Molly spungle : The Secret of Red Stone
Chapter 10: Jackson Spungle

The rays of the warm sun awoke Molly Spungle early the next morning. She could not remember sleeping so deeply before. For the first few moments, Molly believed she was in her own small house, in her own bed. She wondered what she would do first on this beautiful sunny day. Slowly, however, the events of the day before invaded her mind. Soon Molly was wide awake, remembering their journey to the beautiful castle.

Smoothing the tangled mane of her red- gold hair, Molly climbed out of bed and ran to the window. She gazed at the sun drenched grounds, seeing the red stone dragon, silent and still on the ground of the courtyard.

Her pendant! Molly suddenly remembered her awareness only last night that the red stone was the same stone lining the river bank and which had formed the castle. It was the same as the red stone of the lonely dragon as well, she realized. Was there a connection of some kind between her world and Fielders Forest where she had discovered the red stone?

Molly quickly recalled her father. Totally exhausted, she had missed seeing his bedtime image for the first time ever. Her hand went to the pendant and she caressed it, wishing her father would appear and explain all the mysteries that had befallen her in the last two days.

Molly began to turn away from the window when she heard a faint tinkling sound coming from outside. Curious, she looked again and noticed a movement in the bushes beyond the courtyard. A man appeared with long silvery hair flowing down his back, holding a long staff in his hand. He wore a dark grey cloak.

As the man stared up at her, Molly thought he looked familiar. He vanished a few seconds later, leaving the young fairy puzzled, wondering who he could be. When he did not return, Molly went down the stairs to replace Hoddi.

Molly soon discovered King Simon was wide awake. The odd little man carefully spooned liquid into the king’s mouth. He gave Molly a grin, welcoming her with a cheery good morning. “Master slept well,” he told her, “and no more bleeding from his wounds. He is much stronger today.”

The young king gave her a faint smile and nodded his head. “Thank you Molly, for all you have done for me.” Even his voice was stronger. He had remembered her name. Thankful that the king had improved, Molly decided to go for a walk and bathe herself in the river. “I will return shortly to dress your wounds again,” she told King Simon.

Molly immediately headed to the place where she had seen the silver haired man disappear. There was no sign of him and Molly walked on, enjoying the sun on her face. She stopped beside the red stone dragon, petting his head and wishing him good morning. The emerald eyes gleamed in the sun and Molly could almost believe they responded to her presence as her gaze again became locked with his. Once more she felt her heartbeat quicken and a mysterious force invade her being. It took a huge effort to turn away.

Continuing on her way, Molly suddenly heard the same tinkling sound she had noticed early that morning. Deciding to replace its origin, she quickly increased her pace in anticipation of replaceing another inhabitant of the forest. As the fairy walked past a tall tree whose branches contained luscious looking fruit, she heard the sound again. Making her way through the branches, she came upon a small clearing.

To her astonishment, the same old man, leaning upon his staff, stood by a group of red rose trees. Their blossoms were closed, hiding their rich color. Molly had not seen any rose trees since she had arrived, and her bewilderment increased. What were they doing here? They only grew in Spungle villages, so she had been told.

This time she realized why the man seemed so familiar. As he removed the long grey cloak, she could see his wings. Large and flecked with black, they bore the same family crest as Molly’s damaged wings.

“Father!” Molly yelled, shocked at the sight of him. “Is that really you?”

“Hello, my daughter,” the man said, eyeing her calmly. “I missed you last night.”

Instantly feeling contrite that she had fallen asleep at the very moment he usually appeared, Molly blurted out her apologies. Confused, Molly hardly knew what to say. “Is that really you, father?” she asked, again, not really believing it was possible.

“It really is me, my daughter. It is understandable that you fell asleep, seeing your exhaustion.” Jackson opened his arms and drew his only daughter close.

Molly hugged him in return. It felt absolutely wonderful to feel his arms about her and she did not want to let him go. “How I have missed you, father!” she cried out.

Feeling so much better in her father’s presence, Molly felt her anxiety of the last day slip away. However, her fear mounted for the safety of the friends that remained at the stone circle, as she told him her story. “My friends and family at the Hills of Halle were in terrible danger when I left,” Molly told him, her dark green eyes clouded with sorrow in her small face. “I am so terribly afraid they may have been attacked by Jar-Ed and his men, or even killed.”

Jackson Spungle’s face displayed much concern. “If they haven’t found shelter, all will be lost. Without the fairy pot potions their magic will be weakening.”

“But I don’t know how to save them, father, or even how to return to the Hills of Halle,” Molly said, her face paling at the thought. “I don’t even know how I got here!”

“You were rescued by the magic of the red stone pendant, Molly. It was the last thing I told you before I died, even though I didn’t get to tell you the whole truth. You would not have understood me anyway at such a young age,” her father declared. He paused before continuing.

“But father,” Molly interjected. “The stone! How did you get it when it is only found here in Fielders Forest where you have never been until now?”

“That stone pendant belonged to your mother, Molly. It was in her family for centuries and she wore it faithfully every day until she died. A long forgotten and ancient connection between our world and Fielders Forest was revealed to me as I lay dying. It was made known to me only then that Fielders Forest is a part of our world. I have since discovered on my own that the Invisible Divide encloses the forest as well.”

Jackson Spungle paused, allowing his daughter to make sense of all he had related.

“How fascinating!” exclaimed Molly. “Tell me about the magic of the red stone, please, father,” his daughter pleaded. “I heard a woman’s voice call out to me before I touched the pendant.”

Jackson looked surprised. “Even I don’t know all the secrets of that stone, Molly. You know as much as I do. Just rub the red stone three times and you will receive all you ask in a moment of danger or great need.”