Chapter 21: Last Minute Preparations
Once Blue and Yellow Diamond reached the bottom of the staircase, the queen immediately went to inform her guards that Lapis had been found. Afterwards, she told her guests that the princess' party was to be held that evening instead and suggested that they spend their time exploring the kingdom beforehand. Whilst some of the guests complained about this, others understood the queen's decision, for they too remembered the curse that was placed on Lapis sixteen years ago. Meanwhile Yellow Diamond sent two guards, who both went by the name of Topaz, to inform Mr Dewey about the whereabouts of his workers. Upon receiving the news, the stable master was left in utter disbelief and amazement that Jamie had rescued the princess, to which he spent the rest of the day reconsidering his stern behaviour towards his workers.
Elsewhere, the stable hands were all being observed by the royal infirmary whilst they took a long nap, after their cuts from White Diamond's thorns had been properly treated. Once they were healed, Blue Diamond requested that both Connie and Lars were to receive new clothes to attend the celebration, whereas, for Jamie, she had something special planned for both him and her daughter. Lapis' fairy guardians, on the other hand, were quietly taking a well-earned break within the castle halls, having been exhausted from their long escapade involving White Diamond. They were relieved that the wicked fairy would no longer pose a threat to humans or fairies alike. Finally, Lapis and Steven were happily talking to each other in the princess' royal bedroom, where they discussed their dream and adventure respectively.
"Your mother really knows how to cheer people up," Lapis spoke highly. "Without her, I probably would have been lost in sleep and I wouldn't have been able to help you and the others during your battle."
"Indeed," Steven added. "Thank you once again for helping us Lapis, we wouldn't have won if it wasn't for your encouragement."
"No problem, Steven," the princess replied. "That's what friends are for."
Just then someone knocked on the bedroom door, to which Lapis permitted them to enter. It was Rose Quartz, who had come to check on how the two friends were holding up.
"Much better now that I'm awake," Lapis answered kindly, to which Steven gave a similar response.
"That's great to hear," the fairy queen said happily. "But I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news to bring."
Lapis and Steven were puzzled about what she meant, for what could be so problematic even after White Diamond's spell was broken.
"Lapis," Rose suddenly stated. "I'm afraid I can't attend your party this evening, for I must return to the Rose kingdom to make up for my absence. I expect my subjects must be worried about where I've been for the past hours."
"That's a shame," the princess responded. "Although to be fair, you did give me a wonderful gift in the form of my dream earlier, so I couldn't possibly ask for anything else."
"I couldn't agree with you more," the fairy queen chuckled as she went to hug her son farewell. "Well, goodbye you two, and I hope you have a wonderful party, Your Highness."
"Goodbye," the two friends said in response as Rose disappeared in a bright burst of pink light. Then once she was gone, Lapis and Steven continued their gossip, both being avidly excited for the princess' party.
By the time the sun was almost ready to set, and the guests had returned from their mandatory day out, Blue Diamond requested that Lapis, the fairies, and the stable hands be brought to her royal bedroom where she would be waiting for them. Once everyone arrived, they were quick to admire Lars and Connie's new outfits, which they thought made them look like true nobles of the kingdom. Just then, the queen interrupted their conversation and told everyone that her daughter's party was due to start within an hour and a half.
"Considering how long we have left," she stated. "I would like all of you to help Lapis and Jamie get ready for the party, for I want their arrival to be special for the guests."
Everyone happily agreed to this request and Blue Diamond began assigning everyone to their selected partners.
"Steven and Lars," she asked. "Would you two mind helping Jamie get into a more suitable attire?"
"No problem, Your Majesty," Steven replied. "I'll ensure that he comes out looking like a prince."
The queen chuckled at this response and watched as Steven and Lars took Jamie to one of the castle's dressing rooms, before turning her attention to Connie and the fairies.
"As for you ladies," she instructed. "I would like you to get the birthday girl ready and make her look just as beautiful as a blossoming rose."
"Will do, Your Majesty," Connie responded politely, as she escorted Lapis out of the room to get her ready. However, before the fairies could follow them, the queen asked them to stay behind for a few moments, for she wanted them to present her daughter with a surprise, to which they wholeheartedly agreed before leaving to catch up with Connie and Lapis.
Soon, the ladies and gents spent the next hour helping the happy couple look prim and proper for the party. In one room, Steven and Lars were doing their best to ensure that Jamie looked like a fine gentleman, as opposed to the common stable boy he was before.
"Are you sure that the guests will be accepting of me being with Lapis?" Jamie asked Lars who was trying to fix his friend's hair. "Won't they be dumbfounded about how the royal princess is in a relationship with a stable boy?"
"Oh, stop worrying," his friend replied encouragingly. "I imagine the queen will provide them will a logical explanation for it, plus they wouldn't immediately know once you enter the hall in your new attire."
Once Lars had finished sorting out his friend's hair, Steven conjured up the perfect yet simple outfit for Jamie to wear. The outfit itself looked quite fancy, which consisted of a long-sleeve black shirt, a grey vest, and brown leggings, all topped off with a red cape and brown leather shoes. When the stable boy put it on, he couldn't help but be in awe of how he looked.
"This is amazing, I look just like a prince," the stable boy said excitedly as he admired his outfit in a nearby mirror. "Are you sure Lapis will like it, Steven?"
"Of course, she will," the fairy prince responded kindly. "Though knowing Lapis, I bet she would be happy no matter how you looked."
Jamie didn't know what else to say so he just gave Steven a simple smile before they and Lars left the room to wait for Lapis and the others. Meanwhile, the fairies and Connie were busy at work getting Lapis ready. They re-did her hair, cleaned her face, and applied a subtle amount of makeup to ensure she looked beautiful. Lapis wouldn't have guessed that she had been asleep just hours ago and once her makeover was all sorted, the ladies stopped to admire their work.
"What do you think of your look Lapis?" Connie asked politely. "Do you like it?"
"I think you all did a wonderful job," Lapis answered, as she was in a much happier mood compared to when her guardians gave her a makeover yesterday.
"I certainly agree with you, Your Highness," added Garnet. "But there is still one last thing we want to give you before we can head for the party."
Just then, the magenta fairy whispered something to both Amethyst and Pearl who in a flash, left the room to get the surprise for the princess. Lapis' optimism raised, wondering what it was that Garnet told her colleagues to get. At last, the ivory and lavender fairies presented the birthday girl with her most important present, her new dress. Lapis was left in astonishment, for she thought the dress looked splendid.
"Why don't you put it on, Princess?" encouraged Amethyst. "We hope you like it."
Lapis was almost lost for words initially, but soon she agreed to wear the dress. As everyone helped put it on for her, the lavender gown fitted like a glove around the princess, with every stitch and fold fitting comfortably across her sky-blue skin. She twirled and spun around gracefully, before going up to the mirror and giving herself a curtsy. Connie and the others couldn't help but watch the blue girl be thrilled with her new present.
"You see, what did I tell you, that dress is perfect for any princess such as her," joked Pearl, to which the other fairies just groaned at her statement.
With Lapis now ready, the ladies decided that it was time for them to leave for the party. Just as they exited the dressing room, however, Steven, Lars, and Jamie were already waiting patiently outside, to which they were left in awe when they saw how lovely Lapis looked in her lavender dress.
"So, what do you think, Your Highness?" asked Peridot cheekily. "Was this the perfect present?"
"I love it!" responded an enthralled Lapis. "Especially the colours, who came up with this beautiful scheme?"
"That would be Steven's idea," said garnet in response. "He said it went with your passion for dreaming."
Suddenly Steven appeared before Lapis, delighted to see that his friend was admiring her gown. Lapis, grateful for her gift, went to give him a great big hug as a thank you.
"I take it that you like your new dress?" asked the fairy prince sweetly.
"Oh Steven, it's perfect!" the princess answered favourably. "I could never have asked you or the others for a birthday present that is greater than this."
As everyone was left feeling enthralled by Lapis' kind words, the blue girl soon turned to Jamie, whom she thought looked just like a handsome prince from a fairy tale.
"I must say Lapis," said the stable boy, as he admired his true love. "You really are a true princess in that dress."
"Thank you, Jamie," Lapis replied sweetly. "And the same goes to you, my prince charming."
Then without warning, the princess gave her true love a gentle kiss on the cheek as an additional thank you for saving her. This made Jamie blush a deep shape of red whilst the others were left amused by the situation.
"Alright, you cheerful lovebirds," chuckled Garnet. "Now, shouldn't we all be heading down to the castle hall, we don't want to keep the queen and her guests waiting now do we?"
The others agreed and with Steven leading the way they all went down a flight of stairs that led to the castle hall, for the princess' sixteenth birthday party was about to begin at last.