Much More (Pannic and Dragon)

The king was returning from his campaign, successful, as always. Who it was against is not important - just another monarch who had slightly less gold than he, though he now had no gold. What is important is that he was coming home for the first time in two months. A king should spend some time at his own kingdom, after all.

He was a somewhat rotund man, with the pompous appearance you might expect a king to have - though he wasn't actually particularly pompous in person. Uniquely, he didn't really enjoy talking too much. He was a straightforward and business-like man, gifted with an abundance of shrewdness, pragmatism, and tact, and cursed with a general lack of personality.

With his return was the large parade of his troops, the spoils of war, and himself. For Ali, the princess, her father coming home at the end of a campaign always meant a lavish new present. And this was no exception. Though it would have been hard to find the present in the midst of all the spoils.

Her present was sitting in a covered wagon, surrounded by some guards. It was an awkward teenage boy, of about 17. He was tall, standing at six feet (though now he was sitting, and considerably shorter), and he wore odd white clothing, and had white hair to match. He had piercing blue eyes, and a funny little sapphire in his forehead. He was wearing a silver collar.

He was a dragon. The king's troops had found him snoozing amongst the carcasses of some cattle after they had attacked a castle. Apparently he'd come to mooch off. The guards had surrounded him and managed to subdue him, long enough for him to turn into a human and beg not to be harmed.

Well, harmed he would not be. Just so long as he agreed to be the princess's pet dragon.

Well, to him it was preferably to having his head mounted on the wall or something.

After the whole procession was over, they got off the wagon and the king got off of his horse.

"Another successful campaign." The king said. "Though rather typical. Almost boring. Though worthwhile, I think... the spoils are a nice addition to our wealth. Which reminds me - Alicia's new present..."

He turned to look at the dragon-boy.

"I think she should be pleased. She always does like extravagant new gifts. Now then, you won't try any funny business..."

The boy shook his head. "No, sir. I assure you, I can be perfectly agreeable."

"That's good to hear." The king said, taking out a small silver ring from his pockets. "Ahh. Here we are... follow me." he said, exiting into the castle, with the boy following a distance behind him.

“Don’t you think it’s been long enough?” the nine-tailed fox replied with a wave of one of her brilliant white tails. She turned her deep ruby red eyes towards her owner, or, more appropriately, her captor. The princess sat at her armoire brushing her long golden ringlets. She was dressed in a dark blue ball gown glittered with diamonds and sapphires that set off her bright blue eyes.

“She spilt my tea,” the princess snapped without looking up. Zosia rolled her eyes, but said nothing more. She was used to the princess` fickle moods. Everyone was, even the servant girl she had kneeling on raw rice with raw knees. After about another hour of the princess primping her already perfect face and hair, she rose and went into the hallway. The servant girl, probably a few years younger than her, was crying silently, and the blood was beginning to pool around her knees.

“Get up, and clean up that wretched mess,” she snapped at the girl. Biting her lip so not to sob, the servant stumbled to her feet and began sweeping. The princess sighed, and wrinkled her nose.

“How disgusting. Come, Zosia. Let’s take a walk about the gardens,” she said in a bored tone. The white nine tail followed her without a word, and soon, the two were strolling amongst the towers of blue roses she had demanded from her father.

“When do you think Father will be home?” she whined. The nine tail sat on her haunches and cocked her head.

“You mean, when will your new pet be here?” she corrected. The king almost always brought a new rare creature home for his daughter. First, there had been her unicorn steed, and then a little pheonix, and then Zosia. The princess glared at Zosia, but the fox was unaffected. She was the only one to actually befriend the princess, and she knew how much she could, and...couldn’t get away with.

“I want to know,” she replied irritably. Zosia shrugged.

“Well, unfortunately, m’lady, I am not psychic,” she answered with a bow. The princess sighed and sat down on the edge of a marble fountain, a statue of her in the middle of it.

“Dance,” she ordered in the same bored tone. The fox sighed, but trotted out into the grass. She began a serious of movements that soon had the very branches of the trees swaying along with her. Princess Aricia Evangeline Cimberleigh sat motionless and watched her rare pet perform for her. A few minutes of this passed, and Aricia began to smile. But something had caught her attention. Her father was coming through the garden, followed by what appeared to be a little servant boy, though he looked very odd.

“Father!” she cried, rushing up to him. The king showered her in kisses, and she laughed gleefully. Zosia trotted up to sit by her side, but her ruby eyes widened considerably when she met the boy’s eyes.

“Oh, my son, what have you done, letting them catch such a one as you,” she said in a low, mournful voice. The princess, who had ignored him completely, looked at him for the first time.

“Whatever do you mean, Zosia? He’s just a boy. Where did you find him, Father? At a circus? He does look ridiculous with that costume and that silly jewel pasted on his forehead,” she laughed cruelly. The fox turned her face towards the ground, as though she were going to cry. Zosia knew very well what the boy really was, and could not help but mourn his fate. Her race, the nine tailed foxes, were proud, but had been captured and tamed before. But his? It was almost too much for her to bear. Of course, Aricia took no notice of her friend’s sudden grief, but smiled happily at her father, waiting to hear about her new present.

Pernas followed the king until the Princess had arrived, admiring the view. "Quite a grand place you have here... though I should expect no less from a king..." he said. The King did not respond.

The kitsune caught his eye. Apparently he was not her only extravagant pet. His heart sank a little at her mournful words. It kind of was disgraceful, really... a dragon, of all creatures, to be enslaved like this.

Ah, well, he didn't have the pride of others in his race.

However, he had enough pride to be offended by her degrading comments. He opened his mouth, about to protest, but a glance from the King told him to hold his tongue, which he sensibly did.

The King chuckled. "Ahh, daughter, you mustn't be so quick to dismiss things... here, take this." he said, putting a ring on her finger. "Now then." he said, turning to Pernas. "I take it that you are anxious to make those insults laughable?"

Pernas stood up straight, as the sapphire on his forehead began to glow. There was a bright flash of light, and when it finally dimmed enough to see, it was not an awkward boy standing there, but a beautiful bright blue dragon, the size of a large horse.

"No, not a circus." The king said. "We found him trying to steal some cattle after we had conquered, but managed to subdue him. Knowing that dragons can be..." he eyed the silvery-white claws the fangs. "Dangerous, I took a precaution. As long as you have that ring and he wears that collar, you can keep him in line. You can use it to control his shifting, as well as to administer amounts of pain if he troubles you, or to send him unconscious."

Pernas stood a little stiff, but still majestic, which is a prerequisite to being a dragon in some regards.

Aricia, though she would have liked to open her mouth in awe, kept her composure. In fact, she didn't so much as blink her long, perfect eyelashes. She stared at him, apparently unimpressed.

"A dragon? He's not much of a dragon, is he? I mean, aren't they supposed to be larger, and well...more...intimidating? He is a pretty little thing though, Daddy. Now I can control him, you said?" she prattled on as if she and her father were the only two beings in the world. She looked down at the silver ring, and then up at Pernas.

"Let's see if it works..." she whispered. Zosia, who's ruby eyes were now brimming with tears, jumped up to her paws.

"Oh, Princess, mercy! Please don't!" she cried. But the Aricia took no notice of her. Instead, she focused all her thoughts on the ring...and on bringing her new pet a single wave of almost unbearable pain.

Pernas snorted slightly at her continued belittlement, but his eyes widened when she held up the ring.

The pain was almost unbearable. He roared furiously, backing up and becoming tense, arching his back like a cat, barring his fangs and smoke trickling out of his nostrils, and he snarled. It certainly looked alot more intimidating that before, and would've caused most people a great deal of fear, but not the King or the Princess, as they knew he couldn't do anything.

Pernas knew this, too, but he needed some way to try to keep out the intense pain. When the pain did pass, he remained tense, but not so hostile in demeanor, lest he tempt her again. He breathed heavily, heaving.

"I trust you won't cause any... trouble?" The King asked. Pernas nodded slightly, still trying to retain a dignified composure. "That's very good." The King said. "Well, I'll leave you now, and let your new pet get acquainted." he said, exiting.

"Goodbye, father!" Aricia called happily. Her smile faded as soon as he turned his back, and she stared after him in complete silence. She remained in this statuesqe state until he had disappeared.

"Twenty three this time...two less than last time...he must be...in a hurry," she whispered. Zosia sighed sadly, though she couldn't decide who she felt more sorry for. Suddenly with a flash of golden curls, Aricia turned to look at Pernas. Her ice blue eyes scanned his form as if he were no more than a piece of flesh without a soul. She sat down, fingering the ring.

"Well," she said, apparently expecting something, "What can you do? I mean, you must be rather worthless if you were captured. How humiliating for a dragon...but then you are a bit puny. Don't you eat? Never mind, I don't care. I want to see what you can do. Can you breathe fire?" Zosia walked slowly, her head down, to sit beside the princess who was seated on a marble bench.

"Perhaps we should give....the dragon time to recover before we ask too much of him. I'm sure he's had a-"

"I'm sure I really don't care, Zosia. Now be silent, if you want to keep all those pretty tails ofyour's," Aricia snapped viciously. The fox fell silent, though she gave the dragon an apologetic look.

"Now, dragon, show me what you can do. I want to be entertained," she ordered. It was clear that she had never been disobeyed in her entire life.

OOC:// Guild's new forum - http://cruentusluna.forumotion.com/forum.htm

"Yes." Pernas said stiffly, walking up to her. "I can breathe fire." he said, ruffling his wings. He was very tempted to set her hair on fire... though whether it was worth it was debatable. His piercing blue eye flickered to the ring. No. Not worth it.

He walked away, and took a deep breath, and out came a huge orange flame, hot enough that even from the bench, Aricia could feel its heat. Pernas craned his neck back to look at her.

"I'm not puny." he said quietly, relaxing his wings a little. "I'm just not grown up yet." he muttered. He really wanted to sit down, but he didn't think she'd like that.

He was starting to regret this. Might've been best to take his chances and fly away when he could have.

But he had some consolations for himself in his mind, and he could bear her degradation.

"I'm... also an artist, if you care." He said. "And I can sing and play music."

Aricia pretended not to be impressed in the least at his ability to breathe fire, though she very much was. Instead, she yawned.

"I thought it would be more...destructive than that. It looked more like a little torch than a dragon's breath. No matter," she said flippantly. Zosia opened her mouth to try and console the new prisoner, but Aricia glared her to silence. When Pernas said he was an artist, she burst out into shrill, cruel laughter.

"A dragon? A dragon artist? Why that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of! Oh, how cute! What is it you do then? Do you finger, or claw-paint in your case little caves and treasures you wish you could have?" she teased, giggling in a very silly manner all the while. Zosia shook her head. She knew that dragons had as much skill in the arts as they did in magic. Her race was old and wise, and knew much about dragons. The fox had a deep respect for the boy, though she was probably older.

"Aricia, aren't you weary of this wretched sun? We should go inside, and maybe rest before the banquet tonight?" the fox suggested delicately. The princess gave her a foul look but then changed her mind.

"Oh, you're right. I don't want to wear this dreadful thing tonight. Father would be appalled," she said, looking down at her flawlessly golden gown. She stood up, and looked at the dragon.

"You will come with me, and you will not change back to that pathetic looking human form until I say so. The palace is plenty big enough for someone..your size," she said with another cruel giggle. The princess walked ahead, but the fox fell back at Pernas' side.

"I weep for you, king of all immortals. I am Zosia, nine-tailed fox of the wind. May I ask your name, great one?" she whispered humbly, never looking up at him.

Pernas was fuming. Laugh at me all you want, little princess. I have all the time in the world to exact a fitting retaliation if you continue to insult me. Spoiled brat.

Not that he intended to harm her. No. Just... maybe, just maybe, when the time was right, cause her a bit of embarrassment. Or maybe fear. But now was not the time to plot. He was getting ahead of himself.

"Coming." he said, following her.

He followed solemnly, trying to retain whatever sort of dignity he could. He looked at the nine-tailed fox. "My name is Pernas." he said, nodding his head slightly. "So what were your circumstances, Zoisa? Another present from the campaign?" he asked. "I have the uneasy feeling that it doesn't get better..." he was a bit surprised at how she seemed to be showing him such... deference. "'King of Immortals...'" he muttered.

Though he had the feeling that she wasn't quite so disdainful in earnest. After all, how could you not be impressed by a dragon in your midst? Let alone one that's been made your pet? Besides, if she didn't like him, she'd wouldn't be keeping him...

And in any case, a Banquet sounded like a nice time... though he was not too optimistic, considering his introduction to his new mistress. Hopefully not everyone in the palace was as horrid as she.

Aricia glared at Zosia, and the fox bowed her head in silent submission. Before long, the princess and her two pets were ascending the grand staircase leaded to the palace's extravagant private back entrance. Just as Aricia had promised, the back doors, which were opened immediately when she approached, were more than large enough for his dragon form to walk through. As Aricia's heels began to click noisily, Zosia glanced back up at Pernas. She kept her head down, but her shining ruby eyes were focused on his feet. Apparently, she didn't think herself worthy enough to look him in the face.

"I have been with Aricia her entire life. I have lived in his kingdom for almost 800 years. When the queen, Aricia's mother died in childbirth, I came to give my condolences and bless the baby girl. I had been friends with the kings before him, therefore...I was not expecting to be trapped within in a sacred circle and bound to the child by the most powerful wizard in the realm," she whispered. Her eyes darkened, but she smiled.

"The wizard payed for his treachery with his life. Wizards ought to know better; though I was foolish for not being on my guard around a human," she whispered. The fox's brilliant nine white tails flicked behind her in irritation, but her smile widened.

"I have a strange request for you, Great Sir. If you would grant your fellow captive one request, I would beg you...do not harbor hatred for the princess in your noble heart," she whispered.

"Zosia, come. I want your opinion,".

The princess' sharp, shrill voice cut off Zosia's strange request. The white fox trotted obediently forward, as though she had never been speaking to Pernas. Aricia turned her cold, heartless eyes on him.

"Stay outside my door. Zosia will know if you leave. We will make our entrance into the ballroom when I say, and you will not be in that ridiculous, wretched looking boy form. It's absolutely atrocious, and I will not be seen with it," she snapped. Without another word, she disappeared. Zosia followed her. She did not glance at Pernas.

Pernas had little to entertain himself for the next three hours except for terrified looking servants running in and out of Aricia's room, some followed by the princess' rather shrill screams. Finally, after one servant had left with what appeared to be what was left of a glass perfume bottle lodged into her forearm, the princess made her appearance.

Pernas may have despised her personality, but even he couldn't deny it. She looked angelically beautiful. Jaw dropping even, if he wasn't careful. She was dressed in a rich royal purple gown with floral designs. The crown that adorned her golden head, one of many he assumed, was a shimmering gold with amethyst jewels and diamond accents. She was flawless. Zosia had donned a jeweled collar, studded with amethyst and diamonds as well. The silver ring was around Aricia's right index finger. She looked at the dragon with malice in her eyes.

"If you make a fool of yourself in front of my father's subjects, you'll regret it till the day you draw your last worthless breath," she snapped. She strode quickly down the hallway, and Zosia was soon at his side, following the princess dutifully.

"Don't worry, dear. The humans are mostly frightened of us. They won't want to talk to us, so just keep silent unless spoken to. And whatever you do, obey without question or hesitation. I shall probably be ordered to dance, and you shall probably be ordered to breathe fire. I doubt you'll have to sing. Ari doesn't really believe you can, you know. She's a naive little thing," she whispered hurriedly. Pernas didn't have any more time to listen to instruction. An enormous ballroom stretched out in front of him. The king was already coming to greet Aricia who was smiling brightly. Zosia straightened herself up, though she made eye contact with no one. If nothing else, at least Pernas could try and imitate her. She looked like she knew what she was doing.

OOC:// Here is Aricia's dress, if you care.



Oh, and here is Zosia. I haven't photoshopped her eyes to be red, but you get the idea.





She doesn't have blue tips either. She's just a white fox. I dunno. I guess I felt like bombarding you with images.

Pernas almost felt like grumbling, but he stifled that impulse. It would seem awkward if the fox was treating him with dignity and he didn't act dignified. But, the simple matter was, he had to keep his composure, whatever insults Aricia threw his way.

He would've raised an eyebrow if he had eyebrows, at Aricia's request. Already, he'd been subject to a bizarre form of torture, and varying demeaning comments. But he smiled slightly to himself. Hatred? No... he never considered the idea that he hated anyone. Besides, hatred was such an unproductive emotion. Best to take that energy and put it to some other use.

Then again, he had the feeling that his captors wouldn't permit many uses.

"I think I can agree to that." he said quietly. He was still slightly confused as to why Zosia was treating him this way, though he suspected it was due to him being a dragon.

Then his head snapped up. Aricia was addressing them.

"Stay outside the door." And don't leave. And don't shift.

Boredom came to mind instantly. It seemed to be forever she was in there. Though he supposed mind-crushing boredom was preferably to whatever the servants were feeling as they dashed out the room. But, mind-crushing boredom is still mind-crushing boredom. But he amused himself by playing songs in his head. He'd always been something of a daydreamer, and that really came in handy here.

He was snapped out of it by Aricia's entrance. He couldn't help himself, but he was just staring at her. Just because he was a dragon didn't mean he didn't recognize human beauty. After all, he was a human, himself... or at least he had a human form.

Taking Zosia's instructions to the letter, he followed slowly and quietly behind the princess. He didn't dare let his eyes wander, but just kept his eyes on her. He kept a tall, dignified composure, and kept his wings pressed close to his body. He watched as she approached her father, the king.

Pernas couldn't help but notice that there seemed to be a great deal of attention on him. The room had gone silent as he'd entered. He'd wager most of them had never seen a dragon in person before. Still, he didn't respond. He knew Aricia wouldn't like it. She probably wanted all the attention to go to her. He was just a vanity pet, to show off.

"Ahh, Aricia, you look splendid," The king said, smiling, his hands on the side of her shoulder. "I see you've had them" he looked behind her at the pets "come to attend? Well, that will certainly entertain the guests. Come, let us sit." He said, leading her towards the large table at the side of the ballroom. The other guests stood by, waiting for the two to sit. "Good day, friends" the king said, addressing the audience. "I have returned again, successfully, from another campaign, as you can tell by the fact I'm standing here."

Light laughter from the audience.

"Of course, with a successful campaign comes the spoils. Our nation's wealth has increased from the spoils." he said. There was applause. "And an interesting acquisition I made for my daughter." he said, indication Pernas. The heads turned to look at him. Pernas kept a blank expression, tempted to smile, but knowing he had to keep well in line.

"Now, then, on to..." The king began, but he didn't finish. He seemed a bit dizzy. Then he went stiff. Then he collapsed.