Despite the respect that the Queen was showing you, a lot of this was beyond all possible belief. You'd figured you were to come before her to either be recognized or tested to see if you were worthy. The last thing you expected was to be offered the role of monarch over a people who until recently believed only to be myth. Granted the Queen looked rather weak and sickly, but it wasn't something you expected, as every other fairy you'd seen looked very healthy.
"May I ask what has made you sick? Shouldn't your magic cure you?" you asked, your voice tinged with disbelief that magical creatures could get sick.
"The sickness is magical in nature," the Queen said weakly, "As Queen... my magic and my health is tied to the link between Gaia and Earth... and as the link between the worlds has weakened, I have weakened."
You imagined that this was due to fact that few believed in magic on Earth anymore. That might very well be why the offer was made. The Queen probably had a good idea to fix the problem, but that didn't mean that you felt you replacing her made any sense. You couldn't be stronger in magic than the Queen and even if you were, you'd only just become a fairy. You didn't even know how to use your magic and hadn't even gotten to use your wings yet. Even if whatever spell the Queen wanted to use gave you her memories, that didn't mean you'd gain her knowledge of how to cast spells and use fairy magic. It also wouldn't really change the fact that your lack of knowledge on fairy society had already gotten you in trouble.
"I will try to do my best to protect myself and any other fairy," you stated, your eyes going over to Tulipelle as you spoke, "but I'm afraid I can't be Queen..."
"My I ask why?" the Queen inquired.
"I only just became a fairy... I'm... I'm a... what's the word?" you asked.
"A changeling, a human who has become a fairy," Tulipelle said to you.
"Giving your memories would only be a history lesson," you then stated, "and as a changeling... and a freshly transformed changeling at that... I'm more likely to embarrass myself or screw it up by accident. I'm going to need Tulipelle's help just to be a fairy... I can't... I can't be a Queen."
The Queen gave a heavy sigh. After a moment or two, she coughed and turned to Tulipelle, "and you, my daughter?"
"I'm interested in the human world and agree that maybe we could try to talk with them..." Tulipelle spoke, "but Irisette will need my help..."
"My time is not long," the Queen said weakly, "the border has been growing weaker and weaker."
Tulipelle frowned and looked to her mother, and you looked and felt a great deal of concern for the Queen, who seemed to be approaching death's doorstep.
"But the illness is the result of the weakening of the boundaries between our world and the mortal world?" you asked.
The Queen nodded.
"Then if the boundary heals, would not YOU heal?" you asked.
"It is possible, but I'm fearful that a solution might not arrive in time for the Queen," a new fairy spoke up.
You and Tulipelle to watch her approach. She wore a dress/bathing suit that looked like it was made of white flower petals.
"I am Hibisca SoftTouch, the chief physician," the fairy spoke, "the Queen has been growing weaker and I can not say that she has much time... a day or two, maybe more."
"But she does have time?" Tulipelle asked.
"Yes, but her magic is weak," Hibisca answered, "and fixing the problem will take much longer than she has time."
That actually made you shake your head in some frustration. A lot of the situation reminded you of various versions of "Peter Pan." In the stories, belief in fairies or magic played a major role in the health Peter Pan's fairy friend Tinker Bell. The more another character, in books and movies, or the audience, in plays, believed in fairies, the healthier Tinker Bell felt. It was in this that you had a real idea.
"The Queen has already given a way to solve the problem," you spoke up, "I think the exact reason is that people on Earth don't believe in fairies or magic anymore. If we can get people to believe we exist, that belief strengthen the ties between our worlds."
"And you think you can do this?" Tulipelle asked you.
"If you come with me," you answered, "we can go on the news... go to human leaders and make it painfully clear that we're real. Once people see... they'll believe, and that will help heal the Queen... and you can help me learn my magic and adjust to being a fairy."
"You think this will work?" the Queen asked.
"Yes, my Queen," you told her, "We can save you."
The Queen sighed, "Then go quickly."
You nodded, and Tulipelle moved to stand with you, but she also looked to Hibisca.
"Make sure she's well fed and maybe even get her donations of magic," Tulipelle instructed, her voice sounding desperate.
Hibisca nodded.
"We'll keep in touch with you telepathically," the Queen spoke up, "Good luck."