COUNT SUMMER AND THE AUTUMN QUEEN
Chapter One
"The Lying Evil Wolf"
One warm sunny day, the Autumn Queen decided to walk about and explore her kingdom. She brought no guards because all in her kingdom loved the queen, whose beautiful and grace were known throughout all the Seven Mystic Kingdoms.
But not quite all did. For hidden in the woods was the evil lying thief known as the Wolf. And hearing that the Autumn Queen was exploring her kingdom, the Wolf decided to capture her and steal her kingdom. For the Wolf was ugly and jealous of the beautiful queen.
The Autumn Queen walked majestically through the fields of flowers of red and yellow and white and orange and purple. Birds flew about her, and a hummingbird serenaded her with its humming.
She came to a little dirt path, and walked along it under the tall trees, which blocked out much of the sun. It was dark under the tall trees, but the Autumn Queen was not afraid, for her heart was full of happiness and love, and when a heart is full of those things, there is no place for such things as fear.
The Autumn Queen came at last to a little stream. She smiled, for she could see little pink stones in the clear water, and the Autumn Queen loved the color pink. So she stepped out of her shoes, and, holding up the hem of her gown, waded into the cool clear water.
Suddenly the Autumn Queen heard footsteps and then a cry for help. She looked back to see a young woman in rags running towards the water's edge. "Oh help!" the maiden said. "Please help me! The Wolf is after me!"
The Autumn Queen gasped, for she had heard tales of the Wolf. She ran out of the water and stepped into her shoes. "Fear not, girl," she said. "For I am the Autumn Queen, and I will not allow the Wolf to harm you or any of my loyal subjects!"
"Oh, thank you, Autumn Queen," the girl said, coming closer to her. The Autumn Queen was searching the trees for signs of the Wolf, and so she did not notice the girl's sudden odd smile, or just how homely the girl was.
"Where is he?" the Autumn Queen asked, still searching. "Where is the Wolf?"
"Why….right here!" the girl said, suddenly leaping at the Autumn Queen and pressing a strange flower against her nose and mouth. This flower was not red nor yellow nor white nor orange nor purple, but the black of night. And as the Autumn Queen gasped at the sudden surprising attack, she breathed in the perfume of the black flower. And then, before she could break free of the girl's attack (for the Autumn Queen was not only beautiful and kind and just but also a warrior queen) everything suddenly became as black as the black flower. For it was the flower of sleep, and the Autumn Queen felt her strength ebb from her lovely lithe form, and her knees could suddenly no longer support her.
And the Autumn Queen collapsed onto the ground, victim of the lying and ugly girl, who was in reality the Wolf!