Fairy Magic: The Forest Wars of the Fairy Princess and the Goblin Witch

Chapter 11

After taking all of the toys outside to the middle of the backyard, Ali faced the wizard.

"This place looks like a jungle."

Merlin pointed toward the woods. "The shadow goblin's lair is located in a rabbit hole at the edge of your yard."

Ali nodded.

Merlin turned to the team. "There's no turning back now."

As they headed toward the goblin's lair Ali turned to Merlin, "Why do those monsters want my sister?"

Merlin stroked his beard.

"That's not an easy answer."

"Try me."

"Centuries ago fairies walked the Earth. For years they lived in peace and harmony with mankind."

"Okay," Ali climbed over a pebble that was the size of a table. "But what happened to them."

"The fairy king and queen died, leaving their daughters Sola--fairy princess of daylight--and Luna--fairy princess night light--in charge of all fairydom. Unfortunately, neither sister wanted to share the kingdom with the other. So they fought for rule of the land. the war lasted for decades. Because of her affinity with the darkness, Luna turned to black magic. While it made her warriors stronger, it also twisted their bodies and their minds."

"Goblins," Amos said.

Merlin nodded. "In order to defeat the dark creatures, the light fairies cast a powerful spell that prevented any shadow goblin from taking form within the light. But they had to make a great sacrifice."

"What do you mean?"

"In order to cast the spell, the light fairies had to sacrifice their physical form."

"So that's why there are no more fairies?"

"Oh no, they still exist."

"How?"

"A fairy can imbue their power into special objects for a short time."

Ali's eyes went wide. "You mean toys?"

"Bingo," Pippy said.

"But that still doesn't explain why those monsters took Gabby."

"In order to sustain their black magic, shadow goblins require a powerful energy source. Dreams."

"Dreams? What does that have to do with kids toys?"

"Children's dreams are the most powerful. So, the goblins steal them. In order to combat their evil, fairies imbue their powers within toys."

"Why can't we see them?"

This time Ultraman responded. "You can. At least when you're young. That's why little kids are afraid of the dark. They can still sense the shadow goblins in the room. Sometimes hiding in a sock, or in the closet, or under the bed. But over the years, you lose your imagination. By the time you're a grown-up, you don't believe in anything anymore."

"Why dreams?" Ali asked.

"Because dreams are made from the most powerful force in the world," Pippy said.

"What's that?" Ali asked.

"Imagination."

Merlin faced the group.

"No my friends, there is one power stronger than even imagination."

"What's that," Ali asked.

"Love."

She lowered her head. Ali hadn't been very good at showing her sister how much she cared for her. Perhaps she was a bad person. She had all of those toys in her room, and in the toybox and on her shelves. But she never let her sister play with any of them.

"Fret not child." Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder. "The reason I chose you for this journey is because of your love for your sister. It will guide us to her."

"So what does the Shadow Queen plan to do with Gabby?"

Merlin stopped and looked at Ali through stony eyes. "She intends to drain your sister of her essence. It's likely she's trapped her in the dream realm. There she can steal Gabby's dreams. All of them. Past, present and future. And if she does, the Shadow Queen will have the power to take full form once again. Not only will your sister be locked in an eternal nightmare, but the world will be plagued with shadow goblins."

Ali's stomach knotted up. Gabby's life was in danger and it was all her fault. All because she wouldn't share with her little sister. And worst of all, she blamed Gabby for losing the Sola doll.

The Sola doll...

A thought popped in her head.

"Merlin not long ago my Sola doll disappeared. Did the Shadow Goblins do that?"

Ultraman spoke up again. "Sola, is our leader. The fairy goddess. The goblins captured her last week."

Amos swooped down. There are footprints leading to the edge of the woods. Ali's gut told her that was the direction of the shadow goblin lair. The tracks lead them to a patch of tall grass.

"We should follow the trail."

Moving through the thick grass wasn't easy. It felt as though she were trekking through the jungle. Tree roots were like hills. Mud stuck like quicksand, and bugs were as big as dogs. At one point a pine cone the size of a boulder fell right on Sandy's foot.

"I'm not hurt," the ragdoll said. "But my foot is stuck. You may have to go on without me."

"Nonsense," Ultraman said taking Pippy's lasso. He wrapped it around the pinecone and pulled it off.