Andy entered the living room, servants behind her carrying suits. She looked at the men, "There's a ball tonight. If you'd like to come, here are some suits for you to wear."

Kiba touched one like he was afraid it would attack him as the others stared at her.

"A ball? What's that?" Ryusei and Yamae raised their eyebrows.

"A big fancy dance party," Andy smiled.

Tet looked embarrassed. "Uh..we don't know how to dance."

"It's easy. And don't worry about it. Even if you don't want to dance there's a lot of fancy food."

Kiba chuckled as Ryusei's eyes got big. "You said the magic word."

Ryon coughed softly. "We are not royalty. I doubt very much we will be allowed to join you."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. It's my ball after all."

Tet shrugged. "If you say so. Wait.. your ball?"

"There's always a ball when a princess has a birthday," she said quietly.

"You celebrate your day of birth?" Ryon looked at her in amazement.

"You don't?"

"There's an acknowledgement, but not a celebration. We know just for warrior status." Kiba explained, fidgeting quietly.

Andy nodded, "Well, here we all celebrate. Even more so for the Princesses."

Tet gave her a smile. "We are your humble servants. Help us put these on?"

Andy nodded again, looking at the suits and picking one for each of them. She helped them get dressed, staring at the final result in amusement.

"How do you even move in these?" Kiba stretched awkwardly.

Andy chuckled, "You learn." She smiled at them, "You all look great."

Ryusei's cheeks went pink and he stared at the floor.

"The servants can show you where to go. I have to go get myself ready," Andy grinned.

Tet bowed, the others doing the same afterwards.

Andy went and got in her light green ball gown, servants rushing around her finishing up her makeup and checking her outfit over.

She stood at the top of the stairs, waiting to be presented. Afterward, she walked down them gracefully, smiling at the crowd.

Tet and the others stared in awe at her.

Andy danced with a few men from the kingdom to get the dancing started before making her way over to them. "Having fun so far?"

Tet nodded silently as Kiba restrained Ryusei from the banquet table.

"Would any of you care to dance? All you have to do is follow my lead."

"Just like every other day then." Yamae joked as Tet straightened and took her hand.

"I wish I was a Prince." He whispered in her ear.

She smiled softly, "You guys are better than any princes I know."

He gave her a smile. "I envy the man who marries you."

Andy sighed, "My parents have tried to get me with suitors but they're all so boring.."

Tet tried not to laugh out loud. "You prefer rabble like us, do you?"

"Definitely," she smiled as she got closer to him and began the dance.

When the music stopped, Tet gave her a graceful bow. "That was quite nice."

She smiled, "Yes it was." They went back toward the group before Andy went and grabbed a small plate of appetizers.

Kiba elbowed Tet. "You looked pretty good out there."

Tet gave a small smile, his eyes on Andy.

She chatted with a few guests before returning to them, "Anyone else care to dance?"

Ryusei raised a hand nervously.

Andy grinned and held out her hand to him.

He took a deep breath, then took it softly. He gave her a small smile.

"Don't worry, just follow my lead," she whispered as they went to the dance floor. She pulled him close as the music began.

He tried to control his breathing, whispering back "You're beautiful. I feel like I'm dreaming."

She smiled softly, "Thank you. And you definitely aren't dreaming."

He chuckled. "Just in case, nobody wake me yet."

She laughed quietly.

He put his lips to her cheek as they swayed to the music.

She sighed, "I'd kiss you if there weren't so many people around watching."

"Don't worry. That was a thank you kiss." He gave her a gentle smile.

"Thanks for what?"

"Everything you've done for us. I doubt most people would have accepted us like you have, much less fought to save our lives."

"I care a lot about you guys," she admitted.

"Which I'm sure has not made your mother happy. Having a daughter who is friendly with the enemy must cause gossip."

"She hasn't said much, luckily."

"That may change after tonight. Was this a wise idea bringing us?"

Andy sighed, "I hadn't thought it through.. All I knew was I wanted you guys to come. I'm sorry.."

"We're the ones that should be sorry. We don't want to cause any problems for you." He kissed her hand as the music ended, then headed for the others silently.

Andy spent the next hour dancing with suitors who she didn't want to dance with, then headed back to the group quietly.

Tet sighed and wished he could escape. He couldn't help but be resentful of the other royals. They didn't love Andy, just wanted the power and prestige that marrying her would give them. Yet he knew there was no chance for them. He was a nobody, worse than that he was the enemy. He nodded absently as Kiba said something to him, not paying attention.

Andy sighed, "I'm glad you guys are here. I hate having to deal with all these people," she whispered to the group.

"You fooled us. You look completely relaxed." Ryon gave her a smile. "Unlike these two." He motioned toward Kiba and Tet.

"If you guys don't want to stay, I understand," she said quietly. "I'm not forcing you to stay against your wishes."

"The guards would get jumpy if we just left." Kiba remarked, his eyes watching the crowd. "Besides, where's my dance?"

Andy chuckled and held her hand out to him.

He took it, pressing his lips to her fingers. "I may not be royalty, but I catch on fast."

Andy nodded and led him to the dance floor.

Tet nudged Ryon. "I'm going back to the room."

He headed out of the room and down the hall. Halfway to their wing, a guard approached him with a cold smile. "Going somewhere, rebel?"

Tet swallowed nervously as the guard grabbed his arm.

The music ended and Kiba led Andy back to the group. His eyes narrowed as he registered Tet's absence. "Where did he go?"

Ryon shrugged. "Said he was going back to the room."

Andy frowned, "I'm going to go make sure he made it okay."

Tet regained consciousness slowly. He groaned as his ribs shifted,and he prayed they weren't too badly broken.

"Still alive, rebel? That won't do at all." The guard's voice sounded like it was coming from far away.

Before Tet could answer, a sharp kick slammed into his sternum. He cried out as he felt his ribs shatter, then a tightness started in his chest. Blood sprayed from his lips as his eyes went out of focus.

Andy went down the hall, freezing when she saw Tet. When she moved again, she rushed to his side. "Tet! Everything will be okay." She cringed when she noticed the blood and knew she had to get a doctor quick.

"Sorry for messing up..your birthday.." His voice was apologetic. He coughed wetly, more blood trickling out.

"Don't worry about it," she said softly. She quickly stood and ran back to the ballroom, grabbing the group and leading them to where Tet was.

Ryusei grimaced, placing his hand on Tet's barely moving chest. "I don't know if I can save him. He's hurt bad." The glow enveloped the injured man as the gifted boy concentrated.

Andy watched with worry.

Ten minutes later, the glow disappeared and Ryusei swayed. "I stabilized him, but can't do anymore. He's bleeding inside."

Andy took a deep breath, "Get him to my wing. I'll grab a doctor." She went and found one, leading him back to where Tet was. "I have to get back to the party before my mother gets upset. He better still be alive when I get back," she told the doctor.

The doctor nodded quickly and began to examine him.

Andy went back to the ball, dancing with more suitors until the party ended. The whole time she was worried about Tet but no one could tell as she kept a smile on her face. It was late when she arrived back at her wing, entering the room to check on Tet.

Ryon looked up from the bedside. "He's holding on."

Tet lay shirtless, bandages wrapped around his chest and abdomen. He was breathing slowly, pale against the sheets.

"Doctor had to perform surgery to stop the bleeding in two places, so he's got stitches. And he finished the second transfusion an hour ago."

Andy sat down beside Tet, watching him. "I hope he's alright."

"Any idea who attacked him?"

Andy shook her head, "Probably a guard if I had to guess."

Ryon sighed heavily. "Should have expected this. We'll never be accepted."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"It's not your fault. I'm amazed you care as much as you do."

Andy shrugged, "Why wouldn't I?"

"Most people wouldn't look past our status as rebels. They wouldn't have fought for us. They would have either been unkind to us to the point the arena was welcome or just shrugged and forgot about us when we were taken away. We're the enemy, after all."

"Until I met you guys, I never knew what the war was even about. You guys opened my eyes. And it doesn't matter what side they're on, a person is a person and I'll treat them as such until they show they don't deserve it."

"I was surprised you believed us when Tet told you why we were fighting. Your Father was the villain in our story, yet you accepted us without calling us liars."

"You guys seemed trustworthy." Andy admitted. "Of course it was a shock. I love my parents, but I guess not even they can be perfect."

"No, I guess not." Ryon was quiet a moment. "The doctor was worried about Ryusei. His periods of unconsciousness are getting longer. We don't know why."

Andy nodded, "Next time something happens, stop him from using it. We don't need him dying on us too."

"He'll fight us, you know that."

She sighed, "I know.."