(Note from your favorite author in the world: "Harry just sort of walked into my head…" J.K. Rowling.

Note from the Wordess of all time: You are all very fun. I enjoy you. I hope you like the next chapter just as much as the rest of them.  I replaced the last one, which had many, many typos.  Three, to be exact.  Heh heh… no more need be said my little quidnuncs.  By the way, some people reviewing this story have gone on to read my favorite not-so-funny fic [there is still humor in it because it's me writing so I just like humor] but they seem unaware that it's a two-part series.  Don't ask why.  I'm not really sure.  Anyway, it goes from Fly Anew to Wings of the Death Flight. Hint, hint.  Well, read this story because Chad is hot and Cathy is cool.)  

I wasn't violent towards Michelle, but I was definitely giving her the cold-shoulder for ruining my chance.  And I sort of stared harshly at every pine tree I saw, but they didn't seem to care.  Neither did Michelle, for that matter.  She chastised us for our childish behavior.  I sort of pursed my lips and looked away, but she didn't mind or even notice.  Stupid fairy-girl. 

Eventually I spoke again because I hate silence.  (Why am I so petrified of silence?)

"Isn't it weird that just yesterday morning we were in school and now we're saving the world?"

Michelle looked taken aback.  "I hadn't thought of that."

"Of course you haven't.  You were too busy yelling at us for having a good time."

"Cathy, you know this is important…."  Michelle started.

"Say not another word."  I put my hand up in her face.  "I will not tolerate your adult-y-ness."

Michelle shook her head, as though I were shorter than she was.  Actually, she is a head shorter than me and a head blonder.  I'm not making sense.  The point was, she was acting all mature and it felt really odd to be put in place by a girl who I had saved from bullying only twenty-four hours prior to this expedition.

It was growing dark, but we had reached a town. 

Actually, a city.

A really big city. 

"Yes!  We've reached Ye Old Big Apple."  I exclaimed.

"Kyrria," Michelle and Chad breathed together.

"What?"  I responded, wondering why they were breathing my last name as though it were the holy grounds finally reached.  "Oh," I realized what they were talking about.  "Chad, considering you're supposed to be Earth-boy-hooligan, I'm surprised you're so curious about this place."

Chad shrugged at me, but a small smile crept to his lips.

Luscious lips that I should have kissed.

"There's the castle," Michelle pointed out.

"Ooh, it's big, and castle-like.  Thank you for pointing out, I could never have figured that one out, ye o omnipotent one."  I rolled my eyes. 

"Come on," Michelle ignored me and started striding purposefully in the general direction of the palace. 

"Yes, let us getteth our asses in geareth, Chadeth."  I linked my arm with his and strutted forward.

"Alrighteth, Catheth."  He strode for with me, but looked rather white.  Michelle turned back momentarily to look at us.  Chad immediately withdrew his arm, as though fearing another chastising from the teeny blonde fairy.  But he wasn't looking at Michelle.  He was looking at the people in their lawns and the marketplace.  He swallowed hard and what little color remained in his face drained away. 

He's just nervous, I told myself.  I had no room for fear right then, until someone bumped accidentally into me, and then I realized completely that this wasn't a dream.

"Sweet fruits," I muttered, "I am actually here."

The three of us experienced a simultaneous lock-jaw as we walked to the castle.

Candles were being lit in the windows and the outdoor shops were being closed for the evening.  I could smell dinner-smells coming from houses.  It reminded me of my own hunger.  I began nibbling at imaginary food just to amuse myself. 

Chad turned to look at me just as I was biting into an imaginary steak.

"What are you doing?" He came out of his silence and stared at me incredulously.

"I am eating, good sir," I wiped my face with an imaginary napkin.  I blushed anyway.

"You are so bizarre sometimes," he shook his head. 

"And you are so s- normal sometimes."  I had stopped myself from saying "sexy" because… well, it would have sounded weird.

"Snormal?"

"Yes, you are normal as an s."  I made up quickly.

"Am I curvy?"  He asked, frowning.

I cocked an eyebrow.  "That is for you to decide and the mafia to find out."

"What are you talking about?"

I wiggled my eyebrows mysteriously. 

"You are full of random sentences."

"Je sais.  C'est parce que j'aime ton corps et je veux… kisser… you."

"What language is that?"  Chad asked curiously.

"French, of course."  I mimicked a French accent smashingly well. 

Before he could say another word, Michelle spoke.

"We're here," she said softly.

The castle loomed before us, the doors guarded by two men in green uniforms.  We walked slowly up to the door when Chad stopped.

"No, I can do this," he mumbled to himself, "it's been years."

I didn't make any wisecracks because I sensed bile rising in my throat for fear.

"What business do you have here?"

"We are here to speak with Queen Ella."  Michelle said in a trembling voice.

"And to what purpose?"  The guard asked.

"We have news from the fairies about…."

"Oh, yes," a guard turned pale, "go in." 

The three of them were admitted in through the door.  One of the guards scrutinized Chad closely.

"Did you see him?"  One guard asked the other in a low rumble as the doors swung shut behind us.

"Your leather jacket is a cause for much talk."  I wagged my finger at him.

Chad looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.  Ah, that was our unborn child.  A twinkle in its daddy's eye.  Hehe, I'm so stupid.  The twinkle, though, was caused by a torch on the wall. 

We wandered silently to the end of the corridor and into the main chamber, were the royalty was feasting in their finery.  At the head of the table sat a man with a crown perched on his head.  His hair was graying at the temples and his eyes were wrinkled.  Next to him sat a middle-aged woman with a crown on her head as well.  My eyes were drawn immediately back to the king, who while laughing mirthfully, struck me suddenly.

"Hey, he looks just like you," I nudged Chad in the ribs.  "Only old and kingly."

The royalty turned and saw the three of us.  Both Michelle and Chad immediately sank to their knees, Chad bowing his head low as though hiding his face.  I sort of stared at them, wondering what the heck they were doing.  I saw the King's eyebrows shoot up and he smiled at me. 

"Oops, sorry," I got down clumsily.

"No, rise the three of you and look me in the eye."  The king stood and walked over to us.  The queen stood and joined him, linking her arm lovingly in his.  Michelle and I were the first to rise but Chad did so reluctantly. 

"What can I do for you?"  He started pleasantly.

"King Charmont…."  Michelle started.

"King Char, please," he said automatically.

Char.  Hm. 

"Yes, King Char… my name is Michelle.  I am the daughter of Cedric of the fairies, who is half-brother to the children of Lucinda."  The hall gasped collectively.  "But I bring news of the two whom have caused much havoc upon these lands."

"And how to lift the worst curse in the worlds," I spluttered.  I thought Michelle was taking a ridiculously long time with all of these formalities.

King Char's attention came swiftly back to me.

"What curse is this?"

"Obedience, of course."  I said.  Michelle's neck was red.  I could tell that she hadn't wanted me to speak up at all.

The queen laughed.  "Yes, I can attest to that."

King Char looked up at Chad who was standing next to me, head bowed.

"Why do you not look me in the eye, sir?"

Chad didn't respond.

"Chad?  Are you okay?"  I squinted concernedly at him. 

Chad's face slowly came up, white as a sheet.

A hush came over the hall as they looked at him.

"Char?"  The queen whispered, tears coming to her eyes.

"Yes, Mother, it's me."  Chad… um… Char… um, what?                        

(Okay, so you're all despicably clever.  Very good.  By the way, the curse is broken for Cathy.  I just wanted to put this in here because I can't believe no one ever tried that cure for Ella; it always drove me berserk.  Sheesh.)