The Story Traveller

by Judy Stubley

  ‘My, you look beautiful, Twinkle!’ Lucy said, as she admired her wedding outfit of azure blue silk, which matched her eyes beautifully.

  ‘Yes, I brush up quite well, don’t I?’ Twinkle laughed as she patted her white hair, in which nestled her little helpers in a darker blue, so that it looked like her hair was covered in tiny gems. ‘Now Lucy, you’re the flower girl, so you too need something special. What’s your favourite colour?’

  ‘Oh – it’s…’ Lucy thought hard and ran through all the colours she liked. ‘It’s lilac.’

  ‘Lilac it will be then. Now I’m going to concentrate. Cinderella’s on her way. There is no room for mistakes.’

  ‘But you haven’t got Wandela with you,’ Lucy said, worried Twinkle had slipped up again.

  ‘Gnarled sticks and weddings don’t go, so I have allowed Wandela to dress up too.’ Twinkle twirled a beautiful parasol of matching blue silk and white lace.

  ‘Magic wand make Lucy’s wish come true.

  A dress of lilac, sparkling and new!’

  Her little helpers rose in the air, as an arc of golden stars shot from the end of the parasol and twisted and turned round Lucy. When she looked down she was wearing a beautiful dress in a delicate shade of lilac, with tiny diamond bows showing the many tiered petticoats underneath. Lucy twirled in delight. Then she looked down and saw her smart lilac shoes, covered in minute silver horseshoes.

  ‘Oh! It’s all fantastic, Twinkle, thank you.’ Lucy’s face showed her joy.

  ‘Here take my basket, so you can scatter the petals in front of Cinderella.’

  Lucy turned, a look of disappointment on her face. She’d never want to hurt Twinkle’s feelings, but her basket, wonderful as it was when full of the little helpers, was hardly smart enough for her fantastic new outfit. But she needn’t have worried. The one Twinkle handed her was made in delicate silver and was filled to the brim with her fairies dressed in the palest of pink rose petals.

  ‘Won’t they get hurt?’ the worried young girl asked.

  ‘Bless you no! They’ll be fine and so much more environmentally friendly than paper petals, as no one will have to sweep them up!’

  Lucy suddenly had a nasty thought.

  ‘I suppose I’ll have to wear my cloak, which means no one will see my beautiful dress.’ ‘For once, Lucy, you don’t have to have your cloak with you. I’m here and so is every good fairy in Storyland. No one is going to try to hurt you on this happy occasion.

  ‘You can certainly show off your lovely new dress, but remember, everyone will only have eyes for the bride, so in a way you will be invisible. Now give it to me to look after and I’ll let you have it back after the wedding.’

  As Lucy handed over the cloak, she remembered her mobile phone was still in the pocket. She took it out and showed Twinkle.

  ‘Have you ever used one of these, Twinkle?’

  The fairy godmother took it from her outstretched hand and studied it.

  ‘No, I’ve never see one before. What is it Lucy?’

  ‘It’s called a mobile ‘phone. I can put in a number and ring a friend and we can talk.’

  ‘It’s magic then?’

  Lucy smiled.

  ‘It does seem so, but it’s a scientific invention. We have rather a lot of them in our world. You can also text, I mean write, to a friend using the letters on the front.’

  ‘Very impressive!’ Twinkle said. ‘But why have you brought it with you?’

  ‘I thought if you saw it you could magic your own ‘phone, so we could talk to each other,’ the young girl said hopefully.

  ‘Oh Lucy! I’m not sure, but I’ll give it some thought. Leave it with me for now and I’ll let you know later. I haven’t had a challenge like this for ages.’ The fairy godmother put the mobile back in Lucy’s cloak pocket, but already her mind was on how she could master the little pink piece of pure magic. It was then that Lucy became aware of the huge crowds that lined the streets to the palace. There must have been the whole of Storyland there. Flags and banners were waved, flowers thrown, as the people laughed and cheered. Suddenly, the cheers got louder and the beautiful golden coach that Cinderella had used to go to the ball appeared, once again driven by six white horses. Lucy felt sure she recognised the driver and the two footmen.

  But Cinderella wasn’t alone. Sitting beside her in the coach, as proud as any man could be, was her father. Cinderella looked radiant as she held on to his arm and smiled up at him. Lucy was so pleased for her.

  As Cinderella stepped out of the coach Lucy went up to her, to help her re-arrange her dress.

  ‘Oh Ella, you look breathtaking!’ she told her friend.

  ‘Lucy, I’m so glad you could make it. I’d have missed you. Let me introduce you to my father, Count Carnac. Father, this is Lucy, the friend I told you about.’

  The old gentleman gave a graceful bow and took Lucy’s hand to his lips.

  ‘Thank you for all your kindness to my darling daughter,’ he said simply. Lucy just curtsied in reply.

  Cinderella, as with all true fairy tale brides, was dressed in a beautiful white gown with a long shimmering silver train, held on her head by a magnificent diamond tiara. Lucy and lots of little helpers set about straightening her dress and putting the train in place for her long walk up the sweeping staircase. When they were all satisfied that perfection had been reached, the bridal procession began.

  As they entered the Palace chapel, Lucy could see Prince Charming, all impatience, with Lucien at his side. The Prince too was dressed in brilliant white, with his black hair caught back in a magnificent velvet and diamond bow. He visibly relaxed as he saw his bride walk towards him and even found time to give Lucy a smile, as she moved down the aisle spreading a carpet of fairy rose petals for Cinderella to walk on in her beautiful crystal shoes: the shoes that had brought her and the Prince together.

  The rest of the wedding passed in a glow of excitement for Lucy. She was introduced to the King and Queen and lots of Lords and Ladies. She noticed the Countess and her two daughters were there, though relegated to a lower position in the pecking order and all three looked very subdued.

  Cinderella did manage to sit and talk to Lucy for a few moments, while the Prince was away checking on the plans for their journey. She told Lucy that the Prince had kindly arranged for her two stepsisters to be married to nobles from the court.

  ‘Both nobles are younger sons and come from large and happy families,’ she told Lucy, ‘and I’m sure that once Imogene and Leticia are away from their mother they’ll find love and happiness.’

  ‘What’s to happen to your stepmother?’ Lucy asked, hoping she too wasn’t going to be rewarded for her cruelty to Cinderella.

  ‘Poor stepmother doesn’t fare so well,’ Cinderella replied. ‘Father is to live with us in the Palace and he’s told my stepmother she can have the house and lands. I think she’ll be very lonely.’

  So, Cinderella still thought kindly of those who tormented her Lucy mused. Just then the Prince came up to claim his new bride and take her off on their honeymoon.

  Lucy went to join Twinkle and they both stood at the bottom of the staircase, near the golden coach and watched the Royal couple descend.

  ‘Don’t they make a perfect pair?’ Lucy said.

  ‘They certainly do and they’ll live happily ever after. Now say a quick goodbye, as we must get you off to China.’

  Lucy stepped forward to throw some confetti (little people of course) and to call out her goodbyes, but the radiant couple stopped in front of her.

  ‘Mademoiselle Chase, we meet for the third time and in such happy circumstances. Thank you for befriending my wife and for being our flower girl.’ The Prince took Lucy’s hand and kissed it. She turned a very delicate shade of pink.

  ‘Bless you Lucy!’ Cinderella threw her arms round her friend. ‘I hope your troubles are over soon, like mine.’

  ‘Be happy, Ella.’ But Lucy knew that in the real world, her world, problems weren’t s
o easily solved.

  ‘Here Lucy, I have a memento for you.’ Cinderella handed her a little silver bag. Inside she found a lovely silver chain necklace with a tiny crystal slipper attached.

  ‘Oh it’s beautiful. I’ll treasure this always.’ Both girls knew they might never meet again, but Cinderella was in love and happy and Lucy had lots of other people to see and places to visit, so neither felt sad.

  The Royal Prince and his Princess entered the coach and to a great fanfare of trumpets and huge cheers from the crowd, they started their married life together.

  Twinkle put her arms round Lucy’s shoulders and drew the young girl away from the celebrating masses.

  ‘Now sweetie, it’s time for you to go and visit Yeh-Shen. You’ll find her quite special.’

  ‘Do I get to keep this dress?’ Lucy asked rather hopefully.

  ‘I’m afraid not!’ said Twinkle. ‘In fact you’ll have to travel as a boy. Your feet are far too big to belong to a Chinese girl.’

  ‘My feet aren’t big!’ Lucy said indignantly, as she looked down at her feet in their pretty lilac shoes.

  ‘But Yeh-Shen and all Chinese ladies have had their feet bound since they were about five or six. To the Chinese men small feet are a great sign of beauty. To the women they are a pain. But that is why the Chinese Cinderella was one of the first stories told: the tale of a girl with beautiful small feet – lily feet.’

  ‘So what am I going to wear then?’ said Lucy, rather worried she would look very odd.

  ‘Well, the Chinese use a lot of silk and I’m sure we can keep the lilac colour. Your hair will have to be put in a pigtail though.’

  Lucy liked the idea of lilac silk, but was sorry she couldn’t keep her dress. Her fingers went to the chain, which was now round her neck, and she gently touched the tiny shoe.

  ‘Can I at least keep this on?’

  ‘I don’t see why not, as long as you keep it under your clothes,’ Twinkle said and then in a more business like tone went on ‘Right! Let’s get you properly kitted out.

  Magic wand make Lucy male,

  And tie her hair in a fine pigtail.

  Lilac silk would give her joy

  And compensate for becoming a boy!’

  Sparks flew energetically from Twinkle’s parasol and her little helpers all flew around Lucy, who found herself standing in what to her looked like a pair of lilac silk pyjamas. She put her hand up to her head and touched the tiny pigtail that stood out from the back of her head. She giggled.

  ‘Will Yeh-Shen know I’m a girl?’ Lucy asked, certain she would not fool anyone for long.

  ‘Yes, and she knows you’ll come dressed as a boy. She’ll be as interested in you as you’ll be in her. Your worlds are so different, but again Yeh-Shen knows what it’s like to be bullied.’

  Speed suddenly appeared and trotted up to his mistress.

  ‘We’ve a very long journey Lucy,’ he told her, ‘so I suggest you get well wrapped up in your cloak and have a rest. I’ll wake you when we reach the Chinese border.’

  Twinkle handed Lucy her cloak.

  ‘Now remember, you must keep that close to you all the time you’re in China. If you think our witches and wizards are scary, you wouldn’t want to meet some of the Chinese ghouls. Only when you are with the Wise Ones can you let go of it. Your pink magic is back in your cloak. I’ve got all the information I need and while you’re in China I’ll try to work something out. I must say it’s a brilliant idea and could save me, and my little helpers, hours of unnecessary flights.’

  Lucy carefully put the cloak round her and got on Speed’s back.

  ‘Good, you are now quite invisible,’ Twinkle told her. ‘Speed will fly you to China. You have to cross many different countries, so stay well hidden. Speed,’ Twinkle told the impatient horse, ‘I suggest you wake Lucy at the Nepal Tibet border and take her to Mount Qomolangma.’ The horse whinnied his agreement. ‘Then when you get to the Yangtze River, our good friend Baiji will take Lucy to the Wise One, who will show her the way to Yeh-Shen. Now, off with you sweetheart and have a good time.’

  Speed didn’t waste a second and they were soon in the air. After all the excitement, Lucy was, however, fast asleep before they passed through the Happy Ever After Gate.

  ***

  ‘Lucy, Lucy, wake up,’ Speed was urging Lucy to open her eyes. ‘I’ve something very special to show you.’

  Lucy stirred and glanced out of her hood. Speed had landed on a wild and rocky ridge. Everywhere was covered in snow and incredibly beautiful. It was also extremely high.

  ‘I thought you might like to visit the highest point in your world,’ Speed told Lucy.

  ‘Mount Everest! I’m on top of Mount Everest!’ Lucy couldn’t believe it.

  ‘Well, we call it Mount Qomolangma, but I’m sure it’s one and the same.’

  ‘It certainly is a beautiful sight, Speed,’ Lucy replied. ‘I believe it can be seen from space, as can the Great Wall of China. Will we fly over the Great Wall of China as well?’

  ‘Not on this occasion. We won’t be travelling that far north.’

  ‘So what year are we in now, Speed?’

  ‘748AD – the Tang Dynasty. You’ll find China is a vast country with many wonderful things to see. But now I must get you to the Yangtze River to meet Baiji.’

  Speed rose up into the air and soon Mount Everest was just a picture postcard in the distance. By the time Speed landed again, the sun was beginning to rise. Lucy slid off and began to pull her cloak around her.

  ‘Good morning Kai-ying,’ a gentle voice said. Lucy turned round and saw a smiling dolphin, with her head resting on the river bank.

  ‘You’re Baiji?’ Lucy asked in surprise.

  ‘I’m Baiji,’ the dolphin replied, ‘which means flag bearer and I’m a freshwater dolphin. But today I come to be a Kai-ying bearer,’ and the dolphin threw back her head and gave a tinkley laugh.

  ‘My name is Lucy,’ Lucy explained with a smile. Baiji just smiled back.

  ‘Here in China you Kai-ying. I hope is OK?’

  Lucy nodded, amazed that she should find herself talking to a dolphin in Chinese.

  Speed gently nudged his mistress.

  ‘Be careful, my pet. I’ll see you soon,’ and he was gone. Lucy turned back to Baiji. She felt curious, but not worried, about how they were going to continue their journey.

  ‘Baiji, am I travelling on the river with you?’ she asked politely.

  ‘Yes, you ride on my back, just as you do with Speed and it’s important you keep wrapped up, as we swim underwater and…’

  ‘Underwater! Won’t I drown?’ Lucy asked in alarm.

  ‘Not if you wrap up. You won’t even get wet,’ Baiji assured her with her usual beaming smile. ‘But I depend on you to make sure you are covered. My eyesight is poor.’

  ‘Oh dear!’ Lucy looked even more alarmed. ‘If you can’t see too well, how do you know where to go?’

  ‘Dolphins use sonar, and, Kai-ying, no good speaking to me once we start. I won’t hear you. If you need me, tap.’

  Baiji waited patiently as Lucy settled on her back. As the dolphin moved off at a gentle pace Lucy began to enjoy the sensation and stared with interest at the strange new world. Strange it certainly was, but very beautiful. A huge variety of small colourful fish swam in every direction, some individually, some in great shoals that swished and swayed, as they turned one way and then another. Above her head Lucy could see what looked like water rats swimming on the surface, only to disappear into holes along the river bank. Various aquatic plants grew thickly, especially near the edges of the river and the whole scene was one of peace and tranquillity.

  Baiji then began to swim up towards the surface. Her head broke above water and, with a deft movement, she gently deposited Lucy on the bank, where she discovered she was, as Baiji had said, quite dry. ‘Soon we near my home,’ Baiji told her. ‘It’s Anhui Province, which means beautiful peace. You find no fresh water dolphins anywhere
else in China. It’s true peace. It’s my home and I adore it.’

  ‘Then I’m sure I will as well.’

  ‘But I must warn you! River is too home to alligators. Chinese alligators mostly eat rats. However, you would also make a tasty snack.’

  ‘Thanks for the warning!’ Lucy said, somewhat bothered by this. ‘I thought everything was going too swimmingly! But don’t worry; I’ll keep my cloak well round me.’

  ‘Here too is home of Chinese paddlefish,’ Baiji went on. ‘Paddlefish eat other fish, a few crabs and crayfish, but a short-sighted one might mistake a waving arm for food, so keep both hidden.’

  As they slid under the water again Lucy felt a little tense, but it was hard to stay worried, as the gentle music of the moving river and the constant sight of various fresh water creatures intrigued and excited her.

  Calm and relaxed, eventually Lucy spotted her first Chinese paddlefish. It was chasing a crayfish along the bottom of the river. It had a white belly with a grey back and head. Lucy resisted the impulse to lean over and stroke it and watched with amazement its skill as an angler.

  Every now and then Lucy could hear Baiji emit sounds, rather like radar bleeps. They were oddly comforting. Lucy was so relaxed all thoughts of the alligators had disappeared, when Baiji slowed down and moved into a small inlet in the river bank.

  Once more Lucy was deposited on land.

  ‘Kai-ying, my friend, the alligators cannot see you, but humans have a strong scent and a group of them have formed a barrier up ahead. Stay here.’ Without another word Baiji had gone and left Lucy alone.

  The sun was now high in the sky as she looked around her. There were no houses, no buildings, no people within miles and everything was quite beautiful. The whole area was covered in flowers of the most wonderful colours and shapes. She’d never seen anything like them. Lucy did see a few birds flying overhead and wondered what kind of animals roamed the countryside. For some strange reason she thought she saw a tiger, but shook her head in disbelief.