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Tree branch: check. Assorted lightweight seed-bearing fruits and nuts: check. Other seeds: check. Water bottle, for when she has to veer away from the river: check.
Better not linger in her starting place too much longer. Yellow's faster than her and may have already come home to a wreck. Thorn might have a habit of checking up on the place, even, just in case. She's invisible, inaudible, unsmellable - that won't help if he sends someone thorough. Or comes in person.
She sets out.
She's been flying for about thirty minutes after her shopping trip when she falls through a tear and squeaks inaudibly and lands in the middle of -
imeanforever
imeanforever
"I'm not carrying any weapons. I have some things that will help me move around, and my personal space bubble, and something to help me use fairy magic, and that's all."
imeanforever
"If you want to look at everything I'm carrying, I can do that. I just don't like being touched." She rolls up her sleeves, identifies, the objects, pulls up the leafy hem of her dress enough to display shoeless feet and ankle-worn objects.
wormcan
They stop pressing on the force field, but resume making a show of emphatically dropping objects.
imeanforever
"I need all my things. To make sure that nobody touches me, since I don't like being touched, and to make sure fairy magic works because a fairy should have her fairy magic, and to make sure I can go when I want."
wormcan
More creatures appear out of the woodwork, some of them literally.
An enormous quadruped, almost symmetrical with no head. A tall, long-limbed man with very fine fur and a wide, toothless mouth. An irradiated land-going sea cucumber.
They don't make any move against her, but block her progress as long as she's carrying unknown potentially dangerous things. Other creatures run into the building Promise is trying to get to, to inform their king of the intruder.
An enormous quadruped, almost symmetrical with no head. A tall, long-limbed man with very fine fur and a wide, toothless mouth. An irradiated land-going sea cucumber.
They don't make any move against her, but block her progress as long as she's carrying unknown potentially dangerous things. Other creatures run into the building Promise is trying to get to, to inform their king of the intruder.
imeanforever
That's okay. He's the person she wants to talk to, and if he would rather talk out here than show her wherever he's hanging out, that's fine. The force field is doing its job very well.
wormcan
A large figure lumbers out of what is probably the palace. It raises its trunk and trumpets loudly, or, presumably loudly. It's far outside normal hearing range. An enormous crowd of creatures surrounds Promise, but they open a narrow path between her and the door.
wormcan
They're all watching her, with more kinds of eyes than she knew existed, and some are making sounds that might be cheering or applauding or anticipation of her being destroyed. Who knows.
Inside, an enormously fat humanoid sits on a throne cobbled together from furniture. A cloth crown flops around his ears. Other monsters are seated around the room, watching a gladiatorial combat between two creatures.
The large one speaks.
"Who enters my domain? I must warn you, it is an act against all etiquette to come armed in the presence of a king."
Inside, an enormously fat humanoid sits on a throne cobbled together from furniture. A cloth crown flops around his ears. Other monsters are seated around the room, watching a gladiatorial combat between two creatures.
The large one speaks.
"Who enters my domain? I must warn you, it is an act against all etiquette to come armed in the presence of a king."
imeanforever
"I am not armed. I have explained to your vassals" (...they're close enough) "that the things I brought with me only ensure my personal space, let me move, and allow my fairy magic to work in the mortal world. I am called Promise."
wormcan
"And I Nilbog. But those are only names. Who are you, that you come uninvited and do not bow to me?"
imeanforever
"I'm a fairy. I didn't realize bowing was customary here; my apologies." She sketches a bow as best she can without falling over.
wormcan
"A fairy! There have been no fairies in my kingdom for a hundred years!" He seems to have forgotten he's supposed to be angry at her. "Welcome, and why have you come?"
imeanforever
"To meet you, of course, and your vassals, the likes of which we don't have in Fairyland."
Yes, obviously this ends with her issuing commands at some point - but she wants his voluntary help with those Endbringer things and there's no reason not to be sweet as pie leading up to that question. If she's very lucky - and he does seem pretty excited that she's a fairy - she might not have to give him any orders he even notices at all.
Yes, obviously this ends with her issuing commands at some point - but she wants his voluntary help with those Endbringer things and there's no reason not to be sweet as pie leading up to that question. If she's very lucky - and he does seem pretty excited that she's a fairy - she might not have to give him any orders he even notices at all.
wormcan
"Of course, of course. Nor will you; they are quite inimitable, every one original.
Come, sit. Would you care for a meal? The chef can regurgitate it in any form you desire."
Come, sit. Would you care for a meal? The chef can regurgitate it in any form you desire."
wormcan
"As you like it." The four-hundred-pound goblin shrugs, which does not literally cause the floor to shake but looks like it ought to.
"What news do you bring of Fairyland? Is its queen still well?"
"What news do you bring of Fairyland? Is its queen still well?"
wormcan
"Good, good. A king ought to have his equals. Or at least his near inferiors. In my domain, everything is part of my court."
wormcan
"Of course. Polka here is my favorite of my subjects." The creature to his left has a narrow, reptilian face and humanlike skin. Four fangs, a long tail, and a color scheme more typical of fairies than humans.
imeanforever
Click. Okay, that's useful to know: the things count as people, or at least they can.
"When I told some of my acquaintances that I would be visiting you they wanted me to ask you a question. Specifically, there are some very badly behaved large creatures that occasionally appear where they are not welcome and destroy things. Do you suppose you and Polka and the others might be willing to help fight them?"
"When I told some of my acquaintances that I would be visiting you they wanted me to ask you a question. Specifically, there are some very badly behaved large creatures that occasionally appear where they are not welcome and destroy things. Do you suppose you and Polka and the others might be willing to help fight them?"
wormcan
Nilbog frowns. "You speak of the monsters. But they are outside my walls. Here I am a content god, why should I risk my subjects?"
imeanforever
"Well, if the answer is no, that is certainly your prerogative. Of course you will not be compelled. If you have no use for the gratitude of others and do not fear that the monsters will eventually visit your borders I can see why you would not wish to engage."