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Pips and Cornelius both looked up at Queen Tabitha without comprehension. However when the rest of the Court realized what she had said they immediately began to celebrate. All the fairies rushed to the betrotheds and wishing them well. Cornelius and Pips soon found themselves surrounded by well wishing fairies and exchanged glances before the Prince remembered something very important.

Cornelius had been stunned with shock at his mother's announcement and was almost swept away with the Court's merriment when he remembered what he had done last night. He cast a quick glance at Pips and it seemed as if the exotic fairy was as flustered as he was by the sudden announcement. Cornelius however had a solution; he pressed through the crowed and went before his mother who was still sitting smugly on her throne. He narrowed his eyes and said "I cannot accept this offer, for I have already given my ring to Thumbelina."

It was Queen Tabitha's turn to feel shock as blood drained from her face when she looked down at the bare finger of her son. She felt her nails digging into the wood of her throne as she said slowly "Very well my son, if you can bring this…girl to the court before the Spring I will accept her as your bride and your betrothal with Pips will be cancelled." She sat back in her throne, wondering how she would stop this travesty from happening.

Tabitha knew that Cornelius planned to set out the next morning to get this girl, Thumbelina, she had until then to make sure that the girl was not where he left her. She nodded to her King before quickly flying off without either the Court or her son noticing. She had some friends in the swamp that might be very interested in this Thumbelina.

The next morning Cornelius was loading his Bumblebee with gifts to bring Thumbelina before taking her to the Court and his parents. Pips had gotten over the shock of being betrothed without his consent when he realized the Prince had a way of stopping it. He rolled his eyes as he watched the young prince fumble around and came over, picking up some of the presents that had fallen "Need help?" He asked.

Cornelius had been too focused on getting all the presents for Thumbelina onto his Bumblebee that he hadn't realized he wasn't alone. He turned with a blush when he found the exotic Pips standing so close to him. He saw the gifts in Pip's arms and couldn't help but notice how much more muscle he had. Cornelius turned away afraid there might be a blush on his cheeks as he said "If you would like, besides, mother would probably think it indecent if Thumbelina and I traveled without an escort."

With that Pips got on the Bumblebee and they took off for Thumbelina's home. When they arrived Cornelius could not even wait for the Bumblebee to come to a complete stop before jumping off and pulling off the small helmet he had worn. Pips watched in amusement and followed after making a more graceful descent as the Prince called for Thumbelina.

"Thumbelina! Thumbelina! It's me!" Cornelius looked around in confusion when he heard no answer and said softly "Where are you?" He then gave a small gasp when he noticed the state the room was in. He felt panic in his heart when he remembered how small Thumbelina was and that she had no wings to save her from large falling objects.

Pips frowned when he saw the state of the room and didn't bother to stop the prince from flying off in search of his beloved. Pips followed after carefully checking under fallen items as the Prince talked with the dog Pips had seen the night before.

Cornelius smiled at the dog that seemed to be wailing in misery, his smile slowly faded as the dog told him that Thumbelina had been kidnapped by a toad. "Oh no…" He said softly, he knew very well how toads were and if Thumbelina was with them it would be hard to find since they loved to move around, and they were very determined to keep anything they thought was theirs.

Pips was almost unable to catch up with the Prince as Cornelius darted off to his Bumblebee "I'm going to find her!" He declared, showing off his blade before sliding it back into the safety of his sheath. "No Hero… you can't come with me." The Bumblebee fluttered impatiently and Cornelius had just enough time to say "Tell Thumbelina's mother everything will be okay!" Before flying off, Pips following close behind.

Pips followed the Prince keeping up easily with the Bumblebee "So do you have any idea where this girl of yours is?" He floated lazily, enjoying the breeze moving over his body and his long hair flying in the breeze. He did a loop before looking at the Prince curiously "Do you?"

Cornelius for a moment was thrown when he saw the beautiful green light that was encasing Pips's legs as he flew. He shook his head as he watched Pips do a flip, his light green eyes sparkling as his hair twirled in the breeze. He frowned remembering that he could not be distracted by this beautiful stranger. His heart belonged to Thumbelina who was currently lost and in need of his help.

"Hero said that she was taken by a Toad…hopefully we'll be able to find her in time." He tightened his grip on the bumblebee's antenna which brought a protest from his friend. He leaned down and gently caressed the bumblebee's fur in apology.

Pips raised a brow, wondering if the toads here were different from the ones in FernGully. His sharp eyes had not missed the gentle caress that the Prince gave his Bumblebee and for a moment Pips wondered what those hands would feel like. He nodded to the Prince and decided he might as well go along on this trip for fun if nothing else. He doubted that being in the court would be all that interesting and he knew there was little left for him to learn at this Court. He smiled to himself, the sooner Cornelius found Thumbelina the sooner he could return to FernGully.

Cornelius saw the peaceful smile cross Pips's face and wondered what could make the fairy smile like that. He wanted to ask but before he could he had reached his home, the Veil of the Fairies. Before he could go searching for Thumbelina he would need help from his parents.

Tabitha smiled to herself, glad that Senora Toad was able to take the girl off of her hands. However she hadn't planned on her son going after her. She hoped she could persuade her son from going and settle down with the handsome Pips "Oh Cornelius my sunshine, first you buzzed in here the other day, on that wretched thing. And announced to the entire court that you had found the girl of your dreams…and now you've come back to say she's vanished?"

Cornelius rubbed his face in frustration, he knew that what his mother was right to sound skeptical of his word, but she didn't know the truth of it "Kidnapped mother she was kidnapped!"

Tabitha made a face of disbelief as she held her hand over her heart and said "You're joking!" Her husband took her by the elbow and said warningly in her ear "Tabitha…" He knew very well the games his wife played, but he hoped she hadn't gone too far this time.

Cornelius turned to his father, hoping that he could help him this time "Father I need you to delay the winter frost as long as you can. I need time the find Thumbelina!" Without heeding the cries of his parents the Prince fixed on his helmet and took off on his bumblebee shouting so that the entire court could hear "I'll find her!"

Pips stayed where he stood, wondering if he should follow or not. His decision was made for him when he heard the Queen tell her husband that they couldn't delay the winter frost for more than a day. He sighed and wondered if Crysta had infected him with the desire to do the right thing. He turned to the King and Queen and said humbly "I will ensure his safe return." before flying off after the foolish Prince. He hoped that this adventure would be worth finding out about 'frost' and 'snow'.

As night fell Pips pulled up in front of the Bumblebee forcing the prince to come to a stop "Look, I don't know if this place is different from FernGully, but I think it's best if we only travel in the day time." He said that even though if one knew what they were doing at FernGully it was perfectly safe, however he didn't know this strange land and he didn't know if the Prince was able to think properly in this state.

Cornelius narrowed his eyes in challenge before he realized how tired his Bumblebee was. He stroked his hands on the antenna and said "Very well, we will rest for the night and continue on in the morning." They found a safe place to rest in a tree and gathered some food for their meal.

As they ate Cornelius noticed that Pips was looking around fascinated by everything. Finally his curiosity got the better of him and he asked slowly "Is here much different from where you come from?" He saw that peaceful smile once again cross Pips's face and realized that earlier Pips must have been thinking of his homeland. He wondered what else could make the handsome fairy smile so beautifully.

Pips leaned back against the tree and nodded "Very different, in FernGully it's always warm and temperate, and even at night there lights that guide your way, mushrooms that glow and rain that falls to give life." Pips was unable to ignore the pang in his hear that came from speaking of FernGully "It's to save FernGully that I have traveled so far away. The humans move closer every day and we want to protect it."

Cornelius was touched by the look of homesickness that crossed Pips's face, he wondered if he would ever miss the Veil of the Fairies that much and decided not. While there were some things about his home that he loved, he was always under his parent's watchful eyes and he was never truly free of their influence. He rested next to Pips and asked softly "Tell me more?" Wondering what life would be like, what freedoms he would have, if he lived in this FernGully.

The next morning Cornelius knew that the frost would be coming soon. The leaves were falling quickly and the wind had a chill to it foretelling what was to come. He flew frantically looking for any sign of Thumbelina. He called her name and was heedless of the falling leaves. Finally one caught him and knocked him off of the Bumblebee sending him down towards the ground, but before he could reach it he felt warm arms catch him and pull him against a strong chest.

Pips caught the Prince before he could fall too far and smirked as he said "Try to be careful okay? I doubt you'll be able to find her if you get killed." The loyal Bumblebee came over and hovered so that the prince could get on its back. Once he was back on the Prince noticed something strange. He was decently clothed and yet freezing because of the incoming frost. However this stranger with only the barest covering was warm. Cornelius was glad that the helmet hid his blush from that thought as he asked "How can you stand this cold?"

Pips smiled as he flew around so that the Prince could once again see his glowing legs "I channel energy from the earth as I fly, in FernGully it keeps me from getting too hot and here it keeps me from getting too cold…" Pips looked at the Prince curiously as he asked "Don't you know how?"

For some reason the question made Cornelius feel foolish and he quickly evaded it by saying "No time for that now we must find Thumbelina!" He flew off; spotting some Jitter Bugs whom he hoped might know where Thumbelina had gone.

He dismounted from his Bumble bee and removed his helmet and asked "I'm looking for a beautiful girl, her name is Thumbelina." He heard Pips come in after him and as usual Pips took an inconspicuous position leaning against the inside of the log. Cornelius didn't have any time to wonder as the Jitter Bugs answered that she had been with them. But had then been taken away by a Beetle, Cornelius's heart sank further when they said that there was also a toad after her and that she was out in the wilds somewhere.

Cornelius mounted his Bumblebee and took off, knowing that Pips was behind him he said "We must hurry; my father can't hold back the frost for long!"

More coming soon!