Within a beautiful palace, built into by far the tallest tree in the forest, there was a vault, sealed by magic. The seal lowers and the door opens. Inside step two women, one slightly shorter than the other. They possessed long pointed ears and two pairs of large clear, almost crystalline, butterfly-shaped wings folded behind their backs.
The gown of the taller of the two’s was extravagant and colored a shining gold and silver. She also had the large golden crown of the Fairy Queen upon her head of shoulder length, forest green hair. The gown of the other was simpler and colored pink and lavender. She had the smaller, silver crown of the High Princess, who rules as the queen’s wife, adorning her long, sky-blue hair.
“But, if any of them are male, then…” the shorter one spoke.
“Yes, Andrea” The Queen answered, “they would become female, as all fairies are such. You know this well as you yourself had that very experience.”
The two fairies, passing various piles of gold and jewels, along with a collection of magical relics, approached a pedestal upon which, wrapped in a sphere of energy, were four charms. One was shaped like a flower bud, like the kinds that appear in the spring. Another shaped like the Sun, which fosters a warm summer day. A third, shaped like a leaf, which trees shed in the autumn. The last was a snowflake, like the countless number blanketing a winter landscape. The two fairies placed a hand on the sphere, causing it to vanish.
“Well, all I’m saying is, very few human men would be as willing to undergo such a transformation as I was, Selena. I chose this life because I fell in love with you back when you were still Princess, and was willing to give up everything I had to be with you. I don’t know if we should impose such a thing on one person, let alone four.” Andrea said.
“Come with me, Andrea.” Selena said, with the four charms in hand. The vault door closed when they exited and the magical seal returned. The Queen guided the High Princess to the balcony, which overlooked the fairy city, built straight into the trees. Beyond that, there was the greater forest, which showed patches that appeared to be in all different seasons. Some parts looked like they were in autumn, others were covered in snow, and still others had blossoms upon them. “Our world is not ruled by the sciences of the one you came from, but the magic of old. The magic that governs the cycle of seasons once again needs caretakers. Without them, our world will perish in the seasonal turmoil.”
“I see, then I guess there’s no other option.”
Selena placed the charms into Andrea’s hand. “I’ve chosen you for this task because you were human once; you will be the council to those who will be gifted with the powers of the seasons.”
“Yes, my love.” Andrea’s wings flared out as she stepped to the rail of the balcony. She leapt off and her wings fluttered, carrying her off to her destination, the portal to the human world.