As the forest began to get darker, Princess Emma found herself wishing her family hadn't travelled so far away. When the Queen explained to her about the [[attacks in the west|The Bandits]] on the villages, she understood the seriousness of the trip to meet Sir Darby.
She understood, but she really just wished they were [[home.|Glitter]]
A light in the distance came closer until Princess Emma could see that it was a fairy.
The fairy smiled at Princess Emma and her mother. "I am Catherine Page, Captain of the guard. Allow my squadron to guide you in.” She bowed her head to them.
Princess Emma's mother bowed her head as a nod of respect to the winged sentry. "We are traveling to your kingdom to meet Sir Darby. I am the Queen of the Universe, your assistance is much appreciated.”
In a very hot place, in a very tiny house, there lived a princess. She spent days making projects and music and playing with creatures big and small.
The Princess was known as Emma Delaney, ruler of Frogs, Toads and all creatures that Hop. Emma had crazy, curly hair and blue eyes and understood the importance of glue sticks and glitter.
Emma liked things that were green, not because she really liked green, but because in her kingdom, she knew the frogs would be offended if she didn’t.
[[Back|Start]]
Once they arrive at the home of the Fairy Queen, Princess Emma begins to eat and [[dance|Mango]] to the music of the fairies while the Queen of the Universe went to talk to the guard.
Emma hears her mother tell the others what she had learned.
Someone she doesn't know asks “Who is the bandit they seek?”
“A long fur covered one with rings on his fluffy tail and he wears a mask. They say he is the smartest of all bandits." The Queen replied.
"I hope only one day I am privileged enough to face such a foe.”
Emma walked around the corner to see who her mother was [[speaking to...|Meets Darby]]
“Hello Darby. My name is Princess Emma. I am glad you made it to the castle.”
Sir Darby gave a bow. “Greetings Princess Emma, ruler of Frogs, Toads and all Creatures that Hop.”
"How are you today?" Emma asked.
Darby stood on his hind legs to look out of the window in the Great Hall. “I am rather cross at the [[weather|Unexpected Storm]] we are having. This certainly isn’t good for practicing my hunting or paw to paw combat skills. How a great warrior is to maintain his prowess in mess like this is just beyond me.”
“Darby, you look like a kangaroo when you stand like that.”
“What?” he yelled and got down on all fours. “What did you call me?”
“A kangaroo, they stand up like that, like you just did. I think it’s funny.”
“Look at this!” He turned to show Emma his big hairy grey bottom. “Look at this Emma Delaney; do you see a big, fat tail? In fact, do you see a tail at all?”
He was right; he had hardly any tail since the cat part of him was Manx.
“I apologize Darby. You are right; you do not look like a kangaroo from behind.”
“Thank you. I would not want to be confused with a silly [[hopper|Hop]] such as a kangaroo.”
When he said hopper, it made Princess Emma think of her favorite creature, Kiwi. Kiwi liked to hop. Kiwi sometimes got out of hand, hopping and hopping, higher than Emma’s head.
“Kiwi, you are a silly hopper.” She said.
“Emma, you are a silly girl.” Kiwi told her.
“I think that you should teach me to hop as much as you.” Emma said to Kiwi one afternoon over gingerbread and punch.
“It’s all about the shoes, really.” Kiwi lifted one of her four legs to display for Emma her sequin covered shoes.
“Those are some nice shoes there Kiwi. Where in the kingdom did you find them?”
“I got them from Old Toad. He wanted the cheese and bread I was carrying home one day. It seemed like a good idea until I got hungry later.” Kiwi picked up another piece of gingerbread and gobbled it down.
Now Emma was known as ruler of frogs, toads and all creatures that hop, but the truth is, she really wasn’t fond of [[toads|Old Toad]]. They farted a lot and had bad breath, which according to her mom, the Queen of the Universe, were not very good manners. She really wanted some good hopping shoes but wasn’t sure it was worth it to have to pay a visit to Old Toad who lived in the hall closet.
“Kiwi, can you show me how to hop like you? Maybe I am a good hopper and I don’t know it? Maybe I don’t NEED those hopping shoes?”
Drinking her fourth cup of punch, Kiwi stopped briefly to wipe the bits of gingerbread off her mouth.
“Yes, Emma Delaney, let’s have a hopping lesson. Would you like to change out of your beautiful fairy dress before we begin?”
“I think the dress will HELP my hopping. Let’s go!”
[[Back|Meets Darby]]
Emma remembered meeting Old Toad before.
Old Toad bowed to Emma. “Thank you for rescuing me. I was making repairs to my roof, accidently hit the stack of linens on the shelf above and down one came. I have never been more embarrassed in my life.” He looked at Emma, over his spectacles, “Good grief girl, what is that on your nose?”
“It’s a clothes pin.”
“What’s it for?”
Emma looked up at Old Toad. “Well, it’s because you…well Mr. Toad, you are a bit smelly.”
Toad hopped up high, laughing as he went. “That I am child, that I am. I forget sometimes because I live by myself in this closet and I think my nose stopped smelling. I burnt out my smeller you know.”
“Smeller, that’s funny Toad.” Emma laughed.
“How would you like to join me for a cup of tea? I promise it tastes better than I smell!”
“I would love that Old Toad. Thank you for that generous offer.” Princess Emma said, giving Toad a curtsey.
[[Back|Unexpected Storm]]
Suddenly the skies opened up and rain began to pour down all around them.
Lightening crossed the skies and thunder cracked. Princess Emma didn't like this, not one bit.
The guards were running back and forth, getting the horses out of the rain and moving equipment into the stables. A huge bolt of lightening hits a tree and it starts a fire.
Everyone dropped what they were doing to help put the fire out. Princess Emma was scared and ran the other [[direction|The Way Home]].
"Princess Emma, slow down."
Emma stopped and turned to see Sir Darby. "There is a fire, it scared me. I haven't been able to find my mother since I started running. I think I am lost."
Darby pushed [[his monocle|Storytime with Darby]] up his nose. "Well that won't do child. I will help you find your mother."
Princess Emma hugged him and Sir Darby made a face. (Children were not his favorite thing.) He patted her lightly on the back. "There, there, the Queen of the Universe is looking for you too, it won't take long to find her. Let's check the castle, and I will tell you a story while we [[look."|Take out the Trash]]
Princess Emma and Sir Darby went outside after looking all around the castle. Emma didn’t see her mother any where and she was beginning to become very frightened.
“What am I going to do? I don’t know where else to look. This is scary.”
Sir Darby, even though he didn’t like children, reached out and took her hand in his paw. “We will find her child. She is looking for you too and I know she is scared. I would be if you were mine.”
Princess Emma looked out into the forest, in back of the castle. She saw something white and would swear it was [[moving|Destruction in the Woods]], could that be her mother…
The music made Princess Emma think of a day she danced with Miss Mango Tango.
It was in a [[very hot place|Glitter]], the ruler of frogs, toads and all creatures that hop, was sticking her toes in the pond. The day seemed to be dragging, getting hotter and hotter every minute, so heading to the water was the only thing to do to cool off. Emma Delaney hiked up her fairy dress and started to wade in when she heard a big splash. She looked up to see Mango, dancer dog extraordinaire, swimming towards her.
“Hello Mango Tango. How are you today?”
“Very hot, Princess Emma. This weather can make me most disagreeable.” Mango climbed onto the shore on Emma’s side of the pond and shook furiously to get rid of every last water droplet.
Emma climbed out of the pond. “That is a pretty cool trick Miss Mango. I wish I was a dancer dog so I could do that too.”
Mango laughed. “You don’t have to be a dancer dog to shake, you just have to be all loosey goosey like this.” Mango stood on her back legs and did a hula for the Princess.
“That’s funny. Let me try.” Emma then imitated the hula, all the way down to the wagging tail. Mango dropped down to all fours because she was laughing so hard.
“I think that is pretty good, Emma Delaney. I am headed back to my studio to pick out music for my next class, would you like to come with me and help? I keep the air conditioning down really low so it’s nice and chilly. I am here only for a bit of exercise, I swim to keep my dancer’s legs.” Mango stretched out one of her big yellow legs to show off the muscles.
“I would love to join you Miss Mango. It is awfully hot out today.”
Sir Darby followed Princess Emma as she ran to the clearing. There were pieces of trash and leftover food every where they looked.
"Who could have made a mess like this?" Emma asked as she picked up some of the papers.
"I don't know child, stay close, I heard something in the wood line."
Princess Emma grabbed his paw just as they saw something run out of the bushes, so quickly that it was blurry.
As they turned to [[run back|Lost]] to the castle, Princess Emma was thinking something about that blur seemed [[familiar.|The Bandits]]
Princess Emma stopped running. She was out of breath and it was dark and she was scared.
Where was Sir Darby?
"Oh no." Princess Emma sat against a tree to rest. She was on the verge of tears when she smelled a familiar, horrible smell. She say Old Mr. Toad coming down the path.
"Princess Emma, what are you doing out here by yourself in the dark? The rain is coming again soon and this is no place for you. Your mother is going to be so worried."
Emma told Mr. Toad about what they saw in the woods and getting seperated from her mother then Sir Darby. "I am tired Mr. Toad."
"Come now, I know how to get you back. Do you have something for your [[smeller?"|Old Toad]]
Emma was wrinkling her nose and she didn't realize it. "No, I forgot my clothes pins at home. It's okay really, I will get used to it."
Princess Emma took the hand of Old Mr. Toad and walked with him down the [[path|Back at the Castle]]...
Princess Emma rubbed her eyes as she woke up. It took a few minutes to realize that she was back at the Fairy Castle. She slid out of the covers and headed down the stairs to the Great Hall.
The room was already occupied. There were soldiers at every table with big scrolls painted with maps of the kingdom. Everyone was speaking in hushed tones and hurrying back and forth, busy on something very important. She saw her family and ran to hug her mother.
"Emma, glad to see you slept well. You had quite the adventure last night." The Queen of the Universe bent down to kiss her on the head.
Someone noticed the little Princess in the door way eventually and came over for a proper introduction. She was tall, pretty, dressed in a military jacket and boots. She squatted down to Emma Delaney’s level and [[spoke.|Lady Shelby]]
Every time Emma heard Darby speak, she wanted him to tell a story. Her favorite one involved ninja cats and chips and goes like this:
“Sir Darby, half Meercat and half actual cat, tell me a story about one of your battles. Surely it will help pass the time on this very rainy day.”
"Emma, ruler of frogs, toads and all creatures that hop, that is the best idea you have had. Come over here and sit and I will tell you about the day I fought the twin ninjas from the House of Masa.”
He motioned over to a big, poofy chair with too many pillows and jumped on the seat. Emma squeezed in beside him. She decided not to tell him that he should really reconsider the size of his bottom since he thought it couldn’t possibly be as big as a kangaroos.
“It was late one afternoon, after I had put down the troll uprising of ’07 and I had stopped for a break at my favorite desert oasis. I had a bit of water, some very odd flavored chips and spent some time smoothing my fur back down. That uprising is another story entirely. Never give a troll apples is all I will say! Anyway, I decided to sleep for a bit under a tree and had barely dozed off when I hear the most awful shrieking. I opened my eyes in enough time to see twin black actual cat ninjas leaping towards me from the tree above.”
“What was odd about them?” Emma asked.
“What?” Darby responded, off track and quite confused.
“You said the chips had an odd flavor. Why was it odd?”
“Good grief Emma Delaney! I am getting attacked by twin actual cats and you are only interested in details of my meal?”
“Sorry Sir Darby, I was just a little hungry.”
“Very well. They were cilantro or dill or some such nonsense, very green and smelled like grass which is why I was interested in the first place. I know grass and those chips were not made from grass it turns out. Anyway, follow along now Emma. Twin ninjas, leaping, are you listening little girl?” He looked over at her and she sat up, straightening her fairy dress.
“Yes sir, I am listening.”
“So these cats were screaming ‘woo hoo’ and ‘yee haw’ and landed on the sand in front
of me. I wasn’t sure what to do but with my fast soldier skills, I jumped up on all fours and then stood on my back legs to show them my size and scare them with the evil eye.”
“Not the evil eye?” Emma looked so worried, leaning in and whispering in his ear.
“Yes, Emma Delaney, the very scary, double whammy, evil eye that I learned while in India training with the army of Madras. Funny little creatures in plaid shorts, you would like them I think. Any way, I am up on my back legs, giving the evil eye and they stop, right in their tracks.”
“They were scared?” Emma asked, still whispering.
“It was actually a case of mistaken identity. What might have been an unfortunate set of circumstances turned out to be remedied by my years of military training. They introduced themselves, Harvey de Masa and Jack de Masa, and they were from a far away place called Grapevine. Their mother was a fierce warrior and had passed on her ninja skills but it was no match for my evil eye. Harvey, who was rather large compared to his brother, agreed that they would never again mistake me for the bandit that they had been searching for. They showed me their hiding techniques and I gave them their first evil eye lesson. Keep your enemies close as they say.”
[[Back|Meets Darby]]
“Greetings little Princess. I have heard great things about you from your brother.” She extended her hand to shake Emma’s. “My name is Lady Shelby. I am the Commander of all things Scrumptious and Melodic. My army is helping Sir Darby as we speak. Would you like to see the maps?”
Princess Emma looked past Lady Shelby and saw that [[Tristan|Tristan]] and [[Zoe|Zoe]] were already there, answering questions and offering suggestions. “Yes, I would very much like to see the maps.” She took Lady Shelby’s hand and followed her to the biggest table where the biggest map was laid out.
“Look here, Emma Delaney, ruler of Frogs, Toads and all Creatures that Hop. Do you see the wood line to the east here?”
She watched where Lady Shelby pointed on the map. “Yes, those are the trees we came through yesterday when we arrived.”
“Precisely Little One. Today we have our best flute players lined up and all the fairies are wearing their bells.”
“Bells?” Emma wrinkled up her nose. She had never heard of fairies carrying bells before.
“Yes. Have you ever heard the expression ‘be there with bells on’?”
Emma laughed. “Yes, my mother says that all the time.”
“That is because the Queen is very smart. She knows that means showing up with everything you’ve got. It’s the battle cry of the fairies.”
“Battle cry?” The Princess asked. “But they are so tiny.”
Lady Shelby bent down and touched the tiny Princess on the nose. “Precisely what makes them so valuable, they are fierce warriors.” Shelby stood up and pointed at the tree line again. “Here the fairies will begin ringing their bells and the royal flute players will play their flutes as loud as they can while they march forward. Any hiding creatures will be no match for their skill or noise.”
Emma looked up at her. “You mean they scare them out?”
“Well, if that is necessary. Some creatures become enchanted by the music and just will follow them right back to the palace. Then over here, see these low areas by the lake?” Lady Shelby pointed to the new location on the map. “Here we set up the tastiest of treats, [[no creatures can resist|Facing the Bandit]] them.”
There was a sudden flutter as a squadron of fairies flew in the room. The Fairy Queen spoke with them and turned to the Queen of the Universe.
"Sir Darby has captured the leader of the bandits!"
Quickly the soldiers began rolling of maps, moving of tables and setting up of thrones. Shortly there after, the Queen of the Universe and Fairy Queen took their seats with Lady Shelby, Tristan and High Duchess Zoe at their sides. Emma knew that Darby had arrived when the large doors started to swing open and the room got so quiet. Lady Shelby’s soldiers began marching into the room and lining up around the outside of the chairs while the Fairy Queen welcomed her fairies inside, bells ringing still. The Queen of the Universe sat up and leaned forward as Sir Darby entered the room carrying a rope that was tied to the hands of a [[suspicious looking character|Unmasked]].
Sir Darby knelt on one knee and bowed his head. “Dear Queen, I have captured the bandit. Judgment is yours.”
Princess Emma smiled when she saw her favorite warrior. Seeing her grin, he winked at her.
“Sir Darby, as always, you serve the kingdom well. You are brave, you keep us safe and we are all grateful for your vigilance. Untie the bandit.”
“Yes my Queen.” Darby untied the hands of he bandit and retreated to the door to stand guard. The [[bandit wearing a mask|Destruction in the Woods]] with rings on his tail stepped forward, closer to the Queen and got down on one knee.
“My apologies great and fair Queen. It is an honor and an embarrassment to come before you in this manner today.” He kept his head bowed. Emma Delaney thought the looked very, very sad.
“Rise bandit, tell me your name and why you have sought out this kingdom in which to do your evil deeds.”
He rose and looked up at her.” My name is Howard and I am from the clan of Lampasas. I am here foraging for food because our home has been destroyed by the Boars of San Antonio. I have children; we have nothing left in our town but sorrow and disease. I did not mean any harm. I only took from where there was extra, never what someone needed. Please accept my apologies in as much as they can mean. I know you do not know me but I am not bad, only in a very bad circumstance.” He hung his head low.
The Queen had a look of recognition on her face. “I know these Boars you speak of; the council has been meeting to decide how to handle them. They are far too aggressive and dangerous now. I do not understand why you didn’t simply tell someone of your situation and ask for help rather than stealing.”
“Because I was ashamed.”
[[The Queen|Going Home]] bent down and took his hand. “Never be ashamed of wanting to take care of your family. Let me speak for a moment with the council and we will decide how you will repay your debt.” She stood up and returned to her group, now huddled in thoughtful discussion. After a few minutes, they stopped and she returned to where he stood.
“Howard of Lampasas. You chose to steal rather than ask for help. Given the extraordinary circumstances, you will not be imprisoned, but you will be required to pay back those families from which you took things. Lady Shelby will give you and all able bodied workers from your village a job in her army and Tristan will accompany you now, back to Lampasas to review, document and relocate all the surviving members. The Fairy Queen has granted you and yours citizenship in her kingdom. Learn well from this and do good things.”
“Oh yes my Queen, thank you so much for your kindness. Thank you so much.” He was jumping around as he got more and more excited and Emma started giggling.
The Queen looked at the giggling Princess. “Ready to go home ruler of Frogs, Toads and all Creatures that Hop?”
Emma Delaney started jumping up and down. “Yes, yes, yes. I love to visit here but I miss my home so much.”
"Yes, I agree, I love to visit here as well but my [[tiny|Home Again]] little house is my favorite." The Queen took Princess Emma's hand and headed to the door.
In a very hot place, in a very tiny house, there lived a princess with a very shiny tiara. She spent days making projects and music and playing with creatures big and small.
The Princess was known as Emma Delaney, ruler of Frogs, Toads and all creatures that Hop. Emma had crazy, curly hair and blue eyes and understood the importance of glue sticks and glitter.
Emma liked things that were green, not because she really liked green, but because in her kingdom, she knew the frogs would be offended if she didn’t.
She loved to visit people in all the kingdoms but her tiny house was the best of them all.
Emma Delaney, Ruler of Frogs, Toads and all Creatures that Hop loved to visit her brother. His name is Tristan, was the Inventor of all things Uninvented. Kingdoms all over the land came to him to help solve problems that they could not on their own, create things to help make jobs easier and for general counsel on matters too confusing to sort out.
The path to Tristan’s house was a bit like the inside of a snail shell only up on top of a hill. Emma Delaney thought it must make everyone dizzy, all those turns to the right, up and turn, up and turn, up and turn until you reach a flat topped hill. There is a tiny house in the middle of all the meadow grass. It’s built from stone with two floors up and two floors down and seemed like it smiled at you with all the windows on the bottom. Great big teeth, Emma thought.
When Emma saw the house, she broke into a run, hopping across the meadow grass to get to the door as fast as she could. She turned the knob of the big wooden door and pushed hard to swing it open.
[[Emma|Facing the Bandit]] loved the way her brother’s house smelled, it smelled of books, cinnamon and carnations.
When she saw Zoe, Princess Emma remembered her first day of third grade. Her sister, Zoe Savannah, High Duchess of Something and Something Else, helped her polish the tiara her mother gave her.
“Let’s see what we can find.” Zoe Savannah, High Duchess of Something and Something Else, set Emma Delaney, ruler of Frogs, Toads and all Creatures that Hop on the little red bench and started opening all the cabinets.
Emma watched with great interest as her favorite sister pulled out a glass bowl, a spoon and boxes and bottles and jugs of ingredients. She mashed and mixed, swirled and whirled until there was a white liquid in the glass bowl. Zoe turned to Emma.
“Time for the tiara.” Zoe reached out her hand and Emma gave her not so new tiara to her and watched in amazement as the High Duchess lowered it into the white liquid.
“Now what?” Emma asked.
“Now we wait.” Zoe said just as Kiwi, the greatest hopper in the kingdom walked into the kitchen in her fancy sequined shoes.
“What are we waiting on girls?” Kiwi asked.
“Zoe is trying to fix my [[not so shiny tiara.|Home Again]] I wanted a new one but this is the one I get.” Emma told Kiwi and then looked down, remembering how sad she was about this situation.
“Well let me take a look.” Kiwi said as she hopped and hopped, higher than the counter. “It looks like it is coming along, just a few minutes then. Would you like a hopping lesson while you wait?”
Zoe Savannah was very excited. “Kiwi, we would be honored if you would give us a [[lesson.”|Hop]]
[[Back|Lady Shelby]]