The fairy flapped her wings frantically as she led Ace and the team toward the royal castle.
"This is urgent!" she yelled.
"The Queen is desperate! The kingdom's fate might depend on it!"
Ace gulped.
Milo packed a sewing kit like it was a survival bag.
Sir Bramble carried the now half-empty fire extinguisher—because experience had taught him never to travel without it.
Ravenna glided calmly, ready to judge everything she saw.
They entered the castle.
Golden arches. Sparkling chandeliers. Velvet carpets thick enough to lose a hamster in.
Milo whispered, "I want to live here."
Ace muttered, "I want to go home."
At last, the fairy stopped in front of massive double doors.
She took a deep breath.
"Prepare yourselves… for the Queen."
The doors swung open.
The throne room was enormous.
Guards stood in formation.
Court mages lined the walls.
And at the center…
The Queen sat on her throne, looking absolutely devastated.
Her crown drooped slightly.
Her elbows rested on her knees.
Her face contorted into the greatest sorrow Ace had ever seen.
Ace gulped. "My Queen, what is the emergency?"
She stood up dramatically, clutching her skirt.
"IT'S A DISASTER!! A COMPLETE TRAGEDY!! THE END OF ELEGANCE IN MY ENTIRE KINGDOM!!"
Ace braced himself.
Torn royal dress?
Magical embroidery malfunction?
Cursed jewels?
Exploding corset?
The Queen raised her foot.
And with trembling despair…
"LOOK!"
She pointed at her shoe.
Everyone leaned in.
It was a royal glass slipper…
With a tiny defect…
Barely noticeable…
A hairline crack smaller than a grain of rice.
Ace blinked.
Milo blinked.
Sir Bramble whispered, "…that's it?"
The Queen wailed,
"I CAN'T ATTEND THE SPRING BALL LIKE THIS!!"
A silence swept the room.
Ravenna delicately coughed.
"Ace, to clarify: this is a… fashion emergency."
Ace whispered, "This is nothing."
But then the royal advisor burst forward dramatically.
"NO! It is not 'nothing'! The crack indicates a magical instability! If left unrepaired—"
He raised the slipper with trembling hands.
"—the shoe may SHATTER during the royal dance."
The Queen gasped loudly.
Everyone gasped with her.
Except Ace.
Ace stared.
Processing.
Trying not to scream.
Sir Bramble whispered,
"So… like… it might break… like a normal shoe."
The advisor glared.
"A SHOE CANNOT BREAK IN THIS KINGDOM! THAT WOULD CAUSE PANIC! RIOTS! ANARCHY!!"
Ace covered his face with both paws.
"Oh… my… god."
Ravenna stepped forward.
"Ace will handle it. He is a professional."
Ace hissed, "Stop volunteering me for stupidity!"
The Queen sniffled.
"Please, Cat Tailor… Save my dignity."
Ace sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
---
Operation: Fix the World's Most Dramatically Overreacted Shoe
The Queen placed the slipper on a royal silk pillow.
Court mages chanted dramatically.
The orchestra played emotional violin music for absolutely no reason.
Ace tapped the crack gently.
A tiny sparkle flickered.
Then a tiny pop.
Ace squinted.
"Oh. It's a minor mana fracture. Easy fix."
The court erupted in gasps.
"HE IDENTIFIED IT IMMEDIATELY!"
"WHAT BRILLIANCE!"
"TRULY THE CHOSEN DESIGNER!"
Ace blinked.
This was ridiculous.
Still… fine. Work is work.
He summoned his enchanted thread.
Wove a magical stitch.
Pressed a paw gently.
BOOP.
The slipper glowed.
Repaired perfectly.
The Queen stared.
Her eyes widened.
Then suddenly—
She grabbed Ace and hugged him so tight he squeaked like a squeaky toy.
"YOU SAVED US ALL!!"
Ace: mffphh!! can't… breathe…
The Queen spun around dramatically, waving the slipper.
"Let the kingdom rejoice! The Cat Upcycler has saved the Spring Ball!"
Milo beamed.
Sir Bramble clapped.
Ravenna nodded confidently.
"Great. Now let's discuss consulting fees."
But then—
A loud BOOM shook the castle.
The ground trembled.
A guard stumbled into the throne room, panting.
"YOUR MAJESTIES!
A DRAGON IS APPROACHING THE CASTLE!"
The Queen gasped.
"Is it here to destroy us??"
"No!" the guard cried.
"Worse—
IT SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE THE CAT TAILOR!!"
Everyone turned slowly…
To Ace.
Ace blinked.
"Why me… AGAIN?!"