Fairy Rock

Chapter 15: The Press Conference

"I have faith in both of you to destroy Gilbert III and the Goblin," Queen Vanessa says.

Rock feels Sparkle climbing to the top of his new blue Fendi Denim jeans pocket. The young fairy casts a handful of yellow pixie dust from her itty-bitty palms. It forms a magical portal, filling the cave with a bright yellow light.

They both enter the portal.

Rock and Sparkle arrive in the Fairyville woods. The two travel through the ragweeds, bushes, and past the pollen-filled tall grass only to see another search party posting pictures to the bark of the oak trees.

Rock looks at one of the posters, realizing that it is a photo of Richard, and he kicks one of the trees, rattling it as green leaves and acorns fall out of it. "How?"

The search party members stop and stare at him.

"C-c-calm down," Sparkle whispers.

"Calm down. My best friend is missing!"

"I-I know, but we still have a mission to save Serenity. S-s-so, you can be with her."

Rock storms by the crowd of searchers. What happened to Richard?

Sparkle shakes purple pixie dust out of her little red puffy hair, and she inhales, expanding her lungs to blow it onto Rock.

"Fairy, don't you put that stuff in me."

"Okay, I-I won't. I promise we will find him, but w-we must get to Serenity."

The ongoing crowd of onlookers stop their search again as Rock causes another scene.

He moves through the muddy field of shrubs and dead leaves, spotting Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Richard's parents, weeping by a dying oak tree on the outskirts of the woods as his parents hug them. "I have to help."

Sparkle flies out of his pocket and goes up his brown, Versace silk shirt to get close to his ear. "P-p-please, we must save Serenity, or the Goblin will kill her."

"I know."

Rock leaves the crowded forest for Mitch's MMA gym. "Serenity should be at work at this time."

**

They arrive at Mitch's gym. Mitch turns away from the array of fighters wrestling on the mats in the main gym and confronts Rock at the entrance. "Where have you been?!"

Rock goes past his angry, red-faced promoter and reaches the juice stand. No one is in line, and he goes straight to the counter.

Serenity is in her apron, fiddling with her saxophone.

"Hi honey," Rock says.

She sees her well-dressed, physically fit boyfriend and immediately hugs and kisses him. "Where have you been? I have been so worried about you."

"I was in the fairy world training. Did you hear that Richard's missing?"

"Yes, I don't know what's happening in this town, but it's scary. I know Daniel is coming for me."

"I'm going to make sure he never hurts you again."

Mitch sneezes into his handkerchief. He taps Rock on his shoulder. "We need you in the auditorium. The press conference for the big fight is about to start."

Rock and Serenity walk into the large, oval-shaped room full of reporters. Cameras are flashing as they go to the podium, where his trainers Ron, Denver, and Rhyme are waiting for him.

They all sit down at a brown wooden table, facing the reporters. The first reporter asks Rock a question. "You are an internet sensation for saving Serenity from that terrible man. How does it feel?"