Brandon sat up in his bed for the millionth time that night. 
He hadn't gotten a wink of sleep since finally getting the jist of the
letter through his head. Slowly and groggily he climbed out of bed
and headed for the living room to find his parents. Oddly enough,
they still werent home. <Oh well... > he thought. Then he
checked the clock. Four am.<I need a shower...>
Getting in his bathroom, he first looked in the mirror and rubbed the
stubble on his chin. <Damn puberty! > he cursed. He then
felt something land on his shoulder. His mind clogged with sleep,
he didnt bother to rationalize...and tore the towel rack off the wall.
"Aww man!" he said.
"Very impressive...Selonian" someone said from behind him. "But
you cant hurt me with that."
Selonian whirled around and stared in shock at the shadow, which was
somehow animated. "Wha..."
"I've come here to escort you to the ball...follow me." the shadow
said, turning around. It took two steps and promptly dissapeared.
"Hey!" Selonian shouted. "I cant do that!"
"Just step forward already!"
Selonian did as he was instructed and was startled to realize that
he was in a swirling tunnel. In this tunnel he could see his escort
clearly. "Hey, youre a Zora, arent you?" he asked.
The fish person whirled, his head tail floating behind him, and pointed
a clawed finger at Selonians head. "Mention that word in my presence
again, and I will kill you." he growled.
"'K" Sel gulped. "Um, whats your name?"
"That is none of your business. Please step over here." The Zora
said, motioning to a black spot in the tunnel wall.
Selonian complyed, and hunched over holding his stomach.&nbsp; "Arrrggh!

What?"
"Just part of your costume." The fish person said from inside the
tunnel.
Selonian reached up to scratch the side of his head, and accidentally
felt his ear. His long, pointy, elfin ear. "What the!?!" he
shouted.
"Youre fitting your part. You are Selonian now." Zora said, now
out of the tunnel.
"Before or after Jusenkyo?" Sel asked.
"After, but without the lock." The Zora started back toward the
portal. "Oh! And you might want to get dressed." he said before
disapearing. "The boss wont be happy yo see you like that."
Selonian blushed and picked up the nearby set of clothing, A green
chinese shirt, black pants, and leather boots.  He finished it off with
the blue katana leaning against the wall.  "Uh, where am I supposed to
go?" he shouted.  In answer, the wall nearest to him opened up and the
light shining through blinded him.  "Here we go." he said, as he stepped
in.

*****************

When Seratia came to, she was shocked to see that she had been out for a
day or so, and she wasn't even HUNGRY for gosh sakes...
Ahem.
She praised god that she had 'borrowed' her father's apartment for this
whole year, and that this month was a holiday. Picking up the letter beside
her again, she read it one more time. 
And nearly fainted again. 
"The...Horsemen's...Ball..." she said slowly. "To my SI character."
She thought about it, and nearly chewed her lip to shreds before making a
decision. Closing her eyes and wishing that she really knew what to do, the
girl imagined the costume that her SI wore, then visualized herself as her
SI, and focused herself into the shape.
When she opened her eyes, she was eighteen, had a white wrap on, a light
blue tunic, the black bandanna, the markings, and of course, her dark blue
sash and the Dragonsword. (in other words, ancient Chinese Clothing and a
huge broadsword to match.)
"YATTA!" she cheered. "YES! I DID IT!"
Slow clapping came from inside the rooms. She broke off, right hand
reaching automatically for the sword. "Dare yo?"
"Very nice, girl..."
She sweatdropped. "Suzaku? What are you doing? You look rather small today..."
The phoenix facefaulted. "I'm here to take you to the Horsemen's Ball, of
course! And don't remind me of how small I am."
She blinked. And blinked again, then twisted a strand of her now-white-hair
around her finger. "Um, how am I supposed to ride on something the size of
a very...small...chicken?" 
The phoenix glared, then waddled over to the open window, jumping up on the
sill. "Jump out of the window," he snapped. "Don't ask questions, just do it."
She went over to the window, prayed to Daishin that she wouldn't be
hallucinating, and did as she was told.
Seratia Ryuusen Mirai
Goddess of Elements and Infinity
Practical joker and...
HEY! WHO WROTE THIS?!
-blam smash KRAK-