Lucy

It was the night we left the Dark Island. I was in my room, trying to sleep. But I couldn't because I was thinking about how Pirate Boy had told me I wasn't beautiful. I remembered that amazing dream in which he'd read that poem to me. If only there was a way to be as beautiful as Susan, everyone would like me then.

I suddenly remembered Coriakin's book and knew that there was a way. I scrambled to the drawer where I kept the spell.

I smoothed out the page when I got it and read out loud:

An infallible spell to make you she; the beauty you've always wanted to be.

I chanted the spell and was getting worried it might not work at the final lines:

Make me she, whom I'd agree, holds more beauty over me.

But it had to work. I ran to the mirror I kept in my room and looked. Sure enough, I was Susan. I touched my face to make sure it was her face and not just some trick. Instead of finding my usual thin lips, I found full ones.

Suddenly, the mirror changed into a door.

Curiosity got the better of me and I stepped in.

It was a party held outside. I could see Peter and Edmund, who came towards me when they saw me. They laced their arms through mine one both sides and started walking.

"May I say, you look absolutely beautiful, dear sister?" Edmund said.

"As always." Peter added. I was so happy, my brothers actually told me I'm beautiful and meant it.

A man stepped in front of us and said:

"Please a family picture with your lovely sister!" He took position and started clicking.

"Mother's going to love that." Peter said. Finally, the man was done and I realized I wasn't in it, well, Lucy wasn't.

"Hold on, Peter, what about Lucy?" He looked confused.

"Who's Lucy?" He asked, now sounding a bit worried.

"I really think we should go back." Honestly, I wanted to be beautiful, but not cease to exist. Besides, if I was in Susan's body, Susan didn't exist and I loved my sister more than anything.

"Go back where?" Edmund asked. The answer was obvious.

"To Narnia!"

"What on Earth is Narnia?" Peter asked. Oh no, why don't they know what Narnia is? Maybe I can't ever go back now!

"Susan, I think you've hit your head."

"No!" I yelled. "I don't want this anymore!"

Suddenly, I was back in my quarters.

"Lucy." A voice I knew said.

"Aslan?"

"Lucy, what have you done?" He asked.

"I don't know."

"You see, when you became Susan, everything changed. Lucy had never existed, and you were the one to have found Narnia. They couldn't have done it without you. Susan would never have met Caspian, neither would you have met Pirate Boy, Selene, Reepicheep, or Trumpkin, in fact, you wouldn't know me by my real name."

"Oh no, will everything be back to normal now?"

"Yes, Dear One." I sighed in relief. "I will be going now. Go to sleep."

Suddenly, my eyelids were heavy. I walked over to the bed as if in a trance, sleep weighing on me.

As soon as my head touched the pillow I went out.

For once in a long time, I had a peaceful sleep devoid of nightmares.

I was awakened by music. I quickly got dressed in my favourite orange dress; the one I'd bought in Calormen.

I hurried upstairs to find a party. Everyone was dancing happily, celebrating our defeat of the Mist.

I looked around; seeing everyone's dancing partners. Peter was dancing formally with Selene, who was actually wearing a dress. I realized I'd never seen Selene in a dress, she'd always worn pants. Now that she did, she was wearing a very simple one, probably borrowed it from Susan. She didn't look like herself, but she was beautiful nonetheless.

Susan was lost in Caspian's eyes and they seemed to be dancing perfectly as one, like pieces of a puzzle. She was looking marvellous in her favourite cerulean dress.

Edmund was not looking very interested in dancing, although he was dancing with Ari, who didn't seem to be enjoying it, either.

I noticed Pirate Boy was sitting alone at the side of the ship, tying knots. I really wanted to dance with him. If the events of last night had taught me that I am beautiful and necessary and it was wrong to feel any other way. You know, maybe Pirate Boy did like me; maybe he knew that what matters is the beauty within. I walked towards him and asked:

"Would you like to dance?" I smiled down at him. He looked surprised and at a loss of words and my heart sank; what if he didn't like me? What if he thought I wasn't worth it? But no, I had to be confident. He got up and took my hand, leading me to the centre.

We danced for a while, I lost track of time. All I could think about was his smile and eyes. I think I just found out what it felt like to be in love.

Suddenly, we heard shouts. Shouts of distress coming from the sea. I looked overboard and saw a dozen boats, coming towards us, each filled with people. There were enough people to make an army and they all looked desperate.

There was a woman in the front of the first boat that looked familiar. I knew it was Helene, Gael's mother.

"Mommy!" Gael shouted, diving into the water. I was very worried and was about to jump after her when I saw her father diving, too. I realized I was still holding Pirate Boy's hand. Instead of letting it go, I gave it a kind squeeze. He looked up at me and smiled.