Disclaimer: Susan is not mine, and Narnia is not mine (well, two copies of the books are). I think the butterfly people are mine, but there are no guarantees on it.
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Susan and Crystal were following a path through a maze of giant flowers. They could see a lot of children around, but no adults. Susan looked up and realized why.
Why would they use the path when they could fly? Susan watched the butterfly people floating through the sky above her and felt a twinge of jealousy. She used to dream she could fly. These people actually could fly, unaided, with nothing between them and the clouds.
"That is where I go to school," Crystal announced, "and the library is right above it. We're almost there."
Crystal began climbing some stairs inside a rose bush the size of a skyscraper. Susan groaned and followed, wondering why these people were so fond of steps. She was distracted enough to wonder aloud, and Crystal was happy to give her an answer.
"But we need to have steps," she explained, "or how would we children reach the flower tops? Must we stay on the ground until we grow wings?"
Susan did not think Crystal would understand that most people in her world were perfectly happy to live their whole lives on the ground, or that "He has both feet on the ground," was considered a compliment. She said nothing, and kept climbing.
The stairs zig-zagged from one rose to another, and it was a while before Crystal stopped climbing and entered one. "Come in, Queen Susan," she said, "Mama will be here soon."
The library was full of glass bookshelves and dandelion-blossom chairs. Susan sat down on one of the fluffy yellow cushions and waited.
It was not long before Flora arrived and directed Susan to a shelf at the back of the library.
"This is where we keep the histories of other worlds," said Flora. "That, for instance, is a history of Charn."
"Only one man ever tried to read it," added Crystal.
"Why only one?" asked Susan.
"Because it was so terribly violent that he stopped in the middle and needed three years of counseling. Everyone else was afraid to open it!" said Crystal.
"Why do you keep it, then?" asked Susan.
"Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it, or so I have heard," said Flora. "We do not want to forget Charn and run the risk of recreating it."
Flora pointed out another book. "This is a history of Narnia," she said, "and it is nothing like that of Charn. We read it to our children."
"Do you have the histories of all the worlds here, Flora?" Susan wondered.
"No, only those worlds which have ended."
Narnia was gone, then. Susan's heart sank. She had suspected it, but had not wanted to believe it. There was nothing to do now but go home.
"I think I must go home," said Susan, "Thank you for your hospitality." She began to take out her yellow ring.
"Wait, Susan. I have permission to give you these." Flora slid seven volumes from the shelf. They had brightly colored covers, but Susan was too distracted to notice the titles.
"Thank you. And goodbye."
"Goodbye, Queen Susan," said Crystal.
With one last "Goodbye," Susan touched her yellow ring and disappeared.
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fledge: Thank you. The "butterfly people" may be subconsciously related to Tinkerbelle, but I didn't set out to make them that way. I just have always wondered what it would be like to have wings.
animegirl-mika: Thank you.
Ozma: Thank you! Thank you, also, for adding me to your favorite authors list.