Chapter 15: pen pals

I don't own fablehaven.

Brackens POV

Today was starting to look up. As the weather continued to become colder, the skies had begun to darken. The cheeriness of the summer and spring seemed to have dwindled. It was still cold, but with Kendra at my side, telling me stories, I didn't think it could get any sunnier.

We were laying under one of the gazebos at the fairy queen's shrine, Kendra's hands flying in misshaped patterns, animating what she said.

"…from that day on, I had always loved mail! My Dad even set me up a pen pal from another country! I couldn't believe my luck!" Kendra gave a snort and it was silent for a moment before we both burst out laughing. "And don't even get me started on the stamps!"

We laughed for a while, wiping tears out of our eyes and clutching our stomachs. "Do you still have a pen pal?"

"No, that whole thing ended when me and Seth discovered Fablehaven. After that, we were too busy. You know, the whole 'saving the world' thing tends to consume some time." Her tone was still convivial, but I could tell she missed it. The creeping of an idea started to grow on my mind, forming a plan and taking shape. It was an idea I'm sure she would love.

Kendra breathed a deep sigh. "It's too bad, but all good things come to an end, right?"

I shifted my position. "Not necessarily."

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? I mean I think we can change that."

The first letter I gave her wasn't of much significance. It was merely a piece of scrap paper I had stuffed into an envelope. The message was brief and had a smiley face at the bottom. It was the kind a mother would stick in her child's lunch box. I had taped it to the corner of her desk, using the kind that wouldn't peel off the varnish.

Currently, I was strolling along the boardwalks and gardens of the castle. It was nice, the wind cool, the sun shining, the sweet smell.

"Prince Bracken!" A voice called out. I looked over my shoulder and saw an Astrid striding towards me. He gave a quick bow. "I have brought news." He produced an envelope from a pocket I could not see.

I nodded my head. "Thank you, Rostimus."

Rostimus gave another bow before heading off. I turned the envelope over. It had my name on it. It was also in Kendra's handwriting. I couldn't block a smile. I knew it was likely she would send one back, but I could never be sure. For all I knew Seth could have taken the envelope. What a disaster that would be.

I wasn't sure how Kendra had talked to Rostimus in the first place, or how she had convinced him to give this to me. But Rostimus was one of Kendra's bodyguards at the battle of Zzyzx, that might have something to do with it

I slid my finger across the top of the envelope, ripping it open. Inside was a folded paper, the edge jagged from being torn out of a notebook. I read through its contents slowly, absorbing each word. And I read it again and again. Kendra always had an interesting way of writing, but it was almost magical when she was using it to tell about her week.

I reached into my pocket and grabbed a pencil, twirling it in my fingers as I searched for a piece of paper. I opened several drawers and chests before I found an empty sheet. It was Manila colored and I set it on the desk it had belonged to. I thought for a moment, forming the sentences in my mind before I put pen to paper.

After I was finished, I stepped back to admire my handiwork. It was definitely eye-roll worthy. And that's all that really counted.

I folded it up before remembering I needed an envelope. I had thought I'd seen one earlier in the same desk, and I was wrong. Luckily the next chest of drawers over held one. I slipped the letter inside and licked the seal.

The next step would be determining how to transport it. I could use the Astrid's, but I wasn't sold on the idea. I ruled it out. I could always send someone to do it for me. Somehow that didn't seem right. It was almost as if someone else did it, it would ruin it. I could visit her myself. That idea I did prefer, but would I have the time? I glanced at a ticking clock on the wall. If I was fast and didn't stay long, I could squeeze a visit in.

I gathered the supplies and placed them in a drawer. I wrapped my jacket around me and placed the letter inside of it with a tuck.

I walked out of the castle going down long hallways and passing the occasional person rushing from item to item, and along the fairyrealm. It was far different than the last one, but a do-over tended to have those results. We had to accommodate for the larger size, but things were placed far better, plants more magic than they could possibly seem, and twirling towers that arched into the sky. Thinking about it gave me a twinge of homesickness. Kendra had been so surprised and awestruck each time she visited this new one, that I decided to appreciate it, too. Even if Kendra hasn't seen the majesty of the old one.

The spot connecting Fablehaven to the realm soon came into sight. I quickened my step. I concentrated on the portal and the air rippled before me, accompanying a blinding white. I appeared at the small island at Fablehaven. I stood up and walked to the edge. The naiads had already pushed a boat over and I climbed in. A few heads appeared over the water. I tried to ignore them, as much as I could anyway, but they were very persistent.

"What brings you here?" Chiarta asked, batting swampy eyelashes.

I kept my head faced forward.

Just in front of the boat, another head came up. "Someone's in a hurry," she teased.

"Are you visiting me?" Another asked.

"Why would he visit you. He's obviously bonked his head if he's going where I know he is."

"And where would that be?"

"The….the...her."

"I bet he needs help taking out the trash."

A snort was heard among them. "You can't take out yourself."

"We should've been allowed to invite her over to our place."

"Oh what fun!"

My grip tightened on the edge. I tried to refrain from saying something, the boat brushing against the boardwalk allows me to.

Water was flicked on me. "You didn't even say hi!" A shrill vice said.

I continued to ignore them, keeping my focus on the trail ahead of me. I touched the wet spot. It was my pocket. I took the letter out and stared at the paper in my hand. It had gotten wet. Some of the ink had leaked and smudged Kendra's name. That was no good. I wished it dry, how could I give her a soggy paper? Wishing didn't work. Instead I tried heating my hands. It started to dry a bit, and I flipped it over and began heating the other side. Now it was dry, but the papers were wrinkled. It would have to do.

Several minutes later, the main house came into view and I hurried my step. I came to the back door and knocked on it. Seth opened it. He looked at my hand, and then back to me, and to my hand again.

"Well," Seth said, "Kendra's not here. And I'm assuming you're not coming to set up a playdate with Warren, so I can take a message." I should've used the Astrids.

I opened my mouth to say something but Seth continued talking. "Maybe there's some death defying mission we're supposed to go on and that's the order from the queen herself. I haven't had a good adventure in weeks." He winked at me.

"Make sure this gets to her."

"Totally guessed it." He plucked the letter between two fingers and twirled around, marching into the house. I pulled my hat on a little tighter, and set off for home…and neglected duties.

The dinner table was quiet. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but this dinner seemed different. I shoved a handful of peas in my mouth and glanced up at my family. I noticed Mizelle first. She was looking intently at me with an eyebrow raised.

"Well, brother," she told me. "It seems you've gotten mail." She turned to her side and gingerly went through the satchel she wore. She placed a pink envelope on the table. "It's from the girl."

"The 'girl' has a name," I reminded her.

My youngest sister, Tylie, grabbed it, as she was sitting next to Mizelle, and set it in her lap.

"I heard Raxtus came by today," Tylie said. I glanced at her lap. "What? We're having dinner. You know the rules."

I sighed, knowing that other things were not supposed to come between family dinners. Those were sacred. I ate my dinner a little faster.

The rest of the dinner was filled with little chatting, the only sounds being clinking silverware and chewing. Depending on the day, it was like this, or scattered small-talk would make its way to the table. Even among family, unicorns were not social.

When I finished, I stood up, grabbed my dishes, put them on the cart, and walked to Tylie. I extended a hand.

She rolled her eyes. "You haven't been excused yet."

I turned around and before I could get a word in, my mother interrupted. "Yes, you are excused," my mother said, lips twisting in amusement.

I put the finger down and turned around. Tylie handed me the letter and shot me a wink. I could only hope Kendra's family wasn't as bad as mine.

I bid farewell and rushed to my room where I closed the door and lay on my bed, the letter already opened. In it, Kendra told me about Seth opening and reading her letter. Kendra had thought it very sweet and thanked him, but next time it would be better if the receiver were not to be Seth.

I chuckled and smiled at the letter in my hands, eager to read what happened next.

The next part told of a visit from Raxtus bringing her to the other side of the preserve. That's why she hadn't been home. Raxtus had tagged along on her mission, and when Kendra had received the letter, she immediately wrote back, having Raxtus deliver it.

As always, I read it again and again until it was memorized, and I placed it with the others, each being sealed with magic so they would not be ruined.

I dug around until I found the appropriate supplies and got to work. Mine wouldn't be nearly as interesting as hers, but this was a hobby I intended to pursue.

The next letter I revived was by an interesting method. I was looking through scrolls when I was bombarded by fairies. They swirled around me in a colorful tornado, each half-size, about a foot. Every expression was of excitement and triumph. Never had so many visited me before at once.

"We've come for our great duty!" A high voice said. The girl appeared to have been shocked by her own voice. That gave me the first hint: these fairies had gently been turned large.

"We were chosen! The only ones worthy—" another stared.

"And beautiful!" A third piped in.

"—enough to do a great deed to a prince!"

"And a unicorn!" The third added.

Together, squabbling over who got to do it, they pushed something toward me. It was a letter. These fairies were from Fablehaven. Kendra had sent them. I was going to get her back for that one.

"Thank you ladies," I said. Choruses of giggles went up. They began to fly away each whispering something to her friend.

I walked back to my room shaking my head. These fairies must not have known the contents of it. I began to wonder if this letter exchange would ever be a gossip topic. It was insane what scraps of conversation I picked up. Some of the fairy realms inhabitants favorite things to talk about were various love lives.

I opened the letter and continued to read it as I walked down the halls, occasionally bumping into passerbys. This time I frowned while reading it. Kendra's writing wasn't as cheerful as it normally was. It had started off ok, her telling how annoying it was when Seth scared her and how she was so startled, her powers malfunctioned and she had trapped him in a light bubble. However, towards the end it lost all sense of joviality. It had ended with Kendra saying she was sorry about the quality of this letter, she had just been reminded of something. But I knew it was a someone, not a something. I hadn't even stopped to consider it.

I threw on my jacket and almost raced outside. Several people tried to stop me on my way, but I gave them rushed apologies before scampering off again. I reached out to Kendra telepathically and told her I was coming for a short visit.

The trip to Fablehaven was blurred. Near the yard, I was struck with an idea. I had never been good at gaging reactions, but I hoped against hope that this time, this one time, it would work.

A few dryads were dancing among the trees. I came to the closedt one to the yard and leaned in for a question. The dryad looked excited to be talked to, and she immediately agreed to what I had in mind.

I thanked her and moved into the yard and to the door. I knocked on the door again and was relieved when Kendra answered. She gave me a small smile and ushered me inside.

"Actually, Kendra," I said, "I have a surprise for you."

She gave me a quizzical look but followed me out the back door anyway. We went along the backyard, past the pool, and into the yard. I led her to the tree and she gasped at what she saw, hands going to her mouth.

A few of the trees branches had come down and framed hollow U-shaped holes. The Golden leaves on the branches wove their way around like a crown. There were two holes, the grain under the trees changed to show a B and K respectively.

"Do you like it?" Kendra gave me a large hug and I smiled into her hair. More quietly I added, "and this is ok?"

"It's…yes. It's ok. You've given me such a wonderful time. I wouldn't take any of it back. Ever."

"I'm glad. Because I have a delivery." I pulled out my letter and slid it into her box. She gave me a grin before taking it. She pulled out a sticky note and pen, and began to write on it. It was only a few sentences before she stuck it on the wood.

I would call this plan a success.

*I totally missed last well, so sorry! For those who read my other story jinxed, that'll be updated on Monday! These past weeks have been super crazy! Also, if it wasn't clear, I was referring to Gavin. Right, thanks a ton to Jaylalovesreading and NaoSa!*