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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 5874093" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 63 "Will the real Princess Neferka please stand up” (Episode Two, Chapter Twenty-three) - Saturday, September 10, 1882, 7:00 A.M. Outside the Princess’s door stand a pair of heavily harmed ogres standing guard. Neither address Ruby but both give her icy stares.   She says, "Good day gentlemen, I am a friend of the Princess's. Is she up yet?"   One steps forward to block Ruby from attempting to enter while the other opens the door to head into the room. When the door opens Ruby notes several servants and some more ogre guards inside the central room. She does not see either the Princess or the General."Tell her Ruby West is here to see her!" she called after the guard, hoping perhaps one of the servants who knew her would alert the princess if the guard did not.  She took a couple of steps away from the door to put the guard at ease and waited.  In short order she is ushered inside and towards the master bedroom. She is surprised to see the Princess awake and alert, attired in of all things a large cotton flannel men's shirt in a red and black Rob Roy plaid pattern and a very loose pair of denim jeans. She is sitting in a chair at a desk, looking over some documents with a magnifying glass. A pair of large men's boots are on the floor near her chair. A steaming pot of coffee is beside her next to an empty mug with coffee on the bottom. "Good morning! How is the new bride this morning? It was such a beautiful wedding, I had a wonderful time and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you letting me be involved." Ruby moved to the coffee and gestured to the pot. "Would you like me to pour you another cup?"  "Yes, please," Neferka states adding "I've been up for an hour or so."   "How do you like it?" Ruby asked as she poured the princess a cup. "And my goodness, up an hour? After all that partying you did last night?" She sighed. "I guess with everything going on it's hard to sleep."Ruby looked around the room. "Where is your new husband?"  The Princess replies, "He left two hours before dawn to go fight his war."  "I'm so sorry Neferka," Ruby said as she squeezed her arm. "You must be terribly nervous."  She shrugs "About the war? Somewhat, but Ahmed is a very experienced General, with considerable troops and firepower. Plus he grew up right here, he knows this region like the back of his hand whereas it is new terrain for the majority of the British. I am far more nervous about myself being kidnapped, which by my calculations, will take place in another ninety minutes or so."Ruby doesn't seem all that surprised. "Kidnapped?" She paused to think things though for a moment before continuing. "Actually that is sort of why I am here. But first tell me, why do you think you will be kidnapped?"  She replies, "As we speak, the French diplomat Passy is boarding the southbound train to Cairo, to deliver photographs of last night's wedding and personal notes from myself and Ahmed. Another French diplomatic team is currently visiting my father the King, led by the former French Empress, who was wife of Napoleon III. The French have high hopes of persuading my father to end the war.But Ahmed and I know my father far better. We estimate that within ten minutes of receiving the news he will have dispatched his chief wizard to here, via a magical transportation spell, to abduct me and take me back to Cairo. He will then declare that coercion was used to force the marriage and declare it annulled. Ahmed and I, however, have other ideas.""Aye Aphrodite, this is a mess. Princess, do you believe I am trustworthy and have your best interests at heart? I mean to say, that I don't want to see you harmed nor see a war happen here? I would like to hear your and Ahmed's plans, if you trust me enough to share them, but I also have some information for you, which may or may not change whatever your plans may be."She replies, "I trust you absolutely, Ahmed and I have both discussed that very fact. That is why I wish to ask you a great favor. I would like you to make a personal appeal on my behalf to my father."  Ruby nodded her head. "Why do you think your father will listen to me over any of the French diplomats?"  Neferka replies, "You know what is in my heart."  Ruby says, "I do, I know you love him."Ruby sighed. "Princess, are you convinced of the depth of his love for you?"  She replies, "Yes, and also convinced that he cares deeply about Egypt. Ruby, this is the best for everybody, to end the war peacefully before more blood is shed."   Ruby answers, "I agree, ending the war without more bloodshed is in everybody's best interest. And if you wish for me to speak to your father, I will do it. I promise." She squeezed the woman's hand and left her doubts about her new husband to herself.   "Now, let me tell you what I know. I think there is a plot to assassinate your father. And I believe the French are behind it."  She paused and considered. "They also want to murder your new husband, and think they will be able to rule Egypt though you, the Queen. I believe they are afraid of a non magic supporting country, as their own country is becoming. I am not entirely certain which Frenchman we can trust and it makes me nervous you now mentioned two parties of French being sent to your Father. And that the General is surrounded by French he thinks are his friends."A look of shock comes over the Princesses face. "What! How do you know this? What evidence do you have of this that you could show to my father?"  Ruby says, "I don't have actual physical evidence of this. But I absolutely trust where the information has come from. I think you know that I am here with my grandmother, and some other friends of mine. While I have been here with you, others have been off getting into their own trouble and have come to this information by way of that. I have no actual proof, myself. But believe me, none of us have any intention but to try to help stop the war. There are other details that I have of some of their nefarious plots and plans of exactly how they will try to accomplish the murder of your father.  However, I don't know that much about your Dad or his schedules or plans or whatever so I don't really understand how the French will put these plans into motion. Something about disguises and sheep...?" Ruby scrunched her nose.  "We've all been wracking our brains at what to do but in the end I felt it was best to trust you and tell you what I've learned.""More important I think that you tell my father," states Neferka, "I am not sure how much you know about magical items, but one that higher-level wizards frequently craft is a magical disguise. This is placed on a piece of jewelry or clothing, and when a command word is stated, the people physically resemble who the items was designed to represent.  I have two such items, one that will make somebody resemble me, the other to change my own appearance. Ruby, I am asking you to take my place, to be the one who gets kidnapped. You would then explain all this to my father.""I have heard of such items." Ruby slouched down in the chair next to the Princess. "Do you think he will listen to me? And, will you come with me, even if as someone else?"  Neferka says, "I think he will have no choice but to listen to you. And no, I cannot come. The Royal Palace has special magical protections, the disguises will be stripped the instant that you appear there."  Ruby says, "I heard that - apparently some of the French tried that approach to get to your father already. And I am concerned that once my disguise is gone your father will throw me in a dungeon, or worse. I am just not sure I can force him to listen."   Neferka says, "Begin by telling him that you are the Granddaughter of Willamina Hamilton Parker, a close friend of the British Military. That should enable him to at least listen to what you have to say.""George is going to kill me." She rubbed her eyes and sighed. "I don't think I have a choice though, I feel like I must go.  Is there anything else you can tell me to help me to get him to listen? Or anything else I need to know?"   She hands Ruby a silver and platinum ring with a tiger-eye stone. "This is the item that will transform you into me. The command word is "Isis". She also gives Ruby an amulet and says "This will help you too, it will enable to you to hear and speak all languages." The Princess pours herself a drink of some type of juice and then asks, "So what can you tell me about the American folk hero named Paul Bunyan?"   Ruby answers, "Paul Bunyan? The guy from the fairy tale? Uh, nothing really. My grandmother or even George would know more than me. And George would be happy to talk about it, he's a history buff. Why do you ask?"The Princess lifts up a gold ring and states "Because that is who this will transform me into. Why else would I be wearing these absurd pieces of clothing? Ahmed thinks it best that I don't try to resemble anybody Egyptian, and was able to obtain this. Once transformed I will go find your Grandmother, and pretend to be her bodyguard."Oh, well Nana and a friend are trying to catch the southbound train right now! You will have to leave soon, now, to catch them. It's good, when you find her, tell where I went, she will need to know.   The only thing I know about Paul Bunyan is that he was supposed to be a big, tall lumberjack and has a big blue ox. Not very helpful, I'm sorry."  Ruby laughed. "I didn't want to say anything about the clothes... I am glad you told me though!"The Princess calls one of the Ogre guards forward. This one is attired in fancier garb than the others, with gold trim on his jacket and rank insignia. Ruby recognizes him from the wedding as one of the personal guards to the Ogre leader. The Princess orders him to the train depot immediately to locate Mrs. Parker. Ruby is then shocked when the ogre rushes to a window, opens it, and jumps out despite being five stories up.  Ruby's eyes widen. "Um, did your guard just kill himself??"   The Princess laughs and says, "No, he had on a magical item developed for top officers of the French Foreign Legion. Our guest had loaned it to him, it's called a Legion Flying Belt."  Ruby nodded her head. "Of course! I forget how amazing it would be to have people openly accept magic. You can probably find some amazing items here, even in the streets! I hope he catches Nana and Abby, that will make me feel much better to know you have someone to watch out for you, especially with this war breaking out today. Maybe.”Ruby's mind was completely distracted by what was going to happen. She glanced around the room, finding some paper and a pen. She sat at the desk and quickly wrote out a note. "Please make sure George gets this, in case I don't return." She handed the Princess a quickly scrawled piece of paper.Ruby then asks, “Is there anything I need to know about your Father? I will tell him who my grandmother is but I am wondering, what is his temperament like?"  Neferka replies, "His temperament? He's an absolute ruler that had a previous loyal follower of his mount a revolt against him. He will now be learning that the same follower has now married his daughter on the same day they mount an attack against his allies. It is safe to say that he won't be in the best of moods."Ruby says, "I figured as much. Will he try to have me executed? You do realize Princess that this is a life threatening mission you are sending me on? I'm good at getting out of trouble... the trouble I usually get myself in... But this will be a huge test of my skill, I think."  She smiles and says, "You don't have to worry about execution, you are a very beautiful woman. The worst he would do is have you added to his harem as a sex slave."  "Oh, is that all?" Ruby said while rolling her eyes. "While I enjoy sex the whole slave thing is a turn off, I gotta admit. At least if that is the case it should buy me a little time to figure a way out.”  Neferka states "Absolutely, all of the new girls go through a several day orientation. By that time we'll have gotten you out of there."  Ruby asks, “Is there something, an item, a memory, anything that I could give or show your father to prove I am actually sent by you? And didn't just steal your precious magic item in an attempt to break into the Palace? How about a letter with you backing up what I am to tell him in your handwriting? Or anything else you can think of to even prove I know you?"  She says, "I can write you a note, a letter of reference so to speak. I'll let him know that you firmly believe what you are telling him to be the truth.""Thank you. I really just want him to see that you actually know me and I'm not some crazy person just trying to kill him. I am sure he's very on guard right now and perhaps just seeing a letter from you will make him understand that you know me and that you care about him."  Ruby got up from her chair and stretched. "You don't happen to have any spirits around here, do you? I'm going to be needing some right now, I think. Just enough to sooth my soul.  So I think once I am teleported in, all magical disguises will be gone. What about other magic, say, a charm spell I might have cast on myself?"As Neferka pours Ruby a glass of the special fruit liquor she replies, "All activated magic and active spells will be negated. Some permanent magical items, such as the amulet, will reactivate within a minute or two. You theoretically would be able to cast new spells, however it is unlikely that you will find an opportunity to do so, as you will be surrounded by guards from the moment you arrive."Ruby nodded. "Alright then, I will just have to use my natural charm and..., "She cleared her throat, "...Way with words to convince your father.  Do you have clothes for me then? I suppose I should change while you are writing your letter."  She took the fruity beverage and drank the entire cup down.  It has a sweet fruity flavor with a mix of apricot and lemon. It has a kick to it, the alcohol content being rather high.The Princess gestures to the rather full clothes closet in the adjacent bedroom and says "Help yourself, it'll all fit since you'll be wearing my body."  Ruby chooses a royal purple and sheer two piece skirt and top from the closet. It's a bit snug as the princess is slightly smaller than Ruby. Neferka says, "Ah yes! Just like a Princess... almost." She hands Ruby the royal amulet. "There, that will help." Ruby puts the amulet on and gazes at herself in the mirror. "Not too shabby a princess, I must say myself. What do you think?" she asks, while helping herself to another glass of the fruity alcohol.Neferka gives Ruby the tiger eye ring and has her state the command word "Isis". Ruby feels the magical transformation. She has used similar items before, but this time the magic and change seem to be more of a natural flow than a forced change. Looking into the mirror, they appear to be identical twins.  "Well, normally I don't like to pretend I'm someone I am not but I could get used to the life of a princess," she laughs. "How long do you think I have before the show up to kidnap me? I mean, you?"She replies, "At least another hour, the train would just now be leaving."   Ruby states, "Oh, I guess I had some time then. But, you should probably be leaving soon anyway, just in case they show up early." Ruby tapped her lips in her familiar way but it looked funny watching the Princess do the motions in the mirror. For a moment Ruby considered just how much fun she could have as the Princess..."Ahem, so, assuming that no magic is involved, will this transformation last indefinitely?”  She replies, "It will last until either magically dispelled or until you remove that ring."Ruby says, “Will they be assuming you will put up a fight? I could go with them easily as it is actually my goal but I don't want to make them suspicious ahead of time."  Neferka replies, "That will depend upon the orders given to the wizard. He would never do anything to me without my father's express permission. But if father is angry enough, who knows what the instructions might be."Ruby says, "Alright then. I think you should change now and give yourself a little bit of time to get used to the new, larger body. Bunyan is huge I'm pretty sure. Then get going before someone shows up here early. I think I'm as ready as I am going to be."  The Princess places the ring on her finger and says the word "Lumberjack". She then transforms into a huge, robust man standing six-and-a-half feet tall, with curly red hair and a thick beard. She looks into the mirror and says, "It looks like we've switched our hair color.""Well, now you can find out if red heads have more fun," Ruby laughed. "Though," she looked the "man" up and down, "I'm not so sure about this look on you. Still, you should be safe.”  She replies, "As long as I don't have to talk, the magic is visual only and my voice doesn't fit this body.”Ruby says, “Gather up what you need. Oh, is that guard going to come back for you or will you meet him here?"  Neferka states, "I assume that he will be bringing Mrs. Parker back here."  Neferka says, “You will need to try to mimic my voice, at least for the confrontation with the wizard."  Ruby will just spend the next 30 minutes practicing speaking like the Princess.</blockquote>

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