The Fae Princess (The Pacific Princesses Book 2) by Ektaa Bali (books to improve english .txt) 📗

The triplets, Willow, Lotus, Lily, Daisy, and all the other Fae kids who fought in the battle or helped in any way, stepping in front of the adults, looking up at the royal family.

“Never in the history have we seen something like this happen. And never have the Fae seen such bravery. Each and every one of you will be awarded the Order of Fae.”

The crowd cheered and clapped loudly, and the children hugged each other. The Order of the Fae was given only to the bravest of Fae, whose great deeds won them the respect and praise of the entire country. Their story would be told for many years to come.

The Queen spoke again. “Princess Vidya will now announce her awards.”

“In the last few days, I learned what it means to be Fae,” said Vidya, stepping forward with six gleaming gold medals swinging from her arm. The backs of her eyes stung as she addressed her friends and their parents, but she cleared her throat and continued. “We had it wrong to start with. I was angry and scared. I wanted to wage war, to fight and protect what I thought was ours. In the midst of battle, I realised that it wasn’t right. Willow had been right all along. The Fae are one with the land its creatures. And where there is a smarter, kinder solution, that’s the one we should always follow.”

Lotus and Willow hugged and cheered at Willow’s name. His parents cried happy tears in the crowd.

“To Willow, I award this Medal of Honour, for never swaying from Fae values, and teaching me the meaning of the Fae.”

Willow came up, and Vidya hung the medal around his neck and hugged him. He came to stand next to her.

“To Lotus and Lily, I award these Medals of Bravery for standing by my side in the Fae forest time and time again. I will never forget it.”

Lotus bounded forward, followed by Lily, and Vidya placed the medals around their necks, and they stood hand in hand with Willow by her side.

“To Lunaria and Linaria, or Toad, I award these Medals of Leadership and Compassion. Without you, the Fae palace would be in tatters and the children walking around unwashed. You led the Fae children while I was in the Fae forest.”

The blue haired girls jumped up to collect their medals, coming to stand next to the other kids.

She looked at Lobey, who stood on the grass, wringing her hands nervously. Vidya grinned.

“To Lobelia, I award the Medal of Nobility, not only for your leadership, but for saving my life with little regard for your own. You are the only Fae child known to have single-handedly crossed the bottomless sky into the Fae forest and pull me out of the frozen Fae pond, while the Bunyips were prowling close by. Without you, I would not be standing here. I owe you my life, Lobey.”

Lobey, tears streaming down her face, ran up onto the platform and threw her hands around Vidya, who giggled. Vidya placed the medal around Lobey’s neck.

“And lastly,” grinned Vidya grabbing Pancake and making him stand in front of her. “I award Pancake the Medal of Honour because through fear, peril and almost certain death, you never ever, failed to stand beside me.” She lowered her voice to a whisper so only he could hear. “Or sit in my pocket.”

Pancake wept as he accepted his Medal and he and the seven Fae kids stood on the platform as everyone, including the Bunyips, cheered and whistled for them.

There was a great feast that night. The Bunyips joined in, eating all the Fae foods they had never tried before. They gasped and exclaimed, trying delicious cakes and soups and fruits. And after they ate, there was a great dance where the Fae taught the Bunyips to move their clawed feet as graciously as they could. They laughed and danced and ate the night away.

Vidya and Pancake sat cross-legged by the Flower of Awakening most of the night, writing letters to Princess Sonakshi and Meera and enjoying a long, overdue conversation. The Flower thanked her profusely.

“You have risked your life and done so for me, Vidya,” the Flower said gratefully. “And now, I have a gift for you too.”

“Really?” asked Vidya excitedly. “What is it?”

“If you collect the nectar from my flower and drink it. It will allow you inside a person’s mind, to know their thoughts.”

Vidya’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”

The Flower of Awakening, the Phoenix flower, bristled happily, her petals purring like cat.

“Nope, no kidding here.”

A week later, Princess Vidya with Pancake, King Farrion, Willow, Lotus, Lily, Lobey, and the Fae guard stomped through the deepest part of the Fae forest right up to the home of the Yara-ma-yha-who tribe that had held them captive.

“Leaf Master!” called Vidya loudly. “I have a gift for you!”

It didn’t take long for the boom bump boom of the frog’s drums to start up. The two large green frogs entered first, with bandages around their limbs. Despite their injuries, they still sat on the dirt, drumming away, eyeing Vidya and the children suspiciously. Then the Leaf Master appeared on his toad steed, apparently all healed of his injuries, furry face suspicious under the hood of his black robe. He steered his toad to come and stand a healthy distance away.

“On the one hand, Princess, I am surprised to find you alive,” he said in his raspy voice. “On the other hand, I am hoping you are not here to shoot me again.”

Vidya gave him a mocking curtsey. “I admit I got your riddle entirely wrong. You meant me as the answer, didn’t you?”

The Leaf Master swept her an equally mocking bow. “Indeed, it was a good little trick, wasn’t it?”

“In the end,” said Vidya. “You were actually the one who made me realise what I was doing was wrong. So, I have actually come to thank you.”

The smile fell from koala’s face, and the corners of his mouth turned