He Who Pulled The Strings

He Who Pulled The Strings

a short fable by Nick Ramsey (C) 2016

Ferdge was never satisfied with being the leader of The Butterbyes. The small amount of power and wisdom that came with this position was minuscule in relation to what he felt that he deserved in life. He had lived for a century gazing out through the soft blowing golden leaves of the Whispering Willows growing more and more disgusted with the world as the years tolled on. He had seen war come and go and with little impact on his own life or the life of his people and he was growing quite..bored. 

There has to be an end to this he thought as he stared out from his throne. Small insects danced in glitter trails through the air as he began to cough repeatedly. "I hate fairy flies!" He yelled as his minions scattered around at the mere sound of his voice. 

He slowly stood up and walked out of the room and into the Willows. I hate everything about this world in fact he realized. If only I could change it. If only I could remake it the way I would like and get rid of all the things I hate. He hated everything. The fairy flies, the trees, the Nayans, the scourge In the Keep, and even The Butterbyes. 

Soon his hate drove him to leave the Whispering Willows and he found himself in a terrifying land known as The Desparos. With his gift of flight he was able to overcome any traps and obstacles within the land and his brittle, translucent wings carried him up into the opening of a cave; the cave housed a being that he had met...once. 

"Grawch, are you here?" He shouted. The cave was damp and cold but Ferdge walked further in and glanced around. He could see books, bones, and spell stones scattered about. It smelled like a thousand sour deaths. 

"Grawch?"

"I am here." The evil spell caster replied. "Why are YOU here?"

Ferdge snickered and settled in on a rock. 

"I am in need of your services. You see I want to destroy this world..not

entirely..just enough so.. I can start it over from scratch." He explained. 

"The way you want it to be." Grawch acknowledged. 

"Exactly." Ferdge nodded. "Great sorcery is required to destroy the inhabitants of this land -"

"As is a reward." Grawch interrupted. 

Ferdge smiled. 

"I know of a great power. When you possess it you will become a god." Ferdge assured Grawch. 

"Many have wanted to remake the world in their own way but lacked the knowledge and the power. I will work for you but I must know..If I am to become a god...what are you to be?" Grawch asked. 

"Satisfied with my existence." Ferdge remarked. 

Grawch smiled and snapped his fingers lighting a fire in the center of the cave to warm them. 

"A great darkness will fall and the dead will rise to destroy the living." Grawch announced. 

"I like it already." Ferdge smiled.