Return To Dreamvale

They Have Returned!

The sound of feathers shaking catches the attention of the four royals, then they uncover their faces and look around. What they're unaware of is they're all on a raft that's big enough to fit all of them in the middle of a body of water. Rafts don't usually have walls, but this one does to keep them from falling off.

"What's that?" Asked Derek. "Oh, I was just drying myself off, that's all." Said a male voice. Odette sees a bird and recognizes it. "Puffin?" She said. "Who else?" Asked Puffin. "What are you doing here? Have you been here during the storm too?" Asked Amanda. "I've never been so wet in my whole life." Puffin said in an annoyed tone. "Don't puffins swim?" Asked Odette. "Yes, but you know what I mean. Anyway, how big is this pond?" Asked Puffin. "I don't think it's a pond." Said Paul.

Amanda stands up and looks around the water, while her husband and siblings stand up at the same time. "I guess it is a pond." She said. "Told you so." Puffin said. "Where did all the rest of the water go?" Derek asked. "Where did Chamberg go?" Asked Puffin. "I get the sense we're not at home anymore." Odette said. "And there goes the water." Puffin said. The water dries up, leaving nothing but sand and stones.

"Dreamvale." Said Amanda. "What did you say, Amanda?" Asked Puffin. "No, she's right. This has to be Dreamvale." Said Odette. "Well, I think I'll have a look around and see if I can find myself something to eat." Puffin said. He's about to get off the raft, but Derek stops him. "Wait! If this is Dreamvale, then this is the Desert of Death." He said. "Desert of Death?" Asked Puffin. 

"Yeah... we don't remember this part either. Derek, what were you told about this deadly desert?" Amanda asked. "It surrounds Dreamvale, and anything living that touches it, turns to sand." Said Derek. "How do you know that?" Paul asked. "One of Drusilla's army men brought it up during the battle against her last time, and threatened to throw me in there at one point." Derek said.

Everyone else cringes. "Okay, creepy." Odette said. "But if we stay on these stones, we'll be alright. Come on, but not all at once." Said Derek. He, Paul, and Odette get off the raft one by one to get to the other side. As for Puffin, he flies to the grass, while Amanda changes into her swan form and does the same thing, regaining her human form a minute later.

Once Derek, Puffin, and the girls are safely across, Paul wobbles a little bit. "Careful!" Puffin said. Paul regains his balance and continues stepping on the stones. One of them has an eye that seems to be spying on them.

Paul is close to the end as his wife and in-laws give him some encouragement. "One, two, three!" Said Amanda. Paul jumps off the last stone and lands safely on the grass. "There we go. Now let's find something to eat, I'm starving." He said. "It's about time." Said Puffin calmly. "Then maybe we can go on to Silverstone Castle and introduce you to our friend, Mariana, Puffin." Said Odette. "Mariana?" Puffin said. "She's the queen of Dreamvale." Derek said.

Everyone goes off to see if they can find something to eat, but little do they know, they're being watched. "Hey, you guys, look at this! A cookie tree!" Amanda said. "That's odd, cookies don't grow on trees." Odette said. "Now I know we're in Dreamvale." Paul said. "Make sure you don't pick one with any black on it." Said Puffin. "Here's some fresh ones." Said Amanda. She and the others each take a cookie off the tree and eat it.

Next to them is a big rock, and the same set of eyes appear again with a mouth to watch the group. An evil smile appears on its face and it disappears a minute later, reappearing on the wall of a dark lair where a man dressed in black with a silver crown on his head is sitting on a throne.

"King Abigor, they have returned to Dreamvale!" Said the wall. It spoke in a creepy male voice. "Good, good. Keep an eye on them." Said Abigor. A nervous expression appears on the wall's face. "What's the matter? What is it?" Abigor asked. "They have a... puffin with them!" The wall said. "A PUFFIN?!?!" Asked Abigor angrily.