"No... I'd suppose not," Sandra said in response to Tulipelle's comment, "but it isn't like I won't be around..."
"That's right... you'll be an ambassador," you commented.
Sandra nodded, "The only thing that's odd about this is that the chaos magic was removed so quickly."
"Well... if Jovek didn't do much in the way of real damage to the fabric in the barriers, it shouldn't take too long to fix," Tulipelle said with a shrug.
Sandra nodded as the three of you made your way back toward the tree that housed the Queen's palace. With the portals fixed, Sandra would be free to return home and there was no real reason for her to stay. You were her ex, and given the jibes she'd given toward you, you figured she had moved on. You really didn't want to be on bad terms with her, but at the same time, the elements of Sandra's personality that scared you a little was still there. You wanted to be friends and friendly, but it wasn't as if you were going to want Sandra around all the time. And it wasn't as if Sandra couldn't visit since she would be serving as an ambassador in the future.
The Queen's guards saluted the three of you as you returned before Sandra's departure from Gaia. A pair politely escorted you to the main throne room/audience chamber where Queen Rafflesianna was seated on her throne. The three of you curtsied as you approached.
"Your majesty," Sandra spoke, "I was told that the damage to the portals have been repaired."
"They have," Queen Rafflesianna nodded, "I take it you will be returning to the mortal realm?"
"Jovek's nonsense has been stopped and things should be going back to normal for both worlds," Sandra answered, "so, it'd be best to return to my coven and report to them on successes here."
You watched as Queen Rafflesianna nodded. Meanwhile, Sandra began to go through the handbag she'd had with her and then pulled out a small glass like orb. The orb was black in color, but seemed to glow with a white aura around it. Sandra then slowly approached Queen Rafflesianna's throne. The queen's personal guards stood at the ready, but didn't make any direct move to block Sandra's approach.
"But I will keep promise to serve as an ambassador between my coven and your queendom," Sandra spoke, "This orb should allow you to get a message to me should you ever need help..."
"And if you require our help..." Queen Rafflesianna said slowly as she picked up the orb and looked at it, you assumed the queen was scanning it for any potential hidden spells.
"I can contact you," Sandra nodded, "basic communication between us type stuff...and will surely make things better in the long run."
"Very well then," Queen Rafflesianna answered, "I wish you well on your return to your realm."
Sandra nodded.
"Tulip, Iris, since you brought our ambassador here, I would request that you escort her back to the portal," Queen Rafflesianna then addressed you and Tulipelle.
"Of course, your majesty," Tulipelle spoke, and you curtsied beside her.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The cave where the portal was seemed much calmer when the three of you returned. You noticed your old human clothing, now huge when compared to your fairy size laying rumpled on the ground through the glow coming off of your wings. You glanced at them for a moment and then shrugged. Your clothing wouldn't be causing any trouble in Gaia and it wasn't as if you could wear it any more, anyway. You and Tulipelle hovered quietly in the air above Sandra.
"So... you'll be going back home?" you said to Sandra.
"Back to MY home," Sandra answered as she cradled her spell book in her arms. You and Tulipelle watched as Sandra cast a spell that undid the glamour spell she had cast earlier. Her wings shrunk and disappeared into her back and as her body began to grow. She went from a few inches tall back to her original height, which was over five feet tall, though you never knew how many inches past five feet tall Sandra was. Her body rose straight up and soon she was large enough that her head was practically bigger than you were as a whole. "Remember that these portals are only gateways between Earth and Gaia. They don't tie individual locations. When used properly, you could go anywhere on Earth or Gaia from any portal, depending on the spell used..."
"If used properly," you repeated.
Sandra nodded.
"Thank you again for your help in dealing with Jovek's actions," Tulipelle said to her.
"He was doing damage to both worlds," Sandra shrugged, "and he was crazy. Witches and warlocks have gotten enough bad press in human myth... the last thing we need is another crazy out there casting spells."
That made you chuckle a bit. With that, Sandra then flipped through a few pages in her spell book and soon opened up a stable portal that looked like a round "window" to Earth. You and Tulipelle looked through it to see the apartment building that Sandra lived in on Earth. Sandra was about to step through it when you fluttered forward and spoke to her.
"Sandra!" you called.
"Yes?" Sandra asked as she turned around.
"Could you do me a favor... and let my parents know that I'm okay and that they don't need to worry?" you asked.
"Oh no," Sandra answered, fighting back the urge to laugh, "if you want to make sure they don't go nuts looking for Philip Masterson... you'll need to do THAT on your own..."
"But they won't believe I'm who I was," you pleaded, "You at least know magic and could recognize and believe that I'm a changeling... my parents won't believe me..."
"Given how strong you are in magic, Iris, given time and practice you could probably cast glamour spells just as strong as mine to look not only human but to look and sound male if you wanted to," Sandra answered, "You can then introduce Tulip as your new girlfriend... and then set up a new means of communication and contact to give you the freedom to be in contact with them while keeping the fact that you're a fairy hidden from them... unless that is something the two of you decide to do..."
You pouted a little, hoping for a way to influence her.
"Don't look at me like that," Sandra scolded, somewhat harshly, "They're YOUR parents, not mine... and besides we did break up. What do you think your parents are going to think if they get a call from me saying you've met someone and have moved in with her?"
"She does make some sense there," Tulipelle said to you, she looked a little irritated by the tone that Sandra used, but did agree with the overall message.
"I'd look forward to hearing from the two of you," Sandra commented, "but I really wouldn't be any help with regard to dealing with your folks..."
"Okay," you sighed and fluttered back to be beside Tulipelle. "See you around, Sandra."
"See you, Tulip, Iris," Sandra replied and went through the portal. Once threw it, the portal closed, leaving you and Tulipelle alone with only the glow of your wings illuminating the cave.
"Come one, Irisette," Tulipelle said to you, "let's go home..."
She then flew out of the cave, and you flew after her.