Suffice to say, I don't own Narnia. Though considering I have the books nearly memorized, can I claim mental ownership? Set slightly before The Last Battle.

"I wish I could meet one of the Children from the Other World."

"Hush, child, don't wish such things. They never come unless Narnia is in danger, and we're quite at peace and happy now. You don't want us all to be at war and unhappy, just to have your silly wish, do you?"

"No, but... I would still like to meet them."

"No, you don't. Give up these fairy-tale dreams and go to sleep. The Other Children lived in the past, and there they ought to stay."

"...yes, Mama."

"Oh, Puzzle, you simple soul... Forget your dreams, and let Mother do the thinking for you, there's a dear."

"Even so, Mama, I do wish I could meet them. Lord Digory, Lady Polly, High King Peter, King Edmund, Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, Sir Eustace and Lady Jill - Oh! I would that I could meet them, or one like them. So brave, so true, true heroes! Never faltering, always sure, defeating all comers... Oh, Ma! That was the golden age of Narnia, when heroes walked and evil trembled!"

"Pfft. We've a good life now, Puzzle, you silly donkey. The Children only show up in times of trouble, you know that, and we haven't had any for generations upon generations. Why do you wish trouble on us, eh? Why, do you want to see Aslan, too? That fairy-tale?"

"Lions do exist, mother!"

"Of course they do. And so do human children. And that doesn't mean that the stories are actually true."

"Th- They're not?"

"Oh, Puzzle, Puzzle, dear. You're old enough now to realize. Don't let your ears droop so, dear, it's all a part of growing up."

"Growing up?"

"Letting go of childhood fairy-tales, dear."

"But Aslan - he's - he's real. I know he is."

"Have you ever seen him, lovey? Has anyone ever seen him?"

"Well... King Caspian did. And... and... And the children, the High King and his siblings..."

"All legends, love, and best left in story books. Aslan, if he ever did exist, is gone now. This is not the age of miracles, nor of visits from foreign children beyond the edge of the world. Do you even realize how ridiculous that sounds?"

"...yes, Mama. But Mama? Do I have to stop believing?"

"Oh, Puzzle..."

"Yes Mama. But Mama?"

"Hnah. Yes, dear?"

"What if they are real? Aslan, and the children? What if they are real, and we've stopped believing in them?"

"Then may they stay far away from us. We're solid, grounded animals. We don't need any of that nonsense. Come now, Puzzle, it's time for bed. Let go of these silly dreams, lovey. You're never going to meet the foreign children, and you will never meet Aslan. Those are stories for foals, and you are very nearly a grown-up donkey. Now be my good foal, and go to sleep. All right? And make better friends. I do so wish that you would become friendly with someone a bit more...solid. Like that Shift fellow - he's a good head on his shoulders."

"...yes, Mama."