Collecting Dots

  ( Winterwish )

  She ran through the palace, though not as swiftly as she could. There was something attached to her hand. A precious thing she refused to let go of, and couldn't, even if she tried. A dainty shade's frail fingers squeezed her grip, its little legs struggling to keep up.

  "It'll be ok! I'll look after you!" she told the shade.

  Behind them, a cloud of buzzing black gave chase. A roiling mass of fuzzy bodies and compound eyes that defiled all it touched.

  She swung open a door and pushed the shade inside, before slamming it behind them. Together they braced the panel, their hands still locked. The fizzing drone grew louder, and louder. Skin-crawling vibrations thrummed through wood and burrowed into their bones.

  "I won't let it take you!" she promised the shade.

  Outside, lightning fractured the skies. Fulminating talons raked the window, testing the pane with every strike.

  With her spine lodged against the quivering door, she raised her weapon. A sleek, curved knife.

  Glass sprayed into the room. Bolts breached the shattered opening. The storm roared, and the shade's grasp clenched like a tiny vice.

  "Stay back! Leave us alone!" she cried.

  Yet when she prepared to defend the shade, her body disobeyed. Her bicep clenched and arm curled inward.

  The shade screamed as the door started to fester. Wooden planks crumbled, and thousands of filthy flies flooded through.

  Winterwish awoke with a retch and cupped her maw until she was certain nothing foul would burst free. With a shaky sigh and a shiver of disgust, she kicked away the duvet and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Whilst she hadn't slept for long, what little rest she did get was once again rampant with stomach-churning nightmares.

  Tootsies sought slippers as the first signs of morning started to show upon the horizon. She was just wondering whether Merrymint might be awake when she heard something. It was faint, but the sound of destruction was unmistakable. Winterwish jumped up and raced to the door.

  Looking toward the Dormitory entrance, she spotted three of her sisters gathered around a window. Merrymint, Cherrychomp and Bubblebun, all still bundled in jammies and gowns.

  Winterwish rushed over. "What's going on?"

  "Ahoy-hoy!" chirped Merrymint. "Seems Sunny is getting some practice in early."

  Winterwish squeezed in between the observers to peek out the window. Candy Town, not yet fully repaired, was already under assault once more. Sunshine soared through its ruined streets, smashing aside walls and collapsing structures with every swing of glinting gold.

  "Oh wow, her injuries healed already!" said Winterwish. "Her wings look great."

  "Yeah, great." Bubblebun clicked her tongue. "Couldn't she have waited until after sunrise before making a racket? Some of us need our beauty sleep."

  "Booty sleep?" asked Cherrychomp. "What's that?"

  "Beauty sleep," corrected Merrymint. She poked and prodded at Bubblebun's unamused face, pointing out the bags beneath her eyes. "See these? If they get too big and dark, she becomes a terrible monster!"

  Cherrychomp gasped, appearing worried for but a moment, before throwing her hands high and hopping on the spot. "Monsters!" she screamed excitedly.

  Bubblebun shielded her flippy-floppy ears and looked to Winterwish. "Seems I'm not the only one."

  "Huh?" asked Winterwish.

  Merrymint leaned in and steadied her spectacles. "Yep. Those are some sleepy peepers."

  "Oh, I..." Winterwish hesitated. She didn't like the idea of lying to them, but she could hardly admit she'd been at a secret midnight meeting. "I guess I'm just not used to those horrid dreams yet."

  A thousand crackles rang out as Sunshine toppled a silo containing popping sugar crystals.

  "Candy Dandy sure has his work cut out for him today," said Merrymint.

  "Do you think we should find somewhere else to practice magic this morning?" asked Winterwish.

  "Nuh-uh!" Merrymint swished her finger like an upturned pendulum. "No way I'm letting you get frosty again until Dollymop has finished that outfit! Besides, it's my turn for chores."

  "Maybe I could help?" asked Winterwish. "It'd be easier together, right?"

  "Thanks, but it's all good," said Merrymint. "I don't want you wasting your time while you've still got so much to learn. I'll ask around after brekkie. Maybe Cutie' can show you how to wield a weapon, or Bubble' could teach you some unarmed combat. Y'know, I heard she even taught Splishy how to throw a punch!" She wiggled her brows at the ribboned rabbit.

  Iridescent irides rolled. "Nice try, but me and Cutiehorn will be checking up on the locals. Titania's always on the lookout for volunteers after an incident. Though, at Cutiehorn's pace we might struggle to get round them all... Maybe Winterwish could buddy up with someone and take half?"

  Winterwish looked down at Candy Town once more. Her fists were tightening in preparation to announce her decision, when she became aware of a mighty wafting.

  Cherrychomp's spine was strained and weight balanced upon the tippiest of toes, all in an effort to raise both hands as high as possible. She swung them with the enthusiasm of a hummingbird. "Me! I'll go with Wintywish! Me-me-me!"

  "I'm not sure about that just yet, Cherry'," said Merrymint.

  "Why not?" asked Cherrychomp. "You said am a Big Sis' now!"

  Partnering up with Cherrychomp wasn't the arrangement Winterwish had hoped for either, but she wasn't about to disappoint the little red fairy. "Do you know your way around the Enchanted Forest?" she asked.

  Cherrychomp nodded confidently.

  "Then I'm sure we'll be fine," said Winterwish.

  "Just take a spare flare," said Bubblebun. "Me and Cutiehorn won't be that far away. Any trouble and I'll hop on over. Besides, Cherrychomp's more ferocious than anything lurking out there."

  "Yeah... I guess you're probably right." Merrymint crouched down so she could speak to Cherrychomp on her level. "You two have to look after each other, ok? That means no running off! And if she tells you to do something, you gotta do it, understood?"

  "Whaa?" asked Cherrychomp. "But am the Big Sis' and Wintywish is the Lil' Sis'! So Wintywish's gotta do what I say!"

  "Ha!" laughed Merrymint. "True, but, I am your Big Sis', so you gotta do what I say, and I say that you gotta do what Winter' says!"

  Ruby eyes narrowed and shiny lips pouted. Cherrychomp seemed to be juggling dynamics in her head. Only after a period of intense scrutinisation did she speak. "...Wow! You're so smart, Merry'!"

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Down the hall, the door before Merrymint's burst open and Cutiehorn hurried out. Shiny armour clunked and clattered with every flustered step. "What's going on?"

  Merrymint gave a thumbs up. "It's just Sunny being Sunny."

  Cutiehorn slowed her pace and let out a sigh of relief.

  "Took you long enough," said Bubblebun.

  Cutiehorn raised her rattling arms, emphasising the inconvenience of tightening every strap and latching every buckle that bound her armour.

  Winterwish couldn't help but feel on edge as she, Cherrychomp, Cutiehorn and Bubblebun made their way through Titania's study. On her previous visit she'd been in awe, and whilst the living library of light beams, blooms and butterflies remained beautiful, this time her curious gaze had purpose.

  She scanned as many titles as she could from the vast array of tomes, attempted to memorise the curved, flowing symbols painted upon the ring of mushrooms, and made mental notes of smells and sounds, just in case some tiny detail proved important.

  When they arrived before the Radiant Queen, Cutiehorn unsheathed her blade and took to one knee. Bubblebun bowed her head respectfully, whilst Cherrychomp simply waved as if to a childhood friend. Winterwish figured that kneeling may add to the impact of her due apology, so joined Cutiehorn.

  "Good morning, my girls," said Titania. "How are you all today?"

  "Excellent, my Queen," said Cutiehorn. "We have come to serve."

  "Perfect. Splishsplash isn't back from Rainbow City yet, so I was just about to call on you," said Titania.

  Winterwish's eyes wandered as Titania put quill to scroll. She found her gaze drawn to the faefire coffer and its thick, heavy chains. There was no mistaking the metal.

  Queen Titania had been able to handle iron with a pair of gloves. Winterwish was sure her own would do just fine, but if they wanted to know what was hidden beyond the bulky door below, they'd still need to find a way through its lock. She was subtly glancing around for any sign of keys, when she remembered something.

  That's right... Titania didn't use a physical object to open the coffer, but a summoned butterfly. Obtaining such a thing without her knowledge is surely impossible... unless the faefire form would do the trick?

  Yet she had no idea how faefire reacted upon release, nor was it something easily replaced. Just testing its effects would require an explanation of some kind, but perhaps Puddingpuff would deem the idea worth considering...

  "Yo. You good, Winterwish?" asked Bubblebun.

  Winterwish snapped to her senses. The other three Fairy Princesses already appeared ready to leave, whilst she had remained kneeling before the Radiant Queen. "Oh! Y-yes! I was hoping to apologise."

  "Apologise?" asked Titania.

  "Yes. My actions during yesterday's training, while well-intended, were reckless and greatly inconsiderate..." Winterwish fell quiet. She hoped that by remaining brief and vague she might be able to tempt some manner of clue.

  Yet the monarch was patient, and infinitely more comfortable in silence than she.

  Winterwish endured as long as she was able. "...I did not mean to take the gift of metamorphosis for granted, or force you to intervene. I have nothing but appreciation for all you have given me, and will be more careful from now on."

  "Rise," said Titania. "You need not kneel before me."

  Winterwish did as instructed.

  "I am glad to hear that you will be more cautious in future." Titania smiled bright. "Your life holds immeasurable value. Not just to me, but for the entire queendom. We cannot afford to lose you."

  "Of course, Queen Titania," said Winterwish.

  Winterwish gnawed her lower lip as the group exited the study. The matriarch's words had seemed so very genuine and of sound logic. Fairy Princesses were precious, after all. "Can I ask you guys something?"

  Cutiehorn, Bubblebun and Cherrychomp looked up from the lists of assigned villages.

  "Of course," said Cutiehorn. "Anything at all."

  "Did you happen to notice that dark chest?" asked Winterwish. "The one bound in matching chains."

  "The one Titania keeps faefire in?" asked Bubblebun. "Sure, what about it?"

  Winterwish carefully considered her next words, not wanting to arouse too much suspicion. "Something about it gives me the creeps. Why do you suppose that is?"

  Cutiehorn and Bubblebun looked to each other.

  "Well, it's iron, right?" asked Cutiehorn.

  "Yeah, pretty sure," said Bubblebun. "Merrymint didn't mention anything about iron yet? It's kinda important to know."

  "No touchin'!" Cherrychomp needlessly slapped Winterwish's hand. "Mustn't touch!"

  Winterwish winced and rubbed at her mittened mitt. "Sure, I remember now. I guess that explains it... but, we're all fairies here, so isn't it kind of dangerous to keep iron in the palace?"

  "I suppose it's just an extra safety measure," said Cutiehorn. "I'm not suggesting that anyone here has bad intentions, but if something were to happen to our faefire, it would be disastrous for all three queendoms."

  "Maybe..." Winterwish wondered whether her sister's reasoning would be any different if she were to break her promise to Puddingpuff and show them the ferric door lurking beneath the palace. "The other Queens can't create their own faefire, right? This might be an odd question, but, are they satisfied with the amount we're able to provide?"

  Bubblebun blew a raspberry and shrugged. Cherrychomp blinked cluelessly, as if she hadn't even heard the question.

  "That's a tough one," said Cutiehorn. "You'd have to ask Titania herself. We do what we can, as far as I'm aware, but I know Useel's capital, Diremaw, suffers near constant siege. Queen Useelia has been requesting Splishsplash to transfer for decades now."

  "Really? Why specifically Splishsplash?" asked Winterwish.

  "If I remember right, Diremaw is by the sea," said Cutiehorn.

  "Yeah. The Glittering Gulf," said Bubblebun. "Makes sense Useelia would want someone with Splishsplash's abilities."

  Winterwish nodded slowly. She might not be ready to draw connections just yet, but at least she was collecting plenty of dots.

  Cherrychomp was feverish with excitement as they left the palace. The moment they were clear of the entrance, she tugged a plump fruit from her belt and hurled it forward. There it spun and expanded, before its shiny surface split to reveal razor jaws. A red tongue flopped out to give its giggling summoner a slurpy lap.

  That's right. She's only allowed to use her magic outside.

  Winterwish hadn't seen a Muncher so close up before, and the sight of its huge, panting mouth made her weak at the knees.

  Just how much control does she have over that thing? It'd have no trouble gobbling a fairy in a single bite...

  "This is where we go our separate ways," said Bubblebun. "You're east, we're west. We'll meet up south once you're done with Dewroot."

  "The villagers should let you know if they're running low on anything." Cutiehorn passed Winterwish one of two backpacks crammed with supplies. "Any trouble and just launch a flare, ok?"

  "Understood," said Winterwish.

  Cherrychomp jumped atop her levitating lackey and held out her hand.

  Winterwish blinked at the extended fingers. "Wait. You don't want me to ride that thing, right?"

  "Up, up!" demanded Cherrychomp.

  Winterwish glanced back to the others in the hopes it wasn't too late to switch partners, but even with Cutiehorn's armour the pair had already made it half-way toward the treeline.

  "Up!" repeated Cherrychomp.

  With a nervous whine, Winterwish raised her hand. The little red fairy yanked her onto the hovering Muncher with ease.

  "This thing can go slowly, right? I've never flown before!" said Winterwish.

  Cherrychomp guided ink-stained gloves to the green, bendy stalk that protruded from their mount. "You gotta 'old on tight, 'k?"

  "Tight. Sure." Winterwish squeezed with all her might, dearly hoping such a firm grip wouldn't cause the Muncher any irritation.

  "Tighter!" demanded Cherrychomp.

  "Tighter? What do you mean, tighter? This is as tight as my hands go! Any more and my fingers will pop off!"

  "Hmm..." Cherrychomp shook the stalk violently, watching as Winterwish swayed and wailed. "Guess it'll do."

  "You guess? I think you should be certain before we -"

  "Uppies!" roared Cherrychomp.

  And as the giant fruit launched into the sky, the little red fairy wasn't the only one screaming.