Chapter 7
The Ballroom

Trigger Warning: Corset, undetailed mention of lacking breath

"Ow- Ow, Cass!" Rapunzel winced. "Raps, just relax." Cassandra said, focused on running her fingers through the strings. "Ugh-" Rapunzel let out a distressed sigh, seeming to be lacking breath. Rapunzel felt another tug of the strings against her corset and it tightened up around her waist once more. "Cass- Areyousure- it's supposed to...be this tight?!" Rapunzel said, almost terrified. Cassandra had to fight a eye-roll. "Yes Raps, it's supposed to be this tight."

Rapunzel once again felt another tug of the strings and a tighten of the corset around her waist and finally, a few smaller tugs, which felt like Cassandra tying the corset off. "There. All set."

Rapunzel, catching her breath, spoke, "There. All...corset-" She cracked a smile.

Cassandra blinked and then cracked a smile too. "Ha. Good one." She said quietly.

She wandered off, grabbing a really elaborate dress and coming back to her. "Okay, arms up." Cassandra waggled her finger in a upwards motion. Rapunzel held her arms up and Cassandra began helping her into the dress. After the sound of shuffling fabrics, Cassandra had finally got it on Rapunzel and was working on tying the strings on the back of that too, just a little less hard and less tight. Cassandra then headed to the closet, opened it up and snatched a pair of new shoes, closing the door with her foot. "Alright. Feet."

"Whoa- Cass, you know I'm terrible with walking in shoes!" Rapunzel took a step back and frowned. "Look, we're going to a special, important event. And undercover. There's not a lot of people that walk around barefoot except for you, Raps. You know this." Cassandra explained.

Rapunzel sighed, running her hands and fingers through her long, blonde hair. "Aw."
"Yeah. Fine." Rapunzel opened her eyes looking back at Cassandra, lifting her dress slightly.

Cassandra knelt down and carefully put the shoes on Rapunzel's feet, despite her dislike for it. "There we go." Cassandra stood back up. "Now for that hair..." Cassandra cracked her knuckles. Rapunzel gave her a nervous smile. "What- What are you going to do to it?"

Cassandra beckoned her into the bathroom, so Rapunzel followed, and once inside, Cassandra began gathering a bunch of supplies. It took a while, but soon, Rapunzel's long blonde hair was done up in two, beautiful, curly pigtails, lined with fake flower pins. "And a finishing touch? A hat." Cassandra beckoned Rapunzel once more to the bedroom and then opened up a hat box, pulling out a boater hat. She walked to Rapunzel, gently set the hat on her head and then led her to the mirror. "Well, what do you think? Like it?" Cassandra asked.

Rapunzel's eyes gleamed and glowed while she looked at herself in the mirror. "It's gorgeous, Cass! Thank you so much!" She twirled, albeit stumbling due to the shoes. "Let's go. We don't want to be late." Cassandra said.

Cassandra had already dressed herself in a guise. It was a black and red dress and she wore boots and dark-grey tights, she also wore earrings in her ears.

"Okay!" Rapunzel followed, tripping occasionally.

The night befell the City of Corona and the four headed off to the Seal Ballroom. Many people came to visit, surely one of them had to be the person the four were looking for?

Cassandra hated balls, but she followed suit, as it was part of the plan. "Oh it's so pretty!" Rapunzel announced. "Don't forget why we're here Raps." Cassandra quipped while watching Petunia and Anthony in their chosen outfits step out of the carriage.

Entering the Seal Ballroom, it was a beautiful yellow-ish color, and the statues were not of people, but seals with clothes on. Cassandra found that odd, but hey, a ballroom called Seal Ballroom, she wasn't sure what exactly she expected. "Remember, we need to keep an eye on the people here, especially this Trevor of Equis. He's our main suspect as of today."

Rapunzel nodded. She sniffed the air, it smelt like fruit punch and the ocean. She liked this Equis culture, it smelt really nice. Cassandra spoke to Petunia and Anthony, only to realize they had disappeared. "Ugh, is no one listening to me?!" Cassandra aggressively said underneath her breath while following Rapunzel. She had no idea where the other two went and honestly didn't care. She had to keep an eye on Rapunzel. Cassandra's job.

That's when Cassandra noticed Eugene.
Crap, why was he here?!

Rapunzel would be noticed... Also how did Eugene get an invitation? Or was he doing the same thing as the four and sneaking in, pretending to fit in? Either way, this wasn't what Cassandra wanted to deal with right now. Eugene could spot Rapunzel from a mile away, even under a disguise. Cassandra rolled her eyes, disgusting how love could do that...

"Hey, Raps- Over here-" Cassandra quickly beckoned her. "What- Huh?!" Rapunzel turned to Cassandra and then was grabbed by the wrist and pulled behind a table, hitting the floor onto her knees. "Look, Raps. Your vain, idiot boyfriend is here. He'll spot you from a mile away and blow our cover." Cassandra whispered at her. "Oh. Eugene's here? That's great!" Rapunzel clapped. "No, it's not! He only causes trouble. Just...stay out of his sight, okay? Just this once."

Rapunzel frowned.
With an agreement between the two, they hurried off, trying to hide from Eugene while also trying to look for Trevor of Equis.

Cassandra glanced around the room at almost a inhuman rate and then noticed a familiar face that wasn't Eugene. Trevor of Equis, the suspect. "Found him." The lady-in-waiting said quietly.

"Hm?" Rapunzel looked at her. "There he is. We need to figure out a way to get more information on him and what he's been doing lately." Cassandra secretly pointed at him.

"Get over there, start some friendly conversation and place some questions inside without being suspicious." Cassandra told her. Rapunzel nodded and headed through the crowds. Cassandra sighed, now to find Petunia and Anthony.