"I'm tired."

"Just stay up for a while longer.  I'm almost done."

"If this goes on for too much longer, I'm going to hit you with a pillow."

--------------------------

The time Y/N had dreaded was finally here.

The grand ballroom was so packed with hopeful bachelors, Y/N barely had time to introduce herself to each one, much less give each her full attention.  She would spend a few seconds dancing in someone's arms, before another of the multitude of gentlemen would tap her shoulder and cut in.  She danced with a dizzying variety of old men, young men, handsome men, not-so-handsome men, men she could tell were lying about being unmarried, and even a handful of hopeful women.

"Daddy," she gasped, elbowing through the crowd that was clamoring for a moment of her time.  Her blue dress, even poofier and sparklier than the dress from the other day's luncheon, was beginning to wilt from the heat of packed bodies.  She feared she may be in danger of perspiring, which was unseemly for a princess.  

Soos was lounging regally in a chair near the band, overseeing the chaos with a proud smile.

"Hello, Y/N dear!" he greeted her enthusiastically.  "How do you like the festivities?"

"Dad, this is insane!" Y/N complained.  "It's way too packed in here!"

"All the better to increase your chances of falling in love with one of them!"

Y/N resisted the urge to snap at him, using all of her self-control and then some to take a deep breath before answering.

"Father, this isn't a ball, it's a mosh pit.  I can't be expected to fall in love if I can't even have a full conversation with any of them," she hissed.

The king nodded in understanding.  "I'll thin the crowd for you, dear."

He gestured to the band and they fell silent.  All it took was a slight clearing of the throat and the entire crowd immediately hushed, awaiting the king's words.

"Gentlemen," he addressed the throng.  "If you've already had the opportunity to dance with my daughter, I'd like to ask you to file out of the ballroom.  There are refreshments in the dining room and an additional party available in the front garden."

Many of the hopeful bachelors looked disappointed, but no one dared to contradict the king.  Slowly, the ballroom emptied until there were a manageable number of people and Y/N no longer felt suffocated.

"Thanks, Daddy," she said gratefully.

"You're welcome, dear.  Now go fall in love already."

She rolled her eyes, but smirked and moved away to continue the party.  Immediately, her time was claimed by another young man.  At least this one asked her politely to dance instead of simply grabbing her hands as many of the others had.

Y/N smiled courteously, glad that there was enough room for a proper dance without being jostled by the crowd.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the young man said respectfully.  "My name is Stephen.  I'm the son of a merchant who travels through the neighboring kingdoms."

"It's nice to meet you as well," Y/N replied, relieved that he seemed to be interested in a friendly conversation.  The last four men in a row had proposed to her without so much as an introduction.

"If I'm being totally honest with you," Stephen admitted, "I've got a sweetheart in another town, but when else would someone like me have the opportunity to attend such a fancy party?"

He grinned conspiratorially, and Y/N laughed in return.  "Your honesty is refreshing, Stephen, and I certainly won't fault you for wanting to be here.  When else could so many people be rubbing elbows with royalty?"

"They're all interested in the princess' hand, but not the rest of her?" Stephen joked, and Y/N laughed louder.

"I'd like to meet this sweetheart of yours," Y/N smirked.  "If a princess can't tempt you away from her, she must be special indeed."

"Oh, she certainly is," Stephen agreed enthusiastically.  "Her eyes sparkle like stars, and her hair..."

Stephen continued talking, but Y/N's attention was caught by a flash of blue over his shoulder.  He continued describing his girlfriend, completely oblivious to Y/N ignoring him as she scanned the room.

There!  On the opposite end of the room, leaning against the wall like he wanted to disappear through it, was a blue-haired boy who looked Y/N's age.  He was practically hiding behind a potted fern, shrinking behind it when he noticed Y/N looking in his direction.

Fortunately, the song ended at that moment.  Y/N released Stephen's hand with the briefest of pleasantries, then made a beeline across the room.  She paid no heed to any of the other men who tried to catch her eye.

Stopping in front of the shrub, she leaned around it inquisitively.  She heard a squeak of surprise when she made eye contact with the blue-haired stranger hiding behind it.

"Hello," Y/N said softly.  She waited for him to respond, but he just stared at her with stunning blue eyes.  She felt something tug at her heart, something warm and yearning and familiar.

"Would you like to dance?" she offered, reaching out to him.

They stared at each other for a long moment before he finally took her hand and stepped out from behind the plant.  Y/N had to hold back a gasp when she took a proper look at him.  His face was pale, his eyes had dark shadows beneath them, and the hand he placed tentatively on her waist had a bandage wrapped around it.

She felt the tremor in his hands as they danced in a slow, small circle on the very edge of the dance floor.  She desperately wanted to ask this sad-looking stranger what the matter was, but tact forced her to keep silent.

He didn't seem inclined to start a conversation either, just stared into her eyes like it was all he wanted in the world.  He was barely taller than her, and their faces were very close as they shuffled their feet to the slow music.

"Lovely party, isn't it?" Y/N asked, then immediately berated herself silently for the shallow topic.

"N-not really," he admitted.

She sighed in relief.  "Finally, someone admits it!"  At his surprised look, she elaborated.  "No one I've spoken to so far has been willing to admit that this party is overcrowded and uncomfortable.  I'd much rather be reading a book by myself than socialize like this."

"M-me too," he agreed with the slightest hint of a smile.  Y/N felt herself smile in return.

"Do you like to read a lot?" she asked.  He avoided her gaze.

"A l-little... when I can," he stuttered.  "I'm usually kept pretty b-busy."

"Kept busy?  Is something the matter?" Y/N frowned.

He closed up and refused to answer.  She sighed and changed the subject.

"Anyway, I'd much rather be alone than in a crowd.  In fact, I'd rather be outside right now, watching the stars alone... or with someone special," she hinted.

He nodded in agreement.  "One p-person in particular," he mumbled.

Y/N felt a sudden, irrational surge of jealousy.  Does he have a girlfriend too?  Why does that bother me so much?  I just met this guy!

She decided to take the direct route.  "Is there someone special in your life?" she asked bluntly.

Her mysterious dance partner looked surprised.  No, shocked.  "I-I-uh..."

His deer-in-the-headlights look made her feel a rush of guilt.  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

He shook his head.  "No, it's j-just..."  He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, obviously screwing up his courage.  "I do have someone special... and it's you, Y/N."

Y/N's mouth was open, but there were no words as she tried to process this sudden confession.

"I- you- but-" she stammered, seeing the look of mounting horror on his face.  "But I don't even know your name!" she finally said.

His stricken look told her that she'd said the wrong thing.  "Y-you... you don't remember..." he whispered to himself, tears filling his eyes.

"Remember what?" she asked, growing concerned.  "Do we... know each other?"

Before he could respond, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Do you mind if I cut in?" a smooth voice inquired.

Y/N turned to see another young man with slicked-back brown hair and a conspicuous birthmark on his forehead.

"I'd rather you-" she began, but the newcomer's face suddenly filled with rage.

"You!" he accused, pointing at Y/N's dance partner.

With a strangled noise, the blue-haired boy wrenched his hands out of her grasp and took off running.  Y/N took one step to chase after him, only to be stopped by a hand grabbing her arm.

"Just leave him," her new suitor said dismissively.  "He's worthless.  I don't even know how he got here."

Y/N shot him a look full of venom, but didn't have time to give him a tongue-lashing.  Shaking off his hand, she took off running.

She was too late.  Sprinting as fast as she could in her heels, Y/N could only watch as a flash of blue disappeared out the massive double doors at the front of the castle.

"No!  Come back!" she shouted desperately.  She stopped at the top of the staircase, noticing that her mysterious dance partner had left one shoe behind.

For lack of anything else to do, Y/N picked up the shoe and stared at in contemplatively.

"I'll find you," she muttered.  "Whoever you are, I'll track you down somehow."

Filled with determination, she strode back into the castle to put an end to the horrid ball.

(A/N:  Hooray, it looks better now!  I'm proud of myself.  And I'll reward myself with a nap. :3)