I'm baaaack! (dun dun dun!) Thank you everyone for supporting my return!!

Disclaimer: FYI, I still don't own Vampire Game, so all the characters are borrowed. (Thank you, Judal-sama!)

This part of the Broken Dreams saga will focus mostly on Duzell. Sorry, all you Yuginn fans out there! I really enjoy doing Yuginn/Ishtar, but I think I milked that one for all it was worth! So now I'm catching up on everyone's favorite catpire! (a vampire and a cat! Get it?)

Now it's time to answer some reviews!!

Xelena: O.O Ci Xeneth, La Naan, and Zi Alda are PROVINCES!?!?!? WHAT!?!?! Ummm, I mean... OF COURSE I KNEW THAT! DO NOT QUESTION THE AUTHORESS!!!

(okay, I didn't know. But I'm not gonna change anything. It works better with them as separate countries.)

Xelena again: YES I'm aware that Yuginn is in love with Darres. But NO I don't care. I like Ishtar/Yuginn, so I nicely ommited that fact. CMON, JUST HUMOR ME. .

So, here goes!

Broken Dreams: Part Two, Chapter One

Spring Breezes

The fields of Zi Alda were bursting with wildflowers. The aroma was tantalizingly sweet, and the grass was as soft as velvet. Ishtar, princess of Pheliosta, sat in a field and laughed. She laughed at life. She laughed for the sake of laughing. She laughed because she was finally in a place where she could be happy.

Her companion, on the other hand, hunched into himself and scowled. The blonde vampire glared at the festivities that nature offered, as if daring it to try to make him enjoy himself. He was only there because the princess wanted him to be. If it were up to him, he'd be in the library, reading a good romance novel.

Ishtar seemed oblivious to this. There was nothing about her that hinted that just a mere week ago she was emotionally unbalanced and suicidal. Instead, she was giggling as she threaded daisies into a wreath, a smile brightening her face. "Don't you just love it here, Duzie?" she gushed happily. "It's so beautiful!"

Like a bubble on a bar of soap, the vampire finally burst. "Ishtar, what are we doing? We've been in Zi Alda for over two weeks now! It's time to get moving! I need to find Phelios!"

The princess pouted, her bottom lick sticking out. "But it's so nice here..."

"Ishtar! I don't have time for this!"

She laughed. "Duzie, relax, we have all the time in the world to find Phelios. Here, try this on for size!" She plopped the now-finished daisy wreath on his head like a crown.

He glared at her and wrenched the flowery thing from his head. "If you don't want to leave, I'll just go without you," He threatened.

She frowned in thought. "If Phelios was here, would you want to stay longer?" she asked innocently.

What kind of question is that? He wondered. "Well, yes, but I don't see what that has to do with..."

Ishtar clapped her hands together. "Problem solved!" she exclaimed. "Come on!" She jumped up and sped off towards the castle.

Duzell paused a moment before rushing off after her. Great, he thought. What's the amazing plan this time?

Lady Sonia sat in the throne room, chatting contentedly with a maid. It was only ten o'clock in the morning, and already the day was fabulous; the elderly woman seriously considered getting out and enjoying herself while her frail body still permitted it.

Sunlight streamed through the open windows and shone down on the lush carpet. A breeze, hinting of wildflowers, wafted through the room and ruffled her skirt. Behind her, Yuujel sat on the throne and read a spellbook. She was quite proud of his ability at white magic. He was the best in Zi Alda, by far.

She turned as Ishtar burst through the door. "Good, morning, auntie!" The teenage princess called cheerily, waving. "Hi, Yuginn!" The prince smiled and set his book aside.

"Hello, Ishtar," he replied, standing up and stretching. "Lovely morning."

"Okay, enough with the small talk. Can I ask you guys something?"

Her aunt nodded. "Go ahead."

"Well, last night I was talking to Falan on the ruelle mirror." This wasn't a lie, she had been talking to Falan. "And then she mentioned how she had never met you, Yuginn, and that got me thinking. And just a moment ago I was out in the field when it finally hit me- we should get all the family together! What do you think?"

The prince frowned. "A family reunion? Here, in Zi Alda? Maybe. But I think it would be better to have it in Pheliosta, it's more central."

Ishtar vehemently shook her head. "NO!!! Err... it's nicer here, you know? And it's kinda dangerous letting all my potential murderers into my home...." she laughed to show that it was a joke.

Lady Sonia looked out the window, her hair fanning out from her face in the springtime breeze. The air felt cool and sumptuous on her exposed skin. She agreed, it had been a while since she had see everyone...

"I'll think about it," she said at last.