Feeling so strong I feel so inspired
Like a man with all the words
I could move the world
If I weren't so tired
So. Fates Warning.
Balder kicked his feet up upon the oak table, staring across it and out the window where three knights were confronting Dart. At first he seemed a little frustrated with the men, however after a time he settled down. Shana stood next to him for a little while, being patient and hoping to reclaim her beloved from the flattering knights. Yet it was not to be, one of the men who had served under one of Lavits' division asked Dart to come out and celebrate the marriage of their king. Shana walked away obviously disappointed.
Dart waved to Balder as he passed by, "Come with us?"
"Why not." Balder responded, following one of the knights behind Dart.
The group moved out of the unguarded castle and down into town where already the bars were open and quite filled with people. The streets were lined with vendors; who sold everything from fireworks to food. A little Minitos not far away lit up the street by supplying a small optical trick using magic and mirrors. The group ended up heading further on down the street and around a bend till they hit a small doorway. "Best place to drink, if your a knight." One of the men commented as they headed down into the little room which quickly opened up into a bar. It had three windows which looked out through glass into the water of the small pond near the castle, and was lit by humming little fireflies and a few torches of green flame.
"Hun, I though I wouldn't see that stuff unless I went back to..." Dart commented being cut off.
"Yeah, trades been up quite a but, the best part of those is that they don't put off smoke." The knight to Dart's left spoke. "Before this pace used to be really... Well dark and hard to breath in."
"That's quite interesting." Dart replied, as they all moved over to the corner both which would easily hold them.
Balder paused on the way to pass his hand for a moment through he flames. As with any other flame he ever touched they did not burn him. A few of the knights already at the table stared at the act, and then looked over at Dart.
"Can you do that too?"
"Naw, it's perks of being the Red-Eye Dragoon, not the Divine one."
Balder shrugged as he sat down. "I kinda thought since it was green it would burn."
"So did I." Dart watched as the waitress moved over, her long blown hair bouncing as she walked. He smiled, as most of the men started to explain to her exactly who their "guest of honor" was. Then they started in with Balder who just laughed.
It was then that he noticed a young girl speaking fervently to the man who stood at the counter, she looked like she was in a dreadful mess. He frowned, she matched the description perfectly of the woman who was said to have been sneaking about the castle. For a moment he wondered about telling the knights, but as soon as he turned back to them he saw her vanish out of sight. Frowning, he felt Dart give him something of a kick from underneath the table. He looked across and smiled at the man.
"What wonderful day we have ahead." Balder said, swinging his arm around the waitress who was now sitting beside him.
"More like weird and twisted." Dart said with a half frown and smirk.
"Upset that I've got the girl?"
"No, just confused." Dart said, chugging down some more of his drink.
"Come on! It's not like he's that ugly!" The brunet in Balder's arm cried out.
"Yeah really Dart, it's not like it's impossible that I could get a girl!"
"Arg! Never mind!" Dart yelled ruffling his hair frustration as the waitress laughed.
They were all fairly drunk by the time that evening had begun rolling in, amazingly enough Balder had a fairly high tolerance level. Which was something else that surprised Dart. It was around five when they left the bar slightly more sober then they had been when they started drink and headed to Lavits' mother's house to watch the fireworks for the evening from the roof.
Mrs. Slambert opened the oak door and beamed up at the knights. "Oh it's so wonderful that all of you would come down here and join me! I've made more then enough to eat!"
One of the knights groaned slightly and muttered about already having eaten. "Oh you'll be hungry after the fireworks I'm sure!" Was Mrs. Slambert's only reply.
The group managed to head up to the roof with out to many mishaps although most of the men drew saddened faces as they passed on by Lavits' room. Mrs. Slambert had already changed it around a bit for the little boy and his family who lived there with her. Balder jumped up on top of the roof just in time to see the main festivities begin. Already the people crowding other roofs and the streets below was immense. But now as Father Faza walked out onto the balcony of castle the people in the streets grew quite eager to listen to any word. Dart took his seat by Balder and watched with a pair of binoculars.
"Where'd you get those?" Balder asked looking away for a moment.
"Shhh!" Dart said back staring at the castle.
Although they couldn't hear the Father's voice they could clearly see Albert and Emille venturing out of the castle doors waving to the people. Emille's amazing white dress blew about in the wind and Albert in expensive armor of a green color made the white maid stick out even better. Emille's hands reached over for some thing behind her and Dart spotted a dark figure moving in the background. For a moment his heart leapt, worry filled him for the face that was looking out of the black cloak was none other then Alulan. Clearly through the binoculars Dart could see the grin spread across the man's face as he handed Emille the flowers. She then waved them about before her and then with genital throw let them fall to earth where they fell into some expecting person's arms.
The pair waved one last time and the fire works began bursting in the evening sky. People in the streets were cheering loudly and the couple receded from view. Dart turned to Balder who was grinning at Mrs. Slambert as she positively bawled her eyes out on the shoulder of one of the knights.
"I-I din't think I-I'd see this daaay!" She yelled as the drunk knight patted her on the back looking slight bemused.
Dart and Zieg laughed as they clambered back down the ladder. "Sorry Mrs. Slambert we've got to go up for the Ball!" Dart yelled rolling his eyes and the woman waved after them.
The castle was full of people who were running about gathering things up. Albert was standing by with Emille still attached happily on his arm. Meru dashed up the stairs towards them. "Come on! Second floor now!"
Albert laughed and followed the wingly up the steps to the second floor outlook which looked down upon the flooded ballroom. He stared down at the water and raised an eyebrow at Meru who just laughed.
"Pish, no problem for a powerful chick like me!" Meru said striking a pose.
Emille looked worriedly down at the water. "What's she going to do?" She whispered to Albert, who held up a finger to his lips.
Around the edges of the great pool of water people with everything from tables wall decorations waited with excitement. People in overly fluffy ball gowns flooded out of the castle. Shana was running about in a bright white dress looking everywhere for Dart. Dart was walking happily up the walkway to the castle dressed in full armor which he had cleaned that morning. Raizel was standing near the castle walls with Miranda near by. Both of them had at least managed to drag on dresses, although neither were quite as gawky as the one that Shana had dressed in.
Meru suddenly leaped up into the air, hovering there while letting her magic warm up. "Come on people, back AWAY from the BALLROOM!" The people below edged away as the water began to swish around haphazardly. Then slowly it lifted out spreading upwards above the ballroom and above some of the surrounding area. When it finally reached the height at which Meru was floating it thinned out slight and came to rest. The giant pool of hovering water stopped, with only tiny ripples covering it's surface. Meru landed back on the walkway.
"There you go Al! This is your real wedding present, lemme see if I can't get it lit up for you tho!" Meru said with a wave before jumping off the walkway and flying down towards where Miranda was standing looking fairly impressed.
"Oh my SOA!" Emille shouted, "What if it falls?"
"So long as Meru's alive there's nothing to worry about." Albert said patting Emille on the head with a smile.
"Are you.. Sure?"
"Positive, this is set magic. Which is the same type they use in Ulara to keep the barriers up, if functions basically on it's own so the people who work the magic can fall asleep or not pay attention to it and it will remain.... I think."
"Oh... Oh ok, well be better be going dow- What's she doing?!" Emille said pointing at Miranda. Miranda was fully transformed into her normal Dragoon form, and was shooting arrows at the water by what looked like Meru's direction. As the arrows of light hit the water they burst up sending hundreds of tiny lights streaming through the still water. Albert laughed and pulled on Emille's hand and started down the stairway.
Alulan turned as he was passed by Albert and Emille and followed them down. Noish jumping happily behind, "Did you see what Miss Meru did?" The mad asked, "She pulled all the water out of the old ballroom! Amazing what these wingly types can do."
Alulan smiled and nodded, "Really is something."
Further up he saw Dart and Balder heading up the stairs, Balder tilted his head to the side and Alulan shook his when Noish was busy talking to some woman.
"Albert! We watched down from Mrs. Slamberts house. Who'd you pay for the fire works?" Dart asked slipping in on Albert's other side.
"Meru got them in Lohan when she was visiting a while back, did you see the ballroom. I knew she was going to drain the water out but not like that."
"It was spectacular! I'll have to try something like that..."
"Are you drunk? You can't control water or fire... anymore." Albert said raising an eyebrow.
"Heh, sorry your knights decided to take me out on the town." Dart ruffled his hair, "If you see Shana tell her I'm getting cleaned up." Dart said before dashing off at a slightly wobbly pace up the stair. For once at least he didn't give Alulan a glare.
The people were already piling down the stairs to the now water free ballroom, although quite a few still hung outside watching the float water above warily. The vendors and the long snack table also remained outside of the ballroom mostly because no one wanted to carry those down. In the now almost night sky above a few more fireworks lit up the sky. Shana was pacing about the edge of the pool. Albert stopped before descending to speak with her.
"Oh, Albert have you seen Dart?" She asked with a slight bow while really watching some men carry a piano down into the ballroom.
"He's still getting ready," He gave her a slight shrug, "You don't have to try and be so proper around me Shana you know that."
"I think its fun," She said spinning about once. "I haven't worn a dress like this since last time we were in Feltz."
"I'll have to give you one of mine!" Emille piped up, "I've got far to many, especially with all the ones I'm getting as presents."
"Oh really?" Shana asked a smile growing over her face.
"Of course!"
Raizel watched them for moment and then proceed over. He long black dress with a golden ribbon tied around the center was contrasting nicely with the lit up water above. Her normal hair band had been replaced with a golden one which had violet gems placed into it. And while the dresses sleeves were short Raizel was wearing long gloves which passed all the way up into the fabric of the dress. It was almost the opposite of Shana's white dress.
Emille squeaked as Raizel appeared by her side.
"Raizel, you look outstanding in dresses. I can't imagine why you never what to wear one." Albert commented.
"It's stuffy, they wouldn't even let me bring my sword." She pouted.
"Oh it's not that bad," Shana said with another spin.
"True, I could be stuck in that weird getup that Miranda's wearing." Raizel said brushing some hair out of her face. "So why does Meru get away with wearing her skirt?"
Albert pointed up at the floating water which had turned into a slightly golden hue from Miranda's arrows. "Anyway, I really ought to be heading down. I can almost feel Noish buzzing about behind me." And with that the green and golden dressed king headed down the sandy colored stairs to the ballroom.
"He has a good point, I hope Dart doesn't try an avoid me again." Shana said with a sigh.
"Avoid you?" Raizel questioned.
"Ah well when we... Oh never mind, I'm, just going to go looking for him... He was with Balder, so I'll ask him." With that the beautiful ex-white dragoon scampered off towards Balder who was wearing black leather with some newer red armor onto of it.
Raizel sighed and looked across the ballroom to where she saw Miranda almost literally stalking Alulan about. She moved to grab a drink off the table which sat near by and watched with interest.
Alulan who was decked out in black leather with strange sliver symbols running down his arms and upon his shirt was moving about through the crow on the other side. About five feet behind him Miranda was moving about behind him. Everyone and a while she'd slip out of the crowd to try and spot him again. Raizel watched as Alulan walked over to a chair and lifted up a large black cloak with another sliver ensigna on it, and headed back into the crowd. Miranda who was a good five inches shorter had been watching the silver on his back, but now with a different symbol she was thrown off. Alulan left the crowd and carefully snuck over to where Raizel stood. He pretended to be grabbing up one of the little sandwiches which they had.
"Raizel, we'll talk tomorrow after the final celebrations. I'll find you, but for now we're all being followed." And with that he slipped down into the ballroom. Miranda was still pacing about the other side looking for him. Raizel slowly shifted about and headed for over where Shana had just stopped speaking to Balder and was now being lead away by Dart.
"Alulan said he'll find us tomorrow." She stated, "Miranda's been following him about."
"Meru's been following you about, want to dance?" Balder said with a grin.
"Um..."
"Come on, we'll be able to talk better that way." And with that he lead her off into the ballroom.
Alulan left the party only after both Dart and Albert had ventured off to bed. However with Miranda still lurking around behind him he hadn't been able to do more then speak with Kaiser. Luckily Emille's little sister Lisa had offered to dance with him so the night hadn't been completely wasted... But still it had gotten nastily boring near the end.
Inside his room he pulled the letter out of his other set of clothes from earlier that day, he stared at the front again.
Albert
It stated in the strange writing. He flipped it open.
Dear Albert,
I'm afraid that we can not risk another memory wipe so soon. To do that might permanent damage their minds. Although I could add another spell upon Raizel and Balder I do not believe that any spell is powerful enough to encage Alulan's mind properly. I do indeed think that perhaps we would have benefited more from simply locking them away.
I have cause for believe that Melbu is currently hiding not far from Lohan. We've also found that Faust has gone missing from his tower. Most likely he is now following orders from Melbu. We shall do our best to track him down.
Do take care, I would come to your wedding under better circumstances and I hope that only happiness shall come to you now.
Would you mind asking Dart about contacting The Divine Dragon again, I know he feels it's unsafe however the dragon would not wish for the man who imprisoned him to win.
Alulan stared at the letter, this Charlie person at least seemed nice... For all the memory wiping and brainwashing she was doing. He frowned, and pulled off his pair of boots while he attempted to jam the letter up into the hollow part of the chair.
He finished and fell back onto the bed with a bounce. Somewhere down the hallway he could hear someone speaking loudly but he gave it no care as he drifted off to sleep.
A/N: I'm such awful person not updating this enough. v.v I know I should write on it more cause I have a very long way to go on this fic but I'm so lazy and I have so many things I like to do.
BLARG!
I though that as some fun for all of you I'd add in a nice little Quiz at the end each chapter, the first person to review with the correct answers gets to ask me for an art commission! In case you fear what my art my look like here's my DA account free to laugh at my corny castle things.... They're fun to make!
Questions:
1. Who is the wingly who runs the teleported pad at Ulara?
2. How many levels/floors are there in Albert's castle?
That's all, fairly easy. Anyway have fun!