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http://s944.photobucket.com/albums/ad282/GypsyNextDoor/Monarch/?action=view¤t=MonarchsBlackGown.png
Link to a picture of Monarch in her dress!
Monarch sat in a corner, sharpening her dagger. Terra was upstairs with Sally, getting her own official Halloween Town dress, and Jack had gone out to get some more things done for Halloween. There was a knock on the door. Monarch looked up. She thought she saw a spike of flaming red hair through the window. Axel. Monarch sighed, resheathed her dagger, and walked over to the door. She jumped a bit in suprise. Axel was there, but he was holding a huge jack-o-latern. He peeked over the top and grinned. "Hey again, cutie," he greeted. "What the heck is this?" Monarch inquired, looking at the pumpkin. "A thing Jack asked me to bring," Axel replied. "Know where I should put it?" Monarch thought for a moment. "Best just set it down in here," she suggested. "We'll put it by the window so Jack sees it when he gets home." Axel nodded and vanished behind the pumpkin again. Monarch stepped aside as Axel walked in, careful not to fall under the jack-o-latern's weight, and went over to the window, setting it down beneath the glass. "Did you carve this?" Monarch asked, walking over and inspecting it. "Actually, yeah," Axel replied, watching her. "With some help from Zexion. All Demyx said when the knife came out was, "You didn't tell me you where gunna kill it!" and he ran off. He's been watching too much Charley Brown." "Sounds like," Monarch said. She straightened. "Oh. And...this is for you," Axel added. Monarch turned. He was holding his hand out to Monarch, in which was a thornless black rose. Monarch blinked and took it. "Thank you, Axel," she said, stroking the petals. "Black rose. My favorite. How'd you know?" "To be completely honest, I ran into Sally earlier. She told me." "Of course, it would be Sally," Monarch said with a giggle. Wait, what? Monarch didn't giggle. Weird. "I actually wanted to ask you something," Axel said. Monarch looked up from the rose. "Yes?" "I don't have much going on tonight, so I thought you and I could get together. Get some dinner, wander around the pumpkin patch a little. My treat." Monarch blinked. "Are you asking me out on a date?" she asked, stunned. Axel grinned again. "If that's what you wanna call it. Or, just a friendly get together." "I'll take choice two." Axel laughed. "So, you in?" he inquired. Monarch thought a moment. "Oh, fine," she said. "But, it ain't a date." Again, Axel grinned. "Didn't know you where southern." "Never said that. We just borrow their slang alot." Axel chuckled. "All right. I'll be here about nine. Dress up nice now. I'm gunna, and I don't wanna feel out of place." "What, you tellin me to get prettied up for you?" "Exactly," Axel said. He smirked, winked, and walked out the door.
* * * * * * * * * *
At 8:30, Monarch went upstairs to get ready. When Jack had gotten home, she had told them all about her 'get together' with Axel. Sally and Terra both said that it would be fun, but Jack was a little cautious. Like all the other members of her 'pack', Jack was pretty over protective of Monarch. He'd insisted she'd bring a weapon of some kind, just in case, and to scream as loud as she could if Axel tried anything on her, and he'd come running. Monarch had thanked him, wondering whether or not she'd have to scream. She had already thought about the weapon thing, so she was all prepared. Sally had let her borrow one of her gowns. It was black silk, all the way down to Monarch's ankles, and strapless, with a little choker attached to the back that went around her neck, both for show and to make sure the thing didn't fall off. The collar was V-cut, but not very low, to Monarch's pleasure, and the dress itself was very light and easy to move in. It came with a black sash that was slightly lighter then the dress itself and decorated with silver spider webs. She was wearing a pair of high-heels that matched the sash in both color and decoration, and carrying a small wallet-like purse that matched it exactly as well, inside of which she slipped a pocket knife. Sally came in and helped her with her hair, helping her knot it into a small braided bun with some strands of hair falling down around her face. After a few moments, however, they saw that the bun idea simply wouldn't do, because, with Monarch having so much hair, it seemed to give her a slightly comical appearance. So, Sally let the bun down and unbraided it, clipping a small black satin bow on the back of her head after Monarch had brushed through it again. She also hung a small, silver spider web pendant around Monarch's neck to tie the whole thing together. Monarch, thinking it would please Axel, went ahead and tucked the rose he'd given her behind her ear as well. Sally then commenced to paint Monarch's lips cherry red and powdered her cheeks with a bit of blush. Gathering a bit of fairy dust off her wings, Monarch closed her eyes as Sally tossed it onto her face and hair, giving her a slight shimmer and sparkle in all the right places. The two then stepped out of the room, Sally going towards the stairs to go and wait with Jack, Monarch heading down the hall towards her and Terra's room. Monarch opened the door and stepped in. Terra was lieing on her bed, her teddy bear, Crythinor Teddy, under her arm and reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Monarch walked over. Terra looked up and smiled. "You'll tell me everything, right Mom?" she asked. Monarch laughed. "Honey, I told you it's not a date." "It's close enough." "Fine." Monarch smiled and stroked some hair off of Terra's forhead. "You read as long as you want, honey, but go to sleep before 2 in the morning." Terra giggled. "I guess I got your habit of being nocturnal," she grinned. Monarch smiled, reached down, and kissed Terra's forhead. "Night, my jewel." "Night, Mom." Monarch stood and walked to the door. "Mom?" Terra said behind her. Monarch turned. Terra was smiling. "You look pretty," Terra said. Monarch smiled and blew a kiss to her. Terra blew one back. Monarch walked out and closed the door. She walked back down the hall and down the stairs. Jack, who had been talking to Sally, heard her heels clicking and looked up. His eye sockets widened a little. "Monarch," he said quietly. He smiled. "You look gorgeous." Monarch smiled. "Thank you Jack." Jack walked over and took Monarch's hand, helping her down the last few steps to the ground. "Give us a little spin," he asked. Monarch grinned and did an elegant turn. Jack's smile widened. "Excellent," he nodded. "I'm being to get a little jealous I've got a fiance." Monarch, Jack, and Sally laughed. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Sally opened it. Axel was there, dressed in a tux, a black tie around his neck. He had a bouquet of black roses in his hand this time. He smiled at Sally and stepped in. Axel suddenly saw Monarch and his eyes widened. "Whoa," he breathed. Monarch grinned. "Am I prettied up enough?" she asked. Axel shook his head slightly, as if coming out of a trance, and grinned as well. "Oh yeah," he replied. He held out the roses to her. Monarch walked over and took them. "You didn't have to get me anything," she said. "I did anyway," Axel replied. Jack suddenly walked over, a serious, slightly scary look on his face. He stopped and crossed his boney arms over his chest, looking intensly at Axel. "Listen to me now, Axel," he said threateningly. "If Monarch comes home with a scratch on her, a single bruise, any sign of a tear, or telling me of one word you said to her that needn't be said, you will be more sorry then you ever have been in your life, or will be. Is that clear?" Axel nodded. "Yes, sir," he said. "Good," Jack said, nodding as well. He turned to Monarch, now smiling and looking much more pleasant. "Have fun," he said, hugging her. Monarch smiled. Typical Jack. "I'll put those in some water for you," Sally offered. Monarch nodded and handed her the bouquet. Axel grinned and held out his arm. "Shall we go?" He offered. Monarch grinned as well and took his arm, letting him lead her out of the door. He led her away from the house and down the street. "Question," Monarch said after awhile. "Shoot." "Why is it you've suddenly decided you wanna take me out to dinner and all that romantic crap? You haven't known me for hardly any more then two days, and I thought you said you couldn't feel. You know, no heart." Axel blinked and shrugged. "I dunno. Thought it might just be nice. Thought you might like to get out for awhile." Axel led her through the town to a new, rather fancy, but still overly spooky resturant. He led Monarch in and a waiter took them to an empty booth. The place reminded Monarch of a haunted house people in the human world created. She loved it. Monarch and Axel talked for a long time as they ate; about their homes, about Terra, about weapons, about Halloween, and, of course, about fairies and Nobodies. When they had finished and the waiter came with the bill, Monarch reached for it, but Axel snatched it before she could. "No," he said with a mock serious face. "My treat, remember?" He then pulled a small sack full of strange little orbs which Monarch reconized as munny. She had never used it before, but Sally had explained it when the stores started priceing everything for the orbs as well as dollars. Axel handed the sack to the waiter and then took Monarch's hand, pulling her gently to her feet and leading her out of the resturant and to the pumpkin patch. They wandered around for awhile, silent as they watched the moon. Monarch suddenly realised Axel was still holding her hand and pulled it away, crossing her hands in front of her and holding the little purse with one. Axel, feeling her hand slip away, looked down at it and then at Monarch, who was looking up at the moon once more. "What?" he inquired. "Hm?" Monarch looked at him. "Oh, nothing." She looked down at the ground, watching her feet as they continued walking. "Did you not like me touching you?" he asked. Monarch shook her head. "Nah. Didn't think you'd mind so much." Axel suddenly stopped. He took Monarch's arms and turned her to where he was facing her, pulling her close. While Monarch's eyes widened a bit, his became half closed, looking into hers, giving them a slightly mysterious appearance. "But I do," he said quietly. "I want to be as close to you as I can get." He raised his hand and brushed a stray lock of hair behind Monarch's ear. She blushed a little. "Axel--" "Ruff!" The two jumped and spun around. Zero was floating there, looking a bit panicked. "Zero?" Monarch asked. "What is it, honey?" Zero suddenly barked again and started floating in circles, freaking out. "Not this again," Axel muttered. Suddenly, something hit Monarch's wrist. She cried out in shock and pain, the purse flying away. It landed on the ground, popping open, the pocket knife flying out and vanishing in the darkness. "Monarch?!" Axel took her wrist and examined it, worried. Suddenly, there was a noise behind them. They turned. Weird creatures where standing there; they looked like ghosts, only....they wheren't ghosts. Monarch knew that. One suddenly flew past them again, narrowly missing Monarch's other wrist, and joined the others. "Stay back!" Axel yelled. He pushed Monarch behind him and held his arms out. There was a flurry of fire around his hands, and the two chakram appeared, one in each hand. "Run!" He called. "I don't think so," Monarch replied. As Axel looked over his shoulder at her, Monarch snapped and bent, grabbing some shadows. She raised her hand and the shadows came together, forming a razor sharp fencing sword in her fist. "You fight, I fight, that's the deal when you're with me," she said to Axel. Before he could stop her, she ran past him and began to attack the creatures. Axel sighed in frustration and ran forward to join her. Whithin a while, the creatures had gone. Monarch stood there, panting, waiting for more to appear. When none did, she snapped again and tossed the sword. It returned to it's normal shadow state. Monarch sat heavily on the ground. Zero came over and floated into her lap. Monarch smiled and stroked him. Axel came over and sat next to her. He took in the numerous cuts Monarch had gained from the fight. "How bad do you think Jack will punish me?" he inquired.
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