"And now you need footmen" a voice said.

Nezumi found himself standing on a dirt path in front of a fancy house. To his right there was a sizable garden overgrown with pumpkins. Behind him was a white coach with silver lining around the front and back, pulled by four magnificent horses. They pawed the grown impatiently ready to set off on their journey. Beside him three other young men were standing, confusion written on their faces. Glancing down Nezumi found that he was wearing a smart blue and red uniform, sturdy black boots, and a pair of pure white gloves. On his head he a gray triangular hat with a long red feather sticking out of it. His hair, that now came down to the bottom of his neck, was tied with a simple blue bow. Nezumi narrowed his eyes as he took in all of this. He was not pleased. He did not want to be here. He had been sneaking through the grounds around the garden shed searching for some left-over corn to store for the winter and enjoying the nice cool autumn air when suddenly…he was here. He glanced down at his gloved hand. Yep there were human hands. Somehow, for some reason he had turned from a rat to a human.

"Oh, it's wonderful!" A woman's voice squealed in delight. Nezumi turned his attention to his left. Two women were standing a few feet away from him. The younger on was wearing a torn-up dress green dress and had messing dirt covered blond hair. Her face was tear stricken and also covered in dirt. The older woman was short and wearing a thin silver glowing gown. Over the gown she had a light green traveling cloak with the hood pulled up so only a few strands of wispy light grey hair were visible. Sticking out of the back of her gown... Nezumi squinted at her. Did humans usually have wings? As he watched the older woman waved a stick which she held delicacy in one hand and the younger human's rags turned into a light blue gown. All the dirt was gone from her body and her hair was now pulled up in elegant bun. The woman spun around as she surveyed her new outfit, gasping in pleasure.

Open the coach's door for her.

A voice that was not his shot through Nezumi's head and he felt compelled to follow it. Before he could stop himself, he had opened the coach door. Around him the other young men were also moving. One jumped in the driver's seat, and another one put down a step for the woman to climb into the coach with. The younger woman gave the older woman a hug and bounded into the coach.

Close the door and hold on to the side.

He followed the directions again gridding his teeth. Nezumi had never been good at taking orders. He had been kicked out of the rat colony for this reason. He definitely did not like having a human's voice tell him what to do. The coach started moving and Nezumi watched the scenery pass by him as he tried to get a hold on his situation.

He was a human. Whatever that old woman did turned him from a rat to a human.

Magic

The voice in his head told him. Its role seemed not only to command him but also fill him in on basic human facts. As he past human structures the voice told him what they were and what their uses were. House, road, store, Nezumi closed his eyes and gridded his teeth harder. He really did not care about how humans lived. Even with his eyes closed however the voice continued to speak, sending knowledge straight into his brain. This went on through the whole trip until the coach slowly came to a stop and voice was finally silent.

Open the door. Let her out. Bow to her. Close the door. Wait by the coach.

He opened his eyes and followed the directions again. The young woman hopped from the coach and pranced excitedly up the stairs. As she disappeared into the building (castle) castlea question occurred to Nezumi. Why did the woman (fairy) fairy turn him into a human? Was it simply to bring the young woman here? Nezumi narrowed his eyes at that thought. So, he was an ornament to make that woman's trip more present. He didn't enjoy being human, however, if he had to go through all the trouble of being one then he was going to do more than just drop a woman off at an event (Ball) Ball. A smile spread across Nezumi's face. While he was here and human he might as well enjoy himself. He jumped lightly to the ground and confidently sauntered towards the castle.

Wait by the coach

Wait by the coach

WAIT BY THE COACH

The voice got more and more commanding as he approached the building and Nezumi fought the urge to return. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and gritted his teeth. He concentrated on moving one foot in front of the other. He was not going to return and be a good servant and wait by the coach just because a fairy needed a footman to decorate the young woman's coach. As he walked, he noticed a garden to one side of the castle and veered towards it. As soon as he changed courses the voice in his head got a little quieter. It seemed to him that the voice was less commanding as long as he stayed outside the castle. Nezumi smirked. That was fine with him. He was a rat after all.

…..

"This was a bad idea" Sion groaned quietly as he watched his guest dance. From his place at the high table he was able to watch them without anyone inviting him to dance. Sion didn't dislike his subjects, on the contrary he wanted everyone to be happy. He just thought, however there were better ways to help his subjects then to throw a ball. He thought of his library and all the information there. He was already working on plans to increase plant growth and introduces new methods of farming. If he could just continue his work imagine how many people would benefit from it.

"The kingdom would also benefit from your marriage!" his mother had pointed out. "Once you marry you can insure the thrown is passed on."

"Why can't I just adopt a child?" Sion had asked. "There are plenty of children who need a family. There's no reason for me to get married!"

"Do you think the other kingdoms will buy that excuse?" His mother had asked. "Remember they won't stop trying to get you to marry their children until you settle down. How are you going to work with them if they just see you as a way to get your thrown? Marry someone and they will see you as an adult and work with you."

And with that the ball was set up and all the young women invited. He knew everyone wanted him to find that 'special' someone in the room, but he was just not interested. He had danced with a few of the women and all of them were only interested in trying to flatter him.

There was only one woman who that he enjoyed the company of. She wore a light blue gown that she nervously told him was made by a fairy. She had giggled after that they began talking about their lives. She told him that this was her first ball and she was having a wonderful time. Sion liked how her face lit up as she gazed around the room. He was glad that at least someone here was not only interested in marriage. This enjoyable time did not last, and after three dances she had rushed off muttering about the bathroom. Right afterwards two less delightful women showed up and tried to seduce him.

It had been an hour since she disappeared, and he was not in the mood to dance. A new song started up and Sion forehead seemed to throb in tune to the song. He rubbed his temple and looked longingly at the door. Perhaps he could leave for a few minutes. No one would mind as long as he returned quickly. Silently he rose to his feet. Two attendance quickly approached him ready to escort him to the dance floor.

"I'm just going out to get some fresh air." Sion said pushing pasted them and edging his way around the edge of the room. "I'll be back in a minute." He got to the garden door without any of the gust noticing his departure and rushed out into the night.

….

The cool air felt wonderful on Sion's face. He closed his eyes as his mind cleared of any incoming headaches. Out here it didn't matter if he married or not. Out hear he could enjoy the feeling of the breeze as it passed through his hair. It was such a relief to be away from everything. He let out a long content sigh and opened his eyes …. then jumped back. Sitting in font of him on a rail to the garden was a young footman. The man was so still Sion could have taken him for a stature if it wasn't for the fact he wasn't there before. He stared unblinkingly at Sion, his strange grey eyes pierces Sion's red ones. Sion stared back in shock. The breeze that Sion was enjoying only moments go had completely disappeared leaving the world silent and still. Sion felt his heart beat silently in his chest as the second slipped away.

"Shouldn't you be with the coaches?" Sion said awkwardly and the spell was broken. The man blinked twice and slid smoothly off the rail.

"Perhaps" he said mildly. "But there's not much to do there." Sion watched the man as he gracefully walked around him. The man's moments were slow and stealthily, yet confidently. Sion had never met a coachman who had such an air about him as this one did. He found it intriguing.

"Who are you?" Sion asked curiously.

"Me?" the man asked smirking, "Nezumi"

"Nezumi?" Sion asked, "Like a rat? That's an alias, right?" Does that make you an actor?"

"No, it makes me a rat."

"I don't understand." Sion said confused.

"Of course you don't" Nezumi said amused. They lapped back into silence each watching each other again. Finally, Sion couldn't take it anymore and asked:

"Do you want to see the library?"

Wait by the coach

Wait by the coach

The voice was pounding in Nezumi's head as he followed the white-haired man to the library. He greatly hoped that this library wasn't in the castle or else he would have a problem. Nezumi didn't know why he agreed to go with this man to the library. He had been in in one many times before and it wasn't very interesting. Books weren't very tasty, and he only ever gnawed on their pages when he was starving during the winter. If it wasn't for the fact that going to such a place defied the voice in his head, he wouldn't have gone at all. Besides… this strange young white-hair man intrigued him.

"I'm Sion by the way." The white-haired man said looking over his shoulder at Nezumi while they walked. Nezumi didn't answer.

"Anyways, your going like the library." Sion chatted as they walked towards a small building on edge of the garden. "I've been collecting books for a while, so it has a large variety." Nezumi still didn't speak. Sion undeterred by Nezumi's silence continued to gab away about his library. The voice in Nezumi's head had gotten quieter as they went away from the castle. He was again able to think more clearly.

"And here we are!" Sion finally said pulling open the doors to his library. Nezumi stepped in and glanced around. The library looked bigger on the inside. The ceiling and walls were decorated in gold designs that looped around vibrantly painted pictures. On the ground there was a deeply set rug with a blue and purple flower pattered. Sion's book collection itself was equally as impressive, with tall oak bookshelves the almost reached the ceiling; full of books of different sizes and shapes. The bookshelves formed narrow alleyways which lead to secluded corners and notches, perfect for hiding. In these corners there were sturdy wooden tables, many which had an open book or two on them. Nezumi was deeply impressed despite himself.

"Feel free to read what you want." Sion said happily as he wandered to one of the tables and picked up a book on plants. Nezumi paused for a moment before he wandered down one of the rows. He had no idea what he was looking for, but he knew he didn't want to read about plants. He finally decided to start somewhere and pulled a random book out and plopped down on the rug. He opened the book and found that the scribbles on the pages formed words and that he could read these words. These words formed a story which soon Nezumi found himself lost in.

He wasn't aware of how much time had passed when he felt something touch his shoulder. He glanced causally back and found Sion looking over his shoulder to see the book.

"Oh, you're reading Romeo and Juliet?" Sion asked cheerfully. Nezumi eyed him and then went back to reading.

"I'm guessing you like it." Sion laughed. "You can have it if you like." Nezumi glanced back at him again in surprise then nodding.

"Thanks." He said.

"I don't usually read books like that." Sion continued. "I prefer nonfiction then fiction. I would rather learn about the world."

"Then why do you even have these kind books?" Nezumi asked his eyes still glued to the book.

"Gifts mostly," Sion admitted as he sat down with his book next to Nezumi. "My whole court gave me them when I said I was starting my own private library. Even now on by birthday I get different kinds of books."

"I see." Nezumi said turning a page in his book. He was having trouble reading it now because of Sion's words. The second Sion had said court the voice in his head filled him in.

Court, royalty. Sion's the prince. This is his ball

"If you're the prince." Nezumi finally said. "Then shouldn't you be at your ball?"

"I'm sure they won't miss me if I'm gone a couple of minutes." Sion said offhandedly glance out the window. Then he gasped and jumped up.

"What is it?" Nezumi asked uninterested not looking up from his book.

"I've been here for an hour and a half!" Sion squeaked.

"Well then you better get going." Nezumi said mildly flipping another page.

"Yeah," Sion agreed placing his book on one of the tables and charging the door. He paused when he got there. "Feel free to stay as long as you like here." He said smiling.

"Sure." Nezumi said glancing up. The white-haired man gave one more beaming smile and then disappeared. Nezumi turned back to his book grateful for the silence. It wasn't that he really minded that human's company. Although he didn't want to admit it to himself, he had enjoyed listening to Sion's cheerful chitter chatter. There was a limit however on how long he could tolerate humans. He was a rat after all, and he wanted his solitude. Nezumi turned another page and made a mental note that if he got to see Sion again this evening, he would recommend this book to him.

Nezumi wasn't sure how long he read after Sion had left. Truthfully, he wasn't paying attention to anything else around him, something that is quite dangerous to a rat. All he knew was at some point the clock was chiming (Midnight). A sudden chill ran down his back.

GET BACK TO THE COACH!

GET BACK TO THE COACH!

The voice hollered at him. Nezumi gasped in pain and grabbed his head. There was no way he could ignore this. Groggily he closed the book and slipped it into a pocket. Then he staggered to his feet and ran back to the coach. As he approached it, he heard the sound of running footsteps and the young woman came darting down the stairs. As she came to the last few steps she tripped and went sprawling on the ground at Nezumi's feet. One of her shoes when flying into the air and landed perfectly upright on the top step. Nezumi snorted with laugher as he opened the door for the disheveled woman.

Leave now!

Nezumi slammed the door and jumped aboard as the coach took off as top speed. It barreled through the town.

As it thundered up the dirt road leading to the woman's house it suddenly gave a lurch and began shrinking, turning an odd orange color as it did so. With a cry of terror, the woman pulled herself out of the window and tumbled out of the coach. Nezumi swore and leapt gracefully to the ground. He turned to see the coach had become a pumpkin and was rolling towards the gardening shed. It hit it and smashed to pieces. Around the smushed pumpkin rats, mice, and lizards scattered in all directions. The woman groaned from somewhere behind him and he looked over at her. She was staggering to her feet, her light blue gown replaced by the torn dress. The coach had become a pumpkin again. The woman's dress and jewelry had disappeared. The footmen and horse men and horse had returned to their normal forms. The magical night had ended, and everything was back to how it should be.

Then why was Nezumi still a human?