Isia stood, looking out at the ocean waves crashing on the rocks below the clifftop. The wind swept her long, flaxen hair across her face. She brushed it away and looked up at the clear blue sky.
"It's so amazing to me that we are so far away from each other, yet we are living under the same sky." she thought. "I wish you could be here with me."

She concentrated with all her might and then came a reply in her mind, "I may not be there with you in body, but in mind, I shall always be there. All you need do is just think of me."

In her mind's eye, Isia saw a beautiful young woman, in a white, long, flowing dress. Her hair was dark brown, almost black and her eyes were a bewitching green.

Isia smiled at the vision. "Osiria!"

"Yes my friend, it's me!" Osiria smiled back at her. "I found my Grandmother's Book of Shadows and in it was the most wonderful 'meetimg of the minds' spell. All we have to do to see each other is concentrate and it will be so."

"Oh, how marvellous!" Isia exclaimed. "Your Grandmother must have known you would need it one day."

"I'm sure she did." Osiria agreed. "Now we may journey together where ever we wish."

The two young women looked into each other's eyes and laughed. They had always shared a special bond. Isia had called them 'Kindred Spirits'. Two souls who met up every life time and were destined to be friends for eternity. Osiria thought that concept was wonderful.

"So, shall we go somewhere now? My Grandmother's book has a spell to open the gateway to the other realms." Osiria told her.

"Other realms? You mean there are more than one?" Isia asked.

"Of course!" Osiria smiled. "How boring would the universe be if there was only one realm?"

Isia giggled, "You're right, as always."

"Shall we go to Faeryland first? I've heard it's lovely there, so long as you keep your wits about you."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. How do we go about it?" Isia asked.

"Find a nice, private place to lie down and close your eyes." Osiria told her. "Only our Astral bodies may pass through the gateway, so we must make sure our physical bodies are protected from harm while we are away."

Isia nodded and found a safe place between two rowen bushes. She asked the Great Goddess to watch over her body while she was away from it. She laid down and closed her eyes.

"Osiria, are you still there?"

"Yes. Are you ready?" Osiria asked.

"I'm ready. What do we do next?"

By the meeting of our two minds."

There was a sudden blinding flash of light and both women had the sensation of falling. Gently, they touched the ground and found themselves side by side, surrounded by the most exquisite scenery they had ever seen.
As their eyes adjusted to the green haze, they could see in the distance a slight fog rising from the ground. In the middle, stood an entity like no other they had seen before......dreams, images, things swirled around it, familiar yet somehow so strange they stood staring like there was nothing else.
So beautiful was this projection, a long time passed.

"Whatever could that be?" Isia breathed, almost inaudably....

"That.....is our guide, i assume" replied Osiria, "and she will protect us during our journey...."

"of course it is, she is a representation of ourselves, isnt' she?"

And she was.

Now all the familiar made sence, these images, memories, inviting doorways into this land were here....

Isia stepped forward, and seemed to float and dance above the ground, and it felt good. She looked betwixt her feet, sparkling purple and green shaved ice sent frost up her legs and into her hair....she thought how great it would be to turn somersaults in the air...and 2 seconds later, she was.....and giggles escaped.

"Osiria!!! I just thought about something, and it happened...is this what its always like here in Fae?""

Their guide stepped forward, and spoke in her mind...

"Oh yes, always, but you must be careful what you wish for here, because you may not always want it to come true! There are many hidden dangers here, and you must always be aware and careful of who you befriend, some creatures are very clever, and can outsmart you without even thinking about, welcome to my realm, i will be here in your minds whenever you need guidance, but this is your journey, so i will leave you here now with this warning, and knowledge that if you think about me hard enough, i will be here for you"

and with that she was gone, seemingly evaporating into the mist once more.

It wasn't until then that this land seemed so bright in places, yet so dark in others, and it wasn't till then that they noticed other creatures all around. Yet these creatures were like none other they had seen before, not even 'really' there, just crystal images and feelings of them, green and red and yellow, dark and see through, shadows and light.
swirling around them, intoxicating them, and making them aware that there is so much more than meets the eye here......

As they became used to their surroundings, they looked at each other and smiled widely. They held each other tightly, locked in a long embrace that seemed to last an eternity. This was the first time the two young women had ever had the opportunity to meet in person. They lived on opposite sides of the country and it had always seemed like a life time away. Finally, they separated, but still held hands and looked each other up and down.
"I can't believe it's really you!" Exclaimed Isia. "I've been waiting for this moment for such a long time."

"Me too! And to be here... together, it's just so amazing." Osiria's violet eyes seemed to sparkle with joy and excitment at the prospect of seeing her friend.

As they stood together, they felt an intrusive presence behind them. They turned to find a small, strange bedraggled creature staring, timidly at them. His skin was a wrinkled green and his ears were narrow and pointed. His white, stringy hair stuck out everwhere as he looked up at them with red eyes.

"Oh, hello!" Isia said.

The little creature nodded, nervously and cocked his head to one side.

Osiria bent down until she was at eye level with him and smiled. "Who might you be?"

"I be Horankh" The little creature said, shifting his gaze from Osiria to Isia. "I've never seen any creatures here such as you before. Tell me, what form are you?"

"Form?" Isia asked.

"Yes, form. You know, what you are." Horankh shifted feet uncomfortably. "I am gnoblin form and you are?"

"Oh, I see!" Osiria giggled and tried to explain. "We are not of this realm. We are human form... from the Earthling realm."

"Earthling realm? I have heard of such a place." He frowned and shook his head. "'Tis only a myth... legend, it is not real!"

"Ah, but it is real. All things are as real as you want them to be. All things are possible, my little Fae friend." Isia told him. "I have never heard of a gnoblin before."

"Gnoblin form comes from our ancestors. Gnome and goblin both. Still are gnome and goblin forms here but live far apart. They are kin to gnoblin, but never mix."

"I see." Isia nodded.

"Come! I shall show you our dwellings. Not far, just a short journey." Horankh started walking, gesturing franticly for them to follow. "You will come? Yes?"

The two friends looked at each other and giggled softly at the sight of this funny little creature's mad waving.

"We will come, little friend, we will come." Osiria assured him.

With that, the two young women followed after him to the village of his people.
Horankh sped above the purple ice, seemingly suspended by thin silver spider thread, gnoblin thread, the grrls later discovered. He set a good pace, and the women barely could keep him in sight, as he turned a corner far in the distance, they thought they had lost him forever. Glancing sideways at each other, they decided to go as far as the bend, they were breathless by this stage, as they were not used to floating, and their unused muscles were aching.
The path below their feet was well trod, but the prints were like none the women had seen before, marks like something had been dragged, and then occasionally a few hoofs, of gigantic, then tiny proportions.

As they rounded the bend, what stood before them was a sight so unusual, they barely even noticed Horankh gesturing them forward, and upward!

Set high in the canopy of a frozen blue forest, balancing on what seemed like nothing at all...were hundreds of round twinkling holes. Milling about outside these habitats stood more creatures, gnoblins, just like Horankh, although now it was obvious which were male or female, and occasionally there was one which was neither....they just were. The gnoblins seemed nervous at the sight of such unusual creatures the look in their eyes was one of wonder and faint recognition, and it was then that one stepped forward, and motioned them up.

It was obviously an elder, not a male nor female, just a being, and it was attractive in an animalistic way. Its pale green skin glistened with dew, and the pink hair was piled atop a bumpy head. The most intriguing thing about this race were their eyes, and this ones eyes seemed to see straight through the women.

"I guess we just have to imagine that we are floating straight up" Isia whispered, not taking her eyes off this magnetic creature...and wanting to join it up there in the glittering bubble.

"Lets imagine together"

So they thought as hard as they could, about floating up into their canopy bubbly world, and they shot straight up into the air, with such a force, that when they slowed down, they were miles high over their community, almost touching the faerie dust which covered the sky....

"Wow, i guess we really have to get a hold of this don't we? We have to fine tune our flying skills here" Osiria said with a gleeful grin.

"We only just arrived here, theres plenty of time for that! Lets just enjoy ourselves while we're here, so lets calm down and float back down to them, i'm so intrigued now, i want to find out whats in store!!!"

So they floated down to land on the clear platform which held these hundreds of gnoblins suspended above the forest floor, and greeted the elder, and thanked Horankh.

"Welcome to our Land of Gnom" said the creature, which smelled something like butterscotch, yet the women couldn't quite work out why! "My name is Raziel, you are welcome to join with us for our meal if you so desire, I have never in my years encountered humans before, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us here you see, you are the stuff of legends, and i must admit, even i was sceptical about your existance. I and our whole family would very much appreciate hearing your stories of your journey, and to find out how and why you have ended up here in our land...but first, is there anything you need to make you more comfortable?".......

The girls looked into each others eyes and in their minds, they spoke with each other.
"Beware what you tell them. Remember, the realm of Fae is full of unusual creatures, and they are not always what they seem." Osiria advised Isia.

Isia nodded in agreement. "What should we tell them?"

"We can tell them why we came, but the how should remain our secret. We don't really know why they want to know and we can't be sure their intentions are good. It's best to beware for the moment."

"You're right, we should keep it to ourselves." Isia winked and giggled at their secret conversation.

"We don't need anything, thank you Raziel, but we do accept your invitation for a meal. Our journey here has made us ravenous." Osiria told the little creature.

"Of course!" Raziel grinned, gleefully at the idea of having humans eat at it's table. It flipped it's pink hair back and clapped it's hands furiously. "Quickly, bring forth the banquet."

Horankh ushered the two girls to a large, pink grass hut with a long, oak table inside.

"Here, sit." he told them.

They did so. Looking around, they saw the faces of other gnoblins, much smaller that the others, peaking in the doorway. Isia and Osiria knew instantly that these were gnoblin off-spring. Isia smiled at them and motioned for them to come in. They giggled loudly and rushed in hurriedly, racing to be the first to sit near the girls.

"Well, hello there! We are so glad to meet you all." Isia told them.

A little female gnobling looked up at Osiria, red eyes wide and purple hair ascue and asked, "Are you really humans from the Earthling realm?"

"Yes, we really are." Osisia answered. "And we've come here to your Land of Gnom to meet all of your people."

The hut was filled with a mixture of awestruck sighs and excited giggles. The gnoblings chattered amoungst themselves and bombarded the two young women with questions of their home land.

Raziel entered the hut, frowning and shaking his head. "Shatigua! Shatigua! Leave these poor females alone. They are guests here, do not be so rude. Leave now... go! Your eating house is in the west quadrant. There will be time enough later for questions." It turned to the two girls. "I humbly appologize. They are small... not to know manners yet. Please forgive them."

"No need for appologies. We don't mind answering their questions." Isia assured Raziel.

The gnoblings still sat there, giggling and chattering to each other. Raziel's face turned from pale green to dark green and as he looked at them all, he yelled, "Shatigua! Gibaiguati olintallio!"

All noise ceased immediately and the gnoblings all got up and bundled out the doorway of the hut.

Raziel turned and smiled reassuringly at the girls. "Here in Gnom, we underline the importance of obedience in gnoblings. There are far too many dangers here to let them do as they will. Please know that they are all much loved but there is a time and place for everything."

"Of course," Osiria agreed. She hesitated before asking, "If it's not too personal, why is it that there are male and female gnoblins and the older ones seem to be neither?"

"Like me?" Raziel chuckled, his eyes gleeming in the dim lit hut. "As we get older, we lose the ability to reproduce, thus we have no need for our reproductive organs. When we reach 5000 years old, they disappear."

"5000!" Isia exclaimed. "How long do gnoblins live for?"

"Oh, some live until they are 8000 years old."

"My goodness! We only live for 80 years or so. Although some humans have been known to live to 100." Osiria informed Raziel.

"Interesting, oh so very interesting." Raziel stated, darting his eyes toward the doorway. "Ah! Here comes the food."

At least 10 gnoblins were entering the hut, each with a platter of food in both hands. The platters were piled high with the most delicious looking food they had ever seen and the smell was so unbelievably mouth watering that they could hardly wait to start eating. The platters were placed strategically on the table and large clay jugs were placed next to every second platter. The hut started filling with other gnoblins, all staring and whispering at the girls. They all sat down at the thick, heavy table and Raziel stood at the head of it and banged his wooden fork on the table. There was silence in the hut and all eyes were upon Raziel.

"Hear me, my dearest ones! As you must already know, we have very special guests here in Gnob. Please, welcome them now to our land. Isia and Osiria!" Raziel clapped his hands and soon the other gnoblins followed suit. After the applause died down, Raziel continued, "Let the banquet begin!"

All eyes were on the girls, as they sat transfixed, staring at both the food spread out before them, and back at the many pairs of eager eyes looking to them. Silence prevailed. Someone coughed.
Raziel gently encouraged the girls to take the first helping, as was customary here in the Land of Gnom, as they were a civilized gathering, and took pride on doing things by tradition.

Isia and Osiria did not know what this food actually was, although their mouths watered at the scent, and it passed through their minds as to whether this food would actually agree with their human bodies, until they remembered that they were not actually in their bodies.

Terrific colours lay before them, reds, blues, greens, soft pinks and bright orange....mounds of soft liquids, hard nuts, green leaves and moss'. Large wooden spoons lay cradled by the dishes, and they took a small selection from the plates nearest to them, trying to decide what matter this was, until Raziel spoke up and explained what they had chosen.

"This is a delicate recipie handed down from my mother and her mothers mother, made from the moss under the crystal ponds, soaked in the liquid from the highest peak of the mountains to our west, and gently heated with many herbs grown by our tender hands. It is conditioned and gently cooked by the pulsating lights of the north, and it can only be made at this time of the calendar, you were obviously supposed to be here today to try it! We do not eat flesh here, of any kind, though we have heard that your kind from the Earthling realm do. Is this true??"

"Why yes it is the truth. But we do not need it to survive, this food smells delicious, thank you for having us at your table, everyone" Isia smiled. "What is this orange mixture?"

"Only take the smallest amount of this , we call Killter, it holds magic properties, and helps you to see far and wide, inside and outside, above and below." Raziel replied

and they took only a pinch.

The foods tasted as good as they smelled, even changing sensations inside their mouths, going from cool to warm, then cool again, tingling inside their mouths, making them smile then wince, then smile again. This truly was magic food, and the girls couldn;t believe their luck.

This race seemed to be so warm and loving, and interested in them, and they felt so welcomed, that they settled back in their cushions, and launched into a wonderful conversation with those nearest to them...

As they sampled the Killter, the girls felt as if they had swallowed some kind of drug, their sight appeared fuzzy, hazy, then their vision instantly became crystal clear. Osiria felt as if she could see right inside her best friend, into her thoughts, into her heart, and as she turned to Raziel, a cold shiver escaped her lips. She anticipated something was about to happen, and she knew that Isia agreed.

These creatures were definatly not as they seemed, and she felt they shouldn't stay here any longer, change was on the way.

"But why would they feed us this magical Killter, if they were only going to expose their dangerous side to us?" they girls asked each other inside their minds

"It must be a test, and its how we deal with the situation that shows us who we really are"

They stared deep into each others eyes, making a plan, and they held hands underneath the great oak table.

The two girls gave each other a knowing smile as they secretly planned their next move. They decided they would eat no more of the Killter but continue eating the other foods they had chosen.
Raziel shifted forward in it's chair and slowly glanced around at all the other gnoblins, then turned to the two girls. "Well, my dears, since we have opened our community to you, it is time for you to answer a few of our questions in return."

The girls looked at each other, uneasily and squeased each other's hand tightly for courage. They knew for sure now, that these creatures wanted more from them than just friendship.

"What would you like to know?" Osiria inquired.

Raziel gave a seemingly devilish smile as it asked, "We have heard legendary stories of the great wars in your realm. Tell me, what kind of weaponry is used in wars such as these?"

The formally noisy room now fell silent as the entire gnoblin clan anticipated the answer.

"Weaponry? I'm not quite sure. I've never actually been in a war. What about your weaponry?" Osiria answered, evasively.

Raziel pursed it's lips tightly and frowned, obviously unhappy at not getting the answer it was looking for. "That is something you need not trouble yourselves with." It sat back in it's chair and decided to take a different tact. "We are all wondering how you came to be here. We would be very interested to know."

"Well," Isia started, nervously. "We have always wanted to come to Faeryland, but were never sure if it was actually possible. You see, in our Earthling realm, your realm is mythical."

Becoming increasingly more annoyed at not receiving the answers to it's questions, it hissed, "Yes, yes, yes, but HOW did you come to be here?"

Isia looked around at the many pairs of eyes that were upon her and said, uncomfortably, "We're not entirely sure how it happened, we only know that it did."

"Yes, that's right!" Osiria agreed, comimg to the rescue of her dearest friend. "We were both thinking of this wondrous land and suddenly, here we were."

Raziel's pale green skin once again started to turn dark as it grew angrier at the avoidance of it's questions. It blew air out through gritted, jagged, discoloured teeth and tried to keep it's temper. "Surely you must have some idea of how it occurred."

"In truth, Raziel, we do not." Isia tried to asure him.

A now irate Raziel leapt from it's chair, no longer trying to hide it's anger and screeched loudy, "You must! You must! You can not help us at all if you don't star answering my questions."

It's eyes grew wild and it's face became twisted as it grimaced and groaned at the two young women.

They jumped out of their seats, quickly and tried to flee the hut but were quickly cut off by a dozen gnoblins who blocked the only exit. The girls could feel their hearts pounding in their chests as they tried to think of what to do next.

Osiria raised her right hand and imagined holding a bright, flaming torch and suddenly, she was. The gnoblins all let out a deafening, unified screech and hid their eyes from the eluminating glow of the torch.

Isia's eyes widened. "Osiria! They're afraid of fire." Quickly, she imagined she too was clasping a torch and one appeared in her hand.

Together, the two friends waved the torches at the howling creatures and they cowered, one behind the other. The girls could see that the doorway was now clear and they took the opportunity to make their escape.

Once outside the hut, they willed themselves down to the ground and ran as fast as their legs could carry them, hearing the shouts and screams of the gnoblins behind them. They didn't dare stop running until the din had ceased and they were sure they were safe.

The two friends collapsed exhausted on the purple ice and gave each other a thankful smile.

They staked the torches in the ground, and warmed their fingertips above the flame, the sacred flame which helped them to escape.
Looking around, it became aparent that during their escape, leaving the gnoblins chattering their slimy teeth together, they had crossed over into the night realm. This was an amplification of what lay behind, yet in negative colours, and everything they could hear was so loud, it was almost disturbing.

"I wonder if this land seems as it is due to the Killter, or if we have actually crossed over into another realm??" Isia thought aloud, although she need not have said anything, as it was what both of them were thinking.

The girls were shaking from the fright they had just encountered, and also from running barefoot along the ice, due to the fright, they had forgotten they could fly! It was cold, and their spirits sunk into the mauve snow. They sat huddled around the flames for a while, arms around each other for warmth, staring at their new suroundings, trying to think positivly, and enjoy this unusual adventure.

This reversed land seeped soft blue light from the earth, but the ice remained. Changing from purple to blue, occasionally green ice would sprout free from its dwelling underground in a spurt which would cover the land in tiny snowflakes. They felt sure that this land was brimming with life underneath, they could feel it in their bones. Above ground, it seemed as though everything was asleep. They could not see any other beings here, although they could feel a presence, and they felt sure it was the beings underground. They felt love radiating up through the snow, a warmth which brought a smile to their faces, although they remained chilled to the bone, and their magickal bodies were not happy.

A thought suddenly sprang into Osirias mind, something she had read long ago, in a book from her childhood, but she thought it may just work here.

"Why don't we ask the fire to protect us? To keep us warm always, so that we can radiate heat and never be cold again. I remember reading it in a book years ago, and i have a good feeling that it may just work now!!!" she exclaimed, feeling good about herself, and eager to try anything to warm them up, and put a smile on their faces once more.

They sat facing each other, legs crossed in front, torch between them. Their bottoms felt cold and damp, and their dresses were beginning to look worse for wear. They held hands and focused on the flame, and Isia made up a spell to invite the fire to radiate warmth on them always during this magickal journey.....

This is what she chanted...


"Radiant fire burning bright,
Protect we two both day and night.

Blanket your warmth around me and my friend,

Until our journey meets it's end."

The torch flame grew intense with heat and it shot skyward and spread itself wide until the sky was covered in a thick blanket of fire. Instantly, the girls started to feel warmer as beams of golden light shone down on them from above. Then, as quickly as it had shot upward, it spiraled downward, until it returned to it's normal size. The torch then promptly disappeared, leaving no trace.

The girls looked at one another in astonishment.

"It worked!" Exclaimed Isia. "I feel so warm and yet everything else looks so cold."

"I know." Osiria nodded.

They giggled together and stood up, wondering which way to go next. They thought about exploring the realm they knew was underground but were unsure how to get there. They looked around for anything resembling an entrance.

A giant oak tree stood before them, leaves glistening with frozen dew drops. The two friends stared in wonder at the sparkling little door at the bottom of the enormous tree trunk. The girls gave each other a mischievous smile and, each knowing what the other was thinking, imagined growing small enough to fit through the tiny doorway. Soon they were.

They looked more closely at the door and found it locked.

"Great!" Osiria exclaimed, sarcastically. "How do we get in?"

Isia looked for a key hole but in place of one was a golden imprint of two right hands. Underneath the imprint was written, "ONLT TWO HALVES OF THE SAME PERSON SHALL OPEN THE DOOR TO THE TO THE LAND OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES."

"What about this imprint here? Maybe if we both put our hands here together, it will unlock the door." Isia suggested.

"Two halves of the same person! I wonder what that's supposed to mean. Oh well, it's worth a try." Osiria agreed.

Both women placed their right hand in the imprint and found that they fit perfectly. The imprint started to glow the brightest white they had ever seen and their hands felt warm on top of it. A loud click came from the small, solid door and it slowly swung open.

The girls giggled, nervously and stepped inside and the door swung shut behind them. Osiria and Isia found themselves in what seemed to be some sort of brightly lit elevator. It slowly started moving downward until it finally came to a halt and the door opened once more. They were greeted by the most beautiful, bright surroundings that either girl had ever beheld.

Colours swirled and danced around them as they looked on in wonderment at the bright world below the ice. The dirt covered ceiling of this underground realm almost looked like a sunset with different shades of pink and orange mingling together and the ground was made of amethyst. Frozen green stalactites and stalacmites were everywhere and green ice would spurt up ice shoots that let up to the land above.

Something that looked like a fire-fly fluttered towards the two friends. It stopped in mid-flight, seemingly suspended in front of them. Showering the girls in silver/gold faerydust, the little creature transformed into human form and grew in size until she was eye level with Osiria ans Isia. Her hair was spun gold and the glitter on her skin sparkled in the bright light of this magickal realm. She was the vision of true beauty and the girls felt her love flowing through them. They felt safe and protected here and knew they could come to no harm.

"I bid you both welcome to the Land of Infinite Possibilities. You are the only visitors we have ever had. We have been waiting a long time for you... two halves of the same person. I am called Marah. I am your hostess here." Marah told them. "If you have any questions, you have but to ask me."

"Thank you, Marah!" Osiria said, stepping forward. "We were wondering what that meant... 'Two halves of the same person?'"

Marah gave a knowing smile and explained. "The Tree Of Prophecy had foretold of the coming of two human souls so alike that they were two halves of they same person. Only they would hold the magick that would unlock the secret door to our world because they are the purest of hearts. These two souls, it is told, are the only ones that are pure enough to break the spell cast on our Princess four centuries ago by the gnoblin clan of Gnom."

"Gnoblins! Oh, those horrible creatures!" Isia exclaimed, screwing up her face in disgust. "We had the misfortune to have encountered them not twenty minutes ago. They offered us something called Killter, which made us feel very parculiar in deed and then attacked us."

Marah's eyes widened. "Killter! Oh no! This is terrible. Killter is a truth extracting poison. We must get you to our healer, quickly."

She ushered the girls into a crystal cavern, where an older being of the same kind as Marah stood, stirring a huge cauldron.

"Helanna, quickly! These are the Souls of the prophecy. The gnoblins have poisoned them with Killter. Hurry, please. You must save them." Marah pleaded to the old woman.

Helanna hurried over to a large shelf and poured a measurement of a grey potion into two goblets and gave one each to the girls. "Drink... drink! It must all be drunk down if you are to be saved."

The girls drank it down fast and grimaced as they swallowed the hideous tasting mixture.

"Did it work?" Osiria asked, worriedly.

Helanna took each of their left arms and looked closely at the veins. "Yes. The poison is receding. It flows up the veins to the heart and it colours the veins dark green. You were extremely lucky. The poison had flowed to your arm pits."

"Thank you! Both of you! Why would they want to poison us?" Isia inquired.

"They are always looking for ways of entering other realms and stealing their weapons and riches. That is how our Princess came to fall under their spell." Marah explained. "She was fighting them above ground as they tried to enter The Prophecy Tree when she was hit by an enchanted blow pellet. It turned her to crystal and we were all lucky to escape the encounter."

"Oh, that's terrible. How can we free her from the spell?" Osiria asked.

"We do not know what type of magic needs to be done to free her you see, but all we know is that the two of you together, are the only ones who can" Marah explained "We have been waiting here for you for such a long time, i nearly can't believe the time has come to meet our princess once again!"
And there were smiles all around this wonderful land.

"What a huge responsiblity!" Isia breathed, a little worried about whether their magic was strong enough, since they had never had to do anything like this before.

"Do not let this knowledge get you down girls, you must be calm and satisfied and in good spirits before you can begin anything like this, so, if you accept this challenge, we will make you as comfortable as we can. Then, you will have time alone to decide what must be done. We here, know not what magic needs to be done, but whatever it is that you decide to do, will be the right choice."

"Of course we accept" they said in unison.

"Well then, our Princess has been crystalised for so long now, i think we can take a day to make you feel at home, so please, follow me to a place where you can wash and sample some of our tasty delights, and please do not be concerned, we will not be serving Killter!!"

The girls giggled, glad to put those gnoblins behind them, glad to be helping such a lovely creature, and a little nervous and excited about what lay ahead.

They looked all around them, as Marah led them through spiral tunnels, lights flashing from crevices, and from below and above, and sometimes shining in their eyes. Soft dewy stuff like fairy floss seemed to be hung along the ceiling, pink and green and purple, and little fire-flys darted this way and that, and occasionally one would land and change form as Marah had done moments before.

Word had spread that they had arrived, and there was excitment in the air.

This land appeared to be one large party, and the guests of honour seemed to be them!! How strange that these creatures had been waiting 400 years for them to make the journey, how ever did they know? Well, it is named the Tree of Prophecy after all!

Finally they reached a small door, and they squeezed through it to see the most lavish room they had laid their eyes on yet! So soft everything appeared!! How luxurious! And it had been waiting just for them, it was so large they could hardly see to the other side!!

Marah explained that this was their quarters, they could do as they pleased here, and that food was on its way. There was a bathing area, a warm bubbling frothing pond, with fresh water from above being heated from below. Huge towels made from the finest thread and coloured gold, wonderful products for their skin was laid out, smelling so wonderful, they could only guess what the ingredients were. This room was filled with pleasures, unkown to them.

Marah told them to make themselves comfortable, then perhaps try to imagine what kind of magic they could use to free the Princess. She would be back in a couple of hours to check on them, otherwise they were free to do as they pleased!!!

The women turned to each other and smiled...

"what should we do first???"

They both gave a gleeful grin and exclaimed in unison, "Let's have a bath!"
Quickly, the women undressed and jumped into the foaming pool. Looking underneath the foam at the water, they noticed it was pale pink. Aromas intermingled. Sweet, like lying in a feild of flowers. They lavished themselves with body washes that smelled like berries and facial cleansers made from the finest herbal extracts. These products seemed to somehow cleans them inside as well as out and left them feeling refreshed and revitalised.

"Do you have any ideas on what kind of spell to use to free the Princess?" Isia asked Osiria, who was blowing foam up in the air and watching it float gently back down down to the pond.

"Not really. What about you?"

"I have no idea. I haven't had to do anything that important before." Isia replied.

"Me either. I wish I had my Grandmother's Book Of Shadows." Osiria's eyes lit up. "Wait! Maybe I could wish it here."

"It's worth a try." Isia nodded.

Osiria closed her eyes and imagined her Grandmother's sacred book coming to rest on the side of the pond. She pictured it in her mind and concentrated as hard as she could, but to no avail.

"It must be because it's a solid form and won't go through the gateway." Osiria conceded.

"We'll just have to think of something ourselves." Isia said.

"Yes. I doubt there would have been anything that would help us anyway. Marah said that only together will our magick be great enough to free her." Osiria remembered.

Isia nodded in agreement.

There came a soft knock at the door and a beautiful creature entered with a large platter of food and a pitcher full drink. She set them down on a thick, oaken table and smiled sheepishly at the girls.

"I am terribly sorry, Miladies. Please forgive me for intruding on you. I am called Bastelle, younger sister of Marah. I heard of your coming and took it upon myself to serve you. I am so honoured to have met you." She gushed, her face redening.

Isia muffled a giggle. "Please don't appologize. We are pleased to meet you, Bastelle. Would you be so kind as to pass my towel to me?"

"Mine too, please." Osiria requested.

Bastelle eagerly brought the girls their towels and turned to leave.

"Oh, don't leave, Bastelle! Stay and talk for a while." Isia invited.

Bastelle stopped, witha a wide smile on her face, she turned around and jumped on one of the enormous beds. She looked at them both with huge bright blue eyes and giggled like a child.

There were two dressing cubicles where the girls dried and dressed themselves. The clothes that had been set out for them to replace their bedraggled old ones were truly fit for a queen. They were made from fine satin and silk and embroided in glod was a symbol of two hands inside a heart. Amethysts, diamonds and moonstone adorned the exquisite clothing. The girls felt like royalty. They thought it was such a shame that these were the clothes they were to wear to bed.

They poured themselves a drink and offered one to Bastelle. She shook her head. They took the platter of food and joined Bastelle on the bed. They sipped the fluid and it was delicious. It tasted sweet and the flavour changed every time they took a sip. They sampled the food was strategically arranged on the platter so that the colours were not clashing. Isia picked up a piece of what she thought was some sort of yellow fruit. It was oval shaped and looked delicious. She sit into it and her mouth felt like it was in Summerland. The fruit seemed to melt in her mouth and the juice felt icy cold as it slid down her throat.

"Osiria! You have to try this. What is it called, Bastelle?" Isia asked.

"It is Saomec. A fruit that is grown in the southern region of our land. There are many fruits here that taste just as delicious." Bastelle informed them.

Osiria bit into a Saomec and her eyes lit up with delight. "Mmm! This IS delicious!" Between mouthfuls, she managed to ask, "What do you call your people?"

Bastelle's eyes shone brightly. "You know the answer to that in your heart."

"Faeries?" Isia asked.

Bastelle clapped her hands together in earnest and nodded furiously. "Yes, yes! That is what we are. We are the Fae of Faerayland."

"Why do you live underground?" Osiria asked.

"We have lived underground since the gnoblins came to be. Goblins and gnomes are tricksters, but they don't mean to be dangerous. When they mixed to form gnoblins, the genetics didn't mix well and they turned into the theiving, murderous creatures you, unfortunately met today." Explained Batelle.

The door opened and the three saw Marah standing at the door.

She looked at Bastelle and laughed. "I had a feeling I would find you here. I was sure the suspence would be to great. I hope my young sister is not imposing on you."

"Of course not. She has been explaining a few things about your people." Isia asured her.

"It is time for you to sleep, my sister." Marah told Bastelle.

The little faery nodded and bid the women good night. She rose from the bed and exited the room.

"I think we will turn in now too." Osiria informed Marah.

"Yes," Agreed Isia. "Maybe tomorrow, when we're fresh, we might have found a way to free your Princess."

Marah held both their right hands and said, "Sleep well, my dear Souls. May the Great Mother watch over you as you sleep."

With that, she promptly turned and left the room. The girls jumped into their huge beds and dreamt the most wondrous and pleasant dreams they had ever dreamt.


 
They were standing on what appeared to be a rocky cliff, overlooking a great expanse of water. There was a slight breeze in the air, scented by the salt and earth. Turning to face each other, the girls realised that they were dreaming, together, and they smiled.
Behind them stood a creature, with four legs and covered in fur, although what made this creaure different, was that it had two heads. It did not speak, but motioned with its eyes for the girls to look below the cliff face, where they saw the most beautiful creature they had ever seen, entombed inside a huge amethyst ice crystal.

She was the Fae Princess, and she was frozen.

The girls felt instanly sorry for her, yet they knew in their hearts that she felt no pain. It was as if she was snap frozen. But seeing her there alone, made them want to help her straight away.

Together a thought formed, a little fuzzy at first, but then it seemed to become clear. They had to thaw her out, but how?

"is that substance ice?" Osiria asked the helpful beast which stood behind them? It nodded both heads.

"Then i think we already know what we need to do, don't we?" Isia confirmed with her friend, and she agreed.

Without another word between them, they started climbing down the steep and rocky cliff face, grazing their knees and struggling around trees. Finally they reached the princess, and they admired her attire, deep purple velvet dress, with amethyst crystal highlighting the bodice. she wore a crown of fresh flowers, which had frozen also. She was so beautiful, yet so drained of life.

Isia and Osiria stood next to the amethyst ice, holding one hand together, and the other on the block. They began to think of the warmth spell they had done that day, asking the fire to grant them warmth, and the hands they were holding together, began to burn bright red, although they didn't feel a thing. Slowly, the heat seared through their bodies, and out of their other hand, into the ice, and the ice shone red. Sparks began to fly, and the little rivers of water flowed steadily to the ground.

The girls sat up in unison, and looked around. It was morning and they were still in their beds. It had been a dream, but it held the key to their magic, and they smiled to each other once more.
They rose from their beds and quickly dressed. The door swung open and Marah appeared in the doorway.
"Blessed Morning to you. I trust you slept well."

"Yes, we did." Isia told her. "We had the most fantastic dream."

"It might have even helped us find a way to free your Princess." Osiria said.

"Oh, wonderful! I thought I would take you to visit the Princesses chamber before breakfast. Maybe it would give you an added boost." Marah suggested.

"We'd love to see her chambers." Isia said.

"Wonderful. You can tell me about your dream on the way." Marah smiled.

The girls followed Marah back down the winding hallway, telling her of their marvellous dream. They turned left off the hallway onto a smaller one and came to a stop in front of two massive Amethyst doors. On each of the doors, engraved in gold, was a crown of flowers with the name Nutsia underneath. Under that, were words that neither woman could understand.

Marah saw the puzzled look on each young face and explained, "It means 'Protected by the Great Mother, from birth to death and beyond'."

She opened the doors and motioned for them to enter. The room was breath taking. It glittered with gold and precious jewels. Their was a walk way leading up to the bed where the Princess laid and on either side, they were surprised to find, were statues of the two-headed creature from their dream. They gasped at the recognition.

"That is a statue of Amentet, Royal Protector. He guards the Princess even now." Marah explained.

They continued on the path and finally reached the bed. There, they found the Princess laid out and sure enough, she was entombed inside a huge amethyst crystal. It was not ice, as it was in their dream, but they instantly knew what was needed to be done to free her.

Osiria moved around to the other side of the bed and looked over at Isia. They both raised their right hands and clasped them together above the Princess.

Then, they both chanted, as if in a trance,

"Great Mother of all that be

Increase our power by three times three.

To free the Princess by Fire's might

We ask your aid in this, our rite."

As they finished their incantaion, they placed their hands, one over the other, upon the heart of the Princess. Heat radiated through their bodies and escaped out through their hands. The crystalized case, holding the Princess captive, started to glow orange/red. Cracks started to appear as the girls continued to expel intense heat from their hands. Finally, the case shattered and pieces flew about the room. The girls unclasped their hands and looked up at each other with feelings of pride and wonderment at their achievment.

Slowly, the Princess, who had been enchanted for four hundred years, fluttered hey eyelids and opened her eyes. The girls carefully helped her to sit up.

She turned to them and smiled, "Merry Blessings, my Souls. I am Nutsia and I am eternally greatful to you for freeing me from my crystal prison."

Marah gasped and dropped to her knees. "My Princess! Merry Blessings to you. We have wited for so long we had almost lost faith that the prophecy would come true."
Nutsia looked down at Marah, her beautiful face smileing kindly. "Marah, my sweet subject! You have been loyal to me for 400 years and have rules in my place well. Arise and look upon me."

Marah did so and Nutsia squeazed her hand lovingly. She then turned her attention back to Isia and Osiria. They were feeling a little drained from the spell and were still quite shocked at their experience. Nutsia carefully stood up and placed an arm around each of the girls.

"Come! We must celebrate this occasion. It has been such a long time since my people have had anything to celebrate." She told them, with a gleeful grin.

She was in deed beautiful. Her hair was gold with silver threads through it and her eyes were the same colour as amethyst crystal. Her face was heart shaped and she glittered all over. She was wearing the deep purple velvet dress the girls had seen her wear in their dream. Every detail was the same and this came as no surprise to them.

The four women headed down the spiralling hallway together to spread the news of the Princesses waking. As they walked, faeries transformed from their tiny fire fly form to their larger human form, clapping, cheering and bowing. Princess Nutsia smiled and blew them all kisses in gratitude. Soon more faeries lined the hallway to greet their dearest Princess. The cheers were deafening. They soon reached the banquet hall and the most elaborate feast was being set out before them on an enormous oaken table. There were at least five of them parallel to each other and one at the head of the room, horizontal to the others. This table had a deep purple velvet table cloth on it, embroided with the Royal Crest of flowers inside a heart in gold at the front. Nutsia and Marah led the two friends to this table and beckoned them to sit either side of a beautifully crafted gold chair. A roar of cheers filled the room as Nutsia sat down on it. It had been four hundred years since it was last in use.

The sweetest music the two girls had ever heard started to play. Then Marah stood up and motioned for silence.

"Faeries! Our Princess has been restored to us. The prophecy has at last been fulfilled. Please, let your gratitude to the Souls of Prophecy be heard." Marah called to the croud.

Cheers and claps met the ears of the friends and they blushed to be lavished with such affection.

Marah called aloud once more. "Faeries! I give you... Princess Nutsia of the Fae."

The feast had begun, and all the Faeries nibbled slowly on their meals as all of their eyes rested on the Princess. Some of the youngsters had never seen her alive and breathing before, and they were the ones who were the most excited, as she seemed to glow, and was more delightful than they had dreamt of. To them, she was the stuff of legend, a beautiful statue, the stuff of dreamland. Smiles and giggles were passed around the room as never before.
Every time Nutsia moved, she shimmered, gold and silver, aqua and purple, fuschia and green, and as she spoke, her voice sounded like the most exquisite harp you had ever heard. No wonder the small Fae were besotted, Nutsia had a magnetic attraction which escaped no-one. She was a Princess in every sense of the word.

After the main course, and before desserts had arrived to the table, Nutsia whispered to the girls on either side of her, and she rose to her feet, motioning to the rest of the gathering to continue the celebrations, and that they would be back soon. A glance was passed across the table, Isia and Osiria got to their feet too, and followed the princess down the spiral corridoors they had passed through earlier. They headed back into Nutsia's chambers and sat upon her bed.

"Now, my beautiful friends, i have one more request for you today, and i promise, that is all i shall ask of you" she said

"Anything Princess, we would do anything for you, as you and your Faeries have shown us the greatest hospitality and friendliness" Isia spoke, almost in a whisper, as the girls exchanged glances and thoughts, wondering whatever could be the next task laid down before them.

"As you know from your shared dream, and from this statue here," Nutsia began..." I have a guardian angel who watches over me, and protects me. His name is Gregold, and he was born from my imagination, just as i am sure, you have such a being. The nasty Gnoblins froze him in solid marble with me, as wherever i go, Gregold is to follow. He has spent the last 4 centuries locked in this frozen state, and i would very much appreciate if you could perhaps try your magic to free him too?"

"Oh" both women exclaimed together, almost relieved "Of course we will be happy to try! He was very helpful to us during our dream, he showed us the way to you."

The girls held hands on the bed, and closed their eyes and focused on what they wanted to do. Rising, they moved across the room to where the large two headed statue stood, and they felt the cool marble and stroked one of his heads each. As soon as both girls had a hand on his head, a sharp cracking sound could be heard, and from there, all they could do, was to stand back, as the glowing Gregold shook the cold prison from his back, and stretched his legs. What a sight he was, soft hair and the most beautiful green and pale blue eyes the women had ever seen, it seemed as though they could see straight through them, into his heart, and he was a good friend.

"Oooh, thats a long time to be suspended in the same stance" Gregold said "I wasn't sure if we would ever break free Nutsia" he told her, as she rushed to his side, kissed the tip of both his noses, and brushed the remaining shards of marble from his back.

"Thank you both, we really appreciate all of your help, you truly are magical creatures!" Nutsia told the girls, "lets all head back to the banquet"

They wandered down the corridoor together, and Osiria was looking very forward to dessert, wondering what on earth it could be. Isia admired the pulsing lights emanating from the walls surrounding, as Nutsia and Gregold chatted quietly, happy to be together in the Fae realm once more.

All eyes and smiles were for Gregold as they returned, and he smiled back at all his long missed friends. Everyone sat in their seats again, just as large platters piled high with sticky sweet pink creations were laid out before them. The girls needed some sugar to give them the energy they had just expelled during their magic, and they sipped bubbling juices from chalices red and blue, they felt loved and appreciated, and they were the happiest they had been for a long time.

"My gracious friends" Nutsia rose to her feet and spoke to the large crowd around her "Our new friends, Isia and Osiria, from the Earthling Realm, have been so kind and helpful in releasing me and Gregold from our frozen prison. They are the Two Souls of the Prophecy, and their magic is the stuff of legends. I am forever in debt to them, and i extend my service, my palace and my realm to them and their friends. Anything that I, or any of you can do to make their lives that little more pleasurable, please do what you can. Now, lets show our gratitude to our new friends, and show them what we are made of!!!"

Suddenly there was silence all around, and the Fae stood around grinning like children. A loud rumble could be heard from up above, and soon after, streams of golden glitter was raining from the ceiling. Faeries were turning into all kinds of winged beings, some golden fireflys, some dragon flies, some butterflies, and they flew and circled above and around the transfixed girls.

All eyes were on Nutsia, as from her back sprouted the most exquisite set of wings imaginable, soft and purple, unfolding as if they had been hidden for a long time, and she stretched them high into the air, with ribbons of red and blue springing from the feathers and fur. If she could have been any more beautiful then she already was, this was it. She absolutly shone, and her happiness could be seen in those Amethyst Eyes.

What a sight to behold! But the best part was yet to come, as this was the party which had been planned for 400 years.......and the time had finally arrived!

From the large oaken tables arose long, clear tubes. Fire works started shooting out of them, rising up to the tall ceiling of this beautifully decorated room. They were unlike any fire works they had ever seen. They were crystal shards that seemed to swirl and dart about the room and then exploded, spraying the room with rainbow coloured glitter. It tickled as it came to rest on Isia's and Osiria's skin. Faeries were leaping and fluttering about in their various forms, laughing, singing and dancing under a shower of glitter.
The most unusual and sweet music started to play. The instruments were unlike any the girls had ever seen before. They were string instruments on one side, wind on the other and percussion underneath. The faery musicians strummed, blew, tinkled and banged their strange instruments, while dancing around the massive banquet hall.

Isia and Osiria were beside themselves with excitement and wonder as they joined in the merriment. They soon began to tire from all the dancing and plopped down on their seets. Nutsia giggled at the sight of the exhausted, red-faced girls. She had their goblets filled up with a sweet, violet liquid and motioned for them to drink their fill.

"I was wondering about that statue that entrapped Gregold." Osiria said, sipping her drink. "If it was a statue of Amentet, why did he not come out of the statue instead of Gregold?"

Nutsia laughed and smiled her magickal smile. "Amentet is a mythological creature said to protect Faery Royalty from birth and beyond. Surely you have such legends in the Earthling realm."

"Yes, we do." Osiria nodded, now understanding.

"Is there anything else you would like to know?" Nutsia asked.

"Well," Isia began, "I want to know why this is called the Realm of Infinite Possibilities."

"As you said yourself to that horrid little Horankh, 'All things are as real as you want them to be and all things are possible.' The possibilities ARE infinite here, and as this is true... why not say so?" Nutsia explained.

"How did you know that's what I told him?" Isia asked.

"Although my body was encased in the crytal, my mind was left to wander over my kingdom and the other parts of this realm, never being able to touch anything or talk to my beautiful subjects. The gnoblins knew that would be the most torturous thing the could do to me."

"Oh, that is truly terrible." Osiria empathised.

Nutsia smiled and touched each girl's hand. "No matter, you have freed me now. I may walk amongst my subjects, smell the aromas of my kingdom and feel the wonderful wind on my face at long last. My dept to you is great and I shall grant you anything. Unimaginable wonders will befall you, all you have to do is ask."



The girls were feeling emotionally exausted, and starting to get a little confused with all the merriment going on around them. Fae fluttering about their heads, they felt enormous and kind of clumsy. They thanked Nutsia and told her that she did not owe them anything at all, it was their pleasure to help her out, it was written in the stars, but Nutsia insisted that it is her wish to make anything they want a reality. They didn't have to decide straight away, it could take as long as it took.
The two friends could not decide what it was that they would want, and so they requested that they could take a stroll around the rest of this beautiful land, because they had not yet had a chance to fully explore.

"Of course you may go anywhere you would like in my realm" Nutsia informed them "But i would like to send Marah along with you, just incase you need any information, or incase you get lost. This is a huge place. The only thing i ask of you, is that you stay below ground. It is night time above ground, and it belongs to creatures unknown. Please be careful if you do decide to go there"

"Thank you for your advice, we shall stay underground, i'm sure there is plenty for us to see here" Osiria told her. "Thank you also for the wonderful party here, we have had such a wonderful time, and we've loved everything we have tasted, especially the drink, but we are feeling a little tired, and would like to be alone again. We won't be long, then we might retire to our rooms if that is ok with you?"

"Of course!! Anything you wish for!! I hope you enjoy your time tonight, if there is anything you would like, please ask Marah! Oh, and i highly recommend you visit the Room Of All Beings. You never know who you might meet in there at any given time. It is a place where friends of the Fae rest, as they pass through our Realm briefly on their journeys. They are wonderful folk, just like you. You will hear great tales there, and make some wonderful friends i am sure! Blessed Be on your Journey!"

Nutsia fluttered her wings, and soft whistle escaped from her lips.

Marah fluttered up to them, in her winged form, and asked them to follow her, in the opposite direction as their chambers, and they left the giant hall and all the festivities far behind them.

Down into the depths of this realm they travelled, and Marah lead them into an even smaller tunnel, all green and blue, with a tiny door at the end, lit by a flickering silver candle.

"We can't fit through that, even now that we are smaller than our usual size. This door is even smaller than the one letting us inside the Tree!" Isia exclaimed

"Not a problem! Why don't you turn yourself into your Fae form?" Marah asked

"Our Fae form?" Osiria wondered "I never knew we had one!"

"Oh silly! Of course you do, everyone does, especially you two, since you are the Souls of the Prophecy, you will shine so brightly, i imagine i will have to wear sunglasses when you transform. I had been wondering why you hadn't already!"

"We haven't had time to think about it before, we didn't know we could" Isia explained "Lets give it a go!"

They settled down outside the tiny door, making themselves comfortable for this new transformation they were about to undertake! How excited they were, what a dream come true!

But the girls didn't know what they should be concentrating on, since they did not know yet what they would look like in their Fae Form. They opened their eyes and nothing had changed.

"Whats the matter? Why are we the same?" they asked Marah together "What are we doing wrong?"

"Imagine standing on a cliff....."

The girls closed their eyes, and imagined the cliff they were standing on when they met the first time.

"Now, imagine a great gust of wind comes along, and lifts you up, you are being pulled high into the night sky, up and up and higher and higher until you can go no higher, you are looking down and see the cliff far below. The stars are winking at you, and you see the moon in all her glory.....now, you are falling, and you need your wings to help you land, you need your wings to steer you, you need those wings to take you on your journey. Now you are soaring, up and along, high above the sea, what a feeling, you are flying!!! You can feel your wings on your back, in and out, up and down, you can go as fast as you wish, and go anywhere you choose to go. This is your reality"

The girls opened their eyes, and what a sight they saw!!! They really were flying, and Marah was the same size as they were. They were hovering above the door together, and they stared at each other, so amazed at their true selves, this is what they had always imagined they really were. This was who they are!!! And this is what they saw in each other............


Marah was hovering slightly above the girls, as they were new to these wings, and a little wobbly in the air!
"Your Fae form is constantly recreating itself" she told them "and you can change at your will. This form represents you at this stage of your life. You shall continue to morph for the rest of your lives, and grow, and learn. This is why Nutsia is so splendid, she is very wise! but for today, this is a true representation of who you are, and the reason you look so similar, is that you are psychicly linked"

Isia swerved a little in the air, and managed to control herself, and her joy, and hovered eye level with Osiria. It was as if they were looking through the looking glass, images of each other, twins. Not identical, but near enough. Souls of the Prophecy. Souls linked forever.

They took the form of nothing they had ever seen before, but the closest they could think of was a cross between a dragonfly, butterfly with the colours of an exotic peacock!! even though their colours were constantly changing, like a chameleon. They were about the size of a babies hand. Tiny, yet in full detail. Their features remained the same, and of course they kept their individual eyes, windows to their souls. They had a small covering of the softest fur they had touched before, like a chinchilla, yet not so dense. They could feel the lovely wind through the fur, and it tickled at first, although they got used to it later on. They had four legs, not six like an insect, and they had six wings each. Their wings were different each, one set was transparent, one was glittery, and one felt like liquid, although it was very functional, and this last set they used to steer themselves.

Marah let the girls test out this new exciting form, flying around this little cave they were in, up and down, around and upside down. They found they could go faster if they thought about it, and hover if they thought about that too. This mode of transport felt a little different to the hovering they had perfected during the last couple of days. Of course this was different, THEY HAD WINGS!

Marah waited until the girls felt comfortable with this new form they had discovered, then she suggested they see who was waiting for them behind this door.

Osiria and Isia were excited now, they were wide awake again, and looking very forward to meeting beings from different realms, all while in the safety of The Fae Realm. Perhaps they could make some new friends, and visit them at another time!!!

And what a time they were having now.

Marah willed the tiny door in the middle of the wall to open, and it did, and the girls saw their first friend from another Realm.


As the door swung open and the Fae formed friends peered inside, they caught sight of the most exquisite being they could have ever imagined. They breathed a sigh of awe as the being unfolded a large pair of pure white wings and glided over to them. Golden light glowed all around him and his silken hair flowed long and free. His skin was as white a snow and he had the most dazzling smile.
"Welcome to the Room Of All Beings. I am Artaxis, from the Realm Of Angels!" He bowed , slightly and motioned for them to come inside. Every movement he made seemed to be flowing, gliding and never stilted.

They stepped into the glorious room, filled with golden statues and jewels untold. They stared, awestuck at the fantastic paintings of creatures unknown to them, both beautiful and revolting and they loved them all. The furniture itself was a sight to see, crushed red velvet, adorned with rubies and garnets and gold fringing. The whole room glittered and sparkled from it's mirrored ceiling, to it's mother of pearl floor.

Marah leaned over to the girls and explained, "These are things collected and brought here from every realm. They are here so that each of the beings from the other realms feel comfortable and at home here."

"Oh, I see. It's marvelous!" Isia breathed.

"Yes, absolutely!" Osiria agreed. She turned to Artaxis and asked, "Have you been here long?"

"No! I have been here but a few moments." He grinned, mischievously. "I could not pass the Realm Of Fae without meeting the Souls Of Prophecy. You are infamous in realms far and wide, and there are many who would pass here only to cross paths with the two human Souls who freed the Princess from her crystal prison. I am honoured to make your aquaintance."

"We are honoured to meet you too, Artaxis. I can't believe we are sitting here talking to an Angel... a real Angel!" Isia exclaimed.

"Did you not know of Angels before?" Artaxis asked, curiously.

"Oh, yes! It's just that we have never seen one before. You are truly beautiful... I mean, handsome." Osiria anwered, feeling flustered.

Artaxis just giggled and eased her mind. "You may call me beautiful... words such as these have no gender in any realm other than your Earthling Realm. My people, including myself, are often visiting your realm. We help those who are in need of us and very rarely reveal ourselves, unless we find it absolutely necessary."

"How wonderful! Do you go to our realm often?" Isia inquired.

"Often enough. We are asigned a human to care for until their passing into the next world and then rest until their soul is reborn to another body. Then we start the proccess once more."

"Really? So you take care of the same soul all the time, through different lives." Osiria wondered if Isia and herself had an Angel protecting them.

"Yes we do." He smiled his dazzling smile once again. "Of course you do!"

"Excuse me?" Osiria asked.

"You were wondering if you and your beautiful friend here had an Angel to watch over you. You do! They are both standing over your physical bodies, protecting them from harm as we speak."

The girls smiled at the knowledge that there physical selves were safely in the hands of their Angels, and sank back in the luxurious lounge chair. Marah stood and took a tray of refreshments from a side board and offered each guest a goblet of the blue fluid the girls had sampled earlier. She took one for herself and rejoined the others on the couch.

She lifted her goblet and said, "A toast! To new friends and chance meetings. May they continue to be happy and wondrous."

They clinked their goblets and drank together in celebration.

As they did, the mirror on the north wall started to shimmer and ripple like it was water. It continued to do so for a few moments, then out stepped another visitor from another realm.


 
His nose poked through first, dark blue in colour, then the rest of his snout, and deep black eyes. They blinked. His ears pointed atop his soft, furry head, the colour of the forest floor, deep brown, green and grey, and those ears had little tufts of fur poking off the back. He wriggled his head from side to side, and blinked once more, as if adjusting to the light.
He appeared to look like a Dog from the Earthly Realm, although the girls were not sure what kind of dog he was. As the rest of his body shimmered through the vision on the north wall, it was apparent that this was definatly a canine, and a King at that. This was no ordinary domestic dog. He was magnificent, massive, majestic.

"Merry Meet, Souls of the Prophecy, Angel, Faerie. Long time no see" with a grin, showing pearl teeth.

The girls were not entirely surprised that this being knew their title, (or that he had spoken without making a sound) although they wondered if he knew their names.

"Of course i do....Isia and Osiria, word has spread like wildfyre, we have been awaiting your arrival for the last 400 years, and I have travelled a day and a night to be here. Do you not remember who I am?" This time a voice sounded, ever so softly, the pitch was so low, (like bark on a tree rustling in the wind), they had to strain to hear it.

The girls felt embarressed and a little flustered, as they felt sure they had never been introduced to this magickal creature before, although something about the tone of his voice was familiar, especially when he spoke to their minds.

"Its been a while since we have seen each other, no? If i recall correctly, it was five of your lifetimes ago, in a Realm far away. My name is Anastet, and i have been your guardian in times past, this is why i came to visit. You shall remember in due course, sometimes when you live a life on the Earthly Realm, you forget so much of what you've learned in spirit." He shook his head, as if saddned by this thought, then i a minute added..." Of course, this was when you two were still the one Soul combined, and what a powerful entity you were then!

"Merry Meet Anastet, we hope that we remember you soon, your wonderful voice does seem so strangly familiar. I am sure it will come to us." Osiria said with a warm smile, intrigued by what he had suggested. Isia and her, one entity?? It does make sense!

They girls grinned at each other at the thought, and squeezed the others hand.

Anastet looked smug, glad he could jolt a distant memory.

"Shall we all sit together, and enjoy each others company while we are blessed with the time.?" Marah suggested

"I am quite thirsty myself, my journey has been long" Anastet said, and Marah hurried off to fetch some Fae tea, and Anastet followed.

The girls took the opportunity to have a better look around this Room, so magickal it seemed to them, so inspiring and alluring. Not a detail went untouched, every button was finished in gold, crystal prisims reflected from the ceiling, draped faerie silk rustled in the breeze, and the scent of lavender was in the air. The centerpiece sofa was so enticing, they decided to change back to their Earthly form, and put their feet up! Smoke wafted up from gaps in the floor, sandlewood, spices unknown to the noses of the humans. Isias long hair laid over the edge of the sofa, tipping her head upside down, and giggling. Osiria had her feet up on the small glass table infront of the couch, and smiled to herself at a thought. 'There's an angel at my table!'

The best friends felt so at home here, so appreciated and special, like this journey actually meant something to someone else, here in the Room of All Beings, they realised that they had done something worthy, and they were proud.


The Angel looked at them and giggled. They reminded him of two little children on Yule morning. He shifted in his seat and gave a mishievous grin.
"What are you looking at us like that for?" Isia asked, curiously.

"You are legendary stuff, you know. Your destiny has been know for centuries now, long before the Princess was inprisoned by those dreadful gnoblins. Handed down from one Fae generation to another. It is even written in the Scroll of Prophecy." Artaxis explained.

"Scroll of Prophecy?" Osiria was confused.

"Yes. All things told by the Tree of Prophecy are recorded on the Scroll as a permanant reminder of what is to come. No one knows quite when it was all written. It just appears there, magickally and still does from time to time. The Fae tend to check every... how would you say in your term... week, yes, that's it! Every week!" Artaxis told them, feeling proud that he remembered the Earthling term. Not bad considering he had not visited there in a century or two.

"Where is it kept?" Isia inquired, eager to take a peak at the prophetic text.

"It is kept in the Princesses private chambers. Only three beings have access to it. Nutsia, Marah and you."

"But that's four, not three." Osiria corrected him.

Artaxis couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Oh, my dear Souls, you do amuse me." He saw their perplexed looks and continued, "You are the Souls of Prophecy... two halves of the one, can you not understand this?"

The girls felt embarrassed to admit they did not. It was beyond their comprehension and yet, somehow it made so much sense.

Artaxis leant over and asked, "Would you like to read the scroll?"

The girls looked at each other, wide eyed and mischievous smiles and nodded.

"All you have to do is will it here and it will be so." Artaxis told them, still giggling at the pair.

The two friends closed their eyes and held hands, willing the Scroll to appear before them. With a golden flash and a whooshing sound, the Scroll appeared on the table in front of them. Excitedly, they both reached over and picked it up. They slipped off the golden, royal seal and unrolled it to view the contents. They searched for the prophecy written about them and finally, they spotted an entry called Souls Of Prophecy.

Osiria read it out:

"In legend written long ago

Two Souls once were one.

Seperated, then brought together

So the spell could be undone.

Between the Realms they would wander

Their Astral Spirits would sour.

To places strange and yet familiar

Though they've never been before.

The Tree of Prophecy has foretold

Of two halves of the same entity

Who, when combined, their power is great

They shall set the Princess free.

From the Earthling World they will come

Two bodies side by side.

Spiritually, they meet as one

Their destinies not denied."

They looked up at each other in awe and wonderment. Could this really have been them this ancient Scroll was speaking of? They couldn't believe that they could ever be so important and yet, here they were and beings from Realms afar were stopping by to meet them.

Marah and Anastet, the ancient dog-like being appeared in the doorway with the refreshments they had gone to retrieve. They placed the tray of goodies on the table and rejoind the conversation.

"Of course we 'stop by to visit' the Souls of the Prophecy" Anastet stated to the young women. "Not only that, but certain creatures will travel for time on end to finally lay eyes on you! Its difficult negotiating your way through the different Realms, as i'm sure you are aware, and we will take those risks just to meet you!! It is an honour to be in your presence."
"We have waited a long time! But be aware!" Artaxis warned, "Not all visitors have good intentions. There may be some who could wish you harm. I do not mean to frighten you, but I thought you should be aware. So long as you are in this Fae Realm, you are safe, so heed Nutsias advice, and stay here, do not wander above or through the voids alone. It can be dangerous. Anastet and I are both guardians for you. I cannot speak for him, although I'm sure he will agree, if you need us, we will be there."

"Thank you both for the warning, and we will stay here. We still marvel at the beauty in this place! We have no desire to move any further for the time being." Isia told them, her eyes wandering around the room.

She could hear the silent swirling of the Time Between the Realms, behind the North Wall, where both Anastet and Artaxis had appeared. Her eyes tried to see through her mirrored reflection, and she couldn't see through, although she felt amasing energies building there.

"We would advise you keep a safe distance from these walls, Souls, as tricksters can take you by surprise. They are restricted from entering this Realm, although they have their lures, and they have their motives." Marah explained "Your powers are renowned all throughout, and all sorts will be on their way here, to be sure."

The women felt a little anxious at all this mention of trixters and lures, although they did feel safe here on this velvet seat, in the shiny mirrored room, with the homely smells and warm friends. They smiled at their new/old guardians, and sighed. No point worrying about that which has not occured.

Isia plopped her hair atop her head, and brushed a strand out of her eye. Picking up a soft crystal glass, she admired the colour of the liquid captured inside.

Golden hues, swirling with bright orange, and scented like lemon blossoms, she went to take a sip. She could hear whispering, coming from the glass!!

She put her ear to the top of the container, and heard the tiny voices of the bubbles escaping, beginning their journey to their dreamed destination.

"Where are you going? Which way? Follow me!! We're free!!" they giggled excited at their journeys beginning.

The bubbles jumped, from the bottom of the glass, escaped through the top, and floated up through the air in all directions. Some exited via the North Wall, some went down through the floor, swallowng smoke as they went, some were frightened of change, and stayed in the glass, for the girls to consume!

Osiria and Isia stared at each other. Bubbles conversing? Whatever would come next?!

  As the bubbles dived and danced, they changed from clear to pink, purple, blue, red, orange, yellow and back to clear again. The young women stared in amazement as the bubbles periodically changed colour, reminding the girls of party lights. Then the bubbles gathered around the two friends and melded together to make one enormous bubble, encapsulating them inside. Laughter and high pitched giggles surrounded them, whispering to them in a language unknown, yet known to them and then the huge bubble burst with a loud pop.
Isia and Osiria looked at each other in astonishment and then burst out laughing, collapsing on the extravogant lounge chair. Marah, Anastet and Artaxis joined in the laughter, all of them giggling uncontrolably, tears or joy rolling down each cheek.

Their laughter was interrupted by a rumbling from the North wall and then the rippled water effect once more from the mirror. To the girls surprise, a gigantic clawed foot appeared through the mirror, followed by a gigantic leg. It came to rest on the floor with a huge thud and the whole room shook. They all looked on as a large crocodile-like face poked it's way through the doorway between the Realms. The rest of it's yellow/green, scaley body ducked down and squeezed it's way into the lavish room, stretched itself back into shape and sat down on the floor to make sure not to bump it's head. Here stood a real live dragon! Her pointed ears stood straight up and the nostrils flared as she sniffed the air to take in the smell of the Souls of Prophecy.

She stared at them for a long time before she spoke in her low dragon drawl, "My Souls! I have journeyed here, like these two I'm sure, to make your aquaintance. There is much celebration in all the Realms I've wandered through on my way to Fae and indeed in my own. I am Caldraya, Lady of Thwellyn from the Dragon Realm." She attempted to bow, but found the room too constricting.

"Hello!" Isia and Osiria greeted her, nervously. "We are pleased to meet you."

Caldraya smiled widely, showing her massive, sharp, yellow teeth which glistened in the brightly lit room.

"I didn't know there was such a thing as a Dragon Realm." Isia said naively.

"I did not know of the Earling Realm either, save the Prophecy!" Caldraya laughed heartily and as she did so, flames billowed from her mouth. They all ducked the fire, which made Caldraya laugh even more at the sight of the ducking and weaving beings.

"I am truly sorry, my dears. You should never make a Dragon laugh so! I hope I did not singe you. Did I?"

"No you didn't." Osiria assured her, dusting of the ash from her clothes.

"I guess it was a silly thing to say." Isia conseeded, looking rather embarrassed.

"Be embarrassed not! I have come to invite you to my Realm as the honoured guests of my Queen and King to offer you thanks for saving the Princess."

"But she is the Fae Princess! Why would your Queen and King want to thank us?" Asked Osiria.

Caldraya looked at each face and then her tawny eyes came to rest upon the Souls of Prophecy. "Don't you know why? What is done in one Realm affects us all. We have only just begun to get back to normality and for this, we are endepted to you."

The girls beemed with pride in the knowledge that what they had done was even more important then they first thought. They looked at Artaxis, Anastet and Marah with glee at the prospect of visiting another Realm.

"You may go, but as your guardians, we must insist on going with you. You are new at Realm Weaving and may be sucked into the wrong Realm." Anastet insisted.

The friends nodded, eagerly and looked at Marah.

She smiled and touched each girl lovingly on the cheek. "I may not go with you, my Souls! My Realm is here and I do not have permission to leave it. Take care and I shall see you when you return to the Fae." She took a small handful of gold/silver powder from her side sachel and sprinkled it over the girl's heads. "This is faerydust. It will protect you while you are between Realms, that is the most dangerous part of your journey."

"Thank you!" They hugged her fragile body and preprared to enter the doorway between the Realms.

Caldraya went first, followed by Artxis, who grabbed Osiria by the hand and motioned for her tokeep close to him. Osiria clutched Isia's hand and giggled excitedly. Anastet held Isia around the waist and grinned a toothy grin. Going through the doorway felt like being blanketed in velvet. In no time at all they had disappeared through the doorway, leaving only the ripple effect behind them.

Marah's smile faded as she looked down at the Scroll of Prophecy and saw words written in gold appearing on the page.

"Separated, the Souls shall find

The strength that they will need.

To continue on their journey alone

To apease the gnoblins' greed.

Danger lurks at every turn

The Souls, they must beware.

Creatures of the darker Realms

Conspire to keep them there.

To render harmless beastly feinds

The 'Sphere of Amthys' must they find.

Only one will have the power

To locate and retrieve... one mind.

Brought to the place where captive be

The other half of one

Held outstretched hands and words be said

The spell be bound and done."

The small chain of Beings felt as though they were swimming through the velvet for only a short time, with Caldraya in the lead.
She navigated swiftly, choosing routes unseen to the Humans eyes, although they were quite specific, and could lead to danger if made incorrectly. This world between the worlds was like a soft dream, stars shooting past, reflecting off the shimmering scales of the Dragon up ahead.

Sooner than expected, the group felt a pulling sensation, and they stepped upright through another watery mirror, into a bright dusky orange land.

The sky held an electric red glow, undulating across the fields of ochre. The girls looked above, to find there, 5 golden orbs slowly dancing across the sky, and within each one, a blue prism spinning, sending out rays of cooling peace.

There were mountains in the distance, and as they turned around to see the watery window dissapear into the ground, with a creaking sound, and a giant looming mountain rose up behind them. It was covered in tiny sheets of dull glass, and at the bottom of the huge mass of earth, stood a magnificant gateway, large enough for a building to fit through! The scale of this land was unlike the girls had encoutered before, and they felt dwarfed standing there in their Earthling Form.

"Its been many lifetimes since I've visited your Realm, Caldraya, and I had nearly forgotten the beauty held here" remarked Artaxis, "I am pleased to return" and his smile shone bright.

"You are all very welcome here, as you know, and we are pleased that you have agreed to join with us in our celebrations! Please follow me inside the gates, not long now, before you shall meet all."

They headed toward the gates, and passed through, as Caldraya whispered the secret password to the Gatekeeper. Although it was obvious she was of this Realm, they could never be too sure, as nasty creatures had learned to shapeshift over the many centuries at trying to steal secret knowlege of Pure Realms, such as here and Fae.

Into the mountain they went, deeper and deeper, and the air smelled musky and dry like Dragon. Rumbling sounds could be heard above and below, and the girls were wondering whatever could go on in the land of dragons. To them, dragons were stuff of legends, and flew around in the sky, battling with princes and such. In reality, there were sure, it was much different.

Up and up it seemed they were travelling, and the noise grew louder and louder. Clinking of glass and scratching could be heard, and the smell of fire and soot filtered to their nostrils.

Finally they reached a massive blue door, and the colour soothed them, after their walk. Caldraya heaved it open with her strong arms, and before them lay the largest space they had ever seen.

The visitors had trouble seeing to the other side of the room, let alone above or below. It was arranged as one giant space, with spiral levels filtering and tunnels shooting out to the sides.

Dragons of all colours, sizes and scents were busy preparing for the celebration, and as the small group entered the room, all eyes were fixed on them, and huge jaws were dropped open,gaping at the first sight of these legendary Earthly Souls of the Prophecy.

Those jaws turned to smiles, and the girls smiled back, relieved to find that this was nothing to be afraid of.

Isia and Osiria heard a loud flapping sound in the distance. It was so loud that their ears were ringing. They looked out of the enormous window and caught sight of a single Dragon with gigantic, wide, strong wings, souring through the air towards them. It's combersome form appeared graceful as it's powerful wings flapped furiously to keep it air-bourne. It circled for a moment, then lined itself up with the window, which opened automatically, and flew inside to land before the stunned Earthling pair.
This magnificent beast bared his large, sharp front teeth in a huge smile. "Oh, good! I'm not too late for the festivities. I was so afraid I would be." He cocked his head and winked at the girls. "I'm terribly sorry to be tardy, but I was on the other side of the Realm when the news of your arrival reached my ears. I am Withlow, Prince of Dragon Realm! May your stay here be merry."

"It's wonderful to meet you, Withlow! We only just arrived here, how did you get here so swiftly if you were on the other side of the Realm?" Isia inquired.

Withlow smiled widely and his beady red eyes twinkled with delight as he began to explain, "Dragon time is much different to your Earthling time. It only seems like you have just arrived here, but actually, you have been here longer. At least the equivallant of half of one of your Earthling days."

"Oh, wow! Really? That's so amazing!" Osiria exclaimed.

Withlow looked at Caldraya, Artaxis and Anastet and nodded to each in acknowledgement. "I have a device for you so you may tell time while you are in this Realm as it takes some time to get use to the time change. The festivities are not quite ready yet, so you may like to roam our land for a while. The divice contains an alarm which will notify you when the celebration is to commence. Stay close to the perimiter of Dragon City to be sure you do not get lost."

He handed them a small mechanical object, similar to a watch.

Osiria took it from him and smiled. "Thank you ever so much!" She exclaimed.

"Thank you! Our Realm is now returning to it's normal state and it is all down to you, Souls of Prophecy." He put his massive clawed hands out and touched each girl on the head. He shuddered as the energy of the two girls flowed through him and he realised just how powerful they actually were. "Would you like me to give you a ride on my back? It would be an honour for me to do so."

"Oh, yes please!" Both girls answered in unison.

Withlow turned around and bent down so that the two friends could climb upon his strong, spiny back. They were suprised to find the spines bent over and were quite soft. As soon as they were sitting comfortably, Withlow flapped his mighty wings and flew out of the still opened window.

Artaxis looked at Anastet, shook his head and frowned. "I do not like this."

Anastet agreed. "Me either."

***************************************************************************************************

Isia and Osiria flew high over the Dragon Realm atop of their new Dragon friend's back. The wind felt wonderful on their faces and it smelt of musk. The view was spectacular! The terrain was diverse with mountains of pink/orange, brown/red plains and blue forests with silver streems and lakes. Withlow circled a forest for moment, then landed so lightly, they hardly even knew they'd touched the ground.

***************************************************************************************************

Back in the massive room, the two guardians were beside them selves with worry for the girls safety.

"I'm sure they'll be alright. After all, they are with our Prince." Caldraya said, trying to ease their minds.

Just as the words were out of her mouth, the giant door swung open to reveal Withlow, who was looking eagerly about the room. "Where are they? Where are the infamous Souls of Prophecy?"

The three beings looked at each other in confusion and dread.

"My Prince, were you not here just moments ago?" Caldraya asked, humbly.

"Moments ago? No! I have only this moment arrived back from the Thwellyn province. Why do you ask me such a question?"

"Then who was it who has taken the Souls flying on their back if not you?" Artaxis asked, his heart pounding, fiercly and running to look out the window.

"I'm sure I don't know!" Withlow told him. "But I have a strong suspicion the gnoblins have a hand in it."

"Why do you say that?" Anastet wondered.

"A new prophecy has been decreed in which the Souls are foretold to render the gnoblins harmless to all. Rumor has it that they have hired creatures from the Darker Realms."

"Then why are we still standing here? We need to find them as quickly as possible." Artaxis exclaimed. "Caldraya, alert the other Dragons to the Souls' disappearance while we go and seach for them."

Caldraya nodded and hurried off to do as she was asked.

"I will search from the air, hopefully, they will not be too hard to spot." Withlow volenteered and promptly flew out the window.

The two guardians ran out of the room as fast as they could to start the ground search for the endangered Earthlings.

******************************************************************************************************

Isia and Osiria, oblivious to their peril, were admiring the beauty and splendour of the forest. The leaves of the trees were the most wonderful shade of blue and the trunks were dark grey. The purple grass beneath their feet was thick and luxurious and smelt of vanilla.

"Oh, this place is amazing. Withlow! It's so beautiful!" Isia exclaimed, smelling a blood red flower.

"Yes it is." Said the fraudulant Withlow. "And it's so quiet... no one would ever hear you here."

The girls noticed a dark change in his voice. He almost hissed. They turned to him and as they did so, he seemed to blurred in their vision. His form seemed to be shifting, changing, morphing into the most hideous looking creature the girls had ever laid eyes on. Their eyes widened with the realisation that this was a shape shifter and they were in deed in serious trouble.

The girls stared at each other in disbelief, this was the most hideous thing they had ever seen, and the stench!! Discusting!! They had to think of what to do, and fast! as it was approaching them steadily, and he was huge!
"What are we going to do Isia?" Osiria asked her friend, "He is so massive, he'll kill us with one swipe!!" and her eyes widened with terror

"Everyone we've met so far seems to think our magick is very strong, so we have to have faith in ourselves, we have to try something!"

They held hands and stepped backward, as the shapeshifter gained on them, his smell was overpowering, and making them feel giddy.


Dragons Breath

Earth so Wise

Remove this being from our sights

Dragons Fyre

Pure Rain

Return him back from where he came!


Over and over they chanted this quick rhyme, in the hope that he would vanish before their eyes, though he kept approaching them, and they had to turn and start to run, as he was making a hideous sound now, and they knew that if he caught them, that would be the end. He was obviously working for someone, probably the Gnoblins, and he would take them out of this realm, and the what would they do?

Now the girls were running for their life, up over the vanilla hill, shouting their chant, and wondering why it wasn't working. Weren't they the Souls of the Prophecy? Weren't they the most powerful beings around?

"This isn't working Osiria! What are we going to do? He's not going to give up, he's going to take us away!!" screamed Isia, tears beginning to well in her eyes. The mechanical object she was holding began to get heavy, and she nearly dropped it more than once, fumbling to catch it again on the move.

"We have to think logically now, obviously our magic isn't going to do the job, can you think of anything else?"

They tried to think of other spells, but they were becoming extremely tired with all this running, and Osiria stumbled, and got to her feet again just in time. She could feel the wind of the shapeshifters huge swipe, and could smell his rancid breathe on her back.

"Goodness Osiria, why didn't we think of it before??? Our Fae form!! We can fly away from here, concentrate!!"

Osiria smiled, how can you forget something as important as that? and began to imagine their beautiful wings, soft fur, sparkly presence, and before they knew it, they were up and away, flying above the trees, heading toward the orbs circling the sky. The box device dangled behind Isia, magick making it follow. She could't drop it now, it was their only contact with the Dragon Mountain.

The shapeshifter didn't know what had happened. One minute he could almost taste one of the girls, the next, they dissapeared before his eyes, in a bright spark and glitter raining from the sky. He looked up, and saw two sparks shoot into the distance. They were the Souls of the Prophecy, he would never catch them now! He was just a stupid shapeshifter, and they were too smart for him.

The girls were smiling now, pleased that they had thought of this in enough time, and they admired the beauty of this Dragon Realm. What a beautiful hue these orbs gave off. So surreal! Just like their dreams in the earthly realm.

They had no idea where they were, but they knew that they were heading away from the dangerous beast and thats all that mattered!

In the distance they could see figures approaching on the breeze. Slowly they could make out one of the forms, and their hearts jumped into their throats, as it was the prince, and they worried that it was the shapeshifter once more, until they saw Caldraya, and knew that they were saved.

"Caldraya! Caldraya!" they called in unison, and Caldraya could hear them inside her head.

"Where are you my friends?" she called, as they were so small she couldn't see them "Follow me, not far to go!"

and the girls rested upon her back, clinging onto her shiny scales, relieved that that episode was far behind, and beginning to feel a little foolish at the trust they put in that shape shifter.

Obviously it was a lesson that they had learned now, and hopefully they would never be in a situation like that again.

Little did they know.

Isia and Osiria found it difficult to hold onto the spines on Caldraya's back, so they decided to change back to Human form. The sweet vanilla scent of the wind made them feel hungry. They giggled at the realisation that they seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. They thought they might not fit through the doorway between the Realms if they continued on so.
Withlow looked over at the Earthling pair and smiled. "So you are the Souls I've been hearing so much about since my birth! What a dramatic entrance you have made."

"We are so terribly sorry! We really thought it was you." Osiria explained.

"I know you didn't. You had no way of knowing. If my own cousin could not pick the difference, you could hardly be expected to." He shot a devilish grin at Caldraya who bowed her head, sheepishly.

They could see the city outskirts in the distance and the magnificant palace glistening in the light of the pink sun. The girls couldn't wait to set down on solid ground, far away from that hideous creature.

Suddenly, there came a loud screaching from Isia's side pouch and she took out the time device the shape shifter had given them earlier.

Withlow's eyes widened as he caught sight of it. "Get rid of it. Quickly!" He ordered.

"Why?" Isia asked.

"It is an explosive device, now get rid of it."

Isia sensed the urgency in his voice and hurled it into the air as fast and as hard as she could. It spiraled downward and exploded with such force that the foursome were thrown upward by the blast. Osiria lost her grip and slipped off Caldraya's back. Isia grabbed her and tried to pull her back up but she could feel her slipping. Osiria dangled in mid air for another moment or two and then she slowly slipped from Isia's grasp and began to fall towards the ground.

"Osiria!" Screamed Isia, hysterically. She closed her eyes and called to her friend in her mind.

Together they imagined Osiria coming to land, slowly, gently and safely on the ground. Osiria was hurtling rapidly through the air, then seemed to slow down as if she had breaks. It was as if someone had gently placed her upon the ground, and in deed someone had. The combined minds of the two friends had saved her and she now realised why the spell against the shape shifter had not worked. They were not working as one mind. They had been told this many times in Fae, but in panic, they had forgotton the most important lesson there was for them to learn.

Osiria looked at her surroundings. They were unfamiliar and dusk was fast aproaching. She was unsure of what she could do until she heard the sweet sound of Isia in her mind.

"Osiria! Osiria, are you alright?"

Osiria breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, Isia! I'm fine, thanks to our quick thinking."

The three airbourne beings soon caught sight of Osiria and they flew down to retrieve her.

She hopped upon Withlow's back and as she did so, he quipped, "Would you like to be strapped in?"

They all laughed, which broke the tension and they flew off to the Royal Castle for the festivities, with Withlow, ever the joker, saying he should have a banquet in his honour for helping to rescue the Souls of Prophecy.

The flight back to the Dragons Mountain was relaxing and breathtaking. The girls sat back and enjoyed the ever changing view, comfortable now they knew they were in the right hands! They could see a large mass of water to their right, dark and mysterious, and whispering their names.
The golden orbs were sinking in the sky, bringing with their descent, an air of anticipation of the evening ahead. The young women wondered whatever could be in store for them tonight?!?!

Soon enough the two dragons and two humans landed safetly through the massive windows entering into the Large room where Artaxis and Anastet were pacing back and forth, welcoming them with huge smiles and nods of approval.

"Enjoy your ride, Souls?" Anastet asked with a wink, grinning from ear to shaggy ear

"Oh! Yes we had a wonderful flight home, thanks to our friends Caldraya and Withlow, and yes, we've learned a valuable lesson today, if thats what you mean Anastet!!" Osiria replyed for the both of them, and the girls hugged each other, glad to be on solid ground again.

"Well Souls, we are all glad that you have arrived again safely, and we are just in time for the Shattering of the Orbs! Come to the window!!" Caldraya motioned with her head, and began walking to the large landing area near the side of the mountain.

The girls had absolutley no idea what the Shattering of the Orbs was, so they decided to go along with Caldraya, and find out. They loved surprises, especially if it sounded as intriguing as this did!

Just as they all reached the lookout, joined by quite a number of other dragons too, the five Golden Orbs, touched down onto the horizon. They heard a great sound, something like shattering of glass, but more like the tinkering of crystal windchimes, only a million times louder, and it was the most wonderful sound the girls had heard in a very long time. They were awestruck, and so excited they jumped up and down, grinning.

Just as the musick of the orb's descent finished, and the light was going out, each of the five orbs opened up slowly, and an amasing display of shimmering golden light, shot up into the air from each one, filled up the whole sky like continuous fireworks, that reached everypart of the Dragon Realm. Everything was alight, and a wonderful feeling of calm and protection swept over the crowd as they sprinkles of the orbs made their way around the Dragon Realm, filling each soul and making them whole. After a few moments, the light was sucked back into the orbs once more, before dissapearing under the horizon.

Everone took a moment to blink their eyes, then the girls stared at each other in amasement!! Wow, they had never experienced anything like that feeling before, and it was like some kind of awakening to them. 'Dragon Magick', they thought together.

"Does this happen every eve, Withlow?" Isia enquired.

"Yes, Souls, and that is just part of the magick you will find here in the Dragon Realm."

"Well everyone, thats the signal that they festivities are about to begin! You can't ask for a better light show, anywhere!!! Lets get a drink!!"

Caldraya lead the way, through a tunnel, and into an even larger room, with a doorway opening up to the side of the mountain, with an area in the night with the most amasing golden stars as the twinkling lights above.

There was all sorts of food spread out on tables, and not only dragons gathered, but their guests from other realms as well. Lots of Creatures were invited to come and celebrate the Souls of the Prophecy.

 
Osiria looked around the space in front of her, admiring the clothing of some of the guests. She was amased to see a human form standing in the far corner of the room by the fountain of frothing golden liquid, and he was one of the most beautiful things she had seen on her journey so far. Shaggy black hair, standing straight and proud, and he wore the most amasing suit she had ever seen! Changing colours and lights reflecting off it, sometimes black, sometimes blue, and she could see he had the most amasing purple eyes she had ever seen! She knew he had to be special.
"Anastet? " Osiria called gently, and he turned to face her, smiling and nodding

"Who is that man by the fountain, I never expected to meet another human here!" she whispered, nearly silently

Of course Isia had noticed him by now too!

"He, too, is a shapeshifter, but one of the Good Type, he's a kind of guardian angel, and he visits with the Dragons often. He is also a messenger, his name is Winter. He has just arrived from your Earthling Realm, to meet with you here in this magickal land! I give you my word that you can trust him!" Anastet promised Osiria

"Oh thanks, he seems like a nice person, I can't wait to meet him" and she smiled a brilliant smile Winters' way. His face lit up, and he reached out into the air, caught the smile, put it in his pocket above his heart, then sent one straight back to her. Osiria's heart bounced out of her chest! well, nearly!

Isia smiled and turned to her best friend, who grabbed her hand silently and lead her outside to have a drink , grabbing two glasses from the nearest table, and exiting through the door, just to the right of Winter. Winking as they left, this was the first time they could be alone, aside from running from a terrible shapeshifter, and they needed a girly chat!

Not that they had a chance to whisper to each other how gorgeous he was after they had seated them selves underneath a smooth stone carving, because soon enough, Winter came through the giant doors, and approached their table.

His clothing was spectacular, and most of the other guests followed him with their eyes as he past. His scent was so alluring, some of the females leant forward to sniff more as he passed! His face was so beautiful, skin so smooth, silver eyelashes.

His piercing purple eyes seemed to glow, and they met with Osirias liquid green ones. They both crinkled at the sides as they smiled to one another again, this time Osiria standing up, and introducing herself with an open palm.

"Merry Meet, I am Osiria, from the Earthling Realm, and this is my Soul Mate, Isia, we are very pleased to make your aquaintance!"

"Merry Meet Souls, I am Winter, and i have just returned from your land to drink with you here, and be merry! I also wanted to Thank You with all my heart for freeing the Fae Princess. I am humbled to be in your presence! and if there is anything i can do for you, just say it!" and he winked.

"That is very kind of you Winter" Isia told him "and if there is anything you can do for us, we will let you know. You are very kind." (and gorgeous) she mumbled under her breathe.

Osiria snapped her head toward Isia, smirking at her silent retort! and glad that her friend thought highly of Winter, and glad that Anastet had let her know he was harmless.

"Would it be too forward of me to ask for this dance, Osiria?" Winter wondered

"Oh, that would be wonderful! Would you mind Isia?" she asked her friend

"Of course i wouldn't mind Osiria, go, and have a wonderful time! I'll be fine on my own, I wanted to have a look around anyway" squeezed her friend tightly, then pushed her gently toward the charming man figure.

Isia watched her friend move inside to dance with the intriguing angel, and she turned around to face the wonderful evening and inhale the scent of the twilight, and reflect on the day just passed. She saw the rolling landscape, the glimmering creatures, heard the exotic, hypnotic beat of the dragon musick, closed her eyes, and thanked the Goddess for where she was in her life. This was an evening to remember.

Then she felt a tap on her shoulder!
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