tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post4186135270127103604..comments2024-02-01T14:06:20.674-06:00Comments on Knitted by God's Plan: Let's Write a Fairy Tale!Kendra E. Ardnekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03593051552921296108noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-82975828136624238772017-11-25T19:18:31.013-06:002017-11-25T19:18:31.013-06:00(Continued)
Ara-Bella and the Magic Objects Keepe...(Continued)<br /><br />Ara-Bella and the Magic Objects Keeper were married with less pomp and glitter than her sisters and the Sky Princes, but no less joy—in fact, there may have been more of that in their case—and decidedly more rice and old shoes!<br /><br />As for Princess Starshine, she and her faithful Jack were married soon after Ara-Bella and MOK, taking up residence in Jack’s wonderful palace far to the North, where he had his workshop.<br />The children in those parts loved jolly Jack already, for he made them laugh and gave them such clever toys, and they took to his bride almost immediately. They were often at Jack’s castle, visiting Princess Starshine or inviting her to visit them, and many and merry were the games they played and the good times they had together. Some say the children took to telling Princess Starshine their secret wishes, and she—with the aid of one of MOK’s magical baubles—was able to grant them. And thus the dearest wish of the princess’ heart was also granted: Princess Starshine had friends, and would never be lonely again.<br /><br />But the people of all ages, and of many kingdoms, loved Ara-Bella and the MOK best of all, for their kindness and generosity, and their fair treatment of all they met. Rich or poor, handsome or homely, young or old—it made no difference. Everyone was a potential friend to the MOK and his fiery-haired bride.<br />They found they had enjoyed traveling and helping those in need so much, they decided to keep on doing it every so often, and Princess Starshine often accompanied them in their journeys when not playing with her little friends. They took Stretch the Giraffe, the Dragon-Mouse, and Red the Rooster, distributing homes for poor families by means of the magical eggs Red laid. In some places they founded schools, and thus gave many children a chance to rise above their meager circumstances.<br /><br />“Everyone we know and love has gotten their heart’s desire,” Ara-Bella remarked to MOK. “And ours, dear MOK, is ten times more enjoyable because it does good to so many people. How shall we bear such happiness?”<br /> To which MOK replied, sliding an arm about her shoulders and looking at her tenderly, “Why, we all live Happily Ever After, my dear.”<br /><br />* * *<br />I *think* I tied up all the loose ends, but holler if I missed something, and I'll fix it.<br /><br />Thanks, Mamma Eagle, for keeping it going. This was such fun! TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-6020245302536282412017-11-25T19:15:34.626-06:002017-11-25T19:15:34.626-06:00 “You managed that nicely, MOK,” Ara-Bella smi... “You managed that nicely, MOK,” Ara-Bella smiled as they whirled about the dance floor. <br /> “It was the least I could do,” he replied, “and it seemed a shame for her to be left alone again after all she’d been through.”<br /> “So what happens now?”<br /> He looked at her steadily for a moment. Then he smiled. “Something that involves bells, and white gowns, and rice and old shoes, I believe—and not only for the Sun Prince and your sister, my dear.”<br /><br />MOK spoke the truth, for later that night, Prince Lunar asked for Ada-Maria’s hand, and her father gave them his blessing, seeing that they were both so fond of music. Momma was in rapture when she realized both her darling daughters would marry such great princes, and had their wedding gowns designed in thought by the end of the evening. She glossed over Ara-Bella’s engagement to MOK—not particularly savvy on her youngest daughter’s choice, but not wanting to bother to dissuade her, either. Ara-Bella’s father took more interest, being already quite pleased with MOK. <br />They stayed a week in the Sky Palace, during which time Ara-Bella, her father, and MOK helped to repair the Lantern of the Sun and the Tables of the Hours, so that time on Earth was restored to what it had been before. Then Ara-Bella’s family and the MOK decided to head home again. Prince Lunar lent them his silver sleigh and team of great Owls, and so the Dragon-Mouse’s words—that Ara-Bella and her friends would use a different means of conveyance to fly over the great forest—came to pass.<br /><br />The old hag who had caused so much trouble was executed for her crimes, and many of her wicked enchantments were broken as a result. The great forest was restored to its original—more reasonable—size, with clear paths running through it. The boiling mud-pit disappeared entirely, making that part of the road safe again for travelers. Only the Endless Desert remained as it was, for (as MOK later told Ara-Bella) it was “a curiosity natural to our particular Fairytale land.”<br /><br />The following Spring saw Ara-Bella’s sisters arrayed in stunning bridal finery as they pledged their hands to their respective princes, witnessed by everyone of rank and importance from the neighboring kingdoms. There was a grand ball and banquet afterwards at the Sky Palace (which, now that the old Hag was dead, was open to the populace again, so no one need use magic beans to enter).<br />They lived in the Sky Palace for the remainder of their days, enjoying many balls and parties with the nobility of many lands—during which events Ana-Aria was always persuaded, with very little difficulty, to sing for their guests, with Ada-Maria accompanying her. Sometimes Prince Solar sang a duet with his wife, and now and again Prince Lunar joined Ada-Maria in some sprightly minuet or concerto. It was said that no lovelier Sun Princess than Ana-Aria had ever graced the daylight hours, nor any fairer Moon Princess than Ada-Maria the night.<br /><br />Ara-Bella’s father continued his trade with the shipping company, giving a handsome raise to the sailors for their bravery in rescuing Ara-Bella from a watery death. Captain Billy and First Mate Gil were sent to prison for their crimes, along with the few partners who had induced them to cheat Ara-Bella’s father and the remaining owners. With the company’s staff thus swept clean, and new, honest men hired to replace the crooked ones, the company flourished, and all who worked for it became prosperous.TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-13604564517623434712017-08-31T00:31:14.981-05:002017-08-31T00:31:14.981-05:00They stood there silently for a few minutes.
Mok...They stood there silently for a few minutes. <br /><br />Mok finally broke the silence. "Do you even want to stay in the sun palace? You were lonely for so long." He paused, he brow furloughed in thought. "You seemed so happy helping the people of earth, the ones who needed help. I wonder, if I were to give you a guard and the rooster and the purse of money, would you be happy on Earth?" <br /><br />She shuffled her toe under her skirt, the dangling ribbons movement giving her away. "I suppose, I think I should like that." she whispered. <br /><br />"But?" asked Ara-Bella.<br /><br />"Um, well, when I was at your castle Mok. There was a man there who was very kind. But I don't think you would let him come as my guard."<br /><br />Mok looked puzzled. "One of the guards? One of the servants? Who?"<br /><br />"I never actually considered why he was there. His name was Jack."<br /><br />MOK looked stunned. "I have no Jack working for me. I have no idea who it would .... be?"<br />He looked thoughtful. "Describe him."<br /><br />"His hair was so blonde as to be almost white. And his eyes so blue as a cold day in winter. He was thin, and laughed often. We talked endlessly of the children on earth. After a while, he would bring me things to paint, dolls, trucks, blocks. I loved helping him, and in return he played checkers and chess and even poker with me."<br /><br />MOK began to chuckle. I have no guard or servant that answers to Jack. But I do know a Jack, and once in a while, he has been known to drop by. He's a cousin of mine. I cannot have him be your guard. His name is Jack Frostian Clausenhammer. And I can let him know what has become of you." Mok reached into his pocket and pulled out a crystal, which he rubbed 3 times before placing it in the Princess's small hand.<br /><br />"What is this?"<br /><br />"One of Jack's calling cards. He will find you." With that he extended his hand to Ara-Bella and led her out onto the floor to dance. When Ara-Bella looked over MOK's shoulder to see the Princess, she was happily chatting with a man in a dark green suit.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-33725271398790651952017-08-06T00:06:33.594-05:002017-08-06T00:06:33.594-05:00More and more I felt, not quite myself. I felt as...More and more I felt, not quite myself. I felt as if I was living almost inside a dream. I fear that what I saw as truth, was perhaps much worse. My mother and father left, and soon the two of us girls happily enjoyed our visit with MOK, for he was even better to tease than my brothers. One day she found a key, and we found the door and a room full of the largest number of toys. My friend ... do you know, I never had a name for her? Why did I never have a name for her? But she found a beautiful necklace for me and begged me to wear it, then she found a belt of shiny black belt and fit it about my waist.<br /><br />MOK gasped. "I did not know that!"<br /><br />Princess Starshine gave him a puzzled look. I have long ago realized that the room she brought me to was not a room of toys, but of the magic your father had collected from earth. Please tell me, what did she put on me?<br /><br />MOK sighed. "The necklace was of adoration. As long as you wore it, you would only see everything she did as good and right, you would never see her as wrong. And the belt was of altered reality. Whatever she told you that she was doing, that is what you would see." <br /><br />"She gave me baskets of flowers to throw at everyone. I only saw flowers. We had a great party and then my father came and got us to take us home. I was very happy, until an old hag came and took my belt and my necklace and turned me into an ugly old woman. What girl of 14 wants to look like an old woman. But even so, as I you brought me back, I realized that what I saw of my playmate was perhaps not true, but I could never ask you or anyone. And my parents were gone."EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-23867427167482565512017-08-05T23:54:38.139-05:002017-08-05T23:54:38.139-05:00Ara-Bella edged her way over to the corner where t...Ara-Bella edged her way over to the corner where the Princess stood half hidden behind an elaborate draperies of lavender and rose of the finest silks. She slid behind the neighboring drape and let her shoulder rest against Starshine's, it was quite a cozy corner. "Your brother told me his side of the story. So has my father and MOK. But I have yet to hear your story." <br />Starshine startled, as if surprised. "Nobody has yet asked. I no longer believed anyone wanted to know."<br />"I do," Ara-Bella whispered. From the corner of her eye, she saw MOK slide behind the drapes on the other side of the Princess. She hoped that meant he was also interested in her story, as things are rarely what they seem on the surface.<br />Starshine sighed deeply and began her story.<br />I was born late to my parents. My brothers were already full grown, my parents doted on their only daughter, and my nearly my every wish was granted. But baby wishes are innocent, and do not cause harm to others. I had several nurses, and my days were filled with golden balls, shiny rattles, colorful rainbows, and much laughter. It was a wonderful babyhood.<br />But in time, I was still young, maybe 7 or 8, I began to notice that I was the only small person in my whole world. I asked my father if other small people existed, and he took me out to look at earth, where I could see other girls like me, skipping, playing with dolls, and giggling together. I watched them every day for more than a year, I learned to skip, my father had beautiful dolls brought to me from every land on earth, and I was happy. I was given books, a teacher, dresses, and music to fill my days. But one day, I wanted a playmate, someone to giggle with and share my dolls and dresses. <br />I asked my father and mother. I thought perhaps some of the little girls who seemed to have no home and no dresses or dolls, I wanted one of them, or more than one, to come play with me in my gardens and play rooms. But after a few days, my father said he would find me a suitable playmate and to "run along."<br />Time passed, I did not know if they were going to bring me a playmate or not, it seemed to be a long time and I feared my request had been pushed aside.<br />But one day, a pretty girl came into my garden. She had gold hair, blue eyes, and was riding in a tiny goat cart covered with flowers. I was sure my father had sent her, and we played together all of the time. She had a bed in my room. We shared everything.<br />She had some of the funniest ideas. One day we switched the salt and the sugar. Breakfast was very funny. We put powder in my brother's britches, and they could not sit still for the state dinner with MOK and his father. Often I wondered if our tricks were good, but she was ever my friend and would whisper to me until I agreed with her.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-74853734667294770722017-07-24T18:39:24.975-05:002017-07-24T18:39:24.975-05:00 Prince Solar bade MOK allow him a moment alon... Prince Solar bade MOK allow him a moment alone with Ara-Bella, and when MOK was out of earshot, took Ara-Bella by the hands and looked rather tragical. “My darling, I have news for you that may be unpleasant,” he declared, “yet it must be said, for it would be unfair for us to go on as we are, with this secret burning in my soul.”<br /> “Well, we can’t have anyone’s souls burning, can we?” Ara-Bella quipped. “Pray tell me at once, dear Prince, and have it out. I shall endure it bravely.”<br /> “I have no doubt of that, for I saw how unconcerned you were when you fed me steaks—in my enchanted form—rather than fleeing in terror. Ah! I do believe I fell in love with you at that moment.”<br /> “…however…?”<br /> “However…well, my dear, you were indeed correct when you declared you cannot sing. Oh, your voice is pleasant enough—for church choirs and village theatricals and such—but…well, really, the wife of the Sun Prince must necessarily have the voice of an angel.”<br /> “And have you found such a one, my lord?”<br /> Prince Solar’s face fairly glowed. “Ah! Indeed I have, and I marvel that I have never heard of the lady ere now. What style, what grace, what sensitivity to the mood of the music! Such a maiden would make a more than adequate Queen for me.” He sighed rapturously, and it was all Ara-Bella could do not to giggle. “So you see, dear maiden, I fear I cannot possibly marry you after all, although I shall ever admire your spirit and courage. Can you forgive me, sweet Ara-Bella, and accept me as a brother, instead of a husband? For you must know, it is your adorable sister Ana-Aria—how fitting a name for such a bird-like singer!—it is Ana-Aria whom I truly love.”<br /> Ara-Bella primed up her mouth into a somber expression, sighing deeply, as though resigning herself to some hard fate. “Well, I might have expected it, dear Prince. From the moment you mentioned singing, I knew my case was lost, and that my dear sister would charm your Highness with her angelic voice.” She put on a brave smile. “As for the rest, there’s nothing to forgive, and if my father and mother are agreeable to the match, I would be honored to be your sister-in-law.”<br /> “You are as gracious as you are beautiful and brave! But are you certain this breaking of our engagement will not break your heart?”<br /> Ara-Bella let out another sigh. “If it does, then it will soon heal again. And in any case, it wouldn’t be fair—or right—for you to marry me, when you love my sister.”<br /> “We must find you a husband,” the Prince declared, “to ease the pain of losing myself in that role.”<br /> Ara-Bella was about to protest, when the Prince called MOK—who was speaking with Ara-Bella’s father nearby—to come over. In a confidential tone Prince Solar informed MOK of the situation, concluding with, “My friend, you have been faithful to myself and my royal brother—who I see still sitting at the piano-forte—and have assisted this gallant lady in her dangerous quest. Therefore, I deem you worthy of her hand, for she was my chosen bride until this evening, and therefore I could not entrust her to just anyone.” Then he placed Ara-Bella’s hand in MOK’s, wished them joy, and then dashed off to ask Ana-Aria to open the ball with him.<br /> Ara-Bella and MOK looked at each other rather foolishly for a moment.<br /> “Was this part of your plan, my dear?” MOK asked.<br /> “That would be telling,” she smirked. “But I have a feeling it was part of yours.”<br /> MOK nodded. “Worked it out with your father while you and Prince Solar were in the garden. An amiable fellow, your father. I’m quite fond of him.”<br /> “That makes two of us.”<br /> The musicians began the opening strains of the first dance, and the guests began pairing up. MOK, still holding Ara-Bella’s hand, bowed and asked, “May I have this dance?”<br /> Ara-Bella was about to consent, when she spotted Princess Starshine standing alone in a corner of the room, her face the picture of sadness. With an apologetic smile to MOK, she answered, “Perhaps the next one. There’s a matter I must attend to first.”TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-63981551684184972592017-07-24T18:38:43.295-05:002017-07-24T18:38:43.295-05:00That evening, the Sky Castle shone like the full m...That evening, the Sky Castle shone like the full moon and all the stars combined, and the inner rooms glowed like the noonday sun. The servants prepared a sumptuous banquet of the rarest and tastiest fare, the most refreshing drinks, and the daintiest desserts. The new ballgowns Prince Solar had ordered for Ara-Bella and her mother and sisters sparkled and shimmered in the candlelight. Even her father and MOK sported fine evening garb, and Ara-Bella found herself thinking how handsome MOK looked in his. She also smiled to herself at Prince Lunar’s attentions to Ada-Maria and was consequently too excited and nervous to eat much of anything.<br /> After dinner, Prince Solar bade Ara-Bella sing one of his favorite arias, to which she agreed with a smile…and a sinking feeling when she saw how difficult it was. Nevertheless, she set the music on the piano-forte for Ada-Maria to play, and attempted to sing. While she could stay on key and had some sense of rhythm, Ara-Bella still made rather a rough go of it in a couple places, until halfway through the song Ana-Aria cried out, “Stop! Enough! Stupid child, you are butchering that lovely song, and I sha’n’t stand for it.”<br /> “I daresay this piece is beyond my poor skill, Sister,” Ara-Bella agreed pleasantly. “Would you care to sing it yourself, and show us how it ought to be sung?”<br /> “And how!” Ana-Aria flounced up to the piano-forte, snatched the music from Ara-Bella’s hands, and nodded to Ada-Maria to begin again. What a difference! Ana-Aria’s voice soared among the clouds, trembled with emotion, and touched all the right chords in every listener.<br /> Ara-Bella grinned all over herself when she caught sight of Prince Solar’s awestruck face as he listened, enraptured, to her sister. <br /> After Ana-Maria finished the song, deep silence followed, for no one wished to break the spell her voice had cast. At length, however, Prince Solar applauded loudly, and the rest of the guests joined him. The Prince begged her to sing more, to which request she gladly consented. And Prince Lunar gallantly offered to turn the pages for Ada-Maria as she accompanied her.<br /> “Well, now,” MOK whispered in Ara-Bella’s ear, “that’s interesting. Is this the plan you tried to tell your father and me about earlier?”<br /> Ara-Bella gave him an impish smile. “What do you think?”<br /> “I think you’re a clever girl, my dear, but I wonder if the Sun Prince is clever enough to realize his True Love isn’t a flaming ginger after all.”<br /> “We shall see in a moment,” she replied, seeing the Prince approaching; “here he comes now.”TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-21647036680846364992017-07-24T02:11:52.554-05:002017-07-24T02:11:52.554-05:00Ara-Bella strolled through the garden with her han...Ara-Bella strolled through the garden with her hand on the Prince's arm as protocol demanded. She sighed, unless she could convince the Prince to look elsewhere, she was in for a long dull life.<br /><br />"Why is it again that you wish to marry me?" she asked.<br /><br />"Are you not beautiful? Are you not clever? Are you not kind? these are important in the land of fairy tales. We will marry as the rules apply to a man, or a maid, who has overcome all to free a land from wickedness. And we will live happily ever after. The End."<br /><br />"But what will we do after "The End"? she asked him.<br /><br />"You will sing, and spin gold, and have beautiful children," he paused, obviously puzzled. "Is there more?"<br /><br />"There is that singing part. Sir, I don't sing. My sister's are talented, it is true, but not I." she scrubbed the toe of her slipped across the stone beneath her feet, now nervous that she had confessed her shortcoming. He looked confused.<br /><br />"I have an idea though," she offered to him with hope. "Let us have a grand party. I will sing or play for you, or both. Then my sister's will fill the evening with entertainment as is their enjoyment in life. It will sooth them for the abrupt departure to bring them here, as they are missing a party with the Duke of Yore tonight."<br /><br />The Prince grasped at her idea, "Yes, an engagement banquet. At the end I will present you as my bride. But I will hear you sing, and your sister's as well. Perhaps one will please my brother well and you will have family here with you to fill your days!" <br /><br />With a smile, the Prince returned Ara-Bella to her father before striding off to set in motion grand plans for a banquet to outdo all banquets, and all would be ready by nightfall.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-83509773792906211662017-05-10T13:36:56.933-05:002017-05-10T13:36:56.933-05:00Ara-Bella mulled over the histories her father and...Ara-Bella mulled over the histories her father and MOK had related, finally comprehending things that had puzzled her during her travels. The queen who gave her father the lantern—that must have been the Hag of Destruction, disguised somehow. But it really didn’t matter now. The Hag was defeated and locked in the dungeon where she would never again trouble the world. Her enchantments were broken, her victims restored to their proper forms.<br /> The news of her mother’s…folly, to put it delicately…saddened her. How could a wife forget her husband after only a year? But thankfully, Father had returned, and preventing Mother from making a horrible mistake…even if it would have “made her a fine lady.” Now Ara-Bella understood her mother’s and sisters’ discontentment with their home, and why they had treated herself with contempt. Well, that was the past; if her plan succeeded, it would show them she bore them no ill-will now.<br /> And while Ara-Bella had grown to like old Mother Cackle—Princess Starshine, rather—that in no way erased the fact that she had been rather wicked. No wonder her brothers were loth to forgive her now! And yet, it was obvious the poor girl had repented and was truly sorry for her foolishness. Ara-Bella determined to find a way to help restore peace in the Royal Family…somehow…. <br /> “Why, child,” her father asked, dispelling her reverie, “why are you marrying the prince when it is this MOK that you love?”<br /> His question took her off guard, and she remained silent for a moment, pondering how to answer her father. Once again, she tried to catch MOK’s eye. Once again, she failed. She faced her father. “I actually don’t intend to,” she replied, smiling to herself when MOK did a double-take. “He declared he would marry me, without so much as a by-your-leave,” she explained. “But I really don’t believe he’d be happy with me, especially when he discovers I can’t exactly sing like an angel.”<br /> “You have an idea,” MOK deduced.<br /> She smiled. “Indeed I do. I shall tell you both—but you must promise to keep it absolutely secret—”<br /> At that moment, Prince Solar entered the room.<br /> “Trust me,” Ara-Bella whispered, looking her father and MOK steadily in the eye.<br /> Prince Solar strode up to her, taking her arm with his usual confidence, and Ara-Bella pasted on an adoring smile. “My darling,” said the Prince, “my brother and I have decided to allow our sister to attend the banquet tonight—for your sake. More than that, we cannot promise.”<br /> “Well, that’s a beginning,” Ara-Bella conceded. “Thank you so much, dear Prince. The celebration of the coming marriage will seem more complete now, with all my friends and family present.”<br /> Then the Sun Prince excused himself and Ara-Bella and took her back into the royal gardens.<br /> Ara-Bella threw a wink over her shoulder to her father and MOK as they left.<br /><br /><i>To be continued….</i>TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-76336122114186010642017-05-06T03:43:22.492-05:002017-05-06T03:43:22.492-05:00It took us over a week to make our way back home. ...It took us over a week to make our way back home. I now had two crews and two boats. My little fishing boat was filled to the brim with all manor of goods, just like my new ship, and it was a great welcome when I finally arrived home. At first, my good wife was unhappy to see me. I discovered that we had not been gone for a mere month, but nearly a full year. She was seeing a fine gentleman at parties, and had been wondering if she could get him to make her a fine lady.<br /><br />One thing had held her back from her goal, for after a grand scolding, which ended with my placing a pocketbook of gold coins into her hand, she fled to another room and returned to place a new baby in my arms, my daughter had been born while I was away. She looked up and smiled, the first time she had ever smiled, and I was smitten. My wife was well pleased with the gold, the promise of a grander home, our new status, and a bright future for her older daughters. And I was much pleased with my youngest daughter, who was gentle and beautiful and kind. While her sisters flitted about with lessons, performances, and fittings and shopping. This daughter would spend hours at my feet playing or on my knee listening to the adventures trading. She often came to the offices with me, and even came with me on my trips. She learned to take care of the lantern, and when the time came for her to stay home, she kept it to remember me by.<br /><br />He sat in silence, then looked up at her. "Why child, why are you marrying the prince when it is this MOK that you love?"EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-7317201758908829582017-05-06T03:42:58.298-05:002017-05-06T03:42:58.298-05:00Arabella's father stood and stretched, then wa...Arabella's father stood and stretched, then walked over to a window nearby and stared out for many long minutes. Arabella and MOK stood patiently and waited. Finally he turned and began to speak.<br /><br />When your mother and I married, I had a find fishing boat and a small house. I was had inherited my father's business, and my uncle's house. Things looked fine for our future. Then our first child was born, with the voice of an angle, and shortly after a second who could play chords on the piano before she was a year old. People would peer into our windows to watch the little girls. This pleased your mother greatly.<br /><br />It was not long before she was purchasing cloth to make them pretty dresses and asking for more money to decorate the little sitting room. And of course the girls needed lessons. Awed by their talent, I could see my wife was right. But in my heart, I knew I would fail them all, for my little fishing business could not support their talent.<br /><br />I began venturing farther out to sea, it was dangerous and a gamble, but if I could bring home harder to find fish, then I could sell them at a much higher price. And then one day I was trapped at sea in a storm, and when I saw land the next day, it was not our own. I made for the harbor, wanting to learn where on earth we had washed up and hoping to sell our fish and find provisions for the trip home. <br /><br />As it turned out, the fish in our hold were not common in that city, and soon a diplomat from the castle had come to purchase a large quantity, and the Queen wanted us to bring it to her ourselves.<br /><br />She was enchanting, and offered us baths, and fresh clothing, and then she treated us to fine meal and splendid entertainment. Out of turn, I boasted of the talent of my young daughters. She was intrigued and asked me how I planned to provide for their talents. At that I was embarrassed, how could I admit my failure to provide for them.<br /><br />She was a wonderful host, and we enjoyed ourselves very much. She showed us many wonders of her land, and we did not notice the passage of time. One night though, as I was gazing at the moon, I realized that we had been in this place for many weeks, for the moon was nearly the phase it had been when we arrived. The next morning I pleaded with her to assist us in a hasty departure. She agreed, and then asked me to come to her treasure room.<br /><br />There she showed me a lamp. She told me that she was cursed, and the spell could only be broken if she were to assist a man to greatness and in return he was able to keep this lamp lit for 25 years. I readily agreed, and she gave me a goodly supply of jewels and gold, and gave me a great new ship and made me its captain, then she filled the hold with many wonderful things to sell that would not perish. Finally, she gave me a magic map that would always show me the best routes and the best locations to sell my goods.<br /><br />EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-34242269505411844812017-03-06T00:51:40.820-06:002017-03-06T00:51:40.820-06:00"Perhaps, I should answer first ...," sa..."Perhaps, I should answer first ...," said MOK, "as I'm sure my story predates your own and influenced it. And in the telling of mine, yours will make more sense."<br /><br />MOK stared at the ornate ceiling for many long minutes before sighing and beginning.<br /><br />"Many years ago Solar and Lunar were born twins. Their father taught them diligently how to rule the day and the night, taking over as lads for their parents. The household was a happy one. And then a princess was born, they named her Starshine, and everyone who met her loved her. As a young girl, she asked for a playmate, and her parents began to search for a suitable match. One day, a young girl drove up in a little goat cart, and asked to meet the princess. The two became fast friends and were soon inseperable. <br /><br />It was not long though, before things started going wrong, though no one quite knew what to make of the events. It was small things, the owls molting in the wrong season, the unicorns getting the sniffles, the pond loosing it's glitter. But things began to be more serious, and soon people below began to panic as creatures came up from the deep seas and seasons became less predictable."<br /><br />"The great Sky King and his bride, the Mother Earth, parents to the three children, went in search of the problem and the solution, the only word that returned was ... Traitor."<br /><br />"About the same time, the princes began to notice that the princess' companion seemed to have a strange control over their sister, and that they were often cruel and subversive in their actions to others. Fearing the worst, the boys sent the girls to my father and myself for safekeeping."<br /><br />"It was perhaps not a well thought out plan, as the girls soon had the key to the great treasure rooms. From them they took two pair of matching shackles, a great lantern to change time and space and reality, and a small bag of silencing and truth powder. The powder they began tossing into the eyes of all at my castle ... enchanting both me and my father. It was the hand of Princess Starshine herself that did it."<br /><br />"Later, I learned that the Princesses companion was actually the Great Hag of Desruption, and she walked freely with the princess around my castle in her true form. They were making plans to overthrow Solar and Lunar, but due to the nature of the silencing powder, I could answer no man on any subject that they had discussed with me or in front of me, nor could any person in my castle.<br /><br />Next, the twosome returned with me to lend them credence to their own castle, where with the help of the magic shackles, which had the power to transform any being into an enchanted monster. Which was the fate of the twin Princes of Sky.<br /><br />And finally, they had to find a man willing to keep the great lantern lit so they could change reality into their own wishes. I think that was you sir.<br /><br />But all was not well in Princess Starshine's world. As soon as the Great Hag had everything as she wished, she denied the Princess her right to rule the sky, and turned her into Mother Kackle, cursed to repeat all three times to remind her that she had betrayed her three greatest supporters, Solar, Lunar, and myself - with absolute greed and jealousy, and then she sprinkled the small remaining portion of the silencing powder over her head. I took the girl back to my castle, what else could I do?"<br /><br />MOK sighed and looked forlorn.<br /><br />Ara-Bella looked at her father, "Interesting... and Father, what of you?" EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-54274392196420690172017-01-24T18:45:01.539-06:002017-01-24T18:45:01.539-06:00Mulling....Mulling....EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-11197165785921452162017-01-20T17:25:04.644-06:002017-01-20T17:25:04.644-06:00Meant to say...letting Ara-Bella and her father sp...Meant to say...letting Ara-Bella and her father speak privately....TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-63070441768287274552017-01-20T17:01:10.681-06:002017-01-20T17:01:10.681-06:00(Continued....)
Then Prince Solar took Ara-Bella ...(Continued....)<br /><br />Then Prince Solar took Ara-Bella by the arm and led her out into the royal gardens (even though she would have preferred to remain in the sitting room and speak with her father). As they walked, Ara-Bella again brought up the subject of his sister, whom she had known as Mother Cackle.<br />"Won't you and your brother please forgive her?"<br /><br />A cloud passed over the Sun Prince's face. "She deserves no consideration," he growled. Then his face brightened a little, and he patted her hand as though comforting a child. "But you must not worry your pretty head about things that don't concern you. As I said before, we can discuss her further after we are married."<br /><br />"Would you at least let her attend the party?" Ara-Bella persisted, swallowing the biting retort that sprang to her tongue. "You did say you'd refuse me nothing, and it sits ill with me to think of my friend and traveling companion being excluded. This is supposed to be a happy occasion, after all."<br /><br />"As you wish, my dear," Prince Solar agreed reluctantly, "but I must speak to my brother first. He may not be as eager to oblige you as I am. Can you bear to do without me for a little while?"<br />Ara-Bella pretended to be disappointed. "Oh, well, I suppose I can manage," she sighed.<br /><br />The Sun Prince then left her in search of his brother, and when he was out of sight, Ara-Bella dashed off to find her father, and perhaps MOK, as well. She found them both still in the sitting room, seated comfortably and talking amiably together. At sight of her, they both rose and came toward her, but MOK halted after a few steps and stood sadly by his chair.<br /><br />"How fortunate I've found you both," Ara-Bella said after hugging her father again. "Now that Prince Solar has gone for a spell, we can talk freely."<br /><br />"Daughter," said her father, his tone serious, "is it true that you are to marry the Sun Prince?"<br /><br />His question took her aback, but she covered her confusion with a playful smirk. "Oh, yes, Daddy. He chose me, you know."<br /><br />"But what do you know of this man? And how long have you known him?"<br /><br />"Well, I know he's the ruler of the Daylight hours. And I've known him since yesterday--although he was a Dragon then."<br /><br />"Is this truly what you want?"<br /><br />Ara-Bella tried to catch MOK's eye...and failed. "It's what the Sun Prince wants," she answered, less cheerfully as she intended. "He chose me."<br /><br />"This is not like you at all, Daughter. I thought I had taught you better principles than that."<br /><br />"Don't be too hard on her, sir," MOK spoke up gently. "Prince Solar is used to getting what he wants, and often forgets that other people have opinions, too. And feelings," he added under his breath. He mumbled something about letting Ara-Bella speak privately, but Ara-Bella asked him to stay. He offered no objection.<br /><br />"I thought perhaps you both could enlighten me," she stated, sitting on the velvet settee opposite their arm-chairs. "MOK, would you be so kind as to explain exactly why the Sun Prince and Moon Prince are so angry with Mother Cackle--I mean their sister? What has she done that was so very terrible? And how can we convince them to forgive her?<br />"Daddy," she continued, "now that the Dark Lady--or whoever that terrible witch was--is defeated, perhaps now you can tell me the whole truth behind the lantern that caused all this trouble."<br /><br />(Your turn, Mama Eagle! :-D)TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-24655426969102748892017-01-20T16:59:59.320-06:002017-01-20T16:59:59.320-06:00(Blogger ATE my bit last week, and I kept forgetti...(Blogger ATE my bit last week, and I kept forgetting to re-write it.)<br /><br />"My darling child!" the old merchant cried. "God be praised you still live. I feared I would never see you again in life."<br />"I've missed you, too, Daddy," Ara-Bella whispered, tears forming in her eyes.<br /><br />Momma and Ara-Bella's two sisters, however, were quite put out about being all but kidnapped by Prince Lunar and whisked off to a strange castle without so much as a by-your-leave--and that right in the middle of rehearsing for the countess' ball the next week. They blamed Ara-Bella for the mischief demanded and an explanation.<br /><br />Now a plan had been forming in Ara-Bella's mind ever since the enchantment had been broken, and Prince Solar had declared his intention to marry her, and she decided now was the best time to set that plan in motion. She smiled sweetly at her family and stood next to Prince Solar. "Well, dear ones," she replied, allowing the Sun Prince to take hold of her hand, "it was to fetch you for my wedding."<br /><br />Stunned silence filled the sitting room, followed by exclamations of surprise and disbelief from her family.<br /><br />Ara-Bella then asked Prince Solar if they might send a servant to fetch a clergyman to perform the marriage rites, and if they might also hold a banquet and ball afterwards, to celebrate their engagement, while they awaited the priest's arrival.<br /><br />"I can refuse you nothing, my darling," the Sun Prince replied staunchly, "since you have risked so much to save me from my vile enchantment. It shall be done as you say." <br /><br />To her sisters, Ara-Bella said, "Dear Ana-Aria and Ada-Maria, will you sing and play for the party tonight? It seems an age and a half since I last heard your sweet music, and I daresay it would be received favorably here."<br /><br />The sisters, along with their mother, eagerly agreed to the chance to perform.<br /><br />Prince Solar then ordered the servants to prepare rooms for their guests, and sent his captain of the guard (who had been the Troll) to fetch the priest. Ara-Bella noticed Prince Lunar offering to escort Ada-Maria himself, and she smiled about that.TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-55391498967632521552017-01-09T00:51:27.490-06:002017-01-09T00:51:27.490-06:00Ara-Bella didn't hesitate, she tossed the liqu...Ara-Bella didn't hesitate, she tossed the liquid into the lady's face, and stepped backwards, unsure what to do next.<br /><br />Nearly instantly, the lady began to change, aging and shrinking, until she was a tiny old woman no larger than a small child. Still the two men held her as if she were dangerous. The young girl ran up with the chains that had held Mother Kackle and MOK, and wrapped them around the lady and locked them tight. Then the men carried her to the troll ... who was now a very stunned looking guard ... and instructed him to take the lady to the dungeons.<br /><br />As the door opened, the lady's grand sleigh was gone, and in it's place stood a tiny goat cart and two small goats.<br /><br />Ara-Bella turned into the room. Their still stood MOK, maybe a bit shorter, but it was MOK. She ran to him, begging, "Please explain, I do not know if I hurt the world forever or fixed a great wrong."<br /><br />MOK looked down at her with his slow, easy smile, and took her hand, "You have freed us from a great enchantment. The lady you just defeated, tricked the young girl you see there, not once, but three times!" He hesitated and then continued, "You know her as Mother Kackle, but she is the younger sister of these two men. Solar rules the day, and Lunar ruled the night. I am simply MOK, keeper of all fairy tale items that are no longer needed."<br /><br />The golden man came up to her then and took her by the hand. "You have freed us from our enchantment, and now I will marry you, for you have shown great cunning and courage."<br /><br />Ara-Bella looked stunned. "But, I wanted to go home and see my family."<br /><br />"No matter," said the man, "My brother will bring them here!" With that the silver man grinned, and took off running through the door. As he lept from the tower, several great white owls flew by pulling a large sleigh behind them that shone like the moon.<br /><br />Solar pulled Ara-Bella by the hand out into the tiny courtyard. MOK and Mother Kackle followed them down the long winding stairs and into a large sitting room.<br /><br />"But what of the girl, Mother Kackle? Will you take her back? And what of MOK, will he go home? And what if I do not wish to marry you?"<br /><br />Solar seemed stunned. "Well of course you want to marry me, I chose you, did I not? You will sing for me, and play for me, and dance for me, and we will live here in this castle forever."<br /><br />Ara-Bella looked over her shoulder at MOK with sad eyes. He stood resolutely, refusing to let her catch his eye.<br /><br />"As for my sister," Solar sighed, "I do not know what to do with her right now. We can discuss it after the wedding."<br /><br />Just then, Lunar returned with Ara-Bella's family. She ran to her father and hugged him as if she would never let him go.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-87464966100427223182016-12-20T00:49:42.082-06:002016-12-20T00:49:42.082-06:00I haven't forgot. Sigh.I haven't forgot. Sigh.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-76666974888822144032016-12-07T13:05:34.150-06:002016-12-07T13:05:34.150-06:00"You fool!" the Lady shrieked at the Gol..."You fool!" the Lady shrieked at the Golden Man. "You dare defy me? You dare interfere--"<br /><br />"I do!" the Golden Man retorted--and his voice sounded like the Dragon's. "You interfered with our lives--you and this foolish girl"--pointing to the maiden and scowling at her--"I'm simply returning the favor. You can kill me if you've the stomach to, but I'd do it again!"<br /><br />Ara-Bella stilled her sobs during this exchange, listening attentively. She began to see which way the wind blew, and while the Golden Man and the Dark Lady shouted at each other some more, Ara-Bella rose and picked up one of the bowls the Dragon had scattered in his rampage.<br /><br />The Dark Lady spotted her and cried out, "Stop!"<br /><br />The Golden Man and his reverse-image brother leapt forward and restrained the Lady.<br /><br />Ara-Bella scooped up a bowlful of the white-golden liquid, which shone almost too brightly to look at, and dashed it over MOK. Some of the liquid landed on the Troll.<br /><br />The Dark Lady howled like a Banshee and struggled against her captors, but they held her fast.<br /><br />Ara-Bella then gathered another bowlful of liquid and frowned at the Dark Lady. "I've had about all I can take of you, madam," she snorted. "You brought my poor father sorrow and misery; you have plagued these good people here; you have threatened the whole world with eternal darkness. The world is better rid of you, and I've a feeling I know how to bring that about"--glancing down at the glowing liquid.TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-52906765926135231642016-12-04T01:34:35.078-06:002016-12-04T01:34:35.078-06:00(wouldn't all fit...)
Ara-Bella was horrified....(wouldn't all fit...)<br />Ara-Bella was horrified. Almost she had succeeded. Now the world would be thrust into darkness forever. She fell to the floor sobbing as she heard the great Lady shrieking in despair. The sounds of splintering wood and shattering glass continued. The liquid from the bowls rain across the floor, and covered the great dragon's bulk.<br /><br />But as the two liquids mixed together, a remarkable thing was happening, for there stood not a great dragon, but a mighty man, dressed in golden armor, who shone like the sun, and beside him was a dark man in dark armor, with hair and eyes that shone like the moon. The images of each the exact duplicate of the other but like a negative, one dark where the other was light. In amazement, as she watched, a fair girl, only slightly older than a child, ran between them, bowed her head and sobbed, "Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me!" To the side, the troll still held MOK in chains. And the Lady's face predicted a storm would soon reign on the rivers of light still mixing on the floor.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-1051603691900805572016-12-04T01:34:03.161-06:002016-12-04T01:34:03.161-06:00Ara-Bella stood staring at the Lady, "Are you...Ara-Bella stood staring at the Lady, "Are you here to stop me?"<br /><br />"Of course not," purred the lady in a soothing voice, "I am here to ensure that you succeed. If you fail, then the world will be dark forever, and you would not want that, would you?"<br /><br />Ara-Bella slowly turned the knob, the door swung open easily. The Lady followed her inside, careful to not touch any part of the metal frame of the door. Ara-Bella found this strange, but made no comment. The room inside was much larger than it had appeared from the outside, so Ara-Bella was not surprised to see the great dragon follow them both inside.<br /><br />She was however, surprised to see both MOK and Mother Cackle held in chains by the Troll that they had left behind that morning, and even more surprised to see the largest of the raven's from the carriage hop inside and stand beside his mistress.<br /><br />Her long manicured finger pointed to the far wall, and Ara-Bella sighed as she strode toward it. Glancing around the room, there were 24 tables at regular intervals, each table contained a large coin, a bowl, and a pitcher of liquid. Half of the liquid shone golden like the sun, and the other half shone white like the moon. As she stepped up to the first table, she saw a tiny slip of paper and read, "Place the coin in the exact center of the bowl, take a hair of your head and place on top of the coin, and chant, One o'clock as you pour the sunshine over the coin. That sounded easy enough, and so she did. At the second table, the instructions were repeated, with the exception of her mantra, now it was "two o'clock". And thusly it continued throughout the first twelve bowls - all blue like the sky. <br /><br />At the thirteenth bowl, the table was now a dark wood, and a black bowl. The instructions changed somewhat, now she was required to place a single tear on the coin, and start again at one o'clock, as she poured the shimmering milky liquid over the coin. Odd, but she managed this side with as little trouble as the first side. As she finished the last bowl, she looked back to see each bowl was shining up toward mirrors on the ceiling. But the rays of all but one were going off at odd angles.<br /><br />One mirror shown directly onto the rounded surface of the unlit lamp. She looked thoughtfully at the mirrors and the lamp. Then moved toward the first table, adjusted the mirror to strike the lamp, an went on to the next table.<br /><br />As she finished each table. She was surprised to see Mother Cackle and MOK hanging their heads with tears in their eyes. The raven had turned his back and stared out the door. He also seemed sad. And the dragon shifted from leg to leg, swinging his tail and head as his eyes never left the Lady's face.<br /><br />She worked her way steadily around the room, which grew brighter and hotter with each mirror, until after the 23rd bowl, even the Lady had lowered her head, and then lifted a bare, milk white arm, and shaded her eyes.<br /><br />With a great roar, the dragon leapt at the lantern and threw his bulk into the side, crashing through the delicate glass and metal designs and landing squarely onto the burning surface of the lamp. The dragon leapt clear of the shattered lantern and swung his great tail at the tables on the far side of the room.<br /><br />EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-12118869193766416972016-11-15T12:50:32.077-06:002016-11-15T12:50:32.077-06:00Oh, good! *Whew!* Hope things are more settled now...Oh, good! *Whew!* Hope things are more settled now.<br /><br />Onward, then! :-DTomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-35491428397421165052016-11-11T23:34:02.367-06:002016-11-11T23:34:02.367-06:00No, just a long week and a very, very full plate. ...No, just a long week and a very, very full plate. I'm mulling my next move.EagleNestMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900856491721862555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-79231093901314169922016-11-11T17:47:08.233-06:002016-11-11T17:47:08.233-06:00Probably not. We've just had a long week.Probably not. We've just had a long week.Kendra E. Ardnekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593051552921296108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7618645909538172709.post-51030078440352356102016-11-11T17:38:55.489-06:002016-11-11T17:38:55.489-06:00Oh dear...have I killed the story? :-(Oh dear...have I killed the story? :-(TomWildRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914330705701940882noreply@blogger.com