Adeline and Evander went crashing into the griffin realm, still shaken up that Oberon almost snatched Adeline's ankle! Adeline was clearly shaking, but Evander was there to comfort her.
"Hey, easy…easy…he's gone now," Evander replied, now hugging her to him.
"But Evander…how do you know he's gone for good?" Adeline asked in concern.
"Because no one is allowed in my realm without my invitation," a calm voice replied. Both turned and saw a snow white griffin come into view. "Welcome, I am queen Damia and I bid you welcome."
Both bowed before the queen and she gave them a gentle nudge, showing she wanted them to stand.
"Come…we are pleased you have arrived," she grinned, now showing them the palace. Adeline's eyes widened as she saw griffins soaring above her head and flying from tree to tree! Soon the sky was covered in different colored griffins!
"T-This is amazing," Adeline gasped, now seeing the captain of the griffins come to them.
"Welcome Evander and Adeline. Your troupe is already at our palace. I am to take you both on a short tour of the grounds," the captain said, now turning and nodding. "Climb on."
Evander was about to get on when Adeline froze. She remembered the last time she flew on a griffin; it caused nothing but trouble.
"Adeline? What is it? Climb on," Evander replied.
"No…I-I can't. I just can't!" Adeline protested.
The captain only arched an eyebrow and Evander pulled Adeline close. "You have to get on. It is an insult to not ride a griffin if they offer! They rarely let anyone ride them!"
"But the ones in our circus do," Adeline protested.
"Because they are part of our team. These griffins are from the griffin realm, meaning that no one can ride them without their permission." Evander said.
Adeline nodded and climbed on. But as she got comfortable, she could only remember how she jumped off the griffin and attempted to fly on her own. It ended up where she got seriously injured!
As they began to fly, Adeline began to sweat. So much so that she held on to the back of the griffin's saddle armor in fear. The captain could feel the tension and gentle shook his waist.
"Young one…loosen your grip a bit," he said gently.
"S-S-S-Sorry," she said, still afraid of what was going to happen. But as they flew, there was nothing to fear. They landed safely in front of the palace and Adeline immediately hopped off! The captain only watched her gently, but just walked ahead of them.
"You all will be performing when the moon is high in the sky. We are most active by then," the captain said, now turning and walking inside to stand by the queen's side.
A few hours later…
Adeline was nervous. She had on her costume and she was waiting to do her tight rope act, but there was something that made her even more nervous. They told her at the end, she needed to fly on the back of a griffin to the ground.
"I don't want to fly on a griffin anymore! Don't you remember what happened the last time I rode on one!" Adeline protested.
"You were the one that jumped off and tried to fly with your own fairy wings," Shell answered gently.
"I know that! But I don't want to try flying on one again! Flying period makes me scared after that happened!" Adeline explained.
"Adeline, you can't let fear rule you in Cirque Mystique! We do too many wonderful things to be bound by fear," Shell said gently.
"But I can't fly! I just can't!" Adeline said.
"If it frightens you that much, you don't have to do it," Evander said gently.
Adeline then felt terrible. Even though Evander was being gentle, she felt like she was being nothing but a coward. But she nodded and walked away, now going to help Shell with her water act.
"Adeline, are you sure you don't want to at least try?" Shell asked gently.
"No. I don't want to fly anymore. I learned my lesson when I almost got myself killed," Adeline said sadly.
Shell didn't prod anymore and gently nudged her friend. "Come on…help me get my fins extra sparkly hmmm?"And with that, she splashed Adeline playfully!
"Hey stop that!" Adeline said, trying to sound frustrated.
"Come on, loosen up!" Shell prodded in a friendly manner, now playfully splashing her again. She then giggled as Adeline grabbed her tail and the mermaid went under water. She then let her fin tickle all over Adeline's face, effectively making her giggle cutely.
"STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP IHIHIHIT SHEHEHEHELL!" Adeline laughed, trying to protest, but her friend was too busy trying to cheer her up.
"I'll stop if you smile," Shell responded, now surfacing.
"F-FIHIHIHIHIHIIHIHIHIHIHNE!" Adeline giggled. And with that, she let go of the tail and Shell used her magic to form legs. She then got out of the pool and hugged Adeline gently.
"You'll be ok Adeline. As a team, we will overcome any fear," Shell said calmly.
Adeline only hugged her back and nodded, hoping that she was correct. But the moment they separated, they heard a roar in the distance. The queen griffin quickly walked to her window and she let out a screech of agitation.
"It's Oberon! What is he doing in my domain?!" she growled. Just the name made Adeline freeze! Evander quickly came forward and explained what happened.
"Your highness. Oberon wanted to keep Adeline for himself. He wanted to make her part of his harem but I refused. We barely escaped…and now he wants to take her once more," Evander replied, now kneeling. "I am sorry I brought this upon your realm. I take full responsibility because I am the leader of Cirque Mystique."
Damia only looked at him with her blue eyes and then looked in the distance as Oberon and his army approached. She then looked back to Evander.
"Evander…you should have told me this earlier." She said somewhat sternly. But then she got a gentle smile on her face. "But I understand your loyalty to your group. We will help you. Guards! Assemble!"
And with that, Damia began ordering her guards to lead a counterattack against Oberon and his army.
Meanwhile…
Oberon was flying at a rapid speed towards Damia's castle. "That griffin queen won't be any trouble. The griffins prefer their privacy and will want us gone no doubt."
But his eyes widened as the captain of Damia's army flew at him and almost knocked him from the sky. He then angrily turned and saw an entire griffin fleet heading at them.
"FAIRIES! SHIELDS UP!" Oberon commanded, now placing his shield up. The others did the same. But soon both sides clashed in a battle.
Adeline was watching from the ground and her face welled up with tears. Colossus noticed and approached her.
"Adeline? What is it?" he asked gently.
"Colossus look at this mess I made. People could get seriously hurt because of me!" Adeline said in horror.
"Adeline, we chose to fight for you. You are one of us now," Colossus said in a determined manner.
"And I thank you for that, but LOOK OUT!" Adeline screamed as a fairy came falling down and knocked them both to their feet. Adeline then turned and heard Shell scream as she was being lifted off the ground.
"HELP! COLOSSUS! ADELINE HELP!" She screamed. Now Adeline was feeling anger and disgust; she wasn't going to let Oberon harm anyone in her circus family or the griffin realm. Not today! Adeline ran over to the dazed fairy and pressed her head hard against his, absorbing his powers. The fairy then was out cold, still out of it from the fall.
"For family…" she whispered under her breath, now picking up a tree branch and using the wings on her back to shoot into the sky. Everyone marveled because not only was Adeline flying again, but she was on a mission: to stop Oberon! As she flew, her eyes widened as Oberon was fighting Evander as they exchanged blows.
"YOU FOOL! Just give me the girl and this will stop!" Oberon growled.
"No! You go back to where you came from," Evander snarled. Losing patience, Oberon grabbed his neck and turned him to his own chest and used a choke-hold.
"Give up Evander…regardless I will get what I want today," Oberon whispered angrily.
"NO!" A voice screamed. Oberon turned right in time to feel a thick tree branch hit him! It was enough for him to let Evander go, but enough to make him very angry! He turned and saw Adeline levitating there with the tree branch. Meanwhile, Damia was watching and she was beginning to feel concerned. As much as they were fighting, the fairies were not backing down.
"I need reinforcements," she said to herself. She then closed her eyes and sent out S.O.S to a good friend of hers. "If you can hear me dear friend…please answer."
"I hear you Damia. Are you alright?" came the gentle reply.
"Not really. We are in a battle and I need help," she said urgently.
"On my way." Came the fast reply.
In the meantime, the battle still raged on! Oberon was still battling Evander and Adeline!
"You have courage human…but when you are in my harem, I will teach you to respect your king," Oberon said, now lunging at her and trying to grab her in a bear hug to keep her still.
"Get away from me!" she hissed.
"Stop fighting me! This is getting us nowhere!" Oberon growled. He then snatched her by her arm and Evander ran to stop him!
"LET HER GO!" He demanded.
"Never. As I said before, I always get what I want," Oberon smirked confidently, now seeing Adeline swinging the branch at him again. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed it and tossed it below. "Enough of that…you must act like a lady with your king."
"NO! I will never stop trying to get away from you!" she yelled.
"Pity. Because you will never escape me," he chuckled. Before Adeline could reply, a roar rang in the distance. Oberon turned his head sharply and saw King Lauhin, the tickle monster king, and his army of knights come through a large portal. "WHAT?!"
"Knights, stop Oberon," Lauhin commanded, now levitating up to where he and Oberon were eye to eye.
"Lauhin…" he growled. "This is of no concern to you."
"You are kidnapping. It is of a concern to me. Damia let me know she needed help; now then, let the girl go." Lauhin ordered.
"You have no dominion here!" Oberon insisted.
"No, but I DO!" Damia growled, now flying at him! Soon, Lauhin and the griffin queen began to battle Oberon and it caused him to release Adeline. She then quickly flew down to the ground and met the others who watched as the rulers of different realms pushed the fairy king back. Now outmatched and overpowered, Oberon pulled back and motioned his fairies to stop. He then floated back down to the ground and landed near Adeline and her troupe.
"Well done. You all no doubt have beaten me. But I will be back soon and when I do…" he paused to look at Adeline, "You will be mine. This is far from over. One day you will get tired of always traveling and you will want a real home. And I am going to be waiting for you," he smiled, now bending down and kissing her jewel. He then turned and opened a portal and motioned for them to all follow them. But not before he looked over his shoulder and winked at Adeline. "Yes…you will see me again one day young one." And in a flash, they were all gone!
Adeline just stared in shock! The battle was won and now she was safe…at least for now.
"We got them!" Shell smiled.
"I knew we would! We're strong together!" Colossus grinned.
"And now that we have pushed back the threat…let's all settle down for some refreshments and the show!" the queen smiled.
Adeline then gulped…that meant possibly riding on the griffin again.
guestsurprise: Hope you all are enjoying it!