Gabriella lives in Vienna, Virginia, where she writes poetry that explores the human spirit, and magical fiction that bridges space and time. Her words are meant to encourage others to live their best, happiest lives, and also to laugh and have fun. You can read her poetry and Funky Fairytales, books one and two, here on Parenthetical.
“Then, one day at bedtime, the twins heard murmuring from their parents’ room and overheard something bad.
Something horrible.”
Once upon a time, there lived a happy family that lived in a galaxy called Tangah. Tangah was very mysterious, for it was always night time. The family contained four family members: a king, a queen, and two little girls who were identical twins. Their names were Lily and Molly. They played in the courtyard all day long. They had a maze, a garden, and so much more, but what they loved most in the courtyard was the outdoor library.
Every day, they read different books together. They even took them to their bedrooms secretly. Then, one day at bedtime, the twins heard murmuring from their parents’ room and overheard something bad.
Something horrible.
Their father would be going on a long journey to the twin galaxy and Molly would be going with her father.
“They’re just joking, right? They aren’t separating us!” they said to themselves, but they knew it was true. They felt their stomachs turn. Molly felt like she was drowning. She had to sit down. Lily was also scared because she didn’t want to miss her sister. Molly would be going on a long, dangerous journey to a different galaxy: the twin galaxy.
***
The next morning, the twins woke up to the smell of oatmeal and brown sugar. Molly put her pink and purple gown on, and Lily put on her blue and cranberry gown. They put on their best faces, greeted their parents, and sat down. The parents discussed how they liked their oatmeal, then brought up the galaxy switch. The twins couldn’t help but cry.
“You, Molly, will go with me to our twin galaxy,” the king said.
“Lily, you will stay here with me,” said the queen.
“Spend as much time together as possible today. Tomorrow, Molly and I leave for our galaxy,” the king said.
“Why do you have to separate us?” Lily asked.
“Don’t question me,” said the king.
“Do you want to go to the outdoor library?” Molly asked.
“Sure,” Lily answered.
They walked out of the castle and into the sunlight, over the cobblestone bridge. They stopped to look at the maze to their right and the garden to their left. The golden tulips were their favorite flowers in the whole universe and they were in bloom, just like every spring.
The cobblestone path continued on nearer to a circle of birch trees. Monarch butterflies always gathered there. On a tree were several chrysalises. They wondered when the cocoons would transform into monarchs.
They walked across another bridge to the beautiful outdoor library and into the center of the circle of trees to a little golden bookshelf and cream-colored chairs. A lake was to the right. They took a seat and resumed reading Bob the Beaver and The Ice Family.
“Wow! Bob has really changed!” Lily exclaimed.
“Really? Bob was always their friend!” Molly pointed out.
“True…” Lily said.
That night, they had their favorite meal, but the twins didn’t feel better about the galaxy switch just because they were eating food they liked. They stayed up all night, staring at the galaxy painted ceiling.
“I’m going to miss this place,” Molly said.
“Yeah, I wonder If we’ll ever see each other again,” Lily said.
“Molly, what if we forget each other?” Lily asked.
“Well, remember my 9th birthday I got the royal necklace maker as a present? That came with copper heart-shaped lockets we can make with each other’s picture in it!” Molly exclaimed.
“You girls better be going to bed. No nighttime reading or anything,” the king said rudely.
“We can still do the lockets, right?” Lily whispered.
“Yes, even if father says no,” Molly said boldly.
“If you say so…” Lily said hesitantly.
Molly pulled out the royal necklace maker, and they went to work.
“Molly, what should mine have?” Lily asked.
“Engrave my name and your name on there like so. Then I’ll show you a really cool thing,” Molly said.
Lily had made a beautiful copper heart locket with their names engraved and a picture inside of Molly. Molly had the same thing, except Molly’s locket had a picture of Lily inside.
“There’s one more step– the cool thing.”
Molly took out a cauldron and said a magic spell, “Getaran DNA!”
Then, a poof of blue smoke came pouring out of the pot. Lily soaked the lockets in the blue potion. Then they put the lockets on and felt a strong vibration. Like magic, the lockets lifted into the air and connected to each other. Molly grabbed her locket and disconnected it from Lily’s.
“What did you do to the potion?” Lily curiously asked.
“I made a potion that has the power to make our necklaces vibrate and connect our necklace as we get closer. Nobody else can wear these necklaces.”
***
The next morning was full of hugs and tears as Molly left their galaxy.
“Bye, Lily!”
“No! You can’t leave!”
“I’ll be back before you know I’m gone!”
***
“Dad, how long will I stay in the twin galaxy with you?”
“Well, it takes 3 years to learn to rule, and you get to rule temporarily for one–”
“So, this is what it was all about? Me preparing to become a queen in a different galaxy? I thought it was about a problem in the twin galaxy!” Molly said.
“Calm down, Molly. It’s your duty to be a queen when you’re old enough. Your mother didn’t get upset or angry at her father when she found out she would be queen,” the king told Molly. Then, Molly didn’t talk to him for the rest of the day.
***
Lily had missed Molly, and she stopped going to outdoor library, due to how sad she was.
“What would you like to do?” The queen asked Lily.
“See Molly.” Lily said.
“Your father is preparing Molly to be queen in the twin galaxy. She is only gone for four years, Lily,” the queen said.
Lily was so sad, she couldn’t bear to sleep. That night, Lily sang a sad song. “…I can’t wait to see you again, it’s only a matter of time…”
***
The first day of queen training went horribly. Molly decided to send a letter about it through galaxpress mail system. Since they were in different galaxies, it would take four weeks to get to the other galaxy.
12/24/3023
My dearest, Lilian,
I hope this letter makes you happy, so laugh as much as you need to.
So first, this letter is about how queen training went. In the morning, I had to hold a porcelain cup with hot chamomile tea with my pinky sticking out, and guess what happened? I spilled it all over my dress and father’s cape.
Please respond as soon as you get this letter with help!
Love, Molly
***
Eight weeks passed and Lily hadn’t responded. This had made Molly very disappointed and scared. Molly wrote again to Lily, this time asking if she was okay.
2/18/3024
My dearest, Lilian,
You have made me very anxious- what is happening? Please respond as quick as possible. If you don’t, I am calling father for help.
Love, Molly,
P.S.
Please respond soon
***
Lily had responded, finally.
4/14/3024
My dearest, Molly,
Mother and I have been locked up in the dungeon in our own castle! An evil dragon is taking over our galaxy. Sorry for the delay- Galaxpress was taking FOREVER.
I got your letter though!
Please call father for help!
Love, Lilian
P.S.
S.O.L! (save our lives)
Molly called the king for help.
“You must be kidding.” he said, but Molly showed him the letter, and he still didn’t believe the news. “I’ll have to investigate further,” the king said.
But Molly couldn’t wait. At night, she snuck out of the castle and started her journey to the other galaxy. She started towards the blueish-purple river of stars. She was going to slay the dragon, and save her mom and sister. It was risky, but she knew she could do it. She was brave.
“Don’t worry, Lily. I’m going to save you,” Molly said, and then she stepped out into the unknown.
To be continued…
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