Authors Note: This is a 5,000 word story that I wrote for a contest being held on DeviantArt at Fantasywritersunited's club. The theme is steampunk. Unfortunately, I think I discovered a flaw in my writing and it is that I tend to change tenses mid sentence, from present to past. So, I have found this kind of hard to write because I kept thinking about that and wondering if it is a major problem with me and if I will ever be able to write professionally because of it...meh. Anyways... In the end, I just gave up and wrote how I always did. Apparently, I have 3 of passive sentences in the story, not so bad considering they were at 10 when I started.

High Tea

Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. The large grandfather clock struck five o’clock and swiftly a form moved through the hallways of a large antique castle. Its grey walls held murals of the past and flashed with color against the dull setting of its bricks. Along the floors ran dark ruby carpets in which black clad slipper feet quickly moved across; flickers of a lace-trimmed dress could be seen trailing behind. Swiftly turning a corner small hands pushed open a pair of double doors and rushed out onto a deck, the wind catching her shoulder length blonde hair and whipping it around youthful face. Turning her dark green eyes to stare at the person sitting at the table she grinned and quickly went to great them.

“You realized that I’ve been waiting here for an hour. Inviting me here is one thing but making me wait is an entirely different matter.”

Isabelle bowed her head slightly as she sat down across from Captain Gage Evans and peeked up at him through long blonde bangs, “My apologies, there were matters that had to be attended too.” Isabelle watched as the black haired man turned his face to the wind, her eyes scanning every detail of his face as his brow dipped and his steel blue eyes found their way back to her own. His frowned drew darker and Isabelle quickly looked away, her slim black glove hands moving to snatch up the teapot and she began to pour them tea, “As you know the Castle will soon be moving over Tambre air space and with my father having passed away there it no way to truly operate the castle without help.”

“And why are you travelling in such an area again? You know, with the war this has become no place for a Lady or a Castle for that matter. Things could seriously go wrong.”

Isabelle quickly nodded as she picked up a plate of cucumber sandwiches and offered them to Captain Gage; the man simply gave the small finger sandwiches an offending frown and shook his head declining the offer. Placing the plate back on the table Isabella took one in her lace-trimmed gloves and began to nibble on it, “Unfortunately Captain this is a matter that must be attended too. Your assistances will only be needed for a few days and that is mostly in guarding or operating the castles own defences. Most I know but it needs multiply people…a person who knows the ways of a weapon would be preferred…”

The Captain nodded and took note that the girl had avoided his question in a clever manner. Raising the rather small teacup to his slightly full lips, he sipped at the tea and made a rather disgusted expression before he placed the tea down on the table. He gazed towards clouds that surrounded the Castle and he took note of its position. This was Dryslwyn Castle, a rather infamous structure that was used by several high-ranking officers of the Cyne Army. Most of them had been Walkers, the last having been Isabelle’s retried father, Derrick. Gage had been close to the man and had become deeply scared when he had died, after that, he had become rather distant, especially towards Isabelle. Moving to his feet he nodded, “You should hit the boarder in about a day; you should really have the place ready for any attacks that could be made against you. This really isn’t a time for sitting around having tea.”

With a quick nod Isabelle moved to her feet, the ankle length white gown swirled around her feet. The edge of the gown was trimmed in frills and had an under skirt which was black. At her waist, a bold piece pattern comes into play starting in thin strips just below her hips and extending upwards turning into bold strips. The two black strips stopped just below her breast and extended around her, between the decorations is a criss-cross pattern. The bodice created is very much a promenade style dress with a high waist and a square neckline. The sleeves are black and fall of the shoulder. They are slightly large, with white trimming around the upper arm. The edge of the sleeves falls just to the knuckles and are trimmed with a lace. “Come, I’ll show you everything…”

Gage nodded and followed the girl back into the large castle. To the naked eye, the castle seemed simple, bricks and stone but to those that understood the workings of Dryslwyn it was much more then that, much more. Gage’s steel blue eyes continued to wander back to the girl who practically floated down the hallway, he had known her for a large portion of his life, Isabelle had even been there for him when his father passed away and in turn he had abandoned her when hers had. However, Derrick had been like a second father to him and to lose two such great men, his heart couldn’t take it and from that day forward, he had vowed never to lose anyone close to him again and then meant never letting anyone get close. Even Isabelle, especially Isabelle. Coming to a pair of black doors Isabelle took the right door and revealed a control room, its panels were light up and a screen showed a schematic of the castle, several areas were coloured with red while others were blue or green. There colors divided the defence system into sections, blue for weaker defence, perhaps for warning people off, green for an average attack, probably using a variety of bombs and red for a full on attack. The last itself was glowing orange; meaning that in its current state it couldn’t do anything unless it was changed. Looking at the control panel more careful the young man frowned and looked to the blonde girl, “Tell me again why you can’t do this on your own?”

A small frown of its own appeared on her brow and she pointed to an orange button,

“The transformation of the castle can not be complete unless the buttons are pressed together. The other button is in another control room on the opposite side of the castle, you will also noticed that this control room on operates several of the weapon systems. The castle was meant to be run by a pair of people…not a single person.”

Gage nodded, he had noticed that the controls only seemed to work some of the weapons but he hadn’t noticed that the orange button was indeed only half a button but then it was an easy mistake to make; it could have been just made that way. With a slight sigh pushed away from the panel and nodded once again, “Alright, I’ll stay and help you cross the board, I suggest you hire some people to take care of such matters for you.”

“I thought I had…”

Gage blinked a little shocked and gave the girl a soft glare, “I mean on a permanent basis.”

“Oh” Quickly looking away Isabelle turned and left the room and Gage followed her, a small frown forever printed on his brow. As she began to move her way through the halls of the castle, the white skirt flaring around her ankles to reveal black satin ballet shoes. Gage simply quirked an eyebrow at this as his gaze was pulled towards the murals and paintings on the wall. It seemed like an eternity passed within those paintings and finally Isabelle turned a corner and moved into a kitchen. There she was greeted by a large burly man in a chief’s apron and hat.

Turning to look at Gage Isabelle smiled a bit, “This is the cook Charles. I noticed that you didn’t enough the Tea, perhaps he can make you something more to your liking?”

Gage nodded and took a stool as the large man turned to look at him, smirking slightly, “Not into cucumber sandwiches?” A small smile cracked Gage’s smiles as he leaned against the island,

“Much too dainty for my taste.” Charles chuckled softly and nodded with an understanding grunt as he began to prepare a meal more suited for a man. Isabelle grinned slightly and excused herself,

“There are matter’s in which I must attend to, please enjoy your meal.” Gage simply nodded, watching the girl leave out of the corner of his eye.

Isabelle ran into her room and slammed the door behind her as she slumped back against the cherry wood, her eyes quickly scanning the room until a small strange black cat came into view, running to the creature she pulled it into her arms, “He’s here, within the walls of this castle at this very moment…” The creature blinked its golden eyes up at her and shifted in her arms, small black wings appearing out of its thick fur as it took flight,

“That’s really nothing to be surprised about…you thought he wouldn’t come?”

Isabella shrugged her shoulders slightly as the magi cat flew back to the bed,

“I’m not sure what I thought, I didn’t expect this though, to see him after so long and for him to be…so cold.” The cat rolled its eyes as it perched on the bed,

“Don’t be silly, of course you should have known the way he would be, he’s been like that for quite some time now.”

“But why! After everything that’s happened, it’s like we never knew each other.” The cat shifted on the bed and looked towards the girl, “A lot of things have changed since that time, you’ve changed” Isabelle only nodded as she moved to the window of her bedroom; the wind caught her blonde hair and seemed to tug it out the window as she stood gazing at the clouds,

“I wonder what if would have been like, if we had stayed together…”

The Cat only shrugged its shoulders as he watched the girl reminisce about things that would no longer be. Isabelle had a different purpose now and no matter how much she may want to rekindle a friendship with a man she once loved, still loved; it was not meant to be, not anymore. Closing its eyes the small creature drifted back to sleep (which it did for most of the day). When it opened its eyes, once again, it was night and Isabelle was nowhere to be seen.

Isabelle sat in a high backed chair in front of a fireplace drinking tea, in a chair to her left sat Gage staring into the fire with something much stronger then tea in his hands. They had been there for almost an hour now, sitting in silence. Swallowing hard Isabelle ran her thumb along the edge of her teacup, “Gage…why did you leave?” As she asked the question, her dark green eyes trailed to him and she could see him tense, his knuckles turning white against the cup he held,

“It’s none of your business.”

“Oh” Her heart sank a little at the response, she was hoping this would be like when they were young, when they would lay upon the rug and watch the fire and whisper secrets to each other. It seemed like no matter what she did now she would never have her childhood friend back. Gage would never be hers. Swallowing the lump in her throat she moved to her feet, tears sparkling in her eyes, “You know you’ve become very rude. I don’t think I want your company at all. Goodnight.” Quickly she turned and moved out of the room, Gage simply sat staring into the fire,

“I wouldn’t want my company either…”

The large castle or island as some would call it drifted through the morning sky, the workings of such a castle could hardly be called quite but often there was no one around to hear the noises and so it’s congested noises went unnoticed. For most mornings away.

BOOM! The sudden sound of crumbling stone and crushing walls awoken a sleeping Isabelle. The young girl sprang out of her bed, having slept in her clothing she had no need (and no time anyways) to change as she sprang to the door of her room and pulled it open, swiftly heading down the hallway. As another large crash occurred, Isabelle slipped and slammed into the wall, falling to the floor. With a soft a soft grunt, she moved her hands along the wall and pulled herself up, stumbling to the closets window. Her eyes widened in disbelieve at what she saw, Tambre raiders! They hadn’t even crossed the boarder yet, how could they be attacking? The black cat, which remains nameless and simple is called ‘you’ began to pull on Isabelle’s hair, “Girl, do you want that pretty head of yours blown off! Get to control room!” Isabelle staggered away from the wall and began to run down the hallway. It was clear that they were Tambre raiders, their aircrafts were black with the ugly red crest of the Tambrians but for them to be here could only mean. Isabella stopped I her tracks and the Magi Cat rammed into the back of her head with a small cry, “Watch it!” Turning to look at him with wide green eyes Isabelle frowned slightly, her expression formed one of worry as she snatched the black creature from the air,

“Can the possibly know what we are doing? Or are they already staging an attack against Cyne?”

The small cat stared up at her as if it may not answer her question and then slowly his golden eyes began to glow and he muttered softly,

“They know…”

Isabelle cringed slightly as she glanced back towards the window, if they knew they she would have to hurry. Moving down the hallway she rapidly made her way to the control room only to be met by Gage. Point down the hallway he yelled to her, “Get to the other control room! We have to stave off the attack!” Isabelle only nodded and quickened her past as she rushed past the man, his words echoing in her ears,

“Be careful…”

It only took Isabelle five minutes to reach the second control room but it seemed like forever, the Castle had take at least half a dozen more attacks, some of them which left like major blows. Isabelle stumbled into the control room and sat down in the chair, she prayed that the castle would transform, that it could transform after the damage it had taken. Speaking into the mic, she placed her fingers along the orange crescent button,

“Transformation, Now!” Her fingers pressed down on the button and in the other control room Gage did the same, his steel blue eyes trailing to the monitor, waiting in anticipation.

The monitor flickered from orange to green and a rumbling could be heard throughout the castle. What the raiders saw mystified them, they hoped and prayed that it would not happen but it had started and now their chances of defeating the castle had dropped dramatically. The walls of Dryslwyn Castle began to drop and disappear into the castle, quickly they were replaced by large steel walls, openings appeared that held large cannons, the system which keep the castle afloat (a large propeller on the bottom of the castle) vanished up inside as to large metal wings extended from the island. The castle would move much more quickly then it had before; other sections disappeared, replaced with steel and armouries. In the end the castle began almost half its. Some probably thought it would be impossible, but it was not. Dryslwyn Castle as a mystery to the known world, though it possessed elements of technology that other countries and armies had in some ways it was quite different, quite ancient.

Smiling, Isabelle felt a rush as the transformed castle took it’s final state and she quickly glanced down at the buttons, several attacks had taken place during the transformation and one section of the castle (a tower with a bomb launcher was no longer operational) seemed to be worthless however all the rest seemed in working order. Glancing over the panels, she pressed down on two blue buttons, firing off a set of bombs from the left wing. Gage quickly followed suit in the other control room and pressed two blue buttons as well, missiles launched from the right wing.

Outside the castle, ten Tambre Raiders began the manoeuvres that would keep them out of harms way; however, three fell to air bombs that came from the left wing, while four more had succumb to missiles and steal nets on the right. Pulling back the three remained Raiders re-grouped and another ten Raiders quickly joined these three. One of these ships was deep silver, indicating that this craft held the leader of the group, the small aircrafts held back for several minutes before dividing up into two groups, swiftly they moved towards the castle, ready for a full on assault that would hopefully allow a boarding.

Cringing, Isabelle fell out of her chair and onto the floor as a formation of ships came down at the castle, releasing missiles and bombs so that certain areas of the castle shook while others caught on fire. Isabelle clenched her jaw as she pulled herself back up onto the chair, she could not allow them to stop her. She had a mission to complete, something that she had to do. Isabelle pressed buttons in rapid succession and her head turned to watch the screen. Two of the missiles hit their targets and she smiled a grim smile as she turned to a different set of buttons and pressed them as well. It seemed Gage was doing very well by himself. For a person who had never operated the controls of a castle before he seemed like he was right at home at the job. Unfortunately, as the castle took the brunt of the attacks two of the aircrafts were able to land in the Castles courtyard. Isabelle muttered something violent underneath her breath and moved to her feet as she turned to a small door and pulled it open, within it was several small pistols. The blonde haired girl picked one up slowly and looked at it for a moment before her brow dipped into a frowned. Moving back to the control panel she pushed a button and muttered, “I’ll get the Gage, you defend the castle.” Gages warning voice rung in her ears as she ran down the hallway, heading for the courtyard.

As Isabelle ran out into the Courtyard she slid to a halt as she came face to face with a man with long silver hair, frowning softly, she took a step back and raised the gun to point it at him. The man simply stared at her, his brow dipping into a frown,

“So it is true, you are alive…how is this possible?” Isabelle tilted her head slightly as she narrowed her eyes at the man,

“I don’t know who you are but you better leave this place at once or I’ll shoot you…” The silver haired man simply tilted his head at the girl, his eyes flickering to the right. Isabelle’s eyes widened slightly as she turned around, she however only saw a streak of black as a blunt object came crashing down onto her head. Her dark green eyes seemed to turn a dull shade of green as her hair flowed out around her body as she slowly fell back onto the ground, landing with a loud thump on the dirt.

Gage rose to his feet and clicked a black button on the control panel, this was an auto control button it wasn’t as good as a person controlling the castle’s attacks but it would have to do. He had to go find Isabelle; the girl had been gone for nearly 15 minutes and with no word from her his insides had began to twist in nervous knots. He could not lose her, not her. Hastily picking up a gun Gage moved out into the hallway and briskly moved in the direction of the courtyard, several men from the raiders had gotten into the castle and were making their way towards him. Aiming the gun while he ran Gage quickly dispatched of the men, a bullet wising past his head as he jumped into a doorway. Pressing up against the wall his breath came in soft gasps as he held the gun near this chest and swiftly sped back out into the hallway. The Raiders were nowhere, has Gage moved out onto into the courtyard he paused, there was nothing here. Glancing around he frowned, surely, if Isabelle had been hurt she would be here. Unless…

“They took her…”

“Spinning around Gage eyes widened slightly at the sight of a small black creature that resembled a cat, “What do you mean they took her? Why?”

“They took her because she’s the Princess of Tambriana…”

A shutter moved through Gage as he stared at the cat, “That can’t be, there hasn’t been a Princess of Tambriana for over five hundred years…”

The cats golden eyes narrowed slightly on the man as it flew upwards, “No, there haven’t…”

Frowning in confusion the gun dropped to Gage’s side as he looked at the ground, “But…that would mean she was a new princess…”

“No, she isn’t.”

Turning to glare the strange cat thing he his voice rose with his frustration, “Then how it is possible? She would have to 500 years ol—“His voice caught in his throat as the realization came to him. “No…”

Gradually Isabelle’s eyes opened and her dark green eyes scanned the room, she was lying on a bed but hastily moved to swing her legs over the bed and stand to her feet. Where was she? This was not Dryslwyn Castle.

“This is Alnwick Castle, soon to be head castle of the new government of Tambriana…” The voice startled Isabelle and she turned to looked to the doorway, there stood the same silver haired man, his arms crossed over his chest.

“You think this castle can take the place of Dryslwyn? It can not, it will not.”

Tilting his head the man’s lips curved into a grim smile, “Do you really think you can stop this now? You and your family have been out of power for a very long time Princess and now that your line is dead a new line shall take its place, with a new purpose.”

“What? War? You think that this purpose shall help the people of Tambriana? It will only bring the country to its knees! Its people will suffer.” Isabelle winched as a mean laughed drifted from the mans lips and she took a step back as he stepped forward,

“Do you think we care about the people? We are not here for the people, we are here for ourselves and when our family is in power Cyne shall fall and this whole region will become ours. Countries will bow to us!”

Tears sparkled in Isabelle’s green eyes as she held her hands to her chest, her head dipping slightly as her eyes closed, “I can’t allow you to do something like that. People of my line, of my father’s line still live on. When your ancestors betrayed our family we did what we had too, the Castle took to the sky and father shattered our loved ones through Tambriana. Many have died since then but there are those that remain, that hold the blood of Dryslwyn within them.” Turning her face up to look at the man her eyes narrowed, “You shall stop what needs to be done. My father spent years searching for them, finding a way to open up their minds and hearts so that they would know who they are and who they should be. You will not stop me now…”

The silver haired man glared softly and his hand moved to his waist and he pulled free a gun, “Yes, I shall. Goodbye Princess.” Aiming the gun, his finger squeezed the trigger and Isabelle stood tall. The next moment the door came crashing in and there stood Gage, the little magi cat fluttering around his head. Glaring at the silver haired man Gage leapt forward, his foot coming up to contact with the man’s mid section as he turned to face him. Grunting he watched the man fall to his knees and he held his hand out to Isabelle, “Hurry we have to get back to Dryslwyn!” Smiling Isabelle ran to Gage and took his hand and the pair hurried through the castle,

“How did you know I was here?”

“Your little thing here has some…unique abilities.”

Laughing softly she glanced to the magi cat, “I didn’t think you cared.” All she got was a little huff and a flutter of wings in response as the trio made their way to a large clearing. The trio was however, greeted with a large team of men; down the hallway behind them came another group, the silver haired man in the lead. Quickly they ran along the wall until they go to the edge of the castle, Gage glanced over the side of the wall and back to the men,

“I won’t let them take you…”

Isabelle frowned slightly as she glanced around at the men and then over the wall. This castle had already reached Tambriana, the landscape was undeniable, “Gage, we’ve reached it…were here.” Glancing over his shoulder slightly he held his gun towards the men that continued to advance on them and nodded somewhat

“I can see that but it doesn’t do us much good if we can’t get off of here safely.”

“Gage…only you need to get off of here safely…”

“What?” Turning his head to look at Isabelle he watched her smiled softly, “I have a duty to perform Gage…I haven’t lived for 500 years because I’m immortal. I’ve lived because I’ve been built that way.” The young mans face twisted slightly in an expression of pain as he moved his free hand to grab her own,

“No, I can’t lose you as well. All my life I have been losing those that are close to me, finally I decided that I would never let anyone get close again. Even when I loved you. I shut you out and I’m sorry Isabelle, I am…you can’t go. I have so much to make up for.” Tears swelled in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around the man she had loved since the day she saw him. It was what she wanted, to be love and have his love in return but this path was not for her. Turning her eyes to look at the man, she watched as he levelled a gun at them and quickly she spun Gage behind her,

“Stop! You do not know what you are doing; your path will only lead to the destruction of our country. You can’t do this…I won’t let you hurt them…or Gage!”

The silver haired man smirked, “You have no choice in the matter, Princess!” As he spoke, Dryslwyn Castle moved up along side and the cook waved from the side of the castle with a large smile, “Hurry! Take hold!” Throwing a robe ladder over the side Gage quickly jumped upon the wall to grab hold of it, his other hand reaching for Isabelle’s hand as Dryslwyn continued upward. As Isabelle moved onto the stonewall she turned at the sound of the silver haired mans voice,

“I am Vincent Drave. Remember my name in death for your family shall never find its place within Tambriana!” Squeezing the triggered, he fried and Isabelle’s eyes widened as bullet structure her in the chest and ricocheted off revealing a soft glowing carmine crystal as she began to fall backwards. Gage screamed in horror as he reached for her, his fingers running through her long blonde hair as she fell from his grasp. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds as she gazed at his face from one last time, I love you Gage…I always have.

Isabelle’s eyes widened as she fell back over the wall, her back arching as her head tilted to look down upon the small earth, which rapidly became larger. Holding her hand to her chest the carmine jewel glowed brilliantly and she twisted in the air, her emerald green eyes turning to look at the disappearing form of Gage. The time was now, she must make the jewel open and in doing so, she would send out a ripple of power through Tambriana that would awaken those that held her blood, Dryslwyn blood and in doing so the castle would return to its rightful spot and Tambriana would once again be whole. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she spread her fingers over the jewel. Please, make this happen….open and unity the world in an era of peace! Isabella shut her eyes tightly as she willed the jewel to open…

L, Square, Triangle, X, O, O, Triangle, Triangle, Right, Right, Left, Up, Square, R

Isabelle continued to fall, the world going black as she crashed upon the earth, “I’m so sorry…”

“Ahhh man…”

Twitching a young boy snatched the remote from his brother, “I told you you weren’t going to do it right!” You’ve killed her!”

“I did do it right, it was the right code for the summon!”

“Was not!”

“Was too!”

“Was not and now I’m going to have to start over again!”

Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. The large grandfather clock struck five o’clock and swiftly a form moved through the hallways of a large antique castle…