Rawr! Chapter three! Love Us! Sorry for the long wait between updates. xD; We haven't really been in a writing mood while at home. We've had an annoying couple of days.

Bar-Ohki: xD He only thinks he's going to be able to mess with Roy, because you know what? No one messes with Roy Mustang. xDD

Jane Austen Girl: We're so honored to be acknowledged by so many madeups! -grin-

PaperDragonfly: xD Ed doesn't think he's going to have any fun at all.

LoveChild Rosie: xDD Sorry, Rosie, this is a different Roy. He's only like... nineteen. xD He's not related to Rose.

Momma Mustang: -pets- xD Aw, poor Momma got distracted, huh? xD Don't you love Roy? He knows he's hawt. xDD Yesh! Momma gets sneak peeks! Course Rosie can has some too if she wants, but... that's irrelevant. Momma still pwns.

Vanessa Elric: xD Course he is.

silver candle: Course he doesn't. He's pwn though. -grin- He'll be sure to drop lots of short jokes.

KobrahEdo: On it!

GreedxEd: o-o Nope. We haven't heard of that manga before, is it good?

Disclaimer: Don't own it, as usual. Song is STEP you by Ayumi Hamasaki. Please keep in mind that We don't remember the exact ranks for the Jumi, so We're doing the best We can to list them in order greatest to least. If you know them, can you review and tell Us the proper order? o-o xD And RENT fans should get that 'ambassador's daughter' thing.


THE PRINCESS DIARIES

flourite

As soon as Edward blinked up at the darkhaired man, the little rose perched delicately between his fingers, he was kidnapped by Rose, who gave the young lord a smile over her shoulder that she hoped assured him that she was not going to be killing Risembool's only princess anytime soon, despite what it might look like. Ed, who was a little dazed, simply followed meekly, and when they got up to his sister's room (which was really his now) let himself be pushed down to sit on the bed without a struggle.

"Okay," said Rose in a rather unnaturally commanding voice. "You have to learn something new today." Edward stared. He seemed to be re-learning how to live, what was one other thing compared to the mountain of girlish trials he'd been subjected to? "You know how to waltz, right?" she asked, giving him a scrutinizing look. It wasn't as if he was one of those princes who thought themselves of too high standing to join amongst the dance-goers in, well, a dance, but she'd never seen him dance. Sure, he walked around the dance floor, talking and going on, but she'd never seen him partner up with someone and actually dance.

The boy's golden gaze took on a look of slight confusion, but he nodded. "The lead," he replied, blinking. "I've danced with Mama before... Why? I don't have to learn the other part, do I?" It wouldn't be surprising... His gaze narrowed when she gave him a rather apologetic grin, and he groaned. "You are not serious," he mumbled, sighing. "Fine... But just how much of this girly stuff do I have to learn? I mean, Allie's going to come back eventually, right? And when she does, I can stop being princess."

Rose nodded, but her apologetic smile never faded. "You're right," she agreed, "but we don't know just when Allie's coming back, if at all, so you have to learn whatever you can." She took his hand and pulled him up, and he blinked stupidly as she took his waist and put his hand on her shoulder, and took his other hand. "You're lucky I know both parts," she commented, smile lighting up her blue eyes for a moment before her brow furrowed as she concentrated on the dance. "Kay, step back when I step forward, and so on. I'm sure you know the lead -- mirror it." Edward scowled, but did as she said, and found it actually quite easy. He was a little surprised at this, but kept going. "And that's it," said Rose finally, seating herself on the corner of the wine-colored duvet.

"So..." mumbled Edward, blinking. "What did I have to learn this for, again?" The apologetic smile came back, and his gaze narrowed. Was she plotting something? "What, Rose?"

A mumble. He glared, and she looked rather as if she would like nothing more than to sink into the floor. "There's a... ball for each... suitor... and so..."

He stared. "A ball?! Since when?!" He'd never attended any balls before. What, had they figured him out already and decided to put him through hell or something? Aaaaargh. But no, he couldn't have been figured out so quickly. He was sure it was something else, and he was going to find out, dammit! "This is so unfair."

"Sorry," returned Rose with the same apologetic look. "Oh, and you'll be seeing the King and Queen tonight, so please try to keep in character. It hasn't mattered much till now, but your mother won't be fooled easily. C'mon, now, one more practice dance, and then you go have a bath. I'll have someone put out some things for you." She got back up, took his hand and his waist, and since he know what they were doing this time, obediently put his hand on her shoulder. They moved to her quiet little hum, and she tapped her finger on his side each beat, and they shuffled about the empty room gracefully for a few moments, till she stepped away. "Kay," announced the blue-eyed girl. "Pick out something for the ball, and a mask to go with it, and then leave them out on the bed and go have your bath. I'll be back to do your hair and makeup after that."

He grumbled about having to be all primped up again, but nodded and stepped away from her, opening the large closet and stepping inside.The blonde blinked about the room, looking for a formal ball gown. And of course, his sister's ladies-in-waiting would have these in sections, and he found them quickly, selecting a wine-colored silk gown. It didn't have a very long train, but of course, this was a ballroom gown, and in the ballroom you danced. It wouldn't do to be tripping over your skirts while you danced. The train was the same wine-reminiscent hue, and it tapered as it reached the edge of the bodice to reveal a black skirt beneath it.The bodice, the same burgundy wine color, bared his shoulders and probably would have made his sister look gorgeous. If, of course, she'e ever worn it. Holding it up against himself in the mirror, he just figured it made him look goofy. He nodded in satisfaction, then brought it to the bed, where he left it alongside a sequined burgundy mask to match.

That was all, and he went into the large bathroom, sighing as he realized no one was there to help him take off the corset. "Fine," muttered the blonde, "I'll get it off myself." He could get this dress off quite easily, and he did so, stripping down to his boxers (which he'd been allowed to keep on under his skirts and petticoats) and with quite a lot of concentration (he furrowed his brow and gritted his teeth) managed to reach behind himself awkwardly and untie the bow. The rest was simple; he just had to loosen it. "Yeah," said Edward triumphantly as he finally got it off, "Fuck you, corset."

Sighing, he took his bath quietly, glad that for once he wasn't being bugged by suitors and balls and ladies-in-waiting. Not, of course, that he'd been bugged by them for a long time. He just liked to pity himself.

/"Where are you, what are you doing around this time?" - "imagoro doko de nani shite iru kana?"/

Red sunset's light was flooding through the windows of the castle as the young prince finished his bath. He came out, wrapping himself in a towel as he did, and found something suddenly flung in his face, turning the world black. "Augh!" They slid off, and he found Rose giggling at him. Boxers. "You're insufferable," he told her, but he was grinning as he disappeared behind the screen, pulling them on and coming back out. "Do I have to put the corset back on?" he asked, but it was more like a whine. He scowled into the closet, where a small shelf held the hellish little bits of lingerie.

"Course," chirped Rose with a smile, retrieving one of said pieces of hell out of the closet and positioning it around his middle. "Plus if you wear it, you'll be thinner, and then you'll be able to fit into the dresses much better than you could without it." This wasn't much of a reason to Edward, but he sighed and accepted his fate, taking a deep breath as she tightened the evil little thing around his stomach. "There, go put your dress on and I'll fasten it up for you."

He put his dress on obediently, but rolled his eyes. None of this was much fun. And the worst of it was that he was wearing his sister's clothes, living his sister's life. This would have been much more fun if he'd been the one to run away. Instead, it had to be his kind, patient little siste, and he had to be subjected to corsets and skirts!

"Okay," said Rose, turning him around and placing his mask on his face, adjusting it so the prince could see. "You're ready. Don't forget you have to talk to the king and queen. You're going to have to tell them that 'you're' gone."

He scowled at the needless orders, but nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I know. And I have to dance with that guy, right?" Considering he'd only ever danced with his mother, dancing for the first time with someone who wasn't her and was his sister's suitor would feel a little weird. Then again, this whole thing was weird. He supposed he'd get used to it. Hadn't he just done the waltz with a lady-in-waiting?

"Yup. Off you go, now, make all the other girls jealous," winked Rose, striding out of the room to make her own preparations.

Edward's shout followed her down the hall. "I am not a girl!"

/Right after I thought such things - nante omotta sono ato sugu ni/

The sunset was giving way to darkness as Edward stepped down the stairway, nearing the Great Hall. He would be the last person there, and as such, would be a "guest of honor" or sorts. Of course, the real guest was one Lord Mustang, who, he noted, he hadn't seen come in. (He'd stood at the top of the stairs and watched the guests pour in, regarding their extravagant outfits boredly.) Where could he have gone? He hadn't, like, escaped, had he? Edward shrugged, then swept down the stairs, passing the guards who stood at the bottom of each banisterwith an acknowledging nod.

And here came Lord Mustang himself, dressed in a stylish combination of breeches and tunic, stumbling into the door. Edward looked down to stee what had made the older noble trip, then snorted. His shoe was untied. Edward put on his sweetest little smile, hoping to act just a little like Allie, but rolled his eyes when he realized that with the personality this man had, what with all the shallow winks to the maids and everything, the guy wouldn't care. So he flung the little smile away and approached normally.

Roy was adjusting his tunic with a huff. Edward sniggered, but stopped as Roy blinked up at him and he blushed, embarrassed to have been caught laughing at his suitor. He picked up the side of his skirt, curtseying as neatly as he was able, though he wobbled a little.He glared at Roy, who was still occupied with his shirt, daring him to laugh. Roy didn't seem to notice. Edward looked away, then turned back as he found the darkhaired man regarding him with an amused look and a lifted brow.

"What?" asked Edward, attempting to keep his voice even a little bit Allie-ish -- that is, gentle and generous and kind and all those nice things. He didn't cut it. He supposed it wouldn't matter, but if he were to meet with his parents with Roy alongside him, he would have to try his best. So he figured this served two purposes: it was good practice for being his sister, and if Roy came to meet his parents, his deceitful voice would be believeable.

"Nothing," replied Roy, smirking his (very handsome, Edward noticed with a note of disgust -- he wasn't supposed to find this guy handsome! Couldn't get attached to someone who wouldn't be his in a while, after all.) usual smirk. "Having problems with those skirts of yours?"

Should have known he was making fun of him. "Of course I am," replied Edward, dropping the façade. "They're annoying." This seemed to be the only communication needed other than some eye contact, and Roy offered his arm, which the 'princess' took after a moment.(Left arm, of course. Skin or not, his right was still made of metal.)

They entered the ballroom to a roaring silence. Edward blinked. All eyes were on them.

The room was illuminated with the light of thousands of candles, all flickering dutifully away. They lit the grand chamber, throwing shadows to dance with the gargoyles who perched above it all, watching like sentries carved of stone. Tapestries lined the marble walls, their white flanks curling with tendrils of pyrite. No light shone through the grand skylight, but instead stars littered the ceiling. The Royal Orchestra had been set up in a corner of the giant room, and violin danced with cello, trumpet and horn. Long tables flanked the walls, littered with hors d'oeuvres, bottles of wine, and a single table was covered solely in crystal goblets. It was in this room that a new voice broke through the dead silence. "Ah, and the arrival of our dear princess and her consort has finally occurred. Welcome, you two."

Attention was drawn to a man standing at the head table, dressed in grand robes. He had violet hair (he liked to dye it as a teen and had experimented with different colors until sticking with purple) and smart gray eyes that grinned even when his mouth did not. Alexander Connor Rubens was the Royal Playwright and Speech Giver, and though he was good at public speaking, he was much too shy when dealing with relationships, and Edward often wondered how it was that Rubens had picked up Rose, who was both younger than him and even more shy. Yet tonight, she was on his arm, and she herself looked stunning, in a periwinkle gown and mask (everyone had one) and her red hair in an elaborate updo. Rubens opened his mouth once more, grinning. "Glad you could join us." He turned back to the rest of of the guests, spreading his free hand (Rose had the other). "As I was saying, the king and queen will not be attending, but please feel free to make yourselves comfortable. They may not want me to tell you this, but I believe the King has gone somewhere, and the queen has taken to her bed for the day."

All the guests began to talk at once, and Rubens grinned with the same apologetic grin Rose often used. Maybe she'd picked it up from him, or vice versa. He beckoned to Roy and Edward, who looked at each other for a moment in confusion before weaving through the crowd and joining the other couple. "What?" asked Edward, blinking. "What happened to Mama and Dad?"

Rubens shook his head. "Sorry, Princess," he apologized, "but there's no time for that at the moment." He paused, looking around the ballroom. "Where's your brother?" asked the playwright, blinking. Rose giggled and whispered something in her date's ear, and he spluttered, realizing just where the princess' brother had gone to. His gaze fell upon Roy, who was looking at him in a mixture of confusion and slight amusement, however, and he quickly stopped his mild freak-out, composing himself once more. "I see. Anyhow, you two will have to lead the dance. Are you prepared?"

Edward nodded, considering he was quite ready and both he and Rose knew it. "Of course," he replied, hooking his hand back around Roy's forearm. "Do we begin now?" He'd just like to get this over with, thank you. This princess business was tough work.

"If you like," replied the playwright, stepping away. "We'll join you in a moment. I'll inform the orchestra of their task." He hurried away, Rose tagging along. Edward and Roy watched, and Rubens spoke something to the maestro, who nodded and began moving his hands in a different formation. Suddenly, the room was filled with a new song, and the 'princess' and her consort stepped forward, taking up the position and beginning the simple waltz.

/Even just for a moment - tatoeba hon no chotto de ii kara/

The young prince found himself regretfully liking the man more and more as they spoke while dancing. However, the man had a way of poking fun at him, and he'd always decide 'No, I hate you' before throwing that away and admitting that yes, he did like him. It was odd. Edward wondered if everyone had this problem. He, of course, had never even had a crush before, so he had no idea how to go about such things.

"So..." he said quietly, as they stepped apart. "Where did you learn to waltz?" It was interesting to know this man's background, and in turn tell his own.

"With the Xingian ambassador's daughter in her dorm room at Central's military headquarters," replied Roy, smirking his usual smirk. "And you?"

"With my mother," admitted the prince, "but I re-learned just recently. Today, actually," he added. "With Rose in my sis -- my brother's bedroom." Dammit, there wasn't more than one princess! And Roy probably knew it, so slipping up now of all times wouldn't be a very good plan.

A click sounded, and the dancing pair looked up to see the giant grandfather clock, which had just struck midnight. Roy looked back down to Edward, who was still looking up at the clock stupidly. "Not going to pull a Cinderella on me, are you?" he asked with a grin. "Don't leave me here just because it's midnight. I don't want any glass slippers. And I really don't want to have to fit shoes on all the women in Amestris just because you flaked on our first date."

"I'm not flaking," replied Edward with a snort and giving a curtsey. He was a bit better at it now. "And I'm not leaving slippers anywhere, especially glass ones. Much too breakable."

"My thoughts exactly."

/I wanted you to remember me - atashi no koto o omoidashite tte/


Rawr! Longest chapter yet! How did it get to be so long?!