Chapter 13: Losing Hope

Back in the tunnel where Jacquimo laid, snow from the outside flowed down from an opening above. Snow covered his shoes from his soles to his heels. Thumbelina and Poppy returned with their shawls around them and each carried a lit candle. They set down their candles and placed their shawls on top of Jacquimo's stomach, hoping to keep him warm.

"Please be warm, dear friend," Thumbelina said as she and Poppy lied next to him, tending to him, "Please live. Poor little swallow. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. I know now there's no place in this big world for little people. We…We cannot do impossible things."

Thumbelina began to think over her possible fate. What could she have left to lose? "Perhaps I should marry the mole," she said.

Poppy gasped quietly.

"Thumbelina, no," Poppy protested.

"He could take care of me, Poppy. He could," Thumbelina remarked.

"But what about your happiness?" Poppy asked.

Thumbelina thought it over again. She thought of the possibilities of marrying Mr. Mole, but she knew her heart wasn't in it. She didn't love him for he was boring, old and he hated the light, something that she loved so much. Then again, what if Ms. Fieldmouse was right in regards to her happiness? She turned to Poppy and the still unconscious Jacquimo.

"I will," she said with a sad look on her face, "I will marry the mole."

Before Poppy could protest, she noticed Jacquimo begin to stir, letting out a yawn.

"Poppy is right. You are joking," he said.

Poppy and Thumbelina gasped, surprised to see their friend alive.

"Jacquimo?" they exclaimed, relieved to see him back from the "dead".

"Marry the prince," Jacquimo told Thumbelina.

"Jacquimo, you're awake!" Thumbelina said as she and Poppy hugged him.

He stretched and yawned.

"Oh, Jacquimo!"

"Ow, ow!" Jacquimo winced in pain.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Thumbelina apologized.

"Are you hurt?" Poppy asked him.

"I have a thorn in my wing."

"A thorn? Well, let me see." She turned to Poppy, who looked at her, "Can you stay here and calm him down?"

Poppy nodded.

Thumbelina walked past him to see the thorn with Poppy patting Jacquimo's head.

"It's okay, Jacquimo. You're in good hands."

He wiggled nervously.

"Oh, my goodness. Hold still." With that, Thumbelina pulled out the thorn.

Jacquimo winced in pain.

"There." Thumbelina kissed his wing, where the thorn was.

"Now, it will get better!" Jacquimo said as he got up.

"Jeez!" Poppy shouted, not expecting him to get up so abruptly.

"Don't get up!" Thumbelina told him.

"No, no. I go to find the Vale of the Fairies and the prince."

Thumbelina giggled. "You silly bird! Don't you understand?"

"Yeah-"

"Get on my back. I will take you to the green forest."

"Be realistic. Cornelius is gone."

"Come on, Jacquimo," Poppy said, "My mother told us he was gone. She must've been outside, overhearing conversations and that's how she knew."

"I will find him," Jacquimo said, not quite listening to a distressed word the girls were saying. "Remember…"

"Jacquimo!" exclaimed Poppy.

"Jacquimo, don't," Thumbelina protested.

"No."

To their dismay, he sang.

You're sure to do impossible things…

The girls covered their ears, hoping to tune out the lyrics.

"Stop! Stop it, Jacquimo!" they snapped, shouting over his singing.

Your heart.

"Finally," Poppy sighed, relieved that he stopped singing.

"Bon voyage, mon amis," Jacquimo said as he flapped his wings, making the flickering flames dim with each flap and flew up to the hole, where the snow fell.

"Jacquimo!" Poppy and Thumbelina shouted.

"Bon voyage." And he was gone.

"No, Jacquimo. Oh, Jacquimo, please stop torturing us." Thumbelina broke down sobbing. "Cornelius is dead."

"Oh, Thumbelina," Poppy said, joining her friend and wrapping her arm around her to comfort her. "If only Jacquimo would listen."