Brand New Day

The father seemed a bit calmed by the music, frantic as it was at points. He probably figured that maybe if the dragon had some familiarity with human music, maybe he wasn't particularly tyrannical.

Granted, there have been some psychopathic vampires who love their classical music.

When he finished Vi clapped her hands exuberantly, as if trying to make up for the lack of crowd, "Amazing!" Though she guessed that he probably practiced a ton with all the time he had.

Pernas smiled and laughed. "Thanks. Though it would be better if I had an orchestra with me... I should look for those records." he mused. "Ah well." he said, shrugging. "I'll arrange for a concert tomorrow night, I think." Pernas said. "Alir?"

"Yes, Lord Dragon?"

"Tell all the birds and cattle that I'm holding a concert tomorrow night." Pernas said. "Also send word to Captain Carbonbuckle, and tell him that I expect him and his herd to attend."

"Yes, sir!" Alir said, flitting off.

Vi said nothing as nothing was directed towards her. Though after a moment she rose to her feet and walked towards her father, "Dad, if you want I can be with you for the rest of the day. I don't think Pernas has any plans for me."

"By all means," Pernas said, "Do whatever you like. Now..." he thought. "I should do something to prepare..." he walked off, thinking.

"So..." father said. "He seems harmless." he conceded at length.

"He's really very sweet," Vi said with assertiveness,.

"Mmm..." Father mumbled.

***

Xon walked back to the new herd, though his conversation with Ned had left him in a sort of mopey state. What if what they were doing was pointless? And even if it wasn't, how could he contribute? All he was was a stupid cow who wandered from herd to herd, not fitting in. He wasn't enthusiastic enough to be with the Flock, not strong-willed enough to be with the Aurochs, and not paranoid enough for the Dwellers, and he didn't have the Discipline to be with the Guardians.

As it was, he had simply gone with the most generic herd, where he fit in the best. The one of apathy. And now he was with the splitting herd, and he had this nervous feeling that the Captain regarded him with contempt.

He saw Alir flitting by, heading for the herd, as well, looking for the Captain.

Captain Carbonbuckle stuck out as he always did. He was surrounded by a ring of cows that appeared normal but he him self was colored in red, purple, and gold. He also wore a simple idiotic "crown" that was made out of different gold flowers and anything shiny he could jam in to it. Though it was a wonder how he made it at all being a cow as he was.

"Well, then." Alir said, hovering a short distance in front of the Captain, though well out of his reach. "I bring a message from Lord Dragon - he will be holding a concert tomorrow night-"

Xon's ears perked up.

"-and he invites you and your herd to attend." Alir said, in pompous delivery, amusing given his size.

Captain Carbonbuckle turned away and flicked his tail at the little bird. Narrowly missing him but showering him in a plum of yellowish dust, "I'm not coming to his idiotic concert. I have much more important things to be doing like eating some grass."

Alir backed up, making peeping sounds, as though coughing.

"I should remind you that Lord Dragon specifically asked me to extend this invitation. And, as my own word of advice, I think it'd be best that you did not press him too much further. He's given you, all of you, a great deal of leeway. That he even allowed you to form this herd should make you grateful."

And with that, he flew off.

"What a sycophantic ass." one of the cows said.

CC nodded in agreement, "Perhaps we can go though. I have yet to truely disrupt his playing and with Vi there it should be an imbarresment to him. Especialy if her father is there. If he eats me it will only be a show of his unfeeling nature towards the cows and harm his reputation with her father."

He twitched his multi colored ears as if thinking some more on it.

Xon looked in. "Maybe we should." he said. "I mean, we don't have anything to lose. Like you said, we can embarrass him, and the worst he can do is eat us."

"Then it's decided we are going," CC said as he twitched his tail again to make another puff ball, "Plus I think I like annoying Alar."

((Had weird thought of Alar and CC being in love...))

"Well, I do admit, I like hearing him play." one cow said. The others all shot the cow dirty looks. "Sorry..."

Captain Carbonbuckle said strongly, "We don't hate music just him. So you can enjoy the music as long as you don't enjoy him." He said it clearly to the cow.

"Ok..." the cow said, kind of sheepishly.

The Red Calf grinned. This would be when their attempt would go into action. Hopefully Ralph knew what he was doing. Of course, he didn't know that the Captain had set it up as a sham.

Captain Carbonbuckle chewed his cud thoughtfully, "We should start now. It will take us some time to get there."

"So," one young calf said to him, running up to him. "How're we gonna mess him up?" he asked eagerly.

"That will be my little surprise," Captain Carbonbuckle said with a wink as he turned off and started heading for the direction of Perna's mountain and where he would be having the concert.

Xon grinned. Surprise, indeed. Even if the attempt failed (and it would fail), it would be a disaster for Pernas, and make him look a great fool.

"I can't wait!" the calf said.

Soon enough the cows made it to the concert area and quite a few cows were piled up behind him as he sat in the front. Sitting more like a dog then anything as he stared at where Pernas would appear.

Vi and the Father were in seats from a balcony above the stage area, where Pernas usually performed. The sun was almost setting as the cows came in, some of them giving suspicious glances to the new herd. The birds were all in the trees, perched on the branches or under them.

After a while, Pernas walked onto the stage, violin in hand.

The usual moos and clatter of the birds were joined by Vi clapping just slightly as she felt imbarressed about so many being there.

Captain Carbonbuckle added nothing to the cheers and neither did his group. The would not cheer.

Pernas looked up at all assembled. He then spoke, in a loud, booming voice that reached everyone.

"I'd like to thank everyone for coming." he said. "Even those of you who resent me. And I know that there are those of you who resent me deeply." he looked over at the Captain, and at the Aurochs, who were seated farther away.

"I won't bother you with some lecture about how I give you everything and ask merely for something in return. That's been played out." his voice became softer, though it still carried. "All I want you to know is that I want this place, this island, to be a happy place. I care about you, whether I eat you or not. I love you, and I just want you to love me, too. That is all." he finished.

He raised the violin to his chin, and began to play.