Chapter 86

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd actually think he didn't care about her," the third Invisible said thoughtfully, after plans had been thought up and decided on. The other Invisibles had gone their separate ways, leaving the two alone.

"He's a marvelous slab of stone. What I wouldn't give to draw on him."

"But since you and I *do* know better, it's pretty obvious he does care," The second one said happily.

"And he thinks he doesn't. Pah! Da signs, mon. Dem signs."

"I see dem!" The third chuckled, before saying in a reminiscing tone, "Ol' Hat-Rack's not quite the same critter he was a while ago. I hardly recognize him."

"I agree," the second answered, sounding halfway sniffly.

"Our little Buster-Brown is growing up. Isn't it just so. . .(Sniff) beautiful?"

"That it is, mein freund," the third said reverently, sounding choked up, "That it is. I mean, you know, they're all wicked and heartless one day, turn around and then they're all in denial the next."

"And then they finally do admit it, and that's when I'll really break down," the second one said, sounding a bit watery, "Cause then he'll be all grown up."

The two of them sniffled for a moment.

"Last night when he heard her screaming, he *leapt* for that doorknob, trying to get to her. And it's not just that either, his taste and smell's come back."

"That was surprising to me, I sure didn't expect it. The guy's kind of, oh, I don't know. . .Dead? The last thing I expected him to be doing is regaining his senses, although to be honest, he didn't have that many more to lose."

"We should have banged him over the head with a few more pans, it might have beat some sense into him faster."

"Or threw more trolleys down the stairs. Boy, was that fun!"

"Next time we're going to see how many we can fit down the chimney!"

Cackles followed for a moment.

"Well, you do remember what we discussed about her, don't you?"

"Of course. The thing we've been holding over Dusty's head since she got here?" The third said, grinning.

The second cackled at this.

"How could I forget? Do you know if they've ever found out?"

"I don't think so. If they did they'd be rubbing it all in our faces."

"True. I think we can hold it over their heads for a little longer, you reckon?"

"Does Creeper hate horses?"

A snort followed, before they sat in silence for a moment.

"Well, half the day's gone, what're we gonna do? We've got to do at least one diabolical thing before midnight."

"I'm thinking," the second said, before suddenly saying, "Heeey. . .remember that plan we had like, a month ago, and never had a chance to do?"

"Gosh, we've made so many. . .which one do you speak of, my deliciously diabolical duo-to-my-uno amigo?"

"Funny you should word it that way, my fudgy-not-pudgy-buddy. Well, since Avalina's gonna be scared out of her mind of Buster-Brown for a little while. . ."

"You think we should speed things up?"

"Exactly."

"I'm all ears."

Avalina was overjoyed with the progress Mitternacht had already made. She had trotted and walked him alternately for a long time, being careful of his foot, and then worked the garden a little, delighting in the green sprouts that were shooting up like they simply just couldn't wait.

Feeling better, she had finally taken him back to the stable, redressed his foot and stayed with him til dark, before reluctantly going in to wash up for supper.

The Invisibles, she had noticed, didn't seem to care what she wore during the day, but when evening came around and it was time to meet the Horned King in the dining hall, they became fussier about her clothing than her mother ever had.

They would seem to lecture with each other, but not necessarily argue, about what she would wear every night.

After a while, she had caught on to their habits.

Depending on how many were picking things out, normally one would select the dress, another would select the shoes to fit, another would fix her hair, and another would occasionally select a piece of jewelry to go along with it, if it didn't look like too much.

Tonight her dress was a lovely dappled silvery color, with small crystal-like stones sewn in intricate patterns going down the bodice.

A small, unobtrusive silver circlet sat lightly across her forehead, nearly lost in her wild hair, but the Invisible had cleverly woven small strands of her hair through the circlet to hold it firmly in place, so Avalina would not have to worry about it falling off.

As she looked herself over in the mirror, Avalina noticed that this was the first time they had given her anything to wear that even vaguely resembled a crown.

Now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure she felt comfortable in it, but the Invisible had gone to so much trouble to fix it tonight. . .she kept her mouth shut.

Like her mother had often said, "No one is more insufferable than they who lack basic courtesy."

And so, the Invisibles flitted through the air on their way to the dining hall, the regularity in the breeze making Avalina wonder if they weren't in fact dancing to the beat of her bootheels.

Feeling her terror surface all over again, she nervously allowed the Invisibles to serve her.

Something she noticed while trying not to notice anything that was going on at the other end of the table was that the Horned King seemed to be taking more of an interest in the mealtime proceedings than normal. Normally he sat there like a stone, but this time. . .it was different.

And as she watched him cautiously from the edge of her vision, she saw him take a very small amount of a few dishes.

He looked up and caught her watching, causing her to duck her head, flushing in embarrassment.

"As of last night, what I told you earlier no longer applies," he ground out.

"Apparently I am able to taste now."

Startled at this, Avalina looked up to meet his gaze.

"Really?" She asked, her heart bouncing slightly.

"Oh, that's wonderful!"

She wished she could have summoned more joy for this obviously tremendous event, especially after she had shown such sympathy previously, but her nightmare still plagued her and made talking with him more than difficult.

He nodded faintly, although the air felt quite pleased.

"Yes. I can smell again as well, it seems, though I do not know the reason why."

She noticed within the first three minutes that he never took a bite when she was watching, so she tactfully avoided looking over at him.

The meal was rather quiet, although Avalina's nerves were stretched to breaking point, her nightmare playing over and over inside her head.

The Invisibles brought out a trolley loaded with several different sorts of desserts, serving Avalina first. If she hadn't been so nervous she would have asked the Horned King which one he would like, but her fear kept her silent.

Avalina didn't really want to put anything else in her stomach, but the Invisibles were extremely pushy tonight, so she bit her lip and picked out a small slice of something that looked like chocolate cream pie. It certainly smelled good.

The trolley was pushed around to the Horned King's end of the table, and Avalina watched, wondering which one he might pick.

Suddenly, another trolley crashed through the door, and Avalina felt the mood in the air change immediately.

The new trolley was much more banged up than the one currently at the table, overflowing with brightly colored paper and streamers. A swift tattoo of horns and whistles emanated from it.

The other trolley was yanked quickly out of the way as the new arrival rocketed right toward the table. . .

It skidded harshly across the floor, braking to a halt, mere inches from the table. The Horned King looked ready to snarl something, but the trolley suddenly seemed to explode.

All manner of streamers, confetti and glitter were suddenly everywhere in the room. An inch of it covered the floor, and more came down like rain from the ceiling, to rest on the table, in the food, and the two people sitting there.

Waving some away from her face, Avalina gaped at the scene.

The Horned King had been showered with paper and confetti. Streamers of brightly colored ribbons hung off his horns as thickly as moss would on an old tree limb, and he looked like they had simply turned the bucket of glitter upside down over him.

He was shiny. He was sparkly. He glittered. He positively *glowed.*

Avalina couldn't help the bout of laughter that made itself known, despite her fresh terror of him. It was just too much.

At the far corner of her hearing, she could hear the Invisibles trying and failing to be quiet, which only made her laugh harder.

The Horned King gave her a dark look, which promptly shut her up.

Growling to himself, he could only imagine what he looked like.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAT-RACK!"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUSTER-BROWN!"

"All of ya'll give a hand for our big birthday boy!" One of them shouted.

"He's growin' up!"

"And if you're ever gonna be big and strong, you must have SUGAR!"

Avalina was having a wretched time keeping her giggles in the Horned King managed to look even less enthused than he had previously.

"Sire, you're glowing!"

Avalina snapped a hand over her mouth, wishing she hadn't said that and wondering where in blazes it had came from.

The Horned King managed to give her a thoroughly unamused look, and then his brow ridges shot high into the air for a fraction of a second before a cream pie appeared out of nowhere and hit him square in the face.

Explosions of uncontrollable laughter rang through the room from all sides, Avalina's among them.

Avalina gripped her stomach, praying she wouldn't pass out from laughing so hard as she bent over the table, (Which had thankfully been cleared on her end) and laughed in helpless mirth.

The pie pan and the flimsy crust slowly slid off the Horned King's face to land sluggishly in his lap, and his face couldn't even be seen through a wall of white.

Avalina was bent over the table, trying valiantly to stop laughing, but every second she looked up at him, the worse her laughter got.

The Invisibles didn't help. Different types of laughter filled the room to bursting, ringing off the old walls and enhancing the hilarity.

Slowly, deliberately, the Horned King felt around for the towel lying on the corner of the table and wiped his face with it, his features slowly coming back into view.

Avalina managed to straighten up then, as the glare he sent them was fit to kill with.

Her fear rising up again, she shrank down in her seat, but the Invisibles weren't finished yet.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUSTER-BROWN

THE BADDEST LICH FOR MILES AROUND

HE-EEEE GIVES A TRIPLE-WHAM

AND HE MAKES CREAMED GLITTER LOOK SO GLAAAAM!"

Avalina fought to keep her composure as the Horned King slowly turned to the air on his right, looking very nearly murderous.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

WE PRAY YOU DON'T COME UNGLUED!

CAUSE IIIIIIIIFF YOU DOO-OOO

REMODELING WILL BE QUITE CRUUUUUUDE!"

Avalina couldn't help the laughter that spilled out. She just couldn't help it. These Invisibles were hilarious.

"Is. . .haha. . .it really your birthday?" Avalina gasped out.

The Horned King slowly turned in her direction, before shaking his head once.

"I don't remember."

"Well, from now on, today's officially your birthday!" An Invisible cackled madly.

"Best wishes, Horny-Poo!"

The Horned King looked like he'd swallowed a lemon, his voice as flat as the table top.

"Ohhh. . .goody."

Avalina could only laugh helplessly, sensing no danger in the air as she fought to breathe and laugh at the same time, realizing that she no longer felt afraid.

And for the moment, she really didn't care.

Thank you to everyone who reviews, I really appreciate it! To Laughing jill, thank you so much for leaving a comment, it means a lot:) I'm glad all of ya'll like my story enough to keep reading, even with this many chapters XD. I had no intention for this thing to be even half as long as it is now, but when the plunnies abound, stuff's goin' DOWN!...on Paypah! LOL

Also, just in case somebody didn't know, at the beginning of this chapter, when the Invisible said "Mein freund," it means "My friend," in German;)