Cause and Effect

Okay quick thing, was it just me, or did anyone else draw parallels to Will and Kate when Kuki was writing her reply to him? I laughed when I reread it and noticed it. And their names sound the same, Will and Wally and Kate and Kuki! Hahaha.

Moving on...

Sorry for the delay in updates, I had AP testing on Monday (the 7th) and I was swamped with reviews Mrs. J had given us, plus I was sick and had to go to the docs. Had to get like, five vials of blood drawn and x-rays of my spine and back. I hope that everything goes well and I don't have cancer or something.

Next topic at hand,

Can you believe it? You people have read a total of 89,279 words! That is more than my old 7th hour English Class could ever accomplish! Lol, I'm so glad I convinced my Guidance Consular to have me get a different hour, I get so much more work done now a days!

Lol, anyways! 105 reviews! That just blows my mind! Honestly people, the thought that you took time out of your lives to read this story just astounds me! We are nearing the end of our voyage together, but never fret, I have another series I will be starting up right after we are through with this one, and get this, the story is already complete AND has a few sequels I've written already! So you know what that means? Lots of updates, I think I may update every other day, I don't know yet.

I love you all! Now I'm sure you all want to get on to the next chapter, so I will just wrap up my monologue now...

Disclaimer: I think I have stated this many times, than I needed to have, but oh well. I do not own Codename Kids Next Door and I do not own Ella Enchanted. No Copyright infringement intended, I do not feel like going to jail, I have school in the morning.

Words: 3,598

Previously on Kuki Enchanted

Kuki's POV:

I closed the paper and slid it into an envelope. Jumping up and down. I had to tell Kami!

And tell Kami I did!

I exited my room and walked the short distance to Kami's quarters. Knocking on the door excitedly as Jack passed by.

"Hi, Jack!" I said, giddy and bouncing on the balls of my feet.

"You okay, Kuki?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm perfectly fine!" I said happily, as he gave me another strange look and continued on his way.

"Kuki! What is the matter!" Kami asked as she opened the door.

I ushered her back inside and closed the door behind me, "Oh Kami! I am so happy!" I said, giving her a bone breaking hug.

"What has gotten into you, child?" Kami asked me.

"I'm getting married!" I shouted with glee.

Kami's eyes widened, "Your mother did not find you another groom, did she?" She asked.

"No, no, no!" I said, laughing at Kami. "It's someone who I love! It's Wally! He asked me to marry him!" I said and Kami broke out into a huge smile.

"That is wonderful, sweetie!" She said giving me a big hug. "I'm so happy for you!" and together we hugged.

Wally's POV

"JUST TELL HER THAT YOU LOVE HER, ALREADY WALLABEE!" Came the shout of my sister through the door. "Life is short, and you don't know if anyone as good as Kuki Sanban will ever come again. Take a chance!" Sydney's words rang loud and clear to me. She was right, for once. Life was short, and I knew for a fact that no one as good as Kuki would ever come around again. It was up to the risks that were made that kept our world going. If I didn't take my chance now, I may possibly loose Kuki forever. I had to take a chance. I was sure that she liked me! She would not waste paper and ink on someone she didn't like.

I took a deep breath, wondering what I could possibly write to her, and then settled for stating the truth to her. The truth being that I was in love with her. The truth being that I wanted to marry her.

Dear Kooks,

I like to think I am a patient person. I confess that your letters torment me; corresponding with you is an exercise in particularly painful frustration. I am currently fighting the urge to saddle my horse and ride day and night to Frell so I can demand an explanation.

Your letters are thoughtful, playful, funny, and interesting. You offer me incredible insights into my life and thoughts and experiences. I am always elated when a new letter arrives, but I inevitably end up disappointed. You share nothing of your day to day life with me, not really. This I do not mind; I am intrigued by the mystery of it, and enjoy guessing based on what little you do share.

You like me. You would not waste time or paper on a being you did not like. However, I think I have loved you since we met at your father's funeral. They were wet with tears as you stood, beautiful and remarkable, underneath a willow tree in the old castle's graveyard two years ago. But more than the beauty of your eyes, I was captivated by the soul in them, and have remained so ever since. They seemed to hold a thousand stories to tell, and to this day, I ache to hear them all.

I want to be with you forever and beyond, but you write that you are too young to marry or too old or too short or too hungry — until I crumple your letters up in despair, only to smooth them out again for a twelfth reading, attempting to read in between the lines for some secret meaning that I, ever the masochist, convince myself I will find, if only I am clever and resourceful enough.

I longed to confess my love for you since the night of your mother's wedding, when you told me you would not kiss me. I could not force the words out; you seemed so vulnerable and frightened. That moment was one of the most painful in my life. To see you hurting so much, and I did not know why or how to help. For all the power my status grants me, I felt like a centaur colt, stupidly staring and completely useless in the face of your pain. I felt terrible that I had caused you to feel in such a way, and I was so relieved when you seemed to recover soon after. Still, I longed to tell you of my feelings, but found myself a coward after such a botched attempt.

After spending a great deal of time in Ayortha, Father has become a fair deal more open minded. He often asks if there is a lady who has struck my fancy. I tell him no. It is a matter of pride; I do not want him to know of my affection if my feelings are not reciprocated.

I am certain that if you were to meet them, you would have Father, as well as Mother, Joey and Sydney, falling in love with you, just as I have.

I cannot even picture what our wedding would look like, because I know you would plan something far more immaculate and beautiful than I could imagine. I only know that I can imagine your face (which, I must confess, would be the only thing I would look at the entire time), fair and beautiful and radiant. What a wonderful wife you shall one day be, whomever you choose to wed, and at whatever age. And what a magnificent king, if I were lucky enough to be your choice! Who else has your voice? Your humour? Your wit? Your compassion? I could endlessly list all your virtues, but I'd rather omit them, in favor of you finishing this letter and responding just that much sooner.

I call upon whatever patience is left in me and anxiously await your reply.

Love (you cannot imagine the catharsis I feel to actually pen the word), love, a thousand times love,

Wally

When I was done I sighed in relief, happy that I had finally told Kuki of my feelings for her, I only hoped that she would reciprocate them. I folded the letter and placed in into an envelope, addressing it to Kami Drilovsky like Kuki had asked me too.

I placed it on the desk, determined to deliver it to the postal service when I went out today.

Kuki's POV

With the promise of looking at grandmothers wedding gown when we had time, Kami sent me back to my quarters for well needed rest.

I lied on my cot, anxious with excitement. I was going to marry Wally! Prince Wally! I could not recall a memory when I was this full of joy.

I closed my eyes and dreamed. It was a wonderful dream. A dream about Wally and me. We were sitting in the castle courtyard, surrounded by ten children, nine girls and one boy.

A girl with my eyes and Wally's hair was fighting with her brother who had the opposite looks. I had called them Lili Morgan and Willi Ruburd.

I remember shaking my head; they had reminded me of Aunt Morgan and Father. There was a little girl, with black hair with blonde highlights wearing an orange dress. She was having a tea party with a Rainbow Centaur. My first Rainbow Centaur.

Two other girls were running around, one had waving black hair and emerald eyes, followed by a girl with waving blonde hair and emerald eyes. Yuki and Suki, they were called respectively.

I looked to my side and saw Wally cradling a little girl, Mai, I recalled.

"She looks just like you." Wally said proudly, rocking the little girl while she slept soundly.

That was then my dream exploded. I was no longer in the sunny courtyard, surrounded by mine and Wally's children. No, I was in the Uno house. Scrubbing the floors, wearing the finest silk and a crown on my head.

"Scrub harder!" Shouted the unforgiving voice of Sir Montgomery. The salty tears ran down my face as I was forced to scrub harder, my tears mixing with the lye that I was rubbing on the floor.

I sensed a presence above me, and looked up. Seeing the shinning, radiant form of Henrietta looking down upon me, smiling with glee. "Oh dear, dear, dear, Kuki." She said, clicking her tongue, "You can't hide from my gifts."

I bolted out of my bed, tears running in streams down my face. Dream Henrietta was right! I couldn't hide from my curse, her so called gifts.

I wouldn't escape the curse by marrying Wally. I would be more cursed than ever. And he would be cursed too.

Suppose my obedience were discovered . . . My stepfamily already knew of my curse and they would take advantage to improve their rank and fortune. However, that would not be the least of it – an enemy of Kyrria could put the curse to a more awful use. In unscrupulous hands, I would be a powerful tool. I could be made to reveal state secrets. I could even be forced to kill Wally!

And I had no doubt my secret would be discovered. In court, there would be eyes and ears that would be alive to such signs. I would never manage to fool them all.

What could I do? Father had ordered me not to tell anyone about the curse, but Kami could countermand the order so I would be able to tell Wally. Then he could take precautions.

I would tell him. I would wake Kami now. I sat up in bed, happy again. But I sank back down, more tears flowing from my eyes.

What possible precautions could Wally take? He could prevent anyone from speaking to me or writing to me. He could shut me away. That might do, but he would have to bring me my meals, the flax to spin my clothes, the wood for my fire. It would be a burden similar to one of Henrietta's wedding gifts. And what would Kyrria think of a hermit queen? And how would I feel, locked away like Rapunzel in her tower? Like Dedalus with no place to go. Moreover, even the best precautions might fail.

I could ask him to give up being crown prince in favor of his sister, who was the next in line for the crown should Wally not take it. If he were never to be king, he might not be a target. But how could I ask him to do such a thing? How could he accept? And would the danger simply move to his sister? His brother? His parents?

We could keep the marriage a secret. That was an absurd idea. The secret would get out. There is no presence of malice when in the public eye.

I cast about for other ideas, but none came. I was cursed, I couldn't marry him. But if I ever managed to break the curse, whether it be in a month's time or twenty years from now, I would find him and win him over again, that is, if he was still free. No matter what I had to do, no matter how long it took. But now my only choice was to convince him to give me up. And that was going to be the hardest thing I would have ever had to do.

After hours of pondering how I was to address it, I finally thought what to say and began to write. I ruined three sheets of paper by crying on them and a fourth because I forgot to misspell my words.

Deer Prinse Wallabee,

Your latest corespondense with my stepsister was received by my father, Sir. Montgomery Uno, and myself. Kuki and the cook, Kami, were not here to except it. Kuki is absent because she has eloped, taking our cook with her. She left a note which I have enclosed for your perusal.

You have been much deceived in her. it was her custom to read your letters aloud to us and crow over them, thinking it a feather in her cap to writing to royalty, such as yourself. For a while, she had ambitions to be queen, but she dispared of it and took annother offer. She would go into one of her dreadful rages if she knew the contents of your letter. I do not think she liked living on our generosity, and longed to be able to lord it over with greater splendor that we could hope for, although we fancy that our stile is very fine.

Your letter arived for days after her departure. I know because Demby had a ball that night, and Kuki was greatly missed. Her beaux turned to me for consolation, and I gave them the same advice I have for you: Think no more of the minks, because she has already forgotten you. I am sorry to dismay you, but I hope you will be consoled by the fond wishes of your other admirers.

Your friend in comfort,

Ace

I tore a sheet of paper in half for the enclosure, written in my own hand.

These are the first words I have ever penned as a married lady. You know him, but I shall not write his name, only that he is very old and very rich and lives far from Frell. And he is fool enough to make me his bride. Someday, and the day may not be long in coming, I shall be a sole mistress of a vast estate. I shall not write again, but look for me. When my husband dies, I shall visit Frell. Should you spy a carriage that far surpasses of others, peer inside. You will find me within, smiling at my jewels and laughing at the world.

-Kuki

Wally's anger at his tutor would be nothing compared with the anger he will harvest upon reading my letter. He would hate me until the end of the world. And I only hoped that when I finally ridded myself of this curse, that I could win him back. That I could win his love of me back.

In the morning, Kami dispatched the correspondence, before leaving, she gave me a big hug.

"You father would be so proud of you." She said as she took a long look at me. Tears started to brew in her eyes and she wiped them away. "Look at me, it's not even your big day and I'm already in a teary mess!" she said, laughing.

Although I knew I was right, I doubted I could withstand any argument.

As soon as she left to post the letter, I collapsed in front of the fireplace, sobbing. When she returned in half an hour, I was still in tears.

She gathered me in her arms. "What's the trouble, Lady?" she asked, rocking me back and forth.

For a few minutes, I continued to cry, it was too hard for me to speak. When I was able to control myself, I told her. "Did I do right?" I asked at the end.

"Come with me, Lady." She grabbed my hand and half dragged me to her room, passing several servants in the hall, one of them Barney who was humming his bang song, that stupid song that had been stuck in my head. Once there, she closed the door and turned to me. "Kuki, you did right. Now I am going to do right, something I should have done a long time ago. Get behind the curtains, love."

I hesitated, pushing back the urge to obey. "Why?" I asked.

"I'm going to settle scores of scores with Henrietta. I want you to see me do it, but I don't want her to see you."

I did what I was told and hid. Peaking out in-between the curtains so I could see what was going on.

"Henrietta! I need you." Kami shouted, hands on her hips.

The scent of lilacs filled the room. I stifled a gasp, closing the curtains in fear of her seeing me. I could only see Henrietta's shadow as it played along the drapes.

"I never thought the day would come when the kitchen fairy would call me. I am delighted. How can I help you, dear?" She asked in her honey sweet voice.

"Don't 'dear' me." Kami sighed. "But you're right I need your help."

OH! Cliffie! Hehe, so yea, I'm dragging this on a wee bit. I don't want it to end! I love your reviews too much! They make me so happy!

So tell me what you think in a review! I appreciate all of those who have alerted, I love you guys! (psst, reviewers, I love you guys more, but don't tell the others)

So please, review and tell me what you think! I'll hopefully get the next chapter out, and I promise that it will be MUCH longer than this chapter is. The more reviews I get, the longer the next chapter will be! (1 review makes a 1,000 word chapter, 2 reviews makes a 2,000 word chapter, I think you get it.)

So what are you waiting for? Review please!

Love always,

LatinMagicWriter is on fire