Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Midwinter Night's Dream ❯ Wanderer Of The Night ( Chapter 1 )

A Midwinter Night's Dream

Rain, silver, and snow, Bulma thought, staring out of the window into the approaching dusk, all are glittering. She took another sip of wine and looked at the dancing snow in front of her window. It was her third bottle this evening, and it was nearly empty. But she still had enough to keep her head in that pleasant fog it was in until the middle of next January. Was no problem, if you drank alone. Her parents were on a trip, like most times lately, and Capsule Corp.'s cellars were huge.

Alone… She swung her glass and was hypnotized by the ruby liquid's movements. Self pity rose inside her. He shouldn't have left me alone. It's Christmas Eve. Nobody should be alone on Christmas Eve. She pouted. He just had gotten her completely wrong, that was the problem. To make a fight out of nothing really wasn't fair. And then to go away like that!

Bulma emptied her glass in one swallow and staggered away from the window. Why lie at myself? she thought and laughed with a drunken voice. It sounded like a sob. It was my fault, and now he's gone. She giggled. Gone, gone, gone, and I am all alone. Rhyme or I'll eat you. Feeling dizzy, she stumbled down the few stairs from the living room into the kitchen. She really needed something to drink. But somehow her feet wouldn't play along. She squinted downwards and saw her knees give way. Like broken matches, she thought, and her eyes rolled back. She already was unconscious when her body hit the floor.

***@_@***

It was deepest night when she awoke. The candles she had lit earlier that evening were spending a flickering light. Some had already burned down. Why didn't Vegeta turn on the lights? she asked herself confused. And why am I lying on the floor? Then it came back to her. The quarrel. She had accused him of training like a madman even on Christmas Eve, he had called her a silly goose, she had yelled at him, and he had flown away. It was such an easy thing, and yet so hard to bear. Bulma had looked forward to that evening, had wanted it to be something special. Although she hadn't told the proud Saiyan about the feelings she had felt flowering inside her heart, she thought that maybe she could make him see. Make him understand how important he had become to her. But she got it all screwed up once more, and now he was gone. And her pride didn't allow her to spend the evening with her friends. The rich and lonely girl… Bulma didn't want to get caught up in a cliché.

The sound of light footsteps made her try to get up. But a piercing headache sent her back to the floor. Seems I can't really move. Must've been a little too much. The footsteps came nearer.

"Vegeta?"

"Not really", a clear voice answered her. Two feet clad in soft brown leather appeared in front of her. Her gaze wandered over dark green, somehow strange clothing that fit perfectly to a slender body, and a fine cut face, where she met the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

"Hi there." The young man in front of her had a friendly smile on his face. Bright red hair shone in the candle light almost like a messy cloud of fire. It hung in thick strands over his eyes, and something with his ears didn't seem quite right.

"Who…" she started with a frown. It wouldn't have been the first intruder who had wanted to get some of Capsule Corp.'s more interesting toys.

"Name's Robin. Robin Goodfellow. Might as well call me Puck."

"Who? Puck?" The expectant look on his face faded when he saw her puzzled stare.

"Uh, you know? Oberon's jester and lieutenant? First one of all hobgoblins? No? How about this?" He cleared his throat. "'I am that merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Oberon, and make him smile when I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile, neighing in likeness of a filly foal.'", he declared theatrically. "Still not ringing a bell?"

"Huh?" was all Bulma could answer.

Puck sighed and sadly shook his head.

"You are not the most cultural interested, am I right? Ever heard of Shakespeare? Midsummer Night's Dream? The play where the queen of fairies falls in love with that guy I turned into a donkey?"

"No, I'm afraid I spend most of the time in the lab." This time, she managed to sit up and lean against the wall, although her head was pounding. "So you are a hobgoblin?"

Nod.

"And serving the king of fairies?"

Nod nod.

"And now you want to make me fall in love with a donkey?"

Nod n… shakeshakeshake.

"Nay, although the thought is tempting." Puck grinned. She was surprised at how good he looked, although he seemed to be no more than twenty years old.

"What are you doing here, then?" Bulma demanded. A sharp pain made her gasp. Puck kneeled down beside her, and with a light touch wiped his hand over her forehead. The pain vanished. And from this position, she could take a closer look at his ears.

They had pointed ends.

"You… you… you…", she stammered.

"I, I, I am here to help you", he interrupted her.

"But you are…"

"I am a hobgoblin, just as I said. Look, it's Midwinter Night, and every spirit has to choose a mortal who deserves our help. Oberon's order." Puck sighed. "I chose you, because I think we're alike somehow. Both of us like to play, and can get very mean to people we don't like."

Bulma was totally confused. "Help me, with what?" she asked.

"My master likes it when a love story turns out nicely. So I think I'll just help you get your young man." The imp winked at her. "Trust me, I'm a pro."

***@_@***

Author's Note: Little doth she know about the chaos that awaiteth her… *grin* I know, we're not even close to Christmas, but regarding my tempo, I'll be lucky if I have this fic complete by then. ^_^'