The Tattoo

I desperately wanted to scratch my arm. It itched terribly. Steve,
the tattooist had
said it would.

"Don't give in to temptation to scratch it, luv," he'd advised. "Just
wash it in soapy
water when you get home and apply some antiseptic cream. See you again
I'm sure,
most people come back for more, once they've had one done you
know!"

I'd assured him I wouldn't be back. I only wanted the one tattoo,
'Isabelle' my red-
haired, white winged fairy. I'd designed her myself and I was so proud
of her. I couldn't
wait for the summer to come so I could wear all those skimpy short
sleeved tops that
were currently in fashion and show her off to all my friends.

After removing the gauze, I applied cream to the tattoo just before
showering.

A nice hot drink and a quick flick through my magazine and I was more
than ready
for sleep. I hadn't realised how tired I was.

No sooner had I closed my eyes, than I found myself alone on a deserted
beach with sands of a most unusual golden colour, almost orange. The
crystal clear green waters of the sea seemed to compliment the golden
sands perfectly. I felt as though I'd stepped inside a beautiful
painting. It was so peaceful and serene.

Something flying towards me caught my eye and I looked up sharply. At
first I thought it was a bird but it wasn't long before I realised, to
my utmost surprise, that the flying object was a fairy and not just any
fairy either. It was Isabelle, my tattoo!

Isabelle settled down beside me, flapping her white wings gracefully
while she landed, then she tucked them behind her. The look of utter
shock on my face seemed to cause her extreme amusement, for she was
laughing out loud.

"You look as if you've seen a ghost!" she said.

"Isabelle, You're real!"

"Aye I should hope so," she was still laughing.

"But....how can that be? You're a tattoo. I designed you myself."

"From the world you live in, aye, you did. But when you see things from
my
world, you'll soon realise that I already existed long 'afore you
thought me up!"

"Your world? Where's that?"

"Why Megalithia where else? I exist within the third spiral, better
known
to you Mortals as Fairyland."

"Fairyland? But that's impossible!" I exclaimed. Then realisation
dawned.

"I know. I'm dreaming! You are just a part of my dream."

"Aye. Tis correct," she replied, "how else could a Mortal visit
Megalithia except by journeying through the Dreamworld? Now come hither
Abby of Earth, the wise one is waiting to meet you."

I followed Isabelle across a field of the softest grass imaginable.
Still dressed in my nightie and old dressing gown, I realised I was
barefoot.

We came upon a silver fountain. The bricks were made of silver and so
was the animal-shaped ornament in the middle of the fountain. Cool blue
waters sprayed from his open mouth.

To the left of the fountain was a large tree made of pure silver which
had stars engraved into its trunk.

"That's the silver tree of knowledge," pointed out Isabelle, "we knock
on
the trunk three times and the wise one will come. He will answer
any
questions you wish to ask."

I watched in astonishment as Isabelle knocked three times on the bark
of the
silver tree.
Within minutes the giant tree trunk parted to reveal a cave inside. A
sleepy lizard-like creature wormed his way out of the tree. His bronze
coloured body was covered in scales. He peered at me from two large
bronze lidded eyes, amidst a mass of black freckles.

Swishing his long bronze tail behind him, he tried to find a place to
comfortably sit his large bulk. He would have been a terrifying beast
had he not had such a look of love and kindness in his eyes.

"Octa," Isabelle addressed the creature, "I bring you my
Human-Counterpart, Abby of Earth."

The creature looked at me intently.

"Abby of Earth, I am Octa the Wise-One. I am one of the few
remaining
Dragons left in Megalithia. I hope we can help each other."

"Did you say d..d..dragon?" I stammered.

"Don't be frightened Abby," reassured Isabelle, "The Dragons are
much
misunderstood creatures. At one time they lived happily on Earth, until
the Mortals soon realised that eating Dragon-Eggs cured all ill. The
females were hunted and forced to lay eggs for the Mortals and hardly
any baby dragons were hatched for many years. They are now in danger of
dying out completely and have to hide within the magical realms, until
such a time as they can safely return to Earth, their rightful home
world."

I looked back at Octa the dragon. How could I help him?

Suddenly I felt very weary.

"Make haste Octa," urged Isabelle, "she's returning to her Earth
body."

"Will you help us Abby of Earth?" asked the dragon.

"How?" I cried, finding it difficult to focus all of a sudden. "How can
I
help you?"

"You are one of the few mortals of Earth who are able to speak with
the
inhabitants of our world. We need you to teach the other mortals about
us.
Help them to realise that dragons, unicorns and fairyfolk are here to
protect them. We wish to live side by side with them, but cannot afford
to risk our young. We can teach you other methods of healing rather
than eating our eggs. We can teach you much knowledge and show you how
to use magic. Only when all the mortals realise how important we are to
one another, can we return to live amongst you once more, in
peace."

"But how? How can I teach people of dragons and faeiries and magic?
They won't listen, they'll think I'm crazy!"

"There is a way Abby of Earth," said Octa, "A way to get through
to
some of the mortals who are ready to listen. An magical way of
communication as old as time itself."

My head was truly swimming now and the images of Isabelle and Octa
were
blurring together. I could feel my body simultaneously standing before
them in Megalithia and lying, sleeping in my bed at home.

"She leaves us Octa," shouted Isabelle, "Tell her, tell her what she
must
do."

"Write about us Abby. Tell stories about us. Write of Megalithia and
the beings who live here. You can visit us many times and when you
return to Earth you must write about life on Megalithia and the other
worlds. We will help you, but you must write.
Write stories Abby and the Mortals will read them. Some will believe we
are just fantasy, figments of your imagination. Others will know the
truth, that we exist and are real. Write Abby of
Earth......write......write....."

The ringing of the alarm clock woke me from my sleep. I sat up in bed
recalling all
the strange events of my dream. Megalithia, Isabelle and Octa were all
as vivid in my
mind as if they'd been real. Of course they weren't real. My visit to
Fairyland had just
been a particularly vivid dream.

Never mind, I had the inspiration I was looking for. I'd always wanted
to write but
couldn't think what to write about. Now I knew. I would write fantasy
stories. I would do
as Octa had said in my dream and write about the world that existed
within the Third
Spiral, Megalithia! I would write stories of faeries and Dragons and
other wonderful
creatures from my imagination.

Who knew what wonders existed deep within the recesses of my mind that
might come
to me in a dream?

With images of Megalithia fresh in my mind, I leapt out of bed and
switched on
my computer.

To think, having something as simple as a tattoo, had given me the
inspiration
to write stories!

I pushed up the sleeve of my pink night-dress so I could check my
tattoo and
apply fresh antiseptic cream.

I stared at my arm in disbelief.

It was bare.

The tattoo had gone!