Somewhere during Violet's glee filled explanation of the recently imprisoned General Harry and the escape attempt orchestrated by his secret lover, Captain Worth... the duo wandered over to Willow.

That was what Violet called the willow tree she lives in. Apparently, the boulder where Daire set up shop is called Big Boulder. She hasn't mentioned the name of the pond... yet. However, Daire sensed a theme brewing, a potentially dangerous one.

Violet was rooting through her vast collection of books, which littered across several branches. She also flew in and out of a small recess in Willow, trying to organize things since this was the first time she has had a guest. Her frazzled mind didn't register that Daire could never fit inside and that all of her books were about an inch tall at most. Most were only about a half-inch.

Daire would have to hold the book between two fingers and use a magnifying glass. Which he happened to have, but it would look quite silly none-the-less.

She was still talking about how Captain Worth disguised herself as a man working under Lieutenant Malbrick and was narrowly discovered when she hid in the men's bathroom. Daire listened, engrossed in the story when a cool breeze winded through his fingers.

It guided his hand. Unconsciously, he placed it on Willow's textured trunk.

It was warm to the touch as if it had been baking in the sun. Daire closed his eyes, immersing himself in his surroundings. He could still hear Violet shuffling about and continuing her story, but it started to gradually fade out and was replaced by entirely new stimuli.

Daire could hear the buzz of the insects that have just come out of hiding, accompanied by birdsongs that he had never heard before. A breeze flowed throw the leaves of Willow, creating a soft fuzz of noise as they brushed past. He felt the earth and grass underneath exposed toes. Whiffs of saltwater blew in on a southern wind.

It whispered stories of vast lands behind the seas, all while whistling a calming melody. Burnt static and charcoal from Willow's center singed the scent of his soap and gauze.

Then Daire caught a whiff of a natural perfume that could never have been replicated in modern society. The ruffling stopped. Its message clear.

"Violet."

Whispering, he opened his eyes. He saw Violet standing on a branch a couple of feet away. The white paper wings attached to her lower back curving around past her front, like the embrace of an angel. Violet's long, black hair that glowed with deep purples was blowing in the wind. Her hand was reaching up, trying to keep her grass hair tie from coming undone. She was watching him, and he thought he could hear a muted gulp.

"Yes?"

Daire gazed up at her, his eyes shimmering with clear resolve and hardened features.

"Will you be my partner?"

=

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"P-P-p-partner?"

Violet's head was spinning. Real steam rose out of her ears as her eyes turned into whirlpools.

She didn't understand what he was asking all of a sudden! She'd been regaling him with one of Captain Worth's rescue plans and organizing her books when she felt his presence disappear. Violet came back out of her recess to see he hadn't disappeared but was standing still with his hand against Willow. Examining him, it felt like his presence was gone... No, like it had merged with Willow.

Violet was entranced. He spoke her name so abruptly and with such purpose. She felt the wind pick up and hurried to keep her hair in one piece. Then he had suddenly asked if she would be his partner!

I- I can't get married. I'm still too young. I have never even met a man before. What if he doesn't like me? Wasn't he annoyed by me talking the whole time? He probably thinks I'm fat. No. Wait. I just lost a few milligrams last week! Could I really marry someone? What about our height difference? Could we even have kids? Maybe through the Pixie way...

Daire's question floored her. Her mind was in shambles, running in several directions at once. Violet's face shone scarlet. Pressing her palms to her cheeks to cool herself, she started gesturing wildly, shaking her arms in a denying gesture, she replied in staccato.

"P-Partner? I think I am still too young. We just met. You seem nice, and I think you are kind of cute, but I don't think that we could-

Daire gave a coy smile and thankfully cut her off before she could really embarrass herself.

"Violet. That wasn't what I meant."

Screeching brakes.

A small voice hidden behind thin arms.

"It wasn't?"

"What I mean is..."

Daire struggled for a moment, trying to get his thoughts in order and how best to explain his situation in a way that she could understand. Daire thought of a line of reasoning that would make sense to her.

"Have you ever wished you could meet your favorite characters? Save the ones that the author killed off?"

Violet immediately understood. She replied, intensely serious, almost grave.

"Of course! I always wanted to live in their worlds. I wanted to journey with them, fall in love with them, save them," Nodding solemnly as if remembered several specific books, she continued, "I know exactly how that feels."

Daire brightened. Responding in an equally serious tone.

"Imagine. If we could save them."

Pausing for effect.

"In this world. Here. I have knowledge of where many of those 'characters' died off, were thrown away, or faded into obscurity."

Violet felt goosebumps crawl up her arms. She didn't miss what he said.

We.

"They are all good people who didn't deserve to die. They were used as theatrical tools by the author to drum up the villain's deeds. They were mercilessly betrayed by the ones they thought to their closest allies and friends. Their deaths are unjust. Unacceptable!"

Daire's eyes burned.

"I want to save them. No! I Will save them!

He spoke hastily. Passionately. Trying to get it all out.

"I know where they are and I know when they will die. I was planning to do it alone, but I realized last night, and right now, that going it alone is much harder than saving them."

Daire's voice went trailed off, realizing he was saying a little more than he wanted to. Quickly shaking it off, he continued.

"Will you join me? Violet?"

He spread his arms out wide.

"Help me save them? With you and Willow, we can create a home here. We can create a family with our favorite characters all gathered in one place!"

Daire studied Violet, trying to read her reaction and thoughts.

If she refuses...

The wind changed direction.

=

Violet was moved.

This... this was everything!

Everything she ever wanted.

Ever since Willow started gifting her books, she had fallen in love so many times she lost count. Her heart broke, and broke, and broke, and shatteredsplinteredsundered.

She always wanted to be part of her own story, a place where she would belong, surrounded by the friends she got to know so well but could never speak to. She wanted to meet them, even if only for a short while.

They never responded.

Never saw her tears.

Never looked her way.

This. This was her chance. And it had fallen right into her lap.

Violet straightened.

Reflecting the same resolve she saw in Daire's eyes, she nodded.

"Yes. Let's save them. Let's save the main characters."