So… who needs a new chapter to lift their spirits? Anyone? Anyone at all? …Ah, yes, you in the back? …No, the guy next to you. …No, no, not you, the other guy. …Yes, you. You need a new chapter? …Oh, you don't? …How about you, in front? …You do? Alrighty then! Here we go!
Reviewer Thanks (I need a cookie)
Scoobycool9: (yay, new reviewer!) You'll find out who the girl is in time ;) …As for Anthony getting his real first kiss… (does the forced-one count?) probably not.
Elizabeth: You've summed up everything, once again. …And yes, Disney DOES tend to cut out a few classic FT ideas- that's where I add in my own tweaking!
Starspring: You'll see. …Yes, Facebook is the one place where you can stalk until you drop (don't ask how I know that *whistles innocently*) And there's a lot of modern-day castles still-standing (the Queen of England lives in a castle, doesn't she?). Plus, this is Fairytale-based, so you'll see a lot of castles… lots n lots of castles… castles galore… castles for all! Castle castle castle! CASTLE! (…huh, you know, the more you write out 'castle' the stranger the spelling appears?)
0o0o0o0o0
I was thinking about her, thinking 'bout me
One minute, he was in the empty studio, practicing his dancing, dreaming up new moves, trying to keep his rhythm… It was the only thing that kept his mind clear during that summer, taking his mind off his worries. Since he hardly ever lived with his parents and barely saw his siblings anymore, he finally felt he could be his own man, and pursue his heart's desire.
To dance.
Thinking of us, what we gonna be
Yet, as he danced, he was always alone, no one ever wanted to be his partner… and in his loneliness, he recalled how he always had someone at his side, and wished they were with him now. Oh, how he wished to dance with them, and even dreamed up fantasies…
"You have an excellent form…" they would say to him, whispering softly into his ear as they held him close. "So well-balanced, so light, so… flexible,"
The last word would let him unleash a shiver, but not out of fear. No, out of pleasure… "You're quite swift yourself… As if your moves were poetry that could not be written," he would reply.
"Then let us combine our moves, and write an unforgettable ode…" and they'd run their fingers through his hair as he caressed their face, their lips slowly coming closer…
Open my eyes, yeah, it was only just a dream
Then he'd awake, only to realize he was still chained to the wall. He looked across at his cell-mate, guilt welling up inside him, realizing the fate they were forced to share… If only the others were here… he thought, but banished the idea.
So I traveled back, down that road
He wouldn't want his friends to be here, where they would be forced to deal with Anthony's torture… let alone find out how much he had changed, since the day his prince had left.
Will she come back? No one knows
What would they think of him now? If they found out how he was pursuing his dream and met his new friend, would they be happy for him? Or would they laugh at him… and cause hurt he wanted to avoid again?
He hung his head low. Thinking about his friends was the only thing that kept him alive during these three years… but now, it was starting to kill him.
I realized, yeah
It was only just a dream
0o0o0o0o0o0
Jimmy was in the process of informing Silver of Rudy's disappearance while Danny informed his aunt. Radio and Izzy both sat in the lounge, the cat-girl covering her tearful face while the vampire-cat-girl patted her on the back in comfort. "If only I had stayed with him…" Radio sobbed. "If only I was there to help, rather than trying to find out information about this wretched curse I'm under!"
"Then you'd have been kidnapped yourself," Izzy replied, sternly.
"At least Rudolph wouldn't have been alone! Or I'd find a way to help him escape! I… *sniffle* I just hope he's alive…"
"Well, if he isn't, then Anthony's gonna get the most painful spading in his life!"
Rothberta was in the room, a tad confused. "I don't understand. Who is this 'Rudolph' person you keep talking about? And who is this 'Anthony' fellow and what does he want with all of you? And why…" she asked, turning her attention on Radio. "Do you keep bringing up a curse?"
Izzy sneered at her. "Boy, woman, you haven't got out much in the past century, have you?" Rothberta scowled at her comment.
"As preposterous as it may sound, Ro'hberta, my friends and I have gone through quite a, ah, enchanting journey in the past," Radio said to the chambermaid, motioning her to take a seat. "If you don't mind hearing the tale, I would gladly fill you in."
"Alright…" Rothberta sighed, sitting down across from Radio. "Would you care to start at this 'curse' business, so we may get that out of the way?"
"Certainly."
While Radio told Rothberta about how she had become a cat, Izzy walked over to Jimmy, who just finished informing his foster-father. "Silver said he'd be coming." he said, solemnly. "I told him to find my friend, Al, and he'd get him here by tonight. …How's Rad?"
Izzy looked over at Radio. "She's pretty choked up about Rudy missing," she replied, sighing. "She really cares about that kid."
"Mm. Doesn't surprise me…" Jimmy mumbled.
Izzy arched an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate on that statement?"
Jimmy shrugged. "Ah, ever since we talked to Danny, all she talked about the last three days was how happy she was to see Rudy again, like she still has a crush on him or something."
"And… this bothers you?"
"Pfft. No. Radio and I've been growing distant for over a year now. I'm just waiting for her to tell me whether she wants to keep a steady relationship or not… and if she can't get over Rudy, then I'll call the shot."
Izzy nodded solemnly. "I see. …Have you've brought this up to her before?"
Jimmy only shrugged. "Once. I talked about taking a break, but she said she didn't want to lose the 'bond' that we've developed… not that it matters anymore, anyway."
Izzy opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by a loud gasp.
"You cannot be serious!" Rothberta was saying, her expression full of shock.
"What's going on?" Danny asked, he and Red Rose turning their attention to the chambermaid.
Rothberta only ran out of the lounge, muttering "Can it be? …No, impossible, it was just a myth… but her story practically matches! But she can't be, they all disappeared… didn't they?"
Everyone looked at each other, completely confused.
The chambermaid returned minutes later, carrying a large, dusty book that looked like it hadn't been off the shelf for centuries. "Ro'hberta, what is the matter?" Red Rose demanded.
"Nadine- er, 'Radio'- told me something that… well, I don't think I'll be able to believe it, unless…" Rothberta was stammering, flipping through the pages of the book, having a plume of dust erupt with every flick. "Here we go! …Oh, my… It… It can't be true, it must be coincidence!"
"What are you yakking about?" Jimmy sneered.
"It… She… This… I can't…"
"For gosh-sakes, woman! Speak the king's language!" Izzy snapped.
Red Rose was reading the book over Rothberta's shoulder, and her eyes widened. "Look!" she gasped, pointing at a page…
"Centuries ago, when the Charmm Castle was first built," the paragraph began. "There had been rivalry between two kingdoms, one from Mandonia and the other from Britalva, both of which shared a boarder and wanted to rule the land. King Nathaniel Tianavene III and Lord Jacob Charmm both came to an agreement, having Tianavene's third daughter wed Charmm's second son, come the day of the young prince's 18th birthday.
"However, on the eve before the princess' 15th birthday, the night before the union was to take place, she had disappeared. Charmm believed that Tianavene had sent his daughter away, in order to call off the union, and cursed the entire family to 'dwell forever in their animalistic and boorish ways, until the day the two royal families' betrothment is fulfilled.
"No one knows whether Tianavene was insulted and left the land, or whether the entire family died grieving from the loss of their beloved Princess Nadine, but for reasons unknown the family had vanished. Britalva and Mandonia were never united.
"Most historians give thought about this legend, some who's ancestor's had been servants in that period, stating that there was, indeed, an actual curse, for an old page torn from what appeared to be a journal had read, '…And when I had entered the throne room, upon the King's throne sat a white wolf, with a vixen at his side; a trio of swans sitting near the library; and a curious raven taking flight out of the prince's room and out the window…'
"No one knows what this message meant, yet during the years, everyone had forgotten about the legend, believing it to be a myth…"
No one said a word for what seemed like hours, the shock mingling with the silence, as if they all had just witnessed an unusual phenomenon.
"Radio… please tell me you were the first, second, or fourth born in your family…" Danny said at last.
"I'm afraid… I was the third…" Radio replied, her voice shaking.
"Wait, you mean…?" Jimmy began, but was too stunned to continue.
"Radio is supposed to marry Danny?" Izzy cried out.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Jimmy's POV
Ho. Ly. Shit.
I was at the top, now it's like I'm in the basement
I knew Radio had a past life, but… Holy shit.
Number one spot, now she found her a replacement
I re-read the page over and over, hoping to find a glitch, but it was set in stone. Radio had been betrothed to Danny's ancestor, and now- the only way to break the curse- was for her to… oh, man, I don't know if I'll be able to comprehend this.
I swear now I can't take it
Knowing somebody's got my baby
"Radio…" Red Rose said, slowly. "You told us that, in order to break your spell, you had to marry into a family you were betrothed to. …Can you remember if they had a different name?" From the sound of her voice, I could tell she was thinking the same thing I was: This could NOT be happening.
Radio studied the paragraph, studying every word. "It's… coming back to me…" she said, wincing as if the memory gave her a headache. "That picture, the one of the two families… that man to the right looks exactly like my father, and the man in front of him… has a striking resemblance to Daniel…"
Now you ain't around, baby I can't think
I looked at the picture. Sure enough, the two men seemed to match Radio and Danny's features exactly- same hair colors, same skin tones… heck Radio's dad even appeared to have a bit 'cat-like' eyes!
Suddenly, as the truth began to sink in, I felt as if my stomach was about to implode. Radio was to marry Danny- he's basically the only one closest to her age, and he IS supposed to find a queen… yet the idea made me want to hurl- not because of the whole 'matrimony' part, but the fact that SHE was to be part of it… with him… but not me.
I should've put it down, should've got that ring
"Well, then it's settled." Rothberta declared. "Nadine and Daniel shall be wed at once!"
"WHAT?" We all shouted.
"But she can't-" I stammered.
"I don't-" Danny stuttered.
"We've hardly ever-" Radio sputtered.
"I thought she-"
"I was-"
"I'm actually-"
We all looked at Elizabeth for support, since none of us were managing to complete a sentence. "Well…" she said, rubbing her chin. "Radio does need to get her curse lifted, and Danny does need a queen…"
'Cause I can still feel it in the air
See her pretty face, run my fingers through her hair
No, no, NO… I was screaming in my head.
…I'll admit by this point I don't know what was wrong with me. One minute, I'm griping about how Radio won't stop thinking about Rudy and how we ought to just end it and move on, and now I'm wishing we had worked on keeping our relationship more stable.
"However…" Elizabeth continued. "Unless Radio or Danny can find a good reason NOT to be wed, or if there's anyone who could object to the union (other than themselves), the plan may be called off." Her eyes seemed to be looking at me, suddenly.
Of course! I could object! I could say that Radio and I were already a couple, and she was off the market! I thought, my heart racing. …Problem was, I couldn't speak. WHY couldn't I speak?
My love of my life
My shawty, my wife
Radio and I looked at each other, and I saw her wince once more. "I have no objections…" she said quietly, turning away from me.
She left me, I'm tied
NO! I wanted to shout, I wanted to give reasons why it should be ME she should be with… but my mind was blank, and I didn't even give a single protest. What the fuck was wrong with me?
'Cause I knew that it just ain't right
"Daniel? What about you?" Elizabeth asked.
I looked at Danny… he seemed pale enough to put Izzy to shame. "I… I need some air," he said, then rushed out onto the balcony.
I gave Radio one last look before leaving the room, lost in thought. If I loved Radio, why didn't I say anything? Why didn't I jump in? Why was my mind filling with arguments that I didn't give? …Why didn't SHE say anything?
I guess it's official. I thought bitterly, looking out a window into the night. We're over.
0o0o0o0o0
Danny's POV
It felt as if a brick hit me in the head, followed by a wrecking ball knocking me in the gut, and finally a semi smacking into me at 150 mph. …Radio? Me? Married? I mean, sure, she's a princess, I'm a prince, and we've known each other for a while, and I'd pick her out of any other princess I've been forced to court with, but… Me? Radio? Married?
I was thinking about her, thinking 'bout me
Thinking of us, what we gonna be
I felt nauseas… Being forced to marry was one thing, but being betrothed to a friend? Radio and I were hardly that close! Back in school, we hardly hung around each other alone. When we were separate, she was normally with Jimmy or…
Open my eyes, yeah, it was only just a dream
RUDY!
Good Lord above, how could I have forgotten about him? He's been kidnapped and God-knows what has happened to him, and the rest of us have just been thinking about my unexpected matrimony? WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH US?
So I traveled back, down that road
If she comes back, no one knows
"ELIZABETH!" I cried, running toward the door. "We forgot about Ru-"
*THONK!*
Before I could finish my outburst, someone hit me over the head, and everything went black.
I realized, yeah
It was only just a dream
0o0o0o0o0
A/N: The song mentioned is "Just a Dream" by Nelly. I figured it would add to the 'romance-related drama' of this story, thinking it would fit.
So… yeah. Left you with another cliffy.
Please review. No flames. …No, really. Keep them to yourselves. …Seriously.
