Chapter Text
Lizzie slowly opens her eyes.
Parrots and sparrows are grouped on the balcony calling for her to wake up, the sunrays warm on every inch of skin they hit.
Her hair is flowing down to the pavement.
She groans, sitting up, scratching her face.
It seems around 2 pm, with a quick check to the bedside table the clock confirms 1:50 pm.
The air is peaceful with plenty of noises coming from the bustling city below.
Her mouth feels like cotton, so the nereid decides to get the day going, moving through the motions of waking up and getting prepared as her mind boots up.
Lizzie feels a little bad for leaving the three newcomers downstairs to their own devices but she figures they'll either still be asleep or they won't have gotten any shut-eye at all.
She groans as she stands up, feeling heavy as a mountain, hair trailing behind her like a curtain.
She looks back confused at the tendril-like strands pooling around her.
The magenta pink turns into gold around her mid back then it fades into white.
Some decades ago a few dear old town ladies had started calling her a Sweet Pea Pluck because of her hair, and it has stuck around in her brain ever since.
Because of them she'd gotten into gardening, curious of the flowers, and became enraptured by their beauty.
The nickname is still shared around by the elderly.
Lizzie whirls a lock around her fingers.
She does not have time to cut whatever is going on with it now so she just drags herself to the cherry wardrobe at the end of the room, close to the stairs.
She can ignore it for now.
The nereid opens the doors, to be greeted with colors and cloth aplenty, unsure of what to wear.
Today they'll mainly spend it going around town, visiting shops and parks.
Lizzie looks in the figure length mirror beside her, big enough for her whole body to reflect.
A scowl meets her back.
It'd feel better to just walk around like this but to be honest, it'd be a pain to walk in the streets and hit her head on the ceilings of shops.
With a sigh she looks around for any water and immediately clocks a big vase full of lilies next to the wardrobe.
She squats down, shifting in place to focus on the liquid inside of it, moving up to the neck and into her hand. She makes sure to leave some for the flowers.
She moulds it to draft a shifting spell on her arm, something stronger than yesterday.
It immediately works, and she finds herself clinging onto the now large sleeping robe. Her hair has not gotten any shorter.
The Oceanid taps her foot on the cold prismarine pavement, annoyed.
It'll have to do.
She grabs a white linen babydoll dress, embroidered with tiny jasmine flowers at the hems.
From the shoes cabinet she grabs newly crafted loafers, tan and comfortable for a day out.
The August air is hot and humid and judging by the lack of clouds, it'll be rainless.
She grabs the big brush from the drawer and tries her best to get the unruly locks somewhat decent looking, still unsatisfied Lizzie works the mane into a chunky long braid, which she wraps in white linen bows.
Finally, she skips to the bathroom, turning the faucet on, the nereid washes her face with soap and water and brushes her pearly teeth.
Lizzie looks at herself in the long, sea scallop shell shaped mirror (a gift, made by Pix and commissioned by Jimmy a while back).
That's a very fond memory of the random day they'd chosen for her birthday, celebrated between friends at her palace.
The nereid feels small in her own skin now, the itch to grab her canvas and remove the stitches to stretch it out is a sudden and detestable feeling.
She notices only after she's done it that the faucet has started gushing out water, hitting her fingers as if in comfort.
She shuts it firmly, uneasy. Frozen by the sudden anxiety of facing an entire day with her new subjects.
The pink fringe frames her soft face yet she's scowling, sharp teeth.
What the…?
She opens her mouth surprised… and they look blunt again.
Lizzie blinks twice.
She's not sure why the shifting spell isn't working as intended.
The nereid uses more water to draft another rune onto her other arm. It dries onto the skin, invisible to the naked eye.
Hopefully that'll do.
The Queen might be too anxious but she cannot let it stop her from performing her duties.
Even with all the ignoring she's willing to pull, the increase of similar accidents has not been minimal in her mind’s eye.
She's still in her Palace, what will happen when she's three empires over with no safe room to calm down?
She has to calm down.
Maybe… if she brings something familiar around it'll feel better?
She walks out of the bathroom, hesitantly looking around her room for something small.
She could bring a satchel with her? Yeah, that'll work.
The nereid rummages through the wardrobe for her favorite, an oval bag decorated with pearls to create a seashell.
The reminder of the bath mirror is still fresh in her mind, pulling a smile out of her.
For the object, her mind is quickly made up.
She slips in it the book sitting on her left bedside table, a gray rundown book she'd once found with Jimmy while exploring dried ocean ruins, “Trident charms and how to fashion one”, useful in its time, now read for nostalgia.
She also slips in a water flask and a lily flower.
As Lizzie closes the door behind her she hears another one open at the end of the hallway, after descending the stairs there she sees Pearl.
She walks down to her, waving.
“Hi, did you eat?” the oceanid asks.
“I did, Lady Marceline brought us all breakfast a while ago. Said to let you sleep.” the wolf hybrid explains with an awkward smile, slowly rocking on her heels.
“Oh, that's very sweet. Thank you” she says simply.
“Oh! And good afternoon, my Queen” tags on Pearl, remembering suddenly some manners.
Queen Lizzie softly laughs, “To you too, my Pearl”
The Queen then turns towards the others’s bedrooms.
Are the knights in their rooms?
She's unsure if she should knock and drag them along. Then again… she's supposed to. And they're supposed to follow. A song and dance.
Pearl is standing still, looking curiously at her satchel and outfit so the Queen speaks before the wolf can ask.
“I was gonna bring you all to the high side of town and show you around” she explains, and the wolf comically opens her mouth and closes it again.
“I'm gonna change into my armour then.” Pearl says, starting to open her door again.
“No, it's okay!” Queen Lizzie stops her movement quickly, Pearl looks at her quizzically.
“There is no need, believe me. Take it as a free day.” the oceanid says, gripping the latch of the bag in her hand nervously.
“Alrighty... Should we call the others?” Midway through her phrase they hear clicking and Gem is stepping outside her own room.
“You talk quite loud.” she comments, closing the door behind her back.
“Oopsie!” is all Pearls says, mostly to herself.
“I guess that leaves only Earl Cleo” the queen sighs, ready to knock.
“I'm coming out!” The three hear from behind her closed door.
“Told ya,” shrugs Gem with a smirk.
𓂃☀︎⚘᪥.°+ ࣪ཐིཋྀ₊⊹𖥧𔓘˖ ִֶָ𐀔'𑁍𐂂෴𖧧↟⸙͎𖠰𓂃
As they make their way out the garden to the main avenue, staff and guards salute them with bright smiles and excited hand waves.
Gem can remember the sweetness of a fruit so succulent and saccharine, something so simple as a peach.
As a child, it was rare to find.
Now this ever present sweet taste is made sour by the uncertainty of her situation.
Is this just an act, just a stage where performance is an everyday occurrence? She's now living in the capital of festivals and arts, actors and performers surround her.
Still, her thoughts morph like water and oil trying to mix, getting shapes but no breakthrough.
Like the night before the three knights gravitate around their queen on all sides, something that should be taken as an act of loyalty and protection.
It only seems to make the Queen uncomfortable.
She seemed fine when they were leaving the palace.
Now, the nymph notices how nervous Queen Lizzie actually is, from the little tell of her fingers scratching skin, hugging her satchel, playing with her hair, always hissing when she laughs.
“Are you okay, your Majesty? You've been gripping that satchel like you wanna strangle it” whispers to her Gem, making the nereid jump in surprise.
“Yeah. Yes, sorry.” she says, picking at the jewels on her pretty pouch.
Gem won't push. She doesn't feel like it's her place to. They're strangers…then again…
“If you say so, my Queen… Just saying, I'm sure with us by your side nothing bad will happen” Gem whispers, pushing despite her own feelings. She can do something good for a stranger.
“I'm sure too” the Queen says, sounding unsure.
“So we're lying now?” asks Cleo, stepping closer but quickly having to evade a few flower vases, as they're strewn all over the streets.
For being a seaside town, flower culture here sure is strong.
“We are not” the oceanid drawls with an soft itch as she grips her satchel tighter.
“Your highness, you're… sweating,” whispers Pearl.
She's not about to point out the Queen's shimmering ordeal. And sure maybe it's not the most courteous thing to say either. Ah well.
Looking at how she's been acting, Pearl presumes the Queen must be incredibly nervous at social gatherings.
Which makes her sad, for some reason. Is she that much of a recluse?
“Didn't sleep well” is all the Queen says, tone final as she steps faster to leave them behind.
Pearl shrugs at Gem's accusatory glare, and they follow her towards a bakery on the other side of the road.
“My Queen!” A citizen distracts them and immediately Lizzie stops and settles, perfectly in her element.
The knights share a look. Huh?
“Hello, Geraldine!” She greets the pink axolotl, - a tall young lady with kind green eyes - who's carrying a little girl with her.
“Oh, hello dear! You must be new” the queen kneels in front of the little yellow axolotl, cinnamon hair shining under the summer sun.
“Am not! I'm four!” the kid exclaims, holding both her hands up.
“Oh…. so old!” The Queen jokes, brushing the kid's cheeks with her fingers to make her laugh, she's successful.
“Sunny wanted to come by last night to say hi, but you seemed occupied” explains the girl's mother, holding her hand and grocery bag in the other, she's mirrored by the child holding something of her own, a green snake.
Gem almost wants to coo. The kid looks very polite.
“I did! You looked very pretty!” the kid jumps in her place excited, twirling her white dress around.
“I'm sure you looked better than me” laughs Queen Lizzie, flicking her nose before standing up.
“Woooah! Thank you!” The girl smiles, all sharp teeth and yellow eyes, hugging the snake tight.
“We'll leave you be now, my Queen. Have a nice promenade” the woman bows and draws the little one next to her.
“Thank you so much, Gera” Lizzie smiles softly.
“And oh, I hear they're doing sales down the street for bagels, you'll enjoy them I believe” the young mother winks as she tugs the smiling kid behind her to the rest of the shops.
"Enjoy the festival, dears!" the queen salutes them.
“I do believe that was a subtle way to sell us some food, your Majesty” informs Pearl.
“It was, and I am famished” confirms Lizzie, watering mouth taking the bait of succulent food.
☼𓂃𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘᪥𓂃☾₊‧⁺⋆ꕀ.𓆡.ᐟ˖ꕀꕀ.•`ꉂ ⴵ .࿔
At sundown the sky is orange and magenta, casting a shadow on the town's square.
Critter City comes alive, more than it was under daylight if that's even possible.
The notice boards and lampposts on the streets are tapered with flyers for the Flowering Azalea Festival, underlined by the multitudes of blooming bushes littered around the city's green spaces.
The stage in the plaza is now populated with singers and kid performers. People in colorful costumes are making balloon animals and painting the faces of anyone who asks, old and young alike.
The air smells of food, pollen and ocean. It's a weirdly pleasant mix.
They stop by an old inn, one that Lizzie had been vouching for countless times during the last hour.
As they sit on the white wooden chairs an old woman walks out, and warmly greets the Queen with cheek kisses.
The quartet look at the menu and order.
As the woman walks inside again, Lizzie turns to them with a pleasant smile.
“They've been here for generations. Her son runs the bakery we were at earlier” she explains and turns to wave at the table next to them, a reply.
Queen Lizzie is constantly bombarded with attention from passersby, yet she doesn't seem to mind.
Pearl is confused by her lack of regulation skills.
She can run huge events and not be bothered by the needy townspeople, yet she spends more than five minutes alone with her guards and she's sweating bullets.
"You’ve known all of them?” Asks Cleo curious, looking at a couple coming their way with pink roses.
“Yes, they were one of the first settlers here. They've run food stores, flower shops, tailor houses, and this inn” she says, and greets the couple with a warm smile.
Everything she does seems to be served on a silver platter, which unsettles Cleo... Yet it's so genuine it feels silly to judge maliciously.
Of all the kings and queens she's seen, Queen Lizzie is the first to not blatantly fake interest in her people.
And sure Cleo's not met all of them, but a few have been enough of an example.
The Oceanid seems oddly invested instead.
“Thank you dears!” She waves to the couple after they've given her a flower, then sinks in her chair with a sigh, almost trying to hide from the overflowing crowd.
“Man so many people out tonight...” she groans, picking at the chipped tabletop.
“It is a festival night” says Gem matter of factly, yet sympathetic.
If she had to accommodate as many people as Lizzie did just this evening she'd need a seven day nap.
“I know...” says the Queen, picking at her braid's bows now.
Pearl is captivated by the way the hair shades down to white, surprised by the colours.
It's a nice dichotomy.
It reminds her of the flowers in the pretty pots dangling from the overhang roof they're under.
“We'll be back at the palace soon” tries to soothe Gem, yet she's unsure.
If it goes on like last night, it might be a lie. This place looks like it runs in reverse hours.
“I doubt it” whispers Lizzie then straightens up as a young waiter brings them food and their drinks.
Another thing that strikes Cleo is that despite her power, being called a Queen by everyone and seemingly revered and respected Lizzie doesn't act tyrannical. Or even commanding.
She's so accommodating and mellow that it stresses Cleo out.
Why would anyone act like that, to that extent?
How are they meant to protect a Queen that meddles so much with people?
The three weren't even allowed to dress as knights, instead hanging out in normal clothes like they're friends out on a summer night.
The armourless knight picks at her dark green chemise, feeling defenseless. Ridiculous, the witch could just conjure up an explosive spell and be done with any problem.
Patience...
Consequentially, the witch is lead to wonder how the tour will go down.
The other empires will not go easy on this sovereign, especially since she's not as close to everyone as she is with Pixandria and Sanctuary, or the peace treaty wouldn't need to be created.
The magician knows for certain that the Fairy Court is not fond of the Ocean Empire.
After more cheek kisses and handshakes, they eat and leave the inn behind. “Oceainn”. Cleo wants to laugh at the corny name. The food was good, despite all the people.
The witch is not a touch oriented person so all this invading of their personal bubble is starting to get unnerving.
The quartet share some small details about their home cuisines and walk to the stage to spectate the little shows.
Lizzie actually goes up to get make up and comes down with a calico cat face and fuzzy cat ears.
“You should get it too, it's quite fun” she laughs, pushing Gem to the make-up artists.
And after a few protests, in the end, even Cleo is forced into that ridiculous paint.
A bee, a goose and a snake all look at the Queen with various displeased expressions.
“Don't be such grumps, it's good fun to let yourself go and indulge in silliness” chastises Lizzie, making paws at them. Or maybe she's just stretching.
Gem admits, that is true.
The dryad could pretend she's a bee, lured to flowers but wanting a snooze full of pollen under the warm sun, which looks suspiciously pink. She bites her tongue for her silly thoughts.
“I guess” grumbles Cleo, incredibly displeased.
“Oh you grumpy serpent, let loose and stop biting your own tail” Lizzie bats her arm.
Cleo scowls more but says nothing.
All four seem to relax as they peruse the food and display stands around the avenue.
The streets smell of cheap perfumes and good food, banners hanging and drifting in the breeze.
The atmosphere is fizzy, bubbling with the enthusiasm of children and adults enjoying the second day of festivities before the Queen's departure.
Maybe that's why everyone is so pushy, stealing every moment she'll spare them.
Despite her having left the town before for business and personal matters, this feels too monumental to just sit around and wonder when they'll next see her.
After all, the excitement of the day before is still simmering in the air.
Laughs, high pitched and deep ones from inside taverns echo along with little screams and squeals, babies crying and birds singing, as cicadas make the last of their tune and leave the stage to the night crickets.
They walk in front of many historical buildings that Lizzie points at, some older than others, but all decorated with the town's purple banner, decorated with elaborate lines of woven lilac ribbons.
The old city hall, or Community Center, white and purple, where the Critter Council resides, some narrow original roads, the town's pond with frogs and fish, an ancient tiny cemetery with candles lit up on the grave sites and old rickety butcher shops and fisher huts along the coastline.
Many more places.
What catches the eye immediately is how pleasantly beautiful everything looks, even if it's rundown and old, it's always kept with so much care and respect that to Gem it's not much of a mystery why the critters seem to love their queen so much.
Especially with how closely she seems to know some families, it sure does reflect the centuries of mutual reverence.
Gem brightens at the realization that an empire could develop and bloom into something like this.
She hopes the same will happen to her home empire, after the struggle of the schism dies down and the ground is solid again.
Though that may be decades away, not the first of but one of the most important steps towards that goal has been made in the decision to ally the Grimlands with the Ocean Empire and establish a market route to the rest of the empires.
The nymph is here just for that, to be a bridge between the two faraway crowns.
The knights and their queen circle back into Axolotl Avenue - the Queen had briefly called it- and towards the royal grounds, making a brief stop to get cotton candy by a colorful stand.
Lizzie picks blueberry, while Gem and Pearl opt for strawberry and lemon. Cleo ends up eating liquorice.
All three women look in horror as they scarf it down.
“What?” asks Cleo, midway through the candy.
“No no nothing...” Queen Lizzie holds her hands up and flickers her wrist with a humorous snicker.
“Yeah mate, that's awesome” comments Pearl.
“Cleo you do you, don't listen to them,” says Gem, even though she's 100% on their side. Yucky.
The evening is very pleasant, time slow and achingly sweet like molasses.
They do end up going back soon, they're at the palace before eleven.
As they walk through the threshold of the gardens the Queen casually announces that the next day they'll be going to the Landarium in the ocean.
“And…what is that supposed to be?” asks Pearl, as they wait for the small elevator.
“Oh. It's like an aquarium, but for land creatures, underwater.” explains Queen Lizzie simply, tapping her fingers on the seashell satchel, then the elevator pings and the nereid opens its elaborated purple iron doors.
Ah. Gem thinks.
She feels uneasy, but ultimately decides to say nothing as the nausea rises. She decides to take the stairs.
The Queen and Cleo share a look but decide not to push what's probably just the nymph getting a few more steps in.
It really is not.
The make-up on Gem's face feels itchy and uncomfortable. She wants to get rid of it.
Pearl follows her up the steps.
“Are you okay?” asks the wolf hybrid as they ascend, the question stops the nymph in her tracks, immobile.
“I don't like deep waters is all” Gem states, back still turned to her fellow knight, she doesn't let on more.
“I see. I'm also not a fan of those. Hopefully it'll be a short visit” Pearl compromises, gently grabbing her shoulder as she walks forward.
“Yeah, I hope so too” Gem sighs, following suit to reach the top of the stairs.
When they emerge into their floor, the duo hear the Queen wish them good night as she walks upstairs to her chambers. Cleo is already in theirs.
Once each of them retires to their spaces, the excitement of the day dies down and a mellowed out weariness starts to settle on the fawn's bones.
As Gem looks down from her window, the Ocean below feels hungry.