| To go from being treated as nothing to being treated as royalty is a big step. -Found on pillar on Cleyra Overlook Part 72 Kuja made a face. � I feel sorry for him.� [Me too.] [Not me!] I chirped. [I think it�s about time he learned some court manners!] [So do I, but did you have to let Garnet drag him off to be dressed up like a doll?] [Oh, he�ll make it.] �You are so dead, Kitiane Dranoc.� �I�ll see you at the party, my little dumpling. Tiovex and I are taking Kuja to Swiftwing for a few hours.� There was some silence, then the intercom came on. � What?! You�re abandoning me here?!� [Yes.] He began ranting in the Old Tongue, something I had never taught him (it was only slightly different from what is used now, but different enough to be too difficult for him to know). [Oh, that�s the last straw! The next time I see you, you�re going to be dead, rotting meat! And if you ever call me �little dumpling� again, I will gladly force-feed you your own lungs! Do you understand me?!] [Calm yourself, Ziaden.] [Don�t tell me to calm down! This is betrayal!] [Oh, shut up already.] He did so, saying sulkily, [I hate your guts.] [I know, little dumpling.] He snarled and the intercom fizzled before going out. As it did, I heard a very angry voice--Garnet�s--shout, � Zidane, you moron! That�s the only intercom station in the castle!� There were a few moments of silence and then Tiovex stood. [Well, shall we get going?] [I do believe so. We don�t have much time.] I let Kuja on my back, then followed Tiovex from the castle. As we made our way to Swiftwing, which floated quite high above the ocean exactly between the four continents, I commented, [I have noticed that you haven�t hidden your tail as you used to.] � I don�t think I ever really did like to hide it, but the other genomes disgusted me so much that I did it to be different. To be an individual. Now . . . Now it really doesn�t matter anymore. We are what we are. That cannot be changed.� As we neared Swiftwing, Kuja�s eyes grew wide. � This is . . . Swiftwing?� [�The Continent in the Sky�,] Tiovex recited. [I read that in one of the books in Alexandria Castle�s library.] � Wow . . .� [Haven�t you been there before?] He shook his head. � I sent the black mages there, but never actually saw it. I just went on legend for its position. Unfortunately, I was right.� Tiovex waved the disguised apology aside. [So you like it?] � It�s . . . amazing.� I couldn�t help smiling. [Wait until we get inside.] Once the gates had closed behind us, Kuja leaned from one side to the other, peering down at the city below. He was like a child, eager to experience new things. [Look up,] I instructed. He did so, gawking at the castle. � What is that?� [Swiftwing Citadel. You hatched there, long ago, just like Zidane.] � Did you?� [No. I hatched on the surface.] � What about Tiovex?� [I believe he hatched there.] � Where did you get all the gems from?� [The surface, as far as I know.] � Is the whole thing made of gems?� [No. The inside is stone. The gems are just for show.] We entered the castle and I trailed after Tiovex to what he jokingly called the fashion studio. [Highness!] a seamstress cried, rushing over. [Welcome home! Is there something you need?] [Yes. I would like you to make up something party-worthy for Ajuk.] She nodded. [If you would come this way, sir.] Kuja slid off my back and followed her. [We have lots of fabrics. You can choose them if you like or we can just whip something up for you.] Kuja looked over the delicate, yet rather strong fabrics and finally picked the blue, black, white, and purple ones. � These.� [All right. Please step this way. Now you can pick out a design or make up your own.] He looked through the designs. As he got near the end of the stack of paper, I figured he would end up designing it himself. However, he found what he was looking for. � This.� [Okay. If you don�t mind waiting a moment so we can take measurements.] She whistled loudly, making Kuja wince slightly. [All right everyone! Get out here! We have work to do!] The studio was a whirl of activity, with Kuja at the center of it. Every seamstress was excited about making human clothes, something most of them had never even attempted before, and they constantly called him over to make sure the work was being done correctly. When he wasn�t busy, Kuja stood with Tiovex and I. � They really put their heart into their work, don�t they?� [It is why they became seamstresses,] I answered. [It is what they enjoy doing.] � Are there any tailors? I happened to notice that all there is here are seamstresses.� [We have tailors,] Tiovex answered. [They usually make final adjustments. You�ll see them when the clothes are close to being finished.] [Want to get your hair done?] I asked. He looked at me, then reached up and absently felt his pale hair. � Yes, I suppose I should do something with it.� <--Part 71 Part 73--> |