Black and White Beauty

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

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 Star

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

Turquoise Tales

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 …

Bluebirds

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

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

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.

Green Christmas Glitter

It was that magical time of year. Christmas in Gemstone Glade.

Wooden sign saying Christmas in a snowy forest
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Angels with golden wings and golden crowns held the Christmas Tree as it gently descended to the frosty ground. They then flew around the glade, a hymn of divine happiness on their lips.

The song echoed throughout the forest, a ballad of Christmas bliss. Then the angels flew high into the night and were gone.

The tree glowed in the moonlight. It was a large pine tree with seven huge baubles of pulsing light: yellow, orange, green, blue, magenta, indigo and violet.

The top of the tree was home to a golden angel with a saintly smile on her lips.

Peacock Ore Patrick flew frantically to the tree. He had made it, first fairy to the Christmas Tree.

He landed on the large green bauble. It grew in size and then turned in to a huge portal of light. Patrick did not need any persuasion. He flew in to the green dream.

A Christmas Tree green bauble with pictures of trees on it
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Beyond lay a green valley, undulating green grass stretching to green hills in the distance. Among the grass were large green flowers, a little like roses however completely green.

The day was chill and frost stroked the air with its cool hands.

Patrick flew over a flower, admiring its symmetry and its beautiful perfume which tickled his eyes. Gently he stroked a petal with his peacock ore tipped wand.

Then magic unfolded before him, but after all what did he expect with his fairy wand?

The flower grew in to a giant petal shaped portal of green light. What did Patrick do? Well of course he flew in to the light.

He found himself in a small forest glade surrounded by towering green trees. Everything was green, flowers, moss, trees … and five tiny green dragon babies, staring at him, transfixed.

Then mother arrived, a large green dragon circling over the glade like a protective green blanket.

A green dragon flies above a forest glade
Image by Artie_Navarre from Pixabay

“Greetings, fairy from another dimension. Please, stay awhile and play with my children. They have not met a fairy before. Show us your sparkle!”

So Patrick danced, spun and sang. The dragon babies watched and blew little fire rings in to the air. He assumed this was a sign of appreciation.

The mother dragon watched him with avid amusement. Eventually she said, “You try too hard. It is Christmas. Do you have a festive tale for my babies?”

So Patrick began to speak of Gemstone Glade, and the magic of Christmases past. You can read these stories too here: Christmas Gems

One of the baby dragons spoke quietly. “I want to go there.”

The mother dragon smiled in her eyes. “Fairy, can you take my babies for an adventure?”

So it came to be that five dragon babies and Mum Everlasta visited Gemstone Glade. The babies were entranced by the magical Christmas tree. One of them flew to the orange bauble … and was gone in to an orange portal of light. It closed behind him.

“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. Then they were gone in to the welcoming light.

Check back soon for updates on their adventure!

Dance of Feathers

Dahlia the duck flew in to Gemstone Glade, landing in a twirl of feathers on the fountain. She quacked in dizzy delight. Dahlia was of course a magical duck, as so many of Gemstone Glade’s guests.

A brown duck against the outline of a rock
NoName_13 on Pixabay

Dahlia glided through the fountain waters, sautéing and pirouetting like a ballerina in green, blue and brown. Her soft quack woke the fairies, who quickly joined her, loving the chance to dance and show off to an audience of ancient trees and two tenderly watching unicorns.

However this was no ordinary dance, for Dahlia had come with a private purpose: to lay some magical duck eggs. These would be the first ducklings to come to Gemstone Glade, and what duck delight the future now held.

Dahlia danced under the full moon until she grew tired, and then flew to a huge tree, wisdom of the ages in its brown bark. There she nested and laid her eggs, her feathers shining in soft moonlight and her heart beating with maternal music.

white eggs in a tree
Ivabalk on Pixabay

Dahlia sat supreme on her eggs for a month. Then the dainty darlings hatched. They were of course unusual ducklings, with one odd wing among the baby yellow: seven ducklings with each either an orange, mint green, sky blue, light pink, magenta, violet or indigo feather. One day they would shed this special feather, and the finder would be blessed beyond their wildest dreams.

When they were old enough, Dahlia escorted them to the Pond of Paradise, in the magical forest not far from Gemstone. The island in the centre of the pond contained a gateway to a land of golden birds. One day, Dahlia hoped to find this gateway. Until then, she would be happy as a mother. A golden feather fell behind the ducks as they swam together, a thousand dreams come true within. And somewhere, golden birds danced in their own golden fountain, singing a timeless music of golden glee. Dahlia quacked softly. Then all was at peace in Pond of Paradise, a soft silence like a blanket around them.

A wooden path of steps enclosed by mossy fences leads to a pond where ducks and ducklings swim past
ELG21 on Pixabay

Diamond Destiny

Ruby Rihanna flies round the Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree, and lands daintily on its one remaining giant bauble: a large diamond sphere.

The diamond grows in size, and then turns in to a portal of shining silver light. Rihanna flies in to the shining heart of all her dreams come true.

She arrives in a mystic land called Luna. Twenty moons bathe the world in a rainbow of light. Each moon is its own unique shade of pink or blue. Pink and blue moonlight perform a tranquil tango. The night is alive with light.

a row of seven moons, lilac, pink and red.
Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay

Sands stretch to an indigo sea. The beach is covered in large diamonds.

large diamond rocks on a beach
Image by Ida from Pixabay

Rihanna climbs on to a diamond that is treble her size. Together, they are transported through a tunnel of silver light. Rihanna finds herself in a hospital, beside a small girl hooked up to many wires. Gently, Rihanna pulls the diamond next to her bed. The little girl Talitha stirs in her sleep. Rihanna hopes the diamond can heal the child. Diamond destiny energy engulfs Talitha’s heart.

Decades later Talitha, by now a renowned scientist, discovers a cure for all cancer. Little does she know that her idea began as a tiny seed planted while she lay dying in hospital as a child one chill Christmas night. She also will never know of all the lives saved for now and forever: just because she did not die that night.

Little does she know, but she does not need to know. Her heart beats strong in the hope of a healthier world, while her love of diamonds is as deep as her passion for science. For diamonds are not just for Christmas, their hidden magic lasts forever.

Image by Tomislav Jakupec from Pixabay