[i]Make sure your tie's on straight.[/i]

"I know."

[i]Don't forget to tie your shoes.[/i]

"I won't."

[i]Did you take a shower?[/i]

"Yes, ma'am."

The two speaking in the dressing room seems like a fairly odd pair: a boy and, coiled in one corner of the room, a seven-foot-long blue dragon with two pairs of wings...that just happened to be able to speak. Ventus, or Ven, rather, was preparing for his first tournament fight, something he had been looking forward to for a while, now. He had heard stories of people going to these tournaments and becoming famous and wealthy, so, on a whim, he had decided to try his hand at it.

As he finishes adjusting his white tie, he buttons up a blue vest over it and pulls on a black jacket, which he leaves unbuttoned. Turning around, he holds his arms out to his sides and asks, "How do I look, Aura?"

The dragon, Aura, looks at her master for a few moments, scrutinizing his ensemble, before she reaches forward and licks the top of his head, wetting down a lock of his black hair. [i]Better,[/i] she says, an amused tone in her voice as Ven wipes his head. "Gee, thanks," he mutters. "Would it have killed you to just tell me?"

[i]No,[/i] Aura replies. [i]I just like seeing that look on your face.[/i]

Ven sighs, but doesn't let her gentle teasing get to him. Instead, he looks up at the clock hanging off of the wall of his dressing room, watching the second hand tick away. "Almost showtime," he says as he reaches for his mask, which was simply colored sky-blue, the same shade as Aura, with a light green trim and patches of white, making it look like a picture of the sky.

[i]Be careful, little one,[/i] Aura says. [i]I sense that there are strong summoners here. If there is too much trouble, don't be afraid to surrender.[/i]

Ven looks at Aura, feeling a pleasant warmth spread inside of him, knowing that, even though his mother had passed away years ago, Aura's personality made it seem as if she was still right next to him. Reaching out, he wraps his arms around Aura's neck and says, "I know." Backing up, he says, "You should probably get going. I don't think you'll be able to fit through the door, otherwise."

Aura dips her head and says, [i]Alright. Be careful.[/i] Then, in a blue flash, she disappears. Ven takes a deep breath and looks up at the clock, uncharacteristically nervous. He then looks back down at his mask and says, "Let's get this show on the road."