Daughter of the Dragons

*Part Eight*

"You want me to what?!" shrieked Jade in total disbelief, "But haven't even seen a dress since I was a child! Now you want me to actually wear one?!"

"Of course. You can't go to the festival in your normal attire." replied Bra as she continued to brush Jade's hair.

"Princess, I didn't even plan on going to this festival! Your brother never even mentioned it to me! I thought that I was only going to participate in the tournament and that was all." continued Jade's whining.

"Princess Bra, will this one do?" asked a servant holding out a dress that she had found in the Queen's wardrobe.

"Perfect!" grinned the princess.

"Oh God..." spoke Jade when she saw what she was expected to wear.

~*~

After every tournament that had been held a great festival would follow. Noble and common alike would enjoy the celebration. The exciting games, the wonderful music, and the delicious feast. The latter being King Goku's favorite part of the festival. The streets of the kingdom, decorated with lights, ornaments, flowers and what other else, became filled with music my minstrels, the scent of freshly cooked food by wives and bakers, and the laughter and excitement by everyone.

The castle was no different. Nobles, knights, the kings, queens and their children enjoyed the festivities from within the castle walls. The walls, doors, tables, practically everything was covered in a large variety of flowers from roses to daisies, and festive banners. Minstrels played, jesters entertained and food was being brought in tray by tray from the busy kitchen.

Vegiita and Goku sat in the largest chairs at the table with their wives at their sides. Trunks and Goten were standing on the steps at the opposite side of the table talking to their parents about the tournament. Many of the people were seated at the tables watching the food gather yet still; others danced with the music and all enjoyed every minute of it.

"I was afraid that one of you had gotten seriously hurt." spoke the queen of Korolon.

"Are you kidding?! Jade was awesome!" exclaimed Goten.

"She found an empty bucket and used that to catch the sword before it hurt anyone." explained Trunks.

"She's very resourceful, that girl of yours Trunks." said Goku.

"My girl?! No, she's not-" started the young prince before he was cut off.

"Speaking of which..." interrupted his father as he eyed the doorway.

Trunks and Goten turned around to see what Vegiita was talking about and soon enough saw. Bra stood at the door clad in a light turquoise dress. The diamond necklace that she wore on her neck brought out the color of the silk dress she wore. Her eyes sparkled when she smiled. Goten blinked then smiled back. Bra stopped smiling and made a slightly aggravated expression. She rolled her eyes and then walked out of the doorway. Trunks and Goten gave each other a confused glance then looked back over to the doorway. Then Bra came back but was shoving Jade into the room. She finally gave up resisting and Jade walked through the door herself. Jade was standing in front of the entrance dressed in a low cut, midnight blue, velvet dress that was decorated in silver seams that glittered by the light of the room. The dress she wore brought out her figure and her dark brown hair now flowed freely down to her waist in elegant waves. Trunks would have sworn that she was a different person until she finally lifted her gaze to meet his stare. Once Trunks saw her deep brown eyes he knew that it was the same Jade that he had grown so fond of.

"You best go and greet them." nudged Bulma.

"Oh, uh... yeah um... Let's go Goten." answered Trunks.

"Of course." replied his best friend.

They walked down the small set of steps and made their way through the crowd of dancing people. Finally they met them.

"Looking as lovely as every Princess." smiled Goten as he bowed and extended a hand for the princess.

"Thank you sweet prince." Bra replied while accepting.

As they walked off, Jade glared at Trunks and before he could put in a single word she greeted him in a way that didn't really surprised the prince.

"Not... one... word..." she warned.

Trunks smiled and couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. To that Jade clenched her fists and some loose strands of hair fell in front of her scowling face.

"Don't worry, Jade. You look beautiful." Trunks replied as he hooked the loose strands in her face behind her ear.

Jade blinked at his response then loosed up. "...Thank you." she answered finally.

Trunks smiled softly and offered her an arm. She accepted it and he walked her to the table. Trunks brought her to the seat next to his sister and Trunks took the seat next to Jade. After the song that was being played finished, everyone took at seat at their tables. Before the feast began King Goku stood to make an announcement.

"Lords and ladies, tonight we celebrate. We celebrate the second tournament victory of our beloved prince Trunks." the people cheered but quickly went quiet at a gesture from the standing king, "We celebrate the great friendship between Valon and Korolon that has lasted for years and generations to come." again cheers, again a gesture, and, once again, silence, "We celebrate life, happiness, we celebrate each other. May we never take what we have for granted and forever cherish those we love." then a final round of chants as Goku and Vegiita gave each other a toast.

As they ate, thespians acted, wonderful plays from sorrowful tragedies to humorous comedies. Magicians performed, amazing tricks like metamorphosis to floating objects. And, of course, jesters joked, juggled and played. Jade couldn't remember having so much fun during, well... anything. Soon enough the minstrels were playing once more and again people were on the floor dancing away to the music. When a more upbeat song began to play Bra got excited.

"Jade, let's go and dance!" she suggested with a grin.

"Dance?! But princess... I" Jade began.

"Oh nonsense! Come on!" Bra said and took Jade with her as she rushed to join the circle of dancers, "Just follow their steps."

Jade nodded then they began to 'dance'. First to the left, five steps, clap. Then they switched to the right, five steps that way, clap clap. Twirl. Still to the right, five steps, clap. Then again to the left, clap clap. Twirl then dip with all right hands meeting in the center of the circle. Okay well, that was easy. Turn and left hand in the center while you dip. Simple enough. Turn again, right hands center and walk forward in a circle. Hands up and spin. Then the whole process seemed to repeat itself.

""Easy isn''t it?"" asked Bra with a smile.

""Of course!"" Jade smiled back.

They all joined hands and soon the movements were faster. They no longer walked but slightly skipped to the side. The music seemed to speed up just a bit and bystanders began to clap to the music. Hands up and spin! Now five skips to the left, and clap! Now right, clap clap and twirl! Right, clap, left, clap clap! Spin! The dance lasted an exciting five minutes with Jade and Bra laughing and giggling as the circle soon broke away into pairs. The music had toned down and was more of a calm and gentle rhythm.

""Wow�� I''ve never danced like that before."" Stated Jade still trying to slightly catch her breath, ""To tell the truth�� I''ve never danced.""

""Really?"" replied Bra, ""You seem as If you were born to do so! Come on let''s keep going."" And she held out her arms for the slower dance.

""But�� Princess�� I�� don''t know how to��"" Jade said as she took as step back.

""It''s okay. I''ll teach you."" Smiled the princess.

""��Okay"" Jade finally agreed stepping up.

Bra took the lead and started to move her feet.

""Just follow my lead. Simple as that."" She instructed.

Left forward. Right side step. Left back.

""You''re right. It is simple."" Said Jade a bit amazed at how quickly she learned.

Before she could really get into the dance, Jade felt a soft tap on her shoulder.

""Would you mind if I borrowed your partner?"" smiled Goten when she faced him.

Jade looked back at Bra who looked at her, then back to Goten.

""Of course not. By all means."" Jade answered as she stepped back.

Goten smiled and took Bra in his arms as well as the lead. Jade watched as they gracefully danced away.

""Lady?"" She heard and saw an extended hand before her.

She looked over to see a familiar smile.

""May I have this dance?"" Trunks ask in a soft voice.

""I''ll try."" Jade slightly blushed, taking his hand.

His hand on her waist and her hand resting on his arm, they started. Left foot back, right side, forward�� left, right, left, right. Simple!

""Easy as swordplay, right?"" Trunks commented.

""I don''t know�� I think I''d be having a much easier time with that than dancing��"" replied Jade.

They both laughed to each other and continued to dance. As they danced, Jade couldn''t help but become lost in Trunks''s calming blue eyes. Everything just seemed to stop. As she gazed into his gentle stare she had become lost in her own questioning thoughts.

Why? Why does he dance with me? I can''t dance when there are so many others who can? Why does he ignore the more��""suitable"" women who glare at me through jealous eyes? Her eyes narrowed as she noticed something in her partner''s. Something is bothering him. Whatever it is, it shows on his face like the sun on a cloudless day.

Trunks spun Jade, brining her back from the back of her mind�� or away from his mesmerizing eyes. When she came back to him, he stood there only holding her in his arms. After a moment, his hand slid away from her hip and he let her go. Jade looked around and noticed stars overhead glistening in the midnight sky and a gentle night breeze swirl past, cooling the surrounding night atmosphere. Rose bushes�� rose bushes�� They were out on the castle balcony as the music and the festivities continued inside. Jade brought her attention back to Trunks who smiled softly but soon let it fade.

""Jade��"" he sighed, ""there''s something I need to tell you��""

I knew it. Am I good or what? She thought to herself then replied, ""What is it?""

Trunks walked up to Jade and looked down as he took her hands.

""I''ve tried to find the best way to say this�� but I haven''t been able to come up with anything."" He said, breaking the short silence between them.

""Then just tell me."" She suggested, ""It''s not like it would kill me if you did.""

Trunks nodded but paused before saying anything else. He sighed and lifted his eyes to met Jade''s.

""Jade��"" Trunks brought up Jade''s hands, softly kissed them then continued, ""I love you.""

Jade eyes widened with surprise. That was the last thing she had expected to hear. She gently pulled her hands from his then turned away in thought. She silently walked up to the balustrade and rested her hands on it. Trunks began to feel a bit uneasy.

I must have really messed that up. Thought the prince as he tried to figure out the least embarrassing way out of this mess. Trunks looked at her as stared out into oblivion and then he sighed.

""Jade�� Listen, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to ruin your night, but I had to say something to you�� It was eating me alive."" Trunks apologized as Jade continued to gaze out, unchanging.

""No Trunks. It''s not that."" She finally replied in a quiet tone. ""It''s just that�� I''m afraid that��""

""What? What is it?""

""Well�� I"" Jade sighed and looked over to Trunks, ""Oh Trunks�� I''m afraid that I''ve fallen in love with the prince of Valon��""

Trunks had to stop and think at what she had said. Prince�� Valon�� She turned her head back outward and hoped beyond hope that Trunks didn''t see her blushing. She was brought back to her senses when she felt an arm around her waist and gentle fingers entangling themselves between her own. She looked over to lock in a gaze with Trunks.

Do I really feel that way about him? Am I really in love with him? She began to think, unsure if what she had told him was genuine.

Trunks smiled the gentlest smile and pulled her closer to kiss her. Their first real kiss. The first kiss they shared with true meaning to it. Jade sighed deeply as they broke away.

Yeah�� I do�� she concluded in her mind.

""You know, you better not dress like this all the time��"" Trunks suggested.

""Why not?"" Jade asked with an eyebrow raised in suspicious question.

""I might get used to it."" he answered, ""But we''ll have to do something about your bare neck�� You know what? I think��"" he reached into a small pouch that hung from his belt, "" I think that I have something that can take care of that.""

""Wha�� what do you mean?"" Jade asked watching his hands search for whatever it was.

He pulled out his clasped hand and walked behind the curious girl. Jade, still curious, tried to turn and face him, but he didn''t allow it. Before she could even move, Trunks lowered a necklace in front of her. He put it around her neck and moved in front of her again.

""Much better."" Trunks complimented.

Jade was awe struck. She picked up the pendant in her hand. An emerald. No bigger than a small pebble, but it was encircled in a set of gleaming diamonds the same size as the emerald. She let it rest on her chest again and traced the glimmering silver band that held the pendant around her neck.

""Do you like it?"" Trunks asked.

""It''s beautiful�� Trunks, I don''t know what to say�� I don''t think that ''thank you'' would be enough."" Jade answered.

""Seeing you happy is more than enough Jade."" Smiled the prince.

""Too tell the truth, Trunks�� I don''t think that I''ve ever been happier."" Jade stated in a quiet tone as she looked up at the prince. She smiled then hugged him, ""Thank you�� for everything.""

""Jade, I''d give you everything and more if I could. You know that."" Trunks replied while returning her embrace.

""Yes�� I know."" She answered.

~*~

""Please mother."" Begged the princess, ""Could she please stay with us??""

It was midmorning and the princess was trying to find away to keep her new best friend close to her. She knew Jade was going home but didn''t want her ''sister'' to leave. Besides the fact that what she had heard about where Jade lived from her descriptions, she figured that it really wasn''t the best place for her anyhow. She had managed to find her parents in the throne room, where they usually were, with no help from her stubborn brother who, for some odd reason, wished against her request for Jade to stay.

""Bra, I''m sure that Jade has a family that she must go home to."" Explained her royal mother.

""No. She doesn''t have a family. And she doesn''t have a true home. She sleeps on the dirt ground for heaven''s sake!"" continued Bra''s pleads.

""What?"" said Bulma unbelievingly.

""But Bra, she lives in the forest with friends. She can''t just leave them."" Argued Trunks.

""Then they can live here too!"" answered his sister.

""My castle isn''t an Inn!"" joined in King Vegiita.

""Then we can find a home for them in the kingdom."" Again Bra suggested.

""Well�� I guess that would be alright."" Replied Bulma. Vegiita glared at her decision and she gave him a glance no different than his own. She turned back to the princess, ""As long as Jade agrees with it.""

""��"" Vegiita grumbled, ""Only Jade can stay here�� Not her friends. I am not running a traveler''s tavern and Inn!!""

""Oh thank you so much!"" exclaimed Bra.

""She ca-"" Trunks started before they all heard a gentle knock on the open door of the throne room.

Jade peered in.

""I''m sorry."" She apologized, ""Am I interrupting something?""

""No! Of course not! We were just talking about-"" Bra started before Trunks cupped a hand over her mouth.

""We were just talking about the festival last night. That''s all. Nothing important."" Trunks finished. He turned back to Bra and spoke in a low quieter tone, ""I''ll talk to her about it�� But while I take her home so she has time to think about it.""

Bra glared at Trunks in discontent towards his choice of actions then pulled his hand away from her mouth.

""Fine."" She said then walked towards Jade.

""Please Jade, come and say good bye?"" requested Queen Bulma.

""Why�� of course, your grace."" Jade answered and Bra led her to the small group.

When she had gotten there, Bulma held out her arms and hugged Jade. Jade wasn''t sure what to do when a queen hugged you, but decided to hug her back.

""Dear Jade, it''s been wonderful to meet you."" Said the queen.

""You are welcome to come back and visit if you wish."" Vegiita spoke, almost unwillingly.

""And I do hope that you will."" Added Bulma as she let her arms back to her sides. Bulma noticed the same necklace that she had questioned to Trunks about earlier last night. She looked over to her son and smirked when he noticed her stare. Confused, he glanced over to Jade, noticed that she still wore the necklace, and looked back to his mother and slightly blushed.

It''s for someone very special, is it? Thought the queen as she smiled.

All the while Bra had been saying her good-byes to Jade.

""I''m really glad that Trunks convinced you to come and stay in the castle for the while."" She stated.

""Convinced isn''t really the word I would use Princess."" Jade corrected, ""But still, if he hadn''t brought me here then I wouldn''t have met you.""

""Thank you for being such a wonderful sister to me Jade."" Bra took Jade''s hands, ""I''ll miss you.""

Jade smiled and hugged the princess, ""I''ll miss you too, Bra. I''ll try to come back to see you again soon.""

Jade looked over to Vegiita. His glare seemed to slightly soften and he nodded what could be accepted as an, ''It was nice to get to know you and maybe you can come back soon''. Jade smiled looked over to the prince. No. Her prince.

""Ready to go?"" he asked.

""Yes."" Jade answered, ""Thank you all for letting me stay here with you for these past few days. I really enjoyed coming.""

Trunks lead her out of the throne room and down the hall toward the castle entrance. Walking down the hall, they met the royal family of Korolon as they came in from the gardens.

""Good morning Trunks. Good morning Jade."" Greeted Goku.

""Morning Sire."" Replied Jade.

""Are you leaving?"" asked Chi Chi.

""Yes. I''m heading home."" Jade answered.

""Well make sure that you come and visit again before we leave back to Korolon."" Said Korolon''s crown.

""Yeah. It would be really nice to see you again."" Stated Goten.

""I''ll try."" Jade smiled.

""She will. Even if I have to drag her back myself."" Corrected Trunks.

They all laughed and waved a farewell to each other as Trunks and Jade left. On their way out of the courtyard, they met Marie on her way back from her daily trip to the markets.

""It''ll be rather dull with ya not aroond."" Said the cook, her Irish accent as lively as ever.

""I know. But I''m sure that you''ll find something that will keep you entertained until I come back again."" Jade replied.

""Yes, well off with ye now! The soonar ya go the soonar ya come back."" Smiled Marie as she waved her hands at the two, ushering them on.

After a final stop at Jared''s wares to thank him for the excellent work on Jade''s sword, they made it in the forest trees. About five minutes beneath the forest canvas, Trunks turned to Jade and held out a hand for her.

""Now tell me, you did enjoy the tournament and the festival. Didn''t you?"" Trunks said smugly, knowing that he was right.

""Better than I had planned."" She smiled as she took his hand.

""I knew you would.""

""Yeah. You also knew that if you told me ahead of time that I would have left right after the tournament."" She pointed out.

""That obvious, was it?"" Trunks smirked as they walked on.

""Like the words in a book."" Jade said rolling her eyes as they turned off the path.

They walked on silently for a while, enjoying the scenery. Trunks finally had someone to spend his outings in the forest with. He also knew that Jade appreciated the forest as much as he did. He looked over to her and she seemed happy to be home again. Glad to be away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of a kingdom. It was exciting to go see it every now and then. And having a chance to go inside the castle! It was fun, but Jade was happy to be back in her normal surroundings. Trunks smiled but then felt something tug at his hair.

""Huh?"" Trunks looked over to his shoulder, ""Hey, I remember you."" He said when he noticed a familiar little nymph on his shoulder.

""Oh, a friend of yours?"" giggled Jade.

""I guess so. I met this pixie the same day I met you."" Said the prince as he watched the fairy continue to tug and play with strands of his hair.

""Sorry��"" Jade out of nowhere, ""I didn''t mean to walk into your conversation this morning.""

""No, that''s alright."" Trunks said, ""To tell you the truth, you were our conversation.""

""Me?""

""Yeah. Bra was completely insistent that you live with us in the castle."" He answered.

""Trunks, you know I can''t do that."" Jade replied.

""I know. I told her that you couldn''t leave your friends. She said that we could find them a home in town for them to live in."" Trunks smile.

They both chuckled at the thought of Dragons living in a house in the middle of Valon. The image of Falcore prancing around a tiny kitchen waiting for his dinner crossed Jade mind and she shook her head in amusement.

""I don''t know�� Maybe someday, Jade."" Trunks said as he gently squeezed her hand, ""Maybe someday we''ll be able to live that way.""

""I don''t know about that with the reputation that dragons currently have, but I hope that you''re right."" She replied.

Jade tugged on Trunks''s arm, leading him to a short cut through the forest. To his surprise, Trunks found that they made it to the lake in no time at all. Feeling a little hungry, Jade led them to her favorite apple tree. They rested at the lake during the mid afternoon sun. The two sat under the shades of the trees and watched the calm lake waters as they talked. A while later they decided to finish the rest of their trip. Trunks noticed that they followed the same trail they took the first time he came and his strides grew a bit more confident in the fact that he now knew where he was going. Strange. He was getting that same feeling of uneasiness. But�� this time it was�� different. Why?

This time he knew Jade felt the same way. She had stopped dead in her tracks.

""Trunks��"" she said, tense and apprehensive.

""I know�� I feel it too."" He replied with worries of his own.

""The smell of blood is in the air!"" she said, and they both broke out in a run towards the cave.

The closer they got the stronger the feeling inside them, even more so in Jade. They reek of blood was worse. Along with the notion of something terrible mixing with the odor, it was almost sickening.

Ah, the pain�� that pain is back. Jade thought as she rubbed her chest over her heart a few times, I can''t think about it now�� Something is wrong and I can''t waist my time worrying about some stupid pain.

They skidded to a stop on the loose gravel of the clearing. Jade almost in voluntarily cried out. The mess that was there told the entire happening. The footsteps left in the dirt. The scorch marks on the trees. The broken swords, whips and ropes that lay on the ground. The trail of wheels. Wagons no doubt, and most likely with cages. All of them, painting images in Jade''s mind. Horrible images, ones that she wished would leave and never return, when in fact she knew that they were there to stay. But no image was as harrowing as the pictures she saw when she caught site of Skyye.

Lifeless. Unmoving. Unresponsive�� Dead. The dragon lay, motionless, in a pool of her own blood. The dirt permanently stained a bright crimson. Crimson that trickled down scales that had once glowed such a vibrant emerald green. Scarlet that found a way to flow down the elegant tail that had once been the loving arms that Jade found so much comfort in. Skyye''s graceful wings that had once never seen a day without soaring were now spread, torn and battered, never again to fly.

Jade felt something burn her cheek. She gently touched it with her trembling fingers. Tears. Another one fell, this time searing her other cheek. As a third rolled down, she forced herself forward. Slowly, step after angst-ridden step. Closer, nearer and nearer still. Jade thanked the Gods that Skyye''s eyes had been closed. If they hadn''t have been Jade would have died then and there. She couldn''t bear to look into her second mother''s eyes. Not after something like this. Jade stopped moving after she saw the gash on the chest of the deceased creature. A deep slash that seemed it had been ripped open wider. The sight of it made the burning in her chest unbearable. Jade took a shaky step back when she realized that Skyye had been deprived of her own heart. Tears began to fall freely with every excruciating heartbeat. Skyye''s body lay in a pool of blood with nothing but a hollow chest. Another quivering step back. Her heart had been ripped out of her own torso, just as Jade''s had now been. She bumped into Trunks who silently stood behind her, him in no less awe than herself. Jade looked back to see him there and quickly threw herself in his arms, hiding her face from all the outrageous scenes. The prince held Jade close and tightly as he fought back his own tears of pain and shock.

The hatchlings! Jade realized. ""The brothers!"" almost screaming this time.

Suddenly overwhelmed in a new worry, pulled herself away from Trunks and rush into the cave. Not hesitant at all Trunks followed. When he entered the cave he stopped. He was no longer surrounded by the magnificent blaze of colors that had once danced across the cave wall. Now they were tainted red. Garnet flushed walls that resulted from blooded polluted water. Before Trunks could move farther into the cave, Jade returned.

""Did you��"" Trunks tried to ask.

""No. They aren''t here."" Jade answered, ""The cave is empty. All, except for my father''s sword.""

She handed it to Trunks.

""They didn''t find it because I always place it and a small crevasse in the back cave wall."" She explained.

""If they aren''t here then there''s still a chance that they are still alive."" Stated Trunks.

""Yes�� And if they are, I''ll find them. And I will make who ever has done this pay!"" Jade yelled out in rage.

Determined not to waste anytime, she ran. She ran out of the cave. She dashed through the clearing. She rushed back into the forest, leaving Trunks in the cave�� alone.

*End Part Eight*