The Good Man

You may have heard stories of fairies and elves,

Of wizards and goblins and dragons themselves.

Where do they go when their fairy tale's ended,

When the princess is saved and the witches have melted.

That is my story which no one has heard,

My story when the creatures are headed homeward.

There's a place in the forest, so deep, and so dark,

At the start of this place there is a landmark.

There once was a legend alone

A man whose existence has never been known

He only was known to the creatures of mystery

He himself created a place full of beauty

These words were engraved on the same stone

That is watched my a tree that send shivers to your bone.

It's voice is a groan that makes your skin white,

It's job is to send you running with all your might.

This very strange guardian is guarding a secret,

One that no one has known let alone even seek it.

This secret is a river, so beautiful so rare,

Nobody's known it let alone go there.

The only ones who know about it are the fairy tale folk,

They live there you see. No, this is no joke!

Each time fairy tale is read in a story time book

The characters venter out and cross the babbling brook.

They go play the part, yes all of them do.

Then go home as soon as their through.

This place was made by the man the stone said,

And now the elves are safe in their bed.

There was this one fairy who hated his good doings,

Her hatred, her evil, she would just keep on doing her own wrongdoings.

Fairy of Hatred was how she was known,

She hated most everything right down to the bone.

One day Fairy Hatey (the name was also something she hated),

She saw some elf children playing in a yard which was gated.

She passed through the gate and asked a small child,

"Why is it that you aren't mean, or wicked, or wild?"

"Why do you play so nicely and not hate one another?

Why do you love each sister and brother?"

Then the girl looked up at Fairy Hatey and said with a smile,

"The man on the stone taught us everything we know though he's been gone for a long while."

"His teaching were good and his words were wise."

The young elf said with such loving eyes.

"And because he made us this beautiful place,

We keep his words true and run fair in each race."

Fairy Hatey thought hard about what the young elf said,

As she walked away slowly shaking her head.

right at that moment she saw Goldilocks and the Three Bears,

The family of bears were apologizing for giving her scares.

Each time they play the story they give her a fright,

And again apologize later that night.

Puzzled Fairy Hatey went to the river,

And sat down where the banks of the water got more thinner.

She looked in the forest, so big and so dark,

She saw an old tree with moss on it's bark.

All at once the tree moved, all at once it spoke,

Before it was silent and the that silence broke.

"Well," the tree said, "I see you're quite puzzled, so may I ask why?"

The fairy glanced at the village and back at the tree and let out a small sigh.

"Why do elf children play so nicely? Why do bears apologize for scaring little girls?"

Why are nice fairies so nice?" She asked the tree who had the patience of pearls.

"That's all The Good Man's doings," The old tree said with a nod,

"Let me tell you the story of our God."

"Once long ago, there lived The Good Man. Every day he would look down on our world and watch his people. One day he looked not on his own usual land but on a forest. This forest was invisible to everyone except The Good Man. And inside this forest was the fairy tale creatures of legend. They lived in huts that couldn't stand much. The Good Man took pity on them and built them a home.He found a river built their beautiful home there. 

The fairy tale folk didn't know of this until one day The Good Man called them to follow him.

The invisibility wore down to just the river and village now but they are happy and safe."

"But why did he do this?" Said the fairy, "I don't understand.

Why did he create the this by hand?"

"Because he loved them." Said the twisted old tree, 

"He still loves all creatures." It said to Fairy Hatey.

"There is another part of the story to tell."

The fairy looked up at the tree and said "Very well."

"While the fairy tale people were exploring this land, they discovered gems in the river and asked The Good Man 'What are they for?' 

'They are so you can feel like kings and queens when you look in the water, and find the richness of nature all around you.' He replied to them. 

Again they went around glancing in each house and playing in the yard. When they came to the village's garden, 'Oh my!' was heard. What a garden it was! In the paradise of a garden there were the most rare and beautiful flowers. 'These flowers can only be found here.' Said The Good Man. 'I planted them here so you can enjoy nature. Now I want you to take very good care of it. Can you do this?' He asked them. 

'O yes!' was the reply from them all, 'Thank you!' they chorused. The Good Man smiled. 'Good. Now I shall go.' Said he, then when he saw their sad faces he said 'But I will be back soon, don't you worry.' In a slightly happier mood the fairy tale folk followed him out. 

When he was gone an evil fairy paid a visit to the village. Frightened  the fairy tale people took refuge in their homes. 'Humph!' said she when even the spiders were hiding. 'Won't anyone come out and greet me?' She said in her sarcastic tone. A fairy came out and said to the other, 'Before The Good Man left he said this: "Before I go I want each of you to make me a promise, I want you to obey each command that I say. 

Be good to one another and be kind,

Be nice to those who might have something harmful in mind. 

Be kind to those who might steal your good riches,

The wicked, the ogres, and also those witches.

I say this because someday 

You will be repaid for you good way.

Many years from now a wicked fairy'll come through

Wondering why you do what you do.

She'll be the most kind after she'll hear our tale a tree will tell,

And now to you all I say Farewell."

The old fairy was touched by this story and she went away feeling funny. 

When the tree had finished it's tale it took a deep sigh, 

"I'm going to be fairy and be kind, or at least I'll try.

Fairy Hatey then said,

Besides wickedness is all in my head.

She looked at the village, the garden and the river,

Then back to the tree which took it's still shape with not even a shiver.

"Thank you." She said to the tree with great fondness,

Then she went to the village to share a great kindness.

From that day on she wasn't known as  Fairy Hatey any more,

But as Fairy Candy as she was sweet right down to her core.

              BY AVÉ