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An Unexpected Meeting


by pepper_imp

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      Madeliynn was a simple, tender-hearted Blumaroo who lived alone in a small town outside Neopia Central. She had not seen much of the wider world Neopia, though she dreamt of it, for she was quite terrified of the wonders and terrors she might face alike. However, Maddy’s most cherished dream – one she spent a good deal of time pondering on – was to someday visit Faerieland. How beautiful this mythical land seemed to sweet little Madeliynn! The stories she had heard made it seem quite wonderful. For Madeliynn had read all about Faerieland – its amaranthine waterfalls, sparkling blue pools, the elegant yet colossal castle the hue of pale irises. She had heard the meadows were endless emerald fields filled with flowers of every shade imaginable – some the purest, most piercing blue of glass or a summer sky; others a bold and vibrant scarlet, the scorched embers of flames. And oh, the songs they sung of the Faeries! This was, perhaps, the foremost reason for Maddy’s deep-seated wanderlust for Faerieland, after all. The faeries themselves – such perfect expressions of femininity and strange, wondrous power – all colours of the rainbow, with such ephemeral style and grace. How Maddy longed to meet one, or even to catch just a brief, breathless glance of a creature she found so beautiful. Yet, it was a pipe dream. She held the idea of this magical world close to her heart, but all was tinged with sadness – for she knew she had not the courage nor the means to visit such a far-off land, and she was so shy, so irretrievably an introvert, that she could not envisage ever asking another to help her fulfil her fantasy.

      However, Maddy was not the type to wallow in sadness or hopelessness, for she was always filled with a quiet optimism and hope. She oft collected small trinkets – reminders of slight moments of joy, happiness and revelry or beauty – and even just a colloquial glance at the array of tiny treasures that glinted in the morning sun on her bedside shelf filled her with a golden sweetness, bringing a tender smile to her lighted face. And it was quite clear to her how this day – this illustrious spring day – should be spent. She may never make the long, ardous journey to Faerieland. She may never dip a ticklish toe in a sparkling Faerie pool, nor wash her princess locks in a gentle Faerie waterfall. And she may never hear the sun-struck laugh of a Fire faerie or the willow-wisp of an Air faerie’s songs, never gaze upon the sarcastic smile of a Dark faerie, or bear witness to an Earth faerie’s woodland wonders. Yet, our dear Maddy had a motto – there is always make-believe. For Maddy’s fair heart was a whirl of words, of songs and stars and stories, and she was never more happy than when she was playing at fantasy.

      And so, with a deep breath, a breath full of the smell of honeysuckle and all the succulence of spring, Maddy prepared for her adventure. She would not travel far, of course, for she was shy, and sweet, and scared of venturing too far from home; yet in her mind she could travel galaxies, vast swathes of space in seconds. Such was the power of make-believe and rhyme. She knew of many places close to home from which she could enact her dramas – quiet, reserved areas where rarely another Neopian seemed to frequent. She had often pondered why she never saw another soul when she took her wanders to the nearby fields, or the little pond down the lane. Certainly, her town was quiet, sparsely populated, with only a few scarce shops and not even a town hall. She supposed the others were not quite like her – perhaps they did not know what it meant to be helplessly wistful, lost in a storybook or a music box or a song. Perhaps Maddy envied them – she did not know.

      She journeyed to the fields. In her mind, the journey was long – she was a traveller, an outcast, a dreamer. She thought of Hannah, and how brave she was to undertake all those adventures alone. She was the bravest Usul Maddy had ever heard of, and someone she would adore to meet – though, she was not sure what she would say, should she ever be granted such an opportunity. She always thought of Hannah when she walked to the fields, she thought of her in her damp, torn dress, cold and alone in the Pirate Caves, searching for hidden treasures. She was in awe and also saddened by her plight. She wondered, vaguely, if Hannah ever found what she truly sought throughout her myriad of adventures.

      The day was balmy – warm, but a pleasant spring breeze kept Maddy perfectly cool. She reached the fields and hopped the fence with girlish grace, and a nervous giggle as she almost toppled at the landing. She did not want to get mud on her dress, after all! Maddy really was a lovely Blumaroo, with long chocolate curls adorned with spring flowers in ivory and rose, and she had chosen a cream-coloured lace dress for this her small adventure to her own personal Faerieland. The meadow too looked the part – all burst into bloom, snowdrops and daffodils and tiny purple crocuses, a true testament to spring, a chorus to ward off winter. And so she dreamed, as she lay in the warm sun, she dreamed she was in Faerieland, in a field of emerald green, surrounded by glass flowers so blue they rivalled the sky, and she dreamed she could hear the Faeries laughing, and casting little token spells, changing the flowers from azure to saffron to the violet of the castle, the castle overlooking the meadow like a majestic, purple goddess, and the rustling of all the sweet little painted Faellies in the long grass…

      Maddy was shocked back to the present. The rustling was real! Something was lurking in the grass, not so very far from where she lay. Her eyes widened in fear. A thousand scenarios flitted through her mind all at once. What was the noise? It was not scurrying, not so much rustling, but…

      She let out a sigh of relief as the creature emerged from the grass and hovered above her. It was only a sweet little Carmariller! Maddy was so relieved, she even let out a small giggle – a musical, girlish laugh. She examined the curious creature, lying quite still so as not to scare it away. It was beautiful: a delicate, petite thing, painted ivory and tan. It hovered above her with gently beating wings, watching her with inquisitive, glinting eyes. Maddy rather liked the little thing. It was like a message in a bottle from another world.

      And then, with a coy smile, the Carmariller began to sing – a high-pitched, sweet melody full of mirth and playfulness and comradery. Madeliynn rose from her bed of flowers and held out a tentative hand. She waited, a weighty pause, as the Carmariller’s honeysuckle song continued. And then, the beautiful thing descended, and took its place on Maddy’s outstretched palm. Deep within her heart, Maddy felt warmth, a blossoming love, and she whispered to her new-found friend – Would you like to play make-believe with me?

      The End.

 
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