A crack began to form around the sword, which split the throne down the middle, sending it crashing to the ground in two disheveled pieces. The sword lay on the ground, and Finvarra placed it appreciatively back into its holster. The ceiling began to crumble, and large pieces of stone, debris, and dust filled the air. Ducking with their hands above their heads to avoid being hit, Finvarra and Deliah raced for the castle door as it crumbled and crashed around them. They tripped on some debris as they ran out and fell to the ground, scrambling to get as far away from the castle as possible.
As Deliah and Finvarra thrust the sword into the throne, Dedrik breathed a tumultuous flame of fire engulfing the Dark King’s entire body. He tried to shield himself, but he had lost his power at the throne’s destruction. Unwilling to give up without a fight, he raised his hands to the sky and drew in a thunderous black cloud of doom and murk. Deliah and all of Faye responded by lifting their hands, letting the sunshine, rainbow, and sparkling beauty rise to stand against the Dark King’s cloud. The sky was half–light, half–dark. Good versus evil, light versus darkness was upon them. This was the final hour. This was the future of Faye.
A trail of doves that Merlin had gathered at Rainbow’s Pass flew into the darkness, disappearing into the treacherous sky. Slowly, they would emerge over and over again with a soul that had been captured, giving it back its freedom, placing it in the care of Faye, and letting it regain its rightful place.
The Dark King’s body turned to ash, and in a final rage of flying rock and smoke, all that was left of his shadowy figure emerged in a raging bellow of despair and defeat. His black, smoky figure loomed above his beloved, crumbled castle.
“Fools, this was only the beginning! This was only the beginning!” the Dark King raged as all of Faye sent their energy toward him.
Dedrik and the rest of the dragons flew over, and upon Dedrik’s glittered wink, they all breathed one last flame of fire. All that was left of the king, his castle, and his followers was burned to soot. It all burst into the air, disappearing into the Dark Corner as if it never even existed.
After a long pause, everyone gathered together and bowed to Deliah, including Finvarra and Maeve, who wrapped their arms around her and hugged her with pride. She looked to the earth embarrassed and then bowed alongside them all. Perhaps they were all really bowing for Mother Earth. Everyone was thanking her, jumping, and cheering for their freedom. Some shed tears of joy; some jumped and played in glee. It was the largest of any fairy party by far.
“You’re the best friend we’ve ever had,” several of her closest friends said.
“We’re not friends,” Deliah replied. “We’re family.”
She noticed the male dragon still lying hurt and motionless. She ran to his side. Suddenly inspired, she remembered the tool of regeneration and healing that Merlin had taught her. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on the dragon’s body while the rest of the elementals held hands in prayer. She focused all her energy on seeing the dragon healed and alive again.
“I know you can do it. I know you can. Just breathe,” she whispered over and over to him.
She felt the dragon’s heartbeat pick up pace and his body temperature rise. She opened her eyes and saw that the blood on his wing had disappeared. She stepped back as he slowly lifted his right wing and then his left, rising to his taloned feet. He bowed his head and nuzzled the side of her head in thanks. Deliah wiped away a tear from her cheek, happy to see him alive and so proud that she had learned to trust herself enough to try.
Faye was brighter than ever before. It was as it should be—a magical, majestic utopia. The sun smiled upon Faye that day. Every creature far and wide from earthworms to birds frolicked happily. Mother Earth was again at peace; all was set right; and from that day forward, anyone who had the pleasure of discovering Faye would witness the eternal truth: If you believe, magic you’ll receive.
Slowly, the dark sky began to part, and Deliah’s eyes followed the crack of sunlight that sparkled on the ground. She saw a man walking toward her. Her Papa! She ran to embrace him, and he picked her up and twirled her around in the air. Her mind flashed back to all the wonderful memories of their life together. She knew this moment wouldn’t last; she knew that this was a chance to say goodbye given to her by the elementals, maybe like a reward but more like a miracle.
“I love you, Deliah. You have made me the proudest father in the world! You did it! You did it!”
“I love you, Papa. I love you more than anything!”
The black sky had completely dissipated, and Faye shined brighter than ever. Papa blew her a final kiss before heading back home to the sun and sky. Deliah was crying tears of joy, smiling, and rejoicing. The truth rang through the sky and the lands. Forever more, the prophecy had been fulfilled. Faye could now live happily ever after.
A short while later….
Chapter 22
Love is here; love is there.
Love is ever present, everywhere.
Deliah’s grandmother awoke yawning and feeling more rejuvenated and refreshed than she had in years. Deliah sat on her lap in Papa’s favorite chair and asked Grandma if she’d like to hear a story: a story of a little girl who discovered a whole new world, a magical life just waiting to be explored. Her grandmother listened intently, amazed by her granddaughter’s imagination.
When Deliah finished the story, her grandmother asked her if she thought such a glorious place as in her tale truly existed.
“Sure, Grandma, right outside the front door.”
Grandma laughed, hugging Deliah as she looked at the red, purple, and orange glowing fairies waving hello from outside the window.
“Well, my dear, what shall we do today?”Grandma asked.
“Bake cupcakes and make a crown of dandelions!”Deliah shouted.
“Sounds like some of your favorite things, but it hasn’t been that long since we last did them. Don’t you want to do something different?”
“Uh–uh,”she said, shaking her head hastily. “It feels like forever!”
“Okay then!” Grandma said as she dug in the drawer and pulled out their aprons, handing Deliah hers. “Let’s get baking, and then we can enjoy our cupcakes outside while we make our dandelion crowns.”
After dinner, Grandma tucked Deliah into bed, and as Deliah surrendered to a final yawn, she could swear she saw Ostephen hovering outside her bedroom window. She threw off her covers, ran to the open window, and saw him holding a tiny suitcase.
“Didn’t think I’d leave without sayin’ goodbye, did ya?” he teased.
“Where are you going?”she asked, frowning.
“A good friend once recommended that I take a special someone on a long–awaited trip.”
Just then, Rosella flew forward, took Ostephen’s outstretched hand, and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. Deliah’s heart warmed at the very sight of them.
“I’m so happy for you both!” Deliah exclaimed.
“I’ll see ya in a few weeks,” Ostephen promised. “Until then, try and stay out of trouble, will ya?”he said with a wink.
They all laughed, and she watched Rosella and Ostephen float toward the mammoth moon, all the stars bending to wave hello as they passed. Deliah crawled back into the familiar warmth of her bed, kissed Papa’s picture goodnight, and wished all the fairies a safe flight. She closed her eyes, planning to dream of Cordelia’s garden party, which she was going to attend tomorrow.
Deliah tossed and turned in the bed, feeling as though she were lying on something. She got up, turned on her bedside lamp, and felt around the covers but didn’t spot anything. Turning, she caught a sparkle out of the corner of her eye. Running to the mirror, she gasped in gratitude. Wings! She turned slowly like a tiny doll in a music box, finally feeling like the fairy princess Finvarra had told her she was.
“Deliah?” Grandma asked, opening the door abruptly. “What’s the matter, honey? Can’t sleep?”
Deliah was frozen. She could still see her wing
s in the mirror, but she was in full view of her grandmother, and her grandmother didn’t seem to notice a thing! She remembered Maeve saying that the wings could go unnoticed in her realm if need be. Deliah smiled and hopped back into bed.
“I think I’m going to sleep really good now, Grandma.” Grandma tucked Deliah in once more and kissed her forehead while turning out the light.
“Sleep tight,” Grandma whispered and closed the door.
“As the fairies take flight,” Deliah heard Papa whisper.
And so our tale has come to an end.
The little girl’s heart certainly did mend
With the help of love and some wondrous friends.
Something tells me there’s more to come.
After all, a fairy princess has been awakened
And will be in need of some fun….
Believe Page 12