Alright…you know those nice old stories...the one about nice faeries, cute unicorns and nice old helpful wizardly men? Well…I’m sorry to say…This story really isn’t like that. In fact…this story is the exact opposite. With mean faeries, paranoid ghosts and even excited blacksmiths…Now you may think this story so far sounds like just an odd comedy, but…I’m sorry to say. It isn’t. Now lean back, clothes your eyes, and I will take you to a place, to a time where things weren’t always what they seemed…..
It was night. The air around them seemed to be filled with a cold icy smell, now even though it WAS a wintery night this night was different. It was a night where you had to be in it to be able to later describe exactly what it was like. Though I will try my best to give you the picture of this starless time…Now, where was I? Ah yes, the air. The air was cold having an icy smell one that sent a chill to the bone even through the strongest skin.
The cave that this all started with was dark, trickles of black water moved along the gray walls…drip…drip…drip. The water was toxic. Having been turned black from the old wizards potions that he’d just carelessly dumped everywhere. Explosions came from the end of the cave each one louder then the next. A fine black mist crept slowly along the cave floor reaching out as though it had fingers that were searching for anything to grasp. There was a manic laughter that grew higher pitched each time it sounded…One laugh…two laughs…Three…..Silence. There was an owls hoot outside the cave shattering the silence that held all spell bound. the mist reared up into the air twirling and sparking and then suddenly….Died.
Now while this all happened one person a rather seemly figure moved…Or shall we say, flew towards the cave, glancing right and left just to make sure that she wasn’t being followed. The figure was small, maybe two feet in height?
Her blond hair was messy and un-kept with bits of leaf parts and twigs broken into it. She wore a plain brown burlap dress that had been patched up. She moved silently and decisively towards the cave. She entered in ignoring the cold shiver that ran down her spin...Warning her that she should not go any farther down this path.
She moved purposely to the back cave where a fire burned, the flames tinged in green and a cauldron sat the insides filled with a gurgling mass of blue, yellow, and gray goo. A table stood next to the boiling cauldron, on it were tubes and items of every shape and size.
A smirk played across her face as she flew over to the cauldron reaching out to take a vile from its place. Her hands had just closed around it when a sudden sharp and dusty voice cut through the air.
“STOP!” The faerie spun looking at the old wizard eying him in disgust.
“Old man I came for what is rightfully mine.” She said in a voice that held nothing but the utmost contempt. The wizard stepped forward his walk a commanding gait.
“Faerie nothing of yours is in this place. Now LEAVE!” he pointed a commanding finger at the women and she was hit with a sudden force flying back. The thing pushing her not stopping until she’d reached the edge of the cave. She landed outside on her butt the world spinning around her, white clouds of breath issuing from her mouth. Cursing she stood up stamping her foot in rage at what had happened and what she’d been denied.
“Got you to did he?” asked a thin somewhat flickery voice. The faerie hissed ducking down as she looked through the thick fog trying to see exactly what it was that stood in front of her. She almost missed it, had she not been looking through the fog hard she wouldn’t have seen it at all. A form, thin and pale, blending into the fog stood, or rather floated in front of her.
The ghost bowed to her his form flickering in the night air. “He doesn’t like people coming into his liar…And especially not those that want to collect his debt to them.”
“What do you know about it?” she snapped angrily glaring at the ghost not caring that his 5ft 9 inch form towered over her, not caring that his black hair made his features look all pointy and strict. “You’re just some dead person whose features can’t be told differently from the scenery around him.”
He glanced side to side thinking about what she said then shrugged, “I may be dead…But at least I…” his serious comment was broken off as wind blew through the air making a whistling sound amongst the gray trees. One branch broke off making a resounding creak that caused the ghost to jump and gasp out,
“Wh-what was that?!?! Don’t hurt me!” Had the faerie girl not been so upset about everything that was going on she would have burst out laughing. As it was a smirk played across her lips and she scoffed shaking her head,
“You…After all that talk? You’re afraid of a tree branch falling to the ground??!?” the ghost hung his head looking down.
“It could have been something...i may be dead but I’m not invulnerable...i’d rather not be killed again..’ he glanced to and fro as though while talking, something would jump out and get him.
The faerie shook her head annoyed and was about to reply when a sudden whistling was heard through the air. It was someone playing out an old folk tune. Then suddenly in a brass voice a song burst into words. From what could be gathered it was talking about a person being unable to wait for his wedding day...and for the time he could be with his bonny lass….
The voice trailed off as he stepped out of the trees gazing at the cave. The ghost and faerie watched him from their hidden spots. He had a smile on his face though it seemed kind of strange mis-matched with the dreary place around him.
The man was tall and had raven black hair, a beard that came to around his chin and a handle-bar mustache. His face had an odd look of almost childish excitement and curiosity. He took a deep breath as though bracing himself and then walked into the cave.
“Hello?” His voice echoed through the cave, “I was told the old wizard lives here and will help me…”
The faerie and ghost glance at each other, “He’s so dead.” Muttered the ghost worriedly, “Maybe we should help him?” The faerie rolled her eyes,
“No way. Let them deal with this all on their own.” She crossed her arms and then trailed off listening to what the man was saying, “Wizard, I come for the item you owe me…The dowry for my wedding.”
The faerie suddenly sat straight up, “that little brat..he may be after my item!!!” without giving the ghost a chance to do anything she lunged forward flying into the cave, “this is not good..” he whispered and floated after her his head hanging in defeat. She saw the wizard handing the man this item and then tackled him, “MINE!” she screamed and yanked the lid from the box.
“NO!!!!” screamed the wizard and blacksmith together, but to late. The lid plopped off of the box flying to the side. There was a high-pitched keen that seemed to come from the box itself.
“What have you done??” whimpered the ghost as he floated near the faerie and stricken blacksmith. The wizard shook his head. “You foolish, foolish faerie you’ve unleashed the…” the rest of his words were drowned out as everything around them changed. The box began to glow, it grew brighter, and brighter forcing every one to close their eyes.
When the light had faded they were in a strange land. The ghost, the blacksmith, the faerie and the wizard were all sitting on a white spongy thing. The air was filled with a crisp clean smell and the land around them was covered in a thick white fog.
“Where are we?” whimpered the ghost, “Dead??”
“No.” muttered the wizard annoyed, “All because of this faeries greed we’ve had a spell cast upon us.” He glared at the girl who shrugged looking away. “We’re in cloud city..” continued the wizard as he shook his head “Well…that doesn’t sound to bad…” muttered the ghost, “what’s the catch?” “It’s where the mean giants live.” Muttered the wizard glancing around, “and at the moment I’m out of magic and can’t get us home…” “So then…” the man said softly, “I wont be able to get home…for my wedding?” The wizard shook his head, “I’m afraid not…I’m sorry lad.” The ghost sighed looking around at the wasteland of white they were suddenly now confined to, “faerie….” He whispered softly, “What have you done…..?” he trailed off as just behind them came an anger roar that seemed to sound as though from a being that might just be giant.
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