“Zelda, Part 2”

Alison

                I awoke to the sounds of birds chirping and water rushing. I sat up and looked around to see a bird flying around my head. “Shoo! You have better thing to do than to bother me,” I said.

                “Rule number one of being a forest keeper: Appreciate the land and all animals, for they are the sons and daughters of Mother Earth and Father Sky,” Raya said calmly.

                I got up and walked over to the river. It almost sparkled. I appeared that the bird was still following me, and Jemma didn’t like it. “Raya?”

                “Yes?” she answered.

                “When you helped me in the market a few days ago, you were disguised as an old woman, but when you drank from the river, you changed. Why is this?” I asked.

                “Because the river is magic. As soon as you touch it, it will reveal all disguises, magic or non-magic. It was created by the witch Espin many years ago. Out of all the things that she has changed for her ‘better’ forest, this is by far the best,” Raya said.

                The little bird hovered in front of my face, and I swatted it away.

                “Remember, Zelda, Espin created the river for her advantage and others’ disadvantage, but sometimes it can be the other way around.”

                I walked across the river and back, and the bird still followed me. “I know you said to respect all the animals, but this little one is really annoying me.”

                “Let me see here,” said Raya. She examined the bird and found a small roll of paper. “Well, no wonder it was bother you!” she exclaimed. “It’s from the fairy queen. She needs your help.”

                I ran through the forest, trying to keep up with Raya. As we approached another clearing, I stared around me, shocked at all the damage. I stopped and stared. All around the clearing, helpless fairies fled for their little lives. Then I saw the source of all the commotion, the prince. But why him? Magic spilled out of his fingertips, leaving the clearing a nasty sight. Jemma lept onto the prince and left a nasty gash in his arm. His magic surged, and he threw Jemma to the ground. He laughed wickedly. That was no prince. I stared at the prince, or whoever he was, letting the anger rush to my fingertips, where, for the first time, magic spilled out, shoving the prince to the ground. Jemma lept onto the prince, making him fall into the river, where his true identity was revealed.

                A tall, pale woman sat, drenched in the river. “Espin,” Raya said with disgust.

                “Raya,” Espin spat. “Long time, no see, huh? I see you’ve recruited a new forest keeper. Come to save the fairies now, have you?” she said with a wicked grin.

                Raya snapped her fingers with a shining intensity in her eyes, and the clearing began to return to its normal state, along with the fairies. “And I suppose that you’re planning to take down the council, Espin?”

                “The thought has crossed my mind,” Espin said, the evil rising in her voice. “You may have found me this time, Raya, but this is only the start. Soon this whole kingdom will be mine, and so will you.”

                Jemma growled and, just like that, Espin transformed into a hawk with dark, black feathers. The hawk had the same ice blue eyes as she did, filled with determination. Espin took off, her battle cry filling the slowly fading sky as she disappeared into the sunset.