Lavender Peachgarden's First Anniversary: Where IS Everyone?

TheCuriousSeed

Chapter the Second and adventure's a'ticking!

~The next morning Lavender woke up, got ready for the day and decided to explore. There was just one problem…

~Where is everyone? Lavender thought.

~Zalena, who decided to join Lavender for a ride on the Lavender Express, thought the absence of others strange too. Better look anywhere at this point because who knew where a friend was hiding?

~Fortunately Lavender and Zalena saw a new Laugh headed towards the Pixie Dust Tree and knew what this meant: a Talent group would grow this day! Good thing Lavender was almost as fast on wing as she was on foot!

~We have to go! Lavender thought. "Haaaaaannnnnnng oooooooonnnnnn," she said to Zalena.

~Zalena decided she was safer held in Lavender’s arms, so off Lavender ran. Again, good thing Lavender was a very fast runner because it was about to pay off!

~But the Laugh didn't make it to the Pixie Dust Tree, she sailed a ways past before winding back around and…

~She's going to get soggy! Lavender thought. And Neverfairies that still have wings can't swim!

~Lavender rushed as fast as she could towards the Laugh and…

~"Goooootcchhhaaaaaa!" Lavender drawled, catching the Laugh just in time!

~Lavender and Zalena helped the Laugh away from Havendish Stream and soon flew her to the Pixie Dust Tree, but no one was there either!

~Odd that no one is watching the Pixie Dust today, thought Lavender. Maybe I'd better find Zarina or Terence or even Labyrinth, Quarry or Dusty; after all, they're all Dust Keepers… check that, Zarina's now a Dust Alchemist. Still, I'd better consult one of them first.

~Lavender and Zalena carried the Laugh all over, but no Dust Talents of any persuasion, not even Fairy Gary. Finally, Lavender reached the Fairy Dust Depot and found only one Dust Keeper there: Terence. Lavender held the Laugh in her arms and Terence grabbed his special Fairy Dust cup, measured exactly one cup and…

~"Llleeeeeeeeeeeeeak," drawled Lavender as she saw the Fairy Dust spilling out from thirteen tiny holes.

~Terence decided he had to see Tink about fixing his Fairy Dust cup again, but thankfully, after Terence left, Dusty had just entered the Fairy Dust Depot, used his Fairy Dust cup and measured exactly one cup before pouring it on the Laugh. One sneeze and everyone would know she couldn't work with the Dust Keepers or Alchemists. The Laugh became a very thin fairy with tan skin and long black hair, but she let out a small sneeze.

~"Nnnoooooooot Duuuuuuussssssst," drawled Lavender.

~Zalena was curious if the New Arrival could work with animals, or at least ladybugs. She flew over and tried to greet the New Arrival, but the New Arrival was confused. Lavender figured, why not try the entire Animal Kingdom?

~But not one animal the New Arrival could understand, so Lavender determined the New Arrival not to be an Animal Fairy either. Still, since no one else seemed out and about, Lavender had the New Arrival sit on the ground where the grass was weakest, feel the ground and see if she could make the grass grow faster; Lavender could, but the New Arrival couldn't, ergo she wasn't a Gardener.

~Tansy finally showed up and, seeing Lavender and the New Arrival, dropped the huge acorn she was holding! Lavender caught the acorn easily and handed it to the New Arrival, but that acorn was much too heavy, so the New Arrival Dusted the acorn to make it lighter and…

~"Toooooooo muuuuuuuuuch," drawled Lavender, jumping to get the acorn without flapping her wings. Lavender could also jump extremely high despite her big, strong wings. After landing and jumping again, she returned the acorn to Tansy, who thanked Lavender and flew off at top speed. Lavender decided to fly with the New Arrival somewhere more open and away from water.

~Hickory and Blitzwing were working to make friendly clouds into fun shapes when Lavender waved hello. Hickory quickly answered with a wave hello, then she and Blitzwing zoomed off. Still, Lavender wasn't perturbed, so she decided to have a race with the New Arrival. Lavender and the New Arrival decided to start at a sturdy branch and race to a far-off tree, so off they went, but Lavender was much too fast for the New Arrival to keep up. The New Arrival wasn't a Fast Flyer or a Harvester.

~Prilla was busy flashing in and out of Neverland spreading belief alongside her fellow Belief Talents. When she saw Lavender and the New Arrival, she suddenly remembered that a new Laugh had come and led both Lavender and the New Arrival to the Pixie Dust Tree. The other Belief Talents appeared at the Pixie Dust Tree too, and everyone waited.

~And waited.

~And waited a bit more.

~Finally, Lavender realised that except the Queen herself and the Ministers and Leading Tinker and Dust Keeper, everyone else was far too busy. Only when another Laugh entered Pixie Hollow did anyone stop what they were doing and come to the Pixie Dust Tree.

~First, since the New Arrival needed a name and a talent, she was guided to the Talent Ring. Already the Harvest, Fast Flight, Garden, Animal, Dust and Winter Talents faded. She then tried Light (faded), Water (faded), Tinker (faded) and even Belief (faded). On and on she kept until all the Nature talents faded, leaving the Not-Nature talents. She then tried Tea (faded really fast), Baking (no), Soup (no) and so on until a single leaf shaped like a square remained, then folded itself into a crane. Finally, a new talent: Origami! The New Arrival's name was now Lenora Lotusleaf, Lotus for short.

~The next New Arrival was also a fairy, but unlike Lotus, she already knew her talent: Soup. Her name was Mulberry Parsleyplume, Milly for short, but unlike Onyx, lacked the added gift of waterbending. Still, it was cause for celebration, for tomorrow was another door waiting to open.

I hope you enjoyed this tale, and happy reading!