Shotarella
Summary: Once upon a time in a land far far away lived a lonely prince and a pretty young girl who lived with her two evil step-mother and step-sisters. This is not their story. Oz Vessalius and his two step sisters are invited to a ball. Cinderella/PH parody!
Chapter 7- The Clock Strikes at Midnight
"Alyss… Is there something the matter?" Jack asks as he danced with Alyss to yet another song and she gave him a polite smile.
"No… I just was checking the clock... Mother expects me home before close to midnight." She says softly and Jack chuckles softly. "Oh and I haven't seen Ella-chan wandering around." She says blushing embarrassedly.
"Don't worry; I'm sure Ella-chan will be alright… I saw Gilbert spending time with her so she most likely is being entertained." He says smiling warmly causing Alyss to nod and blush gently. "Alyss-san, May I ask why I've never seen you around before? I mean there was that one time in the town but that was the only time." He says curiously and Alyss smiles sadly.
"My mother doesn't let me attend the parties… Usually it's Alice that goes with Oz-niisama, even though he doesn't like leaving me home alone. He and my mother are always butting heads when it comes to the parties…" Alyss says softly with a small sigh before smiling. "Oz is a good big brother… He's kind, gentle, and he is very resourceful though... I'm never bored when he's around." She says with an admiring smile and Jack smiles back.
"Yes… He is and now that I know about you not being able to attend parties because of your mother, I will send you personal invitations separate from your mothers and it'll be assigned to Oz so you will be able to go without your mother's permission." Jack says with a small laugh and Alyss gasped.
"You do not have to do such a thing! It would be a burden to you if you did so, your majesty." She says lowering her eyes and Jack smiled almost lovingly at her but she was looking down.
"If I don't I might never get to see you again. I'd have to play Romeo and sneak to your house in the middle of the night, clime the ivy and knock on your window." He says softly watching Alyss blush a bright red color before looking up at him with shimmering eyes.
"That won't be necessary… I'll be happy to except any invitation you send me, your majesty." She says blushing happily as Jack tightened his grip on her.
"Call me Jack, Alyss-san." Jack says with a slight smile on his face before she nodded feeling like she could be happy for the rest of her life after this moment.
"Okay, Jack-sama." She whispers smiling shyly as she looked back up at him.
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"Gil, come here… I want to tell you a secret." Oz says motioning for Gilbert to get closer to him; Gilbert looked at him with confusion but did as he was told. He took a few steps toward Oz before leaning over to Oz's height holding his self up using the railing.
"What is it?" Gilbert says softly not expecting what Oz did next. Oz leaned forward, capturing Gilbert's lips with his own in a gentle chaste kiss. He then quickly pulled away and looked away with a dark blush across his face.
"I'm in love with you…" Oz says softly feeling his chest tighten but not because of the corset. He listened to the silence taking it as a sign that his feelings were being rejected, he went to slide off the railing to leave but Gilbert stopped him from moving and pressing his lips against Oz's ear.
"Is that the truth? It's not some sort of joke?" Gilbert whispered softly causing Oz to shiver at the feeling of his breath against his ear causing him to take a shuddered breath.
"I-It's the truth… I love you." Oz whispered back closing his eyes as he felt Gilbert lower his lips down to his neck with a gentle kiss. "Gil?" He says in a questioning way feeling his heart start to slam against his ribs as he felt Gilbert tighten his grip on his waist pulling him closer without causing him to fall off the railing. He took in a shuddered breath as he felt Gilbert's tongue run across his collarbone. "Ah…Gil what are you doing?" Oz says wrapping his arms around the man's head knowing exactly what he was doing but asked just because he had to hear it. Gilbert pulled away from the boy's neck and looked deeply into his emerald eyes with a small smile.
"Something I've wanted to do for a long time." Gilbert whispers kissing Oz's lips. Oz shivered slipping his tongue out of his mouth licking Gilbert's lips before having their tongues meet. Blushing, Gilbert kissed back slowly letting himself get lost in the kiss he had waited to share with the teen since he had realized he was in love with him. As they continued the kiss Gilbert felt Oz's arms wrap around his neck and his silk cover fingers brush through his hair. He let out a soft sigh pulling his lips away so Oz could take a breath before they continued their kiss. They both felt like they were in a dream and neither wanted to wake up.
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"So you're name's Cheshire, right? Like Cheshire cat?" Alice says leaning against the wall talking to the chief that had made the meal for the party. They had been talking off and on when Cheshire came out to exchange trays on the table and Alice for some reason she didn't understand was always watching for him to come back out.
"Yes… Is it strange?" He says softly avoiding her with his red eyes because he didn't want to stare at the girl's attire. He was surprised when he found that she eats like she was one of the knights he cooked for, but that wasn't a problem for him, he was impressed because of the beautiful shape she was in despite eating that much.
"Not at all… I think it fits." Alice says in a bored tone as she looked at the people dancing. "I don't really understand these ball things though… I mean it just a bunch of people spinning around in a circle to music." She says with a sigh and Cheshire chuckled softly.
"That's an interesting way of thinking… Usually young women want to go to balls in elegant gowns and dance with prince charming…" Cheshire says watching his Prince dance with a silver haired girl that seemed identical to the woman he was currently speaking to.
"Not me… My mother, ever since I was born, had been trying to make me into this perfect little princess. It's not that I don't want boys to like me, really, but the frills, the lace, and provocative clothing is just stupid false advertisement… It doesn't help show the person, it helps hid it… It makes me sick." Alice says crossing her arms with a small blush on her face as Cheshire stared at her with a slight surprised stare at how Alice saw the things that women do to get noticed. He was impressed at her words and he smiled shyly at her and she blushed slightly.
"I don't think it's that bad but I do agree that sometimes it does hide their true qualities… but when I look at you I don't see that, even though you're wearing a beautiful dress your personality shines through." Cheshire says with a slight smile as he picked up and empty tray. "It was nice meeting you Alice-sama, I'm honored you like my cooking so and I hope you enjoy yourself for the rest of the ball." He says before walking away and Alice stared after him before sighing.
'What's this feeling in my chest?' She thought touching her chest where her heart was.
"Alice-san!" Sharon calls lovingly before hugging the girl tightly. "This dress is not cute at all! Why did you wear it?" She says looking her friend over before Alice scowls.
"It's not my fault! My mother forced me to wear it! I hate this stupid thing! It's too tight around my chest and legs. If someone were to attack I'd be powerless to fight back without ripping it!" Alice complains covering her chest up with a bright red face and Sharon pouts.
"Your mother needs her eyes checked…" Sharon says with a sigh before smiling. "So who was that cutie that you were talking to? You two looked absolutely adorable together…" Sharon says with a small giggle and Alice sighs.
"Weren't you supposed to be dancing with the clown or something?" Alice says with a small scowl and Sharon giggles with a bright smile on her face but Alice sensed a threatening aura which sent a chill down her spine. "H-His name's Cheshire… He's the head chief that cooked the food for the ball. I was just talking to him to tell him that the food was good." She says trying to escape the dangerous aura that was forming around the girl who grinned ear to ear.
"Oh but you've been talking to him so much more than that? I think you have a crush on him." Sharon says with a slight grin and Alice felt her heart skip a beat before looking away with an aggravated look on her face.
"Of course I don't you stupid girl! I'm going to find Oz…" She says harshly before storming off avoiding Sharon and her mother's stare as she made her way through the crowd.
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"Gil…" Oz breathed out shivering because Gilbert was kissing down his chest loosening the back of the dress and corset, letting his hands run over Oz's back. Oz no longer wore the long blonde wig or his glass slippers both items laying on the ground forgotten as he leaned back arching his back giving Gilbert a better angle of his chest. The two were so absorb in what they were doing they didn't hear anyone approach them until they heard the annoyed shout of Alice.
"OI! Seaweed head, where's Oz!" She shouts startling the two causing Oz to lose his balance and flipping over the railing pulling Gilbert over with him. Alice stood there for a moment not understanding what happened until she heard the splash and ran over to the railing. "Opps…" She says leaning over the railing watching the two figures surface from the water.
"You stupid Rabbit! Are you trying to kill us?" Gilbert shouts holding Oz up so the dress wouldn't pull him back under and Alice glared at him.
"Shut up, you fell over on your own! Don't blame me you stupid Seaweed head!" Alice shouts back as she watched Gilbert swim to shore.
"Gil… Why didn't we just let the dress sink?" Oz says sitting on shore dripping wet with the dress clinging uncomfortably to him.
"Sharon-oujosama would have been pissed." Gilbert says pulling his jacket off of his body and Oz blushed slightly because his white shirt was sticking to his chest and you could see his skin.
"This reminds me of how we used to swim in this pond when we were kids… I remember when Jack had pushed us in and then jumped in on top of us… I was so angry." Oz says laughing softly and Gilbert frowned. 'The mood was completely ruined by Alice's appearance.' Oz thought just as said girl appeared holding Oz's wig and shoes.
"So this was your plan…" She says softly handing the items to the sopping wet blonde.
"Not exactly but it works… But I think I'm going to go dry off. I don't want to catch a cold. You should go back to the dance, Alice-san… You were having fun talking to that one boy. He might be looking for you." Oz says with a slight smile and Alice blushed before looking away.
"I wanted to find you so I could ask you a question but I guess it can wait. I don't want a dead manservant!" Alice says in a serious voice as Oz laughed slightly.
"Thank you Alice!" Oz says with smile as he looked at Gilbert. "You better dry off too… It's a bit chilly out here." He says pulling the straps back up onto his shoulders.
"Don't let him catch a cold." Alice states walking back toward the ball room. 'I think I interrupted something I shouldn't have…' She thought remembering the book Sharon had let her read and a blush formed on her cheeks.
"Oz… We should go in too." Gilbert says softly moving over to Oz and removing the heavy ball grown from Oz's body before putting his jacket over his shoulders. "We'll use the servant entrance of course. I'm sure you don't want anyone to see you dressed in girls pantaloons." Gilbert says watching his master blush slightly.
"Thanks." He whispers watching Gilbert start to walk away carrying the dress. He soon quickly fallowed in his bare feet as the two went through the back entrance and headed off to Gilbert's room.
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Alice went back to the ball room and took her old spot in the corner of the room by the buffet watching people and keeping an eye out for one in particular for a reason she did not understand.
"Alice! There you are… Where did you disappear to? You better not have been eating again young lady!" Alice's mother says grabbing her arm and Alice jumps slightly before sighing.
"Mom! I haven't been eating! I've barely eaten anything! I was just out getting some fresh air!" She says with a small leer directed at the ground and her mother sighed irritated at Alice's tone but she forced a smile on her face.
"It's about time we go home… I thought I saw your sister so we're going home to make sure that foolish brother of yours didn't do something he'll regret." She says in a harsh tone and Alice gasped slightly knowing that it wasn't even midnight yet.
"B-But I haven't got to speak with the prince yet!" Alice says letting the first excuse to stay that came to her mind. Her mother stared at her for a moment before smiling warmly.
"You want to speak to the prince?" She says suddenly happy that her daughter had said that and Alice swallowed nervously before nodding.
"B-But he's been s-surrounded by girls all night so I've been nervous." Alice lies trembling slightly and her mother hugs her.
"My little girl's growing up… Oh… Alice-chan… Go straight over right now, he's alone. Go talk to him. I'm going to be leaving in about an hour… But take your time. I am sure Rainsworth-sama will give you a ride back to the house." She says giving her daughter a slight push and Alice nodded and quickly hurried over to where the prince was standing. He looked at her curiously before smiling in recognition.
"It's been a while, Alice-san…" He greets and Alice curtsies or tries to it the tight dress she was wearing and he laughed as she wobbled slightly.
"It has… May I ask you were my sister disappeared to?" She asked and Jack smiled warmly at her.
"She's in there using the ladies room. Is there something the matter?" Jack asks frowning slightly and Alice gives him a nervous smile.
"No… It's nothing. It's just I need to tell her something really important." She says as Alyss exits the room to see the two together.
"Neesan… is there something wrong? You look scared…" Alyss says with a worried look.
"M-Mom wants to go home and check on you and Oz… in an hour… I know it's only a fifteen minute ride but I thought I should tell you." Alice says with a serious look and Alyss looks at her in a panic.
"Oh no!" She says starting to look around frantically for Oz "B-B-But it's not even Midn-" Alyss says as there was a loud sounding of the bells signaling it was midnight. "ight… Where's Ella-chan at?" She says with a worried look on her face and Jack placed a hand on his on her shoulder.
"It's alright… I'm sure Oz with Gilbert." Jack says calmly and Alyss looks at him startled and Jack laughs. "It was quite obvious that Ella-chan was my beloved little cousin. He makes quite the cute young woman though. I would be surprised if there in Gilbert's room right now." Jack says with a small laugh and Alyss blushed slightly.
"Oz-niisama wouldn't do something like that tonight… He knows we have to leave before mom does." Alyss says looking away from Jack with a look of embarrassment on her face.
"Actually… I saw him and Seaweed head together on the bridge, well before they fell off the bridge. They're probably changing their clothing because they got all wet." Alice says calmly causing Jack to raise an eyebrow at her and Alyss to look at her shocked.
"Do you know where that room is? Oz and I have to go or we'll get in trouble." Alyss says looking at her sister with worried eyes and Alice sighs.
"As if I'd know..." Alice says causing Alyss to look around frantically and Jack chuckled at how cute she looked in a panic.
"I will show you but on one condition." Jack says and Alyss looks at him with an innocent look.
