Fantasia

Chapter 11

When Vicky woke up, she found herself in a big room with white marble walls, big windows, and a crystal chandelier. She was lying on a soft bed, and a woman with blonde hair, was tending to her. She had a cool cloth on her forehead, and silk sheets were put on her as a blanket.

As soon as the woman realized that Vicky was awake, she straightened up and helped Vicky sit against the wall.

'I'm Alice. The daughter and son of Maria, a court member, who were travelling with you, found out that you and another girl who looked very much like you had fainted and immediately brought you here. the queen has told me that once you are up for it, I should bring you and that other girl to her.'

Vicky groaned and said, 'where's Ellie? My sister?'h

'Oh, is that your sister? I thought so, yes, you looked very similar to each other. She has been up for a while now, if we will be kind enough to wait, I can go and get her.'

Vicky nodded and alice ran out of the room, and came in a few moments later, pulling Ellie with her.

Ellie threw her arms around Vicky and hugged her so tight that she couldn't breathe.

'Ellie, stop! I can't breathe!' she choked, and Ellie let go of her.

'oh, Vicky, I was so worried! Thank god you are alright!' Vicky patted her back, and after an hour, Alice was escorting them to Lady Iris's personal bedroom.

Lady Iris had her back facing them, looking out of a window. Alice bowed out of the room and shut the door behind her. 'uh, Lady Iris?' Ellie asked tentatively. Lady Iris turned, revealing a very familiar looking woman with brown-blonde hair and emerald green eyes, the same colour as theirs. Their jaws dropped to the floor. 'Mom?' they said in unision. Lady Iris rushed towards them and hugged them both tight, saying, 'girls! You have been gone too long! I missed you! Are you both fine?'

Ellie and Vicky were speechless, their eyes as the size of really big bouncy balls. Their mother looked at them, concern filling her eyes. she took them by the hand to the bed and sat them down.

'mom?' Ellie asked uncertainly again.

'yes, Ellie, it's me.' They mother reassured her.

'you're the queen of Fantasia?' Vicky asked, not able to believe it still.

Lady Iris smiled, and said, 'yes, that's me.'

Vicky suddenly became furious. 'mom, why didn't you tell us? That would have saved us from going on a two week long trip all around Fantasia to collect the most prized possessions of the rulers.'

Lady Iris said, ' Oh, girls! I promise, I'll explain everything.' 'you'd better.' Vicky mumbled.

Ellie on the other hand, was completely ecstatic.

'Does that mean,' she asked, he eyes growing even wider, 'that Vicky and I are royalty?'

Lady Iris nodded, and she squealed in delight.

'Mom, can you please explain? I can't stand the suspense!' Vicky yelled, unable to stop herself.

Lady Iris smiled, and she started. 'I met your father when I was making trips to the otherworld, which is the world you both were raised in. he was a very charming young man, and I instantly fell in love with him. Turns out that he felt the same way. We got married, and a year later, you two came along. Everything was just perfect. Your father was in the army, so he couldn't just retire and come to Fantasia. I couldn't stay away from your father for that long, so I decided to raise you two there. But, I was just crowned queen then. I had to fulfill my duties. I created the portal, and secured it into twin necklaces. Yes, the necklaces that you have. I kept it with me, and on your birthday, your father and I had a small talk. We both decided that we couldn't keep the secret from you, so I gave the necklaces to you. You both loved it, and I knew that it was about time before you both opened the portal and landed up here. Time goes by much more faster here, so when you go back home, only one second would have passed. But people with magic in their blood know the time difference and can feel it. I knew something was wrong, so I immediately came here. I sent search parties for you, but they never found anything. I knew what your mission was; I knew it was not long before both of you came to me. So I waited. The son and daughter of Maria, who is a member in my court, what was they name? Ah, yes, Strokes and Ivy. Well, both of them brought you here, and I had some people look after you. You fainted of tiredness. There. Happy, Vicky? Got your explanation?' Vicky could barely even nod; she was that speechless. Finally, she said, 'no wonder it felt like days for a second to pass! You'd go to the bathroom for a minute, but it feels like a week!'

Ellie frowned. 'But mom, if you're the ruler of Fantasia, then how do you come here to rule and manage over there too?' Lady Iris smiled. 'I go during work hours. And it's not that difficult, I can go however long I want, and when I come back, only a second is gone.'

'So you don't work as an assistant at Books Of Wonder?' Lady Iris shook her head. 'Actually, Mrs. Gordon is a member of my court who helps me back at home.'

Ellie's eyes grew even wider. Then she came into a realization. 'Oh no! Strokes and Ivy! They don't even know!' and she jumped up and pulled Vicky behind her. They dashed through the corridors, their mother hot at their heels. They found Strokes and Ivy in the garden, and once they saw them, Ivy rushed forwards and hugged them tight.

'Oh, you guys fainted! Are you alright?' she asked, and then saw Lady Iris standing behind them.

'Oh! Lady Iris!' she said and hastily bowed. Strokes followed suit. Lady Iris nodded towards them, and looked expectantly at the twins.

Vicky noticed this. 'what? Oh right.' And she turned to Ivy and Strokes.

'guys, big news, don't judge us, we just got to know but-' she said, and was interrupted by Ellie.

'Lady Iris is our mother!' Ellie finished excitedly.

Ivy and Strokes gaped at her. 'that's why I thought I had seen you before!' Strokes exclaimed.

Ivy finally found her voice. 'So, you're saying that I have travelled by pegasi, helped and am the elder sister of the friend of the princesses of Fantasia?' she gasped.

'It's kinda lame, but yeah, you're right.' Vicky sighed.

Ellie turned to her mother. 'Mom, before we go back home, can promise us that we can come back? Please?'

Lady Iris hesitated, but Ellie's eyes were wide and pleading her to promise.

Lady Iris smiled, and said, 'Promise.' Ellie smiled even wider, and Vicky said, 'Now, mom, can we go home?'

Lady Iris shook her head. 'Only after I introduce you to my court.'

Both of them groaned, and let themselves be pulled by their mother.

They glanced back at Strokes and Ivy; Strokes was holding his stomach and laughing, while Ivy was frozen with shock. After a big round of introduction, a tour of the palace, and a big day at the palace, Lady Iris finally created them a portal. 'Oh, and mom?' Vicky said.

Their mother looked at her, telling her to go on.

'Can you please return the possessions? And also, can you cure King Crackhead's wife, Queen Trollee? We promised.' She asked.

Lady Iris smiled and nodded.

Ellie and Vicky hugged their mother goodbye, hugged Strokes and Ivy, waved to everybody else, and walked through the vortex of light. They fell through it, and they found themselves lying on the floor of the café they had originally tripped in.

A woman was splashing water on their faces, and they sat up.

'Sorry,' said the woman, 'my sons played a prank.' She gestured to two boys behind her who were giggling so badly, they looked as if they would explode with laughter. 'It's okay.' Ellie mumbled, pulled Vicky up, and dragged her out of the coffee shop.

They ran back home, and rang the doorbell.

Mr. Barfield opened it, and he looked surprised. 'You girls came early!'

Ellie and Vicky engulfed him in a hug, and when they pulled away, Mr. Barfield looked even more confused than ever. They walked into the house and went past the kitchen, and as they did, their mother looked up at them and winked. 'You girls had quite an adventure!' she laughed, and Ellie and Vicky burst out laughing at the look on Mr. Barfield's face.

'We'll tell you later.' They giggled, ran upstairs, and into their own rooms, happy to be back home and have some time alone.

They told their father about their adventure, and he was very surprised.

'You need to take me there. I really want to see you're mother's palace.' He demanded.

They were walking to the train station, and the call for his train came. He hugged Ellie and Vicky, climbed onto the train and waved, shouting, 'You two don't have any more adventures without me!' Ellie and Vicky laughed, knowing it was a promise they could never keep.