Fyora's Gift

      "I must say, Tori, this is even better than last year's," Fyora complimented, admiring her reflection in the mirror. The dress was made of the smoothest pink velvet with lighter pink and white satin trimmings. It was thin-strapped at the shoulders, and in various places on the garment were hearts of pink, light pink, or white. Fyora's shoes to wear to the ball were waiting beside the stool. They were white high-heels with a heart at the toe.

      "I know exactly how to do your hair, too," Tori exclaimed. "It'll be pinned up in curls with flowers at the sides."

      "Tori, you're the best," Fyora said. "I can't believe how wonderful this looks!" While Tori put up her sewing kit, Fyora slipped into her dressing room. She came out with her normal lilac outfit on, dress folded on her arm. She glided over to her closet and hung the dress, smoothing it fondly. Fyora turned and handed Tori a sack of 550,000 neopoints.

      "Oh! Your Highness--"

      "Call me Fyora, please! We've been friends since before I became Queen."

      "Oh…well, Fyora, this is over 100,000 more than I charged."

      "I'm fully aware of that," Fyora answered, smiling.

      "Thank you, your High--Fyora." Tori gave the Queen a quick hug and headed off to her next appointment. It seemed like everyone wanted a professional dress for this year's dance.

      Meanwhile, Fyora crossed her meeting with Tori off her calendar.

      "Well!" she said, suddenly. "It seems like I have a bit of spare time today. I think I'd like to go for a walk around my kingdom." She headed once more into the closet and came out with an outfit she rarely wore, simply because she rarely had the time. There was a pair of deep purple jeans with an 'F' on the pocket and a white shirt with lace at the neck and cuffs. She also slipped on a pair of white roller blades.

      "Jenny! I'm going out for awhile!" she called to her maid.

      "Have fun!" Jenny replied over her hover-vacuum. Fyora pried open her palace door and stepped outside. As she glided along, she could see everyone getting ready for February 14th. Mothers were decorating their homes. The queen was nearing Cloudy Park, a playground with a huge field of the lushest green grass.

      "I remember practically living here when I was a girl," she recalled. Fyora decided to skate through around the park on the sidewalk surrounding it. As she neared a large tree in the field, she could immediately sense conflict. There were a group of faeries, all of them around fourteen years of age, talking to one who seemed to not be a part of their group. Fyora stood at a safe distance, but decided to listen in to see if she could help.

      "See, this is where you're wrong, Rosalind. You can't go to the Valentine's Day Ball." A girl who appeared to be the leader of the group was clearly antagonizing this one.

      "Why not? It's open to anyone who wants to go!" Rosalind was trying to stand up to this one, but it seemed like she was losing her will.

      "For one thing, you haven't even got your wings yet! And for two, you couldn't even afford the cloth for a dress to wear. And finally, you're just too big of a loser. See, I'm going to win the dress contest, and you'd only embarrass yourself by showing up. So I'd better not see you there, because unlike you, I've also discovered my powers. Fire faeries like me are too hot to handle, so don't bother trying." With that, the leader flicked her hand and she disappeared with her posse. Rosalind slid down with her back against the tree and stared straight ahead.

      No, no! Don't cry! I couldn't stand it if she were to start to cry, thought Fyora. She approached the girl and sat down beside her. Rosalind was a beautiful girl, with long black hair and a fair complexion. When she turned to look at Fyora, the queen was surprised to see that her eyes were icy blue.

      "Who was she?" she asked gently.

      "That was only Marina. She doesn't bother me." Fyora knew better than to believe that.

      "She obviously has a problem with you."

      "She likes to make fun of me because she's rich. Everything she wants is handed to her on a silver platter, and now, because of her, I can't go to the dance. I've waited all my life to be old enough to be allowed in, and now I never will."

      "That's not true!" Fyora normally was very good about controlling her anger, but for some reason she wasn't able to. "You will go to that dance; I'll make sure of it. I have a plan."

      "You do?"

      "Of course I do. So…can you meet me at my house later tonight?"

      "Well, where do you live?"

      "I live at the castle."

      "No way!" Rosalind jumped up. "Are you…are you the…queen?"

      "You may call me Fyora."

      "Really?" The queen nodded. Rosalind seemed speechless for a moment, and then she backed up.

      "I'll be sure to meet you there!" With that, she turned and ran off.

      That evening at the castle, it was Rosalind's turn to be standing on top of the stool while Tori worked on her dress. Fyora had told her friend the story, and Tori had offered to do the dress for free. Rosalind's dress was just as beautiful as Fyora's. It was a long, white velvet dress with long pointed sleeves. Pale ribbons decorated with hearts hung from the waist belt. As Rosalind stared in disbelief at her reflection, Fyora smiled to herself. With the dance only a few days away, this was sure to be a show-stopper.

      Finally, February 1st arrived, the night of the ball. Rosalind showed up once more at the castle to put on her dress. When she arrived, Fyora was fully dressed for the party. Rosalind went behind the dressing box and came out looking like a white princess. As she stared at her reflection in complete and total awe while Tori did her hair up like Fyora's, the queen headed to her dresser. She pulled out a golden box and retrieved a silver tiara with a pearly white heart in the center. Wordlessly, she placed it on Rosalind's head. Rosalind nearly fainted from the shock.

      "Do you mean it?" she asked to the mirror. She was answered with another smile.

      "I think we should get going. The ball is starting," Fyora said gently. With that, the two walked down the hall while Tori rushed to get herself ready. The ballroom exploded with applause and cheers as the Queen made her entrance.

      "Now," Fyora said, "Let's see if we can't find your friend Marina." She stayed behind Rosalind as the girl paced through the room. Suddenly, she gasped nervously, seeing the fire faerie. Marina was sporting a thin-strapped red dress covered with glittery hearts. She glanced to the side and her fake smile disappeared.

      "What are you doing at MY party, Rosalind?" she demanded. "And where'd you get that thing? Did someone give it to you out of pity?"

      "Excuse me," Fyora said calmly, stepping next to Rosalind with her hand on her shoulder, "but last time I checked, I was sure that this was my party. Of course, if I'm mistaken, please let me know. And I'll also have you know that I helped make this dress for my friend Rosalind. However, you must excuse me. I was rude to interrupt you. What were you going to finish saying about Rosalind?"

      Marina turned as red as the punch in her goblet and began to stammer.

      "Of course, that's just what I thought you said," the queen said pleasantly. As Fyora turned her back, Marina seemed to find herself again. She drew back her arm and shot a blazing attack of fireballs at Rosalind. Fyora wheeled around, but Rosalind had raised her own arm and stopped the attack in midair with a shining beam of ice.

      "An ice faerie. Very nice," Fyora said. Marina looked furious, but she simply turned on her expensive high heeled shoe and stomped off. Her posse stayed a moment to gaze at Rosalind, but Marina shrieked across the room and they hurried away.

      "I…I did it," Rosalind whispered.

      "Yes, you did. I'm so proud of you, Rosalind. I've never actually had the experience of seeing an ice faerie discover her powers. It was marvelous."

      "I feel like I could fly, I'm so happy," Rosalind said suddenly.

      "Why don't you, then?"

      "I haven't got my wings, not yet," Rosalind said.

      "I wouldn't be too sure about that," Fyora said. With a gasp, the girl twisted to look behind her and saw a pair of glittery white-and-blue wings.

      "This is the best day of my life!" she cried. With that, she rose into the air and began to dance. Fyora looked on happily, knowing that she had changed this girl's life forever.

      The song ended with some of the truest words Fyora had ever heard.

      Wishes can come true today

      Happy Valentine's Day

The End