I don't own Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-man and the Wasp, and any of the video game characters that will be mentioned in this story. I'm sorry for posting this up so late, but I was busy with other things and I got distracted with some stuff as well. I hope that you all have a good Thanksgiving as well as the weekend as well. It will be a while for me to put up another chapter and I really do like hearing from you guys so please comment/suggestion I really do like hearing what you guys think. So now on with the story.
Chapter Sixteen: The Ball
At the Stark's Castle (In the ballroom)
Howard and Maria walked out on to the steps where the ballroom met the group of people who they invited as they greeted their guest as they said "Thank you all for coming to this special occasion. For our son Prince Tony Stark to announce the maiden that he loves, and to make her his bride" as they jester to their son who came up behind them looking like a true handsome prince. Tony wore an off white suit with burgundy designs on it with tassels, but his father wore navy blue with burgundy designs were his mother wore a beautiful lavender gown with purple rhinestones. Maria looked at Tony as she whispered in his ear "Be nice but I do hope you find her my sweet son" then kissed him on the head as Tony nodded then went down the stairs to greet the other guests that came to the ball.
While that happened Howard and Maria went to the chairs that was on the baloney and sat on them. As then one of the guards blow a horn then said "King Hank Pym and Princess Hope Van Dye as well as Sir Scottie Hood" it was then that Hank, Hope, and Scott appeared wearing fancy clothing to the ball. After they came down the guard announced the next people which was sadly Lady Tremaine, Drisella, and Anastasia. Lady Tremaine smirked at the guard as the other guard nodded and let the ladies go by them. Tony sighed as Lady Tremaine went up to him while saying "Your highness I have here my daughters. Drisella, and Anastasia" James rolled his eyes at them as the guard showed them the way only to have Drisella yelled out "PRINCE TONY" then watched her run up to him and grabbing his hand.
Tony looked at James in a scared look as James went up to the lady in question as he said "Why don't you come with me to get a drink or something? Maybe your mother could come with us as well" but Drisella spoke in a nasally tone "But I want to see Prince Tony" as Lady Tremaine coming up behind them saying "How about we give the prince sometime, dear he does have a lot of people to meet with." Then both Lady Tremaine and Drisella went with James to where the food and drinks were at leaving Anastasia and Tony alone.
Anastasia went up to Tony as she said "Thank you for letting us come to the ball your highness" Tony looked at Anastasia as he realized that she was definitely different from her mother and sister as he went up to her while bowing as he said "The honor is all mine my lady." Anastasia smiled as she bowed as well to Tony as he came up while she said "The honor is all mine your highness. . . . . . But there is something I like to ask you about something" Tony was taken back at what Anastasia said but didn't let it affect him as he said "You may I would like to hear what you're thinking anyway."
Anastasia went up to him as she whispered "I know who you really are" Tony looked at her weird as he said "I don't know what you mean" then Anastasia continued in a whisper "Don't worry I won't tell anyone. . . . . . . . I know that you, Pepper, and James aren't supposed to be in this story. I also know that you're the prince in this story and the one that went to see my step-sister Pepper. Look she told me everything and I just want you to know that I hope you make it up to her. She just got scared that is all, and I want you to know that you shouldn't hurt her. Because if you do I'm going to kick your ass for it" Tony smiled as he whispered back "One thanks for keeping our secret, and secondly don't worries I plan not to hurt Pepper ever again."
Anastasia nodded as then she walked away from Tony to join her family to where the food and drinks were at. Tony stood there greeting every single person that came to the ball. As then Obadiah walked up to Tony as he said "Prince Tony your father and mother wanted you to come with me to meet the Princess of Winterstar." Tony nodded as he followed Obadiah to where his parents were at as he got closer he saw Scott and Hope as well as Hank as he ran up to them and hugged them while saying "It's so good to see you guys again" only to have Obadiah say "Those isn't the people you are supposed to meet" King Howard put his hand up to Obadiah as he said "Let our son see his friends again but I want you to go greet our other guest for Tony. We'll take it from here" Obadiah nodded as he walked away from them as Tony stopped hugging Hope and Scott as Hank went to sit next to Howard and Maria.
Hope smiled as Scott held her in his arms while Scott said "How's it going" Tony sighed as he said "I think I have messed up with Pepper." Hope looked at Tony as she said "What do you mean" as Tony continued to explain everything that happened to him, Pepper, and James when they got here after he got done Scott looked at him shocked as he said "You didn't even noticed that beautiful strawberry blonde woman in the rags was actually Pepper! How could you not notice her? I mean she's been like what your business partner" Tony sighed as he said "I know but for some reason when I'm in this story it's like I'm doing what the story is telling me to do. I don't know" Hope went up to Tony as she said "I know that we have to do what the story is telling us to do, but Ratchet is helping us by changing it in some way or another. Just don't give up, Pepper still loves you" Tony looked down at his royal boots as he said "Yeah you're right, but my parents want me to marry someone like a princess. What if I want to marry Pepper instead? What do I do then" then Scott put his hand on Tony's shoulder as he said "Then do what your heart is telling you, besides we all know who you would pick anyway. Let this story come true for the both of you."
Tony looked at Scott and Hope at the same time as he nodded in agreement then looked over to his parents as Howard said "Prince Tony this is Princess Ann from Winterstar and her father King Thomas" Tony looked at the princess to see that the princess was a brunette with white pearl beads headdress and the dress that Princess Ann was wearing was very revealing with her breasts showing cleavage in a light blue tight dress that showed off her hourglass curves. Tony even noticed that the dress as a white fur trim around the neck line and the sleeves that were on the end of them. The father was also wearing fur on this royal suit with the colors being light blue, white and silver on it. King Thomas bowed to Tony as Princess Ann just nodded as he said "It is nice to meet you Prince Tony" Princess Ann walked up to him as she said "I've heard so much about you Prince Tony. . . . . . . I hope you have heard so much about me as well."
Tony sighed as he took her hand then kissed it then gave it back as he said "I'm afraid that I don't know that much about you Princess Ann only that you live in the Northern parts of the Alps. I hope you love our fair land here Princess Ann" Ann smiled at Tony as she took his arm which made him alarm as she whispered out "Why don't you show me around your fair castle instead?"
Tony looked Ann as he said "I have to go continue to great the guests that are coming in so if you excuse me" then Tony left Ann with the others to continue what he was doing. Ann watched Tony walk away from her as she said "I like that he cares for his people, but I was hoping if he would show me around." King Thomas went up to his daughter as he put his hand on her shoulder as he said "Maybe he will show you later, for right now he must look after his people." As everyone watched as Tony greeted everyone that came to the ball; until he saw the next person that came in and Princess Ann saw how he was reacting to the mysterious person that came in.
At the top of the stairs Pepper came in as the guard was about to announce her coming but realized that he had never seen this person as one of the other guards was talking to him while Pepper looked down to see Tony Stark looking at her. He went up to the bottom of the stairs as he looked at her lovingly as she came down the stairs with her gown flowing like a princess down to him. Tony bowed to her while she did a curtsey while he held out his hand as she took it; then he guided Pepper to the middle of the ballroom floor and started to waltz her around the people there. Tony looked into Pepper's eyes as he gave her a smile that was so genuine that made her blush at the sight of it.
Lady Tremaine moved from crowd to crowd to get a good look at the mysterious lady that was dancing with Prince Tony. As then Lady Tremaine sighed as she walked to one of the balconies and then she heard Obadiah was talking to the King Thomas. Obadiah laughed out "You know what I wanted Prince Tony to marry you daughter Princess Ann. The way she looked tonight I was surprised to see that Prince Tony didn't take her right then and there" King Thomas replied back with "Well the night is young, maybe we'll see them together though. Of course if Prince Tony keeps dancing with that beautiful young lady there he won't be able to be with my daughter." Lady Tremaine walked up to the men as she said "Do I hear you men correctly? That Prince Tony is to marry Princess Ann from Winterstar" Obadiah looked at the woman in question as he said "That is none of your business, but if you wish to know yes we actually want Prince Tony to marry Princess Ann." Lady Tremaine just smirked as she nodded while saying "If you don't mind I must find my daughters. I'm so sorry for walking in on you conversation" then Lady Tremaine walked out of the two men's way and back into the ballroom where the other people were at.
Once the music was done both Tony and Pepper stopped dancing while she whispered to Tony "Everyone is looking at us" as Tony whispered back to her "No they're looking at you" Pepper could only blush as everyone cheered while both Tony and Pepper just bowed and curtseyed for the crowed. Then Tony took Pepper's hand and walked through the people to get to the other side of the room leaving the people in the ballroom be just so they could be alone with each other. As they were finally going to get to the door Drisella was about to run up to Tony as James stepped in while saying "Why don't we look over her" but Drisella yelled out "I want to see the prince" only for James showed her the other way as Tony took Pepper into the other room with paintings and stuff.
Scott and Hope followed them so they could help Tony in any way they could as Hank stayed with King Howard and Queen Maria talking about how things were and what they were hoping to do for their people. The only people who weren't happy were Obadiah, King Thomas, and Princess Ann who saw the whole thing that happened.
In the hall of painting/outside in the secret Garden
Tony closed the door behind him once everyone came into the room and turned to Pepper as he grabbed her wanting to kiss her as she giggled only for her to step away from him. Tony looked at her sad as Pepper only giggled as she twirled around to him making look she was a flower the way her gown flowed out. Hope smiled as Scott said "Um Pepper there is something we need to tell you" as Tony whispered to him "It's alright she already knows about it." Pepper then went up to Tony as she put her hands on his chest while saying "There is something I want to tell you, and that is that I'm really sorry for the way that I acted to you at our picnic. To be honest I didn't know how to react to what you and James were saying, then to find out that you were the prince in this story only made thing difficult for me to grasp. I just wanted you to know that and I hope that you will forgive me."
Tony went up to Pepper as he took her hand as he said "I've already forgiven you my love" then Pepper gave off a beautiful smile as Tony walked up to Pepper as he gave her a kiss on the lips that was so passionate that both of them had to stop for they needed to get some air. Scott watched them leave as Hope said "Shouldn't we go with them" but Scott took Hope's hand as he said "Na we should just leave them be, and besides I think Tony got this." So Scott and Hope just danced a while in the room full of paintings as the others left them there. Tony took Pepper through the halls then to the doors was it would lead to the outside. Once they were outside he took her down the steps and to the secret garden that he had at his palace. Tony opened the door to his secret garden as Pepper walked in amazed by the sight as she whispered out "It's a secret garden" as then Tony took her hand and lead her to a beautiful swing.
Tony walked around it as he said "Come swing on the swing" as Pepper giggled out "I mustn't" then Tony smiled out "You should" then Pepper said "I mustn't" then Tony got closer to Pepper as he whispered in her ear "You may" then Pepper giggled out "I will" then went to the swing and sat on it. Tony went behind her and pushed her lightly as she started to swing on it. Pepper looked up to the sky to see so many stars as she said "It's so beautiful tonight" Tony sighed as he said "It is" then Pepper felt one of her shoes come off as she looked at the ground to see the glass slipper was there. Tony stopped pushing Pepper as he walked around to see the beautiful glass slipper that Pepper was wearing he picked up the shoe and walked over to Pepper as he said "May I" Pepper nodded as she watched Tony putting the shoe back on her foot while lifting the dress not all the way.
Pepper looked at Tony to see that he looked upset as she said in a sweet tone "Is something wrong" Tony looked up to Pepper as he said "Well my parents want me to go get married to someone; at first they wanted to do an arranged marriage for me, but then they told me that I could choose who I want to marry. I'm just afraid that I won't be able to find the one I want to be with" Pepper smiled as she said "I believe that you will find someone you love, and you can't give up hope that you won't find someone. The person that you would be looking for might be in front of you" Tony looked at Pepper as he knew that Pepper was right since she was the one he wanted to be with for the rest of his life. Tony finally got up and went over to his love as he kneeled next to her who was still on the swing as he got near her as he whispered to her "So since you are the one I want to be with" Pepper could feel her heart pounding as she whispered out "The one you want to be with" as then Tony lean into Pepper as he whispered before he could kiss Pepper as he said "Is you Pepper Potts and I would love to ask you to be my" as then he was about to kiss Pepper only to be stopped by the chiming of the clock tower that showed Pepper that it was 10:00 which meant that she didn't have time for this with Tony anymore.
Pepper got up as she looked at Tony said as she cried out "I have to go" as Tony looked at her odd as he said "What do you mean you have to go? I don't understand" Pepper back track to where Tony had led her to as she said "I have to go I'm so sorry Tony there was pumpkins, lizards and things" Tony looked at her strange as he yelled out "Wait don't go, come back!" Ratchet's face appeared in the sky as he said "What are you doing Tony! You know that this is part of the story that is supposed to happen right" Tony looked up to Ratchet as he yelled out "I'm not going to lose her again! Not again" then Ratchet watched as Tony ran out of the garden just to catch up to Pepper.