Magic Knight Rayearth doesn't belong to me, as you've probably guessed. On with the story!
"You're having a what?"
Umi stared in disbelief at the sorcerer Clef. He folded his arms, looking quite annoyed. "It's exactly what I said, Umi. I'm having a ball. It's in honor of you Magic Knights being here."
Hikaru clapped her hands with child-like glee. "Oh goodie, I can't wait! I'll make you the best dress, Umi!"
Umi stared at the young red head. "Wait, you're going to make me a dress?" She glared at the Guru. "I'm NOT wearing a dress, pipsqueak."
Clef frowned angrily at being called, "pipsqueak". "It's not your choice, child. It's a formal ball, so you have to be dressed up. Besides, you are one of the guests of honor."
Behind a pillar in the main hall, Ascot blushed faintly, his mind buzzing with the thought of Umi in a dress. He could just picture her in a blue velvet gown...
Clef caught Ascot's eye and winked, grinning slightly. Ascot gasped. "Don't tell me he's doing this for me?"
"Do you know that you talk aloud when you think?" Caldina asked offhandedly, startling him by popping out behind another pillar. "You don't want somebody to walk in on you saying something embarrassing, do you?"
Ascot clenched his fists. The time at the garden had not been the last time that Caldina had butted in. He had tried to tell Umi his feelings several times, and Caldina had interrupted...every time.
"Go away," he said, pushing the dancer. "I'm not in the mood. Why did you tell Clef?"
Caldina shrugged. "I didn't tell Clef," she said. "He figured him out for himself. He's not blind." She grinned mischievously. "Or deaf." Ascot turned red. "There you go again!" Caldina cried with disdain. "You are so obvious about it, it's, like, no wonder everybody's figured it out. Everyone besides Umi, that is." She rounded on Ascot. "Why don't you just tell her? The barrier's going to be repaired soon and you'll have missed your best chance!"
"I know! Don't rush me! I'll tell her when I want to!" Ascot yelled.
Caldina stared at him. Ascot never yelled. She leaned over to look him in the eyes, but he turned away.
"Tell you what, kid," she said. "I'm going to help you."
Ascot looked up. "Really?" he said hopefully.
"Sure," Caldina replied. "I'm going to help you make an outfit for the ball!"
"W-what?" Ascot stammered. "My outfit isn't good?"
"Not for a formal ball it isn't!" Caldina stood up. "Come on, it's time to get you some fashion sense, Ascot! Follow me!" She pulled Ascot to his feet, dragging him to her room.
"Well?" Hikaru said hopefully. Umi was trying on the dress Hikaru had made.
"Uh, Hikaru?" Umi asked.
"Yes?"
Umi frowned. "I can't walk..."
The dress itself was very pretty, but it was not made to suit Umi. It was a blue, puffy dress, trimmed with white lace withwire holding up the bodice. While it was definitely a ball gown, Umi felt confined. "It's much too big, Hikaru-chan. I need something more..." she struggled to find the word.
"Breathable?" Fuu supplied.
"Yeah, that's it."
Hikaru's mood sank. "Then you don't like it?"
Umi shook her head. "That's not it at all, little sister..."
Hikaru sobbed into her skirt. "I'm horrible! I'll never sew again!"
Umi tried to comfort her friend. "It's a great dress, Hikaru! It just needs some modifications!"
Hikaru looked up, all tears gone from her eyes. "Really, that's all? Thank you, Umi!"
Fuu was confused. "What kind of modifications, Umi-san?"
Umi snapped her fingers, taking charge. Sewing wasn't her strong point, but she knew what she wanted. "First, it's got to be much shorter," she began, Hikaru writing everything down as she talked.
"All right, Ascot, let's see you!" At the same time, Caldina was helping Ascot to find his outfit.
"Uh, all right..." He stepped out of the dressing room. Instantly, Caldina knew it was all wrong.
The outfit Ascot had chosen was a red collared shirt and tie with some yellow trousers. The tie was purple with pink polka dots.
"No, no, NO!" Caldina yelled. "That's not good at all! What are you, colorblind?"
Ascot looked down. "You mean, it isn't good?" Caldina slapped her forehead.
"First, lose the neckpiece. It looks awful on you. Do you want to look like her knight in shining armor, or do you want to look like a colorblind bum?"
"I look like a bum?!" Ascot yelped.
"Not if I can help it," Caldina said, stepping in to remove his garments.
"Wait, Caldina, stop! Don't take my clothes off!" Ascot yelped.
"Why not? You're just a kid," Caldina said huffily.
"No I'm not, not anymore! I'll change myself!" He ran back into the dressing room.
"Here, try these on," the dancer said, throwing clothes over the door. "Sheesh, you're no fun."
"Come on, guys! The ball's about to start!"
The next night was the night of the party. All kinds of Cephirin delicacies were laid out. The floor had been cleared and balloon like objects floated around. These balloons however changed shaped occasionally and flew around the room. As a balloon rabbit raced around the ceiling, the guests of honor arrived.
"Ascot, quit hiding and come out here!" Caldina's voice rang through the air. She pulled Ascot closer to the center.
His outfit had come a long way. Caldina had managed to force him into very noble looking dress. He wore a knight's uniform with a red velvet cape. However, Ascot insisted on keeping his hat, which fit in surprisingly well with his other clothing.
"Caldina, I don't know..." he protested, feeling very out of place.
"Hey, there's Umi! Hello, Umi!" Caldina waved.
Ascot stared. Umi looked beautiful. There was no other way to put it. Hikaru had managed to trim her dress down, removing the wire and adding dragons onto it. In the end, it looked very much like a Chinese dress.
"Ascot, you look so great!" Umi cried out. Ascot snapped back to reality when he heard her voice.
"Uh...you...what I mean is...you look...really..." he stammered. "...good," he finished lamely.
"Thank you," Umi said, smiling.
A figure appeared behind Fuu. "You look nice," Ferio whispered.
Fuu jumped, startled. "Ferio..." She turned around. "You look nice as well."
The prince held out his hand. "Care to dance?" Smiling, Fuu took it.
"Ask her to dance!" Caldina whispered, nudging Ascot.
"Uh...Umi?"
"Yes?" Umi answered.
Ascot blushed, stammering out, "Would you...I mean...maybe...I don't know...want to..."
Umi giggled. She knew exactly what he meant. "I'd love to dance, Ascot."
She held out her hand exactly as Ferio had done. Ascot, blushing slightly, took it.
I hate to leave you with a cliffhanger, but this is the end of the chapter! Or would you consider this a cliffhanger?
Anyways, I appreciate your reviews. Keep them coming!