The wind whistles in the misted of a chilly night. Pixies dancing all over the tall mushroom trees high in the mountains. In the middle of that night, a young fairy leaves her mushroom to take a stroll outside. The fairy breaths in the cool misty air, then breathes out. “The air is chilly. Just another day in the MushroomForest.” Hey, I’m Jewlee, but you can call me Jewel. I’m a fairy who lives in the MushroomForest outside the FairyKingdom. Life is okay… if you call boring okay! I know, it’s beautiful and I’m happy to live here, but gods, it is gloomy.

 Years ago, an unfortunate event led to the untimely loss of our past king and queen. That’s put the kingdom in this scared, depressed state. It hasn’t been the same since the prince and princess took over. I just want to go back to the old days. When life was like an adventure. That’s all I ask for. I just want to be happy. I spent every day studying, working, and eating in silence. It’s just that now, the entire kingdom is so quiet, it’s miserable, we’re all miserable. We used to have these big parties all the time. We invited everyone in all the regions to these huge festivals.

What happened to us?

***

Jewel heads back home. She hops up the step to her front door, slowly twisting the doorknob not to alert anyone to her arrival. She floats in the dark to her room, glancing behind her every two seconds. But that didn’t help her, seeing that she ended up ramming her side into a wall. “Jewlee Adeyemi!”

“Damn it. Oh, hey mom I’m home.” “Where were you!?” “I was just outside, mom.” “What did I tell you about going outside at night?” “I’m fine. The pixies lit the way. Also, I was only eight feet from the door.” “It doesn’t matter. Anyone could have taken you.” “Mom, this is a good region. No one will take me. Plus, I’m sixteen. I’m an adult.” “Oh, I don’t mean fairies. You don’t know a witch can just come up and take you.” Jewel’s mother cups her face.

“Jewel, you’re still my baby, in my eyes. I just want to keep you safe.” “Mom, not all witches are like that, and there are not even witches in this region.” says Jewel. “Oh, honey I just want to make sure our family is safe, okay.” “Okay mom.” “Good. Now come here.” Jewel’s mother come in for a hug. “Come now, it’s late.” Jewel takes herself to bed, she lays there thinking about the world below the mountain as she drifts to sleep.

Jewel opens her eyes. Instead of a ceiling, she stares at an open sky. She lifts her head up and looks around. “Where am I? This seems so real. Am I, am I dreaming. If so, I don’t want to wake up.” Jewel feels familiarity in a place so different. The air felt frigid, but the warm, beaming sun made the world feel balanced. It was stunning, with surreal creatures flying in the sky. Surrounded by colorful plants and light fog is an oasis like pond in the middle. The shiniest of gold and the prettiest gems cover the shore. With mushrooms and flowers growing on the side of stones.

“Beautiful.”

Jewel hears a distant voice calling her name, or more like bits and pieces of it. “Jew-jew,” says the voice. “Huh, who’s there?” “Jew-jew!” “Hello!” “Jew-jew come play with me!” Jewel wakes up in the middle of being pulled off her bed. Whilst falling from the top bunk of the bed, she meets the floor differently. It’s not pleasant, but no one would find colliding with something pleasant. Once her face meets the floor, she spots her baby brother, who was the one that pulled her. Her brother shoves a ball in her face. She groans and greats her brother.

“Good morning, Israel.” “Come Jew-jew.” He speaks. Israel grabs Jewel’s hand and attempts to drag her out of the room. “Wait, where are we going?” “Hurry!” “Okay, okay!” Jewel picks herself off the floor and follows the boy. He takes her outside to the front stairs. “Look.” Israel throws the ball he was holding into the misty woods. “It’s gone.” “Oh, you little cutie, is this how you been losing all your balls? It’s just fog, see.” Jewel fans the mist with her hands and the ball reappears.

“See, the ball is still there.” “Oh, I am stupid.” “No, who told you that? You’re not stupid. You’re just curious, that’s all.” “The kids from school did.” “Well, you tell those bullies that your big sister is coming to get them!” Jewel picks up her brother and spins him around, making him giggle. “You’re so smart, Jew-jew. I wish I could be like you.” “Ha, I’m not smart Izzy. I just know a lot about the world, and I want to learn more,” says Jewel.

“Hey, you promise you won’t call yourself stupid anymore?” “Yes, I Promise.” “Good, cause if you’re going to be like me, you’re going to make a lot of mistakes. But you’ll learn from them and be as smart as me, okay.” “Yay, I’m gonna be smart! Oh, Jew-jew, look what I found earlier today.” “What’s this?” Israel pulls out a flyer and hands it to Jewel. She reads the flyer out loud. “Do you want to learn new things in a magical place? Well, come to Oakwood Academy, where adventure awaits.”

“Adventure?”

It’s night. The entire fairy kingdom is sleeping peacefully in their beds, except for one. Jewel lays awake in her bed with the flyer in hand, and only one thing on her mind.

“Adventure.”

“I mean that’s what I want, heck it’s the only thing I want,” says Jewel. “I would meet people other than fairies. I also would get out of the fairy kingdom. But it said magical that means witches will be involved, mom wouldn’t like that.” Jewel pounders about the possibilities. “Oh, shoot, I didn’t even think about how Israel would react.”

“React about wha Jew-jew.”

Jewel peers to the lower bunk to see Israel wide awake and waving at her. “Israel, how long have you been awake?” “Well, how long have you been awake?” “Israel, when someone asks you a question, you answer before asking your own question.” “That not how it goes in the stories.” “Are you trying to say you been awake as long as me?”

“Yes!”

Jewel face palms at her, not realizing he was awake before shushing him.

“Shush before mom and dad hear you. Ugh,”

Jewel gazes longingly at the moon through her window, then looks down at her brother. “Hey Izzy, I have a question.” “Yeah?” “Would you want me to be happy even if that means leaving you?” “Why would leaving me make you happy?” says Israel. “I mean, it’s not like I’m leaving forever or even a long time. I’m just going to live my dreams and come straight back.” “Are you talking about that school?” “How did you know?” says Jewel. “You dropped it on the floor.”

“… Oh. Well, yes, I am. I just… want to be free.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, what do you mean, okay?”

“You can go. I won’t be mad. As long as you come back,” says Israel. Jewel floats to the floor. “Of course, I’ll come back. I love you Izzy.” “I know, let me help pack.” says Israel. “The flyer comes with a map too.” “Great, thank you Izzy.” Israel helps Jewel pack her bags. He helps lifts her stuff to the top bunk and keeps the window open for her. “You promise Jew-jew you will come back.” “I promise, I love you Izzy. Tell mom and dad I’ll see them soon.” Jewel kisses Israels cheek, then slips down the mushroom’s cap. Israel waves bye before closing the window. Jewel looked back at her old life one last time before moving on.