Wings

It took a little while to get to Shimmervale, but Mariposa and Zee passed most of the time either playing with each other or reading, in Mariposa's case. They took shelter in small caves when it became too dark and too dangerous to keep flying.

As they were heading towards the meeting spot, Mariposa continued to read her book about Crystal Faries to get more insight about them. She learned that they welcome their diplomats with a marching band, parade, and even some fireworks!

Zee was thrilled when Mariposa said that, singing a fast-paced song and flying around excitedly.

They came across a clearing in the flowers that they were flying through a little while later. Mariposa compared the picture in her book to it and gasped, a smile appearing on her face.

"This is the meeting spot, Zee," Mariposa stated. Zee didn't seem very impressed, flying down lower to see if she could stop any bands or fireworks. 

Mariposa flew down and landed in the center of the clearing. She hummed and looked around in confusion when she didn't see anyone there. "We're.. right on time." She said, setting her bag down and looking around.

Zee started to look around as well, but when she heard a rustle in a nearby bush, she startled and ran straight into Mariposa, knocking her to the ground. Zee laughed nervously and flew back up, allowing Mariposa to get back up.

There was another rustle to the right of Mariposa, and she looked over at it. "Is someone there?" She asked, getting up to go check it out. Zee whimpered nervously and hid behind Mariposa. "Hello?" She said, walking over to where she had heard the noise. She pulled apart two leaves and was surprised to find a Crystal Fairy there.

"Don't hurt me!" The fairy exclaimed, putting her arms up to protect herself, and looking away from Mariposa with her eyes shut tight.

"Of course, we won't hurt you!" Mariposa said with a small laugh. "I'm Mariposa from Flutterfield! And this is Zee." She gestured to the little puffball by her side.

The fairy didn't seem reassured in the slightest. "You're not going to hypnotize me with your awful magic and lure me back to your dark cave and-"

Mariposa looked at Zee, then back at the fairy, confusion evident on her face. "Um... No?"

The fairy instantly became more animated. "Oh, goody!" She stood up and faced Mariposa fully. "I'm Talayla! your butterfly wings are so beautiful!" She said, flying out of the bush to the other side of Mariposa. 

Mariposa smiled at her. "Thanks! I like yours too!" She said, gesturing to said wings. Zee flew around Talayla, chittering at her. 

Talayla held Zee for a second. "Oh, how cute!" Then she pulled away with a gasp. "Is that your war beast?" She asked nervously.

Zee looked unimpressed. "What? No!" Mariposa said, shaking her head.

"Then, yay, how cute!" Talayla exclaimed, holding Zee again. Zee huffed and flew up and out of her hands, looking very disgruntled.

"So.. is this the grand welcome?" Mariposa asked, gesturing around them to the empty clearing. Zee started to hum the same song that she was before excitedly.

Talayla looked sheepish. "Oh, that. Sorry. The flying band was too afraid to come to meet you." She said apologetically. 

Zee's excitement seemed to disappear. "Oh, it's okay," Mariposa said, much to Zee's displeasure. Zee tried to fly away but got caught by Mariposa.

"Come on! I'll show you both around Shimmervale! I mean.." Talayla paused, but then cleared her throat, striking a more regal pose. "In the name of his Royal King Regellius, it is my honor to give you an official tour of our fair land!" She said, gesturing towards Shimmervale. She laughed, looking at Mariposa. "Let's go!" Was all Talayla said before flying off towards the city.

Mariposa looked at Zee and shrugged, before laughing and following after Talayla.

A few minutes later, they arrived at a place surrounded by waterfalls. "Welcome to Shimmervale!" Talayla said, turning and throwing her arms out, smiling. Shimmervale was full of buildings with large crystallites on top of them, shining brightly in the sun. 

Mariposa stopped flying for a moment and gasped at the sight, before continuing after Talayla, looking around as she did. 

Mariposa looked at her book. "And I see every house has a crystallite on top of it, the main source of heat and power to-"

Talayla laughed nervously. "That's my line."

Mariposa smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

"As you can see, every roof as a crystallite on top of it, the main source of heat and power here in Shimmervale." Talayla finished.

People gasped from down below them. "It's a butterfly fairy!" They cried out, closing all of their windows in fright, much to Mariposa's confusion.

Talayla didn't seem bothered; she gestured to Mariposa to come along. "Follow me. Next stop is glow water falls."

They continued to fly until they reached a towering waterfall. 

"Here it is!" Talayla said, gesturing to the entire waterfall.  

Mariposa looked back at her book. "Historians say this-"

She was cut off again by Talayla. "Historians say this is where Shimmervale's first residents discovered crystallites."

Mariposa made a sound of amazement. "I'd never thought I'd say this, but pictures don't do it justice."

Talayla nodded in agreement. "Yep. It's why we end the tour here."

Zee finally caught up to them after being left behind a little bit before. She fell onto Mariposa's arm tiredly. "Zee, are you okay?" Mariposa asked with a small laugh.

Zee answered slowly, and Talayla laughed, petting Zee's head. "Aw, am I going to fast for you, little puffer?" Zee began to respond, but when she started to fall and had to have Mariposa catch her, she gave up. 

Talayla turned around. "And now to the palace where you'll be staying!" 

Zee made a sound of exasperation, and Mariposa laughed. "Come on." She said, following after Talayla. Zee, reluctantly, followed them.

Mariposa looked around in amazement at seeing the palace. It's big regal purple walls with gold highlights, and shimmering crystallites would take anyone's breath away.

"The castle was built over four thousand years ago under the reign of King Fremulous the Fourth," Talayla explained as they flew into the palace. "His Wife, Queen Serfriller, designed much of what we still see today."

As they were flying, Mariposa heard a window open nearby. 

"Hey!" Someone whisper-shouted at her, causing Mariposa to sop and look back, accidentally making Zee run into her.

"Up here!" The voice said again. When Mariposa looked in the direction of the sound, she saw a beautiful girl with platinum blonde hair and pretty bright blue eyes waving her over. A white pegasus with pink hair soon joined the girl.

Mariposa looked around to see if Talayla was nearby, before smiling and flying up to the girl. "Hi!"

Before the girl could reply, a blue puffball flew up and growled at them, scaring Zee into hiding behind Mariposa's shoulder. The puffball continued flying towards them and snarled in Mariposa's face, making her lean back in shock. 

"Anu! You're scaring her." The girl scolded. Anu growled and reluctantly flew back to her side, grumbling. The girl looked at Mariposa again. "You're Mariposa, aren't you? The butterfly fairy?"

Mariposa nodded, smiling at the girl. "Yes!"

"I'm Catania." She said, gesturing to herself. "Oh, it must be so terrifying flying across Fairytopia to get here. Were you scared?" She asked, an awed expression on her face. 

Mariposa blushed and pushed a strand of hair that had come loose back behind her ear nervously. "Scared? I don't know; it was more-" 

"Catania! Away from the window!" A man yelled from inside, gaining both of their attention.

"Uh, I've got to go. Nice to meet you." Catania said, waving to Mariposa. "Welcome to the kingdom."

Anu growled as Zee flew into the hallway to wat Catania go, and threw a piece of fruit at Zee. He then laughed flew after Catania, slamming the window shut in Zee's face when she tried to follow.

Mariposa was disappointed at seeing Catania leave, though she didn't know why. She reasoned that it was because Catania was the first person other than Talayla, who was kind to her, and Catania wasn't even scared of her. But there was something else, something that Mariposa couldn't explain. A feeling in the pit of her gut that felt like dozens of butterflies were dancing in her stomach. She hadn't felt this way since... Mariposa shook her head; it was too soon for that.

She didn't know who Catania was, but all that Mariposa knew was that she really, really wanted to see her again soon.