The Pauper Princess and the Spark's Holiday, Part 4
Part 3 is here.
The story so far:
-The Princess fixed the air purifier, after all
-And how!
The legal disclaimer stuff:
"This story is not approved by, sponsored by or affiliated with Studio Foglio LLC or Airship Entertainment."
Pauper Princess FanFiction Theatre Presents:
The Pauper Princess and the Spark's Holiday, Part 4
The quartet took lunch outside on the patio. Castle Mouseheart food and drink were tastier than the fare in the towns and villages, and free, so their strategy was to load up before seeking to rescue more merchandise from their loathsome merchant masters. Sanaa brought the spoils of her previous shopping adventure with her to the table, to the others' dismay, and fished out different things to either admire or play with. She put other things away, but kept the plush Prince and Princess on the table. Then she carefully pulled out the folder containing the pictures that had been taken so far, such as their group picture with the Princess, some candid shots before the picture-taker had been shooed away, a picture of all four of them screaming in terror as their handcarved log canoe accidentally plunged down a waterfall - a good thing a passerby was around to take a snapshot! - and her pride and joy: posed pictures of herself with the Prince and with the Winslow. She showed them to the others but would not let them handle the pictures.
"How did you get those?" asked Agatha. "You were with us the whole time. I don't remember seeing the Prince posing with people."
"And I never saw the Winslow," said Zeetha. "Where was he? And I was looking!"
"Ha! You're not the only ones who can be sneaky," said Sanaa. "I can be sneaky, too!"
Mara found it more comfortable to stand while she was nursing Edward. She was pacing slowly, then stopped to look down from the nursery window, which was right above the women's patio. Isabel's stomach problems persisted. She was trying to be a good girl and not whimper or cry all the time, but even the bravest of two-year-olds had their limits. Mara finished feeding Edward and burped him, then handed him to the nurse to be put down for his nap. Mara rebuttoned her dress and scooped up Isabel in her arms.
"Your Highness," said the nurse. "She should have her rest."
"I'm going to take her outside for some fresh air," said Mara. "Then we'll be back."
On the way to the castle exit they passed the door to her and Kelvin's parlor/study, and she paused, then opened the door and watched the air purifier, still on the dresser, still making ocean noises.
"Puri," she said. It clicked. "Follow me."
A few seconds of buzzing, whirring, and clicking later, and the little headless clank joined its mistress for a trip through the castle. It had a jaunty, almost cocky, walk when not leaping at intruders. Isabel looked back sleepily to see what the noise was about, and gasped first in fright, and then, after looking back and forth between her mother and the jaunty clank, gasped in delight.
Outside, Mara turned and made her way to the patio in her most refined manner. The foursome, finished with their meal, lingered and chatted and laughed amiably, until the clack-clack-clack of Puri's steps caught their attention. Three of them watched the scene with bemusement. The fourth, Agatha, fought to stifle giggles and grins. Mara reached the table and regarded them with her best impression of a regal queen. Puri stopped a few steps behind her and waited for its mistress' next command.
"Ladies," she said. "Would it be an imposition if we joined you?"
"Ah..." said Violetta, looking to the others. "No, shouldn't be a problem."
Agatha grinned. "Oooo, I see you have-!"
Sanaa clapped her hands vigorously. "We get two visits with you? Cool! And you brought your daughter, awwwww."
"Yes," said Mara. "But I'm afraid we can't stay long. I'm taking her outside for fresh air, but she needs rest. But, given that our first encounter didn't go as planned, I was hoping I could make amends. Unofficially, as myself, though that stretches the rules here almost to breaking."
"Breaking rules: it's... what we do," said Zeetha.
"I sincerely do hope that you've enjoyed yourselves here," said Mara.
"It's not bad," said Zeetha. "I mean, the scenery's pretty and all. At least one of us developed a shopping addiction."
Sanaa did not hear Zeetha, engrossed in trying to figure out which of her merchandise she would ask the Princess to sign.
"So, your kid's tired, huh?" said Violetta with a grin. "Long night of bouncing on the bed?"
Agatha pointed at Puri. "Hey, mind if I take a look at-?"
"I wish," said Mara, ignoring Agatha. "Her stomach has been bothering her for several days."
Violetta perked up. "Oh?" she said. "Tell me more."
"It's... a discomfort," said Mara. "A queasiness. She's two, so it's difficult for her to describe."
"What are you giving her?"
"Our physician has prescribed essence of esophia, but-"
"Tch!" said Violetta with a wave. "No wonder she's still unwell. That stuff's snake oil."
"Excuse me, our royal physician is a learned and competent-"
"Oh, I'm sure he is," said Violetta. "Went to the best schools, etc." She pulled out a tiny vial from a pouch on her belt. "Here: give her this. She'll be bouncing on beds again in no time."
"Ah... I appreciate that you're trying to help, but-"
Agatha stood up. "Is it okay if I look at the clank while you two are-?"
"No, it is not," said Mara, giving her an icy stare. Agatha slowly sat back down. To Violetta: "Again, I appreciate your intentions, but I don't feel safe mixing medications. And what's in it, anyway? Are you also a physician?"
"Uh, no, but I have many years' experience with... chemicals," said Violetta. "Potions. Potent potables."
"They really are quite effective," said Zeetha. "I'd trust her potions over any 'royal physician's.' No offense intended."
"Don't worry about cross-effects with the esophia," said Violetta. "That stuff's not strong enough to affect anything. Not even what it's supposed to." She held up the vial again. "Now this, I call Intestinal Fortitude."
"Say, Princess, is that a clank with you, or are you just happy to see us??" Agatha looked around at her companions, who did not react well to her joke, if at all. Mara gave her a Look, then resumed her talk with Violetta.
"Ma'am, you must understand my hesitation at giving my child something unknown," said Mara.
"Of course," said Violetta. "But she only needs a few drops. Oh, and, about an hour later, it cleans out the bowels, if you know what I mean."
"Ah... Yes," said Mara. "But I know that can also be good for the body. Um... just a few drops, you said?"
"Yep. Here. Keep the whole thing, on the house."
"Oh, thank you, that's very kind of you," said Mara. Violetta removed the stopper for her, and she dribbled the few drops onto her finger and balanced it while rousing her daughter. She held out the finger, and Isabel clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. "Please, Sweetie," said Mara, "This nice lady has given us medicine to help your tummy. She says it will make the rumblies go away." Isabel looked her mother in the eye a few seconds, then nodded and opened her mouth. Mara put in her finger and let her suck off the potion. Isabel grimaced at the taste of it, and groaned.
"Sorry," said Violetta with a shrug. "I didn't make it cherry-flavored."
"Did I just see what I think I saw?" said Zeetha. "You reasoned with a two-year-old... and it worked??"
Mara shrugged. "As soon as she started talking, we've been able to... explain things to her. I've learned since that it's a bit unusual. Do any of you have children?"
"No!" they said in unison, and squirmed uneasily in their seats.
"Uh... Well, perhaps someday...?" said Mara.
"Speaking of children, may I please look at your clank??" said Agatha, thumping the table for emphasis.
"And may I please have your autograph??" asked Sanaa, thrusting an autograph book and their group picture at her. Mara was startled by both of the women, and looked from one to the other uncertainly.
"Come now, Sanaa, let her look after her daughter first," said Zeetha. "And you, zumil, behave yourself."
Agatha drummed the table. "Oh, but it's so cute!"
"For heaven's sake, go look at it!" said Mara. Agatha giggled and ran over to examine Puri. Mara returned her attention to Violetta. "How long should it take for the effects to take place?" As if on cue, Isabel giggled and stood up in Mara's lap and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. Mara held her up in amazement and gasped. "Is your tummy better, Sweetie??"
"Tummy is bettah!" said Isabel.
"...About now," said Violetta with a grin. Mara and Isabel giggled and cooed and blew raspberry at each other. Mara showered her daughter with kisses, then sat her back onto her lap to bounce her and play the "horsey" game.
"Hey, that's good stuff!" said Sanaa, giving Violetta a high-five. "Princess, do you mind if I say hello to her?"
"Not at all," said Mara. Sanaa scooted out of her chair and knelt down beside Isabel to play-talk with her.
"Remember," said Violetta. "You better have her next to a toilet in about an hour."
"Oh, oh, yes, you're right. Thank you. Thank you so much!" She was near tears. "What did you give her? What's in it?"
"Just... different things."
"Really; you can tell m-"
Agatha hit Mara's arm and pointed at Puri. "Hey, not bad," she said. "Is this your first clank? Huh! You added a sentry function, made it mobile... How's its targeting system? Uh-oh. You need a focus for the death ray, or it'll have way too wide a spread. And you know what works surprisingly well for that? Gemstones. Different colors will have different effects-"
"There's no death ray."
"Well, you put the housing in for one, but-"
"Lady Heterodyne-"
"-this kind of fuse will overload from the output-"
"Lady Heter-"
"And here, if you use foam lining instead of rubber, there'll be less wear and tear on the compression valve... hmmm... oh, but you probably ran out of parts here...and thenmmblemmble-"
"Lady-"
"Hey!!" said Zeetha, throwing a wadded-up napkin at Agatha's head.
"What?"
"The Princess is talking to you!"
Agatha was momentarily confused, then remembered whose device it was. "Oh!" she said. "Sorry, your Highness. You were saying?"
"Thank you, Zeetha," said Mara. "Lady Heterodyne, I appreciate your interest in my work, but I'm not looking for any advice. Or approval." She said the last words in an ever-so-slightly menacing tone, but with her best Pauper Princess smile. It had the intended effect: creeping Agatha the heck out.
"Hoh-kay," she said, tiptoeing back to the other side of the table. Sanaa also returned to her seat. There was an uncomfortable silence as Agatha sat back down. "Yeah," she sighed. "I guess I owe you an explanation."
"Not really," said Mara. "My husband thinks it was a prank because I was rude earlier. But I think you broke the purifier for a different reason."
"Whaaaat?" said the other three at once, looking at Agatha in horror.
Agatha shuddered. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to do." She shuddered again. "But your Highness, I had to, or felt that I had to. It was obvious - well, to me - that you were fighting that part of yourself, and it was making you miserable. Believe me, I know better than you think how that feels. And really, I was all set to just fix the purifier and go, but I couldn't find a replacement part it needed, so I started looking around the room for something to adapt. And... I found your secret closet."
"Ah."
"Even so, I should have.. looked the other way and finished the job," said Agatha. "But I got caught up in the moment."
"Yes, I have no idea what that's like," said Mara.
"I wasn't thinking what the consequences might be to you. Not... bad, I hope? I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"
"I'm... not angry with you," said Mara. Agatha sighed in relief. "But I haven't decided whether to thank you, either. Things are a bit, um... in flux, at the moment. Right now we don't know what's been unleashed."
"Well, you've got a cool clank, for starters," said Agatha, waving to Puri. Puri waved back and then saluted.
Isabel tugged at her mother's gown. "Momma, I wanna play," she said.
"Do you like jumping on beds?" said Violetta. "You should."
"Momma, may I jump onna bed?"
"Sweetie, you shouldn't listen to smoke knights," said Mara. "No jumping on the bed." She got the attention of one of the female attendants lingering nearby, who hurried over. Mara charged her with returning Isabel to the nursery. The attendant made her bows and began leading Isabel away, when Agatha jumped up from her seat.
"Oh, wait, may I say hello to her, too?" she said. "Or goodbye, that is?"
"You may."
Mara watched as Agatha dropped to a knee and waved at Isabel, who did not wave back. Instead the child stared at her, unmoving, until she reached out with her tiny index finger and touched Agatha's nose.
"Bzzzt!" she said, and giggled. Agatha touched her nose and smiled.
"Oh, that's cute," she said. "Is that her 'thing?' How she greets people?"
"Er... no," said Mara. "I've never seen her do that before."
"She didn't do that to me," said Sanaa.
Mara knelt down to give her a daughter a goodbye hug and kiss. After they parted, Isabel "bzzz'ed" her nose, too, then giggled and waved goodbye to the group as the attendant led her away. Mara and Agatha stood up, exchanged looks, then quickly returned to their respective seats. Mara finally opened Sanaa's autograph book and signed it. Then she wrote on the group picture and handed both items back to her.
"Ohhh, this is nice," said Sanaa. " 'To my good friend Sanaa - May all your dreams come true. Adventure is out there! Mara Mouseheart, the Pauper Princess.' Aw, thank you, your Highness!"
Mara smiled and nodded her head once in acknowledgement.
"Hey!" said Violetta, hitting the table. "What did you say before about smoke knights?"
Mara half-smiled. "I was admonished for not researching you all properly, so I remedied that."
"Okay, but I didn't put anything on those forms about being a smoke knight."
"And Zeetha returned none of the optional forms, so we shouldn't know that she's a Princess herself," said Mara. "Speaking of which-" she turned to Zeetha and bowed her head - "Your Highness."
"Um... Huh?"
"Okay, you people are officially freaking me out now."
"We have a very good Marketing department."
Sanaa waved her hand enthusiastically. "Oh! What did you find out about me?"
Mara pondered her reply a moment. "That you seek adventure," she said with a smile. "Like your brother."
"That's so true!" gasped Sanaa. "You guys are good."
"Well, we can play the same game," said Violetta. "Your 'soup ladle' story checked out. Except that before meeting and marrying the Prince, the rest of your story is... murky, at best. Like, where you learned your fight moves." She pointed between herself and Zeetha. "Not that neither of us could take you in a real fight, because we very much could. You caught us by surprise."
"Ladies," said Mara, "I have renounced violence, and did so some time ago. That part of my life is over."
"And a new part is beginning," said Agatha. Mara started her look as a glare, but it eventually softened into thoughtfulness. She nodded slowly.
"I'll give you that," said Mara. "Lady Het-" She sighed. "May it be Agatha?"
"Of course," she said. "Mara."
"I've been petty about this, and it isn't right," she said. "I really should thank you for what you've done. I don't know what will come of thisss - well, my husband insists on calling it a 'gift' - but at least I'll be meeting whatever comes, as myself, in full. So I do, sincerely, thank you for that."
"Aww, don't mention it. And you know, if you ever need a break from all this provinciality, stop by Mechanicsburg sometime. At the very least, you'll be inspired by all the tech there."
Mara shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sure that I will be."
"If it doesn't kill you first," muttered Zeetha.
*************************
Later that evening Kelvin returned to their study and found his wife tidying up the mess from the night before. She was humming, which was not her custom, and moving with a relaxed grace. It took her a few moments to realize that he was there. He smiled quickly and waved in greeting, but she was not content with this. She ran to him, which surprised him a bit, and threw her arms around him and gave him a longer, deeper, warmer kiss than they'd had in a long time. Neither could say how much time had passed by the time they parted. She truly did look at her husband now, deep into his eyes, seeing only him and not some distant memory.
Kelvin was loathe to interrupt this moment, but couldn't help it. "You had a better day today, I take it?" he said. She smiled and let her head drop forward so that they touched foreheads.
"I did," she said.
"Have you had enough rest?"
"Mmmm. I'll catch up tonight," she said. "Maybe," she added with a wicked smile. He chuckled before pulling her tightly to him. They traded many more kisses before falling onto a settee. She scooted closer and played with the hair on the back of his neck.
"You'll be happy to know," she said, "That I made peace with the Lady."
"That is good to know," he said. "And I hope that she had a good time. And her companions."
"Mm."
"I hope that you've made peace, too," he said. She half-smiled, then leaned against him and rested her hand on his chest.
"It's a work in progress," she said.
Kelvin hummed in agreement, then put his arm around her and closed his eyes. Mara played idly with a button on his shirt, then cleared her throat.
"Darling-"
"-We should build a-" he said. "Oh, sorry, I interrupted."
"No," she said. "You first. I insist."
"Very well," he said. "I've been thinking: you're going to need a workshop. We should build you a workshop. After all, you can't go building things in here."
She sat up and stared at him in awe. "Really?" she said. "You're serious?"
"Of course," he said. "We can find some room or area that's not part of any tour. Somewhere safe, secure, and private. But you know your needs better than I. Can you think of a part of the castle that would suit your needs?"
"Um... um... I'm afraid to ask, but... the dungeon?" she said. Kelvin cocked an eyebrow. "I know it sounds like a cliche, but that area is underground, isn't part of any tour, it's isolated, has strong walls - I mean, duh, right? - has good ventilation, it wouldn't be too difficult adding extra power sources..." She clasped her hands together in mock-pleading. "Please, Darling? If you made me an underground dungeon laboratory, I'd be the happiest wife on earth!"
"...That is something I can say I never expected to hear," he said, as much to himself as to her. "Er, yes, yes, I think that's feasible. But then, it is used as a dungeon at times."
"But only for prisoners in trial," she said. "And never to capacity."
"That's true," he said. "Even so, a Princess is not going to be wandering past a bunch of criminals whenever she needs to work. You'll need a private entrance."
She gasped in delight.
"Can it be a secret entrance??"
"... As you wish," he said. "That is, if it's not difficult to construct and is inexpensive."
She squeaked with glee.
"We'll have to wall off the workshop from the main section, then," he said. She listened with widening eyes, her smile getting bigger and bigger. "Will you need one room, or a wing?" She squeaked again and covered her mouth, but could say no more. After a moment, he continued. "A wing, then." She shuddered and moaned. "You'll need to work with the construction crew and mechanics so that it's built to your specifications." She was all but vibrating with delight. Her joy was affecting him, too, but he pretended that it was not. "Then we'll bring in whatever equipment you need-"
Gasp!
"-Tools-?"
Gasp!
"-Power supplies-?"
GASP!
"-Materials-?"
Mara could stand it no longer, and yanked her husband into a deep kiss, then fell backwards onto the settee. She fanned herself with her hand.
"Ohh, I love you so much," she moaned. "Ohhh, take me now!"
Kelvin wiped the sweat from his mouth. "Ahh, don't tease me like that!"
She looked at him incredulously. "Tease you??" she said, hitting the side of the settee. "I said take me now!!"
After knocking over various items of furniture, not to mention breaking a few knickknacks, the two ended the evening spooning quietly in front of the lit fireplace. They had managed to bring in some pillows and fur blankets from the bedroom. Kelvin adjusted the blankets to better cover his wife, then buried his face into her hair and breathed in her aroma. Mara had her eyes closed but was still awake. Kelvin, though, was starting to drift off.
"Kelvin, my love," she said. He opened his eyes. That endearment was used for special occasions. "Today has been a good day," she murmured. "Isabel was made well by, of all people, a smoke knight."
"A what?"
"-I may have befriended a famous Spark, but time will tell for that. And I'm on the way to making peace with my own, ah, 'gift,' as you call it. We've just had fanntassstic sex. And I have another reason to be in high spirits."
"Do tell," he said.
"We will also need to update the nursery," she said, and waited.
"Oh?" he said finally. "Is there something wrong with it?"
She rolled her eyes. "Er, yes," she said. "There aren't enough cribs in it."
"Oh," he said, and closed his eyes. Then they shot open again. "OH!"
A week later, Mara did not hide the reason for her "need" to stay up late tonight. She did have to assure her husband that she would not spend all night disassembling or repurposing anything. While he slept in the next room, she spread out fresh sheets of paper and pencils, all sharpened nice and pointed. For the first time she also had pictures with her, and arranged various family portraits around the table. After taking a moment to stare at them one after the other, she closed her eyes, breathed in deeply, opened her eyes, and began sketching.
*************************
There, see? Wasn't intolerable I hope. If you'd like more adventures of the sort-of-copyrighted Pauper Princess in the actually-copyrighted world of Girl Genius, let me know. Actually, even if I get no comments at all, which would be par for the course, I might write more, anyway.