Dipity fidgeted with her cap as Sarah decided that since Dip got along with fairies she must be one of the good pixies. Figuring that, it was better to be safe than sorry; who knew what other pixies were like.

"Can you take me to the Great Tree?" Sarah asked, then added, meekly, "That is... if the fairies can change me back."

Dip brightened hearing Sarah's answer. "Oh! Oh, of course they can! No pixie, except one like me, knows shrinking magic without fairy friends!"

"Really?" This was a bit of a shock. "The fairies taught you the magic which shrunk me?"

"You betcha! Common pixies aren't allowed to learn it, but I asked someone who didn't care." Dip thumped her chest. "Though pixies have their own magic which fairies and goblins don't use. We like changing things into things they aren't, and moving things from afar. We do all the fun stuff!"

"Magic sounds really amazing! I wish I had some..." Sarah wouldn't have been in this situation at all if she did.

Dip thought for a second. "Goblins have weird magic, though. They like to break rocks apart and turn inedible things edible. Kind of useless, so I never asked them to teach me anything." Dip adjusted her cap again as she looked about quick. "Well, let's get going. Not the best place to be at night, you know? How high can you jump?"

Sarah, curious as well, jumped quick to see. "Oh. Two feet maybe?"

"Feet?" Dip shook her own foot and giggled. "Not now it isn't. I've seen giants jump, though. This would be so much faster if you retained some giant powers."

"Powers?"

Dip frowned, then waved her hand, "Not important anymore! Here!" She turned around and held her hands out behind her.

Sarah just stared. Then, after Dip wiggled her fingers, she asked, "You... want me to get on your back?"

Dip laughed. "Yes yes! I'm not super confident with all my magic. It's why I was practicing, dummy. Besides, without magic, you'll get no where fast on your two feet."

"But," Sarah looked up. The grass forest she was in was like flat, green spiky sequoia trees stretching up into darkness. It looked scary. "We're jumping up?"

"Yup!"

This seemed scarier than staying down on the ground. "Are they going to support us?"

"The grass? You bet! I was jumping around up there when I... bah! Come on already!"

Sarah hopped on Dip's back, and before Sarah realized what happened, they were already on top of the grass.

"Phew!" Dip sighed out. "I feel better already."

A light breeze hit. Sarah looked around, first behind her. She saw her house stretching, seemingly, from horizon to horizon. It was oppressive with how high it was, too. Dark and ominous, especially without lights on. Sarah understood just how scary 'giants' could be now that she had a better perspective.

Sarah, curious, then looked around Dip's head, and tried to see past the broken gate of the fence to the garden. It was too far off in the distance to be discernible, and an overgrown, immense forest of tulips and dandelions blocked her view. "Woah..." Sarah whispered out.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Dip said proud. "Jumping up here is easy."

Sarah wasn't paying attention. She marveled at how the grass created hills, and how the fence line's overgrown flower beds looked like thousands of colorful trees beside plateaus made of smooth stone. There were many, many bright colors, even at night, too. In fact, the lights she saw from her window were now noticeable along the fence as well.

It was still pretty, yet it seemed more dangerous than ever before. She wasn't sure whether to be afraid or not. Even so, her house seemed scarier, and she couldn't go back anyway.

Dip jumped in place a little to re-position Sarah, "You're quite heavy, actually. Are you sure you don't weigh as much as a giant?"

Sarah wasn't listening. "Dip, the garden looks so far away. How long does it take you to travel to the Pixie Kingdom?"

"Hmm," Dip wondered, as they jumped. This time, Sarah was able to see the magic Dip had cast around them. Dip answered, "About an hour, I think."

It was like they were in a glittery bubble. Sarah couldn't feel any wind, either. "The spell! I can see it now! This seems so fast!"

"Yup! I'm faster than an ant doing this! We can get to the outskirts of the Fairy Kingdom by sunrise if I'm quick."

"Sunrise... the Great Tree is that far away?" It wasn't even midnight yet. Sarah was concerned now that her parents might notice her missing. They usually didn't, though.

Dip kept hopping as she said almost to herself, "I think I'll ask him about thi-- uh oh!"

They made an instant right turn. Something had fallen from the sky where they were, and now a loud, repetitive thumping sound was following them. Dip kept going, but the air felt heavier with each pulse.

Sarah asked, "What's happening?" as Dip jumped back down to the ground. The landing was surprisingly soft.

Dip then gazed back up before saying, simply, "Moth."

"But they aren't that scary." Sarah said then remembered just how small she was again. "Oh. Right." The sound reverberated above them like a slow-sounding helicopter. It appeared trapped in the canopy. Sarah was thankful her father watered the grass so much. She asked then, "What do we do? Will it follow us if we go back up?"

"Probably. Darn it, darn it." Dip started weaving between grass blades, and said to herself, "I thought we got rid of them all. Going to eat all the buds, too."

Sarah couldn't figure how easily Dip could still go as fast as before. And they didn't travel for long before Dip made another 90 degree turn, this time dodging a giant ant. Sarah squealed seeing its mandibles clicking together.

"Eeek!"

"Shh!" Dip said as they successfully skirted around it. The ant didn't even appear to notice them, despite the magic bubble around them making a soft hum.

Sarah could hear many things off in the distance, though. It was as if they were all coming after them. So many things so suddenly? Sarah's heart was racing trying to figure it out. "Wh... are we being chased? Why?"

"So that's what's going on." Dip said, again to herself. "Maybe, though..." They darted for a while longer, stopping a couple times and taking detours. They ran into many ants and beetles, all which didn't have time to realize Dip had dodged them.

However, no matter what, the noises from behind them had gotten closer, and finally, Dip sighed out. "Ugh... yes. I can't outrun them." She stopped, placed Sarah down, and spun around. "I need you to stay right here." She pointed at Sarah's feet. "Got it?"

"O-okay!" Sarah exclaimed, scared out of her wits. It was mostly because Dip's face was so serious and frightening. Her expression now didn't make her look like the same pixie.

But then Dip flashed her familiar smirk before she darted off. Sarah heard popping sounds as she faded into the darkness.

Unsure what to do, Sarah crouched down next to a blade of grass with a rock close to it, hoping to be as small and unnoticeable as possible. She heard the same popping sounds all around her now. Dip could go so much faster without Sarah on her back.

Sarah peeked over the rock, but couldn't see anything or anyone through the darkness. How many insects were after them? Or... were they all even insects? This was a magical kingdom, after all. Maybe they were other pixies. Or even goblins.

Could Dip fight against so many?

No, Sarah thought. Why was Dip fighting at all? Wasn't the Garden Kingdom supposed to be peaceful? It certainly seemed so. Until now.

Sarah closed further in on herself, feeling like she was huddled up in the tree again. The same fear gripped her as well. The uncertainty and helplessness. And the guilt. She couldn't do anything in this situation either.

Maybe if she just knew some magic she could help.

Then Sarah heard a cry. It sounded like Dip, but Sarah couldn't be sure because there were still popping sounds, too. She wanted to call out, but what if that would give away her position? Dip wanted her to stay hidden, right?