AN/ If it seems like I have NO IDEA what I'm doing, thats because I don't. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Madeleine

And amidst of this mess, a traveler was thinking, " What the heck is going on?"

This traveler had just come from Sweet Pastry, her home country to visit her old friend, Wintermint Cookie because she felt a visit was due to her. Perhaps an alliance was in order as well. The traveler's name, AKA me, Madeleine, and the reason why I was completely clueless about why everyone looked so scared was that I'm from Sweet Pastry, which was living happily with absolutely no prospect of war looming upon them. This was not helpful at all. Every time I wanted to ask a nearby merchant for directions, they continued to look fearful and hurry on, silent and not giving answers.

I tried this for a few hours and while I was asking an owner of a shoe shop where one might go to find the Palace, three armored women were right before me on the ground and one of the shadows said: "You have been asking interesting questions, foreigner. Apologies, but our orders are to take any newcomers straight to the Empress. It is simply a precaution." The three generals had appeared to take me away, I supposed.

I didn't think I looked dangerous. Dirty blonde hair in direct sun, black when wet, brown normally, I couldn't quite see myself as intimidating. Medium hit, and a slim-ish build, I wasn't a big giant either. Hazel eyes with no hints of menace gave no sign of attack.

Who cares, either way, they're escorting me to where I wish to go, to Wintermint. Plus, if any attack I have magic and my fists.

I wondered who could've possibly tried to wage war on Savoria. Well, I suppose I would come willingly. After all, this was where I was supposed to be going and I'm innocent of any crime. Except for the time I stole a bite of my friend's pancake, but then that was ages ago, before I decided to come to Savoria so I suppose I really was innocent. We walked down cobbled lanes, and busy streets and there was even a flea market going on.

I stopped to look at all the beads and baubles. One merchant was selling beautiful jewelry, which shined and glistened in the light and the tiny beads of light were reflected randomly around the stall. Then, a few stalls down, there was an elderly shopkeeper selling bunches of flowers, some of the classic, long-stemmed roses and some crazy flower arrangements that were daisies, glitter and rainbow-colored.

See, plants are much more important in our world, for they produce gems, certain ones produce our currency, other produce gems to be used as jewelry and what-have-you. The last type is the kind which produces resources, such as steel, iron, coal, copper and such things. All plants in Savoria are known to grow perfectly because of their diet of sugar, eggshell, water, honey, and sunlight. Flower arrangements that are sold commonly are flowers which were bred not to produce items of importance, as they could still produce items, they would be well, severely underpriced. And those who buy flowers are the lower class, who can't quite afford such prices. With such information in mind, merchants bred flowers that they could make an actual profit out of.

And at last, when we had passed the market, we went down a street so narrow I was surprised to see a donkey pulling a cart without getting stuck. Of course, they had to wait until the donkey and the cart was out, and down the streets, we went. Finally, our group came to the palace. It was absolutely majestic. The walls of caramel looked like gold and were gleaming in the sunshine. The turrets were regal and just like the kind you would hear about in the story books. The other women all looked emotionless as they marched on to the very center to the Palace. I avoided all the glares, stares, and the pointing I could hear the little kids playing on the streets saying " Mama, Papa! Look, it is an outsider!! " and their parents would scold them and say "Don't point or stare, it's considered impolite," and shoo them inside large houses with continued glares at me.

The four came to finally be in the palace. One of the warrior people kneeled before Empress Wintermint Cookie and announced calmly, "My Empress, we have brought you the foreigner."

She stood back up again and walked away to my right. The queen replied by saying " Thank you. You may rest. " and then stood to address me.