Chapter Text
That evening, after a long journey, the three sprites and Catnap, now dressed in his beautiful emerald gown, made it safely back to the castle, sneaking through the forest, courtyard, and spiral staircases, until finally, they reached Catnap’s royal bedroom.
They wanted to surprise the queens, so they needed to have him remain hidden until they were ready.
They locked the doors, drew the curtains, and made sure they weren’t followed by anything or anyone.
Catnap was more than happy to flop down on the comfiest bed he’d ever slept in, for a minute, until Bobby giggled, gesturing for him to come over to the vanity mirror so they could touch him up a bit.
“We have one last birthday gift for you, sweetheart.”
She says.
Catnap smiles. “What is it?”
Using their magic, the three fairies conjure a beautiful silver crown, with a moon-shaped topaz in the center, as the, well, crown jewel.
“Our sweet prince needs his crown.”
Catnap’s eyes sparkle as he kneels down, letting Bobby gently place the crown upon his head.
“Oh Catnap… you look just as handsome as the day we were given you…”
She says, wiping a tear from her eye.
Crafty weeps happily while Hoppy blows her nose on a handkerchief.
Catnap smiles softly.
“Thank you for taking such good care of me…”
He says, opening his arms.
All four of them move in for a big group hug, savoring the moment.
Once they pull back, Bobby smiles.
“We’ll leave you now, so you and your prince can have some… alone time~”
She says, batting her eyes.
Catnap blushes and giggles. “Thanks.”
The three fairies then exit, leaving Catnap all alone.
Catnap smiles as he looks in the mirror, anxiously waiting for Dogday to arrive.
But then, he hears a strange sound.
“Catnap~”
A deep, whispery voice says.
Catnap glances over, the voice seemingly coming from the fireplace.
“Who’s there…?”
“Catnap…”
When he looked into the fireplace…
All he could see was a glowing green light…and he heard something that sounded like… pretty singing.
He didn’t know who or what it was... But something compelled him to follow it…
Meanwhile, the three sprites were hanging out outside the room.
“So, you think they’ll tongue-wrestle?”
Hoppy asks, smirking.
The others giggle and blush.
“Hoppy! Don’t be so crude!”
Bobby says, playfully fake-slapping her shoulder.
Catnap gets up and slowly starts to follow the light, unable to look away.
It’s like he was hypnotized…
The light slowly moves into the fireplace, revealing a hidden passageway.
The fairies were still giggling, when Hoppy lifted an ear.
“Uh, guys… what’s that noise…?”
They go quiet, and hear the faint sound of singing…
A siren’s song, that sounded all too familiar.
All 3 of their hearts drop at once.
“Ulrike!”
Bobby says, quickly getting up. “Lavvy is in danger!”
The others follow suit.
They quickly dash back into Catnap’s room, gasping.
Catnap was gone, seemingly disappeared into thin air.
“Why did we leave him alone?!”
Hoppy says.
Catnap keeps slowly following the light up the spiral staircase, like a minnow to an anglerfish.
The three sprites look around for the secret passage, until Bobby magically finds it in the fireplace.
“It’s here!” She says. “Come on!”
All three dash in, looking for Catnap.
“LAVENDER!?” “LAVVY WHERE ARE YOU!?” “LAVENDER!?”
All three sprites desperately called out for the prince, looking in every nook and cranny for him, but he couldn’t hear them, hypnotized as he walked slowly closer and closer towards the mysterious light.
The sprites finally find the staircase, frantically running/flying up it.
“LAVVY!” “LAVENDER!”
The panicked cries of the sprites rang out in the background as Catnap walked higher and higher, following the light.
His curious eyes were almost glowing with the green magic, he was scared, but couldn’t look away.
The sprites followed, a ways behind, looking in every window.
“LAVENDER!”
Their cries echoed hauntingly off the castle walls.
When Catnap finally followed the light to the highest room, in the tallest tower…
There, in the middle of the room, was a single large red poppy flower.
“LAVENDER! DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!”
The sprites called out in vain, as Catnap walked closer and closer to the flower.
Then, he heard the mysterious voice again.
“Touch the thorn… touch it I say…”
Deeply entranced, he leans forward, ever so gently touching a thorn with a single finger.
The three fairies finally reach the tower, but as soon as they open the door…
There was Ulrike, looking just as smug and sinister as usual.
“Just barely too late.”
She says, her voice dripping with malice.
She giggles darkly.
“Did you really think you could defeat me? ME! The queen of evil…?”
The fairies were stunned silent.
Ulrike grins, her pearl-white teeth glinting in the low light.
“Well here’s your precious prince.”
She pulls her cape aside, revealing Catnap, who was now out cold on the floor, in his cursed deep sleep.
All three of the sprites gasp in horror, covering their mouths.
Ulrike laughs evilly, as she magically teleports away, leaving three devastated sprites and one, well, Napping beauty.
(Roll credits!)
They all rush over to Catnap, Bobby gently gathering him in her arms, her expression one of pure heartbreak.
“L-lavvy…”
She says, gently holding his head to her chest.
The others gather round her, gently group hugging her and the prince, as they all cried rivers of tears.
“I-i’ll never forgive myself…”
Bobby says through her tears.”
Crafty nods, sniffling.
“Don’t say that…” She says. “We’re all to blame for his fate…”
Meanwhile, the kingdom outside was watching the sunset with bated breath.
“THE SUN HAS SET!”
The royal announcer decreed. “MAKE READY TO WELCOME YOUR PRINCE!”
The kingdom rejoiced, as fireworks went off and endless cheers from royalty and the commoners alike rang out from all corners of the kingdom.
Back with the sprites, they had all worked together to carry their sweet prince back to his room, putting him in his bed and under the covers so his accursed rest could be more comfortable.
Bobby gently pets the sleeping prince’s head.
“Sleep well, little flower…”
She says, wiping her tears.
All three of them shared tears, handkerchiefs, and sorrow as they looked upon their sweet little boy.
Bobby couldn’t bear it any longer, tears running down her face as she walked out onto the balcony, looking upon the ironic celebration.
She was joined by the others shortly after, Crafty gently hugging her from behind.
“Poor queen Catherina…”
She says softly. “And queen Daisy…”
“They’re gonna be devastated when they find out…”
Hoppy adds, nodding. “How will we tell them…?”
Then, Bobby gets another idea, slowly wiping her eyes.
“We won’t.”
She says.
The others look at her.
“What?”
Crafty asks.
Bobby stands up.
“We will put them all to sleep as well, until Catnap wakes up.”
She says.
She gently closes the curtains to the balcony. “That way, no one will have to know about his cruel fate…”
She magically makes herself small.
“Follow me…”
She says, the other two sprites doing so.
For the next half hour or so, the three fairies sprinkle their magic over the entire castle, draining everything and everyone of their color, and making them fall into a deep sleep, just like their prince.
The guards, the courtiers, the commoners, the nobility, even the fountain in the castle courtyard and the candles around the castle, making all the rooms dark.
Finally, Bobby puts Queen Catherina to sleep right on her throne, as well as Daisy who falls asleep on her lap, and King Thomas, who was waiting for his son to arrive, who falls asleep next to Catherina’s throne.
Once the whole kingdom was asleep and looking like a silent film, the three sprites met back up in the castle courtyard, sitting on the now asleep fountain.
Hoppy sits down next to Bobby.
“Well… it’s done…”
She says quietly. “Everyone is resting peacefully under the spell, so…
She looks to the others.
“Now what?”
Bobby sighs, looking at the other two sprites.
“Do you guys have any other ideas…?”
Crafty gently pets Hoppy’s shoulder.
“Hoppy… you were the one who changed Ulrike’s curse… Do you know how we can wake him up…?”
Hoppy shakes her head sadly.
“All I know is that I was able to change it from death to sleep, thank 1006…” She says. “And that he could only be awoken by his true love.”
Bobby’s eyes light up, her head snapping towards Hoppy.
“True love…?”
She says, gently grabbing Hoppy by the shoulders.
“You said to break the spell he needs true love?”
Hoppy was confused. “Uh… yeah?”
She says.
Bobby lets go of her, pacing around the courtyard.
“If Catnap needs true love.. then-”
Then, it clicks in her mind.
“DOGDAY!”
Bobby says, startling the others.
“We have to find Dogday!”