"Is this true Mark?" asked Maeline. "And don't try to lie to me!" Mark laughed nervously as Sean handed the microphone back to the singer. Seeing his chance, Mark pulled his sword out of his sheath and grabbed Sean by the back of his shirt until Sean was directly in front of Mark. Everyone gasped as Sean had been pulled, Mark wrapped his free arm tightly around Sean's chest and placed the sword on his throat. Sean felt the cool blade touch his skin as his heart started to pound.

"Don't make any moves!" yells Mark as Maeline and the guards stopped walking. "Or else I will slit his throat, and your little commoner prince will be as good as dead!"

"Mark..." says Maeline. "Don't do this," still holding a tight grip on his captive, Sean whimpered nervously.

"Shut up princess, and don't follow us," he dragged Sean with him into a secret passageway and shoved him inside. Sean fell on the sand covered ground with a groan.. "You never learn do you McLoughlin?" he said. "You always have to be a pain in my ass. Well, my sniper may have missed you, but I won't let you get away that easily." Sean grabbed a hand full of sand and tossed it into Mark's eyes Mark groaned and wiped the sand out of his eyes.

Sean got up and started running in the opposite direction down the dark hallways. When Mark could finally see, Sean had been nowhere to be found. He looked down and saw a set of footprints leading away from the secret entrance. Mark smirked and held up his sword, following the tracks.

"Sean," says Mark. "There's nowhere in this passageway you can go, where I won't find you."

Maeline sent the guards to find Sean. She couldn't believe that she'd been living with a thief and a killer for most of the year and he didn't care who he hurt. It explained the way Mark had acted and why he was always so hateful of Sean. Well, she had enough of sitting in the darkness and watching almost everyone she loved die. It was time that she stood up and went to help Sean.

"Adam," says Maeline as the servant stepped forward with her sword. "My sword."

"Yes, Milady," says Adam as he handed Maeline the sword. Unlike most swords, Maeline's sword had a curved blade with a leather-bound handle. She preferred using it to any regular sword or dagger. Maeline politely took it and raced to go and find Sean and Mark. Maeline knew that Sean was completely unprepared, and she didn't know if he knew how to fight. Right now, he was a sitting duck and there was no way she would let him die. Racing for the secret entrance she pressed a button, and the door slid open. Stepping through she began to search for Mark and Sean, when Maeline looked down she saw their footsteps and knew that Mark was on Sean's tail.

Sean had been running down the passageway until he arrived at another door. Pushing the door open he found himself in a large corridor leading up to a tower, behind him he could hear Mark getting closer.

"Sean!" Mark called out. "You can keep running but sooner or later I will get to you," Out of breath, and out of options, Sean ran upstairs until he was at the top of the tower. The tower was tall, and the circle was huge. He raced toward the edge only to stop and look down which was a big mistake considering he had a fear of heights. Sean gulped in fear as rocks crumbled and hit the ground below. Sean backed away and turned around, he didn't have anything to defend himself with and none of the stones at the top had fallen off. He was basically a sitting duck. Mark stepped out of the stairway and arrived at the top of the tower. "Well, if it isn't the end of the line." Mark said.

"Why would you do this?" asked Sean. "How does fortune get you anything?"

"Why? Really Sean?" responds Mark as he pointed his sword at Sean. Mark took a step forward as Sean took a step back, he was getting closer to the edge, and he didn't like it. "This entire kingdom, everything would be mine all I have to do is get the only two people left out of my way," he continued. "Starting with you." another step forward made Sean step back until his left foot was nearly at the edge of the roof. Small loose rocks slipped from the tower as Sean was trying his best to keep balance.

"You won't get away with this!" exclaimed Sean who then noticed the princess appearing on the roof. She placed her finger to her lips and told Sean to stay silent Sean turned back to the duke who still stood in front of him.

"I have been but since you came into the picture, everything I planned is all going down the drain," responds Mark. "All because you decided to meddle in my plans!" yelled Mark. Mark sliced forward making Sean's other foot jump back he slipped and had to grab onto the tower roof to keep himself from falling to his death. Sean was straining to stay up, though he didn't think he'd be stuck in a situation like this. Sean yelled as he held onto the roof as much as he possibly could. Mark laughed evilly as he stepped forward and knelt in front of Sean who already had beads of sweat falling down the sides of his head.

"It's a shame Sean," says Mark. "We could have been great friends if it wasn't for you going after my girl," Mark stood and stepped on Sean's hand. Sean cried out as he pulled his hand away as it was in pain. But by letting go, Sean was holding onto the roof with one hand. Mark stepped back slightly as Sean grabbed the roof once again. "You should have stayed away now you'll pay for everything you've done!" Mark gripped his sword with both hands and as he sliced down, Maeline took the opportunity to step in and block the oncoming attack. Mark was in shock he did not expect to see the princess fighting.

"Milady?! What are you doing?!" yells Mark.

"Doing something, I should have done long ago," she responds and kicked Mark in the chest far enough so she could turn and help Sean up. "Sean, here! Take my hand!" Maeline held out her hand as Sean reached up scared but brave enough to grab her hand with his left. She pulled him up and handed him her sword, Sean grabbed it and looked at her with brief confusion. "Take it, you need it to defend yourself."

"No one kicks me like that without permission!" exclaims Mark as he grabbed Maeline by the shoulder and shoved her back into Andrew who had just arrived from the ball. He gripped her tightly as she struggled to break free.

"Maeline!" exclaims Sean as he glared at Mark. "That's it, you're going down Fischbach!"

"You don't even know how to wield a sword so why don't you give up?!" Mark ran at Sean with his sword and started to fight him. Whenever Mark attacked Sean countered trying his best to fight against Mark. Sean was scared that he would die but that easily left him when he knew that Maeline was in danger, Mark swung down as their swords collided with each other. Seeing his chance, Sean disarmed Mark knocking his sword off the tower. Mark saw what had happened and tried to attack with his own hands, but it was clear that Sean had the upper hand. Sean kicked Mark causing Mark to step back. Mark growled and stepped forward. Sean pointed his sword at Mark whose hands went up immediately in defeat.

"Your highness?!" called one of Maeline's guards.

"Up here!" Maeline yelled as she elbowed Andrew in his chest causing him to stumble. Mark was the first person they went after as he was backing away, one guard grabbed Mark's wrists and brought them down to his back where they then chained him.

"You are under arrest Mark Edward Fischbach, for the murder and attempted murder of the king, Sean McLoughlin and Princess Maeline." says the guard. Mark groaned as the other guard arrested Andrew and brought both down to the bottom of the tower. With Mark and Andrew arrested, Sean tossed the sword to the side and ran to Maeline who ran into his arms. They hugged for a little bit and looked at each other.

"You assholes just wait! I will be back!" Mark called as the guards dragged him away.

"Are you okay?" Sean asked, as he approached the princess.

"I'm fine, and the question is, are you okay?" Maeline questioned.

Sean nodded as the two walked back down to the ballroom. With everything that happened Sean was mentally exhausted, but he was happy that they'd defeated Mark. Maeline and Sean arrived at the ballroom where the crowd started cheering. Sean couldn't believe what was happening, he had just saved not only the princess but also the village and those who were in danger. As they stepped onto the dance floor the band and singer started a Christmas slow dance. A smile crept onto their face as he held out his hand to the princess.

"May I have this dance?" he asked. Maeline blushed as she politely took his hand, the two had started to slow dance to the music at the same time everyone else started dancing. The two went around and across the dance floor.

"Why did you leave in the first place Sean?" asked Maeline.

"I overheard you talking to Tom and Mark about your feelings toward me," Sean Answered. "I heard you say that I was nothing more than a commoner and that I did not fit in with any royal members." Maeline sighed and placed her hand on his cheek.

"Sean, that's not true," she said. "I only said those things so Mark and Tom would get off my back," she continued. "The truth is, I love you," she kept going. "You've returned the light in me and brought out the truth, you made everything in this charity ball possible all because of who you are."

"I... I don't know what to say?" said Sean.

"Just shut up and kiss me," says Maeline as the two leaned forward and kissed each other on the lips. Sean felt the genuine feeling he had felt when he had been with Maeline, he kissed her passionately as he wrapped his arms slightly around her back. The two continued to kiss as Maeline removed her hands from Sean's waist and wrapped them around his neck. Eventually, the two pulled away and touched each other on the forehead. It was there that Sean had truly figured out his feelings. He was in love with Maeline and even though they were from different worlds, Christmas made it possible to cross paths with each other and he wouldn't have it any other way.