Diplomatic Disruption

Another Short Invidia Tale by AMI MEITSU

(PART ONE OF TWO)

“Okay, what do you think?” Misa asked as she stepped out of Invidia’s bathroom to show Mello the dress she had found. It was a medium length, light blue sundress that had been hanging near the front of Invidia’s closet on the left side. It was new and stuck out to her.

“It looks fine,” Mello said flatly, he did not really care about the clothes. In fact, he did not want to be in the closet anyway, but Misa made him come.

“But I think it needs something else…” Misa pondered.

‘What could it need now? Why can’t you just be happy with it?’ Mello thought to himself and only to himself.

Misa looked around, until she saw what she was looking for… “I need that!” She exclaimed as she looked at a necklace sitting on display. It was a gold name necklace that said ‘Princess’ with small diamonds and rubies in it. She immediately went over and put it on. “Perfect!”

“WHAT are you doing?!” snapped a voice from behind.

“Huh?” Misa looked behind her. “Oh...uh…Hi Invidia…”

“Don’t ‘Hi’ Me! Answer me! What are you doing?!” Invidia snapped as she came over.

“Well I just though the outfit was cute and…”

“Take if off! That’s my new outfit for when Father and I go on our diplomatic mission this week, and that necklace you’re wearing was a special present from my Father! Take it off!”

“Okay…Okay…” Misa said as she nervously took off the necklace and carefully put it back.

“Good, now go take that dress off.”

Misa nodded and headed into the bathroom to change.

“Where are you going anyway?” Mello asked.

“I think it was called Nachi…no! Nori…No, Nochodu, that’s it. Why?” Invidia looked at him.

“Weird name.”

Invidia shrugged. “Weird planet with regular flesh people and parliament.” She said as she walked out of the closet, with Mello following just as Misa came out and hung the dress back up.

‘Diplomatic mission? Sounds like fun! I wonder if… maybe we could go…?’ Misa thought.

Her question was never answered, but she gave herself a self-made answer a few days later when Zordar’s ship landed on the grass of Nochodu.

“Father it’s beautiful!” Invidia said as she stepped out and looked around. It was spring at the moment, so everything seemed to shine…the soft grass, the flowers and even the waterfall Invidia saw off to her left.

“You know I saw pictures before we came here. It’s always beautiful like this,” Zordar told her.

“Hey!” A voice called as a man came up to them.

“Who’s that?” Invidia whispered.

“That’s the Prime Minister, remember? I showed you his picture last night.”

“Oh, right,” Invidia nodded just as the Prime Minister came up.

“Welcome, I’m Prime Minister Ethan Telviero, and you must be Zordar and…”

“This is my daughter, Invidia.” Zordar gave Invidia a little push forward.

She bowed. “Yes, I’m Princess Invidia; I’m here to help my Father with the diplomatic stuff. Thank you for allowing us to come to your planet.”

Ethan bowed back to her. “My pleasure, Princess…”

‘I like him, he’s so polite…’ Invidia thought. ‘This will go well…’

“Now, you are going to be staying at the Mederiz Hotel, correct?”

“That is correct,” Zordar said. “So, if necessary, you can reach us there. I will call you with the information once we are settled in.”

“Very well then, you can use today to get to know the area and become more comfortable around here. The meetings will start tomorrow. Is that alright?”

“That’s fine with me. Invidia?”

Invidia looked up at Zordar. “That’s fine with me. Now Father, can we please get going? It’s warm and I need to change.”

Zordar nodded and Ethan walked off back to his car. “I’ll escort you if you’d like,” he called.

“Good, we can’t exactly fit a car on this ship.” Zordar joked.

Ethan laughed and went to wait as Zordar and Invidia got the bags from inside the ship, but…

“That closet was uncomfortable…” Mello said as he rubbed his back. He, Misa, and Matt had all been sitting in a medium sized closet in an attempt to stow away.

“Lucky Near, he didn’t have to do this…” Matt grumbled.

“He had things to do, now get up, we…” Misa trailed off as she turned around and found a very angry looking Invidia behind her with a puzzled Zordar. “Hi.” She squeaked.

“HI?! Is that all you have to say?!” Invidia snapped. “We’re on diplomatic mission! You are NOT supposed to be here! What are we supposed to do with you?!”

“I guess we’ll just have to bring them with us to the hotel.” Zordar said.

“WHAT?!” Invidia gave him a look. “No! Never!”

“Princess, what choice do we have?” Zordar asked. “If we leave them here they might try to fly the ship!”

“That actually sounds fun!” Mello said.

“NO!” Invidia snapped. “No flying the ship! Just come with us!”

“Okay!” Misa smiled and grabbed her bag. Mello and Matt followed in suit and they all headed back out to get their ride to the hotel.

Once they arrived the only thing anyone could do was look up.

“Wow…” Mello said. “I’ve never been to a hotel this big before.”

“I’ve seen bigger,” Invidia observed.

“Who cares?” Matt asked.

“Can we just go?”

Zordar nodded and they all headed into the main lobby to check in and receive the key cards for the suite Zordar had originally rented for just him and Invidia…

“Father…this room is beautiful!” Invidia said as she stepped into it, quickly slipped off her shoes and went into the bedroom.“Look at these huge beds!” She went over and sat on the one closer to the balcony doors. “And this one is mine.”

“All right, Princess.”

“Where do we sleep?” Mello asked.

“In the living room area! You guys can fight over the couch, I really don’t care. I have to get changed…” Invidia said as she got back up again and went into the bathroom.

Zordar just sighed and started with unpacking, leaving everyone else to do what they wanted.

“Okay so…here’s the deal, I get the couch and you guys can sleep on the floor!” Misa said.

“No! We should rotate!” Mello said. “That way it’s fair to all of us.”

“Oh come on! That’s lame!”

“No it’s not!”

She and Mello spent a few more minutes arguing and Matt just watched. He didn’t care what happened as long as he got a place to sleep.

“Fine!” Misa said at the end. “We’ll rotate! Me, then you, then Matt. The other two sleep on the floor when they’re not on the couch.”

“Alright,” Mello nodded just as Invidia and Zordar came back out.

“Done arguing?” Invidia asked.

Misa looked at her; she was wearing the blue dress and necklace Misa had tried on before, but now she had on white sandals. “You look nice.” She said.

“Thanks, now you guys stay here! We’re going out for a while.”

“But I wanted to explore too…” Mello said.

“Sounds okay,” Matt shrugged.

“Oh! Fine! But as far as I’m concerned we don’t know you…got it?!”

“Uh…okay?” Mello muttered in a confused tone.

“Good enough, let’s go,” Invidia said in an annoyed tone as she grabbed a purse and headed out with her Father.

Artwork: “Blue Principessa” © 2009 by Ami Meitsu

The others followed in suit, Matt with an umbrella. Once outside the hotel he looked around again.

“So, where’s the beach?” He asked. Invidia and Zordar exchanged a look.

“We’re not going to the beach…” Invidia told him.

“So I brought this umbrella for nothing?”

“Yes,” Zordar said.

“Oh, well,” Matt put the umbrella down and took his Nintendo® DS out of his pocket.

“What is that?” Invidia asked with a weird but curious look.

“What? You don’t have videogames?” Mello asked.

“I don’t play them, it’s pointless stupidity,” Invidia stated as she turned away and headed down the street. After ditching Misa, Mello and Matt at a movie theater Zordar and Invidia spent the whole day admiring the scenery and knowing the location of the Capital where the meetings were to be held before they went back to the hotel for dinner and rest.

“Finally, it’s quiet…” Invidia sighed as she lay on her bed reading her latest novel.

Zordar nodded and she yawned.

“Tired?” He asked.

“Yes, and since it’s an early day tomorrow I’m going to bed. Night.”

“Do you want me to put you to bed?” Zordar asked.

“No, I’m not a baby, and I don’t feel like it tonight,” Invidia said as she got under the covers and got comfortable in the bed.

As soon as she was asleep Zordar went over and gently covered her with her own blanket which she had brought.

“Good night, my Princess…” He whispered, then, he gently kissed her head and got ready for bed himself.

But, going to bed early didn’t seem to be a good thing for Invidia, in her dreams all she saw was a failed treaty, a war, and her mother, as a spirit, but one who was later blown away and…

Invidia opened her eyes and then sat up. ‘Nightmares already?’ She asked herself. ‘This cannot be good…and all it makes me do is worry…’ She then got up and went over to Zordar’s bed, where she had no hesitation in climbing up with him.

“Father?” She whispered. “Father?” She gently shook him.

“Invidia?” he said.

She nodded. “Can I sleep with you?”

“Nightmares?”

She nodded again and Zordar moved over so she could get in next to him.

“Comfortable?” he asked.

She nodded and he kissed her head, and, within ten minutes Invidia was sound asleep…

Unfortunately, her sleep was broken at about four o’clock the next morning when the alarm clock Misa had rang loud, and it was singing!

‘Okay, what the hell was she thinking?’ Invidia asked herself as she slowly got up out of the bed.

“Where’s Father?” She muttered as she stretched out and yawned, only to realize he was using the bathroom. She sighed. “Oh well I guess I can just make breakfast then…” She muttered to herself. Invidia then walked out of the bedroom area, through the living room and to the kitchen.

“Morning Princess!” Misa greeted.

“Yeah, Yeah. Shut up. I’m tired, and your stupid alarm woke me up, so I’m pissed! Leave me alone!”

Misa just gave her a blank look. ‘Oh…well…maybe she’ll be better later on!’

And, Invidia was a little better once she was able to settle down and get ready. Afterwards Zordar took her out for an early walk on the boardwalk before their nine o’clock meeting.

“It’s so nice in the early morning…” he said.

Invidia nodded, then she said, “Hey, Father?”

“Hm?”

“I’m going to go get a drink…okay? Will you stay here?”

“Yes.”

She nodded to him and headed off down the walk and to the small steps they had where it let off into a street with a small convenience store. The walk did not go as planned though, Invidia’s sandal caught on something and she almost ended up falling down the stairs but…

‘What’s this? Something…caught me?’ She looked up to find a young man staring back at her.

‘Wow…’ He thought as he looked her over. ‘She’s beautiful…but, who is she?’

“You can let go now.” Invidia told him.

“Oh right.” He did so and she straightened herself up.

“Thanks, now…”

“Invidia? Come on..we’re going to be late!”

“Sorry, I’m coming.” She ran off without saying anything else to the man.

‘I wonder…will I ever see her again?’

He watched her run off and join Zordar, who took her back to the hotel for a little clean up and then to the capital building for their first meeting. They entered a huge meeting room with a wide circular table. The prime minister was to sit at one end and Parliament was to sit around him.

“So, how is this going to work?” Invidia asked.

“Well, we tell them our plans and all members will review them, then…” He was cut off when the doors opened again and the prime minister walked in with another man and Parliament in tow. The man looked around.

‘It’s her!’ he thought. The girl form the beach…she’s…she’s the Princess of the Comet Empire?!’

Invidia looked up. “Is there a reason you’re staring at me?” she asked.

“You don’t remember me?”

‘Remember…who is this guy?!’ Invidia thought.

“Sorry, excuse him.” Ethan said before Invidia could actually reply. “This is my son, Nathan; he’s here to help and to see the workings of treaties in action…is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine” Zordar said.

“Right, now…” They started and spent the next three hours discussing ideas from both sides, while Misa, Mello and Matt waited at the hotel.

“Why can’t we go out?” Misa asked.

“So we don’t get lost.” Matt said. “Invidia said that even though she doesn’t like us, that it would not be good to get us lost…”

“So that we won’t run crazy here…”

“Yup…”Matt nodded and continued with playing his DS until Invidia and Zordar came back two hours later.

“Father! That was tiring!” She whined. “I hate Parliament! Two-thirds approval? I hate it!”

“It’s okay Princess you’ll get used to it, that’s why we’re doing face-to-face meetings for about two weeks, and then the reception tomorrow.”

“Right, and I’m tired.”

“Princess, you can’t go to sleep. I want you to sleep tonight so stay up.”

“But Daddy!” Invidia whined.

“No, you have to go to sleep early and I want you in bed at that time, so no naps.”

Invidia sighed and just sat down to read again, Misa went over.

“What are you reading?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Invidia turned away from her. “And leave me alone.”

“But I was wondering if we could go out, you can’t keep us cooped up in this room.”

“We said stay in the hotel we didn’t say you were stuck in the room, there’s a pool! Use it dammit! And actually you have a good idea. Father! I’m going out!” Invidia then got up and just left.

“Invidia wait I…” Zordar tried to say something but couldn’t, he didn’t see her again until dinner, and then later that night as Invidia got into bed, but she stopped.

“Father, what are you doing?” She asked. He was reading her book!

“Sorry, it’s just interesting…”

“Really? I didn’t think you were one for romance novels.” Invidia said as she went over and climbed into bed with him, she leaned against him and started reading too. Shortly afterward, she fell asleep though.

Zordar looked at her. ‘Princess, you’re so cute, but you can’t sleep here again tonight…’ He then got up, picked her up and, after pulling the covers down on one side, he gently put her down in bed.

And, the next morning Invidia woke up to something at her feet it seemed. She felt some kind of fabric that she knew wasn’t the sheets.

‘What the?’ She threw off the blanket, only to find….Misa!

“Hmm? Is it morning already?” Misa mumbled as she began to sit up.

“What are you doing in my bed?!” Invidia snapped.

“I thought you were sleeping with your Father…”

“That’s no excuse and…you’re wearing my pajamas!”

“So?”

“You’re wearing my pajamas!” Invidia repeated as she looked at the black pajama set Misa wore.

“Yeah, I couldn’t find mine so…I borrowed yours they’re big though… “Misa held up a droopy sleeve.

“I’m taller than you! And my arms are longer! Of course they’re big! Now get out! Get out! Get out!” Invidia pointed out and Misa left.

‘Good,’ Invidia thought as she snuggled back into the blankets to get some more sleep, but just as she did, Zordar came in.

“Invidia it’s time to get up now…” he said.

“Father no! I don’t want to get up!” Invidia whined.

“Come on, we have to get ready for the reception…”

Invidia sighed but she did get up and help with breakfast and a couple of preparations in the capital’s ball room before getting ready that night…

“Father…I need your help!” Invidia called from the bathroom.

“Yes, Princess?”

“My earring, I can’t get it in…”

“I didn’t know you had earrings…” Misa said as she came in.

“Yes, I just never wear them since my ears are always covered. And they’re clip-on anyway, I don’t want anyone putting holes in my ears.”

‘As always…she doesn’t seem to want to change much…’ Zordar thought.

“Uh…okay…” Misa said as Zordar carefully helped Invidia with her small silver earrings. “Oh and, you look pretty!” She smiled as she looked Invidia over; she wore a dark purple spaghetti-strap dress with a black sash around it.

“Thanks, and Father, are you ready now?”

“Yes, and all of you stay here! In this room! You weren’t supposed to come anyway, so behave!”

Misa nodded and told Mello and Matt as Invidia and Zordar left and arrived right on time.

“Wow…” Invidia breathed when she got out of the rented limo. ‘These people know how to throw a reception!’ She thought as they walked into the huge, now completely transformed ball room. There were white flowers, elegant tables and decorations everywhere and while Invidia and Zordar walked around, Nathan and his older brother, Darryl, watched.

ARTWORK: “RECEPTION DRESS” © 2009 by Ami Meitsu

“Don’t you think she’s beautiful?” Nathan asked.

“Kind of, but I have a girlfriend.” Darryl shrugged.

“I think I actually like her, I’m going to see if she wants to dance…” Nathan left and went over to her. “Princess, would you like to dance?” He offered his hand.

“No. My first dance is for my Father…” She said calmly. “Father! Come here!”

He came over and they started to dance as Nathan just watched. ‘She’s such a beautiful dancer…and she looks like she’s having fun…I wonder if I’ll ever get to dance with her…’ He sighed and waited until Invidia finally agreed to a dance, right before the final dance. In the final one, Zordar said that she was to dance with Ethan, to show peace and progress, but Invidia didn’t mind, he danced well.

“Thank you, Princess.” He said afterward.

She bowed to him silently and walked off to find Zordar again so that they could leave, and get ready for the meeting the next morning, but when they got back there was an unexpected surprise call.

“The meeting has been delayed a few days while Parliament looks over our documents again…” Zordar said as Invidia sat on her bed with papers all around her.

“Vhat?! No! Oh, I’m tired of this! Too many members and too much approval! It’s way too much work Father and…and I Hate it!” At that, she burst into tears. Working without directly speaking to one or two people was just too stressful.

“No! Princess, don’t cry!” He threw her blanket around her shoulders. “Just…rest for a bit, go take a hot bath and relax, okay?”

Invidia nodded and slowly got up, she then got her bathroom stuff and went to go take a nice, long, hot bubble bath. It helped greatly and afterwards she went out on the balcony in only her robe with a small bottle of milk.

“Shamura was right. Milk tastes so good after a long bath…” Invidia sighed and looked up, it seemed like all her stress was…gone…Until…

“Princess!” Misa called.

Due to the suddenness Invidia immediately spit out the milk.

“Aw…you spit up your milk…” Misa teased.

“Can…I have some milk?” Matt asked.

“No!” Invidia snapped.

“Why are you drinking it anyway? You know, it won’t make your boobs any bigger.” Mello said.

“They’re big enough! And they’re not going to grow anymore! I am a fully grown woman!” Invidia snapped, then, she sighed.

The stress was definitely not going away and the mission was surely far from over…