"The village looks friendly." Joan murmured. They stared around the bustling road as curious-looking people darted across a blaring street, which had smooth, flowing traffic of large horse-drawn chariots. There were tall, swinging houses hanging from tree branches, with rope langers dangling down from balconies like snakes. People were laughing and yelling above everyone else in the thunderous noise of the outside world.

"What was that?" Screamed Patton. Despite the freckled man's' raised voice, it was still hard to hear him.

Joan shook their head. "Don't worry about it!"

"That's a pub, I think! It's got a stable attached to it!" Roman pointed above the sea of heads to a creamy-white, double-storey building, which had a thatched roof. "Do we take a risk?"

"Hey!" Virgil cried, snapping his fingers. "We can't hear a word of what you're saying! Let's go to that pub so we can hear each other! I mean, it's got a stable we can put Storm and Cloud in!"

"That's what I said!- Oh, nevermind..." Sighed Roman in defeat. He let Virgil lead the way, pulling on  Cloud's' reigns to bring Logan along with them. Patton skipped happily next to Joan.

Virgil tried to engage a stable girl in a discussion about where to put the steeds, but neither could hear the other over the deafening clamour of the streets. Eventually, they just followed the stable girl, who took Cloud's' reigns.

Logan dismounted Cloud and politely turned down the stable girl when she reached to take Storm's' reigns too. Storm's' unique appearance was hidden clumsily. Joan's' knightly cloak was thrown over the skeletal wings and Roman had reluctantly given up his sash to cover the ruffle of feathers on the thestral's' neck. But the sharp, bony features of his face and legs couldn't be hidden. If anyone got close, they'd think they were looking at a malnourished, deformed horse - if they got too close, it'd be game over.

To not risk alarm, Virgil lead Storm carefully, putting him next to Cloud in a snug stall. The stable girl shut the door, staring at the disguised thestral with concern. She then beckoned for the five of them to follow her as she led them into the pub.

.:*:.

The moment the heavy doors of the pub were shut, it was as if a god had pressed the mute button. Virgil exhaled, flexing his shoulders in the sudden space, and Logan fixed his glasses and adjusted his advisory robes. Patton spun around, taking in the surroundings of the pub while Roman nudged Joan with his elbow, making some sort of joke about how good the food smelled.

The pub was decorated in a homely manner. The rafters had obviously held up all sort of ornaments, pockmarked with hooks and holes. They currently hoisted fairy lights that blended into different colours constantly. The floor was uneven, yet smooth, stones of a pale, granite colour. Some tables were rounded while others were long and rectangular. A tidy bar stood nearby, perfectly polished stools lining up like soldiers.

The stable girl who'd led them in spun around after they had drunk in the warm surroundings. She had gained a notebook and pencil from somewhere and stood with a big smile.

"Welcome to The Imply King! My name is Reynolds, Maria, and I will serve you today! May I please take note of your names?"

"Oh, I'm Patton Kalp, a pleasure to meet you!" Patton said happily.

Joan smiled. They liked this place already. "Joan Madison."

"Roman- Roman Prince!" The Light Realm Prince stopped short of nearly giving himself away. He smiled awkwardly.

"...I'm Virgil Anx..." Virgil replied, folding his arms and he closed in on himself shyly.
"And I'm Berry, Logan," Logan answered formally.

The stable girl chewed her lip. "You guys aren't from around here, are you?"

Patton frowned. "Uh, no, we're travelling. Why?"

"In this village, it's custom to introduce yourself with your surname first, then your first name. You've just told me that you're names are Kalp, Madison, Prince, Anx and Logan."

The four who'd messed up went red and Logan scoffed smugly.

"We're sorry, we didn't know! Uh, our names are Patton, Joan, Virgil, Logan and then I'm Roman." Roman pointed to his friends in turn as he said their names.

Virgil frowned. "So... Your name is Maria, not Reynolds?"

Their waitress, Maria, laughed with a nod. "Don't worry about it! Is there anywhere you'd like to sit today, sirs?"

"By the window, maybe? Somewhere nice and quiet." Replied Joan, not bothering to correct the girl on their correct pronouns. "We have some private things to discuss."

Maria smiled. "Of course, sir! Follow me."

The five followed her as instructed, having to pause regularly as she took orders from tables. They reached the table she brought them to and took their seats. The table was a long rectangular shape, with comfy, cushiony seats. Maria whipped out some menus, laying them in front of her customers. "I'll be back in a minute to take your orders! Have a good day." And she bowed steeply, spinning around.

Roman watched her go blanky when he suddenly blinked. "You have wings!"

"Does she?" Virgil and Patton chorused, sitting up.

Maria turned back. Now Roman had mentioned it, you could see the glossy, translucent wings fluttering on her back. They had a ghostly, passionate red flushing at the sharp edges. "Why, of course, I do! I'm a fairy!"

"I thought fairies lived in the Forest on the Dark Border!" Joan said in surprise.

"Some spread out to civilize the fields that grew beyond the forest. We took some of our own customs and dress from the village while embracing the cultures of the Light Realm." Maria smiled elegantly. "I was born here, but fairies are constantly moving from the forest to live in our settlements."

Virgil frowned, but the others seemed intrigued. "So, are the forest fairies like you?" Patton asked.

"No," Maria shook her head. "They stick far more strictly to our old way of life, and our old customs. They say different words and speak other languages."

"That's very interesting... I must read up about this when we get back to Cabina City." Logan thought aloud.

Maria smiled as she backed up gently. "I'll let you choose what to order now. Have a good day!" And she bowed steeply again and left.

.:*:.

Virgil frowned cautiously at the drink in front of him. "I still don't see why you've ordered this for me..."

"You said you've never had a milkshake before! We are expanding your gastronomical palette like we will have to when we enter your Realm." Patton answered.

"Patton, I must say, I've been very impressed with your advanced vocabulary recently. Firstly, you used 'depleted' last night and now you've used 'gastronomical'. You also corrected me on my use of 'infinitesimal' while we were still in Cabina City."

Joan leaned into Roman and whispered in their prince's' ear, "Please tell me I'm not the only one who doesn't know what any of those words mean." Roman laughed and Joan pulled away, confused at why Virgil was scowling at him.

"Whatever, but I still don't see why I have to have it..." Virgil murmured, looking at the milkshake.

"Oh come on, J.D-Lightful! Just drink it!" Roman complained. The prince leaned across the table and took the straw in Virgil's' milkshake and somehow managed to stick it in the pale ones' mouth. Patton and Logan looked at each other with a smirk as both princes went considerably red, and Roman retreated across the table.

Virgil took a slow sip through the straw then nearly gagged. "Damn, that's cold!"

Joan blinked slowly. "Uh, yeah? It's a milkshake? You know, as in milk?" Virgil scowled at him quickly, turning back to the drink as Joan stuck their hands up defensively.

"C'mon, Vee, don't scowl at Joan! What have they done to feel your infamous wrath?" Roman scoffed.

Virgil's' scowl changed slightly. "Watch it, Princey. I still haven't forgiven you for stealing Storm."

Roman shifted awkwardly, averting his gaze out of the window.

The silence rushed in as the Light Realm citizens focused on their drinks and Virgil pretended not to enjoy his.

Joan exhaled loudly, gaining the attention of their comrades. "So, I have something to tell you all."