Ella and the Floating City

Chapter 9

        I tell Maybell to fly back to the stables so that we can wait for Arabell. I can't risk running into those men again. I have to figure out a way to get Arabell and I to a safe place away from the cottage for a while. Just until I know that it's safe to go back and not risk something like that happening again.

        Maybell fluently brings us down to the stables and we land softly, just like every other time she flies us somewhere. I slide off of her back with ease and lead her to one of her own stables. "We're just going to have to wait here for a little bit Maybell," I mentally say as I stroke her mane. She neighs at me in response and I smile lightly. Maybell has been there for me since day one and is the only family I have left from.... home.

        I frown slightly from the thought and try to push it away but it's no use. Whenever I get to thinking about what happened and what I lost, it becomes sort of hard to cope. Maybell senses my growing sadness and nudges me with her head. I bring myself out of those thoughts and look at her. She neighs softly and I gently pet her. "I'm okay now. Thank you Maybell," I say in my head so she can understand me. She neighs and nudges me again with her head. I smile and kiss her on her forehead.

        I hear footsteps so I turn around and see Arabell walking in through the opening to the stables. She looks up from the things she purchased and freezes in place for a moment. She is obviously shocked to see me here, and I don't blame her. This normally never happens so her confusion and shock in understandable. She shakes herself out of her temporary shock and starts to walk towards Maybell and I.

        "El, w-what are you doing here? I thought you were at the cottage," She stutters out, still in slight shock.

        "Um, yes, I was at the cottage but, uh," I struggle with what to say. How do I tell her that these guys who have been hunting me down just found me and had broken into our little home?

        "I can see you are struggling with something. Ella, I am your best friend. You can tell me anything, you know that," She says softly as she gently places her hand onto my shoulder. I give her a weak smile. Should I risk losing the only true friend I have? I never lie to her. I do not wish to start now. So, with one last deep breath, I say something that I have never told anyone.

        "Okay, just, please don't hate me," I say as I look into her eyes, waiting for confirmation. She gives me a slight, worried nod and that's all it takes for me to tell her everything.

        Once I finish telling her every single thing leading up to this moment, we sit in silence for a few moments. I know, it's weird for us to be sitting in the stables at "The Peasant Commons" but, this is sort of normal for us. Arabell continues to sit there, silently, and unmoving. I grow worried and can't endure the silence any longer.

        "Please say something. You are beginning to make me grow worried," I say with a slightly wavering voice. She looks up at me and that's when I see the sadness in her eyes. I don't blame her. I have been keeping this from her for years. I can only imagine the betrayal she must be feeling right now.

        "And you, you have been dealing with this all on your own? All these years?" She asks me in a sad tone. I nod my head, slightly confused. "Oh Ella, I'm so sorry," She breathes out as she throws herself at me and squeezes me into a tight hug. I fall back in surprise but quickly recover, hugging her back. We stay like that for a minute or two before we both pull away.

        "Wait so, you're not mad at me?" I ask in a disbelieving tone.

        She gives me a gentle smile and says, "Ella, I could never be mad at you. I just feel bad that you have been handling this all on your own for the past 7 years,"

        I give her a shocked look, not believing I got so lucky with a friend like her. I hug her again for a brief moment and then we both pick ourselves up from the floor of the stables. "Thank you, Arabell. I don't know what I would do without you,"

        "Oh yes, that reminds me, we should find a hotel to stay in for the night. I do not believe I am ready to repeat what happened today. This way, it will be harder for them to find you and we can get ready there!" She says excitedly as she claps her hands together. I roll my eyes.

        "You can not possibly still want to go to the ball after what just happened today," I say exasperatedly.

        "That is exactly why we must go! We need a distraction from the trials of life and just dance the night away. Admit it, you had fun last time," She says as she wiggles her eyebrows at me. I gasp lightly.

        "Arabell!" I say in surprise and I lightly slap her shoulder. She laughs at my reaction and pulls me to my Pegasus.

        "Get on, I am going to get onto Harlow and then we will go to the hotel right down the street from here, okay?" She asks as she helps me onto the back of Maybell. I nod and she smiles at me, running to Harlow and placing her bags onto his saddle. We bring them around to the opening and at the same time, we take off, telling our Pegasus' exactly where to go.

        We arrive at the hotel and set our Pegasus' up in their own stables so they are comfortable while we get ready for the ball. Arabell grabs my arm and drags me into the hotel. We pay for a room and she rushes us to the room.

        "Argh, it's already 8 o'clock. At this rate, we will be arriving to the palace by 9," She groans out in frustration. I give her a puzzled look but she just rolls her eyes at me. She takes out the key to the room, unlocks it quite hastily might I add, and throws the door open.

        "Arabell, why are you rushing? Do you even have the dresses?" I ask her.

        "Ella, you underestimate me," She says as she brings out one of her bags from the commons. I then realize that the bag is a bag to hold a dress. Not food. I smirk at her determination to get us to this ball even when things aren't how we had planned.

        "Why do you have to be so persistent and incredibly efficient at the same time?" I chuckle as she shrugs her shoulders at me.

        "Look, we have no time for this, get ready and meet me out here when you're done," She says as she pushes me into one of the two bedrooms. I chuckle at her determination and close the door behind me. I open the bag and reveal the most beautiful red dress I have ever seen. I has a tight bodice and a low v-cut. The waist is perfectly brought in to fit my small stomach and flows out in layers, some higher, some lower, but overall, the dress is long and flows down to the floor.

        I look into the bag again and see a pair of red high heels with straps around them and an open toe at the end. They are absolutely beautiful and look extremely comfortable. I get ready to throw out the bag when I catch a glimpse of something else. I dig it out and I see a brilliantly made red mask. I gasp at the intricate designs and its subtle beauty. I gather everything and start getting ready.

        I take one last look at myself in the mirror, admiring how well I managed to do my makeup. My eyeshadow is done in a smoky kind of way and my full lips are covered in a beautiful shade of red, just the same as my outfit. My hair is cascading down my back in beautiful beach waves and I know that I am ready to go to this ball.

        I take a deep breath and walk out to the living room to see Arabell already there and looking gorgeous. She is dressed in a beautiful, smoky, strapless gown and an equally beautiful mask. Her eyeshadow is a deep shade of grey, her lashes look so full and breathtaking, and her lips are covered in a clear gloss. She put half of her hair up into a bun and the other half is sort of curly, looking like a calm fire. All in all, she looks absolutely beautiful.

        "Wow! You look amazing!" I say as she looks up at me. She smiles like a mad man.

        "You're the one to talk! Look at you!" She exclaims as she runs to me and grabs me in a bone crushing hug.

        "Okay, can't breathe," I gasp out. She giggles and lets me go.

        "Now, let's get you to that ball," She says as she drags me out of the hotel and to our Pegasus'. Here goes nothing, I think to myself as we make our way to the palace.