Hey, guys. So after some thinking, I have finally decided, this is the last chapter before the Epilogue. I know a lot, and I mean A LOT, of people didn't want this to end, but it had to at some point. So the final shout-outs:

black cat: He's not exactly her heir. If you remember a few chapters back, David said he didn't want to rule.

fanfictionlover02: trust me, there's more to it than you'd think.

So, for the last time in this story, R&R, PM, and Enjoy.

Chapter 16

The group arrived at the Tree, David still speaking in the odd language. "Place his hand in the pool of Pixie Dust." David began to lower onto the ground, and they began to move him to the pool. Tinker Bell was behind him, pushing his back, when she noticed something near his wings.

"Queen Clarion, take a look at this." She flipped David over so everyone could see a large patch of black on his back.

"Shadow Magic," Queen Clarion whispered. "We can't do anything now. I thought that it would have been something less dangerous, but if he comes into contact with the pool, it could corrupt the Tree itself." David stopped talking, though his breathing was still ragged. He tried to push himself up, but fell on his face. He was, however, able to free his hand so he could point towards the pool. Everyone looked at where he was pointing, and saw the most horrible sight. At the center of the pool was a collection of black-colored pixie dust.

David struggled towards the pool, whispering, "David...traitor...end this." He finally made it to the pool and thrust his hand into it. He felt himself pull into the Tree and he found the outcast David, his back towards him.

"You!" The outcast David turned to him, his face flaking with decay. "Why? You said you abandoned Shadow Magic!"

The outcast David laughed maniacally, saying, "You actually believed me? Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'Once a bad guy, always a bad guy'? Well, 'Once a user of Shadow Magic, always a user of Shadow Magic'. You see my boy, I never intended to beat you in combat. No, my true plan was to fall in battle, and become one with the Tree. Once I fell to your blade, all I had to do was release a bit of Shadow Magic into the Tree's core." He flicked his hand and the vile black powder appeared above his hand. "What's more, I was able to infect you by giving you my gift."

David felt something in his chest, and looked down to see his chest was colored black.

"Heh, and to think, you actually believed in destiny. Tell me, do you want to know what your destiny is?"

David fell to his knees, feeling weaker with every second.

"You were meant to die."

David looked up, a scared look on his face.

"Yes, you are supposed to die, I have known it for a long time. A prophecy of a young sparrow man who had a talent unseen, one who would become connected to the Tree and die within it. Looks like it's happening right now."

David felt very weak, like his body was disappearing. He thought about everything that had happened to him so far. All the friends he had made, all the adventures he had went on, it just couldn't end here.

"No, young David, it does not end here." David turned to see Queen Amanda walking up to him.

"Do not meddle in this, it is destiny!" yelled the outcast David.

Queen Amanda began to shimmer, until a second form appeared, a sparrow man, who said, "This sparrow man is destined for more than that." They shimmered and split again, two more fairies. They continued to shimmer and split, until there were at least 100 fairies and sparrow men.

"This is not his destiny," Queen Amanda said. She placed her hands on his back, and David felt some of the feeling return to him. The others followed suit, and David was able to stand up again. He looked down and saw the black begin to recede from his clothes. "Do you understand now?" Queen Amanda asked him. "Your unique talent?"

David nodded his head, "Yes, my unique talent is one of a kind, one in more than a million. My talent, once realized can bring hope to the hopeless. It can bring happiness and security to those who have none." The outcast David formed a massive amount of Shadow Magic and hurled it towards David and the others. "A light to break through the shadows."

David held his hands up, and the Shadow Magic dissipated before it could reach them, like a barrier. Once it had ended, David held his hands further in front of him, and shouted, "Astra t'gil l'iaselec (Ahs-trah tea-gill lee-ah-sell-eck)!" A large source of light came from David, and it pierced the outcast David like a knife. The outcast cried out in pain, until he burst apart like a million stars. David shot up, back in Pixie Hollow, and he could hear Tinker Bell and Queen Clarion call out his name. Once he had fully refocused, he found himself in a bear hug from Tinker Bell, which he immediately returned.

"David, I'm so glad you're alright," he heard her say. He released her, and caught her in a kiss. They pulled apart and David stood, facing Queen Clarion.

"Thank you, David," she said, bowing her head to him, "we all owe you a debt of gratitude." Just as David was about to reply, a large creaking sound was heard. David turned, and saw the Tree's leaves were turning brown and its bark was beginning to gray.

"What's happening?" Tinker Bell asked.

"The Tree has become too corrupted," Queen Clarion answered, "it's dying." David noticed the flow of Pixie Dust, which was starting to diminish. "Without the Tree, all of Pixie Hollow will die. I'm afraid all is lost."

"No," David said, "it can't end like this." He turned to them and said, "We have been through too much to give up now." He looked at the pool again, "There has to be a way." He looked down and noticed his bag was by the edge of the pool, with a flashing light inside. He walked over to it and opened the bag, pulling out the Orb of Voices. The Orb was flickering slowly, until it produced a continual soft glow of golden light. David's eyes began to fill with realization. "That's it." He turned and said, "Queen Clarion, do you remember what the Minister of Autumn said about me? About my connection to the Tree?" Queen Clarion nodded and David gestured for her to go on. The same realization hit her, and she said almost immediately, "No, David you can't."

"What?" Tink asked, clearly left out of the loop. "What can't he do? If it can save the Tree, he has to try."

"Tink," David said, a sad look on his face, "my connection to the Tree is more than that."

She faced him, and asked, "What do you mean, David?"

He sniffled, and said, "When I saved you from the sprinting thistles, I was on the verge of death. To save me, not only was I able to realize my talent, but the Tree gave some of its own life to save mine." Tinker Bell shook her head in disbelief, and David said, "Now I'm going to give it back." Tink started to cry, and David said, "If I don't we'll all suffer the same fate." He turned towards the pool, which was almost half empty (for music, think of Oogway's death in Kung Fu Panda).

He began to walk forward, and stepped into the pool. The moment his feet touched the remaining Pixie Dust, he felt weaker. He continued walking, and fell onto his knees at one point. He noticed his wings had started to fall apart, and his clothes were returning to their original blue. He stood again and continued to walk until he was below the spout where the Pixie Dust came out. He turned to the others, and smiled. The Pixie Dust started flowing again, and David looked at the Orb still in his hands. He brought it up to his face and whispered a few words. The Orb began to glow, and transformed into the golden butterfly. He held it out in both of his hands, and it began to fly. It slowly flew to Tink, who was holding out her own hands. Once it landed, it turned back into glass, creating the most beautiful and articulate thing she had ever seen. She started to come to tears and looked back at David. By now, he had completely lost his wings and his clothes were back to normal. David smiled one last time as an effusion of Pixie Dust enveloped him.

Then, he was gone.

The Tree began to regain life and color, and the fairies cheered. All except for Tinker Bell. She remained silent, holding the glass butterfly in her hands. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Queen Clarion.

"It's alright Tinker Bell. He has become one with the Tree, and I cam tell that he is happy." Tink slightly smiled and looked at the glass butterfly. It had stopped glowing, so it appeared that there was sand, not Pixie Dust, inside of it. She looked up at the Tree, and smiled knowing that David was still with her in a way.

And so the titan falls, but its not the end YET. I still have to finish the epilogue. So, this is Mega-Gamer 18 signing off.