Zarina scooped a handful of pink pixie dust into the little vial James was holding up to her. After growing the sapling Pixie Dust Tree, her supply of garden-talent dust needed replenishing.
James had curiously watched the fairy mix ground flower petals with the dust, completely unaware of the meaning of the transformation; he had not seen the creation of the sapling.
Zarina nodded at James as a signal to cork the vial. He did so, but placed it on the table rather than on the shelf.
"Captain, if I may ask… what is the purpose of this concoction?"
Zarina smiled, happy to have someone interested in her alchemy rather than unnerved by it. She flitted around her quarters, searching for something to demonstrate with. She sighed at the lack of any sort of vegetation aboard. The light jingling of her voice allowed her friend to understand.
"I suppose we'll have to go ashore to find something," James said, opening the door for her.
They were anchored near Skull Rock, just close enough for James to walk down a plank and reach some boulders to hop across, Zarina atop his shoulder. Once they were on land, Zarina, with excess dust on her hands, floated down and patted the damp earth with her palm. A flower grew and bloomed before their eyes.
"Oh, how incredible!" James bent forward to study it. He was beaming, looking between Zarina and the flower excitedly. "Do you think… Do you think it would work if I were to try?"
Zarina shrugged and flew to James's index finger, spreading what was left of the dust on its tip. It wasn't much at all, but she figured it would make for an interesting experiment. She gestured to the ground, inviting him to have a go.
James hesitated for a moment before tapping the earth swiftly. All that grew was a miniscule bud, but to James, it was miraculous. He immediately plucked it to marvel at his creation. Zarina flew up and sat in his hand, grabbed the flower and sniffed it. She grinned at him and they shared a chuckle.
"It's just the right size for you," James said after Zarina raised her arm to hand the bud to him. "Keep it!" He smiled at her as she pretended to toast him with it. Her jingling voice said, "My first treasure. Thanks, James."