Alex, having got the toy ship to a point where she was hoping to do a rundown cruise, put the toy ship in the reservoir by backing it into a boat unch area where a trailer could be backed into water.

  Everyone from the floating isnd came to watch the boat unch. Of note, Merumeru and Ariel were absent. This was odd because Ariel, having a css reted to ships, showed a lot of interest in how to operate the boat. But she eventually got bored and headed out with Merumeru. Aqua just said they were up to ‘shenanigans.’

  Chilled wind curled through the isnd, sending ripples across the dark, gssy surface of the ke. The dozen gathered isnders clutches their cloaks tightly. Alex imagined that their breaths would be visible if not for the perpetual mist that always covered the isnd.

  The toy-sized clipper ship rested in the shallows. The dolls on the deck stood frozen in pce, miniature sailor uniforms cleaned and pressed immacutely. Alex took a deep breath of the cold air and began to dance.

  Like clockwork, the dolls twitched, then moved by an unseen force. Tiny sailors hurried to their stations. Pullied snapped tight, lowering and raising the sails from their spring-loaded mechanisms being actuated.

  The dolls teamed up to get the main flywheel spinning in the bowels of the ship and the propeller whirred to live, cutting through the water with steadfast determination. The ship skipped across the ke, deeping into the fog, turning around and emerging again. Alex couldn’t let the ship get too far out of sight, lest her skill lose its hold on the dolls. Yet the real wonder hadn’t happened yet.

  The dolls swiftly reconfigured the mast to deploy the balloons. Other dolls lit enchanted candles under the openings. They flickered against the cold air but slowly, surely the balloons filled, lessening the ship’s draft.

  With one st adjustment, the ship lifted free from the water.

  Gasps of delight came from the shore when the clipper rose, gliding upward with gentle grace. The simple people, recently liberated, craned their necks, and watched it ascend. The propeller shifted and longer bdes popped out of the bdes. It spun slower, but because it was moving air instead of water it needed to be a different type. Instead of having to swap the propeller, Alex had crafted a more complicated one that could shift depending on how it was needed. The ship made a gentle circle above the ke.

  Testing completed, the ship’s dolls doused the candles and after a few more minutes it descended. The ship nded softly on the ke with a gentle *sploosh*

  She had done it.

  Alex had made a toy that could be scaled up to help a certain sea elf get back out to the sea. They just needed to find the resources to do so.

  “I’m really surprised Ariel isn’t here.” Alex surveyed the crowd.

  “Funi has been gone for a while too.” Fufi plopped down in the water and floated next to the toy boat.

  “Aqua are you down there?” Alex stopped dancing when Fufi brought a line ashore so they could pull the boat back on the trailer.

  Aqua plopped her head out of the ke. “Hello Alex, it seems like you finally have some time to talk now.”

  Alex ignored the subtle jab and guided the boat back on the trailer. “Is Ariel and Merumeru down there with you?”

  “Sorry,” The nereid shook her head. “They have been out adventuring. At least that was the st I heard.”

  “No one of your cousins has checked in with news of them tely?” Alex gasped. “Something might be wrong.”

  “Other than the annoying thing about the winter court.” Aqua paused. “I don’t think anything is likely. The fire cn might attack, but not in winter.”

  Alex had a sinking suspicion that she was leaving something out.

  “Anyway,” Alex strapped the ship down on the trailer and turned it and the carriage back into card form. “I should take the ship to the river. Anyone need anything?”

  Cassius stepped forward. “Lovely Alex, far be it from me to overstep my welcome.” The young nobleman fshes a charming smile.

  Alex felt a flutter in her chest, and her cheeks reddened a bit. Did she find this pompous boy attractive? Wait, when was she even into men?

  He continued. “But perhaps it would be best if everyone stayed in the castle for the winter. The walls, roof and plumbing are completed and with things getting colder it might be better to have people stay together to conserve heat.”

  “I don’t see why that wouldn’t be a problem.” Alex shrugged and picked up the card. “Yeah it is my nd, but I don’t think I have done anything of note in that pce. Hopefully there is enough material to make furniture for everyone.”

  The crowd liked this. For whatever reason they might have just assumed that all their hard work would benefit someone else.

  “As to your answer to your question,” Cassius continued. “I’d be happy to accompany you but I know that me and my family have to stay here.”

  “Okay if nothing is needed Fufi and I will be heading off.” Alex headed out to the mostly-complete castle, got changed in a room to the plumber outfit with Fufi and they hopped into the portal pipe to go to Bob and Martha’s farm.

  As they popped out in the portal nexus, it became obvious quickly that something wasn’t right. Chicken feathers littered the grove and there was ice all over the pce.

  “What happened here?” Alex looked around. There were some chickens roosting but not as many as she remembered.

  “Was Bob and Martha’s farm attacked?” Fufi flew up on the wall and looked around. “Yes, it looks like their house got frozen.”

  Alex, sensing that there might be an enemy nearby, summoned the carriage. This was tricky because of the obstacles and the extra rge trailer pulling a boat attached, but she found a spot that didn’t run into the tree or the pipes after walking in circles a few times.

  With her three dolls in hand she opened the pipe-gate and peeked outside.

  The chickens clucked ominously.

  A cow moo’d off in the distance.

  Fufi flew up and did a quick loop around the farm.

  When she nded Alex asked. “Is there an enemy nearby?”

  “I don’t see anything. But with all the tracks it is like an army passed through here.” Fufi sounded frustrated. “Why didn’t Aqua tell us anything if the forest was being attacked?”

  “Ki said that winter would bring trouble.” Alex recalled the Nymph’s warning. “Is this what she meant?”

  “Perhaps,” Fufi contempted the situation. “But still, why would the winter court attack without warning?”

  “Let's check and see if Bob and Martha are alright.” Alex headed to the farmhouse.

  The farmhouse looked like someone turned it into an ice cube.

  Alex looked inside but it was only thick, completely frozen ice on the inside. “Hmm, this isn’t good.”

  Fufi flew out and checked the workshop. She came back a moment ter. “The workshop is the same. Oddly, the animals are fine.”

  “The only other pce they could be is the grotto.” Alex headed to the ravine. “Otherwise they fled or something worse happened.”

  Luckily they did find Bob and Martha in the grotto. Apparently, the grotto had some additions. When they entered, no one was in the big common area. But a passage led to some rooms and a kitchen area behind a door where Bob was seated in his favorite chair and Martha was knitting beside a metal wood stove.

  “Hello” Martha noticed the bird and magical girl first. “I didn’t think we’d ever get visitors again what with the demons rampaging past here.”

  “Demons came. How did you escape?” Alex said with a start.

  “We were hiding because we got a couple of warnings.” Bob stood up. “Let me tell you the whole story. Some girl with a white flowing robe with a big sash around her middle came and said that all the humans needed to leave the forest. Something about how we abused the hospitality we were given and needed to go. Merumeru helped make some rooms for us here a while back so we packed up and moved were moving things here. But then the darnedest thing happened. This foot tall woman with insect wings came flying by and said that she’s got turned into a fairy and was looking for the way out of the forest. If she didn’t escape then she’d have to join the winter court.”

  “After talking a bit, she said that a horde of ice demons was coming from the north and we needed to get moving.” Marta added.

  “Well, we are not exactly spring chickens and didn’t fancy our chances of outrunning a horde of demons so we did the sensible thing and set up here.” Bob said.

  “When the demons came about a day ter.” Martha continued where Bob left off. “They tried to enter the grotto but it didn’t go well for them.”

  “Yeah, the darnest thing happened.” Bob rubbed the back of his head. “That there statue moved and blew a kiss at the imps that stepped inside.” He gestured to the wall in the direction where the common area was by the entrance. “Well a pink heart flew from her mouth and obliterated the whole lot of the demons.”

  “After that they taunted us to come out and fight them for a while.” Martha said. “But they eventually stopped. Seeing that you all are here I’m guessing that they are not waiting outside for us to step out of the grotto.”

  “Luna protected you!” Fufi expined, her voice proud.

  “Have you seen Merumeru or Ariel?” Alex asked the pair. “They are missing.”

  Bob and Martha both shook their heads.

  “No, not for at least a week.” Bob looked up in contemption. “Last I talked to them, the slime was all bouncy and Ariel said that they were going to hunt demons. They didn’t say where though so I’m not sure where to start looking for them.”