“Conflicts among fairies began long before the present day. However, they were kept in check by two powerful rulers: the Emperor Horticulturist Machalepi II and the Empress Horticulturist Saffron XXVI. These rulers were strong until the Battle of Cereus. Then they were overthrown and forced to retreat into hiding. 

“The riots started over lack of food during an intense drought. Neither Machalepi II nor Saffron XXVI had any idea how to help the people. So, they simply gave what they had to those who needed it. This was highly effective until the Horticulturists ran out of supplies to give. The desperate, hungry public stormed the castle and took everything. The Horticulturists were forced to flee with only the clothes on their backs and their young daughter, Epazote III. 

“Epazote III grew up in poverty. However, she received the same education as the future Empress Horticulturist. She did not see the world the same way as her parents did. Instead of seeing only the current starvation, she saw ways to stop it. Her parents would not allow her to try and regain the family’s former power. But when her mother died of the contagious Fire Blight disease and her father went to serve in a local militia, she was left to decide her own future. She chose a path that would make her the most famous fairy leader in all of history. 

 “Epazote III boldly walked into a raging battle, the Battle of Snake’s Head Fritillary. She declared that she had solved the problem of the drought. There were many doubts. Epazote III quickly proved herself by watering the ground with the blood of her first challenger and planting a tree in the newly softened earth. 

“All enemies were imprisoned as she took back power. Food was restricted and water was not given to fairies but to plants. Riots became less frequent as Epazote III forced the people to see how serious she was about fixing the planet. She mastered the four elements: fire, earth, water, and air. She used these abilities to help the plants grow and end the drought. As the drought went away, so did the restrictions. By the end of Epazote III’s reign, every fairy had food and water, and the plants were flourishing. Her people were dismayed when a tree fell on her, killing her and leaving her throne open. 

“Luckily, she had trained four counselors before her death, and they took the throne. They were not only important because they made rules and enforced them. They also guarded the four elements: fire, earth, water, and air. The opal stones that held the power of the elements were kept safe in the Cereus Palace.” 

Asafetida finished her story and looked at the younglings below her. There were only three, and they were far too small to do any gardening. Still, it was her job to educate them on the fairy history. She also taught them how to carry on the Empress Horticulturist’s legacy to protect the planet. In a year or so, the younglings would be big enough to begin working.  

“Miss Asa,” said Jessamine, raising her hand. Asa inclined her head, giving Jessamine permission to speak. “Miss, what about our plant? I know we will all take care of the village’s plants, but what of our plant?” The other two, Cestrum and Hesna, nodded enthusiastically. 

Asa sighed. One of the great Empress Horticulturist’s first laws had been to create jobs for all fairies. This made sure that all plants would be healthy and safe. Infections would be taken care of before they became problems. That was why, in the village named Teasel Banksia, the six fairies that lived together all had specific jobs for maintaining harmony among the plants and themselves.  

However, these three younglings seemed to think that they would only be caring for their mother plant. All three had been born from a Night Blooming Jasmine, and they were very protective of it. Well, Asa could understand that. Her own mother plant, a Ferula herb, held a special place in her heart.  

However, she could not spend all of her time tending to the Ferula herb. In fact, most of her time was spent with a Scarlet Firebush that was going to give at least one new youngling. She doubted it would give more than one, but that wasn’t unusual. In fact, a situation like Jessa, Cestrum, and Hesna was far rarer. Three younglings from one plant. Anise, who had been caring for the plant at the time, definitely brought out the planet's potential.  

“Your mother plant will be cared for by Anise and Cayenne, like she always is. You can check on her and bring her offerings, but you will care for the plants you are assigned to. Like the bahiagrass! It can always use another caretaker!” Asa explained as her patience wore thin. 

Hesna raised her hand. Asa wearily gestured for her to speak. “Is it true that we could go to another village, somewhere other than Teasel Banksia, and work there?”   

“Why would you want to leave mother!? Traitor!” Cestrum butted in.  

Asa separated the bickering siblings. “Jessa, sit between them. Thank you. Yes, Hesna, it is true that you could relocate to another village. But you would have to go to the Cereus Palace first. It’s important that we all are helping places that need the most help.”  

The younglings nodded. They understood that without them, Teasel Banksia might be one of those places that needed more help. They were the first younglings born in several years. The summer heat had dried up several mother plants, leading to the loss of many fairies. Asa was now the oldest fairy there, making her responsible for the health of the village.  

Just as that thought crossed her mind, Elowenn, one of the strongest fairies of the village, came running up.  

“Asa, come quickly. You need to see this!” 

Asa dismissed the children and followed Elowenn to her mother plant. It was a towering elm tree that shaded the entire village. Most of the fairies made their homes among the branches after leaving their mother plant. They all knew it well, but not as well as Elowenn. She was a guard and occasional messenger, unlike the rest of the fairies. Her mother tree was how she traveled and the source of her strength. 

Asa knew that something had to be very wrong if Elowenn had come to her instead of dealing with the issue herself. Elowenn was a very resourceful fairy and one of Asa’s finest pupils. She nervously fluttered after Elowenn, through the branches of the elm and up to the top. They paused on a twig, higher than Asa ever had reason to fly.  

“I decided to check on the neighboring villages,” Elowenn explained, “and I saw something strange. From the top of Mother, I can usually see the Magnolia Tree of Dionaea Muscipula and the Oak Tree of Euphorbia Obesa. But today, well…come look.”  

Asa followed Elowenn up above the elm and looked where Dionaea Muscipula was supposed to be. She saw nothing. That was the closest village, visible even from halfway up the tree trunk. Yet here, Asa couldn’t see any trace that the village had existed. 

Concerned, Asa spun around and looked for Euphorbia Obesa. The oak tree was there, but it was blackened, as if it had been badly burned. Wild fires weren’t unusual, but the fairies never let them hurt the trees that much.  

“What happened?” Asa asked, turning to face Elowenn. “Where are the fairies? How could this have happened?” Elowenn shrugged and motioned for Asa to follow her to the crook in the tree where she lived. The elm had mothered many fairies, but most had left to work in other villages. Elowenn, despite her youth, had the best branch to live on.  

Elowenn’s home was small but made of fresh young leaves. It was filled with the feathers of birds who shared the tree. The branches above had interwoven so tightly that rain never penetrated the shelter. Because it was near the trunk, the wind went around it, so Elowenn never had to replace anything in her house. Asa shook her head. The elm’s youngling was spoiled by her mother.  

Elowenn brought out a small shard of a rock. It reflected the light that hit it, scattering bright rainbows all around. The rock was translucent and had an orange tint. Asa could feel the power coming from it. Elowenn ran her fingers over the stone.  

“It’s a fire opal,” she explained. “I found it under the oak this morning. I think, somehow, a fire opal was brought into the village and someone cracked it. It’s the only thing that could create such a huge fire so fast.”  

“Where was it?” Asa asked, dreading the answer.  

“Directly over the guardian plant.”