Chapter Text
Deep in the forest, a single fairy snapped her fingers—and a drum turned into a spotlight.
On a long rock, a lone figure stood.
Facing the wrong way. Turned deliberately, dramatically away.
“Cue the music!”
“Shift those heels up—bounce off your seats like it’s showtime!”
She spun on her feet, kicked a step to the side, and reached for a makeshift microphone. Her hands snapped in rhythm before she slipped back to center stage.
“Alright, alright—so get this.”
“I was playing this game in the park—sparks sparking, fairies hopping side to side.”
“As I walked by, I almost joined in… but then this plate in the sky kept getting bigger and bigger…”
“I almost took flight—and then it hit me.”
Poppy raised a hand, striking a dramatic pose, as if waiting for cheers.
In front of her—just one head. A cloaked fairy sat on a log, legs swinging, body tilting side to side.
Poppy smirked, winking. “Tough crowd, huh?”
The fairy flinched, lips parting to say something—
But Poppy pressed on. “Heh, that’s fine.” She shrugged, bowing slightly. “I used to be into straight lines… but now I’m a bit crooked.”
Another pause.
The cloaked fairy clapped, her smile peeking out from beneath the hood.
Poppy took a breath, then slouched forward with a long sigh.
The fairy flinched, standing upright immediately.
Poppy stopped her with a raised hand. “Hold on—I’m just… kind of disappointed. Like, really.”
“Are my puns really that bad?!” She placed her hands on her hips, then turned to the fairy. “You don’t think my puns are bad, do you, Goldy?”
Goldy blinked, straightening. She pressed two fingers together, looking away. “I… I mean, I liked the way you told it.”
Poppy dropped to the ground.
The fairy let out a small squeak, legs lifting as she rushed toward the magician.
She tapped Poppy’s shoulder—and Poppy sprang back up, taking a sharp breath before locking eyes with her again. “Hmph. Well, who cares.”
“I ain’t crying just because I can’t joke like a shrine maiden.”
“I’d rather stay a mess than have someone clean me up into… whatever that is.”
The fairy frowned slightly, a soft hum of unease following the tilt of her head.
Poppy blinked, then lowered herself again. “Okay… that one was too far, wasn’t it?”
Goldy nodded.
“Yeah, fair.” She extended a hand. “Let’s promise to never speak of that pun again, okay?”
The fairy nodded—perhaps a bit too enthusiastically—and reached for her hand, only to be pulled into the sky.
The magician stood on her broom, then shifted into a seated position. “So! You ready to go hunting for some trouble?”
The fairy shifted, her wings spreading from her back like yellow glass. “O–Only if you’re in front!” she said with a nervous chuckle.
Poppy smirked, thrust a hand forward, and the broom shot into the sky, the fairy following close behind.
The fairy quickly noticed the rushing wind, clutching her cloak tightly to keep her golden hair from spilling out.
She hesitated, then chirped, “H–Hey, I know I said I was fine with it, but… are we really going to get into trouble?”
Poppy glanced back at her with a broad smile. “Nah! I was just saying that for dramatic effect. Don’t worry, my specktacular friend.”
Then her smile softened, her tone still casual. “Though… could you take that thing off?”
“We can’t have you hiding your whole life. Just let the world see your—”
Her expression turned gentle.
“Light.”
The fairy pulled her head deeper into the cloak.
Poppy frowned slightly as the broom drifted closer, close enough for her to rest a hand on Goldy’s shoulder.
The fairy’s head snapped up—but she met only a gentle smile.
“Yo.”
Goldy hesitated. “U–Um—”
“Knock, knock.” Poppy tapped her twice on the forehead.
Goldy’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Who’s there?”
“Easy.”
Goldy blinked. “Easy who?”
Poppy smiled softly. “Easy, friend. You can skip what I said. No stress.”
Goldy lowered her head, a small smile peeking through. “You really mean it?”
“Yeah.” Poppy nodded, then crossed her arms. “Still—can’t have you whispering your whole life.”
The fairy turned back to her, brow furrowing.
The magician leaned in, cupping a hand behind her ear. “Come on—tell me what you want.”
“I–I—”
“I what?” Poppy interrupted, leaning closer.
“I would like to stay—”
Poppy cupped her hands around her mouth. “You would like what?!”
The fairy took a breath, her chest rising before—
“I would like to keep my cloak on!”
A beat. Then a clap.
Poppy leaned back, grinning wide. “Heh! Heck yeah! Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
Goldy pressed her palms together, tilting her head slightly.
“Hey! Don’t go getting shy on me now.” Poppy chuckled. “Come on! Repeat after me!”
She raised a fist to the sky. “Heck yeah!”
Goldy lifted a trembling hand, her fingers clenching before she raised it. “Y–Yeah…”
“Louder, girl!” Poppy urged, lifting her other fist. “Let the world know!”
“Y–Yeah!”
“Whaaat?!”
Goldy squeezed her eyes shut and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Heck yeah!”
She immediately let out a small squeak, pressing both hands over her mouth.
Poppy rested her jaw on her hand, watching her. A small breath escaped. “Heh… well, just look at you.”
“If you were always this brave, I bet you’d be surfing the skies just like me.”
She laughed. “Doesn’t that sound cool?” Then she turned and continued forward.
Goldy smiled, watching the magician’s shadow stretch ahead.
Her lips trembled before she whispered, “I would like to fly next to you…”
“What was that?” Poppy called, glancing back.
The fairy flinched, shoulders rising as her fingers fidgeted together. “I… I didn’t say anything,” she said quietly.
Poppy smiled, shifting her stance, one hand holding her hat. “Geesh. The more you know.”
She extended her free arm. “Come on now—what about a hug?” she asked with a grin.
The fairy flinched, then slowly drifted closer as Poppy slowed to meet her.
Goldy drifted closer… then slowed.
Her wings stiffened.
Her eyes widened.
“Huh? What, did I say something—”
The broom stopped abruptly—just before hitting a greenhouse.
Poppy flew forward into a window. The glass cracked, and a startled yelp rang out from inside.
She staggered back, managing a few trembling steps before collapsing into the window frame with a groan.
“You better not have broken another window!” a voice called from inside.
Poppy could only frown, her brow twitching—already aware of the punishment waiting for her.
The sky shifted, and the shadows of Poppy and Goldy fell straight beneath them.
Goldy kept her gaze fixed on the wrapped cookie in her hand.
They turned left, onto a narrow dirt path cut into the mountain.
Poppy inhaled deeply, then slouched. “Gosh, at this rate, every wall in Urasokyo’s gonna be Poppy-patented.”
Goldy flinched and glanced at her. “I mean… that sounds nice…”
Poppy cracked one eye open, then shut it again. “Nah. If that ever happened, I’d never become the greatest magician of all time.”
“Unless…” She nudged Goldy with her elbow. “We start getting some Goldy-patented ones too, huh?”
Goldy frowned slightly, her attention drifting back to the cookie.
“U–um… speaking of walls… what happened with Mimo’s?”
Poppy flinched. “Ek! I—uh, I forgot about that one.” Her voice dropped. “…I really hope she’s not too angry.”
Goldy’s eyes narrowed, her fingers tightening around the wrapper.
Poppy bent forward mid-step, peering at her face. “Uh… did the cookie look back at you or something?”
Goldy winced and pulled it away from her face. “I, uh… don’t like human sweets.”
Poppy straightened, crossing her arms. “Girl, you gotta give it a chance.”
“Come on, just a small nibble—for me?”
Goldy hesitated, leaned back, and took a small bite. She chewed slowly, one eye squeezed shut.
After swallowing, she stuck out her tongue with a grimace. “Puack… I don’t like it.”
Poppy’s shoulders rose before she let out a sigh. “Gosh… okay, fine, give it to—”
Goldy pulled away as Poppy reached for it, her eyes narrowing.
Poppy froze, then slowly drew her hand back, her surprise melting into a teasing smile. “Huh. So what about you not liking it?”
Goldy ran a hand through her hair, her cheeks warming.
Poppy nearly laughed, catching herself with a soft cough. She straightened.
“So, like I told you, this place has the best pastries in the whole land.”
“They’ve even got recipes I didn’t know were possible.” She raised a finger and dramatically pointed at the cookie. “Like that—a cookie without chocolate or butter!”
She shrugged. “Probably the second-best invention ever. After my broom, of course—”
“Uh…” She glanced around. “Speaking of my broom… where’d it go?”
Goldy flinched. She shifted her feet quietly to the side.
One.
Two—
The broom smacked into Poppy, sending her rolling down the hill. The incoherent noises from Poppy’s pouch cut off the moment she reached the forest…
Only to be replaced by the even more incoherent shrieks of fairies discovering a rolling human.
Goldy spread her wings and lifted into the air, small golden specks trailing behind her. Her face brightened—literally—skin and hair beginning to glow.
She followed the path of destruction as a faint mist grew thicker and thicker.
Eventually, she found her.
Poppy lay sprawled on the ground, surrounded by a swarm of fairies. A few poked her while others laughed, playing tag with her hat and broom.
Goldy drifted closer until she hovered in front of her. “Um… are you okay?”
“Mmudmmmdmmss mummmsmum.”
Goldy blinked. “What?”
Poppy lifted her head from the mud. “What I meant to say is… I’m glad the ground doesn’t have an owner.”
“Imagine having to pay for every landing.”
Goldy blinked, caught off guard—then chuckled.
Poppy’s frown quickly melted into a grin. She pushed herself up, brushing dirt from her clothes, then using her apron to wipe her face.
Goldy tilted her body slightly. “You, um…”
Poppy shifted her apron to the side, humming under her breath.
“N–Never mind…” Goldy looked away, her mouth pulling into a small frown.
“Nah, nah—go on. You started it, now spit it out.” Poppy dropped the apron, half her face still streaked with mud.
Goldy pressed a palm to her forehead, her hand hovering mid-motion. “I don’t think you should…” Her voice softened.
“Girl, c’mon! Just say it.” Poppy planted a hand on her hip.
Goldy took a breath, slowly lifting a finger to point at Poppy’s apron.
Her words came in hesitant pauses. “T–That looks… kind of bad…”
Poppy frowned, eyes narrowing, her voice tightening. “The apron?”
“N–No, like…” Goldy gestured vaguely with both hands.
Poppy tilted her head. “Goldy, what did we just talk about?”
Goldy blinked, her lips forming a small pout. “I–I just don’t want you to be upset!”
“G–Give me a minute.” She stopped lightly biting her thumb, the glow around her growing brighter and brighter.
Poppy’s expression softened as she closed her eyes. “You can say whatever.”
Goldy flinched, eyes widening.
A quiet sigh escaped Poppy. “I won’t get mad,” she added. “Just go on.”
Goldy’s lips trembled. “Okay.”
She took a small breath. “I just… don’t think pants and an apron work.”
“You could… try a skirt?”
Poppy’s eyes widened. She glanced down at her boots, a slow smile forming. “Huh… never thought of that.”
She looked back at Goldy, a sly half-smile tugging at her lips. “You want me to cosplay as one of those witches from fairy tales?”
Goldy blinked, then tilted her head. “What’s a… cosplay?”
“Never mind, never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Poppy turned away. The ground beneath her feet felt uneven, the scent of dry dirt lingering in the air.
There wasn’t much to see—just the faint glow from Goldy giving shape to the misty space around them.
“I’ve never seen this place before.” Poppy gestured for Goldy to follow. As she passed, she snatched both of her items from the same fairy, knocking her into another and sending them toppling into a small dogpile.
“Hey, Goldy—do you think we could sleep here for the night?”
Goldy flinched, turning away from the fairies. “I–I, uh… probably?”
She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “It’s kind of gloomy…”
“And… it’s getting colder…” She rubbed her arms, bowing her head slightly.
“Huh…” Poppy paused mid-step. “What was that last one?”
Goldy flinched, taking a step back. “D–Don’t—!”
In a flash, Poppy pulled the cloak off Goldy and, in the same motion, draped her own blazer over her shoulders.
Poppy sniffled at the cold, then tossed a thumb up. “Don’t worry. I got you.”
Goldy frowned, wings folding against her back. Her voice dropped to a quiet murmur. “Yeah… thank you.”
She started walking ahead.
Poppy lingered for half a second, watching her go. “Hey—Goldy, wait up.”
Goldy didn’t turn around. “I’m fine.”
“Didn’t say you weren’t.” Poppy quickened her pace, falling in beside her. “Just saying you don’t have to speedrun the moody walk.”
Goldy huffed under her breath. “I’m not—”
“You are,” Poppy said lightly. “It’s got a whole vibe.”
Goldy slowed despite herself, gaze fixed ahead. “…Sorry.”
“For what?” Poppy bumped her shoulder gently. “Existing while mildly cold?”
Goldy didn’t respond.
Poppy’s expression softened as she matched her pace, step for step. She sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead, tipping her head back for a moment before speaking again.
“Okay… look.”
“You’re allowed to be grumpy.” A beat. “But going all quiet isn’t gonna make it better.”
She held the cloak out toward Goldy. “If you want it back, it’s yours.”
A pause.
“But don’t freeze yourself out thinking everything’s going to go wrong.”
“After all—” She dipped her head, lifting her hat and plopping it onto the fairy’s head. “I’ve got your back. And your head covered, too.”
That earned the faintest twitch at the corner of Goldy’s mouth.
“…You’re really not cold?”
Poppy shivered immediately. “Oh, absolutely freezing. This is a terrible decision.”
Goldy stopped.
Poppy blinked. “What?”
Goldy hesitated, then awkwardly shifted the blazer off one shoulder. “You can— we can just—”
“Whoa, whoa.” Poppy held up a hand. “Nope. I’m already suffering for this, let me have it.”
Goldy stared at her for a beat… then rolled her eyes, stepping a little closer as they walked.
“…Idiot.”
“Yeah,” Poppy said, grinning through another shiver. “But I’m your idiot today.”
“NO! YOU TWO ARE IDIOTS!” a voice snapped from the side.
A spike of ice shot toward them. Poppy didn’t hesitate—she grabbed Goldy and yanked her out of the way.
They landed hard. Before pushing herself up, Poppy shot Goldy a quick grin. “Remember—I’ve got your back.”
Then she rose, already pulling a wand from her pocket. “Alright, alright… who’s there?”
“Are you blind or something? Can’t you tell?” the voice echoed, sharp and cutting.
Poppy narrowed her eyes, squinting into the fog. “Uh…” The mist was too thick to make out anything. “Um… no?”
“Yeah, that’s—wait, what do you mean no?”
“I mean I can’t exactly see through mist,” Poppy said, flipping her broom upright and leaning against it. “Can’t you, like, do something about that?”
A pause.
Goldy glanced at Poppy. She just shrugged, shaking her head.
Goldy nodded, turned back to her cookie, and took a small bite from the edge.
There was a faint mumble on the far side of the mist—then a sharp clap split the air, and the fog recoiled, driven back into the forest.
Goldy staggered slightly in the gust. Poppy’s hat tilted, then—without warning—slid down and swallowed her head whole.
“So,” a figure in a faded blue dress said, delicate icicles orbiting lazily around her ankles and knees, “can you tell now?”
Poppy half-smirked. “Well, that’s new.” Keeping one hand on her broom, she gave a shallow bow. “Ice to meet you, youkai lady—”
“I’m not a youkai!” the figure screeched, baring her teeth.
Poppy leaned back, thrown off. “Uh… okay.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “Then go ahead. Tell us who you are.”
The figure smirked, crossing her arms, chin lifted. “Well, can’t you tell?”
Poppy frowned, her voice flattening. “If I botched it once, I’m not fixing it on round two.”
“I’m an ice fairy!” She tapped her chest. “The ice fairy. I’ve got a legend and everything!”
…
Poppy raised a brow. Goldy blinked back.
The fairy’s smile faltered. “...How do you not know this?”
The fairy’s expression slowly crumpled into a frown, her voice dropping. “Yeah… okay.”
Her hands fell limply in front of her. “I… that’s fine.”
Goldy stepped forward. “I, uh… do you want to come down and tell us more?”
Poppy turned to her, then rolled her eyes. “Yeah… I mean, if you want, we could… listen for a bit.”
The fairy frowned, one hand slipping behind her arm. “Stop—!” She yanked it forward, an icy bow shifting into a saber mid-motion. “Don’t talk down to me!”
She leveled the weapon at them. “I’ll make you remember my name…”
“Cirza of Smuch Lake!”
Her body tensed; the icicles spun faster—
“Smuch?” Poppy tilted her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Cirza flinched, her motion stalling. “I, uh…” One hand drifted to her chin. “I thought ‘smuch’ was like… those cups humans make with berries and—”
She shook her head sharply. “W–Whatever! Names are stupid!”
Poppy flicked her broom; it clattered to the ground.
She planted a foot on it, resting a hand on her hip. “Actually, I kind of like it.”
Cirza blinked. “You do?”
Poppy nodded. “Yeah. It sounds rushed, clumsy, and fierce all at once.” She gave a thumbs-up. “Totally my kind of name.”
“You’re just mocking me, aren’t you?” the fairy muttered, slouching.
Poppy shrugged. “No, I mean it. It’s pretty good for a first attempt.”
The fairy’s face flushed red. “Okay, enough!” She cracked her blade against her knee. Frost crawled outward from the impact, and her expression went eerily still. “It’s Mist Lake now!”
The weapon split—forming a sickle and chain—and with a sharp spin, it sliced through the air.
Poppy and Goldy ducked just in time.
Goldy crawled toward Poppy, but before she could say a word, Poppy shot into the sky.
The magician spun her wand between her fingers, eyes closed. The motion stopped the instant she opened them. “Heh. Today is my lucky day.”
“I’ve been wanting an excuse to try some real icebreakers.”
She shot forward. Cirza lifted her chain in response.
Ice spread—a wall surged up, then spiked outward—but Poppy leapt, spinning gracefully as something shifted between her fingers.
“This one should prove tricky.” Two sets of vases flew from her hands.
Cirza straightened. With a flick of her finger, the sickle dropped from above, slicing cleanly through the vases. It struck the lake, and ice burst outward in a snowflake pattern, each point bristling with crossbows.
The ice tensed—
—but Poppy flicked her fingers, and a violet glow followed.
Deep beneath the surface, the water lit up, the shimmer rushing upward.
Cirza braced for impact.
Nothing came.
Only a fractured piece of ice drifted below.
And then—
“On a scale of one to ten,” Poppy said with a wink, “I’ll give you a six.”
She thrust her wand forward, voice dropping. “Blast type: Pop & Shove.”
The fairy was hurled into the forest. She caught her breath mid-flight, twisting in the air before landing on her feet. As she slid across the ground, frost spread in her wake, and she turned to face Poppy.
Poppy gave a casual wave, a faint bubble shimmering around her like a shield.
Cirza frowned. She planted her foot, forming a ball of ice, then kicked it toward Poppy.
Poppy shifted just enough to avoid it—
—but Cirza flicked a finger, and the ball snapped back, bursting the bubble.
Poppy tried to recover, but from above, Cirza came crashing down with a hammer. Poppy barely managed to duck, throwing up a shield to take the blow.
She dropped lower until her broom steadied her. “G—gee, that one was—” Her eyes caught a crystal of ice forming beside her. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
The broom surged forward, Poppy clinging with one arm before pulling herself back into position.
The lake froze again. Hands of ice clawed up along Poppy’s path.
She reached into her pouch, blocking with a burst of firecrackers before snapping her wand forward to launch a fireball. “Uh, Goldy—I could use some support!”
Goldy flinched. She stepped forward, raising her hands to form a single star-shaped bullet. She pointed it toward the lake, lips trembling, hands unsteady—
“Uh, Goldy—now—”
The star flickers.
Poppy clicks her tongue. “Forget it. I’ll do it myself.”
She began to spin—faster and faster—before diving straight into the water.
Cirza clenched her hands, freezing the surface over—
—but Poppy burst back out, stepping onto her wand, her broom tucked at her side.
“This one, I call—”
Cirza didn’t manage to raise a shield in time—
—and Poppy swung, sending her flying across the sky.
“A home run!”
Goldy frowned, eyes fixed on where Cirza had vanished.
Her fingers tightened at the edge of her dress.
Poppy dropped into the lake with a loud splash, water scattering in every direction. A small puddle formed near the shore—and that’s when something caught Goldy’s eye.
A faint glow flickered to life around her. It started soft, barely there, then slowly intensified as she absently traced the curve of her frown.
Her hands shifted from her dress to her blazer, tugging lightly at the fabric.
“Phew!” Poppy burst up from the water. “Gosh, that one was fun—!”
Her broom shot back and smacked her in the back of the head.
“Ow—ow! T–Tapuu, you can’t do that!” Poppy snapped, turning on the broom as it tilted its body away from her.
She narrowed her eyes. “Oh, come on. You can’t be mad—you were the star of the show.”
The broom twitched, turning back toward her as if listening.
“Seriously! Catching me, landing the final hit—” Poppy grinned. “You were totally the hero of this story, haha!”
The broom suddenly dropped forward, pressing itself against her face in something like a hug.
“Ge—dmmph—!” Poppy flailed, trying to pry it off. “I can’t—breathe—!”
She finally yanked it away, gasping. “G—guh… I need to breathe, you—”
Her expression flattened.
“…You?”
Off to the side, Goldy let her cookie fall. She moved to a nearby rock and sat down quietly.
She snapped her fingers once, then again—faint sparks drifting into the air.
A half-formed frown lingered on her face, always twitching when the light failed to last.
Poppy paused as her broom tried to drift closer again.
“Get off,” she said, pushing it away, her arms sweeping in wide arcs as she swam forward.
Goldy tried again, but her lips trembled—another small sob slipping out as her glow continued to intensify.
“Uh. Howdy.”
Poppy’s voice cut through her focus.
Goldy let out a small yelp. Poppy rubbed the back of her neck. “So, um… maybe I should’ve waited a bit—”
Goldy flinched. “N-nonono! I just… it’s fine.” She waved her hands quickly.
Poppy bowed her head. “Well, being ‘fine’ doesn’t usually come with an afterglow.”
Goldy started to tremble again, both hands dropping toward her lap.
“I… um…” She took a hesitant step forward—
Then, from above, a wave of crystals rained down toward them.
Ice crashed all around, curling into jagged, intricate shapes.
Goldy squeezed her eyes shut, hands clenched in front of her.
When she opened them again, Poppy was standing in front of her.
She took a breath through her nose, suppressing a small cough. A smile that refused to break lingered on her face.
“P-Poppy!” Goldy called, reaching forward—but a palm stopped her.
Poppy exhaled again.
“Like I said… I will protect you with my back—no, wait, that’s not right?”
Another cluster of ice spears screamed down from above.
Poppy clicked her tongue and shifted her stance. “Ugh—hold that thought.”
She flicked her wand upward. A burst of force shattered the falling crystals midair, scattering them into glittering fragments that rained across the lake.
For a brief moment, everything went still again—just the soft hiss of melting ice.
Goldy stared at Poppy’s back.
Her clothes were torn, faint streaks of blood marking her skin.
Poppy exhaled, then extended a hand toward Goldy. “I don’t think I can win this fight like this… heh.”
She glanced back and winked. “Help me out on this last one, won’t you?”
Goldy drew in a breath—
“I’m back, idiots!”
Cirza stood above the fractured ice, bow drawn, energy gathering in the arrow. “If you thought you could beat me with just one hit, you’re wrong!”
“Idiots!”
Goldy hesitated.
Poppy straightened.
“Hey!” Poppy snapped. “Brr-at!”
Cirza’s eye twitched.
“One thing is attacking me,” Poppy said, pointing her wand, “but going after my friend is another.”
She paused.
“…Let’s finish this.”
Cirza’s expression tightened. “So brat, huh?”
“You’re the only idiot here who doesn’t know her place.”
A wall of glass erupted in front of her, fracturing into sharp crystalline edges.
Cirza lifted her bow fully now. The arrow swelled into a massive bolt of light.
Goldy stepped forward.
Poppy glanced at her.
“Goldy—”
Goldy didn’t look back.
“Shut up,” Goldy said sharply. “If I hear a single word, I swear I will…”
Poppy blinked—then nodded.
The circles of magic formed—one in front of each of them.
“Okay…” Poppy said, a grin returning.
Cirza exhaled.
“Pitiful.”
The bolt tore across the lake, splitting the frozen surface under its pressure.
Her hands tightened—then steadied.
Poppy lifted her wand.
“Alright… here we go.”
Her voice dropped.
“Love sign.”
Goldy’s glow steadied, faint but constant.
“Zero point five.”
The magic tightened around her wand.
“Let this be my declaration.”
The air bent inward.
“I will be anything but ordinary.”
The light condensed.
Poppy lifted her chin.
“Master Spark!”
A beam of light erupted—golden ribbons spiraling around it as it surged forward and clashed.
The mist was torn away. The sky warped wildly, shifting from aurora hues to a deep, violent red.
The collision churned, unstable.
Poppy braced, gripping her wand with both hands.
“Come on, come on…!”
She pushed forward, forcing a step ahead. “Just hold a little longer…!”
A sharp crack split through the air.
Her wand fractured.
Her eyes widened. “No…”
She turned to Goldy.
Goldy’s eyes were shut tight, her expression strained—refusing to give in.
The weight hit Poppy all at once. The cold was gone—this was heavier, pressing down on her chest, forcing her back a step.
Her heel slipped.
The wand trembled in her grip—
—and then she let go.
Instead, she pulled Goldy closer, stepping in front of her as the spell fractured, the light growing harsher, blinding.
Goldy gasped, trying to push her away—
—but the motion faltered, her hands catching against Poppy instead, returning the hold like a hesitant embrace.
The world burned white—
—and then it stopped.
Poppy opened her eyes, leaning back slightly.
Goldy blinked, fingers tightening as her hands drifted to her chest.
The energy faded, dimming, shrinking—until both sides vanished completely.
Something remained.
A faint figure stood where the clash had been—white eyes rimmed in red, a dark dress hanging still around her form.
Her expression was serene. Too calm.
She lifted a hand slowly, pointing toward the lake, chin tilting upward—
—and then she drifted away.
Goldy stepped back. “W–what was—”
Poppy didn’t wait.
She yanked her broom free from a chunk of ice, swung onto it, and shot forward.
Her head snapped up—catching a streak of blue falling, limp, from the sky.
She clenched her teeth, forcing more speed—
—but a golden trail cut past her, rising fast.
It reached the falling figure, slowing it.
Goldy hovered above, straining, her face flushed red as she held the other girl aloft.
Poppy let out a small, relieved smile. She closed the distance, reaching out to lift the ice fairy from Goldy’s grasp.
They shared a brief look.
Then, without a word, they drifted down together.
They settled near the mouth of a cave.
The ice fairy’s eyes fluttered open.
At first, only fragments—blurred shapes, scattered sound.
Something moved quickly across her vision.
Goldy.
She darted back and forth through the cave, gathering things, setting down small plates on a low surface, never quite still.
A groan slipped from Cirza as she pushed herself up onto her elbows. “What… happened?”
“Magic burnout.”
Poppy’s voice came from off to the side.
Cirza turned slightly—
Poppy was leaning against the wall nearby, arms loose at her sides.
“Oh, I’m kind of an expert on that—yeah, you dumped way too much power into that last attack.” She smiled. “Knocked yourself right out.”
A faint scraping sound followed.
Cirza’s gaze shifted.
Glacy stood near the wall, crouched slightly, picking something off the stone and dropping it into a small bowl in her hand.
“Thankfully, Goldy over there caught you in time,” she added without looking up.
Goldy paused mid-step.
She blinked, then smiled and gave a small, awkward wave.
Cirza’s vision finally settled.
The cave came into focus—rough stone walls lined with small shelves, scattered flasks, and a squat fireplace with a pan resting over low heat.
Her eyes narrowed—
“Hey, do you want one?” Poppy asked, stepping closer and holding the bowl out toward her.
Cirza lifted a hand to refuse—
Then froze.
Her face twisted as she realized what was inside.
“Ew—ew—ew—!” She recoiled, scrambling back, legs kicking up as her hands came up defensively. “No—like, no! That’s disgusting!”
Poppy blinked, then straightened with a shrug. “Welp. More for me.”
She picked up one of the bugs and popped it straight into her mouth.
Glacy grimaced, watching her before moving to sit beside Goldy at the small table.
“Wait—hold on.” Cirza stood up. “You’re seriously going to eat that?”
Poppy and Goldy both glanced at the bowl. Poppy looked back. “Yeah… that’s the plan—”
“Not you!” Cirza snapped, pointing sharply at Goldy. “You!”
“Me?” Goldy asked, pointing at herself.
“Yeah. Fairies don’t eat bugs.” Cirza planted a hand on her hip. “You should be gathering from outside, not scraping things off walls.”
Goldy blinked, then offered a small, tentative smile. “I… got used to it, actually. And bugs are easier to catch.”
Cirza huffed, lips pulling downward. “Okay… this is fine…”
A beat.
Her expression snapped.
“No, it’s not fine!”
She raised a hand—an icicle formed instantly. With a sharp swing, she sent it flying, pinning the bowl to the door.
Poppy frowned, rising with a clenched fist—
“Ahem!”
But Cirza was already at the entrance.
“Since our fight very clearly—and without a doubt—ended in a draw,” she said, lifting her chin.
“Then I will do two things.” She raised a finger. “First, I will get you out of this hovel. Second, I will bring you to my home, give you a proper dinner—”
She dipped her head slightly, her voice catching like it was something grand.
“And I will grant a wish of your choosing. Anything you can imagine.”
She straightened, extending a hand toward Poppy.
“So, let’s start with the easy one. Human—you’re the one who fought, so the wish is yours.”
“Tell me. Tell me!”
Poppy glanced at the floor, then the ceiling, thinking. Then she nodded. “Okay. Got it.”
She pointed over her shoulder. “Could you get me an ice pack? I kind of need one for the injuries.”
Cirza’s smile faltered into a frown. “You… sure you don’t want something else?”
“Nope.” Poppy reached over and pulled Goldy into a hug. “I think I’ve got everything I want right here.”
Goldy flinched, her body stiffening—then elbowed her lightly in the stomatch, cheeks warming.
Cirza sighed. “Okay. Cool.”
She turned and walked out, her annoyed muttering fading as she left.
“Welp…” Poppy stood, stretching a bit. “Guess that means we’ve got a place to crash for the night.”
She turned to Goldy, hand outstretched—
—but Goldy didn’t react.
“Still upset?” Poppy asked, tilting her head.
Goldy shook her head, her expression flat.
She took Poppy’s hand and stood.
Silence lingered.
Poppy tried to speak once—then again—but nothing came out.
She winced, looking away. “Y–you know… not everything was bad about this. We could, uh… go look for a skirt, haha…”
Goldy’s expression didn’t change. A quiet breath slipped from her.
Poppy clenched her teeth. “Come on… at least tell me what’s wrong.”
Goldy lowered her gaze.
“If you want me to apologize, you’ve got to tell me,” Poppy said, pressing a hand to her chest. “Anything I can do—just say it.”
Goldy stepped forward.
“So… um…” Poppy closed her eyes. “What I’m trying to say is—”
Goldy suddenly stepped in, burying her face against Poppy’s shirt.
“I—I thought…” Her voice broke, a shallow breath cutting her off.
Poppy flinched, her hands lifting instinctively—then her expression softened.
She rested a hand on Goldy’s head, gently patting it.
Goldy sniffled, her fingers tightening in the fabric of Poppy’s shirt.
Poppy let out a small, quiet smile. “Huh… so that’s what this is…”
She shifted, placing her hands on Goldy’s shoulders and easing her back just enough to kneel in front of her, bringing their eyes level.
Goldy sniffled again. Tears slipped down her cheeks, her lips pressed into a stubborn pout.
Poppy sighed softly. “That last attack really scared you, didn’t it?”
Goldy’s fists curled in her dress. She gave a small nod.
“I see…” Poppy closed her eyes briefly, her voice gentler now. “Are you actually hungry?”
Goldy glanced to the side—then shook her head.
Poppy nodded. “Okay… do you want me to carry you?”
Goldy turned back toward her. For a moment, it looked like she might agree—
—but the hesitation shifted into another small shake of her head.
“Hm…” Poppy tilted her head.
Goldy pressed both fists against her eyes.
Poppy’s expression softened, just for a second.
Then she snapped her fingers. “Wait—I know.”
“You weren’t done with that cookie, right?”
Goldy frowned slightly, her lips twitching as the tears began to slow.
Poppy chuckled. “Hey, don’t lie. I know you well enough to tell.”
Goldy hesitated—then nodded.
Poppy stood up. “That’s good to hear.”
She walked past her, her walk too casual. “Then we’ll just make our own. Goldy-patented.”
She glanced back with a grin. “Sounds cool, right?”
Goldy shifted, fidgeting quietly—
—and then suddenly found herself lifted, perched on Poppy’s shoulders.
“And one more thing!” Poppy added with a bright smile. “I’m totally fine. Wrapped head to toe in bandages and good as new!”
“So if you were worrying about me, you can stop that right now.”
Goldy’s lips trembled. Slowly, she leaned forward, resting her head against Poppy’s shoulder.
Her voice came out small.
“Don’t… lie to me.”
Poppy paused.
Then she smiled—just a little softer this time.
“…I’ll try not to.”
She shifted her grip slightly, steadying Goldy on her shoulders.
Then, without another word, she stepped out of the cave, her pace slow and unhurried.