Stanley's Spirit
Disclaimer: *dances in a top-hat* I! Dooo! Not! Own! Okageeeeeee!
Author's Note: Heh. This one will get better, I swear ^_^;
Chapter 2 - The First Ball
Stan's eyes widened. He looked for an escape and spotted a tiny window. As the pounding increased, he wrenched open the window and just barely managed to squirm out. Kiana just stood there watching him and trembling.
Clinging to the windowsill, he narrowed his eyes at her. "Well, come on! You did lie to a guard, you know, and if you don't wanna get caught then I suggest you come with me," he snapped. She nodded and peeked outside the window. Then, immediately, she wished she hadn't. The ground was a long way down. A long way down.
"You'll break your leg again!" she gasped.
Stan threw back his head and let out an insane-sounding laugh that sent chills down Kiana's spine. "Hah! Think an Evil Prince doesn't have magic?" he questioned sarcastically.
She shook her head and Stan moved over, levitating in midair. After Kiana had slipped effortlessly through the window, she clung to the windowsill.
Then, the door broke down.
"Ah! Damn! Kiana, grab my hand!" Stan shouted, outstretching a long, pale arm. She did, and cringed at his touch. His hand was deathly cold and clammy. Right as a guard approached the window, Stan and Kiana leaped.
Stan breathed a few words and a blackish-purple colored orb surrounded them both, and they stopped dropping like rocks and floating gracefully.
As soon as they touched the ground, the bubble dissipated and they both broke into a run. They still attracted stares. "Oh, curses! The medallion!" he shouted. He reached up and violently tore a gold medallion emblazoned with the royal crest. It shattered as it hit the cobblestone.
Kiana looked over her shoulder, and thus didn't see Stan change direction abruptly. She ran right smack into the cold iron breastplate of a royal guard.
He grabbed her by her wrists with his gauntlet-clad hands. "Gotcha! You are charged with lying to a member of the royal guard!" he boomed. Not knowing what to do, Kiana screamed. The hands tightened on her fragile wrists and she felt like they would break in two.
Stan stopped in his tracks. Weaving a tapestry of obscenities that still hangs over the town today, he shoved his way through the crowd and tackled the guard. In his surprise, he let go of Kiana's wrists, and she jumped back behind the prince. Stan stood up straight as if nothing happened, and then extended a hand to the guard. "Hello, Miles," he greeted him cheerfully.
The guard called Miles scowled and allowed himself to be helped up. "Your Highness! The king and queen have been worried sick about you! And they had to postpone the ball, all because of you!" he scolded.
"The horrors," Stan drawled.
Kiana tried to make herself as small as possible. Which was pretty easy, considering the prince's height. But, nevertheless, she failed to escape the guard's eye. "And she lied to us!" Miles shouted, pointing an accusing finger at her.
Stan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You will not punish her. She has committed no crime, because I ordered her not to reveal where I was hidden. And, Kiana also healed me and treated me like a normal person, something I wish all of you would do," he growled. Miles trembled a little.
"Well, I'm sorry, sire, but we must go now," Miles said.
Stan shook his head. "I feared as much," he sighed. Before he turned to go, he grinned at Kiana and said, "Please come to the ball tonight. I want to be able to talk to someone who can treat me normally."
Kiana nodded a little and half-curtseyed, then remembered that Stan wanted to be treated normally, and stopped, nearly tripping herself. This provoked a tiny chuckle from Stan and then his expression turned stern, and he demanded, "And if you don't come, I'll have to call you worm girl until the day you die."
Miles dragged Stan off. Kiana waved and then started back to the tavern.
Midori ran to her sister and hugged her. "Kiana! WHEREHAVEYOUBEEN?!" she shouted. But Kiana was in her own world, humming and spiraling and dancing a little in place. "Oh, nowhere. But I've got to attend a ball tonight, at Stan's request," she sang.
Her younger sister raised an eyebrow. "Stan?"
"The prince!" Kiana laughed. Midori's green eyes widened and she let out a little squeal, taking Kiana's hands and dancing around the mostly- empty tavern.
"Oooooh! Kianaaa! Come here, let me give you a dress," Midori chattered, dragging Kiana up the stairs. Entering her room, Midori pulled out a maroon dress with sequins near the bottom of the skirt. It had no sleeves, and it had a large, puffy ribbon in the back to match.
Kiana gasped, and gently touched the dress, almost afraid. "Midori.it's beautiful! Where did you get this?"
"Get it? I made it!" Midori exclaimed, the jungle of brown curls on her head bobbing up and down.
Kiana's eyes widened, and she gave her sister a huge bear hug. "Midori-chan! You're so awesome! I can't believe you're letting me wear this!"
Midori grinned and handed Kiana the dress. "Go put it on! We've got to get you ready for the ball, Cinderella!"
An hour later, Kiana stood infront of a mirror, frowning slightly and smoothing her dress. Midori put a wreath of bloodred roses gently atop her sister's black hair. "You look so pretty," she sniffled.
Kiana hugged her and turned to leave, when Midori thrust a purple bottle into her hands. "Take it. I don't know why, but it's always brought me luck."
Stan tapped his foot on the marble floor, folding his arms. He narrowed his eyes at the back of a princess' neck, almost willing for her head to explode.
"Worm girl," he hissed angrily. She hadn't come yet!
Stan hated his outfit. A lot. He was forced to wear a black cloak that was hung lazily around his neck with a new medallion, his black knee- high boots had been polished, he was wearing puffy black pants, and a black t-shirt like garment with gold seams. He looked like a damn pirate. Suddenly, a major draft swept over the room and the doors clicked shut again. Stan turned his head slightly, expecting to be greeted by another eye- blinding pink dress. But he was delighted as the 'worm girl' entered.
The first thing he noticed was her dress. It was beautiful, maroon colored, and the sequins caught the light and sent miniature rainbows spiraling onto everyone and everything. Then, he noticed the wreath of roses on her head. And, lastly, he noticed the look of fear and self- conciousness in her eyes and posture. Kiana looked around quickly, ignoring the sideways glances and murmurs people were giving her. Eyes downcast, shoulders slightly hunched as if to protect herself, she started towards the same corner Stan was in.
He grinned and plucked the wreath off her head. She immediatley looked up and her hand shot out, snatching it away. "Quick reflexes," he commented dryly, bowing to her. Kiana shrugged and put it back on her head.
"I'm here. Happy?"
Stan frowned. "Not anymore. I just wanted someone who's civil to talk to. Now dance with me, and that's an order. The cursed fat princess in the vomit green dress is coming over," he shot back, leading her onto the floor quickly, his boot heels clicking.
Kiana's eyes narrowed. "My friend would have a good laugh at this. I never dance. You're lucky I haven't run away," she spat. Stan grinned broadly.
"Then you'd defy an order from Prince Stanley Hihat the 14th?"
"You suck, worm boy."
The prince chuckled and started to waltz with Kiana. She wasn't so graceful with dancing at first, but she caught on in no time at all. A smile threatened to escape onto her face. "Having fun, are we?"
"No."
Stan laughed. "Fine." Kiana sighed.
"Don't you know about endorphins? Science?"
A small look of confusion crossed his face. "No," he said meekly.
"Endorphins are released when you exercise. They're kind of like painkillers. For some reason, they make you happy. And," she added, with a twinkle in her eyes, "chocolate is also scientifically proven to make you happy."
"Really?" Stan questioned, trying to keep his bored expression, but it was obvious that he was fascinated.
They talked throughout the night, and Stan succesfully avoided the fat princess in the vomit green dress.
"There's another one tomorrow night. You'd better come, worm girl," Stan scolded as she left. Kiana nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be here."
Disclaimer: *dances in a top-hat* I! Dooo! Not! Own! Okageeeeeee!
Author's Note: Heh. This one will get better, I swear ^_^;
Chapter 2 - The First Ball
Stan's eyes widened. He looked for an escape and spotted a tiny window. As the pounding increased, he wrenched open the window and just barely managed to squirm out. Kiana just stood there watching him and trembling.
Clinging to the windowsill, he narrowed his eyes at her. "Well, come on! You did lie to a guard, you know, and if you don't wanna get caught then I suggest you come with me," he snapped. She nodded and peeked outside the window. Then, immediately, she wished she hadn't. The ground was a long way down. A long way down.
"You'll break your leg again!" she gasped.
Stan threw back his head and let out an insane-sounding laugh that sent chills down Kiana's spine. "Hah! Think an Evil Prince doesn't have magic?" he questioned sarcastically.
She shook her head and Stan moved over, levitating in midair. After Kiana had slipped effortlessly through the window, she clung to the windowsill.
Then, the door broke down.
"Ah! Damn! Kiana, grab my hand!" Stan shouted, outstretching a long, pale arm. She did, and cringed at his touch. His hand was deathly cold and clammy. Right as a guard approached the window, Stan and Kiana leaped.
Stan breathed a few words and a blackish-purple colored orb surrounded them both, and they stopped dropping like rocks and floating gracefully.
As soon as they touched the ground, the bubble dissipated and they both broke into a run. They still attracted stares. "Oh, curses! The medallion!" he shouted. He reached up and violently tore a gold medallion emblazoned with the royal crest. It shattered as it hit the cobblestone.
Kiana looked over her shoulder, and thus didn't see Stan change direction abruptly. She ran right smack into the cold iron breastplate of a royal guard.
He grabbed her by her wrists with his gauntlet-clad hands. "Gotcha! You are charged with lying to a member of the royal guard!" he boomed. Not knowing what to do, Kiana screamed. The hands tightened on her fragile wrists and she felt like they would break in two.
Stan stopped in his tracks. Weaving a tapestry of obscenities that still hangs over the town today, he shoved his way through the crowd and tackled the guard. In his surprise, he let go of Kiana's wrists, and she jumped back behind the prince. Stan stood up straight as if nothing happened, and then extended a hand to the guard. "Hello, Miles," he greeted him cheerfully.
The guard called Miles scowled and allowed himself to be helped up. "Your Highness! The king and queen have been worried sick about you! And they had to postpone the ball, all because of you!" he scolded.
"The horrors," Stan drawled.
Kiana tried to make herself as small as possible. Which was pretty easy, considering the prince's height. But, nevertheless, she failed to escape the guard's eye. "And she lied to us!" Miles shouted, pointing an accusing finger at her.
Stan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You will not punish her. She has committed no crime, because I ordered her not to reveal where I was hidden. And, Kiana also healed me and treated me like a normal person, something I wish all of you would do," he growled. Miles trembled a little.
"Well, I'm sorry, sire, but we must go now," Miles said.
Stan shook his head. "I feared as much," he sighed. Before he turned to go, he grinned at Kiana and said, "Please come to the ball tonight. I want to be able to talk to someone who can treat me normally."
Kiana nodded a little and half-curtseyed, then remembered that Stan wanted to be treated normally, and stopped, nearly tripping herself. This provoked a tiny chuckle from Stan and then his expression turned stern, and he demanded, "And if you don't come, I'll have to call you worm girl until the day you die."
Miles dragged Stan off. Kiana waved and then started back to the tavern.
Midori ran to her sister and hugged her. "Kiana! WHEREHAVEYOUBEEN?!" she shouted. But Kiana was in her own world, humming and spiraling and dancing a little in place. "Oh, nowhere. But I've got to attend a ball tonight, at Stan's request," she sang.
Her younger sister raised an eyebrow. "Stan?"
"The prince!" Kiana laughed. Midori's green eyes widened and she let out a little squeal, taking Kiana's hands and dancing around the mostly- empty tavern.
"Oooooh! Kianaaa! Come here, let me give you a dress," Midori chattered, dragging Kiana up the stairs. Entering her room, Midori pulled out a maroon dress with sequins near the bottom of the skirt. It had no sleeves, and it had a large, puffy ribbon in the back to match.
Kiana gasped, and gently touched the dress, almost afraid. "Midori.it's beautiful! Where did you get this?"
"Get it? I made it!" Midori exclaimed, the jungle of brown curls on her head bobbing up and down.
Kiana's eyes widened, and she gave her sister a huge bear hug. "Midori-chan! You're so awesome! I can't believe you're letting me wear this!"
Midori grinned and handed Kiana the dress. "Go put it on! We've got to get you ready for the ball, Cinderella!"
An hour later, Kiana stood infront of a mirror, frowning slightly and smoothing her dress. Midori put a wreath of bloodred roses gently atop her sister's black hair. "You look so pretty," she sniffled.
Kiana hugged her and turned to leave, when Midori thrust a purple bottle into her hands. "Take it. I don't know why, but it's always brought me luck."
Stan tapped his foot on the marble floor, folding his arms. He narrowed his eyes at the back of a princess' neck, almost willing for her head to explode.
"Worm girl," he hissed angrily. She hadn't come yet!
Stan hated his outfit. A lot. He was forced to wear a black cloak that was hung lazily around his neck with a new medallion, his black knee- high boots had been polished, he was wearing puffy black pants, and a black t-shirt like garment with gold seams. He looked like a damn pirate. Suddenly, a major draft swept over the room and the doors clicked shut again. Stan turned his head slightly, expecting to be greeted by another eye- blinding pink dress. But he was delighted as the 'worm girl' entered.
The first thing he noticed was her dress. It was beautiful, maroon colored, and the sequins caught the light and sent miniature rainbows spiraling onto everyone and everything. Then, he noticed the wreath of roses on her head. And, lastly, he noticed the look of fear and self- conciousness in her eyes and posture. Kiana looked around quickly, ignoring the sideways glances and murmurs people were giving her. Eyes downcast, shoulders slightly hunched as if to protect herself, she started towards the same corner Stan was in.
He grinned and plucked the wreath off her head. She immediatley looked up and her hand shot out, snatching it away. "Quick reflexes," he commented dryly, bowing to her. Kiana shrugged and put it back on her head.
"I'm here. Happy?"
Stan frowned. "Not anymore. I just wanted someone who's civil to talk to. Now dance with me, and that's an order. The cursed fat princess in the vomit green dress is coming over," he shot back, leading her onto the floor quickly, his boot heels clicking.
Kiana's eyes narrowed. "My friend would have a good laugh at this. I never dance. You're lucky I haven't run away," she spat. Stan grinned broadly.
"Then you'd defy an order from Prince Stanley Hihat the 14th?"
"You suck, worm boy."
The prince chuckled and started to waltz with Kiana. She wasn't so graceful with dancing at first, but she caught on in no time at all. A smile threatened to escape onto her face. "Having fun, are we?"
"No."
Stan laughed. "Fine." Kiana sighed.
"Don't you know about endorphins? Science?"
A small look of confusion crossed his face. "No," he said meekly.
"Endorphins are released when you exercise. They're kind of like painkillers. For some reason, they make you happy. And," she added, with a twinkle in her eyes, "chocolate is also scientifically proven to make you happy."
"Really?" Stan questioned, trying to keep his bored expression, but it was obvious that he was fascinated.
They talked throughout the night, and Stan succesfully avoided the fat princess in the vomit green dress.
"There's another one tomorrow night. You'd better come, worm girl," Stan scolded as she left. Kiana nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be here."