Art: "Light Spinner Without Veil" by nanabanana6543

Chapter illustrations by Spacepapaya_19

Following your pardon of my crimes – a pardon I remain grateful of to this day, my queen – I perused the library for ancient texts. Those are always the most interesting to read. It's like standing through a crystal mirror that shows fractals of the past, present, and future.

❂❂❂

"Does this dress complement my figure?" Angella asked, pulling on an elaborate, pale blue gown.

Micah smiled, gazing down and buttoning his suit. It had taken him forever to learn how to wear these things, and back in Mystacor, Light Spinner had to help him for weeks. "Angie, every dress looks nice on you. Don't worry about it."

"That's quite sweet of you," Angella replied with a faint smile. "But Micah...things are different now. Soon, I'll look different."

"Not soon enough for Princess Prom," Micah said. "You're only a few months pregnant."

His wife's stomach hadn't begun to bulge yet, but according to Nell, she was due to give birth to a girl in around six months. Micah could hardly believe that soon, he would be a father. "You're lovely," he murmured, managing not to blush as much this time. Two years he'd been married to her, and the sensation of loving not just her heart, but her body too, hadn't become commonplace yet.

Angella grew a bit rosier as well. "Thank you," she replied. "I know you mean well. But I can already feel the effects."

"I know," Micah said. Angella had been struggling with morning sickness for several months, and once it subsided completely, the baby would become visible. Micah struggled with how he would hide Angella's pregnancy – and his daughter's existence – from Shadow Weaver. How could they guard against someone who could spy on them a whole country away? And what would Shadow Weaver do to baby Glimmer once she found out that the tiny princess existed?

Micah would need to stop her before then. To ensure she couldn't get to his daughter, or family.

✧✧✧

They entered the Crypto Castle. Micah gazed up at the enormous palace, more an experimentation ground than anything else. Angella showed the bouncer her invitation; he nodded in Princess Talyn's direction. Although King Xenio was hosting the ball, Drylian custom was to take the guests in by the youngest princess. Unfortunately, Entrapta was nowhere to be found. Talyn's sister would likely be holed away, working on her inventions tonight.

Talyn walked them down the hall. "We are excited to have you here," she said with a smile. "It has been too long since we spoke, Your Majesties."

Micah still wasn't used to the title. "I agree," he said, listening to the loud metal music echoing in the ballroom. They had come to enjoy themselves, but he found himself always on edge. One lesson he'd learned in the past few years was that enemies lurked in every corner.

Talyn glanced at her holo-pad, then muttered a curse in Rjali. "Blasted corridors," she grumbled as they took yet another turn. "Used to be better at this, till Entrapta started renovating." She scratched the side of her head with her long, prehensile braid.

They continued down the corridors for an hour before they reached the ballroom. Great electric lights of violet and blue hung from the ceiling – a great luxury – and nobility from all over the world were here. Aizek, child of Tunar – known as Double Trouble on the stage – shifted through the crowd in their true body. The royal shapeshifter of Salineas would not miss an opportunity to dance tonight.

Micah smiled, surveying the crowd and recognizing all the royalty. He even spotted Princess Spinnerella, a Transcendentine angel. Angella, who'd grown up with her as an adoptive sister, would want to talk to her, and Micah equally wanted to meet her...

A hissing sound echoed behind him. Micah's skin prickled, and he gripped Angella's hand more tightly. Double Trouble moved away from where they'd been trying to antagonize someone, and as the crowd parted, Micah's heart dropped.

Shadow Weaver and her cronies had found a way into the party. And soon, she locked eye contact with him, a threatening look on her mask.

✧✧✧

Shadow Weaver had expected Micah to be here, of course. She herself had to swipe Princess Scorpia's invitation to come here, for she was no noblewoman. As if the child would need it – she was only seven years old, and had no guardian to come with her. So Shadow Weaver had snatched up the invitation, attending the prom with Carmen and Tara.

She let her underlings wander off, but stayed in the area, surveying Micah. He held his wife's hand, but his eyes seemed far away. Yet in an instant, Angella followed his gaze and stared right through her.

Stars, that woman's gaze made Shadow Weaver feel cold inside. No matter, she told herself with a smirk as she engaged in a singles dance on the floor. Elegant, flowing, and never-ending – that was the way she moved on the dance floor as the first dance began.

But partners changed, and soon, she found herself dancing with her former student - whose face was paler than snow at having to hold her ice-cold hands. Shadow Weaver looked into his dark eyes amusedly. Do not be afraid of my dark power, she thought. I'd never use it against you.

She spun him around, and Micah gasped, nearly losing his footing. "So," he stammered once he'd regained his balance. "What're you doing here without a plus-one? And...uh..." He scratched behind an ear. "You're not a princess, are you?"

I'm more of a princess than he is. Shadow Weaver not only had the blood of the king of former Arxia, Chevalier – meaning she would be justified in claiming royalty at any point – but she had a runestone. She was royal. She deserved to be here.

But she made no reply. It was true that her tongue grew stone-cold around Micah, as if it couldn't muster a word in her defense. Being mute wasn't entirely a lie, was it?

The first dance ended, and Micah frowned, ripping himself away from her as soon as possible. "See ya," he said, waving to her from behind as he went to convene with Angella.

Shadow Weaver's smile hurt her scarred face. The plan was underway. And neither of them knew what to do to stop it.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- Shadow Weaver being a crownless royal is very important to Seraphite.

- I sometimes like using Shadow Weaver's scars in conjunction with her grotesque faces, but I actually later hone in on how she truly feels. I don't think scars are always cool, and sometimes they can be super hard to live with.

Tell me what you think...

- Is Shadow Weaver a natural at blending in with the royalty?

- What do you think Carmen and Tara are up to?