A Night Dance - A story of a fire that never got the chance to burn.

The night was a beautiful one.

The rain pattered against the glistening windows, and the stars shined like jewels hanging from the heavens. The palace willed from the Ruby stood tall and proud in the darkness and downpour.

Meanwhile, in the extravagant palace, we find an assortment of many. From the mighty Exotic Creator to the delicate Ghostie, this was a banquet of great proportion. And among this colorful cast do we find who tonight's story follows.

At one end of the hall stood a close friend of the host. One of peculiar name. 401. She had been invited and knowing that she had nothing else of interest to do, she decided to come. She wore a dusty blue dress and worn boots, the nicest outfit she could find with her budget. She dined on shrimp given to her by a servant, taking advantage of the rare access to such food.

At the other end of the hall stood a being of immense power yet weak spirit. Known by many as the cleverly nick-named "Egg-alomaniac". His real name had been lost to time, but he preferred to be called "Egga", a name from his past the gave him a sense of comfort.

Egga watched. He saw many people dancing, enjoying the wonderful night. He saw lovers embrace and smile at eachother. He remembered something...

A memory from old life.

He saw his old wife.

Their first date together...
They stood together in a club of sorts. Food, the dance floor, a bar, every part of the memory was there. He remembered dancing with her, a band played a slow jazz in the background while all the patrons embraced the song in form of dance. They stared at eachother. The look in her eyes. That feeling of love and protection in her gaze, it stuck in his mind, and he longed for it once more.

As Egga's eyes scanned the room, he saw a little face barely lit by the purple-blue lighting. She stuck out to him. She glanced around gloomily. He could see what he felt in her eyes. Suddenly she turned her gaze towards him. The light reflected in such a way that made her eyes sparkle like diamonds. Their eyes met from across the room, and a strange kind of magic known by all, one that needs no spell, was cast.

From 401's point of view, it was strange. She saw two dots of purple.

It startled her a bit, the unknown eyes stuck out amongst the crowd. She eyed the unknown person with interest, and they eyed back. There was a strange feeling she felt in their gaze... she felt enchanted, and by no words at all.

Suddenly, reality reentered the minds of both, and the eyes swiftly looked elsewhere. She was intrigued by the figure and decided to figure out whom the eyes belonged to.

The servant took away her scraps, and she began to trot towards the mysterious figure...

Egga glanced back and saw the small face growing larger as it approached. He timidly closed his eyes and listened to the music, his heart pounded like a gong between each note.

Suddenly, he heard a tiny voice.

"Hey."

Egga finally accepted his predicament and opened his eyes to see the same face look up at him. He knew her face and she knew his. They had met on several occasions, but it was never more than simple greeting.

"..."

"Hello."

"What are you doing? I saw you here, staring at me..."

"... Nothing, really."

"..."

"Are you all alone here?"

"... Yeah."

"Well... I am too, if it's any help..."

"Wanna... be alone together?"

Egga didn't know how to reply. He couldn't bring himself to say anything. He eventually managed to squeak out a word...

"Okay."

401 embraced the calm darkness that consumed her as she stood with Egga. She saw him stand so still that you might not even see him. He was an enigmatic one, often mysterious in ways that nobody could comprehend.

She appreciated the way he did not do anything. To her, he was a mystery that she yearned to unravel...

She turned to speak to him, but he was so silent and unmoving that she could not out where the shadows ended and he started. She was strangely enamored by this.

401 felt a strange sense of comfort from where he stood. Even if he could not be seen, his presence was felt. 401 felt it through a strange sense of comfort. He was everything she wanted to be, and yet he was everything she already was. She enjoyed being bewildered by him. It amused her.

While 401 pondered her thoughts, she tried to make sense of everything. She wanted to figure him out. She had to. Instinctively, her hand reached out for some kind assistance.

And it met his.

Egga blushed a bright yellow, but he did not pull away his hand. He was grateful for the darkness blanketing him.

401 was the same. She felt hotter than the very stars above. She however, was not as lucky as to be covered by dark. Fortunately for her, no one was interested by their silent flirting.

Egga decided to not let the moment dwindle into uncomfortable apologies. He felt something in her... something familiar... but not exactly the same... she was unique, yet similar. He liked that in her. He was reminded of himself. Reminded of his old wife. He knew that she was her in a strange new body.

"..."

"Care to dance..?"

401 stood nervously in Egga's arms on the dance floor.

She was a little embarrassed, but did not resist it. She looked up into his shining gaze... he was just as embarrassed as she was. She smiled.

She felt more confident knowing that she was on the level as him. He blushed as the they spun around in slow circles. She blushed as they moved back and forth. She giggled. She found it cute how timid he was.

As they did their dances under the shining lights, they were having joyful feelings that they had not expected come from this night.

They spun and twirled and laughed. Suddenly... A special song began to play.

Egga stopped as the song started. He trembled for a moment.

This was the same song from his memory. The song he danced to with his wife. He felt the memories flood back with the force of a typhoon.

401 looked up and saw a tear run down his cheek. She reached up and wiped it away with her tiny hand.

"You ok?"

"... Yeah."

"Why are you crying?"

"This song. It brings back... memories."

"Do you... not wanna talk about it?"

Egga shook his head.
"I appreciate your understanding."

"Care to lead me through the song?"

"..."

"Alright."

401 smiled as she was spun around. She stepped back alongside Egga, then they stepped forward and cupped their hands together. There was a moment when they stared into eachothers eyes. It felt as if it lasted an eternity.

Then, Egga twirled in a pirouette and so did she. They stood, arms around one another. They stepped in a circular movement, slowly stepping around and around.

The music picked up the pace, as did the dance. They spun hand-in-hand, he pushed her forward, catching her arm, She kicked high in the air, and he pulled her close, the drums intensified. They twirled, and twirled, and as the trumpets grew louder and louder, she was picked up and thrusted high into the air as the the song hit its high note.

401 exhaled. She did not comprehend what she had just experienced. It truly was a breathtaking moment. She took a moment to gather herself and looked at Egga. He looked right back. He set her down as they looked at eachother with wonder. And as they gazed at eachothers eyes like stars, they leaned towards eachother...

And their lips met.

Egga and 401 realized what just occurred. They kissed. They both immediately began to blush and 401 turned away.

"I am so sorry! I didn't know what I was doing! I-"

Egga pulled her face towards his.

"It's okay."

"You're not upset?"

"You didn't kiss me. We kissed eachother."

401 took a second to understand his meaning. She blushed and smiled timidly.

Later 401 was at the entrance preparing to leave, and Egga was with her.

"Well... this was fun."

"Yeah... would you... want to do this again sometime?"

"Yeah! That'd be fun. I'll talk to you sometime, we can make plans soon!"

"Okay. So... I'll see you later..?"

"Yeah! See you then!"

401 smiled at Egga as she stepped through her portal home. Egga smiled. He believed that he had finally found a good purpose once more...

They never went to a second dance together.

Note: This takes place before Inkmatas and 401 fell in love for the second time.

Kinda heartwarming