by RH Disney
“What’s she saying?” Kate asked.
Mia mouthed something and pointed at her fist.
Suddenly, Kate saw what was wrong. Tyras’s right forefoot was balled into a fist. A faint glow came from between her talons.
Queen Clarion! Kate thought. The queen was caged inside the dragon’s claws!
“Necia, stop!” Kate whispered. But it was too late. The fire fairy had already slipped inside the cave.
Kate’s heart sank. How would they ever get the queen now?
Just then, the dragon’s eyes narrowed. She sniffed the air and hissed, “That’s not dragon smoke I smell.”
Oh no! Kate thought. Any moment now, she’d come out and find them. The plan was falling apart!
With her nose in the air, Tyras didn’t seem to have noticed Necia scurrying past her feet. The fire fairy stopped by Tyras’s claw—the same claw that held Queen Clarion.
All of a sudden, Necia waved her hands. A ball of fire whizzed past the dragon’s face, close enough to singe her scales. Tyras roared and stumbled backward in surprise. Her talons opened—only for a second, but it was long enough. The queen darted out.
On the other side of the cave, Tink and Vidia sprang from their hiding place to meet her. They took hold of her on either side and pulled her away.
Instantly, Tyras lunged at them. Her jaws closed with a loud snap! For an awful moment, Kate thought the dragon had caught them. But a second later, she saw the three flying out of the cave.
Tyras tipped her head back and let out a thunderous roar. It was so loud that Kate had to cover her ears with her hands. She ducked back down and watched as the dragon flapped her wings, rising into the air. Her neck drew back as she prepared to flame.
“Now!” Mia shouted from her hiding spot behind another boulder.
That was the second cue.
As the dragon’s fiery breath gushed out, Necia darted up to meet it. She held up her hands and the flames curled backward, as if they’d hit an invisible wall.
The dragon jerked back in surprise. She shot another stream of fire at Necia. Once again, the fairy sent it back.
With Necia providing cover, the fairies flew out of their hiding spots. Kate and Gabby dashed across the beach to rejoin Mia and Lainey. Everyone was ready to fly back to shore.
“Come on, Necia!” Kate shouted. “Let’s go!”
She looked over her shoulder, expecting to see Necia making a break for it. That was the plan, after all. She only needed to keep the dragon occupied long enough for everyone to escape.
But Necia wasn’t coming. She was waging a full-scale battle against Tyras. As the stunned girls and fairies watched, Necia whipped flames into a spinning ball of fire, driving the dragon backward.
“What is she doing?” asked Vidia.
“She’s winning!” cried Kate.
Necia’s fire seemed to be growing stronger and more powerful by the second. Slowly but surely, she was forcing the dragon deeper into the cave.
“Careful, Necia,” Mia said under her breath.
Lainey covered her face with her hands. “I can’t watch!”
Gabby was squeezing Kate’s hand so hard that she couldn’t feel her fingers anymore.
The dragon flapped her wings faster. Her tail slashed through the air, snapping forward like a whip. Necia lunged out of the way, but she was too close to the rocks. She slammed into the side of the cave at full speed.
Kate’s hands flew to her mouth. She watched in horror as Necia fell through the air and landed on the sand.
“Get up!” Gabby cried.
Necia was lying motionless on the ground. Kate saw a glint of satisfaction in Tyras’s eyes. As the dragon loomed over the fairy, her jaws opened wide. She was going to flame.
She’ll burn Necia to a crisp! Kate thought. Help!
Silvermist was watching from her lookout point when she saw Necia fall. She didn’t wait to see what Tyras would do. She dove from the rock, stopping in the air just above the surface of the water.
Summoning all her water magic, Silvermist plunged her hands into the waves and flicked her wrists with a sharp snap. A giant wave ripped toward Skull Rock—and crashed right on top of the dragon’s head.
Tyras stumbled and fell backward onto her haunches, stunned.
Come on, Necia! Get up! Silvermist cried silently.
From where Silvermist hovered, Necia looked like a small ember in the shadows of the cave. Slowly, Necia pushed herself up to a sitting position. She shook her head and flapped her wings. Her glow burned brighter and deeper. She began to fly toward the mouth of the cave.
Tyras had recovered from the shock of the wave. She started after the fire fairy, fury in her red eyes.
Necia had almost reached the beach, when she suddenly stopped. Then she started to fly backward.
“No!” Silvermist yelled. What was she doing? Had she lost her senses?
The other fairies and the girls were screaming to her, too, but Necia didn’t seem to hear them. She flew forward again, and this time Silvermist noticed the trail of fire coming from her hands. Necia weaved and darted through the air, directing the fire this way and that. The fire swelled. But it wasn’t just getting bigger—it was transforming.
Silvermist gasped as the fire grew into an enormous, flaming fire-dragon!
Tyras blasted another stream of fire at Necia. But the flames only seemed to feed the fire-dragon. Tyras flamed again, and the fire-dragon swelled until it towered over Tyras. Its belly was an inferno. Even from where Silvermist hovered, the roar of the flames was deafening
As the fire creature grew larger, Tyras cowered in terror. Necia waved her hands again, and her fire-dragon spewed a geyser of flames. It seemed to be too much for Tyras.
With a shriek, the dragon flapped her wings and rose into the air. She carved a wide arc through the sky, circled Skull Rock, and headed east toward the horizon. A zap of white light streaked across the sky.
In a blink, the dragon was gone.
As soon as Tyras was out of sight, Necia dropped to the sand. The fire-dragon disappeared, as if it had been suddenly extinguished.
Silvermist flew to the mouth of the cave. She landed next to Necia. “Are you all right?”
Necia looked exhausted. But she managed to nod. “Is he really gone?”
“Yes. For good this time, I think.” Silvermist ran her fingers lightly over Necia’s wings, checking for tears. When she was sure there were none, she stepped back. “I’d fly backward,” she said.
Necia looked startled by the apology. “What for? You saved my life!”
“You saved Queen Clarion. You saved everyone. And we doubted you—me most of all,” Silvermist admitted.
Necia was quiet. “I thought you just didn’t like me,” she said at last.
“I know. I wasn’t very welcoming when you arrived,” Silvermist said. “I think I was afraid of you. I’m a water fairy, after all. Fire is the opposite of what we love most.” She gave an apologetic smile. “But even though we have different talents, that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.” She held out her hand.
Necia smiled and clasped it. “Friends,” she agreed.
Silvermist pulled the fire fairy to her feet, then put her arm around Necia’s shoulders. Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby came running toward them. The other fairies came out of their hiding spots, too. They were all whooping and clapping.
“That was so cool!” Kate exclaimed.
“Did you see the look on that dragon’s face?” Tink laughed.
“I’ve never seen a dragon get scared before!” Myka added.
Queen Clarion made her way toward the fire fairy.
“Are you all right, Queen Clarion?” Necia asked.
“Yes, thanks to you.” The queen took Necia’s hands in hers. “I underestimated your talent. I had no idea you could control fire like that. And who would have thought of a fire-dragon! Necia, you are truly one of a kind.”
Necia’s glow turned scarlet red. The queen look
ed concerned, until she realized the fire fairy was just blushing.
The queen turned and whispered something to Spring, the messenger. Spring nodded and darted away.
“I asked Spring to go ahead to Pixie Hollow and tell the fairies to prepare a feast,” Queen Clarion explained when the messenger was gone. “We have a lot to celebrate.”
The fairies began shaking the soot and sand off their wings, readying themselves for the flight back.
“Hey!” Gabby said suddenly. She plucked a shiny gold coin from the sand and held it high in the air. “What about this?”
They all looked around. Coins, gems, and other treasures glimmered in the wet sand. The hoard had been scattered everywhere in the battle.
“It belongs to Kyto,” Tinker Bell said. “Most of it, anyway.”
“I say we leave it,” Vidia said. “We don’t owe him anything.”
“No,” Queen Clarion said. “We’ll take it back to him.”
“Why?” asked Kate. “Kyto didn’t help us at all.”
“Kyto’s hoard means everything to him,” the queen explained. “And he did try to tell us about Tyras—we just didn’t believe him. Even a nasty dragon like Kyto deserves some kindness. Everyone carry back what you can.”
The girls and fairies spread out, plucking treasure from the sand. Silvermist and Necia each took half of a thin silver chain. Tink carried a golden ring, and Vidia chose the lightest thing of all—a rainbow-striped feather. Silvermist knew she’d picked it because it wouldn’t slow her down.
Gabby was running around grabbing coins and putting them in her pockets. “It’s like an Easter egg hunt!” she exclaimed.
Mia passed by with ropes of pearls around her neck. A jewel-encrusted crown sat lopsided on her head. When she saw Silvermist and Necia staring, she gave a sheepish shrug. “I guess I always wanted to be queen for a day.”
“Not me,” Necia said.
“Me neither,” said Silvermist.
They looked at each other across the silver chain and smiled. Silvermist knew they were both thinking the same thing—it was good just to be a Never fairy.
That night at the fairy circle, the celebration was in full swing. Music talents played almond-shell lutes and straw flutes as fairies danced through the air. Firefly lanterns hung from the branches of the surrounding trees.
But the circle was even brighter than usual, thanks to the tiny fires Necia had lit all around it, each one carefully contained in a seashell.
Kate popped a roasted chestnut in her mouth and munched with contentment. “This is the best arrival party I’ve ever been to,” she said.
Beside her, Mia laughed. “This is the only arrival party we’ve been to.”
“When are you guys going to take that stuff off?” Kate asked her friends. Mia, Lainey, and Gabby were still wearing the crowns, necklaces, and other jewelry they’d found in Kyto’s hoard.
“Oh, Kate. Let us have fun for now,” Mia said. “Kyto’s going to get it all back tomorrow.” The fairies were planning to return the hoard first thing the next morning.
“I wish I could see his face when they bring it to him,” Kate said. It was hard for her to imagine Kyto looking happy.
“I don’t,” Mia replied. “If I never see a dragon again, I’ll be just fine.”
Lainey leaned over and nudged them. “Look at Necia,” she whispered.
Necia sat next to Silvermist in the center of the fairy circle. The fire fairy’s dark eyes shone as she watched the party swirl around her. She looked happier than Kate had seen her since she’d first arrived in Pixie Hollow.
“She finally got what she deserves,” Mia said.
“That’s right,” Kate said. “A celebration.”
At that moment, Queen Clarion floated forward. She held up a hand, signaling the musicians for quiet.
“Today is a great day for Pixie Hollow,” the queen said. “We honor the arrival of a new fairy—it is long overdue.” She turned to Necia. “Your bravery saved me, and it saved Pixie Hollow. Your talent is rare and wonderful. That’s why I hereby lift the ban on your fire-making. From now on, you are free to practice your talent wherever you like—except in Dulcie’s kitchen,” she added with a wink.
All the fairies laughed. Necia laughed hardest of all.
“Enjoy the party,” the queen said. “Tonight is a night for celebrating.”
As the music started again, Kate heard a soft thump. She looked over and saw that Gabby had fallen asleep against Mia’s arm. The day’s events had finally worn the little girl out.
“I guess that means it’s time for us to go home,” Mia said. She stood, then woke Gabby and helped her to her feet.
Gabby blinked. “Did I miss anything?”
“No, Gabby,” Kate said. “You were awake for all the good stuff.”
“Good.” Gabby smiled drowsily and leaned against her older sister.
Mia and Lainey took off the jewelry and placed it in a pile. “It really is a shame that it’s all going to a dragon,” Mia said with a sigh.
“I guess,” Kate said. “But I actually feel sorry for him. He’s alone. I wouldn’t trade my friends for all the treasure in the world.”
“Me neither,” said Lainey.
“Me neither,” said Mia, giving both their hands a squeeze.
Kate took a last look around the fairy circle. She wanted to say good-bye to Necia. But she didn’t want to interrupt the celebration. Anyway, Kate thought, we’ll be back again.
But just as they stepped away from the circle, Kate heard the whir of wings.
Necia fluttered up and landed gently on her shoulder.
“You believed in me,” Necia whispered. “Even when no one else did. You’re a good friend.”
“So are you,” Kate said.
“Will you come back to Pixie Hollow soon?” Necia asked.
“We always do,” Kate said with a laugh. She looked over at Mia, Lainey, and Gabby. They were skipping through the grass, toward Havendish Stream. They couldn’t stay away for long. Never Land was too full of magic.
As she walked to the secret portal in the old hollow tree, Kate looked over her shoulder one last time. Silvermist and Necia were flying through the air together, their arms around each other’s shoulders.
Who would’ve thought that a fire fairy and a water fairy could be such good friends? Kate thought. Smiling to herself, she stepped through the portal to go home.
The next morning, Kate stood by her mailbox waiting for her friends to arrive so they could walk to school together. She tilted her chin to the sky, enjoying the sun on her face. It had rained overnight, and the air felt fresh and clear.
Kate had the feeling she always had when she returned from an adventure in Never Land. It was the feeling of having woken from a long, pleasant dream. Sometimes that made home seem boring, but not today. As she looked around, the gray sidewalk, the dewy lawns, even the old white mailbox all somehow seemed bright and new.
Kate looked across the street at the Johnsons’ house. How many times had she bounded up those steps to show them a picture she’d made at school, or her Halloween costume, or just to say hello? The Johnsons had exclaimed over every picture, every costume. No matter what, they always made her feel special. Kate smiled at the memory. The Johnsons had been great neighbors—the best, actually. They were the kind of people who made her street a good place to live.
It’s funny how I met Necia right after the Johnsons moved away, Kate mused. She’d lost some friends and gained another. Maybe change wasn’t always so bad after all.
A single new blossom had opened on the azalea bush. It looked bright and hopeful in the morning sunlight. Kate stared at the flower, and suddenly, she knew what she had to do.
When Lainey, Mia, and Gabby rounded the corner, they found Kate picking flowers from the border around her own yard.
“What are you doing?” Mia asked as they walked up.
Kate held up the little bouquet of pink and yellow flowers.
&nbs
p; “There’s something I have to do really quick,” she said. “Come with me.”
Together Kate and her friends walked across the street. Mia, Lainey, and Gabby waited on the sidewalk as Kate climbed the familiar steps of the Johnsons’ old house.
w her bangs out of her eyes and took a deep breath. If the fairies could make room for Necia, she thought, then she could certainly make room in her heart for some new neighbors.
Kate rang the doorbell. A moment later, the woman she had seen blowing bubbles opened the door. She was holding her baby on her hip. She looked a little surprised to see Kate standing there. “Yes?” she said.
Kate held out the flowers. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Kate from across the street. I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.”