Natalya and Donna are set to arrive before dusk, well before the formal start time.

A carriage pulls up beyond the mist with Cassandra and Bela in the driver's seat.

Again, Natalya can't feel fear but her stomach twists. The memories come flooding back until the metal in her fist groans from the strain. Donna weaves her fingers in, forcing her soldier to relax. She flashes a smile beneath the veil and Natalya manages a look other than fury in response.

"Get in."

Donna grabs the front of Natalya's high collar shirt before she barks at Cassandra and drags her into the carriage after her. The door slams just shy of hitting Natalya and she hears Bela chuckling to herself.

"One day-"

"Leave them be," Donna murmurs, arranging Angie's skirts on her lap. The doll looks up at her.

"I'm with Nat! Let 'em have it! Give 'em a taste of their own medicine."

Natalya smirks, then laughs as Donna pushes gently on her face to wipe the expression off. Instead she only makes it worse.

The carriage gives a sudden lurch, sending all its passengers flying. Natalya clutches Donna to her chest and Donna grabs Angie. They crash into the front of the carriage and then the floor as the carriage lurches violently up a slope, tumbling them back against the rear wall.

"Tell me again why I can't attack them."

"Kill kill kill!" Angie spits.

"I'm with the doll. Kill."

"No," Donna mutters, "The damn things, won't die. I've tried. Leave them be."

The triplets guide the trio inside where Alcina is waiting.

"Donna," Alcina's lip curls, "Your soldier isn't so little standing up."

This is true. At her full height Natalya is six foot six, towering over most men. It places her awkwardly towering over the girls and Donna but still looking up at the towering countess.

"I can smell Heisenberg's work a mile away. How did you twist his arm for this Donna?"

"Kindness. It's a human concept. Good grace, you do something nice for someone-"

"I know what kindness is," Alcina cuts her off.

Natalya hums, "Huh. Could've fooled me. I would've bet my left arm it was a foreign idea to you."

Alcina's growl rumbles through the foyer. Donna squeezes Natalya's shoulder, "Enough."

"Come on! We can play while they get ready!"

Daniela pulls at Natalya's arm. She scoots the soldier all of a few inches before Natalya rips her arm away.

"Touch me again and I will hurt you."

"You can try," Cassandra purrs in her ear and evaporates to avoid Natalya's wild swing. The cackling siblings become one massive swarm in the air threatening to attack in a thousand vicious bites.

"Enough," Mother Miranda barks and the girls scatter to the shadows.

Truth be told Natalya lets out a sigh of relief. That was a fight she knew she couldn't win

The lords arrive early and are dressed in their respective costumes. Mother Miranda's takes the longest with openings for her wings, among prickly surprises.

"Donna!" Miranda snarls, "Why are there still pins in this? Is it even finished?"

"Yes mother Miranda," Donna murmurs, hands fluttering worriedly.

The pair notice Natalya chuckling, lazily sitting in a chair watching the two bustle around.

"You're welcome, the pins are a gift from me. Call them symbolic of our lovely relationship."

Prickly is a perfect word to describe it and Natalya is particularly pleased with her only vaguely witty practical joke. Donna is not so amused and begins plucking the pins out at random.

"Stupid solider. Get us into trouble why don't you- Keep your pins and your fingers to yourself-"

"Shut up Angie," Miranda snaps.

Natalya drums her fingers. Miranda notes the small movement. So does Donna who clicks her tongue.

Once the ball is well underway Miranda demands that Alcina unlocks the closet in which Natalya was stuffed into. She storms down the hall only to be stopped by a shadowy figure in a porcelain mask.

"Donna," Natalya breathes, "You look stunning."

Donna's dress is a lovely shade of beige with gold accents. Her mask is reminiscent of a half moon and the unafflicted half of her face is painted grey. Her cleavage is pushed up and pinched, accenting her waist before flaring at the hips. Angie hovers nearby dressed in all black like a little version of Donna.

Breathing has to be done manually. Natalya's mouth hangs open and she stares blatantly, "You're gorgeous."

"You're just saying that because you can't see," Donna's voice trails off and she touches the mask.

Natalya plucks the mask back to kiss beneath it.

As he watches from the shadows Karl can't bring himself to stop feeling. He watches the two in the dark and sees Donna for the first time. Not the ghost in her mourning veil held up entirely by tension and fear. Donna, the woman beneath the veil who is just learning to live and love again for the first time. The one who's melted his metal heart.

Like hell he's going to try to take Natalya. It's not really her that's important, it's Donna. She's been miserable as long as Karl has known her. She more than anyone deserves a little happiness.

"It's Natalya, right?"

"What do you want?"

"I-" Karl hesitates. He hates looking up at women and now Natalya firmly fits into that list. He suppresses the urge to say any number of barbed comments, "I need to talk to you privately."

"I'll, be waiting," Donna murmurs, returning her mask and rejoining the ball.

"What do you want old man?"

"I don't want to fight. We're on the same side."

"What side is that?" Natalya murmurs. She can sense the rift being drawn between Donna and Miranda. As indepent as Heisenberg is, she can't see him taking orders well. It's very possible in her mind that there are other facets to this twisted family of Miranda's.

"Against Miranda and the giant bitch."

Natalya huffs a laugh. Karl smiles.

"Miranda wants me to take you away. Alcina has been wary of them, Donna and Miranda. Hell I might even say she was respectful out of fear. Whatever you're doing for Donna, keep it up. If it comes to a fight know you've got me on your side."

When the lord offers his hand to shake Nataly doesn't hesitate to do just that. Instantly Karl knows he's made a mistake when a painful twinge rips through his hand almost bringing him to his knees.

"We may be allies, but don't think for a second that I trust you."

"The feeling's mutual."

Donna gasps feeling a hand in the small of her back. She turns and Bela is grinning down at her with a surprisingly clean face.

"A dance, auntie?"

"N-No-"

As Bela begins dragging Donna toward the dance floor there's the sound of heav footsteps. All at once Donna is dragged back with such force Bela tumbles.

"Ow!"

Everyone moves away as Bela picks herself up off the floor. Black blood pours from her nose and her eyes glow beneath her mask. She turns and spits, snarling.

Natalya keeps Donna tucked firmly against her chest. She bares her teeth and growls back.