In the books, Mother Dove molts some of her feathers once a year, which are gathered by fairies to be ground into fairy dust at the dust mill. Shortly before the Molt, Mother Dove gets pre-molt tingles, which let her know that it's coming. The Molt is also celebrated by fairies much as a holiday. Light-talent fairies start off the celebration with a tribute to Mother Dove in the form of a light show. The dance is meant to represent the fire that created Mother Dove. After the light show the fairy queen makes her annual speech. Soon after Bess's latest portrait of Mother Dove is unveiled, and the fairies sit down to a nine-course banquet. If Mother Dove is put under enough stress, the Molt will postpone.