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Coffee Chums

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Gemstone Glade fairy Sodalite Sarah loved coffee. She could summon enchanted portals to take her to the best coffee shops anywhere in the world. Every week she ended up somewhere different, a tiny tourist with sparkling blue wings. Only children could see her, as she hovered by unsuspecting adults and then swept over the side of their coffee mug, inhaling the bewitching spell of coffee, a mightier magic than many a fairy could muster.

A tiny person with brown hair, yellow top and red trousers sitting on the rim of a brown coffee cup with a fishing pole
Image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay

Her favourite coffee was caramel latte. Any coffee shop customer who quietly sipped one in the corner made her day, so much so that she waved her wand above them to grant good luck energy.

Today she found herself outside Coffee Creatures, a seashore café with pictures of fairies in its window. Sarah chuckled, for little did they know that fairies were indeed real … complete with a weakness for coffee beans. She flew inside.

Then Sarah looked up to find a barista staring straight at her, their green eyes twinkling under tumbling down auburn hair, a sassy smile on their lips. Then the barista winked.

The barista could see her.

It was the beginning of a friendship that linked a small town English coffee shop with a magical forest glade in a far off dimension. Sarah would return here again, and again, and again. She whispered secrets in to the barista’s ear, and she taught her how to make coffee with a touch of fairy wing dust, a sprinkle of dreams coming true tonic.

Two coffee cups in a white saucer with teaspoon. One has a heart in its frothy top and the other a flower.
Image by Kelly Do from Pixabay

Beryl the barista longed to travel the planet. So Sarah conjured up portals and transported her to the best coffee shops the world over. Beryl’s smile was stuck on her face like a stamp, a postcard from Gemstone Glade, a messenger of magic. And then the day came … Sarah asked Beryl to journey to Gemstone Glade. Never before had a human stepped foot there. All the crystalline fairies awarded Beryl a hero’s welcome. It was time to party to the smell of super strong coffee. It was time for fairy magic to begin … And it was time for all Beryl’s dreams to come true.

So next time you sip your latte in a coffee shop, look up and blink. There, just at the edge of your vision, can you catch the fairy wings, a spark of blue seen then gone? And while you drink your coffee, please dream of all you desire, for you never know, a fairy with a wand may be just above you, waiting to grant your every wish. And never stop believing in magic, for it is there everyday, in the taste of coffee, in the sunrise, in the moon at night. It is somewhere deep in your heart and when you find it the mundane becomes marvellous. May all your coffees be barista perfect, and may all your dreams come true.

A white coffee cup and saucer with frothy coffee and two white hearts and wings on top. There are rose petals around the cup.
Image by Kalpesh Ajugia from Pixabay

Stone Circle Serenade

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Crystalline fairy Smokey Quartz Sally danced through Gemstone Glade, boredom beating in her heart. She was seeking something but she knew not what. She waved her wand in exasperation. Then it happened. A silver portal of light opened before her.

On the other side, a stone circle stood like frozen kings at the foot of a mountain. Little did she know that she was in Scotland. Laughing, Sally waved her wand again. One of the stones turned in to a giant shining smokey quartz.

A circle of tall thin stones on green grass under a blue sky
Image by Walter Frehner from Pixabay

She heard neighing behind her. To her surprise, Sally confronted a white unicorn, deep green eyes gazing in to her own, a silver glowing horn above like a lantern from a mystic land. “There are unicorns, beyond our Gemstone Glade forest?” she whispered in shock.

“I am Stonetta, guardian unicorn to the stone circles of Scotland. People cannot see me, cats can … and fairies too it seems. Come with me …”

Stonetta swirled her horn. Another silver portal appeared. “This is how you came here, a little of my magic blown in the wind. Let’s have fun together.”

So through the magic portal they traversed the stone circles of Scotland together. At each one, Sally waved her wand, and then one stone in the circle turned to smokey quartz. Stonetta neighed her approval, magic merriment in her eyes.

“Can I take you to Gemstone Glade?” asked Sally. “It is a magical glade just a few dimensions away.” She threw her wand in the air, then caught it as a large pink bubble appeared. Together, the unicorn and fairy flew through to the enchanted Gemstone Glade beyond.

Stonetta walked around the glade, breathing its healing air, nodding her horn to the many crystalline fairies there.

“Let me show you some magic too.” Stonetta ran in to the trees. Sally joined her as a nearby glade shuddered beneath them. Then ten large stones grew from the ground. A stone circle had arrived in the Gemstone Glade forest.

A stone circle of medium size grey stones in long grass with trees in the background
Image by schotti highland from Pixabay

The crystalline fairies arrived donning delight like a ball dress. It was time to party among the new stones. It was a night of fairy-fuelled celebration … interwoven with deep magic.

Far away in Scotland, the tourists came in their thousands to see the stone circles with their new smokey quartz stone. It was a national mystery … or a tourism boost, depending how you looked on it.

And then the stones began to sing, a soft lullaby of a better tomorrow, a prayer for heaven on Earth. Stonetta looked on proudly, as a song rose in her own throat. It was the sound of Scotland … a waltz of wisdom, the music of magic. A ballad of timeless beauty that knew no end.

Rhodochrosite Ruth

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Fairy Rhodochrosite Ruth possessed only one special gift, the ability to turn roses in to rhodochrosite crystal. And each crystal rose would contain the dreams coming true magic known only to fairies.

As Ruth swept through Gemstone Glade today she felt sad. There were no more roses to practice with in the forest at large. She had a talent … but no toys to play with.

Then magic struck her like a diamond crystal arrow, a weapon of wizardry that lit the glade with bright pink light. It was an enchanted portal, and impossible to resist its sweet radiance.

On the other side, Ruth found herself in a children’s school playground. What am I doing here? she thought nervously. Then she saw it. A rose garden at the far end of the playground, likely cared for by little hands, childish laughter linking with rose magic to create a special space of joy.

Ruth closed her eyes and used her fairy power to enlarge to human size. She had a feeling she would be staying for a while, so best to fit in.

A woman with large pink fairy wings, long brown hair with flowers in it and a short pink dress. She is on a woodland path with pink flowers.
Image by Jim Cooper from Pixabay

Then she set to work. The next morning, children arrived in the schoolyard to screams of bewilderment, the sunshine of delight trying to break through the clouds of disquiet.

For every rose was now a beautiful pink crystal flower. Little did they know that this was enchanted rhodochrosite crystal.

As the children touched them, rose crystals fell in to waiting hands. These were dreamcatcher crystals. Fast forward fifteen years … and dream happy ever after careers had taken hold. From Postman Pat to astronaut, from ice skater to brain surgeon, from pop singer to policeman, every child achieved their secret wish in life.

And Ruth followed each destiny like a lab technician tending plants. She had chosen to stay in the village, keep her new body and earning her living as a magician, a very easy job for a fairy.

The dust of dreams come true dazzled her eyes. It was time for new magic, she had achieved her goals here.

The day had come to whisper rose-tinted poems elsewhere. She snapped her fingers and the pink portal appeared again. Rose grinned with the mirth of a magician.

First, she arrived at Anglesey Abbey Gardens in Cambridgeshire, UK. The scent of roses teased her brain. She smiled with the satisfaction of a five year old truly believing they would be an astronaut one day. There was work to do here.

Then Ruth portal flew to the rose garden at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. Here she found heaven, and vowed never to leave.

However after some weeks another portal opened unannounced, and transported her to the Roseraie du Val-de-Marne in France. A celebration of roses embraced her like a soft summer wind. Ruth had finally found the happiness that had eluded her all her life.

One day she would return to Gemstone Glade, and what tales she could tell. Until then, she would heal the world … one rose petal at a time. And like a rose, Ruth’s pink prayer would last forever.

A pink rose with dew drops on its petals
Image by Pascal Wiemers from Pixabay

Black and White Beauty

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Tiny feline Tessa somersaulted round her garden chasing a white butterfly, its colour matching her own stomach and paws. A black and white beauty, her coat gleamed in the early morning sun.

Amber eyes shone with feline fun. Today impossible itched in her mind, the promise of something so much more, the whisper of wonder … and there it was. In front of her. A glowing white ball of light, the music of memories unmade beyond. She jumped in to the bright sphere as purrs erupted deep inside. Impossible stroked her head … as her eyes danced with disbelief.

A bird song disco of a forest glade confronted her, a little piece of heaven in green leaves and grey fountain stone. There before her, like a vision from a perfect catnip-scented dream, stood a black and white unicorn. He stared in to her eyes with avid attention, then he spoke using the ancient art of telepathy.

“Hello feline visitor, my name is Domino. I am one of the legendary black and white unicorn herd. We usually hide in our own little world, today I am exploring the magic of Gemstone Glade that is known and spoken of through many galaxies. We live beyond the clouds in Zebracorna, a world between worlds. I can show you.”

The head of a zebra with a unicorn horn
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

Making patterns in the air with his black horn, Domino neighed softly. Black and white steps appeared, reaching for the clouds above. Tessa followed Domino as he ascended. They arrived in a world of violet trees with a purple sun in the sky.

“Welcome to Zebracorna. Let me introduce you to my friends.”

Four unicorns approached, all black and white, two with black horns, and two with silver. “Welcome curious cat cousin, black and white like we are. We can teach you to use the healing energy of black combined with white.”

A unicorn gently touched Tessa’s head with his horn. She felt heat in her chest. “You now have access to black and white magic.” Tessa purred.

She returned via the glade to her home. However Tessa would never be the same again. Wherever she went, she would spread black cat luck and unicorn magic. And everyone who stroked her … would see their wildest dreams come true.

So Tessa led the best life, magic in her meows, the promise of possible in her purr, happiness in her heart like a unicorn horn on fire.

Perhaps one day she would find Gemstone Glade again. Until then, she would spread her molten magic, enjoying the sweet enigma of her black and white soul. For black and white cats are surely the greatest felines of all.

A black and white cat with large ears and long white whiskers on a blue and a grey blanket

Butterfly Bling

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Pony princess Unlessa trotted in to Gemstone Glade, a glimpse of glamour among the trees, a hint of hope in her eyes, a flower pattern unicorn like no other.

a unicorn with a coat of different coloured flowers
Image by chiplanay from Pixabay

Her mother was the one and only Molly the Magnificent, unicorn of myth and magic. While pregnant with Unlessa, Molly too came to Gemstone Glade to drink its healing fountain waters. It was here that a rare benefica butterfly landed on her stomach, emitting its protective powers to the baby beneath. Benefica butterflies have flower patterns on their wings. Unlessa was born to marvel and mystification: she had flowers painted all over her extraordinary body.

Unlessa bowed her head to the fountain, drinking with joy. Then she spun round, and pointed her horn to two flies overhead. By molten magic, they turned in to benefica butterflies, little rainbows with wings.

One butterfly flew through a portal of green and pink light, and found itself in a small garden. Flying towards a ginger haired girl on a swing, it landed on her hand like a blessing from heaven, a living floral poem. The girl shrieked with delight.

Many years later, the teenage Sandra would write a book: Butterfly Bling. It followed the lives of high school children navigating life … with the help of magical butterflies. The book was published; suddenly butterflies were firm fashion. And as if summoned by sorcery, benefica butterflies appeared everywhere, confounding science and testing theories on their origin.

Many dimensions away, Unlessa stepped once again in to Gemstone Glade. There were no benefica butterflies today. However bluebottle flies battled the wind around the fountain. Time for magic … Unlessa waved her horn, and the flies transformed in to benefica butterflies, beauty with beating wings, a promise of possible as they rose as one and flew away. And wherever they landed, magic would follow as a sunrise at the end of the night. And like a pastel sunrise, the butterflies would inspire hope in all hearts touched by them.

Look out your window now … you may just see one, there high above, a glimpse of glamour, a breath of colourful beauty, a vision quickly gone, but never forgotten.

a pink butterfly with open wings with brown dots among the pink
Image by Aristal Branson from Pixabay

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.