POV Rio
I was not very happy today. Not happy at all. I was forced to come to this big ball event that I knew my mother was going to try and play matchmaker for me. What was even worse was that Santa agreed to the birthday ball idea. It was an utter betrayal of the highest magnitude.
'Okay, maybe not that much, but I still can't believe Santa would do that. I thought we were friends.'
I looked at the list of people who had signed up to dance with me. It was just over 30 people long. Representatives worldwide came to this party, and I had no way out of it.
'I would rather be fighting monsters than this.'
What made things a little better was that I was not the only one forced to be here. Several others who aren't good at fancy dancing and clothing were forced to be here by either their loved ones or family. I looked over to see Geralt and Ciri pouting while Yennefer just smiled like she was having the best time ever. Another person who was forced to be here and dance was Link. But to be fair, Zelda and Link were adorable with their fumbling over each other and couldn't get the guts to offer to dance.
'I think everyone here besides them thinks they should just get a room already. They are both head over heels for each other, but they are too scared to confess.'
I see Logan messing with his suit, as he is clearly uncomfortable. But Laura smacks him to stop making a scene. As I am chuckling to myself, I suddenly feel a shiver and look around to see who gave me that chill. I don't find anyone, and I am interrupted by my mother.
Amore: "Rio, you look so handsome. Now, has anyone caught your eye tonight?"
Rio: "Sigh. Mom, please, not now. I was having fun watching the others suffer with me."
She rolls her eyes at me.
Amore: "Yes, heaven forbid I try and get you to give me grandfoals. What a terrible mother I am."
Rio: "Sigh. No, you are not a terrible mother. I just didn't want such a big event. I would have been happy with a small party with just my close friends and family."
Amore: "I know sweetie, but I think it's good for you to mingle with people. Get to see new folks, and maybe you will find that special someone. You know you aren't getting any younger. And just look at all the eligible bachelorettes."
Rio: "Why can't you be the kind of parent that doesn't accept anyone for your child? The one who scares off suitors with a shotgun."
Amore: "Rio, I am dead. Even though I am in a pseudo living state in the Palace, I am dead. It took me over 300 years to have my first time. I never got to experience romantic love. I don't want you to wait for hundreds of years to find someone to love. You are perfect husband material. And while I won't accept just anyone. I will accept anyone that I think will be a good partner for you."
Rio: "Sigh. Fine. I guess I should start the dances."
Amore: "That's the spirit. And never forget I love you."
She hugs me, and I hug back.
Rio: "I love you, too."
I get up from my chair and start going down the list of people who signed up to dance with me and passed the tests they put forth to prevent the list from never ending. The first person on the list was a member of the Atlantian Royal Family. It was the cousin of Queen Mera.
Many Dances Later...
After the 30th dance, I decided to take a break from dancing. I wasn't physically exhausted, but I was tired of all the dancing. It didn't help that a couple of dancers had wandering hands. I had to subtly force their hands away when they started drifting to inappropriate places. The worst was Tsunade as she got drunk, and she is a flirty drunk. But I had to hold my breath as she reeeked of booze. Nawaki had to come and take her home early after she passed out while dancing with me.
'That was very awkward. But at least I can tease Tsunade later. Now, who is the last person on the list?'
The last person I was to dance with tonight was Mal0. I was a bit surprised but I walked over to her and asked her for a dance. She accepted, and as we walked to the dance floor, the song changed. I knew the song immediately and knew that this was not a coincidence, but I decided to play dumb.
(AN: Play George Michael - Careless Whisper (Lyrics) on YouTube for the music. If you want an instrumental, then play George Michael - Careless Whisper - instrumental on YouTube. )
Music: "Oh, woah, woah, oh.
I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies, something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen and all its sad goodbyes
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, ohhh."
We continue to dance, and I can feel her heartbeat as we slow dance. It is very fast. She avoids eye contact, but I can tell she is blushing up a storm.
Music: "Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind, ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth, pain is all you'll find
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better than to cheat a friend
(Shoulda known better, yeah)
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Never without your love
At this point, almost everyone had stopped dancing to watch us dance. But we didn't even notice as we were to focused on our dance. We looked into each other's eyes, and I admired how they reminded me of a full moon.
Music: "Tonight, the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now, who's gonna dance with me?
Please stay
And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should have known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
(Now that you're gone)
Now that you're gone
(Now that you're gone)
Was what I did so wrong, so wrong
That you had to leave me alone?
We kept dancing, but I could sense that Mal0 was both happy and a bit sad. As we were dancing I decided to chat with her.
Rio: "You look lovely tonight."
Mal0: "T-thank you. You look really good tonight as well."
Rio: "You are a great dancer. Where did you learn to dance?"
Mal0: "I-I was taught by your mother."
I was shocked by that as I didn't know my mother taught anyone how to dance. I was also surprised that she knew how to teach non-ponies how to dance.
Rio: "Have I ever told you your eyes are beautiful? They remind me of a full moon on a clear night."
Mal0 doesn't get the chance to respond as the song ends and we stop dancing. I hear everyone clap and look around and notice that everyone seemed to be watching us. At this point, Mal0 was a stuttering mess and was unable to say a word. I thought it was adorable as her tail was also wagging like crazy. Her dress was barely able to contain it. She had to grab her tail to stop it from wagging. Then she scurried away while saying something about a bathroom. I also noticed that my mother went in the same direction. I decided to let her do whatever she was going to do and ignore it.
POV Mal0
I ran to the bathroom and locked myself inside to calm down. My heart was beating so fast I couldn't hear anything else. I let go of my tail and noticed that it started to wag like it was trying to fly away. I tired to stop it with a glare, but I couldn't be bothered to stop it. Then I heard a pop and noticed Amore was in the bathroom with me.
Amore: "See, I told you it would work out. You looked beautiful together. And your dancing was perfect."
Mal0: "Th-thank you. I-I couldn't bring myself to ask him."
Amore: "Sigh. I thought as much. Honestly! All you need to do is ask him, and I guarantee you he will say yes. He likes you but is clearly waiting for you to make the first move. I blame Dooku. That man was many things, but a romantic he was not. Rio picked up too many cautious traits. But that is beside the point. What is important is that you need to make the first move. I have been trying my hardest to annoy him with the marriage proposals so he will ignore them. But others beside you are interested in him and know him well. And some of them aren't creepy about it."
We don't say who we are thinking about, but we both know who she is talking about.
'Not that I am much better.'
Mal0: "I want to confess, but it's just so hard. Every time I try to talk to him about it, I fumble over my words and start stuttering. Then I just shut down. Trust me, I wish I could just walk up to him and say I Love You. But I just can't."
Amore: "Sigh. Okay, okay, we can work with this. You just need the courage. Have you tried alcohol? I have seen nobles get drunk off their rear ends and start flirting with every mare they see. Even the married ones."
Mal0: "I tried, but I am a mute drunk. I managed to kiss him under a mistletoe, but that was when I was halfway between black-out drunk and tipsy. I haven't tried that again as the other times I tried ended up with me waking up with no idea how I got to the place where I was. Or I end up in my shed covered in... never mind."
Amore: "Ah yes, your shed. You really should get rid of that. It's creepy. And if I didn't like you, I would keep you away from Rio like I do with Gardevoir. But you at least don't steal his clothes."
I avoid eye contact.
Amore: "Oh, for the love of... Whatever! We are getting off-topic. Now meet me tomorrow for training. As I imagine you have plans for the rest of the night."
I blush and look away and then subtly nod. I walk away and fail to hear Amore mutter something.
Amore: "Why does he attract all the weird ones?"
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Authors Note:
A bit of a romantic chapter; I haven't made one like this in a long time. Yes, Mal0 is the current Female Lead, and yes, Amore is quite the crafty mother. The next chapter will likely be about the preparations for the Star Wars Trial. Until next time Ciao.