I kept rummaging through my closet for the box- that had my birthday gown. It was my dad's last birthday present and he had told me to wear it when the time is right.

This is definitely the right time..right? .. I wonder who Grace will react if she sees me in the ball..will she.. Throw me out? Starve me?

Arghhhh! No! No negative thoughts Serena! And plus it's a masquerade ball.. Which reminds me! I don't have a mask! I need to design one...

"SEREEENAAAAA !!!!" I heard Misty's voice calling. "Coming Misty!" I ran to her room. " I can't decide what jewellery I need to wear.." She pouted. "It needs to make Ash fall in love with me.." She said dreamily. I really didn't know how to respond to that.

"Umm... How about... We go shopping?! I have to buy some groceries for tonight's dinner as well..." I said. It wasn't only groceries I needed to buy. It was also decorations for the mask I was going to make. But obviously I wouldn't tell her that.

"For once you actually suggested something USEFUL Serena" Misty said rolling her eyes. "What are you waiting for then? Let's go!" She ran to the main door grabbing her coat.

"Coming!" I said as I also grabbed my coat and head outside. As the sun shone brightly on the houses of Vanville town, I thought about how awkward it is to go shopping with your step/witch-like sister.

"So? Where should we go? You need to be more organised Serena." Misty said. "Uhhh..how about we go to... Santalune city?? I've heard you can get a lot of beautiful jewellery and clothes there." I said. 

"Okay, but you better not be wasting my time" she said.
We walked through route 1 and then took a carriage ride through Santalune forest to reach the city. I really wanted to play around with the fletchlings there ; the melody they chirped kind of reminded me to never give up.

At last when we finally reached the city, the shops were BUSTLING with people. I guess every maiden from Kalos really did get invited.
Sometimes I feel crazy to think that out of 250 girls in the whole of kalos, Prince Ash would choose me as his bride. It's almost hilarious. Hilariously sad.

Anyway.

"Okay then, we are here and as there are a lot of people make sure you don't get lost and also if you want to go somewhere else tell me because then I'll know where you are and also-"
"Shut UP Serena! Jesus Christ!" Misty said clearly pissed off about how I was caring for her safety.
"Okay, okay! Just..ask if you want more money..." I said.

As we both entered the one of the jewellery store, Misty's eyes sparkled with excitement , and squealing she asked the shop keeper for suggestions. And then there was me. I sat down on the chairs waiting for her to finish choosing..which won't be that fast knowing Misty.

Hey, at least I only have Misty with me. If I had to go with all of my step-sisters then this would have been a suicide mission.

When Misty FINALLY finished choosing what jewellery she needed, I asked the keeper how much this one costed. Apparently this was the most expensive in the store. Damn.. I need to save enough money to buy me the decorations though...

After I paid,  I heard this huge commotion and squealing outside the shop and wondered what it was.

No. Way.

The royal servants were selling masquerade masks! I wanted to check them out, but since it was so crowded i decided to drop it. Misty, however, objected to my decision and pulled me to the crowd.

Now I have this thing where I don't like it when too many people look at me. It makes me shiver and wonder if I'm an alien or something. I slipped on my hoodie covering my head. "Quick, choose what you need Misty.." I desperately said.

Since she was going to take forever again I decided to check out some of the masks myself and try not to get myself noticed.

There's was this one mask that stood out in front of the rest of them. It was pale pink with white studded gems and also tiny fragments of what looked like a Dawn stone. It had a white glittery spiral pattern which somehow suited the mask.

It was beautiful. So perfect I completely forgot about designing one. Heck, even if I did it would never be as perfect as this one.

I asked one of the men how much it costed. It was a fortune. I couldn't not afford $300 when I had $25 left. Oh well..

"Please, may I just try it on?" I asked sounding desperate. "Pay the money girl, or you'll be thrown out." One of them snickered as he looked at me. "Please? Just once, I beg you" for some reason I was crying. At how pathetic I looked.

One of them pushed me to the floor and they all snickered. "Did you get what I meant when I said: I'll throw you out?" They burst out laughing.

I tried to hide my face behind my hoodie and just kept weeping, since I felt pathetic enough to not get up. I then heard the sound of a horse and also heard squeals. I slightly raised my head up to see who it was and.. Oh my lord...

It was THE Prince ash. He looked even more handsome in person. He had raven black hair and chocolate brown eyes which almost turned hazel in the sunlight. He looked angry at the men and said "what is this I'm seeing?"
They all suddenly looked hesitantly at him and the guy who pushed me said "No, uh- your majesty, i-uh no, we were just..uh.. Messing around.." he laughed nervously.

Prince Ash clearly didn't believe him and as he got off his horse he took his dagger out and pointed it at the man's head. "You aren't one of the men that I sent..." The man was shaking with fear as the dagger was pointed at him. "Get lost before I cut you up."

The man collapsed to the floor. He had fainted from fear.

Prince Ash gave an intimidating look to the rest of the men knowing they also weren't the men he sent, they ran away since they didn't want to be in their friends possition.

The way he held the dagger, got me shaking even more and I pulled my scarf up so half my face was hidden and stood up.

He advanced towards me and I got even more scared and backed away a little.

What has gotten into him? This isn't the prince Ash I always knew about..

I pressee my eyes together and was facing the ground.
I guess he understood my emotion, and I felt something fall in front of me but I was too scared to look. "You can have this as an apology gift, from me" he said.

When I opened my eyes I couldn't believe what I saw. It was the mask. "..really?? No.. i couldn't.. you majesty" I really can't accept that mask.. I was too unworthy of it. My scarf covers half my face, and I cant resist but look at his face with my eyes. He was simply IRRESISTIBLE. "Please.. I insist.. I feel horrible for being careless and letting those guys hurt you.."
I start blushing of how thoughtful he really was.. I thought he had changed but he is nicer than ever. "PRINCE ASH! YOUR MOTHER ASKS FOR YOU!" A guard yelled from a distance.
"I have to go..." he said waving his hand to my face to bring me to present. He laughs as he climbs aboard his horse. "Thank you.. sir" I bowed. "See you at the ball!" He says as he takes off and fades into the distance.

As if I will.

I placed my hand over my chest to try and stop it from beating so fast. I then took the mask Prince Ash had gifted me and put it in my bag .

I then felt stares piercing me at the back of my neck and also whispers about what happened. The girls didn't really look happy. I was trying to look for Misty but no luck.

I took my hoodie off somewhere no one looked, and returned to the crowd. I really didn't want them plotting my murder for being near prince Ash. The nearer I was the greater the death penalty.

I never thought i'd do this but im looking for Misty. Looking for MISTY.

"SERENAA!!" Aaand only one voice could be that irritating lut of all and it was indeed Misty giving me a death glare. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU! YOU TELL ME TO MAKE SURE I DONT GET LOST WHEN YOU DO!" She did have a point. " I'm so sorry Misty.. I promise.. It won't happen again.. " I said.

"What did I miss?" I asked pretending not to know. " OMG I don't know, but something happened and I couldn't get a good view from all the people, but PRINCE ASH CAME!" She squealed. " REALLY?" I tried to sound shocked. " hey, he's mine only, you aren't allowed to be happy" she said. " and plus you left me to do who-knows-what"

"To make up for it..I'll.. Uhh.. Buy you a lumiose gallete.. Will that do?" I asked. That seemed to shut her up.

As she was munching, I wanted to get may something she can wear to the ball. I'll get her a bracelet. I looked at many bracelets but I didn't find an appealing one.

I got stopped by a royal servant.  he had wavy blonde hair, wore glasses and behind were 2 blue-gray eyes; let's not hope he's a fake as well. Nah.. he looked too innocent.
"Uh.. Miss..we are sorry for the disruption we have caused to you. Apparently, wanted criminals had disguised and taken our place at the shop but luckily Prince Ash realised this as he always sends us with a name tag. They didn't have one obviously so he arrived and stopped them from causing more trouble on time. We would like you to have this as a way of apologising." He said as he handed me a tiny box.

I saw his name tag and and it said 'Clemont'. "Thank you Clemont. It's fine, I didn't get hurt" I said as I took the box.
"I'll be taking my leave now miss...?" "Serena I replied. "Miss. Serena.. Who knows maybe I will see you again?" He asked. "Maybe.." I smiled.
"I will take my leave now" he said. "Farewell!" I said as I waved.

As he left I opened the box, and it was a beautiful blue ring, probably a dawn stone studded on. Perfect! This would really suit May! I thought.
"Let's go Misty" I said as I came up to her. "About time" she rolled her eyes.

I had a lot of things to think about when I get home. All Misty talked about was Prince Ash. Hey, I could listen all day. " His eyes are so perfect, his tan is so hot, his hair is messy but beautiful, his lips are so perfectly made, his collarbone is so..he's just so.. SEXY!!!"

Wow. She described him even more better than I did.

When we arrived home, LUCKILY  Grace hadn't come back but the rest of the girls were STILL trying out different gowns and jewellery. "Too girly" Iris said. "Too frilly" Dawn said. May looked half-asleep on the couch not caring at ALL.

"Ha! Ever heard of shopping? You guys are using the old junk here rather than stuff from Santalune city? boo yaa!" Misty snickered. They all looked at me and yelled "WHY DIDNT YOU TAKE ME AS WELL?" Dawn whined. "YEAH, EVEN WE ARE GOING" Iris said.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" May yelled so loudly you could even hear a pin drop. "I'll make.. Dinner?" I asked. "OH NOOO!!" I realised that I had completely forgot to bring groceries from the market. "It's fine" May said as she got up. "What do you mean?" I asked her, panicking by the second.

"I've made it already, I decided you needed a break" May said. I just stood there dumbfounded. I wanted to hug her so tightly, but obviously she wouldn't like that. " Thank you.. May...you.. Really care about me.." I should have gotten her something better than a ring.

We heard the doorbell and Grace arrives. "How was your day today girls?" She asks. "It was AMAZING! I went shopping and GUESS WHAT!!" Misty says. "WHAT!?" they both said in unision. "PRINCE ASH SHOWED UP!" Misty boasted.
"OMGEEE!! YOU LUCKY BITCHH" Dawn squealed. "SERIOUSLY??" Iris whinned.

"Uh-huh. And he looked extra sexy with his daggers and swords bdhind him. Like a knight in shinning armour.." Misty drooled. She was such a liar. She didn't even see him. I did :D

"May.. you don't look too happy" Grace sweatdrops.

"Dawn and Iris won't SHUT UP" May said. "You guys are OBSSESED with him. To the point its actually creepy."

"MOM YOU ARE COMMING SHOPPING TOMORROW WITH ME TO BUY ME DRESSES ND JEWELLERY" Dawn said totally ignoring May. "ME TOO" Iris said.

"Okay, okay. We will go tomorrow. The ball is in 2 days girls. You have to dress best, as you are the daughters of Grace Yvonne" she said. "And Serena, make sure they have their dresses by the end of Tomorrow " she said. "Okay" I said.

-------Time skip :After dinner--------

May's p.o.v

Huh. I wanted to go shopping as well. I couldn't blame them for not inviting me as I wasn't even in the house; I was buying groceries.

I wanted to give Serena a break because WYNAUT? (See what I did there? XD)

I hear a knock on my door , "come in" I said. It was Serena. "Is there something you need?" I asked. "I-uh.. Just wanted to.. Give you this" she handed me a tiny box.

"I'd like it if you wore that to the ball" she smiled. I opened the box which revealed a ring studded with probably what was a dawn stone. My favourite. "Serena..you got this for me..? " I asked shocked.

"Uh... Yeah..technically.." She mumbled and then I heard "Since you're my favourite sister.." She trailed off. I came up to her and gave her a big hug. I was really happy. "Also like a thank-you present" she laughed. "You saved my butt today." She said.

"Serena. If you need help with anything, I'm always here okay?" I smiled. "Okay..thank you May.. Really.." She said.

"Goodnight then" I said. "Making dinner makes me sleeepyy" I yawned. "Oh, okay.. Goodnight" she said as she switched the lit off and closed the door.

I wore the ring and it glimmered with the moonlight.. so beautiful.. I lay down on my bed and fantasize what my dream guy would look like... I want him to have style.. and hand me roses now and then...