OK, here we go. The final two chapters that I re-wrote several times until they were perfect. :) Both have just the right amount of emotion, and I'm so happy with how they turned out. This one takes places a few weeks later and focuses on Vidia finally coming to accept what has happened to her. And then, it's the finale chapter; by then, it's been a whole season since the hawk attack. Enjoy reading! See you at the end! :)

Chapter Eight: One Last Reminder

In weeks that followed, Vidia cheered up more and more with each sunrise.

She was a big help in the meadows, aiming such precise cyclones of wind that every weed was uprooted while the flowers remained untouched. The other fast-flyers actually applauded. Every day she practiced running and soon had covered every path and trail in Pixie Hollow. Her speed built up slowly, and long journeys didn't seem quite so long anymore. In the forests, she scaled tall trees, always with Ventus watching her back in case she fell. The record so far was a staggering thirty-foot climb.

All this activity kept Vidia both busy and ecstatic. She was finding new talents to build on all on her own.

Tinkerbell and the others noticed the gradual change. Vidia was still the same stubborn, sarcastic, rude fairy they had always known, but with her new strengths, the loss of her wings bothered her less and less. The friends all worried less about the touchy subject. Still, none of them dared bring it up, for fear of rekindling her depression.

As a surprise one evening, Tink organized a small get-together just like she said she would. It was held on top of a high hill, barren of trees but loaded with plenty of early summer flowers. The Pixie Dust Tree could be seen in the distance from one side of the hill, with a sunset of gold, orange and pink on the other.

Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist and Clank were all here. Bobble had been commissioned to help build an orchestra stage for the upcoming beginning-of-summer Festival; he hadn't been able to get away. Fawn never showed up, for some reason. The animal fairies had been very overworked in the forest lately, so they all assumed she was too busy to attend. So the party started without them.

When Vidia arrived after a mad dash up the hill, the games began.

Everything was a game that had to be played on the ground: laughable role-playing games, jump rope, and three-legged races and other running games. A few passing fairies joined in and soon the entire hilltop was crowded. Many attempted the running races, but none came close to Vidia's new speed. Her strong legs made her fly across the ground like an arrow.

She had been reluctant to come, but there were a few times when she let her guard down and let out a few laughs.

Tink and the others were glad to see this. It meant life was slowly going back to normal.

…

Lord Milori stood alone at the border. He stood regally straight, with hands folded behind his back, waiting patiently. The evening sunlight shone upon the snowy half of the border, making it gleam. Milori himself was gleaming like an icy statue; his frosty skin reflected the light.

All was very quiet. No winter fairies were near, nor warm ones on the other side of the border. No attendants had accompanied the Lord of Winter, thank goodness. Only his owl mount had come to snooze up in a tree. Anyone else would have spoiled the upcoming meeting.

Milori smiled when she came into view; he loved her so much. Even after all this time, they still kept their ritual of meeting at the border each sunset.

Queen Clarion was like a golden star gliding across the grass. There were a few attendants with her, along with the Ministers of Spring and Summer; they seemed to be badgering on about issues with the beginning-of-summer Festival. The Queen calmly turned to them and said it would be discussed later. They and all the attendants left at her request. When she was alone, Clarion landed and relaxed her huge golden wings. Instead of flying, she half-walked, half ran up the log into Milori's waiting arms. A glowing smile spread on her face and she kissed him in greeting.

"My, you're in a happy mood this evening!" he exclaimed, surprised at the sudden run.

"Aren't I always when I see you? Apart from you, so many wonderful things have happened! I don't know where to start!"

"Is it about the fast-flyer?" Milori guessed. "I know you so well, my dear. You've been so anxious about her ever since that day."

"Yes, that's true. But no more! I finally have happy news to share; I declare it is a breakthrough for Vidia!" The two of them sat down on the log, sitting as close together as possible. They held hands the entire time. "Where do I even begin?"

"Let me help. When did this breakthrough occur?"

"Some weeks ago. Tinkerbell and some of her friends came to me one day, and told me all about it. Apparently, Vidia has taken to swimming rather well. She spent some time alone at the beach one day…"

Clarion launched into the story. Her usual royal, calm nature changed into an animated one; all the while, she was very content. Her lover listened, chuckling upon hearing the antics of Ventus the hummingbird. He had a feeling that would be a suitable bird for a fast-flyer.

A happy sigh sounded out from Clarion when she finished. "When I heard of Silvermist and the other water talents helping her to swim, I worried Vidia would never recover. The sadness is still there, I think, but it is far less so. With every day that goes by, she seems to be getting better with each one that passes."

"It may take a long time to fully recover," Milori said. "When my wing broke, the owls helped tremendously, and my duties as Lord kept me somewhat distracted…" he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "I still thought of you every day." He paused, remembering the meeting he had had with Vidia back at the beginning of the season. "Finding the strength and courage to live on must've been much harder for this one."

"Yes…I hope she will pull through in the end." Clarion relaxed and leaned back comfortably against him. "Thank you for speaking with her. From you, she got the idea of a hummingbird, and from there…well, one thing led to the next."

"You're welcome, my dear."

The two rulers went on talking. This was such a peaceful time of day. The sun created a golden-orange glow over the land. A few fireflies were already appearing and if one gazed in just the right spots, stars could be seen blinking into existence. Accompanying a lone cricket song was the soft-spoken words of these two fairies at the border. Or course they further discussed a certain fast-flyer's return to life, along with other, less extreme events of lately. They could talk on and on about anything and everything.

They felt so at ease with each other that words came naturally. But even when they didn't, silence was just as blissful.

…

Late that night, after all the stars had come out, Vidia could be found at home in her kitchen. Through the open window was Ventus, snoozing out on his branch. He had constructed a nest-like hideout there and was snoring away peacefully. The snores sounded more like chirping hiccups. Vidia checked in on her bird at one point and noticed his sleep-twitches. "Fawn was right; hummingbirds really do flinch in their sleep."

She went back to making her dinner. Tonight was a meal of refreshing cucumber soup, a salad with crushed raspberry, and a bread roll swiped from the baking talent fairies. Actually, she had swiped a couple from them; the stash was in a bowl on the carved countertop. No one would ever notice a few missing bread rolls.

In various places around the house were seashells from the beach. Each one had been retrieved by Vidia herself from the tide pools. The sight of them reminded her of new accomplishments: of swimming, of diving, and of how only she could do this. Her massive collection of feathers was forever growing. No longer did the sight of them fill her with a fear of birds, nor a pang of despair. They would instead remind her that she was still a fast-flyer, even without flight. Her wind powers were more precise now. Ventus could keep up with the other flyers, even if only for a short time. Best of all, the feathers reminded Vidia that she was now that fastest fairy on two legs. That was something to be proud of.

She was glad to finally have some privacy at home. The party games this evening had been wonderful, but she still craved her usual solitude. A knife was brought out and she began crushing the raspberry with the flat side. The cucumber soup was nice and cool, already waiting on the table. As she poured excess raspberry juice into a glass, a knock came at the door. It was a tentative sound, as if the visitor was nervous about being here.

Vidia groaned. "What?" she had spent enough time with her friends today; couldn't she have some time alone now?

"It's me," came Fawn's voice. "Can I come in?"

"Oh, fine. The door's open."

The door opened just a crack and Fawn slipped inside. She shut it silently and remained standing there without stepping in further.

"We missed you at the party. Where in Neverland were you—what's wrong with you?" Vidia puzzled, still crushing the raspberry. She noticed right away her friend was acting strange, and not at all like her cheerful self. Fawn was biting her lip in a nervous fashion, and her eyes were very gloomy. She was even hanging her head. One hand held a little package to her chest that was wrapped up in a soft leaf.

"Well? Speak up, Fawn!" Vidia squeezed more juice into another glass. "Social rules demand I ask if you want some dinner, or have you eaten already?"

"No, I haven't, but…now's not the time. Here, this is yours." Fawn went over to the table and laid down the leaf-wrapped package.

Vidia stopped her work and approached. The package was small and flat. It couldn't have weighed very much…her face suddenly went very white and she prayed this wasn't what she thought it was. A sick feeling was beginning to rise in her stomach.

"I…I found it out in the pine forest today. It was wedged in a hollow tree, very deep down, near the tree where you were-you know, attacked." Fawn fiddled with the end of her braid nervously. "It's why I missed the party. I didn't know what to do."

Vidia gathered all the courage she could muster. The leaf was unfolded to reveal the scrap of a fairy's wing…

"I don't know if it was right, bringing it back. But it's still yours…I'm so sorry…please don't' hate me for returning it!"

"No, it's fine." Vidia breathed. The sick feeling eased up upon taking the scrap in her hands. "It's strange to be holding it…it's definitely mine. I recognize the pattern."

"…You're not angry?"

For several minutes, Vidia thought. Really, what was there to be angry about? This was her wing…it was still a part of her, even if it was no longer of any use. She finally shook her head. "It's just what I need." She held the precious wing close to her heart like a lost friend. "…I think I'll always miss the flying. But I never want to forget it. Thank you."

The little scrap must have been stuck in the tree all this time. It would never again be coated in pixie dust, never again would help a fairy to fly. It was only a useless scrap, after all. But to Vidia, once the fastest flyer in Pixie Hollow, it was a true treasure. She laid it tenderly on the table, back onto the soft leaf. She would care for it, always. One last reminder of the past she would never forget.

A sentimental tear dripped out of her eye. She wiped it away quickly before Fawn could see.

The animal talent did notice, but pretended not to. It was normal for stubborn Vidia refusing to weaken. "I flew into Bobble on my way here. He saw it, too, but no one else knows."

"Good. Last thing I want is a giant fuss made out of this. This is my wing! It's no one else's business."

Fawn nodded in agreement. "He wants to see you tomorrow, though, to see how you're doing since I just returned a piece of wing."

"Ugh, fine. I'll head to Tinker's Nook in the morning." Vidia pulled out a chair for her guest. "He'll only keep pestering me if I don't. Would you like some dinner, now?"

"Yeah, I'm starved. Are you sure you're all right? And please be honest!"

The feeling of dread had passed. The piece of wing actually brought back more happy memories then bad ones, something she was surprised about. No blood stains were on it, either. That was a bonus. She felt no more jealousy towards other fairies, not even now with winged Fawn sitting at the table. Many holes had been filling since that day alone at the beach; perhaps this last little scrap of wing had healed another one.

Vidia smiled honestly. "I'm all right. Things couldn't be better."

"I'm sure Bobble would love to hear that. He was in a sorry state when I said I was returning it to you." Fawn pressed further, for Vidia didn't seem to be cluing in to the hints she was dropping. It was obvious the tinker liked the fast-flyer an awful lot.

"I can imagine. Here, have some cucumber soup." Vidia dished up an extra bowl, oblivious. "Silvermist showed me how to make it; thought I could use another hobby."

Fawn took the bowl and helped herself to a bread roll. She squinted at the unique criss-cross pattern on top. "Did you steal these from the bakers?"

"Sweetheart, do you honestly think anyone will miss a few dinner rolls?"

Fawn chortled and dug in. Still the same old Vidia.

As they ate, both fairies cast a few glimpses at the lone little scrap on the table. It was such a bittersweet sight. Really, wings were so easy to take for granted.