Locket noticed a tiny green, orange and yellow light crossing the lake. She recognized the trio immediately as her ladies in waiting. There would be no time to speak to Peep. There would be no time to get her story straight.

Locket looked around for her floating blue tear. She hoped it would turn into a hot air balloon and float her far far away. "Maybe talking to mother won't be so bad?" Her attempt at a pep talk came too little too late.

After the three ladies in waiting curseyed to Locket, Gertrude, the color of spring grass, spoke up, "Princess Locket you are to come with us at once. The Queen Mother wishes to speak with you."

Locket attempted charming her way out of the situation. "Oh hello dear ladies. You're looking quite marvelous this evening. It's awfully late. Perhaps we should allow mother to get her beauty rest? We will chit chat bright early in the morning..." Locket turned to leave

Ursula stopped her. She spoke sullenly. "Miss, everyone has been searching for you—everywhere! Your mother feared you might be dead. You are to accompany us to the queen this instant."

The ladies in waiting surrounded Locket and interlaced their fingers forming a triangle around the young fairy. If her Queen Mother ordered a Triangle Lockup it was no use. Locket had to follow orders. Her mother meant business. A few tears slipped down Locket's cheeks. Eunice took out a tiny crystal vial from her apron pocket and caught Locket's blue tears. "A princess's tears should never be wasted."

There would be no time for Locket to learn the "turn yourself into a twin spell." She'd never get to be truly human either. More than likely a partial banishment awaited her.

Locket tilted up her blue chin and decided to fly to her mother in dignity.

---

The Queen mother looked tired. She did not raise her voice as she remained seated upon her throne of many gems. She signaled for the Ladies in Waiting to leave.

Locket curtseyed to her mother.

"Tut tut," the queen clicked her tongue. "Come up here daughter and explain yourself."

Locket flew up to her mother and kissed her on the cheek then sat on the right arm of the throne.

The queen noticed Locket's pale coloring. It remained a bit off since the ordeal in the cave.

Locket began to cry. The queen pulled out an extraordinary embroidered hanky and dabbed her daughter's eyes. "There, there princess.. You are so much like me when I was a teenage fairy."

Locket stopped crying and looked into her mother's glowing purpurate eyes. "You were a teenager, mother?"

"That's a silly question daughter. Now tell me what were you up to—no embellishments or minimisations."

"You know the special human boy I picked? Peep's his name. Well I'm always getting things wrong with him. I've accidentally given him a half dozen tattoos and turned a large portion of his hair neon pink."

The queen gasped.

"I know... I've messed things up so badly. That's why I went to The Fairy Underworld. Cousin Lenny said he knew a guy..."

"Locket you are much too bright to listen to the likes of cousin Lenny. He's not even related by blood!"

"Yes ma'am... I fear it gets worse Mother..." Locket took a deep breath to continue. "He said he knew of this Cave Creature who could turn me human for a day. It only cost me one gold coin. What a bargain right? Not! When I got down there my wings wouldn't work and there were all sorts of wicked things happening..."

The Queen Mother stood up and raised her sceptre. "I pronounce an edict. From hitherto..."

Locket flew up and held onto her mother's ruby sceptre. "No mother! Here me out first! There are fairies in bondage down there! The cave-monster is gonna eat them once their lights go out! She's using them as hair ornaments. Her greasy black hair is twisted around their bodies and their wings have been clipped!"

The Fairy Queen glowed white hot. She raised both arms and bellowed, "Ooh that Cleopatra! I've warned her!"

Locket giggled. "The Cave Monster's name is Cleopatra? Wow is she's ever over-reaching!"

"Cleopatra is a power hungry wicked troll. Usually troll's are underachieving and docile but not this one."

"What are we gonna do mother?"

"We are not doing anything Locket. I'll send out my warrior fairies who will free the slaves. Afterward they'll capture that evil minion and banish her into The Ocean of Screams once and for all. As for you young lady, you are grounded until—"

Locket pleaded with her mother. "—Don't say it please!"

The queen continued, "You are not to leave the palace grounds until you are 25 years of age."

Locket protested, "Mother no! You can't!"

The queen sat upon her throne and clapped her hands. Locket's ladies in waiting returned. She ordered them to escort Locket to her chambers.

Locket begged, "Mother you can't! I'll be good—I promise!"

As the trio formed a triangle around Locket she continued to bargain with her mother. "I'll never go anywhere without your permission ever again! Please don't lock me up in this castle!"

Locket's mother asked, "Would you prefer I return you to your locket, Locket?"

Locket knew she'd been defeated but she had to ask, "May I say goodbye to Peep? He won't understand if I never show up. He'll be worried!"

"NO!" The queen bellowed. "You are not to leave the castle for any reason whatsoever!"

Locket let the whole secret slip out. "But he's my person! We're betrothed!"

Locket's mother turned orange, then pink, then blue, then neon green. Her colors were flashing like a disco ball at a rave party. Finally she turned bright white once again.

Locket shaded her eyes.

The Queen Fairy stood up and beckoned Locket's ladies in waiting.

They fluttered closer. When they saw the state of the queen they shivered with dread.

The queen demanded, "Where were you?"

The ladies remained quite flustered.

The queen did something she rarely did. She repeated herself. "WHERE WERE YOU?"

Locket flew between her ladies in waiting and her mother. "Don't blame them mother. These three aren't the brightest of fairies." She looked at her friends. "No offense girls."

Locket continued. "I trick them again and again. Punish me not them."

The fairy queen collected herself. She returned to her normal royal purple and sat upon her throne of many gems. "Indeed Locket. Here is your punishment. I'm replacing your ladies in waiting—"

Locket opened her mouth to protest but the queen raised her ruby scepter higher.

The queen continued, "—and furthermore Eunice, Ursula and Gertrude will be in charge of freeing those fairy-napped by the Cave Creature. If they prove themselves worthy they may return to their former post. If not—"

Locket wept. "—They could die! Mother! You've always been good! This is unfair!"

The Fairy Queen stood up. "Would any of you prefer what is fair?"

The three former fairies in waiting bowed low and spoke in unison. "No ma'am."

End of Chapter 44

Authors note: I'm trying to finish this so I can enter it into the Watties. I hope I can finish in time! In the meantime thank you for your reads, likes, votes, shares etc. etc. It means the world to me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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