"Thank you, my Queen," Tulipelle said with a curtsy, "We were just following your orders to investigate the portals. Running into whoever was messing with them was always a possibility."
The Queen raised an eyebrow in surprise, "I sent you to test the portals. I had not expected that you would run into the culprit. In this you went beyond the call of duty. You and your heartfriend have more than earned a reward."
You stood there and looked between Tulipelle and Queen Rafflesianna in the midst of the exchange. As she finished that she turned to you.
"And you have shown remarkable progress and power with magic," Queen Rafflesianna said to you, "few changelings have ever cast such a spell on their first full day as a fairy... they've generally struggled through basic levitation... not decreasing the size and mass of another magic user."
You felt yourself blush with a bit of embarrassment. You were a bit nervous when you'd cast the spell and the deep breath was try and gather all the strength you could muster. A lot of fairy magic seemed to be powered by will and thought, and you remembered thinking hard, wishing that the wizard, Jovek, to shrink him. You'd felt a great surge of energy, surprising you a bit when the energy came from you. It welled up in your chest and then moved out to your wings as you fluttered above the wizard, making them glow even brighter. Then the fairy dust was then expelled from your wings as you beat them and fell down on Jovek. So much fairy dust was beat off of your wings that it looked like the plume of dust came out of your mouth when you breathed out. You were glad to have succeeded in casting the spell, but you felt a bit embarrassed at being complemented on it by the Queen.
"My heartfriend said it was fairly simple... a spell to get my feet wet," you said blushing. "And Sandra had already cast a spell that restrained his magic."
Queen Rafflesianna gave a bit of a smile.
"The spell itself was fairly simple, but you have only been a fairy for less than twenty four hours..." Queen Rafflesianna spoke, pausing when Sandra actually whistled. You'd actually expected her to laugh when she knew exactly how long you'd been a fairy. Queen Rafflesianna ignored the whistle and continued, "most changelings have actually failed to even master levitation with their first spell... and those are the most simple spells to cast... You, shrunk another magic user with fairy dust and then copied a far more complicated spell to restrain him and did so with very little training... if any... This means, Miss Iris... that you are either a natural with magic or you are exceptionally powerful..."
"Or both," Sandra spoke up.
The praise only made you blush harder.
"Thank you," you said weakly.
"And that is why I feel both you and your heartfriend are deserving of a grand reward," Queen Rafflesianna told you.
"What sort of rewards are you offering?" Sandra wondered, sounding fairly curious.
"For Iris and Tulip... for Iris's natural talent and possible raw power and for Tulip's familiarity with the human world and thus some understanding of human magics as well as her own knowledge of magic that allowed her to earn her wand, I would offer them training as enchantresses... the experts on all things magic in my Queendom," Queen Rafflesianna answered, "and for you, Sandra of the O'Mally Coven, I offer you the opportunity to join our race."
"Me? A fairy changeling?" Sandra asked, sounding puzzled and in slight disbelief.
"Yes," Queen Rafflesianna nodded, "And you wouldn't lose contact with your Coven. Once the barriers are repaired... you and Iris will be safe to do what you can to assure your human families that you are safe and healthy..."
"My family doesn't have any magical lineage," you spoke up weakly, "I would like to explain what's happened to me... but they may not believe me."
"We can deal with that when the portal is better," Tulipelle said to me.
You nodded to her and then looked over to Sandra to see how she answered.
"That's... uh... that's a very generous offer, your Majesty, but I'm quite fine with my Coven and my life on Earth," Sandra answered, "not everything is perfect... but then nothing ever is... though... I suppose I could serve as a contact... should you need help that my Coven can provide... I'll come and help."
"I see," Queen Rafflesianna said slowly, "and would my people be tasked to come to your Coven's aid should it be in trouble?"
"In theory," Sandra shrugged, "but it wouldn't be for things we could do on our own... especially if you're going to send Iris and Tulip to Earth when the portals heal."
"Very well," Queen Rafflesianna spoke, "I will speak with my enchantresses and members of my court on your offer. You will know of our decision before you return to Earth... and remember, should you wish to visit us... or to visit Iris and Tulip, please come to me first."
Sandra shrugged, "Sure thing."
With that, Queen Rafflesianna turned to you and Tulipelle, "and you, Tulip? Iris? Will you accept my offer to train to become enchantresses..."
"I don't know, your majesty... I've only just started," you said weakly, "I don't know if I'll be good enough..."
"You're already demonstrated that you're more than good enough," Queen Rafflesianna replied.
You found yourself blushing again, "Thank you." After a few moments you remembered who you were addressing, "Thank you, your Majesty."
"And your answer?" Queen Rafflesianna asked.
"Well... I'd like to pick up the basics before I start becoming an expert on magic," you answered, "could my answer wait until I'm a bit more experienced?"
"Your training can wait... your answer, no," Queen Rafflesianna spoke in warning.
"Well... if Tulip wants to, I'll do it... but I'd like to wait on the training until I'm a little more experienced with my magic," you told the Queen and curtsied.
"Tulip?"
"It would actually be an honor, my Queen," Tulipelle spoke, "When Iris is ready... we'll arrive for training."
And with that the Queen smiled.