Meanwhile at Leopold’s dacha, Ludmilla was giving Motya a piece of her mind.
“Whose bright idea was this?” Ludmilla demanded. “To make him wear one of my favorite dresses?!”
“Calm down,” Motya said. “It’s just a bet.”
“Yeah,” Ludmilla retorted, “and the worst one yet! You should be ashamed of yourself! He’s probably going to ruin my dress because of you!”
Just then, a familiar cat walked in and overheard Ludmilla scolding Motya.
“What’s going on?” Leopold asked.
“Motya made Mitya wear my strawberry dress!” Ludmilla cried out.
“Yeah, as a bet,” Motya said smugly.
“Well, that’s not nice,” Leopold said disapprovingly. “I’d like to teach him a lesson.”
Hearing this, Ludmilla ran up to Leopold, wanting to whisper an idea into his ear.
“Why don’t you get him a black strawberry dress?” Ludmilla whispered. “You know, one that’s Size XL? That might be a suitable punishment!”
“Why, certainly,” Leopold agreed, after which he ran out of the front door and started his engine prior to taking off.
Meanwhile, Mitya was spending quality time with Princess Iris; right now, they were cloudgazing.
“So, are you enjoying gazing at the clouds?” Princess Iris asked sweetly.
“It’s wonderful,” Mitya cooed in delight.
“So, my prince,” Princess Iris said musically, “mind if I sing to you?”
“Uh, yeah,” Mitya replied as he blushed.
Just then, the princess began to clear her throat prior to singing in a sweet, peaceful mezzo-soprano.
**CUE MUSICAL NUMBER: “I CHOOSE YOU” BY HAVEN PASCHALL (AS PRINCESS IRIS)**
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
PRINCESS IRIS: (singing)
Here comes trouble
No mistaking
I’d know you anywhere
I could sail to the ends of the ocean and
Find you waiting there
At the “Find you waiting there” line, both of the mice got up prior to waltzing together, as if they were in the ball.
I’ve been searching and searching
Near and far
Searching and searching
And there you are
Our wishes share a star
At the “Our wishes share a star” line, Princess Iris twirled gracefully as Mitya was elegantly spinning her around.
I choose you
I choose you
What else can I do?
We’re just too good together to part
What we’ve shared from the start
Feels like one beating heart
I choose you
I choose you
After the fourth “I choose you” line, the next scene transitioned to Mitya and Princess Iris serenely strolling through the gardens, hand in hand.
Hello, stranger
Don’t I know you?
Nice to see you, my friend
Did we just scale the top of the mountain
And fly back home again?
At the end of the “And fly back home again?” line, they were seated on a concrete bench in front of one of the rose bushes and caressing each other’s faces.
I’ve been looking and looking
High and low
Looking and looking
And…what’d’ya know?
Just like long ago?
At the end of the “Just like long ago?” line, Princess Iris began to gently run her delicate fingers through Mitya’s beautiful long hair as the white-furred mouse gazed lovingly into her gorgeous amber eyes.
I choose you
I choose you
What else can I do?
We’re just too good together to part
What we’ve shared from the start
Feels like one beating heart
I choose you
I choose you
At the fifth “I choose you” line, Mitya’s blue eyes began to turn pale as he fell into a placid trance after hearing Princess Iris’s beautiful singing voice. Seeing this, the mouse princess smiled warmly at the hypnotized white mouse as she continued to sing once more.
I choose you
I choose you
At the beginning of the seventh “I choose you line”, Princess Iris proceeded to gently sprinkle some shimmering gold dust on Mitya, causing him to float. Then as he slowly floated in the air, Princess Iris gently took Mitya’s hand while continuing to sing.
On to journeys anew
With the wonderful friends that I’ve found
As the planet spins around
We’re eternally bound
I choose you
I choose you
**END OF SONG**
At the end of the tenth “I choose you” line, Princess Iris gently kissed the back of Mitya’s hand prior to letting go of it, allowing the hypnotized white mouse to gradually float in the air. As he floated, Mitya sighed in delight, as if in a happy dream, while gently lifting the skirt portion of Ludmilla’s strawberry dress prior to hugging it. Seeing this, Princess Iris smiled softly as she continued to watch him float in the air.