Hello everyone! So this story, sadly, will soon be coming to an end, but it is not over just yet! We still have a few more chapters to go, and then the Finale, so look forward to it!
We are also closing in on the ball scene and the final encounter with Maya/Rothbart and Yurika, his apprentice (I don't want to use the word evil for them because in the anime, they are so nice).
The character who will be playing Odile has been decided, but you will have to wait and see who it will be. Enjoy! I own nothing.
Chapter 5: Part 2
Sena returned to the castle, ecstatically running through the palace. He eventually found Madoka, already in the library combing through another large section of books.
"There you are, Sena!" she said, sounding upset. "Do you know how many books I've gone through while you've been dancing on the lake with the beautiful Swan Princess and her friends! Well, do you?"
"I'm sorry Madoka," Sena chuckled at his cousin's outburst. "You know, maybe we could switch places. You go to the lake and I stay here and look through the books. Try not to get lost in the woods, okay?"
Madoka looked at Sena, shocked. "Okay, if that was a joke it wasn't a very good one! And if you're trying to get me to follow you out of the castle, then that wizard Maya will get the chance to turn me into a swan one of these days!" She chastised him as she walked down the ladder.
"I'm sorry Madoka. I couldn't help it," Sena said, admitting to his teasing. It had been weeks since Sena had told Madoka about Akari and her friends. Madoka was helping by looking through books and trying to find a way to break the spell that was placed on Akari.
They had all agreed that it would trouble the guards if Madoka left the palace. They also didn't want to trouble anyone by having guards follow Sena on his "nightly rides". Queen Asuka didn't seem to mind Sena's nightly disappearances, thinking that he was only clearing his head after helping her in her duties as Queen.
"Excuse me, Your Highnesses," a voice called from the entrance of the library. "Her Majesty wants to see you in her study. She would like to discuss something important."
"We'll be right there," Sena and Madoka called back. The two of them left the library and walked to their Grandmother's study. When they arrived, they were shocked to see envelopes, stamps, and a long list of guests.
"Oh, you two made it!" Queen Asuka cried joyfully. "I was afraid you wouldn't come because you both have been stuffing yourselves in the library lately."
"How could we ignore an order from the Queen?" Sena joked. Madoka giggled beside him, as well as a page who was in the room. Queen Asuka laughed a bit too before Madoka asked about the list of guests.
"What are these names for Grandmother? These are Dukes, Duchesses, Earls, Lords! There are even a few Princes and Princesses here too; and their parents as well! What's going on here?"
"Well, you see you two, I was thinking it was high time you both made your debuts to the Royal community. Make new friends, learn new things; maybe even find a partner?"
Sena spoke after a brief pause. "We are holding a ball here? When is it?"
"I was thinking of holding it in a few weeks from now. Actually, the preparations began a few weeks ago, but you two were too busy studying in the library and I didn't want to disturb you two."
"Oh, thank you Grandmother." Sena looked over at Madoka, who was seemed very pleased about making her debut into society. He couldn't blame her. She had been waiting for this day. She used to go on and on about the dress she would wear, what her Prince would look like and everything in between.
Sena didn't mind though. He wasn't really looking forward to it, but he had no choice in the matter. Both his Grandmother and Madoka would force him to go if he didn't agree to.
"Isn't exciting Sena?" Madoka exclaimed. "Our debut! We'll finally be able to meet new people! Other royalty! I can hardly wait!"
"Yeah." Sena agreed that it was kind of exciting, even if he didn't really want to go. As they made their way into their Grandmother's fitting room, the tailors and seamstresses were rolling out bolts of fabric of all colors, pulling out spools of thread, and piecing together the layouts for their outfits.
"Now this is exciting, isn't it?" Queen Asuka said as she appeared behind the two cousins who looked at their Grandmother's workshop in awe. Sena looked up at his Grandmother with adoration in his eyes.
When she wasn't busy with her duties as Queen of Angley Kingdom, Queen Asuka could be found in her workshop, creating beautiful pieces of clothing. She had made so many for Sena and Madoka when they were little and still did at times when they had nothing else to wear. Sena even helped make some dresses for Madoka and her mother a few times.
"Prince Sena?" Sena looked as an assistant held a light yellow envelope that was covered in white stars and had a dark blue seal on it. "This is a present from King Rei Kamishiro. It's a thank you for helping him with his creative block that he had a few years ago."
Sena thanked the assistant and looked at the seal. There was an curved line that looked like a crescent moon and an eight pointed star below it. Sena looked at the envelope and opened it. There was a letter written on white paper that had light blue stars on it and the ink was a dark blue. It read:
'Dear Prince Sena;
I hope that the years have been kind to you since I have last seen you. I happened to be looking at stars and the moon when your Grandmother sent me a letter inviting me to you and your cousin's debut into royal society. Then i realized that i haven't thanked you yet for helping me with my creative block.
I remember that you told me that you don't really like parties very much; but still, as it's your debut, I thought that you should have something to wear. So I went to the drawing board and created this lovely suit for you to wear. I will be attending and I do hope that you wear it.
May the stars be with you
King Rei Kamishiro
King of Futuring Kingdom
Sena read and re-read the letter a couple of times and smiled. He folded the letter back up and took out a second sheet of paper. It was tan and there were little dark blue lines showing through the other side. Sena opened it up to find a drawing of a suit. It was light blue with gold trimmings and a long tail coat.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Madoka exclaimed. Sena nearly jumped out of his skin at his cousin's unannounced approach behind him. "You know, I always knew that King Rei had amazing talent but seeing on a piece of paper is really exciting. I can't wait to see it at the ball!"
"That is true Madoka," Queen Asuka said on the other side of her desk. "King Rei's designs have always made people wonder about the wonders of space. I heard that his daughter, Princess Aoi, loves wearing the outfits he creates."
"Will Princess Aoi be at the ball?" Madoka asked.
A flash of worry quickly crossed over the Queen's face. "I...I don't believe she will be able to make it. She…"
"She's one of the missing princesses, isn't she?" Asuka and Madoka looked at Sena in shock.
"How did you know that?" Queen Asuka questioned Sena.
"Because we overheard you talking to Johnny about it the last time he was here," Sena admitted.
Queen Asuka sighed. "It is true. Over the last couple of years, a total of seven princesses have gone missing. That is why all of the kingdom's have been on edge."
"But if all of the princesses are in danger, then why hold a ball?" Madoka asked.
"So that we can help relieve everyone's tensions over this matter," Queen Asuka answered. "Please you two; do not get involved. The other rulers and myself will handle this."
Meanwhile at the castle lake…
Sumire walked into the dark room, with only the moonlight peering through the tall french doors, that were bordered with red velvet curtains. "You wanted to see me, Master Maya."
"Yes. Thank you for coming here on short notice Sumire," Maya said while pouring himself a glass of red wine. "You see, little bird told me that you have made friends with our little Swan Princess."
Sumire felt herself gasp. 'How did he find out?' Sumire heard someone giggle from within the darkness of the room. She turned to see Yurika lounging on a dark green lounge chair and sipping on white sparkling cider.
"Well of course I told him," Yurika teased. "It's not you're very good at keeping secrets. Even a three year old could have found out what your doing."
"Now then,' Maya said making Sumire return her attention to him. "Now that we know that you have some new friends, there's something I want you to do for me."
Sumire didn't like that look that Maya had in his eyes as he spoke.
To be continued….
I was originally planning to have Odile be revealed here, but I like to have my stories be around 4 pages or so, just to keep it even (I know it sounds weird but, hey, that's me).
Anyway, I promise that the ball scene will appear in the next chapter and I may make it longer just because it's so suspenseful!
Until next time!
