Disclaimer: I don't remember owning anything with Yu-Gi-Oh on it except for a deck of fake cards.

Princess Training Camp

By: Yume Silvershadow

Chapter 3-The Valentine Celebration
Second Round, Part I

February 14, 2:00 pm, Domino Palace

"There you are, darling!"

Serenity whipped around, to find Lady Tea approaching her. "Did anyone miss me?"

Tea had already changed, so gone were her yellow gown and matching yellow bonnet, and she now wore a less formal, strapless blue dress that fell slightly pass her knees and a golden bridle tied around her waist. She also wore a big sapphire ring that immediately reminded Serenity of why she was there.

The signet ring. Serenity sighed. She wanted to return back home. She didn't fit here, in this contest full of well-groomed ladies who knew probably knew the difference between a salad fork and a fish fork, while she had no idea what they remotely looked like.

Here, where everyone wore jewelry and gowns, and where you see a servant at every ten feet. Here where she wasn't allowed to go to the Kitchen. Not that she meant to—she was just exploring the castle two hours ago. But she landed back at the garden anyway.

And she most certainly abhorred the idea of marrying the Crowned Prince, especially one who had such ruthless eyes and a dangerous aura. It isn't like she had a chance anyway. Even if she did, think about what Joey would say!

"Not really, but I think you should know that the Valentine Celebration is being announced." She replied gently, taking Serenity's hand in hers and dragging her from the garden path.

"…The Valentine Celebration?" Serenity repeated.

"Let me explain.

"Well, the Valentine Celebration happens every year, traditionally during Valentine's Day but it was changed to the day after this year. It's a time when people, rich and poor, meet up in Domino Park where various booths are placed. Like a school fair. But the main idea here is the Valentine Ballot: every person is paired up with someone else, a random person, and they spend the day together. It's to promote equality and friendship.

"Oh, it's all optional, of course. Most people go out with their own sweethearts, and married people go together, while the rest of the single people out there sign up for the Valentine Ballot. And the best part is, people wear masks there, mostly handmade."

They reached the main doors of the palace, where they sharply turned inside. "But Lady Tea, what if there aren't enough people in the Valentine Ballot since the total number is an odd one, so one has no partner?"

Lady Tea shrugged. "It's never happened before."

Serenity sighed. "I don't like the idea much…"

"Usually they pair the rich with the poor and the rich treats the poor for free or pays everything they bought, but 'tis fortunate we don't have to spend or own cash, since the palace provides for everything. It'd be fun."

Serenity raised a delicate brow, frowning. "But isn't that discrimination of the sort?"

Lady Tea was silent for a moment, then shrugged again. "I guess. People don't think of it that way. But then, that's the use of the mask."

"Huh?" At the surprise evident in her voice, Tea laughed.

"It's really ingenious. These past years, the poor have been taking advantage of this situation of the rich-poor, you see, so everyone was asked to wear masks so that no one knows the other, and it would be highly impolite to demand money from your partner that way because you don't know if he's rich or poor.

Serenity's face broke into a smile at that, but the frown came back. "What if one doesn't like who one's paired with?"

"Serenity, dear, you ask too many questions." She said before opening one majestic door and proceeding to a giant ballroom, filled with the 100 participants, and at top of the stairs, Prince Seto stood, accompanied by his younger brother, Prince Mokuba.

Serenity kept quiet after that, and soon, the room silenced too.

Seto cleared his throat. "As you know, we are holding the annual Valentine Celebration on the morrow. However, for all of you, there would be a slight twist." His tone was flat and monotonous. "Because you'll be handing a written report to me."

"How strange." Lady Tea said beside Serenity. Murmurs rose from the crowd. Serenity ignored them and turned to her friend.

"Is he serious?"

The other began fanning herself. "I'm afraid so."

"But…isn't that something we do in school? Not in a training camp…"

"I know." She replied, taking a small plate with an apple tart from the buffet table beside them. "But that's quite an idea. I presume some would rather write about their undying love than the celebration."

"Exactly what I thought." Serenity agreed. "And besides, how can he read a hundred reports?"

Tea smiled faintly. "Our Prince Seto is a workaholic. He is said to devour his work day and night, and never stop except for occasional meals."

"That's dreadful of him!…oh, crap, I meant, that's strange." Serenity flushed. It was a law never to insult the royal family.

She chuckled. "Yes, it's dreadful. Don't worry; people say that all the time."

"I wonder if—" Serenity never got to finish, Prince Seto spoke again.

"You'll be submitting them at the same day, so make sure you can write fast. That's all." He finished, then marched out of the room, a grim line on his mouth.

"It's as if he's mocking us." Serenity said indignantly.

Lady Tea sighed. "I heard mockery was his forte."

"Don't you think the idea is a little bit weird, Brother?" Prince Mokuba asked when they left.

The elder prince didn't bother to glance at him. "No, it's perfect. That way we'll see if they're literate enough to write."

"But it seems highly improper…An essay? And at the same day too?" He pressed.

"That's their problem. If they can't handle such a light thing, then they don't belong here."

"Most of them are only thought to sew, work with the needle, choose designer gowns and jewelries, hunt a husband and to play the piano, as is expected of most females. They don't read books or write lengthy essays. Knowing you, they'll need to write the length of novels."

"That's really too bad, isn't it?" He replied flatly. "I have to go; I have a meeting with the Duke Atem. Off to your studies."

Mokuba paused and let his brother go. There was just no point in talking to him. "Yes, Brother." He said meekly.

February 14, 3:00 pm, Domino Kingdom

The road was busy, as was everywhere, but they had obviously come to the "richer" side of the kingdom.

Here lay nobilities in fur coats and dazzling designer dresses and jewels that winked to thieves. All thoughts were, however, lost on Serenity.

Here, she quickly learned she had no chance of running into Bakura, Mai, Duke nor her brother, whom were the only reason she agreed to go out with Tea in the first place.

Bakura lived on the so-called "Middle Society" part of town, between the rich and the ones troubled with poverty. Lady Tea outrightly refused to let her go there for fear of kidnappers, abductors or thieves.

Serenity flushed at that. How ironic, since she was soon to be a thief.

"How 'bout this one? It looks pretty. And oh, the silk is perfectly soft. What do you think, Seren?"

Serenity started and turned to the blue-eyed countess, who held a shimmering midnight-blue gown that enriched the color of her eyes.

"It's lovely." She said, but shook her head at the sapphires that circled the neckline. "But it costs a fortune!"

Lady Tea Gardner pulled out a golden card with her name carved in golden letters from her purse and with a flick of the wrist, slid it to the counter. "They didn't give us credit cards for nothing, you know."

Serenity nodded modestly. "I guess."

Tea placed the gown in the counter and placed a hand in her shoulder. "How about you? Won't you buy anything? You've been staring outside all day!"

"I-I don't know." She answered honestly. "I'm not very good in choosing clothes…"

The other offered her a smile, looping her arm with Serenity's. "You have to choose something! Come, I'll help you!" And thus, she was dragged into the world of fashion.

Half an hour later, Tea wasn't quite so enthusiastic.

"Isn't this too…skimpy?"

"It's just right."

"It looks lovely but…I look bad in it, don't I?" Serenity sighed, holding an apple-green gown.

"Serenity," Tea said exasperatedly. "You look good in anything you'd wear. With that slim waist of yours, you could wear anything anyway."

She blushed at that compliment. "Thank you. I'm sorry—You must be tired waiting for me. I don't mean to be choosy—"

"You're not. Just self-conscious." She lectured. "Now, the one you're holding looks quite the thing."

"I like it too." Serenity smiled faintly when Tea urged her to the counter. "Fine, fine, I'll buy it even if it costs me more than everything I own."

So, she did. And at the end of the day, guilt was pricking her conscience. At Tea's encouragement, she had now a set of emeralds, the gown, glass slippers, and an exquisite purse designed with rubies and diamonds.

The one thing she bought that she really wanted was a small, jewel-hilted dagger. She strapped it in her thigh, and it went unnoticed. She needed some kind of weapon, didn't she?

The only other consolation she had was that Tea had brought twice as much as she did. By the end of the whole evening, however, she wasn't the only one worried about the credit card bill.

Prince Seto was staring at the first roll of paper that gathered in hundreds on his desk. His icy glare passed over each item on the list, and a grim line formed at his lips when he looked at the prices.

An outrage! The indignant roar caught in his throat, but he swallowed it down.

"They're insane." He concluded silently.

A/N: By the by, I rewrote that last chapter. Please read it as not to be confused, since I also decided to completely take out a certain character.

Still unsure whether to continue. This may be a long fic. Dare I ask if you can stay with me that long?

Sakurelle: A red Kaiba? (Serenity: I hope his finger is thin so it easily slides off crosses fingers) We'll see XD Here's the update!

KrystalSakura: You're right I guess…there's only three. But oh well, I didn't expect much anyways! But you have my eternal gratitude for being one of them!

Nkitty: Well, I updated:3

Flowersperson: It does? Yay! Thanks for the review!

Review, and Happy Easter!