Crafting Fanny The Fairy: The Bond Between Humans and Fairies
After writing the first story about Joe, I began imagining children across the world encountering different fairies. As these fairies travelled, sharing knowledge and experiences with one another, I imagined some of them forming extraordinary bonds with certain children, having connections so profound that they would feel compelled to pass on their wisdom.
Before I could develop those relationships, however, I first had to imagine what these fairies looked like. I had dozens of illustrations of fairies over the years (mostly from Tumblr) and one idea stuck with me: each fairy's appearance, personality, and nature would reflect the child to whom they were bound.
Beside her stood another being, her hair a cascade of vivid orange, woven into an intricate crown. Her eyes mirrored the first, twin orbs of starlight, and her skin bore a light, walnut hue.
The bond between a child and a fairy is closely tied to a family's relationship with nature and their willingness to protect it. We see this with Joe. Greg chooses him because his family unknowingly passed down knowledge that druids are expected to possess. Joe has been preparing for this path his entire life without ever realising it.
Isabelle's story follows a similar pattern. Through years of gardening and cooking, her grandmother taught her that magic does not always come from elaborate spells. Sometimes it's spoken words and at other times, it is found in emotions. Love poured into the same soup, year after year, can become a spell in its own right. Tammy's generosity towards the fairies such as sharing the fruits of her garden without expecting anything in return, combined with Isabelle's natural curiosity and compassion, made her the perfect apprentice for a fairy like Alana.
"But certain humans, your family among them, continued to protect us. In return, we bestowed a fraction of our knowledge upon them. Your grandmother possesses her understanding because this lore has traversed your lineage for over nine centuries," Alana explained, her voice carrying a profound affection.
When the bond between a fairy and a human is as strong as the one shared by Alana and Tammy, the apprenticeship begins almost immediately. By accepting responsibility after spilling the soup and choosing to remake it herself, Isabelle demonstrates the humility and perseverance that Alana values. Rather than avoiding her mistake, she embraces the challenge. It is this willingness to learn, coupled with her decision to step into Alana's world without fear, that makes her worthy of becoming the fairy's student. The fact that Fanny shared a similar bond with her own mother, and that Tammy was once guided by Geraldine, reveals that the Fleming family's connection with the fairies extends across generations. It is a bond that neither time nor distance can weaken.
"Tammy's response carried a hint of pragmatism. 'Fairy instruction comes when a bond is strong. Alana's tutelage, I assume, began yesterday. Am I correct?'"
Through this relationship, I wanted to explore the idea that magic is not inherited by chance. It is cultivated through kindness, respect for nature, and a willingness to learn. In the world of Fanny The Fairy, the strongest magic is not found in extraordinary powers.