Book 1

Here is the complete book 1. I must say there are probably many typos so if something doesn't make sense its probably a typo... if you see a typo that's really a big deal and can effect the story notify me. Also, it might be in a weird format since I had some difficulties typing it up on word- which was where I originally wrote the story (word)- and I am copying and pasting this version from word. Thanks. Here it is.

Quest For The Shadow

Chapter one- early years
Fira

I looked into my mothers beautiful light blue eyes. Her fur tickled me. It was soft and her arms were comforting. She cradled me and sat on a cloud outside the castle. I stared wide-eyed at the kingdom.
“Do you see that, Fira?” My mama cooed.
“Ya, mama” I replied.
“That’s misty mountains, our kingdom.”
“Pwetty…” I reached out toward the sky as if trying to grasp the kingdom.
“It is beautiful isn’t it…” She looked down at me with a smile.
“Do you know how beautiful you are Fira?” I looked back at her and closed my eyes. I had suddenly become very tired. “You’ll make a great queen someday.” She ruffled my fur and gave me a light kiss as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter two Part 1- Before Shade disappeared
Shade


I groaned as I was woken up from my slumber. I glanced around the room to find the source of whatever had woken me. I saw nothing. But within the darkness, I heard a voice…
“Shade…” The voice was raspy and didn’t sound good. “Shade…. Come here shade…….” I lifted my head up to gaze around but still, I saw nothing.
“Who’s there?”
“Follow me, Shade.” I saw the door to my room open. I was strong and brave and if this thing was in my kingdom it is my job to figure out what it wants. I slowly crept out of bed and lingered out the door. I turned on the lights to see it standing in front of me. A shadow fairy.
I gasped.
“Oh shade im so happy you recognize me.” It mocked me, “A shadow fairy, yes, aren’t you amazed?” It cackled.
“What are you here for and how did you enter? Shadow fairies are forbidden from my castle, it is impossible for you to enter!”
“But I did enter, Shade, does that not mean that it is indeed possible?” It grinned mischievously.
“What do you want with me?”
“Oh, nothing shade. I want absolutely nothing with you. But I do want your kingdom…” I swung my sword at it and it disintegrated and appeared behind me. I whirled around to find myself in its grasp.
“Give Misty Mountains to me Shade. Or I’ll--”
“—What? What will you do? I will never give you misty mountains!”
“Be that way, Shade. But mark my words. You will never speak of us to anyone. And you will surrender part of your kingdom for us to live in. And, most importantly, if you disobey any of these orders you will suffer the wrath Shade. Do not be fooled. We will kill your family and destroy your kingdom.” And at that word it burst into dust and disappeared.
At that moment I knew it was gone. And worst of all, it was telling the truth.

Chapter two part two: Before Shade Disappeared
Shade

I sat in my throne holding the map of the kingdom in my paws. I stared down at it trying to decide what part of the kingdom I should surrender to the shadow fairies. The village wouldn’t work because that’s where the people lived. The gardens wouldn’t work because that’s where we get our food. The lakes wouldn’t work because-well-there lakes… you can’t live there. Where was I going to put the shadows? I groaned. I was stressing about this. I heard light footsteps. I looked up to see my beautiful wife Nix. I smiled. She walked with grace and her white fur was beautiful under the dim light. She came up by my side.
“What are you up to?” She gave me a light kiss on the cheek.
“Nothing…. I…. I’m just studying the city map.”
“Ok…” She agreed but I could tell by her voice that she didn’t believe me.
“Nix, If we were to…. Uh… surrender part of our kingdom. As in part of our land. What… what part should we surrender?”
“Why would we surrender part of our kingdom?” She said calmly but I could hear the confusion and anger in her voice. She was such a kind person, never getting truly angry at anything.
“Well I just thought that…. Uh… the forest animals needed more space. And… uh… it wouldn’t hurt our kingdom right… and so that way we umm…”
“Shade, I know your hiding something. Shade. Tell me. Please.” I began to feel guilt for hiding something from her. But it was for her own good. I didn’t want her to die.
“I can’t tell you. I’m sorry. You wouldn’t understand. I just I can’t and…” I couldn’t continue talking because there was a lump in my throat. She looked at me with a look of anger and stomped out of the room. Before she left she turned around for her last word.
“Shade, and for your question. Surrender the dump.” And with that she slammed the door and flew off. The dump? Yes! The dump! Its not like its ever really used, considering it’s a dump. And years ago we actually used it but we began to magically make our trash disappear. So now it just sits and smells with trash that has been stinking for years. The perfect place to store the shadows.
~~
I leapt through the hallway proud of my decision. I wasn’t going to hurt my kingdom. As I strode the hallway I stopped in my tracks to come face to face with the shadow fairy from the night before. Had I done something wrong? Why was he back? His eyes burned with anger.
“The DUMP! We deserve more. A palace! A castle! Lakes, rivers, mountains! Everything! You have made the wrong decision Shade. The wrong decision. You will be cursed Shade!” It shifted from its fairy form and became a small swirling tornado of shadows and dirt. It swirled around me as I lost my consciousness.
~Shade was cursed to become a shadow fairy and be evil for eternity. He ran from the kingdom and before leaving turned to Dorn and told him he was leaving to find a better place. He then disappeared from the kingdom and was never seen after that. At least not yet.~

Chapter three: Secrets
Dorn

The king and I had always known one-another extremely well. I was the lead palace guard and he trusted me more than anyone in the whole kingdom, and I trusted him back. He was a great king. The people of Misty loved him. I loved him too. He was the greatest friend I had ever had. But one day that all changed.

I was guarding the gates to the entrance to the kingdom. I stood straight and tall, strong and confident. I hadn’t seen the king for days, which was odd, considering he usually came down to talk with me often. I heard footsteps behind me. I swerved around to see the king behind me. But he was different. His wings were shredded up on the edges and he was wearing a black cloak that shaded his face.
“Shade?” I questioned, “What happened?” He looked at me with a look of evil and anger.
“Nothing, Dorn.” He gave me an evil grin, “I am leaving to find a better place. A place where I can live to my wants and needs. A place where I can build up power. But you musn’t tell anyone Dorn.” He laughed and with that word he flew past me and disappeared from the kingdom.
I suddenly knew what had happened. The black beaded eyes, the look of evil, the evil grin. I had only ever seen those before on a shadow fairy. Something had happened to Shade. And it wasn’t good.
But I had to keep this a secret- Shade was a shadow fairy.
Chapter four- (present time) Smoke
Fira
Warning: GORY/GRUESOME

“Mother!” I screamed. We had just been talking a moment ago and now she was lying on the ground moaning and groaning and holding her stomach. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and so now they just looked white. Blood was slowly seeping out of her mouth. I had no idea what had happened. She had suddenly fallen off her chair and started flailing around. She screamed. It was as if an invisible force was trying to kill her.
I cried. “Mother!” I screamed, “What happened! Mother! Mother!” She looked up at me with a look of agony.
“Fira… I…I…” Her voice was weak and I could tell she was having a hard time talking.
“Mother!” I cried. My face in my hands. I felt helpless. What was I supposed to do? Suddenly I looked up. There was black smoke circling my mother.
“No! Mother! W-whats happening!?” I screamed between sobs. The smoke circled her faster and faster and soon it filled the whole room and I couldn’t see anything. “Mother!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed. The smoke subsided and I was all alone in my room. She was gone. And I had no idea where she had gone. I put my face in my hands and cried.

Chapter five- Friends

Nia

“Fira, calm down. I know this is overwhelming but crying won’t help anything.” I soothed her.
“But-Nia…” She muttered between sobs, “She- she’s gone. I don’t have any more family. I have to find her. I just have to. I just…” She began to sob and she held her face in her hands. I reached out my hand and set it on her shoulder.
“I am your family.” I assured her. She looked back at me. A look of friendship in her eyes. She sniffled and took a deep breath.
“Ok, Nia, you got any ideas?” We haven’t got much to go on. Actually, we have pretty much nothing to go on. Her mother disappeared within a minute and left no trace of who took her. But I had a feeling it was time to talk to the guard. We had always thought he was suspicious, and was hiding something. He was always so quiet, and he hid in the shadows. But I had a feeling he was the one we needed to ask.
“That guard… what’s his name…”
“Dorn.” She informed me.
“Oh, yes. Well I think its time we learn what he’s up to.” She nodded and grinned. We both stood up and began to fly towards the kingdom border.

Authors Note:
Dorn and Shatter enter in the next chapter!!!

Chapter Six- The Guard

Fira

The fast wind felt good on my face after all the crying I’d done. It dried my tears and made me feel a little better. I looked over at Nia. Her beautiful yellow wings where, well, beautiful, and her long blond hair blew behind her. Sometimes it seemed to me like me and Nia where the same person, in different elements. We both had long flowing hair, except mine was strawberry blonde and hers was blonde. We where about the same height. I guess it wasn’t very noticeable, but for some reason it seemed like we were very alike.
We reached that palace gates and I could see Dorn standing in the shadow of a tree, ready to burst out if anyone where to intrude. But I had a feeling that wasn’t the reason he hides. He heard our wings and swirled around. It was so quick and graceful that I stopped in my tracks for a minute but then continued flying. We both landed near him. He looked at us suspiciously.
“What are you two girls doing? No leaving the kingdom without a royals’ permission.”
“We aren’t leaving the kingdom.” Said Nia, “And besides, Fira is a royal”
“Princess?” Dorn said, apparently surprised, “I haven’t seen you since…” He drifted off, “Oh nevermind.” I was going to ask him what he was about to say but I decided against it. “What do you two girls want anyway?” He questioned.
“Some answers” Said Nia. He looked confused.
“About my mother.” I said.
“Well I’m sorry girls but I haven’t talked to your mother for years.”
“Give it up Dorn!” I almost started crying and a lump formed in my throat. I heard hissing from behind Dorn’s legs and a purple fox came out from behind his legs. She was wearing a black cloak but her face was showing and I could see her purple fur. Her fur was a little shaggy and she wore a black and white amulet necklace. She had a look of anger in her eyes. She hissed some more and slinked up to me. She opened her mouth and I saw her glistening white teeth. I thought I was going to die. But dorn grabbed a chunk of her fur and pulled her away.
“Shatter, snap out of it! Not now!” He ordered. The fox immediately looked at me with a terrified look in her eyes and turned around and hid behind Dorn’s legs, shaking.
“My apologies. That is shatter. She has had some negative things happen to her in her lifetime and it hasn’t made a good impression on her. Forgive her. She can’t help being aggressive.” I nodded, still a little frightened.
“My mother disappeared last night. Smoke, blood, the whites of her eyes. Everything. It was horrible. And we think you might know something.” I bursted out. He looked terrified, but he also looked like he knew something.
“Listen closely” We both leaned in. “I am telling this for your mother’s sake. She is in more danger then you realize”

Chapter Seven- Shadows
Fira
I leaned in, ready to hear the worst. “Fira, do you know anything about your father?” It took some time for my mind to register the question. I had no idea any of this had to do with my father.
“No… not really… I mean… well… No…” I stuttered. He lowered his head.
“Your father was the best man I ever met. Everyone loved him. He was so kind, so wise, so gentle. Yet strong and courageous. The type of fairy everyone loves.” He took a deep breath. “He was a fire fairy like you, Fira. But one day- he disappeared. Nobody knew where he went. I didn’t either. But he told me something when he left.” He looked frightened as he looked into our eyes. “All I can tell you is that your father has become a shadow fairy. I am almost positive of that. And I am guessing that he has taken your mother. Something went wrong that day that I don’t know of. Something changed Shade. But Fira…” He looked straight into my eyes, “You Should hunt down your father. And I am coming with you.” Shatter crawled out from behind Dorn’s legs and looked straight into my eyes. She was not a fairy. Just a normal fox. She was just like all of us, but had no wings. I was skeptical on if we should bring her. It would make it much harder for us to travel if we had to stay on foot. Dorn must have known what I was thinking because he informed me,
“Don’t worry. I can carry shatter.” I nodded.
“Alright then. Where are we headed?” Asked Nia.
“To the forest.” Said Dorn, “To talk to some nature fairies.” We both nodded and Nia grinned. She looked at me. I knew what we were both thinking. Why in the world are we going to talk to nature fairies?

Chapter Eight- Nature

Dorn

As we flew into the clearing of the forest I immediately saw Shala, the nature spirit. Beautiful as always. Her blonde fur was messy but she looked strong and graceful. She looked up at me, her green eyes softened when she saw me. We had always been friends. I was an ice fairy, she was a nature fairy. But all the same we were great friends.
She waved and I flew down and landed beside her.
“Hello there. I haven’t seen you in a while. Where have you been?” She teased.
“Oh, you know. Places to go. Things to do.” I looked over and Fira and Nia both simultaneously rolled their eyes at me. I looked back at Shala. She had a disappointed look in her eyes, and after a few awkward moments of silence, she gladly changed the subject.
“Well I know you wouldn’t be coming with these two for no reason…” She gestured towards Fira and Nia, “So whats up?” I smiled. She is just so clever.
“Well, something has happened…” I set shatter down and pulled her aside.
“You knew the queen, right?” I whispered.
“Well yes. Of course.” She whispered back.
“Shes gone missing…”
“WHAT!?”
“Ssssshhhhhhh!”
“Sorry…. Go on…”
“Well im almost positive that her disappearance has to do with her husband…”
“Shade? The king?”
“Yes, the former king. There is no king at the moment. And now there is no queen either…”
“Well what are we supposed to do? Shade disappeared a long time ago… how do we even know he’s alive?”
“We don’t. But if my guess is right…. And he’s the one who took the queen… then he has to be alive… somewhere where nobody is likely to find him.” She nodded and walked towards the girls. I followed.
“Girls im so sorry to hear what’s happened…” Fira cut her off,
“… Thanks. But before we say anything else can you please explain to me whats going on?” Fira snapped. Shala looked

Chapter Nine- Opal

Shala


Fira reminded me of myself. Snippy yet kind attitude, with determination and wisdom. I didn’t mind her cutting me off, even though someone in their right mind would. I admired her for it. But I also knew she was currently an orphan. And she didn’t want it to stay that way.
“Girls, I don’t know much about Shade. I barely ever met him… But there have been some weird things happening in this forest. Animals disappearing, trees on fire, destroyed land. And if you’re telling me there’s a shadow fairy here then I can believe it. But I’m afraid I can’t come with you. I have my own things to do. Keep things in order. Well, if I can that is. Anyway, I think theres someone you should bring along with you…” Opal. A princess of the Moon Mountains Kingdom. She was powerful and kind. Wise and quick. Smart and resourceful. She would help them greatly on their quest. But that wasn’t the reason I wanted Opal to join them. I wanted to help her more then I wanted to help them. Help her escape her Fiance to be. He was the worst fit for her and I knew how boys were. That’s why I made an oath never to flirt with boys. Ever. (she’s based off of the greek goddess Artemis so if you know who Artemis is you can see where I got that Idea from…) So I thought of it as my job to help Opal. And this was my chance. I continued talking,
“Opal. Princess of a neighboring kingdom. Not much far from here. Its full of mountains and hills. You’ll know it when you see it. I want you to find her and she will know you were coming. Now go. I must warn her you will be there.” I didn’t wait for their answer because if I left now they would go find her, even if they hadn’t wanted to. Because they wouldn’t want to betray her- or me.
I appeared in opal’s room. The palace was beautiful. Made of Marble and stone. It shone in the sunlight and when you walked around inside your steps echoed off the walls. I loved the palace. It was one of my favorite places.
Opal was lying on her bed, tears in her eyes, crying into her pillow. Her pale feathered wings were drooped around her and her fur was wet with tears.
“Opal” I whispered. “What happened?” She looked up and gave me a weak smile.
“Shala!” She ran over and burrowed against me. (they are foxes. Foxes with human personalities.) I set my head on hers and whispered.
“Are you okay?” She looked up at me, her eyes sad.
“Shala- he’s horrific! I cant stand it! He gives me speeches about what I am to do and about how I am supposed to act and he talks about what I have to go buy and where I have to get it from and what I have to do to the house and how I must prepare dinner. He lays around like a slob while I spend my day working like a slave. Shala he’s dreadful! How could papa do this to me!” She softly cried into my fur. Even though she didn’t tell me who ‘he’ was, I knew. It was her fiancé. He was worse then I thought.
“Ssshhh… calm down… everything will be better soon…” I cooed. She looked at me, scared.
“But how? Theres absolutely nothing I can do. I’m trapped here.”
“Someone will come Opal.” I stroked her fur, “People are coming”
“They are! Really! Thank you, Shala! But the wedding- its tomorrow. Theres not much time.”
“Well then we will just have to hope they come in time.” She looked into the distance, thinking.
“Opal- make sure to stay here as much as possible. Look out the window every so often. If you see them call for them. They will fly up and see you.” With that I vanished. Leaving only my words hanging in the air.

Chapter Ten- The search
Nia

I stared at Fira. Her hair blew in front of her face as she stared into the flames of the bonfire, eyes closed. She was soaking it in. Her element. It made her look so strong, healthy, powerful. Beautiful.
I always wondered what it was like having a different element then light. And element that wasn’t always around you. An element that wasn’t in the sky, engulfing you during the day. Light. I closed my eyes and drifted off the sleep, dreaming of being a fire fairy.
I woke up the Fira’s screams. Dorn and I both rushed toward her. Shatter was already there. She turned around and looked into our eyes, worried.
“Fira! Are you alright!” Dorn exclaimed.
“Im sorry- im having nightmares. And tonight was one of the worst.”
“What are they about?” I questioned.
“I don’t want to talk about it. All I can say is that I think they’re visions” Fira flew up and changed the subject, “Well lets get going! I think we are almost there. I can see the mountains and hills in the distance!”
We flew for hours and finally reached the gates to the kingdom. My mind raced. It was nothing like I had ever seen before.
Purple mountains and hills rose in the distance, and the whole kingdom had a river running through it. You could see that palace in the middle of it all, glowing with white marble. Fira looked at me.
“Its beautiful!”
“I know!”
We walked through the gates but someone called us.
“Girls what do you think you’re doing!?” We spun around to see a tall guard leaning over a sword. Fira took a sharp breath.
“I’m sorry. We were just coming for a visit and--” Fira was cut off.
“—Where do you visit from?
“My kingdom… Misty mountains…” The guard narrowed his eyes at her.
“And why do you think you have the right to come in our kingdom?”
“I am princess Fira of Misty Mountains.” The guard looked surprised.
“You may pass…” As we flew away he yelled back, “And don’t forget! Princess Opal’s wedding is about to happen!” We stopped in our tracks. Oh no! Where we too late? She couldn’t be getting married!
“Guys, Hurry!” Fira yelled as she speeded up and flew as fast as she could toward the palace. We got to the palace and rushed inside. It was buzzing with people. Almost everyone from the kingdom had come to see the wedding. There was a whole chapel set up in the lobby, and everyone was settling down excited to see the wedding. Luckily, there was no sight of the bride. Maybe we had time. Fira looked back at us.
“Guys, follow me.” We all flew with her over to a row of seats and sat down. She leaned over to the person sitting next to her and asked, “Excuse me, but do you know where the princess is?”
“Well I presume she’s getting ready. It’s her wedding day, you know!” The fox/fairy replied. Fira looked at me.
“I will go get her. We cant all go.” No. Fira cant. Theres no way. But I can…
“No Fira. I will go. I can turn invisible using the light. Its my element- my talent. I can do this.”
“Nia no…. these are my parents we are saving. I cant let you.”
“Fira, let me go. Please. I can do this.” She looked at me for a while and then finally gave in and nodded. I closed my eyes and made the light bend around me and turn me invisible. I looked at Fira and she put a thumbs up- she couldn’t see me. I lifted off and flew up the staircase, ready to rescue the princess.

Chapter Eleven- Escape

Opal


The whole room was hectic. Fairies flew around finding parts to my wedding dress and covering my face with unnecessary makeup- I was a fox, why do I need makeup? I felt restrained and uncomfortable in my big, itchy, puffy dress. I wanted to escape now. But I wasn’t sure if the people that Shala sent where going to make it in time.
Suddenly I felt something pulling my sleeve. I looked to my arm but saw nothing. But I was positive there was something pulling.
After a few moments I could see her. But as I looked around I noticed that nobody else seemed to notice her. She had long blonde hair and light skin. I could tell immediately that she was a light fairy. And most likely, she was currently invisible. But me, my powerful self, could see her, even though she was invisible to most.
“What are you doing?” I asked, hoping she was the one sent by Shala.
“Trying to get your attention…” She whispered, “Shala said you knew.” It was them! Or… her. I expected there to be more. But she was just in time. And as long as I was rescued from this then I was happy.
“I do know! But how are we going to make our escape? Someone would notice… they are all looking at me…”
“I’ll turn you invisible if your okay with that. I’m sure they will notice your gone but at least they wont know where you went…”
“Ok.” I agreed. I felt her bending the light around me. It sort of tingled and my wings felt light. But then suddenly the whole room seized to a stop. And all at once everyone started talking…..
“Where did she go… Princess!... Oh no!...... What are we going to do!!!... I’ll warn the prince… the wedding must continue…. Where is she!?” The whole room went into panic racing around and screaming, waving their hands in the air, and rushing downstairs. The light fairy lifted me off the ground and we flew out the window.
The air felt so nice after that hot room, but my dress was only half done and currently I was wearing a long white gown with a puffy sleeve on one shoulder and a big dome skirt. My face felt toxic, covered with all sorts of makeup. I wiped it off with my sleeve and my white sleeve became brown with makeup powder. We landed on the ground and I crumpled into a heap.
“Thank you” I coughed.
“It was nothing” She smiled and held out her paw, “Im Nia, by the way.” I shook her paw.
“Im opal.”
“Well I’d better go get my friends. Stay here. I’ll be right back.” She flew off into the forest. I huddled, trying to keep myself hidden. I waved my hand and my clothes changed into what I normally wear- a short white dress and long knee-high lace boots. (Sorry willow im not really sure what she normally wears, please tell me in the comments!)
After a few minutes I heard the faint flutter of wings and 3 fairies appeared, one holding a purple fox.
Nia was in the front, another fairy beside her. I could sense she was a royal. Her strawberry-blonde hair blew to her side and her large transparent wings- the color of fire- flapped as she neared me. She was a fire fairy.
The next fairy held a purple fox. He was tall with skin that looked almost white. He had silver like hair and sharp wings that flapped quickly. His eyes were gray and I knew immediately that he was an ice fairy. And he held a purple fox. I wasn’t sure about the purple fox. It wore a black cloak and an amulet and when my eyes met its eyes I sensed a feeling but I couldn’t put my finger on it. What was this fox?
A light fairy, a fire fairy, an ice fairy, and a purple fox. Weird. The fire fairy spoke first,
“Im Fira. This is Dorn,” she gestured toward the ice fairy, “And this is shatter” She gestured towards the purple fox.
“Nice to meet you” I replied. I couldn’t help myself from being polite. Its just how I was taught as I grew up. But I wished I wasn’t so perfect and princessey. Its how I was molded, but its not how I really was. My personality was more fierce and strong, not polite and girly. (Willow, Opal sort of reminds me of Willow (on aj) and so I am sort of basing her off of willow a little…).
“But why did you come help me?” I asked.
“Shala said you were the one helping us…” Fira replied.
“What?”
“She said you could help us find my mother…”
“She did… wait… whats going on?”
“My mother. Queen Nix of misty mountains. She disappeared a few days ago. And we are looking for her. We think that my father, Shade, a shadow fairy, took her.” I backed away from Fira.
“You’re father’s a… a… shadow fairy?” I was so surprised and confused. Fira lowered her head.
“No. He was once a powerful Fire fairy. But something happened. And he left, turned into a shadow fairy, and now he took my mother.”
“Does he live here?” I said. Suddenly realizing something…….
“Yes, we think he is hiding in this forest.”
“I know someone who might be able to help.”

Chapter Twelve- Blitz

Dorn


Opal told us who she thought might be able to help,
“Blitz. She’s a nature fairy. She lives in the central area of the forest down north. She has been having some weird things happening. Random smoke, darkening forest, disappearing animals, burnt spots, and piles of dust.” We all gasped, and I choked,
“A-a- shadow fairy.”
“Exactly.” Shala agreed, “This is why I think she can help. I know her too, and I think Opal’s right. She knows the most about what’s been happening and she can probably help you find him.” She looked at us with a worried look, “But I fear that you are in danger…” She opened her hand and a black amulet appeared, made of a piece of black crystal-very rare. She pressed it into Fira’s paw and pressed her paw around it.
“Fira, wear this around your neck at all times from now on,” she told Fira, “It will protect you.” She smiled and then waved goodbye to all of us. “You will most likely find Blitz in a tree. She also loves to fly, so look in the sky! Goodbye!” We all waved goodbye and tears filled my eyes and she disappeared. I hoped I would see her again soon. I picked up Shatter and held her in my arms, we all began to rise off the ground and soon we were all flying above the trees.
Opal stared wide-eyed at her surroundings. “The wind feels so nice on my face. I haven’t been outside at all since I got engaged.” She closed her eyes and let the wind blow her cream-colored hair. She looked so happy.
“Your right.” Nia agreed, “It always feels so nice to fly so high.” Fira nodded.
“So do you guys know what exactly we are lookin--” She was cut off by a piercing scream somewhere in the forest near us.
“BLITZ!” Opal screamed. She dove down into the nearest clearing in the forest and we all followed. I could feel shatter growling. Her amulet was glowing red- for the first time her amulet was actually doing something! I gasped, it must have something to do with the scream we heard. I flew faster into the clearing, and couldn’t believe what I saw.
Shatter’s amulet began to shake, it glowed so bright that it was hard to look at and I turned my head away. Suddenly shatter spoke,
“Shadow Fairies…”

Chapter Thirteen- The amulet
Shatter


Something was not right. My amulet was glowing. But then as the amulet began to glow brighter, a feeling filled me. A feeling so odd that its too hard to explain. But I began to feel something, something I knew of. Shadow Fairies.
I shrieked the name. My eyes felt as if they were on fire as I watched blitz being engulfed by dark smoke seeping from cracks in the ground. I frowned. I couldn’t be happy. Especially not now. But why should I be happy? Life for me changed ever since I was cursed.
I snarled at the smoke. I hated shadow fairies the most out of all fairies. They weren’t just fairies. They were evil. And I was going to do anything to stop them, even if it meant saving a fairy.
I pounced into the smoke. I couldn’t see a thing. I growled at I proweled around in the thick smoke. I suddenly saw blitz, a nature fairy, coughing and laying on the ground. I should feel happy right now. A fairy is dying. Sick. Hurt. But for some reason im not. Im not happy. Im sad. It’s the first time I have been sad since I was cursed. Usually im just mad.
I don’t know why I was sad. But I looked down at my amulet and it began to glow brighter. The red of the amulet created a red clearing in the smoke. And soon it began to spread. The light spread farther and farther out from the amulet as the smoke was eaten away by the red light. Blitz stopped coughing as the smoke cleared away. I fainted.
When I woke up Dorn was there. I coughed and felt tired and out of energy.
“Shatter… did you see what just happened? Your amulet saved us.” I nodded, staring down at the mysterious amulet. I looked up and noticed that Shala was back. She was with those two fairies called Opal and Blitz. I suddenly realized that I wasn’t thinking meanly. What was happening to me?!
“Dorn… Something happened there. I don’t feel mad anymore.” He drew in a sharp breath.
“Do you really think……”
“…Yes.” I replied, “I think the curse is broken…”

Chapter Fourteen- The Castle

Blitz

My eyes felt like they were on fire. My hair fanned out around my head. I lay coughing on the ground, not really sure what had just happened. My wings were smoking and my leaf-dress was charred on the edges. I couldn’t see straight, but I could make out the figures of 5 fairies. As my vision started to clear I could look at them more closely. I recognized 2 of them- Opal and Shala.
When they saw that I was waking up they rushed over.
“Blitz!” Cried Opal. And that brought back a memory.
I sat in the tree, staring at the charred ground below me. Smoke was seeping out of the cracks in the bare ground. It billowed around the ground under the tree, and I held on tight to a branch on the tree, as if I was going to get pulled in. I stared around the forest, wondering if anyone could see me. I ducked closer into the shadows of the tree, receding away from the smoke. But before I got very far I felt someone grab my wings, and push me forward. As I fell from the branch into the smoke I screamed. The last thing I remembered before I went unconscious was the sound of Opal’s voice crying my name. “Blitz!”
“Are you okay?” Opal asked, jolting me back into reality. I nodded, too tired and surprised to speak. Shala came up from behind Opal. She whispered something into Opal’s ear and Opal took a few steps back as Shala talked to me.
“Im not sure what happened to you Blitz. But I think I have an idea to help.” She flew away into the forest. Opal came up again. I tried to smile, but it hurt to move. Opal set her hand on me.
“Its ok. I know your in pain. Just watch and listen.” She beckoned one of the other fairies over.
“Blitz, this is Nia.” Nia smiled but I could tell she was really worried. She had long blonde hair that was in a long braid down her back. She looked tired and her pale cream-colored fur was dirty. (I know that this doesn’t all add up- hair and fur and stuff- but just go along with it. They are sort of anthro foxes I guess). Her green eyes glittered but she looked tired. She is probably a light or air fairy.
Opal waved over another fairy. Another girl, probably about the same age as Nia. Her strawberry-blonde hair cascaded in wavy heaps over her back. Her fur was a light brown color, and she had stern dark blue eyes.
“This is Fira.” Informed Opal. Fira? That princess of the kingdom so far from here? What was she doing in the forest?
“I know your probably wondering why we’re here and whats happening. Well the thing is my mother disappeared. And we think its my fathers fault. You see, he was a fire fairy. But we have reason to believe he has turned into a shadow fairy. Its hard to explain- he disappeared so long ago. But Opal said that you might be able to help us- you might know some things about nearby shadows.” As she finished explaining, Shala came flying up to us. She held a leaf filled with some type of green liquid.
“This probably won’t taste good blitz but it will help you feel better and ease the pain.” Why was Shala helping me? We had never really liked each-other that much. I had always been a sort of rebel, living by myself and causing trouble. It irritated Shala and she had never really cared for me. I was afraid that she had done something bad to the green liquid. But I figured whatever it was would be better then feeling this pain. I nodded and she dipped the leaf in my lips and the green goop slided down my throat.
I suddenly felt very tired and drifted off to sleep, hearing the sounds of the forest around me.
When I woke up I felt much better. A tall male fairy was talking to opal by a nearby tree and I found myself propped up by a rough pillow on a tree stump. Opal heard noise and turned around to see me awake.
“Feeling better?”
“Much.” I replied.
“Good. Let me introduce you to someone else. This is Dorn.” She held out her hands and gestured toward the tall male fairy. He came up and leaned against a tree. He was very pale all around- pale hair, pale fur, pale eyes. Definetly an ice fairy.
“Hi. Im Blitz.”
“Dorn.” He nodded as he said his name. I suddenly felt something rumbling under my feet. Fira and Nia came rushing over with a purple fox running beside Nia.
“Guys, do you feel that?” Fira said.
“And it started to rumble right after shatter’s amulet began to glow!” Nia added. Shatter must have been the purple fox. She wore an amulet that was glowing red at the moment. When the rumbling began to feel more intense Opal yelled.
“Guys! Everyone get off the ground!” Nia grabbed shatter and her, Fira, Dorn, and Shala all flew up. Opal helped me to stand up and she gave me support as we both flew off the ground just in time. The ground caved in.

Chapter Fifteen- The Castle

Fira

The hole kept getting deeper and bigger. It spread through trees and trees fell into it. I wasn’t sure what was happening but I flew higher for safety. I could see that the hole was probably about 20 feet big now and it just kept getting bigger. For many long minutes we waited for the hole to stop getting bigger and deeper. It finally did but by that time it was about 100 feet each side. We were so high up and the hole looked like a huge black spot in the middle of a beautiful green forest. Nia almost flew down into it but I clutched her arm.
“Wait.” She looked up at me and nodded. We waited for something to happen.
“Fira, are you sure we shouldn’t go down into it, I mean it might be a—” A loud rumble from below us cut her off and we all stared down as a huge black mass began to rise from the hole. It rose and rose almost up to where we were and as it rose I knew it was a castle. A jet black, old castle. We heard a piercing scream and then the forest was silent and still. The castle stopped growing, the birds stopped chirping, even the trees seemed to stop their leaves from blowing. But within a few seconds it all went back to normal again. We all stared at the castle. Blitz was the first to speak up.
“The smoke, the cracks, the noises, the darkness. It all adds up. The Shadows are trying to rise.”
“Or the Shadow.” I muttered, reffering to my dad. Blitz looked confused but I waved the thought off.
“Now what do we do?” Asked Nia. But at that moment a thought came to me. A memory…
“Mother!” I screamed. We had just been talking a moment ago and now she was lying on the ground moaning and groaning and holding her stomach. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and so now they just looked white. Blood was slowly seeping out of her mouth. I had no idea what had happened. She had suddenly fallen off her chair and started flailing around. She screamed. It was as if an invisible force was trying to kill her.
I cried. “Mother!” I screamed, “What happened! Mother! Mother!” She looked up at me with a look of agony.
“Fira… I…I…” Her voice was weak and I could tell she was having a hard time talking.
“Mother!” I cried. My face in my hands. I felt helpless. What was I supposed to do? Suddenly I looked up. There was black smoke circling my mother.
“No! Mother! W-whats happening!?” I screamed between sobs. The smoke circled her faster and faster and soon it filled the whole room and I couldn’t see anything. “Mother!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed. The smoke subsided and I was all alone in my room. She was gone. And I had no idea where she had gone. I put my face in my hands and cried. (chapter 4)
The day my mother had disappeared. She had screamed when she fell. And the smoke- I suddenly knew something for sure. My mother was in this castle. The scream we heard was her scream. She didn’t have much time.
“Guys this is where my mother is. If it’s a shadow fairies’ or not, my mother is in there. She was the one who screamed. And we need to help her.” Everyone nodded.
“But Fira.” Dorn consulted, “We cant just go into the castle. Someone will catch us.”
“But Dorn!”
“Fira. We will have to create a disguise.” At that moment we looked down to see something come out of the door to the castle. It had fast rustic wings and it hung in the air awkwardly. It had really long arms and matted, black fur. It was like a big black ball that had wings. We all looked at eachother and nodded, silently making the decision to somehow get into the castle dressed like those things.

Chapter Sixteen- Minions
Fira

Shala looked at us.
“I’d better get going. I would love to help further- but I can’t risk it. If something happens to me the forest is at risk. And I can’t let that happen.” We all nod. She flies over to Dorn and gives him a slight kiss on the cheek and whispers something into his ear. And then she waves to all of us and flies away into the forest. We all look at one-another.
“The question is,” Dorn asks, “How are we going to dress like those creatures.” The creature had already went back into the castle but we all knew what he was talking about. Opal looked at us, she looked a little scared, and a little intrigued.
“Why dress like them when we can be them?” She proposed.
“Nice idea sweetie, but we can’t just be them…” Dorn drifted off in thought. I felt bad for him. Sometimes he seemed lonely. But Shatter looked after him, as he looked after Shatter. After our conversation we had had earlier I knew we couldn’t be afraid of Shatter anymore…
“But how, How could your curse just be gone?” Nia Wondered.
“It had something to do with the smoke. I went in. And without meaning to I helped Blitz. Maybe helping a fairy broke the curse? I don’t know. But I feel different. Heck, im actually talking to you.” We all laughed. I knew that Shatter hadn’t totally changed, but at least we knew she didn’t want to kill us.
“Im more powerful then you think.” She winced, as if this was hard for her to admit.
“I can help you guys to shapeshift.” We all raised our eyebrows.
“Oh really?” Dorn questioned. Opal narrowed her eyes. Suddenly we felt a gust of wind and Dorn disappeared. Within a second he popped back into view- he was one of the creatures!
“What have you done to me!?” He screeched in a high-pitched raspy voice. We all started cracking up. Opal grinned.
“Now who’s next?”
Within a few minutes we were all black balls of fur with wings. It was weird. I felt like I was too heavy for my wings, and it was a miracle that I could keep myself flying. We heard someone scream from inside the castle.
“Minions! What are you doing? Get back in here!!” We looked around for the minions but as far as we could see, we were the only ones here.
“I think we’re the minions” Whispered Nia. We all nodded, knowing that she must be right. We heard the person who had yelled earlier say something to someone else,
“Go get them back in here!” And we heard the door creak open and a big minion with dark eyes and ruffled fur bursted out. He made weird screeching sounds as he neared us and hurried us all back into the castle. We flew awkwardly towards the castle. I knew that we looked like minions, but I was still scared that we were going to get caught. The minion shook his head in disappointment as we neared the castle.
“What do you think you guys were doing?” Thankfully, he continued talking before we had time for reply. “No leaving the castle. And that’s FINAL.” We all nodded and I looked over at Blitz the Minion (just regular blitz except she’s a minion) who looked like she was on the verge of cracking up. The minion led us into a room with shaded in windows and a bunch of old weird furniture. The minion turned around.
“Well what are you following me for? Be off!” He must have been the lead minion because he seemed like he thought he was the boss. We all fluttered out of the room into a dark old brick hallway. We needed to blend in until we found a plan.
“Umm…. Should we just fly around?” I asked our group. I had seen a few minions just flying around the hallway.
“I guess so…” Opal said. So we just started flying around. But we all stopped when we heard talking coming from down the hall. We ducked into a corner just before they came by.
2 minions were guarding a thin and tall fox. He wore a large cloak that drooped all over him and his eyes were dark. But I almost screamed when I saw a glimpse of his body. It was completely made of dust.
A shadow fairy.

Chapter Seventeen- Shade
Fira

Something inside of me knew it was a shadow fairy. Not because he was made of dust, or because he was all black. It was because of the way he moved, the feeling that came along with it. It gave you chills. As he passed you, you could sense the darkness about him. It gave you shivers and you knew that something about him wasn’t right. But when I saw that he really was a shadow fairy, I knew we had found him. We had found Shade. We had found my dad.
I glanced at the others. They looked shocked and their faces were pale, which didn’t really seem possible since we were big black balls of fur. But somehow it was.
Nia glanced over at me and we both got the others attention. Silently we all sort of nodded at each other and decided we were going to follow him.
We slid against the wall a few feet behind him being as quiet as we could. The air wreaked of a sewer-like smell and dust from his body kept blowing behind him. I wanted so bad to turn back into a fox. I felt so gross and I wanted my power back. I had already figured out that I couldn’t use my power as a minion. I would have to turn back into a fox.
He finally came up to a room. The door looked exactly like all the others we had passed- dark green with moss growing around the corners. Was this the room where my mother was?
When he opened it there was light inside. We all ducked behind a wall as he entered the room. He glanced around to make sure nobody was watching him and his minions going into the room. What was in that room?
He shut the door behind him and we were finally all alone in the hallway. Everyone stared at one another, unsure of what to say. I was the first to speak.
“Nia can you turn us invisible? I’m going to go in the room.” I asked. Nia looked worried.
“Well… the thing is that I have to be touching the person to make them invisible.” Nia said.
“Could we link paws? You aren’t touching us all but we are touching each other…” I proposed.
“Hmm…. Well… I guess it would work. It would take a little more energy but I could do it.” She looked hopeful.
“Wait!” Cried Blitz, “If we’re going to be invisible then can’t we turn back into foxes? Please?” Opal nodded.
“Sure!” And within moments I was a fox again.
“Now Lets Try!” So we linked paws. I was on the front end with Shatter next to me, then Dorn, then Nia, the Blitz, then Opal. Nia closed her eyes and suddenly I felt a tingle through my body and suddenly I couldn’t see Shatter anymore, but I could feel her.
“You disappeared!”
“So did you!” She replied. I couldn’t see anyone else either. But within a few minutes I could see them. I guess it took some time. Since I was invisible, I could see others who were invisible.
“Lets go in.” And so I neared the door, dragging everyone else with me. I pulled on the handle and it creaked open. I hurried in without looking at what was inside the room.
“Minion! Close that!” Yelled Shade. He looked mystified.
“Y-Y-Y-Yes m-master!” The minion scurried over and shut the door, cutting Blitz and Opal off the chain and out of the room. I took some time to look around the room. The walls were gray brick and there were chains everywhere. Many minions were around making sure everything was doing ok. Shade turned a corner in the large room and I rushed to follow him. I almost screamed when I saw what was in front of me. We had found my mother.

Chapter Eighteen- Nix

Fira
Her front paws were chained to the wall but she still had room to move around. She struggled in the chains as she stood looking at shade sternly.
“Im back!” Shade teased in a mocking tone, “Are you happy to see me?”
“I have no other choice.” Grimaced my mother. She turned her head away from him. He walked over to her and turned her head to face him.
“You will love becoming queen.” She coughed as dust hit her in the face from his hands. He was like a tornado in the shape of a fairy. Suddenly I felt shatters hand yank me and I fell back behind the corner in the wall. I sprawled out, letting go of Shatter’s hand. I looked over and saw that Shatter had hit a minion and fell back, sending Nia, Dorn, and I sprawling to either side of her. It took me a few moments to realize that I wasn’t invisible anymore. A few minions had noticed us and they were staring wide-eyed. If only Opal were here. She would be able to turn us into minions. But she was out the door with Blitz. Had Shade heard us?
Yes. He had. He turned the corner just as I stood up. He grimaced and looked so angry I thought he was going to kill me.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?” He yelled. I stepped back a few inches away from him. He came forward. I flew up, my wings going as fast as possible. My wings were flaming, literally. It’s what happens when I go fast. Flames flew behind me as I flew as high as I could in the tall room. Shade appeared in front of me. Oh no! I had forgotten that Shadow fairies could disappear and reappear anywhere they wanted. I backed away from him but he flew forward. He tackled me and I found myself sprawled out on the ground, spitting dust out of my mouth. He appeared above me, practically flaming with anger. I prepared a fire ball behind my back and whipped my paw in front of me, sending the fire ball straight at him. It shot through his stomach, leaving a scorching spot in his cloak. His body quickly repaired itself, but it made him even more mad.
“Who ARE you?” He bellowed. What was I supposed to say? Quickly, Nia covered for me.
“Why do you care!” Screamed Nia, “Leave her alone!”
“You want to interfere, do you fairy?” He grimaced and shot a ball of dust her way. It encircled her and suddenly she was on the ground fighting the litter of dust that was encircling her. When it subsided she was sprawled out on a ground. He had turned her into a minion.
“What did you do to her!” I screamed.
“I can do the same to you!” He yelled, threatening me.
“No!” I heard Nix scream from around the corner.
“What do you care!? We don’t want these fairies ruining our plans!”
“They aren’t my plans! And that’s my daughter your talking to!” He waved his hand and chains appeared out of nowhere, wrapping around my paws and attatching me to the wall.
“Well in that case welcome to the family!” He muttered enthusiastically. My mother put her head in her paws and started to cry.
“This isn’t the Shade I once knew.” Dorn muttered to himself from across the room.. Shade turned his attention on Shatter. He turned her into a Minion too and caged them both up. I felt helpless, but probably nothing compared to what they felt, being caged up. I set my fiery eyes on Shade. He rolled his eyes.
“Looks like I’ve already defeated you. Now what to do, what to do…” I suddenly remembered Opal and Blitz. Where they ok? Had they ran away? Where they waiting outside? They needed to come in now. As if on que two minions creaked open the door and lazily flew in. I knew it was them. Shade barely noticed them but Opal flew to where Nix was and released her chains, but Shade kept his eyes fixed on me. He shook his head.
“Brave little princess thought she could defeat me? Well that’s a shame.” Nix flew above shade without him noticing and pummeled him with gallons of water. He collapsed into a puddle of dust, stuck within the water. My mom came over and hugged me. She released the chains and looked at me, her eyes filled with tears.
“Hello Fira.” Was all she could make out before she embraced me in a big hug. Opal and Blitz transformed back. And Blitz quickly transformed a leaf into a bottle and collected Shade’s remains.
“Is he dead?” Asked Dorn, completely mystified. Nix smiled.
“Shadows never die, yet they never really live.” I finally got the chance to study my mother. Her light tan fur looked completely untouched and her light blue eyes were sparkling. She wore a pendant around her neck- a blue gem given to her as a gift from Shade long ago. She still wore it to this day. She must have really loved him.

Chapter Nineteen- Mist
Fira

My mother held the bottle of Shade in her hands carefully.
“Do you think it would be possible to transform him back?” She mused. I gave a slight smile, knowing that she was hoping for the impossible.
“Just be happy he’s gone for now… we can think about stuff like that when we’re back. For now we need to get out of here, and we can’t leave without Nia and Shatter.” We both looked over at them. They both looked so embarrassed. Opal and Blitz had already transformed back but Opal hadn’t found a way to transform them back. But we knew there had to be a way. But how?
Suddenly Blitz screamed. I whisked around to see her back paw stuck in a crack in the floor. We all helped her out. The crack began to spread, and parts of the floor crumbled into the room below. We looked down, and Dorn let out a sharp breath. Below there was a pool of green slime. It was bubbling and let out a stench that was more then most of us could handle. We took a few steps back and flew high to get away from the smell. But Dorn didn’t seem phased.
“I know what this is. I read about it as a kid. But I never knew that it was… this.” He exclaimed staring down at the mass of green slop. “I think we’ve found what we were looking for.” He conjured up an ice cup with his hands and flew down, scooping up some of the green slime in the ice. He looked over at Nia and Shatter. He set the bowl down and looked intently at them.
“Cover yourselves in it. It will work.” Nia flew farther away from it, not sure if she trusted him enough to bathe in bad smelling green slime. But shatter had a bond with Dorn, and willingly flew forward. She dipped herself in the goo and rolled her round minion body around in the bowl until she had a thin coating of green on her messy fur. She flew up, barely able to stay stable with the heavy slime coating her. Suddenly she dropped to the floor with a thud and within seconds she was Shatter the fox- still covered in green slime. She looked at us with a shocked look.
“I feel like that pond.” She exclaimed and stuck out her tounge for enthusiasm. We all laughed, and now it was Nia’s turn.
After Nia had transformed back, Nix washed the goo off them with some water and we headed out the castle. We decided to just fly out the windows.
After Blitz creaked open a window we started our journey home. We stopped a few times but eventually reached the gates.
Misty Mountains- my home, my kingdom- looked like an old deserted town. Every house had its curtains and shutters closed and there was no movement in sight. Not even a flutter of wings. My mouth gaped at the sight.
“Where is everyone!” I exclaimed, baffled. My mother looked just as surprised as me.
“They must be here-they-I don’t know….” She trailed off, too stunned to talk any longer. As we flew through the kingdom we saw a shutter open in one of the houses and a face look out. They looked surprised, shocked, relieved, and happy all at the same time. They closed the shutters again and then all at once the whole kingdom awoke. Doors opened from all over and fairies rushed out and flew over to us. Within minutes it was as if the whole kingdom was crowded around us, talking wildly and asking questions. My mom looked surprised but then she took a deep breath and spoke to her kingdom.
“Much has happened in this past week! But we are alright now. We have no king, but a new leader. My daughter Fira will help me take care of our kingdom!” Cheers surrounded me as thoughts raced through my head. But eventually I put together my jumbled thoughts and ideas.
Much has happened in this past week. We saved my mother. Me, Nia, Shatter, Dorn, Opal, and Blitz. We defeated Shade. And now we were holding him in a bottle. But everything was alright for now. And me and my mother will lead the kingdom, me, my mother, and I.