Mother's command

“Man.. let me sleep..” The young man grumbled between his yawns. The smaller creature with sparkling wings murmured a tone in its unknown language, making bell like noises. The little creature poked the sleeping man’s cheek with its micro sized hands. The little pixie huffed when the bigger man didn't budget. It stomped it's feet in the air while still hovering over the young man's face.

The pixie suddenly giggled, a mischievous grin on its pale face. It fluttered it's wings and flew away. Moments later it came back with a ripe dandelion in its hands. The pixie giggled again before shoving the whole dandelion in the sleeping man's nose. “Wah-!” The young man jolted awake and fell off the tree branch he was sleeping on.

He landed on his four limbs with ease. After he regained his balance, the young man shook his head in an attempt to get rid of whatever pollen was left in his nose. The sun rose in the blue yonder, piercing through the dense forest and gracing the young man's pale skin. He scratched the back of his nape annoyedly, still grumbling. “Damn pixies, can't let a man nap in peace.”

The pixies circled around him flying, making teasing expressions on their bite size faces. He straightened his back, flexing the dark stripes on his pale skin as the ears on top of his head stood up in alert. “You little gremlins.. COME HERE!” No longer annoyed, the young tiger gave in to smaller creatures’ mischief and decided to play along. When he tried to grab them by his hand, the other pixies would go behind him, pulling his furry ears and his tail.

“Hey! Not the tail! I told you, not the tail-!” The tiger of a man warned with a threatening growl under his breath. While he meant no harm, he still hated being touched without permission. Unfortunately, pixies were simply just not the kind of creatures that understood boundaries. They only cared about playing, playing and playing.

The young tiger was about to fall in his chase but the sudden call of his name stopped him in his tracks. “Noah, you have been summoned by the Queen. The Court of Fae has been set, be there as soon as you can.” The elderly man’s voice echoed in the air but no visible figure was in sight. It was a messenger spell, meant to deliver a message without being there in physical form.

Grandpa…

Noah immediately knew who it was. In the realm of mystics, nothing was out of the ordinary. The existence of different kinds of mystical creatures, their own civilization and rules, a monarchy that they all pledged their loyalty to, and… the existence of magic. It was second nature to the mystical, especially for the mystics of higher rankings. Noah was of such a status. The heir to the tiger clan- the guardian of the mystic’s forest.

“Wait- why is her majesty looking for me?” Noah pondered as his furry tail formed an S. A pixie sat on his shoulder with a confused expression on her glowing face. She spoke, making a bell ringing sound and Noah nodded his head. “Exactly my question, Bell. Why would the queen want to meet the reject of his own clan?” Noah agreed with Bell. He sat down on the ground with Bell on his shoulder, his arms crossed over his chest as he hammered his brain to fish for answers. Despite the different language, as the next guardian of the forest, Noah had the ability to understand all the other mystics.

Bell tapped his cheek again, reminding him of something he might be forgetting. “Right, the queen!” Noah stood up and started sprinting in the direction of what Noah’s grandfather had called it to be the Court of Fae. Bell and the other pixies waved Noah a goodbye when he left and continued to play with each other.

As a Tiger mystic, Noah was not a fan of being between people, he preferred solitude. Unfortunately for him, right when he set his foot in the main city of the mystics, his existence alone made him the center of attention. The houses made of wines and strong branches were illuminated with either magic or with the help of a fostered herd of fire flies. The children of different mystics giggled and played with each other, representing the harmony and peace their monarchy had established.

The moment Noah's presence was known, the passing mystics and faes mumbled amongst each other. Noah couldn't help but frown at the quick change in the air. From harmony and peace, it swiftly changed into an air full of heavy fear and hate. The parents of the children tucked their children away back into their own houses. Noah did not show it on his face but his ears fell and his tail did not wave in the air any longer. “This is nothing new. Let's just.. get out of here.” Noah mumbled to himself and shrugged off the animosity from his shoulders. He took in a deep breath, puffed out his chest and once again, at his highest speed he sprinted towards the Court of Fae.

The Court of Faes was located inside a giant oak tree. Noah entered the court through a gate made of wines and flowers. The air was full of mystical energy, fueled with magic and essence of super natural. A state of being that Noah never found himself being familiar with. Giant flower beds of magnolias and lavenders filled the air with refreshing sweet scent. The pixies flew around while giggling amongst each other. There were many animals that were playing amongst each other or sleeping beside the queen who eagerly waited for the tiger.

At the end of the space there was a bed made of cotton flowers. As if there was a sun inside the oak tree, the cotton bed was bathing in the warm golden light coming from above. The queen chuckled at the young tiger’s hesitance to come forward. In a lilac silk wrapped around her frame, she sat on the top of a cotton bed. Her charcoal hair sat on her shoulders, flowing down her person and working like a blanket. The queen had butterfly-like wings, the androconia wing had multiple shades decorating it. However, the size of her wings were three times more than her body, despite having a tall frame. Her golden pupils symbolized immense strength much like his own, they both were born with strength unlike any other.

Noah knew, this beautiful fae held strength far greater than any mystic that was alive in this realm. Hence why she was their ruler, the queen of fairies, Titania. Noah stepped forward and bowed down on his one knee with a hand on his chest. “Your majesty, you called.” It was more of a statement than it was a question, he was willing to do anything that his queen asked of him. The queen waved her hand and allowed him to get back up. “There is no need for formalities between us. You are one of my children and I, your mother, love you as such.” Titania’s voice held warmth for the young tiger, a maternal love for him. It almost melted Noah's heart but he digressed. He shook his head as he walked closer, only to be on his knees again. He looked up at the face of his ruler whom he loved like a mother. “How could I disrespect the only person who ever saw my innocence and allowed me to stay in Archane? If it weren't for you, your majesty, I wouldn't be alive today.” Noah expressed his gratitude with sincerity.

Pleased, Titania caressed the young tiger's hair with motherly affection. Her skin sparkled like pearls under the golden hue of the oak tree’s light. “There is something this mother wants you to do, my child. Something only you can do.” Titania disclosed. The queen did not have to articulate her words, for she knew that Noah would never deny a command from her. Noah did not show it on his face but the way his tail formed a S and how the ears on his head stood, it gave away Noah's excitement. “What is it, your majesty? Your wish is my command.” Noah assured with pride.

Titania's crimson lips curved in the gentlest of smile, for she saw something Noah did not. She knew something, Noah did not.

“I want you to defy the prophecy, my child.”