Readers: Where have you been!
Author: Um...
Readers: That's what we thought. Lazy bum.
Author: (Sticks tongue out at readers) Anyway, here's chapter four!
Luna- I'll update, I promise!
MystDragon2k- I shall speak to you this time! Howdy!
Yuriko Nishidera- Was she really predictable? I suppose that means my characterization is good, lol.
Chinesechic- Don't worry darling, you'll see soon what's wrong with Ulrich...Honestly, I'm shocked no one has figured out his secret yet...
Mewberries- No, Ulrich doesn't confess things easily. Hehe, Yumi-chan's gonna have fun getting the answer out of him.
EPearlFairy- Yay, another Patricia Wrede fan! Actually (sweatdrop) I never came up with roles for Odd, Jeremie, or Aelita...I may have to take your suggestions...At least the Jeremie and Aelita ones. Credit to you for the idea of making Aelita the princess of Jeremie-kun, the King of the Dragons. May he live longer than Tokoz!
Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Ransomed Heart
Chapter Four: In which Yumi makes a (not so) grand escape
Yumi's dark eyes fluttered open. She still wasn't used to her new room, and she started momentarily when her eyes adjusted to the gloom when she didn't immidiately recognize her surroundings. Assuring herself that she wasn't dreaming or dead, she untangled herself from the covers.
A trip over to the wardrobe revealed several plain dresses, perfect for working in. She hadn't bothered looking the day before, but Yumi found in comforting to be able to put on clean clothes. She emerged from her room well-rested and refreshed.
Ulrich was already awake for the second day in a row, this time redressing his newest wound.
"Need some help?" Yumi didn't wait for an answer before taking over the bandaging.
He snorted gruffly, finally muttering something that sounded vaguely like a 'thank you.'
Yumi realized that this was the perfect time to ask Ulrich what was going on. he couldn't very well stalk off in the middle of having a cut wrapped after all.
"I had a visitor yesterday," she said casually, gauging his response carefully.
Ulrich head snapped towards her. "A dragon," he demanded harshly.
"No," Yumi said, still keeping her tone neutral. "A Princess."
"Whose," he demanded roughly.
"Her name was Sissy," Yumi said calmly, refusing to react to his attitude. "I think she said her dragon's name was Emerald or something."
"Emeraldas," Ulrich hissed, smoke coming out as he spat the name. "Curse that meddling witch!"
"That's rather rude," Yumi shot back at him.
"She's determined to undermine me!" Ulrich turned his fiery gaze upon Yumi. "Don't ever talk to that princess again!"
"Why not?" Yumi yanked the bandage tight in annoyance. How dare he tell her who she could and could not speak to! It was worse than living back in the palace.
"Because she intends to use you to get to me," Ulrich roared back.
"By telling me that you're the misfit dragon?"
Ulrich froze, stunned by her words. "And what would you know of it?"
"I know the other dragons hate you! I know every time you return here you have a fresh wound from another attack! I know that you won't tell me anything so I have to get answers from complete strangers!"
"You don't need answers to questions that don't concern you!"
Things had quickly escalated into an all-out shouting match, but Yumi was past caring at this point. "I am your Princess! I think it does concern me!"
Ulrich looked into her eyes for a moment, and Yumi could see the emotions swirling in his own. He looked away after a long moment. "I'm going out." Ulrich turned and began walking towards the entrace to the cave.
"You're running away," Yumi translated.
Ulrich froze and stiffened, but then continued walking. Yumi heard the sound of beating wings moments later, echoing Ulrich's exit.
"Fine, run," Yumi shouted after him, knowing Ulrich was beyond hearing range. "You don't owe me any answers! I thought we could be friends, I thought we could begin to trust each other!" Her voice died down. "I guess I was wrong," she whispered.
That's it then, she raged. If he wouldn't talk to her, she would just leave. Runnng quickly to the kitchen, Yumi wrapped some bread and fruit into a bundle and took one last look around the cave. "I'm better off as a servant than a captured princess," she said sullenly.
Making her way out of the cave, Yumi worked her way along a narrow edge. After a few perilous minutes the path leveled out and Yumi had more walking room. The terrain was rocky at best, and Yumi found herself slipping occasionly on the jagged rocks.
"Ahhhh!" Yumi felt her left foot slide out from under, catching between two rocks as she fell. "My ankle!"
Working her foot out of the rocks, Yumi inspected the ankle. It wasn't broken, but probably sprained. "Great. Just perfect. Now I can't run and I can't go back."
"Run from where?"
Yumi's head shot up at the sound of the girl's voice. "Who are you?"
Before her stood a slight pink-haired maiden. "My name is Princess Aelita. What are you doing out here?"
Yumi shrugged slightly. "Trying to run away. What are you doing out here?"
Aelita smiled at her, reaching to help Yumi up. "I'm running an errand for my dragon. You wouldn't by chance be Ulrich's new Princess, would you?"
Yumi turned red. "Something like that. How'd you know?"
Aelita laughed. "Well, I know all of the other princesses up here, and only Ulrich could chase a princess away after only two days. He's not exactly Mr. Personality, is he?"
"Oh, he has personality," Yumi spat. "It's just a bad one."
The Princess laughed again. "Don't judge him too harshly. Ulrich just guards himself closely. He has his reasons."
"It can't be healthy," Yumi reasoned.
"No, I suppose it isn't," Aelita agreed. "However, I am heading to his cave right now, so I might as well take you back with me."
Yumi turned her head away. "I'm not going back."
Aelita laughed. "At least he got a girl as stubborn as he is. I can't very well leave you here, so at least let me help you with that ankle."
Yumi didn't get a chance to give consent, because the Princess already begun helping her limp back along the path to Ulrich's cave, leaving Yumi to wonder if she would ever really be free.