Tonya stealthily reached her blonde roommate's door.  It was open just a crack, welcoming Bowie if he ever decided to come in during the night.  Peering through the opening she saw Sally, through the sheer curtain that surrounded her bed, sleeping peacefully.  Tonya's face revealed her puzzlement.  Surely she had heard the noise come from here.   Slowly pushing the door open, she wondered if maybe something had fallen while they slept. 

 

Upon seeing a figure in the middle of the room, she stopped dead and stared.

 Then the figure turned.  Dressed in a long blue robe was nothing but air.  The robe began to move around as if it were a person.  The sleeves waving at other invisible people.  Tonya's eyebrow cocked in amusement, as her head tilted.  Again she looked over at her sleeping friend.  But the blonde showed no sign of consciousness.
* * * * * * *

 

 Wearing an elegant gown of her favorite color, Sally entered the palace through a door way framed by large marble pillars.  Her hair was twisted up onto her head in such a way that lifted it off her neck and small ringlets of gold framed her face.  Upon entering the vast ballroom, some heads turned as she gracefully made her way across the great hall to be presented to the host, a king or prince perhaps.  She nodded politely to a couple people who she noticed were watching her intently.  As the people moved aside to let her threw, Sally drew nearer and nearer to the throne.  She began to hear her heart beat in her chest.

 

As the last group of people cleared the way, she saw the elegant chairs before her.  There were two chairs, both of fine mahogany, carved intricately with curving vines, leaves, and buds with their seats padded with green velvet.  However only one was occupied, and as with custom, she kept her eyes averted from the one who sat there.  Focusing her gaze on the floor, she curtsied deeply, raising the hem of her dress slightly from the floor as she did so.
 

Then a smooth hand gently reached out and touched her chin, beckoning her to stand.  Even as she obeyed the request, she kept her blue gaze from that of the gentleman who was now asking her to dance.
* * * * * * *

 

 Tonya watched with great interest as the robe approached the vanity and maneuvered into a full curtsy, with the sleeves mimicking the arm movements and the bottom rising slightly as if someone had a hold of it.  She smiled to herself wondering what kind of dream Sally was having.

 

Then the chair of vanity turned around on its rollers, as if to face the robe.  As it did so, the robe slowly erected itself again and raised its sleeves as if to dance.
* * * * * * *

 

 Sally watched as the hand moved from her chin to her hand and kept close concentration on it so as not to have direct eye contact with its owner.  As they stepped out into the middle of the floor a string quartet began to play. 
 

As they began to dance, a recognition that she was supposed to look to her escort's face resounded in her mind.  Perhaps it was said by him, for it seemed to be made of a gentle voice.  Her head turned slightly, she eyed the black coat he wore, an elegant early 1900s tuxedo.  Her eyes then fell upon the black tie, neatly tangled into perfection. 
 

The head of the man ducked down a bit, as if to attract her gaze.  Immediately the dancing girl recognized the bright friendly grey eyes.  A shy smile slowly made its way across her lips as she lost herself in his eyes.  On his lips played a pleasant smirk, and his eyes shone as he gazed at her loveliness. 

 

 Taking in his full frame, Sally noticed the thin golden crown around Daniel's head.  It sparkled in the light of the candles that shone throughout the gorgeous ballroom.  Sally made a clever remark about him being a  prince, to which he beamed and touched it lightly, as if it were nothing at all.
* * * * * * *

 

 As Tonya continued to watch the robe and the chair continue in their dance, she took notice of the gold necklace that floated from the dresser.  Tonya's eyebrow raised again as the circle of gold headed for the couple then came to rest hovering over the chair, as if it were a crown.

 

Very interesting, must be some sort of royal ball.  She thought to herself.

 

 She muffled a giggle with her hand, then grabbed the jacket that was idly hanging on the door handle.  "Shall we?" she whispered, bowing slightly.  Then she and her coat partner began to whirl in time to the silent music of the ball.
* * * * * * *
 

Twirling in time to the music, Sally and Daniel held each other close, their faces beaming with delight and enjoyment.  Sally's eyes watched the room as it twirled around them, other patrons had now also joined in the dance, coupling up stepping in time to the rythms of the string quartet.
 

As she turned back to gaze once more at Daniel, the cellos bellowed a minor key change and the violins began to tremolo.  There with his arms around her, his flickering blue eyes blazing, and his trademark know-it-all smirk was Face.
* * * * * * *
 

Not noticing she and the coat were the only ones left dancing, Tonya stumbled over chair, but caught herself before she made a thud.  From the floor in Sally's room, she glanced up at the chair and robe which were now still.  Then suddenly, Tonya was glad she had tripped as she saw a pen  flying through the air and the sleeve of the robe reached up and an invisible hand caught it.
* * * * * * *

 

 Holding her sword firmly in her hands Sally thrust it at Face, but he dodged and pushed her to the ground.  She sprang to her feet quickly and pursued him through the throng of people. 
* * * * * * *

 

 Tonya sprang to her feat and ran back over to the door, leaving the path of the robe which was pursuing the chair.  As she watched she noticed that the necklace was no longer hovering above the chair, she looked around  for it and spotted it lying on the floor.  When did that fall? she wondered.  But then her attention was called back to the chair as it rolled past her followed by the pursuing robe, holding the pen like sword.
* * * * * * *
 

Finally, Face stopped.  He was at the front of the ballroom, standing next to the two ornate thrones.  The brightness of this blue eyes sparkled as he held out a hand to her.  He was offering her a seat next to him as he ruled the world.  Sally took a step back and with one clean swipe plunged her sword into his chest; he stumbled back and lay across one of the chairs.
* * * * * * *

 

 Tonya's eyes grew wide and a yelp escaped her lips as she witnessed the pen travel through the back of the chair, the tip visible on the back side.
* * * * * * *

 

 Sally looked around the ballroom.  There was no longer anyone there, even the quartet had vanished.  She looked down at her feet as a red liquid began to cover the ground.  Her gaze returned to the man lying across the throne.  Where there had been slick blackness there was now a gentle brown.  Where there had been a sly smirk there was now a trembling mouth.  Where fiery blue eyes had flashed there were now gentle, confused eyes.  Daniel gasped for breath.