YIKES. It's been awhile. I'm sorry, again. I'm coming to the end of my externship at a bakery, so hopefully my schedule will settle out soon! Thanks all for the encouragement and enthusiasm!

But, the good news, now we're in Fairytale Land! YESSS.

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It was so, so bright. Sutton smashed her eyes shut and clung to Steve as the world dissolved around them and ceased to exist. It felt like the ground was flying rapidly under their unmoving feet, like a spinning treadmill track only they were never knocked on their face.

And then it was over. There was a rush of wind that blew her hair in her face and Sutton waited a moment to make sure they'd actually stopped. She peeled her eyes open but otherwise didn't immediately move. It was still bright. Natural sunlight filled the space and reflected off various surfaces, but the blue tint from the magic glow had dissipated. Sutton could see one tan wall lined with wooden shelves and spilling over with various books and bottles and crystals.

"I knew it," a male voice cried. "I knew that was too much mass for two men."

"Tony," Steve said. Sutton could feel the rumble of his voice as her face was still pressed against his chest. She quickly pushed away and avoided Steve's gaze as she turned to face the speaker, the aforementioned Tony she'd heard about.

"Stowaways," he continued to rant. "I hope there's some medal or promotion coming, because that could've killed me."

Tony, the sorcerer, was dressed in rich, deep red robes that were lined with gold. He had dark hair and an interesting goatee with dark eyes that sported creases at the corners. A medallion rested over his chest and it was inset with a cluster of glowing blue crystals. Tony eyed her in return and then looked back to Steve.

"Who is this? And what are you wearing?"

A scrambling interrupted Steve before he could respond. Sprinkles wriggled out of Bucky's grip and dropped to the floor, her paws slipping as she attempted to gain traction. Sutton smiled widely and crouched down to wrap her in an embrace.

"Sprinkles! Oh, I'm so glad you're ok. Who's my good girl?"

Sprinkles panted happily and licked her across the face.

"I am!"

Sutton stopped.

For a moment she was frozen as her mind tried to process why she'd just heard a responding raspy, feminine voice in her ear. In methodical motions, she lifted each finger from Sprinkles' neck and detached herself from her dog only to hold onto Sprinkles' face.

"Did-did you just... speak?"

"Yes," Sprinkles yipped. Her muzzle moved oddly, lips actually forming words. "And you did too! Wonderful! Good! I don't have to use only easy words now."

Sutton released Sprinkles' head and stood while taking a step back, her hands shaking.

"What."

"I thought she was too intelligent to be silent," Bucky spoke up.

Sutton shook her head again and turned wide, disbelieving eyes to Steve.

"My dog," she said, "my dog is- is-"

[][][]

Steve dove forward and caught Sutton in his arms as she went limp. Sprinkles let out a frightened yelp and Bucky flinched; Tony stood frozen in surprise as Steve straightened with Sutton cradled in his arms.

"Sutton? Sutton." She was breathing, thankfully. He could see the rise and fall of her chest and hear quiet breathes even behind a curtain of hair, but she had obviously swooned. "I think the attack, the travel, and the shock was a bit much for her," he said. Tony didn't look impressed.

"Has she never met a talking animal before? I mean, I know wherever you were didn't have magic, but honestly."

Sprinkles pranced nervously on her front paws as she kept an eye on Sutton.

"Oh no, oh no," she fretted. "She always talks to me, I thought she'd be happy."

It was then that two figures shifted in the doorway of the room and everyone, save Tony, tensed. Natasha and Clint emerged from the shadows, mildly wary yet amused, as they looked over the future king and his best knight.

"Good to have you back, your majesty," Natasha said with a vague bow of her head. Clint smirked at the sight of Steve with Sutton.

"So, was she really a stowaway or an invited guest?"

His tone held enough connotations to giveaway his thoughts on the situation, and Bucky shot him a look.

"I don't recall that being your business."

"At ease, Sir Barnes," Steve said. He moved across the room to place Sutton down on a reclining sofa in the corner. He looked more amused than stern at Bucky's defensive nature. Sprinkles rushed over towards Steve and Sutton, putting herself between them and the two assassins as if she instinctively knew them to be trouble.

"Sire," Bucky protested," their crests."

Tony scowled alongside Bucky.

"It was a necessary evil," he said. "They were the only ones who could steal the Vessel from Loki without him catching them."

Steve took a moment to make sure Sutton was situated. He brushed a curly lock of hair from her face and delicately tucked it behind her ear with a faint smile still lingering on his face.

She'd actually chosen to come.

Clearing his throat, he finally looked up and noted the marking pressed discreetly into the leather of their belts; a spread-winged eagle in a Rondache shield. The smile faded and his expression dimmed and he cast a look to Sprinkles.

"Stay with her, won't you?"
Sprinkles hopped up and curled next to Sutton, nodding her head once and draping her legs over Sutton's protectively. She shot her own wary look to Natasha and Clint and her upper lips twitched slightly in a warning.

Steve tilted his head in a polite thanks as he rejoined the group. Natasha and Clint continued to watch all the fuss with barely concealed humor dancing in their eyes.

"You'd think we were the mad sorcerer," Clint said dryly. Natasha smirked.

"One generally knows what to expect from a mad sorcerer," Steve noted. "The Order of the Shield, however, doesn't quite advertise their motives so openly."

"The Order is entirely for the King and his kingdom's benefit," Natasha said. "The only thing you need to trust is our loyalty."

Steve kept still, considering them, before he nodded stiffly.

"I trust I'll see Fury at the next council meeting."

"We'll pass the word along. It really is nice to have you back safely, your majesty."

With that the two took their leave, bowing their heads to the group and slipping from the room as silently as they'd made themselves known. Clint reached over and grabbed a glowing blue cube, The Vessel, from a podium without breaking stride.

"Hey," snapped Tony. Clint flicked a two finger salute over his shoulder.

"We said we'd get it for you. Not that we'd let you keep it."

Steve held up a hand, signaling for Tony to let it be, and the sorcerer did with an irritated scowl.

"You owe them, by the way," Tony said as he watched them leave. "They did fetch the Vessel with a promise of payment." Steve sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Your suggestion, I assume?"

Tony shrugged innocently, though a smirk cracked his face.

"My memory is a bit muddled," he said. "I was busy trying to make sure the kingdom didn't descend into chaos and keep up the magic barriers so Loki didn't invade in your absence."

Bucky and Steve shared a look, Bucky's lips pulled to one side as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Who cares about that," Sprinkles cried from the corner of the room. All heads turned to her. Her brown eyes were dark and sharp as she stared a hole in all of them. "My girl is still sick. Fix her!"

"Wonderful," Tony droned. "This one is demanding too."

[]

Sutton opened her eyes to light and a pressing weight on her torso. She blinked to clear her vision and peered down the length of her body. Sprinkles' nose was two inches from her face and puffs of hot air were being breathed directly on her. She groaned and pushed herself up; Sprinkles hopped off the sofa and circled around to once more shove her nose in Sutton's face.

"Up, up, you're up," she chanted. "I was scared you'd be sick forever."

Sutton's chest tightened again momentarily at the voice, but she bit her bottom lip and sucked in a deep breath through her nose.

"Magic," she finally said. She let out the breath and her shoulders slackened slightly. "You can talk because of magic, right?"

Sprinkles did another quick circle then sat, her nub of a tail wiggling at top speed.

"I don't know," she said. "But I'm very, very happy!"

Sutton remained seated a moment longer and stared down at her dog with growing wonder as the shock lessened. Animals. Animals could talk in this world. It was… it was magical. It was wonderful!

She laughed and stood, grinning at Sprinkles now.

"It's like a Disney movie," she said. "Oh my gosh, this is crazy!"

Sprinkles seemed to smile with her, her energy rising along with Sutton's mood.

"Yes," she agreed. "Whatever that is." Sutton scoffed.

"What are you talking about? You watched them with me all the time. On the TV? With the pictures and songs?"

"Oh, I didn't care about those." Sprinkles stood with a derisive snort and bumped against Sutton's legs in order to herd her along. "Let's go! King Steve is waiting. I'm to bring you to him!"

Sutton grunted at being shoved, but followed along as Sprinkles led the way. Her head was still spinning a little. Maybe she shouldn't have gotten up so soon.

She- she was in a different world right now; if she wasn't crazy. Her dog talked.

What had she even done? A handsome self-proclaimed prince had just invited her to take a one-way ticket to fantasy land and she'd accepted it? What was she-

She forced her eyes up and focused intently on the room around her. No time for second guesses now. The room she was leaving was the same one that they'd first materialized in. It almost glittered with all the glass bottles that filled the room, some with bubbling opaque liquids that churned on their own. Thick leather bound books were stacked on shelves and along walls and her focus shifted legitimately as she tried to see if she could read the writing on the spines. The smell of herbs and spices was pungent in the thick air, and was that grease? Sutton's nose crinkled at the clash in scents. That seemed like a weird mix.

Sprinkles' nails clicked on the flooring as she picked up her pace, seemingly eager to get where she was going. Sutton took faster strides to keep up.

Outside of the lab, the building opened up even more. Was it a manor? A house? It looked rather large. Probably a manor. The ceilings curved with high arches and blown glass sconces were lined along the wall, unlit at the moment due to the afternoon sun. Sutton ran a hand through her hair; at least she hadn't been unconscious for long.

Ugh. She'd fainted. How embarrassing! That was the first time she'd stooped to such damsel levels.

"This way," Sprinkles encouraged with a brief glance back. Murmuring voices from down the hall grew in volume and an ornate wooden door was cracked open in contrast to the rest. Sutton tugged on a curl and puffed out her chest. Ok, this was her moment. Time to save face.

Sprinkles nosed through the door and let out a whine to get everyone's attention.

"King Steve," she announced, "my girl is fixed!"

Sutton coughed into her fist, a smile flickering over her face at Sprinkles' title for her.

Steve, Bucky, Tony, and a red-headed woman were all seated at a long table talking when Sutton entered the room. The men stood when they saw her and Sutton's face heated as she brushed back her hair. "Hey," she said sheepishly. "Uh, sorry, hope I'm not interrupting something. No need for all that."

Steve smiled in an amused sort of indulgent way and walked over to greet her. Sprinkles made it a point to press her head against his hand and get a pet first as he passed. Sutton shot a disgruntled little frown at her dog.

"Still playing favorites," she muttered under her breath.

Steve took her hand and led her towards the table. There was an empty chair next to his right side that appeared to be saved for her.

"Standing is customary," he said in reply to her protest. "Looks like the coin has flipped. You'll find things are a bit different here."

"Hardy-har," Sutton said flatly. "I noticed. I mean, besides talking animals, your sorcerer's goatee was a dead giveaway."

Tony suddenly seemed to pay closer attention, his posture stiffening as one brow arched on his face.

"Excuse me?" Sutton laughed, mood flashing as she realized what she'd said.

"I'm kidding. Kinda. It's cool; I like it."

Why was she doing this? She was just spitting out words. A lot of people were staring at her, well, four people, but that was a lot. And now she sounded dumb and she really didn't like it when people stared at her when she didn't know what she was doing.

Oh gosh, she didn't even know this guy. What if he turned her into a toad?

"You know what? I'm just gonna sit down now."

She moved to grab the empty chair, but Steve snatched it out from under her and pulled it away from the table with a chivalrous tilt of his head. Someone snickered quietly as she blinked at him and dropped into the seat.

"Right," she said before clearing her throat. "Fairytale land. Etiquette stuff. Sorry, can I just say, I still feel a little insane right now? Is this what you both felt in front of that coffee shop? Because I'm pretty sure I'm feeling it."

"You'll be alright," reassured Bucky. "If those movies you showed us are any indication, you're not coming into this completely blind."

"Ok but those are movies, Bucky. Movies. With time jumps and scripted plots and- Oh, I'm sorry-" Sutton cut her rambling off and shook her head. "I'm being rude, I don't even know your name." She made eye contact with the red-head woman and sheepishly smiled. "I'm Sutton."

"Pepper," the woman said. She looped her arm through Tony's. "The sorcerer is my husband."

"Nice to meet you."

Tony was more relaxed now, and he watched her with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"This is the one," he said to Steve. "This one? Really?" Steve's face went mildly red, but he didn't elaborate on whatever Tony was talking about. "And Bucky? Steve? You were only there for a short time and you got to a first name basis already?"

"Oh not this again. What do you want to be called? Sorcerer Supreme? The Great and Powerful Sir Anthony?"

At Steve's side, Sprinkles gave a doggy wheeze of a laugh.

"Those are long names," she said as she laughed again. "Long names are silly."

"Those are tempting," Tony drawled. At the resounding groans he broke into a grin and raised his hands. "Tony will be fine for now. Who am I to ask for more than a king, right?"

Sutton rolled her eyes good-naturedly and rested her chin in her hand.

"So, is this actually the castle then? Or a wing of it," she asked. She looked around some more for good measure. There was a skylight in this room as well and what looked like multifaceted glass protecting them from the outside. The edges of the table they sat at had intricate patterns carved into it, geometric shapes, some parts of it sort of reminded her of circuitry. Next to her, Tony laughed.

"The castle? Does this look like a castle to you?" Sutton shot a glare.

"Sorry if I've never actually seen one in person before."

He took no offense or threat from her look and simply leaned forward in his seat. There was an odd feeling growing in the air around them, not so much tangible as it was an inward vibration. Tony paused a beat, as if in anticipation.

"Welcome to a new world, kid."

His tone was different. Sutton squinted. He hadn't spoken quite normally. It was more like he had- had chanted? Sang. But no, that couldn't-

Tony shoved away from the table and rose to his feet while spreading his arms wide.

"It's a whole new world and

You've got a lot to learn

Like the difference between a dragon

And a, lowly wyrm."

Sutton blinked and looked around. He was singing! But no one seemed alarmed or bothered; what the heck? Tony flicked a pointed finger in her direction and gave her a smarmy wink as he continued to strut around the table.

"You've got a rude awakening

If you thought it'd be

All smooth sailing

In this royal, fantasy!

Well it ain't.

Welcome to a new world, kid."

"Oh," muttered Sutton. "Oh no."

Bucky and Steve were rolling their eyes and Pepper was watching her husband in poorly hidden amusement, but none of them were questioning this. Even Sprinkles bobbed her head along to music that wasn't there.

"We've got Frost problems

Loki problems

And, as you'll see

One large, unfulfilled

Ancient… prophecy."

He shot a look of his own at Steve and Steve frowned like a child being reminded to make their bed or put the dishes away.

"You came at a weird time

Which 's a shame

Cause usually everything's sublime

But I guess this is now your new world, kid."

Sutton found she was hunched into herself and half covering her face by the time Tony had finished and finally sat back in his seat. She let out a breath and watched as he smirked proudly to himself.

"What is going on?" She dragged out the last word as her voice went throaty. "That's a movie thing," she continued sharply. "Not a real thing."

There was a murmur around the room as if people weren't exactly sure what she was talking about. The corner of Pepper's mouth pulled back as she furrowed her brow.

"What isn't real?" Sutton splayed her hands.

"The singing? Like life is some sort of musical?"

She could practically hear crickets chirping. Or were there? After an actual performance, she wouldn't be surprised.

"Ok," she continued. "You two can't act like that's normal. Neither of you ever did that once while you were staying with me."

Steve and Bucky exchanged glances and Bucky smirked.

"We didn't have anything to tell you," he said.

"You did it," Steve said. Sutton squinted.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"This is boring!"

They were all interrupted by Sprinkles' impatient cry and she managed to reroute the conversation. Leaping up onto all four paws, Sprinkles did a quick circle and pranced on her front feet.

"Let's go sniff outside. I saw the park!"

What she meant by park, Sutton could only guess was actually the outdoors. Poor pup had been in an apartment so long any square of grass probably counted as a dog park to her.

Steve turned towards Sutton and held out a hand.

"Are you feeling well enough for that?" Sutton rolled her eyes and accepted the offered hand.

"Yes, of course. Not sure what happened earlier. That was a weird fluke." He smiled appeasingly.

"That's good to hear, because we do have to get back to my castle soon. The council will no doubt be anxious to have me back at my duties."

"Maybe we'll actually get a coronation sometime in the future," Tony muttered under his breath.

Steve pointedly ignored that statement and pulled Sutton to her feet.

"Let's go."

[]

The wide, wooden front doors opened into a blinding wonderland. Sunlight shone down unfiltered by any clouds or fog and an open field sprawled before them littered with a multitude of different colored wildflowers. Sutton turned, her breath hitching as she squinted and adjusted to the light. The manor was large and built of old stone that looked cleaned and bleached; ivy crawled up the exterior and glistened in the afternoon sun. The leaves were the greenest green Sutton had ever seen. It was an impossible color, like someone had cranked the saturation up several notches and it was so rich that she thought it almost looked like it was glowing. In fact, all the colors were like that. The air was so fresh it burnt her lungs when she took in a deep breath. It tasted sweet.

For a moment she could only stand frozen as she took it all in and let her eyesight adjust because, sure, she'd seen pictures of picturesque landscapes before, but nothing so pure. She almost didn't believe it and she was standing in the middle of it.

"Wow," she murmured. Sprinkles tore out of the manor with dirt flying behind her as she sped through the grass and kicked chunks up in her wake.

"Look! How! Big! This! Park! Is!"

They had to catch each word as she did laps around them with her mouth wide open and tongue flying in the wind in ecstatic glee. Sutton couldn't help her face from erupting in a wide smile as she stifled a laugh.

"I don't think I've ever seen her so excited," she said while turning to Steve. "Of course, she also never spoke before either."
Steve smiled and placed a hand at her back, prodding her forwards towards a large wooden structure a few hundred feet from the manor. The smell of hay floated on the breeze and some light nickering and stomping could be heard from somewhere inside what Sutton inferred was the stable.

"We do have cities, though they're nothing like the one you lived in," he responded. "I'm sure Sprinkles will be pleased, but I hope that's ok with you."

Sutton huffed and shook her head.

"I really hope there isn't. I never liked the city all that much, to be honest. It just saved on commuting to live there so I didn't have much of a choice." She paused a moment and her brows crinkled slightly. "What's rent cost on average here anyway? Do you have a minimum wage? Oh gosh, I didn't think anything through, did I? What am I going to do with all my Excel skills now? There's an entire college credit down the drain."

Steve rolled his eyes as he kept her on track to the stable, as if he removed his hand from her back she might wander away and get lost in the wildflowers.

"You don't have to worry about any of that," he said flatly. Sutton shot him a glance as her face shifted from indignant to thankful.

"I appreciate you returning the favor, but I don't want to live off your generosity forever. That'd be so rude."

Steve let out what sounded like a long-suffering sigh, but they'd reached the stable by that point and Sutton was completely distracted as he pushed open one of the large barn doors. There were several rows of large stable boxes and the entire space smelled like horse and fresh hay and oats.

"Whoa!"
She stopped in her tracks and took a step back as several horses turned to look at the intruders. They were giant creatures. Sutton had never seen a horse in person before. Not up close at least. These animals were taller than she was, with glossy coats and plaited hair that fell long over their necks. Perhaps their huge, dark eyes were what really disconcerted her. The eyes felt like they were staring through you instead of simply observing. Fleetingly, Sutton wondered if they could talk too.

They came in a variety of colors: warm chestnut, pale yellow, dappled gray, and burnt red. A few of them seemed like they were impossible hues and shimmered as if they were actually metallic silvers and golds.

Steve continued forwards with a pleased exhale towards a speckled white horse as she remained near the entrance and gaped. The horse stepped closer to the little gate door, that probably couldn't hold it back if the horse really didn't want to be there, and shook its head. It let out a short whinny as Steve reached up and rubbed along its nose. There was a gentleness to his touch as he caressed the soft hairs under its jaw, a sort of familiarity and fondness.

"Hey boy," he murmured. "It's been awhile, huh. Tony take good care of you?"

Footsteps sounded from behind and Bucky passed her carrying two large leather saddles. They were thick and polished; along the edges they were embossed with a decorative filigree and what looked like eight-pointed stars. Bucky handed a saddle over to Steve with a nod before heading over to the chestnut horse himself. Deep blue blankets were placed under the saddles and the reins used looked like leather that had been dyed a dark red.

"Are you ready," Steve asked over his shoulder. Sutton watched him with a furrowed brow as he tightened the saddle strap under the horse's belly.

"To get on the horse? That horse? The horse that could crush me in half a second?"

"Have you never ridden before," asked Bucky, already mounted on his own steed. Her nose wrinkled as she considered the idea.

"Not exactly. Not unless a pony at the fair counts. I think- Can't I, you know, just walk?"

Bucky quirked a brow and tilted his head down towards her.

"No. On both accounts."
Sutton only stiffened further as Steve led his horse by the reins out of its box and towards her.

"I won't let you fall," he said. Still, she didn't look convinced and edged backwards towards the stable entrance.

Sutton had a thousand excuses. The horse's muscles had muscles, one buck would fling her into the stratosphere; Steve holding her on its back like some romance novel lead was a daunting idea she wasn't sure she was ready for, and what-what about Sprinkles? What was Sprinkles supposed to do? Speaking of, where-

"There are so many new smells!"

Sprinkles' rough voice suddenly burst through the stable and Sutton turned in time to see the ecstatic look on her dog's face shift as she came to a screeching halt. Sprinkles' one good ear flew back against her head and she didn't move from where she'd stopped right beside Sutton. Sutton noted, a bit ruefully, that Sprinkles was already coated in dirt and mud. Awesome.

"What are you," Sprinkles snapped. She was staring intently at Steve's horse and the short hairs on the back of her neck were starting to bristle. Steve gestured towards his steed.

"This is Darian," he said. "He's a hors-" Darian snorted and stamped a hoof while shaking his head and Sprinkles' ear perked back up.

"Oh. Big weird dog!"

She dropped into a play bow and snorted back at the horse. The horse merely blinked its wide, dark eyes at her and stamped again which sent Sprinkles skittering around as if they were about to play a rousing game of chase.

"Can I play with the big weird dog?"

"He's a hors-"
"Maybe later," interrupted Sutton. "We're going bye-bye- er. I mean, we have to go to Steve's house."

Sprinkles hopped back up to a standing position and opened her jaw in a doggy grin.

"Bye-bye? Yes, let's go to King Steve's house! I bet he has treats."

The clip-clop of trotting drew closer and Bucky cut between the conversation on his way outside.

"Oh yeah, he's got lots," he said. "And an entire pack of hunting dogs who're always ready to play."

That was all it took. Sprinkles almost disappeared she tore outside so fast, despite not knowing which way they were supposed to be going.

"I really hope you do have treats," Sutton muttered. "Or else we're in for some lengthy complaining. Oh gosh, she can do it in english now."

A smirk ticked across Steve's face and he finally started towards her again, his horse in tow.

"You ready to get in the saddle?"

Sutton was absolutely not and her face said as much. It was when Steve wrapped the reins around a nearby post and marched straight for her that she really started to panic.

"Sometimes the best way to face your fears is to plunge right in."

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STEVE. You might be a king, but you better back it up!