Chapter One - Getting around in unicorns
Rory stood in a room, painted pink and lilac, with a yellow fan in the middle of the ceiling, hanging little ornaments of cupcakes on each blade. Beside her were glass counters exhibiting cakes, cookies and fruit tarts of every color and flavor. Little Disney princesses sat on the shelves, made with icing and sprinkles. The floor was in tiles of baby blue and white, sparkling along the surface. One thing peculiar about the small room was that there weren't any doors. She could have sworn there had been a door before - complete with a little bell hanging in the middle, and painted fairies in pastel colors on the glass. Yet, it was no where to be seen now. Though that was the least of her worries. What she must focus on now, was the table before her. Exquisite lace of pink and gold draped on it, flowing to the ground like a waterfall. On the table were the objects that vied for her attention.
Before Rory were three crystal balls, ornate with different colored fibers running through the transparent glass. The bases were silver and bronze, looking like antiques that belonged in a dollhouse. The crystal balls were for her, or so told the man on the screen, which was a forty-two inch TV monitor hanging on the wall. He had explained their purpose, and her destiny. Each crystal ball represented the life she could have if she chose one of the boys in her life, or use to be in her life.
There were Dean, Jess and Logan. As Rory thought of their names, their faces flashed one by one through the glass like a kaleidoscope. She gasped at the display.
Dean was the sweet boy she had always known with his dorky hairstyle split down the middle of his head. Jess was his usual solemn self, with dark hair and dark eyes, giving off a dangerous charm. Logan was smiling at her his signature smirk, with those sensual eyes she found irresistible.
She looked up at the monitor from where the old man with shaggy graying hair, wearing a dark yellow tuque and pale blue apron, spoke.
"You must choose."
"What happens if I don't end up liking who I choose?" She was still in a daze that she was in this room, talking to an old baker through a TV screen, being forced to make such an unbelievable decision.
"Only when a tale has played out the way it should have, will you be able to return."
She bit her lip and pondered the sentence, still unsure how she got here in the first place.
oo
Ten minutes ago
Today was Rory's twenty-fifth birthday. She was spending it back at Stars Hollows with her friends and family. Her mom threw a surprise birthday bash for her.
At the sight of the sparkling multi-colored birthday cake her mom got her from the new bakery in town, she exclaimed that it was the most adorable thing. With it came a little pink slip that folded delicately into a swan. On the swan's neck was a tiny red ribbon. She pulled on it gently, careful to not cause any creases on the paper, and unfolded the slip. In beautiful, cursive writing, the note read:
On this day, your wishes will come true. Only when your fate is played, will the stars bring the heavens down to you.
"Aw, that's so cute." She said. "Thanks so much, Mom, for the amazing cake and the surprise." She turned and hugged her mom tightly.
"You're welcome, daughter." Lorelai replied. "Now, go on, make a wish before the candles go out." She gestured towards the cake.
"Okay, okay." Rory clapped her hands together in front of her chest, a smile permanently residing on her face. She knew the three wishes she wanted to make.
I wish to get the job at New York Times.
I wish my mom can be happy with Luke everyday.
I wish…I can find someone to be happy with as well.
She was so delighted by the wonderful surprise party and the magic of this moment that she literally felt little sprinkles of stardust fall on her arms and face. Her smile grew wider as her eyes remained closed. She heard tinkles of bells and little, magnificent laughs as crisp as a bird's chirp in her ears. Her head spun a little, as if she was being swayed off her feet. The motion made her eyes fly open, while she was expecting to blow out the candles in front of her and hear her friends' cheers.
However, what she was met with was the most puzzling thing of all. She studied the three glass balls beautifully displayed on the table and looked around. That was when the low, raspy voice of the old man filled the air.
oo
"Are you ready?" The old man's voice was calm as he looked at Rory's stunned face.
Rory took a deep breath and nodded. She looked shocked and was quite pale in the face, but her breathing was slightly less erratic than when she first got to this room. After much explaining from the old man and calming her down with a special cupcake, made with the calming powers from fairy breaths, the old man heard Rory's heartbeat soften.
The old man's lips curved into a tiny smile. "My child, your destiny will play before you. Do not be afraid of what the stars have in store."
"Wait, before I choose, will I be able to contact you at all when I'm in the whatever world these crystal balls will bring me to?"
"The diamond."
"What?"
"That's where the world is."
"Okay, in the 'diamond', will you be there too? Or am I just completely alone in my 'destiny'?" She clearly did not know why she was even considering this. She didn't know about the magic in the cupcakes she ate.
"Whenever you truly need guidance, it will come in the form of a rainbow."
"Um, right. And I'll be getting around in unicorns too I suppose?"
The old man gave a faint chuckle as he ran his hands down his graying, fuzzy beard. "No, everything else will be as it is on Earth."
"And can I have your name?"
"You may call me Rulf."
"It's nice to meet you Rulf. Do people know you're a puzzling creature with magic crystals pretending to be a baker?"
"You can not stall forever, my child. You must choose." Rulf spread his arms that were covered by baggy white linen sleeves and tried to will Rory's attention back to the table in front of her.
Rory looked to hesitate for one last moment before closing her eyes. She must have thought this was a dream that she will soon wake up from and decided to play along. With a final deep breath, her eyes opened and stared right into Rulf's.
"I'm ready."
A/N: This is my first "fantasy" fan-fic. Please tell me what you think. Also, who do you want Rory to choose first and see how her life will be like?
Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls