“No, you don’t, Lucy,” Bonne uttered before anyone else could get a word out, or even process this sudden reveal that Lucy knew about the circumstances of Fiona’s appearance. “This is dragon crap. You don’t get to play that card. How do you even know about Fiona being summoned?”

Lucy let out a soft sigh. Fiona narrowed her eyes–how dare she try to pretend like this was no big deal, after dropping that nuclear bomb of a reveal! “Miss Revere, I know a lot of things. Some summons cause trouble everywhere they go. They think they can just break the rules everywhere they go, that they’re ‘chosen ones’. A lot of them claim some invisible voice tells them to be vagrant, poorly dressed killers, and they justify the slaughter of many innocent animals as ‘it was coming right for me.’ Honestly, I think the summoning process is a little buggy, which is why it’s outlawed. Especially in the interest of those involuntarily pulled to the world.”

“Um…” Fiona trailed off–had she ever done that? She was pretty sure she wasn’t a murder hobo, because most monsters–minus lewd slimes–had tried to eat her or kill her first. The lewd slimes got the business end of her hammer and sent blasting off like Team Rock and Ket, and their catfolk lackey, who'd had more brains than the other two combined.

“So, these other guys, claim they got voices in their heads?” Internally, she was sweating.

Psst. Wingding, you don’t speak, do you?

The winged heart fluttered a little–which was confusing because it wasn’t speech, but it was communication. She focused a little closer. There had to be something there.

Okay. We need the Morse code at some point. go back to our one flap for yes, two for no.

She felt two flaps, and she narrowed her eyes while she stole a glance at her wrist. Wise-arse.

One flap later, she looked up and had an answer. Lucy tilted her head as if thinking of the answer. “Short version? Yeah, some bad history. Bonnie, care to explain?”

“Oh, I prefer not to scare our bouncy, energetic elf,” she replied, teeth still gritted tightly.

“Lucy, saaaay, if you’ve held this information for this long, why are you revealing what you know, now?” Fiona asked, teeth gritted. She had better tread lightly.

“Because you're my friend, and I didn’t want to keep that held in,” Lucy replied, looking deflated. “I presumed you guys knew–definitely you, Bonnie, I was seventy percent sure of Greg, and I was fifty-fifty on Darla,” she explained. They all nodded softly at this and made low murmuring sounds, beside Fiona. “Look it wasn’t my business, Fiona. You’re a loveable, kind of wild woman who cares about people. Even with your eccentric beats. I don’t get the one about snacks, though.”

“Hey, I grew up in a household where snacks were forbidden! Then I found out my younger sister would sneak them. Oh, and my parents. But seriously, you knew, but said nothing?!” she demanded. “That is not cool!”

“I had a pretty good idea you were summoned. I mean, I did get a report of a nude, red-haired elf showing up in town, six months ago,” she added. Greg coughed softly, Darla gave her that smoky look with her eyes, and Bonnie bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “But, given that you were quite content with beating up dragons, and livening up the place, I figured I shouldn’t bring it up.”

“But you are, though,” Bonnie pressed. “You must have a reason.”

“Okay, the truth? A lot of strange things have been going on. Douglas the Red getting aggressive on a territorial dispute? That was one. The Bar'dathi elven communities had been acting real secretive before that, like they were looking for something, sending out scout teams all over the place,” she explained. “Then, Fiona shows up. Then, Vale goes under new management in a possible subdued bloodbath, and…yeah. It might seem on the surface things are normal, but they’re kind of not!”

“Uh, I didn’t exactly have a choice in the showing up part. I thought I did pretty good at blending in,” Fiona countered, arms folded against her chest. “I'm convinced you're seeing patterns where there are none.”

“Okay. Where’s your summoner?” Lucy asked. Fiona shook her head.

“Didn’t have one. After what happened to me, I was miraculously deposited here. Buck naked. In a cornfield. And it also gave me red hair and long ears. I still haven’t explained that last one yet,” Fiona admitted. She could hear Greg wincing beside her, without her elven hearing. “Listen, Sadpants, she knew enough.”

“No summoner?” Lucy asked, mouth agape. “That makes no sense!” She clearly didn't know everything--or she was playing dumb.

“Welcome to the club,” Greg grumbled. “Again, I am not seeing a pattern here. You are seeing coincidences, Lucy. We’ve been following up on this one, too. Does Barry know these circumstances?”

“My brother might be a schemer, but, no. He is not aware, and I prefer to keep it that way. Summons tend to have…uh…”

“A short life expectancy, given this madhouse world?” Fiona asked in an edged tone, and her ears pressed tightly against her skull.

"I'd argue that's more of an overinflated ego or a god complex on their part." At least Lucy was sincere when she said that.

“Yeah, probably a good thing that I hung up the armor and weapons for a business outfit. Look, Lucy, why do you need me for this? Don't you have people better suited for this kind of task?"

“Because you’re in the unique position to do something no one else will have access to: find out what happened to the treasury. Glados is a snake we need to yank out and cast into the lake. Figuratively speaking,” she answered sweetly. "With proof."

“I’d prefer literal tossing in the lake,” Bonnie uttered with a cute growl.

“For now, I want you to play along with this. Not for me, for Fiefdala itself. You love this place like a home, yes? So do I. I don’t want things like the harvest festival to disappear. Or my brother making deals with kingdoms that used to deal with slavers not too long ago. That memory is still burned in the elder folk's memory, and they’re not going to let it go for a while, if ever,” Lucy stated adamantly.

"You realize how much of a bad deal this is for me, Lucy." Fiona tensed, lips quivering. "I could just say no. I've been burned once already, for no good reason. Greg told me to took the money and run, and I should have. Why should I even bother?"

"Because you care. As do I." Lucy let out a quiet breath, and shook her head. "If I'm wrong, then Barry is just a giant jackass. As much as I hate saying that. If I'm right...then Barry could cause lasting, possibly irreparable harm to Fiefdala, through malice, or incompetence."

Fiona glanced around the room, trying to read her friends reactions. It was surprising, that Greg gave a silent nod of approval.

She had a decision to make. Lucy could also be screwing her, in line with the rest of the family. Fiona hoped this wasn't going to lead to an utter betrayal of trust. Mostly, because it meant this whole kingdom had been a farce. Fiona pondered her response.

Lucy, if you're in on this whole scheme to screw me over, I will burn down this kingdom on my way out the front gate. Because I can't take another betrayal like that. She had one idea of what it would take to convince herself if Lucy was just another player in this scheme.

"Lucy? If I find out your brother is running crooked schemes to the detriment of the Kingdom, and me? I will torch this deal, and your brother is getting an express trip to low Cepalune orbit. This is not negotiable. I am not doing this for Barry to bail him out. I am not doing this for you. I'm doing this for Fiefdala." She was done being pushed around--if Lucy was serious about this, she'd agree. "If you don't agree with that, then I'm gone."

Lucy looked sullen at that, but eventually, nodded. "I need to know the truth, Fiona. Even if it leads to me finding out awful things. If you do find something rotten..." she trailed off, and shook her head. "Make sure no deal ever comes out of it intact, because I don't think anything good will come of dealing with Vale."

She let out a measured sigh of relief. Finally, a Greybeard that isn't adding to the drama.

But, she still had terms to lay out. "Okay, two immediate problems. I already told your brother no. So, if we reverse course now? He's going to know something is up."

"I think he'll try something when dad isn't looking. Wait for an opening. Knowing him, it won't be subtle, but it may be protected by the letter of the law," Lucy warned.

Greg nodded, as did Bonnie. "Second problem, sort of related to the first. We need assurances the shop won't be collateral. We have to make a living, too. And Darla."

"Dad already is pulling influence. that's why you haven't had to pay a copper yet. I don't believe you guys will get shafted on this, and I'm digging into every merchant code to find a loophole." Lucy offered her relay to him, and he tapped it to get the communicator to program. "The adventurer's guild also lodged a complaint for back pay after filling in the military roles for a duration, dealing with Douglas. I think Jacob is also making moves, because he's not happy, either." Greg tilted his head, and nodded.

"Second problem? We need a proper expert for sneaking. I'm...more of a blunt force instrument," Fiona admitted candidly. "I mean I also know all sorts of ways around paperwork, but still!"

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“I have a guy who might be able to help--"

"Wait, we have a guy! Or gal!" Bonnie's ears perked up. "Cita could do it! There's no door she can't find herself on the other side of! I mean, unless Fiona is bashing it down, first."

"Way to downplay my role as a door kicker," Fiona stated dryly, and smiled. "Cita could do it. and Felix owes me a favor or two! Who knows? Maybe Barry is being influenced by Glados and isn't malicious. he's just weak willed." Lucy raised an eyebrow at that.

"Not that weak willed. But I know my brother, and he gets obsessed over things. Glados is who I’m truly worried about, but of course, Dad thinks that Barry needs to grow up. I just don't want it at the expense of a lot of other people's well-being."

"We're in. But remember Lucy, I'm doing this for the betterment of other people's lives. Not my own personal situation," Fiona said quietly.

“Fiona, I wish I shared your limitless enthusiasm,” Bonnie added with a soft chuckle. “Alright, Lucy, you realize we all get screwed big time if your brother comes down on Fiona’s head, right?”

“I know. I’m going to keep digging on my end, to find out what he’s up to. But I have to use people not tied to me. Court intrigue sucks,” she added while groaning loudly. “If I’d known dad would put Barry in charge, I’d have thrown that brat out a window sooner.”

“Barry being turned into…raspberry jam?” Fiona pondered aloud. Greg’s face wrinkled like he was fighting the urge to laugh, and desperately so. “Seriously, defenestration is a crime, Lucy, don’t do that. Even though I’d love to give him a gentle love tap with my hammer,” she added evilly a second later.

“Seriously, did your brother not get hugged as a kid?” Darla asked while tossing her blue hair lightly. “Or did you all bully him?”

“I don’t know! He was the youngest brother and got all of Mom’s attention!” Lucy fumed. “I do appreciate this, I really do. Even if...even if my worst fears are confirmed, and I'm the only sane Greybeard left in the family."

“Maybe there is a way you can help me, indirectly?” Fiona asked with a sly smile. “Find me an appraiser to go put the screws to your brother. Maybe I can force his hand on what he’s really up to, if he thinks he has no power over me." It sounded needy, but she knew if there was trouble headed for Fiefdala in terms of massive debt or favors owed, her situation wouldn’t stay fixed forever.

“Fiona, he is family. It’ll be a lot easier to correct the behavior with that little blonde viper gone. Ugh. Dad decommissioned the dungeons a long time ago. Now they’re a tourist attraction.” Fiona happened to glance at Darla’s way, whose face brightened.

“Any chance you’ve got a few equipment items left in surplus, like manacles, chains, whips? Asking for a friend." Fiona had never seen a happier land shark in her existence, with a sharpened smile emerging.

“Ahem,” Greg interrupted. “It’s getting late, and we’ve had our fun for the day. Princess Lucy, if this is for the good of the kingdom–and I daresay it probably is--we will assist on this. But we will require assurances that–”

“Gregory, I keep my promises. I'd be a terrible friend if I didn't." It did bring some modicum of relief to Fiona to hear that, as Lucy smiled. "Welcome to the life of the crown, though it was a lot more boring when Dad was running the show,” she stated with a twirl of her hair. “Now, I do have a few intriguing, less intense questions. For instance…Fiona, is that loveable booger of a cat giving granny trouble?” she asked with a brightened smile.

“Nah, Tucker has taken a liking to her. When I was beating up kobolds, he was just chilling in her apartment. What, they don’t have pets allowed in the palace?” she asked, intrigued by the line of questioning, which was a much-needed reprieve from the heavy stuff.

“No, my father had two dogs, though, and they were both long-furred boogers that would try to chew on the tapestries on rare occasions. But they were well-behaved,” she explained.

They continued to talk for a little while longer, but Fiona felt unease. She was so used to problems being simple. Whack a giant monster with a hammer. Negotiate with local artists to display and sell art pieces. Getting everyone’s favorite raspberry jam from the local farms. Those were easy.

This one was going to be hard. She knew it as the conversation dried up, and they made their farewells.

Fi, one sec?” Lucy called out as they were departing through the front gate. Fiona gave a quick wave to the rest to hold up for a minute. She turned back, with Lucy cupping her hands together, looking anxious.

“Hey, what’s up?” Fiona asked, once she was in range. Lucy ran her fingers through her hair…even tugging at it softly.

“I’m sorry."

"For what?"

"I put you in this spot, because I didn’t take the crown. Before dad left for his vacation...he asked me if i wanted to take over for a bit. In theory I could have....but I said no. I hate dealing with the day to day crap. Now you’re stuck holding the bag. That’s why I didn’t come to see you right away. I figured you might be pissed at me.”

The thought actually hadn’t crossed her mind, she realized, and she spoke in a softer tone. “Lucy, being a leader sucks. You get stuck with bad situations, you take the blame when things go bad, and you get no credit when things go well. I get why you didn’t want it. Even though, I think you would be a good leader. For what it’s worth.”

Lucy’s eyes brightened at that. “You mean that?”

“You’re like your dad. Greybeard knows how to speak to people, and how to direct a room, how to get the people he needs to find solutions. He delegates and takes advice. However, I do question his choice of using the family black sheep. Even your dropout brother would have been a better choice,” Fiona said with a smirk.

“Do you hate Barry? I wouldn’t blame you if you did. But family…sometimes they do awful things, and it gets muddled by the fact that you know and care about them. And you know that, they’ve done good things before. Barry loved the family dogs, he always took good care of them, always walked them, always got them fed, trained them, he was like Mira's best friend, growing up…” Lucy trailed off. “He’s not a bad person, Fiona.”

“Then why does he think this was such a winning move, doing this to me?” Fiona asked bitterly. “He betrayed the trust of the guild–of me–and I don’t know how many others, with this stunt of his. Not even a celebration for the people who risked life and limb, when I rolled into town. Nothing. It was like a regular day in the palace.”

She paused for a second and considered something she hadn’t before. Had he…deliberately shorted them on a celebration? Or was Barry unable to afford it? One, she could attribute it to stupidity.

The other, worried her. It only added to her nagging feeling, that more was going on. A thought that refused to die out:

Barry, by himself, couldn't bankrupt an entire nation. Lucy closed the gap between them, speaking in a low tone.

“Which is why I need your help, Fi, to understand why. If you pay this debt off, or even more admirably, thwart a former taxman, we might not find out.” Lucy gazed at her with soft blue eyes, and sighed. “I don’t have a leg to stand on to ask this of you, Fi. You risked it all before, and given the fact that you’re here, brought to this world against your will, you’ve probably got your own things to sort out, too.”

Lucy tucked back a strand of wavy red hair behind Fiona’s ear, in a touching gesture. They had almost gotten close, back before Fiona went off to deal with Douglas and gave him a hammer-sized beatdown. Lucy had laughed at her antics, even as she frustrated Greg, and Bonnie, and occasionally, even Jake, and left the crap about her family out of the picture. Even went on a few lunch outings.

Lucy was kind. Level-headed. She’d never asked questions about Fiona on her first exploits with the Adventurer’s guild, on a chance invite from the King to celebrate a significant treasure find of historical value. She had, however, helped her raid the prized snacks out of the palace, and they’d laughed about it mischievously. They’d gone on a few events together with the guild–Lucy was always enamored with them, and Jake in particular, and had spent a time or two watching training lessons.

She liked Lucy, because she was something she hadn’t been. Fiona didn’t know everything there was to know about the possible future queen of Fiefdala…and yet…

She wanted to tell her how she came to this world.

How her business failed, despite her best efforts.

How her love had left her, because she’d become obsessed with keeping that community hangout afloat, at all costs. And she'd been left bitter and alone, from her terrible decision.

How she’d been more than eager to find a hill to die on, and one was handed to her on a silver platter, in the form of an apocalyptic monster invasion.

I charged into a battle I had no hope of winning, because I wanted to die on my own terms.

She swallowed uncomfortably. Buying time for survivors, was a lie she had told herself so often, she'd come to believe it. Almost. It might have a convenient reason...but it wasn't the full truth.

Someone had stepped in, to save her from her own self-destructive nature.

Lucy canted her head a little. Fiona realized she’d been gazing a little too long at her, thinking about all those things. “Lucy, I’m…I’m different from who I used to be. I may battle monsters with a grin on my face, but..." she let the words linger in the air. "I worry if it's good change, or just a distraction I give myself to avoid facing my past--"

Her response was to hug Fiona, nuzzling gently against the crook of her neck. Which, admittedly, was a little difficult. Fiona was taller than Lucy by a few inches. Her shapely long elven legs were, for once, putting her at a slight disadvantage, and she had to lean down a bit.

Lucy sighed softly, her breath breezing by a pointy ear. “Girl, I’ve met other summons. None of you guys have it easy. It’s like some kind of sick written rule of the gods. However you got here, someone thought you were important enough, that you needed to be here. Don’t lose sight of that, alright? Not every summon was brought here for selfish reasons.”

Fiona returned that hug and gripped firmly, at the small of Lucy’s back. “You know something, queen in training? That means a lot to me."

Fiona relaxed, and Lucy looked like she was hiding a blush, smiling faintly. "I uh, was that too much?"

"I think...I really needed that." Fiona could feel that fluttery motion in the pit of her stomach, and cleared her throat. Anything to avoid blurting out something too bold. "But seriously, if your brother pisses me off beyond my threshold, better to have a good explanation for your dad on why they had to extract a giant hammer from the posterior of his son.”

Lucy laughed softly, even with the hint of a strain in her tone. “I’ll do what I can on my end. And Fi? Thank you. You’re a good person, you know that? Stick to that. I like this version of you. And maybe, you’ve always been this version of you, and didn’t realize it.”

Fiona’s ears twitched as Bonnie made a cat-call in the background, and Darla cooing contentedly. “Hey ladies, better to take that inside!” Bonnie sang with a merry tone.

“What, uh, huh? Oh no, we were just saying goodbye,” Fiona said, flustered and all too conscious of what had just transpired. Her cheeks were alight with a burning sensation, and Lucy giggled anxiously. “Well, uh, yes I must get going. To plans!” She gave Lucy a quick wave after they let go, and whirled around before she dared to test her boldness and–

Damn it, she did have a thing for women and men way above her class. And not in the literal sense of this Candyland fantasy planet, either. She quickly rejoined her friends, with Bonnie smiling sharply.

“Oh, were you having a moment?” Bonnie called out sweetly.

“Shut up, we’re just friends, who haven’t seen each other in a bit,” she deflected lightly

“Uh-huh. ‘Just friends’ you say,” Darla said with a leering maw of shiny white teeth, and her golden eyes alight with amusement. “Want my advice? That girl’s a hot pocket, and you’ll have a lot of fun with her. Betcha she has a few interests that I might know a few things about–”

“Alright, hey, great talk, guys! Let’s head home and deal with insurmountable tax problems, a shop to run, a-and a scheming king!” she stated hastily.

“She does give off that body language, doesn’t she?” Greg mused, the upward crease of his lips surprisingly visible.

“She’s the sister of the current pain-in-my-ass regent king,” Fiona growled. “I’m not courting death with that hot pocket just yet, thanks. This is...well, complicated, to say the least, with this whole situation."

“That sounded even hotter,” Darla cooed.

“I love you dear, but bite me.”

“Happy to nibble, long ears,” Darla countered in a husky tone. She didn’t dare to look her in the eye as they made their way home.

That burning sensation in her cheeks wasn’t going away anytime soon.