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¤ Fiery Fall Festival Frenzy ¤ • Chapter One • • J.i.m.i.'.s A.r.r.i.v.a.l • Written by Omniwite (Moogz) (( NOTE: Jimi's story starts when he travels with Wivres and Sprite to Cathair Utopian. If you would like to read it before reading this, go here, but it is not needed to know what is going on here. )) It was dark. Dark. Oblivion. Why was he going back? Was it only for Jazmen? Jazmen... he sighed then chuckled to himself. She'd find me awfully pathetic right about now. The base was in sight and he was on course to land fine, but there was still something nagging at the back of his mind. He had never felt this way when he had disobeyed orders before, why start now? It was unnerving to see himself changng right before his eyes, a mixture of fear, anxiety, and motivation all rolled into one, a mixture he couldn't recall ever feeling before. The landing platform was clear except for a select few who were scrambling to get out of the way of the surprise entry. Quickly, two people took to the field waving flourescent sticks to direct the landing of the small ship, surprised to see it as one of their own. The commander at the platform informed one of the King's advisors of the situation via walkie-talkie, talking in frusterated urgency for the King's attention. It wasn't long before Jimi accomplished the landing without a scratch on the ship that the exit hatch to the fighter ship was surrounded by warriors for precaution it wasn't some type of skyjacking. Steam billowed out of the release gauges as the platform slowly descended to the concrete, revealing the lone pilot of 19. About four or five warriors grabbed him, preventing his arms from moving much by gripping tightly to them and pulling them to his back. Jimi grimaced in amusement at their ignorance. Didn't they know who he was? But it wasn't long before someone recognized who he was. "Jimi? What're you doing back?" an all-too-familiar voice cut through the commotion. It was the prince, Pyro, by his side with a bewildered look being his father, Fire King Illuminal. "And where's Wivres and her cousin?" Jimi smirked in response, feeling his 'old self' returning. "I could tell you, but these 'bodyguards' of your's are kind of... restraining me." God, I sound like a captive awaiting trial! Jimi wondered why. But, without hesitation, King Illuminal called the guards off of him, readily listening to what he had to say. Jimi rubbed his wrists before answering, "I left them on Danach." Plain but simple, and straight to the truth. "What!?!" Pyro couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But.. why?" "Settle down, I didn't abandon them. Wivres has imprinted what they call a Blue-Silver dragon, with the name of..." he paused for a moment, trying to remember how to pronounce the long name, "...Penaestranhath. Do not be alarmed though, because she is pretty much harmless for the most part. I came back here to propose an idea to you, my king." Illuminal raised an eyebrow in interest, "Go on." Pyro, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. Jimi nodded to the Allreyn, continuing, "These dragons are very powerful, some even being able to use magic, like yourselves. They are large enough to ride on, and link minds with their 'bonded's' mind, sharing feelings and emotions. They would be quite the formidable ally to befriend during this war, don't you think? One may even go so far as to say they are a dire necessity, hmm?" If this even turned out to be that much, this arguement wasn't going to last long, Jimi was sure of it. As expected, it didn't take long for the King to come to a decision, ultimately intrigued. "This idea of yours... may indeed be a great one. I shall ask you to present a speech to my advisors for further motions on the matter, but I am pretty confident this will pass through. And I thank you for your observations and presentation. I will give you further information on your presentation later, via summons. I bid you good day." With that, the King nodded and headed back towards his living quarters, rolling the idea in his mind contentedly. Pyro was speechless; not only did he not trust this Jimi guy, but now he was actually presenting them all suddenly with a great offer that even himself could agree on. What was this world coming to? He stared at the Chenyaka, attempting at anything vocal, but when he found it to be too great a feat, he just nodded and left, heading towards the castle in silence. Jimi also found himself surprised about everything he was feeling today. What was going on? Why was he even hinting at wanting to bond such a creature? Was he ill!? He lifted his head to Pyro's leave, stopping the young Prince before he could get very far, "Hey, Pyro? Could you call off your guards?" Pyro turned around, pale-faced as he nodded to Jimi's suggestion. His color raised a few eyebrows, including Jimi's own, but nobody said a word about it as the guards were dismissed with a wave of his hand. • • • Later that week, Jimi was summoned to a hearing on this 'dragon' idea of his. The meeting was long and drawn out, and quite a number of times Jimi had found himself slipping into the grasps of sleep, only to be jerked awake by a question he did not hear. "Are we sending you solely, or are you going to go with a squadron?" "...!? Hnn?" Jimi's mind shot back into reality. The administer was becoming increasingly annoyed with Jimi's additude, but held any retort he felt back. "Are we sending you solely, or should we assign a squadron to accompany you and test this idea of yours on a much larger scale?" he repeated, with more explaination this time. The day was getting so dreary, and these so called 'advisors' were a real pain in the neck. What did they think the answer would be if they were asking somebody who knows this will work? "Mmm, the second one," he said, trying to sound drowsy just to annoy them further. And it worked. After hours of struggling to get any answers out of him, the head advisor shuffled his files into a neat pile, expectant the others would do the same. "I think we've acquired enough information to make a decision. When we have agreed on a final answer, we shall report it to the King. I expect you to be there," the head told Jimi, leaving the room with the rest of them. Jimi glared as the bodies filed out of the room. Were they ordering him to be there? If they were, they sure didn't know who they were dealing with! Of course, their decision did concern him, and he sighed when he realized he'd have to obey. • • • "So.. how did the meeting go, anyway?" Illuminal was trying his best to make due with the silence around Jimi as they waited expectantly for the administers to return with a decision. Jimi snorted with agitation at the rememberance of the past half hour. "I suggest, your highness, that you consider hiring better advisors in a time like this." He looked up to Illuminal, whom was seated on his throne, as he continued, "Though I highly doubt they could pass up an offer such as this. If they do, then you know you've gotta get new ones!" Illuminal coughed at his last comment, "I have my faith in them. And if you don't mind, if they pass this I want to send one of them along with you. For support." "You mean to keep me in line," Jimi corrected, knowing the king did not trust him as much as he did when he sent him off to accompany Wivres and her young cousin, Sprite. Illuminal only turned his head, unable to comply or deny this fact the Chenyaka pointed out. Jimi grinned to himself, crossing his arms, "I thought so." Before Illuminal could say anything further, though, the relaying advisor opened the large, wooden double doors and walked up along the long red carpet, carrying a clipboard and a writing utensil. "Ah! Good! So, what have you got for us, Sasten?" Illuminal piped up cheerfully, formally calling up the advisor by his last name. Sasten nodded and looked through the clipped pages for a moment before answering, "Umm, yes. Well, you could probably guess the answer we've come to agree upon. We have decided to confirm your request," Jimi smirked, "and we'd like to aid you in the selection of... riders-to-be." Jimi stepped back, head turning and mouth gaping as if he had just been struck by something painful. Aid? He was only a hindrance! This was quickly turning into a bad idea. But something made him go along with it. If he had been feeling anything of what he should, a shred of his own being, he would have retorted with anger. But he didn't. Why? Was he, maybe, feeling the same pull as Wivres had? Would he know where to go? Was he going to be contacted in some bizarre way, too? He shook it off. Maybe, but he would know in due time if it was. "Fine," he replied, "but I gotta be able to choose some men of my own." And with that, the conversation was done with. • • • "Jazmen. Definately Jazmen," Jimi inquired with finality. Sasten raised an eyebrow from the hallways leading to the warrior's quarters. This place was like an army member's corridor, only much more... quiet than usual. "And who, may I ask, is this 'Jazmen' you speak of?" Jimi, then, let out an uncharacteristic laugh of amusement. Wiping tears away as his laughing subsided some moments afterward, he asked bemusedly, "You're joking, right?" The face on Sasten's face was one of mild embarrassment of ignorance, ceasing Jimi's remaining chuckles, "Really? Ah, man, where have you been? She is probably the best warrior in this god-forsaken place!" Sasten gave Jimi a sideways glance at that comment, but listened on. Jimi slid his eyes Sasten's way, but refused to say more. Sasten twisted his mouth, sensing there was something more but did not press the matter. It was not his business, nor his duty. "Ahh, here we--" he stopped abruptly at the desertion of the room, "--...are?" Jimi chuckled knowingly, answering Sasten's unasked question after indulging himself in the advisor's red-hot embarrassment, "It's lunchtime, oh high-and-mighty. Shouldn't you know?" The Relay Advisor shook his head, somehow smiling through his shame, and Jimi realized for the first time just how young he was. "I'm... sorry." Sorry? SORRY? What had he said that for? What was he turning into? He held his forehead in thought on the matter, but Sasten took this maneuver as an oncoming headache. "You all right?" he asked, bending down to look the leaning chenyaka in the face that his bangs were sheilding. But Jimi turned from the doorway, heading back down it, waving his hand in dissmissal, "I'm fine." They both headed for the cafeteria room in silence, Sasten wondering about the qualifications Jimi had, and Jimi fiercely ripping at his thoughts. The room was packed, most of them devouring their small rations with fervor. The place looked like a mess. Almost if on cue, Sasten stated with a slight grin, "Yeah, this whole encampment needs some restoration and a little touch-up." Touch-up nothing, this place needed to be rebuilt! Sasten snapped him out of his dimly-lit thoughts as he announced to the entire room, voice reverberating off the walls for all to hear, "All right, everyone, listen up! We are conducting an investigation and would appreciate it if you could all give me your attention and obey my orders. I would like it if everyone could find some room on the walls so that my assistant and I can launch this investigation." If Jimi could, or if he had any prior notice to what this guy was going to say, he would have hid from view. Assistant? Hardly! Sasten continued his explaination as the entirety of the people in the room flooded to the sides in a wide circle, most grabbing their lunch to eat while they wait for the advisor and his 'assistant' to come to them, "This investigation is nothing that is going to get anyone in trouble, so there is no need to hide anything from me. I would like it if everyone could stay on the wall until my investigations are complete, so that I don't miss anybody. And Joshua, no you may not look at my shiny gadget thingamajiggy or go to the bathroom. Just hold it." This 'Joshua' man lowered his hand and seemed a bit hurt, leaning back up against the wall. Apparently he was well-known with the advisors, or at least Sasten. As they walked to the first person, Jimi noticed the flat, electronic 'thingamajiggy' he must have been talking about when he answered Joshua. Jimi leaned down to get a better look at it, "Umm... Mister Sasten...?" He spoke, but did not look up from the electronic contraption he was poking at with a digital pen, "My name is Tyvne Sasten, but you can call me 'Mister Sasten' if you must, though I may warn you I'm probably younger than you and it seems a bit awkward." He laughed. Jimi was taken aback a bit. "Okay, Tyvne Sasten... What is that thing?" he asked, pointing to the digitalized metal is his hand. "Oh! Sorry. This is a personal profiler, made by a couple of renouned scientists. Umm... Peter Ferreaal and Zher Myreea?" Jimi nodded, seemingly knowing who they were. The line was going to be long... |