A knock sounded at the sisters' door and it was Amara that opened it. She saw Arizona already dressed up. She was smiling prettily.
"Are you ready?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes," Amara nodded.
"Then let's go. This is the first day of the festival. We are having a lot of fun," Arizona said. Amara came out of the room and Amira also joined them some minutes later. She frowned when she saw how pretty Arizona looked in the gown she was wearing.
They followed her and joined Princess Alicia and Jade who were waiting for them with Logan, Jimmy and Gael. Since the emperor would remain at the palace with the king, he allowed his guards to have fun. They arrived in the streets of Crystal Kingdom. Everywhere was bustling already as the people did all sorts of activities.
They saw some people climbing some animals that looked like dragons. They would fly around for a few minutes and drop them back.
"Can you help me up? The animal is too tall. I can't climb," Alicia said to Logan and adjusted her hair. She was so happy when she learned that he would be going out with them.
He smiled and wanted to carry her but Jimmy beat him to it. Jimmy carried Alicia on top of the animal.
"There you go, princess," he smiled.
"Thanks," she said while glaring at him. She was angry because he ruined her plans.
"She will need a man to sit behind her and support her," one of the attendees said.
"Asher, please help. You look reliable," Alicia said and smiled at him. As Logan wanted to climb the animal, Jimmy pushed him down and climbed instead.
"I think I am more reliable than him," Jimmy smiled.
"Aren't you supposed to be protecting the guests or Princess Arizona?" Alicia said with a glare.
"You also need to be protected. I am just doing my job, princess," Jimmy smiled. Alicia felt like wiping the smile off his face as she watched Logan sitting behind Jade since Gael was already sitting behind Arizona. Some male workers sat behind Amira and Amara as the animals flew to the sky. They cheered loudly because of the amazing experience.
"Don't touch me," Alicia snapped at Jimmy as he tried to hold her.
Finally they came down from the animals and went to buy things. There were a lot of pretty and unique things that people were selling at a lower price.
They tried on a lot of beautiful dresses and accessories. Their bags were full as the men carried them with difficulty. The day was really fun for every one of them. They kept having lots of fun. At a side too, Samara was taking the queens around. They were just buying things and she was very angry that none of the people acknowledged her. They had fun till it was night time.
**MOONLIGHT KINGDOM**
"The man is here?" a guard reported to the prime minister and he stood up and left with him.
"Your highness," the man bowed and the prime minister nodded.
"Follow me," he said and the man, still looking confused, entered the small house and the prime minister removed the clothes that they used to cover the dead body. The man covered his nose and looked at the body in shock.
"I hear you are good at making daggers?" the prime minister asked.
"Yes, my lord," the man said and looked at the body.
"I want you to study the stab on his neck. I want to know the type of dagger that was used to kill him," the prime minister said. The man moved toward the body and checked the neck. His eyes widened after some moments which the prime minister noticed.
"Can you identify the dagger?" the prime minister asked.
"No, my lord. I have never seen a dagger like this before," he quickly said.
"Are you sure you have not come across this in any place?" he asked to be sure.
"I haven't, my lord," he said.
"You can go then," he said and the man left the place. The prime minister signaled to his guards and they followed the man immediately.
The man was walking quickly on the road when they suddenly crossed him. They hit him and he fainted, then they carried him and left.
He was dropped in a dirty room and he opened his eyes after cold water was poured on him.
"My lord," he called in shock after seeing the prime minister.
"I know you know something about the dagger so I am giving you the last chance to talk or you die," the prime minister said and his guards pointed their swords at the man's neck.
"I am sorry, my lord," he apologized.
"Tell me about the dagger now," he said again.
"Twenty years ago, my father was alive then. A man came to our shop and requested for a dagger with dragon shape. He kept coming until the dagger was done. Then he killed my father to activate the dagger. He threatened to kill us if anyone found out," the man said fearfully.
"What is the dagger used for?" the prime minister asked.
"I overheard him telling my father that the dagger is used for sacrifices. The man's name is Omar. I don't think he is an ordinary human," the man said.
"Can you describe him?" he asked.
"Yes I can," the man said.
"Look for a great painter. I want a man's picture," the prime minister said.
"Yes, my lord," his guard said and left with the man.
Another guard came in immediately and bowed in front of him.
"How is my son doing?" he asked gently.
"He is good. They are having a festival too," the guard said.
"You can go. Don't go to the kingdom for now. Leave him alone. Let him do whatever he wants," the prime minister said.
"Yes, my lord," the guard said and left.
It was night time already at Crystal Kingdom but everywhere was still bustling. They were all having a lot of fun and it didn't seem like the fun was stopping soon.
"So what next now?" Arizona asked. She was licking a sweet.
"It's time for the color riot," Alicia announced and they saw some people wearing different colors. They all carried different colors in their hands. They could notice people running away from them.
"What are they doing?" Jade asked.
"You will see," Alicia smirked and they watched as they started pouring different colors on people.
"Wow I love this!" Arizona yelled and started running excitedly. Logan wanted to run after her but someone grabbed his hand.
He turned and saw Jade glaring at him.
"What is your deal with my princess? Did you perhaps have a crush on her? She belongs to the emperor so back off," she warned him.
"I don't know what you are talking about," he said and tried to release himself from her grip but she was holding tightly.
"I find you suspicious. Do you really have scars on your face?" she asked and wanted to touch his face when different colors were poured on them both. They gasped in shock.
"Look at you!" Arizona laughed but color was poured on her too. Soon their bodies were full of color as they pursued each other trying to pour colors.
Arizona went to her two sisters and poured colors on them. Jimmy suddenly poured colors on Alicia and she pursued him around in order to get revenge. Their chuckles filled everywhere.
"Your hair and face is full of color. You look so terrible," Alicia laughed at Jade.
"You should look at yourself too," Arizona laughed.
"It is believed that whoever did not let the color touch them are witches and wizards. The color will burn their skin," Jimmy said and splashed color on Alicia before running away.
"Jerk wait for me because you are dead!" Alicia yelled and pursued. They started pursuing each other again. Even Logan that was trying to act cool couldn't help but to join the fun. Everyone was playing with color.
Amira suddenly left their presence when she saw that everyone was occupied. She started running toward the palace.
"I can see you are having fun," a voice suddenly said behind Arizona. She turned and smiled.
"Wow Flower, you are here too," she smiled.
"Of course. The fun is for everyone," Flower smiled.
"Let me introduce you to my friends. I know they will like you," Arizona said and grabbed her hand.
"No, not today," Flower said and released herself.
"Why not?" Arizona pouted.
"I think you want to do something with the emperor. You should do it without hesitation," Flower said and started going.
"Wait, I don't understand what you are saying?" Arizona said but she had already disappeared.
"She walks way too fast. What is she talking about though," she thought and bumped into someone.
"Arizona?" the person called and she looked up to see Prince Damon.
"My prince," she bowed.
"I have been looking everywhere for you. Look at your face," Prince Damon said.
"Oh I didn't know," she said nervously.
"I also prepared a color for you," he said and touched her cheeks. She suddenly gasped and started running toward the palace at full speed.
"Where are you going?" the prince asked but she ignored him.
"Where is she going?" Amara wondered beside Alicia.
"You should stop showing your fake affection. I can see the way you look at her. They are not sincere," Alicia said. Amara didn't say anything and just folded her fist. Jade was having too much fun to notice that her princess wasn't around anymore.
**AT THE PALACE**
Amira arrived in front of the emperor's chamber and met two guards.
"I want to see his highness. Tell him I am Arizona's sister," she said. The guard announced her and the emperor allowed her to come in. She had a smile on her face as she moved toward the emperor.
"What do you want?" he asked without looking up from his wine.
"I just want to ask you a question," she said.
"Go on then," he said.
"I can't just help but to wonder why you chose such a naive girl. Look at me. Look at my older sister. I think we are the right choice. That girl doesn't even know anything mature," she said.
"What do you mean?" the emperor asked and sipped from his wine.
"I know you probably regret your choice. Like who wouldn't? That girl can't offer you anything. All she knows how to do is to play around like a kid. I think I am the right choice for you," she said.
"What are you going to say about that?" she asked after noticing his silence. He still didn't say anything and continued with his wine.
"Emperor Raven, you should say something. I don't like the way you just keep silent," she said and wanted to touch his shoulder.
"Don't touch me," he snapped. Her hand dropped and she stared at him.
"Do you find me attractive?" she asked again.
"Your highness, Princess Arizona is here," the guard announced from outside. Amira's eyes widened and she quickly stood up from where she was sitting.
"Let her in," the emperor said with a smirk. The door opened and Arizona ran into the room with colors all over her body. She stopped on her track when she saw Amira who was glaring at her secretly.
"How did you get here? I thought I left you at the festival?" she asked in shock.
"You didn't leave me. I actually came to tell the emperor some important things. I will be going now," she said and stormed out of the room. She almost felt like strangling Arizona for ruining her plans.
"That sister of yours, do you trust her?" the emperor asked.
"Of course I do," Arizona smiled and moved closer to the emperor.
"What are you doing here? Are you tired of the fun already?" he asked.
"No I wasn't, but I can't stop remembering that the emperor is all alone at the palace," she said cutely.
"So what is next now?" the emperor asked.
"I am doing the remaining festival here with you. I brought color already," she said while showing the color that she brought. Before the emperor could talk, she poured the color on him. His white hair and clothes were filled with color immediately. The emperor looked at her and suddenly packed the colors in her hand and poured it on her face. She also did the same and they started pouring colors and ran around the room as they poured it on each other.
The emperor smiled slightly and soon the smile turned to laughter. Arizona stood at a spot while looking at his face. Her heart beat loudly. The emperor laughing sounded like a beautiful melodious song and she didn't want it to end.
"Don't ever stop smiling again. You look so handsome when you smile," she suddenly said before she could stop herself. They both stared at each other without saying anything.