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Table of Contents
All About Fairies
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IF YOU HEAD toward the second star on your right and fly straight on till morning, you’ll come to Never Land, a magical island where mermaids play and children never grow up.
When you arrive, you might hear something like the tinkling of little bells. Follow that sound and you’ll find Pixie Hollow, the secret heart of Never Land.
A great old maple tree grows in Pixie Hollow, and in it live hundreds of fairies and sparrow men. Some of them can do water magic, others can fly like the wind, and still others can speak to animals. You see, Pixie Hollow is the Never fairies’ kingdom, and each fairy who lives there has a special, extraordinary talent.
Not far from the Home Tree, nestled in the branches of a hawthorn, is Mother Dove, the most magical creature of all. She sits on her egg, watching over the fairies, who in turn watch over her. For as long as Mother Dove’s egg stays well and whole, no one in Never Land will ever grow old.
Once, Mother Dove’s egg was broken. But we are not telling the story of the egg here. Now it is time for Rosetta’s tale.…
“ROSETTA! COME QUICK!” Fawn fluttered wildly into the garden. “Rosetta! Rose—”
Rosetta’s head was deep inside a lily’s bloom when she heard Fawn calling her. Rosetta was a garden-talent fairy and had been stirring up the pollen. She popped her head out. “What is it?”
When Fawn caught sight of her friend, she tried to stop. But she was going too fast. She crashed into a bright red rose. Brilliant scarlet petals exploded everywhere.
“My rose!” Rosetta cried. She flew past Fawn and over to the flower. Half its petals were gone. Rosetta planted a hand on her hip. “Fawn, what are you doing?” she demanded.
“Oops!” Fawn started picking up the red petals. “It’s just that we’re about to start a game of acorn ball.”
“So?” Rosetta tossed her long red hair.
“So maybe you want to join us?” Fawn asked. She handed the flower petals to Rosetta. “Everyone’s going to be there. Tink and Fira and Rani and—”
“Not really, Fawn,” Rosetta said. Rosetta didn’t care for games or sports.
She liked beautiful things, such as flowers and frilly dresses and delicate petal shoes. “I’ve got a lot of work to do in the garden.”
“What work?” Fawn gave Rosetta a doubtful look. In Rosetta’s flower patch, everything was in perfect order. The blue irises grew in straight rows. The pink and white lilies stood tall on their green stalks. The roses were in full bloom…well, all except for the one Fawn had run into. “Everything looks perfect,” Fawn said.
Rosetta sighed. “You’re such an animal talent,” she said. “Anyone can see that the garden is a disaster!”
Rosetta didn’t really think that her garden was a mess. In fact, she thought it looked quite pretty. She was particularly proud of the deep blue morning glories. But Rosetta didn’t want to play acorn ball. It meant flying here and there and tossing an acorn around and trying to tag other fairies. The last time she had played, her hair had gotten terribly tangled.
“A disaster?” Fawn blinked in surprise. “It looks beautiful to me.”
Rosetta couldn’t help a small proud smile. “You think so?” Her glow turned as pink as her rose-petal dress. She cleared her throat. “Well, never mind. I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
“Are you sure you’re not scared to play acorn ball?” Fawn asked. She tapped her foot in midair.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Rosetta huffed.
“Maybe I’m talking about the time you missed the easy catch—and our team beat yours thirty-one to three.” Fawn lifted her eyebrows.
Rosetta’s glow reddened at the memory. She couldn’t believe she’d missed the ball! It had rolled right through her hands—and broken three of her fingernails! After that, she had sworn she’d never play again. “It’s not that at all,” Rosetta fibbed. “I just have a lot to do.”
“Maybe I could help you,” Fawn suggested. “If we worked together, we would get done faster. Then you could play with us.”
Rosetta flew to the end of the row of daffodils, where a careless bunny had trampled a leaf. “If you really want to help me, tell the rabbits to stay out of my garden!” She propped the leaf up with a twig and sprinkled it with water.
Fawn smiled. “I can tell them, but I doubt they’ll listen,” she said. “Rabbits have big ears, but they also have minds of their own. They don’t like getting bossed around. So, Rosetta, how about it—do you want me to help you pull some weeds?”
Rosetta harrumphed. “You don’t know the difference between a weed and a prize orchid!”
“That’s true,” Fawn said with a sigh. She was clearly disappointed. Rosetta felt a stab of guilt for hurting her friend’s feelings.
“It’s okay, Fawn,” Rosetta said. “Working in the garden is my talent, just like working with animals is yours. Go ahead and play acorn ball. Then you can come back and tell me all about it. It will be like I was there.” Without the messy hair, she added silently.
Fawn grinned. “All right, I will!” She turned a flip in the air, then zipped off toward the field near the Home Tree. “I’ll be back soon!” she called over her shoulder.
Rosetta waved one of the rose petals like a leafkerchief at her friend. Then she flew to the morning glories to check the shady side of the garden.
In the shadow of a nearby maple tree was a green patch that Rosetta loved. It was always cool, even when the sun was hot. A special, silvery fern grew there. It had just poked up from the earth and was curled into tight fists. They were called fiddleheads at this stage. They could be cooked up in the kitchen into a crisp, delicious treat.
But Rosetta wouldn’t let anyone pick the fiddleheads. She loved these ferns. Not only did the leaves look like hearts, but the plants gave off a clean, fresh scent that was as lovely as any flower’s.
Rosetta perched atop a rock among the morning glories. “Ahh,” she said. “The garden is so quiet. So peaceful. So—”
A loud noise cut through the silent garden. It was a squirrel making quite a racket.
“Oh, be quiet!” Rosetta said to the squirrel. She could see him standing on a tree limb overhead. He swished his fluffy red tail.
“Can’t you see that I’m trying to have a relaxing moment in my garden?” Rosetta shouted.
But the squirrel didn’t give up. He ran along the limb, back and forth, chattering nonstop. Rosetta plugged her ears. It didn’t help. She could hear the squirrel right through her fingers.
“You can quit trying to talk to me. I’m not an animal talent.” Rosetta folded her arms across her chest. “I can’t understand a word you’re saying, and I wouldn’t care even if I could.”
She waved her arms in an attempt to scare the squirrel away. It didn’t have any effect. In fact, the squirrel seemed to be making more noise now than before.
Rosetta let out a frustrated sigh. “T
hat’s it. This crazy squirrel is driving me nuts!” There was only one solution. She’d have to go find Fawn. Maybe an animal talent could make this animal go chatter in another maple tree.
“I GOT IT!” Fawn shouted. She flew up to meet the acorn that arced through the air. “I got it!”
“Hurry, Tink!” Rani cried. Tinker Bell raced to tag a knot in a tall oak tree. Once she’d touched the knot, she zipped toward the branch above it. If she could circle the branch twice before Fawn caught the acorn, her team would get a point. If Fawn missed the acorn, Tink’s team would get three points.
“I got it!” Fawn shouted again.
“You can do it, Fawn!” Rani yelled.
“Rani, who are you rooting for?” Fira called down to her friend.
Rani shrugged and leaned back against a root. “Everyone!” she said.
Rani was the only fairy in Pixie Hollow who didn’t have wings. Brother Dove flew her wherever she needed to go, or else she walked. She never played acorn ball. It was too difficult without her own wings. But she loved to watch.
Above, the acorn flew just beyond Fawn’s grasp. Grunting, she flapped her wings with a final effort—
“Look out!” Rani cried. But nothing could stop Fawn…or Rosetta. They crashed right into each other.
Shooting past Fawn’s hand, the acorn dropped to the ground. Tinker Bell rounded the branch for the second time. The fairies on Tink’s team cheered.
“Rosetta?” Fawn rubbed her side. Rosetta had nearly knocked her over! “What are you doing? Did you come to join our game?”
“No, no!” Rosetta shook her head. It was throbbing where Fawn’s elbow had knocked it. She didn’t understand how Fawn could play acorn ball. It was downright dangerous! But there was no time to argue about it. “I need your help. There’s a squirrel who is driving me crazy! Can you come get rid of him?”
“What?” Fawn asked. “You interrupted our game to ask me to get rid of a squirrel?”
“I thought you said you wanted to help me!” Rosetta wailed. “This squirrel is acting really weird.” And he’s really annoying, she added silently.
“Hmm.” Fawn thought for a moment. “Maybe something is wrong. Okay, Rosetta, I’ll go and talk to the squirrel.” She flew off toward Rosetta’s garden.
“Hey, Fawn! Where are you going?” Tinker Bell called.
“Rosetta’s got a squirrel problem!” Fawn shouted over her shoulder. “I’ll be back soon!”
“A squirrel problem?” Rani repeated. “I’ll come with you.” Getting to her feet, she whistled for Brother Dove. In a heartbeat, the bird appeared. Rani climbed onto his back. They followed Fawn and Rosetta to see what was the matter with the squirrel.
“There he is!” Rosetta pointed at the squirrel. At the sight of the fairies, he had run out to the edge of a branch and started chattering madly at them. “See? He’s crazy.”
“He looks upset, not crazy,” Fawn remarked. The fairies flew closer to the animal.
The squirrel chattered again as his tail twitched from side to side.
“What?” Fawn cried. “A fire?” She chattered back in Squirrel.
Rosetta’s heart froze. A fire? In the forest? It could burn down all of Pixie Hollow!
Fawn said something else. The squirrel clambered down the maple trunk and bounded through the forest. Fawn zipped after him.
“What’s going on?” Rosetta asked. She flew close behind Fawn. Rani and Brother Dove were right on her heels.
“There’s a fire!” Fawn said. “Rani, we’ll need your help.” Rani was a water-talent fairy. If anyone could help with a fire, it was she.
“Hurry, Brother Dove!” Rani whispered. The bird flew like an arrow.
Soon the fairies smelled smoke. Then they saw the fire. It had started in a small bush. A nearby tree was burned black at the trunk. When Rosetta saw it, she knew what had happened. The tree had been struck by lightning. The sparks must have smoldered for a while until the bush caught fire.
Orange flames licked at the bush. Rani didn’t waste any time. She darted to a nearby puddle and threw fairy dust onto it. Instantly, a jet of water sprang up. Rani directed it toward the flames.
Rosetta coughed and waved her hand in front of her face. She hated the smell of smoke. If it got into her hair, she’d smell horrible for days. She flew a short distance away from the fire.
Water hissed as Rani’s jet touched the flames, but it wasn’t enough to stop the fire. “It’s sending up sparks!” Rani cried. “The fire could spread!”
“Rosetta, gather some dew moss!” Fawn shouted. “You can throw it on the fire! I’ll be back!”
“Where are you going?” Rosetta called, but it was too late. Her friend was already gone.
Rosetta hesitated. She really didn’t want to gather dew moss. It was dirty, for one thing. Plus it would stain her hands green.
Maybe if I wait just another moment, Rani will put out the fire, Rosetta thought. Then they won’t need me to gather moss.
Brother Dove swooped toward the flames, and Rani sent up another glittering jet of water. The fire was still burning.
It really looks like she needs my help, Rosetta thought. She was just about to fly off to find some moss when she heard a whoop.
“Ya-hoo!” Fawn hooted. The animal-talent fairy bounded toward the fire on the back of a brown rabbit. Eight more rabbits hopped behind them. The rabbits leaped into the smoke and used their enormous feet to crush the orange embers that had flown up from the bush.
Rani raised her arms again. One, two, three, four, five jets of water blasted the flames. With a final hiss, the last flicker died out. A cottontail stamped on it, just to be sure.
“We did it!” Fawn wrapped her arms around the rabbit’s neck and buried her face in its fur. The rabbit’s ear twitched. Fawn let the bunny go and flew toward Rani. She was looking at Brother Dove’s wing.
“Is he okay?” Fawn asked.
“His feathers are a little scorched, but he’s all right,” Rani said. “We’re fine.”
“So is Pixie Hollow, thanks to you!” Fawn pulled Rani into a tight hug. “And to this squirrel!” She patted the animal on the shoulder and said something to him in Squirrel.
The rabbits began to hop away.
Fawn called something to them in Rabbit.
“Oh, Fawn, can you tell them not to trample my flowers?” Rosetta asked. “Since they’re all here?”
Fawn and Rani turned to face Rosetta. Neither one of them was smiling. “What happened to the dew moss?” Fawn asked.
Rosetta blushed rose pink. “Well, I—I couldn’t find any.” Because I didn’t look, she added to herself.
“Hmm,” Fawn said.
“Hmm,” Rani said, too.
“Besides, it looked like you had the fire under control,” Rosetta said.
“Well, the rabbits are gone,” Fawn pointed out. “Maybe I’ll mention it to them later.”
Fawn didn’t sound like she really wanted to mention it. Rosetta sighed. That is so like Fawn. She doesn’t even care about my flowers. Some fairies are just so selfish!
ROSETTA YAWNED AND opened one eye. Light streamed in through the Queen Anne’s lace curtains over her bedroom window. She folded down her rabbit-fur blanket. The blanket had been made by the weaving-talent fairies. After the animal talents brushed the rabbits, the weaving talents collected the fur. Rosetta’s blanket was as soft and warm as a baby bunny. She hated getting out of bed—even though she didn’t like rabbits much.
At the window, a black and white butterfly caught Rosetta’s eye. Its wings opened and closed slowly, as if it was waiting for her to notice it. Rosetta looked more closely. The butterfly was made out of birch bark!
“Oh, my goodness!” Rosetta cried. She hurried to the window. “It’s a message from Queen Clarion!”
Even though no one else was in the room, Rosetta smoothed her hair and tidied her nightgown before holding up her hand. The birch bark–paper butterfly landed lightly on her fingers a
nd unfolded itself into a formal invitation. Rosetta read it eagerly.
“Dinner with the queen!” Rosetta cried. She dropped the invitation onto her bed. “And it’s tonight! What in Never Land will I wear?”
Thumpthumpthump! Someone was pounding on Rosetta’s door. “It’s me!” Fawn cried. “I need to talk to you!” Fawn flung open the door and flew inside.
“Careful!” Rosetta cried as one of the tiny glass perfume bottles on her bureau fell over.
“Oops!” Fawn managed to catch the bottle just before it landed on the floor.
Lucky she’s such a fast flier, Rosetta thought. Especially for someone who isn’t a fast-flying talent.
Fawn put the perfume back in its place and moved toward her friend. She waved the invitation under Rosetta’s nose. “Did you see this?” she demanded.
“Yes! Isn’t it wonderful?” Rosetta’s face broke into a huge smile.
“Wonderful?” Fawn shrieked. “How can you say it’s wonderful? We’re going to have to get dressed up!”
“Well, of course.” Rosetta darted to her mirror to check her reflection.
“But I don’t want to get dressed up,” Fawn complained. “I don’t want to go to a special dinner!”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rosetta said. She pulled a porcupine-quill comb through her tangled hair. “It’s dinner with the queen!” Honestly, sometimes Rosetta didn’t understand her tomboyish friend at all.
“Exactly!” Fawn griped. She picked up one of the small feathers from Rosetta’s collection. Then she put it back down askew. “Dinner with lots of extra forks. Who wants that? I’d rather brush the skunks!”
Rosetta smoothed the delicate blue feather back into place. “You don’t mean that.”
“Sure I do!” Fawn fluttered toward the ceiling. “Why does the queen have to throw a fancy dinner? Why can’t we just play a fun game of pea shoot?”
“Because pea shoot isn’t fun,” Rosetta retorted.
“It’s a lot more fun than getting dressed up,” Fawn said.