I ventured out into the forest. My mission is simple. I must find the woman who gives out free wishes. It was a long journey but the mere thought of what is to come kept me going.

The more I kept walking, the stranger the path got. The trees became short and pink, the sky turned a light pink, and the grass turned soft as silk. I was near her cave.

"Queen of beauty, luck, and love, show your face to me!" I shouted at the heavens hoping she would come out.

"Who's there?" A whispery voice asked me while I searched for the keeper of the voice.

"It is me, Jason Hills," I said to the sky. "I have come for my wishes."

"And how do you expect to receive them?" A beautiful girl appeared next to me. She had curly, brown hari, sea green eyes, and she moved as if she was floating. "Do you think you can steal them from me?"

"What do you have in mind? If you will not willingly hand them over then what do I have to do to get them?" I am tough and I can handle anything this Barbie can throw at me.

She floated towards me with and evil shine in her eyes. "Young man, you are obviously crazy if you think you can get my wishes. I am called the Queen for a reason. I have destroyed many people's dreams and hopes. Barely any get the wishes and when they do they usually die. "You are not different.

"You do not even know me," I said. The woman simply threw her head back and laughed. "What is so funny?"

"Nothing," dismissed the Queen. "If you still want those wishes, then you must go out to hte lake and bring me back the greatest gift ever."

Her image vanished but her voice echoed in my head.

The greatest gift ever? This gift could be anything. The greatest gift could be a boat to her. How was I suppose to complete this? I dismissed any boubt and went back to my current quest.

As instructed, I walked until I reached the lake. I had not been to this part of the woods until now. I kept thinking I was goignt ot get lost.

When arrived to the lake, I found a pure white swan holding a thick book with a gruesome, yellow cover. The swan mumbled absolute nonsense.

Was this the gift the Queen wanted? A talking swan does not seem much of a gift to me.

"Excuse me, Mr. Swan," I greeted.

"The name is Evan. Evan Kingston." He did not even bother to look up from his book.

"Sorry," I said. "Do you know the queen?"

"Of course," mumbled Evan the swan. "She is the one who turned me into a swan."

"Can you explain?" I do not see how the Queen can turn anyone in to anything. The books that I have read about her have all stated that she has no real power of her own. She can only give out wishes.

"Easy," said Evan. He finally closed his book and glanced up at me. "She gave me my wishes. I wished to be turned into the most beautiful creature on Earth. I was instead turned into a swan. She did it on purpose!"

"I am so sorry for you," I said.

"You must be her next victim." Evan the swan glanced at me and my attire for that day. "Hmfp, you must be one of those city children."

"What do you mean by next victim?"

"She will trick you into finding something for her and then she gives you wishes," said Evan. He reopened the book.

I thought about what Evan said before meeting up with the Queen. I was ready to deliever her gift.

******************************

The Queen was calmly stroking a leaf that had fallen from a tree above her. "I am here with your gift." I said as I could.

"Good, what is it that you have gotten me?" She laid the leaf on the ground, brushed dirt form her dress, and floated towards me.

"I found Evan the swan at the lake," I began. "He is a bitter swan who has serious anger issues."

"Is that my gift? An angry swan?"

I shook my head. "He told me what happened to him. At first, I was appalled, then I was curious. The it hit me."

"What?"

"Knowledge," I said. "Your gift is knowledge. Evan had no knowledge on how to use those wishes. He did not understand that you must be specific."

"Youare different form the others," she smiled. "The others usually sided with Evan. Here are your wishes." Three magic balls landed in my hand.

"I neve said I was on you side." I closed my fist tightly around a ball. "I am different from them. I sided with Evan but I also found a way to defeat you."

The Queen became shock and then the realization of the truth hit her. She vanished with the stunned expression plastered on her face. I know for sure she will not be able to give anymore wishes.

I trudged back home with two glowing magic balls banging around in my pocket.

The End