Adventures in Azibra: Zecora's past

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After they were inside, Aziza followed, and the doors were shut. Zecora then went about marveling that large place. It was much larger and far more different then what she had been expecting. Before herself Zecora saw lots of mist, with golden columns rising above it, aligned down the center of the room, the mist swirling around them... Zecora also saw two rectangular pools of seemingly very hot water. Zecora got closer and saw that from the right of the pool to her right and the left of the pool to her left, stairs descended into the water and disappeared under it. There were columns aligned next to each other, jutting out from the walls at both sides. Far across to the other part of the room, beyond the mist clouds, Zecora saw a door flanked by two columns that also jutted put of the wall at both sides, which could be reached by ascending stairs...

As Zecora marveled at all of this, she got the urge to turn her head up; she did so. The ceiling was smooth, but only until its circular center, where it caved in like steps... In the circle Zecora saw a large sun. It was the same sun that she had seen on her brother's room  floor, in the library... and now here... She began to wonder what it meant.

"Princess?" Aziza said.

"Hm?" Zecora turned.

"We are ready for you." Ada said.

"Oh, uh..." Zecora just looked at them, then glanced back up at the ceiling. "May be I can ask Zikomo about that, some time..." She thought.

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It hadn't been too much longer, after that, when Zecora took her first step into one of the pools... "It's hot..." Zecora said, slowly lowering a foot into the water.

"Well, of course it is, Princess." Ada said, smiling at her. "But if you want it to be a bit warmer..." Ada squatted down before the steps that led into the water and put her pointer finger into it, moving it about in a circular motion..."

While she did that, Aziza said, Princess, would you want a pre-bath before getting in?"  Zecora looked over her shoulder at a hopeful Aziza but didn't have to answer.

"Aziza," Ada said, "And pardon me, princess..." Zecora turned her head back to Ada and slowly nodded acknowledgement as Ada rose, "We do not have that much time... Of course, we could probably just make it shorter..."

"Wonderful!" Aziza said, coming over and taking Zecora's hands, then said, "Come over here..." She led Zecora to a 3 by 4 mat, away from the pool. She went and took a large bucket and scooped water into it, out of the pool. As she did so, Ada went to one of the columns and opened a small section of its face. She took from it a bottle of something and a cloth. Aziza then took whatever was in the bottle and squirted it into the water, splashing her hands around to make the water sudsy.

Zecora watched as the girls approached her - Ada handed Aziza a cloth and had her own... They both used the wter from the large bucket and washed Zecora all over... After they finished, they left her all sudsy - Aziza went somewhere with the water while Ada took a smaller pail and scooped water from the pool.

"Close your eyes, Princess." She said. Zecora obeyed and Ada dumped the bucket of water all over Zecora. It was a not as hot as before. it seemed just right. Ada then led Zecora over to the pool. "Now, Princess, you get in and you sit down, understand?"

"Yes..." Zecora said, wiping water from her eyes, "But isn't it a bit deep?"

"Not unless you say so, Princess." Ada said, "I will wash your hair as you sit so your head, at least, will not be in the water."

"Wash... my hair?" Zecora said, as she carefully edged her way into the pool and was seated.

"Yes." Aziza answered, appearing out of nowhere, "And I will wash your feet." She smiled and Zecora thought that she seemed too happy to be washing anyone's feet...

"Be seated, please, Princess." Ada said, walking behind Zecora as she obeyed. It seemed to Zecora that the pool wasn't as deep as she thought; her neck and head were water free, at least...

"Are you comfortable, Princess?" Aziza asked.

"Yes, I think so..." Zecora said.

"Good, then may I get in?" Zecora was about to answer when her head was pulled back, gently, until it rested on Ada's lap. She realized that Aziza was not talking to her, but to Ada; Ada nodded. Zecora heard some shuffling and then some noise and then some splashing... She attempted to bring her head back up to look and was only able to do so for a few moments -

When she did so, she saw Aziza, half naked, walking through the water, towards her. Zecora noticed Aziza's body; slim, muscular, her stomach in, her long white hair that fell straght down her back and some-what over her shoulders, the white lines that were perfectly placed all over her, her pretty blue eyes... Aziza was only wearing a strapless lavender bra and the same color underwear... The sight was very strange to Zecora and she would have thought on it, some more, if her head wasn't pulled back down onto Ada's lap...

As Ada began to wash Zecora's hair, Zecora felt her foot gently being lifted our of the water... She felt it when Aziza began to wash her feet, bottom, top, between her toes, all over... Aziza washed some of both Zecora's legs, raising it up, nearly as far back as it could go...

"That tickles!" Zecora said, giggling and squirming, a little, when Aziza washed her legs.

Aziza giggled, as well, "Sorry, Princess..."

Zecora continued to giggle as Ada washed her hair. She wondered why her hair felt sort of tingly, at times... But it was soon that she just laid back and let Ada do her thing. Letting Ada do her thing really did feel nice... Zecora wondered if Murua had ever done anything like this to her... if so then she couldn't remember...

Everything was over too soon - sometimes Zecora had to move certain ways for Aziza to scrub her arms and then turn for her her to wash her back... Though they had did this before she got in the bath, Zecora didn't mind it being done, again. Between Aziza and Ada's careful, gentle fingers, Zecora felt such bliss... Sadly, it was over just too soon...

Zecora arose and climbed the stairs, out of the water and immediately, Aziza began to work on drying her off. Ada stopped her by saying, "Aziza, go dress yourself, first! And we are not to dry her off, just yet."

"Oh... oh yes, I'm sorry..." Aziza said, moving to go and dress herself.

"No, it's alright." Zecora said, "I don't mind." Aziza knelt back down - she had been drying Zecora's arms - she smiled up at Zecora, who did like wise. Meanwhile Ada left and brought something back.

"Princess, choose which oil you would like to put on." Ada said.

Zecora looked between the two jars Ada was holding.

Aziza quickly went and brought back two bottles. "Either of these?" She asked.

"Hm... well... What would you suggest?" Ada and Aziza exchanged quick glances. "Either of you." Zecora said.

"Well, um..." Aziza said.

Ada cleared her throat. "It... it isn't really for us to decide, Princess..."

"Oh, I know." Zecora said, "I just want your opinion."

"Oh, well... Aziza started off, quietly, "I think that these two smell very nice; here's Island Rose," she inhaled it, "And here is Vanilla Bloom." Aziza inhaled that one, also.

"Yes..." Ada said, "We can all agree that the oils and perfumes given to every royal family will smell good."

"Oh yes... of course..." Aziza said, looking down; her sister just looked at her.

"Well if rituals are as important as I think they are, then I am not trying to really smell like anything... It could throw off the ritual, couldn't it?" Zecora asked, recalling recently learned information.

"Not necessarily, Princess," Ada said, a-matter-of-factly."Though your ritual is extremely important - there will be no use of incense or any smelling thing such as that used, during your ritual... You have nothing to worry about on that matter."

"Alright then." Zecora said, carefully looking at the choices before me, "I pick this one." Zecora chose one and the rest were put away. She stood and waited as Ada and Aziza washed thier hands in a small basin and then, on drying them, applied the chosen oil all over Zecora. Ada told Zecora that the oil could melt off of her if they stayed in such a heated place, so they returned to the room... Zecora then waited for the oil to settle before being helped into her dress...As the girls dressed her, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

Her hair was pulled back into a braid or ponytail, (she couldn't tell which), and on her neck she no longer wore golden rings, but silver ones. She touched them - When had this happened?

"Your brother." Aziza said, "And he gave you that, too." She pointed downward. Zecora looked down and pulled up the skirts of her dress, some; she saw a silver ring right above her ankle, much like the ones on her neck.

"Oh..."  She said, "But why did he...wait, how did you know what I was thinking?"

Aziza put her hand to her mouth, giggling. Zecora would have said something, had Ada not said, "Aziza!"

"Yes, sister?" Ada said. Looking over at her sister.

"I have finished with her hair. Give the princess her shoes."

"At once, sister..." Aziza moved to get the shoes and Zecora turned from the mirror, looking on. Ada then turned her back again, saying, "Do you like it?"

"What, my hair?" Zecora asked.

"Yes, Princess, do you like it?" Ada asked, seemingly hopeful.

"Yes, I do like it, it is very nice."  Zecora said, turning her head. She saw that her hair was set in a not-too-short braid. She observed a white streak going down her hair. "I do not like the white, though..."

"Oh?" Ada said, "I think it looks nice... But if that is what your highness wants then I think I can do something to hide it - also, because it is of really no significance in this ritual, I can remove the anklet as well..."

"No, it's fine, I'll leave the white part - but why remove the anklet? Did not my brother give it to me?" Zecora asked, looking at Ada. "Surely he had a reason..."

"Of course, Princess, but if it is what you want, to remove it, then it shall be done." Ada responded, placing her hands before her.

"So then you would so quickly change what my brother has done, giving him no regard?" Zecora thought. She turned away from Ada, disgusted; "Such disrespect..." Then again... may be it had something to do with what she was going to be, not what she was... Her brother had mentioned to her that she would be heir, not him... she thought Zikomo had mentioned something like that, too -

Zecora shook the thoughts from her head. "I do not mind it." she said.

Aziza then helped Zecora put her shoes on; sparkling, sliver slip-on slippers. She sprayed something onto Zecora as well. "There we go! Wonderful!"

Looked herself over in the mirror. She didn't look wonderful.... but she didn't look at hat bad, either.... It was just her skin that bothered her... and the streak.... Just then, someone came to the door. "Is her highness ready?"

"She is, My Lord." Ada answered. Zecora turned towards the door and watched as Aziza opened it to whoever was there. The tutor who she had seen in the library was standing there... the masked one.

There eyes met momentarily, but Zecora was the one to avert... Just then, Ada gave Zecora  little push from behind, "Go on, Princess."

"Uh.. right..." Zecora said, walking towards the door where the figure stood. As Zecora approached the figure, she couldn't seem to stop looking at his large green eyes... They reminded her of someone... Just as she was about to remember, he snapped her out of her thoughts by saying, "Princess, put your hood on... if you not going to where a veil, that is." He gave her her his hand as he spoke and she slowly took it...

Zecora slowly put on her hood...As Zecora walked away from her room, she looked back at Ada and Aziza. They were just straightening from having bowed down. Ada nodded, Aziza waved. Zecora smiled, a little, but then turned and the smile faded. Somehow she was beginning to feel a bit nervous.... Walking, now, Zecora looked down at her hand which was completely covered by that of the tutor's....

Zecora could feel it when he looked down at her... He said nothing, she said nothing.... Then she looked up at him, from within her hood which covered one of her eyes... He said, "Do you know where we are going?"

"....No."She answered, putting her head back into its former position.

"I see." He said.

"...." Zecora wasn't sure what to say and felt kind of silly... Which was bad since she already felt nervous...

The hallways were empty an as they walked through the palace and it seemed quieter than normal... They soon came a room Zecora did not recognize and the tutor let Zecora's hand go. "The opening of these doors is the beginning of your ritual, Princess. Are you ready?" Zecora gave a slight nod and the tutor went before her and pushed the doors open....

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On entering, one could see that there were four walls; the room was nearly a perfect square. There was a bit of a dome roof at the top of the room, a glass one which served as the ceiling and let in a good amount of light. The dome was made up of several plates of glass. On entering, one could also see a chest-like, gold and red altar, in the center of the room... Beyond that sat a throne with the imprint of that sun on it. Zecora eyed the throne and then stepped through the door, taking deep breath only to have it come out quiet and shaky.

To the right and left - the walls on both sides were basically just a series of arches, lined up one next to the other - five, to be exact - with a pillar in between. Where they led could not be seen, for within was dark - it was darkening for something began to cover the dome, block out the light. Zecora wondered if it were a cloud, but she didn't dare look up, focusing only on the alter before her. But before it could darken, completely, Zecora snatched a few glances towards the walls... she saw faces staring back at her. Her partially-hidden eyes widened. She didn't think that anyone would be watching! She had forgotten to ask Zikomo about that... Who were they, anyways?

"Just get there, just get there...." Zecora thought, turning her attention back to the altar. She knew that from the altar, everything else should be easy; she had only to utter a few words and then... Zecora slowly approached the altar. She feared that by the time she did, everything would be dark and she would mess everything up... But as soon as she reached the altar, two fires blazed to life just beyond it. They lit the way to the throne which was sitting atop a small stair case - they sat atop two skinny, golden pillars. Zecora flinched, in surprise, but didn't dare do a thing more.

It was now that - even though she could just barely see the on-lookers, she could feel each and every gaze. Taking a shaky breath, she looked down at the altar, on which were two books. "The second path..." Zecora thought, as her hand brushed the open page of the book to the right. It was her choice. Would she read and recite the traditional words of this ritual - which was pretty much an oath and plea? Or would she make up her own words? .... ... Not a chance. Zecora read the tradition manuscript, being sure to trace her finger under every word. It was just something that was done to emphasize that the princess knew and was attentive to what she read...

Zecora closed the book to the left of her, as she read the traditional manuscript. This represented that she gave no regards to do other than what she was meant to, by her own will, as princess. Zecora then finished reading the manuscript, closing the book softly. The fire blazed even more, now, causing Zecora to jump a little, making her wish that she weren't so jumpy at a time like this.

She moved to go around the altar, but then something caught her eye. She looked and saw Zecoy standing there - she at least saw  his face. He was standing to her right, tall and still... Only her head was turned in his direction...

He did nothing, said nothing and his expression was blank. Zecora could see his face and somehow, suddenly, momentarily, lost in his eyes. They were like dark circles full of fire, seeing as they reflected the fire besides her. She stared into them for what seemed like a long time and his figure seemed to be one with the darkness of the room... Just then, Zecora began to notice others. Standing out among the crowd, to the right of Zecora, side by side, stood tutors... The first one she saw stood just beyond Zecoy, he was the one who had brought her there... Others were beside him, but she only recognized a few. Zecora then slowly looked back to her brother who just stood there, doing nothing... saying nothing... What seemed like a long time passed and Zecora now turned her head to the left of her...

To the left of her, the persons who stood out to her were few. They sat and were dressed in white - of course, it's not like Zecora could see the crowds, anyways; it was too dark. But she could see these individuals... Starting from the front of the room, where the entrance was, Zecora looked down the row of individuals. There were fewer of them then the tutors and all of them seemed elderly, yet none of them showed their faces. The white robes which they wore really made them stand out - looking down the line, Zecora's eyes eventually met the eyes of one who was actually looking at her. She stiffened and nearly gasped in surprise. What she doing?

What had she been doing? Why was she still standing here? She glanced in Zecoy's direction but then moved towards the elevated throne. Zecora felt hot in the face and sick to the stomach. How long had she stood there? She was supposed to already have been to the throne. On standing before it, now, she paused. This was a throne... a real throne... Zecora didn't know what it meant for her to sit on a throne during a ritual... How hadn't she learned that...?

Though hesitant, she took to the stairs... one step at a time. At the top, now, she turned and sat down on the throne. Once she did,  it seemed that somehow the silence got louder and that all attention was on her... Not that it hadn't been, from the start, but... A voice from somewhere behind her said, "Princess, remove your hood."

Zecora jumped. "Who said that?" Just then she thought back, real fast, to when she had ascended the stairs. She could faintly see two other thrones beyond hers. One empty, but then the other - she saw herself turning, but she had seen someone, there... Obviously that was the person who spoke to her, now... Zecora reached up and removed her hood.

As she did so, she watched as the fire before her died out... The room was momentarily thrown into a world of darkness, only to suddenly brighten again. But this time the fire wasn't its usual color, it was blue. Zecora marveled at this but then watched as a male zebrain stepped up between the two pillars of blue fire. She tilted her head at him, wondering what it was he was going to do. She saw that he held a long staff which was topped with thin, circle head. Within the thin circle were patterns of some sort.

The zebrain male knelt and pressed the staff hard into the floor. Zecora realized, then, that the altar was gone. "When...How did that happen?"

"Princess, look at the circle and then close your eyes." The voice behind her instructed. Zecora did as she was told; after looking at the circle for about five seconds or less, she shut her eyes, tight. But not too tight, though, as not to have to open them, again.

She was still and it was dark - Zecora felt that whenever she closed her eyes, then she was able to see what "nothing" looked like. This was because she couldn't see anything, yet she felt she couldn't really see any darkness, either - ritual or not, it was all the same - even now.

Zecora then saw something - she had to resist opening her eyes. What she saw was a small, luminous, blurry sphere of light... It hovered and hopped about, in the darkness and as it did so, it began changing colors. It moved about, leaving a tail of light trailing behind it, only to have the tail seemingly dissolve when the actual sphere was to far from the tails end... Eventually, one became two and two became three. They began forming images... Zecora could only make out and understand what a few were, seeing as they were merely just outline, blurry and hardly detailed.

A zebrain female's face... a bottle of some sort. A... a spear? And a...a cauldron?... These were Zecora's thoughts as she tried to figure out what shape was what... Eventually it all died away and for a short space, Zecora felt as though she had been asleep. She opened her eyes, gasping quietly. She blinked, several times and shook her head... She then watched as the male zebrain lifted the staff, which seemed a bit heavy, rose to his feet, and backed away, into the darkness...

Suddenly, a light from above shown through the darkness. Zecora squinted up at it... The dome was beginning to be uncovered an golden rays of sunlight poured into the darkness... When the dome had been completely uncovered, Zecora stared at it a bit longer and then looked around the room, curious to see who it was who had been there. Surprisingly, the only ones she saw were a few tutors who stood in a  group, conversing, quietly. She raised an eyebrow; they looked liked they had been there the whole time, doing that. And not to mention... where was everyone else? Zecora then stood, she slowly rose from her seat. With that, all conversation stopped and the few tutors who were there gave her there complete attention.

"Have you...anything to say, Princess?" The masked tutor asked Zecora, approaching her.

Well.... did she have anything to say? Zecora wondered this, but when nothing would come to justify her for saying anything, she placed her hands before her and just shook her head.

"Very well." The tutor said. He gave a hand to Zecora who began to descend the stairs. She nodded an acknowledgement when she stepped onto the floor and then she looked around. Really... where was everyone? Was she imagining the faces, earlier? Did she really see those other people? Did she... did she really see Zecoy, her brother? And... if not, then... was her ritual really as important as everyone had made it seem to be?

Zecora felt her eyes burning. Was this some kind of  - no. She wouldn't even think that way. No way was it a... you know what. It couldn't be. But then, why was no one - hardly anyone, that is - there?

Something touched Zecora's shoulder, and a voice said, "Princess?"

Zecora looked to the voice's owner, the tutor... His eyes seemed questioning, but he was hesitant to ask anything. Zecora just flicked a careless wrist at him and he backed off, immediately.

She didn't know why she did it, she just did. May be it was because of the way she was feeling, the thoughts she was having. Her feelings were, again, mixed and her thoughts, jumbled... She exited the room.

"Princess," a voice said, behind her, "Do you want me to escort you to your room?"

Zecora thought about it before answering and said, "No. No, thank-you."

"Very well."

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Zecora soon found herself in her room. She lay on her stomach, on her bed. Aziza and Ada had come back to check on her, a few minutes after she returned to her room. She had sent them away and told them to return later; they had, and they had taken her dress... She now lay with her hair still in a ponytail, the silver ring on her ankle, the silver rings on her neck and silver earrings. She wore a short, red, drape skirt and small, red brazire.

She didn't bother with covers as her tears soaked one of her many pillows. She didn't really know why she was crying... she just was. She didn't really know what had happened... it just did. She wasn't sure why she felt sad and happy at the same time - which is the very basic description of what she felt. She just... didn't know... She felt different, really... she felt strange... But to the utmost, she knew that no matter what she felt, or what she was supposed to feel, this certainly had been the First Ritual. A great turning point, in her life, forever...Whether she knew it or not.