The Fae's Secrets

A New Path

“Uh- hey Alya! Sorry I took so long, I just- uh- I just set my bag down on my chaise, and then I- uh- I tripped on a paper that fell out from my backpack, and I hit my head, like, really hard on the ground and I- I must’ve blacked out for a few minutes. Sorry.”

“Oh, Marinette. Girl, you are so clumsy, I’m not even surprised. Now, come on, we’d better get there before it gets too late.”

Alya grabbed one of the pixie’s hands, and led her out of the room. But before Marinette reached the stairs, she quickly grabbed her purse on the way out. Even if she still had so many questions, Tikki was the only one who could seemingly answer them. Soon, the three fairies were bidding Marinette’s parents goodbye as they started their journey through the Astral Forest to get to the canyon.

Deciding it safer to travel on foot, Marinette folded her precious wings as close to her back as she could get them while they trudged past endless trees, bushes, and whatever else. Alya led the way with Mari in the middle, and Nino bringing up the rear as they all travelled in a single line. Conversation became scarce as they were all focused on getting through the surrounding brush. Thankfully, no animals decided to jump out at them, or eat them as they made it through with no problems except sore limbs and muddy clothes.

Finally arriving past the dense tree cover, the sun wasted no time in pushing its way past the clouds, and beating down on the tired fairies as they reached the canyon. Once there, Marinette spotted several signs warning any pixies to turn back while they had the chance, and that this gorge was called the ‘Forbidden Pass’ for a reason.

“Wait, Forbidden Pass?! That’s what this canyon is called?! Guys, we really shouldn’t be here…”

“Look girl, you can turn back at any time, but me and Nino are going to stay and explore around a little bit longer.”

Marinette watched her two friends enter the rocky chasm as she looked on with wary eyes. She then debated between her fear of the gorge, and being as courageous as the pixies flying around, jumping from rock to rock until she couldn’t see them anymore. Preparing to turn back, she felt a nudge on her leg. Looking down, she saw her purse banging against her hip. Tikki. The fairy had completely forgotten about the strange creature. Carefully opening it, she watched as the large bug flew out in front of her face.

“You know Marinette, it is alright to be scared.”

“Of course I’m scared! I’ve heard so many stories about this place! It’s dangerous! Yet, Alya and Nino just dive right in! They could get hurt, or- or get stuck somewhere with no way out, or-”

“Marinette. Listen to me. Fear can be a good thing to have sometimes, but you should never let it control your actions. That would only lead to more disaster. A fairy can decide to hide from it, allowing it to roam free, and grow worse.-”

The pixie wilted in shame at the statement. That was exactly what she did. Oh, why couldn’t she be more like Alya, fearless, and headstrong. Ready for anything that comes her way…

“But comparing your own actions to others around you can have the same effect. Don’t allow such thoughts to fester in your mind. That would only make your decisions harder. Marinette, you have the strength to overcome anything that stands in the way of building yourself up. You need only to find it.”

“You know, for a strange bug creature, you’re actually pretty wise. Thank you, Tikki.”

With the newfound confidence building in her, Marinette made sure Tikki was in her purse before flying out in the direction of her friends. But, that’s when things took a turn for the worse. As the pixie flew past many huge boulders, she began to falter when she couldn’t see any sign of Alya or Nino. Where were they? They couldn’t have gotten that far ahead of her…