"Arrrrggg!"
Betilla fell to the ground in frustration.
She lost track of how many times she failed trying to create this thing.
It was months, maybe even a year or two of her trying to bring something to life.
She was so naive. 'I created and brought plants to life. How difficult would it be to create something that can breathe and think?'
It was extremely difficult.
At first, she was just worried about what this guardian would look like and what abilities it would have.
She settled on trying to have it have more magical powers than brawn. If they were more intune with the energies of the universe, making them have a symbiotic relationship they would have good reasons to want to protect the Maker and the world. As a bonus, it would also make them extremely adaptable to other sources of power if her calculations were correct. They would be capable of surviving in any environment.
They would have to have a complete body. Natural limbless creatures like the Rays had magic stronger than the Fey but most of their magic is typically only used to keep themselves alive, it was rare for a limbless to actually cast magic, instead a lot of them just had tricks and gimmicks instead of proper spells. Any kind of Limbless were also powerful in magic, but they also couldn't form their magic in spells. So they were often weaker than magic-users.
Although it wasn't like she was trying to create a natural living creature like them, she was trying to make a guardian that could think on its own.
Most guardians are often limbless as well, either because it makes their job easier or because their creator wanted to conserve precious materials, something she would not skimp out on in her project.
She then proceeded to list abilities she wanted it to have: Flight, speed, strength, underwater capabilities, magic projectiles, and universal language comprehension(others can be added later due to magic capability).
Betilla then began gathering all the potential materials she could possibly need to create the hero. Magic gems, sea serpent scales, enchanted rocks from the blue mountains, bewitched clay from Picture City, to the magic fire of Gourmand Land. She was unsure what would be compatible with this Guardian's heart to give it a proper body so she grabbed a little bit of everything.
Most importantly: she gathered as many lums as she could. They were the best way to create new life, every guardian had them in their system, and even the natural limbless creatures often used them to reproduce. She even got a ton of samples of every kind of magic known in the valley so that her creation would have many abilities and powers, as well as be capable of receiving more later down the line.
With all that gathered she began her work.
Her first few attempts taught her that future attempts should all happen outside.
A few more attempts later, Betilla learned to try and create a guardian in a protective circle so that she wouldn't set the forest on fire or worse.
It took her a lot of power and resources to make a good strong protective monument. Five stone pillars with blue magic runes stood around the center slab with similar magic. Spacious enough to do her work yet small enough to not waste so much magic and for it not to bother anyone else.
She then resumed trying to create the guardian. Starting with the most important part: the Heart, which the entirety of the rest of it would revolve around.
She mixed and matched the magic time and time again using any kind of material she could to make a heart. The tricky part is that the heart had to keep producing energy all on its own without any external influence. She was basically trying to create an everlasting fire that required no fuel to keep burning.
Betilla kept working, attempting to create something that was in all aspects, an impossibility.
She knew this was hopeless, she knew that what she was doing was the definition of insanity, yet she kept trying. Even though this process was maddening, the thought of failure drove her to complete despair.
She pretty much had to keep restocking lums, magicks, and other resources due to her running out or the other members of the council borrowing her supplies.
She tried to create the heart every day since she got all the potential ingredients.
Betilla was so tired, tired of trying, tired of wasting her magic every day. But she HAD to do this.
It wouldn't happen today, that much was clear.
She headed to bed, too tired to change into PJs.
The next thing she knew it was morning and someone was knocking on her front door. She did not feel rested at all.
Groaning, she dragged herself to the front door, too exhausted to even bother flying.
Opening the door she saw Holly and Annetta.
"Woah, Betilla did you get into a fight with one of the kings all night or something?" Annetta questioned.
"Morning, what are you girls doing here?"
"Girl, don't tell me you forgot?" Holly quipped.
"Forget what?"
"It's the second summer solstice."
Her eyes darted to her calendar. Confirming her sisters' words. How could she forget such an important day?
She pulled down on her face and moaned.
"I have been such a mess as of late." she groaned.
"How long do you need to not be a mess? I hope it's sometime today because we need to meet up with the rest of the council."
"Give me a moment," she dragged herself to the bathroom, not closing the door behind her as a way to say to her sisters, 'Come on in."
Both of them walked in.
"Gez, this place is a mess," Holly commented.
"What exactly does she think she's gonna achieve with this madness?" Annetta said while moving a stack of papers off of the couch.
"Who knows? She'll probably collapse before she finishes with all the magic she's been burning."
"We really need to get her to find something else to work on or take a break."
"Yup."
Annetha sat down on the spot she cleared.
"She is probably gonna ask for more of our magic soon."
"Wish she would just stop. Maybe we can help her come up with something new."
"You know we're barely able to help ourselves at this point,"
Holly just looked at Annetha.
"What? I'm right… especially with what we know about who could've done all this." She just looked at the floor in shame.
The dark-skinned fairy just looked out the window, unable to deny her words.
They sat in silence for a good while.
"She is really trying to go through with this isn't she?"
"Yup looks like it. Out of all the things she could do… She is trying THAT,"
"Hey isn't Betilla taking too long?"
"Betilla are you done yet?"
Quiet…
"Betilla?"
Both sisters went to the bathroom to find that the forest nymph had fallen asleep on the sink, the water still running, toothbrush in her mouth.
"BETILLA!" Annetha started shaking her.
"I'M UP!"
The trio of nymphs arrived at the temple at the top of Mystical Pique, the tallest of the blue mountains. Betilla needed some thicker clothes in her wardrobe, and it was clear by the way they were shivering, so did her sisters.
She looked up to see Mr. Stone looking down at them standing in the front on guard. He stood there for a moment gazing over the big brown bag full of bottles Betilla had before stepping aside and opening the door to the temple. All three of them rushed inside for warmth.
"There you guys are!" Helena flew up to the group, "You guys are late! They're about to begin!"
"Sorry about that."
"Are the others here?" Holly asked.
"Yup! Everyone is here, let's start."
All of them went into a big room, it was a lecture hall, and the chairs reached all around the room all facing towards what was in the center: The Dreamer's Door. The other members of the council were seated around in their designated seats.
The trio quickly sat with the rest of her sisters, a good distance away from the middle.
"Why, if it isn't the darling of the council, Betilla! I haven't seen you in ages," Voodoo Mama quipped, "in fact, I haven't seen the lot of you for a long time. What's up?"
"Girls! It's about to start!" Edith hushed-yelled.
All eyes looked forward at a small blue creature, wearing all red, with a bushy beard that had his nose poking out of it, the Elder Teensy.
He gripped his staff tighter.
"Members of the council, we are gathered here now for the second summer solstice ritual. I may not need to remind you that this tradition is to make sure the dreamer's door is maintained, and protected. Today, we shall allow the energies of our world to flow freely so that every being, big, small, long, short, good and evil be rejuvenated with magic."
He stroked his beard.
"And because I know people are wondering, yes it is ok to gather sunbeams from this ritual. You don't need to hide your intentions. We all have been in a sense of great panic for a good while."
Audible sighs of relief were heard all around.
"Oh yeah! Maybe I can use sunbeams!"
Holly turned to Betilla, "Why do you have that many beakers if you weren't gonna collect sunbeams?"
The green-clad fairy just shrugged. "I was hoping to get a lot more magic samples from everyone."
The elder cleared his throat, turning everyone's attention back to him.
"However I should warn you that there is a reason why nobody uses the sunbeams for magic components; they're extremely volatile. Many lives of the previous members of the council have been lost due to the use of the rays of light. The sun gives life but it also gives burns."
His brow visibly deepened.
"I can not stress how dangerous this magic is if used incorrectly, and no one has yet figured out a way to use it correctly."
This caused a lot of others to start whispering among themselves.
"Now with that out of the way… let us prepare for the ritual. I do not have to remind everyone of their roles, we have to get this done before the sun reaches the highest point of the sky."
They were set. All the ingredients were in place. Sundaisys were placed in the back, the gemstone kelp hung above, the candles were set, and the special bottles meant for the more dangerous magic samples were lined up to catch the beams of light. Everything was in place and everyone was in their spots waiting for the ritual to begin.
The ceiling opened up as the sun reached its highest point. The light flooded in, Betilla crossed her legs and started meditating alongside her sisters, the monks started chanting, and the Teensies began to dance. The light began to twist and turn, starting to resemble smooth waves as they filtered through the crystals breaking the white light into rainbows. The colors separated from each other forming new wisps and lighting the candles before landing on the ground where they quickly flooded the lower part of the ground flowing into the base of the dreamer's door, causing it to light up runes that weren't visible before, the colors flowed into all of the nicks and crevices. Parts of the doorway jutted out revealing carved faces.
From the center of the floating ring, the energy pooled creating a bright light. Everyone had to shut their eyes tight but they continued despite the annoyance. The nymphs began to channel the power outwards through the statues with crystals they were above creating streams. The Sundasiys absorbed any dangerous rogue power as it exited the temple.
Outside cracked a rare smirk as he saw the colorful light now filling the sky.
It was a spectacular aurora that brought wonder to anyone who saw it. The light traveled all over the skies, above the forests, deserts, and mountains of the valley, and traveled to the beyond. All over their world people looked up and saw the lights.
From a structure made of quartz on top of a very tall mountain that the constellations could be seen even during the day, the beings inside watched the lights, drinking wine and bread, cheese, and meat, they saw the illuminations in the sky.
On the tropic beaches, dawned with palm trees, hidden locals dressed in many different colors, with advanced technology looked up and saw the colors.
Across the land that was decked out with flowers and food, people dressed up as skeletons danced and played music under the patterns flowing above them.
In the place where beanstalks grow tall enough to touch the clouds and are strong enough to hold entire palaces. The locals of the area were near the top of the tall plant, running their fingers through the lights that flowed around them like water. Having their own little celebration.
Deep within a thick forest, a castle stood. A carnival was laid out with stands that had food and games within the stone walls that were still being built, cheers could be heard for miles around when they saw what was in the sky. Two little red-headed girls looked up at the aurora from the top of one of the castle's towers in absolute wonder.
From all around the world day or night, creatures of all shapes and sizes saw the illuminations, unaware of the people who performed the magic that allowed it in the first place.
The light began to slowly float down to the ground. Touching every leaf, rock, pebble, and stream, flowing into every crevice and cave so that even those who lived underground were touched by the aurora. Every piece of the world glowed and shined. Then it faded. But after it did, plants began to bloom, birds began to sing, fish began jumping out of the water and rocks shed their outer shells revealing crystals beneath, and so much more.
There was a lot of the light left over, having not been absorbed but they formed into spheres and sprouted wings, becoming lums, sleeping peacefully in the air.
Back at the temple, the members of the council were congratulating each other and were chatting now that their job was done. Some were discussing solutions to their problems, and planning the next meeting to discuss more due to everyone being tired of doing the ritual for hours.
But Betilla was focused on something else: the beaker that was now containing pure unfilled power from the sun. She knelt down to pick it up… and immediately pulled her hand away from the scorching heat.
"Ow! How is it hot? That's my best fire beaker!"
A hand with a very strange bedazzled mitt on it ended up grabbing the bottle with the sunbeams inside. Betilla looked up to see Edith, looking down at her with worry.
"Looks like you need some help with this… I guess I can lend you my special oven mitt I use in the Infernal Kitchen," She handed the other mitt to her sister.
"Thanks," she put it on and took the vial with it.
"Well, that went extraordinarily well!" Helena said with joy.
"I hope everyone enjoyed the performance!" Holly exclaimed.
Anneta giggled.
Betilla looked over to find the missing sibling from the group.
Voodoo Mama was busy talking with some other members who looked angry at her for some reason. From the look on her face it was obvious that it was just some weird claims about her being 'evil' again.
It would probably be a while before she's free.
"So should we have some family time later, and make dinner together again?" Betilla asked, "It's been a long time since we all hung out, I'm sure VeDe would say yes." She pointed to the nymph with bones in her hair without looking at her.
"Sorry, but I have to tend to the kitchen. But that does sound like a good idea, but I can't do it today," Edith said while reaching into her forest-dwelling sister's bag and taking out a bottle, opening it up, and putting her hand over the top, a light blue power of size-changing magic flowed into the bottle but it didn't fill up to the top, it was just a little bit of it, closing the bottle and ended up putting it back in the bag giving Betilla a strange look while doing so before flying off suddenly.
"Huh? What was that about…" The redhead wondered out loud before turning to the remaining group of siblings.
Who were all giving her strange looks as well. Annetha was giving her a scary glare that was rarely seen, only when she was truly angry or hunting down something, Holly was darting her eyes back and forth between her and the exit, and Helena was just looking worried about her.
"Well I need to be heading out as well," the dark-skinned and feathered nymph stated, picking up an empty beaker and putting a little bit of her flying magic in it, it was less than what Eidith gave. She then darted towards the exit.
"You really shouldn't cross the line Betilla," Annetna warned, grabbing a bottle, and like her sisters, putting a little bit of magic in it before flying away.
Turning to Helena, Betilla could only ask, "What's wrong? Why is everyone acting strange?"
The blue-clad nymph just sighed and rubbed her head before answering.
"Word got out that you are trying to play creator."
The forest fairy's eyes widened upon hearing the news.
"What?"
"Yea… Someone saw your notes, and you attempting to create a new being. Not to mention It makes way too much sense given everything you have been doing. Pretty much everyone knows Betilla."
"You don't understand, I was just trying to..."
"What? Create a being capable of solving all our problems? Take down armies with little to no effort? Look I get that you're desperate, but doing this will only bring more problems, please be realistic! You've got to remember the last time someone tried doing what you do, and what happened to those poor fishermen. Not to mention that it's taking a huge toll on you."
Helena grabbed a beaker and put a little bit of her magic inside, it was filled halfway up.
"Look me and the others aren't gonna stop you… We just won't be giving you as much magic anymore. Honestly you out of all people should know of the taboos of creating life."
And just like her other sisters, she turned and left the room.
Betilla then noticed that the members of the council who weren't talking to someone else were looking at her….
She swallowed nervously.
Betilla was on the verge of tears… Every single member of the council chewed her out.
"I expected better from the head nymph,"
"I expected this from Voodoo Mama, not you!"
"If you go through with creating your monster you will doom us all!"
She dealt with those remarks for the rest of the evening trying to get more samples but in the end, all she had were the dregs her sisters gave her before.
One by one everyone left the temple, leaving only one other person besides herself.
"Heya Be! How's it going?"
Voodoo Mama flew up by her side.
"Rough,"
"Yeah, I bet, I'm sorry you had to go through all that but I'm kinda happy that I wasn't the only one getting all the blowback,"
The bat-winged fairy put her arm around her sister.
"Other than that I am really surprised and happy for you,"
"Huh?"
"Most of the time you just do what others tell you to do when it comes to magic and protection, glad you're doing your own thing again."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Don't worry, I just mean that it's been a long time since I saw my sister Betilla the fairy, not the nymph. Honestly, when was the last time the family got together and were just ourselves, with no work involved?"
"You know I asked the rest of our group earlier if they wanted to do that, but they kinda all ran off,"
"That's becoming a nasty habit of theirs… and sometimes yours as well. But I just have one question for you, Be."
"What is it?"
Voodoo Mama looked her dead in the eyes with a serious expression.
"Are you sure about this endeavor of yours? With all the lums, magic, and the possibility it might fail? All the heartbreak and backlash if it goes right? I am not saying you shouldn't and that there are no positives but there will be a lot of hardships going forward if you succeed."
Betilla just pondered for a good while. Once again going over every detail in her mind. The pros and cons of every single scenario. Yet in light of it all and despite the warnings and criticism her resolve state the same, and she looked back with determination in her eyes.
"You and I both know it's not a matter of if but when. I went through all possible solutions long before this whole mess even happened. I know it's a stupid idea, but I at least want to say that I tried my best if I am doomed to fail."
The other girl smiled wide.
"Atta girl, I am glad you're sticking it to everyone, Creator knows we need more troublemakers in the world," She then reached into a sack that was attached to her hip, and pulled out a huge jar that couldn't possibly fit inside from it and handed it to her.
Betilla just stared in shock at what was in the jar, a kind of magic she hadn't seen before that was both familiar, powerful, and strange. It looked like a tiny galaxy was swirling inside the glass, with beautiful shades of purple and small lights resembling stars. All swirling around forming a white 'o' in the middle. It was magical, wonderful, whimsical, and the most shocking thing of all: Betilla could tell that there was very little of Voodoo Mama's power in the jar, it was her own.
"How? My magic never looked like this!"
The other just chuckled before answering, "What is transformation magic then the power to change? I had a lot of samples of your magic, some even from when we were kids. I just gave it a little push and it turned into that something that can become anything, I thought it suited you and your project, creating something that is entirely your own creation, so why not use your own magic? I know you've been getting tired so maybe this can help you rest for a while."
The redhead put down the jar before hugging her little sister. Crying into her shoulder.
The other nymph hugged back, "Man, you really needed a friend didn't you?"
The two of them stayed like that for a while before pulling away.
"I would talk some more but I'll be in even more trouble if I leave the grannys and grandpas alone for too long, hope to see you soon!" and the nymph of the livid dead flew out of the temple.
Betilla signed and put the big jar in her bag. She had to leave some of her beakers at the temple to make room, reminding herself next time to get a magic bag like her sister.
She began to fly towards the exit as well.
*thump*
She stopped, having heard a strange sound.
* thump thump thump*
She was alert, she was not alone.
"Who's there?" She called out, prepping an attack frantically looking around.
It was quiet for a few seconds . . . Before a voice echoed through the halls.
"Hi, folks! Give a big round hand for the star of this evening, the one who researched the stars,"
A top hat with a star on it hopped out from behind a pillar in front of her.
"The prodigy that gained a position in the magic council, and now the protector of the forest, the one the only….."
Out from under it with a flurry of sparkles, popped out a creature with no arms and legs but had hands and feet, a big nose and locks of golden hair on its head. It wore a violet shirt with two blue buttons on it and waved its cane towards her with a big grin.
"Betilla the Fairy!"
The mentioned girl just groaned, dissipating the spell but not lowering her guard.
"It's nymph, not fairy. My title is nymph." She crossed her arms, and glared at the newcomer "Why are you here Magician?"
"Well there is no one to represent my kind in the council, I know that we don't do magic or spells but with the massive decisions y'all make every now and again that affect everyone in the valley we should have a say in it too you know?"
"Well, it is the MAGIC council and a lot of the limbless aren't very willing to quadrate with us and are so secretive. Why should we try and help those who distrust us so much?"
He leaned forward on his cane, feet crossed behind the smile disappearing from his face.
"That distrust is there because of a very good reason, a reason my people are afraid will repeat again. That's why we HAVE to have someone to represent us."
Betilla's curiosity got the better of her, and let her guard down even more.
"What happened, exactly?"
"Well, I really can't say, nobody wants to stir those ideas up again for the council. But I will say it happened before you joined them and it was something truly and utterly terrible,"
"Oh… so why are you sharing the fact you're spying on all of us with me?"
"I just thought I could give some useful advice you can use in your project."
"Really? Even if it's morally wrong? Everyone gave me an earful about it."
"Betilla, It took me all my willpower to not jump out and call out all the hypocrisy and irony the lot of them said to you."
"And what makes you so sure you can help me?"
The strange creature just chuckled. "Why do you think you know everything about me? I am a scholar after all, I enjoy learning and studying after all,"
"Really?"
"Yup and my advice for you: don't try to force it. Life is at its core, uncontrollable. Sure you can guide it, nurture it, but if you force it to try and make it become something it's not or try to control it absolutely, it can cause some really messed up stuff to happen."
Betilla mused over his words.
"Wait a minute…. How did you even get in here? There is only one entrance, Helena makes sure the temple is in tip top shape, and Mr. Stone is watching the door, nothing gets past him!"
The limbless smiled wide putting his hands behind his back.
"Any man of my trade knows to keep secrets so the audience is left guessing and with that I bid you adieu,"
He slinked behind a pillar, still facing Betilla until he was completely out of sight form the forest nymph.
"Hey!"
She quickly darted after the man only to find empty space, looking all around (even above) she couldn't find where the Magician went, there was no way he could've gotten past her! How did he did it?
"Limbless…. Always keeping secrets,"
A yawn escaping her mouth distracted her…. She was so tired, she needed to get some sleep. Today was pretty awful. She decided to take a break day, it wasn't like she was gonna manage to create the guardian tomorrow anyways.
Betilla dragged herself back home, limbs heavy, she couldn't fly she was so tired.
At least it was a beautiful night, everything practically shined and glowed, the rivers and plants were sparkling underneath the moonlight. The sounds of the creatures that come out at night, formed a strange yet sweet lullaby for her ears. Looking up, she swore the night sky looked different tonight, not a cloud in the sky, the stars seemed to be changing colors, and the two moons were perfectly visible and full (a pretty rare occurrence) yet something was different about them but she was too sleepy to care.
She finally made it to her front door. Before anything else she put the sunbeams in a secure place (the same place she kept magical fires) so it wouldn't burn down her house if she left it unattended.
She then unpacked all the samples she collected putting them all on the table. Finally unpacking the big jar. She wandered where exactly she should store it for a moment before she heard rustling in the next room.
Someone broke into her house.
Perking up she prepared herself and went to confront the intruder.
She turned the corner to find a bunch of zombie chickens, ransacking her home, stuffing all the materials she gathered over the months into big sacks they were carrying.
Without thinking she shot out a spell of power and obliterated one of the undead poultry, causing the bag he was holding to drop to the ground. All the intruder's eyes were now on her.
She casted another spell this time below her, thick vines sprouted out of the ground (future Betilla can handle the broken floorboards) and stood by her side waiting for her orders.
The zombie chickens screeched, some charging at her, others trying to get away with their stolen goods, not that she was gonna let them get away so easily.
She commanded the vines to attack, knocking two of them into her shelfs and the others into their fleeing companions.
She prepared another magic bullet, and dashed forward towards her targets who were already back up on their (metaphorical) feet.
She launched the spell, they dodged just barely, vines came to her side again, constricting three, and she turned to finish the last one.
Only to be attacked from behind, from a zombie chicken that hid from her.
She was downed for a while, but woke up shortly after seeing the undead fiends scrambled, getting their bony fingers(?) on all her materials.
"Hey!"
They quickly dropped what they were shoving into the bags and just fled, out the back door into her garden.
She flew after the poultry thieves. She saw that they also raided her garden, plants plucked and flowers missing their petals. But she didn't manage to catch up with the criminals as her exhaustion finally caught up with her.
Betilla then learned what the soil of her garden tastes like.
No wait, her wings just gave up on her and face planted into the ground….
By the time she picked herself up, the zombie chickens were long gone, the hole in her fence (that's probably how they got in) taunting her of their escape.
Recognizing her loss, Betilla quickly went back to her house to assess the damage.
She looked around to find that nearly every single material she collected since she started to create the guardian was gone.
Magic stones? Snatched.
Potions? Pilfered.
Scales and claws? Taken.
Even her notes were stolen.
She even lost a majority of the lums she gathered, now she only had a few sacks, not nearly enough for creating the guardian.
At least not everything was burglarized, she managed to find a magic paint brush, two kinda big white enchanted marbles, a tongue from Gourmet Land (she doesn't remember what it was from), a small self-playing bagpipe but it was broken so it was more of a bag that blew wind, two brown gems form the caves, a potion she made from a book that she couldn't remember what it did right now, some bewitched plants, feathers, some stuff from the sea of serendipity, A ball from playtopia and This thing here… what is it?
Betilla's vision began to blur as the adrenaline started to wear off.
She needed to sleep, but before anything she had to fix that hole in the fence so no one could break in while she slept. She forced her aching body outside, casted a spell and made a thick spiky plant grow in the hole.
And then she collapsed into the ground landing in a soft patch of grass, and clover.
She only had enough energy to turn onto her side before she fell into a deep sleep.
Tears shined and sparkled brightly under the moons above.
The moonlight cradled the dormant fairy, forming wisps, and patterns on her skin, seeping into her dreams.