Helia Fantasy Land

The Hollow

"This can't be... I mean, how ca-an it ? The Holl-llow is a FAIRY?? The prophecy is true then...I always believed that it was an old wives' tale." said Petunia,anxious, in a cracked voice.

As Petunia's legs moved lazily and trembled, she backed away against a grassy rock with her blue watery eyes still locked on Halsey's. Her tiny shimmering rounded body dropped down as quick as lightning. She felt the rough, pricky bright yellow surface of the rock brush against her droopy wings.

As she touched the ground, she felt her enormous wings wrap around her as if to protect her from a predator and crawled into a ball with her long pink striped antlers sticking out.

Halsey stood there in surprise. Barely after two short moments, she flew to Petunia who was still laying near that big grassy rock. Her magnificent and slightly transparent wings clapped and flapped noisily as her feet floated two inches above the tip of the grass leaves. After hovering over the long and wet dense grass leaves, her feet finally landed besides Petunia.

"Oh noo, are you alright?" asked Halsey out loud.

"You're a monster! St-Stay awayy from ME!" shrieked Petunia in tears.

"Wh-at? A monster? What do you mean..." said Halsey. She frowned her eyebrows intensely in absolute confusion and surprise.

The frightened butterfly felt a hand touch her wings, trying to soothe her. A sweet voice hushed "You've got nothing to be afraid. On the contrary. Don't be afraid sweetie, get up. You're fine."

"I'm the Hollow, not a ... monster, " added Halsey as she helped Petunia to sit and rest her back on the rock.

"Oh okay..I was scared because here in our little village, here in Dipsy Land, everyone knows of the prophecy which claims that a monster, the Hollow monster will catch you off guard and say the words : I am the Hollow. "

Halsey turned her head slightly, rolled her eyes gently with a her mouth slightly open and added "Oh tush ! People are always making up some type of stories about me. It's alright."

She sat down on the grass besides Petunia. The warmth of the sun on her skin was not comfortable. The reflecting rays of silver light from the dots of diamonds on the grass leaves did not help. She could barely see Petunia through her squinting eyes and chubby eyelids. With a gesture.of Halsey's hands, a tall tree appeared magically. Petunia was as relieved as the powerful fairy to be in the shade.

The chilly, soothing, gentle breeze ran through Halsey's silky light feathery dress. Petunia's curious eyes instantly caught a spot of light peep through Halsey's skin and one of the sleek tortilla brown feathers of her dress. She gasped and reached out her teeny-tiny hand to touch it. But didn't.

She clutched her left arm out of nervousness as she watched the dot of light turn into a thin soft line. Petunia, utterly astonished, followed it with her huge hazel eyes as it snaked its way on Halsey. After a few minutes, a four-pointed star of light was drawn on the fairy's leg. The latter had a subtle but yet mesmerising metallic rose gold radiance. She lifted her head gradually as the star floated slowly upwards. It had a misty texture.

When it came close to her head she giggled. She was very intrigued. She could barely take her eyes off that star and touched it hesitantly with only one finger whilst having her other hand closed just under her pink lips. Her chubby finger bounced back a few inches as soon as she touched the edge of the hovering star.

"Wow!" said Petunia as the star began to dissipate into mist of water. "You have SUPER fairy powers! Other fairies can't d-"

"Yes, indeed I'm not a normal fairy, Petunia." said Halsey in a reassuring tone.

How on Earth does she know my name! Petunia quickly brushed that thought out of her mind.

Halsey kept on talking and told her that she is a Village fairy. Every village has one. These special fairies exist as long as their civilisation lives. They are born when a settlement is created and there is a magical knot between them. In other words, they are the living form of the village.

Upon hearing this last bit of information about Halsey, her newly found friend, Petunia's innocent and childlike crescent shaped smile instantly disappeared into a half grin.

"Hang on," said Petunia abruptly to interrupt Halsey's monologue. "Does that mean that you feel pain when the village suffers in any way?"

"Well, no Petunia. It's quite the opposite." said Halsey.

Petunia was amazed. She gasped childishly at every sentence of Halsey. Her fists were tight, her muscles contracted. The adrenaline rushing tbrough her body made her heart slightly race. She had a tremendous admiration for Halsey and the majestic Hollow village. That little butterfly was so engrossed by Halsey's words that she didn't pay much attention to her tired aching body.

However, Petunia was not sure why Halsey chose to reveal herself as the village fairy to her and not to someone else.

Halsey had been searching for Petunia for thousands of years. She never understood the reason why the Lady of Life, Halsey's predecessor, told her to find Petunia, the butterfly.

Petunia asked softly, "Can I meet the Lady of Life ? Where is she?"

"Of course you can! silly! Let's go. " said Halsey while squeezing Petunia's squishy cheeks. "

Halsey smiled and gestured her hand with pointed fingers. A combination of turquoise, hot pink and emerald small pebbles appeared magically out of thin air and mirrored the motion of her hand. Petunia moved her head in every direction as the pebbles floated towards her in the air to completely surround her until she was fully wrapped by them. She felt every tensed muscle in her body relax. She took a deep breath as if to take in all of that heavenly feeling of peace and relief into her entire existence.  Her upper and lower eyelids began to pull each other like two attracting magnets.
Her eyes were shut.