It was certainly a sight to behold.
Sprawling meadows, evergreen fields, birds chirping, water running and three women with their pants down, their garish underthings enriching the beauty of the vista.
The midday sun peered over the wilderness, the pine trees towering like skyscrapers, casting long shadows across the lush green landscape. Celdine and Aerisa waddled, the fabric of their britches bunched around their ankles on the ground, as their feet slowly but surely shuffled towards their destination, the warmth of the sun on their bare legs, with a slight soothing by the occasional gentle breeze.
And to keep them company, they were joined by the young, high-spirited girl Tamesis, who enthusiastically dropped her trousers to join them. The three wore high-cut briefs with a distinctive V-shape between the legs. Cledine was sporting white with yellow outlines, Aerisa was wearing bright red heart prints, and Tamesis wore navy blue.
The high cut of their panties along with them being fully dressed above the waist gave the illusion that the trio were simply wearing costumes with a leotard underneath, rather than being in their underwear, resembling showgirls performing on stage or superheroines. But the thin fabric of their undergarments that offered little protection against the elements was a constant reminder that they were indeed in their panties.
But with that thought, the ever cunning Celdine thought of a cunning plan to get one over that haughty Princess and her brilliant, white, shimmering undies.
"I betcha Ellustry is cheating," Celdine boldly stated, her arms folded with a self-assured smile, he lovely face split with a wide grin.
"That is deeply calumnious, Miss Goldenstar," Aerisa retorted, her beautiful features furroing into a frown of disgust.
"But think about it, Aeripeez!" Celdine responded with glee, her own underwear standing out against the backdrop of the foilage. "How do we know that she's actually in her undies? She could very well actually be wearin' a leotard with all those fancy clothes hugging tightly that perfect hour-glass figure of hers."
"The high cut of her underwear may look like the bottom of a leotard," Aerisa said with confidence, the reverence for the high-Princess inscribed on her face. "But I can assure you, those are her undergarments. I have done her laundry countless times. All her underwear is tailor-made."
"Lady Ellustrya is an inspiration to us all!" Tamesis chimed in, playfully tugging at her own underwear made in the image of Ellustrya's. "If she turned out to be a phony, that would break our hearts. There's no way she's wearing a leotard!"
"Nah, she's defo wearin' a leotard instead of panties!" Celdine said as she doubled down. "How else do you explain she keeps them pristine white?"
"Enough of this nonsense. I already explained that I do her laundry," Aerisa added irritably, her lips starting to tighten on her otherwise emotionless face. "And she's well known for keeping all her clothes immaculately clean, even her undergarments. It would be unwise for you to press this any further."
"Aeripees, you traitor!" Celdine declared, her arms folded like a petulant child's. "You're loyal to the Princess, so you're defo sus! We're out here, doin' the hard work and prancin' around in our panties while she's secretly wearing a leotard cos she knows no one can tell if her upper half is covered!"
"Whatever you say, Miss Goldenstar," Aerisa jibed with defiance, clearly not budging from her position.
"I don't think it's nice to say such things about Lady Ellustrya," Tamesis said resolutely. "She's the panty queen!" She stated with stars in her eyes, looking as if she was completely infatuated with Ellustrya.
"Well, I'm gonna get to the bottom of 'dis, mark my words!" Celdine vowed, her resolve inexhaustible. "Ellustrya Windrider, I'm gonna expose you for what ya really are!!"
"Acchoooo!!"
Ellustrya had an abrupt sneezing fit. She wiped her nose with an old maidish handkerchief from a pocket of her military jacket, which hung over her exposed white briefs. Her uncovered, coppery, well-proportoned legs were crosses, hanging over the front of her chair.
"Are you all right, Lady Ellustrya?" Boldasarre murmured with genuine concern, his face etched with worry.
"My apologies, Boldasarre. I did not mean to startle you," she assured him, her face unreadable and expressionless. "I just have an inkling that someone has spoken ill about me and my knickers."
Boldasarre looked wholly bewildered and seemed utterly lost for words. To him, nobody looked better in underwear than Ellustrya. The brilliant white against her rich brown thighs accentuated every curve.
"B-But you look fantastic, Lady Ellustrya!" He reiterated earnestly, the conviction in his voice unwavering.
"Boldasarre, do you think my knickers look inauthentic?" She suddenly asked him, a slight trace of insecurity in her utterance.
"What!?" Boldasarre almost choked on his meal.
"The cut of my knickers makes them look awfully like the bottom section of a leotard, don't they?" She said. "After all, the cut of these knickers was based on the leotard's design to allow optimum leg movement."
"I… suppose?" Boldasarre answered awkwardly. "But why is that a bad thing? Don't women look good in leotards?
"With me wearing my jacket, you probably can't tell if they're my knickers or a leotard."
"Why would you be wearing a leotard? That would make no sense." Boldasarre declared, but Ellustrya did not seem to be listening.
"But these are my knickers, and I'll prove it." She rose to her feet and lifted her jacket, revealing the waistband of her nylon briefs. "See? They're knickers." She said. She then lifted her leg and pointed to the seam across the front panel. "And there's the gusset!"
Boldasarre spat out his food all over the floor.
"Lady Ellustrya, you shouldn't go around flashing like that!" He stammered.
"Why? Are you saying that it… excites you?!" She said teasingly.
"Don't forget I'm in my underwear too! If you get me too hepped up, then my thin underpants won't be able to…"
She cupped his face in her hand.
"Then, I'll just have to do something about it, then." She said as she gently kissed him on the forehead.
Boldasarre turned beet red as Ellustrya traced the lines of his muscles with her finger. Her touch unwinded his entire body, and then her finger reached the waistband of his underwear. It both soothed and tickled him.
But the intimate moment between the couple was cut short.
"Tut tut, Lady Ellustrya." Zatrona's voice interrupted them. Ellustrya jolted to her feet as Boldasarre lay dazed underneath her. "Why are you keeping this handsome boy all to yourself? It's not fair."
"Isn't this what married women do?" Ellustrya answered stoutly.
"You're married?" Zatrona said astounded. "You mean, you've finally remarried after all this time?"
"No. I was married to him. In his past life."
"You mean, he's…"
"Yes, he is."
"How do you know?"
"I can feel it in my heart."
"Sheesh. You were always so possessive of him. Some things never change!"
"You should never mess with an Elder Dark Elf in love."
"He's a man, and he's in a room with two beautiful women with their trousers down. Don't you think that he'll pay attention to just you! My panties are showing, too!"
"But you only have eyes for me, don't you, Boldasarre?"
He mumbled incoherently, unable to form words.
"You're making him uncomfortable!" Zatrona stated accusingly.
"It's you that's making him uneasy!" Ellustrya shot back. "Parading around with your trousers on the ground, knickers out."
"You're one to talk!" She fired back.
"But he sees me like this all the time! And he likes it!"
"And who wouldn't!"
"You're just jealous that he can't keep his eyes off my knickers but never gave yours a second look!"
"Then you're not paying attention! He can't resist me in my panties!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did he marry you or me?"
"I bet you choose all his clothes for him, including those white underwear, too!"
"And so what if I do?"
"Is he your husband or your child?"
"Just what are you doing here, anyway?" Ellustrya grilled Zatrona, her eyes narrowing as she waited for the Vespyad's excuse.
"Because you told me to get back to you as soon as I had more information! As you requested, I looked into the fastest route into Swallaptora Glade and deduced that the Ankrazian Cave System would be the most efficient."
"Is the entrance nearby here?"
"Yes. But I am concerned about you facing the Aviansaur with your trousers down."
"So, will you try and stop me from going?"
"Hardly. I know arguing with you would go nowhere." Her eyes then turned to the stunned Boldasarre. "And I know you well enough you're most likely doing it for his sake. But I do have a proposal."
"And that is?"
"I'm coming with you."
"You cannot be serious."
"I am deadly serious."
"But what about the rules of the bet?"
"Nothing says you can't let others join your party on your journey."
"No, I suppose you're right."
"Anyway, my pants are already down, so we'll face this threat together like in old times! Only this time, in our underwear!"
"This is absurd."
"You know what they'll call us after this exploit?"
"What?"
"The Panty Party!"
"What have I gotten myself into?"
"Do you want to find this Aviansaur's golden egg, or not?"
"Of course I do!"
"Then you're going to need my help."
"Acknowledged. Please lead the way in your knickers."
With a simple nod, Zatrona summoned her contingent of Vespyad entourage, all with their pants down and their hips swaying in their underwear. They beckoned Boldasarre, whom they were especially enthralled by, to follow them down the long, winding tunnel. They paid no mind to Ellustrya, much to her bother. The baffled Boldasarre and the fuming Ellustrya followed them out of the chasm and towards a small gorge.
"The entrance should be around here," Zatrona said.
They came across an entrance on the left side of the gorge.
"There it is! Time to go spelunking in our undies! You ready, ladies?"
"Hell yeah!" The chorus of Vespyads answered with spirit, sounding like a soprano choir in unison. All of them had their pants down.
"Time to show the world what we're made of — and our panties!" One of the more enthusiastic nymphs declared unashamedly as she did a little jig in her high-cuts and spun energetically. The Vespyads twirled in unison, their vibrant panties flashing like a kaleidoscope of colors as they danced forward
"It's time for the panty parade to move out!" Another interjected.
Ellustrya rolled her eyes. "Nobody said anything about your people tagging along," she said in a rather peeved tone, her eyes narrowing.
"But they're not breaking any rules being here, are they?" Zatrona retorted.
"No, I suppose not." Ellustrya huffed.
"Just a word of warning, though."
"And that is?"
"The caves get very tight in places."
"And?" Ellustrya raised an eyebrow.
"Well, since you're so well-endowed in the chest area," Zatrona snickered, trying everything she could not to burst into a fit of laughter. "You're particularly generously built in certain… places."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ellustrya's brows dived, her patience wearing thin.
"Just saying, probs a tight squeeze with your bust size." Zatrona roared in a fit of laughter, her face turning bright red.
"Yes, hilarious," Ellustrya did everything she could to remain regal and composed. Still, she could not stop clenching her fists into balls, looking like she would deck Zatrona.
"Oh, don't be like that! I'm just having a little laugh!" Zatrona insisted, giving her a little nudge. Ellustrya rolled her eyes in exasperation, but despite looking very displeased, she was as majestic as ever in her underwear.
"Well, we'll soon see who gets the last laugh!" She said assuredly.
"This adventure gets sillier by the day," Boldasarre murmured, watching with wonderment at the vanguard of Vespyad nymphs parading with their pants down. "This is too much for one guy to handle!"
"You've seen nothing yet," Zatrona winked, her eyes twinkling, she and her company of Vespyads with their trousers down, but spirits up, their brightly colored panties imaging their cheeriness. As Boldasarre led the parade of women in their underwear into the dark unknown, he realized that nothing in the adventurer's handbook could have prepared him for this.