.·。.·゜·༺♥༻ ·゜·。.

Cal Junior hadn't a single clue about how crowded his birthday would be when his parents offered to throw one. After all, who doesn't want to celebrate their own birthday? And a costume themed one at that, a rare occasion to dwell in fantasy!

But as he saw the number of vehicles that were being parked on the palace's courtyard the afternoon of his birthday gala, he found himself having second thoughts.

Sure he'd been to big occasions before, but usually, he's free to stand on the sidelines. Now he was the host of the party.

"Mother, may I have a change of mind?" he gulped.

"About what, sweetie?" Gigi came over, putting her arms around him.

"If I wish to call off the party now, would I be grounded?"

"Why would you want to call it off?" She shifted him onto her lap. "Is it because of the Fairy Godmother costume?"

"No, it's not that. I would love anything you wear. After all, I was the one who made you eat late-night snacks." He patted her stomach gently. Indeed, his mother was starting to look a little fuller lately. "I just thought it was just gonna be us and Oncle Philippe."

"Your father thinks that it's best to invite as many of our connections as we can, as it might be good for your future."

His father walked past them, overhearing their conversation. "I had twice as many people at my birthday, remember?"

"But back then you were inviting your friends. I don't have any friends, so who are these people?" He gestured out of the windows, toward the parking lot.

Gigi cupped his face. "Don't worry, we are going to be there with you to greet the guests. Oncle Philippe will still be there too! Tonight is your night, Junior, celebrate it."

Junior still had lingering doubts, but the sparks in his mother's eyes helped ease them. "Okay. So, what are you wearing?"

"Nyai Roro Kidul, the myth—"

"The mythical ruler of Prajan seas," he finished her sentence. "Alright, I guess as mythical queen, you could still be my fairy godmother."

"I love you." Leaning in to press her warm lips on his head, she set him back on his feet. "Get ready and put on your costume, we'll be going down in two hours."

Smiling after her, Junior turned his gaze back to the windows, seeing Aravin coming out of a car. "Oh no!" he squeaked.

***

Truth be told, Cal Junior had always wondered about how easily his father navigated things; his social life as well as his appearance. Even with a pair of plastic fangs stuck into his teeth, he still managed to look gallant and courteous in his vampire costume; his black cape sweeping the floor as he walked.

He had his father's face, but not his mannerisms or his charms. Let alone his popularity.

But once Gigi put the periwinkle blue cape and tunic on him, it was a dream come true. In front of the mirrors, he twirled and twirled, enjoying how the lightweight, silky material floated in the air. His shoes, although not made of glass, glittered under the twinkling light with all the crystals coating their surface.

If only he had a pumpkin carriage to go with it too.

"Isn't that the headpiece you wore at our wedding?" Senior remarked as Gigi came out in her costume; a classical Prajan torso-wrap in emerald green over a Batik. The shiny golden armlets on her skin instantly reminded him of someone else; a person whom he wished he could invite to the party.

"It is. I asked them to send a crown but they messed up with the delivery so I must come up with everything I own." She readjusted the sheer shawl around her arms, attaching it to her golden belt.

"Are you feeling alright? No lightheadedness or nausea?" Senior asked worriedly.

"If I am, I will tell you," Gigi replied, taking Junior's free hand.

"It's time," the butler announced. Junior bit his lip, squeezing his mother's hand tightly.

Even with his parents being present, being around so many people turned out uneasy. Cal's worst dreams were becoming true. There were always those among the strangers who thought they could openly express their opinions about his face, his height, or even his eyelashes; making him very uncomfortable.

Was it his age? He had never heard anyone making these comments about his father's body. Only because he was young, these people thought they could get away with anything.

If he heard one more comment about how he should eat more, he swore he would dig a hole and bury himself in it.

"Junior, you remember Madam Helen?" Senior smiled, gesturing to a lady with a kind smile who was dressed up as a cupcake. She was holding the hand of a little girl his age. "She used to be your nursemaid."

"Your Imperial Highness." She curtsied deeply to Junior who looked at her wide-eyed. "Thank you for inviting me and my Agatha to your party. I'm glad to see that you've grown into a bright, healthy child. I wish you a lot of happiness in many years to come."

"I am not a child." He cleared his throat as his father gave him a look, "Thank you for your birthday wishes. I hope Agatha enjoys her time here."

Finally, someone who didn't scrutinize his looks.

Philippe, of course, could always be counted upon. Arriving in a lavish eighteenth-century coat and breeches, he scooped Junior off the ground and wished him a happy birthday before revealing his gift; a human-sized dinosaur doll.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex, it's a Tyrannosaurus Rex!" Junior bounced up and down, seizing the stuffed toy lizard into his arms. "Who cares if it's not wrapped, it's wicked!"

"Just the perfect time to lighten up his mood. What kind of fairy tale are you wearing?" Senior asked as he saw Philippe's clothes.

"La Belle et la Bête."

"Then why don't you look like a Beast?"

"Je suis Belle," he extended his arms with a smug grin as if stating the obvious.

"Philippe, Joséfina is waiting for you," Gigi said, as Junior was still too occupied cuddling his dino plush toy.

"Now, now, I'd advise against being too close if you have no proposal in mind." Senior added.

"I can't be friends with a girl unless I intend to marry her? So primitive!" Philippe walked away with a frown. "For a moment there, Cousin, I thought you were on my side."

"That's not what I meant..." Senior put a palm over his face.

"I'm sure he understa—" Gigi stumbled as she lost her balance.

"Mamma, what happened?" Junior immediately rushed to her support.

"I'm sorry. I think—I think I have to sit down a little." Her words were muted as she began covering her mouth with her palm.

"That's it. You are done for tonight." Senior acted quickly, supporting her body.

"I—I should stay. One of my older brothers is here with Aravin, and I still have to make the announcement," she insisted, followed by some muffled gagging. Senior shook his head. "Please, Sire, only I can make the announcement."

"Alright, but I'm getting you out of here now. Come back when you're feeling better and make the announcement." Senior turned to him. "Junior, will you be alright staying here on your own for a moment?"

No, Junior knew for sure that he wasn't going to be alright; not with these people. But his mother needed help right now; she was unwell.

"I will," he promised.

"I'll be back in a blink." Senior said before Junior saw his parents' backs on their way out of the hall.

But he didn't come back in a blink. On average, most people blink 15 to 20 times each minute and Cal must have blinked over 400 times before he realized he was on the verge of panic.

Without his parents, the guests seemed to tower over him, even with the curtsies. Failing to recognize most of them, some left with an irritated look, muttering words of disappointment as they walked off.

A pair of kids came before him, and he pushed himself to give them a polite smile.

"Is he wearing a dress?" whispered the boy in a pirate costume.

The girl in a red cloak threw a sinister look at him, "I think so!"

A chill went down his spine as they both laughed and left. All he wanted was to magically pour the fruit punch over their stupid heads and pull the Prince card once more. But he didn't. He felt so inferior; too powerless to stop these monsters. These people hated him. They thought his costume was ridiculous. That he wasn't as agreeable, too weird and, as they implied, girly for their liking.

Shielding himself behind the T-Rex doll, he bit his lip hard, preventing himself from crying. His muted sobs came to a stop as he found a zipper on the back of the Dinosaur's neck. Sneaking behind a pillar, he unzipped it to find it was hollow inside. The outside was just padded enough to make it seem stuffed. He quickly suited up, hiding from the world's view as he enveloped himself inside the doll.

Having turned completely invisible, he made his way toward the buffet.

"Ouch!" A familiar voice yelled as he bumped into a person near the table. "Watch it!"

Alarmed, Cal waddled around in his costume and came to face the devil himself.

Aravin, dressed up in an Angletonian princely attire, one that he used to wear, scowled at him through the little window in the suit. Of course, he couldn't see him inside the dinosaur! He must think of him as a regular guest, or he would've squished him on the spot.

"It's you!" he gasped, bringing the T-Rex claws over his mouth.

"Don't you have something to apologize for?" Aravin said in a thick Prajan accent, gesturing to the smeared whipped cream on his costume.

"I'm sorry, it's hard for me to see inside my costume," he quickly grabbed a napkin from the table and rubbed it over the stain. He wasn't used to Aravin being unfriendly, but at least he wouldn't know it was him. "Nice costume, but... what are you?"

"Can't you see? I am Prince Charming, ready to rescue my Cinderella. Or Snow White, whatever he pleases."

"Oh," he chuckled nervously. "That person being...?"

"Cal, of course!" Aravin loomed over him. "Now, have you seen him? I've been carrying this since I left the port and I am dying to put it on his foot," he took a clear plastic slipper out of his pocket.

Cal choked. "Well, he's around here, somewhere."

"I see. Tell me when you see him, I heard the Prince gets to marry Cinderella after putting a shoe on her foot."

"Don't worry, I will." Cal grinned triumphantly, leaving the buffet table with a plateful of sweets. Did Aravin start reading fairy tales because of him? "Good for you for doing research, and your Anglese's getting better!"

It was surprisingly nice to be able to blend into the background where he could secretly observe people.

Amidst the crowd, Bast suddenly leapt before him. Cal hurriedly followed her, crossing paths with Philippe who was conversing with a man dressed in a black fur bodysuit. He tip-toed his way out to avoid getting caught.

"Excusez-moi, monsieur, you seem a little lost. Do you need some help?" Philippe said to the man in the bodysuit.

The man smiled sheepishly. "Hello, I am not looking for trouble here, but my little brother is missing and I can't find my sister."

"Ta soeur?"

"I am Cendana from Praja, Empress Gianita is my sister."

"I am Emperor Cal's cousin." Philippe grinned. "So... you're a werewolf?"

"A Lutung," answered Prince Cendana. "Once a dashing and powerful god who was banished from heaven and cursed to live as a monkey. He's the closest incarnation that Prajan folklore has to the Beast."

"Oh," Philippe croaked, though quickly recomposed himself. "I don't know where your sister is, but I do know that there's a young lady over there who'd be so lucky to make your acquaintance."

"Well, I am lucky to make yours, Emperor's cousin." Cendana beamed.

***

Cal followed the cat to an empty room.

"Happy birthday!" came Fate's voice as she materialized before him.

"Sssh, sssh!" He shushed her as he heard footsteps from outside of the door, mentally locking the door with his powers. "Can you keep your voice down? I am hiding from a lot of people."

"You asked me to come over for your birthday, so here I am." Fate lowered her voice, running her gaze over his costume. "Wow, you truly turned yourself into a dinosaur this time. I'm impressed, Cal Leroy."

The Dinosaur suit was a little stuffy, so he unzipped, letting the head fall to the side as he gulped some air. "Oh Fate, I should never have held this party!"

"Wait, you're wearing two costumes?"

Cal spent the next ten minutes elaborating on everything that happened at the party while enjoying the dessert he hoarded. Bast curled up between the two.

"They said that I should be eating more and my eyelashes are too long for a boy. Then these two idiots came over and laughed at my costume! So what if it looked like a dress, I'm supposed to be Cinderella, is that bad?" he seethed, shoving some pudding into his mouth.

"Oh, such bull-sphinx! If I was really here, I would go out and kick their butts!" Fate threw her fists in the air. Bast hissed, arching her back in a ready-to-attack pose.

"Then why aren't you?" Cal snapped, which threw her off-guard. "Why do you never tell me who you really are? I could've invited you to the party. If only you were really here... maybe I would have a real friend to stand by me against those dancing monkeys!"

"But we are real friends."

"So why can't you tell me your real name? You seem to know a great deal about me, so why can't I know about you too? You're the only other person aside from my parents who's willing to talk to me without making fun of me. When will you allow me to see you? To really see you?"

Fate turned her back on him. "You will see me, in time."

"How much time?"

Fate only looked at him woefully. "One day."

"...Junior?" He heard his father's face calling out to him. "Junior, where are you?"

"It's your father, go to him."

"No!" Cal shook his head fervently. "I'm not going back there, it's a nightmare!"

"Junior, are you here, darling?" His mother's worried voice echoed from behind the door, and Fate looked into his eyes seriously. "Oh, Sire, what if something happened to him? We never should've left!"

"Junior, are you there? Please answer," Senior said again, shaking the door handle in an attempt to open it. "Maybe he's not here."

"You should go back to your parents," Fate whispered.

"Take me with you, to the faraway land where magic is real and nobody will laugh at me!" Cal rushed over to her. To his surprise, she distanced herself from him.

"Cal Leroy, you have two parents who love you unconditionally and are willing to do anything for you. And you love them too! That is greater than any gift. Those people—they are monsters, but it's unfair to turn their mistakes against your parents. I think you should go back to the party."

"Can't you see? I don't fit in here. Everything's wrong with me. My clothes..."

"Are you really going to let some buffoons ruin your night? The party which your parents have so thoughtfully arranged out of love for you?" Fate smiled down at his costume. "I think that's a really beautiful cape, and those shoes look spectacular."

"Junior, are you in there?" His father was heard knocking in another room.

Cal stared at the door. "If I do come out... will you still be here?"

"I'll always be a part of your secret," she assured. "Now, stop hiding and show them who's boss."

Unlocking the door with a swipe of his hand, Cal quickly climbed out of the dino suit and tidied up his costume before glancing back at Fate. "H-How do I look?"

"Straight out of a fairy tale," she smiled ardently. "My favourite version of Cinderella."

It brought a smile to his face. "And you'll always be my favourite kind of dinosaur."

Fate waved at them the last time, clutching Bast to her chest before they faded away from him.

"Papa! Mamma!"

"Oh Junior, you are alright, thank heavens!" Gigi rushed to embrace him.

"You made us so worried," Senior ruffled his hair.

"Mamma, I don't want to go back to the party," Junior confessed. Even if he decided to stay, he had to tell them the truth. "Those people are so mean to me! When you're gone, they call me all sorts of bad names!"

"What?"

"I just... I wish I could be more like you," he confessed, burying his face in his father's chest. "I think if I was half as cool as Papa, they will stop laughing at me."

"Junior, it's not on you that they suck, it is on them."

"And if you see anyone who hurt you, give me their names. I've never put anyone on death row but I might," Gigi smirked.

Junior curled up into his mother's arms, looking at his father still. "But one day, I still wish to grow up to be like you."

Senior kissed his brow. "No, Junior. You're going to grow up to be just like you."

***

Later, the three of them returned to the hall.

"I would like to thank you on behalf of our family for joining us this wonderful evening. Before we go, I have a little extra gift for our son," Gigi spoke before the whole hall, placing a hand on his shoulder. "On the occasion of him turning seven, I have decided to legally adopt him."

The crowd broke into applause along with the music, but Junior looked up to Gigi in confusion. Adopt him? What would that mean?

"It means I won't only be his mother by marriage, but also by law. From this moment onwards, Prince Cal will be legally acknowledged as my firstborn child, thus earning all the rights, prerogatives and a hereditary Prajan title granted to him."

Flashes of cameras were directed at them. A footman arrived with a tray, carrying a Garuda brooch, a batik-embroidered sling and a signet ring, symbolising his new legal status as her son.

"I'm sorry, Junior, these are last-minute duplicates. I'll make sure you get the real ones once we get to Praja." Gigi grinned as she pinned the brooch to his chest. "Although this arrangement will require you to work a bit harder on your Prajan studies, I hope you don't mind?"

"But Mamma, you're already my mother. Why would you even need to do all this?"

"I know, I'm just making sure that the whole world knows," she winked. "And... we've got something to tell you later tonight," she whispered, briefly placing Junior's hand on her belly.

"I would like to propose a toast, to the Prince of Emraullt, the heir and future of Angletonia." Senior proclaimed, raising his glass. "To Cal Velius Leroy."

"Cal Velius Leroy," Gigi repeated, raising hers as well.

"Cal Velius Leroy!"

.·。.·゜·༺♥༻ ·゜·。.

(Gigi's costume)