The Mystery Of Mermaid Lagoon
The next morning, before the shift whistle blew, Silvermist and Flora arrive at the door to the Chamber. They are holding hands, and looking very happy.
Going inside they startle a Faerie already there. She is dressed in a white apron, and is setting out fresh fruit and juice on the refreshments table.
"Oh!" she exclaims, and is quickly on her knees, head bowed. "I am sorry, Oracle, I meant to be done before you arrived."
Sil goes over and raises the visitor to her feet. "It's okay, Ladle."
"But I didn't want to disturb the Oracle and her important work," is the answer, the girl trembling a bit, looking down.
Sil giggles. "Actually, you're making her uncomfortable by kneeling to her. Just relax, she isn't going to bite."
The Serving-Talent hesitantly looks up at the Flower Faerie.
"You know me, Ladle," says Flora, "Yes I'm the Oracle, but I'm still just Flora, and I would prefer if you treated me that way."
"O- okay," says the girl, visibly relaxing.
Sil gave her a quick squeeze around the shoulders, and let go. "Good. So, you're going to be the one changing the table?"
"Yes, Dulcie asked me to. I thought it best to come in the morning," she replies.
"Yes, that will work fine, thank you. I plan to do a communion with the Tree in the morning, and afterwards I usually need something," says Flora.
A few minutes later Ladle finishes her task, and Sil leaves with her. Alone for a few minutes, Flora gets a cup of tea and sits at her desk. The plants around her were happy, and that contributes to her overall good mood.
The moment of still and quiet is broken when Spring and Fury come in together.
"Good morning!" says Flora, cheerfully.
To her surprise, both suddenly kneel to her, and bow till their faces are nearly to the floor.
"Good morning, O Great and Wonderful Oracle!" the chant together, "May you guide us to work the Tree's will! May the Spirit of the Home Tree grant us peace, safety, and serenity! "
Flora can't help but slap her forehead. "Guys..."
Fury and Spring get up, laughing.
"We're just teasing you, Flora," says Spring. "We know you're not comfortable when Faeries do that."
The Oracle rolls her eyes. "What did you do, practice that?"
Fury grins. "Yes, we thought it up and practiced last night."
"Well, you got me good! Help yourselves to something, and then I'll do a communion." She gestures toward the refreshments.
That quickly sobers the atmosphere, so Fury draws herself some tea, while Spring pours a glass of orange juice.
A few minutes later the futon is brought out and folded flat. Flora takes a lotus position on it, then looks at her helpers.
"I don't know how long this will take," she tells them, "It doesn't seem very long to me, but more time passes than I expect."
"We'll be ready," Fury assures her. She is standing at the foot of the futon, nearest the door, ready to fly. Spring is seated, with a message leaf open and pen in hand.
The Flower Faerie closes her eyes, centers herself, and her senses expand. She senses her helpers, and a much more powerful Voice. She moves toward it.
« Hello, Flora, » says the spirit of Queen Rhianna. « And welcome. I am very glad you have decided to take the position as Oracle. »
Flora opens her eyes and finds she is back in the same room as before, with lines of yellow Pixie Dust moving hither and yon through tubes in the wood.
"It is too important not to," Flora replies, "Pixie Hollow is in such a delicate balance of forces, and has such an important job for this realm it needs all the advantages it can get."
« Too true. I did not know it would evolve into such a state, and now there is no help for it, » is the reply.
Flora hesitates a moment, then says, "It's very embarrassing to be almost worshiped by the Faeries. What can I do about it?"
A feeling of amusement washes over her, and is quickly gone. « Very little, I'm afraid. But don't despair, they already know you as Flora, and over time will treat you as they used to... to some degree. »
"That gives me hope, at least," says the Flower Faerie. "How are things in the Hollow?"
« Well, but there is something going on toward Mermaid Lagoon. I cannot tell what it is, but it happens around this time every four years. It disturbs the mermaids and the pirates. »
Flora feels Rhianna's attention shift.
« It has never affected Pixie Hollow, but I want to know what is happening in Mermaid Lagoon. It has been very frustrating not being able to find out. »
"A scout party can be sent to investigate," says Flora, thinking.
« Yes, please do so. I do not know if there is any danger to Pixie Hollow, but things that disturb other parts of the island should be known here. »
"I agree. Can you name anyone who should go on the expedition?" asks Flora.
« I would bring Rani. She is the only Water Talent who can swim and can speak directly to the Mermaids in their own language. The other members of the crew, I shall leave you to decide, » is the answer. « I will say they should leave within the next few days. The disturbance is usually over within a fortnight. »
"Very well. Is there anything else I should report?"
« No, all is quiet. Flora, I very much look forward to our talks. Thank you. »
"I do too, Rhianna. Good bye!"
And Flora woke to find herself in her office. She looked at Spring and Fury, both waiting with expressions of apprehension.
"Everything is fine," she said with a smile, sitting up. "But the Tree has given us a task."
"What do we need to do, Flora?" asks Fury, giving her a glass of orange juice.
"Mmm, that's good... Thank you." She finished the juice and gives the glass back to the Scout. "We need to send out an expedition to Mermaid Lagoon. The Tree said that Rani should be among those who go."
Getting up from the futon she goes over to the bookcase and stops.
"We have a large and detailed map of Pixie Hollow, but not one of Never Land!" she turns to her assistants. "Spring, would you go see Vidia and get one, please? Then I'll explain what the Tree wants. Then find Rani and inform her that she has been summoned to the Oracle's Office tomorrow immediately after the midday meal."
"At once, Oracle!" says the Messenger, and is gone.
Flora grins and looks at the Scout. "I was going to tell her not to hurry, but I guess it's too late now."
Fury gives a slow smile. "Yes, Oracle."
When Spring returns, she has Vidia herself in tow.
At Flora's inquiring look, the Fast Flyer explains. "If an expedition is going to Mermaid Lagoon, I want to see about updating the maps of that area. I brought the best ones I could find with me."
They lay the maps out on the table, and look them over.
"The Tree told me there is something that happens every four years in Mermaid Lagoon, but cannot tell what it is. It seems the time is right to find out," says Flora.
"I've been there a few times, but never noticed anything happening. The mermaids are lazy and indolent, and can be dangerous to others," says Vidia, scowling.
"Then your knowledge can help us decide who to send," nods the Fairy of Flowers. "I think I'll go. It's a part of Never Land I have not seen."
Fury steps forward. "Oracle, if you go, then I should as well. To guide and protect everyone, and I may also be of use as a scout."
"Thank you, Fury, your offer is accepted," nods Flora.
Spring timidly raises a hand. "What about me?"
"A messenger might be handy," says Vidia, "We don't know what awaits us, or if we might need help."
"I agree. Your company is welcome," says Flora, with a smile.
The Flower Fairy looks around. "That's four. We don't want to take many with us, but can anyone think of any additions?"
Nobody named any names, so it was left as is. That afternoon Spring takes a report to Queen Clarion, who approves the mission and leaves it up to Flora and Vidia to arrange.
When Silvermist comes in that afternoon, she tells Flora that, while she would love to go, her duties as a Water Fairy prevent it. All of the Water Fairies will be following streams to their headwaters to see if there are any problems, and it will take several days to do so.
That evening Flora tells the other Winx about the expedition.
"I'm going too," says Aisha, "I have not been near a large body of water in a long time, and feel a need to do so."
The other Winx, especially Bloom, are interested, but agree the party should not be too large. They will come help if needed; just send Spring to find them.
Flora leaves the Winx Home and spends the night with Silvermist.
"This seems to be good timing, as we will be apart anyway," says the dark-haired Water Fairy.
"Yes, but I will still miss you terribly," is the reply, and they move into each other's arms.
The next afternoon the Oracle's Office gets a surprise visitor.
"Ic- Ishandra! This is unexpected!" exclaims Flora, giving the Witch a hug. "I am glad to see you!"
"You too, Flora," smiles Ishandra, briefly returning it.
Flora turns to her staff, who have stood up when this obviously important person comes in.
"Spring, Fury, this is Lady Ishandra of the Winter Woods. Ishandra, these are my staff," says Flora, gesturing at them.
The Scout and Messenger bow to the visitor.
"Welcome, Lady Ishandra!" they say in unison.
"Cute," smirks the Witch, "Did you teach them to do that?"
Flora rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She knows better than to respond to Ishandra's provocation.
"What can I do for you?" she asks instead.
"You can count me in on the expedition to Mermaid Lagoon," is the reply, "I read about it in the daily report, and have a strong feeling I will be needed."
Actually, she didn't want to admit she and Lord Milori had had a fight, and she was taking a bit of time to 'cool off', so to speak.
"You are just in time, then. We are leaving in a week upon the morning tide," says Flora.
"Arr!" exclaim all as they file out of the Oracle's Office.
Flora soon realizes that Ishandra is still floating about her office and now in the quiet her empathic nature kicks in. "Something is wrong, Ishandra? Do you need me to commune with the Spirit of the Pixie Dust Tree on your behalf about it?"
"I don't think it will require a séance with The Tree," sighs Ishandra, mentally slapping herself for not remembering that the Empathic Faerie would pick up on such things. "Well, since you've picked up on it," she continues, "Milori and I had a fight yesterday and I need time away from the Winter Woods to cool off."
"What about?" asks Flora.
"In a word: children," is the reply. "Milori has been pressuring me to start a family with him – the biological way."
"Do you want children?" asks Flora, frowning.
"Yes, eventually, but just not now, replies Ishandra, throwing up her hands. "Sheesh! I've been married for barely three months, I've been transformed from what I was to what I am now, have had to deal with the problem of the cold shafts and clean-up and catch-up for the next trip to the Mainland, become the co-ruler of the Winter Woods and have a lot of other duties and obligations heaped on my plate. And now Gliss is telling me that she wants to leave her duties as a Frost Faerie and devote herself entirely to me and the administrative side of managing the day-to-day operations of the Winter Woods. Goddess! We could surely use all the admin help we can get right now. But all this has come so fast and furiously that I've barely had time to catch my breath. I feel exhausted and like my head is spinning. And now I'm suffering from culture shock as well."
"Yes, I can understand that you need time to adjust to all this change," agrees Flora. "If you don't want to go back to the Winter Woods tonight, you may crash-out here. There is a comfortable sleeping mat and quilt here. I'll inform Zephyr that you will be staying here overnight and send a message to Ladle to have breakfast brought to you in the morning. Not to worry, I'll have Ladle up to speed on your dietary needs."
"Thank you, Flora," whispers Ishandra, looking much relieved.
"You know, as a Priestess of the Nature Sect on Linphia, I've been trained in marriage counselling. If you wish, after sorting things out at Mermaid Lagoon, I could arrange for a meeting with you and Milori. I can serve as an intermediary to help you resolve all these problems," suggests Flora.
"Thank you again," nods Ishandra. "I'll have the entire length of the voyage to think on it."