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The freeze was rushing in fast over all of Pixie Hollow. Inches of ground were being lost to the ice within mere seconds, frost and winter talent fairies spreading to cover as much ground as humanly possible within the time they had. There was no time to get anywhere else, either, all fairies flocking in a panic to the tree between the seasons with varied cries of concern and terror. Few knew what was happening until they were being hurriedly inside of the tree in desperation and panic, all cloaked in blankets as they were being brought to shelter.
The Season Ministers were helping to get the fairies inside, all except for the Winter Minister who was too ill to be rushing everyone else along.
The chaos was tamed despite the circumstances, at least.
“Inside, come on now. Everyone inside,” Fairy Mary’s voice cut through the branches of the tree, movement all around the heart of the Pixie Dust Tree. “Grab a blanket, pick up the pace please! Quickly now!”
Winter-talent fairies of all kinds and specialties were rushing through the tree and land on command, trying to stay calm and usher the warm fairies along and inside of the hollowed out knobs and branches for their own safety. Sheltered by nothing but frosted leaves that fell in front of the open doorways, it seemed none of the fairies were so confident as they were
Wings tucked securely under leaf-knit blankets, not a single one of them moved when the last few filtered in, Tinker Bell one of the last as she dropped the leaves safely over the door with a frown as she stepped back.
That was it, wasn’t it? This was all they could do, all that they could have hope in to save Pixie Hollow from the freeze?
Waiting?
Fawn shivered as the cold air still seemed to seep in through the thin barrier protecting them from the elements, expectantly holding an arm out and gesturing Tinker Bell closer. “Get in here, it’s too cold.” Especially to be on her own all the way over there.
They needed to be close to stay warm.
Wrapped in a coat unlike them, Tinker Bell still was plenty aware of the temperature as the cold nipped at her exposed skin, exhaling slowly with a small cloud of hot air billowed out just beyond her face as she turned and walked over towards the voice. Lowering to the ground, Fawn’s arms found her rather fast, the others closely shuffling in towards her for warmth. All eyes turned towards the door, Rosetta taking Silvermist’s hand into hers when Iridessa had hidden her face into her shoulder.
She didn’t want to see what came of it all.
They all expected the worst, but not a single one of them wanted to voice it out loud.
It was a waiting game wrapped up in a hopeful disguise, when in reality Vidia saw it all for what it truly was as she sat in a dead silence. It was so clear to her that this was merely a last ditch attempt to save the tree and in turn the pixie dust, a plan that was just painted in dread and sealed with a sorrowful thread.
All that would happen from here was set in stone, nothing able to change it now as the ice spread itself up quickly and over the blanket of frost that encased the tree and the fairies securely inside of its comfy nooks. It was dark in an instant, and despite that fact the light fairies didn’t seem in a rush to light it as the ice cast an ominous shadow over their hearts and minds. Pixie Hollow hadn’t felt so hopeless all at once in such a long time.
Optimism was the only thing they had to cling to.
Rosetta was the first to try and brighten their dampened spirits, swallowing down her own nerves with a slightly forced smile as she rubbed Iridessa’s back slowly with her hand. “Hey now, what’s the worst that can happen?” Everyone seemed to stare at her as if she were crazy with those words, not expecting that to be the words she spoke.
Lots could happen, deadpan and stunned expressions turning to face her.
Rosetta twisted her face into a soft pout as her eyes adjusted enough to the dark to see the bewildered looks, even feeling Iridessa pull back a little out of her arms. “Oh, come on now. You all know what I meant. We still have all those baskets we worked so hard for, our talents can survive a little cold chill, can’t they?” Rosetta tried a bit more to emphasize the point she was trying to make, her smile a bit warm despite the cold chill that hung in the air. “We can’t let one little thing stop everything we do, now can we? Flight doesn’t make us any less of fairies, we have all those owls for the trip to the Mainland. We can still change the seasons, and most of all we’ve still got each other.”
Even if it took a little longer it would still be manageable, surely.
The last point seemed to hint some smiles around the room, peering subtly between one another as they held themselves and each other. One thing they all would have whether they could fly or not, it would always be them against the world, wouldn’t it?
“It’s not that simple.”
Vidia’s words fell short and flat in what sounded like blunt agitation, her eyes never wandering from those dimmed leaves when she spoke.
Heads turned her way, some confusion and frowns her response for the sharp and dismissive tone she’d used. Tinker Bell exchanged a questioning glance with Fawn, the girl only shrugging unsurely with the same expression mirrored on her own face. She didn’t know what that was supposed to mean either, especially since Vidia was usually only sarcastic rather than outright mean.
There was deeper meaning to those words than they knew.
“What do you mean?” Tinker Bell pressed a bit, and yet as her eyes adjusted slowly to the dark she saw that there was no glare despite the interruption she’d given before.
Vidia wasn’t even looking at them when she’d spoken, either, just as silent as the others. Another fast-flying fairy, Zephyr, tucked away in the back heaved a soft sigh in place of her vacant voice. For once, Vidia’s words were undeniably true, even to those who weren’t so fond of her sometimes. “It’s not so simple for us… If the tree dies, you all still have something to hold onto. Your talents will survive, but fast-flying fairies? That’s where our talent comes from.”
The control of their flight and their wings were what made them and their talents function. But without pixie dust?
Fawn was the first to understand the unspoken implication as she sat up a little straighter, her gentle hold on Tinker Bell falling slack. That optimism she’d gathered had withered with guilt when the understanding hit her like an acorn upside her head.
She didn’t know how they hadn’t caught it before.
“They’ll lose..— everything...”
The words struck the small hollow of the tree silent, the realization seeming to spread through them all. Silvermist’s eyes fell soft when they had been the first to find themselves focused on Vidia, who had never turned her eyes from the door. She wasn’t speaking another word after her sharp quip, frozen impatiently and suffering in a tense silence.
Suddenly, Tinker Bell found that her torn wing meant significantly little in her own mind now, and her confusion quickly fell short. Her own talent didn’t need her to fly, even if the idea of never being able to was enough to tie her stomachs into knots. Even she hadn’t considered what that loss could do to those who relied on it for everything, however.
Fast-flying fairies might just have it the worst, should Pixie Hollow fall flightless tonight.
Silvermist carefully reached out, a hand resting in Vidia’s shoulder wordlessly in a gentle comfort as she coaxed her in closer. A light tug was all that it took for Vidia to cave, frowning subtly as she pulled her knees in towards her chest. No complaints were rewarded whatsoever, the silence as all of their eyes now stayed on that door with her. Knowing that the fast-flying fairies could be permanently grounded and talentless, suddenly Rosetta’s pep talk meant very little.
Silvermist rested her head against Vidia’s as the minutes dragged on, sharing in her girlfriend’s pain with a worried weight settling in her own heart. “It’s going to be alright. No matter what, we’re all with you.” It wasn’t all or nothing, whether it was what Vidia wanted to believe or not.
Vidia made a small scoff that hardly even made a sound as it left her, crossing her arms slowly as Silvermist held her against her so close to her it was certainly a hug. She wanted to be bitter, to be upset that Silvermist even said something like that to her when they wouldn’t be losing anything compared to what the risk was for someone like her— except she didn’t.
Not with who it was who said the words, every part of it meant to serve as a comfort despite the not-so-perfect delivery they’d come with.
“I know.” Despite saying this, Vidia only felt her heart squeeze seeing the dim leaves gradually starting to lighten before their eyes.
Silvermist’s gentle arm around her waist had squeezed Vidia in the smallest bit more, Rosetta’s hand in hers tightening as they watched the ice drip and melt down from the small gaps down beneath the leaf-sheltered door. Even still, no one seemed in a rush to leave when knowing what was at stake. Risk with no reward was a chance of what was happening from how it all sounded, worriedly sparing a few glances in concern as the light started to beam through the vibrant green.
If Vidia happened to lose it all, they’d be right there to pick up the pieces.
Rosetta stood first when the sun only got brighter, the leaf borderline transparent under the rays. She tapped her foot unsurely against the wood floor with a soft click of her slippers against the surface. “So, who’s first?” Even as she said it, Rosetta already anticipated the lack of volunteers as her eyes moved across the crowd of concerned faces that welcomed hers.
Everyone else got up from their spots with some hesitance, and yet didn’t race to the opening. No one seemed to want to be the first one out the door now, feeling as if they’d taken root into the ground with how their feet stayed put. Vidia’s hand had slid over Silvermist’s as they stood with the rest, not thrilled by the idea. Silvermist partially pulled Vidia up and onto her feet supportively as they shared small looks of a dreaded concern.
Vidia’s expression that had already fallen grim wasn't helping any fairy’s nerves.
When it seemed no one else would make the first move, Tinker Bell took the lead. Stepping carefully towards the door while taking a deep breath to prepare herself for whatever result came. Her palm placed itself against the flat surface of the leaf door, carefully pushing outwards and aside as she peered out with a squint against the light that shone into her eyes instantly.
Brighter than she was used to, even from the Summer seasons.
The Pixie Dust Tree was still coated in a thin layer of ice even as Tinker Bell pushed out slowly through, the others following behind slowly as they too took the moment to look around. Ice was reflecting every glint of the sun blaring down on all of them, glistening and bright— and yet as all of the fairies pushed out from inside? All eyes were on the center of the tree in a heavy silence when they saw the lack of spark. The golden glint that usually cast from the center— the beating heart of the hollow itself— remained dull and unlit even as the ice had begun to slowly melt away from the bark.
Even with the leaves dripping and vibrant, the fairies stayed quiet as they all clustered around the main branch with dread in their chests. “No.. it had to be enough—..” Tinker Bell’s felt sick, knowing all that had been said felt far too real now that they were faced with the still tree.
The pixie dust tap had finally run dry after so many years of keeping the fairies in the air and around the world
So much effort was put into keep it thriving and lively, and yet even the winter fairies had their postures slack with frowns etched into their expressions looking up at it. Periwinkle shook her head, finding herself trying to cling to disbelief rather than what she was seeing. “We did everything we could. This can’t be it..!” Her first true visit to the heart of their home, and it had to be the last time it ever truly lived.
It couldn’t be true, she didn’t want it to be.
Vidia didn’t speak at first, staring at the dull tree in a cold acceptance as she slowly let her eyes shut with a frown as her brow knotted together. She knew it would happen, and yet it hurt more than she expected it to despite seeing the result coming from a mile away. Or, at least she thought it was internally until she felt nails lightly digging into her collarbone with a wince.
“Sil,” Vidia’s words came soft, as did Silvermist’s clueless hum as she’d quickly dragged her sad gaze back over to her girlfriend. “You’re squeezing my shoulder.”
Silvermist paused, blinking slowly before she understood all at one. Right, she was still attached to Vidia like a burr ever since she’d grabbed onto her in the tree.
“Oh,” Silvermist gasped softly as she hurriedly withdrew her tight hold, her hand entirely leaving Vidia only for a second. She smiled softly with a nervous giggle as her hand gradually touched back down on the curve of Vidia’s waist instead. “Sorry, it’s just…—”. The sentence didn’t get finished, Silvermist’s voice trailing Vidia only nodding in understanding as she glanced back up knowingly towards the tree.
She didn’t need to hear it. “I know.” It was all of their home, no matter who had it the worst in this situation. Vidia couldn’t bring herself to look for long, her arm sliding around Silvermist in a similar manner as Vidia’s head leaned against hers.
She was far more mindful of her grip, the two staying close through the solemn quiet that lingered like a cloud over the mourning cluster of fairies. Every fairy shared in the pain of this loss, fairies from all seasons, all talents, to every background considered.
This wasn’t a feat anyone had expected to happen before today, sorrow hanging as even the animals creeping from the houses and dens made not a single peep. Vidia was the first to break it, pausing when a soft familiar sound graced the silence. Her head lifted from Silvermist’s the second she’d heard it, confused as she narrowed her eyes slowly and listened closer. “Did you hear that?”
Silvermist tilted her head back upright, confused as she looked up with a soft hum. “Hear what?” Confusion hung off of every word, but their friends heard the words clearer than any sound, stepping closer to the two with curious expressions as they turned their head up to try and hear the mystery sound.
“I don’t hear anything,” Fawn spoke slowly, not wanting to dampen their growing hopes.
And yet Vidia hushed her so suddenly when she had spoken, eyes focused up above as the sound rang out again. This time, however, it was more defined than the last. It sounded like glass, glass and sand mixed all together within the tree.
Heads all around were starting to lift, listening far closer as Vidia spoke slowly in her confusion. “It’s pixie dust.”
That alone was enough to catch attention, Queen Clarion and Lord Milori approaching the tree when the words filled the quiet.
“You’re sure?” Queen Clarion listened, the faint sound certainly familiar— and yet dying to not get her hopes up high when Vidia never turned her eyes back to her.
Each and every one of them were listening intently, focused on the hardly audible sound. That was, until Silvermist was the one to hurriedly point their attention upwards, her eyes lightening all at once. “She’s right, look up there..!”
Just as the words were spoken, the tree seemed to come to life. The dull tree went from dark, to its normal golden glow as the heart sparked back to life. Pixie dust didn’t take long to follow, widening its way through the path throughout the tree and falling down from the spout with little time to spare as the pace picked up from nothing— to pouring out of the seemingly lifeless tree.
Vidia stared, frozen before a gradual smile cracked through her carefully constructed facade. Strong-willed or not, watching that pixie dust come rushing through the tree, bringing light with every trail twisting and turning through the bark of the Pixie Dust Tree? Vidia felt a part of herself finding solace in the crushing relief that weighed over the group of them. Fairies of all kinds were celebrating, squealing, even laughing between fairies they didn’t even knew before.
And even Vidia couldn’t blame them for it, shakily exhaling as she fought back a laugh of her own. She wasn’t losing a thing, after all, her wings fluttering down beneath the leaf blanket laid over her shoulders the second it really hit her. Silvermist smiled so brightly as Vidia caved with a swift motion, turning quickly and yanking her girlfriend in with newfound strength as she caged the water fairy still in her arms.
Silvermist squeaked softly at first, her eyes a bit wide as she was squeezed in. Even still, she found herself giggling and awwing gently at the reaction as she rubbed a flat hand over Vidia’s back with such loving affection. “Aw—… you big softie-!”
Vidia groaned softly at the name placed on her head, lifting Silvermist up off of the ground for a second with a small swing in a circle, smiling despite not liking the label too much. From her, Vidia found she just might be able to tolerate it. “Don’t get used to it.”
So much affection in public was far from their thing, giggles from their friends all around at the display. For once, it could last a little longer than Vidia cared for on the usual.
Silvermist dangled a small height above the ground all too happily, her wings flapping as the leaf blanket had fallen from over her shoulders. Smiling so widely, she couldn’t help but tilt her head with a dragged out hum and a thinking expression.
It was dramatic on purpose, Vidia already knew just judging by the mischievous spark in Silvermist’s eye. “What?” Vidia questioned it, knowing that was exactly what Silvermist was going for.
Falling for it on purpose made it that much happier for her.
Silvermist took the opportunity in an instant, eyes half-lidded as she tilted her head to the side. “You know, even if the pixie dust didn’t come back and we all ended up grounded forever…” That alone had Vidia pause, squinting at Silvermist already at the mention of the less than fortunate turnout they could have had. She wasn’t thrilled to have it brought back up whatsoever, and the sly smile that curved Silvermist’s lips wasn’t helping her case. She raised a hand and pointedly poked Vidia in the nose with a teasing smile. “I still think you could have made a really cute tinker.”
Vidia’s face fell deadpan, wrinkling her nose in an instant when faced with that comment. “Don’t even joke about that.”
Her? A tinker?
She swore she might rather be dead, for better or for worse.
Silvermist chuckled to herself, humming innocently as she tilted her head back with a soft yet smug look hinting at the corners of her lips. “What? Green just might suit you… Oh, and maybe a few of those little puff balls on your shoes-!”
Vidia made a sour huff, lowering Silvermist down to the ground with a playfully pointed look. Distracting her with this imaginary scenario, Vidia quickly found her angle while keeping Silvermist close. “And now you’re just describing Tinker Bell. Do you have something you want to tell me?”
Despite the question, they both knew it was all to embrace the fact nothing had come from the poor situation despite the weight of it, smiles reflecting back at one another. Silvermist moved her hands up to cup Vidia’s face in her hands, tilting her head subtly with such a sweetness in the gesture as she slid her thumbs over the fair skin. “Just that I wouldn’t change a thing. Whether you had a talent or not.”
Vidia stared back at Silvermist, her smile dimming for a moment before coming right back with a slow sigh as she melted into the girl’s palm. “I get it. I do.” Silvermist smiled when Vidia leaned forward, kissing her cheek only for a moment and squishing it up ever so slightly as Silvermist widened her smile.
Talent or not, with them? It was all or nothing.
And in their case, it would always be all.