hortperiodoftranquilitybeforethestorm.Thehugebckbirdperchedontopofthepacehadnoticedthesmallgroupofpeoplewhowerecrossingthesuspensieandweremakingtheirwaytowardsthepace.Shefppedhermightywings,ndedlightlyontheground,turoasnake-hairedbeautyandstoodbythebridgetoawaittheirarrival.ThatofcoursewasMedusa.KingDimitriwalkedinfrontleadingthesmallgroup,followedbyAmaliawithSheiandYokooneachsideofher,solicitouslyhelpiherestofthebeauties,Megginn,Samantha,Mary,LaverneandMarafollowedcloselybehind.KingDimitrihuggedandkissedMedusawhohadetowelethem.Thebeautiestoocrowdedaroundtogreether.Justthen,twoferocioustigersrushedoutfrombehindtherightarearentrahepace,eagertogreettheirmaster.KingDimitrimadeasignatthemfromafar,badingthemkeepsilent,andsoalthoughthetigersleapttowardshim,theydidnotroarormakeanynoisesoasnottothebeautiesstilsleepinthepace.TheyranmadlyaroundtheirmasterincirclestoexpresstheirgreatjoyatseeinghimbackattheKingdomagain.KingDimitristoppedtheirantidledthebeautiesintothepacethroughthefrontgate.Ihelightswereturneddownlowandthefireinthefurnaceswasnverybrightlyeither.Theatmospherewasfortableandserene.Inaerofthepace,thepaceattendantsatdozingandthehssslowlytrickledon.KingDimitriwalkedtohisthroneandsatdown.Histwotigersimmediatelysquatteddowniherightaofthethrone.Medusagentlytouchedthepaceattendantontheshoulder,whostartledup,rubbedhersleepyeyesandlookedatMedusaionsurprise.WheurnedandsawKingDimitrisittingohrone,shequicklywentforward,madeherobeisandquicklywenttoservehimhiscupoftea,whichhearilytookeverym.Thebeautiescameuptothethroneandaskedforleavetogoaheiroldroomsagain.Theywereverymuchattachedtothepcetheimprintofwhichwassoindeliblyetchedintheirhearts,wheretheyhadsomanygoodmemoriesanddreams.KingDimitrinoddedhisagreement.Thebeautieswerejustabouttoleavewhensuddenlyaslimfigureranin,jumpedontoKingDimitri’spaocry.ItwasnaughtygirlDorna.Shesobbedandsaidbrokenly,

    “WelehomeKingDimitri......but......imeyouleaveagainwithouttellingme......yougoawaywithoutsayinggoodbye......don’ttakemewithyou......Iamnotgoingtopywithyouanymore......IreallymeanwhatIsayyouknow......imeyouleavewithoutlettingmeknow......Ireallyamnotgoingtobefriendswithyouanymore......”

    “OK.OK.”saidKingDimitri,fDornalikeafathercoaxinghisbeloveddaughter.“ime,Ipromisetotakeyouwithme,okay?Lookyouareabiggirlnowandyouarestillgandpoutinglikealittlegirl.Aren’tyouashamedofyourself?”

    Thebeautiesughedandwalkedupthestairs.Perhapsitwastheirfootsteps,ortheiropeningandclosingofdoors.OritmayhavebeenDorna’ssobbingandginthehall.Butthebeautiesinthepacewereawokenfromtheirsleepandcameoutoftheirroomstoseewhattheotionwasabout.Inthespacioushall,thesisterswhohadnotseeneachotherforquiteawhilewerehappyandsurprisedatthissuddenreunion.Theycalledouteachother’shrewtheirarmsaroundeachgedandkissedwarmlymurmuringhowsorelytheyweremissed.Theyughed,cried,huggedagainandagainandwereloathtopart.QueenAishaspentsometimecalmingthemdownandthenshewalkeddowairstogetherwiththebeautiestogreetKingDimitri.

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    KingDimitrigreetedthebeauties,

hortperiodoftranquilitybeforethestorm.Thehugebckbirdperchedontopofthepacehadnoticedthesmallgroupofpeoplewhowerecrossingthesuspensieandweremakingtheirwaytowardsthepace.Shefppedhermightywings,ndedlightlyontheground,turoasnake-hairedbeautyandstoodbythebridgetoawaittheirarrival.ThatofcoursewasMedusa.KingDimitriwalkedinfrontleadingthesmallgroup,followedbyAmaliawithSheiandYokooneachsideofher,solicitouslyhelpiherestofthebeauties,Megginn,Samantha,Mary,LaverneandMarafollowedcloselybehind.KingDimitrihuggedandkissedMedusawhohadetowelethem.Thebeautiestoocrowdedaroundtogreether.Justthen,twoferocioustigersrushedoutfrombehindtherightarearentrahepace,eagertogreettheirmaster.KingDimitrimadeasignatthemfromafar,badingthemkeepsilent,andsoalthoughthetigersleapttowardshim,theydidnotroarormakeanynoisesoasnottothebeautiesstilsleepinthepace.TheyranmadlyaroundtheirmasterincirclestoexpresstheirgreatjoyatseeinghimbackattheKingdomagain.KingDimitristoppedtheirantidledthebeautiesintothepacethroughthefrontgate.Ihelightswereturneddownlowandthefireinthefurnaceswasnverybrightlyeither.Theatmospherewasfortableandserene.Inaerofthepace,thepaceattendantsatdozingandthehssslowlytrickledon.KingDimitriwalkedtohisthroneandsatdown.Histwotigersimmediatelysquatteddowniherightaofthethrone.Medusagentlytouchedthepaceattendantontheshoulder,whostartledup,rubbedhersleepyeyesandlookedatMedusaionsurprise.WheurnedandsawKingDimitrisittingohrone,shequicklywentforward,madeherobeisandquicklywenttoservehimhiscupoftea,whichhearilytookeverym.Thebeautiescameuptothethroneandaskedforleavetogoaheiroldroomsagain.Theywereverymuchattachedtothepcetheimprintofwhichwassoindeliblyetchedintheirhearts,wheretheyhadsomanygoodmemoriesanddreams.KingDimitrinoddedhisagreement.Thebeautieswerejustabouttoleavewhensuddenlyaslimfigureranin,jumpedontoKingDimitri’spaocry.ItwasnaughtygirlDorna.Shesobbedandsaidbrokenly,

    “WelehomeKingDimitri......but......imeyouleaveagainwithouttellingme......yougoawaywithoutsayinggoodbye......don’ttakemewithyou......Iamnotgoingtopywithyouanymore......IreallymeanwhatIsayyouknow......imeyouleavewithoutlettingmeknow......Ireallyamnotgoingtobefriendswithyouanymore......”

    “OK.OK.”saidKingDimitri,fDornalikeafathercoaxinghisbeloveddaughter.“ime,Ipromisetotakeyouwithme,okay?Lookyouareabiggirlnowandyouarestillgandpoutinglikealittlegirl.Aren’tyouashamedofyourself?”

    Thebeautiesughedandwalkedupthestairs.Perhapsitwastheirfootsteps,ortheiropeningandclosingofdoors.OritmayhavebeenDorna’ssobbingandginthehall.Butthebeautiesinthepacewereawokenfromtheirsleepandcameoutoftheirroomstoseewhattheotionwasabout.Inthespacioushall,thesisterswhohadnotseeneachotherforquiteawhilewerehappyandsurprisedatthissuddenreunion.Theycalledouteachother’shrewtheirarmsaroundeachgedandkissedwarmlymurmuringhowsorelytheyweremissed.Theyughed,cried,huggedagainandagainandwereloathtopart.QueenAishaspentsometimecalmingthemdownandthenshewalkeddowairstogetherwiththebeautiestogreetKingDimitri.

    12

    KingDimitrigreetedthebeauties,