This story is completely different from my usual stories. This time I’ve written a sweet romantic fairy tale. I hope some of those who don’t like my usual stories will like this one and that those who like my usual stories don’t get too disappointed.

Once upon a time in a place beyond our world and time there was a village. The village had had a quiet existence for centuries. The inhabitants were quite happy with that. They only knew all too well that living in interesting times was not something that ordinary peasants enjoyed.

Of course life was not perfect. Sometimes harvests were bad. Three rich farmers had managed to get control of the village. Human weaknesses such as envy, greed, lack of courage, intolerance … were no strangers to the people in the village. However, in general life was good in the village. Then things got interesting!

To complete the experience they all travelled down to Lynmouth in the cliff railway, three loving couples holding hands while looking out over the estuary towards Wales. Steph shivered slightly with the memory of Milford Haven but shook it off and looked at Monika as if to say that this side was much nicer. Monika, who had walked the full Pembrokeshire coast path could very well relate to what Stephanie had said had hit her, when she saw the refineries and industrial harbour. On her many walks she had encountered more such abominations, always in the most beautiful spots.

Dania licks her lips to wipe away the rest of the blood still cling to her lips. The drug dealer she killed lies at her feet with two small holes in the side of his neck from where she had puncture the vein located under the skin. She just looks down at his lifeless body. He was a parasite; living off the misery of those he sold his drugs too. She searches through his pants pockets and such, looking for his drug money. She finds it hidden along with the rest of his stash. She pours some under his nose, so the cops would believe he died of a drug overdose.

All three were surprised and delighted by the happy atmosphere between Maureen and Monika, but Stephanie especially. She first embraced Maureen and kissed her deeply, then she turned to Monika with a grin.
“So, what witchy things did you do for Maureen to be so happy now?”
Both Maureen and Monika Laughed.
“Well, little angel,” Monika said “I’ll leave it to Maureen to tell you.”
Stephanie looked questioning at Maureen who replied:
“Later, sweetie, later.”

On Thursday morning Stephanie felt she had to go back to work, if only to talk to Jacqueline in case she was thoroughly shaken up by last night. At breakfast she told Maureen, that she’d leave her to work one on one with Monika, hoping that they’d get a handle on things. Maureen would have liked Stephanie to stay, but she understood, that she had other commitments, too. When she was left alone in the house, Maureen phoned her granny.
“Maureen O’Connor here.” her gran answered the phone.

Monika went home much more relaxed this time. Maybe Maureen would really understand what she was trying to teach her and be bold enough to confront her professors with it. She remembered the story of Victor Schauberger, a simple Austrian forester, who had discovered things about water and physics, that turned scientific beliefs on their head. A physics professor from Vienna had gone to meet Schauberger and spent quite a long time with him. He was reported to have said to his Dean:
“It is just as well that I am going into retirement when this semester is over. That way I do not have to go back and tell my students, that everything I have taught them has just been proven wrong.”

A short story...

A hero may make many sacrifices. Some even make the ultimate sacrifice for someone who loves them back with their whole heart.

Copyright © 2018 by AuP reviner

Shortly after Bhavana and Madelaine had left Monika arrived. Stephanie immediately saw that she had not had a good night.
“One of those nights?” she asked as she gently took Monika in her arms to greet her.
“You really are a little angel.” Monika replied “Thanks for asking. And yes, one of those.”
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please. Your brew is nice.”
“Hello Monika.” Maureen had come to the door, too. “You look like I feel.”
“There is no need for you to feel inadequate, love.t is a very complex topic and not many have ever bothered to seriously investigate it.” she padded her large bag “I have brought all the hundred something charts of transgender people. I’ll call all of them that, because there always is choice involved. But we’ll get to that later.”

There's a lot of people at the hearing but the ones who are there but never speak are Christina, Miles, Jenna, George, Ethan, Melinda, Nichole, Joshua, David, Emma, Nigel, Nigel Jr, Karen, the elder Ophelia and Bradford, Reggie, Agnes, Imogen, Layla, Thea, Sienna, Poppy, Clyde, Lloyd, Isabelle, and Dora. Each has been featured in "...You Are Cordially Invited" as well as numerous other Winnisimmet Tales stories. Not included in the list are the multiple Chiselworks branch kids who came in support of their cousin and second cousin.

John Martin had turned his successful engineering business over to his kids -- much to their consternation. While camping deep in the national forest, he met a fox hybrid in great need of help.

sex: 2/10
violence: 6/10
profanity: 3/10

Categories: Hybrid, Elemental, PSI

Timeline: 2068

Esther and I were awakened by a strident alert tone from both of our smart phones. The IATE doesn't often use that alert, so we immediately checked our phones.

[Morning at the Police Department Office]

“Hiya Team,” I said as I walked into the County Police Station that Monday morning.

My name is Matt Beecher and for my sins, I’m the Sheriff of Custer County.

“I trust that you all didn’t get took drunk at the Custer County Fair at the weekend?”

There were collective mumbles from the five officers who’d arrived for duty just in front of me.

“Good. Well this is another week and that means we have another week of traffic tickets to give our citizens. We gotta keep our roads safe.”

Then I smelt the air.

[Authors note]
This is a little different from my normal fare. I hope you like it.

This story was originally conceived to be a stand alone tale, but it fit Dorothy's M.Y.T.H. universe without too much modification. It starts about a year before Help! My girlfriend is a Unicorn!

From the previous chapter: Cindy gripped tighter and squeezed the breath out of me. Again.

"Help! Don't leave me alone with this meanie meanie bobeenie!"

Cindy released her tight hold and backed up enough to look me in the eyes. For the first time since I started this adventure, she looked vulnerable.

The Angel of Chicago

Part Eighteen: Aftermath

by

Rodford Edmiston

There were no empowered healers who could get there quickly. None, in fact, were known who could be there any time within the next several hours. Malak and Blackpool were both out of touch, but expected back soon. Meanwhile, Arielle would have to depend on mundane medicine.

I'm back, and at least to my admittedly biased eyes this now reads much better. I'm still having some problems with later sections, though that's mainly because the plot as it is now written is similar to a couple of my Masks plots. I may change it or just plunge ahead.

Anyway, I hope folks enjoy this.

The Angel of Chicago

Part Fourteen: Ephemeral Solutions

by

Rodford Edmiston

Originally presented on Wed, 2006/08/09

What is life but a journey along an unmapped route toward a certain and inevitable destination? What would you do to tread a different path than the one you have walked so far?

The Angel of Chicago

Part Eight: Conclusions

by

Rodford Edmiston

There was actually a hatch in the roof, accessible through the attic. Once Melody was there and in position to see in the proper direction Arielle climbed out the closest window with the phone and jumped up beside her.

"This actually isn't the first time someone has had to do this," said Arielle, grinning, as she handed the phone to Melody. "What?"

The Angel of Chicago

Part Four: Revelations

by

Rodford Edmiston

Most of the preliminaries were simply Melody verifying some of what she had read about Arielle. Who seemed both surprised and pleased the reporter had read her book. There really wasn't time for more than that, though. Despite her comment about the service, the waiter arrived to take their orders shortly after Melody sat.