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Good or evil can prevail in Ms. Ruth Ann Meriweather’s old English style garden |
| [Introduction]
Good or evil can prevail in Ms. Ruth Ann Meriweather’s old English style garden. From the last frost of March to the first frost of November her plants and bushes are in bloom. Everywhere you look you will see reds, yellows, blues, lavenders and so many mixes of these colors, you sometimes can’t tell the fairies from the butterflies, or the pansies in the twilight. You will see hummingbird feeders in the summer and seed feeders, suet blocks and fresh fruit set out during the winter months. After Squeak and Chippers, two cute little black fox squirrels eat the pecans and walnuts from the neighboring trees, they come to the black oil sunflower seeds in the front garden. Crocus and Fiddlehead are such comical little green frogs who live in the little pond in the far back corner of the garden. They love the new lily pads Ruth Ann bought for them and the goldfish. "Good morning Henrick, Casey. How are my dear gnomes this morning?" "Top of the marnin’ ta’ ya’ Miss Ruthie." Henrick replied. "Marnin’ ta’ ya’ Miss Ruthie." Casey said. "We’d be a’doin’ just fine, Miss Ruthie." "Good morning my fine little flowers." Ruth Ann called to her petunias, daisies, coral bells, cardinal flowers and little buds. "It looks like you are about to open up and become more of the most beautiful flowers in town." "Morning Miss Ruthie." The beautiful blooms chimed. "Georgie and Bethie, how are just two of my beautiful little Monarch caterpillars?" "We’re great right now Miss Ruthie." Georgie said. "This morning, Billy Bluejay came swooping down from his fruit tree and tried to eat us and the others on this vine. We hid though. We squirmed down under the thicket of milk weed leaves at the corner of the fence. The fairy princess and her troop of fairies fluttered through and frightened the Bluejay away. Boy, we sure were scared for a while. "Billy, come here for a minute. What do you mean scaring the caterpillars like that? You know there are a lot of worms over in Gomer, the compost pile." Ruth Ann said to the Bluejay. "Gee, Miss Ruthie, I was so hungry I didn’t want to take the time to dig for worms. These here are much more convenient." Billy replied. "Yuk, I don’t like worms." Squeek said. "Me either." Said Chippers. "I’d rather eat acorns, pecans and the berries from Miss Ruthie’s garden." Squeak and Chippers are shape shifters, black Fox squirrels and human or any other creature during the time of the full moon. The Burr oak and Silver maple trees at the back of the garden have been really busy for the past few days with Chippers and Squeak chasing each other and the red Fox squirrels around and around, up one branch, across then down another tree, over the ground and up another tree. "It’s breeding season for the red fox and gray squirrels." Chippers said. "I know," replied Squeak. "I sure am glad there is no breeding for shape shifters. I’m not interested in having a den full of young ones right now." "Me too," added Chippers. " I’m waiting until I become and adult human." "Come on, let’s play in the garden and eat strawberries." Squeak said, then she ran off up the nearest maple tree. |
| A tiny face peered through the leaves of the old oak tree. The tiny face belonging to a tiny being, who appeared to be spying on Miss Ruthie and her friends Billy, Chippers and Squeak. The tiny being was a small fairy, female, wearing a dress made from a pink rosebud. With tiny wings fluttering in excitement, the tiny lady flew and buzzed out from the leaves and branches of the oak tree. She landed on the edge of the garden and peered at Miss Ruthie, wondering how to go about gaining her attention. It was Chippers who spotted the fairy and ran over to Miss Ruthie, crawling up her leg, finally getting her to look down. "Chippers what is wrong?" Miss Ruthie asked, looking at her friend with concern. "Rosebud is back Miss Ruthie!!She's over there!" Chippers ran down Miss Ruthie's pants leg and towards Rosebud. "Why hello Miss Rosebud! Where have you been?" Miss Ruthie asked the tiny fairy. |
| "I came to warn you of the changing tides," Rosebud flapped her transparent wings of rainbows. "Well, just maybe. I can't say exactly what it is yet. Come Miss Ruthie, let's consult the Queen," Rosebud led the way until their shapes were hidden from the view among the lavenders. Squeak looked after them, then started up the tree. "Let's get on with the strawberries!" He said. Chipper dashed after Squeak and pulled him down by the tail. “Never mind the strawberries and treetops! Look out yonder to the next garden. The lady is filling the bird feeders again. This is a challenge. She has put up collars around the feeders. She thinks she’ll fool the squirrels. “ “A challenge indeed!” Squeak said thoughtfully. “Why are you so gloomy? Didn’t we get around her before?” “Yeah, but now she has that ferocious dog, Mad Max!” “Don’t worry we’ll keep him occupied.” “How?” “We’ll ask Colin Cottontail for help. We’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse. We can dig up carrots for him in return.” “Yes, what a bright idea!” “And then when the moon rounds up in the night sky, we can shift our shape and scare Mad Max.” “Hehehehehe!!!! You’re such fun Chipper!” “It isn’t nice to ask for more than one needs!” Henrick suddenly jumped from behind the tree. “It isn’t nice to scare a guard dog when he's only doing his duty, either,” Casey followed Henrick. “But this is so much fun! Besides aren’t you gnomes? Don’t you do things like that?” Squeek tried to reason with them. “Only when necessary! You two are suffering from spring fever and you don’t even realize it.”Henrick retorted. “That lady means well. She wants to feed the birds. You, on the other hand, are after one-upmanship,” Casey said. “Don’t keep yelling for help if you get yourselves in trouble, because we can’t help you if you’re in the wrong,” Henrick warned them. Chipper shrugged and turned his back to run toward Colin Cottontail’s place. Squeak followed him. “Ah those two! Why can’t we ever keep them in Miss Ruthie’s garden!” Casey sighed. “Litterbugs!” Henrick raised his eyebrows as he lanced with his thick blade of lemongrass. “I hope they don’t put others in trouble, too.” Casey danced around Henrick. By the stone wall the flowers and the bushes in bloom had started singing in tune with the fairies. |
| Rosebud led Ruth Ann Meriweather to the center clearing of the garden, where the Tulip trees and the Atlas Cedars offered a protection, and the thick Clematis vines and Climbing Hydrangea absorbed all spoken words. Where Rosebud and Miss Ruthie were assured privacy.
Rosebud flitted about until Ruth Ann climbed the three steps of the thatched-roof gazebo and sat in the gnarled wooden chair. Rosebud continued to dart about but finally settled atop the mirrored ball that was perfectly balanced on it's sculpted base. "Ok. What's wrong?" Ruth Ann asked. Rosebud answered, "The air is not good. The times are not right. Uproar is near and is almost in sight." Ruth Ann stared. "Oh, dear! she said. "This is serious!" "Why do you say that?" Rosebud flew around again. "How do you know it's serious? Has Relah already been here?" Rosebud landed on a railing of the gazebo. "I can't believe it. she got here before I did. I knew I shouldn't have stopped to rest." Rosebud now seemed to be talking to herself rather than to Ruth Ann. "One can't help it if they need a few minutes' rest. You let Relah fly non-stop for years carrying messges back and forth, overseeing the natural happenings of things and trying to predict when something is going to happen...before it happens." Rosebud flew around, then landed again on the mirrored ball. "You let her do that for years. Betcha she'd need a rest too." Ruth Ann, not knowing what to say, merely watched her nervous little friend. Rosebud got a glimpse of her reflection in the mirrored-ball. She immediately began straightening her hair and wiping a dirty smudge off her face. Then she looked at Ruth Ann. "Well, now that you already know, you can be on your way. I'm so terribly sorry that I interruped you. I guess Relah will take you to the Queen. If you don't mind I'll wait here for Shaddy. He's supposed to meet me here soon. "What are you talking about, Rosie?! I haven't spoken with anyone named Relah." Rosebud smiled and her eyes sparkled again. You haven't received the message?" "No," Ruth Ann answered. Rosebud cricled the gazebo several times, then flew closer and landed on the railing nearest Ruth Ann. "Guess we better start talking then." ******
In the garden clearing, where the sunlight flickered through the leaves and a gentle breeze continued to sift through the area of plants and flowers, Rosebud gave the all-important message to Miss Ruthie. But in the midst of explaining about the concerns of a possible uprising involving several groups of Orcs and Trolls, led by one particular group of Gnomes; the breeze began to blow more forcefully and the trees swayed their branches toward the gazebo, as if trying to shelter Rosebud and Ruth Ann from an impending danger. Rosebud quickly paused and focused on a sound to the left of the gazebo. Ruth Ann stood up, not knowing what to expect. Instantly the breeze stopped and the bushes parted to reveal the one responsible for the interruption. Out into the clearing stepped a robust little fellow who kept tugging and rearranging his socks. And then his belt. Clearly he was irritated. The hat seemed to be bothering him as well because he continually adjusted it as he tried to keep it centered on his head. "Are you alright?" Ruth Ann asked when she saw him frown. "Me? Oh yes. Fine. It's me clothes. They don't fit. I told them they don't fit. Anyone can see they don't fit. But do you think they'd listen?! 'Looks good to me,' they said. 'Looks okay to me.' They need glasses...the whole lot of 'em. That's what I say." Then the little fellow sneezed with such volumn that it echoed through the garden. And this made him frown even more. "What now?" Ruth Ann asked. "Allergies!" The fellow answered. "Allergies to some of the plants. With the mention of that, the bushes and plants began chattering to one another at the thought of the little Gnome possibly being allergic to them. Then they began giggling. Ruth Ann watched the stranger for a second. Finally...after he had shifted the hat and gotten it perfectly balanced once more...he sneezed again. Not once, but four times, sending his cap flying and him scrambling after it. A few minutes later when all had calmed down, the little Gnome went over to Rosebud and asked, "Did you tell her, Rosie?" "I was beginning to, but you interrupted," Rosebud said. She then turned to Ruth Ann and offered an introduction. "Miss Ruthie, this is Shaddy, from Grid 2385A. He has been assigned to take us to the Queen." Shaddy interrupted. "There's been a change of plans. The Queen will send news here of what we're to do next." He looked seriously at Ruth Ann. "It seems, Miss Ruthie, that your garden is almost directly above the Grid 4190B's meeting place. "Goodness me, what does that mean?" Ruth Ann inquired. Shaddy made his way to the gazebo and sat down in one of the gnarled wooden chairs. "The orange-clad Gnomes have left their Grid...Grid 4190B. They've talked a few Grids of Orcs and Trolls into joining them and they're all relocating to a central meeting place. That place is below your garden." Shaddy glanced about at his new surroundings. Rosebud and Ruth Ann sat in silence. Each seemed to be thinking about the dilemma they now found themselves in. Finally a loud voice broke the silence. "YOO HOO!!! RUTHIE?! ARE YOU HERE?! YOO HOO!!!" Shaddy nearly fell out of his chair and Rosebud flitted around again. "Who's that?" Shaddy asked. "Oh, that's just Ellie, my neighbor," Ruth Ann answered. |
| One thing spoilt the fairyland in Mrs. Ruthie's garden was Tromo the Troll and his dragon Storrm. When Tromo rode his dragon, it invaded the peace. The fairies hid under the plants until the dark shadow had flown over. When Storrm breathed out his fiery breath, an orange glow could be seen. The dragon let out a hideous howl when he did this. Tromo and Storrm never hurt anyone, they did this to frighten the fairies. Tromo would laugh when Mrs. Ruthie scurry into her house. “Oh shoo!” she shouted at them. This only made Tromo laugh louder, and Storrm would send flames leaping into the air. Every one could smell the stench of Storrm’s breath, and would hold their noses until the strange smell had passed. “That dragon smells like he’s dead on the inside”. cried Henrick after Storrm had just flown over. One day, Storrm flew lower to the ground, and singed some of the tree tops. One silky oak tree caught fire. Squint, the squirrel, living in the tree hollow woke up to the noise of the flapping of Storrms’ wings, and scampered down from the tree to safety. The fire brigade arrived and put the fire out. The fairies and Mrs. Ruthie fussed over Squint and gave him fruit and nuts to eat that they had collected from the forest. That day, the fairies called a meeting with the Fairy Queen and Mrs. Ruthie. “What are we going to do about Tromo and Storrm?” asked Buttercup, one of the fairies. “I think Henrick and Casey can go to the cave and talk with Tromo about how they could have destroyed the tree and frightened poor Squint as well. They need to stop their antics before someone gets hurt”. suggested the Queen. Henrick, with a brave voice gulped then said, “Of course we will go”. The two gnomes and Elmier, the elf hiked up the mountain to were Storrm’s cave was. They approached the jagged mouth of the cave. “What’s that awful snorting noise?” whispered Casey. They peered inside, and saw that Storrm was asleep. It was his snoring, they could hear. They could smell smoke and wood burning. Tromo was sitting near a small fire, stirring a pot that was simmering over the fire. It smelt pungent. Tromo spotted the three hiding at in a shadow to the entrance of the cave. “And what brings to three to my cave?” “We want you to stop flying over us and scaring the fairies and the animals.” said Casey. “You set a tree on fire before…You could have hurt Squint.” added Elmier. “There was no danger! Now Goooooooo. Leave us!” Then Storrm woke up and lashed his fiery tongue at the visitors. The cave lit up orange, and the three fled from the cave. Sure enough, no sooner the three had returned from their quest, Tromo and Storrm flew over again, and swooped low. When Storrm flapped his large wings, the whooshing sound could be heard for miles around. Tromo’s wicked laugh could just be heard over the wind they created as they flew over. All was quiet for a few days. Mrs. Ruthie thought it was a bit strange that they had not seem Storrms black underbelly for a few days, and wondered what surprise Tromo and his flying friend might be planning. Mrs. Ruthie was busy in her kitchen one morning, when she heard a commotion outside in her garden. It sounded like ten voices where all talking into one…! She opened the door to see what was happening. There was Tromo surrounded by the fairies, gnomes and elves. “We didn’t mean any harm…Please help us!” said Tromo. “You frightened us”. “You burnt our tree”. “What’s all this about?” Mrs. Ruthie cut in. All the voices talked at once again. “Wait!” she said, “One as a time. Tromo, what is the problem”. “Please Mrs. Ruthie, we never meant any harm. Storrm is sick. He needs your help with the magic medicine you make if any one of us gets sick.” Mrs. Ruthie felt sorry for Tromo. “I think we should help him only if he promises not to fly so low and burn our trees”. said Henrick. “And not scare us, or the animals”. said Buttercup, the fairy. “He won’t I’ll make sure of that, if you could just make him better”. “Ok! Ok! We need some apples, rosemary, thyme and lavender”. The fairies helped Mrs. Ruthie collect what she needed to make her medicine. She stirred it all into a pot over the stove and said… Gibby Goo Goo Mix this herb stew Until it’s blue Make the dragon As good as new Gibby goo goo! Elmier and Henrick went with the troll to the cave. Henrick felt sorry for poor Storrm who looked more green than gray. Tromo lifted the dragon’s head up so Henrick could pour the liquid into Storrm’s mouth. The gnome and elf left Tromo with Storrm. After a couple of days, they could see the dark shadow of Storrm flying over, and they heard his woeful growl. He flew well above the trees, and with his flame, formed the word ‘Thank you’ in the sky. Mrs. Ruthie and the fairies all gave a wave to Tromo and Storrm. |
| "Miss Ruthie, Miss Ruthie, Buttercup called. "Come out and see what Tromo and Storrm have brought us. "What is it, Buttercup? What is it?" Ruth Ann said as she came through the doorway to the potting shed. "They have brought a baby Redbud tree. Storrm says it is to replace the one he burned the other day. They dropped the tree off and left. Storrm was in a hurry to go somewhere. He said he was too busy to stay around and talk." Buttercup said. "I would liked to have thanked him. It is such a lovely little tree and will make a fine addition to the garden." Ruth Ann said. By this time, Georgie and Bethie had spun their cocoons and were resting quite comfortably down in the thickest part of the milkweed vines with eight other little Monarch caterpillar cocoons. Billy BlueJay couldn’t figure out where the little caterpillars had gone. He spends most of his time now in the fruit tree, taking short trips to Gomer, the compost pile. Gomer is full of red wigglers, sow bugs and other yummy bird food. Ruth Ann built a couple of tiny rope swings and placed one on the Memosa tree and the other on a piece of driftwood in the rock garden nearby. "Oh look Rosebud." Twinkie called. "There are swings in Miss Ruthie’s garden. Let’s go play." Rosebud, Twinkie and their cousins Fredric and Timmy went over to the swings and took turns pushing each other higher and higher, giggling all the while. "That sure was fun." Timmy said to the other fairies. How about we go swimming in the goldfish pond?" "Oh boy, I love the water." Twinkie said. "Mad Max is out there somewhere so we have to be very careful and quiet. Max chases everyone. One day he almost caught Colin Cottontail, but he missed. Colin hid in the sweet peas. Max followed Colin in and hasn’t been seen since." "Then , let’s go swimming, he is probably still lost in there." Fredric said, giggling. Crocus and Fiddlehead were at the pond sitting on lily pads when the gang came over to swim in the cool water. The frogs jumped into the water surprised by the giggles of the fairies. |
| Shaddy had waited rather patiently through all the turmoil involving the Dragon and his friend, but his patience was wearing thin. He had hemmed and hawed for three days keeping the peace but he knew that soon the Queen would come or send word and Rosebud and Miss Ruthie needed to be ready. Shaddy was at that moment sitting under an old weeping willow tree across from the gazebo grumbling about delays when Rosebud flitted back into sight. Her pink hair was standing up on end and her usually happy face seemed to be in a somewhat frightened expression. Her pink wings fluttered to and fro excitedly as she hovered over Shaddy. "THEY ARE COMING!" Rosebud screeched out in her tiny little fairy voice. Not explaining who they were, but giving it such an air of urgency that Shaddy pulled his rotund self up and onto his small feet. "Ya go lassie and get Miss Ruthie now you hear?" Shaddy pointed to the house and then took off in a stumbling run through the vegtable garden. His hat flew off and landed behind for once forgotten and his tangled red hair waving in the breeze. While everyone else had been sleeping Shaddy had taken time to assemble a troop of sorts to guard the home and gardens of Miss Ruthie. They were a ragtag bunch of garden gnomes, a leprechaun or two, and a couple of surly imps. As Shaddy ran through the gardens he had taken out a small horn and blown on it assembling the troops by the goldfish pond. Meanwhile, Rosebud had flitted off to the house to look for Miss Ruthie, flying in an open window and nearly getting tangled in the curtains. But she got free and flitted about the lower level and followed her nose which led her to the kitchen. Miss Ruth was baking cookies and pies for the picnic she had planned for tomorrow. Tomorrow was Sunday and it was tradition for them, meaning her and her animal and fairy friends and other creatures, to have a family picnic down by the lake. "Miss Ruthie! They are coming, the yellow Gnomes are coming! Hurry!" Rosie flew around Ruth screaming in her ear and tugging at her. Ruth nodded and grabbed her rolling pin and headed for the back door. Rosie flew behind her silently lamenting the fact that the Queen had not arrived or sent word yet. "Where is our Queen?" She asked on deaf ears as she flew out the door behind Ruth Ann. |
| Ruth Ann shook her head after Rosebud had left. I was a good thing that she had acted as if she didn’t care or didn’t hear Rosebud. Her little friends needed their excitement, thinking that there was always some danger. How could there be any trouble when Ruth Ann took care of her garden and her garden friends so well? She would find a way around yellow gnomes also. What these naughty creatures needed was probably some attention and her tender loving care. “I must bake some of those tiny sesame tidbits. Yellow gnomes love them so!” So Ruthie measured, mixed, stirred, blended, and baked practically for hours. The aroma from her baking drifted around the garden all the way to the lily pond and beyond. Squeak, Chippers, Crocus, Fiddlehead, Henrick, Casey, Georgie, Bethie, Billy Bluejay, Colin Cottontail, Twinkie, Fredric, Timmy, Shaddy, Dragon, all the tiny fairies and gnomes sniffed and sighed with longing and delight. All the birds began chirping. The flowers swayed in the excited breeze with more gusto. Yes, it was going to be a memorable picnic. Meanwhile Rosebud went from one place to another looking for the Queen. No luck! Was there a conspiracy for people not to pay attention to Rosebud? She retreated to semi-shade and a big fat tear tolled from her eye onto a hydrangea petal. “Awwww! Rosebud, don’t cry!” Chipper hopped to a nearby branch. “Why do you worry so?” “It’s the yellow gnomes, gathered together with the rebel leprechauns and imps by the pond. Ruth Ann didn’t pay attention to me and I can’t find the queen.” “Rosebud, this is nothing! Dry your tears. Tonight’s the full moon and Squeak and I will be shape-shifting. We’ll give them a scare, they’ll never forget. You go wrap yourself inside your petal and rest.” “But....but...” “No but’s now. Okay? Tomorrow will be the most glorious day for our picnic.” Upon saying that, Chipper swung through the branches of a mighty oak and started looking for Squeak. From around the lily pond arose the sharp thorny sounds of the rebel’s song. A grey dusk had started to fall on the garden. Rosebud shivered as she enveloped herself inside her petal. She hoped that the queen wouldn’t scold her later for her ineptitude. |
| Rosebud was right as usual. It was a glorious morning. The smell of gingerbread coming from the tiny hut was breathtaking. The fairies and hummingbirds were gathering for a taste. Even the rabbits and squirrels were wondering who was making such fantastic aromas. "Why of course, it's Betty Butterfly." She is called that because she loves butterflies. She bakes special gingerbread for all her friends in the garden. Well she shares a spot with other beings, young and old, small or tall. "What is wrong now, tiny little one," said Tuttle Toad. "Ok. My friend says Hugo the Giant is coming. Hide" |
| Everyone was gathering at the gazebo for a group meeting about the coming of the Yellow Gnomes. Dozens of fireflies led by King Sparky flew in landing all over the gazebo to light the way into the night. The glowworms circled the gazebo on the ground and down both sides of the path to further light the way for all late comers. "Yellow Gnomes! Oh no, Miss Ruthie, I'm scared of them. " Rosebud cried. "I was told they have a bunch of orcs and trolls with them, too." We have to get Shaddy to take us to Queen Lorraine. She will protect us from all those scary characters that are coming into our garden at grid 4190 B, that is supposed to be their meeting place." Rosebud said, holding her head high, trying to look brave. Colin Cottontail is still in the sweet peas looking for a way out where Mad Max won't get him. He has joined Chrissy Bunny, who is munching some young tender June peas and gathering an equal amount for the picnic. Miss Ellie is making a fruit and vegetable tray with her special yogurt sauces. Um, um good. Over, lounging by the pond, Shilo and Smokey are watching the Koi and Goldfish, day dreaming of when they were young pups swimming in the pond and chasing the fish. Back at the gazebo, Rosebud was singing. "We're gonna have a picnic, we're gonna have a picnic." Twinkie, Buttercup, Elmier and Ralph all joined in; "We have gingerbread nuggets and dew drop soup. Morning Glory nectar, strawberries too. We're gonna have a picnic, we're gonna have a picnic." |
| "There are things we need to talk about before the picnic tomorrow," Ruth Ann announced when everyone had settled down. She looked around and found Shaddy in a huddle talking with Henrick and Casey. "Can I interrupt you for a moment, Shaddy?" she asked loudly enough to be heard. Shaddy stopped talking and turned toward Ruth Ann. Then, as he took a step toward the gazebo, he tripped on the dangling shoestrings of his shoes that didn't fit. Everyone laughed but quickly stopped their laughter when they saw how flustered Shaddy bacame. "Better tie your shoelaces before you take another step," Fiddlehead croaked. Shaddy frowned at Fiddlehead, then sat up and tied his shoestrings. Afterward, he stood, tugged a few times on his pants and walked to the gazebo. "Tell 'em what's happening, Shaddy," Rosebud said as she flew about. "Are we gonna have troubles?" Fiddlehead asked. "Yeah, when are we going to have troubles?" Billy Blue Jay asked. Shaddy tried to raise his voice so that all could hear. "I can't give you any more details until the Queen sends another message. But the Garden is in danger. There are some Gnomes and Orcs and Trolls who want to take over the kingdom. They have chosen the grid beneath Ruth Ann's Garden as their headquarters." "How do you know this? Have you seen them?" Fiddlehead croaked. "No, but some traveling mosquitoes overheard a number of "orange" Gnomes putting the plan together," Shaddy said. "Mosquitoes!? You're believin' mosquitoes now?" Fiddlehead asked. Everyone chuckled, knowing that mosquitoes exaggerated everything they heard. "A number of Robins overheard it too," Shaddy added. The chuckling stopped, for everyone knew that Robins were very exact whenever they spoke. "Are you sure there's a grid beneath the Garden?" Crocus asked. "Yes. The Queen had her map makers go through the records. They had to go way back but they found a map showing a very large grid there," Shaddy said. It was well known that "orange-clad" Gnomes liked those tunneled out room areas known as "grids". But the thought of a grid big enough to become a headquarters for them and Orcs and Trolls as well, had most of those living in the Garden suddenly tense. "So, what do we do, just wait for the troubles?" Billy Blue Jay asked. "No," Shaddy answered. "I've asked some forest folk to help us protect the Garden until the Queen's Divisions arrive. They've been off on other missions and it will take time for them to get here, but it will also take time for the "orange" Gnomes to get here too." Shaddy tugged on his pants again while everyone became lost in their thoughts. ***************** Chippy and Squeak were getting restless, but not because of Shaddy's news. In a few minutes the time would be right in the glow of the Full Moon for them to shapeshift into anything they wanted. The minutes passed. Chippy and Squeak left Shaddy and the others and made their way to the pond where Shaddy's forest folk were camping. "How do I look, Squeak?" Chipper asked after changing into his new shape. "Scary!" Squeak said. "How do I look now?" "Scary too!" Chipper answered. When they both decided they looked good as "orange" Gnomes, they hurried on toward the pond. When they finally saw the pond and campfire of Shaddy's forest folk, both laughed quietly. Then with a "one, two, three" to get their timing right, Chippy and Squeak (disguised as the dreaded "orange" Gnomes) rushed toward the half-sleeping, half-guarding forest folk, making all kinds of strange sounds. Immediately surprised by the noise, most of the "yellow" Gnomes bumped into one another as they scrambled to get themselves together. Each began pushing the others to get them out of their way. The Leprecauns scurried to and fro trying to find the clubs they had made. Chipper and Squeak were having a grand time watching the confusion they had caused. Until ten rugged Imps and two of the "yellow' Gnomes appeared in a circle around them, with Shaddy, Ruth Ann and her Garden group joining the circle. "We heard the noise," Ruth Ann said. "What in the world is going on here?" "We captured two of them!" one of the Imps said. "Two of the "orange-clad Gnomes...we captured them for you." Shaddy wasn't sure what to do, so he said, "Tie them up so they can't get away." "No! Wait a minute! You can't do that!" Squak shouted. "It's us...Chipper and Squeak!" "It is. It's us!" shouted Chipper. Then both Chipper and Squeak changed back to the black fox squirrels they were. Ruth Ann and her Garden group were shocked. Shaddy and his forest folk were angry. "Do ya happen to know ya could've gotten hurt?" Shaddy asked Chipper and Squeak. "Well, it was taking the Leprecauns a long time to find their clubs," Squeak said boldly. "What Squeak means is that if we had been the "orange" Gnomes, not ony would the grid beneath the Garden be ours now, the Garden would be too. You forest folk need to be practicin' guarding more," Chipper said. Everyone was silent again. At least now they knew the Garden needed better protection against the troubles heading their way. |
As the golden rays of the full moon reflected on the fretwork of leaves, everyone began thinking of devising a plan to ward off the enemy. “Teamwork!” Shaddy suddenly uttered. “Teamwork is what has made our garden so successful. Teamwork and initiative. Whatever measure we take, we have to stick together as we put it to action.” “Awww! Goodness gracious!” Fiddlehead scratched his head. “We know that! The question is what to do.” “If orange gnomes are putting a plan together, we must first know what that plan is. So we can take countermeasures,” Billy Blue Jay fluttered his wings. His feathers had started drooping for he wasn’t used to staying up so late. “You’re too sleepy to think,” Henrick laughed. “Someone must penetrate the orange gnomes camp in order to get their plans. Any one of us will be found out and you know what will happen to him.” “Not if they look like orange gnomes,” Rosebud turned to Chipper and Squeak. “Ohhh, yes! Now, that’s an idea!” Shaddy said, eyeing the mischievous twosome. Chipper and Squeak hugged each other in fear and sheer disbelief. They only knew about hopping around and pulling pranks. But now an important yet too risky a duty called them to action. Were they capable to pull it off? Were they brave enough to face such danger? “That little fairy has lost her floppy fear and wants us to go in there,” Squeak squealed. “Exactly. Just for a few minutes though. You have to be back with the plans before the moon goes down,” Shaddy said. “That is if you’re willing...” |
| "Hey, everyone! Queen Lorraine has proclaimed that the orange gnomes should be stopped in their tracks." Elsbeth said. "Chipper and Squeak, our Queen wants you two to go shape shifting. Please go and get all the other shifters to become blue dragons. Station them at all entrances to the garden as sentries." "Ok, allies we have twenty sky blue dragons and five in navy blue of different sizes and shapes around the garden and pool. If we catch any of the orange gnomes wondering around checking our week points or trying to get at our food supplies. We will put him or them in the prickly pear cactus jail. While we have them in our custody they are to be feed marshmallows, peanut butter and chocolate kisses. The gnomes sure don't like this type of food at all." Elsbeth said. Tuttle, Crocus and Fiddlehead have gone down to the pond for a little swimming to cool off. It seems to be getting warmer and warmer more often these days. The heat will probably keep the orange gnomes underground during the day at least. "Now, Twinkie and Buttercup, let's go to the store and buy some hot dogs, buns, marshmallows and chocolate kisses for our picnic. We don"t want to run out of anything." Elsbeth said to the fairies. "Oh look, Hollie and Kathy are here!" cried Rosebud excitedly. She liked these two girls, they are always so friendly and nice, just as sweet as can be and so much help to Miss Ruthie when they come to visit. "Huh! Who are they?" Twinkie asked. "Hollie and Kathy are Miss Ruthie's nieces, Twinkie." Elsbeth said. "They come to visit Miss Ruthie a couple times a year. They help with the harvest at the big truck farm at the outskirts of town. The harvest is of fruit and vegetables native to this area. The veges go to the orphans in the home on the other side of town and to the shelters for the homeless people of this area." "They are both darling little humans. I'll bet they even help Miss Ruthie make some of the cookies for our picnic." Rosebud said. "I sure hope the orange gnomes are not able to spoil the picnic or the harvest." "Me too." Spoke up Buttercup. "I hope the grid stays safe from harm, too." "I think the grid will be safe while we are here." Kathy said. "Hollie and I will see to it that more prickly pear cactus are added to the patch so it will hold a large number of the orange gnomes. Also, the blue dragons will be watching the garden from every vantage point. Some will hide among the rocks, some are stationed in the trees, and still other dragons will be flying over us about every half-hour. Look, there goes one of them now." |
| One blue dragon had noticed a strange looking root seemed to be growing in a paddock, and asked the others had they noticed it too. One said yes the another said no, so they made a note to look for anything that looked different. “Miss Ruthie, Miss Ruthie, come ‘ere quickly,” called Henrick breathlessly. Ruth Ann wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and stepped outside the back kitchen door, into the cool morning air. “Whatever is the matter,” she asked Henrick. She headed toward the garden bed that surrounded her lawn, to where Henrick and Casey, the two Gomes stood. Buttercup flew over to see what all the commotion was about. “Somethin’ has eaten me flowers, Miss Ruthie, and I don’t ever remember seein’ that plant before. It’s the same one in me garden, looks like it’s spreadin’ everywhere.” said Henrick. Georgie and Bethie, the two caterpillars, were at Henrick’ feet. “I’m not sharing my garden with that thing, it tried to eat me,” said Georgie. “Me too,” cried Bethie. A blue dragon was near a rock fighting with a stem, "Lemmie go", and tried to breathe his firey breath onto it. “Oh dear, this is too serious,” said Ruth Ann. Ruth Ann looked at her half-chewed flowers. There was a peculiar looking, blue plant that seemed to have wrapped its stem around the other flowers, like an octopus. The intruding plant had bright, red flowers, which looked like big lips that were ready to gobble up anything it could get hold of. “How very odd. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before, I wonder where it came from?” said Ruth Ann. “Miss Ruthie, Miss Ruthie,” called Elmier, the elf. He came racing in through the garden gate panting. “There, there’s a strange blue weed, with ugly red flowers, growing in my garden. It...it’s eaten some of my flowers. “Oh no, not yours too,” said Ruth Ann. Rose flew in, “Does anyone know what type of weed has a red flower, and blue stems?” “Great gnomes! Someone must have planted it, not knowing it was going to eat up our pretty flowers,” said Ruth Ann. “Look,” shouted Casey, pointing toward the mysterious plant. “My golly gum, it’s growing,” said Henrick. “And it’s moving towards that rose,” cried Elmier in disbelief. “Oh no, my prized rose,” Miss Ruthie cried as she put her hands up to her mouth. Everyone in Miss Ruthie’s garden, looked on in astonishment. The big red lips of the strange weed, swallowed Ruth Ann’s favourite crimson rose. ‘Help, Miss Ruthie, this thing is choking the life out of us,’ squealed the flowers to Miss Ruthie. Ruth Ann hit the flower with her stick, “Stop that. Stop it right now,” but more red flowers from the plant popped and ate the other flowers. The folk of Fairyland gathered in Ruth Ann’s garden near gazebo. They all said the same thing; the strange plant was invading their gardens. The Fairy Queen had joined the gathering and said, “A swarm of bees were collecting nectar from the flowers. An unhappy Drone reported to me that a lot of the flowers are suddenly disappearing. This means there won’t be any honey for our toast. Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Henrick stepped forward, and crossly, with his hands on his hips said, “Yes, I’ll tell you what’s goin’ on. This is what’s goin’ on, and growin’ in our gardens.” He pointed toward the blue-stemmed plant, which was now spreading onto the lawn. “The greedy weed has even tried to eat my mushroom house,” added Casey. The Fairy Queen flew over to the plant and looked at it closely. She prodded one of its red flowers with her wand. The flower stretched its blue stem and turned itself in her direction. “Umm, strange,” said the Queen. “It seems to be taking over Fairyland. What are we going to do?” wailed Rosebud. Ruth Ann took charge, “Well, the first thing is, we have to find out where it came from. Then we have to find out how we can get rid of it.” Ellie, the neighbour had joined the crowd as well. “I even tried weed killer on it, but didn’t work.” Henrick noticed Paxy the Pixie hiding behind the hedge. “Why are ya hidin’ there? Come an’ join the circle and help us think about what ta do with this plant.” Paxy looked nervous. The Fairy Queen called Paxy over and said, “Stand before me, or I’ll drag you over by your pixie ears. You have mischief and guilt in your eyes.” Paxy knew there was no fooling the wise Fairy Queen. “Well...well, I...,” “You what?” asked the Queen. “It was a mistake, I didn’t know this would happen,’ said Paxy lowering his head and nervously wringing his hands. “What are you talking about?” asked Ruth Ann. Everyone at once seemed to be asking Paxy what he meant. “Silence!” shouted the Queen, putting up her hand to stop everyone from talking. “Ok Paxy, please explain what you mean.” “Well, when I went to the market, there was a wizard selling seed. He told me it was the ‘World’s Biggest Flower’, and I’d have the best lookin’ plant in all of Fairyland. I wanted to impress everyone when the ‘Biggest Flower Contest’ is on. So I tested it in the field behind the meadow, and it kept growing, and growing. I didn’t know what to do, I’m really sorry.” “Ha! It was probably some trickery to upset Fairyland,’ snorted the Queen. “So, it’s spread all the way from the field. We’ll have to destroy its roots, but how?” asked Ruth Ann. “Weed killer won’t work,’ said Ellie. “We’ll have to burn it,’ said the Queen. “I know,’ said an excited Henrick, “We can get Storrm to breathe fire over it. Then we can be ready with buckets o’ water to put tha fire out.” “Good thinking,” said Ruth Ann. “Me and Casey can go up to Tromos’ cave and talk to him and Storrm,” said Henrick. Later that day, everyone in Fairyland got buckets and anything else they could find to fill with water. All the buckets where placed around the big ugly blue core. From the centre of the mound, all blue trunks and stems ran in all directions. Up above was Tromo on Storrm’s back. Everyone stood well out of the way. Then Ruth Ann gave Tromo a wave of her hand to signal to Storrm to breathe his fiery breath over the plant. With a mighty roar, Storrm swept down and breathed flames over the plant. Henrick held his nose and said, “That dragon is dead on tha inside. ‘E still stinks.” There was an ear-piercing scream from the plant. The people of Fairyland watched in amazement as all the stems, and red flowers suddenly all shrivelled and shrunk back into the main root. “Quick everyone, put the fire out,” Ruth Ann yelled. For each bucket that emptied, the fairies swooped down and replaced it with a full one of water. The fairies flew quickly, swooping down to the lake to fill the empty buckets. The rest of the folk threw the pales of water over the burning grass. Soon, the grassfire was put out. All that was left of the strange plant was a large burnt patch of grass. Fairyland had a party that night. Ruth Ann made Storrm his favourite apple stew as a reward for destroying the troublesome plant. Around the bonfire, Ruth Ann said, “I think we’d better make the ‘Biggest Flower Contest’ a bit later this year, to give the flowers time to grow again.” |
| "Yeh! You can say that again! I never get flower seed from strange wizards,"said Paxy. "I hope that is all we see of that ugly stupid plant that takes over everything," said Ruth Ann. "I know what we can do, let's go find our friend Rosy Hummingbird and see if she won't spread some seed for us in the garden and beyond. She may enlist some of her friends too," said Queen of Fairyland. "Hey, there, what is the trouble in the Green Garden. Did Tiny the Leprechaun come back with some weird tools to put in our magic pond. it is almost St. Patrick's Day but he could stay away just a little bit longer," wondered Lacy Caterpillar. |
| Lacy had nothing to worry about because it took only a few minutes for Tiny the Leprechaun to put in the magic pond. After all what’s time to a leprechaun! Everything turned out to be so beautiful for St. Patrick's Day. All around the new pond four-leaf clovers sprung up together with lady ferns next to the royal ferns and goldenrods, crocus, daffodils, and early tulips sang their praises to Spring’s coming. With playful screeches, Squeak and Chippers jumped on the budding oak branches over the magic pond while an impatient robin dropped its blue egg in the grass. So, throughout the festivities, they all stayed safe from their enemies with blue dragons watching the garden from every vantage point, and during St. Patrick’s Day picnic and parade, everybody ate, drank, and danced until they couldn’t stand, and thus, March 17 came and went with all the pomp and circumstance the magic garden could muster. Still, one thing worried the Queen of Fairyland. Although the catastrophe with the flower-eating giant plant was over after Paxy had been had by the wizard, the Queen knew that very few wizards would be so mean as to destroy magic gardens, even if they liked tricks. This wicked wizard who gave Paxy the killer weed had to be employed by some other force that could not stand the well-being of Miss Ruthie’s Garden. Quessing the queen’s worries, Rosebud came up with a suggestion. “Let’s hold a town meeting, ahem, garden meeting, My Queen. Then we can decide what to do if the evil ones want to harm us again, because they’ll surely change their tactics. Next time, it won’t be a wizard doling out bad seeds but maybe someone else with another trick and we have to think ahead of the evil ones to protect our garden.” “For once, you’re using your mind, Rosebud, instead of fearing everything.” The Queen touched Rosebud’s wings with her magic wand making sparkles scatter all round. Rosebud smiled a happy smile but her face turned crimson for she was embarrassed from such great an attention. “Oh, thank you so much, Ma’am,” Rosebud muttered. “Now, go call everyone around the magic pond before the moon comes up,” the Queen ordered. |
| The full moon was just beginning to crest the eastern edge of the world just as the last straggler from Ruthie's magic fairy garden finally found their place near the gazebo and settled down for another emergency meeting. Queen Lorrain hovered above the semicircled crowd with her tiny silvery wand glowing at the tip. A strange hush settled over everyone as the light eminating from the tiny rod flashed from a deep dull red to an almost blue-white brilliance. Ms Ruthie and Ellie blinked and tried to rub the ghost spots hovering in front of their view. A gasp of surprise echoed from gnome, fairy, elf, pixy, flower, squirrel, frog, toad and bird present. "Sorry, I had to do that," Queen Lorrain bowed and settled onto the polished mirror ball. Her silvery rod now emitted a soft orange glow gentle on the eyes. "I had to make sure no one here was from the enemy camp in disguise." Billy Blue Jay ruffled his feathers in disgust and squawked, "This is turning into the year of compulsive and useless meetings. Impending disaster my beak!. Orange Gnomes, Yellow Gnomes, Orcs and Trolls! BAH! Soon there's going to be Green Pixies and Purple Bixies, Blue Brownies and Crimson Imps and who knows what else, all coming to take over Miss Ruthie's Garden. I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ogres." Before anyone could respond to his sudden out burst, Billy flapped his wings and with a loud raucous squawk flew out of the garden and toward the city park some miles distant. A swelling murmur crested through the assembled crowd. Before the echoing of the word ogre could reach a panicked pitch however, Ms Ruthie spoke up. "Now now, let's not let Billy's disbelief sway us from the reason we are here. Queen Lorrain has excellent sources and I for one believe there is an immnent crises we need to prepare for." Everyone's full attention was now on Ruth Ann who was looking at Queen Lorrain. "Thank you Ruth Ann for your support. I do have excellent sources but the information I am receiving from those wells of information are sketchy and difficult to interpret. It is because of the lack of details that I have taken so very long to form this meeting." "But Your Majesty, what about the Orange Gnome conspiracy with the Orcs and Trolls? There IS going to be a war meeting in grid 4109B, isn't there?" Shaddy tugged at his linen shirt under his vest as he addressed this important question to the Fairy Queen. Well, that is what the migrant mosquito swarms, numerable Robins, and Yellow Gnome sentries have reported. But I am waiting on one more informant to report before I can truely believe there is an enemy headquarters under our good friend's garden. In the meantime, Squeeks and Chipper have agreed to disguise themselves as Orange Gnomes and infiltrate their camp. Any and all information they can come back with will be most helpful in either preventing a war or for preparing for the war over the total control of Fairyland and magical gardens around the world. This may be our last chance to stop disaster before it happens. So Squeeks and Chipper, my brave shape-shifters, are you ready to start your mission?" Chipper nudged Squeeks with his nose, "Go on you noob, tell the Queen what you told me before Rosebud found us in Ellie's bird feeder." Squeeks looked up at Queen Lorrain and being true to his name the first word he tried to speak came out shrill as his voice cracked. "Goo - err um good Queen of the Fairies, we have decided, me and Chipper here have decided, that this is a frightfully dangerous task we have volunteered for and um well we uh...." Chipper slapped Squeeks on the top of his head then took over, "What Squeeks is trying to say good Queen Lorrain is we are..." Squeeks nipped Chipper on the ear. "YOW! Whatcha do that for!" "Queen Lorrain we are honored to take on this mission for the salvation of all Fairyland." Squeeks pounced and sat on Chipper's head so his complaints were muffled. A loud cheer erupted from the others and Queen Lorrain simply looked at the two mischievous black squirrels and shook her head confused by their constant antics. "Good, though I thought this queston had already been settled. Chipper and Squeeks, Rosebud will take you to the edge of Orange Gnome territory, there you will travel east and make contact with an Orange Gnome insurgent who is an informant for our side. His name is Mad Max, I think you know him best as Miss Ellie's new big black dog who came up missing in the pea patch some time ago. "I wondered what happened to my new dog?" Miss Ellie murmured and looked at the little Fairy Queen with a wrinkled brow. Ruthie patted Ellie's hand reassuringly. "Are there anymore questions?" No one volunteered any questions though everyone looked around at their neighbors expecting someone to speak up. "No questions, so I suggest we call this meeting adjurned and prepare for the party and the return of Chipper and Squeeks." Chipper hissed at Squeeks. "You fool, none of that is what you told me you were going to say. You are going to get us killed or worse." Squeeks hissed back, "what could be worse than getting killed?" Chipper glared at his squirrel friend, "We are going to miss Ruth Ann's garden party, you noob!" Relunctantly, Squeeks and Chipper changed form into their Orange Gnome personae. They checked each other meticulousy to make sure the change was perfect. Then Rosebud lead them to the edge of Orange Gnome territory. She moved a brushy limb from in front of a hole and a long narrow tunnel. "This will lead you to one of their guard stations. You need to scratch yourselves up a bit and muddy yourselves and tell them a story about how you just escaped from the prickley cactus jail in Ms Ruthie's garden. If they don't kill you then they believe your story. The Queen wants you to be back before the magic of the full moon wanes with or without information on the Orange Gnome's plans. No need for you getting stuck in orange gnome shape for a full month. Bye now and good luck." Chipper blinked, "What do you mean if they don't ki..." but Rosebud was gone and he was seeing stars and rubbing a fresh growing bruise on his chin. "Hey, why did ya hit me?" "Now hit me." "What? Don't think I don't want to after that blind punch and biting my ear and nearly smothering me when you sat on my head." "Look we gotta look like we been captured by the Fairies, now hit me and make it good." An evil gleem shone from Chipper's yellow grey Gnomish eyes. "Okay, since you insist." A few moments later, after trading a couple more blows, which not all were for cosmetic purpose, the two friends (?) entered the tunnel to complete their dangerous mission. In the meantime, Ms Ruthie returned to her kitchen and finished up her preparations for the party and retired for the evening. Her friend and neighbor Ellie refilled her bird feeders and she too retired for the night. When Queen Lorrain was finally alone and she felt no eyes upon her a grin and squint changed her face from majestic to one radiating pure evil. "The fools actually thought I was their precious Queen. How delightfully gullible these prissy folk are. How trusting and how sweet." Shrill maniacal laughter echoed through the darkness of the magical garden. Flowers awoke disturbed by the sound. Gnomes, Fairies, Pixies, bird, squirrel and frog all looked about themselves and shivered as an unease settled into their soul.Ruth looked out her bedroom window and wondered what disturbed her wonderful garden. What deepening threat hovered here and how was she going to combat it if she didn't understand it? |
| The evil laughter resonating in the background woke Treasure from her sleep. She huddled even further under the leaf she'd covered herself with for her snooze. What manner of creature coulod bray in such a fashion? Could she manage to avoid it? She had to collect her cousin Precious and bring him back home in time for the party. She wasn't exactly ready to fight off anything which sounded that cold and unfeeling... It would still be a while before she arrived at Aunt Treacle and Uncle Muffin's. They couldn't come to the party because Precious was going to have a baby brother or sister very soon and the pair could not stray far from the grounds where by custom their child must be born. No one wanted Precious to miss it though, so instead they sent her on the journey to collect and bring him back. How far was it to travel anyway? No one had quite told her, only that Treasure would know when she found it. The place was supposed to call to all of their kind, Beetreaux and fey alike. Treasure hid even further under her leaf. She ignored her cramping wings and flexed her stinger. She peered out from under her cover, trying to see all around from the limited range. Why did she have to choose sleeping in this little upside-down bump thing on the branch? It was like a bump, only it went in instead of out so she wouldn't fall from where she slept, like a cradle, but now it limited her range of vision. With her terror from the laughter she almost didn't hear the flutter of wings. She moved aside just as the cardinal's beak bit into the part of the branch where she had rested. The cardinal's wings beat out its frustration at the narrow miss and blew both her and the leaf from the branch. The cardinal fair fell off the branch and swooped down after her. The frightened Beetreaux adolescent just barely managed to gain enough of her wings to swoop between the crossed vines of a bush to take minor refuge in it. The cardinal's persistent pecking, trying to catch her with its beak, and the persistent flapping of its wings led Treasure even further into the bush's confines until she felt herself caught in something sticky. She tried to break free to no avail, until she saw the spider scurrying towards her from where her lower portions were ensnared in the web's mesh. The spider's mouth loomed closer to her lower portions, almost to her stinger. There was just one chance: just as the spider's fangs approached her, Treasure convulsed, extending her stinger and lower thorax to their fullest extent, running through the spider's head from front to back just before its venom could be injected into her. She barely managed to avoid the spider's fang scraping her flesh as it died, though it did manage to pierce the gauzy part of one of her wings. When the spider hung limp on the web beneath her treasure relaxed for just a moment. She still had to get out of this web, but she was alive for the moment. She hoped she could still fly with the pierced wing. She couldn't examine it until she managed to free herself from the web. That would be a sticky problem in itself..... |
| Treasure struggled with the web trying to free her self. The bird watched in amusement. It didn’t matter which way she moved, the threads stretched like elastic. ‘Can’t you do something? You were the one who got me into this sticky mess, you great beak-head.’ she asked the cardinal warily. ‘Nice!’ replied the cardinal. ‘Now!’ Treasure commanded. Haughtily: the cardinal folded his wings and said, ‘Say please’. Treasure glared at him. Her arms and legs flinging this way but became more entangled. ‘Say pleeeeasee,’ she said. The cardinal shook his head, ‘That wasn’t a nice please, now say it nicely,’ he squawked. ‘Please’, she said weakly, lowering her head. The fight with the web had sapped her energy. The cardinal peered at the hapless creature caught in the web and noticed a tear drop slip down her cheek. He flew down to her and gently wiped her tear away with his wing. ‘Here, I’ll help you,’ he said. He pecked at a strand of web. It stretched like a long piece of spaghetti, until it was weak enough to break. The problem was, the strands were sticking to his beak. Another cardinal sitting on a nearby branch observing the charade called out, ‘Typical, always putting your sticky beak into something hehe’. ‘Very funny, why don’t you get your feather tail down here and help?’ squawked the cardinal helping treasure. The two birds stretched the strands of the web and eventually, Treasure was free from the web. She fell to the grass and lay there for a few minutes trying to regain her strength. The first cardinal swooped down to Treasure. They picked the last of the sticky threads off each other. ‘Thank you,’ she said kissing his beak. ‘Now there’s no need for sentimental stuff: but thanks. Can you fly? You have a hole in your wing’. ‘It will grow back.’ ‘Hop on my back and I’ll fly you up to the treetop. Can’t have your ahem, posterior getting wet with the dew’. She gratefully climbed on his back and he flew her to a large leafy branch where Treasure could rest for the night. The cardinal plucked a couple of leaves with his beak and covered Treasure over. ‘There sweet dreams,’ he said. He snuggled himself next to her, watching over her. An owl hooted nearby. ‘Do you mind, we’re trying to sleep here’, said the cardinal. Dewdrops glistened like diamonds in the moonlight, on the grass, trees and plants. The wicked Queen from Orchar flew over to where Queen Lorrain was in a sedated sleep. The magic sleep powder the wicked queen sprinkled over the unsuspecting Queen Lorrain; was beginning to wear off. Still groggy, Queen Lorrain feebly opened her eyes. Images around her looked fuzzy. She couldn’t move her hands and feet and realised they were bound. She then heard a cold voice, ‘your weak little folk are easily deceived. They won’t notice when you have gone and I will be there Queen hehehehehe,’ the evil queen said wickedly. ‘You can’t win, Villainy,’ said Queen Lorrain. ‘Oh! I already have won. I shall reign and forever. I am powerful and I will reform Miss Ruthie’s Garden Folk. They will serve me’. ‘Your pride and greed will be your downfall,’ said Lorrain. ‘Your confidence in those prissy, weak folk is yours’. Queen Lorrain tried to focus and clear her mind. Closing her eyes she said, ‘Yumer oliar oia gomear’. (Return me my strength). Suddenly, her eyes became clear and her mind, alert. ‘Now, I’m going to evict you from this garden once and all. Something I should have done eons ago. Begone!’ A green cloud formed over the garden, enveloping Queen Lorrain. ‘Oliar Kulma gia foraham’. (My power will overcome evil) Queen Lorrain commanded. With a great thud, wicked Queen Villainy, found her self on the floor and the fog began to clear. ‘Ohsema gomear humman,’ (Your strength begone), commanded the wicked Queen. Queen Lorrain was flung across the garden and crashed into a tree with such force, breaking her leg and hand chains. The Queen stretched forth her hand, and her wand: which was on the floor swooped into her hand. Queen Lorrain levitated and loomed over the wicked Queen saying with a loud voice, ‘Kulmer gai Lahmer angliao moi forham’. (Power and love will overcome evil). The wicked Queen was swooped off the ground. Spinning like a tornado, she was ousted away from Queen Lorrain’s realm. A shrill voice rang through the night, ‘I will be back’. Squeeks and Chipper had taken refuge for the night inside a tree hollow close to the ground. Shivering, Squeeks said, ‘what was that? Smells like evil to me’. Chipper trying to be brave said, ‘How can a noise smell?’ ‘Your noise can smell, glad to hear you haven’t done one tonight’. ‘Very funny! Now go to sleep,’ said Chipper nervously. ‘What do you think it was?’ asked Squeeks. ‘We probably imagined it’. ‘Imagined it, both of us? I don’t think so’. ‘Ok we ought to get some sleep we have a long quest ahead of us,’ said Chipper burying himself in the foliage. They both drifted off to an unsettled sleep. |
| Squeeks and Chipper awaken the next morning with gentle rain drops upon them. "Gee, I did not know it was going to rain this morning. I would have brought my umbrella. It is beautiful rain drop though," said Chipper. "Why do you like rain,"said Squeeks. "I don't know, I guess because it makes the flowers grow more brillinant and more magnificent than before, said Chipper. "Hey look over here, the sun is peeking through, therefore if you are quiet you might see...yes, a rainbow....in fact two of them...Wow! I haven't seen that before, said Squeeks. There were both in awl of the situation when suddenly a strange event happened. |
| Maybe it was the sun peeking through, but who could be sure? “To believe what one sees doesn’t always pan out,” said Chipper, suddenly shoving Squeaks’ head into a mud puddle. “What…what are you doing?” Squeaks squealed. “Are you out of your mind?” “Look about you and tell me what you see now?” Chipper asked. “Mud, just brown, murky mud.” Squeaks shook himself trying to clean his face. “Now look at the two rainbows,” Chipper dared him. Sure enough, one of the rainbows was turning and churning inside itself, changing into strands of black thread to hang over their heads. “One of those rainbows is the fake one, just like the evil queen. Something is up. Something will be threatening Ruth Ann’s garden folk,” Squeaks muttered. “We saw two rainbows because we wanted to see two rainbows,” Chipper said. “I figured this out when by accident my eyes caught an earthworm slithering out of the damp earth; and then, when I looked up again, I saw that one of the rainbows was something else. Sorry, I pushed your head into the mud; but otherwise you’d never look down and see the reality.” “I’d rather look up for the pretty things,” Squeaks said, combing the mud out of his fur with his claws. “Besides who needs to get his fur so messed up?” “Omigod! Look! Look at the second rainbow.” The black ominous strands had gotten wider and fatter, forming into a cloudlike snare, trapping everything beneath them. Startled, Chipper and Squeaks scampered away springing over logs. “Don’t let the black cloud gain on us,” Squeaks yelled at Chipper, who was limping. A tiny pebble had lodged itself between Chipper’s toes. “You run ahead of me and find the queen. Only she can save our garden,” Chipper gasped. “Which queen? Aren’t there two of them?” “Queen Lorrain, Silly; the other’s the evil one.” “The evil one’s gone,” Squeaks shivered as he ran fast. “Then what is that wicked cloud that’s hovering above? It’s certainly boding evil.” As soon as he said that, Chipper collapsed at the side of a sycamore on the edge of the green grass. “I can’t…I can’t…Get help. Run and tell Ruth Ann or find Queen Lorrain. Quick.” Squeaks splashed through last ankle-deep water before he entered the paddock. "Ruth Ann, Queen Lorrain, Rosebud, Crocus, somebody…Help!” Yet, only Treasure and Precious appeared, gliding toward Squeaks. “What mischief are you guys up to? Where’s Chipper?” “He’s hurt and there’s a black cloud trapping things under it. It’s coming this way, toward the garden,” Squeaks panted. “It was a rainbow, two actually; one real, one fake. The fake one changed, shifted into something else. Our lives are in uncertain hands, now.” Abruptly, the air around them started changing, and a mist floated over the garden. Squeaks, Treasure, and Precious leaned on one another. They felt the shock; they heard the roar. Something was happening. Something was coming down, crashing into earth. Could it be that black cloud? If not, what was it? |
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