Chapter 3
"Verinty." Clarion repeated. "It's beautiful. Just like you, sweetie."
"Thank you." Verinty replied, looking around. "Is this Pixie Hollow?" She asked. Clarion tried to hide the shock on her face.
"Yes, it is!" Clarion giggled. "Would you like to try your wings?" Verinty turned and looked at her wings.
"We have matching wings!" She gasped. Clarion nodded her head as she took Verinty's hand, giving her an encouraging look. Verinty slowly but surely took to the air. She laughed joyously as she fluttered back down to the queen.
"Are you ready to find your talent?" Clarion asked, twirling her hand. Mushrooms popped up in a circle.
"What do I do?" Verinty asked.
"You'll know." With that Clarion floated back to her husband's side. "I hope she's really ours." She whispered.
"I do, too, love." He whispered back. As they talked, Verinty walked to the middle of the circle. One by one, all the talents began to glow. The items floated into the air and began spinning in a circle. The circle started out large, but became more compressed. There was a flash of light. When everyone looked again a small tiara was floating down to the ground. It landed softly on Verinty's head.
"What does this mean?" She asked the queen. She could see the happy tears in the queen's eyes.
"Pixie Hollow, I would like you to meet Princess Verinty!" Clarion announced ecstatically.
"I'm a princess?" Verinty questioned as everyone clapped. Clarion and Milori walked up to her and embraced her tightly.
"And our daughter." Milori told her proudly.
••••••••••
Back on the mainland, Verinty's father had just returned home from work early. He walked into the living room and frowned when he saw his wife. She was passed out with a brandy bottle in hand. He never knew it was that bad.
He walked around the house, looking to see if anyone else was home. He tried to open the bathroom door, but it proved to be locked. He found the key on the floor near his wife and went to open it. He almost threw up when he saw his daughter. Checking her pulse, he found her cold and dead.
He called the police and when they arrived he explained how he found everything. After surveying the scene, the police deduced it to murder. Verinty's mother was taken and locked away until she could go on trial.
Her father and younger siblings cried. How could they have let that happen?
••••••••••
"So, this is your room." Clarion led her daughter into the bedroom next to her own. "We can get new furniture for you. Your father and I weren't expecting an older daughter." She explained the baby furniture.
"It's ok." Verinty giggled. "I thought all fairies were born my size though."
"They are, fairies born of laughs anyways." Milori clarified. "But we can fix this room up anyway you want."
"Really?" Verinty gasped. Her old mother never let her do that.
"Of course!" Clarion giggled. "This is your home now." She hugged the young fairy in front of her. As they broke out of the hug, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." Milori called.
"Voila." Verinty whispered as the head of the fairy guard entered.
"Your highness, the minister of spring says he really needs your help." Voila delivered her message.
"Tell the minister of spring that he can handle it on his own." Clarion replied; her arms still wrapped around her new daughter.
"Yes, Queen Clarion." Voila bowed.
"Thank you, sweetheart." Clarion smiled as Voila took off into the air. "Ok," Clarion dragged herself and her daughter to a sitting position. "Tell me why you know so much."
"What?" Verinty asked, trying to play dumb.
"Tell me why you know so much about Pixie Hollow." Clarion took her daughter's hands into her own. She flashed a loving smile and somehow Verinty knew she'd be safe in the arms of these strangers.
"I was a human." She whispered.
"What?" It was Clarion and Milori's turn to be confused.
"I was a 'clumsy'. I lived in England with my family. I know about Pixie Hollow because they've made movies and books about it. I was fifteen years old." Verinty went into further detail.
"Oh," Clarion sighed. "I guess you want to go back then." Sad tears were forming in her eyes. Milori held his wife tight.
"No," Verinty leaned over and hugged her new mother. "I want to stay here with you momma."
"Oh darling!" Clarion gasped and hugged her tight. She gently kissed her forehead, causing Verinty to smile. She hadn't been this loved in who knows how long. "I know we've just met and this is really kind of strange, but I already love you so much."
"I love you too momma." Verinty whispered. Even though it had been an hour tops, she finally had a mother who loved her. "I love you too daddy." She moved to hug Milori, who had been watching from the side.
Milori knew how important it was for Clarion, so he let her take the lead of everything happening. He knew it was what she needed.
"I love you too, Verinty." He whispered. "How would you like to take a tour of the hollow?" He asked her. She nodded happily.
"I'm guessing you sort of know the different places thanks to the movies, but I'm sure they don't cover everything." Clarion told her as they walked out of the Pixie Dust tree.
"They couldn't have." Verinty said, grabbing Clarion's hand in one and Milori's in the other. Clarion's smile grew as she saw her happy family together. "I have some questions though."
"Ask away!" Milori ruffled her honey brown hair.
"Dad!" She pushed his hand away playfully. "Ok, one, is Tinkerbell real?"
"Tinkerbell is very real, and all of her friends." Clarion giggled.
"Did she almost ruin spring?" Verinty asked.
"Yes, that was quiet a year." Clarion chuckled. "And she almost froze the hollow."
"So all the movies are true." Verinty declared. She came to a sudden stop. Her parents turned to her with sad and confused expressions.
"Are you ok, dear?" Milori asked. Clarion stepped closer and felt her daughter's forehead. Milori chuckled on the inside at the overprotective mother.
"Did dad break his wing because he crossed the border?" Vernity asked with no emotion what so ever. Clarion stumbled backwards.
"Yes." Milori didn't know how to reply.
"Because he loved you and wanted to see your world?" Verity questioned. Clarion put her hand over her heart.
"How did you know?" She asked. It had been so a guarded secret for so long.
"The last Tinkerbell movie." Verinty stated. "It wasn't detailed but it explained that much."
"Oh." The family got lost in thought until the hoot of an owl broke them out of the trace. "Let's go see the hollow!" Clarion giggled, being helped onto the owl by her husband. Milori helped Verinty up and then climbed on himself.
"This is the Pixie Dust tree!" Clarion gestured to the tree. Verinty gasped as her mother and father pointed out the most beautiful things. The family flew over springtime square and saw berries splattered everywhere.
"Oh dear," Milori whispered. "Are we going to deal with it?"
"Yes." Clarion sighed. "Five honeycombs the minister has fainted at least once."
"I don't think he's fainted yet. I'll take that bet." He turned and kissed her quickly, sealing the deal. Verinty giggled from next to them.
Her old clumsy parents never showed affection. Seeing her new parents so in love made her feel even more loved.
The royal family landed and examined the scene. Clarion began to chuckle and walked to her husband, holding out her hand.
"Five honeycombs!" She proudly said. He looked over her shoulder to see the minister being checked by healers.
"I need to work on my gambling." He shook his head.
"If you want, we can find other means of payment."
"I like that idea." He whispered, kissing her quickly.
"Mom! Dad!" They heard Verinty shout.
"It still sounds funny." Clarion whispered as they made their way to their daughter.
"What does?" Milori asked.
"Being called 'mom'." She whispered again with a smile. "It sounds so right though." Clarion and Milori finally stood next to their daughter and gasped at the sight she pointed to. Carts were knocked over and fairies were being pulled out of the wreckage. The royal family raced into action, helping in any way they could. Soon everything was picked up and fairies began to work again. The minister of spring had awoken and sighed of relief to see the improvement of the situation.
"Minister," Milori began, "why did you not inform us of this?"
"I sent Voila for you and Queen Clarion, but she came back and told me you said to handle it on my own." He explained. Clarion, who had been sitting with a garden fairy until she was taken to the healers, joined the conversation.
"Yes, I did say that." The minister puffed his chest out as if to say 'told you'. "But," Clarion continued, deflating the minister, "You did not tell me it was an emergency. Next time, please tell us the importance of whatever it is."
"Yes, Your Highness." He mumbled before leaving. Verinty began to giggle when he was gone.
"I don't think I want to know why you found that funny." Clarion said sarcastically. Milori laughed lightly and wrapped his arm around Clarion's waist.
"Do you want to finish the tour?" He asked. Verinty's eyes lit up and she nodded feverishly. They got back on the owl and continued to show her the place she now called home. Verinty took in every sight with wide eyes. Never had she seen such beauty.
"This is Havendish Stream." Clarion pointed to a stream, flowing smoothly. "The water fairies like to practice further down towards Springtime Square, so this end is usually quiet."
"Do I have talents?" Verinty asked. Clarion and Milori shared a look before shrugging.
"I don't see why you wouldn't." Milori said, looking back at her. "Do you want to try?"
"Yes!" Verinty giggled. Milori landed the owl and Verinty raced to the water. "How do I make the water move?" She looked to her mother. Clarion chuckled and fluttered over.
"Think water." Clarion started. "Clear your mind of everything else and focus on what you want the water to do." With that she moved her hands up, causing a stream of water to rise from the creek. Verinty stared in awe. She cleared her mind and raised her hands, water following her movements.
"I did it!" She cheered happily. "I have the water talent!" Clarion and Milori chuckled.
"Keep practicing with the water. You can work on more talents tomorrow." Milori told her. She nodded, not really paying attention to her parents. She was more interested in her new found talent. Milori took Clarion's hand and led her to a nearby rock, where he sat and pulled her into his lap. Clarion laid her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"This is perfect." She whispered.
"I know." He kissed her softly. Verinty looked over in time to see the kiss and smiled. She knew her life was perfect now. "How long do you think she'll play with the water?"
"I'm not sure. I know I played for hours when I first figured it out." Clarion giggled at the memories from her past. "Let her play." She kissed him again.
"Ok, but are we still going to go bowling with Mary and Dewey?"
"Of course." Clarion answered. "We have some time and she's seen almost the entire hollow, so she can goof around for a little."
"Can I goof around for a little?" He asked seductively. Clarion giggled and shook her head 'no'. Milori gave her his best pout face, complete with puppy dog eyes.
"No happening mister." Clarion turned her nose at him, making him laugh. Clarion leaned back into him a moment later and felt her husband squeeze her relaxed body gently. They both went back to watching their daughter play in the water until it was almost time for dinner.
"I can't believe I got all wet!" Verinty giggled, walking towards her parents. Clarion and Milori looked up and laughed. Clarion stood up and blew a strong gust of wind at her daughter, drying her off instantly. "Thanks mom!"
"You're welcome." Clarion kissed her daughter's head. "We have to go get ready for dinner now, ok?"
"Ok." Verinty and her parents began to head home. "Where are we eating?"
"We are eating at one of the diner's here with Mary and Dewey."
"Mary and Dewey?" Verinty questioned. "I haven't met them yet."
"You'll love them." The family then went and got cleaned up for dinner.
Walking into the diner, Clarion spotted her friends quickly and sat at the correct table. Mary and Dewey greeted them politely but stopped short when they saw Verinty.
"So, she really is yours?" Was the first question Mary asked. Clarion nodded.
"I'm Verinty. It's nice to meet you." Verinty said happily.
"It's nice to meet you too. I'm Mary."
"And I'm Dewey." With introductions out of the way, the rest of the dinner went on smoothly. Mary and Dewey fell in love with Verinty and began to treat her as a niece almost immediately. Verinty was so happy to have extended family like Mary and Dewey, or at least that's what they seemed like.
"Ok, Uncle Dewey, there is no way you'll pick up that spare!" Verinty teased as her family bowled.
"We'll see about that!" Dewey declared before throwing the bowling ball. To everyone's surprise, he picked up the spare. "Talk about luck!" He exclaimed, causing everyone to laugh.
As the night came to a close, Milori helped put a bed into Verinty's room so she could sleep. Clarion and Verinty walked in and smiled.
"Thanks for getting the bed for me." Verinty fluttered over to it. Clarion handed her a pair of pajamas.
"You can borrow these tonight. Tomorrow we can go shopping." Clarion smiled at her. She had a daughter to take shopping!
"Great, you two go spend all of our hard earned honeycombs!" Milori said sarcastically. Clarion punched him playfully.
"Ok, thanks for the permission dad!" Verinty giggled, going into the bathroom. She came out again ready for bed.
"The pajamas are a little big." Clarion observed. "Do you want me to find a different pair? I might have some from my princess years."
"No, it's ok mom. You just must be taller or something." Verinty said, getting into the bed. "What did you mean by 'princess years'?"
"Those were the days before I was crowned queen. I've grown a bit since then." Clarion told her, tucking her into bed.
"In height and maturity." Milori scoffed. Clarion shot him an angry glare for second before breaking. She smirked.
"At least I've grown."
"Are implying I'm immature?" Milori asked, picking up another blanket and carrying it over.
"Yes I am." Clarion said matter-of-factly. Milori rolled his eyes and was going to reply when Verinty laughed. She had been trying to hold back her laughter but couldn't any longer.
"Good night, sweetheart." Clarion finally said after a moment. She kissed Verinty's forehead.
"Good night, mommy." She replied, hugging Clarion close. Clarion hugged back before kissing her again. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Good night, darling." Milori took his turn in hugging his daughter. He kissed her head. "I love you."
"I love you, too, daddy." The walked towards the door and switched off the light, watching Verinty roll over into slumber. They followed shortly; after all, it had been a long day.