by Kelly Hunt
Part Seven
Jump then Fall
Falling through nothingness, Jayne heard Lilliana's scream, but it was faint. Their fall began to slow, until they touched down lightly on the ground. Lilliana ran to Jayne's arms, sobbing. The young Actor looked awkward. "Well, what are these gift things?"
The alternate three looked incredulously at him. "You haven't found yours yet?" asked Hutchen. "No." was the simple, cross answer of the Actor. He literally crossed his arms. Jayne giggled inwardly because of how much he looked like a small child.
"Well," Jayne grinned. "confession time, then." she pulled off her top layer of fabric to reveal two transparent, silver tinted wings with beautiful swirls and lovely design. They looked an awful lot like transparent butterfly wings. Lilly stood in awe, then sat down slightly depressed. "I'm pretty sure mine only come out when I'm in water."
"That explains the eons-long baths then." kidded Jayne. Lilliana brightened at Jayne's lightened spirit. Hutchen felt his pockets. "I suppose I have nothing more than wings to present at the moment either. I could weld and bend metal just by touching it, but I suppose all of my trinkets disappeared. Just this, I guess. Bad luck." he shrugged and pulled a wooden flower from his pocket, tossing it to Lilly, who held it in awe of the details. He then closed his eyes and leaped into the air. Instead of landing, as would have been expected, he stayed airborne. Clear, fluttering wings prominent on his back. Upon his landing, Jayne noticed circles all throughout his wings. Looking at him in this light, “bronze” was the word she used to describe him.
"I just want to go home." Lilliana simpered.
"You and me both, kid." said the Actor.
"Never got your name." stated Lilly, a bit coldly.
"Adam."
Everything got cold, lights flashing again, things began to whirl. Lilliana felt as if she was wrapped in a cocoon of sorts. Opening her eyes, she saw her room and felt her warm blankets wrapped tightly around her. She sat up quickly. Sure enough, her alarm was chiming 7am. Tentatively, she tucked her feet in her slippers. In full knowledge that thirst often brings on dreams about water, she was not willing to believe that what had just passed had been nothing more than a dream. Somehow, she was still in her pink dress, and very thirsty. After dressing in more comfortable attire, she went downstairs. Jayne was sitting at the table already, intensely reading a book.... as usual. "Hi-ho." Lilly greeted. Jayne looked up, startled. "You're awake!" launching from her seat, she almost bowled Lilliana over with a bear hug.
Lilliana patted Jayne awkwardly on the back and went to make breakfast. "That's it?" Jayne was beyond puzzled. "Mhm." said Lilliana. "What's up with you?"
"Well after you passed out, we went walking for ages and ran into a huge bear, but he stared it down and there were fireworks and I made it home alright, and I expect they did too." Her words slurred together."
"Jayne, what happened?"
"We... you don't remember? Hutchen? Adam? The Skies?"
Lilliana's eyes got big. "I remember. I didn't think it was real."
"It was real, and we get to keep our wings!"
"Fill me in on everything."
Epilogue
A life full of flitting from tree to tree was good for Jayne, and I can offer a fortunate conclusion. Even though humans aren't built to be fairies, they trained themselves in how to use the new found powers. They were all given wings, and did live a very long life. Though nearing the end of it, they couldn't fly anymore. Jayne and Hutchen got married, but not to each other. I won't say how they died, because that would make a poor ending to this story. Imagine that they lived happily ever after.
The end
