Vidia rolled her eyes.
“Beck is telling the truth,” Queen Clarion said. “The feather thief is Vidia!” She stretched out her hand and pointed an accusing finger at Vidia. “Vidia, for once you’re going to pay the price for your deeds. Consider yourself grounded—literally. No flying for two weeks.”
Vidia sneered. “Try to stop me.” She took off, climbing into the air. But she didn’t get far. Two sparrows streaked up, cutting her off. Vidia changed direction. But a flock of parakeets working together forced her down.
Vidia was going to have to take her medicine. Birds of every feather were making sure that Vidia, the fast-flying fairy, would spend the next two weeks on the ground.
“So there really is a Striped Sea? And you really did talk to the sand?” Terence asked.
Beck nodded. “Yes. I saw all those things with my own eyes. Terence, there are amazing things in the world. I don’t know why you ever doubted it.”
Terence and Beck were sitting beside Havendish Stream. Terence shook his head. “Golly. I didn’t believe poor Spinner. But I do now.”
“Did somebody call me?” A sparrow man came walking along the bank of the stream. He had reddish blond hair that stuck out in every direction. His tunic was frayed and faded, and there were holes in his boots. He looked as if he had been walking for a long time. But he didn’t seem the least bit unhappy. His grin was wide and friendly.
“Spinner!” Terence gasped. “It’s you. Where have you been all these years?” He jumped up and gave his friend a hug.
Spinner grinned. “I heard that somebody from Pixie Hollow said to tell me hello, and I realized I was homesick. So I decided to come back for a visit.”
“But how did you get here?” Beck gasped.
Spinner hitched his thumbs into the armholes of his tunic and took a deep breath. “Well, it’s sort of a long story. A friend of mine told me where the pirates went to pick coconuts. So I went there and found a coconut with a hole in it. I hid myself in that coconut and waited. Sure enough, along came some pirates to gather coconuts. Those pirates loaded me onto their pirate ship. They never had any idea at all that I was aboard. As soon as we hit the shore, I—”
Terence cut him off with a loud laugh. “Oh, Spinner. You never change. That sounds like another one of your tall tales. What do you think, Beck?”
Beck smiled. “Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. All I know is that the only thing as good as having an adventure is hearing about one.” Beck patted the toadstool, inviting Spinner to sit beside her. “So tell us, Spinner,” she said, handing him a cookie, “what happened next?”
Disney Fairies: Beck Beyond the Sea Page 4