Of Teens and Trouble

“My word on this is final,” the fairy king, Stormshadow stated quietly and calmly, but in a tone that brooked no opposition.  Well, no opposition from the rest of his subjects; his only child was another matter.

“But dad…,” Silverrose whined.  “Sunstriker and Windstorm get to be out at night.  Why can’t I be with them?”  The young princess followed her father through the great oak corridors; magic orbs cast golden light onto the brownish tones of the dark oak walls. Silverrose’s fragile, silver wings beat at a frantic pace mirroring her desperate pleading for her father’s leniency.  She knew he was headed down to the infirmary as he visited the patients in there every night.  Stormshadow had been a full time healer before he became king; then royal duties and the burdens of being a monarch forced him to retire from that function.

The good  king stopped before an oak door and chuckled at Silverrose’s persistence.  “My child, your friends have come of age for young men in our society and now they must perform duties.  You know this.  And to let you distract them from their work would be irresponsible of me and you.  I’m sure you will see them tomorrow.  Now please go to sleep before your mother catches you still up or then neither one of us will hear the end of it.”

Turning back towards the infirmary room door, Stormshadow raised his staff, also made of oak, towards it and waited as the door quietly opened.

Ah the joys of magic, he thought to himself with a chuckle.  Without it that would be quite a heavy door to have to push open and closed.

He paused before entering and turned back to look at Silverrose, still floating out in the hall, her arms folded in front of her grumpily and her light pink lips drawn down in an obvious pout.  Stormshadow gave his daughter an “I mean it” look and Silverrose straightened and hurriedly flew off the way they had come.  Shaking his head, the wise, but not particularly old monarch disappeared through the door into the infirmary his pure white robes and silvery mane softly following him.

***
Silverrose flew as fast as she could back to her room, her wings having kicked up a good deal of shimmering silver fairy dust in her wake.  Sighing heavily with disappointment, she looked around her room, illuminated only by the moonlight spilling in through the window.  She flew over to her window and perched on the ledge, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her chin on her knees.  The windows had no glass so it would be only too easy to just flitter out of her room and join Sunstriker and Windstorm.  Closing her eyes, the tiny fairy tried to regain her calm.  It wasn’t easy.  Like most normal teenagers, she resented being told she couldn’t do something she wanted.

I can’t wait until the decisions about my life are finally mine!

Taking a few deep breaths, Silverrose let the cool night breeze swirl around her.  She pushed back a few strands of chestnut curls away from her face and took in the ambient sounds of the forest at night;  the rustling of leaves in the breeze, wolves howling at the moon, the cascading waterfall a short distance away… and Sunstriker and Windstorm laughing from a nearby tree.
Silverrose grinned mischievously.  I think I see a way out of this…  After all, who is going to get any sleep with their racket?

She hopped off the ledge and peered in the mirror, then raced over to her closet, looking for something more alluring.  She plucked a long, dusty rose pink dress from the assortment and put it on; then she smoothed it out in front of the mirror and ran a brush through her hair.  She knew it was kind of mean, but even though she wasn’t ready to date Sunstriker, she loved his attention.  And with the night as beautiful as it was, nothing but looking her loveliest would do.  

Twirling around in front of the mirror again, she grinned.  Perfect, she thought; then she shot through her window with relish.  The excitement of rebelling filled her with giddiness and she giggled uncontrollably the whole flight through the muted nighttime colors of Whisperwind Forest.

***
Sunstriker and his best friend, Windstorm were out on a limb, literally.  They had taken up their posts on a tall tree and ventured out on a couple of the branches so they could best keep watch over things.  While the fairies were a peace loving people, they still recognized the importance of looking out for danger.  Fires, accidental or not, were a very real threat.  Unfortunately, so was man since he began cutting down trees on a mass scale.
“Figures we’d get stuck with the night shift, Striker.  Especially you, with that binocular night vision of yours.  You do realize you’ll never see the light of day again, at least on duty.”
Sunstriker gave a throaty chuckle at his hazel eyed friend.  “Suits me just fine, my friend.  The bright sun is murder on my eyes.  Be glad we were night owls before; this will be so much easier to get used to.”

“Yeah.  But what about our former night life, bro?  You do realize that has been put on hold indefinitely due to duty shifts?”  Windstorm grinned ruefully.

“I’m sure we’ll have the weekends,” Sunstriker grinned and shook his head, his long black ponytail swishing from side to side.  He was about to go on when he noticed Windstorm’s olive green wings stop their normally constant fluttering and look around alertly.

“Did you hear something?” He asked Sunstriker.

Sunstriker grinned and shook his head.  “No, my eyesight is the sense that’s enhanced, remember?”

Windstorm gave him a withering look.  “Yeah, you’re funny.  No, seriously, I could have sworn I heard something rustling around nearby.”

Giggling, Silverrose dropped lightly and gracefully onto the branch behind Sunstriker.  Turning Windstorm and Sunstriker took in the sight before them, both a bit stunned.

“Oh look it’s the Moon Goddess!  Oh wait, my bad.  It’s just Silverrose.”  Windstorm teased.  “At least now we know what the all the rustling nearby was about.”

“No, I think Goddess works…”  Sunstriker blushed, feeling his composure slipping away.  “Wow.  You look uh… Wow.”

Silverrose grinned, having produced the desired effect and pushed back those same wayward strands of windblown curls.  “So… you two been having fun out here?”

“We keep ourselves entertained,” Windstorm nodded distractedly, his attention drawn to something off in the distance.  “Hey Striker, could you use your super vision to see what’s up towards the south.  I can just hear something but I can’t make out what it is.  Sunstriker?!”

“Huh?”

Groaning, Windstorm pointed at Silverrose.  “You are distracting him!  And I’m sure you’re father doesn’t know you’re out here.  You better go home before he finds out or we’ll all be in trouble.  We’ve got work to do.”

“That’s a little harsh, Windstorm,” Sunstriker’s orange wings pulled back a bit in shock.

Silverrose’s own wings drooped in stunned hurt and disappointment.  Windstorm normally didn’t talk to her like that.  “Fine.  I’ll leave you two be.  Good night.”  Silverrose leapt up into the night air, her wings feeling like lead weights under the heavier emotions.  She headed for home at a much slower pace than she’d left it, mainly because she didn’t feel like going home.  Wiping away tears of hurt, she changed her mind and turned for the south where Windstorm said the disturbance was coming from.

I’ll find out what’s going on, then everyone will have to take me seriously!

With renewed vigor, Silverrose bolted through the forest trees.  After a while, she stopped and looked up to see a flock of birds shoot swiftly out of a nearby tree.  Their sounds seemed to indicate trouble of some sort, but Silverrose still hadn’t located what that could be.  It also looked like most of the animals in this area had moved elsewhere.  It was eerily silent when it should not have been and Silverrose was filled with a sense of foreboding.  The urge to return home was getting stronger by the second, but she fought it.

I came this far.  I must see this through!

She jumped in fright and screamed as a loud popping sound went off right next to her.  Her first instinct was to throw up her defensive force field, but then she realized that she was now encased in what appeared to be a floating bubble.  Squelching a surge of panic, instinctive by those who fly to being caged, Silverrose tested the strength of the bubble searching for a way to burst it.  She didn’t have anything sharp, save for her fingernails.  When that failed, she resorted to magic, which also produced no results.

Then there was the sound of thundering footfalls that shook the ground.  The young fairy could feel the impact tremors increase in intensity as they shook not only the earth, but the bubble she was trapped in.  Her breath caught in her throat and the sound of her terrified heartbeats pounded in her ears, drowning out the approaching footfalls.  Her big blue eyes widened in terror as a red dragon emerged from the darkness.  Raising a three fingered hand, the bubble rose under invisible hands until it was eye level with the dragon.

***
“I still think you were too hard…,” Sunstriker was about to chastise his friend again when he was silenced by a sudden “shhh” from Windstorm.

“I thought I heard a scream just now.”

Shaking his head in growing bemusement, Sunstriker covered his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes.  “Oh Windstorm, you’ve been hearing all kinds of things tonight.  Are you sure it’s not just your overactive imagination tonight?”

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s not.  Something is going on.”

Standing, Sunstriker rolled his rich brown eyes.  “Alright, I’m going to head out there just to show you nothing is going on.  If I don’t return within an hour, report back to the Charge of Quarters.”

“Got it,” Windstorm grinned and saluted as Sunstriker rushed off.

***
Summoning up all her courage, Silverrose glared defiantly at the young dragon.  “What is it you want with me, dragon!?”

Darksmoke looked at the tiny fairy princess with surprise and a bit of hurt.  “Please, listen to what I have to say.  I’ve no wish to harm you, but our part of the forest is in danger and my elders have so far been reluctant to take action.  I’ve heard that you fairies have individual powers that could help save us from this menace.”

Silverrose folded her arms, still unimpressed, but willing to continue listening.  “Why didn’t you just ask for our help?”

Darksmoke’s mammoth black wings twitched slightly in embarrassment.  “I’m afraid I have not been taught yet those spells that would allow me to communicate with you from my home territory; and as I said my elders are not taking action.”

“So what is the menace?  We know that man has been swiftly cutting down trees, but they can’t be that close already.  Can they?”

Darksmoke bowed his head sadly.  “I’m afraid the humans develop more efficient technology faster and faster it seems.  It is possible to see their approach from atop Mystere Mountain.  Not long ago, we would have had to fly a ways before we could spot them.  Soon we shall all be driven from the forest if we can’t find a way of culling this threat, peaceably or otherwise.”

“And then the fairies territory is next if they keep coming.  And they will.”  Silverrose sighed.  “Alright, if you let me go, I will speak to my people on your behalf.  Perhaps we can offer aid.  I will contact you shortly.  I would take you with me, but I don’t think you’ll fit where I’m going.”

Darksmoke chuckled and waved his hand.  He was new to spellcasting, being young, but the bubble trick was one thing he had down well.  The bubble disappeared with a new deafening pop.  Sighing with relief, Silverrose nodded appreciatively.

“I will contact you soon.”  Then she flittered off, kicking up a bunch of fairy dust in Darksmoke’s face.

Unable to keep from inhaling the sparkling fairy dust, the young red dragon let out a humongous sneeze, smoke and fire blazing from his nostrils.

“Splendid.  I’m allergic to fairy dust.”  He muttered sarcastically before erupting into another sneezing fit.

He wasn’t sure if that was an accident or if the tiny fairy did that as paypack for capturing her.
***

Sunstriker located Silverrose fairly swiftly thanks to his binocular nightvision. She was rocketing through the forest will all the speed of a comet; the fairy dust trailing her did nothing to discourage that comparison and Sunstriker laughed despite himself.  He waited a few more moments for her to converge on his position than he hopped off the branch he’d been perched on and joined his friend in flight  back for home, listening intently to her report.

***
Emperor Firestorm’s wings drooped in disappointment and embarrassment.  “I am deeply apologetic for my son, Darksmoke’s treatment of your daughter, King Stormshadow.  I thought I had made it clear to him that I had not yet decided on a course of action in response to this…encroachment by the humans.”

Stormshadow gave Firestorm a dismissive wave.  “Teenagers are… unpredictable at the best of times and my daughter is unharmed.  Anyhow since the matter has been brought to our attention, we would like to offer our assistance in neutralizing this threat.”

Firestorm nodded solemnly.  “We welcome that.”

“Very well then.  We should meet in a more neutral location.  I doubt your dragons would fit in one of our meeting rooms.”  Stormshadow chuckled.

“I will have something suitable put in place in the small valley nearby.  Tomorrow midday then?”
Stormshadow nodded gravely and severed contact.


***
“Well, what about a shield to protect our territories from the humans?”  Solarflare proffered.  “There has to be a way that we could generate one on solar energy so we don’t deprive the earth of its natural resources?”

“I second that suggestion,” Firestorm nodded.  “The problem is we have no idea how to do that.”

Stormshadow smoothed out his long silver beard pensively, tuning out the ensuing chatter.  After a moment he raised his head for silence and waited patiently for the noise to die down.  “Perhaps we could charge the shield with a bit of Solarflare’s special power?  Then the shield would sustain itself by drawing on the sun’s energy.”

Windstorm leaned back in his chair and exhaled windily.  “I don’t know.  It seems to me like the solution is really simple.  Have the dragons go down there, snort fire and bellow at the humans and they’ll run never to be seen this way again.”

Both fairies and dragons alike snickered despite themselves.  
Stormshadow was quiet, but looked slightly amused nonetheless.  “I have no doubt that your suggestion could work, my boy, however that is not how we prefer to do things.  Let’s try peaceful methods first.  Solarflare, if you’re willing to subject yourself to a small power tap, I can put up and charge the shield.  That should protect the forests for some time to come.  Hopefully, by the time it wears off, if it even does, man will have moved on and no longer pose a threat to our peoples.  So we are agreed then?”

The fairy king was rewarded with various nods and affirmatives.  “Very well then.  Let’s proceed.”
***
Later that afternoon, with the golden sun hanging high in the sky, dragons and fairies alike gathered in the valley to offer whatever assistance they could with the solar shield project.  Earlier in the day, Stormshadow had tapped a bit of Solarflare’s special power that allowed him to use the energy of the sun.  All that was left was to cast the shield over both dragon and fairy territories and charge it with Solarflare’s power.  Combining magical powers, both Kings, Stormshadow of the fairies and Firestorm of the Dragons aimed staff and claw towards the sky.  Bursts of magic and fire shot from their hands, erecting a huge invisible shield.  Then Stormshadow took aim again and charged the shield with the power to use the sun to sustain itself.  Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Stormshadow turned to Firestorm and grinned.  “If you need our help again, you’ve only to ask.  We are right next door in the forest after all.”

Firestorm nodded sagely.  “Understood.  And it is my wish that you will do the same if you need assistance.”
***
Over the next several months, both fairies and dragons kept watch on the approaching humans in order to see if the shield would indeed hold up.  Both peoples breathed a sigh of relief when the humans bumped up against the invisible forcefield.  Because they couldn’t see it, the humans couldn’t make heads or tails of why they couldn’t continue, but in the end they had to move onward.  Time was money and productivity and they were just stalling out by trying to combat something they didn’t understand.

From atop Mystere Mountain in the darkness of night, Darksmoke chuckled deeply, grateful that his homeland had been saved from destruction.  He hadn’t been alone however and Silverrose perched atop his shoulder observed the retreating humans as well.

Grinning, she waved her hand as if to encompass the whole forest.  “See?  If you and I hadn’t rebelled that night, all this could have been lost.  Thank heavens for teenagers!”

Throwing his head back, Darksmoke laughed.  “Your father doesn’t know you’re out here either?”

Silverrose only grinned mischievously.