The party had begun. Couples filed into the big golden ballroom. Rose could hear the distant chatter and laughter of the people. Her hands were wrapped in a white bandage. She had put enough tape on for it to look like a glove that went to the base of her fingers to her wrist. The girl poked her head at the top of the stairs and looked down into the ballroom.
Ben was standing over by the other wall, greeting guests as they walk by. Belle and Beast stood next to him. The young boy made eye contact with Rose, and jerked his head back, signalling for her to come down. Rose shook her head. Ben looked back at the people he was talking to and bowed his head. He began walking to the stair case. Rose backed up, but hit one of the maids who was carrying towels.
As the girl steadied the maid before any towels could hit the floor, she forgot that Ben was coming for her. Rose turned to step back again and almost hit the walking maid. Ben looked down at her with a slight glare. "You're coming down to the party?" Ben's voice was light and greeting.
Rose had a blank expression for a moment before it turned in a slight grin. "I have to wait til my late entrance. That is what they taught us at Princess camp." She looked at him with a confident stare. She had a good lie, he wouldn't even know the difference.
"I think you've waited long enough," Ben said in his friendly voice,"Come downstairs." He turned around and stuck out his arm for her to take.
"You don't have escort me brother," Rose folded her arms,"I can handle those stairs myself."
"I think if a princess is going to enter their mom and dad's anniversary party," Ben looked behind his shoulder and still held out his arm,"She should be escorted in. That's what I learned from my school years." He raised one of his eyebrows. Rose rolled her eyes and took his arm. Together, they walked down the stairs into the ballroom. Many people watched them like hawks, taking in every step they took. Rose continued to look forward, not even making eye contact with her mother.
When they reached the bottom, Rose dropped her arm immediately. Ben turned to his sister. "Be nice," he commanded her,"At least pretend to have fun." He gave her a sight bow and walked back to where their parents were. Rose watched him as he melted back into conversation with others. Belle looked at Rose with a slight smile, but her eyes filled with concern. In response, Rose turned and walked further into the sea of people.
The ceiling made of glass showed the clouds started blending in with the night sky. The golden ballroom lights made the room more shiny. Rose looked at all the different couples with gowns and suits of many colors. The whole scene was too much for Rose, so she often looked at the floor. Many people said 'hello' or 'good evening' to her as she walked, but she would only put on a fake smile in response.
When lapping the room for the third time, Rose's attention was turned to the clink noise of a glass. "Happy anniversary to the King and Queen of Auradon!" Prince Phillip was standing on the small riser that held the small band of violins that would be playing tonight. "To Belle and Beast!" he raised his glass and took a sip as the crowd repeated and took a sip from their own glasses.
Rose sighed as they cheered for a little bit. Phillip made a small hand gesture to the band and they started playing a dancing tune. He then came off the stage to greet his wife Aurora. Many couples began to dance to the slow and classical music. Rose rolled her eyes again and stood close to the wall, watching the people dance.
How can they dance to this boring music. They are boring people. A young Audrey and Ben came into the small dancing circle and began to do the dance routine that goes with the song. "Hello Rose," a boy's voice came from behind her. Rose rolled her eyes once more before she sighed in disgust.
"Hello Simon," Rose turned to see Snow White's son,"What brings your displeasing presence my way?" The boy only smiled. He had no clue of her disliking him.
"I was wondering if you would like to dance with me next song?" Simon asked confidently. Rose looked at him with disgust.
"I'm a little thirsty at the moment," Rose said,"Would you mind getting some punch for me?"
"Of course princess," Simon whisked away quickly. A sigh of relief escaped Rose's lips as soon as he moved. She moved again, this time, she hid behind the staircase. Her air fell out of the stiff bun as soon as her hand touched it. It fell in curls on her shoulders. She finger combed it and put the tiara back onto her head.
As soon as she thought it was safe to come out, she was wrong. Belle had caught sight of Rose and almost ran over to her. "Rose!" she said in a half angered tone. "Your hair! What happened?"
"It made my head hurt," Rose defended herself,"I think it looks better like this."
"This mess?"Belle shook her head,"Go upstairs and fix it up and come back down before I do my speech." Rose didn't hesitate, she left the party as soon as she could. She went up into her room. Sitting back in her vanity chair, she looked at herself. Suddenly, she wiped all the makeup from her face. The mascara left marks on her face but she didn't care. She bent down over her gown and started to rip the skirt so you could see her brown boots clearly. She ripped off the bandages on her hands and messed up her hair even more.
With on final look, Rose headed happily down the stairs. People gasped as she walked through the crowd. The musical was still classical, which only made Rose more angry. She went up to the stage. "The queen has given me permission to ask you to play something fast and fun." The band band didn't look twice when she gave the order. They immediately started playing a up beat tune.
Rose jumped off the platform and ran into the crowd. She found Simon quickly and grabbed him by the arm. They ran out onto the clearing dance floor. She lead him into a dancing skip. As they danced around the circle, Rose could hear the gasps from the crowd. She split away from Simon to grab a new partner. Ben was talking to an older couple with a small grin. Rose ran to him and grabbed his hand quickly.
The future king didn't have much time respond, he ran for a few steps then realized what was happening. "Rose," Ben asked as she started dancing with him,"What are you doing?" He noticed the makeup smeared across her face.
"What do you think I'm doing," Rose spun around to the up beat music,"I'm having fun."
"Rose you're gonna get into trouble," Ben twirled as hi sister lead him,"I'm going to get in trouble."
"Fun is trouble Ben," Rose grinned,"You just gotta deal with it." The music suddenly died down. Ben and Rose bother turned to see Belle was standing on the stage where the mic was. Rose's grin disappeared as people flooded around her, looking at the queen. Belle's eyes were trained on Rose. Even though she was smiling,her eyes pierced right through her. She broke the gaze as the people started to quiet down.
"I want to thank you all for coming to mine and my husband's anniversary ball," Belle looked at the guests. "It means a lot to me that we can all come together and celebrate not just love, but the future. I would like to recognize my beloved son, Ben." Everyone began to clap. Ben stepped in front of Rose, making sure no one saw her messy face of makeup.
"I know you'll be a great king one day. I'm very proud to have one child who has been so successful. Rose will have to work hard to match your achievements in the kingdom. To the future." People laughed and started clapping again before they raised their glasses and took a sip of their drinks. Ben didn't clap or smile. He turned to see Rose's blank face.
"Rose," Ben said,"Mom didn't mean it like that." Someone from the crowd turned them towards them. They started congratulating him on his so far achievements. Ben accepted the quick handshake then tried to turn back to his sister. She had completely disappeared from the ballroom.
Rose went up the stairs where her room waited for her, but she turned and walked towards glass doors. She opened them to find another balcony. This was the biggest one in the whole palace. It looked over the old castle square. It was where they celebrated King Beast's coronation to being the first King of Auradon. Rose leaned over the edge of the balcony rail.
I have to get out of here. I know there's something I'm missing. I feel empty. She looked out to see the distant tree line in the night sky. I need to go, but where? I could escape to the Isle, but they would find me there."Rose!" Belle's voice silenced the thoughts
"Leave me alone mother," Rose said sternly without turning to Belle,"I don't need a lecture right now."
"I think you do," Belle snapped back,"The way you acted in front of everyone was not acceptable."
"The way you parent isn't acceptable," Rose muttered.
"Do you think I can't hear you?" Belle asked with a strong tone. What was she? Stupid? Of course it was meant for her to hear.
"Only blind," Rose shot back.
"How am I blind?" Belle didn't break her stand.
"You only see one child," Rose turned,"You act like I'm not even here! Only a truly blind person would pretend they only have one perfect child!"
"Maybe it because I'm only proud of one child," Belle snapped back. Rose looked hurt for a moment, but then her expression hardened. This is no surprise. I knew its what she wanted this whole time, me out of the picture.
"I'm sorry I'm not the perfect, little princess you wanted," Rose walked past her mother with the same expression, and looking forward.
"Rose wait," Belle said quietly and turned around. Rose stopped and turned. She looked her mother in her teary but angered eyes for only a moment. A sudden picture of the same expression flickered in her mind. When was this? Another picture flashed. People all around her, holding her down. Fairy Godmother holding the pink rose and her wand while the doctor held a syringe full of pink liquid. Belle watching it all unfold. The rose. The magic is in the rose. Keep calm, don't let mom know. Wait, she's not your mother anymore, don't answer to her every call.
"I don't have to answer to you Belle," Rose handed her the golden crown off her head, turned, and continued to walk. The straight faced expression still on her face Belle held the crown in her hands, unknowing what to do. Her face hardened as well and she walked through the doors, not following where Rose had gone.
Rose ran through the castle quickly to her room. She got on her knees to pull out a bag. She flipped it open to show clothes and food. She grabbed a small brown book and flipped it open. The girl read it for a few moments but then put it quickly away. The girl threw a blue leather jacket on and zipped it to the top. She got up and began to run out of her room, grabbing the small bear toy from her bed. When she made it to the hall, she found herself to looking down the staircase.
The party was still going on as normal. She spotted Ben in the crowd, but he was finding his way through it. He may have been looking for her. No, hes's going the other way. Why would he look for me? The girl ran down the hall to where she and her mother talked, this time she went to the rail and sat on the edge. She looked down to she the shrubs below her feet. She jumped down. Her dress getting caught on the shrubs is what slowed her fall. With her torn brown boots, she ran all the way to the museum.
The girl walked straight into the big doors. Rose encountered the guard, who stood to her presence. "You will leave your duty," Rose commanded,"but not before you take down all security. Now!" The old guard didn't have much time to respond but he did what she asked quickly. When he was finished, he stood and waited for a moment. "Leave! NOW!" Rose's voice was lowered. The man almost ran as he went out the door.
She didn't bother closing the door but she walked into the different rooms until she found a dark one with a levitating rose. The pink petals glowed in the night light. Rose stopped in the middle and reached out and grabbed the rose and brought it down to her. This was a terrible hiding place for my power. "As the one of least, let me unlock this beast!" the girl chanted loudly. The rose glowed even brighter before it wasn't glowing at all. The reddish pink glow came from her eyes. Objects around began to levitate and spin around the room. The doors burst open once more.
She turned to see her brother, breathing heavily and looking panicked. He was looking for me. "Rose," he said in a friendly voice,"You need to stop this."
"What do you know!" Rose's fists were clenched,"You're their favorites Ben! I don't even exist in their eyes." You'll never know the power they've kept me from.
"They know who you are Rose!" Ben yelled as the wind from the objects quickened,"You just have to realize that you're in this family! Come back with me! We can fix this!"
"I don't want this life!" Rose detested,"Or this family, and they don't want me!" She took something from her jacket and threw it at Ben. He dodged and kept eye contact. He's just like them, he doesn't want me here.
"I do," Ben said in a more serious voice,"I want you to stay." But I can't, not like this.
Rose's expression softened, but hardened again,"I don't." Ben's eyes widened as pink flames grew over Rose and she disappeared.
Rose reappeared on the balcony where she was before the party. What does he know!? He's only wanted you there so he can look better for his image! They all are just using my power! They should know what I'm capable of! Rose swung her arms up and went she let them fall, pink flames scattered all around. She snapped back to her room where her pretty white princess things lay. With a a scream she threw fire in her room. She caught eye of herself in the vanity mirror. It cracked and shattered on the floor. The white rose burned in its vase.
She ran to the top of the stairs and at every step she took, flames rose up from the carpet. People gasped as she made her way down to the floor. She heard whispers of others thinking it was a show. This is no show. Rose stomped her foot into the ground, making the columns start on fire. When one hit the ground, people began to scream and run around.
Rose looked around at all the action. She caught sight of Belle and Beast, ushering people out quickly. Before they could catch sight of her, she disappeared to the top of the now burning castle. She looked at all of the people running for their lives. When they reached the outside air, they stopped running and turned to watch. They may thin they are safe now, but they'll just have to wait for my return. With one final look, Rose pulled a map from her bag, there were the many towns of Auradon. Her eyes settled on the small village of Dandelion. She grinned before she disappeared.