Disclaimer: Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (the game, its characters, its plot, any in-text dialogue that has been, is being, or will be used, etc.) belongs to Atlus and its respective owners. I own this humble fanfiction and anything included that is mine (such as Hans, Franz, and the other OC guards and captains, etc.), but please rest assured that no money has been, is being, or will be made off of this fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended. Many thanks also to threetimes' GameFAQs transcript, which has been used for reference.

Rhapsody: The Princely Chronicles

Chapter Twenty-Six

After the coronation ceremony, Ferdinand and Cornet had little time to themselves before being swept into the ballroom. Eyes widening at the crowd, Cornet whispered, "Are all of these people really here to celebrate our wedding, Ferdinand?"

"It's a royal wedding," he teased.

"But the entire kingdom must be here."

The prince glanced at the guests. "No, I think seven people stayed home."

"Ferdinand…" Cornet rolled her eyes.

The prince chuckled and surveyed the crowd seriously. His birthday party had been Cornet's first ball (although she had attended a couple since then), but… "Well, I admit that that is a crowded ballroom."

Cornet exhaled. "I'm glad that I'm not going crazy."

"But I love it when you're a little crazy."

"Ferdinand!" Blushing furiously, Cornet swatted his hand, and Ferdinand grinned. He loved making her blush, but more especially… he felt like he walked on air. Their marriage, that Cornet was now his bride—it made him so joyful that he felt stupidly happy. Like he could tickle or kiss her or sweep her off of her feet and carry her bridal-style out of the ballroom in front of all of the guests and not feel embarrassed. Completely, overpoweringly happy.

They stood to the side of the dance floor as Queen Siegrind concluded her opening remarks, and then she signaled the orchestra. The first dance, of course, went to the newlyweds. Taking her hand, Ferdinand swept Cornet into a fast-paced waltz on the empty dance floor. Cornet's grace had improved much with practice, and now, even with the weight of the hitched train on her long gown, she didn't miss a beat. Ferdinand didn't keep track of the song until it ended, and he bowed and Cornet curtsied, breathlessly exhilarated.

A part of Ferdinand shot himself for not having been able to share special words as they danced. The other half of himself couldn't have spoken even if he'd wanted to—as soon as they had begun dancing, he had lost a sense of self, of thought. The world had been he and Cornet dancing and spinning. Everything else had faded to oblivion.

He held her hands tightly and kissed her before they parted. By the sparkle in Cornet's eyes, she understood what he had lost the words for and was in a similar predicament. Deliriously happy. Breathlessly joyful.

My bride.

The sun had set when Ferdinand finally pulled himself away from dancing with guests and accepting congratulations. Cornet was dancing with a visiting noble (a distant second-cousin), so he sat down at their table across from his mother to wait for her.

"Did you catch a break at long last?" the queen joked.

Ferdinand laughed tiredly. "Yes." He snared a glass of water and resisted the urge to drink it down at once. Exhaling, he leaned back in his seat. Whew, I'm exhausted.

The queen waved her fan, but the cooled air barely reached her son. Giving it up, she said, "I'm so happy that everything came together just in time for the ball. Especially that wall—I'd had no idea where to start fixing that."

Ferdinand glanced over her shoulder at the far stone wall, as solid and sturdy as if Marjoly had never crashed his birthday party—literally. "I can barely believe that she actually fixed it."

In a show of peacemaking political relations, Marjoly had sent a scroll, shortly after the public announcement of his and Cornet's engagement. Ferdinand still recalled what it said:

I haven't given up on you yet, Prince Ferdinand, for someday you will be mine. In the meantime, as a wedding present, I wish to clean up the mess left behind by my subordinate's pet.

And as soon as the messenger had finished reading the message aloud, the scroll glowed and disappeared. The damaged ballroom wall and floor began to glow immediately, and then it repaired itself. It was not merely an illusion—all of the crumbled stone and tile had returned to its original place, as if it had never been broken.

"I'm afraid that she might still be plotting something."

Ferdinand sighed. "I would not doubt it, but at least nothing seemed to be hidden within the repairs."

"That's true."

The repaired wall and floor had been examined extensively, but nothing amiss was discovered.

A moment of silence passed as they both listened to the music, and then his mother cleared her throat. "Ferdinand—"

"Excuse me, my queen. May I have this dance?"

Both turned to see an older nobleman, one of his father's cousins. The queen hesitated, looking at Ferdinand, but he gestured for her to go on. She nodded, and they left to the dance floor.

Ferdinand had rested by himself for a second, downing another glass of water, when Kururu flew up. He hadn't seen the puppet since the dancing began, so he had presumed that she was mingling with the guests.

"Hi, Prince!"

"Hi, Kururu. Are enjoying the ball?"

Kururu nodded with a grin. "I wish I could have properly danced, but it's been lovely." Her gaze moved far-off. Ferdinand followed it and saw Cornet, and he smiled softly. Kururu murmured, "She's so happy…"

Ferdinand murmured, "I am, too."

"Well, I should hope so!"

Both laughed. Then Kururu took on a serious look, and Ferdinand thought he detected an underlying sadness. "You know, Prince, we've never had a serious talk."

"Yes, we have."

Kururu paused, remembering their conversation during the Contest, and she waved it off with a blush. "Well, yes. But no, I mean about Cornet."

Ferdinand shook his head. "No, we haven't."

"Then this will be our first. And it'll be our only one." Kururu paused, collecting her words. Then, taking a breath, she said, "I'll keep this short: You're Cornet's dream. If you ruin it for her, I'll have to come after you."

Prince Ferdinand leaned forward, his gaze locked on hers. He said quietly, "If I destroyed her dream, I would have to destroy my own."

Kururu studied his face, searching for a lie. Finding none, she grinned impishly. "Good answer."

Leaning back into their respective chairs, another quiet moment passed.

Kururu broke the silence. "I've always supported Cornet. I love her." She sighed wistfully. "Once, her dream was our next adventure. Now, her dream is you, and your new life together." She held Ferdinand's gaze with a gentle smile. "It's a very beautiful dream, and you have my blessings. She picked a good man after all."

Ferdinand, shocked to loss of words, stumbled out a sincere, "Thank you."

"So don't screw it up, you hear?"

Ferdinand laughed at Kururu's impish grin. "I have no intention to."

"Good answer, Prince."

Ferdinand managed to steal several dances with Cornet before they were each requested by other guests. Once again, she was still dancing when he caught a break, so he was waiting at their table when Cornet returned and asked, "Have you seen Kururu, Ferdinand?"

"Yes, she's right—" He turned, but the fairy puppet no longer sat next to him. "No, she's not here anymore. I'm sorry, Cornet."

"It's okay. I'll be right back, Ferdinand."

"All right."

Cornet walked away, and Ferdinand began to rise to follow his bride when Queen Siegrind caught his forearm. She shook her head. "Let them have a moment, Ferdinand. Then you can go."

The prince nodded reluctantly, sitting back down.

"Although I admit that I selfishly want my son to myself for a moment, even though I've already given you away," the queen joked.

"Oh, Mom, we're all still living in the castle." Ferdinand waved it off with a grin. "It's not like you or I will move far away. And I'm still your son."

"Yes, but my little boy grew up into a prince and got married today!" She laughed, but her eyes misted. "Oh, Ferdinand, I'm so happy for you and Cornet."

Ferdinand smiled quietly, murmuring, "Thanks, Mom."

Queen Siegrind sighed happily and fanned herself vigorously. When she regained her composure, she turned to her son with a serious look. "I was interrupted earlier, but I want to discuss something with you, tonight, before the ball ends."

Ferdinand leaned forward, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. "What is it, Mom?"

"Your ascension to the throne of Marl Kingdom."

Ferdinand choked. "The—the throne? As in King?"

"Yes. I would prefer to pass the crowns to you and Cornet while I am still living and can act as an advisor. Once Cornet has wet her feet to the duties of a princess—and perhaps before the two of you have your first child—I would like for you two to take your thrones as King and Queen."

Ferdinand was stunned. He had been preparing for this moment his whole life, but the thought of the day being on his doorstep—especially on the doorstep of his wedding night!—was shocking. He hadn't expected this conversation for at least another five years. Maybe ten. "So soon, Mom?"

"Oh, Ferdinand, you and Cornet will be ready by then. This way, you two may enjoy your honeymoon, settle into your lives, and then prepare for the next step while you have time to grow into it."

Ferdinand nodded numbly. It felt like he and Cornet had barely said their vows, and now it was time to play thrones and heirs! His head spun.

Queen Siegrind laughed lightly again, rapping her fan on his hand reassuringly. "This is only for you to think about, not stress over, Ferdinand. You've just been married. Your honeymoon begins after the ball. Ascension can be discussed after you return."

Ferdinand nodded numbly again, so his mother pushed him away playfully.

"That's all I had to say. Now go find your bride!"

At the thought of Cornet, the world righted itself. Ferdinand laughed and stood up from the table. "We'll be back in a moment, Mom."

Ferdinand good-naturedly managed to excuse himself from some dances and extended conversations for his purpose of seeking his bride. They laughed, twittered or chuckled, congratulated the prince again on his wedding and celebratory ball, and wished them luck.

Finally, Ferdinand found Hans and Franz posted outside a hallway. They startled to attention when he approached but calmed at his question.

"Have either of you seen Cornet?"

Hans nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. She went out on the balcony to speak with Kururu."

"She hasn't come back this way, so she's probably still there," Franz added.

Ferdinand thanked them and continued on. A wave of déjà vu washed over him as he realized that this hallway led to the same balcony on which he rescued Cornet from Golonzo and almost spoke with her during his birthday ball. A tingling feeling went down his spine, and he passed under the archway—

"Please, Mom, don't go!"

Ferdinand froze in the doorway. Peering from behind a pillar, he saw Cornet standing in front of a beautiful six-winged angel. The older woman hovered over the balcony rail, surrounding by light. At their feet lied an unmoving Kururu.

"Mom, please…"

Ferdinand stood dumbfounded. Mom? But—

"You've found your happiness, Cornet," the angel said gently. "I have no more reason to stay."

Tears fell as Cornet pleaded, "No, Mom, I still need you! I'm happy with you! Please don't go!"

The angel shook her head and reached down, picked up the lifeless Kururu doll, and placed it in Cornet's hands. Cornet hugged the doll tightly as the angel brushed away some of Cornet's tears, smiling reassuringly. "I won't be completely gone, Cornet. I'll never be completely gone. I'll still be here, in your heart, and I'll be watching over you."

"But Mom—"

"Shh…" the angel murmured. Brushing away more tears, she sighed happily and said, "Look at you, Cornet. You've grown up so beautifully. I'm so proud of you. And you've made your dream come true, remember?"

"Yes, but—"

"No buts." The angel hugged her tightly, and then she released her. "Go live your dream, okay?"

Cornet nodded weakly. "I love you, Mom…"

"I'll always love you, Cornet."

A small, floating rabbit appeared in the air near the angel—Ledgem, the messenger of fate, Ferdinand realized with a start. The angel waved a final time, flapped her wings, light flashed—

—and then both were gone.

It clicked in Ferdinand's mind. She was Kururu. The angel was Kururu. Cornet's mother's spirit had lived in the puppet. That's why Kururu could move on her own. She was never a puppet, but a living spirit animating the puppet, so that she could watch over Cornet…

It flashed through Ferdinand's mind, but only one thing mattered: Her mother had gone from Kururu, and now Cornet stood on the balcony, holding the Kururu doll and crying, sobbing, having lost her mother a second time—and she was crying alone.

Ferdinand knew exactly how crying alone felt. How crying alone for a lost parent felt.

He stepped out on to the balcony. "Cornet?"

Cornet gasped. She turned, her wide eyes glassy and her make-up smeared from the tears. "F—Ferdinand?" She looked away. Ferdinand knew that she was hiding her face, her tears, desperately trying to explain it away. "Um… I…"

Ferdinand shook his head. He walked over and pulled her gently into a hug. "You don't have to say anything," he whispered.

Cornet threw her arms around him, the doll still in her hand, and she sobbed into his shoulder. "Oh, Ferdinand! Mom—"

"Shhh…" Ferdinand rubbed soothing circles into her back. Hugging her tightly, he murmured into her hair, "It's going to be okay, Cornet."

They stood there for several minutes, Cornet crying and Ferdinand just letting her cry. He could distantly hear the music from the ballroom carrying through the halls, but the night wind soon carried it away. When Cornet had cried for a while and began trembling from the exhaustion and standing in the cold, he guided her to a bench so that they could sit. He took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. Then he pulled her close again.

"It's going to be okay, Cornet."

They stayed that way. Ferdinand distantly heard some voices, and he assumed that someone had come searching for them, but they were left in peace.

Cornet whispered something, but the words were lost in his jacket.

"Yes, Cornet?" he murmured.

She looked up shyly from his shoulder, her green eyes red-rimmed. But this time he heard her whisper, "I love you, Ferdinand."

Ferdinand kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. "I love you, too, Cornet."

A/N: Oh, our lovely couple… *sighs happily*

This chapter gave me some difficulty for whatever reason, but I like how it turned out, and I'm glad that it could be gotten to you. I hope that you enjoyed it. Please share your thoughts!

One more… ;)