Ever, Ever, After

Chapter 13

Later that evening, in the middle of Magnolia a wave of flames came shooting out of the man hole that connected the world of Magnolia and the world of Alvarez together. Rising from the flames was the powerful and evil Queen Irene. All who saw her became frightened and did their best to stay out of her way as she walked over to the car where Laxus.

"Your majesty?"

"Hello worthless." She sneered. "Miss me?"

"Okay I know you're upset about the whole apple incident but I-"

"Oh shut up you useless worm!" She said striking him to the ground as hard as she could. "Before I get more angry with you than I already am."

She then left Laxus on the side of the road showing absolutely no remorse for the cruel act she had committed. Once that was finished she cast a spell that revealed to her where Natsu and Juvia were. They had just arrived at Magnolia's ball and were preparing to enter. Now that she knew where they were located she started to put her plan into action.

"Stay out of my way Laxus and I'll only sentence you to a decade in the dudgeon for your failure." She said before disappearing in a flame.

Laxus got to his feet and looked into the car mirror. He had a black eye and a bleeding nose.

"Oh my heavens are you alright?" He heard a sweet voice gasp from behind. It was Mirajane Gray's receptionist.

"Beat it lady!" He told her.

"But you're hurt. Oh my...I better get you to a doctor!"

"I don't need a stupid doctor! And I don't need your help! Now go away!"

"Please at least let me get you some ice and a tissue."

Laxus was about to object but Mirajane's pleading look of concern convinced him to give in.

"Fine."

Meanwhile inside the ballroom was a magnificent display. The room was a glow with lights that came from the chandelier. Live music was played by an orchestra as ladies and gentlemen danced together wearing costumes that matched the theme of the ball perfectly. Among those dancers were Gray and Lucy.

Gray wore a suit which consisted of a white dress shirt and a royal blue colonial style jacket with cuffs. With it he wore black pants, matching black boots, and a blue cravat around his neck.

Lucy was dressed in a long sleeved, magenta colored, 18th century style gown with a petticoat and ruffles. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a bun with a pink band. Her face had peach blush, glitter eye shadow, reddish-pink lipstick.

The two were having a fun time dancing to the cheerful music that played. It was a warm up dance, something meant to be fun and exciting. Nothing serious just a dance between friends. That was the theme of the music that played. The next song planned for the evening was going to be a romantic one. It was known as the King and Queen's waltz. There was a story behind it.

According to the story two strangers from different worlds, a lady and gentleman met at a ball in Magnolia and as they danced they fell in love but the two were sad because the lady was a young queen and the gentleman was a young king and they were both destined to marry someone else. Someone they had never met and it broke their hearts because they had finally found their true love only to be torn away from them. But as a twist of fate, it turns out the two had been arranged to marry each other all along. Their dance was called the King and Queen's waltz and in honor of the story it was tradition that a gentleman and a lady who did not go to the ball with each other were to dance the waltz together.

When the current song for this dance finished Lucy went to get a drink from the table while Gray took a break by the stairway. He glanced over at the top of the stairs and was stunned by what he saw. At the stop of the stairway stood Natsu wearing a white dress shirt with a gold vest, a crimson cape, matching pants, and black boots. But it was the young lady on Natsu's arm that had captured Gray's attention.