could see clearly was the woman's face. A demented look swept across her attacker's face and seemed to change form. The grip around her neck tightened. I…I can't breathe…

         DIE PRINCESS!! The woman now had the face of a beast, her once slender hands now scaly and her fingers turned to claws. Still holding Tintlet with her left hand, Shyrendora held up a sword, the point glinting from an unknown source of light. Tintlet found her voice and screamed as the sword plunged down toward her heart.

         But it did not pierce through her. Tintlet felt something swirling around her, and something splashed lightly on her face. Water…? She slowly opened her eyes only to find herself surrounded by a wall of water. She could see Shyrendora backing away with her arms in front of her as if to shield her face from the bright light that emitted from a creature that stood in front of her.

         This is not the last of me, Princess! With a bright flash of dark light and smoke, Shyrendora disappeared.

         The beast that had been standing in front of the wall of water now turned its long, slender neck and looked at her with pale, light blue eyes. It was hard to see exactly what it looked like for the water was still swirling around her. But after a moment, the water calmed and disappeared all together, and Tintlet could see she was facing a beautiful, white dragon. As she reached up to touch its elegantly shaped head, the dragon seemed to flicker for a moment.

         Everything is all right now, it was saying, as she felt herself coming back to consciousness. For I…no, we will protect you…

         We…? she repeated as the dragon started to fade and everything started to come back.

         Tintlet!! A voice was crying out to her. A voice that sounded so familiar…

         The dragon looked up into the direction of the voice. Yes…we. And with that, the darkness disappeared and Tintlet felt herself being shaken. …Rune…?

         "Tintlet!!" Rune yelled shaking her. "Tintlet, wake up!!!"

         She blinked and slowly opened her eyes to find Rune staring down at her, several water lights hovering over them. She blinked as he suddenly hugged her to him. "Rune…?"

         He just held her tight, a feeling of relief washing through him. She's all right…thank the spirits she's all right…

         Tintlet blushed. "R-Rune…"

         Shian hovered over them. "Rune! Dealte will kill you if she saw you holding the Princess like that!" she said gleefully. The response he gave her surprised everyone. 

         "I don't care." He pulled back and stared into the Tintlet's light blue eyes. "That was no doubt one of Shyrendora's attempts to kill you, Tintlet!" His looks softened. "When I saw that dark wind surrounding you I was scared out of my wits. I realized then that I didn't want to lose you," he said softly, making her blush. "And that's why," he said with great determination in his voice, "I'll stay right by your side and protect you!"

         Everyone, Tintlet most of all, looked at Rune shocked. His face was also slightly flushed, but the water lights couldn't tell whether it was for the emotion he felt for the princess or the anger he felt for the yokai. They concluded it was a mixture of both. Hana-Kusuku and Shian, however, looked down at Miyabi, who was watching from atop a flower. They knew she loved Rune more than anyone else did, and they wondered how their friend was taking it. She may not have admitted it openly, but they could tell she was the happiest when she was with Rune. The two glanced at each other worriedly.

         They were not the only ones who were worried about Miyabi. Two more people were watching the scene that was unfolding.

         "She won't be able to come back to that field now. It's too close."

         "I know."

         There was a pause between the speakers.

         "Dealte, I'm worried about that water light."

         "I know, Rath…but what can we do?"

         The Dragon Knight looked down at the faerie elf who sat beneath the tree he was sitting in. She had a tired look on her face, yet relieved that the water had accepted the Princess. It was one of her gifts… "I guess we could keep a watch on her. Rune is going to look after the princess like a hen."

         Dealte giggled a little. "I guess…He's very protective over things that he loves…" She sighed and looked up at Rath. "Demo…"

         He nodded. "Wakata. If Miyabi falls too deep into despair…"

         Everything is lost… Dealte finished sadly.   

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*sniff* Poor Miyabi T_T How will she fare? Find out in the next chapter…Confusion. Boy that sounded like a preview for an anime…o.O; You know, they say "Find out in the next episode of *insert series here*…Whatever" . Right…R&R ^^;;