Pixie the Gnome & The Golden Princess' Tears

After just a few minutes of trailing behind the witty and gallant Yvein, Pixie broke the silence of the forest sanctuary in her cute little voice that went, "Yvein! Do you really know where you're going and how we are going to break Plexine's spell casted upon my friends?". "Of course I do. If there is anything to reverse a magic spell, it would be The Golden Princess's tears. And that is exactly what we are going to do!", Yvein almost boasted with new found confidence.

"But The Golden Princess don't cry. Haven't you heard the tales the elders speak of?", Pixie said in a puzzling manner. "Aha!. That's where you're wrong my friend. You just wait and see what I'm going to do!", Yvein proclaimed. "Now stop whining and lets go. Craven's Nest is not far from here", Yvein began to walk faster.

"Craven's Nest?", Pixie began to feel more clueless than ever. But she trusted Yvein and decided not to irritate him further. The gnomes arrived at Craven's Nest just before the napping hours and just in time to see one of the Cravens nestle into their giant nests. Now Cravens, though they look menacing and ferocious, they really are nice creatures...once you get to know them better.

"Pixie!....Pixie!! Come here!", Yvein hissed out to Pixie while indicating with a finger over his mouth for Pixie to stay quiet. "Lay on the the floor and wail in pain like the spoilt brat you are", Yvein requested. "But I'm NOT..." "Well you don't want to walk all the way to the Glass Palace now do you!?", Yvein cut out Pixie's attempt at retorting before she could even complete it.

Reluctantly and in utter bewilderment, Pixie obliged. She laid on the grass and began wailing in pain as instructed. If you looked closely, you can even spot a tear welling up in cute little Pixie's eyes. That was how good an actress she really is! In an instant, Yvein darted toward the nearest nest and shouted in exasperation, "Help! Help! My friend...she is in pain...Help!".

"Now what is this ruckus bothering me from my snooze time", a loud shriek voice cackled as a Craven popped its head from within the nest. "My..my...look what we have here. Its dear Yvein again. What do you want this time boy?", the Craven asked.
"My friend over there...she's been stung by Acid Bees, if we don't take her to the Glass Palace at once, she'll surely die! Please please I beg of you", Yvein pleaded.

"Well, it really is a nice lazy afternoon. Perfect for a nap. Why should I help you worthless cunning gnomes?", the Craven challenged Yvein. Quick thinking, Yvein took out just one Honey Walnut from his brown sack that glittered in the warm sun. "There are hundreds of these where it came from. It's all yours if you let us sit on your back and fly us to the Glass Palace", Yvein blurted out an offer the Craven can't refuse.

Licking it's hungry lips, the Craven obliged. Yvein ran back to Pixie, cheekily winked at her and helped her up onto the Craven's hairy back, which was quite comfortable in fact, just like a soft velvet couch.

The Craven soared high into the sky and above the clouds as the two gnomes looked down at the forest below and thanked their lucky stars for not having to walk all those million miles. "Faster faster!", Yvein roared in excitement for he enjoyed the wind guzzling against his face. Pixie on the other hand felt rather uncomfortable for she was darn scared of heights, and so she gripped Yvein tightly, which caused him to gasp.

Before long, the Craven began to descend and made ground for the brownish slug of a land just before the Murky Rivers. "Hey this is not the Glass Palace!", Yvein rattled in anger. "I'm sorry my gnome friends. We Cravens must not fly above Murky Waters. There is an old curse that warned us about flying over these evil waters. I'm sorry but this is as far as I can only take you", the Craven apologised with geunine intent. "But once you cross the Murky Waters, the Glass Palace is not far away. Trust me", the Craven tried to comfort the gnomes.

"Well alright Craven. Here you go", Yvein slung forward his brown sack and tied it neatly around the craven's legs. "And thank you for taking us this far. May we meet again kind friend!", Yvein bidded the Craven farewell as it soared high into the skies once again.

The Gnomes looked toward Murky Waters and wondered how are they ever going to cross these dangerous swamp. Just then, a huge Crocodile waddled toward the near bank and smiled sheepishly at the gnomes. "What are you two gnomes doing far away from your villages", the crocodile asked cunningly while he thought about having them for supper.

Knowing fully well that Crocodiles eats anything that moves, the gnomes took a step back, while orchestrating a solution. "You know what?", Pixie voiced out. "We are indeed on our way to the Glass Palace to collect our just rewards from the Fairy Princess. We helped her carry out a couple of errands last week and she promised us two huge brown cows. You can have them both if you let us ride your back to the other side of Murky Waters", for once Pixie displayed her hidden genius ability.

Crocodiles, who only possess brains the size of a ground nut, didn't have to do much thinking before agreeing on the offer. The crocodile just imagined about the fine meal he was about to have once the gnomes returned with the cows. Almost immediately, he agreed to let the gnomes ride on his leathery back.

Hand in hand, the gnomes put one foot on the crocodile's back, then the other as they balanced atop his lean muscular back. All this while, wary of the cunning but dumb crocodile. They reached the far bank safely and both gnomes ran to a safe distance before shouting, "Don't worry Mr Crocodile, we'll be back soon with the cows. Wait for us!".

The gnomes ran as fast as their little legs could take them and before long, they arrived at the Glass Palace, just as the Craven had promised. The Glass Palace was indeed a sight to behold. Standing like a jewel from the farthest lands, the gnomes gasped at its tremendous beauty. There were golden carriages on the lawn and the pillars of the palace was coated in the most exotic materials they had ever laid eyes upon.

There were Fairy Princess' roaming everywhere from the gardens to the big rooms which they could see from where they were standing from. Each Fairy Princess looked ravishing and captivating in their raw beauty. Each of them emitted a radiant light, an aura of sheer magic about them.

The gnomes stood by the main palace doors and and before they could even knock, the doors flew wide open and they were greeted by one of the Fairy Princess'. "Why what do we have here? Two little gnome friends. How can I help you beautiful little creatures?", the Fairy Princess asked. "Erm..Erm...We are here to see the Golden Princess", Pixie struggled to find her words.

"And why may I ask do you seek the Golden Princess?", the Fairy Princess queried. The gnomes related their story about Plexine, Alfen and the Crystal Blue Waters and begged the Fairy to show them the way.

"Well if it's true what you say, then I shall show you the way to the Golden Princess. But you have to earn it my gnome friends. Golden Princess's tears are precious...Good luck getting it out from her diamond eyes", the Fairy continued with a smile.

The Fairy brought them to The Golden Princess's room high up in the Palace and closed the doors behind them. "I have visitors", the Golden Princess spoke. "It's been a long time since I had visitors. I don't receive much visitors these days for they never got what they came for. It is my tears I believe that you are looking for yes?", the Golden Princess said almost nonchalantly. "Well good luck my friends", she said, putting the gnomes in a spot.

"Well, we don't care about your tears oh Golden Princess. My friend Pixie here does not believe you exist. So I brought he here to show her", Yvein said confidently. "And now that she has seen you, we should be on our way home", Yvein continued.

"Wait wait little gnomes", the Golden Princess suddenly felt bad. "Since you have come a long way, why not sit with me for a cup of Caramel. It soothes the soul you know", the Golden Princess offered.

The two gnomes didn't need a second offering and joined the Golden Princess at her table. As soon as they sat, Yvein started to tell the Golden Princess the whole story of Plexine and how they killed her under the Crystal Blue Waters using the hand mirror.

At once, the Golden Princess laughed and she laughed and she laughed for whoever thought that the evil Plexine could be killed by two cute little gnomes! She laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheek and without wasting much time, Yvein grabbed his glass vial from his pocket, uncorked the opening and caught the tear just before it hit the ground. More tears streamed down her cheeks and Yvein caught all of them till the vial was almost half filled!

Satisfied, Yvein corked it shut tightly and smiled impressed with himself. "My my, such clever gnomes you two are, tricking me like that! I've never laughed like I just did in years! I like you gnomes. I'm going to grant you one wish! Now what is it that you wish for my dear little gnomes?", the Golden Princess asked.

"Please Oh beautiful Golden Princess. Give us wings and the ability to fly!", Yvein requested without much hesitation. "If it is wings that you seek, it is wings that you get!", the Golden Princess blew magic star dust on the two and a pair of wings, translucent but in a golden shade grew from Yvein's and Pixie's back!

Happy, the two gnomes bade farewell and promised the Golden Princess that they will come visit her again soon. As soon as they were out, they tested their wings and they took to flying like fish to water! They flew east and north and up and down and enjoyed every minute of their new found ability.

They flew toward Murky Waters and over and saw Mr Crocodile still waiting. "Hey you two! What are you doing up there?" the crocodile asked in amazement. "Where are my cows you promised?", he asked. "You are not getting any cows you evil crocodile! You have been so bad eating up all the fishes and deers that drinks from the river so you are not getting anything from us! We just needed a ride from you, that's all. We planned this all along!", Pixie sniggered at the crocodile as the two gnomes flew toward Plexine's castle.

At the castle, Pixie called out to her dear friend Alfen. Alfen flew to Pixie, along with another enchanted butterfly that was cursed by Plexine. Yvein took out the glass vial from his pocket and carefully dropped a drop of Golden Princess's tear onto them and watched in amazement.

Slowly, the butterflies transformed into their original selves and they hugged each other in utter happiness. They danced and jigged and was soon out of the castle and back into Forest Greenwood where a whole new set of adventure awaits them!

Pixie the Gnome & The Crystal Blue Water

Pixie the Gnome, like all good-natured creatures her age from the small town of Einhoven was always looking for new adventures beyond the outskirts of their cheerful little village. More than often, they will huddle together during the monthly bonfire and listen attentively to the adult gnomes who tells stories of the land beyond Forest Greenwood to the North of Einhoven.

Few have ventured further than they actually should during the wildberry picking season...but none returned. As the adult gnomes put it, naughty gnomes, who disobey their warnings, will fall into the evil and dark magical clutches of Plexine the Wicked Witch!

"Just another tall tale to deny us invigorating adventures!", Pixie thought to herself as she brushed away the idea of herself falling prey to Plexine. Pixie recalled during the last Autumn season how she and her brothers collected wildberries...of all shapes and sizes at the fringe of Forest Greenwood. The deeper they ventured, the bigger and juicier the berries got..some as big as fists, others as small as a silver sixpence.

As Pixie looked far beyond the rising smoke of the bonfire and across the village rooftops, she gazed upon the deep dark shadows of Forest Greenwood and vowed to venture further than she should into the never realms the very next day, without uttering a whisper of her intentions to her gnome friends and brothers. "What an adventure!", Pixie exclaimed to herself, with her bright eyes sparkling like faraway jewels.

Pixie woke up with an extra spring in her little legs the next morning. She barely slept the night before as she anticipated the fun and laughter she was about to have. "Goodbye Mum", Pixie waved to her mother as she skipped down the pebbled path. "Be careful dear Pixie. Do not go anywhere you shouldn't. You know how often you get yourself in trouble don't you. Come back before dark!", her Mother's voice trailed into the misty morning air.

As Pixie trampled on deeper into Forest Greenwood, Pixie marveled at sights she never saw before. The sunflowers, yellow as the very rays that cast its glow upon the land were humming the sweetest tunes. Flowers with colours beyond her wildest imagination had eyes and ears and a mouth just like gnomes had and they all said 'Hello Pixie!', as she breezed past them. "How did they know my name?" Pixie wondered. "My my...this really is an Enchanted Forest!", Pixie thought to herself.

The wood squirrels and playful monkeys were scurrying about from tree to tree as they played hide n seek with Pixie. Pixie was having so much fun that she grew totally oblivious to the time. Before long, all the forest animals and flowers bade farewell to Pixie. "Goodbye dear Pixie. It was fun playing with you. You should make haste now new friend. It's getting dark, and you wouldn't want to get caught by Plexine....she loves wondering naughty gnomes!", they warned her.

In an instant, Forest Greenwood stood silent like a haunted castle. The echoes grew louder as the winds grew stronger and seeped through the thick forest leaves. The setting sun cast long monstrous shadows across the forest floor and Pixie grew mightily scared! As she looked around, it looked the same everywhere...Pixie was tremendously lost!

Pixie wandered on till she came by a huge Oak tree, whose hollow opening was big enough for her to climb and nestle herself from the cold night wind. Pixie trembled at the slightest sound and closed her eyes in fear and regret. Just then, she saw the brightest blue light illuminating in the distance. "A fairy princess!", Pixie comforted herself. "I'll beg her to send me home", Pixie told herself. "I'm sure the fairy princess is kind enough to not leave a little cute Pixie like me alone in this enchanted forest in the night", Pixie exclaimed with a hint of eagerness in her voice.

As the blue light sparkled closer, Pixie jumped out from the Oak tree and waved frantically, beckoning for the Fairy Princess's attention. As it got closer, Pixie's jaw dropped at the beauty of the Fairy Princess. Never before had she seen a wonderful sight. It was just as how the adult gnomes described during the bonfires! And before Pixie could utter a word, the Fairy Princess waved her magic wand and in an instant, Pixie found herself bounded and gagged with silver chains as thick as the rusty metal ones wrapping her wooden gates.

"Pixie the Gnome...", an evil bewitching voice breathed from within the Fairy Princess. "I've been waiting for you!", it continued as it transformed into its true self. It really was Plexine! As hideous and haunting as those stories Pixie heard! "I love naughty pixies!", it cackled in the night. "It's been too long since I had one for dinner. My my you'll make a scrumptious meal for me", Plexine notioned as she scrutinized little Pixie from head to toe. "Perhaps I'll wait for you to grow a little bit more", Plexine muttered to herself as she licked her lips to whet her appetite at the thought of having a nice juicy gnome for a fine meal!

"Into the carriage you go", Plexine barked as she kicked Pixie into her carriage which was driven by huge black dogs with 3 heads growing from a single body and knives for teeth! Pixie shuddered each time Plexine roared with laughter and hoped this was really only a horrid nightmare.

After what seemed like hours, finally the carriage came to a halt and Pixie was dragged by a clench of hair by the top of her little head into Plexine's castle. Pixie's heels were scarred by the rough wooden flooring as Plexine dragged her to the dungeon which was unusually situated on the highest floor.

As soon as the heavy doors closed and the chains and bolts were fastened, Pixie's hands were magically unbound. Pixie took a few seconds to get accustomed to her dimmed surroundings. Pixie looked around petrified by the ghastly cobwebs plastered against the walls and ants the size of matchboxes crawling all over the floor. A small opening on one side of the wall let in a soft glow courtesy of the forgiving moon. Alas, the window was grilled and Pixie sat in the corner sobbing.

"Don't cry dear Pixie", mellowed a friendly voice from somewhere near Pixie's badly bruised feet. "Who said that?", Pixie beckoned in the darkness. "It's me Alfen", said a golden butterfly. "Alfen!?", Pixie exclaimed. "What happened to you my long lost friend? We all thought you were lost last autumn when you went to pick wildberries", Pixie continued.

"Yes it's me. I was captured by the evil Plexine, just like you. My brothers are gone...but I guess I was lucky to be turned into a butterfly. I'm made to run errands for the evil Plexine", Alfen lamented. "But what could a butterfly really do for a witch?", Pixie asked. "Well...Plexine needs the saliva of the forest silkworms for her magic. And only a butterfly is small enough to fly into silkworms' nest", Alfen explained. Pixie heaved in misery as she thought about the fate that awaits her.

The next day Pixie awoke by the singing sparrows sitting by her window. Her dungeoun was pretty bare, less for some old medieval furniture and a curious hand mirror sitting atop a table.

Vain like most girl gnomes, Pixie grabbed it and got a shock as she gazed upon her sorry reflection. Never has she looked this bad she thought to herself. Of all things to think about when her life was at the mercy of a wicked witch. Pixie got bored and stood by the window looking out, using the mirror to reflect the sun's rays into the forest beyond.

Elsewhere, but closeby in Forest Greenwood, a little gnome called Yvein from another village was busy. Like all boy gnomes, Yvein was mischievous. In fact, he was so mischievous that he never escaped a day without being apprehended by the elder gnomes. But Yvein was bright as he was witty and smart.

Yvein crept up the huge oak tree as he rummaged the forest squirrels nest for nuts that they have painfully scoured and stored for the coming winter. Never one to spare a thought for the poor squirrels, Yvein only had one thing in mind and that was to fill his brown sack to the brim with nuts.

As young Yvein was trying hard to balance atop the oak branch, a curious glow of blinding light caught his eye and he dropped to the ground below with a loud thud! "What in the world was that?", Yvein thought to himself as he adjusted his cap. He crept closer toward the direction of the light and finally came across Plexine's castle.

Now Yvein was smart and knew the danger he was in. But he also knew how lazy Plexine was for she only wakes up in the late afternoon, when all other creatures were preparing to make way for home. Plexine was fat and lazy as she was evil and that made Yvein a little more brave.

Yvein looked curiously at the strange reflections from the top window but could not make out what it actually was. He reached for his pocket and took out his pet blue sparrow. "Riez my friend. Can you fly up there and tell me what you see?", he asked his friend. Riez the sparrow flew without hesitation from the Yvein's palm and sat on the window sill.

Riez came back in a few minutes and related Pixie's story to Yvein. "We must help her!", Yvein exclaimed. "Tell me...what else do you see my friend", Yvein demanded of Riez. "Well the room is pretty bare except for some old furniture and cobwebs and a strange looking hand mirror that was causing all that blinding light. It looked like the ones the fairy princesses carry", Riez informed his master.

A bright spark suddenly glittered in Yvein's head as he whispered some instructions for Riez to convey to Pixie. Riez flew back up to the window and instructed Pixie in soft hushed whispers. Pixie's eyes glowed as she listened attentively.

That afternoon, as soon as Plexine awoke, she went straight for the dungeon. "I'm hungry!", she moaned. "Be you skinny or be you fat, I'll have you for tea you little brat!", Plexine exclaimed. "Now how shall I kill you?", Plexine asked Pixie rhetorically.

"Shall I boil you in frog's blood...or shall I bake you into Pixie pie?", Plexine continued. "You can boil me or bake me so long as you don't drown me in that crystal blue waters surrounding your castle!", Pixie rebutted.

"Shall I burn you on a skewer...or shall i just let my lovely dog with three heads just savour your pixie meat?" went Plexine. "You can skewer me or feed me to your dogs with knives for teeth so long as you don't drown me in that crystal blue waters surrounding your castle!", Pixie rebutted.

"Well you seem pretty afraid of drowning don't you. Maybe I shall just do that to spike you!", Plexine laughed and dragged Pixie out of the dungeon. She draggeed Pixie out into the garden and toward the crystal blue waters. Like the night before, Plexine gave Pixie a hard kick into the water and Pixie sank and sank and sank deep into the river as Plexine chuckled to herself.

Now Plexine was not very smart for Pixie, like all gnomes were indeed brilliant swimmers! In an instant, Pixie swam like a dolphin toward the other side. Furious beyond imagination at the thought of being tricked by a little gnome, Plexine transformed into a hungry shark with razors for teeth and swam after Pixie!

SNAP! SNAP! when her razor teeth as she bit of the fur off Pixie's cute buttom. Pixie swam harder as she was nearly there. She saw Yvein waiting for her on the far bank and sprang out and tossed the hand mirror in the air.

In one swift motion, Yvein pulled Pixie out and grabbed the mirror with his other hand and mumbled some magic before tossing the mirror hard into the crystal blue waters! Just as Yvein thought, it was indeed a Fairy Princess's mirror! And Fairy Princesses mirror had good magic in it.

The mirror caused the crystal blue waters to solidify into real hard crystals, trapping the shark, which was really Plexine in disguise beneath it. Plexine remained motionless as she froze under the crystals.

Pixie breathed a huge sigh of relief before hugging Yvein tightly. "You look strange for a gnome", exclaimed Pixie. "Who are you and where are you from?", she asked. "Thank you!", she exclaimed almost forgetting to thank her saviour as she pecked Yvein on his rosy cheek. Yvein blushed and wiped his cheek with the back of his hand as his face grimaced in embarrassment.

"I'm Yvein from a nearby village. Do you know your way home?", Yvein asked. "Not really. Im really lost", Pixie replied. "Well let me take you home then. But first, we need to break the spell that Plexine has casted on all those enchanted animals in her castle", exclaimed Yvein as he trotted forward.

"But I'm tired!",Pixie heaved to herself as she trailed not far behind and a whole new adventure awaits them...only they do not know it yet!