"Heh," (Patreon)

I giggled as the irony of my situation began to sink in.  "Of course, heh heh.  Of course you can't come in.  And I, heh heh, I can't leave the circle either, ha ha."

"AH HA HA HA," I bellowed as I doubled over with uncontrollable mirth.  "I'VE LOST EVERYTHING!  HA HA HA HA HA!  MY KINGDOM, MY FAMILY, EVERYONE I CARED ABOUT, ALL GONE!  HA HA HA!  EVEN MY LOWFOLK SWEETHEART GAVE UP ON ME AND MARRIED A NINCOMPOOP!  HA HA HA HA HA HA!  THE DUCHESS OF DAISIES IS FREE HA HA AND I'M TRAPPED HERE AND CAN'T EVEN RECEIVE AN HONORABLE DEATH AT THE BRANCHES OF MY ENEMIES!  AH HA HA HA HA HA OH FUMA, IT'S HILARIOUS!  HA HA I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING"

"Hey," the trees rustled.  "Are you okay?"

"OKAY???" I yelled, suddenly not laughing anymore.  "HOW COULD I BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN OKAY CONSIDERING THE WAY MY LIFE HAS BEEN MANAGED FOR ME BY THE SISTERHOOD, BY THE VULPITANIANS, BY FELF, BY THE EMPIRE?  EVERY DAMN GROUP THAT HAS A STAKE IN ME HAS MANIPULATED ME TO THIS POINT!  WELL THAT'S IT!  I'VE HAD ENOUGH!  ADLER YOUNG IS NOT YOUR PUPPET ANYMORE!"

"I DO NOBODY'S BIDDING BUT MINE FROM NOW ON!" I screamed as I began apporting limbs from the surrounding woods and piling them up around me.

"Ow!  Hey, stop that!" the trees objected.

"QUIT COMPLAINING!" I shrieked, apporting limbs at a furious pace.  "YOU'VE WON, DON'T YOU SEE?  I'M DONE BEING THEIR PLAYTHING!  THEY PUSHED ME TOO FAR, AND THAT'S IT!  ALL OVER!  THEY PLAYED POORLY AND THEY'VE LOST THEIR PRECIOUS PUPPET!  AWWW, TOO BAD FOR THEM, THEIR AMBITIONS WILL NEVER BE REALIZED, BOO HOO, BECAUSE I'M QUITTING RIGHT NOW!  I'M GONNA GO OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY LIKE A TRUE SCION OF IRENAEUS AND THEN THEY'LL REGRET MESSING WITH ME!  AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN THROUGH I DESERVE THIS!!"

"STOP!!" somebody yelled.

"IS THAT YOU, DUCHESS CATHERINE?" I snarled at the peak of my fury as I held up a sizzling fire cantrip, primed & ready to ignite the pile of branches.  "COME TO GLOAT?  WELL YOU'RE TOO LATE, YOUR GRACE!  I'VE SURRENDERED TO THE SHRUB KNIGHTS AND THEY'RE GOING TO SUCCEED WHERE YOU FAILED.  YOU HEAR ME?  YOU FAILED!!!"

"PLZ STOP," Angela Weakflit beseeched me.  "Dont burn Urself up, Ur Higness!  ZOMG!  I luv U!!1!"

"We love thee as well, Sire," several of the other Ixies stated.  "Though in a completely different way."

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