Another chapter up! Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter (though that wasn't many of you. Cue evil look). I really wanted to do something for you, because as I was writing, I was thinking that you're the people keeping me going. I've decided upon writing little roles for you, kind of a name-dropping thing, so that you feel special when you read. I'll warn you, you aren't all in THIS chapter, but keep your eyes peeled.

And so on and so forth.

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Mimi hadn't left her room in three days. She didn't eat, didn't sleep well. Her nights were spent tossing and turning, haunted with nightmares of memories. No matter how hard she fought remembrance during the day, memories would always come flooding back during the night. The fourth day after her return, she was lying on her bed, face amongst the pillows. Wearing only a thin, dirtied silk slip undergarment, Princess Mimi had metamorphosed from happy, lively and exuberant to melancholy and depressed. She no longer even had the energy to dress herself, which worried her attendants to no end.

One such attendant, by the name of Kirie, chanced an entry into Princess Mimi's chambers. Upon seeing the young princess lying face down on her bed, her only movement the uneven rise and fall of her chest that accompanied each silent sob, she tentatively asked, "Princess? Princess, what's wrong?"

Mimi didn't answer for a while. When she finally did, her voice was hoarse and choked with tears. She didn't look up from the pillows. "Have you ever been in love?" She asked the nervous attendant. "That kind of wonderful, beautiful love that builds a whole new world around you? A perfect, glittering world where pain and hate do not exist, and all that is there is the happiness and joy that your partner brings to you? And you almost do not want to be a part of that world, because you are so scared it will not live up to your expectations, or something will go wrong and it will all be torn away from under you? But at the same time, you are hopelessly drawn to it, and all you want to do is wrap yourself in it? Embrace it with all you have?"

The poor attendant had no idea how to answer. "I'm engaged…" She tried. "To one of the kitchen staff."

Mimi had to will herself not to break into noisy, unbecoming tears yet again. Love was so easy for everyone else. But she steeled herself to continue. "Now, imagine all that world crumbling around you. That is how I feel. It is not pleasant."

Kirie was still struggling for the appropriate words of consolation, when another entered the room.

"You may leave now." Liliana, Queen of Celestria said. While worded as a suggestion, her authoritarian tone of voice clearly indicated a command. As Kirie curtsied hurriedly and ran off, Mimi slowly and weakly turned herself to face her mother.

"Mother?" She asked, surprised to see the queen moving gracefully towards the bed, the attendant having shut the bedroom door behind her. She was dressed, as always, to the nines, today featuring a long, lacy, ornate mint green silk dress with at least five petticoats underneath. Even her hair was perfect as she sat down lightly at the end of Mimi's bed.

"Princess… daughter… Mimi." Liliana was usually so refined and articulate when speaking. Mimi had never seen her looking nervous before. It was a strange sensation.

"What is it that you want, my queen?" Mimi was slightly suspicious.

The queen refused to meet Mimi's eyes as she spoke. "As Princess, you are aware of the… royal obligations."

Mimi fell back onto her pillows. This was going to be about some pointless dinner outing, or public appearance. Mimi really couldn't make herself care. Actually, she was angry. Couldn't her mother see that she was upset? Couldn't she see that Mimi did not want to be a part of the outside world again just yet? She couldn't face it.

"Yes, Mother, I am aware of the royal social prerogatives." She replied tiredly, but with an icy bite in her voice.

"Then…" Liliana was choosing her words very carefully. "You know that a princess, such as yourself, must be married to a prince…"

Mimi didn't trust herself to speak. But she couldn't stop the thoughts flying through her mind.

YES! I know! I know, I know, I know! What do you think has ruined my LIFE? I am completely cognisant of the fact I must forget love and marry for bloodline! What does she expect me to do? Run off with a peasant boy? Not again. I've learned my lesson. It can only end in heartache…

Hot tears stung her already red eyes. Matt…

"Before her 17th birthday." Her mother finished.

The tears dissipated as Mimi shot up from amongst the pillows. Her lethargy was gone in a flash of fury and incomprehension. "What?" She asked in a wavering voice of very forced calm. "What did you just say? Why was I not informed of this before now?"

Liliana cringed. Another sign of weakness that Mimi had never seen before. She was usually such a strong leader. What was it about her that made the queen so uncomfortable, Mimi wondered.

"Well… your father and I never felt the need to bring it up. The boy you were betrothed to… there is no easy way to say this… died in a horrific revolution. You were so young, we did not feel we could tell you. You never even knew you were affianced. After his untimely death, we decided against searching for a replacement. We thought that we might let you make the decision for yourself. Whomever you decided was worthy."

Mimi's angry features softened, her eyes shining with hope. Was her mother actually permitting her to find herself a partner? Her own choice? Someone she honestly cared for? Maybe her parents loved her after all. Mimi tried to study Liliana's face, but the queen's eyes were on the floor.

"However…" She began.

Mimi was almost sick with disappointment. She felt her insides shrivel and her throat tighten. She honestly felt as if a dagger had been plunged through her chest.

"After the recent… unpleasantness… your father, our executive council, and myself of course have come to the decision that you should indeed be subject to this stipulation. While it was difficult to find a prince of suitable age and location for you, we finally found a candidate. You shall marry Prince Ken of Lochney by the end of this month."

Mimi was outraged. How dare they decide upon this atrocity? Especially without consulting her. Doubly especially during her grieving period. Couldn't she at least have some time? When everything had suddenly gone from so wonderful to so awful. It was just so unfair to expect this of her now, on top of all else.

"Why?" Was the major question that seemed to shout out all the others in her head.

The queen was silent for a moment, apparently trying to sting together the right words. "Well, Mimi, we did it for you. We thought that perhaps if you were settled down and had some… stability in your life, that it might help you."

How will it help? How could this possibly help in a million years? You think I have become a shameful wild child, and that this will force me to be your good little Mimi once more. That's all this is!

Mimi was so full of rage that her mouth would form no words.

Her mother was not blind. She could see her daughter was paper white and shaking with anger. She tried to find words to calm her. "Please, Mimi. I know an arranged marriage sounds antiquated and simply dreadful to you, but you are young, and Ken is a great man. You can make something of it. I am sure you can. After all, your father and I did."

Mimi still wanted to scream. And cry. And yell horrible obscenities at her mother, demanding the arrangement be cancelled. But she knew she was already defeated. There was no point. There never was. Once Liliana decided upon something, that was it. There was no argument.

"Whatever, mother. I don't care. Organise my fucking life any way you like. It's pretty obvious that's what you want, and let's face it; I screwed everything over well and truly when I tried to take things into my own hands. And, truth be told, I really don't give a shit any more."

Mimi's vulgar language hit the queen like a lightning bolt. Liliana, looking absolutely shocked, simply nodded and stood to leave.

"I knew… I knew you would see sense, and I am glad you did so sooner rather than later. I shall send word to Queen Misha and inform her of your decision so that we may commence planning as soon as possible."

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Yes, I am leaving you hanging about the Matt thing. A little suspense never hurt anyone. I will say that those who have taken guesses about where his character is going are getting mighty close. But I shan't speak any more about THAT.

Oh, and note the insertion of names in this chapter.

Mrs.Ishida-to-you became Misha, Queen of Lochney (Arrangement of letters in your screen name, because I didn't know your real name)

Malkavian Kirie Croiff became Kirie, the unfortunate attendant (Also from your screen name because I didn't know your real name)

I would love to write little cameos for my more devoted reviewers, as a bribe to review more often, so look out for them in the remaining chapters. This is of course unless you specifically ask me not to. They may be in my other stories though, if they don't fit here. I have to say, they'd be easier to write if I knew what name you'd like to go by though.

Anyway, review. Won't update until 165.

Emma's useless facts about nothing in particular

"Typewriter" is the longest word in the English language that can be made using the letters in only one row of the keyboard.