Dregg danced around the princess in an awful manner, exclaiming things and asking about his 'amazing' dancing. Oh, April was amazed, alright; at how bad it was. 'I know snowturtles who can dance better then this guy.' "Ow. Ow," she said, trying not to be too rude to the trade partner as he stepped on her feet unintentionally. "Speaking of, so great to have the gates open," he told her. She nodded and started to pay attention as he start to ask better questions. "Why did they shut them in the first place? Hmm? Do you know the reason?" Dregg asked suspiciously. "No," April said simply. To be honest, April didn't know why the gates were always shut. One day they were always open, now they aren't. It's as simple as that.
"No," he repeated, then smiled. "All right. Hang on." April gasped as she was suddenly dipped backwards, giving her a full view of Leo. She was surprised to see him dancing with another princess. 'I think that's Princess Miwa. It seems like their having fun.' April thought to herself. She felt proud of her brother. Maybe now he was finally getting out of his comfort zone. "They don't call me the 'Little Dipper' for nothing!" Dregg said, bringing her back up and spinning her. "Like a chicken with the face of a monkey, I fly!" he exclaimed, dancing around her as she tried to keep track of the alien.
As April and Lord Dregg were dancing, Leo was dancing with Princess Miwa. "So, how's it feel to be king of New York?" Princess Miwa asked. "Hmm. Not much different from being a prince of New York. Just more responsibilities and duties that I need to take care of," Leo told her.
"Yes. My father plans on me becoming Queen of Japan one day. I just need to find a prince or king to marry," She told him. "King Oroku Saki. I have heard stories about him from my father and mother." "And as I about your parents from my father. But enough about our parents, I have a question for you."
"And I have an answer for you," He told her. "Why have the gates to your castle been closed? I have heard rumors that they have been closed for almost 15 years." Leo nodded. He couldn't tell her the truth so he told her, "When my sister and I were younger, we went out playing in the forest near here. We got ambushed by some bandits. We got out alive but our father decided to keep us safe but locking us inside the wall of the castle."
"I see. Well, it was nice meeting you, King Leonardo," Princess Miwa said as the two finished their dance and she bowed at him. "Please... call me Leo," He told her as he bowed back.
Leo returned to his original spot and bowed to a couple who came to him, then April walked over to him, looking disgruntled. "Tell me when you're ready for another round, milady," Dregg said as he left her. "Well, he was sprightly," Leo chuckled as April pulled her dress strap up. "Especially for an alien with such pointy feet! Oh!" April groaned, grabbing her feet as Leo giggled again. "Are you OK?" he asked with a bit of concern. "I've… never been better. This is so nice. How was your dance with the princess?" April admitted, looking at her brother with a smile. "It was nice. Princess Miwa was very... pleasent." April nodded and looked at all the happy people in ballroom. "I wish it could be like this all the time."
"Me, too," Leo admitted with a smiled. But then he frowned and looked away from her sadly. "But it can't." "Why not?" April asked as she was going to touch her brother, but then flinched as he moved away. "It just, can't!" Leo said, sighing deeply as he tried to compose himself. "...Excuse me for a minute," April said sadly as she walked away. 'I don't understand. Why is Leo acting like this? I thought that he would leave the doors open once he became king but he isn't. Why? I was even hoping that the princess would give him that confidence but it didn't.'
As she was thinking to herself, she ran into a man and gasped as said man bumped into her as he bowed to the woman in front of him while saying, "I'd be honored." April nearly fell backwards, but then a hand caught hers. She looked up and heard a familiar voice. "Glad I caught you." She smiled and with a breath of relief, said, "Casey."
He helped her up, then they started dancing to the music.
A few minutes later, they were by the door. "And I usually have the entire parlor to myself to slide!" April chuckled then gasped as she accidentally his the man in the face. "Sorry," she apologized sheepishly. Casey nodded in an 'it's OK' fashion.
They walked down the path. "Your physique helps too, I'm sure." Casey looked at her hair. "What's this?" Casey asked, pointing to the white streak in her hair. "Oh, I was born with it. Although I dreamt I was kissed by a samurai rabbit," she said shyly. "I like it."
Later, the two were sitting on a balcony together, eating sandwiches April had taken from the kitchen. "Yep. The whole thing. Like that." Casey chuckled and ate the sandwich.
"Wait, wait, so you've been the knight for Princess Miwa since you were ten?" April asked again.
"Yes. My father was a knight as well but he died protecting the queen but she also died from poison," Casey said. "That's horrible! What about your mother?" April said.
"Gone as well. But I have my little sister and Princess Miwa. King Oroku Saki was generous enough to provide me and my sister a home in the castle. I swore then to protect Princess Miwa with my life," Casey said. "So... how close are you and your little sister?" She asked. "Very. I'm the only family she has. Well, Princess Miwa loves her like a little sister as well."
April nodded in agreement. "Reminds me of me and Leo in a way, He and I were really close when we were little. But then, one day, he just… shut me out, and I never knew why." Casey gently grasped her hand. "I'd never shut you out," he said matter-of-factly. April looked up at him with a smile. "Ok, do you mind if I say something crazy?"
"I love crazy! It's my middle name," Casey said. April stood up. "For all my life, it's been a series of doors in my face." She slammed the balcony door to reinforce her point. "And then suddenly I bump into you…" "I was thinking the same thing, because, even though I'm a knight for the princess, I'm still looking to find my own place" Casey gestured to the land below them. "And maybe it's the party talkin', or the chocolate fondue or even the pizza…"
"But with you…"
"But with you, I found my place…"
"I can see your face…"
"And it's nothing like I've ever seen before!" they both said, then smiled. "Love is an open door!"
They continued to go around the castle grounds, covering that they were psychic and that they both liked sandwiches.
They were now by a waterfall, and Casey turned to April. "Can I ask something crazy?" He got on one knee. "Will you marry me?"
April gasped. "Can I say something crazier? Yes~!" she squealed, biting her lip excitedly. 'My part is now complete. I have gotten Princess April. Now Princess Miwa needs to get King Leonardo.'
"Pardon, sorry," April said as she pushed past people in the ballroom with Casey in tow. "Can we just get around through? Oh, there he is!" April smiled, approaching her brother, who was speaking to another couple. "Leo!" Leo turned to her. "Uh, I mean, 'King'! Me again, um…" April continued as Leo bid his farewell to the couple and turned to her. "May I present Knight Arnold."
"Casey, Your Majesty," Casey bowed. "You may call me Casey if you wish." Leo looked at them, waiting for them to get to the point. 'Have patience, Leo. Breathe, the night is almost over.'
"We would like to ask you," They both said, stumbling over who was talking, "if you would bless…" They giggled. "Our marriage!"
Leo blinked in shock. "Marriage?" He asked with a surprised.
"Yes!" April squealed happily. "I'm sorry, I'm confused-"
"Well, we haven't worked out all the details ourselves… We'll need a few days to plan the ceremony. Of course, we'll have a roast, soup, and ice cream. And then…" she gasped, turning back to Casey. "Would we live here?!"
"Here?" Leo asked, taking a subtle step back. "Absolutely!" Casey said with emphasis. "April…" Leo said trying to get her attention.
"Oh, we can invite your sister to stay with us!" April told Casey happily. "What? No, no, no, no…" April deftly glanced at her brother. "Of course we have the room," she said to Casey. "Wait, April, slow down," Leo said, finally gaining their attention. "No one's sister is staying here, no one is getting married." The duo looked at her sadly. "Wait, what?" April asked. "May I talk to you, please? Alone?" Leo asked with a hint of desperation in his voice.
"No," April said as she grabbed Casey's hand. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it to both of us." She stepped next to her new fiancé. Leo breathed out and told her, "Fine. You can't marry a man you just met."
"You can if it's true love," April retorted back at him. "April, what do you know about true love?" Leo asked. "More than you. All you know is how to shut people out!" April said in a moment of anger. Leo gasped, then sighed deeply, calming himself. "You ask for my blessing, and I say no. Now, excuse me."
"Your Majesty, if I may ease your-" Casey tried to reason but it didn't work. "No, you may not," Leo said, trying to keep his breathing under control. "A-And I think you should go." He started walking, passing a guard and saying to him, "Close the gates, the party's over."
"Your Majesty," Honeycutt tried but he too failed. "Leo, no, wait!" April said, grabbing his glove and accidentally taking it off. "Hey! Give that back!" Leo said desperately. "Leo, please, please!" April begged. "I can't live like this anymore!" Leo looked at her with shining eyes. "Then leave," He told her sadly. April gasped in shock.
Leo looked down in shame, starting to walk away. April breathed deeply, trying to wrap her mind around it all. "What did I ever do to you?!" She demanded. "Enough, April!" Leo said desperately, still walking. "No, why? Why do you shut me out?! Why do you shut the world out?!" Leo clenched his eyes shut as he fought…
"What are you so afraid of?!" April screamed at him as Leo reached the door.
Not being able to help back anymore, he said, "I said 'ENOUGH'!" As he turned around, ice went flying out of his hand and making a barrier around him, spikes of ice pointing at all the people, making them gasp and step back in fear.
Dregg yelped a bit as it almost hit him. "Sorcery…" he muttered. "I knew there was something dubious going on here...
Casey looked at him in shock. 'This was the secret. This definitely wasn't in Master Shredder's scenario of their hiding. Princess Miwa and I need to make a different plan.'
"Leo…" April said quietly. Leo grabbed for the door handle with his gloved hand, his other one clenched to his plastron as he looked at all the people staring at him. 'They know my secret… They're going to come after me… Just like Usagi told me so long ago…' and with those thoughts in his mind. He opened the door and ran out.
Sorry for such a late update. I'm going to post another chapter tomorrow but it's late where I live and I need some sleep. Good night, and have an awesome day/night! Don't forget to fav, follow, and review, please. Bye! :)