[Automatic] (An Aarmau AU)

[Chapter 12] To Prepare For A Party

"Oh Aphmau~Chan, we need to find you a dress!"

I stood with Katelyn and Kawaii~Chan outside the royal kitchen. Kawaii~Chan's shift had just ended, and she insisted she take Katelyn and I dress shopping.

"I don't know Kawaii~Chan", I sighed. "I'm not sure we could even find a dress to... suit me". I quickly glance over at Katelyn, hoping she got the message.

Katelyn walked over to me, and laced her arm through mine. "Don't worry Aphmau, we'll find something for you", she reassured me. "And don't forget Kawaii~Chan is also an amazing taylor. Just trust us, you'll be the most stunning person at this party"

I took a deep breath, and looked up at Katelyn. "You're right, I can't wear cargo pants to a royal party. So if I'm really going through with this, I'll at least have to dress the part"

"That's the spirit", Kawaii~Chan said cheerfully. "Now come on, Kawaii~Chan will take you to the best boutique in Falcon Claw!"

Xx

"Ok Aaron", Garroth said, pacing back and forth across my room. "You want to confess to Aphmau, but have no idea how, correct"

I sighed, regretting asking Garroth for help. "Well you don't need to keep rubbing it in"

"Oh just answer the question"

I looked over at my dresser, where a picture of Aphmau and I sat. It was taken at the market, on that first day we hung out.

"Yes"

Garroth followed my gaze, and saw the picture. "Tell me Aaron, what makes Aphmau different from all the other girls in Falcon Claw?"

What made her different? I'd never thought about it like that before. She was one of the first people to ever speak to me like a normal human. She also never asked for anything from me, despite her having almost nothing.

She was always so funny, and full of life. Everytime she walked into the room, it seemed to get brighter. I wasn't sure what made her different, but I was sure I wanted to be with her forever. I was sure I loved her with all my heart.

"I'm not sure Garroth", I told him. "Up until now, I'd hardly even talked to people, but there is just something about her. Everytime I see her, my heart skips a beat. No matter how dirty or full of oil she is, I can't help but think how beautiful she looks"

I looked down, trying to find the rights words. "She never expected anything great from me, never expected me to act like some mighty ruler"

I looked up to see Garroth grinning from ear to ear. "And there's our answer. She treats you like a real human, something you've always wanted"

I found myself also smiling. "Yeah, I guess that's its"

Xx

"Aphmau, try on this one"

I reached up to grab yet another giant dress, as Katelyn handed it to me over the dressing room door. I placed it on the small seat they gave me, and stop for a second to look at myself in the large mirror.

Wearing nothing but a tank top and shorts, I could fully see my arm. Even after looking at it for my entire life, it always kind of shocked me when I saw it. I guess some things you just never get used to.

I also saw that my hair had grown out a little, for now reached down to my shoulders. I guess in all the time I spent on Nicole, I forgot to take care of myself. Although I wasn't going to lie, longer hair looked decent on me.

Looking down at the dress Katelyn had handed me, I found it was just another ball of lace and ribbons. These dresses never ceased to confuse me, and I even got stuck in one of the first ones I tried on.

"Did you get stuck again", Katelyn's voice called over from the other side of the door.

"No", I called back. "Just trying to figure out this death contraption you handed me"

I slid the dress over my head, and found it was way too small, even for me. "Yeah no", I said, slipping out of it. "Unless I feel like suffocating on the dance floor, you're going to have to try again"

Katelyn groaned, and I threw the dress back over the door. "Well what do you suggest?', she asked, clearly a bit agitated.

I thought for a second, taking note of all the things I hated on the other dresses. "No lace", I told her. "And make sure it's pretty, but not over the top"

"Got it"

Katelyn ran off, and I was left to my thoughts. I still couldn't believe this was actually happening, I was really going to a royal party with the prince. I was given the opportunity thousands of girls would've died for, and I was terrified.

"Hey Aphmau~Chan", Kawaii said through the door. "Kawaii~Chan and Katelyn~Chan found you the perfect dress!"

I looked up as a smaller purple dress came over the top of the door. I caught it and was happy to find there was no trace of lace on it. It also felt really soft, and wasn't huge like the other dresses.

I carefully tried it on, and almost gasped when I saw myself in the mirror. The dress fit perfectly, and the purple looked great on me. It also wasn't too long, stopping right at my knees. I slipped on the plain white gloves Katelyn had gave, and slowly opened the dressing room door.

When they saw me, Katelyn gasped and Kawaii~Chan started squealing. I tried not to grin like an idiot, but I failed. "Aphmau", Katelyn said. "You look amazing"

"It's perfect Aphmau~Chan! You're going to be the most stunning person at the party!"

"I-I love it", I said quietly. "It's perfect"

Kawaii~Chan grabbed my arm. "Come Aphmau~Chan, we need to find you matching shoes"

She pulled me into a whole different section of the store, and started tossing me boxes of shoes. "We have to try these all on", Kawaii~Chan stated. "We aren't stopping until we find the perfect pair"

I laughed, and started pulling on the shoes. Katelyn was watch on the sidelines, and had her hand over her mouth trying to stifle her laughs. Kawaii~Chan was pulling out giant heels from various boxes, and pushing them in my direction.

I shook my head and picked up a pair of plain flats I had found. Kawaii~Chan seemed disappointed, but allowed me to get them anyway. We gathered up all the items I would be buying, and took them to the front of the store.

I paid for the clothes, and Katelyn walked me home. As soon as she left, I couldn't help myself from putting back on the dress, and checking it out in the mirror. I didn't even look like my old self anymore.

Yet strangely enough, I didn't think that was necessarily a bad thing.   

Yep, I did just post two days in a row.

Lately I've found I have more time to write, so I'm going to be taking advantage of that. I know in two weeks or so, all the final stuff for school is going to happen, and I'll have no time to write.

I'm going to try to pre-write some stuff for when that does happen, and once it's summer, I'll have all the time in the world to write.

I just wanted to give that heads up, so if you notice I update a lot these next few days, don't be alarmed. Also, do get to scared if there's a short period of time where I don't update!

Thanks for reading this chapter, if you enjoyed, make sure to leave a vote, and comment if you'd like! I hope to see you in the next chapter, bah bye!

-Lizzy C.