The Snowflower Pixies (whole)

Nov 16, 2008, 03:59 PM

THE SNOWFLOWER PIXIES

CHAPTER ONE

High atop the peak of Winterflower Mountain, the soft and fluffy snow beneath your feet sparkles like pixie dust in the sunlight. If you stand like a ballerina on tippytoes, stretch your arms as high as you can and wiggle your fingers for exactly two minutes, you will become a snowflake. At least that's what's written in Pixie folklore. Of course Pixies could only wonder about snowflakes because they lived at the bottom of the mountain, in the meadow of wildflowers, where it's always Spring.

"Well, I heard that what makes each snowflake different is the way you wiggle your fingers," Leli said. "No two sets of fingers, or snowflakes, are exactly the same!"

Little Kiki perked right up and began to wiggle her fingers. Spunky rolled her eyes and looked at Leli. "You can't possibly believe that," she said.

"Why not?" asked Leli.

"Because there is no proof. You've never even seen a snowflake, plus Pixies can't fly that high!"

Maybe Spunky was right, Leli thought. Maybe Pixie folklore was nothing more than silly fairy tales. And everyone knows that fairies are always telling tall tales. All five inches of them.

"Well I think we should plan a trip to the top of the mountain and see for ourselves," Jane said. She crossed her arms and looked at the others as if to say I dare you to try to stop me.

"Lunch is ready!" came the call from the kitchen where Mariah was making nectar shakes and honey sandwiches. Their favorite dessert, candy, was always hand made and most delicious.

The Pixie dwellings hung from a smooth curved branch of a plump cherry tree. Tucked up underneath the pink blossoms were two lovely homes that they all shared. The MultiPixies lived together as one group, yet they were all as different as, well, snowflakes.

"Last one in cleans up! But if that's me I'm not doing it!" And with that, Rebel flew off with wings as fast as lightning. Leli took Kiki's hand, picked up her fluffy teddy bear named Rusty, and headed off to lunch.

The Snowflower Pixies (whole)

CHAPTER TWO

Rachel and Leah couldn't help but laugh, even though laughter and fun did not come easy to them. From their hiding place behind the wild raspberry bush they heard everything the little pixies said. Even if Jane, Spunky and Rebel were gutsy enough to try, a trip to the mountain top would be disastrous. They wouldn't make it as far as Dandelion Thicket.

"I do feel for them," Leah sighed. "The world can be a sad and scary place sometimes. If seeing snowflakes would cheer them up, I'd go get some myself. But Winterflower Mountain is just too far to go."

Rachel didn't blink. She was too mad at the world and everything in it to be thinking about snowflakes and mountains. There was no way, no way, they could cheer up the little ones. People hadn't always been so nice to the Multi-Pixies, and it made Rachel mad.

It was only when "Mariah Poppins" showed up that things started to settle down a smidgen. But she didn't go through what we did, thought Rachel, and that's just not fair. And what's with all that love she tries to spread around. What are we supposed to do with that? We don't even know what that's supposed to feel like!

"I have an idea!" Leah blurted the words out, then caught herself. Her eyes wide with excitement, she leaned over and whispered in Rachel's ear. One never knew when nosy fairies or sprites might be listening.

"Right," Rachel yawned, bored by Leah's sudden enthusiasm. "Like that'll happen."

"Well, we could at least try! C'mon!" Leah said, and flew towards the east side of the meadow. Rachel, who was NOT happy about going, followed reluctantly. She wanted to see what Leah was up to.

"We'll have to stop by the kitchen first," Leah said as she hovered above the row of tulips. "I need to ask Mariah for a big favor."

Rachel's curiosity was raised even higher. She had no choice but to follow along.

The Snowflower Pixies (whole)

CHAPTER THREE

"Did you see the looks on their faces when Mariah asked them to take their dessert outside?" Leah asked.

"I don't think they've ever been asked to hurry up and finish their lunch! You would've thought it was their last meal the way they scoffed it down!" laughed Rachel.

"Poor little pixies. They ate so fast they ended up with honey all over their faces," Leah said with a smile as she swooped down to pick up a flower petal off the ground and place it in her basket. "This thing is getting heavy."

"Tell me about it," Rachel said. "My wings are about ready to collapse." But it wasn't just because of the weight of the basket, it was also from fighting a sudden breeze which made it hard to hover in one spot.

"Well, I think one more basket should do it," Leah said. "Then we can make our way back to the cherry trees and help Mariah set up her creations." The little ones would gasp with delight when they were finished.

A third basket would be tricky to carry, but they were tough enough to do it, Rachel thought. They'd each have to tuck a basket under one arm, then carry the third one together as they flew home. As long as their wings were in sync, they could pull it off.

"Over here!" yelled Rachel. "Bluebells!" She swooped down to pluck a petal from the flower, amazed at the rich color. Leah, who had stopped to pick some marigold petals, stiffened abruptly. She felt it coming before she saw it in the distance barreling towards them. A spring snowstorm was brewing. Snow, no matter how fluffy, was not kind to pixie wings and a change in the wind's direction meant they'd have to hurry and take flight.

"There's a storm coming!" Leah yelled. "Grab your basket! It's time to fly!"

Rachel knew if they could position their wings just right, the wind could actually help carry them back home to the cherry tree. But along with the howling wind came blowing snow, and Rachel and Leah's wings were soon too heavy to fly. They took shelter under a clump of purple daisies nestled under an old bayberry tree, right smack dab in the middle of the Winterflower Mountain valley.

"What should we do now Little Miss Bright Ideas?" Rachel was mad that the snow ruined there trip. They might not make it back before dark. The petals would begin to wilt. The plan would never work.

"We'll just have to sit and wait it out," Leah said quietly.

And that's just what they did.

CHAPTER FOUR

"So, are you gonna tell us where they went?" Jane asked Mariah.

"Why is everything such a big secret" Leli piped in.

"And when will we get to know the big surprise?" Spunky asked with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"And what's with all this candy and sweet stuff you're making?" Rebel demanded as she snuck a finger into a bowl of icing. She savored every lick.

"Okay, everybody outside," Mariah ordered. "Take Kiki and Spooky with you so I can get some work done around here."

Six grumbling, mumbling, curious pixies flew out the door.

"Let's go see the baby ladybugs!" Leli suggested. "They must be getting big enough to hold by now!"

"Great idea! Jane said. "Last one there's a rotten mushroom!"

And with that, the pixies flew in formation, to visit with the baby bugs.

* * * * * *

Mariah was worried. Leah and Rachel were no where to be found. From a distance the spring snowstorm looked like the mist that dances across Blueberry Bog. She knew she had to start setting up the surprise whether she had petals or not. She gathered up a giant piece of candy and flew away from the nosy neighborhood and out of site. She set down on a tree stump and decided it would be the place. She positioned her candy perfectly, then flew back for another piece. At this rate she'd be working all night in the dark.

Mariah was proud of all of the pixies for sticking together. They didn't always see eye to eye, but they were doing the best they could and that was enough. She smiled at the thought of the little ones seeing their surprise. It would be joyous.

In the middle of that pleasant thought, Mariah froze. Did someone just call my name? She flew out of the house and looked around. It must be my imagination. The only thing she saw were two iridescent hummingbirds gliding above the treetops and that was nothing unusual.

Back in the house she picked up a "boulder" of candy, gave her wings a good flap, and headed back down to the stump. MARIAH! It was a clear voice and at first she thought the hummingbirds were speaking to her, or perhaps because their wings were flapping so fast it sounded like that. MARIAH! Oh goodness, another voice. She hovered in place and tried to figure it out.

The hummingbirds darted back and forth like hummingbirds always do, then they began to slow down. As they came closer to the cherry tree, Mariah saw the owners of the voices.

"Rachel! Leah!" The birds came to rest on the branch where their pixie houses hung. "I am soooo happy to see you!"

"And we're happy to be here," Leah replied as she climbed off the hummingbird's back.

"Ain't that the truth," snapped Rachel as she followed suit. "Have we got a story to tell you," she said as she grabbed a basket and handed it to Mariah.

"It looks like you have quite a mix," Mariah said. "It's going to be beautiful.

"How will we ever get all this candy down to the ground? Leah asked no one in particular.

Rachel looked at her new friend. "Can you help?"

The multi-colored hummingbirds slowed their wings down, well, as much as hummingbirds can, and the pixies loaded up their backs with flowers and candy. It was time. The surprise would be ready soon.

The Snowflower Pixies (whole)

CHAPTER FIVE

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.

nothemama8 · Nov 17, 2008, 11:52 PM

we want to move to this wonderful mountain
Angie"s littles

multipixie9 · 02:08 AM

dear Orange Blossom,

some things are impossible for me to put into words (though most of my relatives disagree and only WISH that were that were true)

thank you. i wish there were words that went deeper and said more, that would go as deep as words go so we could bless you like you blessed us.

the welcome mat was never out for us while growing up. even though we have never met, orange blossom, you welcomed me into your heart. we will never forget this story and you. hugs

leslie and pixies

ps she dint evn let us say thank u, ud think she wud want us to lern gud manrs hunh? we think this is best story in hol world! it gots evrything, fun, pritty pichers, cool characters (hehe) an neat stuff ! big hugs from ALL us pixies!!! we luv u!!! =)