麻豆社

By Reuben K

As he awoke, he yawned and stretched before preening his feathers of iridescent beauty, the colour of molten copper. He arose from his nest, cleverly created out of branches that had slowly blackened to the colour of coal over time, from his gentle snoring. In the bed next to him, his friend the Wizard also awoke. His scarlet robes in their full glory, shimmering in the morning sunlight.

From the day he had hatched from his gnarly egg a year ago, the Phoenix had never been able to fly. Try as he might, he was never able to take flight. He had told his friend the Wizard, that more than anything in the world, he wished he could fly, like a Phoenix should. The Wizard understood how upsetting it was for him, he had always been teased by his friends. He had found a recipe for a potion, and that day they were setting off on a treacherous journey to find the key ingredient, a magic Puff Fruit.

They had set out early that morning. The duo had now reached the forest, known for being a dangerous place. Raindrops glistened like jewels on the leaves and branches from the early morning rain which had now disappeared. Suddenly, they heard heavy breathing and thundering footsteps. Searing flames billowed out from behind a towering spruce tree! They ran and hid, afraid the monster would find them. Then, they saw it! Two beady green eyes, a black twitchy nose...they gasped, shivering with fear. Then came a soft voice,

"Hello?" it called.

It was big, hairy and kind of ugly but didn't sound like a monster! "Sorry about the flames, I sneezed, I'm sure I have a cold coming. What are you doing in the forest?"

They explained they were on a mission to find the magic Puff Fruit for something very important, and their new friend told them he knew exactly where they could find one. They were overjoyed and immediately set off with their new companion.

They travelled for days, over vast fields, crashing foamy oceans and through humid jungles. They were becoming weary when suddenly the craggy mountain they had been searching for came into sight. Carved and etched into the face of the mountain, many centuries before by the endemic people of the land, was the symbol of the Puff Fruit. This was it!

Without hesitation, the trio sprinted up the mountain where they found one lonely Puff Fruit hanging from a dense branch. This was all they needed to make the potion. Quickly, they picked the fruit, combined some other ingredients and the 'Potio Volantes', meaning flying potion was ready to drink.

The Phoenix anxiously took a sip, flapped his wings and began to rise into the air. He couldn't believe it! He wept uncontrollably with joy; he had never felt so happy. These two extraordinarily kind people had unimaginably changed his life forever and he would never forget it. Ever.