Mary Elizabeth and the Dark Omnipotence

Mary Elizabeth carefully closed her delicate pink wings as she settled comfortably on the groaning tree branch. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, sighing happily. She smiled, thinking about what a beautiful day it was and how grateful she was to enjoy it.

"Mary Elizabeth! Come quick!" A frantic voice called from the small rounded door of our tiny toadstool home.

I should have known. Feeling happy was a sure sign that something is about to go wrong. At least in my world. Mary Elizabeth gave her wings a quick shake pulling herself from her relaxed state and preparing for action.

So much for enjoying singing birds and beautiful skies. What in the blue blazes was wrong now? Stomping my tiny pink boots as hard as I could to show my displeasure, I made my way down the spiny tree and into the house.

"What's the rush? Is the house on fire?" I stood with my hands on my hips and my pink wings folded neatly down my back. Their deepening color showing my irritation at being disturbed.

"Joseph has been captured! He dared to defy the Dark Omnipotence and has been imprisoned!" Francine was frantic. Wringing her hands and opening and closing her heart shaped yellow wings. As if any of that would help.

Okay, this was serious. The Dark Omnipotence was not known to be a patient and kind Lord. Joseph was in some serious muck.

"Well, what did he do?"

"He and the Dark Princess have had a crush on each other for a while now. They got caught sneaking out."

Hmm. Not smart on Joseph's part. The fairy world was clearly divided into the "haves" and the "have not's". One guess on which side Joseph lived.

"Okay, not good. We need a plan to get him out. Suggestions? Anyone? Anyone?" I look around, pretending there might be someone in the room who might actually have a plan.

Sigh. Not happening.

"Oh, Mary Elizabeth, I'm so worried. Joseph really loves the Dark Princess. I'm worried he won't repent and the Dark Omnipotence will lock him away for a long time!"

Joseph was Francine's only child and she had pretty near raised him alone for most of his life. No sense trying to tell her to calm down. That wasn't going to happen.

"Okay, let's just stay calm and figure it out. Has anyone been allowed to talk to Joseph? See what his thoughts are?" In other words, would Joseph apologize big time and promise not to do it again.

"No one has been allowed to see him. Oh, Mary Elizabeth, I think we should seek out the Domain Master." Francine made a face as she said this, knowing how much it would thrill me.

The Domain Master just happens to be my ex. Can't tell you how much it would thrill me to have that conversation.

"Let's just see if we can handle this little situation ourselves. Now, tell me exactly what the two of them were doing when they were caught?" Start from square one I always say.

"Well, they were behind the border rock. Doing you-know-what." Francine can't use words that describe any sort of physical contact. She's kinda weird that way.

"Doing you-know-what? What is that? For bees sakes, Francine, be a little more specific." You would think Francine was a nun or something.

"Kissing. They were kissing." Her tiny heart shaped face expressing a huge amount of disapproval.

"Bees sakes, Francine. Is that all they were doing? That's nothing. What was the big deal? They're kids. Kids do things."

"Mary Elizabeth, you know how the Dark Omnipotence feels about the "have not" side of the meadow. We are not allowed to cross the border rock. Joseph violated two important rules."

"Oh, pish, posh, that's ridiculous. Just 'cause his high and mighty self was hatched on the easy side of the meadow doesn't make him any better than us." I had half a mind to fly right over to the other side and deal with the Dark Omnipotence myself.

"I don't know, Mary Elizabeth. I'm worried. Are you sure we shouldn't talk to Domain Master?"

Francine was deliberately pretending it didn't matter that the Domain Master and 
I had quite the history. And here's me trying to live every day as though it never happened. The last thing I want to do is owe that fairy any gratitude. Especially for something as serious as this.

"I think I will just go over there myself. Have a fairy to fairy talk with the Dark Omnipotence and see what's what." What's the worst that could happen?

Actually, a lot could happen, but I sure wasn't going to let my mind go in that direction.

"Mary Elizabeth, that could be dangerous! No one sees the Dark Omnipotence without an appointment!"

"Oh for bees sakes Francine, get a grip. I'll be back before my fairy dust hits the ground. See ya in a bit, I'm off."

Before I could talk myself out it, I spread my wings full bore and flew off towards the Border Rock. I do some crazy things, but this was probably going to be in my top ten. Wonder what the odds are that Dark Omnipotence will even see me? Let alone release Joseph on my say so.

On the other hand, having to beg favor from that good for nothing Domain Master ruffles my wings. So that option is closed.

Flying low over the toadstool meadow, I marveled as I always did over the prettiness of it all. The neat and orderly toadstool houses, each one surrounded by its colorful beds of flowers. Each one immaculate in it's appearance. We fairies are all about color and beauty. It's just who we are.

Reaching the imposing but immaculately detailed castle way too quickly, I knocked bravely on the massively dark and intimidating door that was the entrance to an equally dark and intimidating castle. I tried to appear confident making sure my wings were properly folded and my tiny pink boots didn't have a speck of dust on them. Head held high, I waited.

Not for long. A gruesome looking gnome opened the door, glaring at me as if I were a grasshopper or some such thing.

"You are not seriously knocking on the Dark Omnipotence's door without an invitation, are you?" The ugly grey gnome looked down his oversized nose imperiously as he spoke.

Pertinent thing. As if he himself was the almighty Omnipotence.

"Get your bulbous nose out of the air and tell his highness I need to parlay with him." Boldness would definitely be the way to play this. Acting as if I make a habit out of visiting this side of the border rock.

The gruesome gnome continued to look down on me as if deciding whether or not to just slam the door in my chirpy little face and be done with this right now.

Clearing my throat and trying real hard not to look nervous, I glared right back.

"I shall return." The gnome made it sound as if he were doing me some sort of big favor as he slammed the huge door with majorly unnecessary force in my chirpy but very confident looking face.

Harrumph. Full of his own self importance, that one.

After making me wait for an amount of time that would have allowed the entire castle to be torn down and rebuilt, the door opened again. This time by a different gnome.

Gnomes of all things. What self respecting fairy would hire gnomes? They are not the most attractive creatures. We fairies are beautiful creatures and always surround ourselves with beautiful things. It's in our DNA, we couldn't do ugly if we tried.

Tales of the Pink Fairy, Part 2

This ugly gnome was inviting me in. And actually trying to smile. As if that would help the whole ugly issue. Fat chance.

I sashayed in with my nose in the air. Hiding my nerves. Not good to show your nerves. Never let em see ya sweat. That was my motto.

Trying to control my slightly trembling wings, I followed the solemn creature down the long dark hallway.

That was another thing. We fairies don't do dark. What was up with this guy?

The large wooden double doors at the end of the long hall opened as if they saw me coming.

Giving myself a silent shake, I walked in, head held high.

The Dark Omnipotence was seated on his majestic silver throne. His deep purple wings widely spread, showing off their rich, satiny color. His matching deep purple eyes glaring down at me as only the Dark Omnipotence could do.

Breathing deeply, I tried real hard not to be intimidated by the opulence of the space. The large room was heavily decorated in breathtakingly beautiful paintings and sculptures of famous fairies.

"What in the name of trees are you doing here, Mary Elizabeth? Do you seriously not have a brain in your pretty little head?"

Guess he hadn't forgotten that little confrontation we had in fairy high school. The one where he made a pass at me and I laughed. It figured he would have a long memory.

"I need to get Joseph. I'm sure he's sorry. You know, kids and all. What 'cha going to do?" I shrugged my little shoulders, pretending the whole conversation was just casual and all. Seemed the best way to go.

"I feel certain you know that's not going to happen. Joseph crossed a very serious line."

"Yeah, well, boys will be boys. Stupid just seems to be in their dna." Again with the shrugging. Probably wouldn't work twice. Sigh.

"The boy has no class. He knows he will never be good enough to be with my daughter." The pompous tones just oozed out of that man.

"Let's just wait a minute here. There is nothing wrong with my nephew and if I heard correctly, your precious darling was quite happy with the attention." Okay, so maybe I went a little overboard.

Dark Omnipotence stood. His deep purple wings darkening to almost black with the intensity of his anger. His dark, but extremely handsome face making it very clear what he was feeling.

"How dare you! How dare you speak of my daughter in that casual manner! Gnomes, lock her up! She needs to think about her manners." The Dark Omnipotence seemed to shake as he spoke. Real clear he was a bit on the angry side. Real clear.

Of course, I huffed and blustered all the way down the very creepy and extremely unfairy like steps to the dungeon. I really needed to learn to think before I opened my little pink mouth. For bees sakes, what do I do now?

The gloomy and distasteful looking gnomes marched in complete tandem behind me completely disregarding the very simple fact that their fat misshapen legs were longer and faster than my petite ones.

"Mary Elizabeth! What are you doing here?" Little (sarcasm intended) Joseph's face lit up with joy at the sight of my perfect pink face.

"I came here to rescue you. What were you thinking messing with Dark Omnipotence's daughter? Is there a brain in that pointy little head of yours?"

The boy had the good grace to hang his head, I'll give him that.

"I'm sorry, Mary Elizabeth. We just can't help ourselves. We love each other."

Darn it. He used the sad eyes trick. Hard to stay mad when they look at you with the sad eyes.

"Well, we are both in a peck of trouble now." I shook my head, now wondering who thought of the expression, pride goeth before the fall. Probably facing Domain Master would have been the better way to go.

"They'll come to us, you know they will. Domain Master would never let anything happen to you, Mary Elizabeth." Spoken like a true traitor.

My glaring and clearly angry eyes were not having any effect on the boy. That's all I need. Domain Master thinking he has to swoop in and rescue me. How do I get myself into these messes? Sigh.

Well, at least the cells were high enough to do some stress relief flying. Got to pass the time somehow until someone figures out that now we're both locked up.

Swooping up and down the tall but narrow cell, I tried to stay calm and focused. Not too difficult. Worrying never solved nothing. Things generally tended to sort themselves out if you can just be patient enough to let them.

Patience being a personality trait I never seemed to have acquired.

The tops of the cells were covered with a heavy wire grid. Letting the sun and fresh air in, but making sure you didn't get out.

On the other hand, a good healthy dose of anxiety did cause you to loose a few pounds. I always have been a glass half full kind of thinker.

Joseph's nervous fluttering was getting on my nerves. It was uneven. Not smooth, the way adults fly. He hadn't developed that yet.

"Joseph, you need to fold up those wings until one of us gets out of here. You are treading on my last nerve with that fluttering."

Immediately folding his wings and crouching on the floor of the cell, Joseph looked apologetically at me through the heavy metal grid that divided the two cells.

"I'm sorry, Mary Elizabeth. I'm worried about Princess. I'm worried Dark Omnipotence will punish her harshly."

"Punish her harshly? Please. The worst thing that'll happen to her is she'll have to sweep up her own fairy dust for a day or two. Punish her harshly, indeed. Joseph, sometimes you worry me greatly."

"You don't understand, Mary Elizabeth. Princess's delicate hands are not made for hard labor of any kind. They are just made to be admired."

Rolling my eyes and trying to control myself, I couldn't stop making a gagging sound.

"Joseph, you need to stop speaking now or being locked up in this cell won't be the worst thing that happens to you today."

I folded herself neatly into a corner of my cell. Closing my pink eyes, I tried to go to my happy place.

"Mary Elizabeth?"

Eye roll and dirty look from me. What I call a twofer. Usually has a silencing affect on whoever I direct it to.

"What part of not speaking did you not get, Joseph?"

"Is mom mad?" His anxious voice guilt trips me into answering nicely.

"Joseph, Francine doesn't get mad, she gets worried. And yes, she is definitely that."

"I'm sorry. I really am."

"Again, what part of not speaking did you not hear, Joseph?" Me needing silence desperately. Have to figure out a plan.

"Okay, I'm sorry."

Eye roll and sigh. Another twofer.

 
End of Part Two

tales of the pink fairy, part three

However long it took for me to come up with nothing is how long we both sat in (amazing) silence.

Then we both began to hear yelling. A lot of yelling. Couldn't make out the words. Just a whole lot of yelling.

Uh-oh. Bad feeling.

Stomp, stomp, stomp. Someone was coming down the hall. Fairies are known for their light footsteps. Generally speaking, stomping is not how we perambulate. Again, bad feeling.

Arms folded, trying very hard to look mad instead of devastatingly handsome, Domain Master glared at me through the bars of my cell.

Yep, bad feeling confirmed.

Trying without success to ignore the amazing sapphire blue color of his incredibly well-sculpted wings and matching blue eyes, I decided to speak.

"So, Domain, long time no see. How's it going?" This would be my attempt at distraction. Think it'll work?

"Mary Elizabeth. What. Were. You. Thinking?" This is him trying to be mad at me. Succeeding, too.

"Well, who else was going to come and get Joseph's sorry pointed you-know-what out of jail?"

"Mary Elizabeth. You know you could have come to me. I would have taken care of this. You have now created a Problem." His serious tone was lost on me as I couldn't stop myself from staring at those incredible sapphire blue eyes.

"Oh, please. They were just kissing. They're kids. It's harmless. For bee's sakes, His Royal High and Mighty didn't have to get his feathers all ruffled."

"If by he, you mean the Dark Omnipotence, you should never speak of him so casually. Especially when you are in his house.

That man was one good looking hunk of fairy. Why did I leave him again?

"Sorry." I am humbled by his gorgeousness.

"Hi, Domain Master!" Joseph was practically jumping up and down, his wings fluttering uncontrollably. "Thank you for coming and getting me out. I'm real sorry about all the fuss." Butter wouldn't have melted in that boys mouth.

"You're sorry you got caught is all, Joseph. You and I will be having a serious discussion later." The blue eyes focused on Joseph. The intensity of their gaze causing Joseph to close his wings and quiet down immediately.

His statement implying, that, of course, a woman couldn't have this talk with Joseph and be successful. Eye roll and sigh. Again.

"That's enough, Mary Elizabeth. It's that attitude of yours that got you into this mess." Domain Master's attention immediately came back to me.

"Well, I am assuming you are here to get me out of this mess, so let's get this show on the road. My wings are getting stiff already." I flexed them, in all their pink gloriousness, just to show off a bit.

His turn to eye roll and sigh.

"Unfortunately, Mary Elizabeth, I was only able to secure Joseph's release. The Dark Omnipotence is not ready to discuss your fate yet."

Okay, my turn to panic.

"What do you mean? Are you just going leave me here? You would actually fly home and leave me here?" My voice was definitely taking on that shrill tone he so loved.

Looking completely defeated, almost hanging his head, the still devastatingly handsome Domain Master actually apologized.

"I tried, Mary Elizabeth. I really did. Dark Omnipotence is truly angered by your disrespect."

Disrespect my little pink behind. Dark Omnipotence is carrying over a high school grudge. Wonder what Domain Master would say if he knew I turned down Dark Omnipotence for him. Probably fluff his feathers and inflate that already over inflated ego.

Best to let that go.

My turn to look defeated. My feathers drooped and my pretty pink complexion actually got two shades lighter just thinking about having to spend the night in this place.

"You could try just apologizing, Mary Elizabeth. Tell him your fairy charms are due for a charge and you lost your sense for a minute." He actually thought this was a possibility. After being married to me for how long?

"Are you out of your little blue mind? I'm not apologizing to that egocentric fairy." No matter how seductive that violet complexion of his is.

"What do you want me to do, Mary Elizabeth? You are the most frustrating fairy woman I have ever know."

"I was the only fairy woman you ever knew until Clarabelle blinked her little tail at you." I hated Clarabelle.

"Nothing happened. How many times do I have to tell you? You are the only fairy woman I have ever loved. She meant nothing to me."

He had his desperate face on. Is it working on me? I think not.

"Didn't look like nothing when I saw you out by the bluebell flowers. Looked like something to me."

"I give up. I just give up, Mary Elizabeth. Clarabelle is a flirt. She blinks her tail light at every man in the meadow. You know that. I refuse to apologize any more."

"Fine, whatever." Says me with the folded arms and broken heart.

"Excuse me, Domain Master. Did you say I was free to go?"

"Yes, Joseph, Gnome will be down here to release you shortly." Domain Master's eyes were looking at me with sorrow.

I hated pity. He knew that. Folding my arms, I turned around and faced  the back of my cell. Opened and closed my wings sharply. Just for effect, you know.

tales of the pink fairy, part four

Gnome released Joseph and off they all went. I waited until the footsteps sounded far away before I turned around, my wings drooping sadly at the thought of spending the long dark night alone in a cell. 

"What are you still doing here? Thought you left." My wings perked involuntarily at the sight of that gorgeous blue fairy.

"I hate leaving you here, Mary Elizabeth. You know I love you."

"If you loved me, you would have gotten me out of here. Now go."

Okay, that was harsh. Maybe my charm levels really are low.

Giving me one last look, he turned and went up the stairs. For real this time.

Well, for bee's sakes, what am I going to do now? Francine was making her special blueberry pies tonight. Domain Master would probably stay for dinner and eat mine. Sigh.

I allowed myself a medium sized pity party and then put it away. Life goes on. Not like this was a life or death situation. Not that fairies dies anyway, so what in the blue blazes was I worried about?

Footsteps again. Quiet fairy ones. Well, I guess we all know who that is, don't we?

More folded arms. Another devastatingly handsome face. Purple, this time.

Sigh.

Drumming his fingers against his arms, he spoke.
"So, Mary Elizabeth, here we are."

"Yep, sure would seem so."

"Do you have anything to say to me?" Were all fairy men this handsome or just the two I have to deal with?

"Hmmm. About what, exactly?" Yep, that's me, always pushing the envelope.

"Mary Elizabeth, don't be difficult. You need to apologize."

Sigh, I just hate it when I'm wrong.

"Fine. I'm sorry. But I just have to add…"

He interrupts me. Bold move on his part.

"Stop speaking right now. Just let it go. You apologized. I am satisfied."

He solemnly directed Ugly Gnome Number Two to open my cell. Huge sigh of relief on my part, I have to admit. Very glad to be done with this whole thing.

"It's dark out now, Mary Elizabeth. Too risky for you to fly home. You will spend the night."

Excuse me, is he giving me orders? Seriously, is he?

"Yeah, right, like that's going to happen. I'm going home."

Picture me sashaying my little pink behind up the stairs. Knowing he's enjoying the view.

"Mary Elizabeth, seriously, you cannot possibly go home. The night creatures are out."

"I'll be fine."

"You are the most frustrating fairy woman I have ever met, Mary Elizabeth."

"I am just an independent woman. Not some little pink ball of fluff you can dictate too." Not like that darn Clarabelle.

Ignoring his protests, I tripped right on out the heavy front door. Spreading my wings and breathing deeply, I took to the sky.

Was I worried about the night creatures? You bet. Was I aware he was watching my graceful ascent? You double bet. Off I flew.

To my credit, I did at least make it out of his sight before the first disaster hit.

Nighttime is not very safe for us little folk. We're hard enough to see in the daytime, with the sun reflecting off our glittery wings. But nighttime is really bad.

Major bad.

Tonight was obviously not going to be an exception.

 A passing leprechaun knocked me senseless and sent me hurtling to the ground. Lucky things, leprechauns, with their automatic night vision and all. Definitely an unfair advantage.

Did it out of spite, too. Never even paused, just kept on going. Hateful things, leprechauns. Never met one I liked.

Sigh. Well, I'm in trouble now. My left wing appeared to be bent at an odd angle.

When you are only about 3 inches tall, hoofing it takes on a whole 'nother meaning. It would take me hours to get home.

Plastering a big smile across my face, I confidently strutted my stuff in a forward direction.

Didn't take too long for me to become completely exhausted. These tiny  pink legs don't walk too awful far. Flying's more a fairies' mode of transport. The wings can go for hours.

The little legs. Not so much.

Now you would have to think that with two men(that's right, I said two) concerned about me, that at least one of them would come looking for me.

Clearly, you would be wrong.

I plopped my tired little pink behind against a conveniently placed tulip stem and tried very hard to ignore the inky darkness around me. Not to mention the hunger now rumbling impolitely in my stomach.
 
The definitely damaged ego hurting the most.

        

Feeling sorry for myself was not something I ever did for very long. It didn’t get you anywhere but down and that was a pretty useless place to be.
         
Standing up straight and squaring my perfectly rounded pink shoulders, I took a deep breath and brushed myself off as best I could. Determined to make the best of things, I plastered a huge, albeit, unnecessarily large smile on my face, and off I went. One tiny, but very stylish pink booted foot in front of the other.

That lasted about five or so minutes.

Then the noises started.

Now, when I say noises, I mean probably nothing I didn’t hear in the daytime. They just sounded really different at night. And scarier.

Clasping my little hands together tightly, as if that would make a difference, I kept marching on.

At what point I actually started talking out loud to myself, I have no idea. I truly thought I was thinking things in my head when a deep voice about caused me to jump straight out of my pretty pink skin.

“Oh, so that’s what you really think, do you, Mary Elizabeth?”

 I knew those deep blue tones. Just how long had he been behind me? Even more important, how long had I been talking out loud?

Without turning around or pausing in my determined march forward, I answered in what I hoped was a very casual tone.

“I knew you were back there, Domain. I was just trying to show you that I don't really need you.” It was amazing that my nose didn’t grow a foot from that lie.

 "What happened to your wing, Mary Elizabeth?” Domain Master decided to just change the subject.

 

Good choice. I was getting tired again.

 “For bee's sakes, one of those pesky leprechauns bumped into me. Never even stopped, neither. So rude, those leprechauns.” I had stopped walking, but still hadn’t turned around. Being embarrassed wasn’t one of those things I did well, either.

His tone softening, Domain Master put his hand on my shoulder.“Mary Elizabeth, I will fly you back. We need to get that wing cared for.”

 He had to go and touch me. And feel sorry for me. A twofer. I was done. Humbled and crumbled by his soft touch and soft words.

 

And it had been a long day, after all.

“Okay.” My normally shrill tones sounded very quiet even to my ears.

 Without further conversation, Domain Master pulled me on his back and off we went.

 My, my, that fairy could fly. Smooth and straight as an arrow. It took my breath away. His powerful deep blue wings barely making a sound as they lifted us in the air and on our way to Toadstool Meadow.

The trip was over much too soon. Though I wouldn’t admit it for anything, being able to hold on tightly to Domain Master was like coming back home. I did miss him.

I could see all the windows lit up in Francine’s little home. Already her and Joseph were pushing each other through the front door, trying to get to the spot where we landed with such grace I barely felt it..

Gently, Domain Master eased me off his back and turned to look at me, his eyes asking a question he didn’t dare say out loud.

“Well, thank you Domain Master. I appreciate you bringing me home. We’ll probably see you around.” My pointy chin held high, he knew my answer was still no. I would not be going back to the home he and I had shared for more years than I care to admit to. I would be staying with Francine.

Domain Master sighed, but put on a brave smile for Francine and Joseph.

“She’s back safe and sound. You can breath now, Francine.”

“Oh Mary Elizabeth, we were so worried! Are you alright? You must be hungry! Domain Master, you must come and have supper with us. Blueberry casserole tonight. I know you love that!” Francine was propelling me towards the house, her head turned and talking to Domain Master at the same time. Her excitement and relief making her yellow wings flutter and almost glow.

“That’s okay, I really need to be going. Thank you, though, Francine. The offer is tempting.” Domain Master’s eyes never stopped watching me as he spoke. I couldn’t see them, but I could feel them. That’s how it was with us.

As we sat down around Francine’s clover leaf table, the matching clover leaf chairs pulled out invitingly, I had to force a smile on my face.

I would need to forgive that man.

"So, Mary Elizabeth, tell us what happened! Start with when you first spoke with Dark Omnipotence. What did he say? What did you say? Did he talk about the Dark Princess? Is she alright?” Joseph’s eager questions brought me right back to where I should be.

“Oh, pish posh, that old Dark Omnipotence just thinks he’s the be all and end all. I put him in his place.”

I spent the rest of the meal, telling (and maybe embellishing just a bit) and retelling my story in between bites of the best blueberry casserole this side of the Boulder Rock. Heck, probably the best on that side too.