The Fairies of Inaria

Chapter One: The Disguised

Rayna opened her eyes and gasped. "It's morning, I'm going to be late for Nora's party!"
The door to her bedroom opened and her sister Amara slowly stepped inside.
"Mother wanted me to give you this, I'll leave so you can get changed."
Rayna nodded, "Thanks, I'll be down in a minute."
Amara smiled and set the purple dress on the edge of the bed, closing the door behind her.
Rayna unzipped the zipper in the back and stepped into the dress. It was covered in small white stars and had a giant pink bow in the back.
Rayna took her light blue brush off her dresser, brushing her dark turquoise hair until the brush stopped getting caught in tangles.
She quickly slipped on her silver shoes with the diamond butterflies and rushed down the stairs, clutching the present she had wrapped for Nora.
Amara looked up just as Rayna almost slipped on the last step, nearly twisting her ankle.
"Careful, Rayna!" Her sister helped her down and guided her to the front door.
The guard opened the door for them and they glided over to the carriage, where they found Rayna's mother and father waiting inside.
Daiza stared at Rayna in disbelief, "What took you so long?"
She hesitated before saying, "I overslept, I was up late wrapping Nora's present." She held up the box-shaped package in her hand.
Rayna's father laughed, "I thought you were incapable of such a thing,"
"Xerin, she just wanted to do something nice for her friend," Daiza argued.
Their silver and gold outfits shimmered against their lavender crowns. Amara had chosen to wear her pink gown, its see-through sleeves covered in half moons.
Rayna had to steady herself as the carriage set off for Atasia the palace of the emotion fairies.
Much like Inaria Atasia was full of kindness and joy.
Galaxy fairies had been allies of the emotions and constellations for centuries.
Of course, this world didn't use to be like this. Galaxy and Emotions used to be at war with each other until the witches came. The fairies were forced to become allies and haven't fought since.
No one knows how or why the witches came to Inaria but those who have never lived to tell.
I looked out the carriage window longingly as I imagined all the beautiful gowns everyone would be wearing to the party.
"We will be there soon, Rayna." Amara smiled, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Eventually, the carriage came to a stop in front of a magnificent castle made of pink crystals. Each tower had a string of red roses carefully wrapped around it.
I was the first to step out into the sunlight. "It's so beautiful,"
Two male fairies stood guard outside the big silver doors, staring down at them as Xerin led the family up the stairs.
"Name and realm?"
Xerin looked at Daiza in confusion and she sighed. "Xerin and Daiza, we are the King and Queen of Inaria,"
The fairy hesitated before opening the doors. Sometimes the Atasians forget about the fact that they made peace with the Inarians.
Rayna pictured Nora's face when I handed her the gift and imagined all the beautiful chandeliers and gowns.
The doors opened into a ballroom full of fairies in elegant gowns, tiaras, and other exotic headpieces. Right in the middle of it all was Nora in her black dress, her dark magenta hair hanging freely at her shoulders.
She was talking to a young girl in a periwinkle dress.
"Rayna!" Nora glided over, her friend right behind her.
Rayna held out the present wrapped in pink paper with white roses and a black bow, Nora's two favorite colors.
Her joy warmed Rayna's heart. "What is it?" Nora asked, taking the present and turning it over in her hands.
"Open it and find out," Rayna smiled.
Nora carefully ripped the wrapping off to reveal a pale pink box. Inside the box were two amethyst earrings and a matching necklace with a teardrop pendant.
"Thank you!" Nora gently lifted the earrings out of the box and put them on and Rayna helped her with the necklace.
"You are lucky to have a friend like Rayna,"
Nora turned to the girl in the periwinkle dress.
"This is Zaruella she is from Crescentia and is a moon fairy. The Crescentians had to flee their home planet because of the witches. Zaruella and her family are staying with us."
A woman in an icy blue gown bumped into Rayna.
"Rayna, are you alright?" Nora caught her before she could fall.
The woman turned to face us, a blue spiral tattoo on her bald scalp. "I'm deeply sorry. Maybe you should watch where your going next time," She said, feigning innocence.
Nora scowled, "You could have hurt her."
The woman grinned, "Do I know you? I don't remember inviting you to my birthday party." Nora asked.
"I'm Snow, you must have forgotten about me."
Nora blinked, "Enjoy the party."
The woman glided away to go talk to another guest. "There's something different about her," Zaruella whispered, watching Snow move on to another guest.
Nora snorted, "Don't let her get to you. She probably had a bad day or something," Rayna and Zaruella followed her over to the buffet table where they each took a pink present-shaped mini cake from a black dessert plate.
When they bit into the cake it oozed raspberry filling.
"This is delicious!" Rayna laughed.
Everything went dark, the ballroom was surrounded by a blanket of darkness.
"Rayna!" Her Mother screamed, panicking when she couldn't find her daughter.
"I'm okay!" Rayna replied. She eventually found Nora and Zaruella's hands and gripped them tightly.