Life Is a Fairy Tale: Flash Fiction for Julia King's Contest

Today's post is a little treat for you all. Oh, all right! I confess! I've entered another contest. But I swear it's a really cool one. My good friend and CP, Julia King, is hosting a flash fiction contest. The rules are simple. 1. You must follow her blog. (You should follow her anyway. She's super sweet and awesome!) 2. You must tweet, blog, and/or facebook about the contest. (Done and done!) 3. Post your flash fiction on your blog by February 24th at 5:00 PM MST and leave a comment on the contest post with your flash fiction's link. and 4. Leave your email address so if you win, Julia can contact you.

The only requirements for the contest are that you must write 650 words or below and begin your story with, "Once upon a time," because, well, that show just ROCKS!

So, here is my story and entry, that I hope you enjoy, entitled: 

Life is a fairy tale

Once upon a time, a young girl danced alone in a meadow. The warm summer air caressed her as she spun round and round. Arms open wide, she willed her body to rise.

“Candice! Where are you?”

His soft melodic voice called to her. Turning faster, Candice knew she would do it this time. Her feet would leave the soft waving grass and she would feel the fluffy clouds take their place. All she had to do was keep spinning.

Her toe hit a pebble, sending her flying to the ground with a bone jarring thunk! Her soft brown eyes flicked up, knowing she'd see his smiling blue eyes looking down on her. When they weren't, a small tear slid down her cheek.

Candice's hand lifted toward the sky. “I'm trying. Please wait for me,” she said in a broken sob. The grass swayed until it caressed her soft pale skin. She sighed when it brushed along her cheek. Eyes fluttering shut, she whispered, “Eric, are you here?”

The air turned frigid. Looking up, she met with the narrowed green eyes of her mother, Queen Jackie. The woman knelt, took her daughter's hand, and smirked. “My dear, Candice. Why must you yearn for a boy who will never return? He is dead. It is time to move on.”

Candice pulled away. Rising to her feet, she shook her head. “No! Eric's alive and I need to find him before he fades away!”

“Enough, Candice!” Her mother grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at her. “You are set to marry Prince John in the morning. It is time to leave childish believes behind. You're seventeen after all. The same age I was when I married your father.”

A strong scent of pine drifted into her senses, bringing Eric rushing back into her heart before she could concede to her mother's wishes. Her fingernails bore into her scratchy violet dress. Thunder rippled through the graying sky when she pulled away. Taking three steps back, she found herself free falling into a giant sinkhole that open beneath her feet. Arms stretched out, she screamed, “Help me! Eric!”

The sensation of fingers winding around her hand sent sparks throughout her body. The sickness in her stomach went away when the clean scent of pine embraced her. Candice breathed it in and smiled. Closing her eyes, she waited for what was to come.

“Candice, after all of this time are you not going to look at me?”

Her eyes snapped open. Water rushed into them when she met with his soft blue jewels. Her fingers traced his chiseled jawline, waiting for him to vanish once again before their lips could touch. When he didn't, she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips passionately to his.

Pulling away, her hands ran through his chocolate locks. “I knew you were alive. I could feel it.”

“Candice, I love you.” Eric's soft lips pressed to hers again.

Taking a breath, she looked around at the sea of wildflowers that surrounded them. “Where are we? Is this heaven?”

Eric snickered. “Close. It's home. You were asleep for so long, I thought I'd lost you.”

She frowned. “Asleep? You left me to fight in the war. They said you'd died. My father has given my hand to Prince John—”

“Prince John? Candice, that must have been some dream.” 

“Dream? But...” She noticed her romantic gown was gone. In its place was a soft violet sweater and jeans.

Eric hugged her closer. “It doesn't matter. As long as you ended up with me, are you mad?”

“No.” Snuggling closer, she closed her eyes and pictured herself spinning in the meadow once again. When she breathed in Eric's scent, they opened again, thankful to see his smiling eyes smiling down her as he slid a small diamond ring on her hand.

“A dream come true.”

The End

I hope you all enjoyed it! Until next time, happy reading/writing everyone! And don't forget to check out Julia's blog! Her flash fiction is a really good one!