BEYOND THE RAINBOW

CHAPTER ELEVEN - PARADISE - NOT!

Finally that first day, the fairy queen bathed in the crystal blue pool, held a mass picnic by candlelight on the golf links and curled up to sleep, high in the central fork of an old yellow pine tree. Hattie breathed a sigh of relief, settling down in her office to review events and update the records. The Fay Queen had certainly had a busy day for the light.

Much to the captivation of the watching world which now followed her invasion of the Devil's playground on reality TV. A crew had arrived within hours of Tanouie's first major lotto win, which had now escalated to literally billions through various keno and other world gaming facilities. All due to a challenge from the gaming commission to prove her natural winning streak. A representative had come to investigate. He chose other agencies, Tanouie obligingly placed her bets 'for the people' with the remainder of her gifted money and chose numbers or whatever criteria was involved in entering the draws. The results were ricocheting around the world as others followed her televised numbers and the gaming industry was in shock. The ongoing draws were proving her point. The newspapers splashed the headline around the world: ECCENTRIC GREENIE BREAKS THE BANKS AND GIVES IT TO THE POOR – CLAIMS 'THE FAIRIES DID IT.' She was touted as an eccentric nature lover, who claimed to be a 'tree fairie' and chose to give her incredible run of luck away to the people. It was magic, she said. It charmed the most hardened cynic, and all smiled dotingly, not believing a word of it. It was a phenomena. Perhaps a miracle? A true psychic? None of which were against the law, so the wins were legal. Speculation was rife. Some aligned her to the next Mother Theresa. Hope was a living thing again in the most jaded of circles. People began flocking to the Mecca of free money. Only to get high on the essence of pure love that greeted them.

"Welcome to Paradise! It's a wonderful world, isn't it? Come, eat, drink and be merry. Bring your friends. You are all welcome here. See the cashier if you have hardship, all your debts will be paid." Hattie never saw her buy clothes at any of the boutiques, though she outfitted the homeless by the dozens,  but Tanouie now wore floral bikinis under ratty blue jean shorts and a tie-dyed tank top in rainbow colours. A gossamer green scarf tied back her hair in a huge bow, which trailed out to an illusion of wings. Her fairy slippers added to it. Dainty, fresh-faced and as wholesome as the girl next door, she stood beneath the neon rainbow and welcomed the people. Greeting them with an infectious smile and a loving pat on their cheeks. Along with a pot of gold coins. The staff kept cascading more money into the pot as she handed it out to all comers.

"Where I come, from," she told them, "there is no need to fret about selling your soul for food and clothing. It is provided by the Universe. Is it not written in your book of fables? They are all true, you know. You only have to believe and it will be so. Come, and enjoy the proof of it. Ask and you will receive. Just remember to be mindful of what you wish for. The dark one is equally generous in multiplying evil. We must send him no more of our babies to corrupt. Think happy thoughts and your world will be a happy place again. I promise you."

They were all deserving. By afternoon Hattie was aware that the Vortex had retreated and the Matrix was now policing the portals. Heaven had reclaimed the territory. Evil was not compatible. It was either barred or cast out. Slithers and his underlings were summarily drawn to enter the penthouse lift and never reappeared. Hattie's portal surveillance tracked them being sucked into the vortex. Meanwhile, her records were having a job updating as hundreds of Earthlings were being drawn by the Queen and reclaimed for the light, just by crossing the resort threshold. They included the homeless by the droves.

What the rejected made of it was not yet clear, but by the puzzled look on the faces of the demonized, Hattie suspected it was the Wizard's handiwork. It was quite likely they couldn't see the gate and suffered a memory lapse as to why they were even in the vicinity. A bit borderline on the free will issue, but since they were in the Beast's corner it was on another game level and not a mark against the Queen. She was not using magic or coercing anyone. No Free will infringement. She simply gave back the Devil's earnings to the people. It was poetic justice in Hattie's opinion.