"Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting King Artie and his new wife, Anya!"
The crowd cheers.
Lancelot holds out his arm and Anya takes it.
She's dressed in a long sleeved white sequin gown with her hair curled.
Lancelot is dressed in white and gold.
He waves happily to the crowd and blows kisses in the air.
"Artie, what are you doing?" She whispers to him as they descend down the stairs.
"I'm just playing the part, Anya."
"Is that glitter on your lips?" She asks him, shocked and confused and a little angry.
"Mmm." He rubs his lips together. "Cherry flavored. Want to taste?"
She's disgusted and angry at him.
"Ugh!" She yanks her arm away. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
She walks up the stairs angrily.
"But Muffin Cake..." Lancelot calls out then snaps his fingers to the woman on the stage with a glittery red dress.
The piano plays.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to dedicate this song to Princess Anya and Prince Artie."
Anya stops and turns slowly around, the spotlight on her.
Lancelot has his hand held out to her.
"Anya, my princess. Will you honor me with a dance?" He pleads gently.
(Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods)
"Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance!" The crowd chants and Anya slowly lets Lancelot grab her hand.
(Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds.)
Lancelot is leading her on the dance floor, his right arm around her waist, her left hand in his and her right hand on his shoulder.
He dances gracefully.
(Isn't there a white Knight upon a fiery steed?)
"Since when do you dance?" She asks as he leads them into circles.
"Anya, my dearest. If there's one thing I know is that love is full of surprises."
(Late at night, I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need. Oh-oh! I need a hero)
Artie is riding on a horse with Puss sitting behind him.
(I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night. He's got to be strong and he's got to be fast and he's got to be fresh from the fight)
"Come on! Come on!" Artie is urging the horse faster and faster.
His hair and clothes are flapping as the horse picks up speed.
They're near the castle.
"Fire!"
The guards shoot a fire ball at Artie.
(I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light. He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon and he's got to be larger than life)
Artie dodges the fireball.
"We can't let them stop us!" Artie yelled as he avoids the fireballs.
The horse is getting anxious and Artie urges the horse closer to the bridge.
(Somewhere after midnight in my wildest fantasies. Somewhere just beyond my reach, there's someone reaching back for me)
Lancelot twirls and lets go of Anya. He grabs a rose and places it in his mouth.
He claps his hand as he steps closer to a confused and mildly interested Anya.
Joanne shamefully covers her face in her hand, shaking her head at the scene.
(Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat. It's going to take a Superman to sweep me off my feet)
"They're closing the gate! We'll never make it to the gate in time with these fireballs!" Puss yells.
Artie is determined.
He's in danger of losing Anya.
He urges the horse faster.
"We'll make it!" Artie yells.
(Up where the mountains meet the heavens above. Out where the lightning splits the sea. I could swear there is someone, somewhere watching me)
"Artie! We won't make it! It's too high!"
"Yes, we will!" Artie yells.
"Go!" The horse whinnies as he jumps.
(Through the wind and chill and the rain and the storm and the blood. I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood)
They make it and they continue riding into the castle.
Guards are blocking the entrance.
Artie commands the horse to jump over the guards.
They fly over the guards and Puss jumps down.
"Puss!" Artie stops the horse.
The guards are coming.
"Go! Go! Your lady needs you! Go!" Puss yells.
Artie relents and urges the horse to continue to ride.
(Like a fire in my blood. Like a fire in my blood. Like a fire in my blood. Like a fire in my blood. Oh!)
Lancelot dips Anya, spits the rose out onto the ground.
He leans down to kiss her but she picks up the rose and places it in her mouth.
She blinks up at him expectantly.
(Hero)
Artie is still riding the horse.
(I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light. He's got to be sure and he's got to be soon and he's got to be larger than life)
Artie sees the door.
Anya is a few feet away.
(Oh, he's gotta be strong and he's got to be fast and he's got to be fresh from a fight. I need a hero)
Lancelot dips Anya and the rose is gone.
He looks at her and leans down to kiss her.
She slightly raises her head, puckering her lips...
"Stop!"
They pull away and stand up as the doors fly open as a horse whinnies loudly as it runs down the stairs.
The crowd gasps.
"Hey you!" Artie yells as he jumps down from the horse.
Lancelot is pissed.
Joanne is shocked.
Anya is confused.
"Get the hell away from my wife!"
"Artie?" She asks.
She's confused.
Why are there two Artie's?
But somehow she knows.
The Artie near the horse is looking at her, pleading.
Her body is coming alive.
She has the urge to run into his arms.
"Anya," he whispers.
Hearing her voice, her body and soul recognize him.
This is her Artie.
Lancelot growls and a huge light explodes from him.
When they open their eyes, it's not Artie.
It's Lancelot.
Then, it hits her.
She knows why her body was rejecting him.
It wasn't Artie.
It was never her Artie.
"You've taken the potion. You will be mine!" He yells.
What was he talking about?
What potion?
She's more confused than ever before.
Before she can react, Lancelot grabs her arms and kisses her.