Note to readers: I apologize for the various typos. My spell check often likes to change my words so I'm constantly battling with it Lol. As for Joey. Don't worry about his hair it's not going to stay that way. It's just temporary. I agree with you guys. Joey is adorable the way he is! The transformation is just adjusting his body and aura to it as Roxy pointed out.
Chapter 55: Invitation To Aura
"THAT'S RIGHT! YUCK, IT UP!" Stella shook her fist as Marik and Layla came back to the table. "Cut the dramatics and just pass me the cheese would you Stella?" Techna asked. Stella only groaned in frustration. "Are you EVEN listening!?" she cried. "I got it!" Joey exclaimed and reached out for the cheese the same time as Flora did. "Oh." they both paused before blushing slightly. "You go ahead." Flora offered. "Nah you take it, I insist Lady's first." Joey continued before Duke passed the cheese to Techna.
If they keep going it'll take forever." he teased. Yugi just sat there with his mouthful watching.
"By the way dearie. How did the meeting go? You didn't say anything once you got home." Granny Emiko inquired. "...Oh about as I well as I expected it to go..." Raeger sighed. "Everyone was trying to talk over each other... Daunte fell asleep AGAIN...and no real conclusion was reached...of course I still have to talk to Uncle Arthur about what happened..." the Guild Master surmised. "Uh about that," Duke spoke up as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it down. "When I went to scope out the castle I saw a case that looked like it had been broken into. It was an oak wooding and glass was scattered everywhere..." the dice master informed Raeger. Raeger, in turn, narrowed his eyes.
"I don't like the sound of that..." the Guild Master muttered. "Did it contain anything important?" Roxy questioned. "Yes...Uncle Arthur's journal was encased inside it...if the Wizards Of The Black Circle got a hold of it...then they are indeed looking for THAT..." Raeger sighed heavily. "Which means they're probably headed for Aura..." "...And Aura's another planet?" Musa asked. "Yes dear." Granny Emiko informed them. "It is a place where all kinds of flowers bloom no matter the season. Of course, it is always spring there...with a pleasant breeze...and a Sakura tree that blooms continuously. It was said to have been a gift from Artemis Moon himself...it never withers..." the old woman told them.
"A place filled with flowers? It sounds like my home back in Lymphia..." Flora responded fondly as she thought of home. "It sounds pretty incredible." Layla smiled. "Completly different that's for certain..." Marik added. "Cherry blossoms dat grow all da time..." Joey murmured. "In Domino day only bloom ONCE a year..." Raeger chuckled. "I believe you'll find each planet to be unique with its own seasons and celebrations. "That reminds me...Raeger dear do you know what the day after tomorrow is?" Granny Emiko questioned. "...The day after tomorrow...? Sorry, no...i've been so busy lately I haven't been paying attention to the calendar much..." the Guild Master admitted sheepishly.
"Is the day after tomorrow a special day?" Bloom asked. "Why yes, it is. You see in Aura it'll be the Prince's 22nd birthday...and Raeger's been nominated to cater the occasion." Granny Emiko told her. "...Oh, I see...WAIT WHAT!? SERIOUSLY!?" Raeger's eyes widened as the old woman only laughed at the expression on her grandson's face. "Oh geeze! That'll be like putting in an all nighter not to mention groceries..." Raeger felt himself going to a spiral as he went through the preparations in his head. "Fret not! I am the princess of party!" Stella exclaimed with a giggle. "What Stella means is we'll be more than happy to lend you a hand," Bloom told him.
"Thanks! I'm going to sure need it..." Raeger tugged at his collar. "It's not easy to cook and deliver ALL of that food with just the two of us...by the way Granny...where did you get the request to cater the event?" the Guild Master questioned before a timer went off in the kitchen in the other room. In a matter of minutes a young man with platinum blonde hair wearing a white and pink hoodie, teal eyes and piercings on both sides of his ears emerged with a pie in hand with oven mitts. Raeger's eyes widened as did everyone else as the male offered a million watt smile as the aroma of apples teased everyone's nose.
"Mirai!" Raeger exclaimed as he stood up from his seat. "What a nice surprise! I haven't seen you in forever it almost seems like." the Guild Master smiled. "Oh yes! Um..." Raeger cleared his throat. "Everyone this is Mirai. He's the Prince's body guard and messenger when need be...WAIT! Why are YOU here if he's not!?" "Someone else is taking over while I'm out and about," Mirai informed him. "...Oh...I guess that makes sense...uh back to what I was saying...Mirai these are my new friends. Bloom, Joey, Flora, Yugi, Roxy, Duke, Musa, Layla, Marik, Stella, and Techna." Raeger introduced them.
"HELLOOOO!" Mirai beamed. "So what's this about a party?" Bloom questions. "Right...Granny went over it briefly but in Aura Prince Bright...you know the one you met Roxy? Well, it's his birthday soon. Not only is he a Prince but he's also the leader of the Aurian Knights. He's actually beloved by his entire kingdom for his rather kind and noble nature." Raeger explained. "Oh really? Hows so?" Joey questioned as he raised his brow. "He takes food and water to those that live in the lower parts of the kingdom and never fails to help someone in need," Mirai answered simply. "Bright shows no fear and protects his people even if it means putting his own life on the line!"
"...Wow, that truly is a lot of devotion." Flora murmured. "Yeah, it's hard to believe a prince would take on all of that himself," Yugi admitted as he looked towards Atem. {Anyone whom cowers within their walls while his people are suffering is no true king..} pharaoh muttered. "Yeah despite the hostility of the other kingdom's leaders Bright was one of the only ones that wanted to hear our side of the story and even suggested that we might be able to help each other in defeating our common enemy," Roxy added. Raeger nodded. "Yes, it may be in your best interest to try and reach out to Bright." the Guild Master agreed.
"It's worth a try." Mirai winked. "I think I might be able to squeeze in a one on one meeting..." he told them. "Yeah right...and what do YOU want in EXCHANGE?" Duke muttered skeptically. "Oh! It seems one of you catches on rather quickly..." Mirai grinned mischievously. "I would indeed EXPECT somethin in return..." "I knew it..." Duke muttered. "So what DO you want?" Musa asked. "...Ah Ah Ah...that's a secret for now..." Mirai teased. "I have a feeling we're about to get into A LOT more trouble..." Layla sighed. "Because we ARE..." Marik muttered. "Why should we trust YOU anyway?" the tomb keeper hissed skeptical of Mirai's intentions. Mirai only pouted.
"Awww...don't be like that..." Mirai frowned. "Don't be so quick to judge," Stella spoke up. "He's offering to help us...so what if he asks a favor in return? Now! If we're going to a birthday party then we'll have to buy a WAY fabulous gift!" Stella exclaimed. "But where do we even start?" Techna questioned. "That's a good question..." Bloom admitted. "Are there any stores that might carry anything that Bright would like? Any hobbies or special interests?" the redhead questioned. "Food! Ya can't eva go wrong with dat!" Joey exclaimed with a grin. Flora giggled. "Well, I think they've got that covered. I'm sure Raeger will be fixing all of The Prince's favorite foods." the faerie of nature murmured. "...Oh right...eheh...I knew dat..." Joey laughed nervously.
"Hmm...well I don't really know Bright well enough to make any guesses..." Raeger admitted. "Any suggestions Mirai?" the Guild Master inquired. "As a matter of fact I DO have an inkling of what Bright might desire," he told them. "Well IF it's something we can do then you might as well go ahead and tell us." Yugi murmured. "And of course! Money is no object! Right, Stella? Musa teased as she nudged Stella. "Oh no! Of course not!" Stella giggled in return. "Only one problem. We can't use Magix currency here." Techna pointed out.
"Maybe we can find a place to exchange it...what do you think Marik?" Layla questioned as he scoffed. "There's a better chance of Hell freezing over..." "I'm not sure about that," Roxy told him. Mirai only laughed as he found himself amused at their back and forth. "Hey! Wats so funneh!?" Joey exclaimed. "You. I don't believe I said it required money for this gift..." Mirai teased. "What do you mean?" Bloom asked. "It's not WHAT Bright wants but WHO..." "...OH!" Flora exclaimed. "Does Bright want to see someone?" Yugi questioned.
"Yep!" Mirai winked. "You see when Bright was a child he used to sneak out of the castle and meet up with another little boy at the cherry tree. They became REALLY good friends and they grew up together but...sadly one day he was forced to leave Aura and it tore Bright to pieces...lately all he's been doing is looking out at the Eternal Blooming Cherry Tree from the window in his room...the very same window his friend would sneak into the castle to visit him..." Mirai told them softly with sadness in his eyes
Aura's Castle
Bright sat by his window sideway as he gazed outside beyond it. Outside he could see it. The Cherry Blossom Tree that never withered. Covered in such vibrant pink Sakura. Even from there he could smell the sweet scent it carried. "Xuri..." the blonde murmured softly as the breeze gently blew against him. "...I wonder what kind of adventures you're having...probably getting into trouble as usual..." Bright chuckled as a smile graced his lips. "Are you taking care of yourself? It's been five years since you left me behind..." Bright squeezed his fist tightly.
"I'm so angry I could just punch you right now...you'd probably just laugh though...I can hear you now...hey Bright...what are you getting so mad for? I came back, didn't I? You should smile a little more...or your face might get stuck that way..." the Prince mimicked Xuri's voice and turned towards the end table next to his bed. Slowly he made his way over and picked up a single cherry blossom protected in a blood crystal. Bright moved his hand over it before he pulled it back as a knock came at the door. "My Prince! Training exercises with the Knights will commence soon." the voice informed him.
"Very well, I'll be there shortly," Bright answered before he retracted his hand and instead placed on his blue and silver uniform. The crest of the Cherry Blossom Tree upon his back. The knight took a deep breath before he left the keep and walked over towards the stable. A white horse awaited him as he gently petted the female. "Come on girl..." he murmured before he mounted her and rode off towards the Knight's Guild.
"ATTENTION!"Bright called the Knights forward before they all formed into a line. "Pair up and spar! We need to be ready for anything with the A.O.J lurking in the shadows!" "SIR!" the Knights exclaimed before they began to spar with their partners. The Prince watched over the training as his men practiced their swordsmen-ship. Bright took unsheathed his blade and stood in front of a practice dummy. He pictured Xuri in front of him before he readied his sword and came at the dummy as if it were fighting back. Blocking and parrying at every turn sweat beating down his face as he relentlessly struck the figure made of straw and wood. The Wizards keeping their eye on The Prince as he did.
"So that's the oh noble prince of Aura is it?" Dumon snickered. "He don't look so tough now does he?" the shape-shifter muttered as they sat among the treetops. "Appearances can be deceiving idiot! He can handle that blade pretty skillfully..." Anagan fired back. "They'd be a fool to attack him now with all of those soldiers down there..." Gantlous pointed out. Ogron rolled his eyes. "Of course we won't be targeting the Prince directly you Imbeciles! We're going to DRAW him out into the open away from all of his guards and Knights...after all the poor lad looks so down in the dumps...perhaps we ought to arrange a little reunion...it IS a SPECIAL occasion..." Ogron grinned before the Wizards Of The Black Circle vanished from sight.
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