by Ektaa Bali
“Help!” they heard a cry, followed by another.
“It’s Lobey!” Vidya said to Willow.
Willow and Vidya darted into an open window that led to an empty room. They touched down and sped out into the corridor against the second story railing, looking left and right. Down in the entrance hall, a group of perhaps twenty Bunyips were struggling against a magnificent blackwood rope net made by Lily. It was their biggest booby trap. They had lined the ropes with venom and stink flower sap and weighed down the edges with heavy rocks in the hopes that once released by Lily from the palace ceiling, it would keep the Bunyips in place. But it wasn’t working. The Bunyips were flailing around, one escaped out from an edge. Willow promptly shot him in the face with a stink flower bulb.
“Shoot!” cried Lobey, running around the net, shooting at the contained Bunyips.
“I’m running out of arrows!” cried Willow.
“Timmy!” cried Lobey to the Devil’s Finger tree bend her. “Deliver more arrows to Will and the queen!”
Timmy, the fat tree, stomped up the palace stairs, and the two Fae kids ran to meet him. He handed them a bunch of arrows each, and the kids loaded up the quivers on their backs.
But they were too late, because a second later, Lily let out a scream.
“Argh!!” shouted Lobey. “Run!”
The Bunyips had torn apart the net and were rising into the air, snarling, jeering faces locked on the kids.
Vidya and Willow didn’t waste time. They ran back down the corridor, into the room they had come in, and flew straight out the window.
Under them, at the back palace entrance, with a last splutter, the wall of flames went out. The oil had all been burnt up. The Bunyips were free to roam the city now.
“Vidya!” screamed Willow, as out of nowwhere, a Bunyip flew straight into him, grabbed him, and flew off into the night.
19
The Final Stand
“The Flower of Awakening knows the Darkness like an old friend. She feels it in her roots, sees it in her mind’s eye, and listens to it with her heart. And then she sings to it. And merrily, joyously, excitedly, her light glows, and the Darkness, overcome with tears, nods its weary head and retreats, admitting defeat.
—The Legend of the Flower of Awakening
* * *
Vidya immediately shot after them, a brown snake arrow knocked and ready to go. But the Bunyip was flying backward, and Vidya realised who it was as they squared off in the sky.
“Let him go, Bunyip King!” cried Vidya. Her bow quivered in her hands.
A group of Bunyips swarmed around them in a loose circle. Vidya looked around her and realised she was surrounded. The Bunyip King titled his head back and laughed.
“Do you surrender, Fae Queen?” he roared.
Vidya bit her lip hard. Willow held on to the Bunyip King’s arm, which was secured firmly around his neck. His navy wings were squashed against the beast’s chest, and his eyes were wide with terror. Vidya’s heart beat unevenly in her chest, and her mind raced.
Was this it? Was this how it ended? Would the end of the Eastern Bushland Fae be marked by this very moment, where she surrendered to save the life of her dear friend? Willow’s voice reached her mind’s ear. From the day he had answered the Wollemi Pine King’s question for her.
‘It means to see all living things as yourself. To be Fae means to see all plants and animals and beings as one.’
A hot tear trickled down Vidya’s cheek. This was wrong. It was all wrong. She looked around the at the circle of Bunyips, with their sleek black coats and sharp teeth. The raspy voice of the Leaf Master entered her mind:
* * *
“I’m foolish and I’m selfish.
I till the soil and dig the land
And will fulfil your every wish
All the earth I do command
Come at me with your best
And I’ll chop you up
Good and fresh”
She went over the words in her mind over and over again, like a song she just couldn’t get out of her head. She had been foolish and selfish. The answer to the riddle had not been Bunyip King at all, the answer to riddle had been her. The realisation struck like an arrow to the heart, and the backs of her eyes burned. This entire time, she had encouraged Lotus and Lobey and the others to fight back, to not only defend their home, but take down the Bunyips. She had even told that weird little mushroom in the Fae forest that’s what she was going to do. There had been so much anger and fear bubbling away in her. She had just wanted to do things right. Just keep Mahiya and the other kids safe. But was she even setting a good example to Mahiya? As her older sister, as the Queen of her people, she was supposed to be showing the other kids what was right. And none of this was right!
How could she have missed that? The Bunyips now flying around—they were creatures of the world just like her. And just like her, made bitter and angry by a threat made to their community. She sighed and lowered her bow. She had faced more dark creatures in the last two days than she had in her entire lifetime. How could she have not understood what it meant to be Fae? Willow had been right this whole time. The Fae see all things as one. All things as themselves. As Fae Queen, she should have known that. Her parents and Nani had been teaching her the way of the Fae since she was a baby. How had everything gone so wrong? She felt like she had been struck by every arrow she had shot from her own bow tonight. Her bones ached, her wings ached. Her brain ached.
“Why are we here, Bunyip King?” she asked tiredly.
The Bunyip King bared his teeth at her.
“I seek revenge for what was done to me by the Fae. I am owed! I demand your Kingdom as my compensation.”
Vidya blinked away her tears. “I understand why you want it, but—”
She was interrupted by an unexpected cry as a dozen arrows flew through the air. Two caught the Bunyip King on each leg, and he stumbled in the air. Willow broke free and shot more arrows. Bunyips fell from the sky, their wings torn, limbs punctured as Lobey and five other Fae kids had sneakily shot at them from below.
The sky-high meeting was disbanded as everyone scattered in different directions. Vidya waved at Willow, and the two of them shot down into the palace grounds, some of the other Fae kids following. The Fae kids were outmatched in the air, the Bunyip’s wings were too strong, it was much better if they faced them on the ground.
They touched down upon the grass with a thud, and Vidya turned to look behind them.
No less than twenty Bunyips were running toward them.
“Run!” cried Vidya.
The group split into two. Vidya, Lobey, Willow, Lily, and few others shot down the greenhouse paths, while the other group went down into the Fae city.
Nani’s triple locked greenhouse was close by.
“Let us in!” cried Lobey, banging on the door. “Let us in!”
The tree locks clicked, and the door swung open. The group rushed in, a Devil’s Fingers’ plant locking the door behind them.
The greenhouse seemed much bigger now that it was mostly empty. Two Devil’s Fingers’ trees paced up and down the greenhouse, the other two were down at the end with Nani.
“How long will it hold?” asked Lily.
“This place is a fortress,” panted Vidya, wiping her forehead on her sleeve. “It was made to keep the Devil’s Fingers’ inside. I don’t care how strong they are, it’ll take them ages to get in.”
“We’re outmatched Vidya,” said Willow. “I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this.”
“How many do you think are left?” asked Lily.
But Vidya was barely listening. She walked down the path to see Nani, sleeping soundly on her tree hammock.
She took Nani’s hand in hers, sniffing softly.
“I’m sorry, Nani,” she whispered. “I think I failed us all. I made the wrong choice. But at the time, I really thought I was doing the right thing. How was I supposed to save the Fae without hurting the Bunyips?
All they want is us gone altogether.”
Vidya thought about the days leading up to this moment. What would the adults have done differently? Probably a lot of things, she thought glumly. Probably everything. She wondered what Nani would tell her if she were here, but she just couldn’t imagine it. What was she to do? Perhaps they could all just go and hide with the children, stay safe in there while the Bunyips took over their palace. Just give it to them? She thought. No, she could never just give away her home to these dark creatures. The Fae Queen’s job was to protect the balance, and the Bunyips winning was no balance at all.
Vidya’s fingers tightened around Nani’s, and something rough brushed against her fingers. Frowning, she turned Nani’s hand over and unravelled her fingers. In it was a scrunched piece of paper. Vidya frowned and opened it up, reading the lines of text. The paper had been torn from a book.
Deep in the core of the earth lies a roaring fire. The Fae are made of the earth, but in their hearts, just like the earth, burns a fire-bright light.
On the top of the page, Nani had written:
Mahiya.
* * *
Vidya’s mind raced.
Nani had been thinking that baby Mahiya’s power did come from the earth. Just the deepest part, the core of molten fire. Earth-fire.
Then it struck her like a bolt of lightening down her spine. The image of the Flower of Awakening flashed into her mind.
“Oh, my earth!” she exclaimed, wheeling around to face the others. “It didn’t work because it was the wrong type of fire!”
The others walked to toward her, confused frowns on their faces.
“What are you on about, Vidya?” asked Lobey.
“The Fae are of the earth.” Vidya said. “Baby Mahiya is producing fire. Earth fire. Fire that comes from deep within the earth’s core. That’s what she is! She’s a fire Fae. That’s where her power came from! Something in the earth recognised that the Flower of Awakening needed re-charging again. And so, the new princess was born with the ability to heal her. She has exactly what we need. Earth fire!”
Willow stepped forward, excitement glowing on his face. “That was what the Wollemi Pine King was trying to tell us! He didn’t know about baby Mahiya, of course, so he couldn’t tell us exactly!”
“I’ll be needing that second arrow, Will,” said Vidya. “I’m going to get baby Mahiya.”
“We’re going back out there?” groaned Lily.
“Yes,” nodded Vidya. “But this time, it’s because we’re gong to win this thing. Do you have any oil left, Lily?”
The orange-haired girl reached into her pocket. “Just a little.”
“That’ll do.”
Vidya pocketed the tiny jar. “Let’s go.” She raced to the door as Lobey beckoned one of the trees to unlock it.
“I’ll send out Timmy first as a distraction,” said Lobey, pointing to the fat tree. “We’ll shoot from behind you.”
Vidya nodded, realising that if anyone had told her, a week ago, that she would entrust Lobey with her life multiple times, she would have burst out with laughter.
Timmy pushed the door open and ran out. The waiting Bunyips roared when they saw him, and Vidya and Willow followed, bows at the ready, shooting out blindly in front of them. There were three Bunyips.
Arrows whizzed past Vidya’s ear as Lobey, Lilly, and the others shot at the Bunyips. Two were down, and the third followed Vidya as she darted past the others, blinded by stink sap, out and up the path toward the city. She would have to run the length of the city, she realised, and risk exposing the secret hiding spot where the others lay. They would have to make sure they were not followed.
Vidya ran through the path, down the line of tree houses, shooting in front of her, arrows whizzing past her ear as Willow shot Bunyip after Bunyip. His aim was impeccable, but he was tired, and missing some at times. They used their wings to speed run through the city. Lobey, Lily, and the others followed, shooting this way and that.
Soon enough, they approached the end of the city where the hiding place was, right on the edge of the cloud the city rested on, near the fall to the Bottomless Sky. A swarm of Bunyips roamed the area.
“Vidya!” screamed Lobey from behind them.
“Shoot!” cried Vidya, releasing arrow upon arrow.
“I’ll distract them!” cried Lobey. “Hey, losers!” she called. “I’m the Queen of the Fae! Come and get me!” She waved at them, and the Bunyips charged at her and Lily, who screamed and shot wildly.
“Cover me, Willow!” hissed Vidya as she shot a Bunyip in the face and ducked behind him as he roared as the stink sap blinded him. They shot and ducked, scooting through the trees to the tree which held the door. Glancing behind her and seeing that Lobey had led the Bunyips away, she tapped on the door, and it glowed yellow before opening. She stepped inside and indicated Willow to stay and scout outside. He flew up to the lowest branch, crouch low, arrow knocked at the ready.
Sleepy faces met Vidya as she stepped into the room. There was a stifled cry as Toad, Luna and Pancake ran into Vidya.
“Is it over?” Toad asked, eyes shining. Baby Mahiya was in her arms.
Vidya shook her head and put her finger to her lips. “I don’t have time to explain, but I need to collect fire from Mahiya.” She brought out the glass jar with the oil. “A single spark should do it.”
Toad frowned but looked at Mahiya. “I mean… she’s been a little gassy.”
“Perfect,” Vidya grabbed Mahiya, and the little girl squirmed in her bundle, squealing in discomfort.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” whispered Vidya. “Please, Mahi, give me some fire.” She lay Mahiya down in a cot and unwrapped her. “Come on, little one, get uncomfortable. Give me a spark.” She held the open jar at the ready, and just as Mahi gave an almighty squeal from being put down, sparks erupted from her hands and mouth. Vidya clapped the lid of the jar down on top of one and squinted at the closed jar. The oil lit up, a powerful purple-orange fire.
“Woah!” exclaimed Luna and Toad.
“Gotta go!” cried Vidya, hastily bundling Mahiya back up and shoving her into Toad’s arms. She patted Pancake on the head and rushed back to the door, cracking it open and whistling. Willow jumped down and pulled the door open.
“It’s clear,” he said, and together, they shut the door and ran back down the path. “I hope Lobey’s okay,” he panted as they raced back through the city. They shot two Bunyips on the way back before they saw Lobey in the distance, racing up to the palace as a gang of Bunyips followed her.
“No time to help them,” Vidya said. “We have to do this now.”
“Agreed,” said Willow. “Once your father and the adults wake up, we’ll have triple the amount of Fae to help fight.”
They half flew half ran up the path to the palace and shot up to the roof where their night had started.
Willow and Vidya ran to the edge of the roof palace, looking at the pale glow of the Flower of Awakening sitting in front of the trees.
“How are we going to create a light bright enough?” asked Willow hurriedly, glancing behind them.
Vidya licked her lips. It was risky, but it was the best idea they had.
“It’ll take both of us, Will,” said Vidya. “I have a little oil left from the western marshes. I’m shooting the Wollemi arrow lit with Mahiya’s fire. And you’re going to take an arrow with a balloon filled with oil. We’re each going to shoot an arrow, and they’ll meet in the sky, creating the explosion.”
Willow looked at her in surprise. “But, Vidya, the odds of us getting that right are…”
“Slim, I know. Let’s go.”
“We only have the one shot.”
“I know.”
Willow emptied a stink sap bulb of its contents, and Vidya dribbled some oil into the empty bulb. Willow carefully tied it back up.
They flew into the dark sky and crossed the gap toward the Fae forest. Two black blurs shot out of the forest, and before Vidya could react, W
illow had shot two arrows, Vidya watched as two Bunyips went tumbling down into the Bottomless Sky.
“Should’ve known they’d keep a guard,” he called.
They were tired and making mistakes now. It was lucky Willow was fast.
“Thanks, Will,” was all she could say.
She glanced down at the Flower of Awakening, who glowed so weakly, she was barely glowing at all. She nodded at Will, and they spread out in the sky in front of her. If all went well, they were going to meet their arrows right in front of the flower.
The Bilberry juice was fading, so Vidya could barely see Willow out there in the dark. But this was the best she had. She took a deep breath, took a clean arrow, and dipped it into the jar full of oil and Mahiya’s fire. The arrow lit up, and she dropped the jar into her backpack.
Vidya knocked the flaming arrow and pictured the Flower of Awakening in her mind. Willow aimed his arrow.
“Go!” he shouted.
Vidya shot hers into the air, and half a second later, Willow shot his. And true to his aim, the two arrows met in the night air.
Lobey and Lily ran into the palace, over ten Bunyips on their tail. Their best bet was battling them in a confined space, she decided. Three Fae kids waited for them in the small back door they were heading through, in the process of pushing a heavy wardrobe across the door.
“Barricade the door!” cried Lobey, darting through after Lily.