Author's Note: (READERS, THIS IS A MODIFIED CHAPTER 1 tweaked after chapter 34. I had some readers tell me that the original led them to believe Clarion was self-pitying rather than incredibly lonely, and they almost gave up on the story. I'll put the original ending of the chapter in italics at the bottom for those who are interested.)

I've been writing stories and hiding them away in my closet for 15 years. I'm working up the nerve to publish a historical romance and thought I'd try out writing this Tink story to see how many people like my style. It's my first story on here. (Love this site!) Please leave reviews (but be gentle with me at first :)). Now, time for the story...

It was her favorite spot-where spring touched winter. In all of Pixie Hollow when being the queen became a hard burden and trials weighed heavily on her mind, she could always come here to refresh her soul. The spring was vibrant with new life and color, a perfect contrast to the silent, crisp beauty of winter. This place never failed to amaze her. The serenity she felt when looking over the blankets of snow made her wish desperately to be able to cross. What would it feel like to catch a snowflake on her tongue? But warm fairies could not cross over into the harsh, desolate lands for one fairy had done so not long ago. Pixie Hollow was barely ten years old, and she remembered the fateful day in that first year well.

He had been a handsome soldier fairy, brave and strong. The only five fairies in existence at the time had gathered to see him cross, curious themselves to join him if he said it was safe. She was the queen, and she had granted him permission to test the winter for them.

He had flown across a large stone that joined the two worlds separated by a river. "It's cold!" he had called with a smile and had landed down in the fluffy snow. He had picked some up and thrown it into the air in carefree abandon with a laugh. Then he had flown a little deeper into the Winter Forest.

He had been gone only a few minutes when he had come stumbling back. The other guard and a tinker fairy had run across the stone to help him back into Spring, but it was too late. His wings had broken off, and his skin was wet and blue.

"My wings broke. I fell down through ice," he had gasped, his body shaking violently.

"Hurry, get him into Summer!" she ordered and used Pixie dust to make them fly faster.

They had flown him to the hottest part-the Pixie Tree. But he had not made it.

Years later, she still blamed herself. She was the queen who was supposed to be a wise leader-wise enough to protect her fairies. And she had failed in her first year of the one thousand she was to reign. If only she had told him to wear something warm. If only she had thought his wings needed to be covered, he wouldn't have fallen out of the sky and through the ice. She was afraid of her judgement after that day and had appointed advisors for each season. These advisors, although they didn't know it, were her safety net. Never again would a fairy die because of her ignorance.

With a sigh, she looked up at the sunset and knew she needed to get to bed soon. The owls and bats would be coming out. It was common knowledge that fairies were their favorite snack. She headed back home alone.

Nightfall was the loneliest time for her-when others were going home to their families, she was going home to her empty castle. She had guards, but it wasn't the same as having a warm smile and strong arms to welcome her home at night and hold her worries at bay.

Clarion nodded to the guards and then went into her room. She looked out her window at the moon beginning to rise and saw a shooting star just like she had seen every night. Just like every night, she wished to find love. 4,000 times now she had made that wish.

She had promised herself that she would stop wishing after this night. Even she knew that some wishes would never come true no matter how much a heart longed. A queen should not be a dreamer-she should rule with her head, not her heart.

One last look at the moon, she closed her eyes with a heavy heart and climbed into bed.

FIVE YEARS LATER

"Queen Clarion, you should make an appearance at the Pixie Hollow Games," her dear friend, Mary the tinker fairy, told her as Clarion surveyed the fall harvest.

"I have no time for such nonsense, Mary. I have serious matters to attend to. I gave the fairies the day off for the games and that is enough," she replied as she flew slowly over the stockpile.

"Minister of Autumn, we need more nuts for the squirrels to take to winter when they cross, no?"

"Yes, my queen. We will get more by tomorrow," he said solemnly and wrote it down in his notes.

"Clarion," Mary said, as she did only when they had private conversations.

Clarion waved the minister away for the moment and turned to Mary with her hands folded before her and head held high, the image of a regal ruler. "What is it?"

Mary, a plump, bubbly little fairy, looked sadly at Clarion. "Where have you gone? We used to laugh and play and tell secrets. You are always so serious and hard. You've gone into a shell, and I don't understand why. Come to the games. Let your hair down for a bit. Who cares if the queen is caught yelling for a team at the games? It would do you a world of good. You don't live."

Clarion looked at her friend whose eyes were wide with deep concern. How could she understand when she had Fairy Gary, the dust keeper fairy? How could any of them understand? With every new fairy who arrived, so did a mate not far behind. The queen was the only one who was alone. She ruled 106 fairies anyways-she had no time for nonsense like love if she was to be responsible for so many lives. And she told herself she preferred it this way. But going to the games and seeing everyone making merry with their loves was too hard. She used to go to these socials, but she had heard the whispers of fairies asking why she was always unescorted and seen the confused glances her way. She stuck out like a sore thumb, a third wheel with Gary and Mary although they had always been so happy for her to tag along. It had been years now since she had gone. She had found that by remaining aloof, the whispers had stopped. Or at least they were no longer done in her presence.

"Please," Clarion said quietly. "Do not ask me to go. I would deny you nothing, dear friend."

"It can be you and me. A girls' night." She took her friend's hand in plea. "You hold the weight of the world on your shoulders. Come have fun with us. Forget about the harvest and the rabbits not breeding enough this year. Forget about the tree rot that spoiled some of the cherry trees in spring. Come be young again, just for one night."

Clarion turned away. "Please, Mary," she whispered.

Mary sighed in defeat. "I wish you would confide in me. You carry so much, Clarion."

When Clarion didn't respond, Mary silently left. She didn't see the tear escape down Clarion's porcelain cheek.

Original ending...

Clarion looked at her friend whose eyes were wide with deep concern. How could she understand when she had Fairy Gary, the dust keeper fairy? How could any of them understand? With every new fairy who arrived, so did a mate not far behind. The queen was the only one who was alone. She ruled 106 fairies anyways-she had no time for nonsense like love if she was to be responsible for so many lives. And she told herself she preferred it this way, even if her heart bled every night from loneliness. To see everyone at the games making merry with their loves would be too painful.

"Please," Clarion whispered with unshed tears in her eyes. "Do not ask me to go. I would deny you nothing, dear friend. It would break me to do this."

"I don't understand, Clarion." She took her friend's hand in plea. "You hold the weight of the world on your shoulders. Come have fun with us. Forget about the harvest and the rabbits not breeding enough this year. Forget about the tree rot that spoiled some of the cherry trees in spring. Come be young again, just for one night."

Clarion turned away. "Please, Mary," she whispered. "I beg you."

Mary sighed in defeat. "I wish you would confide in me. You carry so much, Clarion."

When Clarion didn't respond, Mary silently left. She didn't see the tear escape down Clarion's porcelain cheek.