Chapter Nine: Witch in the Palace…

Barbie collapsed onto her leather couch, a smile on her face. She had enjoyed spending time with her sisters, and she had learned from discussing the day with them, that they had managed to squeeze in practice earlier. Barbie sighed as she realized that she probably should get some practice in as well. It wouldn't do to have Joanne Rawlins' own granddaughter to fall behind in her abilities.

Sitting upright, she glanced over at the TV across from her and decided to start small. Lifting her right hand up, she snapped her fingers, pink sparks flying from her finger tips. Immediately, the TV turned itself, and it was on the local news, like she wanted. Smiling to herself, she glanced down at Taffy, thinking things over. "What else can I do that won't draw any attention from the servants?" Wow…a witch with servants. That was a first.

Taffy scratched her head, before giving herself a quick shake. Barbie sighed, catching on that her familiar was saying no. "It has been revealed today that not only has Prince George has passed away… but he also apparently has sired four daughters while he's been gone. Question is…who is their mother? How did Prince George meet her… what are the princesses names?"

Barbie snapped her fingers again, turning it off. "Try the magic-less daughter of a very powerful witch." Standing up, she walked across the room, trailing her pink sparks over her outfit. As the sparks landed on the clothes, they transformed into a gorgeous pink evening gown, complete with white silk gloves. Barbie waved her hands over her hair, changing it to long soft curls with a small elegant bun gathered at the base of her head, where her head and neck met. She pulled up the long skirt of the gown, so as to examine her shoes. They were still the same as before, though after humming to herself softly, she waved her left hand over them, changing them to a pair of sparkling, glittery, new pink high heels with the royal family symbol engraved into the outside of them in a brilliant gold.

Dropping the skirt down, she strolled to the door, pulling it open. A young maid, looking highly anxious, gasped as she took in Barbie's new look. Barbie rolled her eyes, even as Taffy padded over to stand next to her. "Can I help you?"

The maid hurriedly dipped low in a curtsy. "Ah… the king wants to meet with you right away miss."

"Oh…" Barbie suddenly felt nerves slip in as she fidgeted with the edge of her one glove. She knew that Skipper had managed to scry the fact that there will be a surprise meet and greet with nobility due to a leakage to the press. But that didn't mean that they were going precisely with that…scrying was a tricky business and not always trustworthy.

Following the maid, she crossed her fingers that her sisters had also decided to get ready in case that prediction was true….

…..

She needed not to worry. Almost as soon as she arrived at the drawing room that the meeting was to take place in, Skipper approached her with her in an elegant bun, with a few wisps of it framing her face, wearing a gorgeous dark purple evening gown with matching high heels that, like her older sister, had the family symbol engraved on them. Instead of silk gloves, she wore a string of pearls around her neck and wrist. Stacie was right behind her, her hair done up in a French braid with an elegant blue and gold headband decorating it. Stacie also had on a blue evening gown that stopped a few inches above her ankles instead of going all the way to the floor like her sisters. Her high heels were the same shade of blue, with the royal family symbol on them. No decorative accents, accented her outfit of choice.

The three sisters, unsurprised that Chelsea hadn't made it yet, walked through the door together. The room was full to the brim of noble men and ladies, all eyeing them as if judging them. King William started, clearly surprised how fast they could change outfits…and into ones befitting their station in life too.

Queen Anna smiled at them, clearly impressed with their choice of dress. "Come in girls…everyone here wants to meet you."

King William coughed loudly, before turning to face the others in the room. "May I introduce my granddaughters… Princess Barbara, Princess…Skipper, and Princess Anastasia."

Each girl curtsied perfectly as if they've done this their entire lives when their name was called. "Good evening." Barbie spoke in a low murmur, before straightening and joining her grandmother, smoothing out her dress as she sat down, her sisters quickly sitting on either side of her…copying her action of smoothing out their dresses.

A rather annoyed looking gentleman spoke up, shooting King William a look. "I thought George had four daughters?"

Queen Anna smiled warmly as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Girls…I would like you to meet your father's elder cousin, Lord Michael."

"It is our pleasure to meet you." They spoke in tangent, their voices blending together in a perfect harmony.

Just then the door opened and a servant dipped into a low curtsy to the roomful of superiors. "Excuse me your highnesses…but may I present her highness…Princess Chelsea." She took a step to the side, and Chelsea, holding Dr, Wiggles tightly in her arms stepped into the room.

She was wearing the same pink party dress she wore when they had gotten snowed in, in the middle of nowhere, and decided to throw a Christmas concert, as well as a beaded bracelet to go with it. She smiled, before running over to Barbie, her pink dress shoe flats slapping against the ground.

Barbie scooped her up, placing her on her lap. "Chelsea…this is our cousin, Lord Michael." She introduced the younger girl to the man.

"Hi…this is Dr. Wiggles." Chelsea shoved the teddy bear into his face.

"I see…how…childish. Though I guess you are a child…" Lord Michael frowned, moving the toy away from his face.

Barbie bit back a groan. Something told her that Michael warming up to them was going to take time that they didn't have.

Another servant walked in, this time a butler, bowing to the room's occupants. "Dinner is served."

Barbie kept a hand on Chelsea, deciding that it most likely is a good thing that they all had exceptional manners… Lord Michael will be hard pressed to find something to complain about their table manners.

A/N: Done! Next chapter will be the dinner… hmm, wonder why Michael doesn't like them so quickly? I know the answer, I jst want you all to guess. Permission to read through the last couple of chapters to see if that'll help. Doubt it, but it might.

Review!

SkyTalon