The Fire Fairy

In which the Fire Fairy appears

The six teenagers got up and tried to run away scared. But the Fire Fairy flew through the air and sat down in front of them. With the fairy wand she had, she made a sign in front of each teenager. They remained motionless, each in the position where the fairy had caught them. Only their eyes moved in fear. In a sweet voice, the fairy spoke to them.

“I'm not as bad as I seem. I don't understand why you're scared. Okay, now that you can't move, you have reason to feel that way. I'm glad you met me through the story Greg told, and I appeared in front of you to fulfill a wish. What could be wrong with that?” And then there was silence. “Why aren't you answering me?” asked the Fire Fairy. “Oh, yes, because I've turned you to stone. I'll let you go if you promise not to run away again. Oh, yes, you can't even talk.”

And the fairy moved her wand up and down, muttering some words in an incomprehensible language. The teenagers began to move. The Fire Fairy told them, "If you run away again, I will not let you move again." “What is the point of trying to run away? We are under your power,” said Antony. Tears were streaming down Laura’s face. “I don’t want to die!” she said. “Is that your second wish?” asked the Fire Fairy. "Who says you're going to die? The story, yes, the story terrifies you. Do you know what I find in you? Six children who are going through adolescence. And you have something I've never seen before. You all have pure souls. If I get past my desire for revenge, I remember that I wanted to have a village to protect. What would it be like if you six were all protected by me? You are neither an adult nor a child, and you will probably have children of your own. That's the law of nature with you people. I like you very much. I love protecting pure souls. Six is, in my experience, a lot." "You can't go out and throw streams of fire at those who upset us," Melana said. "Times are a little different from when you protected your village." "You will teach me how to protect you. I will be your invisible friend who will help you in difficult times. Throwing fireballs is not my only skill. I could use this when you go on a picnic, and you need a fire. I will do this without anyone seeing me. I miss protecting people. I miss seeing them happy after my intervention."

“It wouldn’t be so bad. Can you give us a demonstration of what you can do for us now?” Melena intervened again. “Sure you do. My senses tell me that some of you are still hungry. That you haven’t eaten enough. I will offer you food, fresh water, and juices.” The wand moved again in the fairy’s hand, and in front of the teenagers appeared on the blanket a roast chicken, a piece of cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, and two warm loaves of bread. Also, two or three bottles of juice and two of still water promised to quench their thirst.

“Oooooo, that’s very fine,” said Stef. “I’ll eat.”

But the fairy had something else to say. “In exchange for the wish granted for Laura, I want to protect you and your descendants. Is that okay? I’ll also tell you how I can do that. It’s a little different from the story you know. But I don’t think now is the time.”

“Okay, will you eat with us?” Laura asked.

“Food is food, but we boys have to all agree on this. If we don’t, all six of us have to vote again. I can see that the girls are looking forward to eating and drinking. What about us?” Greg said. There was a short pause, after which Stef, Antony, and Greg held each other’s shoulders, forming a circle and starting to talk.

“Okay, we agreed. The three of us have always been marginalized by others because of our strange occupations. It wouldn’t hurt to have an extra friend who can wave the wand and put the food in front of us. Dear Fairy. Even if this is all you can do for us, it’s okay. We agree.”

That’s not all I can do for you. I can give you everything you want, even if it’s on the other side of the planet. I can help you when you’re under attack, and no, I won’t throw streams of fire. I can be your support and advisor when you have any problems.”

Melana opened her backpack and took out a small battery-powered radio. "We haven't taken out the radio yet, so as not to attract anyone's attention, that she doesn't exactly have good thoughts. Who knows who might be walking through the forest at night? But now, who wants music at dinner? I think you, the Fire Fairy, can help us if we're attacked. Can we count on you?" "Sure," said the Fire Fairy. "Okkk, who wants music?" "I think we all want music, Melana" said Lavinia. The radio button was pressed. Pleasant jazz sounds began to be heard in the clearing. The flames of the fire danced insatiably with life, and the six teenagers shared their bread in equal pieces. "Aren't you coming to eat with us, Fire Fairy?" "No, I can't eat with you right now. But I will be able to do that after I fulfill Laura's wish. There are some rules of the fairy world that I have to respect. I can't do otherwise. But I will feel very good seeing you eat cheerfully and happily. Then the good and restful sleep you ordered, Laura, will come. I will watch over you during the night.”

“Should we trust you? Greg asked. “I think you are too attached to the story you know about me. But the story is missing parts. Don’t worry. I love finding a little village of six people, all pure in soul, to protect. My pay is very good like that.”