During the annual light or lantern festival, the air is filled with the vibrant glow of lanterns of every color imaginable. The night sky is ablaze with lights, and laughter fills the air. People walk around, marveling at the beautiful lantern displays and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

As you wander through the festival, you're drawn to a secluded area where a single, unassuming lamp flickers with a strange, magical light. Something about it feels different, almost alive. As you approach, the lamp suddenly shines brighter, and you feel a strange energy surrounding you. The lamp’s light envelops you, and a voice echoes in your mind:

"Thank you for finding me," the voice says. "I am a magical lamp, and tonight, I have the power to grant you a wish. But know this: for every wish granted, you must fulfill a wish of mine in return."

Taken aback, you hesitate. The idea of a lamp having wishes of its own is unexpected, but intriguing. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you decide to listen.

"What are your wishes?" you ask, unsure of what a lamp could possibly desire.

The lamp's light dims and then brightens again as it responds:

1. "I wish to see the world from the highest peak." The lamp explains that it has been grounded in the same place for centuries, and it longs for a view from the highest mountain, to feel the wind and see the stars closer.

2. "I wish to shine in the hands of someone who truly needs light." The lamp desires to serve someone lost in darkness, both literally and metaphorically, to bring hope and guidance where there is none.

3. "I wish to be surrounded by laughter and joy, to be part of a celebration where my light adds to the happiness." The lamp wants to be part of a moment where it contributes to the joy of many, where its light isn't just a glow but a beacon of shared celebration.

You realize that these wishes are not impossible, but each requires thought and action. In return, you could have any wish of your own granted. You consider the lamp's wishes carefully, thinking of ways you could fulfill them.

You decide to take on this challenge, knowing that the magical night has more in store than just lanterns and lights. Now, you must figure out how to fulfill the lamp’s wishes to unlock the magic of your own.

“Adam! This wish is for you!” A voice calls through the door as Adam stares out the window of his bedroom at the red paper sky lanterns floating above the city. A sigh escapes Adam’s lips as his mom begins to knock. “Are you in there honey?”

“Who is the wish for?” Adam grunts back, running his slender fingers through his curly black hair that needed to be trimmed a week ago.

“No one can open it but you, so only you can find out… Open the door, we are all excited for you!”

Begrudgingly, Adam pushes himself away from the widow and opens the door. “That means my wish won’t make it to anyone then?” Adam states, taking the package from his mother and following her downstairs to the crowded living room.

Screaming at each other while standing roughly three feet apart, Adam’s entire family grew quiet when he entered the living room. His aunts elbow each other and gesture towards him expectantly, cousins stare wide eyed and sister grins. They all wait a moment as if expecting Adam to speak.

“There he is!” Adam’s uncle Chester finally breaks the silence. “You got a wish, and we are all wondering what The Maker chose you for this year!”

“Yes, son, getting a wish to fulfill says more about your character than having one of yours passed to someone else,” Adam’s dad lectures.

“But I can’t get another one or have someone else fulfill my wishes until I do this one, right?” Adam offers to speed up his father’s explanation.

“That’s right, so it’s best to get started on this wish right away.”

“Or I can just keep it and not have to deal with the Festival of Lights anymore…” Adam mutters, causing gasps and horrified expressions to spread across the room. “I mean I’m worried this would be one of those proposal wishes from Lydia, having nothing might be better than being forced to do whatever this says.”

“Lydia is a nice girl, but proposal wishes are risky until you are very sure who it will go too…” Adam’s mother responded gently. “Why don’t you just see what it says and then decide?”

Rolling his eyes, Adam crosses the living room to the open door. Despite the grimace he wears, his heart race increases with each step. By the time he bends over to pick up the sky lantern with his name scrawled across the top in neat handwriting, his hands are clammy and shaking, but he forces them to cradle the delicate paper lantern and gently glowing candle.

“You blow out the candle and take the wish out of the middle,” Adam’s mother explains when Adam hesitates.

Blowing out the candle, Adam gingerly removes a shimmering golden scroll of parchment from the lantern. It glows a brilliant gold that casts dancing shadows across his face. The paper is warm from the candle, but not hot as Adam slowly unrolls it to look at the wish written for him. The shadows across his face darken as he frowns.

“What’s wrong?” His mother squeaks, panic spreading across her face.

Murmurs spread through the house as Adam flips the scroll over to inspect the back. Shaking his head Adam mumbles, “It doesn’t say who it’s for…”

“That’s usually at the bottom,” Adam’s dad suggests.

“Well it’s not there…”

“What does the wish say?” Adam’s mother inquires. Everyone in the house leans forward and stands complexly silent as they wait.

Adam frowns and replies, “Nothing.”

“It has to say something, it’s somebody’s wish!” Uncle Chester protests.

“I mean… it says something, but it doesn’t make sense…” Adam sighs and clears his throat to read the wish out loud. “See me.”

After a moment of silence, whispers spread throughout the house.

“What does it mean?”

“That’s a strange wish…”

“Maybe he angered The Maker!”

Throwing the wish on the ground, Adam turns and storms back to his room. He closes the door and whimpers to himself, “What does that even mean?” Returning to his place by the window, he watches wishes float across the sky. Occasionally, one falls from the crowded sky and lands on a doorstep. Excited families throw open the door to greet the new wish, at which time Adam turns his attention back to those drifting in the sky without anyone to grant them.

“Honey, can I come in?” Adam’s mom coos through the door. She enters when Adam fails to respond and takes a seat on Adam’s bed.

“I guess I really won’t have to deal with the Festival of Lights anymore,” Adam suggests.

“It’s not that bad-“

“The wish doesn’t make sense or have a name, mom.”

“But they are always given to the best person to make them come true. Our wishes never make mistakes. Whatever this wish means, you are the only one who can figure it out.”

“Sure, I’ll just keep watching everyone else wishes come true until I random see this person who makes bad wishes.”

“Adam, you are always so bitter that you haven’t had a wish granted all these years, but have you thought that maybe who ever made this wish feels that way too? Now they can’t make another wish unless you make this one come true for them. Please, at least try.” Adam’s mother looks at him for a moment, then sighs and leaves. As she closes the door, Adam notices that she left the glowing scroll on his bed.

“I guess this crappy wisher is like me…” Adam mutters to himself, picking up the wish to read it again. “No one ever understands me either.”

Suddenly, the wish glows brighter. Dropping the parchment, Adam gasps and jumps backwards. Examining his hand as if it was burnt, Adam recalls using the exact phrase years ago to a long forgotten classmate.

“I wish someone would see me, like the real me, you know?” Adam’s own voice echoed in his head.

“Who was that?” He questioned aloud.

to be continued…

Children's laughter pealed from the city streets, floating in through my opened window. I smiled at the sound, my gaze drifting from the stack of half folded clothing on the bed in front of me. Dusk was beginning to fall, the sky turning a vibrant peach as the sun slowly fell from the sky. It wouldn't be long now.

Pushing the rest of the clothing back in the large wicker basket to be dealt with later, I tugged my apron off over my head and headed to the door, a broad smile lining my face. Anoya's Kiss was my favorite day of the year.

As soon as night fell, the streets would be packed, teaming with street vendors peddling their wares, excited children pulling their parents along, wafts of tantalizing food snaking up the quay.

It was said that if Anoya favored you, any wish you made would be granted on this night. Thousands of lanterns would be lit, each carrying a wish, in the hopes that Anoya would smile kindly on you and grant it.

The crowd was already dense, moving quickly in the direction of the harbor. I merged into the throng, letting myself be moved along with the flowing masses. The town square opened up ahead of me, a three piece band playing a lively tune on a makeshift stage near the fountain. A group of young girls twirled and danced in front of them, hands raised in the air, skirts fluttering around them as they spun.

“Thespa!” I looked around to see my sister frantically beckoning me over from atop a stone bench at the side of the square. Brissal must have arrived early to get such a good viewing spot.

Wending my way through the crowd, I made my way to her side and lightly jumped atop the bench. “How on earth did you get a spot like this?”

“Sweet talked Jedidan into coming down this afternoon and saving it, and then kicked him out.” Her eyes crinkle mischievously as she tells me this, dark curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Poor boy.”

I laughed and clapped my hands in time to an up beat number from the band, my heart lighter than it had been in months.

---

By the time I stumbled up the lane to my garden’s gate, the moon shone high above in the inky nighttime sky, clouds occasionally blotting out large swaths of twinkling stars. I could still hear the fading sound of continuing merriment coming from the square; the most hardened revelers would likely last until day break, wringing every last moment of the night to tide them over another year.

Yawning wide, I make my way up to the door, already dreaming of the warm and comfortable bed awaiting me upstairs. The sight of the red lantern atop my doorstop takes several moments to pierce my bleariness.

My blood freezes. It’s been several long years since a lantern has made it’s way to someones doorstep in our village; surely this is a prank? Someone must have placed it here. Anoya herself could not have deemed it my destiny to fulfill this.

I approach the lantern as though it’s a feral animal, cautiously, slowly. A few more moments pass as I stare down at it. The words blazed crimson on the stark white page.

"I wish for an adventure."

I sit on the creaky wooden porch. Children’s shrieks of joy fill the air, as they dance in the streets. Couples stroll down the moonlit streets. many people sit outside on their porches like us, exchanging stories and greetings with family and friends. My grandma sits next to me watching the people and the bright orange lanterns floating higher and higher into the night sky. I watch one lantern falling slowly drifting towards me. I meet my gaze with grandma Her eyes crinkle, “someone has a wish for you to fulfill.” “I never thought it would actually happen.” I said partly in awe and partly in fear The lantern lands gently at my feet. I gently untie the string, and unravel the weathered piece of paper.

Sing the Canadian National Anthem with a redneck accent as loud as you can.

I blush before belting the Canadian Anthem at the top of my lungs. Everything goes silent and heads turn peering in my direction. In the corner of my eye my grandma is laughing on the brim of tears. I finish screaming oh Canada. And surprisingly a few people clap. “ you dont have to actually do what they say you know.” My grandma adds My eyes widen, “What!” I scream “ I did that for nothing?” “Well it entertained me.” She shrugs.

A Liam POV The one you've all been waiting for and I actually wouldnt know if he's the one you've been waiting for, so don't quote me

𝓗𝓮 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓼 𝓪 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓾𝓼𝓽...

Justin sighs in relief. "Finally. Thanks to Chris." He smiles at him.

Chris smiles back then bent down to calm his wolf.

I turn around from my position in front of Savannah and hold put my hand. "You okay, Savvy?" I ask.

She takes my hand and I pull her up. Then she looks at me in confusion.

"Savvy? That's not my name." She began dusting herself off.

"I know. I just thought I'd make us nicknames." I say. "Like, Justin is Tin, Oscar is Scar, Chris is Lobo, and I'm Iam." I finish.

"Really?" Tin asked. "Tin was the best you could come up with for me?"

I smile at him. "Yes! All I had to do was remove the 'Jus' from the rest of your name."

Tin rolled his eyes and looked away.

Lobo and Scar start testing their names by saying saying them out loud.

"I guess mine does have a ring to it..." Lobo whispered.

"We should start settling down for the night." Tin glanced around the house.

"Here?" Savvy asked, dodging a stray drop of water. "This place is much too damp and broken down. I'd rather sleep outside."

"Fine by me. I'll go with Savvy." I smile and wrap my arm around her.

Tin laughs a few times before becoming serious again. "Scar, you got tents or suitcases in that pocket of yours?"

Scar proceeds to pull five automatic setup tents and suitcases put of his jean pockets. "There."

Everyone dives for one each and pulls away with them. Then they separate and set them up. Savvy and I head outside. I open my tent's bag and it immediately pops out and sets itself up.

"Woah..." I breathe. "That was faster then I thought."

Savvy walks up and opens her bag next to my spot. "How fast did you think it was going to come out?"

"I don't know, but definitely not that fast." I say.

I open the sleeping bag's bag and take it out before laying it down on the floor of the tent.

Savvy comes up behind me when she's finished with hers. "I was actually hoping you'd sleep with me in my tent tonight."

I stop, drop the sleeping bag, and spin around in one motion. "Really?" I ask.

She nods. I instantly grab my sleeping bag again and put it on her tent's floor. When I'm finished and start backing away, Savvy pulls me into her and kisses me. Then pulls away.

I'm left stunned with wide eyes as she scurries away to the others. I start to follow after her, then change my mind and go into the tent.

Repunzel Repunzel Let down you hair I’m a stranger But you needent be scared

I received your wish Last night at my door Your lantern did fish Your heart’s desire in store

Leave with me now Before the witch returns Don’t ask me how Your soul does yern

Here we now go My name Flyn to restore The Kingdom bestow We go now, i deplore

Staring out her window, she smiles gleefully at the floating lanterns.

Cosette loves this time of year. Fairies from all over come to see the Wish Jubilee. Hundreds of lanterns get wishes attached to them and lit and sent up to the sky. Each fairy receives one. Then you have the honor of fulfilling the wish.

The lantern chooses you.

They light up the night sky, making a beautiful display. It never gets old.

Just like last year, they rise into the air and then disperse to find their fairy. The one that will make that desire come true.

“Cosie, you excited?” She turns to her best friend, Grey. They watch the celebration every hear together. His wings fluttering as he skips over to her, feet lightly touching the ground beside her.

“Of course! It’s just the best day of the whole year!”

He laughs as her face lights up like the glowing display outside. Her stomach flips when she hears his melodious laugh.

“We get to see people’s and fairies’ wishes and give them a chance to see the light of day. We get to make things happen!”

She got so invested in her response that she didn’t notice a lantern float to her window sill.

“Cosie,” he points to it, and she squeals.

“Grey, this is it!”

Carefully taking it in her hands, it pulses with a yellow glow signifying it being in the right hands.

Once it dims slightly, she reads the wish that appears for her and only her.

“I wish to be able to tell my best friend how I feel.”

As fairies, there is this instinctive feeling when you receive a wish. Humans won’t get it, but fairies just know who the wish belongs to and what it is about.

It’s this pull that a fairy’s magic reacts to.

And right now, it was pulling her to Grey.

“Grey?” She doesn’t finish her question, not knowing how to ask or what to say.

“It’s ok. I just wanted you to know,” he pauses, nerves evident, “How I feel. About you.”

“You’re just so passionate about everything. You make everyone’s wishes come true and you still want to do more. You shine and I can’t look away.”

Cosette is speechless which is uncommon for her.

“You don’t have to say anything. You fulfilled my wish by listening. By knowing,” he finishes.

He turns to leave, his emerald wings move slower, almost dejectedly.

“Wait,” she blurts out. She has no idea what’s she doing. But one thing is for sure. Grey is her best friend, and she loves him.

“What about my wish?”

He meets her gaze for the first time since she read his wish. Once she sees the raw emotion, she understands why she has flutters in her stomach when he laughs.

Why she looks forward to watching the laterns every year. Why she talks about all the things she loves with him.

She’s in love with him.

“What your wish, Cosie?”

Her wings flap until she is front of him. His shoulders are tense, wings moving nervously, his eyes focused solely on her.

She grabs his hand.

“This.”

——— (Tangled is one of my favorite Disney movies, so this prompt got me excited! Do you have a favorite Disney movie?)

It’s become normal, not being normal. I stopped waiting for the lantern a long time ago. Most get it by the time they’re eighteen, some late bloomers not till nearly twenty two, then there are those who get nervous, but it always comes by twenty five; but never for me.

I turned thirty this year. It no longer bothers me when people stare. I know who I am, I don’t need the lantern to prove it to anyone. In the dark though, late at night, I won’t lie, the thoughts start to creep in.

People think I’m different. People think I’m selfish. People think I’m cold. People think I lack compassion. People whisper I’m unworthy. People assume I’m uncaring. People speculate I’m incapable of kindness. People judge me as uncharitable. People deem me unfit for benevolence. All because a lantern never graced my doorstep.

You see, when the lantern comes, that means there is a wish for you to grant. It could be for your mother or your baker or even an epic journey away to a small boy who lives a continent away. It’s this moment that my world judges kindness on. The ability to grant a wish and somehow everyone knows you’re kind. When you grant a wish, suddenly your wishes start all coming true. It’s a cycle really. There’s always wishes being sent out and wishes being given, but without ever granting one, there are no wishes for you.

So I grant no wish. I get no wish.

That doesn’t stop me from trying though. I bring meals to the poor people I pass on my way to work, I give away every spare fraction of a cent I have, I anticipate peoples needs, have gifts sent to their doors, whatever they need, I’m there, but they still glance at me with their judging eyes.

“Why is she even doing this” they whisper to each other.

“We know she doesn’t mean it, we know she’s trying to manipulate us.”

The more I do, the more they assume it’s from a place of malice rather than the true kindness of my heart. I cry, but at the end of the day, I know my kindness is pure.

——-

Every year for the summer solstice we have a Festival of Lights. We celebrate the longest day of the year by making it longer. When the sun goes down, lanterns and lights and candles shine through our village.

I try to stay away from the festivals and other large gatherings. It’s okay to be around people in small groups, but when it’s all of them - it’s so overwhelming. Too many judging eyes, too many whispers, too many times I speak and hear nothing in return. Well, except for from my sister.

My sister listens and sometimes she even responds but it’s crazy when she talks to me with them all there because in that brief moment it’s almost like they don’t see or hear her either. It’s just us. And then she responds to someone else and the conversation keeps going. I am alone again.

She’s the one that convinced me to go to the festival. She was always convincing me to do something. Like that summer I got trampled on in a fairy pit or last year when we seemed to get a new piercing every month.

The night felt the same.. I guess? It looked the same. The people were the same. The air though.. the air felt different. I could smell it.

“Do you smell that, Peek?”

My sister looked at me confused; like she very often did. She wasn’t the brightest, so often if she didn’t understand what I said she’d get insecure.

I quickly realized she didn’t smell it and didn’t want to stress it too much. I’m already strange enough, I don’t need to be pointing out weird smells. It was there all night though.

It became unbearable at some point. I had to get away. I felt bad leaving my sister who had been spending the whole night with me. I felt an obligation to her as she was the only one who seemed to feel any obligation towards me.

“I’m getting umcomfy, I think I’m gonna head home”

“Already? The night is still young! The lights are still out! We have to watch the sun come up!”

“No really, I want you to enjoy the night with your friends and our family. I’ll be happier at home and you won’t be stuck babysitting me”

She sighed. I knew she wanted to protest more but she knew there was no point. I’ve accepted myself as an outsider long ago and she was used to me positioning myself as such.

I bid my sister farewell and headed up the hill to my home. I planned on grabbing a book, sitting by the fire, and staring at it for hours pretending I’m reading while spiraling in my head.

And that’s just what I did, well at least for a little while..

I was reading the first page of the book for about the hundred and twenty seventh time when I heard something outside my front door.

A soft thud echoed from the front step. It was gentle, almost cautious. Not the careless drop of a festival leftover or the scramble of a creature drawn by the scent of crumbs. It was deliberate. A silent plea for attention.

I tried to ignore it, to lose myself in the words on the page, but curiosity wound tight around my thoughts, drawing them inevitably to the mystery lying just outside. With each moment I resisted, the pull grew stronger until it was all I could feel—a silent call that resonated with the hidden corners of my soul. And then i could smell it.. the smell from the festival.. what is that?

Reluctantly, I rose, the book slipping from my fingers, forgotten.

When I opened the door, the world held its breath.

A lantern, glowing softly in the moonlight, rested on my doorstep. A beacon in the night made just for me. My heart leaped-an unexpected guest bearing the promise of belonging, of finally being seen. I could almost hear the cheers, feel the warmth of eyes turned toward me with admiration instead of judgment.

A lantern? On my porch? For me? A flood of elation washed over me. I get to grant a wish? The very thought set my heart racing with joy. I clutched the lantern, imagining the endless possibilities, the wishes I could fulfill, the joy I could bring. I saw myself in a new light, the bearer of hope, a bringer of joy, a fulfiller of dreams. I could already feel the warm embrace of a community that had finally accepted me.

They will let me love them.

They will love me.

My mind starts to slow.

They will love me?

Finally?

Then, the shadow of doubt crept over my bright dreams. Would this change anything, really? Would fulfilling a wish truly alter how they see me, or just tick a box in their checklist of what it means to exist in this world? My past efforts, all genuine and heartfelt, had been overlooked and dismissed. Why should their doubts define my worth?

Holding the lantern, its weight seemed to grow with every passing moment of realization. Was their conditional acceptance really worth pursuing? Why must their skepticism determine the value of my actions?

I have spent my whole life trying to get everyone to see me, to really see me, to see how much I care, but it was never enough. If it wasn’t the lantern, then it didn’t matter.

But now I have this opportunity. I can change it. I can be seen.

But will I be seen? Or will they simply see me fulfilling their societal standard and finally feel comfortable with my existence.

I was so excited just moments ago, but now I’m not so sure.

I don’t want to do some grand gesture to get their approval. I don’t need to do this to prove who I am to anyone.

I know who I am.

My sister knows who I am.

I don’t need anyone else to.

I stare at it a moment more. I think I’m in mourning? I’m trying not to cry but how do you not when you’re saying goodbye.

Saying goodbye to everything you thought you had to be. Saying goodbye to a version of yourself that will never exist. Saying goodbye to everyone who will never love you.

I let myself mourn. I take a few moments. I shed my tears.

Then I close the door, return to my chair, open my book, and I began to read.

A light that could rival the burning sun bursts out into the world, painting the cobblestones with colours of oranges and reds, yellows and purples. The weird thing about that though is that such a light shouldn’t be normal, at least not at 12AM in the dead of night.

Rika stares at light with a burning hatred simmering in her chest. She hates that light. She hates what it signifies. Because in the middle of a freezing winter, right at the second the Winter Solstice starts and the night is at its longest.

She stands from her bed, sighing so heavily it woke the slumbering woman beside. She feels guilty as Mina stirs, slowly opening her eyes at Rika’s slumped figure. Mina smiles sympathetically, placing a tender hand on her cheek as she asks, “it’s starting?”

Rika pouts. “Yeah. Go back to sleep, I’ll take care of it.” She kisses her cheek and walks out to the living room, turning on the sconces with a snap of her fingers.

There’s a special kind of people that exists today. They’re so special that ordinary folks pray to them like a bunch of deities. Rika doesn’t know who came up with the idea but whoever it is, she hates them with a passion. When Winter Solstice comes, the people light their lanterns containing wishes they wish with all their hearts. They let them fly into the sky, they let them float into the open sea, depending on whatever wish they want fulfilled. Those wishes arrive at their destination in the next moment, right at her people’s doorstep.

Rika has friends that can fulfill wishes of prosperity, another one that can fulfill wishes of love, of fame, of fortune. There are a whole lot of wishes they all fulfill but Rika… Rika’s different.

She doesn’t understand why. If they really are deities, then she would be the Deity of Chaos. Whatever powers move the universe, they deemed her the fulfiller of dark wishes.

At first, it was small. The first lantern she received was a wish from a little boy that wanted his bully to stub his foot on concrete so he wouldn’t be able to walk for days. It was oddly innocent despite the ill wish so she fulfilled it—not like she had a choice anyway.

But over time, the wishes got darker. A teenager wishing her rival to fail a major exam, a person in debt wishing the debt collector bad luck, a woman wishing for her stalker to choke on soup—of all things she could wish, she chose soup, it was hilarious.

And it got darker still. But what’s different this time is Rika noticed her lanterns start coming from … questionable people. A murderer wishing for early parole, an unfilial child wishing a morbid death to his own mother, and the worst one she ever received was of a group of young men wishing to immobilise a teenage girl so they could do whatever they want.

When the wishes started taking a darker turn, Rika resisted. When the wishes started asking for death and psychological harm, Rika threw the lantern away and rejected the wish.

What greeted her was absolute physical and emotional pain. She was shown images of things she feared by an unknown force that could access her mind, she was made to feel a crippling pain racking her entire body. Mina kept her company but she couldn’t take it, she couldn’t bare to see Rika in pain. She’d do anything for Mina so she fulfilled the wishes she could at least stomach.

She dreads the wish tonight. She fears the worst as her cold hands twist the cold doorknob. She stares at that innocently looking lantern.

Because of her fear, it took her a moment to see that the flicker of the lantern light is different. It’s brighter, louder. Her lanterns had always been dull.

Curiously, she picks it up and holds the lantern close to her ear. A faint whisper of a wish made from the heart comes and says, “Deity. Thank you for fulfilling the wishes of the people. I hope you can fulfill mine. I wish to be like you. I want to fulfill wishes and make everyone happy.”

The voice sounded so young and it immediately broke her heart. She suffers a cruel fate.

The fate of this little girl’s hand is in the palm of her hand. If she wishes to be like Rika… if she wishes to live the life Rika lived… it’s too much.

No one should ever hold this much power. No one should ever be able to grant the darkest wishes humanity could dream of. So with a deep deep breath, she steels herself and throws the innocent little latern away. She glances to the dim sky, glaring at the heavens, at whoever is playing such a cruel game, and says with steely resolution, “I reject this wish and all the ill wishes that is yet to come. Hit me with all you got, asshole.”

The pain is instantaneous. She feels a searing pain travel from her legs up to her head. It rips a loud pained scream from her lips as she blacks out.

It was BlinkenKnob, the elvish Festival of Lights. The wandering streets of Brocken were trimmed with the traditional purple lala flowers and twinkle lights. Elf children dreamt of sugar cookies shaped like flames. Elf grownups wished each other well. There were parties and parades all leading up to the arrival of the wish lanterns. Everyone everywhere was happy except for Mr. Inkling.

Inkling hated the fuss and the noise and the false sentiments of the Festival of Lights. Grumbling through the streets, Inkling tucked his head deeper into his cloak ignoring the elvish merriment bouncing all around him.

Balancing his food sacks with one hand, Inkling searched for his key to open his round door. He planned to eat soup and drink ale until all the joy was over. That’s when it happened. First there was the ringing of celestial bells, then the air was scented with sweet magic, and then it happened. Crystals and flames, the wish lantern fluttered around Inkling’s head then with a jaunty tune it landed at his feet.

“Vex!”

Inkling cursed. He opened and slammed his door but he knew how enchanted wishes worked. Inkling made his soup and the wish lantern appeared among the onions and potatoes. He drank a few steins of ale and the wish lantern twinkled behind his comfy chair. Finally pulling his Nanny’s quilt over his head to sleep his wish lantern hummed by his laundry basket. Frustrated Inkling tossed his pillow at the basket. The lantern disappeared and reappeared in his bed. Once a magic wish is asked for the wish must be fulfilled. That is the magic of the lights.

He picked up the lantern. Its crystal petals unfolded unveiling the wish, his wish to fulfill.

“Okay let’s get this over with,” Inkling shouted at the wish lantern that danced with delight.

He read the wish, once, twice, thrice. It said, I wish you to find your true love. He was stunned. He was well and truly stuck, Inkling was enchanted and he had to fall in love to break the spell. Eventually Inkling fell asleep tossing and tangling as the wish lantern danced a jig in his bedroom’s corner.