In chapter 46 of Niagara14301's Dorrie Book 2, we learn that along with Tilly, and later Sofia, Queen Melinda was also a Storykeeper for the Secret Library. After one of her missions, she returns to Enchancia Castle where she joins Amber and James in one of his story-writing sessions, and she sings one of their favorite songs with them. However, they just think it's a lullaby or some other song they've heard her sing. This is also before James starts writing his Andrew Harmon mysteries, and still uses his and Amber's plush friends and dolls. Thanks to theblindwriter95 for helping with the story. The movie The Never-Ending Story, and the more recent Netflix series Stranger Things, are not mine.
Queen Melinda was going to check on Amber and James. She'd told Roland that she'd been busy with a project in the village earlier that day, and she'd returned a little while ago. The truth was, she was the current Storykeeper for a special place called the Secret Library. She had inherited the position from his sister Tilly, and the two of them would go on adventures, where they gave the stories a happy ending.
She smiled when she saw the twins in James' room. Seven-year-old James was on his bed, surrounded by his plush 'writing helpers', along with Amber, and her dolls and plush friends. She knocked on the door. "Room for one more writer?" she smiled as they looked up.
The twins nodded. They could always use another writer.
Amber moved her dolls and plush friends out of the way to make space for Melinda who playfully shook her head at the offer.
"You're fine, Amber," Melinda smiled, "You don't have to move your dolls for me. I see a chair right here." She pulled the chair out from James' desk and set it up next to him.
"Where did you go before?" James asked. "You said before you left, you had to take care of some business someplace. We could have come with you to help you."
"Didn't you want us to help you?" Amber frowned.
"You couldn't come this time, because it was a private business that I needed to take care of," Melinda explained.
"You'll take us next time if it's not private?" James smiled.
"Of course I will," Melinda agreed, nuzzling his plush dragon Sir Blaze-a-Lot against him. "You never know when I'll need a fearless princess, a brave knight, and their wonderful plush friends to help me!"
Amber and James smiled at her words. Their plush friends and dolls were always there for them, and they would be there to help anyone who needed it too.
"Okay now!" Melinda called after a few moments, clapping her hands to get their attention, "This story writing session is much too quiet. We need a special song to sing while we help your friends in their latest adventure!"
"A special song?" James grinned.
"What is it?" Amber smiled.
"I've got just the one," Melinda grinned. She took out a tape, smiling as she remembered how, when James and Amber were younger, she used this to sing them to sleep. "Note to self," she murmured, "Sing this next time I'm summoned to the Secret Library!"
"The castle library's not a secret," James looked puzzled. "We go there all the time."
"Maybe so, but this library is different," Melinda replied. "Now," she added quickly, "Who wants to sing with me?"
"Me!" Amber smiled. "And so do Duchess Kitty and Princess Sparkle Bear!"
"Me!" James agreed. "Prince Blizzard, Little Rex, and Sir Blaze-a-Lot want to sing too!"
"Well then, let's not keep them waiting anymore," Melinda grinned, nuzzling Princess Sparkle Bear against James, and Prince Blizzard against Amber. Over their laughter, Melinda's grin widened. "Oh, wait, that wasn't right!" She nuzzled Princess Sparkle Bear against Amber, and Prince Blizzard against James. "There we go! Now let's sing!"
The twins nodded excitedly as they smiled at Melinda. They, especially James, never missed an opportunity to sing if it was offered to them.
At the same time, Melinda smiled as she sang, Turn around
Look at what you see
In her face
The mirror of your dreams
When she heard the opening notes, Amber smiled. "You sang this to us all the time when we were little!"
"This is what you sang to me once when I got sick from Pelicant Eggshell Powder," James added.
Melinda smiled as the three of them sang together, Make believe I'm everywhere
I'm hidden in the lines
Written on the pages
Is the answer to a never-ending story
Ah
As they sang, James asked, "Mom, do you think my stories will make it into the castle library, or your other library?"
"I don't see why not," Melinda smiled. "You, Amber, and your plush friends and dolls are all wonderful storytellers!"
"We are?" Amber giggled.
"Of course we are!" James grinned. "We make a pretty good team when it comes to writing stories!"
At the same time, he listened to one of Prince Blizzard's 'ideas' and pretended he was singing with him as he sang, Reach the stars
Fly a fantasy
Dream a dream
And what you see will be
"You certainly are, and who knows?" Melinda smiled. "Maybe you'll put yourselves in the stories too, so you can share your friends' adventures!"
"If that's not a brilliant idea, I don't know what is!" James grinned.
"Knowing James, we'll have to get him if he gets too involved in his writing!" Amber giggled.
She nuzzled Duchess Kitty against James and pretended she was singing with her as she sang, Rhymes that keep their secrets
Will unfold behind the clouds
And there upon a rainbow
Is the answer to a never-ending story
"Hey! That was one time!" James pouted.
"And I remember that so well," Melinda chuckled, "You were so involved in the story you were writing for your friends that you didn't hear Baileywick calling you to come down for dinner! It took Daddy, Amber, and me to convince you to come down! And by the time we all came down, dinner was over! Fortunately, we made it up to Baileywick for all that trouble we put him through when we invited him to our late-night picnic!"
"Ah, yes, I remember that," they heard Roland's voice in the doorway. "But really, how many times have we had to do that when James gets into his stories?"
He smiled as he heard one of the songs Melinda always sang to the children at night, and couldn't help but join in himself, Neverending story
Ah
"We could just tickle him," Amber suggested. "Like a game of sorts."
"A game?" James frowned as he tried to move away from her. "Oh, no. I don't want to take part in this game!"
Melinda grinned as she danced her fingers on his back. "But I thought you liked games!" As she watched James try to squirm away, she sang, Story
"Everyone likes a good game now and then!" Roland agreed as he mussed his hair and vocalized with Melinda, Ah
"I do like games, Mom! Just not this one!" James pleaded.
"Why don't you?" Melinda teased.
"It's supposed to be fun!" Amber added.
"And this is fun, isn't it?" Roland grinned.
"Maybe to you!" James was laughing even harder now as he tried to fight back.
"And we don't want to argue while we all help you with your story either!" Roland continued. "Your plush friends never liked it when someone argued..." he paused and picked up Sir Blaze-a-Lot, nuzzling him against James. "Right, Sir Blaze-a-Lot?" He made Sir Blaze-a-Lot nod before continuing to nuzzle him against James.
He pretended the little dragon was singing with him as he started the last verse, Show no fear
For she may fade away
In your hand
The birth of a new day
"Duchess Kitty doesn't want us to argue either!" Amber giggled.
"That's right," Melinda grinned, patting Duchess Kitty's head. "Your plush friends want you to be happy as they work with you!"
"So do we!" Amber smiled, using Princess Sparkle Bear to pat James' head. "You should even bring your stories to school! That way, our friends could read them, or you could put them in the stories!"
"That's a wonderful idea, Amber!" Roland smiled.
They let James up for a moment as they all joined in the verse, Rhymes that keep their secrets
Will unfold behind the clouds
And there upon a rainbow
Is the answer to a never-ending story
Ah
"You think they would like my stories?" James wondered. As he spoke, he smiled as he hugged Prince Blizzard and sang to him, Never-ending story
Ah
"If I do, then I'm sure our friends will," Amber assured him. She gave Princess Sparkle Bear a hug and joined in, Never-ending story
Ah
Everyone finished the song together, Never-ending story
Ah
Never-ending story
Ah
"Yeah! But wait..." James' face fell a little as the song ended, "There's also that Creative Writing class they have at Royal Prep, but that's just for the older kids. They wouldn't take me yet, would they?"
"Who knows? They might if an opening ever becomes available," Melinda smiled. "I remember that poem you brought home a few days ago from your Beginners Poetry class, and it was an almost perfect score! The fairies gave you a silver star instead of a gold one because they couldn't believe that it was your own work, but other than that, we were so proud of you!"
"You always have enjoyed writing," Roland agreed, "Even when you were born, you came out reciting the alphabet, then you took the doctor's pen and notebook and transcribed your own birth, then you asked one of the nurses if she was finished with the book she was reading!"
"Yes, Roland, we've all heard the joke before!" Melinda chuckled.
Amber and James giggled, having heard the joke before. The idea of getting in the creative writing class at Royal Prep did excite James, but it also made him nervous.
"James, you're one of the most talented writers I've ever seen," Melinda continued as she and Roland pushed him back onto the bed. "And you know your Aunt Claire had some of her poems and stories published, since she enjoys writing, just like you. Maybe one day you can also have your stories published!"
"We can all help you write them too!" Amber agreed, holding up Duchess Kitty and Princess Sparkle Bear, and motioning toward James' plush friends as Roland and Melinda tickled him again.
"I appreciate it," James smiled. "But can you do me a favor?"
"You want us to stop tickling you, don't you?" Roland teased.
"If you don't mind!" James laughed.
"Oh, come on, James, this little conversation we had about boosting your confidence gave us all a second wind for our game, didn't it?" Melinda grinned as she and Roland danced their fingers over him and Amber used Duchess Kitty to pat his head.
James pouted playfully, but he smiled softly. The game annoyed him, but he couldn't help but enjoy it as well.
Just not as much as his family.
And as the royal family continued one of their favorite games, in a hidden place full of books, a voice said to itself, "And Prince James went on to write several more stories, which included not only his plush friends, but also his human friends and his family as well. Some of his adventures even made it here...But those are stories for another time..."
