Fairies

"As fairies, we get to spend very little time in your world."

- Nova to Dreamy

Fairies are a humanoid creature species featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. They are native to Fairy Tale Land, Wonderland and the New Enchanted Forest, and first appear in the first episode of the first season of Once Upon a Time.

The most prominent fairy, the Blue Fairy, is based on the "Fairy with Turquoise Hair" from The Adventures of Pinocchio. The Fairy Godmother is based on the character of the same name from the fairytale Cinderella. Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily are based on the characters of the same names from Peter Pan.

Biology
Fairies are human in appearance, but with a few of noticeable differences. Normally, they are quite small in size, although they have the ability to enlarge themselves to the size of a human. Two dragonfly-like wings protrude from their back, which disappear when they are not flying, and re-appear as they get ready for take-off. When they fly or change shape, their bodies emit a sparkling glow.

Only female fairies have appeared so far, and it is not known whether there are any male fairies in existence. However, unlike dwarves, fairies are capable of falling in love, and have been known to enter into relationships with humans. )

Fairies have their own special form of magic called Fairy Magic. If a fairy strays too far from their chosen path, their leader may stop believing in them, and they will lose their wings, along with their powers, and will no longer be a fairy. However, it is possible for a fairy to regain their powers if their leader and the fairy herself starts believing in her again. A fairy can also give up her wings voluntarily, after which she will no longer be a fairy. A human who is versed in magic can transform herself into a fairy by using another fairy's wand and a special spell.

There is an unknown, likely large number of fairies, as seen when a horde of them attacks King George’s castle.

Fairies appear to be a long-lived species. During the time where Rumplestiltskin (who was more than a hundred years old by the time the Dark Curse was cast) became the Dark One, the Blue Fairy was already a legend in the Enchanted Forest, and was described as an ancient being. The Black Fairy, who is Rumplestiltskin's mother, still looked young when she was reunited with her son more than a hundred years after she gave birth to him.

Culture
Fairies generally spend little time outside their own realm. They go through a training program with other, more experienced fairies, until they are able to work on their own. Fairies dedicate themselves to helping others and doing good. The more experienced fairies often become protectors of children, families, and other people in need, and become their "fairy godmothers". This job is not limited to one person or family.

Fairies have to respect some rules, including a curfew, dust discipline and not taking on human size for no reason. If a fairy stops being good, she may be exiled.

According to the Blue Fairy, fairies don't lie. However, the Blue Fairy has lied on at least one occasion, such as when she told Snow White and Prince Charming, at Geppetto's insistence, that the magic tree could only protect one person from the Dark Curse, when, in actuality, it could save two.

Fairies have their own written language, which some humans can read as well.

Known Fairies

 * Black Fairy †
 * Blue Fairy/Mother Superior
 * Fairy Godmother (The Price of Gold) †
 * Fairy Godmother (Hyperion Heights) †
 * Nova
 * Silvermist
 * Tiger Lily
 * Tinker Bell

Trivia

 * -|On-Screen Notes=

On-Screen Notes

 * Fairies are featured in the title card for "The Price of Gold", "Quite a Common Fairy", "Trust Me" and "The Black Fairy".
 * Fairies are closely related to stars. The Blue Fairy can be summoned by wishing upon a blue star and is also known by the name Reul Ghorm, which means "blue star" in Scots Gaelic and is also the real name of Mother Superior, the Blue Fairy's Storybrooke counterpart. The Black Fairy can similarly be summoned by an incantation that calls for the "dark star" to fall. While other fairies have not been given corresponding stars, Nova's name refers to "supernovas", an exploding star.
 * According to one of Merlin's books, fairies go to fairy rings (a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms) to dance and cavort after a rainstorm. However, like many other locations associated with fairies, humans who dare to enter such a ring "may find themselves asleep for a hundred years", or "whisked off to the land of the little folk, never to return".
 * This is a direct reference to British fairy lore.
 * An old fairy saying is: "If someone believes in you, you are never alone".
 * Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold greatly dislikes fairies, as he does their counterparts, nuns. According to Mr. Gold, "Wherever there's injustice in the world, there's always a fairy".


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Production Notes

 * The Blue Fairy's wings are inspired by dragonflies.


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Popular Culture

 * Fairies losing their wings because their leader stops believing in them, is a reference to the play version of Peter Pan, in which Tinker Bell is close to death and is revived by the live audience expressing their belief in fairies through clapping.


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Props Notes

 * The Blue Fairy's Wand, Silvermist's wand, the Black Fairy's Wand, Tinker Bell's wand and Tiger Lily's wand all have the same design, but different colors.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.