Letters to Baelia

     “Brie, who is that?” the Lutari asked, pointing to the faerie sitting on a bench. Brie looked at the Faerie, then at the broken down shack the faerie was sitting in front of.

     “That’s Baelia, Lucy. Now, come on; it’s not polite to stare.” Brie spoke softly. Neither was aware that the Grey Faerie had heard every word.

      ~*~

     Baelia rose from her creaky bed. Her petpet, a grey Faellie, flew up and landed softly on her shoulder. She walked out to her yard and again sat upon the bench. She watched as a Mail Uni came up to her.

     “Hello,” he said in a sing-song voice. Baelia and her petpet just looked at him.

     “Well, today’s been a first. As long as I’ve been running this route, you’ve never had a single letter. But, today, you do,” he said, handing her the letter. He gave her a smile and went on his way. Baelia slowly opened the letter.

     Dear Baelia,

     I was with my owner on a walk through Faerieland when I saw you and your home. Why are you so sad? I live in Faerieland and all the faeries I see are always happy. It’s very confusing to me.

     A puzzled Lutari,

     Lucy

     Baelia sighed and got up from her bench. She went inside and sat at an old desk and grabbed a small pencil.

     Dear Lucy,

     I saw you and your owner walking past my house yesterday. Why am I so sad? I am the Grey Faerie. Grey faeries are always sad. We never have company and we do not give quests. If we do have friends, they’re normally our petpets, and the petpets are painted grey.

     Sorrowfully,

     Baelia

     Baelia sealed the envelope and looked at her petpet. She sighed. The Mail Uni was long gone by now.

     “Cali? Do you feel up to delivering this letter?” she asked. The petpet slowly nodded and grabbed the letter. She flapped her wings once, and then flew out an open window. Baelia laid her head down on the desk and fell asleep.

      ~*~

     Cali the Grey Faellie tapped Baelia on the arm. Looking up, Baelia noticed there was a letter in Cali’s paws, and a Faerie Zomutt sitting beside her. The Zomutt did a few flips, then sat back down. Baelia grabbed the letter and opened it.

     Dear Baelia,

     How does one become a grey faerie? Brie, my owner, says that Grey Faeries were once a different type of faerie, but that’s all she said. I like your petpet. What’s her name? You can send your letter back with Zoey, my petpet. Why do Grey Faeries like to sulk? Everyone needs company sometimes.

     Wonderingly,

     Lucy

     Sighing, Baelia picked up the pencil again. Slowly, she wrote a response.

     Dear Lucy,

     You're full of questions, aren’t you? My petpet’s name is Cali. I like Zoey as well. She’s rather energetic, isn’t she? As for sulking, it’s just something Grey Faeries do. We don’t have very many friends; all faeries find us depressing. As for becoming a Grey Faerie, you have to have your wings clipped. Without our wings, we are powerless. So you see there is a reason to sulk.

     Tearfully,

     Baelia

     Sealing the envelope, Baelia handed it to Zoey. The Zomutt did a few flips, and then flew off. Baelia watched the petpet’s outline grow fainter and fainter, till she could no longer see it.

     “Cali, why don’t we go sulk at the Rainbow Fountain?” Baelia asked. Cali got up from the table and they both walked out if the house. Once at the street, they noticed how cheerful Faerieland really was. She heard a familiar voice at a small shop.

     “Come on, Angie. We need to finish these errands,” the voice said. Baelia looked over to see Brie with a Rainbow Pteri.

     “But, Brie, aren’t you at least a little bit curious?” the Pteri asked.

     “No. Now, stay out of Lucy’s room and you shouldn’t pester her; you hate it when she bugs you,” Brie said. No longer wanting to go to the fountain, Baelia walked home. Upon arriving, she saw Zoey sitting on the fence. The petpet’s presence lit the whole place up, at least a little bit. Baelia took the letter that the petpet was holding and read it.

     Dear Baelia,

     Yes, I am full of questions. My big sister, Angie, says that I am a pest. Well, so is she. Zoey is a bit energetic. You could come to my house; no one cares if you’re depressing here. And there are lots of us; we can all be your friends. There’s Brie, Luke, Angie, Mark, and me. That’s in oldest to youngest order. And that’s not including our petpets. So what if you don’t have wings? Water faeries don’t have wings, and they still are happy. I find no reason to sulk.

     Happily,

     Lucy

     Baelia hurriedly walked inside and went straight to her old desk. The petpets scampered around her feet. She looked down at Cali. The little Faellie smiled. It was the first time since the petpet had been painted that she smiled.

     Dear Lucy,

     I am not much for company as I said in my last letter, and being around so many pets might convince people that I am actually happy. And if I, the Grey Faerie, look happy, then what will that show people? It will throw everything off balance; here is an example of what someone might say: “If the Grey Faerie is happy, then that Thief must be my best friend!” That wouldn’t be very good, now, would it? And while Water Faeries have no wings, they still control their element. I have no power, and what is a faerie if they cannot light a fire for a freezing pet? Or they cannot give a glass of water to a dehydrated pet? Or they cannot even make a simple flower grow. There is reason to sulk.

     Sadly,

     Baelia

     Baelia gave the Zomutt her letter, and then went to lay in her creaky old bed. Cali came up beside her and looked at her.

     “Don’t give me that look. Zoey can’t stay here forever, you know,” Baelia said. The petpet tilted her head. Baelia sighed and turned away. She reached up and fingered her torn curtains. Then her old blanket. Finally she fingered her worn dress. She got out of bed and ignored the moaning of the springs. She slowly dragged her feet to the bench outside and sat. Then Zoey flew up with a letter in her mouth. Baelia took it, and slowly opened it.

     Dear Baelia,

     I’m sorry if my writing is sloppy, for I am writing in a rush. People and pets alike know better than to trust thieves, and if they don’t, shame on them. You do represent something. Think of all the grey pets and petpets out there. You represent them. And no one, and I mean no one, should say that you have to be sad. If the other Grey Faeries want to be sad, let them. And if you ever do decide to drop by, that’s fine.

     Happily,

     Lucy

      ~*~

     Zoey flew through the darkening sky. She stopped at a bright blue house.

     “What do you have there, Zoey?” a Kougra said. Zoey gave him the letter.

     “Lucy! You got a letter!” he shouted. Lucy ran up to him.

     “Thanks, Luke,” Lucy said. She opened the envelope.

     Dear Lucy,

     Thank you.

     Baelia

     Lucy smiled to herself, and went to catch up with her Grey Kougra brother, Luke.

The End