Chapter 29: Family Time
~Timmy's POV~
"That there is an Aurora Finwhisper. It can communicate with other Finwhispers telepathically." Nova pointed out a fish with a long, slender body adorned with bioluminescent patterns, its fins resembling the dancing colors of the northern lights.
He, along with Nova and Wanda, sat at a table positioned close to the glass wall giving them an excellent view of the ocean and its inhabitants. He sat next to Wanda, whose chair was pushed protectively close to him as she continued to eye Nova with mistrust. Out of consideration, perhaps, for her feelings, Nova, while remaining at the same table, opt to sit on the other side of it even though it mean he had to sit at a sideways angle to view the ocean, while still being able to look at him as he spoke to him about all the different kinds of fish.
"It's so pretty…." He agreed, appreciating the effort he was making to keep him entertained as they waited for his fever to subside. It would have been easy for Nova to grow frustrated or even angry at how Wanda was acting, but he kept his calm and tried his best to make him feel better.
He did not exactly fault Wanda for her anger; it made it clear just how much she cared about him, and how she wouldn't stand for anything or anyone taking advantage of him or hurting him. He did not quite feel though that what was done to him was all that bad—he was sure Queen Mab had, had good intentions, and that Nova, even if he had known what was going to happen, had also thought it best for him. He did not know why he felt like that though. In truth, at first he had been upset too…but, now….he felt like it was not something to be angry about. It had just been….a surprise, something meant to be good; that it came across as deceptive or forceful was…due to the cultural difference between Fey world and the human/fairy worlds…
He winced; were these really his own thoughts…? Or was it the fever that Mab's kiss had induced….? He did not know and his mind felt a little too lazy to really think about it all that hard.
He snuggled underneath the layers of his blankets, feeling cozy even as his body trembled with continuous waves of chills. He felt cold, and yet his skin felt flushed. It was a paradoxical sensation that was somehow strangely comfortable. There was an odd sense of tranquility blanketing his thoughts, and his entire body felt such a sense of such complete relaxation that he felt a little like he was melting, both physically and mentally.
"Oh, that one there is a Celestial Moonkoi! I really will need to bring you back here to view it when the moon is full; when it is, the Moonkoi's scales start to emit a glow that illuminates the surrounding water." Nova excitedly pointed to a fish with the body shape of a normal koi fish, but its scales mirrored the phases of the moon; and its body was adorned with delicate silver filaments that trailed behind it like the ethereal tail of a comet.
"I'd love to see that!" He gushed and Wanda next to him made a disagreeable noise; no doubt after what happened she would not be in favor of leaving the safety of their recovery room. That made him feel disappointed, because Fey world seemed so exciting and so…beautiful. Everything in it was extraordinary, showing him things he'd never even be able to imagine. He wanted to see and experience so much more of it. Even the room he was in now felt like a special sanctuary he would never find on Earth.
Everything in this underground room felt so—cozy. The cushy chairs and the soft blankets were comfortable enough to sleep in. The large crackling fireplace was built directly into the stone of the cave wall. One would think that a fireplace in an underground room with no ventilation would be a terrible idea and yet, no smoke was being produced, despite the fact that he could both see and smell the wood burning. Way in the back of the cave, tucked into a little corner, was what appeared to be a little wooden counter with various liquor bottles, tin containers and appliances. He wondered if this place was actually a type of bar, though the interior made him think of one of those really classy coffee shops. Everything, even the chilliness of the room's natural temperature, worked together to make just being here feel relaxing….and safe.
"Good, I promise to bring you back here, then." Nova told him, ignoring the fact that Wanda was obviously not keen on the idea. He hated to ask for something that he knew his godmother did not approve of, but he really liked it down here, and he liked Nova. Cosmo's father felt like someone who cared a lot about family and therefore he felt like he could trust him.
Anyone who valued family was a good person, that's what he believed.
He didn't think that the situation with Queen Mab was Nova's fault. As he had mentioned earlier, it was comparable to Hawkeye being up against Thanos; Nova was simply powerless in comparison and couldn't have done anything to stop her. Moreover, they were unaware of the laws in Fey World. What if angering the Queen resulted in severe consequences? Or worse, what if speaking back to her carried a death sentence? It wouldn't be fair to be angry at Nova without understanding the potential danger he would have faced if he had tried to stop Mab from giving him her blessing.
"Timmy…." Wanda whispered to him, warningly. He shot her an apologetic look in return.
"Sorry, mom….but isn't it so nice down here? I really like it."
The room, nestled deep underground and submerged beneath the water, exuded a sense of serenity. The stillness and tranquility of the surroundings created a sanctuary where worries and fears seemed to dissipate. It was a haven, far removed from the reach of the bullies at school, Vicky's torment, and the conflicts with his parents. He knew that no one who hurt him could reach him when he was in Fey World, or even just inside of Cosmo and Wanda's castle, but…somehow the isolated quality of this room really brought home the fact that everyone and everything that brought him pain back home, couldn't reach him now.
"It brings me great joy to see your enjoyment. Previously, this was a highly frequented gathering spot. However, immortality tends to render even the most enjoyable activities mundane over time. As a result, we often seek novelty and disregard the past, until a longing for nostalgia arises." Nova looked around the room with eyes gazing at the past rather than the present. "Without a doubt, it functioned as a superb location for indulging in both coffee and cocktails. The moments we spent in this location were filled with pleasurable activities, such as reading books while marveling at the picturesque ocean view and participating in games of chess or cards. My long-standing desire has been to bring my family to this place, where we can enjoy one another's company, engage in meaningful conversation, and participate in games, all while being enveloped in a soothing atmosphere."
"It is really nice here." He thought that Nova's dream was actually very sweet, and he was sure that Cosmo and Poof would find it neat down here but….would Nova ever get to meet his son or grandson or would this be his one and only experience of bringing family to this place? The sick godchild of his son, and his daughter-in-law who was angry with him?
That….was so sad.
Although he had just met Nova, he already felt that he was more of a grandfather than Pappy Turner or Grandpa Vlad ever was. Those two were rarely present and when they did visit, they hardly paid any attention to him, let alone showed any affection. In contrast, Nova had already showered him with more love and care in this short period than both Pappy Turner and Grandpa Vlad had shown him throughout his entire life.
"Oh! This one is my favorite! The Glimmergesit Prismalure!" The excited tone of voice Nova adopted made it feel as if it were Cosmo sitting with them right now. He was trying so hard to make this a fun experience, if only Wanda would stop being mad, then Nova could get a little bit of the family time he was dreaming of.
He watched a fish with a sleek, streamlined body swim into view; its scales refracted light in a dazzling array of colors that danced across its body.
"Legend has it these radiant fish are the keepers of forgotten wishes." Nova told him in a tone that suggested he'd be willing to impart this legend to him later on.
"Wow…." He watched the fish swim by mesmerized. He hoped that Nova's dreams of spending quality time with his family down here, having fun, did not end up becoming a forgotten wish.
As another shiver passed through him, he snuggled closer to Wanda, using it as an excuse to seek comfort from her. The fever chills became a welcomed sensation, allowing him to indulge in childlike vulnerability without fear of judgment.
She combed her fingers through his hair, soothing him, pressing her palm against his forehead. "He has a terrible fever…."
"You can be at ease, my dear, as this is completely within the bounds of normalcy. The fever is not a cause for concern and will resolve itself without any issues."
"We shouldn't just be lounging around here! Timmy's next treatment is coming up, and I don't like leaving his soul without supervision. I just want to go back to where it is and bring Timmy and it back to our room where I know they'll be safe," Wanda said, her tense demeanor clear by the way she practically raked her fingernails across the wooden surface of the table in front of them. As much as he sympathized with her anxiety, he couldn't help but feel reluctant to leave this place.
"I urge you to maintain a state of relaxation. I have effectively reduced the speed of temporal progression within this particular space. The duration of one hour within this place is equivalent to one second outside." Nova made a show of exhaustion by wiping his brow and exhaling a deep breath. "This task is quite demanding, even for a Fey. It is consuming approximately 50% of my overall magical capacity."
"Wow, so, one hour in here is just one second outside!? So all this time that's passed is nothing more than a few blinks outside of here?" He had thought the way time worked between his recovery room and outside was amazing, but this was really something else! Nova seemed thrilled with how impressed he was.
"It is indeed; I'd say our absence hasn't even been noticed yet. The length of time we have spent away from that place is remarkably brief despite how long it may feel in here."
"That's so cool! But…if it's using up so much of your magic, will you be ok?"
"Indeed, rest assured that there are no concerns. In contrast to fairies, who experience a depletion of magic after its use and require a period of time for restoration, we Fey immediately regain our magical abilities by undoing a spell."
"Cool! So it's like unlimited mana or something like that?" He compared the idea to that of a video game riddled with cheat codes.
"It is, isn't it?" Nova surprisingly seemed to know what he was talking about, then again there was a video game console in his recovery room, so maybe he did know about video games. "A day has 86400 seconds. If I used this magic for a full day outside this room, that would have 3600 hours pass inside this room, that would be 150 days' worth of time in this room and only one day outside."
"Neat!" He exclaimed, impressed, but next to him Wanda looked like she was close to taking a panic attack.
"150 days!? In here!? Just watching fish swim!?"
"My dear, I was merely presenting some captivating mathematical facts. There is no need to react with such alarm!"
"Just…how long are you planning on keeping us in here?" Wanda sounded nervous but, and perhaps it was the fever talking, but a part of him wouldn't mind just staying here…it was so comfortable…so safe…
"Until Timmy's fever subsides…we'd hate to have him go through the magic filter cycle while running such a high temperature."
"But the video said that takes three days…"
"It's a very comfortable room my dear, and what's a mere 72 hours—oh dear, don't —! Don't—!" Nova raised his hands in protest as Wanda picked up the nearest chair looking ready to throw it at him. "I am engaging in jest, not being serious! I was merely attempting a lighthearted jest! The most severe part of the fever is expected to subside within approximately four hours. That's only 4 seconds outside the room! In the meantime, we can engage in casual conversation or partake in a game, as games serve as an effective means of fostering a connection. Yes, It would be quite delightful if we could engage in a game together. So please, lower the chair, would you?"
"You can't expect me to just sit here and play a game when I don't know if his soul is safe! Bring it here."
"Regrettably, I am unable to comply; Queen Mab has come all this way solely for the purpose of observing it. Engaging in such a discourteous action would undoubtedly invoke her deep dissatisfaction and fury. However, I do comprehend your concerns. Allow me to offer you this." Nova swiftly summoned a hand mirror and positioned it on the table. Instead of showing a reflection of this room's ceiling, it showed an image from Ban Fior Glade; of Queen Mab holding the cage with his Heart-Soul.
The moment he saw her image, there was a strange stirring in his head as feelings he did not understand began to take over his senses. He just couldn't look away from her, his eyes trying to burn her radiant vision into his brain. The soft curve of her lips, inviting and tender, whispered promises of a happiness he had only dreamed of, as she cradled his soul in her arms. An indescribable sense of contentment washed over him. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders, replaced by a profound sense of peace.
His spellbound state broke all at once as the mirror was snatched up and Wanda put it behind her back, staring at him in trepidation. "Timmy, sweetie…?"
He shook his head, blinking, confused—it was as if his entire mind had just been hijacked by emotions and thoughts that were both his and not his.
"What…was I….?" He blinked, confused, not understanding what had just happened.
"Before you anger, my dear—let me assure you, that state he was in is not a sign of what's to come; while Queen Mab's nectar infuses him, it will be a little stronger than normal; once it's done, it will dilute and his reaction to her will be much less intense."
"He was like a zombie just now, and all he did was look at her picture!"
"As I have already mentioned, the infusion of Queen Mab's essence is in progress. After three days, it will have finished its course and the influence will be considerably weaker."
"Why give me a picture of her in a mirror, anyway?" Wanda put it down, out of his view, irritably.
"Allow me to clarify that this is not a still image; As previously expounded upon, the temporal relationship between this place and its external counterpart is such that the passage of one hour within corresponds to a mere second outside. Furthermore, the movement of objects within the mirror is so gradual that it eludes detection."
"So, it's moving too slow for us to see?" He stated what he thought Nova was saying, and received a thumbs up in response.
"That is precisely accurate!"
Nova had a tendency to choose the longer route when expressing himself; perhaps it was because he enjoyed talking or wanted to appear intelligent. It made him worry that if Cosmo ever had the chance to meet his father, he might not understand a single word he said,
Wanda muttered something under her breath that echoed his own thoughts; Nova's habit of using unnecessarily difficult language when there were simpler options available was a little annoying, but after having gotten use to hearing it, he was starting to become accustomed to the way he spoke. He wondered if listening to Nova talk would make him a little smarter, or at least teach him some words that would make him seem smarter.
He closed his eyes, relaxing in his chair and while he was very comfortable, he was still pretty cold, even with all the blankets. He had dozed off for a little while, while Wanda had been watching the video and he had dreamt of that tea party, all those delicious sweets—but there had been one thing that would have made those treats better…a drink. Perhaps because he was so parched, he had dreamt of drinking the super special hot chocolate Wanda always made for him whenever he had a really bad day. He could still taste it on his tongue….
"Wanda…Can I have some hot chocolate, the super special kind?" He asked, leaning his head sleepily on her shoulder. She stroked his hair, babying him.
"Hm? Isn't that reserved for bad days, sweetie?" She asked him, tenderly.
"Hmm, but I dreamt of drinking it, so…I really want some…."
"….Wait." Wanda's soothing voice became sharp. "You dreamt? You can't dream because of the contract….Nova! Did you give him something to drink!?"
Nova almost seemed to fight the temptation to roll his eyes. "Oh, Wanda dear, I thought you were going to forgive my indiscretions?"
"Forgive, not forget! And answer my question!" Wanda's anger did not cover up the frantic edge to her voice; he tried to puzzle it out—he remembered closing his eyes…and it felt like a dream…he was at the tea party and was thirsty….he hadn't actually drank anything, though…right?
"It was simply a case of a hypnagogic hallucination. That does not count as a 'dream'." Nova placed a hand solemnly over his heart. "I did not deceive the young boy into consuming any substances that would bind him to the realm of the Fey or create an irrevocable attachment to any individual of that realm."
"What's a hypna—hyp…nnn…" He bit his tongue trying to pronounce it.
"It's akin to the sensation of being in a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep. It is conceivable that you may experience the perception of unconventional shapes, diverse hues, or even encounter atypical auditory sensations. Rest assured, your brain is merely playing tricks on you as it prepares for a peaceful night's rest. It can be likened to a small-scale daydream that transpires just before reaching a state of complete somnolence."
"…"
"It's like a sneak dream-preview that occurs right before your about to fall asleep." Wanda calmed down and petted his hair back, babying him as if they were still playing the toddler-game. He giggled a little at how she had shortened Nova's long four sentence explanation down to a single short one and yet had it make so much more sense.
Nova gestured helpfully to the bar in the back. "If you want to make him something special to drink, you can go over there. I have a feeling your not comfortable having me around any non enchantment proof food or drinks right now."
His godmother sniffed; it was as he had suspected she hadn't actually forgiven him. He would hate to be the reason Wanda did not get along with her father-in-law. They had really seemed to get friendly too; it would suck for his poor godmother to be hated by both her in-laws, he hoped he could help patch things up between them. Then again, whenever he tried to do anything, he just made it worse…or he was the entire reason things became bad in the first place.
It was as Jorgen had showed him that one time…everyone would be happier if he had never been born; knowing that it sometimes felt like it was pointless for him to try to do anything good for anyone. He was just destined to mess things up, and nothing good he did would ever make up for how good things would be if he wasn't around.
Wanda and Nova would probably have better luck at patching things up if he did not involve himself with it…
— Anti-Wanda's POV—
"Ah, father, there you are. You've been quite elusive lately; You're never around when I need you, and it's not like I need you often, but it's still an inconvenience to have to search for the trifling few times when I do need you."
She chuckled as Foop spoke all those adorably big words to his daddy, who had just poofed into the dining room; he was busy with some new plan, so he had been away quite often, but he always showed up for her cooking. She knew her food wasn't very fancy looking, and wasn't picture pretty, but no one could argue that it was downright scrumptious.
"Let me guess, you wish to strap me up to your latest torture device and test it out before you use it on one of your enemies?"
"Naturally, father; if I used a subpar torture device, well then, it would reflect poorly on the anti-Cosma family. It is for our family honor that you subject yourself to this."
"Oh, but wouldn't it be better if I tested it on you instead? By experiencing first hand its strengths and flaws, you'll be able to fine tune it much better."
"What, you'd want to see me tortured by my own device? That would be cruel and unusual!"
"Say that to Perilaus, who created the Brazen Bull."
"Cosie, I just gotta say, I sure do love how you sprinkle them fancy bits of history into your talks with our boy! He's gonna grow up all clever and schemin' just like his daddy." She gushed, wiping a sentimental tear from her eye.
Anti Cosmo merely clicked his tongue in response to this. Her husband was a mite stressed out these days. She wondered if he was cooking up a scrumptious recipe of his own; one of disaster and mayhem, with a sprinkling of chaos, maybe? Her husband always knew the best ways to have fun, and even though she did not always understand the plans, it was always fun just going along with him.
"Well, grub's on the table! I whipped up my renowned roadkill critter fritters and threw together some eggs, scrambled 'em with whom-knows-what. It's a real hodgepodge, y'all!"
"Oh goodie, just what I want for lunch, unidentifiable objects." Foop quipped sarcastically; he was so much like his daddy! She placed the plates on the table with a proud smile and then held out a tray with some drinks on it.
"Here ya go, Foopie, got ya some ice-cold milk, just a tad sour. And for my Cosie, a steamin' cup of the blackest, bitterest coffee you ever did taste—and—"
'Hot chocolate filled with love for my blue eye angel…'
She groaned, feeling woozy, and staggered forward, dropping the glasses. Foop was quick with his bottle to levitate them before they hit the floor, proclaiming there was no way he was wasting his valuable time cleaning that mess up. Her husband quickly rushed over to her and guided her to a chair.
"Dear, what's wrong?" He floated next to her, patting her hand as she wiped her brow, sitting down and closing her eyes as images began to worm their way into her brain.
"I'm seein' some downright peculiar stuff, y'all…"
"Oh, Mother, did I not tell you not to cook with unidentified mushrooms?" Foop scolded.
"Be quiet!" Her husband scolded and tightened his grip on her hand. "What are you seeing?"
"A café right inside a cave... at the bottom of the ocean? Well, shucks, ain't that somethin'! There sure are some mighty strange fishies swimmin' 'round these parts." She wrinkled her nose. "Oh, it's that buck tooth Turner kid, he's such a…."
….She wanted to say, trouble making brat, because he was always foiling her husband's plans but, she couldn't bring herself to say it…every inch of her being seemed to recoil at the very notion of calling him that…he was….
'My Angel. He's so precious, I love him so much….'
She shook her head to chase off the voice; it was…her voice—no; she did not talk all proper like that. Was it her counterpart talking? Why she'd be hearing her….? She shuddered as she saw the mug come into focus and realized that she was making some more of that ghastly hot chocolate. She quickly opened her eyes, wanting the images to disappear. She did not want to see that disgusting thing again, really. It was lunchtime, and she did not want to get sick, not when she had some delicious Critter-Fritters on the table.
"Mother, are you alright? You're not coming down with some brain illness, are you?" Foop paused for a moment. "Or should I be asking if the brain illness you already have is advancing?"
"Foop, can you go eat in your room? I need to have a talk with your mother."
"Can I eat while watching some overly violent cartoons, then? It will be very much educational in helping me plot Poof's debilitating injuries and Timmy Turner's demise, mawhaha!"
"Don't you dare!" The words were out of her mouth before she even knew she wanted to say them; but the panic and fury that coursed through her when that buck tooth boy's death was mentioned had completely overtaken her senses. She couldn't bear the idea of him dying….
….It would shatter her….the very idea was unbearable.
Why did humans have to die? Why did they live for such a short time…? It wasn't fair….you loved them so much, then they were gone forever.
…Why did children have to be like hamsters…?
"M-mother…?" Foop looked completely taken aback; her husband growled and pointed down the hall.
"Foop, to you room. NOW!"
"Uh…fine there's no need to shout, I'm going…." Foop clicked his tongue as he picked up his plate to head to his room, but he paused at the hall, taking a concerned glance back at her; she gave him a small reassuring smile; she did not know what was wrong with her, but she did not want her little Foopie to be worrying his square little head about it.
….But she was scared. Why….? Why was she thinking such strange things? She did not care about that buck tooth human with the silly pink hat, so….why…?
"I knew it, Wanda is…" Her husband grimaced with a pained expression. The look on his face made her afraid and she clutched onto his arm feeling a sense of desperation well up inside of her.
"Cosie, somethin's ain't right with me. Remember that time I confused escargot with sushi and thought they were ate raw? Do ya reckon I got them little parasitic critters squirming in my noggin? Are them tiny worms havin' a feast in my brain?"
"Don't you worry, all those parasites starved to death by now." Her husband reassuringly patted her on the head. "No. I think what is happening is that….your counterpart may be linking with you."
"What does that mean?" She tilted her head to the side.
"…It means your counterpart is having thoughts or taking actions that might make her become a Fey."
"I don't want that!" Terror rippled through her. "I don't wanna meld with her! Ain't nothin' in that Fey world that tickles my fancy! I love my family, my home. I ain't leavin' it!"
"Even though we are both equal halves of a former whole; the decision of becoming one again can only be made by the half that has access to godchildren." A look of fury clouded her husband's face. "…An injustice if ever there was one."
"Cosie! You gotta help me! I don't wanna disappear!" Her eyes burned with tears. She felt desperate, but when Anti Cosmo gave her one of his rare smiles, not his mischievous grin, but a warm and tender smile, she relaxed, feeling immediately reassured. Her husband was smart, strong, capable, he definitely could fix things, he wouldn't let her disappear.
"Don't you fret. There are very few actions that will cause a fairy and anti-fairy to instantly merge; killing a godchild, or doing something irreversible to their body or soul ,for example, are two such things, and Wanda is not capable of something like that….what she is capable of, however, is doing whatever it takes not to let go of her godson."
She trembled, having a pretty good idea of just what it was that her counterpart might be planning to do. "…How do we stop her Cosie…?"
"Just leave the matter in my hands; if I see her about to go too far, I will resort to whatever measures it takes to remove that boy from her side, permanently, before she can do anything drastic….." For a moment her husband seem to gaze at something far away, something that she could not see. "It's for her sake, as well as your own. Neither of you would ever find happiness as Fey…."
"If it means partin' ways with you and Foop, you dang well know I'd never find no happiness in that!" She clung to him, feeling a little like a frightened child, especially at the foreign emotion of dread that his words 'permanently remove' had triggered in her….because she knew those emotions weren't hers…
— Wanda's POV—
"Here you go, sweetie." She affectionately gave Timmy's cheek a light pinch as she handed him the cup of hot chocolate she had prepared for him; the special kind—hand made rather than poofed up, sure she conjured the ingredients, but heating the milk, melting the chocolate, adding the whipped cream, the pink heart-shaped sprinkles and of course, the most important ingredient—a mother's love, was all done by her personally.
Timmy beamed at her sweetly from the other side of the counter. The 'bar' Nova had shown to her had a nice setup of both café equipment and cocktail mixtures, though the latter was of no use to her. From the way Nova had spoken, this particular hangout had fallen into disuse, but none of the dishes or equipment had any dust on them, and everything worked smoothly. She supposed that was Fey magic at work; no cobwebs, dust, dirt or rust, even if things went without use for a long, long time.
She leaned on the counter, the exhaustion of the day's events overtaking her; and she still had two treatments to perform today. It wasn't even technically past noon yet; but the time span of nearly a full day had already passed by for her.
The slow flow of time in their recovery room, and in this place, while beneficial to Timmy as to not force him to endure the magical-filter-cycle in too close of a succession, was really throwing off her internal clock.
"Mom, are you ok?" Timmy asked her, concerned as he he used the mug of chocolate to warm his cold hands.
"Yes, it's just…." She reached across the counter to mournfully cup his cheek. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop her from doing that. When it happened….I was so worried I was going to lose you forever. That you'd be so overtaken by the love she forced you to feel for her that you'd leave me to stay by her."
"Mom, no amount of fake love will replace the real love I have for you." Timmy's cheeks heated, and he looked down shyly. "…Did that sound cheesy?"
She laughed, honestly touched and relieved, and gently pinched his cheek. "A little, but I like cheese."
Timmy smiled bashfully and took a sip of his hot chocolate; she affectionately tousled his bangs, hoping that he felt every drop of love she had put into it. There were things she wanted to discuss with him, more specifically the way he had answered Mab's question about if he would like to stay in Fey World, but it could wait until after his next treatment.
"…Are you…really mad at Nova…?" Timmy asked in a hushed whisper, taking a peek over at Nova, who was reclining in his chair, watching the fish swim by.
Timmy was too genuine, too transparent and he became emotionally attached too easily. She got the sense that he was starting to really like Nova, and he probably wouldn't take well to the idea that she was planning on leading the man on with the belief that he might be able to talk her into joining them. Once the rawness of her anger passed, she planned to go back to a cordial, friendly façade, but it would only be so that he did not resort to other methods to claim Timmy.
While it was true, Nova had shown her kindness; had been a shoulder to cry on, offer reassurance and even protected her. It did not change that he had been the head of a child trafficking ring! More over, he still viewed himself as a savior to those kids even after seeing what the Fey had done to them. The 'companions' were animals, and the Kinders might as well be dolls to play with. At first she had thought that the Kinders were capable of being normal children albeit with altered bodies, but the fanaticism they had displayed when Mab appeared showed her just how much the minds of Kinders could be altered from their original state.
The morality and the way Fey viewed the worlds was dramatically different then the way a fairy like her viewed it; and that was what made Nova so dangerous. It would be easy to be fooled by his display of care and his genuine love for family…because frankly it was real. There was no falsehood in that. She knew that was the truth. Nova did love his family and wanted what was best for them….but as a Fey, his idea of "good" and "the right thing" could actually be something really horrible, something absolutely unforgiveable.
….Such as genuinely believing that receiving a 'blessing' from Queen Mab, was something to be grateful for. Could he really not understand that hijacking a person's mind to force them to feel emotions that would alter the way they behaved, was not ok? That making a human worship her, simply because she wanted some offerings, was an act of selfishness, not benevolence? It would be different if she had asked Timmy, in exchange for this, you do that, kind of deal….but she had just—! It was so….! And yet all the Fey had behaved like she was the unreasonable one! Well, not all of them, Bless had shown real ire about the fanaticism her Kinder Rachel was showing, but was Bless really an exception….? After all, she was only Rachel's "Fey mommy" because she had the child consume a part of her body during their abhorrent "welcoming feast".
"…Hypocrite." She mumbled, and Timmy gave her a quizzical look, the corners of his mouth stained with whipped cream. She smiled and poofed up a napkin to wipe his face with, shaking her head. "Just thinking aloud to myself. Timmy…I know Nova loves his family, but just remember as a Fey, his idea of good can sometimes be very different then what we think of as good. I'm not saying that I dislike him, but we should be a little more careful…such as what happened with Queen Mab, he thinks it's a wonderful thing, that a blessing from her before even becoming a Kinder is something really special but you and I know that forcing something onto someone without consent is bad. There might be other incidences like that….while he might do something that neither of us wants, believing he's doing something nice for us. That's why we have to show how angry we are right now, so he will think twice before doing it again."
Timmy nodded and took another long sip of his hot chocolate. "So, it's like a cultural difference, right? We learn by talking to each other so we understand both sides?"
That was simplifying it too much, but she nodded, not wanting to stress Timmy out; she'd just have to be much more careful from now on.
— Poof's POV—
"Thanks for coming with your grandma to help her with her errands." His grandmother beamed down at him as they went through the fairy world shopping mall. He had come because she said she'd help him buy a get well present for Timmy. They had made his soul a lot of nice wooden toys, but there was nothing for poor Timmy. It made him feel bad that he did not get anything, so he wanted to get him something.
He knew his god brother could just wish up any toy he wanted; so it made finding a present harder for him. He had made him a card, but he wanted to include an actual present, since the cute little baby soul got so many.
What to get him though…? He'd like to ask his daddy, but he had stayed behind. No matter how much he begged, he kept refusing, and just as he was about to throw a tantrum over it; his grandmother pulled him aside to whisper the reason.
'When revival magic is used; it's so powerful and takes up so much magic that everyone in fairy world knows when it was used and who used it. He feels like everyone is going to look at him and blame him for what happened to Timmy, so he needs a little more time before he can go into a place as crowded as a shopping mall.'
He was glad his grandmother had explained it; else he would have thought that his daddy was just being mean to Timmy. He had made fun of him to Jorgen and the Tooth fairy, so his refusal to come shopping with him for a present had really made him mad.
But….his daddy wasn't being mean, he was just scared that everyone would blame him and be mad. If Timmy wasn't mad or blamed his daddy for being hurt, then why should others? It did not make sense to him.
…He hoped that his daddy felt better in time for the weekend; the big Fairy Festival only happened every one hundred years. Not only would this be his first festival ever, but it was the only one he'd ever be able to attend with his big brother. By the time the next festival came around in a hundred years, Timmy…..
That was why it was so important to him that his entire family was together for this festival but….his daddy was scared and feeling bad; and who knows if his mommy and brother would be back from Fey world by then?
"What's wrong, Poof? Are you getting bored? We can stop at the bakery and get some macaroons." His grandmother smiled, not having any clue about what he was thinking or feeling and he couldn't help but feel that if he did tell her, she'd only make excuses for his dad, and lay blame on his mom for 'dilly dallying' or something. He did not want excuses to be made or faults to be given…he just wanted his family together for the festival, the only fairy festival the four of them could spend as a family….
— Timmy POV —
After he was done with his hot chocolate, Wanda had reluctantly returned to where they were sitting. Nova, perhaps in a show of kindness, had turned their chairs into a couch, so that, in his feverish condition, he could lean against Wanda, snuggling at her side, cozy in his blankets.
Her hot chocolate had warmed up both his body and his heart, and he was feeling so peaceful. Wanda smiled at him, stroking his hair as she kept checking his wrist every few minutes—the Stigmata was getting paler and paler….maybe by the time they left, it could even disappear entirely.
"Hot chocolate made with Mother's love does indeed work wonders." Nova remarked, eyeing his wrist with an approving smile. Wanda did not respond to him as she picked up the mirror to check in on how his soul was doing, but held it in a way that prevented him from looking into it. He understood why; he had been forced to consume a part of a Fey's body—he recognized that the emotions that had surfaced in him once seeing Queen Mab's image were far different from the ones he had felt at seeing her prior to being kissed.
He furrowed his brows as he remembered something important he had been told. A Fey's enchantments weren't supposed to work unless they were 'willingly accepted.' The kiss he had been given was not one he had accepted, not by word nor by body language, so it shouldn't have worked, right? That's what Jorgen had told him when he had asked if the Fey could just hold him down and force him to eat or drink something that could be laced with a part of their body or even with Fey Fruit and he had said that it must be offered and then willingly accepted for the magic in it to work. So….what had happened with Queen Mab? She had literally forced him to swallow that 'Nectar' stuff. She had even prevented him from breathing, literally giving him no choice, and he could feel how deeply it was already affecting him so the magic was obviously working.
He couldn't even feel any anger towards her for what she did….rather…he really felt like he'd like to be held by her again, but he still had enough sense to know that those weren't his actual feelings. Were the rules different for Fey royalty?
"It appears that you are deeply engrossed in contemplation. I urge you to emulate your godmother by expressing any dissatisfaction openly. I would strongly dislike for any doubts or suspicions to develop into something unpleasant." Nova told him gently, noticing the look on his face.
"Well..." he began, recalling Piper's warning about Nova's deep respect for Queen Mab. With this in mind, he carefully planned his question in the most polite manner possible. Doubt filled his mind, as he was not known for his eloquence. However, compared to the attitude Wanda was taking towards poor Nova, any attempt at politeness would likely be commendable.
"That's right! Any enchantment forced on him isn't supposed to work!" Wanda jumped in at the end of his sentence before Nova could respond.
"Queen Mab is unique. Merely being present on her territory is sufficient for her to grant one of her kisses, although even she lacks the ability to coerce you into consuming Fey Fruit without it losing its enchantment." Nova confirmed with a tight smile.
"Is there anything else her uniqueness allows her?"
"Nothing that concerns you nor Timmy, my dear."
"And anything that doesn't concern us?" Wanda pushed, making Nova sigh a little.
"Every seven years Queen Mab will select a Kinder from her territory and claim it as her own for seven years; then she returns them to their Fey Family and adopts another."
"Why does she do that?" Wanda asked, miffed. "Is she just looking for one she likes enough to keep—?"
Nova furrowed his brows, a cold look of anger glazing his eyes. "Wanda, please, she would not treat children like toys to discard of when growing bored with them! It is because of how powerful her magic is. You see, a Kinder is linked to their Fey Parent and their new bodies kept intact by their magic…seven years is the maximum amount of time Queen Mab can keep a Kinder before her magic begins to overwhelm them."
"I see…." Wanda might have realized she went a little too far and slightly softened her tone.
"All the kids outside seem to really love her a lot. Were they all with her at some point?" He asked, wanting to lift the tension, making his voice far more cheerful than he felt in order to improve the mood. A tactic he learned that was effective at least a quarter of the time when dealing with uncomfortable social situations.
"Oh yes, they have!" Nova's smile returned to his face, and the warmth crept back into his eyes. "Now, weren't we planning a game? Instead of engaging in tiresome disputes and unwarranted skepticism, let's focus on enjoying ourselves. I can conjure up any game you'd like. Is there one you have in mind?"
"There's this game Wanda and I love to play. It's called Eldritch Horror. It's like this super cool board game where we try to save the world from crazy monsters and spooky stuff. Our characters go on a big globetrotting adventure to fight monsters, solve mysteries and close portals! When we play it, Wanda and I like going all out and wear costumes, put on music, and have some themed snacks—like calamari if we're going up against Cthulhu…" He paused, and glanced out the glass window, putting a hand over his mouth. "…Should I not talk about eating fish while in here?"
Nova burst into laughter. "Don't worry, they don't understand what you're saying, haha. Go on, go on."
"Ok, well, there are these investigators, right—like a detective or a scientist. Each character has their own special abilities, but if they die or go insane during the game, you have to switch to a different investigator. And since they all have different abilities, you'll need to adjust the way you're playing. Anyway, the world is in trouble 'cause there are these ancient evil gods waking up and causing chaos. Our job is to stop them. We travel all around the world, but watch out for these mysterious clues and rumors; they can help us or make things worse. We also fight monsters! There are monsters everywhere, and we use dice to beat them up. It's a lot harder then it sounds. Sometimes we have to solve mysteries. It's like being a detective. We collect clues and solve puzzles to figure out how to stop the evil gods. Oh, and we also have to keep an eye on our sanity and health. Too much crazy stuff, and we go bonkers! The game has this cool timer called the Doom Track. If it fills up, bad things happen. And there are these awesome artifacts and spells we can find to boost our powers. We win by solving mysteries and closing portals to other dimensions. But if the Doom Track fills up or we run out of time, we lose. So, we have to work together, use our powers, and save the world from these ancient baddies! Oh, and it might sound like a lot, but don't worry. Wanda and I play all the time so we can guide you through it."
Nova was silent for a moment, and he had a stunned look on his face; it took him a few moments to realize that he had just dropped a rapid-fire info dump on him, one that wasn't even an effective one as he had just jumped from one thing to another without explaining anything properly. A little mortified, he looked down, shyly shuffling his feet. "Uh, sorry if I'm going on and on. I sometimes do that. Anyway, it's super fun, I promise!"
Apparently, the enthusiasm he felt whenever a topic that caught his interest came up was just another part of his ADHD, according to his therapist. The way he'd become intensely focused on his likes, and his over eagerness to share his excitement with others, were parts of the impulsive and hyperactive nature of his illness. It made him feel almost ashamed to like something, and reluctant to share any of his interests with anyone because once he started he'd go into "rapid speech mode'" as Chester had shunned it, and his 'frequent topic jumping' caused damage to one's brain cells, as AJ had derided.
Wanda nudged him affectionately. "I love hearing you sound happy and excited."
He smiled up at her, at least Wanda did not mind if his speech process was jumbled and rambling, all she cared about was that he was happy and would listen to him talk for hours about the things that made him that way—he never felt embarrassed about his habits around her.
"I, too, took delight in the exuberance of your words, my dear boy!" Nova stated, recovering from his astonishment. "It brings me joy to witness the vivacity and dynamism within you. The solemn and timid disposition you have displayed thus far honestly had me worried about you. I was deeply concerned that the Timmy I had heard so much about from Stella was no longer present, as your vivacious spirit seemed to have diminished. Therefore, witnessing its resplendence has greatly alleviated my fears."
It would seem that Nova was genuinely concerned about him. His newfound 'Grandpa' was relieved to see him happy, despite his demonstration of ADHD. However, neither of his real grandfathers shared the same sentiment, each arguing that he must have inherited it from the other side of the family. Unfortunately, his parents were even worse. Whenever he showed any signs of his condition, they would immediately scold him. It didn't matter that he had been happy and excitedly trying to share something he enjoyed with them. On occasions, the kids at school would engage him in a topic he enjoyed. It was only halfway through his enthusiastic rambling that he would realize they were laughing at him. It became clear that the only reason they had approached him in the first place was to mock him.
…But at least he had some people in his life who cared more about him being happy than they cared about him being 'normal.'
He glanced between Wanda and Nova and smiled, feeling a little bashful; he wanted to thank them both for understanding but felt a little too shy to form the words. Wanda put an arm around him, leaning her head on his affectionately while Nova gave him a warm smile.
….He really hoped that the game took a while, because he wanted to stay down here, safe and sound, and in such pleasant company for as long as he could.
If only Cosmo and Poof could be here too…it would be so nice if the entire family could be here; together….if they were…
….Then he'd truly never want to leave.