Glad to see that people are doing well...
A little bit of news...
My oldest cousin is pregnant! First baby born in our family since my youngest cousin was born 16 years ago! I'm so freaking excited!
It makes me wanna get married and have a baby as well... any volunteers?
Just kidding... i'll wait till i have a stable job and can support myself financially and live in a house...
Till then, College and late night Fanfiction continues!
Speaking of which, i dispise one of the programs I am using for college... damn thing kicked me out while I was doing a timed essay and i couldn't get back... i sent an email to my professor so hopefully it will be resolved before it's due date and i can write it... i'd hate to fail my first essay...
Since we are nearing the end of the story, it's getting time for me to hint at the projects coming up...
Read the commentary at the end of this chapter for more details...
Let's keep rolling on!
Over in the Land of Departure, the sun had set and guests were arriving by the numbers. The servants let all the visiting guests in way before the ball was to start. Some of the younger, more eager, princesses arrived as early as possible to catch Prince Terra's eye. Outside, five footmen were helping the ladies out of their carriages and gondalas.
"Every single princess on the planet, waited to be invited to the ball. Every Portia, Gwenevere and Janet, would come by coach or boat to be here. Most would swim the moat to be here, just to be at this historic gala! Girls would walk or run or even crawl! Rumor is that at this joyous scene tonight, the prince will likely choose his future queen tonight!" they sang, leading the ladies inside the castle.
Terra knew the one he seeked wouldn't be this early at all. He was determined to keep this ball going for days if possible until Surane arrived. Not even Xemnas would stop him from making the vow.
The royals were busy getting ready as the guests arrived. Terra was dressed in a nice black suit with a golden sash over it. Eraqus wore his royal robes with an identical golden sash. The Queen was in an emerald green dress with golden accents.
"Oh, darling, this is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to see who the lucky girl is!" she squealed.
"Now now, Terra can change his mind tonight if he wants." Eraqus said, warning her.
"He better not!"
"Mother, Father, I won't change my mind. I know she's the one." Terra said, brimming with confidence.
The Queen went over to him and fixed his hair to look at least a little more cleaner. The brown spikes refused to stay down and behave. It was a trait inherited from Eraqus to have unruly hair.
"Mother! She likes it like this!" Terra complained.
"Oh really? What else does she like?" his mother asked.
The prince only rolled his eyes at her. He wasn't gonna spoil the surprise anytime soon. They would just have to wait.
"Terra, at least promise me you will look at these princesses." she said in a stern tone.
"Yes, Mother, I will. But, I'm telling you, I already found her."
The Queen was already out the door by the time he said that. In the ballroom, the girls were getting restless by the minute. It was about time to start. The Queen came out to greet them all.
"Hello, hello! Welcome, dear friends! I think we all know why we are here tonight, but please let's keep this a clean competition. Vexen, if you will, please begin!" she announced.
Vexen popped out of a doorway and headed over to the orchestra. Somehow, in a matter of days, he managed to write a song to introduce at least a few princesses to Prince Terra in hopes of finding the future queen. Terra came out to the middle of the ballroom floor and waited patiently. The princesses lined up just as the song began.
"Beauty and glamor in breeding a match, princesses on parade." Vexen sang. "Lovely, entralling, and all unattached! The Holi Polloi and those well-bred agree, each enjoys a royal pedigree! They're born for success! Each posesses a spark, each a remarkable maid!"
The girls danced around Terra, trying to show off their assets and be the most inticing to his eye. He overlooked all of them, hoping that Surane didn't get tangled up in the showbiz number.
"Boy, oh boy, these royal highnesses all have pluses and no minuses! Gaze upon these princesses on parade!"
The first princess came up to Terra and gave him a formal bow. She wore a slimming red mermaid dress. He kissed her hand politely, vaguely reminding himself of when he first kissed Surane's hand when they were kids. It was disgusting.
"This princess comes from Colchester, where corn and cotton grows. She plays croquet and harpsichord, and sews her own clothes."
Terra shook his head no to Vexen. The song continued and the next girl, Princess Olette, took the spotlight. Her dress was an orange-yellow and seemed to be too big to walk in.
"Olette isn't known to take the path of least resistance. She hails from southeast Stratistan, and came the farthest distance."
She seemed a bit nicer than the first princess, but it wasn't Surane. Terra signaled no to Vexen again and they moved on to the third princess. She had an ugly lime green dress on.
"Selphie lives to help the worlds. She finds no task too menial. All the other hopeful girls think she's the most congenial."
Once more, the prince signaled no. Selphie huffed and walked away. The fourth princess, Namine, wore an odd armor-like dress. The dress flaired out with chain links and the breast-plate was adorned with jewels of many colors.
"Namine is from Strudgart, where our swords and armors are made. Gaze upon, princesses on parade!"
Terra moved away from the attention and towards Vexen. The conductor looked at him with an appalled face.
"Speed it up, or end the song now!" Terra demanded.
Vexen nodded and moved the song towards the end, against the Queen's wishes. Now, she had an appalled look on her face. This was not going as planned.
"This is the likely occasion, where the heir to the throne picks a wife. This may be the day that Prince Terra will say, 'Where have you been all my life?'" Vexen sang.
On cue, several pairs of dancers came out onto the floor and did their routine. The Queen ignored the unplanned change for now.
"Brilliant, biguiling, the smiling brigade, princesses on parade!" Vexen continued, ignoring the Queen. "Each the pride of her community, each a golden opportunity. Just the thought that Prince Terra will, make no choice? Now that's hysterical! Gaze upon, put praise upon, these radiant, glamorous, luminous, dazzling, princesses on parade!"
The song ended to a well-deserved applause. Terra politely clapped a little, then continued his search for Surane. The Queen saw his wandering eyes and sighed. Apparantly, inviting the world's princesses was a terrible idea in the end. She sobbed hysterically in her hands. King Eraqus came over and patted her on the shoulder. He tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen.
Just outside the palace, Xemnas's carriage pulled up to the entrance. Since they were later than fashionabley late, no footmen were out to escort Larxene/Surane inside. Xemnas had to do the honors, and good thing too. His assistant never lost the attitude and now was better than never to get rid of it.
"Larxene, remember what I said?" he asked, leading her to the door with her on the arm.
"Yeah, yeah, lose the 'tude. Be sweet and kind and innocent looking. Make sure the prince sees the engagement ring and convince him that I'm Princess Surane." she replied, saying the last two words in a squeaky voice.
"Good, now do it."
"Now? Can't I have, like, a few minutes to compose myself? This ain't the easiest job in the world, you know." Larxene complained.
"We're late enough as it is. Just do as I say and be romantic with Terra. After he makes the vow, I'll step in." Xemnas thundered.
Of course, Terra would recognize Xemnas if he waltzed right in. In the carriage, Xemnas put a spell on his clothes. The spell would make everyone, execept Larxene, see him as the driver of the carriage. Larxene would walk down to the ballroom alone and he would sneak in when the royals weren't looking. If Terra smelled the hypnosis lillies, disguised as roses, on Larxene's dress, then it didn't matter if his assistant slipped up.
At the door, Xemnas gently knocked. There was no answer at first, so he continued knocking.
Inside, the knocking echoed throughout the ballroom. Everyone gasped and looked around. Vexen thought everyone had arrived, even those who were fashionably late were there. Who else hadn't shown up? Terra looked up at the door with a hopeful look. The Queen stopped sobbing and looked at the door as well. The servants looked at the royals for what to do.
"Don't just stand there! Open the door!" Eraqus commanded, stunned.
Two doormen ran up the staircase to the front door. They stopped at either wooden door and carefully opened them. Surane stepped through the door in her black and red dress, trimmed with roses. Terra gasped and ran to the bottom of the staircase to greet her. All the royals gasped as well, but in shock. The Queen thought she saw a tunnel of light before falling over. Eraqus held her up and summoned over to Vexen.
"That can't be who I think it is!" the king told him.
"But, everyone assumed she was... we never found the dead body..." Vexen stumbled.
"That body sure isn't dead! Vexen, you never knew SHE was coming?"
"I swear, your majesty, I never knew!"
They looked back over at Surane. She made it down the staircase to an anxious Terra. He immediately kissed her hand and escorted her to the center of the floor. A familiar smell came over him.
"Surane, I was so worried. How did you get here so fast?" he whispered to her.
"Oh, Terra, time flies when you're in love." she replied, trying to get a hypnosis lilly/rose closer to him.
The scent of summer rain and wet grass hit his nose. He sighed and ignored her cheesy answer. Terra was just glad that she was here.
"I know exactly what to say. I'll make the vow after our dance." he said.
"That sounds good to me." Surane said, showing him the engagement ring.
Terra smiled and stopped them in the center of the room. All eyes watched them. A waltz started up from the orchestra. The prince and princess bowed to each other and danced together. All the other princesses looked on with envy. Xemnas snuck in and watched the dance. The plan was going perfectly so far.
So? What do you think?
Please review!
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You know who I'm talking to... the rest of you... I love you!
Who wants a cookie?
So I did the timed essay... now i'm waiting for the grade...
As for future projects: I am going back to the Disney Classics for the next one! Can you guess the movie? Stay tuned for hints!
And stay tuned for the next chapter!