One Small Step for Xia...[Jack Quest - Finished]

[danishweasel]

Her heart felt like it was going to fly out of her chest. Here she was, the Court of Clubs, walking proud with a letter of acceptance from King Anoushka in her mouth. The letter came as a welcome surprise to her, half-expecting a letter of get-the-heck-outta-here after she sent a request for Jackdom. Still, there it was in black and white. She would have a chance, and she would make it count.

Even with the excitement of knowing what was to come, she couldn't help but sit down and admire the structure, the simple elegance of it. There was nothing like this in Corvistowne, and for good reason. It probably would've been blown up or condemned by now due to someone's experiments. Ah well...

A thought suddenly struck her mind like an incoming train. Where do I hand this letter off to? Did it say in the letter? She was so happy after reading the first few lines, she'd forgotten to read the rest of it, like any instructions it might have contained. Ugh, there was no way she was getting that letter out of that envelope again...Ataxia looked around for somebody who looked like they worked in the court, seeing if they knew what to do...or could at least get the letter out without too much difficulty.

[The Jenn]

Having already passed by the guards at the gate, there were people milling all around. It was a busy day for the Court, near the middle of the week and late morning, the formal Court sessions having just let out. One young man saw her looking around confused and approached her, a canine in his animal form, looking like a large and shaggy mutt of a dog. He wore a belt around his waist with a sheathed blade, its handle specially molded to be used with a mouth. It was an 'average' size and may have been useful as both tool and weapon. His fur was an even green color with brindled tips, marking him as a Josiggy.

He tilted his head as he approached and stopped a short ways away from her. He was an Eight of Clubs. "Can I help you there, miss? You look pretty lost and it's busy enough around here that somebody might run you over if you stand here too long."

[danishweasel]

Oh thank goodness...She bounded over, filling in the slight gap between the two of them, and laid down the letter clenched in her teeth and slid it over to him with a push of her paw.

"Yep! I'm here to see King Anoushka. Gonna be a Jack, join up with the Court, the whole kit and caboodle. But, ah...not too sure where I'm supposed to go. That and seeing as I'm kinda new here, I'll be needing a sort of escort anyway, so I can be properly introduced...and not get lost either. If you could help me out, that would be spiffy."

She could barely stand still with all the adrenaline rushing through her. She probably could have run enough laps around the Court to make a trench large enough to make a moat out of it. And the way her tail was wagging, it could power a small rowboat across a sizable lake. So she wasn't calm and poised like some of the higher-ups might have been. She was ready.

[The Jenn]

Well, wasn't she enthused? Had her whole future bright and sparkling ahead of her, sights set on the Courts and nobility. He allowed himself a grin at her excitement and his own tail thumped once or twice in empathy. How cute. "Well, if you're looking for Her Highness, I can find someone to tell us where she is. I'm not on duty for another half hour or so and I've got the time. C'mon. Name's Byron, by the by. Most people just call me Ronnie."

He led her through the crowd and stopped by a blue-feathered woman, ducking his head close to ask a question and nodding thanks at her answer. "Seems she's heading towards her rooms right now, what with Court just letting out and all. We might be able to catch her before anybody else needs anything. Just follow me real quick and I'll lead you there."

It wasn't a long walk once they managed to get out of the constant flow of traffic that filled the rooms nearest the palace entrance, people leaving from the court proceedings and arriving for meeting and jobs and who knew what else. The hallways were decorated as befit a palace, though nowhere near as gaudy as something like the palace of Hearts. It was something they would snort and say with a quiet pride. They didn't waste their money so much on the decoration - they had better things to do with it. Pretty soon they reached a nice-looking section of hallway, the doors decorated to show that they were residences of the higher-ups. He stopped in front of one and pulled on a knocker set about mid-way down on the door. Most were equipped with it to accommodate animal forms.

"Your Highness," he called out, "I have someone here to see you with an official letter of invitation, armed and waiting to take her Jack's quest and enter the Court."

The door opened and a bipedal canine stood, blacks and purples playing across her fur. Even more telling than that were her leather bindings, the sure mark of a Torquey. Oddly enough, the classic white wings didn't spread across her back. Even more oddly, there was golden fur shining across her tail and rear. She looked down at the two of them, having just gotten in not half a minute before. "Vell, I suppose the vork vill never end. That's just fine, though, if you have an invite. You vould be Ataxia, perhaps, if I can judge by your region and breed? Or I may be mistaken and confused you for another. No matter. Come in, please, and we can discuss the business at hand. Court, you say?"

[danishweasel]

"Thanks a lot, Ronnie. Name's Ataxia, by the by. Probably should have said that first, but you know...Kind of excited about being in the courts and all these thoughts are jumbling 'round in my head right now. I'll get my head on right by the time I meet Her Highness, I'm sure."

At least she hoped so. There was a whole flock of butterflies in her stomach at that point as she dodged through the crowds of people at the entrance, making sure that she could keep and eye on Ronnie as she went and kept a firm grip on her letter. What would she have to do to earn her raise in rank? Hopefully, it wouldn't be too complicated...In hindsight, she probably should have searched out a Jack from her court and asked them about it. Too late for that now. They were at the King's door.

The door opened and Ataxia looked up at the black and purple Torquey. Huh, she didn't know many of their breed personally, but she never saw one with those features, at least not the gold tail or the whole wingless bit. Not a good time to ask, though. Curiosity killed more than just the cat. Her accent was kind of funny too. Lots of 'v' sounds. It wasn't anything bad, though. It made her sound more regal, not that Ataxia knew much about nobility in the first place.

With a last smile at Ronnie and a muffled thanks, she walked into the room. After setting the letter down and getting the saliva flowing again to moisten her now-parched tongue, she bowed her head to the King.

"No, you're spot-on. I'm Ataxia. And yeah, I'm looking to join up with the court."

[The Jenn]

Ronnie blinked a few times and watched her go in, followed by the King who made a 'stay there' gesture. He sat down obediently and prepared himself to await her pleasure.

The wolf sauntered in after her guest, leaving the door a tiny bit ajar as she went in and sat on her favored bench, the one with the rich wood and gold cushions. They were liberally covered with black and purple fur, which likely meant the servants would be in here to clean soon. It never built up like that except before a thorough cleaning. These thoughts occupied her mind, then drifted away as she watched the other canine.

"Seeing as you're not only looking for a rank, but a title as vell, I vill be sure that your qvest tests you to your fullest. I vill vant to see you in action, after all, before I inform His Majesty that you are fit to serve him, myself, and the other nobles of the Court. As a Jack, you vould have many responsibilities, not the least of vhich vould be learning your vay around and observing the actions of those in the Court. Things vork differently here than they do in the outside vorld. You vould be letting yourself into a vorld of politics, filled with sharks and volves." She bared her sharp teeth, several golden fangs gleaming with metal and saliva. "Not everyvon is suited to such a vorld. This test vill both determine that you are fit for your rank, and that you vill stand a chance in this place. Tell me. Vould you prefer a test of a physical nature, or vould you like something to test your mind?"

[danishweasel]

Ataxia remained standing, not sure if she would have the ability to stay still even if she was invited a seat. There was too much going on in her mind as she watched the King walk to her seat. Even with the chaotic storm brewing in her skull, her focus was on the figure in front of her lounging on the gold cushions.

Ataxia said nothing as the King spoke of the politics of the Courts. Sharks and wolves, yeah, she knew that much. Heck, she was looking at one right now, though she knew very well that the description was metaphorical. It didn't matter. Sharks, wolves, or rabid feral banders, she didn't care. She would do what it took to get into the Courts.

"I won't disappoint you, Your Highness! I'm ready. As for the test...I'll take the physical one."

Her mind was already occupied already. No need to fill her head even further. This was it. Ataxia stood at the ready, muscles tensed to hear what almost felt like some kind of court verdict.

[The Jenn]

Anoushka smirked, pleased. At least she was taking to the quest with gusto! "Good, very good... I believe I have an idea for vhat you vill need to do. Give me a moment, if you vill, to get everything ready. I'll be back shortly." With that, she twisted up from her comfortable position and hopped to stand, heading for the door and closing it firmly.

She was gone maybe fifteen minutes before she returned and beckoned Ataxia to follow her. "Ve must go elsevhere to do this, pretty pup. Come, this vay."

They walked through the palace corridors until they reached a large door to the outside, letting them out into a courtyard of sorts. Several men stood outside, all of them armed and with weapons, some in animal form and some bipeds. They all bowed in respect as the King walked towards them, all but one, who lowered his head with some indescribable emotion. Ronnie was bound in cuffs at the front and back, two sets that connected to one another. His belt and blade had been removed, leaving him without a weapon and looking rather vulnerable.

"This man has been accused of treason," the wolf said with an expression that bared her teeth, either a grin or a snarl. "Hovever, he vill not confess to his crimes. Really, he may not even be guilty of them. I think he is, and that's vhat really matters here, isn't it? He has been resisting our efforts at gentle persuasion. Your task, should you choose to accept it, vill be to duel him. If you defeat him, he vill be guilty in the eyes of the Court and I may present him to My Queen as a traitor. If you do not defeat him, or if you choose not to fight, you vill not be granted your Jackhood. Are you ready?"

Standing in the center of the semi-circle of armed men, Ronnie watched the Corvie with a very even expression. His thoughts were hard to determine.

[danishweasel]

Ataxia nodded as King Anoushka exited. She could do little but turn around to face the door and wait, tensed, adrenaline high at its peak. Would it be a test of endurance? No, that seemed way too easy with the way that King Anoushka described the Court of Clubs. It would be more complicated than that. Way more complicated. Still, it couldn't have been as bad as choosing the mental option, right?

After fifteen years (which in reality was about fifteen minutes), the King returned. She told her to follow, so she did. It made sense that it would be outside lest she break something in the process...but why were all those guards out there? Would she have to fight them all? This was going to be rough...

Then she saw Ronnie all chained up, looking absolutely miserable. What was going on here? She looked to the King in confusion.

If you defeat him, he vill be guilty in the eyes of the Court and I may present him to My Queen as a traitor. If you do not defeat him, or if you choose not to fight, you vill not be granted your Jackhood...

Her words crushed her spirits like a lead weight. She couldn't be serious...Ronnie was so nice, how could he possibly be a traitor?

"If I might ask, what did he do that you accuse him of treason? I trust your judgment, but...I'd like to know his crimes in more detail."

Ataxia looked back to Ronnie, trying to find a sign, a hint as to what was going on...This is a joke, right? You can't be...

[The Jenn]

Anoushka bared her teeth further, lips drawing back a bit to show her gums. "You did not choose to test your mind, Miss Ataxia. You chose to test your body. Therefore, his actions and my accusations should have no bearing on your quest. Perhaps if you had chosen differently, more information vould be available to you. As it stands, you have been instructed to duel him until von or the other of you is defeated. Do as you have been instructed or leave. He is guilty, von vay or the other, in my eyes."

Two of the guards stepped forward and unshackled the canine, who gave himself a brief shake and looked up at her through rough olive fur on his brow. He didn't say a word, but slowly took on a combative stance, defensive. Waiting. His eyes didn't leave her face. The other men all watched her as well.

"The Courts are not a kind place, girl," the King said quietly next to her. "Join us or not, this is your choice. You seemed so very ready before. Perhaps your motivation, your drive, your reason in coming here is not that important to you after all?"