To Complicated to Title

Chapter Fourteen

Alexia and Emilia navigated the city expertly, and they were soon at the doors of the grand palace. The mermen guarding the door bowed as the princesses passed, and the large doors slowly opened. A younger merman swam towards them, looking to the floor. “The queen is in her throne room.” He said, gesturing extravagantly towards another large door.

The group opened the door, and Rowan and Ella got their first view of the mermaid Queen Joy.

Ella rushed forwards and collapse at the foot of the queen’s throne. “My queen!” She cried out happily. “I pledge myself and my life to you!”

Rowan managed to restrain herself from following Ella’s lead, but she did get a tear in the corner of her eye as she took in the queen’s lovely magnificence. 

“Grandmother, The Bliss...” Alexia reminded her gently.

“Oh, yes.” Queen Joy said regally, pulling her powers back in. “Now, Alexia, Emilia, my granddaughters! I have missed you so!”

“We have missed you too, Grandmother!” They replied in unison. They both swam up and embraced her happily, while Rowan and Ella looked on awkwardly. 

“Hello Queen Joy,” Alex greeted politely.

“It is an honor to see you again.” Emily added.

Rowan looked on in disbelief as the arrogant dragons they had been travelling with transformed into decent additions to society.

“Hello Alex, Emily.” Queen Joy said graciously. “And who are you two?”

“I am Rowan, and this is Ella. We have come to ask for a great favor.”

“What do you seek, Rowan and Ella?”

“We need a scale.”

The queen raised her eyebrows thoughtfully. “THis is quite unusual, Rowan and Ella. Why do you need a scale?”

“To make magic tea.”

“Oh, do you need to reverse a transformation spell? You know you’ll also need a dragons tear and a wood nymph’s leaf.”

“Seriously? Why am I the only one who didn't know that tea reversed spells?” Rowan muttered angrily.

“We already have that, we just need the scale.” Ella answered the queen, ignoring Rowan.

“Well, I’m afraid I can’t just give you the scale. You need to prove yourselves worthy.  In  exchange for the scale, I will require an ancient relic from human times.” Queen Joy told them solemnly. “I had always used my nickel in the past, but it was recently taken from me by a sea witch. To get to her, you will need to swim through the depths of despair, filled with scalding geysers, the, face the five headed cracken that guards her cave, and challenge her to a  magical duel. If you defeat her, you will find her treasury that can only be accessed by answering an ancient riddle to which she herself has long forgotten the answer. Only if you are able to retrieve my nickle, can I grant you a scale.”

“Are you kidding me?” Ella asks. “That is ridiculously impossible and dangerous!”

The queen looked at Ella sadly “I’m sorry but it is the only way.”

Rowan sighed. “What are the odds we will even be able to survive this quest.”

“It is highly unlikely.” Queen Joy replied. “I have sent my most talented guards but none have returned. It would take immense skill and bravery to even attempt the journey.”

“Aww thanks.” Alex said smiling as they walked through the doors.

“But really, it was nothing.” Emily said. They bowed their heads and presented the nickel to Queen Joy.

“By the way.” Emily said, “forty-two.”

“What?” Rowan asked.

“Forty-two.” Alex repeated. “The answer to life, meaning and the pursuit of happiness is forty-two.”

“Good to know.” The Queen said, pocketing her nickel.

Ella stared at them, confused. “Wait, what? Did you go already?”

“Yeah.” Alex said slowly. “Didn’t we make this clear?”

“What don't you get?” Emily asked.

“How’d you do it alone?” Rowan questioned.

“Hmm, I wasn’t alone. Alex, were you alone?” Emily said.

“No, I wasnt alone. Someone was with me.” Alex replied.

“Yeah, yeah, you were with each other, we get it.” Rowan interjected.

“What more would we need?” Alex asked haughtily.

“Anyway,” Queen Joy said, “this is what I needed.” The queen waved the nickel over one of her scales, and the beautiful scale simply dropped into her hand. As soon as she touched it, it transformed into a brand new shiny nickel. She gave it to Emilia who then swam gracefully over to the bubble that floated behind them. The bubble still contained the dragon tear, so she inserted the nickel in as well. Alex and Emily swam over and put the leaf into the bubble as well, for safe-keeping.

“We will take you back to the surface.” Alexia said with a smile. The two mermaids then led the group of travelers back to land, without any problems. Well, without much problems anyways.

“I didn’t know starfish could bite you!” Ella tried to defend herself when they reached land. “It was just so cute, I wanted to hug it!”

Emilia and Alexia exchanged befuddled looks. “It shouldnt be physically possible!” Emilia said.

“Yeah, I have no idea what you did that caused the starfish to rebel against nature like that!” Alexia said.

“They don’t even have teeth!” Emilia added.

They reached the shore, and Alex pointed off into the distance. “That will be a great place to summon Abby again to make the potion!” She said.

“Thank you for all of your help.” Emily said to the mermaids before they swam back to their underwater realm.