The SerumOrb

Turn of the Seasons Festival

Chapter: Turn of the Seasons Festival

"Kitealla, you have to go!" Serafin insisted excitedly as they walked across the lawn of the Research and Sciences building, "you won't even remember you went, it's dusted, remember?"

Four times a year, each time the season turns, the Royal Family throws a festival and ventures to the city square to dance and mingle with the citizens in fancy dress. No magical cloaks, no appearance altering magic, just the Royal family enjoying what it might be like if they didn't have to conceal their identities. At the end of the night the city is dusted with a Mystico powder that wipes away everyone's memories of the night.

The average citizen finds it an exciting and enchanting night to look forward to, for Kitealla it means the entrances to the city will be heavily guarded and her best friend rendered too busy to do any adventuring. Kitealla had long known of Serafin's Royal Council status and it often put a damper on things. It wasn't too soon after their friendship started one random afternoon that her snooping and casual stalking led her to her concluding Serafin's double life.

"Come on, Kitty!" Serafin begged in a childish voice, "If I have to be there you should too. You are my best friend, you know."

Kitealla stopped with a sigh as Serfin put herself between her and the building entrance with crossed arms.

"Fine," her purple eyes glinted with frustration, "but I'm not staying in that crowd of people all night. Maybe I will be able to eavesdrop on some people who have spotted my request for test subjects."

"I'll take it!" Serafin Squealed, "I can even enchant a hooded cloak to hide your eyes, like the ones the Royal Council wear."

***********

Kitealla, not entirely given permission to be out and about, watched from a staircase as the Kingdom II Royal Family made their entrance. The King and Queen held each other's hands lovingly as they greeted a few people in the crowd, wasting no time to begin conversation.

Then, the eldest, Princess Serafin. Serafin spotted her friend easily, donned in her enchanted purple cloak.

Kitealla smiled as the princess waved first in her direction, then in that of her date, Kingdom III's Prince Demon Des. Either Serafin had gotten lucky with her date selection, or, more likely, she had waited until the last minute and took advantage of the Royal Council meeting bringing the Des family to town.

Next to make his grand appearance was Prince Marigold, rousing a few cheers from his lovely fan girls. Kitealla chuckled to herself Leave it to Prince Marigold to gain a teen cult following while wearing only a cloak.

Finally was the Princess Sage, only recently allowed a family seat in the Royal Council. Kitealla watched as she made her way forward, giving a soft nervous smile. A cold tingle ran down Kitealla's spine causing her to stand up straight.

"That's her!" she nearly yelled as she scurried to find serafin, dragging her away from an excitable circle of chatter by the elbow.

"Princess Serafin," she breathed, noting the glares on the faces surrounding them, " I know who Garden Girl is."

"No way!" Princess Serafin gave a dramatic gasp before she burst in excitement, "Just kidding, I knew the whole time. Did you think I would never talk to my sister? Sage is going to love you! C'mon." She grabbed Kitealla's arm roughly and nearly drug her over to where her sister stood looking lost and uncomfortable.

"Princess Sage!" Serafin shrieked, nearly toppling all three of them over.

"Princess Serafin?" Sage questioned catching sight of Kitealla as she tried to balance herself and her extravagant dress. A small blush collected on her cheeks, "It's you."

"Princess." Kitealla cleared her throat, bowing a bit.

"You do not have to bow for me, you are a friend." Princess Sage waved her hands, pausing thoughtfully for a moment, "though, I do not know your name."

"Her name is Kitty." Princess Serafin smiled.

"Kitealla." she gave her friend a glare.

"Princess Serafin!" they turned to where Prince Demon waved.

"Better be getting off to my date. I'll leave you two to it." Princess Serafin giggled and skipped off.

"She seems more excited than when I agreed to come." Kitealla shook her head in amusement.

"Hopefully she is. Although, It will be a shame when she leaves for her new Kingdom with him." Kitealla caught the seriousness in Princess Sage's face. Arranged marriages within the Royal families wasn't a huge secret to the average citizen, although plenty frowned upon them.

"She talked about how she planned to force her future husbands to move here." Kitealla noted.

"Husbands? Of course." Princess Sage laughed, "Even though she would like to overthrow a government to get her way, there is a rule in place for if a marriage within Royal Families should take place."

"Is there?" Kitealla raised a brow.

"The new couple goes to the smallest family."

"So the whole overthrow the government thing, she has a plan? I just don't see her giving up on that goal."

"You know my sister well?" Sage laughed and feigned jealousy.

"We have been good friends since her days of sneaking around official Kingdom buildings began. You look lovely, by the way." Kitealla eyed the lavender glitter on her dress. She took the Princess's hand and led her off to a quieter corner for some pleasant conversation.

******

"It has been such a lovely night." Princess Sage gave a shy smile.

"It has." Kitealla agreed, gazing down at the dancing and merriment taking place below. The pair had snuck away and found themselves on a rooftop of a nearby building giving them a more than satisfying view of both the festivities and the land reaching out past the city walls.

"It is a shame I have to forget this night." Kitealla noted slyly.

"We will just have to wait and introduce ourselves during our next chance meeting in the gardens." Princess Sage forced a charming smile, one she had seen replicated on Serafin's face many times.

Kitealla's face lit up with an idea.

"Come with me!" she grabbed ahold of the Princess's hand pulling her gently to her feet and rushed her back to the city streets below.

"The Gardens where we met all those times are out of the Magic Dust's range." Kitealla explained once they were surrounded by Mystico flowers and plants.

"Is it now?" Princess Sage chuckled thoughtfully, "let me help with your efforts, just to be sure." She began expertly gathering the plants she needed and summoned a mortar and pestle to crush them into a juicy pulp. She took her place next to Kitealla and began using the pulp to form a ring around them, adding some glowing thistle here and there. With a quick chant a lavender bubble appeared around them.

"A Mystico shield." Kitealla breathed in fascination touching its cool surface gently with her fingertips.

"This way any dust on the wind won't reach you. It is almost midnight." Princess Sage smiled, "they will be looking for me. I can leave without breaking the shield, but you will have to stay and remain undetected until you are sure it is safe to return home."