Author's Note: After watching the anime, I wanted more fairies, more Helbram and more Harlequin. So of course I had to write a story.

I have so many questions about the fairies' lore. Is the new Fairy King chosen when the previous one dies, like Elaine implies at some point? But then, why does Gerheade think that Harlequin's death means the end of the forest? Not to mention that neither Gloxinia nor Dahlia were dead after all.

For the sake of this story, I'll just pretend that the Sacred Tree does whatever the heck it wants, and that the fairies can know who'll be next in line in advance.

"Harlequin!"

Helbram was flying under the boughs of the trees, expertly avoiding the new branches. He didn't take any pride in it, especially as he was slower than usual because he had to look in every hollow and cavity his friend liked to hide in for a nap.

"Harlequin, where are you? We're going to be late!"

Helbram was starting to feel slightly exasperated. If Harlequin didn't show up soon, they were going to miss the ceremony organized in honor of spring–not only the music and dancing, but also the part where King Dahlia showed them the bloom of nature in all of Britannia.

Helbram had always felt irresistibly attracted to the outside world. One day, he would gather the courage to leave the forest's heart and take a look at its borders by himself, but for now, watching it through the Fairy King's magic was enough.

He considered abandoning his search to go back to the Sacred Tree, where all the other fairies were probably gathered by now, but he had promised Elaine that he would find her big brother and he didn't want to fail the young fairy.

Thinking of Harlequin's sister, whom Harlequin adored since the day of her birth, not even one century ago, gave Helbram an idea. It wasn't a very nice idea, but Helbram wasn't always nice–especially not when the stakes were this high.

"It's about Elaine," he shouted. "She needs you!"

Above his head, the rustle of leaves yielding passage to a familiar green pillow was proof that his idea had worked.

"What about Elaine?" said a concerned, if sleepy, voice.

Helbram mentally added this new location to the list of Harlequin's favorite resting places as he considered the disheveled head emerging from the levitating pillow. The forest provided them fairies with everything they needed, and it had apparently decided that his best friend needed this giant, fluffy thing. Harlequin for sure brought it everywhere with him.

Helbram put his hands on his hips. "Here you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Where is my sister?" Harlequin insisted, lifting himself on his elbows so he could have a better view of Helbram.

Helbram waved Harlequin's concern away. "She's fine. She's waiting for you at the Sacred Tree."

Harlequin collapsed back in his pillow. "Then it's not an emergency. Why did you have to be so loud?"

"The ceremony is about to begin!" Helbram said. "Come on, we're already late!"

Harlequin neither commented nor gave any sign of moving, which aroused Helbram suspicions. He flew up so he could see what his friend was doing, and was completely unsurprised to see that Harlequin had gone back to sleep.

Helbram leaned forward to pinch one of Harlequin's round ears–an unusual feature for a fairy, and one that his friend was most sensitive about.

Harlequin startled. "Ouch! Helbram, what was that for?"

"How you manage to levitate while sleeping is beyond me," Helbram commented, unfazed by his friend's glare. "I said, they're about to begin the ceremony. We have to hurry!"

"The ceremony?" Harlequin's eyes widened. "The spring's ceremony? Why didn't you say so sooner? I promised Elaine I would attend it with her! Come on, let's go!"

Harlequin and his pillow rushed in the direction of the Sacred Tree. Helbram took a deep breath to steady himself, which was enough for Harlequin's pillow to become a tiny point in the distance.

For such a lazy fairy, Harlequin was really fast when he wanted to.

Helbram spread his wings to follow him. They reached the Sacred Tree just in time, and landed next to an anxious-looking Elaine. Helbram winked at her while she embraced her brother's neck.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

Harlequin cleared his throat. "I was busy and lost track of time. Sorry, Elaine."

"It's okay." She smiled. "You're here now."

"You were busy?" Helbram whispered in Harlequin's ear. "What does busy mean for you, exactly?"

Harlequin blushed, to Helbram's greatest satisfaction. He would have teased his friend more if he hadn't felt a disapproving look on him.

He turned around to see that Gerheade, the oldest amongst the King's advisers, was frowning at them. The Black Hound next to her had turned his head towards Helbram too.

Helbram gave Gerheade his sweetest smile and wisely decided to shut up. As both Harlequin and Elaine were born from the Sacred Tree, they attended the ceremony on one of its boughs, which meant that they were very close to the central area where King Dahlia and his advisers stood.

Helbram would have to behave for now.

"My friends," King Dahlia started. "I'm rejoicing to see all of you gathered for this important celebration."

As often when the king was around, whispers of admiration were heard amongst the fairies. It was true that King Dahlia was the most athletic fairy that Helbram had ever seen, and his magnificent wings shimmering in the sunlight only added to his presence.

Next to Helbram, Harlequin sighed dreamily. Helbram knew that his friend longed for the day where his wings would start growing, and he gave him a sympathetic smile. While it wasn't unheard of that fairies took sometimes several centuries to grow their wings, most fairies developed them in their first century. Harlequin hadn't, and it looked like Elaine was following in his footsteps.

As both of them could levitate at will, it didn't prevent them from living exactly like the other fairies; but Helbram knew that some fairies considered it a shortcoming.

While Helbram was lost in his thoughts, King Dahlia had finished his speech. Now the king was turning to the Sacred Tree, and Helbram's heart beat faster as a giant image formed against the trunk. He forgot everything else as he immersed himself in the foreign landscapes.

Forests, clearings, meadows came one after the other, all adorned with all the colors of the spring. But what Helbram enjoyed the most were the tiny constructions that sometimes appeared in the background, constructions that he knew belonged to the mysterious humans.

Helbram had never seen a living human before, but he knew about their existence. From time to time, one tried to enter the forest with aggressive intent–and their short life ended here, because King Dahlia protected the forest with his powerful magic and his spirit spear Darrenheart.

Despite knowing that they were dangerous, Helbram felt irresistibly attracted to that strange species, whose lifespan was counted in decades instead of centuries.

The night had fallen hours ago and the party was still in full swing. Fairies were dancing everywhere, beautiful music played in Helbram's ears, and he was enjoying himself so much he didn't realize Harlequin had disappeared until the dance led him to a group of fairies talking over the music.

"Have you seen his face?"

"He was crying."

"I just said that a true fairy had wings. I don't know why he's being so sensitive."

Helbram had a sinking feeling that he knew whom they were talking about. He made a mental note of the fairies involved, so he could get back at them later, and left in search of his best friend for the second time this day.

The flowers thrown by the fairies were obscuring his field of vision, but he knew where he wanted to start. He made right for the cavity in the Sacred Tree where Harlequin and Elaine slept at night.

Peeking inside, he saw that Elaine was indeed asleep on a bed of moss and flowers, but Harlequin was nowhere in sight.

His second place to look for was in the canopy of a nearby grove of trees. He flew up, refraining from calling his friend. If Harlequin had left the party so soon, it was most certainly to be alone.

However, Helbram had no intention to let him brood over that last altercation.

The music was but a distant melody in the background when he finally reached the top of the trees. Just like he had guessed, Harlequin was lying on the highest branch, looking into the moon with his pillow pressed against his chest.

Helbram really couldn't understand bullies. Personally, he was most satisfied with his own wings–both in size and color–but it was no reason to pick on people who weren't that lucky.

"Harlequin?" he called softly.

Harlequin swiftly wiped his eyes, as if it could fool Helbram. "What do you want?"

Helbram floated near his friend's face. "Come on, don't let these idiots get to you. Come back to the party."

Harlequin hid his face in his pillow. "No."

Helbram sighed. "Who cares if you don't have wings? You can fly better than any of them."

"It's easy for you to say. You've had your wings for decades."

Harlequin's voice was muffled, but Helbram knew him well enough to recognize its tone, and he felt himself relax. A sulking Harlequin was easier to handle than a hurting one.

Helbram tugged at the pillow to have a view of his friend's face. Harlequin tried to resist, but his physical strength was too ridiculous for that.

Helbram grinned at the furious and still tear-stained face of his best friend.

"It's too beautiful a night to let it be wasted by imbeciles. Nature is flourishing in all of Britannia. Did you see what King Dahlia showed us?"

"Nature, uh?" Harlequin straightened up, leaning on his elbows. "Do you think I didn't notice what you were truly looking at?"

"Did you read my mind?" Helbram pretended to be deeply hurt. "That's cheating."

"No need to." Harlequin shook his head. "I don't know why you're so fascinated by humans. They're dangerous."

"We only ever see the humans that come here to attack us," Helbram protested. "Dead. After King Dahlia dealt with them and the forest took them in. I'm sure there are plenty of decent humans out there. Maybe they celebrate spring too."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's obvious. No race is one single block." Helbram lay down next to his friend. "Look at us fairies. Some of us cry at the drop of a hat while others are quick witted and funny."

Harlequin looked at Helbram with a deadpan expression. "And you call yourself my friend?"

Helbram chuckled. "Of course. Friends tell each other the truth, right?"

"Then let me tell you that you're an imbecile."

Helbram nudged Harlequin, Harlequin nudged Helbram, and both of them somehow found themselves lying next to the other on Harlequin's comfy pillow.

At times like this, Helbram definitely understood why his friend loved it so much.

They remained silent for a while, watching the moon and the stars. Images of the humans' constructions he had seen earlier danced through Helbram's mind.

It was true that he was fascinated by humans, way more than any other fairy. In fact, no one except Harlequin was willing to listen to his theories and dreams about this other race.

It suddenly gave him an idea, a wonderful scheme to get his revenge on the fairies who took pleasure in upsetting his friend.

He whispered it into Harlequin's ear.

Harlequin didn't show the same enthusiasm. In fact, he didn't show any enthusiasm at all. "You're going to get into so much trouble."

Helbram winked at him. "Then as my best friend, you're supposed to get into trouble with me."

"I am?" Harlequin sighed.

"Of course you are." Helbram flashed Harlequin his brightest smile. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"