The time for mourning the loss of the west side was forced to come to a swift end.

All the fairies of the land had a mission now. Through the directions and guidance of their mother, they were charged with regrowing and rebuilding that area of the Enchanted Forest. They were set to make a brand new home for creatures and to insert good magic amongst that land once again.

So many fairies darted and whizzed through the air, busy with their individual duties.

The spring fairies encouraged the new saplings to grow. They also dotted many daisies, bluebells and countless other wildflowers across the forest floor - making a carpet of vibrant, fresh colour.

The aqua fairies helped guide the new waters to follow the most idyllic path. It formed a river that would support life throughout the new west side.

They decided to be creative, those clever aqua fairies, they made a waterfall with the help of the ochre fairies. The ochre fairies moulded the terrain to aid them. They also created natural bridges over the river and carved out beautiful little houses within the larger trees that rapidly grew with the help of their mother's magic.

The sun fairies lit up all the surfaces that needed to be given their attention and helped guide rays through the gaps between the leaves of the many varieties of trees.

Alina watched from a safe distance. She sat on top of her willow tree home. Her emerald eyes sparkled with awe, as she watched her brothers and sisters' magic dance. She longed to be there with them, but she had no place amongst the other fairies. She was made to stay away, under the watchful eye of her Mama.

She hugged her delicate legs to her chest and lay her face upon her knees. She sighed a deep sigh and a small black tear sketched a dark line down her cheek.

"Alina? Alina!" Theia called.

The young fairy wiped her face in a rush and hopped down from her seat. Her mighty, black feathered wings caught the soft breeze as she neared the ground. She landed gracefully on her bare toes and turned slowly to face her front door - where Theia stood.

"There you are!" Theia said with a bright smile. The black smear on her child's cheek grabbed her attention immediately, causing her heart to miss a beat.

"Oh, my light," she said gently, whilst stroking Alina's face. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Alina shook her head. "Nothing, I'm fine."

Theia looked deeply into the young fairy's sad, emerald eyes, searching for answers. She knew that, indeed, something was troubling her. Her gaze then went up to the top of the willow tree, where she knew Alina was sitting all this time.

"Oh, Alina..." Theia drew the timid fairy into a warm embrace. "Alina, my light, you mustn't do this to yourself."

"D-do what?" Alina sobbed into her Mama's shoulder.

"Watching the others always upsets you."

"What else can I do, Mama?" Alina sniffed. "I can't learn magic and fly amongst the trees and flowers like them."

"Oh, my light..."

"It's not fair!" Alina interrupted and escaped her guardian's tight hug.

"You are right," Theia said plainly, taking Alina by surprise. She never usually agreed, normally she made excuses for her older sister. But this time Theia spoke with a determined look in her eyes. "It is not fair! You deserve to fly, to explore, to learn!" Theia began to pace as she started to think about how to move forward with her current thoughts.

"What are you thinking, Mama?" Alina asked and took an uneasy step towards the yellow haired fairy.

"I'm taking you out flying, tonight, I'll show you the whole forest!" Theia declared confidently.

"Really?" Hope lit up Alina's emerald eyes.

"Yes. Really. I am tired of keeping you prisoner! You should be allowed to explore and learn like your brothers and sisters!" Theia spoke with her hands resting proudly on her hips. "We'll leave at twilight, when the others retire. I'll take you through the canopy and I'll show you the magic that dwells within the forest's taller trees," Theia continued and with a cheeky wink of her eye she added, "What Heartha doesn't know won't harm her. Right?"

"Right!" Alina jumped up and down with delight.

"Okay, for now - eat, rest, get ready for a very busy night!" Theia instructed the young fairy, with a beaming smile on her face.

Alina reflected that beam and walked past her Mama through the small doorway leading into the willow tree. Theia followed close behind and closed the tiny wooden door behind her.

◇

"Ready to fly?" Theia turned to Alina, who stood quietly on the willow tree's doorstep. She stared into the night sky, drinking in the silvery moon and the glittering stars. Her gaze then moved to the great shadows that took over the trees around them.

"It's so dark, how will I see anything?" Alina asked, her eyes narrowing with the effort she put into trying to make out the leaves that swayed in the slight breeze.

"That, my light, is your first lesson in magic," Theia announced without a beat of hesitation. "To see clearly in the dark, you must imagine a light in your mind. Picture a glowing orb, like those in our home." Alina blinked at her Mama blankly, and her brow knitted together in confusion. "Go on, picture it, close your eyes - if you think that'll help you concentrate."

Alina slowly closed her eyes, then focused her thoughts on her favourite light orb - the one that floated by her bed.

"Do you see it?"

Alina nodded, her eyes still closed.

"Now, make it grow in your mind, watch it slowly get bigger and bigger. When you feel it is too big, open your eyes."

Alina did just that. She watched the small, pale yellow ball grow in her thoughts, until all she could see was bright white. She then opened her eyes and looked into the forest, which she knew to be overtaken by the shadows of night. However, now they stood before her as if it was lit up by the sun itself. She could see every nook and cranny, every closed flower, every green leaf.

"Wow!" Alina whispered in awe.

Theia looked into Alina's delighted face. The bright green glow that shone from her eyes filled Theia's heart with pride.

"Well done! Now, let's go!"

Theia spread her shining, green wings and fluttered into the air. Alina followed close behind, sending a rush of air underneath the grand movements of her mighty raven wings.

The breeze that they cut through pulled their hair away from their faces and caressed down their arms that they held strongly by their sides. They soared together dodging many trees. Theia showed Alina every area of the forest, starting with the west side.

◇

Once they flew through each precious quarter, Theia took Alina to the tallest tree, standing in the very centre of the Enchanted Forest.

"This, Alina, is the Great Oak," she informed her, stroking the tips of her dainty fingers against its rough bark.

Alina looked down at its roots and let her gaze follow the length of its trunk that got lost in its broad leaves. The starry sky could not be seen within the density of them all clustered together amongst its hanging acorns.

"It's huge!"

"Yes, grown with your mother's magic," Theia began to teach her keen student. "Magic that all fairies can wield with enough training and practice."

"You mean, I could learn to grow trees?" Alina asked, excitedly. She twirled around in the air, causing a gush of wind to slap her Mama in the face.

"It takes a century to harness such power, that's why Heartha is in charge of growing the larger plants." The sudden sad look that took over Alina's face made Theia rush into explaining further. "But, you can learn to grow yourself!"

"Grow myself?"

"Yes, it's a useful trick to learn! A lot of fairies end up interacting with humans and it's important to match their size when we do."

"Humans?"

"Or animals!" Theia quickly added, mentally kicking herself - mentioning humans at this time was probably not the best idea.

"Can you teach me?" Alina asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Yes, I can! It's an easy enough spell! You don't even need a wand!"

"Now? Will you teach me now?"

"Alright, stand over there," Theia instructed, pointing at one of the Great Oak's strong branches. She then took up her place on another branch close by.

Alina stood gracefully on the rough wood. Her tiny bare feet fit perfectly between its jagged ridges. There was plenty of room to spare upon that rounded wooden platform.

"Hold your hands like this!" Theia threw her hands out straight at either side and fanned out her fingers. She watched Alina mirror her perfectly. "Lovely! Now, like how you did with the light orb before, picture the Great Oak in your mind's eye."

After being able to summon light into her irises, Alina found picturing the large tree in her thoughts easy.

"Imagine that tree getting smaller. Slowly mind! You don't want to end up growing too quickly!"

Alina did just that, she watched the branch she stood upon shrink under her feet, until she felt the ridges uncomfortably jag into the soles of her feet.

A shocked gasp left her chest and within that second of lost concentration she sprung back to her original size. She looked up at her Mama, embarrassment plagued her glowing, emerald eyes.

"A good first attempt, my light!" Theia praised her eager student. "With practice you'll be able to stay a bigger size for as long as you wish!"

"Was I really good?" Alina asked, after flying to her Mama's side.

"Incredibly! So good, in fact, that I think I'll have to plead your case more to Heartha. You are a quick learner, full of great potential!" Theia said, her voice increased in volume as passion took over. "You deserve a place at magic school, with your brothers and sisters!"

Alina didn't say anything. She didn't dare to allow excitement to reach her heart. She knew that getting her hopes up, when Mother was concerned, was never the best idea.

"I'll make her see!"

Alina nodded timidly and let out a deep sigh.

"Shall we fly again?" Theia suggested, wanting to banish the looming awkward silence.

Excitement leapt back into Alina's eyes and she answered with an enthusiastic, "Yes!"

She then dove from the branch and caught the air under her outstretched, black feathered wings.

She sped through the gaps in the trees, with Theia close behind.

"T-wit!"

A distinct sound reached Alina's ear and made her stop and hover in mid-air.

"What is it, Alina?" Theia questioned Alina's strange behaviour.

"I heard..."

"T-woo!"

"Owls!"

Suddenly a couple of owls crossed their path and flew elegantly amongst the trees. Alina watched them with an awe filled gaze. Her lips stretched into a wide smile. She rushed to catch up with them.

"Alina, wait! Alina, stop!" Theia called out and quickly sped after her. With the help of sparkling magic she appeared in front of her. Alina instinctively slowed down when she saw the seriousness within her Mama's eyes. She was floating with her green wings treading air gracefully and her arms were crossed in front of her well-endowed chest.

Alina watched the owls fly out of sight.

"Did you not hear me shout "stop"?" Theia scolded the young fairy.

"I-I did b-but..." Alina answered through a quivering bottom lip. Her gaze fell to her naked feet.

"Alina, my light, I was just telling you that I am planning to try and convince Heartha to let you into magic school."

"I know, but why..."

"She'll never let you if she finds out you're flying with owls!"

"Why not? They live in the Enchanted Forest too..."

"Yes, but, she doesn't approve of them. It's why she made them nocturnal. She doesn't want to be bothered by them," Theia explained.

Alina sadly floated down to the spongy, forest floor. She sat between two large roots that protruded from the ground. She hugged her arms around her bent knees and curled into the smallest ball she could.

Theia drifted down and knelt before her sad child.

"I'm sorry, Alina."

"She hates them, like she hates me..." Alina sobbed.

"Oh, come now, Alina. She doesn't hate you. She's your mother," Theia tried desperately to reassure the young fairy, but of course Alina could hear the doubt in her Mama's voice.

"Mama..." The way Alina addressed Theia sent a shiver down her spine. "I know you don't really think that."

"Alina..."

"That's not my name is it?"

The glow in Alina's irises grew brighter, green flames reached out threateningly from her eye sockets.

"Alina..."

"She called me Carabosse. I am Carabosse!"

Suddenly those green flames tore forward. Theia just managed to leap out of the way as those flames ripped through the trunk of a new chestnut tree standing close by.

Alina blinked the fire away and fear gripped at her heart at what she had done.

"M-Mama?" she stammered in panic.

Theia rushed to her and threw her arms around her.

"It's okay, my poor Alina, it's okay! It was an accident. Just an accident!"

Theia then turned to the baby chestnut tree that carried on burning with flames that now glowed orange. She walked towards it and drew out her wand. She tapped its charred bark three times and whispered some strange sounding words. The fire was extinguished and vines sprung quickly from the ground. They curled around the tree's damaged form, set into place and grew the correct shaped leaves so that the chestnut tree looked right again.

Theia turned to Alina, who stared at the fixed tree with eyes pulled wide and mouth agape.

"There, it's as though nothing had happened," Theia said with a smile, returning her wand back up her orange sleeve.

"I-I'm sorry Mama, I-I didn't... I..." The right words couldn't come to Alina, as a feeling of deep regret squeezed at her heart.

"Oh, my dear, sweet, Alina. You don't need to explain yourself to me. I know you didn't mean it."

"B-but..."

"No "buts"! Come here." Theia opened her arms for a hug, and Alina didn't hesitate to run into them. Her Mama's warm embrace always made her feel better.

"You are my light, no ifs, no buts, you'll always be my Alina," Theia said, stroking the young fairy's long, amber hair.

Alina looked up at her Mama, a small smile curling her mouth.

"It's late, let's go home," Theia said, before taking Alina by the hand and leading her through the forest back to the willow tree.