Chapter 1

Zarina pushed aside tall flowers and grass as she strolled. This was just like old times, when she'd been constantly out of pixie dust, which she'd used for her experiments.

She could fly now if she wanted but chose to walk and enjoy the morning quiet. She needed that after the joyous chaos of last night's Four Seasons Festival. There were so many different things to see on the ground that she'd miss by flying over everything. Fairies and sparrow men darted about high above, tending to their duties. While Zarina had reveled in the attention all of Pixie Hollow had given her, asking endless questions about the multicolored dust that could change talents, she was grateful for the solitude.

"Zarina!" She whirled at the sound of Tinker Bell's voice. Tink, accompanied by Silvermist, Iridessa, and the summoning-talent fairy Viola, flew toward her. "Queen Clarion wants to see us."

"Why?" Zarina leaped into the air after them. Her chest tightened. It couldn't be about the blue dust, could it? That had been returned to the Dust Depot.

"We don't know." Iridessa's voice held a note of her usual panic. Viola dashed about, urging Fawn, Rosetta, and Vidia to join them as they headed in the direction of the Pixie Dust Tree. "I hope nothing bad has happened."

"Oh, Sunflower, you fret too much," Rosetta said, primping her curls. "Queen Clarion probably just wants to congratulate us on last night's performance."

"Yeah, that's probably it," said Vidia.

"Don't look so worried, Zarina," Tink giggled. "You were sensational."

The sight of the tantalizing gold dust, flowing like a sparkling waterfall down the center of the Tree, comforted Zarina. Her friends were probably right.

"This way," said Viola, leading them through an opening in the Tree, into a circular chamber. Queen Clarion and Fairy Gary stood in the center, speaking in low voices. Zarina studied the queen. Her skin, which had always held a vibrant glow, appeared dull and pellucid. Her elegant, butterfly-shaped wings drooped slightly and had lost some of their glitter.

Uneasiness squirmed within Zarina. Was that why she had called them here?

Clarion smiled, an expression that appeared forced. "Good morning, girls." Her voice sounded strained and breathless. "First off, I'd like to say that your performance last night was a great success. Everyone is still talking about it."

"I told you!" Rosetta whispered, her green eyes shining.

"This year's Four Seasons Festival was made even better now that Zarina has returned home to us." Zarina felt her face warm as Clarion smiled at her. "But I have a few questions I'd like you girls to answer. The Festival lasted even longer than the previous ones. It appears we skipped at least two days between performances. We had just watched the Winter fairies at night, followed by those giant poppies. Suddenly it was daylight and you all rode in on that flying pirate ship. And there is the matter of the blue dust you had returned." Zarina tensed. It wasn't enough that her friends had forgiven her. She should have known she'd have to answer to Queen Clarion and Fairy Gary. "I am grateful you returned it but I'd like to know how it went missing in the first place. Did you happen to see who took it?"

Zarina gulped. "Queen Clarion, I—"

"It was pirates, Your Majesty." Tink's hand firmly clasped Zarina's shoulder.

"Yes, pirates!" the others echoed.

"We had a fierce battle but we beat them and took back the dust," said Fawn, tugging on her long braid.

Zarina stared at the floor, fixing her gaze on a dapple of sunlight. Why were they defending her? She was filled with a mixture of guilt and gratitude.

"Now, girls, I believe the part about the pirates, since you brought a ship back to prove it," said Clarion. "But you all know very well that humans can't enter Pixie Hollow without us allowing it. Even blundering humans not looking for our home will magically bypass it, and certainly not find anything to take. What are you not telling me?"

Zarina pulled away from them and stepped forward. She bowed her head. Wisps of hair tumbled over her face but she didn't bother to brush them back. "Zarina, don't!" Tink hissed in a whisper. Zarina ignored her.

"It was me, Queen Clarion." Her throat was so tight that it hurt to release the words. "My friends are only trying to protect me. I stole the dust."

Queen Clarion's horrified gasp scraped against her ears. "No, Zarina! Why?"

She swallowed, knowing she had to reveal the whole story. "After I left, I befriended a crew of pirates. They made me their captain when I promised I could make their ship fly. That's why I needed the blue dust. I'm so sorry. I'll accept whatever punishment you—"

"But she's the one who got the dust back," said Rosetta.

"And fought off the pirates," said Iridessa.

"If it wasn't for her, the dust would have been lost forever," said Vidia.

"This is all my fault." Fairy Gary crept to Zarina's side. He placed a plump hand on her shoulder and smiled sadly down at her. His brown eyes were moist. "If only I'd listened to you in the first place and didn't dismiss your talent, this never would have happened. When I found out you'd left…I…well…" He shook his head and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

"He wore trousers for an entire month, in your honor," Silvermist giggled. "Something to do with pink pixie dust."

Everyone laughed, including Zarina.

Fairy Gary turned back to her. "Can you forgive me?"

She nodded and squeezed his hand. "Yes. Of course I can, Fairy Gary." Warmth flooded her.

"I think we all learned a lesson here," said Clarion, her tone gentle. "No harm came of this so there will be no punishment." Zarina drew in a breath of relief as her friends gathered around her. "But there is the matter of what to do with that ship." The queen pointed through the window. Much of the pixie dust had worn off, leaving the ship to hover inches above the ground like a deflated balloon. A crowd of fairies and sparrow men stared up at it, some in awe, others with a dash of fear.

"Perhaps you would like to use it as a lab for your Alchemy," Fairy Gary said to Zarina. "You could even teach some of the other dust-keepers your technique."

The others murmured in agreement.

Jumbled feelings swept through Zarina as she pondered this. For the past year that ship, the Jolly Roger, had been her home, with a human crew that obeyed her every command, and the deceptively kind cabin boy James who had pretended to be her friend. She'd dreamed of sailing beyond the Mainland to see the entire world, even if their goal had been to plunder it. The feeling of finally having a use for her talent had excited her more than any treasure.

But the Jolly Roger also reminded her of their ultimate betrayal, how James and his crew had only used her to get what they wanted, then discarded her. The pain of that was still fresh.

She found she preferred her own small cottage to the vast, drafty captain's cabin, both as a lab and living quarters. She had slept better last night, overjoyed to be home among proven friends, than she had in months.

She shook her head. "I appreciate the offer, but I give it to Pixie Hollow. It could be used for other things."

"Like a tool storage area," said Tink.

"Or a place for critters to hibernate," said Fawn.

"Now that that's settled, you are all free to go." Clarion suppressed a yawn. "I could use some rest to recover from last night's celebration."

"Did Queen Clarion look ill to you guys?" asked Iridessa as they flew from the Pixie Dust Tree. She nervously tugged at her fingers.

"A little," said Tink. "She's just tired, that's all. It was a big night."

"Even after two days of sleep?" Vidia raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't make sense. We are the ones who should be tired."

"I'm sure she's fine," said Fairy Gary. "If I know Queen Clarion, she's a fighter. She's never been sick in all the time I've known her."

Zarina longed to believe him but her concern was reflected in her friends' worried expressions.