A/N I had this idea about a sequel to "The Princess and the Goblin. Also, I support FroglipxIrene; I don't know why, I'm weird that way. This story was based on a video I saw on YouTube, The Princess and the Goblin in the Princess and the Frog. Parts were inspired by LunaTicWTF's FroglipxIrene videos. I own nothing except my OCs. Enjoy.

Chapter 10

A Dance Between Beauty and the Beast

One Week Later…

Irene dressed into her gold and white dress; she slipped into her glass slippers. Tonight was the night of the ball. She had been practicing by herself and with Froglip all week. She had practiced until she was perfect. Now was the night.

She took a deep breath and sighed. She felt nervous. She didn't know why though. It was just dancing…with princes she didn't know. She sighed again; who was she kidding? She was nervous. She didn't know why she was so nervous. She had been dancing with Froglip all week long and she wasn't nervous.

"It is because you know him, and you won't know the other princes." She said to herself. "It is because you and Froglip are friends." She blinked; did she just say she and Froglip were friends? Well…they had been turning away from enemies. And she had been spending time with him a lot. Still, that didn't explain why she suddenly kissed his cheek last week when she first asked him to help her practice. She didn't know why, she was just happy, and it seemed right at the time.

Irene shook her head. Perhaps she should try and focus on the ball and not the Goblin Prince.

"Announcing, her royal highness, Princess Irene."

At the sound of her announcement, she walked into the ballroom. The princes and princesses all applauded; the gold-dressed princess' cheeks turned pink. She saw the princes she met with the day she was cursed amongst the crowd; she immediately decided to decline their dances. That was until she saw the look her father gave her. It clearly told her to accept.

James came up to her. "Hello." He said; Irene curtseyed. "Would you…like to dance?"

She nodded. James took her hand, and the two walked to the center of the ballroom; he placed his right hand on her waist, and took her right hand in his left. The music started; they began dancing. Soon, other princes and princesses followed suit and made their way onto the dance floor.

"You dance very well." He complimented.

"Thank you." She nodded. "I've been practicing."

"I'm sure you have been."

Irene nodded, but felt odd. She was used to dancing with Froglip, and had grown accustomed to his touch. The human prince's touch seemed foreign.

A few minutes later, Seth came up. "May I?" He offered his hand to Irene.

James nodded; Irene moved to dance with Seth. "Have you been having trouble with the Goblins?" He asked.

She shook her head. "No, they've left us alone." She said.

Seth nodded.

It wasn't really lying; the Goblins hadn't broken into the castle, and Froglip hadn't been causing trouble.

A few minutes later, Patrick came up. "M-may I?" He asked.

Seth nodded and left. Irene moved in to dance with Patrick.

"I-I've been trying to be more polite, princess." Patrick said.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yes. F-for you, princess."

"I am flattered, Patrick." She smiled. "And no need to call me 'princess'; just 'Irene' will do."

Patrick smiled and nodded.

Later, Irene was enjoying a glass of cranberry juice. So far, the ball was rather enjoyable. Still, she couldn't help but feel unusual. When she was dancing with the princes, their touches all felt foreign and unusual. She was used to the Goblin Prince's hands on her waist and over her hands. And she had another odd feeling; as though her heart wanted to be elsewhere.

"Are you enjoying the ball, your highness?"

Irene turned towards the voice; it was Angelina. "Quite." She nodded.

Angelina nodded; she raised one eyebrow. "You look as though you wish to be elsewhere." She said.

Irene sighed. "I feel like it." She confessed. "I…I've been practicing the waltz with Froglip all week long, and now…I feel as though my heart is being pulled towards the dungeons."

"Froglip?"

"The Goblin Prince."

"Oh yes." Angelina nodded. "Hold on. You said you felt like you were being pulled towards the dungeons. Well, that is where the Goblin Prince is being kept."

Irene's eyes widened. "You don't think…am I…falling in love with him?"

"I do not know." Angelina said. "But if you wish to find out, I suggest you keep a low profile." She curtseyed, and then left.

Irene sighed; she was so confused. She knew she should stay at the ball, but she felt like she wanted to go down to the dungeons. Quickly, she decided; she knew what to do now…

Froglip was sitting at the window; his chin was in his right hand, and his right elbow was on the edge of the window. He heard the music going on upstairs, and he remembered Irene said the ball was coming seven days after she was practicing her dance with him.

He sighed. When he heard that there would be princes at the ball, he felt…jealous. Jealous. Me, the feared Prince Froglip Goblin, jealous. How pathetic. He thought to himself. What is wrong with me? Why do I feel so jealous? The Goblin Prince laid his hand on his forehead and groaned. He didn't know his own feelings anymore.

"Froglip." He turned towards the voice; Irene had come down. She was wearing a gold and white dress and white elbow-length gloves. His eyes widened as he gasped quietly; she looked beautiful!

Irene unlocked the door and came inside the cage, closing the door behind her. She noticed Froglip was still staring at her with large eyes and his mouth hanging open. "Is…is everything aright?" She asked concerned.

He walked up to her until they were almost touching. He held her face in his head so she was facing him. "You look beautiful." He whispered.

Her own eyes widened slightly; her cheeks blushed a little pink. "I never I would hear that from a Goblin, much less a prince."

Froglip chuckled. "I never thought I'd hear myself say that to a Sun-Girl." He remarked. "What are you doing down here? I thought you were at the ball."

"My heart led me down here." She simply said.

Froglip smiled gently; his thumbs gently stroked Irene's cheeks. Then, music began playing. Smirking, He let Irene's face go and held out his hand; she smiled and laid her hand in his.

(Beauty and the Beast by Celine Dion and Peabody Bryson)

She placed her hand on his shoulder, and he laid his hand on her waist. They slowly danced to the music; Froglip raised his arm as Irene spun in place.

She smiled as they continued to dance. She wasn't sure if the music was coming from the ballroom, or if Grandmother was conjuring it; right now, she didn't really care.

"Have you figured out your riddle yet?" Froglip asked. "I haven't."

Irene shook her head. "It is still a mystery. Then again, Grandmother was always tricky."

He nodded.

"Hold on. Curdie said you Goblins hated music. When I tried to sing when you were in my room, you threatened to slit my throat." She said thoughtfully. "Why are you not bothered by it now?"

Froglip sighed. "When I was young, I got separated from the kingdom during a storm. An elderly Sun-Woman took me in and took take care of me. She…she taught me to love music. I kept that a secret though. I knew I would be in trouble if Mother and Father knew I grew a love for music. Could you forgive me for keeping it a secret?"

Irene smiled and stroked his cheek with her free hand. "Of course. You did it for your kingdom. No one would blame you for it."

Froglip smiled and closed his eyes, leaning into Irene's fingers; he enjoyed her soft fingers against his cheek. It felt soothing and just…right. He wasn't sure if something happened to him that changed drastically, but he didn't care now.

Irene laid her hand on Froglip's shoulder again; she sighed and laid the side of her head on his chest. She felt his strong heartbeat. It then occurred to her that humans and Goblins weren't quite so different. They both had a head, two arms and two legs…and a heartbeat.

Froglip was a little startled when Irene laid her head on his chest. A second later, a warm smile grew on his face. It flattered and amazed him that she trusted him that way. He wrapped the arm that was on her waist around her back and pulled her closer; he laid his chin on her forehead.

"You're my only other friend other than Turnip now, Froglip." Irene whispered, falling asleep to Froglip's heartbeat. "…Thank you."

XX

Froglip smiled warmly. "You're welcome." Irene didn't respond. He raised one eyebrow, then chuckled amused; she had fallen asleep. He nudged her. "Hey, wake up." He said; she didn't stir. "Irene, wake up.

Irene shook her head, moaning sleepily.

"You fell asleep." He explained. "You better go back up before you're missed."

She nodded and made her way to the door. She opened it, went out, and closed it, locking the door. Now that she and Froglip were friends, she hated to do it. "Good night, Irene." He said, sitting down under the window.

She turned to him, slightly startled that he used her real name and not "Princess". It flattered her though. "Good night, Froglip." She smiled, continuing up the stairs.

Froglip smiled. He now knew his true feelings: he was in love with Irene. Two weeks ago, he would have been shocked or even disgusted by it. But now that she had treated him kindly, trusted him, went to him when she was upset, and even considered him a real friend, he had changed; for the better.

He then noticed his arm bandage. Irene had helped to change it every few days. His arm had to have healed by now. He slit a bandage in half with his claw and slowly unwrapped his arm. When it was unwrapped, the sight shocked him. He laid his hand on his right forearm and sighed; he didn't care how it looked, he had gained it from protecting Irene. He laid his head back against the stone and smiled, drifting off to sleep. His dreams were filled with Irene and him, dancing under the moonlight.

A/N The princes from Ch. 2 return momentarily. Also, the cranberry juice thing, I didn't know what princesses drank at balls.

The song Irene and Froglip danced to is Beauty and the Beast by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. It's a nice song, and it represents the two.

Sorry for not updating much. FanFiction was having some problems. BTW, you can see Irene in her ball gown on DeviantART; just search for "Irene's Ball Gown", or my username, "DarkraixCresselia".

The chapter is titled "A Dance Between Beauty and the Beast" because Froglip and Irene dance to "Beauty and the Beast" It's a beautiful song; I encourage you to look it up on YouTube and listen to it.