The Changeling Princess (45 page)

The battle lasted close to two hours before the creatures vanished. The portal closed and everything returned to normal. There were dead bodies everywhere, including the brave warriors who had fought on our side. After I morphed down to normal size, I spoke to Princess Meea.

“I can’t raise the dead, but I can use my rejuvenation beam to heal the wounded.”

“
That would be a good thing. Our wands are powered by the crystal. They can also heal the wounded.”

I walked up to the great Kazanza to thank him.
“Everyone is in your debt, but how did you know about the portal?”

“
We have a wise Seer on Kazanza Island. We have been traveling for many rotations and I am glad we arrived here in time.”

“
I’m glad, too. If you’ll excuse me, I am going to tend to the wounded.”

“
That would be greatly appreciated.”

After the wounded dragons were taken care of, Kazanza rose into the air to lead his subjects home. Everyone waved goodbye and watched the dragons disappear from sight.

Princess Meea brought up the subject of the portal. “It is time to destroy the portal. We will combine our fairy dust with your energy beams.”

Wade and I increased our body height for maximum power. The fairies lined up side by side and pointed their wands at the portal.
Princess Meea gave the command and everyone blasted the portal using full power. The portal turned a deep red and then it disappeared from view. Everyone was smiling because the portal was gone for good. It would now be just a part of the planets history.

“
It is time for you to render the crystal useless,” Princess Meea said to me.

“
I’m not sure what I can do with a crystal that large.”

“
You must try. Use your maximum height for maximum power.”

“
Can you take the crystal back to the Enchanted Forest?”

“
Yes, but it must be disarmed first.

Luckily, the ceiling in the throne room was open, so I didn
’t have to tear the roof off the palace when I increased my height to eighty feet again. I determined the center of the crystal’s power and narrowed my laser beam to its thinnest size. As I bored into the crystal, I found myself exerting additional pressure to penetrate the super hard surface. When I finally penetrated the heart of the crystal, I began drawing the energy into my body. After twenty minutes, I’d only removed half of the crystal’s power and I had to stop. I felt light headed and I had trouble standing. I returned to Princess Meea looking pale and weak. She sized up the situation and spoke softly.

“
You must realize that absorbing the power of such a large crystal can overwhelm even the Changeling Princess. After you’ve rested up, you must release the power you’ve consumed and clear your head.”

“
I can’t do that. I could poison the planet’s atmosphere for thousands of miles.”

Princess Meea pointed to the Sun.
“That is where you have to go to release the power from the crystal. Only the heat of the Sun is capable of absorbing the energy you’ve consumed.”

“
But the Sun is millions of miles away.”

“
That is true, but at eighty feet tall, you are cable of traveling extremely fast in Mist form. The fact that there is no atmosphere in outer space will also increase your speed. You are capable of reaching the Sun in less than an hour.”

I knew Princess Meea was right. After resting for twenty minutes, Wade gave me a thumbs up as I flew upward toward the Sun. This was going to be a whole new adventure for me.

* * *

Princess Meea was right. As soon as I left the planet
’s gravitational pull, I was traveling so fast that I was nothing but a blur. I traveled past other planets so quickly that I barely had a chance to view them.

The heat from the Sun increased with every second of my flight. If this Sun was anything like Earth
’s Sun, the surface temperature would be somewhere in the 10,000 degree range. What I was seeking was the super-hot temperature located in the center of the Sun. From what I had read about the Earth’s Sun, the temperature at the center is 27 million degrees.

I streaked across the heavens until I reached the liquid-like outer surface of the Sun called the photosphere. The intense heat and sound of explosions was like nothing I
’d ever experienced. I felt as insignificant as a grain of sand on the Sahara Desert.

The distance to the center of the Sun from the surface was over 400,000 miles. I knew I couldn
’t fly there, so I fashioned a force field in the form of a bullet nosed capsule. When I was finished, I began the process of releasing the crystal’s energy into the capsule. After fifteen minutes, my head was completely cleared and I was back to normal.

After sealing the capsule, I needed to get my bearing straight so I could aim directed toward the center of the Sun. I flew high enough to see the outline of the Sun and fired away, watching closely as the capsule disappeared from sight. I had only guessed at the force required to reach the Sun
’s center, but I felt that the capsule was being directed by divine guidance. When the capsule reached the center of the Sun, I estimated the capsule would last two to three hours before it was destroyed by the intense heat. Hopefully, the energy contained within the capsule would be completely absorbed by the Sun.

* * *

I was one happy girl when I arrived back at the Queen’s palace and morphed back to my normal size. My head was completely cleared and I felt like a million dollars.

“
You’ve got a nice suntan,” said Wade. “What was it like on the Sun?”

“
Hot, hot and hotter. The experience was too weird to describe with words.”

Princess Meea spoke.
“You have done well, Changeling Princess. What you have done for our world will never be forgotten. I want you to know that I have changed my mind about removing the remaining power from the crystal. I will take the crystal back to the Enchanted Forest because its power can now be controlled. I will find many uses for the power to enrich our world.

I was glad to hear that. I wasn
’t thrilled about making another trip to the Sun. “I’m curious, Princess Meea. What are you going to do with the Queen’s gold?”

“
I will take the treasure back to the Enchanted Forest with me. In time, the coins will be distributed to the citizens of this world. When you are ready to leave, I will transport you and Wade back to Castle Town at the point of your arrival.”

Yolla came running to see me.
“You marry Wade yet? He strong warrior, make really good husband.”

“
Not yet, Yolla. Maybe later.”

“
I’m playing hard to get,” joked Wade. “When I’m ready, I’ll let Janis catch me.”

“
You funny, Wade. Man with humor make good mate. If Janis turn you down, you come see Yolla.”

Wade was blushing. It was moments like this that I would always treasure.

Princess Meea used her wand to move the crystal into the courtyard and then she did the same thing with the gold in the money bin. After she surrounded the crystal and the gold with fairy dust, she had everyone stand close together. I was overcome with amazement when the air sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow. I felt lighter than air as I was transported onto another plane of existence. We were being transported into Meea’s world and I knew I would never forget the experience.

We only traveled for a couple of minutes before Wade and I were dropped off in the field outside of Castle Town. I had tears in my eyes as we waved goodbye an
d watched everyone disappeared.

CHAPTER 77

We had only been in the field for a couple of minutes when a portal opened in front of us. “It looks like it’s time for us to go home,” said Wade.

Wade took my hand and we stepped into the portal. When we reappeared, the Sun was shining and the familiar smell of the mountain retreat told me that we were home.

“How long do you think we’ve been gone?” Wade asked.

“That’s a good question. I’d guess about a year.”

“
That sounds about right, unless time is measured differently in the parallel universe.”

“
We’ll find out soon enough,” I said as we began walking to the car.

We were walking through the woods when I sensed that my Ivarr powers were gone. I ran a quick test with my energy beam, but nothing happened. I tried to levitate, but I couldn
’t get off the ground. I was just an ordinary Changeling again.

Wade ran a quick test and found out that his powers were gone too.
“I guess we’ve accomplished our mission and the powers of the Ivarrs are no longer needed.”

“
You’re absolutely right. I hope my car will start.”

* * *

We both remained silent on the trip back to Charlotte. There was a lot to think about and we were going to have to adjust to living in our own universe. When I dropped Wade off at his aunt’s house, he walked around to my side of the car and I rolled my window down. “I’ll call you, Janis.”

“
You better. I’m ready for a serious relationship.”

Wade leaned through the car window and kissed me.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for you to say that.”

I had goose bumps when I pulled into my driveway. Pauline
’s car was parked in front of the house, so I assumed she was visiting my mom.

“
I’m home,” I yelled when I walked through the front door.

My mother and Pauline rushed out of the living room. My mother threw her arms around me, trying to hold back her tears.
“You were gone so long, Sweetheart, I was afraid you weren’t coming back.”

We hugged again and then I hugged Pauline.
“I bet you’ve got a lot of stories to tell,” said Pauline. It must have been an amazing adventure.”

“
That’s putting it mildly. How long was I gone?”

My mother paused.
“Exactly thirteen months.

We all sat in the living room and I spent the next two hours talking about our adventures in the parallel universe. Missy and Izzy had finally made it downstairs, but I had lost my ability to communicate with them. I suddenly felt dizzy and I had trouble collecting my thoughts.

“Are you all right?” asked my mother.

“
I think so, Mom. I can’t explain it, but I just had a vision that Sherri and Bruce were married and she was a school teacher in Detroit. That doesn’t make a bit of sense.”

Pauline interrupted.
“You might have had a vision that takes place in the future, or you could have had a vision from an alternate reality. Have you had other visions?”

“
No, but when Wade was wounded at the closing of the portal, I had this eerie feeling that he died on the battle field. It really scared me.”

“
That definitely sounds like an alternate reality,” said Pauline. “Don’t concern yourself. We all have mental experiences that can’t be explained.”

“
You’re right; I’m not going to give them a second thought. What time will Dad be home?”

“
He’ll be coming home right away because I’m going to call him and tell him you’re home. He’s going to be thrilled to know you’re all right.”

“
I think we should celebrate tonight and eat out, I said.”

“
Any place special?” asked my mother.

“
Cochiti’s, they have the best Mexican food in Charlotte.”

“
Cochiti’s it is. Everyone can pig out tonight.”

* * *

It was wonderful having dinner with my mom and dad. I had to pinch myself to know that I wasn’t dreaming. When we got home, my world was turned upside down when I received a call from Mildred Wilson. “Janis, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Wade is very sick. The doctors think he has some kind of a virus and they’re running tests.”

“
What hospital?”

“
I’m calling from Mercy Hospital.”

I rushed to the hospital as fast as I could. Miss Wilson and I spent the entire night in the hospital, waiting for the results of the tests. A doctor finally approached us at six o
’clock the next morning.

“
It’s been confirmed that Wade has a virus,” said the doctor. “It’s similar to the West Nile virus, but we still don’t know what it is. There’s nothing either of you can do. You may as well go home and get some rest.” 

I was heartbroken. I remembered Wade being bitten by a tiny mosquito in the jungle, but I thought my rejuvenation beam took care of that. I was no longer the mighty Changeling Princess and I was powerless to help Wade.

Wade’s health continued to decline because the doctors couldn’t identify the virus. He spent another three weeks in the hospital before he was finally released. The doctors thought it was best if Wade spent his final days in the comfort of his home with family and friends.

I was with Wade practically every waking moment. We spent so much time together that I brought the kitties with me. Wade seemed to enjoy their company.

It was two o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon and Wade was slowly drifting away from me. I was sitting on his side of the bed crying when I looked upward toward the heavens. “Why?” I asked. “Wade’s given his entire life to the service of others and he doesn’t deserve to die so young.” I felt the presence of the Supreme Entity.”

The virus that infected Wade cannot be cured in this world. The only place that Wade can be healed is on Crystal Island.

“But Crystal Island is in a parallel universe. Can you return him there?”

Yes, but you must understand that Crystal Island has a perfect balance. There is exactly one male for every female. When they marry, they produce exactly two children, one male and one female. There is no crime, no illness, a
nd the average lifespan is forty thousand years.

“
If Crystal Island always maintains a perfect balance, does that mean that I will be permitted to go with Wade?”

That is true. It is a decision only you can make.

Wade spoke out to me in a weak voice. “Janis, you can’t give up your life for me. You deserve better.”

“
Are you kidding? Being with you for the next forty thousand years makes me the luckiest girl on the planet. And where are we going to find another place like Crystal Island? It’s a paradise.”

Missy and Izz
y had crawled into my lap. “I have a question, Supreme Entity. Can I take my kitties with me?”

One of the strengths of your life form is your love for other species. Many of the islanders have creatures they call pets. Unlike the island natives, these creatures cannot reproduce.

“Then I have your permission to take my kitties?”

That is correct. You have eight hours before you and Wade leave for Crystal Island.

The Supreme Being disappeared and I turned to Wade. “Everything’s going to be perfect. You’ll be cured and we can get married on the island.”

Wade didn
’t sound very confident. “Are you really sure you want to do this?”

“
Absolutely. I love you, Wade and this is a dream come true. I’m going to leave the kitties with you and hurry home to tell my mother. She’ll be heartbroken when I tell her I’m leaving, but she’ll be happy for me.”

* * *

I sat my mother down in the living room to inform her of the conversation I’d had with the Supreme Entity. Mom didn’t say a word until I’d finished with the last detail.

“
That’s quite a load to drop on a mother who hasn’t seen her daughter for a year. I’d like to wrap my arms around you and never let you out of my sight, but that’s being selfish. If this is what will make you happy, then it makes me happy too. I’m sure your father will feel the same way. I’m going to contact the Clans so they’ll have a chance to say goodbye to you.”

I felt really bad that I couldn
’t see Sherri one last time. She was out of town and wouldn’t be back for another week. Mom would explain everything to her, but I still felt bad that I couldn’t see her one last time.

After my Dad got home, my grandparents from the Vascadon Clan and Sherri
’s parents from the Dustan Clan arrived to say goodbye. I think I spend most of my time relating my adventures in the parallel universe. It was the happiest day of my life, and at the same time it was the saddest. Time passed quickly and I suddenly realized it was seven o’clock. It was time to leave and everyone had tears in their eyes. I hugged everyone for the last time.

I found myself walking very slowly to Wade
’s house. I took one last look at the neighborhood and recalled all the wonderful memories of growing up in Charlotte. I felt fortunate because I would always carry my memories with me.

Mildred Wilson led me to Wade
’s bedroom. Wade was propped up in bed with the kitties lying beside him. “I think the girls know they are going with us,” said Wade.

“
Of course they do. Cats are a lot smarter than people think they are.”

I hugged Mildred and said goodbye.
“There are no goodbyes,” Janis. “You and Wade are moving to another existence and we will never really be apart. Memories cannot be destroyed and our Clan believes that all of us will eventually be together again.”

A soft white light filtered into the bedroom and everyone knew that the Supreme Being had arrived. Wade floated up off the bed and I picked up the kitties. Mildred Wilson was standing with her hands clasped at her waist and was softly reciting a Witch
’s prayer. I felt my body losing its physical shape and I knew we were on our way.