>Sydney, Australia...
>
> Out of the shadows, brown eyes flashed and glanced around.
>Quickly, Azel strode down the sidewalk, searching for the fastest
>way to the airport. Her brown eyes flashed again as the light from
>the fading sun caught them.
> *Only an hour till sunset. Even riding my Ponyta, that journey
>took a while. I need to catch a flight soon. And more importantly,
>I need to think.*
> Azel was weary, tired, hungry, and just simply confused. It had
>been hours since she had eaten, and even longer since she had been
>out of the sun.
> *Man, I hope I don't get dehydrated... First thing first, I need
>to catch a flight. And then think. Or maybe sleep, then think.
>Whatever works is fine with me.*
> Azel shivered as the hot humid wind snapped down the street. The
>tall buildings of gray stone cast shadows down upon the cracked
>sidewalk. In the distance, the international airport loomed, the
>last safe haven. Pedestrians dirmaced at the heat as cars sped by.
> *I used to love this place... I still do. What happened? Did
>over the years, this city loose it's charm? Or is it just me...*
> Azel's mind wandered to the past, and the recent incident that
>just occurred.
> *All those times... I never stood up for myself. How could I, I
>used to think, they're are so many of them. My family was so big, I
>was always the minority, the oddball, the one who couldn't see the
>wisdom of the family. Even if half the time I was right... I
>should never have given in. I should never had let them run my
>life. I should never have run away from the problem...
> But isn't that what I'm doing once again? Running away from the
>problem? Not facing up? No... I can't run anymore. I need to
>stand. But it will be in the place of my choosing. And right now,
>I choose to go and become good at my profession, to become valued
>for what I do, to run my life my own way in a different place.
>Maybe then, the city will regain its charm.*
> Azel's mind having run in a complete circle returned to the
>thought of were she was going just as she tripped. Sighing, Azel
>regained balance, picked up her luggage, and looked up, only to find
>the international airport doors right in front of her nose. She
>quickly moved to get in line for a ticket.
> Voices flitted past her as Azel became slightly woozy.
> "...yes, it's true. Europe's nice this time of year and..."
> "...not so! Nerima is in Japan! Not Russia..."
> "..and the castles in France are fantastic, but not to..."
> "No doubt you would think that. You're a stubborn, ignorant..."
> "...And what I wouldn't give to see those pyramids, she said..."
> "...it's Tokyo. The contest starts soon, or maybe it has
>already..."
> "...ding dong, the witch is dead, the wicked witch- momma? What
>rhymes with witch?" "Not now dear..."
> As Azel reached the counter to buy a ticket, her vision flashed
>and glowing spots appeared in front of her eyes as she nearly fell.
> *Must be dehydrated... Need a ticket...*
> "...me, excuse me. Can I help you? This is the line to get
>tickets you know. People are waiting." The clerk waved at Azel to
>move forward to the counter and, impatiently, waited for a response.
> "Yes, I know. In fact, I'd like a ticket. I want a one way
>flight tonight to..." Her mind, stuck on the thought of a ticket,
>could not think of a single place to go. Without waiting, the clerk
>read off a list.
> "Tonight," droned the clerk in a cross manner, "we have planes to
>France, Europe, Russia, Egypt, Japan, and Canada."
> "Oh... Cana-"
> "Whoops, the one to Canada already left."
> "Then, France-"
> "The one to France is now full."
> "Egypt then!"
> "Oh sorry... That one's full too."
> Azel could swear the clerk was smirking at her. For the first
>time in her entire life, Azel grew dangerously, murderously mad.
>Her mind gripped at the idea of a ticket now.
> *No idiot little clerk is going to stop ME! Ohhhh no. Not
>now... Not when I've just gotten started! I'm tired of letting
>others decide for me, I'm tired of being compliant... THAT'S IT!*
> The multicolored spots in front of Azel's eyes began spinning
>faster and faster until they became of a massive ball of lights.
>Suddenly they burst, and as Azel's head pounded, her eyes began to
>glow a sickly yellow color. The clerk drew back in surprise as
>Azel's glowing eyes bored straight at the clerk. The people behind
>Azel didn't notice a thing and began grumbling at the clerk to hurry
>up. Azel herself didn't notice the glow or the surge of power that
>raced through her body. Her mind was concentrated on one thing, and
>that thing, was a ticket.
> "I WANT that ticket. I want it NOW! I'm going to... um...
>Japan. And there WILL be a free spot, and the plane WILL not take
>off for at least fifteen minutes!" Azel's voice was full of barely
>contained hostility. She glared at the clerk with ferocity and
>carefully lifted her clench hand onto the wood counter. "I'd like
>my ticket NOW, I said!"
> The clerk, avoiding eye contact, quickly typed up the ticket and
>placed it by Azel's clenched fist. The clerk coughed nervously and
>mumbled, "That'll be 200 dollars please."
> Azel took out her credit card, stuck the luggage in the
>appropriate place and stared intensely at the clerk until he returned
>the credit card. The clerk then made it clear Azel was needed
>elsewhere. Shaking slightly, Azel took the ticket and moved away
>from the counter. The glow quickly faded, leaving only a yellow
>glow around her. Drained, bewildered, and strangely filled with a
>new conviction that what she was doing was right, Azel made her way
>towards the door, only barely catching the clerk's last words.
> "Jeez," muttered the clerk at Azel's departing back. "Some
>people have no patience."
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