I struck up a conversation with Alice, trying to get more details out of her about the ball. "So, what's it going to be like?"

"Well, it's a public ball, celebrating both your birthday and your need for a husband, so there will be commoners as well as royals. Numerous men will line up to see you, and you will most likely dance with all. That's why the comfortable shoes."

"Who's going to be there?"

"Well, there will be the commoners, mostly available men trying to win your hand, spirits, royals who live in the palace, and the Guardians. I believe the Man in the Moon will be there- m'lady? Whatever is the matter?"

I stopped dead. "Who is that? I feel like I should know who it is, but I don't." I really didn't remember anything, only that I was June Summers, I pretended to be a boy for a few hundred years... that was it. Everything else was blurry. No faces, no names. Only Joshua and my parents, the Fire Kingdom, but that was about it. Not much more.

"Come along, we don't want to be late, do we?"

"Yes, we do want to be late." I refused to move.

"Oh, mistress, don't be silly." Alice pulled me to the doorway and I took a peek around the edge.

There were hundreds of people, and I felt faint, but maybe it was just the corset. "Oh, nononono I can't do this. I can not do this." I shook my head as Alice pushed me through the doorway. I immediately smiled at the crowd, as if I hadn't been forced into this against my will.

We walked up to the platform where the royals sat and I carefully sat on my throne, Alice in my guest seat.

A royal page-announcer-person cleared his throat, and the while room went silent. "This ball is held in honor of our princess's birthday, and her need to find a husband. Royals shall go first. Come in, and let the dancing commence!" He snapped his scroll shut and stepped away. I stood and graciously walked down towards the dance floor, bringing Alice. I found Joshua first and made them dance, slight flushes growing on their red cheeks, and I smiled, clasping my hands near my chin. Then someone tapped my shoulder and I whirled. It was a duke or some such person, much much older than me, and I didn't have any interest. I was polite, but not overly friendly or nice. Soon, thankfully, it was time to dance with the next one. A young boy, younger than me, about 15, danced and chatted animatedly. He was nice enough, and he was certainly hilarious, but I'd rather have him as a friend or a brother.

And so one and so forth. The few closest to my age and older were the worst. They would get all touchy-feely, their hand on my waist rather uncomfortable and they clasped my hand a little too tightly, drawing me closer to them. All they did was brag about their accomplishments and comment some unsettling things about me that made me frown and pull their hands off me instantly.

I switched partners rather quickly, and I was soon dancing with a large man with a white beard that towered over me, his feet much larger than mine in heavy black boots. He quickly reassured me he wasn't trying to win my hand and was only here with a friend. We talked nicely, dancing longer than with anyone else, and we had the first engaging conversation I had had in centuries. It was refreshing, talking to an individual mind who wasn't at all intimidated by my royal status, and I told him so. He just chuckled and handed me off to the next person, who wasn't exactly a person, more of an animal.

I gingerly held his paws and we remained about arms length away. He mildly complemented me, but kept looking away until I spun him around and pushed him in that direction.

A small man came up to me, only about two feet high and made of sand, and he tipped a small golden top hat at me, making me giggle. I took his hand and we danced very formally, and I discovered that he couldn't talk, only sign things above his head. I felt sad and kissed his cheek -leaving glass lip marks- before sending him on his way. He floated lazily around, bumping into people until he reached a wall and fell asleep.

Then a boy, no, a young man, stepped up, clasping my hand in his and placing a hand on my waist immediately. I rested my hand on his shoulder and studied him. He was vaguely familiar, and he wasn't made of fire like everyone else and most of the commoners. He seemed both hesitant and confident, and I smiled at him. "Hello. What's your name?" He was unusually cold, and I shivered, steam coming from out clasped hands, even with the glove between them.

He seemed surprised at my question. "June, it's me, Jack."

I smiled a little again, this time with a polite look of confusion on my face. "I'm sorry, I don't know any 'Jack's. I can't remember much."

"June, you don't remember me? Jack Frost?"

I shook my head, my knees almost giving out, but he caught me. "I- I'm sorry, I'm not feeling too well." He guide me over to a bench and I sat, calming myself down. I had a throbbing headache, and I just needed to burn it away. I tore off a glove and pressed my bare hand to my forehead, slowly increasing the temperature until my headache was gone. I pulled my hand away and tugged my glove back on. By that time, Jack was gone, and I was sitting alone.

Another young man came up to me and offered a hand to help me stand. He was also flesh and blood, and I toned down the heat as we danced. "Hello. What's your name?"

"Hiccup. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. I know it's a long name, trust me." He grinned and I found myself grinning back.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. You may call me June."

We chatted lightly for a long time, far longer than anyone else, and I grew tired. Hiccup was very nice, and I really liked him. I sighed as a slow dance came on, very worn out, and I rested my head on his shoulder without thinking about it. He winced slightly, but I didn't think much of it until I realized I must have been burning him. I cried out a little and stood independently, leaving the ballroom and bringing him to the kitchens. I found some ice and carefully cooled down my hand, placing it on his shoulder, and he ran cool tap water over his hands. "I'm so sorry, when I get tired I find it difficult to stay cool. You're welcome to stay the night, if you wish. I have plenty of spare rooms down my corridor."

He nodded thankfully. "I'm only here for the ball. I'm a new spirit, actually a brand-new Guardian, but I don't have anywhere to be."

I nodded and led him along to and empty room. "That's nice. I believe I encountered them a few times, but I can't quite recall everything. What are you the spirit of?"

"Autumn."

I nodded again. "Makes sense. All the brown." He was wearing a loose green shirt and brown pants, and he had brown straps crossing over his chest, a sort of harness. He had one brown boot on his right foot, but where his left foot should have been...

Was a curved piece of metal. He walked with it so naturally, it was almost a part of him.

He had brown hair, and was rather cute. He had a slight build, but he seemed nice, not cowardly or anything like his spindly figure would suggest.

"What?"

We arrived at the room. "Nothing. Here, I know a lot of it is red, but nothing is made of fire. Just don't let anyone touch you."

"Why?"

"They will burn you without realizing it. I'm the only one who can cool down to human body temperature." I showed him where the blankets were, and showed him the refilling wardrobe, and left him to his own devices.

I went back to my room and dressed down, putting on a silk pajama top and bottoms, and of course they were red. I yanked the accessories and braids out of my hair with a huff and threw the clips across the room. I collapsed face-first on my bed and immediately slept.