“When it comes to friendship, it doesn’t take goods to do good.” –Valedes
Valedes, our narrator Phoenix and a character within the story itself, introduces the audience to the mythical realm of Emimencia—a magical world led by Eminence Maldor and populated by Goblins, Griffins, Fairies and other magical creatures.
The Unfolding Ceremony is about to begin! This is a rite of passage in Crysalee, whereby Flutterpillars become full-fledged Flutterby Fairies—but Flutterpillar Nya is unprepared, preferring to play pretend and imagine life as a Griffin. Several Flutterby Fairies tease and bully Nya because of it, but they are interrupted by their upstanding leader Marika. Nya and Talany are called upon to drink the Fluttering Elixir that will help them grow their wings.
Suddenly, Eminence Maldor, the last known Griffin, joins the celebration and accidentally frightens the attendees—all except for Nya, awestruck, who secretly follows Eminence Maldor leaving the ceremony.
Two Goblins, Kaklin and Freet, emerge from their hiding place. They have snuck into Emimencia with plans to steal the Flutterby Fairy treasures. But seeing the powerful Griffin—a longtime enemy who defeated them in the Great Goblin Invasion long ago—they decide to regroup.
Outside Maldor’s cave, we meet Wolpertinger Shergund, the Griffin’s “guard”—who is obviously too unreliable for the job.
Inside, Maldor dictates into a magic journal, recounting the great Griffin battle and expressing loneliness and the simple need for a true friend. Nya enters and describes the ongoing bullying. Maldor offers to help by giving up claws to create a special goblet for Nya—in exchange for Nya’s promise to return. Nya departs with the goblet, confident that transforming into a full-fledged Flutterby Fairy will finally end the bullying.
Back in Crysalee, Nya shows off the prize goblet. The magic of Eminence Maldor’s goblet turns the Flutterpillar into the most beautiful Flutterby Fairy, but Nya soon learns this is not enough to stop the constant teasing. With a bag of rings from Marika, Nya returns to Maldor’s cave for more support.
The Great Fountain is the source of the Fluttering Elixir, which is essential to the Flutterby Fairies of Crysalee.
Illustrated by Christian Cordella
There, Nya asks for Maldor’s mane, from which to create a magnificent cape. Maldor begrudgingly agrees and suggests Nya give the rings to the other Fairies instead. Maldor reminds Nya of the promise to return in true friendship.
Valedes next reminds us that other mischief is still afoot—the Goblins have been stealing from other provinces in Emimencia. Their final stop will be Crysalee, to acquire the special treasures.
Nya returns to Crysalee, where “friends” praise such beauty and shiny rings. Believing true acceptance has finally been achieved, thanks to this collection of goods, Nya is surprised that the teasing persists—now about too little wings. Nya resolves to return to the cave once again, this time to ask for Maldor’s wings.
The two argue about unkept promises. But ultimately, Maldor’s wish to please Nya wins out and the Griffin simply watches Nya fly away . . . with majestic wings.
The Goblins finally seize the opportunity to attack Crysalee. Nya devises a plan to stand up to these much scarier bullies. The gifts from Maldor, combined with the Fluttering Elixir and rings, transform Nya into a brand new creature: a Griffairy. After a prolonged fight, Nya offers the Goblins a magic Griffin book if they agree to leave Crysalee and never return. They greedily accept and quickly run off. Turns out the magic book was actually Shergund’s recipe book—but with the threat now gone, the Goblins are honor-bound to keep their promise and stay away.
As the Flutterby Fairies realize how cruelly they behaved, Nya also grasps how deeply Eminence Maldor has been hurt through all this. Nya rushes back to make amends and beg for the great Maldor’s forgiveness.
Back at the cave, Maldor is again dictating into the magic journal, aware how foolish it was to believe that friendship could ever be bought with gifts. And now having given so much away, the last surviving Griffin is barely alive. Nya arrives just as Maldor dies, the Griffin’s crown now laid atop the journal. . . . Shergund pleads with Valedes to help save the day, but Valedes explains that’s not possible. Devastated by the loss and utterly ashamed, Nya cries over Maldor’s body. Moved by Nya’s genuine remorse, Valedes, too, begins to cry over Maldor.
The Griffin crown slowly starts glowing anew, and fallen feathers magically cocoon around it as a fresh body is formed. Maldor lives again, bigger and stronger, thanks to Nya’s love and Valedes’s Phoenix tears. With newfound confidence, Maldor confronts Nya about such selfishness, yet offers Nya the chance to prove worthy over time. Only then can they slowly build an honest and true friendship together without material gifts.
Valedes bids farewell, reminding the audience that it doesn’t take goods to do good. And that the creatures of Emimencia will live, if not happily, at least hopefully ever after.
The mythical realm of Emimencia populated by Goblins, Griffins, Fairies and other magical creatures...