Past Midnight

Once upon a time, there lived a man named Johnathen, who recently remarried. He was bringing his son Bastian to the depot to pick up his new bride, Angelique, and her two sons, Henrique and Matthew.
Johnathen was telling Bastian how great it would be to have new brothers to be able to hunt and fish with. Bastian never really liked fishing, but he was a great hunter. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have two new hunting partners.
When they arrived at the depot, the carriage was already there and Angelique was standing with her sons by her side. They all looked very impatient, and when Johnathen walked up to greet his beloved, she greeted him with a cheek and a "Why are you so late? We have been waiting here for over 10 minutes for you!"
"Bastian and I was talking about how great it would be having new brothers, and I thought you said to be here now."
"Let's hurry and get home. This heat is killing me, and I have been traveling all day. I need a tub and fresh clothes!"
"Right away my love! Bastian, say hello to your new brothers."
"Hello. How was your trip?"
"The horses must be ancient. The trip took forever!" Henrique bellowed with impatience in his voice, as if he was annoyed at the question. Matthew chimed in, "It was very bumpy and I can't believe how uncomfortable the seats are in that carriage. I thought your dad was rich and could afford the finest!"
"My father is the party planner for his majesty, and paid fairly. You will get in on the finest balls and parties - better than all over the realm," Bastian exclaimed with his own annoyance in his voice. His step-brothers were spoiled rotten brats. He could tell from just the small time that he has known them.
The trip home was rotten. The brothers bickered the entire time. And it was crowded. Bastian had to sit in the back and listen to them the entire ride home.
"We're home boys! Let's get everything in the house, and then we can get dinner going while Angelique takes a bath." Bastian ended up carrying most of the luggage himself since his brothers decided to run around the property instead. This was not going to be a fun thing, Bastian thought to himself.
"There was a crash, and your father was crushed under a flipped carriage," the sherrif told Bastian. Three months after bringing home his step-mother and step-brothers, all which he was not fond of, and now he was stuck by himself with them. His father is gone.
It was only one day that passed before Angelique started barking orders at Bastian to cook meals and clean up the house after her and his brothers. If he refused, he would be sent to his room and not allowed any meal or water unless he agreed to do the chores.
"I don't know how much more of this I can handle," Bastian confided in a mouse that befriended him one of the many days he spent in his room. He named him Crumb, and he was the only creature he could talk to about how bad it was around the house. Crumb would nestle into Bastian's chest to show his sympathy and affection in return. "One day I will get away from here and be free from my evil step-mother and step-brothers!" Bastian then nuzzled into bed and drifted to sleep.
It was about a month later, and Angelique received news that there was to be a big ball at the kingdom, and everyone was going to be there for the Prince's birthday. This also meant that her sons could meet the prince and maybe befriend him. If they did, she was sure to find a new husband that could properly support her and her tastes.
Bastian found out about the party. He knew the prince was a great hunter, and he would really love a chance to go on a hunting party with the royal prince. While Bastian was serving lunch, he mentioned that over heard Angelique talking to the boys about the birthday party. "May I go? I have cleaned and prepared meals without fuss. I would really like to go," he explained.
"You will not! I will not have you ruin the chances of your brothers befriending the prince. You will stay locked in your room until we return.
"That is not fair! I do everything for you! I don't get anything in return!"
"Off with you to your room!
Angelique stomped behind Bastian and locked him in his room. "You can't keep me locked in here forever! This isn't right, and you know it!" He knew it would go on deaf ears, he was beyond raged.
All of the sudden, he heard a voice say, "Do you want to go to that party for the prince?"
"Who is that? Who's there? Where are you?" Bastian was quite startled.
"It's me, Crumb. I'm down here on your pillow." Bastian looked down and saw the little mouse sitting on his hind legs looking right into his eyes.
"Okay, now I know I have been locked in this room way too many times. I swear I just thought you talked Crumb," as Bastian blinked his eyes.
"I did. You did hear me speak to you. You have been such a great guy, and I know you have a good heart. You deserve to go and get the chance to be on a hunting party with the prince. I know how much you like him. I have heard everything you have said since you first gave me that bread crumb long ago."
"I know that you like the prince more than just because he is a great hunter. You want to be close to him because he gives you jutters in your gut. Even if you can't have him like you want him, you still deserve a chance to know him."
Crumb moved to the edge of the bed and jumped on the floor. All of the sudden, he transformed into a man in the blink of an eye. He stood there at about Bastian's same height, and continued to sit on the edge of the bed.
"So, I am familiar sent by your fairy god-mother. She knew you needed someone to confide in, and she thought that my cheery disposition would meld well with your nobility. This means that you get a chance to go and have a chance with your prince."
"God-mother? Familiar? What are you talking about?"
"I have the ability to get you out of here and to that ball. Are you still wanting to go? I have been given the magic ability to make it happen for you!"
"I can't believe I am hearing this? You heard everything? What if others find out how I like the prince rather than any daughter of the realm?" Bastian seemed ashamed of his secrets now that they were brought back up to him.
"Don't worry, you will not be disclosed by me, and I am the only one that you told your secrets to," Crumb tried sounding reassuring while getting up and placing his hand on Bastian's shoulder. "You are safe. You do deserve to have fun. I promise you will not regret this opportunity!"
"How is this going to work then? What is going to happen?" Bastian looked a bit skeptical, but was intrigued!
"Okay, first, we get out of this room. Stand still, this is going to tickle," and Crumb placed both his hands on Bastian's shoulders, and in a flash of smoke, they were standing outside.
"First, let's get you dressed. And in a flash, Bastian was wearing a grand blue suit that made Bastian look like a royal.
"Okay, and mode of transportation. Let's see, grab an apple from the tree there," as Crumb pointed behind Bastian.
Bastian grabbed an apple and turned to Crumb. "Set it on the ground right there."
Bastian set the apple down and stepped away. Before his eyes, the apple turned into a carriage.
"Now for a horse. I know, I will lead the carriage." And Crumb transformed yet again. This time, he was a brown horse that was connected to the carriage.
"Now, hop in and we will go to the party."
Bastian got in the carriage, and off they went down the road towards the kingdom.
Once they arrived, Crumb mentioned that the affects of the spell will wear off at midnight, so he had to make sure to leave, or the prince will see that he is merely a peasant and may be dismissed.
Bastian agreed, and walked towards the castle.
The ball was huge, and looked just like the ones that his father used to throw for royal family. There were so many people, and there was dancing and talking going on everywhere.
Bastian looked across the room and seen that the prince was being bombarded with everyone trying to get his attention. There was no way that he was going to get a chance to meet the prince, let alone talk to him about hunting.
Bastian grabbed a flute of ale, and walked out to a balcony to take in the view being back at the castle after being gone for so long.
"Do I know you? Have I seen you before?" A voice got Bastian's attention. He turned around and seen that the prince was the voices origin.
"I met you long ago when we were younger. I didn't know if you would remember. My father used to plan..."
"Plan all of the royal balls and parties! Yes, Bastian, right?" The prince asked him with a smile on his face.
"Yes, good memory! I got really good at hunting after we used to shoot bow and arrows as kids. I was hoping to talk to you about perhaps joining you on a hunting party. I don't know if I will ever be able to get out to do it since my step-mother treats me like a slave. Father died, and she won't do a thing around the house. If I don't do it, she locks me in my room until I agree." Bastian couldn't believe that he just spilled that all to the prince.
"That is horrible! Of course I would have you along with my hunting party. Also, let's get you out of that house and away from that situation."
Bastian couldn't believe what he just heard. He just stood there in awe not knowing how to respond.
"Also, seeing you here is very odd. I was thinking about you the other day, and how I seen you look at me when we were younger. Do you fancy me?" The prince's question made Bastian blush and choke at the same time. He remembers the time that the prince referred to.
"Um, I, well.." Bastian tried finding the right thing to say.
"It's okay, because I fancy you! I know you do. I remember that look and remember wanting to look into your eyes and kiss you." The prince grabbed Bastian's hands.
"What if someone sees us?" and Bastian pulled his hands away and stepped back.
"I am the prince, let them see." and the prince grabbed Bastian's hands again. "Do you feel the same way?"
"I, uh, um, yes," he said shyly and feeling his cheeks blush even more.
Bastian heard chimes coming from the tower. It can't be midnight already.
"I have to leave. The magic that brought me here wears off at midnight! I can't stay, I won't be able to get back home." Bastian tried to pull away.
"What happens after midnight?" the prince looked curious.
"You already know who I am, so really, nothing bad is going to happen except I lose these fancy clothes and my ride. So really, I don't have to go.
"Good! You won't ever have to leave if you don't want to. I want you to be mine, and we will make a better kingdom."
The prince leaned in and kissed Bastian. Bastian knew it was true loves kiss, because after the last bell from the tower chimed, he was still there with his prince, the way that he wanted to be with him, and every fiber of his body sang with the sensation of the princes lips on his.
And they led over the kingdom as the first gay kings that had a very peaceful reign. They held the best hunting parties and celebrated the hunt with the people of the realm every year.
The End