A 12 year old girl watched a falling star streak across the midnight sky growing larger as it fell toward her.  She glanced back at the cabin where her family slept oblivious.  She looked again.  The fiery, glowing orb slowed as it moved over a nearby hilltop transforming and changing shapes as it did.

The girl strained her eyes as a beautiful, glowing, winged form emerged from the light, swooping down gently above the water.  “An angel,” she whispered.

The angel walked gently upon the water of the crystal clear chilled waters.  As she moved near, the girl could see the gentle ripples her feet made on the water as she walked.  Quickly, she ran from the balcony around the cabin to the path and across the foot bridge to the stream near the big rock as fast as her feet could carry her.  She gazed, her eyes fixed upon the glowing form that approached.

Seeing the girl the angel smiled.  Her eyes glowed white with the power of infinity.  Her suit glowed as burnished gold with white stripes down her arms and sides to her feet.  A glowing golden triangle shimmered a rainbow of colors upon her forehead.  She stood before the girl.  “Up late aren’t we?”

“I had a strange dream,” the girl answered.  “Have you come far?”

“Very far,” the angel answered.

“Why?”

“Now and then I like to return to see how things are going on earth.”

“Oh?” 

“A few years ago I helped save this world from certain destruction,” the angel explained.

“You wanted to know if we’d all killed each other?”

The angel smiled nodding.  Her flaming translucent wings became smaller folding behind her back.  “You remind me of a girl I once knew.”  She held out her hand.  “Walk with me.”

The girl took the angel’s hand and they walked out upon the water.

“Like me?” the girl asked.

“Would you like to hear the story?”

“Oh, yes.  Please.”

“She was just twelve years old when her grandpa bought her a pony,” the angel began.

“I love ponies.”

“Me too.”  The angel smiled as she continued, “When the girl saw Sparky she was so excited.  Her grandfather said, ‘He’s all yours.’  The girl asked if she could ride him.”

The girl sniffed the air as images passed before her eyes.  “He was black, brown, and white, wasn’t he?”  She looked up at the angel.  “I can see him.  I even smell the barnyard!”

“Of course you can, Jasmine.”  The angel smiled.

“You know my name?”

“I know your father’s name is Gary Martin.”

“You know my family?”

“Did your dad ever tell you about his sister?” the angel asked.

“Yes, he said her name was Megan.  I have pictures of her.”  The girl looked sad.  “But she went away before I was born.  I wish I could have met her but daddy said he doesn’t know where she went.”  The two walk upon a gravel bar and stopped. 

“That is sad,” the angel said.

“What’s your name?” 

“Most who know me call me Ember,” she smiled, “but you can call me Megan.”  Ember knelt facing the girl.  The glow left her eyes as tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

Jasmine stood speechless gazing into Megan’s eyes.  “Aunt Megan?”

Megan nodded placing a finger across her lips. “It’s a secret.”

The girl hugged her.  Tears flowed down her cheeks.  “Where have you been all these years?”

Megan smiled.  “I had to help save inhabitants in a galaxy far, far away.”

“Like in the Star Battle movie with Princess Leona?”

“Exactly like that.”  Megan pushed Jasmine back.  “You watch old movies?”

“It’s not that old.”

“Would you like to meet her?”  Megan asked.

“Who?  Princess Leona?”

“Of course.”

“But that was just a movie, it wasn’t real.”

Megan looked upward toward the night sky.  “Remember that great big spaceship the princess commanded her last battle from?”

“Orion?”  Jasmine asked.

“Look up.”  Megan pointed.

“Oh my!”  The girl gasped as Orion’s glowing triangular form appeared shimmering in the night sky.  “That means it’s all real!”

Megan nodded.  “Would you like to meet her?”

“Is she up there?”

“Her real name is Rena.”  Megan laughed.  “Two to come up, Orion.”

In a flash of blue light, the two vanished.
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