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a/n: In this world every kind of creature is known, so none are myths (like in reality). I'm not really an expert on all things creatures or stuff like that, so forgive my potential inaccuracy. I'm sorry if it's a little short. Anyway, hope you like my first fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or glee. Infact I own almost nothing, besides the story. Oh well.
The humans and elves poured in from all sides of the village, swinging weapon of all sorts. It was utter chaos. Battle cries and terrified screams could be heard everywhere. Mothers and their children were cowering away in homes, while fathers fought to protect. Halflings swarmed their legs wielding, trying to defeat their enemies. Hundreds of faeries polluted the air, using their abilities to the fullest.
To no avail, the humans and the elves were massive in comparison to their lithe bodies. Usually this wouldn't have tipped the scale too much, but these beings weren't the usuals. They were trained, and everyone was slowly learning that, as one by one, each faerie and halfling were being snapped in two, like tooth picks. Many were lost. It was a torturous day for more than few, but also a victorious day for the enemies.
A young male elf managed to slip through the guards and the protection of the ice crown, while the rest were in heat of battle.
The crown was stolen that day. Granted, it was retrieved since then, but the faeries and halflings had made an enemy that day. From then on, it was forbidden to speak with anyone from the elf clan. It was punishable by death to associate with a human. They were poison to the faerie and halfling's eyes. They were seen as the devil's spawns. To so much as interact with one of them, was a death sentence.
The ice crown is now hidden, protected from all threats that may arise. It is precious, and must not be tampered with. Even most of the faeries are clueless to its whereabouts. Some believe it is just a legend. That it doesn't really exist, but others-
"I believe in it, Grandma!" Brittany squeals in delight.
"Jeez, you asked her to tell you the story. Let her finish," Rachel chastises her little sister. Grandma chuckles from the corner of the living room. The banter never stops...
The fire crackles loudly, as Grandma recounts the old legend. Rachel and her sister, Brittany, are visiting their old, weathered grandmother, in the quiet parts of Gallo, the faerie village. Gallo was a small town on the boarder of Ohio. Rachel's family has been living there for decades. It was pronounced, three years ago, for this to be one of the safest parts of the faerie and halfling population.
Rachel has never understood that, seeing as the heart of Ohio, was crawling with humans. In the city of Siddrea, humans live in harmony with the elves (as the myths say) and other beings.
The faeries stay independent, living in their own worlds, due to history. Some halflings stay hidden away in their town next over to Rachel's home village. Most of the halflings prefer to reside with the faeries in a city, named Vines, south of Gallo. Both creatures remain allies, helping each other in times of need.
Rachel is clueless as to whether her gathered information surrounding the humans is accurate or in need of tweaking. She's never met a human before. To her they're just the figures of her grandmother's stories. Rachel has even heard they can grow to 6" tall! Elves have never really caught her interest to the fullest. Their weapons are supposedly traditional, like crossbows and arrows. But humans, humans wield weapons of many sorts. Probably because they're such violent creatures, Rachel thinks.
Actually, now that she thinks about it, the only creature she's met, besides faeries and halflings, are gnomes. Gnomes are really quite friendly. Most of them hang out in the gardens on the outskirts of her village. They're very gossipy, if she's being honest. That's where she gets a majority of her facts. Some could be rumours, some could be true. Whatever the matter, she remembers all of it, packing it deep inside of her brain.
Her fathers' tell her to not believe in that kind of rubbish. "Don't trust anything that comes spewing from their mouths" she quotes. Her fathers' also tend to mention they have a habit of lying. Rachel doesn't mind though, because one day she's going to find out for herself.
When she's no longer a sprout, she'll put everything to the test. She'll travel to the humans' cities and answer every one of her questions.
"Actually," her Grandma says, bringing her out of her reverie. "I think it's time for you kidlings to head home. Your father must be worried sick!"
Rachel is reminded of home and reluctantly agrees, "Thank you for having us. Oh and father says to mail him the recipe for your new chowder."
Brittany jumps to Grandma and pulls her into a hug. She snickers before giving in and hugging her granddaughter. Rachel watches from a far, admiring. Sure, she and her grandmother got along great, but she never had the connection her and Brittany do. Brittany has everyone wrapped around her tiny, 6 year old sized finger. She even convinced their dads to get her a cat, which she named Lord Tubbington. Rachel gets that she's pretty cute, but she longs to have a relationship like that, too.
She skips out on the hug, herself, and bids goodbye, while Brittany unwillingly pulls away.
"Bye!" Brittany hollers.
It is about noon, reaching lunch time. Rachel and her sister thought it'd be a good idea to visit their grandmother, to give her company. Grandma was lonely these days, with only herself to occupy her spacious hollow. Their grandfather had died of cancer 2 years ago, and Grandma had been getting worse. She tried to put on a facade whenever anyone was near, but she was never really the best actress. Rachel knew that she was hurting and it seemed Brittany had always cheered her up some way or another, so she dragged her sister along, too. Brittany didn't really mind. She loved Grandma.
Her and Brittany slip out of the house and make their way down the driveway. Rachel would fly, but Brittany has yet to master using her wings yet, and it wouldn't be fair for Rachel to and Brittany having to be stuck on the ground.
When they reach the cottage, Rachel ushers she sister inside and tells her to inform their parents that she's going out, before rushing down the path.
As she finally jumps and is suspended in the air, her wings fluttering, she finally marvels at how perfect the weather is. It is spring and the flowers are blooming. In Gallo, that makes a pretty significant change between winter and other seasons. The smell of pollen is floating in the air, and there is a slight breeze. Perfect weather for flying. There's faeries everywhere, playing in the air, relaxing in the heat of the sun. Just being happy, really.
Rachel finally arrives at the Cove. The Cove is a hiding place near the gnomes, where she comes with her best friend, Jesse, to overlook the mountains. It's a hidden spot under the edge of a cliff, covered by trees and other helpful plants. Jesse is a halfling, but he always manages to sneak into Gallo. It isn't as if he's human, so he wouldn't be punished too severely.
When she parts the trees, she spots Jesse lying lazily in the sun, with his eyes closed. An idea popping into her head, she quietly lowers herself, floating above his unknowing body.
Counting to three in her head, she screamed, "Jesse!"
Jesse bolts up, knocking his head into Rachel's, frightened half to death, while Rachel laughs hysterically.
"W-what the hell was that for?" he sputters. It takes about 30 seconds for Rachel to calm down, before she chokes out, "You should have seen your face!"
At this point, Jesse's glaring pointedly at his best friend. "Well if it was so funny," he mutters, sarcastically.
Rachel flutters down beside him, to lay back. "Okay, I'm sorry. But it was was really funny... if you were wondering."
"I wasn't. I kind of got that from you practically not being able to breath for 3 minutes," he states, a smirk gracing his lips.
"You know it was funny," Rachel says, her fingers slowly moving towards Jesse's stomach.
"Okay, okay! If was funny!" he relents, eyeing her fingers.
"So, what have you been doing lately?" Rachel asks, dropping her hands.
"Well, the gnomes have been talking."
"Oh please, they always talk."
"No, but this is interesting! One of them said that the ice crown has been found."
"That's stupid. It's been lost for forever. And I thought you didn't believe that crown stuff?"
"So?"
"So, I don't think it's very cool just dismiss it for so long, then after there is gossip, you start saying it's real. It's probably just rumours too."
"You make it sound like it's a club or something," Jesse says smiling.
"It's not a club!" Rachel protests. "I just don't think it's right."
"Okay then. I guess you don't want to know what else I heard then." Jesse knew he was tempting her.
Rachel looked away, knowing she wants to, but being as stubborn as ever, she responds, "No. That stuff is garbage." Plus if she really wanted o know, she could just go to the gnomes herself. They love her.
"Oh well, then. Hey, my mother says to invite you over for dinner tomorrrow. So if you want to come..."
"Tell your mom I would love to, but my parents are going to Siddrea tonight, so I gotta take care of Brittany."
"I thought Siddrea forbid faeries," Jesse says, raising an eyebrow
"I know, but there going secretly. I have no clue what for, though. I just hope they don't get caught." Rachel frowns.
"Maybe they're going to see about the crown," Jesse jokes trying to lighten the mood. It works and Rachel giggles with him.
"Oh shut up."
"Do you want me to come over, then? I mean, I can't ditch supper with my mom."
"No, no. It's fine. I mean she's your mom. Your best friend. How could you pass up that offer?" Rachel teases.
"Look you have your dads, I have my mom. If I'm a mommy's boy, then you're a daddy's girl."
"No that's Britt-" she pauses, her ears piquing at the sound of ruffling leaves.
"Rachel, what are-" Jesse starts, but is immediately shushed by Rachel.
"Shhh! I hear something," she whispers, crawling slowly off the ground. She goes in stealth mode.
Rachel has always had this kind of mode, ever since they started coming to the Cove. The gnomes hate when people eavesdrop, and if anyone found them, that'd be their first assumption. Then they'd be in deep shit all together, so it's easier to just alert at all times. Most of the times Jesse can get carried away, but Rachel's senses are always on high each time they come here. They were almost caught, once. Luckily Rachel fine-tuned ears saved their asses.
"Then let's get out of-" Jesses cut off again.
"Shh!" she says more forcefully. Rachel brings her pointer finger to her lips and glares daggers at him.
Jesse, never being one to argue with her, brings his hands up in defense. He stays back as Rachel moved silently towards a bush nearby.
After a couple seconds of being frozen in place, she quickly whips aside the branch... only to be met with nothing. She furrows her brows in confusion at the empty space. She turns to Jesse, who shrugs.
"Maybe what you heard was a little thing called wind," he tells her.
"Smart ass," Rachel shoots back. Something was there. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach. Now an anxious feeling is settling over her. "We should go back."
Jesse looks a little disappointed, but agrees nevertheless, "Okay. But, call me when you get home."
"I will." Rachel goes to hugs Jesse goodbye, because they don't get to see each other as often as they'd like.
She tells him farewell, and heads off in the direction of her home, all the while feeling eyes boring into her back.
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