Kellie and the Wishing Jewel

Kellie heard a tapping noise. Rolling over in bed, she yawned and opened one sleepy eye. Who could that be? She got out of bed and looked around. The tapping was coming from outside. Being careful not to wake her parents, she tip-toed to the front door and opened it, softly. Hovering in the air were two tiny faeries. They were about three inches high and each had brilliantly colored wings. The faeries looked at her and one of them asked," Are you Kellie?" Kellie nodded. The faeries whispered together and the same one said," I am Sugar and this is Abianna. We come to you for help." "What can I do to help you?" asked Kellie, feeling important. Abianna flew beside Sugar and replied," The Wishing Jewel has been stolen. We want you to help find it." "I never heard of it," Kellie said. "That's because we faeries keep it hidden," Abianna said. "Sorceress Marigold sent us to find you. Will you help us?" Kellie nodded and asked," Can I take someone with me? Where are we going?" "To the Enchanted Woods and yes, you can bring someone with you," Sugar answered. Kellie ran to the phone and dialed. A sleepy voice answered. "Tess?" Kellie asked. "Hi Kellie," the sleepy voice said. "What's with calling me at 3:00?" "You won't believe this, but..." Kellie proceeded to tell about the Jewel and the faeries. "Wow! I'll be over right away!" Tess promised, wide-awake. Kellie and Tess each sat uncertainly on the back of a unicorn. "Are you sure this will work?" asked Tess. "The faeries say it's okay," Kellie said. "And that makes it safe?" Tess said. "Do we know these unicorns? How do we know that they're safe? And can we trust those faeries?" "Don't get into all that," Kellie groaned. "Just take my word for it." Tess shrugged and shouted," Let's go, Faith!" "Come on, Hope!" Kellie cried. The unicorns took off. Riding a unicorn was like flying. There were no bumps, just the smooth motion. It was very enjoyable. When they reached the Enchanted Woods, there was a lady with flowing golden hair waiting for them. She greeted them, worriedly. "Come on," she said. "Everyone is waiting." She led the way to a large clearing. There was a wide space in the middle of the crowds of unicorns, faeries, and butterflys. Clouds hovered above. The lady took the two girls and they made their way to the center. "I, Sorceress Marigold, present the two children that will hopefully find the Wishing Jewel before something terrible happens. Here are..." She looked down at them. "Tess," Tess said. "I'm Kellie," stated the possessor of the name. A man with dark red robes and white hair and beard stepped foward. "Good luck to you," he said. "Who are you?" asked Kellie. He leaned down and whispered," I am Marl the Wizard." He winked at them and stepped back into the crowd. Kellie turned to Sorceress Marigold and asked," What is the Wishing Jewel?" "The Wishing Jewel is a jewel that grants your every wish," she answered. "But to use it, you must go to the Balentina Waterfall. There is a cave behind the waterfall and only when you go inside will the Jewel work." She smiled. "Where is the Balentina Waterfall?" asked Tess. "In the sky," the Sorceress replied. "Why isn't it here?" asked Kellie. Marigold smiled again and said," The Jewel holds the power of the Enchanted Woods. If someone steals it we want to make it as hard as can be to get to the Balentina Waterfall. The way to get there is through the sky. But who we are dealing with is the evil magician Calatro. He will find our passageway in a short time. That's why we are so worried." "But why not let him have his wish and send him on his way?" Tess asked. "He has always wanted to take over the Enchanted Woods. We fear that that is his intention," Sorceress Marigold told them. "To wish that he was thr ruler of the Enchanted Woods." Tess gasped. "That's awful!" she cried. Marigold nodded in agreement. "That's why we want you to get the Jewel before it's too late." Kellie nodded. "Is this Calatro dangerous?" Sorceress Marigold nodded grimly. "But he will be helpless against you if you sprinkle him with violet scented unicorn water. He will not be able to use his magic for four hours. That will be enough time for us to put a shield around the woods." "What will we do with him?" Kellie asked. "You will tie him up and send him down the tunnel. Then you will have to wish yourselves home. We will get the Jewel back. It can't go in an unmagical world. It will go directly back here," Sorceress Marigold explained. The two girls nodded and smiled up and the sorceress. "Will you come with us?" asked Kellie. Sorceress Marigold shook her head. "It's all up to you," she said. "Good luck. I will show you the passageway." The girls followed Marigold to an ordinary looking place. Then the Sorceress chanted," Clouds of white, day or night, open this gate, we cannot wait." White clouds formed a stairway up to the sky. A very dark blue outline appeared in the sky above the cloud staircase. "Why the rhyme, we cannot wait?" Kellie asked. "Because we only use the Wishing Jewel in emergencies," Marigold replied. "Good luck! Call me if you need help." The two girls began to walk up the stairs. Kellie opened the door at the top and looked at Tess. They walked through and found themselves in a beautiful place. In front of them was a river. They could hear the noise of a waterfall, but they couldn't tell which way it was coming from. "I'll go left and you go right," Tess suggested. "Whoever finds the waterfall, yell." Kellie agreed and they went seperate ways. Kellie followed the river until she was exhausted. She turned a corner and saw it. The Balentina Waterfall. This had to be it because there was a man carrying a jewel that seemed to have the rainbow, the sun, and the sky inside it. It shimmered in the light. Kellie stood, amazed by it. Then she realized that this was the Wishing Jewel. And that man was Calatro! Kellie ran towards him. Then she realized that she had forgotten to get violet scented unicorn water. Suddenly, something appeared in her hand. It was a bucket of clear water. Kellie leaned over. It smelled of violets. Marigold had talen care of everything! She ran to the rock and stared. There was no cave! There was a wall of rock. But she had seen the man go into it. And that simply had to be the Wishing Jewel! Kellie looked carefully at the wall. There was a crack that ran around. It was shaped like a door. The entrance! Kellie pushed and pulled until her fingers hurt. She sat down and lifted her face into the cool spray of the waterfall. Then it hit her! Tess went her way. She walked and walked until her feet hurt. Then she sat down on a rock to rest when suddenly a dragon appeared in front of her. Well, actually, it flew in front of her. Tess stood up and said," Hello. I wish you luck." The dragon stared at her and asked." Luck on what?" "Um, whatever it is you happen to be doing," Tess replied. "Which would be...what?" The dragon smirked at her and said imperiously," I am the King of the Dragons!" "Oh," Tess said. "Well, in that case, how do you do, Your Majesty?" "Fine, now that I've found my princess," the King said. Tess peered behind the dragon and said," I don't see a princess. Where is she?" The dragon smiled, showing his sharp teeth. "Don't play dumb with me," he advised. "I know who you are. You are my princess." At that, Tess looked up quickly and said," Me? No, I'm hardly a princess. Go find a real one." "You are my princess and there's nothing you can do about it." "Oh, really," Tess said. She stood up and screamed," MARIGOLD!" Kellie had figured it out. There had to be a secret password! The question was, what was it? Kellie shrugged,"Guess I might as well try the basics," she said. "Open sesame!" Nothing. "Okay, abracadabra!" Still nothing. "Open up!" Kellie said in disgust. To her surprise, the door creaked open to reveal a dark passageway. Kellie went through and felt her way down it. Soon she came out in bright sunshine. There were birds singing and trees all over. Kellie heard a voice. She ran towards it and saw the magician. He was starting to wish! "Hey, you!" Kellie called. Calatro turned around and snarled at her. Kellie bravely ran foward and poured the violet scented unicorn water over him. He tried to throw a spell at her, but it didn't work. His face was distorted with fury. Kellie went at him and tried to grab the Jewel, but he held it up and growled," If I can't have what I want, no one shall!" And he tossed it into the pond. Kellie dived in after it and found herself in cool water. To her surprise, she could breathe. What luck! She swam after the Jewel, which glittered at the bottom of the pond. Suddenly a mermaid came and swooped it up. She swam over to Kellie and gave the Jewel to her. Kellie smiled at her and floated up to where Calatro was sitting, sulking. She crawled out of the water and noticed a tunnel through a tree. Remembering Marigold's words, she pushed Calatro down the tunnel. The magician yelled with surprise and annoyance and clawed at the sides. His screams grew fainter and suddenly a pierecing shriek rang out. "MARIGOLD!" Kellie recognized voice and ran out of the cave. She ran down the way Tess had taken and saw her standing in front of a dragon. Sorceress Marigold was already there, except she couldn't get a word in. As Kellie drew nearer, she heard the dragon and Tess argueing. "I should know whether or not I am a princess," Tess cried. "If I say you're a princess, then you are!" the dragon roared. Marigold started to speak, but then shook her head. Tess spotted Kellie and said," Good. Kellie, tell this insane dragon that I am not a princess," Kellie turned to the dragon and said," She is not a...." "I want you to be! How dare you say that you're not!" the dragon interrupted. Sorceress Marigold yelled," Be quiet!" When the two looked at her, she continued calmly," Tess is not a princess. I want you to go home and find yourself a real princess. Is that clear?" Sulkily, the dragon nodded and flew off. Tess shouted after him," Good riddance!" Then she turned to Kellie and said." Did you get him?" Kellie grinned and revealed the jewel. Then she turned to show it to Sorceress Marigold, but she wasn't there. "Nuts!" Tess complained," I fight with a dragon and you save the Enchanted Woods. Oh well, good job." Kellie took out the Wishing Jewel and said, carefully," I wish that Tess and I were home in our beds at 3:00 in the morning today." Kellie woke up and heard a tapping. She looked out the window and saw that it was raining. She got back in bed and, snuggling under the covers, dreamed about the Enchanted Woods.

Copyright 2000 by Chantessy