Author's Note: This is my first story published here on and constructive criticisms are welcome! I am trying a 'dialogue-driven' style of storytelling and any feedback on whether it works will be helpful. If it doesn't work, I might add more descriptive details into this story in the future.
Diona's Worst Birthday
2 pm;Mondstadt main street right outside The Cat's Tail
Klee: "Happy bestest birthday, Diona! Here, I caught some fish for you!"
Diona: "Aww thanks Klee! You really didn't have to. *Sigh*"
Klee: "What's wrong Diona? Today's your birthday, so why do you look so sad?"
Diona: "Well, it's daddy… He… *Sigh* Oh, I hate the Mondstadt wine industry so much!"
Klee: "Mondstadt wine industry? What's that?"
Diona: "It's a great big evil thing!"
Klee: "Oh no! Is it dangerous?"
Diona: "Mmhmm, very!"
Klee: "Then we need to stop it!"
Diona: "I've been trying to! But nothing ever works! *Sigh*"
Klee: "It's ok Diona, don't be sad. Today's your birthday and Klee will do my bestest to help you!"
Diona: "Thank you Klee, but I don't actually think you can help…*sniff* oh wait I just got an idea! These fish you got for me, can you get me more of them?"
Klee: "No problem, fish blasting is what Klee is best at!"
Diona: "Ok wait, but it can't just be any fish. It has got to be the Bitter Pufferfish. I heard it's the most bitter and disgusting fish in the whole wide Teyvat. It's big and green and smells like dirty socks!"
Klee: "Okay! And it will help us beat this Mondstadt Wine Indushcry?"
Diona: "Yup! Ah, my shift is almost starting and I have to work now. I am counting on you Klee, bye!"
Klee: "Klee won't let you down, you're Klee's bestest friend! Byeeeee~"
2.34 pm;Mondstadt main street in front of the main gate
Jean: "KLEE!"
Klee: "Ah, Master Jean!"
Jean: "Swan here told me he saw you walking through the front gate about an hour ago holding some fish. Did you go fish blasting again?!"
Klee: "Eh, erm, well, maybe…"
Jean: "KLEE!"
Klee: "Eeek!"
Jean: "I'm giving you one final chance. Behave yourself and you won't be grounded."
Klee: "But… but…"
Jean: "No buts! No leaving the city today you hear, or else… you will be grounded for 3 days!"
Klee: *Oh no! If I am grounded I won't be able to help Diona.*
Klee: "Alright, yes Master Jean…"
6.24 pm;Outside the Knights of Favonius headquarters
Klee: "*Sigh* Aww, I have been searching all day but here is no pitter butterfish to be found anywhere inside the city! Diona will be so disappointed…"
Klee: "Think, Klee, think!"
Klee: "Ah, Klee got it! The problem is the evil Mondstadt Wine Indushcry. Even if Klee can't find any pitter butterfish, as long as that evil thing is defeated, Diona will be happy!"
Klee: "Hmmm, but how does the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry look like?"
Klee: "I know! Klee will ask Ms Lisa. Ms Lisa knows everything!"
6.36 pm;Knights of Favonius library
Klee: *Opens door* "Ms Lisa!"
Lisa: "Oh, Klee? Don't you know the library closes at 4pm?"
Klee: "It's an emergency!"
Lisa: "An emergency?"
Klee: "Mmhmm, it's the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry!"
Lisa: "Hm? Something happened at Angel's Share?"
Klee: "Angel's Share?"
Lisa: "Ok never mind that. Tell me Klee, what happened?"
Klee: "It's Diona's dad!"
Lisa: "Ah, Draff is drunk again I presume? *Sigh* How ironic, to consume so much wine that the wine consumes him. That's why I personally prefer my afternoon tea."
Klee: "… consume Diona's dad?"
Lisa: "Ah don't worry about it Klee. Little children shouldn't speak of these things. *Yawn* It's about time I go home anyways. Sorry Klee, but I will have to close the library now."
Klee: "…alright…"
6.53 pm;Knights of Favonius main hallway
Noelle: "Ah Klee! You've been walking back and forth for quite a while, something bothering you?"
Klee: "Big sister Noelle! There is a word that Klee doesn't get."
Noelle: "Oh? Which word?"
Klee: "What does consume mean?"
Noelle: "Oh that's simple, consume means to eat! Like how I like to consume salad!"
Klee: *Gasps*
Noelle: "Ah, wait up Klee! Why are you crying?! Ohh, she's gone… Was it something I said?"
Klee: *Sniff* *No wonder Diona was so sad just now… Her dad was eaten by the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry! I need to stop this monster now for Diona and for Mondstadt! Ms Lisa said something about Angel's Share, I need to go there now!*
7.41 pm;In front of Angel's Share
Yunjin: "So this is the musical score for each of us? It's very detailed, I'm impressed. As expected of someone personally recommended by Mr Zhongli."
Venti: "Well, I am just glad that old geezer remembered to ask you two to come. With the four of us working together, I am sure we can win this year's Musical Troupe Extravaganza grand prize of twenty bottles of dandelion wine!"
Xinyan: "Oh boy I heard so much about the legendary dandelion wine from Mondstadt, can't wait to try it!"
Barbara: "Hmmmm… I still don't get how I will be doing Lord Barbatos a huge favour by participating in this event…"
Venti: "Oh you will, trust me." *wink*
Xinyan: "So we will be splitting the grand prize four ways huh? That makes five bottles each?"
Barbara: "Well, I will be dedicating my share to the glory of Lord Barbatos."
Venti: "Alright, that means there's ten bottles for me."
Xinyan: "Huh?! I don't get how that means you get ten."
Venti: "Ehe~"
Xinyan: "What do you mean by 'Ehe'?!"
Yunjin: "Well, I do suggest we do not count our chickens before they hatch, the competition has yet to begin, after all."
Xinyan: "Relax, I'm sure we've got this. Heck, I even brought my secret weapons from Inazuma!"
Venti: "Oh?"
Xinyan: "Hehe, last I went to Inazuma I got their fireworks expert Yoimiya to make a bunch of fireworks that brought my pyrotechnic shows to the next level! Heck, even Keqing was impressed by the fireworks performance during lantern rite!"
Yunjin: "So you brought them here?"
Xinyan: "Of course! I always do my best in every one of my performances, not to mention the dandelion wine! Look at those crates; they are all filled with fireworks!
Barbara: "So many… is it dangerous?"
Xinyan: "Relax! As long as you're careful, there will be NO problem-O! Controlling it all will be a piece of cake for a pyrotechnic expert like myself!"
Childe: "Oh hello Xinyan, fancy meeting you here!"
Xinyan: "Oh hello Red! Wow, what a coincidence! Are you here to join the competition too?"
Childe: "Hahaha me? Nah, I am just here to witness the best bard of Mondstadt!" *squints eye*
Venti: "…"
Yunjin: "Sorry this is…?"
Xinyan: "Ah silly me, got so caught up with it that I forgot to do introductions, my bad. Everyone, this is Red and I met him during my trip to Inazuma."
Yunjin: *curtsies* "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I'm Yunjin. Any friend of Xinyan is a friend of mine."
Barbara: "Sorry to interrupt but the competition will be starting soon. I think we should rehearse our parts while we still have the chance."
Childe: "Well then, guess I'll leave you guys to it. Will be looking forward to you performance!"
8.02pm;In a dark alleyway near Angel's Share **********************************************************************************
Mikhail: "This is a top secret mission from Lord Tartaglia himself. Don't screw it up, got that?"
Fatui agent: "Piece of cake. Go in, steal the Dandelion Wine recipe, and get out. With a Harbinger on our side, what could possibly go wrong. We will finally be able to beat the Mondstadt Wine Industry!"
Mikhail: "Good, the competition is starting soon, you can probably get it easily while everyone's distracted by the performances. I'll meet you back by the fountain when you're done. Now hop to it! "
*Both men leaves*
….…
….…
….…
*Lid of a crate slides open*
Klee: *Those two nice looking people want to beat the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry too? Klee should go and help! But Klee scared. Lucky Klee was hiding in this box. The scary looking man was standing on that roof staring at us the whole time. What was his name again? Diruc? Anyways, Klee must go help those people beat the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry!*
8.22pm;Inside Angel's Share **********************************************************************************
Charles: "Sir, please…"
Fatui agent: "Don't make me repeat myself. Hand over the Dandelion Wine recipe and you will be f-"
Kaeya: "Cool it!"
Fatui agent: "Crap an ambush!"
Kaeya: "Hmph, you Snezhnayan scoundrels trying to steal our Dandelion Wine recipe. How dastardly."
Rosaria: "Almost as dastardly as making me work overtime. You need to be punished."
Fatui agent: *Not good I am outnumbered. Time to run!*
8.29pm;Outside Angel's Share **********************************************************************************
Diona: "Daddy! Don't drink anymore and come home with me!"
Draff: "But the performances will be starting soon, we can't miss it!"
Diona: "But it's my birthday! Can't you at least fulfill my wish today?!"
Draff: "Oh right it is, I almost f-, I mean I remember of course. That's why I am going to get an Apple Cider for you."
Diona: "I DON'T WANT AN APPLE CIDER!"
*Door flings open*
Fatui agent: *Damn that guy got me good with his Cryo attack. I gotta escape out the side entrance of Mondstadt!*
Kaeya: "Give up, you can't escape!"
Diona: "Eh? Why is there a Snezhnayan diplomat running out of the bar being chased by the Calvary Captain? Huh? Sister Rosaria too? And she's now running on the rooftop?! Daddy, I wanna go home!"
Draff: "Relax, I am sure it's part of the performance. Look, the first contestant is taking the stage soon."
8.41pm;On the staircase before the side gate of Mondstadt **********************************************************************************
Fatui agent: *Crap he's gaining on me. Just a bit more…*
Kaeya: "Hmph, dodge this!"
*Swoosh*
Kaeya: "Eh?"
Fatui agent: "Lord Tartaglia!"
Childe: "Hmph, this mission is a failure. You will be punished. But for now, escape out the side entrance there. Don't let them catch you."
Fatui agent: "Y-Yes milord! Outta my way!" *Pushes the Knight of Favonius guard*
Guy: "Ahhh Spare me! I always wanted more excitement but not this much!"
*cling* *clang* *swoosh*
Kaeya: "Hmph, you're not half bad!"
Childe: "Heh, how interesting. Your movements and attacks are VERY reminiscent of my teacher…"
Rosaria: "You can't run!"
Childe: *squints eye* "Shouldn't let your guard down!"
Rosaria: "Ugh, what a nuisance!"
Kaeya: "Sister Rosaria!"
Rosaria: "Just a scratch."
Childe: "Well if you want, you CAN run, but you can't hide! Who's next?"
Diluc: "Burn!"
Kaeya: "Oh, you finally deign to join us?"
Diluc: "Only because I can see that you can't handle this by yourselves."
Childe: "Three-on-one? Heh, this is getting interesting."
8.48pm;Outside Angel's Share **********************************************************************************
*crowd applause*
Patton: "For our next contestant, we have the very highly anticipated group of performers from among the best Liyue and Mondstadt have to offer! Please welcome Venti, Barbara, Yunjin, and Xinyan to the stage!"
Albert: "Go, Barbara, go!"
Xinyan: "Alright! Time to rock!"
*Bjang* *Pazzong*
Klee (Hiding behind the building): *Oh no! What's that strange sound! Sound like an evil monster… *gasp* Is that the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry? I need to go save everyone now!*
8.51pm;On the staircase before the side gate of Mondstadt **********************************************************************************
*Pant* *Pant*
Childe: "Not bad. If only I weren't injured by the traveller, you wouldn't be a match for me."
Diluc: "The fight isn't over just yet!"
Childe: "Oh? Haven't you realised I was just buying time for my agent to escape? As much as I like fighting, it is time for me to leave. Till next time."
Rosaria: "Hey wai-ugh. Dammit."
Diluc: "Rosaria you should rest. That guy was really strong. Could he have been a Harbinger? But I heard Harbingers should be even stronger than this. Was he holding back? How strange."
Rosaria: "Ugh, you guys owe me at least two cups of beer for today's overtime."
Kaeya: "Well, at least we saved the bar and Mondstadt's Wine Indus-"
Klee (back at Angel's share): "BOM BOM BAKUDAN!"
*BOOOM* *Pew* *Pew* *Pew* *Poof* *Poof* *Poof*
Kaeya: "A-Are those fireworks? Never thought I'll see them like this…"
Diluc: "My bar!"
8.57pm;On the staircase before the side gate of Mondstadt **********************************************************************************
Barbara: "Is anyone injured? Does anyone need healing?"
Albert: "Ah yes, Barbara my angel, my body is aching all over…"
Venti: "NOOOOOO! All the Dandelion Wine are destroyed! Oh the humanity!"
Diona: "Daddy, daddy, are you alright?!"
Draff: "Ugh what happened?"
Klee (jumping up and down): "Ah Diona! Klee helped you beat the Mondstadt Wine Indushcry! Now your father is saved! Happy birthday Diona!"
*Jean runs to Angel's Share in a huff*
Jean: KLEEEE!