Chapter Text
“A lovely day! The festival has been going great! The entertainers have done amazing in demonstrating their talents! I must say, where do you find such unique costumes? The twins look practically identical! Are they…”
The lady in the hat knows no better. She’s been complimenting the coordinator this whole time, running her mouth as if she could actually care. Just investors doing investing things. How pathetic.
I was walking around the festival myself. I had nothing better to do. Besides, some of my friends have been working their tails off trying to figure out their acts and perform them to perfect standard. That’s how it was here in the Kingdom of Stars. Astrovale, never changing but forever prospering. We didn’t hold a grudge against the other Kingdoms. Their fighting has nothing to do with us and we made sure it stayed like that. Even going to heights of removing ourselves from their ground level and living far above them in the “Astro Vail”. So original, naming your city after the location you made up as well. But that didn’t matter. I could leave when I please. My wings will take me where I want whether I’m stopped by guards or not. Being considered “Mythical” is a plus, not too many people dare to test me. Still, it stops them from trying to talk to me as well, maybe that’s its downside.
“Excuse me, are you Fera?”
I turned around and looked at the person.
They were strange and off the bat I didn’t like their personality, snarky and mysterious in an evil way. That’s no good. They were dressed in a very formal red dress, with elegant gloves, and long black hair accompanied by White owl-like feathers and cat ears? They must be a part of the royal court, a hybrid isn’t usually spotted outside of the castle or even in the garden gates like today. Maybe visiting the festival? But something was off with their appearance. They seemed more masculine dressed to be female presenting but I wasn’t one to judge. I was wearing street-wear, a very well worn aviator helmet and my letter bag wasn’t very clean-kept either. If it wasn’t for my hair or face, I’d probably get mistaken for a man as well. Their voice wasn’t helping either case however. Raspy, like a soft spoken man or a well aged woman. It’s hard to tell, but I shouldn’t be over analyzing like this.
“Yes, Why are you asking if I may ask myself, is it a work request or personal?”
“It’s.. personal, one may say. You’re requested in the castle. That’s all.”
Personal? The castle? Why would she be requesting me? I thought she said she’d never..
“Okay, thank you for informing me.”
The mysterious person left. Odd. How did they know my name.?
I kept everything about me secret, my name, my age, my personal life. The only thing people of this kingdom knew about me was that I offered mail service and that I was either a parrot or a phoenix. My wings were hard to identify from the air and I rarely landed. I only let a few people know about me.
I looked over the festival, trying to spot anyone I may have known before heading into the castle. Glancing over the crowd, I spotted the makeup booth, Luxar must be running it. Looking long enough he spotted me, it was hard to tell if he was looking my way with that porcelain mask on but he let off a small sparkle from his horn. A male unicorn performer, odd that the castle hired him for that and not to be a part of the court but I guess that’s what they could offer him as they already had his twin. Who was not anywhere near this festival. Too busy with the rumors of a possible human in the kingdom. I nodded his way, smiling wasn’t an option for personal reasons but he never bothered to know. I turned around again, trying to see at least hopefully one other person before heading in but failing. Turning to face the castle doors, I was met with two eyes.
“Mssss. Messsssenger~! Hiya! Hiya!”
She waved. Venus, the only other person I expect to be at this festival, found me instead of me finding her.
“Oh, hey Venus! What are you doing up here, shouldn’t you be down in the garden performing uh, what was it again?”
“Flower growth sstuntsss sssilly! I’m on break, Mr. Fake Fasse took most of the attraction from my sssection, I don’t mind it if he enjoys it, just glad you came! Where are you headed?”
.. Do I tell her? I mean she’s my friend and all.. But this is about ‘her’, and I was told not to share this information..
“Oh just leaving, I have to get back to work but I need to deliver a letter to one of the Princesses, I got lucky today with my targets! Heheh..”
“Woahh, Good luck!! I’ll leave you to it, I’ve got to get back to my booth, if you’re here later, maybe we could go ssky fissh watching? You, me and Lux?”
“I think I’d love to yea, I’ll try and be quick today, see you!”
I waved her goodbye, even if I had to lie to her. It was only to keep a secret safe. I knew she wouldn’t judge me, nor Luxar, but I promised, and I don’t break promises. Not until the day of rebirth.
“Baii!!”
She waved goodbye, she smiled and so did both the flytrape heads on her head and tail open as well, mimicking the sharp smile she gave.
Stepping into the castle, I knew where I needed to go. From the garden gates it was only a side stairwell up until I reached the room of the person I was looking for. ∎∎∎∎. The dragon princess of Thalagiastero. Still, I hardly remember us meeting and becoming close, but secret friends, all her fears she would share with me, the trust we had was strong. Only three people knew me the way I did, and all three of them were well high in the rankings class. While I myself, while considered high, chose to be low. It was needed, everyone in this kingdom was already deemed higher than the other two kingdoms. I felt we were all equals. Still, Sinology was one of the strongest followings that believed in everyone “equal” to some extent except the chosen 6. I think they wanted an excuse to make ∎∎∎∎ and her sister even more powerful in governing us but I could care less. She was my friend, I supported her decisions when I did and when I didn’t I wouldn’t pretend.
Reaching the door, I heard arguing. It sounded like ∎∎∎∎, who spoke somewhat enraged and calmly at who I’m to assume is her sister Luna. The princess of Luna the stars and night. She wasn’t technically in control of the moon, that was still ∎∎∎∎’s job as it’s just a reflection of the sun but she lent her the power occasionally for shows and stunts. Still, it wasn’t like her to be in their room. I expected her to be at the festival as well, she’s the one who planned it in celebration of the kingdom’s resilience against a human invader. Odd.
The muffled screams were broken by the sound of a falling book, then a clink. Leaning closer, I tried to hear anything else. This sounded bad, maybe I shouldn’t be here, but I was requested. Maybe it wasn’t by ∎∎∎∎. Still what if.. No, it’s against code to disobey orders from the royal court. Slowly, I knock.
“Excuse me I was-”
The door shot open. Then I saw it. Her. I saw it all. Luna standing over some sort of magic book, it still shining from whatever spell was casted by using it. They the scales, the necklace. All scattered on the floor were scales, they looked like ∎∎∎∎’s. Then her necklace. The one I had an exact match to. She had gone out and found a traveler on one of the nights we would wonder about the outer vale. She never took it off. The sight was hard to look at.
I stepped back, my wings flexing slightly as I held my bag.
“Where do you think you’re going? You’re not going anywhere.”
“What-”
I couldn’t process what had happened. Before I knew it, something struck my face, my glasses had chipped and I fell back. The burning was strong, I only felt pain, sharp antagonizing pain. Then the blood began to flow, the thick deep brown taking my vision from me before I could react. It must have been a star shard. One of the worst bullets in Thala. I shouldn’t be surprised. This is what I get for trusting and mysterious beings. Before I knew it, I heard more yelling, I felt the footsteps of others step closer. In the last of my blurry vision I saw dark hair, wings and leaves, two people standing over me. Before I knew it, I felt death creep closer to me, stealing what little fight I thought I had.
…
Or so I thought.
Before I woke up once again, in a new place. White walls, clean and sterile. My clothes changed to some sort of gown, also white, but with badly cut holes in the back for my wings. I couldn’t see much. My glasses weren’t on my face.
“Good, you’re awake. Welcome Patient A.F.-126185 to Snakelily Anti-Virtue Engrowth & Uncontrolled Snapback facility.”