It's a Trick! (ToT Pt 2)

Featuring: 1848 Feriae, 1860 Evarinya, 744 Fenrin

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“Should we… go back?” Feriae asked, her voice quaking slightly. Even brave Fenrin and fierce Evarinya were feeling the apprehension as the mist continued to spill around their hooves.

“We gotta see if there is something wrong,” Evarinya pointed out, her voice steady but body language tense.

“I won’t be remembered for a coward,” Fenrin finally said, and that was the final word spoken between them as they mustered their courage to head into the ballroom.

Fenrin took the lead, Evarinya to his right and Feriae to his left. It seemed haunting noises were coming from… somewhere.

Feriae shivered as fur brushed her leg, but reassurance quickly followed. Her familiar was right by her side, and with that she felt bolstered. With her familiar by her side, ever watchful, Feriae felt she could do anything.

It was a bit of false bravado that quickly faded as Fenrin, Evarinya, and Feriae came to the center of the empty ballroom. The shadows were hard to see through, and the mist at their hooves had grown stronger, nearly reaching their bellies.

“Hello?” Feriae tried calling out, but the sound only echoed around the ballroom.

“Now what?” Evarinya said in a near whisper, and the three looked at each other, trying to decide what to do.

With a sudden flash, eerie red light flooded the room. Startled, the three youngsters let out a chorus of screams, nearly falling over one another. Even Feriae’s familiar let out a startled yowl.

Laughter followed their piercing screams, and the youngsters quaked in the center of the room, pressed together with Feriae’s familiar between their legs as shapes materialized in the fog.

“Who’s there?” Fenrin demanded, a small waver in this voice.

More haunting laughter followed.

“What do we do?” Feriae whispered, looking to her braver companions for reassurance but finding only uncertainty on their faces.

The temperature in the room dropped, and the three huddled closer, shivering. Feriae didn’t complain when one of Evarinya’s costume wings poked her in the side, and Fenrin didn’t say anything about nearly being hit by one of Feriae’s branches. He had removed his ghost-sheet costume for better movement, and Feriae’s witch hat had gotten lost in the fog.

“Trick or treaaaat,” a seemingly disembodied voice whispered near them and the three let out another scream.

“I want a treaaat,” Feriae whined slightly, leaning into her companions and familiar for strength.

More laughter followed, and the faint red lighting got brighter. Looking around, there seemed to be all sorts of ghouls and goblins lying in wait!

Feriae’s legs were shaking but Evarinya had a considering look on her face.

“Wait a minute! You tricked us!” Eva called out, and Feriae looked over to her sister with confusion. Looking back at the shapes as the light got brighter, Feriae came to a startling realization. A gasp from Fenrin indicated he had noticed the same.

It was the royal family and the other members of Queensbreak! Feriae realized she hadn’t noticed at first because they too were all in costume!

Khaalida approached, and the three young Quirlicorns let out a sigh of relief.

“Welcome to the costume party,” Khaalida said, eyes glittering with amusement.

“Why did you have to scare us like that?” Feriae grumbled, a bit mad at herself for not realizing. But at the same time she felt excitement seeing everyone coming to celebrate with them.

“Why little ones you have been going around all night asking for treats or tricks!” Khaalida said with humor, “And this was a trick!”