| Indecision hurts. That is an unchangeable fact. As long as beings have feeling and emotions, something will cause pain. -Rules of Life, pg. 48 Part 35 � Yeah?� � I was going to go to the castle. You want to come?� Zidane�s happy mood immediately dissolved and I silently cursed Vivi�s bad timing. � . . . Yeah, I�ll go.� � I have something to do,� I said quickly. � I�ll meet you there.� � Okay.� I trotted out of the pub and up the street, much to the distress of the people out purchasing goods. I ignored them, my focus on one place. � Kiti!� I stopped and turned, my tail barely missing a vender�s stand. � Yes?� � Vanel wants to go with you!� I waited for the hatchling to catch up, then continued on. We reached the moat to the castle and took to the air, much to the guards� horror. � Fear not!� I called back to them. � The princess will not be angry!� We landed quietly on the balcony to her chambers and there was the sound of metal scraping within its scabbard. � Who goes there?� a semi-familiar voice demanded, throwing open the curtains. I leapt back onto the rail of the balcony, snarling, but it was only Beatrix. I let a sigh escape me as I rolled my eyes and stepped down to the stone ground. Vanel skittered under Beatrix into the room and I followed the general in. � Kiti!� Garnet hugged me and I put my wings around her briefly. � I thought you�d left!� � I left the castle, but I didn�t leave Alexandria.� I looked her up and down, commenting, � You look beautiful.� � Thank you.� Beatrix, who was amusedly watching Vanel bounce on Garnet�s bed, remarked, � Better start adding a title, Kitiane.� I snorted. � I will only add a title when I know for sure what it is. After that, I will only use it if she wishes me too.� � Please don�t!� Garnet begged. � Don�t you get all stuffy on me too!� � I assure you, I will not �get all stuffy� on you. I can�t stand bowing to those who have no influence over me.� � Which is why you don�t bow to Tiovex?� � Exactly.� � Do you think you should be ruling Swiftwing?� � No. Being an emperor, he has first claim to the throne. If I had challenged him and beaten him, however, I would�ve been considered queen. Frankly, I don�t want that responsibility. If Tiovex likes it so much, he can have it.� � Well, I know where Zidane got his attitude,� she giggled. I frowned, noticing the strained note. � It�s not working.� She quit immediately. � Kiti . . . I . . . I feel so . . . I don�t know!� � Stay calm. I do not expect you to be able to tell me what you feel for I could not relate.� � Can you at least give me some advice?� I directed her to a chair and sat down in front of her. � I will help in any way I can.� � Will you tell Zidane?� � Only if you want me to.� She unloaded everything on me. I carefully considered everything she said and traced her feelings as best I could. When she was through, I took a while to think over what I would say and how I would put it. � How long are you willing to wait?� She blinked, but said, � However long it takes.� � Then test your patience.� � What do you mean?� I shook my head. � I don�t really know myself. But you say you�ll wait forever and I find that even dragons have a limit to their patiences. What you must do is tolerate even the stupidest things. If they might normally send you into a tantrum, persevere.� � I don�t understand.� � He wants to stay and be with you, but he also wants to find Kuja and take care of him. I�m afraid he�s leaning toward the more logical choice.� � Finishing Kuja.� � Precisely. He sees that he will only be able to protect you for a certain amount of time if Kuja is allowed to continue his work. He sees that Kuja will eventually return to Alexandria. However, he knows that if he takes care of Kuja now, before he gets any stronger, he can ensure your safety from him for good. The problem is leaving to look for Kuja, thus allowing the coward to destroy Alexandria while he�s gone. It wouldn�t be his fault, but you and I both know he�d convince himself that it was.� She nodded. � I see now. Well, if he really does choose to go . . .� I waited for her to continue. � Please watch out for him. I know that seems to be a silly request, since you raised him and everything, but---� � I understand,� I assured her. � I�ll bring him back.� Relieved that I really did understand and wasn�t just saying that, she hugged me tightly. � Thank you.� � You�re welcome.� I glanced out the window. � They are coming here. I promised to meet them.� � Okay.� I ushered Vanel up onto the balcony and turned back as I perched on the rail. � I wish you luck, prosperity, and peace, Queen Garnet.� She smiled and nodded. I turned back to see Vanel still sitting on the rail. � What are you doing? Go!� She peered over the rail�s edge and eeped. � But it�s so high . . .� I rolled my eyes. � A dragon afraid of heights! What�s the world coming to?� I smacked her off the rail with an uncerimonious slap of my wing. She yelped, but caught herself and glided around the castle. � Now see, that wasn�t so difficult!� To the quiet tittering that Vanel had been trying to stir up, I tipped backward off the rail and followed her around the castle. [That was a nice idea.] She shrugged, making her flight waver a bit. [I�m just glad you caught onto it so quickly. I was afraid you wouldn�t.] [You insult my intelligence, child.] <--Part 34 Part 36--> |