Chapter 17: A Fairy Queen

Age: 9

Getting thrown into the portal was more painful than expected.

My body lit up as if electricity was blanketing every fiber of my existence, it felt like hot needles everywhere.

Yet just as quickly as the pain came, it was gone.

Disoriented, I opened my eyes and looked around to my surroundings. I could head Xavier and Ricin behind me as I stood with shaking legs in awe.

The Fairy Kingdom was indeed deserving of its name. It was absolutely beautiful, mystical, and like nothing I had ever seen before.

Flowers and fluffy vibrant green grass covered the floor as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of trees with small cottages built into them were scattered even into the horizon, and in the center of what seemed to be the Kingdom, was an enormous tree.... bigger than a castle and taller than any tower ever built in this word. The oddity about the tree was its leaves... they were like the color of the rainbow. Blues, greens, purple, red, orange, yellow, pink.... it was breathe taking.

"Pretty right?" Ricin said with a smirk on his face as he looked at me. I realized my mouth was still open after dropping due to awe and fascination.

I could only nod at his words. Pretty wasn't enough...

"Nn."

Xavier also looked seemingly star struck. It was amusing to see a leopard with its mouth open like that.

Giggling, I sweetly closed his mouth shut. He shook his fluffy head and leveled a small glare at me, huffing. This only made me laugh again as I patted his head.

"So... how do we get that audience?" I asked curiously now to Ricin.

"Good question. I'm hated here so I've got no idea. I've never met the lady" He answered honestly, but I didn't miss the slight sadness in his gaze.

It's hard being hated by the people who should love you. Because of how you were born. Ricin was deemed a heretic due to his magic in poisons... poison usually means death to living things, so this  made him an outcast amongst his peers despite his strength in other areas. Ricin, while sometimes not the brightest, was still unimaginably strong in magic.

"I suppose... we could ask?" I said this time. Since we were here, why not enjoy it?

We quickly set off from the forest where we were dropped into, towards the giant tree which sat in the center of the kingdom.

When we arrived, we quickly settled into an inn, shocked by the place being free of change.

"Here is your key! Enjoy your stay" The blonde fairy receptionist was cheery and bright as she handed over the room key. She was indeed incredibly beautiful like all the other fairies we had come across on our way to the inn. Was it just Fairy genetics? My inner scientist said to dissect one, but my morals screamed 'STOP' at full force.

"Are you sure we don't need to give you anything? I'm happy to use medical herbs or even snacks... I feel badly for using your services for free" I said softly, I knew offering human money was worthless, but things with a use would be accepted.

Like I thought, she took the bait as her bright expression became interested.

"Oh? Then I may trouble you, what sort of herbs and merchandise might you have?" She asked curiously, she was leaning over the counter now.

"Yes! What sort of things are you interested in? Beauty products? Medical herbs? Tea? Sweets?" I asked, asking Ricin to hand over the space ring for a moment.

She seemed to be interested in the tea and sweets, so I brought out a sample of everything for her.

"Ahhh!!! I'm so happy! These look amazing! What's your name again? I'm Violet!" She said vibrantly, the name suited her in an odd way. A contrast to her bubbly personality.

"I am Rosalia, but please just call me Rose. My companions here are Ricin, and Xavier" I introduced the fairy and leopard, who merely blinked at Violet without expression.

She laughed happily, "Well Rose, I hope to see you more often around here! Enjoy your stay"

"Thank you Violet, I do have a small question. How might one ask for an audience with the Queen?" I looked closely at her reaction. Her face went blank for a moment before a small smile lit up her features.

"You must go to the Palace and make a formal request. It is ultimately up to her if she will grant you and audience or not, but if she does, please expect a notice within a week or so" she finished.

Ah, so the Queen will see if what I request is note worthy or not, and I must agree that such a system is best.

"Thank you Violet, I will take my leave now" I bowed formally to which she laughed at as I left. I needed sleep, and a bed sounded wonderful after going through the forest for those few days and sleeping on Xavier or the ground.

A good nights rest was needed. All members collapsed.

In the morning they traveled to the permit office, to request an audience with the Queen.

One week later, they received a letter notifying them of the acceptance of the audience.

"Well guys. Looks like we get to meet the fairy queen!"

"Don't be so happy" Ricin said lazily, laying across my lap while I pet him.

"What... do you mean?" I asked curiously. Shouldn't the Fairy Queen be beautiful and kind? Is that just me being naive?

"She's eccentric, and her age does not match her personality" He groaned.

"Well, I just need her help, if it doesn't work, we'll look elsewhere" I said confidently. Ricin started at me for a while.

"Tell me about it, your past" he asked softly.

"What would you like to know?"

This was nerve wracking. The woman before I was Rose and the me now... are very different.

"What were you like? What did you do?"

"I was... a sad person, is what I would call myself. I didn't interact with people on a personal level. I was a researcher, it was what I was good at, so I poured myself into it" I explained.

"Why didn't you interact with people?" He seemed genuinely curious.

"I looked scary. I had a hard time getting my family's love and attention" I looked out the window, gazing at the peaceful fairies going about their business in the streets. "I did a lot of bad things, I wasn't a good person" I murmured nostalgically.

"It's likely why I am like this now. I'm sure I'm being punished, but even if it's a punishment, I'm living a life I could only dream of" I looked down at the white cat fondly.

He put a paw on my cheek, comfortingly.

"I see"

Xavier's tail flicked against me, surprising me.

"Well, it's not a bad thing. The Fairy Queen loves reincarnates from other worlds. She happens to be very obsessed with them" Ricin casually explained.

"Why is that?"

"I am not entirely sure. Novelty? Who knows- the Queen hates me because I played a prank on her a few hundred years ago"

"What did you do?"

"I put a spicy sauce in her royal cake" Ricin laughed, finding the offense to royalty somehow hilarious. Normal citizens might find themselves on death row!

"Well, lets not leave her Majesty waiting!" I said excitedly. Ricin and Xavier ignored my fist pump in the air as we set off towards the giant tree. It's still so beautiful not matter how many times I see it!

Handing over the invitation to the Fairy guard, we were peacefully led towards the throne room.

My jaw nearly dropped seeing her.

She was more than beautiful. She was a real living Goddess. Hair longer than the rest of her body was White with almost an iridescent shine that reflected other beautiful colors like an opal. Her eyes were a deep sapphire, and she wore a dress of silver and white gold. Her skin was a deep chocolate, not a single blemish, smooth and silky. Her features complimented her very being.

A voluptuous body was laid lazily across a throne of flowers and gold.

Her eyes were narrowed coldly as she analyzed me, Ricin, and Xavier. Her eyes went back to me.

A sly grin graced her features, even though a wickedness was seen beneath her gaze, I still could not look away from this beautiful woman.

"Girl" even her voice was gorgeous.

"Yes Your Majesty" I bowed formally.

"Are you from another world?" She asked lazily.

"Yes your majesty. In my past life" I explained.

She chuckled.

"So formal. Just like that Prince" prince? A prince was a reincarnated and came to see the Queen?

How odd...

"So human child, what is it you wish? I'll make an exchange with you" she chuckled.

And then, she pulled out a long tobacco pipe?

I noticed other fairies in the throne room have the same thing. I wonder if this is a gift from other worlders? It would make sense-

That's not tobacco.

That's marijuana?!

My smile turned extremely stiff.

"Your majesty, before that, May I inquire a question?" I asked softly, trying not to show my true emotions.

"Speak child"

"What might the plant the fairies are smoking be called?" I asked.

"This was a gift bestowed by the last other worlder- it is known as cannabis and has spiritual effects"

I want to cry! What the hell is wrong with that last guy?! Giving this to a Queen?

I suppose there are no laws here about it. Nor are there any reasons to ban it? I, myself, was apart of a group in my past which used this drug.

I guess there isn't any harm?

But a Queen... and her subjects... I looked at a confused Ricin. He doesn't seem to understand either.

Yeah. I don't understand.

"Thank you your majesty. Then I will begin my trade. I have brought a gift" I nodded at Ricin who brought out my offering to the Queen, something that does not yet exist here.

Hard candy. I made lollipops of over ten varieties, as well as small candies that you can chew and melt in your mouth.

I presented them wrapped cutely.

She seemed interested! I waited nervously, trying not to show it as she passed out the candies and began to eat them.

Her eyes widened, and her cheeks seemed to turn a little red.

"So delicious! These are yummy and incredible little human! I accept this gift along with the recipe. What is it you wish for?" She asked, her excitement was very adorable on her despite her regal beauty.

"Your Majesty, I suffer visions of my possible death in the future. They disrupt my dreams and plague me, and I wish to know of a way to stop them" I asked. Finally.

She nodded in understand, before her body lifted as if levitating and a glass ball appeared out of thin air.

I noticed her wings now. They were thin and delicate like glass, but so beautiful. Holographic.

I cut myself from my fascination when I noticed the crystal ball begin to light up, as she closed her eyes and began murmuring in a language I do not understand.

It was over quickly, to my confusion. As she sat down once more on her throne.

"Come here child. I see that fate has cursed your current state. I can not release this curse, but I can tell you who can"

My eyes widened as I made my way to her quickly, kneeling before her throne.

"Look up child" she stated, and as I looked up, her finger tapped my forehead.

Pain consumed my entire being the next second.

"Ahhh!" A small scream escaped my lips before my body became limp and fell, my consciousness still with me.

It felt like my body was being pricked by thousands of needles and my brain was on fire.

Then the visions began.

I was in the Cowell residential Mansion.

I was wearing a sparkling blue dress and heels to match...

It was odd since I was not one to touch heels.

It was like I had no control of my body as I began to make my way to the ball room with my family. They were different somehow.

Vincent was not lively, and his eyes were dark. Mother and Father were not their usual flirtatious selves.

I felt conflicted by the body would not speak when I told it to.

The ball was held in honor of Gerald Bel Cowell for his 12th birthday. I was excited but not for him. I was excited to see... Ceil? I'm usually always nervous to see him, since he works me so much. Even adults can't handle his overbearing expectations.

The ball commenced, and my body would not listen, as I clung to Ceil's arm, and sneered at any girls who dared to look at him. I wanted to scream! This isn't me!

Then Gerald came. He looked nervous under my gaze instead of his happy go lucky bunny State I usually see him in.

Instead I threw out cruel words at him.

"It's sad to see your own brother beat you in the swordsmanship competition. How unfortunate for the Cowell family" I sneered.

I realized this wasn't me. This was the game Rosalia.

I panicked, as I began to harass girls, be cruel towards Gerald... I even insulted his mom.

"You're mother must be hiding away due to her shame of you"

I could've never know his mother would pass away the next week after the ball due to illness.

My harassment towards Gerald did not stop!

No wonder he hated me.

I came back for a moment, as I realized that these boys didn't hate me just because I was cruel towards a girl they liked. It was because I was their trauma.

Ceil's by being boring and predictable to the point of hating me.

Gerald's by harassing him even after his mother passed away- blaming the death on him and his failures.

Maxwell Von Lockhart's is due to me testifying for his uncle which abused him to the king of his innocence, even lying by saying that his uncle was with me at a party which he touched Maxwell in an indecent way. I did this because of his uncle's bribery. This happens when he is 13.

Phillip De Lionel is due to my aggressive nature which made him secretly fear women. The way I bullied him for being weak and spineless, comparing him to his father and his greatest insecurity, and when I pushed him into the fountain at the Royal Ball for Ceil's 13th birthday and humiliated him. This lead to severe punishment from his father, and made the rift between them greater.

Vincent... well that was me as well. Harming him, treating him like a slave, disallowing my parents to love him.

These trauma's are all due to Rosalia's childishness and harmful ways.

"Did you see my child? That is what fate planned out. Yet fate is not in control of all human actions. Because you remembered memories of you past life, you were given a chance to go a different route. The dreams will end either when you do not follow through with the traumatic event, or, if you wish them to disappear earlier, receive the blessed waters of fortune from the Mermaid Clan" I looked up from the floor, Ricin holding me in his fairy form looking worried.

"Mermaid Clan?" I asked, my voice hoarse. I must've been screaming.

"Yes. The Mermaid Clan gives their blessed water to those which formally undergo their training. If you join the clan forever, you also receive the waters of immortality" She explained.

"Where is... the Mermaid Clan?" I asked. My body too sore to pick itself up.

"The waters of the East. You will find them in a cove near the ports of Karmillia Kingdom. They only appear during the night when they hunt. Explain that you wish to undergo the training of an Azure Warrior, then hand them this-" the Queen took out a golden brooch, the symbols foreign to me. "This will show them your determination. Be warned. The training can be fatal to those who cannot withstand the pressure. It is long, and perilous" The Queen warned, her eyes serious.

"Thank you your Majesty! I am indebted to your kindness. If her Majesty may wish it, would trade between my company and the Fairy Kingdom be possible?" I asked curiously.

The Queen looked to ponder if for a moment before waving her wrist. A crystal hand mirror appeared in her hands.

"I will accept child. All items you wish to give, place them in the line of the mirror and it will transfer you. I have one on my side that will do the same. We Fairies have no use for jewels and gold for they do not support living, would that suffice as payment?"

"Yes your Majesty. Rosalia De Vermillion Thanks her Majesty"

And like that. Trade was established, and I was granted two options.

I would choose the second option, to save my sanity until I turn 13, and allow me to meet Mermaids!

A once in a lifetime opportunity. Normally one will die at their hands if one dares to approach, but I was given what I believe is a pass. I will use it.

Grasping the brooch tightly in my small hands, I felt determination rise. For the first time in a while, I did not feel helpless.

I smiled at a bantering Ricin and Xavier.

I would grow stronger to protect my friends and family.