Aaaahhh... I have so much homework, and so little time to write this! I really didn't want to do this chapter. It's necessary, but SOOO boring! Sorry everyone!

Reviews, reviews, answering reviews!

Isis-Ishtar123: Sorry, no more Ishtar/Yuginn. I ran out of ideas for that one. But later in this chapter I do strike up a Yuginn pairing you might find interesting...

Seiko123: Oh my gosh, I know! Darres disappeared! I was looking over my rough outline of the plot, and I realized he's not in it once! Ah well, too bad. Not that much of a loss, imo.

Darkmoon: Duzell and Phelios probably didn't like each other. But I like to pretend they did. (grins and winks)

Sailor Tiamat: Yeah, sorry about everyone being out of character two chapters ago, but I was sick and tired of that chapter and wanted to move on. A lot like how I feel about this chapter. So yeah, everyone did stuff that didn't make sense. And they will, in this chapter. Just live with it.

Broken Dreams: Part Two, Chapter Four

Beginnings

The night of the reunion ball, Zi Alda castle sparkled like a jewel. Lights poured from its many windows, there was a fresh coat of paint on the stones outside, and the gardens were glistening with a fine sheen of dew. The stars seemed to be out in force that night; they appeared to be celebrating the occasion as well. Ishtar sat alone in the front garden, watching the lane for arrivals. She wore a jet-black spaghetti-strap dress with a deep v-neck. It was form-fitting down to her waist, where it suddenly flared out. Emeralds sparkled on her wrists and her neck, and in her hair. Her green eyes were clouded with apprehension as they stared out into the dark night.

Duzell ran around on the grass chasing crickets. He would pounce on one again and again, each time missing it by a hair. He hissed slightly, and Ishtar grinned.

"No luck?" she asked him. He glared at her before returning his attention to the insects her was stalking.

One by one, people started arriving. First was Lady Ramia of La Naan, followed closely by her three sons. Vord greeted the princess cheerily. Seiliez did the same with the calm warmth that was so customary of him. Laphiji merely nodded with quiet detachment. She didn't like Laphiji all that much.

Slowly the ballroom filled with people. Some danced, some munched on the snack bar, but most talked amongst themselves. Not everyone was a relative of Phelios- there were personal attendants and bodyguards by the dozen, not to mention the odd taste tester or two.

Still Ishtar sat on her bench in the garden, watching.

Finally Duzell couldn't take it any longer. Morphing into his true form he demanded of her, "What are you waiting for?"

She opened her mouth to reply when a carriage pulled up. She leaned forward expectantly.

The princess wasn't let down. The door opened and Falan stepped out of the stagecoach. She was dressed in a silver dress with a poofy skirt- childish but still pretty. Falan looked around, but suddenly gasped as a heavy weight bore down on her.

"Oof... hi Ishtar," she wheezed as her cousin squeezed the life out of her.

"Falan! Hi!" the raven-haired girl exclaimed happily. "Welcome to Zi Alda!"

Ishtar let go of the blonde girl. They both gazed at the castle.

"Wow..." breathed Falan. "It's so... different... it's beautiful."

"This is the first time you've been out of Ci Xeneth, isn't it?"

They both turned at the voice. Falan smiled; Ishtar grinned and waved. "Illsaide! Great to see you!"

He nodded. "I guess I'm part of this reunion as well."

"Oh, that's right! I forgot, you're Jened's son! Well, welcome, cuz!" Ishtar clapped him on the back. "C'mon Falan, let me show you around."

The two girls made their way inside and left Illsaide standing there. After a moment, he shrugged and went inside, in search of a good drink.

None of them noticed the coach pull up. Only Duzell, who had finally caught the cricket he was chasing, saw it. He watched in surprise as the old man stepped out of it, looked around, and then strode inside.

Well, now, he thought to himself. Who would have thought that Keld would show up?

Inside, Ishtar was showing Falan to her relatives. Everyone was pleased to meet her, some more so than others. Yuginn in particular, had seemed very interested.

"Yuginn! Say, have you met my cousin Falan?" the princess had asked, walking up to him with the girl in question in tow.

"I'm afraid not. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

Falan had blushed. "Oh, please, you're just saying that. The pleasure is all mine."

She leaned over and whispered into Ishtar's ear, "Oh my gosh! He's so cute!"

When Yuujel's grin widened, Falan realize she had spoken too loud. Her face turned the color of freshly picked beets. "Err...sorry..."

"No need to apologize. It's quite a compliment, especially coming from one as beautiful as yourself."

Ishtar decided that things were getting way too mushy for her, and excused herself before the sparks ignited.

For a while, the princess cruised the room and was generally social. After a while, though, the party began breaking up. Everyone left to their rooms, content with the knowledge of a good night's sleep that awaited them. But the night was just beginning.

Dun Dun DUUUUUNNNNN!!!! Heh heh, gotta love those cliffhangers! Well, tune in next time for: A REALLY EXCITING INSTALLMENT. WORD.