A Kingdom in Strife

“Halt.” A guard stopped them. The fact he was in-character, intimidating though his “acting” was, made Frankie more than capable of communicating with him.

She raised their exclusive tickets.

“We… come from a distant land. The Pop sisters, Frankie, and Katie.” She nodded to her companion, who bowed. “Your King has summoned us.”

The knight solemnly nodded.

“You may enter.”

When the gates opened, a throne room was the first thing they saw. You could walk straight from the start of the park and through this door to stand right in front of the King himself- the Lord of Everfair.

Like an inverse Kidney, the royal wore a lot of makeup that made him look aged and worse for wear, but he wasn’t really that old at all. He wore armor up to his neck, but showed off his short-bearded face and crown topping his dyed gray hair with pride. He bore no sword, but he did have two heavy knights standing on either side of him. He beckoned the girls politely, though not without assertion.

“Please, come.”

They stepped up to him, bowing on instinct. Lord D nodded.

“You may stand.”

Face-to-face with the king, they saw someone who was having a lot of fun. More so than Kiddie, Bozo, or Kidney, Lord whatever-his-name-was looked to be enjoying this.

“I am Lord Bartholomew Dansuhonvangonvictth C. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.”

“Why have you called us here, milord?” Frankie enjoyed taking the initiative in a conversation when she could be convinced it was just pretend.

“We’ve crossed oceans to be here.” Katie followed up, putting on a dramatic show as she did everything she could to hide her overjoyed smile. “It wasn’t easy. And we know nothing of your customs. I hope that whatever it is, we will be…” The girl even cleared her throat. “Handsomely rewarded.” She didn’t mind being greedy if it was done in-character.

“I assure you, you will be.”

The lord snapped his fingers and his guards handed each girl two beige bags- one full of coins… and another full of cash.

“Holy shit… I mean, thank you, your grace.” Frankie bowed.

“I assume that is your currency?” Lord D played dumb. “Excellent, excellent. Rest assured I will double it once you complete your quest. And the coin will help you make your way through here.”

“We will be staying here for a time, then?” The sky-haired foreigner asked.

“Correct. I have heard of your exploits in your homeland… exploring the kingdom of one “Walter Kidney.” You seem like the perfect candidates for a mission I need done.”

“What’s the mission, your majesty?” Katie made her character more receptive now that she’d been paid.

Lord D hunched down in his seat.

“I may not look it… but I am beset on all sides by hostile takeovers and upcoming competitors. At this very moment, my kingdom is in the most danger it has ever been.”

“What are we to do about it?” Frankie questioned.

Lord Bartholomew straightened himself out.

“I… need to know what my people want. What they need. And only explorers such as yourselves can do it- ones who can blend into the crowd, see this place for what it is. I need you to simply complete this list and return it to me.”

He handed the girls a sealed scroll.

“So… we're doing your market research?” Katie asked, not able to come up with a way to word that in more fantastical language.

“…I believe that is what your people would call it.” The lord kept in character.

“Okay, easy.” Frankie smiled, more than a little excited just to have an excuse to explore this whole place, top-to-bottom. “So we just fill everything out on here and report back to you, no matter what or is? …Your lordship?”

“…Correct.”

“Hell yeah! Alright Kate, let’s kick it.”

“Wait.”

“Huh?” The girls turned around, raring to go.

“Please… take a stop at my Royal Gift Shop. You may take whichever garments and arms suit your fancy.”

Like he’d just said it was their birthday, the sisters both looked at each other with giant grins spread across their faces.