The days felt like they were melding together. I no longer seemed to possess a sense of time, but secretly, it felt so pleasant. It was as though I were at a constant state of glee, drunk on the beauty of the Earth.

I stared vacantly into the distance, my eyes scouring the lush meadow that beckoned and waved at me. I have never felt so at peace with myself and the world. The sun seemed to glow brighter, giving my face a healthy flush. The grass beneath my toes were soft and filled my nose with the pleasurable scent of life. It was lovely; I leaned back and closed my eyes, feeling the earth pulse beneath my back.

"Serena," Lyon's husky voice broke the soft whisper of the grass. "Are you hungry?"

I opened my eyes and found myself staring into Lyon's eyes as he hovered over me. Surprised at the proximity, I bolted upward, embarrassed, and rammed my forehead against his. "Ouch!" I grimaced and he fell backwards clutching his own head in pain. He squinted through his pain to check on me and his eyes met mine.

A small snort escaped my lips as I rubbed my forehead, "Are you okay?"

At first he stared at me blankly and then he bursted out laughing. His sand colored hair fell in graceful wisps along his eyebrows as the corner of his eyes crinkled with laughter. "You have a hard head, don't you? You seem quite unfazed by the the fact that you just head-butted the Prince of the Woodland Creatures."

I smiled at him and shrugged. "Well, call me bold." Silence descended on us and soon the whisper of the wind and foliage filled the air again.

"Here." Lyon produced a small fruit that looked delightfully plump and red. "You should eat more. You're getting thinner."

"Thanks and it's fine. Maybe I'm starting to become more fairy…" I trailed off, staring at the round fruit in my hand. I bitterly bit into the fruit and the sweet juices of the fruit rushed into my mouth. All the food in the fairy realm had been by far the most delicious I've ever had in my life.

"Are…you not happy?" Lyon murmured as he tilted his head to look at my face. "I've always thought you liked nature."

"I do," I whispered to him. "But…I don't know what I'm feeling." I pleadingly searched his eyes. "Lyon, I don't know what I'm doing here. I-I felt like I've forgotten something so important."

Lyon pulled his lips into a tight smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Serena, you're here to live a better life. A life filled with love, warmth, and peace…with me."

Why was I here? I felt like I needed to do something so important. I stared at my fingertips that were stained red by the plum-like fruit.

"Why does it feel like I don't deserve something like that?" I shook my head, slowly, as if trying to remember. "Lyon…I really was once human, right?"

He smiled warmly at me and his hands enclosed mine. "Yes. Of course you were."

It was yet another day idling by the bubbling creek. I spent much of my time here, gently dipping my toes in the crystal waters.

I watched as the leaves turned from a vibrant green to a fiery orange. They gently fluttered to the earth below. It was absolutely amazing how seasons changed so quickly and how quickly time flowed by. My hair had grown from boyish wisps to mid-back tresses that draped around me. They were silky tufts, nurtured by my improved health as the result of the nutritious food constantly provided to me.

Unlike the tangled mass Sara used to complain about—

My eyes widened in shock and I blinked, furiously. What was that? My heart beat frantically against my chest as I silently mouthed that thought to myself. …Sara? Who was that..

"Serena," Lyon's voice called from behind me. I whirled around and found myself staring at the flower filled with delectable nectar. "You've been out here for hours."

I felt my hands slowly encircle the flower. "H-has it been hours already? I thought I just came out here.."

Lyon gave me a strained expression. "Serena…have you been eating?"

I smiled meekly at him. "Why do you always ask me that?" I sniffed the nectar-filled flower. "I'm always eating when you're around."

"You just keep getting thinner," Lyon said, wistfully.

"Am I?" I chortled and stared at my thin wrists. "I've always been like this, no?"

"No…." Lyon murmured.

Shocked, I gazed at him confused.

"Are you happy?" Lyon asked, his eyes cast towards the vast, blue sky.

I puckered my lips thoughtfully as I followed his gaze upward. I thought about the constant hollowness I felt at the pit of my stomach and then I looked at the tan boy. My earlier thought about Sara gently faded from my mind. "….Yes, I'm happy."

I giggled as I tightly held the tufts of fur that stuck out of the deer. Often, they would let me ride on their backs and they would bring me to other hidden meadows filled with glorious flowers.

It really like I was part of nature. The deer gently knelt into the grass and sprawled itself out comfortably. I laughed at the odd position it decided to lay itself in. I hopped off and fluttered towards the other deers that have begun to gather around. I nuzzled into their soft fur and felt the warmth spreading along my cheek.

"You're so cute," I grinned and patted it's nose.

In the distance, I heard quiet talking and the sound of dead branches crunching. I snapped my head up in surprise. I have never heard or encountered a traveler ever. Curious, I turned in the direction of the crackling branches and found myself face to face with a young man.

He stopped walking and lowered the scimitar he had been using to cut through the dense forest. The loose, white button-up shirt he wore, hung loosely to his muscular body, soaked with sweat and a few days of grime. His sapphire eyes were trained on me with what looked like a strange mixture of shock and some other emotion. Right behind him was another man who's mouth opened slightly in astonishment before stealing a glance at his stunned companion. He clenched his jaw before disappearing back the way he came, leaving behind the strange cerulean-eyed man who had his eyes locked on me.

I stood up, slowly, returning his intent gaze. His pale skin seemed to flush to a deeper, redder tone and he took a small step forward.

"Seren—" Before he could finish, I hurtled myself backwards in fear, frantically escaping to the thick foliage that bordered the meadow.

How did he know my —

A large hand enclosed my tiny, fairy body and I found myself being dragged backward. My eyes widened in fear as I struggled violently against his strong hold. I grimaced in pain at how tightly he held onto me and found myself gasping for air. As if sensing my distress, his grip loosened, allowing my lungs to expand and fill. I whipped my head up and stared into the handsome face of the man.

"Serena…." he whispered my name.

"W-who are you?" I uttered, feeling myself blanch. "H-how do you know me?" I again struggled against his warm grip.

His mouth turned into a thin line as he pulled me closer to his face. "What happened? Can you speak? Why aren't you talking?" He smelled of the open sea. A sense of familiarity washed over me as the scent of his skin enveloped me.

"What are you talking about? I'm speaking right now!" I shouted back at him.

He merely stared at me longer, his face filled with the same stricken expression he had earlier when he saw me.

"Release her!" A stern voice ordered and Lyon appeared in front of us. I squinted at him in awe as he was not fairy-size; he had donned his human form and rivaled the height of the man who held me gingerly in his hand. I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between them.

Lyon was a sun-kissed creature, who spent long days dwelling under the sun's healthy gaze, while the one who held me was pale and smooth, just like the gentle glow of a full moon on the darkest night. It was mesmerizing seeing the two confront each other like this.

The man's face darkened. "What does your kind want with her?" His voice was low and even. I stared hard at the underside of his face. His jaw was clenched tightly and his lips were curled over his perfect teeth as he hissed those words. To my surprise, his arm was tensed to the point where veins bulged along his forearm, and yet I was safely encased in his large hands.

"I said, release her!" Lyon repeated himself, ignoring the man's question. "What business do you have here?"

The man remained quiet as he held me out in front of Lyon. "She's my business. Now, answer me, what have you done? Why can't she speak?"

"Well, she has no business with you or your lot," Lyon snapped. "She's my wife— the future queen of the fairy realm."

"The queen?" Was the garbled response. He looked at me, searching my face. "Serena. It's me."

I shook my head at him, entranced by the intensity rolling off his body. "Lyon, what's going on? Who is he? Why is he like this?…"

Lyon didn't answer me and continued to stare at the man.

"Serena, have you forgotten everything? It's me Cereous."

My mind seem to shift a little at the mention of that name. Cereous. It was familiar.

"Have you forgotten about me? The crew?" Cereous asked, almost desperately.

"Serena. You have no obligation to answer him. You would want nothing to do with his kind—" Lyon murmured, stiffly. I craned my neck to stare at Lyon and his face was pulled into a dark, unreadable expression. I have never seen him so agitated and tense; I could practically see the hostility emitting from his body.

"What about Sara?" Cereous whispered, his crystal eyes piercing mine. My eyes widened as I felt an abrupt pang of grief ripple through my body and suddenly, I remembered—

"That's enough," Lyon ordered and everything seemed to stop moving. The trees no longer swayed to the wind and the dull sounds of nature ceased, entirely. Suddenly, I was thrown out of Cereous's hand. I summersaulted through the air from the force and just before I pierced through the thick foliage surrounding the meadow, I saw Lyon's body collide with Cereous's.

I grimaced, preparing for impact with the hard dirt

"Umph!" I grunted as I collided with the ground. To my surprise, the landing was not as painful as I anticipated. I glanced beneath me and saw that large tufts of grass and vegetation had sprouted, cushioning my collision with the formerly hard earth. I whipped my head back in the direction of the two men, my eyes wide with fright.

My heart ached thinking about the expression on his face, the look of sadness and despair. Why did he look so sad? I fluttered over to the foliage that separated us and flew out into the clearing.

To my shock, no one was there— in fact, this was no longer the same meadow. Where did they go? Where did I go? I clenched my teeth against the sudden anger that snaked through my stomach. Only Lyon had the ability to potentially launch me halfway across the forest— maybe even to a different country.

"Lyon!" I called out to the towering forest. "Lyon, where are you? Please." Tears welled up in my eyes as I fluttered around helplessly. "How could you, Lyon?" Rage filled me as I remembered Cereous, the crew, and Sara. He had lied to me and kept me in a spell, making me forget the one person that meant the world to me— my own sister. "HOW COULD YOU, LYON!" The scream ripped itself from my throat, filling the still air around me. The trees bent ominously to an intangible wind.

"You were happier." Lyon was suddenly in front of me; his ochre eyes burning into mine. "Tell me you weren't happy."

I blinked back the tears as I curled my hands into fists. "I was, but how do you know what happiness is? Do you consider an eternity of nothing happiness? Forgetting my dreams and hopes is happiness?" I sputtered, practically spitting venom from my mouth. "No, Lyon… It's torture!"

"It's more torture being bound by your humanly burdens. As a fairy, you wouldn't have to worry about things like money or pathetic humanly ties. You'd be one with nature, just as you should," Lyon retorted, fervently. "You would be free.

"I never hated being human," I snapped back at him, tears were falling from my eyes now. "Being human meant struggling to achieve your dreams. It means striving for something— not just wandering around the meadows all day, aimlessly. Being human was being hopeful and inspired for something better."

His eyebrows furrowed as he straightened away from me. "You don't know any better, Serena. I've been alive for so much longer than you have. I've seen the kind of things that humans have done. It's not meant for someone like you." His gaze softened as he gingerly touched my cheek. "You're not like them. You've always been so strong and kind despite all those hardships. You belong here."

I closed my eyes and let the last tear fall from my eyes. "You can't decide this for me. You can't take away my memories and tell me what I want…" I trailed off and gazed at him. "I can't trust you…" I gently pushed his hand away and stepped back. "You tried to take away my humanity. I can't be your wife. Not in this lifetime."

Lyon's expression darkened. "Serena, don't say this…" His jaw was clenched tightly, and his warm eyes glowed with energy. "You don't know what you want."

My lips pulled into a thin line and I gazed at him defiantly. "You can't decide what I want." I fluttered upward. "If you ever loved me, you will let me go."

Lyon's eyes widened in shock and pain. The words that I have spoken seemed to tear him apart, but I gritted my teeth and kept my chin high. This creature kept me from my goals. He kept me from my memories and kept me here for lord knows how long. He had promised to help me, but he only tricked me.

"Serena," he started in a low voice. "It's because I love you that I can't let you go."

The sun drew close the horizon and the skies began to dim. The trees swayed and the wind grew ominously loud. Lyon's face was no longer warm as the sun's descent casted shadows across his face. The brightness and smiles he often shared with me was replaced with a stoic, impenetrable gaze. His fiery wings sprouted from his back and he ascended toward the sky. "We are returning to the palace at once!"

"Lyon, no!" I screamed as I fluttered upward. The sharp wind tangled itself into my hair and whipped across my face. The moon grew large and hung overhead as I spun around and shot towards the foliage. Suddenly, I was thrown forward as my wings vanished. With a grunt I collided with the soft grass. The smell of the earth was strong as the mud clung to my arms. For the first time, the moist smell of the forest made me sick.

"Please, don't do this." Lyon murmured. He was still hovering above me, a pitying look on his face. "I've been lenient on you, Serena. I let you keep your memories so that you could be happy. I knew how much your memories and humanity meant to you. I gave you time and hoped that you would gradually forget and complete the transformation into a fairy."

Vines began to enclose around my wrist as I shook my head at him, outrage on my face.

"But you just never forgot. Your heart remained human, Serena. You are wasting away here…" he was whispering now. I could barely hear him above the wind and the ominous rustling of the trees. "I can't let you suffer like this."

"You're wrong, Lyon. You can't decide this for me. I will never forget being human… I'll return to Cereous and I'll never be your queen," I spat at him as I clawed at the vines wrapping around me.

Lyon's eyes flickered with anger. "If you want to embark on the journey to your death, then you return to him. There is something you do not know about that man and his crew. They are of something sinister and reek of death." He murmurs ever so softly, "A place like that isn't meant for you— someone so filled with life."

Lyon abruptly whipped his head around just in time to be clipped by Cereous's blade. The blade sank into Lyon's shoulder and a look of shock crossed his face. I have never seen that expression on him because nothing ever caught him off guard. No one has ever dared or even landed a hit on him.

"You…" Lyon growled as he strained to keep the blade from sinking any deeper into his shoulder with his other hand. "You dare strike a prince?"

Cereous's eyes glowed in the moonlight. His expression bore no signs of reluctance or hesitation with his blade. "You give her back to me."

Lyon growled at him as blue blood dripped from his wound. "If she follows you, she will die. You know that!"

Cereous's eyes were a dangerous silver as he withdrew his sword, preparing for another strike.

"If you love her, you won't let her follow you," Lyon murmured as he gripped his injured shoulder.

"I would never hurt her," Cereous said, coldly. "I already owe her my life." With that, he drove the sword into Lyon's chest. The sword immediately shattered like glass and spilled around the two men like marbles. Lyon clutched his chest as he stepped back, the wound on his shoulder sealed in an instant.

He looked over at me and gave me a rueful look. With a quiet sigh, his shoulders slumped forward and he dissolved into a bright assortment of leaves.