Katie looked around before she let out a horrified gasp. The amulet was completely shattered.
“What happened?” Tiff shouted.
“I don’t know! I must’ve dropped it when I was hit with its energy.” Tears welled up in Katie’s eyes. “I… I’m so sorry.” She sobbed.
“A powerful relic like that can’t be destroyed so easily.” A young woman’s voice; with a British accent said.
Katie recognized the voice right away. “Lillian?” She asked. Approaching them from the doorway was another fairy. She had bright pink boy-cut hair, a lilac dress exactly like theirs, and a set of orange and black wings, just like a monarch butterfly. “It IS you! Tiff, this is Lillian, we took French class last year, and she’s in my history class this year. What are you doing here? Did the amulet turn you into a fairy, too?”
Lillian shook her head. “Always been one. Me Mum was a fairy; me Father was human. Found out on my 10th birthday when I woke up eight inches tall with wings growing out of my back, bit of a shock, to say the least. Anyway, I was walking past this house when I sensed a massive surge of magical energy and came up here to investigate to find two fairies… well, let’s say obviously new to the experience; but, enough about that, where did you find this, well, former amulet?”
“Up there.” Katie said pointing to the chest.
Lillian flew up to the papers beside the chest with Katie and Tiff fluttering close by. After examining the chest she looked over at the papers and started reading them. “Ah, I see.”
“You understand that chicken scratch?” Tiff asked.
“It’s a language used only in Gaia; the magical mirror world to this one. This one warns not to make a wish that requires too much power to grant or it’ll overload the amulet. Fairies are quite powerful beings and it takes a massive amount of magical energy to transform two humans into full-fledged fairies at once. I believe that’s what destroyed it.”
Katie’s heart sank. “So it was my fault after all.”
“Ah, who needs it anyway?” Lillian said. “You’ve got your own magic now. Besides, things like that usually cause more trouble than they’re worth. Good riddance I say. Now what say we change back into human form and head home.”
“How do we do that?” Tiff asked.
“Just concentrate and feel the magic inside you, then use it to will yourself into human form. Like this.” Lillian flew down to the floor and closed her eyes. Her whole body began to gently glow as she started growing in height. Her wings shrank into her back, her ears shortened and rounded out, and her hair changed from bright pink to blonde and her dress changed into the same school uniform as Katie and Tiff’s. “There, now you try.”
Katie and Tiff landed on the floor and closed their eyes. “Don’t force it.” Lillian advised. “You’re new at this, so it may take a bit to tap in to your powers.” After a few moments, both girls finally felt a powerful energy within them. Immediately they began glowing, just like Lillian. They felt their bodies grow, their wings retreat into their backs, their ears returning to their human shape and their dresses reverting back to the material and shape of their school uniforms.
“It worked!” Katie shouted. “We’re human again!”
“Or, at least, we look human again.” Tiff added.
As the three girls began to leave Katie turned to Lillian. “Thank you so much Lillian, I don’t know what we would’ve done without your expertise. You’re a true friend.”
Lillian blushed. “Well, I don’t claim to be an expert; I’m just repeating what me Mum taught me when I was first learning magic. And, thanks; I’m glad to have friends I can show my wings to.”
“Say, could your Mom teach us magic, too?” Tiff said.
“I’m sure she’d love to. If it’s okay with your parents, she might even take you to Gaia with us on summer holiday. There’s a LOT you can learn there.”
“Oh, boy; our parents.” Katie said flustered. “How are we ever going to explain THIS to them?”
“If it goes as well as when Mum told Dad, expect fainting and lots of it.” Lillian said.
The three girls laughed as they walked away from the house, never to set foot inside again, but always remembering how it changed their lives forever.
THE END