part of an unedited story

Arin woke up, and realizing what she had dreamed about, looked around for a book, but there was nothing. She then realized that she had dozed off in the library. Oh no! The festivities were starting today and she had dozed off! Arin remembered and scrambled to get out of the library. She hurriedly flew to the courtyard outside by hopping through an open window and flying swiftly downward.

It was almost too much to take in, even though she had seen the festivities before it never failed to captivate her with awe at all the magic that was used. Fortunately, the festivities were not completely set up, meaning she still had a little time. She hurriedly got to the practice stands.

[LH1]   “Where have you been?” Tate asked.

Arin scowled, her blue eyes flashed as she muttered, “I dozed off in the library.”

Tate stared at her for a bit, and then broke out laughing.

Arin almost snapped at him but instead she grinned. She picked up a staff and threw it at Tate, who barely caught it just in time. He raised an eyebrow. “Getting better with your temper I see and making good use of it.”

“Well let’s get a little combat in before they finish setting up.” Arin ignored him and said, “Duel, Match!” which started the battle. This was merely a friendly battle, where, as fairies, they exercised and warmed up for the battles activities ahead.

The festivities were a sight to amaze. There were bright colors galore. Even without magic, it would be a sight to astound. Bright colored streamers rained down from the magical clouds lined in silver that glimmered and had tints of light blue within it. Everywhere it was colorfully and expertly designed to the last detail. There were all kinds of activities going on. There were baker stalls and exotic goods and games and entertainment.

Arin strolled onto the platform that was the stage, turning into a squirrel (She could still fairy-speak if she wished.) “Come one come all. Here we have practiced a few tricks that will amaze you. For example, opps where did my tail go, it was here a minute ago!” she started to look for it and when she turned around the crowd gasped, her tail was indeed gone, but she still was a squirrel! “Now where is it, I was so sure that it was here.” Then a floating tail came up behind her and said

“Here I am!” the tail squeaked. The crowd was a little taken back, surprised the tail could talk without a mouth.

“What do you think you are doing Tail! We are supposed to show our tricks not hide and wait for the act to end!” Arin then started to chase ‘her tail’ all over the stage. The crowd began to laugh.

“Wait a minute; I’m supposed to be tailing you, not the other way around!” The crowd laughed harder as the ‘tail’ chased Arin around the stage.

“I’m supposed to be telling a tale, Tail! So let me have my tail back or you have to grow another squirrel because I don’t like a tail that argues!” Arin chased the tail around once more and when Arin and the tail passed by a screen, Arin yelled, “I got you.” She then waited a moment and then walked back into full view, clearly having her own tail back. “Now before I was interrupted, I was going to show you some examples of the practices we’ve been doing.” The crowd gasped with shock, and Arin saw the problem as she turned around. “Ok, whose tail is that, because it definitely isn’t mine. Everybody, check your tails, if you aren’t seeing it come on up.” Some of the fairies actually made sure it wasn’t theirs, mainly the younger shape-shifting ones, but a few others also had. Arin scowled at the tail, “Now go find your person!” The tail went into the crowd and picked one of the youngest fairies there and followed him. The younger fairy ran from the tail. “It looks as if the tail has found his person!”

The younger fairy yelled in a panic “It’s not mine, I checked!” That set the crowd off chuckling.

The ‘tail’ came onto the stage looking dejected. “Oh cheer up. You’ll find your person eventually. Now before I am interrupted again, on with the show!” Arin was being chased offstage by the tail. Laughter followed.

The curtains closed and opened again revealing a curious scene. There was a sign on the side that announced the upcoming events on the stage. There were stories, a Talent Show, break time and Announcements. The narrator of the stories was a friend of Arin’s named Teller[LH2]  whose talent was Storytelling. All of the young creatures were captivated, hardly daring to stir afraid of interrupting.

Arin whispered to Teller after one such story, “One of these days you are going to have your own stage here or join the Storyteller Masters or even the Storyteller Elite.” The Storyteller Masters were a group of mystical creatures who loved storytelling and acting and had decided to share their talents with others. It had different groups because membership was growing. A few groups were for those who wanted to see other planets, others for Mystical Havens, but there was an even better group called the Storyteller Elite.

Teller smiled his sweet smile slowly and said “Not quite to elite status yet. I still have a little ways to go but thanks for the complement. Now you are needed onstage for the next scene.”

Arin was late for the next scene but she made it up to the crowd by acting as if she had planned to be late. Quickly she changed into a squirrel backstage. She hid behind the screen and started crawling out from behind it pretending that it was of the uttermost impotence and that it was a secrecy mission. The crowd was staring at her not sure what to make of it. She hid in front of a desk and leaned against it. She whispered to the crowd “Shh, the tail might find me if we don’t keep our voices down. The next scene is a new talent. Then the next scene is the one you’ve been waiting for. It is the Talent show.” The crowd gave a cheer. Arin hushed them, “Now the next one is someone who is very shy, we’ll have to be really quiet as she does her first act, as it is her first time. As such she has elected to remain anonymous until later tonight.” A small fairy peeked out of the curtain. She slowly came out onto the stage with a couple music flutes; with one that looked like a penny/ Irish whistle and one that was made out of wood and looked like a Y. She handed Arin the Irish whistle and took her position in the middle of the stage. Arin began to play a simple and yet beautiful melody. After the intro, the small fairy began to rise into the air. With her eyes closed, the small fairy danced and played a more complex melody, weaving it into Arin’s melody. Hardly anyone breathed as they watched the small fairy and were lured into the spell of mystical music. After a bit Arin let the fairy do a solo without the fairy realizing it. Then at the end she joined back in. When they ended it seemed that the music drifted on the wind for a bit. The crowd was awe struck; the music was superb even by high fairy standards.

“Give our fellow fairy a round of applause.” Arin asked. The crowd gave a roar of approval and there was a lot of whistling, cheering and clapping.

When the other fairy left the stage and the crowd’s noise was lowered, Arin said, “And now for the long awaited Talent show!” The crowd cheered. “And then we will have intermission for 4 hours. So for those of you who have chosen to stay and enjoy our show, you may also enjoy the fair, get food and have fun!” A few fairies turned otter came out doing back flips and juggled, then came 2 fairies turned into swords, and the entire group that had a part came out, did a trick and then waited for their turn backstage. The ‘tail’ had spotted Arin and chased her during some of the breaks between parts and Arin and occasionally the ‘tail’ had a turn announcing who was next. At one time, Arin fought one of the sword fairies with her own sword.

Finally, at the end Arin said “It is break time, mystical creatures! Wow! There was a lot of talent shown today. Give the volunteers a round of applause!”

After the applause died down, “Don’t forget to see the show after intermission! We might have some repeats along with contest winners and other announcements.” Arin dismissed the crowd.

During break time Arin ate a couple of glazed blueberry scone/ biscuit and a piece of four-layer-decant-desert. She also played games, dueled, and got a few useful items. When Arin came back to the stage about an hour before it was to start again, she finished eating another scone. Tate was practicing on his archery skills. Arin decided to join him.

“Hey, Tate! How was the fair?” Arin asked him as she strung her bow.

“Fine I guess.” Tate said distractedly as he shot two arrows at the same time. Arin practiced with her bow and arrows for a bit before moving on to slingshot and then throwing daggers and javelins. She was so good that she had to move the targets back until they were far in the distance. She continued at it until a bird with silver wings tapped her on the shoulder. I know that bird! Arin thought and turned around. There stood the girl who had so amazed the crowd with her singing and dance ability. Her name was Tania[LH3] . She was blind but her hawk, Silver, the silver-winged bird that never left her side, was her eyes.

“What’s up?” Arin asked as she put the weapons away.

“I was just wondering, how do you get on the stage and perform the way you do?” Tania asked, “I’m nearly terrified to go up on it. I don’t know what the crowd will think.”

“I used to be the same way. I was terrified to perform in front of large groups. I overcame it by getting to know a lot of people and what they thought of my performance and putting myself in situations that I had to talk or lead people. You have some amazing talent and you astound and amaze and awe the crowd.” Arin replied, “However I don’t think that anyone that knows me now would ever agree that I was even remotely shy.”

Tania chuckled, “You’re right there. To anyone you would seem an outgoing, enthusiastic, friendly fairy. So what are your plans for after tomorrow?”

“After graduation and I get my first wand? I really don’t know yet though I am leaning toward going on a quest.Once I get used to my wand that is.” Arin said.

“Hey Arin, the show is about to resume.” Tate hollered by the stage.

“See you later, Tania.” Arin said before she flew off.

The ‘tail’ chased Arin (as a squirrel) onstage. Then Arin started chasing it and caught it! She shook it and presto! The ‘tail’ turned into another squirrel! It was Tate! Cheekily he bowed and said, “Hope you’ve enjoyed the show. Next up is the contest winners and other announcements.” He rolled out a long scroll and then chucked it, “Don’t need this. For the best Musical talent I have ever heard… Drum roll please” Tate paused, drawing out the suspense, “Tania!” 

Tania was shocked; she had thought her performance good but not the best. She managed somehow to get up on the stage and say while dazed, “Thank You.”

“For the best storytelling I have ever heard…” Tate continued, but a young fairy rushed on stage and shouted,

“Teller!” and the crowd all cheered and chuckled.

The squirrel whispered in the young fairy’s ear, who was probably 4 at most. The young fairy nodded and said in the most solemn voice a toddler could make, “For the best acrobatic skill …” and the awards went on. Arin slipped backstage. Later she slipped back on when the awards were done.

“As you may know announcers get chosen by the previous announcers and [JS4] help choosing from the head master. This year’s was me, Arin and Tate. The next years announcers will be …” Arin paused, “Tania and Teller!” The crowd roared with approval. Sometimes announcers were chosen for their outgoingness but sometimes they were picked so that they could overcome their fear talking in front of crowds so that they could be better leaders and fairies in the future. The evening faded into night. The night sparkled with a million twinkling stars. Arin went to bed, content.