Island Princess

Another Princess Invidia short by AMI MEITSU

It was the middle of January and freezing cold in the Tokyo Megalopolis, but some people didn’t have to worry about it, namely, Prince Zordar. He had some time off and decided to take a little vacation, somewhere warm, and Invidia couldn’t go, which, of course, upset her.

“Father you can’t leave me!” Invidia pouted. “You always do this! You go off and never tell me where you are! You used to take me with you all the time when I was younger!”

“Invidia.” Zordar took her hand. “When I go on vacation I’m getting away from everything, including you. No offense, but I just need time off.”

“Why me? I didn’t do anything, and if I go we can spend a lot of time together, just like back then, we don’t get to spend a whole lot of time together just being father and daughter.”

“Say whatever you want, you’re not going.”

“Dyre’s going.”

“He’s paying his way and it’s like a man’s vacation.”

Invidia laughed, she knew she had to say something wrong, but she couldn’t say it to her Father.

“What?” Zordar asked.

“Since…you can’t get remarried…you’ve become desperate enough for him.”

“You’re just bad.” Zordar tapped her head, just like he did when she was little, it was a way of hitting her without really hurting her.

“Who said I was good?”

“Good point.”

Invidia laughed, but in the back of her mind she was thinking of something, a way to find out where her Father was going and all it would take was a phone call to a former general who couldn’t keep anything from her.

She waited awhile though, to see if her Father would tell her what was going on, but he left without saying a thing, he just gave her the number of the hotel. Even when she called him he said nothing, so, she turned to her plan on the second day of her Father’s vacation and, luckily Dyre was the one that answered the phone.

“Yes?” He asked.

“It’s me.” Invidia said. “Hey, tell me, where are you?”

“What?”

“Where are you? I just want to know, in case I want to write or send Father something.” Invidia lied.

“Oh, well, we’re actually on one of the Pacific Islands off of Japan and…”

Invidia listened as she wrote down some things, including the name and address of the hotel, the room number, and how long it would take to get there…Then, after she hung up, she began packing and searching for things online until Arty came home.

“What are you doing?” He asked her as he looked at the computer screen.

“Looking at plane tickets.”

“Why?”

“I’m going to go see my Father.”

“Isn’t he on vacation?”

“Yes! And I’m tired of him leaving me behind! I’m going first thing tomorrow morning.” Invidia told him.

“But, don’t you think it’s kind of rude to interrupt his vacation?” Arty asked.

“I don’t care, he’s always running off and I want to see him! He used to take me on vacation all the time when I was younger and I want to spend some time with him away from the city!” She then hit something on the computer and left to do some last minute preparations, before she left the next morning at Four AM, after getting Arty to take her down to the Airport, which was not a pleasant place. It was crowded with a million different security checks and lines, and crying children and impatient people. That, followed by the six-hour plane ride made Invidia want to fall down by the time she arrived at the island, she was tired, annoyed and just fed up with everything.

‘Stupid airports…stupid plane…stupid island.’ She thought as she trudged through the airport, and got her stuff. Then, she sat down on of the benches and took of her coat, she found that it was way to warm for it, and it was unnecessary. After a couple minutes she got up and went to one of the ‘reception desks’ as she called them. “Hey, how do I get out of here?” She asked.

“Well, taxi or limo?” the woman asked.

Invidia thought for a minute. “Limo.” She said. Then, she waited awhile until it arrived to take her to the hotel, which was a fancy place, one of the fanciest hotels on the island, the Chambrulay Hotel. Invidia liked it as soon as she arrived; one of the workers helped her out of the limo and took he bags, while another one came up to her, with a tray.

“Complimentary lemonade?” He asked.

“Oh, thank you.” Invidia took it and the limo driver looked at her.

“You like the Chambrulay?” He asked.

“Oh, I like the Chambrulay.” Invidia said, then she beckoned the men over and they followed her inside and up to where her Father’s room was, there, she tipped them and sent them off, then she knocked on the door and Dyre answered.

“Invidia?” He said.

“Hi.” Invidia stated.

“Zordar, you have a visitor.”

“What are you talking about…Invidia?!”

“Father!” Invidia ran in and hugged him.

“Invidia you shouldn’t be here! I don’t want you here! Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you! Do you mind if I take a shower?”

Zordar shook his head and Invidia took one of her bags into the bathroom as Zordar turned to Dyre.

“How did she find out we were here?”

“Well…”

“You told her?!”

“She said she might want to write or send you something…I didn’t think she’d come!”

“I didn’t tell her because she just might have come! I don’t want her here, I love her but I came here to get away.”

“Well, I think you’re stuck with her now, why don’t you make the most of it?”

Meanwhile, Invidia, who didn’t hear anything they said, was getting her stuff set up in the bathroom, after cleaning up a bit. ‘Why are men always so messy?’ She asked herself as she finished off her organization and stripped down for her shower. The plane ride made her tired, and the time she wore her coat just made her sweaty and she hated it, it made her feel sticky and dirty. Afterwards she came out in a strapless Navy blue sundress, and twirled barefoot on the soft carpet.

“Father!” She said, practically singing. “I love it here! It’s sunny and warm and…”

“You have to go.”

“What?”

“I said I didn’t want you to come, that’s why I didn’t bring you in the first place.”

“But Father, I just wanted to spend time with you!” Invidia looked at him with her ‘sad eyes.’ “I love you, and I only wanted to see you! I wanted to spend time with you outside the city. That’s all.”

“I know, Princess but…”

She continued looking at him sadly. “Please, Daddy?” She begged.

“Aw, how can I resist that?” Zordar sighed. “You can stay.”

“Thank you!” Invidia twirled again. “I love you, Father!”

“She doesn’t seem like herself, she’s too happy.” Dyre said as he watched Invidia twirling around.

“She’s just glad to be away from the cold, I guess.”

“Where I do I sleep?” Invidia asked as she looked around. Zordar had a big suite, but she noticed there were only two beds in the separate room and she didn’t want to sleep on the couch. “With you?” She turned to Zordar.

“Sure.” He said.

“Hey, Invidia, does your family know you’re here?” Dyre asked.

“Oh, well I told them I was coming to see Father, but I didn’t tell them exactly where I was going, I’ll call tomorrow. But I’m hungry, can I order room service?”

“Sure, Princess.” Zordar said.

Invidia smiled at him and got up on the bed with the room service menu; she laid down on her stomach and picked up the phone.

‘She looks cute…’ Zordar thought, she looked so casual and relaxed, it was really sweet.

“Hey,” she said to Zordar, with the phone down by her shoulder. “Can you get a massage in this hotel?”

“Yes.”

“Awesome…” Invidia muttered, then, she picked up the phone again.

“Invidia, don’t spend all of my money okay?” Zordar said, she had a tendency to spend quite a bit of money at hotels, depending on what they had.

“That’ll take years Father; hey what are we doing tomorrow? I want to go shopping.”

“No. You’re staying here while Dyre and I go out, okay?”

“But, Daddy!” Invidia whined.

“Don’t whine. You’re supposed to be an adult.”

“Fine…” Invidia muttered. Then, she got up and started putting the rest of her stuff away, realizing that she was starting to feel tired, she looked at her bags and sighed. ‘There’s no way I’ll get through all these…’

“Need some help, Princess?” Zordar asked.

“Yes Father…If you don’t mind…”

“I don’t.” He sat with her, and helped her with the suitcase she was working on, then she grabbed the second one and they worked until her order came, giving her a break until she was ready to go to bed, or until Zordar sent her to bed, she looked really tired to him...

“Princess, I think it’s time for bed.” He told her.

Invidia nodded and pulled out of one her slips and her blanket, then she stood up from her spot and started to take her dress off, but, she stopped and glanced at her Father and Dyre. “Do you mind?” She asked. “I’d rather not have you two watch me.”

“Right.” They turned and let her get changed, also wondering why she didn’t go into the bathroom…

“You can look now.” She said after a minute or so.

“Good, now it’s time for bed, Princess.”

Invidia went over to Zordar’s bed and climbed up while he pulled the blankets up on her, and then covered her with her own blanket.

“I love you, Father.” Invidia yawned. “And thanks for letting me stay.”

“You’re welcome, good night Princess, I love you too.” He rubbed her back for a minute or so and she went to sleep.

“She’s so cute.” Dyre looked at her. “And yet she’s not little anymore.”

“She’ll always be cute…and I should probably go to bed myself…” Zordar got up so he could get ready himself and got into bed on the other side of her. He pulled Invidia closer to him and hugged her.

“Hey, how does she feel?” Dyre asked.

“Just…Warm. Why?”

“Just wondering.” He shrugged as Invidia grabbed her Father’s arm and laid on it, still fast asleep.

When she woke up the next morning Invidia found that her Father and Dyre were already gone, she figured they left early so they wouldn’t have to deal with her. She yawned, got up, and walked out on the balcony, surprised for a minute that she didn’t have to bother with her robe or slippers because it was so warm. Invidia looked out ahead at the ocean in front of her, it was beautiful and not cold… then, she took in a deep breath “I love it here…” She said to no one in particular. Invidia then headed back inside to get ready for the day and call Arty, which was done after breakfast. She laid on the floor in a light black sundress barefoot with her hair all around her and a slight breeze coming in through the entrance to the balcony, which she had left open. She had a small bowl of grapes next to her as she dialed the apartment number on her cell phone.

“Hello?” Arty answered.

“Arty! You won’t believe where I am!” Invidia said.

“And where’s that?”

“I’m on an island in the Pacific on the floor of a hotel room in a sundress! And where are you? At home in a freezing city where you need to wear a big jacket to keep warm!” Invidia laughed.

“Ha, ha, very funny.” Arty said in a sarcastic tone. “Why are you there anyway?”

“I told you! I wanted to see my Father, so I’m going to be here in the sun for the next week while you freeze!” She looked at the clock. “And I gotta go; I have an appointment, bye.”

“Bye, I love you Princess.”

“I love you too.” With that Invidia hung up the phone, and stuck another grape in her mouth. She then got up and put her sandals on, so that she could go downstairs. Earlier she discovered that the hotel had a spa too! And, she figured she’d go while her Father was away, so she grabbed one of the key cards and her purse, and left.

When she came down she decided that she liked it right away, there were interesting tropical plants around and the place smelled of a bunch of different sweet shampoos. She went over to the reception desk to check her appointment and headed off. She knew her Father would probably get mad at her for spending the two hundred dollars she planned to spend there, but she didn’t care as long as she was relaxed. And she was, she spent the next three hours being completely pampered, and she loved it. It made her feel good, and gave her a calm feeling, and the women there were so nice, they did whatever she told them too.

‘I think I found my heaven…’ Invidia thought as she held her hand out to have her nails filed and painted. It looked so good when it was done, the polish was put on perfectly and done in smooth strokes, giving it a perfect coat. Invidia sighed when she came back up to her room, and found that her Father was back.

“And where have you been, young lady?” Zordar teased.

“Downstairs…and you’re back early…”

“We came to get some things.”

“Oh, well where did you go?”

“Golfing.”

“You golf?”

“No, but I wanted to try something new and I was bored. Where did you go?”

“The spa, look.” She held out her hand. “I got a perfect manicure! And...” She kicked off her sandals. “…A pedicure! This place is so nice!”

“How much?”

“Uh…two-hundred dollars…”

“Okay, no more spas for you.”

“Fine.” Invidia pouted. “But, since you’re back, can we go shopping now? Please?”

“Only if you let me take you to the beach afterwards. That’s where we were planning to go.”

“Okay, and where is Dyre?”

“Downstairs, returning our rented stuff, I used him as a caddy.”

Invidia shrugged. “I’d do the same, as long as I didn’t have to do it.”

“No, he offered.”

“Who cares…can we go now?”

“Fine…” Zordar said, then Invidia grabbed his hand and led him out of the room and outside. Invidia loved the warm air that hit her face as they walked around, it was much better than the cold back in the city. She loved shopping in a warm, sunny place and the people were pretty laid back and very nice to her when she came into their shops. Zordar was not so happy though, he got stuck carrying all the bags Invidia had, most of them filled with clothes or souvenirs for everyone back home.

“Are we done yet?” Dyre asked halfway through.

“Yes Invidia, I think you have enough.” Zordar told her.

“Fine, we’ll do what you want now but…look!” She ran over to another little store and the two men groaned. “Look it! These sandals are so cute!” She picked up a pair of dark blue sandals with a flower on the ankle strap. “And they’re perfect for my strapless dress!”

“Yes, but…” Zordar said.

“I’m getting them,” Invidia said. “I wonder if they have them in my size…” She walked off and they waited until Invidia came back with a box in hand.

“Now can we go?” Zordar asked.

“Only if I don’t find a lingerie store on the way back, I need a new outfit…” She muttered the last part only to herself and when she looked up both her Father and Dyre had wide eyes.

“I’m just kidding! Let’s go!” She walked off and they all headed back to the hotel before going down to the beach. Invidia didn’t like beaches, but she went anyway, she just sat on a towel and read while a bunch of people ran around her and Zordar sat next to her.

“Why’d you come here if you don’t like beaches all that much?” Invidia asked.

“I just don’t like the people, but the water’s always nice to look at and sometimes it is just calming, you know?”

“Not really.” Invidia said as she leaned over with her head on his shoulder. “But I’ve never liked the beach much so, it’s different for me, but you’re right, it does look nice.” She sighed.

“I told you,” Zordar pulled her into a hug. “And, Princess?”

“Hm?”

“Well, I know I told you to go away when you first arrived but I take it back. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad that I’m here too, Father.”

“So, about dinner tonight…”

“Oh, well I was thinking somewhere nice, but not too fancy, just somewhere I can wear a nice dinner dress.”

“Well, you know… the hotel does have a restaurant; I saw it on the way out…”

“That sounds all right.” Invidia told him.

“Well, that settles that problem…” He hugged her again and they just watched the waves until it was almost time for dinner, near sunset, which was the perfect setting for it, as, they ended up by the window.

“The colors are just beautiful…” Invidia said as she stared out the window, she wore a strapless black dress to dinner this time, it looked good on her but Zordar thought it looked a little too good, their waiter kept trying to flirt with her.

“My dear you look lovely,” He started. “Where are you from?”

Invidia just blushed and laughed to herself, it was not only embarrassing, it was kind of funny. Zordar glared at the man as she finally spoke.

“I’m really from the Comet Empire but I live in the Tokyo Megalopolis.” She replied.

“Oh, so you’re an exotic woman…but I think I’ve seen you before, what’s your name?”

“Princess Invidia at you service.” She said. She thought it’d be funny to mess with him and ‘play flirt’ as Trelania and Nova called it.

“I have seen you, I thought you were evil and yet you’re actually very sweet, would you consider letting me show you a good time here?”

“No. That’s his job.” Invidia leaned back on her father.

“And who’s he? Aren’t you a little too young to be with him?”

“He’s my Father.”

“Oh.”

“And by the way, I’m married.” She held out her hand with her wedding ring on it. “Nice try, idiot.”

He said nothing more and sulked off while Invidia and Zordar just laughed, and they were still laughing about it later.

That night they sat on the deck chairs on the balcony together, just looking at the stars.

“And to think he didn’t see the ring in the first place.” Invidia laughed.

“I don’t know, you are a pretty good flirt.” Zordar teased.

“Oh, no I’m not, only to Arty.” Invidia said as she held out her glass. Zordar poured her some more sparkling water and she just looked at him. At first she questioned why he wouldn’t give her wine and he said it was too close to bed for that sort of thing. He was right too, it was eleven o’clock and Invidia was already in her pajamas. She wore a pair of black pajama pants and a light black spaghetti strap shirt with the word ‘Principessa’ printed on it. Akira had bought the set for her as a mother’s day present one year.

“So, you flirt with your own husband?”

Invidia blushed. “Only when I wanna be cute or…sometimes I do it to get him in bed.”

Zordar shook his head, she was so bad sometimes. “What am I gonna do with you?”

Invidia got up and sat with him. “Hug me.” She said.

He did and she just laid there with him, looking up at the clear, star-studded sky as a warm breeze came through. Invidia sighed and leaned against her Father as she began to fall asleep. ‘The whole week is stretched out in front of us and it’s off to a good start…’ Invidia thought as she went to sleep under the warm starry sky…The warmth felt nice…as another breeze came by, lightly caressing her cheek as Zordar held her close, enjoying her company in the peace and quiet of the warm night…