Adeline watched as the others began their routine and she hung her head, feeling sadness overtake her. She wished she had the courage to ride a griffin again.

"Are you alright little one?" a deep voice asked. She turned and saw Lauhin come and sit next to her.

"Not really your highness," she said sadly.

"Oh come now…tell me your sorrows little one." He said, now seeing her turn away. He used his tail to turn her face back to him. "Talk to me."

"I can't Sir," she said sadly.

"Of course you can." He grinned, now turning her more to face him. Sadly she slumped down to the ground and he crouched down too, right in front of her! "You won't be able to escape me that easily." And with that, he bent down and nuzzled her head. "Now come on…speak to me. Let me help you."

Adeline smiled at him and then explained what happened when she flew and how she almost got herself killed. Lauhin nodded in an understanding manner and then lifted her chin with one claw.

"Listen little one. I understand that you made a mistake, but you can't let that stop you from trying again," Lauhin said calmly.

"But I can't! I just can't! I don't think I can ever ride again. And that means I'm in trouble because I was part of the griffin riding act!" Adeline said, now hanging her head.

"Calm down little one. Why don't you try again?" Lauhin said.

Adeline shook her head.

"Adeline, come now…" he prodded.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't," she said again. At that moment, Lauhin got a toothy grin.

"Well can I at least have a hug?" he said. Adeline nodded and went to hug him when the king then hugged her to his chest firmly. She then gasped as she could feel his claws become more pronounced and his body begin to change. She looked up and let out a squeak in shock as Lauhin became a griffin before her eyes!

"EEEEEEEEK!" She said, now falling back. Chuckling, he walked over to her on all fours and smiled.

"Do not fear; it's me. I won't let you give up on your talent. You enjoy riding griffins and so you will ride in this show," Lauhin said, now in a half serious and half playful tone.

"How?! The griffins are already performing!" Adeline protested.

"You will be riding me." Lauhin winked, now using his tail to wrap around her and place her on his back. Adeline gasped because as she straddled him, she noticed he was bareback!

"Y-Your Highness I can't ride like this," she said, now feeling a bit embarrassed since her blue leotard and blue shorts were so form fitting for riding on a king!

"Of course you can." He smirked, now glancing at her over his shoulder. "You are fine. Now hold on to my neck."

"I've never ridden bareback!" she gasped.

"Then today you will overcome your fear of two things: bareback and riding a griffin period." Lauhin smiled, now turning and facing away. His large black wings opened and soon he took off and began flying with the others.

As he made his appearance, queen Damia squealed in pure happiness and the entire room went into an uproar in cheer!

"GO LAUHIN GO!" Damia giggled.

"He looks great as a griffin!" the captain smiled.

"Yes he does!" Another added.

"LOOK! Adeline is riding again!" Shell said, now pointing!

"She did it! She overcame her fear!" A centaur said proudly.

"And of course she had some of the best help," Colossus smiled.

"Yes…help from a king," Evander smiled, now seeing Adeline slowly releasing her death grip on Lauhin's neck.

"Now do your trick. Stand on me!" Lauhin said, now flapping.

"WHAT?!" She gasped.

"You can do it Adeline…I believe in you," Lauhin smiled at her over his shoulder. Adeline was about to protest, but decided that she needed to stop. She needed to believe! If she could overcome all of those other obstacles, then she should have been able to overcome this!

Adeline closed her eyes and began to stand. The entire room went quiet and she stood up tall on Lauhin's back.

"Good job little one," he said. "And now…are you ready for the drop?"

"Yes," she squeaked out. The drop was when she hurled herself upside down and the griffin was to quickly fly under her to keep her from falling to the ground!

"I will not let you fall," Lauhin said, his voice deep and confident! Adeline nodded and within a second she threw herself into the air, feeling sweat form. But as she closed her eyes and jumped, the entire audience roared in glee as Lauhin flew under her, but instead of her landing on his back, he flew upside down and she landed on his stomach. He then wrapped his paws around her and she giggled as he tickled her stomach.

"HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE! HEY!" She laughed.

"I told you I would catch you." He smirked, now tickling her stomach a bit more. He then turned over and as he landed, he made sure her feet were on the ground before he landed on all fours. Once he changed back into his Lauhinian form, everyone stood and cried out cheers of joy!

"WONDERFUL! MORE! MORE!" Everyone cheered out.

"LAUHIN LAUHIN LAUHIN!"

"ADELINE! ADELINE!"

"CIRQUE MYSTIQUE! THE GREATEST CIRCUS IN EXISTENCE!" They cheered.

Adeline took a deep breath and was nudged by Lauhin. She looked at the large king and he smiled at her.

"Take a bow my dear. You have earned it," he said, now leading her to take a bow. She smiled and followed his lead.

"Thank you. You really helped me," she whispered.

"My pleasure young one," he whispered back. He then looked at his captain and motioned him to come over. "My captain…I need you to do something for me."

"Yes my king," the captain said.

"I need you to go to the fairy realm and give king Oberon a small warning from me," Lauhin smirked. The captain only chuckled.

"As you wish," the captain smiled under his helmet, now heading over to the rest of his troupe and telling them what to do. The Lauhinian king smiled deviously as he watched his men head to the fairy realm and give Oberon a little gift.

Meanwhile, Lauhin turned and felt Adeline glomp him happily. "You are so wonderful."

"Why what a charmer you are; I think you all should come to my realm and give me a show as well," Lauhin grinned.

"Oh really?!" Adeline smirked.

"Yes, really…" Lauhin growled playfully, now tickling her waist as he held her. The young girl giggled and Evander walked over to the cute scene.

"I have you to thank your highness for helping this young one," Evander bowed.

"No need to bow. Rise young ringmaster. This was my pleasure; no fear is needed when I am around. I know you all have a lot happening, but I do want you all to come to my realm for a show." Lauhin smiled.

"We would be honored." Evander replied with a large smile.

"And if you would like, you all can stay in my realm for a while until you can travel to the next realm." Lauhin smiled.

"But your highness…it may take at least a week until we can get the portal to the next realm," Evander said.

"We would not want to impose," Colossus said, now coming up too.

"Nonsense. You all can stay with us for a week then! Now come…I want you all to come and visit as soon as possible," Lauhin said, now placing Adeline down.

"LAUHIN!" A voice roared. Everyone turned and saw Oberon appear, brushing his white hair from his face! His face was slightly sweaty and he was agitated. He stomped over to the Lauhinian king, but Lauhin only smirked.

"Why Oberon, back so soon?" Lauhin said.

"Don't play coy with me! You sent those knights to tickle the daylights out of me! Call them off!" Oberon said.

"Why?" Lauhin asked.

"Because I GAH!" Oberon said, now feeling one set of claws tickle his waist. "Halt! Keep your claws away from me!"

"You must remember Oberon. I know your weakness. You simply needed to be taught a lesson," Lauhin said, with a wave of his tails.

"You and your joyful tickling! If you ever tickle me again, I'll…I'll…"

"Laugh?" Lauhin said playfully.

"Oh stop this nonsense." The fairy king growled, now adjusting his kingly attire. Lauhin laughed and motioned for his guards to return. Once Oberon saw they were returning, he looked back at Lauhin. "I must say that was clever for a Lauhinian," Oberon smirked. "Now then…we are even."

And with that, he turned and smirked to Adeline and then disappeared back in his portal. Once he was gone, everyone burst out laughing!

"Did you see Oberon's face?!" Shell laughed.

"He was almost as red as a minotaur's tongue!" Adeline laughed too.

"Who knew the king of fairies was ticklish!" Evander chuckled.

"Try very, very ticklish!" Colossus said, now wiping tears of laughter from his face.

"Let's just say I have ways of knowing things like this," Lauhin winked.

Damia and the other griffins were so busy laughing that it took at least 20 minutes for them to regain their composure. After a few moments, Damia looked up.

"You all have been fantastic and this has been a fantastic show. I do hope you all will come and visit us again soon," Damia grinned.

"Of course we will. And thank you for everything," Evander said.

"Yes, thank you for helping me," Adeline said.

"My pleasure. Now be careful…" Damia giggled.

"Why?" Adeline asked curiously.

"Let's just say…" And with that Damia giggled as Lauhin tickled her wings.

"Ah ah ah…no spilling secrets Damia or you and your realm are next," Lauhin smiled mischievously.

"Adeline, let's just say you're in for a real treat," the griffin queen laughed, now feeling the king tickle her a bit more before letting her go.

Adeline smiled at the cute sight, but squeaked in surprise as Lauhin picked her up.

"Are you ready?" he grinned.

"Yes Sir!" she chirped.

"Then let's go…" Lauhin smiled, now opening up a realm to his world and motioning for everyone to walk through. There was yet another adventure on the horizon!

Within a moment, Lauhin opened a portal and led the entire troupe through into the feathery and beautiful realm. As they all began to walk through, Adeline's mouth dropped open at the feathery trees, grass, and furry dragon-like beings flying around! It was breathtaking. The sky looked like a golden sunset and was positively breathtaking!

"T-This place is incredible!" Adeline gasped.

"And just wait until you've met the rest of the family," Evander chuckled, now knowing about Lauhin's family!

Before Adeline could ask, all seven of Lauhin's sons came out into the open! They grinned at the newcomers and were excited about the idea of a show! Lauhin had told them everything telepathically.

"We cannot wait to see you all perform!" Vivo exclaimed.

"It will be fantastic!" Amio smiled.

"We are so pleased to be here! We have a whole routine for you all!" Colossus grinned.

"Ah, but we would like you all to add another technique to your show," Jocu smirked deviously. Evander only grinned, knowing that the brothers were known to be devious in a playful way.

"What is it?" Shell smirked.

"We want you all to add the feather pit to your show. Since you all have an escape act in your show, we want to see you all escape the feather pit," Jocu smirked, a twinkle in his eyes.

Adeline gulped, not knowing if this was a good idea. A centaur walked forward and cracked his knuckles.

"I will accept your challenge," the centaur smiled.

"Perfect. And we challenge Colossus and we need one more challenger…" Jovi grinned.

"I believe you all should challenge their newest addition here," Lauhin said, now pointing at Adeline. Adeline gulped as all seven of the brothers looked her way.

"Oh my…and who is this charming little one," Blithe soothed.

"She looks almost as good looking as me. Come here darling and let me have a closer look at you," Jape cooed, now moving his hair from his face and approaching her on all fours. Adeline squeaked and hid behind Colossus. This made the brothers chuckle.

"Oh the cutie is shy," Blithe grinned, now trying to get a look at her.

"Well we will soon fix that," Jocu smirked, now getting down on all fours.

"We cannot have a young human fearing us, now can we?" Jovi smiled, now getting down on all fours too.

"How about you all save chasing the young female until the show is over," Jest said, now gently walking over to Adeline and holding a hand out. "Forgive my playful brothers. They can sometimes get carried away."

"It's ok! You all seem really cool!" Adeline smiled, now accepting his hand.

"I am pleased you think so. Now come…let's get you all ready for the show," Jest smiled, now offering her his arm. Adeline reached up and held on as they walked into the castle. It was going to be a wonderful night to remember!


guestsurprise: Hope you all enjoyed it! The grand finale is up next!