With a building crystal structure spiraling up the clock at Time's Square, finished off like standing meringue of reflective colors at the top, Cter declared the crystal rink open. "People of Jarasevo!" she addressed her eager audience with a leaning pose and her sleeved fingers spread over her face. "This year, for the inauguration of Crystal Day, the Duchess Of Jarasevo, Queen Toriel Dreemurr!" Her left arm she swept in a half circle around her elbow, turning her leaning posture into a deep bow. "Blessed be her reign, and blessed be us in her grace!"

It was a powerful sight seeing all the monsters and handfuls of humans mimic her movement, with some even kneeling to show their respect to the Monster Queen emerging from behind the crystal-covered clock tower in a dress that not even Cter's crystal magic could outshine. Her steps were so gentle and so subtle that her knees barely touched the fabric of her dress. Her clasped hands rested like leaves on a still lake's surface, and as her head ever so quietly nodded to thank Cter for the introduction, the tiara nestled between her horns seemed to smile at her the same way Toriel's mouth did.

Cter felt honored. Honored to have impressed her queen. Despite working in the castle as a Royal Councilor, the monsters just below the Royal Couple, meeting either the Monster King or the Monster Queen was something seldom to the Monster Mages. The few times Cter had met Queen Toriel or King Asgore though had felt very...informal, at least compared to how Queen Toriel looked in her regal dress.

"People of Jarasevo," Queen Toriel spoke to the kneeling masses before her with arms held out with warmth and love. "My people, whom I always long to be close to, today we celebrate another step taken by the Monster Mages in their quest to be the intermediaries between humans and monsters. To be the ones that will help guide the two races of this world to further understanding and cooperation between them. Today is a day that represents not only the efforts of the Fourth Monster Mage, Cter, but of all four of the Monster Mages." Her white, furry hand tenderly beckoned for the other three Monster Mages stood at the side with respectful bows to come join Cter before their Monster Queen.

Kurant joined Cter on her left side, while Kry and Sund joined her on her right side. They bowed like Cter did, with their sleeved arms stretched outwards with their naked hands touching at their heart. Ever so slightly, Cter felt that the three also applied some stasis magic to help hold their sleeved arm rigid, as she had done. During practice the days before in how to properly bow taught by Fang Shuey, Cter's arm had begun to hurt after just about a minute into the very specific bow.

While she didn't really feel like it was something wrong to do, had the other Monster Mages not done it she would have felt that she was being a bit disrespectful. That her three colleagues were doing it as well had her feeling relieved.

Cter's knees though…

"This discovered crystal magic is the crowning achievement of all of the Monster Mages' efforts in furthering the world and us living on it," Queen Toriel continued while sweeping over the crystal brooches in the Monster Mages' hair slowly with her hand. "And for today, we all get to enjoy this magical fruit glimmering as brightly as the souls that have made it possible." Queen Toriel tapped the claw on her toe on the floorboards, indicating that the Monster Mages should rise with pride straightening their backs to heights they've never reached before. "From Prince Soulay to the Monster Mages, I have followed the legacy of the magic that I unknowingly helped discover. Our four Monster Mages have carried the hope that I sewed into Prince Soulay's quilt with human diligence and monster care, and the future before us is brighter because of their magical efforts!"

Even as the Monster Mages did stand their proudest and tallest they all still stood only to the shoulders of Queen Toriel. A soft pair of shoulders that extended even softer arms reaching the combined width of her four Monster Mages.

"Let us give thanks to our four Monster Mages, people of Jarasevo!" Queen Toriel's voice echoed strongly inside the open plaza as her declaration was spoken from the depths of her soul. "Let us celebrate all they have done, and wish them strength and cunning for whatever they will succeed with next!"

An awash of cheers and jubilation rose from the people like they were cheering for the Monster Queen and Monster King. The variety and myriad of monsters smiling and cheering together formed a combined aura that even the humans added to. Amazingly concise despite how varied the many monsters were. Almost like...the opposite of how Cter's crystal magic was. Instead of one color becoming many, it was many colors becoming one.

It...touched Cter.

And gave her something to think about, to boot.

For later though, as there were still a few more steps left in the ceremony. Queen Toriel praising the Monster Mages was just the introduction.

The main event was just about to start.

However, Queen Toriel wasn't aware of that.

"Isn't that akin to going against the crown?" Kry had protested the week before when Sir Gerson had detailed the plan. It had seemingly hit Kry at such depth that he completely disregarded that it was Sir Gerson, of all monsters, who had detailed it. "Surely Queen Toriel should be notified of it?"

As the cheers retreated from the people of Jarasevo, Cter's colleagues stood up and walked away from Queen Toriel and Cter towards their designated spots around the circumference of the crystal rink where they began to weave colorful magic. Queen Toriel followed them with her eyes and confusion, but before she could reach proper bafflement, her attention was taken by Cter offering her hand. "My Queen?"

"This is one of...his...ideas, isn't it?" said queen whispered as she put her large hand into Cter's, completely drowning the fair skin in fluffy white.

"Queen Toriel is going to be keen on what will happen quicker than you can even think, Cter, so you need to be vigilant for that."

Sir Gerson was gonna be annoyed with Cter immediately folding underneath the raised eyebrow from Queen Toriel. It wasn't even a challenging one, just a quick quirk that had Cter's eyes averting and conforming it in an instant for the queen.

All the Monster Queen did was titter under her breath at it though. "Oh that silly king," she said to herself with nothing but love. "Take me to him, please, my Monster Mage."

Certainly.

Cter led Queen Toriel over to the edge of the crystal rink that shimmered with the colors the three other Monster Mages were weaving. "If I may," she asked of her queen as she kneeled down at the white feet. Queen Toriel lifted her left foot first, allowing Cter to create a crystal skate which she then gently moved to the rink. "Wider, my queen? For better balance?"

While Queen Toriel knew for certain that her King was planning something, she didn't know exactly what it was he was planning. With the large gathering of her people behind her watching and whispering though, Toriel began to look around for her king.

Her king who's entrance from behind the crystal-covered clock tower was showered in the colorful magic from Kry, Kurant, and Sund's combined effort. His long, heavy cape flowed like water in the magical wind, as did his golden hair and beard sway with each long and secure push he did with his own skates of crystal. His hands were confidently clasped behind his back as he glided closer to his queen, stopping softly as his muzzle bumped against his queen's. It had him even sliding a bit backwards from the recoil of the royal kiss.

His queen was forced to hide her mouth behind her hand to cover up the laughter that was about to burst out of her. "Fluffbun, you golly and jolly bafoon." Cter could see the laughter from where she was kneeling though. "Oh how I hate that I love you so much." It was a smile that had nothing but the purest and inmost affection for another. "You're not supposed to move that smoothly."

Queen Toriel had a point with that, actually. Seeing King Asgore's respectfully large and solid form glide over the crystal as if he weighed nothing was very, very jarring to the eyes. It was a testament to how strong Cter's crystal magic was, but still…

It was both incredibly regal and incredibly ridiculous at the same time.

Which in a way was King Asgore embodying what it meant to be a Monster Royal.

Again though, it was very, very jarring to witness. So much so that when he stopped himself from his recoiling slide away from his queen, he extended his arm to a perfect length to invite her up for the first dance on the crystal rink on the beautiful Crystal Day. Toriel had to then also employ the help of her other hand to cover over her mouth. Behind them her mouth and eyes were shaking like aspen leaves in the winds, with small snorts escaping her. Her people all saw her body shaking as her being overwhelmed with emotion.

Which she was.

Just not the emotion they thought she had.

"You're the rudest monster alive, King Asgore Dreemurr."

The Monster King cupped his hands vertically, hiding his large palms from his queen so that Cter could conjure the other crystal skate in his grasp in secret. Mostly in secret for the Jarasevo audience, and not Toriel, as she was keenly in the know by that point. Smoothly as the morning flood caressed the beach it reached up on, King Asgore revealed the second crystal skate with his eyes glimmering as it reflected in them so soft and lovingly.

"All for you, my love."

There was barely a monster standing as King Asgore's words swept over the Jarasevo people. Their collective inhale out of total reverence to the adorable scene playing out in front of them had no knees solid, no tendrils tensed, nor floating height above ground. The aura they all shared was flush with heartfelt sympathy that despite being from hundreds, if not thousands of monsters, was but a candle against the second sun that was King Asgore and Queen Toriel meeting each other's eyes.

Cter indulged in it, in the love that the two Monster Royals had for the other. Her sleeve was flush with branches and vessels, all flowing with the same subtly red glow on her cheeks, and with the same warmth that danced around Toriel and Asgore.

A dance the Monster Mage decided to add to. Along the dance of the Monster Royals' aura she placed leaves of thin crystals as if they were toppings on a cake. Many, many toppings, until the king and queen were surrounded by a crystal autumn of falling leaves caught in their whirlwind of love. The leaves cast flickers of color as they spun around, furthering melting the souls of their people.

Inside the gentle hurricane of love and crystal leaves, King Asgore asked for Queen Toriel's foot so that he may mount the second skate and ask her up to have the first dance on the crystal rink. However, despite how perfectly he had revealed himself from behind the clock tower, and with how flawlessly he had given his queen her second skate, things did not go as planned for the Monster King.

For as he stood up without a single wobble on his skates to ask Queen Toriel to join him on the crystal rink, his mouth was hushed by a white, furry finger placed on his lips, pushing it silent.

"Ladies' dance."

Cter couldn't help but smile like an idiot at the sudden twist that had the entire plaza in more silence than it had ever been before. Nothing, not even the wind that danced around the two dared speak anything. The entire plaza, the entire town, and the entire world, were stunned quiet while awaiting Queen Toriel's next move.

Her finger slid down King Asgore's lip, brushing past his golden beard slowly to indulge in how soft and proper it was, to then turn over with its siblings to offer the Monster King to join the Monster Queen on the crystal rink. "May I have the first dance, King of Monsters?"

Cheers overwhelmed the city!

Throughout every street and alley, the peoples' hooray for their king and queen echoed for an entire week, it was said.

Cter would regret not coming up with the idea of capturing the cheers and store them within a crystal to give to King Asgore and Queen Toriel as thanks for making the second Crystal Day one for the history books with their royal inauguration of it becoming a tradition the same that they had done for the three prior Monster Mages.

Alas though, Cter couldn't really blame herself, as the atmosphere when Queen Toriel took her first step onto the crystal rink led by King Asgore was something more than just magical. Profound, it was, with nothing but pure admiration and warmth of love enough to make even Barbeqa sweat. The first push Queen Toriel took with her crystal skate was of that of a novice, but with the help of her king, she was courted to be nothing but a master, with her having complete trust in how King Asgore helped her paint her skates over the crystal rink.

There needed be no music, as the king and queen's skates sang in tones that shouldn't have been possible. The crystal rink chimed when he had her pirouetting, the note becoming higher with speed, and lowering when he eased her out of it. Long strokes of a violin played as the two glided behind the clock tower.

It was beautiful.

Nothing but.

Cter was content with just watching the two for the rest of the Crystal Day, and she was sure that everyone else was too. She was proud that the Monster Royals enjoyed her magic to this extent, and she was even more grateful towards her Monster Mage colleagues that they had helped her achieve this.

Her soul was content.

Even more so, it was inspired. Inspired to find ways to push her magic beyond what she had already achieved. Not only to give the Monster Royals more ways to express their undying love in more-lavish ways, but also to the people that stood and watched as the Monster King and Monster Queen moved as one on their own accord, stroke, note, and tone around the crystal rink.

For as much as the king and queen embodied their titles in a way that embellished stories could only dream of topping, they were nothing without their people. Nothing without the monsters that looked to them for guidance and hope. The Crystal Day would be a memory never forgotten for anyone that bore witness to it.

A memory Cter decided in that moment to use.

Her cape was swept by her extending her left arm out. "People of Jarasevo!" she called as she threw her arm straight up with her palm open to take in as much of their collective aura as possible. "In the name of King Asgore and Queen Toriel!" The two Monster Royals who stepped off the crystal rink for the finale. "In their name I gift you!"

Through the collective aura Cter made a Cooperative Connection with every monster in the audience, however small. In that moment they all shared the same memory of the event. The same emotion of it. The enraptured souls were all just the same in the collective aura she connected her magic with. Their hopes and dreams were the same, their many colors combined into one.

"Open up your souls for me!"

She felt it!

Every single of the monsters' souls with their own distinct shade in the combined color. She only meant to give them all the same pair of crystal skates. That was the plan. That was all she had dared say that she would be able to without collapsing.

But…

If Queen Toriel had changed it for the better.

Could Cter too?

Darkness crept in around her vision as she split her magic faster than she could count to strengthen the branches from the stem of the Cooperative Connection reaching out from the collective aura just a little bit more. It wasn't with much, but with so many varied monsters, many small rivers became an entire lake! It strained her soul like a hot knife twisting out her energy, but her will stood strong against it! She couldn't do each monster individually, that was impossible even for her, and even if she had help from her other Monster Mages. By parting the monsters up through what type of magic they had it would be possible, but not by Cter alone.

She needed help...

From Kry.

"Do what you feel you must do, Cter."

From Kurant.

"We'll get Sir Gerson off you later."

From Sund.

"Just don't die, okay?"

Cter's soul felt like it was going to explode. With the overwhelming amount of temporary Cooperative Connections she had made she could barely tell who among the multitude of presences within her that was her. Only by the loaned strength from her Monster Mage family could she distinguish who she was.

And who was she?

"I am Cter!"

The spiraling line on her sleeve was almost as thick as her arm.

"And I invite you!"

The Delta Rune on the back of her hand had its wings spreading out beyond the width of her spread-out fingers.

"In the name of King Asgore and Queen Toriel!"

She could barely see anything, the darkness left only a sliver of light in her vision.

But it was all that was needed.

"To dance like they did!"

She was filled with determination!

With her last strength, Cter swept her arm in front of her, releasing her stored magic into the collective aura of the monster population of Jarasevo. A blinding flash erupted in front of each of the gasping faces, with a pair of skates of crystal infused with their own flavor of magic materializing before them and falling into their astonished and startled hands.

The air inside Cter, both magical and physical, had been expended. She did not hear the cheers of the people she had gifted her magic, for as she collapsed without an ounce of strength left in her body, a single thought passed by in her mind.

She forgot the humans…

"Hey now," chuckled Sund as Kurant and Kry caught her while he put up a barricade to obfuscate. "Can't go fainting in front of the people after that display."

"Already a fever," commented Kurant before conjuring some ice magic around her sleeved hand that she placed on Cter's forehead. It took her a couple of tries for her magic to appear. "I'll be surprised if you can get out of bed within the next week."

"You did good though," added Kry while putting Cter's arm over his neck for support. "Although I must insist that you don't this again." He snapped his sleeved finger, but nothing came from it. "So you did siphon magic from us..." It was intriguing to him, that was for certain. "Borrowed magic, but reverse."

Before he could get too far away with his thinking, Cter squeezed with her hand over his shoulder to get his attention. "I...forgot...the humans," she said weakly. "L-Let me g-give you..."

"And there she goes."

Dammit...Sund...