Disclaimer: all recognizable characters do not belong to me.

The Little Fairy

Chapter 6

Cassie

Nataly didn't respond, but her knuckles turned white as she gripped her weapons tightly, ready to fight.

Jacquie simply stood opposite Nataly, unmoving, as Vidia started to climb to her feet a few inches away.

Nataly suddenly swung one pin forward, but Jacquie used her pencil to block the blow. Nataly used the other to try to stab her, but Jacquie spun the pencil, trying to wound Nataly. Both moved away from the other's weapon, and stood back for a moment, weighing weaknesses and strengths.

Vidia slid the backpack off her shoulders and pulled out the two-pronged fork.

She held it in both hands.

"Jacquie." she said, and neither fairy looked in her direction. Vidia lightly tapped the fork prongs against the ground, hoping that Jacquie would recognize the sound and understand.

Jacquie suddenly hurled her pencil toward Nataly, who dived to one side. Jacquie turned to Vidia. "Here!" she shouted, and Vidia tossed her the fork. Jacquie turned back just in time to deflect a hard swing from one of Nataly's pins. Nataly used the other one to stab, but Jacquie moved to the side, then hit Nataly's wrist with the fork. Nataly jerked her hand back, managing to hold onto her pin. She took a step back, and so did Jacquie. They each took a few steps, circling.

Circling to the pencil. Vidia realized. Nataly did, too.

Jacquie ran away from Nataly toward where the pencil had landed, and Nataly chased her down. Vidia wasn't sure what she should do, then suddenly she took off for the house.

Jacquie used her foot to flip the pencil into the air. She caught it and turned back to Nataly, fork in her left hand, pencil in her right.

Jacquie struck first, holding the fork at the ready, and bringing the pencil in a wide swing at Nataly's head. Nataly ducked easily, and used her pins to force the pencil to the ground. Jacquie jerked her pencil upward with such force that Nataly let go of one of her pins and it bounced across the floor.

Jacquie watched it for a second or two, wondering if she could get to it before Nataly, but her opponent suddenly punched her in the stomach with her free hand and knocked the fork from her hand with her remaining pin.

They each drew back, with only one weapon – the other ones far away.

Vidia pounded on the door, but neither of the fighters seemed to have heard her. She watched them carefully. She was surprised that anyone could fight as well as Jacquie, let alone defeat her, but right now she was worried that Nataly could kill Jacquie.

She turned back and pounded on the door again.

It opened under her hand.

The fairy wasn't tall or scary. She was shorter than Vidia, with reddish hair.

"Who are you?" she asked, surprised, then suddenly noticed Jacquie and Nataly circling warily. "No!" she called, horrified, pushing Vidia out of the way. She was surprisingly strong. "Nataly, no! Don't fight! Please! Stop fighting." she stopped between them. "No fighting. I really didn't mean for you to take that so literally, Nataly. I just was busy, that's all." she said, soothingly. "I can handle it. They aren't enemies, I'm sure."

Nataly regarded her coldly.

"I'll call you if I need you." Cassie promised. "You can go."

Nataly sheathed her pin, then turned and walked away, getting her other pin on the way.

"I am so sorry." Cassie said to Jacquie. "I never meant -" she stopped short. "Jacquie?"

"Hi, Cassie." Jacquie made no move to put her weapons away.

"You got a haircut." Cassie nodded. "You sure look different."

"You do, too."

"I'm really sorry about Nataly. I hired her, but she just – she doesn't think anything is figurative. She doesn't understand when I'm joking, and I guess she thought I meant what I said when I told her to not let anyone in and to 'throw' them off the roof."

"Yeah. She thought you meant it all right." Jacquie replied.

Cassie remained silent for a moment. "Who's your friend?" she turned to Vidia, smiling.

"We're close acquaintances." Vidia said, coolly, walking up. "I'm Vidia."

"Nice to meet you, Vidia." Cassie smiled, pleasantly.

"She's a normal fairy." Jacquie said.

"Really?" Cassie breathed. "Come in!" she let them both into her house. "Would you like something to drink?" she was surprisingly polite.

"No, thanks." Jacquie said, sitting down and leaning her pencil against the table next to her. Vidia sat down opposite her.

Cassie sat down. "What can I do for you two?"

"It's pretty well known that you collect magical artifacts, Cassie." Jacquie began.

"Yeah. I've got a pretty big collection." Cassie smiled. "Do you want to use a spell?"

"I want to become human."

Cassie blinked. "What?"

"I want to become human."

"Why would you ever want that?" Cassie frowned,

Jacquie paused.

"She's in love with her human." Vidia replied. "Can you help her?"

"I think I can." Cassie nodded, slowly. "But I want something in return. Vidia, if you will take me back to Pixie Hollow with you, I'll let Jacquie have the Ring of the Princess. That ring fulfills it's user's greatest desire, and if you truly want to be human, it will do it."

"Done." Vidia said, "Can you get the ring right now?"

"Certainly." Cassie paused. "But your clothes aren't suitable for humans . . . Nataly!" she called.

Nataly stepped inside. "Are they bothering you?"

"No." Cassie assured her. "Can you find me a human garment?"

Nataly nodded and shut the door silently behind her.

"Good." Cassie smiled. "Follow me."

Cassie led them up a few stairs into a round room with shelves on all sides. There were stones, rings, beads, flowers, leaves – even some feathers. Vidia stayed away from them, not wanting to disturb them. Cassie picked up a shell box and was about to hand it to Jacquie. "We'd better go outside. You'll be too big in a minute." she pointed out.

She led the way back outside. "Have a seat." she told them.

There were a few stones set around, and Vidia and Jacquie each sat down, waiting. Cassie opened the box and carefully put on spiderweb gloves before touching the ring. She set it on a rock next to Jacquie.

Glancing around, Vidia noticed a human dress lying close by. Nataly wasn't in sight.
"Jacquie, I want you to think carefully about what you do, because there isn't any turning back." Cassie warned her.

"I'm certain that this is what I want." Jacquie didn't hesitate.

"All right. Think about it. Think about being human. Then touch the ring." Cassie instructed, gravely.

"Thanks, Cassie." Jacquie said, gratefully, reaching for the ring.

Vidia held her breath.

"Don't thank me yet." Cassie muttered, in a low voice.