Chapter 5

The world as I usually see it now suddenly becomes distorted. Everything I stare at either grows in size or has  become warped. Colours on objects move, swirling around. I begin to giggle and chase after the colours. 'Come back. You have to return to where you came from,' I shout, leaping into the air, attempting to grab the orange streak.

I feel happier than usual and wave my arms around while trudging through the nearby vegetable garden. I spend a few minutes in awe, staring at the cherry tomatoes for absolutely no reason. I'm fascinated and intrigued by their shape and colour. 'You’re so cute,' I say as  Ipoke one and watch it wobble. But then, a horrible feeling consumes me. I can't help but feel the cherry tomato is mad at me. I fall to the ground and hug my knees and begin rocking myself. 'I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me. I didn't mean to upset you,' I sob.

My surroundings suddenly feel dark. The colours floating around dissipate, and the tomato grows teeth and begins to snap toward me. I stand up, scream and run into the closest field to hide. Then, lying on my stomach, I part through the stalks of the corn and peek towards the vegetable garden. All seems to be normal again.

I cautiously step out from the corn and approach Nadia's cottage. I look at the flowers Quinn showed me, and they suddenly grow to my height and begin swaying. 'I want to dance too,' I say to them. I take hold of a leaf on each side of the flower stem and begin twirling around with it. I'm feeling energised and happy again.

Continuing to sway and dance, I hear my name numerous times, 'Luna? Nina?' I stop dancing and see Nadia, Maia, Flint, Josie, Ryker, Astrid and my parents staring at me in shock and disbelief.

'What's wrong with my daughter?' my mother asks.

'She appears to be under the influence of something?' my father says with worry.

Nadia steels herself and then looks around for someone, 'Quinn! You need to stop hiding and come out this instance, young fairy!'

There is a rustle in the nearby bushes, and Quinn steps out with guilt on her face. Nadia leans down and takes the pouch with the remaining fairy dust inside from Quinn's pocket.

'What have I told you about using fairy dust on others? I told you to stop collecting it as well. What if Nina got hurt? She could have wandered off one of the cliffs over there,' she growls.

'Fairy Dust! Oh dear,' Maia says and blushes at me.

I take Maia's hands, twirl her around, and giggle, still under the effect of the fairy dust.

'How long until she will no longer be affected by it?' my mother asks Nadia.

'Probably another hour,' she replies.

'We should probably return her to Moon Crest Castle until it wears off. She’s meant to be boarding the ship for Emerald Island shortly, but Emerald Island will have to wait until the effect wears off,' Maia says.

My parents help guide me to the star portal. Maia takes my hand, and we step through together. We appear behind the forge and almost fall over before Maia places my arm over her shoulder to help keep me upright.

'This way, Nina,' Maia frowns.

We receive plenty of stares in the courtyard from bystanders going about their day and from workers in their stations as they make swords and armour.

We enter the castle. Magnus and Alec bolt towards us in a flash and help take hold of me. 'What happened to her? Is she okay?' Alec asks, concerned.

They stand on either side of me, holding an arm each.

'Have I ever told either of you how hot you both are?' I say, swaying with a big smile on my face.

Damon, May, Sir Hugo and the others step into the foyer to see what is happening.

Maia laughs nervously, 'So, we made a star portal and went to Wolfwell. One of the little fairy children thought it would be funny to put Maia under the effect of fairy dust,' she explains.

Sir Hugo bursts into laughter, and Damon tries to hold his laugh. Maia glares at them to stop while everyone else looks at her with confusion. Sir Hugo clears his throat and struggles to compose his laugh. He holds his hands over his mouth. I walk over to the window, which has a plant box with flowers.

'Hello,' I say, waving to the flowers.

Everyone raises an eyebrow and stares silently at me, 'How are you today? I’m feeling great!' I say, flinging my hands up in the air with great enthusiasm. 'I'll be sailing on a ship today. What will you be doing besides looking pretty and smelling nice?' I ask them.

Sir Hugo bursts back into laughter again and receives glares from everyone. Magnus approaches me and places a hand on my shoulder.

'Nina, why are you talking to the flowers?' he asks.

'The little fairy, Quinn, said that flowers like it when you talk to them and like to listen,' I explain.

This time Damon loses it and can't hold his laughter any longer.

'So, who’s going to tell her?' Sir Hugo asks, looking between Maia and Damon.

'Tell her what?' Alec asks, annoyed at the situation.

Sir Hugo approaches me with a grin, 'Suppose you all being so new to Mysteria. There will be a lot you don't know yet. So, I'm about to inform you of things you should all know for future reference. Never trust a fairy, no matter how old or young they are. No matter how sweet and kind they seem. They are mischievous creatures that like to get up to no good. They like to play tricks and tell tattle tails, such as encouraging you to talk to flowers, so you look like a fool to everyone when you do. It's hogwash. I shall tell you how fairy dust is made, but I shall instead whisper it in your ear to avoid any more embarrassment on your behalf.'

He leans towards me, and my face pales as the words are whispered in my ear. With a horrified look on my face, I turn to Magnus, who, with super hearing, being a werewolf, has also heard the whisper. He looks just as mortified as I do.

'I'm sure you will tell the rest of your crew in diligent due time when the embarrassment has worn off how it's made,' Sir Hugo smirks and walks away.

Maia cannot make eye contact with me, and her cheeks flush even brighter.

'How about I carry you upstairs to have a rest, Nina? At least until the um… fairy dust wears off?' Magnus insists.

I nod, keep my eyes downcast and let Magnus carry me upstairs to bed.

I'm relieved when Alec shuts the door behind us, 'So, either of you going to tell me what fairy du-'

'No!' Magnus and I both shout,

'Maybe another time,' I say more softly, 'Like in a long time from now,' I blush.

Alec stares at us for a moment, then nods his head, 'When you’re comfortable to discuss it, Nina, my love, I will be here to listen,' he says.

I relax a little knowing we can move on to a different topic. Most of the effects have begun to disappear. I snuggle up to myself under the bed's covers and fall asleep while Alec and Magnus sit in the armchairs to watch over me.