Chapter 10
Queen Clarion quickly took charge, calling commands to the restless crowd. "Tinker Bell, we need your Thistle Catcher. Fast-fliers, use your wind to push them back. Viola, fetch Zarina and tell her to bring purple dust. We're going to need all the fast-fliers we can get. Those who wish to volunteer for this, step over here beside me. Everyone else, grab what you can and get under cover."
I scrambled after my journal as I was knocked about by dashing fairies on all sides. Terror overcame my disappointment. What if all the preparations were ruined? Tink mentioned this had happened before. How had they recovered?
"Quick, those of you who don't wish to volunteer to become fast-fliers get in here," commanded a sparrow man dressed as a Scout. He held up a piece of the ground like a trap door. Several fairies and sparrow men hurried into the opening.
I snatched up my journal.
"You, girl, are you coming?" he asked me as I stood there with my wings flared. What did I want? To hide underground or fight the Thistles? I glanced over at the group that had gathered before Queen Clarion, spotting Fawn, Iridessa, Silvermist, Rosetta, and Chloe amongst them. Vidia and the other fast-fliers had already taken off toward the Thistles, struggling to push them back with a harsh wind that only breezed across their tops. Queen Clarion was right. We needed more fast-fliers.
I shook my head and, tucking my journal into my belt, hurried toward Queen Clarion's group.
"All right, Ally!" said Chloe, slapping my back.
Tink's Catcher had snatched up some of the Thistles but was instantly overwhelmed. There were far too many. They trampled the machine as they pushed closer to us, leaving it scattered across the ground in pieces.
Tink, her face burning a brilliant red, hurried to join us. Tears glossed her eyes but I could tell she struggled to hold them back. She bit her lip.
"You did your best, Tink," said Silvermist, patting her shoulder.
"Yeah," said Iridessa, her eyes wide with worry. "There's just so many of them."
Zarina arrived with a full satchel. She flung purple dust over each waiting fairy and sparrow man. A sharp prickling danced along my wings as the dust spilled over them. They started vibrating, anxious to take off. My outfit instantly turned purple, as did everyone else's.
Zarina sprinkled the dust on herself last. My surroundings blurred as we all took off at top speed and joined Vidia's group. A strange elation filled me. I loved flying but this was a thrill I'd never experienced before. I was moving so fast my stomach felt as if it were oozing from my body.
"Use those air currents, guys!" Vidia called once we caught up to her and the other real fast-fliers. "Let's make a tornado."
We swirled around as one, creating a massive funnel of wind that picked up several Thistles and hurled them a great distance. It was working!
Or so I'd thought. Far too many Thistles remained, burrowing their roots into the ground. My wings suddenly ached from the speed and my head spun. It was an effort to keep up this much force but the countless Thistles weren't budging.
"Stop!" I heard Vidia shout over the roaring winds.
I slowed, along with the others. The tornado vanished.
In that instant, the Thistles unanimously uprooted and continued their noisy stampede, rushing closer to Spring Valley.
"Try hurricane winds this time," Vidia commanded.
We dashed forward as one, drawing air toward us and forming a wave of wind that blasted over the Thistles. It howled in my ears and whipped my hair across my face. Why hadn't I thought to plait it into a single braid?
This time the Thistles were prepared and only two blew away before they set down their roots. I remembered Tink saying they were getting smarter. How true that was. Our efforts were useless. If we kept the winds coming, the Thistles would just burrow. But when we stopped, they continued their destructive rampage. There had to be another way.
Thoughts as rapid as my charged wings whirled through my mind. Could I come up with an idea for a plant that would overpower the Thistles? I couldn't think of anything in my fast-flier state but if…
"Zarina!" I called, rushing over to her. Her face was flushed with the effort of helping everyone maintain the harsh wind. "I found a way to make my Garden talent work. I need it back. It might stop the Thistles. Do you have any Garden dust on you?"
She nodded and reached into her pocket. I was briefly engulfed in a shower of sparkling pink.
"Thanks!" I called as I darted downward, my wings feeling suddenly slow and sluggish.
I pulled out my journal but didn't have a quill. Desperation flooded through me as I glanced back at the ongoing battle. Every fast-flier was tiring. Some of my companions had dropped to the ground, overcome by exhaustion, while the others struggled to keep up the wind. But how much longer would their energy last? Already the Thistles were uprooting and leaning into the gale.
I searched the preparation area for something to draw with. There were scattered fruits, berries, rainbow tubes, paintbrushes…
That's it! I snatched up a paintbrush and fumbled my journal open to a blank page.
We needed something to gather up all the Thistles at once. The image of a Venus Fly Trap touched my mind. But one the size of a hill and craving Thistles, able to fit hundreds of them in its cave-like maw, and would obey my commands.
The image flew from the paintbrush onto the page, perfect in every detail, except size.
Once I was finished, I sped to the field where the fast-fliers were still struggling to hold back the Thistles. I tore the Thistle Trap from its page and dropped it onto the ground. It instantly took root, spreading thick, flowering vines across the wide meadow and ballooning as high as the surrounding hills. "You're hungry, I know," I said to it. I pointed to the mass of Thistles ready to continue their relentless stampede. "There are plenty of delicious Thistles for you to eat."
"Ally?" Tink's stunned voice carried over the sounds of the dying wind and restless Thistles. "What is that? Did you grow it?"
"Yes I did, in a way. It's a Thistle Trap. Everyone, stop the wind!" I had to yell to make myself heard. "Let the Thistles go. This thing is starving."
The wind stopped suddenly as they all gawked at the Thistle Trap in shock. The Thistles dashed forward in a seemingly endless stream, straight into the Trapper's wide open mouth. Once the last one entered, it snapped its jaws shut and smacked its lips, as if satisfied with its meal. The silence that filled the still air was almost deafening.
"Good job," I said, patting the top of its massive head. "Now, head over to Needlepoint Meadow. That's where the Thistles grow. You will never be hungry."
With a thunderous sound like an avalanche, the Trapper pulled up its enormous roots and shambled off in the direction of Needlepoint Meadow.
I turned back to the others who were staring at me, eyes wide and mouths gaping.
"Ally…what...? You…." For once, Rosetta couldn't release her words.
"That was flitterific!" gasped Tink, rushing over and nearly knocking me out of the air in an eager hug.
"Well, even I'm impressed," said Vidia, patting me on the back. "And it takes a lot to impress me."
"I'll say that was impressive," said Queen Clarion, trailed by the Minister of Spring. He looked ready to faint. She placed a hand on my shoulder. "It turns out you have quite a talent, Ally. You are the first Garden fairy in the history of Pixie Hollow to defeat the Sprinting Thistles. And because of you, spring is saved."
Euphoria filled me as everyone cheered and drew me into one big embrace.
"Ally deserves a trip to the Mainland, wouldn't you agree, Hyacinth?" said Queen Clarion.
"She certainly does."
"How did you do it, Ally?" asked Silvermist. "That's by far the biggest plant I've ever seen anyone grow."
"I found my blue dust," I said, winking at Zarina, who grinned back.
"She just pulls her drawings out of her journal," said Rosetta. "I know. I saw her do it last night. Those folks on the Mainland are going to be plenty surprised when they find candy trees standing right next to their begonias."
"Well, this is something I'd like to see," said Queen Clarion.
Once Zarina switched back the volunteers' talents, everyone gathered around me, including those who'd gone into hiding during the Thistle attack.
Awed gasps filled the air as I tore some of my creations out one by one and planted them in the ground: a sparkling tree with crystalline leaves and silver fruits; a colorful bird-shaped plant with a flowing, flowery tail; and blossoms that fluttered through the air like butterflies with multiple wings.
Stunned murmurs from my audience filled my ears. "Gorgeous!" "Amazing!" "I've never…." My chest was so swollen with happiness I felt it might burst.
"I'll say one thing," said the Minister of Spring. "The Mainland is in for some surprises this spring." He looked toward the Everblossom. Its petals had widened further but still hadn't completely bloomed.
Anticipation vibrated through me as I silently willed it to hurry.
I didn't expect a new Arrival to appear so close to our departure time but one did. She stood within the mushroom circle of talent icons, studying each one with huge ocher eyes that dominated her delicately beautiful face. Her diaphanous wings flared slightly as she started toward the flower.
Oh, please, let her be a Garden talent! I thought as I wove a lock of hair into a thin braid. I sat on a large orchid between Rosetta and Chloe. They both leaned forward in eager hopefulness.
Disappointment filled me as the flower wilted in her grasp. She bowed her head and lowered her wings. Her sleek fall of dark red hair swept forward, curtaining her face.
"You mustn't be discouraged, little one," Queen Clarion said in a kind voice as she gingerly brushed back the newcomer's hair. "There are still plenty of talents left to try." Warmth filled me as I remembered my own Arrival. An eternity seemed to have passed since then.
The new fairy lifted her head and, after carefully scanning the remaining icons, approached the rainbow cloud that represented Pixie Dust Alchemy. Her wide eyes reflected its multiple colors.
The dust took on a blinding glow and swirled around her, lifting her hair. The mushroom circle instantly disappeared. Zarina leaped onto the platform with a joyous cry.
"Everyone, please welcome Zoe, the newest Pixie Dust Alchemist," said Queen Clarion, clasping Zoe's small hand. "Zoe, meet your mentor, Fairy Zarina."
Deafening cheers echoed against the Tree as Zarina, placing an arm around Zoe's slender shoulders, turned to face us. I clapped so hard my palms hurt. Warm tears tickled my cheeks.
The Minister of Spring suddenly appeared. "The Everblossom has bloomed," he shouted, straining to be heard above the ruckus. "Nature talents, come along."
I grasped my journal as I rose. I'd added new illustrations to it and itched to plant them on the Mainland.
Swarms of fairies filled the air but there were still so many left standing on the ground, smiling and waving. "Is it really only the Nature talents that get to go to the Mainland?" I asked Rosetta. In my disappointment over my latent talent, I hadn't really thought this through. I'd been so concerned about my not being allowed to go. But now, it seemed grossly unfair.
"Don't worry, Sweetpea. Come summer, everyone goes, to spend a well-earned vacation at Fairy Camp. You'll love it. But, for now, we've got a job to do. Now come along."
"Just give me a second." I flew toward the large crowd of fairies and sparrow men watching our departure. Queen Clarion, looking on with pride, was wrapped in Lord Milori's arms. His perfect wings draped down his back like a gauzy cape. Behind them were Tink, Terence, Fairy Mary, Fairy Gary, Clank, Bobble, the newly promoted Fairy Zarina, and Zoe.
I dashed to Zarina and gave her a big hug. "Congratulations. And…thanks."
"Didn't I say you'd unlock your talent?"
I nodded then turned to Zoe. "You're in good hands with Zarina." Zoe looked up at her new mentor and beamed.
"Now, go on, Ally," said Zarina, giving me a slight push. "It's time to share that talent of yours with the world."
"Bye, Ally!" called Tink.
"Have fun," said Bobble.
"Bring me something from the Mainland," said Clank. Bobble jabbed him in the ribs.
I waved to all of them as I took to the air. Then, clutching my journal to my chest, I raced to catch up with Rosetta and Chloe, who were waiting. Joy warmed me despite the chill breeze as we headed toward the Second Star.
The End