Ambrosia's Story

by Tammy Marie Rose

  As Daniel McDonald made his way toward the forest Majik took off in search of Mirabella. Ambrosia sat with Rom in the shade of a big oak tree. She held his hand tightly in hers.

  “You saved my life Ambrosia.”

  “Majik did all the work I just came along to keep him company.” She smiled at him and he squeezed her hand.

  Rom was having a hard time staying awake, but ambrosia feared letting him sleep in case he had a concussion. Every time he nodded off, she would gently take his face in her hands and wake him back up.

  “Mirabella will be here soon, Rom. I need you to stay awake until she gets here.”

  While Ambrosia kept Rom from falling asleep Daniel McDonald located them and watched them from a safe distance.

  * * * *

  As Majik entered the village, he found Mirabella awaiting his arrival. She spun happily in the air as Majik told her Rom was within the boundaries of the Mystical Forest hurt, but very much alive.

  Mirabella quickly gathered everything she would need to heal him and followed Majik with a happy heart.

  * * * *

  “Rom,” Mirabella cried out at the sight of him. She fluttered over to him landing gently on his shoulder. She kissed his cheek softly.

  “His leg is broken Mirabella,” Ambrosia said.

  “But he is home and alive thanks to you and Majik, Ambrosia!” Mirabella smiled up at her and Ambrosia smiled proudly back. “We will discuss everything once we have Rom back on his feet and safely back in the village.”

  Mirabella flew down and looked at Rom’s leg. “Ambrosia I need you to cut the material holding the stick to Rom’s leg for me.”

  Ambrosia tried to untie the sleeve, but it was too tight.

  “I have a knife in the pocket of my shirt,” Rom said.

  Ambrosia got the handmade knife and cut the sleeve. Slowly and gently, she removed the stick.

  “Good, Ambrosia. Now I need you to tear Rom’s pant leg so the whole wound is exposed.”

  Ambrosia felt nausea’s as she tore the material and exposed the large hole in Rom’s leg and the protruding bone.

  Once the whole wound was revealed, Mirabella asked Rom to straighten his leg the best that he could. Rom groaned with pain as he shifted his leg.

  Mirabella removed a small container from her pouch. She took the lid off and sprinkled its contents all over Rom’s wound. Then she opened a second container full of a glittery powder and dipped her small wand into the container.

  Hovering just above his wound she spiraled around in slow circles chanting these words: “Healing light surround me now.

  With love sincere, I chant this prayer.

  In the divine name of the Goddess who breathes life into us all I ask that you charge this spell with might.

  Mystic moon and brilliant sun send your power here this way.

  Gracious Lady, bless this charge that I lay.

  Powers that are, powers that will be gather around this spell.

  I ask that you empower my working three times three sending fourth to see it last!

  So shall it be!

  Mirabella and Ambrosia watched as the wound that was causing Rom such pain began to heal itself. It took several minutes, but the wound was now gone.

  “Your wound has healed my friend, but your body still needs rest. Your spirit has been greatly stressed. Majik will now take you home and I will watch over you through the night. Tomorrow you will be strong again.”

  “Thank you, Mirabella.”

  “I should thank you my dear friend for your pain was caused by the act of bravery you did to save me. Now save your energy let’s get you to bed and we will discuss everything tomorrow.”

  * * * *

  Daniel McDonald sat in disbelief. He had just seen a unicorn, troll and a fairy. He had watched as the red haired fairy had healed the troll. His mind was in a frenzy trying to absorb all that he had just witnessed.

  As the unicorn with the troll upon its back followed Ambrosia and the fairy deeper into the forest he began to follow. With every step he took he began plotting an evil plan he was certain would enrich him beyond his wildest dreams.

  * * * *

  Mirabella watched Rom’s steady breathing. Thanks to Ambrosia and Majik he was home safe where he belonged. Tomorrow he would awaken his old self and they would all move forward without looking over their shoulders anymore for Nog was gone and they could forever live in peace.

  They had so much to be thankful for, so much to celebrate, but yet something caused her to feel a sense of darkness near. As hard as she concentrated, she could not get a grasp on what her senses were trying to warn her about. For tonight, she would concentrate on Rom and tomorrow they would deal with them.

  Ambrosia slept peacefully in her hut. She snored softly. Her father watched her sleep through the hut’s window. He could easily take her now, but he decided it would be best to be patient. He knew if he were to profit from all of this he would need proof, which meant he would need to capture one of the magical beings and bring them back with him. He needed to think it all through; one mistake and he could end up empty handed and he refused to allow that to happen.

  Once he made his fortune from the Mystical Forest, he could cut Ambrosia free and live the high life. He headed back into the woods found a dark rock cave and slept soundly on a bed of moss dreaming of the riches to come.

  * * * *

  When Rom exited his hut that morning, everyone gathered around him. The children rushed him attaching themselves to his legs.

  “I am glad to see you too,” he said encircling them with his large arms.

  Mirabella sat on Ambrosia’s shoulder. “All of that is because of you, Ambrosia. Rom is home and safe. Without you he may have died alone in a world he did not belong to.”

  “Majik did all the work. He carried Rom all the way home and found you to heal him,” Ambrosia said as she watched Rom with the children.

  “Majik did not stop Rom’s bleeding nor did he splint his leg to prevent further damage and pain. You were very brave Ambrosia and you should be very proud of yourself.”

  Tears silently ran down Ambrosia’s cheek. “I hope that those are tears of joy,” Mirabella said.

  “No one has told me they were proud of me since my mother died.”

  “Oh, sweet Ambrosia, you are a very special girl and your mother would be so proud of the young lady that you have become.”

  Ambrosia smiled through her tears. Rom joined them. He tried to form the words he needed to tell Ambrosia how grateful he was, but they would not come. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to him. Ambrosia put her head on his shoulder and she felt true love for the first time since she lost her mother.

  Daniel McDonald watched from behind a tree. “Patience,” he whispered to himself. Soon he would put his plan into action and begin his planned journey to riches.

  Ambrosia he would get while she slept tonight and after he had secured her in the cave, he would come back for the red haired fairy. She would be easy to transport and once the world sees her they will pay him millions maybe even billions to reveal the whereabouts of the Mystical Forest.

  As Daniel McDonald formed his evil plan, Ambrosia and her new family gathered in prayer giving thanks for the safe return of their beloved Rom.

  * * * *

  As darkness fell, Daniel McDonald watched from the forest as the village wound down for the night. One by one, lighted windows went dark.

  He sat in the darkness just outside the village giving its inhabitants plenty of time to go to sleep. He had planned out the safest route to Ambrosia’s hut and Mirabella’s mushroom. He needed to get in and out as quickly as possible and get beyond the boundaries of the forest before daylight.

  He had made a rope from a thick vine he discovered dangling from a tree. He carried that rope on his hip. He would secure Ambrosia with it then return for the fairy.

  He made his way through the woods taking cover behind the trees. The moon was full an
d if someone would awaken, he could easily be spotted.

  Reaching Ambrosia’s hut he checked around him, nothing stirred. He considered entering through the door, but he feared it would make enough noise to wake Ambrosia from her slumber. Instead, he carefully entered through the window. When his feet hit the hut’s dirt floor Ambrosia stirred, but did not waken.

  Once beside her he knelt down and clasped his hand over her mouth. She awoke seeing her stepfather’s face and immediately began to struggle for her freedom.

  “Stop struggling, Ambrosia, or I will hurt you and your little friends too.”

  Ambrosia immediately stopped fighting him knowing in her heart he would do exactly what he threatened.

  “I need to take my hand from your mouth now. If you scream I will hurt you and the others, do you understand?

  She nodded yes.

  He removed his hand from her mouth and began tying her hands in front of her. “Now come quietly with me, Ambrosia, or your new friends will pay for your actions.”

  Daniel McDonald tied her feet together then hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack. He carried her back to the cave. When he put her down, he was breathing heavily.

  He tore off a piece of his shirt and stuffed it into her mouth. “Now you sit here like a good girl while I visit that red haired fairy friend of yours.”

  Ambrosia’s panicked. “Mirabella!” her mind screamed. Again, she called out to Mirabella in her mind.

  * * * *

  Mirabella awoke suddenly. Without question, she knew danger was near and that Ambrosia needed her. She left her mushroom and went directly to Bean’s awakening him. “Shh...” she whispered into his ear. “Something is wrong. Ambrosia is in danger as are we all.”

  Bean did not question her. He rose from his bed quickly wiping the sleep from his eyes. “What can I do?”

  “Wake the others. Keep them quiet. Gather them all together in Basil’s kitchen. I need to check on Ambrosia.” Side by side, they left Bean’s home; once in the still night air, they parted ways.

  While Bean went about getting everyone to Basil and Ogre’s kitchen Mirabella had discovered Ambrosia was missing from her bed.

  Nog was dead the other trolls had moved on so what or who could be threatening them? She searched her senses for Ambrosia and realized she was not far from the village and she could hear her heart beat quickened by fear.

  Mirabella joined the others in the kitchen just as Daniel McDonald stepped from the forest and entered the small clearing in front of the village.

  “What is going on, Mirabella?” Rom asked as she entered the kitchen.

  “Someone has taken Ambrosia.”

  “Who would do such a thing?” Bean asked.

  “I am uncertain, but I sense danger near,” Mirabella said. “It is close and after more than just Ambrosia. We are all in danger.”

  “It is not trolls,” Rom said. “I would know if they were near.”

  “This danger is foreign,” Mirabella said. “I can sense it, but I cannot identify it. We must stay together and...” The snapping of a twig not far away ended the conversation.

  Mirabella blew out the two candles that were lit and moved toward the window. In the moon’s light, she could see something moving just beyond the village. It moved closer like a predator stalking its prey.

  It was hunched over and moving cautiously. As it passed by Ambrosia’s hut, the night’s moon shone brightly on the intruders face.

  “No...how can it be?” Mirabella said.

  “What is it Mirabella?” Raz asked moving toward the window.

  Remembering his face from her encounter with Ambrosia she said, “It is Ambrosia’s stepfather.”

  “How did he find us?” Serena asked.

  “I don’t know, but now we must find a way to deal with him. We cannot let him take Ambrosia back with him. She will not be safe with him.”

  “Tell us what we need to do Mirabella. Ambrosia is one of us now and we will all work together to protect her,” Bean said just above a whisper.

  “I’m not sure yet,” Mirabella said. “Right now everyone should stay here and stay very quiet. I am going to go outside and keep an eye on him.” Mirabella turned to leave.

  “I’m going with you,” Rom said stepping in front of her. She was going to protest, but the look in his eyes told her it would be useless.

  The two friends entered the night together and hid in the shadows. The watched Daniel McDonald as he crept through the village. He knelt down in front of Mirabella’s mushroom. Finding it empty, he was enraged. He moved from house to house finding them all empty. In his rage, he began to crush the mushroom homes with his foot.

  “Rom! He’ll reach the kitchen soon! Get them all moved into the woods. Do it quickly!” Mirabella flew high up into a tree, rested on a branch far from Daniel McDonald’s reach, and watched him.

  Daniel McDonald had entered the village silently, but now he was enraged at finding it empty. He continued his path of destruction. “Where are you?” he shouted.

  Mirabella watched from high above. After several minutes, he sat down in the middle of the village exhausted by his tantrum. Patiently Mirabella waited. She hoped to follow him to where ever he had hidden Ambrosia.

  Rising to his feet, anger still clear on his barely visible face Daniel McDonald began to walk back to the woods defeated. Mirabella followed from a safe distance. As soon as he cleared the meadow and headed toward the mountainside Mirabella was certain he was headed for the old black bear cave.

  Closing her eyes, she used her fairy magic to wish herself to the cave. She had only a few minutes before Daniel McDonald reached the cave so she quickly entered in search of Ambrosia. She was rewarded with the sight of her tied up on a bed of moss.

  “He is close, Ambrosia.” Mirabella landed on the ground in front of her and it took all her might to pull the rag from Ambrosia’s mouth.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No,” Ambrosia said trying to sit up.

  “Stay still,” Mirabella pulled on the vine tying Ambrosia’s legs together. It took all of her energy, but she was able to loosen it enough to unwrap it from Ambrosia’s legs. “We do not have time to untie your hands. As soon as we are free of the cave, Ambrosia, I want you to run as fast as your legs will carry you. Run into the forest behind the village and find a place to hide.”

  Just as they stepped out of the cave’s darkness Mirabella saw Daniel McDonald just a few feet away. “Run Ambrosia. Run and do not look back.”

  Ambrosia ran as fast as she could, her balance off a bit due to her hands being tied together. Daniel McDonald turned as though he was going to give chase, but didn’t. Instead, he turned to face Mirabella.

  He took one-step forward. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He slowly took a few more steps. Mirabella hovered just a few feet from his face. With one quick move, he lunged forward and tried to snatch her from the air.

  Mirabella had flown higher up just in time and looked down at him from high above his reach.

  “Get down here!” he shouted up at her as he got back to his feet and dusted wet leaves from his jeans.

  “Ambrosia lives with us now. It would be best for you to return to the human world and leave us alone.”

  “Oh. I’ll be returning to my world with Ambrosia and you little fairy.”

  “I can’t let you do that.”

  “You have no option. Now get down here!”

  When Mirabella stayed where she was Daniel McDonald grew angrier. He picked up a handful of rocks and began throwing them at her.

  Mirabella was able to dart out of the way. “We will not let you take Ambrosia.” Mirabella flew off and he turned and began chasing her, but he could not keep up.

  He had to stop to catch his breath. His chest ached from exertion. “This is not over!” he shouted.

  * * * *

  Mirabella found Ambrosia tucked away in a hollow log. “It’s safe Ambrosia come out.”

  Ambrosia’s eyes were red a
nd swollen with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “All of this is my fault. Everyone is in danger because of me.”

  “Your stepfather is an evil man, Ambrosia. That in no way is your fault. I wish we had the time to discuss this further, but we must find the others and find a safe place to hide.”

  As they headed into the woods in silence Mirabella’s thoughts raced. She had to find a way to protect them all.

  They found Rom and the others hidden in the May apple patch protected by the plants’ big leaves.

  “We need to find a safe place to hide for a few days. We need time to figure out how to deal with this problem.”

  Before Mirabella could finish the thundering voice of Daniel McDonald filled the air. “You can hide, but I’ll find you. I’ll find you all. You’re going to make me rich!”

  They moved quickly deeper into the woods. As time passed, Daniel McDonald grew frustrated. He pulled a bottle of whiskey from his backpack and began to drink. It did not take long for him to become drunk.

  As he continued his search for Ambrosia and her new friends, his rage grew. “You think you have out smarted me, but you are wrong!” he shouted angrily.

  As he continued staggering through the trees an evil thought came to him. He pulled a lighter from his jeans pocket and began to laugh. He bent over to pick up a dried stick, but lost his balance and fell. “I’ll smoke you out!” he shouted from the ground.

  Still on the ground, he lit the lighter to some leaves and sticks and began to laugh. As dawn arrived, the fire grew.

  * * * *

  As the sun lit the world, it was added in its duty by the flickering flames of what was now a major forest fire. They could not return to the village because soon it would be engulfed in flames.

  “What do we do?” Ellie asked tears streaming down her face. “Our home will soon be gone.”

  Mirabella looked around her to see the faces of everyone she loved. Many of them were crying and all of them looked at her with eyes filled with fear.

  Before she could say anything Jollah, Nadia and Majik emerged from the trees. They paced back and forth nervously. Jollah neighed loudly.