Hey guys. (: I hope you're well. Okay, for anyone who saw my old Tinkerbell trailer on YouTube, I was forced to scrap 'Daughters of the Star-Crossed' after an iPad error deleted all my planning. I guess you could say this is somewhat of a replacement, only extremely different.

I WILL NOT be properly starting this until I get closer to finishing my others, but this is just so you can get a taste of what's to come… ;) I hope you enjoy it. I know some of you will... (*cough* JadeVictoriaDH *cough*) ;p

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Prologue

Ice cold winds swept through the Winter Woods in their usually rhythmic patterns, while tiny snowflakes twirled on the shifting dance floor. However, only the night animals witnessed the elegant performance. Buried beneath their blankets, winter fairies of every talent slept in the comfort of their homes, storing their energy for the day ahead. Winter on the Mainland was creeping closer, and each day leading up to it was spent practising their skills under the watchful brown eyes of their beloved, newly-appointed lord of Winter.

But unbeknown to all, one sparrow-man didn't sleep that peaceful night. Hidden in the darkness of his room, Lord Milori sat alone on the solid ice floor, hugging his knees and leaning against the edge of his bed as violent sobs shook his very core.

Another cold breeze blew in through the open balcony doors, and he shivered under its icy grip - an action which if seen by anyone, they would've thought he was sick for sure. Once upon a time, the cold wouldn't have bothered him, but after several months of being madly in love with the new queen of Pixie Hollow, he'd grown used to the warm, cozy flames that danced within his heart.

Lifting his head slightly, Milori trembled as his gaze fell on the half-empty bottle of amber liquid beside him. His hand shaking, he poured some into a small glass, managing to spill it on the floor in the process. Throwing his head back, he downed another shot of whiskey. He knew full well that it was a foolish idea, and that he'd already had far too much, but in that moment he would have been willing to do anything to take away the excruciating pain throbbing in his broken heart. Even if that meant drowning it in the bitter taste of alcohol.

It was almost amazing how something so perfect could go so wrong so quickly. It all started the day before, exactly as it did every day; the moment the sun dipped below the horizon, he raced to the border as fast as his strong wings could carry him, before taking his treasured girlfriend into his arms for a long, slow kiss. Sitting down on the log bridge that joined their separate worlds, they lingered in each other's embrace, making up for the hours they'd spent apart. As they watched the river rushing by beneath their feet, he couldn't help but think about everything he wanted to share with her. It was then they had the idea to drench his wings in cold water, and they agreed to try it the next day.

Their plan almost worked. In fact, it would have worked, but as they were walking through Springtime Valley, everything went terribly wrong. Out of nowhere, a spooked mouse came charging through the square, animals fairies hot on its shaking heels. In an attempt to protect her startled fairies, Clarion leapt in front of the creature, trying to calm it down. But in a moment of sheer terror, the animal tossed her aside, sending her straight into a nearby tree trunk. Fear consumed him when she screamed in pain, clutching her shoulder, and he was instantly by her side. The state of his wings long forgotten, he bundled her into his arms and dashed to the infirmary.

Upon arriving, a few healing talent fairies settled her into a room to be looked at, while another two attempted to take him back to the border. Despite their protests, he refused to leave his lover's side, staying with her until they'd fully bandaged what turned out to be a sprained shoulder. Only then, as the healing talents helped her up, did the heat finally take its toll. Exhaustion tightly grasping his body, he fell to his knees, finding his wings completely wilted. The next few minutes went by in a blur as three healing fairies carried him back to the border as quickly as they could, his dearest Ree right by his side. They almost made it, but no one missed the sickening 'crack' of his wing breaking just as they reached the border.

Somehow they'd managed to keep his accident quiet, but he was certain a small few were suspicious. Why else did he feel the occasional pair of sympathetic eyes burning into the back of his new cape after he announced the new border rule?

Since his wing had broken, and he'd been forced to say 'goodbye' to the only fairy he'd ever love, dozens of emotions had been racing through his veins; 'heartbreak, grief, and sorrow' to list a few. But above all - more than anything else - he was afraid.

It wasn't that he was afraid something would happen to him now he didn't have his wings to fall back on, or that his heart would literally stop in the absence of his love. No, what frightened him was how alone he was. He was the only fairy - not only in the Winter Woods - but in all Pixie Hollow with a broken wing. He was the odd-one-out. He had no one...

Okay, maybe not 'no one'... He had Dewey, his closest friend and advisor. He'd been trying to comfort him, but so far hadn't had much success.

"Don't worry. It'll all work out in the end. You'll be okay; I promise."

Each word was like a burning iron to his back, a bullet to his heart... What he didn't seem to realize was that he didn't want assurance for the future. All he wanted was comfort for the present.

He didn't blame Dewey; deep down in his heart he knew that every sharpened knife he threw at him was intended as a soft encouragement, something to help him carry on. But no matter how good his intentions were, even as the Keeper of All Fairy Knowledge, his small wings were still in perfect condition. So how in Neverland could he know what was to come?

Setting down the shot glass, Milori glanced at the small painting of his sweetheart resting on the nightstand. Despite all that had happened, she was still the love of his life and the girl of his dreams, and he knew without a single doubt that she always would be.

"Dewey's wrong..." Brushing away his tears to make room for the new ones, he looked out of the balcony's open doors at the clouded sky above, "Nothing good could come from this wretched wing..."

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Wow. I never thought I'd actually write about him drinking himself senseless... Yes I know, he's the Lord of Winter, but I think this story needs this kind of starting point. I promise, this is the first and last time I'll have a scene like that.

Anyway, please review! :)