Empires SMP: Creation stories (Season 1)

Chapter 7: House Blossom

A soft light glowed from the hallway, slowly approaching. As it neared, it began to take the form of a woman with cat ears and a thin black tail. She was barefoot, striding forward and hovering a few inches above the floor.

"Hello." Her voice was soft. "I've been expecting you."

"I'm surprised that you're here. I knew you were coming, by I was unaware you'd be here today. I'll admit, you've surprised me."

She steps forward.

"I hardly surprise that easily."

She winked.

"I think this is a story you deserve to know."

"The story of House Blossom."

----

Katherine's POV

Katherine leapt up, feeling a ripple skid down her spine. "Callum!" She shrieked, her fur standing on end. Her best friend, Callum, was in his human form, laughing his head off. Katherine glared at him, her ears twitching in irritation.

"Sorry Kat." Callum snickered. "It was worth it." He closed his eyes and transformed back into his animal form, his fox ears glimmering in the light, and his bushy tail lashing.

Katherine stood up from her sunbathing spot, her dark paws tingling as she stood up. She and Callum strode across the courtyard, chatting about a few things. "Kat, what's it like being royalty?" Asked her friend suddenly.

Katherine paused mid-step, her inky black paw raised just below her chest, racking her brain for an answer. "Um...." She hesitated, her tail twitching. "I suppose you could say that it's annoying because I have six siblings and I'm not the crown princess, but it also means that I feel safer than some of our friends."

Katherine was the third child of 7 born to Queen Estasia and King Consort Matthew. Katherine's sisters were Crown Princess Meghan, Princess Elaina, Katherine herself, Countess Marinetta of Eastvale in the Grimlands, Princess Helenana, Princess Ireness and Princess Catalina. Out of all Katherine's sisters, only Marinetta was married, and to the count of Eastvale in the Grimlands.

Katherine and Callum raced each other across the front lawn, their forepaws making a spray of morning dew shower up behind them. As they just about flew over the lawn, Callum slammed into a tall, brown-haired boy. They both simultaneously yelped, causing Katherine to slow down until she stopped. "Cal?" She asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yep." Callum said softly. His collision with the boy had shocked him into his human state. Kat hurried over and Callum shifted back into his fox form, lying on his back.

The boy kneeled down and flipped Callum over, crouching beside him. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah." Callum breathed. "I'm Callum, and this is Katherine."

The boy's eyes widened. "Wait, Princess Katherine?" He stared at the pair, google-eyed.

"Yep." Katherine sat down on her haunches. "Who are you?"

"I'm Oli." The boy said, shape-flickering from his human form to a panda and back again. "I can't believe that I'm actually with royalty."

Katherine looked away. "I'm probably the one person in my entire family who hates the spotlight." She mumbled. "I avoid my whole family. Out of everyone in House Blossom, only Callum is my friend."

Her fluff fluffed up against the wind. As she glanced down, she spotted her paws. Small flowers were blooming around her feet, like usual. But unlike usual, they led away from her. She frowned, but she didn't say anything. "Katherine!" The trio spun around, Oli shrinking back into his panda form. Padding forward were Katherine's sisters Meghan and Catalina, and her mother Queen Estasia. All three were in their cat forms; Catalina was pale pink, Meghan was light yellow and Estasia was a deep red. Estasia led her kids forward, and Katherine and her friends bowed.

"Mother." Katherine said, straightening. "What is it?"

"Your niece is about to be christened this weekend." Estasia said. "You are going to say here with Helenana to make sure she stays in line as the queen regent."

Oli spoke up. "My queen, why is Helenana, who is fifth in line for the throne, going to be the queen regent instead of Katherine, who is third in line?"

Estasia glared at him. "Because Katherine is the worst of my offspring." She spat. "Besides, once my granddaughter is born, Katherine will be the last in line."

Katherine's welled with tears and she turned, bolting. She raced up to her room, her feet pounding onto the stairs, her form shifting from cat to human. She burst into her room and slammed the door, lying on her bed and letting her tears fly down her face. "Why?" She asked herself softly.

"Because you're a loser." Said a sweet voice. Katherine buried her head further in her pillow.

"Aw, Kat, don't cry." Katherine's older half-sister, Elaina, patted her shoulder. "Mom's a jerk. She can't see how amazing you are."

"I want to be alone, Elaina." Katherine sniffled. She heard her sister leave the room, and turned back to her pillow.

----

Katherine had no idea how long she had slept for, but she woke up in the night to a low howling sound. She stood up and looked around. Her window was wide open, her curtains flapping in the wind. She spotted a trail of flowers leading outside and flew out, her fairy wings beating. As she followed the flowers, she noticed a crevice in the side of the hill. The flowers led into the crevice. She crept in, and her eyes widened.

Inside the cave were many plants, glowing with particles from the huge spore blossom. She spotted a lectern in the corner and picked up the book from it.

'Dear Guardian,

I am the Overgrown, I have chosen you to be my messenger. I have required an emissary for multiple centuries, but no suitable woman or man has shown up.'

Katherine stared. "Why me?" She asked.

'I chose you because you have an innocence your family does not. Your sensibility outshines everyone else's that I have met.'

Katherine smiled. "I gladly accept."

'Thank you, Princess Katherine.'

Katherine placed the book back and went back to her bed. She drifted off to sleep, she imagined her adventures with the Overgrown.

----

Katherine felt pain burst up her ears and tailbone. She snapped awake and wailed. She rolled over, staring at herself in the mirror.

She froze.

She had her black ears and her black tail.

She was trapped between transformations.

She leapt up and ran to her parents' room. She had to see them. She raced into their room and grabbed the doorhandle. When she entered, her eyes widened.

Her parents were stuck as cats. She burst into tears when she saw her sisters. They were stuck as well.

"Katherine." Spat her mother in cat language. "I hate to do this, but you now have to rule House Blossom."

Katherine spoke quietly. "I have to tell you something." She said softly. "I am the emissary of the Overgrown."

Everyone was startled.

"So I deserve this."

----

Katherine smiled. "I remember when I saw Callum and Oli again, they were happy for me. I am so grateful that they were there with me. I led with them. After Shelby and I began dating, they were my biggest supporters."

"I'm happy I served the Overgrown my whole life. And I'm happy they gave me an amazing life."

"With everyone I loved." 

----

Two updates in one day!!!!! Hurrah!

Just a forewarning, updates next week may be a few days late because I have the Remembrance Day Choir performance and I have a few projects to finish before my first report card. 

Also, sidenote, when did we get past 190 reads? Thank you!

But again, enjoy this! Only 5 chapters and an epilogue to go, have a good week everyone!