An Excited Little Girl, and a Purple Horse?
by Starsinger
Purple Horse? Has Starsinger gone mad? Well, not any more than usual! lol Still don't own them.
Annette fixed Illyana's hair. This was a difficult prospect as the seven year old was so excited that she could hardly sit still. It took Piotr came in and held her hand as Annette curled and pinned her blonde hair. She wore a blue ball gown complemented the jewelry Kitty had given her. Piotr himself put the necklace and tiara on her. The tiara sat just forward of the mass of curls on top of her head. Finally, Illyana looked in the mirror and announced, "Perfect!" Suddenly, she looked at the ground. "Piotr, why aren't you going with us?"
Piotr sighed, he really didn't have an answer to her question. "We didn't have enough time, Snowflake. I'll go to the next ball. There's one in the spring."
"Come on, Princess," Sebastian said from the doorway. "It's time to go." Illyana squealed as she raced out of the room, down the steps, and out the house. Sebastian, Scott, Pete, Piotr, Annette, and Nikolai all chuckled as they followed her out of the house. Piotr offered her his hand as she climbed into the handsome mahogany coach. As his sons followed him into the coach, Sebastian turned back to the others, "Annette, Nikolai you have the night off. Piotr, we'll see you in the morning."
"I don't understand why they left you behind, Master Piotr," Nikolai murmured as the coach drove away. "You are the Duchess' son."
Piotr turned to the couple who had worked for his family before he had been born. Their loyalty and care for him had also helped him get through the difficult days following his mother's death. "I don't either, Nikolai. I really don't have a choice. Go on to bed, we'll be just as busy tomorrow."
Piotr wandered into the garden behind the fence and sat on a bench. "Mother, I really wish you were here. I just don't think it's fair that I was left behind," Piotr glanced around as the full moon lit up the garden. He wondered where Lockheed was, he missed his little friend. What he wasn't prepared for was a loud "BAMF" noise and the appearance of a peculiar little man. He had blue fur covering every inch of his body, that he could see. His eyes were yellow, and he had a forked tail. He was dressed stylishly in a blue and red doublet with matching hose. A hat sat on his head at a jaunty angle. Finally, Lockheed was hanging onto his tail, and he had a stick in his hand. Piotr shook his head, if he didn't know better, that was a wand.
"Hello, Piotr, I am Kurt, your Fairy Godfather," the stranger announced.
"My what?" Piotr asked incredulously.
"Your Fairy Godfather, I'm here to grant your wish tonight. Lockheed here, tells me you want to go to the ball and see the beautiful Princess again." Piotr looked at the ground not quite sure what to think. He looked back up at Kurt and smiled. "I'll take that for a yes. Let's see, the first thing you need is a ride. Well, a horse and carriage would be a little too cliché." He tapped his forehead, looking around. He smiled broadly, "Yes, you will do nicely," he told Lockheed.
Lockheed started to fly away before Kurt waved his wand and "BAMF", Lockheed was now a horse, a purple horse. Kurt sighed, "I never could get the color right. They always come out the original color of the animal." He looked at Piotr, "Your clothes will never do. It's said that the Princess will wear a rose colored gown this evening. We need something to compliment that color, and hopefully detract from your friend here." He waved his wand, again the noise and the smoke issued forth, Piotr no longer wore his well-worn clothes, but a silvery gray doublet and hose. The matching cape shimmered In the moonlight. Black velvet shoes covered his feet.
Piotr was speechless. He looked up in gratitude, "Thank you, Kurt. I don't know what else to say."
"You look handsome, my friend. One other thing, you must leave the ball by midnight. Everything will change back at midnight. Don't forget, midnight." Piotr nodded and looked at the large horse before swinging up into the saddle.
When Piotr looked back, Kurt was gone, "Thank you," he repeated. The two rode off down the moonlit road.
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The palace glittered with a dazzling array of lights designed to show it at its best. Lords and ladies made their way to the grand ballroom, to be announced by a Herald before they descended the steps. "Lord Brian and Lady Megan Braddock, Lord Roberto DaCosta and Lady Danielle Moonstar, Lord Remy LeBeau and Lady Anna Darkholme." No one was sure how Remy had convinced Anna to accompany him. Rumor had it that all of her petticoats disappeared, and he wouldn't return them until she agreed to go with him. That was rumor though.
"King Charles and Queen Ororo," all turned to watch the Royal Family descend to the ballroom floor. "Princess Catherine and Count Jean Paul Beaubier." Kitty looked stunning. She wore a rose colored gown covered with tiny rubies scattered over the bodice. Her hair was caught in a gold colored snood, and a diamond and garnet tiara decorated her hair. Tiny glass slippers adorned her feet.
"My father's idea of a joke," Kitty whispered to Jean Paul. The whispering started as she arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Every eligible young man was here. She knew why, she was the most eligible woman in the kingdom. She straightened the elbow length white gloves before gliding over to greet her friends, Brian and Megan. Logan quietly followed. She heard others being announced as she talked briefly with her friends.
Logan followed her as she circulated around the room. When Kitty encountered Illyana, she stopped and made a fuss over the little girl. The King even came over and asked her to dance. Everyone stopped and smiled at the curious pair they made on the dance floor. It was as Ororo walked over to her daughter to comment on the little girl that the whole room grew silent. Kitty looked up at the top of the steps to see him standing there. He was large, well dressed, good looking, and wearing a mask. Kitty smiled as he glided down the steps. He bowed to the King and Illyana, and proceeded over Kitty. She found herself blushing as he held out his hand to her. She put her hand in his and he kissed it, "Would you like to dance?" he asked softly.
"Why are you wearing a mask?" Kitty asked as they spun around the dance floor. He was very a very graceful dancer she noticed.
"Allow me a little mystery, Your Highness. Maybe I'll start a trend?" he asked, laughing lightly. She found herself smiling back. They never noticed that they were the only ones on the dance floor. They smiled at each other as the music ended. The mystery man held out his arm and guided her over to the where food had been set out for the revelers.
The night went like that. Piotr charmed everyone with a quick wit and a broad smile. No one recognized him, not even his best friends, Remy and Jean Paul. He talked with them comfortably as they wished that their friend could have come. The only person who looked puzzled was the Duchess Emma Frost. He recognized her as an old friend of his mothers. As much as he wished that he could stop and speak with her, he didn't dare.
Piotr finally looked up at the clock and realized that he only had thirty minutes before he had to return home. He bowed to the Princess, "I'm sorry, Princess. I must go."
"Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked.
"I hope," he replied. He took her gloved hand once more and kissed it. He quickly made his exit. All the ladies followed his flight up the stairs.
"Who was that masked man?" Rogue asked.
"I don't know, but I hope he comes back."
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Piotr arrived home just as the clock struck midnight. He heard a chuckle as he turned around and his finery returned to rags. "Did you have a good time?" Kurt asked. He took out an apple and started to eat.
"It was marvelous Kurt, I danced with the Princess. I met the King and Queen, I mystified everyone. I even met an old friend of my mothers. I wish I had been able to ask her if she knew anything about the will." This came out in a breathless rush.
"You have two more nights to charm everyone, maybe you will," Kurt popped out at the sound of the carriage returning home. Piotr stood to open the door for the small family.
"How was the ball?" he asked, faking a yawn.
Pete and Scott smiled, "Illyana was a hit." The little girl was fast asleep on Sebastian's shoulder. "We made a lot of contacts as well." Scott replied.
"Yes, but that isn't the biggest news. A mysterious man showed up, and no one knew who he was!" Pete exclaimed.
"Well, of course nobody knew, he wore a mask!" Scott retorted. "Father, can we get masks for the ball tomorrow night?"
"We'll see," their father replied, he handed his daughter to Piotr. "Piotr, please put her to bed."
"Yes, Stepfather," Piotr complied. He helped the little girl out of her dress and petticoats, leaving her in the chemise she wore underneath before covering her with her blankets. "Good night, Snowflake," he whispered. He went to the window, "Good night, Princess," he whispered into the night.