"What's wrong?" I sigh and turn to the queen."Nothing and everything.I mean one minute I'm just a normal highschool girl who was finally figuring out who she wanted to be.The next-" I walk to the dresses and run the fabric through my fingers."Well I find out that the parents I thought were my parents weren't.That they were my guardians and I am the daughter of a king and queen.I had to watch as my apparently not father gets run through with a knife-" Mrs.Morrison grabs my arm."What?" Queen Iliana stands in front of me.Her face is full of worry."What happened?" I sigh and shake my head still new tears filling my eyes."I don't know really.I was sent to Max's to stay with them for a while.Eventually I got worried because they hadn't called or answered my calls so I lied telling Max I was going to work.I knew that if I didn't then whatever was going on for why I was with the Morrison's that Max would stop me from going to see my parents.When I got there I found my parents fighting people dressed in black and silver.And well one minute they were fighting together the next my dad is on the ground and my mother is running to him.Time just stood still as I watched my dad just fall.I screamed and a huge silver wave came from somewhere and knocked over all of the guys my parents were fighting." I walk back out into the bedroom and sit on the bed."I was rushed onto an airship after and when we turned to get mom more bad guys were coming.She fought some of them off then rushed to the airship but I think she knew that we wouldn't make it.Mo-" I stop and look at my real mother then down at my feet."The Captain stopped just before getting on and told us to leave.Mr.Morrison tried to convince her to get on but she wouldn't listen.She made the group who picked me up promise to protect me with their lives,told me she loved me then the hatch started to close.I tried to get to her but one of the guys held me back.I screamed,but didn't really fight.I cried myself to sleep in Max's arms.I woke up to Max and Dex fighting with each other.I blew up at both of them and another silver wave blew out again.The airship shook and well everything was really a blur.I got of the ship surrounded by different people and lifestyle.It's just so...ughh I don't know." I dip my head into my hands.The bed sinks with the weight of another person.A warm hand rests on my back."I'm sorry you had to go through all of that.I never wanted that for you.Nither did your father." I look up to see the Queen.Mrs.Morrison has disappeared into the closet."All we wanted was for you to be safe.You were the sweetest,most beautiful little girl.Your laugh always made everyone that met you smile.Of course you were only about 3 when we had to give you up so not old enough to remember anything." The Queen stands up and spins around. "But oh when you laughed and met people it was the most beautiful thing." She sits down beside me again and places her hands on mine." I missed you so much.Everything about you." She smiles and rubs my cheek. " Oh sweetie.I'm so sorry.The Captain and Sargent were very dear friends of mine and I hate to hear that I won't be seeing them again.But hate it even more that you had to see that." I just look into her blue eyes and realize that even though I don't know her she feels like a mother to me.I hate admitting it but she felt more like my mother then the Captain.I smile."Thank you.You know when I was little about 10 I always dreamed that I was related to royalty.I imagined a big beautiful castle,long flowy beautiful dresses,tiaras,jewelry,all of it.But what I always really thought of was having my very own prince.Sometimes I imagined more than one prince or guy that was in my life,more than one that well-" I cut off embarrassed of what I was admitting.She smiles."That fell in love with you." I nod."Don't be embarrassed about that.Everyone wants love even if they believe they don't need it." I smile."The only thing missing from this situation is the prince's." Queen Iliana smiles.Her smile is so warm and kind."Well actually there are prince's.Dex and Maxwell." I gasp."Max? A prince?" She laughs."Yes I know it's surprising,but he is indeed a prince.His mother is the queen of the kingdom closest to us.Valorea." I giggle."Well apparently there is a lot Max never told me." "Yes it would seem that way.Now come on we must get you ready.Let me ring the maids." She gets up and pulls a rope next to my bed.A bell that sounds like water droplets rings.A few minutes later three pretty maids enter.They bow to the queen.An amber haired girl speaks.Her dark green eyes a great contrast to her slightly tan skin."How may we help your Majesty?" The queen turns to me."This is my daughter Princess Ariella." The three maids gasp and smile. A blonde haired,brown eyed girl speaks."She looks just like you your Majesty." My mother looks at me."Yes she does Marie.Of course she has more elegant features than I do.Especially her beautiful,bright,shocking blue eyes.I could never hold the beauty my daughter does." I blush."Oh ease don't say that.You are very beautiful.When I first saw you I couldn't imagine being related to you much less your daughter." "Well thank you for the compliment my darling,but you are the beauty of our kingdom now and we will see to it that the kingdom sees it too." She turns to the maids."Now Marie,Lily,Amber lets go." Lily,the amber haired girl stepped forward first,than Marie,than Amber who has brown hair and green eyes."Okay princess follow us." Lily lead us back into the closet and pushed a button on the wall next to the door.A small round stand came up from the floor.Amber stood beside me and grabbed my hand."If you would my lady." I stepped onto the stand.Amber released me and walked over to Marie."What color do you think we should start with your Majesty?" Mother stared at me intently."Hmmm.Lets try purple." Marie nods and pulls a floor length,long mesh sleeve cuff dress from the rack with small designs of lace on the bottom of the dress.Lily asks me to remove my clothes.I do as she asks a little self conscious about undressing in front of them.Soon my clothes are off and Lily and Marie are helping me into it.The fabric is soft going over my skin.The cuffs that wrap around my wrists are a little uncomfortable but bearable.Queen Iliana looks me over.I am still unsure of calling her mother yet."It's pretty on her but not for a ball.Off." She waves her hand and the girls unzip the dress and pull it off. Lily pulls out a yellow dress.Beading spreads out over the bodice of the dress and the bottom is slim and sparkles dot the entire thing.That one slips on easily and I love the way it looks against my skin.The sleeves are three quarters and skin tight."Very pretty but more of a meeting dress.Next." It goes on like this for a while.Red,pink,gray,black,and so on.I start to feel like a mannequin.When I don't think I can take another dress Mrs.Morrison comes forth with a beautiful ombre dress.It starts at a dark pink then fades to red.Near the bottom it's black and a little lacey.The long billowy sleeves match the dress.They slip it on me and I face the queen.She nods and smiles."That's the one." The dress is beautiful.The colors accent each other well and beading intricately placed brings out the sparkles on the dress.Marie leads me to a chair to sit on and sets to work on my hair.Amber and Lily work on my makeup.Mrs.Morrison and Queen Iliana pick out my jewelry and shoes.They find a beautiful ruby dragon necklace and matching earrings and bracelets.
Marie steps back and helps put on my shoes and jewelry.When they are done they all smile.Mrs.Morrison's eyes are lined with tears."You look beautiful Ariella." The queen walks over to the closet and shuts the door revealing a mirror. "Come and see." I stand up and walk over surprisingly not wobbly in the heels.Once I get to the mirror I don't recognize the girl staring back at me.The dress fits her in all the right places accenting her curves.My hair is pinned back in a sort of half french braid,on one side with a few strips of hair out and curled around my face.The rest of my hair is pulled over my other shoulder and curled.Little ruby's are scattered on my dark brown hair making it shine in the light.My eyes look very blue against the dark red and black eyeshadow.My lips are blood red and my cheeks highlighted slightly to show of my high cheek bones."Wow.I don't know what to say." Queen Iliana nods." Well I do.You look beautiful.Although you are missing something.Hold on I will be right back." She opens the closet door and disappears inside. A moment later she returns holding a very beautiful but difficult looking tiara.The bottom looks like a vine with leaves and flowers that wraps around my entire head and then the top that sits on top of my head has three points like a normal tiara.Different jewels dot the tiara."This was made for you to give to you on your eighteenth birthday,but I wanted to give it to you now." She places it in my head and makes sure it's sitting right."There.Now your maids will stay to help teach you about what to do tonight.Meanwhile Isabella and myself must get ready." She rolls her eyes and sighs. "And make sure our husbands do not make this ball look ghastly." I didn't really notice it before but she has a slight British accent.I nod and she leaves with Mrs.Morrison.I turn to my maids who are all smiling gleefully.Oh boy.