Mission To The Unknown

In The Heart Of The Palace (9)

"Just wait until you see the palace from up close, Second! The gate alone is a masterpiece, every inch of it tells a story!". Green, hopping from foot to foot in excitement, gestured towards the grand gate ahead. Second chuckled, pulling his cloak tighter around his face, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

"Green, you know I've been inside a palace all my life. I doubt anything could surprise me anymore". Green shrugged, keeping lightness radiating from every inch of him.

"We'll just have to see that, won't we Prince Second?". He asked, singing the last part with a lighthearted tone. Second just hummed in respond, walking behind Green but then looked down at his reflection in a nearby puddle, his eyes lingering on the now-uniform amber color, his other emerald eye now became amber as well.

"Speaking of... how long will this potion last?". Green's bright eyes darted to Second's face, then back at the ground. He tapped a finger on his cheek, trying to recall.

"At least until midnight, if we're lucky. Though, I've never used this one on myself, so I'm not entirely sure". Second pondered this for a moment, eyebrows furrowing slightly before his eyes drifted back to his new look.

"You didn't happen to... make... this potion, did you?". He asked tentatively, his gaze finding Green's. Green puffed a laughed, throwing his head back and placing a hand on his hip.

"Oh heavens, no! I'm no witch, no alchemist, none of that! It was a gift, though. Quite a weird one, really, from Prince Golden. You know, Prince Purple's little brother".

Before Second could open his mouth to respond, Green stopped abruptly, a fond smile placed on his face. Out of the corner of his hooded eye, Second caught Green's widened eyes and then felt his body bump into Green's back. Reeling a bit from the sudden halt, he prepared to quiz him on his reasons for standing still. However, gasps of surprise and amusement quickly blotted out the words forming on his tongue.

Before them loomed the magnificent entranceway to the royal palace. It was a sight barely describable. Flowers of all colors were dangling from the gate, like the door to a magical, beautiful paradise. Each petal was dazzling: shades of pink, violet, and others beyond recognition glittered in the sun, their colors brought out by the intricate tangles of gold that covered every inch of the gate. The sight was definitely a new one. Second was well aware that Hephaestus kingdom's gate didn't have such vivid colors, apart from silver and gold. It seemed that Green's claims of the gate being spectacular were indeed true.

"Wow". Second breathed, speechless. His palace might have been grand, but it lacked the vibrant, almost otherworldly charm of this gate. It was as if Mother Nature herself had woven a masterpiece of color and light.

"See? I told you!". Green, his eyes wide with excitement, remembering his first time seeing the gate too, beamed at Second.

"I suppose you were right. This is... beyond anything I could've imagined".

However, as soon as they entered the grounds, seeing the maids scurrying around, carrying plates of delicacies and floral displays, they both realized that something was afoot. Green tried to stop one of the maids but failed as they all ran in such a hurry, but after noticing the golden colored box being carried by two maids that was filled with wine, he knew exactly what was going on and Second definitely won't be so happy about this.

"Oh dear". Green chirped nervously, eyes wide as he watched the flurry of activity in the palace garden.

"What? What's going on?". Second asked worriedly. Green's playful demeanor evaporated, his eyes widening in panicked realization turned to Second.

"Um. I do believe I've accidentally forgotten something rather crucial... like, say, the King's grand party tonight? And most of the royalty and nobles who will be... attending?". He tried to mask his panic with a shaky laugh, turning to Second with a hopeful grin. Second, his jaw dropped and brow furrowed in disbelief, stared at Green for a moment before letting out a frustrated yell.