The next evening, outside the opera theatre, Izuku Midorya was in a dapper tuxedos. King was wearing a Bow tie and fancy collar with the actual collar. Izuku pacing nervously on the steps while King watches, waiting for the girls to arrive, with Hunter sitting nearby.
King of Demons: Will ya calm down Deku?
Izuku: (anime shaking) How Can I? (mutters) Everything hinges on what we taught Tati on this very Night. I dont know how much longer I could keep up this Charade!
Hunter: We don't have anything to be nervous about, guys. Tati's the Real Princess.
Izuku: (misunderstanding) Yeah, I know he answered well, but...
Hunter: No, no, I mean she really is Willow.
He decided to tell them the truth.
Hunter: The boy in the palace, I was that boy who opened the wall. She's the real thing, guys.
The two's eyes widened in shock.
King of Demons: Weh! Whoah. (jumps) That means The young woman We've been traveling with this whole time was the Actual Princess Willow
Izuku: (smiles warmly) Then, that means our Willow has found her family! We really Did Justice. Finding the heir to the Toossian throne!
Then their smiles dropped when they saw Hunter looking down, because they knew about the feelings he developed for her.
Izuku: But that means you...
Hunter: There's Nothing Going between Us. Even if there is, and I'm Not saying I do, because I dont...She's The Princess.
Izuku: But, Hunter...
Hunter: I know you know about my feelings, but princesses don't marry kitchen boys.
King of Demons: Well There's a whole lot of tales where the Princesses fall for dirt boys or worker boys...
Hunter: Those are fairy tales. We're going through with this as if nothing has changed.
Izuku: (seriously) You need to tell her.
Tati's Voice: Tell me what?
They turned and saw Tati with her hair down, and in a dark blue coat, .
Hunter: (stutters a bit) H-h-how beautiful you look.
Tati: (smiles sweetly) Well, thank you.
She looked down, before taking his arm and the two walked up the stairs into the theatre together. Izuku and King of Demons then saw Luz, Uraraka and Amity in beautiful, elegant opera dresses and gloves.
Izuku: (blushing) Ah, U-Uraraka, it looks perfect, and you look...um, that is to say...
Uraraka: (blushing as well)Well Come on, Deku, let's just go in.
Izuku: Y-yeah
So the couples went in, with Izuku holding Uraraka's hand while Luz held Amity's hand. Inside, after Tati handed her coat to a valet, she was halfway up the grand staircase, looking back at Hunter who handed their coats and his hat to the valet. He then looked up and stared at Tati, who was wearing a Green dress and shoes, silver earrings, and white opera gloves underneath her coat (which she just handed in) the whole time. He was lost in her beauty, until she nodded to him, motioning to join her, as he came to his senses and came near her to escort her to a theatre box, where they had reserved to sit and watch the bsllet in. Soon the males and Tati went into there, with Hunter gesturing the box seats to the left, before she sat down.
Meanwhile, King had told Luz what was going on since she did her being with Empress Linda.
Luz: So she's Really the Real Deal?
King of Demons: Si, That's Right
Luz: Genial, did Hunter confess his feelings?
King of Demons: Well Right Now He's thinking Kitchen boys dont belong with Princesses
Hunter then saw another balcony seat where Linda was, with Amity and Uraraka sitting beside her.
Hunter: (hands her opera binoculars) Look, there she is!
Tati looked through them and saw Linda in a purple dress and silver crown. The navy blue-haired girl was nervous.
Tati: (quietly) Please let her remember me.
Then, the lights dim as the program begins. The ballet was a perfomance of the Cinderella ballet, and in the first scene, we see the Stepmother Coco LaBouche (Rugrats in Paris) and Stepsisters Terra and Jinx (Teen Titans) taunting Cinderella played by Ariel (The Little Mermaid).
As time passed, Tati kept her eyes more on Granny than the play. She was nervous, she ripped up her play bill in her lap. Fred noticed and then took her hand.
Fred: Everything's gonna be fine. Don't worry.
She smiled a bit, but her nerves were still uncalmed.
Later, we see the scene of Ariel in her coach departing, with Prince Charming, played by Danny Fenton, holding one of her shoes in his hand, trying to catch up but was too late. Then, intermission came as the audience cheered and the lights came up. Hunter then looked at her.
Hunter: Come on. I guess it's time now.
They both started to leave, but Tati, still nervous, was about to turn the other way, but Hunter stopped her.
Hunter: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Take a deep breath, Relax. everything's gonna be fine.
They soon approached Linda's private balcony room.
Hunter: (turns) Now, just wait here a minute while I announce you properly.
Tati then stopped him.
Tati: Hunter.
Hunter: Yeah?
Tati: Look, we've been through a lot together...
Hunter: (smiles hopefully) Uh-huh.
Tati: ...and I just wanted to...(pauses a bit) thank you, I guess. Yes that's it, thank you for everythiing.
Hunter started to go inside, but then stopped again.
Hunter: Tati, I...
Tati: Yes?
Hunter: (stutters) I...I'm...uh, I wanted to wish you good luck. (shook her hand) Good luck.
Tati: (a bit disappointedly) Thank you.
Hunter: (inhales) Well, here it goes.
He walked into the private balcony, with Tati noticing he didn't close the door in properly, and decided to listen in. Hunter approached Linda's two friends.
Fred: Please inform her majesty, The Dowanger Empress, that I have found her granddaughter, the Grand Duchess Willow Park. She's waiting just outside the door.
Linda overheard this and frowned.
Uraraka: I'm sorry, kind sir, but the Dowager Empress will see no one.
Linda turned around and faced Hunter, upset.
Linda: You may tell that impertinent young man that I have seen enough Grand Duchess Willows to last me a lifetime.
Uraraka: (to Hunter) Listen, you better go.
Amity: (acting like a guard) Yeah. Dont Make us force you to Leave!
Hunter: (with Amity and Uraraka blocking his way) Please, just let me through...
Linda: Now if you'll excuse me, I wish to live the remainder of my life Alone in peace.
Uraraka closed the curtain that accessed Linda.
Uraraka: Listen, she really means business.
Amity: Allow us to show you to the door. (as she and Uraraka walk away) come now, come to the door.
However, the undaunted Hunter went through the curtain and sat down next to the empress.
Hunter: Your majesty, I intend you no harm. My name is Hunter Robinson...I used to work at the castle.
Linda: (scoffs) Well, that's one thing I haven't heard.
She stood up to go, with Hunter following her.
Hunter: Wait, please don't go. If you'll just hear me out.
Linda: Oh no! I know what you're after. I've seen it before! Men who train young women in the royal ways.
As she was talking, she pulled a velvet rope to summon security. Unknown to them, Tati continued listening in.
Hunter: But if your highness will just listen...
Linda: (interrupts) Which Part of "I've Had Enough" are you not understanding, young man? . I don't care how much you've fashioned this girl to look, sound or act like her. In the end, it never is her!
Outside the balcony, Tati couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Hunter: But this time, it IS her!
Linda: (eyes widen) Hunter Robinson, (glares) I've heard of you! You're that con man from St. Toonsburg, who's been holding auditions to find a Willow look-a-like.
Tati gasped in shock.
Hunter: But your grace, she's come all the way from Toossia...
Linda: (rolls eyes) And others have come from Toonbuktu and Toonada.
Hunter: No, it's not that, it's not what you think any-.
Linda: How much pain will you inflict on an old woman just for money?
Tati, hearing that, covered her mouth in shock, ashamed that she was only a part of this con of Hunter's, just to get the money. Two men came in and grabbed Hunter, as he struggled.
Linda: Please remove this young man at once!
Hunter: (struggling) But she is Willow! I'm telling you, she's the Grand Duchess. If you'll only just speak to her, you'll see!
He then got thrown out and at Tati's feet, and he looked up, seeing Tati staring at him with angered realization.
Tati: (devastated) You Lied to ME.
Hunter: No, no, I swear I...
Tati: You used me. I...I was only a part of your con to get her money!
Fred: (gets up) No, no, no, no. Look, it may have started out that way, but everything's different now because you really are Willow, you are.
Tati: (furiously) No, stop it! From the very beginning you lied...and Not only did I believe you, but I actually started to...AARRGH!
She stormed away with Hunter following her.
Hunter: Tati, please. (grabs her arm) When you spoke of the time with the hidden door of the wall opening up, and the little boy...listen to me, that little boy was...
Tati: NO! I don't want to hear about anything I said or remembered! You just get out of my sight and leave me alone!
She slapped him right in the face and ran off, with Hunter following her.
Hunter: (calling out) Tati, please! You have to know the truth!
But it was no use, because she got lost in the crowd.
Later, after the show was over, Linda was walking out the door and down the steps. Hunter was still on the steps, waiting for her. He watched as he was heading for her car, with a chauffer, Edgar, opening up the door for her. Once she got in, Hunter snuck over to the vehicle, slid into the driver's seat and sat in it, driving away in lightning speed and leaving the stunned Edgar in the dust.
Edgar: (calling out) Your majesty! (running afterwards) Stop right now, thief! You come back here!
Inside the car, Linda was jolted by the speed at which the driver, whom she thought was the chauffer, was driving.
Granny: (trying not to wobble) Professor Jones, slow down!
Fred: (turns around) My name's not Edgar, and I won't slow down until you listen.
Linda recognized him and was outraged.
Linda: You! How dare you?! (demanding) Stop this car immediately! Stop this car!
He ignored her demands, however, and just kept speeding around the neighborhood, until he finally stopped in front of Uraraka's house. He got out of the car, went around to Linda's door and opening it.
Hunter: You have to talk to her! Just at least look at her. Please.
Linda: (firmly) I won't be badgered by you a moment longer.
She held her head up high.
Hunter: I'm probably wasting my breath here, but would you at least recognize this?
He got out the music box and placed it in an open hand of hers. Seeing this item took Linda back to memories of that time, as she gasped and held it closely to her.
Linda: Where did you get this?
Hunter: I should's led with this before, but Like I said before, I used to work at the castle (gently) I know you've been hurt, and the last thing I'd like to do is hurt you further, but it's just possible that she has been as lost and alone as you have.
Linda: (narrows eyes) You'll stop at nothing, won't you?
Hunter: (smirks) I'm probably just about as stubborn as you are.
Inside, Tati was packing her suitcase, probably to leave back for Toossia in the morning. She then heard a knock at the door.
Tati: (angrily) Go away, Hunter!
The door opened, but it was not Hunter, it was Linda. Tati turned to see who it was
Tati: (Turns) I said GO AWA- (Gasps) Oh, I'm sorry. I-I thought you were...
Linda: (interrupts) I know very well whom you thought I was. (walks up closer to her) The question, my dear, is who exactly are you?
Tati: Well...I was hoping you could tell me.
Linda: (sighs) My dear, I'm old and I'm tired of being conned and tricked.
Tati: I swear I didnt know Hunter was tricking you, I wouldn't wanna do the same to you.
Linda: (raises an eyebrow) And I suppose the money doesn't interest you either?
She then turned her back and looked out the window.
Tati: I didnt even know there was a reward. I just want to know who I am and whether or not I belong to a family, and your family.
Linda stood up, turned around and faced her again.
Granny: You're a very good actress. The best yet out of all of them, in fact, but I have had enough.
She was about to walk out of the room, when Tati picked up a scent coming from her.
Tati: Peppermint?
Linda: It's an oil for my hands.
Tati closed her eyes, with another memory popping up in her mind.
Tati: Yes...I spilled a bottle...and the carpet was soaked, and it permanently smelled of peppermint, like you.
Hearing that, Linda stopped in surprise as she sat down. She remembered Tati did that once and no other Willow actress remembered that.
Tati: I used to lie there on the rug and oh, how I missed you when you went away...when you came here, to Toonris.
She rubbed her head and Linda gestured her to come and sit down next to her. So Tati did so, and then Linda noticed a familiar necklace dangling around her neck.
Linda: and What is that?
Tati: This? (holds the pendant part) Well, I've always had it ever since before I can remember.
Linda: May I have a look at it?
Tati nodded as she removed it from her neck and handed it to the empress, who looked at it closely, realizing it was the same necklace she had given to Willow when she was ten years old. The old woman held her hand on her heart, and was almost on the verge of tears.
Linda: It was our secret of my Willow's and mine.
She pulled out the music box from her small handbag and held it out to Tati, who gasped, remembering it all now.
Tati: The music box to sing to...to sleep to when you were in Toonris.
She held the music box and grabbed the necklace, while humming a familiar tune as she placed the key into the slot, turning it thrice. The music box started playing that exact same song, which the two always knew off by heart with more and more memories flooding back.
Linda: (singing) Far away,
Cross the sea
Tati: (singing) Hear this song and remember
Linda smiled gently and was on the verge of tears of singing with her, because she knew only one other person who sang the song with her.
Both: (singing) Soon you'll be home with me
Once upon a December
The music stopped when both of them were getting close to letting out some happy tears. The long-lost princess Willow has been found, and that is her.
Linda: (trying to hold back her tears) Oh, Willow! My Willow!
The long-lost granddaughter (who will be referred to as Willow for the rest of the story) and grandmother pulled each other into a nice, warm hug, happy to be finally reunited at last. Linda also felt like her heart had been made whole again, knowing that she was hugging her real granddaughter. Outside, Hunter blew a kiss, knowing that he had done the right thing and walked away from the house.