Hi! Here it is! The Prom chapter! Thank you for sticking around. Now this is the longest chapter so far at a total of 13521 words!
I imagine Cinderella as Lily James, which may be helpful to you during this chapter.
Also, follow me on Instagram if you want lauls_ haha self promo 😅
The Disney Castle was enchanting, overlooking the entirety of Disney in all it's prime. The beach, the mansions, the little houses and cafes. The emerald green grass and the pretty pinks and blues of the building meshed with the summer sky and looked like a watercolour palette of pastels. The bridge was small and modest and faced a humble and artificial moat full of fish and lily pads. The venue hall itself was stunning. Gold marble walls and floors were like that of a throne room, with gold and teal curtains, pink embroidered detailing and grand chandeliers worthy of a castle. The dining room too was very elegant, with golden thoroughly sewn curtains and ivory table cloths, floral centrepieces and a grand piano. It truly was a fairy tale prom come true.
Tiana looked amazing in her spring time, flower-like gown and her mother could barely comprehend the extravagant dress change when her daughter glided down the staircase. Through her fussing, Tiana explained that Naveen had brought it for her unexpectedly and that he was Charlotte's date but that Tiana had previously liked him. She downplayed how much she felt for him, for fear her mother would overthink it but Eudora was stunned. A boy! An actual, handsome boy cared for her daughter and what was better... she cared for him! She managed to contain her excitement but struggled to hide the confusion with the situation.
"That was so sweet of him to do this, dear!" she said, "but... he's not your date?"
Tiana was absentmindedly smiling, her fingers trailing the petals of her skirt, "Hmm? Oh no, not my date"
Eudora cocked an eyebrow and nodded, smirking a little "I see". She then took plenty of photographs of Tiana until Charlotte's giant, bright pink limo pulled up outside. Opening their door, Eudora and Tiana peered out and saw Charlotte's head and torso hanging out of the sunroof. Her hair was very high with a tiara balancing on top of her head.
"Tia, Tia, Tia!" she giggled, "Come on!"
Tiana kissed her mother's cheek, lifted the skirt of her dress and headed for the car. She slid inside, pulling her dress inside so it wouldn't get caught and as she did she heard simultaneous 'Oohs'. Inside the Limo sat Aurora and Phillip and Naveen. Naveen. Tiana's heart dropped. So Charlotte had chosen Naveen and Kronk's heart wasn't the first to ache that night. Tiana took a deep breath and reminded herself that she didn't need a date to have a good time. It was one night and then it would all be over,
"That is gorgeous!" Charlotte cried, feeling the glittery fabric of Tiana's green skirt "Wherever did you get it?"
Tiana felt blood rush to her face and instantly fumbled for words. She couldn't look Naveen in the eye.
"My- my Mama made it of course!" she lied and Naveen sighed of relief.
"It is simply beautiful" Aurora smiled, "And your hair! So fashionable!"
Aurora looked great too in her rose pink, slender gown and Phillip's bow tie was the exact same shade of pink. They truly looked like a couple from an issue of Vogue.
The limo rounded the corner, up the hill and toward the Disney Castle. As they approached, Charlotte popped back out of the sunroof and squealed.
The five of them stepped out of the limo, Tiana and Charlotte making sure their dresses weren't going to get stuck inside, and looked adoringly at the venue. A pretty sign outside read 'Disney High Prom Hosted Here!' in pretty golden writing, curled and neat.
"How sweet!" Charlotte cooed,
"We better go check that the foods all prepared!" Aurora said, heading inside with Phillip,
"And I'll check the seat allocation" Charlotte giggled, and she followed them.
Tiana shuffled on her feet, Naveen's hands were in his pockets.
"Thank you for the dress" she said after a few moments, "I don't know what to say, it's truly amazing"
"Don't mention it" he laughed nervously, "You work hard your whole life, I think that warrants you a good prom night"
Tiana grinned, she wanted to fall into him and just kiss his pretty lips! Thank him for his kindness. She wanted to flick him on the ear and ask why the hell he didn't just ask her to Prom! But Tiana refrained from doing anything but standing there smiling lamely.
Flynn struggled finding a suit or tux. After fishing through his own closet through old trousers and ill-fitting shirts, he turned to Phoebus for something to borrow,
"Why didn't you ask sooner?" Phoebus half laughed, chucking a tux at him from his closet. It was a navy three-piece he had worn to his parent's anniversary dinner last year but he had lost the jacket, not that Flynn minded. Paired with a white shirt in the Navy trousers and waistcoat Flynn strutted around his best friend's room for a good ten minutes.
"I like this waistcoat" he admired, "I should wear one more often, don't you think?"
Phoebus rolled his eyes. He himself was dressed in a beige suit with white shirt and no extra accessories, he looked quite fashionable.
"Straight out of the 80's, very yellow!" Flynn joked,
"It's beige," Phoebus said, "it's fashionable"
"Looks more yellow to me Sun God," but Flynn was only teasing. After all, they both looked pretty good and were more than happy when Phoebus' mum took photos of them before leaving.
They waited by the grand castle doors with Tiana and Aurora who were amply stood directing students through to their seats as the heads of prom committee. Lots of people were arriving now, but their friends were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are they?" Flynn's foot tapped, "Aren't we usually the late ones?"
"Flynn, Phoebus!" Aurora said, "You guys look great, so smart!"
Flynn pulled at his waistcoat, "Thank you".
A limo pulled up, and the two boys craned their necks expecting to finally see their friends but they fell back into a slump when the three Triton seniors stepped out. Arista was dressed in a slinky red dress, sleeveless with a split in her left leg. Her white blonde hair was in a huge ponytail and on her arm was Wasabi, beaming. Adella was in a similar dress in chartreuse but without a leg split and with a pair of lime heels. Beside her was a very handsome young man with a flop of black hair and a long nose, but nobody recognised him. Adella was notoriously boy crazy so it wasn't odd to see her with a complete stranger. Finally, Andrina was wearing a magenta dress almost identical to her sisters and beside her was Travis, some skinny senior whom Charlotte had to repeatedly tell 'That when a woman says later, she really means not ever!"
"They look like skittles" Flynn whispered and Phoebus chuckled,
"Don't" Phoebus warned through laughter, "Esmeralda dresses brightly too"
Then another car pulled up, and again the boys craned their necks, but this time they recognised the car. Jasmine's chauffeur pulled up, central to the castle and hopped out to let the teenagers out. First was Aladdin. He bounced out like a swaggering puppy in his wine-red suit, following a wolf whistle from Flynn,
"Looking fine, child!" he said in a camp voice,
Aladdin chuckled, "You guys look great too! We clean up pretty nicely, huh?"
Flynn opened his mouth to reply, but Rapunzel had stepped out of the car with Jasmine and his eyes practically popped out of his head. In her pretty periwinkle dress she smiled sweetly at him. Jasmine looked wonderful too in her dazzling teal and Aladdin took her hand as she carefully stepped out.
"Wow, that Jasmine girl always looks so stylish!" Aurora whispered to Tiana,
"Hey" Jasmine smiled, "Wow you guys look smart!"
Flynn and Phoebus chuckled again, boldly,
"Beige is quite fashionable at the moment, too" she continued and Phoebus looked smugly at Flynn.
"It is fashionable, thank you" he said with a smirk
"Whatever" Flynn shrugged, barely able to take his eyes off of the twinkly green eyed girl, "Rapunzel, you seriously look- well-"
"Thanks" Rapunzel said to avoid Flynn's stammering, "So do you!"
"I can't believe your mother let you come" he admitted,
Rapunzel took a deep breath, endeavouring not to tell Flynn that she was now staying with Jasmine and that her mother was now very angry with her,
"Yeah" she smiled quite blankly, "Me too..."
Flynn glanced at his phone and saw two missed calls from Ron. He gulped.
"Everything OK?" She asked,
"Yeah- sure" he said, "Shall we go in?"
"Yeah, let's go" Jasmine agreed, "I could do with a glass of water"
"What about Esmeralda and Pocahontas?" Phoebus asked,
"They'll be here soon" Aladdin assured him, and they all headed through.
Cinderella had taken the liberty of hiding her expensive Kenneth Branagh dress in an old trunk underneath her bed so that her step-family wouldn't find it. Earlier that day, when Cinderella mentioned her excitement her Step-Mother had got angry and forbidden her to attend Prom. Cinderella argued it until her mouth was dry but Miss Tremaine hadn't liked that and so she had shoved the girl away in her attic room and locked the bedroom door. Cinderella watched morbidly from her window as Anastasia and Drizella strutted down the garden in their huge ball gowns, complete with feathers in their hair and diamante necklaces. She sobbed some more and fell against her locked door, aimlessly bashing it.
Aurora watched as Anastasia and Drizella jumped from their limo ungracefully and giggling, shrieking. She watched as the limo drove away and grew concerned for Cinderella. As Anastasia and Drizella took their seats, Aurora began to realise what was going on. She knew, or at least guessed, that Cinderella had been forbidden to come for whatever reason what with her step-family being so utterly controlling and unfair.
"Aurora, you look lovely!" Charles had arrived and was heading through to take his seat when he saw his friend,
"Charles! Wow nice suit" she replied looking at his posh black three-piece complete with golden shirt and red bow tie, but her concerned expression caught his attention
"Thanks, sporting Disney colours" he chuckled, "Is everything alright?"
Aurora frowned, "It's Cindy, I'm not sure she's going to make it"
"What?" he asked, "Why not?"
"Family stuff..."
"It's her stepmother isn't it?"
"Aurora shrugged, "I couldn't say for sure"
"Listen, there's still time, loads of people aren't even here yet" he said, but Aurora didn't look too sure. Cinderella had become her truest friend, and after buying her her gown, after all her help to alter everybody's dresses it was too sad for her to not be here.
"I'll head over" Charles sighed,
"What?" Aurora cried, "Are you crazy? Her stepmother sounds crazy!"
"I'll just see what's going on" he assured her, "I won't be long!" he quickly jogged back toward his little white car so that Aurora couldn't argue it anymore and he sped off towards the Tremaine household.
Aurora winced, Oh God, she thought He's going to get her in even more trouble.
John Rolfe had kindly agreed to pick up Esmeralda too, in his nice black car. Shoved in the back, Esmeralda listened as John Rolfe complimented Pocahontas,
"You look wonderful" he said, "I have to admit I've always had a fondness for girls with curls but I like your straight hair very much!"
Esmeralda scoffed. She couldn't stand his half-hearted comments, criticised her best friend. He was too fussy, too high class.
"And just wait!" he continued, "Wait till we're out on the floor, We'll show them what dancing is for!"
Pocahontas nodded in agreement and Esmeralda rolled her eyes.
"So are you excited, Esmeralda?" he asked,
"Super-duper excited" Esmeralda said sarcastically, and Pocahontas shot her a questioning look through her side-view mirror. Esmeralda couldn't care less for John Rolfe though, she found him frankly annoying. The sooner John Smith returned from England the better, anyone could see he was a better suiting match for Pocahontas anyway. John Rolfe however, didn't notice the sarcasm in Esmeralda's tone.
He pulled up excitedly and jumped from his seat, dressed in a James Bond style suit again.
"Es?" Pocahontas asked, when John had slammed his door, "What's going on?"
Esmeralda grimaced, "I don't know, Pocahontas, I just don't like him"
"I know, you made it pretty obvious"
Esmeralda had a surge of guilt for a moment then, hearing the tone in her best friend's voice,
"I'm sorry" she said earnestly, "but he isn't right for you, surely you know that?"
Pocahontas frowned, "Come on, I don't want to talk about this now. Besides we aren't even together, he knows that"
Esmeralda nodded, "OK, OK, make sure he does know that though"
The three of them headed through the porch. Aurora and Tiana had taken their seats now too meaning that Esmeralda, Pocahontas and John fumbled to find the right room. When they finally did, Pocahontas and John headed through but Esmeralda felt a wave of anxiousness, unfamiliar for her.
"You OK, Esmeralda?" Pocahontas asked,
"Sure- just- just give me a minute" she forced a smile, and battled with her conscience. She had no idea why she felt like this. Maybe it was the dress, the white gown. After all, she didn't quite look her usual self. She felt more fragile, more vulnerable.
"You look great; I promise" Pocahontas assured her quietly.
Esmeralda drew a breath through her nose and released slowly from her mouth,
"Let's go".
They turned the corner and headed past the tables, giving and receiving compliments as they reached their table nearer the back with their friends.
"You both look incredible!" Rapunzel cried,
"Wow your dresses are great!" Jasmine agreed,
"Thanks guys" Pocahontas said, "you two look amazing, as well!"
"And you guys look pretty stylish" Esmeralda joked, "Didn't know you even owned suits"
Aladdin tugged at his suit jacket, "Yeah we look pretty good" he grinned broadly,
Pocahontas and John took their seats and Esmeralda shuffled slightly around to take her seat assigned beside Phoebus and Jasmine. She sat down, smoothing her white dress out and turned to her ready laid food,
"Esmeralda" Phoebus said slowly, and the entire table fell to a whisper to eavesdrop. It was the first time he had really addressed her since Flynn had let slip the awkward secret and upon hearing him say her name, she blushed. They both knew things were different now between them, uncomfortable and unaddressed and yet as he spoke that one word she felt more at ease than she had done all night.
She looked up at him, his dark blue eyes were loving and she smiled, a proper smile, the first in months. "You look perfect" he said quietly, and everybody smirked knowingly,
"Thank you" she said, barely above a whisper "You look pretty good too" and she began to eat without another word. The table erupted back into conversation and laughter all knowing that the tension between Phoebus and Esmeralda was finally broken.
Cinderella had attempted to pick the lock and had been bashing at her door with her fist and a wooden chair but all to no avail. She tried to fit her hand through the gap underneath and estimated whether the drop between her attic window and the garden was truly that dangerous... she concluded it probably was. She had given up and Prom had begun now. It was over, the dress was for nothing. She had even curled her hair and applied some cheap lipstick and eyeshadow (the same stuff she'd been using since she was twelve) but now staring in the mirror she knew everything was pointless. She fell into her bed, it bounced her back up slightly, the old broken springs pressed into her back but her faith was so broken now that she didn't care about a wrecked mattress. The summer sky shone through her window, an evening cloud was visible in the pale blue and she let a few tears roll down her cheeks. She guessed she'd never see Prom, The Disney Castle, her friend's beautiful dresses, the crowning of the prom king and queen.
She closed her eyes, defeated, ready to sleep her disappointment away but she suddenly heard a loud ringing. The Doorbell. Who was it? She bit her lip, and shot upright pressing her ear to the door... she prayed it was Aurora, here to pick her up! She didn't hear much though only mumbling. Her mother's robust voice was just audible,
"Can I help you?"
Mumbling...
"No, no"
Even more mumbling,
"Goodbye"
The door slammed and Cinderella fell away from eavesdropping. If it had been Aurora, then she had fallen short. Cinderella groaned loudly and fell back into her bed, staring out at the pretty sky.
"Oh what's a prom?" she asked herself, "I mean I'm sure it would be boring and- and plain and dull and completely... completely wonderful" she sighed,
"PSST!"
Cinderella jumped up, looking around her room.
"PSST!"
She glanced to the door, but it was jammed shut
"Cindy!" Cinderella followed the noise and moved towards her arched window, she looked down into the grassy garden and gasped,
"Charles!" she whispered, "What on earth are you doing?"
"Well- rescuing you!" he shrugged, "You can't miss Prom, Cindy!"
"But-but- "
"Come on, let's get you out of there!"
"You must be dreaming!"
"Cindy it'll be OK, come on!" he beckoned
"But how?" She asked, "How am I supposed to get out of here? It's too high"
Charles was silent. It seemed he hadn't quite thought it through either. He looked from Cindy, to the garden, to his car and back again. He seemed just as lost as she was,
"I told you" she shrugged, "There's no way I can get out of here"
"Unless...glass!" he cried,
"Glass?" she asked, perplexed
"Glass doors!" he said more enthusiastically, "My father owns the glass window and door place, taught me tricks of the trade!"
"What?" she shook her head, "How would that come in handy?"
"In case customers ever get locked out, I can unlock any door he's installed- your back doors are glass right?"
Cinderella stood, half amused, half speechless. He was absolutely crazy! She had no clue whether the back doors had been installed by- wait! Charming's Charming Door Kingdom! She chuckled to herself. Why were these things never obvious at first?
"They were fitted years ago" she told him, "maybe eight... maybe nine years ago"
"Right" he nodded,
"So- so are you going to break in?"
"Look at it as a salvaging" he chuckled, and he headed round the back of the house and out of her eyesight. Her heart began racing as soon as he was gone, her hands grew sweaty and her brow furrowed. She had no idea how he expected to sneak in even if he did manage to open it. He was crazy, absolutely crazy! Her stepmother would surely kill him and persecute at least! She seriously couldn't handle the stress; it wasn't worth it not just for prom. Not to mention that if he was caught, he would probably hate her forever. She sat on her bed, her legs shaking with adrenaline. She was ready to call Aurora and let her know that Charles was being taken away by the police... OK maybe she was exaggerating... maybe not. She didn't know! And at this very moment he was probably being held by the ear by Miss Tremaine, being dragged through the garden by his hair and scratched at by Lucifer, that mean old thing! She listened intently but didn't hear a thing. He was going to be caught any moment now she knew it-
"Cindy!" Cinderella heard a low whisper. Her eyes widened, her heart sped up. She paused before heading to the door where Charles' whisper had come from,
"Charles?" she asked, "You-you actually did it?"
"Don't sound too surprised!" he said, "She's got the TV pretty loud, we've got time so let's get you out of there!"
Cindy could barely speak. She had to admit, she had underestimated him, but this was only half of the mission. She was still locked in.
"What now?" she asked, growing excited now for what was going to happen next,
"I thought you'd know!" he admitted, "I came up with the first part!"
Cindy half chuckled, "Right, OK" she said thoughtfully, "The Key! It's downstairs, in the kitchen there's a whole lot of keys hanging up- can't miss them"
"I've got to go back down?" he gulped,
"It's the black key, old fashioned looking"
Cindy heard several floorboard creaks as Charles bravely sneaked back downstairs, he was relatively silent apart from the odd deep breath and upon hearing silence again she resumed her position of worry. He was down there again now, and she was frightened. Completely and utterly, frightened. Her phone vibrated and she jumped,
Hey! What's going on, did Charles come to yours? Where are you? From Aurora.
She quickly replied, Long story, he's trying to break me out!
Aurora was probably going to think the entire thing was ludicrous and quite frankly, it was, but it was also Cinderella's only hope right now.
I dread to think! Be safe, we've saved you guys seats and food Aurora replied.
Then there was another soft knock.
"I've got it!" Charles whispered, and the lock jiggled
Cinderella grabbed her dress from under her bed, shoved her heels in a little bag and yanked the door open, Charles was kneeling on the floor in his Prom suit, looking quite sweaty and nervous
"Charles, you did it!" she cried in a whisper, pulling him in for a hug
"We've got to go!" he said quickly, "She's pausing the TV every five minutes, I think she's onto us!"
"Well we better be quick" Cindy said, locking the attic door back up and running down the stairs and out the glass doors, free.
Senior year were served a leak soup for starter with a few sliced of French bread, but Aurora was nibbling at her lip, not her food.
"Aurora, they're going to be fine. Eat!" Phillip pleaded,
"You don't understand! Her mother is insane, what if she hurts them!"
"That won't happen!"
"And how will she sneak around in that dress- what if they took her dress?"
"Aurora!"
"Do you think she's OK?"
"Ask her yourself!" Phillip said, nodding towards the doors.
Aurora turned her head and saw Charles Charming and Cinderella. They looked out of breath and were peering around the door. Aurora hopped out of her seat and ran towards them,
"You made it!" she cried, "I can't believe it, I was so freaked out!"
"It wasn't easy" Cinderella admitted, "I can't thank you enough, Charles!"
"Don't mention it" he said,
"However can I repay you?" she asked,
"How about a dance later?" he grinned, and he headed through to start his dinner.
Aurora squealed, "You're here, Charles wants to dance with you!"
Cinderella blushed deeper, "I know- Oh but I have to go change!" she beckoned to her dress in her arms,
"The bathrooms through there" Aurora pointed, "Now let me chuck that nightgown into my car"
Cinderella headed out of the bathroom in her astounding blue ball gown, gliding behind her like a stream somewhat heavy but completely breath taking.
She composed herself, remembering everything her mother and father had taught her. Be kind and have courage. She was kind, she did have courage. She could do this. Her shoulders relaxed and she pushed the doors opened. She didn't realise it until it was happening, but every single eye turned towards her and she stood for a moment smiling at the beautiful room, all of her schoolmates in their stunning dresses! And then she saw Charles' face and her grin grew broader, his face had lit up and a 'wow' had escaped his lips.
"What a dress!" Jasmine whispered,
"She looks beautiful" Belle smiled,
"Whoa she looks great, huh Charles?" Phillip nudged his friend but Charles was thunderstruck and could barely utter another word. He was mesmerised, and Cinderella had stunned the entire room.
The dinner finished up, everybody was full from their soup and their chicken main and the creamy cheesecake finish. Wiping around their mouths, most people headed for the bathroom to check food in their teeth and fix their lipsticks before the room change. The golden ballroom walls were beautiful and as the seniors poured in there was exclaims of surprise and admiration. There was music playing from speakers in the corner and students began to flood the dance floor. Belle and Adam led through, holding hands
"Oh Adam it is beautiful!" she exclaimed, "It's just as lovely as your ballroom!"
Adam shrugged, "What is your obsession with ballrooms?"
She chuckled, "You know it's beautiful"
"It is actually" he admitted, "So shall we dance?"
Many people began to dance, giggling and excitedly. Some headed for the punc hbowl, others headed for the champagne and the teachers, who were chaperoning, spread themselves around the venue ready for a long night ahead of them. Charles had bribed Anastasia and Drizella who were very unhappy at Cinderella turning up. Aurora chipped in too, and they bribed them off with $150 each. Meg was slightly wary of Hades, she had veered away from him at dinner and luckily Hercules hadn't noticed her shudder when they passed him but Hades stayed out of the way anyway even if she did catch him staring at her bare shoulders. Hercules took her and twirled her, and the golden ballroom spun and even though she was completely smitten with him, she still felt somewhat anxious
"Let's get some champagne" she suggested. She was scared it was going to be a long night.
Mulan and Shang arrived late. They missed the dinner but Shang said he didn't mind; he didn't want to eat 'that unhealthy stuff' but Mulan still felt guilty. If only she hadn't taken so long getting ready, even if she did feel very pretty!
"I'm sorry I made us late" she said again, getting out of Shang's old car,
"Stop apologising" he tutted, "I shouldn't have asked so last minute"
Mulan couldn't argue with that.
"Let's go" he said, "You look really lovely, by the way"
Mulan grinned, "Thank you, you look nice too! It's weird not seeing you dirty"
Shang blushed,
"That sounded...weird!" she cried, "I meant muddy, grassy!"
Shang laughed, "Thanks, I guess"
They headed into the huge ballroom and Mulan couldn't believe how grand it was! She felt like she was in a princess story.
"Mulan?" Jasmine called, a look of confusion on her face "Mulan!" Jasmine glided towards her in her cloud of turquoise, "You look amazing! But what are you doing here?"
Mulan glanced at Shang awkwardly and beckoned towards him,
"I see" Jasmine raised an eyebrow and smirked at Shang, "Well anyway, you both look great. You want to come have a dance?"
"Maybe soon" Mulan nodded, and watched as Jasmine headed off.
"Is that your best friend?" Shang asked,
"Jasmine? Sure, and Ariel- wait! Ariel?" Mulan looked completely perplexed seeing Ariel over with Eric, they were dancing and Ariel was still in her little red Gabriella dress.
"Hey she was in the play!" Shang said, "She was great! Wow that whole thing with Vanessa was- well"
"It was pretty bad" Mulan agreed, "But it ended well! So shall we get some punch?"
"Yes, yes I'd love that" he nodded, and they headed for the punch bowel.
When the play ended, the seniors headed off to get ready for Prom but Ariel and Eric stood for a moment, grinning and giggling. Ariel couldn't believe that he asked her to Prom! It was more than she had ever imaged. Sure, as soon as Vanessa had left and they sang together she had a hunch that he liked her, that he was truly seeing her for who she was now but getting asked to his senior prom! It was like a dream come true. Unfortunately, however, they completely lost track of time. They ended up backstage on beanbags. They talked for hours about Vanessa, the play, school, what Eric was going to do when he graduated, her sisters, her dreams. Eric wanted to be a Marine Biologist and had been accepted into several colleges and Ariel fell even more for him. They bought a pack of cookies from the vending machine and some sodas and then fell about giggling over absolutely nothing. Over corny jokes and stories from their childhood... like when Attina got her head stuck in the stairwell- or was that the nanny, Marina? Ariel wasn't sure but the story was funny anyway. He told her about Gramps and how he got seasick every summer when they took the boat out. Before they knew it, Prom was soon to start.
"Oh man!" Eric cried, as it neared 6:00pm, "Prom!"
They jumped up and headed out of the school, running very late and neither of them dressed. They ran towards Eric's aqua green car, and he drove very quickly home.
"One second" he said, bolting from the car and into his house. He appeared a moment later in a white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of black fitted trousers.
"Do you want to change?" he asked,
"I- I don't really have a prom dress" she shrugged
"Well you could wear that" he said "it looks great on you anyway"
Ariel shrugged. She did adore the dress.
Jasmine and Rapunzel were so confused to have seen Ariel arrived, she hadn't even texted them to tell them, but they were excited nevertheless. Rapunzel then went off to dance with Flynn and when Mulan arrived Jasmine and Ariel were even more excited! The only person they were missing was Anna who had gone to the movies with Kristoff anyway. This time, her friends and sister actually approved of her date. They all took some photographs in their lovely colourful gowns, Mulan and Rapunzel in their pastels, Ariel and Jasmine in their vibrant colours. Not to mention they all had very handsome dates! Anna had liked all and called them beautiful, and the junior girls were all very enthusiastic about being there. Their first prom!
Elsa Winters met with Mr Walt following the protest that afternoon. After weeping of happiness, she was pulled into his office where he made her promise that she had nothing to do with it. Her prom privilege was maintained, but her place at the meal was still withdrawn due to last minute changes. She was understanding about that, she didn't expect the venue to accommodate for her just three hours beforehand but she was happy to be allowed the prom and she practically skipped home to tell her parents.
She arrived in the ballroom that evening feeling, for once, confident in herself. The rest of the students were busy dancing and conversing and she stepped through the threshold, catching stares from several people.
"Elsa!" Esmeralda called and she swiftly walked towards her, a vision in ivory, "You look hot!"
Elsa blushed, "Thanks, Esmeralda... you look wonderful too!"
Charlotte La Bouff waved at her from a few feet away, "Whoa, Elsa! Look at you!"
Elsa couldn't help but grin. She was flattered, and what's more... she felt beautiful! Her dress was ice blue off-the-shoulder, in slinky snowy fabric with a knee high split, a crystallised bodice and translucent sleeves. The dress also had a long, transparent cape that brushed the floor in sheer fabric, detailed with large snowflakes. Her hair swept to the side in a loose French braid with smaller wisps of the front resting on her forehead.
"I am so glad we rallied for you" Esmeralda said, "Now everyone can see how gorgeous you look!"
"Elsa!" Hercules hollered from further away, and he and Meg walked towards her too. Meg was similarly dressed in slinky, off the shoulder gown with her hair tied up.
"You look amazing, Elsa" Meg smiled, "We should all get a photograph"
"Oh I agree" Esmeralda intervened, Pocahontas had joined them now too,
"I'll get in it too, if that's OK!" she smiled,
"Sure" Meg nodded, handing Hercules her phone for the photograph.
The girls grinned like models, but they turned to grimace at the sound of a booming voice,
"Whoa-Ho!" Gaston swaggered towards them, in a black tux with a red power tie
"You look like Donald Trump" Meg sniggered, and the rest of them giggled
"Good one" Gaston said sarcastically, "But I must say I'm mighty impressed with how hot you all look"
Hercules squared slightly, his fists clenched "Meg, shall we dance?"
"Please" Meg sneered, staring at Gaston, and the couple swept to the middle of the dance floor
"Yeah let's go too" Esmeralda said, mimicking throwing up,
"Elsa, do you want to have a go on the dance floor?" Gaston leaned into her, but his 'smoothness' was interrupted when Hans South appeared by his friend's shoulder in a rusty orange suit, fiery like his hair.
"Gaston, Kokoum's going to go get some alcohol do you want some?"
Elsa raised her eyebrow.
"Elsa!" Hans said, suddenly noticing her "I- I- I gotta go!" he scurried away, afraid of another punching. Elsa smirked to herself, and then marched away. Her glistening cape trailing behind and a spirited strut in her step.
Tiana had danced a bit with Charlotte and then was dragged onto the floor by the very lively Flynn and Rapunzel who had insisted she dance with them. She also had a glass of champagne, her first actual alcoholic drink that she figured she deserved after her exams, and she was receiving plenty of comments on both her dress and her hair. She really did feel good, beautiful, for the first time. As an uptight and somewhat nerdy student her whole life, she felt like she was finally letting loose and being pretty. Despite all this, however, she still felt uneasy. She had seen Naveen stood all night, he hadn't danced once and wasn't even with Charlotte. It seemed after the meal, they had split up and were busy socialising with different people. Charlotte hadn't even mentioned her dilemma again, Kronk wasn't there and hadn't been talked about so why was Charlotte ignoring her date? Tiana sighed, she glanced at Naveen alone by the huge window, the pretty blue sky framing him. She drew a deep breath, lifted the skirt of her dress and trailed towards him.
"Tiana!" he half yelled in her face, "Sorry- that was loud"
Tiana chuckled a bit, "How are you enjoying the prom?"
"It's pretty good" he nodded, "this building is so lovely, it reminds me of home"
"Home?"
"In Maldonia. Oh! The mansion was huge, the ballroom was just like this one!"
"That sounds fantastic, Maldonia sounds like a beautiful place" Tiana admitted,
"It really is, I do miss it" he said fondly,
Tiana was interested in Maldonia, and even more interested in listening to Naveen gush about it, she earnestly was but she had no intention of discussing that now. She could barely contain herself, she needed to know whether he and Charlotte were even planning on dancing tonight,
"So Lottie looks pretty great, huh?" she asked, steering the conversation
"Lottie... Oh yeah! She looks great... very pink!" he chortled, "She's having fun it seems"
The two looked over at Charlotte who was giggling with Aurora,
"She loves big, fancy events" Tiana gulped before building courage to ask her next question.
"So are you going to ask her to dance?" she asked, unable to look him fully in the eye
Naveen rubbed the back of his neck and laughed awkwardly, "Uh- well the thing is-"
Tiana's heart sped up. She couldn't decide whether she was glad she'd asked or not. On one hand she needed the answer, to know if he was serious about Charlotte... on the other hand she wanted rid of the entire thing! The stress of the absurd love triangle, the emotions that were keeping her up, the longing for his hand in hers. It was all too much, too overwhelming.
Naveen had paused, nervously smiling and apparently avoiding her question.
"It's OK" Tiana finally said, "You asked her to prom, Of course you're going to dance. Sorry, stupid question"
"But-"
"You don't have to spare my feelings" Tiana smiled forcefully. She had figured now that what with him asking Charlotte and then sending her the dress meant he simply felt sorry for her. It was pitiful... she was pitiful. The mixed signals were too much, but the facts were plain as day. Charlotte was his date, not her.
"Tiana, please" he said quickly,
"Thank you for the dress though" she said politely,
"Tiana!" he cried, interrupting her "Please listen! For once in your life, you are not right!"
Tiana's eyes widened and she stood, glued to the ground. She couldn't believe how abrupt he had just been, yelled at her! And what was more... he told her she wasn't right! That was not something she liked.
"I- What?" she asked, a little irritably
Naveen didn't even respond, he grabbed at her shoulders and twirled her around to face the main doors, her back to him.
Tiana stood startled, ready to turn back around and shout at him until she stopped and actually looked. Kronk had strolled through the doors in a tailored tux in black, his rosy pink shirt bulging out and a bunch of fuchsia roses held at his chest. He neatly flounced towards a group of girls, handed the flowers too... Charlotte! Charlotte squealed and then the two couple hugged and spun, a whirl of cotton candy.
"Wait- Kronk?" Tiana shook her head and turned back towards Naveen,
"Kronk" he repeated calmly. He didn't look annoyed or jealous, oddly he smiled warmly
"You and Lottie... but... you're not here together?" she asked softly,
"She called me before Prom and let me down easy" he shrugged, "She offered me a ride in the limo but that was all"
Tiana felt slightly guilty, but she couldn't help but smile "Were- were you upset?"
Naveen closed in and tucked one of her curls behind her ear, "Upset?" the curl bounced up as a tugged gently at it "Tiana, it was you I wanted"
Tiana felt her stomach drop in the best possible way. Butterflies erupted, dancing inside her with excitement, fluttering with flattery!
She flashed a sincere and toothy grin, "Me?"
"You are my Evangeline" he said, and he stepped even closer and placed the most tender kiss on her lips.
Pocahontas and John Rolfe had a few dances and a glass of champagne before retiring nearer the stage where the Prom Queen and King would be crowned in an hour or two.
"Hey guys" Aladdin headed over, a whir of burgundy and floppy hair with Jasmine by his side. The two were slightly out of breath from dancing and laughing, "Who knew Prom could be this fun?"
"You two have been dancing for ages!" John Rolfe observed, "What vigour!"
"The music's pretty good, too" Jasmine agreed, "Oh, I better go and fix my hair!" she said, giving Aladdin a quick peck on his cheek and gliding away.
"She's so sweet, Al" Pocahontas smiled "And you're such a great looking couple!"
"Thanks, so do you two" Aladdin said automatically, causing a sudden awkwardness when Aladdin realised that Pocahontas and John Rolfe weren't a couple... not officially anyway.
"I mean- uh—"Aladdin stuttered,
"No necessity to concern yourself with, Aladdin" John Rolfe smiled politely, "A modest error of phrasing, only... anyone for some punch?"
"A modest error of phrasing?" he repeated as soon as John Rolfe was out of earshot, "Pocahontas, that guy sounds like he swallowed a dictionary!"
"Who?" Esmeralda had overheard and now joined her two friends, "John Rolfe, right?"
"Duh, John Rolfe" Aladdin confirmed, "Whenever he speaks I can barely keep up"
"I know it can be a bit annoying but- "Pocahontas tried,
"A bit? Pocahontas when the hell is John Smith coming back?"
Flynn had swaggered over now, very much so out of breath from the dancing and having overheard Esmeralda he began to groan,
"So many John's" he rubbed his temples, "Just choose one already"
"There's no choice to be made" Esmeralda stated, "John Smith is a definitive winner"
"Come on guys, it isn't a competition. John Rolfe isn't all bad" Pocahontas tried, "Besides, can we discuss this later? I wanted to enjoy this evening"
"Fine, fine" Aladdin nodded, "So where's Phoebus?"
The five of them craned their necks until Flynn pointed across the room where Phoebus was in conversation with Naveen and Tiana.
"He looks pretty dapper" Pocahontas said, "Too bad he didn't have a date"
"I don't see why he didn't ask you, Esmeralda" Aladdin pointed out,
"Not all this again" she sighed,
"We all know you're perfect for each other" Flynn said matter-of-factly
"We are not!" Esmeralda protested "The guys The Third Phoebus Victor in his family with guaranteed college places and stacks of money. For all we know he's got a place in Yale-"
Flynn spluttered loudly suddenly and then turned quite pink.
"What?" Pocahontas asked as Flynn calmed down, "What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing!" he insisted
"What do you know, Flynn?" Esmeralda narrowed her eyes,
"I don't know what you mean" Flynn shrugged
"Flynn Rider tell me right now or- "
"Alright, alright, Jeez!" Flynn cried, "It's just... you're right"
"About what?" Esmeralda demanded,
"He has a place... not at Yale... Princeton"
Everyone gasped, "Are you kidding?" Pocahontas questioned,
"Princeton?" Aladdin was shocked, "Why hasn't he mentioned it?"
"You know Phoebus, he doesn't want any of us to know"
"But why?" Pocahontas asked, "That's amazing!"
"His dad made one call and Phoebus had a place there, that's not something you'd want to show off about, is it? He hasn't worked for it at all. Besides, you know he's modest about all that rich stuff"
Esmeralda was shaking her head and tutting, "I don't need any more proof then, It so wouldn't work. He's this fancy, wealthy guy and I'm- "
Everyone stared at her, sad and speechless.
"At least make up with him" Aladdin suggested,
"Yeah you cannot graduate with all this tension!"
"There is no tension" Esmeralda claimed
"Tension?"
Esmeralda gulped. A deep voice had uttered the single word and Esmeralda turned to see Phoebus stood, gaunt with a glass of lemonade.
"Tension?" he repeated, "What tension?"
Esmeralda turned back around to face her friends, but the three of them had slipped away. She mentally cursed them before answering Phoebus,
"What tension?" she repeated, obliviously
"The tension you were talking about with Pocahontas"
"Pocahontas isn't here"
"She was"
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know, is there tension between you and her?"
"No, there's no tension"
"But you said about tension"
"No I didn't, you said about tension"
"But I don't have any tension"
"Then why are we discussing tension?"
"Because you said there was tension"
"There isn't any tension"
Phoebus let out a huge sigh. "I am really confused right now"
"So I heard about Princeton" she said bluntly
Phoebus turned bright red, "Flynn wasn't supposed to tell anyone!" he cried exasperated,
"Hey look, don't be embarrassed. You'll do great there" she said with a forced smile
"It's not what I wanted" he continued "It was my parents... it's kind of a tradition"
"Well if it's not what you want, break the tradition"
"Break tradition?" he repeated, "Rules are rules"
"Whoever made them had to break the rules that came before" she shrugged,
"You could come to Princeton" he said quickly, "You'd get in with your grades! Then we could go to college together!"
Esmeralda chuckled dryly, "And with what money? What high achieving father? I'm not you, Phoebus. It isn't that easy"
"I just thought that- "
"Well you thought wrong" she snapped, "This is exactly why we would never work out!"
Phoebus' expression grew harsh, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You are so narrow minded! Things don't just happen easily; things aren't handed to people on golden plates! Look at Tiana, she's worked hard her entire life! And for what? For a chance at Harvard that some rich boy could take away from her?"
Phoebus opened his mouth to reply, but Esmeralda hadn't quite finished,
"You are ignorant of everything! You grew up with fencing lessons and two bedrooms! It may surprise you but before my father even had his job we lived in a terrible room. My parents scraped so that I could eat!"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" he cried, "That has nothing to do with us being together! So, what we grew up differently? We've always been friends, it never changed that!"
"Don't act like your mother doesn't turn down her nose at me! Like I'm some poor, ditsy hippie!"
"That's your problem!" he cried, "You're so concerned with how people see you that you never even bothered to try! You could have gone to Princeton! You could have done well but instead you prance around spouting Liberal ideas and hugging trees!"
Esmeralda prodded his chest with her index finger, "And proud of it! You live this stupid life of privilege and I don't want that!"
She suddenly stopped. Her breathing slowed, her voice lowered... she stood. Her shoulders dropped, her fists loosened. "I don't want that" she repeated, almost in a whisper
"That's what this all about then?" he nodded, calmer too now "You don't want... the life I have?"
"I-I don't want to be Esmeralda Phoebus Victor the Third" she stuttered sadly, "I want to be Esmeralda, I want to be with-with you, Phoebus. I want to have fun, I want to be your friend, I want to love you... I don't want your name or your money or your fancy education"
Phoebus had untensed and was listening intently to what she was saying. He knew exactly what she meant. She wanted what he wanted, normalisation. Most of the time he didn't care for the money, the title, the expectation, the huge house and company cars. He had his friends, he had her.
"Esmeralda I don't want it either... but my parents... I have too..."
Esmeralda smiled sadly, she looked tired. She fell into his chest for a hug and he didn't think twice about wrapping his arms around her small body.
"I know" she whispered into him "and that's why it won't work"
He nodded slowly, "I guess we just want different things"
A few tears fell down Esmeralda's cheeks and she was quick to wipe them away. Phoebus took her hands and they began to slowly dance to the music. Neither of them said another word. There was nothing to talk about now, because in a few months Phoebus would be off to Princeton to make his family proud and Esmeralda would be doing whatever it was she wanted, whatever she fancied; they'd be on their separate ways.
Mulan and Shang stood awkwardly by the side of the ballroom. Ariel had rushed over and greeted her, shocked she was here and blurted out "I can't believe he had the guts to ask you!" While Shang shifted from heel to heel. Rapunzel was busy in the centre, dancing with Flynn non-stop and hadn't even noticed her.
"So-you-you want to dance?" Shang said, timidly taking her hand,
Mulan had been waiting for Shang to ask her to dance all evening, only now she did realise she didn't actually want to dance. Sure she wanted to be asked, but actually doing it was different. She was a terrible dancer, she wasn't graceful like Jasmine or bubbly like Ariel and she definitely didn't have Rapunzel's energy.
"I'm not much of a dancer" she admitted,
"Good, neither am I" Shang said with a smile and the two preceded to the dancer floor as a slower song came on and they began to move with the music. Mulan didn't mind it at first, his hand on her waist felt nice and she could smell his cologne. She had to admit, he looked nice in a tux compared to in his soccer kit. Shang also found himself enjoying it, she did look beautiful and he couldn't believe how he'd got the guts to ask her, the red head girl was right. He was even more shocked how Mulan had agreed, considering he'd been a bit of a - what was it Kida called him that time? - a soggy old butt brain.
Of course, both their thoughts were cut short when Mulan trod on Shang's foot,
"Sorry" she said, turning pink, but then that was it. Like the flood gates had opened and her feet twisted from underneath her. She trod on his toe what seemed like every three seconds and the more she hurt him the more she got anxious, her face turned red and she fell all over the place, arms and all; repeating "Sorry",
"Alright, alright" Shang said with a chuckle, "you're worse than me"
Mulan sighed, embarrassed. Great. She thought, now he was putting her down all over again.
"No- sorry" he said quickly, pulling her chin up to face him, "It's OK that's the best dance I've ever had"
She giggled slightly at that, "I suppose prom isn't really my thing"
Shang exhaled and looked around at the dancing couples, "well it's not really my thing either" he admitted,
"Hey I've got a soccer ball in my car" he suggested awkwardly, he wasn't quite sure whether any girl, even Mulan, would want to spend prom night kicking a muddy ball around a pitch, especially after spending most of her week training anyway.
Mulan, however, grinned, "Sure" she said, "let's do something I'm good at".
Jumping into Shang's car, they sped off towards Disney High. At this point the sun was lowering in the sky and the yellows and oranges were fading in now.
The two ran across the school football pitch, racing toward the middle. The overhead lights lit the dewy grass and the warm air felt better against their skin than the ventilated venue did. Shang threw the ball and Mulan kicked off her heels in an attempt to get to it before he did.
The two played as the sky turned from a pale teal to a dusky pink like that of a mood ring and they fell breathless to the floor. Mulan pulled her shawl from around her shoulders and sprawled it out for the two to lay on. It wasn't very big and only really covered from their heads to their stomachs, but stopped from getting damp grass in their hair.
"Sorry about your dress" Shang said, looking down at Mulan's once apple green dress, now covered in grass stains.
Mulan shrugged, "This was more fun than Prom" slowly, and without overthinking it too much, Mulan lifted her head, over and pecked Shang on the lips. Now it was his turn to go pink.
"Thank you" he half whispered; Mulan just smiled.
Belle and Adam had several dances before they moved to the side-lines for a glass of punch. They chatted for a while too and he made he chuckle, a lot. He was very delicate with her even whilst they were dancing and the night so far was really wonderful.
"I'm so glad we came" she shined, "I didn't think I'd ever be at prom- not with you that is"
Adam smiled, "I know what you mean, you've made it a wonderful night" he took her hand and kissed it,
"So have you, but I do hope Papa isn't to lonely tonight" she mused, and as if on cue her phone started vibrating in her clutch,
"Oh!" she cried, and she scrambled around for it. She dashed for the entrance, Adam following and they stepped into the summer air for peace and quiet. The sky was pink now; Summery essence was still in the atmosphere.
"Hello?" Belle answered her phone,
There was some muffling and Adam heard a formal tone, then when it stopped, Belle's mouth dropped open and her eyes watered.
"Belle what is it?" he asked,
"Yes thank you" she hung up,
"My Papa!" she cried, "He's sick, he- he's in the hospital and he's all alone!"
Belle began to tremble, her knees wobbled and Adam quickly pulled her close to stabilise her.
"I've got to see him" she said quietly,
Adam nodded solemnly, "I'll drive you"
Eric had proven to be a great dancer, what with all his performing arts experience. The two used up most of their energy dancing and then when they felt they had outdone themselves, fell to the side-lines by the punch table for a snack on a mini sandwich.
"Why are they mini?" Ariel pondered,
Eric shrugged and shoved one in his mouth whole "To make it seem posh"
Ariel laughed, eating another when a screech was heard
"ARIEL!" Andrina rushed over, "You didn't tell us you were coming to Prom!"
Adella had joined them too in her very green-yellow dress. Ariel had to blink several times "You look very... bright" she commented
"Whatever" Adella dismissed "So, Eric! You two look totes adorable!"
"Thanks, Adella" Eric smiled, wiping crumbs from his mouth
"And let me guess, you're not planning on introducing him to Dad?" Adella cocked an eyebrow and Ariel's jaw dropped,
"Don't tell him- "she started
Arista was strutting over now too, obviously having overheard her sisters "Dad? Girls, we have a pact"
"Wait you guys have a pact?" Ariel's eyes widened and Eric was watching the sisters' dynamic with interest, wondering what on earth he was getting into.
"I guess we should tell her about the pact" Adella shrugged
"She is sixteen" Andrina pointed out,
"What pact?" Ariel asked again,
"I was fifteen when I found out about it" Arista nodded, ignoring her littlest sister
"What pact?" Ariel repeated impatiently
"The pact we created" Arista finally said, "Is that we never mention boys around Dad- "
"Or Attina" Adella quickly added
"Or Attina" Arista agreed
"And what happens if we do?" The red headed sister asked
"If any of us tell on another then Dad finds out about the 4th of July"
"The 4th of July?" Eric asked, and all four sisters expressions became fearful.
"When I was six?" Ariel asked her sisters with a gulp
Her sisters all nodded solemnly "Ten years ago" Andrina confirmed
They all shuddered and Eric looked even more concerned.
"I agree to the pact" Ariel nodded without hesitation, they all shook hands and then her older sisters sashayed off to dance with their dates again.
"What happened on the 4th of July?" Eric questioned again
Ariel went slightly rigid, "Let's just say it involved some pretty nasty business with some barnacles"
Eric's eyebrows raised. He didn't think he wanted to hear the 4th of July story...
The night was very lively. Everybody was enjoying themselves and not one person had avoided dancing. It was getting darker now, the twilight sky was spreading summery purples. The professional photographer had lined up beside the stage and had been taking stereotypical couple photographs for everyone. Tiana was hugely impressed with how things had panned out that evening. The venue was perfect, the food was immaculate, photographs were brilliant and everyone was having the best time! She couldn't have done it better if she tried. It was nearing 9:30pm and Prom King and Queen would be announced soon. The ballot boxes had been placed on stage and students had been floating on and off stage all evening placing their votes.
Tiana was rushed off her feet, asking and checking that everybody had voted.
"You've asked me at least three times" Naveen chuckled, "You seriously need to calm down!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying" she said frantically "I'm just so worried"
"Is there anything you don't worry about?" he asked, pulling her out for a dance to 'Cruel to be Kind'
"I don't worry about sleep" she admitted and Naveen laughed again,
"So who's counting the votes?" he asked
"Crab and Jafar" she nodded "We figured students shouldn't do it"
"Makes perfect sense" Naveen said "Now please, calm down... let's dance!"
...
Mr Walt shortly took to the stage, "Prom Queen and King will be announced within the next few minutes"
A few people rushed off to touch up their makeup and head to the bathroom before results were announced.
"Oh, Flynn!" Rapunzel cooed "Prom King and Queen, who do you think will win?"
Flynn grimaced "It'll be someone like Aurora probably, it's all pretty boring"
"But it is cute, whoever wins will deserve it no doubt" Rapunzel reasoned
"Yeah, I guess" Flynn shrugged flippantly, twirling her around twice and then pulled her back in.
"Students and esteemed guests, it's the moment you've all been waiting for" he declared, taking centre stage. The lights dimmed and a spotlight fell on him. Everyone gathered around the stage, crowding their principal with anticipated gleams in their eyes.
"Now, I know you're all enjoying yourselves but it gives me great pleasure to now announce who you have all voted for as your Prom King and Queen"
Everyone clapped and waited for Walt as he pulled two envelopes from inside of his jacket.
Everything hanged in the moment, their entire school life waiting to see who would be crowned today, and yet no one knew what to expect. They had all placed their votes but could not even guess who was about to be announced.
Walt opened the first envelope and a sincere smile grew across his face. "Excellent, excellent" he said quietly. The whole room practically shook with impatience.
"And your Prom Queen is..."
Everyone gazed up, no one could contain it. Their hearts sped up and-
"Cinderella Ash!"
The entire crowd erupted into applause and cheering. Having Cinderella, possibly the kindest and most deserving girl in the year, crowned as queen was enough to make anyone happy. Apart from Anastasia and Drizella of course whom were scowling.
Cinderella turned bright pink but her smile was unfaltering. She headed up the stage in her watercolour like dress floating behind. Mr Walt gracefully placed the plastic gold tiara atop of her ash blonde curls and she again, smiled warmly.
"Beautiful!" Aurora whooped and the audience exploded again.
"Please, sit down Miss Ash" Walt said and Cindy took a seat on one of the plastic thrones with a flushed smile.
"Now for Prom King!" the principal continued "Joining Miss Ash onstage as Prom King is- "
Mr Walt paused. His eyes widened a bit and a smirk grew as he seemed to reread the card a few times.
Another lot of anticipating flooded the room, the students were unexpecting all over again. Hearts were racing.
"Flynn Rider"
There was a huge gasp and then, after a small pause, an even bigger round of applause.
"Flynn?" Esmeralda repeated, "Flynn?"
Flynn had turned tomato red. His arms were loose by his sides, he was unmoving. His expression was gaunt, his mouth wide open. The only thing moving were his nervous eyes that darted to and from the stage.
"Flynn!" Rapunzel shook at his arm "It's you! You're prom king!"
Flynn couldn't even talk. He stood, cemented to the ground. Was this a joke? It had to be. He barely scraped attendance enough to pass the year, let alone win prom king!
"Flynn you big idiot!" Esmeralda laughed "Get up there!"
"I- can't" he managed to stutter
"Come on!" Rapunzel giggled pulling at his hand and hauling him on stage. He just stood, awkwardly and for once in his life... he had nothing to say.
"Flynn" Walt clapped "What a surprise!" there were a few chuckles from student and staff "But nevertheless, you have won- quite miraculously!"
Flynn chuckled too, but dryly, as though he was about to throw up. "I- I thank... you" he tried. Mr Walt neatly placed the plastic gold crown on Flynn's head and then Flynn fell into the thrown beside Cinderella. While she was smiling, flattered and glowing, Flynn was very nervously gripping the edge of his seat.
"Is there anything either of you would like to say?" Walt turned to face the winning students. Cinderella's dress was twinkling, but it was her smile that was drawing most attention.
"Yes, please!" she said softly, and Walt handed her the microphone,
"Thank you, Mr Walt" she started, "I- I never truly thought I'd be up here as Prom Queen! And... this dress- my dress! - it's so beautiful. I can't thank you enough it... it truly means the world to me" she bit back a tear and watched on. Everyone was smiling up at her, beaming, impressed. From poor and obscure to pure princess material everyone felt huge amounts of pride for her.
"When my mother died" Cinderella drew a deep breath "She taught me to be kind and have courage. There are moments I sometimes forget that, but here looking at everybody... I see that is the greatest advice I could ever have received. There is not one person in this room today that I do not see kindness or courageousness in"
Everyone clapped at the cheesy and yet sweet speech, happy that it had been Cinderella to have been voted. The air of dreaminess created by her was suddenly lost however when the microphone was passed to Flynn who just stared. A subtle static was heard as Flynn's mouth opened and closed again, lost for words.
"I... err..." Flynn attempted
Pocahontas winced, of all the witty remarks... all the excuses, the backchatting... he chose now to be speechless.
"Come on, Flynn" Aladdin pleaded to himself quietly
Rapunzel looked up at Flynn with her huge jade green eyes and dainty eyelashes batting. Flynn couldn't stop staring at his feet. He wanted nothing more to be off the stage and in Rapunzel's arms... he caught her eye suddenly and she grinned encouragingly. She was, albeit, nervous for him but she had faith in him... he'd been voted after all.
He saw the glint in her eye, he saw the belief she had in him and his heart slowed... he could do this.
"I know I'm not the model student" he started slowly and a few people chuckled, including Walt "but... but being up here in front of you all- I mean we've had a great time, haven't we?"
There were a few cheers of agreement
"I'll be sad to leave this place- school I mean- but it's been worth it... so thanks for this"
Everyone cheered again at the feeble speech. Sure, it had been awkward and even though Flynn wasn't the most articulate, they all knew exactly what he meant.
"Thank you both" Walt said with an earnest smile "Now please, take to the floor everyone and enjoy the rest of your evening!"
Flynn jumped up and rushed off the stage, quick as he could. He fell back into Rapunzel with a sigh.
"You did great!" she gushed,
"Yeah not bad, man!" Phoebus ruffled his hair,
"Proud of you, kid" Esmeralda cooed
"Don't call me kid" Flynn retorted "But thanks" and he pulled Esmeralda in for a friendly hug.
Rapunzel and Flynn then made for the dance floor again to release all the energy he had just built up from anxiousness. His plastic crown wiggled on his head but he rather liked it... but he fell into a slower dance suddenly when he spotted a figure through the huge window. At the front of the castle, in the gravelled car park, past the bridge Flynn could make out the huge, bulked figure of a Stabbington Brother. Outlined in the headlights of the car, he gulped as the one figure became two.
They were here.
And Flynn had nothing to give them.
Belle and Adam arrived on the ward and Belle rushed straight into the room with her father. Adam waited awkwardly in the corridor and after 30 minutes, he fell to the floor impatient and bored. He hated it. He didn't like the way that their fancy clothes looked so eerily against the harsh and grey hospital. It felt unnatural and dreary.
Belle finally stepped into the dimly lit, narrow corridor in her yellow dress and fell to the floor opposite him.
"How is he?" Adam asked. The two were sat, knees up, smart clothes crumpled, tiredly staring at one another.
"It was a minor stroke. He's sleeping now and the nurse said he managed to dial 911 on time"
"So he's going to be alright?"
"He's going to be just fine... hopefully"
The two stood and made their way for the small coffee window. It was late now, nearly 11 and as they sipped the watery, hospital coffee Belle sighed a sigh of relief that her father would be healthy again soon.
"So shall we go back to prom?" Adam suggested, chucking his empty paper coffee cup at a nearby bin, and missing.
Belle looked gobsmacked, "Prom?" she repeated, "My father just had a stroke, Adam!"
"A minor stroke" he corrected her
"He's all alone, I can't just leave him!" she cried
"But he's sleeping, surely we can just enjoy the night while it lasts" he suggested,
"My nights over, Adam! I need to stay with him, how are you being so selfish?"
"I just want to finish the evening with you, Belle, to be with you"
"Well it's a pretty silly request at a time like this!"
"He's sleeping, you'll only be gone an hour! Who cares?"
"You're selfish!" she repeated, "God! It's like you've barely changed since I met you"
"Oh really?" he challenged "A bookish swot? Picked on by jerks like Gaston? Oh, no wait that was you!"
Belle had tears pricking her eyes, the weight of her father's illness was too heavy and Adam's words were hitting her like a ton of bricks.
"You horrible, selfish beast!" she cried "I don't want to see you, get out!"
Adam stared at her with pain in his royal blue eyes, the two stood, unhappy and hurt by the other for several minutes, tense and waiting... until Adam turned and strode away.
"You can walk home" he called behind him, his voice was trembling, his fists were clenched. It wasn't until he disappeared around the corner, when Belle began to shake and weep.
When Mother Gothel heard the door slam, she headed straight for her daughter's room only to find it empty. She screamed from the window, too late to run after her, but early enough to watch her jump into the fancy car. Whoever's car it was, she had caught the registration plate quick enough to write it down. She was no fool; she would find her. She had left her client and then ran straight into Rapunzel's dark room, scouring and rifling through everything but most of her belongings were gone. Barely any clothes, barely any shoes and no school things. There were no clues excluding one small thing. A small notebook, decorated with purple cartoon suns. She hadn't remembered buying it for her daughter, but was quick to flip through it... and she found exactly what she was looking for. A pretty drawing in gold ink, 'Flynn Rider + Rapunzel Solis 3'.
Gothel glowered at the doodle, she knew that there was a boy involved and whoever he was... she was going to kill him.
Gothel then spent the remainder of the evening clearing out the entirety of the apartment. She boxed up her clothes, their toiletries, rugs and clocks, she packed up valuables and her makeup products. They were moving away, she had decided. This was the end of all the nonsense with Flynn, with Disney, with High School. She could be home-schooled again, she'd have to be, that was the only way to make sure Rapunzel never left her room ever again. She jumped into her car, the backseat full of boxes and clothes, she stepped on the engine for Disney Castle. If Rapunzel thought she was going to have an enjoyable prom with some horrible boy she was wrong. She slammed the door shut and stood outside the castle, peering through the windows. She could make out the students and the golden lights and she wondered how to go about this.
"I'll kill him, I'll kill that Flynn Rider!" A stocky and ginger man brawled nearby, a near identical man beside him
Rapunzel's ears pricked up. Rider? Gothel wondered... it couldn't be the same... could it?
"We go in there; we get that money and- "
"Gentlemen?" Gothel flattered, edging towards them. A conniving plan was forming in her head, "I can offer you something much more worth your while"
Ron scoffed, "Yeah?"
"Well if money's all you desire then here I've got tons of... be on your way! But that wasn't even the best part" she chuckled and they stared at her as she waved her purse around in the air before them.
"What's the best part?" Ron asked
Gothel smirked, "It comes with revenge on Flynn Rider" she sung maliciously.
Gothel agreed to giving the men $300 each if they complied to her plan, way more than what Flynn owed them. Following as she told them, Jon headed for the castle window and knocked twice. Flynn didn't even have to hesitate he watched as Jon smirked and he knew what he had to do.
"Is everything OK?" Rapunzel asked, seeing Flynn's slow and scared expression
"Everything is... just find" he nodded, "I'll be right back". Rapunzel watched, worried, as he left the room and bit her lip.
"Where's he going?" Phoebus approached Rapunzel
"I- I don't know..." she admitted with a shrug
Phoebus peered out of the window and saw the figures of Ron and Jon. He had no real clue who they were or what they were doing but he had a pretty good idea.
A year and a half ago Flynn had disclosed to Phoebus the problems of his past. Ron and Jon had picked him up one day at 13, troubled and poor they introduced him to a whirlwind of crime. They had him keep watch, pick locks, jump into cars, distract victims and break windows. He had wanted to stop just a few months in but any time he tried, they would threaten and blackmail him. Once the two men were finally caught, Flynn stopped. He was like their toy, their rag for dirty work, but Flynn owed them money. This was the part Phoebus didn't know about... It was a weekend and Flynn's mother had gone off to Canada but had forgotten to leave him money. When the landlord came, and demanded some rent... he had nowhere else to turn. Which left him in the pickle now of owing them $250.
Flynn headed out and saw Ron and Jon, casually stood against the small castle bridge.
"Hey guys!" Flynn said casually "Great to see you again! Listen so I have the money, believe it or not, and I can bring it to you tomorrow- "
"Running out on us again, Rider?" Jon drawled
Flynn blinked, confused. Wasn't it the money they wanted?
"We heard you're living nicer now... graduating, good friends... a nice girl"
Flynn gulped "Yes... yes, well... ahem... nice girl"
Ron cackled at the fear in Flynn's voice "Now listen, here's the new deal. You turn yourself in for all those broken windows and picked locks and we'll leave you alone, debt and all"
Phoebus lingered by the porch, unseen and listening intently. There was no way he would let his best friend end up behind bars, he was a good guy. He didn't deserve this.
"How about we double the pay instead and- "Flynn attempted
"Save it, Rider" Ron shook his head,
Phoebus was about to take a step forward, to stop this before it became violent but-
"Phoebus, what's going on?" Rapunzel was holding onto his arm, scared and quiet.
"Rapunzel!" he hissed "what are you doing?"
"What's going on?" Jasmine strutted over, hands on hips
"Go back inside" Phoebus said to the girls
"Who are they?" Jasmine looked over,
"Flynn's having some trouble" Phoebus said flippantly
"Flynn?" Jasmine asked "Is it Gothel?"
Rapunzel gasped
"Who?" Phoebus questioned, but he had no answer because the three were interrupted by a wailing siren and whirring red and blue lights.
"Shit" Phoebus breathed, and he rushed towards Flynn
"Phoebus!" Flynn cried "What are you doing?"
"You can't go away, Flynn, you just can't!" Phoebus said
"Shut up, Phoebus!" Flynn snapped "It's going to be fine!"
Two cops headed out of their cars and strode towards them. One was smaller and female, the other big and booming, "Is everything alright? A woman made a call to tell us there were some 'Wanted' people up here"
"A woman?" Flynn asked "Who?"
"THERE THEY ARE!" Gothel appeared from behind a car "Arrest them!"
"Mother!" Rapunzel ran forward with Jasmine, "No! What are you doing here!"
"Rapunzel thank God you're safe" Gothel pretended "Come along, my flower!"
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Rapunzel defied
"What on Earth is going on here?" the female officer snapped, "This is a waste of officer's time"
"Please Officer, arrest those two men" Phoebus stepped in "they've been up to old antics!"
The cops looked at the Stabbington brothers and then smirked,
"Rn and Jon Stabbington is it?" she cooed "Ah, we've been looking for you two!"
"Robbed that old nursery downtown, didn't you?" the other asked
"We didn't do nothing!" Ron argued, but the officers were already handcuffing them
"Get these off me!" Jon shouted
"We've been set up by the old lady!" Ron said
"Aren't you going to arrest this one, too?" Gothel said, shoving Flynn towards the cops, his Prom King crown wobbled slightly and nearly fell off.
"On what chargers?" Phoebus cried
"Yes, on what charges ma'am?"
"Kidnapping my daughter!"
"He didn't kidnap her, she ran away!" Jasmine intervened
"It's true!" Rapunzel confirmed, "She's... abusive... I can't live there!"
"There's a lot to this I think, Hopps" the male officer turned to his colleague "We better take them to the station"
"The station?" Jasmine scoffed "I have my rights and my lawyers- "
"That won't be necessary" Officer Hopps said, "We just need the whole story, there's no trouble here... yet"
"And you better not slip away, if what she says is true you're under serious charges" the male officer handcuffed Gothel and then put away the three criminals in his car.
"You four, with me" Hopps said, and the teenagers sighed before piling into the police car.
"This is going to be fun" Jasmine muttered
"My dad is going to kill me" Phoebus sighed
"I think... I just had my mother arrested" Rapunzel puzzled, a tear falling down her face.
Hercules refrained from any more champagne or punch and stuff to lemonade, seeing as he was driving. He and Meg had had a wonderful evening full of dancing and giggling and when Prom Queen and King were announced they were both proud of their classmates. Even Meg was happy for them. She had seriously grown fond of her classmates, she felt she had made up for lost time with Esmeralda and Pocahontas and she felt beautiful all night. In fact, everybody looked beautiful and Meg had a brilliant night. It neared midnight and prom was coming to an end. Cinderella had rushed home, afraid of her Stepmother finding her gone. As for the chaperones, the teachers wondered aimlessly around all evening. Anita, Jane and Crab were talking non-stop along with Clopin who would occasionally dance with Esmeralda and Naveen. Meanwhile, the moodier teachers just slumped against the walls waiting to get home.
"Come on then, let's get you home" Hercules said as he and Meg headed out for the parking lot. It was relatively empty now as most people had headed home and others were still indoors.
"I can't believe there isn't an after party, that would have been fun" Hercules said
"No way" Meg disagreed "I'm exhausted, I need my bed"
Hercules clicked his keys and the car lit up. He jogged over and opened the passenger door her, but before she could even step into the seat the two were interrupted.
"Meg, Meg my little nut Meg!" a deep voice called and Hades strolled over, hands in his pockets and hair falling in his face.
Meg's stomach lurched with concern, with fear. For months, he hadn't bothered her, for months he had left Hercules' grades alone and now... the end of Prom? So close to graduation? This couldn't be happening.
"Can we help you, Sir?" Hercules asked, none the wiser
"You know what?" Hades grinned "I think you can"
"Sure, what's up?" Hercules asked
"Couldn't this wait until Monday morning?" Meg tried, "I mean it's very late, Mr Gray, we ought to be going"
"No, no, it can't" he said, wagging his finger "You see... I have a ... scenario for you"
The teenagers blinked.
"If... theoretically... a girl sleeps with, has sex with, a man whom isn't her boyfriend that's classed as...?" he looked at them for an answer
"Well-err- cheating" Hercules replied, confused
"Ah cheating, cheating, yes I see" Hades nodded with a smirk "And what if, again theoretically, that were... Meg?"
"Meg?" Hercules asked "I-I'm confused"
"Yes so am I" Meg said quickly "Let's go, Hercules. Maybe Mr Gray has had a few too many drinks"
But Hercules wasn't budging.
"Hercules, come on?" Meg pulled at his arm but he barely even twitched
"It seems you'd like an explanation, right?" Hades closed in on Hercules "Well it's all pretty simple, kid, she's been screwing with you"
Hercules glanced at Meg with puppy dog eyes,
"No!" Meg argued "I haven't- I haven't! Hades, you know I haven't!"
"How?" Hercules asked his ex-history teacher
"When you started dating, you little Meg here was still sleeping with me"
"Once!" Meg defied
"It's still cheating, Meg" Hades tutted
"No it isn't like that!" Meg cried, "He- No!"
Hercules wasn't crying, but Meg was sure he was close. He turned on his heel and headed for his seat in the car. Hades stood, smirking and Meg had about ten seconds before Hercules drove away to explain herself.
"Hercules it's not like that, he blackmailed me! He blackmailed me!" she cried "He was failing you!"
Hercules slammed the door shut.
"Hercules!" she yelled, knocking at the windows of the car uselessly "Hercules please! He was failing you- he made me!"
The car revved and swerved off and to avoid being ran over, Hades grabbed at Meg's waist to pull her away from the fast car.
"Get off me!" she shrieked and as the final people filed out of huge castle, Hades quickly let go and Meg fell to the floor in a velvet coil. Her hands covered her face and she sobbed, her back heaving.
"I tried to warn you, Meg" he tutted spitefully
"Go away" she sobbed, "Just go away!"
"You know, with Wonder Boy hone, we could pick up where we left off" he slurred, still standing proud.
"Is everything OK, Meg?" Jane Porter had noticed the crying student and headed over. Her keys were in her hand and she was looking from Meg to Hades, concerned.
"Her boyfriend and her had an argument" Hades whispered to his co-worker, who nodded understandingly
"Come on Meg, I'll give you a lift home" Hades said, taking Meg's arm and hauling her off the ground, but Meg didn't budge and instead of words she let out a sharp scream.
"OK, OK," Jane Porter said "Mr Gray I think you should go, Meg, dear come on we'll get you a coffee and take you home"
Meg slowly stood up and cautiously followed Miss Porter, barging past Hades who looked annoyed at Miss Porter's convenient rescue.
Miss Porter allowed Meg into the passenger seat of her little yellow car and then sat beside her.
"Is everything OK, Meg?" she asked, pulling out of the parking lot "I've known you since you were fifteen, you're tough as nails!"
Meg chuckled and wiped her eyes, "I'm not so sure about that anymore, Miss" she sighed
"Let's head to the drive thru" Jane smiled "I don't know about you but I've worked up an appetite"
Meg nodded. She could really do with a cheeseburger.
John Rolfe dropped Pocahontas and Esmeralda back to Pocahontas' that night, Pocahontas pecked his cheek thank you and said goodbye before the two girls fell through the door with sore feet and heavy eyes.
They headed straight to Pocahontas' room where they kicked off their heels, wiped their makeup off and changed into pyjamas. They then fell next to each other in bed and sighed. It hadn't been too bad of a night.
"You're right you know" Esmeralda said after a few moments of silence, lying there
"About what?" Pocahontas asked
"I do love Phoebus"
Pocahontas smiled "I know... you're right too"
"About what?"
Pocahontas sighed. "I don't love John Rolfe"
"I know" Esmeralda said, and they fell asleep with a waltz song stuck in their head and love in their hearts.
Sorry guys! I know it seems all doom and gloom! Ah! But there's some lovely bits in there! Tell me you're favourite parts! Hope you enjoyed! God I'm so PROUD of getting this done!