I woke up to a room full of mannequins dressed in extravagant gowns. Not to my surprise there was my mom standing in the middle of everything, smiling so big that her dark eyes were shining.
"Since you're going to be stuck in bed anyway, let's talk dresses." she seemed to radiate energy, "Your sixteenth birthday is coming up and since you missed your fifteenth, we will just have to go all out this year." I groaned loudly, I absolutely hated these parties, and I wanted nothing to do with them. "Oh hush, this is for your own good if you are ever to be married."
"How come Ark doesn't have to do this silly stuff? He's already nineteen and still single." I eyed my mom. "Shouldn't you be more worried about him?"
"You know that your brother will be fine. Now we are going to talk dresses." I decided against fighting any further, for when it came to my mom and these parties there was no use in resisting. She always got her way.
Five hours and thirty-nine dresses later my mom finally left the room. I was decidedly wearing a sleeveless red and orange dress that matched Fidi. Since he couldn't come with me, I would at least carry his colors. After all, I would much rather spend the day with him than being paraded around like a prize pig for all of my mother's eligible bachelors. At least this party wasn't on the same day that I meant to meet Lily, for I would feel terrible if I made her worry the whole day. At least for now I could wear my running breaches again. An image of flying high above the city appeared in my mind and I was consumed by the bliss of it for a second. Fidi wanted to fly, and he wanted to do it with me. I looked out my window and saw him gazing at the clouds high above us. I slipped out my window and climbed onto his back just behind his wings, being careful of my injured side. After I was able to gain control of the air around me, he took off. Fidi flew carefully and constantly sent me images of my own side or blood. "Calm down Fidi, I promise you that I am okay. I will tell you if I'm hurting." The only response I got was a deep throated whine and slight increase in his speed. I leaned forward and hugged him, happy to be up here and away from everything. Especially the party plans. We looped around the city twice and were now flying in slow circles above my house. I could just make out a navy blue dragon heading for us, Zip was my father's dragon. Fidi shared an image of an angry Ava with me, which Zip had conveyed to him. I guess it was time to go home. We landed once more outside my bedroom and I sat on the edge of my bed waiting for my mom to come in and tell me what I should have been doing instead, most likely practicing how to eat with perfect posture and the correct fork. I appreciated more practical things, like training with Fidi. Luckily for me, my father appeared in the doorway. His soft blue eyes met mine as he entered my room. His once black hair was now peppered with the gray hairs almost outnumbering the black.
"Hey there kiddo, I heard what happened yesterday." as he was walking across the room he let out a sigh. He found his way to the chair that lived in the corner by the foot of my bed and sat heavily into it. "Where do you keep going Luna? Your brother says that you are crossing the Araki border, and you know that is a dangerous thing to do." technically Ark hadn't seen me crossing the border, so I couldn't believe he was telling people.
"He didn't see me cross the border dad, no one did" I began tentatively, "so if no one saw it I wasn't technically there, right?"
"Where do you go?" his blue eyes began turning icy, just the way that mine did when I was upset.
"I'm just getting away dad. You know I hate all of this 'proper' stuff that mom pushes on me, I'm just not built for her type of life" my eyes started stinging with tears that meant to escape, so I clenched my teeth and blinked away the tears.
"Oh, sweetheart. I know how you feel, but you know that if it were not for 'all of this proper stuff' your mom and I would never have met." I let my head fall into my hands and covered my face, for I couldn't stop all the tears and a few had run down my cheeks. I could feel the weight of my dad sitting next to me, shifting my balance. I leaned into him as he put his arm around me and he rested his dark head on mine. "Your mother isn't actually upset, you know. I just wanted to talk to you, but if you want to go flying then I am okay with that." I sniffled and looked up at my father.
"Please daddy, that would make me feel a lot better," I was so glad to have heard him say that, "I promise I'll go along with mom for my birthday this year."
"Go. I love you kiddo."
"I love you too daddy." And with that I got back onto Fidi's back and hugged him. I hugged him for the entire flight, not even looking down once. I could never replace the feeling of freedom and pure happiness that I had when I was with him.
The rest of my week had been spent in my room with my mom planning for my birthday. There were cake tastings, band samplings, and even multiple venues to discuss. If I didn't know any better I would think that I was planning a wedding. But finally the planning was over and I was standing in my room, wearing that beautiful red dress. My mom had done my hair up with curls spilling out and I wore a thin silver chain around my neck. Ark came in wearing his tuxedo, he had cut his hair and it was once again short and tidy. He was to be my escort to the party. We walked, but the entire way I could sense Fidi flying nearby, he was nervous and I couldn't figure out why.
"You look beautiful in red Luna." My brother's words surprised me, because he never complimented me, "It's just that you never wear red, it suits you. Just like you and Fidi are perfect for each other."
"Thanks Ark, You look quite dashing yourself." We continued our walk in silence. The night air was cool on my shoulders and the moon shone brightly, giving the entire landscape a snowy appearance.
The building that held my party only had three complete walls, what would've been the fourth wall was a giant opening to a large balcony overlooking the tribe. On the edge of this balcony is where I planned to spend most of my time just in case a hasty exit became necessary. My brother walked me to the entrance and I was announced. "Lady Luna Pierce, daughter of Marcus Pierce, our most loyal advisor to the Iget." the announcer said it stiffly and bowed to me as I strode past. Three paces past him, I curtsied to the room with my brother on my arm the entire time. We made it to the balcony and he slipped away from me and disappeared into the crowd after whispering something into my ear that I couldn't understand. I was alone, or as alone as someone in a crowded room could be. A light-haired boy I knew from my class was approaching me, he had grey eyes and had always called Fidi "the cursed one" because of his color. I wanted to avoid this kid, but he reached me before I could do anything.
"So you have definitely grown into your skin," he began in a low tone that sounded hungry, "you look gorgeous tonight." He eyed me up and down, clearly pausing to stare at my breasts. I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.
"You are just as much of a worm as you were in school Dennis," I said calmly and slowly, looking him straight in the eye, "leave me alone." With that I turned and headed for the edge of the balcony, I could feel Fidi was nearby and I could now barely see through the images he was sending me.
"Help me Luna, I don't know what is happening to me." The voice was so loud that I heard it over everything around me, but when I looked around no one else seemed to have noticed it. "Luna, help!" I turned frantically in a circle and couldn't pinpoint where the voice was coming from, for it seemed to come from everywhere. I needed to get out of here. I spread my awareness out and searched for Fidi. He was under the balcony, almost directly below me. I began to pick up my pace when I felt a hand grab my wrist and spin me around. It was Dennis. He had slid his other hand around my waist and pressed his body against mine. Every fiber of my body wanted to break every bone in his. Including the one that was pressed hard against my stomach. However, it took all of my strength to simply keep my eyes open. I could barely move.
"I know you want me." He was whispering other disgusting things I'm sure, but I couldn't hear them over the voice calling for my help over and over. Dennis flew across the room in a gust of wind as I collapsed. All I could do was watch as my brother threw the creep out of the party with a second, well aimed gust of wind.
"I knew that worm was no good," he began as he turned towards me, "I told mom not to invite him."
"What the hell was..." before I could finish I heard the voice again.
"Luna. It hurts, my skin burns."
"What's wrong Luna, did he hurt you? My brother demanded. He picked me up off the floor and helped me stand.
"I'm fine, but you can't hear that voice?"
"What voice?" Ark looked around, confused.
"I need to find Fidi, I think he's in trouble." I started stumbling towards the edge of the balcony and rolling over it I yelled "please cover for me with mom!" Then I started churning the air to slow my fall. After a rough landing that sent waves of pain into my side, I turned around to see Fidi writhing in pain. No words could come and all I could do was search his body for wounds, but there were none.
"I don't know what is wrong, everything just hurts." It was the voice, but it seemed to be Fidi. But that's impossible, because dragons can only send images. No dragon has ever been recorded actually sending words telepathically.
"What do you mean everything hurts?" Fidi's eyes opened and he stared directly at me. Can you understand me? I was almost too shocked to say anything. "It's all that I can hear..." was all that seemed to escape. Do you know what's happening? It was then that I noticed his extremities were quickly disappearing. "Fidi, you're fading away! What's happening?" I reached for his missing tail expecting empty air but collided with the strong muscled flesh I knew so well. I put my hand behind his tail and it too disappeared. "Fidi, your tail is invisible." I rocked back onto my heels. What do we do? His eyes looked so worried and I wished that I could give him an answer, but I had no idea what was happening. He was now almost completely invisible with only his head remaining. "Well you are completely invisible now bud, is anything different?" I dearly hoped he wouldn't be stuck like this. Well I don't hurt anymore. Well that was something. "Can you try changing back?" I stared at where his eyes used to be and waited. Then I saw them again, in a flash he was back in all his bright red glory looking excited and no longer in so much pain. "Can you control it at all?" He stared at the ground and seemed to focus for a second but then disappeared once more. Yes. Yes I can control it! We could go anywhere now. Together. He reappeared and looked at me, his black eyes piercing my heart. Tears started running down my cheeks. I can finally meet Lily. Ark is coming, but be careful I think he is mad.
"Luna! Where are you?" I heard Ark yelling from a distance. I really didn't want to go back to that party. I could easily escape with Fidi's new power.
"Okay bud, we need to be careful with this information. Please pretend to be hurt or something so Ark believes that I came out here for you." I pleaded with my dragon. You did come out here for me, I had a thorn in my foot and you got it out. I wouldn't leave you alone. "Thanks bud, you're the best" I whispered quickly before Ark reached us. He looked like he wanted to yell at someone, most likely me. I quickly got out my story and asked him if I could go home.
"Well yeah I guess you can go home, after all I don't really care if you're at this party."
"Thank you." I then rushed to Fidi and climbed onto his back. We slunk past my brother and took off towards home. "Fidi." Yes? "I don't want to go home, would you mind turning invisible and taking me to the hideout that Lily and I built?" I guess, just help me find it. I sighed with relief. "You got it buddy." The dragon beneath me disappeared and I saw nothing but land below, I can only hope that I am invisible as well. We arrived at the cave in minutes and he shot through the entrance with amazing precision. "Let's sleep here tonight." I said and Fidi simply reappeared and curled up in a corner. Well, come here. The words appeared in my head and I couldn't have been happier. I walked over to where he was and got on top of him, fitting perfectly under one of his wings, it was still warm from flight. "Thank you Fidi," I said quietly as I fell asleep. You know I would do anything for you. Those were the last words I heard before I faded out of consciousness.