The Kingdom of Glass
Thanks to:
Lady Demoonica Darkmoon :Normally, I wouldn't do something like this, I usually only thank people who actually review, but it just seemed rude to ignore you when you were nice enough to put me on your favorite authors list and put The Kingdom of Glass on your favorites list. So thanks for that kind gesture.
Katt: Katt-chan! Of course you can be in the story! You're my baby sister, I have to put you in (Along with everyone else who asks). You can be a gym leader, eventually, and I promise not to make you as old as Linla and Michael.
AN: Ah, whatever. Two pages last time, this will be longer. Mostly just an introduction to Amanda but the away pendant is introduced.
Chapter Two is dedicated to Dianne, a true anime and gaming fan who deserves this link to the Bishonen World
Chapter Two: Book of the Bishonen
Human World
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Tinparies."
"Good Afternoon Amanda, how is everything in your life?"
The short Chinese girl smiled at the driver as she boarded the four-twenty Westbound transit as she did everyday from the public library. "Oh, this and that, those new books I put on hold finally came in, can't wait to find out what happens next. Mom wanted me to tell you that your order is filled, do you want me to bring it with me tomorrow?"
"Yes dear," The elderly bus driver replied as Amanda took a seat close to the front. "How about you're brother, how's life down in Texas?"
"Same old, same old. He's met a girl and he wants us to meet her, eventually, He's being a foolish young airman again, wasting leave so he can't get a trip up to see us anytime soon." The black haired girl smiled, digging through her bag. "How about you? Is Molly going to be in school tomorrow?"
"Ah, that granddaughter of mine has come down with a bad flu, perhaps you can go see her and wish her better."
"Oh, that's sad. I think I will today, why don't I just stop at her house on the way and catch the five forty back to my house? I have a necklace I made to give her."
"That's to kind of you dear, but no, I'm afraid your mother wouldn't want you coming down sick waiting for the bus in this cold weather. Why don't you go on Saturday, so you can spend more time with her?"
"You're right. I will. Thank you." Amanda pulled a medium sized paperback novel out of her backpack, her latest find in the world of books. A science fiction fantasy that she could tell was anything but ordinary.
Staring at the fraying cover for a moment she opened the book, breathing in the smell of an old book, a smell she found both disgusting and pleasant. First was the title page. Wait, there was something wrong 'This isn't the title' She thought, slightly unnerved. Closing the book, she realized that the cover had also changed. 'The Book of Bishonen'? It held of picture of two youths, a boy and a girl in their mid teens holding black and silver spherical objects resembling what she thought was a Poke ball. Shrugging in mild curiosity, she opened the book again and began reading.
This may seem strange to you, holding a normal book that has now become this, but in all truths, this book is something you don't want to close. The Bishonen world, as it is commonly called, has existed since fiction was invented during the time of Chinese dynasties. It is the place where characters live.
In the world of Bishonen, there have come humans, chosen by the world itself, to join with them in a world unlike the one you have come to know. You are one of the chosen. Books, games, anime, cartoons, TV shows, movies. You have been invited to become a trainer, to live among these. All you have to do is turn the page, and your journey will begin...
Singing.
Amanda opened her eyes slowly, feeling something cool and soft beneath her. She lay on her back staring up at a tree engulfed sky. Wait, the sky? Just a few moments ago the sky had been overcast and she'd been one the public bus as just before sundown. Now it was clearly mid day and the sky was blue, cloudless, and warm. She sat up slowly, reaching out to grab her bag which had somehow ended up with her. This was... strange. First the book, now the forest with the singing in the distance. It had to be a dream, she'd fallen asleep while talking to Mr. Tinparies on the bus.
Somehow, she doubted that. Brushing dirt off her navy skirt, she stumbled to her feet, catching herself as a wave of nausea washed over her. She grabbed hold of a nearby tree trunk to steady herself. The singing was growing louder, whoever it was could help Amanda find her way to civilization and hopefully back home, granted these people weren't hostile.
No, the singing was far to sweet to belong to someone hostile. Now she could make out what the singer was saying, "Deep inside so silently, my heart must beat, deep inside of me. Memories flickering and shimmering on endlessly. Keeping close to the path. Morning star watching over all." It was a young girl, probably her own age.
She staggered back to her feet, glad the nausea had passed, just in time to see two people enter the clearing.
The singer was an average looking girl, maybe fifteen, sixteen years old. Her slightly spiky brown hair unbound fell to her waist, blue eyes larger than normal stared at her innocently as she fell off on a note, surprised to see her.
The second person was extraordinary where the girl was ordinary. Amanda could not tell whether the beautiful person was male or female, for his (she was assuming it was a he) hair the shade of the sky was also loose and tumbled around his shoulders in neat, straight locks. He was tall, extremely slender, dressed in a dark blue tunic and black pants, a cloak cast over his shoulder, violet eyes piercing right into her own.
"Oh, um, hello." She started nervously, not sure what to say to these strangers. "Could you please tell me where I am? I'm a bit lost."
The girl smiled at her, bouncing up. "Lost? Did you lose your Bishonen? Why don't you have a belt on? How could you get lost, everyone knows the way to the cities." She rambled before her companion interrupted her.
"Phoenix-chan, calm down, she's a newbie, hold still and feel." He- for the voice gave it away- ordered gently.
The girl, Phoenix, paused in her rant and shut her eyes in concentration. "Yeah, I feel it. You're new here so that's why your lost."
'Gee, ya think?' Amanda didn't voice her thoughts to the annoying girl allowed. "I guess you're right, so will you help me?"
"Of course, we're heading to town as well, we'll take you. I am Arkarian and my companion is Phoenix Laylas, welcome to the World of Bishonen." The blue haired youth bowed respectfully.
"Um, thank you. Could you explain this to me? I thought it was just a book, but when I opened it, I ended up here." Amanda asked as she joined the group.
"It's natural to feel confused when you first enter our world, your orientation class will explain it all to you. The Bishonen world has existed as long as the written word has, though it was only maybe fifty years ago that humans found their way here. Now, well, how do I explain this without being disloyal to my trainer?" Arkarian questioned himself, "Well, humans came and we began to live part together, part apart. If that makes sense. I am a Bishonen, that's the name given to us, though there are many other. I am a natural inhabitant. Phoenix-chan here is a half ling. Half human, half Bishonen."
"How is that possible?" Amanda blanched, these were fiction characters made real, yet, so different, beautiful.
"Why does everyone ask me that?" The brunette smiled but Amanda could tell she was slightly upset. "It's just the way the world is, I'm not the only half ling around you know. Ah! Look Arkarian-kun, there's the city!"
Amanda glanced forward, the trees had thinned out to reveal tall fortress-like walls built for protection, against what Amanda knew not. They were heading towards a gate, where other travelers were filing past guards, it seemed very intimidating. "Whoa!"
"Phoenix-chan, do you have your pass?" Arkarian asked the girl politely.
"Uh huh! Right here," She held up a black pendant with a strange symbol carved in red across it.
"What is that?"
"It's a pass, registered halflings and true-borns must carry one, it's to keep the rogues out of the cities."
"And how will you get in, Mr. Arkarian?"
"Please, call me Arkarian." The blue haired man held up a silver pendant, different from Phoenix's. Amanda could sense how rare and valuable it was. "This is an away pendant, if you will, it's extremely rare, there are only about ten to fifteen of them in existence. They allow a Bishonen to leave his master without breaking the bish-ball. I can travel as far as I like without ever getting sick."
"Oh," It didn't really make sense but Amanda didn't say anything more, "How will I get in?"
"That's right! I forgot! We tell the guard that you're a newbie and they'll escort you to the orientation center, after your class you'll be allowed to travel freely, your Dex will serve as your pass." Phoenix explained.
"Dex?" She really was lost.
"Try not to worry so much, Miss Amanda, it'll all be explained at orientation."
"O...kay..." She gulped, staring ahead, there it was. A new world, a new future, a fortress like city. What was this place?
So the Princess and her companion grew up together and found ways to pass the long, boring days. They grew mischievous, playing tricks on the poor maids when they came to clean, hiding laundry, and diverting the guards from their duties. "This will not do!" The queen said when she heard of her daughter's antics. "That boy must be a bad influence on my daughter!" Of course, she had no idea that it was her own daughter who planned this mischief and she was about to make a terrible mistake...
AN: That's it! There ya go, this is the last chapter for introducing... almost. Next chapter the first part will introduce Alanna (Song of the Lioness), Link (Legend of Zelda), Alianne "Aly" (Trickster's Choice), Celes, and Edgar (Final Fantasy III or VI, depends on the system), the game and book Bishonen of Michael. Never fear! The second part will introduce several others from Animes and we'll meet another important character, Yuki Sohma from Fruits Basket, and the world of Bishonen is not as glorious as Amanda imagined.
As for the fairy-tale? Well, I lead you on twice and foreshadowed both times, sorry about that. Last time it says the companion becomes more than the queen imagined, this time the queen believes the companion is nothing but trouble, next time... well, let's twist the story just a little, cause a bit of human chaos. You'll have to bear with me.
Okay, since I know there's someone out there wondering what the Kingdom of Glass is, why I'm writing it, and what will take place in this story here's a quick Q&A. Please at least skim and see if I answer your questions.
Q: What is the Kingdom of Glass?
A: The Kingdom of Glass is a lot of different things. First of all it's a metaphor. The story is supposed to be told by Phoenix and will be most of the time, what happens in real life eventually happens in the story in a different way. Second, it also alludes to the Bishonen World itself as being a Kingdom that is really as fragile as glass. It could shatter at any moment.
Q: Why are you writing this?
A: I dare you to count the number of Bishonen Catchers stories there are out there. Every dream contains a nightmare. Perfection has flaws. While The Kingdom of Glass is in no way an overly sad, morbid, or angst-filled story, it is not the same "Everything is so perfect. I'm here and I have no worries." I am not claiming that other stories are like that, all stories have conflict, I'm just exploiting the internal conflict a bit more.
Q: Can I expect to find characters from popular animes here?"
A: If my friends have anything to do with it, yes. But if it were all up to me, The Kingdom of Glass would not have any characters from Yu Yu Hakisho, InuYasha, Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh, or other TV animes. In my opinion, there is nothing overly special about them. I am more of a Gundam Wing, Escaflowne, Generator Gawl, and .Hackgirl. YYH is in my mind another fight anime (boring), IY is okay in a "Tall let me borrow this in exchange for loaning her Escaflowne, I'm bored, let's watch it." kind of way. Yu-Gi-Oh is fun, something I can watch with my dad and confuse with Pokemon. So, final word, probably but they will not have large parts.
Q: Can I be in The Kingdom of Glass?
A: Yep! I will be accepting a reasonable amount of applications for trainers with any amount of Bishonen, up to five named. Tell me what you do, who your Bishonen are, and what they're from. Be careful though, Bishonen I don't know will be researched before being deemed safe enough for the Kingdom.
That's it for now.
Stick around, don't get lost! Next time on the Kingdom of Glass: Michael the true-born trainer is more than happy to invite his 'niece' and her new friend, Amanda, along on his journey, but even before the group leaves town they're faced with conflict when Phoenix, Alanna, and Arkarian confront a trainer over her treatment of her Bishonen, a San stage Yuki from Fruits Basket. When all is said and done, Amanda discovers that what she thought was a dream come true is full of problems, and her first Bishonen teaches her a lesson in the meaing of life that should never have been forgotten in the first place.
Later
Locke