Fairy Dust

Punk Concerts Are Never What You Expect

Mirth and Zennick stood outside the concert hall. Concert hall really was a generous description as it was an old bar that had more dance room than a normal bar had, and it was in the rougher area of the Roots. Mirth and Zennick kept throwing looks to the cave wall which was lined with mushrooms and crystals of all shapes and sizes.

'Do you think any Shroomer's listen to punk music?' Zennick said in a false happy way, hiding his nervousness.

Mirth scoffed. 'You made it sound like they're not fairies or something! Or like you can tell who they are. They just live in the 'Shrooms. If a Canopy fairy came down here wearing our clothes, do you think you'd know?'

Zennick gave the flippant question serious thought. 'Yes, I think I could. We act different from Trunkers and Branches fairies. Mum had us go to a market for Trunkers last year, and they never swore, but they were so uncomfortable around us, like we smelled or something, and they kept making little comments about how brave we were for not trying to prop our wings and how terrible wings props were anyway. So yeah, I think I could tell.'

Mirth looked at their friend, squinting. 'I would say that's unusually judgemental, but you know what. We can't test it, so I'll leave it.'

Zennick grinned and nodded, then pointed the other way from the grey brown cave wall of the edge of the world. Mirth spun their neck to see the biggest Punk rocker with yellow skin, an orange sticking up mohawk and all black clothing except for the image of a fairy with a lance through its heart.

'Yey, Gemstone,' Mirth threw up a hand to their head and tapped it lightly. 'Got your band pride on I see. What you holding there?'

The giant fairy lumbered forward clearing protecting something curled up in his shoulder.

'Mirth bought me the same badge! I thought it would go with my outfit, but the blood is a little strong, don't you think, Gemstone?' Zennick said in a conversational tone as Gemstone carefully pulled out the thing curled up on his extravagant collar.

Gemstone paused to look at Zennick's outfit. 'I think it works. You might need some more black to go with the blue blood maybe. I heard you can dye spidersilk with some mushrooms and it's safe for sensitive skin. You'd look great with bright pink too. This is my precious Mrs. Squishims.'

He held the small grey oblong in his hands. It squirmed slightly, making the older fairy squee slightly.

Zennick blushed and then held out a hand. With a nod from Gemstone, he carefully patted the pet. 'I've never seen one before. It's a star right?' He said in a soft voice.

Gemstone nodded. 'This is my most precious family member, not including my kids I guess? Cost so much dust I don't even want to tell you, and even then I had to get her on the blackmarket. It doesn't shine down here in the roots, which is a pity, but these are the glow worms that are the stars in the canopy. Isn't she precious? She's so sweet, she loves crushed up bugs and snuggling into my neck. I feel so happy with her.'

Mirth and Zennick could see the joy and pride the Punker had over his Mrs. Squishims. He carefully put it back under his lapel.

'Why'd you bring her here?' Mirth asked, checking their pockets again for the concert tickets nervously. People did sometimes steal here. The tickets weren't expensive, but it was more than some had. Mirth felt a flutter of appreciation that they had a job if nothing else.

'I love going to shows with Mrs. Squishims. She loves the music. She dances along. I'm always nervous going into the mosh pit with her. If she falls, she'll get trampled. But all good so far.' Gemstone said, absently rubbing a finger under his lapel to tickle the worm.