I…I fell…

I remember falling, it was cold and dark, and now…

It was warm and soft beneath me…there is light—I can feel it behind my eyelids. My eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the bright sunshine, and I slowly lifted my body into a sitting position. There was a dark and fore-boding forest a few feet in front of me; is that where I fell from? No, that's not right…maybe a cave or…?

The confusing lack of memories made my head hurt.

I shook the thoughts from my mind and started to slowly stand up. My eyes widened in another realization, I was the size of a human thumb. Not my thumb, mind you, but a regular human's thumb would be about as big as myself right now. I don't know how I knew it, but I could state as a fact that this was not my normal height.

I decided to take stock in the rest of my appearance and glanced down at my tiny body. My grey sneakers were laced with mismatching purple and green shoelaces—a bit scuffed up, but no worse for wear. I was wearing black tights with white stars running up the sides and a pair of torn up denim shorts that had seen better days. To complete the look, I had on a plain, purple t-shirt with a faded yellow hoodie thrown over it. Okay, disregarding that my clothes are covered in dirt and my hands are scraped to bits, probably from the fall, I clearly have no sense in color-coordination.

Either that, or I love colors and can't decide which was my favorite.

My ears picked up the sound of streaming water to my left, away from the creepy woods, and I decided to go towards it and check out my reflection. Once I finally reached the water's edge, I found a small pool that was calm and clear enough to peer at. It was then at that moment I realized another fact of myself; that I was a child.

My exact age I would say eight or nine, but I knew for sure that I was considered a little girl wherever I came from. Hazel eyes stared at chestnut-brown hair that went to the middle of my back. My hair was pulled out of my freckled face by a black headband and helped me notice a gash on the right side of my forehead near the hairline. Well, that explains the blanks in memories.

I decided to try to wash off some of the dirt from my face and try to clean the cut on my head in hopes of preventing an infection. Once I was washed up for the most part, I climbed up on some rocks near the stream to try to get a layout of the area. I ended up having to stand on my tiptoes to see over a patch of daisies, but it looked like there was a…town… or a village up ahead. I could only assume that whoever or whatever lived there would be around my current height since it seemed miniscule compared to the surrounding wood.

Wait a minute—is that a castle?

Giving my feet a quick and brief reprieve, I quickly rocked back onto the edge of my toes and craned my neck further to assess the giant castle… Or is it a –er—rock building…maybe a mountain with windows?

Before I could give it any further evaluation, the sound of breaking twigs and clanging of metal pulled my attention away. It seemed to be… are those fairies in armor?

I couldn't believe my eyes for a moment…or the fact that I remember what a human and fairy are, but can't remember my name, age, or how I even got here.

Memory is a fickle thing.

"Halt!" One of the fairy soldiers called out while pointing out my location.

Oh, no.

Why do I have a feeling that this is not going to end well for me? I thought while nervously biting my lip, as three guards in green armor flew down to the rock I was standing on.

They looked eerily similar—to the point that I can only assume that if they are not triplets, then they must be related somehow.

"Hey Roland! Come check this out," the one on my left called out to his superior who was riding a…squirrel wearing a…helmet. Yeah, there is no way I am dreaming because I would not be able to imagine this.

"Whoa there, Chipper!" A 'country drawl' type voice commanded before a blonde fairy with orange butterfly wings leapt in front of me with his sword drawn. "Well, what do we have here? A spy from the Dark Forest, perhaps?"

I gulped my fear before passionately shaking my head no. There is no way I came from this Dark Forest, right? I mean, I'm almost positive that I am human, despite my current height, and it doesn't sound like a human would live in the 'Dark Forest.'

…At least I think that's right…

"Nah, she's not ugly enough to be from the Dark Forest—have you seen those creatures?" The one on my left informed his boss before he shivered with disgust.

Well, that's not nice.

"Maybe she's an elf?" The guard on my right helpfully suggested.

"An elf?" The one in the middle said with disbelief, "No way."

"Yeah, she's clearly a kid and elf children are a lot tinier than her," the guard on my left sided with the middle guard.

"Oh, I'm sorry—I hear you both shooting down ideas, but I don't hear you contributing any," the guard on the right peevishly stated while crossing his arms indignantly.

"Okay, okay…Maybe she's a…uhm a…oh!...a wingless fairy!" the one on the left declared excitedly while snapping his fingers together.

"Are you kidding me? A wingless fairy? That's just as bad as his guess of an elf."

"Hey! It's known to happen! Maybe someone from the Dark Forest got ahold of her and ripped her wings off!" (I shuddered at the thought of that happening to anyone.)

"Oh, right, and how would you explain her ears? They're all…flat and weird," the one on the right pointed out with his lip curled in disgust. I quickly covered my ears in shame…am I that strange looking?

"Says, the guy who said she was an elf. Tell me, how did you come up with elf if her ears are so weird then, hmmm?" The left guard huffed in defiance.

"Easily, there are tons of weird and misshapen elves, but not one ugly fairy that we wouldn't have remembered," the right guard replied haughtily.

"Okay, both of you are wrong. 'Cos she is too tall to be an elf and too—er— weird looking to be a 'wingless fairy,' the middle guard tried to appease and defuse the situation.

"Oh, then lets here your suggestion since you're soooo brilliant at deduction."

"Yeah, let us pick apart your thoughts and ideas. Show you how dumb you are."

"I must not be too dumb since I noticed her even though this was your surveillance area."

"Oh that is so typical of y—"

"ENOUGH!" The blonde leader in front of me yelled before putting his sword away. "Whatever this thing is, she is not part of the kingdom and needs to be taken to the king immediately. Put the prisoner in cuffs and let's move out!"

With that last command he jumped back on his squirrel and rode in the direction of the village and castle. Before I could even move or think of an escape plan, the guard on my left grabbed me while the guard on my right cuffed me. They then gave each other a malicious smile before shoving me towards the middle guard.

"Here, you found here," I heard one of them begin saying, "You carry her," the other finished off before they flew away laughing.

The guard that got stuck with me let out a deep, aggravated sigh.

"Just great," he began, "I get stuck carrying the…" he trailed off while looking at me for the longest time in confusion. "What are you?" He asked in disgust before throwing me over his shoulder and flying towards the others.

It's childish really.

I shouldn't care what people…or in this case, fairies, think of me.

But it didn't stop the tears from running down my face as I tried not to think of the hurt or trouble that I was in.

We weren't flying for too long and I was able to stop most of the tears right when we landed in front of the gates. However, once we went inside the castle and entered the King's Court…I felt the tears brimming in my eyes once again when I heard the shocked whispers and the disgusted murmurs of the royalty.

The king was a heavy- set man—er fairy—with gray hair and a beard to match. He was dressed in golden armor and had a gold crown placed on a regal brow. Truthfully, he would be quite intimidating if it wasn't for the shocked look on his face.

"Roland, what in the—"

"Roland!" A small fairy with short brown hair and purple wings shot out from beside the throne and launched herself on the lead guard with a huge smile on her face.

She was absolutely stunning.

"I missed you soooo much!" She exclaimed hugging him even tighter before she got a sudden thought in her head and pulled back. Worrying her bottom lip she looked up at him with big eyes and asked, "Did you miss me as much as I missed you?"

"Oh, buttercup, all that and more!" He said with enthusiasm before pushing her towards the door and adding, "But your father and I have to discuss important business about this strange creature that came into our kingdom, and it's entirely too dangerous to risk you being here."

"Dangerous creature?!" The king exclaimed in horror before trying to back further away from me.

"Oh, yes your majesty! We saw her spying on the village and castle near the borders of the Dark Forest. Clearly her eyesight must be enhanced for this…criminal espionage," he exaggerated to the court who ate up every word he was saying.

"N-n-no!" I finally shouted out, making Roland whirl on me in shock while others whispered out various forms of 'it can talk?'

"Th-tha-that's not true! I'm lost and I was trying t-to get my bearings a-and, and—"

"And, and nothing. My men and I bravely risked our lives to catch you, spy. And with the King's permission we'll get the truth out of you and who you work for." Roland said with such confidence and authority that the whole court was right back on his side nodding their heads in approval. Even the king seemed to be swaying towards the safe side of things and having me locked up.

I couldn't believe this was happening. I may not remember what my life was like before, but I'm pretty sure that I never had to run the risk of being locked away and tortured. The tears came before I knew it and I was sobbing like a baby. My cuffed hands tried to rub the traitorous tears away, but they kept coming.

Roland was probably there smiling at my 'evident guilt' or however he tried to spin this, but I was too far gone in my own self-pity to care what he was doing.

The fear had such a strong grip on me.

The fear that created loneliness.

The same fear that created scared girls longing for safety. Longing for someone to wrap their arms around them and reassure them that they were not alone.

"There, there, it's okay…you're okay, you're alright. I'm here for you," a soft voice spoke to me and kind arms securely wrapped me in a warm embrace.

"M-Ma-Marianne! What are you doing? She's a spy! She's dangerous! She's—"

"She's a scared child, Roland," Marianne defended me while rubbing gentle circles on my back. She continued on with her speech by adding, "I know you take your job very seriously to protect the people, my family, and me; but you can't let that blind you. Look at her, the poor thing is scared to death."

On that note, Marianne lifted my tear-stained face towards Roland. He didn't seem to be paying attention to me, but, was looking around the room at the others' reactions; Marianne didn't notice this.

"Oh, buttercup! Could you ever forgive your future king?" Roland pleaded while kneeling in front of Marianne. "You know I can be such a fool sometimes when I think the woman I love may be in peril's way."

Everyone awed and cooed at that 'romantic' admission.

"Of course I forgive you, Roland!" Marianne happily replied before getting up to stand behind me. Her reassuring hand on my shoulder. "However, I think you need to apologize to this little girl before we move on."

"Oh-Oh! Yes, yes—ahem—I am truly sorry for terrifying you with such atrocious claims, little lady. Especially to such a cute—uh—kid as yourself," Roland's grandiose apology ended with him bowing in front of me.

I may not know much about myself, but I know that I do not trust him and need to keep my distance.

Satisfied with my judgement call, I turned myself away from the faker and buried my head into Marianne's stomach; hoping that he would disappear along with everyone else.

"Awww, someone must be a little shy," Marianne cooed at me while stroking the top of my head. "Come on, we'll get you all cleaned up and get some food in your belly, how does that sound?" She asked me, holding her hand out with a smile on her face. I nodded my head eagerly and went to place my hand in hers when the cuffs jingled a reminder at my captive state.

"Oh, Roland, won't you take those shackles off her," Marianne pleaded while gently holding my wrist out for them to unlock the metal cuffs.

"Of course, my flower petal!" Roland exclaimed before barking out for one of the guards to unlock my hands.

Once free, Marianne was leading me to the door when Roland hesitantly asked, "Ar-Are you sure you don't need me to come with you, my future queen?"

"No, that's alright…I think it's best that we have some girl time," Marianne informed him before quickly reassuring him that she'd see him later tonight for their date.

With that final declaration, Marianne led me through the halls to a set of beautiful, wooden doors with ornate metal pattern in the shapes of trees and flowers. Once inside I saw a giant rose bed that was hanging from the ceiling by four strands of beads. Off to the side there was a vanity and a little reading nook with daisies on top for…pillows?

"This is my bedroom," Marianne gently told me while leading me to another door in the far corner of the room, "Through there is my personal bathing pool and some towels in the cupboard closest to the door. Go ahead and get washed up. I'll see if I can't find some new clothes that will fit you and some medicine for that nasty cut on your head."

She gently grazed her hand on said cut without applying any pressure; she's so kind.

"Th-thank you, uhm, Princess M-Marianne?"

"Just Marianne is fine," she told me before gently pushing me towards the door, "Go get cleaned up—I'll be right back."

I smiled before closing the door behind me.

Thank heavens for my miracle named Marianne.

Once I was washed up and my hair was dried, I was given a simple, green dress with beige, canvas, anklet boots to wear. Marianne then had me sit on her rose bed so that she could apply first aid while we waited for a servant to deliver us some food. The first cut she tended was the gash on my head which she told me was starting to form a lump and that we should ice it right away. She started with my left arm and was working her way up when she noticed an old scar on my back. It was situated where the slits for fairy wings were located on the dress, but I didn't have the same scar on the right side.

"That's strange…were you born with one wing or did something happen to this one and you had the other delicately removed so it wouldn't scar?" Marianne asked with only curiosity in her voice. Much different from the guards and the blatant disgust they showed towards my appearance.

"Uh…no…I'm, I'm not a fairy, Pri—Marianne," I told her honestly, hoping she wouldn't hate me for my species.

"Oh? Huh, you're too tall to be an elf…hmmm…do you know what you are?" Marianne kindly asked me.

"Uhm…yes…I think—that is I know that I'm a human, but I can't remember anything else," I told her with a great deal of embarrassment and lowered my head in shame.

"Hu-human?" She asked with a puzzled look on her face. "What is a human? And what do you mean that you don't remember anything?"

Disbelief pooled in my eyes.

Do humans not exist here? Where did I fall and how did I end up in a place where my species doesn't exist?

I must have voiced my racing thoughts out loud because Marianne grabbed my hand before motioning for me to take a deep breath and told me to start at the beginning.

I told her everything.

How I did not know my name, how old I was, where I came from, how I got here, or even if I had any family out there that may be looking for me. For all I knew, I may not even have a home to return to since no one has apparently seen or heard of a human before. The only thing that I am certain of is basic knowledge.

I like colors, I like stars, I like flowers, I'm a girl, I'm human, I'm a child, and I am scared.

I did not mention to Marianne the rude and cruel things the guards said to me before they brought me here; just said they suspected me of a crime and brought me before the king. I finally had a friend and I did not want to rock the boat and ruin our friendship. Besides, this may be my first friend in my life; who knows with my lack of memories.

Marianne hugged me and told me that I wouldn't have to worry about remembering my past. That we would create new memories together and that I was welcome to stay with her for as long as I wanted. My eyes spilled with tears as I cried with joy and she soothingly patted my back.

Once I calmed down, Marianne resumed with patching me up. The food came shortly after she was done treating my wounds and we pondered a new question as we ate our sandwiches.

What name shall I be given?

"Rosella, Ophelia, or perhaps Penelope?"

None of those felt right, but Marianne was determined.

"Aurora?"

"No."

"Beatrix?"

"Isn't that a witch?"

"Hmmm…Audrey?"

"Eh…"

"Violet?"

"I like the color, but…no."

"Oh, how about Henrietta?"

"I do like the sound of older names, but…"

"Not feeling that one? That's alright, how about…Genevieve?"

"Gen."

"Huh?"

"Uh…sorry just something about Gen reminded me…of—well, I don't know what, but anyway, it's silly to just be Gen. Please forget I said anything."

"Gen, huh…hmmm—oh!" With a gasp Marianne practically jumped into the air with a grand smile on her face. She pointed at me with a great confidence before stating, "Imogen."

"Imogen…hmmm… 'Em-Oh-Jen' Imogen, and I can be called Gen for short…" I repeated the name a couple of more times before smiling up at Marianne, "I love it!"

I raced up to hug her and she laughed at my enthusiasm.

"It's perfect right?" She asked me already knowing I would nod passionately with approval. "The best part about it is, is its meaning." Marianne told me with a smile.

"What does it mean?" I asked with a slight tilt of my head.

"It means 'innocent child.' This way when they ask what you are, you can tell them your name and leave it at that," she told me before giving me one final hug before we sat down to finish our meal.

"Besides, I'll be the queen one day and if anyone dares say otherwise I can just have them beheaded."

Okay, I now know one more thing; Marianne is the most badass person in all existence.