The Enchanted Border

Blossom the spring fairy is caught in a net and two men loom over her. The fairy magics up roots to protect herself but she ends up captured and brought to the museum. In the museum, she meets an autumn fairy, Harvest. The two chat easily for a while. 

“ Those men called Jeff and Jerry are so cruel!” whispers Harvest. 

“ I will get us out,” hisses Blossom determinedly. She is eager to get home to Leaf, her brother, and Tweet, her friend. 

She says a spell to make the glass box that is housing them to talk and hear. “ Glass Box, please talk.” Blossom hopes the glass box can help them escape. 

Harvest twirls her ginger hair and mutters, “ Jeff and Jerry are coming back soon. They’re going to cut you up whether you like it or not.” 

Blossom does not tremble, not in the least. She knows for sure luck is on her side. 

“ You two fairies could just break me, hide and get back to wherever you came from,” pipes up the glass box helpfully. “ Call me Clear Glass.” 

Blossom nods, golden wavy curls trailing down her side. “ We’ll do it.” Bright green light manifests into strong, long tree roots. 

“ It’s nighttime, you can use that to your advantage,” squeaks a stuffed mouse from the other side of the room. 

Harvest nods and signals to Blossom beside her. Footsteps echo in the museum as Jeff and Jerry draw closer. 

Clear Glass says in a panicked whisper, “ Now!” 

Blossom pushes the roots but the glass doesn’t break. Blossom pushes even harder and finally the barrier breaks. Harvest hops out and quickly flutters away toward the perimeter of the fairy world, Blossom behind her.

Jeff and Jerry are chasing them towards the border and Harvest flies faster. 

Harvest crosses the border quickly. She’s glad to be home. 

Before she can enter too, Blossom finds herself face to face with a border guardian dressed like a knight with a silver sword. 

“ Before I let you in, I need to see if you’re a real fairy or not.” 

“ I am a real fairy!” she protests. Jeff and Jerry race closer. 

“ Well, well, what’s the main ingredient in a beginner’s spell?”

“ I – I don’t know! I haven’t really done these!” she frets. The two are directly behind her.

“ Use a secret password, then. It’s easy. Only fairies can say this. They’re very polite.”

“ Well…please?” 

“ Well done, you can enter.” He then blocks Jeff and Jerry with his sword so they can’t come in. 

Everything is dark and silent. The fairy world is sleeping. The animals have all given up Blossom for dead. 

Suddenly, Blossom appears in a ball of white light. Everything congratulates her and she tells the tale. 

“I was foolish to ignore your advice,” confesses Blossom to Leaf. 

Leaf breaks into a grin. “You’ve learned about the dangers of humans.” 

Tweet chirps happily, the others in the forest cheer and they all celebrate the return of their friend.