A/N: A little dancing for this next addition! I was listening to some Zelda Botw music and Kass' theme kinda made me think of dancing in a sunny courtyard and really just having fun. So bam we have another little segment! Although the original ending was changed because I just ended up creating something different :P

Also if anyone has any suggestions feel free to share them! 3,000 stories is a lot to type up and there's a ton of empty slots. Any ideas are welcome!

A special thanks to everyone who's reviewed, favourited or followed too! Thanks for even reading this!

Make sure to enjoy the rest of your day!

D.L.D


Care to Dance?

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

Switch!

Elizabeth watched as endless pairs seemed to twirl to the steady rhythm of the music. Dresses of fine fabric swirled like luxurious wines, the gowns melding into a soft rainbow as the darker and more solid forms of tuxedos and suits hid behind them. Pearls, gold and even silver seemed to flash within the shifting boarder of voluminous fabric; Women chattering as they passed their friends, while men simply grinned as they kept an eye on those who had caught their interest.

Even the staff seemed happy tonight, a few of the younger attendants sneaking onto the dance floor while others watched gaily. There were even a few of the staff's children who had snuck up to witness the event, all of them giggling as they smuggled away half a cake.

Greedy little gits...

The festivities had began earlier on in the day, nobles and royalty alike arriving to celebrate. They had all arrived in a huge hustle and bustle, all of the citizens of Liones watching as carriages and other modes of transport arrived at the castle. All were in a joyous mood, banter and laughter shared as the occasion called for lightheartedness and happiness. Celebration and happiness. Even as the full moon began to shine, indicating that a lot of time had passed, everyone was still filled with energy and easily participated in the taxing affair of dancing. Not a single soul showed any signs of slowing nor wanting to go home; everyone who was anyone was smiling as they indulged, all giddy and glammed up for this one event that seemed to be joyous to even the grumpiest of grouches.

Well to everyone except dear princess Elizabeth herself. The sake of this very affair.

A sigh escaped the princess' lips as she watched the colorful display, her sadness only blooming as she heard the delighted laughter emanating from the dancers. Like everyone else Elizabeth had been all dolled up, her silver hair pinned into a curled updo and a pretty tiara on display. A dress painted in only the loveliest of blues and whites hung from her form, the skirts arranged in an intricate and quite frankly overly gaudy way. The material was ruffled and puffed, only showing the extravagance a princess could own on her final night of maidenhood.

As a result it looked as if Elizabeth sat on her own little cloud, isolated and yet pure as she strayed away from everyone else. As she watched and wished for the happiness everyone else had and took for granted.

"Don't look so glum, princess," A blonde nudged the young woman, a small smile on her cherub lips. Two golden wings sprouted from her back, intricate and shiny as sparkles seemed to radiate from her form. "You are marrying someone many would die to even talk to! Plus he's a prince!"

A grimace formed on Elizabeth's lips to that, the princess only growing more upset at the fairy's words. That was the exact problem, her betrothed was a prince. Not just any prince either but one that her father had close ties with and therefore was forced into the decision of creating an alliance with. An alliance via marriage.

"How can I be happy with this Elaine?" Elizabeth sighed as she only sank further, a pout settling on her delicate features as she gestured to the dancing guests. "I'm selling myself away for the prosperity of my kingdom. I'm not doing anything out of the name of love or mutual matrimony."

Elaine shook her head, golden eyes glancing at the dismayed princess as she took a seat beside her. White fabric ruffled slightly, the huge bow on the back of the fairy's dress getting in the way as Elaine pulled out her wand and sighed. It was rather pretty, golden sparkles intertwining around the wooden shaft.

"But still it could be much worse," The fairy continued to reason, thin brows shifting as her wings fluttered slightly. Her light blonde hair sat upon her shoulders as she spoke knowingly. "I know as much because I'm a fairy godmother in training. Many girls would do anything to have your life instead of theirs."

"Well I will happily switch places with them!" Huffing, Elizabeth turned away, still rather annoyed and upset that she had to go through with this arrangement.

Since Margaret and Veronica were happily promised and married to others, sweet, naive Elizabeth was left to rule and marry for the sake of her kingdom. That meant she couldn't escape the marriage proposals flying her way, many of Britannia's royalty and nobility wanting to gain more power or a beautiful wife. Sometimes it was both. Add in her healing powers and all sorts of families and men asked for her hand in marriage, news reaching far and wide about the youngest daughter of King Bartra Liones himself.

So the match was made with all gains in mind, Elizabeth knowing that although her husband wasn't 'in love' with her, that she would also be treated well. It was the bets she could hope for after all, love being the last thing to be thought of in these types of situations. However even so, the thought of being treated well felt bitter tonight, the princess feeling rather lonesome and regretful. Especially as she had never said goodbye.

"Oh Elizabeth..." Elaine sighed, her rounded features creasing with concern as a small hand squeezed the princess' shoulder. A sorrowful smile sat upon her cherub lips, golden eyes seeming all too knowing as she set her wand aside. "I wish I could help - I really do - but sadly fairy magic does not work in such ways."

"I know, Elaine, and do not blame yourself for it," Elizabeth joined the fairy's sigh, her own blue eyes softening as she tried to withhold tears. "It is my duty as a princess. The greatest honour I can ever uphold is by putting my kingdom before myself, even with matters of the heart."

Tonight was meant to be a happy occasion after all - a time for all of Liones to celebrate and indulge - but here Elizabeth was being selfish. All she was doing now was acting childish, childish and spoiled, even though she knew that being a princess came with responsibilities such as these. She had to put herself second and her kingdom first. Her emotions didn't matter when her kingdom was in danger. So Elizabeth knew that the best thing she could do was marry into a strong alliance and bring prosperity to her people.

And yet the princess couldn't help but wish she didn't have to do these things. She wished that she could spend a day elsewhere and be normal - or even just spend one more day with that quirky knight she admired so much. He was so far away right now, sent out on a mission that he would return to see her married off from. Elizabeth wished she could tell him about it, tell him that she had to marry to secure Liones' future.

But all of those things were only that: wishes.

"A princess is also human," Elaine spoke softly, her hand still lightly grasping Elizabeth's. Concern seemed to be seeping from the fairy, her expression filled with thought and worry as she bit into her cheek. Right now being able to read hearts was both a blessing and curse, especially when she could see what pain the princess was in. Not only that but Elaine could see how hard she was trying to hide it. That Elizabeth was resigned to her bitter fate.

However despite this, Elizabeth only gave a slight smile to Elaine, fresh tears of emotion hidden as the song changed once again.

It was rather light and upbeat, lacking the formality and order of the previous pieces. It was the first dance she had ever learned; and to the princess it was like being back there again, in the sunny courtyard on a bright summer's day. It was only her and the knight, her tutor wanting Elizabeth to learn how to dance before her first grand ball. It was purely coincidence really that the pair had been in the same place at the same time, Elizabeth's tutor dragging her outside to find a suitable partner, however they had been unlucky until Meliodas came their way.


The weather had taken a pleasant turn today, the sun coming out from behind its cotton screen as the sky set into a beautiful blue. Since the weather was so lovely, Elizabeth and her tutor stood within the courtyard, waiting. The tutor held an accordion within their hands, an impatient but also excited look upon her features as the princess only sighed. The plans for the day were to make Elizabeth finally learn at least one dance for the upcoming ball, the young princess coming towards an age where it was necessary.

However things weren't going too well with the tutor (the princess having destroyed their feet), and so they decided to assign another person as Elizabeth's (unfortunate) dance partner. Yet sadly, all that passed the pair's way were either terrible dancers or extremely busy. That left them low on the hopes of ever finding a decent fit.

"We could try again - "

"No, we must find you another partner!" The tutor spoke hurriedly, wincing at the thought of having their feet trod on once more. The pointy heels the princess wore didn't help much either, the damned fashion code making the task all the more painful. "Ah, here comes another candidate!"

True to the tutor's word, a person was approaching. Wild blonde hair sat untamed upon his head, a pair of well-defined arms resting behind it. The all-recognisable look of innocence was on his youthful features, his emerald eyes full life. He was still dressed within his gear, suggesting he had been out training. However despite that he didn't look too tired, instead appearing as if he was simply taking an afternoon stroll through the castle grounds. Only Elizabeth and her tutor knew better than that.

"Sir Meliodas!" The tutor called out to the blonde, desperation on their features. "If you'd just spare a moment."

"Sure," The knight approached the two, his arms falling to his side. The unbothered expression was gone, an intense look of curiosity instead replacing it as he spotted the instrument the tutor held. "How can I help?"

"Thank goodness someone decent has come along!" The tutor released a sigh, a relived smile spreading. She then gestured towards Elizabeth, trying to pass the task off as an easy and small thing. "You see I'm trying to teach Lady Elizabeth here a simple dance. However we've had some trouble finding a suitable partner."

The blonde knight glanced at the reddening princess who was at the tutor's words, his knowledge of her being a little more deeper than most. Many would brush off her embarrassment as just that, but the blonde couldn't but feel the familiar curve of a slight smirk forming.

He knew that the tutor was really looking for a replacement partner because they couldn't stand having aching feet. Plus most of the staff around here weren't too great at dancing, their coordination being great but their sense of rhythm lacking as they always did monotonous work.

Of course if he knew this, Meliodas knew that they'd probably find another person to dance with Elizabeth if he refused. He wasn't the greatest after all, plus he did tell the Grandmaster that he'd help him sort out the new apprentice Holy Knights. However when he thought about it, looked at the tired and embarrassed expression of Elizabeth, Meliodas figured he could be late to help her learn to dance. It was a worthy cause.

Plus he was always late.

What was one more tardy when he had near a million?

"You wouldn't mind assisting would you, good sir?" The tutor finished off, not at all aware that the blonde knight had drifted off into thought. "I would be helping us out tremendously."

The pair then glanced at the knight expectantly, Meliodas easily supplying a response even though he'd tuned out halfway through.

"Not at all."

"Great!"

It didn't take the tutor another second to go over the steps and position the pair correctly, their excitement and joy fueled by finally not having to have their feet trod on by pointy heels. It only took a few minor adjustments to get them positioned correctly, Elizabeth's taller height calling for a bit of a shift on the usual positioning; but even so it was soon perfect, the tutor ignoring the protests of Elizabeth as they began to play.

Panic and anxiety began to build within the princess as she heard the first few notes of the song, knowing very well that she'd fail at mastering this dance. She had gone over it nearly a thousand times with her tutor, succeeding in injuring their ankles and feet so badly that they hobbled about for days after practicing. As a result she knew she'd do the same to Meliodas, the high heel shoes of today being an especially deadly pair.

So when they began to dance, Elizabeth couldn't help but pray that she didn't trod on him. If she did, then she would be eternally sorry.

"Elizabeth?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you looking at your feet?"

"I don't want to step on you," The princess responded coolly, focusing on her footsteps rather than the knight she was meant to be dancing with. This caused him to chuckle slightly, shaking his head fondly at her antics. She was always one to worry about others.

"Well it's gonna be hard to look at your feet during other dances," Meliodas spoke lightly, a teasing lilt in his tone.

"Which ones?" Elizabeth blinked, panic taking over before she quickly looked up to meet his gaze only to shake her head. It was something she couldn't dwell on right now. She had to make sure she didn't step of Sir Meliodas! "Never mind. But how else can I not mess it up?"

"Try looking at your partner's face for one," Meliodas used a hand to lift her gaze from her feet, showing her a easy and assuring smile. "I'd say the next thing is to follow their lead."

"It's that simple?" Elizabeth tilted her head a little in questioning.

"Yep," Meliodas nodded in affirmation.

So Elizabeth had followed his advice, as she trusted Sir Meliodas a whole lot. She had lifted her gaze and even though she was tempted to check that her legs were not straying to step of Sir Meliodas, she didn't check at all. Instead she let out a shaky exhale and tried to fall into the steady rhythm of the music, soon finding that she wasn't screwing up at all. In fact she was doing really well, the simple waltz being just that with the almost magical assistance of Meliodas.

Funny that he's so good at dancing.

"How do you know how to dance so well, Meliodas?" Elizabeth quizzed, her brows furrowing with thought as she looked at the blonde. She had never known that she was so good at dancing. If she had known then she would have perhaps asked him for a crash course of the subject before even approaching her tutor.

"Had to learn while I was growing up," Meliodas shrugged slightly, his features playing the fact off as no big deal. It wasn't really to him after all. He just had to learn to do it.

"So...you danced a lot?" Elizabeth spoke slowly, now not at all bothered as she set into the familiar steps of the dance.

"A lot," Meliodas nodded, his features pulling themselves into a grimace at the memory. "It honestly grew boring."

The continued to talk lightly, sharing little stories and subconsciously moving in steps that were somehow memorized perfectly.

The music came to an end, the pair somehow stilling despite not really knowing that the music had ended. Blue eyes stared into green, the two connecting in a way like rolling lands meet sea, neither seeming to move from their positions. Their noses barely touched each others'; their faces inches apart. They could hear the other breathing, feel the heat radiating from their bodies, but even so they didn't feel uncomfortable.

It was like a shared moment of calm.

Peace.

Their faces moved closer. Their eyelids closed. It was so close, so very very close. Just a little more and -

"That was...beautiful!" The tutor beamed, clapping as the pair suddenly jolted apart. Their fingers lingered in their intertwined state, however they detangled swiftly enough for the crying tutor to not notice the sparks that lingered in the air. "Sir Meliodas you are a wonderful dancer! Oh and Lady Elizabeth! I did not know you could move so gracefully!"

The pair responded in kind, one boyish and sheepish while the other was polite and gentle. The tutor then continued to shower them with praise, stating how Meliodas must simply help each time Elizabeth needed to learn a new dance as she caught it so quickly with him as her partner. Plus they made a splendid pair, both of their personalities melding just right to create the perfect chemistry for a duet. Dancing is all about chemistry after all.

"That's very kind of you to say," Elizabeth smiled slightly, her heart still fluttering within her chest. A pink blush was scattered across her cheeks, light and innocent. "But really it's too much."

"Oh no it's not," The tutor beamed, a coy look on their face. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two were in love!"

The princess and knight simply shared a look at the tutor's comment, before parting ways to continue on with the day.


That was one of the numerous memories Elizabeth had gathered over the years, each one a reminder and symbol of why she cared for the knight so dearly. He had helped her to laugh; treated her like a normal person despite her royal status; and was in all someone who was great company.

However now she had to say goodbye to her little jaunts and adventures with Sir Meliodas, the life of a married princess, a queen no less, being far from the one she has now. Once she is married Elizabeth will have more responsibility. She won't have the free time to sneak out the castle grounds, nor will she be able to steal a horse from the stables to get as far out as she possibly could go. One of Elizabeth's main tasks as queen will be to provide healthy and worthy heirs. She will have to be the doting maternal figure of her kingdom, all for the sake of the prosperity of her king and country.

She wouldn't have time to chase after knights she had known since childhood. She wouldn't have time to get herself dirty and runaway without thinking about the consequences.

She would have to be an adult.

"Care to dance?"

The princess is snapped out of her deep and brooding thoughts by a pair of playful green eyes and a youthful face she had not at all expected to see tonight. Not when he was meant to be many many miles away, the recent mission he'd been sent on lasting much longer than any of his previous ones.

"I'm sorry but..." Elizabeth trailed off as she met their gaze, her words and unshed tears falling short. She should be glad, she should say 'yes' and enjoy this final dance. But she can't really do that with all these thoughts buzzing around her head. With this faint feeling in the back of her mind and the many eyes that would be watching.

Nevertheless Elizabeth placed a gloved hand in his, enjoying the familiar sensation of his battle-worn fingers being wrapped around her own. The same fingers that had patched her up when she'd scraped a knee or helped her to climb over the castle garden wall. Oh those were fun times, especially when she had fallen and he had panicked that she had hurt herself. It was actually amusing to see Meliodas in such a state, the knight rarely showing such emotions.

But he had when he was with her. Just as she had ditched her royal behaviours when around him.

The two settled within the crowd of dancers, the princess completely aware of the situation. Aware of how it all seemed to be too good to be true. Too convenient to be true. Plus it all felt off - different. Like a mirage that was cloaking something else. One of his hands rested on the small of her back, warm and guiding as it sent pleasurable tingles up her spine, while the other laced its fingers with her own.

"Consider this a gift," Elaine's voice rang in her ears, the princess spotting the fairy watching from the sidelines. She gave a small wink, her wand glowing as she swayed a little to the music. "Just a little fairy magic to help you enjoy tonight."

The words helped Elizabeth to figure out what had happened, the wrongness of the situation suddenly making sense as she spotted the glowing wand. The same wand that Elaine had used many times to cheer Elizabeth up at her most dull moments, just like she was doing now.

"Elaine..." The princess' eyes bubbled with tears, a watery smile forming as she nodded.

She wanted to ask why Elaine would do this, wanted to demand an answer for it all. She wanted to say that she didn't want to marry her betrothed, wanted to not need the help of Elaine's illunsionary magic. But instead of doing any of that, Elizabeth just enjoyed this final moment. This final moment where she could call Meliodas hers and herself his. Even if she it was a phantom caused by Elaine. Even if it was all really just a dream.

She wanted to have this final dance.