Disclaimer: Yes, this game is awesome. Yes, the characters are awesome. No, I do not own Grand Chase... Yes, I do own GC... IN MY DREAMS! Keep on dreaming!

"Hi, I'm Arme!" a purple haired girl said cheerfully. "Wanna play together?"

"No." a boy said coldly. "Go away."

"That won't do." Arme responded coolly. "My mama and papa used to say that if little boys and girls don't go and play and socialize with other boys and girls then they'd grow up and die alone."

"What the hell are your parents teaching you?" the boy looked at her indignantly. "What do you care anyway?"

"Well, I care because I know my mama and papa would." Arme told him.

"Just go away." the boy replied. "I don't want you near me."

"But you look so lonely and sad…"

"Don't talk to me like you understand me!" the boy yelled. "You have parents who are worried about you. Why don't you just go home and leave me alone!"

Arme winced a bit under his glare but said, "Aren't your parents worried about you too?"

The boy looked away. "I… My dad's too busy with work and… my mum died when I was young. Not that you'd understand." He clenched his fist. "Get lost."

Silence. The boy gave a soft sigh. Suddenly flinching when he felt a pair of small arms wrap around his waist. "What are you—" He was cut off by small sobs.

"I'm sorry… I didn't know…"

"It's alright," the boy said. "Just leave me alone/"

"No… It's not alright!" Arme protested, shaking her head vigorously. "Absolutely not! It's not alright! You lost your mum! It's—it's not alright…"

"What do you mean?" the boy pushed her away. "Of course I am. Why the hell are you crying? It's not your mum that—"

"My mama died when I was young too…" Arme whispered. "And my papa died just last week…" She looked at him. "So I know it's not alright. I understand… It hurts…"

"I…" the boy looked at her, taken back. "Sorry."

Arme shook her head. "It's okay. I want to be your friend if you want me to be. And you can't go on about me not understanding you because I do." She smiled, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of her dress. "So you wanna play together?"

The boy nodded, "Fine," he said, a smile slowly fighting to appear on his face as Arme pulled his hand and ran towards the flowerbeds.

"I never did get your name." Arme said.

"Oh… My name isn't important." He said with an awkward smile. "Just call me…"

The castle looked amazing. The outer gardens were well lit and the decorations were simply beautiful. Glass statues covered by roses and lilies, trees hanging with colorful little lanterns and beautiful silver and gold decors with little crystals hanging from them were wrapped around the banisters and from the ceilings and roofs.

"Your Highness!" Lire said breathlessly, bowing as Lass stepped out of the carriage. "His Majesty, the king has been worried as to whether you would show up at the ball or no—"

"Shut up Lire." He answered coldly, walking away.

"Sorry 'bout that." Ronan said quickly. "He's having bad day… er… mood swings." He winked.

"Oh…" Lire replied, obviously shaken. "And who's this?"

Ronan helped a certain redhead get off the carriage. "This is Elesis. My date for tonight." Ronan added with a smile.

"Is that so. Come with me, please." Lire grabbed Elesis' arm and led her away, tossing Ronan a couple of masks. "Put those on. There's been a slight change of plans. Masquerade ball. Separate the guys from the girls." She smiled. "Don't worry, you'll find each other soon." she added seeing the look of worry crossing Elesis' face.

"Well then, see you later Ely~" Ronan called after her, grinning mischievously as he puts on his mask.

"Don't call me that, dammit!" Elesis yelled, blushing furiously.

"Tonight's the night." a cloaked figure leaned on one of the trees in the palace labyrinth.

"Yes," a masked woman smirked, throwing her long golden hair over her shoulder. "Tonight, I will finally be rid of the final flaw in my plan."

"And what exactly is that plan of yours supposed to be, hmm?" The figure removed its hood revealing a woman with red bloodthirsty eyes.

"Oh the usual, you know," the masked woman walked over to a rose bush and plucked a rose from the bush, holding the flower in her hand. "Wreaking havoc, creating chaos and stuff… eliminating the Grand Chase that's been horribly troublesome to the monsters in the surrounding area."

"Ah yes, quite the normal routine for the average everyday villain, don't you say?" Kaze'Aze smiled. "Fortunately, yet unfortunately, I'm not your average everyday villain." She looked at the masked woman with an evil gleam in her eyes, and immediately she fell to the ground, unmoving.

With a snap of her long bony fingers, the masked woman turned into dust leaving only a mask as proof that she once was there. Throwing aside her cloak, which instantly burst into flames as it flew out of her grasp, Kaze'Aze stooped to pick up the mask and wore it.

"And now, let the festivities begin."

"Here we are, ladies," Jin said. "The Kanavan Royal Ball."

"Whoa…" Both girls stared at the castle in awe as they stepped out of the carriage.

"I know right?" Jin smiled. "It gets better. Come on."

As they approached the great front doors of the palace, an errand boy greeted them and presented them with a basket of masks.

"His Majesty's orders." He explained.

"Thanks Lee." Jin said as he took three masks from the basket Lee was holding. "For you milady, a lovely rose mask that perfectly compliments both your enchantingly beautiful eyes and magnificent, silky locks. " He said, bowing as he presented the rose haired girl with a mask with a delicate design of roses entwined in thorns.

"Thanks Jinii~ It's perfect!" Amy giggled as she wore the mask. "You're sweet~"

Jin blushed a bit but quickly recomposed himself. "Right… Er… Here, Arme, this is yours." He said, scratching the back of his neck with one hand while handing Arme a mask with purple and white lilacs with the other.

"What, I don't get flatters and compliments like Amy?" She raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"I'll let dear Lassy have the honors of doing that." He smirked.

"Wh- Whatever!" Arme wore the mask and strode off.

"You know what Jin?" Amy grabbed Jin's arm just as he put on his fiery mask. "I just thought of a totally awesome plan~"

"Please son, just put on your mask and head downstairs ok?" The man pleaded with his white haired son. "Just this once, alright?" He gave his son one last pleading look before quietly closing the door.

"Ugh… This totally sucks." He murmured as he slumped deeper into the soft velvet cushions. "Arme's obviously no princess." He thought randomly, smiling slightly at the thought. "And yet… unbelievably, I think I'm actually in love with her." He chuckled. "Ridiculous and stupid."

"Took the words right of my mouth, you ridiculous and stupid prince."

Lass sat up and glared at the indigo haired masked knight who was leaning on the doorframe. "Ronan…"

"That's my name. Here, Jin told me to hand you these," he tossed Lass a pair of lilac slippers. "Get up, wear your mask, take those and go down. A certain shoeless Cinderella is waiting for you." He smirked. "Now if you'll excuse me Sire, I have a lovely lady waiting for me as well."

Lass glared at the door then at the pair of lilac heels in confusion. Lilac… Then it hit him. "Arme," he whispered. In a split second, he got his mask on and ran straight downstairs with a pair of shoes in one hand and a hopeful glint in his sapphire eyes, desperately looking for a short lilac haired girl.

Meanwhile on the other side of the room was an unnoticed girl without shoes seated in the corner, mentally scolding herself for stupidly running off without even having shoes on. Now her feet were sore and somewhat bleeding.

"Where is she?" Lass angrily thought to himself, frustrated for still not being able to locate her even after an hour of looking. "Arme… Where are you?" He stopped and looked around the sea of masked people. "It's impossible to find her in a crowd of masked people."

"Dude, the shoes." A voice whispered. "See anyone shoeless dancing around you?"

"Who—?" Lass turned but saw no one familiar. Then he spotted a familiar color in the corner. "Arme…"

He rushed over to her and knelt on one knee before her, confusing the girl. "Um… Who…"

"In need of shoes, shorty?" He teased, his sapphire eyes gleaming.

"Lass! It's you right?" Arme nearly shouted.

"Yep, it's me. But what happened to you?" He frowned, as he wiped the blood of her feet with a white piece of cloth, then tearing the cloth and proceeding wrapping it around her feet like a bandage.

"Oh… that… um… well as you can see, I don't really have shoes so… yeah…" She averted her eyes, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry…"

Lass sighed. "You're a klutz you know that?" Arme giggled embarrassedly as he slipped one of the shoes on her now somewhat bandaged foot. He looked at her and smiled. "Well, no use asking you for a dance now is there?"

"Nope~" She beamed, relived that she didn't have to dance.

"How about I force you?" He smirked, slipping on the other pair.

"What?"

"That's a possibility now, isn't it?"

"No way…"

"Alright then, now that that's settled," Lass got up and pulled her out of the chair. Arme stumbled a bit, due to her cuts and not being used to her new shoes. Fortunately, Lass caught her in his arms, making her blush. Seeing her face made Lass smirk as he practically dragged her towards the center of the ballroom.

"Lass… Don't… I can't dance." Arme pleaded.

Lass, who pretended not to hear her, took one step back and bowed, "May I have this dance, princess?" He winked at her, offering her his hand.

Princess? "What—I " Arme shifted uncomfortably as all eyes were on them. "I… um… Ok, I guess…" She said, taking his hand and seeing the annoying victorious glint in his azure eyes.

Gently grasping her small hand in his, Lass pulled her into a slow dance. As they glided and twirled on the dance floor, Arme could think of nothing else as her eyes were inexplicably glued to his beautiful sapphire eyes. Lass on the other hand, couldn't help but smile as he stared into her enchanting amethyst eyes.

As the music faded, Lass led her outside towards the palace gardens where he just held he hand and never let go.

"Arme," he whispered her name. He faced her and leaned closer to her face until he could smell her scent. Lilac… It suits her perfectly.

"Lass… What are you—?" Arme whispered, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Hey, Arme?" Lass whispered again, his forehead now leaning against hers. "I think… I think I'm actually fa—"

BOOM!

A loud explosion inside the castle interrupted the moment. Countless screaming people streamed out of the now burning castle.

"Elesis and the others!" Arme said, horrified.

"Tch." Lass cursed silently. "Stay here." He told Arme before dashing off to look for his friends and more importantly, his father.

After Lass took off, Arme slumped on the grass. What just happened?

"Ah, scared and confused like a little girl, I see."

Arme looked up and saw a masked woman, looking at her with bloodthirsty eyes, making her shiver. "Who are you?"

"Who am I?" The lady cackled. "The more appropriate question right now should be who are you?"

"M-Me?"

"Oh, you poor child," the woman cooed. "You haven't got a clue on what's happening at all have you?"

Arme stared at her blankly. "What… What do you mean?"

"Dear me," the woman said in mock sympathy. "What do I mean you ask?" She laughed. "Have you ever seen the portrait of the previous King and Queen of Serdin?"

"I don't understand…"

"Surprise, surprise. You really don't know? Why Arme dear, you are the lost princess of Serdin and the supposed heir to the throne!" The woman exclaimed.

"No… I can't be… What are you…?"

"Somnus!" the woman said and immediately, Arme fell asleep. "You poor girl. It seems that your stupid, selfish stepmother well kept everything from you. Well, I'll make you a Queen soon enough, my dear puppet. And soon, I will be…" She cackled as a dark purple mist surrounded both hers and Arme's unconscious body, leaving only a single lilac shoe behind…

*Done! Finally! After two months of endless cramming… Summer! Hope you like it! It's sort of more Cinderelly now! Yay!

*R&R please~