Lunch was simple and light. I'm a little too nervous to really eat. Ioelena really has gotten me scared about the pixies. They probably aren't that bad, but if they do a prank that hurts my kids...

They won't. She seems certain that I can get everything with a promise of healing and not getting mad at the table. They know how important kids are.

"It'll be ok," Elora says, rubbing my back. "Ioelena has been through a lot. I promise we'll be fine. They would never hurt a child. The fairies often use kids to help them deal with the pixies. We'll be safe, and I know you will convince them easily. Let them embarrass me and Ioelena. We'll live with it. You'll do well, and we'll be right there to help you. Also, ask for two bags to start with. Give them some room to earn a deal."

"Thanks," I say. "I've only had to deal with people who kind of want to become my wife."

"That has been your luck," Elora says. "You look beautiful and powerful right now. Just act as you normally do and everything will go fine."

"Ok," I say.

"Alright," Ioelena sighs. "They're here, so we should head out. Pixies don't do well with fancy processes. I know you won't be upset about doing things the simple way, but it won't be this easy tomorrow."

"Simple is better," I say.

Ioelena leads us down a small path in one of their gardens at the edge of their manor. Their property kind of just melts into the forest, and this garden goes from neat a orderly to a mess of wildflowers as they come together.

We make it to a clearing that Ioelena's family maintains to hold these meetings. A plain table sits in the middle, as a small group of pixies flies in from the wild side of the garden. They look to be about six inches tall, and pink is a common color of their hair. There are four of them in total, but Ioelena warned they may be hiding another somewhere.

It's getting tiring just dealing with them for half a day. For this to be the normal operating procedure must be so exhausting.

Ioelena's guess comes true as she has a little stumble. She doesn't fall to the ground, but she does stop and bend over for something. No, wait, she's untying her shoes, but her heels don't have laces on them.

What kind of trick is tying shoes together that can't be tied together? I guess that is a good trick, doing something impossible.

"One of the nicer things they've done," Ioelena says.

"They... are interesting," I say. I have to be nice while they can hear me. I don't think I'll be too nice about it at dinner, but make it last for now.

"I'll sit slowly," Ioelena says.

"Be careful," I say. "Let me know if you need any healing. I don't have to bend you over the table for everything."

"They would love that probably," Ioelena says. "But it won't get that far during these talks. They've gone too far before and come slinking back because they get tired of defending themselves, and the fairies get to do nothing with all the extra resources we have to spend on them. They have limits."

"Just let me know," I say. I don't really believe her. So many accidents can happen when you're falling. How could they possible know that won't cause an injury?

There are no more tricks as we reach the table. Elora takes a seat to my right and Ioelena to my left. None of the chairs break apart, so I guess one falling prank is their limit. The group of four pixies just sits on the table opposite us. They are cute if you ignore the dangers their tricks pose.

"Welcome," I say. "Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. I'm Queen Alzi of the dragons. To my right is Princess Elora, who is the next in line for the throne of this Queendom. You all should know Ioelena, I believe. Then Princess Shimmer, next in line for the throne of the Phoenixes, Nanoka, the old Queen of the Kitsune, Eterna, and Geta, a Valkyrie of Death."

"Scared of us?" the frontmost pixie laughs. "So much royalty and power for us small things. Scared we're going to take your panties? Green is a beautiful color. I'm sure they would fit well in a nest for us."

"No, I just have a lot of powerful women in my harem. Most of them are pregnant with my child. May I know all of your names?"

"I'm Ysa," the front pixie says. "The rest aren't important."

"They are," I say. "I would like to know the names of all you brought to the meeting." She didn't introduce herself as the Queen, so she's hiding somewhere. Hopefully not in my panties.

"The dragon's crown," a pixie says from my head. "Been years since I've stolen this."

"Hello, Queen Treedoc," I say. "I would appreciate you not taking it. I've only had it for a bit and would rather not have stories about me losing it so soon after getting it. I hope you understand."

"Nanoka's too annoying," Queen Treedoc says. "Really brings the day down when the champion of kitsune is messing with us. The least you could do is play with us, Grandma."

"You're centuries older than me, Queen Treedoc," Nanoka says. "Besides, I'm pregnant. Am I really a grandma if I'm going to have my own newborns in a few months?"

"Yes, why isn't Yuki or someone here?" Queen Treedoc says, still hanging out on the top of my head. Bringing the crown out was a mistake.

"She's busy making some potions for everyone," Nanoka says. "I guess I am a grandmother. But you're, what, a great-great-great-great-grandmother at least by now."

"Maybe. I had the greatest trick to play on this dragon, and you ruined it. The phoenixes and dragons ran off to hide in their realms and then rarely come out to play. Finally, we have one of each in front of us, and you only let some shoes get tired together! They seemed worried, so you didn't even tell them you were going to interfere with us."

"I didn't know if you would let me," Nanoka says. "I will have to say, if this is your best, you lost your edge. I'm not that strong even as a champion."

"Maybe I'm just tricking you into thinking I have."

"It wouldn't change anything. They'll still be ready for you to do something," Nanoka says. "Now, can you please get out of my wife's hair? You're supposed to be having a conversation with her instead of me. And I ask that you don't play with her underwear. You understand I wouldn't make this request lightly."

"I'll think about it," Queen Treedoc says. She tries to pull the crown past my horns, but the crown shrinks just enough so it no longer fits past my horns, so she has to give up and join her companions at the far end of the table. "Ysa, Wemed, Egereth, and Eselin are the ones I've brought with me today."

"Thank you," I say. "It's good to meet you all. I know the recent war has us all working hard to clean up and try to return to normal. Is there anything I can do to help? Princess Elora will be taking over soon, but I will be in charge as well due to our relationship. I have a lot of Goddesses supporting me, so I would be happy to give some prayers if there isn't something I can directly help with."

"Just say what you need instead of fishing for the price," Queen Treedoc says.

"It was more than asking for what the price would be," I say. "We have some ideas of what I could help you with already. I just wanted to know if there was anything else I could do. But very well. I'm looking for two bags of Pixie dust."

"Two bags? We don't give that out lightly," Queen Treedoc says.

"I understand," I say. "But it is important to hold those responsible for the destruction the war caused accountable. I know you have many injured that I would love to heal. All of them. I can stay a few days here to help all, even those not hurt in the war, be healed fully."

"Or you could open the two bags I put in front of you," Queen Treedox says.

I really do need to get better at feeling others' mana. I felt nothing as the bags appeared in front of me.

Should I walk into this? Ioelena promised they won't hurt my babies. Worst case, I just bug Yzzorres and let her and Eterna have a bit of fun over their forest.

"I don't think opening two bags would be enough to pay for the dust," I say. "But we can add it to the cost." Maybe I could've brought Destruction with me. Or perhaps that would cause a problem if she just destroyed all the tricks. Luck maybe? We brought Lactation on the trip due to the amount she needs to breastfeed, but she doesn't do much for us here, and she's still too young to bring out anyway.

The bags could fit in the palms of my hands, about the size we are asking for the pixie dust. Just a simple string ties them close to the top.

"Maybe it's the dust," Queen Treedoc says. "Or maybe one of them is? I don't remember. A ritual would rarely need two bags of dust. Unless you're doing it twice?"

Just a gentle tug and the string comes loose. Nothing happens, and the bag has some weight to it. It doesn't feel like stones or anything inside it. Did she really just hand the dust over? Why would she do that?

I dare to take a look inside the bag, and it looks like sand inside.

"Why?" I ask, a bit too soon. I jump a bit as bits of color stream past me with a small pop sound.

Kou picks my chair up, and I see bits of string on the ground. Nothing dangerous, I guess. The pixies are chuckling on their side of the table.

"You really thought I would be that nice?" Queen Treedoc asks. "You, let me do all that? I even have your crown."

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? Booms from the sky. MY WIFE WILL KEEP HER CROWN. THAT MUCH I WILL DO.

"Breaking the rules!" Queen Treedoc screams, "I still have it!"

My head gains the weight back. The metal is a bit cold for some reason.

"Goddesses," Queen Treedoc mutters. "The price went up."

"You never named the true price," I say. Please don't break the talks down over this. "The crown really is important to me. I'm sorry for ruining the trick. I really did think you just gave me the dust."

"I want the excuse Nanoka had," Queen Treedoc says. "Come alone. You won't be hurt, I promise that. Heal my people, deal with our tricks, and get me and some of my people pregnant. Since we aren't doing this as we should be, I'll shorten the talks. Do that, and you get one bag from me personally. That is the only offer I'm going to give you."

"I accept," I say. "You understand..."

"I know about your child," Queen Treedoc says. Her scowl is growing by the second. "We're small, so only one kid each."

"As you wish," I say. "Understand this is an agreement. I can't change it without your consent. I won't be able to play tricks about this."

"Come and get your dust when you're ready," Queen Treedoc says right before flying off. Ysa stays behind while the rest of the pixies fly off.

"Sorry," Ysa says. "It's the first time the Queen has failed to take a crown. She's normally a better sport, but after all the deaths..."

"I understand," I say. "Please think of some other things I can help with. I do mean I wish to help. I am part of the reason that the war came to you all. I am willing to help."

"I'll think about it," Ysa says. "Just don't bend over till you all get to the bedroom." Ysa gives us a bright smile and darts off towards the rest of the pixies.

"Oh fuck!" Elora says. "I wore fucking chainmail over them!"

"Why would you do that?"