How Caterpillars Became Butterflies
by Miranda Hawkins
There was a time long ago when caterpillars did not turn into butterflies. They lived their whole lives in the same furry little bodies without ever having known the joys of flight, but they were content nonetheless. Unfortunately, although the caterpillars themselves were not bothered by their unattractive appearance, the other insects were and considered them to be the disgrace of the entire insect kingdom. For this reason, caterpillars were very shy and solitary creatures.
But all of this soon changed on one bright and sunny day when the evil wizard, Skrall, kidnapped Titania, Queen of the Faeries. Without Titania the world seemed to stop. Trees would not grow, flowers would not blossom and insects everywhere were in a terrible muddle. Bees could not collect pollen and ants could not gather seeds for the winter. It was soon decided that something had to be done; someone had to rescue the Faery Queen. The only problem was Oberon and his Faery Court could not be found and everyone else was too afraid of Skrall to attempt anything.
Now caterpillars, being the isolated creatures that they were, did not really keep up with current events. So, many of them had no idea that Titania had been captured. Nevertheless, when a little bird told Primrose what had happened she decided that if no one else was going to help the Queen of the Faeries, then she would have to do it all by herself. There was only one problem; she did not know how to find Skrall's castle. Hoping someone would hear her cries and help her, Primrose began to shout as loud as her miniature voice could muster.
"Please!" she cried to the open air around her. "Can anyone tell me the way to Skrall's castle? I need help!"
"I will help you, little one," whispered a soft, feminine voice behind her.
Primrose turned and found herself face to face with one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen.
"Who are you?" she asked, awestruck.
"My name is Zephyr. I am the daughter of the West Wind and I can help you. Skrall's castle lies within the Horrendous mountains at the base of the Woebegone forest. He has trapped Titania in the crystal atop his staff. Shatter the crystal and not only shall you set the Faery Queen free, you will destroy Skrall, who cannot survive without his magic."
"Thank you, Zephyr!" Primrose cried, hugging the wind's wispy form. "I will not forget you!" And as she headed for the Woebegone forest, Zephyr sent a gentle breeze to protect her along the way.
Dark and foreboding, the Woebegone forest loomed high over Primrose's head making her antennae tremble. She wanted to turn and run, but Primrose knew that Titania had to be rescued, otherwise the world would be doomed! She made her way cautiously through the trees at first, but when the branches scratched at her arms and strange noises filled her ears, Primrose began to run. Soon she began to grow tired and stopped to rest at the base of a tall tree. It was only once she had rested and had a chance to examine her surroundings that Primrose realized she had reached the Horrendous mountains.
Way up above her, high in the craggy peaks, storm clouds brewed, barely hiding the twisted turrets of Skrall's dismal castle. Primrose began searching for a path which would take her to the entrance of the dark structure, but she could find nothing that even resembled a road. Not knowing what to do next, she continued her search in vain, hoping for a miracle. There had to be another way to get to the top, but what?
Before Primrose could decide what to do next there was a loud bang and a funny-looking whirlwind appeared off to her left. She watched in frightened fascination as the wind slowed and Skrall's tall, dark figure formed in its place, his magic staff in hand. The evil wizard spotted Primrose right away. He pointed one long, gnarled finger at her and spoke in a deep, resonating voice.
"What are you doing at the base of my mountains?!"
But Primrose was too terrified to speak and just stood there, staring wide-eyed.
"Answer me before I grow impatient and turn you into a snake!" he bellowed
Quickly the little caterpillar gathered all her wits together and said in her strongest voice, "I am here to rescue Titania!"
"You?!" the wizard laughed. "Oberon sent a mere caterpillar to defeat me! I am insulted! Go away before I decide you are actually worth destroying!"
Now, by this time Primrose was so scared she could barely move, but she had to save Titania, so she quickly came up with a plan. "Look!" she screamed, pointing toward the sky. "It's Oberon's army!"
"What!?" Skrall shouted, whirling to look behind him. "Where?!"
Then, while the wizard's back was turned, Primrose ran up and grabbed the staff from his bony grasp.
"No!" Skrall howled, realizing he had been tricked. "Give me back my staff!"
"Never!" Primrose shouted. "I am going to make sure you never hurt anyone ever again!" And with that, the little caterpillar raised the staff high above her head and shattered it on the dusty ground.
"Curse you!" Skrall screamed as yellow smoke billowed around him. "May you and all your kind fall into an eternal slumber!" Then, with a thunderous ‘KERBOOOM' he was gone.
Unfortunately, Skrall's final spell had been cast and Primrose found herself becoming uncontrollably sleepy. Unable to fight its power, she fell into a deep sleep just as Titania appeared, free from her crystal prison. The Faery Queen had seen everything from inside the staff and therefore knew that it was Primrose who had set her free.
"Poor little caterpillar," Titania whispered, kneeling by Primrose's slumbering form. "I cannot undo Skrall's evil curse, but I can alter it. First we shall leave this horrid place, then I will see what can be done."
Slowly, the Faery Queen waved her wand and transported the two of them to a nearby meadow. Then, using her wand again, Titania began to cast a spell.
"From this day on, all of your kind will have a period of sleep in their lives, but when they awaken the beauty shown on the inside will be visible to the whole world on the outside, starting, of course, with you."
And with that, the Queen of the Faeries tapped the little caterpillar lightly with her wand. Slowly Primrose stood and faced Titania.
"Come," the Faery Queen said, motioning to a nearby pond. "Come and gaze upon the gift I have given you."
Peering at her reflection, Primrose gasped, "But I'm not a caterpillar anymore!"
"No, my dear," Titania replied. "You are a butterfly."
Primrose looked up at the Queen of the Faeries and smiled. "I think I am going to like being a butterfly."
Titania smiled back at her. "You were always a butterfly on the inside, little one."
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