Chapter 585

585 Gifts From The Heart

Zazzy stared at the presents with an excited, yet slightly confused look in her eyes. The presents were quite small, considering her size, and she wondered what they could be.. ‘They don’t smell like food..’

Leaning over further, Zazzy sniffed at the offered packages. She could smell yarn coming from Peggy’s present, and wood from her parents’. The paper was shiny and pretty, but it didn’t stop her from ripping into it; albeit gently.

Since the gifts were small, she didn’t want to damage anything inside. Using the very tip of her claws, Zazzy gingerly pulled the wrapping back. She had her father start it for her, to make sure that she didn’t scratch or tear anything, but she’d still essentially opened them by herself.

It amused the spectators to see such a large dragon opening such tiny packages so carefully. Tidas was annoyed by their hushed laughter and subtlety pointed fingers, but Skye just thought that they were enjoying the gentle side of Zazzy with them. It warmed his heart to know that she always tried to see the best in people, and it also allowed him to be the realist between them.

Based on what he had observed over the past several social gatherings, Tidas understood exactly how the upper classes viewed dragons..

Since dragons had always been viewed as mystical, but extinct creatures; their virtues, likeness, and presumed moralities had been used as tools. To manipulate and keep the populace in line with their own narrative. But Zazzy’s existence had changed all of that.

The Tokuga clan had used their former titles as dragon riders and caretakers to maintain their standing amongst the general population. Despite the fact that the policies that they supported usually involved stripping the populace of their personal rights. Their family would’ve gained even greater influence if Zazzy had shown even the tiniest bit of interest in Senator Tokuga, but he hadn’t even been invited to the party.

Bai Lei had already received a very strongly-worded letter from Chen giving a very colorful description of how insulted he was for not being invited. The way he had worded it implied that Bai Lei had sent out the invites, which technically he did, but Skye and Tidas had approved of them all.

How Bai Lei wished that he could be there to see the look on Chen Tokuga’s face when he learned that it hadn’t been Bai who had neglected to invite him.. But Skye and Tidas.

.....

The senators that had been invited were ones that either outright supported Bai Lei’s policies, or ones that were officially undecided. They voted however they felt on each law or situation, which Skye liked. She could understand why they didn’t dedicate themselves to a specific group or political party, and admired them for staying steadfast in their beliefs.

Senator Funni was one of the heads of the undecided, and pivotal to getting Bai Lei’s proposed policies off of the ground. There were three that he was currently trying to get passed, but Tokuga was making it Very difficult. So they needed to get the senator on their side.

As Bai Lei watched him smiling and happily chatting with his wife about the ‘wondrously polite dragon’, he felt a calm settling in his chest. Everyone was eating, talking, and watching Zazzy with contented expressions, which made Bai Lei’s heart swell.. ‘I’m so happy that this all worked out..’

As the thought crossed his mind, Zazzy finished revealing Peggy’s present to her. The soft, light-green blanket was the biggest one anyone had ever seen, yet it still couldn’t cover Zazzy’s rear all of the way. She didn’t mind since she liked to stick her tail out from underneath of blankets anyway, but Peggy was insistent.

“Tis supposed ta cover ya All the way, not just most of ya! Dammit! I wanted you and the future bairns ta match! Now me idea fer a cutesy portrait is in jeopardy!” Peggy bellowed.

Zazzy stared at Peggy, not sure if she’d heard her right. When Skye confirmed what she’d said, Zazzy asked her mother to ask Peggy to clarify. A sweet, yet cheeky grin stretched across her wrinkled face; “Ya silly lizard! If I want all the bairns ta match, then I gotta make ya the same stuff, too. Why does that surprise ya?”

“Like we always tell you, princess: you’re our scaly bairn. Our first child,” Tidas added.

“So it only makes sense that Peggy make ya a blanket ta match yer future brothers and sisters,” Skye got in at the end.

Zazzy stared at the fuzzy blanket like it was a glass of water in the desert. She sat up, and held it to her chest while she made a sound that was a mix between a purr, and a cooing noise. The crowds all smiled and commented on how sweet the token was, and silently praised Peggy for her heartwarming gesture.

Tidas helped Zazzy wrap the blanket around her shoulders as Skye held out their present for her to finish unwrapping. Peggy watched the three with a full heart.. ‘I love me wee family..’

Zazzy had leaned her head over her mother to get to Peggy, then gently nuzzled her snout against the old woman’s side as a way to say thank you. While Peggy pet and told Zazzy that she was a good lass, Skye and Tidas shared a smile as they glanced at each other. After a few sweet moments, Skye gently reminded Zazzy that she had a lot more presents to go through.

Pulling her head back, Zazzy focused on the box in her mother’s arms. It was itty bitty compared to her, making her actions as she opened it all the more cautious. Once the paper was removed, Zazzy stared at the quaint little box for a moment before asking her mother to open it for her.

Skye smiled as she complied, and carefully lifted the lid. A soft tune began to play from the box, and it grew slightly louder when Skye had finished opening it. Due to the noise from the guests, the music was barely audible, but Zazzy heard enough to recognize the tune.

“Didn’t you both used to sing this to me when I was little? It sounds like the same one.. You still sing on occasion,” Zazzy asked her parents telepathically.

Tidas chuckled as he jumped down from her back; “Aye, it tis. I got this music box for your Ma when we were kids. The soft melody made me think of her when I heard it, so I bought it for her. We used to bring it with us whenever we had secret picnics at the our loch..”

Skye kissed his cheek, then continued for him; “We always planned fer our bairns ta grow up listenin’ to it, and now yer old enough, and Careful enough ta have the actual box. Take good care of it, lassie. Yer siblings will wanna use it someday, too.”

Zazzy leaned in so close that the tip of her snout was almost touching the box. Her eyes shimmered in the light from unshed tears of happiness as she listened to the song. The song was a combination of soft violin, a soothing piano, and the occasional cello for emphasis.

A warming comfort began to build within her heart as Zazzy closed her eyes, and envisioned when she was little again..

How her mother used to hold her in her lap while petting her, and sing or hum the song to her. The picturesque scene was so bittersweet that Zazzy had shed the tears she’d built up from before. She missed spending time with them, and told her parents as much when they asked why she was crying.

They promised to spend more time with her in the coming days, which was good enough for her for now. Once the heartfelt gifts were out of the way: Zazzy tore into the others. They had been packaged with their recipient in mind, so multiple layers of cardboard protected the actual presents. When she’d finally reached the gift, Skye or Tidas would help her.

Since Zazzy was only three, it made sense that she would need help; just like a human child would. Several people commented on how lovingly the two Alconian royals treated Zazzy, which then evolved into a wide mix of opinions. Most found their treatment sweet, but a few felt like Zazzy, as a dragon, wasn’t getting the respect that she deserved.

Their comments however, were cut short when Skye had requested her violin. Zazzy clearly loved her playing, and music was seen as a traditional tribute to dragons. The way she danced around while opening the rest of her presents had made the other guests more lively, and a few even started to dance a bit themselves.

Zazzy was ecstatic as she opened gift after gift. Jewelry, armor, and golden trinkets were the most popular ones given, but massive servings of meats with rare seasonings were a close second. They ranged from spicy, to savory, and some were even sweetened with a tangy sauce, and left to marinade for a couple of days before being cooked, and wrapped.

The jewelry wasn’t practical at all, but Zazzy still had her parents decorate nearly every spike she had with them. She didn’t want to offend or show favoritism to anyone by not wearing their gifts, so for the rest of her party: Zazzy looked like a dancing mountain of jewels and gold.

When she started to dance around like her mother, several other guests joined in, and a giant circle formed around Skye and the other musicians. Tidas stayed near Zazzy, and kept guests from getting into her tail’s line of fire. The music that the group played evolved into a beautiful and melodious mixture of Alconian folks style, and Saianese symphony.

Skye paid attention to the repetitive scale they used, and accompanied them perfectly in sync. Even Mei and Tidas had been surprised by the harmonious blending of the two styles. Despite the fact that they were familiar with Skye’s abilities to adapt in most situations, it was still odd that she could time out her playing to a song that she didn’t know.

Dressed head to toe in shiny trinkets and bobbles, Zazzy hardly noticed anything beyond her current happiness. It reminded her of the countless parties she’d attended in the Highlands as she bobbed and weaved her head and tail. She was too big to shake around her whole body within the courtyard, but that fact occasionally slipped her mind as she lost herself in the music.

As Skye danced and twirled around faster and faster, the tempo kicked up. Zazzy’s controlled sways turned spastic as her large size tried to keep up with the increasing beat. Tidas was trying to call out to her, to warn her to lower her tail, but the overly-enthusiastic dragon couldn’t hear him over the sound of the music, and her own stomping.

In one second, the courtyard was brimming with loud noises, laughter, and music. The next: a loud crash resounded within it as Zazzy’s tail went through a wall..