The Little Pea: Part Two

     "The Dark Faeries will pay good money for this sacred crop." Sarara scowled at the Hissi. "I don't want to wait until morning. We are doing this now so that we can be done with it. If anyone found out I had anything to do with this they will not be forgiving."

     "But what if they go back and see -"

     "Silence!" Sarara whispered dangerously. "I will not hear of it. Your master needed the plants, and I am tired of the faeries thinking so highly of Celestia. Since when has she been more gifted than I, who descend from the finest lines of faeries? She had the last shift this evening. She will be blamed for this escapade, I will be very wealthy, and you will not be turned into a toadstool."

     The pea gasped a little, struggling to keep up with their pace. They were after all considerably taller, and her little tiny legs could hardly move fast enough. After what seemed to be an hour or so of wandering onwards and onwards, the duo halted, leaving the path to start a kindling of fire as they waiting for the Dark Faeries' arrival. She knew that she must act fast, for once the Dark Faeries had gotten the plant, their magic would be no match for the little pea.

     She cast her mind around for an idea, feeling so helpless. After all, she couldn't just go gallivanting in there weapons ablaze. She had no tools or strength to speak of, and though Sarara was incompetent, her magic was strong nonetheless. Finally, her tiny brain found an idea, perhaps it was a bit of a long shot, but it was all she had. She just hoped it wouldn't get her turned to mush.

     Not letting a second go to waste, the little pea crept closer than she ever thought she would dare. The darkness and greenery hid her perfectly. She was able to get by the base of the tree just behind where Sarara sat, nearly close enough to touch her arm. But the pea dare not breathe in fear of alerting them to her presence. For you see - there at the very edge of where the roots met the tall grass lay the seedlings of the pesky curly vine, a vine with the growth potential to overrun even the most hardy of beds if left unchecked.

     The pea closed her eyes, concentrating on what she was to do - never before had she used so much energy at once. Her little hand she pressed into the soil, feeling with her magic for their roots. She allowed it to consume her, pulling through the entity until she was one with it, coaxing it to lengthen its tentacles. She flexed her muscles within it, feeling the plant bend with her will. A few moment she took to grasp it fully, to get it under her control as she listened to the banter still going on between the traitor faerie and her accomplice.

     "How dare you raise your voice to me, you miserable Earth Faerie! Crop or not, you are just a sniveling one of -"

     "You insolent fool -"

     When she shot her first pulse of magic through the plant, the effect was intense. The tendrils leaped to life, shooting up in snarling gasps, clawing their way around Sarara's wrists. The Faerie screamed, trying to jump out of reach but failing miserably. The plants continued to grow, binding her arms and legs before wrapping about her torso and wings, lastly swallowing her head from sight, muffling her cries for help. The Hissi was equally as startled, though much quicker to react, and took off wildly into the trees, perhaps back to his dark masters.

     The pea plucked a strand of the curly vine from the earth and made it grow until it could reach the levitating ball of the Earth Faerie's sacred crop. It latched on like a sort of balloon string so she could pull it along behind her. As she began to huff and puff her way back toward the path leading to the ruin, she could hear the beginnings of Sarara breaking free. The little pea managed to glimpse her infuriated gaze from behind the limbs of the plant, as their eyes met in one horrifying moment of terror.

     "You won't get far!" the faerie screamed at the top of her lungs. It struck fear into the little pea's heart, jolting her faster from the scene than she thought she could bear. But she knew there was a truth to Sarara's threat. She could not outpace her opponent, with her tiny little legs and struggling arms. And then she would have much great concerns. The rage in the faerie's face... she would do her worst. The pea was afraid of it.

     To try and throw her off the trail, the little pea ran beside the path, trying to cloak herself in the shadows of the trees. They loomed over her, as if at any moment something would drop from their blackened canopies to mush her all over the forest floor. Then Celestia would be out both the crop and a helper. But there was little time to think of that. The pea was quick to realize she had left the path too soon and had lost her way entirely.

     Fortunately she was alerted to a sense of direction by a shriek of her foe. She set off quickly opposite from it, trying to put as much distance between them. But quickly the forest seemed to shrink around her, as if by some trick. The trees got even taller, the mountains closing in - until she was caught in a dead-end against a flattened cliff-side. The pea scarcely had enough time to pull herself with the big ball of twisted pea pods into a tiny natural crevasse in the rock before Sarara came into view. In that manner the pea was forced into waiting, trembling and shaking in trepidation. If they were to find her, certainly she would be done for.

     "I know you're here!" It was Sarara, she had finally caught up, "And you won't escape again. Your only chance is to give it to me now before -"

     "Before what?" A cold chilly voice rang over Sarara's menacing one. This one was darker. It made the pea's veins run cold as ice. "Certainly the only thing you are doing is giving us the crop you promised. Or, am I - dare I say it - mistaken?"

     There was a long moment of silence, followed by a thud of what was presumably Sarara falling to her knees before the terrifying visitor. "My Lady, please, I beg of you, the vines are here! I was ambushed -"

     "No, I do not listen to the likes of you. Now, someone take her out of here. I will deal with you later, Sarara, I do not think kindly of those who betray my generosity. You could have been very wealthy from this. Pity. What a waste." The pea could hear the unmistakeable cries of Sarara as she was pulled off by a flank of Dark Faeries. The mysterious voice remained however. "Thief!" She howled to the night. The pea shrank closer to the walls of her hiding place, tears brimming in her clenched eyelids. "You shall rue the day you took from my pockets! I will insure it."

     Just then a number of things happened. First, the ground began to tremble and shake as if rupturing from the inside out. Then cries of fury chorused from the surrounding trees, horns blowing in the distance. It was the village! They were coming to her defense! Something must have alerted them to the situation at hand so they could mobilize. The pea was never so glad in all the few days she had been aware.

     The pea poked her tiny head from the cave just in time to see the Dark Faeries whirring away like bats in the night. They had not prepared for a possible conflict, of this the pea was sure, for they moved so swiftly she could be certain they would not be heading back. She stepped into plain view, watching Faeries race by in pursuit of the perpetrators. Others had slowed, shaking torches angrily nearby. Through the thick and unwavering crowd the pea could make out the prying eyes of her beloved friend. It was Celestia!

     As their gazes met they raced toward each other, Celestia scooping up the little pea into her arms to cradle it tenderly. "I was so worried! I came back - I couldn't sleep and thought you might like the company - but when I did everything was gone, including you! I was so worried I would never see you again." The pea trilled happily, before thrusting out her little hand to offer up the mass of their sacred crop. "And oh my! You saved the festival! You're so brave! You should have been more careful - but I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say how thankful we all are." Celestia hugged her little friend tight. "Thank you!"

     "Celestia!" The pair of them turned to see an old faerie standing there with a twisted wooden cane in hand. From Celestia's unending descriptions the pea recognized this to be her master - the gardener for whom she apprenticed for. "You have the peas! And, what's this...?"

     "Master Aprigold! I know this admittance is long overdue." Celestia took a deep breath, looking to her friend for strength. "But it wasn't my magic that's been affecting the crops so much, it was hers! She grew from the garden and I came across her the other day; she's been tending to the plants ever since by moonlight. She was there tonight when all of this happened and saved them from the Dark Faeries!"

     The old faerie Aprigold looked both bewildered and absolutely delighted. "My dear Celestia, and my tiny little hero, we'll want to hear all the details as soon as you're warm and comfortable. Come, follow me, I'm sure the Earth Faerie Council will want to join us as well. I have a feeling there will be a special seat this year at the festival."

     The surrounding faeries let out a chorus of cheers and applause. The little pea trilled louder than ever, wiggling her arms in merriment. After all, she truly couldn't be happier - between her beautiful home amongst the peas, and her dear new found friends, she had the world at her feet.

The End