The Fairy Flu – Flash Fiction

For something different, here’s a flash fiction piece I wrote a little while ago. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A sick fairy needs her powers to save the princess’s unborn child.

 

“Urgh, let me sleep,” Emerald moaned as she rolled over in her tiny bed. “The queen will have to do without me.” She’d been sick for more than a week. It started with loss of her powers, but progressed to a dreadful sneezing, coughing, and upset stomach event. It took three weeks for her mother to get better. Emerald didn’t know how she’d make it that long, but knew she needed to sleep. The kingdom needed her — the princess’s baby was due any day now and as the kingdom’s only fairy godmother, Emerald was the only one able to protect the child.

Emerald squinted at Braden’s massive blue eye peering inside her miniature home. His voice was deep and slow. Emerald struggled to understand him when she was standard fairy size, but she couldn’t enlarge now — she’d need her powers for that. “She won’t understand. The princess is due with the baby any day now and she needs you beside them. The baby will need your protection,”

Emerald coughed and coughed again until her stomach muscles ached. She should have known not to bring her mother that thimble of chicken soup. “Tell them I don’t want to get them sick.”

“She knows it’s only contagious amongst fairies.”

“Tell her I’ll come tomorrow. Tell her anything — I can’t get out of bed.”

Brayden left with the message, and Emerald slipped beneath her silk blanket and dwelled on failing her duties. Eventually, she fell back to sleep.

It didn’t seem like much time had passed when Brayden shook Emerald’s house to wake her. “She still wants you.”

Emerald tried to focus on his words, but all she noticed was her sweat-soaked sheets; her fever must be breaking.

Brayden continued, “She says you should just wish away your sickness. Like you do for the humans.”

If she could have, she would have done that already. “Doesn’t she know my powers are blocked and fairies cannot cure other fairies illnesses?” Emerald forced her eyes open.

“Yes, but Obsidian is here.”

Her stomach turned. “I’m still not going.” Emerald pushed the thoughts of her childhood with Obsidian away. They had always competed for everything: the best test scores in magic academy, the most human friends, the better control of their magic, and the best jobs. Obsidian always won until Emerald secured her position as fairy godmother.

He looked at her with huge focused eyes. “Despite how you feel, you promised to protect them. Obsidian threatens the unborn child.”

Emerald dragged herself up on her elbows, careful not to twist her wings. “He has no power over the baby until birth. Why’s he here now?”

“He’s come to demand your spot in the castle. He says if they don’t give it to him, he’ll come back and curse the baby.”

One of Emerald’s duties was putting a protection spell on each member of the kingdom. A spell to make them immune to dark magic, Obsidian’s magic. The baby was vulnerable until she could fulfill this duty. As the only fairy tied to the royal family, she was the only one who could cast this spell. She hoped her sickness would go away in time.

With a sigh, Emerald staggered onto Brayden’s hand and allowed him to carry her into the royal sitting room. Here wings were useless as they needed magic to fly. The queen stood under the large window and the pregnant princess sat in a velvet chair in front of the fire. Obsidian leaned against the doorway, with a smirk he displayed when he was up to something.

“You’re looking as beautiful as ever,” Obsidian said to her. She glared in return, not bothering to smooth out her frazzled sweat-soaked hair, though she found the energy to clench her fists. It was hard to work against dark magic. Today though, she wouldn’t allow him to have the upper hand, even if she was ill.

“You will never get my spot in the castle,” Emerald vowed. “You may have always outdone me, but not this time.”

Obsidian shrunk to fairy size and joined her on Brayden’s hand, whispering so the others couldn’t hear. “Oh, I intend to. When the baby comes in a few days, I’ll have taken your spot. I understand you are a little under the weather.”

Emerald’s nose tickled. She wrinkled it and sniffed, but she couldn’t hold back. Obsidian’s eyes widened as he took a step back. Just then, Emerald had the perfect idea and let her sneeze escape, aimed right at Obsidian – spraying germs all over his face. “Forgive me,” she said with a smile.

Obsidian wiped his face dry before scowl waltzed across his face.

Emerald strengthened her voice and spoke with commitment. “I don’t think you’ll feel well enough next week for a curse.”

Obsidian huffed and stretched out his black wings, flying out of the castle window.

Emerald collapsed in Brayden’s hand. “I’m ready now, please take me back to bed.”

The End

I hope this brought you some entertainment!