Created Saturday 09 May 2009
Version 2 — Thanks to Puddintane and stanman63 for correcting my mistakes
Warning: this is the first ever story I wrote, and English is not my native language, so be indulgent, please. If you find errors, don't hesitate to point them to me though.
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Ashley came back from school. It was a long day, and she didn't relinquished the idea of coming home and relaxing a bit. “Hi mum, it's me” was what she said when she entered the house she shared with her parents and her little brother. She also had a sister, but at the age of 21, you generally don't stay with your parents, you live by yourself. At least, that's what you do when you study far from home.
Entering her room, she first noticed a strange object on her bed. It was a little ball, of the purest white. It seemed fragile, as if it was sentient. It looked like it should be taken care of, not just disposed of offhandedly. Wondering what it was, she went through her clothes to dress a bit more comfortably. The weather was warm and she would be more comfortable with a light skirt and top. Returning to her bed, where the strange object still was there. Delicately, she took it to put it to a side of the bed.
Life was OK so far. Not that great, but she could manage. Her biggest concern was that one day her body would betray her and she would no longer be able to be a regular girl at school. She deeply longed to find a solution to that problem. If only she could have been born a girl, but she knew it wasn't the case. She had heard of people like her in the crystal library, and she knew, there was a possibility to get her body to behave as she wanted it to, but, she hadn't found much more information. The crystal she had used at school wouldn't let her find more specific information. Probably, the school had limited its usage.
She knew crystals could do almost anything. She knew it was the key to her problem, but she didn't knew how to use them properly. It was some kind of secret only shared among great magicians. She wanted to become one of them, but it would take years, and her body would probably have been wasted by that time. Like many evenings, she was lying on her bed, thinking of her life, and sadness filled her. Mind you, crystals made it possible to have cars, telephones and many of the advanced technology. It could even heal people, a doctor would program a crystal just as needed, and by carrying it around, you healed.
Wrapped up in her thoughts, she just drifted off to sleep.
“Ashley“
It was her mother, Eryn
“Sweetie, you don't want to sleep through dinner, do you?”
Realizing that she was asleep for too long now, she composed herself, “Excuse me, Mum, I was so tried, I couldn't help it.”
“It's OK, just have dinner with us, would you? I know your life isn't always that easy, but life has to go on. I'm sure you'll find a way in time, just keep the faith.”
“I'll try.”
“Don't just try, and you know it, now come”
She followed her mother downstairs in the kitchen. Usually, she would help her mother a bit, but not today. The dinner was uneventful, her brother as always teasing her, in a good kind of way. He cared about her but was afraid to let it show, or so she thought.
The diner finished, everyone helped to clean everything up, and when that was done Ashley came back to her room. Up the stairs, she found herself in awe of what she found. On her bed was sitting a small creature, about four inches tall, with marvelous green wings. She must have been there for a minute, looking in amazement for the little creature spoke
“So, have you decided to stand up here for the whole night?”
Realizing where she was, she entered the room “But ... who are you, I mean ... what are you doing here.”
“It isn't usual finding someone like me, is it?”
“not really.”
“By the way, I'm Meryl, you are?”
“Ashley.”
“You're probably wondering what I am doing here. All I can tell you is that there is a good reason.”
“You mean you don't know why you came here?”
“Haven't you seen my egg?”
“It was ... and you ...”
“Yes.”
“Oh, sorry, I have to admit, it's the first time I met someone like you.”
“I'm not that different, you know” replied Meryl. And, in less time than needed for blinking, Meryl took a human form. Looking around 14 years old, with the same blond hair and green eyes she had in her pixie form. “Do I look more normal now?” she then asked.
Ashley, in shock, sat on her bed next to Meryl. Trying to say something, “How do you do that?”
“For me it's like breathing,” she replied, “there is no great secret here, if you are like me”
“I guess,” was all Ashley was able to say at that point.
They remained silent for a moment, next to each other, having nothing to say. Ashley was recovering from the shock she went through. Believing as she did that magical creatures existed was one thing. Having one of those creatures in your bedroom talking to you was a completely different matter.
“Would you help me?” Meryl suddenly asked, after few minutes.
“Probably, how?” replied Ashley with a bit more confidence than before.
“You know, I just came to this world, I am new to all of this as well. I may instinctively know a few things, but I'm a real novice otherwise. I don't know my way around here, and have no idea where to live.”
“Sure, but you know, I have to attend school during the day, and I can hardly be seen with a flying little creature around me. I don't think everyone would accept that. So, what do we do?”
“Well, I could attend school with you. What do you think?”
“I think I can handle that, you know, I just happen to know a bit of magic.” With that, Meryl miraculously produced some administrative papers that would let her attend school. “I think it would be enough.”
"You know, you'll have to teach me few of your tricks."
“So, you want to be a magician?”
“Kind of,” Ashley replied, “but usually it takes too much time”
“What do you mean by too much time, learning takes time, but it's normal. You can't expect to know everything right away. Unless you are like me. I could just change you, but I don't really know how, and I don't want to make a mistake.”
“You mean I could be like you?”
“In theory, it's possible,” Meryl answered noncommittally. “So, you haven't answered my question, what's in your mind. I may not be able to read minds, but I know when someone is hiding something. And I can tell there is something huge there.”
Ashley remained silent, obviously embarrassed. Then, she said “You know, I really wish I could just ...” and stopped, incapable of continuing.
“Whatever it is, it's fine with me.”
“I wish I was a girl.” she said before turning away
“What do you mean, you are, aren't you?”
“No, I mean yes ... well, not completely.”
“That's fine with me, that's hardly a problem, or is it?”
“Problem?” Ashley asked turning back to Meryl. Looking at her, she saw that Meryl told the truth. Nothing like this could prevent her to stay her friend. “Yes it's a problem. I might be a girl now, but what about in a few years. My body is betraying me. If only I could ...” with tears in her eyes, she stopped, unable to finish her sentence.
Looking straight in Ashley's eyes, Meryl spoke: “I don't know how I can help you, but I will, I promise.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, you need to sleep, we'll see how to go from there tomorrow, go now”
Before Ashley could protest, Meryl had already cast a sleeping spell on her.
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Thank you for reading.
Last thing, before you comment (if you ever want to), could you tell me if you think the writing is more UK or US, I don't have much idea myself since I'm French.
Also, I can't tell you when the next chapter will be out, as I have no idea yet.