Madison had been looking for the museum café when she found the archway.
Beyond it stood a palace full of sweets. Chandeliers glittered above mountains of macarons. Popcorn overflowed from silver bowls. Thousands of gummy bears stood in glass jars, looking suspiciously organized.
She checked her map. This was supposed to be the toilets.
“Your Majesty,” said a voice.
A small man emerged from behind a chocolate fountain, carrying a velvet cushion. On it rested a crown and a folded napkin.
“We feared you would never come.”
“I think you have the wrong person.”
“The prophecy describes a woman with dark hair, a red bag, and room for dessert.”
“That describes quite a lot of women.”
“But you came.”
Madison picked up a sour gummy.
The man dropped to his knees.
From somewhere deep inside the palace, a trumpet sounded.
“What happens now?” she asked.
“The coronation. Then you must address the uprising.”
She slowly lowered the gummy.
“What uprising?”
“The Sour Patch delegation has become extremely hostile.”
“And what do you normally do?”
“We wait until they become sweet again.”
Madison considered this. Through the tall windows, afternoon sunlight fell across three hundred varieties of chocolate. Her phone buzzed with a message asking where she was.
She typed: Got a job. Might be late.
Then she handed the man her map.
“Bring me the delegation.”
“All of them, Your Majesty?”
She opened her bag.
“Let’s start with a handful.”