Here Comes the Bride!

[Anwen]

WHAT!!!

"Don't look so surprised Gillean. I only did as I was told." Representative Elcarnin looked weary after a hard night. After putting each of the Fletchers in their respective places, they had boarded a luxury airship and headed toward Ambia, bringing along Miss Hunt. "Sending young 'master Fletcher' away to the Badlands was the only way to ensure a peaceful wedding."

"Why did I come along?"

"Because I want you to learn, son, that life isn't always what you can do for one other person." He put a hand on Gillean's shoulder. "Your actions, even if they are what you think seem best for the one you helped, can cause massive damage to the uneasy peace we have. Do you understand, my son?"

Gillean backed away slowly, shaking his father's hand off of his shoulder. His face bore afresh the pain of the loss of a loved one. "I
understand. However, that doesn't mean I have to like it. Even if the whole world says I'm going the wrong way about something, I will do what's right."

His father smiled sadly. "I understand. The freshness of youth makes it easier to see clearly through the haze of this world. Gillean!" He called as his son turned to leave. "I will always love you, even if you decide to leave."

Always...

He wrote a note to Cassandra and sent it under her door.

Cassandra,
I just wanted you to know that my father banished Matthew Fletcher anyways. I also wanted you to know that he did it against his will. Please forgive me for ever bringing you to my home!
G.M.E

Gillean went to the weapons and medical supplies section of the ship and injected himself with mini-microchip cancellators. They were normally locked, but his father had taken care of that. There was a short message with them, holographic.

Take care of yourself, my son, and come back some day.
Gillean injected himself and went down to the ship's belly. He found himself a parachute and strapped it on as he was walking down to the hatch. He threw himself out and felt the wind in his face. He was free.

Always...

[Cytherea]

Cassandra's deep, dark blue eyes slowly opened. The place where she was, was familiar in an odd sort of way. She remembered waking up when she was younger, around 10, in this same sort of place. It was so vague now, though. She wanted to stay asleep, but her body refused to let her.

Suddenly, she sat bolt upright.

"Matty!" she exclaimed. She flew from the covers of her bed and onto her feet. She started remembering what had happened, within those few, few days.

She ran to a mirror in her room and her shoulders slumped.

"It's not just a dream. Everything's true. I am I.S. now." She stared at her tall, slender, agile form in the reflection. Her long, red curls were still surprisingly beautiful, even after all the drama. "I need to change out of this formal, and figure out what I'm going to do."

She walked to a window in the airborne craft. She looked down, and saw the ground far away.

"I must be already on my way to Ambia." she felt upset, and realized she was growling. "Guess my parents weren't joking. Like usual."

She found a bathroom and half-heartedly took a shower and changed into some clothes that she was sure were meant for her. She had a few dresser-fulls of clothes, and grabbed the first outfit she found, which was a short, cream sweater-dress with long sleeves, and also grey leggings and dark, glossy brown boots. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, though some of the curls fell out in strands around her face.

"Hopefully I'll be allowed to walk around this flying prison."

She walked to the door and saw a small note, lying on the floor. She snatched it up quickly.

Cassandra,
I just wanted you to know that my father banished Matthew Fletcher anyways. I also wanted you to know that he did it against his will. Please forgive me for ever bringing you to my home!
G.M.E

"Banished??!!" she gasped. She read the note over and over again, and then wadded it up and threw it as hard as she could against the wall. "That father of his is pushing things too far!"

She yanked on the door, and wasn't very surprised to find that it was locked. She looked up at the camera viewing the main room, and waved at it.

"Let me out!" she yelled at the camera. "Anyone watching this, let me out!"

She waited for a few minutes, until she heard footsteps coming in her direction. Someone on the outside punched a password into the reader, and then opened the door. She cringed as the door creaked open, the sound of it closely resembling that of a jail door.

"Miss Hunt, we will be your escort. Wherever you wish to go, we will make sure you get there safely."

"Thanks." she said sarcastically to the four men outside her door. "Take me back to the Badlands."

The four men stood there, their faces unemotional. She rolled her eyes.

"Take me to the Representative Elcarnin. Immediately."

The men formed a sort of square around her. She realized that, though she was out of her room, she felt even more trapped than before. They led her down the twists and turns of the very large, expensive, and basically deserted plane. She wanted to have someone nearby her, which was different than usual. She liked protecting herself. But now, with the men walking around her so tightly, with so little emotion, she felt completely alone, or dare she say even frightened.

Ever since I met Matty, I just haven't been myself. I don't feel right. Well, besides obviously being an I.S. now. I want protection, that I can't provide. I don't feel safe alone anymore. I'm basically walking with four zombies, towards a man who tells lies and for fun banishes people to the Badlands. And there's no way I'm getting off this flying Titanic she thought as they passed a room with a swimming pool and a poker table. They've positioned guards around the door, but I wouldn't even get that far because of my zombie buddys. I'm trapped.

Finally, her 'escort' reached a small, grey room, and Cassandra thought the walls resembled tin. There was a black desk, and Representative Elcarnin sat behind it. Cassandra jumped from behind her escort and pushed her hands into the man's desk.

"Representative Elcarnin, why did you send Matthew Fletcher to the Badlands?!" she shouted in his face. "Do you recall making a promise?!"

Mr. Elcarnin glanced up at her and held her gaze. He raised an eyebrow.

"Miss Hunt, you need to understand this. It was obvious, that if Matthew Fletcher did indeed stay in OnNa, he would find a way to disrupt the wedding between you and the senator."

"You are determined to ruin my life, aren't you??!!" she yelled.

"And, Miss Hunt, as I'm also sure you'll understand, we have ways to wipe memories. If you continue to bring up Matthew Fletcher, and also continue to complain, or make any move to try and escape, we will not hesitate to use our resources." he said the words so firmly, but Cassandra thought she saw a look of sadness flicker across his eyes. "Is that clear?"

"If I do escape, though," she said. "You can't mind wipe me, can you?" she replied coldly.

"We will take desperate measures, and land this ship on it's stomach, run after you, and bind your hands and feet, if you try. Escaping is impossible."

"What about your son?" She spat. "He escaped."

Representative Elcarnin's eyes grew slightly emotional, but he waved his hands, and Cassandra's escort walked into a square around her. They started walking back out of the room.

"Miss Hunt, please enjoy yourself. There is a swimming pool, arcade games, just about any food you want, manicures, and spa treatment, both of which I put in especially for you. I suggest you relax. When we get to Ambia, you won't have as much time to enjoy yourself, I'm afraid."

No, because I'll be finding a way to escape from there when I get to Ambia. I'm not going to relax there. she thought bitterly. But she allowed herself to be taken from the room.

She was led back to her original room, and she shut the door on her escort. She walked to the dresser and found a swimming suit, and quickly changed.

"I should practice swimming. Maybe that's how I'll have to escape from Ambia. You never know." she muttered. She grabbed a towel and her zombie escort led her to the swimming pool she'd past before.

She stared into the clear, beautiful water. She sat on the edge of the pool and dipped her foot into the water.

"And somehow they know that I like swimming in cold water." she slipped into the water and quickly started relearning how to swim.

After two hours of swimming, she was led back to her room where she took another shower to wash the chlorine from her hair. She changed back into he outfit from earlier and then was taken to a huge buffet room.

"Shnazzy." she said as she looked around the huge room. She walked to the counter and ordered a plate of mashed potatoes and ribs from the machine there. She was surprised when the plate of food appeared in seconds, hot and ready.

When she was halfway done with her meal, she realized that she hadn't even noticed her escort. She turned her head to look, but they were still there, still unemotional, and still acting like zombies.

I'm already used to them! This place is going to make me soft, and lose focus. But I have to act like I like it. Otherwise, I'll get mind wiped.

[Cytherea]

After she finished eating, Cassandra changed and made her way back to the swimming pool.

I doubt I could get any of my zombies to play ping-pong with me. Swimming is just about the best thing for me to do until I get to Ambia. Then my activities list will switch to things like escaping...

She jumped into the clear blue water and welcomed the cold.

Suddenly, she felt someone's eyes on her; actually a person, not a zombie. She turned her head towards their presence, and flashed her eyes to blink the water from her lashes. Her blue eyes grew a even darker bluer as they reflected the water in the pool.

[Anwen]

Abner flew in as the sun reached its apex. He looked up at it, unblinking, and smiled. I'm going to get a jump on my stupid brother and see his ugly bride before he does.

He landed and sent away his driver. Then he asked the pathetic representative of his OneNationess where the annoyance was. He came to the pool and stopped, all his doubts melting away in the Badland heat.

What he saw wasn't human. She wasn't even mortal. She was a water spirit, a naiad, a mermaid, an angel in human form. He came in just as she was diving underwater. She was a fire burning underwater; her fiery locks were otherworldly flames. And when she came up, she blinked the drops from her lashes and turned her bluest of blue eyes upon him. He was nearly lost for words, so he asked the stupidest question imaginable; "Are you Miss Hunt?"

He could have slapped himself.

[Cytherea]

"Are you Miss Hunt?"

Cassandra stared at the newcomer. He was tall and lanky, with orange hair. She rolled her eyes, and in one swift, agile move, gracefully pulled herself out of the pool. She started to ring her hair out, and the curls started to form almost immediately.

"No, I'm not." she said sarcastically. She pointed to one of the zombies. "He is. Just don't talk to him. He won't reply."

[Anwen]

She was even more beautiful when she came out of the water. She. Is. Amazing.

"No, I'm not." she said, in an oh-so-sarcastic voice. She pointed to one of the zombies. "He is. Just don't talk to him. He won't reply."

"Slap me. Just slap me. Teach me not to say stupid things like that again when it's obvious who the angel in the room is.

[Cytherea]

"Slap me. Just slap me. Teach me not to say stupid things like that again when it's obvious who the angel in the room is."

Cassandra stared at him like he'd just told he she could leave whenever she wanted to without protest. She smiled and walked over to him.

And she slapped him, with all her anger and frustration.

Hope I didn't break any of his teeth or anything. He's probably I.S., though, so he probably won't lose any canines.

[Anwen]

"Nice. Very nice. You know, you have a very strong arm. How would you like to play ping-pong with me? I don't think any of these zombies will be able to play. It'd be like this:" He began, dramatically.

"The beautiful Cassandra puts a spin into the ball, sending it straight for her opponent's paddle. He stands there, unblinking as the ball goes straight past him." He looked at her and suddenly realized that he hadn't even introduced himself yet. "You must be wondering who I am. I am Abner Sanders, second in line for the Leadership of Ambia. My brother is your soon to be beloved husband. Anyway, let's get back on subject, would you like to play ping-pong with me?"

[Cytherea]

Cassandra had no idea what the expression on her face was. Maybe it was delight at having someone actually talk to her. Maybe it was shock at how much he could talk.

"My brother is your soon to be beloved husband. Anyway, let's get back on subject, would you like to play ping-pong with me?"

Cassandra quickly was brought back to reality as he said the words, "beloved husband". Her eyes flashed with anger, but the thought mind-wiped forced her to keep her mouth shut on that subject.

"Ping pong?" she bit her lip, too hard yet again. She tasted blood and brought her hand up to her mouth. "Stupid lip." she muttered. "Sure, I'd love to play. I've got nothing better to do."

[Anwen]

Abner watched Cassandra carefully as he was saying that last part. He saw the anger flash across her face for an instant, and then her biting her lip afterwards. Oho, so she doesn't like the idea. He realized as she told him that she would like to play ping-pong. "Great! Zombies, leave us." He looked at Cassandra and smiled. "You know, I don't really mind if you wear your swimsuit to play..."

[Cytherea]

"Great! Zombies, leave us." He looked at Cassandra and smiled. "You know, I don't really mind if you wear your swimsuit to play..."

"I should think not!" Cassandra snapped. "I'll be right back. But you'd better let my zombies guard me, cause I'm looking for opportunities to escape."

She was so mad at herself for saying it, but she turned on her heel and marched back to her room. She slammed the door on the zombies and quickly grabbed one of the outfits in the dressers.

"Neon green shorts and a hot pink tee-shirt?" she said incredulously. "Whatever."

She quickly put the clothes on and the zombies escorted her back to the swimming pool.

"You guys think I'm going swimming again?!" She rolled her eyes. "Ping pong room, now."

They slowly walked to the ping pong and game room and she pushed through them. She grabbed a paddle and spun it experimentally in her hand.

"You ready, Abner?"

[Anwen]

"Just about. What do you prefer I call you? Miss Hunt? Cassandra? Cassie? Andra? Oh, and I can't play with these jailers in here. Guards, leave us! Wait outside the door if you have to. Well Andra? Ready to play?"

[Cytherea]

"Yes I am!" Cassandra said. It was obvious she was mad. "But don't call me Andra! I don't have..." she remembered Missy asking to call her Cassy. That seemed so long ago now. "My name is Miss Hunt, to you." she said. "Or if you must, Cassandra."

She swung the paddle and sent the ball slowly towards him.

Oh great. Now it's obvious my heart's not in it. Cassandra said, shaking her head. Gotta play nice here. Gotta keep a low profile. Gotta plan my escape.

[Anwen]

"Oh, come on Cassandra. I'll admit that the princessy name Cassandra suits your looks, but I don't like being so formal. Abner sent the ball back quickly. "Don't go soft an me just because I'm a man."

[Cytherea]

"Don't go soft an me just because I'm a man."

"I never have gone soft on men." Cassandra said angrily. She whacked the ball so hard, that it barely touched the table before it slammed into the wall. She stopped herself from starting to go on and on about Matty, and how he had "tamed" her, and how she loved him so much.

That would not be a good idea.

[Anwen]

(This is Cytherea using Anwen's account)

"Huh. I see." Abner said. She whacked the ball so hard, that it barely touched the table before splatting onto the wall. "Okay, I don't think I'll be able to hit those types of balls, so unless you always manage to whack your balls like that..."

"I'm not playing to win, dummy." Cassandra said, rolling her eyes.

"Why are you playing?"

"Well, duh. I'm on a flying Titanic, heading straight for Ambia, might I add against my will, and there's not much anything else to do."

"So... you don't want to go to Ambia?" Abner asked, curiously.

[Cytherea]

Cassandra wanted to hit herself with the paddle.

Stop complaining and giving hints that you don't want to be here. This people obviously will carry out their threats.

"Well... no, I don't." Cassandra said, miserably. She'd been trying to think of ways to escape throughout the entire day, but being on this ship was definitely trying her patience; and ability to think clearly. "I really don't. I want to be back in OnNa... actually, in the Badlands. I never wanted to marry your stupid brother-"

Cassandra stopped herself from saying anything else.

I've already dug a deep enough pit for myself to get trapped in.

[Anwen]

"I really don't. I want to be back in OnNa... actually, in the Badlands. I never wanted to marry your stupid brother-"

She stopped herself suddenly.

Abner had to cover his smile with his paddle.

So... she doesn't want to marry him. Why am I so pleased? Am I already jealous?

"Why the Badlands?" He hit a ball towards her.

[Cytherea]

(Anwen said I could use Abner)

"Oh, uh, n- no reason, really." Cassandra stammered. She managed to hit the ball back to him.

"Really?" Abner said, sending the ball back. "I can understand. I would rather be in the Badlands sometimes than being the bro of my stupid brother."

Cassandra barely hit the ball back.

"I see." she murmered.

"But you didn't tell me. Why the Badlands?"

"I did! No reason." she said stiffly. Abner hit the ball.

"I know there's a reason." he said with a shrug.

Cassandra's face turned red.

"There's a guy I met. He got exiled there."

"And you like him?"

"Like's not a strong enough word! I love him! I haven't seen him for a whole day. And he got exiled because of me! I did not come willingly. If it wasn't for the threat from 'Mr. Elcarnin'," she said angrily. "that he would send Matty to the Badlands, I would not be here. And look what he did! He exiled him anyway!"

Cassandra let the ball go past her and turned away. She sunk to the ground against the wall and buried her head in her hands. She cried, angrily.

"Matty was so good to me. For some reason, whenever I was with him, I felt safe, secure; wanted, even. He's the only one who had that effect on me. And now he's gone!"

Her sobs shook her body.

[Anwen]

She's crying? I never would have thought... "I'm sorry, Cassandra. I didn't know you were attached to somebody else. If I were a girl, and I loved somebody else, I would do everything in my power to keep that from marrying Senator Tristan Sanders." He frowned. "Actually, one of the reasons I'm here in the first place is because I wanted to get away from him."

[Cytherea]

"R-really?" Cassandra said. She looked up, her big blue eyes watery. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Then he must be awful. And I am trying to do everything in my power." she said angrily. "Which right now is very restricted. I-"

Stop that, Cassandra! Stop giving hints! You're never going to escape if you keep spilling the beans. I've already told him too much...

[Anwen]

Abner stared into her enchanting blue eyes and tentatively touched her hair, just slightly. I'd better try not to get too close to her yet... she's way too attached to this Matty fellow.

Instead, he followed his hand down and knelt next to her. "Is Mr. Elcarnin threatening you?"

[Cytherea]

"Uh, yes. Very much so. He's threatened me a few times, and also said if I didn't marry your brother, I would lead OnNa and Ambia into war. The peace treaty would not be completed. To him, I'm a piece on a chessboard, that is supposed to move without any protest."

[Anwen]

"I think," Abner said, weighing his words carefully, "that Mr. Elcarnin doesn't think of you as a simple pawn. Rather, you are very important to the peace of our continent." He looked to see if this was making her angry. It was. "Now don't get me wrong! I of all people understand how important independence is for an individual. But I think Mr. Elcarnin is trying to save millions of lives by sending one person into marriage. That way, nobody dies." He gazed deeply into her blue eyes, no longer watery, they were sparking with defiance. "You have the most lovely blue eyes. Of course, you probably hear that all the time, but I just wanted to let you know. Oh yeah," He stopped talking for a moment, becoming serious once again. "What did Representative Elcarnin threaten you with?"

[Cytherea]

"What did he threaten me with? Oh, simply mind-wiping my entire memory." she put her face inches from his. "But if your parents loved you enough to hand you over to the government without a word of consent from you, you'd be a bit upset, wouldn't you? And then if the only person who showed kindness to you was ripped away? Oh, and to top it off, you were forced to marry somebody you don't even know, and if you don't, everyone will blame you for the blood of millions. Why do you think I abandoned Matty? Mr. Elcarnin almost said to me the same words you just said."