From Litterbug to Lovebug

I didn’t participate in any of the NYC Midnight challenges last year, mainly because when I checked the schedule for each one I might have participated in, the schedule overlapped a vacation time. I knew I wouldn’t be able to write something and hand it in when I was floating around the middle of the Caribbean on a cruise. The other challenges had similar issues, so I didn’t sign up.

This year, I saw that…yay! I could manage the scheduling of, at least, the Short Story Challenge. So I signed up, and was excited that a new(ish) co-worker of mine, who writes, signed up as well. We could cheer each other on!

The Short Story Challenge is the first NYC Midnight contest I entered a few years ago. I didn’t make it past first round. Honestly? I don’t think I’ll get past first round in this one either. When I got the prompts, at first I thought it would be easy. They weren’t particularly hard. It was a genre I’ve written before, and I thought the subject and character would be easy enough to incorporate.

I was so so wrong.

I struggled a lot with this one. I wanted to try something different with the character. Not something everyone in the group would go to. Stand out, so to speak. And, it made sense to me and I liked the concept, I just couldn’t think of a way to end it. So it feels rushed and off-kilter to me.

I don’t know. My friends who read it before I turned it in and Matt all liked it. I just hope it’s good enough to keep going. The challenge is fun and I’d like to get further than I did!

Genre: Fantasy
Subject: Summertime
Character: Litterbug

Eight days to write 2500 words. Enjoy? I hope!

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From Litterbug to Lovebug

In a forgotten valley far north of any substantial city, lay a small village, protected by rolling hills and sheltered from the worst of the weather. It was a happy village, full of plain, simple people who enjoyed their quiet and uneventful lives as the world turned slowly through the seasons.

This sleepy village, Wolfshaven, was a village where nothing out of the ordinary happened. The years plodded on as years do. People in the village grew up, grew old, and passed on to new generations who began the cycle anew. The most excitement the village had seen in ten years was the day Mr. Smith’s cow got stuck in the mud.

The villagers attributed their idyllic life to the protection of their fairy clan. All villages had a fairy clan, but some villages had good fairy clans, and some had bad fairy clans. Wolfshaven had a wonderful fairy clan.

The fairies in charge of the safety and well-being of Wolfshaven were ruled by their Fairy Queen, a lovely fae who looked as young as a child despite having taken the throne nearly a century before our story.  

The Wolfshaven Fairy Queen was a no-nonsense and categorical being, with a good head on her shoulders. When she took over the clan, she instituted new processes and procedures to make the care and protection of the Village of Wolfshaven more efficient and fair.

She was also a whimsical sort, and when she divided the jobs necessary for her fairies, she named them after the little insects so beloved by her kind. All fairies could do any spell, but when the Queen was a princess, she observed that many of the undesirable jobs were left for last. The fairies employed by the former Queen would do the jobs, but some were always left for last. Specifically the clean-up jobs.

So, the Queen initiated changes, the first of which was to establish that fairies would be assigned a role. The nicer roles were reserved for the elder fairies and the less nice ones were reserved for younger fairies or those on disciplinary duty. One could work their way up by doing their current role well.

Tumblebug Fairies took care of the well-being of the village children. Potatobug Fairies oversaw crops and harvests. Bedbug Fairies assured sweet dreams and restful sleep. Firebug Fairies were responsible for hearth and home. Ladybug Fairies attended the Queen. And so on.

One of the lowest positions, before being cast out and becoming a Bugaboo Fairy, was the Litterbug Fairy. These fairies were responsible for the cleanliness of the village. It was dirty work, even with magic spells, but it was the starting point for all young fairies. None of them liked the work, but all of them did it with the same faith and determination for excellence that all fairies possessed.

Other than being a Ladybug to the Queen, the most highly favored position was that of the Lovebugs. 

Lovebugs were in charge of the romance and love that ran rampant in even the most ordinary of villages. Wolfshaven was no exception. Though plain and nondescript people with little excitement in their lives, they were still human, and lived and loved with all their heart and soul. This was helped by the Lovebugs, who listened to petitions and accepted offerings to weave magic spells that sparked love between hopeful villagers one and all.

The system worked rather well and life moved on through the years with content fairies and, most importantly, content villagers. The fairies took good care of their humans, and the humans in turn provided proper offerings to keep their fairies happy.

It was midsummer when tragedy occurred. The river was low from a temporary drought, a common occurrence this far into the season when the sun scorched, temperatures soared, and breezes didn’t visit the sheltered valley. Heat hung over the village like a see-through woolen blanket and humans, animals, and fairies alike lounged around in lethargic poses in any shaded and relatively cool place they could find.

The last thing on anyone’s mind would be an errant fairy! It was too hot for fairies to be up to mischief. The idea of a fairy doing bad was shocking enough, but to perform any sort of wrongdoing when the sun was relentlessly baking crops and villagers was unheard of! It must be heat madness!

It was with supreme irritation and grumpiness from being roused from their drowsy states, that the fairies were all summoned to the Queen’s Clearing. The irritation soon cleared in favor of astonishment. For the first time in any of their memories, the Queen had called a trial.

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“The Trial of Lala Evergreen versus the Fairy Realm of Wolfshaven will now begin.”

The booming statement rang throughout the Queen’s glade, tucked between a circle of ancient elms, shading the gathering from the harsh summer sun, though the trees did nothing to encourage errant breezes to cool the trial attendants. Fairy wings fluttered among the mushrooms, fanning a slight relief to flushed and sweaty faces. 

A few curious woodland creatures roused themselves from their shaded naps to attend the momentous occasion. A fox, two squirrels, a family of chipmunks, and an assortment of birds took their places on the edges of the clearing and on tree branches to watch.

With a dignified air, the Queen sat on the top of a tree root, gavel in hand and dressed in dark robes. Silvery hair was pulled back into a severe bun that forced her facial features into a stern expression.

In front of the root, atop a large mushroom, sat the accused. A lavender-haired beauty with a sweet and earnest expression. Her hair tumbled in waves between her wings, which dared not to move as she awaited the trial to begin, sitting demurely with her delicate hands folded on her lap.

The Queen nodded to the Ladybug drafted to act as bailiff for the trial. Fairy trials were rare, so there were no official court fairies and the Queen’s Ladybugs were called in to provide the court services as required. None of them enjoyed it.

“Lala Evergreen, you are accused of neglection of duty, as well as obstruction of the duty of another fairy. How do you plead?”

“Not guilty.”

A wave of titters rose through the assembled fairies. “Silence!” The clear voice of the bailiff echoed through the glade, sending the birds into a fit of chirps until the addition of a glare from the Queen cut off their noise.

When a hush settled over the crowd much like the heat of mid-day did, the Ladybug serving as prosecutor turned to speak to the masses. “Lala Evergreen did, on the fourth day of the moon waning, place the spell of love on the human Jacob Cooper. Jacob was scheduled to have the spell applied the following day by Lovebug Fata Clearwater. Jacob’s parents petitioned our Queen, with requests and gifts, to use fairy power to encourage Jacob to fall in love with Mary Wheelwright. Litterbug Evergreen made him fall in love with Anna Masters.”

“Litterbug Evergreen,” the Queen said, sending a stern glance down at Lala. “Please explain.”

“I am sorry, your majesty, but I thought it better that Jacob fall in love with Anna, rather than Mary.”

“And why is that?”

“Anna is already in love with Jacob. Mary is not interested,” Lala replied in a calm tone.

“That’s what the fairy spells are for,” the Queen responded in exasperation.

“Jacob and Mary would be unhappy, your honor. I know Anna would make him happy.”

“You are not a Lovebug, child. Nor are you the Queen. You have no opinion on such matters!”

“My opinion should be just as important as yours!”

Gasps sounded among the fairies. The wise, old Firebugs clutched at their chests. The other Lovebugs scoffed, offering up protests to the crowd at the presumption of the Litterbug. 

“How dare you think you are equal to me!” the Queen admonished.

“I do not think I am equal,” Lala said, lifting a hand. “I am merely saying I had knowledge that led me to my opinion. Knowledge of which your Majesty may not have been aware.”

“What knowledge do you possess?”

“While disposing of litter,” she said, making a disgusted face, “I found letters written by Anna about her love for Jacob. They are sincere and earnest, and I think she will make him happy.”

“His parents wish for a union with Mary!”

“Anna loves him!”

“Love has nothing to do with marriage!”

“Then why must we force mortals into love to enter the bonds of marriage?”

The statement sent another twitter through the assembly. The birds whistled in amusement and the chipmunks chittered excitedly. No one ever dares speak back to the Queen! 

The Queen’s face pinched and sweat broke out on her perfect forehead – not from the oppressive heat, but from the nerve of this presumptuous child. “Nevertheless, it was not your place to cast an unapproved spell on a human!” 

“But, they are happy now!” Lala protested.

“Their parents are furious!” raged the Queen. “I accepted the gifts given to us in exchange for the spells. I instructed my most trusted Lovebug to enact the spell. You interfered, child.” The Queen took a deep breath, retrieving some semblance of dignity after her outburst. “If you had a concern, you should have brought it to me, instead of taking it upon yourself. You are a Litterbug and should concentrate on those duties. Not the duties of a Lovebug.”

“Litterbug duty is so distasteful!”

“It is a necessity. None of us like to do it. Just as none of us like to be Humbugs. Yet, the happiness of our village depends on all of the fairies following their obligations. When we fail, the village fails.”

“Have you ever done Litterbug duty, your Majesty? It is filthy work. Worse in the midst of summer. I’m constantly hot and dirty, covered in refuse and sweat. Cleaning anything in this heat is exhausting, especially as the drought has kicked up dirt and dust. I am constantly behind. We are constantly behind,” Lala added, gesturing at the limp-winged, baggy-eyed Litterbugs there to support her.

“I understand that the work is hard and dirty, but we all must start somewhere. With diligence, you may have worked your way up to the status of Lovebug, or another more desirable role. With this example of irresponsibility, you’ve set yourself back tenfold.”

Lala dropped her head into her hands, sobbing. “I-I j-just wanted to do what was r-right,” she stuttered out.

“What you thought was right has put doubt in the villagers’ minds. How can they trust us after such a big mistake? It will take years to set this right.”

Suddenly, the ears of all the woodland creatures gathered to watch perked up, their eyes alert. A crashing sound in the distance scattered them, all except for the birds safe on the perches in the trees. They did send up a cacophony of birdsong, chirping to each other that a human approached. The fairies were in an uproar.

“Be calm, my children! Please be calm!” the Queen shouted, pounding her gavel on the tree root she sat upon.

Her calls did little to quiet the assembled crowd as the noise drew near. After a moment, a human female appeared between two of the elms. In a day of surprises, this topped them all. Never had a villager invaded the realm of the fae, and the Queen knew not what to do.

“Mary Wheelwright!” Lala exclaimed, hopping off her mushroom.  

“Sorry to interrupt, your Majesty,” Mary, a rosy-cheeked young lady with curly yellow hair, hanging limply from the heat, said. “I heard that you had put one of your fairies on trial.”

Drawing herself to her feet, balancing on the tree root, the Queen spoke, “That is true, Mary Wheelwright.”

“I am afraid this is my fault,” the girl said, wringing her hands before her as she seemed to fill the glade with her sheer size. “Please hear me out.”

The Queen could hardly refuse the request. “Speak if you must, child,” she said, gesturing to the expectant fairies as she looked up at the human girl.  

“I know my parents did ask for a love spell, but the truth is, your Majesty, I could not bear to think of Jacob falling under it. While Jacob is a fine young man and shall make a good husband, I knew Anna was already in love with him.”

“I know that, now,” the Queen replied. “However, your parents…”

“Yes, but your Majesty, you see, I am already in love with another. My parents do not know this, but we were planning on speaking to them soon. I found out about the spell and had to act quickly. Anna conspired with me, hoping her letters would be found.”

“You wish to go against your parents?”

“So many people would be unhappy, your Majesty, if the spell were cast. Anna will make Jacob a fine wife, and John shall be a good husband. Please, do not punish a good deed. Anna and I promise to make it up to you with gifts and offerings, and we shall make sure our parents and the village know this was the desired outcome.”

The Queen gazed up at the girl with a thoughtful expression. She was a good-hearted Queen and sympathized with both Mary and Lala. She knew Lala had the best intentions in her heart, and seemed to have averted a disaster that would have made four of their villagers unhappy. However, Lala did break the rules.

“Thank you for coming to speak to me, Mary. I’ll take your words under consideration.” With a flutter of her wings, the Queen floated down from her lofty position to land gracefully in front of Lala, who dipped into a respectful curtsy. “You must still be punished for your transgressions, Lala Evergreen, but your punishment will be lessened. You are removed from Litterbug duty and placed on Humbug duty until further notice.”

Lala curtsied again, keeping her expression humble and meek, though inside she was thrilled. Humbug wasn’t ideal, but it was less hot and dirty than Litterbug. Now she would be helping sad and negative people in the village feel better, and that was a nobler duty in her mind than dusting shelves in a sweltering home.

Mary was happy. The other fairies were happy. Lala was happy. The Queen was happy. It took some sweet talking, but the young people convinced their parents that this was for the best. The fairies were forgiven, and peace and tranquility returned to the unassuming village.

And it was that many years later, newly appointed Lovebug, Lala Evergreen, did have the honor of casting her first official love spell on the son of Anna and Jacob Cooper to fall in love with the daughter of John and Mary Taylor.