Roddy St. James met about a couple hundred beautiful maidens already. None of them captured his interest. He still had to meet several more but felt more like mingling instead. She wasn't coming, he thought. Then, a red head in a red dress appeared on the top of the grand stairway. A servant removed her coat. Roddy was paralyzed. She was so beautiful. He ran up the stairs after her. Everyone stared at the princes immature move. He couldn't contain his excitement.

Rita was stunning, but his handsomeness stunned her even more. He bowed and offered his hand. She looked around to see if Le Toad was around. She took his hand finally and he escorted her down the steps.

"Cue the waltz!" August roared. His right hand man was holding him back so he wouldn't fall off the balcony. Roddy and Rita went to the center of the dance floor, in front of the tall glistening Christmas tree. When the music began, they danced together for the first and maybe even the last time.

"Gland you made it." He said.

"Sorry I'm late." Said Rita. "It wasn't my fault though. It takes a long time to get ready. And I had to do it at the last minute."

He spun her before she turned back to him, placing her hand on his shoulder again.

"Why?"

"I had to pamper around ten spoiled brats who were picky about everything." She said in an annoyed tone. "But I'm glad I managed to get here."

"Well I'm glad you came."

As more couples joined in the dance, Le Toad cut through the crammed audience to see who the girl the prince was dancing with. A tall rat and his wife pushed him out of the way to waltz.

"Who is she?" he mumbled.

At the same time, Sharpay whose hair was up in a nice bun wearing a pink dress looked at her ex in disgust. Rita was a pretty girl. Sharpay then began to rage with jealousy. Rita had a smaller figure, a more gorgeous smile and a better laugh. And from her expression, Sharpay could see she was happy.

"Rita, did you eat yet?"

"No, I haven't taken my food pill." She laughed.

"Allow me to escort you to dinner."

He took her hand gracefully and walked into the dining room next door. It was empty besides a few maids cleaning the tables. They sat across one another by the fireplace. Rita ordered the tadpole. Lucky for her, it was the last one left. She never tasted anything so good since she left her siblings. The tadpoles at the palace were about as good as her mothers.

Mum, she thought. She wound up trapped inside her mind with memories of her mother making the tadpole for the entire family. The fork slipped out of her hand and hit the floor.

"Rita."

She broke free of the flashback.

"Rita, are you alright?"

Rita pushed the plate forward and slouched in her chair. She looked miserable. Roddy got up and went over to her.

"Rita, what's wrong?" He placed an affectionate hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked at him, for a moment speechless.

"Well, you know I've been a slave for Le Toad since I was eight. I'm seventeen now. I've been sending my salary, if you consider one pound a salary to my family. Thirty nine of them all live in a shack with nothing to eat. And here I am, eating their favorite dish. I'm not hungry anymore."

He thought she was going to burst into tears but she didn't. He caressed her flawless cheek.

"I'm willing to send your family more than one pound, and a years worth of food and clothes if you want me to help."

"You'd do that?"

"Of corse. I'd do anything to help."

Rita's mood turned around again. She smiled and thanked him.

"And I feel as if I need to tell you something."

"What's that?"

"I know we don't know each other very well and this may seem awkward. But I have seemed to have fallen in love with you Rita Malone."

"Now how come you're not afraid to speak your mind?"

"I am." Said Roddy. "But I just wanted you to know."

"Well I have to say; I never met a man brave enough to confess his feelings to a girl so quickly. You know, it's easier to wait. But I'm glad you told me."

"Really?" he asked. He cleared his throat. "I mean, 'really'?"

Rita giggled.

"I like you too." Said Rita. "And not like a brother." She removed his hand from her face and trapped it between both hers. "Let's go dance."

When they returned, the dance floor was packed. They didn't hesitate to squeeze in. They were having a friendly conversation when King August walked to them.

"May I cut in?" his loud but low voice caught their attention over the noise of the orchestra. Roddy stepped back. Rita curtsied to the King.

"Five minutes." Said Roddy.

Rita couldn't say no to the king as they danced.

"Tell me young lady, what kingdom do you come from?"

Rita didn't know what to tell him. Most of the maidens in the room were related to royalty, heiresses or rich.

"I come from far far away."

"Where is that?"

"Far far away." She repeated.

"I thought ogres ruled that."

"That was just a movie." She said. If he continued to ask her questions she would crack and he'd find out she wasn't royal.

Roddy was watching them mingling on a danish. Le Toad caught his eye. He was staring at her like a pedophile, or more like a snake about to eat her. Suspicious, he walked up to one of the false knights on the walls and took one of their swords. They were as real as any other weapon. He put the sword and the case for it through his belt and began to keep watch again.

"Roddy what are you doing?" Sharpay stomped over to him angrily. "Is this why you dumped me? For her?"

"I just met her tonight." He lied trying to look innocent.

"Yeah right. You like her!"

"And your point? Sharpay, I dumped you for the sake of my family, not the girl."

"So what if Maggie hates me?"

"Be careful. You make one move and if it makes her angry, she can kick you off the show."

"That's unnecessary. Because I quit."

"Since when?"

"Since now!"

She kicked him in the leg and he stared at her. He wasn't in any pain.

After August spent plenty of time with Rita he left her stranded on the dance floor. She sighed with relief. She went to get a drink of champagne and carried it out. Sharpay approached her.

"You make one more move with my Roddy Bear and there will be wood where your legs once were. Got that you little whor—"

"Excuse me." Said Rita. "I didn't steal him from you. Got that Princess Bratty?"

Sharpay was about to attack her but she backed off when Le Toad made a surprise visit. He put his slime covered arm around Rita's waist. She spun around and backed up. Her heart was about to rip out. She could feel her stomach evaporating.

"My, my don't you look nice." He complemented. "You look like a servant of mine. Say, can I have your name?"

Rita dropped the champagne. The glass shattered as the drink oozed onto the floor. Rita backed up. She felt a soft arm wrap around her shoulders. Roddy stood beside her.

"I know what your up to pedophile." He sneered. He pulled the sword from his belt and pointed it at Le Toad's throat. The music stopped. Everyone gasped.

"Now, now your highness I wasn't going to harm her. I just wanted to know her name."

"Really? Because I suspected something more." He growled. "You leave her alone."

"My apologies your highness."

Back at the Floodgate, the servants were in their secret hiding place, drinking, dancing and playing music.

"Three cheers for a night off!" Remy yelled raising his beer mug.

"The night off!" the rest yelled. They banged their glass mugs together and celebrated. Pregnant Mercedes sat down with a pale face. She began to breathe heavily. Then she screamed.

"Breathe Mercedes. I'll get you to your room. Somebody get towels and buckets of water! Quickly!" Maris yelled in a panicked voice.

He put the sword back and took Rita to another room, locked the door and told her to lie down and rest. She lay on the couch breathing deeply. "Are you alright?"

Rita nodded her head.

"I thought he knew you were here."

Rita chuckled insecurely. "He changed his mind."

"So you weren't allowed to come?"

"No. I wasn't." she said. "But I really wanted to come so I snuck out. If he finds out, he'll have my tail!"

"And he wont find out." He promised her. "Would you like to go outside for some air?"

Rita nodded, sat up and walked with him to the balcony. It was freezing outside. Rita crossed her arms for warmth. Roddy placed them down and put his sleeved arms around her.

"I just don't understand. It's like he doesn't have a heart at all. All he loves is his bratty kids, his brainless henchrats, his money and trying to overcome your father."

"Well soon you'll be free and I'll be king. And when I do, I will banish him, for the several attempts he made for trying to take away our power."

"And when I'm out, I'm going to see the Famous Drains of Europe with my dad. We are scavengers after all."

"Now that doesn't sound like something a girl would want to do. But it sounds fun."

"I can't wait." She told him. She turned around and looked into his chocolate eyes. He pushed a few strands of her red hair back. Their faces were one inch apart when Big Ben struck midnight. Rita rushed inside.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to be back by midnight!" she yelled.

"What? Is this some kind of Cinderella story?"

"It wasn't meant to turn out that way!" she said. He followed her to the coat room.

"Well when can I see you again?"

"Tomorrow maybe." She said rushing to put on her coat. "The Fly Valley at noon? I always go there to pick up food."

"Great." He said.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" she vowed.

"Ok." He mumbled. "Tomorrow…"