The wind whipped wildly as Calista ascended the rocky mountain. Calista breathed in deeply, forcing her lungs to take in carbon dioxide to avoid fainting. But in spite of the high altitude and strong air currents, she grinned at her friend, Sani. They were almost there.

A heavy fog forbade anyone from seeing more than a foot in front of them, but they were getting closer. Calista could feel it in her bones. Something was more whimsical about this part of the mountain, something that hadn't been there a little while ago.

And then, the air suddenly cleared, and there stood the elusive wishing well. The air surrounding the perennial rock twinkled in the morning light. Bits of pink and purple dust fluttered to the ground. The well itself was edging on decrepit, but in a charming sort of way, like it was asserting wisdom that came with its advanced age. Calista's elation rose as the realization set in: she had accomplished something that few had done. It is said that the wishing well never stays in one place for more than a few hours, hiding deep in the sierras. But once you find it, the well will grant anyone their heart's desires. 

The secret of the well is that it gives you what you truly want, the things that your soul has yearned for, but never actually told you it wanted. In wishing at the well, you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed.

Sani dashed to the rock. Calista followed suit, until they both stood by the well.

"We did it!" Sani cheered. The two friends bumped wings before resting on the edge of the well, though Calista stared down warily.

"Do you think it's safe for us to sit here? What if we fall in?" Calista mused.

"We're fine," Sani laughed. "Even if we do fall, we can always fly back up." 

"Oh, I guess you're right." Calista relaxed, and the two sat for a moment, staring down at the well.

Sani flew up to the top of the well and pulled down a cracked, wooden bucket.

"Ready?" she asked, longing to see what laid below. Calista nodded, and Sani threw the bucket down the hole. After a few seconds, they heard a loud splash, and the two fairies rushed to an old-fashioned crank to bring the water up. Calista heaved hard to bring the bucket up from the earth. Finally, they managed to hoist it up onto the side of the well. They didn't wait; immediately they cupped their hands and took a sip of the water. It was surprisingly light, considering all the work they had just put into lifting it from the ground. The liquid was sweet and crisp, cooling their parched throats. The bucket was emptied quickly.

"Did you make a wish?" Sani asked eagerly.

Calista shook her head. "Why bother? The well already knows what I want." Sani shrugged before returning the bucket to the top of the well. Calista rested on the side of the well. The water from the well had rejuvenated her, and she felt as though she could fly all the way home in an instant. Sani joined her on the rock.

"You ready to go back?" Sani queried.

Calista nodded reluctantly. She loved being up in the mountains, but they had already been gone for three days, and they didn't want to worry the fairies any more than they had already.

"Yes let's -"

Suddenly, Calista lost her balance, falling backward into the well.

"Use your wings," Sani called. "Use your wings!"

But Calista couldn't. She felt herself spiraling down.... down.... down....

She plunged headfirst into the water. Calista fought hard against the downward pull, forcing her way to the top of the reservoir. She tried to grasp the sides of the well, but her hands slid over the slick walls. Panic was setting in. She felt trapped between the stones. She needed to calm herself, and fast. Relax, Calista. Be calm. Once she regained her composure, her wings lifted her up from the well, using every bit of muscle to make it to the top. She finally came to rest on the side of the well, and she sighed of relief.

But.... something seemed different. She looked around, and to her horror, no longer saw mountains. Sani was nowhere in sight. An old, wooden structure lay in disrepair in front of her. In the distance was an open field with.... a unicorn with no wings. Oh, no! What has happened to the poor thing?!

She was about to race over to help the creature when she noticed a female dwarf standing right in front of her. The dwarf's mouth gaped.

"Oh, hello there," Calista greeted. The dwarf gazed at her in awe. They were about the same size, though the dwarf seemed significantly younger in age.

"Is something the matter?" Calista asked, hoping that the young dwarf wasn't startled by her water-logged appearance. The dwarf continued to say nothing.

"Is that unicorn in trouble?" Calista inquired, wondering if the dwarf simply was unable to speak.

"That's a horse," the dwarf stated at last.

"A what?" Calista exclaimed. Not only did this dwarf have trouble speaking, it didn't know what a unicorn was.

All of a sudden, the dwarf's eyes grew as wide as a golden apple. "Are.... are you my fairy godmother?" she questioned. The small dwarf began to hop up and down with excitement. Calista was confused. 

"Fairy, yes," Calista said, trying to correct the dwarf. "Godmother - "

"OH MY GOSH! I JUST MET MY FAIRY GODMOTHER!!!" the dwarf cried.