A/N: Long chapter! Also, quick announcement regarding updates:

im going on a trip next week so the next chapter will likely be posted on Sunday. The week after I am also going on a (different) trip. I don't get much time between the two(one day!)so the chapter after that first will either go up Saturday or it won't go up till I come back. This is a long chapter so you should be fine in case that happens.

Thanks to Bloodylilcorpse for reviewing the last chapter.:)

Enjoy!

The festival was a fun, colorful time. Everyone was told they could go wherever. Mike was asked to stick with someone or a few others since he was the youngest, and he chose to walk around with Brick, Dakota, and Manitoba. Brick and Dakota were continuing their debate on what color would better suit Mike, and Mani was laughing at their antics. Mike just tried to take it all in.

There were people selling all sorts of things in the streets leading up to the castle. Young children running about in bright clothing and bare feet, teenagers in groups ranging from two to ten, adults browsing. It felt and looked like a huge marketplace, but it carried a festive air about it from all the decorations and the general vibe of all the people from all over the kingdom talking with their different accents.

There was a green shop door sandwiched between a baker's stand and a creepy dude selling creepy puppets. It had a sign that screamed in bright pink lettering: NEW FASHION FOR THE NEW SEASON.

"Oh my gosh, you guys, we have to go in here." Dakota pointed to it.

"Maybe we could finally settle our little disagreement, and get Mike something to wear for Duncan and Zoey's wedding." Brick smiled at Mike.

"Let's go!" Dakota grabbed Mike's hand and dragged him in.

"Coming, Manitoba?" Brick asked.

"Nah, not really into fashion much. I saw a stand selling some good ropes down the way, I'll meet you back over here in awhile." Mani tipped his fedora and walked off.

Brick entered the store and found Dakota and Mike. Dakota was holding a green shirt in front of Mike. "See, Brick, I told you, green is his color."

Brick searched for a moment before finding a shirt that was the perfect shade of blue. He held it in front of Dakota's. "See, it's blue."

"Well, I say green!"

"And I am disagreeing with you. I say blue."

"You are color blind! I knew it!"

"That is incorrect. I am perfectly capable of seeing color."

"Sure." Dakota rolled her eyes.

"Wait,"Brick looked around. "Where's Mike?"

"Ugh, again? What is up with him?" Dakota put the shirt down and exited the store. Brick followed.

Mike was standing just outside the door. "I didn't want to be the cause of you two arguing. I figured if I left, you two would stop."

"Mike, we're your friends. It was a silly argument, even if the outcome is majorly important," Dakota assured him.

"Yeah, it was stupid of us," Brick agreed, "you'd look good in anything, really."

"It's fun to debate about fashion."

"Ok, sorry," Mike said.

"It's fine, we can always come back later." Dakota waved it off.

The three of them continued to wander the festival. They caught up to Manitoba, who'd found a nice length of rope at the stand he'd mentioned to Brick earlier. "This'll be good when I go home and get time to practice my roping." It was fitted around one of his belt loops. "Why're you three over here? Seemed you would take forever in that fashion store."

"We started arguing and Mike totally left again. He was outside the store, but he was out of sight for a minute. We figured we'd go back later." Dakota shrugged.

Mike also shrugged, apologetically.

"Alright. Anyone hungry? 'Could catch us something to eat from one of them food people around us."

They all nodded.

The group found some food at various stands, and sat to eat it in the town square. Some dancer was performing in the center to a band, part of some contest going on based on the three judge-looking fellows to the side.

"Is she even dancing?" Dakota wrinkled her nose.

"It is difficult to tell. I have to avert my eyes to prevent being blinded." Brick looked back at the piece of bread he was finishing.

"She's okay, I guess." Mike knew he could do a much better job. He'd been told he was a good dancer. By his mother, of course, before she'd died. Everyone else made fun of him for it.

"She's awful, someone cover my eyes. Ugh let's go before she does something else." They all stood up to leave.

"Aw no, y'all hold it right there!" A voice suddenly yelled at them.

They all turned to see the dancer stride up to them, a hand on her hip. "What? We can't leave?" Dakota asked.

"I heard that trash you were talking ova here. And I ain't havin it! Leshawna don't run like that." She crossed her arms. "Y'all sayin you could do better?"

"No one said that," Mike spoke up.

Leshawna looked at him. "Mmhm. But you've been thinking it, I bet."

Mike shrugged.

"Come on, Sheila, leave 'em be." Manitoba stepped forward.

"Oh no! He thinks he can do better, he should prove it." Leshawna turned to what little crowd there was. "Come on, y'all, this boy needs to learn some respect!"

No one really responded, except for a guy with orange hair in the band who clapped. "Yeah, Leshawna!"

"I see you, baby!" Leshawna turned back to Mike and raised an eyebrow. "So? What's it gonna be?"

Mike took a deep breath. "Fine."

"Aight, let's do this!" Leshawna nodded to the band, who started a fast paced dance song that Mike recognized. His foot immediately started tapping. "That all you got? Come on, get moving!" Leshawna slid from side to side, her body moving and bouncing with the rhythm.

"I think I'm gonna vomit…" Dakota put her hand over her mouth.

Mike looked at Leshawna, then immediately looked away. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Dancing was like acting. You tell a story with your movements, keeping it natural and smooth.

He began to twirl on one foot. He slid around the space, spinning and moving his arms to the beat. His eyes were still closed, face determined yet relaxed.

Leshawna noticed him and stopped to watch for a moment. "Who you been working with, honey? You're moving like you done this a hundred times."

The band quieted down once Leshawna stopped. Mike slowed down as the rhythm did, until he was standing in the center, his eyes to the ground, barely breathing hard.

Brick, Dakota, and Mani all started clapping. Then some others who'd joined the crowd. Finally, Leshawna began to politely applaud as well, Mike blushed.

"Baby, what's your name?" Leshawna asked Mike. "You got some o' the best moves I've seen. Other than my own." She flipped her hair.

"Oh, I'm Mike." Mike rubbed his neck shyly in reaction to the praise.

"Mm. Mike, you got some talent on you. Better use it, or I'll come find ya again and make sure you do! Where you from, anyway?"

"A town a few hours from here."

"I got to get you to meet some of my dancin' friends later. You around here much longer?"

"We're leaving tomorrow, right, guys?" Mike turned to his friends.

Manitoba nodded.

"No, you're leaving right now." Noah suddenly was there, walking through the crowd, an air of importance about him. "What on earth are you wearing, servant?" he immediately singled out Mike, and grabbed his arm.

Mike felt himself shrinking. All the confidence he'd felt when he was dancing and talking to Leshawna was gone.

"Um, pardon me, but that's my friend there. He ain't going anywhere with you, ya dingo." Manitoba had stood up and walked over, his arms crossed.

"He is in my legal custody. I own him. Now get out of my way." Noah's voice had no emotion.

"Oh, you're his stepdaddy, aren't ya? I've heard about you." Mani frowned.

Mike had freed himself of Noah's rather weak grip and ran out of the festival. He didn't want to go home. Not yet.

He ended up on a path that led outside of the downtown area where the festival was, to this grassy expanse surrounded by trees, the horizon dotted with large houses. His feet hurt from the dancing and running, and there was a small mark on his arm where Noah's hand had grabbed it. He sighed as he drifted.

He heard someone singing a familiar song. He followed the voice down the path into the woods, to a small clearing.

There sat a girl he could not recognize in the moment.

Her dark hair was just a touch looser around her shoulders, her pale skin contrasting it. There were multiple birds around her, chirping along to her sweet voice.

"With a smile and a song,

Life is just a bright sunny day

Your cares fade away

And your heart is young

With a smile and a song

All the world seems to awaken anew

Rejoicing with you

As the song is sung

Mike slowly joined in. Their voices layered over each other. She didn't seem to notice his presence.

"There's no use in grumbling

When the raindrops come tumbling

Remember, you're the one

Who can fill the world with sunshine

When you smile and you sing

Everything's in tune and it's spring

And life flows along

With a smile and a song"

The girl was dancing around the clearing during the song. Her footsteps were light and the animals followed her. One of the birds chirped something only she could understand. She appeared to have been so lost in herself, she hadn't realized the voice that had joined her had stopped.

Mike fell silent when she did, and didn't dare approach her.

She turned and saw who the bird was referring to.

"Hi," Mike said shyly, his voice quiet.

"Hello. Was that your voice I heard just now, singing with me?"

Mike nodded. "I know the words, I couldn't help myself."

"Well, how could you? It's a beautiful song. My animal friends liked it very much." She was smiling.

"I'm sure they did." Hearing her voice told him he was speaking to Princess Ella. He didn't say anything about it though.

Ella looked over him. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"

"I don't think so." Mike shrugged. He figured she might recognize him from the show.

"Well, you have a beautiful singing voice."

"Thanks." Mike blushed. He wasn't used to being complimented on his singing. "So do you."

Ella also blushed. "Thank you. I don't ever get to sing around the castle."

"You live in the castle?" Mike pretended to be surprised.

Ella nodded. "It's wonderful, except I'm not allowed to sing. My father doesn't like it." She sighed. "Neither does my sister."

"I get it. My-er-family doesn't exactly enjoy it." Mike shrugged.

Ella smiled at him, though a question racked her brain. "May I ask why you're out here, instead of enjoying the festival?"

"Uh- it got too loud. It's quiet out here. Easier to think." Mike shrugged.

"Your Highness! Where are you? Your cheap dad needs you back hom p!" A voice called out from the path.

Ella looked in the direction of the voice, then back at Mike. "I'm sorry, I have to go. It was lovely meeting you…" she began walking in the direction of the voice. "Can you give me your name, in case we might see each other again?"

"Oh, it's-" he began to say his name.

"Come on! I don't have all day! Let's go!" the voice called back out as it moved closer.

"I hope we see each other again!" Ella called back to Mike.

Mike just stood there. A woman with blonde hair riding a horse came through and stopped in front of him. She frowned at the sight of Mike. "Hey, skinny, what are you doing out here?" Her voice was curious and yet slightly ticked off. Mike recognized it as the one calling out before.

"Just out for a walk in the forest," Mike said a bit nervously.

"Uh huh. Sure. Don't go too far, there are rogues in this forest. Not a place for some skinny stick like you."

"Sorry, I was leaving."

"Good. Now I have to go search for a stupid princess…" She shook her head before her horse galloped away.

Mike turned to walk back into the city, wondering what had happened at the scene he'd left.

He would find out later that night from Manitoba, but I suppose you can know now, as well as what became of his stepfather immediately afterwards:

After Mike freed himself from Noah's grip and fled, Noah wanted to go after him, but Manitoba stepped in front of him so Mike could escape. "You ain't going anywhere, dingo."

"Let me pass, you Australian idiot! Don't you know who I am?" Noah protested. Manitoba was taller than him, and he attempted to go around him to no avail.

"I don't care. You're tryin' to hurt Mike, that's all I need to know." Manitoba was frowning.

Leshawna walked up to Noah and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "You try to run off an' harm that sweet boy, I'll get you where it really hurts."

"I'm not intimidated by either of you. Let go of me!" Noah yelled in protest again.

"Not 'til he's out o' sight so you can't get to him again." Manitoba looked behind him. Mike was long gone. "Put 'im down, Sheila," she told Leshawna.

"Aight, fine, but I got my eye on you, creeper." Leshawna glared at Noah. "Got no respect in ya."

"I don't care what you believe I do and don't have. It's obvious what needs to be done. Goodbye." Noah left the square, finding Scott and Vito waiting at a stand around the corner.

"What happened? Was there a fight? Did you win?" Scott immediately asked eagerly.

"Shut up, your voice is contributing to my now foul mood." Noah continued walking.

Scott and Vito looked at each other. "Ey Dad, you gonna do somethin'?" Vito asked.

"Oh, I certainly am. Mike's going to have a great homecoming." An almost evil grin spread across Noah's face.

Disclaimer: I don't own those song lyrics. They're from Snow White(the 1939 film) and rights go where they belong. Also, still don't own any of these characters.

Please review! See y'all next time!