The Queen's Quest

     Everything started when Fyora, The Faerie Queen, mysteriously fell ill at dawn. Many tried, but no healer in all of Faerieland was able to properly identify the inexplicable cause of the peculiar disease. That went on until a reputed mystic from Mystery Island determined that the Queen was suffering from a terrible curse. The mystic was also able to find that the Queen’s life was at stake and the only possibility of a cure was a very exotic herb, found only in the deepest forests of the Haunted Woods.

     At first, Fyora didn’t want anyone to go to a hostile place like the Haunted Woods, but the Faerie Council wouldn’t let the Faerie Queen languish alone. The Council called an emergency meeting and ended up deciding that Faerieland was in desperate need of a volunteer faerie with notorious knowledge about the Haunted Wood’s native vegetation, which, let’s be honest, it’s not something easy to find.

     That’s when Kayla realized she was the only one qualified enough for the task. She was one of the few faeries with any biology comprehension, but definitely the only faerie to have a specific understanding of the Haunted Woods’ vegetation. After Kayla offered herself to the task, Fyora demanded that no more risks would be taken and she wouldn’t allow any other faeries to sacrifice themselves.

     Kayla was definitely no ordinary faerie, but being assigned a mission in the middle of a completely different land wouldn’t be an easy task, no matter how smart The Council thought she was. Kayla quickly gathered a few books and a little bag to accompany her during the trip. Kayla could clearly remember the words the Queen said to her before leaving Faerieland: “Courage shouldn’t go unrewarded, Kayla. Take care.” Kayla wasn’t quite sure of what that meant.

     Kayla then decided that she couldn’t have those thoughts right now. She was there for a reason and she needed to find the rare herb Fyora so desperately needed. Kayla looked around and the bare earth stretched as far as the eye could see. Greyish bushes and twisted roots could be seen here and there. Kayla kept looking when she finally saw the herb. It was hanging in the highest part of a tree trunk. Kayla quickly moved over there and collected the herb, putting the plant in her bag.

     Everything seemed fine until Kayla realized the obvious. The moon. A full moon was rising in the open sky. Kayla knew what the full moon in the Haunted Woods represented. She had heard stories since she was a little faerie. “When the full moon reaches its peak in the starry sky, all other creatures withdraw. Only Balthazar and his band roam the dry steppes of Haunted Woods.” Kayla could remember her mother's every word clearly. The moon was very high in the sky, so in a few minutes it would reach its highest point. Kayla needed to get out of that place urgently.

     It was then that Kayla saw her. A figure of small stature with a black hood covering its face. The figure had just picked up a few leaves from a tree a few feet away. Who could she be? What was she doing in such a dangerous place? Did she not know the terrible future that awaited her in a few moments? It was then that the figure turned towards Kayla and said calmly:

     “Are you lost, dear?”

     Kayla was extremely nervous and stuttered when she spoke. It was difficult to formulate a clear sentence under the circumstances.

     “Erm... I’m... I’m not exactly lost… but I need to…to…”

     “Leave this place as soon as possible?”

     The figure removed the hood and Kayla immediately recognized that greenish and wrinkled face. That was Edna, The Witch. Edna went on without much ceremony.

     “You shouldn’t be here, faerie. It’s really stupid to come to the Haunted Woods during a full moon night.”

     “I… I desperately needed this herb!” Kayla paused for a brief time and continued. “It’s for Fyora! She’s sick!” Kayla could see that Edna's expression changed the second she heard that information.

     “Sick, huh?” Edna pondered for a while. “Didn’t it cross your mind that you would need to come out alive to get this back?” Edna pointed to Kayla’s bag. “If you perish here, Fyora’s fate will be as miserable as if you hadn’t come in the first place!”

     Edna's reasoning was logical and cohesive. However, Kayla was driven by the loyalty and devotion she nurtured towards the Queen. She did not regret it at all. Now, she needed to focus on how to get out of that place. The moon continued to rise in the sky, higher and higher. It could reach its peak any minute now. Maybe Edna could help her out of this inhospitable place.

     “Aren’t you afraid of the full moon? This place will be full of starving lupes in no time!” Kayla said.

     “Oh!” Edna giggled. “I won’t be here when that happens!”

     “How? How are you going to leave?” Kayla was truly curious.

     “I’m a witch, faerie. I can use magic to teleport myself.” Edna said it like she was stating something obvious. She might not be wrong.

     “Please, take me with you!” At this point, Kayla was starting to scream.

     “Why should I help you?” Edna seemed offended by Kayla’s suggestion. “Faerieland has always been against witchcraft. You faeries claim that the magic from the Haunted Woods is not pure.” Edna had a serious and accusing expression on her face.

     “I’ll do anything you want! Just help me!” Kayla was feeling tears coming out of her eyes.

     “Anything, you say?” Edna's tone of voice became lower as the words came out of her mouth. “Well… There’s one thing I need…”

     “Anything! Tell me what it is!” Kayla got close to Edna.

     “You possess something really rare, faerie. An ingredient that can only be obtained under very special circumstances.” Edna looked Kayla deep in the eyes. “Your wings.”

     “My wings? Why would you…”

     Before she could even finish speaking, a potent howl echoed in the freezing night. The sound was high-pitched. Balthazar's pack was close. Kayla needed to get out of that place right away.

     “A willingly-given pair of faerie wings is extremely unusual.” Edna explained. “I myself have never gotten one before. It can make really powerful spells.” Edna seemed thoughtful.

     “I... I don’t even know what to say…” Kayla was completely appalled by that information. “Wings are the most important part of any faerie! How am I supposed to live without them?” Kayla spoke slowly like she was elaborating the words just as they came out of her mouth. “Faerieland is a city located above the clouds. One obviously needs to fly to get there!”

     Kayla and Edna heard a nearby bush move. It was as if some creature was crossing the foliage to reach the open space.

     “Okay then...” Kayla started to shed tears. “How will you remove them? Will there be pain?” Kayla had so many questions in her head.

     “Not a single second of pain. Magic will make sure of it.” Edna stopped for a second and firmly continued. “Turn around, faerie.”

     Kayla turned on her back and Edna placed both hands on her wings. Edna recited a few words in an unknown language. Moments later, the witch's hands began to shine brightly. They had a bluish glow. Edna touched the base of Kayla's wings and lifted them off of her back. There was no pain, just as Edna had said.

     The creature trying to cross the bushes finally emerged. It was a lupe. He had whitish fur, sharp claws, and long teeth. The lupe started sniffing the soil when he finally realized the presence of both Edna and Kayla.

     “Ok, faerie. You’re brave. I’ll give you that. Now, hold my shoulder. We must leave immediately!”

     Again, Edna hissed out incomprehensible words while making circular movements with both hands. It was then that Kayla felt the reality in front of her dissolve. The vegetation, the moon, the lupe, everything was getting distant until it had completely faded. When her senses correctly picked up the events again, Kayla realized that she was at the gates of Faerieland.

     “That was a rough night.” Kayla didn’t know what else to say at that point. “Thank you for everything, Edna.” The faerie touched Edna’s hands. “I’ll make sure Faerieland never forgets what you have done tonight,” Kayla finished.

     “I’m sure you won’t.” Edna had an inscrutable expression.

     Kayla then felt something strange. Her back. There was something different about her back. Kayla brought both her hands together and touched her back. To her most absolute surprise, her wings were there. Kayla’s wings were in the exact same place.

     “What? But my wings… Why?”

     “I returned your wings, faerie.” Edna paused for a few seconds. “Courage shouldn’t go unrewarded. Take care.” She completed.

     Kayla didn’t know how to respond. She was absolutely astonished by all the events that went on in the last hours. Edna didn’t say another word. The witch gestured for an instant and just vanished in the air. At that moment, Kayla looked at her bag and knew exactly what she was meant to do next.

      The End.