"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." The king announced. "Please enjoy one another's company."
Gabriella rushed over to the others. A few people greeted her as she made her way over. Troy took her hand and pulled her over to him. He leaned in and kissed Gabriella gently.
"You look breath taking." Troy said.
"Thank you, you look very handsome." Gabriella replied. "You all look very fantastic."
"I hope we don't make fools of ourselves." Sharpay said.
"You all will be fine." Gerard said as he approached them. "Gabby, we're getting ready to sit down for dinner. Troy, why don't you escort her."
"Me?" Troy asked slightly surprised.
"That honor is reserved for you."
"It'll be alright, I won't leave your side." Gabriella told him.
"Alright."
Troy offered Gabriella his arm. Gabriella linked them together. Together they followed her grandfather. Another guy approached them. He bowed to Gabriella.
"Do you need an escort, Princess?" he asked.
"No thank you, Jorge." Gabriella told him kindly.
"Friends, dinner is now ready." the king announced.
He and his wife led everyone into the banquet hall. Troy and Gabriella followed them. Jorge watched them jealously. Gabriella leaned up and kissed Troy on the cheek gently.
"Who was that?" Troy asked her.
"Jorge Augusto." Gabriella answered. "His father is a member of Parliament. Since he's the only son of a member who is my age, he always my escort."
"You don't sound too thrilled about it."
"He's always hitting on me. When I was here in August, he kept groping me under the table and while we were dancing."
"Well, I'll make sure your dance card is too filled to dance with him."
Gabriella smiled as Troy pulled her chair out for her. Troy sat down on the other side of her. The king sat down at the head of the table.
Two hours later, everyone walked into the grand ballroom. Gerard and Clarisse walked out to the center of the room. Troy stopped where the guests had, but Gabriella gently pushed him forward.
"What are we doing?" Troy asked quietly.
"My grandparents and me and my date always open the ball with a spotlight dance." Gabriella explained.
"I don't know…"
"Don't worry, you'll be fine." Gabriella said kindly. "Just think that this is homecoming."
"Ok." Troy agreed quietly.
"Let the ball begin." the king announced.
"Bow." Gabriella mouthed.
Troy nodded his head. He bowed and Gabriella curtsied. Gabriella placed her soft hand on top of his shoulder. Troy gently placed his hand on her waist. The two of them along with the king and queen began to dance. Gabriella's skirts twirled around them. Troy began to laugh and became more relaxed.
"See, it's not so bad." Gabriella told him.
"I guess not." Troy agreed.
For an hour, Gabriella danced with her friends or diplomats. Right now she was finishing up a dance with her grandfather. Gerard kissed her cheek. Gabriella smiled as she quietly snuck her way out of the ballroom. Troy, Sharpay, Taylor, Chad, Ryan, Zeke, Kelsi, and Jason saw her go and followed her.
"Where's she going?" Sharpay asked out loud.
"I don't know." Troy stated.
They followed Gabriella to the palace's back exit. Gabriella quietly rushed gracefully into the cathedral. She gathered her skirts up as she headed down to the catacombs.
"Should we follow her?" Ryan asked.
"Quietly." Troy answered.
The eight of them quietly walked down the winding staircase. There they saw Gabriella lighting a candle. Standing in front of her was her father's grave. Sharpay, Taylor and Kelsi moved forward to approach her. Troy held his hand out to keep them back and shook his head. Gabriella sat on her knees in front of the tomb. She placed her hands over her face and began to cry softly.
"I'm so scared, Daddy." she said tearfully. "I'm scared that I'm going to let everyone down. What if a coup happens or the country goes into bankrupt? I wish you were here so you'd be the heir to the throne. Oh, Daddy, I miss you so much."
Gabriella began to cry even harder. She leaned forward and braced her hands on the tomb and leaned her head against the cold stone. Tears dripped onto the floor. She gasped when she felt a gentle hand in her shoulder. Everyone was standing being her. Gabriella stood up as she dried her eyes. Troy then pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tightly. Gabriella then turned back around and blew the candle out.
"I'll be back here on my birthday."
She then blew out the rest of the candles. Troy then took her hand. He kissed her gently. Gabriella led everyone back outside. She then led them though a well lit garden. Lined along the path were several busts of former rulers of Genovia. Gabriella looked at all of them as she passed them. Troy's tuxedo jacket was draped over her shoulders.
"Do your grandparents know?" Troy asked.
"I really don't feel that way, it only happens when I have panic attacks about ruling over a country." Gabriella answered. "I walk these gardens when I need to think. Luckily I don't have as much to worry about as they did."
"What do you mean?" Chad asked.
"I don't have to worry about an arranged marriage. My grandparents' marriage was the last one."
"When did your dad die?" Sharpay asked.
"When I was seven." Gabriella replied walking up to his bust. "He was getting ready to leave for a meeting in Austria, but I begged him to stay to go riding with Mami and me. He postponed his flight for two hours. We had the best time being a normal family that day. Well two hours later, Mami and I went with Grandma and Grandpa to see him off. As he was getting onto the plane, an assassin's bullet took him away. My entire family was being shot at. I remember being shoved into the car and being taken to safety."
"Did they catch the guy?" Troy asked her.
"Yes." Gabriella answered tearfully. "Right after that, I was named heir to the throne. I'll be the first female ruler that succeeds someone."
"Why didn't you tell us about your family when we first met you?" Ryan asked.
"Because I wanted you to know me and not all this. I don't use my title to me anything. I wanted friends whole like just plain Gabriella and not Princess Gabriella."
"Fair enough." Zeke replied as everyone agreed.
"You're Highness!" Gina exclaimed rushing to the group. "There's someone who would like to speak to you."
"Who?" Gabriella asked.
"Prince Andres."
"You never found me." Gabriella said frantically. "I'm going back to my chambers."
"Well, make sure you use the secret passage."
"Alright." Gabriella agreed. "Guys, follow me."
"And be quiet."
Gabriella gathered her skirts up as they all began to down the path. She quickly pressed a code into a secret door on the side of the castle and a door opened. Everyone walked inside. Inside were several cases of jewels. Gabriella made sure that the door was secured.
"What are all of these?" Taylor asked in shock.
"Our crowned jewels." Gabriella answered. "All the necklaces we're wearing tonight came from here."
"Who is this guy we're running from?" Jason asked.
"Prince Andres of Monaco. I can't stand him. He and I went out on one date and the entire time his hand kept traveling up my leg. For months he's been trying to get me into bed." Gabriella explained. "Come in, we need to hurry."
Gabriella led them up a winding stone staircase. They then ran down a dark hallway. Gabriella pushed a brick and a portion of the wall opened. Gabriella stepped out.
"Hello, Gabby." a voice said as Gabriella jumped in surprise. "I thought I'd find you up here at some point."
"Andres, who let you in here?" Gabriella asked visibly annoyed.
"Used some of the benefits of being above them."
"Well, wealth wise is the only thing that you're above them." Gabriella stated as the others came into the room.
"Come on, Gabby. They're beneath you."
"You know, you're the perfect example of being a future ruler of a country because of who you were born to. You don't deserve to be a king."
"And you deserve to be queen?"
"I want to help my country. You're just doing to so girls will fall at your feet, well not this girl. Guards!"
"Come on Gabby, we can unite your countries, make them one."
"You're more interested in the inheritance I'll receive when I marry." Gabriella snapped.
"Is there a problem, Princess?" a guard asked.
"Please remove Prince Andres from my chambers and make sure he's never to enter again!" Gabriella ordered.
"Yes, Princess."
"Thank you."
The two guards escorted Andres out of the suite. Gabriella sighed and fell back on the bed. Troy walked to her and pulled her into a sitting position.
"What?" Gabriella asked.
"This is the proudest I've ever been of you." Troy told her. "You're going to make a fantastic queen for your people."
"Thank you, I really needed that." Gabriella whispered smiling.
"Well, it's true. Your father would have been very proud of you."
Gabriella smiled and kissed him gently. Just then, Aussie climbed onto her shoulder. Gabriella giggled quietly.
"Why don't you change your clothes and come back here and I'll lead you all to our private movie theater."
The others agreed and went to change. Gabriella began to undress. She placed her dress back in her closet. Aussie climbed onto the vanity table as Gabriella sat down. Gabriella smiled as she placed her tiara back into its box. She then got into her pajamas. There was a knock on the door.
"Come on Aussie." Gabriella called.
Aussie climbed into her arms. Gabriella walked over and opened the door. The others were standing there.
"Follow me." Gabriella stated.