CHAPTER TWO

Stephanie sat in her bed staring at the rising sun, she had a dream of Baldur dressed in his blue Sportacus outfit and he was waving from his hot air balloon. He soared into the sky until he was a speck then blinked out of existence. She missed his company and wondered why he hadn't come into town. This bothered her so much she couldn't even write in her journal, her father could be heard humming a tune as he prepared breakfast in the other room.

"Sportacus?" She whispered hoping he'd hear her. "Where are you?"

She contemplated going to the location of the Hidden Folk many times but soon her curiosity turned to fear. What would their queen think? Would the Elvin mistress feel threatened that her security was being interrupted by a human child?

Stephanie's father opened the door. "Ah, you're awake. Breakfast is ready."

She hoped out of bed and joined him at the kitchen table. They were olives, pretzels, vegetables and ham. She cringed at the olives, "Olives, dad?"

"I thought you liked them?"

"Yeah, kinda. But pretzels and olives?"

"You loved them at Miss Busybody's?"

"She sprinkled the eggs with loads of sugar AND dipped the olives in chocolate."

He frowned. "Chocolate?" he said as he handed her the mini plate. "Take a bite of these olives and watch out for the pits! It's healthier than cookies and cinnamon buns."

She hesitantly took a black plump olive and did as instructed. She shrugged as she chewed on them. "They taste better without the chocolate."

They both laughed.

"What were you thinking about in her room? You looked distracted?"

"Oh," she felt the ping of Sportacus' friendship dwindling again. "The elves."

"Ah yes, they've been quiet."

"Yes, I wonder what happened to them?"

"They will come when we need them, don't worry."

She ate her celery sticks, apple slices, honey ham steaks... and olives.

Siggi was sitting on a bench licking a giant lollipop when he saw Stephanie coming up the walk. He leapt from the bench and stopped her in her tracks. "STEPH!"

She jumped back a little. "Siggi!"

"You won't believe what's happening over at the park, some guy is saying he was attacked by elves!"

She paused. "What?"

"Yeah. It's weird, I know. Anyways, do you want to play cricket or rugby?"

She was more interested in this guy, "What else is he saying?"

"I dunno, I wasn't paying attention. Wanna come to Goggi Mega's house and play video games all day? He bought Cario Brothers and is stuck on a level, maybe we can offer our expert advice. Yeah?"

She smiled, "That would be fun, Siggi."

"Okay, let's go!" he ran off.

Stephanie called him back, "Siggi, first let's go to the park."

"It looks like it's going to rain. Do we have time to slide down the slide a billion times?"

"Yes, and to hear what that guy is saying."

He shrugged his shoulders and followed her. "Okay."

This particular man grew a crowd. They were awe-inspired by his speech. He was dressed in purple and sported a big hat. Stephanie and Siggi pushed their way through. He reminded her of Rikki, no, possibly not, it was just a coincidence. He was speaking to the Latibær news to get his story broadcast on television.

"…all I did was say her baby was prettier than an elf. I meant nothing by it. I never meant to offend the pixies but they get so touchy. Is that the reason they are never seen in Latibær anymore? Have they turned their back on us because we are humans and are low compared to them? I mean, we let them live in our homes, or country, and what do we get in return?"

One sloppy dressed bystander that everyone knew by the name of Maggi Mjói spoke up, "because I upset a brownie it upturned my kitchen. My roommate got angry and moved out… or maybe it's because I never clean up after myself...?"

"See!" the man in purple exclaimed. "We must take a stand or we'll be walked all over! We've been controlled by the huldurfolk for far too long! It's time we did something."

A lady spoke up this time. "I've had problems with gnomes wrecking my garden. I don't understand. What do you suggest?"

He lifted an index finger and paused; he spotted the pink-haired Stephanie and wiggled his nose. He recognised her and tried not to blow his cover. It was Grim Galdur, of course, and up to no good. But he was in a good disguise and she never noticed his true identity. He continued on, "Well, elves are very prickly. When you encounter one, ASK it its name! They hate that and will leave your premises."

Everyone in the crowd started to question this aloud.

"Yes! And, and, and, and always eat foods offered by the huldurfolk. They say never to do this but DO IT. The elves expect NOTHING in return. Just keep eating their gifts. Yes."

Stephanie glared, "Siggi, this advice is all wrong."

Siggi made a loud sigh of uninterested song. "Meh."

Stephanie raised her hand up.

The man in purple noticed and frowned, he barely spoke up and rolled his eyes, "Yes, little girl?"

"You say to do these things but won't we anger the elves?"

"No!" He glanced around for other takers. "Next question."

An elderly woman stepped forward, "Aren't you the shoe salesman who tried to sell me gel insoles the other day? My feet still hurt! They don't work."

Grim sighed and tried to hide his frustration, "Me? No. Also, if I may continue? WALK in natural habitats. You know, disturb areas in the country, pluck flowers and kick stones. The fairies will fly away and leave you be."

Stephanie shook her head, "We need to consult Sportacus."

Grim wriggled his nose. "Who? Uh, no! He's left. He hasn't been seen in a year. What makes you think he cares about us?"

Miss Busybody and the mayor arrived.

"Sportacus would never abandon us!" Stephanie cried out in anger.

"We haven't seen him in a year, he's caput! Vanished! A breeze in the hot summer that cools you down for a millisecond."

Miss Busybody smiled, "And I couldn't help but overhearing, but you claim to be an expert on elves?"

"Yes,"

"And you are?"

"Robbie. Robbie Rotten. I've had my share of mischievous pixies and I can say if you want to be rid of broken gardens, upturned kitchens and angry brownies. DO what I told you to DO or else." He growled.

Stephanie interjected, "Or else what?"

He paused. "Or else the huldurfolk will rule our peaceful lives FOREVER! Now please stop interrupting. I'm trying to help."

The mayor and Busybody looked at each other. "If that's the truth then I guess we have to be more careful."

The man in purple, Robbie Rotten, rushed over to them. "No, no, no tread bravely! Show them you're not scared. Show them who is boss! Go to the national parks and throw garbage on the ground. Kick over the dirt on hill mounds and scream at the top of your lungs in areas once reserved just for Elvin folk."

He walked off leaving everyone talking to each other.

So from that day the people of Latibær acted badly and started to disrespect the pixies that lived with them. This caused an uproar in the Elvin kingdom and the good ones left the town to dwell in the wilderness. Grim invited all the bad pixies to roam in the town. The more the bad pixies caused trouble the more the good innocent ones were blamed for it.

Grim sat in his lair and laughed, "Finally, the town is mine again."