durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis (carry on and preserve yourselves for better times)
- Vergil
Following day, many Kokiri were up and working—except for Luna, of course. She snoozed well into the afternoon.
Kibou materialized from thin air, some tiny lights clinking against the floor. He let Luna sleep, but wanted something to do.
Children outside laughed and worked. He flew to the entrance, going through the fabric as a sparkle. He reappeared on the other side in his bodily form, stretching mid-air, still quite sore from yesterday's travels and Vera's backhand.
His face heated. "Definitely don't wanna anger Vera today..."
Kibou looked around, noticing Vera practicing with her franciscas. She threw them without haste, allowing the revolutions to do their work. She's quite good at throwing axes, but never hit the bullseye much to her irritation. She retrieved her axes.
The black fairy huffs, wondering if he can get even with that indigo-lined vixen...someday. Nearby are other Kokiri with similar indigo markings on their faces, Kokiri like her. They practice shooting bows and throwing javelins.
Five Pink Fairies flew to Kibou, three girls and two boys.
"Hey, Kibou! I saw w-w-what happened yesterday, and we just wanted to see how things were going w-w-w-w-when you woke up. We w-w-were waiting for you like good friends, like real friends," one of the fairies stammered, and every time she stuttered, her aura twinkled.
"I'm alright Foa, just a little beat-up. I never got hit by someone before."
"Are you really, really, really feeling alright?" another fairy asked, expressing his concern by tilting a little too close to Kibou, who reared. The two back off. "Sorry."
"It's OK, Arvo. I'm alright, I really am. Will get better in a few days or so. I just want to see Nina."
"Vera's guardian fairy? Two polar opposites."
"Ha. They sure are, Kayk. Anyways, I gotta go see Nina..."
"Yes, of course, Kibou! We just wanted to see if you were doing OK, and you are, obviously."
"But could you go check on Luna for me? I think she'll be a little cranky with me around. She's sometimes grumpy in the morning for no reason. But maybe if she meets other fairies, she'll feel like she belongs here."
"Uh, ya, sure. If you guys are OK with it?"
"Of course we're OK with it, Patty!" Arvo stated.
"Yeah, why not?" Kayk remarked. The fairies nod in unison.
"Thanks so much, my friends. If she's still asleep, let her sleep, but keep an eye until she wakes up. Or plan something, anything you think will cheer her up. She needs the most of it now. Keep her busy for a while."
The pink fairies nodded, then headed to Luna's home.
Kibou went the other direction, Vera not noticing him, frustrated with her aiming.
"Hi, Kibou!" Vera's blue fairy greeted softly. One of Vera's axes thumped against the target.
"Hello, Nina! Can we talk in private?"
Nina nodded.
Vera overheard talking just as she was about to throw her next francisca. She turned to see who her fairy spoke with. Vera frowned.
"I'll be back!" Nina squeaked. Vera shrugged. Kibou stuck his tongue at Vera then flew off with Nina.
The two fairies went a short distance together.
Nina's aura flickered. "I am really sorry for what happened. I'm really sorry. I should have intervened. I should have done something, anything. I am so slow-thinking... I will talk to her soon, maybe tomorrow? Or not today? Like, soon? Mido summoned her to speak about yesterday, you know. I'm sure she's a little nervous about that, so I don't want to get her frustrated."
"Don't worry about it, it's forgiven. It was partly my fault, anyways, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm like Vera, I get mad quickly, so...maybe I deserved to get slapped like that. I'll be sure to never insult anyone ever again."
Nina wheezed, nearly crying. "Then, then I'll be sure to never watch something happen and do nothing about it, then!"
"Let's not worry about that. It is forgiven, Nina, it really is. I forgive Vera. I just wanted to tell you that, but there's something else that is important."
"Like what?"
"Nina, it's about my child, Luna. Everyone knows she likes running away, but... I think she wants to run away, but… But this time, runaway, like...permanently. I think she wants to leave the forest entirely."
The two guardian fairies stared at each other for a few seconds, bobbing in the air.
"What? Run away and leave the forest, forever? She will become lost, or die, or...worse. Kibou, we need to do something!"
"She knows the warnings, the consequences. Although she talks how she never gets lost, I think she wants to become lost. In case she does run away, this time to disappear forever, I will be going after her. So, if Luna and me suddenly disappear, and you don't hear from us again for a very long time, you will know I am gone, looking for her."
"Then we have to do something, then!" Nina cried again, turning around and buzzing through the air.
Kibou whizzed over, grabbing her hand. "Nina! Wait, hold on a sec... This is something none of us can stop. The best thing to do is not to rub it in her face. Just leave her alone. Let's wait and see first. Luna probably feels very upset right now. Even mentioning her to stay here will only just make her want to run away. When you go with Vera to see Mido, tell him what I said. All the Kokiri just have to leave her alone, please."
"OK, I will try, but I think that's a bad idea. Bad idea. Everyone needs to get together and treat her like a queen! That's right! We need to make her feel welcomed!"
"Luna hates being around people. She'd feel lost in a crowd. I've been with her for so long, I know how she is. I am her guardian fairy, after all. She feels at peace alone and when everyone leaves her alone. I think she lives in her own world, disconnected from everything. She needs to be alone, at least away from other Kokiri. Tell that to Mido, too, please. You will, won't you?"
"I will, Kibou. I will."
"Thanks, Nina. I know this will work. Try to do this for me, see if you can convince Mido to think the same way, OK? Alright, I'll go check on Luna, see how she's doing. Thank you for your time! See ya!"
Nina followed him for a second then stopped, watching Kibou fly off. She sighed, wings tilting back. "I hope your plan works..."
"Oh, for crying out loud!" Vera stomped to the targets she missed, other tattooed Kokiri chuckling. "Keep laughing, and I'll stick these axes up your—"
Kibou went homeward, flying overhead the working Kokiri. How happy and energetic they were, like joyful ants in green clothing and pointy hats.
The black fairy noticed someone outside Luna's home. Sitting cross-legged on the ground was a fat Kokiri boy, hat over most of his face.
"Is he sleeping? Hm, whatever." Kibou noticed that this boy did not have a fairy. "Wonder where his fairy's at..."
Kibou ascended to Luna's dwelling. Passing as sparkling light through the curtain, the black fairy reappeared inside. Luna remained asleep, the five pink fairies huddling with her.
Kibou chuckled. She looks so cute sleeping with a bunch of fairies…
Luna's eyelids twitch open, eyes reflecting Kibou's black light. Luna sat up with a high-pitched yawn. She stopped her yawn halfway and pauses. The five pink fairies hover before her, pinkish light overcoming Kibou's.
"Good evening, Luna. Sleep well?" Kibou asked with a chuckle.
Luna's arms dropped. "What are other fairies doing here?"
"Hi, Luna! I'm Chloe!" one of the pink fairies greeted.
Another jingled. "Foa!"
"I'm Arvo."
"And I'm Patty."
"Kayk."
Luna just stared, wondering how to react. She fell back into her bed, covering herself with a grunt. "Ughh, Kibou… You think I want to have company over when I'm like this?"
"Hey, we're not here to make you feel bad! There's a lot of people and fairies who care about you. We want to see you happy!" Arvo comforted (or at least tried).
"I feel best alone. I want to be alone," Luna grumbled.
"Someone sounds grumpy! Hey, Patty, Kayk, maybe we should try to make Luna feel better?" Foa suggested.
"There's nothing you can do to make me feel better."
"Wanna bet?" Foa faced her friends. She spoke a twinkling effect, vocalizing like the ting of a tiny bell. Luna cannot understand them.
The pink fairies flew to Luna, scurrying under her blankets.
Luna starts kicking and giggling. "No! Don't tickle mmmeee!" She smiled ear to ear.
"Tickle her! Tickler her!" Arvo shouted.
"Don't let her get away!" Chloe wheezed.
Luna writhed under her blankets, enduring the onslaught of tickly fairies.
"OK! Stop it, stop it! I'm laughing so much it's hurting me! My abs are getting a work out!"
The tiny beings continued prodding Luna, causing her to kick and twitch like a maniac. Luna ran out of energy, lying like hopeless sludge. She is entirely at their mercy.
"That's e-e-enough! Ssstop it! Before you tickle me to death! I-I-I can't breathe! Laughing hurts!"
The pesky pixies stop.
Luna went limp. She breathes again, moving hair out of her eyes. She sat up with some difficulty, having to rest her hands on her bed to keep herself from falling. She wipes her face with her sleeves. "Uhhh...what are they doing here, anyways?"
"I just invited some friends over. Was hoping that some company would be nice. I know how much you don't like being around people, but fairies never bothered you. Looks like it was a good idea."
"Oh, uh...my place is kinda messy. I'm shy about that."
"This p-p-p-place isn't that m-m-m-m-messy, it's alright," Foa commented, aura twinkling per stutter.
"Not really." Luna looked around her humble little home.
"Well, at least you actually have a home. I don't. Most wild fairies don't have anything," Kayk remarked.
"Feel welcome to sleep here whenever you want to. I'm barely home anyways." Luna gets up, stretching.
"So, what do you plan on doing today?" Kibou asked. "You can stay home if you want too."
"Well, I really need a bath, hunh? I want to do something. I have to do something for the Kokiri. I am one of them. It's time to grow up and be a Kokiri."
Luna's words surprised Kibou.
"Oh, but, uh… You can stay home if you want, no one's pushing you."
"Yeah, no one's telling you what to do," Patty added.
"What? Oh, I'm not afraid of Vera. Maybe I deserved it." Luna chuckled halfheartedly. "Kibou, I am sorry for just letting you splat on the ground. I should have held you instead of attacking Vera. I should have protected you. I feel guilty for never having done anything for you, yet you've done so much for me."
Kibou did not expect to hear that. He nearly shed a few tears. He didn't know what to say. Foa leaned over to him.
Luna opened the curtain, sunlight shining in. Sounds of bustling children, birdsong, and gentle wind traveled over.
"It looks like a perfect day to change our life!" Kibou stated as he flew over Luna's shoulder.
Yet, she just stared at the horizon. What am I missing?
