by Kat Lind
The prince’s harsh words devastated the fairy. She once more donned her wings and reclaimed her magic, but the magic had turned dark. The fairy grew spiteful in turn and changed the prince into a frog. He was no longer Prince Martelle, but simply Marty, the frog. His only hope was to find someone who could break the curse by loving him despite his slimy skin, atrocious breath, and affinity for croaking off-key.
The prince’s frog curse was the first in a litany of mischievous deeds perpetrated by the fairy over the years. Any perceived slight by a forest dweller resulted in fairy retaliation.
Once the fairy tried to make friends with a handsome honey badger, but he rebuffed her advances. The fairy cast an enchantment on the badger so that every creature who gazed into his eyes would be smitten with adoration. After that, the introverted honey badger spent untold hours hiding his face in an armpit.
The fairy joined a dating service hoping to find true love again. She met a low-level government office worker during a speed-dating event. Although the meeting was short, the fairy thought that Technical Advisor (TA) Tim Scotto showed promise. After several dates, TA Tim made the grievous error of droning endlessly about the merits of properly completing requisition forms. The fairy nodded off and fell into a glass of wine where she had to drink or drown. So, she drank. In her subsequent stupor, she hiccupped and erroneously cast a spell on the unsuspecting TA Tim Scotto. He was doomed to spend the rest of his days nitpicking over office paperwork.
Last spring, when the flowers were blooming, and all manner of baby forest creatures were emerging for the first time, the fairy was enjoying a particularly less-spiteful sort of day. Or she was enjoying the day, until a disagreeable and rude rodent, a hare to be precise, bragged he could beat her in a race. The fairy simply glared at the hare and declared, “One day you shall insult a stubby legged spiny mammal who will outwit you. That race will be your last.” This was one of those times that the hare wished he could roll his eyes. Instead, he twitched his ears and bounded off into the woods.
When the toilet paper delivery truck smashed into the spiteful fairy, all her evil spells were broken. Word spread quickly through the forest how the fairy met her demise. Instead of blame, the HOLE Agency got the credit. Were it not for an error in completing the TPR-12, a gross of toilet paper would not have been ordered. The shipment would not have been misdirected. The driver would not have chosen to speed down that one-way lane. The fairy would not have become a windshield decal. The spells would not have been broken.
As spells broke and forest denizens were freed, word spread quickly throughout the forest that the prince had returned to claim his kingdom. Which was a very fine thing as his younger brother, Andy, had recently painted the castle camouflage green, making the castle difficult to locate. Workers arrived late, and pay was docked accordingly. The historical society for the preservation of all things ancient was in an uproar due to the lack of aesthetic appeal. Andy’s attempt at renovating the castle was a complete debacle.
The prince, formerly known as frog, was grateful to the HOLE Agency. He proclaimed the day a celebration and ordered the castle catering staff to prepare a feast. Carts of party snacks and favors were delivered to the Agency. Bee drones carried the news far and wide that everyone remotely affected by the spiteful fairy’s spells could attend the gala. The prince himself made an appearance and was able to gaze into the honey badger’s eyes with little threat of induced adoration.
The only seemingly low point of the festivities was when a certain Mrs. Hare, along with her baker’s dozen baby bunnies, stopped by the agency to file an LTK-007 request for her wayward husband. Mr. Hare was an avid runner who recently started betting on the outcome of his races. Many of Mrs. Hare’s business associates had family members who were gambling away valuables and heirlooms. As a result, gossipers were unkind to Mrs. Hare, which hurt her home-based business. People were no longer interested in her designer bunny slippers. With so many mouths to feed and more on the way, Mrs. Hare believed exterminating her husband was her only recourse.
Mrs. Hare’s LTK-007 form was approved by Agent Katt’s assistant, John (no one really knew his last name or if he even had one), who handed the case off to the Double Deadlies. The Ds were ecstatic at the coincidence. They quickly confirmed the extermination and marked the file closed.
Agent Lynn Katt welcomed the diversion from the tedious task of managing the almost successful government agency. After the second mug of oaky scotch goodness, she joined the staff in passing out surplus toilet paper to party goers who then decorated the building with tissue streamers. One reveler commented on the fine quality of the rolls, which reminded Lynn that she promised to invite a certain someone to the next party. “Please get the supply department on the phone. I need to invite Mr. Scotto to join us,” she yelled.
A small ink-stained hand tapped Lynn lightly on the shoulder. She turned to greet a somewhat diminutive elf, which is saying a lot as elves, in general, are minuscule. Under what may have been the most ridiculous pointy party hat ever conceived, appeared a cherubic face. On the face was a party-snack-filled mouth chewing blissfully. In the elf’s non-tapping hand was a tray laden with all manner of scrumptious delicacies. After the elf finished chewing and swallowed his mouthful. TA Tim Scotto smiled broadly and declared, “I am already here!”
<<<>>>
Introduction - Mine to Control
The competition for a magical apprenticeship is the core theme of this interesting story from writer that is capable of sweeping you into a story from the first page on. Relax into this tale and feel the excitement and adventure as you accompany her on the journey.
MINE TO CONTROL
by Nicole Zoltack
The town crier stepped out into the center of the dusty, dirt road and loudly proclaimed, “Come one, come all! The wonderful wizard Larken is looking for an apprentice.”
Madeline crept closer eagerly. The announcer looked like a dirty boy, hardly any older than her own fourteen years. But she looked past his torn hose and scraped knees. All she cared about were the words coming from his missing teeth-riddled mouth.
“Tomorrow, before the sun sets, come to his hut. Larken awaits…”
“Madeline!” a shrill voice called, disgusted and frustrated.
“Coming, Mother!” She cast a longing glance behind her at the town crier and wished she could learn more about this wizard. But her mother would feed her to the wolves if she was late coming home from the market yet again.
Her mother stood at the end of the street, waving her arms to catch Madeline’s attention. Madeline dashed down the road as quickly as she could. The throng of people crowding the middle of the street made this a seemingly impossible task. Because of her slow pace, many sellers cried out to her, desperate to sell her jewelry or fine cloth. Madeline ignored them, not even pausing to glance at their wares. Finally, she broke through the pack and joined her mother and younger brother, Simon. “I’m here,” she said, panting slightly.
Simon gave her a wide grin, crumbs from a pastry falling onto his green shirt.
“What did you eat?” Madeline lightly punched his five-year-old nose and laughed at his delighted squeal. Despite the large age difference, Madeline enjoyed her brother’s company, at least, most of the time.
“Did you get the apples?” her mother asked. She grabbed Simon’s hand and started to walk toward their house.
Madeline paled. The town crier had averted her attention and caused her to forget why she had been sent down that street! She held her hands behind her back and closed her eyes. Visualizing the cart, she pictured the two large, red apples on top. Then she visualized those two apples in her hands. She opened her fists and brought her hands into view. “Here they are,” she said, a faint sheen of sweat on her brow as she held them up for her mother’s inspection.
Her mother frowned. “I need four, not two.”
Madeline handed the first two to her brother, dug her hands into her pockets, and pulled out two more.
A wave of dizziness washed over her. Specks of black and white dotted before her eyes, but she walked purposely, ignoring the side effects of her magic.
Her mother rewarded her with a wan, tired smile, and they hurried to their small, wooden home. Madeline helped make dinner, a stew with apple pudding for dessert, but her mind wandered constantly. Years ago, she had realized her ability. She’d even once shown it to her mother, whose strong, negative worries prompted Madeline to keep her talent to herself. Her mother believed all magic was the work of the devil. Madeline knew this couldn’t be true. After all, she went to Mass every week and prayed every day. Wouldn’t the Lord burn her tongue when she received the holy Host if she were a sinner?
Even so, Madeline resolved to return to the market the next day to pay the merchant for the four apples. That way, I wouldn’t’ve stolen them. She climbed into her rattan bed with a smile on her face. And I can learn where Larken’s hut is.
<<<>>>
But luck was not on Madeline’s side. Her mother refused to allow Madeline to go into the marketplace without her brother.
“But, Mother,” she protested. She ignored the impulse to stomp her foot or kick their dinner table. Her mother never agreed to anything she wanted if she acted childishly.
“Madeline, I have too much to do today. Really, I should have you stay here and help. If you want to go to the market, bring Simon. Otherwise—”
“Fine,” Madeline agreed quickly.
And so the two siblings walked to the market. While a merchant and its monkey distracted Simon, Madeline shoved two copper pieces into the apple seller’s coin purse. With her last coin, she bought Simon a small piece of wood. He pulled out his small blade and set about carving it into a toy, content and obvious to his sister.
Madeline glanced around. The town’s crier was nowhere in sight. Frustration seized her until she spotted two boys huddled together. The taller one shifted his weight, and dirt swirled around him. After watching for a moment, she realized his feet weren’t stirring the dirt. Maybe he has magic too. The thought displeased her. What if Larken picked this boy over her?
The dirt cloud hung heavy, hovering around the boy’s knees until it sunk into a murky mess of mud. Mud? How curious. A glance at the sky revealed not a cloud in sight.
She turned back to her brother, who sat on the ground near the apple cart. “Simon, if you stay here, I’ll let you play with my knucklebones when we go home.”
His face lit up in response, but he remained focused on his task, little bits of wood chips falling onto his lap.
Just like Papa, Madeline thought with a smile. He’ll be a carpenter too, I’d wager a silver piece.
Satisfied her brother would stay out of trouble and not notice her, Madeline eased herself closer to the boys. She wanted to listen to their conversation. Slightly older than herself, both were dirty but appeared harmless. Relatively, she added mentally. Untrained magic could be dangerous.
No one knew this better than her. The first time she had unknowingly used her power, she had brought a horse on top of her. It nearly trampled her to death.
Which is why I have to convince Larkin to train me. My power has grown, and I don’t know if I can handle it much longer. Plus the physical toll on my body. I don’t know how to separate my magic so it doesn’t draw all my strength with it.
“You know you don’t stand a chance,” the tall one said. He brushed his long, blond bangs back and left a smear of dirt on his forehead.
“For truth? I haven’t even shown you what I can do,” the other boasted. Stout with muscles, this one had a powerful gleam in his green eyes that frightened Madeline.
“Go ahead. I’m waiting.” The first tapped his foot impatiently.
Madeline couldn’t wait any longer. She approached and asked, “You both want to be Larkin’s apprentice?”
“Who wants to know?” Dirt boy stopped thumping his foot and glared at her. Sizing up her small frame, he grunted, “You’re nothing but a runt.”
She glowered at him, but before she could retort, the other broke in, “You’ll have to excuse my friend here. It seems his manners are as lacking as clean clothes.” He nodded at her. “I’m Roderick. This is Gerard.”
“And I’m Madeline.” She dipped her head in response. The over-confidence in Roderick unnerved her. His stance and manner radiated assurance. He would make an excellent wizard one day if he received the necessary training. Many young apprentices, whether trained or not, were killed by their abilities.
Gerard grimaced at Roderick. “Between Roderick and myself, there’s no way Larkin will pick you.”
Madeline snorted. “You can control the earth,” she hypothesized, deliberately overstating his ability. “Maybe you could enlighten me as to Roderick’s?” she asked sweetly.
Gerard colored slightly.
Roderick pointed a finger at the sky. A small cloud formed above them, and a few raindrops fell.
“The weather,” Madeline gasped. Her heart sank. There was no way she would be chosen now.
“Just the rain,” Roderick said with a satisfied smirk. He winked at her. “And you?”
Madeline glanced around the marketplace, crowded as always, with bustling buyers, and noisy from the calls of sellers. She twisted and turned to see the different merchandise available. She eyed a weapon shop, noticing a large sword with a jewel-encrusted hilt. Next was a fisherman’s haul shop. She pointed at it, closed her eyes, and imagined the fish on the table then in her hand. Cold and slimy, the fish materialized in her grasp, and she thrust it toward Gerard.
“Not bad,” he said begrudgingly as she magically transported the fish back. “Just not good enough.”
Roderick rolled his eyes and smiled at her. “So we’ll see you tonight at the cave beyond the cliffs?”
Relief washed over her. She had learned the location without even having to ask. She nodded. “Yes. It was nice meeting you, but I must be going now.” She waved and ran over to Simon. “It’s time come home now.”
Simon’s wood now crudely resembled a knight in armor.
“Wow.” Madeline was sincerely impressed. For being so young, her brother knew how to handle wood.
“Thanks.” He stood up and stretched. Hundreds of tiny woods specks fell to the already dirty ground. He handed it to her, and she examined it more closely. “His name is Geoffrey.”
The visor of the helmet was pushed up so the face was visible, although it still needed to be carved. But other than that, the little knight was all ready for battle. “Amazing,” she said as they started to walk.
Before leaving the market, they bumped into the town crier. Gerard’s abrasiveness flashed into her mind, the complete antithesis of Roderick. Had muscles been acting? Only pretending to be on her side? She turned to the announcer. “Where is Larkin expecting the possible trainees?” she whispered so that Simon wouldn’t overhear.
“By the waterfall, before the sun sets.” He smiled at her. “I’m just about to make an official announcement if you want to listen to all the details.”
“No, but thank you.” She grabbed Simon’s shoulder and steered him home a little more roughly than was necessary. So Roderick had lied to her. Her nerves tingled with heightened fury. She longed to drop a horse on top of him, on top of both of those maddening boys.
<<<>>>
After dinner, Madeline raced from the house and didn’t even bother to give her mother an excuse. Her mother would see through the lies and demand that she stay home and help around the house. So she took off and hurried to the waterfall.
One of her favorite locations to just be herself, alone with her thoughts. After the horse incident, she had sought refuge here for the first time. She essentially abandoned her house until the bruises had faded from black and dark purple to a soft yellow-green. Most had disappeared completely. Her father had never asked what happened, but her mother made a few comments that suggested her suspicions. A few days later, Madeline had shown her, only to keep her magic a secret f
rom everyone else ever since, until today.
It wasn’t common for non-royals to have magic. Something about the bloodline, Madeline supposed but she wasn’t certain. Regardless of which ancestor she received her gift, she desired to learn how to wield it correctly. One day, she would become a powerful wizard.
There were many other girls and boys there, of various ages. The oldest appeared to be sixteen, while the youngest was twelve. Magic typically manifested after one reached puberty. At least, that was what Madeline read in the scroll she’d stolen on the subject.
She spotted the two boys from earlier near a tree. Gerard noticed her first and frowned, but Roderick eyed her coolly and nodded. In the dim light, she couldn’t be certain, but she thought she saw a level of respect in his eyes that he hadn’t shown her before. Of course, that might just be her nerves. She could hardly stand still and tapped her foot.
Larkin’s hut was small and held no signs of life within. Where is he? Nervous energy bubbled within Madeline and threatened to overflow into giddiness. She had longed for a tutor for years. Now that she might have her chance, Madeline could barely contain her excitement.
The sun almost completely set, casting hues of red and yellow onto the rushing water of the falls. Suddenly, a puff of smoke appeared in the middle of the waterfall. The wisps thinned, replaced by the figure of a man. He was in his mid-thirties, with a ruddy complexion, dark hair, and eyes so light you could see through them. The smoke quickly dissipated, and Madeline realized that the man hovered in midair above the water.
So this was the wizard Larkin.
A shiver of thrilling joy raced down Madeline’s spine.
Larkin’s soft voice carried above the wind. “You are all here because you wish to be my apprentice. A lofty goal, let me assure you. But first, I wish to speak to you all about magic itself. Magic is a force, an entity. It dwells within those who have its power and manifests in different ways. Some can defy the laws of the earth.”