Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash

A lavishly banquet party invitation card arrived yesterday. It was sealed with gold wax and tied together with strings of turquoise ribbons. As Princess Cammie opened it, huge pieces of gold flakes fell off from the invitation card... and there was an unusual looking key in the tiny pouch inserted along with it. She continued to read the message in the card.

A special invitation to celebrate the 14th birthday of our son, Prince Edward Cookiemonster.
Put on your best party dress, and see you at Sleeping Willow Garden this Saturday at 10:00 am.

Princess Cammie flipped the card front and back, trying to seek clues for the key. She was even more confused. What was the key for? Could it be a magic key? Could it be a key to new treasures? She was so curious and she went to ask her dad, King Gilbert. She ran to his room where he was busy working on refurbishing their grand ballroom for Christmas soon. He only had two more months before the event, and this year, they will be getting more visitors from one new kingdom, The Kingdom of SteemitBloggers.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" screamed Princess Cammie. "Yes, honey. I am listening, do you need something from me?" answered King Gilbert. Princess Cammie explained to King Gilbert about the invitation card and of course, the mysterious key. King Gilbert saw the key that she was holding, and immediately took it away from her. She was so shocked, and she was only told to go and play with other toys in her room or at the tulips garden. King Gilbert's reaction was a huge question mark for her, and she knew that there was something more to it. Before she walked away, she saw her dad kept the key in his third drawer.

Photo by CMDR Shane on Unsplash

So, that night, after dinner, she sneaked into King Gilbert's room to retrieve the key. She opened the drawer, and it was not there anymore! Just moments later, she heard loud screeching sounds at the back of the room, next to the collection of books that King Gilbert enjoys to read. She followed the sound, and then she heard someone, or something was talking. She took out the books one by one. Little did she know, she slowly uncovered a bright green light from his dad's books! She was at the 9th book, and she was flabbergasted with what she saw. It was something blue... it was a secret passage beyond the collection of books.

Photo by Eugenio Mazzone on Unsplash

The green light, the sounds, they were coming from behind this secret passage. She has lived all her 11 years in this castle and she had no idea about this secret passage. But she had no courage to open the doors. So, she kept all the books back at its original place, and quietly rushed back to her room before her mom, Queen Valentine walked in to share a bedtime story.

Soon after, her mom walked in with her all-time favourite story, The Flower That Never Dies. But there was something different about tonight, well, something different about Queen Valentine. She seemed disturbed, and Princess Cammie could hear it from the tone of her gentle voice. Princess Cammie asked, "Mommy, are you okay? Are you sad?" Queen Valentine took a long pause and tears were rolling down her rosy cheeks. "Honey, everything is okay. Everything will be okay. Let's get ready to sleep now," she replied, after giving her a good night kiss. Princess Cammie was very nervous about that night. She was in deep thoughts about the key, her dad's reaction, the secret passage and her mom's tears. She was not sure what to do, but just to sleep on it.

It was a Friday morning the next day, just one day before the party. Princess Cammie jumped out of her bed knowing that she will be going to the town to choose a birthday gift for Prince Edward Cookiemonster. After a hearty breakfast, Queen Valentine took her out to town, and this time, there were two additional butlers following them to the town. They stopped at several gift shops before she finally decided to get a classic camera that has a special feature to translate and evolve different types of static images to animated images, GIFs.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

While waiting for the gift to be wrapped up, Princess Cammie spotted a strange lady who smiled at her across the street through the windows. She pulled her mom's arms, and asked her who that lady was. Queen Valentine and the butlers looked at each other, and quickly rushed back to the car. Once again, Princess Cammie had no answers from her dad, and mom about all these mysterious happenings... until the car was stopped by Queen Valentine just about 2 miles away from the castle. It was at the entrance of the tulips garden. "Mommy, why are we stopping here?" asked Princess Cammie. "Let's walk back to the castle from here. There is something that I would like to show you," replied Queen Valentine.

Queen Valentine: Honey, this garden of tulips is more than what it looks, or what it appears to be.
Princess Cammie: They are really beautiful! I love them, but what are you trying to say, Mommy?
Queen Valentine: Well, these tulips are actually not just tulips. They are actually fairies.
Princess Cammie: Fairies? How is that possible?!
Queen Valentine: (lifted both her arms) My dear fairies, arise and spread your wings for my daughter, Princess Cammie.

Instantly, these tulips were transformed to gorgeous-looking fairies! What a beautiful sight!

Princess Cammie: Woowwwww! This is amazing!!! They are alive!!! Does that mean our castle is actually surrounded by all these fairies?
Queen Valentine: Yes, honey! It was done for you. Always, it has always been you.
Princess Cammie: But why...?
Queen Valentine: That is something that we need to let your dad to tell you. Let's get going.

That night's dinner was rather a silent one. Queen Valentine and King Gilbert were extremely worried, you could tell from their looks. Princess Cammie gobbled down her chicken wings, and asked her dad, "Daddy, I saw fairies today! They were all the tulips in our garden. Did you know?!" King Gilbert smiled, and then sighed. He was torn between feeling gleeful and concerned about the Princess Cammie. Queen Valentine turned to King Gilbert and said, "Darling, I think it is time to tell her. She needs to know." King Gilbert nodded upon hearing that. After dinner, near the fireplace at the living hall, King Gilbert held Princess Cammie in his arms and explained all the mysterious happenings, or at least why he is being even more protective lately.

King Gilbert: Honey, do you remember the key you showed to me the other day?
Princess Cammie: Yes, Daddy!
King Gilbert: That key was actually a very special, mystical key. When you were born, there was a curse placed on the crib that you were placed in. The curse could only be lifted up and broken by fairies, and of course the key. The key has unimaginable powers to destroy your memories or create new memories, and the curse will only last until you turn 15.

Princess Cammie: (feeling sad) ... what if something happens to me before I turn 15? Will I die?
King Gilbert: When this key is safeguarded by fairies, the scent of fairies or flowers will keep all nasty goblins away from stealing the key from us. That key that you found in the invitation card was actually placed by some of the fairies in our garden... because they felt that it was time that you should know about the curse. As you grew closer to 15 years old, we need to protect you even more.
Princess Cammie: ... so I will be safe for as long as the fairies are with me? Where is the key now, Daddy? I went to your room and ... (gasped)
King Gilbert: You... what? You went to my room?

Princess Cammie: I am sorry, Daddy. I tried to look for the key in your room that same day. But it was not there anymore. Then, I heard loud noises behind your books and found a secret passage.
King Gilbert: I have given the key back to the chief fairy for safekeeping. AND promise me that you will never open the secret passage door in my room. It is really dangerous! It is a world of gobbbb... (Queen Valentine stopped him)
Queen Valentine: Darling, that's enough for now. We have the fairies with us. (turns to Princess Cammie) Come on, honey. It is time for bed, and you have a birthday party to go tomorrow.
King Gilbert: Okay, honey, maybe next time when you're much older. Sweet dreams.
Princess Cammie: (nodded) Good night, Daddy! I love you.

Photo by William Malott on Unsplash

Princess Cammie looked out from her bedroom windows, and saw that the stars were extraordinarily sparkly tonight. She had so many unanswered questions. She wanted to know more, but it was just not the right time yet. The beautiful sight of fairies emerging from the garden of tulips was just mesmerizing. She thought to herself, how the future will be like for her after she turns 15... or most importantly, before she turns 15.

Kringggggggg!

Ms. Kelly: Okay, everyone. That is the school bell. We will continue the story tomorrow.
Wendy: BUT TEACHER, where is the Goldilocks? Who are the 3 SteemitBloggers? Are they from the Kingdom of SteemitBloggers?
Peter: I think something will happen to her during the birthday party of Prince Edward Cookiemonster!
Zack: Nooo! Maybe the stranger will kidnap her from the party and take her to Goldilocks!
Leo: Let's just wait for tomorrow, guys! It is snack time. Thank you, Ms. Kelly!

This is my entry to a fairytale writing contest hosted by @steemitbloggers, using all 10 keywords (steemitbloggers, castle, cookiemonster, princess, GIFs, magickey, curse, goblin, treasure & fairy). Hope you enjoyed today's read! Thank youuuuu :)

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