Chapter 4: Celebration

"We're gonna dance"

Selene's POV

W-what? Where am I? Why does my head hurt? When did I get here? How do I get out of here? I can't see anything. I can't even see my hands nor my body.

I looked around the place. I don't know why I looked, maybe to find light? It's pointless but there's no harm in trying.

I stood up from where I am and walked to one direction. I can't even feel the place. It's not cold but it's not hot either.

I stopped walking because I felt like I'm going nowhere. I turned to another direction and ran. I felt a slight suffocation. I felt panic trying to go in my chest. This is getting bad.

I stopped running so I can catch my breath. I used my knees as support and looked at the black ground. I inhaled sharply. I can feel my chest rising.

I calmed myself down for a bit. I kept staring at the ground until I saw light in front of me.

I looked at the source of light. It had images. I can relate it to a big screen with a movie going on. Wait. How did this big TV get here?

The screen showed an event. Breyan was the first one to appear. He had a...pig suit? I won't detail the suit anymore. It's kinda morbid. He was...swimming? In the air? Okay? With hmm books with wings? Uhh what?

"COME MINIONS. LET'S TORTURE THEM...WITH PAPER CUTS MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

The scene moved on to the general. He's dancing alone with a choir beside him. Oh god. Another morbid scene.

Imagine a children song being sung with high notes. Childhood ruined.

"ALL TOGETHER NOW"

The general really loves children songs. He was so dedicated. There was this one time that I overheard him talking to Carlos. He said that he was gonna name him Mary so he can sing Mary Had A Little Lamb to him all the time. Unfortunately, his mother didn't like it. I can feel Carlos' thankfulness to his mom.

I was getting consumed with the scene when I felt something grab my foot. Fear creeped in instantly. I was late to react when the hand pulled my foot down.

I screamed so hard.

The hand let go of my foot. Ouch. My butt hit the ground.

I stood up and rubbed my butt to ease the pain. It kinda hurts. The place was still dark.

"Of course it'll be dark. Your eyes are closed"

And...I'm talking to myself. I opened my eyes and saw a cozy couch. I was gonna sit down to relieve my butt- ache when I heard a voice.

"I love you Selene, our princess"

I turned to my back to see who it was but found no one. I turned around again and saw a little girl with a rag doll hugging her parents. The rag doll seems....familiar. And why do I look like the girl?

I was gonna approach the family when darkness pulled me again

-•-

"Princess!"

Huh? What was that? I snapped from my train of thought and saw a...rather healthy lady in front of me holding two sets of dresses.

"What do you wants? This or This?"

She said showing me a blue dress and a green one.

"Uhmm. You pick, Precys," I told her. Her name is Precys. As you noticed, her name resembles the name Precious. She likes the letter s too.

"Sure princess. Trys on the green dress"

She could be paired with Ashlyn. They both look good together

I went to change my clothes. As soon as I finished, I stood by the mirror.

"OH! Princess your so pretty, pretty, pretty, prettys"

"You're just being nice,Precys"

"Aww shucks, dear. You are beautiful. You almost resemble your mom"

Yeah, almost.

-•-

Someone's POV

The sunlight struck upon my cloak. The spear I'm holding shone when the rays of the setting sun touched it. I felt the wind brush upon my cheeks. My locks flew upon the wind shining it's brown locks.

"The time has come for you....Princess"

-•-

Carlos' POV

The musicians by the corner played instruments for the Celebration. It was the birthday of Princess Selene.

The people wore formal attires. You can almost feel the joy that's exploding in this very room.

The servants were quite busy to make every guest comfortable with the celebration.

My eyes scanned the room to find a certain someone but instead, my eyes landed on the table. The long table held the the food that was prepared by the best chefs in the kingdom.

My eyes scanned the food if my favorite was there. My eyes landed on Breyan who was circling the long table back and forth. I fail to understand why he was doing that. Probably, he was trying to pick which food to taste first. The celebration had a French themed celebration because the head chef, Ms. Jacqueline is French in blood.

The present appetizers or the une entrée in the table was three in number. Phyllo-Wrapped Brie with Fig preserves and toasted walnuts, French Savory Quiche particularly Quiche Lorraine and the last is Niçoise Salad. The main course or the le plat principal are five in number, Pot-au-feu, Le Magret De Canard, Coq au vin, Couscous and La raclette. As for the desserts, there's mainly cheese and chocolate, there's the chocolate fondue, chocolate soufflé, Crème brûlée, macaroons and éclair to name some.

Aha! I have an idea. I still have to make him pay of what he did the other day.

I walked to him from across the room. He still kept circling around the table. I saw him biting his nails. His spit was kinda flowing out of his mouth. Gross. His eyes were sparkling too. I think I can see my dad when he was young.

Breyan's eyes locked with the desserts. Particularly, the chocolate fondue and chocolate soufflé drizzled with honey with a slice of strawberry as side dish.

How do I know that you ask? I'm a chocolate expert. I kind of love chocolate. A lot.

Breyan went closer to the dessert and his mouth was watering. He picked up the chocolate soufflé and dipped it with the fondue. He stared at it for a second and started crying.

"I think....I'm in heaven"

Before he could eat the chocolate, I walked closer to him and stole it from him.

He turned to me and glared.

"Why do we have a thief in the premises" I said and clicked my tongue.

"GIVE THAT BACK CARLOS!" He said

"Oh? What happened to Jerms, pest?" I said, teasing him.

I hit his head with a drumstick of a turkey.

"OWW. GIVE ME BACK MY CHOCOLATE PLEASE!" He said. I can't tell if he was angry of pleading.

"Ahhhh..." I though for a moment.

"No" I said and ate the dessert and turkey in front of him.

Breyan's eyes were filled with anger.

"I'LL KILL YOU. NOBODY STEALS FOOD FROM ME. BESIDES, STEALING FOOD IS BAD"

"Uhmm you just stole this food on the table" I said in a matter of fact tone

"It's only called STEALING when somebody else STEALS something. I'm just borrowing the food." He said and crossed his arms to his chest.

"BESIDES, it was intended to be our food so it's not STEALING." he continued talking.

His eyes landed on my attire.

"Ooooohhh. You look like you have a date"

I hit his head with another drumstick because of his remark.

"Pest, this is what you call a formal attire. This is what supposedly people in this room should look. Look at yourself, who wears a pig bonnet with a blue wizard's robe in a formal celebration?

-•-

3rd Person's POV

Meanwhile, exactly 10 meters away from the boys stood Bree staring at Carlos. She was holding a tray of croquembouche and had a fitted servants attire. Her hair was tied to a ponytail with two lose strands on the front.

"Oh, Sir Carlos. You look so good in that suit, hmmm." She said and then started daydreaming. Her saliva was dripping when she realized that blood was dripping out of her nose.

She held her apron and wiped her nose while looking at Carlos.

She felt a mini heart attack when he looked at her and locked-eyes with her.

"Eeeekkk!!" She ran away slightly tumbling, still carrying the tray of croquembouche.

Carlos thought that she is one weird woman. He slightly chuckled, amused by that servant's action. She looked like Selene. Cute. Wait. Why was he even thinking that?

Carlos turned his head to distract him for a bit and saw the pest trying to eat again.

He was eyeing the macaroons. He was slowly picking up the dessert to make sure Carlos doesn't see him but alas, his efforts were in vain.

Carlos hit Breyan again with the bone from the drumstick he just ate.

"STOP IT! YOU SHALL NOW SUFFER THE WRATH OF A HUNGRY PIG"

Carlos stared at him, poker faced. Breyan was summoning his magic and a blue aura surrounded him. They were gathering quite the attention for sure.

"Yeah sure." He turned around and tossed the bone and walked away.

The bone landed on Breyan's head. Breyan's summoning stopped and he fell to the ground. I guess the bone hit a nerve. Literally.

He collapsed to the ground and caressed his head.

"Oww. Im gonna get boils in the head with this"

Meanwhile, the royal family was getting ready for the opening ceremony of the said event.

-•-

Carlos' POV

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce you, the royal family" The fat guy, wearing ridiculous amount of make-up, wearing a squire's outfit, announces. Weird. He was holding a scroll too.

The audience applauded.

"King Fendrel and Queen Serenity with the royal heir and scion, Princess Selene, with the Mistress Leila and The Grand Wizard Breyan, accompanying them"

The audience applauded. Wow. The scroll had full writings. Note the sarcasm.

The royal family walked by the big doors. I can see sparkles honestly. Too much for effects.

The king and queen appeared first, behind them was Selene. In an emerald green dress, wearing a ruby necklace, there she stood.

Behind Selene, Leila, the queen's familiar, walked for she will have the opening statements.

I looked back at where Breyan was sitting. The pest, he didn't even know that an intro will happen.

Lucky for me, I have a keen eye. I looked at the palace doors and saw him teleport at that very moment. Blue sparkles were the evidence that he was in a hurry. Tsk. What a show-off.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the royal family and the kingdom, I would like to thank you for attending this special occasion. May Lady Demeter bless us with great harvest so we can have feast whenever a celebration comes up. The princess would like to thank you all for attending her 16th birthday. Please the remaining time of the feast. Let the dancing....begin" said Leila

The music became louder and shifted to another piece of music that was suited for dancing.

I eyed Selene since I want her to dance with me, but the Prince of Shinea offered a hand as an offer for dancing. She accepted his offer. Tsk. Now I don't have a partner.

I saw Breyan walking towards me so I grabbed his hand and went into position.

"W-what are you doing?" He stuttered

"We're gonna dance" I said

"B-but why me?" He asked

"Because I don't know anybody else" I said flatly

"H-huh?"

This is gonna be a long night.

"W-what are you doing?" Breyan stuttered

"We're gonna dance" I said

"B-but why me?" He asked

"Because I don't know anybody else" I said flatly

"H-huh?"

I didn't respond anymore. I was getting annoyed by all the questions.

The music started and I led him. He was kind of awkward and didn't know how to dance. He kept stepping on my foot.

"S-sorry" he would constantly say.

I scanned the room and looked for Selene. I couldn't easily find her so in the end my eyes wandered throughout the venue until I saw that servant. I guess her name was Dee? Pree? Pee? Fee? I saw that she was grabbed by the man next to us.

"EEEEEKKKK" I heard her screeched.

I guess she was shocked. I looked again and saw Selene, happily talking to the Prince. Tsk. She was also next to the servant.

Changing of partners happened so I spun Breyan and saw that he got paired with a big bulky man. He got kinda scared and ran. He bumped into a short woman, wearing red lipstick and had white hair. She asked him to dance so he joined them

I got paired with the servant.

"Hi" I smiled. I don't know why but she amuses me.

"H-hi. Sir Carlos" she stuttered.

She was flushed so she looked at the ground. She was kinda cute though. Why do people keep stuttering when around me?

"Hey, don't look away" I said in a gentle tone. That's a first.

I held her chin up and met with her eyes.

"There. You look beautiful" I said and smiled.

I feel like I did this before.

"T-thank you" she shyly said.

I chuckled slightly and noticed that changing partners was close.

"Looks like im gonna spin you know. Until we meet again Ms. Bree"

In Bree's thoughts: He...remembered my name

I spun her around and kept my eye on her, not noticing my next partner. I stared at her a she danced with the big bulky man. She seems to be staring in thin air.

"Ehem" I heard someone cough.

I looked at my partner and got shocked 'cause it was Selene.

"Bree seems to catch your eye" she said, in a matter of fact tone.

"Well, she is cute. I don't know."

She paused and stared at me. She was gonna say something when the fat guy announced that the feast shall commence.

I looked at her.

"Well. I guess this is the part where we split" I said.

I was gonna let go of her hand but she held it tighter.

"Okay" she said. She squeezed my hand for the last time and finally let go. She walked to their table, not looking at me.

I walked towards the table where Breyan was, talking to his partner.

"....yeah, and then I tripped" I heard him say. I guess they were talking about him tripping.

"Ahem" I coughed.

"Oh hi Jerms, I didn't see you there. You're timing is impeccable" he said.

"Who's your friend there?" I smiled and looked at the girl.

"Oh. Misty, this is Jerms. Jerms this is Misty" he said

I reached for her hand and told her my name.

"Carlos"

"Mysteria" she said and I kissed her hand.

Before I could even talk, a crashing sound interrupted the whole palace.

That sound caught my attention. I turned my head and saw Lady Leila. Her eyes was glowing and a forceful force surrounded her like a forcefield.

"The sun will set and the moon will rise.

Hidden is the truth, Unleashed are the lies.

The cursed shall meet the precious savior,

To do the chosen one's only favor.

A war is seen,

Death will win,

Taking down a sister's requiem."