A loud bell rang out through the air, abruptly cutting the chatter of the ball and drawing all the people towards the stairs in anticipation of the Monarchs. I turned away from Tsubaki so that I could look upwards to the white balcony at the top of the stairs where I knew my mother and father would soon be standing to break the news. Now that I was here it all felt so much more real and the nervousness began to creep back into my stomach.

The curtains parted and my mother and father stepped forward into the open smiling as if they were still a happy couple. Maybe I was the only one to notice that they weren't holding hands. My mother smiled down at everyone warmly. Her hair was curled as usual and her long white dress trailed behind her, cruelly ironic as it reminded me of her wedding dress too much.

She bowed her head politely towards her people and stepped back so that my father could speak. He was dressed up smartly in a plain black suit and tie that made him seem average instead of king and as he spoke he ran his hand nervously through his lank, red hair.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour to have you here tonight for the annual autumn ball!" He changed his face into a welcoming smile for the guests. "As you know tonight is the night that we celebrate the coming of autumn to Whitehollow however we have more than just that to celebrate in tonight's case. The decision that I and my…wife have made recently is one which will affect the whole kingdom and hopefully for the better. We have both put a lot of thought and consideration into this and know that it will be the best thing to do." He paused as all eyes in the room settled on him in wonder. All eyes apart from mine. I turned away, unable to watch and looked down to the floor.

"We have decided that the best course of action is for both of us, king and queen of Whitehollow, to abdicate."

As soon as the words were said I knew that they couldn't be taken back, not ever, and now my fate had truly been sealed. It wasn't a relief. Now that it was done and could not be changed I felt like the weight on my shoulders had only worsened. At first there was shock and through the silence gasps could be heard echoing as people processed what they had been told. My father took the opportunity to lighten the mood.

"But as I mentioned, tonight is a night for celebration! In our place my beautiful young daughter Maka shall become queen. She has been trained well and she will make a fine ruler. Hopefully this can be a fresh start for Whitehollow and with a better monarch I am positive that the kingdom will thrive."

I finally looked up at him to see the proud smile on his face and immediately knew that I was doing the right thing. Then why do I feel so sad about this? Why am I so against it...? I shook the thought away and stood tall, head held high, ignoring the many mumbling people around me and the occasional look of confusion which caught my eye. I was pretty much queen now and I was going to do this properly.

On the balcony my mother whispered something into my father's ear, taking advantage of the distracted people. A stubborn look of anger and outrage came across his face and his lips formed a firm 'no'. My mother stepped forward shaking her head and I watched as he went to grab her shoulder but she merely shrugged him off and continued until she was stiffly standing by the edge.

"Everyone, please may I have your attention for a few moments longer." She called out, instantly changing her expression to one of delight. "There is another joyous that even more important than our abdication which will truly give the whole of Whitehollow reason to celebrate."

The people, enticed with the idea, leaned forward eagerly. My father looked away with a look of disgust before glancing down at me. His blue eyes were pleading and sorrowful. Whatever was happening; whatever they had hidden from me; I didn't like it.

"I have personally, and of my own accord, been to Death city recently to discuss the matters of war with the Lord Death and the young prince Kid. Although it has taken a long time to make an agreement the decision has finally come to end the war!"

Cheering rang out and people clapped and laughed and smiled all around me. I tensed up and stared coldly at my mother, catching her eye and causing her to flick her head away. This was too good to be true and it was my main purpose for wanting to be queen, why had she solved it so easily now that I was willing to help. I didn't want to doubt my own mother but there was something which made me suspicious; and cautious about this.

"Although," She interrupted the noise, "even though the men are to be pulled out in just under a month the war was not won. There was one solution which came to my mind about how to appease the senate of Death city, which are still intent on winning this war. That was through a union between our cities." The words had barely left her lips and already I hated them. A union, what would that mean…?

"The easiest way to secure that this union could be made and yet allow Whitehollow to remain its freedom would be to join the cities through marriage." She paused. "And so, for the good of the good of Whitehollow we have decided to create a union through the marriage of the prince Kid and our own sweet princess Maka."

This time the noise broke out even louder. It was a mixture of joy and triumph with little outrage or uncertainty.

I just stood there still.

She had said nothing of marriage! And absolutely nothing of arranged marriage! Anger bubbled up inside me as I felt the betrayal of what my own mother had done. I wanted to scream; to cry like a baby and run off from the room.

"No, no, no, no, no…" I whispered under my breath so that only Tsubaki could hear my pleads. "This isn't happening, this cannot be happening…" I was still partially in shock. I hadn't agreed to this, I didn't want it.

My head was spinning with confusion, hoping that somewhere my mother had made a mistake or that she was just joking but I knew she wasn't from the hard look that she stared down at me with. She looked almost angry at me with her brow furrowed. Why? What had I done?!

"Maka…" Tsubaki put her hand on my shoulder, eyes wide. I brushed her off and ran, pushing through the people like they weren't even there. I left the hall, only faintly hearing the cries of my father calling to me. I slammed into the first wall I came to, knocking myself over and hitting the cold paved stone. Tears began to well up in my eyes, as I pushed myself up. My dress was in the way so I tore it up the side before gathering myself together. What was she thinking? Why would she do this? I let out a sob, choking it down and sprinting off into the castle.

The further I got, the heavier my legs seemed to become. I was weighted down and tired and the tears on my cheeks were running down my face. I knew I was a state but I didn't care as I wobbled to a stop. I stood swaying, my chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath.

I wiped my eyes with the backs of my hands and took a deep breath. The sadness and shock that had taken over me was fading and in its place a burning resentment towards my mother. My mind was numb apart from the harsh betrayal that I felt and I didn't care. She had told me I was training to be a queen but she had lied; I was training to be his wife. It made me feel sick.

The sound of footsteps echoed through as the person behind me approached quickly. They slowed down cautiously and they had all the reason to, I was not going to hold back for anyone. Not when I had been humiliated and made to cry and act like a fool. Not when I could picture Florence's smug face at the back of my head. Not for anyone.

"Maka," My mother's annoyingly innocent tone sang, "Where were you, you know it's not polite to run off like that. What have you done to your dress?!" She stared horrified at me and I just stared back with hatred. "Come Along, let's go upstairs and get you cleaned up before we send you back down, people are looking for you." She went to grab my wrist but I flicked it from her grasp.

"No."

"What do you mean no?" She didn't turn but I heard her voice change. "You don't have a choice dear, you need to go back down, one way or another, and I'm not taking the fall for you if you look a state."

"You have never taken the fall for me anyway, it won't make a difference. I don't need to do anything you tell me to and I won't. I'm not your sweet little puppet. I will start doing what you say once you start listening to me for once."

"Darling, I do listen to you." She cupped my face and smiled but I shook her away. I knew her love was false right now.

"You have no right to touch me, you think father is a cheater but you are the one who betrayed us. Your decision to leave. You making me take over your role. You thinking you can use me like this. When did you ever ask me if I really wanted any of this!" I yelled the last part hoping that this time she would listen.

Kami stared at me blankly for a moment before she finally snapped and her loving facade broke.

"You don't get a choice Maka, you're a princess, and you do what you're told. I will not stand for you being disobedient about this. It is selfish and immature. You are getting married because I say so and I am your mother and your queen." She grabbed out for my hand, "Now come here."

Her nails scratched as she grasped me and I pulled back, desperately trying to get away.

"You are not my mother!" I screamed. She froze and I took the opportunity to free myself. "You never will be again." I spat the words at her. "And you are no longer my either. I rule this land now."

"You ungrateful brat!" Her eyes were fierce as she backed me towards the wall. Her hand came down on my face so fast that I didn't even see it coming. I fell to the side although I didn't cry; I would prove that I was strong. I got up and glared at her.

"I will wear this with pride, my last memory of you." I smirked at her. The woman leapt at me and I scrunched my eyes tightly.

"Kami! What on earth are you doing?" For once I was thankful at the voice of my father. "Get away from Maka!" He shouted in the most commanding voice I had ever heard him utter. Behind him Tsubaki stood with tears at the corners of her eyes and her arm firmly wrapped round Black Star. The anger that contorted his face almost matched mine.

"Not you too Spirit," The woman turned on him, "I don't need you causing trouble too!"

"Stop this nonsense Kami; you knew that I disagreed when you decided to hide this from Maka so you have no one to blame but yourself for her reaction." He approached her slowly.

"Get away, I don't want to hear from you! I hate you!" She turned and walked off as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't just hit me or shouted at my father. It meant nothing to her. Just like me and father, it didn't concern her.

I fell and was only supported by the arms of my father as he ran over to catch me. Finally I let myself cry again. I wept into him.

"She doesn't love me or you anymore does she…" He didn't answer. I wasted to hear his words convincing me that I was wrong but my father had to choose then to stop lying. I pushed away and looked up at him. "I will be queen now, and I will still have to marry, wont I...?" His blue eyes looked away guiltily.

"Yes…"

I sighed. I had had enough of crying and acting weak. This would help, I could make it work. And if it didn't…

I didn't want to think of that.