Many Moons Ago

  ( Princess Puddingpuff )

  Princess Puddingpuff stomped up the spiralling steps, cursing the clandestine design of her hushing footwear.

  How am I to convey my displeasure when these blasted boots stifle every sound?

  In a moment of tantrum-induced madness, she raised a knee high, before jabbing the heel down as hard as she could without breaking the stairs beneath.

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  "Hmph!" she huffed in satisfaction.

  Upon arriving in the Dormitory hall, she plucked the locket from her pocket and flipped it open. The visage within scowled. From the artisanal silentsilk dress, to the carefully curated curls of hair, the entire reflection was splattered with sloppy scraps of food.

  The others did not know just how much Princess Puddingpuff contributed to the queendom. If they did, they might recognise her as the rightful next-in-line, or at the very least, the one to thank for their healthy public relations and booming economy. Yet her contributions must remain unspoken, lest Titania come to perceive her as something of a threat.

  She was in no rush to succeed the Radiant Queen. In fact, she believed the longer Titania reigned the better. Her indomitable presence was the ultimate deterrent to any who would seek to harm them. She was the brightest of all beacons that not only warded away threats that Princess Puddingpuff was ill-equipped to handle herself, but also allowed her to work from the shadows. Acting unseen made it far easier to better both herself and the realm, so that when the time eventually came, Princess Puddingpuff's rule would be one of learned efficiency and prosperous comfort.

  In other words, patience was of a higher priority than praise. As such, she chose to embody her importance through other methods. Namely, superiority of speech and pride in her appearance. Though recently, her control over both had been tested by the latest addition to their family.

  Shameless scamp. Utterly rapscallious. Loud, impulsive, chaotic and messy. A damnable demon in diminutive disguise.

  Newbie had been struggling to discover her magic since her recent emergence. That night, however, cherries had been served at the feast, and her magic was a mystery no longer.

  Princess Puddingpuff snapped the locket to a close and made her way down the Dormitory hall with slamming strides, as if punishing the floor. She passed feathers and waves. Unicorn and rabbit. Even mint leaf and cupcake... then proceeded in silence. Finally she arrived at the last two rooms, only one of which remained vacant now that Little Miss Impish had appeared.

  With one final check, she turned the handle and opened the unadorned door, only to reveal a scene which caused her to freeze in place.

  Lying upon the distant, unclaimed bed were a collection of tomes. Borrowing them from Titania's Study had been a rather arduous process, as Princess Puddingpuff was yet to acquire her own key. Beside them rested her beautifully-written research notes, and a humble dinner plate, one she herself had painstakingly painted with a ring of precise symbols.

  None of that was an issue. In fact, it was exactly what she'd expected to find within the room. The true kerfufflement was the butterfly-winged monarch in waiting.

  Despite knowing flight to be an impossible option, Princess Puddingpuff spared a glance down the Dormitory hall once more. Sure enough, Splishsplash had arrived to guard the entrance and keep the others at bay.

  ...I do hope she didn't witness my fluster.

  "Enter," said Titania firmly.

  And so Princess Puddingpuff did exactly that. She approached, stopping a dozen paces short of the radiant ruler.

  "Explain," said Titania.

  Where to start...

  "...I believe it's no secret that I'm somewhat dissatisfied with the boons of my metamorphosis. The others received great strength, resilience and endurance. I was not. True, I have some speed, but I can only maintain said pace for mere minutes. Not only that, but my granted magic is pitiful. Being able to transform one form of sustenance to another, with neither choice nor control, is insulting compared to what the rest of you are capable of. Everything I will ever consume is cursed to become sweet. That might not sound like such an issue, but I assure you, after just a few weeks of watching my allies perform incredible feats, the taste of sugar became quite sickly, and has far from improved since then."

  Titania remained unamused. "Understandable, but dissatisfaction does not permit you to defy my will, nor steal from me whilst my back is turned."

  I didn't steal. I borrowed... but perhaps this is not the best time to quibble the difference.

  "Then I suppose the only thing I can do now is apologise." Princess Puddingpuff bowed. "Please allow me to issue the following statement: I understand that I acted improperly. I recognise that I have wronged you, and I am sorry." Even she was disappointed at how disingenuous she sounded. "...Very sorry."

  Titania inspected the plate's runes. "What is it you were attempting to achieve, exactly?"

  Is that not obvious? She's more than capable of reading such simple symbols.

  "I was hoping to redirect my transformative magic away from the sweet," said Princess Puddingpuff. "Mealtimes would be far more palatable if I were able to sample the savoury from time to time. You have no idea what it's like to crave the bland starch of a plain potato." From her pocket, she presented exactly such a spud.

  Burning eyes narrowed. "...Then you may try, if you must."

  Princess Puddingpuff gave a polite smile and started forward.

  "However," said Titania, "I would suggest you do not. If you place any faith in my wisdom, then you'll break this plate and never meddle with runes again."

  Princess Puddingpuff paused to examine the dish once more. She was hardly an expert, but she'd checked and double checked her work beyond all doubts. "...You believe I've made some manner of mistake?"

  "Not yet..."

  So it's a test? She wants to see if I'll go against her wishes?

  "Just to be absolutely clear, you are granting me permission to attempt this, correct?"

  "I am permitting you to learn from your own hubris, must you refuse to heed my advice."

  Princess Puddingpuff rolled her lips.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  How hypocritical. She employs the use of runes most regularly. Why warn me of the very path she herself walks? Perhaps she simply underestimates my understanding? If so, then there is only one way to show how capable I truly am...

  Princess Puddingpuff sat down upon the bed, placed the plate on her lap and the plain potato atop.

  The monarch's lips parted as if she were about to say something, yet only a sigh escaped.

  "I appreciate your concern, but I believe this to be well within my grasp," said Princess Puddingpuff.

  With that, she brought the potato to her lips. Runes illuminated the very moment it made contact with her saliva. Rough, rooty skin shimmered pink. The spud's composition began to change, yet no sense of sweetness spread across her tongue.

  I've done it! It's working! It's... it's...

  Princess Puddingpuff's body tensed. Muscles locked and eyes widened. Her magic felt different than usual. It wasn't simply radiating from her maw, but being drawn from all over her body. From the tips of her toes to the hairs upon her head, she could feel something being sapped. Dragged. Drained.

  Only then did she realise how demanding runes truly were. Titania might be able to handle them due to her immense power, but Princess Puddingpuff was woefully unready for such a requirement.

  The potato began to wither. Began to stale. Began to rot. Mould bloomed from the decaying spud and spread into her paralysed mouth.

  Distorted, darkening vision dropped to the plate.

  Break... Have to... Break!

  Yet she couldn't even budge. All she could do was peer up to Titania pleadingly as fungus started to smother her face.

  The monarch clicked her digits, summoning a flame butterfly into existence. It descended to burn the runes away, leaving only scorch marks upon the plate.

  Princess Puddingpuff fell limp and slid to the floor. It took all of her effort to spit the spoilt starch and festering fluff from her blighted mouth. The flavour was far from sweet, but even further from pleasant.

  "Most of the weakness will fade in time," said Titania.

  "Most?" choked Princess Puddingpuff. "What do you mean by most?"

  "It seems your knowledge is incomplete," said Titania. "Runes were humanity's first attempt to harness magic. They're far from useless, but hugely inefficient. The affected energy demands a far higher cost than usual. For us fairies, magic comes from within. As such, so is the price paid... You can think of it as life, vitality, or even soul, but however you choose to perceive it, a part of you is now forever lost. You said you were able to maintain your speed for a matter of minutes?" She closed her eyes regretfully. "I would not be surprised if you find it mere seconds now."

  "Why?" spluttered Princess Puddingpuff. "Why would you allow me to do this?"

  Orbs of roiling flame flared wide once more. "In the hope that when next we talk, you listen." Titania motioned to the pile of borrowed tomes. "I expect these returned by sunrise. If you haven't regained the ability to walk before such a time, then I expect you to crawl." With that, Titania strode toward the door.

  Just as Princess Puddingpuff's mouth continued to drool mycelium musk, so too did her curiosity demand answers. "How do you do it? How do you use these runes without losing strength?"

  Titania's hand paused on the door's handle, her grip weak. For a moment she remained silent. When she finally spoke, she did so quietly. Vulnerably. The embers of her eyes dimmer than usual. "...I don't."

  Cold dread rolled down Princess Puddingpuff's spine.

  "...Then another question!" The words lingered like the mildew upon her tongue, as if afraid of the answer that would follow. "...What happens when you have nothing left to give? What happens when you run dry?"

  But Titania would not respond. She opened the door and left.

  In the excruciating tedium that followed, all Princess Puddingpuff could do was watch as the pale blue fungus soaked into the carpet. She was as helpless to prevent it as she was the apocalypse to come. If nothing else, lying sprawled upon the floor gave her time to think. Time to consider whether it was even worth scrubbing the stain now that she knew the world was doomed.

  Perhaps I'll follow our great Queen's example and leave that mess for the next fairy to deal with...

  Slow minutes dragged into endless hours.

  Eventually, a slight smile graced her lips.

  Yes. I'll allow you to remain, little stain. One day, you'll provide the owner of this room, whoever they may be, a mystery.

  She doubted they'd ever trace its origin, but that hardly mattered. If anything, the truth would only serve to disappoint. What she was granting them was something far more constructive. The gift of curiosity.

  May you inspire intrigue!

  Her idle pondering came to an end when the door opened once more. She strained over to see bare feet on approach. Having monitored Splishsplash's activities from afar, she couldn't help leaping to grave conclusions.

  Did Titania change her mind? Has she sent her Ace, rather, her executioner for me?

  She closed her eyes and braced, half-expecting to feel faesteel forks pierce her flesh. After a moment of veiled quiet, she peeked once more to see Splishsplash was stacking the borrowed tomes.

  "What are you doing?" asked Princess Puddingpuff.

  Oceanic pools glanced down at her, devoid of emotion. "Attempting to better our bond by sparing you humiliation."

  Princess Puddingpuff almost laughed at such unexpected sincerity. When no clever retort came to mind, she responded in kind. "...Thank you, sister. I appreciate it." This time, her words were most genuine.

  Splishsplash gave a single nod before lifting the tidied texts.

  "...You do understand the situation we're in, right?" asked Princess Puddingpuff.

  Splishsplash looked to the mouldy mush upon the floor. "It appears to be unideal."

  "I wasn't talking about the potato," sighed Princess Puddingpuff. "I was talking of the queendom. All three of them, come to think of it. The world as we know it only survives because of the distribution of faefire. A supply I have just learned to be frighteningly finite. Titania will not last eternal."

  "While correct, that is not to be repeated. Ever."

  For a moment, Princess Puddingpuff only rolled her lips whilst gazing up at the enforcer. "...You accept it? You and Titania both? You've just... given up?"

  "The Queens have attempted to metamorphose one capable of producing a faefire equivalent for centuries. So far, all efforts have been unsuccessful." Splishsplash paused. "...There is one cocoon they believe promising, but even that remains uncertain."

  "So you're leaving civilisation's continued existence... to chance?" Princess Puddingpuff was more than familiar with the concept of gambling, but even she believed wagering the lives of every man, woman and child to be unacceptably hazardous. "I dread to think how many times the dice have been rolled thus far, but it seems to me that you're playing at rather disadvantageous odds."

  "If you are able to produce a more reliable solution, I believe Queen Titania would be willing to hear it."

  Princess Puddingpuff cast her gaze toward the singed plate beside her frail form.

  There's still too much I do not know. If I do not wish to inherit a world of ruin, I must access every secret kept from me...

  Princess Puddingpuff smirked. "Then there is much to be done."