#queen eudoria

[tpc-tangled-au]

Chapter 12: The Hope

“So that’s how the little bodkin got in the hole!”

The exclamation—and its sharp, accompanying clap—would have startled Melisande. Would have. That is, if she hadn’t been expecting such a reaction. But she knew Naphtali too well to expect less.

“That’s just how, isn’t it?” he went on, striding to the window and back again. His thoughts could never bear to sit still. “The lady buried the thing there, so she might be rid of it! And well for me, it’d seem!”

“It’d seem!” Baron repeated, smiling. Then, again, almost hushed, “It’d seem.”

Melisande’s eyes narrowed on him.

That smile wasn’t a full one.

What reason there was for it, she couldn’t imagine. And the smile was there. If not a full moon, a crescent still. Yet something, some unknown meaning, made a mask of it. There was a storm somewhere behind the moon.

She did not watch it longer. Even if she’d tried, she couldn’t. The stormclouds broke before the dawn she loved.

“Yes,” Naphtali picked up again, “but what about this fine Wayland fellow?”

Baron shook the moonlight from his face. “What about him?”

“Well, he was listening rather close to that young fae’s warning. And there’s their mysterious talk after! Not to mention his phantomly friend-turned-foe, off gallivanting the countryside.” He threw out his arms. “What did our Wayland do next? I’m sure he didn’t simply return home after all that!”

This, Melisande could answer. But another mouth opened first.

“Well,” Baron began, before he could have noticed her, “even if he did, he couldn’t return quickly. Azarias, you remember, had brought them both from the Underworld.”

Naphtali nodded, slow then quick. “Yes, wisping about like that.”

“And you know better than anyone how long a journey that is, without the aid of phantoms.” Baron sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Whatever the case, his tidings did reach King Elian. By his own hand, or another’s.”

“Another’s,” Melisande whispered, hidden in her own hand.

“Wayland then either returned—or remained—here, in Othrys.”

“Remained.”

“Here?” asked the sunbeam. “Why did he stay?”

“To search, then…”

“Melisande, perhaps you should tell us this part.”

Melisande dropped her hand like a glass of water. When she looked up, Baron was eying her with lifted brows.

“After all,” he continued, unable to wash away the traces of his smirk, “you seem to be breathing footnotes already.”

Though feeling silly for being spotted, Melisande rolled her eyes. “Oh, Baron, you.”

But then, “Yes!” put in Naphtali excitedly. “Yes, why don’t you tell us? I should like to hear you tell more of the story. And—why, you must know more than even Baron at this part: you said you’d spoken to Wayland afore!”

At the attention (and the familiar little afore), her annoyance and embarrassment were all uprooted in an instant.

“I… I have.” She nodded once, slowly. “Very much.”

Naphtali’s eyes and smile widened. Then, all of a sudden, he dropped right down on the floor into a crouch, sitting like a scarlet frog. Staring up at her, intently and earnestly. “Then say on, fairest of storytellers! Say on! Tell us of your noble friend!”

It took her a false start or two to even begin speaking. The very sight of him, so silly and so sincere, brought spring itself into her heart. A garden of warmth grown in her chest, and reddening roses bloomed across her cheeks. Her mouth opened and closed uselessly for a moment. (Nor did Baron’s grinning help matters in the slightest).

Eventually, though, Melisande pulled in a long, deep breath. She met Naphtali’s eyes, then closed her own. She searched out the trail of Wayland’s story amidst her ivied mind. Then, at last, she found her voice.

Wayland knew he could not leave the kingdom of Othrys without finding his partner. So he gave his message to an Othryan herald, and sent him on to Elian in his stead.

That Reuel fellow, I’ll wager!

Then he searched. Across all the land, in every hiding place, higher and lower than many dared go. For days into months, he hunted. But he could find neither the greatest ruin nor the smallest sign. It was as if the phantom had vanished utterly that night. In the end, he had to give up, and pray that Azarias had become himself again.

Had he?

You already know the answer to that!

I know, Baron, but—

Hush!

Well, he was gone, wherever to. But since he WAS gone—and knowing all that he knew—Wayland decided to follow a new path. One that took him back, but not back to the Underworld…

At the sound of a door opening at his back, King Frederick turned. Before he could greet the welcome sight, it split itself. The smaller portion was plopped in his lap.

“Well, what’s this little man doing here?” he smirked affectionately.

The infant was already reaching for his face and babbling. “Der! Der!”

“He missed you,” replied Eudoria, with a knowing beam of a smile. “And I thought you might like to see a face not spouting Matters Of State.”

“Oh lord, don’t remind me of those.” He sighed, stretching his stiff spine. “I think it’s a conspiracy. Every article of business bushwhacking me at once.”

As if on cue, the baby smacked both his little hands on Frederick’s chest. “BAH!”

“Well, if they were plotting to assassinate your reading time with us, they succeeded.” She laughed a merry laugh.

The reading. That was today. Frederick shook his head, exhausted with himself. “Oh, my Eudoria. Why you married a king, I just don’t know.”

“I didn’t. I married a prince.” Her delicate hand slipped over his huge one. “And merchants and farmers have long days too.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Come, now. The cooks have been keeping the royal dinner warm almost twenty minutes, and even kings need sustenance.”

Frederick returned her smile wryly, even as his stomach rumbled. Oh, she always knew. Shifting his son in his arms, he started to get up.

A door echoed open from the other side of the throne room.

“Y’majesty?”

Frederick looked up. At the familiar sight, he sighed a grin. “Well, Lazarus, unless you’re asking if you’re still invited to dinner, I’d guess there’s some late-coming little affair of state scratchin’ at my door?”

But Lazarus didn’t grin in return. No sympathetic smirk. No look to reply ‘they just keep coming, don’t they?’ without a word, as he so often did. Neither the straight face he reserved for difficult diplomats, nor even the full solemnity he reserved for high councils, held his features. Not this time.

This time, there was hesitance. There was caution.

“Not state exactly, sire.”

“Oh?” Frederick furrowed his brow. Whatever lay beyond the door, it was something even Lazarus was wary of, and that deeply. “What, then?”

A moment’s hesitation. The counselor glanced behind, as if to make sure his eyes had not deceived him.

“A knight and a phantom, seekin’ audience with Your Majesty.”

The King of Othrys sat up as straight as if his spine were shot with ice.

A knight and a phantom.

Could it be?

He heard himself asking, “What names did they give?”

“The phantom called herself Lia.”

She calls herself Lia. Frederick began to feel the ice melt. Herself.

But the winter was not gone yet.

“The knight,” Lazarus went on, before the seasons could change, “is called Wayland, and says he knows you well.”

Silence frosted the room. Then Frederick nodded. “Yes. I know Wayland.”

The baby on his lap clapped his little hands.

“They appear to be from Elian, sire.”

“I’m sure that they are. Do they come bearing a message?”

Another glance, then back again. “They did not tell me their business, Your Majesty. The knight only said he wished to speak with you.”

Though the room was warm, chills ran beneath his sleeves.

But Frederick refused to succumb to them.

“Bring them in, Lazarus.” He lifted his crowned head. “I will hear them.”

A few seconds hovered. Then Lazarus nodded, and ducked back beyond the door.

The hand on his moved to his forearm. Frederick looked up. His dear wife’s grey eyes held him, questioning without defiance. His own gave silent reply, grave yet firm. He watched hers drift, and followed them to the sword hilt at his side. She knew what had happened before. And he remembered it all too well.

A moment’s consideration. He shook any doubt from his head.

Eudoria squeezed his arm gently, then let go. She reached to take the baby in his lap. Prometheus fussed and squirmed away, protesting the too-soon departure.

A sudden second-thought. Frederick took her outstretched hand.

“Leave him with me.”

Blinks fluttered her eyelids, and her brow furrowed. But he gave her the corner of a smile.

“It’ll be all right.”

He kissed her hand.

Eudoria didn’t say a word, but her eyes showed their struggle. Their doubts. Then, as he watched, they shifted. They chose. Their grey gleamed trust.

As the throne room door opened once more, Frederick’s dear queen nodded. She turned and was gone through the door behind the throne. Her husband then faced his visitors.

Two entered at the ushering of Lazarus. The phantom was indeed a woman, a silvery lady. Frederick had not seen her before. Her hair seemed an auburn brown, long and waving. And… she was old. Not old in age—from her appearance, she had died a woman, not a crone. But the years since that day left her eyes ancient.

Almost like the frost-child that night, if any who had once been human could be like that.

But, though Frederick did not know the dead, he knew the living at once. In trod Wayland, the same messenger he met that fateful night. Yet… not quite the same. His face was more worn, his gait more weary. A shadow-beard crept across his chin. And his eyes…

His eyes were fastened wide on the golden-haired baby.

They did not stare too long. Almost as soon as Frederick noticed it, Wayland met his gaze. He bowed, deeply but not dramatically. The silver lady did the same, curtseying in a style long forgotten by the world.

“Greetings, King Frederick, Master of Othrys.”

“Greetings to you, Sir Wayland,” nodded Frederick, as Lazarus took his place at the king’s side, “and to your companion.”

The phantom called Lia dipped her head. “Thank you, young king,” she answered, and spoke to him no more.

Frederick lifted his hand for them to rise. As they obeyed, he continued, “I must give you my gratitude, Sir Wayland. I have spoken with King Elian, and he has aided me in making preparations for what may come. Your service to your master saved my kingdom.” He smiled grimly. “Your service to me saved my life. For that, and for your warning, I thank you.”

Little Prometheus dipped forward, swinging his arms out. “Da ka!”

Though Wayland bowed his head, there was a cloud over it. “I fear, sire, that my warnings are not yet ended.”

Frederick’s firm hold tightened, ever so slightly, around his son. “Is it your friend, Azarias?”

The silver lady did not speak. But her gaze hardened at the mention of that name. No—it softened.

Wayland’s face gave answer before his words. “No, Your Majesty. I have hunted for Azarias a year and a day, and I have found nothing.” He took in a slow breath. “Either he has become himself again, and hides where I cannot find him, or he has remained… as last we saw him, and left the world of men. The form he took could not last this long.”

The baby cooed inquisitively, playing with Frederick’s sleeve cuff. Wayland’s eyes dropped once more before he continued.

“I do not think Azarias will trouble your household, great king.”

The slightest sigh came from behind him—all the sign of relief Lazarus would show in council.

Frederick’s chest loosened. But not his hold.

“That is well,” he nodded. “But, if he will not trouble us again…”

“Why, then, does his partner?” finished the knight grimly, with the faintest specter of a long-dead smile.

He could not help but return it. “Nay. You, sir, I welcome. But what do you warn me of, if not of him?”

The specter vanished. “Of something I do not know, Your Majesty.” And with that, Wayland began to relate all the things he had been told by the Winter Child that night.

Frederick did not doubt that it was truth. The Boy, he had no doubt, was not a child of man. The look in those eyes was more ancient, wise, kind than any, even the primeval woman before him now. And after that night, he trusted Wayland with his life. It was the reason he could be so bold as to keep his infant son in the throne room with him; a thing he refused to do at any other meeting (even meetings with safer lands than the Underworld).

It was not the only reason he chose to do so. But it was the only reason he could.

Soon, Wayland had spoken all (or at least, all for the moment). The king leaned back in his throne and considered. The infant on his lap shook his curly head, bobbling gravely.

“So,” he said at last. “You warn me first that the stars themselves are fixin’ to wage war on my kingdom. Now you come again to tell me some unknown witchery is gunning for my family?”

“I can see no other possibility, Your Majesty.”

He was silent. At his side, Lazarus was silent.

Only little Prometheus was not, swinging a tiny fist as if with a tiny sword, squealing at his unseen enemies.

They seemed a legion. A devilish horde, with each spear pointed at his son’s heart.

“Then we will guard,” he declared, set in steel. “Set a watch at all times. Make every soldier a silvren sword.”

A sudden stream of words burst from the phantomess, who had watched Wayland silently for so long.

Frederick sat forward, opening his mouth to engage her. But she did not look at him. Her eyes of objection turned only to Wayland. She seemed not to notice that Frederick had even moved.

So he leaned back instead, keeping hold of the baby (who was occupied in squealing and gibbering in return).

“Lazarus,” the king whispered, “do you know what she’s saying?”

Lazarus shook his head. “I ain’t even sure what language she’s speaking. It’s old, though.” He tsked, then added in a whisper, “Mighty old.”

The ancient complaint ceased, as suddenly as it began. Wayland looked as if he had spoken to her. But he had not uttered a word.

Lia spared a glance toward Frederick. Then she spoke silence to the knight.

The knight shook his head.

“Well?” Frederick sat straight, folding his hand round the baby’s little chest. “What says she, Sir Wayland?”

With a sigh, Wayland turned from the lady. “She protests that such measures will do little good, Your Majesty.”

Another surge of ancient whispers.

“And that your history will prove it.”

“That so, indeed?” cut in Lazarus, stepping forward and looking most civilly nettled. Frederick could see his head held high from the corner of his eye. Oh, this was not a thing to disparage around Lazarus. “And does this fine lady know our history? Does she know King Carter? King Thomas the Fearless? King Ward?”

“She knew them indeed, advisor,” Lia replied, looking as if seeing him for the first time. “Yes, I knew them.”

A moment he stood. Almost hesitating on the border between awe and offense. When he spoke again, it was carefully. “And do they prove that Othrys can’t protect her own?”

“Oh, they were valiant. And the power in their hands was great indeed. Their own were safe in even the shadows of their kings’ cloaks. With the stones’ power, they protected against all this land faces and more.”

As Lia spoke, she did not look at Lazarus. Not truly. Her eyes stared, as if watching the years of the world span ethereal before her, immaterial monoliths of history all risen at once, somewhere far beyond the world they belonged to.

Then she turned to the physical man. And she may as well have been turning to spot a fly going past.

“But for you, little one, they are long dead. The men you have among you now never waged war with the likes of these. You tell your stories of those who could. But their distance proves.”

Lazarus dipped his head and smiled up tight. Oh, he was far past the borders of offense now. “’scuse me, ma’am, but we’ve had phantoms a-plenty, pickin’ fights with us, and losin’ em, too. Sire, we don’t—”

“Phantoms, yes,” sighed Frederick, guessing her end. “Not sorcerors and faes, though. Not for generations. That, I think, is your point, ma’am?”

The woman nodded, and looked at them no more. Her intangible eyes seemed to have other things to look at than mortals. Than mere men of any here-and-now.

A moment. Then, “Yessir, Y’Majesty,” muttered Lazarus, stepping back. But Frederick could almost feel the glower he sent toward the right-proven phantom.

In the midst of this silent strife, Wayland stepped forth, interposing a truce. “Swords can slay sorcerors, O Master. And silvren can indeed pierce the fae. Such things have protected me in many a battle.”

“I know this,” Frederick nodded, “firsthand.”

“But what good will a thousand swords do a man, if he is enchanted ere he can wield the one he holds? If he cannot see through the guises a witch may take? Your men are brave, Your Majesty. I have seen them. But they do not know what they are fighting.”

Lazarus started to step forward once more, but Frederick held up his hand. “What, then, do you suggest, sir?”

“That you grant the hope of a messenger.”

With these words, Wayland took a knee, sinking to the floor. And that sinking was heavy, as if he had been wounded and would not rise again. But his knees held firm. He bowed his head, and did not fall.

“Good King Frederick, I humbly ask that you take me into your service.”

Wordlessness gripped every Othryan in the room. The king, in wonder. The counselor, in stark bewilderment. The prince, in blind curiosity. None knew what to say to the kneeling knight.

“Well, sir,” was all the reply Frederick could find. He hardly knew why. “Well, sir, now.”

“Is my boon so strange, sire?”

“No.” He chuckled softly. “No, I can’t say it is. Sudden, striking, surely so. But not strange.” Not in my courts, he added in thought. Then, again, And… somehow… not for you.

“Well, now—if I may, sire,” put in Lazarus, tentatively. Frederick nodded. The counselor took another step forward. “Well, now, it might be a little strange, considering this fine fella’s warning. Now, I ain’t meanin’ to be rude by this,” he added, his gaze turning over the phantomess before reaching the man on his knees, “but… well, sir knight, if you say a thousand swords do no good, what help’ll one more bring?”

Wayland nodded. “An honest question, counsel.” He lifted his face to the king. “In the Underworld, in my lord Elian’s service, I and my fellow sentinels have battled many such foes. We have contended with dark forces, by strength of arm or of will. And we have contended with their charms and deceits.”

Prometheus suddenly swung his arm down, screaming delight once more.

A glance down. It quickly flicked away, as if forbidden. “I know how to fight them, sire. More still, I know how to spot them, and how to drive them away. Those who prowl, and those who pretend, will not pass my notice.”

Frederick began to see his intention. Yet something else reminded itself into consideration. “You have done all this in Elian’s service. What, then, of him? Does your own master know you have come to me for this purpose?”

“Aye, Your Majesty. If you grant me my hope, I have his leave. If you deny, I shall return to the Underworld with this good lady,” —he lent Lia his eye— “and continue in his service, as I have these sixteen years.”

His hand went to the scabbard at his side. Lazarus jolted slightly.

Frederick did not.

Slowly, Wayland drew the blade he had used to defend the King of Othrys, that winter’s night that seemed so lately passed. He held it up in both hands. One of his gloves was gone, revealing the handmark of Elian’s men.

“I offer you my sword and my service, King Frederick. I ask no rank nor title, but only to wear the red of your livery. I cannot ward off every danger. But set me as a watchman over your royal family, and I will do my utmost to drive away any who would harm them.”

Frederick believed him. But now came the test. Not only of Wayland, but of his own decision, just before the messengers entered.

“Even though they only live by the refusal of your first warning?”

The man lifted his stony eyes. It was not Frederick’s face they found. But in that look, Frederick found the answer he’d been looking for. The reason for keeping his son with him. He had seen something that night, something in his eyes when Frederick spoke of his family. The eyes had hardened. But they had not lost it.

“Yes, sire,” said Wayland, his stare fixed unwavering on the child. “Yes.”

Prometheus’ round face turned upward. He spotted Wayland at last. Instantly, he lurched forward. His grabby little hands stretched out eagerly. He was reaching for the raven-haired soldier who wanted and hoped—truly—to protect him. He was cooing. What’s more, he was beaming.

And, in that little moment, Wayland’s gaze lost all its hardness.

~*~

A knock came at the door. “Prince Prometheus?”

Naphtali did not rise, but turned his head. Baron couldn’t see his expression. However, the prince shifted forward eagerly. His hand lifted in half-gesture, half-greeting. And from his voice, Baron knew he was beaming.

“Ah, welcome, good Travers! Aye, here’s your quarry! Come in, fellow!”

The raven-haired soldier stepped into the room, the red of his livery catching the last light. He bowed to his royal charge. He nodded to Melisande, then to Baron.

“Evening, Travers,” greeted Melisande, with growing smile.

(Baron almost smirked. The one man who could get her to smile like that, besides Naphtali at least.)

A flash of softness as Travers returned her smile. Then he went straight as steel. Oh, he was here officially. “What have you been doing today, Your Highness? You’ve hardly been seen since lunchtime.”

“Why, writing the story, Travers!” exclaimed Naphtali, turning in his crouch.

“The story of what?”

“The story of everything!”

“Or at least, everything we know,” Baron added with a wink.

Travers aimed a different sort of nod at him, and his smile turned wry for a moment. “Is everything you know interesting?”

A shrug. “That’s the hope.”

“Well, that hope’s been fulfilled, at least!” put in Naphtali, grinning from one of them to the other. “We’ve talked of the fireflower, and the lighthouse, and the little poniard in the hole, and all the happenings of my early winters! It’s been grand.”

Baron noted a stony look when Naphtali told their ‘talked-ofs’. Though, he couldn’t tell if it was the ‘early winters’, or if the fireflower’s mention put it there. I suppose either might make sense, Baron pondered. I know he still remembers the night that witch finally slipped past his guard.

But, in the midst of this pondering, another strange thing caught his attention: Melisande, sitting quite still. Her hands were folded. Her eyes were affixed. She was waiting for something, waiting patiently. Then the soldier seemed to notice.

“I was just telling them of Wayland,” Melisande said, perfectly plain, “and the day he came to the Othryan guard.”

Silence caught in the air. It hovered there, if only for a moment.

In that little moment, Travers’ gaze lost all its hardness.

“Ah.”

The moment lingered a bit longer. But, soon enough, it was royally expelled.

“Aha! So Wayland did come into Father’s service, then?”

Melisande held on a few seconds more, then turned away. “Yes, Naphtali. King Frederick granted Wayland his boon, and he became a soldier of Othrys. He left behind his old name, and his old life, that day.”

“A little like his partner, perhaps?” proffered Baron.

But Melisande shook her head firmly at that. “No. Wayland did so, not to flee, but to defend. To faithfully guard the fiery child…” She turned her gaze, brimming with gratitude. “…and others he had no need to keep as he did.”

Travers said nothing.

Oh, Baron would have a great deal to write of that nothing.

“A fine fellow indeed,” sighed Naphtali, who seemed to have missed every bit of nothing said. Once it had passed, he turned in his crouch once more. “Well, then, fine fellow, what news? What’s brought you to our scriveners’ den, hmm?”

In the fading light, it was hard to tell if Travers had shivered. But his official straightening was plain to see. “Your orders, Your Highness.”

A wild-haired head cocked. “Mine?”

“Yours, sire. You had wanted me to remind you,” he cleared his throat, quite unsuspiciously, “when it was time.”

“Time? Time for—”

Naphtali fell over backward.

“OH! Yes! Yes, yes, quite right, quite—quite so, indeed, yes!”

Even as he spoke, he scrambled from the floor, trying desperately to straighten his clothes. (They weren’t at all wrinkled.) If Travers’ nothing had been silent, Naphtali’s was said aloud, a stammered nonsense.

Baron couldn’t help but snicker at his flustered display. If Melisande says no to THAT, I’m sure I never knew a thing about her. But, his thought added, as he saw her fond smile bloom unhidden, I know her well indeed.

The same scarlet as his vest, Naphtali cleared a swarm of butterflies from his throat. “Yes, well. Well, my thanks for the reminder, good sir.” He sighed, quite sharply. That seemed to do it, for afterward, he squared his shoulders, head held high, and offered a hand to his lady. The crack in his voice was almost imperceptible.

“Will you come, me dear?” he asked.

Surprise lifted Melisande’s brows, but her smile did not vanish. If anything, it grew. “Aye, mo dòchas.” And she took his hand as she rose. “I’ll come.”

Naphtali swelled at the sight and sound of it. But he seemed to try to suppress the energy threatening to erupt. He nodded to Travers. “Thanks, good soldier.” He nodded to Baron. “Thanks, good friend.”

“You’re welcome,” Baron smirked, then shooed them away. “Go on now. I’ll handle the letters, you two… have a good time.”

It was as much as a starting gunshot. Naphtali bounced on his heels, then shared a glance with Melisande. She seemed to see the burst coming. She picked up her skirts with her other hand. The second after, Naphtali catapulted out the door, holding onto her like his life depended on it. They disappeared into the castle halls. And—Baron wasn’t quite sure of this—it almost sounded as if a laugh echoed after them.

He was sure that he heard a soft laugh from Travers, though. As he looked up, he caught something even softer in his face. Something… well… peaceful.

“Look at them,” he breathed. “Still those same children, really. Running down the halls together, off to some surprise. But look at them now.” A deep, slow sigh that hitched. “Just look at them now.”

Baron thumped his arm playfully. “Don’t tell me this soldier is a sap.”

Travers rolled glistening eyes, thumping him right back. “He’s a father. You’ll understand that sometime.”

Baron laughed. Then, he looked at the stack of letters on the desk, barely still illuminated. He looked at the ring on his hand, catching a faint gleam from the window.

He looked at the corner of the bench. And he could have sworn he saw the future sitting there, waiting for him to read.

“That’s the hope.”

~*~

[Chapter 1/Writing the Story]

[Chapter 11/Wayland and the Winter Child ... Chapter 12/you are here! ... Book Two/yet to come!]

[Also on AO3, if you want to hop on over!]

[maitressonneurs]

she’s just ✨ chef kiss ✨

[hotpinkboots]

I already write with:

Red Harrington Bellatrix Lestrange Emily Madame Thenardier Rose Weil Julia Hoffman The Red Queen (Iracebeth) Mrs. Lovett

So you can request with any of them, but I'm looking to add new Helena characters in.

Note: If you select the "other" option, make sure you tell me in the comments/message me what character you want, otherwise your vote won't have helped me out.

[the-unspeakable-tsar]

The Holmes Family Tree

At the top are the parents. Sherlock's father; Sieger, Sherlock's Mother, Violet Rutherford; and Sherlock's Stepmother Eudoria

First lets start with Violet and Sieger's children:

Sherlock, Sherringford, Mycroft, Shirley, and Rutherford

Then there are Eudoria and Sieger's Children:

Enola, Sigrina, and Siegerson.

Let's start with the branch that descends directly from Sherlock.

I have placed Sherlock's Children as five in Number. Raffles is the son of Majorie Raffles (the sister of A.J Raffles). Henry Holmes and his wife Elizabeth are the creations of the Charlotte Holmes series.

Keep Sherlock Holmes Jr in mind as we'll focus on him later. We'll go down Henry and Elizabeth's line.

Pascal, Valentina, Agatha, Perpetua and Johnathan Holmes are the children of Elizabeth and Henry

Crispin and Morland are Pascal and Elizabeth's sons. Crispin marries Celine, and Morland marries May. Keep Morland in mind.

Crispin and Elizabeth have the following children: Alistair, Agatha, Julian, Leander.

Morland is a complicated old bastard with two sons: Sherlock and Mycroft. Note that i've written Elementary beneath them.

Alistair and Emma have: Milo and Charlotte

Julian and Kim Min-Ji: Margarate Holmes, Carmilla Holmes, and Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock & Co.)

Now let's move to the side along the chart and go back to one of Sherlock's children.

Sherlock Jr is a problem, I've decided. He is the start of a parallel branch. He had some unknown son. then that son would in time go on to sire the lineage that produced the following

Euris, Mycroft, and Sherlock (BBC's Sherlock). Euris would then later bear a child with a descendent of Moriarty. Resulting in Ron Kamonohashi.

Mycroft has a smaller branch. Three children:

Andrew Holmes, Violet Holmes, and Isabella Holmes.

Violet Holmes would then have a child later with James Bond, resulting in Clive Reston.

Shirly Holmes would marry Charles Jones. Resulting in the birth of Fetlock Jones and Laura Jones.

Laura Jones and her husband Lord Hamish Croft establish the lineage that would come to result in Laura Croft.

Fetlock's is Jupiter, and his daughter Charlotte marries Peerless Jones.

The following children of Peerless and Charlotte are: Barnaby, Darwin, and David.

David Marries Judith Walton and has three children: Fred Jones Sr, Martin "Merlin" Jones, and Ellie. Fred Jones Sr later illegally adopts a son, naming him "Fred Jones Jr".

Barnaby has a son named Harold and a grandson named Jebediah Romano Jones.

Sherringford Holmes, the older brother of both Mycroft and Sherlock, would have three children. Richard, an unknown country squire, and Sebastian.

Richard would change his surname to Queen in the United States to establish himself as an independent detective. He has two sons, Dan and Ellery Queen.

Ellery has two sons: Ellery Junior and Gullivar.

The Squire has one son: Stuart. Stuart has two kids, Jenny and David.

Sebastian marries a woman named Peg: Through them they have a son named Robert who becomes an ambassador for the United Kingdom.

Robert and his wife Joanna then later have a daughter named Shirley Holmes (many of her name).

Rutherford is Sherlock's twin brother and a vampire (making him a genetic dead end).

Sigerson Holmes (son of Eudoria) marries Jenny Hill, a descendent of Fanny Hill. Their daughter then marries a Weston and have a son named Geoffrey Weston.

I wasn't sure how to fit Enola Holme because, as far as I know,w she doesn't go on to have anyone I can identify as being a possible descendent. (good for her.)

Lastly, Charlotte Holmes. I also believe that Charlotte was having an affair with Mary Watson, but that is neither here nor there. She marries some fuck-off prince named Rupert of Kravonia and they have a son: Alexander (i accidentally named him Rupert as well in the image).

Sirgrina and John Vanstattart Smith have three Children:

Dennis Nayland Smith, Violet Smith, and John Smith.

Dennis Nayland fathers: George, Harold, and John "Hannibal" Smith.

Violet marries a man named Sneed and has a son named Lancaster "Shockwave" Sneed. A supervillain from Marvel Comics who used to beat the fuck out of Shang-Chi.

Thus concludes the family tree of The Holmes. Please reblog or message me if you have questions or comments.

[hottestparent-tournament]

WE ARE ENTERING THE QUARTER FINALS!!!

for round two, here are our WINNERS!

AIZAWA SHOUTA vs Jim Hopper

MICHONNE GRIMES vs Rio Morales

LADY DIMITRESCU vs Elastigirl/Helen Parr

EUDORIA HOLMES vs Kurumi Saiki

QUEEN RAMONDA vs Carmen Sánchez

JOHN WICK vs Joel Miller

JACK IN THE BOX vs Heimdall (MCU)

MORTICIA ADDAMS vs Linda Belcher

ROUND 3 MATCHUPS

Aizawa Shouta vs Michonne Grimes

Lady Dimitrescu vs Eudoria Holmes

Queen Ramonda vs John Wick

Jack In The Box vs Morticia Addams

ROUND 3 COMING SOON

[carters-coffee]

Can anyone recommend any blogs that write for the same characters I write for? I don't read fanfic a whole lot but it'd be nice to have it pop on my dash every so often.

[multifandomfix]

Who I Write For

Abbott Elementary: Barbara Howard, Melissa Schemmenti

Absolutely Fabulous: Claudia Bing, Edina Monsoon, Lulu, Patsy Stone // Eddy x Patsy x Reader

Alice In Wonderland (2010): Iracebeth, Tarrant Hightopp

American Horror Story (Seasons 1-5 & 8): Constance Langdon, Countess Elizabeth, Dandy Mott, Elsa Mars, Fiona Goode, James Patrick March, Jude Martin, Stevie Nicks, Wilhemina Venable

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: Count Olaf, Esmé Squalor, Georgina Orwell, Justice Strauss

Beetlejuice: Barbara Maitland, Delia Deetz, Delores LaFerve

Big Sky: Alicia Corrigan, Beau Arlen, Ren Bhuller, Sunny Barnes

Bosom Buddies: Henry Desmond, Kip Wilson, Ruth Dunbar // Henry x Kip x Reader

Bridgerton: Agatha Danbury, Anthony Bridgerton, Portia Featherington, Queen Charlotte, Simon Basset, Violet Bridgerton

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Anya Jenkins, Drusilla, Joyce Summers, Rupert Giles, Spike

Call The Midwife: Chummy Noakes, Jane Sutton, Patrick Turner, Patsy Mount, Shelagh Turner, Sister Hilda, Trixie Franklin, Valerie Dyer, Violet Buckle

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina: Ambrose Spellman, Hilda Spellman, Lilith, Mary Wardwell, Zelda Spellman // Hilda x Zelda x Reader, Lilith x Zelda x Reader, Lilith x Mary x Reader

Cinderella (2015): Fairy Godmother, Lady Tremaine

Clue: Blanche White, Jocelyn Scarlet, Wadsworth // Blanche x Jocelyn x Reader

CSI: Catherine Willows, David Hodges, Gil Grissom, Heather Kessler, Sara Sidle // Catherine x Sara x Reader

Dark Shadows: Angelique Bouchard, Elizabeth Collins, Julia Hoffman // Elizabeth x Julia x Reader

Dead To Me: Jen Harding, Judy Hale // Jen x Judy x Reader

Death Becomes Her: Helen Sharp, Lisle Von Rhuman, Madeline Ashton // Helen x Madeline x Reader

Doctor Who: Donna Noble, Eleventh Doctor, Jack Harkness, Jackie Tyler, Jacobi!Master, Kate Stewart, Missy, Ninth Doctor, River Song, Simm!Master, Tenth Doctor, The Maestro, Thirteenth Doctor, Twelfth Doctor // Missy x Simm!Master x Reader

Downton Abbey: Cora Crawley, Edith Crawley, Elsie Hughes, Isobel Crawley, Joseph Molesley, Mary Crawley, Thomas Barrow, Violet Crawley

Enola Holmes: Eudoria Holmes, Miss Harrison, Sherlock Holmes

Evil: Bishop Thomas Marx, Kristen Bouchard, Leland Townsend, Sheryl Luria

Frasier: Daphne Moon, Frasier Crane, Niles Crane, Roz Doyle // Daphne x Roz x Reader, Frasier x Niles x Reader

Friends: Janice Litman, Joey Tribbiani, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Rachel Green, Richard Burke

Game Of Thrones: Brienne Of Tarth, Bronn, Catelyn Stark, Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Davos Seaworth, Jaime Lannister, Jorah Mormont, Melisandre, Petyr Baelish, Tyrion Lannister, Tywin Lannister

Ghosts (BBC): Fanny Button, Julian Fawcett, Kitty, Mary, Pat Butcher, Thomas Thorne

Glass Onion: Benoit Blanc, Birdie Jay, Claire Debella

Good Omens: Aziraphale, Crowley, Madame Tracy, Shax // Aziraphale x Crowley x Reader

Grace And Frankie: Brianna Hanson, Frankie Bergstein, Grace Hanson // Grace x Frankie x Reader

Green Wing: Caroline Todd, Guy Secretan, Harriet Schulenburg, Joanna Clore, Mac Macartney, Sue White // Joanna x Sue x Reader

Grey's Anatomy: Addison Montgomery, Amelia Shepherd, Arizona Robbins, Catherine Fox, Cristina Yang, Derek Shepherd, Erica Hahn, Mark Sloan, Meredith Grey, Miranda Bailey, Teddy Altman, Tom Koracick // Cristina x Teddy x Reader, Derek x Mark x Reader

Halloween: Laurie Strode, Lindsey Wallace

Hannibal: Bedelia Du Maurier, Frederick Chilton, Hannibal Lecter

Harlots: Lady Repton, Lydia Quigley, Margaret Wells, Nancy Birch // Lady Repton x Nancy Birch x Reader

Harry Potter: Barty Crouch Jr, Bellatrix LeStrange, Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Minerva McGonagall, Molly Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy, Rita Skeeter, Severus Snape, Sybill Trelawney // Bellatrix x Narcissa x Reader

His Dark Materials: Lee Scoresby, Maggie Costa, Marisa Coulter, Mary Malone

Holes: Kate Barlow, Louise Walker

House MD: Gregory House, James Wilson, Lisa Cuddy

House Of The Dragon: Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenys Targaryen

I Dream Of Jeannie: Amanda Bellows, Evil!Jeannie, Jeannie, Roger Healey

Insatiable: Bob Armstrong, Coralee Armstrong, Regina Sinclair // Bob x Coralee x Reader

Just Shoot Me: Dennis Finch, Nina Van Horn

Killing Eve: Carolyn Martens, Eve Polastri, Villanelle // Villanelle x Eve x Reader

Last Tango In Halifax: Caroline Dawson, Gillian Greenwood, Judith Tyzack // Caroline x Gillian x Judith x Reader

Legends Of Tomorrow: Damien Darhk, Gideon, John Constantine, Leonard Snart, Martin Stein, Mick Rory, Rip Hunter, Sara Lance, Zari Tarazi // Leonard x Mick x Reader

Mamma Mia: Donna Sheridan, Ruby Sheridan, Tanya Chesham-Leigh // Ruby x Tanya x Reader

Marvel: Agatha Harkness, Ayesha, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, Eleanor Bishop, Everett Ross, Hela, Helmut Zemo, Jeri Hogarth, Kilgrave, Loki Laufeyson, May Parker, Natasha Romanoff, Pepper Potts, Stephen Strange, Steve Rogers, Thena, Thor Odinson, Tony Stark, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Wanda Maximoff // Everett x Stephen x Reader

M*A*S*H: BJ Hunnicutt, Charles Emerson Winchester III, Francis Mulcahy, Hawkeye Pierce, Henry Blake, Margaret Houlihan, Maxwell Klinger, Radar O'Reilly // Henry x Radar x Reader

Merlin: Arthur Pendragon, Gwaine, Merlin, Mithian, Morgana Pendragon, Morgause, Uther Pendragon

Mom: Bonnie Plunkett, Jill Kendall, Natalie Stevens

Mrs. America: Gloria Steinem, Phyllis Schlafly

Mrs. Brown’s Boys: Buster Brady, Cathy Brown

Nanny McPhee: Cedric Brown, Mrs. Blatherwick, Nanny McPhee, Selma Quickly

NCIS: Abby Sciuto, Ducky Mallard, Jenny Shepard, Jethro Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo

New Amsterdam: Elizabeth Wilder, Iggy Frome, Lauren Bloom, Max Goodwin

Nine Perfect Strangers: Frances Welty, Masha Dmitrichenko

Ocean's 8: Debbie Ocean, Lou Miller, Rose Weil, Tammy

Once Upon A Time: Archie Hopper, Cora Mills, Cruella DeVil, Killian Jones, Maleficent, Regina Mills, Rumplestiltskin, Victoria Belfrey, Zelena Mills // Regina x Maleficent x Reader, Regina x Evil Queen x Reader, Regina x Zelena x Reader

Only Murders In The Building: Charles Haden-Savage, Cinda Canning, Loretta Durkin, Oliver Putnam // Charles x Oliver x Reader

Orange Is The New Black: Aleida Diaz, Alex Vause, Carol Denning, Gloria Mendoza, Judy King, Linda Ferguson, Lorna Morello, Natalie Figueroa, Nicky Nichols, Red Reznikov

Peaky Blinders: Aberama Gold, Alfie Solomons, Arthur Shelby, Luca Changretta, Polly Gray, Tommy Shelby

Penny Dreadful: Evelyn Poole, Vanessa Ives

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Hector Barbossa, Jack Sparrow

Prodigal Son: Edrisa Tanaka, Jessica Whitly, Malcolm Bright, Martin Whitly, Vivian Capshaw

Ratched: Betsy Bucket, Edmund Tolleson, Gwendolyn Briggs, Lenore Osgood, Mildred Ratched // Gwendolyn x Mildred x Reader

Rizzoli & Isles: Angela Rizzoli, Jane Rizzoli, Maura Isles // Jane x Maura x Reader

Sanditon: Alexander Colbourne, Arthur Parker, Charles Lockhart, Sidney Parker

Scandal: Mellie Grant, Olivia Pope, Sally Langston

Schitt’s Creek: Alexis Rose, David Rose, Moira Rose, Ted Mullens

Scream Queens: Cathy Munsch, Gigi Caldwell

Sex Education: Colin Hendricks, Erin Wiley, Hope Haddon, Jean Milburn, Maureen Groff

Shameless (US): Claudia Nicolo, Frank Gallagher, Helene Runyon, Lip Gallagher, Monica Gallagher, Sheila Jackson, Svetlana Yevgenivna

Sherlock: Irene Adler, John Watson, Martha Hudson, Mary Morstan, Sherlock Holmes // Sherlock x John x Reader

Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller, Harley Quinn

Supergirl: Alex Danvers, Brainy, Cat Grant, Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor, Lex Luthor, Nyxly, Winn Schott

Supernatural: Abaddon, Amara, Bela Talbot, Bobby Singer, Castiel, Crowley, Dean Winchester, Ellen Harvelle, Jody Mills, Lucifer, Mary Winchester, Pamela Barnes, Rowena MacLeod

Sweeney Todd: Judge Turpin, Nellie Lovett

Ted Lasso: Jamie Tartt, Keeley Jones, Rebecca Welton, Roy Kent, Ted Lasso, Trent Crimm

The Addams Family: Debbie Jellinsky, Morticia Addams // Debbie x Morticia x Reader

The First Lady: Betty Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt

The Good Doctor: Audrey Lim, Shaun Murphy

The Good Place: Janet, Michael, Tahani Al Jamil

The Magicians: Eleanor Lipson, Eliot Waugh, Fen, Margo Hanson, Zelda Schiff // Eliot x Margo x Fen x Reader

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Midge Maisel, Rose Weissman, Sophie Lennon, Susie Myerson

The Nanny: CC Babcock, Fran Fine, Maxwell Sheffield // CC x Fran x Reader

The Parent Trap: Chessy, Elizabeth James, Meredith Blake

The Politician: Dede Standish, Dusty Jackson, Georgina Hobart, Hadassah Gold // Dede x Hadassah x Reader

The Prom: Angie Dickinson, Dee Dee Allen, Karen Greene

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills: Adrienne Maloof, Camille Grammer, Eileen Davidson, Erika Jayne, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna, Lisa Vanderpump, Sutton Stracke

The School For Good And Evil: Clarissa Dovey, Leonora Lesso

The Tudors: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Catherine Of Aragon, Margaret Tudor

The Umbrella Academy: Five Hargreeves, Klaus Hargreeves, The Handler

The Witcher: Calanthe Of Cintra, Geralt Of Rivia, Jaskier, Tissaia de Vries, Yennefer Of Vengerberg

Three's Company: Helen Roper, Jack Tripper, Lana Shields

True Blood: Arlene Fowler, Bill Compton, Eric Northman, Ginger, Jessica Hamby, Maryann Forrester, Pam Swynford de Beaufort, Rosalyn Harris, Russell Edgington, Sarah Newlin

Two And A Half Men: Alan Harper, Charlie Harper, Evelyn Harper, Judith Harper

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Andrea Baydon, Jacqueline White, Lillian Kaushtupper // Jacqueline x Lillian x Reader

Wednesday: Larissa Weems, Marilyn Thornhill, Morticia Addams

What We Do In The Shadows: Lilith, Nadja, Nandor // Lilith x Nadja x Reader

Will & Grace: Beverly Leslie, Jack McFarland, Karen Walker

Xena: Warrior Princess: Alti, Aphrodite, Ares, Autolycus, Callisto, Gabrielle, Joxer, Xena // Xena x Gabrielle x Reader

Yonderland: Debbie Maddox, Imperatrix, Negatus // Debbie x Imperatrix x Reader

3rd Rock From The Sun: Dick Solomon, Mary Albright, Sally Solomon, Sonja Umdahl, Vicki Dubcek // Mary x Sally x Reader

30 Rock: Diana Jessup, Jenna Maroney, Kenneth Parcell, Liz Lemon, Lynn Onkman, Nancy Donovan // Jenna x Liz x Reader

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Other Miscellaneous Characters

[hpcprecure]

Happy Campers Precure Chapter Twenty-six: The Final Fight! Queen Eudoria’s Unrivaled Power!

Eudoria sat under a blossoming tree, watching the petals fall. 

"Hey, Dori!" her sister, Juniper, ran up to her. She was holding a jump rope in one of her hands, and a ball in the other. "Wanna play?"

"No thank you, Juni." Eudoria said, politely. She knew that her sister knew about her natural weakness, caused by a sickness. Her sister seemed to forget it often, or maybe she just ignored it.

"Oh," Juniper replied, disappointed. She ran into the field in front of her, skipping rope alone.

"Why can't I just be like everyone else?" Eudoria asked to herself.

"I know, right?" Eudoria looked up to see a pale girl, who looked about her age. 

"Are you frail as well?" The girl asked as she sat next to Eudoria.

"Yeah." Eudoria answered.

"What's your name?" The girl asked."I'm Charlotte!"

"Nice to meet you, Charlotte." Eudoria said, smiling. "I'm Eudoria."

"Like, the Princess Eudoria?!" Charlotte asked, composing herself. "I'm so sorry, your magesty-"

"You don't have to do that." Eudoria giggled. "Actually, instead of being like everyone else, you know what I want?"

Charlotte tilted her head. "What?"

"I want the world to be more accessible to us!" Eudoria exclaimed. 

"I think pigs will fly before that happens." Charlotte said, sighing. "At this point, we might as well come up with our own kingdom!" She said, pulling out a piece of paper. "What would we call it?"

Eudoria's eyes widened, surprised from the question. "Umm, The Kingdom of Inside-ness?"

"That's lame, though." The girl laughed, still writing it down. "How about the Realm of- something?"

"Realm of Darkness? Since we're all inside?" Eudoria said again.

Charlotte wrote it down. "That sound evil."

"Ooh! I've got an actual idea!" Eudoria exclaimed.

"Spit it out, then."

"The Realm of Happiness!" Eudoria said, smiling contently.

"That has a good ring to it." Charlotte said. She crossed out the other options, writing it in large letters at the top. "Now, to actually design it!"

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

Queen Eudoria looked at the girls, who were frozen in fear as she walked into the dungeon. She walked up to Fern, who backed up.

"Cure Fern, the one who's idiotic nature always gets in the way of your teammates." Queen Eudoria said as she directed her scepter to Fern. A swirl of dark mist came from it, tying up Fern like it was a ribbon. Fern tried to use her vines, but couldn't make them.

"How-?" Fern asked, squirming.

"Do you think I would let you use your magic?" Queen Eudoria smirked as she walked towards Luna.

Luna got into a fighting position, glaring at Eudoria. "Stay back!" 

Queen Eudoria simply smiled at her. "Cure Luna, you never seem to give up on anything, even if it means your fall."

She pointed her scepter at Luna, who lunged for it. Eudoria stood in place, and the gray mist erupted from the scepter once again, tying up Luna. 

Spirit pushed herself up, "Stop!" She fired a ball of light at her, but it evaporated the minute it made contact with the scepter. Queen Eudoria ignored her and walked up to Mariposa, who's legs were shaking.

Mariposa tried to kick Eudoria, but Eudoria blocked it. "Cure Mariposa, you pretend to be strong in front of me, but I know your true feelings." Mariposa didn't struggle as the mist went around her.

Anzu scowled, running up to Queen Eudoria. Spirit followed her, and the two fought against Eudoria. As Spirit fired balls at her from a distance, making sure to avoid the scepter, Anzu punched and kicked her, switching forms to avoid getting caught. As Anzu was in her bunny form, Eudoria kicked her.

Eudoria then picked her up. "Anzu, trying to fight in her worthless state." Anzu transformed back into her human form, punching Eudoria once more before she was tied up as well.

Spirit looked nervously at the others as Queen Eudoria strutted up to her. "Last, and very much least, Cure Spirit-"

"Shut up!" Spirit yelled, glaring at her.

"Though you are known as the leader, you never seem to be the one to direct the group."  Eudoria continued. 

"I said, shut up!" Spirit punched Eudoria, but Eudoria grabbed her shaking hand. Queen Eudoria then let go, walking away and out of the dungeon. 

"I need soldiers!" She yelled. Five soldier came up to her, and she pointed towards the dungeon. "Guard those four girls." She said, gesturing to the one's tied up.

"What about her?" One of the soldiers said, pointing towards Spirit.

"Leave her." Queen Eudoria ordered. "She can watch." She then walked even farther, and Spirit, after thinking, walked up to her. 

She looked back at the dungeons, as the door closed. "If this helps them get out, I'll comply." Spirit thought as she followed the Queen. 

Queen Eudoria stopped, walking up to a wall. It was adorned with many large jewels, except for the center, where one seemed to be missing. "Do you have any idea what this is?" She asked Spirit. 

Spirit froze up, sweat forming on her forehead. "Something important?" She questioned. Queen Eudoria stared at her, and Spirit though, "Now I've done it,"

Queen Eudoria nodded, looking back at the wall. "Extremely important. It's a wall, which will give this kingdom permanent access to your world, the lovely Earth." She turned towards Spirit, who nodded. "If only my sister had not destroyed her own one of these, it would have been much easier." She raised her hands up in triumph. "But, we were eventually able to find them, giving my top soldiers access." She smiled a sickly smile. "Now, we have them all. She gestured towards a specific one on the wall. Even the one Adelaide used."

Spirit looked at the empty spot on the wall, wondering about it. Queen Eudoria looked at her face. "Yes, there is still one more component. The most important one, in fact."

As Spirit looked at the hole even closer, she realized what it was for. Covering her compass, she backed up. "Don't even attempt!" She blurted out. Queen Eudoria ran towards her, and Spirit jumped up into the air. 

She grabbed onto a chandelier, getting on top of it and grabbing her wand. "Spirit Shot!" She yelled, flinging multiple balls of light at Eudoria. Eudoria blocked them using her scepter, and a swirl of mist came towards Spirit. Spirit used the chandelier to swing out of the way. The mist went around the chandelier instead. Eudoria pulled the mist using her scepter, causing the chandelier to fall.

She sprinted towards Eudoria and tried to grab the scepter out of her hands, failing. She jumped into the air again to avoid the scepter's attacks, sending more balls to Eudoria. 

"You know, the more magic you use, the more power the compass gets." She walked towards the wall, dropping the scepter. "In fact, I bet it could power the door on its own!" She yelled, putting her hand in the hole the compass was supposed to go in.

The gems glowed, before shattering into millions of pieces. Spirit closed her eyes, blinded by the light. When she opened them, She saw a humanoid figure that was so big it barely fit into the room. It was covered head to toe with black fabric similar to the one on Queen Eudoria's dress. "Queen Eudoria?" She asked, looking at the figure in front of her. 

In a deep voice, the Eudoria monster yelled, "Give me the compass!"

"Why are you even doing this?" Spirit asked, running so that Eudoria didn't grab her. "All because you and your sister had some arguement!?"

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

"Now that you rule this place, are you going to do something about the rules we've always talked about?" Charlotte asked Eudoria, as Eudoria brushed her hair.

"Well, remember I'm not the only one ruling. Juniper has to agree to it, as well." Eudoria looked at the picture of her and her sister, hanging on the wall of her bedroom. "I don't know why she wouldn't agree, though."

"I guess," Charlotte shrugged. "I mean, we have so many people on our side, even people who just don't like the outdoors. She'll have to agree!"

Eudoria looked at the clock in her room and stood up. "It's time for dinner!" She ran to the door, "See you after!"

Charlotte waved, smiling."See you!" 

Eudoria sat at the small but elegant table, across from her sister. "Um, Juniper, I wanted to suggest something, some improvements."

Juniper smiled, "Go on."

Eudoria sat straight in her chair, making sure she looked proffesional. "Well, I feel like there aren't enough accesibility measures for, well, people like me."

Juniper cleared her throat. "What do you mean? You can get everywhere easily, and we have nice places to sit..."

"Yes, but what are we supposed to do while sitting? I was always bored out of my mind when I was younger, becuase aeverything to do here is focused on moving."

"We have sketchbooks to draw in, though." Juniper said. "How many people are like you, anyways?"

"My friend Charlotte, and I, plus other people-"

"Who are these 'other people'?" Juniper questioned. 

"I- I don't know." Eudoria admitted. "I haven't seen any, but I bet-"

"Are you sure this isn't just a request for you and your friend? You know, a queen musn't waste recources only for a few people, much less another queen."

Eudoria slammed her hands on the table. "You don't understand whatsoever!" She then stormed out of the room, leaving Juniper alone.

Eudoria ran up to her room, tears streaming down her face. She opened the door, much to Charlotte's suprise, rushing in. "It didn't work?" Charlotte asked gently. Eudoria shook her head, and Charlotte hugged her. "I'm sorry." She said, tears coming to her eyes.

"I'm sick of this." Eudoria said, wiping her tears. "We should just make the Realm of Happiness real!"

"Yeah!" Charlotte smiled. 

"We need time to prepare, though." Eudoria said, pulling away from Charlotte. "How about a week?"

"Wait, seriously!" Charlotte jumped up. "I'll be ready, Eudoria!"

The week went by quickly, and Eudoria organized her plans. "One more day." She said to herself, gathering the items she would need. 

She heard a knock on her door, and shoved the items under her bag. "Yes?"

Juniper opened the door, something wrapped with pink paper in her hands. "I know there isn't a special occasion coming up, but I got you this." Juniper explained. "I was thinking about your proposal nonstop, and I found a compromise." 

She handed the object to Eudoria, who unwrapped it carefully. It was a scepter, complete with a giant silver orb in the center. "What do I do with this?" Eudoria asked, moving it around.

"It can grant wishes." Juniper explained. "Apparently, some royal enginners have been working on it for years. They did mention it has a limit, so be careful. After you use up the limit, the thing malfunctions. With this, you can get rid of your sickness, and Charlotte's!"

"Wow." Eudoria said. "Thank you, Juniper."

"Your welcome." Juniper said. "Don't forget the civilian check-up later!" Juniper closed Eudoria's door, and Eudoria smiled. 

"This thing will make our plans way easier." She said to herself, opening the door and running out of the castle.

"Eudoria? Why are you here?" Charlotte asked as Eudoria panted at her doorsteps. 

"I think we should move the starting to today." Eudoria answered.

"What?!" 

"I know. That being said, I have something that will make it easier." She pulled out her scepter, explaining her plan.

"See you at the check-up!" Eudoria said, running back to the castle.

Eudoria and Juniper walked out onto the large balcony outlooking the entire village. Almost all of the residents were standing near it.

"Hello, residents of the Kingdom of Fun." Juniper started. "We would like to make some announcements about future projects, and the such-"

"Wait!" Eudoria yelled. "I, personally, have my own announcement to make."

"This wasn't what we planned-" Juniper whispered, but Eudoria ignored her.

"For years, I, and many other people, have been unable to enjoy themselves here. I am talking about, of course, people with sicknesses that make them weak and fatigued easily. I have had enough, and am making my own kingdom, called the Realm of Happiness! Everyone is welcome to come, if you are sick of this place. She pointed towards the left of the kingdom, where a large city suddenly appeared. 

"In fact, I will use this very scepter to cure everyones illness!" She shouted. She then jumped off of the balcony and into the crowd, leading the people towards the Realm of Hapiness.

After everyone had settled in, she went onto the balcony of the newly formed, large castle. "Hello, my friends!"  She lifted the scepter into the air, causing everyone to cheer. "I aim to create a fair kingdom, where everyone has equal rights! This will start with me granting any wish your heart desires." 

After the long day of work, Eudoria layed in her luxurious bed. Someone knocked on the door, and she sat up. "Come in!" She exclaimed. Charlotte opened the door, much to Eudoria's delight.

"Hey, Eudoria, now that we're alone, can you grant my wish?" Charlotte asked. Eudoria nodde, grabbing her scepter.

"What is it?"

"To get rid of my sickness, forever!" Charlotte exclaimed. 

Eudoria nodded, closing her eyes. The scepter glowed, and Charlotte excitedly jumped. "Thank you! I've never felt this energized in my life! Anyways, I want to reveal some news."

Eudoria smiled, before hearing a loud, ear-piercing noise. The scepters silver glow turned into a black emptiness. "Huh?"

Charlotte ignored it, continuing. "Now that my sickness is cured, I think I'm going to move back to the other kingdom. My family all lives there, and I'd love to be closer to some of my other friends-"

"After all I did for you!" Eudoria yelled, clutching the scepter. 

"Sorry, can you at least try to understand?" Charlotte asked. 

Mist swirled out of the scepter, lifting Charlotte into the air. Charlotte squirmed and shrieked, tears coming to her eyes.

"You are not moving there!" Queen Eudoria yelled. "You will become my highest appointed soldier, and recuit everyone in this kingdom, under your own command. After training them to be as strong as possible, you will orchestrate an invasion, to gain even more soldiers. Only then, will you be able to live a wonderful life here. That is your punishment, do you understand?"

"Yes." Charlotte said, her voice shaking. 

"Good. Then go!" Eudoria gestured to the door, where the mist pulled it open.

Charlotte walked towards it, turning towards Eudoria before leaving. "Who are you?"

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎ "Why?" Spirit repeated, looking at Eudoria's covered face. 

"It was not just an arguement!" Eudoria bellowed, grabbing Spirit and picking her up.

Spirit squirmed out of the tight grip, walking up her arm. Once she got close enough, she pulled up the piece of cloth covering her face. Spirit could only lift it so that she could see the eye, but that was okay. "Don't you think your sister would be willing to forgive? Did that thought never cross your mind?"

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

Fire thrashed and burned in front of Eudoria, as she watched the chaos unfold. As her soldiers brought back hundreds of people to her city, she felt the most powerful. Juniper watched from the safety of the balcony, sobbing as she watched her people be taken. "Why must you do this?" She calmly asked Eudoria, who turned away.

"You know why."  "I'm sorry!" Juniper yelled, before running into the castle. "For everything!" Eudoria ignored her and left, using the mist from her scepter to stop the fire. There was no need for it, anymore.

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎ Eudoria's eye widened, and she covered her face with her hands. Spirit jumped off of Eudoria. "I can't turn back, I've gone too far." She lifted her face to look at Spirit, who was crying. "Tell Juni that I'm sorry for everything."

A million gems appeared before Spirit's eyes, shattering into a thousand different fragments. The only thing left of Eudoria was her scepter, lying on the floor.

Spirit walked up to the scepter, sitting on the ground next to it. So much had happened, and she still couldn't process it all. After a few minutes, she grabbed it, standing up. "We won." The dungeon door flew open, and the others ran out. "Spirit!" Luna yelled, waving her hands. 

When Luna reached her, she looked at the scepter. "Wait, did you defeat her?!" She yelled out.

Spirit nodded. "Yeah." 

"How?" Mariposa and Fern asked at the same time. 

Spirit blushed, trying to explain what happened. "-and then, she, like, shattered. I think it had something todo with the gems?" She shrugged. "I'm still not sure."

"I wish I could've seen it!" Fern exclaimed. She sprinted over to the chandelier, examining it. "I can't believe you were the one that caused it to fall!"

"Were you even listening?" Luna questioned. "The queen broke it, not Spirit." She corrected.

"Uh, sorry to be a party pooper, but what now?" Mariposa asked. The four girls turned towards Anzu, who nervously scratched her head.

"I don't know, why not ask Spirit? She's the team leader, after all." Anzu said. 

The cures turned to Spirit, who was about to argue back. She stopped herself, though, and cleared her throat. "I say, we go see Queen Juniper on the matter." She said, acting as proffesional as she could. "She will probably know what to do."

Spirit suddenly noticed a noise coming from the hallway. She listened for a second, before running towards them.

"Who's there?" She asked. She suddenly felt a gust of wind, and the scepter dissapeared. "What-?"

"Apologies for interupting." Spirit turned around to see Julian, holding the scepter in his gloved hands.

He pointed the scepter towards the girls, the dark mist swirling towards them. "But I have some unfinished business."

[smol-lydia]

My Enola Holmes Thoughts

Okay, so I’ve watched Enola Holmes three times now, twice sober and once stoned off my ass because I had too many edibles, and I have a lot of thoughts:

-- Millie Bobby Brown is a national treasure and no, I don’t take criticism

-- I am so glad they cut out the crossdressing villain from the books. I know they were written in the early 2010s but like, yikes on bikes we don’t need that rn 

-- I am also glad they added Edith as a character! Partially because someone needs to hand Sherlock his ass in regards to privilege, but also because it’s a personal gripe of mine as a historian when Victorian London films are lily white because that is neither accurate nor realistic. 

-- I can’t believe it took until I was high off my tits for me to realize Miss Harrison was thirsting over Mycroft

-- I want to cosplay all of Enola’s outfits. My gay ass has already put together the one where she is wearing Sherlock’s clothes

-- Helena Bonham Carter is perfect as Eudoria but I hope they don’t change her ending from the books

-- I like Henry Cavill as Sherlock better than Benedict Cumberbatch but I am not prepared for SuperWhoLock 2.0 please don’t do this to me tumblr I was there when the scrolls were written

-- I love a creative adaption. I’m not a strict book to movie person because as a writer myself and the daughter of a screenwriter/script doctor/director I am faimilar of how the medium must change. So I’m actually quite pleased with the story changes here. 

-- I headcanon Enola as a bisexual queen who is into Lady Cecily (and the pining is mutual) so I still have mixed feelings about the Enola/Tewksbury ship they are canonically pushing. I am torn between I actually really love her dynamic with him in this. I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and verbally sparring, so sue me. But I want my wlw. But then I see them being cute and vebrally sparring and I think “I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP.” I am a Libra. We don’t make decisions well. 

[tpc-tangled-au]

Chapter Six: Seeing The Lights

The magic of the fireflower healed the queen. And, just before dawn, a healthy baby boy—a prince—was born.

I’ll give you a hint, me lad: that’s your own Nuncle!

And for a time, his childhood was just as golden as his wild hair. Yes, it was, Baron, you needn’t give me that look. It truly was. I know.

Melisande was just closing the lid of her little box when something—and in a haunted castle, something could have been anything—burst into the kitchen like a fireball. If she hadn’t just set it on the counter, she’d have dropped it. But before she had time to think about the box, the fireball shouted in excitement.

“Sharp Eyes! Come see!”

She gasped and spun round to face the golden-haired boy and his grin. “Why, you silly, you nearly frightened me! Come see what?”

“It’s my birthday!”

“Aye, happy birthday again!” Her blue eyes widened. “Oh! I forgot your present! It’s still in my room!” And not wrapped either: the little felt cap, fashioned into the shape of a knight’s helmet, was still only hidden inside a pillowcase (and very carefully at that—she didn’t want the plume to break).

“But it’s not present time!” The five year old prince stamped his feet eagerly. “It’s time to come see! So come! Hurry! Hurry!” And he started pulling at her sleeve with impatience.

“Slow down, Naphetali! See what?”

He started to speak, but then stopped dead, staring at her for a moment. He looked perfectly flabbergasted. “You don’t amember?!”

“Ummm…” Little Melisande thought over all the things she could remember about her royal friend’s birthday. But she was six. There was only so much that stuck with her from year to year. “No?”

She almost expected Naphtali to be mad or disappointed. But she should’ve known better. A few seconds’ worth of time, and a humongous grin spread between his ears. “Then it’ll be a surprise! You can have a birthday surprise too! Oh, that’s defin’ly better.”

“Really?”

“YES! Now come here! Come see!”

And with that, he snatched her little hand and dashed off with her.

The pair of them scurried down the halls as quickly as if they were two little castle mice (though this castle had more ghosts than mice). They passed very few others, living or dead. That was something Melisande had noticed—there was almost no one in the castle. Most of them were gone, though she didn’t know or remember why.

That was why she was in the kitchen: she wanted to sneak some bits for her medicine box. Plants, herbs, little snips of things people weren’t using. Some of the things her grandad put in his medicine box. And she didn’t want to be in the way while she was getting them. Well, she also didn’t want anyone to see her doing it. She didn’t want anyone to take it.

“Oh, wait! My box!” And Melisande tried to stop, to go back. What if someone found it and didn’t know what it was? Or what if they did know?

But he pulled her on. “We’re gonna be late! We’ve got to hurry!”

In their hurry, they nearly barrelled right into two of the few still inside. When Melisande caught sight of their faces, she gasped so hard she could’ve inhaled her tonsils. But Naphtali only brightened.

“Hullo, Father! Hullo, Mother!”

King Frederick, the great lord and master who towered immensely over Melisande’s head, laughed. “You best watch your steps, son, or you’ll knock your royal mother right off her feet!”

“Oh! Pardon, Mother.” He let go his hold of Melisande to bow in apology.

But his mother, the wise Queen Eudoria whom any girl in the kingdom might want to learn from, only smiled. “All right, I pardon. At ease, my gallant little knight.”

Naphtali put his hands behind his back, but stood with feet together. Not quite how Melisande had seen soldiers stand “at ease.” But she had no time to consider it, for suddenly, the great kingly voice was speaking again… to her.

“You’re Jacob’s little granddaughter, aren’t you, lass?”

Speechless, Melisande bobbed a curtsy.

“She is!” Naphtali went on, stepping out of his ‘at-ease’ position. “She has a medicine box just like his, too!” At that, the startled Melisande shook his arm—she didn’t want it to be talked about! But Naphtali didn’t seem to notice. “It’s got all sorts of little bits and things! She left it in the kitchen. Oh! We need to make sure nobody messes with it!”

“Well, I’ll surely let the servants know,” nodded the king.

“Where are you and your little friend off to in such a rush?” asked the queen. “Or are you just excited to see the—”

“Mother!” exclaimed the prince. “It’s a surprise, because she doesn’t amember the—” He clapped his hands over his own mouth, as if stuffing the secret back inside. “You know!”

“Ahh, I see.” Queen Eudoria nodded knowingly. “Well, you have our leave to go. Don’t want you to be late to see your own celebration, do we?”

“Oh, thank you grandly, Mother! Farewell! And farewell, Father! Let’s hurry, Sharp Eyes!” He grabbed her hand and took off again, hardly giving her enough time to curtsy in parting. The two monarchs laughed as the youngsters departed.

“Where are we going?”

“Someplace high,” he grinned, never ceasing to move and run. “I wanted to go up to Ollie’s Ridge, but we’d be too late to see it if we walked all that way.”

She stumbled as she tried to keep up, and picked up her skirts with one hand. “Thank you, by the way. For making sure nobody touched my box.”

“Oh!” Naphtali gave her a funny look. “I didn’t know that was something to thank about.”

“Well… well, it is to me.”

They soon burst through a little door and out onto some of the battlements. Here, Melisande thought they might stop. But her friend kept bobbing and weaving and darting, constantly swiveling his head to look. Almost as dizzily as when he tried to end a dance. Well… perhaps not that dizzy.

“Aren’t we there?”

“It’s not high enough!” he protested, searching with a little agitation. “You’ve got to see it best!” His wandering eyes lighted on something. At that, his pattering footsteps stilled, and an excited grin was blazoned across his face.

Melisande followed his gaze. He was staring at a rooftop. One particular rooftop, higher than the battlements. Higher than anything in the castle, in fact, except for one, still-in-the-making tower. She’d seen some of the page boys climb up the side to that high rooftop on dares.

“It’s perf-ket! Why, it’s almost as high as Ollie’s Ridge itself!” And he scurried off toward it.

“Naphetali, wait!” This time, she did pull against him, eyes widening as they neared the side. “We can’t climb up there!”

“I’m not frightened! And you’ve got to see!” He let go her hand as they came to the battlements nearest it. He tried to clamber up onto them (though his legs were a little short for that). Melisande tugged on him again, but only lightly. She didn’t want to pull too hard and make him lose his balance. Her grandfather had tended too many lads who’d gotten hurt that way.

Before he could even get to a standing position, however, a figure in a red uniform swooped in and set him sturdily back on the ground. Melisande quietly sighed in relief. She couldn’t bear to see her friend get hurt like the other boys.

“Careful, Highness!” said a gently cautious voice, as the man attached to it steadied Naphtali on his feet. “I can’t let you go hurt yourself on your birthday.”

“But I wasn’t going to get hurt, Travers! I was just trying to get up high!”

A purposely patient tone entered his voice, as if repeating a well-worn conversation. “Well, accidents still happen, little prince. A lot of things happen when you don’t mean them to.”

“Well, not me.”

“And,” he added, settling a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “if we don’t hurry now, you might go and miss the ceremony when you don’t mean to!” And the raven-haired soldier started urging him along, though not roughly. “Let’s get you to your royal parents, Your Highness. I’m sure they’re waiting.”

Naphtali squirmed, trying to turn back. “Oh, but Travers—”

“Excuse me, Mr. Travers,” put in Melisande, tugging on his sleeve, “but the King and Queen did give him leave to go. I was with him when they said it.”

Travers turned his gaze toward her, head tilted. “Is that so?”

“Yes!” exclaimed Naphtali, whipping round. “They said I can go, and we haveto get up high, because Sharp Eyes doesn’t amember the li—I mean, the thing she has to see! And she has to see, cause it’s a surprise!”

The soldier glanced between them, seeming surprised himself. Then, he smiled softly. Melisande liked it when he smiled like that. It was kind. “Well… I suppose if it’s a surprise…”

“Yes! Yes! I can go!” And he started to scramble for the battlements again.

“Not that way, though! I do still have my duty to protect you, Prince Prometheus.”

Naphtali frowned, more at the name than anything else. But the man wasn’t finished. When he bent down to their level and continued, it was in a low, almost shrewd voice.

“But if you’d like to get to the height before it starts, and safely…” He leaned in with the utmost confidentiality. “There is a shortcut.”

Melisande’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. When she glanced over at her friend, his face wore the same look, if a bit more exaggerated.

“Just over to the right,” whispered Travers, jerking his head a little to the side, “there’s a pair of gargoyles. Slip behind them, and you’ll find a little stairway that winds through the stone. Then a flat place… and three large steps… and at the end is the rooftop.”

“Hurrah!” Naphtali clapped his hands, and his voice was half-hushed with the secrecy of the information.

“But…” Melisande hesitated, “mightn’t it be a danger?” She’d never been up on a rooftop before. She’d climbed trees, and she’d dreamed of flying, and she wasn’t really afraid of heights. But she couldn’t get the thought of those boys out of her head.

Yet it seemed Travers knew her fears already. “It was made to be a safe place to stand. It’s flat at the top, and wide. And see there?” He bent toward her and pointed it out. “Along the lower edge?”

Melisande nodded. “It looks like a fence.”

“It’s very like one. It’s meant to keep people from simply rolling off, and not just with a physical barrier.” When her glance fell, confused, he tilted her chin up with a gentle finger. “People may have hurt themselves in climbing foolishly up the sides, but no one has ever fallen from that rooftop. No one.”

At last, Melisande returned the smile. It seemed to brighten his mood as well.

But there was one whose mood never needed brightening. “Thanks, good Travers!” he cried, saluting widely. “You needn’t fret for us any longer!” Naphtali started to hurry off, but something stopped him, spinning him on his heels. “But are you sure the passage is still there? You don’t think the gargoyles moved it?”

For the first time that day (at least that Melisande had seen), Travers laughed. “Your Highness, I’m sure. If the gargoyles had moved it, I’d know. After all, I’ve been a soldier in your father’s service for five years! I know this castle like…” He held up his gloved left hand. He glanced at it. Then, on second thought, he lowered it. “…like the back of my hand.”

“And a good hand, too!” Then, with his own, Naphtali tugged along on Melisande’s. “Come now, Sharp Eyes! We must hurry ever so much if we want to see! Hurry!”

“I am!” But before she followed, she turned to the soldier and curtseyed. “Thank you kindly, Mr. Travers.”

At this, he said nothing. But he smiled that smile of his, and bowed slightly with a hand over his heart. And Melisande hurried on after her friend. Her little friend, anyway.

The two of them ran right and soon found the foretold gargoyles, side by side, as if guarding the castle’s secrets. “Greetings, good sirs!” saluted Naphtali cheerily as they passed. “It’s my birthday, did you know?”

“You’re doing quite fine jobs, too, gentlemen,” she added, hiding a secret smile of her own at the prince’s courtesy.

“Gentlemen monsters!” Naphtali laughed, but more delighted by the thought than scornful.

Just as Travers had said, there was a little stairway just beyond. Naphtali hurried them up it, pulling and urging. Melisande had to slow him a little to keep either from tripping. As they rushed, her friend chattered.

“Travers is really a fine fellow, you know, but he’s too official.”

“Well, he is a soldier.”

“But you call me Naphtali! You don’t mind! But he keeps calling me the other name.”

“Promitheus is your right name, though! And it’s sort of a nice name.”

“I don’t think so.” He frowned. “That’s why I picked a better one, from that old story Lazarus told us! Sir Naphtali was a knight of King Thomas the Fearless, and he helped fight off the shamans of Mount Redcap!” He brandished an imaginary sword and lunged at lengthening shadows.

“Aye, and a man of great name. I like it too.” She cocked her head, thinking it over. “But perhaps, someday, you might have both names, and put them together for a grand royal title. Naphetali Promitheus the Golden-Haired!”

“Hmm, I don’t think so!”

With that, and with a little smile, Melisande let it go. There was no talking him into it. He had an idea in his head, and he was holding onto it. He always did. He was so funny.

The stairs ended in a flat place, still surrounded by stone and tile. There were the three large steps leading up. But the two of them were too small to have any kind of view. The winter sky overhead was shifting from purple to blue.

“Don’t look!”

“What?”

“It’s almost gonna start, you have to close your eyes!”

She eyed the steps uncertainly. “But I’ll trip.”

“No you won’t, I’ll make you not trip! That’s the knightly thing to do, just like Father says. He’s always helping Mother not to trip.”

Hesitating, she covered her eyes with one hand. With the other, she gripped his tight.

Despite his best efforts, she did stumble a time or two. Partly, it was her own skirts getting in the way. Partly, it was the stairs themselves, which would have taken a man only a large step to mount. For them, it was all clambering and climbing. But he never let her lose her balance. He never let go of her hand.

They came to the end of the third and last step, and Melisande felt flat ground (though it wasn’t really ground) beneath her shoes. Still, Naphtali led her along, walking now instead of climbing. They stopped. Moved a few feet over. Stopped again.

“Now… look!”

Melisande opened her eyes at last. And she saw. At last, she saw.

The seeing took her breath away. From that high rooftop, she could see, from all over the town, from everywhere in sight, things floating into the air. So many colours, glowing like winter fireflies, like cardinals and greenfinches and bluebirds all with stars inside them. It was high, and huge, and heavenly.

“The lights!”

“Uh-huh!” She could sort of see Naphtali nod proudly, but she did not turn to look.

“Oh, Naphtali, the lights! I didn’t remember!”

“That’s why it’s a good surprise! Aren’t they so much nicer than fireworks?”

Melisande laughed. Out of awe and delight, she laughed, staring into the sky. She'd certainly dreamed of flying before. But oh, to fly now,  with the lights! To soar surrounded by this colour and beauty! Her breath escaped her, clouding the cold air.

She glanced at her friend, about to reply. But she stopped. Naphtali was staring at her, mouth slightly open. His grey eyes gleamed wide in the light.

“What?”

“I never heard you laugh afore.”

“Oh.” Melisande shrank, just a little. “Is it bad?”

“Nuh-uh.” He shook his head, his grin returning. “’s nice.”

Naphtali smiled at her, just a little moment more, before he looked back out at the lights. It didn’t take long for excitement to spark in him again, and he soon started eagerly pointing out the splendidest lanterns, guessing who made which one, and bouncing on his heels. And Melisande smiled too. She liked the lights. But she decided she liked them standing right here much better than she would like them flying.

She didn’t notice that he hadn’t let go of her hand. But then, neither did he.

~~*~~

[Chapter 1/Writing the Story]

[Chapter 5/The Impossible Blossom] ... [Chapter 6/you are here!] ... [Chapter 7/Frey]

Also found on AO3, if you'd like to hop on over!

[huesofocean]

Things in Enola Holmes that needs to be appreciated

• Enola cutting Tewkesbury's hair

• Women training scene

• Every scene with queen Edith in it

• Eudoria Holmes being feminist icon

• Dash

• That woman calling Lestarde 'useless man' when he couldn't open the door

• Sherlock getting all proud after hearing Enola solved case before him

• All Enola action scenes

• The almost died of drowning scene

• Scream of Mycroft and train sound mixing up

[aion-rsa]

Enola Holmes Ending Explained: Eudoria, the Reform Act and What’s Next for Enola?

https://ift.tt/2G8pKsV

Warning: contains Enola Holmes plot spoilers

Netflix film Enola Holmes is a revolutionary parable about rejecting the status quo and choosing your own destiny. In it, Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown plays the sixteen-year-old sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes (Sam Claflin and Henry Cavill), a bright spark raised in splendid isolation by their mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter) to think, fight and plot her own path through life. When Eudoria mysteriously disappears, Enola undertakes her first missing persons case and reconnects with her estranged detective brother along the way. 

Based on the first in a six-strong series of YA books by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes is a lively, if overlong, romp with a political heart and a charming central performance by Millie Bobby Brown. With plot spoilers, here’s a breakdown of the major action…

Why did Eudoria Holmes disappear? 

Eudoria is a proto-feminist and activist for women’s suffrage (the right to vote). Left alone with a young child after her husband died and sons left home, she devoted the time until Enola was sixteen to equipping her daughter with skills and a liberal education. Then, confident that Enola could fend for herself, Eudoria went undercover as part of the resistance to fight to make the world a fairer place for women. 

What was Eudoria planning to do?

First, she extracted money from her son Mycroft (who had inherited Ferndell Hall when his father died) on the pretence that she needed it for upkeep on the property and to maintain a raft of servants and instructors for Enola. Instead, the pair lived with a single housekeeper and Eudoria taught Enola herself, channelling the money to fund her activism. 

The explosives Enola discovered in Limehouse Lane were presumably intended to blow up targets in London to protest the lack of women’s suffrage. 

What was Edith Grayston’s Tea Shop?

A front for the women’s suffrage organisation to which Eudoria and Edith belong. Edith (played by Susan Wokoma) ran self-defence and Jiu-jitsu classes above the tea shop, an educational facility with “seditious, dangerous and extremely banned bookshelves,” as remarked upon by a visiting Sherlock Holmes.

Who was trying to kill the Viscount Tewksbury and why?

His grandmother, the Dowager, played by Frances de la Tour (perhaps best recognised by young audiences for the role of half-giant Madame Maxime in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Enola was right – a widow is a very handy disguise. A staunch conservative who opposed reformation in any form, the Dowager felt it was her duty as a member of the British landed gentry to preserve the family estate – and England – exactly as it was, and to stand in the way of progress. She explained as much to Enola on their walk through Bellwether House grounds. 

The Dowager knew that her eldest son – the young Viscount’s father – was a radical who would use his vote in the House of Lords (the UK parliament’s second chamber, at that time filled solely by hereditary peers who inherited their titles, seats and power without appointment or election, with the power to scrutinise bills approved by the elected members of the House of Commons) to pass reform acts, therefore changing the status quo. She staged a burglary in which her son was killed, and then, when his similarly progressive son came of age and inherited the peerage, she employed an assassin to attempt to kill him too. 

When the Viscount and Enola defeated the assassin, the Dowager shot her own grandson in the chest, telling him “I’m so sorry my darling. The future of the country is at stake.” He survived thanks to a hastily inserted chest plate from a nearby suit of armour during the attack, telling his reactionary grandmother “Your time is over.” 

Read more

Movies

Enola Holmes Review: Millie Bobby Brown’s Revolution Lacks Revelation

By Natalie Zutter

Movies

Sherlock Holmes History Proves Enola Holmes Lawsuit is Nonsense

By Ryan Britt

What was the Reform Act passed in 1884?

“Reform, god help us, if it’s one thing this country doesn’t need, it’s more uneducated voters. England is going to pot.” – Mycroft Holmes

The Third Reform Act, or officially, the Representation of the People Act 1884, was introduced by Liberal prime minister William Gladstone. In simple terms, it gave the vote to many more British citizens outside of the wealthy gentry, and marked a shift towards a more democratically elected House of Commons. 

Initially the House of Lords rejected the Third Reform Act, which gave Gladstone a battle and led to popular protest, but it was eventually passed in the Lords.

Previously, the power to vote in elections was only held by wealthy landowners in boroughs, not rural counties. The Third Reform Act extended the franchise (the number of people eligible to vote) to middle class landowners and working class agricultural workers paying an annual rent of £10. In combination with the Redistribution Act passed in 1885, which matched the number of members of parliament for an area to its population, making it more equitable, the Act made for a fairer and more democratic United Kingdom… for some. It did not grant the vote for women or 40% of men in the UK, who were non-landowning and non-propertied. 

Who left Enola the code in the newspaper personal ad?

Sherlock, who deliberately included a hint that the message was from him and not their mother, as it purported to be, as a test for Enola’s deductive powers. When Enola passed the test (after also having solved the mystery of the missing Marquess before him), Sherlock asked to take responsibility as her legal guardian, which Mycroft gratefully granted. 

What was the significance of ‘Dash’ the pinecone?

The wool-wrapped pinecone was Enola’s childhood toy, inspired by Queen Victoria’s spaniel of the same name. Enola had forgotten all about it, but her mother kept it underneath her pillow as a symbol of her affection for her daughter. Sherlock retrieved it and returned it to Enola as proof of their mother’s love, then Enola left it at the Royal Academy for Sherlock to find as a sign that she had cracked the code he’d left for her in the newspaper personal ad.  

What next for Enola?

“I am a detective, I am a decipherer and I am a finder of lost souls. My life is my own and the future is up to us.”

Enola was left living in her own (much more salubrious) London lodgings, having earned a hefty reward from the doting mother of the Missing Marquess. She was no longer a ward of Mycroft, who’d wanted her enrolled at a suffocating finishing school, but the legal responsibility of Sherlock Holmes – in this incarnation of his character, her much more sympathetic and supportive brother. She was also in the early stages of a romance with Lord Tewksbury, and beginning life as a detective in her own right. Her mother Eudoria remained underground as part of the feminist resistance.

Will there be an Enola Holmes 2 sequel?

Author Nancy Springer published six Enola Holmes mysteries between 2006-2010, starting with this story, The Case of the Missing Marquess. That means, if Netflix, Millie Bobby Brown and the fans are up for it, there are several possible opportunities for a sequel adaptation. The next book in the series is titled The Case of the Left-Handed Lady and involves the disappearance of the aristocratic Lady Cecily Alistair…

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Enola Holmes is available to stream on Netflix now.

The post Enola Holmes Ending Explained: Eudoria, the Reform Act and What’s Next for Enola? appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3j8qvko

[hottestparent-tournament]

ROUND 1 WINNERS!!!!!

MORTICIA ADDAMS v. XU WENWU

LINDA BELCHER v. VALERIA

HEIMDALL (MCU) v. SKYLER WHITE

JACK IN THE BOX v. MADAME RED

QUEEN RAMONDA v. GOMEZ ADDAMS

CARMEN SÁNCHEZ v. THORIN OAKENSHIELD

JOHN WICK v. MIDNIGHT

JOEL MILLER v. GERALT OF RIVIA

EUDORIA HOLMES v. NEGAN SMITH

KURUMI SAIKI v. MARGARETHE ZIEGLER

ELASTIGIRL/HELEN PARR v. HICCUP

LADY DIMITRESCU v. RICK GRIMES

MICHONNE GRIMES v. LALO SALAMANCA

RIO MORALES v. ATTICUS FINCH

AIZAWA SHOUTA v. VINCENT PHANTOMHIVE

ROUND 2 MATCHUPS AND POLLS COMING LATER TODAY

[hottestparent-tournament]

ROUND ONE MATCHUPS

Morticia Addams vs. Xu Wenwu

Linda Belcher vs. Valeria Garza

Heimdall (MCU) vs. Skyler White

Madame Red vs. Jack in the Box

Queen Ramonda vs. Gomez Addams

Thorin Oakenshield vs. Carmen Sanchez

Midnight/Nemuri Kayama vs. John Wick

Geralt of Rivia vs. Joel Miller

Negan Smith vs. Eudoria Holmes

Kurumi Saiki vs. Margarethe Ziegler

Elastigirl/Helen Parr vs. Hiccup

Lady Dimitrescu vs. Rick Grimes

Michonne vs. Lalo Salamanca

Rio Morales vs. Atticus Finch

Aizawa Shouta vs. Vincent Phantomhive

ROUND 2 MATCHUPS

Morticia Addams v. Linda Belcher

Heimdall (MCU) v. Jack I.T. Box

Queen Ramonda v. Carmen Sánchez

John Wick v. Joel Miller

Eudoria Holmes v. Kurumi Saiki

Elastigirl/Helen Parr v. Lady Dimitrescu

Michonne Grimes v. Rio Morales

Aizawa Shouta v. special guest star Jim Hopper!!!

QUARTER FINALS MATCHUPS

Morticia Addams v. Jack I.T. Box

Queen Ramonda v. John Wick

Eudoria Holmes v. Lady Dimitrescu

Michonne Grimes v. Aizawa Shouta

[tpc-tangled-au]

Chapter Two: Trusting to Fairy Tales

And it all began, not in Othrys among the ghosts, but in a kingdom among the stars. Once upon a time…

It was a bitter winter’s night, but no wail of wind gained any notice. The footsteps of Frederick, King and Master of Othrys, were all that the palace folk heard, as he tramped furiously from his bedroom. Whispered words passed between them, wondering at what the sound might portend.

Frederick knew his steps were heard. He did not care. In his ears, they sounded heavy and hollow on the cold floor.

Though many heard the echoes, only one man was there to see the source, or to glimpse the tears in the king’s eyes before he rubbed them out. Small a comfort as it was, Frederick was glad it was Lazarus, and only Lazarus.

“That Galvan fella hadn’t found anything, y’majesty?” asked the counselor, as if knowing the answer.

“Nothin’ to help, just worse news.”

Lazarus’ dark brow clouded. “What kinda ‘worse’?”

“She’s—” But the word thickened, halting him. As if saying it aloud would make the nightmare irreversibly real.

“What?”

He took in a breath. Then, with great effort and a sick feeling bubbling in his chest, Frederick forced out the sentence he’d so dreaded. “She’s got the Galen.”

The man’s eyes widened, and his reply was hushed and sharp. “Miss Eudoria’s got the Galen? That awful ol’ galenitric disease?”

Silence came over King Frederick. The image of his wife’s black hair turning leaden, her face greying like ash, flashed before his mind’s eye. Though it nearly blinded him, he nodded.

“Lordamercy,” Lazarus muttered, voice shaken. For a moment, he made no further reply. Then, a plain, troubled question. “What about the little baby? He got it too?”

He turned his back and took a few steps. “Jacob doesn’t think so, but that won’t do a lick of good if he can’t get him out.”

“Still stuck? Why, he ain’t even as big as he ought, comin’ so early! Isn’t there some other way to get ‘im out?”

“With her health like this, he doesn’t know if he ought to try a thing like that. And if the baby does get the Galen from her, he—”

Frederick broke off like a snapped icicle.

“Y’majesty?”

His fists clenched. “They’re gonna die.” He forced his shaky voice to level out, though it was still rough. “My Eudoria, my little boy, they’re both gonna die tonight. And there ain’t a blamed thing I can do about it.”

“Well, now, King Frederick, you—”

“King? King? You just take a look at what good being a king does now!” With a sharp growl, he slammed a fist, heat against the wall’s cold stone.

The noise it made was not loud, but it silenced all others. Once it echoed out, the only sounds to be heard were the faint moans of a dying queen, creeping from below a door, and the wind as bitter as a banshee, keening for coming death. Lazarus said no more.

Frederick’s gaze dropped to his other hand, then to his shoes. Now more than ever, he felt unfit for his role. Often in his life, he’d thought himself born into the wrong profession. His feet seemed fitted only for patched-up shoes with worn soles. These big, rough hands seemed like they must have been made for plowing fields and pounding fiends; in them, a scepter seemed unwieldy. If he was made to lead, it was not as a king.

And as a king now, what? He couldn’t make a decree outlawing illness. He couldn’t order soldiers to rescue them from their peril. Even a country farmer would know better how to tend the sick and care for the pained.

But here he was, a country at his command, and with not an ounce of power to save the two people in it who meant more to him than the whole.

“I’m no king. I’m just a man with a crown.”

A moment passed, like the faint moonlight through the frosted windows. Then, a low voice dared break the silence.

“Well, sire, I reckon the same thought went through King Carter’s head.”

Frederick scoffed softly, but not scornfully, letting his eyes slip shut as he nodded. Trust his royal counselor to bring him back to their history. “King Carter.”

“And a fine fella he was at that, but he wasn’t made for kingin’ any more than you. Ain’t none of y’all right down the line felt they fit those shoes, even the man as made them. Why, a carter’s just what he was!”

“A carter turned king, Lazarus. A man who broke spells and conquered the dead.” He shook his head, recalling the reputation Carter had in their legends—adventurer, protector of the innocent, and the first Master of Othrys. And what was he, unable even to break one fever or stop two deaths, to that?

“Well, surely, power came to him, and so he used it for good. But he wasn’t built to be no king neither. He was just a man doing right by the folks counting on him. Just like all of y'all right down the line. Just like you, y'majesty.”

A corner of a smile twitched at his mouth. “Well, that’s some nice encouraging for a man at this kind of work. Thank you for that.” The corner folded. “But I don’t think King Carter is gonna help my wife and son get through this night, any more than I can.”

“Now, sire, y—”

Lazarus stopped short.

“Wait a sec, here.”

Frederick turned to face his counselor, and found him staring wide-eyed in thought or realization. “What is it?”

“Sire, you said you don’t think ol’ King Carter’s gonna help ‘em get better. But I think he might. Him and a couple other kings, they just might.”

What this meant, Frederick had no earthly idea. But something in Lazarus’ words or tone or voice put hope back in his bones. “Tell me how you mean!”

Lazarus raised his eyes and fixed them steadily on his king. “The story of Septimon.”

“Septimon? That kingdom of stars?”

“Yessir, and the stones in ‘em. The hearts of the stars. You remember the story, how there was that grand ol’ battle, with the cruel queen and the princess o’ light? Fighting over those stones, they was, though the princess was just trying to keep her from getting ‘em. A real piece of work, that queen. But in their battling, y’see, the stones got knocked right down to earth! Anybody as found ‘em was bestowed with great powers.”

“I remember, I remember!” Frederick nodded quickly, stepping closer. “That’s what the carter used to conquer this land, make it safe for the living to settle. It’s why we’ve even got a kingdom here.”

“Right, y’majesty! But that stone, that one he had, didn’t stay as a stone. ‘Long about the time of King Ward, it got put into a different form…”

“A flower aflame.” Frederick’s eyes widened. He saw now the path to which his counselor was pointing him.

“And that fiery little bud was able to give folks back their youth… an’ their health… an’ even their very life.”

A moment passed, breathless and taut with potential. Then, Frederick asked the only question left. “Where can I find it?”

“Story says it got planted someplace, but nobody knows where.”

“Nobody? No clues at all?”

“Not as I know.”

“But it’s in Othrys. If King Ward planted it, it’s got to be in this kingdom here.”

“Oh, yes, the story says that much, sire.”

“Then that much is enough for me.” Frederick drew himself up and put his hands behind his back. King or no king inside, he was ready to act as one. “Lazarus, I want a decree sent out. You have pen and paper?”

“Always do, y’majesty,” he grinned.

The king heard a door opening behind him as he began, but he ignored it. “Then take it down. ‘I, King Frederick, Master of Othrys, declare a search throughout all the land for the magical fireflower planted by King Ward. If it is found, it must be dug up and brought to the royal castle. Your queen’s life depends upon it.’ You got all that?”

“‘…depends upon it.’ Yessir.”

“Now, you go grab as many heralds as you can find—make sure it’s ones you can trust, now—and have ‘em spread the word. I want this whole kingdom on the hunt.”

“If I may, sire, is that your great hope of saving the queen?”

The brogue of Jacob Galvan punctuated his king’s words. Frederick turned to give it answer. “A last hope, but yes, I reckon so. You’ve said yourself there’s not much else you can try.”

“Aye, sire, but trusting tae fairy tales…”

“And to your skill, Jacob. I don’t doubt that my wife would be dead already if not for you. But what are fairy tales for if it ain’t our darkest hours?”

“Unless a fella doesn’t believe in them, o’ course,” added Lazarus, as if asking a question of the Scot’s uncertain look.

“Believe? Oh, I believe in them, Counsel. I believe in far more fairy tales than are known in this land, and I couldnae doubt if I tried. But trusting tae any of them has never served me well i’ the long. Any but one, that is.”

“Well, let’s hope one serves us well tonight,” said the king. As he spoke, he took his signet ring off one great finger. “Lazarus, have that decree sent out as soon as possible.” He handed the ring to his trusted advisor. “Seal that paper and as many copies as the scribes can make.”

“Oh, yessir.”

King Frederick then turned to put a hand on the doctor’s shoulder. “Jacob, keep trying to save them. And if nothing else can be done, keep them alive as long as you can.”

Despite his prior reluctance, Jacob nodded with dutiful certainty. “Aye, your majesty. That I’ll do.”

“Thank you, and both of you.” With that, he strode from them... but not back toward the bedroom. Instead, he headed down the hall, marching off into wintry shadows.

“Wa-wait a moment, sire!” called Jacob, reaching after him in bewilderment at his direction. “Where are you going now?”

“Stables!”

The doctor glanced from the departing Frederick to Lazarus (the latter of whom nodded with a knowing smile). “Stables?”

“You don’t think I’m gonna sit and wait a minute longer when there’s something I can do?”

“But what are y’ doing, Master Frederick?”

Frederick dared a few precious seconds to pause, giving a glance to the doctor and the counselor in turn. A gleaming determination was in his eye. “I’m going to look for that fairy tale.”

~~*~~

[Chapter 1/Writing the Story] ... [Chapter 2/you are here!] ... [Chapter 3/The Two Heralds]

Also found on AO3, if you'd like to hop on over!

[hpcprecure]

Happy Campers Precure Chapter Twenty-five: Anzu was Captured! Trip to the Realm of Happiness!

Spirit felt herself fly through the air, before landing on pavement. She opened her eyes to see a dark, empty alley and her friends standing up. Sofia had disappeared, leaving only the precure. "Mariposa, is this is?"

"I think it is." Mariposa said, looking around. "I guess we should start walking to the castle."

"Guys, above us!" Luna yelled. Spirit looked up just in time to see Sofia jumping at them, her fists clenched. 

"Did you really think I would leave you alone?" Luna sprinted to Spirit just in time to block Sofia with her shield. "I'm not going to let you destroy this kingdom that easily." Sofia said, landing gracefully onto the shield. 

"Why not go alert Queen Eudoria or whatever?" Mariposa yelled, flying into the air with Fern holding onto her feet.

"Yeah, it would be easier." Fern said, before letting go and kicking Sofia from the top. Sofia blocked her head with her hands, pushing Fern off.

"But it would be embarrassing." Sofia said. She jumped off of Luna's shield and ran towards Mariposa, who had landed. Mariposa looked at Sofia, getting her hand ready to punch the ground. Just as she was about to do it, Sofia squeezed Mariposa's hand. 

"Why on earth would you do that?" Sofia asked. "Are you not aware people are living in the buildings next to us? Out of all of you idiots I thought you would be the one that was more careful."

Mariposa broke away from Sofia's grip and jumped back. She looked at the others. "She's right." She then ran towards Sofia, grabbing her by the collar and pushing her to the ground. "Now, are you going to do the sensible thing or not?"

Sofia glared at her before standing up in defeat. "Have fun losing." She then disappeared, leaving the unkept alley.

"We've got to find cover." Mariposa said, rushing to one end of the alley. "They'll be coming soon."

"Who will be coming?" Fern asked, following Mariposa. 

"Queen Eudoria's soldiers. All of them." Mariposa said. "They don't take threats lightly."

"Over there!" Luna pointed towards a door to a skyscraper. Spirit ran up to it and opened the door. 

"It's not locked!" She exclaimed, waiting for everyone to come in before shutting it. She looked at the windowless hallways to either side, which were covered in doors. "Which way do we go?"

Mariposa shrugged. "I'm not sure."

Luna walked up to a door at the end of the hallway and opened it. It was home to a spiral staircase. "if we go up, they'll be less likely to find us."

"Yeah, you're right." Fern said. "Team, let's get a move on!"

Fern, Luna, and Spirit started running up the stairs as Mariposa flew to the top. Luna started slowly slowing down, panting. "Hey, Mariposa? Can you carry us up like you carried Fern?" 

"That was for a few seconds." Mariposa yelled from above. "That stuff tires me down."

"Oh, sorry." Luna said. She started walking up a few more steps, before stopping. She looked to the rail of the stairs, running towards it. She lumped onto it, using it to push herself into the air. Just as she was about to plummet down, she grabbed the stair closest to her, pulling herself onto it. She looked directly at Mariposa who was shocked. "I can't believe that worked." Luna said, standing up.

"My turn!" Fern exclaimed, jumping up towards Luna. She reached her hand towards the stairs, but missed. Luna sprinted towards the edge, grabbing Fern's hand just in time. "Whoops." Fern said as she pulled herself onto the stairs.

"You two realized that you could have just walked upstairs in that time, right?" Spirit said as she climbed the last stair. 

"I guess." Luna said. "Anyways, now to find a room to hide in." She opened the door to a plain hallway with what looked like a thousand room on either side. 

"Who said we were hiding?" Fern asked. "I say we jump onto the top of this building and travel from up there."

Luna stopped in her tracks, thinking. "That's actually not a bad idea. Mariposa, do the soldiers have any helicopters?"

"Definitely not." Mariposa said. "Fern's plan is probably our best bet."

"But how are we going to get on the roof?" Spirit asked, looking at the windowless hallway.

"I'll punch the roof!" Fern said, getting ready to jump.

"No!" Mariposa said, grabbing her leg as she jumped. "We could go into one of the apartments and see if there are any windows that we could open." 

"That's definitely a better idea." Luna said, walking up to one of the doors. "Should I just knock?"

"I guess." Spirit said. 

Luna nodded, knocking on the door. The door creaked open, revealing a preschool-aged girl. "What did you bring?"

"Bring?" Luna asked, sweat appearing on her forehead as she stared at Mariposa for guidance. 

Instead of Mariposa, Fern ran up and behind Luna. "We brought our kindness for you!"

"Shut up!" Mariposa whispered at Fern. "We actually are not here to bring anything. We just need to inspect your apartment."

"Oh, come in." The girl shrugged as she made way for the others to pass. "My mother and father are asleep, should I wake them?"

"No-!" Fern yelled before Mariposa covered her mouth. 

"There isn't a need to." Mariposa said politely to the young girl. 

"Actually, we're here only to inspect your windows." Spirit said, inching towards the single, large window that was covered by a black curtain. She opened the curtain and sunlight poured into the room, causing the girl to cover her eyes.

"You aren't actually here to inspect anything, are you?" The girl said before sprinting into another room.

"Oh no..." Mariposa said, running towards the window. "Fern, use your vines to remove this thing, quickly!"

"But there isn't any dirt!" Fern said. Just then, two adults came into the room, glaring at the girls. Spirit shrieked, throwing a potted plant towards Fern. It crashed on the floor, and Fern grew vines out of it that popped the window off of the wall. Fern climbed onto her vines, growing it out of the window and to the roof. "Come on!"

As one of the adults grabbed the phone off of the wall, Mariposa jumped out of the window, flying up. Luna quickly followed, but Spirit stayed inside.

She pulled out her wand, yelling, "Spirit Shot!" She thrust the ball to the phone, breaking it. "Sorry!" She said to the family as she jumped to Fern's vine and climbed towards the roof. 

"What was that noise?" Luna asked as Spirit climbed up. 

"I might have destroyed the phone." Spirit said. 

"Spirit!" Luna scolded.

"I promise I'll get them a new one!" Spirit said. "Anyways, what now?"

Mariposa pointed towards the distance. "Well, the castle's over there. We can jump roof-to-roof until we get there." She jumped to the next building. "Come on, guys!"

The other girls followed, and they slowly got to the last of the apartment buildings. Spirit squinted, realizing they were still far from the castle. "Now what?"

"Well, we can jump from house to house." Mariposa jumped onto one of the roofs. "It's hard, but still possible."

"Got it!" Fern jumped to where Mariposa was standing. She almost fell, but Mariposa grabbed her. "I did it!"

"Barely," Spirit said before jumping to the house. Luna followed, and they got into the rhythm of doing it.

"Do you guys see something?" Fern said, pointing into the distance. Mariposa looked where Fern was pointing, then grabbed all three girls, diving to the ground.

Luna sighed, "What-?"

"Shh!" Mariposa put a finger to her lip. "Let's keep moving towards the castle, but be quiet."

"Were those soldiers?" Fern asked as they moved towards the castle from the ground.

"Yes." Mariposa whispered.

"But how? I swore I broke those people's phone." Spirit said.

"You'd be surprised. Here, if you hear or see anything remotely suspicious, you immediately call them." Mariposa said.

"Also, I bet Sofia wasn't making empty threats." Luna added.

"Look, we're almost there!" Fern exclaimed, running towards the castle in front of them. 

Luna stopped. "We need to be careful, I assume soldiers will be all around here. Mariposa, where are the dungeons?"

"We have to go into the castle to get access to the door, that being said..." She thought for a second. "Fern, are you still up to punching something?"

"I guess." She looked around. "What exactly am I destroying?"

"We have to get there, first." Mariposa started running, and flew into the air. "I'll check the area first." She stayed up in the air for a second before landing. "We're clear."

Mariposa broke into a sprint, and the others followed her. After a few seconds, she abruptly stopped. She pointed towards the brick wall in front of her. "Here. Only the bottom, though."

Fern nodded, kicking the wall with all of the strength she had. A flurry of dust rushed into the air, and Fern cheered. "I did it!"

"Let's go." Luna got on her stomach, crawling though the door. "So, it's a basement?"

"Yes. It helps keep the people in." Mariposa shuddered as she crawled.

"Should we help get everyone else out?" Spirit suggested, fidgeting with her hands.

"There isn't really anyone else." Mariposa shrugged as they waited for Fern to crawl in.

"Are they all..." Fern broke into a whisper, "Dead?"

"What? No!" Mariposa yelled. "Now they just make all the trouble-makers soldiers. I don't know where else Anzu would be, though."

"Speaking of..." Luna started. "Anzu? Are you here?!" She yelled.

A faint voice called out, "Mei?" 

Luna smiled, running towards the voice. Inside an old, dirty jail-cell, Anzu was standing near the bars. "Mei, oh my gosh..." 

"Did you think we wouldn't come?" Luna said, smiling. "Anyways, time to get you out!" Luna stepped back, and sprinted towards the cell. She spawned her shield just before hitting the metal bars, slightly denting them. 

"If you do it that way, it will take forever." Anzu smirked.

"Then I'll just hit the bars harder!" Luna exclaimed, running into the metal bars once more. They dented again. She looked down for a second before spawning her shield again. 

"Anzu, get back!" She yelled, throwing the shield into the bars. The bars sliced in half, the top ones clanking as they hit the ground. "Yes!"

"Luna, why didn't you just ask us for help?" Spirit asked as Anzu exited the cell. 

Luna looked down, embarrassed. "I forgot you guys were even here,"

"Anyways, what's your plan?" Anzu asked the girls. They exchanged glances.

"We don't really have one." Fern admitted.

"We are trying to defeat Queen Eudoria, so I guess we can head in the general direction of her throne room?" Mariposa suggested.

"That seems like a decent enough plan." Anzu said. 

Mariposa walked up the slanted floor towards a stone door. She tried to pull it, but it didn't open. 

Spirit ran up to her, grabbing on the handle of the door as well. "I'll help."

The others also ran up, grabbing onto each others backs, as there wasn't enough room for all of them to grab the handle. "On the count of three." Spirit said. Everyone nodded, tightening their grip.

"One, two, three!" They said at the same time, pulling the door with all of their might. After a few seconds, the door flung open.

Spirit sighed, "Well, looks like we got lucky." Spirit then noticed a woman standing in the doorway. Her Light green hair was twisted in a high bun. She was wearing a long, black gown, with a matching hairpiece. In one of her gloved hands, she held a large scepter that seemed to emit darkness. She adjusted her silver-frame glasses before smiling. "Welcome to my castle, precure."