The True Hero

Mabel spends her time drawing in the sketchbook that she keeps close at hand in the messenger bag that is always slung across her shoulder. Her well-worn bag also keeps her best-colored pencils, a compass, glittery lip-gloss, and an old bird identification book given to her by her Pops. On her wrist is a paracord bracelet with a whistle built into the clasp next to a silver bracelet with the word ‘brave’ engraved on it. The ‘e’ is faded from Mabel running her fingers over it to remind herself that she can be brave, even when feels so scared.

The rain tapped on her window as she mindlessly pets her lop-eared bunny, named Zippy. Her fingers swirled figure eights in the thick fur as she contemplated how to beat the boredom of being stuck inside on a random Wednesday afternoon. Tip, tap, tappity, tap. The rain was taunting her with the reminder that she could not go anywhere. “Oh Zippy,” she sighed, “maybe I should just put on rainboots and go sketch the birds as they hide from the rain.”

As she pondered the consequences of going out in the rain and making her mom mad, she heard a thump above her. She assumed it was just thunder until it happened again. Then she could clearly tell it was something in the attic. Those darned mice must be getting into stuff again. Mabel hated the traps her mother set out and would much rather take care of them herself. She climbed the rickety ladder that pulled down out of the ceiling, bracing each step as she went. The dust immediately made her sneeze three times. Her mom often teases her that she only ever sneezes three times at once, never once or twice — always three times. As she wiped her nose with her embroidered handkerchief, a glowing light caught her eye. She must have been seeing things, there was nothing that would be glowing up here, it was just boxes and linens. She crossed the space of fifteen feet to where she saw the light and moved an old pillow that was barely balanced on a cardboard box. The light was no longer there, but she found an old book that she did not remember seeing before. Dust coated the brown leather cover of the oversized book. Mabel opened it gently and looked at the first page, then the second, finding herself completely confused. The words on the pages were not in English, or any language she recognized. Putting it under her arm, she decided to take it back to her room to figure it out. At least she would no longer be bored.

When Mabel returned to her room, with the mystery book in one hand and a bag of candies in another, she saw her friend Zoe sitting in her chair. “Hey! When did you get here?” Mabel asked as she offered Zoe a candy. “Oh about the time the skies decided to really open up and start pouring even harder.” Zoe rolled her eyes and popped a candy in her mouth. “What’s the book?” she queried her friend since birth. Zoe and Mabel’s moms had been best friends, although Zoe lived with her grandma. Although the girls were only 2 weeks apart in age, Zoe was older and liked to remind Mabel of that fact often. Zoe is Mabel’s polar opposite in so many ways, not the least of which was her brazen courage. “I’m not sure, I found it in the attic. The writing is foreign to me, I thought I might try to figure it out.” She flipped through the pages as tenderly as possible, they seemed sacred for a reason she could not quite figure out. Zoe grabbed it from Mabel’s hands before she could mutter a protest. “Oh, come on, it cannot be that hard to decipher.”

The book started shaking and in an instant, Zoe tossed it back to Mabel. “What in the world is going on, Mabel?” She screeched as Mabel tried to catch the book without letting it hit the ground. Safely back in her hands, the book started glowing. The girls stood in the room like statues, eyes locked on each other. The air felt thick and paper-thin all at the same time.

“Mabel, I’m not sure what is going on with that book or where it came from, but you need to be careful,” Zoe said her words practically a forced whisper. “I am sure it is fine. What is the worst that can happen, right?” Yet the fact that Zoe was so unnerved made Mabel question her resolve. Still, she decided to take the book to Pops. Maybe he would know something about the language inside.

There was nothing quite like that familiar clanging bell as she entered the convenience store Pop had run for much longer than she had even been alive. This is the same bell her mom had heard as she was a girl. Even the air inside the store seemed special. There was history here and that made Mabel feel grounded and safe. She called out to Pops, figuring he was just in the back getting something. He shuffled towards the front of the store where she was flipping through a magazine. “Well, this is a nice surprise.”

“Hey, Pops! I need some help with this book I found.” Mabel pulled the book from her bag and set it on the counter. Pops’ eyes grew wide, “where did you find this?” She knew that he knew something. “I found it in the attic while looking for mice this afternoon. What is it?”

Mabel pondered what Pops had told her as she walked back home over an hour later. Demigods, faeries, and dragons were the things of tales, not real life. She was still trying to figure out if he was merely filling her head when he said that only the true hero could make the book glow. What could that possibly mean? There was no way she could be a hero; she was just a 12-year-old girl. Her mom had always told her that she was special, but isn’t that what all mothers tell their kids? Did she know something more?

“Mabel, I talked to Pops this afternoon. He said you paid him a visit.” Mom said as they were at the dinner table that night. “Yeah…it had been a while, so I thought I should go by and see him.” She pushed her peas around her plate. “He said you found the book.” Mabel looked up to see that her mom was looking straight at her. “Oh, right. Uhm, I was not sure how to mention it to you. Mom, am I special? I mean, special special? Pops said something about the True Hero.” Her mom’s expression changed. “Yes, sweetie. You are very special. The morning you were born, I was visited by the faeries. They gave me this necklace and told me that I was to give it to you once you learned the truth. It will help you navigate the worlds.” Mabel took the necklace from her mom. It was a beautiful purple rose on a delicate silver chain. “The rose is made from amethyst. It will help you calm your mind and thoughts. Once you are truly still and quiet, the language in the book will make itself known to you. It will give you the instructions for the journey.”

“Breathe”, she realized that she had quit. She suddenly had to remind herself to do the most basic of involuntary actions. She made her way up the steps to her bedroom, her feet felt like bricks that she had struggled to lift with every step.

She sat on her bed with the necklace in hand and put the book in front of her. Closing her eyes and she ran her thumb over the Amethyst rose, she focused on her breathing — in, out, hold and repeat. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the book as it glowed. Her fingers trembled as she opened the cover, amazed that the words no longer looked foreign to her.

on that day, the true hero will journey to cliffs above the frozen water.

peace must be made or destruction will prevail.

Mabel sent a text to Zoe, “Stop whatever you are doing and get over here!” Then she fed Zippy and gave him a gentle pet as she double-checked the rabbit’s water dish. She turned around to see Zoe standing in the doorway. “Geez! How did you get here so fast??” Mabel gasped as her friend tossed her backpack on the floor and plopped on the bed. Zoe just shrugged and kicked her shoes off. “What’s the emergency?” Her tone and demeanor contradicted her words. As Mabel filled her in on everything she learned since that afternoon, she couldn’t help but notice that Zoe seemed unsurprised by it all. “That’s a great story, Em. Wanna go get a shake downtown?” Mabel was shocked. “What? Did you hear anything I just told you, Zoe?” Zoe shrugged and laughed, “Sure but you don’t believe all of that, do you?” Mabel felt something stir in her chest, “Zoe. Do you or do you not remember that book glowing just a couple of hours ago? Why are you acting as nothing happened?” Zoe slid her shoes back on and grabbed her bag, “I don’t have the energy for this. I’ll see you later Mabel.”

The rain began again as Mabel drifted off to sleep, her fingers still clutching the amethyst rose. The book began to glow for the third time that day. She couldn’t be sure if she was dreaming or awake, but the faeries in her room were beautiful and glowing as bright as the book. Mabel was sure their words were the same language as the writing in the book. They warned her that she would face a trial in the next day, to test her resolve as the True Hero. Only once she completed the trial and proved herself, would she begin the journey.

The next morning the sun seemed brighter than normal. She took the book out onto the covered porch overlooking the backyard. She looked for the section that explained the trial the faeries told her about last night.

defeat the goblins, use your strength both physical and mental.

Mabel pondered the words in the book as she got ready for school. Realizing she forgot to eat breakfast, she grabbed an apple and her lunch as she ran out the door. Zoe was already standing at the bus stop and seemed to be glaring at her. Mabel ran her fingers over the amethyst rose that and approached her friend. “Hey, Zoe! Everything okay?” she asked, hoping it was just the sun in her eyes making her look so upset. “You need to forget all this faerie business, Mabel. Seriously, do you have any idea how childish you sound?” At least Mabel knew it was not the sun.

Thankfully, nothing happened at school, but she was unable to focus on anything in her classes. Her math teacher had to call her name three times when it was her turn to solve the equation on the board. When she got home after ball practice, there was a note on the coat rack from her mom: “Mabel, I’ll be home late tonight. Dinner is in the crockpot, help yourself.” Mabel sighed and made her way to the kitchen and dished up the chicken and vegetables from the crockpot and set the dial to warm so it would keep for her mom. Just as she had finished her dinner, she heard another thump in the attic. Somehow, she knew it was not mice this time. Grabbing the flashlight from the drawer, she ascended the rickety ladder for the second time in as many days. Once at the top, she clicked the flashlight on and surveyed the space above her bedroom. A shadow moved in the corner; it was definitely bigger than a mouse! She ran her finger over the amethyst that hung from her neck. “Who’s up here?!” She demanded, trying to make herself sound as powerful as possible. Could this be the goblins that the book said she must defeat? The attic is not where she expected them, really. As she turned to look in the next corner, she came face to face with a goblin. It was only about three feet tall, so it was standing on a box to be as tall as her. “You are not brave enough to be a True Hero.” It hissed at her. Mabel remembered that this trial was about mental strength in addition to physical. “You speak lies! I am brave.” She said, trying to convince herself as much as the creature in front of her. The goblin jumped off the box and began flinging pillows in her direction. She grabbed a pillow to use as a makeshift shield as the goblin began throwing bigger and heavier objects her way. She picked up a broken broom and used it as a sword and found the goblin much stronger than his size revealed. Mabel was able to deflect the goblins attacks and keep from getting injured herself, that is until a music box made contact with her arm. Thankfully, she was able to recover and use her other arm to wield her makeshift sword and pinned the goblin to the ground. As the goblin turned to smoke, he told her that she had passed her trial.

Mabel went back downstairs and grabbed the book off her desk. As she was reading more about the trials required of the True Hero, she heard a scratching at her window. A fat and fluffy red panda was sitting on the tree just outside her window. At least, it resembled a red panda, but it was the size of a small horse. “My name is Bahboo and I have been summoned to escort you to your meeting. You did defeat Gimmish the Goblin, did you not?” Mabel nodded, trying to take in what she was seeing and struggling to believe this was her reality. Did anyone else see this creature or just her? “Well, come on then,” Bahboo said with an air of impatience. Mabel reluctantly stepped out onto the ledge and climbed on the back of the red panda. Bahboo’s fur was softer than she could have hoped. Mabel found an odd comfort as Bahboo rose high into the sky. Moments later they landed in a beautiful meadow at the edge of a pond. There she met Annie who was an otter and her friend Maya the meercat. They told her the history of the Faeries and how they have been under the spell of the evil queen, Lavinia, who has used her powers to silence those she fears. They also warned her of her counterpart, someone close as a sister. Mabel must be willing to lose everything in the pursuit of truth and justice.

Annie and Maya led her on a path that was barely noticeable, along the edge of the pond and into the tree line. She was to go into the woods to search out the Hero’s Sword. A low fog covered the ground and obscured the ferns from view until one was right on top of them. An owl screeched in the trees above her and as she looked up, her foot caught on a tree root causing her to fall hard to the ground. Zoe seemed to appear from nowhere. “Have you had enough adventure yet, Mabel?” she sneered. “Zoe! What are you doing here?” Mabel massaged her ankle and remembered what Annie and Maya had told her.

Mabel backed up and tried to put weight on her ankle. She winced as the pain sent fire up her leg. Zoe’s eyes glowed a dark purple as she extended a sword towards Mabel. Feeling behind her as she backed up, she hit what felt like a rock in the ground, but something made her feel again. As she fiddled with her fingers, she realized it was metal. She dug it up and it began to glow the same way the book had the day before. Filled with adrenaline she was able to get to her feet just as Zoe raised her sword to attack. Mabel was able to meet her sword and Zoe’s sword broke into pieces. Mabel pointed her sword at Zoe’s chest and told her to stand down, that she had no desire to harm her friend. “I think it’s cute that you still believe me a friend. Come now, open your eyes. My mother had to make sure you were never able to help the faerie people. Their power is too dangerous, order must be maintained.” Did she understand Zoe to say that her mother was Lavinia, the Evil Queen who Annie and Maya told her about? Mabel struggled to see her best friend as an enemy. Thankfully, the book told her that the sword was able to cast spells, so instead of hurting Zoe, she cast a statue spell on her. She planned to come back to her once she found Lavinia.

Sword in hand, she made her way out of the woods and back to the clearing where Annie and Maya waited for her. Annie suggested that Mabel look to the map in the book to help her find Lavinia’s fortress. The path there would be difficult, but Mabel was strong and would endure the trek.

Mabel started the journey, unsure of what we should find when she got there. She knew that she must go and do what she could to help the faeries though. No one should wield power to oppress others. As she walked the path, Annie and Maya by her side and Bahboo flying nearby, she could feel things getting darker. The delicate pink and yellow flowers were replaced with bare, thorn-filled vines. She used her sword to clear the path and pushed forward. A stone pathway leading up the side of a steep hill, she sheathed her sword and climbed up the pathway. She nearly slipped several times on the ice that covered the ground. Still, she persevered and made it to the top of the cliff. Metal hinges on the oversized wooden door creaked as she pushed it open. Mabel found herself holding her breath yet again. She ran her fingers over the amethyst rose with her right hand as her left clutched the handle of her sword. The castle was completely silent, which surprised Mabel. She expected to be met with force and guards.

“Lavinia?” she called out; her own voice that echoed back to her. She walked the hallway that looked as though it would lead to the Queen’s bedroom. There she found not a powerful sorcerer but a frail, sick woman. Lavinia’s nightgown was so loose it practically hung like a blanket on her sunken frame. Her voice rasped as she told Mabel that she was too late to save the fairies, with those words she died. Mabel walked out to find Bahboo waiting for her. “Bahboo take me to Zoe, Lavinia is dead.”

Mabel used the Hero Sword to undo the statue spell she had cast on Zoe. She looked into Zoe’s eyes and spoke the love of sisterhood to her. Zoe’s heart warmed and they embraced. Mabel told her all that happened, and Zoe asked her if the book mentioned how to break the spell if the Queen died. Mabel found that it did outline what to do in that situation. Together they linked hands closed their eyes and recited the words. As they open their eyes, the sky was filled with shimmery glitter as the faeries began to surround them. One faerie, who introduced herself as Ivy, told Mabel that her bravery saved all her people. Then she turned to Zoe, placed a tiara on her head, and said, “Zoe, as queen may you always use your powers for the good of all.”