The Enchanted Woods
Marl The Wizard

Sugar was flying to Hope's cave. She stopped at the Fountain of Luck to get a drink of the cool water. Suddenly, a strange man came up to her and asked," Excuse me. Do you know where the Ancient Tree is?" Sugar stared at him in surprise. "Yes," she replied cautiously. "But first I'd like to know who you are." The man bowed and said," I'm Marl the Wizard. I've come to make a home in the Enchanted Woods. I own a small magic store, too. I'm looking for a nice place to live. The Ancient Tree sounded perfect! Could you direct me to it?" Sugar laughed. "I'm sorry, but the Ancient Tree is the place where we have shows and things," she said. "It's not available for you to live at." Marl looked crestfallen. "Do you know of a place?" he asked. "I'm going to Hope's cave," Sugar said thoughtfully. "There's a vacant cave near hers. There's even a small clearing behind it. I believe it's part of the land. The clearing is a circle of bushes with one opening. There are tree stumps in the clearing, too. Would that do?" Marl smiled. "Yes," he said. "That's wonderful. The clearing sounds perfect for my store. Thank you. . ." "Sugar," the faerie answered. "I'll show you the cave." She led Marl to the vacant cave and left him setting up his store in the clearing. This would be great news! There hadn't been a wizard in the Enchanted Woods for a long time. She flew to Hope's cave and found that Flutter and Mistie were already there. Hope saw her and said," Sugar! We thought you'd been captured by Soot." Soot was a black owl who liked to eat faeries. Sugar laughed. "Not yet," she joked. "I'm too smart for that old owl. I'm sorry I gave you such a fright. I met somebody and was detained." Hope shrugged. "Flutter has interesting news," she said. Flutter and Mistie floated over and Flutter said," Yes. Hannah told me that a wizard is moving here. I think she's wrong, though. I flew all over the Enchanted Woods, and didn't find a thing." Sugar giggled. "That's funny," she said. "I just met a strange old man who says he's Marl the Wizard. He's moving into that cave near here. He's also setting up a magic store in the clearing that comes with it. How does Hannah get news so fast!" Mistie smiled. "I think she just flies around and whenever she hears something, she tells everybody else," she said. "Hannah said the wizard's name was Merl," Flutter said. "I guess she doesn't get everything right. What's he like? Did you see his magic shop?" Sugar shook her head and said," No, but we'll visit it sometime. He seems nice." A unicorn galloped up and said," Hello!" They turned around and Hope said," Hello, Trust." Trust was a unicorn who was the wood's announcer for things like shows. "Is anything happening?" Mistie asked. Trust puffed out his chest and replied," Come to the Ancient Tree in half an hour to see Marl the Wizard perform his tricks!" He galloped away to announce it somewhere else. "You weren't kidding!" Flutter said. "I thought you met Hannah on your way and decided to fool us or something. Are we going to go?" Hope nodded. "Definitly," she said. "I want to see this new wizard. Maybe he'll open his magic store today." In half an hour, the clearing by the Ancient Tree was full, except for a circle in the middle where Marl would perform. Everybody was talking about the new wizard. Suddenly, Marl appeared and the clearing was silent. Marl did lots of tricks. He turned himself into a frog and back, and flew up into the air after rubbing flying salve on his feet. When he came back down, he waved his left hand and a stream of bubbles followed. He waved his right hand, and a stream of fireflies followed. He pulled a dove out of his pocket and had it do tricks. For the last thing, he he made a rainbow stretch from one side of the clearing to the other. There were pots of gold at each end. As he bowed, everybody clapped and cheered. Sorceress Marigold stepped up to Marl and said," That was a brilliant show! We're all glad to have you in the Enchanted Woods." Everybody cheered some more. Then Marl made an announcement. "I have a small magic store right behind my cave," he said, and gave directions to his cave. "I have flying salve, horn powder to make unicorn horns shinier, faerie dresses, and more! It's open every day, so come on by!" The next day, Mistie went to Hope's cave and gave her a bottle. Hope read the label and exclaimed," Flying salve! Now I can visit you! Thank you! And look." Hope picked up a small pail in her mouth and set it on the table. Mistie looked inside. "Horn powder!" she said, laughing. "How do you use it?" Hope dipped her horn and when she came up, her golden horn was very shiny. Everybody in the Enchanted Woods loved Marl's magic store and he was glad he moved there.

Copyright 1997 by Chantessy