THE BAD GUYS IN: raising princess

A night to remember

(A request from AlicornNorth )

It was homecoming week at Princess's school, and the excitement was palpable. The school halls were decorated with banners, streamers, and balloons. Students chatted about their plans for the dance, and everyone seemed to be buzzing with anticipation. Princess had been caught up in the excitement of the week, enjoying the preparations and the spirit of the occasion. But there was one detail that made her heart race even more.

Princess had barely entered the door before her excitement bubbled over. She couldn't wait to share the news.

"Wolf, guess what? Eddie asked me to the homecoming dance!" she exclaimed, grinning widely.

Wolf, who had been sitting in the living room with his usual relaxed demeanor, froze for a moment. He didn't seem nearly as excited as Princess had expected.

"Hey, that's great..." Wolf replied, but his voice carried an underlying tension. He hesitated before adding, "Tell him to go ask someone else."

Princess blinked in surprise. "What? Why would I do that?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "He asked me to the dance. And I said yes! You know Eddie, he's a good guy, and I want to go with him."

Wolf's eyes narrowed slightly, his protective instincts kicking in. He didn't like this one bit. "Princess, listen... I just don't think you should go with Eddie. I don't trust him. He's not the one you should be spending time with like that."

Princess crossed her arms, frustration growing. "Wolf, you don't get it! Eddie's my friend, and I trust him. You can't just control everything in my life. I'm not a little kid anymore!"

Before Wolf could respond, Diane walked in, overhearing the last part of the conversation. Her sharp eyes quickly assessed the tension in the room, and she sighed.

"Diane, help me out here," Wolf said, glancing over at her. "This isn't a good idea. I don't like this, and I'm not sure Princess should be going to this dance with Eddie."

Diane raised an eyebrow, her expression almost amused. "Wolf, really?" she asked, her voice calm but assertive. "She's a teenager, and this is her chance to go to a dance and enjoy herself. Let her have this moment."

Wolf's frustration bubbled over, and he stood up, his voice rising a little. "She's my responsibility, Diane. I'm just looking out for her. Eddie's not the right person for her, and I don't want to see her get hurt."

Diane crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway, unflinching. "You can't protect her forever, Wolf. She's going to make her own choices. You have to trust her. Trust us."

Wolf looked at Diane, his gaze intense. "I don't care about trust. I care about her safety. And I don't think Eddie's the one who's going to keep her safe. I know what he's like. He's not some innocent guy you think he is."

Diane took a step forward, her voice softening but still firm. "I get it, Wolf. I do. But you can't control every aspect of her life. It's part of growing up, and part of growing up is making mistakes—and learning from them. If she wants to go with Eddie, then let her. If he messes up, we'll deal with it. But you have to let go of the reins."

Wolf clenched his jaw, clearly torn. "I just don't want to see her hurt, Diane."

Diane placed a hand on his shoulder, offering him a sympathetic look. "I know, Wolf. But you have to let her be her own person. You can't hold her back from everything because you're scared. She'll find her way, even if it's not the way you would have chosen."

There was a long pause before Wolf sighed deeply, the fight leaving him. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But I'm still going to be keeping an eye on Eddie. And I want you to keep an eye on her, too."