The Bitter Truth

♧

The pools of mountains and hills were rotund, shaped like a bunny form painted in green, but still as a rock.

"Oh, oh! I know this place!" Serena breathed at the scenery before her, feeling that the view was familiar. "My sister and I have been here before."

Axel's furry ears bobbed up. "You mean to tell me you've been to the tooth fairy's house?"

"No, no Axel. Up there in the hill. I remember we crossed by the pond and through the tunnel first. Not a village." Serena explained from her memory and the dog's round nose was black as ever despite that they were in the light. His achromatic furs were thick as snow, yet clean and polished.

"Your memory has to do with it then," Axel replied with a nonchalant shrug and cast his eyes below. "Let's go down there."

So down they went, and there was a creek across them in the rocky steps beneath the whispering waters. Axel offered his paw, and this time, Serena returned her hand in his. Both of them held each other, hand in paw, skipping lightly on the rocks. The two delve away into the quiet woods after they had passed beyond the creek.

The village was not far nor was it near, but they could see the butterflies gliding down towards the village from the sky. These butterflies carried the jars under the pretty wings that arched over. Each of them settled to place the jars on the carriages and carried on with their jobs as they flew away.

When Serena and Axel reached the village, she discovered many things throughout this little journey. The people in the village were short, almost dwarf in height, and not a single one of them frowned in her direction. Men and women were there, but surprisingly no children appeared. The villagers halted whatever they were doing once they acknowledged the newcomers within sight. They stretched on tiptoes and waved at them as they curled their lips into a glowing smile.

Both of them returned the wave.

Serena's freckled cheeks were puffed out in delight when something caught her eye. "Look at those!" and those she pointed, were bluebells popping out from the soil, where the daughters and sons of these flowers came next to follow the path. The bees asked for consent to collect these wonderful nectars and pollen, and so the bluebells were very much humbled with the request. On their way to the tooth fairy's cottage, the birds flew high into the wisps of clouds and migrate somewhere for a long journey to find their purpose in life.

By the time they were in front of the tooth fairy's windows, the door swung open in a swift. A lady with beautiful wings burst out in colorful rainbows until its radiance sparked everywhere in the distance. The fairy puckered her full lips and kissed the tip of the wand she was holding. As she looked up, the tooth fairy threw a look of surprise when she acknowledged the presence of her new guest.

"Why, hello there, Serena Foster! You are just in time," the tooth fairy fluttered her wings and left a trail of golden glitters behind. "How pleasant. Thank you for escorting her, Axel."

"Not a problem." the dog nodded.

At this moment, the tooth fairy completely shifted her attention to her guest. "Now tell me, which tooth that got out?"

As she was looking up admiringly, Serena batted her eyelashes and answered shortly, "It's here," she opened her mouth and pointed to her upper teeth.

The tooth fairy began to scrutinize keenly, tilting her head. She raised her head and backed away again when Serena shut her mouth.

"You've got lovely cheeks, by the way." The tooth fairy observed with a sweet smile, poking the chubby cheeks. Serena found this as a compliment, especially when it was said from the likes of the tooth fairy.

All of a sudden, her wand twinkled several times. The tooth fairy watched over it and quickly said, "Ah, here it is. Wish for anything, Serena. I'll give you what you asked for."

The little heart thumped with joy and Serena whispered eagerly as she shut her eyes, "I wish," with a dramatic pause. "I wish this is true, I wish you exist and none of this is a dream."

At this moment, the wind rocked the place, her sight was beginning to be hazy, and the land was drowning into the depths of a black hole. Everything was starting to gradually fade including the innocent creatures before her. She received a puzzled look from the tooth fairy, and Serena felt that she wanted to stay with her a little longer. Nevertheless, it was too late once the ray of sunbeams kissed her round face until it awoke her in the morning. The little angel rubbed her puffy eyes and got up from her bed. Trembling with excitement, she briskly went down the stairs to greet the husky dog.

The dog lifted his fluffy ears, stood up to his hind legs, stuck his tongue out with a heavy pant just when her presence was here.

"Axel, Axel!" Serena burst from the patio door and went right up to shake him. "Hey Axel, can't you talk?"

She waited, but only a friendly bark was his answer.

"Oh, no Axel! Why can't you say anything?" Serena kept shaking him until it gave him quite a scare.

The husky dog moaned with a howl as she kept repeatedly shaking while demanding him, "Speak! Axel, just speak up!"

Mr. Foster broke in when he heard the noisy sound. "My dear, what are you doing to that poor dog?" he asked, looking very baffled at what his daughter was fussing over about.

Serena turned to the voice. "Daddy! How come he doesn't want to talk?"

His hands landed on his hips by the door. "Good grief! Of course, he can't talk. He's just a dog."

Serena rested back a little and dropped her arms. "But he did just now." she stared dumbly, tilting her smooth head.

"I swear, daddy. He can talk!"

"Hmph. Did he say anything about me?" was her father's question, implying it was a silly thing to say.

Serena's brows fell to a scowl and didn't find this a bit funny. "I'm not lying, dad!"

Anger took over her and so her little feet stood up until she stomped past to get inside.

The moment when Lena went downstairs, her little sister sank onto the sofa once she inserted the videotape and switched on the remote television from the wooden table. While she was waiting for it to run, Lena walked over to join her from behind the sofa.

"What are you going to watch, little sis?" Lena began and sat beside her little sister who was still in her pyjamas.

Before her little sister was about to answer, It was already on the screen in front of them when Lena saw herself a teen again. She paused for a moment, and her emerald eyes dimmed as if she recollected those wistful years with her little sister on her arms. Lena laughed softly. A soft laugh escaped from her dented lips as if she was in there, replaying the time.

"I don't remember dad filming us," she said but later formed an endearing smile. "I'm pretty sure this was when you were still about three months old."

"How do you know, Lena?"

"Little sister, how can I forget? I took care of you most of the time," Lena cast over her and added, "So did Betty."

"Who's she?"

"She was your babysitter. You'll have to meet her some other time. She's the one who always changed your baby diapers and fed you when you were still a little darling." Lena sighed reminiscently. "She didn't know how to do it properly at first. So I taught her how to do it."

Serena looked at her sister thoughtfully and propped her chin against her hands in curiosity. "Does she have children now, Lena? If she does then I'll help her. I'll do the same for you too, Lena. If you have children someday, I'd rather help you take care of them. Honestly, It's much better than going to school."

"I don't even know if she's married since we haven't been in touch for a long time," she answered as her smile grew. "But thank you, Serena. You don't need to sacrifice yourself just to take care of anyone's children, especially mine. Your education is more important."

It was funny to say this since she wanted to do the same thing years ago. Looking back, Lena was ever so grateful that her father made a decision for her in those times, and not herself alone.

In the midst of watching with a few inches between them, Serena immediately sat straight when something entered her mind. "Oh, I remember my tooth!"

"What?"

"My tooth, Lena. It got out yesterday and I want to know if the tooth fairy took it!" Serena hopped out from her seat.

"Wait, the tooth? Oh, about that-" without being able to finish her sentence, her little sister flew off upstairs. Serena rushed up to push the door and reached under the pillow where she felt nothing whatsoever. When Serena noticed the tooth was gone, she stood erect and clapped her hands with a bubbly laugh that echoed the house, feeling much satisfied that her dream came true.

Lena peeped in and entered the room when she saw her little sister jumping upon the floor with pure happiness. All in one breath she cried almost as if she was in victory, "Yes, It's true! I knew the tooth fairy existed."

"I-I was going to say I kept your tooth in the bathroom, little sister. I placed it in the cabinet just a while ago when I made your bed."

The child put her hands over her mouth. "Noo! I thought she did take my tooth!" Serena cried and pouted as she fell into a heavy disappointment. It was sort of an abominable blow for her. To think her sister was the tooth fairy! Only that she didn't have wings.

"You mean the flying lady in Peter pan? Or that little Thumbelina fairy?"

Lena sighed while shaking her head a few times. "Serena, you are almost nine. Aren't you a little old enough to believe these things are true?"

"I can't help it. I love imagining pretty things, Lena." Serena answered from her frank mouth, as innocent as she could be. "Also, Thumbelina isn't a fairy. She only happens to be small as a thumb and met the fairy prince," She corrected with a sneer. "And now that I know you stole it, it's hard for me to believe it's true now! But no matter what, I still believe in miracles." The child declared with a superior air, lifting the well-known chin again.

"I-I didn't steal it. I put it safely in the cabinet just in case if you ask. And yes, I do believe in miracles, little sis. The miracles that exist everywhere around us beyond our knowledge. It's very different from the books and films you see or read, you know."

"It sounds boring when you explain it." Serena groaned and then pulled out her other chubby arm in front of her big sister where her palm stuck out. "Now, I want to know where my tooth is." She demanded haughtily.

Clearly, she was still upset over the fact that her dream wasn't true. All Lena did was chuckle at her little sister's childish imaginations since she did seem as if she set her heart in this very seriously. But she found this quite funny whenever her little sister bossed around in the house.

Lena murmured under her breath as she chuckled when she turned over her shoulder at the moody girl, "I'll get it for you, little duckling." Having said this with a smirk, she left to find her little sister's tooth. Serena wasn't pleased when she found out Lena stole it from her and frowned on the bed when she was patronized by her own big sister.