Fantasy Howl's Flying Castle (Finished! ---Whoo! (*＾▽＾)／)

Serena quieted down as one of Echo's ears twitched up and down in thought. Chenglei held his head a bit low, almost humbled at what they were hearing.

Renee watched the different dragons climb up the cliffs and each one stretched a claw for them. She looked behind her to see her brother beaming at them and she smiled at everyone who is there to see them in this ceremony. She wondered if she should compare it to graduating school but a lot more grand...

Then she shook her head as she took a step forward with her friends, not knowing which pillar of virtue she should go to. So she stood to the one in front of her, looking up at the feathery dragon who has it's claw in front of her. Her orange eyes blinked at the dragon before looking at it's claw, wondering what's at the top as she climbed on.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

Lydia had never really been one to slouch unless she was thoroughly engrossed in some work and wound up hunching over whatever had her focus, but there was a notable sturdiness to her posture as she stood there proudly with her shoulders back and her hands at her sides. She hadn't been sure about this whole guardian business in the first place, she couldn't even believe that someone like her, someone that had been so lacking in the beginning since outside of her love for magic and knowledge, she had only been a normal girl - now, however, the more she had thought about it, the more she had thought about all of the little twists in fate that had led to where they are now, the more accepting she had become of the idea.

So now, rather than slouch away from the prestige and responsibility that came with such an honor, she accepted it bravely and wholeheartedly, it wasn't the sort of duty, the sort of gift, one could just deny. Once the dragon that was nearest her stretched out its claw, Lydia didn't hesitate since she had just seen Tariel step onto one of the dragon's claws, and immediately and carefully stepped on its claw to be carried wherever she was meant to go. She didn't think much about which virtue she was to represent because the way she saw it was that there were greater things at work here and she would be placed exactly where she was meant to be.

Zer0 Katsuya

"Baby!" whispered Seifer loudly. If Renee looked at him he'd make walking into his hand gestures at her, nodding at what Lydia was doing.

Off the dragons flew with their charges, Kenren's royal robes billowing in the wind as he stood regal and tall, standing on the claw of a crimson dragon; Johnny stood with Butters, ever his bestest friend whom he shared everything with. The rest of his summons and James' watched from the cliffs, as autumn rains started to fall from the west.

"Stop." said the prince suddenly as the dragon passed a pillar. There was gold gem that reminded him of Chenglei's dragon scales. He was drawn to it, wondering how they could be the exact same hue. He touched it.

Suddenly there was a flash of light. Kenren had vanished.

The people back in the cliffs all cried in alarm. That had never happened before.

"They are the ones." said Historia calmly. "Finally, after all these years, the shards are alive once more." The same thing happened to Johnny who came upon a stone that reminded him of the ores mined by the dwarves of Winslow back at home.

"What's going on?" said James.

"The Ascension." said Historia simply.

Renee looked back when she heard Seifer, laughing a bit quietly as she stood on the dragon's claw too. Her wings fluttered in her embarrassment as she waved thankfully at Seifer.

Echo stood up proud, the green robe that's around one of her shoulder and her hips billowed like a cape as the dragon she choose flew up until-

"Please wait-!" She called out to the dragon as it passed by a pillar. The gem on top reminded her of Johnny's eyes since it was so orange and bright and rich in color. The fawn leaned in with a hand reaching out, subconsciously wanting to touch it as she was curious how this stone had the exact shade-

Suddenly she was gone.

It seems Serena is thinking the same thing, only to a stone that reminded her of her crazy mentor's eye color; a violet blue with hints of purple. She can already hear him playing piano in her mind...Then she disappeared.

Chenglei reached out to a deep amethyst purple stone that reminded him of Kenren's hair and eyes, then he was gone.

For Renee, she saw a silver stone, almost translucent like glass with soft pastel colors with the sun's rays reflecting on it. It reminded her of Seifer because he was more then what meets the eyes; soft and gentle at times like the colors and being open to see when given the chance to show. She reached out as well.

Gone, she was gone too.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

She had donned new robes for this occasion, ones that flowed around her hips and legs in layers of sheer fabric but clung to her torso and had a V-cut neckline with the typical plunge of elegance and modesty that Lydia preferred. The sleeves were long and billowy around her arms and had the same layers as the skirt and attached at the shoulders were two silver medallions with dragon heads etched into them that held layers of the same sheer fabric as the rest of the robes and everything was three shades of blue, one dark, one light, and one medium. The whole garb billowed around her magnificently as the dragon flew away with her, along with the length of her sleek black hair which had been left down.

Lydia watched the others as they each found their respective stones, and began to feel more and more disheartened. All of the stones looked the same to her. They were all a brilliant blue and as all of the stones had been touched and the ones that had touched them disappeared. She began to question if she actually was a guardian at all or if it had been some fluke.

She had been feeling so proud and wonderful, ready to take on this responsibility, but now she began to feel anxious and downtrodden and looked to the dragon that carried her. She was half expecting the dragon to look to her for guidance, expecting her to announce as the others had, when he should stop. It seems he didn't need her direction because since all of the other stones had already been touched, he went to the only one that had not yet been claimed.

Lydia's hand drew up at her chest, her fingers curling into a loose fist as she looked at the stone with worry on her features. What if she wasn't a guardian? If she wasn't a guardian, she'd still be Lydia. She'd still be one of the people that had helped this group get as far as they had. It wouldn't be so bad not being a guardian everything would just be as it had been. With this thought in mind, she smiled slightly and closed her eyes, nodding to herself as though acknowledging that it would all be okay regardless.

She then took a deep breath and touched the stone, which even though it looked like all the others was special to her because it reminded her of her master's eyes, his gem necklace, and it was James' favorite color.

Just like all of the others before her, Lydia also vanished.

Zer0 Katsuya

They had been caught, Chenglei and he.

Three years had passed since that fateful night he and his mother had been saved by him. And in that stretch of time, they had been victorious over their fiercest rival, the Hakagami faction. Word of their triumph reached the emperor's ears and for the first time, Kenren and his followers were summoned to the palace as honored guests, where, during the feast, he was praised as a rising heir to the Chrysanthemum throne.

The feasting was enjoyable, but more so that night, when he held and was being held in Chenglei's caring arms. Then they got caught.

And now there was a hush, a dark rumor: That the prince loved men.

Kenren kneeled, head bowed down before the emperor, his father, who looked down on him with contempt. It was only they, and they alone in the throne room. His father had boasted, saying he will turn the prince into one of his shoguns last night, but now Kenren was afraid it was all over. Plans had been going through his head all morning. Their military might was not enough to survive the emperor's armies for long, and if he decreed his brothers take the Taisho's lands too, all that he, Chenglei, and his followers had worked hard for all these years would be gone. And more than that, the two may be sentenced to death.

So here he waited under the glare of the most powerful man of all the Orients, awaiting, with bated breath, his verdict.



"Papa, papa." tugged a twelve year old Johnny at his father's tail.

The giant wolf, who had finished eating his fill of the carcass of deer their pack had hunted and was currently licking his paws clean, gently picked up Johnny in his big jaws and laid him in between his paws and licked him clean too. "What is it son?"

"I'm going to be a ring master."

His father didn't know what this was, but after Johnny explained happily the travelling fair and the fantastic summons who took his breath away in the show, his father chuckled at him. "Son, you can't do magic."

"That's okay, I just need a wand. It's a magic stick, like this!" he pulled out a twig, carved into what the giant wolf could relate to as a toothpick. Johnny posed. "Ladies in gentlemen, from the land of wind and snow, I give you for your pleasure, Butters!"

Poof

"Babaaa!" bleated the giant ram on its hind legs, proudly.

There was a fit of coughing, and bark like laughter behind him. "Again with that, Ho Nehe?" giggled his sisters, coming back from their meal, red staining their maw and front. Of all the giant wolves in the clearing, only Johnny was the human sitting among them. Butters snorted at them as Johnny automatically went out of his father's paws and into the fluffy fur of the giant ram, scrambling on to its back in case he needs to run away again.

"You are such a scaredy rabbit! Man up, you're the only son in the family, you're going to be the head of our herds when you're older."

"Okay." said Johnny quietly.

"You say that all the time, but you don't mean it."

"Mmm." he said evasively, nudging Butter's side. The giant ram trotted away from the wolves.

"Ho Nehe, don't run away again." his sister sighed. "Come on, time to toughen up our brother again."

Johnny cried in alarm as next thing he knew, nine giant wolves were on his and Butter's tail, growling and snapping in an attempt to scare him and back him into a corner to bring out the wolf in him.

A newly seven years old Echo was seen in the arms of her mother who was running away, panting hard as they can hear men shouting for her to come out and face them like before. There was so many glows from lamps these men are carrying along with pitch forks and guns. The tiny fawn didn't understand; why is her mother running away? Why are those men looking for her? She's so scared and confused.

"Mama, what's going on?" Echo asked frightfully. Her mother didn't answer, couldn't answer as she was concentrating on running with her only child in her arms. Her grip on Echo tightened as she jumped over a ledge and skirted down, pebbles rumbling from her big hooves dragging themselves down and stomping on the gravel. Then she continued on running, never looking back at their burning home back at Dawnsfield.

"Mama?" Silence met her question as her mother hurriedly ran into an old greenhouse that was rotting away with nature covering it; vines of poison ivy and some sort of fuzzy stuff that Echo knows will itch if she touches it covered the area. Her mother's running slowed into a jog as they reached an old door. She opened it, creating a noise too loud for the silent place, making her wince from the high pitch squeaking. Her mother looked back, her own deep green eyes widened as she heard something that Echo could not yet. Then she placed her inside of the garden shed closet, as the tiny fawn realized, making sure she's hidden behind vines and metal sheets that fell long time ago.

"Don't come out, Echo Mello. No matter what, do not come out unless your father or auntie Mel comes and gets you, okay?"

"M-Mama?" A gentle and shaking hand cupped her tear stricken cheeks, one last smile and kiss on the forehead was given as a ....good-bye...?

"Stay safe, my Echo Mello..." Then her mother closed the door, leaving only a slit where Echo can see through from her hiding spot. Her mother's back towards her as she walked back from where she came from...

The tiny fawn can hear the men's jeers at how 'Wonderful' her mother is, so special with her antlers and being the leader in both her family and part of the ambassadors. There, reflecting from the lamps' light, Echo can see a gun shining under....

....and aiming at her mother who moved to run again.... but this time, towards her attackers...

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

"Now Serena, remember: hold your head up and play your heart out."

The blonde cackled at her crazy mentor's comfort, patting his hand as if to tell him 'I thought I was the one who should be nervous.'

"I know, teach. I know." A big and warm hand ruffled her head as her big azure blue eyes looked up at violet blue ones that were behind thin glasses on an aristocratic nose. A proud but anxious smile appeared on his narrowed and effeminate face.

"Good! Now.." He nudged her towards the stage where she can see a spotlight that's just for her. "Knock 'em dead with music."

"Ay ay, boss!" Serena chirped and sauntered confidently towards the stage. This is her first big stage at playing her violin. She invited all of her friends and family with her teacher inviting not just some of the common everyday folk but the royal family as well. She can see where the King of Kingsbury is sitting and on his lap is a tiny princess Mia who seemed interested at what she can do.

Good. She caught their attention...

With a nod at the small orchestra, their music played, giving her a lead role. Her violin string twanged with joy as she played her song. Serena didn't stay still; it wasn't her style to stay still as her song was vibrant and playful; silly at times. The blonde was having fun, not minding the attention she was getting from the audience. Years of practice, years of her fingers bleeding and her face whipped from taut violin strings, finally. Finally she gets to show her talent- Nay! Her hard well worth work and she will share it with everyone-

Suddenly a tomato was thrown from the crowd and it landed right next her, breaking her jive. Her blue eyes looked at it like it was a foreign thing until another tomato was flung on the stage. Another. Another. So many red fruits was aimed at her and she tried to dodge but some of the fruits managed to hit her white dress too, staining it in red.

Serena didn't understand; where are these tomatoes coming from?

That's when she looked at the crowd, wondering who is it that's throwing while she's performing and saw...it was coming from her friends...the ones she invited.

Her soul, her spirit was crushed as a tomato landed on her blonde hair, red flowing down to her face like a mortal wound to the head.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

Sitting on the floor and washing the polished wood, Chenglei waited as he weakly twisted his dirty used towel, brown clouded water in the bucket splashed. The blonde can feel his stomach growling, his muscles ached, and his head dizzy from the fever he is suffering through. It's been days since he was hired here and the blonde's body was proof enough from the rumors that circulated around about this Shogun. Though the information about his debt also helped to support the dark secret claims from the women who worked here.

The Shogun who owned this bath house is stupidly egotistical, believing his riches will save him from any sort of danger as he just wastes it on himself. He doesn't even give good pay to the workers in his own bath house nor does he give food to the ones who live here like him currently. Then again...this is one of many Kenren's brothers. Chenglei always believed his brothers were very stupid.

The blonde continued to clean the floor boards as smug-looking men passed by him. One of them kicked him by the ribs, getting him out of the way as he sneered before going on with his pleasant walk. The teen just laid there, not moving for a while to pass the dizziness; tiny stars blinding him for a few seconds. He gritted his teeth as he can hear some of the women who worked here scream in pain after a loud smack, his trembling body tensed up as his code to always be kind towards women kicked in; wanting to harm the abuser.

But he can't...

Not yet....

Not until the time is right...

Not until he sees a sign that he has been waiting for days from his one hope. His one friend. His one love, Kenren.


Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

In the streets of Kingsbury, one brunette Renee Pendragon was skipping back to her home as her small class was excused earlier than the other majors of the school. Something to do with one of the younger herb students creating a sleeping potion that traveled in the air...

"Oh well-!" Renee said as she stretched her arms up to the sky. "More free time~!"

She greeted Calcifier as soon she walked through the door, not realizing the fire demon's panic until she heard him screaming for her to check upstairs. Renee blinked in surprise. Why was he anxious-? Then she smelled it. The burning of plants and smoke that has magical properties...

"AHHH!!!" Renee screamed in a high pitch as she ran up the stairs, seeing that the black ugly smoke was coming from her room-! The dial was on a green...

"MY GARDEN!"

She teared her door open and a blazing heat smacked her body in a puff of flames, licking her simple clothes and long hair. Coughing from the smoke, her orange eyes squinted to see her work space in fire, burning the plants and art supplies she has in stored. Ashes scattered in the hot air from paper and painting being burnt.

Her heart pang in pain as tears started to well up at the corner of her eyes.

Who would burn her garden, her work space, her sanctuary down like this?!

"H-Help!" A familiar voice coughed from where her larger plants are, echoing in the halls of the burning ruins. "Sis-!! Help!!" She heard it again. That...

That was Sen...

"SETH'S STUCK!" ....What?!

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

"You were perfect." said the emperor. " Cunning, with the courage to act upon your decisions, strong, and disciplined. With followers willing to die for you. But now . . . you risk it all so that you can roll around on the ground with a street rat?"

" . . ."

"Disgusting."

Kenren remained silent.

"Choose. That street rat or the throne."

"Chenglei." said Kenren in a calm voice. "His name is Chenglei, and he is not a street rat. He is a swordsman whose prowess in the battlefield rivals the best of the Hakagami clan. He has a protective charisma that wins over the helpless and even his enemies to his side, and so gives the Taisho's support from the locals of the different provinces. They see him as one of them, not a noble, but a commoner who understands their plight and hence becomes their speaker to my ear. We have prospered we have conquered. He will be much more useful to you alive than dead, and so will I."

The emperor continued to listen, thinking.

"You said that you wanted to make me a shogun, I can't do it without him. But in respect to your name, I will no longer be his love."

"Prove it."

"What will you have me do?"

"You will become shogun. But the moment one rumor breaks out of your disgusting inclinations, I will strip you of your title and your lands. You will no longer be a son of mine. You will be put to death together with all your family and close supporters. I will have no vile heir to the throne."

"Yes, your Highness."





"Papa." said an older Johnny, placing a hand on his father's shoulder. "I won't be inheriting the farm. I'm going to be a ring master."

His father, who had been shearing one of the sheep looked up at him. "Son, not this again."

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

"What?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I won't be inheriting the farm. "

"Ho Nehe, where are you going?" he said sharply.

"I don't want to tell you. You always get mad."

"Because you are abandoning your family!" off he went in his tirade, the same old discouraging thing Johnny's memorized ever since two years ago. He stood there, waiting patiently until his father was finished, attracting the attention of the rest of his family as he ended up yelling angry again. But as always he would not change his mind, and as always he was subjected to heavy chores for going against the family tradition and shaming his parents by not taking responsibility.

He probably shouldn't have said he was leaving tomorrow though, because then he was locked in his room and was scolded, saying they will not let him out until he apologized.

But early the next morning, through a cramped trap door, Johnny wiggled his way out through the bathroom and landed on the snow, smelly but excited. He stole away in the shadows, and ever since that day his family didn't hear from him for more than one year.

"Ha! You'll never be like your 'Wonderful' mother. I'll make sure of that."

"Are you going to cry? Go ahead! Cry!"

"Look! That's funny. She's fighting back and protecting her 'Mama~' Snk-! Like that's going to help."

"Come on! I know you want to cry. Do it! I want to hear your tiny little screams."

These men jeered, pushing her to get her off her mother who still felt warm-or is it the blood that's pooling under her?- as Echo covered her mother's body. They found her hiding after they realized why her mother charged at them like that and pulled her out from behind the metal sheet. Then as her mother tried to run towards her, one of the men shot her. The bullet went through her chest and digging itself to the dirt. Which leads to the men who are pushing her around and taunting her for wanting to protect her mother.

"I bet we can make money, selling antlers of yours- and your mother's too!"

"Don't touch my mama!" Echo retorted, glaring angrily despite having tears streaking down her cheeks. The men just laughed at her face. "Oho~ Think you can stop us too, like your mother did? It's because of your antlers, isn't it? Maybe I should file them-"

"My mama is my mama! Who cares about our antlers?"

"Your family and her co-workers. That's who." scowled another man. Then he grabbed onto her tiny antlers, yanking them hard and making her scream in pain. "See? You're nothing special, just like your mother-"

"Wrong!" Echo shouted, her green eyes glared at the men who are doing this. "My mama is special! She's my mama! She's kind to everyone even the mean boys at school and never hurt others like you do! You meanie heads!"

One of the men snorted at her name calling as the one who has her antler yanked again. "Oho? So you think your mother is special too?"

"My mama is always special because she's my mama!" Echo argued but then he yanked again. The tiny fawn sobbed as she can feel her antler about to be broken for the first time if he keeps pulling that hard.

"Stop it!"

"Who's going to make me-...huh?" Everyone in the everyone can hear someone singing...in a language unknown to the men but to Echo; she recognized it since it was English backwards. She recognize that voice anywhere...

The mysterious strong melody grew louder, sounding ancient with each verse her mother sang. The men backed away, scared at the wounded fawn who pushed herself up. Her deep red hair veiled her face for a moment until she looked up as her clothes and hair billowed around from an unknown wind that's blowing.

Her green eyes are no longer green; they were an angry bright glowing white as she sang her spell.

The men ran away. Echo smiled as she hugged her mother who hugged back protectively.

Thick roots from trees bursts out of the dirt, wrapping the men that were escaping and pinning them down into a ball. Any of the men who tried to attack the mother and daughter pair suffered a worse fate then the ones who are trapped inside the roots.

Aria was not letting her daughter get hurt. Not from this...


It was early in the morning when Lykon found them, his wife and child. He was looking for them all over the place when their quint little town was burning to the ground from the men who were vengeful towards his wife. The one who was the voice and figure of wanting other races to come into Kingsbury. The anti-race group were against it and lost the case when the King choose her side.

The hardcore members never accepted it and had left threats to his wife.

Tree roots curled around some of the men while others...the others were crushed and impaled....

Then when he continued to look deeper in the forest, is where he found them. Huddled and curled up in a nest of roots and leaves, Echo is sleeping in her dead mother's arms, smiling as the blood from her mother's chest wound flowed out and staining on their druid-like clothing.

Lykon sobbed in relieving joy and in devastating sorrow, swearing that he will watch over their one special child who didn't even remember the ordeal. From what Melody has said later on that day, another spell from Aria, to seal away the painful and tragic memory.

******************************************************************

Within a flash of light and on a dragon's claw is Echo, who stared into space. Around her waist is a dark forest green sash with different shades of black and grey buckle on her left side; The design is vines intertwining each other like her mother's root nest and swirling around a pumpkin shaped gem that's the same shade as Johnny's eyes.

An Oath. To never forget her roots and to never shove it in others faces. Let them discover who she is on their own as she grows subtly...like a pumpkin in harvest.



Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

It had been four years since it was recommended that Lydia seek other means of education through private tutors. Being home schooled hadn't affected her education though there was a slight impact on her social life. While some looked at her like she was a genius and her family was deemed elegant and blessed because their daughter was so brilliant that the most prestigious academy in Bourgeaus had recommended she be educated through private tutors, there were others who thought she was strange for the very same reasons. They thought that she was so unrefined that she had to be taken out of school and since her family must be embarrassed of her, they just wouldn't acknowledge her at all.

Either way, it suited Lydia fine because they didn't want to interrupt her when they saw her reading at virtually any public event, much like the current one. The Dubois, as well as many other families that conducted business with them, had all gone out to the country for a week to escape the blistering heat of the city. Lydia's family along with other families that had properties in the area, hosted families that had their holiday estates elsewhere and currently, while all of the adults were playing their parlor games and the like, their children had made their way to the local swimming hole to escape the summer heat.

While Lydia had donned a modest suit for swimming - a blue one piece with a high neckline and boy short style bottom, over which she wore a pastel yellow sundress that helped her stay cool - she was not frolicking in the cool water with the other teens as they played and swam. Lydia had instead, wandered away from the scene and was currently sitting on the thick roots of a tree with a very broad trunk and a lush canopy of foliage that provided ample shade. The root she sat on sloped up out of the ground so that once she had climbed on it, her feet didn't touch the ground. Her gaze was focused through her spectacles as she carefully studied the book. Her mother had insisted that if she must bring books to at least bring ones that were only for entertainment and not her 'usual magic nonsense,' Lydia knew that her mother had said that because she didn't want anyone to see her studying magic, but it was okay to just read storybooks.

Lydia had obliged in a way, bringing mostly storybooks but this particular one was a reference of historical mages and to the layman would likely just seem like another storybook and not something that was written about actual people.

"What are you reading?" Lydia jumped slightly at the sudden voice behind her, her posture straightening as she slowly took a glance over her shoulder. The voice was self-assured and suave and belonged to Anthony Godheart. Lydia didn't really know Anthony personally, he was a transfer student that hadn't started at the academy until after Lydia had already left. She did know of him, however, albeit by rumor and reputation. According to gossip that she overheard, Anthony was quite popular at the academy with all the girls, of course that seemed not to only be rumors because whenever she saw him, he was surrounded by flocks of girls. He was the eldest son of the Godhearts and heir to their import and export company so was in high demand by the manufacturing families and the girls looking for courtships.

Of course what Lydia didn't know was that Anthony had been asking after her. He would casually bring her into the conversations he had with other boys who had known her longer, such as those that she went to the academy with as well as her brothers. While most didn't know it and simply told him that she was strange and not like other girls, her brothers had realized that Anthony had taken an interest in their little sister and they weren't very fond of the idea. While their parents may appreciate the notion because of the connection that the families could make, her brothers knew his reputation and knew that most girls that came across him didn't leave unsullied because not all girls were as pure as Lydia.

"I-it... um... it's j-just a... storybook," she stuttered softly in response to Anthony's question, her gaze shifting away as he hopped onto the tree root beside her wearing only his swim shorts. He had dark skin and sleek black hair and his eyes were such a dark brown that one could get lost in them. He was the same age as her brother Thomas and in his class, which was likely why Thomas was even wary of him getting near Lydia. Anthony scooted right next to her so that the bare skin of his shoulder touched hers and peered down at the book, on her lap, dark strands of his hair slipping down over his forehead slightly and brushing his well-groomed eyebrows. Lydia's breath caught in her throat at the sudden and casual proximity this young man took with her and her cheeks flushed as she tried to scoot away from him slightly.

Lydia's action didn't go unnoticed and Anthony turned his dark gaze on her, an amused smile playing on his lips, "I won't bite... unless you want me to?" He leaned nearer to her teasingly, Lydia's eyes widening behind her glasses for a moment before she turned them back towards the book and cleared her throat, "u-u-um.... n-n-no... no... I don't."

Anthony released an amused snicker that the sound alone showed how her reactions pleased him and he scooted closer to her again, "it's really cute how you do that," he wasn't actually insincere in saying that because unlike the other girls that so openly expressed their like for him, she was much more shy and it was part of the reason he had taken an interest in her, because she wasn't so bold like the other girls. Lydia felt like a challenge to him. He brushed his hand through the length of her black hair which she had pulled up in a high ponytail before resting his arm around her shoulders, "your hair is really pretty, you should leave it down."

At his sudden touch, Lydia stiffened up, her knuckles white as her fingers grasped the edge of her book, "I-I-I-I didn't d-do anything..." she was beginning to feel increasingly claustrophobic and wanted to look over her shoulder to see if anyone at the swimming hole was paying witness to this so that maybe she could get them to distract him but at this close range she was afraid of turning her face towards him or away from him for one reason or another so she just kept looking down at her book, her gaze shifting anxiously towards him every now and then.

"Well... maybe we could do something... help you relax," he said smoothly with a disarming smile as he straightened up and lowered his lids slightly, gazing on Lydia alluringly, "it'd prove everything people say about you wrong," he squeezed her slightly, urging her closer to him as his other hand raised to her chin, lifting it towards him as his eyes closed and he leaned in to kiss her.

While Lydia was unaware, her absence was already known to her brothers, and upon the disappearance of Anthony from the swimming hole, they had begun casually looking for him. It was at the instant that Anthony was about to kiss Lydia that they would discover where he had gone, hurrying closer to them and calling out.

Their attempts at interrupting were about two seconds too late because as they shouted Lydia's hands had tightened on her book, swinging it upwards reflexively and striking Anthony in the jaw, knocking him off the root backwards and thereby thwarting his attempt to kiss her. Everyone was still and silent as the shock of what had just happened set in, Lydia and Anthony staring at each other with stunned expressions as though the couldn't fathom what had just happened and the two Dubois brothers looking at each of the two involved in turn. Lydia was the first to move, snatching up the bag that she had brought with her glasses case and books and jumping off the root, "I-I-I'm sorry!" She shouted as she ran away back to her family's manor, mortified by everything that had just happened.

Zer0 Katsuya

"Why am I remembering these things?" said Kenren as he watched himself leave the throne room with a heavy heart, and the following morning when he and Chenglei broke up.

For six years he saw himself struggle, having a lot of talks with his love about their new arrangement to make it work, slipping every now and then, but getting more used to not being close to Chenglei as the years went by. Kenren had grieved, then moved on, but he never really did, didn't he?

"Why are you showing me this?" he said again into the nothingness.

And then it came, a reminder that he was once more risking death and the undoing of all their hard work by being with Chenglei now. Their work wasn't done yet, so they can't be together, not like this. There was still much to do in the Orients, and he could see now that if he continued, it was going to mean more hardships for the both of them.

The prince's brow furrowed. "Why is it always our relationship that's the problem? He's not a burden, he helps me carry everything. Why does everything make him look like something bad, when he's not? Have you seen how caring and protective he is?"

But it wasn't him, it was their passion for each other that was in the way. In other words, slow down with that love making Kenren and have some temperance. He had to choose, his people or his passions?

" . . . My people."

Then slow down.

"So I'm going to have to talk to him, before we cross to the other side. Are you just telling me there's a time and place for us?"

Yes, but it's going to be after a long time, when all the work is done. The prince and he would be happier if they bridled their desires, waiting for a better time where they won't risk the things more important to them, than them making love. He will see, that a little temperance will go a long way to a more peaceful life.

There was another flash of light, and Kenren reappeared on the claw of the dragon, holding something in his hands. It was a chrysanthemum crown, made of the same gold as Chenglei's scales.

It was a reminder, that indeed he will have the two things his heart most desired, if he practiced just a little self-control.

Serena stood there at the stage, clenching her hands into fists and choking the neck of her violin as an old spark of anger ignited within her. Her azure blue eyes glared at her traitorous friends. How could they?! She thought they wanted to see her play. She thought they were there to support her but they-!

That's when she realized in dread and sorrow, within the batch of troublesome teens is an old face that she thought she will never see again. The 'friend' that always lied to her face. Will she never leave her alone?! What is her problem-?!

The blonde continued to glare, looking more and more like her old self when she would throw vases.

That is...until she heard a soft piano note despite the loud jeers...

Serena looked over to the side, blue eyes meeting with patient violet blue. Polorius stared at his student with his head held up high, playing another note. She paused...then slowly lifted her violin as he took his place from the other musician before hand. She waited for a few seconds until her part came to be. The song was sad and painful; grieving even. The teacher wasn't a fool, he knew that Serena was hurting more then anything and he wanted her to play it out. So he changed the songs' order.

Some of the people in the crowd started to frown, muttering and giving the teens in front disapproving glares as they can tell, even if the teacher did start the song, that Serena was really in pain and they have caused it.

The she started another song without her teacher leading this time, one that's a bit hopeful and sweet but still sad. It sounded like she really was struggling; she was giving her best shot at doing what she's doing but even then...even then she's still criticized. It hurts even when she's trying to be happy and brave her depression out. Only to fall back into that angry shell...which she wants to avoid at all cost....

Then Polorius played a silly jingle, one that kids in the crowd recognized and excitedly pulled on their parents' clothes. They started to sings with Serena's violin. The band joined in too, wanting to cheer up the place with Serena as a lead. It's funny too because Serena is using the tomatoes to spin around quicker and slid easier across the stage, not minding the red juices of the fruit that once was used against her. Her mentor rolled his eyes when he noticed her sassy take on the song, showing off her playing for the little ones who are singing along. Including Princess Mia, who's clapping and laughing with her father.

It was like...Serena was cheering them up instead, the crowd. The blonde even played a song that wondered everyone, letting them imagine flying with broom sticks over the wide open ocean seas and something evil following them but escaped-!

Her last and short song sounded like she's trying to cheer up her 'friends', having enough with the negative emotions emitting from them. Serena played around them, smiling wide and cheerful as she somehow made them smile too with how dorky she's dancing.

"Why...Is that how I danced when I played at my first concert?" Serena giggled, feeling a bit embarrassed but happy that she got the teens to smile while younger version of herself danced along with everyone in the crowd. They are okay now, she just doesn't hang around with them...

"I noticed that I did them wrong so I apologized and helped them when they needed it..."

Then she was shown all of what she did to cheer others up, even her fight with Wrath and became friends with Hisaya. Her fight with Lydia...Her talk with James...How she swam away from Johnny who was scared...

"Why are you showing me this?"

Her anger. It showed how she was when she was angry and throw things. A warning of her temperament.

"But...I'm doing okay now..."

There's a chance that she might be alone, without anyone there to help cheer her up. Can she cheer herself up?

"Of course I can!"

Then don't fall on your word...

"...Hpmh! Who do you take me for? Valdanr? I wouldn't lie to get a gain!"

Somehow she can feel this presence laughing and she felt like...it patted her head...Making her blush.

******************

With a binding light flashing, Serena stumbled on the dragon's claw and in her hands, replacing her wooden violin from before, is another violin but in a violet blue colored crystal like her mentor's eyes.

A promise to always be kind toward others even when they are not nice towards her. Take their anger with a grain of salt because they might be hurting too.



Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

Crashes from the paper sliding doors breaking was heard as the invasion and take over of the egotistically Shogun had begun. Chenglei finally saw his sign after three more days and nights, hiding fireworks in certain places that he knew wouldn't harm anybody but will catch that fat Shogun and his followers' attention.

After all...as a greedy person, the Shogun would worry about his treasure trove of gold and gems.

The blonde ran as quickly as he could in the long hallways, dodging the bodies that wrangled each other Little bright stars glittered in his vision as he pushed himself to escape while everyone else in Kenren's group fought the guards away. Then he heard the women screaming about-

"Please-! No-! She's just a child-!"

There was a gaggle of women piling in the hallway, all of them worried and afraid of the man who's holding their youngest co-worker out of the balcony; a girl in the sweet age of ten. She was whimpering and shaking in fear...

That did it-!

Using all of the anger he stored away and his hunger pains, Chenglei pushing all the women out of the way, came in the room and without hesitating, jump-kicked the evil man to the face with a wooden sandal; pushing him out of the room, out of the balcony window and into the midnight burning air.

His ash purple eyes went wide and looked wild as the child screamed in terror along with the women sobbing. The blonde surprised them all however; like a monkey on bamboo trees, Changlei secured himself with his ankles around the railings and he...barely-! grabbed the little girl with his hands grabbing tight on her thin wrists. He watched the man fall to his death, falling from the tenth floor and hitting the ground with a loud 'thud!'.

The blonde panted as he swung the little girl, smiling at her charmingly as he calmed her down.

"It's okay. I've gotcha'! Big brother won't let ya die." The girl sniffed and nodded, trusting the surprisingly limber blonde. With a deep breathe, he continued to swing the little girl, aimed just right to let go of her wrists. She yelped in surprise as she hit on the floor balcony under the one she was before, landing on her butt. Then she waved at him as he waved back with a huge smile as he climbed back up to the gaggle of women and told them to go find the girl and run away while they can.

"Actually, follow me. I'll show you a way out, madams and misses." He bowed dramatically, easing the women's distrust in him as he showed a gentlemanly side. So they followed him after picking up the girl ad went straight to Kenren's tent with new members and supporters of the Taisho's.

Chenglei watched his younger self fall into bed after giving Kenren the evidence against the Shogun; the heir-to-be worried over him for not eating as the blonde smiled a nostalgic smile. He let out a sigh before closing his eyes.

"That was when Kenren was gaining more supporters...and I had to give my all to help achieve his dream...I still do."

Then why did this happen?

Chenglei opened his eyes to see them getting captured by Seifer when he was a Deathknight and the blonde waved it away. "My foolish sentiments that's what-"

Wrong. You were doing what you do best; gaining supporters for your Prince's cause. It's not your fault.

"Yes it is! Why ask me that?"

To remind you. To remind you of your best quality. You inspire people to take a stand with hard work while giving a caring hand to those who need it. Don't doubt yourself and your abilities.

Chenglei 'tsk'-ed and looked away, glaring coldly.

Accept the truth...This is how you got your prince.

Another memory of when Chenglei, tired from work and cold from the rain, saved a wounded Kenren and his mother.

The blonde sighed, shoulders slumped. "Fine...I won't doubt myself anymore...but Kenren-! He-!"

Yes, I know. The taboo but trust me: hard and careful work will always be rewarded. One way or another.

************************************

Chenglei stood tall in the dragon's claw, staring at his Kurosaki's blade. Instead of black, it's an amethyst purple that reminded him of Kenren's hair and eyes.

A hope that will bloom in fruition as long he continues to believe in his work and moral ethnics. One that Chenglei wants to come true for the sake of his Prince.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

Renee panted as the fire finally went out, thankfully because of the rainy weather. Her greenhouse and garden smoky as an aftermath, the earth scorched from the violent lick of flames. Her study destroyed with ashes instead of paintings and notes and books.

All of her work...Her stuff...

She spun around, glaring heatedly at the twins who shrunk in size when they know they did something wrong.

"What." She whispered harshly. "Were. You. Thinking?" Renee motioned at her garden and study as they were in the castle's hallway. "Why would you bother the Spit fire flower like that?! I've warned you, time and time again, that you should get me in case any of the plants get out of hand like that. Ask! I will give the plants and herbs you need, just ask-!"

"Now-! Now look at this-! Look at it-! All of my studies! My paintings and drawings-! My plants-! Gone-!" The twins stayed quiet, looking at her guiltily.

"We're sorry, Sis."

"Yea, we're sorry...."

Renee continued to glare before sighing, scratch behind her head. She tapped her foot on the floor, annoyed.

"We'll help replant your garden, right, Seth?"

"Right. Until all of your plants come back."

She lifted a hand up, stopping them from talking anymore. "No, it's fine. I rather do that on my own..." The older sister walked closer to the twins who readied themselves to getting a hit or something-

Only to be surprised when Renee hugged them instead.

"S-Sis?"

"...I'm so glad that you two are alright..."

As tiny wings fluttering lightly at the memory that's shown to her, Renee watched her younger, more human, self be hugged by the twins who snuggled with her; despite having 'Eww~! Sis cooties!' Then she sighed, not looking away.

"...The twins still go in my greenhouse but they avoid the dangerous ones." Renee muttered to...whoever that's with her. She can feel the entity nod. Another memory was shown; It was when James was crying from cheating in the tournament and she forgave him...because she loves her brother to much to actually hate him.

"...Why are you showing me this?" She asked curiously.

To remind you that love is key to help others; not self-righteous heroism. Remember this?

Renee turned around to see Seifer and her falling down a dark and frozen ravine. Her wings wilted.

"Yea...I remember..."

Learn when is the right time to jump in and when to plan and send help. To say no and go look for someone that can do what you cannot. That's part of selfless love too: Apage. Humanity and acceptance in it's finest.

"...Why are you telling me this?"

Because you are capable to do so much, that includes doing so many mistakes. You needed a little reminder of where to go from here on out...

"...Thank you..."

As Renee faded out, she felt someone ruffling her hair, making her giggle.

**************************************

Bright light flashed on the feathered dragon's claw, fading out to reveal a serene Renee who's sitting. There, around her neck is a white gold chain; the pendent is a tear drop shaped opalite, cradled and held by white gold framing that look like branches and tiny flowers. She looked at it, watching the pastel colors shine from the sunlight before the gray clouds came by; making the stone all blue and see through.

A guide to where she needed to go. As Renee stood up and looked where her brother and lover are, she smiled, now wanting to be a guide to anybody who needed help too. From what she understands through this whole trip: a heart is a heavy burden, but it's a treasured burden, none the less.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

Steam billowed as the train chugged to a stop at Kingsbury station. There was a great rush at the doors of compartments, and fifteen-year old Johnny found himself being buffeted to the platform with the thronging crowd. Many passengers got down and many more got in. Coolies were seen carrying heavy bundles of luggage on their heads, while children clung to their parents in the great rush. The whole platform was full of noise.

" Mr. and Mrs. Benette!" he called in an English accent as the crowd separated him from his guardians.

"Over here, Johnny, my boy!" said an old man, a wrinkly hand waving above the sea of heads. Johnny pushed his way towards them, a big lumpy backpack much taller than him strapped on to his shoulders.

"So this is a train station in the city." said Johnny in wonder, turning around on the spot to see everything. "There are so many people and all of them seem to be ignoring each other."

Mrs. Benette laughed. "That's the big city! Lots of strangers, and you better watch your pockets like I told you, my boy."

"Yes, ma'am!" grinned Johnny.

It was time for the train to depart again. Johnny watched as the guard blew a whistle and waved a green flag. The engine whistled and the train began to move. There was waging of hands and kerchiefs as the train gained speed. Suddenly the platform looked almost like a deserted place, as new people in cloaks and all manner of unfamiliar clothing stepped in line.

"Come along, son, let's get you settled in the big city." said Mrs. Benette, curling her arm around Johnny's.

It was his first day in Kingsbury after a year of living in a far off town a boat ride away with the old couple who took him in about ten months ago.

After he had ran away from home, he had travelled with Butters and caught up with Madam Goodhart's travelling fair and stayed with them until his journey ended here in the continent of Erest more than a year ago. Here in the country where he had been spending the last months preparing to take the entrance exam and aptitude test in the Sorcerer's Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Benette had taken him in then, a hard working nomad kid on his own, who dressed funny, and schooled him in reading, writing, and the basics of magic in return for housework.

And now, Johnny was so happy he was finally here. Actually reaping his dreams.

His memories whizzed passed as he saw himself pass the exams and become a fifth year in school. It was brilliant! It was scary! So many girls, so many girls per square meter of land. And he chuckled as he watched his younger self wondering how he was going to get through this.

It got better in time. Just like it always did with patience and courage, and he smiled when he saw the memory of him and Echo that lunch time in the hall. He looked on fondly as he saw his past and how he had made it through it all, not despairing because there was always something he believed in to make it better. But there was one that still bothered him: the night he was disowned by his family.

You're going to make it too, said a voice that encouraged him to have hope and to be patient with them. Because one day they will understand. And here the memories of them and Echo together flooded his mind. They will see that she is a good person, and will come to love her too. It will need work on Johnny and Echo's end to convince them, but rest assured, it wasn't an impossible task. Wait and you shall see.


Johnny reappeared on the claw of his dragon, a little teary but looking so relieved. He didn't have anything in his hands, but curling from the sides of his head were his beloved sheep horns. And somehow he knew, these ones would grow back, a reassurance that the broken bond between his family and he, would also mend.

The reflection in the mirror looked just like all the other girls. The image depicted grace, elegance, and beauty - everything that represented the ideal future wife for any of the young men of Bourgeaus. She sat there at her vanity with perfect posture aided by the off-white, laced and beaded bustled corset gown she had worn that evening for the party. Her sleek black hair was still neatly placed in perfect curls atop her head with the little rose and lace accessory that her mother's ladies had put there for decoration still neatly in place. Lydia tilted her head slightly before shaking it in a huff, knocking some of the curls loose as she rose from her seat and removed the gown, stepping out of it once it had hit the floor.

The frustrated young woman, only wearing her undergarments, then proceeded to collect this gown as well as all of the other lacy and elegant gowns that were in her closet and toss them out her bedroom door. Her usual wardrobe was already black, she never paid any mind to what she wore and it was her intention to do the same with her dress when attending a party.

Soon the ruckus that was caused by shoes, dresses, hats, and other accessories getting tossed out her door called the attention of the servants of the house and shortly her mother followed to see what was the matter, "Lydia! What in the world are you doing?!" Her mother was quite alarmed and hurried past the clutter that was gathering outside the door, snatching up a robe to cover her daughter who was only wearing a bustier, pantalets and stockings, "I'm getting rid of things I don't need anymore," was Lydia's curt reply as she shrugged away from the robe in irritation.

"Things you don't need? But Lydia, all of these gowns are in wonderful condition and they still fit you!" Her mother sounded obviously stunned and pursed her lips as Lydia evaded the robe and continued with what she was doing.

"I didn't say I was getting rid of old things and things that don't fit me," she said with a huff as she tossed another pile of gowns out the door with a group of servants still looking on in stunned but curious silence, "I said I was getting rid of things I don't need."

Lydia's mother was silent, both of her hands holding the silky pink robe at her waist as she watched her daughter, a lovely young woman with dark hair that was mussed from the exertion of her activity as she hurried to and from her closet with mountains of clothes and accessories and heaved them out the door. A young woman that could be a prize wife for any young man in Bourgeaus, She couldn't help but wonder what had brought this on. Lydia had left the party early without a word and the only reason that she had even noticed that her daughter was absent was because a servant had been sent to fetch her after Lydia began turning the hall into a junkyard for discarded clothing, "Lydia..."

Lydia didn't respond, nor did she acknowledge her mother in any way, she just kept removing items from the closet. It was beginning to look quite bleak from the lack of colorful clothing, the dark clothes that Lydia was choosing to keep making the closet look even darker, "Lydia, please... what's wrong? Why are you doing this?"

Lydia threw one more dress out and walked purposefully back to her mother, "why?" Lydia laughed slightly in disbelief, putting her hand on her forehead as she shook her head. It was evident to her at that moment that her mother had absolutely no idea what went on with her daughter, and she shouldn't actually be very surprised since she couldn't remember the last time she really sat down and talked with the woman, "I am doing this because I am tired of pretending."

Pulling the rose decoration from her hair, she held it in the palm of her hand, green eyes gazing down on it, "I know you don't want to see it. I know you try not to, but I'm not like the other girls," she turned her gaze back to her mother, her look pleading, "dressing me up like them doesn't change who I am. It doesn't change how I think or what I think..." Lydia closed her eyes and dropped the lacy rose hair pin on the floor as she shook her head, "unless these boys that you invite to these parties just don't talk to me, none of them are ever going to want to marry me."

"Stop," Lydia knew the memory wasn't done, but she had seen enough. It was years of rejection and shallow interactions stacked up. Reminders of what could have been if she hadn't put her foot down and decided that she wanted happiness over falsities.

Lady Deathbane, small but mighty. She has a strong heart and even when she didn't realize it, she held out for something more meaningful and lasting. That perseverance is key.

"My loneliness? Years of holing myself up in the library to study and keep from thinking about the fact that I would probably be an old spinster is a key?"

There was a deep rumbling in Lydia's soul that felt a bit like laughter and she couldn't help but smile. She remained chaste for so long, keeping her soul pure and regardless of outside pressures never gave in and became something she wasn't for the sake of not being alone. That dedication and resolve brought her to where she is. That perseverance has provided her with the knowledge she needs to help those she cares for.

"Because I... didn't let boys distract me and... kept studying and learning even though everyone thought I was weird?"

That was exactly it, she had made a choice and chose to remain chaste, feeding her mind and hoping for something better for her soul even if she didn't realize it. Her willingness to do that had improved her being in other areas and made her the capable young woman she became.

Blinking, Lydia looked around with large green eyes, she was back on the claw of the dragon and took a look up at him, getting her bearings before she realized that there was something in her hand. She held her hand up and looked in her palm where there was a set of earrings that looked similar to her Master's, though these ones had blue teardrops instead and above them were two crossed silver sticks much like they way the sticks James' had given her looked in her soul room. She smiled affectionately and removed her current earrings, she wasn't going to need those much longer anyway, replacing them with this new set, a reminder that her chastity was indeed a virtue.

Zer0 Katsuya

There were loud whoops and happy bleatings as Johnny and Butters jumped up and down the dragon's claw, Johnny clutching at his horns in astonishment. "Echo, look! My horns are back! My horns are back!" he shouted, overjoyed. He and Butters head-butted each other.

Seeing them all assembled, Tariel spread her arms open, and in a booming voice that echoed throughout the rolling plains, said very majestically, "Rise, Guardians of the Realm!" The seven dragons roared a flaming salute at the sky as those who looked on at the cliffs clapped.

When they returned, Kenren wearing a crown and Johnny still touching his horns, both looking peaceful and fresh as though they had woken from a good night's sleep, James and Seifer asked everyone if they now had epic powers that would smite Valdanr like a hammer on egg.

Kenren and Johnny chuckled at that. They said that nothing about their prowess changed. They only felt reassured inside, as though the deep fears and burdens they've been carrying for a while have been lifted, and now they were ready to cross over to the other side of the Storm Wall and face their final foe.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

Lydia looked down at the Algiz earrings she had removed to put in her new ones, before her gaze drifted up to Tariel, smiling as the former guardian exclaimed and laughing slightly as she looked to the others before her gaze was directed towards the sky.

When they returned, Lydia held James' arm affectionately, though there was a confidence to her touch, something that James hadn't felt before beyond her usual warmth towards him. She laughed when he and Seifer asked about their epic powers, looking at Johnny and Kenren as they responded before adding in her own answer, "we already had the power to smite him... we just had to be reminded of it."

Zer0 Katsuya

As the cheers were heard and she jumped down from the dragon's claw, Echo looked over at Johnny's new horns. Her blank stare changed into one of astonishment, her hand tentatively touching the very missed appendages. She smiled, happy for Johnny. "That's wonderful! Oh my goodness-!"

Serena cackled loudly when the dragon did their fire salute, unable to resist spinning in place with her new violin. She wondered how it would like playing this violin...maybe later? Maybe now..?

When they returned, Renee jumped into Seifer's arms and showed him the necklace around her neck; she told him she felt like she knows where to go now and not get lost. For Serena, she was at peace and refreshed, ready for almost anything. For Chenglei, a deep sense accomplishment and ready to do more. For Echo...

"I feel like I found a very important piece..." The fawn said quietly, her ears folding back as she smiled sadly. She remembers again and feels like she just finished a huge puzzle that has tiny tiny pieces.

They didn't say anything about their prowess; only that they feel like they are really ready to face the challenges that is to come in the future.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

Minnie looked up when cannon balls and flaming boulders whizzed past her and the passengers, eyes narrowed as she whispered, "No touchie-!". A white pulsating shield was put up over the passengers, insuring that they stay safe; a cannon bounced of it as the last person got on the pirate ship.

"That's everyone!" Minnie quietly yelled -How can she do that?- to the pirate crew member as she walked in as well, hearing his alarm the peg-legged Captain Shanks. She looked up to see Sen handling his turret for the cannonballs from the crow's nest then she looked towards the port blockade with a glare.

The Captain yelled to get ready for a fight.

Then she aimed her metal arm at the enemy ships, the ones that are in the way to their freedom out of the warring country, pointing at them with her pointer finger. With a sudden uncapping on the tip of the finger, her prosthetic revealed a barrel; Minnie grabbed her explosive bullet pack and insert it under her arm where it holds the bullets, ready to fire.

All she needs to do is bend her thumb and she'll shoot at the enemy ships.


Zer0 Roleplay Skittle