So sorry about the mix up to anyone who noticed it. I may have changed part 4 to a partially edited art 5 but I think I’ve restored it. I had to have a nap while editing.
Unless I’ve done something dreadful Part 1 is still here. I don’t know, I don’t trust me. Go check, get back to me if it’s an ever widening black hole. Unless you know… I’m so sorry.
…
Princess Tabitha found she was able to unlock doors by merely touching them, so she led Princess Natasha through a shortcut that had previously been barred. Natasha seemed oblivious to the route.
The two princesses walked through the forbidden Queen’s Chamber, neither noticed the other put small objects in their pockets.
…
“There you are,” whispered Empress Alexandria the Insane.
“Why are you just standing on the stairs in the dark, you kook,” Princess Natasha was very uncomfortable on the narrow dungeon steps.
“Your Exalted High Fruit Cakery, Empress Alexandria the Insane,” corrected the empress. “And keep your voice down, Mum’s having a nap.”
“Communication as an insect is very tiring,” said Nich.
“Hi,” Natasha the Tease rasped as she slid up next to Nich.
Princess Natasha noticed a distinctive pointiness to Nich’s ears, she squinted at him then stared thoughtfully at him. She then looked at the ladybug. “Mum?”
“Shush, Mum’s sleeping,” the Empress repeated.
Princess Natasha pointed at her own slightly pointed ears and looked at Nich. Nich nodded solemnly at her.
“Oh my Goodness, it’s Mum, its really Mum.”
Princess Tabitha stared incredulously at the normally sceptical Princess Natasha. “What are you saying?”
“Ah. um… It’s just something Mum said. Ages ago…” Princess Natasha was clearly choosing her words carefully.
“I know you and Mum kept secrets,” whispered Princess Tabitha.
“Me too,” said the Empress. “Mum was very open that there were things we couldn’t know until we were grown up.”
“Oh, in that case, I can tell you, this is actually plausible, although I wouldn’t have thought of it. But Mum said a pointed eared person might come one day and unless they had only one eye I should trust them implicitly.”
“They aren’t coming,” said Nich. “They can’t get out.”
The assembled looked at him but he didn’t expand. The ladybug flew up.
“You woke Mum!” declared Empress Alexandria.
Nich raised his hand, “Lisa says she wanted to wake up. She says we need to deal with bloody Catherine before she does something worse.”
“Righty-ho,” The empress marched down the dungeon stairs.
The dungeon was beautifully decorated in different tones of blue and cream. There was a roaring fire in the fireplace, stained glass ornaments and bright cards on the mantle and strings of popcorn and holly on every wall. There was a library for guards and prisoners, and plush, stuffed armchairs and sofas for all. The guards had a coffee table, but the dungeons had a roll top desk each, well stocked with paper, quills and multicoloured inks, as well as other assorted arts and crafts supplies. Unfortunately, for security reasons, any cutting the prisoners needed doing had to done by the guards, for security reasons.
Empress Alexandria the Insane had originally placed Queen Catherine the Not Quite That Great in a cell with one of the very soft beds, overstuffed mattress and fuzzy blankets. But before nightfall she regretted her spite and had her sister transferred to a cell with a firm mattress, and had the queen’s quilts and other favourite furnishings brought in.
As soon as they were in sight of the deposed Catherine the Not Quite That Great, the ladybug started flying around Nich’s face.
“Catherine you little Sod, what have you done?” shouted Nich.
“Excuse me, how very dare you address my majesty, Queen Catherine the Pretty Great Shut Up in that aggressive and familiar matter.” The queen drew herself up to her full height and fixed Nich with her haughtiest stare (and haughty stares were her hobby, so it was a doozy). “So are you down here to apologise and beg me to return.”
Nich smiled sheepishly and pointed at the ladybug. Queen Catherine squinted, she didn’t like wearing her glasses as she refused to look weak. When she realised what she was looking at, she squealed and hid behind her sofa.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” the queen squeaked.
“Mum is really cross, you are in sooooo much trouble,” the empress declared triumphantly.
“Shut up Alex,” the queen stood up but then glanced at the ladybug and ducked down again.
“Empress Alexandria the Insane to you.”
Nich said, “Oh sweetie, what a clever title, why don’t you sit quietly so Mum can yell at your sister.”
“Okey dokey!” the Empress quickly sat in the closest armchair.
“Good girl,” said Nich. “Catherine, wait, Lisa says she doesn’t know what to say to you, Lisa I’m getting confused.”
The ladybug flew into a dark corner. Nich smiled at everyone. “So, how are we all?”
“I’m being good,” said the empress.
“We’re all well, I believe,” said Princess Tabitha the Quiet.
“Who is this jerk,” said the Queen. “Is he one of yours, Tash?”
“Shut up Catherine, you idiot, he’s one of Mum’s people,” Princess Natasha said that in such as a solemn manner with no trace of vitriol that Queen Catherine realised how serious she was and, uncharacteristically, she shut up.
“So,” said Nich. “Anyone been up to anything interesting?”
“I’ve been in prison.” The queen used her most sarcastic tone.
“This is your problem,” started Princess Natasha.
“I’ve been working on an interesting project, and Tabitha has been reading a really interesting book,” the Emperess enthused. “Oh, and I have been being Empress. Could you ask Mum if I can stop, It’s kinda hard?”
“Then why did you usurp Queen Catherine?” asked Georgie.
“Well, two reasons really,” replied Alexandria.
After a pause Princess Tabitha realised the empress wasn’t going to continue.
“The two reasons were?” prompted Tabitha.
“Oh yeah, well you know, so I didn’t have to listen to her anymore.”
“Fair!” Natasha maintained eye contact with the Queen.
“And two, I love Catherine, you know, despite, you know.”
Georgie and Princess Tabitha nodded and Princess Natasha dropped her stare and shrugged.
The empress continued, “So I was afraid someone might assassinate her if I didn’t lock her up first.”
“Well, that’s just stupid,” declared the queen. “I was an excellent ruler. Everyone loved me.”
“That was really well done Alex,” said Georgie.
“I really admire that,” said Nich. “Being a leader is horrible, I avoid it whenever I can.”
“Then why didn’t you let me rule, I have all this potential being wasted,” Natasha pouted.
“You’re the baby!” the Queen, Empress and Princess Tabitha said in perfect unison.
…
Part 6 coming. I’m giving up on the weekly schedule, it just leads to me procrastinating especially when my rotten children steal my SupSup Marketeer Evie 2 weeks in a row. I will post the final installments when I finish … you know, making them look all pretty.
Evie, has deserted me. She is getting a real job. As a real marketer. Someone else will have to brush my hair, spoon feed me my gruel and make me post, posts. Alas.
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