Inspire

Frankie’s eyes slowly trembled open. For the second time on her life, the first thing she saw upon awakening back to the land of the living was a strikingly beautiful older woman.

“Gmorning…?” She muttered, not yet recalling why she’d fallen asleep on the ground. The memory came to her soon enough.

“W-WHERE IS HE? WHERE’S OUR COINS?” She looked all around, almost managing to startle the princess as she bolted upright. Katie appeared out of nowhere to hug her as soon as she could, bag in hand before she dropped it to embrace her.

“We’re fine, it’s fine. She saved us.”

“The MASCOT…?” Frankie blinked hard. “How did you know to come and…?

“I was looking for the location of a very loud scream I heard around half an hour ago now. It didn’t sound much like your sister… I take it that was you?”

Frankie shot back to when she was screaming atop Wilton’s body after beating him in a snowball fight.

“Oh… that.” The girl rubbed her dirty hair, more than a little embarrassed. She tried to focus on the fact that if it weren’t for that little outburst they might not have gotten out of this one with their tokens in hand.

“I couldn’t find it, but then your sibling here did more or less the same thing, screaming at this awful man here.”

Frankie saw Anti, completely unsecured, just sitting by a gift shop on the snow.

“What the- hey, your majesty?! Uh- he’s gonna get away!”

“Worry not.” She drew the tranquilizer, spinning it around her thin finger. “His equipment has served as more than enough to become his own undoing.”

Katie giggled as the princess put the pistol back away for safekeeping. Frankie just stared over at the corner up ahead.

“Uh… then if you don’t mind… can we go…? We need to… submit our earnings.”

Egelfride blinked. “Why, I would never force you to do such a thing. You are hurt. Allow me to do it for you, I insist.”

“No…” Frankie objected. “I wanna do it myself. Me and her both.”

Katie nodded, hurt as she was.

“Then…” The Royal froze up, but understood their feelings. “Very well. I understand. Just… allow me to give you a hand, at least.”

Frankie finally stood again, with help from the MASCOT, who smiled at her with genuine admiration.

“You and your sister seem like very strong people. I hope you won’t tell anyone, but I do hope that you win.”

Frankie nodded.

“Thanks, your majesty.”

The sisters trudged through the final stretch of snow, still void of people as the sudden blizzard had stopped anyone from coming in. They both held one end of the bag’s handle as they slowly made their way to the simple metal contraption, finally dropping the heavy thing at its feet after multiple full minutes of painful marching.

“You ready?”

Katie nodded.

“Let’s start.”

Once they input their information, the sisters inserted the first token. Then the second. Then the third. The pile never seemed to get any smaller.

“…This could take awhile.”

After signing into a room- an act that caused many to look at their messy appearance in confusion, but a necessary one- the girls treated themselves to a shower, and a well-deserved in-house meal.

Lying in bed that night, neither could close their eyes.

“What… now…?” Always the restless one, Frankie bore into the Christmas-y wallpaper in the dark of the night.

“We can only hope for the best…” Katie cuddled up under her covers, stirring just as much as her junior.

“I couldn’t ask for a better partner.” Frankie accepted the unknown tomorrow was soon to bring, forcing her eyes shut.

“Thank you for always being there to inspire me.” Katie did the same, and inexplicably, both soon managed to dream just fine.