It was Kiki's laugh that made them all feel better. She had come down with a case of the "quiets" lately, so to hear her giggle was a most welcome sound. Flutter, the smallest of the ladybugs, was trying to fly. She'd walk a few steps, open her wings, then just stand there, as if the wind would carry her on its own.

Mama Ladybug was delighted to have company, especially when the pixies agreed to stay for tea. Jane, suspicious of Mama Ladybug's kindness, slid her eyes to the left and caught Rebel's attention. Rebel gave her the "all is safe" signal that all pixies knew. One and a half flaps of the right wing, and a quick flap-flap of the left. Jane was satisfied that no harm would come to them.

"Can we help clean up before we go, Mrs. Bug?"

Mrs. Bug shook her head and smiled. "Thank you for the offer Leli, but it's not trouble at all."

"Well then, I suppose it's time we head on home," Leli said. "Maybe we'll finally find out what the big secret is."

The pixies perked right up when they heard that. They had been speculating all day. Jane thought it was a picnic; Spunky said it was a party, and Spooky was convinced they were going to finally get some long overdue, treasured pixie dust.

They flew faster than they normally would, although Kiki was having trouble keeping up so Leli slowed everyone down. "It's not fair if you get there first. We should all be together."

A few low grumbles and a couple of sighs were quite audible but Leli stood firm. The sound of fluttering wings changed from frenzied to calm as they approached the cherry tree.

Rebel was the first to fly inside but to her surprise, no one was there. Jane, who was right behind her said, "Look! There's a note on the table!"

"Read it!" yelled Spunky.

"Let me read it!" said Kiki. And that's exactly what they did even though Kiki couldn't read.

"I'll help you," said Leli. Kiki unfolded the paper, Leli read it then whispered the words in Kiki's ears so she could repeat it.

Dear Multi-Pixies,

Fly three cherry trees down and turn left. Fly towards the maple grove but stop at the stump that rests under the biggest tree and hover until we come for you.

Love, trust and pixie dust,

Leah, Rachel and Mariah

The pixies couldn't get there fast enough and flew off in the blink of an eye.

"Turn left now!" Jane yelled from the back.

"There it is! There's the maple grove!" said Spooky.

"And there's the tree!" Leli cried.

The pixies in the front waited for the others so they could all fly down to the stump together. Their excitement was electric and you could almost hear their hearts beating. Before they began the descent they held hands as one and slowly made their way to the stump.

"Bet you're wondering what's going on," a voice behind them said. They turned to see Leah and Rachel. All the pixies nodded their heads.

"Close your eyes," Leah said. "Give me your hand Leli, and we'll make a pixie chain."

Leli put out her hand and Leah held it. "Okay everyone, here we go!"
And down the pixies went slow and steady until their toes touched the top of the tree stump.

"Don't open your eyes just yet!" Rachel instructed as the pixies got steady on their feet. They could hear some whispering and an occasional rustle of leaves, but nothing else. The pixies had never been so quiet for so long.

"Okay. Open them!" said Leah. And there before them dressed entirely in white was Mariah. She had a circle of white flowers wrapped around her waist, and one white lily tucked behind her ear.
"Welcome," she said to the wide-eyed pixies, "to Snowflower Mountain." Mariah smiled. "Follow me."

The pixies, trying their hardest not to rush and push her out of the way, took their time. They walked to the edge of the stump.
"Now look down," Leah, Rachel and Mariah all said in unison.
And there at the base of the stump, was a pixie version of a mountain range made out of candy and flowers. Giant gumdrops were covered in freshly picked flowers. The mountain peaks had been dipped in white icing and looked just like snow.

"Our own mountains?" Leli couldn't believe it. They were beautiful.
"Can we play on them?" Jane wanted to know.

"Yes, of course," Leah said.

"Can we eat them?" Spunky asked.

Mariah laughed. "Why yes! You most certainly can."

"Wait!" Rachel yelled. "There's something else!" She flew off for only a minute or two. When she returned she had six shiny, polished leaves. "These will help you slide down the Snowflower Mountain much faster."

One by one, with looks of wonderment and delight, the six pixies took their leaf sleds and headed to their own mountain. Their laughter could be heard all over the cherry tree grove and some say, if you listen real hard on a windy day, you can hear them laughing still.

The End.