I’M flying in the sky for the first time in my life! I cling to the giant, ruby back. Mr. Sun is so close. I can touch the clouds. The thick Black Forest below my feet looks like a green rug. At first, it reminded me of the tapestry decorating the castle’s great hall. I wondered if the person who made it also flew through the sky. Then it made me think of the morning I first climbed to the very tippy-top of the castle tower. I saw the sky spread past the horizon like this then too.
But the images in the tapestry weren’t real. The castle tower didn’t move with me on it. Right now, I’m moving. Everything I see is real. The trees, ground, water, wind—all of it is real. Wind hits me. It whips at my face, plays with my hair, smacks my arms and chest. My entire body is in the middle of racing air. It’s so strange to touch something you can’t see. I forget how to use my voice.
Gideon and Mister Dragon have been chitchatting since we took off. Wind whooshes and howls in my ears. But Mister Dragon’s voice is deep and rumbles through it. His voice gently shakes my body. Listening to it relaxes me.
Gideon firmly holds me in his lap. His arms are much tighter around me now than when we rode the horse.
“Think that blond horned bastard is all right?”
I’m tucked close to his chest, so I can easily hear his gruff voice.
“Resistance to getting squashed is the Daemon Clan’s forte. Like the persistent roach he will be back to normal after a hundred years or so.”
“Good to hear.”
“You’re an intriguing fellow. Why do you worry about a Daemon’s wellbeing?”
“…He’s not our enemy. He’s an incorrigible piece of trash, but he’s not a problem as long as he keeps his grubby fingers off of Princess.”
“Hrm. There’s an element of truth to that.”
“You gotta wonder why he went and built such a massive tower. It was in plain sight from all directions.”
“Even among the Daemon Clan, he especially craves the limelight.”
“Ahh. He’s a show-off then.”
“That is putting it simply, but you are correct… Now then, it’s time to land. Hold on tight, Princess.”
“Okay.”
He’s so big, but Mister Dragon softly lowers from the sky like a petal drifting on the wind. The forest treetops come closer, then rush past us, and the ground grows larger.
His wings expand and catch the wind. His feet hit the ground, rocking us, and then he stops.
✦ ✦ ✦
PRINCESS, Knight, and Dragon have returned to the base of the Millennial Tree together.
“I’m back, Buttercup!” Princess calls.
The amber horse welcomes the little princess back with a whinny. However, Buttercup isn’t the only one waiting for them. Sparkling, blinding purple lights dance between the branches.
“Oh?”
They suddenly draw near, almost as if they have a will of their own. Then, they surge together and a figure appears from within the coalesced lights. A woman, donning a dress and light-purple hair the color of dawn, steps forth. Her trailing hem is a deep indigo. Her short hair spreads out like the wings of a baby bird, gradually turning transparently clear towards the tips before melting into the sky.
“I’m so glad to see you are safe, Lala Lilia.” Her soft voice sounds like tinkling bells. A smile touches her bluebell-colored eyes. One glance at her face, and Princess brightens enthusiastically.
“Fairy Godmother!”
“Why if it is not Lady of Dawn.” Dragon bends his forelegs and lowers his head into a respectful bow. “It’s been a long time.”
“Pleasure seeing you again, my noble ruby dragon, Spike Scale.”
Knight turns to Dragon. “Someone you know?”
“An old friend.”
So I’m the only one who doesn’t know her? Knight thinks.
“How do you do, Knight Gideon?”
“Pleased to meet you, Lady of Dawn.” Knight Gideon removes his hat and brings it to his chest before bowing his head. Whether human or something else, one must always pay respects to a lady. Such is the way of the knight.
This is a Fairy Godmother, and as such, Lala Lilia’s guardian. All of the Blessed Royals have their very own Fairy Godmother.
“I’ve wanted to see you ever so badly, Lala Lilia.”
“I’m so happy! Very happy!”
Godchild and Godmother embrace, rejoicing over their safe reunion.
Meanwhile, Knight is sullen-faced, grimacing. His dry lips twist as he spits out in a gruff voice, “Now you show up? Come out sooner if you plan to show up at—Whoa!” Fairy Godmother appeared right in front of his face before he could finish the last word. “When did you—”
“Fairy Godmothers are like that.” Dragon nods with a self-satisfied look.
“We are like that.”
“Are you now?”
Finding his question ignored, Knight cuts to the chase. “So? What’s the plan of action from here? We supposta take Princess to the Land of Fairies?”
“How wonderful it would be if that were possible.” Lady of Dawn casts down her eyes and blinks once. The light enshrouding her weakly flickers. “The instant Lala Lilia crosses over to the fairy realm, even momentarily, she will be thrown out of sync with the realm of humans. Distortions that cannot be corrected will take root, and she will be unable to live in this realm again. Even if it looked as if she returned home here, in the end she would always go back to the other realm. She would eventually lose what made her human.”
Her long, slender white fingers lovingly comb through Princess’ hair. “What I desire is for Lala Lilia to live in happiness as a child of mankind. Is it not the same for you?”
“…Pretty much.”
“Then allow me ask you, Lady of Dawn, how should we protect the princess?” Dragon asks with an air of dignity.
“Hey! That’s supposed to be my line!” Knight snaps.
“Show us the way, oh Lady of Dawn!” Dragon continues over him.
“C’mon, you stupid lizard! Stop acting like a knight on a quest!”
Lady of Dawn gracefully lifts her right hand, pointing toward the green treetops. “Hide in the forest.”
“In the forest?” both Dragon and Gideon ask.
The lady dances through the air and places her hand on the Millennial Tree’s trunk. “O tree. O tree. Rooted in this land since antiquity, thou hast grown large with the great passage of time. Please lend me thy strength to protect and raise this tiny life,” she beseeches with her chiming voice. The Millennial Tree shudders as it answers her prayers.
“Whoa!”
“Wow!”
The branches, leaves, and even the trunk begin to creak and snap as they change. They lengthen, expand, and close together, eventually weaving into one shape. The soil rises as even the buried roots start to move.
By the time silence returns to the forest, the Millennial Tree has transformed into a single cabin.
Gideon gapes. “What can I say…I wasn’t expecting that.”
“A splendid display of your skill, oh Lady of Dawn.”
Bells tinkle in the distance. “Thank you…”
“Whoa, where are you, Lady of Dawn?!”
Although they heard her voice, she’s nowhere in sight. Gideon quickly surveys the area.
“I’m right here,” she says softly. She must have exhausted her power, because she’s shrunk so small that she rides on the palm of his hand.
“Well, haven’t you become awfully cute.”
“Fairies change form according to the power they hold within.” Tiny Lady of Dawn weightlessly floats up to Gideon’s eye level. “Raise Princess Lala here. Join hands with Spike Scale to do so.”
“Spike, huh?” Gideon scoffs. “You had that kinda name, you overgrown pair of boots?”
“Do not refer to one such as I so disrespectfully. I only allow those who are close to me to call me by my name.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Knight Gideon.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Spike Scale.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“My barrier will protect you both and the princess. However, it won’t last forever.”
“How long should we hide out here for, Lady of Dawn?”
“You will know when the time comes.” Tiny Lady of Dawn kisses Princess on the forehead. “Lala Lilia, my beloved godchild.”
“Wait, Fairy Godmother! Don’t go!”
Her body turns transparent and incorporeal before Princess’ eyes. At the same time, her tinkling bell of a voice grows fainter and thinner…
“I am always praying for your health and safety. For your…happiness…”
Her words mix with the wind’s melody, the notes of the rustling leaves, then fade away. Dragon and Knight turn to one another as they both watch over Princess, who now stands there alone.
“Looks like our truce is gettin’ an extension.”
“It goes against my wishes, but we have little choice.”
Dragon lifts his foreleg and Knight his fist—they quietly knock them together.
“For the princess.”
“For the princess.”