Shadow Dust

       You may have heard of those fairies who bring the seasons throughout time. Of magical ones and helpful ones and ones that can make rhyme. But there are some fairies that are not so well known. Those of the Dark Kind and others unknown. The Dark Ones who bring death and fly around the gallows; are fairies who are feared and live in the shadows.

       In a small town in the New England, it is mid-autumn and the leaves of the trees are all colorful and falling silently. However, it is in the dead of night and very few streetlamps light the way. A dark figure is seen with a woven basket at its side. It stalks the houses and appears to be looking for something. It only stops briefly to peek at a house, then carries on. Yet, at a certain house, it stops shortly then carries on but stops again realizing this house may just be the perfect one. It gently sets down the basket and knocks on the door before disappearing into the night. At residence 234 Benjamin Drive, a married couple stirs awake at the sudden knock on their door. “James? Who would be outside our doorstep at this hour?” the woman said to her husband who was cladding himself in a bathrobe. “I do not know Eleanor, but we shall find out. Come along dear.” He holds out a hand to his wife who takes it hesitantly and the two walk down the stairs silently and to the door. “Oh, do be careful James.” She whispered which was responded by a short nod. James carefully started to open the door. As it creaked along, Eleanor clung to her husband bracing for the worst. As James got halfway on the door, he suddenly and quickly opened it wide only to reveal no one was there. “Well, that is certainly… odd.” He looked around but there was not a soul in sight. “James… look” Eleanor was looking on the front step and pointed to it and James looked down. There lies a small woven basket with a blue blanket sticking out. They both slowly kneeled down to it very slowly and carefully opened the top. Inside the blue blanket seemed to move slightly and the couple exchanged glances then continued their investigation. Eleanor slowly removed the blue blanket to reveal what was hiding beneath. They both stared wide-eyed at its contents.

       You see, James and Eleanor Masterson wanted a child for their very own but were broken hearted at the discovery Eleanor was barren. However, the two tried to look on the brighter side of things and attempted adoption at the local orphanage. All of the children were either too old or not suitable for the couple’s needs. They even tried going from town to town to find the right child. Saddened and depressed, they did not find what they were looking for and returned home. They pleaded and prayed they would find someone to call their own but none prevailed. After a while, they just gave up entirely and went about with their normal lives… until that wondrous night.

       James and Eleanor could not believe their eyes at the contents of the little basket. “James,” said Eleanor with a bright shine in her eye, “could he be… could he be for us?” James just shook his head in disbelief and slightly smiled, “If he was… I would not be surprised.” Eleanor cocked her head slightly trying to take a look at the baby boy better with the poor light. “I’ll go get a lantern” James suggested and walked inside to fetch it. While James was busy, the curious Eleanor moved the blanket more. She pulled her hand away surprised. James came back with the light, “What is the matter?” He glanced at Eleanor who was just staring at the baby. He then glanced back and brought the light over to its face. He too stared and gasped at the sight of it. This baby was by far an extraordinary one. He had a full head of hair and some of it on his face. Two flickering, furry ears rested atop his head and his nose was wet and black. He also had a furry and bushy…tail! The little baby boy opened his big soft yellow eyes and looked up at the two and appeared to smile. James didn’t believe his eyes and glanced at his wife for an answer, and, to his surprise, she was also smiling at the baby. She reached her hands out into the little basket and carefully picked up the bundle. “E-Eleanor..?” “James… he’s… beautiful” She smiled warmly at him and then looked at the furry baby. James looked in the basket and found a note stating they were a ‘worthy’ family to care for this strange wolf-like child. “What’s his name?” James asked staring at the note. “His name,” Eleanor wondered looking at the creature’s eyes, “His name is…. Alexander.” James stood up and glanced at the baby with a smile, “What a wonderful name. Do you like that?” Alexander loved the sound of the name and smiled big revealing blunt but sharp teeth. Eleanor only laughed reassuring James it was alright and he gave a bright smile with his mustache, “My boy!” Alexander laughed and it was a laugh like any other child would have. They took the little bundle and basket back to the warmth of the inside.

       A few meters away, an old and tattered dandelion blew in the small breeze. The umbrella seeds blew off the plant and into the wind yet one seemed to straggle about. As soon as it caught the wind again, it soared high above the others and sailed along with the wind toward a big star. It came clear, though; it blew a little off to the right, to the second star. The seed bobbed along on the wind current until it reached the ocean and blew among the waves and ocean breeze. An island is spotted in the distance and the dandelion seed flew towards it. As it floated along, it came to a small swamp passing beneath a Weeping Willow then blew over the trees, past the hills, along the valley until a great tree came into sight. Approaching nearer to the tree, the seed is assisted by some small winged creatures. These are the fairies. With careful precision they help the dandelion float down to the center of the brake in the tree. More fairies gather around as the glowing dust is poured onto the seed.

       From the Pixie Dust being poured onto the seed, the magic is then revealed and a little female fairy with black hair that came down and covered one eye and deep purple eyes looks over to the approaching Queen Clarian. The fairy queen had a warm smile on her flawless face reassuring the little fairy she was kind, “Born of laughter, clothed in cheer. Happiness has brought you here. Welcome to Pixie Hollow.” The little fairy smiled and looked around at all the other fairies that started to say hello. The little fairy looked back at the queen who gave a slight chuckle then fluttered forward, “Now let’s take a look at those wings.” The beautiful fairy queen stepped over and behind the new little fairy and spread some pixie dust on her wings. They glowed as everyone saw the strange broken-like pattern but a worried look from the fairy was diminished from a heartwarming smile from Clarian. The glowing pixie dust started to flow around the spiral pattern in the hollow of the great tree and ten toadstools began to appear. Each of the colored fairies began to place symbols of their talents onto the fungus stools and smiled at the newcomer who smiled back.

       There, placed in order by fairy of talent, was a flower, a water droplet, a small tornado-like vortex of pollen, a stone tied to a hearty stick by a leaf was in the shape of a hammer, a leaf, a small glowing orb of light, a small egg, a baked pastry, a snowflake, and a small tuff of cotton on the end of a stick to represent a paintbrush. The little fairy looked toward the queen for some help who gestured to the toadstools and the fairy started to walk around them studying them with curious eyes. She spotted the snowflake and walked to it with bright eyes. All of the fairies leaned in, anticipated for the spark of a talent to ignite. The little fairy reached her small hand out to touch the magical snowflake but, as soon as her finger was placed on it, it faded to a gray then the glow surrounding it faded as well as all the other items in the circle. The pixie dust surrounding the circle turned dark and concerned the fairies. Queen Clarian’s smile faded into a look of worry. The little fairy was looking around for an answer to the strange happenings and her face became desperate. A few gasps came from the fairies as the newcomer’s wings faded to a black as well as the tattered dandelion dress she was clothed in. The fairy looked toward the queen with a scared look but Clarian just sighed and was near tears.

       The little fairy took a step forward and opened her mouth to speak but a loud screech sounded which was followed by screams of panic. “Nighthawk!” one fairy yelled and the queen and new fairy looked toward the noise. Again she reached out as well as Clarian yet… before she could yell for help, the little fairy was snatched up by the nighthawk as it screeched again and swooped around the tree scaring the fairies as they flew away in a panic. Queen Clarian sighed watching the nighthawk fly away with another terrifying screech. A short, stout fairy clothed in green fluttered to the queen. “Oh Fairy Mary,” the queen addressed her, “there hasn’t been a Dark One in seasons.” “I know Queen Clarian,” Fairy Mary sighed then continued, “Guess we chalk another one up for Shadow.” She put her chubby hands on her hips and the queen sighed. “I know… but I just wish…” “We all do, your majesty… we all do.” The both looked at the horizon to where the nighthawk was no longer seen due to the night. Fairy Mary gave one last look at the queen before fluttering off leaving the queen starring at the horizon.

       The furious nighthawk flapped its horrible wings as it flew along further into the night. The fairy struggled in its hold of its talons and beat its scaly feet with her tiny fists. It just looked at her with terrorizing glowing eyes and the little fairy almost heard a slight chuckle from the bird. A look of confusion from her was quickly formed into terror as it dropped her from the tremendous height. Falling, she thrashed about trying to grab hold of something that wasn’t there she closed her eyes and tried to flap her own wings and before hitting the grown with a splat, she fluttered her wings and was aloft. Her celebration was quick lived as the nighthawk swooped down and scooped her up again. It then flew straight up along a mountain. Reaching the peak, it glided for a short time to give a chance for the small fairy to spot the sheer cliff the hawk was about to vertically swoop down. It started to pick up speed folding its wings inward to intensify its velocity. The fairy shielded her eyes as the ground finally came into view covered with spiked brambles yet the nighthawk did not slow its paced instead, sped up!

       The fairy braced for an impact that never came, the hawk bolted into a hole that was hidden among the brambles then popped its wings back out to rear up and slow. It then dropped the fairy who landed with a thump and ‘ouff’ from her mouth before it flew back up to the opening and zoom off. Getting up with a grunt and brushing herself off, the little fairy looked around the dark hole she found herself in. “H-hello?” she said shaking then gasped and stepped back as she heard movement coming closer. “S-stay back…” she timidly warned as her first few words were spoken. The shuffling grew louder and she found herself against the cold stone wall. Whispering sounded throughout the darkness and the fairy spoke again, “Who…who is there?” Suddenly the whispering stopped and a tall male fairy cladded in a deep black robe stepped into the moonlight. His face was long and his features where no doubt shadowed even in the bright light. “Do not fear little one,” he said, his voice assuring yet had an edge to it, “You are safe.” He opened his arms and smiled. “Wh-where am I?” “Why you are in the darkness, your haven.” He walked around the small fairy studying her and she tried not to have her back to him. “This is the place where all Dark Fairies go. Welcome to Shadow Edge!” Just then, torches lit in the hands of many other fairies that had dark wings and clothing. Many had smirks on their gross faces but some had warm smiles, others laughed and some sighed but they all cheered.

       The man lowered his arms and the cheering died down then he spoke again to the scared fairy, “What do they call you little one?” She looked around for a possible answer then looked up at him, “Willow… my name is Willow.” “Well Miss Willow, tis an honor to meet you,” he bowed then looked up at her, “My name is Lord Shadow.” She curtsied seeming slightly more comfortable with the darkness. He arose to full height and held out a hand, “Shall we go explore your new home?” Willow nodded and took Lord Shadow’s hand as he led her through the throng of Dark Fairies as they parted to let them pass then followed them down the dark passageway until they came up to the mouth of the dark corridor and through it came a warm glow of more torches.