The Battle of Fairyland

Chapter 1

"Once upon a time, long, long ago, our people flourished as humans imagined and told stories about Fae tricksters. The clouds danced with colors, nature proliferated, and laughter filled the air. Oh, it must've been magical!" The teacher closed the book and held it close to his breast, stars in his large eyes. One of the children seated on the carpet in front of him raised her hand, her arm peppered with freckles. "Yes, Jenny?"
"If it was so wonderful, why don't we overthrow the queen and establish this wonderful world again?"
He flew to her and grabbed her arms. His eyes decreased in size, sweat dripped from his brow, and his peepers darted around the fairly typical classroom. "Don't you dare suggest anything like that again," he said in a strained, small voice. He stared at the camera. It focused on them. He released her, and paced in the air, his legs dangling while his transparent wings fluttered, muttering to himself. Anxiety filled the air, and the children shuffled around, unaware of what to do.
The next day, the school closed. Every television station aired the same story about the educational system being discontinued forevermore and how it was the parent's and queen's responsibility to raise children right. While the television spouted propaganda about teachers planting dangerous ideas into the minds of children, Jenny interrupted with a question. "Mom, what's gonna happen to Mr. Klein?"
"He'll probably just be fired, that's all."
"But he's a teaching fairy. If he can't teach..."
Jenny's mother patted her head. "Oh, don't worry your little head about him. He'll be fine." Her child's small arms crossed, her face scrunched up.
Meanwhile, Mr. Klein was slumped on the cold, damp ground of his cell, tears leaking out of his eyes. Two golden guards with intricately carved armor grabbed him and escorted him to the courthouse. The queen, in all her glory, presided over the court, filled with the aristocratic fae. The guards pushed him into the defendant's wooden stand. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach as they leered over him, expectations high. "Attention." The queen's voice echoed, strong and sweet. "We are gathered here today to quell an uprising. Now, can the guilty party please state your name and occupation for the court?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. My name... my name is M-Matthias Klein." Sweat dripped, and he aired himself out with the collar of his turquoise cotton shirt. "I'm a teacher at the Angelwood School." His voice squeaked at the end as he bowed, his brown curly mop facing the queen.
Queen Lavender brushed her golden locks behind her ear, pounding the gavel as hard as she could. "Let us continue on." She used a remote control to turn on a television on the wall. Security footage flickered onto the screen, the date displayed at the bottom. "This shows that this particular teacher covers up his classroom camera, assigned for safety, with a sticker. Please inform us why, Mr. Klein."
"Um." He swallowed spit as his eyes turned away from the screen. "I didn't feel safe with the cameras always watching..." He trailed off.
The queen's fiery, golden glare pierced the audience, her voice tense. "Oh, really? Remember, Matthias, you are under oath to tell the truth. If you lie..." Her nails impaled the pedestal.
He swallowed a wad of spit, the butterflies thrashing in his stomach. "I'm s-sorry, Your Majesty. I was... I was educating my class with the forbidden stories." His head hung, and whispers resounding around the courtroom.
A sinister smile appeared on her face as the gavel came down, silence immediately falling over everyone. "What a good little boy," she said with a sly smirk. "Now, let us discuss your punishment. For breaking the rules of our kingdom, you will be exiled from our marvelous land forevermore. You will never see your comrades again."
"No!" He cried out, his hand reaching out for any sympathetic soul. The guards forced him through the doors, and the cold touch of handcuffs wrapped around his skin.
People of all ages were packed in on the sidewalk, barricades preventing them from entering the road. Shame rose in his throat as he was marched through the streets. The queen ride a gallant Pegasus, her voice proclaiming his wrongs. A familiar face scrunched up as he passed, worry and sadness clear on the young fairy's face. His mouth formed the word "help". Jenny turned away to her mothers side. A small, sad smile escaped his lips as they approached the invisible border of the dark fairy kingdom. "Now, begone!" The guards pushed him across the dividing line.
Dead trees loomed over Matthias, purple leaves crinkled under his feet, and snakes of purple snaked across his clothes, turning them violet. He flew away to the stone castle in the distance. Farmland stretched for miles. A woman was sewing while sitting in a rocking chair, a namoore languishing at her feet. Her skin was full of wrinkles, unlike everyone inhabiting the light kingdom. She waved at him, her smile rather warm. He returned the expression as he continued on his way. The creature meowed and took off flying with its bat wings.