Fairy Kingdom

by Eric J. Juneau

 

There is an area of upper New York designated as a fairy kingdom.

 

It was discovered in a forest by a group of hikers.  After several research teams and congressional action plans had their say, it was decided that fairies were an endangered species, since they were the only ones of their kind ever discovered. 

 

Debates went on for months about whether the fairies existed at all, despite the fact that they could be seen and touched.  Most of the arguments stemmed from the common belief that fairies were myth.  No representatives of the fairies were invited to participate in these debates.

 

Eventually, the government decided the fairy kingdom needed to be preserved before it was destroyed by disbelieving extremists or deforestation.  The fairy king did not oppose this, since he was told there would be relatively little impact on their lives.  Plus, who would argue with a being three hundred times their size?  The fairies were placed in a safe, isolated region, though their land area had to be condensed.

 

More congressional debates started.  People didn't like the idea of paying for something they didn't think existed.  During what the fairy king was told was an "election year," a law was passed that decreased funding for their protection.  The government was unhappy because they were spending money and not getting any back.  They were told they would have to "generate revenue."

 

The human representatives presented some suggestions to the fairy king.  They strongly encouraged the idea of allowing people to see the city and observe their day-to-day lives.  The fairy king agreed, since it was the least obtrusive option.  The population became used to the giants looking down at them, though they complained about the new smell of garbage and puddles of the "rainbow water" humans called gasoline.

 

However, fairy lives are not terribly interesting.  Their kingdom's economy was self-sustaining.  What they made, they bartered or shared.  Houses were constructed from twigs and sticks.  Food was harvested from dew, vegetation, and small insects.  The kingdom was peaceful and prosperous, but according to ticket sales, that was boring.

 

The humans met with the fairy king and told him that attendees were dropping off because they did not "fit the traditional fairy kingdom paradigm."  They had no magic.  Customary fairy dwellings lay hidden underground or behind leaves.  Their clothing was practical and plain.  Their wings resembled dragonfly wings – membraned, efficient, and, according to humans, ugly. 

 

A law was passed that everyone must fly when traversing outside, which was tiring.  The king commissioned several aerobatic shows and exhibitions.  The fairy princess, the most popular citizen, had a show dedicated to her where she would dance, sing, and answer questions.  And everyone had to cover their wings with a special glittery paint that left hazy pink and blue trails behind. 

 

The fairies began to factionize over the overcrowding, growing dissatisfaction at their new environment and the ever-present humans gawking and judging them.  These are cited as the reasons for the ensuing civil war. 

 

Any fairies who survived, a scant handful, only did so by escaping the kingdom entirely.  They are now scattered in forests near the New England area.  Though many humans make a hobby of searching for them, they are likely never to be seen again.  The U.S. Congress did not make any effort to stop the war, as it was deemed an "internal affair" and attracted a record number of attendees.   

 

There is an area of upper New York designated as a fairy kingdom.  There is nothing there.