The Fairy Flower War

#Fanfic WanderingWitch
#Wss366 New

The young woman continued on her way, a sour look on her pretty face. She brushed resentfully at the honeysuckle that got into her long, ashen hair, the grasses that clung to her black robes, and branches that threatened to knock her pointy hat off her head. Not even the sight of the star-shaped brooch, marking her as a witch, lifted her mood.

“Stupid nobles.”

“Arrogant, self-serving pea-brains!”

“She’s too pretty to wake up!”

She grumbled as she walked along.

She was so preoccupied with her recent meeting with "Prince Charming" that she no longer appreciated the flowers growing alongside the path. The brilliant red of the Indian paintbrush reminded her of courtiers’ rouged lips, the monkshood of their poisonous speech, and the heavy scent of lilacs of their cloying perfume. She longed for the common scents of coffee and bread, #newly from the oven.

It was in this state that she came upon an open rill. Shallow banks covered with marshmallow, bog iris, and other damp-loving plants ran down to the water. She might have passed the stunning vista unseeing if it hadn’t been for the shrill sound of horns.

The sound brought her up, and she gazed over the scene before her. On the far bank, perched on rocks thick with moss, stood a squad of fairies, crimson columbine trumpets held to their mouths. It is from these that the sounds she’d heard issued: a distinct melody like a dozen warblers.

To their right and left stood diminutive clerics, shaking tinkling bluebells. Behind them ranged ranks of warriors mounted on squirrels, with their flanks held by fast-moving shrews. Above them, lances gleamed like a hedge of knitting needles.

A cry rang out: “For Queen Mauve! Down with the Usurper!”

The troops echoed the cry. “For Queen Mauve! Long live the Queen!”

“Let his insults be answered!” came the next cry.

“Death to the impostor! Long live the true queen,” the troops answered back.

The grass rustled, and the force moved off, leaving the woman open-mouthed.

“Stupid aristocrats and their wars,” she announced to the now empty field. Then, with a shrug, she moved on.

Who was this unhappy lady?

It was me—Elaina, the Ashen Witch, of course.

#TootFic #MicroFiction #FairyTale #Fairies #Mythpunk #NMFic

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#denfaminicogamer #寺島誠一 #つばきマン #ドリコム #ニュース #ハピネット #Tokyo_Stories #BitSummit_PUNCH #newly #池田佑基

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Qnity Electronics on Thursday reported strong fourth-quarter results alongside rosy guidance, solidifying its reputation as an under-the-radar beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 8% from a year ago to $1.19 billion, outpacing the $1.16...

#Newly #US_Opinion #MISRYOUM