Imagination

 It is a song to the soul.

Magic in the real 

And at times confusing world.

Great heroes and heroines go on

 Incredible journeys that reflect the

Noble spirit craving for

Adventure

Thoughts that humanity enjoys through

 Inspiration of fantasy

On the winding path,

Neverending. 

Ship of Clouds

The wind was brutal as the ship passed the setting sun. Peter knew that a storm was coming, but he wasn't afraid. Everything was an adventure just waiting to happen. The Lost Boys followed his orders and ran about the ship, watching the horizon.

"Alright you lackeys!" Peter said with a loud booming air. "It's time to sail into that storm!"

The Lost Boys watched as lighting appeared in the distance, and held on as the ship hit a bump of air on the breeze.  They were headed toward dark clouds and rougher winds. Soon they would sail through the stars, back to Neverland, but for now, Peter wanted to race the sunset and brave the storm  that surrounded them. Once the storm whipped on all sides of the ship, Peter grinned and yelled

"Hold steady!"

The Lost Boys held the ropes tightly and stood their ground as rain, wind and clouds met them. The wind rushed through the ship, while a loud boom of thunder warned them to turn back. 

"Steady now!" Peter yelled while turning the helm. A lightning bolt went past them, missing the ship by barely an inch. The winds and thunder grew louder and more menacing. Rain began to escape the clouds above them and fall in loud showers across the ship. 

"Hold on!" 

Peter laughed as the ship dove past another lightning bolt. They had passed the eye of the storm. Ahead a clear path formed between the dark clouds. Stars twinkled at them, as if they were marveling  in their success. For Peter, nothing was impossible. 

"To Neverland!" He yelled, and the boat sailed smoothly through the sky, toward the second star, and out of sight. 

The Palace across the bridge

Milla stared across the Cloud Sea, waiting for the bridge to let her pass. For many years, the Sky people lived in this great fortress. Their flying ships explored the mountains and world of clouds, rock and sky. For years, she waited for her turn. Her turn to go across the bridge, learn how to sky sail and follow Jacob to the other side of the Air World Division. The crystals on the bridge would glow if they let her pass, but she had to be approved by Skaith, the great magician who guarded the bridge. It was said that the King himself give Skaith this task in order to protect his fortress and allow only those who were deemed worthy to pass. As Milla knew, the only way anyone could take over the fortress would be within, or beyond the border of the cloud wall that guarded the Sky People and kept the King on his throne.

The crystal began to change color as Milla watched it. Two merchants were allowed to cross the border. Only their merchandise granted them access to the palace, but one day Milla would cross that bridge, she was after all the daughter of the greatest Sky Sailor and explorer that the Air World Division had ever known. She would cross that bridge, learn to sail and find her father, whenever he was. Everyone knew that the King was devastated by his best friend's disappearance, but Milla believed that she could find her father, and have her own adventures, discovering the sky continents. All she had to do was go across that bridge. She watched the merchants walk through the crystal arch and formed her plan.

The Lotus Garden -Arina's Sanctuary

The moonlight fell on the flowers, making them glow like stars. Arina sat at the edge of the flower shaped pool and stared at the lotus blossoms, as the soft music drifted through the air. Training was over, and now, just before bed, she had some time to relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the temple garden. 

She would often come here when she was small, and when she first arrived at the temple, under her master's wing, she declared this spot to be her favorite area in her new home. As she grew older, past ten, the master would smile at the end of her lessons, and send only a few guards with her as she went to sit by the water garden and watch the dragonflies weave in and out of lotus stems. Sometimes she would count the buds, and other times she would close her eyes and listen to the leaves rustle with a soft hum now and then from the dragonflies. If she were ever to have a sanctuary, a place where she could go when things became dificult, or even a spot to meditate after a long day, this was it. 

Here, in the safte and familiar garden, Arina could dream. She could dream that she was anyone she wanted to be. A performer like the women she saw at the traveling fair. A crafter who wove fine necklaces and carved beautfiful jade pendants. A nobleman's daughter, like the women in stories she read after a few hours of training. Here, she didn't have to be the faelin. She didn't have to be the figurehead of the temple, alongside her wise and kind master. She didn't have to be "the one" that everyone expected great things from. She could just simply be.

Like any person in the world, she could watch the stars, smell the water flowers, swat away a stray dragonfly  and listen to the lap of water against the edge of the pool. 

The Imagination

There's a place
where stars don't grow old.
The world is bright
and not so cold.
Life and love
are side by side.
People have no reason
to run and hide.
With each shooting star
a wish is made.
Dreams will never
disappear or fade.
The imagination will always be
an artist's humble sanctuary. 

Writing Prompt 31: My Dream House/ Room

 (The Beast's Library in Disneyland)

Prompt located here: http://writeonrightnow.blogspot.com/2006/12/writing-prompt-your-dream-houseroom.html

My dream house would have a water garden and a library.  It would be a light blue with brown trim, similar to the house I grew up in. It would probably be two stories with a small balcony, or a nice patio. A porch swing would be a must. The living room would be a soft green, very light with a few nice paintings and an indoor water fountain or water fall and aquarium. The stairs would be a soft blue with cherry wood railings. The kitchen would have a strawberry theme with frog salt and pepper shakers on lily pad shaped dinner mats. And yes, I would own a Mrs. Potts and chip teaset, along with a homemade tea set based off of Skin Deep.  It would be a simple place with a wood floor and small roses in the window. The must have room for my dream house would be a library with a Beauty and the Beast theme. Stained glass windows, if possible with the pictures from the movie, and "an enchanted rose" on a table by a nice arm chair and a globe. If possible, there would be a rolling ladder, and the walls would be covered with books and fairy tale paintings. The books would be organized and arranged artistically around my Beauty and the Beast collection.
The backyard and front yard would have gardens. The front yard would be relatively simple and feature a few roses and daisies. The backyard would have a koi fish pond with a small bridge going over it. I would love a Cherry Blossom tree and a willow tree, along with a small zen garden with sand and a rake. My kids would have a playhouse outside with a swing set and a slide, similar to one I had in my childhood. The dogs would have a little doghouse and play pen outside, and the cats would have a scratching post. And yes I will have wind chimes. My bedroom and kids bedrooms would probably have a theme, mine most likely Beauty and the Beast, and the guest room would have a story book or fairytale theme as well. The bathrooms would have a frog and waterlily theme, with a fish theme for the kids. If there was a basement, It would have a secret passage and an entertainment room for special events.
In short, my dream house would be based on the three things I love most, Beauty and the Beast, Fairy Tales and Asian Culture.

Photographer: Samantha Decker

(Picture from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sammers05/4755548594/in/photolist-iHJh39-eTJMLK-iwJK3E-kyTrod-8feqV9-eiZzx4-9FH2oh-fKdfcR-efA2j9-eeHZxA-eE4GDH-e9zsfy-jqGDpL-eS72Rg-9Kjntc-8KNBJA-mfXp2F-eAHoJd-7JCT3j-ed6xrV-7AMhCW-7ytRWU-6sCyEx)