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Diary Data:
Time: In the early years of Freeza's reign of terror.
Place: location barring: SU01 0023JK Planet Name: Rakuenia
Position: Outside Soranopla's Palace Walls
Time: (In Earth Hours) 10:04 PM
In The Eyes of a Dragonness
"A Cry From The Past"
A night on the planet, Rakuenia, wasn't like any other planet's night. The moon's light seemed to greet the dancing comets which ceased the nights loneliness, while resounding songs of peace and harmony filled the warm air. The small yet peculiar creatures gleamed and moved silently across endless fields of trees and vast amounts of vegetation. Everything seemed peaceful... almost too peaceful, as if a great cry was waiting to pierce this land that was barren of any threat. And so, this shattering of timeless silence happened.
A few moments after sunset, the young princess of Rakuenia set foot outside her castle gate. She yawned tiredly but was just waking up for another nightly run. "I wonder if anything interesting will happen," she thought aloud to no one. She drearily looked around to see if anything would catch her eye, as if it would make any difference to her. She stretched her arms and legs once more and took off at her normal running pace. She effortlessly dodged trees and shrubs but still being careful not to hurt anything that she came across. Being a dragonness, it was her nature to be kind to anything living unless it was to harm or conflict pain on others. As she shot past familiar territories and the usual nightly creatures that flit about, she felt an uneasy aurora off in the distance.
"I sense... I sense something, something evil," she said to herself as she raced towards this upsetting presence.
She felt this "evil" become heavier on her heart as she closed in on its bearings. A painful scream descended on her, making her stop dead in her tracks. She felt her heart skip a beat and her throat constrict, making it hard for her to breathe the thick atmosphere around her. She finally let go of this fear that swelled up inside of her and proceeded forth. A small, jagged mountain arose over the windy path she took. Its jutting rocks and gruesome, disfigurement would make it seem almost as if it was death smiling at you with his blackened teeth. It made the princesses' stomach turn as she approached it.
Another painful cry, fainter than the last, was heard from a crevice in the mountain side. The princess moved towards the sobs that could now be heard from around the approaching gap. She peered past the rubble and settling dust that seemed to be kicked up by flailing and frantic motions. Once the cloud of dust had settled, there seemed to be a disturbing, awe filled silence. The princess finally saw what had been calling for "help." A small girl with two, almost scar-like stripes on each side of her face was desperately clinging to her mother while hiding her tear swollen cheeks in her gi. She was only half dragonness, half sayian, just like herself. Her hair was blood red, like her mother's, but spiked, like a sayian's. Her wings were like any of the other commoner's on Rakuenia, bat-like, instead of the princesses' royal, angelic wings. The mother was almost identical to the child, only with a swirl like mark across the middle of her face and a single dot above the right stripe on her cheek. Her hair flowed around her tiny, clinging offspring, almost like a fire trying desperately to stay alight. Being curious to why these two almost defenseless souls were in so much pain and horror, the princess took another step forward to receive a better view of what they were cowering from.
As she looked cautiously around to where the two of them were looking she felt her heart stand still once again as the evil presence fell upon her heart once more. She managed to keep her balance and catch her breathe as she saw the creature that carried the evildoing inside. His skin was that of a puke green while his hair was a musty red, almost like rust. The left side of his face had been gouged from some past horrible experience, making his eye clear and obviously blinding it. His gnarled fingers had ghastly sized warts counting at least seven or more on each hand. His ki seemed very low for such a monstrous and enraged looking creature. He opened his mouth and spoke with a raspy tone.
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE FOR IF ALL YOU DO IS BRING ME PAIN?!?!?" He shouted at them taking a forceful step forward, making yet another small dust cloud around him as if it would make him more fearsome to his newest victims.
"Heh heh heh," he sneered.
"You will BOTH pay in the pits of Hell and will be forever in pain and agony!!!" He then lifted his hand up lazily and aligned it to where they lay hopeless. His arm began to radiate and thrash with beams of light as he powered himself up. He then brought up his arm with vigor and brought it down sending a blaze of golden fire towards the two dragonnesses. It seemed like the two had been engulfed in flames as the blinding light came rushing towards them, but, they had not even been touched.
"M-m-mommy?" Asked the small child while opening her glistening green eyes. "A-ar-are we in Heaven, now?"
The mother open her eyes and looked around to see they still lay on the hard floor. "No, honey. We're....we're alive." She said in almost a question. Suddenly, the silence and amazement was broken by a loud explosion from where the monster had once stood.
"MOMMY!!!" Gasped the little one. "LOOK!!!" She shouted and pointed as she nearly jumped out of her mother's arms. There stood the princess without a scratch on her while the ogre-like creature lay outstretched and traumatize on the ground looking up at her.
"What is the meaning of your hatred on these peaceful souls? And if you say it was for FUN," she snarled, "then I shall have to kill you without any mercy."
"NOOOOO!!!!! ," he groaned in anger while leaping up to his feet and waving his arms at her frantically. " WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!"
"ANSWER my question," she then said as an afterthought and almost mockingly ," beast..."
"YOU VILE CREATURES HAVE GIVEN NOTHING TO USE OGRES, BUT PAIN!!! YOU HAVE KEPT US OUT OF YOUR VILLAGES AND LOCKED US OUT LIKE WE ARE SAVAGES!!!" His eyes twitched with fury as he stared into her eyes with deep hatred.
"You lie." she said simply as she stared back at him and slanted her eyebrows as a threat. "You ONLY want to come inside our castle walls to harm us!"
"THAT IS A LIE!" He protested.
" No," she said while shaking her head slowly and still keeping her eyes locked onto his own. "You keep the truth from EVEN yourself. I can read our soul as clearly as reading a book. You have no rights to enter inside our walls. Now make lesser your whereabouts or I shall have to kill you." She waited attentively for his answer, keeping her ki level up as she did while blocking his last flimsy attack.
"YOU CANNOT KILL ME!!!" He said while blindly charging at her with a raised fist. He then threw all his strength into a million blurry punches forwards at her. He laughed, thinking that he had defeated her, but really, had just made a complete fool of himself. Or was it that she was making a fool of him?
Through all of his blurry punches the mother and child could scarcely see the princess. It seemed as if an hour had gone by when the monster finally grew tired and slowed his speed while backing off. The princess stood there without a trace of even a finger mark on her body.
"So." she beamed. "You are not even a worthy component, compared to my standards..."
"You.." he panted, "You little BITCH!!!!" he yelled while racing towards her once more with even more anger in his eyes. He began to throw more punches without paying any attention to the fact she was dodging and swatting each jab away from her. The more enraged he became, the more careless he hurled his punches. The princess finally resolved this weak excuse of an attack with one blow to his stomach bringing the beast to his knees. He spat up some blood and clenched his side in pain while meeting an unfriendly gaze from the princesses' ice blue eyes.
"I will give you another chance," she paused. "Either LEAVE, or DIE. It's your choice." She waited for his answer as his face uncurled with its anger and began to smirk with a mischievous grin.
"No," he said calmly while standing shakily on his two feet. "I WILL defeat YOU!!!!" He said while taking his final charge at her. In almost an instant she leaped above and landed besides him as if she was mocking his attempt. She then looked at him with more pity than hate while placing her hand in front of his forehead..
"You had a chance. But you were not wise enough to take it." she said while he stood in horror.
"NOOOOOOO!!" he screamed as he was sent soaring above the trees while his body scattered across the sky.
As the scream's horror lifted from the now silenced scene, the mother and child began to slowly gather themselves and their senses. The princess stood in silence for a very long time as if contemplating over what had just happened as if it went by to fast for even herself. The two beings seemed to feel as close to her as the farthest moon. She never wanted to kill, she didn't even understand why death existed, or maybe she just didn't want to accept the fact that everything would end. . .someday. The awkward stillness was broken by the small child's restless voice.
"That was amazing!!! Can you do it again?!" she exclaimed.
The princess broke free of her paused thoughts and looked down at the child's cat-like eyes. She then realized the peculiar comment and giggled.
"DON'T ASK SUCH A SILLY QUESTION, KELEYA!!!" clamored the mother.
The princess then looked down at the child and smiled warmly while kneeling down to her level. "Is that your name? "Keleya."
"YEP!" said Keleya proudly. "And it's my birthday today! I'm turning 10 years old!" she said while showing her ten toddler like fingers.
"Wow!" said the princess intrigued. "My birthday's today too! And I'm turning 15!" she said while flashing her ten fingers and then another five. "It's almost like we're sisers!" she smiled.
Keleya's eyes opened wide, "NE-CHAN!" she said while jumping into her new friend's arms.
The princess blinked, bewildered by the child's greeting and then laughed.. "Yea, I can be your big sister!" she approved happily.
Keleya then giggled pleasantly and looked up at her mother. "Mommy? Can I be her sister?" she asked innocently.
"Of coarse," she smiled. "Oh, my! I'm sorry for being so impolite, my name is Kuri." she said while extending a hand.
"Mine's...well, um," she stopped "Not important." She said while putting down Keleya and turning around.
"Please tell us, Ne-chan!" said Keleya, while tugging at her long skirt.
"Yes," Kuri agreed,. "How will we know how to tell the king..." Kuri then noticed that the girl was hiding her wings under a long red and golden cloak. "Why do you have that cloak over your wings, might I ask?" Kuri asked while taking a step forward.
The princess sighed and looked up, "If I show you, would you promise not to be alarmed?"
Both Kuri and Keleya nodded in anticipation as they watched her take off the decorative disguise. With one hand she unhooked the cloak from her clothing and reviled her angelic wings. The two gasped in amazement as they observed the princesses' enchanting white wings. Kuri immediately dropped to her knees as if she was struck down by lighting, and pulling her daughter with her. The princess shook her head as if to say "no" to Kuri. But, before a single word came out of her mouth, Kuri cut off her voice from any input.
"I cannot believe I did not recognized you, Princess Sonia. May the Great Shenglong strike me down for such insolence! I must repay you for saving our unworthy lives!" said Kuri as if she had prepared her words for Sonia forever.
"Please, do stand up!" Sonia exclaimed "You are my people, you should not have to grovel before me. I am nothing but a commoner put above you to guide you as my own children, not as a parent, to scorn you." she said, hoping that it would keep them from preaching her with such noble words. She hated to see her people think she looked down upon them, she would rather have them understand she wanted to meet them eye to eye.
"But we MUST serve you in some way, your majesty!" without another thought Kuri grabbed Keleya and put her on her hands and knees. "We BOW before you, your highness!"
"NO! No... I mean, please, you don't have to repay me in any way. Consider this a...um..." Sonia stopped trying to think of a word to put in place of "debt."
"Act of kindness?" asked Keleya.
"Yes! Consider this just an act of kindness towards my people." Sonia said hesitantly. "Now please, stand..." she said hoping to meet Kuri's assurance.
"Alright," said Kuri while picking Keleya up and rising. "I just don't understand why a princess wouldn't want us to repay her. It doesn't seem, well, right, for one thing."
"Mommy," Keleya giggled, "you're so silly!"
Sonia smiled at Kuri, showing her assurance and affirming her about the offer. Kuri sighed and smiled back weakly at her while looking down at the youngster in her arms.
"Alright then," Kuri agreed. "But if there's ANYTHING that either my daughter or I can do for you," she stopped and looks Sonia in the eyes and said with sincerity, "please ask."
Sonia smiled back and nodded understandingly, "I will." Sonia turned and looked over her shoulder at them both.
"Why don't you come to the castle and stay for the night," she laughed, "we've got MORE than enough room and we love visitors, since we don't have many unless they're for business?"
Kuri looked startled, "H-ha-have US stay at the palace? For a night?"
"Yes," Sonia laughed, "It's the least I can do for you, you need the night to heal, and you must have come from the other town across the woods to get here. I can tell by the clothes your wearing you're from Nadeslac City, am I right?" she smiled while they nodded. "Well then, come on! Consider this your favor to me! I'd love the company!"
Keleya's eyes broadened to Sonia's word as she looked up at her mother's ambivalent face. "Mommy? PLEEEEASE can we go?" grinned the small child while she bounced up and down feverishly in her mother's arms.
"Oh!" Kuri said, giving in, "Why not?!"
"YEAH! I GET TO GO TO THE PALACE, I GET TO GO TO THE PALACE!!! I can't WAIT to see the looks on my friends' FACES! HA! I'll be the most popular out of all the kids at school!!!" scoffed Keleya while leaping of her mother's arms into Sonia's.
Sonia laughed and threw Keleya up and down into the air while rejoicing with her.
*They ARE almost like immoto and ane* Kuri thought to herself while watching them intently. *Too bad they aren't. I'm sure Keleya would love to have a big sister.* Kuri then walked onward Keleya falling asleep in Sonia's arms to the palace.
With each step towards the palace, the windy forest seemed to become darker and eerier. Although Sonia tried to calm Kuri with talk about her past, it still seemed to bother them both how some moans and cries of hungry beasts became closer at every turn.
*I don't like the feel OR sound of this* thought Sonia to herself, as she constantly scanned the area around them while keeping her facial expressions calm.
"Is something bothering you, Princess?" asked Kuri while looking at Sonia concerned.
"Hm? No, no, nothing is bothering me. Why do you ask?" Sonia wondered.
"Because, you're constantly looking around and I can feel that your keeping your ki level up, as if..." she paused and stopped walking, "as if you're trying to scare something by letting it know you're here."
"I don't feel safe here," Sonia sighed, "especially after killing that...that beast. He may have even been one of the other creature's clan leaders. That's why we must continue walking."
Keleya then woke, hearing Sonia's word, and looked up at her ne-chan. "I'll walk, too! You look awful tired, ne-chan, I must be slowing you down." she said while hoping down out of Sonia's arms and then marching along spiritedly. Sonia smiled and felt a little safer.
*Since Keleya doesn't feel any threat is coming from the uproar of those monsters, then it must be safe.* Sonia though convincingly to herself as she walked next to the fascinating little girl. Still, even with the little girl's composure, Sonia didn't feel quiet right.
After taken a few more paces, Keleya turned around and tugged then on Sonia's cape.
"Ne-chan?" she said softly while looking back. "Why has my mommy stopped walking?" Keleya asked innocently.
Sonia then turned around to see Kuri almost restrained from moving. Her eyes were shaken with fear, her face was almost snow white, and she held her throat as if something was keeping her from speaking.
"S-s-so..." Kuri said trying to squeeze out each syllable at a time while her face turned a deep blue.
"MOMMY! WHAT'S WRONG!?" cried Keleya as she began to scramble to her.
"KELEYA! NO, DON'T! SHE'S UNDER A..." but before Sonia and Keleya could reach her they were thrown aside as if they were toys by a gigantic hand.
*NO! I was RIGHT! They've joined against us. That monster must really have been a clan leader* Sonia groaned as she sat up after rigorously ramming into a tree.
*He must have been a very good, yet very insane spectator. I HAVE to stop Keleya from getting in harms way before I loose her too*
Sonia opened her eyes faintly and looked to see where Keleya had landed. Fortunately, she was only a few feet from her and wasn't hurt badly, but she knew she was waking up and would consciously run straight to her mother. She staggered her way slowly over to Keleya while witnessing the horror going on between Kuri and the foul, demonly hand dragging her under ground, as she screamed and kicked to be freed.
"I-I'm sorry Keleya...but" Sonia staggered as she saw the child's small head lift and turn to see the dreaded sight that was ripping apart her mother.
"MOMMY! NOOOOO!!!!" she wailed as she rocketed past Sonia and after her mother
"KELEYA DON'T DO IT!" Sonia hollered as she scrambled after her. But both Keleya and Sonia were to late to save Kuri. By the time Keleya had reached the pile of turned ground that once her mother had stood, she had already been pulled into an abyss of darkness. Keleya stood in horror and disbelief that her mother had been taken from her. She shook her head with the denial that she couldn't bring her back. Her resentful eyes began to line with shimmering tears.
"Keleya...I" Sonia said while regaining control of her balance. "We couldn't have done anything for her." she confessed whiel taking another step forward.
Keleya's face turned a hateful, blood red. "Stay AWAY from me." she threatened with an uneasy voice.
Sonia smiled with understanding and tried to reassure Keleya while kneeling besides her. "Keleya, I understand how you feel. I lost my mother when I was only seven. I can't bring my mother back," she laughed without enthusiasm, "Hell! I even tried summoning the dragon and asking him to bring her back, but I finally learned that I couldn't." Sonia turned Keleya's small crimsoning face towards her own and looked her deep in the eyes. "But you, Keleya, can bring her back. I promise you as soon as we get back to the palace I will..."
"We can't" Keleya interrupted Sonia.
"Nani?" blinked Sonia.
"We CAN'T bring my mother back," repeated Keleya angrily.
"B-but, why not, immoto?" Sonia questioned upset by Keleya's respone and her tone.
"Because," Keleya answered as if Sonia already knew the answer. "Because," she continued, "my mother had a spell cast upon her when she had me."
"W-wh-WHAT?!" Sonia asked, shocked in disbelief. "But surely I could break...."
"The spell?" interrupted Keleya, once more. "No," she said shaking her head. "It was cast upon her by an evil, yet powerful, Ryu and his dragon spirit. I cannot break, you cannot, no one can." Keleya sighed while looking to the floor with a calm and quiet loathing.
"Keleya, I'm sorry," gasped Sonia reaching for the child only to be rejected.
"NO!!! I DON'T WANT YOUR PITTY! I DON'T WANT ANYONE'S PITTY!!!" she cried while turning to run.
>Keleya...stop this. You cannot run from your problems.< said a voice from inside Keleya.
Keleya stood in fear while sweat began to mingle with the tears on her cheek. She slowly turned to look at the almost soulless face looking at her through pale blue eyes, as if looking at her from a distance.
"You-you can..." Keleya trembled while lifting her finger at the tall figure.
>Yes. I can speak to you with my mind, and< she continued >I can teach you too. If you let me, I can teach you more than you have ever imagined. If you give me more than just your company, your friendship and faith. You have something I haven't seen in another for a long time, Keleya. You have strength, just as my mother once had. Maybe that's the reason I found you, Keleya. You might even carry the reincarnation of her own soul bound with your very own. That's why I need you, Keleya, just like you have and will need me by your side.<
Keleya couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Sonia right? Was she really holding another soul within her own? Was that why she felt so lost, so...lonely? Did she really need another to guide her until she was able to stand on her own two feet? Or was she simply using her to regain her own sanity, like a child needing a new toy to replace the old?
>You don't need to trust me now, Keleya. I can understand you feel lost, alone with no one to turn to. But< Sonia smiled warmly >believe me, I'm more damned than you are in this world. As long as I can help you step out of your literal eyes and into a better, more hope-filled place, I know you and I can make it.... together.< Sonia then opened her hand gently, as a mother to her child, and waited. Keleya reached apprehensively for Sonia's hand but not before she heard Sonia's last words.
"As long as I'm here to guide you, your path with be lighted." Sonia smiled and took Keleya's hand as they walked onward, once again, to the palace.
As they advanced their way to the palace, every now and then Keleya would let go of Sonia's hand as if she was being weighed back. Sonia would just slow down as if giving her time to reason with what had just happened. Sonia would comfort her by saying things like, "It'll be alright," or "Take your time," to show her affection towards the child. But Keleya would only greet these remarks with sullen upwards glance at her as if to say a meaninglessly, "Thank you."
*She just needs time* Sonia thought as she felt Keleya's hand slip from her own once again. *I know she has a heavy heart now, but* she paused her thoughts as she looked back at Keleya and frowned *she will live up to her mother's name. I just hope she understands that everything in life won't come as effortlessly as some people say it does.*
Finally, they reached the palace but only to be greeted with even more uneasy silence As they entered the murky inner walls of Soranopla, curious eyes of the surrounding guards and maids watched the princess and the visitor slowly make their way to the main chamber.
Keleya's eyes broadened as she scanned the unknown surroundings which were filled with golden snake scales for carpets, ruby-like dragon's eyes for decorations, and quiet, wispy portraits of spirits and past generations that once lived in this enchanting room.
"Strike down the good Shenglong himself! PRINCESS SONIA! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" exploded a innovative voice from a dark corner of the room.
Keleya squeezed Sonia's had tightly and slipped quietly behind her cape, as if frightened by the newcomer. Sonia looked comically down at the youngster and then turned her head sharply back towards the slim figure that approached them. An engaging, lively girl covered in white and blue sewed silk appeared while her long, purple hair danced around her waist. Her eyes glimmered a grey glare of merriment, yet hostility as if she was ready for any sort of dispute, both verbal and physical. Two long bangs curved around her face, her left in a braid and her right flowing freely, as if separated by night and day. Her wings were like any other commoners, only they looked as if they had been glazed with a starry sky. She stopped in front of the two and waited, almost impatiently, with her arms crossed across her chest, as if pausing for a well rounded response.
"Shhhh, Priestess Vitani! You'll wake my father!" Sonia grinned jokingly
"Well, it's a little late for THAT!" retorted the Priestess. "He's madder than a bat out of Hell! He's been waiting for you to come back from your nightly run to give you a surprise birthday gift! And...." she stopped then as she gazed downward at the small extension behind Sonia.
"SONIA!" she gapped as she pointed to Keleya's curled Sayain tail. "DID YOU GROW ANOTHER TAIL?!"
Sonia burst out laughing at the Priestess Vitani's comment while Keleya tried covering her mouth to stop herself from exploding into uncontrollable laughter, too.
"W-wha-what's SO funny," demanded the priestess while placing her hands on her hips and moving over towards Sonia, as if to intimidate her.
"Calm yourself, and I will show you," smiled Sonia while patty the red-haired girls tiny head. "Come on, Keleya, dear. She won't bite."
Keleya giggled and paced herself out in front of her now attentive watcher while bowing gracefully and then pointing to the priestess as she raised her head, "YOU'RE funny!"
Sonia and Keleya laughed as if they had planned the whole thing while the Priestess Vitani stood flabbergasted by the two. After the laughter stopped the Priestess Vitani bent over and looked at the child with an amused and amazed face.
"WHERE did you pick her up from, Princess?" she smiled.
"OH! Come, come, Priestess Vitani! You make it sound like I picked her up from the pound!" Sonia argued.
"Well," continued the Priestess, "why DO you have her?"
Sonia sighed and turned to look at the child while still talking to the Priestess, "Her-her mother.... was killed. I have to take her in," she turn her head and smiled weakly yet warmly with her glimmering ice filled eyes, "it's my duty."
"Oh my," whispered the Priestess Vitani while bringing her cloak up to her tearful eyes. "How-how awful!!!" she said while kneeling down to hug Keleya, almost scaring her half to death. "Is there ANYTHING I can do for her," she begged.
"Uhhh...I," blinked Keleya as she looked up at Sonia for some help for a response.
"It's alright, Priestess Vitani," Sonia said soothingly as she approached and kneeled down by both of them. She then smiled looking enlightened with a notion. "There is something you can do, Priestess Vitani." she said pausing for the Priestesses' usually joyous response when she can help with something that needed tending to.
"What can I do!," she continued without missing a beat, "If there's ANYTHING I can do, just give the job to ME! I'll do it with all my heart put into it!" she grinned.
"I'm sure you will," Sonia said pleased with her enthusiasm. She then looked at Keleya with an intense grip on her shoulders and spoke seriously, "Take care of Keleya. Take care of her as if she were your own." she paused as Keleya let out a little gasp of discouragement and frowned, knowing that she wanted to stay with Sonia. Keleya fidgeted in Sonia's grasp as if itching to put her two cents in, but Sonia wasn't finished talking and wouldn't let her converse.
"I know she wants to stay with me, but..." Sonia hesitated and looked up at the Priestess, "I can't let her. It's far to dangerous for her to stay by my side while my people are enraged with me. She'd easily be kidnaped, or beaten, or..." Sonia interrupted her own speech with a sigh and shook her head lightly as if she was deeply troubled, "or even murdered because she's not a pure dragonnes, like I am. And you know how much the democracy hates me alone for being next in line on the throne and not have the full blood of a dragonness. It's-it's just to...to dangerous for her. It's better she stayed with you and that I let you teach her."
Both Keleya and the Priestess Vitani blushed with disappointment for Sonia. It wasn't like her to be afraid, even of death itself. But, the only thing that truly frightened her were her own people's disapproval of her. She loved them so dearly, even having the courage to die for them honorably, even with their loathing for her. After Sonia's mother, Mishu, had died and gave the thrown to her father, Orbin, her people then accused him of "murdering" Sonia's mother, just because of a curse brought upon all dragonnesses that married a different breed outside their own. And even her own 12 year old brother, Khan, had been badly beaten just because he was full sayain. The dragonnesses had always admired the sayain race for their wits and great abilities with power, so they had lived in harmony until the royal blood-line had been "soiled" with their blood. Now they acted as if the sayains were outsiders and were just a group of strangers waiting to be picked on.
Some of the dragonnesses decided to keep the original customs and stay at peace with the race. But others, much older and politically powerful government leaders, had stood against the thought of losing the blood line that was so sacred to them and led small gangs that would try to fight against the sayains. They would take their anger out on any sayain that came into their sites. They would burn their houses while they still lay inside asleep, they would steal children and torture them, and the those that had the most revenge in their hearts, would kill any sayain or dragonness that even knew a sayain on site.
The princess took all these things out on herself, making the tie between her father and herself break and cut deeper holes into their soul. But these wounds took different effects on the two: Orbin's would make him bitter at various times, even with Sonia, whom he always had said "He loved almost as much as her mother." While Sonia made it grow a deeper love an understanding for anyone she came across, both evil or pure-hearted. But still, even though the both of them were not equals at times, they still had the bonding love of parent and child.
Keleya looked quietly down at the floor and let her shoulders slump in Sonia's hands as if to give up the argument. Sonia lifted up Keleya shaded face and smiled.
"Don't worry," she murmured, "I'll be able to see you as often as you'd like. But only if it's safe. O.K.?"
Keleya nodded sadly while giving her a soft hug before reaching up to the Priestess Vitani to be picked up. Just as the Priestess Vitani had gathered the child in her arms, another unfamiliar voice emerged from the darkness.
"Sonia," said the voice quietly, but firmly. Sonia looked up hesitantly, almost as if not wanting to look at the form that unfolded its figure from the shadows. He was a middle-aged but fairly handsome man with spiked, black hair that curved around his shoulders. His eyes were dark and ringed, as if from loss of sleep, but it only made him seem more lordly than tiresome. His sayain tail swayed gently behind him, appearing every so often from under his long, red robe. He looked at the others as expressionless as a rag doll would with its dispiriting, black eyes. He coughed anxiously to awaken Sonia from her quiet gaze.
"Yes father?" Sonia scoffed while rising to her feet and placing her hand on the Priestess Vitani's back as if to dismiss her. The Priestess understood and attempted to depart without any interruptions, but Orbin would not have such disrespect.
"And WHERE, might I ask, do you think YOU'RE going, Priestess?" Orbin glared, making the Priestess Vitani stop dead in her tracks.
"No where, Sir," the Priestess Vitani sighed while turning towards the impatient king, and then setting down Keleya.
Orbin nodded in agreement and continued to address Sonia. "Well, what do you have to say for your... absence?" he said while lowering his head as if to meet the level of her eyes.
Sonia held back the outburst of gibberish that she would have clamored out at her father if she didn't have her conscience on her side. She calmly sighed to herself and sorted out piece by piece the story from when she met Keleya to how she came to be by her side. There was silence for an embarrassing moment before Sonia finally looked up at her father with a serious face.
"Father, I KNOW we have had misunderstandings in the past," she took a step forward as if to plead with him, "but PLEASE, hear me out, just this once?" The three girls lingered in silence for Orbin to approve, but he just stood with the same expression he had when he came into the room. Taking this as a sign of attentiveness and consideration, Sonia continued her pleas.
"Father, this is Keleya. While I was running I found her and her...,"she paused and looked back at Keleya to see if she wasn't opening any old wounds and then continued, "mother in trouble. I HAD to help them! You MUST understand, father! They would have been killed! In the end, I was able to save Keleya, but... not her mother. And she cannot be brought back because of a curse." Sonia looked down at the ground knowing her father's expression would change at the sound of the word "curse." She understood that her father was still in agony after her mother's death because of another curse. She didn't expect her father to change his mind because of a single word; regardless, this time it not only changed his mind, it altered his heart enough to care about the lives of others and not his own pitiful one.
"Sonia," Orbin stammered.
Sonia looked up with disbelief at what she was seeing. Her father was actually crying. The tears rolled down the sides of his face like small crystals. He shook his head, as if he was trying to rid his face of this change in emotion. He looked up at the startled beauties and let out a sigh of relief.
"She is now a part of our family," he said simply and smiled while awaiting the cheerful praises of the three of them.
"FATHER!!! I can-cannot BELIEVE IT!!!" Sonia said shakily while Keleya jumped into her arms and the Priestess Vitani embraced the both of them. But the smile that lighted up her face slowly diminshed as she looked down at the small child in her arms, "But, what about our people? What will they say?"
Orbin nodded and began to calmly let his thoughts fall out of his mouth, "We'll tell them... that she will even out the bloodline in our family by marrying your brother and become the second princess of Rakuenia."
Sonia giggled at the thought and questioned Orbin, "But, father.. They HARDLY know each other and aren't OLD enough for a relationship." The Priestess Vitani joined Sonia's giggling while Keleya looked at the others questionably.
"Oh, they'll get along FINE! And don't be so skittish, Sonia. I MEANT when they turn the right age." Orbin snickered.
"But... don't you thin Khan should hear this conversation as well?" Sonia protested.
"Oh, he already has..." Orbin said while picking up the small boy from behind him and placing him in front of his feet. The boy was only about 12 and had a tiny scar over his left eye, from being kidnaped and beaten by his oppressors, which actually made him look cuter. He looked almost identical to his father, all except his hair, which was spiked up and had two downward spiked bangs in the front. He had no wings, because all of the dragonness blood was given to Sonia as a part of the curse. He blinked confused by the sight of the new girl. Keleya waved to her fiancé and grinned.
"Hello," she smiled. But she was only greeted with him stumbling over backwards and hiding behind Orbin once again. Keleya was bewilder by the boy. She then realized that he was only embarrassed and giggled.
"You're cute!" she smiled and followed him behind Orbin's robe.
"BOO!" she said while pouncing Khan and snuggling up against him. Khan yelped while tumbling over with Keleya and laughing at his new friend's playfulness. Orbin, the Priestess Vitani, and Sonia watched the two tumble and roll across the floor trying to pin each other while giggling loudly.
"Well, you proved me wrong, dad," Sonia laughed while watching with the Priestess Vitani as the tots occupied themselves with toppling over each other.
«« • ||Part Two|| • »»
The Next morning Keleya woke up to find herself outstretched on a snug, white bed of fluffed pillows, and surrounded by an infinite number of beautifully woven blankets. She sat up and glanced peculiarly around the room, only to find it empty.
*This room is big enough for two people* Keleya thought as she crawled along the edge of the bed, only to be confused to where its end began, and ended up sprawling down its side. Luckily, she landed in yet another comforter that had been placed almost as if someone knew she would fall there. Keleya lifted her head and giggled with delight.
"FUN!" she excalimed while tossing her arms up into the air and falling back into the mound of fluff.
"WHEEE!!!" Keleya rolled around and entangled herself in the mountain of white as if she were in a garden of snow. She then leapt free of her entrapment, placing herself gleefully on the bed, only to bounce insanely about, instantly making the bed into a downright disaster. After "fixing" the bed to her liking, Keleya placed her hands proudly on her hips and looked downward upon her masterpiece. As if she had just made a great discovery, she grinned insidiously at her creation and sprang mischievously over to the balcony window.
"WOW!," Keleya whispered astounded by the breathtaking view. The emerald stained grass seemed to go on forever while the looming clouds touched the purple peeked mountains in the distance. The sun provoked the prevailing winds that shifted the trees from left to right, while the grass moved in a constant wave. It was almost as if the earth were greeting her that very morning with a bright new future. She felt as if nothing would stop her from becoming a great leader along with her sister and new family.
Keleya then felt a wave of sadness fall over her like a dark blanket. It sent a chill up her spin like someone's cold hand had just been placed on her shoulder. She let it stifle her cheerful moment for a while before shaking it off and looking up at the sky, once again, only to be disappointed with a cloud that covered her golden sun. She sighed lightly and shut the window while turning slowly to depart from her room.
Keleya opened her door to only be astounded by the winding staircase that went down for at least five stories and separated to each floor, each having an infinite and almost confusing amount of doors. Keleya felt a bit dizzy seeing this and simply closed her eyes and shook her head to let this confusion escape her. She wanted to call out for Sonia to help her find her way, but it was still to early for even herself to be awake. But she was far to fascinated by her new surroundings to stop now and take even a quick nap. She was still a child at heart and, at that, an explorer.
She took a curious first step on the stairs while still clinging onto the railing. She let go slowly, as if she was a new born taking her first steps, and giggled with delight when she began to romp blissfully down the first set of stairs. She peeked curiously around the corner of the railing and sniffed the air quietly. Keleya's eyes lit up when she smelt the food the left a welcoming trail of vast flavors that led to one of the many kitchens. She bounded gleefully towards the first door and raced towards the smell that was taunting her nose.
"FOOD!!!" she announced as she grabbed a handful of steamed rice and placed it in her mouth pleasurably. She then hopped up onto a tall chair that was shaped like a dragons neck, while the head was the main part of the seat. Keleya admired its ruby eyes and poked at them as if they were toys. She smiled widely, showing her glimmering white fangs in the reflection of the dragon's eyes, with, of coarse, a few piece of rice in between the crevices. She immediately cleaned her teeth, jumped down from her seat, and continued her trek.
As Keleya descended down yet another flight of stairs, she noticed a painting of a girl, a little older than Sonia, that looked sad but peaceful. Her eyes glimmered with the soft escense that almost said "I am here for you." Keleya leaned over the railing to have a closer view of the girl.
"Whoooa! She looks JUST like my ne-chan! Hm, I wonder if they're related in ome way!" Keleya smiled and leaned back, hanging tightly onto the rail, she looked down to see how far she had to go to reach the bottom.
"BLECK! To far for me!" Keleya scrunched up her face and stuck her tongue out. She then turned her head swiftly to the rail she was gripping onto and smiled with delight.
"Wait! I have an idea! Hehehe!" Keleya then jumped up and onto the rail, whistled like a train, and motioned her hand as if she were pulling a chain.
"Next stop! Ground floor! Here we go!" Keleya launched herself down the rail, making her zip down its curved stem. Just before she hit the end, she jumped up and flipped forward, landing perfectly and then striking a silly pose to finish off her entrance.
"And the crowd go WILD! OOOH! AWWWW!" Keleya cuffed her mouth and made a couple of dramatic ceering noises, as if she were in a stadium. She then realized that it was still early and looked curiously around to see if she had waken anyone up. She sighed and wiped her forehead in a dramatic like manner, after seeing no one was away, and continued her little game.
While Keleya's fun continued, Sonia was already wide awake, and walking silently down one of the corridors on the top floor. Her eyes were brimmed with tears that waited to flow down her flushed cheeks. She cried every morning, she didn't know why, she just did. Maybe it was because she thought about her mother's death, maybe it was for Keleya, or maybe... or maybe it was for someone she would soon meet. Someone who needed her desperately, almost as if their life depended on every breath she took, every moment of life she delivered to their soul.
She had always felt this emptiness fill her heart, even around those she loved most. It was like she had been missing something, even at the moment she had set foot into this lonesome world. It was like a hand was pulling softly at her heart, trying to guide her blind eyes through a path full of deceiving twists and turns, all covered in thorns waiting to giver her pain. She had always wanted to tell her mother about it, but she was afraid. Afraid her mother would concern herself to deeply with the matter. So, Sonia kept quiet, only letting her unsettled thoughts clutter her mind.
Sonia shook her head and wiped her eyes of the tears that began to roll down her face without her consent. She slowly turned her head to gaze out the window that placed a luscious scene of frost topped, marble hills and evergreen hills. She stood and watched as some children passed by her front gate and pointed excitedly at the dragon that circled the outer terrain of the palace. It bounded lazily over to the youngsters and allowed them to pat his lumpy head and sift their hands through its long whiskers. The sight made Sonia smile and made her thoughts melt into something more relaxing.
*Maybe I'm missing a child from my life. But.. Why would my soul stir over something i know I cannot have til i am older?*
Sonia smiled and laughed at herself quietly as she raised her head and began to walk towards the stairs.
"Maybe i don't need that kind of life right now, maybe it's someone else who needs it." Sonia said to herself while listening to Keleya's footsteps rush up and down the corridor downstairs. Sonia giggled and quietly whispered for Keleya.
"Keleya? Keleya? Are you alright?"
Sonia peeked around the corner as she came upon the last floor. There was Keleya quarreling with a small statue that had begun to fall over on her. Sonia walked over to Keleya and helped her place the statue back in its rightful place. Sonia then smiled and picked up Keleya gentely, as if she her own child, and hugged her.
"Well! I see you're not much of a sleepy head, are you?" Sonia giggled as Keleya blushed and agreed with embarrassment in her bright eyes. Keleya clung to Sonia's neck as she walked her outside and through the gate that stood fairly high above their heads, like a tower gleaming in the sunlight. Sonia watched Keleya as she hobbled down from her arms and raced across the field of green.