Meticulous Musings & Masterful Manipulation

  ( Princess Puddingpuff )

  Princess Puddingpuff prowled with perfect precision. Lofty boots pressed to marble with scarcely a whisper. Fairy ears were keen indeed, so despite her steps emitting next to no sound, she was still conscious to time her strides. Each hushed movement was smuggled within the gentle pit-pat of her prey's feet.

  Of her seven sisters, only three were capable of catching her mid-creep. Surprising Cherrychomp was practically impossible. No matter how thoroughly Princess Puddingpuff bathed or washed her garments, the imp picked up on her scent without even trying. The little rascal claimed she smelt sweet. While faintly flattering, the fact that such palatability exposed her presence proved perpetually perturbing.

  After the imp, Bubblebun and Splishsplash offered equal challenge. The ballerina's hearing was exasperatingly exceptional, while Titania's Ace could be considered a living weapon, one that never truly lowered its guard. On this occasion, however, Princess Puddingpuff was closing in on the merprincess like a shark shadowing a sleeping seal.

  There was no elaborate scheme in the works, merely selfish indulgence. She sought only the satisfaction that came with knowing she could strike someone down, and surgically so, at any moment of her choosing.

  Princess Puddingpuff smirked behind Splishsplash's bare back. Her gaze traversed sharp shoulder blades, descended a vulnerable spine, and lingered on the penetrable ripples of ribs. Her laced fingers subtly tightened upon her parasol.

  They believe her unrivalled, yet I could end her this very instant, without so much as a trace...

  Gratified with her theoretical victory, Princess Puddingpuff prepared to announce her presence. She licked her lips and inhaled slightly louder than intended.

  In a single masterful motion, Splishsplash spun upon her toes and brought Loyalty's prongs to Princess Puddingpuff's flinching throat.

  She felt the familiar metal kiss her windpipe. "...Good evening, Splishsplash."

  How graceless of me. To think I'd allow the thrill of triumph to affect my breathing like a primitive pit fighter.

  Placid pools scanned the area, until the trident retreated. "Princess Puddingpuff. I failed to notice you and overreacted. This morning's events must have put me on edge. Forgive me."

  "Apology accepted." Princess Puddingpuff smiled politely. Had Splishsplash reacted with distrust, she would've simply gestured to her new boots and claimed to have underestimated their enhanced efficiency.

  The previous pair had served her well. They'd sufficed in fooling the oafish for many years. Princess Puddingpuff had believed them near-flawless, but always suspected Dollymop could do better. After hearing of the work the Royal Tailor was doing for Winterwish's new robes, she'd determined the time had finally come for an upgrade. Just as she'd hoped, the second iteration had not disappointed.

  When Princess Puddingpuff had first emerged, Dollymop initially refused her requested design. Silentsilk was without a doubt the rarest enchanted textile in the known world. Dollymop had said that even if Princess Puddingpuff were to somehow gain Titania's approval, acquiring enough for a full garment simply wasn't possible.

  And so it was that Princess Puddingpuff devised a cunning plan.

  Back then, Rainbow City wasn't nearly the utopia it would become. Titania desired a censored queendom, devoid of humanity's baser urges. Greed. Violence. Lust. Faith. Said yearnings were natural instincts. Princess Puddingpuff theorised that before the reign of fairies, such traits may have even been essential to humanity's survival. To deny the people said freedoms was to deny their happiness, not to mention the realm's prosperity.

  And so it was that Princess Puddingpuff requested the chance to prove herself.

  Prior to her involvement, it had been Splishsplash who was charged with bringing order to the impoverished streets. The merprincess had been persistent and ruthless indeed, but failed to realise that wiping out one criminal organisation simply created a vacuum. So long as demand remained, the enterprising would find ways to supply.

  And so it was that Princess Puddingpuff provided more sustainable solutions.

  One such example was the commissioning of brass scopes. With the introduction of said viewing instruments, the rough and tumble of evening training could suddenly double as entertainment for the sin-starved masses. Not only that, but the stars of said tumultuous performances garnered far more renown. Fanbases were established and lucrative merchandising contracts were drawn up. It wasn't long before Rainbow City was host to a far more diverse display of heraldry. True, Titania had initial reservations upon learning some of her emblems had been replaced with those of lesser royalty, but she could not argue with the results.

  After a few short months of careful curation, Rainbow City was considered crime free and the queendom's economy was in rapid recovery. For her fruitful efforts, Princess Puddingpuff was rewarded with a place on Titania's Council, a position most of the sisterhood weren't even aware existed. Better still, she'd just so happened to turn a modest profit in the process, enough to establish a Tearoom and finance her very own silentsilk farm. Production was irksomely sluggish, but after a few years they'd harvested just enough precious threads for Dollymop to begin weaving.

  The pair continued side by side.

  Splishsplash remained on high alert. "Have you made any progress?" she asked vaguely. Her rare employment of obscurity was true testament to just how sensitive a subject she referred.

  "I'm afraid I still require more information, and thus, more time," said Princess Puddingpuff.

  The merprincess did not appear pleased. Then again, she never did. "It would be ideal if you could produce a solution sooner rather than later."

  Princess Puddingpuff narrowed her eyes.

  She expects me to work miracles whilst keeping the juiciest secrets sealed behind tight lips...

  "Oh I'm sure you would, yet Titania is anything but transparent. I have but scraps to work with, my good friend. It's rather difficult to consider the full picture when it's served as a partial jigsaw puzzle in a lightless room. If you want results then you're going to have to be patient. That, or at least provide a few candles..."

  Splishsplash turned to her, sapphire pools giving little away as to the rudimentary thought process in progress.

  Did I push my luck too far? ...Better redirect for now. There's plenty of other seeds to sow.

  "Tell me, dear Splishsplash. What are your thoughts regarding this morning's attack?"

  The merprincess began to list bland facts and sterile statements, all of which Princess Puddingpuff was painfully aware of. Still, she nodded along and returned brief words of acknowledgement as necessary.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Her combat ability may be beyond question, but she truly is the least stimulating conversationalist in the entire queendom.

  Princess Puddingpuff would be ashamed to admit it, but at first Splishsplash had been something of a mystery to her. The others had been easy enough to figure out, and even easier to read. Within days of emerging, Princess Puddingpuff had determined Sunshine to be a deplorably self-destructive attention-seeker. Cutiehorn's insecurities were insultingly obvious, whilst Bubblebun was little more than an over-reactive thug.

  Splishsplash, however, had perplexed her. It was only when she ceased to think of said sister as an individual with personal hopes and dreams that things finally fell into place. In truth, there was frighteningly little to the merprincess. She was the perfect servant. It might even be more accurate to call her a slave. She may pause to consider things, but always settled on whichever action she believed would benefit her Queen the most.

  The only uncertainty that remained in Princess Puddingpuff's mind, was whether such unquestioning obedience was an unintended side-effect of the metamorphosis, or the result of deliberate design. Either way, she not only recognised the value of Splishsplash's apathetic pragmatism, but had even grown fond of her clueless sincerity. If Princess Puddingpuff were to succeed Titania, she could think of few better subordinates.

  "I hear there were runes present?" asked Princess Puddingpuff. "Some sort of ritualistic offering? Like a fairy circle, only far more grotesque."

  "That is my understanding," stated Splishsplash.

  Princess Puddingpuff paused a few paces from the doors of Titania's Study. She very clearly cupped her chin and vocalised a blatant "Hmm."

  It only took a moment for Splishsplash to stop too. "You have further thoughts regarding that discovery?"

  Princess Puddingpuff pretended to hesitate a moment, then shook her head. "No. It's probably nothing. Titania's judgement is flawless. It would be folly to question her..."

  She watched the index finger tap upon faesteel and started counting down.

  Three. Two. One. And...

  "I ask you explain your thoughts, even if you believe them doubtful," said Splishsplash. "Queen Titania values your insight, as do I."

  So perfectly predictable. Never change, my dear.

  Princess Puddingpuff glanced towards the doors. "...I fear my suspicions may only burden her further. She's already so very tested by this increased demand of faefire..." She tried to appear as overly woeful as possible. It was a face that'd make her feel an utter buffoon if she were to show it to anyone else. Unfortunately, when it came to the Ace, subtle expressions were not an option.

  "We must be honest if we are to serve her. Speak," said Splishsplash.

  Princess Puddingpuff tightened her lips. "It's just... who else beside the three Queens has the ability to effectively apply and harness runes?"

  "You doubt our allied queendoms?" Oceanic oculi lowered. "Such thoughts are dangerous."

  Princess Puddingpuff nodded. "Indeed, but is it not more treacherous to reject the possibility of betrayal entirely?"

  She watched, quietly pleased with herself as the idea took root in Splishsplash's elementary consciousness.

  Princess Puddingpuff had more knowledge regarding runes than most. In truth, she believed the very notion of Obonia or Useelia weaponising ichor to be rather ridiculous. Even if Titan were to fall, the corruption would never respect borders. It would come for their realms next, and they'd have to face said tides of death without further faefire shipments. An unenviable task indeed.

  Yet Princess Puddingpuff would stand by her suggestion, as royal doubts were an essential element of her plan. Unearthing the palace's skeletons would be far easier with Titania distracted.

  Cutiehorn's injury and Candy Dandy's demise are tragedies indeed, but a player cannot afford to mourn every pawn.

  The pair entered the Study. An absurdly spoiled treasure that made Princess Puddingpuff's skin crawl. As fascinating as its many tomes may be, the entire library was infested with wee beasties.

  Butterflies might be colourful and easily wafted away, but they produced the most ghastly young. Caterpillars were barely better than worms, their writhing bodies so plump with ripe mess that Princess Puddingpuff couldn't even bring herself to step on them, lest they stain her sole. At first she'd thought Titania only allowed such vile wrigglers to roam rampant as a deterrent. Yet in time, she had started to suspect the incompetent monarch actually held something of a confounding fondness for the foul things.

  Strictly speaking, the Fairy Princesses were only supposed to enter the Study while Titania was present. It was an understandable rule, considering the library was host to the world's primary faefire supply, but one Princess Puddingpuff bent rather frequently. Whenever she had chance, she'd slip inside to search high and low for answers amongst the mossy texts. They'd taught her much, but no matter how meticulously she scoured, one subject in particular evaded her. History. Specifically, any and all references to events preceding Titania's reign. Perhaps even more curiously, the Study was not alone in this deficiency.

  As far as Princess Puddingpuff could gather, all available sources of said knowledge had either been confiscated or destroyed. She'd even tried employing the services of foreign agents to search the neighbouring queendoms, yet they too had turned up nothing but myth and legend.

  Why would the Queens go to such great lengths to hide the truth? They must have good reason. Perhaps their reign is illegitimate? Or they had to commit some craven act to gain power? Maybe they share some singular, inescapable weakness... Whatever their secrets, I'm certain they'll prove invaluable. I just have to exhume them from the unknown first.

  If any records do remain within the palace, there are but two possible locations.

  Firstly, beyond the iron door deep below...

  The only method of access Princess Puddingpuff had conceived thus far was with the application of faefire. Unfortunately, her midnight meander with Merrymint had proved that a rather volatile option. There was simply no way to unleash such impactful flames within the palace and go unnoticed. It could only be considered a last resort, and even then, Princess Puddingpuff would prefer a patsy do the deed in her place.

  ...and secondly, Titania's very own private quarters.

  The Queen's Bedroom was no less restricted. Only Splishsplash was permitted entry, and even that was in the event of Titania's untimely demise. A routine sister-snoop had confirmed the key resided within the merprincess' room. In other words, entry was at least possible, though such a precarious gamble could not be taken without precautions. Straying into siblings' rooms, a prohibited passage or two, or even the Study was one thing, but Princess Puddingpuff seriously doubted there would be room to negotiate forgiveness if she were caught rifling through Titania's undergarments. To even consider such a risk, she required certain guarantees. Namely, distance and duration.

  One by one, dominoes align...

  At the centre of the study, Titania stood amidst a ring of magenta mushrooms bearing magic-altering runes. Living flame formed upon her fingers, before fluttering into the air. Most would flicker out like dying embers, but on very rare occasions, perhaps as few as one in a thousand, a butterfly would flare up with vibrant violet and be forever changed. Bottled faefire remained stable even outside of Titania's presence. Not only that, but its potency allowed quite literally anyone to banish ichor.

  Once upon a time, Princess Puddingpuff had appreciated faefire's arduous conjuring process. If it were plentiful enough to arm everyone in every queendom, then Fairy Princesses would become obsolete. Even knowing what she knew now, she remained hesitant to surrender the luxuries royalty provided.

  Normally, Splishsplash would stand guard during the summoning, but the morning's attack had been costly. Replacing eight whole vials would take much of Titania's precious time.

  She ought to deem it a miracle such a vulnerability hasn't been exploited prior. At this rate, the house of cards may come crashing down all too soon...

  The last of the butterflies petered out unsuccessfully. Tired eyelids parted to reveal emberous orbs.

  "Welcome, councillors," said Titania wearily. "Let us begin."