I was having a blast. Jimmy you bastard, you will so be getting that new thing you wanted for your computer! I never thought I'd be able to go to Otakon, but thanks to some self sacrifice on his part, I was able to go.
Now, even as an adult, I still loved the slightly more childish movies, and had therefore decided to go to the convention in my Tinker Bell costume. I had decided not to go with her typical appearance since it could be seen as a bit... revealing, something I wasn't entierly comfortable with, and had therefore taken on her adventurer gear from the movies. While it wasn't a perfect fit, and a bit on the cheap side, since I hadn't had much time before I got to know I would be able to attend, it was still enough to get a compliment or two though.
I really had a blast, but I knew I would have to go soon, while I had been able to attend, I wouldn't be able to stay for the whole con. It was kind of a waste, but at least I was able to have some fun. Deciding to at least get something back home with me from the con, I went to check on the convention stalls where people sold their own products, props and such.
Walking the stalls, the first time, I didn't find a thing. Nothing caught my eye, and if it did, it was out of my price range since they didn't accept cards. Saddened, I was about to leave when I suddenly noticed a man just setting up at his own stall, one that had been empty beforehand. A quick look at my watch confirmed that I still had time. Hopeful, I skidded over to the stall he was setting up and began looking at all the wares he was displaying.
Noticing me, the man chuckled.
"See anything you like? I'm a little short on money and don't really need most of this stuff. Feel free to choose anything you like, I'll give you the smallest of discounts for being my first customer." The man, clothed as what I recognized as the merchant from Resident Evil.
Smiling back, I once again looked at the things he had laid out, trying to find anything that tickled me fancy. Meanwhile, the man himself continued to lay out new things that he took out from his bag. The variety of things varied greatly, he had anything from a small Pan flute, to what looked like a real pirate hook, an eye patch included.
I pinged several items as potential gifts to myself, but waited until he had unloaded everything. I was also a bit hesitant, most of the things looked to be of high quality, and I was afraid I might not be able to buy anything after all.
My thoughts were soon interrupted by the most incredible leaf like bag I had ever seen. It was a green, extremely lifelike bag that looked to be made out of real leaves, only on a lot bigger scale. As he put it down, he brought out a few more of them and sat down behind the stall, beginning to bring out small price tags that he set up for the different items that I now noted were all neatly arranged on the table in an organized manor.
I waited until he was done and saw him place two different price tags before leaf bags, much to my confusion.
"Why are there two price tags for the bags?" I asked, curious why that would be, since they were all of the same size, and only the lower sum was within my price range.
"Ah, well, it's the prizes for an individual bag, and the other is for the whole set." He explained calmly.
"Set? Are they different somehow?" I asked, only to see him smile.
"Of course, take a look inside them, just be careful." He warned, the smile not leaving his face.
Surprised, I looked bag to the bags and realized that they actually seemed to be filled with something. Curious, I carefully picked one of them up and folded it open, only to be struck speechless from what I saw inside. The golden light struck my face and I winced a little as it momentarily blinded me. As I regained my vision, I looked inside to see what looked like some kind of sparkling powder, it's golden color shining and seemingly staining everything around it the same shade.
"Pixie Dust." The man explained, still smiling. "I have no use for it, and I haven't used any of it before anyway. Thought I might as well sell it, it is quite beautiful after all." He said, picking up another one of the small bags and showed the same kind of Pixie Dust, only in another color. Pink.
Looking at it, it really was beautiful, but I had my suspicions and decided to play it safe. "What is it made of anyway? Is it safe?" I asked, hoping it didn't contain any poisonous chemicals or anything.
"Of course. You don't think I'd be selling something poisonous or toxic, do you?" He asked me, raising an eyebrow while wearing a joking smirk.
Donning a smirk of my own, I retorted. "I dunno, would you?" I questioned back, getting a chuckle in return.
"Fair enough, I do have the instructions right here." He said, holding up a small piece of paper before handing it to me. Snatching the folded instructions, I quickly unfolded them and began reading them to myself. After finding the part about what the powder actually contained, I was surprised that it only listed safe and natural chemicals that I knew about and could identify.
"Well... It does look genuine. I'm wondering, could I get these instructions together with only one pouch?" I asked, hoping he would say yes. The instructions could possibly let me make more, and since all the ingredients were safe, it would be an amazing thing to use for clothes or maybe baking, seeing as it was all biodegradable and could be considered food coloring.
"Unfortunately not. The instructions are part of the whole collection." He responded. "You want them, you have to buy them all." He explained, loosing his smirk as he saw me frown.
"I don't have enough to buy them all." I explained regretfully. I couldn't put my finger on it, but for some reason, the longer I stood there, the more urgent it felt that I had to buy them.
"Well, there's still that fifteen percent discount I promised, would that work?" He asked, reminding me that he had in fact said I'd get a slight discount. Doing some quick math, I realized I did actually have enough money with the discount.
Smiling I took out almost all of my money and put the appropriate amount down on the table. "Then I think we'll both be happy with the outcome!" I said.
Taking a look at the money, he nodded as he picked them up and removed the price tag from next to the bags. "They're all yours, need a bag to hold them in?" He asked me, gesturing towards the multiple leaf bags. "They're not exactly strapped together."
I nodded and he took out a bag, surprising me as it looked just as much as it had been made of a big leaf as the smaller bags. Before I could question him, he had already handed me the bag and smiled another smile, this one however wasn't the warm and welcoming one he had worn before, but one that sent shivers down my spine as it felt I had just made a terrible mistake.
"You know, this was a pleasant change of pace. I've added an additional little present in your bag, have fun." He said as I began feeling dizzy.
Looking down, I saw that aside from all the smaller leaf bags, the bag also contained some kind of book. As much as I wanted to question him why he'd do that, when I looked up, he and his stall were gone, in fact, as I looked around, I realized I wasn't at the convention anymore. The last thing I saw before I fell unconscious was a big pair of dark pink eyes starring into mine.
Waking up today was a chore and a half. Usually, I never sleep on my side, I only fall asleep like that, but always wake up on my back. Today was different, and should have been my first clue to something being wrong. I however, had yet to fully wake up, meaning I would be ignoring the weird feeling on my back, the fact I slept in the most pleasant hammock until I actually got up and got myself a cup of coffee. Today most certainly deserved one, I could tell at least that much in my sleepy state.
Getting up from my hammock, I rubbed my eyes and and took a look around. I immediately realized that I wasn't at home, meaning I was someplace else. The hammock ruling out this being a hospital, the missing headache ruling out the possibility one of my friends finally convinced me to try alcohol and I most certainly hoped I hadn't tried out some kind of drug. I should know a lot better than do something like that to myself.
Conclusion, I had most likely been kidnapped or something. At the thought, my clouded brain immediately cleared as I nearly panicked, only to calm down as I realized I wasn't bound in any way, and that I seemed to be in a regular home instead of a dungeon or someones basement of sorts. I did however realize the clothes I was wearing and that something around my back area felt off.
Looking down, I realized I was for some reason, still wearing my Tinker Bell costume. Giggling a bit to myself, I realized it was such a me, thing to do. Inspecting my back, I noticed just what I had been expecting, a pair of wings, sagging downwards, just like they had always been. Look, they even straightened out at my good mood...
WHAT?!
I stared at the now apparently very real pair of wings on my back, managing to move them by will, as easily as I had had them my whole life. Never mind, the panic was back. Trying desperately, I tried remembering what had happened before I had woken up in someone else's house.
The merchant, the book, the Pixie Dust! It all came rushing back now, like a horrid nightmare. He had done something to me, was it the dust, had the instructions been fake and I had actually somehow ingested that 'Pixie Dust'? I was about to have another panic attack as I realized what was going on. That bastard most likely sold me some kind of strong hallucinogen, and I was right now tripping balls, thinking I was a fairy. Well, not anymore. I wouldn't let a drug cloud my mind, all I had to do was go back to sleep, and I wouldn't be able to do anything wrong, like hurt myself or be taken into custody because of possessing possibly illegal drugs.
I was about to go back to the hammock before I stopped myself. If I was hallucinating, and knew I was at the same time, perhaps I could just sit it out instead, take a look what my mind could conjure up while influenced by some stupid chemicals that would most likely get me addicted or destroy my life... Great, now I'm in a bad mood again. I was now conflicted, if I should stay up and make the best of the situation, or if should go to sleep and go to the police station with the rest of the powder once I woke up, I had no idea what would be right in this situation.
My thoughts were however interrupted by the sound of something walking my way, and what sounded like someone rustling dried leaves against each other. I held my breath as I awaited something to reveal itself, momentarily forgetting that it was most likely something conjured up by my own mind.
What I got was something I was totally not expecting, but could at least recognize. In through the door, came what looked like a hose with impossible proportions, it's head was far too large, its limbs far too long and the pair of large antennas that were as thick as its legs sprouting from its head were quite entertaining in a way, and from the back sprouted a pair of wings, similar to the fairy wings I currently had, only far bigger. In relation to myself, the new creature was about the same height as me, counting it's wings which barely made it through the door without hitting the top of the round door frame.
As I saw it, I could immediately guess where my mind had taken the whole thing from. The body frame and large head, were most likely from that show I always saw my niece watching, 'My Little Pony', the large antenna were probably from the angler fish from 'Finding Nemo' and the wings seemed like a combination of the barbie movie containing fairies and the Tinker Bell movies. The color scheme... I had no idea. It being white with gray or silver hair and tail. But over all, it was quite a cute creature, and as it began speaking, I almost lost my shit.
"Oh, you're awake. I'm glad. I'm Strawberry Trip. Do you have a name?" The creature asked me, making my mind take another turn, somehow without altering my surroundings. This was all beginning to feel awfully realistic, I would have to be careful not to loose myself here, at least I could humor myself by going along with it until I snap out of it.
"M-my name is Tinker Bell," My voice betrayed me, wait, Tinker Bell? That's not my name, My name is... What? Why couldn't I remember my own name?!
"Oh, you do speak! I have so many questions!" The creature exclaimed, obviously happy. Huh, I could easily tell its facial expressions, almost as if it was a human... Or fairy, I guess.
My observation was however cut short as I realized how close Strawberry Trip had leaned in towards me, making me jump back in surprise as I felt my wings move, trying to gain me some lift, only to fail after having been able to lift me of the ground. Loosing my center of balance, and following through with the momentum, I promptly fell over.
"Oh, dear. Are you alright?" She asked, concern obvious on her face.
"Y-yeah. Just forgot I can't fly..." I responded, something that was in essence both true and not. I had forgotten about having wings, but apparently I had reflexes for that now, but my wings had forgotten about something that was essential for fairy flight, Pixie Dust. Wow, what a grand hallucination this was, I wasn't even able to experience flight... Oh god, I hope I don't end up jumping out a window from a skyscraper.
"Really? But your wings seem fine to me." Strawberry inquires.
Sighing, I decide it doesn't matter if it's real or not. It's happening to me, so I might as well go along with it.
"No, my wings are fine, but they're not enough to let me fly. If I wish to fly, I have to cover them in Pixie Dust, otherwise, I'm not flying." I explain, a bit saddened that I won't be able to fly for a while. "That's the case with all fairies, if we don't have any Pixie Dust, we can't fly."
"So... You're a fairy then?" Strawberry asked.
"Yes, and on the topic of species, may I ask what you are?" I asked her in kind.
"Oh, that's easy. I'm a Breezie. Oh, I have an idea! Since we both will most likely be having questions for each other, can we both take every other questions?" Strawberry Trip asked with a hopeful smile.
Seeing no problem with the idea, I simply nodded.
"Wonderful!" Strawberry exclaimed as she went into a side room and soon returned with what looked like two, quite big mushrooms and put them down in the middle of the room before settling on one. While I at first thought it was simply some kind of silly furniture, it turned out, that was actually real mushrooms. Something I realized as I sat down myself.
"Alright, since I've already had a few of my questions answered by you, you get to ask the first one." Strawberry told me, nodding to herself.
Shrugging, I decided I might as well take advantage of it, since she was being so nice about it.
"Alright, then can I ask where I am?" I asked, wondering if my brain would claim I was still somewhere on Earth or in fantasy land.
"Oh, alright. You're in my house, in the town of Breezie Hollow, in the land of the Breezies." Strawberry said. I frowned a little to myself as I drew the parallel to Pixie Hollow from Tinker Bell, it would make sense if my brain made the Breezies here the equivalent of Fairies.
"Something wrong?" Strawberry asked me, clearly having noticed my frown.
Not willing to be dishonest, while also not willing to expose this... whatever this whole situation was to the parallel since I didn't know how my subconscious would handle it, I instead went with another concern that was true, even if I was currently less concerned about it.
"It's, it's just that I have no idea where I am in relation to home. I don't even know where to start since I've never heard of either Breezies or Breezie Hollow before." I explained, wondering if there might actually be a Pixie Hollow in this world or if it was completely replaced with the Breezie's version of it.
"Well, maybe I can help? Where is your home?" Strawberry asked me. Seeing no harm in being truthful, since she most likely wouldn't know where it was either way I told her.
"I live In Pixie Hollow, in Neverland." I said, wait, WHAT?!
"Huh, sounds almost like Breezie Hollow, but I've never heard of Neverland before, or Pixie Hollow, sorry." Strawberry said apologetically.
Deciding the mystery of my mouth working against me could wait until later, I instead continued with our session of asking questions back and forth.
"Alright, so counting the fact that you just asked me a question, it's my turn again." I said, Strawberry blinking with a confused expression before she remembered what we were doing.
"Oh right. I guess I did ask a question, then it's your turn." Strawberry nodded, seemingly not upset by having her question wasted simply because of trying to help me. But I guess it was a question that did satisfy her curiosity a little, since she found out where I lived and- Wait, no, that wasn't right. I lived in Pixie Hollow, not Pixie Hollow! Wha- argh! Okay, that's proof enough, I am so high up in co-co land right now, that I'm not even the one thinking my own thoughts. I really should sleep this off rather than stay awake and let keep screwing me.
"Actually, I really need to organize my thoughts. Is it alright if I sleep on it and we take it tomorrow?" I asked, realizing how sleepy I actually felt, thankful for my own decision to put this conversation off.
"I suppose it is getting a bit late... I still don't have anything to let you sleep, will it be alright if you sleep in the flower petal again?" Strawberry asked, making me raise an eyebrow as I looked back, seeing that my hammock was in fact, a gigantic, white flower petal. Yepp, definitely hallucinating.
"It's alright, thank you." I said, no reason to stop being polite, even when talking to a figment of your imagination. Strawberry nodded and went into another room before returning with another flower petal, one meant to act as a blanket.
"I'll be in the other room in case you need anything." Strawberry said as she left. Getting back into the hammock flower petal, I covered myself with the blanket petal and got cozy as I tried to fall asleep. Never thought flower petals this size were so comfortable.
