The Cloud Castle

The Scarlet Lighting Fairies

"Do we really have to climb down there?" Violet asked nervously, looking out over the Valley of infinite Storm Clouds.
   "I'm afraid so, if we want to reach Fairywing Village," I replied.
   "How will we cross the Scarlet River?" Paulina asked, looking down at the river of clouds. "It's moving awfully quickly."
   Will looked thoughtful. "Maybe there is a way to stop it. Like another Riddle."
   "We can ask the Scarlet Lightning Fairies." Colette said.
   Dressed in bright red, the SCARLET LIGHTNING FAIRIES flew above the river, sprinkling dust on the storm clouds.

"They don't look friendly," Nicky remarked. "But I guess we have to try."
   With a nod. Will set off down the SLOPING valley of clouds. As we followed him, the WIND became more intense.
   "Hang on tight!" I called out. Just one STRONG GUST of wind could send any one of us falling into the river below!
   We finally made it down to the riverbank. Suddenly, two Scarlet Lightning Fairies SWOOPED down from above. They looked ANGRY, but they were beautiful, and I marveled at their hair. It was deep red and WILD and WAVY, like the storm clouds.
   "Who are you?" asked the first fairy.
   "We don't want INTRUDERS in our valley," said the second.
   "We are here to help the Land of Clouds,"

I said as sweetly as I could.
   "YOU MUST LEAVE," the first fairy snapped. "You cannot stay."
   "Please, fairies, we just want to pass through," said Colette.
   "NO!" the second fairy said firmly.
   "But we are on a VERY IMPORTANT mission," Will pleaded. "We come from the World pleaded. "We come from the World Below, and we saw that your land is in trouble. There is no time to waste!" 
   "We said no!" the first fairy cried.
   As she spoke, a JAGGED BOLT OF LIGHTNING fell from the sky and hit the clouds right next to us!

"Hey! Are you trying to hurt us?" Pam asked.
   "That was not us!" the second fairy said with a huff. "It is the clouds. They are too small and weak to hold on electrical charge these days."
   "It's no fun making lightning when the clouds can't hold it!" added the first fairy. 
   "That's why we're here," Colette said. Then another LIGHTNING BOLT fell from the clouds. It signed the first fairy!
   "OUCH!" she yelped. "If you want to stop this from happening, then please let us pass," Colette continued. "The reason the clouds are small and weak is that the Weaver Fairies aren't producing any new ones!"

"What would you know about the Land of Clouds?" the second fairy asked with a scoff.
   "We research fantasy worlds, and we think we know how to help," said Will.
   But the fairies just shook their heads The first fairy raised her arms to the sky. Immediately, a GUST OF WIND blew down and she shaped it in her hands.
   We watched, amazed, as the wind in the fairy's hands became a sphere. It grew BIGGER and BIGGER. Once it was the size of a large cheese ball, she got ready to throw it at us.
   "Go away!" she shouted.
   

Just then, another bolt of lightning flashed behind her. Startled, she dropped the ball of wind and it DRIFTED away.
   "I think I can help you with this lightning," Paulina said.
   "You've already said that," the fairy sneered.
   "No, this is different," said Paulina. "I can show you how to CONTROL the power of lightning, so the clouds will hold their charge."
   "Really?" the two fairies asked together.
   We all looked at Paulina, impressed. But, of course, she's a real SCIENCE WHIZ, so I wasn't surprised.
   "I just need to do a small calculation," Paulina replied. "I will write it down for you, with one condition."
   "What's that?" the fairies asked.
   "That you let us PASS to the other side of the valley," replied Paulina.

"Do you know what you are asking?" the first fairy said. "That would mean STOPPING the Scarlet River, and we cannot."
   "Never mind, then," Paulina replied.
   The fairies flew toward each other and began to talk in whispers.
   "Do you really know how to do that calculation?" Pam asked Paulina.
   Paulina nodded. "I've never done it before, but I think I can."
   "And what if something goes WRONG?" Violet asked.
   "I have faith in Paulina," Will  said, and she smiled at the compliment.
   A moment later, the two fairies flew back.
   "We accept your proposal," said the first.
   "Too many of us have had trouble with lightning lately. But if your calculation does not work, you will not pass."

"That is fair," Paulina agreed.
   "You will test this at the place where we gather THUNDERCLOUDS," the second fairy said, and the two fairies called down the wind again. They shaped it into a large sphere. It floated to Paulina and wrapped around her like a BIG BUBBLE.
   I held my breath as I watch the bubble lift Paulina up higher and higher above us. She waved to us from inside.
   "I hope that bubble doesn't BREAK," said Violet anxiously.
   "These fairies might be cranky, but I think their magic is strong," said Nicky.
   "I'm just impressed that Paulina can attempt such a difficult calculation," Colette said.
   "That's the beauty of the THEA SISTERS," said Pam. "Each of us has a different talent. So no matter what situation we're up against, we can always succeed."
   "At least, we hope so!" Nicky joked.
   We all looked up at Paulina. The entire MISSION was riding on the shoulders of our BRAVE friend!