Note: I gained the idea from the unusual collection of things fairies never do in stories. For example, fairies don't dance unless it's a very specific occasion. This story is set a year before the events of Smart-Alecky, and has nothing to do with Zorra~ The Tale of a Wizard. (And yes, this slightly younger version of Gale was a tad moody, a complete trouble maker, and had quite a few run ins with our least favorite NPC, but I only mentioned two of those events).
Part One[]
Fairies are a unique creature native to the Island of Prodigy.
Some say they originate from a place called Earth, but were driven off long ago. No one knows if this is true or not, however. Fairies are unique in appearance, but what makes them so different, is what they can't do.
"1. Fairies never dance, unless they have reason"[]
"Do you ever leave the Academy?" Asked Nova irritably.
Gale simply glanced at her before handing her the book she had asked him to retrieve, "Why are you suddenly interested in what I do all day?"
The wizard shrugged in response, "Just wondering. Plus I never seen you leave."
"Is there something I should know?"
"N- no! nothing at all!"
The fairy arched an eyebrow before shaking his head, "Nova, if you did something-"
"I.." she looked down, "been writing to that friend of yours."
He stared at her blankly, "WHAT?!"
"And I may have invited her to the summer festival," she then muttered, "and that's the first time I ever heard you raise your voice."
Gale ignored that last comment, "Now you've done it."
"What, was inviting her a bad thing?"
"Yes!" He snapped, "It's a bad thing. Plus, I don't dance. Nova, I'm sick of of talking to you. Why don't you just leave me alone?" He sighed before muttering an apology and flying out the room - leaving Nova wondering about his sudden outburst... and a bit hurt.
"2. Dark Fairies are, and always will be outcasts. They are not to be spoken to - by Fairy and Wizard kind alike."[]
Florian watched Gale storm up the stairs but said nothing. He had known the younger fairy for years, but after a recent argument, they stopped talking to each other. He then went down the stairs only to bump into Nova.
"Oh, um, hi Florian."
The Earth Fairy glanced at her, "What did you do this time?"
"Why does everyone think I did something wrong?" she muttered under her breath.
"Because you and your friend are always up to something."
The wizard smiled at that, "True. I was heading to see Gale."
"How come?"
"I messed up," she looked at the ground, "didn't realize he'll get that upset."
Florian sighed, "I know you have good intentions, but I don't think you can talk to him right now."
"Why?" Nova looked at him curiously.
He bit down the truth and simply responded, "He's in his room. Doesn't take to well when someone intrudes, that's why Acromi's always in the rafters."
"So he does live in the Academy."
"Possibly."
He watched her go with a sigh, "but most likely not anymore."
"3. Fairies do not record stories unless they are approved of."[]
Gale was once again scribbling in his journal. He wrote down multiple things in there, from spells to memories. Yet what he had recorded within it wasn't exactly approved of, causing him to toss it under his bed in a hurry as soon as he heard someone outside the door. Ice, one of his keepers, perked and cocked her head at him, wondering what the young Fairy was up to.
"Gale, you do realize I know you keep a journal?"
He sighed in defeat and opened the door, where Florian stood with his arms crossed. Why does he want to talk to me now? Last time we spoke he never wanted to speak to me again.
Florian sighed, "I've been procrastinating on this, but you can't-"
"I know." Gale refused to meet him in the eye, he knew he was going to say this to him eventually, "I'll be gone by tomorrow." He gently shut the door and slumped to the ground, where Ice padded over and snuggled next to him comfortingly. He drily muttered, "Nice to know you hate me now, just because you know what I am." He secretly wished Florian heard that last comment, but of course, the older fairy didn't.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, the Earth Warden felt guilty. But where will he be gone to...?
He and Flora were the only ones who knew Gale was an orphan, and that the Academy was the only home he had. Yet if he took it back, he'll be in trouble with the council...
"4. Never show that you're superior to a Wizard, despite the fact you are. Best to be humble than risking your neck."[]
It was dark out when he left. No one saw him leave, and he wanted to keep it that way. Key and Ice trotted behind him, muttering amongst themselves as usual, while Acromi was off flying somewhere.
Gale kicked the ground, he didn't bother with flying. So this is it, I'm stuck out here agai- again? Did this happen before?
He shook his head, confused. It's been years and he still suffered from insomnia - all he remembered was that his parents were gone... and that he should be too. Luck. So this is what you call luck? Living by some miracle and being forced to live in a cruel world?
Unlike long ago, fairies had strict rules they had to live by - set by the wizard council after the incident involving the son of Luki, a fairy who died long ago in vain, trying to stop the Order. He had succeeded temporarily, but at the cost of his life. There was only one story every fairy knew by heart, but they never spoke of it due of how most wizards disapproved of it, despite the fact it was true. Because of this, and the rules that were set, their numbers dwindled, and the council hoped to keep it that way.
"5. Fairies never cry, it's best to keep to yourself than to assist a Dark Wizard."[]
He had traveled quite a bit, and he already felt tired, but the sun was rising and night was becoming day. Sitting under a tree a distance the crossroads, Ice fell asleep in his lap, and Key, his other Shardic, sat nearby.
"What do you propose we do now?" Hooted Acromi from her perch.
Gale sighed, "I don't know..."
"Well I do," she flew off after that, leaving the young fairy to wonder what the Acromi was up to.
After Key finally fell asleep, he began to think. What would of happened if he wasn't a Dark Fairy? What would of happened if his parents never died? What would of happened if he hadn't lost his memory? There's no use thinking of the past, I can't change anything now...
Yet despite it all, forbidden tears streamed down his face.
"6. Never show your superiority, it's best not to seem like a threat."[]
"So, Florian, are you sure he hasn't done anything of that sort?"
The Earth Fairy met the Trialmaster in the eye, "Yes." The Trialmasters worked for the Wizard Council, and the only way to gain the position is to be determined to protect the island at any cost, to the point they'll kill another wizard... or fairy. Why am I doing this? He's a Dark Fairy for the Ancients' sake, should I really be lying to them?
"Really? Are you absolutely sure he hasn't done it again?"
Florian sighed, "Yes. On top of that, Gale hasn't been here for the past few days. If you think that someone's been casting illegal magic, it wasn't him." He nervously bit his lip. It was a half-truth, but a lie nevertheless.
The wizard's eyes widened in surprise, "He hasn't? That's the first time he hasn't been here."
"Actually he leaves quite often. This is just the longest time he's been away."
"I see. Well, I'll be on my way, but if you catch who's been-"
"I'll be sure to tell you." The fairy watched him leave, nervous that the Trialmaster will realize that he lied and return, but they didn't. Of course they didn't. They think fairies can't lie. Harrumph, of course we can. Whether or not they can lie to us is another matter, however.
Yet he will never admit their superiority out loud, for the Council might decide to make things harsher for fairies.
Part Two[]
However, despite their current way of living, they have rules for themselves, so that they may move forward.
Maybe someday their way of life will be restored, and they will have to fear us wizards no more than we fear them...
"1. Never abandon another Fairy"[]
Nova sat under a tree when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Aly! I'm so glad to see you."
The foreign fairy gave her a bittersweet smile, "It's nice to see you again." She then sighed, clearly not having a good day.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, just that things gotten worse here for fairies. I hoped that things would be better by the time I came here again."
"Oh..." the young wizard instantly felt bad. She's known about the issue from Aly's letters, for the fairy answered a lot of questions most would ignore. Most wizards like her didn't know about... or cared.
"Nova, it's not your fault. Now, what happened?"
"I've been getting in arguments with Gale, and now he's been gone for days. I found out a few days ago how he wound up in the Academy and..."
"Now you feel bad for saying the things you did." Finished the fairy for her, "You're not the only one who's feeling bad."
She blinked in surprise, "I'm not?"
"Florian apparently has something to do with why Gale left. Yet he's still trying to fix his mistake, you can too."
"2. Never give up"[]
Key sat next to his owner, worried. An unknown wizard had attacked them, and as usual, a very illegal spell was used to stop them. Gale was rubbing his arm, which tingled uncomfortable where his birthmark was. He was fine, but disturbed. The so called wizard was a dark wizard, a practitioner of Shadow magic. Yet what bothered him was that the "wizard" was made up of shadows.
"There you are!"
The young fairy looked up, seeing the familiar bird, "Acromi! You're back."
She ruffled her plumage and hopped down a branch, "I flew by the Academy and I was right. Florian didn't really mean anything he said."
"Doesn't change the fact he kicked me out," he muttered under his breath.
"Are you really going to give up that easily?"
"Well it's clear we're not wanted there-" Gale winced and pressed a hand to his forehead, pained.
Acromi's gaze filled with concern, "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing, just a headache."
But as usual, the owl-like creature worried for him, and flew off once again.
"3. Remember..."[]
Florian stilled remembered the first time Gale had a run with the Council. They left him be back then, since they had no real evidence he was an actual Dark Fairy... but now?
Florian had always been a bit protective of Gale. Ever since he found the orphan at Shipwreck Shore, he was like a brother to the younger fairy, always making sure he had someone there for him. Yet, he couldn't protect him from everything.
"He's just a kid!"
"Florian, I understand your upset, but we can't let him out until there's solid evidence that he's not a-"
"Look, he'll die down there. I can't let you do that."
"Florian-"
"Please."
One of the Trialmasters put a hand on his wand, "I have never seen you this defiant and I'm not-"
"STOP. We need him and his other little warden friends alive. Otherwise the island will descend into chaos." Stated the wizard.
Florian sighed, yet again reminded that he was just a sock puppet to the Wizard Council, especially because he was a fairy.
"Look, I'll let him out under one condition, if we find any proof, any at all, of him being a Dark Fairy, he'll be sent back here and you'll be going back to Firefly Forest if you were hiding that proof."
"I understand, but I know you well enough to know I won't be heading to Firefly Forest. The only way to properly retire a warden is for them to die."
The wizard said nothing to the young fairy, and simply lead him down the staircase, where they stopped at a cell, inside which a fairy child lay weakly. Opening the door, the wizard watched Florian pick up the younger fairy, who was just a mere child. The little fairy opened his eyes, which were amber to the point they were impossible not to see in the darkest of nights, and filled with fear of the wizard.
Florian hugged him tightly, "It's okay Gale, it's just me. I promise I won't let this happen again." Comforted, he feel asleep in the older fairy's arms, and was carried back up the stairs.
Florian sighed, pushing away the past. Yet he made a promise and failed to keep it.
"4. Together..."[]
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't change anything Florian. I'm still out here, aren't I?"
Florian placed a hand on the younger fairy's shoulder, "But I can."
"Really? Are you really not going to stab me in the back the next time there's trouble? Because I doubt it." His amber eyes burned with anger... and hurt.
"I'll do whatever seems to be the right thing. Yet I made you a promise, remember?"
"Yes, but-"
"And I don't plan on breaking it anytime soon."
He was about to protest, but pressed a hand to his forehead instead, then muttered, "your not going to give me a choice on this, are you Acromi?"
Acromi looked down on the two fairies from above on a branch, "No I'm not. You may be older now, but you're still a magnet for trouble."
Gale sighed, but he still had one last question, "What are you going to do about the council?"
"Well I.. I may have-"
"YOU LIED TO THEM?" Shouted the fairy and bird in unison, clearly not having the patience to wait and read his mind instead.
"You still haven't grown out of that, have you?"
"I still haven't grown out of annoying the Council."
"That you haven't." Yet the warden was thoughtful, What will happen now?
"...We Stand"[]
A shadowed figured floated in the room, meeting a fairy in the eye. They were in the great hall of the Academy, and he was the only thing standing in the way of the dark entity.
"Who are you?"
The shadowy creature didn't answer, but instead asked the same question, "Who are you?" He had been pondering it every since they ran into each other at the outskirts of Firefly Forest. There was something familiar about the fairy, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"And why should I tell you? I know you don't have good intentions."
The figure chuckled, "And what are you going to do about it... Gale?"
He blinked in surprise, "How do you know my name?"
"Not until you tell me who you are," he hissed, not having the time to deal with him.
"I... don't know."
"Such a shame, seeing what you are I might of invited you to the Order, but I doubt someone who doesn't even know who they are would be of use to me."
"I wouldn't of accepted either way." Stated the fairy, eyes narrowed.
"I thought so," he blasted the fairy with an unknown shadow spell, causing him to slump to the floor. The entity was about to blast him again for good measure, but he simply vanished. "I thought they couldn't do that any-" He had a sudden realization, concerning him. "I'll finish him off later, but for now, no one will be able to stop the rise of the Order."
And that, marked the return of The Puppet Master.
End[]
Yet whether they'll stand up to the wizard kind and fight for their land?
Whether they'll reveal the truth?
Whether they'll remind us of what they've done for us?
Where they even come from?
I do not know, I might never know, at least... in this life time.