Land of Mistique

Chapter Three

After a couple of minutes of snapping photos with Muyurni moaning in the back, Leanne finally agreed to go to whatever leaders this village had, and to get Muyurni's wounds treated. The fairy was struggling to fly; clearly, she'd never flown much in her life, and Leanne could see the strain on her wings and her body. 

She'd never been unkind, but her friendliness had always been sort of... Dry. Not like Miranda. Leanne's best friend was the life and soul of the party, even if every other sentence had to be a unique fact about caterpillars.

Leanne rolled her eyes as the fairy struggled behind and finally gave in. "Come here," she said. "I'll carry you."

Muyurni's eyes widened in shock and she flinched away. "You can't - you can't possibly - you are?"

"Um - what?" Leanne asked.

"You... You want... To date me? But... You're human... I'm a fairy... And-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Leanne said, raising a hand to halt the spluttering woman. "I said I could carry you. I didn't ask to date you. Who would want to date you, anyway?" She regretted the sentence leaving her mouth as Muyurni's eyes darkened, but she didn't so much as utter a word, instead glancing everywhere but at Leanne.

Finally, she spoke. "You really didn't mean anything...?"

"You're hobbling around like you're carrying a ten ton weight and those wings look like they're going to break. So put aside whatever traditions prevent me from helping you and get your butt over here. I haven't got any romantic intentions - they aren't even friendly. I'm just tired of walking at, hm, ten meters per minute."

Muyurni flushed, but finally allowed Leanne to carry her. The fairy felt as light as a feather, and Leanne only had her body to show that someone was actually resting in her arms.

She set Muyurni down in front of the building to avoid any awkwardness. The building where the fairy king and queen lived - well, she supposed it was the palace - looked... Terrible. Slightly more decorated than the peasants' houses, but otherwise just as gray and boring.

It was smaller than any palace she'd ever seen. There was no reception area, no servants, just an immediate dining area and then the bedrooms. It honestly looked no bigger than Leanne's house.

"You're sure the king and queen live... Here?" she asked Muyurni.

"Of course," Muyurni said, surprised, as if she hadn't expected Leanne to doubt it.

Not to be rude, but... Leanne's own house was more well-decorated than this, and she didn't even care about cleanliness.

"The king and queen are coming!" Muyurni hissed.

Sure enough, they were. Now, they looked... Slightly rich? The king was wearing a uniform which looked new from a distance, but up close, it wasn't as white as it seemed. It was yellowed from age. And the queen's seemingly exquisite ballgown was old as well, fraying at the edges. 

Leanne moved to curtsey before she realized she was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Her typical clothing, but most certainly not presentable in front of a king and queen. But at least her clothes weren't frayed and old; her mother had bought this top just three weeks ago, and the jeans... Well, she'd bought them from the thrift store, but they were in relatively good condition.

"Good evening, fair girl," the king said and bowed slightly. Leanne felt a shiver run down her spine. When had anyone ever bowed to her? "I am King Erici." King Erici - weirdest name she'd ever heard, but... Sure. "Muyurni, my daughter. What has happened to you?"

Muyurni was a princess? Well, that couldn't be good; she'd just broken two of the princess's limbs.

"You're a princess?" It came out of Leanne's lips before she could stop it.