Chapter 574

574 Complicated Preparations

The night seemed to be never-ending, which was fine with Skye as they all sat, ate, and drank together. At the table, everyone was yelling and laughing, and the tabletop was filled to the edges with food. As they all indulged and talked with each other, Skye took in the scene around her..

Hang sat next to Rukia, who had Mei on her other side, along with Hana. She was in a deep conversation with Klaus about how to properly care for knives and swords, and the differences between them. Kari was next to him, and acting as peace-keeper between Ronnie, and an irritated Ralph.

Peggy was on the other side of Ralph, chatting away with Senator Lei and Genie about when he’d lived in Alcon. Tidas occasionally chimed in with a comment here or there, but he mainly stuck to eating, and talking with his wife. He sat between her and Hang, while Skye sat next to Genie.

Tidas had wanted to sit between them, but he’d been talking with Hang when they’d all entered the room. Genie had beelined for his chair, and Skye had sat down next to him out of habit. It irritated Tidas, but he pushed his ire down, and spoke as if nothing was amiss..

Or so he had thought.

Skye knew that something was off with her husband, and she had hoped that it didn’t pertain to the incident from earlier.. ‘Genie apologized, and even went easy on our reprimand.. It shouldna be botherin’ him anymore, but I canna think of anything else that’s happened..’

As a perplexed expression seeped onto her face from her inner thoughts, Skye had quickly shaken it off, and asked out loud; “Why do ya look like someone switched yer pie fer cake?”

Tidas looked at her with an exaggerated look of shock on his face; “How dare you joke about such a serious thing.”

“Yer cute, husband, but yer not avoidin’ this. Just tell me what’s wrong, and maybe I can help,” Skye commented with a completely sincere smile.

Staring into her beautiful face made the guilt within his heart grow, but Tidas kept it bottled as he replied; “I’m honestly fine, just tired. I think an early bedtime is called for.”

.....

“Umm, I’d actually like to request that you two stay back for a little while. Peggy thought that a birthday plan was in order, and we wished to discuss it with you,” Bai Lei commented as he gestured to both Peggy, and Genie.

Skye’s face lit up, then immediately dropped as she turned to look at her husband. Tidas sighed deeply before nodding his agreement to stay. He didn’t want to see Skye disappointed, and he had wanted to do something for Zazzy anyway.

In fact, once they had gone to their room for the night; Tidas was going to ask Skye to go shopping with him the following day. Yuletide was in just a couple of days, and he wanted to find out what she wanted as well. Shopping for Zazzy while paying attention to the things that caught her eye was essentially killing two birds with one stone.

Rukia was making her bedtime rounds as Tidas began to dread the coming conversation. She hugged everyone, including Tidas, then skipped off to bed with Hang, Mei, and Hana following behind. They already knew what the two wanted to talk about, plus Rukia was already awake passed her bedtime, so they all decided to call it a night.

Tidas felt slightly jealous as he prayed that Bai Lei wasn’t going to muck up his plans. Skye had her own money, and usually bought whatever she wanted; unless she was shopping for others. Running out of money right as she found the perfect gift for someone was a constant fear of hers, and the reason that she rarely bought herself things when shopping for others.

If Bai Lei needed them for something, then Skye would simply give Peggy her money, and have her buy everything. Which would defeat his goal. As Tidas internally fretted, Bai Lei started to explain his plan..

“There are two parts to my plan, and all of Sai is involved in the second one. The first part is a combination of Yuletide for everyone, as well as celebrating Zazzy’s actual hatching day. The second part will come a few days later: the day of New Years Eve..”

“Every year, we hold a celebration before the new year called the Festival of New Dawn. It is a tradition that our ancestors have held every year since our capital was founded, and it celebrates the previous year, and the coming blessings of the new one.”

“What does that have to do with Zazzy?” Tidas asked.

“Her very existence changes the core of celebration, let alone her actual presence. We didn’t change the celebration last year because we only had Mei and Genie’s words that Zazzy was real. Even the merchants that had seen her couldn’t sway Tokuga’s faction into changing it.”

Bai Lei took a sip of his tea before continuing; “We don’t know why he stalled it, but he was adamant about seeing Zazzy before he’d let the Golden Dawn Celebration happen.”

Skye quirked an eyebrow; “I thought ya said it twas called the Festival of New Dawn? What’s wit the ‘Golden Dawn’ bit then?”

Bai Lei grinned; “Zazzy is why. You know how our culture views and reveres dragons. A special order had been handed down through the royal family, issued by the first emperor after the last dragon had died. The senate took over fulfilling that duty when the empire was dissolved..”

“If dragons were to ever reappear, then a special version of the New Dawn Festival would take place.. One signaling the beginning of a new era.”

Skye smiled as she listened, but felt a creeping sense of foreboding as she asked; “What Kind of a new era?”

Bai Lei and Genie exchanged a look between themselves before he answered Skye, which made her anxiety skyrocket; “Traditionally, it depends on how the ceremony goes. But that is if one believes in such things.. It is mainly for entertainment purposes to us, but the tradition was made as a way to gadge the dragon’s wisdom.”

“If Zazzy proves to be intelligent, then the tradition says that the new era will be a long and prosperous one,” Bai Lei finished with another sip from his cup.

“And if she fails these tests? Then what?” Tidas asked as he started to get the same sinking feeling that Skye already had.

Again, Bai Lei and Genie exchanged a worried glance before he replied; “I am sure she will pass with flying colors-”

“And if she doesn’t?” Skye insisted.

“Well...”

“She’ll be labeled as a Calamity, and forced out of Sai,” Genie answered in place of his hesitating brother.

“What?!” Tidas exclaimed with an angry expression.

“A calamity?! What kinda bullshit is that?! Wait-didna the Catalyst legend say somethin’ about a calamity?” Skye asked, a torrid of emotions plain on her face.

Genie nodded; “It was, but I don’t remember the specifics of it. And the only copy left is in the Vault. We won’t know until after the festival.”

“Why can’t we just go into this vault thing now? Before the festival?” Tidas asked, though he already knew what Genie was going to say about it.

“Absolutely not. Until you and Skye are trained-”

“Yeah, and when’s that gonna start? You’ve been talking about it for a month now, Genie, but you’ve yet to do any Actual instructing for either of us. Even those few times that we actually Had the time: you just had me doing meditations.”

Believe it or not, controlling yourself in all aspects is key to becoming a thriving shinobi. You in particular have problems controlling your emotions, Tidas. That’s why I had you start on them already.”

“I meditate already,” Skye chimed in, earning a side glare from her husband.

She shrugged, unsure of why he’d seemed irate, but let it fall to the wayside as Bai Lei spoke; “The chances of Zazzy being labeled a Calamity are almost nonexistent, so I honestly don’t think that it is something that we should worry about.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Genie commented as he rubbed at his chin; “Chen is not the type to allow his opponents have a major advantage, at least not if he can help it. If he can’t get you two and Zazzy on his side, then he most definitely won’t want you taking Bai’s side.”

Seeing his younger brother’s point, Bai Lei added absentmindedly; “And getting Zazzy labeled a Calamity will take away all of her influence. Possibly even turn the people against anyone that has associated with the Alconians.”

“...Well, that sounds pretty damn worrisome to me,” Tidas commented snarkily.

Bai Lei and Genie both went off about how the tests would be monitored by unbiased Senators that have remained neutral, but Skye and Tidas still didn’t like it. Their whole mission was to get the treaty signed, then they could return home, and start their life together. As Skye listened to them explaining the importance of Zazzy attending the festival, after Tidas had threatened not to go; Skye’s nerves frayed..

“So lemme get this straight,” the entire room went still as Skye’s icy voice sent chills down their spines; “Ya want us ta drag our scaly bairn to a buncha tests, designed ta entertain humans as she does’em, just ta see if she’s gonna get kicked outta the bloody country?!”

Bai Lei sighed; “I am telling you right now: Zazzy will Not Lose. She is more than capable of completing the tests that the ancestors designed. I have seen the first two, and they are simple things. I cannot tell you what they are, but I swear to you: Zazzy can do this.”

Skye still felt uneasy, but Mei’s father had always been completely honest with her. Even as a child, he’d spoken with her like she was an adult; based on her own intelligence level. For Bai Lei to feel that Zazzy was completely capable of the tests..

“Aye..If ya say she can do it, then I believe ya. BUT, if She doesna wanna participate, then that’s it. Can ya agree ta that?”

A wide smile stretched across Bai Lei’s face, then he turned towards Tidas expectantly. He didn’t want to risk the treaty by having Zazzy participate, but not doing so might make him and Skye the targets of hate for messing up an ancient tradition.. ‘Some Senators might not want to work with us just on principle then..’

After sighing with defeat, Tidas agreed as well, which made the rest of the night relatively easy-going. Peggy had already drawn up general plans to celebrate Zazzy’s birthday in tandem with Yuletide. Skye was ecstatic that she’d had the time, on top of moving to Bai Lei’s, and thanked her profusely.

Peggy flashed Skye one of her toothy grins after a quick hug, then she said; “Dinna worry, dearie. I may complain about that overgrown lizard often, but she’s still me first grandbairn. And bairns need birthday parties. Grant it, tis quite different from the parties I used ta throw you as a child.”

“Don’t worry, Peg. We’ll help you with the decorations and everything,” Tidas commented.

“Ha! There’s nae much help needed,” Peggy cackled; “The dragon’s the easy one! It was Skye’s parties that were filled wit wee monsters.”

Everyone chuckled at Peggy’s joke before going over the finer details of the party. It would be simple and small, with only a handful of outside guests invited. The festival was the event that they would use to showcase Bai Lei and Skye’s long game...