When Pixies Unite
(A Penelope Side-Story)
One moment there was peace and tranquility, as Rune-Ulacrum was working on her own secret set of plans, which consisted of her writing Enchantment runes on an old marble bookcase that had somehow survived for millennia, until now. Of course, thinking about it, Penelope knew the truth that this didn't actually survive millennia, as it was all part of a simulated game world. Yet, somewhere along the way that difference between what was real and what virtual began to blur and now, only when she thought about it did she realize that this was a virtual world.
A world that had a very real chance of being shut down, turned off, and discarded forever.
During these times of relative peace and silence, Penelope often chose to watch over the shoulder of Rune-Ulacrum. Now, watching over any pixie was to be done at your own discretion, as pixies were known to be tricksters, especially Cass's Simulacrums. For a while it was hard to tell who Cass truly liked and didn't, especially as Cass would just smile to your face.
However, recently there have been stories about Simulacrums pranking Arch Sky Mage Belton. Of course, no one knew they were pranks at first, as nothing directly linked to pixies to certain events like him drinking tea that turned his lips a particular shade of purple and if spilt would cause unremovable purple drops to appear on any clothing, including soul bound clothing. Only once the stains did not get removed from the soul bound clothing, did it become obvious who could be responsible. But of course, the time when the tea incident happened, the real Cass was clearly away teaching her classes in front of hundreds of students and spectators alike. Not only that, but this was also the day she started trying to synchronize with Raygunnr, making her presence even more noticeable.
Fortunately, this whole event was kept very much on the downlow. In fact, the only reason that Penelope herself was even aware of such an event occurring was that Arch Mage Belton came to her directly, with Mallory in tow, to try to get the blotches to be removed. Seeing as Penelope was the one who first created the garments, this made sense, but unfortunately what had occurred was beyond Penelope's limited understanding at that time.
Yes, here she was the premier Tailor, even bearing the last name of one, and she could not figure out how to remove color that had been added to a Soul Bound item. Obviously, the only person, other than her who could have done this to a Soul Bound item was Cass. But that's when something odd happened.
While getting the Kujos to take high value Guild Members to meet Penelope at the Kujo Caverns was not new. What was new was the fact that this time they had guests.
Yes, for whatever reason there in the corner of the Kujo Cavern's grand lounging area, the main area where the Kujos and the Guardians ate their fill of killed monsters, were not one but two Simulacrums. The first one Penelope noticed as Rune-Ulacrum, even when she was in disguise Rune was easy for Mallory to distinguish. It wasn't anything aesthetic, as they were all gorgeous little pixies that Penelope was working on multiple Soul Bound wardrobes for. No, the Simulacrum that Penelope noticed was not Rune, but a Simulacrum that Penelope had never seen before. A fact she was certain of, as she pulled out her monocle and stared at the new pixie to confirm. It was not Terra, as Terra had a bit of a haughty attitude.
No, this one seemed grittier? More mischievous? That's when Penelope called out before even thinking about what she was doing, "Espy?"
Espy, as in the Espionage Simulacrum. Why Cass would purposely create a Simulacrum designed for Espionage was beyond her. Well, actually Penelope knew and understood the need for Espionage, particularly in Cass's case. But only now, after seeing Espy and that almost vindictive smile on her face did Penelope realize that having a pixie focused on Espionage could be a terrible combination.
The roguish pixie rather than getting rattled at being found out, rose up from the table where they were drinking tea, and bowed theatrically towards Penelope. As if in congratulations, you found me out, but it will be too late as my evil schemes have already been enacted.
Poof.
Then as if in misdirection, Espy-Ulacrum Teleported from next to the table to directly by Penelope's side, before continuing her act as a rogue. At which point she bowed her head, grabbed Penelope's hand, and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her left hand.
Tingle.
There was an electric jolt of energy contained in that kiss.
Badump, badump, badump.
A jolt that caused Penelope's heart to race wildly, as she involuntarily raised her right hand to cover her now fluttering heart. That's when looking down, Penelope locked gazes with the roguish Simulacrum and was about to scold her but was stopped by a knowing wink.
Poof.
That's of course when the rogue made her escape, Teleporting out of the Kujo Caverns and to parts unknown. Penelope stood there dumbfounded for a moment, hand still clasped over her heart, while her hand still tingled and pulsed with waves of euphoric energy. Only after a second did she analyze the spot of the kiss and realize that the rogue had somehow covered her lips in pixie dust, likely distracted by her bow and subsequent Teleport towards Penelope, but the effect was undeniable.
Not wanting to speak her thoughts out loud, but she realized Espy was good at being a troublemaker. With Espy gone, all eyes quickly turned to Rune who dropped her cup of tea and held up her hands in a sign of innocence.
Only looking through the monocle did Penelope realize that the teacups had been Enchanted. Not just minorly either, though their glow and residual power was hard to notice when next to the two Simulacrums, but now that Espy was away, the traces of residual energy were easy to notice.
Before Penelope even knew what she was doing she angrily strode forward. Each step she took, Rune-Ulacrum trembled slightly, as if caught in fear. It was of course an act. Rune-Ulacrum could easily get away from Penelope, if she so chose. The fact that she remained showed that this was part of Rune's game.
That was the other thing that Penelope noticed, that each Simulacrum had their own games, and would follow them to different degrees. For whatever reason, this time, there were two Simulacrums who had seemingly overlapping games that caused them to work in conjunction with each other. Getting closer, Penelope stopped when she was five feet away from the tea table, where she could clearly see one mildly enchanted kettle, and two extremely enchanted teacups.
"So, you," Penelope began by pointing to Rune-Ulacrum, "created the enchanted teacups that were capable of staining a Soul Bound Item."
Pausing, Penelope did a slight turn and pointed to the now empty seat that hosted Espy-Ulacrum, "while Espy was the one who made the switch of cups."
Clapping.
At this, Rune-Ulacrum smiled brightly and clapped in excitement as she was apparently watching a real-life crime drama unfold before her, a form of self-orchestrated dinner theater. That's when Penelope looked down at the two cups and realized that while they were both magically enchanted, they were different in some way.
"Oh, and here you have two different cups, let me guess one to cause the stains and the other to remove them?"
More clapping.
Penelope almost wanted to be mad, but the smile of excitement on Simulacrum Cass's face was too infectious. Meaning, despite how hard she tried, she could not help but have a slight smile coming from her lips.
"Meaning, we should just pour the good cup over the stained parts and the soul bound purple stains will be removed?"
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Nodding excitedly.
Chuckle.
Even her Simulacrums were happy to see her students succeed. Taking one step forward, Rune made an excessive scooch back of her chair, that caused a loud echoing screech to occur.
Pausing for a moment, Penelope just looked at Rune who looked completely embarrassed at having caused the sound. Which she had to have known would happen as she can fly, thus scooting back a chair required her to either lift the chair and fly backwards, or to flap her wings and move back as her toes were barely long enough to reach the floor, even as a colossal pixie.
Long stare.
Penelope just stared at the pixie, long enough for a smile to appear on Rune's face showing that she meant to be distracting all along. At that, Penelope smiled and gave a wink to Rune, before turning back to the table to her right. Which was sad as she missed the complete look of shock that filled Rune's face. Having seen something from the corner of her eye, Penelope turned back, but Rune had already regained her composure, despite a twinge of red filling her face. Again, Penelope just stared at Rune who had the notion to sheepishly look away. That's when Penelope focused back on the table and once again began her deductive analysis of the scene.
"Fine," Penelope declared as she picked up the cup that Rune-Ulacrum had been drinking from. Picking it up, Penelope examined the writing, only to realize first this might be too easy assuming it was the one in front of Rune. Second, these patterns were for destruction, not just coloring, but complete magical unweaving.
"Hey, that's just mean," Penelope said, realizing that if she had used this cup, it would have been worse than just keeping the tea dribble stains. Hearing her admonishment, Rune just shrunk in on herself and scooted away.
Screech.
This time Rune did look truly embarrassed by creating the sound, which was not done on purpose. Then picking up the second cup, the one that was in front of Espy-Ulacrum, she began to examine it's writing only to see that this was in fact the very cup used to stain Soul Bound items purple. Seeing the cup, Penelope opened her mouth wide and just stared at Rune with that look that says you broke my trust. Seeing her reaction, Rune opened her mouth wide to protest, but then realized she was mute, and just curled up on herself.
Out of an abundance of caution, Penelope lifted up the magically enchanted kettle to see that is was designed with some of the oddest of enchantments. One kept the water inside at standard room temperature, regardless of external forces. The other made it so a minor enchantment on the liquid that was poured from the kettle would continually release whisps of steam, as if it was hot, despite being room temperature. There was also a minor enchantment that the kettle would slowly refill with liquid, but that was it, three seemingly minor enchantments.
Looking at the kettle and its enchantments, Penelope just paused, as she realized that the kettle was just the ultimate show piece, one that looked like it would pour continually hot water, but the water would just be room temperature. Odd, but definitely not what she was looking for at this moment. Still holding the kettle, Penelope looked at Rune to see if it had been enchanted the way she was reading. As their eyes met, Rune seemed to read the confusion on Penelope's face, and just smiled brightly. It was that same look of joyful approval that the real Cass always got when she solved one of Cass's more intricate problems. Seeing that look, Penelope felt better about herself, and putting the kettle down, she grabbed both teacups, and reread their enchantments. Only to realize that they still said exactly what she had originally read, one for destroying soul bound items with liquid, something that Penelope didn't think was possible, but there was the enchantment for such an act. Then another to change the coloring of a Soul Bound item purple, with any liquid it came in contact with, as well.
Holding the two cups up, Penelope just stared at Rune, "well?"
Rune for her part just looked up at Penelope with that look. The one the real Cass always gave when she wanted Penelope to push a little further.
"UGHH!" Penelope let out, was this a test? No wait, of course it was a test. And, this was good as it showed that Penelope was learning and pushing her understanding of enchanting to its limits. But for the life of her, she could not get the meaning for this particular lesson. Taking a deep breath, and finally forcing her gaze down at the little pixie, Penelope calmed herself and asked, "another test?"
Emphatic nodding.
Rune just stared at Penelope with that expectant gaze. Normally the real Cass would use this time to give cryptic hints. Like, "why did I choose purple?" or "is there another cup?"
Thinking of that last question, Penelope got excited and realized, "is there another cup?"
Rune looked back at Penelope and opened her mouth, but then just shook her head. Frustrated, Penelope was visibly frustrated, but more so with herself as she hated the fact that she was likely missing something obvious.
"Can you give me a hint?" Penelope asked, turning on the charm and using her nice voice.
Rune paused, and looked wide eyed for a moment as if she wanted to, but was bound by some odd rule not to do so. That's when Penelope went for broke.
"I'll owe you," Penelope stated.
With that Rune pointed at herself. The meaning was obvious, she wouldn't owe Cass, she would owe Rune specifically a favor. Cautious, Penelope paused, and wondered if this might cause and contention between her and the real Cass if she did anything with her Simulacrums? Then remembering how everything gets transferred to the real Cass in her dreams, Penelope smiled and moving close whispered in Rune's sharp pixie ears.
Blush.
Not only did Rune herself blush, but even the part of her ear where she had been speaking into blushed. Seeing that reaction alone, made it all worth it, for Penelope knew that these Simulacrums were all an extension of the real Cass, and if she had this much of a reaction from the Simulacrum, then she could do the same to the real Cass, when she came of age.
Taking a moment to take a step back and allow Rune to regain her composure, Penelope just asked one word. One word that would bind them in a verbal contract that would be unbreakable by either side, lest pixie karma come into effect and ruin the other's day.
"So?"
Rune taking only a second nodded excitedly and then pulled the teacup from Penelope's right hand, the cup that had been in front of Rune all along. For a moment, Penelope wondered if she had been wrong, if she had read it incorrectly, but that's when Rune pulled out what appeared to be a tiny flat head screwdriver with the edge no larger than the tip of a pencil. Taking the screwdriver, she held the cup with its runic writing towards Penelope so she could see. Then with deft hands she quickly traced the line noting the destructive powers of the enchantment, and in a quick motion she scraped out the word Destruction, leaving behind only a blank space.
Penelope's mind went wild with thought, as she realized she had been too myopic with her approach. The answer had been there the whole time, but she just needed to do a few last-minute changes.
"Right, be more adaptive," Penelope chided herself realizing this had been the lesson and theme that Dr. Spiritlight had been preaching in her classes recently. At the time, it was seen as a way to help those competing in the Regional Qualifiers to be more prepared, but that wasn't the only instance that it could be used. The fact that even now, despite Penelope clearly sitting out of the regional qualifiers, she was happy that Cass, and her Simulacrums both took the time to teach her, and give her these extra lessons.
Rune nodded in approval and then handed the Enchanting Screwdriver and the teacup to Penelope. Seeing the cup, a number of words came in that could be used to do what she wanted. Then staring back at Rune, Penelope realized that this choice too was part of the test. Now that she knew what to do, to change out a rune of power for another, she now had to realize what rune of power she needed to use.
Focusing on the cup, she turned back to see that Mallory and Belton were both back where they first appeared. This was likely due to Mallory not wanting to infringe on this, and with her hand out in a downward stopping gesture, it was clear that she was telling Belton to stay while Penelope worked this out.
With that, Penelope chose the rune Purify, figuring that it could have multiple uses and could hopefully be more beneficial for more than just colored clothing. Once etched she paused and showed the rune choice to Rune who stared at it for a second and gave a conciliatory side to side head nod of approval. Meaning it wasn't the best choice, but it wasn't a wrong choice either.
With the cup fixed, Penelope realized that now all she had to do was take the cup, fill it with water, and then what? At that thought, Penelope turned to Rune who seemed to read her mind and just gestured to the kettle, then mimed a pouring motion into an imaginary cup in her left hand, then took that left hand and flicked it in a gesture that would clearly splash water everywhere.
Penelope wondered if that was it? As it seemed that Rune was almost giddy with anticipation at this point. A fact made clear about the smile on her face and the way she began excitedly tapping her fingertips against each other.
Pausing, Penelope wondered what Rune was on about, as nothing dangerous would happen, particularly as the water would be room temperature. Picking the kettle up in her right hand, she began walking over towards Belton, with the teacup in her left hand. The closer she got the more she realized she was missing something.
It wasn't until she started pouring the room temperature liquid into the cup that she realized what Rune had been waiting for. For there at the top of the water was a cloud of rising mist, which typically indicates that the water would be scalding hot.
"What? You can't!" Belton cried out, and before he could move out of the way Penelope acted, taking the liquid and flicking it quickly, making sure to aim towards his chest area, where his Soul Bound Items were purplized with tiny tea drops.
Splash.
"AHH!" Belton cried out in fantom pain, as if anticipating the sensation of burning water scalding him. Mallory, unaware of what happened rushed to help Belton, who was still grasping his chest. Then a moment passed as he straightened up, and realized. "It's- it's cold."
Maniacal cackling.
Rune-Ulacrum began cackling wildly, kicking her feet up wildly as she could not help but laugh in the way Penelope imagined songbirds would laugh to one another.
That's when Penelope explained, "the kettle is just enchanted to give off the illusion of steam, while serving room temperature water."
Penelope even shook the kettle for emphasis.
That's when an extremely frustrated but trying to compose himself Belton stood up and took a deep breath.
"I take it she still hasn't forgiven me?" Belton asked.
Penelope turned to look at Rune who was just now regaining control over herself, even wiping a glowing mana tear from her eye due to her laughing so hard.
"I would assume that Dr. Spiritlight might still harbor a twinge of resentment," Mallory noted. Then turning to Penelope she asked, "could we ask you to get us a ride out of here?"
With that Penelope turned to look for the nearest Kujo, "Umbra, go escort them out to the surface."
Umbra who had been sleeping in a giant white pile of fur, huffed, then got up and phased both Belton and Mallory out of the Kujo Caverns.
With that event over, Penelope was about to relax, trying to think of what she was doing before she was interrupted. Only to realize that Rune was suddenly right next to her.
Flap, flap, flap.
Being this close, Rune began flapping as a courtesy to let Penelope know she was right there. Seeing her, Penelope still gasped at how close she was.
Floating up to eye level, Rune move to where their faces were just inches apart. At first, Penelope wanted to ask what? Only to remember her promise to Rune. A promise that made the Simulacrum blush.
"You want your reward now?" Penelope asked.
Blushing, Rune smiled and nodded emphatically. Seeing her react so openly let Penelope realize that while the real Cass might not say anything, her Simulacrums were apparently acting as her wing women. Which was almost expected as they all had four wings each, which meant thirty-two wings in all.
Closer.
Perhaps sensing that Penelope's own mind had drifted away, Rune used that moment to float an inch closer. Smiling, Penelope leaned in and kissed Rune lightly on the cheek. A cheek that was tingled to the touch, no doubt due to being covered in pixie dust, but that was to be expected.
Rune was just about to pull away, but before she could get too far, Penelope reached up and hugged Rune tight. There was a second of confused resistance, before Rune ultimately gave into the hug and rested her head against Penelope's shoulder.
And like that, Penelope got a quest completion notice.
Hidden Quest Complete: Taming Of The Pixies (Ongoing): You have managed to capture the heart of one of the famed mythical pixies of this world…Just seeing the message, Penelope smiled brightly as she realized this was a chain quest requiring nine parts. After seeing the quest, Penelope responded with a two word response.
"Challenge accepted."
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