2Chapter 1: A Wish…But Not Really
Freya Miller has always stood solidly on the ground with two feet, her head firmly attatched to her neck and rarely venturing out of this atmosphere. It is safe to say that she was acutely aware of everything that was happening around her, and had little use for anything she couldn't see with her own eyes. Like monsters under the bed, or Santa Clause. Freya was known as being practical, determined, focused and stubborn, so it was a surprise to everyone, including herself, when she decided that this world was not worth living in.
It had happened one hot June day, in the middle of the worst social studies class ever to be taught. The school year was winding down, with students rejoicing and teachers trying desperately to cram some more information into the heads of distracted eight graders. Paper airplanes whizzed though the air while Ms Nason franticly continued to explain the influence somethingorother had over indistinguishable in the years of 17mummermummer to 1803. It was during that class that Freya realized how utterly pointless it all was. Day in, day out, the same thing over and over again and to what gain? A routine day that was so aimless, Freya wondered why the sun bothered to rise on such a boring world.
She stood up from her desk and grabbed her books.
" I bid you farewell." she said into the din of the room, and was gone.
Her feet took her to the public library. Somewhere in the back of her mind Freya wondered why the library, but she didn't really care. She pushed the door open wide and stepped in.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. When they did, she saw a small desk with a woman sitting behind it, surrounded by piles and piles of books. The librarian looked at the sounds of Freya's footsteps. She had magnificent flame red hair that hung in heavy curls around her shoulders and looked to be in about her mid fourties.
"Shouldn't you be in school, dear?" she asked Freya. Her voice was slightly raspy and reminded Freya of cinderblocks being dragged across a floor. Freya shrugged. Her own hair was a dark blonde with touches of red in it that crimped a bit by its own accord.
"What is the point? It is June, no-one learns anything in June, and it is so pointless I felt like a change of scenery. Actually," Freya said thoughtfully, "this whole world is kind of pointless. I need a break."
The librarian cackled. Freya was momentarily surprised, as she had never heard such a cackle before. It seemed kind of like a cackle one would hear on Halloween.
"Well, my friend, I can help you there." The librarian said softly, almost in a whisper. "How would you like to leave this world, just for a little while?"
Freya's mind was calmly arguing with itself.
She's crazy.
Maybe, but there's no harm in asking her what she's talking about.
But she's crazy!
Oh come on! What do you think she's going to do, whisk us away into a Faerie Tale?
Of course not. Don't be ridiculous.
Exactly.
Alright. But remember, she-
I know. She's crazy.
"What do you think?" the woman, who Freya was beginning to doubt was a librarian, asked.
"I wouldn't mind a change." Freya responded. The woman beckoned her over to the table and pulled out a thick, leather bound volume. She flicked through the pages until she found the one she had been searching for.
"Okay, here we go." The woman took a step back and started at Freya piercingly. "You want a change? You got it."
A blinding flash a purple light appeared before Freya's eyes. She squeezed them shut and felt a vortex of wind and rain whip around her, spinning and spinning, spinning a new scene and replacing the dark library.
How odd, Freya though, and opened her eyes.
For the first time in her life, Freya was not firmly planted in reality. Looking around her, she saw that she was in the centre of a market, people milling about her much like the vortex had. Stalls sold everything imaginable, Freya could tell, and all of the noise and bustle was slightly overwhelming.
"Not what you were expecting, is it?" came the raspy voice, and Freya whipped around.
"Want to give me some information? She demanded. The fiery haired librarian was amazingly outlandish. Two great feathered, black wings protruded from her shoulders and she wore black robes, trimmed with the same colour green as her eyes. She cackled.
"Well, you're in a Faerie Tale, that's the simplest way to explain it to a human."
Freya crossed her arms and looked at the winged figure. "A Faerie Tale."
"Yes. Though to all of us," it waved its hand, gesturing to all of the people, "it's our world. There is King Patrick and Queen Marianna, and their daughter, the perfect Princess Arabella. Knights go out and slay Dragons, or at least, they say they do, and people grumble about taxes."
The people gave Freya and her companion a wide berth, most nodding respectively to the winged lady.
"So who are you? Wait, what are you?" Freya demanded,
"Oh, I'm Araphein, the Eoughs witch."
"Bless you."
"I didn't sneeze. Eoughs, that's the name of this country." Araphein sighed. "You are such a human."
Freya looked around herself, taking in her surroundings. The street was narrow and cobblestoned, clotheslines hanging over their heads. A castle rose up behind the houses into a bright blue sky.
"A witch, eh?" Freya said, turning back to Araphein. "So does that mean that if I told you I wanted a magical flying pony, you'd magic one up right now?"
As a response, Araphein pointed upwards. Freya looked into the sky, and to her horror, saw a pony with two huge, white-feathered wings soaring down to her. Not one person in the street looked up.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The pony touched down and folded its wings. It was a pale violet colour with bright blue eyes, and Freya was disgusted.
"Aren't you precious?" Araphein was saying, petting its nose. The thing was nodding. "You need a name. How about Lilly? That's a good name, isn't it?"
"I hate it." Freya said, referring to both the name and the pony.
"I knew you'd love it." Araphein declared, stepping back. "She's all yours."
"What?!" Freya exclaimed. "No way! I do NOT want some purple pony following me around! And does this sort of thing happen all the time here?" Freya waved a hand at the crowd of people around them, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a flying horse had just landing in the middle of the market.
"They can't see Lilly." explained Araphein patiently. Only you and I can. But yes, it does. Well, I'd best be going. It was nice meeting you, Freya."
"What the heck am I supposed to do?!" Freya yelled, losing her self-control.
"Oh, whatever you'd like, really. You wanted a change, and you got it." Araphein said, spreading her wings and flying off the opposite way of the castle.
Freya looked at Lilly, who snorted happily and tried to eat her hair.
"Why didn't I ask for a magical flying bowling ball instead?"
Author's NoteHa, that last line was for Bradley. Anyways, thank you to everyone who read Larry the Knight, and just to tell everyone that chapter two is actually written, just not typed. Anyways, I hope people like this one, and I'm hoping maybe chapter two for this story will be up within a year.) Cinnamon loaf for Qzie, and if you ask nicely she might share it with you, I'm sure.)