New Beginnings

Chapter 1: The Storm

It had been ten years. Ten years after the Holy War and the Commandments. Liones and it's citizens were trying hard to restore the damage done to their once beautiful land. Everything was nearly complete, just in time for the winter festival held every year. Too bad they weren't attending. A dusty dingy looking helmet sat atop a shelf above a hearth. The fire inside was alight and casting a warm glow into the dimly lit room. Inside the helmet was a lone spirit, forgotten and ageless. Helbram sighed, the ghost of a smile long forgotten etched on his face. He had been placed here years ago, forgotten by his best friend. It wasn't all bad though. Sometimes he would be placed in the middle of a centre piece for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. He was content with his way of life though, enjoying watching his best friend grow and mature from the dusty shelf.

A boy, looking to be about twelve or so,(though he was much older than that. More than seven hundred years old due to his fairy lifespan) was cuddled in a thick winter blanket on the bed. He wore an orange jacket that didn't seem to be enough to keep the heat in. The boy shivered, curling up tighter, and turned so he faced away from the late morning sun. The doorknob turned and a woman walked through, looking about twenty. The woman smiled at the helmet, remembering the fairy spirit that resided there and how the fairy spoke of him so highly, which earned her a slightly warm feeling in her heart. The female was adorned with a long pink robe, which made her swollen belly even more prominent, and light pink bunny slippers. Just below the shoulder of the robe was the name "Diane" in bold. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun, a style she had adopted in place of her signature pigtails not long after they had wed. She shuffled over and began to shake the boy's shoulder gently. "Come on Harlequin. It's time to wake up. I made some pancakes." The one she addressed with such love opened his eyes and looked up at Diane, smiling, his eyes crinkling at the corners ever so slightly. "Five more minutes?" Despite his words, the fairy slowly began to unwrap himself from the blanket.

'What a wonderful morning' thought the fairy king, dragging himself, along with a thinner blanket, to the door and down the stairs. He was greeted with the sight of his wife at the table, a plate in his spot with her sitting across from it. He frowned when he looked in front of Diane. Another breakfastless morning I guess. The fairy looked to the woman and floated over, sitting at the plate that had been set out for him. The heart shaped pancakes were drizzled in syrup and had a dollop of butter too, just how he liked them. "And just when did you get up this morning?" Diane gave him a small smile and ran a hand over her pregnant belly. "Well it is difficult to sleep with a baby in your tummy." The giantess suddenly seemed upset as she looked up at Harlequin. "The baby hasn't kicked in a while... what if... what if..." The soon to be mother couldn't bring herself to voice her worst nightmare. What if their child was stillborn? Harlequin frowned, walking over to her and kneeling. The fairy placed a hand on her baby bump and one hand on her cheek, using his thumb to gently wipe away a stray tear on her face. "Diane, honey. Our child will be healthy and beautiful and strong. Please. Don't worry about that. If you worry, I worry, so please." The fairy spoke softly, pressing his forehead against hers as she released a shaky sigh.

The shrunken giantess smiled, gripping the hand on her stomach, and gave him a soft peck on the lips. The fairy had gotten used to kissing her, but when she did it so suddenly it often got him flustered and hot in the face. She giggled and stood, walking over to the counter, where a large stack of pancakes still remained. Even with her strange cravings, Diane hadn't eaten much during her pregnancy. Only peanuts. Even though she didn't like them all that much normally. "One month. One more month till we're parents." Harlequin frowned, a bit upset that she hadn't eaten much this morning. The fairy began to walk forward, but suddenly a large rumble went throughout the city, testing his balance, and proving it weak. He stumbled and fell forward, landing with an oof on the ground. He regained his composure and lifted himself with his arms. Okay, arms, legs, what about...
Wait...

Diane! He whipped his head around to look for his wife, only to see her on the ground. The fairy scrambled over to her and grabbed the giantess's arms, helping her upright. She smiled at him and looked to the windows. Harlequin did the same and was disturbed with what he saw. There was a huge brown root waving wildly in the distance, destroying the wall of Liones and even a few houses. Diane suddenly ripped away from Harlequin's grasp, running out the door and climbing onto the roof despite the dangers. Harlequin followed after her quickly, landing on the roof beside her, and looked around to see ten to fifteen roots waving wildly and causing mass destruction. The fairy breathlessly spoke, nearly whispering. "Diane, go in the house. Please." Diane turned to stare at her husband, scowling and narrowing her eyes. "I'm not some weak human. Giants were designed to defen-" The giantess was cut off by angered yelling. "I SAID GET INSIDE!" The meek fairy had never shouted and it scared her. She held a hand over her heart and frowned, dropping off the roof and walking into the house. She sighed and leaned against the window, watching as a giant root erupted from the ground near the fairy king, lunging for him. A spear appeared next to him and it split the root in half, falling limp.