Author Archives: Felines and Fiction

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About Felines and Fiction

An ardent cat lover and creative writer from Scotland.

Christmas Cave

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Unicorn Ryan entered Gemstone Glade with hope in his heart. There was a new magical stone tablet, waiting to transport him to other worlds. What would he choose today?

The stone tablet offered four options:

Christmas Crystal – read the first Christmas story here

Christmas Cave

Christmas Dragon

Christmas Castle

Ryan gently touched his horn to the Christmas Cave text. A portal of green and red light opened before him. So here he was again, jumping blind in to an unknown adventure.

A sand swept shore led to a cliff with caves at its foot. Music floated on the air like a voice from deep inside the rocks.

Ryan trotted towards the first cave, excitement etched in his deep eyes. Within its dark interior, Christmas elves were singing while wrapping presents. Red and green clad little men with pointed ears and mischief melting in their smiles. Christmas cheer lit in Ryan’s heart. This was the best adventure ever.

Two tiny elves with pointed red hats, scruffy brown hair, yellow and white shirts and green trousers
Image by Josep Monter Martinez from Pixabay

“Hello, unicorn from across the sea,” sung a high voice. “What brings you to our lair today?”

“I am here to help if you need me,” said Ryan simply using the ancient art of telepathy.

“We don’t see unicorns on Planet Earth anymore. Do you come from a magical land from afar?”

“I have come from Gemstone Glade, home to unicorns and fairies, the heart of our mystic forest.”

“Fairies? It is a long time since we have seen any, now no one on Planet Earth believes in them. We have a bag somewhere full of tiny crystal fairy jewellery. We have no one to give it to.”

“I will take it to them,” proclaimed Ryan. “You can place a bag between my wings.”

“That would be great. You couldn’t do us another favour? Angela, the Christmas Angel, is in the next cave. She has been asleep since last Christmas. She refused to work anymore as Christmas is no longer magical on Earth. Please wake her up? We need some angel blessings this year.”

Ryan entered the next cave. A glowing light accosted his eyes, a shining angel before him, lying on a rock in serene sleep, radiant wings covering her body like a blanket of bliss. Ryan slowly nodded his horn towards her.

The angel opened her eyes. “A unicorn! I haven’t seen one of your kind in centuries.”

“It is time to weave your wondrous magic,” said Ryan. “Will you accompany me to Gemstone Glade?”

So Ryan jumped back through the portal to Gemstone Glade with a mighty angel and a bag of fairy jewellery on his back. The fairies flew around them, screaming with dizzy delight.

“A tree of stars!” breathed the angel. “This is an enchanted place. It looks like you don’t need angel blessings here, but I will give you some anyway … it is Christmas after all.”

An angel with large golden wings and long flowing skirts
Image by Ennaej from Pixabay

So the angel asked all the fairies for their wildest dream. Soon, the glade was full of fine food and shining new fairy clothes. They were not difficult to please.

Then the angel caught a star at the top of the tree, and together they flew in to the night. If you look up to the night sky now, you may see them … a shooting star that shines for Christmas, that sparkles to lift every heart on Earth, that glitters with a magic that can never fade. May your Christmas be everything you wish for, and may every shooting star gift you a dream come true. Happy Christmas.

Christmas Star

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A crisp snow carpet glimmered under a full moon. The Gemstone Glade fountain whispered an ancient lullaby, unknown words of wisdom shushed by a gentle breeze.

Unicorn Ryan stepped through the glade and looked up to the moon, thinking of his many adventures. Read them here

Suddenly a bright star shot across the sky. It sliced the black velvet heavens like a fast ship on a still sea.

a shooting star in a starry night sky
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Then it was above the glade, descending like a spirit from a far dimension. It came to rest next to the fountain, a small bundle of winking light, a Christmas gift of magic. Little stars shot upwards and branches of light formed around them.

Slowly the star grew into a Christmas tree of light.

Unicorn Ryan neighed softly, winter wonder in his eyes, star secrets in his heart.

The star tree continued to grow, reaching for the moon above. Soon, it was as high as the Gemstone Glade oak tree.

Ryan’s eyes sparkled with mute marvel. He rested his horn on a shining leaf, bewitched by the starlit beauty before him.

The star twinkled, then like a leaf in autumn fell silently to the snow licked land. It glowed more brightly, changing shape, transforming into … a square of light. Gently, the bright light dimmed, leaving behind a softly illuminated stone tablet.

Another stone tablet. Ryan neighed in excitement, electricity of enthusiasm roaring through his veins.

Words appeared in the stone, like a poem of indelible love in a beating heart. Words that could change worlds …

… Or perhaps just Ryan’s world.

Four choices confronted his eager eyes.

Christmas Crystal

Christmas Cave

Christmas Dragon

Christmas Castle

Ryan touched his horn to the first option. A portal of shining light appeared before him. Ryan’s eyes glittered like jewels. Effortlessly, he jumped through the glowing gateway.

A seashore in moonlight, diamonds twinkling under his hooves … and a soft sea hymn that spoke to his heart. Then snow began to fall, and as each flake touched the beach, it formed a perfect diamond. The shore was alive with vibrant light.

The waves licked the shore like a hungry kitten. Then they parted to reveal … a white horse, giant wings spraying sea foam in the air like Christmas candy.

A white horse with wings galloping through the sea against a backdrop of grey clouds with light shining through
Image by Joan Greenman from Pixabay

Wise eyes regarded Ryan, pools of mer magic. “I am Diamanta,” the horse relayed to Ryan telepathically. “I knew you were coming. I bring a gift from the bottom of the ocean.”

The horse’s white mane whispered in the wind. She lowered her head to Ryan hooves, and deposited an item from her mouth. It was a large shining diamond, the strength of the sea and wisdom of the waves in solid form.

Ryan neighed his thanks, sniffing the sparkling stone. “May I take it home with me?” he meekly asked.

“It is yours now, take it where you will. Prepare for magic beyond belief!”

Ryan lifted the stone in his mouth, then jumped back through the portal. All was still in Gemstone Glade, expectation in the eery silence.

Ryan placed the diamond in the fountain. The waters danced, little drops of winking waltzes. Ryan touched his horn to the submerged diamond, electric energy soaring through him. He neighed, joy a bright gem in his heart.

A small hand stroked his mane. It was crystal fairy Diamond Deirdre, laughing in his ear. “I can feel the diamond,” she confided. “It is very magical.”

A soft melody whispered in the trees. Ryan looked around the glade in silken surprise. Leaves were turning in to diamonds, the spirit of glitter in the air like a Christmas song in stone.

The fountain waters bubbled ferociously. Something moved beneath. It was the diamond, changing shape in to …

… a diamond dove, wings of white light glowing in the dark. The dove flew round the glade, resting on Ryan’s horn, then defecting to the oak tree. Diamond leaves danced beneath her.

Then she flew high in to the night, and was gone. With joy in her crystal heart, Dora the dove soared upwards and onwards, spreading a message of pure diamond love. Resting once in a while on a cathedral spire or a mountain summit, then back to the skies, a light passing above, the peace of poetry in motion, a diamond dream that would never wake up.

Soon, people everywhere had seen her, a letter of hope, its words whispering in the wind. It was a winter wish, a gift of Christmas magic, a hymn from heaven.

Wishing all blog readers a Christmas of diamond delight and gemstone glitter. May a dove of peace bless your house, unseen and unknown far above in the night sky. And may the brightest star in the night shine for you today and all your days.

A white dove flying in a blue sky with clouds and a rainbow
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Amethyst Adventure

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Fairy Amethyst Alice flew round Gemstone Glade, alighting on the fountain rim. Softly she sung an ancient lullaby of the crystal amethyst, and the story of her crystal fairy clan.

A fairy with flowers in her hair, a smile on her face, large blue eyes and purple wings
Image by Jim Cooper from Pixabay

A purple leaf floated towards her on the wind. Alice stopped singing. Could this be … the fabled invitation to fly to Amethyst Wood? It was an enchanted forest whispered of during night-time stories, a myth that may be true, the final chapter to the amethyst saga that lay unread and unheard …

Alice climbed on to the leaf, and it threw her in to the clouds. Then far below she observed a secret to devour all secrets, a legend come to life. Purple trees swayed beneath her.

The leaf landed in a forest glade, similar to Alice’s home Gemstone Glade however in hues of shimmering purple.

Alice flew over an amethyst fountain, diving deep in to its waters, emerging energised and smiling.

Above a violet dove flew in to the glade, cooing softly. Alice clapped her hands in delight. “Come with me,” said the dove telepathically in her head. Alice did not need to be asked twice. She climbed on to the dove’s back, and they were gone.

They entered a cloud of amethyst dust, and emerged above the Scottish city of Edinburgh, its soft night-time lights enhanced by the radiance of a full moon.

The dove flew around St Giles Cathedral, then landed on a spire. Alice began to sing her lullaby.

A large cathedral with spires and a statue of a man in front
Image by Eduardo Vieira from Pixabay

The cathedral glowed purple. Passersby stopped to stare, disbelief dancing with delight in their eyes. As images circulated the world, many believed it to be a sign. Tourists booked their next holiday to Edinburgh, excitement etched on their hearts in shining violet.

Ten year old Aveline stared out her bedroom window, as the moon glowed violet. She smiled, wiping away childish tears of despair. She hated school, she detested her life.

Then on her windowsill as if by magic appeared a violet dove with a purple fairy on its back. Aveline smiled like a child who has never smiled before. She opened her window, and the dove and fairy entered. The fairy whispered stories as the dove cooed.

The next day, Aveline began to write. A story of a magical bird and its fairy friend. Later that year, her story would win the school talent content, as a thousand smiles lit in her heart.

On the day of the talent contest, magic murmured in the air. By the next morning, within St Giles Cathedral there had appeared an amethyst fountain complete with a dolphin statue spewing purple water.

Again, this was interpreted as a sign from heaven. Crowds descended like a flock of lost doves. And as a full moon licked the streets that night, magic played with stone like a kitten with paint. For a few minutes, the entire city glowed purple. Moonlight sung its ancient lullaby, and the city purred as peace descended. A message of miracles lit up Edinburgh like an enchanted candle in freefall. A radiant poem of promise … a glowing haiku of hope.

A purple moon in a purple sky above clouds
Image by Erik Nilsson from Pixabay

Turquoise Tales

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The sun cradled Gemstone Glade in its radiant hands. Under an ancient tree, the secret stone tablet shone with inner light. Words waltzed with the promise of a new adventure:

Pink Paradise
Fluorite Farm
Turquoise Town
Fairytale Forest

Rainbow coloured unicorn Raya watched silently as unicorn Ryan touched his shining horn to the letters “Turquoise Town.”

A circle of glowing turquoise light appeared before them.

“Wait for me!” sung a soft voice. It was Turquoise Tanya, one of the many Gemstone Glade crystalline fairies. “You can’t enter a turquoise portal without me!”

Ryan neighed his consent. In happy unison, the two unicorns and crystalline fairy entered the pool of magic light.

Mountains stunned their eyes with silent grandeur. An air of mystery played with their minds. A pool of turquoise lava glimmered under a bright sun.

mountains surrounding a pool of turquoise
Image by Julien Millerant from Pixabay

Giant turquoise beetles emerged from caves at the foot of the mountains, carrying turquoise crystals in their mouths. “They are miners,” breathed Ryan telepathically. “This is a turquoise crystal mill.”

Smoke climbed high from the top of the mountains. Then a roar caused the ground beneath them to shake.

A magnificent dragon crawled from the top of the nearest mountain, scales golden under the sun, green smoke fleeing its mouth like an army of mighty mist, fierce eyes regarding them from beneath a turquoise crown.

Then the dragon flapped its green and gold wings and sped towards them. Fear fingered Ryan’s heart, as Raya shivered beside him.

A turquoise and golden dragon with fierce blue eyes
Image by Ray Shrewsberry from Pixabay

“Greetings, beasts from a foreign land. I am Taqueena, Queen of the Treasure Dragons. We guard valuable artefacts and ancient secrets. We also protect this planet’s bees, who make liquid turquoise honey. Welcome to Turquoise Tower Mountains, live volcanos containing turquoise crystal and mined here for the whole universe. We are a place of healing and protection. Our crystals bring luck and safety to all who wear them. But who are you? I can tell from your eyes that many stories have stirred your souls.”

Ryan bowed his agreement, and relayed his tantalizing tales, adventure like a sweet pill in his eyes, enigmas waiting to be explored. Read all Ryan’s adventures here

“Come with me in to the Turquoise Tower Mountains,” offered Taqueena, the promise of magic in her molten eyes. “I have something special to show you.”

The three adventurers followed the mighty beast down a large tunnel into the heart of the mountain. A beat danced in their ears, delightful drum music like a distant memory in sound. “It is the murmur of the mountain’s heart,” explained Taqueena. “This is a living mountain. Sometimes its spirit leaves in the night and dances on the seashore. But most of the time she lives here, invisible behind the turquoise walls.”

Then they arrived in a vast cave, turquoise crystal climbing its walls like magic ivy. In the centre of the space, a nest of eggs glowed with inner light. Ryan neighed softly, awe in his eyes. Meanwhile, Turquoise Tanya flew over the nest, waving her wand around ecstatically.

A crack split the silence in two. One of the eggs was hatching …

A tiny dragon slowly emerged, blinking in the dim light. Green scales mixed with golden stars on his small body. Taqueena gaspsed. “He is one of them. The ancient mystery dragons, unknown here for centuries. He has access to the magic of the stars. And you three … he has come for you. He has chosen you.”

Taqueena tenderly picked up the young dragon with her paw, and offered him to Ryan. The dragon rode inside his folded wing as the mismatched group exited the mountain. The sun was high in the sky outside. Tanya flew around Ryan with glee in her grin. This was fun.

“When he is old enough, I will find you again,” declared Taqueena.

“Gemstone Glade is the place,” advised Raya. “A portal will open for you I am sure.”

Above, clouds slid across the sky like sailing boats. Two covered the sun as they shapeshifted in to a vision of a dragon and unicorn.

The group gasped. Raindrops fell, hissing in the turquoise lava below. The baby dragon emitted a muted mini-roar, happiness erupting in his heart like a volcano.

One huge raindrop turned to gold as it hit Ryan’s horn. It fell to his feet.

“Why, it has turned in to a golden egg!” breathed Raya.

“A golden egg!” sighed Taqueena. “Let me take it, and keep it safe. If this births a golden dragon, blessed indeed are we. Pure golden dragons have not lived here in aeons. When they return … everything will change.”

A baby green and pink dragon next to a golden egg
Image by Jim Cooper from Pixabay

The portal of turquoise light suddenly reappeared. “I guess it is time for us to leave,” said Ryan sadly as Taqueena retrieved the baby dragon.

“Don’t forget, when this dragon is old enough, I will find you,” promised Taqueena. “Before you go … one question. What is his name?”

Ryan closed his eyes in deep thought, then he uttered: “Miracle.”

And so the three returned to Gemstone Glade, mystery misting their eyes, their hearts aching for the day they would see Miracle again. Above, the sun still shone, a silent witness to all below. The Gemstone Glade fountain hummed its quiet song, as crystalline fairies flew around them, eager to hear their story.

Ryan walked towards the secret tablet, and perused its words. The next adventure beckoned …

Pink Paradise

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Rainbow painted Unicorn Raya watched new friend Unicorn Ryan as he unearthed a magical stone tablet at the edge of Gemstone Glade. An adventure beckoned her curious heart, like a stray angel from a children’s novel come to welcome her to its pages, a story like no other …

A white winged unicorn on its hindlegs in a forest glade
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

The stone tablet shone with inner light. Letters danced, finally forming words:

Pink Paradise
Fluorite Farm
Turquoise Town
Fairytale Forest

“It has to be Pink Paradise,” proclaimed Raya.

Ryan gently touched his horn to the glowing words. Immediately, a candy pink cloud appeared above them. “Jump!” commanded Ryan.

They arrived in a forest glade, similar in size to Gemstone Glade but with no fountain. Underfoot, rose quartz glistened. Around them, trees of rose quartz crystal with dainty pink leaves murmured in a lazy breeze. Above, a bright pink sun sailed high among candy pink clouds. It really was a pink paradise.

“Look!” breathed Ryan. “An opening to an underground tunnel!”

A rose quartz hole led to descending pink steps, tantalising their eyes and enticing their minds. “Let’s go!” breathed Raya.

The tunnel was large, more than big enough for the two of them. It wound down and down in to the ground.

After a while, an opening gave way to a cave. Ryan and Raya entered with excitement in their eyes.

It was a rose pink quartz Gemstone Glade, complete with crystal fountain and singing pink water, and tiny rose quartz trees. There were even rose quartz fairies flying among the trees. It felt like a pink version of home.

pink cherry blossom
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Ryan and Raya’s hearts expanded with healing pink power.

A tall glowing pink angel appeared before them. “Welcome, unicorn adventurers. I am Roseanne, angel of pink quartz. Come closer.”

Roseanne whispered in their ears some rose quartz secrets. The two unicorns nodded their horns in thanks.

“We come from Gemstone Glade, far far away.”

“I know you do. Here is a little bag of rose quartz seeds; you can now grow your own crystal trees in your glade. When they grow tall enough, the trees will lead to a pink universe of rose magic, greater even than in this world here. You can take Earth children there, special children you choose, who will go on to heal their planet.”

A portal of pink cloud appeared again. It was time to go home.

However rose quartz pink magic would return with them. The two unicorns could not wait to plant the magical rose quartz tree seeds.

Back in Gemstone Glade, the fountain waters turned pink. A rose quartz song hung in the air. Gently, Ryan lowered the bag on his horn, and spilled its shining seeds in to the waiting earth. The earth hummed with crystal promise.      

A rose quartz fairy flew in to the glade, laughing gaily. “I am Rose Ravenna, and I am here to nurture these sacred seeds.” The usual Gemstone Glade crystal fairies flew over, greeting Ravenna gaily, delighted to meet a new friend. There would be a fairy party that night.

“And I have news for you,” declared Ravenna. “Ryan and Raya, I have your names right? You will find a child on Earth by the name of Rhea, and you will take her to the Pink Universe once your rose quartz trees have grown. She will carry rose quartz healing back to Planet Earth, and will start a movement of young people all over the world. Your future is full of rose pink bubbles and crystal cures. Rhea’s future is now linked to yours.”

A girl on a swing among trees and soft pink light
Image by Эльвина Якубова from Pixabay

The Gemstone Glade future blossomed rose bright. Rose quartz energy drifted in the air like a perfumed poem. Ryan neighed softly as he unearthed his enchanted tablet again. No time to rest, adventure ached in his heart and sung to his soul.

As Raya followed him, a thousand tomorrows awoke like flowers at dawn. It was time to waltz with wondrous worlds once more.

Rainbow Raya

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Raya the Unicorn entered Gemstone Glade, a dream of living light, pastel poetry in motion. Her rainbow body glimmered under the moonlight, like an artist’s colour palette waiting to weave its magic.

A unicorn like a rainbow in colourful pastel stripes, in a snow-swept forest
Image by Silvia from Pixabay

Seldom seen in the glade, Raya preferred her privacy. Tonight however, she shivered with mission in her sparkling eyes. Magic glowed in her green horn, as a secret smile sung in her eyes.

Slowly, Raya walked towards the ancient oak tree, noble protector of the glade, silent sentry of centuries uncounted. Gently, she placed the tip of her horn to its trunk.

The tree suddenly glowed with green inner light, then it changed to pink, then to blue, then indigo, then violet, then back to green. The Gemstone Glade fairies clapped their hands in glee.

Little did Raya know, that the Gemstone Glade oak tree did not merely hold magic in its large roots … it could also connect spiritually to each oak tree on Planet Earth. As moonlight kissed its branches, enchanted electricity sped through its roots and in its turn kissed each oak tree in the world below.

On a moonlit night, each oak tree on Earth would now change colour like a ripple rainbow moving though time and space to create a river of healing light.

The people on Earth were stunned, deciding the enigma was a sign … of hope.

And hope hugged Raya’s own heart as the Gemstone Glade oak tree suddenly grew upwards in fast motion, branches thrusting themselves in to a wiser world. Then it appeared above, a green cloud that Raya somehow knew was a magic portal. Her wings quivered in avid anticipation.

A whir of wind behind her heralded the arrival of Unicorn Ryan. He nodded his horn towards her in a gentle hello. Then he looked up, and together they flew in to the green cloud.

They arrived in a large forest of oak trees. “I believe this is Magical Oak Tree Forest,” Ryan informed her using the ancient language of telepathy.

They wandered along winding paths, trees towering overhead like protectors of the world. Ryan touched his horn to a tree. Its bark groaned, and then magically it sprouted two pink and green unicorn wings. They fluttered in a gentle breeze. Then water dripped from them like tears … indeed the soul of the ancient oak tree was now crying.

The magic tears fell through time and space and then rained on Planet Earth. All over the world, the oak tree tears touched hearts and triggered human tears. The planet rocked to raw emotion and mystic melancholy … and the people remembered. They understood the beauty of the planet, and connected to the sacred souls within each tree. And then they cried for the devastation wrought by their own species.

Smiles chased away tears like the sun. It was time for change. It was time to heal the world.

Far away, Ryan and Raya returned to Gemstone Glade. “I have a magic tablet,” confided Ryan. “Would you like another adventure with me?”

“How exciting!” laughed Raya. It was time to shed tears for travel. Together, they felt invincible.

The Gemstone Glade oak tree turned pink.

“Let’s find a pink paradise!” cried Raya.

“I think we might just manage that,” replied Ryan.

They touched horns, a smile of delicious dreams in their eyes.

Far below them, oak trees nursed their wish for a better tomorrow. And as a new day dawned, they knew the undeniable destiny of all dreams … to come true.

Lucky Star

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Unicorn Ryan trotted happily in to Gemstone Glade, new year promise in his heart, anticipation of all his future adventures to come. He sniffed the Gemstone Glade Christmas tree, the sweet scent of pine lifting his soul. Read Unicorn Ryan Adventures

The baubles winked in the light. Ryan knew the tree would be profoundly magical, so he lowered his his horn and moved it in circles, adding unicorn enchantment to the mix. He was not to be disappointed. The magenta, indigo and violet baubles turned in to twinkling stars, rising above the tree and then joining together to form a bubble of bright light. The light grew larger, a portal to a world unknown.

Ryan flapped his massive Pegasus wings, and flew in to the light.

A winged white unicorn against a sunset sky
Image by Ray Shrewsberry • from Pixabay

He arrived on a sandy plain under a starlit sky. Gnomes in tight jackets and Christmas hats were holding balls of light, smoothing them and whispering to them. One of the gnomes noticed Ryan, and grinned. “We don’t often see unicorns here!” he laughed. “You are an adventurer, I guess. We are the Galvanic Gnome Tribe of planet Lucky Star, this is where you are now. That portal of light you have jumped through will be affected by the very air here, when you return you will take stars with you. For this is a birthplace for stars. You heard me right, stars. Every shooting star you have ever seen was birthed here. Seeing them is lucky, but if they fall near you it is a triple blessing of lifelong luck.”

A gnome in a red Santa hat and a white beard on a snow capped tree branch
Image by Ilo from Pixabay

“I am privileged to meet you,” declared Ryan. “I have ventured to many lands, this one is certainly the most magical.”

“Don’t stay long, your portal may close soon.”

As Ryan flew back through the portal of light it closed behind him, but not before three bright stars slid through. They danced above the fountain, twinkling in its waters below. The portal of light collapsed, and the magenta, indigo and violet stars reformed. The indigo star flew to the fountain too; the other two stars waltzed in to the night and were gone.

So look out the window at the night sky, and search for that one shooting star, the lucky star that will change your life. May the new year bless you, and may stars always guide your way.

A man on a cliff watching a shooting star against a violet sky
Image by Gustavo Fernández from Pixabay

Bluebirds

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The Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree shone in the soft winter sunlight, its rainbow baubles like little stars.

Fairy Sodalite Sue flew round the tree, Christmas joy in her bright eyes. She stopped at the blue bauble, its colour close to her own. Sue waved her wand ecstatically, hoping something would happen.

She was not disappointed. The bauble turned in to a huge star shaped portal of blue light. Sue laughed as she flew in to blue bliss.

A blue sky kissed an evergreen forest like a long lost friend. Sue flew among the trees, breathing in the scent of a thousand springtimes. Wooden birdhouses hung from branches. Sue laughed as a bluebird swooped above and then beneath her.

A small blue bird on a branch
Image by yesman111 from Pixabay

More bluebirds appeared, flying high in the trees and singing in unison. Sue laughed as delight danced in her brain. Then she saw her.

A small lady with light blue skin walked through the forest, a long blue dress bedecked with crystals flowing like a sighing sea around her. A crown of blue crystals topped her head. Her huge sapphire eyes gazed upwards, and focussed on Sue.

A woman with a blue flowing dress in a forest
Image by Syaibatul Hamdi from Pixabay

“Welcome, fairy! I have never met a crystalline fairy before. From where do you come?”

Sue landed on the lady’s hand, and described Gemstone Glade.

“I am Princess Ariana, I am protector of the birds of this land. You are in Avian World, a sanctuary for our feathered friends. All birds anywhere can come here through a magic portal that will open when needed. But Gemstone Glade sounds so exciting … can you take me there?”

So Sue escorted Princess Ariana to the blue star portal. Ariana was enchanted by Gemstone Glade. Two white doves flew above, and dropped a feather in to her hands. Bluebirds entered through the portal and played in the fountain, and then perched next to the golden angel at the top of the Christmas Tree.

The angel came to life, climbed on to one of the birds and as one they flew around the glade, then through the blue star portal to Avian World. The angel did not return; Sodalite Sue imagined her setting up home in a birdhouse palace deep in the forest.

Princess Ariana joined the fairies as they hosted a magical fairy picnic. A day for camaraderie and celebration, the fairies were keen to learn about the birds of Avian World. More birds from the Gemstone Glade forest joined them, an eagle, a phoenix and an owl among them. Ariana told them they were welcome in her world anytime.

Then it started to snow. Birds, fairies and princess alike caught snowflakes in their hands or beaks, and enjoyed bounteous blessings. For snow here heals your heart and massages your mind, a tonic for the weary.

Princess Ariana sang for the assembled audience, with the voice of a songbird. Birds perched on her shoulder, joining in. A chorus of Christmas charm warmed the winter air.

May music bless your own Christmas, and enchanted stories stoke your soul. And may songbirds light your way. Merry Christmas everyone.

Golden Fire

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The Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree glimmered in the winter sun, its rainbow array of baubles winking, conspirators of magic.

Fairy Citrine Cindy flew round the tree, a smile of a hundred suns on her tiny yellow face. Today, she would choose the yellow bauble, her kindred colour.

She danced in front of the bauble, waving her arms and swinging her legs furiously. The sunlight sparkled in her wings, a Christmas light in freefall.

Then the yellow bauble turned in to a huge portal of golden light. With a cheeky chuckle, Cindy flew in to the shimmering gateway.

Golden yellow sands confronted her, emerald green waves licking the beach gently. A large yellow sun hung triumphant in the sky. Hills of yellow grass hugged the beach like a long lost friend.

A yellow seagull flew towards her. “Hello, fairy from afar. I am Seagull Solomon.”

Cindy instantly liked Solomon, he was the same colour as her after all. “I am from Gemstone Glade,” she whispered in her silken voice, the sound of angels laughing.

“Gemstone Glade? It really exists then? I thought it was a myth, a place so magical it could not possibly be real …”

“I can take you there,” promised Cindy.

“I would love to go. But let me first introduce you to my friend Jasmine, a magical sea dragon.”

Solomon cawed to the sky, the sound of every wonder of the world rolled in to one.

The ocean sighed, and the waves parted in two as something large approached … Then she was there, in all her golden yellow glory. A beautiful dragon with emerald green eyes and glowing yellow wings. She breathed yellow smoke as she slowly crept over the sand towards them.

“Jasmine! I have a new friend!”

Cindy laughed. It was not often she met other yellow creatures, especially not ones as mysterious as these two.

Jasmine asked Cindy to climb atop her head, and then flew over the yellow hills and lakes of yellow lava, and of course the ocean studded by islands of yellow sands.

Cindy felt an aching sense of awe suffuse her heart. She was in paradise.

Dragons flying above an ocean with rock formations against a sunlit sky
Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay

“I can transmit sunshine energy,” explained Jasmine. “It can heal, it can burn away the old and transform the world, it can make magic.”

An ocean surrounded by land with palm trees and a sunset above
Image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay

“I simply must show you and Solomon my home now,” sighed Cindy.

So Cindy returned through the yellow portal of light, followed by a seagull and then a mighty dragon.

The other crystalline fairies flew around them, intrigued and hoping for some magic. They were not disappointed.

Seagull Solomon shed a yellow feather. The fairies seized it and began to play. Their wings sprouted tiny yellow feathers. They giggled in delight.

Then Jasmine breathed yellow smoke on the Gemstone Glade fountain. Fierce dragon fire ignited, floating on the surface of the water like huge candles. Jasmine breathed again, extinguishing the fire. The fairies clapped in delinquent delight.

Jasmine relit the fountain, and her magic trickled through the portals of the glade and drifted silently to Planet Earth.  

On Christmas Eve, every fountain anywhere on Planet Earth lit up with ferocious yellow fire, a fleeting five minutes of magnificence. It was a Christmas sign, a portent of magic to come … It was the power of every child’s Christmas wish coming true.

A hand of water touching a hand of fire
Image by Iván Tamás from Pixabay

Carnelian Castle

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It was that most magical time of year in Gemstone Glade, Christmas. A tree with baubles that turned in to portals to other worlds stood resplendent in the centre of the glade, like a living dream, a silent prayer for something better.

Peacock Ore Patrick had opened the green portal and returned with a mother dragon and her babies, one of whom opened the orange bauble portal, and was gone.

Read the full story here

 “Follow baby Stormlight!” roared his Mum. The Gemstone Glade fairies looked at each other. An adventure lit in their hearts. Together, Morganite Meg, Selenite Sue, Calcite Craig and Iolite Ina flew to the orange bauble, and reopened the portal.

An orange desert confronted them, however in the distance an orange ocean was visible.

The baby Stormlight flew swiftly towards a tall turreted temple in the middle of the desert. It shone in the sun, like a beacon of hope.

The fairies followed, waving their wands like a little army, their wings glowing in the sun.

As Stormlight reached the crystalline temple, its high door opened like magic. Its orange walls sparkled in the sun. Inside, a small fountain giggled softly in the orange light. An orange winged fairy swam in its shining waters.

A tall orange crystalline angel walked towards Stormlight, wings fluttering with excitement, and a smile like a rising sun on her handsome face. Long curly auburn hair framed her head and a sequinned orange dress completed the vibrant look.

“Welcome to Carnelian Castle, dear young dragon,” she sang in a soft voice. “I am Carnelian Cate. I have been waiting for you. There is a prophecy of a dragon, a warrior soul who will one day be king of Crystal Cave Land. It is far away, over the ocean, a world of dragons at war with each other and in need of a wise ruler. One day, that will be you.”

Cate walked to a large carnelian treasure chest, and produced a stunning carnelian crown. She placed it on Stormlight’s head. It fit perfectly.

A green and purple baby dragon blowing lilac smoke
Image by Alana Jordan from Pixabay

“Go back to your mother, learn from her and your brothers and sisters. Then when the time is right, return to us. By rubbing this crown you will reopen the portal to here.”

The fairies watched, transfixed. A small hand touched Morganite Meg’s shoulder. She turned to behold a carnelian crystal fairy, wings dripping water. It was the fountain fairy.

“Hello, I am Carnelian Cara. I have never met another fairy before, it is a lonely life here. I am so so pleased to meet you.”

So the story ends with the intrepid travellers returning to Gemstone Glade, one with a crown on their head and a new fairy in tow.

Carnelian Cara clapped her hands in delight when she saw Gemstone Glade. All the other glade fairies welcomed her, for all crystalline fairies are one large extended family.

Mother Dragon was delighted to learn of Stormlight’s adventures. Her son … a king one day!

So this Christmas story has a happy ending. The fairies invited the dragons to stay for a fairy party, and songs and stories turned the day in to a wondrous night that they all hoped would never end.

The magic of Christmas kissed the glade as it began to snow, drops of magic that turned in to tiny stars as they hit the fountain. The stars spun above the glade. It was a Gemstone Glade Christmas like no other.