AN: This is a sequel to my previous work, The Lilo Painting. I'd advise you to have read it before reading this story.
Disclaimer: All rights go to their respective owners
Prologue
Snow. White flakes circled round in the air, drifting on the roofs, on the houses. Children started squealing, gathering the cold mass in their hands, forming snowballs to throw. Adults however started whispering. "How in Diana's name can it snow? It's only autumn now" It had started snowing during the night. The first thing to notice was the cold and the need to dress even more warmly. Some people were freezing without their winter clothing, some were lucky enough to have fitting winter gear at hand. The cold felt unnatural and some of the Diana's children huddled among themselves, concerns on their faces.
But then, what was one day? At least to Helia it wasn't a concern – yet. If it continued, yes it would prove a problem but one day of snow would probably melt by tomorrow. The kids seemed to enjoy it and no one looked overtly worried at the cool temperatures, so why bother? After all there had been snow in autumn before, just not quite this early. There were more important things to Helia.
Like finding out what happened to his love. Almost two weeks prior she had disappeared with only a message to him a day before today. Even if it was cold, Helia would find the messages content and what she was telling him. While she seemed to have given up on him, he'd never give up on her, gaining her love and trust and a spark of hope for their future. If only she could see as well. There had to be a way for her to become both his and be a guardian fairy. After all, if she didn't have hope, why would she send him a message? Whatever contents it may contain, her message showed she still cared about him enough to communicate with him.
Helia was the only one to believe. His best friend, his family and even his grandfather who had encouraged him before didn't agree with him. "She's not the one". He didn't talk with them; the looks on their faces told him all he needed to know. They wouldn't support him in his quest to find her. He refrained from asking them to comb the woods with him or speak to Diana for him. They wouldn't offer their help even if he asked. "It's doomed to fail" They had no hope. But then, hope was a delicate thing.
"Please don't go." Krystal's voice stopped Helia from leaving town. "I have to" he simply replied. "It's snowing, the track will freeze." Resignation spoke from her voice. Somehow Krystal knew Helia would go, no matter what. "I have been in the woods in winter before" Determination shone in his eyes. She had to trust him to know what he was doing. Following his heart to find Flora. "The ice, it's unnatural. Please. Stay. At least today" Pleading to him, concern showed on her face. Helia couldn't fault her, not really. Maybe if he were in her shoes, he'd worry, too. "I'm sorry" he quickly apologized, then darted into the woods. "Be safe" She called after him.
The wind made his walk slower, it took Helia longer than previous trips. The wind kept lashing at him, causing him to raise his arm to shield him from the freezing gusting winds. The meadow seemed a lot darker when he stepped on the grass. The flowers were wilting, hanging down sadly or were torn from the ground. The grass didn't have the same beautiful green colour but seemed washed out. What had happened? A sense of dread settled in Helia. The snow, the cold in the town and now the wilted flowers spoke about nature's imbalance. Diana's children had sensed it, hadn't they? Krystal had tried to warn him.
All thoughts about nature and his home town Lulia vanished, when his gaze fell upon a special flower. Flora's magically grown flower. The once pink flower had turned into an unnatural purple colour, its petal threatening to fall off, just barely hanging on. "Flora" Helia whispered her name, fear in him. Flora was in danger. Unnatural. Something was way off here. The Lilo flower she had send him yesterday had died. Was this her message? Helia started looking around him. The trees seemed dead, the colours lifeless, the sky dark grey. All life, all colour seemed to vanish from the world. Had this started only now? Had he been blind to change in his focus in Flora? He gulped.
A movement in the corner of his eyes distracted him. He spun around, locking eyes with a girl. She watched him, calculating, wheels turning in her head. Not saying a word.
AN: Sorry, I know it's short, but it's only the prologue. Chapters will hopefully have their usual length. That being said, I won't be able to upload any chapters before march due to my exams.