When the fairies arrived at Ivy's house, they could smell the Magnolia tree from their box.
"Oh, how delightful!" one said.
"I simply can't wait to explore our new home!" said another.
Queen Merrily took a minute to remind the fairies to greet Ivy when they saw her, and not get so excited about their new home that they would forget their manners.
That afternoon, Ivy dug through the box to remove her precious bag of fairies. She loosened the cord around it and the fairies tumbled out into her hand.
Queen Merrily led the fairies in their rehearsed greeting:
"Fairest Ivy, we are here
from the farthest corner of the land
for adventures in your fragrant tree
and magic in your hands!"
Surprised by the tinkling sound of their voices, Ivy quickly introduced herself and invited her tiny guests to follow her outside.
Once at the tree, the fairies flew into the branches, humming with excitement.
"Oh, this looks like a pleasant place for birds!" said the pink fairy.
"Look at all these leaves!" said the green.
"It smells so sweet!" remarked the yellow.
The blue was the last, and quietly exclaimed with awe, "Just look how high its branches reach!"
"Ladies, ladies" Queen Merrily interrupted, "I am glad you are so joyful upon arriving at our new home, but we must look to our host now to explain these new sights. I'll expect no fairy mischief, either! Dear Ivy, please introduce us to this, your Merry Magnolia."
Before she could open her mouth, her sister had climbed up into the tree and was grabbing at the fairies. She felt their wings fluttering in her hand and giggled wildly. "Autumn! Be careful with the fairies!" shouted Ivy. "Fairy?" asked Autumn. "FAIRY!!!" she yelled, waving her arms.
Queen Merrily flew down to Ivy to reassure her that no harm would come to them. "Don't you worry, Fairest Ivy, they will bring her joy! It is what they live for. Let Autumn welcome the dears, they are enjoying the excitement."
After Autumn tired of shaking the fairies, they all descended to the ground to where Ivy had carefully laid a blue silk fairy picnic blanket.
Ivy announced boldly, "Fairies! I understand you need names! I have prepared a feast of almonds for your naming ceremony, I hope they are tasty. Thank you for coming to share adventures with me, and may the world grow ever smaller and ever bigger as we explore it together.
"I will name you in order of the colors of the rainbow. First,
Pink Fairy, your new name shall be Bird, for you are the friend of birds. Secondly,
Yellow Fairy, you will be called Lemonade because of your sweet excitement. Thirdly,
lover of all things green, the Green Fairy will be called Leaf." Here, she paused, smiling.
"And lastly, quiet Blue Fairy, you shall be named Sky. Let us eat together!"
Satisfied with their namings and stuffed full with ceremonial almonds, the fairies retreated to the safety of their bag to fly and play another day. Thus went our first fairy adventure together.
