[Hugo Prosperio]

The Final Chapter! (there will be an epilogue, a fun little capper I came up with) Please enjoy!

Chapter Ten: The Golden Dust

In actual fact, Jadaris Pevnock was nowhere near the throne room, but had used a spell to throw her voice throughout the colony. The sound of her voice echoed through the great tree with power and anger.

?That outta shake things up a bit? she said as she pushed Siri forward

?I don?t know where the Throne Room is anymore, it?s changed since the last time I was there? the pink haired pixie whined.

?Well, find it, Siri, or you are going to become very comfortable with the contents of that bottle I showed you.? Jadaris spat

?You wouldn?t dare? Siri said, eyes widening. ?You know full well that the stuff is gain?s the rules?and the great Jadaris never breaks the rules? she added mockingly

?For you, dear friend, I?d be willing to make an exception? Jadaris said with a smile. ?Now move!?

?You aren?t the only one who can use Pixie Dust, you know? Siri said, contempt in her voice. She then reached into her robes and produced a small bottle of black powder, and threw it on the ground, and in a flash the room was filled with a thick mist, and the pink haired Siri was gone.

?D?Arvit? swore Jadaris.

?I keep hearing that word? Caitlin interrupted. ?What does it mean??

?It?s an old fairy curse word, from Ireland, I believe? Jadaris said. ?Now let?s move. She can?t have gotten very fair. It was only a mist-making powder?

-----

Fury was the one word that summed up the look on the face of Jesarai Mabia. Shaking with anger she turned to the guard behind her.

?Gather your men. Find the little bitch, and put an end to this nonsense, do you understand?? she hissed. The guard nodded, and left. ?As for you? she continued, turning her attention to the tiny girl who had just killed her prized pet. ?I shall deal with you later.?

She turned and burst though the door and the only sound Beth could hear was the raspy breathing of Da?av on the floor. She took a moment to figure out how to get of the table, and decided that sliding down the leg was the best. Sure, she got a few splinters, but she?d get over it. Once she had gotten to the floor, she ran fast over to the body of the fallen guard.

?Da?av!? she shouted, which caused him to slowly turn his head. ?Beth?? he asked, blood trickling from his mouth. His fingers unfurled, and offered her a place to stand, and she quickly moved to his hand. ?Are you alright??

?No? he said honestly, with a smile. ?I?m dying, but it?s not all bad. I?ve been a slave to that woman all my life?and if this? he says nursing the dagger wound with his other hand ?is the price I have to pay?well, then I?m glad to do it.? He lifted Beth up to see her closer, and he smiled. ?I was taught by her to fear and hate humans?you showed me how wrong that was. Thank you.?

?Thank you? Beth replied ?For taking such good care of me. It?s so strange, being tiny like this, but?you made this world a less scary place to be.?

Da?av smiled. ?You know, Beth, I am sure many human men have told you this, but you are very beautiful.?

She smiled wide. ?Lots?but none of them are like you.? She patted one of his fingers, and he smiled once more before gasping in pain. He then looked at her.

?Good bye, Bethany.? With that, his eyes closed, and the life slipped away from him, the glowing aura that most fairies carried vanished, and his hand dropped to the ground. Beth sat in, drawing her knees up to her chest. ?Good bye, Da?av? she whispered. The tears filled her eyes as she cried the hardest cry she had ever cried.

-----

?She must be stopped. She will kill the poor human girl if we do not intervene? Lorna said, standing at half her normal height, looking almost like a child talking to a room full of adults and as she spoke a burst of murmurs from the senators.

?She brings up a valid point. It is against protocol for us to endanger a human, or any other creature for that matter. I say we investigate.? Said one of the senators.

?Investigate, whom?? said a cold voice from the back of the room.

?Your Majesty?? gasped Oolna ?We are honored by your presence?

The sudden turn in Oolna?s mood, from understanding to sycophantic sickened Lorna as she watched her enemy walk through the door. ?I was informed that I was the subject of this meeting?? Mabia said calmly. ?Why??

The council members hushed, and watched as her eyes prowled around the room. ?Finally beginning to tell wild stories like your husband, Lorna. Shrinking yourself and then blaming it on me, just to get ahead in life? Really these are unbecoming of a fairy such as yourself.?

The other senators nodded in agreement, even Oolna. Lorna stood fuming. ?What punishment do we give to those who try and undo the government? No one? Eternal Imprisonment?that is what awaits you for this betrayal.? She said with a gleam in her eye, which told Lorna that she had put the entire council under a spell. They were all entranced by her words and would agree to anything she said.

?Senators! You will punish this woman!? she said

?Punish!? the senators cried.

?Punish!? Mabia said aloud ?That?s right, Pun?? but she was interrupted. Siri Oubotoni burst threw the doors.

?Your Majesty, I?ve been looking all over for you!? she said, gasping for air.

?What is it, child?? she said frustrated. She would have to cast the spell again.

?Jadaris is back!? she hissed. ?She is trying to find the Throne Room. I tried to delay her, and then I made my escape to tell you. She is trying to rescue her human friend!?

The senate council room fell quiet, as the senators looked at her.

?She?s joking?? she said, unable to cast the spell??Simply Joking? she then turned to Siri ?Leave now, before you ruin everything? she added under her breath.

?Lorna, would you come with me?? Mabia said ??I believe we have a meeting with your daughter? She grabbed the half size senator by the arm dragged her out of the room.

Oolna, shaking her head from the spell, glanced at the other senators. Something was wrong in their proud colony?something very wrong.

-----

Jadaris, Caitlin and Jenna were looking for Siri when a loud rumble caught their attention. Jadaris? eyes flew open and she knew what they were in for. She mustered some good old fashion dust-less magic, and three spears appeared in mid air.

?Take one, girls, we are gonna need it.? She said as she grabbed one, and the two fairy-humans did as well.

?Something bad coming?? Caitlin asked?

?Oh, yes. Guards. Four of em?. I can smell them from here.? She said with a look of pained humor.

?Guards?like the security at the mall? Jenna asked

?No Jenna? Caitlin said, spotting something on the top of the hill. ?Guards like that?

Four massive men were running down the branch, spears in hand, with the tips glowing with blue magical energy. It sparked and fizzed, and the girls new they were in for a rough time.

?This is gonna suck? Caitlin added before prepping her stance.

The guards approached slowly, but with no mercy in their eyes. The head one, one that had alerted Mabia to the Senate Council meeting, spoke up. ?We are here to bring you to the High Magistrate, for questioning. Come quietly, and no one will be hurt?

?Not a chance, fathead? Jenna called out, surprising both Caitlin and Jadaris.

The redheaded fairy burst from the pack and surpsingly attacked the lead guard, taking him by such surprise, that with little effort she took away his weapon (using it to replace her own) and pushed him off the branch, sending him flailing down the tree.

The other three guards braced themselves, and now Jadaris and Caitlin had stepped forward, and bravely fought them. Spears clashed, and magic flew, but sure enough, one by one, the male guards were thrown down, and sent to the bottom of the colony.

?That was brilliant Jenna!? Caitlin said

?Didn?t take all those Martial Arts classes for nothing? The redhead laughed.

?Very Impressive?? said the voice of Siri from behind them

?but I am afraid you will be coming with me.?

?Yeah, and how do you intend to make us? Caitlin stood up.

?As I said before, Jadaris Pevnock is not the only one in the colony who can use Pixie Dust.? She said before coating the girls in a red mist of powder. They instantly froze in place, living breathing statues.

?Apprenditia Throne Room? She said, a spell that Mabia had given her permission for?a spell that caused all four figures, the living statues and Siri to be whisked away like leaves in the wind.

-----

?Hello, Jadaris Pevnock? rang the voice of the High Magistrate. The three girls had been unfrozen and stood in the center of a large throne room. Jadaris glanced around, and saw two cages near the throne, one held Beth sitting stoically, looking sadder than Caitlin or Jenna had ever seen her, and in the other was Lorna, Jadaris? mother who was banging wildly on the cage.

?You let me go, Jesarai, or so help me? she shrieked.

?Be quite, or I shall rip your tongue from your body, you little toad? The High Magistrate spat.

?So, who are your friends?More Humans for my collection?? she said turning back to Jadaris.

?We are fairies? Jenna shouted.

?Don?t toy with me. I know a pixie dusted fairy when I see one, even if my idiot of a spy can?t? she said, glancing at Siri.

?Once we get those pitiful excuses for wings removed, you will be next in line for my experiments?Caitlin and Jenna?but for now, I figure it prudent to demonstrate. Sorry for not cleaning up my trash? she says referring to the lifeless body of Da?av on the floor. Jadaris looked down and saw the guard lying there.

?Da?av?! What did you do?!? She shrieked. Da?av had been a friend of hers since she was a youngling, and tears built in her eyes. ?You killed him! Why?? she shouted, anger filling her voice.

?Because he had ideas, and they had to be silenced, silenced like your father was silenced?? she said.

Jadaris gasped, as did Lorna??You killed him!?

?Of course I did. He was stirring up a revolution against me, something I couldn?t have. My plans are greater than this colony will ever be, and so what if the colony is collateral damage. I will have what I want?in abundance.?

She walked up to the cages. ?and now for the main event. The death of your friend and mother?two shows for the price of one, my dear? The purple haired fairy hissed with joy.

?Get out!? shrieked Beth??Run!?

Poor Beth spent quite a lot of time sitting in the palm of the dead guard, and she had come to realize that hope was lost, and that she was doomed to die at the hands of a fairy.

?They?ve nowhere to go, Little Bethany? Mabia laughed. ?They are trapped just like you. And you two? she said pointing at Caitlin and Jenna. ?Followed her right to your own doom. How pitiful.?

The table was laid out with a viewing glass and what appeared to be strange tools. ?And now, like a human would dissect a frog, I shall dissect you, and for killing my precious pet?you get to be alive when I start? she said throwing the small body down on the table.

Now, Jenna had always been the shortest in her age group, you see, and she had always been teased, and thus she took martial arts to train herself to protect herself?it had never really paid off, but, on this day, the lessons were worth every penny. She saw a fire poker for the fire place, near where she was standing, and very quickly she moved over to it, and grabbed it. Mabia paid little attention to this as she strapped Beth spread eagle to the table.

?I am gonna split you down the middle you little?what was it you called me? Oh yes, Bitch?You Little Bitch? Mabia chuckled as she prepped a small blade.

Behind her Caitlin and Jadaris could only watch in horror as their short red headed friend flew up the stairs to the throne, and with a powerful swing, took the poker straight to Mabia?s head, causing her to fly off, and slam to the floor with a powerful thud.

Beth?s eyes widened as she saw the giant kind face of her roommate standing infront of her. ?Good Christ, Shorty?? she said, tounge firmly in cheek. ?Remind me never to piss you off again."

?I will, don?t worry? Jenna said removing the bonds from Beth?s arms and legs, and gently holding her. ?I could get used to this? she said

?Don?t even think about it? Beth said.

Halfway down the steps, Jenna felt a powerful numbness in her torso as she was lifted from the ground.

?You will pay for that!? Mabia shrieked holding her up with a powerful levitating spell. She then threw her across the room, and Jenna despite her best efforts dropped poor Beth.

Lucky for Beth, Jadaris was able to catch her, and stash her in the bag of tricks. ?Stay there? The fairy said ?Don?t move until I say.?

Caitlin saw the small orb shaped flask, the forbidden dust, as it were, and an idea occurred to her, so she gabbed it, brushing up against Beth.

?Hey!? the tiny girl said to which Caitlin said ?Sorry??

?GIVE ME BACK MY TOY!? Mabia raged as she lunged at Jadaris, but was stopped Senators Ioan and Oolna burst into the room.

?That?s far enough? Oolna stated, ?We?ve heard everything. Thanks to Da?av, we?ve been spying on you for quite some time. Poor Boy, I hate to think It?s my fault that he?s there on the floor, but the I think back to you?and all the hatred you spew?and I realize that it wasn?t me who killed the boy, it was you.?

?He Deserved It!? she spat. ?You all deserve to die, and you will, you?ll see, You will take the fall for my war?and when I win, and the Humans belong to me?you won?t be around to see it.?

?I doubt that!? said Ioan. ?An order just came in from the Fairy King himself. You are to be contained until such at time that a proper trial may be held.?

?I cannot be contained!? She laughed, ?I am this colony, you fool. It is nothing without me, and I will watch it burn when I have my way?

?Stop it, Mabia, you are only making it worse for you? Oolna said.

?Am I, you old witch?? she said her hands raising off the ground, quaking with power. A burst of energy flew from her fingers into the chest of the senator.

?Now, Jadaris, watch your supporters die, one by one!? Mabia shouted as Oolna screamed in pain as the magic seemed to be draining her of life itself.

?Stand back? Caitlin whispered to Jadaris and Jenna.

?That?s right, Cower! Quake, Jadaris Pevnock, your fate is sealed!? Mabia laughed, when suddenly Caitlin lobed the glass orb of golden dust in the air. In slow motion, it seemed, they watched it tumble, and then shatter at the feet of the High Magistrate. The golden dust billowed into a cloud of smoke enveloping the woman.

?Ha!? she laughed as she lost focus on her spell, releasing Oolna who dropped to the floor, barely alive. ?You think a little Pixie Dust is going to keep me down! I am forever!? she shouted as a burst of tingles spread through her body. She taunted Caitlin even more. ?it feels good! Is that what you were trying to do? Pleasure me to death??

?No, Mabia?? Jadaris said with a smile. ?She is giving you what want?in abundance? she said throwing the magistrate?s word in her face as the tingles started prickling with pain.

?What?? gasped Mabia as the pain grew as each passing second went by. She looked down at her feet and saw the gold dust scattered on the ground and a scream let out that could shatter a dog?s eardrums.

?The Forbidden Dust! No!? she cried as her wings, beautiful and elegant burst into blue flames. ?Stop it, Take it Back!? She shrieked.

?You know just as well as I do?? Jadaris said with a snort ?that Golden Dust is the only pixie magic that cannot be undone!?

?This is impossible!? She screamed ?My War! My beautiful war! Ruined.? She lunged at Caitlin, with her bare fists, but she was yet again knocked sideways by a fire poker.

?Thank you, Jenna? Caitlin said with a gasp as they watched Mabia writhe in pain on the floor.

Beth looked up and shouted ?What?s happening to her??

?She is becoming the thing she hated most in this world?? Senator Ioan said as he bent down to check on his fellow senator.

??a Human? Jadaris added as she watched the pointed ears on Mabia melt flat, her glow disappeared. She was no longer a fairy.

?I hope you enjoy your time with the Humans. You deserve it!? Jadaris said patting the newly minted human on the head. Mabia merely sobbed.

?Now, Beth?Let?s get you big again? she said, lifing the tiny girl out of her purse of dust. She then grabbed a small container of dust and blew it in Beth?s face, causing her to sneeze. And sneeze, and sneeze again, and with each sneeze, she grew larger, until she was the same height as Jadaris.

Caitlin came over and hugged her, and looked her in the eyes ?I am so sorry, Beth.?

?Apology accepted?except you ain?t getting jack shit for Christmas this year? Beth said with a smile, before noticing something in the corner of her eye.

Siri was trying to quietly leave the room, but Beth was too quick. She ran up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around with an innocent smile on her face, and for her troubles, Beth threw a punch right at her nose, taking her down in a flash.

?That? Beth said leaning over the pixie ?was for making me drop my beer?

Jadaris walked over with a pouch of dust and dumped it on Siri?s face?

?and that?? Beth continued ? is for kidnapping me and giving me to CrazyTits McGee over there? she said motioning to the still groaning Mabia.

In a flash, the pink haired fairy started to shrink, getting smaller and smaller, her robes slipping off and leaving her trying to cover her naked parts, and plug her bloody nose. Soon she stopped, just a touch shorter than Beth had been. ?Cage her? Jadaris said, handing her one of the cages. ?Gladly? said beth with a smile.

Jadaris walked over to the other cage, the one that held her mother. She opened it and took her mother out, and smiled.

?Thanks for standing up for me Mom?You could have gone along with them, but you didn?t.?

?because you are my daughter, and I trust you. Now, Family bonding time can wait, please make me big again!? Lorna sighed.

A few moments later, Lorna was back to her old height, and hugged her daughter?

?Lorna? said the voice of Senator Ioan. ?I have just transported Senator Oolna to the infirmary?but I have been in contact with the other Senators, and we are in agreement. It seems we are in need of a new High Magistrate, and as runner up in the vote, you are next in line.?

?Mom, that?s wonderful!? Jadaris said, as they hugged again?

Jadaris smiled and looked towards her friends. Caitlin and Jenna smiled, but Beth was standing over the body of her fallen friend.

?He looks so peaceful? Beth whispered. Jadaris came over and looked.

?Is there anything we can do?.?

?There is!? Jadaris said. ?Kiss him.?

?What?? Beth said.

?a kiss from someone who truly cares from them will revive a fairy?revive him long enough for me to heal his wounds. It might not work, but it?s worth a shot? Jadaris smiled fainitly.

Beth sighed and went in, and she kissed him on the lips, feeling a powerful tingle flow between the two. She watched as his eyes opened, and he gasped.

?Beth!?

?Da?av!? she shouted, hugging him, which caused him to wince.

?Beth, best let me heal him before you do that again.? Jadaris stated as she placed her hand on the wound and muttered some words. Blue sparks started to arc at her fingers, and a powerful flash blinded the whole room, but, when they could see again, Da?ave was good as new. He sat up, and sighed deeply, taking in a breath of air.

?Being dead is really exausting? he said with a laugh, finally able to hug Beth back.

?Thanks for bringing me back.? He said.

?Thanks for protecting me? she smiled as she kissed him again, not to save him, but, just because. Da?av didn?t mind.

?Da?av. When ever you are ready, would you take this human? Lorna said pointing at Mabia ?and place her outside the Fairy Ring. She will grow to human size, and wander to the nearest town with no memory of who she is. Suitable punishment, I think.? She added

?I will find my way back? Mabia muttered as Da?av picked her up ?I swear it, Lorna Pevnock, on your husbands grave!? she said.

Lorna ignored the words, and just said ?I?ll be waiting for you.?

-----

?It sure is good to be back to human size!? Beth said putting her clothes on for the first time since the sleepover had begun.

?You gotta admit? Jenna said ?It was kinda cool??

?Oh, yes, I loved being kidnapped by a fairy. That was awesome.? Beth said dryly.

?It certainly was an adventure.? Caitlin said slipping back into her shoes.

?But we made new friends?and hey?we buy her some good window locks, and we can have another party someday.? Caitlin added.

?They had better be the best window locks ever invented? Beth said.

?They will be? replied Jadaris, who looked striking at Human Size.

?So that gold dust, why didn?t you use it on us to change it back?? Jenna asked.

?Because you were not a fairy being. You looked like one, but you couldn?t cast magic, or anything like that. No, the Golden Dust takes away a fairies powers. It?s reserved for the worst of the worst, and using it without permission is a major crime?

?But the fairies forgive me, right?? Caitlin asked. ?

?Yes, Caitlin.? Jadaris laughed.

?Why did you have it?? Beth asked, tying her hair into a pony tail.

?I wanted to give up being a fairy?I thought I was useless as a Pixie, but three humans proved me wrong!?

The girls smiled, and once they were all dressed, they went out for a night on the town.

It was the start of a beautiful friendship, and only the first in many adventures?