"Hope is a violent, stubborn thing. It's a belief that only accepts a world burned into its dream." || Nali and Aisfa

(They really shouldn't allow me to write such long titles)

Greetings weary traveler, welcome to the Land of the Fallen Fairies, a story about happiness chasing and fungal science, told by tree fairies.

Since all characters are dryads, tree fairies, pronouns are fae/faer/faerself. Grammatically work like she/her, although they are not the same. Effort is appreciated but don't fret about being correct. Thanks!

Please note that everything discussed here is subject to change.

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The Making of 'The Land of the Fallen Fairies': Aisfa and Nali

"Isn't it more childish to give up without even trying?"

"Like a child, I'll keep being ignored by those who claim to protect me. It'll be a peaceful existence, don't you think?"

Optimism belongs to the cinnamon rolls, the sweet youngest ones of the party. Optimism is a fragile, naive thing, an ignorant thing. It shines the eyes of children, of rabbits and other too-small, too-easily killed creatures.

Pessimism, however, springs from a place of experience. Those who've seen the world and all it can offer dawn a viewpoint of bitterness. The world is much colder and darker than the ignorant minds chose to accept.

Here I want to explore the idea of pessimism belonging to the younger ones, a sort of acceptance of not fighting for anything better, while still keeping nuance. It's up to the reader to decide who's wrong. (If I write everything correctly. crosses fingers and toes)

Nali's naiver, gave up earlier and doesn't believe anything can get better. Fae's also more accepting, less likely to hold grudges or condemn someone for their actions. Why would they be any different? The world takes advantage of everyone.

Aisfa - the older, optimistic one - would destroy the world in the name of hope. Fae'll hold grudges and has a quick temper, often stubbornly refusing to listen to anyone else.

But fae's more knowledgeable in how things can get better, in how fae, faer sibling, and the little friend group they have can find peace in a slowly improving world.

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In the Guardian Territory, they believe the younglings caused the pixie crisis. The younglings lost their way amongst the previous raising system - they lived in little groups and the forest raised them together.

Pixies took advantage of the little ones, and the mature dryads paid the price.

Hence the Guardian Territory's solution.

Each dryad upon maturity must produce one viable offspring, called the 'heir'. The dryad then must monitor their heir, mold their youngling to embody the same legacy as themself. When the heir reaches maturity, this includes inheriting position, prestige, and memories. The dryad gives their entire self to their heir, until the heir replaces the dryad. What's left is this old shell, slowly trickling every last bit of their essence until they're fulfilled. (Happy even, to the horror of their heirs).

The heirs, meanwhile, drain their guardian away, relying on their guardian's memories to carry on the legacy.

What will happen when more than one generation passes, and an heir must carry the weight of lifetimes of memories?

Unsure. This is a recent development.

Nali's sure the whole thing will crash and burn.

The thing about trees is that, while it is rare, multiple offspring can reach maturity. Dryad siblings. How bizarre. The Guardian Territory needs only one heir, so best not waste energy on the younger, more vulnerable ones.

Nali, being younger, spends the majority of faer life in the little hollows beneath faer tree's roots, cold, even in the summer. Faer Guardian waits for faer to die. Nali doesn't. If everyone else wants faer gone, the waste of resources, then so be it. Fae'll keep living out of spite.

Nali builds things. Contraptions and traps, blankets and water funnels. Fae keeps faerself alive. Barely. But it's enough to showcase faer rebellion. Nali relishes in it.

Aisfa- loud, brash, too much - acts as peculiar heir to faer guardian - restrained and observant. Aisfa does love faer guardian, faer quiet joy and faer jokes so dumb Aisfa finds it hard to believe they were spoken in a deadpan.

But as Aisfa reaches maturity, the guardian territory expects faer to claim faer Guardian's traits, faer memories, faer life. To Aisfa, it's almost like killing faer guardian.

And fae... can't.

Fae can't take faer guardian's life so fae'll face the Guardian Territory's ostracization. Fae can't face the loneliness at the end of the Guardian Terrtitory's ostracization so fae must take faer guardian's life.

It's overwhelming. Aisfa tries to look on the bright side of both options. It's overwhelming.

Aisfa's guardian mentions the sibling, sprouted when Aisfa had just grown into cognizance. Still alive. Somehow. It's the greatest act of rebellion and spite the guardian territory's ever seen.

"I don't know faer name, faer interests, faer likes and faer hates. I only know that your sibling is alive. Fae's alive despite the Guardian Territory. It's a shame that we didn't encourage the perseverance."

Aisfa choses to believe this is faer guardian's regret. That behind that veil of indifference lies pain, a wish for another future, something Aisfa shares.

Aisfa choses to believe this is faer guardian saying it's okay to run.

Fae can't be sure. Aisfa can never be sure with faer guardian, but, at heart, Aisfa's an optimist.

Nali couldn't live forever on faer own. The current state of Trinity Hollow, with its restrictions on nutrient sharing and its wariness of loners, makes it difficult to do so.

Nali nudged the line between life and death and clung onto life for as long as fae possibly could. The few years fae got weren't enough.

Then comes faer older sibling, the one Nali heard about but never saw, choosing to save Nali and run away from the whole thing.

Nali doesn't hold a grudge against Aisfa. Society destroys the kind ones first.

Except for Aisfa, who stubbornly clings to faer hope. In fact, the more hardships Aisfa faces, the brighter fae becomes.

Fae's going to crash and burn more than the rest. Nali never admits fae fears the day Aisfa will break.

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There's the other two members of Ankh's friend group! From this point onwards it becomes hard to describe them because it intertwines with a whole slew of worldbuilding. (I promise I didn't intend to make it so complicated.) I hope you enjoyed their backstory, nonetheless.

And with all that said, if you have something interesting to say about society's view of optimism and pessimism, about expectations or the label of 'good and bad', then feel free to leave a comment letting me know. Because Aisfa and Nali are still early in development, I can always do with some further complexities and viewpoints.