The wave of relief didn't just vanish; it crashed, leaving behind a cold, damp feeling of pure despair. The team stood once more at the very end of the impossibly long, unmoving line, right back where they had started an hour ago.
Pip just stared, his face a mask of disbelief. "Oh," he whispered. "It was a trap. A waiting room... for a waiting room."
Gilda's eye began to twitch again. This was, without a doubt, the most ridiculous quest she had ever been on. Her gaze went from the long line of patiently waiting fairies, to the closed door at the front, and finally, landed on the handle of her axe.
"No," Zazu said softly, his voice a quiet, calm anchor. He didn't even have to look at her to know what she was thinking. "Remember, my friend. One cannot solve a door problem with an axe problem. Especially not a door with a three-hour tea break behind it."
