ME: Thanks the reviews, they did help my head! :) Please enjoy this update, I tried to make it longer than the others.
DISCLAIMER: Do I really have to say 'I don't own anything'?"
WARNINGS: Rated T for a reason. Also, those that don't like Dende/OC stories, please don't read this.
Spells and Parties
"You really wanna come?"
"Of course Dende! How many times do I have to say it?" Mana groaned.
Dende flushed and rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly, "Sorry, I'm just a little nervous about you meeting everyone. I've never had someone I could take to one of the Brief's parties. Also, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable or anything." He said.
Mana rolled her eyes from inside her private bathroom. It was a warm sunday afternoon and she was currently showering with the bathroom door partially open so that she could still talk with Dende. The green skinned youth was wearing his white robes and sitting on her bed with one of her school books.
Mana turned the water off and stepped out the shower. Wrapping a towel around her body, she exited the steamy room. Dende's face turned a dark purple and Mana giggled.
"Honestly, Dende. I'm not about to strip in front of ya'. Thats gonna wait till I'm married." Mana selected a sleeveless, summer dress. It was made of a light, silky fabric and was an array of pastel colours. Picking a pair of light pink pumps, Mana went back into the bathroom and dressed into the clothing.
When she came out, she felt her cheeks heat up, "Would you stop staring, Dende? You're making me feel stupid."
Dende apologized quickly, "Sorry, but you look great."
She did. The dress complimented her curves, skintone and attitude. Mana had blow-dried her hair her hair and curled it lightly. Her pale purple hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders and a green, butterfly clip held out her fringe. The pastel coloured dress went just above her knees, showing off her long, smooth legs.
Dende put on a wide grin, "We should have parties more often."
"Well, I would dress like this if I was coming to visit you, but I can't. How the hell am I supposed to wear a skirt or dress when flying!"
Dende thought for a second then gave a sad face, his antennas drooping, "This is one of those times I hate living in the clouds."
Mana gave a sympathetic smile and crossed the room, flouncing up to him. She kissed him lightly and slapped his shoulder, "Really, you'd make anyone feel sorry for you with a face like."
In minutes the two were sneaking through the house quietly. Mana snatched a pair of keys, and soon they were walking through the city. When they reached Capsule Corp, Mana was shocked so much she couldn't stop her mouth from falling open.
The guests the Briefs had were very strange if she did say so herself.
There was a tall, muscular man with three eyes and a tiny, white skinned kid on his shoulder. There was a short, spiky haired man and a taller dark haired guy. Piccolo was there with Gohan. Two small boys were running around and their mothers were yelling at them about "blowing up the punch bowl".
"Something wrong?" Dende asked Mana. It was then Mana noticed that she'd frozen up on the pathway. There were grills outside on the lawn with tables and chairs set up. Just then, a little, blonde haired girl came running around the side of the house with a large smile plastered on her face.
The girl ran up to Mana and stared at her with innocent eyes. "You're pretty."
Mana knelt in front of her, "Thank you. I'm Mana."
"I'm Marron. Mommy! Look, I found a pretty lady!" Marron ran into the arms of a blonde haired woman.
"Yes, she is very pretty, Marron." The woman held out her hand with a blank face, "I'm 18."
"18? Is that your real name?"
"Yes." That was the end of their conversation and a short, black haired man shook her hand, "I'm Krillin. So, you're Dende's girlfriend? Wow, who knew."
Dende scowled and wrapped an arm around Mana's waist. "This is Mana, everyone!"
Mana saw about a dozen or so pairs of eyes turn to stare at her and a chorus of voices called out hellos and welcomes. Gohan moved to the front with Videl next to him, "It's nice that Dende doesn't have to lie about his position, huh Mana?"
"Hi Videl. Yeah, it is. Oh, and Gohan, congrads on whipping Cells butt." Mana smirked when Gohan gave a nervous laugh.
"He told you that?"
"He told me everything. Except I don't really get how you can make your hair blonde. I would love to be able to do that!"
"You wanna be blonde?" Dende glanced down at her.
Mana glared at him, "No! I wanna be able to get that glowy, flame thingy around me."
Gohan and Videl laughed, "Well, maybe we can teach you a few things about fighting. After all, the World Martial Arts Tournament is less than two years away." Gohan said with a grin.
Videl sideled next to Mana and linked their arms together, "Time to meet everyone."
Videl introduced the purple haired girl to Bulma and Chi Chi first, then Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and Goku. The boys, Mana found out, were Goten and Trunks. Goku seemed very happy to meet Mana and the goofy grin never left his face. Vegeta however was the opposite.
"How can we know we can trust this baka!" He said in a loud, superior voice.
Bulma was about to retort when Mana responded in a sweet voice, "Don't worry about it, Bulma. You can't expect a guy who is shorter than a girl to have any basic decency."
She smirked and stood in front of Vegeta, mocking him by measuring his height. His face went blood red and he seemed ready to punch her when Dende quickly pulled her away, "You stay away from me, girl!" Spit flew out his mouth as Vegeta roared.
Mana only rolled her eyes, "Sheesh, say it don't spray it."
The spiky haired man growled and Bulma, laughing, patted his head, "Aw, don't worry about it Vegeta. You're tall in my eyes."
"Too bad not in everyone elses." The party guests erupted into laughs and Vegeta left saying he was going to be in the training room.
Mana gave an apologetic smile, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be horrible to him. It just got so much fun."
Bulma shook her head, "Not to worry, he's always in a bad mood. I think after he's cooled down, you'll be good friends."
The afternoon weared on into the night and flood lights went on. Bulma and Chi Chi cooked dinner and everyone sat down to eat hamburgers and salad. After the delicious meal, music went on and the group paired off to dance on the grass. Chi Chi and Bulma danced with Goku and Yamcha, Gohan and Videl went off and even Krillin and 18.
Dende and Mana swayed gently to the music. It was getting late.
"Can I dance with you?" A small hand tapped Mana's leg.
She and Dende looked down at Goten. He had a similar goofy grin on his face as Goku and Mana couldn't resist smiling back. "Sure."
Dende sat down at the table and watched as Mana tried to decide how to dance with the seven-year old. Eventually, Goten just jumped into the air before Mana's eyes and floated. She seemed startled for a second, then put her hands on his shoulders and danced with him.
Chi Chi and Goku had stopped to watch and were now smiling between themselves. "That so cute! Aw, she'd make such a good mother. Perhaps Dende. . ."
"Chi Chi!"
"What goku? I'm just saying Dende had better marry her before someone else comes along and steals her away." Chi Chi huffed.
Bulma and Yamcha danced up next to them, "I agree." Bulma said.
Yamcha looked confused and said nothing but listened as the two women discussed their plans. He glanced at Goku, "Wanna get something to eat?"
". . . .Yeah, I'm starving."
The two went off the dancefloor and crowded around the food table.
With Mana and Goten, the young boy was starting to drop, his eyes closing exhaustedly. Mana grabbed him before he fell and held him on her hip. Goten lay his head on her shoulder, bringing up his hand to suck on his thumb. Mana felt a smile tug at her lips. Bulma came up to her moments later and took him from her arms.
Mana went back to the foodtable. Resting his head on it was Dende. The Namekian was asleep and Mana instantly felt bad for deserting him on the dancefloor. It was a few minutes later when everyone was leaving that Mana woke Dende. He looked up sleepily, "Have a nice dance?"
"It was great. Too bad it wasn't with who I wanted."
Dende and Mana walked to the pathway and started saying their goodbyes to everyone that was left behind.
In his apartment house, a dark, spiky haired teenager was skimming through the pages of the same leather bound book. His eyes gleamed over each page quickly before turning the page. Eventually he stopped at a page and read it.
". . . To make a person fall in love with you. . . This forced emotion will take place over all others. Affections will be for the one who casts the spell." Drake read through the instructions before standing.
In the middle of his room was a wooden pedestal with red, purple, green and grey candles laden on it. On a picture holder in the middle was the picture he'd taken of Mana after school.
Drake read once more through the instructions before picking up a container from the floor and opening it. Inside was cimson rose shaped flowers, but a black, glittering dust was settled on the petals.
Drake selected a half open blossom and stepped up to the pedestal. Holding the flower over first the purple candle, then the grey, then the red and then the green, a pink flame appeared on the rose and quickly spead over the petals and stem. Drake swiftly dropped the rose onto Mana's picture and he watched as the pink flame licked at the picture. But instead of the paper burning, the picture remained the same. The flame danced higher into the air and Drake stepped back.
The flame then changed into a ball shaped comet. It spun a few times around the bedroom before launching itself out the window and flying strongly through the city.
Drake stared out the broken window for a few seconds before smirking, "Very soon."
Throughout the streets of the city, a pink energy ball whizzed past. It neared Capsul Corp and circled above it just before it shot towards ground.
Mana said her last goodbye to Bulma and waved as she and Dende walked down the pathway. She glanced sideways at the green youth.
"You don't have to walk me home. You're tired, just fly back to the Lookout." She said.
Dende shook his head, "No way. I'm going to make sure you get home safely."
They had just gotten onto the pavement in front of Capsule Corp when, shooting out of the air above them, a pink ball of light aimed itself at Mana and Dende.
"Mana, watch out!"
Dende felt dread shoot through his body as the energy ball hit Mana squarely, shooting her into the street and in the pathway of an oncoming truck. . .
Well, I think this is the longest chapter I've written for this story. Please review! :) :)