The Royal Palace

  ( Newbie )

  The floor below was a glittering maze of frilly outfits and sparkling accessories for every occasion, from cute and refined to oddly impractical.

  Newbie stuck close to her two newfound friends, fearing she might become lost should she stray too far. She winced at imagined blisters as they passed a pair of glass slippers. "Is it really ok for me to take something from here?"

  "Sure is!" said Merrymint. "This is your home now. Make the most of it."

  Cherrychomp grabbed at fuzzy scarves and dazzling jewelry, modelling each for but a moment before tossing them aside.

  Merrymint followed the trail of disorder and attempted to return the misplaced items to their proper locations. "Besides, these clothes don't see much wear. All our primary outfits are custom made, either to suit our magic or just personal preference. It might not look it, but this jacket is gosh darn wind resistant. Before Dollymop made it for me I'd always rip my sleeves whenever I started blasting!"

  Newbie looked to the small fruits knotted to Cherrychomp's belt.

  Are they too a design choice, or somehow related to her outside-only magic?

  "...And who's Dollymop?" she asked.

  "The Royal Tailor!" said Merrymint. "There's no better in the queendom, apparently. Once you've got your magic and vibe all figured out, I'm sure she'll stitch you up something special too."

  "These!" Cherrychomp grabbed two bright green boots from a shelf, each with a pair of rubbery frog eyes protruding from the toes.

  "Uhm..." started Newbie.

  But before she could protest, Cherrychomp had already selected another item from the plentiful array of options. Then another, and another.

  "Wait... Maybe..." Newbie muttered.

  The little red fairy zoomed back and forth, as if trying to assemble the most uncoordinated collection she could find. "An' this! An' that!"

  Newbie looked to Merrymint for help as the garish pile grew, but the thespian seemed too focused on keeping a quivering smile from bursting into full-blown laughter to be of assistance.

  Before she knew it, Newbie was frowning at her own reflection. The Fairy Princess in the mirror before her was clad in a puffy polka dot coat that wheezed with every movement, a floppy hat with a jingling bell attached, oversized gloves that resembled kitten paws, and a whole variety of useless yet attention-grabbing trinkets.

  "What's this for?" Newbie awkwardly reached for a party whistle necklace and blew on it. Coiled paper inflated and let out a high-pitched hum.

  "Callin' for 'elp!" said Cherrychomp.

  Newbie blinked, then turned to face Merrymint. The frog-eyed boots squeaked with each step. "...And you said we're going to meet the Queen?"

  "Not the first impression you're looking to make?" asked Merrymint.

  "It's all a little... loud," said Newbie.

  "What's that supposed to mean?" asked Cherrychomp.

  "I feel like a clown caught in a storm," said Newbie.

  "Clowns is fun an' storms is cool!" Cherrychomp nodded, as if indisputable.

  "Excellent points, Cherry', but how about I take a shot?" asked Merrymint.

  The little red fairy puffed up her rosy cheeks like miniature balloons. "You dun' like it!"

  "Well... It's just... I..." The more Newbie tried to explain, the further Cherrychomp's lower lip protruded and the greater the sheen upon her eyes grew.

  "Hey-hey! No tears," said Merrymint. "It's only fair to take turns, right? You had yours, so now it's mine!"

  Much to Newbie's relief, Merrymint swiftly returned with an outfit significantly less offensive to behold. In her arms was a long, white coat with matching boots and gloves.

  "Fluffy!" screamed Cherrychomp.

  The little fairy raced over and plunged her face into the faux fur. She clung to it every step of the way as Merrymint struggled forth. Even after Newbie had slipped inside and buttoned up, she found Cherrychomp still rubbing her cheek upon the soft sleeve.

  "How's it feel?" asked Merrymint.

  "Fluffy!" repeated Cherrychomp.

  "I wasn't asking you!"

  "Honestly, it is pretty fluffy," said Newbie. "Really comfortable!"

  Merrymint flicked her spectacles. "Looks like I win this round, Cherry'!"

  But the little red fairy was too busy burying her face in fluffiness to care.

  Marble and gold stretched down spiralling steps to spill into the hallways below. Crackling braziers and deep carpets softened the polished stone with cosy warmth. Stained glass windows depicted wondrous magics, whilst tapestries portrayed butterflies banishing dark tides.

  Newbie struggled to take it all in. A part of her wished they could take their time so she could spot every intricate detail, yet the passages ahead called for just as much attention.

  Merrymint attempted to lead the way, yet Cherrychomp insisted on rushing, even though it meant she had to keep stopping and waiting.

  "Princess Razzledazzle, Princess Snugglehug," Newbie read aloud. Each name was engraved upon a shiny plaque beneath an aged portrait. They were all so beautiful that she figured charming looks must be a universal boon of the metamorphosis. "Princess Choccyrock, Princess Bravesail." They stretched on and on, each with their own wild colours and outlandish style. "Do you know all these girls?"

  "Nope," said Merrymint. "Never met them. These pictures are over a hundred years old."

  "Huh. Are there any more recent?" asked Newbie. "Of you, or Cherrychomp?"

  "None of the current sisterhood, yet," said Merrymint. "Last I heard Queeny is still on the lookout for the right artist. She and the palace have outlived more than a few generations. Human generations, that is."

  Newbie cocked her head. "How old is the Queen, exactly?"

  Merrymint let loose a lengthy whistle, before shrugging. "Golly, I'm not even sure! Us fairies don't age much."

  "Really? Wow!" Newbie looked to the next portrait to see an overly-joyous royal titled as Princess Pearlypop. "Then these girls must still be around. How come you never met any of them?"

  "They graduated!" said Merrymint.

  "Huh," said Newbie. "So, we only stay here for a time?"

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  "A long time, but yeah," said Merrymint. "It's a big world, right? Plenty of ground to cover and lots of people to protect. One day, it'll be our turn to take realms by storm!"

  "Adventure!" roared Cherrychomp.

  Newbie smiled. "Sounds fun! ...But, those before us don't come back? Not even to visit?"

  "Oh, wouldn't that be fantastic?" asked Merrymint. "I'd love to hear about all the wild things they must've seen over the centuries! I'll bet they've stories that'd blow our sheltered minds!"

  "Huh..." said Newbie.

  They must be pretty busy if they never get a chance to return home…

  Soon enough, the trio arrived at the Grand Hall. Twin fortified doors stood tall so that the three of them could fit through even if they were to stack upon each other's shoulders. Further above, a vaulted ceiling caught the sounds of their footsteps before bouncing them back down as echoes.

  A great staircase branched out to symmetrical balconies that circled the upper floor. Given pride of place at the head of these steps, and unmissable to any who would make the ascent, was the largest portrait yet.

  A monarch-winged figure that exuded strength, with autumnal hair braided to a crown. Their billowing gown of flaming orange and deep black was as majestic as it was striking.

  Beholding the burning gaze filled Newbie with a familiar heat, and more curiously, an intense protective instinct.

  I must defend her... I must keep her safe!

  "Queen Titania," said Merrymint.

  Newbie's stomach tightened at the thought of meeting her. "What's she like?"

  "Whizz! Boom! Pow!" Cherrychomp threw her fists at imagined foes. "A fireball that beats up baddies an' melts monsters!"

  Newbie pictured herself as a snowman before a furnace and gulped.

  "Don't worry. She's super nice," said Merrymint. "C'mon, let's go see!"

  "N-now?" blurted Newbie. "How do I look? What should I say? Do I kneel?"

  "Relax!" said Merrymint. "Just follow our lead. She's not so scary."

  "But, I mean, is she expecting me?" asked Newbie. "What if I emerged too early? Or too late? Or what if I'm not strong enough, or fast enough, or clever enough?"

  The barrage of questions went unanswered. Merrymint's hands clapped down on Newbie's shoulders and started to push her forward, steering her up the staircase.

  Newbie tensed each time they approached a corner, half-expecting the legendary Queen to leap out and declare her utmost disappointment. They wove this way and that, through a dining room with a cinnamon-scented fireplace, and up yet more steps until Merrymint's grip tightened, jerking Newbie to a stop.

  "Ah," said Merrymint.

  Before them were a pair of oaken doors carved with fiery butterflies. They were as elegant as they were imposing, but shut tight. Before them stood a girl. Not only another Fairy Princess, but an athletically toned warrioress.

  There was no smile upon her lips, and little life within her placid eyes. The starfish tiara atop hair of wavy azure was a fun touch at odds with the fearsome trident she gripped. The weapon's prismatic surface danced with all the colours of the rainbow, yet rather than question the composition, Newbie's thoughts turned to efficiency.

  Surely a single-tipped spear would be both lighter and more penetrative? Though, I suppose a trident is fitting for an oceanic gladiator...

  While both Merrymint and Cherrychomp were dressed rather whimsically, their outfits were at least modest. This princess, however, appeared shameless. Cupping seashells maintained little modesty above, whilst a short scaled skirt barely covered below.

  She's braver than me. Then again, if I had muscles like hers...

  "Ahoy-hoy, Splishy," said Merrymint.

  The watery fairy adjusted her stance, planting bare feet firmly together. "Princess Merrymint. Princess Cherrychomp." Her voice was flat and utterly monotonous.

  "Look what I found!" said Cherrychomp.

  Both she and Merrymint struck dramatic poses at Newbie's sides, waving their hands in revelrous reveal.

  Seemingly indifferent to the news, the warrioress gave a subtle nod. "Greetings, emerged ally. I am Princess Splishsplash. I trust you are being treated well?"

  "Yes! Princess Merrymint and Princess Cherrychomp have both been very helpful." Newbie attempted to mimic Splishsplash's formal nature, not wanting to seem unworthy of royalty.

  "I am glad," said Splishsplash without a hint of joy. "The arrival of a new Fairy Princess is a rare yet welcome occurrence. Queen Titania will be most pleased."

  "We were actually kinda hoping to see her," said Merrymint. "Buuut I guess if you're standing here, then she must be busy?"

  "Regretfully so," stated Splishsplash. "Queen Titania is replenishing our stores of faefire. It will take some time, but I will gladly notify her of the successful metamorphosis once she is done."

  Radiance bled from the crack beneath the hewn doors. A rich orange which momentarily flashed to violet and back again.

  Faefire, huh? I wonder how it differs from regular flame...

  "Golly, we got ourselves all excited," said Merrymint. "But I guess there's no helping it. We don't want to disturb her ritual."

  "No fair!" Cherrychomp pouted. "I wanna be the one to tell her! She's my Sis'! I found her!"

  "We're all sisters, silly!" said Merrymint. "And don't you mean we found her? Not that we were even looking, we just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

  "In the Nursery?" asked Splishsplash. "What were you two doing up there?"

  Cherrychomp's pouting lips retreated into her mouth, like she'd just tasted a sour lemon. Merrymint casually leant on her showman's stave and squinted upward, as if trying to recall a vague memory.

  "You've been told before," said Splishsplash. "The Nursery is no place for play. Those cocoons are precious. Queen Titania will be disappointed to hear you were running around up there again."

  "Hey-hey-hey!" sang Merrymint. "Don't tell on us, Splishy! All's well that ends well. Besides, I betcha Newbie's super happy we were there. No one wants to emerge all alone, right?"

  Sapphire, ruby and emerald eyes all peered toward Newbie. She felt like a witness at a trial, yet before she could defend her two newfound friends, a distant clanging echoed through the halls.

  Unlike herself, the others appeared well aware of its meaning. Merrymint swung her stave to rest upon her shoulder, while Cherrychomp tensed and lowered like a coiled spring with clenched fists.

  "Go," said Splishsplash.

  Cherrychomp didn't need to be told twice. Her tiny legs were already thumping down the hall, leaving rugs ruffled and wall torches flickering in her chaotic wake.

  "I'll take Newbie along," said Merrymint. "It'll be good for her to see the others in action and get a taste of what it really means to be a Fairy Princess!"

  "Acceptable," said Splishsplash. "Maintain distance from the battle and keep her from harm."

  Battle? Harm!?

  Newbie would've panicked if not for Merrymint's reassuring smile.

  "Can you run?" asked the jolly princess.

  Newbie wiggled her toes inside of the thick winter boots, as if conjuring determination. "I can try!"

  They made it halfway down the hall before Merrymint scooped Newbie up in her arms and carried her as easily as one might a child, but at rapid speed.