FTRS Short Story

The Ball

Jax's P.O.V.

I sprint through the darkened hallways of FTRS, Father had tried to convince me to stay at the palace for the night as it's already very late, close to midnight.

Surprisingly there's no Miri jumping out of nowhere and scolding me for running. I bolt up the stairs to the girls' dormitory and stop in front of the room that Gilly is currently sharing with Anna. I pause momentarily, catching my breath, then knock on the door.

No reply. I try again—still nothing.

I can't just break into their room... pegasi! I spin on my heel and make another dash for the stables.

"Hey, boy," I whisper to Mighty in between breaths, "You ready for a midnight flight?"

Mighty snorts, probably a no.

"Sorry, boy, but I need to check up on Gilly," I say, leading Mighty out and saddling him up. I swing myself onto his back and pat his neck, "You ready?" He grunts, not very pleased but he'll do it. "Thanks," I whisper.

We take off into the night, the wind blowing in my hair. 

I pat Mighty's neck as we slow down in front of Gilly's window. I peer in, seeing two brown blobs, Gilly and Anna's hair. Both their backs are turned so I can't identify them so easily, and in the dark, their hair seems identical. I rack my brain for any memory of which side Gilly slept on, the last time I did this, I hadn't paid much attention so I can't remember where Gilly slept. I squint, one has smoother hair while the other is frizzier. I smile to myself, the frizzy one is definitely Gilly.

Gilly shifts, and turns around, her purple streak glinting in the moonlight. Warmth spreads through my body, I sigh in relief, I can do a more thorough checkup on her tomorrow.

Gilly's P.O.V.

I wake up to the sound of Anna calling my name. 

"Huh?" I groan, turning around and pulling my blanket over my face.

"Wake up! Today's the day of the ball remember?" Anna says.

"Huh? What ball?"

"You know, the one you have to attend?"

Oh. That ball. "Ignorance is bliss," I mutter in reply.

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Plus, Mother sent a post saying that Princess Rapunzel has arranged for us to go to a dress fitting!" I can hear the eagerness in her voice. I bite back a groan, can this day get any worse?

"I'll go down for breakfast first, you should get up soon too, Gilly," Anna tells me, before exiting the room.

I grunt, then go back to sleep.

There's a knock at the door. I ignore it, hoping the person will just give up and let me stay in bed for a little longer. They knock again, but I don't move. More consistent knocking.

"Ugh..." I throw my covers back and drag myself out of bed, "Who is it?" I ask grouchily.

"Thief?"

 "Come in," I flop back down.

Jax comes in, "You didn't get hurt, did you?"

"Huh?" I'm saying that a lot today.

"Yesterday, the accident with the fireworks and transport?"

"Ohh! That! Yeah, I'm fine." I shrug, "Tired and grouchy at the moment, but fine."

Jax sighs, "That was a pretty stupid decision, you know."