Forced Emotions Chapter 7
Nightime Surprises
"Awww! That was a great dinner!" Klaus said, as he finished eating the last portion of food off of his plate.
"Ya, you said it!" Duke replied, taking a gulp of his wine.
"Phew.... That great dinner made me tired!" Elena said, leaning back in her seat and having a 'digestive moment'.
"Well, if you like, Lady Elena, I can show you all to your rooms," Gramps offered as he wiped his mouth delicately with his napkin.
"Yes, that would be great!" Mira said, getting up from her chair.
"Let's all get some rest!" Klaus added in, signaling Elena and Prima to get up, since it was past their bedtime.
Still stuffing her face, Mint just sighed, then continued eating, (this was her tenth serving!)
"You guys go ahead. I'm staying for dessert!" Mint said, proud of her gigantic appetite.
"Heeey, I'm always ready for dessert!" Rod said, picking up his spoon.
"Ya! We're the two who never turn down food!!!!" Mint said, laughing a bit. "Anyone else up for dessert?" Mint challenged.
"...Maybe just a little!" Claire giggled, although she was stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey.
"ALRIGHT! How 'bout you Rue?" Rod asked, looking at the ever so quiet Rue.
Smileing, Rue replied, "A little cake and ice cream never hurt anybody!"
"Cool! How about you two? Oh, never mind! You guys have THINGS to settle," Mint said to Belle and Duke, who darted their eyes toward Mint and blushed a lot.
"SHUT UP!!!" Belle yelled, turning a brighter shade of red.
"Whatever.............." Mint said, knowing they were more than friends.
"AARRGGHH!!!!!" Belle gritted her teeth at Mint and stormed out of the room, Gramps following to show her to her room.
"Let's go kids! It's way past your bedtime!" Mira said, walking towards the door.
"Yes, you two need to rest up!" Klaus added in.
"Okay..." Prima said, sounding very tired.
"But I'm not tired one bit! And I want dessert!" Elena butted in.
"Now now, you don't need any sweets before bed," Mira stated, forcing Elena out of her seat.
"But!-" Elena started as she was already guided down the hall.
"Well, good night everyone!" Klaus said, following his family.
"...I better go check up on Milady..." Duke said under his breath, standing from his chair and keeping his eyes glued to the floor as he continued out of the room, blushing.
"Are those two hopeless or what?" Mint asked as Duke left the room.
"No kiddin'...." Rod added.
"ALRIGHT! Let's head towards the kitchen!" Mint said eagerly, jumping from her throne-to-be and running toward the doors.
"Yeah!" everyone else cheered, running after the still hungry princess.
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"Lets see, lets see...." Mint said as the rest of the midnight snackers entered the kitchen. Mint was rumaging through the freezer, and came out of it with a few tubs of vanilla ice creaem.
"Here, let me help you with that," Rue offered, seeing as Mint didn't have a good grip on one of the tubs.
"Thanks," Mint said, Rue taking the tub that was about to fall in one hand.
"Hey Rod? Can you get four bowls out of that cabinet?" Mint asked, pointing toward a cabinet toward Rod's left. Rod replied, "No prob," and got the four bowls.
"Now, what do you guys like on your ice cream?" Mint asked.
"I like chocolate syrup, if you have any," Claire said politely.
"Yeah, we always have some! Rod?" Mint answered, turning to Rod.
"Same here. I'd just die without my chocolate!" Rod said with a laugh.
"You guys will probably think what I have on my ice cream is really weird," Mint started. "I have caramel and strawberries on mine."
"Really?!" Rue blurted suddenly, making Mint jump.
"Well, that's what I said!" Mint answered.
"....That's my favorite too," Rue said, quieter this time.
"Whoa! Didn't expect you to like such a combination!" Mint finished, gathering the toppings. Each of them were handed a bowl full of ice cream, then got to put however many of their toppings in with the ice cream. After all this was done, they all went out onto the patio to star gaze and talk.
"Aw! It's always so warm out here at night!" Mint exclaimed, sitting in a lawn chair.
"You're right; it feels great out here! Perfect weather for ice cream!" Rue said, scooping a spoonful of his ice cream in his mouth.
"Ya, me and Johny Wolf sit out on nights like these all the time," Rod added, eating his ice cream as well.
"Well, where me and Rue live, you can get a pretty good view of the sky, so we usually watch the sun set, then stay gazing at all the millions of stars," Claire said, getting a little homesick. A silence went on while everyone ate their dessert...
"HEY! Look at that!!!" Claire shouted, dropping her ice cream on the patio and running out into the gigantic back yard. Everyone followed Claire as she stopped to stare up into the starlit sky.
"Oooo!"
"Awww!"
"Ohhh!"
"Whoa!"
Claire, Rue, Mint, and Rod said all at once as they peered into the sky. It was a meteor shower that had grabbed Claire's attention, and it was a wonderful sight, even better than fireworks! Each meteor looked like a giant ball of light, soaring through the star filled night.
"They look like angels," Rue said, not moving his eyes from the shower.
"And white magic," Claire added.
"And shimmering snowballs," Rod butted in.
"They look like giant marshmellows to me!" Mint said as the shower ended, making her friends laugh. "Well, they do!!!" Mint argued, but ended up laughing anyway.
"Woops, our ice cream!" Claire exclaimed, running back toward the now melted ice cream, the rest of them following her once again.
"Hey, no problem. We have maids here that will clean that up in the morning," Mint said, as Claire ignored her and continued cleaning up their mess which she had started.
"Oh, no, I don't mind! It's my fault for dropping my bowl!" Claire argued as she scooped the spilt ice cream with a spoon and returned it to the bowls.
"Really, it's no big deal," Mint offered, but Claire just kept saying "Sorry..." and "It's all my fault," as she continued to clean up the huge mess.
"Claire, IT'S OKAY!" Mint said, grabbing Claire's scooping arm from continueing it's good deed with her firm grip.
"But-" Claire began, but was interrupted by Rue's voice.
"Claire, the maids and servants around here get paid to do what you are doing. That's their job. So in a way, your not making their jobs any easier, but making it harder money wise," Rue concluded.
"Yeah, what he said," Mint mumbled, letting go of Claire's arm.
"...Are you sure?" Claire finally asked, setting the spoon she held in her hand in a bowl. Now there was only a small portion of the melted ice cream left.
"Sure I'm sure!" Mint said happily, flipping her hair and giving Claire a smile.
"Okay, but since most of it's cleaned up anyway, can I offer to wash the dishes?" Claire asked, not giving up on her deed.
"...If you insist..." Mint said, helping Claire to her feet.
"Sorry, but I feel bad when I did something wrong..." Claire said weakly, lowering her head.
"Hey, no problem!" Mint said, gathering up the bowls and passing them to Claire.
"Thanks," is all Claire said before walking toward the sliding door to clean the dishes.
"...H-hey! Let me help you with those!" Rod said suddenly, afraid that a theif or assassin might be lurking in the mansion's shadows.
"Why, thank you Rod..." Claire said, waiting for him to be nearer to her, leaving Mint and Rue all alone. Mint just stood there, wondering why Rod had offered to help clean a few dishes. It just wasn't like him...
"So..." Rue said, making Mint flinch at the sound of his voice.
"Um... You wanna look around?" Mint offered, turning toward the yard before them that was filled with fountains, mazes, fancy lamps, and plants of all kind.
"Sure..." Rue said, him and Mint beggining to walk out of the patio. The two of them walked on in silence, then Mint decided to start a conversation with her old companion.
"This..." Mint started, pointing toward a huge golden monument that was shaped like a heart toward their right, "...was givin to me as a gift from this one old guy that wanted to marry me. Of course, I said 'Hell no, you old geezer!', but he left me stuck with it anyway!" Mint laughed, making Rue laugh slightly, too.
"What's that?" Rue said, pointing to a copper fountain with a dolphin engraved in the middle.
"That one was my dad's idea. He gave it to me when I was seven, and it's pretty special to me," Mint answered.
"I see..." Rue said, wishing he could have a caring family like Mint's.
"But," Mint started, walking quickly over to a beautiful granite monument that had a beautiful woman in the middle, surrounded in frozen granite waves that had some kind of flower on every other wave, "...this is the most important thing in my life...." Mint said weakly, nealing down toward a square slab of stone before it, that seemed to have some writing on it.
"...What is it?" Rue asked, hopeing that Mint would tell him what this work of art was.
".........This......... This is my mother's grave......" Mint choked out.
"Oh................ I'm sorry............." is what Rue replied.
"...... She had gotten really sick a few days after she had Maya..... I had known her for almost three years..... We were very close, and did everything together, like......... Playing hide and seek with my tutors, who never liked to play, and always scolded me for going away from my studies........... My mom, would then, tell them that I needed some fun and excitement in my life aside from all the work I did and everything I learned............. That's how I had started studying about magic and sorcery instead of history and math........ My mother taught me everything I now today, and I doubt it if I would have ran away from home if she hadn't inspired me with her magic skills............ It just about killed me when the doctor said she only had a few more hours to live........ I had spent every second of the few hours I had left with her next to her, sobbing silently, while she held Maya....... Telling me to look after my little sister, since she wouldn't get to know her mother, to really know her........ As much as I did........" Mint finished, finally letting the tears roll down her cheeks, not caring if Rue thought she was a crybaby or not.
"...... Mint, I'm so sorry, but......... Look at it this way," Rue said, nealing down with Mint, offering her his hand. Looking up from her mother's name on the golden plate, Mint found that Rue didn't care if she was crcying, and gladely took his comforting hand.
"You can remember all the good times you two shared together, like playing hide and seek......... You should look back on those moments because you care so much for her....... And, I consider you lucky......." Rue trailed off, not looking into Mint's watery eyes but down at the ground.
"? Lucky? To have my mother, my best friend, dead?" Mint said with a threatening tone, tightening her grip on Rue's rough but soft hand.
"Yeah........ You have a family....... I don't........" Rue whispered, making her ease her grip.
"I'm just a doll forged by Valen...... I have no family....... I'm just an artificial substance that walks the Earth......" Rue reminded her, his own eyes filling with tears.
"That's not true," Mint said firmly, making Rue look up from the dull ground.
"But yes, it is!" Rue argued, looking deap within Mint's auburn eyes.
"Well, the part of you being forged by Valen is right, but you do too have a family!" Mint argued back, making Rue wonder 'I have a family?'
"Rue, you have Claire, Rod, Duke, Belle, Prima and everyone else! To us, you ARE a part of our family!" Mint urged, seeing the puzzled look on Rue's face.
"? But we're just friends!" Rue started.
"Yeah, I know! I consider my friends apart of my family!" Mint finished, taking the confused expression off of Rue's face.
"Oh.... I see now," Rue said, giving Mint a playful squease.
"You better! So don't go around saying your just a person without a family!" Mint said, taking a death grip on Rue's hand.
"I won't! Friends?" Rue said, opening his arms to her.
"Hell yeah!" Mint yelled, leaning over into his arms, each holding tight onto the other.
"Rue, thanks. I feel better now..." Mint trailed off, breaking their embrace to stand up and offer Rue her hand. Rue took it, and they both began walking off toward the mansion. When they got close enough to see the patio, they both noticed that the lights were all out.
"That's strange... I remember leaving all the lights on..." Mint thought aloud.
"?! Claire!!!" Rue exclaimed, grabbing Mint's hand and running off toward the door which led into the kitchen. As soon as the to entered the room, both of their vision went black and then stumbled onto the tiles.............
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"This, Miss Elena, Sir Prima, is your two rooms," Gramps said, pointing to two doors side by side and opening them both so Elena and Prima could enter.
"Wow!" they both said, although they were in different rooms.
"This is sooo cool!!!" Elena exclaimed, running into the room and hopping on the queen sized bed that had pink bubble gum colored satin sheets on it.
"No kidding!!!" Prima added in, running into his room and jumping on the the bed that provided him with comfort and midnight blue satin sheets.
"Now, you two brush your teeth and get your pajamas on," Mira ordered, although Elena had both ran off into their separate bathrooms, eager to sleep in such a bed.
"Lady Mira, Sir Klaus, your room is across from here," Gramps continued, turning around to walk a few steps and opened the door to Klaus and Mira's room.
"We really appreciate this Gramps," Mira said, smileing at the old man.
"There is no need to be grateful. You two helped Princess Mint when she ran away, and provided her with her needs," Gramps said in return as the couple went into the room.
"Well, goodnight then," Klaus said, closing the door behind him quietly.
"Now, Lady Belle, the room you'll be staying in is over here," Gramps said, leading Belle around the corridor and showing her her room.
"Thanks Gramps," Belle replied, heading into her room.
"Gramps!" Duke's voice was heard around the corridor, grabbing the old geezer's attention.
"Yes, Sir Duke? Is something wrong?" Gramps asked as Duke approached him.
"Yeah, where is Milady and my room?" Duke asked, panting a bit.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought that you a-and Lady Belle were married, so I let you two s-share a room..." Gramps stumbled out, feeling really bad for what he had done.
"?!" Duke seemed shocked and embarrassed at the same time. "Aren't there any other rooms available?"
"No, I'm afraid not. Because of my mistake, I didn't have the servants prepare another room. I'm terribly sorry, Sir Duke...." Gramps said, lowering his head grimly.
".......... I've been in the same room with Milady before, a-and we didn't have much trouble. We're just partners, so I'm sure she'll let me stay with her........" Duke said, telling the aged man that it'll work out and that he should get to sleep as well, (it was past 12:30.)
"Alright. I'll be sure to get your own room tommorow," Gramps replied, nodding and gracefully walking back around the corridor.
(Okay Duke, you can do it this time, hopefully without any interuptions, too.) Duke thought, slowly bringing his fist up to gently knock on the door, when the door itself opened up to him.
"Duke, what are you doing?" Belle asked, wondering why the heck Duke was at the entrance to her room.
"Um, well, Gramps thought that we were, uh, married, so he, um, gave us a room to share......." Duke rushed out.
"Oh, so you don't have any place to sleep but here, huh?" Belle asked, creaking the door open a bit more.
"Y-yeah, that's it........." Duke said, blushing out of control.
"*sigh*..... I guess you could stay here for the night. It's not like we haven't been in the same room to sleep in before," Belle said understandably, opening the door so Duke could step in.
"Thank you, Milady," Duke replied,stepping inside the royal guest bedroom.
"No problem. You can change in here. I'll be changing in the bathroom, so don't come in until I say you can!" Belle ordered, grabbing her bag off of the bed and walking into the bathroom, shutting the door securely behind her.
(Phew..... Don't fail me now....) Duke thought, reaching into his pocket and rubbing the metal-like object in between his fingers. Duke quickly dressed into his night clothes, (a pair of boxer shorts and a loose t- shirt,) then walked around the room until he noticed that the room had a balcony. (Prefect....) Duke thought, smileing and walking over to the already open doors that led to the small balcony. (Milady must have been out here. I don't think that royalty would just leave windows open like this.......) Spotting a chair, Duke sat in it and gazed up into the night skys, which were filled with stars.
"Duke?" Belle said, making Duke turn his head.
"M-milady, were you out here? I'll leave if you want me to......" Duke said politely, standing from his chair.
"That's okay. I wasn't doing anything important. I was just star gazing," Belle said, taking the chair that was beside Duke's.
"O-oh, okay...." Duke trailed off, resuming his spot in his chair. Time passed on as the two silent travelers watched the night sky, when Belle pointed out something that made Duke jump a few inches off his seat.
"W-what is it Milady?!" Duke rushed, following Belle's gaze into the sky.
"Look! It's a meteor shower!" Belle said, scooting onto the edge of her seat, her eyes glued onto the magnificient sight.
(Alright, Duke, RIGHT NOW!) Duke thought, squeasing the small object that he had kept in his hand.
"M-milady?" Duke asked.
"Not now!" Belle said angrilly, not budgeing her eyes from the meteor shower.
"No, now!" Duke urged, for once making Belle turn her head in wonder, concern, and annoyance.
"What!?" Belle asked, wanting to keep watching the show.
"I need to ask you something...." Duke said, standing from his chair and looking down upon Belle.
"What is it?!" Belle said, wanting to strangle Duke for not letting her watch the shower.
Neeling, Duke began as the meteor shower kept going.
"Milady, the very day I saw you, I had fallen deeply in love with you. Your light blue hair, your innocent eyes... They made you look like an angel in my eyes. When we met, and started traveling together, I got to love your personality, and I would just die if you weren't here in this world. So I ask you:" Duke said clearly, taking the golden ring with a glimmering diamond shaped like a heart on it out and letting Belle know what he was about to ask. "Will you give me the honor of marrying you?" Duke finished, looking deep into Belle's shocked, surprised, and embarrassed eyes, awaiting for an answer. Belle was speechless, and told herself over and over in her mind what she wanted to tell Duke. Locking her close to tears eyes onto Duke's, Belle began her answer.
"..... Duke, when I met you, I thought you were just a dumb merchant or something, but when I got to know you better, I realised that, that I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my life. I've been wanting to tell you that as soon as I figured it out, but thought that you would throw my love for you away," Belle finished, letting her feelings for Duke sink into his heart and soul.
"Really?" Duke finally said, his hand with the ring held out to Belle still holding it.
"Yes. I love you Duke. Always and forever, so I want to get married to you more than getting [relics] or finding treasure!" Belle said, smileing as Duke smiled with her as he put the ring onto her ring finger. Getting up, the two travelers grew closer and closer as the meteor shower faded, and then one passionately kissed the other, holding onto each other tightly. This romantic moment lasted for several minutes, which was all it took for the meteor shower to end. Releasing their kiss, Duke and Belle stared deep into each others eyes.
"I love you," Duke whispered in the silence of the night.
"I love you MORE," Belle challenged, backing up, taking Duke with her until they were in their room.
"Oh really?" Duke said, wrapping his arms around Belle's waist.
"Yes, really!" Belle said, her arms finding their way around Duke's neck.
"I don't think so!" Duke exclaimed, swirling Belle around and making them both fall onto the bed. Pulling him down closer to her, Belle whispered, "I KNOW so!" and sealed her words with a kiss.
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A/N: Dont you just HATE cliff hangers? I love 'em, so you'll just have to wait until I write chapter 8 to find out what kind of trouble Mint and Rue are in! :)~
~FirePheonix33
Nightime Surprises
"Awww! That was a great dinner!" Klaus said, as he finished eating the last portion of food off of his plate.
"Ya, you said it!" Duke replied, taking a gulp of his wine.
"Phew.... That great dinner made me tired!" Elena said, leaning back in her seat and having a 'digestive moment'.
"Well, if you like, Lady Elena, I can show you all to your rooms," Gramps offered as he wiped his mouth delicately with his napkin.
"Yes, that would be great!" Mira said, getting up from her chair.
"Let's all get some rest!" Klaus added in, signaling Elena and Prima to get up, since it was past their bedtime.
Still stuffing her face, Mint just sighed, then continued eating, (this was her tenth serving!)
"You guys go ahead. I'm staying for dessert!" Mint said, proud of her gigantic appetite.
"Heeey, I'm always ready for dessert!" Rod said, picking up his spoon.
"Ya! We're the two who never turn down food!!!!" Mint said, laughing a bit. "Anyone else up for dessert?" Mint challenged.
"...Maybe just a little!" Claire giggled, although she was stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey.
"ALRIGHT! How 'bout you Rue?" Rod asked, looking at the ever so quiet Rue.
Smileing, Rue replied, "A little cake and ice cream never hurt anybody!"
"Cool! How about you two? Oh, never mind! You guys have THINGS to settle," Mint said to Belle and Duke, who darted their eyes toward Mint and blushed a lot.
"SHUT UP!!!" Belle yelled, turning a brighter shade of red.
"Whatever.............." Mint said, knowing they were more than friends.
"AARRGGHH!!!!!" Belle gritted her teeth at Mint and stormed out of the room, Gramps following to show her to her room.
"Let's go kids! It's way past your bedtime!" Mira said, walking towards the door.
"Yes, you two need to rest up!" Klaus added in.
"Okay..." Prima said, sounding very tired.
"But I'm not tired one bit! And I want dessert!" Elena butted in.
"Now now, you don't need any sweets before bed," Mira stated, forcing Elena out of her seat.
"But!-" Elena started as she was already guided down the hall.
"Well, good night everyone!" Klaus said, following his family.
"...I better go check up on Milady..." Duke said under his breath, standing from his chair and keeping his eyes glued to the floor as he continued out of the room, blushing.
"Are those two hopeless or what?" Mint asked as Duke left the room.
"No kiddin'...." Rod added.
"ALRIGHT! Let's head towards the kitchen!" Mint said eagerly, jumping from her throne-to-be and running toward the doors.
"Yeah!" everyone else cheered, running after the still hungry princess.
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"Lets see, lets see...." Mint said as the rest of the midnight snackers entered the kitchen. Mint was rumaging through the freezer, and came out of it with a few tubs of vanilla ice creaem.
"Here, let me help you with that," Rue offered, seeing as Mint didn't have a good grip on one of the tubs.
"Thanks," Mint said, Rue taking the tub that was about to fall in one hand.
"Hey Rod? Can you get four bowls out of that cabinet?" Mint asked, pointing toward a cabinet toward Rod's left. Rod replied, "No prob," and got the four bowls.
"Now, what do you guys like on your ice cream?" Mint asked.
"I like chocolate syrup, if you have any," Claire said politely.
"Yeah, we always have some! Rod?" Mint answered, turning to Rod.
"Same here. I'd just die without my chocolate!" Rod said with a laugh.
"You guys will probably think what I have on my ice cream is really weird," Mint started. "I have caramel and strawberries on mine."
"Really?!" Rue blurted suddenly, making Mint jump.
"Well, that's what I said!" Mint answered.
"....That's my favorite too," Rue said, quieter this time.
"Whoa! Didn't expect you to like such a combination!" Mint finished, gathering the toppings. Each of them were handed a bowl full of ice cream, then got to put however many of their toppings in with the ice cream. After all this was done, they all went out onto the patio to star gaze and talk.
"Aw! It's always so warm out here at night!" Mint exclaimed, sitting in a lawn chair.
"You're right; it feels great out here! Perfect weather for ice cream!" Rue said, scooping a spoonful of his ice cream in his mouth.
"Ya, me and Johny Wolf sit out on nights like these all the time," Rod added, eating his ice cream as well.
"Well, where me and Rue live, you can get a pretty good view of the sky, so we usually watch the sun set, then stay gazing at all the millions of stars," Claire said, getting a little homesick. A silence went on while everyone ate their dessert...
"HEY! Look at that!!!" Claire shouted, dropping her ice cream on the patio and running out into the gigantic back yard. Everyone followed Claire as she stopped to stare up into the starlit sky.
"Oooo!"
"Awww!"
"Ohhh!"
"Whoa!"
Claire, Rue, Mint, and Rod said all at once as they peered into the sky. It was a meteor shower that had grabbed Claire's attention, and it was a wonderful sight, even better than fireworks! Each meteor looked like a giant ball of light, soaring through the star filled night.
"They look like angels," Rue said, not moving his eyes from the shower.
"And white magic," Claire added.
"And shimmering snowballs," Rod butted in.
"They look like giant marshmellows to me!" Mint said as the shower ended, making her friends laugh. "Well, they do!!!" Mint argued, but ended up laughing anyway.
"Woops, our ice cream!" Claire exclaimed, running back toward the now melted ice cream, the rest of them following her once again.
"Hey, no problem. We have maids here that will clean that up in the morning," Mint said, as Claire ignored her and continued cleaning up their mess which she had started.
"Oh, no, I don't mind! It's my fault for dropping my bowl!" Claire argued as she scooped the spilt ice cream with a spoon and returned it to the bowls.
"Really, it's no big deal," Mint offered, but Claire just kept saying "Sorry..." and "It's all my fault," as she continued to clean up the huge mess.
"Claire, IT'S OKAY!" Mint said, grabbing Claire's scooping arm from continueing it's good deed with her firm grip.
"But-" Claire began, but was interrupted by Rue's voice.
"Claire, the maids and servants around here get paid to do what you are doing. That's their job. So in a way, your not making their jobs any easier, but making it harder money wise," Rue concluded.
"Yeah, what he said," Mint mumbled, letting go of Claire's arm.
"...Are you sure?" Claire finally asked, setting the spoon she held in her hand in a bowl. Now there was only a small portion of the melted ice cream left.
"Sure I'm sure!" Mint said happily, flipping her hair and giving Claire a smile.
"Okay, but since most of it's cleaned up anyway, can I offer to wash the dishes?" Claire asked, not giving up on her deed.
"...If you insist..." Mint said, helping Claire to her feet.
"Sorry, but I feel bad when I did something wrong..." Claire said weakly, lowering her head.
"Hey, no problem!" Mint said, gathering up the bowls and passing them to Claire.
"Thanks," is all Claire said before walking toward the sliding door to clean the dishes.
"...H-hey! Let me help you with those!" Rod said suddenly, afraid that a theif or assassin might be lurking in the mansion's shadows.
"Why, thank you Rod..." Claire said, waiting for him to be nearer to her, leaving Mint and Rue all alone. Mint just stood there, wondering why Rod had offered to help clean a few dishes. It just wasn't like him...
"So..." Rue said, making Mint flinch at the sound of his voice.
"Um... You wanna look around?" Mint offered, turning toward the yard before them that was filled with fountains, mazes, fancy lamps, and plants of all kind.
"Sure..." Rue said, him and Mint beggining to walk out of the patio. The two of them walked on in silence, then Mint decided to start a conversation with her old companion.
"This..." Mint started, pointing toward a huge golden monument that was shaped like a heart toward their right, "...was givin to me as a gift from this one old guy that wanted to marry me. Of course, I said 'Hell no, you old geezer!', but he left me stuck with it anyway!" Mint laughed, making Rue laugh slightly, too.
"What's that?" Rue said, pointing to a copper fountain with a dolphin engraved in the middle.
"That one was my dad's idea. He gave it to me when I was seven, and it's pretty special to me," Mint answered.
"I see..." Rue said, wishing he could have a caring family like Mint's.
"But," Mint started, walking quickly over to a beautiful granite monument that had a beautiful woman in the middle, surrounded in frozen granite waves that had some kind of flower on every other wave, "...this is the most important thing in my life...." Mint said weakly, nealing down toward a square slab of stone before it, that seemed to have some writing on it.
"...What is it?" Rue asked, hopeing that Mint would tell him what this work of art was.
".........This......... This is my mother's grave......" Mint choked out.
"Oh................ I'm sorry............." is what Rue replied.
"...... She had gotten really sick a few days after she had Maya..... I had known her for almost three years..... We were very close, and did everything together, like......... Playing hide and seek with my tutors, who never liked to play, and always scolded me for going away from my studies........... My mom, would then, tell them that I needed some fun and excitement in my life aside from all the work I did and everything I learned............. That's how I had started studying about magic and sorcery instead of history and math........ My mother taught me everything I now today, and I doubt it if I would have ran away from home if she hadn't inspired me with her magic skills............ It just about killed me when the doctor said she only had a few more hours to live........ I had spent every second of the few hours I had left with her next to her, sobbing silently, while she held Maya....... Telling me to look after my little sister, since she wouldn't get to know her mother, to really know her........ As much as I did........" Mint finished, finally letting the tears roll down her cheeks, not caring if Rue thought she was a crybaby or not.
"...... Mint, I'm so sorry, but......... Look at it this way," Rue said, nealing down with Mint, offering her his hand. Looking up from her mother's name on the golden plate, Mint found that Rue didn't care if she was crcying, and gladely took his comforting hand.
"You can remember all the good times you two shared together, like playing hide and seek......... You should look back on those moments because you care so much for her....... And, I consider you lucky......." Rue trailed off, not looking into Mint's watery eyes but down at the ground.
"? Lucky? To have my mother, my best friend, dead?" Mint said with a threatening tone, tightening her grip on Rue's rough but soft hand.
"Yeah........ You have a family....... I don't........" Rue whispered, making her ease her grip.
"I'm just a doll forged by Valen...... I have no family....... I'm just an artificial substance that walks the Earth......" Rue reminded her, his own eyes filling with tears.
"That's not true," Mint said firmly, making Rue look up from the dull ground.
"But yes, it is!" Rue argued, looking deap within Mint's auburn eyes.
"Well, the part of you being forged by Valen is right, but you do too have a family!" Mint argued back, making Rue wonder 'I have a family?'
"Rue, you have Claire, Rod, Duke, Belle, Prima and everyone else! To us, you ARE a part of our family!" Mint urged, seeing the puzzled look on Rue's face.
"? But we're just friends!" Rue started.
"Yeah, I know! I consider my friends apart of my family!" Mint finished, taking the confused expression off of Rue's face.
"Oh.... I see now," Rue said, giving Mint a playful squease.
"You better! So don't go around saying your just a person without a family!" Mint said, taking a death grip on Rue's hand.
"I won't! Friends?" Rue said, opening his arms to her.
"Hell yeah!" Mint yelled, leaning over into his arms, each holding tight onto the other.
"Rue, thanks. I feel better now..." Mint trailed off, breaking their embrace to stand up and offer Rue her hand. Rue took it, and they both began walking off toward the mansion. When they got close enough to see the patio, they both noticed that the lights were all out.
"That's strange... I remember leaving all the lights on..." Mint thought aloud.
"?! Claire!!!" Rue exclaimed, grabbing Mint's hand and running off toward the door which led into the kitchen. As soon as the to entered the room, both of their vision went black and then stumbled onto the tiles.............
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"This, Miss Elena, Sir Prima, is your two rooms," Gramps said, pointing to two doors side by side and opening them both so Elena and Prima could enter.
"Wow!" they both said, although they were in different rooms.
"This is sooo cool!!!" Elena exclaimed, running into the room and hopping on the queen sized bed that had pink bubble gum colored satin sheets on it.
"No kidding!!!" Prima added in, running into his room and jumping on the the bed that provided him with comfort and midnight blue satin sheets.
"Now, you two brush your teeth and get your pajamas on," Mira ordered, although Elena had both ran off into their separate bathrooms, eager to sleep in such a bed.
"Lady Mira, Sir Klaus, your room is across from here," Gramps continued, turning around to walk a few steps and opened the door to Klaus and Mira's room.
"We really appreciate this Gramps," Mira said, smileing at the old man.
"There is no need to be grateful. You two helped Princess Mint when she ran away, and provided her with her needs," Gramps said in return as the couple went into the room.
"Well, goodnight then," Klaus said, closing the door behind him quietly.
"Now, Lady Belle, the room you'll be staying in is over here," Gramps said, leading Belle around the corridor and showing her her room.
"Thanks Gramps," Belle replied, heading into her room.
"Gramps!" Duke's voice was heard around the corridor, grabbing the old geezer's attention.
"Yes, Sir Duke? Is something wrong?" Gramps asked as Duke approached him.
"Yeah, where is Milady and my room?" Duke asked, panting a bit.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought that you a-and Lady Belle were married, so I let you two s-share a room..." Gramps stumbled out, feeling really bad for what he had done.
"?!" Duke seemed shocked and embarrassed at the same time. "Aren't there any other rooms available?"
"No, I'm afraid not. Because of my mistake, I didn't have the servants prepare another room. I'm terribly sorry, Sir Duke...." Gramps said, lowering his head grimly.
".......... I've been in the same room with Milady before, a-and we didn't have much trouble. We're just partners, so I'm sure she'll let me stay with her........" Duke said, telling the aged man that it'll work out and that he should get to sleep as well, (it was past 12:30.)
"Alright. I'll be sure to get your own room tommorow," Gramps replied, nodding and gracefully walking back around the corridor.
(Okay Duke, you can do it this time, hopefully without any interuptions, too.) Duke thought, slowly bringing his fist up to gently knock on the door, when the door itself opened up to him.
"Duke, what are you doing?" Belle asked, wondering why the heck Duke was at the entrance to her room.
"Um, well, Gramps thought that we were, uh, married, so he, um, gave us a room to share......." Duke rushed out.
"Oh, so you don't have any place to sleep but here, huh?" Belle asked, creaking the door open a bit more.
"Y-yeah, that's it........." Duke said, blushing out of control.
"*sigh*..... I guess you could stay here for the night. It's not like we haven't been in the same room to sleep in before," Belle said understandably, opening the door so Duke could step in.
"Thank you, Milady," Duke replied,stepping inside the royal guest bedroom.
"No problem. You can change in here. I'll be changing in the bathroom, so don't come in until I say you can!" Belle ordered, grabbing her bag off of the bed and walking into the bathroom, shutting the door securely behind her.
(Phew..... Don't fail me now....) Duke thought, reaching into his pocket and rubbing the metal-like object in between his fingers. Duke quickly dressed into his night clothes, (a pair of boxer shorts and a loose t- shirt,) then walked around the room until he noticed that the room had a balcony. (Prefect....) Duke thought, smileing and walking over to the already open doors that led to the small balcony. (Milady must have been out here. I don't think that royalty would just leave windows open like this.......) Spotting a chair, Duke sat in it and gazed up into the night skys, which were filled with stars.
"Duke?" Belle said, making Duke turn his head.
"M-milady, were you out here? I'll leave if you want me to......" Duke said politely, standing from his chair.
"That's okay. I wasn't doing anything important. I was just star gazing," Belle said, taking the chair that was beside Duke's.
"O-oh, okay...." Duke trailed off, resuming his spot in his chair. Time passed on as the two silent travelers watched the night sky, when Belle pointed out something that made Duke jump a few inches off his seat.
"W-what is it Milady?!" Duke rushed, following Belle's gaze into the sky.
"Look! It's a meteor shower!" Belle said, scooting onto the edge of her seat, her eyes glued onto the magnificient sight.
(Alright, Duke, RIGHT NOW!) Duke thought, squeasing the small object that he had kept in his hand.
"M-milady?" Duke asked.
"Not now!" Belle said angrilly, not budgeing her eyes from the meteor shower.
"No, now!" Duke urged, for once making Belle turn her head in wonder, concern, and annoyance.
"What!?" Belle asked, wanting to keep watching the show.
"I need to ask you something...." Duke said, standing from his chair and looking down upon Belle.
"What is it?!" Belle said, wanting to strangle Duke for not letting her watch the shower.
Neeling, Duke began as the meteor shower kept going.
"Milady, the very day I saw you, I had fallen deeply in love with you. Your light blue hair, your innocent eyes... They made you look like an angel in my eyes. When we met, and started traveling together, I got to love your personality, and I would just die if you weren't here in this world. So I ask you:" Duke said clearly, taking the golden ring with a glimmering diamond shaped like a heart on it out and letting Belle know what he was about to ask. "Will you give me the honor of marrying you?" Duke finished, looking deep into Belle's shocked, surprised, and embarrassed eyes, awaiting for an answer. Belle was speechless, and told herself over and over in her mind what she wanted to tell Duke. Locking her close to tears eyes onto Duke's, Belle began her answer.
"..... Duke, when I met you, I thought you were just a dumb merchant or something, but when I got to know you better, I realised that, that I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my life. I've been wanting to tell you that as soon as I figured it out, but thought that you would throw my love for you away," Belle finished, letting her feelings for Duke sink into his heart and soul.
"Really?" Duke finally said, his hand with the ring held out to Belle still holding it.
"Yes. I love you Duke. Always and forever, so I want to get married to you more than getting [relics] or finding treasure!" Belle said, smileing as Duke smiled with her as he put the ring onto her ring finger. Getting up, the two travelers grew closer and closer as the meteor shower faded, and then one passionately kissed the other, holding onto each other tightly. This romantic moment lasted for several minutes, which was all it took for the meteor shower to end. Releasing their kiss, Duke and Belle stared deep into each others eyes.
"I love you," Duke whispered in the silence of the night.
"I love you MORE," Belle challenged, backing up, taking Duke with her until they were in their room.
"Oh really?" Duke said, wrapping his arms around Belle's waist.
"Yes, really!" Belle said, her arms finding their way around Duke's neck.
"I don't think so!" Duke exclaimed, swirling Belle around and making them both fall onto the bed. Pulling him down closer to her, Belle whispered, "I KNOW so!" and sealed her words with a kiss.
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A/N: Dont you just HATE cliff hangers? I love 'em, so you'll just have to wait until I write chapter 8 to find out what kind of trouble Mint and Rue are in! :)~
~FirePheonix33