Dragon Thunder

Chapter 12 - The Harvest Ball

Chapter 12

The Harvest Ball

Rico

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Marlene said. "I never suspected you were a prince!"

"No need for the pleasantries," I said. "You're not a royal subject or a diplomat, so calling me Rico would be fine."

"Got it," Marlene replied.

For another hour or two, we continued to fly to Purple Meadows.

"Your Majesty!" my friend Cara exclaimed as Marlene and I entered Purple Meadows. "Good to see you again. The Harvest Ball is about to start!"

"Marlene, this is my father's advisor Cara. She will guide us to the Harvest Ball."

"You have quite an interesting choice in female dragons, Your Majesty," Cara commented.

"Cara, why don't you go announce my presence at the ball?" I said to distract Cara. Cara is nice, but she can be a bit rude sometimes.

"Will do, Your Majesty."

"So Marlene, Cara will announce that we will be arriving soon. You and I will step onstage and I will make a speech. Then there will be a dance."

"I don't know how to dance," Marlene said.

"I'll teach you," I suggested. "There will also be some food and such, so you'll have fun."

We walked to the Harvest Ball, which was being held at the Purple Meadows Ritual Arena. Our Ritual Arena was a little different than the Fangpyre ones. It was a vast open area, surrounded by blooming gardens. There was a wooden stage towards the front. Marlene and I walked onstage.

"Hello, my friends!" I said. The band began to play the Royal Anthem. The crowd stopped where they were and cheered for us.

"Today, as you know, is the day when we celebrate the great harvest we've had this year. We recognize the amazing dragons who created the Amispire tribe. We celebrate our culture and the many other cultures that integrated to create it. But most of all, we celebrate each other and the force that brings us together as the Amispire tribe. On this happy note, I would like to introduce the fantastic dragon that is going to the Harvest Ball. She is smart, funny, and beautiful. Here comes Marlene!"

Marlene walked onstage. The guests remained quiet. Whispers perambulated the Ritual Arena.

"Wow, His Majesty is dating a Fangpyre!" said one dragon.

Another guest approached Cara and said, "Please tell me this is a publicity stunt!"

The truth is, nobody wanted a Fangpyre at the Harvest Ball. In the minds of the villagers, Marlene would only start a war or worse. I was the only one who knew better.

The first dance was for the King and Queen, of course. After that, everyone was invited to join. Marlene and I watched my parents dance. I showed her the dance moves that they were doing. I wasn't sure if Marlene got what I was talking about, but it really didn't matter. I would show her soon enough.

The second dance began.

"Hey Marlene, let's go up there and dance!" I exclaimed.

"Sure," Marlene said.

We raced into the middle of the Ritual Arena. Dragon dances tend to be pretty clumsy, since we have four legs instead of two. Marlene wouldn't look weird for not knowing how to dance. 

I gave Marlene a basic run-down on how to do this particular dance (most of the others you just jump up and down for).

"Here goes nothing," Marlene said as she began to move to the music. I followed along with it.

"You step here, not hop," I would frequently remind her. After the last twirl, we flew into the air and dove down for the grand finale.

"That wasn't too bad, was it?" I asked.

"No, but I think I'll stick to the snack bar."

The song switched to "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic, a human song that I like.

"OMG, I actually know that song!" With very little effort, I had gotten Marlene up to dance.

After that song was over, we returned to the snack bar. I introduced Marlene to my parents.

"Why didn't you ask a nice, respectable, Amispire girl to the dance?" my father asked after Marlene had left to get food.

"I didn't like any of them, Dad," I replied.

"But now you are giving us bad publicity!"

"I thought you said all publicity was good publicity."

"That was before you asked a Fangpyre to the Harvest Ball!"

"You barely even know Marlene!" I said with an acerbity I didn't know I had. I stormed off to find Marlene.

"Rico!" Marlene exclaimed. "I've been looking for you!"

"What is it?"

"I heard voices back there."

I laughed. "You're just being paranoid."

Then I heard footsteps and whispers. "Wait," I said. "I hear it too."

Suddenly, two humans leapt out from the bushes. I ran into the woods. Marlene quickly followed.

"Do you hear that thunder?" the male asked.

"Yes, Obsidian," the female replied.

"Veronica, it means our time has come. It means the Blood Seekers will rise up and rule this world once more!"

"What kind of a speech was that? Who are these people anyways?" I thought to myself.

"They're Blood Seekers," Marlene told me, as if she could read my mind. "They kill dragons just for fun."

Veronica and Obsidian pulled out their guns. We were helpless as we watched them fire into the crowd. Several guests dropped dead immediately. We were lucky to remain safe.

As the Blood Seekers ran off, I thought,"Why did it have to be us?"