Timberella5

Justin sighed happily as he entered the castle, immediately going to the
kitchen to put the food away. He opened the fridge and was putting the apples in the bottom drawer when he heard someone yelling.

"Timberella! Where the hell are you? TIMBERELLA!"

Justin sighed, quickly putting the rest of the food in the fridge and jogging towards Nick's room. He opened the door, nearly rolling his eyes when he saw Nick in front of the mirror again, but in a different outfit. Justin stepped inside, hat in hand, and shut the door behind him.

"Yes, Prince Nick?" he asked.

Nick waved Justin over. Once Justin was beside him, Nick shoved a bottle of gel into his hands.

"Put this in my hair," he ordered. "I want you to do my hair ... I'm going to a party!"

Justin's ears perked up as he squeezed a blob of gel the size of a
half-dollar in his hand. He rubbed his hands together and started to work on Nick's hair.

"How do you want it?"

Nick chewed on his bottom lip in thought. "Um, spikes. No, wait ... cornrows! Yes! That's it. Put my hair in cornrows!"

Justin winced, knowing how long it would take to put Nick's hair in cornrows, not to mention how awful he would look in them.

"Prince Nick?" he asked. "May I make a suggestion?"

Nick rolled his eyes and sighed. "If you must."

Justin wiped his hands off on a towel and turned Nick to face the mirror, deciding to appeal to Nick's fashion craze. "Cornrows take *so* long to put in," said Justin. "And what if I do them wrong? I would just *hate* for your hair to be anything less than perfect. " He got up close to Nick's ear, whispering, "Besides, everyone knows that cornrows are *so* last season."

Nick's eyes grew wide. "We can't have that!" he whispered. He turned around, pushing by Justin and heading for his closest. "I've changed my mind, Timberella. I want spikes in my hair. I've just realized that I am *way* too good for simple cornrows!"

Justin grinned to himself and nodded at Nick's retreating back. "Of course," he said. "If that is what you wish."

"It is!" said Nick, all ready occupied with finding something to wear at the party.

"Timberella!"

Justin turned to leave, remembering Nick's hat. "Oh, what should I do with your hat?"

Nick poked his head out of his walk-in closet. "Just leave it on the bed."

Justin nodded, wincing as Kevin called him again. "Timberella! I need you *now*!"

Nick rolled his eyes. "He's such a whiny bitch," he pouted, sighing and
nodding at Justin. "You may go now Timberella."

Justin nodded as Nick ducked back into his closet. On his way out, he noticed the piece of fancy stationary lying on the floor by Nick's bed. Curious, Justin bent down and read it.

'To Whom It May Concern:

You have been invited to attend a ball being thrown by King James and Queen Diane of Songland for their son, Prince Lance. The prince is in search of a bride, so every young lady must attend. Anyone else who wishes to, may come as well.'

Justin eyes were wide. Prince Lance? Could he be the same Lance he met in the market? Deciding he had to find out, Justin stashed the letter in his pocket and headed for Kevin's room.

~*~
Lance was beaming as he threw open the castle doors, smiling at all of the guards and heading for his room. He was on cloud nine, and thought that *this* must be what love was like.

"Prince Lance," said a guard, approaching him. He bowed and Lance did the same. "The king and queen wish to speak with you."

Lance nodded, thanking the man and heading for his parents' room. Any other person would have gotten lost traveling through the vast hallways of the Bass Castle, but Lance had grown up there and knew his way around like the back of his hand. Opening his parents' door, he looked inside and smiled at his mother. She was standing in front of the mirror, trying on a new, black wig she just bought. Seeing him in the reflection, she smiled. "Come in Lance."

Lance did as he was told, shutting the door behind him and sitting on his
mother's bed. Queen Diane twirled in front of him, showing him the full view of the wig.

"What do you think, son? It's the latest thing."

Lance grinned. "You look fabulous, Mom! Twenty years younger." The queen laughed, taking off the wig and fixing her real hair. "Why are you so dressed up?" he asked. "Are you going to another party?"

"Well, yes and no," answered the queen. She smiled and sat by her son,
careful as to not wrinkle her new dress. "Your father and I are attending a party, but we're not going anywhere."

Lance was confused, and he turned when he heard his father enter the room, also dressed up in fancy attire. "I don't get it," he said.

King James sighed and sat on the other side of his son. "Look Lance, you are a prince. Princes are supposed to marry and take the thrown from their father. That's the way things work." He sighed and looked at Lance. "We are throwing you a party tonight to help you find a bride."

Lance was shocked. He turned to his mother. "Mom?" he asked weakly.

"It's true Lance," she sighed. "It's only to help you out, son. It's not like
you *have* to find the right person tonight..."

"All though it would be helpful," interrupted the king.

Lance got up from the bed and stomped to the door, too angry to speak
anymore. As he reached the door, he turned and met his father's eyes.

"You cannot make me marry if I choose not to," he spat. "And, if I never marry it shall be *your* fault!"

With that said, Lance threw open the doors and stomped down to his room.