2A/N: I have officially lost my mind. LOL. Let's do this!
Queen Clarion hovered atop the Pixie Dust tree. Below her, fairies twirled and leaped to the strum of the violinists. The moon cast a golden glow into the ring, illuminating the dust on the fairies' wings, showering the clearing in a downpour of amber light. Clarion watched them, her expression grim.
Behind her, a sparrowman hovered, his icy white hair drenched in gold and his piercing blue gaze flashing. Frowning, he lifted his eyes towards the heavens. A moment passed and Clarion did the same. They stared at the night sky. The blood-red moon and silver stars twinkled in a sequence of flashes as though laughing down at them. Even the darkness seemed to allude to danger.
"The time has come," Lord Malori spoke darkly. "The harvest moon is upon us."
At first, Queen Clarion did not acknowledge the winter fairy. Her gaze dropped back to Springtime Square...and all those who had gathered there. She watched them, possibly pitying them. Possibly concerned. It was difficult to tell.
"Have you told them?"
Clarion jerked her attention from the fairy circle but refused to face Malori or answer his question. Instead, she fixed her eyes on the Pixie Dust tree which shone with life. It was beautiful. She could hardly believe that such a world of peace and beauty could be on such a war path. It just didn't feel...right.
"Clarion." The Lord of the Winter fairies, seeing that she wouldn't respond, spoke more harshly. "You have to tell them the truth! Tell them-"
"Tell them what, Malori?" Clarion demanded, whipping around finally to face him. "That everything they've ever known has been a lie? That Pixie Hollow is about to be destroyed? And how do you suggest I do that exactly?"
Malori stared at her, disappointment igniting across his face. "There was a time when you would never have second-guessed yourself. A time when you would have announced the truth proudly to anyone who would listen. Believe me. I remember."
"That was a long time ago," Clarion mumbled. "I was young. Foolish. I was-"
"The bravest fairy I'd ever met," the sparrowman cut her off. "Look," he added, noticing her hesitancy. "I know how hard it must have been seeing him turn. But there was nothing you could do about it then. You saved us all. He wouldn't have and you know it. Now you have a chance to protect us once more."
"But it's not me," Clarion argued. "The bracelets have chosen a new Protector."
"A-another?" Malori blinked, as though unsure he'd heard her right. "How? When?"
"At their Arrival," Clarion responded shortly. "Several years ago."
"And you're just telling me this now?"
"It was never of any importance until now," the queen responded. "Never has the Harvest Moon and the Season Turn fallen on the same day. And you know what that means. He'll be freed tonight. I doubt twenty Springs locked away will have changed his opinion one bit. He'll come back, Mallory. And...and I can't stop him." A single tear formed in her eyes. Mallory noticed this.
"Is that what you're so concerned about?" he questioned. "Why? If you know who the fairy is, why don't you just go to them and tell them the truth?"
Clarion sighed. "I may not have much option," she confessed. "But what if they aren't ready to know the truth? What if they end up like him? Pixie Hollow can't take a repeat of history."
"Well, he was a tinker. Surely this Protector couldn't be..." Malori trailed off when he saw her expression. "No no, please tell me that's not true...it couldn't be..."
"It is."
"Two tinkers in a row? The odds of that...are so astronomical..."
"But yet, it makes sense in a kind of weird and twisted way," she smiled wryly. "We had a tinker become the Protector of Death. Why not have one as the Protector of Life?"
"But...you know the legends!" Malori spluttered. "Scarab warned-"
"I know."
"And there's nothing you can do?"
"No. The tinker was chosen. I can do nothing but guide them now. But still, what if-"
"Test them."
"Pardon?"
"You know, tell them the truth. Train them. See if they really have what it takes."
"You mean deceive them?"
Malori shrugged. "Not really deceive. More like...nudge them forcibly in the right direction. That way, we can't make the mistake we did last time."
Clarion hesitated, like she didn't like what he was suggesting. But yet, as she hovered there, she knew he was right. There was really no other option. This had to be done. Even if it could potentially destroy everything she'd worked for...Pixie Hollow was in danger. He had to be stopped...one way or another.
"All right," she told him. "I'll consider it. I don't like it, mind you. Nothing good can come of this...this trick. But if it protects Never Land, then I suppose I really have no option."
Malori nodded. "I understand how hard this decision was for you. I won't push you do anything. Just...remember...be gentle okay? You remember what happened the last time when you were too hasty..."
"I do."
And that was that. The conversation ended. Both fairies returned to staring off into the distance. Silence held between them. And then, finally, Malori glanced over at the Queen. "Clarion."
She looked over at him. "Yes?"
"Happy Harvest."
