The Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree shines in the December dusk, the air alive with the promise of Christmas. Magic mutates to momentous at this time of year, as fantasies weave ribbons among the trees. This is the place where little children’s dreams come true.

The angels on the Christmas Tree begin to sing “Hallelujah.” The fairies fly around then settle to listen to the solemn song. Christmas feels different this year … more important, somehow.

Destina smiles as she sings. Unlike the other angels on the tree, she is not a rainbow colour, but plain white. It emphasises her purity of purpose.

She helps children to deliver their destiny, by reaching out to them in their dreams. However, she is not allowed to interfere. The children may forget their dreams, or they may not act on them, that is their free will. However, it pains her when a tremendous destiny remains unfulfilled.

Tonight, she is itching to interfere. As covid continues to crawl around Planet Earth like a small child let loose with a dangerous party game, now is the time for some important destinies to be placed in motion.

Theo lies in his bed looking at the stars on his ceiling. How he wishes he could space travel one day. He closes his eyes, then opens them as he hears a soft voice next to his pillow.

An angel stands above him. Destina has grown in size for this mission; this is one of her angelic skills, she can become diminutive or giant in an instant. Now, she is adult human size.

“I have a Christmas gift for you,” she whispers. She places a tiny quartz crystal unicorn on his pillow. “This is yours to treasure, look after it well. One day, when you are older and wiser, the time will be right for your special mission. On that day, this unicorn will come to life and grow to the size of a horse with wings. He will take you far away, to a magical place called Gemstone Glade. You will meet many unicorns there, and persuade some to return with you. This is your destiny! To bring unicorns back to Planet Earth!”

Theo places the quartz unicorn in his hands, and strokes it. It grows warm.

“Go to sleep now,” whispers Destina. Theo closes his eyes and is gone, running through a meadow on a unicorn. He laughs in his sleep. However, the next morning he does not recall either Destina or his dreams, they are cloaked in the mist of morning confusion.

He finds the quartz unicorn, and wonders where it has come from. He smiles as he picks it up. This, he will keep safe.

In Gemstone Glade, all is still. The unicorns can feel that someone is coming, one day, a long time from now. And on that day, everything will change. It will be the best Christmas ever.