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Scott noticed the village was a bit more lively than usual, people flitting about from shop to shop, chatting and laughing with one another. As he reaches his shop, he’s surprised to see there’s already a line of people waiting for him to come open up. He’s never in his life seen so many people waiting for the florist. He pushes past, excusing himself, making it to the front of the group to open the door. He’s nearly trampled as he walks in, scurrying behind the counter for safety. People start gathering various amounts of flowers, bringing them up to the counter and paying whatever amount Scott tells them before running out to the next shop. Not a single person gives him the time to be able to ask what is going on.
At least not from that initial rush. People start to chill out the closer it gets to midday, and finally he has a customer taking their time. “Say, what’s going on with everyone today? I’ve never seen the square or my own shop so busy in the morning.”
“Oh, you don’t know?”
“Know what?” He raises a brow as he neatly rearranges the bundle of flowers the customer handed him.
“The palace announced a decree that a masquerade ball is going to be held there. And not just any masquerade ball, either. This one promises that if both you and your soulmate are in attendance, you will be brought together through fate, guaranteed. And everyone who is unwed and of age in the two nearest villages to the castle is invited to attend. As the second-closest village, that means us. And means we have further to travel. So people are rushing to get things this morning so they can set out before nightfall.”
Scott blinks. “Oh. Yeah, no, I didn’t know that. Nobody told me about it. Guess I’ll have to miss it.”
“What? But you have to go! It’s a once in a lifetime chance to find your true love!”
“If, he’s there. There’s an if attached. Even still, I don’t exactly have anything…nice to wear. Just the same old garbs that get dirt and mud from gardening on them.” He ties the bouquet together with a ribbon, handing it off to the customer. “It’s a lovely thought, but I’m the unfortunate one who won’t be so lucky to go. I wish the best to you, though, that you have a wonderful time and find your love. Don’t forget to come back in the future if you need a wedding bouquet!” He waves the customer off, and spends the rest of the time while he still has flowers to sell trying not to think about it. His day ends early, and he leaves the shop with more coin than he’d ever had in just one day, letting people know he’s out of flowers when they ask what he’s doing out of the shop so soon. He doesn’t look into any of the other shop windows. He just heads to his home on the outskirts of town, sulking inside.
Not long later, there’s knocking at his door. He opens it to a very large orc slightly hunching downwards. “Didn’t expect the door to open so fast. Thought you’d be getting ready to go to that ball.” Pyro steps in, standing up fully once he’s inside. “Unless you were just now about to start getting ready?”
“I’m not going, actually.” Scott closes the door.
“What? Why not? It’s right up your alley!”
“Because I can’t. I don’t have anything to wear or any way to travel such a distance. People taking carriages are leaving today to arrive in time tomorrow night. I’d never make it. Plus…you know what happened last time I thought I’d found my ‘soulmate’…” Scott sits back down in one of his seats, and Pyro sits on the floor nearby.
“Yeah, that Jim guy was no good. I tried to tell you something felt off, but you didn’t listen until we caught him with a handful of your mother’s old jewelry and a bag of money. But that doesn’t mean that your real soulmate would be the same. He was after your money, not your heart. This could be a chance for you to start trying again. I know you, and I know in your heart you’re a hopeless romantic. Don’t let one bad experience stop you. Besides, it can even just be an opportunity to relax and have fun. Nothing says your soulmate will actually be there. You could make another friend other than just me.”
“I guess…but that doesn’t cover the other issues.”
“I can get you there. Easy. And surely there’s something that used to belong to your parents that might fit you?”
“Pyro, I was taller than my dad starting at 16. He was fully human. I wouldn’t fit in anything he had.”
“What about your mom? Do you have any of her old clothes? Or just jewels?”
Scott thinks. He gets up and slowly walks into his parents’ old room. He doesn’t go in it very much, hasn’t bothered to move his things in and theirs to his old room despite living alone for two years now. He opens up a chest where they stored some of his mom’s old clothes, slowly pulling them out. There’s not a lot that are particularly fancy, she had spent just as long in the garden back then as he did now. He pulled together some of the nicer pieces from different set outfits, making mental note of what belonged where so he could put everything back later. He leaves the room with his armfull of clothes, showing them to Pyro. “They’re really old, but it’s nicer than anything I have. Still not…great…for a ball though…”
“It’s a good start. I know someone who can fancy it up some more without damaging anything. She’s not far from here, lives in the woods by my place.” Pyro smiles.
“You promise she wouldn’t ruin anything? I want to put everything back when I come home.” He hugs the clothes tighter, and he swears he can faintly smell lilies.
“I promise. Now are we gonna get going or are you going to back out at the last hurdle?” Pyro asks, lightly teasing.
“Let’s go before I start regretting falling for peer pressure.” Scott smiles.
Soon, Scott finds himself standing outside a small cottage in the woods, practically surrounded by various kinds of dogs. Pyro knocks on the door, and a woman with light brown hair and a red cape opens the door. “Pearl! I have a friend here who needs some help getting ready for a masquerade ball at the palace tomorrow night. Any chance you can, y’know, work your magic?”
“The palace? That’s quite far away. You know spells like that have a timer once they get a certain distance away from me.” She crosses her arms, glancing behind Pyro at Scott before looking back at the orc. “It’s possible, but you’re gonna owe me again.”
“That’s fine. Scott is my best friend, it's worth it to try and cheer him up.”
Pearl smiles. “Aww, that’s sweet. Right then, Scott, was it?” Pearl steps out of the cottage, walking closer to where Scott is just standing in place, still holding the clothes. He nods, and she rolls up her sleeves. “Alright, I guess those are your fancy clothes? Don’t worry, they’ll change back once the magic runs out, but allow me to just-” magic leaves from her hands, surrounding the bundle in his arms. They glow blindingly bright, and Scott has to shut his eyes tightly and turn his head away until the light dies down. As he looks back, he nearly drops the clothes in shock.
It was like life was breathed back into them, the colors more vibrant and the spots that looked particularly worn and frayed were repaired. There was also a golden trim that wasn’t there before, but it really added that last little touch to make the outfit that bit more appropriate for a ball. “Woah…how did you do that? I’ve never seen mage magic work that way before.”
“Because I’m not a mage!” Pearl chuckles. “I’m technically what old storybooks would call a ‘fairy godmother’. My magic works a little differently than you. Now-” she turns to look at her garden. “Hm…what do we have here…onions are a no, too stinky…beets might stain everything…pumpkins are a little cliche…butternut squash is a maybe…why are there flowers in my veggie garden? Oh! We could do a big flower! Cause yknow, you have that big flower in your hair, and-I’m just gonna do this now before I forget about it.” Again she reaches at one of the white flowers in her garden, and in a flash, a flower-shaped carriage appears. “You boys can borrow a couple of my dogs to pull this, let me just-” another flash, and a pair of dogs have grown to nearly the size of horses. “That should do ya for the trip. Just make sure you leave the palace before sunrise after the ball, or everything is going to turn back to as it was before you can make it back to where my magic is stable.”
“Sunrise? Isn’t the magic deadline usually midnight?” Pyro asks.
Pearl shoots him a look. “Do you want to be cliche and give him less time to party or do you want him to have fun?” Pyro shuts his mouth. “Exactly what I thought.” She looks back at Scott. “I also made a mask for you out of some fallen petals, it’s waiting for you inside the carriage. Go on, get moving so you’re not late! Pyro-hm. I know you’re not going in, but you gotta look nice too.” She waves her hand, and Pyro’s outfit changes. Nothing crazy, just much cleaner and nicer! “There. Now you boys go! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She winks mischievously and ducks back into her cottage before Scott even has time to thank her.
The journey goes by pretty smoothly. They’re a bit behind the majority of everyone else from the village who’d traveled out, but by the time they’re on the outskirts of the next village the next evening, they’re caught up. Scott was very careful getting changed while inside of the carriage, covering the windows just to be sure nobody could see anything. It was amazing how everything fit, though to be fair it was magiced up. He opens the curtains just in time to see as they join the line of carriages waiting to go through the front gate. Said line was surprisingly short, and surprisingly fast. Though it seems people are in a rush to get inside as swiftly as possible, and multiple people were all sharing one carriage together.
Which makes it a bit embarrassing for Scott when he steps out of the carriage alone. He looks back at Pyro, who gives a thumbs up before riding away. Scott takes a deep breath, and makes his way up to the castle.
And of course, the first thing he does once he’s inside is run directly into a knight in almost armor and a mask, making him stumble back and bump into a table. “Oh shit, are you alright?” The knight asks, reaching towards Scott.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to run into you like that, I didn’t even see you there.” Scott stands and brushes himself off.
“I didn’t see you either. Not sure how, since your outfit is amazing, but I somehow managed to be completely oblivious.” The knight chuckles. “I hope I didn’t just put a damper on your night before the ball has even properly begun.”
“No, you’re fine. I uh, the fact I even made it here is a miracle in and of itself. First nobody told me, then I didn’t have anything to get here, I also had to borrow clothes, it’s been a long road to get to this point.” Scott shrugs. “Not sure how much I even really believe in the ‘soulmate’ thing that they’re using to draw everyone in, but getting to dance and have fun is something I’ve needed to do for a long time now.”
“Wow. Yeah, that’s quite the journey. I definitely feel you there, I’m here so I can just relax for once, you know? Make some friends, have a little fun, play some of the dice games I sometimes see nobles playing while I oversee these kind of events.” The knight responds, looking out over the room. “Thank goodness they’re letting me participate in this, if only because I’m single. And on the condition I wear most of my armor, just in case.” He shrugs.
Scott chuckles. “Well, lucky you, then.”
“That’s what they keep saying. Lucky, lucky me.” The knight grins. “Care to join me for a little bit as an apology for slamming into you?”
“Sure, why not.” Scott smiles, and follows the night down into the ballroom.
From there, Scott and the knight did not separate for any more than a couple minutes at a time. Talking together about their life and families, eating food, playing games, people watching and whispering made-up stories about people’s lives based on absolutely nothing and making each other laugh with increasingly ridiculous imaginary conversations between them. They even dance a couple of times, even if they’re not the greatest at it. They hardly paid any mind to the time that was passing, how midnight came and went and some folks started slowly leaving as they got further into the wee hours of night. Some satisfied and excited while linked arms with their ‘soulmate’, others tired and disgruntled as it seemed like their soulmate simply did not attend.
Nom had led Scott outside, sneaking him into the gardens after hearing about how much Scott talked about his own, as well as his mage abilities. It was stunning. The garden was so much larger than any he’d ever seen, with such a wide variety of plants and flowers that there were some he never even knew about before! “Oh my, this place is fantastic! Gods, where do they even get some of these, they’re so beautiful…”
“I thought you’d like it!”
“You sure you won’t get in trouble for bringing me over here? It’s a pretty far distance from the ballroom, after all.”
“Probably not! I mean, I am keeping an eye on you, and it was my idea, so at the very least you won’t get in trouble. I think they know by now that I’m gonna cause mischief no matter what they do to scold me, so may as well save their energy for if I ever actually cause serious damage.” The knight shrugs.
“So you’re a chronic troublemaker then, hm?” Scott smirks, nudging the knight.
“What can I say, I enjoy life on the wild side of things.”
“Hm. Well, thank you for that, then. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten to see all of this, or had such a fun night. I really needed that.”
“You’re welcome.” They both stare at each other in silence for a moment. The knight looks like he’s about to say something, but then something else catches his attention. “Holy shit, is that about to be sunrise already?”
Scott’s stomach drops, and he turns around to where Nom is looking. Sure enough, the sky is getting brighter, an orangey haze along the horizon.
“I think there’s a bench where we could sit and-” the knight starts, but Scott starts walking away very quickly. “Wait, where are you going?”
“I have to leave now! I was supposed to leave before sunrise!” Scott calls back, picking up speed.
The knight begins to run after him, and Scott goes faster the more he talks. “Why, is there something wrong? Are you okay?”
“I just have to go now or else I won’t be able to get back in time!” Once he’s back by the outside of the ballroom, he books it inside and across the room, weaving through the handful of people who are still somehow here. He can hear the knight behind him the whole way, the clanking of armor and the calling out to him. But Scott doesn’t slow down. He makes it outside again, and thanks the gods that Pyro is there waiting with a similarly panicked look on his face. Scott can feel his mask slipping from all the movement, and in an attempt to adjust it he instead knocks it off his head, landing somewhere behind him. He doesn’t stop. It will just turn to petals anyway.
He basically jumps into the carriage when he reaches it, Pyro signaling the dogs to start going before Scott even shuts the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nom holds the man’s mask in his hands as he watches the carriage speed away. He never got his name. Crap. He was going to tell him during the sunrise that he hid some of the truth about himself to hide the fact he was actually the prince this whole time. He looks down at the shimmery mask in his hands, feeling the subtle buzz of magic where his skin is touching it fade away to nothing. “I’m going to find you…soulmate or not, I swear it…after I get some sleep. Good lord, I did not think I would be awake all night.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week passes, and Scott is working in his shop thinking about the week before. He and Pyro fell just short of the reach of Pearl’s magic and had to walk the rest of the way back, carrying Scott’s clothes and following the dogs back to her cottage. He was very careful to put his mom’s things away just as they were, and went back to life as normal.
Until now, when through the window he can see a commotion outside. He pokes his head out from his shop, seeing a crowd in the town square along with some very, very fancy carriages. He steps out and walks up to the closest person. “Hey, what’s happening over there?”
“Apparently the prince is looking for someone from the ball. He’s pretty sure they’re his soulmate, but he never got their name because he didn’t check with the mage reading for soulmates before they left.”
“Oh my. Do we know anything about who it is?”
“They won’t share. No gender, no appearance, no conversations, nothing. Just holding some mask up to people’s faces and judging off of that.” They shrug. “I just hung out with my friends the whole time and acted as a wingperson for them all night, so I know it’s not me. What about you? Did you go?”
“Yes, but I don’t think it could be me, either.” Scott watches the crowd, but can’t see where they’re testing with a mask. “I wish them luck finding this person, though. That’s a lot of people to get through.”
“No kidding.”
Scott goes back inside, keeping business running as usual while taking the occasional look outside at the crowd. It hardly shrinks down even a couple hours later, most likely from people just being incredibly nosey and curious. He’s adjusting a display of roses when the door opens and Scott turns around to see a guard in very nice armor standing in the doorway. “Oh um, welcome in, sir. How can I help you?”
“I heard through the grapevine you’d attended the ball last week, but we haven’t seen you come try the mask. So I’ve come to request you to come with me for just a moment. It should not take long, we’ll have someone stand outside your shop for the minute or so this will take.”
“Okay…” Scott frowns. Really? They went through all those people already and still didn’t find this person? Whatever, he’s not about to say no to whatever order a palace guard gives him. This one, at least. One that’s on duty. And sounds more serious. He follows the guard out of his shop and towards the front of the crowd. Eugh, not a fan of this much attention on him at once. Regardless, he walks all the way up to where some other guards are gathered, all wearing helmets that hide their faces.
And freezes in place when he spots his mask in one of their hands.
That was supposed to turn into petals, why was it still a mask? And when did he ever run into the prince? Was it one of the other people he danced with randomly when people traded partners around?
“Sir? Are you coming?” The first guard asks, and Scott nods and continues after him, all the way to the group. “This will be very quick, all you need to do is stand and smile.”
Scott does as directed, watching as the guard holding his mask puts it up to his face. And then holds it there. For long enough that he can hear the crowd start whispering. And then the guard fully puts the mask on him and walks around him. He stops after his little circle, and slowly lifts his helmet off, revealing the masked face of the knight he’d spent the whole night with. “It’s him.”
“Your royal highness, are you sure?”
Huh?
“Very sure.”
HUH!?
Scott’s jaw drops as the crowd becomes very noisy. He’s not even sure what sound they’re making, he’s so stunned. The knight-er, prince? Seems to chuckle at him, stepping forward and gently shutting it. “I um, I didn’t mean for this to be how you found out, I was going to tell you on the bench at sunrise, but then you ran.”
“Oh my gods, you’re literally the actual Prince Nom.”
“I am!” Nom grins. “And now that I finally found you, can I ask your name?”
“Scott…Scott Springwell.”