I know a story where it started with just wearing a mask
And ends with a kiss…
How did that happened?
It happened before and during the Jollyday Eve…
CHAPTER ONE: Jollywood Jollyday Ball
It's an early winter morning in the small kingdom of Jollywood. Though snow falls gently from the sky, Villagers are quiet busy for the holiday rush:
People flocked in the markets to go bargain sales, buying presents and preparing full course meals. Others decorate their houses with Jollyday-themed ornaments like dark green wreaths and colorful round balls hanging around.
But the most anticipating event that they were preparing for is the Jollywood Jollyday Ball.
Every night before Jollyday Eve, All people of both high and middle classes are invited in the Jollywood Jollyday Ball, which will be held in the Palace of Queen Delightful herself.
One of the most formal yet exciting ball that only happens the night before ; and one of its main attraction is the Jollyday Countdown where people waits for ten second before the clock struck midnight and a grand fireworks display will illuminate the night sky.
Just like the Villagers above her castle, Queen Delightful is also busy instructing everyone to organize the ballroom, the guest list and the buffet for tonight's party.
Everyone including her most trusted servants, The 7D.
Seven Dwarfs who devote their services for the Queen and protect Jollywood from any forms of harm and invasion.
Especially from the evil Hildy and Grim Gloom, a witch and wizard who usually threatens Jollywood and its Queen by dethroning her.
And they hope that these magical enemies won't mess up their annual Jollyday ball.
Inside the Ballroom, The 7D were busy dusting up the floors and putting up Jollyday decorations.
Doc spread the red velvet carpet on the hallway, using his mechanical arms which were inside his tall, green and blue hat.
Sneezy is handing out colorful ball-shaped decorations as Dopey takes them and climbs on the ladder to decorate the tall Jolly tree.
Happy is instructing Grumpy to position the wreath perfectly around the railings on the balcony inside the Ballroom; and Grumpy is getting annoyed, does hanging up a wreath should be done so perfectly?
Sleepy is sweeping the floors when he spotted Bashful looking outside the window.
"Hey, Bashful…" he said calmly, "Aren't you supposed to dust out the Ballroom vases?"
Bashful just sighed dreamily. Sleepy got the feeling that he's not paying any attention to him. Instead, he keeps looking out the window.
Curious, Sleepy approaches Bashful and looked out at the window.
Outside the glass window, the palace garden is covered with white snow. And on the center of it where a frozen water fountain sits, Queen Delightful walks along with her squire, Lord Starchbottom, who has a long list that almost reached the snowy ground.
They were talking until the Queen's face got anxious and worried.
Probably something serious has happened, Sleepy thought.
Then he turned to Bashful, who was still staring out of the window. His head is slightly tilted and his eyes stared down tenderly on the Queen.
Sleepy got the idea and smiled.
Bashful always admires the Queen.
He gets all dreamy and sometimes breathless every time he sees her.
Especially when you called out her name
The Queen's name is enough for Bashful to faint which is also a dangerous thing, considering
what happened at the first opening ceremony of Doc's Skybuckets.
While Bashful stared down through the window, Happy approaches Sleepy.
"What're guys goin?" he said, grinning.
"He's got google eyes on the Queen again…" answered Sleepy, looking at Bashful.
Happy got his point. "Oooooh…. Bashful is growing up." he teased.
Bashful snapped out of his day dream and noticed Happy and Sleepy behind him.
"Huh?" he said, "What are you guys talking about?"
Happy went to Bashful and put his arms around his shoulder.
"Aww, don't worry…" he said, "We all know how much you like Queen Delightful…"
After placing the wreath on the balcony, Grumpy climbed down the ladder and went beside Bashful.
"Yeah, Bashful…" he said,
"You were like: 'Oh, Queen Delightful is soooo beautiful than the heavens above'…." Grumpy teased, trying to imitate the lovesick Bashful.
Bashful began to blush.
Grumpy saw his reaction and tease some more. "Hellooooo, my Queen…" he said, trying to mimicking Bashful's timid voice, "your cheeks looks cold and pale, let me warm it up with my kisses…Mwah,mwah,mwah…"
Grumpy puckered up his lips so exaggeratedly that it began to make silly kissy noises.
Everyone laughed and giggled. Grumpy sure knows how to make crazy jokes and silly impersonation of someone, which Bashful sincerely hates.
"Knock it off!" Bashful yelled, stammering. His face is flushing red.
Everyone began to lower down their laughter and tries to regain their composure.
"He, he, he… Sorry about that, Bashful." Doc said, removing his glasses and stroke off tears out of his eyes.
After recovering from Grumpy's jokes, Sneezy sighed and approaches to Bashful.
"Yeah, Bashful, it's just that…." He paused," If you like the Queen so much, then why don't you tell her?"
Bashful jolted and his eyes widened.
"WHAT?!...Tell her?!" he shrieked, his voice shaken, "I…I can't tell her that…"
"Why not?" asked Sleepy.
"Come on, guys…" Bashful stammered, "I can't tell her how I feel for her…What if she doesn't like me?"
"Nonsense!" said Grumpy, "You're a riot! Remember your first concert night? You rocked their heart out, Bashful…"
"Yeah, Bash…" said Happy, "The Queen even gave you flowers right after…"
"And also a kiss…" Sneezy added.
Everyone 'ooo'-ed at Bashful, who was standing awkwardly beside them.
Bashful remembers that very well. It was his first public exposure, singing in front of people and the Queen herself. He got to admit, he somehow enjoyed singing on-stage. What he doesn't enjoyed was after the concert when hundreds of fan girls gaining on him just for signing autographs.
It was a showbiz nightmare for him, but at least it got soften when Queen Delightful thanked him by giving him flowers and also a kiss by placing the Queen's fingers on her lips and pressed it softly on his forehead… It was a night that he'll never forget.
Doc noticed Bashful's awkward silent and approaches him.
"Look, Bashful…" he beagn, "it's not important how she feels for you, but rather it's the opposite."
Bashful looked at him. "You mean…" he paused, "I should tell her how I feel about her…?"
"Not just tell…" Happy interrupted, "you should express it...Telling her you like her is one thing, but expressing your love to her would mean so much…"
Bashful felt anxious. How could I express my feelings to her? He thought, I could hardly breathe every time I see her…
"Yeah, and who knows…?" said Grumpy, "Maybe you two will become a couple…"
Bashful gasped and his knees began to shake as he imagined himself with Queen Delightful, acting as if they were lovers, an official girlfriend-and-boyfriend thing.
Bashful felt dizzy by the thought.
"Speaking of Couple…" Doc began." I heard about tonight's party is going to be a to be a Masquerade Ball…."
"Oooooh… really?" exclaimed Happy, "A masquerade ball?"
"Yep, and that's not all…" Doc continued, "This will be also a couple's night. Everyone must come to the party with a partner…"
Everyone muttered and exchange excited looks. This is the first time the Jollywood Jollyday Ball will have a Masquerade-themed couple's night.
"Wow… this is new!" said Sneezy.
"Can't wait for the party tonight…" said Sleepy.
"I've never been in a Masquerade ball before…" said Happy.
Dopey whistled in aggreement.
"Sure hope the Queen would invite us there…" said Doc. "We rarely experience such things due to our busy schedules…"
"And I wonder if the Queen has a partner for tonight…" said Grumpy, grinning as he looked at Bashful.
Bashful noticed him. "What are you looking at me?"
"Come on, Bashful..." said Happy, "You've never been in an occasion like this…"
Bashful sighed. "Look, guys…" he said, "I know you all trying to help me, but please, I can't do this…"
"But, Bashful…" said Sneezy.
"No, please…" Bashful interrupted him. Everyone fell silent.
Bashful breathed deeply. "I can't go date the Queen, alright? I just can't… And besides, who am I to date her? I'm a commoner, not a royalty guy…"
Doc stepped in. "It's not that, Bashful…" he said calmly, "This isn't about the social status we have here…"
"I know…" Bashful said. "But still, I just can't go out there and ask her to be her dance partner?"
"Ask who on a what?" a sweet, girly voice said from behind.
Bashful recognized the voice and gulped. He looked behind and saw Queen Delightful with Lord Starchbottom who was busy scribbling something on his long sheet of list.
Bashful jolted back and began to sweat. "Your majesty!" he greeted, trying not to look so nervous. "H-how long have you been standing there?"
"Just now." The Queen answered.
Bashful could feel his heartbeat running fast and his breath shortening. The Queen is so astonishingly beautiful that he would rather stare than to breathe.
Happy noticed his uneasiness and approaches the Queen.
"Your highness…" Happy stepped in. "Would you like to see the Ballroom now?"
"Oh, Of course!" she exclaimed, "How does it looked?"
The Queen followed Happy at the middle of the ballroom which is fully polised and decorated.
Red curtains hanged between the huge tall glass windows, the candle chandelier is fully decorated with tiny colorful crystal balls. A long green velvet wreath wrapped the railings of the inner balcony, fully decorated with red-and-gold ornaments.
But the most attractive of all is the Tall green Jollytree, lavishly decorated with colorful hanged ornaments of all sizes, tiny white candles tucked on most of the leaves and a red-and-white striped hat on top of it.
Queen Delightful and Lord Starchbottom gasped in amazement.
Happy stood beside them, "What do you think?"
"It's wonderful!" she exclaimed.
While Happy escorts the Queen around the ballroom, Bashful slowly regain his composure.
I knew it, he thought, I can't even looked at her without being shaky and all… guess I'm not that confident at all…
Bashful sighed bitterly, picked up the feather duster and start dusting off the Ballroom vases that were half of his size.
Sneezy looked at him and felt sorry for him.
Poor Bashful…, he thought, it sure wasn't easy being him…
Just then, the Queen approaches the 7D.
"Thank you, 7D, for decorating the entire ballroom…" she said, happily.
"It was nothin', your majesty." Said Doc.
The Queen cleared her throart.
"As a show of gratitude for all your efforts, I'm inviting you all for tonight's Jollyday Ball…" she announced.
"Really…?" Everyone exclaimed.
"But it's a couple's night…" Grumpy said.
"Oh, don't worry…" she said, "You're exempted for that; consider this as a getaway night."
Happy jumped out of excitement. "Sound good to me!" he said, gleefully.
"Same here…" said Sneezy.
"Sounds fun…" muttered Sleepy.
Dopey whistled in excitement.
"Glad we're exempted in the couple's night…" Grumpy sighed in relief. He wasn't comfortable on having partners especially for the dance.
"Then it settled…" Queen Delightful said.
"Not quite, your majesty…" Lord Starchbottom entered.
"Why not?" the queen asked.
Starchbottom cleared his throat.
"Well, the guest list, the event list and the buffet are all ready for tonight, except for your dance partner…" he explained.
The Queen felt uneasy. "Oh dear…"
"Dance partner?" said Happy, "You don't have a dance partner?"
The Queen turned to Happy "Well, I do…" she said, "But Uncle Humidor is on an expedition right now, he won't come back until spring…"
Happy rubbed his chin and looked at Bashful, who is having a hard dusting the massive ballroom vases.
Then he turned to the Queen, "what do you prefer for a dance partner?"
The Queen thought for a moment.
"Do you want him Tall..?" asked Happy.
"Dark..?" Sleepy added.
"And Handsome..?" Sneezy finished.
"Or someone smart and irresistible like me?" Stachbottom added. He always wants to get the Queen's interest; just to show how useful and dependable he can be.
"Well…." Queen Delightful looked up, thinking "For me, 'Tall, Dark and Handsome' is one thing... but the thing I'm looking for a guy is his smart, good and witty personality."
"It doesn't really matter if he's handsome, tall or dark… What matters is that he's intelligent but kind-hearted, brave but humorous at the same time… In another words, I like a guy with such wonderful personality."
Happy looked up and stroked his blonde bushy beard. Again, he looked at Bashful, who is dusting off the last ballroom vase.
Then, he got an idea and smiled.
He gathered his friends and whispered something to them.
Lord Starchbottom and Queen Delightful exchanged blank looks.
As the group gathered in a circle and whispering a plan, Bashful came beside them.
"Hey, guys…" he said, panting, "I'm done with the vases…"
But the group didn't respond. Instead, they turned their heads on the Queen; without even noticing Bashful.
Happy grinned, "Your majesty…" he began, "I think we have solved your partner problem…"
"Oh, really?" surprised the Queen.
Bashful felt uneasy. What are they talking about?!
"Yep!" Happy replied to the Queen, "He's got the perfect personality that everyone would love, even to you!"
"That's right!" said Grumpy, "He's a good gentleman and funny at the same time…"
Queen Delightful lightened up, "Oh, a humorous type…"
"He may not be tall…" said Happy, "But he's got gentlemanly features."
"He may not be Dark…" said Doc, "but he's got the brightest mind."
"And most of all…" said Sneezy, "he's got the looks! He's handsome, well-polished and confident at the same time."
"How exciting!" the Queen exclaimed, she looks so impressed about this so-called
'Short, Smart and Handsome' guy.
"May I see this man at the ball tonight?" she asked.
"Of course, my Queen!" Happy answered as Dopey nodded exaggeratedly.
Bashful couldn't believe his ears. He quickly approaches to Happy.
"Guys, What are you doing?!" he muttered, nervously.
Happy patted him on the back. "Don't you worry, Bashful…"
"Yeah, we got this…" Sneezy whispered.
Bashful held his breath. He doesn't like people keeping secrets from him, especially went it's something to do with the Queen's date.
"Oh, splendid…" the queen said with a relief, At least she got an alternative date for the Jollyday ball tonight.
Then again, the Queen cleared her throat.
"Well, then…" she began, "I will see this man in the ball tonight."
Bashful drops his jaw and felt his heart stopped. She's going on a date with someone else?!
"Kindly tell him that he is invited as a guest for the Jollywood Jollyday ball in my palace at 7 o' clock… Don't be late!" she said.
As she finished, she bid them goodbye and left the ballroom; imaging the short, smart and handsome man who will soon to be her date.
As the 7D left the castle with their huge mine cart, Bashful glanced at Doc, who is steering behind the lever.
"Umm… guys." He started, "Is there something I should know about?"
"About what?" asked Doc, pretending to be unaware.
"About the Queen's date!" Bashful said. "Who are you talking about? This small, charming guy you're saying…"
"Well…" Doc sighed, "Don't freak out if we tell you…"
Bashful gulped. "What do you mean?" he said, stammering.
Excitedly, Happy sneaked beside him and gave him a huge smile; which made Bashful a little uncomfortable.
"Well, Bashful…" he paused, "You're in luck cuz'…. You're going to date the Queen!"
END OF CHAPTER ONE
NEXT CHAPTER:
Due to Bashful's anxiety attacks, Grumpy blackmailed him if he refused to come to the Jollyday ball. Will Bashful accepts the Queen's demand for a dance partner? Or will he let himself get bagged up by Grumpy's threats? All that in Chapter Two: Bashful's Choice…