The Prince would turn sixteen in a mere three weeks time.
The people had bets and contests going to see who would win the hand of the Prince, and how.
During his birthday, the masquerade ball was planned. A favorite choice of the crowds was that the last young lady the prince danced with would be the front runner of the fiancee crowd.
Naturally, each and every one of the ladies of his acquaintance that wanted to catch the prince - was making it a point of attending or bypassing the ceremony altogether.
Save one.
Years ago, Genma had made an unfortunate comment to Beshaba Orin. Beshaba refused to say what it was that Genma had said, but popular speculation was that it must have been a doozy.
Beshaba being a middle-aged but still strikingly handsome (far too aristocratic in appearance to be called cute or beautiful) woman, she had done the dignified thing by stating repeatedly that when she had her revenge - Genma would rue that comment for the rest of his days.
Beshaba being a fairly powerful enchantress and a "moon elf" - nobody was completely sure what she planned. She was quite friendly to the Prince whenever their paths crossed and frostily haughty to Genma on those rare occasions their paths crossed.
The vast majority of the time, Beshaba Orin spent at her cave atop the distant Howling Winds Mountain.
Vengeance had long been Beshaba's plan, but her target had never been Genma. Rather her target had been the Prince.
Stepping back from her work, she nodded at the result. Genma would suffer every time he saw what had become of his son. She had labored long and hard to create this vengeance, and the Prince's sixteenth birthday was when it would be unleashed.
In a way it was a pity. The Prince was a likable sort.
Darla (Dita) Lamstrand the bard was planning on serenading her prince at the ball.
Mera (Meia) Alstar was trying to learn how to dance, and failing miserably. She was far more comfortable riding out to slay evil than sticking around for court functions.
Jhaelrnya (Jura) was confident in her dancing abilities. She'd sweep her Prince off his feet tonight, and he'd be in the bedroom before the music stopped!
Belith (Barnette) had chosen Ranma as her mate. It didn't matter what any of these silly girls thought. Well, except maybe Jhaelrnya - in which case she could share. The drow certainly knew how to scratch her behind the ears!
Alaethe (Parfait) couldn't dance worth a darn. So she'd grabbed some magical shoes and tried an enchantment. This should do the trick!
Myrrath (Misty) was also not exactly a good dancer. And how did these humans even walk in glass slippers?
As to Celtic and Paiway and the others, they were just planning an upset.
(Posted Wed, 19 Feb 2003 11:57)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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