Here it is at last! The final installment to 'The Masquerade'! Sorry it took so long...balancing uni work and writing means LLL sometimes is a little forgotten! Enjoy, and do tell me what you think of this 'episode'! I'd love feedback! I have more plot lines in the making!

Part Five

Duchess RavenWaves’ shadow darkened Lady’s features menacingly, the looming pair of scissors were reflected in Lady’s wide blue eyes. RavenWaves gave a satisfied cackle, snipping them to put fear into Lady LovelyLocks’ heart. She was to have Lady LovelyLocks’ streaked tress of hair tonight, and she was going to claim it in style! This will make up for all the opportunities that have failed…! RavenWaves mused, her violet eyes gleaming with a sinister hunger. Lady gasped, trying to dodge RavenWaves, who suddenly lunged for her prized lock of hair.
“There is no escape now!” RavenWaves declared as she grabbed Lady’s slender wrist.
“Let go of me RavenWaves!” Lady LovelyLocks protested, trying with all her might to free herself from the clutches of the Duchess.
“There is no use protesting now my precious Lady…you have your husband, but the kingdom of LovelyLocks will be mine!”
“The kingdom will never be yours!” Lady maintained defiantly in the face of a glinting pair of scissors, “No matter what you try to do, my land, my people-“
“Oh stop your harping! Give me that hair!” RavenWaves hissed, enraged at Lady LovelyLocks’ refusal to submit to her intimidation, “Or I shall have to take it from you!”
Duchess RavenWaves’ hand swooped in, the scissors so sharp they could cut the air in half if it were possible. Lady instinctively gathered her luxurious fall of hair protectively, whisking it out of the scissors’ reach. The scissors caught a wispy blonde tendril, snipping it. RavenWaves glowered at Lady LovelyLocks’ cunning in the face of adversity. She pointed at the curl of blonde hair that lay limp by Lady’s foot.
“There will be more where that came from, don’t you worry Lady LovelyLocks!”
RavenWaves tried to pry Lady’s fingers away from her gather of hair. Lady tried to wrench herself free, but to no avail.
“I have you now, Lady LovelyLocks!” RavenWaves crowed as she finally grasped a handful of Lady’s tresses.

Lady LovelyLocks trembled as she watched RavenWaves separate the scissors, poised to make the final sever….
“Help! Somebody, please! Help!”

Maiden FairHair heard her mistress’ cry whilst backed up against a shadowed wall, holding her skirts back from an approaching Hairball, who held a glowing orb in his cupped hand.
“Get away from me Hairball!” FairHair cowered as RavenWaves’ assistant laughed in his characteristic tone. His smile widened once he heard Lady LovelyLocks’ cry.
“Huh-huh, it seems everything is going as planned!” He remarked, causing the threatening orb to throb and prickle with magical sparks. One of these sparks fell by FairHair’s blue slipper. The carpet started to smoulder a wisp of smoke. FairHair’s brown eyes widened.
“Lady!” She called, knowing too well that there was nothing her friend could do, seeing she had her own assailant!
“There is no escape! Huh, huh!” Hairball declared triumphantly but trailed off when he heard hurried footsteps and voices traveling down the hall.
“Why is it so dark…?”
FairHair heard Maiden CurlyCrown wonder aloud, their shadows becoming visible.
“Hurry now, something is not right!” Strongheart’s voice echoed. Maiden FairHair gave an exhalation of relief.
“Prince Strongheart! Maiden CurlyCrown! Help!” She called out. Hairball’s eyebrows drew together.

“Your friends are useless Maiden…it is too…huh?” Hairball’s eyes popped out of his head as soon as he glanced at the enraged expression upon Prince Strongheart’s face…and the fact that ShiningGlory was not far behind them. His pretense of confidence wavered as the glowing orb evaporated in a puff of smoke. Hairball suddenly became nervous, shrinking back as a very resolute Prince Strongheart took the lead, racing down the hall, his cape whipped back. Hairball gave Maiden FairHair an uneasy laugh, stepping away from her, an edgy smile causing his features to wince as he wrung his hands.
“Huh, huh, there is no need to be so mad Prince Strongheart…huh, huh I really did not mean her any….”
Hairball gulped as Strongheart’s look darkened as he slowed to a walk. Maiden CurlyCrown went immediately to Maiden FairHair’s side. Hairball laughed again, this time it sounded distressed. Those lazy bums! Hairball thought to himself as he saw the CombGnomes hover above him, bound and levitated by the three Pixietails. Hairball stroked him moustache, stepping away from the disagreeable company.
“Huh, huh…I think I am no longer welcome here…” He laughed nervously, shrinking back as Silkypup burst through the company, yapping. Hairball’s eyes popped out of his head, his body barely able to catch up with his legs as he took off…
“Duchess RavenWaves….!”

CurlyCrown giggled after the panicked Hairball.
“Oh dear! It seems that Hairball has had quite the fright!” She remarked, her green eyes dancing as she returned to her usually cheery manner.
“Are you all right Maiden?” Strongheart enquired gently after his fiancée’s friend. Maiden FairHair sighed, flattening her ruffled skirts, composing herself as if nothing had happened.
“I am fine, Prince Strongheart.” She stated matter-of-factly, “But Lady LovelyLocks is not! Come, we must hurry!”

“Help!”

Lady cried again, steadying herself against the balcony railing. RavenWaves laughed sinisterly as she caught her own reflection in the glint of the golden scissors.
“Now the kingdom is mine! I have waited for this moment for so…” The scissors swooped in….
“RAK!”
“Huh?” RavenWaves looked up, stumbling backwards as she recognized that distinctive noise…and it made her stomach knot unpleasantly. Her violet eyes widened as the large looming figure of an angry mother dragon rose up from behind the trembling figure of Lady LovelyLocks. Flames rose from her nostrils threateningly. RavenWaves gulped, hurriedly letting go of Lady, her eyes wide and terrified as she stepped back carefully, an anxious smile on her face. Lady LovelyLocks turned around, her face flooded with relief.
“LongCurl!” She cried joyfully as she laid eyes on the yellow dragon. LongCurl’s wings beat rhythmically, lowering herself by the balcony.
“Quick now, Lady- climb on!”
Lady wasted no time as RavenWaves gawped at the looming dragon. Lady LovelyLocks swiftly hitched up her skirts, daintily and swiftly stepping up onto the railing, wobbling a little as she looked down at the long drop into the moat, then grasping a lock of LongCurl’s undulating pink mane, clambered onto the great beating form of the dragon. MerryCurl, SweetCurl and BouncyCurl hovered about their mother, smaller flames rising from their nostrils.

LongCurl, with two flaps of her great yellow feathered wings, hovered just out of reach of the Duchess. A look of rage possessed RavenWaves’ features as she finally found her voice...and with that her ill temper.
“This cannot be!” She screeched incredulously, “Get back down here you overgrown scaly bird! She is mine! I was so close!”
Lady LovelyLocks nestled close into LongCurl’s mane, entwining her fingers in her silky tresses. LongCurl growled, steam curling from her nostrils as she loomed over the suddenly vulnerable-looking Duchess.
“You….” LongCurl glowered at the Duchess, who suddenly cowered with a nervous smile on her face.
“Now, now, no need to get angry…!” RavenWaves simpered with an edgy laugh. Flames burst from LongCurl’s nostrils, catching RavenWaves’ hem.
“Ouch!” RavenWaves exclaimed, stamping out the flames. Her dress smoking, RavenWaves confronted the dragon.
“Give her back to me! You cannot do this!” RavenWaves demanded as she marched up to LongCurl. The pair eyeballed each other until scampering footsteps distracted them.
“Huh?” RavenWaves almost jumped out of her skin as she felt something lunge onto her leg. Holding her leg out, she was frustrated to find that it was Hairball who was clinging onto her skirts.
“HAIRBALL!” She shouted, shaking off her furry sidekick, “What are you doing-“
Hairball pointed to the door of Lady LovelyLocks’ bedroom.
“What…? Oh….” RavenWaves’ eyes widened as she was confronted with Prince Strongheart. He was not in a friendly mood.

Caught between the hovering dragon and the glowering Prince, RavenWaves looked about for an escape. She held up her hands in an effort to reason some understanding into this rather annoyed party of friends.
“He…he…really, this is all a misunderstanding…I was merely congratulating Lady LovelyLocks on her engagement I really didn’t…” She trailed off once she realized her words were futile. RavenWaves swallowed. Prince Strongheart stepped up to the Duchess, the woman who had had him cursed and now tried to rob his fiancée of her kingdom and her dignity.
“Duchess RavenWaves, I think it best that you leave. Immediately.” His tone was stern, his blue eyes bore a hardened glint of determination. He looked up briefly to meet eyes with Lady, seated elegantly atop the glowering dragon. RavenWaves lifted a finger.
“Yes, I agree…I think that would be the best course of action…” The Duchess hastily made to venture out via Lady’s bedroom door but was stopped by the two Maidens. A look of panic gripped her features.
“Well- I cannot get out any other way, can I?” She demanded as she backed away against the railing of Lady LovelyLocks’ balcony. She gulped as she looked from face to face. It was evident she was not welcome. Flames from LongCurl licked the night sky and Hairball, whimpering, held up RavenWaves’ frilly lavender skirts as a shield.

Lady LovelyLocks finally raised her voice atop LongCurl dragon. Her form rose and fell with the rhythmic beat of the dragon’s wings and LongCurl’s three offspring hovered about their friend. She turned to SweetCurl, who was snuggling up to a now calm and relieved Lady LovelyLocks.
“SweetCurl, BouncyCurl, I think Duchess RavenWaves needs help.” She remarked cheerfully. RavenWaves put her hands on her hips, glaring up at the Lady.
“What is that supposed to mean? What are those flying lizards supposed to- oh!”
RavenWaves exclaimed as the two dragons, now big enough to carry a fully grown human each, lifted RavenWaves up from each shoulder. She kicked and struggled, thrashing about, her skirts flying up with a gust of breeze, revealing her frilly pantalets for all to see. The two Maidens giggled, Hairball gawped and Strongheart merely raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
“Let go of me! Hairball! Do something!”
“Huh-huh, what can I do Duchess?!” Hairball asked incredulously, somewhat delighted by his mistress’ helplessness, but knew all too well that she would not be in a friendly mood tonight.
“Do something!” RavenWaves screeched, “You were their mother when they were born from the Dragon Tree, they are merely stupid lizards! Let me go!” RavenWaves writhed, her lavender shoe falling off revealing a stocking-ed foot. Lady LovelyLocks giggled.
“Oh dear.” She mused, “Perhaps you ought to do as she says SweetCurl and BouncyCurl…”
RavenWaves gasped as she looked down towards the plummet into the LovelyLocks moat.
“No! No! Don’t let me go!”
Lady laughed behind her hand, biting her lower lip at this predicament. Hairball clambered up onto the stone-worked, colonnaded balustrade of the balcony, his eyes popping out of his head as he saw the two young dragons fly his mistress out of his reach.
“I think Duchess RavenWaves deserves a softer landing, don’t you LongCurl?” Lady LovelyLocks tilted her head to the side as she pondered. LongCurl merely snorted small flames.

Duchess RavenWaves started to turn green at the dizzying heights she was subjected to, the swaying of the two dragons’ uneven flapping not agreeing with her constitution. She craved for land, and gave a sigh of relief when she felt SweetCurl and BouncyCurl swoop down low, her toes skimming the water of the moat. Hovering a few feet above a very muddy bank, RavenWaves looked up at the pair.
“Over there, I want to be over there!” She demanded, pointing at a soft knoll of grass. The two dragons looked at each other, sniggering, then let the Duchess fall face first into the mud with a short exasperated cry. RavenWaves spluttered, sitting up and flicking mud off her fingers, wiping her face and wringing her now lank and mucky hair.
“Argh!” She exclaimed in frustration, trying to stand up but stumbling back into the mud, further coating herself in it, her skirts puffing up, much to her irritation. She glared up at the two dragons who had returned to their mother and Lady LovelyLocks’ friends who were now bent over the balcony railing.
“Can’t you do anything right, you stupid dragons!?”
RavenWaves gave a whine, pulling off her one remaining shoe and standing up, dripping and filthy, her hands on her hips, glaring at the company above.
“HAIRBALL! Where are you?”
“Hmph…Duchmph…” A muffled noise came from besides her in the mud. MerryCurl gave a chortle as he hovered upwards from sending his former ‘Mama’ face first into a very mucky landing.

“Grrr! Where are your incompetent Comb Gnomes?” RavenWaves demanded, pulling clinging mud-coated strands of her raven hair off her infuriated face.
A strangled cry from what seemed like the three Comb Gnomes caused both RavenWaves and Hairball to look upwards as they came flying, bound together in a very tangled ball. RavenWaves and Hairball fell back into the mud as to avoid the flying henchmen. The three Pixietails twinkled and giggled, soaring up to the balcony to join their Lady.
“Look at this! Look at this! Everything is ruined! I was so close!” RavenWaves screeched as the Comb Gnomes disentangled themselves, snarling and muttering, “You fools!”

Lady LovelyLocks meanwhile, safely dismounted from LongCurl, sliding down the dragon’s scaly yellow skin into her fiancé’s arms. Strongheart held Lady LovelyLocks close, inhaling her gentle scent, his hand caressing her head as she nestled into his shoulder.
“I was so worried for you, my love.” Strongheart whispered tenderly, kissing the top of her head, “I had thought the worst…”
Lady stood back from his protective embrace, her blue eyes meeting his, sparkling.
“I was frightened too…fortunately my friends were here to help me.” She smiled at LongCurl with gratitude. The dragon nodded her head in recognition. Strongheart strode over to the edge of the balcony watching the miserable party of RavenWaves and her accomplices trudge off, muttering and bickering…and very mud-covered, into the night.
“I should have never left you alone…we should have never allowed Countess RubyTresses to set foot in this castle!” He declared, his blue eyes lit with conviction. Lady’s soft mouth curled downwards into an expression of disagreement…not quite a frown, but nevertheless not too fond of the idea.
“That would not have been right, my Prince. What if Countess RubyTresses had really not been Duchess RavenWaves in disguise…? It would have been rude to refuse them!”
Strongheart folded his arms across his chest, still not convinced by his fiancé’s trusting disposition. Lady LovelyLocks smiled to herself gently, sidling up to her fiancé and patting his arm.
“Do not worry, I have you now.” She whispered.
“But I was not there to protect you…! I was too busy thinking of how I could have saved the day…when really I should have been by your side all along…”
“You were concerned for my safety, Prince Strongheart…”
“But the Grand Dance…” His eyes glistened as he stared up at the twinkling stars against the black velvet of the night.

By now, with the ruckus caused by Duchess RavenWaves, the majority of the royal guests had spilled out the front of the castle, scattered about the front lawns and the LovelyLocks bridge, muttering, tittering and staring up at LovelyLocks’ bedroom balcony. Maiden FairHair and CurlyCrown ventured towards their mistress, impish and relieved smiles upon their faces.
“I think there might still be time for another Grand Dance… the guests cannot be forgotten.” Maiden FairHair offered, gesturing down towards the murmuring company below. Lady LovelyLocks and Prince Strongheart looked down, smiling. They linked arms, looking into each other’s eyes briefly.
“Yes, I think that is an excellent idea, Maiden FairHair.” Prince Strongheart stated.
“Better late than never!” Lady LovelyLocks gave her silvery laugh as she agreed. The breeze rustled her golden, and intact, locks across her slightly flushed cheeks, her moist lips and her dancing eyes…Prince Strongheart’s heart melted with love as he gazed upon her, his own blond fringe flopping over his gaze. The pair turned to make an exit out of Lady’s bedroom when LongCurl spoke up.
“Perhaps the Lady and the Prince would care for a quicker descent?” LongCurl’s musical voice echoed in the quiet night. She rustled her wings excitedly. A look of pure delight lit Lady’s features.
“Oh LongCurl!” She giggled, taking her fiancé’s hand as the pair clambered atop the crouched dragon, Lady leaned into her pink locks whilst Prince Strongheart held his fiancée securely. The pair waved at their friends as LongCurl soared upwards, the caressing night breeze catching their hair, sending it flowing and whispering. The royal couple nestled into each other’s embrace as they felt they could touch the stars and tickle the moon. The beating strength of the dragon’s body beneath them caused the engaged pair to feel awed at the magnificence of this animal…their friend and saviour of the night.

“The night is so beautiful! Right now I wish not to return to the ballroom!” Lady exclaimed excitedly as she stroked Strongheart’s dog-shaped golden pin. The pair shared a tender kiss, their lips innocently, but intimately exploring each other’s taste. Their noses touched fleetingly, their lips brushing against each other’s once again. Lady’s eyelashes fluttered as she gazed upon her love.
“I see no harm in dancing under the moonlight…” Strongheart whispered, his words caressing Lady’s gently flushed cheek. Lady’s lips broke into a radiant smile.
“Oh, thank you!” She gingerly let go of her hold on LongCurl’s mane, cupping her fiancé’s jaw, Strongheart’s hand held her small waist securely as the pair shared another, more intimate kiss as LongCurl descended upon a cleared circle made by the royal guests. Maiden FairHair, Maiden CurlyCrown, ShiningGlory and the three Pixietails weaved through the confused and awed guests to see their friends descend. MerryCurl, SweetCurl and BouncyCurl giggled and blew small flames as they saw their mother return. The landing was soft and gentle as LongCurl was as careful as she could be with her precious riders. Strongheart dismounted swiftly, flicking his cape over his shoulder as he strode backwards and held out his hand for his fiancée to take as she descended from the dragon’s back. Lady pushed away her streaked fringe from her eyes, looking about at the bemused, shocked, worried and delighted faces of her royal guests.
“Not to worry, all is well. The Lady LovelyLocks is safe and the festivities may continue!” Prince Strongheart announced, his chest puffed as he assumed the role of the leader he was born to be. He turned to Lady LovelyLocks.
“I think it is time for a dance…” Strongheart led Lady LovelyLocks into the centre of the parted company, the band striking up a rousing waltz….

It would be fair to say that the rest of the night passed as pleasantly as it had begun…Maiden FairHair had indeed come to the conclusion that the next theme for a ball would be far from a masquerade, Maiden CurlyCrown took delight in recounting her escape from the clutches of the Comb Gnomes, LongCurl dragon and her brood snuggled together as they watched upon the dancing company….and Lady LovelyLocks and Prince Strongheart only had eyes for each other…

The Royal Engagement Ball had been a success…well….for almost everyone.

“Ruined! Ruined! I was so close Hairball! And you and your stupid Comb Gnomes had to go and ruin it! Ohhh…you are going to be sorry!”
As the quintet marched on, soggy, muddied and frustrated into the calm evening, the laughter and gaiety of the festivities behind them grating their ears, one could audibly hear Hairball and his Comb Gnomes gulp at the prospect that awaited them back at Castle RavenWaves…

~THE END~

Well, there we have it, tell me what you think!
Next up : The Royal Engagement: Love-Struck...!

*edit: sorry about the italics before...my computer went berserk!