Chapter 1 Part 3

Sheng had finally climbed the top of the stairs in search for Avira. They were both 12 years old and had known each other for almost three years. Normally when a princess is in search for her servant she is either frustrated at the horrible job the servant did, or is in need of some more service. Sheng was never looking around for Avira for such a thing, because they had established that Sheng was independent and didn't need a servant, but only wanted a friend. This was why she was climbing the top of the stairs in search of Avira, because they were friends, but also because they were playing hide and seek. However Avira had decided it was hide and spook.
Sheng had just planted her foot on the top step and removed her hand from the railing, when in a flash of pure exuberance Avira jumped right out in front of Sheng from behind the wall to the left and their noses almost grazed. "Rahhhh!!!" she screamed. "Ahh!! Sheng screamed as she fell backward. Luckily Avira was so close to Sheng that she grabbed the hem of her dress in one hand, and had Sheng's hand in the other. Sheng had also clutched onto Avira, who was bracing herself so as not to fall, with one hand and put the same hand back on the railing. They both caught their balance and Avira pulled Sheng back up the steps, and they fell down on the ground at the top of the steps into each others arms. They breathed for a moment and then Avira started convulsing with laughter. Sheng was not in the mood to laugh. She instead got up and looked down the stairway, which composed of about 2 flights of stairs which she had just climbed, if she had fallen she would have most certainly died, or worse her face would have been mutilated and no boy would ever fall in love with her.
"That was like 6 or 7 years ago, just trust me." Avira peered into Sheng's soul, realizing what Sheng must have been thinking about.
"Okay. Okay. Show me already." Sheng was then yanked around to see the other side of the hedge. Her eyes grew to be ten feet tall.
"Surprise!" The crowd of the most splendid and beautiful women were standing right in front of a large gazebo that was sparkling white as the rays of the sun danced upon it. There were tables set up with tea cups and biscuits of every sort set against the railing. "Happy birthday!" They all shouted in unison, Avira joining them this time.
Sheng's mouth fell open, as all the girls went inside the gazebo, Avira pulled Sheng with her into it and set her down at a table at what seemed to be the back. She didn't remember there being a gazebo in this pasture just in off the lake. The lake was about 5 yards or so away, glistening in the sun stretching out miles before her. She wanted to go and jump into it, that would be all the happy birthday she could ask for, however Avira always had her plans
As Sheng peered out on the lake that stretched out from the other exit of the gazebo, she heard music start pouring into the gazebo. She looked round and found a three piece band were stepping up onto the platform of the gazebo, one man with a violin, one man with a harp, and one with a flute. They began playing and then she noticed that all her friends were in some formation and had started dancing ballet. It was fantastic as she saw all the women pliéd and spun, eventually jumping in sync with the music as if they were the three piece band playing the music with their movements. Avira was in the forefront always with the spotlight on her, even though there was never really a spotlight for her. Her movements were so angelic and graceful and so perfect. Sheng had always wanted to learn the ballet, but she had tried and couldn't get it. She figured it must be due to the limitations of her kind, whatever kind that she was.
She at least knew the dances and predicted Avira's movement until the finale that was something Sheng had never seen before. She clapped and hummed along with the music unsure of whether to cry, to jump up and hug her wonderful friends, or explode into a puffy cloud and float away to piece. She was just so happy, she didn't know what to do, but of course she broke her promise and her eyes became the lip of a waterfall.