Chapter 8

(Becky's POV)

I wake up with a start.

I really thought the nightmares would've stopped by now.

I turn and see Vidia is gone.

I really thought she would've stayed long enough to tell me goodbye before she and I both left for work.

What if she's left me for good?

What if she found someone better than me to love and marry?

What if she's dead?

What if she died of disbelief?

What if I caused her death in my sleep?

My breathing starts to get ragged and I clutch my chest. Oh, no. Not another one. I haven't had one since before Vidia proposed to me.

Before my parents kicked me out.

"Sweetie! Baby, what's wrong?"

Vidia. She's kneeling in front of me and she takes my hands in her own, dropping something on the floor.

"You…you were…you were dead. I killed you. I said what no one should ever say about one of us."

"Oh, honey. I'm here. I'm right here, and I promise you, I'm not going anywhere. Not if I have any say in it. Baby, we need to get your breathing back under control. Deep breaths, hon. Deep…breaths."

Soon, I get my breathing back under control.

"But what if my parents find out and they say it? It could kill someone!"

"I know, hon. I know. But we've got Prilla to blink over to the mainland and help the hypothetical dying fairy."

"That's true."

"So, don't worry about it. She's the best Mainland-Visiting, Clapping-Talent fairy we've got."

"She's also the only one we've got."

"For now. I'm sure someone else will come along and be a member of her talent guild."

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as I'm in love with you forever. Can I kiss you?"

I nod and Vidia kisses me. That turns into a full make-out session until someone knocks on our door.

"You girls do realize we can see you, right?"

"Sil!"

"Sorry!"

"What are you guys doing here? Becky and I have to leave for work soon."

"We just…we just wanted to get to you before someone else did." Tink says.

"Tink, what are you talking about?" I ask.

"Becky…we don't know how. But your parents are here. As fairies." Iridessa says.

"What? This can't be…this can't be…" The world suddenly goes black.

~.~

(Vidia's POV)

Thank the second star I caught Becky, or she would've hit her head.

"We'll go get a healing talent fairy, just in case."

"Good idea. I'll stay here for when she wakes up. And whatever you do, do not let Becky's former parents see you or us."

"Got it. We'll be back."

They soon return with the healing talent fairy, Cynthia.

"What occurred here?"

"She fainted."

"Was she under any stress or receive distressing news?"

"She did receive distressing news."

"Alright. Keep her hydrated and keep her down for a couple of days. I'll get one of your friends to let Gelata know."

"Thank you, Cynthia. So much."

"You're welcome."

Cynthia leaves and soon, Becky wakes back up. I help her sit up.

"Honey, are you okay?"

"I…I think so. Please tell me it was all a bad dream and my parents aren't actually here?"

"I'm afraid it wasn't a bad dream, hon. Your parents are actually here."

"What if they're here to separate us? Or hurt the queen? Or hurt us?"

"I like that one of your thoughts went to them hurting the queen."

"I'm serious, Vidia."

"So am I. I'm sure they won't hurt anyone."

"But what if - ?"

"Shhh. None of that. We'll deal with your parents when and if we face them. I'll handle the talking. You've said all you need to say to them."

"Thank you, Vidia."

"You're welcome."

But as soon as Becky and I leave our house, we're faced with her former parents.

"Girls." Becky's former mother states.

Becky stays silent, probably too scared to say anything.

"We want to talk to you both." Becky's former mother says.

"Can I say something here?" I ask.

"Of course."

"Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen, you have no idea what you did to her! You cast her out when she's done nothing wrong! She's been plagued with the same nightmare for a week! If you say certain words about not believing in us, you could be responsible for her death."

"All we wanted was to say that we want you to come home, Becky."

"Will you still let Becky and I get married?"

"That's out of the question."

Becky looks at me, and I nod.

"Then I'm not leaving. I'm meant to be here, with Vidia."

"Then we have one thing to say to you. We don't believe in fairies."

That's when Becky falls. And doesn't get up.

"SOMEONE GET PRILLA!" I call out as I gather Becky in my arms.

Luckily, there's a group of fairies nearby who heard my call and rush to get Prilla.

"Stay with me, baby girl. I'm right here." It's then I turn to Becky's former parents.

"You did this. If she dies, Queen Clarion will hold you personally responsible. And so will I."

"We didn't mean any harm."

"Don't say that. Of course you meant harm! No one who says that doesn't mean harm. And if she dies, you'll never see her again."

"Vidia!" I turn to see Prilla flapping her wings as hard as she can to get to me and Becky.

"Prilla, you need to do your job and get people to believe in fairies. Becky's dying. Please, Prilla. I can't lose her."

"I'm on it." Prilla's eyes get that glossy look in them and I know she's blinked over to the mainland.

"Clap to save the fairies! Clap to save Becky!" She calls out.

Suddenly, Becky begins to shimmer and glow.

She inhales and sits up. I immediately hug her.

"Thank you, Prilla. Thank you so much." I say. Prilla nods at me and leaves, her job done for the moment.

"I was so afraid I was going to lose you, Becky."

"I know. I was afraid you'd lose me, too."

"What's going on here?" We turn and see Queen Clarion.

"Your Highness, Becky's former parents are here, and they said the forbidden words. Becky would've died if it wasn't for Prilla."

"I see." Queen Clarion turns to Becky's former parents.

"You came here and told me you wanted to rebuild your relationship with your daughter. Instead, you betrayed my trust and nearly killed her. I have no choice but to strip you of your fairy selves and send you back to the mainland with no memories of this place – or of your daughter."

Becky's former parents nod and Queen Clarion takes them outside. Before she leaves, however, she turns to us.

"Girls, I'm sorry you had to suffer through their acts. You won't have to worry about them ever again. It's better this way." We nod at our queen.

We watch Becky's former parents be sent back to the mainland, stripped of their former fairy selves, with no memories of Pixie Hollow, or of Becky.

"Are you okay?" I ask my fiancée.

"Physically or emotionally?"

"Let's start with physically."

"I'm doing as well as I can. Emotionally, I think it'll take some getting used to not having parents."

"Becky, sweetheart." We look up and see Queen Clarion.

"I can remove the memories of your parents, if you'll let me. It won't impact your memories of Vidia or of anyone in Pixie Hollow, or of Pixie Hollow itself."

"Thank you, Queen Clarion."

"You're welcome. Close your eyes for me. Vidia, I want you to step back for a moment."

"Of course, Your Highness."

I step back and Queen Clarion flies over to Becky and places her hands on her head, and pulls out every memory of her former parents from her.

"All right. Vidia, come stand behind her in case she faints or feels dizzy." I fly over to my fiancée and stand behind her.

Becky opens her eyes.

"Do you know where you are?" Queen Clarion asks.

"Yes. I'm in Vidia's and my house in Pixie Hollow. You're my queen, Queen Clarion, and Vidia, my fiancée, is standing behind me. My name is Becky and I'm a former tinker/healing fairy, and am now a baking fairy."

"Very good. Take it easy for a few days."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You're welcome."