Zoisite Zina flies round the Gemstone Glade Christmas tree, laughter like the sweetest tonic in her throat.
There are only two giant baubles left, a gold or a diamond one, what a choice! Zina makes up her mind, and lands on the golden bauble. It then flies around the glade, expanding in size to finally turn in to a portal of golden light.
The golden tunnel leads to a world on fire with gold. A golden prairie stretches as far as Zina can see, and a golden sun kisses the land with bright gold light.
A tribe of yellow maned unicorns confront her. Each sports a shining golden horn.
“Welcome,” says a tall unicorn with glistening green eyes. “I am Georgia of the Golden Unicorn Clan. Dear fairy from afar, take our golden blessings home with you, and enjoy the wisdom of the golden ray for the rest of your life.”
Georgia directs her golden horn towards Zina. Zina’s wings turn golden, and a golden crown manifests on her head. Suddenly, she can think more clearly. Little does she know, that the gold crown has infinitely increased her intelligence, supercharging her brain like a magic battery.
Zina bows her head in a silent thank you. Back in Gemstone Glade, she flies around the Christmas tree again, then joins the golden angel at its top. The angel turns to her, smiles and takes her hand. Together, they descend to the fountain, and its healing waters turn golden.
Dominic the Dolphin jumps up to kiss them both. His eyes twinkle with reflected golden magic.
It is time for the Gemstone Glade crystalline fairies to party. No one celebrates a Christmas quite as special as a Gemstone Glade Christmas.
And it is time for the power of gold to heal all hearts everywhere. It is time for every golden Christmas wish to come true.
Fluorite Fiona flies in a frenzy round the Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree, trying to decide which coloured ball to land on. They will all unleash Christmas magic, but which the best? In desperate indecision, she finally lands on the spring grass green ball. It glows with inner festive fire. Slowly the green ball falls to the glade below, Fiona clinging on top. It grows in size, as Fiona flies round it, glee in her snow shine smile. Then the ball transforms in to a huge portal of green light. Laughing shrilly, Fiona flies through to the spring meadow beyond.
A purple sun shines in a soft green sky, a mirror of the undulating green grass below. Daisies flood the field in a powerful pattern of pink and yellow bliss.
Fiona lands in a cluster of daisies. They lean towards her and begin to speak.
“Who are you, sweet fairy?” Fiona is astonished, however replies. “I am Fluorite Fiona of Gemstone Glade.”
“We are daisy divas, superpower flowers who can heal you when we sing.” With that, they launch in to the most beautiful song. It is a Christmas carol.
As they sing, the sky turns deep violet as shining white clouds move across it. Then it begins to snow, whispers of winter in the air. Fiona tastes a snowflake as it lands on her lips. It is the taste of every Christmas wish come true. Tears fall from her crystalline eyes. Beauty bewitches her brain.
“Take some of our seeds back to Gemstone Glade with you.” A daisy blows yellow pollen in to Fiona’s hands.
The daisies continue to sing. The winter spell is complete. Christmas has claimed the land.
The moon kisses Gemstone Glade with lips of silver magic, as Ryan’s horn glows. The moonlight hides the miracles in the air, the mysteries of Gemstone Glade under the safe cloak of night. Ryan unearths the magic tablet gifted to him many moons ago. He is almost at the end of the list engraved on it. The stone shines in the moonlight. Ryan gently touches his horn on the word Moon Rabbit.
A giant moonstone crystal takes shape before Ryan, towering over the glade like a moon fallen from the sky. A dot in its middle grows in to a large hole, until it is tall enough for Ryan to step through. On the other side, he finds himself on a green stony shore, facing a silver sea, seven glowing blue moons above him in a night sky.
“Hello mystery traveller!” The words sing in his head, like moonlight filtering through his soul. A silver rabbit stares up at him, eyes shining with the wisdom of a thousand moons.
“I am Ryan, a unicorn adventurer from Gemstone Glade.”
“Ah, Gemstone Glade,” replies the rabbit. “I have been to the moon above it, so magical, electric with healing energy. All creatures from Gemstone Glade are welcome here. I am Mona the Moon Rabbit, one of an ancient tribe who guard the secrets of moons all over the galaxy. We live on the moons above, jumping between them using a special moon energy vortex. This is how I am here too, on Planet Emerald, land of healing green crystals and home to giant pandas who live here in undisturbed peace. I can take you to our largest moon, Moon Mara. We give them all names. The vortex energy will allow you to breathe on the moon for around thirty minutes.”
Mona waves her paws. A blue tunnel appears, glowing in the dim light. It ascends the sky to one of the moons above.
Ryan follows Mona in to the blue light. The tunnel is springy but supple, taking his weight with no protest. Once on the moon, he gazes down on the shining green planet below.
The moon is indigo blue, and blue lights emanates from it. There are holes in its sandy surface.
“The holes lead to our large underground burrows,” explains Mona. “The small stones you see on the ground contain powerful healing energy.”
Ryan moves a blue stone with his hoof.
“We take these stones to children throughout the galaxy. They can make children’s dreams come true.”
Ryan notices small flowers between the stones. They look like blue dandelions.
“These are moonflowers. We make moonflower nectar, which can extend your life by many years. If you smell it, the magic of moonshine will seed in your heart.”
Ryan sniffs a moonflower, then slowly eats its head.
“You have eaten it!” exclaims Mona. “The magic of moon healing is now part of your soul.”
Mona shows Ryan around the moonscape, pointing our further plants, including blue cacti and blue poppies.
Then it is time to go. The giant moonstone forms again before Ryan, and he steps through. Back in Gemstone Glade, he gazes up to the moon in the sky, feeling a new connection to it.
Slowly, he lowers his horn to the fountain. It shines blue, and the waters turn blue beneath it. The fountain fizzes, and tiny globes appear. Blue bubbles take form and rise to the sky, as seven new moons take their place above Gemstone Glade. Moon magic paints the glade a blissful blue. The Gemstone Glade fairies laugh, flying around like demented divas.
Ryan neighs softly, moon energy behind his eyes, the mysteries of a thousand moons in his heart. The moons above wink in silent prayer. Miracles will unfold below. Ryan closes his eyes as moon energy simmers in his heart. This has been the best adventure yet. However he has a feeling this adventure has only just begun.
Unicorn Ryan trots merrily to Gemstone Glade, his wings fluttering and his horn glowing in the soft moonlight. It is time to find the magic tablet, and recommence his adventures.
He unearths the secret tablet, whinnying softly. What adventures await?
There are words in the ancient stone, the names of magical animals. However, today one is shining brightly, like a fallen star trapped in stone.
The word Unicorn bewitches him in its eyeless stare.
Slowly, Ryan places the tip of his unicorn horn on the glittering word. It turns blue. Then a giant transparent star descends, twinkling like a Christmas tree light, as blue as a deep sea on a sunny day.
Ryan neighs as the star shimmers before him. Then he steps in to the blue light, and is gone.
Blue light dazzles his eyes, then fades as he enters a world of blue beauty. An indigo sky kisses a sapphire lake, and blue-leaved trees line its shores like a protective army.
A breeze lifts his mane, and he hears steps behind. Turning, he beholds a beautiful unicorn with blue eyes and an indigo horn. She nods her head.
“A living unicorn arrives, as the prophecy predicts. You are not of this land, how did you find your way here?”
Ryan introduces himself, and briefly explains that he came here via a portal in Gemstone Glade.
“A beautiful forest space, I know it well although have not visited in years. I am Timelessa, master unicorn, keeper of knowledge and guardian of unicorn secrets. This is a land between worlds, and a resting place for unicorn souls between lives. You do not belong here, but you may stay awhile. There is a prophecy that a male unicorn will meet me here one day, and we will beget an extra special foal. However that is only half the prophecy, you will find out the remainder of your mission one day I have no doubt.”
She lowers her horn, and Ryan tentatively touchs it to his own. A magic golden cloud appears above.
“It is done,” intones Timelessa. “A unicorn foal will be born.”
The golden cloud settles at Timelessa’s feet, and begins to take on the form of a tiny gold unicorn.
“This is a special and powerful foal,” states Timelessa, licking the newborn soul with tenderness. “Never before have I encountered a golden unicorn. He is a miracle in living flesh.”
The golden foal opens his eyes. They are indigo blue, deep seas of ancient knowledge.
“He will be cared for well,” promises Timelessa. “I shiver at the magic he may be here to do.”
Ryan stares in delight and disbelief. Has he really just fathered a child?
“I will give you one unicorn secret to dwell on,” announces Timelessa. “Then it is time for you to go. But I feel that one day you may meet your child again, and when you do the second part of the prophecy will come true.”
“It has been an honour to meet you,” says Ryan softly.
“This is a unicorn secret. The unicorn tribe in days of old inhabited Planet Earth. We chose collectively to leave as we were hunted for our magical horns. Earth still remembers us, although they think we are just a nice myth. Today’s children love us, there are many unicorn books and toys. One day, we are destined to return. That will be a special day. This foal here, may be the start of that return.”
Ryan smiles inwardly. A future paradise lights his heart like a prayer. Will he one day run through the meadows of Planet Earth?
Ryan gazes in to the eyes of his son, and then speaks his name. “Indigo, his name is Indigo.”
It is time to leave. Ryan flies through the waiting star, and is gone. Timelessa nudges her foal with motherly murmurs. The young foal gazes around, at once bewildered yet at home. A star suddenly appears above his head, shining bright gold. Then it flies up and away.
Down below on Planet Earth, the star traverses the night sky, lighting up statues beneath, turning them in to a brilliant gold. It is a sign. A new dawn will come.
All was at peace in a snowlit Gemstone Glade, its crystals lighting up like Christmas stars, and a secret light playing with the fountain waters, turning them in to a frosty winter rainbow of chill colour.
The Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree stood resplendent in the centre of the glade. Giant baubles graced its branches, a picture of winter landscapes inside, mini worlds of wonder, dainty dimensions of joy.
One of the baubles slowly flew from its branch, hovering above the glade, before slowly floating in to the night.
Claudia sat alone in her bedroom, textbooks littering her bed like a mad scientist’s mess. Homework was a private hell in her head. She hated school, but not as much as it hated her. Bullying – from teachers and pupils alike – belittled her life.
A wind suddenly played with her hair. In surprise she looked up. A giant Christmas bauble hung from the ceiling, a winter forestscape inside. Disbelief turned to delight as she reached to touch it.
Then she was there, in the winter snow. A charming wooden house confronted her. Its red door proudly displayed a Christmas wreath … and it began to open.
A smiling granny face appeared, crinkled eyes laughing under white curls, wizened hands holding a walking stick. “Welcome to the magical Christmas homework club.”
Claudia followed the old woman inside. A bright fire greeted her, with a number of children huddled in front, like metal figurines attracted to a magnet. A large Christmas tree was bedecked with presents hanging from branches and piled high beneath. An air of magic pervaded the room, like a perfume of endless possibility.
“I am Nina, and these are my recruits, like you. These are all children who have had enough of boring school homework, they would like to do real work!”
Nina laughed lightly. “We are making paper flowers. Choose a colour! And choose your quality: for example, peacefulness, happiness, compassion, wisdom. We use magic paint to imbue your flower with this virtue.”
Claudia happily joined the group of children. She felt somehow at home, as if she had been here before and always knew she would come back.
She chose the colour pink, and began to shape a rose out of pliable paper. The magic paintbrush was warm in her hand, and she felt her chest grow hot as she applied the colour.
“What is your virtue?” asked Nina.
“It is peace, peace for all mankind, gentle kindness to all animals, and happiness in all earthly hearts.”
“Well chosen,” murmured Nina. The other children giggled. Yellow, purple, red and orange flowers glowed in the firelight.
Claudia could not later recall how long she painted flowers before the fire in the little house. Time had turned to mist, and a fog fondled her mind. She painted and painted, more and more flowers, the smile on her face the best flower of all.
She chatted with the other children, but afterwards could not remember their names.
The real world had receded, leaving her in a bubble of molten magic. After an hour or many hours, she could not be sure, Nina finally said: “Time to go home. But first, we must set the flowers free.”
The children assembled outside the house, and let a gentle breeze take their flowers far far away. Like Christmas presents they had outgrown, it was time to pass on the gift, a moment to unleash a magic beyond comprehension.
“You have spun a sacred Christmas web of golden wishes. Peace, love, understanding and compassion are now soaring through the air streams, and wherever your flowers come to rest, great blessings will seed. A true healing has taken place today. Time to go home, special ones. Your guide awaits.”
A white unicorn with a golden horn stepped confidently through the snow. One by one, he placed his magical golden horn on each child’s forehead. Claudia closed her eyes as she felt gold energy soar through her mind. She opened them again to behold her bedroom, still a mess, and so strangely ordinary and dull after her adventure.
Claudia opened her notebook, and began to draw a flower, the power of peace in her heart.
Many many miles away, painted flowers floated down rivers and in to the sea, as peace kissed the world with its gentle lips. A brighter Christmas morning would dawn, flower energy in its heart, the winds of tomorrow blowing across the world like a mist of memories, a memory of the future, a hope for all time.
Ryan neighs softly in happy anticipation of adventure. Today, he nudges the magic tablet with excitement, then softly brushes his unicorn horn over the word Dragon. The tablet turns red.
With a loud crackle, a giant ring of fire appears. Ryan jumps through, a magic mission thundering through his veins, flames in his eyes.
He is in a mountainous terrain with smoke simmering on the horizon. Purple mist kisses his ankles. A green sun scorches the sky. Tall trees surround him, like signposts leading the way to the edge of a stone mountain. His horn grows hot.
The air is full of the pungent taste of sweet smoke. Ryan breathes it in happily. Perhaps it is a healing smoke.
From the rocky slope of the mountain, a huge dragon surveys him. She is atop a nest of orange eggs. Her eyes are red, her body orange and her wings are scarlet. She is surely a dragon queen, her still stare speaking of power but also dignity.
“Who comes here?” she accosts him.
Ryan neighs in friendship, and circles his horn, offering a unicorn blessing.
“I am Ryan, and I am exploring different worlds which I access through a magic tablet. I am here to learn, to experience, to share unicorn wisdom … above all, to help in any way I can.”
“I am Briona, Queen of the Red Ray. I have a mission for you, if you choose to accept.”
Ryan sits down in deference, lowering his horn.
“I am so pleased to meet you. There is an ancient prophecy about a unicorn. But there is also a very real special dragon here, in our world. Her name is Lilac, and she is the first known dragon born with a horn resembling a unicorn’s. She is secretive and lives alone, seeing no one. I would like you to find her. Perhaps together you can find a joint cause. I believe she is within the caves of Moonstone Mountain.”
Ryan can feel his horn burning.
“Your horn is glowing red. Do you feel her presence? Can you reach out to Lilac?”
Ryan closes his eyes. He can see a crystalline cave in his mind. That is where he must go.
“I accept the mission,” he states simply.
Ryan travels through the strange world for a day and a night, passing beneath towering rocky mountains, walking through stony valleys with strange shrubs. Then he is there, before a shining mountain with caves at its foot. “Moonstone Mountain,” he murmurs.
His horn is hot again, and it guides him to the correct cave entrance.
“Lilac,” he softly intones. And then she is there, standing timidly at the cave door. A silver dragon with lilac wings and deep purple eyes.
“I have dreamt of you. And now you are here. A unicorn cousin.”
Her small unicorn horn is lepidolite crystal, glimmering in the light of a purple moon above.
“Come.” Lilac welcomes Ryan to her cave, and its nest of multi-coloured eggs – pink, blue, orange, green, and rainbow striped.
“These eggs are the dragon children of the future. They will be born to create destiny. I will bring them each up to befriend a child – a special child – on Planet Earth below. They will guide the children of destiny, the seed of a new world. They will be protector dragons, and will be magical beyond belief.”
Ryan neighs softly, realising that he in the presence of greatness.
“And you … will you help? When the babies are old enough to leave the nest? Will you return and help me find their new homes? To fulfil their destinies?”
“Of course … but how will I know it is time?”
“When you dream of Moonstone Mountain beneath a full purple moon, then it is time. Return then.”
Ryan steps out of the cave, and looks up at the moon. In its soft light, all dreams seem possible. A mission lights in his heart like a purple flower. Magic runs in his veins, and his heart beats with unicorn blessings. The divine will dance with dragons. And miracles will follow, like sun after the rain. The moon looks down, lilac fire in its still heart. Ryan neighs, and moonlight sparkles in his horn. The night simmers with the promise of a better tomorrow.
This story is dedicated to the late actor River Phoenix
Unicorn Ryan enters Gemstone Glade, adventure skydiving through his soul, and the wish to once again connect with the magic tablet gifted to him in this Christmas story, followed by this Christmas story, and further pursued here: Griffin Gala
Steel resolve glows red in Ryan’s eyes, molten metal heating his heart. He is ready. Today, he nudges the magic tablet with joy, rubbing his unicorn horn slowly over the word Phoenix. Flames flicker behind his eyes, as sparks rise from the stone tablet.
A huge ring of smoke appears. Ryan jumps gracefully through, arriving in a land of golden grass and towering trees with magenta pink leaves. Smoke snakes through the air, like the breath of a sleeping dragon. Piles of ash punctuate the grass with dots of grey. Then Ryan hears the birdsong, like an orchestra on fire, the rhythm of life itself, a disco of audible daylight, the music of forever.
Cautiously, Ryan approaches a pile of ashes within the grass, smoke massaging his mind with an incomprehensible message. As the air clears, a huge bird emerges from the ashes, with green, orange and magenta pink feathers. He is beauty incarnate, a pledge of gentle power in his eyes.
“I am Riviera, and I am a phoenix reborn. My first vision denotes my mission in this, my new life. And I see you, a unicorn. There is a prophecy about a lone unicorn, a story of hope reborn. My mission, then, to help unicorns.”
“I am Ryan, I have arrived here through a portal in Gemstone Glade.”
“Take me there.”
The phoenix stretches his massive wings, as Ryan jumps back through the portal of smoke. The phoenix follows, a majestic and surprise guest even for somewhere as magical as Gemstone Glade.
Riviera appraises the glade with his deep emerald green eyes. “There is another, smaller glade,” he says softly, “to the east of here. Take me there.”
Ryan is surprised. No new arrival in Gemstone Glade has asked for a smaller, less magical glade instead! “You must mean Sunstone Glade, named after the large crystal in its middle. Come with me.”
They arrive in the tiny glade, its large crystal glinting in the spring sunlight. Moonlight, Ryan’s great grandfather, lies against the crystal. His eyes are weary, and his breath is laboured.
“My grandson, it is my time,” murmurs Moonlight.
The phoenix begins to sing. Moonlight closes his eyes, the song stirring his soul, a silver spoon from heaven. His black wings flutter, then are still.
Flames suddenly appear around the ancient unicorn. “Moonlight!” cries Ryan. “Leave him, it is okay,” reassures Riviera. “I am saving him.”
The flames grow higher and higher, as the sunstone begins to sing. It is the sound of all the world’s secrets, and of all the love in the cosmos sighing for a better forever.
Higher and higher still, then the flames start to subside, forming ashes in their retreat. And at the heart of the ashes, lies a black unicorn foal.
“Moonlight!” gasps Ryan.
“I am now Stormlight,” murmurs the foal. “I have the soul of Moonlight, but the heart of a new born. I am reborn. Thank you, noble phoenix, thank you so much.”
“I didn’t know phoenixes could rebirth other species!” cries Ryan in disbelief.
“Technically, it’s not usually permitted,” confides Riviera. “But I made an exception. Just for you.”
Stormlight slowly totters to his feet, unsure in his new body.
“Your new life mission is determined by what you see,” confides Riviera. “A sunstone, and a phoenix. You surely have an interesting life ahead of you!”
“Thank you,” murmurs Stormlight. “Thank you so much.” He flutters his new black wings, and neighs in happiness.
“How can I ever repay you?” Ryan asks Riviera.
“All you need to do, is live your life. There is a prophecy that may come true. Ryan, you will see me again.” And with that Riviera disappears in a cloud of smoke.
Ryan and Stormlight slowly saunter to Gemstone Glade, where they are greeted by the crystalline fairies, always happy to welcome a unicorn foal. Stormlight drinks from the magical fountain, thirsty for its healing balm. Ryan walks back to the tablet, and ponders his next adventure. All is happy as time seems to stand still in Gemstone Glade, a mirage hidden from real life, a home to mysteries.
Far away, in Phoenix World, a party is commencing. The birds know that Riviera has performed forbidden magic, and they sing in delight. A new world of possibilities is born in their hearts. The rebirth of the unicorn heralds a new dawn, and a destiny as bright as a diamond.
Gemstone Glade 