3.1|A clocktower Rhapsody

 

3.1|A clocktower Rhapsody

 

Once upon a time, the moon was bleak of rime. A world of mostly death, a single tree brought forth beauty on one side, the green spreading. On the opposite side, laid royal bedding. Tick tock goes the centurion clock. With barely a whisper came the cat's purr and whisker, rubbing against the princess, she'd hiss her. Gertrude would wake up to the Fizzy Chef's finest Chiffons and Genoises, she'd engorge while the heart-hatted seamstresses sewed brand new sparkling gowns from her top to her downs. Those that brushed her, fed her, bedded her and she hoped one day staffed her wedding one day her were all coppery tin cans, the clickity clackity plipplop of bolts and bolts. Never late, her robotic hands were made of many stickity womens and mans. And so for the princess of Glitter Kiss, life went without a care and a miss.

But there was a problem you see. Miss Gertrude was not allowed to leave. She was raised in a rounded, royal clocktower with a top shaped like a dome. With a golden clock on the side that always chimes, and one with a dial always spinning. No way for her to leave that round tower, ever, although she often still did when sneaking out freely. She'd receive visits from her mother, Queen Momutie Bouffant XVI and her two baby twin siblings.

"Good morrow my dear, hello, good day! From the beauteous eve we give thanks, good sweets to you, sunshine bless! Prayers from Monroe. How goes the princess's First Day! The celebration of all cuties sugary first, from birth to blossoming womanhood. Ready for the parties, the presents! You may even receive a hand in marriage from a Grand Meister this evening."

Gertrude, her blond hair straight uptop, then curly into golden lemon-y looks huffed. "Cake and milkshakes, yes yes yes mother.. Sunshine bless." She looked through her royal letters, the princely affections that swung her heart so. "Mother, by the House of the Rainboyal's and our most royal declarations. May I make a request, in all my affections?"

Queen Momutie Bouffant XVI, the bouffant hair, bulbous cheeks and plump curves stretching the rubber, inflated gown and absurd hat she wore with a heart shaped atop sashayed over, leaning towards the young girl. "Daughter dearest, you know I am in your glittering connection! Pray no more, make heart, tell me what you wills you."

With a blushing gasp, Gertrude said swiftly. "I wanna propose to the Moonlit Sugarplum Prince tonight on my First Day!" She bowed her head. "As you know, mother's wisdom such acumen, I receive letters every month! I'd like to propose O that love and lust, that handsome and lusty moonlight prince that he's the love of my heart." She looked out the window, second hand passing by. "And maybe, perhaps on a day, many pretty moons from today when I may leave this clocktower, I may meet my prince and kiss him!"

Queen Momutie Bouffant XVI beamed with a flirty smile. "Oh my darling! You know I love my children! They’re ever so sweet, my precious cupcakes! Sweet and sugary as pumpkin pie! But do you know what we'd do for a daughter? She'll have her own castle. Her own throne and crown! She'll have her own maids, and chefs! She'll receive visits, and she'll send letters home and get to have parties every night of the week. I'm sure we have more crowns than your home has days, dear!"

Gertrude, her face brighten, "You're right, mother!" She looked so sweetly at her, and she knew it. That her mother was right. The young princess was very pretty. She was bright, intelligent and her eyes were bewitching. And the fact she had a heart full of love for the Moonlit Prince made life for her all the more special. "So may I?"

Queen Momutie Bouffant XVI pat her head. "Nuh nuh. No dearie darling daughter dearest, you're much too young. And to spend your days chasing boys, in Glitter Kiss there are fonder pursuits in this sweet sweet solace! Now come, get dressed. We must prepare for your speech to the Pretty-pretty Cuteocrats at the First Gala! They're so very charming, they always have something to cheer for, with their hearts so fluttered and fanciful with rhythms ever so danciful."

"Oh, surely mother!" She lied.

With a giggle from her mother, the Princess of Glitter Kiss giggled too, and she knew she was gonna ask her dreamy boyfriend of all time to marry her. Gertrude could hardly wait.

Princess Gertrude then got into a silvery purple gown, and a top of white with little silver pearls. She had on her crowns, and a belt of yellow gold, and wore a lovely, long silk veil. She tied on a pinky pink, pearl covered sash and took to her hair, she pulled it out into beautiful braids. The dress was a beautiful, elegant, elegant dress. Her veil was a silvery purple, her crowns glinted, and she even added pearls on the hem.

Once Gertrude was all set to go, her mother kissed her on the cheek. "See you tonight, my sweet sugary plum. Tonight will be simply delicious, do be a diva!" The pumpkin wagon with her mother and baby siblings trailed off until the clocktower was in the distance, and the princess waved good bye from the window. She was about the climb out the window, opening  the glass, when a Meister in a jade skirt ran up to her-

“Gertrude!” Hershey said. “Your mom said I could come up and see  you before your First Day gala tonight!” “Oh, yes! Of course!” slammed the window closed and turned around. They exchanged kisses on the cheek. “I’ve missed you Hershey! How’s your training going? Are you really going to be promoted to the Carmel Calvary unit? Meister Training is no joke!" Hershey nodded, the jewels along her gloves and elaborate blouse like dew-filled seeds in the morning. "I am! I worked so hard, but they said I'm going to disappear and train for my new promotion! I'm so berry excited!" Gertrude looked at her with tears in her eyes. She sighed and hugged her friend.  "I still don’t know much about them but I hope the calvary unit means a lot of honor, because I am a very honorable girl! Here wait, I'm not supposed to show you this, but shhhh let me share my Glitterformation!" She held her gloves together over one another on her chest, the jewels starting to glow. With the light, she did a spinning twirl and her costume changed.

Hershey had a look of wonderment and happiness in her eyes as the light died down. Gertrude saw she now wore a beautiful green, green veil on her head, a long, flowing one that had green jewels along it, and she pulled a very elegant green belt. She put a long green silk stole around her neck. The dress was amazing, jade skirt still visible a tight wrap around her waist she said was called a corset. The princess gasped. "You look beautiful!" said Gertrude with a big smile. Hershey could feel her heart pounding with happiness. She said, "Thank you Gertrude, I have to catch my cutie-cab. But once you're coronated Queen, I'll carry you myself to the throne and salute!" And they kissed again. "Bye Hershey! See you tonight!" said the princess with a large smile and waved as she walked back to the window. Hershey waved back as she ran off. "Blessed sunshine! I'm so glad for her..!" Gertrude said, waiting until she was gone to turn back to the window.

"She's gone! Now, to sneak away!" She ran to her bedroom and pulled out a toy she'd been working on, a clunky, coppery robotic copy of herself made from used material and scraps. Imperfect and precisely prissy, she placed it under her sheets and yelled "I, Princess Gertrude am going to bed! Yes, may dreamland come to hugs and kisses for all the gumdrop moths and misses." She blew a kiss, then started to climb out the window. The mechanical overseers were none the wiser, the perfect crime, as quiet as a dime.

The princess hopped to the ground. She made a curtsy and took to the road.

Soon she made her way through the busy, busy streets. Gertrude was amazed with all the sounds and sights! Glitter Kiss's Feyslayer Capital was a delight, the towers and candy shops, the parks and roses!

This wasn't her first sneak out, and if her heart was so daring it would not be her last. Her favorite place was the park, and every day she sat in the sun, sipping lemonade, on a pretty chair with an adorable pink cushion. She would sing her favorite songs, and play her favorite games. She'd watch the pretty peeps frolic and play. But today, the mail offices were where her mission lay. Heading into the office, a beautiful building with big bells, she skipped in. At the entrance, she saw the mailman, walking briskly with a sack of letters. she turned to the smoking burly man who stood behind the front desk. man who stood behind the front desk. "Good Morning! Is the Post Office open?"

"Yep!" He pointed to the back of the building. "And we just opened up this morning!" He smiled brightly, handing her a letter. "Happy First Day, Miss!"

"Thank you! Please give this to the Moonlit Sugarplum Prince, in Glitter Kiss. And tell him, Gertrude's been waiting on his return so we may have a White Union." She held out the blue ribbon to the burly man, dreaming of her White Union dress, who would be her matron of honour? Hershey perhaps? The man started to cough and laugh. "Kid, oh poor kid. You are so sweet! The sunshine's most blessed. I receive so many of these so send, every one of them! In fact, I received a new one this yestermorrow." He wiped the corners of his eyes, and smiled at the young princess, handing her another letter. "Here we go, the Violet Mistress left this from the Prince, so it says miss. The sender told me to give it to your mother, make sure she opens and reads it first! Good luck."

"Thank you, I will!" She hopped out of the building and back to her stay. Gertrude looked up at the tower. It was in there someday, the beautiful, pretty, sparkly clocktower where she'd ask the moonlight prince to be her white bride, the prince her mother suggested and told her about. She felt a rush of happiness, and couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he heard her offer. Swiftly she ran behind and climbed it's poles and wires, sneaking back into her room with the bolted hires.

She laid in bed. No one was the wiser. The bots 'woke her' later and she prepared for the First Day gala.

She sat down to the table of sweets, and sweet foods. She had one by one taken them and tasted each one. It was all amazing and she felt ready to eat a whole buffet. Her mouth tasted like cinnamon, and apples, and it had a wonderful crunch to it. She took another bite. The sugary confections here, so sweet and twangy never fell short of excellent exquisite perfections.

Soon the carriage came back to take Gertrude across the city. The streets were crowded, but Gertrude couldn't hear the noise, she was too busy looking in each storefront, and window. There were so many stores, and candieshops, and restaurants, and boutiques to browse. All looking beautiful, with sparkling lights and displays, or the prettiest dresses! The gowns of Grand Meisters sat in windowsills, on mannequins with wigs and long curly tresses.

"There you are," said her beautiful wise mother from the wagon.

"I'm ready," she giggled.

Soon Getrude entered her First Day gala.  Everything was perfect, everything was shiny and glittering and magical! She walked into the room, eyes wide and happy. All around, were beautiful and handsome young men, and women, all in beautiful dresses. Everyone smiled, greeted her with sugar confections and the most graceful, dancey connections. Some were dancing in circles, holding hands, or twirling around.

She saw her baby siblings, her youngest sister saw a girl wearing an orange, feathered dress, and her baby brother, his hair all blue and fluffy and curly. He was also sporting a blue feathered dress. In the corner of the room were the sweet, candy ladies, standing next to two beautiful girls dressed in the brightest yellow, green, and pink dresses.

"Good afternoon, pretty pretty girls! I'm not very well, and I'm having a hard time trying to eat this sweet delicious delicious treat! Can I have a blueberry tart and a peach tart?"

"Sure, dearie! We got a whole pie of them!" She smiled, and ran over with the

requested treat.

Gertrude was happy, and excited. She looked at the pretty, pretty girls in her favorite dress, and the yellow. Yellow... she loved yellow! It was so bright, like the sun! The shade of her hair! "Thank you!" She giggled, blowing a kiss as she moved away.

"Gertrude my sugarplum, let the 'Helpers' get you ready for your first day Gala Speech! You have been working on it with them haven't you? You're to give a presentation on your vision for the sunniest land in your heart of hearts, as future ruler of the Rainboyals ."

The girl went with the tincan toilers and tinkerers, having already prepared a surprise. The letter in her pocket, from the Prince! The latest letter from the mail. She planned to read it and propose. Her mother was waiting patiently for her to prepare.

She climbed onto the stage and stood on a chair, looking up to the crowd of people. She took to the mic, with her sweet, sweet voice. She spoke with her most dulcet and charming tones, and with the most beautiful voice in the city. Her speech was the kind of speech, that made the hair stand on the backs of their necks and the faces of the crowd be all awash with joy! She spoke about how Glitter Kiss was such a wonderous and magnificent place. It was her beloved home, the home she knew she'd live and die in.

She talked about the wonders of Glitter Kiss, about the beautiful city, and the wonderful and wondrous people. She pointed out how Glitter Kiss was a place that no other could claim to have. No city had ever matched the beauty, or the brightness, the splendor and the wonder. Glitter Kiss was the greatest, and she openly declared, one day she would rule it.

"But not alone."

Her mother's face grew all pale from those 3 words.

"I plan to make a dashing boy my king, the Moonlit Prince! I'm going to read the letter I got for him today, then propose right now on this stage!" She'd planned to ask his hand in marriage on her public stage, before the greatest crowd in the history of Glitter Kiss.

"What are you doing?" Asked her mother, her brow unfurling. Momutie

started to stomp towards her in a fury.

She answered. "I'm proposing! I'm proposing to the prince-" Gertrude nearly

opened up the envelope.

"No you're not!"

Mommutie screamed. "You are to give a lovely presentation, to a lovely

audience, and you will end it."

"Nooo! I'm going to propose!"

"Then you will be disowned!"

"No. You can't!" Gertrude screamed, her cheeks all pink with love and

affection and happiness.

"Yes. You will be cast out, and exiled from the kingdom."

"No, please no!"

"Gertrude!" Mommutie cried, the tincan 'Helpers' gathered around her in a tight fist. They pulled her back and yanked her. She ripped open the envelope and saw the letters fall on the ground. Queen Mommutie picked it up, stood by the mic and cleared her throat. "To the one who calls herself Queen on that desolate rock up in the heavens. Consider yourself, beheaded-" The words were glowing, a special magic ready to blow.

One of the Grand Meister's in the stage, once a magical crusader and all the rage, Pirate-eyed Pink Driver sensed a triggered power, a designated assassin's hour. She sped forward, the tachyon particles of temporal space did slow, as they grabbed the letter they did shout 'nooo.' Tasked to protect, out a window they leapt. Their leap cost them their life, but did spare the room. Everyone screamed as the letter went-

BOOM.