A Centaur,  A Unicorn,  and A Leprechaun,  Is This A Joke?

‘Running! Gotta keep running! There has to be a way to wake up!’ Wet leaves and thin branches slapped against her body as she ran covering her arms and legs with red welts. ‘What could possibly be happening? Her dreams were never this real. There has to be a way out!’ Suddenly she found herself in a clearing and she halted abruptly. She couldn't move as her eyes were mesmerized by the scene above her. The stars were beautiful of course, but that is not what caught her attention. ‘Were those fireflies?’ She wondered as various colors streaked and danced across the sky above and around her. They were huge for fireflies. But what else could they be? They were wearing clothes! Everywhere she looked she saw little bodies dancing in the air. Yes dancing! There was even music, she noticed once her heartbeat stopped pounding so hard. A beautiful purple fairy, for that is what they were, glided past her at eye level while wrapping her wings around herself as if she were a ballerina with large feathered fans with which to elaborate her graceful movements. She began to look around the field for the source of the music, when she saw three unicorns moving their heads to the sound. They appeared to be playing their horns? Next to them was a faun playing a flute and a, was that a leprechaun? playing a harp. On the outskirts of the clearing, even the trees seemed to sway with the music. A centaur began to walk to the center of the field. The centaur stood tall and majestic as he, for he was certainly male, stopped and waited as all eyes turned towards him. The melody came to a close and everyone nodded towards the centaur in acquiescence to his appearance in their midst. A silence filled the air and a calm fell over the clearing as he began to speak. “My fellow friends of the forest, I come before you this night with troubling news.” All eyes seemed to change from light hearted delight to a sudden and compelling concern. “The Great Sage has spoken of a great disturbance in the magic band that surrounds our world. She say's that something that is not of our world has disrupted the magic band with such force that it stopped time!” Everyone looked to one another and then back to the centaur. A silver fairy flew to the centaur and addressed him curtly.

“Speak clear Cinder Hoofflame! What has The Great Sage concluded from this revelation?”

The centaur nodded respectfully to the fairy and spoke again. “Your Majesty Lunarly, The Great Sage has said that a tear in the magic band sent ripples from one end of the band to the other. During the time of the ripple, time stood still. She said that there were many punctures through the band as the ripples traversed it. The ripples seemed to carry magic through and from other worlds causing some disruptions she is not yet sure how to describe. At this time, she is saying that we must convene a meeting of The Council of Fae in order to discuss what all this may mean. In the meantime, we are to keep a watch out for anything abnormal. We are to convene in three days time at the Circle of Handrouse. Centaurs have been sent out to spread the message by land, harpies have gone by air. The gnomes have been sent to spread word by their hidden paths. And the naiads are spreading the word by water. Please friends, join us as we convene to explore what all this means.” Cinder Hoofflame lowered his head in respect to Queen Lunarly and then nodded respectfully to the rest of the assembly. He proceeded to take his leave as everyone started chatting amongst themselves. Suddenly the young girl, who had thus far been utterly ignored if not completely unnoticed, loudly wailed to the night “what in the Mad Hatter's tea party is happening here!”

The entire assembly suddenly silenced and sharply turned to face the youg girl who had so blatantly interrupted them. Several fairies fluttered over to her and began examing her all around. “Why is she so dirty?” Said one pale pink fairy.

“She is covered in blood!” Said a teal fairy.

A bright neon blue fairy dangled upsidedown with her hair hanging down in front of the girls eyes and asked “Why is she naked?”

“Is that a leech?” Said a yellow fairy in disgust as she pointed at a black blob still attached to Aniya's hip. Aniya looked down and saw where the yellow fairy was pointing and yelped as she realized that it was in fact a big fat leech. Aniya quickly, and without thinking yanked the leech off of her and threw it in the air where several fairies nearly mauled one another in an attempt to be the one to obtain the blood filled prize. Aniya nearly retched as an azure colored fairy gleefully claimed the leech in her hands and gulped it down in one bite. The yellow fairy, seeing this, loudly groaned “ewwwww” as her sister wiped the slimy residue off her face with her arm. “Sister! You know where that's been! Why would you eat something filled with that wretched mortals blood!”

The azure fairy replied “Harumph! A leech is a leech!” She looked away smugly. Aniya tore her gaze from the scene surrounding her and finally noticed she was indeed naked as the neon blue fairy had proclaimed. Aniya quickly tried, ineffectually, to cover herself as the fairies continued to squabble amongst themselves over whether or not it was wrong to eat a leech filled with the mortals blood. Aniya felt the warmth of a soft furry blanket being wrapped around her shoulders and she turned abruptly to see the centaur, Cinder, as he stepped back from her.

“Don't bother with them, they will be at that for at least an hour.” Aniya gratefully wrapped the blanket around herself and then yelped in pain as it caught on something sticking out of her shoulder. She pulled the blanket back and revealed a tiny toothpick like appendage sticking out of her skin. The centaur cautiously reached out and plucked it out of her. He raised the point up to his nose and grimaced. “Toadsbane!” Aniya looked confused and the centaur went on to explain. “Brownies like to use toadsbane to coat their arrowtips.” She still looked confused and he went on to explain further. “Toadsbane is a paralyzing toxin that renders its victims unable to move for several hours. How many of these hit you?” He asked with a raised eyebrow and a tinge of concern.

“I, I, I, I don't really know. A lot?” He looked down on her and gazed deeply into her blue eyes regretfully and said “You will have a headache. But for now…. You will sleep.” As he finished talking, her already unstable legs gave out. He caught her up in his arms and placed her body across his back, making sure her blanket fully covered her. “Yes. You sleep now. We will talk tomorrow.”

The leprechaun appeared magically on the girl's back and said “I am not sure if she is the luckiest mortal alive today or the unluckiest sod I have seen this century, however, either way, this be mine now!” As the leprechaun reached out above her and plucked out a golden coin from what appeared to be her aura. The centaur backhanded the leprechaun who dropped the coin which disappeared back into the girl's aura. “Leave her be you four leafed oaf! Can't you see she's well and truly spent for the time?” The leprechaun glared at the centaur indignantly and proclaimed “She's a mere mortal pest! Her luck be mine to take or leave as I please!”

“Then ya had best be pleasin’ to better her luck!” He sternly insisted.

“I'll be thankin’ ya to mind yer own business and not be tellin’ me mine!” The leprechaun snarled back.

“She is my business as she is on MY back at the moment! And I'll be thankin’ YOU for makin amends to Me for invading MY space in your attempt to take her luck by adding to her some of your luck!”

“I'll not be givin up me gold!” He took a step back as he warily watched the centaur. As he took another step back he felt something sharp in his back and suddenly turned around to find a unicorn horn nearly impaling him.

“Patrick Clover!” The unicorn uttered. “You will enhance this girl's luck profusely or pay the price of inhospitality of a Summer Solstice TriLunar Gathering!” The leprechaun felt hot air engulf his entire body and turned to discover the centaur had leaned down to him menacingly.

Patrick sidestepped Cinder's face and placed his hands upon the girls aura and said

“Where the wind is may ye travel fast on sea or shore. Where the rain is may ye find shelter sure, where the enemy is may ye find friends and more. and where shadows dwell may ye find light forevermore!” He stepped back from the girl and glared at both the centaur and the unicorn “There! Ye be happy now?” He crossed his arms in defiance.

Cinder raised one eyebrow and, with a look that penetrated souls, said “Happy, no, but satisfied? Enough for now at least”

The unicorn spoke then “Patrick, you had best take your leave while leaving is still an option”

Without another word a rainbow appeared at a snap from Patrick's fingers. He glared at both the centaur and the unicorn as he glided away with the rainbow he had called.

“I suppose we had best see to it that she is cleaned up and properly clothed.” The unicorn's voice trailed off as the young girl fully succumbed to unconsciousness.

A Pixie, A Wisp, and A Fairy.

Her dreams were a discordant mess. She felt herself approaching consciousness as she was still trying to make sense of her dreams. As she became more aware of her physical surroundings, she felt a cool cloth being placed on her forehead and realized it was the most recent of many while she slept. The first sensation she experienced after the cloth, was a gruelling, sharp, and hammering pain in her head. 'What in Tinker Bell's cottage did I drink last night?’ She admonished herself silently as she apprehensively opened her eyes just a sliver. The light was blinding, even though she was in the deep shade of a willow tree. ‘How did I know that was a willow tree?’ She thought to herself. She opened her eyes wider and was surprised to realize she was not in her bed. There was a glowing light floating above her eyes and suddenly the events of yesterday began flooding her memory to the point of bursting. The glowing light was a deep shade of neon blue, which reminded her of the dangling fairy she had seen the night before who had proclaimed her unclothed state so effectively. “Wait!? She said loudly and immediately regretted it as she felt a molten rock flow through her brain, “Am I still naked?” She asked in a bare whisper of the light in front of her. The light grew brighter as it responded, “Nae Dreamer, Ye have been dressed in the softest of weaved attire.” The light responded softly.

“Are you the fairy I saw last night?” Aniya whispered. “I am very grateful for the cool cloths. Thank you so much for helping me.”

“What?” The light exploded “You dare compare me to those pretentious morons?” There were no attempts at a quiet response anymore, and the pain enveloping Aniya's brain was reaching new levels of volcanic activity. “The very idea of being associated with those self-entitled infants is beyond offensive!” The light proclaimed and then violently jolted Aniya's head with what seemed like a bolt of lightning. Aniya would have screamed in pain, but the effort hurt too much to even consider following through on the reaction. She whispered ever so delicately, “I am so sorry for offending you, I am just not used to any of this”, she said as a tear pooled up in the corner of her eye and rolled out and down her cheek then flowed onto a purple iris that was resting against her face. The light was suddenly contrite as it noticed the single tear and approached Aniya's head once more. Aniya flinched as she tried to prepare herself for the next jolt she was sure was coming. Instead of more pain, however, she began to feel relief as she closed her eyes to the world and realized the withdrawal of pain she was experiencing was more than just a lessoning of pain, it was a wonderous and magical feeling of solace.

Aniya took a few moments to bask in the relief she now felt. She opened her eyes once more and looked closely at the light. She pondered how she might communicate without offending it again, and proceeded by asking a simple question. “What are you?” The light fluttered into an aqua marine blue and responded with a guilty inflection, “I am a wisp Dreamer, I am one of the children of imagination drawn true. I am a point of magic made manifest. And I am a fantasy brought to life.”

Aniya pondered the words she had just heard and thought the explanation was more of a riddle than an actual answer, but being grateful that her headache was all but gone now, she didn't want to say anything that could be taken as offensive again. She was about to speak when she heard a voice behind her saying “I see you have finally awoken.” The voice was familiar, and yet it was foreign to her as well. She sat up and flinched slightly as the remnants of her headache reminded her that she was still not feeling her best. She sat still for a moment with her eyes closed and felt more than heard the owner of the voice move alongside her. She gently opened her eyes once more and realized that the person who had spoken was the centaur she had not really met last night. The last thing she recalled was him catching her and laying her across his back. Suddenly she covered herself with the blanket more modesty as she felt her cheeks getting hotter and knew she was blushing profusely. This centaur had caught her and carried her naked body! How could she ever face him again? She was literally hiding under the cover as she heard him speak to her once more.

“There is no need to hide young one. I assure you, you are safe here.” His voice was rich and regal. Aniya pulled the cover down to barely reveal her eyes and she looked at him shyly. “You are Cinder Hoofflame? She asked.

“Yes young one. I am a messenger of the Great Sage. I would like to know your name.”

“My name? I am Aniya Ryder. I want to thank you for your help.” Aniya responded. “May I call you Cinder?”

“Yes young one. Are you feeling better? The toadsbane can be quite harsh.” The concern in his voice was sincere.

“You may call me Aniya. And yes, I am feeling a lot better, though I still have a bit of a headache.”

“That is to be expected young Aniya. It should pass soon.”

Cinder felt her forehead with the back of his hand and placed a new cloth on her forehead as the previous one had fallen when she had sat up so abruptly. “And what are you doing here little wisp?”

The light glowed brighter as the wisp responded haughtily. “I am attending my dreamer of course!” The wisp responded indignantly. His eyes widened at her response, but he kept his composure as he nodded to the wisp.

“And you are doing a fine job too” Cinder said with a smile. Looking back towards the girl he inquired. “Young Aniya, do you think you could stand?”

Aniya consciously evaluated all her appendages and determined that she could indeed stand. “Yes, I believe so,” her voice was still low as she put her feet under her and proceeded to stand. Cinder carefully took her arm as she teetered to the side and stabalized her. Once she had regained her footing Cinder carefully released her arm and watched her intently as he determined the stability of her balance. Deciding that she was indeed able to stand on her own, He moved back in order to allow her to pass by him and walk toward the table where her breakfast was waiting. The wisp followed her and rested lightly on her shoulder as Annabelle looked to Cinder for confirmation.

“Go ahead and eat young Aniya, Your questions and answers can wait.” Cinder stood to his plate and began eating as well. Aniya took a large grape and handed it to the wisp on her shoulder and then began eating her meal. She handed tidbits of her food to the wisp as she ate. Once the meal was over, Cinder looked closely at Aniya and, after evaluating her for a few moments, commented “I do believe that that is the prettiest green I have ever seen.”

“What is?” Asked Aniya.

“Your eyes young Aniya. They are a most brilliant green.” Cinder replied.

Looking confused, Annabelle looked back at Cinder and said “Why are you teasing me?”

Now it was Cinder's turn to be confused. “Young Aniya, I assure you, I only meant to compliment not tease. I didn't notice last night. With all the flickering lights from the fairies it is difficult to notice such things, but your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green that I have ever seen.” Cinder said definitively.

Aniya stood and faced Cinder. She wiped her hair from her shoulder and pushed it behind her, being careful not to disturb the wisp sitting there, and replied. “My eyes are blue. Not a beautiful blue, or a vibrant blue, just a plain old matte blue.”

Cinder considered her for a moment, and then he looked towards the sky and said a single word. “Patrick!”

Aniya looked in the same direction he was looking in, but she saw nothing but a few clouds and blue skies.

“What are you talking about? And who is Patrick? And why would he be in the clouds?” Aniya's questions were fired out one after the other, her frustration showing through.

Cinder looked back at Aniya and said flatly “Patrick Clover is a leprechaun. He was trying to steal your luck while you slept last night. Cornelia Stronghorn and I, she is a unicorn, caught him and made him put it back. We also made him add some of his luck to you as well. I believe your eyes changing color is a direct result of that new luck.”

Her eyes had widened farther with each statement Cinder had made. “Sooooo…. I am Lucky now?” Her voice squeaked a little as she spoke.

“Well young Aniya you were always lucky. Now you just have more luck than you did before.”

Aniya looked at Cinder suspiciously “okay” she drew out the word. “But luck can be good or bad….How am I supposed to know if the eye changing effect isn't representative of something not so good?”

Cinder chuckled cheerfully and smiled down at her. “Young Aniya, it is true that leprechauns can be wily and are quite capable of administering a good deal of mischief with their 'gifts’, but Patrick Clover violated the laws of hospitality at the Summer Solstice TriLunar Gathering. He would not dare to cross us on his penance.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Aniya wasn't convinced and made her opinion quite clear. “He obviously had no problem violating the hospitality of a TriLunar hoedown in the first place. What reason is there to believe he would do better now?

”TriLunar hoedown young Aniya?” Cinder looked utterly confused. "What is a hoedown if you don't mind my asking?”

“A shindig, soiree, knees-up, shindy, spree, shebang, blast, a partay.” Aniya rattled off her answer as if it were obvious.

Cinder's eyes showed a glimmer of recognition at the word 'soiree’ and said “Are you referring to a celebration?”

“Well if you want to be all boring about it, then yeah, I guess I am.” Aniya crossed her arms in frustration. Cinder smiled at her and shook his head slightly. He was about to speak again when a flickering blur of yellow light and wings came flurrying across the table and collided solidly into Aniya's chest. Aniya’s first reaction was to scream and try to shoo away whatever bug had just landed on her. Her arms were flailing across her chest wildly in an attempt to dislodge whatever atrocity was clinging to her shirt front. ‘Was it a shirt?’ She thought briefly.

Cinder was as surprised as Aniya at the sudden interruption and stood gaping at the scene in front of him with his jaw hanging open. The blur that had accosted Aniya spoke in a voice that sounded like bells had been specially designed to create the most wonderous voice. “Oh Begetter! I finally found you!”

Aniya was so stunned by the voice and the fact that the mysterious bug had been the one to use it, that she literally froze mid swipe and was standing in a very comical position where she was leaning backwards at such an angle that the only thing keeping her upright was the chair she had recently vacated. Her left hand was poised over the blur-bug, for that is what Aniya now considered the thing on her chest, while her right hand was stopped mid swat just over her left breast. Her head was tilted as far to the right as she could tilt it in order to get her face as far away as possible. As if that were not enough, her left leg was in the air as if she were about to try to kick the blur-bug away from her! The scene stayed frozen like this for about two full seconds, when the precarious balancing act that was happening finally came to and end, her left leg wobbled and her left hand shot out and her right arm flew sideways. The chair she had been leaning against lost its stability and toppled over causing her to fall with it and over it. She tumbled over. Again once she cleared the chair and sprawled out with a bit of everything except grace. She groaned quietly as her headache, which had nearly abated completely, came back with a vengeance. She allowed herself to just lay where she fell for a few moments so that she could regroup.

Cinder, seeing Aniya sprawled out and still, finally reacted. Taking two quick steps forward, he bent down to check on Aniya. Seeing that she was still breathing and not bleeding anywhere, he finally took a breath. He hadn’t even realized he had been holding in. “Young Aniya! Are you all right?” The worry in his voice was clear.

“Um, yeah. My headache is worse though.” She made no attempt to move anything other than her lips as she whispered in a squeaky voice. “What was that thing?” She queried so quietly that Cinder barely heard her.

“That young Aniya, is a pixie.” He glared at the pixie frantically hovering around Annabelle's face looking horrified at the girl she had just found. “What is wrong with you small one?” Cinder's glare intensified as he lowered his head to look the pixie in the eye.

The pixie clasped her hands together, wringing them together and looking towards her feet. Her bright yellow aura dimmed to a dull yellow hue as she responded. “I was just so happy to finally find her.” She spoke meekly. “I never meant to hurt her.” She looked up at Cinder and pleaded with him “Is she going to be okay?” her aura grew a bit brighter as Hope and fear dripped from her words.

“She will be fine small one.” His anger lessened as he saw how worried the pixie was. “But what possessed you to be so rough in your greeting, and how do you know young Aniya?” He glanced towards the girl as he said her name. Looking back at the pixie, Cinder awaited her reply. “I have been terrified for her safety centaur. The last I saw of her, she was running into the woods being chased by imps. I tried to follow her to help, but those pesky brownies caught me and tied me with a golden thread!” Her indignant chin raised up as she spoke the final words.

“Brownies with their toadsbane arrows, imps in the forest, and leeches too? Whatever path this girl is on is worth considering.” He looked over at Aniya once more, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Young Aniya? Are you ready to try to get back up?” She nodded feebly and reached a hand out towards Cinder. He obliged her and assisted her back to her feet. He reached for her cup on the table, which was still half full, and handed it to her along with some willow bark. “Here, chew on this and then drink some water.” His words were kind. She did as instructed and chewed on the bark. The gritty feeling on her tongue was far from pleasant, however, she trusted that the centaur would not be telling her to do this without good reason. After spitting out the pieces of bark she drank deeply. She handed her cup back to Cinder who took it and then, realizing it was still half full of liquid, handed.it back to Aniya. “You really must drink all of this. It will help the bark to work faster.” She grimaced as she took the cup back and eyed the liquid warily. She was already feeling waterlogged and wasn’t really wanting to drink more. She sighed and steeled herself and drank deeply once more. After several large gulps, she felt she could not possibly hold another drop inside her. She looked back into the cup and saw that it was still half full. She looked at Cinder miserably and said “I can’t, I just can’t. If I drink anymore I am going to burst!”

Looking at the cup in Aniya’s hand, Cinder was surprised to see that it was still half full. He reached for the cup, which Annabelle gladly relinquished, and peered into the now empty cup. Confusion showed on his face as he looked back at Annabelle. “It is empty.” He said simply.

Aniya grabbed the cup back and looked into it herself. Sure enough, it was empty. “But how?” her confusion mirrored that on Cinder’s face.

“I believe this may be part of your luck.” He said, as he again looked towards the clouds speculatively.

“My luck?” she asked. “You mean that my cups will always stay full?” She looked in wonder at her still empty cup. “Well it isn’t full now anyway.” She picked up the pitcher of water on the table and poured a little dribble into her cup which she had placed back onto the table. It remained a dribble. Cinder picked it up and peered into it. It was still only a dribble. He placed it back onto the table and watched as Aniya picked it up. They nearly touched foreheads as they both peered into the cup, now in her hands. A look of surprise crossed both their faces and the pixie’s and wisp’s too. (They had squeezed in to look into the cup as well.) The dribble grew and then grew some more. It continued to grow until the cup was again half full. “Well I guess that answers my question.” Aniya said in wonder. “Are there anymore surprises?” she wondered out loud.

“I do not know young Aniya” replied Cinder.

The pixie fluttered up and rested on Aniya’s shoulder, only to have the wisp who was resting there already cry out in anger, “Be gone with ye!” The now deep royal blue aura moved forward and seemed to push the pixie off of the shoulder they both had occupied.

“What is yer problem ye blue blinker?”, The pixie was fluttering in front of Aniya’s shoulder with her hands placed firmly upon her hips.

“My problem is ye. Ye are invading my perch upon my dreamer!” Her response left no room for negotiation. “I’ll not be havin’ anyone come betwixt us!”

The pixie, her ire raised, barked back “Well she is My Begettor and I’ll not be havin’ anyone keep me from her!”

The wisp seemed to consider this statement and then, in a resigned voice, said flatly, “There is more than one perch to be had.” The blue aura drifted back to her chosen spot and the pixie watched her for a few moments and then drifted over to Aniya's unoccupied shoulder.

Throughout all of this Aniya and Cinder were transfixed. “What are you going on about?” Aniya finally inquired of them both.

The pixie fluttered in front of Aniya and responded kindly, “I am sorry Begettor. both for startling you so and for disturbing the wisp. I only desire to be with you as does she.”

Aniya didn’t look any less confused as the pixie retook her place, for now she did in fact consider it her place, upon Aniya’s shoulder.

Cinder, a look of understanding washing over him, peered into the young girl’s green eyes and said “I believe your luck is extraordinary young Annabelle.”

“Why is that?” she asked in return.

“it is a rarity indeed for anyone to obtain the loyalty of a dreamer wisp or a pixie, but for someone to have obtained the loyalty of both is simply unheard of!” his exclamation was cut short, for he was about to say more, when a deep purple aura fluttering up towards him stopped directly between Aniya and himself. For a moment he thought the fairy, he could see her clearly now, was coming to bring him a message. The fairy barely glanced at him though as she turned to face Aniya and said sweetly “Hello Progenetor, I am so pleased to finally greet you. I have been waiting ever so long to behold you. I felt your sorrow deeply and offer you comfort now and always.”

“Be gone with ye! ye are not wanted here!” The wisp fluttered up towards the fairy.

“Of course ye would say that ye selfish prat!” The fairy snapped back. “She is my progenetor and I will be by her side!”

The wisp raised her voice and roared “I was here first! I’ll not be havin’ the likes of you defiling my dreamer!” She sprayed blue puffs of aura towards the fairy with each word she spat out. “You can fly away now, or I will throw ye away instead!” Her voice was dark with intent.

“You wee thing!” The fairy replied “Do you really think ye can get the best of me?” The fairy’s fury was palpable as she inched closer to the wisp.

“QUIET!” Aniya yelled, and immediately regretted it. Though, for most of her headache was once again gone, thanks to the willow bark, it wasn’t so gone that yelling was an intelligent action to take yet.

Cinder looked on in shock as the two fae folk immediately stopped and looked contritely towards Annabelle.

“I am sorry Dreamer.” Said the wisp.

“As am I Progenetor.” agreed the fairy.

“I am shocked!” added Cinder.

“Why do you call me Dreamer? and Why do the others call me Progenetor and Begettor? Will someone please explain what is happening here in this cauldron of chaos?” Aniya’s perplexed query was answered by Cinder.

“Young Aniya, a wisp is formed from a dream so powerful that it is inbued with magic. The wisp will take on the characteristics it experienced during it’s development in the magic awakening that fills it with life force. It’s colors will emulate the emotions and environments within the dreams it emerges from. A wisp that is dreampt up will normally fly off to join others of its kind, however, on very rare occassions, a dream will be so powerful as to cause a bond of loyalty in the dreampt wisp to where it becomes ‘loyal’ or bonded to its dreamer.” The centaur paused for a moment to ensure Annabelle was following him well enough. when she nodded he continued. “It is so rare for a wisp to be bonded that one could live their entire life and never meet such a being.” Cinder nodded towards the pixie and continued. “A pixie is formed from great and meaningful events. The more powerful the emotions surrounding an event the more likely a ‘begetting’ will take place. A great war, for instance, is more likely to produce several pixies, while the death of a loved one rarely produces any. The emotions must be great indeed to produce a pixie who is ‘loyal’ to a single individual. Like the wisps, pixies, once begotten, will fly off and join others of their own kind.” Once again the centaur paused to see if Aniya was still following him. Again she nodded, so he proceeded. “a fairy is bloomed to life. They grow within flowers and bloom as the flower opens up to reveal them. While there are most likely fewer than fifty fairies bloomed each spring world wide, it takes an absolute miracle for a fairy to be ‘loyal’ to anyone. You see young Aniya, a fairy is rare enough on it’s own, but to become loyal to any one being requires a truly monumental jolt of luck. This fairy said she felt your sorrow?” Cinder looked towards the fairy as he spoke.

The fairy replied, “Yes centaur, a single tear touched me as I bloomed. The sorrow contained within that single tear was such that I knew I had to bloom to comfort the one from whence it came.”

The centaur nodded and then he continued. “Your tear could have fallen anywhere. The fact that it would fall upon the exact flower that was about to bloom that contained a fairy within during the summer solstice instead of spring. The fact that the flower had opened enough to allow your tear in but not enough for the fairy to bloom yet, and the fact that she is probably the only fairy in the entire world set to bloom today amongst all the flowers blooming currently across the world, makes a bonding so unlikely, that I have literally never heard of anyone ever having been bonded to one.” The centaur looked meaningfully at Aniya once more before concluding. “To have not only a fairy, but a pixie, and a wisp as well all ‘loyal’ to you, and to have them all come to you on the same day as well, I do not even have words to emphasize the rarity of such a happening!” He lowered his head a bit in exhaustion as he took a few deep breaths and then looked up again at Aniya. She seemed to be pondering all he had just said.

“So…” She finally responded. “I have a bit of luck huh?”

Cinder was so exasperated he actually raised his voice, which centaurs are not prone to do, and snipped “Bit of luck?! Have you not been listening? There is no way anyone, anywhere, would ever conceive of such an occurance. The rarity is such that there is no way to conceive of how unlikely this even is!” Cinder was obviously frustrated as he tried to get across to her the absolute wonder she should be feeling right now.

“I get it Cinder. I am special. I understand what you are saying. I do. I just honestly have no idea how I should respond to this or anything else that has been happening to me since I went to take my bath yesterday. Sad to say, but this is not the most spectacular thing I have experienced since then.” She laid a hand on Cinder’s shoulder and leaned in to kiss his forehead. “Thank you my friend, for helping me so much.” she whispered to him softly.

The centaur looked into her beautiful green eyes and asked. “What are you? That you find such things to be ‘interesting’ rather than overwhelming?”

Aniya replied. “I was taking my bath and soaking in my tub last night when I suddenly found myself in the middle of a lake. I nearly drowned trying to find my way to the surface only for something to start biting me all over. I could feel them squirming all around me. I had to swim desperately while being chewed on in order to get to shore only to trip over a wire of some kind and have a bunch of tiny creatures, I think you said they were brownies, throwing things and hitting me with tiny sticks. By the time I got up and tried to run away, I stepped on a tiny fire and burned the bottom of my foot. The brownies were still hitting me with those toothpicks they call arrows and I ran to get away from them. I stopped a ways away from the brownies to try to think for a moment and discovered I had leeches all over me! I was pulling them off when something bit my hip. I looked to see these other things flying around me and coming in to bite me over and over again. I ran they were chasing me and biting me, I have no idea what they were.” The pixie spoke up then

“They were imps Begettor” she said simply

Aniya nodded and continued. “Imps then, they were biting and pulling my hair and I finally got away I thought I was dreaming and I was trying to wake up when I found the clearing. There were fairies and unicorns and a faun and leprechaun and a centaur! none of these things are supposed to be real! Having a few fae, I think that is what they are called,” she looked to Cinder for confirmation, he nodded, she continued. “ Having a few fae decide to be ‘loyal’ to me is actually a relief.

Cinder considered everything she had just said and nodded his head decisively. “Young Aniya I need you to meet with the Fairy Queen Lunarly. She needs to know of all you have experienced. Will you speak with her?” He asked

“yes of course I will.” Aniya said. She watched as Cinder quickly turned and walked towards the clearing she had found the previous night.

Cinder stopped for a moment and looked back at her “I will return shortly young Aniya.” He then continued on and out of view.

Aniya was quietly considering everything she had experienced recently when she realized her headache was finally and completely gone. Then she noticed the light in the upper right hand corner of her vision and wondered why it was still there since her headache was no longer present. As she concentrated on the light a screen opened up in front of her. The translucent screen allowed her to see everything behind it, but it was indeed a screen. There was a flashing light in the upper right hand corner that said ‘notifications’ She willed it to open and was only mildly surprised when it actually did.

*Warning: You have been pulled into another world.*

*Notice: Your aura has protected you through the magical band and has hence been enhanced.*

*Notice: You have been granted 1 extra Dawning Spore Slot in addition to the one alloted to all beings.*

*Notice: You have survived a near drowning and have gained an instance of ‘Aquatic Affinity’ *

*Aquatic Affinity: Level 1, Resistance to water damage , Ability to hold breath longer, Ability to swim longer*

*Notice: you have been attacked by a nibbler swarm Nibblers have surrounded you and taken many bites causing ongoing damage. Escape the swarm to negate damage.*

*Notice: You have escaped the swarm of nibblers. You have gained an instance of ‘Endurance’*

*Endurance: Level 1, You have managed to prove your grit by enduring to the end rather than giving up. You are able to push longer and harder through times of difficulty.*

*Notice: You are under attack by brownies, You have been afflicted by ‘Toadsbane’ The brownies are utilizing toadsbane arrows and you are suffering from paralysis.*

*Notice: Endurance has been activated and has delayed your reaction to ‘Toadsbane’ *

*Notice: You have stepped on a brownie fire, burn damage suffered.*

*Notice: You have been afflicted by ‘Fae Fire’, Your health will lose 1 hp per minute for 5 minutes.*

*Notice: You have managed to escape the brownies, You have been granted an instance of ‘Survivor’*

*Survivor: Level 1, You have managed to survive several encounters in quick succession. You are now able to find exits when none appear to be readily available.*

*Notice: You have discovered you are covered in Leeches. Remove all Leeches before they drain your blood completely.*

*Notice: You are being attacked by imps, Get to safety.*

*Notice: You have escaped the imps. By getting away from these vicious creatures you have gained an instance of ‘Survivor’ You have gained an instance of ‘Endurance’*

*Survivor: Level 2, You have managed to survive several encounters in quick succession, You are now able to survive longer.*

*Endurance: Level 2, You have shown your will to be stronger than your pain. You have gained the ability to push longer and harder through times of difficulty.*

*Notice; you have witnessed a Fae gathering. Your aura is stronger from your encounter.*

*Notice; You have removed the last leech from your body. you have gained an instance of ‘Survivor’ You have gained an instance of ‘Endurance’ at will.*

*Survivor: Level 3, You have managed to survive several encounters in quick succession, You have gained the ability to ‘clot blood’

*’Clot Blood: Level 1, You are able to slow down your rate of bleeding to reduce blood loss.*

*Endurance; Level 3, You have shown your will to be stronger than your pain. You have gained the ability to push longer and harder through times of difficulty.*

*Notice; Your ‘Endurance’ has run out. You have succumbed to your paralysis. from ‘Toadsbane’ *

*Notice: You have fallen unconscious.*

*Warning: A leprechaun has stolen your luck.*

*Notice: Your luck has been returned.*

*Notice: your luck has been significantly enhanced*

*Notice: Your eyes now reflect the power of your luck. The greener your eyes are, the stronger your luck.

Beware of your eyes getting too light, it may very well mean your luck is running out.*

*Notice: New ‘Dawn Spore’ unlocked. 1 of 2 unlocked. ‘Spore of Bonding’*

*Spore of Bonding: ‘Spore of Bonding’ has unlocked part of your unique potential for interaction with the beings around you. You are now able to form a ‘Spore Bond’ with other beings which grant various benefits depending on the entity ‘bonded’*

*Notice: You have been ‘Spore Bonded’ with a pixie. Due to the astronomical event leading to you being pulled from another world, time stood still. During the timelessness of time, Your emotions were so intense that a pixie was begotten. As the pixie finished forming she ‘Spore Bonded’ with you.

*Notice: You have been ‘Spore Bonded’ with a wisp. Due to your intense and magical dream, a wisp was dreampt into existance. This wisp was ‘Spore Bonded’ to you as it finished forming.

*Notice: You have been ‘Spore Bonded’ with a fairy. Due to your deep sorrow, your single tear awoke a fairy as it was blooming and she became ‘Spore Bonded’ to you in a desire to comfort you.

*Spore of Bonding: Current bonds 3, You have been “Spore Bonded’ with 3 of the fae.

*Notice: New Title Obtained, You have been granted a new title. Your Title will enhance respect you receive.

*Title: Mother of Fae, Events surrounding and involving you have caused the emergence of three new fae. You have ‘Spore Bonded’ with three members of the Fae. You are now a ‘Mother of Fae’*

As Aniya finished reading the last notification she irritably willed the screen to close and yelled loudly. “Mother! I am not even old enough to be a mother!” She looked around her and proclaimed. “Who does this world think I am anyways? Denarys Stormborn?”