“Aaaaaaaaah!!!”
I’m surrounded by va!Spinning and twisting head over heels in every direction, I’ve no idea which way is up or down anymore.This glowing liquid simply pulls me along uncaringly.Attempting to fp my wings provides no aid, as this fiery substance clutches at them as well.Hence, I scream as I scrabble all about me in an effort to grab hold of anything!
Seemingly an eternity ter, the va hurls me into the sky and drops down again, finally allowing me to catch the wind in my wings.Swiftly bringing myself to a halt, I attempt to collect myself and survey my surroundings.
The glowing pond, which is far beneath me, churns as the va flows back into it, sliding down the golden barriers I now realize were put in pce to contain it.Near the top of each barrier is a glowing mark, every one of them pced at a slightly different height.Speaking of height, from my position, I am able to look slightly down upon the huge treetops surrounding the gde.The distance from here to the ground is quite the length to be hurled at my size!It’s also considerably cooler this far from the glowing pool.
Then I notice the sound coming from all around.*ditiditiditi*ditiditiditi*ditiditiditi*All the other fairies who finished the game are also here with me, and every single one is fluttering about, ughing.At me!Again!!Why do they always find my distress to be so entertaining!!?Agh!I’ve had enough!!
With a shout and a sweep of my hand, a roaring wave of fire rushes forth and engulfs them.However, frustratingly, it doesn’t disturb them in the slightest.They don’t even deem the magic worth the effort of extinguishing it, allowing it to continue burning as it passes by.Well then, I’ll just have to use my customary approach!
Yet, before I can fling myself at them, a green fairy flutters between us.
“Congratutions, you did much better than I believed you would.”
Oh, I did!?I suppose fairies of other colors were watching as well?But how does she know?
“How do you determine who won?”
“The marks left on the magic show how high the va reached. The higher the mark, the greater one’s achievements, and yours is above many others.”
With a gnce, I am able to determine that I didn’t win, but I’m also not the lowest either.Yet, there is one thing that I need to know.I point at the boy nearby.
“Which one is his?”
The mark directly beneath me is obviously mine, but with the others flying around, I’m not certain which one belongs to the fairy I desired to defeat.
“That one, right over there.”
Flying down, I put myself level with the mark shown below me.Then I look over at the boy’s.It’s slightly lower than mine.I did it!I won!!
*ditiditiditi*Laughing, I do a little dance in the sky.I succeeded!My first time pying, and I did better than him!That ought to teach him a lesson!He surely won’t ugh at me after this.Still chuckling, I fly up to the boy.
“How’s it feel being bested by a ‘newly-formed’, hmm? *ditiditi*”
“Hmph. Not many use any magic other than fire in the game, so I’ll admit that was unexpected. But you’ve earned favors for me from several other fairies because of this game. One thought you more talented while others supposed you to be more experienced. Thanks for letting me know you are neither! Also, your terror-filled screaming was lovely. I think I’ll consider it payback for what you did earlier.”
What?How did he earn something if I won?And because of me?
“What do you mean?”
“Those new to the game tend to either ugh or scream during the va burst. I wagered that you would be the type to scream, and you did. Quite loudly too. And you didn’t even get anything from this game, did you? So I’d say I was the one who won! *ditiditi*”
Wagered?Is that why other fairies were watching?Not only do they ugh at my misery, they gamble on it!?
My anger fres once more, and I clench my fists, ready to pounce, but then, suddenly, a familiar voice reaches my ears.
“Akari!”
“Nibi?”
Immediately upon arriving, she grasps my hand and begins pulling me away, with a peculiar look on her face.
“Nibi, what’s wrong?”
“Miep!”
“Wait, Nibi! I don’t understand!”
She stops and releases my hand.Yet she seems to struggle as to what to say.Perhaps she doesn’t know the correct words?At st, she comes to a decision.She faces me, then points directly at my chest and simply says one quiet word.
“Akari?”
She appears to be slightly bracing herself for something.It is very simir as to what Talia does when she tells me news that she’s certain I won’t be pleased with.But what could Nibi be concerned about?Is there something on my…dress!?
It’s gone!There’s not even a single stitch to be found!All that’s visible is my excessively smooth, white skin!!
“Aaaaaaaah!!!”
Overcome by shame, I dive towards the ground and dart towards the nearest pnts as quickly as I can, throwing myself into one of the flowers as soon as I arrive.Fortunately, it’s vacant, and I quickly curl myself against the petals.Utterly embarrassed, my tears begin to fall.
I never should have taken up that challenge!Now I’ve been seen prancing about naked once again!And I didn’t even notice!Moreover, I’ve no excuse that I was making myself something to wear.It was all for a game!Agh, I’ll need to bury myself forever!But wait, I can’t even leave this flower!I’ve no clothes!I’m trapped!!
Then Nibi’s voice comes from above.
“Akari?”
“Stay out, Nibi!”
I don’t want anyone to see me right this moment!Yet, she doesn’t listen, and soon, a red object is pced in my blurry view.
“Miep.”
Looking past the tears in my eyes, I see Nibi holding out one of the red petal dresses I saw the others wearing.Clothes!She brought me clothes!!I’m saved!!!
Jumping to my feet, I rush forward and hug her tightly.
“Oh, thank you, Nibi! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!”
“Miep! *ditiditi*”
She merrily chuckles at my show of gratitude, then hands me the garment.Once it’s in my possession, she flies out through the opening above.While she obviously doesn’t understand why I feel as I do about clothing, thankfully, she is clearly willing to accommodate it.She’s so very kind!
Within moments, I gratefully don the dress.There’s no great differences in size amongst any of the fairies I’ve seen, which sadly includes myself, so it fits well enough, yet the same as on them, it’s rather revealing.If there was truly anything to reveal.*Sigh*Perhaps I should remain in this flower for a time.I don’t feel in the mood to do anything right this moment, so I’ll merely sit on this soft pollen.
Suddenly, that stupid boy’s voice reaches me through the petals.
“Screaming so loudly over a burnt dress, you really are a weird one, aren’t you.”
Argh!First he throws fire at me, then he tricks me into a game for him to wager on, and finally he comes and taunts me!?And all this on top of what misery he helped cause me that awful evening!No more!
My vision turns red, and the flower surrounding me begins shriveling a moment before I unch myself directly towards the source of the voice, bursting through the crumbling flower walls.Instantly, I arrive at my target, swinging my fist as hard as I can.But the moment of surprise only allows me to nd a single strike before he retaliates with a punch of his own, followed by us grappling with one another.
Screaming, yelling, cwing, pulling, spping, punching, I give it my all to injure him in any way that I can, but nothing appears to cause him any sting harm.My magic, of course, does nothing to him, no matter how much fire I throw.Luckily, while some of the blows he’s nding are somewhat painful, especially when he grabs my wings, it’s nothing I can’t ignore.After all, I must make him pay for what he did!
During the course of the fight, one of his strikes shoves me away, and suddenly, another fairy flies between us.How dare she get in my way!?She must be trying to help him!Ignoring the sounds she’s making, I rush at her at the same time the boy does from the opposite direction.Then we both grab ahold of her and toss her aside, immediately returning to our brawl an instant ter.
Argh!I can’t seem to hurt him!But I will find a way!I will defeat him!!
*Sploosh*Abruptly, a torrent of water sms into us both, pushing us apart and dropping me to the ground.The red haze vanishes as a blue fairy swiftly flies and nds atop of me, gently pulling one of my wings in front of my eyes.
“Akari! Miep!”
Wings which are now bright red in color.Entirely red.From top to bottom.No other colors to be seen.
Oh shit!I wanted to avoid this!What happened!?My preparations were meant to keep this essence out!
This is bad!I’ve no idea how this energy affects me!How am I supposed to know if it’s about to make me do something foolish?Or worse, an act I’ll find to be horrible only after I leave this energy behind!Wait!What if I already did!?I have no way to know!!!What do I do? What do I do!?
“What do I do!?”
“Miep!”
Oh, thank goodness, Nibi’s here!She might be able to help me!With…something…Or was it her who needed aid?
“Er, hello, Nibi. What is it?”
“Akari. Miep!”
She points towards another portion of the gde.The water pools are in that direction, I believe.Perhaps she needs some?Or maybe she needs water for this area of the gde, as all the flowers nearby seem to have been burnt by something.
“Yes, we can go to the water if you’d like.”
At my words, she tilts her head and looks at me strangely.Did I guess her meaning incorrectly?
“Was that not what you wanted?”
She is still staring at me with an odd look on her face.
“Akari. Come.”
Well, I suppose I’ll follow her.She must want to show me something.
Woah!There’s a group of wind fairies speeding about.I think they’re racing, but they’re also dodging around other fairies, looping and spinning.That looks like fun!I want to join them!
Hey!Something grabbed me!Or someone, I suppose.Nibi’s holding onto my hand, but she looks a little irritated.I wonder why?Is she having trouble with something?
“What’s wrong?”
“Miep!”
She points towards the water portion of the gde.Ah!I forgot.We were going to get her some water.
“Yeah, sure, I’m coming.”
At my words, Nibi begins flying towards where she pointed, and I swiftly follow her.
Oh no!There’s a bear in the gde!But it is a rather small one.Perhaps it’s a baby?What are those green fairies doing?Ooooh, they’re petting it!Awww, it’s adorable!I want to pet it too!Wait for me!!
Ack!This blue fairy pulled me from the sky!
“Nibi! Would you stop tackling me!?!”
Is she trying to start a fight!?Instead of replying, she grasps a lock of my hair and pulls it in front of my eyes.Quite roughly.
“Miep!!”
“Ow, ow, ow, Nibi, that hurts!”
First she tackled me, then she started pulling my hair!In this position, I can’t even fight back properly!She’s so mean!But I’ll get back at her soon!
Thankfully, she relents a moment ter, instead choosing to point at my hair she is now gently holding.As I shift in an attempt to begin fighting her off, something seeps through my anger and grabs my attention.My hair is entirely red.
Oh, that’s not good, and Nibi looks extremely irritated.Did I do something wrong!?Hopefully, nothing terrible.Although, judging by her expression, it’s likely.I’d better apologize, as she is honestly scaring me a bit at the moment.
“Um, N-Nibi? S-sorry?”
I suppose that was the correct thing to do.At least she let me stand up again.A moment ter, she extends her arms and forms a rge sphere of water essence between her hands.Then she holds it out to me.
“Akari.”
“You want me to have this?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
I’m not short on magic, so I’m not certain why she’s giving this to me.Yet she loudly shouts while taking an intimidating step closer.
“Akari!!”
“Aah! Okay, I’ll take it!”
So I grab the glowing blue orb from her and draw in the energy.Shortly afterwards, my wings and hair become nearly half of each color, blue and red.Wait, red?Why am I carrying this amount of fire essence!?
Swiftly gathering some wind and earth essence, I attempt to bance the fire with other energies.Soon, the four colors are made to cover a simir portion of my wings.With that accomplished, I then attempt to recall what it is I was trying to do for the past while.Yet, contrary to my typical experiences with essences, I’m having difficulty following my own thoughts.
Seriously, what was I thinking?
…
And why am I not wearing any clothes!?