Madelina Chapter 2 (1st Draft)

Blog cover image by: https://rachelgreenberg-animation.blogspot.com/2015/08/fantasia-fairies.html

I'm not sure why, but somehow I wrote chapter 1 in third-person limited perspectives, but the opening scene of this chapter doesn't have that. I can't remember exactly what I was thinking when I wrote this a couple months back. Anyway, I hope you enjoy, but be sure to check out chapter one first! It's also here under the Story Chapter section.

CHAPTER II | UNINVITED GUESTS

“WHERE IS MY FAIRY?!” the ringleader shouted as he ran around the tent.

“W-well, sir,” the hollow-cheeked clown Harlequin said hesitantly.

The ringleader turned to Harlequin, and got right up in his face with wide, expecting eyes.

“Mm? Well then, c’mon spit it out!” the ringleader said with saliva firing from his mouth and onto the clown’s face.

The gorilla-sized Fire Eater answered for him: “it flew away.”

“It fle-” the ring leader stopped, and shook his head in a psychotic manner and then started to chuckle. “Hm-hm-hm-hm. ‘It flew away’…” he said quietly, then threw a foot down on Fire Eater’s toes, causing the titan to fall down to a kneel.

The big man’s eyes watered, and his boss slapped him. The ringleader was a short man, no taller than a buck fallow deer, but he kicked like a mule. Then he elbowed Fire Eater in the temple, sending him to the ground. 

“What is the one thing keeping us afloat right now, hmm? Any knowers?” the ringleader asked the room of performers.

The slack-jawed Simple Simon began to answer:

“Th-the fairy, ringleader,” he said.

The ringleader smiled so big his eyes nearly shut, and he walked over to Simple Simon with a firm pat hand on his shoulder.

“The fairy,” the ringleader nodded, speaking like a teacher who was proud of their student. “And what happens when we don’t have—the fairy anymore?” he asked. “...Don’t bother, I haven’t the patience,” he began moving around the room. “We lose business, and without business we have nothing! You are all nothing! Ya hear? You’re just the buffer while the audience finds their seats for the real show.”

The ringleader found his way over to the pale-faced Signora Rosaura.

“So you know what you lot are gonna do? You’re gonna go looking for that fairy, and you are not to return…until you find it,” he smiled aggressively, then the expression dropped to a deep frown. “Move out! In pairs now! In pairs!” he shouted, and the performers dispersed.

Fire Eater sat up, rubbing his head where it hurt the most.

“Get up, lad. You’re with me,” the ringleader said. “...and bring the frog.”

He looked out the entryway at one of the smaller tents, and heard all kinds of animal noises, but singled out the croaking of a frog.

✶

Greta sat at the table, across from the spriggan, and wiped her forehead.

When she took the small creature inside, she asked:

“What do you eat?”

“Mmm…?” the little one pondered. “I don’t know,” she said.

“Porridge then,” Greta said. "Everyone likes porridge."

The girl ate like a vulture, and drank like a thirsty bear. It made Greta quiver internally, but on the outside, her breathing was labored.

The girl stopped eating for a moment, then swallowed and asked: “Are you alright, ma’am?”

“I’ll be fine. Just don’t feel as young as I look,” Greta laughed with chagrin.

“What happened? Did you get hurt?” the girl tilted her head in an unnatural looking and creepy way.

“In a way, but it’s fine.”

“I don’t know about that,” the girl said.

“Well aren’t you a know-it-all?” Greta snickered. “And at any rate, what about your name? Don’t you have a name?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry, I don’t know much of anything, to be true.”

“Madelina,” Greta murmured to herself.

She looked up, and the girl continued eating.

“How does Madelina sound? Hmm?” Greta asked.

“Y-yeth. That will do nithely, thank thew,” the girl said with a mouth full of food. 

With the lamps lit, Greta noticed a few things about her doll. For one, her eyes still looked like they had been painted on, but also possessed a lifelike depth to them that was impossible to recreate with paint, not to mention their glow. Her carved mouth somehow opened, and she saw little wooden teeth and a pale tongue that didn’t look quite organic, but not wooden. Her face had a certain looseness to it that was previously not there by Greta's design. It allowed her to move her facial features to express emotions that weren’t at all dissimilar to a real girl’s.

“All done, ma’am!” Madelina said.

For a magical creature, she was rather polite, albeit with poor table etiquette.

“Oh dear,” Greta said.” You aren’t cold, are you?”

“Now that you mention it, yes ma’am.”

Greta lit the fireplace, and each of the girls had wrapped themselves in a blanket, then passed out on the floor.

✶

“Food…food. Must. Eat.” Foralette grumbled.

She spent all night searching and shouting for the little wooden girl, and not a peep back. Foralette was drowsy and hungry, and the nearest place she knew had food was a human woman’s cabin.

The morning sun peeked up over the forest, warmly touched the open field around the home, and reflected softly off the open sea beyond the shoreline.

Foralette found this place after wandering into a modest human town the day prior with an empty stomach. She saw a weak looking woman with a cart full of wood and groceries. All that mattered to Foralette was the food. It wasn’t so much that the woman looked weak, she looked rather healthy in fact, but she looked extremely exhausted. If this woman lived alone, Foralette thought, she would have an easy time escaping if she were caught.

And then a few strange things happened, but Foralette hardly had the energy to think about that for now. Food. She needed food.

She fluttered up to the front door, but it was locked. Curse that paranoid woman.

She tried the windows, every single one. From the first floor to the second floor. All locked. She saw the woman and the wooden girl asleep in front of the fireplace, and then caught a whiff of burning logs. So the fireplace is where she would enter from.

✶

Greta awakened, yawned deeply, and shivered with a cold nose. She looked down at the doll and saw her feet were uncovered, and probably cold. Apparently, according to the girl, wood girls felt cold. This one did anyway. So her auntie instincts kicked in and she rekindled the fire.

✶

Foralette’s stomach was so empty it was heavy. Flying all the way up to the chimney nearly killed her. She saw the opening, and shot right through.

“Ha-ha-ha! Food!” she sang. “Foooood!”

A clamber sounded at the bottom of the fireplace, and then a light.

Oh yikes, she thought.

The fireplace exploded to life, and thick smoke blinded the fairy.

She shot up out of the chimney, and coughed excessively. She hardly possessed the strength to cough, but her lungs were full of soot.

✶

“Good morning, ma’am,” Madelina said.

For some reason, the girl’s voice made Greta’s heart jump. She’d always been jumpy, but she thought it was ridiculous that that caught her off guard.

“Eh—Good morning,” she said.

I just said ‘good morning’ to my doll, Greta thought. Just what is happening right now?

“Is there something to eat?” Madelina asked.

“My word, girl. After that meal I prepared for you last night?”

“I’m hungry,” Madelina said.

Greta yawned, and realized she was hungry too, so headed for the kitchen-

BANG BANG BANG!

Someone was trying to knock down the door. Actually, they were probably just knocking, but they were being impolite about it.

“Quickly! Hide!” Greta said to the doll.

BANG BANG BANG!

Madelina ran back and forth in a small spot for a few seconds, and then ran upstairs.

BANG BANG BANG!

When Greta saw she was out of sight, she opened the door.

“Who in the-” Greta began to speak, and then a familiar blue light screamed and swore in her face.

“You inconsiderate! Semi-competent! Wag-flanging—!” the bug went on and on spouting nonsense. 

Greta almost fell down again just like before, but caught herself.

“You again? Didn’t I tell you to bugger off?” Greta said.

“Ah! A monster!” Madelina shouted from the stairs.

“I'm not a monster silly gal! I’m a fairy!” the bug said. “That’s Lennedy Foralette, for ya information! At your service,” she bowed whilst suspended in the air.

“Well, little Lennedy-” Greta began to speak, but-

“Just Fora will do, deary,” the fairy said.

“Whatever!” Greta said. “And what business does a fairy have in a human’s home? Why, I’m liable to put you in a jar and—and give you to the royal navy!”

“So be it. But if ya did, you would be sendin’ off the wee lass as well, yes? If she’s goin’ down, I'm goin’ down with her!” Fora said.

Madelina came close to Greta.

“Ma’am, you’re going to send me away?” she asked.

“I—I don’t know what I’m going to do! It’s the law!”

Foralette fluttered down and stood on Madelina’s shoulder.

“This girl is our responsibility, lady! Put on yer big gal britches and raise her right with me!” she said.

“Excuse you? Says who?” Greta asked.

Foralette’s wings drooped, and she suddenly looked a little depressed.

“The big blue lady,” she said.

“What lady?”

Fora explained that she had escaped from a circus the day before, and on her quest for sustenance, she followed Greta home.

“Hang on, you’re stealing my food?!” Greta cut in.

“Yeh! But not yet! I haven’t got the chance to! Anyway, lemme continue—”

In Fora's story, she explained that she decided to wait for Greta to get to bed, since she looked so exhausted already. Then, when she peeked through the windows and saw her settle under her covers, she infiltrated the home through an open window.

From now on, the doors and windows stay locked, Greta thought.

While Fora searched the kitchen for food, she heard someone else come in, and quickly hid behind something.

“Do not be afraid, my child,” a ghastly and authoritative voice spoke. It reminded Fora of her own mother.

“Wh-who goes?!” Fora asked, staying hidden.

The room suddenly began to glow a deep blue, brighter than even the setting sun outside.

“The last of my kind, I am afraid. I am a spirit of the woods,” it said.

Fora peeked out, and saw a bright round object surrounded by orbiting rings covered in eyes. The spirit looked terrifying, and yet had a reassuring, comforting presence to it. Fora couldn’t help herself, and came out of hiding, meeting the spirit.

“My beautiful child,” the spirit said. “I have observed your troubles, and the troubles of the human woman upstairs, and feel compelled to offer help.”

“W-what is it you plan to do?” Fora asked.

“You are lonely, my sweet child. You have not seen your family in so long, and have been serving as a plaything for greedy humans to make a profit. And the woman, she is lonely too. She has been severely crippled, and has lost a great many things she used to hold dear. She feels abandoned by the other humans. Part of her mindset is of her own doing, but she has trapped herself in a prison of misery, and I cannot bear to see it any longer.”

“And? What does that gotta do with me?” Fora asked.

“Family can be created in the strangest of circumstances. Something I have seen since the dawn of Creation. And nothing brings a family together quite like a newborn child. So, with the last embers of my waning power, I shall use it to return purpose and happiness to both of your lives,” the spirit explained.

“The last? Are you dying, your greatness?” Fora asked.

“The will of man is spreading across the planet. Machines are devouring Nature. It would appear that my tether to this world depended on the existence of the forest, but so much of my home has been destroyed, and I have grown weak, so weak. I no longer wish to be on this side any longer. I no longer serve any purpose. But I hope to pass my will onto you. The will of love and life. I believe that regardless of their destructive nature, humanity will always be worth helping, but I will not be around forever, and I need to leave behind a legacy before I pass on,” the spirit said.

“I understand,” Fora said. “Where is this newborn, then?”

The spirit chuckled, “you were hiding behind her just a moment ago.”

Fora turned around. “Ah-!” she gasped.

On the desk was an uncannily lifelike limp wooden doll with an intricate and beautiful construction.

“I don’t get it, that’s jus’ a puppet, your graciousness,” Fora said.

“Look again, my child. Look at the life in that one’s eyes. She only needs sentience, and the ability to speak. That woman has given birth to a beautiful life, can’t you see it?”

“Yes my lady,” Fora said, although she didn’t really mean it.

“As I drift to the other side, my essence will become one with that child, and then I will be here no more,” the spirit said, and then her glow began to dim.

“Wait! What is your name?” Fora asked.

“I had no name, I needed not one. I was only ever a servant to life,” the spirit said with a weakening voice, that gradually sounded more and more content.

Fora watched as the spirit became overpowered by the light of the rising moon coming through the windows, until finally she was no more.

After a few moments, a new light shone from the doll’s eyes. Fora hid away, and watched as the doll awakened, looked around, jumped off the desk, nearly spotted her, and then went upstairs. 

And then screaming.

“And that’s that,” Fora said. “I'm still hungry by the way!”

Greta blinked rapidly, in disbelief at everything she just heard.

“So, Maddie here is alive because of a spirit?” she asked.

“Somebody died so I could live?” Madelina asked.

Fora set a hand on Madelina’s cheek.

“Don’t fret young doll, she was passin’ on either way, and she decided to do something wonderful in her final moments,” Fora said.

“Wow, what a wonderful spirit!” Madelina said. “Thank you spirit! Thank you for giving me life! I promise to be as kind as you one day! I promise!” she shouted.

Fora leaped up from Madelina, and right in front of Greta’s face.

“And? What about you, human lady?” Fora asked.

“M-me?” Greta stammered. “I-I can’t take care of her! I couldn’t handle a real child! Let alone a-a magical one!”

“I’m not real?” Madelina frowned.

“I-I—” Greta couldn’t find the words.

“Lookit whatcha done now! You made the poor gal dour! Apologize at once!” Fora demanded.

Greta sighed, “I’m sorry, but the spirit lady—if she’s even real—chose the wrong woman. I’m lame, I can hardly take care of myself. Really, I’d help if I could, but you can’t stay here. The both of you.”

Madelina’s face gloomed over. “Then, where will we go, little fairy?” she asked.

“Nowhere, love. We’re stayin’ right here! It was the wise one’s last wish, and by Heigner, I’m gonna see it through!” Fora said firmly.

Greta suddenly realized she was growing nauseated, and took a seat by the fire.

“Ma’am? Do-do you need some water?” Madelina asked.

“I can manage it myself, thank you,” Greta said.

Fora tapped her chin, and seemed to come up with some sort of idea-

Knock knock knock

Another visitor at the door, this one sounded far more polite with their manner of knocking.

Before Greta could say anything, Madelina whispered: “Come fairy! Upstairs!”

She catches on quick, Greta thought, and then answered the door.

Outside, there were two men.

“Oh- sounds like a party in there, haha!” the shortest of the two said.

He was about a head shorter than Greta, and his face was covered in wrinkles and acne. Towering over him was another so tall and wide, she thought he might not have even been a human. 

“Uh, pardon the interruption madam,” the pock-faced man said. “But we are with the R.E.L.P. traveling troupe! That’s: Roaming Entertainers League of Performers.”

“...Hi.” Greta waved awkwardly.

“Now, we are in dire straits at the moment,” the man spoke in a courteous but shallow way that was irritating. “We have lost a certain element of our show, a rather essential one, and we simply cannot perform without it. Ah—by chance have you seen any… strange lights about the area?” he asked.

“Lights?” Greta paused, and retreated into the house one step.

“Um, alright. Just between you and me,” he leaned in and lowered his voice. “It’s a fairy. A real live one!” He laughed. “Believe me or don’t, ask anyone who has ever seen our show, they’ll tell you the thing is lifelike. Now, have you seen any fairies?” he asked.

Greta turned her head halfway to the stairs and wondered. If she gave those creatures away, she could go back to the way things were. Get them out of her hair. On the other hand, though, this man she could tell was slimy.

“No sir,” she said. “No fairies around here.” She smiled.

The man’s own smile waned, but he fixed it back up and clasped his hands.

“Well, terribly sorry to intrude! We must be on our way then. Oh, but—here...”

He handed her a card advertising their show with the location and time and date.

“We do hope you’ll come to our next show! It’s not far, and if you bring that slip with you, we’ll offer you a generous discount,” he smiled harder. “That’s us then, cheers love!”

CRASH

Something broke upstairs, and Greta cringed.

“Bring the kids!” the pock-faced man said.

“Mhm,” Greta nodded. “Well then, better go see what that noise was.”

The man waved, and went down the road.

For that entire conversation, the big one stood silently. She couldn’t tell if he so much as blinked, she was afraid to look him in the eyes. But they were gone now, and she finally remembered to breathe. Outside, Greta heard the short man swearing as they walked down the road. She looked out the window until they cleared the hill, then bolted up the stairs.

“”She did it!”” the magical creatures said in unison and pointing at one another.

It was just a bedside lamp. Greta grew very dizzy all of a sudden, and stumbled over to one of the guest beds.

“I knew it!” Madelina said, “You need water!” and she ran downstairs.

Greta didn’t say anything, and laid down. The fairy fluttered over by the bed.

“So, little bug,” Greta said, wetting her dry lips with her tongue. “Who were those freaks?”

“...” Fora’s glow dimmed, and she sat on the end table next to the bed. “Those’re the blighters who took me from me family.”