Just a note. To those of you who have been waiting for my story to continue, I'm sorry it's taken so long. Just after I posted the last chapter my computer started giving me issues and in attempt to fix it I did a full restore. Unfortunately I forgot to burn what I had moved to a disc and lost EVERYTHING. Anything I had put on there was gone. Including all work done on this story. I lost the plot, the chapters, everything. I have finally gotten to the point where I can finish this story, and updates will come faster now. So, without further ado, on with the tale...

Hollowed History

Melody was able to make it back to her home without trouble. When she arrived she took the time to wash in her basin. As she was going downstairs, she came across a strange fairy in her home. Stopping where she was the other fairy stopped too. It was then that Melody realized she was seeing her own reflection. It was the first time Melody had seen herself fully, and she was quite surprised. He brown hair fell in graceful curls to end just past her shoulders. Her eyes were the color of the sky. Her wings were long, and reflected the blue of her eyes. She was rather tall, now that she thought about it. She had had to look down at many of the fairies she had seen so far. With a smile Melody decided she liked the way she looked. But there were things to do just now, so she left the mirror.

Just as she was reaching her entry room Melody heard a knock at the door. Answering it she found Lulu standing there with a woven basket in hand. "Are you ready?" She asked Melody. Melody answered that she was.

Lulu took off and Melody followed her. They flew side by side out over the Pixie Dust Tree and south, to a new place. They came out over the tops of the trees and Melody let out a gasp. She never realized that there could be so much water in one place. It stretched out as far as she could see in front of her and to the sides. It's surface rippled and moved, and it made an amazing sort of fuzzy noise. She was so surprised in fact that she stopped short. Lulu was a few feet ahead when she stopped too and turned back. "This is one of the best places in the Hollow. It's Palm Tree Cove. I thought you might enjoy having dinner by the sea." Lulu remarked. "After a long day I know I do."

"It's beautiful!" Melody breathed.

"It sure is." Agreed Lulu. "Sometimes, far out, you can see dolphins. There are mermaids in the deep too, but they don't usually come up when fairies are here." Lulu thought for a moment. "If you ever need your hair fixed, just back behind the trees is Shelley's Shears. But that can wait. Let's find a spot and eat something."

Melody nodded. "I'm so hungry I could eat a... I don't know, but something big!" She laughed, and Lulu laughed with her.

The pair settled in a spot under a fern and set out the picnic Lulu had brought. As they ate Lulu told Melody all about her day, and being a light fairy. Melody listened avidly, for Lulu knew a lot about light and other fairies as well. The sun was setting as they finished the acorn bread with berry jam, poppy puffs, and fresh fruit. They fed the sea birds what was left. After the birds flew off to roost for the night the two fairies flew back to the Pixie Dust Tree.

When they neared the tree a streak of pale pink light shot up through the tree and exploded in a ball of color. "Fireworks." Lulu told Melody. "Want to see how to make them?"

"Sure!" Melody smiled. After putting Lulu's basket in her entry they flew up above the branches of the Pixie Dust Tree and settled down on a pair of leaves. Melody watched as Lulu seemed to draw a small ball of light out of nothing. Lulu threw the ball skyward. As it started up it turned a spectacular green just before exploding like the other. Melody was so impressed that Lulu showed her how to make the fireworks herself.

Soon Melody was making fireworks quite well on her own, and the two girls began to shape the fireworks explosions. First they were simple designs, like stars, and flowers. Then Lulu sent up a smiling fairy. The girls made more and more complex designs, till they were sending up fireworks of anything funny they could think of. Lulu was about to start another firework when they heard a snort below them. Lulu looked up at the sky and thought for a moment.

"No wonder she was upset. It's getting fairy late!"

"Would you like to stay in my house tonight?" Offered Melody. She had had a wonderful day and really didn't want it to end.

Lulu smiled back at her. "Thanks. The night fliers can be a bit nasty if they are really hungry, but nothing like the hawks. Those are very large birds that will eat a fairy if they get the chance."

Melody knew then that was what she had seen earlier but said nothing. She didn't want to explain where she had seen the hawk. She hated keeping a secret from her new friend, but Bailey was special. Instead, Melody and Lulu went inside, and got ready for bed.

After her long and interesting day sleep was a long time coming to Melody. When at last it did Melody slept long past dawn. In fact she slept so long that when she woke Lulu was gone. On the table in Melody's breakfast nook sat a cup of steaming tea, and a small wrapped package. Sitting down Melody took a sip of tea then opened the package to reveal a beautiful yellow stone. The package turned out to have a note on it's inside. "I had a great time yesterday Melody. I thought you might like this to remember the day by. It's a Dawn Crystal. Early rising fairies use them to light their way. Only the fairy who holds it can see it's light, so it won't wake other fairies or animals they pass. They are very rare, but so are you. It's only right that you have this. I can't wait to see you again my friend!"

Melody held the gift in her hand and sure enough the crystal began to glow a soft white light. This really was a rare gift. Melody thought that Lulu was even rarer still. She was setting down the crystal when someone knocked at her door.

Answering it revealed, much to Melody's awe, Queen Clarion. Melody invited her in but Ree explained that she was on her way to meet the Ministers of the Seasons. However, she wanted to introduce Melody to someone first. Leaving the last remains of her tea Melody followed Queen Clarion to her chambers.

Yesterday the main room had been empty. Today, there was someone sitting at the desk, her back to the door. Her brilliant red hair was twisted up into a knot on top of her head. The front of her hair fell in forward in little whisps. Her blue top dropped in back to curve under her wings, which were blue like Melody's. Her white leaf skirt was in stark contrast to the deep red of the stool she sat on. As they approached she looked up and Melody saw she had a twig with a blackened tip tucked behind one ear and a feather quill in one hand. She smiled at Queen Clarion.

"Melody, this is Neverheart. She is one of our best storytellers and writers. She is The Writer. Neverheart keeps record of our current history. She is also in charge of all the books in the library. As such a rare fairy you yourself will be included in the History. There is none better to write your story than Neverheart." Ree explained. "If you will excuse me I must see the Ministers of the Seasons." With a final goodbye Ree seemed to shrink and transform into a small ball of pixie dust, leaving Melody and Neverheart alone.