MystDragon2k- The main problem is pretty much the relationship between Ulrich and Yumi and how it is going to end, and of course the fact that everyone is keeping secrets here. Odd or Theo won't be making appearances though, I think I'm done introducing new characters. I think you guys are reading too much into the dragon attacks, they're meant to make a point, not to establish a villain...
Luna- That last chapter was hard to write, that's why it took so long...
Kay- It may not be about digging herself out though Oo
aZn SiStEr- it is more fun to write them fighting though, I enjoy the dialogue!
Mewberries- Cookies to you for the wonderful thought process. You really thought of everything!
Trake...ination- (Sticks out tongue) I know I'm famous for writing by the seat of my pants, but I honestly know where I'm going with this one, I promise. Besides, if I tell you whether or not you're right it will spoil the fun!
xxxPainfulBlissxxx- I like manga Yuki better actually...Actually I'm just obsessed with Yuki, hehe.
aZn dReAmEr xD- Yay, more dragon lovers! Don't worry, all your questions will be answered this chapter!
BlackRoseReina- Don't worry, I am completely and utterly obsessed with the entire .hack universe. That would be why this chapter took so long...(coughs)
Julia Poprocks- At least you guessed! We'll see who's right at the end of this chapter! (Hugs back)
Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Ransomed Heart
Chapter Seven: In which Yumi makes a confrontation
Yumi found herself standing next to Aelita while she waited for Ulrich to come out from his meeting with Jeremie. It had already been several minutes, and the fact that he had yet to emerge made her slightly nervous.
"Was it as bad as you thought it would be," Aelita asked her quietly.
Yumi started out of her thoughts, realizing that the princess was staring at her waiting for a response. "Oh, um," she stammered for a moment, "No, I guess it wasn't at all. He seems nice."
Aelita nodded earnestly. "He is.." She let the words hang, casting a look towards the adjoining cavern.
Yumi watched the princess and smiled. "At least out here you can fall in love with who you want to," she said pointedly. "No arraigned marriages, no suitors constantly hovering around you, competing for your attention." It amazed her that she could talk of these things without actually having experienced them for herself.
"That's true," Aelita agreed softly. "I just wish everyone saw it that way, then things around here would be much simpler."
She clapped a hand over her mouth, turning slightly pink. "Listen to me rambling," she said quickly. "You don't need to hear about all that."
Yumi stared at her, puzzled. What was that about?
Her pondering was cut short by the sounds of growling and shouting from the other room.
"If you don't say something now you might lose her!"
"I'll tell her when I'm ready!"
"You'll never be ready! By the time you're ready to tell her a knight will have come along to rescue her."
"You think I can't kill off a few knights?"
"Considering who you are, no, I don't think you could kill off a few knights."
"My abilities may surprise you. Besides, it's not like Aelita won't have suitors showing up soon!"
"No, she won't. That's part of the agreement, which you would remember if you were thinking clearly."
"Just because I don't agree with your kingly thinking patterns doens't mean I'm not thinking clearly!"
"Don't you want out of this, Ulrich? Don't you want this to end?"
"Why are you so concerned? As far as I can tell, you came out of this smelling like roses! Why do you have to complain about? It's the rest of us that are suffering!"
"Well for one thing, I certainly wouldn't have to deal with a spoiled brat like you!"
The King's voice was calm and reasoning, but Ulrich had quickly resorted to shouting (AN: Who do these two sound like? One who's calm and one who always resorts to fighting...tell me if you know!). It was very typical of Ulrich to simply get angry, Yumi realized, but what were they fighting over now?
"She tried to run away! All you've managed to do is scare her off. If you don't explain yourself now, you'll lose her forever."
There was a long pause, and Yumi concluded that Ulrich had never been told that she had run away. He had seen her ankle, but hadn't questioned how she got it. Yumi realized that she should have told him. Secrets certainly weren't helping this relationship along any.
Ulrich emerged suddenly from the cavern. He nodded to Aelita, and cast Yumi a withering glare. Oh yeah, he was mad about this one.
"Get on." He bent down and Yumi did as she was ordered, adjusting herself quietly.
"Ulrich, maybe you should go apologize," Aelita ventured gently from the ground.
Ulrich turned his gaze onto her. "I'm the one that was called a spoiled brat, remember? I'm sure you heard that whole conversation."
"What I heard doesn't matter," Aelita reasoned. "You need to listen to common sense."
"Common sense? Common sense! Common sense is what got me here in the first place! Listening to you is what got me here in the first place!"
Aelita visibly angered. "Don't you dare blame this on me! You brought this on yourself, and you can just get yourself out of it!"
"Then let me do things my way," the dragon hissed in a low voice. He turned away from Aelita and made his way towards the entrance, taking off swiftly. Yumi clung to his scales, unseated by his jerky movements.
Yumi could feel how tense he was by the muscles in his back. She was scared to speak for several minutes, but finally decided to voice her concerns. "Hey, are you okay," she asked him as quietly as she could considering the wind rushing past her.
"Of course I'm not okay," he spat. "I would be much more okay if everyone would stop meddling."
Yumi stared at him in exasperation, feeling better for it even though he couldn't see her face. "Maybe they just care about you," she reasoned. She was sick of the fighting, sick of the lies. These cryptic conversations had gone on long enough for Yumi's taste. Getting angry wouldn't solve anything anymore.
"Well I'm sick of it," Ulrich snorted, smoke coming out of his mouth as he did so.
"Then how must everyone else be feeling?" Yumi didn't get a reply, so she continued on. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but it's clear I've gotten mixed up in something beyond a simple kidnapping."
They reached their cave, and Ulrich swooped down and landed with precision just inside. Yumi slipped off of his back and walked around to face him.
The dragon had hung is head, refusing to meet her gaze. "I was really a jerk back there, wasn't I?"
Yumi contemplated her answer for a moment. "Yes, you were. But if you would just explain to me what is really going on around here it will probably justify your anger." She was trying hard not to upset him even more.
Ulrich laid down suddenly and Yumi scrambled back several feet to give him more room. "You may want to sit down, this could take quite a while. It's time you knew the real reason you were brought here."
Yumi nodded and found a flat rock to sit on, adjusting herself and looking at Ulrich expectantly.
The dragon took a deep breath and began his tale. "I will start at the beginning, I guess. About six months ago I wasn't a dragon. I was a prince of a country on the other side of these mountains. I was-am, I guess- bullheaded and I never listened to what anyone told me to do.
"There was an old woman living in our forest, rumored to be a witch. I went in on a dare, and to make a long story short, she placed a curse on me. I was turned into a dragon until such a time as someone would fall in love with me."
Yumi interrupted. "So that's why I was kidnapped?"
The prince-turned-dragon nodded. "Yes, but I'm not quite there yet."
"My parents were at a loss. Their eldest son, heir to the kingdom, wasn't in a position to do much of anything, let alone find a princess to break the spell. They had to get rid of me, a dragon hanging around wasn't exactly good for the royal image. They had to make me disappear, to keep up appearances.
"That's where Jeremie and his 'deal' come in. My parents sought him out and asked him to give me sanctuary here with the dragons. He agreed, on the condition that he receive a princess as well. My sister, Princess Aelita, volunteered. My parents fought her on it, but she cares too much for me I guess. She wouldn't hear any of their objections."
Yumi couldn't help but smile slightly. It was easy to see what a caring person Aelita was.
Ulrich continued. "A cave was built for me, and a special human-sized room was added in. But the other dragons aren't stupid, they could tell that I wasn't what i appeared to be. Hence, the attacks began as an way to drive me off. Jermie has been struggling to control them, and finally pressured me into finding a princess. Six months later, here we are. Now, that you know, I am going to have to ask you to marry me. Welcome to my life, Princess."
His final words jolted Yumi. He still thought she was a princess!
"I have two things to say. First of all, that is the most unromantic way I have ever heard of to ask someone to marry you. Secondly, I have a secret of my own." Yumi paused to take a deep breath. "I'm not really a princess."
Ulrich's dark eyes grew wide with shock. "But-how-you-?"
Yumi shook her head. "I'm nothing but a maidservant. I smelled like a princess to you because I spent all of my time around her. So, what do we do now?"
Ulrich pondered for a moment. "The curse didn't say anything about it having to be a princess that fell in love with me..."
Yumi puffed up slightly. "Who ever said I was in love with you?"
Ulrich shook his head. "No one did. But you obviously care, or you wouldn't be here right now." When it was clear that Yumi had nothing to say to that, he grinned and continued. "If you don't mind marrying a dragon, then you will be a princess by marriage, which will take care of that royal technicality. That should please my parents."
"But how can I break the curse if I'm not in love with you," Yumi questioned. "You're not making any sense!"
Ulrich sighed. "You may not be in love with me, but I am very fond of you. And girl who can yell back in my face when I get bratty is wonderful in my book. And I think if you give me a chance, you may come to love me. So, how about it? Will you marry me?"
The rational part of Yumi's brain screamed no, but part of her remembered Ulrich's playful sweetness that had made her blush that morning. He really did seem nice...And this whole adventure was so mixed up anyway, why not just seal the deal? It was better than going back to her bratty princess.
She stood and smiled at the dragon-no, her dragon. "Yes."
-End-
Congrats to Mewberries, who completely unraveled my ending! I was so pleased that you figured it out (hugs). Several other people were on the right track as well, so cookies for everybody!
Thanks for reading, everyone!