Disney Fairies: Rani and the Three Treasures
Page 4
Soon, every talent group was pressing something into her hands. A flint for starting a fire. A bit of extra fairy dust. A warm dress with a hood. Her favorite cookies.
Finally, Rani was ready to go. She was happy. She was content. And she felt brave and eager for adventure. But when she saw Prilla and Tink’s faces, she thought her heart might break.
“Let’s go, Brother Dove,” she whispered. “Let’s go quickly before we all start to cry.” Rani didn’t mind crying in front of the other fairies. She did it all the time. But she knew Tink hated for anyone to see her cry.
Brother Dove spread his wings. But before he and Rani could take off, Tink came running toward them. “Wait!” she shouted. “Wait!”
Brother Dove lowered his wings.
“I’m going with you,” Tink said, panting. “To keep you company.”
“But you can’t stand being wet,” Rani argued.
“I’ll just have to get used to it. Besides, it’s not forever. We’ll be back in a few weeks because Pixie Hollow will need the rain.”
“That’s right,” Prilla said. “And when you leave the next time, I’ll go with you.”
“We’ll take turns!” Fira cried. “So you’ll never be without a friend while you’re away.”
Rani began to cry. She had never been so touched. Yes, having a talent was wonderful. But she realized now that without friendship, life would be very lonely.
Another wave of happiness warmed Rani from head to toe. “Okay, Tink,” she said. “Get your gear and let’s go. It will be fun.”
At that moment, Beck came flying rapidly toward them. “Wait up! Wait! Mother Dove wants to see Rani before she leaves!”
“NOW, TELL ME everything from start to finish,” Mother Dove instructed. She settled herself on her blue egg and fixed Rani with a kindly eye.
Rani sat down on the edge of Mother Dove’s nest. She told her the whole story. She ended with a sigh. “I’d fly backward if I could, but I can’t. I can only fly forward. So that’s what I’m going to do. I just hope you’ll forgive me for causing so much trouble.”
Mother Dove’s feathers ruffled. “Rani, my dear, that’s why I wanted you to come. So that I could tell you this myself. No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you are, I will love you.”
Another wave of warm happiness washed through Rani from head to toe.
“I would tell most fairies setting out on an adventure to stay safe and stay dry.” Mother Dove chuckled. “But to you, I will just say stay safe and stay happy.”
“I am happy,” Rani said gaily. “Isn’t that odd? This should be the saddest day of my life. But I don’t feel a bit sorry. In fact, I’ve never been so happy.”
Mother Dove moved her wings a bit. “Oh? Why do you think that is?”
Rani thought hard. “Well, I guess because it’s impossible to be unhappy when you know you have talent, friendship, and love. What more could you want? What more could you need? As long as you have those three things you…” Rani broke off. Her mouth fell open. Her eyes widened.
Mother Dove said nothing, but her own eyes twinkled.
Rani drew in her breath with a gasp. “Oh, Mother Dove,” she whispered. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
Mother Dove chuckled.
“I’ve done it, haven’t I? I’ve guessed the three treasures.”
“There is only one way to find out,” Mother Dove said.
Rani lifted her face and called out as loudly as she could: “Hear me, Dab, wherever you are. In the name of Pixie Hollow’s three treasures—talent, friendship, and love—I wish you back…I wish you back…I wish you back!”
A huge clap of thunder shook the nest. It was followed by the sound of water pouring over a waterfall. Dab’s bubbling laughter filled the air. And in a flash, she appeared, as shimmering as ever.
“Well!” she exclaimed. “I was beginning to give up on you. I can’t believe you took so long to figure it out. Maybe fairies aren’t as smart as I thought.”
Rani laughed so hard that tears rolled down her cheeks. “I was looking for things,” she said.
Dab snorted. “Things! Who cares about things? Everybody has things. Those aren’t the treasures everyone envies and wishes they possessed. Everyone knows that the fairies are happy. And they are happy because they have talent, friendship, and love. So cherish your treasures, my friend. And don’t make any more bargains with water sprites,” she cautioned.
Dab wicked from nest to bush, then from ground to sky. Rani heard her talking to her clouds in the magic language of water—full of dots, plops, plinks, and gurgles.
Dab was gathering her clouds, calling them, herding them. Rani watched her work, admiring her bright quickness. Soon, the gray clouds were on the move.
Rani waved. But she didn’t know if Dab waved back or not, because for the first time in days, the sun was shining in her eyes.