4/15/06 Hello, all! For my final project for my Drawing From Mythology class, I decided to write my own myth and illustrate it. :D This is the story of the Butterfly Spirit and the Elf, which was mentioned briefly in POF. I tried to incorporate aspects of the hero myth, according to Joseph Campbell. Sepoña played the Butterfly Spirit in the Butterfly Dance Festival, remember?

This was fun to write. -grin- Also, I’ve got a question for everyone. Right now this story’s in the Mythology section, but let me know if I should change the genre to just regular Fantasy. Also, I tried something new and clearly labeled the Butterfly Spirit’s and Elf’s parts. -nod-

Oh- and it’s POF’s FP berfday today!! -is happy- I wanted to make sure I posted something, since the next POF chappie may be a lil’ while. Hopefully my writing has improved since I first put up POF. ;P

Much love to Casey and her friend for helping me edit.

Thanks for reading!!

Tesh : )

-Destined Hearts-

Part 1

The immortal Elder of the Seda clan, currently in the form of a beautiful young woman, opened a dusty, brown, and thick volume.

“Listen, children,” she said in her deep voice to her listeners, the eager nine-year-old best friends Sepoña Atalanta, half Fairy and half Cat-girl, and Alana, a pure Fairy. “Listen to the ancient myth of the creation of the Fairy race...”

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Gia

I am Gia. I was born from an enchanted flower, like all Butterfly Spirits. The flower from which I was born was unusual for a Spirit, however. A pink tulip.

And I am in love.

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Erik

I am Erik. The work for a young Elf such as myself is difficult. We must till the earth, hunt, and protect our people. Luckily, our magic and the Great Sprits help us.

Magic is a curious thing. We Elves have the ability to Summon Spirits to assist us. The Spirits’ sizes are conveniently the size of our hands and more or less look like us. Every living thing has a Spirit- the elements, animals, plants... even insects.

Lately I have had the feeling of being watched. It is not a bad feeling, but it makes me wonder...

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Gia

Gia went to her usual spot in the Forest of the Elves to view what she was yearning for for a very long time, a young male Elf. Erik.

Concealed behind a tree, she watched as Erik used his magic to conjure a fire to cook meat that he just caught. The Spirit’s amethyst eyes took in his tan skin, forest-green hair that flopped into his sky blue eyes, and kind face. The face of which made her heart beat wildly as she looked at it.

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Erik

Erik looked up. There it was again- the strange feeling of being watched. He peered at one of the many trees in the Forest. Not seeing anything, Erik went back to cooking.

Better head back to my clan, he thought. He gathered his belongings and left the little clearing where he had conjured a fire. He slung his bow over his shoulder, which made his deerskin tunic ripple.

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Gia

Ah, he’s leaving, Gia thought sadly. She moved from her hiding spot to follow him to his clan- the Seda clan. She fluttered her butterfly wings and ascended.

She was a lonely Spirit. Being born from an unusual flower, she had to go into hiding to avoid the wrath of the other Butterfly Spirits. She sought love from an Elf because she loved their style of living- they lived in tight-knit communities and were very kind toward each other.

One day, she had noticed the young male Elf Erik from afar, and her heart glowed whenever she saw him. After a while of watching him, she discovered his name.

She was no longer content with watching her love from afar.

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Erik

Erik walked back to his clan through the Forest, whistling a familiar tune. Then he stopped.

He could have sworn that someone, or something, was following him. He turned quickly and beheld quite a sight.

A Spirit was behind him, and he recognized it as a Butterfly Spirit. She (he could tell it was female because of her color) shone in a violet light and had piercing amethyst eyes. Her delicate butterfly wings were mostly violet, but shimmered scintillating different pastel colors when they fluttered. Her long hair was a rich shade of pink, and she had pale skin.

He smiled. “Hello, there.”

The Butterfly Spirit put her tiny hands to her mouth and whispered, “...Hello.”

Erik noticed a deep flush on the Spirit’s face.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“G-Gia.”

“That’s a pretty name. I’m Erik.”

What he could see of Gia’s face turned even redder. She was... indeed very pretty. He flushed himself at the thought.

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Gia

Gia saw Erik blush, and her own extremely hot face grew even hotter.

With still a little color on his cheeks, Erik asked, “Um, have you been following me?”

Gia didn’t meet his eyes. “...Yes,” she murmured.

To her surprise, Erik didn’t look angry; in fact, he smiled.

“Would you like to come with me to my clan, Gia?”

Gia lowered her hands from her face, and her features brightened. She nodded happily, and her heart thumped.

She alighted onto his shoulder and sat down comfortably, neatly rearranging her toga-like white frock. “Let’s go!”

Neither of them saw a female Elf watching them from behind a tree.

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Erik

With the happy Butterfly Spirit Gia on his shoulder, Erik headed back to his clan. He thought about his new companion and wondered why she was so happy. A Spirit was just a Spirit, right? Did she... have feelings?

He finally entered the Seda clan’s living quarters.

“Erik, dearrrrr!!!” cried a fluttery, girly voice.

Ah, no, he thought wearily.

A young female Elf with sea-green hair that fell to her waist, large sea-green eyes, and a thin frame raced toward him, jumped, and flung herself into his arms.

“Hello, Dawn,” Erik said flatly.

“Hiya, sweet Erik-poo!!”

“Please don’t call me that,” Erik replied, wincing when Dawn wasn’t looking.

The ditsy Dawn was an Elf around Erik’s age. She had grew up with him and was convinced that he was desperately in love with her (if secretly) and they were destined be married. Erik would rather be married to a rock.

“Erik-poo?” Gia inquired, trying to hold in laughter.

Erik blushed when he realized Gia had seen and heard everything.

Dawn’s large eyes narrowed. “Who’s she?”

“Dawn, this is Gia, a Butterfly Spirit,” Erik said patiently.

“I know that!” Dawn snapped.

Erik shook his head hopelessly, and Gia giggled.

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Gia

Gia just had to giggle. She stopped immediately when Dawn glared at her and pinched Gia by the wings, lifting her off Erik’s shoulder and in front of Dawn’s face.

“Ow! Let go!” Gia cried, struggling to free herself from the Elf’s grasp.

“Stay away from my Erik,” Dawn said, her childish voice dangerously low. Her slightly smelly breath blasted Gia in the face.

“Don’t hurt her!” Erik growled angrily.

Dawn finally let go of Gia, with a very ugly look on the female Elf’s face.

“Remember what I said, Spirit,” Dawn said, and she flounced away.

Gia fluttered her butterfly wings experimentally- no permanent harm done. She felt very intimidated by Dawn, but she couldn’t be that bad, right?

Gia would soon find out that she was wrong.

End Part 1