Fallen: Flight by oily106 |  |
Fallen is a series of short stories, beginning with Fallen:
Angel and continuing through Fallen: Friends, Fallen: Faeries, Fallen: Fyora,
Fallen: Feathers, Fallen: Star, Fallen: Finale, Fallen: Risen and Fallen: Fallen.
Read them in that order if you wish to understand the story better. Fallen:
Fallen was the end; Fallen: Flight is the epilogue.
Not all angels are those with wings…
Perhaps the story is over…
But life goes on…
What is there more to say, really, after the
adventure ends? Angel and I lived at my modest NeoHome in Neopia, forever firm
friends. Angel developed a remarkable aptitude for games and so we lived quite
comfortably. We started a shelter, taking in pets and Petpets, feeding and caring
for those who nobody else would. We delighted in each other’s company and treasured
each day with each other. Life was indeed good.
Three or four days later, Fyora paid us a visit.
She told us that there was a new Uber Light Faerie now, better than the last
few had been. The other Uber Faeries continued to play their games, but they
too were more controlled. Fyora also explained to us that even the Uber Faeries
had limitations on Neopia. Each element had a corresponding Elemental Stone,
filled with magic and residing at the centre of Neopia. The Stones restricted
their powers. And an ancient sacrifice had protected Neopia from destructive
Faerie magic. Fyora would not comment on why all the Uber Faeries longed so
much to stay on Neopia, when there were other planets for them too. But Fyora
much laid our minds at ease though, for she promised she was watching strictly
over all Uber Faeries now and was considering slowly replacing them. She had
also left the option of freedom on Neopia open for all Uber Faerie pets – although
none had taken up her on it. Perhaps for them, power presided over freedom.
For Angel and I, I was glad it did not.
Life after that short visit was uneventful and
pleasant. We were happy. If ever Angel looked at her only feather, lying on
our NeoHome shelf, and sighed or I wished to fly, we did not remain despondent
for long. Besides, we were too busy to dwell on the past, helping the odd assortment
of pets and Petpets who sought our help.
When a ragged black Aisha named Dante came to
us, his coat no longer sleek or shiny, we took him in too. His wings had totally
disappeared, much like Angel’s had. I did not speculate on why, but I guessed
his Faerie had moved on from Neopia. He adjusted well to Neopian life and proved
friendly and charming, far different from the arrogant pet he had been. The
next day, a small white Ixi came to us, the one that had fallen from the Uber
Light Faerie, but soon, she moved on. Over the next few months, we took in other
ex-Uber Faerie pets. Their Faeries had not fallen, for their wings were not
broken, but completely gone. Clearly, Fyora was moving the old Uber Faeries
on from Neopia. They had probably been sent back to their own world, far, far
away from Neopia. The cruel games they used to play had forever ended and their
former pets were regaining some happiness in their lives. We assured ourselves
that the new Uber Faeries loved and respected their pets and each other and
were kinder, even if not totally infallible.
Fyora returned once more, to give Angel and I
an anklet each. It was a small, beautiful bracelet that fitted perfectly around
my ankle. The anklets were a curious fusion of two strange metals – one metal
like gold; the other a strange silver with a blue sheen. Fyora explained them
to us. The silver was mira, a metal born from fallen stars. It was from the
star Angel had caught and made rise – it had fallen again shortly after Angel
had. The golden metal was kiro, a strong Faerie metal, that had been used in
the chain which had bound Angel to her Faerie. Both anklets were marvels of
Faerie craftsmanship, beautifully and delicately wrought. When I looked closer,
I saw they were in the shape of tiny feathers, each one joining together in
a twisting circle. Angel and I always wore them – they were symbols of our undying
friendship.
***
It was a year later to the day I had first found Angel that I joined her on
the balcony of our new NeoHome It had been greatly expanded, to make room for
all the shelter’s residents. We had both matured and grown in some ways but
Angel still retained her child like simplicity and characteristic innocence.
I think I had learnt to accept myself, not to feel inferior all the time, to
be a little more assertive about the things I believed in – Angel was one of
the things I would defend to the end.
We had celebrated the anniversary of our meeting
happily and spent the day down at the beach where I had first found her, playing
silly, carefree games again like the old days, rolling in the sand, playing
in the surf. Now, it was well into the night and, despite the day’s exertions,
neither of us could sleep.
Silently, we stood side by side and looked up
to the stars. We sighed in unison. Although we had no regrets, we both longed
to soar up amongst them, to fly. We were happy, of course, but not complete.
But we were resigned to our flightless future, for it had been our sacrifices
that had brought us any future at all and we did not spurn our chosen path.
But yet…
And then, from nowhere, came words that whispered
to the empty night.
"For one night in each year, you shall have
all you desire…."
Then, suddenly, I felt warmth rush through my
body. I blinked in surprise and looked up at Angel, confused. She was also frowning.
Then, in harmony, we gasped. From Angel’s white fur, I saw two pairs of beautiful
white wings unfurl. They were not feathery, not the wings of an angel: they
were made of Faerie magic, curled at the tips, with light blue designs swirling
over them. I felt my own wings brush my shoulders. Craning my head around, I
saw that they were similar to Angel’s, with a slight pattern variation. I knew
that they were a gift from Fyora and was filled with gratitude. Because, for
one night a year, we could have both the things we dreamt of: friendship and
flight.
And a future, together.
Whether or not we had wings….
Angel gave me an infectious grin, rustling her
new wings, and seized my paws. Together, we shot up into the sky, dancing amongst
the stars. Our anklets glittered in the soft white moonlight as we twirled around
in giddy ecstasy. I left all my cares and responsibilities far below me as we
soared and I forgot everything but the joy of flight and the warm touch of Angel’s
paws on mine. Together, we flew…
When morning's first rays started to streak across
the sky, we would again be earth bound, living a normal life, friends forever.
But, for this one night, the skies were ours alone. For the first time in my
life, I knew how it was to fly, and to be loved by a friend. And tears rolled
down my face, reflecting the silvery starlight, for I had all I had ever wanted.
Now, we had truly risen. Risen so far that we
would never fall. We had flight, we had freedom and we had each other…
Angel and Dreamer; Dreamer and Angel…
True angels fly with their hearts alone…
Now we have risen. Ni’eleva (we have risen),
forever…
~oily106
And so ends the Fallen series. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I
enjoyed writing it. Whether you loved it or loathed it, please drop me a Neomail
and give me some feedback. Give a sad ko’entri (goodbye) to Dreamer and Angel
for their story ends… here.
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