The Fairy

"But why would they send us an invitation?" Vian asks her Father.

"I don't have any idea, dear." Her sweet father is seated in a rocking chair on their front porch, watching birds eat the remaining feed from the chickens she fed earlier.

"Did they think I'm a man?" Well, she gets that often. Her name is usually used as a boy's name. He is supposed to be a boy.

Vian Justine Galani. She's a Diwata. A nymph, as their current country calls them. She has shoulder-length bob-cut hair, a tall and lean figure, and a fair complexion. They traveled from the Philippines because of a call for help from one of their kind. They haven't tried going back yet.

Her father laughed heartily as her mother set the cup of tea on the table beside his chair. She just sighed as Vian was walking back and forth. It's kinda embarrassing and annoying. They didn't even check their information.

"Well, I'm going there just to make fun of them." she went inside.

"Vian. You know that is not good practice." her mother argued.

Diwatas are known for their mischievous acts, almost always associated with dwarves or Nunos. They most often give curses rather than blessings. Diwatas are feared. They are the guardians of the forests and the animals that live in them. Legends always tell of Diwatas punishing foolish humans that disrespect their lands.

Some are rumored to abduct humans they like. And once enchanted, you can never go back to the world of mortals. These are true, Vian can testify. She almost abducted the children she was playing with when she was a child. An adult Diwata guided the children back but she received a good scolding for that.

Vian went to the back of their house, facing a lush forest. Their family has been protecting this area for a century now. The former head guardians have been killed by an enemy and the forest has weakened, causing other Diwatas to grow weak as well. They have been protecting the forest since then.

She touched the trunk of a tree and sent a message. She asked the trees for information about this certain Almazan family. With closed eyes, the trees start to rumble their leaves.

"Blessed by Mayari." she whispered. More rustling from her surroundings can be heard.

"They are looking for a boy. A boy blessed by Apolaki." she moved her hand away. Her deep brown eyes scanned the dancing trees around her.

"And they thought I was that boy because my father is a former high-ranking official in the military here." Vian said to herself.

The information she collected grabbed her interest. She wants to see Luna and she also wants to see if they will find the boy they are looking for.

"What are you going to do there? It is obvious that it was a mistake. No need to go." Vian's mother told her.

Vian started packing her things for her trip. She wants to be the first one there. Or maybe she is thinking of hiding first, then revealing herself as a girl, just to add some thrill to the said event.

"I just wanna see what all the fuss is about. And they send airline tickets, see? What a waste if I didn't use it." Vian answered.

"Oh, you hard-headed child." her mother left her alone to pack.

She doesn't really need tickets. She can travel by air. But of course, they didn't know that. They didn't even know she was a girl, to begin with. They were humans, after all.

Plus, she hasn't been in the country for a while. She is expecting that much. The way this planet is going, sooner than later all the trees will be replaced with buildings. The mountains where they used to live will be flat land and villages.

"Ma, Pa. I'll be going." Vian bid her parents goodbye.

"Let us know if anything happens, okay?" her father hugged her.

"I'll send messages through the trees. Don't worry." she waved goodbye.

She touched a tree and closed her eyes. In a split second, she is within walking distance of the airport.

"Alright. Let's meet some lucky kids." Vian hates airplanes. She hates machines. These bulky, wheeled machinery with long arms and smoking chimneys ruin a lot of forests. They make the trees cry and kill any animal that gets in the way.

When the apocalypse happened, the land shook so badly that volcanoes started erupting. They tried their best to protect as many plants and animals as they could, but efforts are still not enough. More than half of the species were wiped out. New plants can't grow in the new quality of air and soil.

It's a give-and-take relationship between fairies and nature. If one side weakens, it affects the other one. When the apocalypse killed the majority of forests and their inhabitants, the population of Diwatas also dwindled. There is only so much they can do with their very small number.

Vian arrived in the country. As expected, tall buildings and skyways, and roads welcomed her. She went to the back of the airport, in a secluded place, to look for a tree.

Vian touched one of the thin trees in the lot.

"How are you here?" she asked. The tree shook its leaves even though no wind was around.

"I'm very sorry to hear that. I will let your Diwata know." The tree is complaining about the water they are receiving as it contains dangerous chemicals that hinder their growth and gives them diseases.

"For now, take me to Bulan." In a few seconds, she was in the gardens of the Almazans.

The huge gate is already closed, as it usually is. Vian gazed at the lush greenery of the place. It even has a mini forest and a lot of flowers. She can also feel the healthy power of the Diwata of the area.

"Nara. Come out." Vian is in the middle of the mini forest. It is small, but big enough to hide. The tree rustled and a lady in a green flowy robe came out from behind a tree.

"Viany! You're back!" Nara ran to hug her friend. Vian hugged her back.

"Just for a short while. I got invited to this place." She showed Nara the invitation.

"For the banquet? I thought they were looking for a boy. Why did you receive one? Did it have your name?" Nara grabbed the invitation and read it.

"Yeah. I think they thought my father had a son. I do have a weird human name." She also said her human name.

"Ah, yes. It sounded manly." Nara agreed and laughed. Vian looked at her and squinted, which made her laugh even more.

They talked about the current situation of the place. Bulan is a good city. The nearby cities are following its steps as they see this city as a progressive one. It pleases Vian. It makes her look forward to the events that will happen.

"Let me stay with you for a few days." Vian asked Nara.

"Oh sure! Sure! We can have parties and games!" The Diwata exclaimed in glee.

Nara held Vian's hand and pulled her to a tree. The wind blew and the trees danced. As Sol and Luna are just about to enter the mini forest, the two fairies disappear into the trunk of the Narra tree.