A Glorious Ball, and a Meeting of Royals

Eira stood silent for a moment as she looked out over the castle. She had to admit that this country was amazing, even if it was a bit too hot for her liking here, and that she respected the fire queen tremendously for leading such a country with confidence. Eira smiled slightly at Akane, making up her mind in how to answer. "I would like to believe that we were becoming friends through this contest. I will admit you are intimidating, but you are also quite kind to all of us when you had no reason to be and I believe I would like to get to know you better after this."

Eira almost smiled at Akane agreeing to be friends, thinking it would have been better for them to be friends instead of at each other's throat like they could have easily been. Eira frowned as Akane began to bombard her with questions, causing her to remember why she didn't like dealing with people in the first place. She took a small breath before she answered Akane the best that she could. "I won't lie to you, Eirlys is still very small, especially in comparison to your magnificent Celosia, but that's how we like it up there. Many of us like the cold and the isolation from the troubles of other regions, so we do well staying there when we aren't in great need of supplies that we can't find in our forests. We are so small that I would not be surprised if our forest and lake could fit comfortably within your castle walls."

Eira paused and smiled softly as she looked towards where her frozen land was off beyond the horizon. "The Pokemon that live in the kingdom help us with our various tasks since we have shown them from the start that we have no wish to harm them and want nothing more than to live beside them and help them."

She paused again before looking at Akane a bit sheepishly. "I honestly do not know how my people view me. I try to get along with them when I do interact with them and I want to help everyone survive like I have in the past. I give them help when they come to me looking for it, but we all for the most part just go about our own business."

"As long as you never meet a girl you fancy, I guess it's fine. I'd just hate for her over-protectiveness to turn into violence. She does seem pretty...territorial when it comes to you." Marcus almost winced at the thought of Sparky setting Eira's hair on fire on their trip up to Silvertree. She'd probably get a kick out of it while Eira was trying to put it out... "Either way, it sure doesn't look like it's not hurting no one if she already gave your cousin a scar." Marcus chuckled at his attempt to lighten the mood, saying it as jokingly as possible.

Looking around, he scanned the garden, seeing a beautiful girl about his age standing in the doorway to the left wing they came from. She had soft, wavy bright blonde hair and gentle eyes. Her ball gown was a bright yellow, in a formal style with flower ruffles cascading down the dress and a jewel-decorated waist.

She was passing by the door and stopped right as Marcus turned around. Their eyes met and she smiled coyly, tilting her head down and away. And just like that, she walked off towards the ballroom. His mouth hung open, Marcus was...confused what to think.

She was really pretty. And she smiled at me. Not an "I'm embarrassed" smile, either. Should I...? Turning back to Z and the Pokemon, Marcus debated following after that mystery girl.

"I'm gonna...yeah." Marcus started to walk after the girl, but before he could take a step, Sofa grabbed Marcus' sleeve and tilted his head inquisitively, "Vigo?"
Marcus turned back around, "It's just for one dance, buddy. I'll be right back, I promise. Besides, who's going to keep the peace around here if you aren't staying vigilant?" Marcus playfully pressed his fist against Sofa's cheek, like a slow-motion punch. He started walking off towards the door, picking up his pace halfway there, "Don't worry. It'll just be a bit."

Marcus went jogging back to the ballroom, slowing down about a dozen feet from the double Houndoom doors they exited from, trying to enter calm and smooth...and not short of breath. "Stay cool, Marcus. You don't even know if she's interested in you. Don't expect much." The muffled ballroom music could be heard from behind the doors. He mentally prepared himself for being social. "It was so much easier in the garden. There was nobody out there but the contestants... -sigh- Alright. One dance. Keep your feet working for one dance..."

Slowly, he opened both of the double doors with his head bowed low, entering dramatically; really he was just hesitant and unsure of how to return to the ball and his body moved by itself. Everyone turned to the widely opened doors, the musicians played for a second or two after everyone stopped dancing, but quickly stopped playing when they realized there was a disturbance. There was an awkward few moments of silence as everyone's eyes were on Marcus. Marcus stood at the entrance, still holding the doors open; his face feeling red hot from embarrassment.

"Uhhh...."

Eira frowned, having thought she had answered Akane's questions though she wasn't too sure with how many had been asked at one time. She cleared her throat nervously, wondering if this was how people normally made friends or if all of the questions were unique to how Akane was. "I don't really know myself honestly. It was originally just me in Eirlys, but then I started helping people that were having difficulty with the blizzards in the area and that's when people started to stay in my area. I don't even remember myself when they started to call me their queen or even why, all I did was help them survive in the cold."

Akane turned away. Queen by chance?
”So. You’re telling me you did not simply take the position? No, of course not. You have no spine.” The red lady hissed. ”Get off these floors and return to your village after tonight. When you return to these floors, you will have declared your dominance in your kingdom. When that’s been established, you will command your subjects to believe you when you say our kingdoms are allies. Then you will return personally to declare in front of all of my subjects the same.”

” I will publicly announce we are friends. Until then, consider us allies and our friendship pending.” My kingdom is me, and I am it. When you learn that, we can be friends.

”You call yourself a queen. You step upon these floors. If you’re lying, you will die. Your pride will be your downfall.”

Akane released Doom and mega-evolved him before the frost woman’s eyes.

”I look out for my kingdom before I do myself. If we are not friends or allies then we are enemies, and I do not let my enemies live.” Houdoom stepped forward. He would not attack her unless ordered. ”Pride makes people stupid.” Doom growled.

Akane wondered why Eira did not get it through her skull that Akane took her so seriously because she respected her. The red woman never underestimated a possible opponent or the people under their influence.

”And I am not ordering, I am telling you what you need to do to become my friend. And if you do so I will take back my insults. But if you do not do the things I have asked, then we are not friends. I have a kingdom to protect, and it comes before any of my personal relations.” Doom growled and challenged the frost woman to dare insult his master again.