Monster Monster Monster Monster Monster! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! "AHH!"
Frederick screamed as he shot out of his sleep, not even realizing he was in a bed sprawled around getting tangled up in the sheets as he fell off the side, Blaine and Lance were unable to catch him before he hit the floor. "Frederick?! Are you ok!" Blaine shouted as the two brothers quickly got up and ran to the other side of the bed to help their baby brother. But Frederick was completely tangled up in the sheets and unable to see who was grabbing onto him freaked out and started thrashing around trying to shake them off. "Calm down Frederick it's ok! It's just us Blaine and Lance!" Blaine shouted as he grabbed onto Frederick's arms and Lance tried to pull the sheets away, but then screamed at his older brother when he saw Blaine trying to hold Frederick down. "Blaine! Stop it! Don't hold him down like that, remember what happened last time!" And tried to push Blaine off of Frederick, Blaine shrugged him off before giving him a look as he struggled to hold Frederick still as he kicked and swung at them. "Lance! I get why you're hesitant but we have to calm Frederick down before he hurts himself!" "You're scaring him!" Lance shouted back trying to pull the sheets off Frederick and push Blaine away at the same time. "Lance! Knock it off-" Blaine was trying to push him away shouting luoding before they both were interrupted when Frederick's tails suddenly wrapped around the two, yanking them off of him and lifting his brothers into the air. "Frederick! Calm down it's just- ahh!" They screamed when Frederick's tails yeeted them far across the room! Blaine crashed into the large mirror shattering it on impact, fortunately their clothes are made of pretty strong material so no glass got into his back, however his head did hit the wooden headpiece leaving him slightly disoriented. Lance was launched into one of the nightstands, smashing it underneath him leaving him dazed, his vision slightly blurred.
Frederick continued thrashing around frantically; he was scared, screeching and clawing at the sheets…until someone rushed in and finally yanked the sheets off him giving Frederick the ability to see once again. He jumped several feet away from the bed and wiped his head around to see a frightened Gwen standing at the end of the bed, bedsheets in her hands looking scared yet worried at the same time. "F-Frederick?" She tried to take a step forward but Frederick's growling made her freeze mid-step, and her sisters were quick to pull her away from him. The commotion caused everyone within earshot to come running. The reason Gwen was first is because she had just finished her portrait with Leopold and wanted to check up on Frederick to see how he was doing. But now she was being held back by her father who her siblings had forced her to and away from Frederick as Lorena and Jamie along with a few female guards went to check on the princes. Maria, much to her father's discomfort, slowly approached Frederick.
"Easy Frederick, it's ok you're safe now no one's going to hurt you." She whispered softly to him as she knelt down in front of him with her hands held up. Frederick's growling quickly dropped to whimpering as he started to calm down, eyes beginning to water. Maria quickly noticed that his eyes were back to their original green coloring assuming that meant he was back to his normal self, but she could also see the guilt in his eyes as well as the fear. Realizing that it was safe Maria stood up and made her way closer, in response Frederick flinched and covered his eyes curling into a ball fearing that she might strike him out of anger. He froze as Maria gently cupped his cheek waiting for what he thought was about to come…Maria gently brought up her other hand holding Frederick's face in both as she slowly lifted his head so he was looking her in the eyes. Seeing the gentleness and compassion in her eyes as Maria gave him the softest sweetest smile. "It's ok Frederick, it's not your fault. No one blames you, no one's mad at you." She wiped away his tears with her thumb as she knelt down in front of him. "B-But I-" "Shh…This isn't your fault, it was just an accident, you were scared. We know that and we understand that you're still scared." She stroked his cheek, calming him down a little more as he listened to Maria's words "It's going to be ok, we'll figure this out together." Now calm though still filled with much guilt Frederick relaxed his body allowing Maria to give him a much needed hug. He remained silent as he glanced around the room at everyone staring at him, most of if not all the servants and guards looking rather scared and uncomfortable clearly not wanting to be in the same room as him. His brothers who were still lying in the spots where he had thrown them are currently being tended to, the pastel family all had looks of fear and worry in their eyes. Yet Frederick only saw the fear, the fear in everyone's eyes, the fear that was all directed towards him. He shook slightly in Maria's arms, letting out another whimper. "I-I'm sorry." Maria sighed and pulled away just enough to look Frederick in the eyes before taking both his hands in her own, a part of him wanted to pull away out of fear of accidentally scratching her but she wouldn't let him as Maria looked Frederick deep in the eyes. "Look Frederick, what's happened has happened. And there's nothing we can do to change that now." His ears flattened at this and he started to look away but Maria brought his hands closer causing him to look back at her. "But this is not your fault Frederick. It never was and it never will be." "But-" Maria stopped him; she was not having any of it. "Listen Frederick, what happened that day was not you. You never meant to hurt anyone.-" "You would never hurt anyone Frederick." They both turned to see Blaine starting to stand up with some help from Gwen and a maid, he was smiling as they helped him make his way over to his baby brother. And he knelt down next to Maria as he reached out a hand ruffling his brother's hair. "It was an accident, Frederick. You were scared and couldn't understand what was happening to you, and the way we acted didn't really do any help in trying to calm you down. No one really understood what was happening and because of that we made mistakes as well." Maria let go of Frederick and allowed Blaine the space to take over, Frederick hadn't even noticed when Lance approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Despite everything that's happened you're still our nerdy baby brother Frederick." Lance gave a slight chuckle "And we will never look at you any differently." Frederick sat silent still shaking but thought about Maria and his brother's words, he knew they wouldn't be mad, especially after his encounter with Whitney helped him realize that. He knows his brothers still love and care about him…so why am I still scared?…
After a while though Frederick asked if he could be left alone for a bit, at this point he just needed some time alone to comprehend and think on everything that's happened so far.
Was I cursed? If so then how and why? Frederick walked over the small makeup stand…and almost immediately screamed when he saw his reflection! Jumping back a bit and blinking his eyes before walking back over to take another look. W-What was that?! His face went pale at what he saw. W-What is this?! As he reached out a hand to touch the mirror his reflection was not himself…at least not exactly himself, what Frederick is seeing right now…is the same 'monstrous' version of himself that he had encountered while meditating. Though his fur is still white, his mouth and several patches on his body are stained with blood! Horrified and confused at the same time as Frederick's gaze went back and forth his reflection to his actual hand that is currently pressed against the mirror, there is not a single drop of blood there but yet his reflection shows his entire hand coated in blood? What? H-How is Why-Why is…What…The tears returned and fell from his eyes once again as he slowly backed away from the mirror curling into a ball as he sobbed quietly. I was right! I am a monster!
Frederick sat there for a long while crying and sobbing, unable to understand why his reflection looked like that…It took a while before Frederick finally worked up the courage to leave. Deciding it was best not to tell anyone about what he saw in his reflection, not wanting his brothers let alone Gwen to worry about him. They're just now starting to get along even though Frederick still can't seem to understand his true feelings for her especially with this new problem having just arisen. Now Frederick has to worry about the possibility of everyone hating him because of this curse…and wondering why and how he was even cursed in the first place. Maybe someone else overheard what I said about Gwen, that would explain my reflection…maybe that someone decided that…that I… Frederick shook at the thought thinking someone cursed him as revenge for what he said about Gwen.
After Frederick had reassured everyone that he was ok, he and Lance were pulled away by Blaine for a moment. "Ok first…" Blaine and Lance gave Frederick a tight hug, Frederick returned it as best he could trying to avoid his claws making contact with their skin. But unable to control his tails as they seem to have a mind of their own once again wrapping themselves around each brother's wrists, though neither of them seemed to mind Frederick hated that these tails were just doing as they pleased. His hatred for them grew more as he stared at the bandages wrapped around Blaine's forehead, a result of one tail flinging him into a mirror and his head hitting the headboard. They broke away after some time as Blaine took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "Second. And I know this is terrible timing, especially after everything that's happened." Placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Sigh…But we all know father is going to make us do this either way," Blaine reached into his jacket pulling out three gold colored strips of paper…
But of course his brothers did ask what happened to him last night…and were understandably upset to hear that he had camped out with a complete stranger and scolded him for it! At least things seem to be slowing getting back to normal, Jack had just sent a letter to Leland to inform him that Frederick has returned and is safe and sound…the boys don't expect him to care much, but they know that their mother will be relieved. With that the three sets of arranged couples went their separate ways to carry out their own plans of inviting the princesses to the gala.
Blaine had taken Maria to a jewelry store having hidden her ticket in a jewelry box on a beautiful musical note shape necklace and of course Maria said yes. He was surprised and a bit happy when Maria asked him what kind of bracelet his mother would like, especially considering they haven't met yet…At least that's what Blaine thinks, Maria didn't tell him about her unfortunate encounter with his mother at Lance's party.
Speaking of Lance, his original plan was to take Lorena to one of Suzanna's fencing matches,,,and hide the ticket in her popcorn? But after what happened with Frederick they missed her match. So what does he do instead?...Well after witnessing her K.O. 8 clowns at an amusement park and how quickly she adapted to fencing, wants to see what else his future wife is capable of. So of course he invites her to have a small training match?! Having hidden her ticket inside her towel to notice after the match,,,Miss Molly is currently standing off to the side with a first aid kit in hand. "Alright Lorena, how about you start off first." Both were now dressed in training attire and standing in front of each other on the mat. "Give me your best shot." Lance said, taking stance with a smug grin as Miss Molly sorted through the first aid kit. "I hope I have enough bandages." And just as he instructed Lorena held nothing back…Lorena threw a nice combo move with a jab, hook, then rear hook catching Lance completely by surprise as he very quickly moved to block each attack, doing very well at it. But Lorena quickly picks up on it throwing the same combo but in the end changing her rear hook to an hard right into Lance's stomach. Holy Crap?! Maybe this wasn't such a good idea! Not wanting to hurt Lorena but also not wanting to get abused anymore then he's already gotten these past couple weeks did his best to block each attack as quickly as he could. Lorena then starts throwing some beautiful and amazing head kicks which Lance blocks perfectly…until Lorane suddenly throws a punt kick, kicking his arms straight up as she then turns around and launches a powerful spinning kick hitting Lance right in the shoulder and knocking him to the ground…The same shoulder that had previously been injured by a fierce swipe from Frederick's claws. Pain shot through his body and he shrieked in pain when her foot made contact, curled on the ground clenching his shoulder tightly. "Oh Crap!" Lorena dropped to the floor next him apologizing over and over as she reached out to touch his shoulder, Lance yelped in pain and she immediately yanked her hand back. Miss Molly was already on the floor next to her, "Apologies princess but might I have some space please?" Lorena quietly stood up mentally slapping herself for forgetting about Lance's shoulder as she made her way over to the bench grabbing her towel to offer to Lance. "Huh?" She noticed the ticket fall out and bent down to pick it up…as soon as she realized what it was her eyes sparkled as she jumped up excitedly punching her fist in the air. "YES I'LL GO TO THE GALA WITH YOU LANCE!" Not exactly how I planned…but I'll take it.
Now Frederick on the other hand wasn't so sure about this, but things are bad enough for him as they are now without his father threatening him for 'not' inviting Gwen to the gala…So he simply slipped the ticket into the page of the new book he is currently reading, thankful Lance had brought it with him, by accident though. At one point while Frederick was still in the forest in his feral state, Lance had subconsciously wandered into the library and picked it out. Thinking that maybe if he brought Blaine one of Frederick's books to read to him it might help. Surprisingly Frederick wasn't upset when he noticed the tear stains on the first page but instead smiled a little, it proved to him that his brothers were very worried about him while he was gone and did help to reassure him a little. Currently he and Gwen are sitting in the library in awkward silence, and fear from Frederick. "It's ok Frederick, I'm sure Leopold understands that you didn't mean it." For some reason as soon as he made eye contact with Leopold, Frederick started growling at him as his tail reached out for Gwen's wrist. Despite the fact her sisters and Jamie were giggling and his brothers having sly looks on their faces, all making comments about him being jealous. Frederick feared at that moment that he was about to lose control again and attack Leopold. Frederick tried to reply as Gwen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, but could not get the words out…He took a deep breath and let it out, "I-" He stopped as his ear twitched, "Uh Gwen? Do you hear that?" Frederick turned towards the wall that faced the front of the palace. "Hear what?" Gwen asked, tilting her head in confusion as Frederick's ears then went flat, he could hear the distant sounds of loud angry voices. Though he was unable to understand a single word, nevertheless it scared him…
Outside the Pastel Palace, Hisashi sat peacefully napping on the roof of the palace…his nap was interrupted as his ears picked up the faint sound of raised voices growing nearer. "Ah Crap!" and he immediately shot up from his shot "That does not sound good!" He jumped into the air making his way over towards the voices, down the path that led from the palace into town. "Shit Shit Shit Shit Shit! Not good! So not good!" What he saw coming up the path towards the palace is just what he was hoping not to see…a mob of angry villagers!
"Sorry Sensei!" Hisashi turned and flew back to the Palace as quickly as he possibly could! "But I think 'now' is the perfect time to reveal myself! I gotta get the kid out of there!"