Pilf – The Imaginer!
Copyright 2011 T.D.Green
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Chapter One
Pixie Elder and all the pixie families were gathered together on one side of the garden of Tree Stump Cottage, as Elf Elder and all the elf families were gathered together on the other side of the garden. Both the pixie and the elf families were standing there waiting for some important news to be announced that beautiful summer morning. And everyone waiting there, waited in silence ...
As the sun's face shone bright and happy from a pale blue sky, the silence was broken only by the sound of a nearby winding stream as it gently meandered its way through the Enchanted Forest. Tinkle-tinkle-splash, tinkle-tinkle-splash.
All the creatures of Enchanted Forest had gathered around Tree Stump Cottage also, and they too, were waiting to hear the important news.
Quill Hedgehog was as grumpy as ever, and he did not like having to wait for anything. “Hummm ... I do not like waiting! I really don’t like having to wait!”
Stag Deer heard Quill Hedgehog complain. “Hush now, Quill Hedgehog! Do hush! You’re always complaining about something!”
But Quill Hedgehog couldn’t help himself, he just had to complain once more. “We’re going to hear bad news today ... I just know we are!” he blurted out. He was about to complain some more, but he didn’t get the chance.
The inside of Tree Stump Cottage suddenly lit up with the whitest of white light, shining brightly through the windows, and the keyhole, and out through the top of the chimney! Then just a few moments later, from inside the cottage, there came the sound of a very loud pop!, with the white light vanishing at that very instant. And it was a moment of great joy and happiness for all gathered there, for they knew that the white light and the popping sound meant that a baby had been born that morning, and they all cheered loudly “Hoorah! Hoorah!”
Chapter Two
The door of Tree Stump Cottage slowly opened. Midwife Maisy, the oldest, the wisest, the kindliest woman of Enchanted Forest stood in the open doorway. She had a very disappointed look on her wrinkled face.
Quill Hedgehog couldn’t help but blurt out aloud, “I said we’d hear bad news today! I did! I told you so!” And he was right, bad news was coming ...
Midwife Maisy took a deep breath, then let go a long, sad sigh before speaking. “As you all know, a baby was born today at Tree Stump Cottage ... a Pilf baby!” And indeed the news was very bad, because everyone knew that a pixie and an elf had kissed and had magically created a Pilf baby - and that is forbidden! And all also knew, that a Pilf baby meant only one thing - bad luck would come to their wonderful Enchanted Forest!
The pixie and the elf families looked across at one another, each wanting to put the blame on the other side.
“I blame the elf families for this!” shouted Pixie Elder, annoyed.
Elf Elder instantly replied back, “Oh no! I blame the pixie families! They’re always doing something like this! Shame on them!”
But the argument over who was to blame soon came to a halt as dark clouds began to fill the sky, which quickly silenced the raised voices. The meandering stream’s tinkle-tinkle-splash also fell silent. Everyone knew that this silence was a sign that the Forest Guardian was about to speak ...
“An Enchanted Forest law has been broken!” boomed the deep and echoing voice of the invisible Forest Guardian. “A pixie and an elf have kissed and have created a Pilf, and that is forbidden! The Pilf will surely bring bad luck upon the forest in the years to come!” The voice of the Forest Guardian paused for a long moment before speaking out once more. “The Pilf baby is a boy, and he shall be named Pilf! The law of the Enchanted Forest requires that Pilf shall live with Midwife Maisy at Tree Stump Cottage until he is old enough to be sent far, far away from the forest - never to return!” And the voice of the Forest Guardian fell silent.
The dark clouds rolled away to reveal the beautiful summer sky once again. The meandering stream once more began to make its sound ... tinkle-tinkle-splash!
With great disappointment in their hearts, the pixie and elf families started to leave the garden of Tree Stump Cottage. All the creatures began to leave also, saddened by the news of the birth of the Pilf baby boy.
Alas, Quill Hedgehog had been right for the first time in his life. And strangely enough, though he should've been excited at being correct, his face appeared quite sad and troubled.
Perhaps being right wasn't as thrilling as he'd quite expected …
Chapter Three
It was the day of Pilf's 10th birthday, and Midwife Maisy had made him a special chocolate cake, topped with 10 lit candles. But Pilf had no friends to share the cake with, he had been ignored by all in the Enchanted Forest, and only he and Midwife Maisy sat at the table in Tree Stump Cottage.
“Happy birthday, Pilf!” Midwife Maisy said merrily. “Come on now, blow out those candles, it's time to eat the cake!”
Pilf looked quite sad with himself. “I wish had a friend to share my cake with, Midwife Maisy ... that would be nice.” And he let go a lingering sigh.
“I've heard it said, Pilf, that if you wish hard enough for something you really want, then that wish will come true!”
Pilf just couldn't bring himself to believe that wishing hard for something would make it come true. “Wishes don’t come true for me, they never have. I know it because I only bring bad luck to people and places.” And he sighed again.
“That's not true, Pilf,” replied Midwife Maisy, “there’s never been a single case of bad luck in the Enchanted Forest. Well, not that I’m aware of ...”
“Yes there has. Hooty Owls home was ruined only last week, and Missy Spider’s the day before. Everyone blamed me, I heard them say so.”
Midwife Maisy laughed to herself for a moment. “Pilf, it wasn’t you that ruined Hooty Owl’s home, or Missy Spider’s ... it was the harsh wind that blew last week that ruined them!” And she laughed again.
“If you say so, Midwife Maisy. I believe you.”
“Now blow out those candles - but don’t forget to make a wish!”
Pilf blew out the candles and soon they were both enjoying the chocolate cake.
Some minutes later there came a loud knock at the door of Tree Stump Cottage. Midwife Maisy went to see who it was.
Chapter Four
Standing outside the front door was a very breathless Harry Hare, who had come bounding out of the Enchanted Forest to bring some news to Midwife Maisy. He puffed and panted as he announced, “Midwife Maisy ... come quickly! There’s a Forest Eater ... and it’s eating everything in the forest!” And he stopped to a take a deep breath before adding, “The pixie and elf magic isn’t working! Nothing can stop the Forest Eater! We’re all doomed!” And without another word, he turned and bounded off into the forest.
Midwife Maisy looked ever so alarmed at this news and couldn’t believe that pixie and elf magic hadn’t worked - because it should have!
Pilf came to the door and stood beside Midwife Maisy. “What’s happening?”
“A Forest Eater is eating the Enchanted Forest, Pilf,” she replied. “Pixie and elf magic isn’t working, and I don’t understand why ...”
“Is
there any magic that will work?” Pilf asked.
“No, pixie and elf magic together is the strongest magic there is!” And that was true, no other magic was more powerful.
“I have to join my friends and try to help them and the Enchanted Forest,” she exclaimed, looking extremely worried now.
“Can I come and help too?”
“Yes, Pilf, you come too.”
Together, hand in hand, they left Tree Stump Cottage behind, making straight to where the Forest Eater was eating.
Chapter Five
Some minutes later Midwife Maisy and Pilf arrived at the place in the forest where the Forest Eater was eating - and it wasn’t a pretty sight! They both stood there watching the huge, ugly, hairy monster devouring all in its path. The pixie and elf people were there watching too, their combined magic useless against the huge monster. And it appeared that the Enchanted Forest would soon be lost and gone forever ...
Suddenly, without fearing for his safety, Pilf ran towards the Forest Eater and came to a halt in front of it. He stared up at the ugly monster, closed his eyes and began to wish for it to be gone. Harder and harder, he wished. He imagined that the Forest Eater was gone, and the Enchanted Forest was safe again. Harder still he imagined. Still harder ...
Some seconds later a huge cheer erupted from the pixie and the elf people as they were all suddenly thrilled and excited at the very same moment. The creatures of the forest were excited also, and coos, and squawks, and stamping hooves filled the air.
And the cheering continued.
Pilf opened his eyes and was astonished to see that the Forest Eater had vanished and was nowhere to be seen, which made him sigh out loud with great relief! He turned and his eyes were met with a sea of happy smiling faces - and the smiling faces were looking right at him! Pilf realised at that very moment that it was his magical imagination which had saved the Enchanted Forest, and for the first time in his life he felt happy inside.
A young pixie girl called out to Pilf. “Pilf, you are my hero! You saved us all! Will you be my friend?” And soon everyone gathered there was shouting for Pilf to be their friend. Even the creatures of the forest wanted to be friends with him. Pilf was so overcome with happiness, that tears started to roll down his cheeks as he laughed out aloud for the first time ever.
Back in the garden of Tree Stump Cottage that very same night, Pilf was enjoying the best birthday party he had ever known. Both the pixie and elf families were there, and all the creatures, and they were all enjoying being together. Pilf was the happiest person there though, for the Forest Guardian had announced earlier that day that Pilf was indeed a hero, and that he was needed here and would not be sent away. After all, Pilf the Imaginer had very special magic, and that magic was needed in the Enchanted Forest.
Dreams do come true, if you wish hard enough....
The End.