Mariposa spun around, her eyes wide "What?"
Carlos took a deep breath then repeated what he had just said "I love you."
She stared at him for a long moment "You... do?"
He nodded "I do. And I always have. I was jut too... scared to tell you."
Mariposa's eyes scanned his face for any sign that he might be lying, but his face was completely honest and sincere.
"I didn't know if you felt the same, so I didn't say anything. Instead I just watched for some clue that you might possibly return it." he reached out and took her other hand "I finally saw something while we were with the tolls that gave me a little bit of hope." he took a step closer to her "Please don't get yourself hurt or killed. I need you."
"Carlos, I can't fly anymore." Mariposa whispered, choking on her words.
"So what?" He shrugged "Elina couldn't fly at first either, remember?"
"But..." she shook her head "She..."
"It doesn't matter." Carlos interrupted "You're wings don't make you you."
"What if it matters to me?" she whispered, looking down at her shoes.
Carlos slowly lifted her face up "Then I hope you realize how much more you mean to everyone else.. especially me." then he whispered "I love you."
His pleading gaze tore at her heart, then a smile slowly crossed Mariposa's face "I love you too, Carlos." she whispered "With all my heart."
A small laugh escaped Carlos's throat as his right hand gently cupped the side of her face, then he bent down and kissed her.
Mariposa's eyes closed as she melted into what she had only dreamed of.
Catania, Willa, and Talayla all looked at each other and grinned.
Just then, there was a bright flash of light from Mariposa's wings.
"Look!" Talayla cried.
Mariposa looked over her shoulder and watched as her left wing began to shimmer and grow until it was completely restored to it's original size. When the light faded, there was a constant pink glow left around them.
"I don't believe it." She whispered as she flapped it slowly.
Just then, a loud cry from the kingdom caught their attention, reminding them that there were still skeezites wrecking the town.
"There's nothing we can do." Carlos said, taking a small step back "Not without some lights."
Just then, a line of blue sparkles began to swirl through Mariposa's eyes. When it reached her pupils it flashed brightly. The glow around her wings changed from pink to a pale blue. And she slowly began fly into the air.
"What's happening?" Catania whispered.
"I don't know." Carlos answered.
Mariposa's wings began to glow brighter til she was completely enveloped in the bright light.
Then all at once, the light shot away from her in all directions across the whole kingdom. The Flutterfield lights instantly came back to life, glowing brighter than they ever had before.
A moment later, Mariposa landed back on the ground, the glow around her wings returned to dim pink. She stood there for a second looking around confused "What... just happened?"
"You..." Carlos shook his head "You turned back on the lights."
Marabella joined them "I don't understand. How did you do that?"
"I don't know." Mariposa answered "It just... happened."
"Your mother!" Catania suddenly exclaimed "Remember? She had the magic inside! Who's to say it didn't go to her daughter?"
"Who was your mother?" Marabella asked slowly.
"I believe you knew her." Mariposa said "My mother was Rose."
"Rose?" The queen gasped, then she stared at Mariposa for a long moment. Sever seconds later a smile burst across her face "No wonder You made me think of my dear friend!" she pulled the younger fairy into a tight hug "All these years, I thought you had died with your mother." she held Mariposa at arms' length "But you've been here the entire time! Flutterfield's true heir!"
"What!?" Mariposa gasped.
"What?" Carlos, Catania, Willa, and Talayla all echoed.
Marabella raised a curious eyebrow "Mariposa, with all your reading do you really have no idea who Rose was?"
"There are so many fairies named Rose." Mariposa answered quietly "I didn't even know she existed till yesterday."
"Rose created these lights." Marabella said "She wanted to make a protection after her husband, the King, was killed by a skeezite."
Mariposa took a step back "The King?"
"Yes. Mariposa, your mother Rose was the Queen of Flutterfield."
(Yet another Short chapter :P I have got to stop that! Well, I hope everyone is happy! Unless you're like my sister and think Marabella's been queen since before she was married and whatnot, but I thought it made a nice place for Mariposa. ;D I hope you've all enjoyed this story so far! One more chapter... I think. There may be one more after, we'll just see! Laterz!)