Palace Haven
During Ms Featherbon's five hour exercise session The Royal Record Keeper ran in.
"Your grace." He panted, holding out an envelope to her. "I have a message marked urgent from a Major Joe Mason for you!"
"Major Joe Mason?" She grabbed the envelope, using her beak to open it. "I hope nothing happened."
Dear Ms Featherbon,
I regret to inform you Princess Tulip Morningstar has passed away. We know you are currently substituting for Emperor Kuzco, so we will take care of the funeral and memorial. However we are hoping for your assistance with one matter. Her pets Mr Chow, Lucy, Tillie, Barnaby Pickles, Ms Sophia, Jane Hair, Chauncey, and Pierre the Fish, need a safe place to stay. Due to allergy concerns with the princesses, we cannot keep them here. We were wondering if until arrangements were made you could watch over them.
-Major Joe Mason
Ms Featherbon felt shattered. "T-Tulip's g-gone…" She sat back in the throne and zoned out for a few moments as tears started welling in her eyes. She turned to one of the guards. "W-would you m-m-mind writing my re-reply f-f-for me?"
"Of course your grace." He said taking out a scroll.
Ms Featherbon sniffled and cleared her throat. "D-dear M-Major Joe M-M-Mason, I will gladly t-take in Tulip M-Morningstar's pets."
"Pets in the palace!?" The Royal Record Keeper asked in shock. "The palace really isn't the best place for pets Ms Featherbon."
"I-it's only until other a-arrangements c-can be made." Ms Featherbon sniffled. "Displaced royal pets are part of responsibilities as head of royal affairs."
"Yes your grace."
"Featherbon." She turned to the guard and took the scroll. She rolled it up, closed her eyes, flapped her wings a few times, and sent it off in a puff of sparkles. She turned back to the guard. "Get the guest quarters set up for them. Tulip and I were very close, I want to make sure her pets are happy."
…
"Hey Malina." Kuzco said, trying to keep up with her. "Funny we're going the same way home right?"
"Yeah, I'm surprised you haven't died yet without your servants and guards." She replied sarcastically.
"Well the guards double as servants." Kuzco explained. "They do everything my royal feeders, butler, chef, theme song guy, and people with other oddly specific jobs don't."
Malina rolled her eyes. "You're really something aren't you?"
"Yep, glad you noticed." He said proudly.
When they got to the bridge Kuzco froze.
"Are you okay?" Malina asked. "Or are you not used to walking this much?"
"I-I'm f-f-fine. I-I just…"
Why'd I risk my life for a selfish brat like you!?
"I-I like to take my time that's all."
"Oh, uh okay."
It took a few minutes but Kuzco made it across the bridge, holding onto the rope railings tightly. After he made it across he left a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. He managed to make some small talk with Malina before he got home.
"Kuzco how was your first day?" Pacha asked when he came in.
'It was awful!" Kuzco groaned as he sat down and put his head in his hands. "The food is terrible, Mr Moleguaco expects me to know everything about the kingdom's economics. And I-I had t-to go across that br-bridge..t-twice."
Pacha sat by him, "Don't worry, it'll get easier Kuzco. You just need to get used to living as a villager that's all."
I could've let you die out there in that jungle and then all my problems would be over
"H-hey Pacha? I'm not a burden am I?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's not a problem I live here r-right?"
"Kuzco, don't worry about that. We've been through a lot together, I-"
He stopped when Kuzco visibly flinched at that last part. "Kuzco, we need to talk about this."
"I-I d-don't w-want to." Kuzco said, pulling away.
"It's okay." Pacha said. He tried to see if it was okay to touch his shoulder. Kuzco was okay with it and and even hugged him himself. "We don't have to talk about it until you're ready."
"W-what if I-I'm never r-ready?"
"Then we never need to talk about it."
"Th-thank you." He sniffled. "I-I'm gonna take a nap."
He went to the attic and slumped into his bed and looked at the ceiling. He managed to doze off slightly until he heard of a chorus "Nah uh!" and "Yeah huh!" coming closer. Kuzco groaned and covered his ears and rolled onto his side.
"Nah uh!"
"Yeah huh!"
"Nah uh!"
"Yeah huh!"
"Nah uh!"
"Yeah huh!"
"Nah uh!"
"Yeah hu-!"
"Stop!" Kuzco screeched in annoyance.
Chaca and Tipo looked over at him for a moment before going back to their argument. Kuzco groaned and shut his eyes tightly, somehow managing to fall asleep.
…..
Ms Featherbon paced nervously as she waited for the right time to summon Tulip Morningstar's pets.
"Your gr- Ms Featherbon." One of the guards said. "The guest quarters is set up."
"Thank you." She breathed out, still sounding distressed. "I feel terrible that I can't go to her memorial ceremony."
"Ms Featherbon? I-I could watch the pets while you go to the ceremony." The Royal Record Keeper said.
Ms Featherbon's eyes widened and sparkled. "Would you? That would be wonderful!"
"Of course, you're our empress we'd do anything for you."
Her smile faltered a bit at his reason.
Ms Featherbon helped make last minute preparations. An hour later she received a letter that simply said: Now.
Ms Featherbon focused her energy, flapped her wings, and poof, a group of animals appeared in front of them. The Royal Record Keeper was nervous when the animals started to explore.
"I'll be back in a few hours. Thank you again for agreeing to watch them." Ms Featherbon said.
"N-no problem." He said, trying to keep a calm face. Ms Featherbon headed off, and the animals gathered around The Royal Record Keeper.
One of the cats, who he'd later learn was named Tillie, purred and nuzzled against his legs. He smiled and leaned down to pet her. "Aren't you adorable?"
Tillie purred and let out a small meow. He kept petting her until he heard a crashing in the kitchen. He hurried in and saw a chubby blue cat-Mr Chow-, a small golden corgi-Chauncey- and a small brown sloth -Miss Sophia- were digging through the cabinets.
Mr Chow was eating through a bag of fresh broccoli, while Miss Sophia was hanging from one of the plants, eating the leaves. Chauncey was barking and running from cabinet to cabinet, chewing on everything she saw.
When the Royal Record Keeper rushed in, the small corgi ran over yelping excitedly, pawing at his leg.
"C-come on girl." He called, trying to get her to follow him. She barked happily and followed behind him as he picked up Miss Sophia and placed her on his neck, and held Mr Chow in one of his arms, making him squirm.
Panting, he went into the next room and saw the dachshund-Lucy- excitedly was batting at and chasing Giftmas ornaments.
"No, no don't touch those!" He rushed over and grabbed her in his other arm. Chauncey and Lucy started barking in greeting.
Back in the main room Tillie, the orange and white cat, was playing in the curtains. She peeked out, leaving the edge of the corner on her rump like a tutu. This wouldn't have been a problem, if she hadn't extended her claws and started cutting the curtain. The Royal Record Keeper panicked. He set down Mr Chow and Lucy (Which allowed Mr Chow to head back to the kitchen), to pick her up.
"Those curtains have been around for centuries, if they get damaged I'll-" He stopped mid sentence when he saw a brown and white cat-Jane Hair- running through with a llama shaped comb in her mouth. "The royal comb!"
He set down Tillie to chase after Jane Hair, allowing Tillie to continue her clawing. An orange striped cat-Barnaby Pickles- sitting next to bowl with a blue fish-Pierre The Fish-, decided to stick his leg out and trip him. The Royal Record Keeper glared at the pair. Barnaby Pickles was covering his mouth with his paw, trying to stifle laughter.
Tillie walked by with her new curtain tutu, Jane Hair with the comb in her fur, Chauncy, Miss Sophia and Mr Chow chewing on a lobster they'd found, Lucy pushing an ornament with her nose, and Barnaby Pickles chewing on the bottom of his robe. "G-guards!"
Three guards came in and looked wide eyed at the havoc the pets have caused.
'Help me' He mouthed helplessly.
Guard one pulled Barnaby Pickles from The Royal Record Keeper, and picked up Tillie as well.
Guard two took the lobster from the three pets, glaring at them when they begged for it back,
Guard three knelt down to Lucy's level and let her sniff his hand before petting her and grabbing the Giftmas ornament while she was distracted.
The Royal Record Keeper gripped Pierre's bowl tightly and gave the startled fish the I'm-Watching-You gesture.
They decided to keep the pets in the servant's quarters until Ms Featherbon returned.
Theme Song Guy was gripping a scroll, trying to write a new theme song for Ms Featherbon. Mr Chow crawled into his lap and purred. "What's new pussycat?"
"Awww you're so adorable!" Said one of the guards, picking up Chauncey. She barked excitedly and licked his face. He giggled and pet her.
The flower girl was sitting with her dads, both of whom were guards. Jane Hair came over and meowed, startling her. She grabbed onto her dads' arms and whimpered slightly. "D-d-daddy."
One of her dad's pulled her closer to him, while the other tried to scare Jane Hair off with his weapon. She stared at for a second and then proceeded to clean her fur.
"Oh deary dearest me!" Ms Featherbon called from the hallway. "What happened here!?"
The servants all looked at each other, silently deciding who was supposed to tell the empress what happened.
"I guess I'll do it." The Royal Record Keeper sighed. "After all I was the one who promised to watch them."
Chauncey followed after him as he entered the hall to see a panicked Featherbon flying from room to room to assess the damages.
"M-Ms Featherbon..y-your g-g-grace?"
"There you are." She said in relief. "What happened?"
"I-I can explain. I-I-"
"Did the pets cause problems?" She asked gently. "Oh dear, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left, I should have stayed and kept an eye on them."
"N-no I should have k-kept better watch on th-them."
"I'm not letting you take a blame for one of my oversights." Ms Featherbon said. "I have an idea, but I'll need to use my five hour exercise time to do it, if that's all right."
"I-I..I mean yes of course your grace!"
"Ms Featherbon."
"Ms Featherbon." He said, smiling gently.
Chauncey looked excitedly at Ms Featherbon and barked happily while wagging her tail.
Ms Featherbon giggled. "You want to keep me company?"
Chauncey barked enthusiastically and followed Ms Featherbon to the throne room.
