Dear Old Shiz...
"This way, dear!" Flora, a Good Fairy, called excitedly over her shoulder to her granddaughter as she flew ahead.
"Yes, this way!" Fauna, one of Flora's sisters and another Good Fairy, giggled like a child.
Merriweather, the other sister, the youngest of the Three Good Fairies, turned to their charge with a knowing smirk and whispered, "Are you ready for the first day of the rest of your life?"
A pair of rose-red lips spread in a sweet, ecstatic grin and two violet orbs for eyes sparkled as the young girl nodded her head, curly tresses of sunshine gold bouncing wildly and gleaming in the light. Aurora, who had been raised and taught all her life by her grandmother and great-aunts, three of the most pure souls in Oz, was about to start her first day at Shiz Academy to learn to channel her magic powers. She'd struggled with it for as long as she could remember, and for awhile all seemed lost. But then she got her acceptance letter.
This school was her last chance. If she couldn't learn to use her powers here, she never would. But she had to. She knew it. She had to prove herself, make her family proud, and most importantly, she had to give herself every chance she could to, hopefully, meet the Wizard of Oz someday. Maybe even work for him... With him. She knew she could get there, and she was willing to work for it. She would do anything for that chance if it meant making her family proud of her, if it meant being happy.
This really was the first day of the rest of her life.
"I'm ready." Aurora replied with cheerful determination, then let out a rippling laughter that sounded like bells tinkling.
Merriweather smiled and flew ahead with her sisters. Aurora followed on foot.
I'm going to get my wings someday... The girl thought to herself. I know I will... I will. She put on a bright smile and strode gracefully toward the massive, regal gates of the Academy. Once there, each of the Good Fairies gave Aurora a chaste kiss on the forehead and gave her quick but uplifting bouts of advice before fluttering away. She watched their squat forms fade away into puffs of glittering light of their own accordant colors: Flora was red, Fauna was green, and Merriweather was blue.
Aurora wondered what her color would be when she got her wings. Each Fairy had her own color that she wore every day and could be identified by. No two fairies had the same color, except in one very special instance: The case of her great-aunt Merriweather, who got to choose her own color instead of having it assigned to her due to a great act of bravery that had required a great sacrifice from her. (Aurora still didn't know what Merriweather did. The circumstances of her bravery were so dire that once they were dealt with, it was decided that the situation would never be spoken of again, and all those involved were sworn to secrecy. Any one who Aurora ever tried to ask refused to tell her. So, eventually, she quit asking, and minded her own business from then on.) Merriweather had belligerently demanded to have the color blue, because it was her favorite color. The request had to be cleared with the Fairy who already owned that color, the most powerful Fairy of them all:
The Blue Fairy herself.
A tall crystalline statue of the Blue Fairy stood in the center of the busy courtyard of the school. Aurora pushed through the milling crowd of students in a daze, walking right up to the intricately, unearthly beautiful statue, crafted by the Neverland Fairies, and gazed up at the gentle face of her idol.
The Blue Fairy was a consultant for Shiz Academy, and would be teaching a special course here this year. It was a very special course for one tremendously monumental reason: whoever was in the class would be the pool of talent from which the Blue Fairy would choose her successor. The Blue Fairy was centuries old (though you'd never tell by looking at her) and was finally looking to shed her physical form and ascend. (Basically, become Starlight.) Her ascension was to take place next year, and she would be picking her replacement before this school year ended.
Aurora was so giddy and nervous she thought she might faint. She had to get into the Blue Fairy's class, she just had to. Not only was the Blue Fairy the most powerful and beautiful woman in all the realms, she was also the confidante to The Wizard of Oz himself. She was his right-hand woman! That was the most honorable position any Ozian could ask for! And she ruled over the entire Northern Region of Oz, basically like it was her own little kingdom. But she still had jurisdiction in every region, because she was loved and adored and respected by all, throughout all of Oz. Plus, she was rich and always looked so pretty.
It was Aurora's dream job.
And the Blue Fairy had been Aurora's role model her entire life. Her entire family was devoted to the Blue Fairy; they'd all lived in the Northern Region their entire lives and done everything to emulate her way of life. Aurora lived a privileged life, and had been raised to be kind and fair to all. Her family was depending as much on her getting into this class as she was.
Aurora took a deep breath and smiled up at the statue before turning away to get her schedule. Today was an important day.
It was more important than she could have ever imagined.