Disclaimer: The Hot Wheels series is owned by the Mattel Toy Company, "Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5" is owned by Mattel and Nerd Corps Entertainment.

Battle Force 5 Data Drafts

Draft 8: Waltz

"One, two, and three…" Zeke said as he and Grace waltzed across the floor. "You know, Grace, when I was younger, I went ballroom dancing with a pretty gal your age."

"Really now?" she asked.

"I was invited to the Vienna Opera Ball at about twenty," Zeke explained. "The thing is, I didn't know how to ballroom dance either. I took lessons from someone willing to help. Her name was Violet, and she was also invited to that Ball."

"That's amazing."

Two days ago, Grace was invited to a Ball out of state. When she told everyone in Zeke's Diner the news, Vert and the others pitched in to make a dress for her. Stanford offered to teach her how to ballroom dance when she said she didn't know how, but Zeke told them to leave it to him.

This irritated Stanford, so he decided to watch the two in secret. Disguising himself as a lamp, he snuck inside and watched the lesson. Zeke's dancing skills surprised him very much. As the music continued to play, he watched the two glide smoothly across the floor. She stumbled a bit from going a bit too fast.

"Grace, this isn't a foxtrot," Zeke told her. "You're getting the hang of it, though. Let's try again."

'I'm jealous!' Stanford thought. 'He went to the Vienna Opera Ball when only Simon was invited a few years ago!'

"You know, Zeke," Grace began. "I like the Waltz."

"Oh?" Zeke asked. This got Stanford's attention.

"I always dreamed about this moment," she explained. "In that dream, I'm dancing with a handsome prince in a ballroom with people watching. I'm wearing a beautiful blue dress, like the one Cinderella wears, and a Waltz begins playing in the orchestra. I lean in close to him as the music plays."

And indeed Stanford could imagine himself as the handsome prince in Grace's dream, dancing with her across the ballroom floor, wearing a gallant British uniform. Humming softly along with the music, he pictured himself in Zeke's place, dancing with her.

The music stopped and the two let go. Grace curtsied while Zeke bowed. "Now you're ready to wow your partner," Zeke told her.

"Thanks, Zeke. For everything," Grace thanked.

"Not a problem," Zeke said. He then looked to the disguised Stanford. "Hey, that lamp's new," he noted. "Plug that in and see if it works, Grace."

Grace plugged in the lamp and turned it on. It not only worked, but gave Stanford quite a shock with the electricity rushing into his body. Stanford ran out screaming, to Grace's surprise.

"Was that…?" Grace asked herself.

"An alien life form!" Zeke exclaimed. "Where's my tape recorder? The people must know!"

Grace rolled her eyes as Zeke rushed off to find his supplies.