The Ball of Balls

Chapter 23

Dean stood in the royal toilets of the Krenn Castle. He looked in the mirror while studying his pink dress. Suddenly Taytay teleported next to him in the cubicle. In panic he threw the door open and exclaimed: ''Dean, YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME RIGHT NOW!''

''Oh, Richard! I think this is very exciting!'' Dean answered.

''There is no time for flirting... Wait, are we in the royal toilets of king Wade? Is this the Ball of Balls? Then the prince must be here too!'' Taytay said and he ran to the hallway.

''Well well, he leaves me for a prince,'' Dean said.

''Welcome to my world...'' Stuart said, while stepping out of another cubicle. Dean noticed that Stuart's fly was still open and fled after Taytay quickly.

Taytay arrived in the big dining room. All eyes were fixed on his panicked face for one second, but nobody cared about him after that.

''Richard, you have a mission to bring Miles here. What are you doing here without him?'' Dean asked, standing behind Taytay.

''He... he... spindle... blood, iron, Miles, Rey, the RING!'' uttered Taytay.

''Oh god. It is never a good sign if you start to stutter. Bring me to Miles,'' Dean said strictly.

''Okay. Boss-'' Taytay was interrupted by Robert, who heard the two argue.

''Hello gentlemen, what is this discussion about if I may ask?''

''Uhm, no-'' Taytay got interrupted again, but now by Dean, who said: ''But of course. Richard explain.''

''Uhm, I have a mission,'' Taytay said awkwardly, ''to bring a young man named Miles to this ball, but I need Dean's help.''

''Miles? That's a nice name. It's in my top 25 of most beautiful names! What a coincidence!'' Robert said.

''It's in my top 20!'' Dean said enthusiastically.

''Okay enough! I have to go right now if I want to get my fairy diploma! I wish you a very good day, sire,'' Taytay said, frustrated.

''Take me with you! I have to take care of all my guests as a prince. Even those guests who are a bit later...'' Robert begged with puppy dog eyes.

''You can just say that you think that your own party is lame.'' Taytay said dryly, while grabbing a hand from both Dean and Robert.

''SON! Where do you think you are going? You don't even know that person! And look at all that we have here,'' Wade said and he pointed at Charlotte and Samantha, who then waved at him. ''You know our arrangement.''

''Dad, I-'' Robert didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, because a second later, he stood in a cave with Dean and Taytay, who was still holding his hand. Before their feet lay Miles, unconscious and with a bleeding finger.

''Oh gosh,'' Dean said disapprovingly. ''Richard, how could you let him go to the ball like this? Look at him! He is all sticky because of lemonade!'' Dean waved his wand and Miles's clothes were clean again.

''Kiss on it?'' Robert said, although Miles couldn't hear it. Robert let go of Taytay's hand and walked toward Miles. He pursed his lips and kissed Miles's finger. His mouth was now full of blood. Barbara Bushtroll's voice sounded again: ''He sees a bloody man laying on the ground right there, but he doesn't care.''

''Wow dude! What are you doing? What happened? Where is Rey and who are you? My doppelganger or something?'' Miles asked in confusion.

''Hello young man, I am prince Robert,'' Robert said calmly.

''Prince?! Like THE prince? I am sorry your highness.'' Miles kneeled.

''Stand up, gentleman,'' Robert said, helping Miles get up.

''Don't get distracted now, or you will regret it and how,'' Barbara rhymed. ''The ring will be in the hands of the bad guy, you don't know yet what's going to happen and why.''

Robert and Miles didn't hear this, because they were distracted while looking deeply into each other's eyes.

''Uhm, this is getting a little bit awkward,'' Taytay said to Dean. Miles broke the eye contact and said: ''What?''

Barbara repeated her sentence over and over. Dean threw a twig at her head and said: ''Yes, yes, we know!''

''Where did Rey go? Where is the ring?'' Miles asked Taytay.

''How should I know?! I-'' Taytay was interrupted once again, but now by Barbara.

''The girl with the ring hasn't destroyed it yet. She is in the Forest of Trees and she's breaking a sweat.''

''The ring? Not a golden ring I hope?'' Robert asked.

''Yes, we were looking for that together,'' Miles answered.

''The legend...'' Robert said quietly to himself and he looked at Miles.

''You heard it! The ring is in the hands of evil! We have to go after it!'' Miles shouted. They all ran out of the cave with full confidence.