CHAPTER FOUR

It took hours and numerous charms for Luna to lead the pixies away. Pandora and the others were afraid that nothing would convince them to leave, jeopardizing their mission, but their mission was already facing problems if Vanderbilt had taken control of the pixies.

The group left the cave, journeying to another clan several miles away. Their position high atop a mountain saved them from Vanderbilt's spell, but his army was growing quickly. He'd mastered his mind control spell now, using the world's amplification of magic to make it more powerful. Blau had to translate everything the clan told them, but it was clear to the girls that they needed more help. The mountain pixies opted to leave all of their best warriors, but the others would carry a stern message back to Hogwarts: Pandora and Luna would need help to be successful.

"This world is too important to lose," Maroona whispered. "It's our home world, the only world we know to have magical abilities in its coding. No other world can say that, none at all. We're also the birthplace of magic; without this world, no other would have magic, including your own."

"There's a way to save this place. Dumbledore can save us, as long as Vanderbilt's army doesn't get to the clan first," Pandora said sternly, looking to Luna. "You've been here enough to feel a connection to this world. I can sense it in you; you might be able to tell where they are just by concentrating."

"You're right," Luna nodded. "They're safe for the moment, but they are fearful. Vanderbilt and his army must be tracking them."

"We need to deliver the message ourselves," Pandora said, looking to the others. "What is the best route to the portal?"

For hours, the group formulated a plan of action and began to put it into motion. Pandora was shown a few spells from Luna that were already meant for destruction. Her lack of ability would save them if Vanderbilt found them, but they hoped the group would throw him off their trail. While the didn't want to sacrifice the clan, they knew it might be the only way to get help.

A river ran just a mile from the portal. The girls hadn't heard its babbling because of the rain, but Maroona and Lyme followed it down the mountain and next to the portal. While it had opened recently, only a few pixies made it through. Luna couldn't tell which pixies made it through; a battle occurred in a nearby meadow, and it was a mix of who survived and who did not. If the pixies under Vanderbilt's spell made it to the portal, the danger would be too much. They had to act now.

"They've awakened the children," Lyme said to them, careful to be quiet. He flew onto a nearby limb and sighed heavily, pointing towards the direction Pandora and Professor Trelawney first arrived from. "Vanderbilt is waiting for us to go through the portal. He wants to ambush it, kill the two of you, and enter your world."

"We can't let that happen," Pandora said sternly, raising her wand. "I've watched how you maneuver through the woods. I'll ambush him. During the diversion, all of you should go through the portal."

"You could be slaughtered. You have very little control of your magic," Luna warned. Pandora shook her head.

"It's the only way. I'll be able to handle myself, but you all need to get through safely. That, too, is the only way," Pandora said, looking to each member of the group. Luna decided not to protest, but Lyme wasn't having the plan. He flew to a limb just in from of Pandora.

"Just because this is your problem does not mean you should solve it alone. A true faery queen uses her resources to her advantage, no matter what ordeal she has to face. A true faery queen wouldn't stand for self destruction. Use your resources. Don't do this alone."

"Only one of you can stay," Pandora whispered. "Luna, it shouldn't be you."

"I disagree," Luna smiled, raising her wand. "I can actually control my magic. We'll have a better diversion, helping them to get home easier. Please, you must see the logic in my decision to stay," she said, beginning to move into the stream. "We'll follow it to a small clearing just up here. We can then go around using a small footpath. At the end of it should be the clearing you arrived at, and there will be Vanderbilt."

"We'll get the message to Dumbledore, Pandora," Maroona smiled. "And we'll talk to the others. Both you and Luna should be the next faery queen. If they agree, we'll perform the ceremony at Hogwarts. I've always wanted to see your lovely school after hearing Luna discuss it so much. It'll be the perfect place, if all goes well."

With their departure rituals underway, Pandora and Luna moved upstream. They moved swiftly but softly up the footpath, stopping just before they encountered Vanderbilt and his army. Luna wrote down the spell she planned to use in the dirt. Pandora nodded agreement, then the battle began.

The pixies saw the explosion rip through the trees. They sensed that one of the spells had gone wrong, probably Pandora's, but they knew the forces would be distracted now. They flew towards the portal, covering each other as they flew. They broke the threshold, and everything went white.

The shadow pixies were already buried with Maroona, Lyme, and Blau reached Hogwarts. Dumbledore was using an empty room of the school to house the others, who were waiting patiently for word from the other side. When the three pixies arrived without the girls, each of the clan leaders joined them in Dumbledore's office to hear the news.

"Vanderbilt is building a pixie army to join his army of children," Maroona began. "Luna and Pandora caused a diversion to distract them while we delivered this message, this plea for your help. Dumbledore, humble headmaster, we need reinforcements if we want to keep Vanderbilt from destroying your world. His magic has grown more powerful in our world, and he will surely be more powerful in yours. Pandora said he was only a little powerful in the world she first saw him in, but now he's grown, and he's far more dangerous than before."

"He was already powerful here. I was grateful to learn he had escaped and become trapped on the other side, but I see my joy was spoken too soon," Dumbledore sighed. "We will send our best professors and students, anyone who is willing to fight. Judging by your story, we may need to send a nurse as well."

"How far did the pixies get within this world, if you don't mind me asking?" Lyme murmured, eying the angry clan leaders carefully.

"They almost corrupted a young student, but a professor caught them just in time. He used illegal measures to kill them, but the spell was used properly. He will not face charges," Dumbledore explained. Lyme nodded, looking to the clan leaders.

"Luna and Pandora are mere girls themselves, but they have done their best. It's up to those willing to help them to save them, but we know that both are worthy to fill the vacant faery queen position. If you are all willing to agree-"

"Forgive me for interrupting, but my sister was the leader of the clan those pixies belonged to. She refused to let him use her, so they slaughtered her. I received the vision hours before, along with images of the slaughter you caused in trying to get this message to the portal. If they really had the judgment of a future faery queen, they would not have allowed this slaughter to happen."

"But they kept our clans from experiencing the same fate," another faery queen said sternly. She was the one who first told them of Vanderbilt's plan and handed over her device. "They saved us from a different kind of slaughter, the kind caused by allegiances the wrong false gods. Vanderbilt is a false god, a false leader. They deserve recognition for this feat. Besides, no faery queen was ever perfect. Our last allowed the export of pixie dust before her demise, starting all of our problems. These girls have tried to bring back the levels of pixie dust we once had, an important feat they succeeded with inside the clan of these two pixies," she said, gesturing to Maroona and Lyme.

"It's too soon to decide. Help them, but do not let our people suffer further."

"Then it is settled. I'll gather everyone and use another portal to take everyone into your world. We'll try to spare as many pixies as we can, but we make no promises. The girls will likely do what they can as well. You must trust them and trust in me to make things right," Dumbledore said. The others nodded, watching the room clear.

Within the next hour, an army was raised. Many students from each house participated, including Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and his friends, taking a spot within the lines with their wands drawn. When the portal opened, they were to run forward and do as much damage as they could without hurting pixies, if possible. The entire mission was dangerous, but it must be done. If the faery world was to survive, as well as the girls, Vanderbilt had to be slaughtered at all costs.