Once upon a time. A classic beginning, one for “fairy tales” and such. Nobody ever realizes how close those are to the truth. You see, there are alternate times, or realities. Each of them directly affects the others. I come from one, and all those who come from the Milky Way Galaxy region are in another, called the Sanshhta Region. Mine is called the Vobaince Region. The ideas of reality in each are different. We do not have the technology of the Sanshhtites, but we Vobaincites have, ooh what do you call it in the Sanshhta Region… oh yes, “magic”. We don’t even have a name for it here, really, because it is so common. We do, on the other hand, have a name for the lack of it, or rather the person who lacks it. These rare Vobaincites are called Bramidas. Singular, Bramida.
This is my story. I sent it to a Sanshhtite by the name of Laura. I do not think she fully comprehends the whole alternate times/ regions idea, but in her revisal I believe she has done her best. Oh, and in answer to her query, no, there are no Martians. They all moved to Venus and Pluto when all sorts of machines started coming to Mars. They are a shy race, those Martians.
Good-bye and live happily.
Laurel Beechnain
Chimeera Fairy
Chapter One
Laurel glanced at all the boys and girls around her. They all looked like her to a major extent—fleshtone skin, humanoid form, two eyes, one nose, two ears (presumably on some counts), and one mouth. The most common form in the universe. She sighed a breath of relief. No Ardians. She couldn’t stand them, with their green skin, shifty three eyes, and huge mouths full of gleaming teeth. She had no friends of their race.
Laurel scowled at some boy who was staring at her. When he looked away, she reached up to her ears self- consciously to make sure they were well hidden by her long brown hair. If certain people saw that they were pointed in the trademark form of fairies – she shuddered at the thought. Everyone had blamed the death on the last Emperor of the Vobaince Region on the fairies, for reasons she didn’t understand. She also didn’t understand why so many still bore a grudge. It had happened so very long ago, and besides, the fairies had been cleared. But some still hated the fairies. Sometimes it could be hard for fairies to get jobs, and there were other things, too. She had been kicked out of her old school because a lot of rich parents had gotten together and bribed the principal to “free their poor children from the risk of danger from that fairy girl” That fairy girl. Laurel snorted with disdain at the thought of that title. It was rather general, she knew. She was a Chimeera fairy. She would grow her retractable wings on the 15th birthday, and someday after that- it could be days and it could be years – she would become Fairylight. This meant that she would become very light for her humanoid size and form. This is what caused fairies to be so graceful—their light weight compared to their size. Chimeera’s are the same basic size as humans, while for example there were the Crystallite fairies, barely a foot high with moth-like wings. Her wings would be butterfly–like, but large enough to fit her size. She hoped they would be green to match her bright emerald eyes, or blue, her favorite color. You just couldn’t tell what they would be like, really. She smiled slightly, remembering her mother’s violet-lavender wings. Then she brushed at the tears threatening to spill over. Her mother was dead, killed by an Ardian when Laurel was a young girl, killed over a loaf of bread her mother had had in her hands. The Ardian had killed her mother without even asking her for the bread. Laurel knew her mother would have gladly given the loaf of bread. Her mother had been like that- always giving.
Suddenly the bus-train lurched to a stop, and she nearly fell off her seat. She glanced around again. That boy who had been looking at her smiled sympathetically, while the girl who was sitting three seats down smirked unkindly. She looked rich and snobby. Laurel nearly tossed her head to show that girl she didn’t care and wouldn’t be looked down upon, but she remembered just in time that she didn’t want to reveal her ears and the fact that she was a fairy. She frowned. This would be hard, perhaps impossible. She wavered uncertainly, and almost decided to just stay on the bus-train and forget school, but caught herself just in time. She couldn’t give up so easily. What would Papa say? Besides, she was no quitter.
Laurel slowly trudged off the bus-train. She followed the rest of the students to the school. She briefly paused to read the huge shimmering sign in front of the school. Mohstah’s Academy of Enchantments and Such. She rolled her eyes. What a lengthy name.
Laurel gasped as she stumbled. She looked around for the source of her near fall. It was some round, shiny thing on the ground. She picked it up and studied it. It had some weird symbols on it.
Laurel noticed that she had fallen behind the others, and she hurried to catch up. She realized that once she got into the school, she would probably be on her own. How was she supposed to find Professor Burnwort, the famous head of Mohstah’s, on her own? Laurel fretted about this and other things right up until she entered the school. Then she forgot it all in wonder.
This school was like no other she had been in! Sure, they all looked like old castles from that Sanshhta planet Earth on the outside. But this one looked like one on the inside, too! It was like nothing Laurel had ever seen in real life before.
They were coming towards a huge room. A man in purple robes was standing on a small raised platform. She had seen him in pictures before. She had assumed he was nice, since he was always smiling cheerfully and nodding in his pictures.
Suddenly the room fell silent, as the man, Burnwort himself, cleared his throat meaningfully.
“I welcome all of the new students in their first years. They can report to Professor Willowbalm to find out where their quarters are. There are three main living areas. They are called Lion, Grizzly, and Serpentine Corners. The northwest corner is the Lion Corner, the northeast corner is the Grizzly Corner, and the southeast corner is the Serpentine Corner. The southwest corner is where we are right now, approximately. We are presently in the Dining Hall.
You will take classed with the same level students of your Corner, and also with other groups from time to time.
If you first year students have any more questions, please direct them to Professor Willowbalm. I’m sure she’ll be able to help you.”
With this he pointed at a plump, friendly looking witch in a black robe. She smiled and bobbed her gray head, her blue eyes twinkling merrily. Then Burnwort continued his speech.
“I would also like to welcome to the school three old students. Firstly, 14-year-old third year, Laurel Beechnain. Secondly, Dain Yalesworth, 15-year-old third year. Lastly, but not least, Briar Troundska, 14-year-old third year. They all came from different wizarding schools and academy, and will now grace out halls. Welcome. I would like to re4quest the three of you to come with me after I finish addressing the students. I will give you your instructions personally. Lastly, you are all expected to unpack and report back here in 2 hours.” He smiled good-natuedly. “That way we can start the feast! Oh, and by the way, in the Dining Hall each Corner their respective table, but there are no seating arrangements. That is all. Welcome, and Welcome Back!”
With that the entire student body, excepting three people, left the Dining Hall talking and laughing. Laurel, Briar, and Dain all took a deep breath and looked up at each other.
Dain looked at the other two students left in the Dining Hall. One was that prettyu girl from the bus-train. She’d glared at him, but he decided she was probably just as nervous and self-conscious as he was. She had pale, clear skin, long glossy chestnut colored hair, and magnetic emerald eyes. She was a bit shorter than him, slender and shapely. She was wearing a dove-gray robe that was tightish at the top, with long loose sleeves and a high but elegant neck. The bottom of her robe was loose and flowing, all the way down to the floor. When she turned to face Burnwort again, he noticed that the back of her robe had an oval space. Her bare back was as fair-skinned as her face. She didn’t look the type of girl who spent much time out-of-doors.
Professor Burnwort beckoned for Dain and the other two to follow him. They went through a maze of hallways, corridors, and secret passages. They ended up in what appeared to be Burnwort's office.
Laurel sized up the two boys. One was that boy from the bus. He had black hair, soil-colored eyes, and a deep tan. He was unquestionably attractive. He was wearing a navy blue robe in the latest men’s fashion, and looked horribly unsure of himself. She could relate with that.
The other boy was lean and tall. He had blonde hair, and sea-blue eyes. He was not quite as dark as the other boy, but was still darkly tanned, and looked just as muscular. He was definitely also attractive. He was wearing a forest green robe of the same basic style as the other boy. His face was void of emotion, completely unreadable.
“Briar.” Said Burnwort. The blonde boy started, then looked squarely at Burnwort and replied, ”Yes, sir?”
Burnwort studied the three students in front of him. “Briar, Laurel, Dain. Welcome to Mohstah’s. You will all be situated in Lion Corner. Briar and Dain, you two will be together in room 212, boys stairway from the Lion’s Lounge and to the left, at the end of the corridor. Laurel, you take he girl’s stairwell, go to the right, and you get room 333 to yourself.” He studied the three of them seriously for a moment as they nodded. Suddenly, he surprised them with the last question any of them had expected to hear.
“May I see your wings?”
The three of them looked shocked. They looked at each other, then at Burnwort. ‘How can he do this to me? He’s already telling others I’m fairy. I’ll never last long in this school, either!’
All three students stood a moment, with looks of dread on their faces. Then, resignedly, Dain pushed out his wings. They were jet black, with a yellow, green, and blue diamond pattern along the edges.
“Laurel, Briar, Dain, push back your hair.” Instructed Burnwort. The students, in shock, gaping at each other, obliged, to reveal three delicate sets of pointed ears. The three students in Burnwort’s office gaped at each other in astonishment. Laurel was the first to speak.
“You’re—you’re—you guys are Chimeera t-too?” she stammered.
“Yea.” “Yes.” Were the responses.
Burnwort smiled. “Out of curiousity, Dain, how did your wings come through your robe?” “Through a slit on the back. You can’t see it because my mom used a mixture of magic and sewing skills to make it invisible.