Chapter Eight: The Forgotten

Haru was sitting on a bench, her stiff white dress not allowing for much comfort. By looking around, she could see that she was in a huge crowded ballroom, with white walls decorated with clear crystals and mirrors. Everyone else was also wearing white. She thought she could see Hiromi and Tsuge circling each other in one corner. She tried to stand up so that she could talk to them, but found that she was unable to move. After she stopped struggling, Haru could see other couples that she recognized; Machida and his current girlfriend, her parents, although her father hadn't aged in twelve years and was see-through. Even Hiromi's parents could be seen, and heard, as they complained about each other's dancing skills.

At first, there were people sitting on either side of her, but as the music continued, they started pairing off to join the others on the dance floor. Eventually looking at the seats on either side of her, Haru could see that she was now the only one without a partner, and she hung her head in shame. Even this place seemed to mock her predicament.

'It's not as if I haven't been trying.' In truth, if all she wanted was marriage, she could have been married right out of high school. But she knew that she could never have made that relationship work, or the ones that had followed. A slight tapping noise makes Haru raise her head, but not by much. She was shocked to see Baron in front of her. He was still not much taller than her knee, and he was the only one in the room that looked completely comfortable in a white suit.

Baron was smiling warmly at her, and had held out his hand to her. Haru tried to tell him that their respective heights would make dancing difficult, but nothing would come from her throat. He seemed to understand what she was trying to say, but his hand was still extended to her. So, reaching slowly, Haru extended her own hand to him, and his fingers gently closed over her longest finger.

That's when a horrible smell filled her nostrils.

"Oh, that's gross," Haru mumbled as sleep fled from her mind and she struggled to sit up. A pounding ache at the back of her head made her wish to fall back into her dream world.

"Well, well, well; it looks like Sleeping Beauty didn't need a kiss from a handsome prince after all." The voice was female, with a definite British undertone. Haru's eyes snapped open, and then focused on an old white cat that had been leaning close to her, holding a green bottle carefully away from her face. Her eyes widened and she breathed in deep to scream. The cat was as big as she was.

"That wouldn't be a good idea, dear. No one would come to help, and it would only ruin your image." Haru turned the half-born scream into a heavy breathing exercise, and took in her new surroundings. She was in a beautifully-made room fit for a princess, and laying in a large canopied bed with the sun streaming in through the window. The rest of Haru's memories returned slowly.

"Where…"

"In the Cat Kingdom, of course. You know," the cat stood on her hind legs and placed the now corked bottle on the nightstand, "It's actually good for us that you came when you did. My son and I were beginning to worry about finding a suitable bride for my precious Lune." Haru eyed her warily. She could now see that the old white cat was exquisitely dressed in a flowing red dress that could have made any royal jealous, which meant that whoever she was, she was a force to be reckoned with.

"You're…"

"Well, he'll be yours too, after he comes back from whatever business he insisted could not be delayed and we can have the wedding."

Wedding…Hiromi's! If I miss that, she'll kill me! Haru jumped off the bed, only to fall back against it with one hand to her head. She had moved a little too fast than her headache was willing to permit.

"Now, dear, it's not a good idea to move like that after being hit on the head. We don't want you to become permanently damaged."

"I think there has been a misunderstanding."

"No, there's not one at all. You saved a prince, and now you get to marry him. It's just like a childhood dream, wouldn't you say?"

"Ma'am, you don't understand; I don't want to marry Prince Lune."

"And why ever not?" The white cat's tone now had a slightly chilly edge.

"Well, for starters, I don't know him, and he's a cat. I'm not. Clearly, there is no way a marriage like this can work."

"You think so?" Haru turned toward the cat, mistrusting the amused purr. "Bring in the mirror!" Immediately, two cats clothed in veils came through the curtain close to the white cat, bearing between them a huge mirror with a golden frame. Wary of the cat motioning her to look, Haru walked in front of the mirror. This time, she did not swallow her scream.

"Aaauugghh, I'm a cat!!!!" Haru looked down to where her hands should have been, only to find that they had been replaced by paws that felt strange to her. With them, she felt the pointed ears that were now on top of her head, and the shape of her new face. And underneath the dress, she could feel a tail slightly swishing back and forth. Haru couldn't help but wonder if her own mother would recognize her like this.

Looking at the mirror again, she saw that her denim outfit had disappeared as well, replaced by a stunning ball gown that matched the beautiful sky outside her window. Silver bracelets decorated both her arms, as well as a silver fish necklace dangling from her neck. She was even wearing a modest crown that also was fish-shaped. Her hair had been brushed out of its braid and now flowed down her back like a gentle waterfall. This outfit was finer than anything Haru had ever worn before, and all she could think of was getting out of it.

"As for knowing my grandson, there's plenty of time for that after the ceremony is concluded."

"What happened to my clothes?!" She wheeled around to the white cat, who now looked unbearably smug.

"The attire that you arrived in didn't really suit your new station, so I had them replaced with something more becoming." One of the veiled cats spoke up.

"We were going to put you in the yellow one, but you were too tall for it." Haru glared at the white cat. The outfit that the white cat looked down on had been her favorite.

"Just who do you think you are, to organize my life like you have the right?" The white cat smiled coyly and gestured for one of the servants to speak.

"May I present, her royal majesty, the dowager queen, Louise." The white cat's evil smile increased.

"Welcome to the royal cat family."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Baron had caught a ride on Toto back to the castle, and was carefully circling it when he heard Haru's scream.

"Sounds like she found out what happens to humans that trespass here." Toto said, now aiming for the window that the scream had come loudest and perched over it. Baron didn't answer, since he didn't want to be overheard. Good thing too, since just then, he heard his former fiancé being introduced.

"Louise? Louise Wellington?" Haru's voice sounded incredulous. A sharp breath was heard.

"Where did you hear that name?"

"I met with Fredrick von Gikkingen."

"Ah, little Freddy. How is he, by the way? Still looking for Humbert, I presume?"

"Yes…" A cold laugh ensued.

"I knew the boy was stubborn, but this really takes the cake."

"How are you still alive? Cats have-"

"Shorter life spans, yes. That is only true outside of the Cat Kingdom. Here, cats often live longer than humans."

"Where is Baron? And Toto and Muta?"

"Humph. Don't worry your pretty head over that lot; my late husband took care of them long ago."

"Answer the question!"

"Now, now, we don't have time to talk about old acquaintances. The banquet will be starting any minute-"

"Are you deaf? I already said that I am not marrying Prince Lune."

"You'd best listen now, girl, because I'm only going to say this once." Louise's tone had gone stone cold, all the laughter faded from her voice. "The royal line hasn't branched out in over four thousand years, thanks to the tradition of taking human brides. I came along willingly, and have become widely respected, both as queen and mother. You would do well to follow my example. If I had let Humbert rescue me when he had the chance, I would have lived as a mere baroness instead of a queen. Humbert never appreciated fine trappings or company, so I would have been forced to live in near isolation in an under kept manor." Baron's grip on his cane turned white-knuckled at her words.

"What would have been so bad about that? You could have just…wait a minute. You not only had a fiancé, but one who was willing to come here to rescue you, and you let him go?!" Haru's voice sounded shocked.

"Of course. Except we couldn't exactly let him go, since he would have gone home and cut off the funds to my parents for breaking the engagement, so I asked my late husband to do something special for Humbert and his friends, which he was more than willing to do."

"What did he do?"

"Perhaps I'll tell you another time; the banquet is starting." Baron heard a slight scuffling, which he took to be Louise dragging Haru from the room.

"Cats must be deaf or something," was the last thing Baron heard the object of his affection say. After a few moments of silence declared them gone, Toto turned his head to Baron.

"I thought for sure that you were going to jump off my back and grab the girl from the windowpane."

"That wouldn't have done any good; Louise would have called the guards before I could have reached Haru. There is also the fact that neither of them quite knows that I'm alive."

"Then why are you trying to help her?" Baron didn't answer. He carefully slipped off Toto's back and through the window.

"Wait for the signal." Toto nodded and began circling high above the castle again.

"One of these days, I should ask him what the signal is."