Prologue: Shadows of the Past

Ancrya, the 21st year of the reign of Frond IV, and his queen, Corus

"I do not want it."

The smaller elf bent down graciously, looking petrified. "Your majesty, it is a gift—think of the wonders you can do for your people—"

"And the evil it can bring in the wrong hands. Destroy it."

"It cannot be destroyed," an ancient voice spoke from behind the king.

"What is it, Ohm?" Frond IV looked at prophet. The frail pixie was wrinkled with age, but his predictions had always come true. A better phlegm pot prophet was never found.

Ohm blinked, but did not speak.

Frond sighed. It was difficult to get more than a sentence from him at times, but having a notable prophet had its prices.

The other elf started again. "Merlin said that this would help stop the fading—and only you and your heirs can use it, so it can't fall into the wrong hands!"

Frond gave the elf a calculating look. Never trust humans, his father had told him. He gripped his chair tightly. The People have not been doing well in the past year—for some strange reason, their magic was weakening, causing more and more fairies to move into Ancrya for safety from the humans. If this might solve the problem…

"Merlin said only the Frond line is capable of using it?"

"Well…using the most of its power…a elf or human might be able to do something, I don't know…"

Frond's blood ran cold. Already, it was posing a danger. "Very well. Give it here. You are dismissed."

He turned over the small object in his hands. It glinted golden in the sunlight. "I shall use it to save my People…then it must be destroyed," Frond murmured to no one in particular.

"It cannot be destroyed," Ohm repeated.

Frond glanced at him, displeased. "Broken up then. I shall have my smiths take it apart and hide it, so no one will ever use it again."

Ohm shuddered, and when he spoke, it was in an ominous chanting voice that seemed deep and unlike his own.

"Broken apart, its work is not yet done.

The Heart of time has only begun.

Born of human and fairy life,

She may bring peace or trouble and strife.

Joined with one fowl by name and foul by nature,

The disease she may cure.

Beware of discord and enmity

Between two peoples who cannot see.

Blind to each other, dead alone,

They must join together and become one.

Broken paths she may mend,

Only then shall the Heart of time end.

Ten years earlier, The Lower Elements, Haven City, Police Plaza

"Alright, Short, here's your chance."

A small female elf with a pretty face nearly jumped to attention, hazel eyes bright with excitement. "Yes, Commander Vinyáya?"

"We normally do not allow trainees to fly shuttles, but no other pilots are available right now, and it is essential for Captain Root to get aboveground pronto. With your exceptional performance in the exams last week, I think you can manage."

Holly grinned, then wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Why can't he drive the shuttle himself?"

"He has to watch the other passengers, Short."

"What other passengers?" Holly asked, curious. She wasn't doing a tourist flight, was she? She didn't train for the LEP to drive old tourists around.

Vinyáya looked her down. "Get to terminal three, Short. Now."

Holly Short sat down comfortably in the shuttle pilot's seat. It was a bit old-fashioned, but she was going to be piloting nevertheless. She grinned with excitement. Her first mission. Captain Root didn't seem to have arrived yet, nor had his passengers. I'll be a Captain too one day, thought Holly determinedly.

A grumpy voice interrupted her daydream of herself wearing the Captain's badge. "Short, is it?"

"Yes, sir," said Holly, looking at him.

"Stop daydreaming. We have to get to Tara before sunup, and I expect it to be a swift flight." Captain Root glared at her and stepped back out, muttering, "Why they stuck me with a rookie I don't know…"

Holly grimaced and glanced out the window where Root was approaching two fairies and a larger one. Wait—was that a human?

Holly held her breath. She had never seen a human up close before—this one seemed large and had a rather menacing glint in his eyes.

The smaller fairy—they both looked like elves to Holly—shrieked loudly as Root tried to wrench her away from the other fairy.

"NO! MOMMY!" The female toddler packed quite a pair of lungs. Holly's heart clenched as the little girl began to sob uncontrollably as Root picked up her and practically threw her in the shuttle. He strapped her harness roughly and went back outside.

"Mommy," the small elf whimpered.

Holly tore her eyes away from the window, where Root was directing some officers and they were leading the girl's mother away. "Hi," said Holly.

The girl elf hiccupped. She was a cute thing, and had pretty amethyst eyes.

"My name is Holly. What's yours?" she asked.

Hiccup.

"How old are you?"

The girl hiccupped again, then held up five fingers.

Holly blinked. She had expected her to be at least ten, most likely twelve. At five, most fairies had barely learned how to say "Mommy."

Holly raised an eyebrow at the human that Root was leading into the shuttle. On the other hand, humans aged much faster than fairies. This one, she supposed was about thirty. Holly, at seventy, was still considered by most a teenager.

The human man glared at Holly while he bucked on his harness next to the little girl. "It's okay, it's okay," he tried to say soothingly to the still hiccupping girl. She bore a striking resemblance to him, with the same dark wavy hair.

Captain Root stepped back into the shuttle and was carrying what Holly recognized as mind wiping equipment. "What are you doing? You can't erase that girl's memory of her mother!"

Holly clenched her fists as Root glared at her. "There will be no more conversation on this flight, Short. And that's an order."

And so, Holly conveniently neglected to tell him about the slip of paper poking through the man's fist as Root mind wiped the man and the girl.

Joe's Pawn Shop, Dublin, Ireland

"Do you like this one?"

"No, Daddy."

"What about this?"

"No."

"This one?" He held up a sparkling golden chain.

The little girl pouted. "I don't like this game anymore, Daddy. Why do we always have to buy shiny stuff?"

"Because it is very important, darling. And I need your help. Do you like this necklace?"

"Okay, Daddy. That one is nice. Can we go get ice cream now?"

He smiled as he bought the chain. It tinkled merrily as they walked down the street to the ice cream parlor, the little girl asking more questions and skipping cheerfully.

"Can we get chocolate chip, Daddy?"

"Yes, darling. Thank you very much for your help."

Her face lit up with pride, then looked up at her father in confusion. "But how can I help, Daddy? I'm just an ordinary girl."

"Not just any ordinary girl, darling. Not at all."