Butterfly wasn’t able to give Thumbelina any heartening news but they’d keep up the search. Sparrow chimed in to “depend upon it once I return to court I’ll convince the prince to find your parents. He’s mad about quests.”
Thumbelina was gratified by both of their assurances, as well as excited to think that a faerie prince would look for her parents for her. Butterfly took his leave saying the insects would do their part.
*****
The night of the full moon approached and the faerie court prepared to greet those human supplicants (those humans with magic who came with questions for the wee folk). The prince was bored, as he often was in these proceedings. He knew their importance but felt that one faerie scribe meeting the humans to take down their inquiries would be sufficient, but protocol required his presence by his parent’s side.
He was tired his steed sparrow still had not been found and it seemed soon he’d have to give him up for lost. Sparrow, of course, was more than a mount to the prince, but a confidant and friend as well as a comrade in arms. The search thus far had turned up nothing.
There were fewer and fewer human supplicants each year, and those who came became older and older. The prince’s mind was far away when an old woman stepped before the throne to tell of a missing woman. This witch had come to the court before and should know that faeries rarely meddle in that type of human affair. However the woman continued.
“It’s nearly impossible for humans to look for her. She is your size.”
“Our size?” interrupted the prince.
“Yes milord.”
“How is it that she is our size?”
“I visited a couple who were unable to conceive a child. They were kind to me; they said they’d love a child even if it were no bigger than their thumb. Well, you know the way magic works milord. They got just that.”
The prince certainly understood how magic worked, in ways that even the witch did not know. He was curious about this tale and was interested in meeting the young woman. “We are searching for a lost bird who is my steed. We will expand our search to look for this woman as well. Any information we find we will pass on to you.”
“Thank you your majesties,” said the old woman, “Her parents will be most grateful.”
****
During these months Cur-Mutt still seethed about being foiled by the tiny woman and whoever helped her escape. He knew she’d pay if he could get her in his slimy webbed clutches. He sat disconsolate in his swamp. He’d lost most of his appetite and had taken on a gaunt meaner appearance.
One day, he absent mindedly flicked his tongue out at a fly. Out of practice as he was he only snagged its leg and dragged it back slowly as it screamed.
Cur-Mutt was used to that and barely listened. However one of the screams caught his attention. “I know where the woman is!” Cur-Mutt flipped his tongue so the spit sodden fly dropped before him.
“What did you say?”
“The tiny woman I know where she is… don’t eat me.”
Cur-Mutt couldn’t believe his ears “Where?”
The fly sobbed in pain and fear “Don’t eat me.”
Cur-Mutt responded “If you tell me I promise I won’t eat you.”
The fly was relieved “She is at Ms. Doormouse’s she’s stayed there while the insects look for her parents.”
“Ms. Doormouse’s of course.” Cur-Mutt slaps his tongue out again grabbing the fly with perfect accuracy and eats it whole. He chuckles darkly as he straps on his sword’s scabbard, vowing to make them pay.
*****
Only a few moments later on the other side of the forest Butterfly fluttering around saw a mounted faerie going from bush to bush. Butterflies of course aren’t known for their speed but that day he went like a dragonfly to catch up with the faerie. It turned out that the faerie was the prince.
“Your Majesty, I know where your mount is.” Butterfly panted trying to catch his breath.
“You’ve seen Sparrow?”
Butterfly nodded. “He is at Ms. Doormouse’s along with the tiny woman Thumbelina.”
“You know the tiny woman too? Her parents contacted a witch who told us. This is marvelous news. Poor fellow you’re exhausted from going too fast just give me directions.”
Soon the prince was on his way and the race was on.
*****
Cur-Mutt arrives at the rooted cottage and lays in wait to ambush whoever left. The door opened and Doreen came out to do laundry in the river. Cur-Mutt pounces on her and throws her to the ground. Doreen looks up to see the villain with a sword tip pressing against her throat.
Cur-Mutt shouts at the cottage, “Thumbelina come out here or I’ll kill your friend.” What he really meant was ‘come out here AND I’ll kill your friend’ but bad guys are always lying.
*****
The prince saw this as he arrived and instinctively turns his bird to dive into the fray. However the bird stops. This is the ‘pretty one’ that Sparrow so despised and no matter what the prince did the bird wouldn’t fly into the danger. The prince dismounts and flits on his own wings to the roof of the cottage.
“Unhand her you heel!” shouts the prince at Cur-Mutt.
Cur-Mutt doesn’t of course. He flicks his tongue grabbing Prince’s ankle and dragging him roughly from the roof to the ground.
Sparrow was inside and upon hearing his friend’s voice rushes to the door he jumps out and knocks the frog down. He grabs Doreen and flies her up to safety in the tree. It is more than he should carry as he’s still healing but he is a gallant bird. He takes her to the other steed and tells him “Watch her. Keep her safe, you coward.” And turns and flies back to the fray.
Cur-Mutt was on his feet quickest and noticing that his hostage is gone rushes to the cottage door. Thumbelina is huddling in the corner but he grabs her with his tongue and drags her out. The evil frog hops off with her, who only wore the apron, before Sparrow returned or the prince could get to his feet.
The prince does get to his feet and chases after the villain, but is too slow until Sparrow catches up to him and he mounts up. They catch up to Cur-Mutt and the prince directs Sparrow how to free the tiny woman. Sparrow talon’s the frog’s shoulder while holding the other out for Thumbelina to grasp on to. She holds onto his finger as the villain’s arm releases its grip on her.
It was a brilliant maneuver and would have been pulled off perfectly if Sparrow were healed. However the weight of two tiny people was too much and the brave bird had to make an emergency crash landing. The prince got up winded and faced the angry frog. They both drew their swords and squared off. Sparrow, now very weak and in pain, can only stand in front of Thumbelina shielding her with his body.
Cur-Mutt lashes out before the prince can get his breath back, but the prince parries. Cur-Mutt strikes again and while the prince’s sword is occupied aims his tongue to try to blind the prince. The prince dodges out of the way.
Steel crashes as the fight continues. Cur-Mutt uses his tongue to cheat as the prince tries to dodge the frog’s saber. However the prince is the better man and even with the attempted cheating slays Cur-Mutt the evil frog. The lifeless body of the villain lain at the prince’s feet with its tongue lolling out. The prince lops the tongue off for good measure.
Thumbelina runs up to the prince hugging him fiercely and thanking him for saving her. Sparrow Introduces Thumbelina to her savior the prince. Thumbelina embarrassed drops to her knees and says “I’m sorry for my familiarity your majesty I didn’t know you were the prince.”
The prince looks at the beautiful woman kneeling before him in only an apron. She was beautiful and her bare back made her very desirable. His own body began to react. “Do not worry about it. I’m glad to help my dear.” Thumbelina looks up at him, her eyes stop at his bulging crotch then blushing even fiercer up
to his face. The prince smiling continues “Let’s walk back to Ms. Doormouse’s and check on her.”
*****
They walk back because of Sparrow’s injuries. Doreen upon seeing them reemerging from the woods flies down on the cowardly bird. The prince sends the bird to the court to get mounts for himself, Thumbelina and Doreen and a pallet to transport Sparrow back to Court, and then on to the witch to tell Thumbelina’s parents the news that she has been found.
They wait at Doreen’s and the prince tells Thumbelina of her parents search for her. When the other Faeries arrive they make sure Sparrow will be transported safely and then Thumbelina, Doreen, and
the prince mount steed to go to the Faerie Court.
*****
At Court Thumbelina had Doreen’s Apron removed and was dressed in faerie finery. She waited with Doreen until the prince came in.
“Your parents will come here soon to collect you.” He tried not to sound sad about this. He was happy that this lovely woman would be reunited with her parents, but he was unhappy about not getting to know her better. In a rush he continued. “I would very much like to see you again; I know you want to see your parents, though I hope you’ll come back during the full moon ceremony.”
“Oh I will of course your majesty. It’s a shame the next one is weeks away.”
“Yes, but humans can only see faeries during the full moon.”
“I can see you now.”
“True you can, though I don’t know how.”
“You may visit me in the mean time your majesty if Sparrow can take you to my parents.”
“That would be wonderful. I’d love to see you as often as possible. I feared that your tastes ran the same way as your mouse friend. Was I incorrect in this?”
“Oh, I certainly like men, nothing to fear there your majesty. I am so happy to know that there are
men my size. Surely, though, there must be dozens of faerie maidens flocking around you.”
The prince then had to admit to Thumbelina that he was too big for faerie women. “They call me ‘the pigeon-dicked-Prince.’”
Thumbelina remembered the bulge in the prince’s trousers earlier. She wasn’t frightened by it. She guessed it would be over a handful, but definitely something she could work with. This emboldened her and she rose and kissed the prince on the cheek, though she had to stand tiptoed to reach. She said in a sensual tone, “I would love to see more of you, your majesty, if you would like to see more of me.”
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