Revised/Updated for the 100th time on June 7th, 2018.

Matlin. The shared name of her mother and album.

After years in the making, Musa had only felt right naming her album according to the source of her passion. The faint memories of her mother have always included music one way or another, varying from a number of instruments or the hum that belonged to someone. Not just any voice though, it belonged to a retired opera singer, a mother, a wife, an artist and everything in between. Needless to say, Musa's childhood had been filled with music which leads her to this moment; the release date of Matlin.

Loud music -specifically her music- could be heard as she travelled from corner to corner in a large ballroom, greeting people she didn't recognize. 'A small gathering', is what Stella had said when convincing Musa to host a social event in her honour at none other than Solaria's castle. Musa had then reluctantly agreed to it, making the mistake of trusting a certain social butterfly with a 'small gathering'. It didn't matter though; nothing could impair her mood, not even the overly salted shrimp or the fake personas the Solarian people put out.

Stopping at the bar Stella had so generously granted her, Musa waited for her drink as she took in her surroundings. Everyone was in black and white due to the dress code set in place. Not recommended by her, but the Keeper of the Dragon Flame who had shared a 'fun' custom that originated from Earth. Stella had immediately been entranced by the idea of it. Musa had to admit, in under a week the blonde Princess had made the place look like a black and white fantasy. Wood circular tables and chairs had been tinted black, tables covered with a soft white cloth cut into perfect squares; chairs matched with white cushions as they were placed at the sharp edges of the quadrilateral. One half of the room was packed with the table and chair sets, while the other included a black marble dance floor, speakers, the bar, and a stand stocked with her debut album- a complimentary gift to guests who decided to attend.

Finding Bloom across the area was quite straightforward as her hair contrasted the loose, white dress she wore. Next to her, unsurprisingly, Prince Sky who had an arm around her and a drink in the other. The set looked in their element, socializing with royalty and others alike. Nearby was Flora and Tecna. Regrettably, both of their respective partners were unable to attend but sent congratulations to Musa through them. They spoke softly to each other, neighbouring a large window as one of the moons settled in the eerie sky, lighting up small parts of the room. It challenged to depict the unreasonable amount of chandeliers that the Princess of Solaria had insisted on.

Taking a sip of her drink, she began her journey to both girls just as the Princess of Andros called out to her. "Hey there, future pop star. You look amazing!" Layla gushed as she brought Musa into a friendly embrace.

Wrinkling her nose at the nickname, Musa replied, "Hey, how are you?"

"Great now that I'm here," the Princess stated as she scanned the space around her. "I thought this was supposed to be a small party?"

"I thought so too until I arrived," she laughed, glancing at her friend, only to see a particular blue haired Paladin walking closer. "Hey Nex, enjoying yourself?" The musical fairy greeted as he wrapped his arms around Layla from behind. Glimpsing quickly at the two, it only solidified her conclusion of the couple in front. She supported their relationship, whether she liked Nex or not knowing first handedly what it was like to pursue a bond that didn't have much backing. It wasn't smooth sailing, to say the least. They complimented each other personality wise, and physically it seemed as Layla and Nex had corresponded their outfits together. Both had white clothing on, but only their accessories were black to follow the theme. A frilled dress with thin straps was covering the Fairy of Waves, only to be cinched in with a shiny black belt at her waist. The dark band complimented her bracelets and heels, seeming as though they were made from the same material. Her companion was wearing a suit, like most other males in the ballroom. However, his was completely white with only black shoes and a watch.

"I am actually, although the food isn't nearly as good as I thought it would be." Nex joked. The humour was short lived and replaced with confusion when he looked at what Musa was wearing. "Why aren't you in black and white? Stella wouldn't let anyone in if they didn't follow the theme. I heard she had a fit when Brandon came in with a dress shirt that wasn't either."

Laughing lightly, Musa was slightly flustered with what Nex brought up. She recalled quarrelling with Stella when the Fairy had brought the plum coloured gown into her guest room some hours earlier.

"Stella I refuse to wear that. I'll stick out like a sore thumb!" The Fairy of Music exclaimed with exasperation.

"That's the point, Musa! Tonight is your night to shine, you've waited long enough for this day. Besides, getting the attention of a few bachelors wouldn't hurt after the whole Riven thing…" Stella defended. The name of her ex-boyfriend brought Musa noticeable discomfort as her heart began to beat faster than usual. Stella caught sight of her friend and how uncomfortable she suddenly turned. "Look, I'm sorry for bringing it up. It's just I want you to get over him and stop spending any more time that you've already wasted. Which is like what? 6 years? 6 years you've been in love with him! The whole relationship was a mess, to begin with. On, then off. On, then off, and repeat. It was a toxic cycle you were trapped in. And anyway, I always knew he wasn't good enough for you, especially after that whole Darcy affair-"

"You know what? I'll take the dress," Musa snapped, grabbing the strapless floor length dress from Stella's hands. As she rushed into the attached bathroom she could hear the beginning of her friend's apology. It was soon cut off with the slam of the bathroom door. Her back against the closed door, she waited until the doors to the bedroom opened and closed. Stella had finally left. Musa sank to the ground with the velvet textured dress, breathing in at timed counts to stop the pounding rhythm that beat in her upper chest. Looking at the overly decorative light above her, she felt burning in her eyes and an overwhelming lump in her throat.

A few moments later, she gathered her wandering thoughts and put on the dress Stella had insisted on.

Reaching for her drink again, "This is all Stella. If I had a choice I would blend in with the rest of you," Musa responded, stretching the third word with a tense smile. "Anyways, I heard there's a pretty cool dance floor and a pretty cool song that's playing right now."

The brunette rolled her eyes in response, only to drag her boyfriend with her to the dance floor.

The music fairy gulped down the rest of her drink, wearily eyeing the attendees around her. She hadn't spoken a word to the host yet, and she didn't plan to. With the sudden courage from the liquor, she made her trek to the stairs that would lead her to her bedroom. The only way to communicate to someone who's been on her mind since the afternoon.

Leaving the empty champagne glass she had acquired on her bedside table, Musa began probing for a duplicate of Matlin. Digging through her travel bag that was beyond cluttered, her fingertips brushed over a hard, plastic cover that Musa cognized would be her album. She grasped onto the object and pulled it out hastily. Flipping it over, the Music Fairy observed it wasn't the one she spent an ungodly amount of time creating. Tossing the CD with a huff, she walked over to the desk that sat across from the grand doors and in front of a towering window.

Cheering a small "Yes!", when she examined her album, Musa then realized that this had been her unreleased version that included another song. One too intimate for her to distribute throughout the realms. The published version included 12 songs, all written and produced by the Fairy of Music. The thirteenth, on the other hand, was the song Riven had written for her- them. She remembered that day clearly. That day where he had suppressed everyone else's doubts about their relationship and proved everyone wrong- only to prove everyone right a year later.

Hesitant in shipping the disc, Musa questioned the pros and cons. In the end, she resulted in ignoring the warning signs not to. She had always been reckless. Discovering a scrap piece of paper and envelope in the drawer beneath the desk, she carefully placed Matlin inside, but not before reading the tracklist over as a precaution.

1. Rise Up

2. Touch It

3. Ease

4. Music

5. Burning Bridges

6. Homesick

7. Walking in the Wind

8. Mercy/Gatekeeper

9. In Case

10. Fantasy

11. Nothing Else Matters

12. Rainbow

13. One to One

Gently laying the blank paper out on the wooden desk, she began to write. Not thinking it over once as she knew she would get cold feet and back out. It was short, but it was enough.

Slipping the note in with her CD, she closes the envelope and writes down Riven's address. His departure hadn't left her with anything except heartache and some closure. Nonetheless, he had shared where he would be. Musa didn't want to impede on the expedition that he so desperately desired, so she hadn't attempted to stay in contact until now. He was going to a training camp- a prestigious one at that. The ladder began at the bottom, where the Specialists and Paladins are, then the Distinguished, continuing up were the Aces. At the top, the Exceptional. She was -is- proud that he'd been able to put himself first in a long time. It wasn't much of a surprise he skipped the schooling and training for the Distinguished and right to the Aces from his admirable resume.

With a ring of a service bell and a small smile, Musa hands the letter to one of the many servants in hopes of a safe delivery.

If you made it all the way down here I'd like to thank you for reading this, even though it's mediocre at best... Anyways, any feedback is really appreciated as this is my first time attempting to write something like this. Also, the songs are actual songs which you may recognize. I chose what I thought fit Musa's scenario and such.

Until next time...