#fenixtj

.............. (Elsewhere)

"We're going Now?" Ariel says excitedly as Ellie tells her it's time

"Soon as everyone's together!" The boggans have made sure the girls have their best dresses - Ellie might be a little doll, but Ariel and Salma are nearly as flounced and bowed.

Ariel pats her own dress and beams. Yes, she looks adorable

A nervous knock on the side of the door

"Si?"

Holger looks in "lo siento, i am to be guarding you. " He wears the most adorable military looking sash

And as for that neckwear, very fancy, but he looks tempted to tug it off, whcih he best not or he'll ruin it

"Oh, Caballero! You look so guapo!"

Ariel agrees, "VERY Distinguished"

He looks dubious, "I do not look like the fool?" His english is getting much better

"No. Most proper and official."

Ariel nods and says quite seriously "You'll bring honor to us all"

At this dual phrase, the young troll puffs up just a bit straighter. He does actually look quite suitable. And Ellie has heard that if you train boys to accept being dressed up, they're more sensible about wearing what you want when they get older.

"...Salma is reading, isn't she?"

Holger says "Si."

"Arrgh" Ariel says

"Oh, Salma..." She heads towards the library.

Salma may or may not be found. She faces a crisis. Even with Constance's help, there's just so many books they expect her to leave behind. SHe has books for reading, books for trading, but which books can be traded (Since she's not allowed to trade Ash's history books?)

She sits with a stack of books on her lap, and a box set alongside that is already full.

Looking at two books in her hands, and trying to determine if she can squeeze just a bit more space in....

"Saaallllmmmaaaaa, it's time to go!"

Ariel says "Salma, the books will be here waiting for you when you get back, honest"

"sólo un momento por favor!" She calls back.

"But I've read some of these... but I still like them..." lightly patting a cover. "How do I decide between new friends and old?"

Holger says "I cannot just pick her up and carry her. A gentleman does not do these things" He explains "Unless she has swooned or is in danger"

Ariel rolls her eyes, hooves tapping "Salma, I got space in MY backpack" Coaxing "enough for two small books or one medium one. If you hurry up I'll carry em" A pause "And I wont' even eat a PBJ if I read them."

That last might have been a point of contention

She beams. "You are a good friend!" And one medium book is taken from the box, and replaced with the others. "Holger, can you help with this box?"

Holger moves to do just that while Ariel opens her backpack to let Salma organize

"Goodbye, Donquito. Watch Ramona." She pets the snoozing grey kitten.

Donquito yawns, seems to agree, and falls asleep again

"Tonto promised he'd look after em all" Ariel says then sighs "I'll miss little Aria"

"He is so lazy, he won't even notice we are gone, we will be returned by the time he wakes up." She pats the grey lump fondly.

Holger nods "Sacrifices must be made in the pursuit of duty"

Siiiigh.

"I shall miss them."

"Did you say goodbye to your flowers?" Salma asks Ellie. "You talk to them almost as much as that little pest." She says, checking underfoot for beloved Ramona. "If they gave seeds, could you watch your friends at other places?" Curious.

Ariel looks confused

"Oh, I don't know! I could ask!"

"The green roses, Ariel!"

"Then if they got new books in, they could tell us."

"Oh, and we must speak to their magicos too. About our flute player." She taps her throat.

"Oh!" Ariel says

"There will be many mysterious brujas y brujos to ask." Salma sounds hopeful. "Or maybe the answer is in a book!"

"We should help him " Ariel nods

"We MUST. He is one of the princescas subjects. If not her, then who?"

"Either a brujo, or a magic shell, or a book..."

"Or a MAGIC book..." She breathes in excitement at the concept.

"If you had a magic book, YOU would be a bruja, Salma!"