The Minotaur placed the torn pink skirt gently—very gently—on Ace's worktable.
Which was impressive, considering his hands were the size of dinner plates and could crush a watermelon without trying.
Ace examined the damage.
Milo took notes like a fashion-obsessed accountant.
Sir Bramble prepared the fire extinguisher preemptively.
Ravenna hovered above, supervising like a manager who had never once touched actual work.
Ace cleared his throat.
"Client, can you describe how the skirt was damaged?"
The Minotaur scratched his chin awkwardly.
"Well… I was dancing."
Everyone blinked.
"Uh… dancing?" Ace asked.
"Yes." The Minotaur nodded firmly. "I was practicing my routine for the annual Warrior Ballet Festival."
Sir Bramble mouthed warrior ballet?!
The Minotaur continued, dramatically:
"I was in the middle of a triple-spin leap—"
Milo squeaked, "Minotaurs can leap?!"
"—when my skirt caught on the horn of a passing unicorn."
Ace closed his eyes.
"Of course. Naturally. Why question it?"
Ravenna marked something on her scroll.
"Root cause: unicorn traffic hazard."
The Minotaur clapped his hands together nervously.
"Can you fix it? Please? I only feel brave when I wear it…"
His big eyes shimmered with emotion.
Ace felt his heart squeeze.
He hopped forward confidently.
"We'll get it done."
The Minotaur sniffed loudly.
"You're the best… little fluffy wizard."
Ace sighed. "I'm not a—never mind."
---
Operation: Emotional Support Skirt
Objective: Repair enchanted garment
Risk Level: Very high
Previous workshop explosion count: 3
Chance of client crying: 94%
Ace's tail flicked as he prepared materials.
"Thread of Fortitude."
"Fabric of Courage."
"Buttons of… Slightly Above Average Confidence."
Everything shimmered with gentle magic.
Except the skirt.
The skirt… growled.
Milo pointed with a shaking paw.
"Uh… Ace… why is the skirt making threatening noises?"
Ravenna adjusted her glasses.
"That, dear team, is a Sentimentally Bound Garment Curse."
Ace froze.
"A what."
Sir Bramble gasped.
"That's the curse where clothes absorb strong emotions and—"
RRRRAAAAAARRRR!!
The skirt lunged off the table like a possessed jellyfish.
It wrapped itself around a chair.
Then tried to eat the chair.
Ace yowled and jumped onto a shelf.
Milo dove into a drawer.
Sir Bramble sprayed it with the fire extinguisher for no reason at all.
The Minotaur panicked.
"See?! This always happens when I get emotional!!"
The skirt hissed like a demon snake.
Ace groaned.
"Why are all my clients disasters."
Ravenna landed beside him calmly.
"Ace, handle this. It's your first cursed textile. Consider it… a milestone."
Ace leapt off the shelf dramatically.
"Alright, you chaotic piece of fabric!"
He slapped his paw onto the skirt.
WHOOMPH!
A burst of emotional magic surged through the room.
Ace felt… sadness.
Confidence.
Self-doubt.
Joy.
Loneliness.
Warmth.
Then—
His fur puffed up like a cotton ball.
He staggered back.
"What… was… that?"
Ravenna nodded.
"The curse recognized your empathy."
Sir Bramble whispered, "He has empathy?"
Ace slapped him with his tail.
The skirt quieted down, gently wiggling like a puppy.
It crawled into Ace's paws.
Like it trusted him.
The Minotaur sniffed.
"It likes you…"
Ace sighed.
"Yeah. Cute. Now help me before it bites someone again."
---
30 minutes later
The skirt had been:
Re-stitched
Re-enchanted
Re-stabilized
Emotionally comforted
And given a new enchanted ribbon "for extra bravery," Milo insisted
Ace presented the finished piece.
The Minotaur gasped.
"It's… beautiful!"
He put it on carefully.
The skirt shimmered.
Sparkled.
Then wrapped him in a magical aura.
He glowed like a gentle pink sun.
Sir Bramble whispered, "He's… majestic."
Ravenna wrote in her scroll:
"VIP client satisfaction: 100%. Workshop explosion: avoided."
The Minotaur wiped his eyes.
"I feel brave again… Thank you, Ace."
Ace smiled proudly.
And then—
THE DOOR SLAMMED OPEN.
A frantic fairy flew inside.
"THE KINGDOM IS UNDER A CRITICAL FASHION EMERGENCY!!" she squeaked.
Everyone froze.
Ace's ear twitched.
The fairy pointed at Ace.
"You! The Cat Upcycler! The Queen demands your presence immediately!"
Ace blinked.
"At my shop… or… at the castle?"
"At the castle!! NOW! IT'S A PRIORITY LEVEL 10 FASHION DISASTER!"
Milo fainted again.
Sir Bramble dropped the fire extinguisher.
Ravenna smiled.
"Ace… congratulations.
You have your first royal client."