I have learned, from many years of experience, that it is good not to push yourself over the edge repeatedly. However, this is what I've had to do for quite a while now, as swim practice is so darn hard and I'm so darn out of shape. Well, I'm not horribly out of shape, but I'm not in top condition. So now my shoulders are crazy tired and my leg still hurts from those annoying crouch hops on Monday (the pain shouldn't be as strong as yesterday, if at all, yet here it is).
And now, of course, I'm going to go eat and get extra protein and stuff-I put protein supplement in my milk. I hope it helps.
I don't eat before swim practice because of the whole don't-eat-for-an-hour-before-you-swim thing. But it's still hard to swim on an empty stomach. Really hard. But now I get to have SUSTENANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why am I sitting at the computer when I could be eating food? I already had some cheese but I'm kinda hungry still. I'm going now.
BUT WAIT!
HAPPY JULY 1st!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
ASP!!!
Yeah, so basically a recap of ASP:
Monday we hung around and did nothing significant except like talked to the family and stuff. Then the materials FINALLY came and we primed the T1-11 (the drywall, basically) and then we took down most of what last week did because they did it all weird. During Evening Gathering (EG from now on), I had to lead a bunch of people from my group around while they were blindfolded and I wasn't and I wasn't allowed to touch them; I was only allowed to guide them with my voice, which was kind of hard but it was fun.
Tuesday we got to work a lot, and I got my first chance on the saw. I used the Miter saw first-the one that sits on the table and then you line it up properly and then you cut it. Then I did the handheld circular saw, which was kind of nerve-wracking at first. If my mom had been around, she would have been like, "no WAY are you touching those power tools, missie!" but since she wasn't, two of the leaders were like, "hey, you wanna try the saw?" I told them I was nervous, but they showed me how to do it and it was all good. The circ saw we were using had a laser that you lined up with the line that you wanted to cut, which made it easier. After my first cut, one of the leaders was like, "So tell me again, WHY were you nervous?" That night's EG was this couple who did a bunch of songs from Appalacia. They were pretty good.
Wednesday was when I squished my finger and I had to keep it iced for most of the afternoon. It was annoying. But I played with the really cute baby on our site and she succeeded in pulling my glasses and my hat off my head multiple times.
Thursday we did some more work, but nothing really significant happened except I hurt a different finger.
Friday was really depressing because it was the last day. We gave the kids in our family some stuff-koala beanie babies for the young girls who didn't actually live there, a water gun for the guy, and a really cute outfit for the baby, who'll turn one next month. The family gave us each some food of some sort-deer meat, dill pickles, sweet pickles, or tomato juice. I got sweet pickles and tomato juice-I didn't want to try the deer meat and I don't really like dill pickles. After we drove up the holler and were at the gate, the grandpa of our crew drove up on his ATV because one of the leaders had forgotten his tape measure.
So that's the basic recap of ASP.
It was really fun.
:)
OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!
Our family had a frikkin huge angus bull, and I got to pet it even though it was almost three times my size.
And tuesday was "Talent Show Tuesday" and four of us sang "A Whole New World." On Love Song Thursday, me and one of the leaders sang "Seasons of Love" but he dropped out halfway through, which was really annoying because I had to sing really high over the noise of hammering.
Okay going now.
Monday we hung around and did nothing significant except like talked to the family and stuff. Then the materials FINALLY came and we primed the T1-11 (the drywall, basically) and then we took down most of what last week did because they did it all weird. During Evening Gathering (EG from now on), I had to lead a bunch of people from my group around while they were blindfolded and I wasn't and I wasn't allowed to touch them; I was only allowed to guide them with my voice, which was kind of hard but it was fun.
Tuesday we got to work a lot, and I got my first chance on the saw. I used the Miter saw first-the one that sits on the table and then you line it up properly and then you cut it. Then I did the handheld circular saw, which was kind of nerve-wracking at first. If my mom had been around, she would have been like, "no WAY are you touching those power tools, missie!" but since she wasn't, two of the leaders were like, "hey, you wanna try the saw?" I told them I was nervous, but they showed me how to do it and it was all good. The circ saw we were using had a laser that you lined up with the line that you wanted to cut, which made it easier. After my first cut, one of the leaders was like, "So tell me again, WHY were you nervous?" That night's EG was this couple who did a bunch of songs from Appalacia. They were pretty good.
Wednesday was when I squished my finger and I had to keep it iced for most of the afternoon. It was annoying. But I played with the really cute baby on our site and she succeeded in pulling my glasses and my hat off my head multiple times.
Thursday we did some more work, but nothing really significant happened except I hurt a different finger.
Friday was really depressing because it was the last day. We gave the kids in our family some stuff-koala beanie babies for the young girls who didn't actually live there, a water gun for the guy, and a really cute outfit for the baby, who'll turn one next month. The family gave us each some food of some sort-deer meat, dill pickles, sweet pickles, or tomato juice. I got sweet pickles and tomato juice-I didn't want to try the deer meat and I don't really like dill pickles. After we drove up the holler and were at the gate, the grandpa of our crew drove up on his ATV because one of the leaders had forgotten his tape measure.
So that's the basic recap of ASP.
It was really fun.
:)
OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!
Our family had a frikkin huge angus bull, and I got to pet it even though it was almost three times my size.
And tuesday was "Talent Show Tuesday" and four of us sang "A Whole New World." On Love Song Thursday, me and one of the leaders sang "Seasons of Love" but he dropped out halfway through, which was really annoying because I had to sing really high over the noise of hammering.
Okay going now.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
again
I was just reading the titles of some of my old posts, and one was "my iPod is being stupid. Grr." But then, it was nothing. Last Saturday, however, I accidentally left it in the pocket of my jeans, and put the jeans through the wash, and now it's officially dead. But really, I don't mind. I mean, I wanted an iPod for so long, and now it's dead and doesn't work anymore. My luck with iPods is absolutely horrible. First one got stolen/ lost. Now one isn't working. Sheesh!
Service Projects!
Well, I went to church today, as I do most Sundays. And after all the ASP people had been recognized and we went off to do our recap and whatnot, I had an idea. I really want to carry on the service project thing, as I really, really, really, really, really enjoyed ASP, and I really, really, really, really, really like knitting, so I thought, well, why not put the two together? So I continued knitting and thinking and listening, and I thought, since I was making a scarf, even though it's June, why not knit scarves for some cause, even though there's a gazillion causes for which you can knit scarves. So I thought, why not do my own cause, like knit them for homeless people and then give them to Christ House? So I thought I'd do that. And in the car just now, on the way back from California Pizza Kitchen, where all the ASP people ate lunch, I brought up the topic with my mom, and she was like, well, why not do it for your gold award project? I thought that was a pretty good idea. So now, after many hours of random thoughts about nothing that really worked for my gold award, I came up with an idea in a split second. Weird how this world works, isn't it? During the time when I first thought about the thing, I, for some reason, decided to name it the Rainbow Scarf Project, even though that's a really silly sounding name and the project has nothing to do with Gay Rights, however much I support them. So now I'm just calling it the Gold Award Project, even though that's an even worse name. Or I could just not name the project. That works, too. Or maybe I'll just let it go through and figure out a name once I'm done with the Gold Award. That works, too. Well, I'm off. I'm going to go knit for the Whatever-It-Is Project.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
LYRICS!!!!!!!
So, to bump up my post count again, here are some lyrics! (Santa Fe from Newsies. Yes, Christian Bale sings it.)
So that's what they call a family-mother, father, daughter, son. Guess everything you heard about is true. So you ain't got any family, well, who said you needed one? Ain'tcha glad nobody's waiting up for you? When I dream on my own I'm alone, but I ain't lonely for a dreamer, night's the only time of day when the city's finally sleeping all my thoughts begin to stray and I'm on the train that bound for Santa Fe and I'm free Like the wind Like I'm gonna live forever. It's a feeling time can never take away all I needs a few more dollars and I'm outta here to stay dreams come true yes they do in Santa Fe Where does it say you've gotta live and die here?Where does it say a guy can't catch a break? Why should you only take what you're given? Why should you spend your whole life livin trapped where there ain't no future even at seventeen breaking your back for someone else's sake If the life don't seem to suit ya how bout a change of scene? Far from the lously headlines and the deadlines in between Santa Fe are you there? Do you swear you won't forget me? If I found you would you let me come and stay? I ain't getting any younger And before my dying day I want space Not just air Let 'em laugh in my face, I don't care save a place I'll be there so that's what they call a family? Ain't ya glad you ain't that way? Ain't ya glad you got a dream called Santa Fe?
So that's what they call a family-mother, father, daughter, son. Guess everything you heard about is true. So you ain't got any family, well, who said you needed one? Ain'tcha glad nobody's waiting up for you? When I dream on my own I'm alone, but I ain't lonely for a dreamer, night's the only time of day when the city's finally sleeping all my thoughts begin to stray and I'm on the train that bound for Santa Fe and I'm free Like the wind Like I'm gonna live forever. It's a feeling time can never take away all I needs a few more dollars and I'm outta here to stay dreams come true yes they do in Santa Fe Where does it say you've gotta live and die here?Where does it say a guy can't catch a break? Why should you only take what you're given? Why should you spend your whole life livin trapped where there ain't no future even at seventeen breaking your back for someone else's sake If the life don't seem to suit ya how bout a change of scene? Far from the lously headlines and the deadlines in between Santa Fe are you there? Do you swear you won't forget me? If I found you would you let me come and stay? I ain't getting any younger And before my dying day I want space Not just air Let 'em laugh in my face, I don't care save a place I'll be there so that's what they call a family? Ain't ya glad you ain't that way? Ain't ya glad you got a dream called Santa Fe?
OH!
Well, since my last post was two days before school let out, I didn't tell you The Story of How I Got Lost Because of the Annoying Bus.
So I went to the library the day school let out because I'm awesome like that, and I accidentally took the wrong bus home and ended up a mile from any landmark, and probably a mile and a half from home.
And I just barely missed the right bus going back.
It was a serious epic fail.
Okay, done.
So I went to the library the day school let out because I'm awesome like that, and I accidentally took the wrong bus home and ended up a mile from any landmark, and probably a mile and a half from home.
And I just barely missed the right bus going back.
It was a serious epic fail.
Okay, done.
wow...
it's been quite a long time since I last posted, hasn't it? It's kind of late now, but I SWEAR I'm going to do better.
I just got back from ASP-Appalachian Service Project. It was with my youth group. Now I've been dubbed the "saw queen" because I loved sawing. And I was fairly decent at it. Well, I was better at sawing than hammering, in any case. I absolutely HATED the hammering, mostly because I was absolutely horrible at it. Honestly, for every time I hit the nail, there was at least two for every time I hit the wood. It was really annoying. And when I did manage to hit the nail, it usually got bent. It was super annoying. But, on the other hand, I got to meet super awesome people.
ASP is basically this service mission that goes into the Appalachian mountains during the summer to work on houses in need of repair. Seriously, we in suburbia might consider them poor, but in reality, they've probably got more to them than any of us do. They're just happy people.
The family we worked for needed their wall reinforced because it was bowing (like David Bowie, not like take a bow), and so that's what we did. We also had to take down most of the stuff that the last group put up because they had done it wrong. I have no idea how-I was just the labor force. It was fun, though.
The first day on site, we had nothing to do because we had to wait for the inspector dude to come to check out the house and our plan and stuff to make sure it was okay, and we had to wait for the ASP staff to come and OK our plan AND give us our materials and stuff. Once all that happened, we started ripping out nails, another thing that I failed at.
The next day, one of our leaders went and managed to squish my finger in between a concrete block and the (very heavy) roof support thing we were working on. It hurt. I was already having a minor breakdown because the nails were being really retarded and weren't going into the wood like I wanted them to, that is, when they went in at all. I was also being given about fifty million contrasting pieces of advice about hammering- some said swing from the shoulder, some said from the wrist, but I was thinking, "Screw it. Seriously. What's the difference?" It was really annoying.
By the end of the week, the same leader had managed to squish my fingers a total of not one but three times-once on the index on my right hand, and twice on the middle finger of my left hand. Yes, the same one that died under the concrete. By the third time my fingers got squished, we were all like, you know what? You two probably shouldn't be working together, as that leader has some strange instinct to squish her fingers every other day. But it was all in good fun, though.
ASP was seriously one of the most fun experiences of my life.
I'm going to finish summarizing tomorrow. And the next day.
And the next day.
As long as it takes.
Bye.
I just got back from ASP-Appalachian Service Project. It was with my youth group. Now I've been dubbed the "saw queen" because I loved sawing. And I was fairly decent at it. Well, I was better at sawing than hammering, in any case. I absolutely HATED the hammering, mostly because I was absolutely horrible at it. Honestly, for every time I hit the nail, there was at least two for every time I hit the wood. It was really annoying. And when I did manage to hit the nail, it usually got bent. It was super annoying. But, on the other hand, I got to meet super awesome people.
ASP is basically this service mission that goes into the Appalachian mountains during the summer to work on houses in need of repair. Seriously, we in suburbia might consider them poor, but in reality, they've probably got more to them than any of us do. They're just happy people.
The family we worked for needed their wall reinforced because it was bowing (like David Bowie, not like take a bow), and so that's what we did. We also had to take down most of the stuff that the last group put up because they had done it wrong. I have no idea how-I was just the labor force. It was fun, though.
The first day on site, we had nothing to do because we had to wait for the inspector dude to come to check out the house and our plan and stuff to make sure it was okay, and we had to wait for the ASP staff to come and OK our plan AND give us our materials and stuff. Once all that happened, we started ripping out nails, another thing that I failed at.
The next day, one of our leaders went and managed to squish my finger in between a concrete block and the (very heavy) roof support thing we were working on. It hurt. I was already having a minor breakdown because the nails were being really retarded and weren't going into the wood like I wanted them to, that is, when they went in at all. I was also being given about fifty million contrasting pieces of advice about hammering- some said swing from the shoulder, some said from the wrist, but I was thinking, "Screw it. Seriously. What's the difference?" It was really annoying.
By the end of the week, the same leader had managed to squish my fingers a total of not one but three times-once on the index on my right hand, and twice on the middle finger of my left hand. Yes, the same one that died under the concrete. By the third time my fingers got squished, we were all like, you know what? You two probably shouldn't be working together, as that leader has some strange instinct to squish her fingers every other day. But it was all in good fun, though.
ASP was seriously one of the most fun experiences of my life.
I'm going to finish summarizing tomorrow. And the next day.
And the next day.
As long as it takes.
Bye.
Monday, June 15, 2009
la
I know I haven't posted in a couple days, but whatever. Anyway, I got to go to the library (the one down the street, not the one at school) and I got the WICKED SOUNDTRACK! I only knew a couple songs from Wicked, but now I know two more that I like: Dancing Through Life and The Wizard and I. They're both really catchy songs. Well, Dancing Through Life is. The Wizard and I is just a good song. LYRICS TIME! (dancing through life)
the trouble with schools is they always try to teach the wrong lesson believe me, I've been kicked out of enough of them to know they want you to become less callow less shallow but I say why invite stress in? stop studying strife and learn to life the unexamined life dancing through life skimming the surface gliding where turf is smooth life's more painless for the brainless why think too hard? when it's so soothing dancing through life no need to tough it when you can sluff it off as I do nothing matters but knowing nothing matters it's just life so keep dancing through dancing through life swaying and sweeping and always keeping cool life is fraught less when you're thoughtless those who don't try never look foolish dancing through life mindless and careless make sure your where less trouble is rife woes are fleeting blows are glancing when you're dancing through life so what's the most swankified place in town? that would be the Ozdust Ballroom. sounds perfect! Let's go down to the Ozdust Ballroom we'll meet there later tonight we can dance till it lights find the prettiest girl give her a whirl right on down to the Ozdust Ballroom come on, follow me you'll be happy to be there dancing through life down at the Ozdust if only because dust is what we come to nothing matters but knowing nothing matters it's just life so keep dancing through Miss Galinda I hope you'll save at least one dance for me I'll be right there waiting all night oh thats so kind! but you know what would be even kinder? See that tragically beautiful girl the one in the chair it seems so unfair we should go on a spree and not she gee i know someone would be my hero if that someone were to go invite her well, maybe i could invite her! Oh, Bick, really? you would do that for me? I would do anything for you Miss Galinda. so so I'll be picking you up around eight? after all now that we've met one another its clear we deserve each other you're perfect you're perfect so we're perfect together born to be forever dancing through life oh Elphaba- isn't it wonderful? Finally, for this one night I'm about to have a fun night with this Munchkin boy Galinda found for me and I only wish there were something i could do for her to repay her Elphaba see? we deserve each other and Galinda helped it come true we deserve each other me and Boq. please Elphaba, try to understand I do Galinda listen Nessa and I were talking about you just now and I was just talking about you! I thought you might want to wear this hat to the party tonight! It's really,uh, sharp, don't you think? you know black is this years pink you deserve each other this hat and you you're both so smart you deserve each other so here, out of the goodness of my heart (interlude) listen- Nessa- yes? uh Nessa I've got something to confess, a reason why, well why I asked you here tonight now I know it isn't fair Oh, Boq, I know why. You do? it's because I'm in this chair and you felt sorry for me well isn't that right? No! NO! It's because- because- because you are so beautiful! Oh, Boq, I think you're wonderful! and we deserve each other don't you see, this is our chance? we deserve each other Don't we Boq? you know what? Let's dance! what? Let's dance! Dancing through life down at the ozdust if only because dust is what we come to and the strange thing: your life could end up changing while you're dancing through!
The end!
Okay going now.
the trouble with schools is they always try to teach the wrong lesson believe me, I've been kicked out of enough of them to know they want you to become less callow less shallow but I say why invite stress in? stop studying strife and learn to life the unexamined life dancing through life skimming the surface gliding where turf is smooth life's more painless for the brainless why think too hard? when it's so soothing dancing through life no need to tough it when you can sluff it off as I do nothing matters but knowing nothing matters it's just life so keep dancing through dancing through life swaying and sweeping and always keeping cool life is fraught less when you're thoughtless those who don't try never look foolish dancing through life mindless and careless make sure your where less trouble is rife woes are fleeting blows are glancing when you're dancing through life so what's the most swankified place in town? that would be the Ozdust Ballroom. sounds perfect! Let's go down to the Ozdust Ballroom we'll meet there later tonight we can dance till it lights find the prettiest girl give her a whirl right on down to the Ozdust Ballroom come on, follow me you'll be happy to be there dancing through life down at the Ozdust if only because dust is what we come to nothing matters but knowing nothing matters it's just life so keep dancing through Miss Galinda I hope you'll save at least one dance for me I'll be right there waiting all night oh thats so kind! but you know what would be even kinder? See that tragically beautiful girl the one in the chair it seems so unfair we should go on a spree and not she gee i know someone would be my hero if that someone were to go invite her well, maybe i could invite her! Oh, Bick, really? you would do that for me? I would do anything for you Miss Galinda. so so I'll be picking you up around eight? after all now that we've met one another its clear we deserve each other you're perfect you're perfect so we're perfect together born to be forever dancing through life oh Elphaba- isn't it wonderful? Finally, for this one night I'm about to have a fun night with this Munchkin boy Galinda found for me and I only wish there were something i could do for her to repay her Elphaba see? we deserve each other and Galinda helped it come true we deserve each other me and Boq. please Elphaba, try to understand I do Galinda listen Nessa and I were talking about you just now and I was just talking about you! I thought you might want to wear this hat to the party tonight! It's really,uh, sharp, don't you think? you know black is this years pink you deserve each other this hat and you you're both so smart you deserve each other so here, out of the goodness of my heart (interlude) listen- Nessa- yes? uh Nessa I've got something to confess, a reason why, well why I asked you here tonight now I know it isn't fair Oh, Boq, I know why. You do? it's because I'm in this chair and you felt sorry for me well isn't that right? No! NO! It's because- because- because you are so beautiful! Oh, Boq, I think you're wonderful! and we deserve each other don't you see, this is our chance? we deserve each other Don't we Boq? you know what? Let's dance! what? Let's dance! Dancing through life down at the ozdust if only because dust is what we come to and the strange thing: your life could end up changing while you're dancing through!
The end!
Okay going now.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
THE MATH!!! (By Hilary Duff)
You're always trying to figure out/ What I am all about If you don't know what the answer is/ Then just shut up and kiss/ It shouldn't take forever/ To put it all together/ If you can't do the math/ Then get out of the equation/ I am calling you back/ This is star 69/ Is it a minus or a plus/ Does enough equal enough/ If you can't do the math/ Then nothing adds up/ Tell me why I'm here/ Sure I want someone to understand/ But I don't need the stress/ I'm not about being analyzed/ Like it's some kind of test// Don't have to be a genius/ To figure what's between us/ If you can't do the math/ Then get out of the equation/ I am calling you back/ This is star 69// You can spend your whole life analyzing/ Justifying, quantifying, and dividing/ 'Till there's nothing anymore/ Why don't you just close your eyes/ And kiss my lips and let it go/ Just let it flow/ It's what I'm waiting for// Don't have to be a genius/ To figure what's between us/ If you can't do the math/ Then get out of the equation/ I am calling you back/ This is star 69// If you can't do the math/ Then get out of the equation/I am calling you back/ This is star 69
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!
It has a really great beat and it's just got a lot energy and it's just awesome. :)
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!
It has a really great beat and it's just got a lot energy and it's just awesome. :)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Ungora/ Indigo # 9
I watched the decoy grow up over the years into a young woman who could fight better than anyone. She only had one friend her age- a nerdy scholar-mage named Swebo, who could tell you every spell protecting the castle and exactly how to undo it. He also has a bizarre talent for knowing the exact time everything happened-when you walked in the door, for example. He knows practically everything to know about the castle, and showed the decoy princess everything he could when they had time.
Even with her good-intending friend, the decoy, Cacyta, grew up disillusioned. First, obviously, she wasn't actually the princess. Second, Ungora taught her to only trust those who lived in the castle. All other creatures were evil or beneath her. it was in her best interest-he'd always had a soft spot for Cacyta, and he wanted to protect her, even though her upbringing wasn't totally honest.
This morning, however, Cacyta told Ungora that she'd met someone on her hunt. That made me think, but Ungora wasn't happy that Cacyta didn't have the guts to kill. Ungora said to me, after she'd left, "Cancala, you've been around too long. You know too much."
"I do know a lot," I said to him. "And that's why I'm the only one you can trust. And I also know for sure that Cacyta isn't the twin of the princess. Another thing I know is that the real princess is alive and well. And I also know that I'm quitting. You've hurt too many people, and I can't stand it." So I left and got here a few minutes before you did, Indigo. Tat necklace you're wearing means you're royal, and that, obviously, means that you're the princess.
Chapter 5- Indigo
"I'm...royal?" I stammered.
"Yes. You see, that necklace shows up on the true heir to the throne when the crown would be disputed in that person's lifetime."
"But what if I died?"
"Then Ungora would get it."
"But...why should I be the princess?"
"So people will get out of this mess. They're really desperate."
"But isn't Ungora, like, invincible?"
"No, actually, he isn't. Nobody is. Not even you."
"But why do I have to overthrow him? Why me?"
"There was a prophecy-one who has fallen will rise again, more powerful than before. Something like that. It's talking about your father-he was in power, and his power died with him, but he will rise through you, more powerful than him, because you're stronger than him, and people will like you more, probably, for getting them out of Ungora's reign."
"So, basically, I'm supposed to singlehandedly kill this guy, take power, and rule the country without the slightest idea how to do it?"
"Something like that. But you'll have help."
"Like what?"
"You can change your appearance, right?"
"Sort of, yeah. So?" I could change, but it was only minor things like changing my ears when I changed races and growing wings. I couldn't change my hair without something sharp and I couldn't change my height or weight or eye color or anything.
"So change into a human. Go into the city. See for yourself how bad it is. If you talk to people, they'll tell you how much they hate it. Then you can befriend some of them and they'll help you infiltrate the castle."
"That's too simple," Layla cut in. "If they're going to infiltrate, they're going to need someone who knows their way around the castle. Like you, Cancala."
"That's a point," Cancala said.
"But..." I began to protest. they looked at me, waiting for met to say something. I couldn't think of what to say, all of a sudden. "But...why...I'm...how am I supposed to go down to the city and blend in without it being completely obvious that I'm new."
"That should be relatively easy. Somehow," Cancala said easily.
"That's very encouraging," I told him sarcastically.
Even with her good-intending friend, the decoy, Cacyta, grew up disillusioned. First, obviously, she wasn't actually the princess. Second, Ungora taught her to only trust those who lived in the castle. All other creatures were evil or beneath her. it was in her best interest-he'd always had a soft spot for Cacyta, and he wanted to protect her, even though her upbringing wasn't totally honest.
This morning, however, Cacyta told Ungora that she'd met someone on her hunt. That made me think, but Ungora wasn't happy that Cacyta didn't have the guts to kill. Ungora said to me, after she'd left, "Cancala, you've been around too long. You know too much."
"I do know a lot," I said to him. "And that's why I'm the only one you can trust. And I also know for sure that Cacyta isn't the twin of the princess. Another thing I know is that the real princess is alive and well. And I also know that I'm quitting. You've hurt too many people, and I can't stand it." So I left and got here a few minutes before you did, Indigo. Tat necklace you're wearing means you're royal, and that, obviously, means that you're the princess.
Chapter 5- Indigo
"I'm...royal?" I stammered.
"Yes. You see, that necklace shows up on the true heir to the throne when the crown would be disputed in that person's lifetime."
"But what if I died?"
"Then Ungora would get it."
"But...why should I be the princess?"
"So people will get out of this mess. They're really desperate."
"But isn't Ungora, like, invincible?"
"No, actually, he isn't. Nobody is. Not even you."
"But why do I have to overthrow him? Why me?"
"There was a prophecy-one who has fallen will rise again, more powerful than before. Something like that. It's talking about your father-he was in power, and his power died with him, but he will rise through you, more powerful than him, because you're stronger than him, and people will like you more, probably, for getting them out of Ungora's reign."
"So, basically, I'm supposed to singlehandedly kill this guy, take power, and rule the country without the slightest idea how to do it?"
"Something like that. But you'll have help."
"Like what?"
"You can change your appearance, right?"
"Sort of, yeah. So?" I could change, but it was only minor things like changing my ears when I changed races and growing wings. I couldn't change my hair without something sharp and I couldn't change my height or weight or eye color or anything.
"So change into a human. Go into the city. See for yourself how bad it is. If you talk to people, they'll tell you how much they hate it. Then you can befriend some of them and they'll help you infiltrate the castle."
"That's too simple," Layla cut in. "If they're going to infiltrate, they're going to need someone who knows their way around the castle. Like you, Cancala."
"That's a point," Cancala said.
"But..." I began to protest. they looked at me, waiting for met to say something. I couldn't think of what to say, all of a sudden. "But...why...I'm...how am I supposed to go down to the city and blend in without it being completely obvious that I'm new."
"That should be relatively easy. Somehow," Cancala said easily.
"That's very encouraging," I told him sarcastically.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
ungora/indigo pt. 8
When I got inside, I found the house exactly like I found it every other morning, except with one addition-the tall, muscled, dark-skinned guy who looked like a Hunter-the non-elf kind, since his ears weren't pointy.
"You're late," Layla said.
"I know," I replied. "I'm sorry. I met the princess."
"Did you speak to her?" she demanded, sounding worried.
"Yes. What was I supposed to do?"
"Things are going on that shouldn't be."
"I thought so. Who are you?" I shot at the newcomer.
"That's my brother, Cancala," Layla cut in. He nodded, smiling slightly. There was little family resemblance, except for the high cheekbones. Layla's skin was lighter, and her tightly curling hair was very spazzy. I guess Cancala's hair would be spazzy if it wasn't so shaved so close to his head. His skin was way darker than Layla's, though. That often happened when two siblings were different breeds.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"Indigo, he's harmless, seriously," Layla said. "By the way, Cancala, I recall you said that you'd come to explain fifteen years ago, but this is the first visit since then."
"I know," Cancala told her. His voice was deep and rumbling. "Ungora's tightened security, so I couldn't get a day off."
"So why are you here now?" I asked. "If you couldn't get a day off to come? And why did you come in the first place? Like, fifteen years ago?"
"You should sit down," Cancala said. "It's a very long story."
"But-"
"I'll explain about my job later. But it's all inter-connected, so please just sit and listen."
Chapter 4- Cancala
I guess it all started when Ungora was four, and Theran was six. That was when Ungora realized that he hadn't actually gotten anything brand-new in a while. He started noticing the patches on his new teddy bear, too. When Theran turned seven a few months later, all the nobles and royals from all over came with amazingly cool and unique presents. When Ungora turned five a few weeks later, however, only the nobles from the court came, and the presents were nowhere near as cool and practically everyone had something similar already. When Ungora started studying, one of the most common phrases he heard was, "why can't you be more like Theran?" He wasn't a troublemaker, he just wasn't as close to perfect as Theran was.
At first, he was somewhat like Theran. They were friends, and Theran shared his awesome toys sometimes. They walked the same, talked the same, acted the same. But once the days of sharing toys ended, Ungora's resentment began.
Ungora had always been very observant, and he noticed the tutors loved Theran. People in general loved Theran. Even horses seemed to like Theran more. People didn't exactly hate Ungora, but they definitely liked Theran more. The court people paid more attention to Theran, fawned on him. He was kind, politely honest, generous, smart, and all the girls thought he was good-looking. Ungora was clever, in his own way, and he had his own darks sort of style, and he used to be eager to please anyone in order to maybe possible gain some favor. In their own way, each brother was jealous of the other- Ungora of Theran's power and possessions, Theran of Ungora's freedom.
Then Theran became King, and Ungora could not have been more jealous. he wasn't allowed to get a job outside the castle, because his father, the old king, thought it would be disgraceful. He wasn't the oldest, so he wasn't allowed to become king. He was not the kind of person to be confined, but confined he was.
Soon after his coronation, Theran got married. His wife, Ranga, was beautiful, the perfect queen. A few months later, she was obviously pregnant. That, for Ungora, was the last straw. He spent the next few months plotting his revenge, and then, on the night he carried out his plan, two baby girls were born within minutes of each other, mere hours before the King and Queen were to die. There was an inside contact who knew what was going to happen, and encouraged the rulers several weeks before, to plant a decoy in case Ungora decided to kill the baby. The kingdom needed a rightful heir, after all. A female mage was unwillingly pregnant, and she volunteered her child, who was due on the same day.
The alloted night came. Both births went smoothly, and the mage's daughter was moved up to the nursery where the princess was. Then Ungora arrived. Theran was called downstairs, and he died right there in the entrance hall. Ranga heard Theran's cry and went down to investigate with two ladies-in-waiting. Ungora said some nasty things about Theran, and Ranga said some nasty things about Ungora. Eventually Ungora stabbed her, too, just to get it over with. The two ladies-in-waiting ran off into the woods, screaming their heads off. They haven't been seen since.
Then I came in and told Ungora about the princess. I knew about the decoy, but it was essential to the plan to say only one was born. He told me to take her out to kill her, put her in a place where the elements or a griffin or something would eventually kill her. Then a medic came in and said there were twins. He was part of the plan, too. Ungora learned the decoy was a hunter and warrior elf, and the princess was a rare hybrid of everything on two legs with a brain larger than a walnut. This freaked out Ungora, even though he pretended he as cool. He carried out the original plan with one small variation-he kept the decoy. He's a very aggressive man, Ungora. He's a hunter, but he's got a small bit of ogre, I think. He likes aggressive people, and people who are supposed to be aggressive.
When I carried the princess out of the castle, I owed it to the old regime to not actually kill her. I took her here, to my sister.
When I returned to the palace, Ungora was writing out laws banning art in any form and restricting glass and metal workers to practical things. He banished anyone who wasn't 100% human to the Wastra, the dangerous wasteland beyond the borders of no-man's-land. There were only a few exceptions to the rule-the decoy princess and any female nymph who caught his fancy. But any creature who had some specific name, like warrior elf, had to go. Everyone except those designed to do magic-wizards, witches, sorcerers, and mages had to go.
And that's all for now.
"You're late," Layla said.
"I know," I replied. "I'm sorry. I met the princess."
"Did you speak to her?" she demanded, sounding worried.
"Yes. What was I supposed to do?"
"Things are going on that shouldn't be."
"I thought so. Who are you?" I shot at the newcomer.
"That's my brother, Cancala," Layla cut in. He nodded, smiling slightly. There was little family resemblance, except for the high cheekbones. Layla's skin was lighter, and her tightly curling hair was very spazzy. I guess Cancala's hair would be spazzy if it wasn't so shaved so close to his head. His skin was way darker than Layla's, though. That often happened when two siblings were different breeds.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"Indigo, he's harmless, seriously," Layla said. "By the way, Cancala, I recall you said that you'd come to explain fifteen years ago, but this is the first visit since then."
"I know," Cancala told her. His voice was deep and rumbling. "Ungora's tightened security, so I couldn't get a day off."
"So why are you here now?" I asked. "If you couldn't get a day off to come? And why did you come in the first place? Like, fifteen years ago?"
"You should sit down," Cancala said. "It's a very long story."
"But-"
"I'll explain about my job later. But it's all inter-connected, so please just sit and listen."
Chapter 4- Cancala
I guess it all started when Ungora was four, and Theran was six. That was when Ungora realized that he hadn't actually gotten anything brand-new in a while. He started noticing the patches on his new teddy bear, too. When Theran turned seven a few months later, all the nobles and royals from all over came with amazingly cool and unique presents. When Ungora turned five a few weeks later, however, only the nobles from the court came, and the presents were nowhere near as cool and practically everyone had something similar already. When Ungora started studying, one of the most common phrases he heard was, "why can't you be more like Theran?" He wasn't a troublemaker, he just wasn't as close to perfect as Theran was.
At first, he was somewhat like Theran. They were friends, and Theran shared his awesome toys sometimes. They walked the same, talked the same, acted the same. But once the days of sharing toys ended, Ungora's resentment began.
Ungora had always been very observant, and he noticed the tutors loved Theran. People in general loved Theran. Even horses seemed to like Theran more. People didn't exactly hate Ungora, but they definitely liked Theran more. The court people paid more attention to Theran, fawned on him. He was kind, politely honest, generous, smart, and all the girls thought he was good-looking. Ungora was clever, in his own way, and he had his own darks sort of style, and he used to be eager to please anyone in order to maybe possible gain some favor. In their own way, each brother was jealous of the other- Ungora of Theran's power and possessions, Theran of Ungora's freedom.
Then Theran became King, and Ungora could not have been more jealous. he wasn't allowed to get a job outside the castle, because his father, the old king, thought it would be disgraceful. He wasn't the oldest, so he wasn't allowed to become king. He was not the kind of person to be confined, but confined he was.
Soon after his coronation, Theran got married. His wife, Ranga, was beautiful, the perfect queen. A few months later, she was obviously pregnant. That, for Ungora, was the last straw. He spent the next few months plotting his revenge, and then, on the night he carried out his plan, two baby girls were born within minutes of each other, mere hours before the King and Queen were to die. There was an inside contact who knew what was going to happen, and encouraged the rulers several weeks before, to plant a decoy in case Ungora decided to kill the baby. The kingdom needed a rightful heir, after all. A female mage was unwillingly pregnant, and she volunteered her child, who was due on the same day.
The alloted night came. Both births went smoothly, and the mage's daughter was moved up to the nursery where the princess was. Then Ungora arrived. Theran was called downstairs, and he died right there in the entrance hall. Ranga heard Theran's cry and went down to investigate with two ladies-in-waiting. Ungora said some nasty things about Theran, and Ranga said some nasty things about Ungora. Eventually Ungora stabbed her, too, just to get it over with. The two ladies-in-waiting ran off into the woods, screaming their heads off. They haven't been seen since.
Then I came in and told Ungora about the princess. I knew about the decoy, but it was essential to the plan to say only one was born. He told me to take her out to kill her, put her in a place where the elements or a griffin or something would eventually kill her. Then a medic came in and said there were twins. He was part of the plan, too. Ungora learned the decoy was a hunter and warrior elf, and the princess was a rare hybrid of everything on two legs with a brain larger than a walnut. This freaked out Ungora, even though he pretended he as cool. He carried out the original plan with one small variation-he kept the decoy. He's a very aggressive man, Ungora. He's a hunter, but he's got a small bit of ogre, I think. He likes aggressive people, and people who are supposed to be aggressive.
When I carried the princess out of the castle, I owed it to the old regime to not actually kill her. I took her here, to my sister.
When I returned to the palace, Ungora was writing out laws banning art in any form and restricting glass and metal workers to practical things. He banished anyone who wasn't 100% human to the Wastra, the dangerous wasteland beyond the borders of no-man's-land. There were only a few exceptions to the rule-the decoy princess and any female nymph who caught his fancy. But any creature who had some specific name, like warrior elf, had to go. Everyone except those designed to do magic-wizards, witches, sorcerers, and mages had to go.
And that's all for now.
Monday, June 8, 2009
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