Private Crazy Rich Jedi

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

"Wind Dancer." The man said it while he was there and Noriko gave a nod of her heaad. "Yes soon. These airships are not the fastest compared to a shuttle but... they are quiet and don't disrupt meditations." She said it but went towards the railing as she looked over at the mountains ending.. the cliff going down as in the distance the ancient fortress and academy was visible carved into the mountain. Its building sweeping down into massive gates that held a chokepoint. The open plains filled with dozens of villages that formed a fan almost. "The older fortress. The jade empress laid seige for ten years to it and build villages of loyal soldiers and farmers to keep the enemy forces within."

She said it as the river flowed from the mountains and split into different forks... the plains becoming forests and canyons. The distant mountain standing alone as it jutted up and Norriko had a grin on her face. "And this is one of the homes of my family. Our mountain palace... fortress and trade center. Two hundred thousand members of my family, villagers, farmers, soldiers, traders and then you get to the mountain itself and above that." She pointed as the clouds were there. "The clouds obscure it but there is a palace above it all that is able to look outwards. It served in times past as a fortress and home for the emperors and empresses given its location and fortifications."

 

[Xian Xiao]

When the rider told Xian the name of the longma, she smiled.

"I work really well with the wind. Sometimes I even dance with it."

What the girl said might be confusing to some people, but she had no other way to explain it.

"I could show you if you want."

Turning to watch Noriko, she gave the mount one last pet and joined her at the railing. She gazed out at the structure and history in front of her. Her eyes followed where her friend pointed, and she looked in awe.

"Are you royalty?"

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

"Sometimes, Atrisia has a long history and families have all been part of the royal family at one point... and sometimes several times. At the moment a cousin sits as the heir to the Commonwealth. He was adopted by the emperor and empress after the passing of their children. As for the rest of the family well we have always been big into trading and the force... there are several thousands of our family that are among the Wukong and the jedi.. some even trace lines back to the je'daii and have gone to other force groups... but we have a rich history." She said it and looked at Xian. "But don't you worry, you are my padawan and that means you are family."

 

[Xian Xiao]

The girl listened intently while Noriko answered her. It was just as confusing as it sounded. She didn't ask any further, though, and nodded.

"What are Wukong?"

Blinking her eyes, she waited for that answer and almost teared up when Noriko called her family.

After giving her a hug, Xian remained silent for a while and enjoyed the moment and the feeling of being welcome, accepted, and wanted.

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

"Atrisian jedi, lots of kimono's and sword fighting." She said it as she got a hug though and grinned wrapping her arms around the girl. She wanted to make a bad... crude joke like she would with one or two others but thought better of it... She remained there for a moment longer and placed both hands on the girls shoulders as she offered just a smile to her. "You are really into the touchy feely stuff aren't you?" She said it with a smile on her face though approving of it as she wrapped aan arm around her shoulders. "Good thing we wearr nice shirts... otherwise total pit city am I right?"

 

[Xian Xiao]

The red-haired teen raised an eyebrow at the answer she was given and stayed close to Noriko. Xian liked the feeling right now and didn't want it to end. That would happen, though, whether she wanted it to or not.

"That is very interesting, Master."

Her hand rested on her new lightsaber hilt, and she swayed a little to feel her clothes brushing against her.

"For sure! These are the best clothes I've had. Thank you."

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

She looked at her and gave a nod. "Yes they are.": She said it and there was more as the airship was continuing to fly... past the large mountain palace and over more fields, large forests that were overgrowing ruins in some areas. "There is so much more that we get to do and see... hmmm maybe we should get you something else nice or some food... have you had a frozen planet?" She said it and looking at her walked with one hand coming up as a seller listened. "Two please." She said it and the small case opened as sticks were given with a string in her hand as Noriko pulled up to spheres on the strong... and held one in each hand. "They are sweet cream in a candied shell."

 

[Xian Xiao]

As they flew past the mountain, Zian's eyes followed it. When it got too far away to be seen easily, she turned her attention back to Noriko. Shaking her head when asked if she had a frozen planet, she didn't even know what it was.

"You know me, I'm always hungry."

Even though the teen was into hugs, she wasn't entirely a hand-holder. She walked with Noriko and accepted the frozen planet when it was given to her.

"Eat the shell, drink the cream?"

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

"Yes or at the same time. It can be nice when the cream is still partially frozen." She said it with a smile on her face when she took another bite of the shell and showed how the cream could move and hold firm for a moment. "They are some of the more fun treats and different sellers can have different flavors. The more savory sweet creams are better but this one is fruit." She said it as the airship continued going more and more. Taking the place near the side railing and looking over while she was eating hers still. A smile of contentment on her face when she held it higher so the sun aided in melting the cream so that it poured as the airship went into the mountains again and a valley. A river flowing from a larger waterfall that led into a sight. Three lakes stacked on each other in almost basin like carved mountains. Noriko looked at it and offered a small grin. "The old fortress, a marvel of engineering as they cut up a mountain and made a multi-tiered lake as a means to control movement through the mountains."

 

[Xian Xiao]

Pushing her eyebrow down in a grimace, Xian attempted to do exactly what her friend did. Taking a bite and then a quick drink before the cream could melt away or escape.

"Sweet is better, so I'm fine with the fruit. Thank you."

Her eyes looked ahead, and she was starting to wonder how much further away the valley of the horse lords was. They had passed through so many that she had lost count. However, she was old enough not to ask if they were there yet.

"How do they make the lakes stay up?"

Sipping at the cream, she kept hold of the treat and waited for Noriko to answer.

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

Noriko looked at her and she had to agree with the sentiment about sweet over salty of the savory... a smile stayed when she finished. "Engineering and possibly some form of witchcraft. A lot of the older emperors and empresses wanted to leave a legacy. Be it a fortresses, a policy, a palace or a water gardens. These were made to show the power of and majesty. The mountain was hollowed out, sliced into three levels and the river diverted to travel through it. Whether up or down river for trade and movement. The lakes themselves serve incredibly well to show skills in engineering as well as function for boats. Upriver is the land of the horselords and we are going to have to disembark... nothing is allowed there and even the valley is shrouded from orbit."

 

[Xian Xiao]

"They sure did leave a legacy. How long has it been like that?"

Listening to Noriko, the young teen remained impressed and curious.

"Is that something that can be done today? So much technology and knowledge was lost, and some is still missing."

Xian sighed and watched as the floating lakes faded into the distance. From what Noriko said, though, they would soon be in the valley, and the girl smiled in excitement.

"I am so ready to be there!"

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

"Hmm maybe around thirty thousand years old." SHe said it with a tapping of her chin when she was looking over at it. The mountains as they rose up opening into a massive field... thousands of flowers, water flowing in a channel that rises up into an archway. The massive channel of the arch being formed went towards another set of mountains with small streams overflowing as the water cascaded down and into the valley to disperse. Birds of a thousand colors flying around as there could be riders seen moving around. the furthest ones in cloaks and capes of feathers that were multicolored. Noriko pointed to where the airship was heading as more riders were around and the mountains in the distance were much larger... clouds thick above while the fields of the valley were filled with wild growing areas of food. "We are here... almost." She said it when the airship touched down and started getting off as the birds flew overhead and the riders looked but didn't do much. The other horselords towering and longma being provided for them to be able to move as Norikko spoke. "They will escort us to the mountains and then we'll meet our next escorts."

 

[Xian Xiao]

"WOW..."

It was the only word the girl could think of to say. The number was astounding, and Xian couldn't imagine making something like that these days. She also imagined having one of those flowers in her hair. It was getting long enough that she could pull it up and wear one easily.

"What are the flowers?"

Then the birds distracted her, and she almost wanted to join them in their flight. Keeping her feet firmly on the aircraft, the teen watched them fly around.

"Are there people on those birds?"

Craning her neck to look above the ship, she was jostled as it landed, and she returned her eyes to Noriko.

"Will we be blindfolded too?"

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

"On the birds no... they ride longma... for the horselords... longma are practically family." She said it as getting out and over towards two waiting Longma.. she touched the straps and got onto the beasts back as it rose up and she looked down at Xian. "I don't think they would, they are private but they do not hide things from people." She said it and waited for Xian as the two were giving them time but started to head off after them. SHe was checking on it as the trail opened up in the flowers.... forking and staying like its own road. The shuffle of the longma as their feet moving was muffled on the packed dirt. Along the sides of the road the flowers were larger and had some birds flying over and standing under them as Noriko smiled. I wonder if we can get out hair like they do... they put it into shapes of important."

 

[Xian Xiao]

"The birds ride the longma too?"

Following a step behind Noriko, the girl was really confused, and her voice would make that clear. Stopping when she came up to the longma waiting for her, she watched as her friend climbed on hers.

"I'm glad I'll be able to see where I'm going."

Once Xian was comfortable with the motion, she gave Noriko a large smile and whooped loudly. It was nice to feel the wind in her hair and the connection with nature around them.

"Is there anything they could do to my hair?"

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

Tapping her chin she gave a grin. "Grow it out to be too heavy for the wind to move or chop it off... I grow mine out and then have droids braid it so it is firm." SHe said it as the travel towards the mountain continued... the riders leading the way remained at a steady pace as the approach continued... the trail widening but remaining straight while the plants, flowers and trees were set with smaller overhangs. Providing shade and from the air what would look more like a winding pathway until the foot of the mountain spread outwards to the sides. The higher stone sides of the path going up leaving little room for getting large ground through and up close the sides of the path looked more like massive hands thrusting out of the ground. THeir guides heading up and aiding them with the pace when more appeared... guard and soldierrs weaaring thick bone molded armor. The top of the trail looking outwards onto a massive crater along the walls of the cliff... sheer and covered in thousands of jewels so the sun reflected it. The stormclouds looking more like a ring from above at the mountains ring while the interior was calm and almost purely serene.Beautiful."

 

[Xian Xiao]

Growing up, Xian had kept her hair short. Since she had been picked by Sor Jan, she had started to let it grow. It was now long enough to be played with. The young teen smiled at the thought and gently tugged at the ends. Probably pulled a few strands out, but there were many more.

Her fear of the longma had faded, and she was enjoying the ride. The gentle and silent gait was comforting and almost lulling her to sleep. Resting her eyes, she missed some of the sights along the way. Only when Noriko exclaimed it was beautiful did she wake up.

Rubbing away the sleep from her eyes, the girl could only nod. Words weren't enough, and she kept silent.

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

Noriko looked at her with a nod of her head and amusement. The girl had fallen asleep which seemed strange with everything around them of wonder but alright... she could accept it as the waterway was coming through and showed itself as a massive waterfall that created a mist along a portion of the valley. The longma heading in as more people could be seen of massive herds running free as well as villages. Going down the hill she was able to see a lot more as in the distance there was further villages. "This is a treat, few people come this far without special invitation." She knew that even the emperor and empress were rarely invited.. the horselords preferred it and coming down to the massive plains themselves. The road heading down was bright and vibrant... with smaller villages branching off of the main road and groups of the people traveling in their cloaks. Children showing hair just as massive as their parents.

 

[Xian Xiao]

It seemed like they had been on the go all day, and this was the first chance Xian had to rest her eyes. At Noriko's exclamation, she opened them and stretched with a loud sigh. Looking at her friend, her comment confused her a little.

"Did we get an invitation?"

Sitting up, the teen looked at the new sights around them. Sleep still clung to her a little, and she needed to rub it out of her eyes.

"There's no way my hair will ever look like that!"

Noriko Ike