“Now, where is my third flying battalion?” the king said to himself.
Mariposa realized that neither the king nor the princess had heard her and Zee come in.
“When you’re responsible for the kingdom, Catania,” the king continued, deep in thought, “it will be important that you place your guards at all the strategic locations from which an enemy could attack.”
Catania turned the page of her book. “Oh, yes. Mmm-hmm,” she said, but she was more interested in reading her story.
Mariposa cleared her throat. “Your Majesty,” she called.
The king gave a small jump and looked up, annoyed.
Anu spied Zee and picked up one of the king’s figurines, preparing to launch it.
“Your Majesty,” Mariposa continued, “thank you for the invitation; I’m very honored. I wanted to know if you want me to, well, address your subjects at the ball. I bring greetings from Queen Marabella, and I could simply say that everyone in Flutterfield sends their good wishes.”
The king put a finger to his chin. He spent a few moments considering Mariposa’s proposal.
She crossed her fingers, hoping he liked her idea.
“Let’s see how it goes at the ball, Mariposa,” the king replied carefully. “And perhaps you can address the people.”
Mariposa twirled around, delighted. “Thank you, Your Majesty!” she cried.
Anu sent his figurine flying across the room, hitting Zee square on the behind.
“Oww!” Zee yelped, and bumped into a tall lamp. The lamp wobbled, teetering back and forth, until finally it fell—right into the king’s model battlefield!
“Zee, no!” Mariposa cried. She rushed to try to catch the pieces, but instead, her wings sent more pieces to the floor.
King Regellius’s face turned red with rage. “Look what you’ve done!” he thundered.
“I’m so sorry. Here, let me help you pick up the pieces,” Mariposa said, kneeling on the floor.
“Father, it was an accident,” Catania said.
But the king wasn’t listening. He turned to Mariposa. “Honestly, I’m not even sure why I agreed to this arrangement. And those wings! They’re a menace! Can’t you do anything about them?”
Mariposa was confused. Her wings were a part of her. She couldn’t just make them disappear. “Do anything? Um, well, I guess I …” She struggled to think of some way to make her wings smaller. Finally, she managed to fold them down and around her like a skirt.
King Regellius nodded. “Better. Keep them that way,” he ordered as he strode out of the room.
Catania gave Mariposa an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. It’s just he— I’ll talk to him,” she promised, hopping on Sylvie the Pegasus. “Father!” she called. And Sylvie took flight.
Mariposa watched them leave the room and then looked down at her wing skirt. It was so uncomfortable!
“Keep them this way?” she said.
As if they’d heard her, Mariposa’s wings sprang back open on their own. They knocked Zee right in the face with a thud.
“That could be difficult.” Mariposa hung her head.
Later that day, Mariposa sat outside on a balcony, hugging her knees. She couldn’t understand how so much had gone so wrong! All she had wanted was to explain to the citizens of Shimmervale how much the citizens of Flutterfield wanted to be friends. And yet, every time she tried, disaster occurred. Queen Marabella was going to be so disappointed. Mariposa sighed.
Just then, Zee flew up with a bouquet of Shimmervale flowers.
“Thank you, Zee,” Mariposa said, smiling sadly. She stuck her nose into the bouquet and took a big sniff. Seconds later, she began to sneeze. Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!
Zee grabbed the bouquet and tossed it aside. She was trying to help Mariposa feel better, but so far, she’d caused nothing but trouble.
Across Fairytopia, Gwyllion stood over her cauldron once more, Boris on her shoulder.
As her magic smoke rose, it revealed an image of King Regellius on his throne. She watched as the door opened and Talayla entered.
“You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?” Talayla asked.
King Regellius beckoned for her to come closer. “I want you to stay close to Mariposa at the ball, Talayla. It’s our most important celebration, and I don’t want anything to go wrong.”
Talayla nodded seriously. “Yes, sir.”
The image faded and Gwyllion cackled evilly. Her plan was coming together!
“You see, Boris?” she said. “Patience is a virtue. Everyone in Shimmervale, all in one place. Sharpen your talons, my friend. We go tonight.”
Boris rubbed his wings together and moved toward the sharpening stone. He ran his talons along the stone, sparks flying left and right.
Gwyllion smiled and patted her wicked little bat on the head.
Tonight would be the night. Shimmervale, beware.
That afternoon, Mariposa made her way back to her room, trying to keep her wings folded down as the king had instructed. But it was no use. Sproing! They shot up again, smacking Zee. Mariposa winced. Just one more disaster! “Sorry,” she said sadly.
She reached her room and opened the door. When she looked inside, her jaw dropped.
Her bedroom had been completely transformed! The scary branches and evil-looking tree villains were gone. They had been replaced by beautiful flowers and bright colors. It looked just like the Flutterfield home that Mariposa knew and loved—and missed. But how had this happened?
Just then, Catania popped her head in the door. “Did I get it right?” she asked.
“You did this?” Mariposa was almost too stunned to speak.
Catania nodded. “You worked so hard to learn about us, the least we could do is return the favor. Is it anything like home?”
Mariposa admired the plush, cozy seating and the warm afternoon light streaming through the windows. “Almost exactly!” she exclaimed.
Catania beamed. “I’ve actually been reading up on Flutterfield since I found out you were coming,” she admitted proudly.
“You have?”
“I love to read,” Catania explained. “Sometimes I feel like I never want to leave the palace; I’m perfectly happy spending the whole day lost in books.”
Mariposa couldn’t believe her ears. It sounded just like someone else she knew. “Me too!” she cried excitedly.
“I’ve noticed,” Catania replied. “That’s why I think you’ll like this.”
She turned toward Anu, who was battling Zee for a spot on a flower hammock. “Anu?”
Hearing his name called, Anu reluctantly let Zee stretch out on the hammock. He flew toward the wall and pulled a cord on the side.
A pair of flowing, gauzy drapes opened, and Mariposa gasped. Behind the curtain stood a bookcase chock-full of books! “Catania! You did this, too?”
“Well, I had some help,” Catania said, winking at Anu.
Mariposa flew up and down the wall of books, inspecting them. “This is incredible!” She pointed to a thick volume on a shelf. “I can’t believe it—have you read this, Flight of Fancy? It’s one of my all-time favorites!”
Catania put a hand on her chest. “Mine too!” She thought for a moment and then said, “Grab it. I want to show you something.” She raced to the open French doors in the room and whistled. A minute later, Sylvie landed on the balcony.
Sylvie looked at Mariposa and then at Catania. She cocked her head with concern.
“It’s okay, Sylvie. We can trust Mariposa.” She climbed on Sylvie’s back and called to Mariposa over her shoulder. “Follow us!”
Sylvie fluttered effortlessly into the air.
Anu, fighting once more with Zee over the hammock, saw that Catania was leaving. He gave Zee a final swinging shove in the hammock and flew out the window.
“Ahh!” Zee cried as she spun.
Mariposa untangled Zee, and they followed Catania, Sylvie, and Anu up, up, up toward the roof of the palace. They landed on top of a huge spire, and Marip
osa looked around at a lush rooftop garden. The space was covered with beautiful green plants and cushy places to sit. On the next level up, she noticed the biggest Crystallite she’d ever seen.
“This is my favorite place to read,” Catania explained.
“It’s perfect,” Mariposa replied.
“You can see all the way to the Palian Sea from there,” the princess declared, pointing to the higher level. “Come on up.”
Mariposa hesitated. “But isn’t that a Crystallite?” After what the king had told her, she wasn’t sure she should fly anywhere near it.
“Only the most important one in all the land—come on!” said Catania.
Warily, Mariposa followed Catania and Sylvie up to the very tallest spire of the palace. “This is the Heartstone, isn’t it?” she asked, careful not to fly too close.
“Yes,” Catania confirmed. “It’s the most powerful Crystallite we have. I feel safe when I’m near it. Like nothing can harm me.”
Mariposa’s ears pricked up. “Harm you? Who would want to harm you?”
Catania looked uncomfortable. “Er…,” she began. Then she changed the subject. “It must be hard being away from Flutterfield. Do you miss it?”
Mariposa furrowed her brow. “I miss Flutterfield a little,” she answered, “but I’m really enjoying getting to explore Shimmervale.” She took in the gorgeous view around her. “I can’t wait to see Glow Water Falls again.”
“I haven’t been there in years,” Catania said.
“You’re kidding. Years?” Mariposa couldn’t believe it. If Flutterfield had something as spectacular as Glow Water Falls, she’d be there all the time!
“Since I was eight,” Catania said.
“Why not?” Mariposa asked. It didn’t make sense.
“I don’t know,” the princess replied, looking down.
Mariposa looked in the direction of the Falls and back to Catania, who was lost in her own thoughts. “Let’s go now,” Mariposa suggested.
“Now?” Catania looked frightened.
“It’ll be an adventure,” Mariposa declared.
“I’m really not up for an adventure.”
“Okay, not an adventure. An excursion! You just said you haven’t been there in years. Don’t you miss it?” Mariposa asked.
“A lot,” Catania admitted. “But the Crystal Ball is this afternoon. We should get ready.”
“It’ll be quick,” Mariposa pressed. “We’ll be back in two wing flaps.”
Catania bit her lip in thought. “Okay, just for a little bit,” she said uncertainly.
Sylvie let out a loud, concerned neigh.
Catania patted her mane. “I understand, Sylvie. It’ll be okay, though. We can trust them. They’re our friends.”
Sylvie frowned, unconvinced. But she bent so that Catania could climb aboard her back easily, and the fairies flew off to the Falls, with Zee and Anu trailing behind them.
“Woo-hoo!” Mariposa cried with delight as they glided over Glow Water Falls.
“You think this is amazing?” Catania called from Sylvie’s back. “Follow me!”
The girls swooped down and landed on the bank at the bottom of the Falls.
“You’re right!” Mariposa said, grinning. She gazed around the beautiful little cove where they stood. Colorful, glowing Crystallites nestled at the base of the gushing rainbow falls. It was stunning!
Mariposa watched as Catania admired their surroundings. It was almost as if the princess was seeing it all for the first time. Catania bent down and picked up a handful of pebble-sized Crystallites. They glowed softly in her hand. “Have you ever skipped Rainbow Rocks?” she asked Mariposa.
“How would I have ever skipped Rainbow Rocks?” Mariposa said, laughing.
Catania grinned and tossed one toward the water. It skidded across the surface—one, two, three, four. But the best part was that as it skipped it chimed music! “You try!” Catania said, handing Mariposa a rock.
Mariposa gave it her best toss. One, two, three, four, five! “Woo-hoo!” she yelped.
The girls continued skipping stones, making an upbeat tune as each rock hit the water. Anu and Zee couldn’t help themselves and started dancing right along with the music. Catania nudged Mariposa to take a look, and the four friends dissolved into giggles.
When they had finished skipping Rainbow Rocks, Mariposa and Catania sat back to back, reading books contentedly. Zee and Anu made silly faces in the water’s reflection.
“I’ve missed this place,” Catania admitted, closing her book.
Mariposa turned to look at her friend. “Why has it been so long?”
Catania paused. She looked unsure how to explain.
“Does it have anything to do with why you don’t fly?” Mariposa asked gently.
Catania looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Mariposa began, “Sylvie flies you everywhere, even when you’re inside the castle.”
Catania folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe that’s because I’m a princess. I don’t have to fly if I don’t want to. It’s my privilege,” she said unconvincingly.
“Maybe … but that doesn’t sound like you,” replied Mariposa.
Catania looked guilty.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Mariposa assured her. She didn’t want her new friend to feel uncomfortable.
“No, I do want to talk about it,” Catania said.
Mariposa noticed Anu and Sylvie exchange a concerned look.
“I was eight years old,” Catania began. “My father and I were having a picnic at the top of these very falls when suddenly, we saw something below.”
Mariposa nodded to show she was listening carefully.
“It was an old woman,” Catania continued. “She wasn’t from Shimmervale, but she and her pet bat were poking around the Crystallites.
“My father confronted the woman, and she asked for a Crystallite. I knew what my father would say. He told me all the time: Our responsibility is to the Crystal Fairies. If we let other creatures have Crystallites, we could end up without enough for our own subjects,” Catania recalled.
“So your father said no,” Mariposa guessed.
Catania nodded.
“What did the old woman do?” Mariposa asked.
“She wasn’t happy,” Catania explained. She stared into the distance, remembering.
“You dare deny Gwyllion?” the old woman shouted at the king.
Catania watched from the top of the Falls as her father tried to reason with Gwyllion. But it was too late. The old woman banged her walking staff on the ground twice. Boom! Boom!
Horrified, Catania watched as a wave of magic rushed from the stick and spread along the ground. It raced right to the king’s feet and snaked up his legs, freezing him on the spot.
“I … can’t … move!” the king cried, terrified.
“You had your chance,” Gwyllion growled, walking toward him. “Now you owe me all your Crystallites.”
“Noooo!” Catania cried from the hilltop, flying toward the old woman. She couldn’t let Gwyllion take her father away.
“Catania! Get back!” the king pleaded.
But Catania wouldn’t listen.
Gwyllion gave a wicked smile as she watched Catania soar toward them. She shot a blast of magic right toward Catania. It froze her in midair and then—just as quickly—she was falling!
Gwyllion leaped into the air and caught Catania with one arm a split second before she hit the ground.
Catania worked to free herself, but the old woman was surprisingly strong.
“Say good-bye to your little one!” Gwyllion bellowed to the king with an evil laugh.
The king struggled with all his might against the magic that had frozen him. Finally, he was able to break free! He lunged toward Gwyllion.
Gwyllion looked over her shoulder in time to see the king racing right for her.
“Give me back my daughter!” the king
ordered, grabbing on to Gwyllion’s ankles.
But Gwyllion stood firm. “No!”
The king swung his body around and kicked her magic walking stick, breaking it in two. Crack! The sound echoed off the nearby Falls.
“My staff!” Gwyllion cried. She watched the two pieces of her precious staff plummet toward the ground; then she tossed Catania into the air.
“Daddy!” Catania screamed. The king raced across the ground and put out his arms to catch her. But he wasn’t fast enough.
“You treat me with this disrespect?” Gwyllion cried, soaring into the sky above. “You will regret this!”
But the king hardly noticed her leave as he cradled an unconscious Catania in his arms.
Catania shook her head, as if sweeping the memory out of her mind. “Both my wings were broken. They healed, but I haven’t flown since,” she said softly.
“What happened to Gwyllion?” Mariposa asked.
Catania shrugged. “She never came back.”
Mariposa put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Are you worried she will?”
“My father worries about it a lot,” Catania answered. “It’s the real reason he allowed you to come.”
Mariposa nodded. Finally, she understood the real reason she was in Shimmervale. “So the king wants advice on fighting Gwyllion,” she said. “But he could have just asked Queen Marabella. I’m sure she would have—”
Catania shook her head. “No. He doesn’t trust Butterfly Fairies enough for that.”
Mariposa frowned. “Do you?”
“Yes. Which is why I want you to have this.” Catania pulled a necklace from her skirt pocket. Dangling from the chain was a Crystallite that matched her own necklace. Catania held it out to Mariposa.
Mariposa was touched. But considering the king’s rules about Crystallites, she wasn’t sure she could accept Catania’s offering. “Catania, I can’t,” she answered awkwardly. “With our history, no Butterfly Fairy should ever take a Crystallite from Shimmervale.”
“You’re not taking it,” Catania insisted. “It’s a gift.”
Mariposa and the Fairy Princess Junior Novelization (Barbie) Page 4