Wings

The kiss doesn't last very long, but that doesn't mean it wasn't amazing. The moment their lips touched, Mariposa felt an electric shock run down her spine, in a good way.

But it was over too soon, Sophie whinnied loudly, making a gesture back towards the palace with her head. That startled them apart from each other.

Catania was confused at first, but then she gasped in realization. "The Crystal Ball! We need to go get ready!" She said, moving quickly back over to Sophie.

Mariposa tried to hide her disappointment at their moment, getting cut short. She walked to the entrance to the cave, Catania following behind her on Sophie.

They hurried back to Mariposa's room quickly, only sneaking glances at each other.

They stooped outside her room.

Catania hesitated for a moment, looking around for anyone, then hopped off of Sophie and walked over to Mariposa. 

"What are you-" Before Mariposa could finish her sentence, Catania had kissed her again. The same shock came back, but then, she pulled away.

Catania smiled and hopped back onto Sophie, looking down at her. "I'll see you at the ball?"

"I-I look forward to it," Mariposa said, smiling back at her, a bright blush on her face.

Catania rode off on Sophie, going to her room to get ready.

Zee started to make exaggerated kissing noised to tease Mariposa once Catania was gone.

"Oh, Shush Zee," Mariposa said, rolling her eyes and walking into her room, she grabbed the dress that Talayla gave her and changed into it. She grabbed the make-up kit from her bag and walked over to a mirror, applying what she had. Once she was satisfied with her look, she tucked her necklace under her dress and went over to her bookshelf, planning on browsing some of the books.

She only got through a few books before she heard a knock at the door. "Come in!"

Talayla opened the doors and gasped loudly. "Oh, no!"

Mariposa turned around quickly. "What's wrong?!"

"I came to get you for the ball, and you're not even ready!"

"Sure, I am!" Mariposa said, twirling to show Talayla that she was ready.

"B-but you're not be-shimmered!" Talayla exclaimed.

Mariposa's brows furrowed in confusion. "Hmm?"

Talayla turned around and whistled a short tune. A second later, three familiar-looking creatures flew in on tiny pegasi. As they flew past, they woke up Zee, who was sleeping on a hammock nearby and stopped in front of Mariposa. They looked over Mariposa in disappointment, turning to talk to each other is a strange language. After a moment, they began to fly around Mariposa, spreading sparkles all around her.

"We have this is Flutterfield too!" Mariposa said, laughing. "Only we call it be-fluttering." She turned to the small fairies before they flew away. "Thank you."

Mariposa folded down her wings; it was a lot easier now that she had practiced. They stayed down, flowing more like a dress than before. 

She looked up at Talayla with a smile. "What do you think?"

"Woah," Talayla exclaimed, leaning forward to get a better look. That proved to be a mistake, as Mariposa's wings stiffened and popped back up, hitting her in the face. She screamed and jumped back.

"I'll work on it on the way to the crystal ball," Mariposa said, walking towards the door with Talayla.

She did work on it on the way, but not as much as she would have liked. Once they got halfway, they decided to fly the rest of the way, only stopping right outside the ballroom doors. She could hear a classical music song playing from inside.

Mariposa folded down her wings again, and Zee flew into them to make sure that they would stay down. They did, thankfully. Mariposa nodded at Talayla to open the door.

Everyone was at the Crystal ball, Catania didn't lie. Most of them were paired up and dancing, but a few were hovering off to the side, probably looking for refreshments to something like that.

Mariposa made a sound of amazement when she saw it, and Talayla smiled at her before taking off to head into the ball, not remembering that Mariposa couldn't fly anymore.

Zee noticed first, turning around once she realized that Mariposa wasn't with them.

Talayla turned around a second later, gasping quietly and flying back to Mariposa. "Oh no, how can you enjoy the ball if you can't fly?"

Mariposa didn't know how to answer that, but luckily, she didn't need to.

"I know how." A familiar voice said, followed by an equally-familiar whinny.

Mariposa instantly lit up, turning around as Catania landed behind her, riding the chariot attached to Sophie. She was wearing a floor-length purple down with transparent white veils around the top of the skirt. Wait, those weren't veils, those were- "Your wings!"

"If you have to fold down your wings, I will too!" Catania stated, twirling so Mariposa could get a better look. "What do you think?"

Mariposa could think of many words to describe her, but she settled with, "Beautiful. Thank you."

Catania flushed lightly, then bowed playfully. "My pleasure, your Ambassatoress." She had a small smirk on her face. Then her wings popped up. "Oops! Still working on that." She folded her wings back down. 

Mariposa had to laugh. Finally, someone else understood her struggle with her wings. And who better to understand her than her soulmate? 

She climbed onto the chariot, and Catania held out her hand for Mariposa to take, which she gladly did.

Sophie took off, flying around the ballroom.

"Just an intimate gathering with a couple of close friends?" Mariposa joked.

"I told you. Everyone comes to the Crystal ball. I'd be surprised if anyone isn't here." Catania replied with a small laugh.

She looked around with wonder in her eyes, but then her face slowly dropped, and she looked down, catching Mariposa's attention.

"What is it?" She asked, squeezing Catania's hand reassuringly.

Catania squeezed her hand back. "Nothing. It's just... I've always loved dancing. Until..." She trailed off, not wanting to finish her sentence.

Mariposa was silent for a second. Then a determined look crossed her face. "So, we'll dance!"

"But I don't-"

"Take us down, Sophie," Mariposa said, cutting off Catania.

They flew down to the floor, Catania giving Mariposa a perplexed look. But Mariposa didn't say anything else until they got to the floor.

A more upbeat song started playing, and Mariposa rushed off the chariot. "Let's dance." She said, beginning to dance to the beat.

"But- We're the only ones down here!" Catania argued. "What if everyone stares?"

Mariposa shrugged, twirling her arms around each other. "What if they do? Come on! It's fun!"

Catania didn't hesitate after that, climbing down and standing next to Mariposa, starting to match her moves. It took a bit, but soon they were in sync.

Catania laughed, a bright smile taking over her face. "You're right! This is fun!"

"Told you!" Mariposa replied with a small laugh as well.

The puffballs flew down to dance with them as they leaned around to a slow part of the song, then picked up the pace and twirl once the beat came back.

People started to notice them dancing and flew down to join them.

They even did one of those shimmying moves, where they leaned forward and backward while chasing each other.

The other crystal fairies danced around them, and everyone seemed to be having fun.

Mariposa felt like things were finally going to be okay. That nothing back could happen to them now.

The King flew into the room at that moment, surprised at what was going on.

They all ended with a clap, and people started cheering.

Mariposa and Catania bowed, but Mariposa was knocked back by Catania's wings, popping loose again.

Mariposa's necklace became visible because of it.

"Oh, no." Catania gave her a worried look. 

Mariposa laughed and held out her hand for Catania to help her up. "It's fine. Now I know how it feels."

One of the crystal fairies had noticed Mariposa's necklace. "That butterfly fairy has a crystallite!"

"She must have stolen it!" Another accused.

Mariposa turned around, looking at everyone in shock. "What, no!"

"I knew we couldn't trust them."

"Look out for her fire breath!"

Catania took Mariposa's hand as the King flew down to them. 

"Enough!" He yelled, and everyone went quiet. "Mariposa, you stole a crystallite. After we welcomed you, and trusted you."

It didn't seem like it to Mariposa, but she wasn't about to say that. She tried to think of any way to defend herself without throwing Catania to the skeezites. "No, your highness-"

Catania moved in front of her protectively, "I gave it to her! We were at glow waterfalls earlier an-"

The King cut her off, his anger only building. "You went to glow water falls unprotected?!"

Catania didn't miss a beat. "I know, but Mariposa and I-"

Cut off again. "Shes a butterfly fairy. And in no position to know what's best for a crystal fairy princess!"

Mariposa was about to try to defend her, to try to reason with the King, but Catania wasn't done.

"She's my soulmate!" She all but snapped.

It was silent. No one dared make a noise.

The King turned towards Mariposa, a snarl on his face. "Leave. Immediately!"

Mariposa glanced at Catania, then back at the King. "Leave... The Ballroom?" She asked for clarification.

"Leave Shimmervale! And never come back!" He stated.

Catania had a horrified look on her face. "Father!-"

The King put a hand up to silence her. "Not now, Catania!"

Mariposa gave Catania a pained look but then bowed to the King. "... As you wish... Your Majesty." Her wings unfolded, and she took the necklace off, giving it back to Catania.

"Please don't go," Catania whispered to her, squeezing her hand. She already had tears forming.

Mariposa looked at the King, who only glared and pointed to the door. She sighed, looking back at Catania. "I'm so sorry." She said, then flew out the back window.

She heard an argument behind her, but couldn't make out the words.

Mariposa's heart was broken, she had failed, in more ways than one.

The day could not possibly get any worse.