Authoress' Note: A story about a ball, and how it began everything. Lord knows how long I've wanted to do a fantasy… By the way, it's a pretty random title. I racked my brain and couldn't find a better one.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Warnings/Cautions/Alerts: This story is mildly written using old Elizabethan English occasionally. (Blame it on us studying Shakespearean plays in class.) NOTE: No matter how awkward this is for me, and no matter how much I wish I could do it, there is no Japanese speaking in this story. I tried to incorporate it and it sounded really peculiar. Forgive me.

A Golden Tale

Chapter 01: Fairytales

"So, Tenten-chan, are you doing anything special tonight? Anything that's worthy of my attention?" The woman with waist length indigo hair questioned, digging furiously inside her walk-in closet. "Well, anything?"

The rustling paused for a moment, before the woman in her room heard her murmur something incoherent and the noise started back up. The brunette glanced up at the magenta canopy that hung beautifully from the queen bed she sat on. "Nay…" She said quietly. "I'm not doing anything special at all."

Hinata stuck her head out of the closet, her face expressing dissatisfaction. "Nay," The princess seemed to jest. "Father announced weeks ago that they were hosting a ball. Prestigious families from all over the land will show up just to meet my Father…" She smiled. "Just to meet and greet him… But I digress. I do so want you to go."

Tenten shook her head. "Nay."

"Aye!" Hinata disagreed, giggling and disappearing back into her closet. "I demand that you come! If not for anything else, then to come and see me on the tiny throne between my Father and Mother's."

She examined the girl's room, brightened with a lively sun that beamed through the windows. Eyeing all her posh wooden dressers and nightstands, she couldn't help but be a bit envious – Hinata's room was twice the size of hers.

The woman sighed, leaning back on the cozy bed a bit. "I have no interest in it. Really? What are these balls but extravagant celebrations of nothing with school girls who swoon over any handsome male?"

"Oh? Do you see me as a school girl swooning over a handsome man just because I was born into a wealthy family? Nay, you do not. Please do attend the ball, Tenten-chan. I promise I will so resent you if you don't."

She seemed taken aback by these words, but recovered quickly. "Aye, aye! I'll go already. But," she faltered. "I have not a thing to wear."

She heard her giggle cheerily. "I found it Tenten-chan! Don't you worry a bit, I have something for you."

Hinata came out of the closet with a white box in her royal hands. She rushed over to her bed, and placed the item lightly covered with dust beside Tenten. She sighed in content. "It's been ages since I've purchased this gown!" When she blew lightly over the box, her dainty cheeks puffed out. "It was imported straight in from France, you know."

Tenten knitted her brows. "Straight in from France? And you have yet to wear it? What a waste of money…"

Hinata lifted the top, and beneath it was a thin, white paper covering. She removed that as well, and underneath was a peach fabric. Tenten brown eyes widened. "Nay… you expect me to wear it? 'Tis too refined for me, Hyuuga-hime. I simply cannot accept."

"You must," the woman took held the straps of the gown in her fingers as if the fabric was frail, and had grown weak with its age. "Magnificent," she breathed, examining the dress. There was a corset sewn at the torso, embedded with divine diamonds. The skirt, which was more than just a tad puffy went down to the ankles and glittered endlessly.

"Really, Tenten-chan," Hinata said, looking down at the older woman. "This was intended for you all along. I jested when I said it was mine. I have waited a while to give it to you. Tonight, I'm certain it will create magic for you."

She blinked at the statement. "Magic?"

"Aye," Hinata nodded. "I'm not entirely sure if it's your right size though, but one can only hope."

Tenten giggled. "Aye…only hope… I will forever be grateful for your generosity. Anyhow, if I wish to go to this ball, I believe 'tis the time to prepare ourselves. Young ladies should always glow brightly, you know."

"Oh, yes. Very well then." Hinata placed the gown properly folded back down in the box, before handing it to the other female. "Good bye 'till night."

The brunette stood, bowed politely and headed for the door. "Fare well for now, Hyuuga-hime." When she exited the room, she shut the door softly behind her. Heaving a sigh, she could hardly believe that she spoke that way for so long. 'Everyone else in the palace speaks that way,' she thought. 'So they said I'd have to learn to, too.'

Tenten could barely keep up with everyone's eighteenth century talk, but no matter how unbearable it always was for her, she would have to always be polite. Especially to the princess. Not many in the kingdom were granted the right to speak with her personally, after all.

She shook her head, and headed down the narrow, dim hallway with chandeliers hanging low. 'On to the ball…'

.•''♥♥''•.,.•''♥♥''•.,.•''♥A Golden Tale♥''•.,.• ''♥♥''•.,.•''♥♥''•.

The ball room had Tenten utterly speechless. Lifting the puffy skirt of her gown so she would not lose her footing, she entered the room slowly, completely in awe. Beautiful, sophisticated crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling high above, and cast a dashing glow on the glossy wooden floor. The large room was crowded with people mingling, swirling some expensive champagne in wine glasses.

The woman immediately felt out of place. The fact that she wasn't 'ritzy' made her feel irritatingly abnormal around these people. If that wasn't enough to make her feel out of place enough, then multiple questions that would constantly pop into her head surely did.

Do I stand out?

Do my clothes make me look as though I'm trying too hard to be something I'm not?

Am I supposed to take my food little by little, in small portions of the spoon?

The fork on the left, or right?

…When will I ever embrace the fact that I'm just not one of them?

Blinking from an unwanted trance, she focused on the event at hand. The night was young, so was she, and the opportunity finally have a bit of fun was afoot. When the brunette had finally mustered the courage to mingle with other guests, something clicked.

Perhaps her eyes deceived her.

She looked to her left, then to the right, and was put in utter bewilderment at the sight of females. All females. There was not one male within eye view, and she panicked at the possible reality.

'Maybe… maybe I'm in the wrong place… Oh no… Alright, I don't care how rich these stupid girls may be, or how expensive their dresses may look, but I do not roll that way! Did she actually think I…? Ack!'

"Silence please! Silence amongst the ballroom I ask! Silence!" All the woman went quiet and turned their attention toward the male (with a peculiar scar across his young face, which seemed to tell a short story of its own) standing before large doors. "Please, if you would, direct your attention to the main entrance. I present, leader of the kingdom, high ruler, and his first lady, King and Queen Hyuuga." His hand out in an ushering fashion, and he moved aside to allow the doors to come open.

And so they did, and a chorus, high pitched gasp was heard, as the women didn't know what to expect. The sea of women made a narrow opening to allow the two to pass.Out stepped an emotionless Hiashi, dressed in lavish red robes. His wife was beside him, elbows locked formally, clad in the same type of red.

Tenten immediately knew that even if she wanted it, wouldn't be able to afford it.

The ballroom erupted in subtle, yet polite claps.

The brown haired woman knitted in her confusion when – while on the way to their throne – saw the Queen nudge Hiashi discreetly in the gut. She whispered inconspicuously, and Tenten supposed she was directing him to actually greet the guests, and not just acknowledge them with a slight glance and head nod.

Finally, after they seemed to take a century to get to there, they seated themselves on there thrones.

'What is really going on here?' Tenten thought to herself. 'A ball of only woman… and a King Hyuuga that doesn't seem to be so ecstatic at the fact… I can only wonder, what is all this…?'

"Next, I present, daughter and son of the land's high rulers, Prince and Princess Hyuuga." The man repositioned himself somewhere out of the way, and allowed the two respectful space to pass.

Hinata was clad in a forest green ball gown with gold accents, while Neji who was latched to her arm (1) and wore a simple white suit – which was more than a bit surprising in the time they lived in.

The women in the room giggled, squealed, and nearly fainted when the prince 'made' eye contact. The truth was, while one his way to the throne, he never once tore his eyes from in front of him.

Tenten's heart literally pounded in her chest. 'I'd never… I'd never seen him up close before… H-he's gorgeous. Handsome. Dare I say, beautiful? I don't believe it, but does love at first sight actually exist?'

The same man who had introduced them stood before all four their thrones. "I present you, Your Highness'"

And once again, there was clapping.

Tenten was too much in a daze to notice anything with the exception of the prince's smooth face –– 'Smooth like porcelain…' ––sharp clothing–– 'A prince always must be fashionable…' ––and perfectly stoic expression. 'Being able to keep your composure in the presence of multiple women… Oh, god. He has me on the brink of fainting…' Tenten swooned absentmindedly.

"Prince Hyuuga Neji with the opening dance." The master of ceremonies voice broke her form her reverie.

'What?! This is all too good to be true. I–– ' She suddenly glanced at the hundred some women in the room and faltered. Compared to all of them, she considered herself second best. '–– don't have a chance in hell… Oh why did I listen to Hinata? I don't remember why I even came here. A regular girl is what I am. Just…regular.'

He once again made his way down the clearing the young women had made, and spared each a glance. A true glance this time. One squealed. One giggled and turned away. And Tenten began an inner battle of weather or not to turn this ball completely upside-down.

Neji stopped before a raven-haired female dressed in a sky-blue ball gown. Her aquamarine eyes glittered as she stared up at him. Her cheeks became deep pink. Slowly, as if contemplating if he actually wished to do this, he grabbed her hand, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on it.His pale eye met her aquamarine. "Would you–– " Gasps. "–– care for a dance?"

Tenten balled her fist as the – in her words – female blurted out excitedly, "Aye!" The brunette lifted her skirt, stomping her feet as classical music filled her ears. I knew it. I expected it. And yet still I hoped. It's always the same thing…'

.•''♥♥''•.,.•''♥♥''•.,.•''♥A Golden Tale♥''•.,.• ''♥♥''•.,.•''♥♥''•.

The fountain she sat on calmed her. Not enough, but just enough from preventing her from becoming erratic. The mid-summer air was warm on her skin, no matter how much she told her body to not feel anything at all – she hated being depressed.

'Depressed over something I never had? Pathetic. Alas, it was just another situation in which I didn't belong. Things like a prince dancing with an ordinary girl like me just don't happen. Only in fairytales…'

She gazed up at the large castle before her, listing intently to soothing cicadas. "So expensive, all of it," she muttered absentmindedly to herself. "I suppose I wouldn't be able to deal with all of it anyways, if he had chosen me." She removed the peach colored shoes which squeezed her toes. 'But it was just a silly dance.'

The back of the woman's gown was becoming increasingly wet at the splashing water behind her. Sooner or later, she would remorse over treating a gift in such a way. Burying her head in her hands wistfully, she whispered, "Prince Hyuuga…""Aye, fair maiden?"Her eyes snapped open and she instantly stared up at the man who could cause a woman to go weak in the knees with one faithful look. He was handsome devil. "P-P-P–– "

"'Prince Hyuuga,'" he interrupted simply. "Or, I believed that was what you said to yourself a few seconds ago. You were referring to me, I hope."

She blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, wow. You are…" She blinked. "Absent from a royal party! You are supposed to be in there chatting up some girl, are you not? No, dancing with some woman. Go! Don't allow me to hinder yo–– " Her eyes widened in regret at his piercing stare. "I… apologize Your Highness."

The man sat beside her without speaking a single word of acknowledgement. He turned to stare at her, examining what she was. Her brown hair ran down her back, which was being hugged tightly by a peach gown. Neji glanced back up at her face, and spoke cautiously, "If I told you that you were beautiful, would you believe me?"

Tenten's face seemed to go completely red. Shading her face with the hands that had silk gloves over them, she turned away from him. "Wh-why do you flatter me so?"

"Nay, not flattery: 'tis the honest, god-given truth." He took hold of her gloved hand, kissing the back of it lightly. There was a blush on her part. "Would you care to dance?"

"I-I…I don't know what to say. This is surreal in more ways than just one…"

He narrowed his eyes questioningly at the girl, who once again blushed furiously. "How so?"

"B-because you're a prince! And… girls like me fade into the background. Like a wallflowers." She took a deep breath, nervous beyond belief. She hoped the babbling from the fountain behind her would ease it away. 'I still cannot believe I'm speaking with the prince! The Prince Hyuuga Neji!'

"As of now, you are not – and I refuse to imagine anyone like you ever was. So, I ask of you, do me the honor of a dance." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and smirked as she blushed.

"Y-yea – but what is a dance with no music?"

Neji stood, pulling her to her feet as well. Which, she could not deny, were already aching. "I have it cov–– "

In that very moment a deep bell chimed. The woman knitted her brows sadly, and glanced at the clock. 'Twelve always strikes so quickly…'

"I apologize, but I must be on my way."

"Where–– "

"Don't worry." She interrupted him. "You'll see me again, I can promise you that. But tonight, I must go. Prince, I bid you goodnight!" Lifting her dress once more, she fled into the night. 'I suppose some fairytales do come true,' was her final thought.

Neji glance at the shoes left behind at the fountain.

To Be Continued

Authoress Note: To clear one thing up, Tenten does not like talking that way. She was told it was a requirement, so therefore began speaking that way.

Who was she told by? Why did she run away so suddenly? What will Neji do with her shoes? 0.o (NOTE: If you're looking for a remade Cinderella story, please space yourself from the next chapter.)

(1) No Hyuuga-cest here! Don't take it the wrong way.