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boredom.
    They marshaled their arguments, then called Mother. Princess Ivy listened to them, then watched the replay of the unhappening on the Magic Tapestry. She called Father Grey.
    “What do you think?”
    “I think they should go ask the Good Magician,” he said. “It will be good practice for them, sharpening their talent, and his advice should be good.”
    “But what about the year's service he charges for an Answer?” Ivy asked.
    “Maybe he will waive that, if their mission is important enough.”
    They weren't saying no! That was almost suspicious, but the girls didn't hesitate. “Yes, we'll go,” Rhythm said.
    Grey glanced down at them. “But maybe this should be our secret,” he said. “So that Queen Irene doesn't hear about it.”
    Grandma Irene would absolutely, positively, definitely say no. “Secret,” Melody agreed.
    “That includes you two,” Ivy said to Ted and Monica.
    “Sure!” the two half demons agreed together. They liked secrets almost as well as mischief. “We'll help!” Ted added.
    “It's a great secret,” Monica said.
    “What's this about a secret?” Demon Vore inquired, materializing. He had come to pick up the half demons and take them home, as usual.
    Grey and Ivy exchanged most of a glance. “Can't readily keep secrets from demons,” Grey said.
    “Perhaps tell only the demon parents,” Ivy suggested.
    So they told D. Vore, and he agreed that D. Metria would be the only other person told. Then he swept up Ted and Monica and faded out.
    So it was that the three little princesses made their first excursion on their own. Next morning they sang and played a large magic carpet into existence, and climbed onto it. It was a bit unsteady at first, and listed to one side, but they kept working on it until it was firm. Then they floated out the window. They were on their way.
    They floated not too far above the ground, being nervous about going very high. They also did not go very fast, afraid the wind would blow them off. This was quite enough adventure, for now.
    Once they had the carpet stable and moving steadily, they lifted it to just above tree height and headed toward the Good Magician's castle. They knew it would take a while, but they were satisfied.
    Then they had time to reconsider. “How come they didn't say no?” Melody asked.
    “Maybe they realized we're big enough to do our own things,” Harmony said.
    Rhythm burst out laughing. After a moment the other two joined her. Obviously the adults had some other reason.
    “Maybe they want us out of the way so they can rest,” Harmony said.
    That seemed reasonable. Then Rhythm came up with the best one: “They must want more time to signal the stork.”
    That certainly explained it. Satisfied, the three forged on.
    A cloud appeared ahead. “Oopsy,” Melody said. “That looks like Fracto.”
    “In a bad mood,” Harmony said.
    “He's always in a bad mood,” Rhythm said.
    They tried to avoid the notice of the bad cloud, but Fracto had already spied them. He floated toward them, puffing larger.
    “He's going to try to blow us away,” Melody said.
    “Or wet on us,” Harmony added.
    “Or lose us in fog,” Rhythm concluded.
    A huge face formed on the cloud. Wind whistled through the big mouth. “AAAALLL OF THEEEE ABBOOOOVVE!” it gusted.
    They pondered, considered, and thought, but time was too short to allow them to contemplate. They had to act quickly.
    “Let's each think of something,” Melody suggested.
    “And each make it exist,” Harmony agreed.
    “And use it to mess up Fracto,” Rhythm finished.
    They concentrated. Melody thought of a cold snap. She snapped her fingers, and the carpet and air around them turned cold. That didn't help, because it made them cold without bothering Fracto, who reveled in cold air and hot air and turbulent mixings of the two.
    Fracto's mouth blew out more gusts: “HHOOO HHOOO HHOOO!” it laughed.
    Harmony thought of a compact disc. She formed it and held it before