It’s dark, there is a small light of the moon through Amari’s window. Everyone is asleep. Except for Amari, they need to use the bathroom. 3:05. Damn Amari whispered. Amari lays back down before a slight tapping on the window annoys them. This might be a tree, it probably is. Whatever Amari rolls over and tries to sleep. The tapping continues, but this time it’s weird. It’s a pattern. Repetition. Amari goes to look out the window.

At first what looks like a big butterfly, but after rubbing their eyes, turns out it was a tiny human with wings. Couldn’t be more than eight inches tall. Amari screams bloody murder. Closing the curtains to the window.

Cierra and Arlo come running down the hall to find out what is wrong.

“Amari?! What’s wrong?” Arlo says frantically.

“Th-th-there’s a person w-w-w-with wings! But it’s not a person! It’s a fucking fairy or something!”

“What?? Are you sure?”

“Yes, I know what I saw it was knocking on my window!”

“Okay, okay, I will check it out.” Arlo walks up to the window and draws back the curtain. There flies the fairy waving hello at Arlo. The fairy tries to speak but no one can hear her because the window is shut.

Arlo draws the gun that was on his side and points it at the fairy. The fairy seems almost unfazed, almost like she has never seen one before.

Cierra yells out “Put the gun away! Are you even going to be able to hit that thing? It’s so small!”

Arlo steps back but still keeps his gun in his hands. He tells Amari to open the window. Amari shakingly opens the window, still shocked at the sight of this thing.

The fairy sits on the windowsill, wipes her hands on her thighs, and puts her hand up to wave.

“Hello! I’m Mae! I’m here to collect Amari!”

“What? Why me?”

“Well, your Goddess wants you!”

“Goddess?”

“Yes, she’s our Gaia! In Earth terms. She is the one who makes sure the Earth has nature, and lets nature ‘take its course’ whatever that means.”

“Ok, but what does she want with me?”

“Well, you are her daughter.”

“I don’t identify that way anymore… but, how would I even know you’re telling the truth?”

“Uh, well miss ma’am it’s your birthday. And Goddess Kozuna said on Earth in your area 18 is when you have the choice to do what you want. Again, whatever that means.”

“Ok, but again, how would I know you’re telling the truth about her being my mother?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“She said you have a blue and green blanket with your name in red,” Mae says giddily.

“I feel like I’m going to faint,” Cierra grabs the computer chair and helps Amari sit down.

Arlo put away his gun in his room’s safe and comes back in to talk to the fairy while Cierra helps Amari not feel so bad.

“So where are you trying to take my child?” Arlo crosses his arms.

“She-”

Cierra interrupts “They.”

“Sorry?”

“They and them pronouns. Amari does not use she and her pronouns. I love my child unconditionally to accept how they choose to present themself.” Cierra hugs Amari.

“Okay, uh, they will come with me to go see Goddess Kozuna. It’s in another world, but we will use the key to unlock the door to go back.”

“What key?” Arlo asks.

“The blanket!” Mae squeals.

“What??” Cierra and Amari both exclaim.

“Yes! It’s made from your Mother’s hair! To enter you have to use a tree trunk and cover it with the blanket in order to activate the portal!”

“Portal? Bro, what fantasy novel are we in?” Amari feels sick to their stomach. “Is this just a dream? I knew I was adopted but I didn’t think I was part of the Greek Gods' universe.”

“I know, it’s very hard to believe, especially because you have grown up as a human. But you are more than that. And, when you come with me you will get your powers. Every Goddess drinks the water to hone into their powers.” Mae is fluttering with excitement.

“Okay, well it’s three in the morning. I want to go back to sleep before I go out for some adventure.” Amari sighs.

“Okay, I will stay here as I cannot go back without your key. I will also nap as all thing flying made me tired. May I bother you for a snack?”

“Uh, sure, do you like cake? It is the only thing ready to eat right now?” Cierra asks.

“I don’t know what cake is but sure! I will try this!”

Cierra grabs a very small slice of cake for Mae. About a crumb worth to a human, but is ginormous to this fairy. Cierra uses one of the plates in the dollhouse for Emily’s play dolls so she’s not putting a smidge of cake on an entire plate. She also grabs the doll's spoon to give to Mae to eat with.

Mae screams with excitement. “You even have plates my size! You, humans, must have fairies too!”

“Actually we don’t have fairies here. There are dolls with play plates for them. But the food is real, be careful though it does have loads of sugar.”

Mae takes a bite and her eyes light up with a sparkle. She quickly eats up the cake, and Cierra even grabs a doll house cup and fills it with milk. Mae drinks it and gives a weird look. She explains they are usually only eating plants, fruits, and vegetables where they are. They rarely eat meat because they think all life is worth living. Cierra explains all of the ingredients in what she had, and Mae ponders for a moment.

“Well, sometimes we have eggs to eat. One egg can feed 20 of us when it is scrambled up. So we also don’t have to worry about food going to waste or not having enough. We are tiny after all. We just don’t usually have cake because We don’t have that liquidy solid stuff that’s on the outside of it.”

“Oh, well that’s frosting”

“Yes, frosting! I don’t know what that is.” Mae giggles.

“Well, it can be handmade. Do you want me to write the recipe down for you and send it with you?” Cierra asks.

“Yes please!”

A few hours pass, and Amari has gotten a nap in and wakes up feeling better. They start to get things together. Some changes of clothes, phone, charger, some snacks, and some feminine hygiene products in case they are gone that long. They give their parents a hug and grab the blanket.

“I love you guys. I don’t know when I will be back I guess, but it’s a good thing it is summer. It will be like a personal camping trip.” Amari giggles. “Alright you guys, I will head out now then.”

Mae leads the way and Amari follows closely behind. Eventually, Mae sits on Amari’s shoulder while they talk.

“So all we have to do is find a tree and put the blanket on?” Amari asks.

“Well yes and no. You have to make sure the tree is wide enough for you to walk through. That is why I suggested a stump. Usually that would give humans enough room to walk through.” Mae explains.

“Wait other humans have gone through?”

“Yes, two. That is why we need you to come home. You have powers that Mother Goddess knows will save us.”

“Wait, save us? Are you guys in trouble?”

“Yes, but Mother knows everything. Let her explain it to you.”

“Okay. Well, let’s get to work on finding a tree or tree stump then.” Amari quickly walks to a nearby nature walk where there is plenty of trees nearby. The duo searched for a big enough tree for about 30 minutes. After they finally find a big enough one Mae tells Amari to put the blanket on the tree's side.

Mae then says a short scripture said in what sounds like tongues. The blanket burns the side of the tree and disappears into ash. It creates a door about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Just big enough to let a human in, just like Mae said.

“Well,” Mae opens the door, “after you!”