Hello Roseflame Crystalheart! Sorry for taking so long to write this specific chapter, but this story has just hit a huge obstacle: swim team. Most likely I will be sparsely updating here and there until after early November when sectionals ends. Also sorry that this is a short chapter. Well, it is compared to the last two. Still, I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Chapter 5

Meanwhile at a location downstream, Ivalyn pulled herself onto the shore, coughing up water.

"Thumbelina. Must get to Thumbelina." She said weakly, before looking up as a shadow loomed over her.

"My, my. What in the world are you?" A spider said, baring its fangs in a smile. Her eyes widening, Ivalyn scrambled away from the creature, looking for something to defend herself with. Spotting a sharp rock shard, she pointed it at the spider.

"S-stay back."

"Oh, I'm so sorry dearie. Did I scare you?" The spider asked, extending two of it's arms in a placating gesture. Seeing the spider wasn't attacking, Ivalyn hesitantly lowered the rock shard. "I apologize, young one. I forget that my pincers can look a little disconcerting when I smile."

Realizing she had made a mistake, Ivalyn dropped the rock shard, and dipped into a curtsy.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you on your appearance." She smiled at the spider, before realizing she forgot to introduce herself. "Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Ivalyn. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh why its lovely to meet you dearie. My name is Isolde Spinnster, but everyone just calls me Grandma Izzy. Might I ask why you were swimming in the river?"

Ivalyn blinked, before remembering what she was doing before she met Grandma Izzy. "Oh no. Thumbelina! It was very nice meeting you Grandma Izzy, but I have to go make sure my sister is okay. You see, I have to make sure we both get home, because Cornelius and Chrysantanthos said they would visit us this morning, and-"

"Cornelius and Chrysanthos?" Grandma Izzy interrupted. "As in the Princes of the Fairy Court?"

"Why yes, that's them! The two of them visited me and my sister last night, and promised to come this morning, but then Mrs. Toad kidnapped us and tried to make Thumbelina marry her son Grundel, even though Thumbelina said she loves Cornelius!"

"That wasn't very nice at all. And not smart either. Those who stand in the way of true love will never succeed. Although, is it true love that you possess? Or merely a blind infatuation? That is the true question, is it not?"

Blinking, Ivalyn tried to wrap her head around what Grandma Izzy had just said. The feelings she had for Chrysanthos, were merely infatuation? Then what about Thumbelina's feelings?

"Ah, but what am I saying," Grandma Izzy continued, blind to Ivalyn's internal conflict. "You were telling me about getting kidnapped by toads. How exactly did you escape from them?"

"Well, they went off to get their father, and left the two of us on a lily pad. We couldn't cut it, but then a nice sparrow named Jacquimo clipped the root with his beak. So we started paddling towards the shore, only to realize that the stream was carrying us toward a waterfall. A bunch of creatures tried to help us get to safety, but in the process, I fell over the waterfall. Now I have no idea where I am, or if my sister is safe! My entire life has been turned upside down in less than a day!"

Collasping on her tired legs, Ivalyn blinked rapidly, trying to keep her tears unshed. Suddenly she felt four spindly arms wrap around her in a comforting embrace.

"Shhhh. There there, dearie. Just take a deep breath and try to calm down." Ivalyn followed Grandma Izzy's instructions, until she couldn't feel tears pricking her eyes anymore. "Now then, why don't you come home with me. You're soaking wet, and I have some clothes that might fit you. I'll contact some friends and ask them to keep an eye out for your sister. Now does that sound okay?"

Numbly, Ivalyn nodded, and followed Grandma Izzy into the tall grass towards her home.

At the same time, far away in the Vale of the Fairies, the royal family was talking.

"Cornelius, Chrysanthos," Queen Tabitha started. "My sunshines, first you buzzed in here the other day on those wretched things, and announced in front of the entire court that you had found the girls of your dreams. And now you come back to say they've vanished?"

"Kidnapped, Mother," Cornelius corrects flying up to her. "They've been kidnapped."

"You're joking!"

"Tabitha-" King Colbert tried to support his sons case, when Chrysanthos flew over.

"Look Father," he said, obviously frustrated. "Please delay the winter frost as long as you can. Cornelius and I need time to find Ivalyn and Thumbelina."

"Chrysanthos!" The queen cried out as her son hopped onto his dragonfly and flew off.

"Don't worry, Mother, we'll be back," Cornelius says determined, jumping onto Buzzby.

"Cornelius!" The royal parents cry out in unison as he flies off.

"We'll find them!"

"Oh, my poor boys," Tabitha sighs. "They're serious. I've never seen Chrysanthos so agitated about anything. But, Colbert, my love, we can't delay the frost for more than a day!"

At a place upstream from both of the sisters' locations, the Singers de Espana's showboat floated. Grundel balanced on the rim of the boat, looking extremely depressed as he traced circles in the water.

"Hey, bro!" Mozo draws the curtain going backstage aside, smirking at his brother.

"Go away!" Grundel immediately responds, only for Mozo to ignore his request and strut outside with Gringo close behind.

"Pond talk says Thumbelina gave you the slip, and is gonna marry a fairy prince!" The two brother mock Grundel, who sits up, interested in the new information.

"What fairy prince?"

"Oh ho ho! You not be able to show your ugly face on stage no more!" Mozo teases him.

"Everybody laugh at you!" Gringo adds.

"Nobody laugh!" Grundel says angrily, only for his brothers to burst into laughter, angering him more. "I said, nobody laughs!"

Pulling on their collars, he tries to get the guffawing brothers to be quiet, but they only continue, fanning the flames of his anger.

"I go get Thumbelina, and bring her back!" He declares passionately, only for the brothers to launch into another bout of laughter. Grabbing them both by the scruff of their necks, he tosses them into the air.

"Whoa!" The brothers both say, before continuing to laugh; even as they splashed into the water.

"I marry her!" Grundel says determinedly, before hopping off, splashing into the stream a few times as his brothers laughter echoes behind him.

Hope you liked that! I tried to do my best with Ivalyn's beginning. I don't want her to overshadowed by her sister for the rest of the story.