Molly spungle : The Secret of Red Stone

Early on the morning of the new full moon, Molly, Hoddi and King Simon awoke to the bewitching music from the red rose trees. The three made their way to the clearing where Jackson Spungle awaited them. Running to her father, Molly hugged him tightly. She had missed him even though it had only been two days since they had seen one another.

King Simon had regained his health. Apart from the scar on his chest, it was hard to tell he had once been so badly injured. “I will take good care of Molly,” he told Jackson. “That is my promise to you.”

“And mine,” added Hoddi.

Molly said her sad goodbyes to the red stone dragon, wondering if she would ever see him again. Her spirit was troubled at leaving him. How she wished he was real.

Her feet moving in time to the haunting music of the red rose trees, Molly began to dance. Hoddi and King Simon watched in fascination as her tiny feet became a blur. She felt the tug at her wings as well, and mourned again their loss. She could only hope there were still potions at the Hills of Halle that would heal them.

Molly’s dancing halted when a sudden idea came into her mind. Pleading with the others to wait, she turned and ran back toward Red Stone Castle, telling the others she had forgotten something.

“Don’t be long, Molly,” her father called out. “The Divide will vanish soon.”

The Spungle fairy, breathless, stopped beside the motionless red dragon. Keeping her mind focused on her mission, Molly avoided looking directly into the dragon’s eyes. Could the magic of the red stone help the dragon? Molly’s hand reached out, hesitating for only a moment before she rubbed the red stone face three times. “I wish love, life and freedom for you, my friend.”

There was no way she could have been prepared for the commotion that followed. Red stone turned to liquid, falling away from the dragon, dripping onto the ground. It hardened, forming a circle around him.

The first movement of the dragon was slight, but rapidly increased. Mighty muscles rippled through his legs and back as he stood, shaking off any lingering red stone. Huge wings, already unfurled, moved through the air, creating a strong gust of wind that almost knocked Molly off her feet. The dragon drew them close to his body, folding them like fans. Drawn taut between long hinged bones, the dragon’s wings emerged from muscular shoulders which were powerful and imposing. The horns running down the length of the dragon’s neck looked sharp and dangerous.

The dragon’s skin was covered in shiny red scales in the shape of teardrops. As Molly’s gaze travelled to the emerald green of his eyes, she saw that they gleamed with life and warmth. Molly felt again the strong and mysterious force that seemed to draw her to him and her heartbeat quickened as it had before. To her enormous surprise, the creature spoke softly. “You loved the stone away, my friend and brought me life! I will now serve only you. My name is Ran-Da.”

Ran-Da stood before Molly, his four limbs looking powerful and dangerous, yet Molly felt no fear as she faced the large and ferocious looking dragon. The mysterious force she had experienced every time she looked into his eyes, however, ran freely through her veins. She gasped at the strength of it, wondering yet again what the feeling was that she could not identify. She heard again the faint humming sound from somewhere far away.

The young fairy reached out to touch him, rejoicing at the strong and supple skin beneath her hand. “Ran-Da, you are truly alive! My dearest wish came true!” Molly exclaimed. When she drew near the dragon again, the humming sound ceased, as it had before.

The emerald green eyes, full of life, looked gently upon her. Thankful the idea had come to her before she left, she felt in awe of the powerful and mystical magic of the red stone.

“I must get back,” she said. “It’s time to vanish the walls of the Invisible Divide.”

“Where you go, my friend, I go also!” declared the red dragon. “Whatever your need, I will help.”

The others in the clearing watched their approach in utter astonishment. As they backed away at the first sight of Ran-Da, Molly hurriedly assured them he was friendly. “This is Ran-Da,” she said simply. “The dragon that was encased in stone in the courtyard is now very much alive!” She touched the dragon’s face to show the three how gentle he was.

“But how?” questioned King Simon, his handsome face frowning in absolute confusion. Hoddi nodded dumbly beside his master. Even her father looked bewildered at this turn of events.

Molly quickly explained about the idea that had sprung into her mind as she danced. “I was hoping I could share the magic of the red stone and free him from his prison. I rubbed Ran-Da’s red stone face three times and the magic worked! Now Ran-Da is free!”

“Well, it certainly looks like it worked very well!” declared her father, his voice full of awe. “I’m proud of you Molly. You are very brave. But now it’s time to get back to the task at hand, my daughter.”

For the first time since she ran back to the dragon, Molly noticed the red rose trees were still casting their hauntingly beautiful music over the clearing. Her feet began to move with its rhythm once more. Shortly thereafter, Jackson cried out, “The walls of the Invisible Divide have vanished! It’s time to make your journey into the World Outside!”

Hoddi and King Simon had found ropes and a few weapons at the castle which they attached around their waists.

Just then, Ran-Da unfurled his great wings, moving closer to Molly. “I will take you, Molly. I will be your wings and take you all on this journey. Climb onto my back,” he commanded. After hugging her father, not knowing if it was for the last time, Molly obeyed the red dragon. Hoddi and the king climbed onto the dragon’s broad back behind her.

With a loud swoosh of his gigantic dragon wings, Ran-Da took flight. Moving speedily through the blue sky with ease, Molly waved to her father on the ground below.

“Goodbye!” she cried, knowing he could no longer hear her. He grew smaller and smaller, until Molly could not see him at all. The mighty red dragon’s wings propelled them upwards, as he flew farther away from Fielders Forest.