In this diverse and enchanting world, all kinds of magical creatures exist, even though most of them never reveal themselves to humans. One of the most fascinating creatures is, of course, the fairy. You've probably heard of the moon fairies and the water fairies, but have you heard about the snowflower fairies that live in the Crystal Forest?
These fairies are truly magnificent and extremely rare. They're a special kind that appears in this forest when a star-shaped snowflake falls into a magical flower called the December rose. You haven't seen anything like this rose! It's more delicate than a dahlia and more elegant than a lily. Its translucent petals glitter when moonlight illuminates them on a clear night. While other flowers might exist to dazzle the world, the sole purpose of the December rose is to give life to the snowflower fairy.
The adorable snowflower fairies are born during the last week of December. They can withstand the cold weather and are very playful. You'll see them creating figures in the snow, singing songs with the winter birds, or sliding on top of frozen rivers and lakes.
Once upon a time, our fair forest was home to hundreds of snowflower fairies. But over time, their numbers started to drop, and now only a few adult fairies are left. You might wonder: Why are these fairies disappearing from the Crystal Forest? Well, it's a sad story that began ten winters ago. That year, only seven December rose flowers grew out of the cold ground, although there used to be many. And every winter since then, there have been fewer and fewer of these unique flowers. Everyone used to wait excitedly for them to bloom, but their petals would open up and show nothing inside. The last snowflower child fairy was born five years ago.
The December rose flowers were losing their magic, and the snowflower fairy became an endangered magical species.
But this year, something incredible happened! Three December rose flowers sprouted from the ground, giving the fairies hope their kind was not lost after all. One withered the second week after growing a few small leaves, and the second bloomed empty. All hope was now placed on the third and last rose of the season. And when it began unraveling its petals one by one on December 25, all the fairies held their breath.
As the last petal opened, a blue-eyed child appeared, wearing a delicate white dress made of the finest fabric, embellished with silver crystals and embroidered lace. Its hair was dark brown, short, and wavy, and its cheeks were puffy and blushed.
"Don't be ashamed," one of the fairies named Snowdrop said to the child. "Forgive us our overwhelming joy, but we haven't seen a child fairy for many years. Your existence in this world is a miracle! We'll call you Christia!"
The child looked around, eager to find someone to play with. "Where are all the children?" Christia asked.
"There are no other children; you're the only one. We're sorry, Christia! No child should be welcomed into this world with such sad news. But our kind is dying, and you're our only hope."
"Me?" Christia asked, her blue eyes glowing brightly.
"A few days ago, we sent messengers to scout the Crystal Forest and find what's been causing the extinction of our kind. They say a creature with super powerful magical abilities is responsible for the decline of the snowflower fairies. We're not the only species that's endangered. Different kinds of winter nymphs, dryads, and gnomes, too. Even the Mushroom People! The whispers say this mighty creature resides in Moonwhisper Lake and has been wielding its strong magic from that mysterious place. We don't know what the creature has been doing to hurt our kind, but we have noticed unusual weather events that we rarely had in the past, like scorching temperatures, severe blizzards, and devastating hurricanes! Only you can find this creature and, with it, the source of our species' decline."
Christia's blue eyes now transformed into crystal blue. "Why does it have to be me? I've just come into this world; what ability can I possess?"
"You're a child," Snowdrop explained. "Our messengers informed us of something else. This creature has set a magical barrier around the lake that allows only innocent souls to pass through, and the most innocent souls are the children. We, the adult fairies, cannot penetrate this barrier. But don't worry my dear child, you won't go alone. Blizzard will go with you."
"Who's Blizzard?" Christia was confused.
All of a sudden, a furry snowshoe hare hopped out from behind a shrub. It had pristine white fur that provided excellent camouflage against the snow-covered terrain. His eyes were large and alert, but Christia couldn't make out whether they were green or brown. But the most interesting thing about Blizzard was his oversized feet. They were so big that they acted like natural snowshoes, preventing Blizzard from sinking into the snow.
The hare was now standing very close to Christia, and from this distance, her eyes revealed themselves to be a warm hazel. "Hi, I'm Blizzard! Glad to make your acquaintance," the friendly hare introduced himself to Christia. "I'll be your faithful companion to Moonwhisper Lake. Whatever happens on our travels, you have my word – I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Hi, Blizzard, I'm Christia!" the child fairy smiled politely.
"Take this," Snowdrop said, giving Christia a small crystal bottle. "It's fairy dust. If you get into trouble, just sprinkle some on whatever's troubling you."
Christia took the bottle and put it in her pocket. "Should I go on this journey," she asked herself. "I'm so young, fragile, and not brave enough to face the dangers of the forest alone with a furry hare." But two things changed the child's mind that day. The first was the look of despair on the fairies' faces, which confirmed the truth of their words. The second was Blizzard's soothing presence. Christia couldn't explain why, but she trusted the hare, even though she had known him for only an hour.
So, when dawn came the following day, Christia and Blizzard embarked on their journey to Moonwhisper Lake in search of the mysterious creature responsible for the decline of the snowflower fairies and, if the rumors could be trusted, many other species in the Crystal Forest.
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Christia and Blizzard have now been traveling for two whole days. The forest has been kind and hospitable to their travels so far, although they still had many more miles to cross until they reached Moonwhisper Lake. The most fascinating thing about the journey was the sight of the Crystal Forest under the crisp winter sun. The snow-dusted branches of the pine trees, illuminated by the shy sun rays, shimmered elegantly as if they were decorated with diamonds. On the ground, there were all kinds of footprints, big and small, five-fingered and three-fingered, oval-shaped and square-shaped, evidence of the abundance of life forms that lived here.
Christia and Blizzard spent the second night in an abandoned hole in the ground. A family of moles used to live here was Blizzard's best guess, but they have probably escaped to another place with more predictable weather.
"I wonder what the forest looks like in spring and summer," Christia was curious.
"It has more colors, it's louder, and there are more things flying in the air," Blizzard answered, his tone suggesting he didn't like the warmer months.
"Do you know what happens to the snowflower fairies during the warmer seasons?" Christia had more questions. "There aren't many things I know about this world, I'm afraid."
"You already know more than you should at your age," Blizzard consoled her. "Well, the snowflower fairies don't do well in warm weather, so they migrate to higher ground, where it's usually several degrees colder. There's this mountain near this forest known as Hare's Back Mountain; this is where most of the snowflower fairies escape to survive. They burry themselves in the snow and hibernate for 4-5 months."
"Blizzard?" Christia asked.
"Yes, Christia?"
"Do you think we'll ever find this powerful creature? The two of us? It's just…we're so small and powerless."
"Power has nothing to do with size. Sometimes, the smallest beings carry the biggest force within themselves."
Blizzard's words consoled Christia's scared little heart, and when she woke up the next morning, she felt full of energy and slightly less scared about the long road ahead. That day, they saw this large pond surrounded by willow trees that Blizzard said was called Swan Song Pond. Hundreds of swans swam in the lake, each more graceful than the other, speaking in a language Christia couldn't understand. At that moment, she just wished she could one day be as peaceful as a swan in a pond.
Christia was riding on Blizzard's back, about to fall asleep, lulled by the gentle hops of the hare, when something cool and damp descended from above. It weaved through tree branches and the underbrush, transforming everything that lived and grew in the surrounding woodland into faint objects. There was a strong, earthy scent of wet leaves and moss, and the usual winter colors of the forest were muted, replaced with shades of grey.
Then, sounds of giggles and teases could be heard in the air. Christia couldn't tell where exactly these sounds were coming from, but they were surely close.
"Oh, no! It's the Mist Sprites!" Blizzard was alarmed. "We better hurry!"
"Who are the Mist Sprites?" Christia asked with a trembling voice.
"They're spirits who dwell in the mist. They're very mischievous and carefree and love playing tricks on everyone who passes through these woods. Hang on to me tightly! We mustn't get separated. They'll make sure we never find each other again."
"Why would they do that?"
"They have nothing else to do, so they spend their time steering travelers off their path. That's just how they are. Don't be scared to grab onto my fur as strongly as you can; it doesn't hurt at all."
Christia did as instructed. She grabbed Blizzard's white fur with the full force of her grip, and as soon as she did, the hare sprinted ahead, jumping over bushes and rocks, making sudden turns between trees, all in an effort to escape the Mist Sprites.
"What a funny traveling duo," the Mist Sprites teased them. "A snowflower fairy and a snowshoe hare! Hee hee! Both equally fair and goodhearted, but not clever enough to escape our tricks. No need to run so fast, you poor hare! Wherever you think you're going, you'll never arrive there! Ha ha ha!"
Blizzard was now running for more than an hour. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to Christia. "I think we're moving in circles. The Mist Sprites have become more mischievous and prankish than in previous years. It's time to call for help!"
With that, Blizzard began whistling an ethereal tune. It sounded serene, poignant, and calming. What was it for? Christia wondered. He sang the tune for a few minutes, long enough for whatever he was calling for to hear and be on their way to help. Suddenly, flickering lights penetrated the misty cloak, fluttering their tiny wings in the air. Fifty or more surrounded them and flashed their lights as if they were trying to tell them something.
"They say they want us to follow them," Blizzard said.
"You understand them?" Christia was surprised Blizzard could speak other languages.
"Fireflies use flashes to communicate. I learned to recognize their different flashes some time ago when we crossed paths in other parts of the forest. It's very simple, actually. They use only about 100 different flashes or so to communicate with each other, and I know about 80 of them. Let's not waste time and do what they say."
Blizzard sprinted toward the light of the fireflies. He had enough of the teasing of the Mist Sprites and couldn't wait to escape the mist. Christia was fascinated with the ethereal glow of the winged creatures, and she wondered what other magical creatures lived in the forest she hadn't met yet. They followed the fireflies for several minutes before the mist and the tedious beings who lived inside it were behind them.
Once they were at a safe distance from the mist, Christia asked the hare playfully, "Do you have other friends in the forest you can call for help?"
"You might be too young to hear this, but the world can be a scary and lonely place without friends. Nothing is made to exist alone, only in connection with other beings. I learned this lesson when I was your age. How do you think I've survived to be ten years old?"
That night, Christia had a dream she lost all of her friends in the mist. As much as she tried, she couldn't find them anywhere. She even called for the fireflies' help, but it was hopeless. They had disappeared without a trace. And when she woke up in the middle of the night, she was happy to see Blizzard sleeping by her side.
There's not much to say about the next few days that followed. Nothing unexpected interrupted their travels, and to make things even better, the sky was entirely cloudless, so they used the pleasant weather to try to cover as much distance as they could. But one day, snow-carrying clouds appeared in the sky, blocking the sun and turning the illuminated world below into a grey-and-white panorama.
"It's just flurries!" Blizzard tried to comfort Christia, but actually, he was trying to put his own mind at ease.
Soon, the light snowfall turned into moderate snow, which grew heavier and heavier, eventually turning into an uncontrollable blizzard. The wind whistled and roared as it tore through the trees, swaying them aggressively and mercilessly. The whole forest disappeared from view, and the road they were following was all piled up with snow. It was blowing and raining so much that neither Kristia nor Blizzard could see their noses in front of them! Hundreds of angry snowflakes hit their faces, which hurt like being pricked by tiny needles.
"We must find shelter," said Blizzard with a frosty voice. "I can't see where we're going."
"Blizzard, I'm scared!"
Suddenly, they could hear a voice in the air, which sounded wise and ancient. "Hello, can you hear me? Whoosh!" Follow my voice, and you shall find shelter from the storm. Whoosh! Turn left here! Now right! Now go straight ahead! A few more hops ahead! Stop! Can you see me now?"
A towering pine tree revealed itself before them. They hid beneath the tree's canopy, standing so close to its trunk that they could smell its age-old scent. This provided them some protection against the raging storm, but the wind and its force could still pierce through. Then, the tree moved its branches, embracing the two companions and creating a protective layer around them.
This was no regular pine tree! It had a face and could talk! In fact, the tree knew every language in existence and could tell stories in any language you wanted to hear. It introduced itself as Boref. It began telling a story about the first creatures that appeared in this world, called the Ethereals.
"A long time ago, eons before any of us existed, this world belonged to the Ethereals," Boref began telling the tale that had Christia and Blizzard all ears. "Nobody knows for certain what they looked like, but some of the oldest beings of today say they were flying, elegant creatures with delicate wings that emitted a soft luminescence. Their figures were slender and elongated, and they wore transparent robes that flowed gracefully along the entire length of their bodies. The Ethereals' skin was pale, almost luminescent, and their faces radiated with serenity and tranquility. On their heads, they wore crowns of stars that sparkled under the moonlight."
The two companions listened to the tale without blinking an eye.
"The tale says they lived behind waterfalls and only left their hiding places to share their magic with the world," Boref continued his story. "Back then, everything in the forest was brought to life by the Ethereals. They came to a land that was empty and dull, and their whole mission was to turn it into a place full of wonder and beauty. They would hold out their hands, whisper a magical spell, and a seed would appear. When they planted these seeds, some would grow into flowers that changed colors and plants that could sing. Others became walking trees and huge fungi that reached up to the clouds.
"Where did they come from?" Christia was curious to know more about these mystical beings as she gazed at the Moon.
"Did they fall from the heavens?" Blizzard asked, his stomach growling with hunger.
Boref, of course, knew the story well. "The Ethereals first appeared in the water. It's said it wasn't a river or a lake, but a small pond. Initially, they were tiny, plankton-like creatures glowing with a soft white light. Over time, some left the water and evolved into beings with wings. They came from what was known as the Sacred Pond. Some believe it's still here, in the Crystal Forest, hidden from view and the curious. These plankton ancestors of the Ethereals had an advanced awareness and communicated with their winged descendants through color signals. The Ethereals even sought advice from the plankton about things like the creation of new life forms like butterflies and bumblebees. The strangest part is how the Ethereals disappeared from our world. One day, they were here, planting seeds, and the next day, they were gone, leaving no trace. No one knows where they went. Searches have been done behind every waterfall and in every river and pond, but there was no trace. They simply disappeared! One theory is that they moved to…”
Weird sounds suddenly interrupted Boref's storytelling. "Hoot-hoot! Hoot-hoot!"
"What's that sound?" Christia couldn't recognize it.
"Snap out of it!" a voice said.
"Snap out of what?" Blizzard was confused.
"You've been listening to Boref's stories for three days. Stop listening to his tales and continue your travels."
They looked up and saw a white owl standing on one of Boref's branches. "Three days?" the two companions thought the bird was lying.
"Shoo-shoo!" Boref tried chasing away the bird. "How dare you interrupt my storytelling? There's nothing more important than learning the tales of old! Be gone this instant!"
"Look around you," the owl said. "The snowstorm is over, and the Sun is up. Blizzard, aren't you starving? Can you try standing up?"
Blizzard barely got to his feet. His body was stiff, and his stomach was growling with anger. Christia couldn't even lift herself up as she was frozen to the ground. Blizzard broke the ice and helped her get up on her feet.
"Where are you going?" Boref was mad. "I didn't finish the story. One of the theories for the Ethereals' disappearance is that they moved to another…"
"Quick, close your ears before his stories hypnotize you again!" the owl said. "Close your ears and run as fast as you can!"
Blizzard and Christia closed their ears and began fleeing. They ran for a few minutes until they couldn't hear Boref's captivating tales.
"I can't believe three days have passed," Christia said, upset. "The fairies told me that every day counts, and I've just wasted three days being hypnotized by a storytelling pine tree! I can't do this, Blizzard. They should have chosen someone wiser, braver, and fiercer."
"No one can avoid being hypnotized by Boref's stories. It's in everyone's nature to love stories as they transport us to different worlds and a different time. Don't be too hard on yourself, kid. We're almost there."
"Why are you doing this? Why are you saving the fairies?" Christia asked and immediately regretted it. "It's not your kind that's dying."
"Have you ever wondered why my name is Blizzard? I was born during a terrible blizzard, one that hadn't been seen for ages. The fairies found me alone in a cave, starved, abandoned, and afraid. They nurtured me back to life and raised me as one of their own. See, I might not look like a snowflower fairy, but there's a big part of your kind in me."
Christia felt a lump in her throat. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. But I'm also glad I got to meet you."
And so, with no more mystery between them, the two friends continued their travels to Moonwhisper Lake. They didn't talk much as they decided they would be super careful about potential danger along the way. At one point, they successfully escaped the soothing songs of the Lullaby Flowers, who, as their name suggests, lulled you to sleep with their serene melodies. Another time, they came across Nightglow Nymphs who floated gracefully around them in synchronized and hypnotic movements. But soon, Christia realized that with every turn and twirl, the nymphs were leading them in circles, away from their path. "We must go," Christia awoke Blizzard from his trance. "Focus on the road ahead."
After this encounter, Blizzard was fully focused on the road ahead, even forgetting to stop for food or to rest. He was hopping as fast as he could until a body of water appeared in front of them.
"We're finally here!" Christia exclaimed.
Blizzard was trying hard not to seem worried. "I'm afraid this is where I must leave you. All you should do is find this powerful magical creature and tell it what its magic has been doing to the snowflower fairies and the forest. If at any point you feel scared or weak, please come back, and we'll think of another plan. Here's my final advice for you: remember that all beings have a heart, even though it might not seem so at first. They might try to hide it with anger, intimidation, or cold-heartedness, but their heart is buried somewhere beneath all the misery. Now go! I'll be here when you return."
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Christia gave Blizzard a big kiss on his fluffy cheek and took flight. As soon as she passed the barrier, a whole new world opened before her eyes, a world that wasn't in harmony with the one outside of it. The world outside was elegant and graceful. This world was opulent and artificial. Every tree that grew around the lake was embellished with crystallized moss and vines that hung like elegant chandeliers. Their branches were decorated with gemstone fruits, ruby cherries, and sapphire blueberries. The lake bed was a mosaic of colorful gems and crystals, illuminating the surface of the water in the most brilliant colors. An array of exotic flowers grew here, each more splendid than the last. Giant diamond-carrying lilies floated in the water with velvet petals as large as shields, their scent too intense for any nose. Clusters of golden reeds could be seen everywhere, along with water hyacinths made entirely out of silver.
"Why would anyone create this?" Christia wondered. "It looks just so weird and unnatural."
The extreme heat and humidity of the place quickly exhausted Christia. She couldn't breathe well and struggled to move her wings. Every other being that lived here seemed to be thriving in this exotic temperature, except for Christia. She was so disoriented that she didn't notice the moving ivy sneaking up behind her like a thief. It snatched her by force, wrapping itself around her little feet and hands. Before she could understand what was happening, Christia found herself tied against a tree by what seemed to be an angry ivy.
"Well, well, well, look what I've just caught. The intruder has been captured before causing damage," the ivy said with pride. "But what are you, anyway? A butterfly? Or a dragonfly?"
"I'm a snowflower fairy, and I come with good intentions, I swear!" Christia defended herself. "I'm here to save my kind from extinction. Something has been killing the snowflower fairies, and I've been told it lives here in the lake. I need to find it and ask it to stop doing whatever it has been doing to hurt us. Please, you have to let me go!"
"LIAR!" the ivy yelled. "You're here to disturb the harmony of our home, the utopia that Lindor has built. What else can an outsider bring but chaos and imbalance?"
"Lindor? Is he the protector of this place? Can you take me to him, please? I must speak with him quickly!"
"I'm not taking you to Lindor! How important do you think you are? You'll stay here until I decide what to do with you," the ivy threatened.
But Christia had no time to wait. The heat was making her lightheaded, and she didn't know how much longer she could survive in this weather. She needed to find a way to escape the ivy, and fast! It took her some time to remember the little gift the fairies gave her before she set out on her journey. The little bottle of fairy dust. She had no clue what the fairy dust could do, but now was the perfect time to try it. It was in the pocket of her dress, but she was so tightly squeezed against the tree that she couldn't even move a finger. In despair, she began wiggling her hands and feet until the ivy's grip loosened a bit. Quickly, she slid her hand inside her pocket and took out the bottle. After several attempts, she opened it, and a small amount of fairy dust fell on the ivy. In an instant, the ivy's squeeze loosened, it untangled itself from the tree, and fell on the ground.
With the ivy asleep, Christia was free to try to find the creature they called Lindor. She flew aimlessly for a while until she noticed something radiant in the water below. The enchanting creature shimmered with an iridescent light brighter than the moon in the sky. It seemed as if every living thing was drawn to this swan-like mystical being, surrounding him and protecting him from harm. Its wings were adorned with intricate flower patterns, with roses and other blossoms in soft pinks, gentle blues, and subtle greens, complemented by sparkling jewels that lent the swan a regal and majestic air. On his head, he wore a wreath of flowers arranged like a crown.
Lindor was admiring his reflection in the water when he spotted a small figure flying above him. Instinctively, he created an impenetrable shield around himself for protection.
"Who are you?" Lindor demanded. "How did you get here? Where's Ivy?"
Christia collected the courage to speak. "My name is Christia, and I've come here to save my kind from your harmful magic!"
"What do you mean, my harmful magic? Can't you see I've built the most majestic place in the world? I transformed the lake from a dull and muddy area into a universe of opulence and splendor. Thousands of crystals and gems and hundreds of unique species of flowers I've created myself decorate this place. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, gold, and silver—all the most precious stones—are now here in Moonwhisper Lake. Isn't it fascinating? I'll let you stay if you like."
Christia struggled to keep her eyes open. But she knew the fairies were counting on her; she couldn't give up now. "Your world is making me sick. It's making the snowflower fairies sick and harming others in the Crystal Forest, too. Thousands are dying because of this place you've created just for yourself. Why is it so warm here? What have you done?"
"The life you see here cannot exist in cold weather! It needs warmth and humidity to grow and prosper. So, I did what any creator would do: adjust the temperature by a few degrees to protect and support my creations. But don't worry, what I did cannot affect anything outside the lake area."
So that's why I'm struggling to breathe here, Christia thought to herself. And that's why my kind is dying. She collected her strength to try to tell Lindor that his magic had indeed affected everything that lived and grew outside the lake.
"I think you've made a mistake," Christia said gently. "I've only been here for a week, but I've learned that everything in this world is connected, like a giant puzzle. Every part, even the tiniest flower that blooms in the meadow, affects those around it. The lake affects what the weather will be like in the whole forest. By making the lake area warmer, the snowflower fairies are getting sick. All the creatures that need the cold and snow might go away forever. That's what's happening because of the magic you used. Please, you have to stop and let the lake be as it was before. I'm asking you with all my heart, please!"
Lindor didn't like what he was hearing. He was too convinced that what he was doing wasn't harming anyone.
"You're talking nonsense! What are snowflower fairies, anyway? I've never heard of your kind. How do I know you're not lying and just trying to remove me to take this oasis for yourself? Deep down, you find this place marvelous and captivating! Admit it, and maybe there will be a place for you here."
Just when Christia started to lose hope in her mission, Blizzard's words came to her mind. "All beings have a heart, even though it might not seem so at first. They might try to hide it with anger, intimidation, or cold-heartedness, but their heart is buried somewhere beneath all the misery."
As her face turned from pale to yellow, Christia had to land on one of the flowers; she could no longer support herself in the air. Gathering her energy to speak, she said, "Magic should never be forced, aggressive, or fancy. Magic is meant to be subtle and graceful. It's not for one being alone but to bring wonder and happiness to many. You can create as many jewel-covered flowers and crystallized plants as you like, but in the end, opulence will never fill what's missing in your heart. Someone dear to me said that everything has a heart beneath the surface, and I believe you have a kind heart, too. Maybe you've been lonely or felt purposeless, but this isn't the way to solve your troubles, not at the cost of others' lives. We passed a pond on our way here called Swan Song Pond, full of beautiful swans. If you return the lake to how it was, I promise to take you there. It's not as grand as this, but you'll never be alone again," Christia said with her last ounce of strength. Her eyes began to close, and her small body grew weaker. "I'll just rest here for a moment," she whispered as she closed her eyes. The last snowflower child fairy was fading away.
Lindor was about to leave her there, but the fairy's helplessness made him swim to where she was lying and take her into his embrace. He had never seen anything like this child. There was some kindness, innocence, and vulnerability to her face he hadn't seen in another being. How could he be responsible for the death of such a pure soul? He would not be able to live with himself! Not even the most luminescent gemstone would give him peace of mind. The sight of the dying child would haunt him forever. The being was right. Loneliness had turned him into a miserable, cold-blooded, and selfish creature. When he was a child, he used to be more empathetic, fun-loving, and joyful. The passing of time can transform a being into something unrecognizable if that being values possessions more than connection. Wails of sorrow could be heard miles away from the lake as Lindor lamented what he had done to the world.
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"Christia, Christia, wake up," a voice said, panic in their tone.
"Is she dead?" another voice asked.
"It's my fault! I shouldn't have let her go alone."
"Wait, look! She's opening her eyes!"
Christia opened her eyes to see Blizzard standing next to her, a worried look on his face. What made him so scared, she wondered. The warmth and humidity that had made her faint were gone, replaced by a cold breeze and snowflakes.
"Blizzard, it's you!" Christia exclaimed, relieved to see a familiar face. "How did you get here?"
"Alvie brought me!" Blizzard replied.
Christia slowly got up and saw a large turtle peeking out of the water.
"Hello, I'm Alvie!" the cheerful turtle introduced itself. "We, the turtles of Moonwhisper Lake, were on the brink of extinction, but now everyone seems to be doing okay. Thank you, child! We'll be forever in your debt!"
"How long have I been here?" Christia asked.
"For about 12 hours. I don't know what you did, but whatever it was, it worked. An hour ago, the barrier around the lake lifted, and the lake instantly returned to its original state. Did you find the evil being? Where is it?"
Christia looked around; the opulent haven created by the swan was gone. "Is Lindor gone?"
"Who's Lindor? Is that the magical being we were looking for?" Blizzard was full of questions.
"Yes, it was him. But you were right; deep down, every being has a kind heart, including Lindor. He didn't mean to hurt anyone. I saw his soul, Blizzard! There was pain in his eyes, indescribable pain. I never felt threatened; I only saw hurt and suffering. Where could he have gone?" Christia said, sadness filling her voice.
"It doesn't matter; I'm sure he'll find his way. You made him see who he had become, and he didn't like it. But that means he's started his journey to be better. That's why the magic is gone, and everything is back to normal. Now, are you ready to go home?"
Blizzard and Christia returned to the snowflower fairies to share the good news. The celebration lasted over ten days, and beings from all over the forest joined in. They danced, sang, and rejoiced. It took some time for the weather in the Crystal Forest to normalize, and when the next winter came, hundreds of December rose flowers grew from the ground, almost all carrying snowflower fairies inside. Christia finally got to enjoy being a child, though her journey with Blizzard had made her wiser than most. She and Blizzard remained inseparable best friends and rarely spent a day being apart.
Years later, while visiting the mushroom people with Blizzard, Christia saw a swan swimming in Swan Song Pond. He looked familiar, happy with a female swan, their necks intertwined. For a moment, their eyes met. He bowed his head and continued gliding gracefully through the water.
"Why is everything in this world so magical?" she asked Blizzard.
"Because you believe it to be," he answered. "Now, Christia, how much do you know about the mushroom people?"
THE END