It was a tradition in the Kingdom Of Frell for a Fairy to bestow a Gift to a newborn baby.
Ella's arrival was no exception.
Ella's Mother and Mandy, the Household Fairy, would've been delighted, except that Lucinda Perriweather would be coming.
"Lucinda gives the worst gifts!" they exclaimed.
Lucinda swooped in through the window.
Despite her impressively elegant stature, towering over that of any Human, the dark-skinned Fairy managed to nail a flawless, dramatic landing.
"Ta-da!" Lucinda stood up, striking her best poses. "Can I get a perfect 10?"
While vainly showing off her stylish outfit, Lucinda suddenly heard the piercing wail of a fussing baby.
She swaggered over, scooped up Ella in her arms, and began admiring herself in the mirror, appearing as though Ella was some fashion accessory to her.
Suddenly, as all newborns are wont to do... Ella started crying.
"Quiet, please," groaned Lucinda. "I can't concentrate here! And don't even think about hurling all over my new top!"
She held up a finger, magic gathering at its tip.
"Ella Of Frell, I give you the Gift Of Obedience!"
After a blinding flash of white, Ella stopped crying.
Lucinda even made her fall asleep and wake up on command!
Mandy and Ella's Mother were outraged. "It's a terrible thing to have to do what you're told!"
Unfortunately, Lucinda refused to take back the Gift.
She was too busy deciding which fashion boutique to visit next.
"Ta-ta!" And so, Lucinda shot out of the house and flitted off to who knows where and until who knows when.
ln spite of the spell, Ella grew up strong of mind.
Her gift made her obedient, but her heart made her kind.
A few years later, Ella met a girl her age named Areida.
Areida was an Ayorthian.
The other girls disliked people like Areida.
They picked on her.
"Nobody wants you here!" One of them said.
"I do," Ella spoke up.
"Bite me," taunted the mean girl.
And that was what Ella did.
Areida was touched that someone stood up for her.
From that day forward, Ella and Areida had been inseparable.
One night, Ella asked Mandy and her Mother about the Gift.
They told her that only Lucinda, the Fairy who gave her the Gift, can remove it.
They've tried begging her to do so, but Lucinda never listened to them.
So Ella now knew why she'd always obeyed.
But she never stopped fighting to have things her way.
Ella's Mother understood that she was unhappy with the Gift, but that did not mean that the girl was allowed to neglect her duties.
"Ella, practice your mandolin!" she heard Mother call.
"Fine," Ella replied, averse to the chore that lay ahead, "but I'll take my own sweet time doing it!"
"Hurry up now!"
In a blur, Ella was downstairs, mandolin in hand, every note a cacophony.
As she struggled to find a way out of her Gift,
she had no way of knowing something worse was adrift.
Ella knelt by her Mother's bed with Mandy by her side.
Her Mother was gravely ill.
There wasn't much time left.
"Remember, no matter what anyone says or tells you to do, look to yourself, Ella." Ella's Mother said weakly. "What's inside you is stronger than any spell."
She slowly pulled out a necklace holding it in front of Ella. "Take this, then l'll always be with you."
That was the last time Ella ever spoke to her Mother.
She slipped away peacefully during the night.
A/N
Wow, Lucinda sure loves showing off doesn't she?
Also, I really loved Ella and Areida's friendship.
To me, friendship is the greatest treasure of all.
I know, I miss Ella's Mum too.
But don't worry, 'cos from here on out, things will be looking up.