So far, the Gala was a success. Even the snobbiest of humans were enjoying themselves. While Cwryen Caster kept the entertainment going, Nichole Price and Alyssa were hanging with the orphans, who were eager to see them both.
"I wanna be just like you!" they kept saying to either one or the other.
"Aw, shucks," Alyssa blushed.
"Think big, kids," Nichole said. "With a lot of practice and guts, you can go anywhere!"
"Girls," Vahl interjected. "Have either of you seen Madisyn? It's almost time for her to go on."
"She wasn't in her room?" Alyssa asked.
"No, I've checked."
"She's probably in the garden. Ya know how she feels more comfortable with the critters."
"I'll go get her," Nichole volunteered.
Indeed, Madisyn was in the garden, warming up her voice. She was so nervous, she felt like it was going to crack.
"Oh, what am I doing?" she muttered to herself. "I can't go up in front of everybody and sing."
"Why not? We all know you're great."
She turned to see Nichole Price in her Marching band uniform. She embraced her with a smile.
"I'm happy to see you."
"Really?" Nichole asked. "Because the others told me that you haven't been very happy lately."
Madisyn glanced down at her hands. "Well, um..."
"They say it's because you keep having nightmares about Loki?"
She looked up at her with serious eyes. "It was different. In my dreams, he usually just holds me and laughs. That's what I dreamt he did last night, but this time, he was..." She shivered. "Stroking my hair and...I was letting him. I didn't even put up a fight. I..."
Nichole put her arm around her. "Hey, it was just a dream. You've got to hang loose. This is a party! That reminds me. It's time for your song."
"Oh, I don't really feel like singing..."
"Don't tell me you've still got stage fright! Come on, don't you remember how you helped us all with OMEA?"
"Singing's different from directing."
"You're a great singer! You were able to sing that pet song with me."
"That was when I was only around you and the critters. But there are hundreds of humans here, watching me and..."
"Don't worry. I'll be right there to support you. We all will."
Madisyn gulped. "Okay."
Loki was bored with the entire scene, though he had to admit this year's gala was much more interesting than last year's and the year before. Still, there just wasn't enough mischief! So to entertain himself, he pulled a few pranks on the posh humans, like making a hare appear in the punch bowl, but he could not draw attention to himself until the time was right.
He looked around the room and noticed that the little dog Boise was attempting to get a dance with Tatum. He rolled his eyes. Give it up, kid. It's never going to happen. Though he had to admire his persistence. Meanwhile, that party human Cwryen Caster was unknowingly making a fool of herself.
"I'm the C to the WRYEN to the CAS to TE to the ER," she sang. "And while I'm at it humans, WON'T YOU PLEASE BE FRIENDS WITH ME?! I'm Cwryenlicious!"
It was then that Vahl pulled the microphone away. Thank you! Loki silently said to himself. You finally do something right!
The princess tapped the mic, getting everybody's attention.
