The Swan Boat

Princess Tiernan walked sadly back from Princess Rita's Castle, where she (along with all the other Cuddlers) had gone when she heard the news...

Beside her paced the Carousel Flion, majestic in his sorrow. The tears rolled down his face as they had since he brought his Carousel Princess the news... that dear Princess Kelsey had gone Home that morning and was with Angels now (though in his private opinion she was one of them). As they reached the Carousel, Tiernan sat down on the edge of the platform and threw her arms around the Flion's neck. "How can this be?" he rumbled softly as she sobbed into his mane. "We were not ready to lose our littlest Princess!"

"I know," sniffled Tiernan. "My heart is breaking for CuddleAnt and The Cat, and Michelle and all of Princess Kelsey's family. And for Atlantis, too... we all came to cherish her so."

Hopping up onto the platform, the Flion wrapped his downy wings around Tiernan and together they sat in quiet remembrance. Curling up together, comforting one another as best as they could, they murmured of memories shared with Atlantis of a laughing sprite of a Princess, recalling how she had helped Tiernan find the Flion, telling the story to one another and chuckling fondly even as the tears rolled down thier faces.

Suddenly, Tiernan straightened up. "I have an idea," she exclaimed. "Tell me what you think..." She bent down and whispered in the Flion's ear. He nodded slowly, then grinned. "I think it would be a great idea, Princess," he told her. "I will help."

Together, they draped a huge purple cloth over the front of the Carousel, hiding it from all eyes. All through the night could be heard sounds of them working, muttering and occasional muffled giggles, sometimes soft crying and other times whispers. Finally, as dawn began to break, the Flion emerged from behind the curtain and with a powerful beat of his wings, launched into the air. He flew all around Atlantis, calling out in his powerful voice for all to gather at the Carousel for an Important Announcement.

Exhausted cuddlers from all around gathered in wonder, some of them still awake from a long night's vigil for Princess Kelsey, others just waking up and still rubbing sleep from thier eyes. When all had gathered around before the purple-draped Carousel, Princess Tiernan stepped out from behind the cloth and raised her hand in greeting. In her other hand she held a bottle of champagne.

"Dear fellow cuddlers," she began as the Flion landed gracefully on the other side of the purple cloth. "Princess Kelsey was a part of the magic and lore of the Carousel. It was she who helped me find our Flion, and she will be forever loved by both of us and by Tango, the Carousel's lead horse.

"As you all know, boats need names. Our swan boat upon the Carousel has been a favored place for many of you, friends and lovers, those who rode on the Carousel together, just sharing a ride and a quiet cuddle. And yet, the swan boat has never had an actual name, it has always just been called the Swan Boat. Last night I proposed a name for the Swan Boat, and the Flion agreed. And so it is that I invite you all on such short notice to the christening of the Swan Boat."

Reaching up, the Carousel Princess and her Carousel Flion together pulled the cloth down to reveal the remodeled Swan Boat. The chariot portion behind the swans had been repainted to purple, and the wingtips of the swans themselves were guilded in silver. On the side of the chariot was an angel bearing a purple ribbon, and on the purple ribbon in silver script was the name "Kelsey".

Princess Tiernan turned to the Swan Boat and with swing of her arm, brought the champagne bottle down upon the crest of the swans. It shattered, the tiny bubbles magically capturing the dawn light and sparkling silver as they cascaded down over the swans. The Flion spread his wings and gave a triumphant roar.

"Fellow Cuddlers, from this moment hence let it be known that the Swan Boat has a Name. From now on, it will be called the Kelsey!"

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