Broken Hollow, Broken Hearts: A Milarion Love Story
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Tinker Bell, Disney Fairies and all related characters and content are the property of The Walt Disney Company. The character of Tinker Bell originated by Sir J. M. Barrie. This fan fiction is not intended for profit or monetary gain and exists solely for the purpose of fan entertainment.
Occurs long ago when Pixie Hollow was a unified biosphere, rather than a divided world of warm and winter. In this time in history warm and winter fairies can cross the border without ill effects. Mild to moderate AU.
Note: This story is my interpretation of how Queen Clarion and Lord Milori first met and fell in love, as well as how Pixie Hollow wound up as two distinct biospheres. I have always had some problems reconciling that Pixie Hollow is a divided world. It begs the question, if warm fairies cannot tolerate the cold and winter fairies cannot tolerate warm temperatures then how do they survive when visiting the mainland to bring in their respective seasons? Yes, I know I am over thinking this, but I am propounding a theory nonetheless. Enjoy.
~O~
During the Roman Iron Age and long before the first stirrings of what would eventually become Great Britain, Pixie Hollow could be found in Never Land as it had for centuries before and would for centuries to come. The second star to the right and straight on till morning was where a tiny seedling floated. The first laugh of a baby girl had drifted across the seas and over continents before finding its way to the arrival pad of the Pixie Dust Tree. A new fairy had arrived in Pixie Hollow.
Fairies and sparrow men of every talent had gathered to greet their newest addition. Seated on leaves and toadstools and twigs and blossoms were the representatives of the tinker fairies, water talents, garden fairies, fast flyers, light talents, animal fairies, the various service talents and the winter fairies. Queen Mab, the ruler of the pixies in the hollow arrived in swirls of Pixie Dust to greet the new young fairy. When a young dust talent with a hearty Scottish brogue dusted the laugh a fairy was born. She had lovely blue eyes, honey brown hair and perfect, milky white skin.
"Born of laughter, clothed in cheer, happiness has brought you here," the queen greeted warmly. "Welcome to Pixie Hollow. I trust you found your way alright?"
"I... I think so," the little fairy said.
"Let me get those wings," Queen Mab announced as she swung around and pulled up the wings of the new arrival. To everyone's astonishment, what Mab raised were not clear, gossamer wings. Instead they were gold colored, shimmering butterfly wings. Just like the queen's. At the sight everyone knew a fairy princess had been born.
The arrival of a fairy princess while a monarch still sat on the throne was a rare, but bittersweet occasion. It meant that The Fading was not far off for the reigning queen. Mab was a well loved ruler whose lengthy reign was considered a golden age in the history of Pixie Hollow. But even she knew that queen's do not live forever and was aware that at some time a new princess would soon arrive to take her place. Now she was here.
The queen helped the young princess to fly for the first time. The young fairy giggled as she took her first, tentative flight. Finally, the queen turned to the assembled crowd and said, "Do not mourn for me, fairies of the hollow. My time is coming to an end as we all knew it would. Instead, be joyous as we welcome our new arrival. Princess Clarion."
The fairies assembled cheered even as some felt heavy in their hearts at losing a beloved monarch. No one knew if Princess Clarion would be as gentle and devoted a ruler as Mab. Only time would tell.
~O~
"You missed it, Lord Milori," Icicle, the Minister of Winter said to the young sparrow man. "A new princess has arrived. Her name is Clarion."
Milori, The Lord of Winter who had assumed the role two hundred years ago when the previous ruler, the Lady of Winter suddenly faded, stopped his work and stood there. For a moment he was silent. Then he spoke in hushed and worried tones, "How long?" he asked.
"I beg your pardon?"
"How long before The Fading begins? Before we lose Queen Mab?"
The Fading was the end of a fairy's life. Their light would slowly go out until they had passed away. It wasn't a particularly long event, usually only a few weeks to a few months. It did offer time for the fairy to put his or her affairs in order. Often, close friends would organize a ceremony where good memories were spoken, closely held secrets were divulged, grudges were expunged and any apologies were made so the fairy could fade with a clear conscious. It gave everyone a chance to clear the air and say their final goodbyes before it was too late.
"I don't know," Icicle replied.
"How does this new princess strike you?" Milori asked her. "Does, what was her name again?"
"Clarion."
"Does this Clarion look the part of a queen? Could she ably replace Queen Mab?"
"The queen seems to think so."
After another long and uncomfortable silence, Milori finally said, "I will pay the young princess a visit when the winter fairies leave for the Mainland. There is still far too much work to be done yet."
"Queen Mab does not like to be kept waiting," Icicle warned him.
"I'm well aware, but there is much to be done and we are sadly behind schedule," he informed her. "The most recent delivery of baskets from the tinker guild were inferior and had to be sent back. Winter could be late because of them."
"I will relay your message to Queen Mab and Princess Clarion, My Lord." Icicle turned and left the winter ruler to his work.
~O~
Later that evening Lord Milori paid a visit to his friend, Dewey, the keeper of all fairy knowledge and wisdom.
"Good evening, Keeper," Milori said as he entered the library where Dewey worked keeping all his records. "Have you heard the dreadful news?"
"Mariposa is visiting again?" Dewey replied with a chuckle.
"Hardly," Milori replied curtly. He was in no mood for levity. "A new princess has arrived."
"Oh, I would hardly call that dreadful news, Lord Milori," Dewey replied in his funny way of talking. Milori always assumed it was because he spent all his time talking to himself while writing rather than regularly associating with the other Winter fairies. "We should all be a-celebrating and shooting off the fireworks and singing songs to the new princess." Dewey flew up close to Milori's ear and whispered, "that-a-way she'll go easy on us if we a-flitter things up, if you know what I mean."
"Vulgarity is hardly becoming, Keeper."
"I'm just tryin' to lighten up your mood, Lord Milori. I think I know what your problem is."
Milori looked at him quizzically.
"You have a fear of change."
"Absurd. Queen Mab has been an excellent monarch. What if this Clarion fairy is a monster? What if she is the exact opposite of our gracious queen? I can't imagine thousands of years living under those circumstances."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry yourself about it, Lord Milori," Dewey said confidently. "Pixie Hollow has never had a horrible queen and I doubt we'll have one in Princess Clarion."
"Well what if she's ugly?"
"Fear of change."
"Then what should I do, Keeper?"
"Tell you what, why don't you go and see for yourself. Meet the princess. Go by the kitchens and ask the confiseur to whip up a batch of his famous ice box chocolates and offer them to the princess as a welcome gift."
"What if she's allergic to chocolate?"
Dewey just twisted up his face and stared at Lord Milori, who recognized immediately how silly he sounded just then. "Very well, I'll take her a gift as you suggest and meet the young princess."
"And make up your own mind. I'm sure she is a kind, generous and lovely young fairy."
"I certainly hope you're right."
Milori left the library and flew to the kitchens on the winter side when he was distracted by a column of snowy owls bringing over the replacement winter baskets. Well it's about time, he thought. The Lord of Winter lit off towards the frozen pond where the owls landed with their packages from the warm fairies. He was determined to oversee the arrival and inspection of this new batch of baskets. The tinker fairies had been having problems lately with issues of quality control and manufacturing.
Rumors were buzzing that the tinker overseer in the warm seasons was losing her touch and was to be retired in favor of a younger guild manager. Fortunately, when he arrived Milori found that every basket was in good shape. There were no malfunctioning parts or badly woven spots that might give out while carrying the delicately made snowflakes his fairies would carry to the mainland. The last few winters had been mild because of these problems and too many snow flakes had been lost over the waters when the baskets failed.
"This is going to be a good winter," he said. "I do hope the humans are ready for a very cold season."
I'm not sure when I'll get to the next chapter. Still very tied up with other stories. The familiar ministers of the seasons are not in place yet with the exception of Redleaf. The Minister of Spring is Laurel, the Minister of Winter is Icicle and the Minister of Summer is Mariposa. Hyacinth, Sunflower and Snowflake will arrive at later dates in history.
Confiseur means confectioner.