By the horns (Open, Elayne)

[Ethereal]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/adriantablemid.jpg] [scrolly:h(300),w(211),sy] The woman reached the city with the glaring red of sunset following behind her. She rode on the back of her tauros, Valencia from her palace. She hadn't paid Anvilla a visit in a while, and she wanted to make sure everything there was in order. Valencia huffed as he slowed to a stop just after they moved through the gates. The duchess licked her lips and looked to all the people nearby going about their business. Her fingers dug themselves into the bull pokemon's mane as she dismounted. "Gracias, Valencia." She thanked the normal type with a smirk. He bowed to his trainer, <Ah yes, senora. Was no problem, nothing.> "You'll stay out with me. I'd rather not be without protection should the need arise." Adrian began walking through the streets, <Of course, of course.> The tauros agreed, <What better protection, than I?> The cold eyes of a politician examined the area with close scrutiny. Anvilla was valuable to her, not only because of its economic resources, but also because she felt the need to reclaim it after its secession from the kingdom. It was officially part of Era again, but still, she wanted to reaffirm her personal ownership. She wasn't exactly sure how to do that, however, so her plan for the moment was to simply make her presence known. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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[Maid Melody]

Sophia was riding on Argus', her ever faithful Rhyperior, shoulder moving her legs back and forth, as he walked towards the city eyes alight with excitement as she spoke," Well maybe since Sebby wasn't able to help us out with a party one of the others could. Felis would be fun to ask but well he just did the pageant thingy which was really fun but I don't wanna get him mad at me for asking him...I haven't heard anything from Akira either and what was the other person again? Oh that's right! Adrian! Hey do you think she's pretty Argus? I think she will be...maybe she'll even look like a queen! I don't know what she looks like though...oh well~ I'm sure we'll find her eventually besides, this'll be fun! I've never been to this city before it'll be like a new adventure!" she said in a cheery voice as Argus continued to walk, smiling at the young girl's excited chatter.

As they neared the town, the two were beginning to cause quite a commotion, after all, it wasn't every day that people saw a young girl riding on top of a Rhyperior. Sophia on the other hand was oblivious to the other people looking at her and Argus, too busy talking about her big plans to the Rhyperior to notice that others were beginning to get frightened of the big rock Pokemon.
"Woooooowwwwwww!!!! Look at the city Argus! It's so big and pretty and and-it's amazing! Hey! Maybe we'll meet Adrian here! Then we could ask about the party and then she could dress up as a queen and-"Sophia continued on in this fashion, rambling about what her plans were to the what the room would look like. Argus simply listened to Sophia ramble about her plans, being very careful to try not to frighten any of the people, though of course this was nearly impossible to accomplish. Ah well, they would reach the city soon enough and then Sophia could explain why she was riding on him, that is if she could stop daydreaming about the party.

[Ethereal]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/adriantablemid.jpg] [scrolly:h(300),w(211),sy] The woman stared in the direction of the rhyperior-riding girl. Adrian was irritated that someone else was earning more attention than she was and lead her pokemon in the direction of the distraction. She had planned to order that the girl return home and perhaps relinquish her pokemon, but then she heard the sound of her name falling off the child's lips not once, but several times. The mention of her name along with the word "pretty" alleviated the duchesses anger if only for a moment. She would talk to the young girl and see what her business in Anvilla was, and where she came from. Adrian approached the rock type pokemon with Valencia following behind, "Did I overhear you talking about the duchess?" She asked with a gentle smile. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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[Maid Melody]

Sophia heard the woman speak and blinked, at first confused when she remembered that Adrian was the duchess...that's right. Smiling, Sophia nodded,"Mmhmm~"she said before asking the Rhyperior to help her down. The Rhyperior gently picked up Sophia and set her down in front of the woman, and stood behind the young girl, unless he was returned he would remain by Sophia's side.

As soon as she was set down, Sophia looked up at the woman that had asked her if she'd been talking about Adrian. When she saw how pretty the woman was, the young girl's amethyst eyes grew wide,"Wow! You're really pretty, are you a queen or something? You sure look like one, and you're tall too! Mommy was never that tall...well she still isn't but that's OK~"she said in a cheerful, excited voice, her reason for talking about Adrian completely forgotten for the time being.

Argus chuckled softly at the young girl's excitement, Sophia was rather easily distracted, especially when she was excited as she had been since they set off for the city that morning. On the way, the young girl had talked about everything from birds to sand to the heat, never once quieting to just enjoy the walk, though he didn't mind, in fact he quite enjoyed the young girl's chatter.

[Ethereal]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/adriantablemid.jpg] [scrolly:h(300),w(211),sy] All thoughts of bitterness left Adrian as the child complimented her. Adrian's eyes softened as she looked upon the small girl, 'She is kind of cute..' The duchess thought to herself. The woman was quite pleased that she looked like royalty. She woman laughed lightly, "No, I'm not a queen." 'Yet.' The statement was finished within her mind. "But I am a duchess. The very duchess you spoke of earlier." She bent down slightly so that she was eye-to-eye with the child. "So what can I do for you?" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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[Maid Melody]

When the woman said that she was Adrian, Sophia's eyes grew even wider, if that was even possible, and she nearly squealed in delight. The young girl couldn't believe her eyes, they had actually found Adrian and she did look like a queen!
"No way! You're Adrian?!"she said in an excited voice before tugging on her Rhyperior's finger and pointing at the duchess, forgetting herself in her excitement,"SEE Argus! I told you she'd look like a queen and I was RIGHT!"

Argus chuckled and nodded at the young girl before looking at Adrian with an apologetic smile, Sophia was a little too excited to think straight it seemed...

Sophia turned back to Adrian with awe-filled eyes before suddenly remembering why she was so excited to meet Adrian in the first place,"Oh! I wanted to ask you something...I dunno if you were at the masquerade or not but that kinda turned out scary and well...I want to do a fairytale ball! And then you could be a real queen and then Felis could come and cuzzy Ali and Harvey and and Rosa and oooh that tall blond man that was with her....mmmmmm I can't remember his name but he was really tall like you! Ooooh and and and lots and lots of other people too it'll be fun! We can dress up in pretty dresses just like in the fairy tales and Harvey will be a prince and hey you could find someone to be your king too! Maybe even Mommy and Daddy could come this time ooohhh and big brother and big sissy Teme!"Sophia said in an excited voice, bouncing on her heels as she always did when excited,"I asked Sebby to help but he said he couldn't...something about being with Ciel....oh well~ I would do it at my place but there isn't enough room...Sebby said to maybe another noble because they have biiiiig mansions! I would ask Felis but he's silly and did that pageant thingy already and I haven't heard from Akira...aaaaand I don't even know what the other lady duchess looks like...her name started with an M right? Oh well~...do you think you could help? It'd be really fun and cool and you could be even prettier and look like a real queen!"

[Ethereal]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/adriantablemid.jpg] [scrolly:h(300),w(211),sy] The idea that the child presented was delightfully tempting. Adrian remembered the jealousy she felt regarding the ball and masquerade that the other dukes hosted. She could throw a better party, couldn't she? Of course, for the duchess it would be more about politics than merriment, but it would be successful nonetheless. A real queen? That was Adrian's dream after all. What could be wrong about taking up the role if only for one event? She could show everyone at the party just how fitting she was for the throne. And a king? As much as Adrian loathed the idea of sharing power with another, this was just pretend, and she did want some romance in her life...But it would be a distraction! Not if she was in control of the situation. Yes, the duchess would find herself a "king". The woman smiled at the girl, her silvery eyes radiating excitement. "That sounds like a lovely idea." She chuckled, "My you speak quickly, I don't think I even caught your name." She paused looking toward the large Rhyperior, "But I would be happy to help you with your fairy-tale ball." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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[Maid Melody]

Sofia's eyes lit up with excitement when Adrian said yes and for a moment was too shocked/happy/excited to even form a coherent thought, however after a moment or two the young girl seemed to recover from this and hugged Adrian.
"Ohmygoshthankyoussomuchthiswillbesomuchfun!"she blurted out before taking a deep breath and continuing again somewhat slower this time but not by too much,Oh my name is Sofia Brooke! Sorry about that I totally forgot because I didn't know you would look like a queen and ohmygoshthiswillbesomuchfun! We can dressupanddecorate and have lots of sweets and IcanhaveHarveybemyprince but I have to convince him to come which shouldn't be hard but oh well~. Oh and we can have FelisandSebbyandcuzzyAli and a whole bunch of other people! Where do we startIwannadotheinvitations and oooohhh the decorating willbesomuchfunwecanevenuseabunchofstorieslike fairy tales come to life!"she said in a clearly excited voice, looking up at Adrian with a mixture of awe and excitement in her eyes.

Argus chuckled softly at Sofia's excitement and stood by in silence, waiting to see what the Duchess would say to the excited young girl's rambling.