**Masquerade Ball: Lights Turned Off**

The grand estate was abuzz with the who's who of London's high society, all dressed to the nines in their finest attire, their masks glinting in the dim light. The music had stopped, and an eerie silence had fallen over the crowd as the lights flickered and then went out. The only sound was the soft hum of electricity, and the murmurs of the guests as they waited for the music to start again. But then, a sudden burst of light illuminated the room, and Cruella, resplendent in an electric blue dress that seemed to shimmer and shine like the stars on a clear night, strode into the room. The dress was a work of art, with intricate beading and embroidery that seemed to dance across the fabric. The crowd erupted into applause as Cruella smiled, her eyes gleaming with pleasure. Jasper, standing at the edge of the room, couldn't help but smile as he watched his friend make her entrance. He mouthed the words "that's my girl" as Cruella made her way through the crowd, greeting guests and laughing with ease. As the evening wore on, Cruella worked the room like a pro, charming and witty, with a sharp tongue and a quick wit. Meanwhile, Jasper found himself in a situation of his own. A small Dalmatian had run over to him, its tail wagging excitedly as it licked his face. The dog, known as Dipstick, was Jasper's pride and joy, a puppy he had adopted from Anita's litter of Dalmatian pups. Jasper chuckled and ruffled the dog's head, smiling as he thought about how much Dipstick loved music, just like him. "What's the matter, boy?" he asked, as Dipstick growled softly, his ears perked up. "Let that mut near, miss Cruella," a man said, his voice low and menacing. "Of course he does, it's no joke. Who's the favorite?" "Estella is just a friend," Jasper said, his eyes flicking to Cruella, who was laughing with a group of guests. Dipstick began to growl, his hackles raised, and the man sneered. "Control that dog," he said, taking a step closer to Jasper. Jasper's eyes narrowed, and he took a step back, but before things could escalate, the man kicked Dipstick, who yelped in pain. "You leave my dog alone," Jasper said, his voice low and deadly. The man sneered, and dragged Jasper outside, despite his protests. "Wait, I don't wanna fight," Jasper said, but it was too late. A couple of minutes later, Cruella heard the sound of barking and turned to Anita, concern etched on her face. "What's going on?" she asked. They ran after Dipstick, who had taken off, barking loudly. He stopped running, his puppy dog eyes looking over at Jasper, who was now lying on the floor, his eye bruised and his nose bloody. "Cruella, thank goodness you could come," Artie said, his voice worried. Cruella dropped her drink, and quickly ran to Jasper, holding him as he groaned in pain. "I'm gonna call an ambulance," Horace said, as Cruella's eyes flashed with anger. "Who did this?" she demanded, her voice icy. And as she looked at Jasper, lying on the floor, her eyes narrowed, a plan forming in her mind...