Such Impish Behavior

Mythological Dictionary:1

Fairy: Winged creature the size of a large butterfly with a striking resemblance to everyday flowers. Can create new life by placing their tiny hands upon the earth and releasing a surge of ethereal magic through their palms. Also listen to the whispers of mortal men and grant them non-profitable wishes to help them out of disaster.2

Imp: Also referred to as Leprechaun, Dwarf, Troll and Goblin, Imps are the same size as a fairy but with entirely different morals. They are bad to the bone and can be identified by their tall, spiky black hair and malicious red eyes. They dress in spiderwebs and dewdrops and live underground. They are not to be trusted.3

Witch: The high priestess of all that is and all that will follow. Specializes in potions and incantations that help those few that ask her favour. She is a mutual woman, refusing to take a side between Imp and Fairy and her beauty has no comparison. She enjoys sitting on rocks set within the ocean and singing until her heart's content. Her name is Siren.4

And so, the story begins...5

It was common knowledge that fairies and imps just didn't get along. Fairies were bringers of peace and harmony, determined to keep the natural order of things in a constant balance or rotation. They would bring life to that which had been lost and would even smile upon the less fortunate, bestowing the slightest whim of hope and dream. Imps, of course, were...devious by nature.6

In a matter of moments they would have undone a fairy's entire day of work - breaking, tearing, ripping, stomping – as unreasonable destruction was their way of life. I suppose humanity would refer to them as good and bad luck, simply in tiny, 3 dimensional form. Being such ancient and secretive creatures, paintings and whispered fairytales was the closest thing humans were ever going to get, to the knowledge of a mythological species.7

So after many years of relentless feuding and open fire, the royal families of each side decided to sign a treaty. In an act of good faith that the two could coexist peacefully, the first born child of each was to be engaged and wedded to the other. Needless to say, the Princess of Fairies and Prince of Imps were none too pleased with the latest crackpot scheme of their parents. Not that they had a say in the matter. It was either follow your duties or be disowned, and neither option was too pleasant. Swallowing their pride, they agreed to marry and unite the two kingdoms as a whole. But with great reluctance.8

“I don't like you,” the princess muttered under her breath at the dinner table.9

“Go figure. The feeling's mutual you stupid sprite,” whispered the prince, kicking his bride to be in the shins. 10

“Ouch!”11

It was the night before they were to join in holy matrimony and Princess Mia felt sick to her stomach. She couldn't believe the predicament she had been forced to endure. It was disgraceful. Married to an imp? How horrid.12

They sat beneath the cover of a mighty oak tree, surrounded by fireflies as dusk gave way to blackness. Their parents had forced them to spend the night together and had several guards perched aloft just to be certain that everything went according to plan. But Mia wouldn't let it. She had friends in high places, and knew exactly how to turn her situation right around. 13

Murder was strictly forbidden by fairy law, but of course, she wasn't the one who'd be getting her hands dirty. All she had to do was slip a drop or two of a particular mixture into his drink and BAM! She was free, single and happy once again. Nobody would suspect a thing, in theory.14

Early the next morning, the twisted princess left the cover of her precious rain forest, in search for the high priestess, Siren. The woman wasn't hard to find. She was lying peacefully on the beach, soaking up the sun's rays in evident pleasure.15

“Morning princess,” she said casually. “What brings you to my cove today? Business? Or perhaps a social visit for a change?”16

“Afraid not, my friend. I require something from you. Poison, actually.” The ancient goddess lifted herself up, curiosity swimming in her emerald eyes. Her ragged dress and strawberry blond hair swayed in the wind, as an uncomfortable silence filled the negative space between them.17

“Very well,” she responded uncertainly. “Let me see what I can rustle up.”18

Flying home, Mia barely noticed the strange sensation that was creeping through her system; she was far too concerned with her ultimate, selfish goal. The goal that would set her free.19

Pouring the poison into her fiancé's drink, she called him for a toast. Hesitant at first, the prince ended up ignoring his paranoia and drinking it with an appreciative smile. That simple gesture was enough to make the princess laugh with menacing glee. As the poor imp began to choke and splutter, the two royal families rushed over to see what was going on. 20

For some reason, the horror in their eyes only proved more of an incentive to make him suffer. Placing her foot sharply over his throat, the princess hissed spitefully in his ear, “til death do us part, right honey?”21

Her father was so disgusted that he banished his daughter to the far reaches of his land, where she could bother nobody with her monstrous actions again. The two species returned to war and violence and Mia couldn't have been happier. Glancing at her reflection as she passed by a rather large puddle of water, she was impressed to discover it wasn't only her personality that had changed. Her hair was tall, black and spiky and her eyes were a brilliant red. I guess that was her punishment for such impish behavior. She became that which she despised the most, and couldn't have enjoyed it more. What a stupid fairy.22