Twisted Wonderland: The Phantom Bride - Love at First Fright

Chapter 22: The Perfect Partner

Briar, Ace, and the others try to stop the ghosts and save Idia, but the ghosts continue to revive and even multiply.

Ace is frustrated, "Argh, I keep beating 'em, but they're just coming back for more. Lousy ghosts."

"There's too many of them," Jasper says.

"We gotta get to Idia before he's gets turned into a ghost," Sereia says.

The ghost, Nana calls out, "Princess, quickly! The kiss!"

Eliza nods and turns to Idia, "Idia, darling, must you keep evading me with this silly display of stubbornness?"

"Well, you see, uh... Aha ha... Hahaha... I just think a first kiss should be special!" Idia says nervously and tries to get away from her lips.

Seeing what's happening, Ace tries to urge Eliza and the ghosts, "Look at Idia over there. See how he's bobbing his head, trying to avoid her? Let's be real here. Your princess is clearly wrong, and you all know it!"

But Nana says, "...Everything we do is for Her Highness's benefit. We've watched over her since she was a little girl. She was so kindhearted and hopeful. All in the land looked forward to seeing what her future would be like. But alas..."

And Grampy continues, "Our neighbor attacked us without warning, and all was lost in a single night. Yet still she smiles. She never once blamed us for failing to protect her when she needed it most. 'It's fine.' 'Don't worry about it.' 'I'm okay.' 'Surely one day...' That's all she ever says."

"She may say those things, but she's clearly not fine! She dreamed of meeting her prince for 500 years, yet she never did. She must've lost hope somewhere along the way," Nana says.

And Grampy adds, "We, her retainers, want but to help the princess get the one thing she desires. Our beloved, tragic princess..."

"That doesn't make it all the nonsense you all and Eliza are doing okay, especially what you're going to force Idia into if you go through with this," Briar points out.

Nana and Grampy say shocked, "What?"

"Haha! Briar's right, you know," Ace says with a smile, "No backstory, no matter how tragic, justifies makin' this much trouble. For one thing, that 'perfect prince'? Doesn't exist. Never has, never will."

"What do you mean he doesn't exist?" Eliza asks, shocked.

Then Ace says, "No partner's gonna meet your every ideal! That's just common sense."

However, Nana says, "How dare you speak to Her Highness that way!"

Grampy says to Eliza, "Princess, do not listen to him. You have your perfect prince right here."

"And she's stuck on this nonexistent Mr. Right because YOU keep getting her hopes up!" Ace says. That catches the ghosts off guard.

Ace continues, "This isn't my first rodeo with this stuff, so lemme break it down for you. You might feel sorry for her, but treating the princess with kid gloves isn't doing her any favors! Looks to me like you're a buncha enablers who'd rather take the easy way out than have a tough conversation!"

"Feels like being called out all over again," Trey replies.

"Ahaha..." Cater replies with a smile.

Then Ace says, "Tell your princess the truth. Looks aren't everything when it comes to picking a husband."

"Well, how else should I choose a prince then?" Eliza asks, worried..

"You're STILL missing the point. You gotta drop the whole 'prince' requirement," Ace says, "As for the perfect PARTNER... How about someone you can laugh and cry with? Someone who'll stick with you through all the hard times? That's the kind of person you should be looking for. Geez, you know how embarrassing it is to have to spell it out for you? How is it that none of you ever taught your princess something so basic? You've spent 500 YEARS with her, and in all that time, you haven't done anything that actually benefits her!"

This shocked all the ghosts in the hall, especially Nana and Grampy. Puffy remains silent as he has a sad look on his face.

Suddenly, Riddle's voice appears, "Ace is right."

Ace and the others turn to see Riddle, and Rook and Epel as well.

"Housewarden Riddle!" Ace says, relieved.

"And Rook and Epel are with them," Sereia happily says.