[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HfKWHeg.png[/img][/center][@Crimson Flame]

Even outside, the festival was in full swing. Annoyingly so.

[color=4DA6FF]"Is it just me or it each booth gaudier than the last?"[/color] Zircon muttered under her breath, glancing over at the lurid-coloured stalls from which enthusiastic merchants advertised their wares. As fairies flitted through air filled with chatter, the crowding didn't help the warmth any, which while not unbearable, was still more that she was used to. And she'd never seen so many sparkles in her life. [color=4DA6FF]"I swear I'm still gonna be finding glitter on my clothes a year from now. So much for relaxing."[/color]

In that infuriatingly cute way, the corner of Coralie's mouth twitched up. [color=FF6680]"Y'know, it would be if you'd just let yourself kick back and have fun. I mean, you did enjoy that pine nut cake enough to buy a second slice. And don't think I didn't see you nodding your head to the street music just now."[/color]

Zircon folded her arms. [color=4DA6FF]"I was hungry is all! And the music was just... irritatingly catchy!"[/color] Ok, so the food [i]was[/i] pretty decent, even if the baker had been much too cheery. As for the music, even if there was something uplifting about it, that most certainly didn't make it worth dancing to. She'd resisted that inexplicable urge to tap her foot, for crying out loud.

Coralie gave her a knowing look. [color=FF6680]"Zee, as much as I admire your work ethic, it's ok to... chill, once in a while, so to speak."[/color] She chuckled at her own bad pun, while Zircon groaned. [color=FF6680]"I know you don't have the best memories of leisure and all, but that doesn't make it bad in itself. Speaking of work though, I can't wait to see that sculpture you made!"[/color]

Fluttering beside her towards the palace, Zircon sighed. [color=4DA6FF]"It says a lot that the prince wanted a statue of himself."[/color] She wouldn't be surprised if Prince Sky, along with many other royals and nobles, treated the common folk such as herself and Coralie as out of place here. Despite wearing the fanciest clothes they owned, they'd already received snooty looks from some of the high-born people.

[color=FF6680]"Well he is the host, and all that detail's sure to be impressive!"[/color] Slowing to a hover, Coralie faced Zircon and blushed. [color=FF6680]"And hey, if it'd make things easier... Once we're there, how about we dance?"[/color]

Zircon's air of cool indifference melted away. Well, that had caught her off guard. All she could do was nod and stammer. [color=4DA6FF]"S-Sure."[/color]

A grin lit up Coralie's face. [color=FF6680]"Yay! Wanna race to the palace? First one there takes the lead in the dance, you ok with that?"[/color]

Although she mentally yelled at herself to keep it together, words failed Zircon again. She nodded once more, the slight warmth in her cheeks indicating they had to be turning berry purple.

[color=FF6680]"Ok, on your marks! Get set! Go!!"[/color] Giggling, Coralie set off towards the palace doors.

Patting her cheeks and covering them with a thin layer of frost, Zircon willed herself to snap to her senses. [color=4DA6FF]"Y-You can be a real pain sometimes, you know that?"[/color] she called, speeding after Coralie, grumbling as she watched her slip through the doors. The thought of Cori's hands on hers made her stomach flip over and over with nerves. [color=4DA6FF]"Alright, you win... Huh?"[/color]

Heading inside and landing, she gasped. Nothing could have prepared her for this. No merriment, no music, no dancing, nothing. Just a room full of stone statues. Including, near the entrance, head held high in triumph, hand cupped by her mouth as if about to call to her...

[color=4DA6FF]"Cori!"[/color] Zircon rushed over and gripped one of Coralie's petrified hands. [color=4DA6FF]"No, no, Cori... We were supposed to dance. You were supposed to keep driving me round the twist with that teasing of yours."[/color] Tears prickled the corners of her eyes, her frosty facade well and truly shattered. [color=4DA6FF]"This was supposed to be fun! Like you said!"[/color]

Fists clenched, she darted outside. [color=4DA6FF]"Somebody help!"[/color] Prince Sky had already leapt into action, creating a luminous signal. Loath as she'd initially been to be in the presence of the arrogant prince, Zircon rose to his side. [color=4DA6FF]"What happened?!"[/color]