A/N: Ahh, finals are finally over which means I have time for an update! Thank you so much for being patient and continuing to follow this story!

While the Christmas gift had certainly been a large stepping stone, nothing much had happened in the months since. Sure, the two spent disproportionate amounts of time in the workshop, but did any puckering noises or flirtatious giggles ever emerge? Did anybody hear questionable moans? No, and no again! The servants were getting anxious. The rose in the west wing was slowly losing its petals and had precious few left.

"At this rate we'll never get our bodies back!" Wasabi cried desperately. "I'm doomed to hop around forever!"

"Come on, my man! You can't think like that!" Fred said. "There's still time!"

"And it's not like nothing has happened," Honey Lemon added. "Oh, haven't you seen the way he gazes at her? The way she blushes around him? It's so romantic!"

"Yeah, yeah, romance, blah, blah," Hiro said. "We're definitely onto something, but we need to really push it."

Other servants joined in until they made a list of possible options, approving some and rejecting many.

"We are not pushing His Highness off a cliff, Fred," Wasabi said firmly.

"But my man, imagine! She realizes in that moment how much she loves him!"

"Whoa, did not expect that from you, Fred," Hiro said.

"And her realization causes her to gain superpowers—"

"Ah. Never mind."

"What if we anger him?!" Wasabi burst. "Do you remember what almost happened when he yelled at her over their first breakfast together?"

Everyone suddenly silenced. Yes, they did. They remembered the faint red glow in his body. Wasabi coughed awkwardly.

"It's been five years since the last incident," he mumbled. "And I do hope it's the last."

"You boys just leave it to me," Honey Lemon said with a wink.

...

GoGo winced as the coat rack jerked at her recently washed hair too hard as she tried to brush it.

"That hurts!" GoGo yelped, gripping at the towel wrapped around her chest.

"Sorry, dearie," the coat rack muttered inattentively. "Goodness, your hair absolutely does not have to be so short! And mussy! Really, the young women these days..."

"My hair's fine."

"Do try to be gentler, will you?" Honey Lemon suggested to the rack, who threw the hairbrush down in frustration.

"I don't understand. We've had thousands of dinners. Why is this one so special?"

"Because I want to try a makeover just once! You've never let me."

The girl rolled her eyes, but she went along with it. It was true, the teapot had wanted to "beautify" her since her arrival and she'd likely never hear the end of it if she didn't give her at least one chance. And the servants had not made a peep of complaint with all her contraptions running amok, despite having every reason to, so it was only fair.

The coat rack sighed as she adorned the girl's unfortunately short hair with a golden flower. "That will have to suffice. Oh, if only it were longer, I would have loved to do a bun again. I haven't in years."

Ten years, ten years. Sometimes GoGo forgot (shamefully) that they had been human once, and just how long they'd been in these forms. She couldn't imagine it. She wondered what Honey Lemon had looked like as a human. Perhaps she had enjoyed dressing up once and could now only live through her.

"Lift your chin up, dear," the rack instructed. "I need to do your lips."

"She has such naturally pink lips!" Honey Lemon exclaimed. "She's got lovely eyes, don't you agree?"

"Lovely face, really. Shame she doesn't dress up more often! The amount of suitors you'd have in a heartbeat. I expect she had at least some admirers back home."

She wasn't used to hearing these things except from Aunt Cass, who didn't have a shred of meanness to anyone. No, more often she heard about how strange she was and occasionally a jab at her orphan status. Hearing compliments from others felt... weird. But not in a bad way.

"Oh—Oh, now," Honey Lemon stammered upon seeing her face. "You're very pretty as you are without make up, we just meant—"

"I'm not offended," she said simply. And she wasn't.

"It's done anyway," the coat rack said hastily. "Ah—the gown?"

"Ooh, I've been waiting for this!" the wardrobe squealed, thrusting her doors open. Whatever dresses she'd had previously had been thrown out, or at least stashed away somewhere, leaving only the most gorgeous golden gown GoGo had ever seen.

"Go on!" the wardrobe encouraged, beaming at GoGo's hanging jaw.

Delicately, GoGo traced her fingers down the skirt, a soft chiffon. "Did this belong to someone?"

The teapot shook her head. "No. But I was one of the seamstresses here—I had hoped to try it out on the Prince's future bride, a proposal gown or such, but..."

The girl immediately retracted her fingers. "Oh, no. Something this precious, I couldn't possibly..."

"Please! It would mean so much to me."

Cautiously she slipped into the gown, which somehow felt nicely. Honey Lemon must have expected a bride as short as her, because the skirt didn't drag along the floor, nor did the sleeves hang too loosely off the shoulders. A mirror waddled out, and when she caught her own reflection, she didn't recognize it.

"You look beautiful, dear!" Honey Lemon squealed. The other servants nodded vigorously.

"I don't look like me." She touched the glass gingerly.

"Oh, darling, haven't you ever been dolled up before?"

"I've never really had a reason to look nice before," she said in a low voice. Secretly she suspected Aunt Cass may have wanted to bring her to a ball or a party, but she'd always been against it. She didn't care for the villagers and their gossip, but quite frankly she just didn't want to hear cheap shots or even more remarks on how strange-looking she was. Of course it didn't really matter anymore, but she was now realizing her aunt wanted her to forget all that for a moment and just enjoy herself. Now they would never have the chance.

"Well, might I say... you're the loveliest thing to have set foot in this castle for a long time." Honey Lemon smiled gently.

She managed a whisper. "Thank you."

...

"Was the bath really necessary?" Tadashi groaned, rubbing his increasingly squeaky fingers together. "I haven't forgotten how to bathe, you know."

"But what if you missed a spot?" Wasabi asked. "And you walking naked everywhere! Coating yourself in dust! I at least make sure to polish my face every now and then—"

"Yeah, can't have you looking like a ball of dirt tonight," Hiro added. "We just want to try out this nice evening, like, um, some dress up event..."

"I know what you're trying, and for the last time, she just sees me as a friend," Tadashi insisted. "I won't have you call me dirty and stupid in one night."

"You're not helping with the cause here. Just put on the damn outfit."

The wardrobe swung his doors open, revealing a familiar blue suit. The Crown Prince froze at the sight.

"Father," he whispered.

"Honey Lemon fixed it since you got bigger," Fred explained. Wasabi jabbed him.

Hiro hopped closer to his brother. "He would have wanted you to have it. He wanted you to have everything."

"Hiro."

"What? Don't act like it's not true. I'm sorry, but it is."

"Can the rest of you leave, please?"

Without question, everyone scurried out of the room, and the wardrobe left behind the suit before following them. Tadashi then scooped up his brother, who looked away defiantly, and brought him to his face.

"Father did care about you."

"Not as much as you. Future of the kingdom of everything."

"I won't disagree."

This caught Hiro by surprise. He stared at his elder brother, unable to respond for the first time.

"He was a good King. He knew what he had to do to keep the kingdom running, but you know what? He cared about that more than his own sons."

Hiro bit his lip. "But... you said to GoGo he wasn't a bad father."

Tadashi felt it again, that heat in him. No, no, he had to diminish it. But the memories of their father... "That doesn't mean he was a very good one. He didn't pay enough attention to you. Sometimes he never even let me see you, because teaching me to run the kingdom came first."

"I knew it. He always gave me that weird look every time I tried to go to your room." The younger Prince huffed. "I just... I didn't mean what I said earlier. I mean, he didn't exactly give you the easiest time either. I liked just hanging around sometimes."

Tadashi swallowed as the fire died down. "Yeah. I know." He set his brother down on the table and picked up the suit. "Let's at least try to have a nice evening."

"For the record, I think you'd make a vastly better King than him."

"Or I'd turn into him." He slipped the coat on and adjusted it, looking at himself in the mirror. GoGo's voice echoed in his head.

"The curse gives you an excuse to shy away from all those... kingly duties. Wouldn't want a broken spell to get in the way of that, would you?"

Tadashi had absolutely studied enough to know how to run a kingdom and even aided his father in some of the lawmaking and conquests. Governing would not have been a problem. What governing and ruling would have done to him, however, his very being, as it had his father...

"I'd rather stay cursed than let that happen."

...

If not for the gloves, GoGo would have felt the sweat in her palms. She took deep breaths as she took small steps down the stairs, emerging from the shadows. The Prince gazed at her once again with that unreadable expression (curse his stagnant face) and did not tear his eyes away as she inched closer to him.

"I-it's a little much," she dismissed, keeping her eyes steadfastly off him.

"N-no, it's perfectly fine! I mean, it's not—would you like to eat dinner?"

If only he had a human face! Was he just too nice to tell her she looked ridiculous?

Dinner was silent, as both awkwardly sipped their broth, unsure of what to say. She wasn't sure why. She almost wished she hadn't dressed up, because they might have been able to talk comfortably about some new idea or book series otherwise. Some other part of her also said that this was ridiculous and that dresses and makeup shouldn't change anything.

But it wasn't the dress. Something about her, ever since the snowball fight...

Distantly, a piano played. String music soon followed, and when she turned, she found one of the coat racks playing a violin. Something about the tune felt familiar, and she soon realized it was a song played at one of the weddings Aunt Cass had catered. She turned to the Prince, who was fiddling with a fork.

Without words, she rose from her seat and walked over to tug at his hand. Tadashi rose immediately and followed as she pulled him to the castle ballroom, where a crystal chandelier hung high above them.

"Well," Tadashi said, holding out his hand, "shall we?"

Slowly, she placed her hand in it and gazed at him. She'd never danced with anyone before, but surely if Aunt Cass were here, she would have told her to enjoy herself.

"Good thing you don't have any toes," she joked.

"You'll learn along the way.

From the piano in the corner, Honey Lemon began to sing.

"Tale as old as time..."

It felt odd at first, GoGo clumsily stepping all over the place. However, Tadashi slid his fingers around her waist and pulled her in closer. Her face warmed.

"True as it can be..."

"Just follow my lead," he whispered.

"Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly..."

Following his lead wasn't so difficult, or perhaps he was a good teacher. Soon enough they were gliding across the room, and she even twirled under him. The sweep, the rushing sensation of it all! She hadn't expected to enjoy it.

"Just a little change..."

At last, they slowed, somewhat just swaying around.

"You look beautiful," he admitted. "Sorry I didn't get to say it before. I was nervous."

She smiled. "Thank you. You..."

"I'm still a giant marshmallow, so you don't have much to say there."

"You know what? True."

He exaggerated a groan, which made her laugh.

"Small to say the least..."

"I mean, this really isn't me," GoGo protested. "So I know it's a bit weird, and..."

"Sheesh, GoGo, I thought we've been friends long enough to not care about that."

"Friends," she repeated.

"Well... yes," he said, although now he seemed hesitant. "We are friends, aren't we?"

"Of course!"

"Both a little scared..."

"Leiko," he continued. "I don't really care what you look like. Well, you like... gorgeous, but God, you're intelligent and honest and kind and..."

"Tadashi."

"I care about you as you are, just like how I know you're not tolerating me just because I'm rich or a Prince or whatever. You're my best friend."

"Neither one prepared..."

Again, that word friend. Some part of it did bother her, and she didn't know why, but for now this was enough. She buried her head in his chest.

"And you're mine."

"Beauty and the Beast."

...

The weather had warmed considerably, and GoGo could swear she could see flowers springing in the garden. She heard ripe red apples hung from the branches in the forest, which fascinated her. Most of the snow had melted away by now, and all she wanted to do was enjoy the sunlight.

"Hiro," she called from the front door, "let's go!"

"Right with you!" he called, hopping into her palms. "Tadashi and the others never let me go out."

GoGo laughed nervously. "Well, I didn't exactly tell them we were going out."

Hiro frowned. "You sure we won't get caught?"

"Come on, it's just apples. We'll say they fell into the yard. They taste best ripe. Besides, it gets suffocating in there sometimes." She must've explored the castle three times, she'd been there for so long.

He didn't protest much, mostly because he was dying to see what the forest looked like for once. He hopped into her palms as she swung her satchel over her head and dashed out into the garden and squeezed past the gates.

They walked considerably far until they reached an entire grove of red fruit dangling from the branches. Eagerly, Hiro hopped up and down on GoGo's shoulder.

"That one! Up on the third branch."

Grinning, GoGo reached for it. Her fingers, however, did not even touch the fruit before she heard a loud snap from behind her. Her hand froze. She heard Hiro inhale sharply. There was breathing too, but not from either of them. And it sounded too... controlled to be from some animal.

Heart racing, she slowly turned her head and found herself face to face with a man. Right away, before any name could register, she knew.

This was one of Krei's men.