A Grimm Warning (The Land of Stories, #3)(42)

The palace was filled with fairies Alex had never seen before, but besides Tangerina and Skylene, the rest of the Fairy Council members were nowhere to be found.

“Grandma, where is everyone?” Alex asked. “Aren’t Rosette, Xanthous, Emerelda, Violetta, and Coral coming to the ball?”

“They’ll be here shortly,” the Fairy Godmother said. “They’re just waiting for us to start.”

“Start what?” Alex asked, and gave her grandmother a suspicious look.

“You’ll see,” the Fairy Godmother said, hiding a smile.

Skylene tapped the side of her glass again to regain the crowd’s attention. “Tonight we’re here to celebrate a girl who over the past few months has shown wisdom and skill beyond her years. However, before she can officially join the Fairy Council and the Happily Ever After Assembly, there are four sacred tests she must pass: the test of courage, the test of grace, the test of kindness, and the test of heart.”

The butterflies on the inside and outside of Alex fluttered intensely. “Grandma,” she said with enormous eyes. “You never said I would be tested at the ball.”

An amused grin appeared on the Fairy Godmother’s face. “I didn’t want to worry you,” she said. “Just relax, sweetheart, you’ve already passed the first three without realizing it.”

“Please clear the floor!” Skylene said, and the crowd of guests parted to the sides of the room, leaving Alex alone in the center. A bright flash of light filled the back of the hall and seven podiums and a seat on either side of them suddenly appeared. They were the official stations of the Fairy Council members—and if Alex passed the tests, she would be given a seat among them.

Mother Goose was to present the first test. She went to Alex and put an arm around her. “When Alex was thirteen years old she proved her bravery to the world by defeating the evil Enchantress,” Mother Goose said to the guests. “Alex was able to do something five queens, four kings, and ten fairies combined could not; she figured out a way to outwit Ezmia. She didn’t care if she lived or died in the process, all she cared about was saving the people she loved. So, Alex, it’s my privilege to inform you that, without question, you have passed the test of courage.”

The fairies applauded and Mother Goose took her seat by the podiums. Once she was seated, four familiar people pushed their way through the crowd of fairies lining the room and stepped into the center of the hall next to Alex—it was the old lady and her three bratty granddaughters whom Alex had helped in the Charming Kingdom.

“Wait, what are they doing here?” Alex asked.

Suddenly, bright lights appeared and began swirling around the woman and her granddaughters. Alex watched in amazement as the woman transformed into Emerelda and the three granddaughters became Rosette, Violetta, and Coral.

“That was you four?” Alex asked in shock, and a smile came to her face.

All four looked as gorgeous as ever. Emerelda wore a long dress made entirely out of small emeralds. Rosette’s gown was red and multi-layered, so the bottom of it looked like a giant rose wrapped around her legs. Violetta wore a purple dress with a high collar shaped like a violet. Coral’s dress was made of pink flower petals and Fisher, her walking-fish pet, held tightly in her hands, wore a matching bow tie.

“Being a fairy doesn’t mean you’re always appreciated,” Emerelda said. “But even when she was subjected to a rude and unwelcoming home, Alex was able to keep a calm and elegant demeanor. She understands that being a fairy isn’t about whom you help, but how you help. She has passed the test of grace.”

The fairies around the hall clapped again. Rosette, Tangerina, Emerelda, Skylene, Violetta, and Coral went to their respective podiums—there was only one fairy missing.

Before Alex knew it, Cornelius abruptly galloped into the hall at full speed with Xanthous on his back. They stopped in the center of the room beside her, and Xanthous hopped down from the unicorn.

“Don’t tell me you were a test, too!” Alex said to her unicorn, and playfully put her hands on her hips. The unicorn happily nodded his giant head.

Xanthous was wearing a crisp yellow suit with a long flickering cape of flames. He addressed the crowd, soaking up the attention for all it was worth. “Of all the unicorns in the forest she could have chosen as her method of transportation, Alex chose this one,” he told the crowd.

Cornelius snorted loudly as if to say, “I have a name.”

“Alex gave this unicorn a chance to prove himself even when the unicorns of his own herd had disregarded him,” Xanthous continued. “She has proven that she believes passion is far more important than appearance and in doing so has passed the test of kindness.”

The fairies cheered again. Cornelius became emotional and had to wipe his eyes on a tablecloth. Xanthous joined the other fairies at the podiums, completing their rainbow of color. The Fairy Godmother was next to approach Alex. The entire hall fell silent, knowing the final test was about to be presented.

“Alex, there is one final test you must complete, and you must complete it in here in front of all of us,” the Fairy Godmother said sternly, although it was mostly for show. “It’s the test of heart, and it cannot be proven with a wand, but only with words. Are you ready?”

Alex’s hands were trembling. She had been afraid a moment like this would happen—a moment when she could possibly let down the entire Fairy Kingdom if she failed. Alex licked her lips and nodded. “Yes, I’m ready.”