"Manx, you look stunning in that orange gown. I'm sure he'll love it!" Sorrelle said softly, looking her daughter in the eyes.

"Are you sure it isn't too much?" Manx nervously replied.

"Hmm, well, let's see! It's a lovely color on you, it's modest, it's sensible, it's slimming but not too tight, and wonderfully formal. I think it is perfect. Now go out there onto the dance floor. I've been teaching you dance steps for weeks now and I think you have it down." Sorrelle said

Manx scrunched up her nose and said, "But what if I choke? Or trip over something? Or accidentally get nervous and activate my shadowfear ability!"

"Stop worrying and enjoy the night. We are here to celebrate the living and honor the dead, not worry about our dance moves. Now get out there!" Sorrelle said with a chuckle. Manx reluctantly stepped forward and spotted a familiar green scaly cape across the room, and she teleported right next to him.

"Xolt! You came." Manx said, trying to sound enthusiastic, but a bit apprehensive.

  Xolt formally said, "Why wouldn't I? I was invited."

"I haven't seen you around much since after the battle. How have you been?" Manx said.

"It isn't of your concern." Xolt tersely replied.

Manx sighed and said, "We used to be friends, Xolt. Don't you remember?"

"I remember a hazy fog of a few exchanges, nothing more." Xolt said.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Manx said awkwardly.

"Yes. I would love to talk about how you became so sociable and annoying, but I have a date coming to this dance, so if you excuse me, quit wasting my time." Xolt said coldly.

Manx shook her head and said, "I am about this close to drowning you in Hadrix's trough of sugared cream, then dipping you in molten chocolate, and biting your head off!"

"You amuse me with how appealing that sounds." Xolt said, raising an eyebrow.

Manx shook her head in annoyance, just as Vaskin walked up.

"Wow." Vaskin said

"What's wrong? Did I do something wrong with my outfit?" Manx asked.

"Nothing's wrong, Manx. You look positively stunning!" Vaskin said.

"And you look like a festive tree with legs." Manx said, causing Vaskin to blush.

"What? It's a compliment! You look good in green." Manx said.

"Can I please be excused?" Xolt asked in annoyance.
Vaskin leaned his elbow on Manx's shoulder and said, "How about you tell us what you've been up to this past month."

"I really don't have time for this." Xolt said.

"Yeah right. You obviously came to this grand ball for a reason, and if you have time for the ball, you have time to talk." Manx said.

"Alright then. I'll talk. Why in the Valdt is there a demented kitten face shaved into the back of Vaskin's head?" Xolt said.

"I keep telling him to get rid of it but he keeps secretly having the Kapybara shave it back on there. I'm really quite close to burning it off because it disturbs me." Manx said, playfully ruffling Vaskin's hair.

"I can't help it! I think it's cool, and now I can scare small children on the street without even looking at them!" Vaskin said jokingly.

"You aren't kidding about the scaring children." Manx muttered.

Xolt chuckled at her little joke and said, "You really have changed, haven't you?"

"Not much, except I'm happy now. I have my family and I have Vaskin, and I'm surrounded by supportive friends who really care about me, even if some of them are complete crazies, and I'm finally enjoying my life for a change. I guess this is what was left under all that dust and all that pain." Manx said, giving Vaskin a playful jab in the ribs.

"Good for you." Xolt said, his good mood suddenly disappearing.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise and Manx heard her mother yell "Kaeoryn! Put down that axe right this minute!" Off in the distance.

"Oh no. Here we go again." Manx said sarcastically rolling her eyes as her father approached. Vaskin shrugged and muttered "Is it just me or is he carrying a bigger axe every time I see him?"

"Not just you." Manx said with an embarrassed shake of her head.

"Kaeoryn! What did I say about the Axe?" Sorrelle called out. He angrily tossed it over his shoulder and it landed on the seven foot unicorn ice sculpture, slicing it completely in half.
Sorrelle caught up to him and said, "Remember what we rehearsed."

"Do I really have to say all that?" Kaeoryn growled back.

"Yes. Now go be civilized and say hello to your daughter and her boyfriend without threatening to kill anything." Sorrelle chided.

"But do I really have to complement IT?" Kaeoryn mumbled.

"Yes. now act natural! This is a celebration, not a grouch house!" Sorrelle replied as they Walked up to Manx, Vaskin, and Xolt. Kaeoryn sighed heavily and said in an annoyed monotone, "Hello Vaskin and Manx. Your hair looks...er...less upsetting than usual tonight Vaskin. And Xolt I am glad you could join us."

"There, see, now wasn't that easy?" Sorrelle asked.

"I feel like punching something right now." Kaeoryn replied.

Manx chuckled a bit and said, "You and me both, dad." before they were suddenly interrupted by a small furry red, orange, white, and yellow bullet screaming "HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Kapybara?" Vaskin and Manx said in unison.

"The infernal booping has to stop! One's fragile nose can only take so much boop before it must stop for good! We shall mount a resistance and ban all who boop noses from this country!" Khashmyr shrieked.

"I thought she was busy making the carved fruit display at the salad bar." Vaskin said.

"She carves fruit faster than physically and logically possible! Now hide me, quick!" Khashmyr said.

"Here, hide under the tablecloth behind me." Manx said, lifting it so Khashmyr could slip under.

"It's been lovely chatting with you all, but I really have to go now." Xolt said. Manx shrugged in disappointment and said, "Alright. See you some other time then."

"Indeed." Xolt said sarcastically before storming away. It wasn't long after he left that the royal court of musicians started playing their lutes and lyres and whistles and flutes, setting the atmosphere up for some lively dancing.

"May I?" Vaskin said, bowing and leading Manx by the hand to the center of the ball. The music was quick and airy like a fluttering bird, and the gowns and dresses of many girls all around them twirled and swayed to the cadence of the music. Manx was agile and light on her feet, and soon she was enjoying herself, much to her own surprise, and Vaskin proved an equally skilled dancer. The first dance ended with Manx leaning partially backwards over Vaskin's arm in a dramatic pose that she was instantly regretting. During the next dance Vaskin tossed her into the air and spun her around, and she had never felt so joyous and free in her life. And as her gown whisshed over the ballroom floor she felt the music flow through her veins and she never wanted that feeling to stop. During every dance Manx swayed like a lily in the breeze, alive and free and bending to the will of the music. She felt like it could never end. And once she was completely winded after a very fast dance, a slow dance came on, and all of a sudden the ballroom faded away and all that was left was the shining brown pools of Vaskin's eyes. For a brief moment there they were, suspended in time and space, just the two of them. Manx was beaming happily, and Vaskin grinned so wide and bright that his teeth almost took on a life of their own. And as the last dance ended with the last song, Manx gently whispered to Vaskin, "I love you, spiky mop head."

And he whispered back, "I love you, eyes of sunset."

Manx smiled and knew she was cherished and loved. Yet as she looked over at where the Empress was seated, she saw a deep sadness and anger in the dragon's icy blue eyes. And even though it was supposed to be a joyous celebration of life going on, The Empress was not smiling. She seemed distant, with a faraway look on her face. Manx hugged Vaskin and said softly in his ear, "I think we should go and talk to the Empress."

And he agreed.