Anya and Sarah: a Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful white cat named Anya. She was the best beloved of a girl named Sarah, who loved her beyond all reckoning. They played together, and talked together, and slept in the same bed, and were very, very happy. But one day, an evil wizard came and stole Sarahs family, replacing them with trolls in disguise. These trolls were cruel to Sarah, until at last she fled into the night, to hide away with a friend. In her fear and hurry to escape, Anya was left behind, though Sarah knew she would have to return to rescue her. After some time, Sarah was able to travel over vast lands to go live with her mother, who alone of all her family had not been turned into a troll, but who had escaped the evil wizards vile magicks through her own spells. Her mother helped her to regain most of her treasures, but Anya was not there. The sweet little cat had fallen into the clutches of the trolls, who threw the poor kitty to their horrible hellhound. It was days before Anya could escape, and she fled to the deep forest, hurt and afraid. Her beautiful white fur was dirtied with mud and hellhound saliva; her tail and one paw had been mangled beyond repair, and her lovely violet dress was torn to shreds. Alone in the depths of the forest, she wept. Out of the shadows of the night crept the forest fairies, drawn by the poor cats weeping. Why are you crying? one of them, an Autumn fairy, asked the poor cat. Anya sat up, realizing she was no longer alone, and stared at the beautiful creatures.

I am sad, because I have been hurt, and I am far away from my best beloved, Sarah, Anya told them. I am afraid that if I find her, she will see what has happened to me and think I am ugly, and I love her so very much, I could never bear to hurt or scare her. But you are not ugly! the fairies protested. We can see into your heart, and you are a creature of surpassing beauty. You care so much for your girl, and that love is more beauty than any loveliness of face or form. Anya wanted to smile, but her wounds hurt her, and the fairies, seeing her pain, crept into a circle to whisper to each other. After a moment, they all nodded, and turned back to her. Because we are fairies of peace and love and kindness, and we want all the beings in the world to be as happy as we are, we will help you. You will? Anya asked. The fairy nodded, and they divided into four groups the fairies of Spring, the fairies of Summer, the fairies of Autumn, and the fairies of Winter. The Spring fairy stepped forward first. Because you are naked, I will clothe you, she said, flitting forward in her green gown. I have woven you a new skirt of the finest, softest Spring grasses. She waved her wand, and the beautiful skirt now clad Anyas furry body. The Summer fairy stepped forward next. Summers gift to you is a necklace of incomparable jewels, which will protect you from now on against the fangs of hellhounds and the magic of evil wizards and the hatred of trolls. And she waved her wand, and

around Anyas white neck was a necklace of purple and green and gold gems, and a leaf crafted of purest silver. The Autumn fairy was the next to step forward. In Autumn, the leaves change colors and fly wildly through the air like birds, and nothing can catch them. So it shall be with you. He waved his wand, and Anya gasped as a pair of wings sprouted from her back, woven of the gorgeously-colored leaves of Autumn. She flexed them experimentally, and then beamed in delight, because she could fly. Last of all, a Winter fairy came forward. With my ice and snow, I heal your wounds. Cold has always been useful to reduce swelling, to numb pain, and now I use it to clean the dirt from your fur and heal your hurts. And he waved his hands, and her pain faded away, her paw and tail regrowing as if they had never been torn from her small body. The first fairy to speak to Anya stepped forward again when they were done. I am the daughter of the Queen of the Forest, and I have spoken to my mother about your troubles. I and my friends will now join our magic together, to bring to you a rare gift. The fairies formed a circle around her, joining their hands together to sing. The song of the fairies was a thing of the most amazing beauty, their tones high and pure and sweet. Anya felt magic prickle the air around her, raising every dainty little hair on the fur of her face, and then the magical energies coalesced over her face into a mask. And what a mask it was! Each season had given of their magic to make it. Springs green leaves and grasses formed the base, and it was decorated with the multicolored flowers of Summer. Glittering jewels the color of Autumn leaves sparkled across

the borders, and tiny leaves turned silver with Winters frost gleamed amongst the gems. Ribbons woven from rose petals held it to her face, and even the creatures of the forest, ladybugs and a tiny butterfly came to live in the mask, to add their beauty to it out of love for the beautiful white cat. Anya knelt in front of a small pond to look at the mask and almost cried at its loveliness. And now, for our final gift, the first fairy said. Close your eyes, and my mother, the Queen of the Forest, will use her powers to whisk you to the side of your best beloved girl, Sarah. Oh, yes please! Anya said. I miss her so much, and love her more than anything in the world! The fairies all smiled. Of course, the fairy told her. But your wings and magic mark you as one of us now, and once in a while, please come to visit us. We will miss you. I will, I promise! Anya told them. She closed her eyes and felt the world whirl around her. And when she opened her eyes, she was tucked into the arms of her best beloved, Sarah, who was just waking up for breakfast in the home of her mother. Sarah cried out in delight and joy to see her best beloved, Anya, again, and hugged her gently, and kissed her sweet face, and promised that they would never be parted again. And they never were. For when Anya went to visit the fairies in the forest, the magic they had given her allowed her to take Sarah with her, and they played many a

happy day away in the deepest part of the woods, dancing with the kind-hearted, loving fairies. THE END