The Dancing Fire Faerie

The

Dancing

Fire Faerie

I dedicate this book to all the little boys and girls who have imaginations that run wild and free!

~

I dance the circle of flame;

So, fair, and gay you see.

The fire dance is unleashed;

For all to praise and bring glee.

-Kiltron

Kiltron

Copyright © 2021 by Dan Harrington
 
All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
 
ISBN
(Paperback) 9798508662066
(eBook) 9780463141021

Today was a sunny day. Not just any sunny day, but a hot sunny day that burned the skin. It wilted the grass and the leaves upon the trees that hung low and dry. The searing heatwave ravaged the countryside like that of a storm breeze. There was no storm in sight, sorry to say. The plants that grew everywhere in the woods sure craved water. The meadows were drying and turning brown. Flowers lost their petals as they wilted.

           Inside the woods, plants faired better in the shade, but even then, as this heatwave continued, they too would be withered and dry.

           The dampness of the earth was drying up. Moss was becoming brittle. Mushrooms started to shrivel. They would smell bad sometime soon.

           Whatever fruit were on the trees had dried and had become sour with a stench that made one cover their nose.

           It was so hot that not even the mosquitoes were out and about. Nor were any insect for that matter.

           Although, there was a faerie, way up in the sky high above the forest. She fluttered there as if standing straight with her hands in form of a prayer. She hovered still like in meditation. All that moved was her wings to keep her afloat in the hot stale air.

           A predator had spotted her and let out a screech as they dove toward her. Sure, she would be an easy catch.

           The faerie gave an exasperated sigh as she huffed out a breath into her long fiery red hair.

           Flames suddenly blazed from her petite hands as the hawk was almost upon her. The bird shrieked as feathers were singed and smoked. The hawk happened to be able to continue to fly as it wobbled away.

           “That is what you get when you mess with Lexi, the Fire Faerie,” she yelled with her face all scrunched up. Her freckles danced about on her nose and cheeks. Her hands were on her hips.

           “Stupid bird,” she muttered to herself. She rolled her eyes in annoyance. Now, she had to fly somewhere else to meditate.

           She thought about it for a moment with her hand on her chin. Then it came to her. She would go higher. Right into the clouds. Guaranteed no one would disturb her there.

           So, up she went right into the clouds. She sighed and closed her eyes once again to meditate. In the same posture she took deep breaths to relax her body. Soon her mind would drift.

           After awhile Lexi opened one eye and made a face. This was not going to work. It was too damp for her to concentrate. It made her tan; red skin feel clammy.

           Yuck!

           Moister was not her thing. This hot dry day had no effect on her whatsoever. She enjoyed days like these.

           Another decision was made. Time to fly down and find somewhere else to do her thing.

           She flew downward until she was just above the treetops. She flew at a fast pace. Then she came to a large meadow. This was the perfect spot. Wide open space. Big sky. Sun shinning down on you.

           Perfect!

           She landed in the long golden wheat like grass. It was dry and crunchy.

           She sat down with her legs crossed over top one another. She raised her hands up with her thumb and pointer fingers touching. A hum came from deep in her throat. She floated up off the ground a few feet.

           Eyes closed her body began to relax once again. Inhaled a deep breath to steady her spiritual energies within.

           She stayed that way for an exceedingly long time. Everything was coming into alignment with her soul and her magic was calmed.

           Then something landed in her hair and dripped down her forehead.

           She sniffed, then stood up. She clenched her clenched her fists in rage.

           Flames erupted all around her and burned away the bird dung.

           Lexi eyed the sky angrily. She shot up into the air and followed the seagull that had defecated on her. She was a blaze of vengeance. Her fiery wings made her sore like an arrow straight to her target.

           She grabbed the bird in a tight grip. The seagull panicked and flapped its wings. It squawked and shat itself upon the faerie’s legs. Then tried to peck at her face.

           Lexi’s rage grew as her amber eyes became fiery pits.

           “You dare,” she gritted her teeth. Flames engulfed the bird and it turned to ash. The remains flittered down like burnt snowflakes.

           “That will teach you,” she hmphed.

           How was she going to meditate now? She was so wound up that there was no way she could calm down enough to do so.

           Bastard bird!

           She exhaled harshly. Flames continues to spread around her. She was too damned annoyed.

           She flew fast through the air. She needed to burn some energy.

           The air was hot, and the sun’s rays fueled her fury.

           Lexi loved to fly and to burn things. She kept an eye on the ground. She still wanted to find a peaceful spot to wind down. Could go to a cave and light it up. That might be fun.

           Into the forest she went to find a cave. Time to have some fun.

           She found her cave and in she went. It was dark and a little spooky. It was cooler inside for sure.

           Lexi stopped. This should be good. Should be far enough into, she guessed.

           “Let there be light,” Lexi’s voice echoed.

           There was a huge whooshing sound as flames lit up everything. A roar of pain sounded, and the faerie flew like her life depended on it. She rushed out of the cave and flew up high enough in the air and waited.

           An angry bear burst out of the cave and roared up at Lexi. It stood up on its hind legs and tried to reach up with one of its clawed paws. It swiped at her in vain.

           “It was your fault for being in the cave in the first place, you, stupid bear,” Lexi scoffed. She rolled her eyes. “Hey Mr. Bear. I am a faerie and we do not cause trouble. Nor do we cause problems. You are nothing but a dumb beast,” she said and stuck out her tongue.

           “See you.” Lexi then flew away leaving the bear to roar its anger.

           Here she was yet again in the sky looking for a place to do what she does the best. She needed to find a place where no one would bother her.

           Geez!

           First it was a hawk. Then a shitty seagull and then a stupid bear had to bother her. That, bear thought he owned the cave or something. Did these animals, not know that faeries could go wherever they wished? Next time she had to teach them a lesson.

           She zoomed past the trees and other plants and came upon a small pond that had become smaller in this heatwave.

           Lexi hovered for a moment. She saw someone down there near the edge of the pond. She knew that person. She dove down in their direction, fast. Just as she was almost upon the figure, she called out their name.

           “Livia,” Lexi shouted as the girl turned the faerie created a large burst of flame which knocked the girl into the pond.

           The fire faerie laughed heartedly and skipped about.

           A splash of water soaked the fire faerie and Lexi was no longer laughing. The joke was returned on her.

           “Hello Livia. You got me good,” Lexi smiled at her friend.

           “Lexi. You scared me half to death with that stunt of yours,” Livia scolded.           She climbed out of the pond all wet and muddy.

           Livia channeled water from the pond and washed away the mud. Then she used the warm air to dry her off. She shook her blue hair out and droplets sprayed about and gathered, together to fall into the pond.

           Livia gave her friend a hard stare. Every time Lexi made an appearance, trouble always followed behind her. What was the problem this time? Livia would find out. Lexi always had a story to tell. No matter how crazy it sounded, it was the truth.

           “What kind of mischief are you up to now, Lexi?” Livia asked.

           Lexi screwed up her face.

           “None! I never cause trouble,” Lexi said insulted by the comment.

           Her fists rested on her hips and she leaned forward.

           “You do your fair share of trouble too, Livia,” the fire faerie pointed out.

           Livia rolled her aqua eyes.

           “Pul-eassse, Miss needs instant gratification,” the water faerie retorted.

           “Blah, blah,” Lexi spat.

           She spun around and posed. She then told her friend the story of her adventure until they met up.

           Livia did not like the sound of this story. Lexi did have a temper, come to think of it.

           Lexi suddenly flittered over the pond. Her bare toes touched the water and she moved about its surface as if skating. She spun and jumped about like a dancer.

           There were moments that you needed to have fun. What would life be without it? A whole lot of boredom. Cannot have that, now can we.

           “Come on Livia. Join me. Let us have some fun in the sun,” Lexi urged the other faerie on.

           Livia smiled. The fire faerie did know how to have fun. For all her faults. She could be a joy to be with. It was always an adventure.

           The water faerie decided to join her friend. She skated out onto the pond’s surface. She felt exhilarated and laughed along with the other faerie.

           Both faeries danced and twirled about with such joy in their hearts. Together they held hands and danced on the water or in the air. Wings glittered brightly. Lexi’s were of orange, reds, and yellow blended with spiral patterns.

           Just as Livia’s were patterned in blues, green, and aqua colours that merged and created other tints and shades.

           They spun each other around and giggled. Lexi caused little sparks to glow that dispersed quickly.

           While Livia made water bubbles that splashed like fireworks.

           They used their magic in light displays that lit up the whole area with wonderous colour arrays.

           Lexi hugged her friend tightly.

           “I miss you so much when you are gone, Livia,” Lexi spilled her heart out. “Let us fly,” Lexi finished cheerfully.

           The two faeries flew up into the sky. They went high and looked down upon the pond. It looked so small from this height.

           Then they dropped. They flew fast. So fast they left tracer glows in their wake. They held hands again and skimmed along the pond’s surface. Water splashed in a line.

           They shouted and hollered their joy and laughter some more. They loved each other as friends do and played around when they could.

           “Come on this way,” Lexi urged as they flew further into the woods.

           They weaved between and around trees until they ended up in another grove.

           Lexi motioned quietly to hide behind a tree stump. They watched other faeries flitter about in a boring manner using their magic on flowers to keep them fresh and alive.

           Livia had a suspicion that Lexi wanted to pull some pranks on these faeries.

           Here we go, she thought,

           Sometimes the pranks were funny and enjoyable and other times not that fun and maybe a little dangerous. It all depended on her friend’s mood.

           She seemed giggly. Which meant she was more on the harmless side of things. This was a good sign.

           Lexi pointed into the canopy of trees and wiggled her fingers. A rain of leaves fell upon the faerie taking care of the flowers.

           Livia giggled with her hand over mouth. Then Lexi pointed and made motions with her hands. At first, Livia did not know what Lexi was trying to explain. Then it hit her.

           Livia used her magic and a mist like rain of water came down on the faerie. She looked about in confusion. There were no rain clouds about. It was a sunny day after all.

           Lexi giggled too noisily, and they were found out.

           The faerie looked over and glared. Lexi and Livia flew up into the trees. They startled a fellow sprite that fell from a branch, but their wings spread wide to stop the fall. The sprite waved their fist after the two girls. There were some vulgar words to go along with it.

           The two girls giggled so hard that they almost lost momentum and would have fallen if not for having wings. They hide in then canopy of leaves for a time then left the area to find something else to do.

           “I am so glad we are best friends,” Lexi laughed out loudly. “You are the best, ever and so much fun to be around. You even listen to my weird stories, too,” Lexi praised her friend.

           “You are a great friend, Lexi and I love you with all my heart, even though you are impulsive and rash,” Livia agreed and pointed out her friend’s behavior.

           Lexi grinned and her eyes briefly flamed. That was never a good sign. The water faerie wondered what was going on in the girl’s mind right now.

           “Hey, Livia. You know of a nice quiet place where I could meditate for a little while?” the fire faerie asked.

           Livia nodded.

           “Follow me. It is a great spot where no one ever goes,” Livia said and took off into the air. Lexi followed close behind.

           They zoomed along the mountainous region for a long while until they came upon a cascading waterfall that came right out of the mountain side.

           They went to take a closer look. This place was spectacular. Lexi loved it. This was the perfect spot to do her thing.

           Lexi then went up toward where the falls came out of the rock face. She peered into the dark cavern like exit. She turned to her friend.

           “Livia. There is a glowing light within,” the fire faerie said.

           Livia joined her and looked in. She was right. There was a glow within.

           “Let us check it out,” Lexi said and grabbed her friend’s hand and dragged her along.

           They flew in and looked around. It was large inside. Huge even.

           The two girls were excited that they found out something new. Iridescent mushrooms grew here. They gave off a soft bluish glow.

           There was the river tunnel and there were more tunnels. Lexi wanted to go exploring right away.

           “We have to explore this place,” Lexi said in excitement.

           They went in a little further. Livia was not too sure about this.

           Lexi stopped short and listened. She thought she had heard something. She was correct as dark figures revealed themselves to the girls.

           “Livia. There are dark faeries here,” Lexi said in warning. Livia froze in fear. Those Sidhe were dangerous. They used shadow magic.

           Lexi watched them carefully, as did Livia.

           The shadow like faeries moved about like wraiths. Their wings looked to flutter in slow motion as shadowy mists sprayed away from them. What a strange kind of marvel they were. The dark faeries had a shimmer to them.

           “Hello! My name is Lexi. Pleased to meet you, I… guess,” she stumbled on her own words.

           “Lexi. I think we should leave, now,” Livia said out the side of her mouth.

           “I think you might be right about that,” Lexi said back from the side of her mouth.

           Livia screamed. Two of the dark faeries had grabbed her and were draining her magic from her.

           Two others tried to attack Lexi and she raised her hands up. Fireballs shot out and hit the dark faeries. They screeched as the flames ate away at them.

           “Let her be!” Lexi yelled and unleashed flames upon them. They burned up and disappeared. Livia fell into the river and was swept away.

           Lexi gasped and flew after her friend. She was closing in when Livia then went over the falls. Lexi focused and shot downward like an arrow. She grabbed her friend out of the water. The faerie leveled off and skimmed along the surface of the water before they crashed in the grassy woods.

           Lexi laid there a moment panting before she jumped back up to check on her friend.

           “Livia. You alright?” Lexi said in a panic. She began to shake the other faerie.

           Livia coughed and spat out water. She nodded.

           “I think so,” she replied weakly. “They were draining my magic and my life force,” Livia said. Lexi was silent for a long while. She was going over what her friend had just said. Her demeanor had changed. Sullen, but there was an inner flaming rage that burned under the surface.

           “Wait here. I will be right back,” Lexi said in a monotone. She had a blank stare in her eyes.

           Before Livia could stop her, Lexi flew up into the air, leaving a trail of flame behind.

           The fire faerie went back into the cavernous river. She was going to teach these dark faeries a lesson.

           “Hey dark faeries. Where are you? Let us settle this here and now,” Lexi yelled out. She had a calming rage that was slowly brewing to the edge. Her anger was something she always had to control. Her magic was too destructive not to. She could feel its hunger. It writhed within her and wanted out. To feed upon her enemies.

           Then they appeared in front of her. Lexi smirked. She was going to have some fun with them.

           She shot out two fireballs from her hands. Two of the dark faeries dispersed in an echo of pain.

           The others threw shadowy spears and Lexi brought up a flaming shield. The weapons were consumed by fire.

           Lexi smiled and fiery blades appeared in her hands. She moved with such speed that she became a whirlwind of destructive flame among them.

           She leaped and spun with kicks and swings. Wherever there was an impact flames consumed, and the dark faeries died and became ash.

           Lexi’s acrobatic skills were amazing… needless to say. Just like a faerie to be able to defy gravity and the laws of physics, in order, to move like she was on stable ground.

           Her twin blades of flames sliced through everything in her way. After cutting a swath, she did a pose in midair.

           “Ninja,” she whispered.

           She has been on this earth for an extremely long time and has studied everything she could about the humans and their cultures. Alias, their technology was cool, but nothing that she could do with magic. Weapons of war were powerful, but not like magic. If magic was not balanced, then the universe itself would unravel. So, she was going to balance things out again.

           More dark faeries appeared. Lexi smirked. She nodded and a multitude of fireballs appeared surrounding her.

           “Let us do this, huh. Say hello to my little friends, Yoh!” she cackled.

           She hip-checked a fireball and it took out one of the shadowy figures. She bounced another off her buttocks. It bounced off the cavern walls and dispersed a few more figures. Lexi became a blur of motion as she zoomed about slaying the enemy. She would elbow hit the fireballs yelling - Hiya!

           She would kick and knee fire everywhere. It was like a sport to her, and she scored every time.

           She dropped kicked a dark faerie.

           “This is my house now, bitches,” she said as a war cry.

           She was a force of nature that incinerated everything in her path. When she was finished, she stood there in a pose like a warrior.

           “I Samurai,” she joked.

           Lexi then went down another tunnel and came to a large cavern full of rot and decay. The life had been drained here. She knew how much closer to the main body she was now.

           More shadow like dark faeries appeared out of the shadows. Their magic was the shadows. Their weapon.

           This was going to be fun. They sent their shadowed power at her.

           Lexi’s wings ignited into flames and she flew right through the center of them. Those shadow faeries were scattered. There was a line of flame that was left behind. It burned and separated them into two groups.

           Lexi smirked. She put her hands together. As the dark faeries went to attack. She separated her arms out. The flames went woosh and burned the rest to ash. Everything in the whole cavern was destroyed.

           She then went down another passage and killed however many of the dark faeries that appeared. She had a sense as to where to go and she went. She would make them all pay.

           She stuck out her hands in a part fist with just her pointer fingers out and her thumbs.

           “Howdy partners. The sheriff is in town. It is high noon and time to die,” she made her best cowboy impression and started to shoot flaming bullets.

           “Phew! Phew! Die scoundrel. There is a new law this here parts,” she exaggerated and winked her eye.

           When done, she blew smoke from her fingers and pretended to spin her guns around and holster them.

           She found more passages and caverned rooms. She burned them all. She fought with determination. She brought fire to everything. Even her wings sliced through the dark faeries. She fought like a warrior.

           “I am a warrior,” she sang out with her fist in the air.

           She came up what she suspected to be the last one until she met who Lexi thought was in the next cavern.

           There were so many to fight and fight she would. All of them. Lexi burst into the cavern. She hovered for a moment as large dark faerie guards came at her. She formed two spears of fire and threw them, slaying the guards.

           Lexi landed on the ground and walked slowly toward the dark faerie queen who sat upon a throne of faerie skulls.

           “What is up, bitch queen?” Lexi said with a nasty grin. Her freckles even burned and glowed bright.

           “Welcome little fire faerie,” the queen said in a dark hallowed toned. “Now, I will show you true power, you little wretch,” the queen laughed.

           Tendrils of darkness came out from every part of the cavern and wrapped themselves around Lexi. They engulfed her and choked the breath out of her.

           The dark faerie queen cackled in laughter.

           “Your puny flames cannot work here against my magic,”

           A fury drove itself up through Lexi. A white-hot rage that refused to be stopped. Lexi’s eyes flamed. She fought through the darkness as the shadowy shape tried to tear her apart. A scream tore out of her throat.

           Anger, rage, fury exploded from her. She burst from the darkness. A fiery pillar of maddening hatred.

           Lexi grabbed the dark faerie queen by the throat and squeezed. The look of shock and awe was plain on the queen’s darkened features.

           Lexi’s fiery orbs gazed into the endarkened faerie queen’s black pits.

           “This is the end for you, bitch,” Lexi snarled. A roar of rage resounded. There was an explosion of flames that consumed the cavern and the rest of the passages to the river and beyond.

           The flames blew out of the entrance of the waterfall. Livia watched as the flames escaped the river cave. The waterfall rapidly slowed to a trickle and then there was so much steam that shot out. Nothing survived the fire faerie’s fury. These dark faeries would no longer poison the lands of this area.

           Then there was a sound rumbling from the cavern. It grew louder until the river once again burst out to continue its decent.

           Then Lexi was there hovering in the air all embraced by flames. She descended slowly toward her friend. The flames dispersed and soon the two faerie girls were hugging.

           “No one will ever hurt you again,” Lexi cried. She went to her knees and sobbed as the realization hit her. The terrible things she had done.

           An understanding hit her also. No one ever came here, because if they did, they never returned.

           “What happened, Lexi?” Livia asked in concern. Livia held her friend and rocked her back and forth.

           “I burned them all. I killed all the dark faeries. Even their queen,” Lexi muffled into her friend’s shoulder.

           Livia stilled at this revelation. It was difficult to believe. Lexi was never violent, ever.

           “They hurt you and they had to be stopped.,” Lexi said and wiped her tears away.

           “Thank you,” was all Livia could think of to say. She was grateful to be alive and if not for the fire faerie those dark faeries would have hunted them down at any rate. They had a taste of another faerie’s life force. Those dark creatures would stop at nothing for more.

           “I am good now. Let us go,” Lexi said abruptly and grabbed her friend’s hand. They flew away from the area. Lexi knew she could never go back there after what had happened. So, she must find a new place to meditate.

           Livia was a little confused at first of Lexi’s sudden change in behavior. It was like nothing of the incident had happened.

           “You know of another place, a peaceful place to meditate?” Lexi asked.

           Livia nodded and took the led.

           “Follow me,” she replied.

           They sped through the air to a glade upon a small knoll. Lexi clapped her hands in excitement. She squealed in joy.

           “Thank you, Livia. I love you,” she said happily and gave her friend a hug and kiss on the cheek.

           “You are welcome,” Livia giggled. My, how faeries moods change.

           Lexi sat down on top of the knoll cross-legged and closed her eyes. Livia sat by and watched.

           Night was closing in as the sun went down. Not long after night came that Lexi suddenly opened her eyes and startled Livia.

           Lexi grinned mischievously. She stood up. She spun around her arms and wings spread wide.

           “I just came up with an idea. I will do a fire dance. That will clear my head. Want to dance with me?” Lexi asked. Her excitement was overflowing as she jumped about like a little child.

           Livia thought it was the craziest thing she had ever heard of. There was no way the water faerie would let her friend do such a thing.

           “Ah, Lexi! That might not be such a wise idea. It is too dry of…” Livia stopped in mid sentence as her mouth gaped open.

           Lexi had made a fiery ring around herself. She waved her arms about above her head. Her hips moved in a seductive fashion. Her legs spread apart as she whipped her hair in a circular motion.

           Lexi skipped outside of the circle of fire and danced about wildly. Livia used her magic and put water on the flaming ring to douse it.

           The water faerie sighed. She looked around and Lexi was gone.

           Oh, no! Where did she go? Livia thought worriedly.

           She zoomed into the forest after her friend. She looked about everywhere and still could not find her.

           Then she heard something not too far off. Livia went to check it out. What she saw gave her pause. She could not believe what she was seeing.

           Lexi had made a fire image of herself and was dancing with it. It looked just like her friend, but it was fire. They twirled and dipped one another. The fire self of Lexi seemed to have a life of its own. Livia did not like this. She was worried about her friend.

           Lexi looked over at her and waved to her open mouthed. Livia kind of waved back then shook her head. What was she doing? Livia had to put a stop to this nonsense.

           She marched right over to Lexi. She was going to give the other faerie a piece of her mind.

           Lexi moved away from her fire self and grabbed Livia and they began to dance together.

           “This is great, Livia. We get to dance under the moonlight in the woods. Have no worries. I have perfect control over my flames,” Lexi bragged. She had a brightness in her eyes. She pulled away and flew to the nearest branch.

           “Come on Livia,” Lexi called to her friend. The fire flew through the woods away from this area. Livia looked to the fire Lexi who followed. Livia gasped and went after them.

           They ended up in another grove. Lexi continued to dance in circles, and she had a fire stick. She was spinning it around and throwing it in the air. She caught it every time. Then she dispersed the stick made of fire and began to dance with her fire image again.

           Livia did her best to interrupt them, but Lexi seemed to be off in her own world.

           Then little fires started to break out and Livia would put them out. She would turn around and there were more. She would put them out also. Then turn back to where the first fires were and must put out more. Then there were more.

           “Damnit, Lexi. Stop playing with fire,” Livia griped to herself. It did sound odd saying what she said when talking about a fire faerie.

           Who cares! Lexi is being so irresponsible, Livia thought to herself.

           Lexi was gone but her fire image self was starting to light a tree on fire. The water faerie drenched the whole area. That weird fire was out at last. Livia fluttered her wings and chased after her friend yet again. She raced past the trees and then was blocked by a wall of flames.

           What the… Livia paused in her thought.

           Wait!

           It was far worse than she thought. She looked all about. She saw Lexi in the distance dancing with herself. The flames had spread all over. What was small little douse fires was now a forest fire. Livia got busy spraying water everywhere. She worked her magic like she never has before.

           For what fires she put out it just spread further, and she could not keep up. It reached a point that she had to abandon the effort.

           She coughed and choked. The smoke got so thick that it was hard to see anything. Never mind the heat which just added to the already hot dry days. These fires were out of control and it was because of her best friend.

           Tears stung her eyes as she tried to fly away. She decided to fly up out of the forests, but the flames had spread above her. Embers and ash fell upon her and burned her skin. Livia screamed in pain. She fell to the ground hard. The suffocating smoke choked the air from her lungs. She coughed taking deep gulping breaths.

           “Lexi, help,” she shouted loud as she could. The flames were getting closer to her. Panic had its fearful grip upon the water faerie. She grew dizzy and her eyes blurred.

           Something grabbed her.

           “Hey Livia. Why did you leave my side? It is dangerous here with the flames,” Lexi said suddenly in her face.

           “No shit, Lexi,” Livia yelled back over the roar of the flames. “I thought you said you had total control over your flames. You could have fooled me.”

           Lexi looked at her friend dumb founded. She raised an eyebrow.

           “Of course, I do,” Lexi said and snapped her fingers.

           Instantly the flames went out and the woods were a charred smoking mess.

           Livia’s mouth dropped open in awe. Then she gritted her teeth in anger.

           “You could have put out the fires all along?” Livia said angrily.

           Then a wave of water crashed into Lexi. It knocked the fire faerie on her ass, and she sputtered.

           “What was that for?” Lexi asked.

           “What? Why you…” Livia then screamed and walked away.

           “Hey, wait up,” Lexi called and chased after the water faerie.

           Lexi kept talking about how cool the fire dance had been.

           “Oh, shut up,” Livia yelled back.

           The power of friendship. There is nothing like it.