A Taste of Freedom
By Rin Fang
Hey! Now that I have this shiny new computer, I can upload this! "Freedom" is pretty much the story that gave way to "Lucky Eyes". No, you don't have to read "Eyes". Well, FOP ain't mine, and I'm sure it never will be. Also, the religion of Fayanism has nothing to do with my beliefs. This is solely a work of fiction, and should be enjoyed as it is. So let's get on with the story. Welcome, all… welcome to Fairyworld.
Chapter 1
The air was crisp and dark, capturing the frigid air on top of the snowy mountain. The only light that came from the blessed stillness was from the campfires and lanterns lit in a neat star shape. Several small forms bustled about, pale white robes and expressionless masks giving off a ghostly glow in the moonlight. They seemed to be dancing, but their small, stubby legs allowed limited movement. The creatures were singing in a language new and unheard, but among the frenzied drum beats and euphoric plucks from the tone gourds, their high-pitched voices melded in to one verse: "Ly chim Fayotosai zhorra zho Minwe zha Faya I nore ryim!—oh, angels, descend and renew the love between these two fairies!" Indeed, the creatures—the fairies—were out of tune, but the young couple in the middle seemed thoroughly engaged in the bizarre ceremony. For Hanikonorii, the Night of Renewing Vows, was the only festival still legal since the Revolution.
The couple was the only ones showing their wide-eyed faces, but they were still half-covered in a sweeping blanket sown of lotus petals. The monk presiding over them poured a small amount of rosehip oil over their heads, and rubbed it on the female, a plump-faced, plain sort of fairy with thick pink hair and kind pink eyes first.
"State your name," he chanted in the ancient language of the fairies, Souiyang.
"Wanda Samhouri," she answered. She was a terrible singer, and she blushed.
The monk ignored her and continued. "State your Fayan name and title!" he boomed.
Wanda grimaced; fairies had two names—English ones they went by, and Souiyang birth ones that they kept private except for religious ceremonies. "Samhouri Wandahaunekarsulaadorne, the White Wolf of Karensula," she replied at last.
Her husband cracked up, ruining the mesmerizing effect. "Wow, Wanda, your parents sure know how to name a kid!" he sniggered in his high, moony voice.
Wanda scowled and elbowed him. The monk, trying to hide his laughter, cleared his throat and sang: "And you, Wandahaunekarsulaadorne promise to renew your marriage?"
"Yes," she hissed in bad Souiyang, mildly piqued at her husband.
The monk turned to her husband, and repeated the ceremony.
"My name is Cosmo Samhouri," he grinned, tossing his green hair. "My Fayan name is Samhouri Cozuliyanaro, the Lion Rider of Iyana."
"And you, Cozuliyanaro, promise to renew your marriage?"
"You bet!" he grinned, and the surrounding dancers lost their tempo to giggle.
"Then go and love in the name of the Lord!" sang the monk. Cosmo and Wanda donned their masks and joined the crowd just as another happy couple of fairies came dancing out.
The best thing about Hanikonorii, or so Cosmo claimed, was the carnival that came afterwards. Vendors had set up little wood stalls, hosting games, selling beautiful cotton robes, cooking steaming, delicious dumplings for free. Each fairy had to set up a stand for the festivities, and so Cosmo and Wanda performed, Cosmo wildly beating on huge yakskin drums and Wanda dancing. Cosmo gave a few traditional battle cries, and with a resounding DOM!—ended the song. Wanda's arms dropped gracefully, forming an arc behind her back, the lovely cotton folds of her red and black dress rustling, then falling still.
Applause. Small gifts were thrown out to them, and Cosmo and Wanda accepted them with large smiles and nods.
"I'm so happy Hanikonorii hasn't been outlawed yet!" laughed one, wolf-whistling at Wanda. Cosmo playfully chased him off with a huge meat cleaver (fairies took violence lightly), and kissed her on the nose.
"Yeah," he said to the wolf-whistler, wiping sweat off his brow with his drumstick and grinning. "Then again, why would the government outlaw our only chance to return to Fayotozhia every year?"
The surrounding Fayans nodded sadly. One went so far as to look over the edge of the mountain, where the ski resort—the one that the humans had set up, pushing the poor fairies off of THEIR mountain—stood, desolate and abandoned. Another saluted to their beautiful temple, discovered last month and stripped of their art and treasure and precious items.
See here, now that humans were overpopulating the Earth, the fairies had to give up their beloved mountains and retreat to the skies, weaving a web of magic and living on it, affectionately nicknaming it Fairyworld. But it would never be Fayotozhia—the Mountain of the Fairies. But hey, they couldn't expose themselves to the world. Especially not to humans.
"True," said another. The scent of beer was heavy on his breath. Giving a mocking laugh, he unfolded his gossamer wings and twirled in the sky. "At least the government is sparing some of our culture! They've even turned Godparenting—our sacred art—commercial!"
"Hush!" whispered a woman. "The police might hear you!"
"Who cares about the police? Those murderers?"
"Murderers?" interjected Cosmo, eyes growing large.
"Shut up…" mumbled Wanda frantically, looking all around.
"They kill our invalids, assign us to jobs… we can't even have children! I say we should burn the capital building! Burn it!"
"No…"
But it was too late. With her darting vision, Wanda caught sight of a random fay, slipping a taser gun out of his robe pocket. A few others copied him, and suddenly it was chaos, festivity gone.
The fairies screamed and flew about, scratching at each other, desperately trying to get away from the Secret Police that had heard their conversations. Sparks crackled from the tasers, catching innocents in their sides. Their wings folded, and giving frightened shrieks, they crumpled to the ground, piling up in heaps.
"That's what you get for disobeying us!" cried one, a woman with braided white hair and crazed absinthe eyes.
Wanda pushed at a confused man, but it was no use. She was getting trampled… wings torn… where was Cosmo? Struggling to stay awake, she kicked a confused assaulter away, just to see his limp body not many yards off.
A man was kicking him, sending great globs of his blood splattering everywhere. Cosmo was still; suddenly, all was silence.
But that was because Wanda was no longer awake, too.
Before she passed totally into oblivion, she thought about poor Cosmo, and the injustice done to their one special night.
Confused? I know; you'll make more sense out of it come future chapters. Please review and review!