Buttershy and the Cave Troll

So here's my first Zelf fan-fiction story, and in honour of the Zelf of the Week I chose Buttershy as the first book! Hope you enjoy! (Its aimed at children and the moral is about seeking perfection, but anyway have a read and let me know your thoughts!)


Buttershy and the Cave Troll - aka A Story about Positivity

It was a typical summer's afternoon in Zardenia. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the flowers were dancing in the breeze. It was a glorious day, and all the Zelfs were busy doing what they do best.

Manny and Dorothy Doe were chatting, sitting on the swings in the Hide and Zeek playground. Catsby and Lullaby were on the Zee-Zaw having a fun time, Webina was sat under a tree, with her trusty laptop in front of her, surfing the Zinterweb. Beetrice was serving fresh lemonade from a cart nearby. Owlmanda was laughing at the sight of Elfa and Birchy who were busy climbing trees in Split End Forest. Lil'D was stalking Angelala in Zoho Park where she was having a picnic with her gal pals Lunanne and Vampula, who was busy preening and staring at her reflection whilst Lunanne served tea and scones. Angelala was practicing on her beloved harp, with a chorus of birds accompanying her. Puffs of coloured smoke rising from the chimney of the Witchbrew Bistro, meant Spellinda was cooking up a new batch of recipes whilst singing to herself. Howlette stopped to watch the clouds turn a vivid shade of magenta, before carrying on her way chuckling to herself. Lady B was sat on a deck chair in the sun, wearing her sunglasses, fanning herself and looking fabulous, whilst Lochlan was timing Mermalade who was doing laps in the Rock Pool. Ribbita took a running leap and dive bombed, drenching a now soggy looking Dandy Lion, who's shaggy mane now flopped over like a wilted flower. Old Grandfather Time sat on his favourite rock telling stories to the little Zelfings, and Pegasue was transfixed by her book collection nearby. Garny and Flamy raced around the Day Z Gardens, trying to outrun each other, they were both competetive. Occasionally Garny would use his wings, prompting calls of 'cheat!' from his rival, and then Flamy would use his fire-power to gain the upper-hand, and claims of 'no fair!' meant that nobody would ever win the race. Float was hovering in the air, making cloud angels whilst Ty Foon sat in his cloud hammock, looking grumpy as usual.

All the Zelfs were happy and content, except for one. The little Zelf known as Buttershy. She should have been happy, the sky was the perfect shade of blue, the grass, the trees, the flowers all looked their best and the insects were buzzing in satisfaction. She sat at her window, looking out at the world around her. Leaning on her elbow, she let out a sigh.

'Oh dear Buttershy, pull your-zelf together girl.' she said to herself. From her habitat she could see all her Zelf friends outside, having fun. Kitsu waved at her from the wig-wam nearby but she could hardly muster up a smile. In a second, her friend was gone, probably off frolicking in the meadows.

Buttershy would have loved to go off for an adventure with her friends, but she was stuck indoors. You see, Buttershy had a bit of a problem. She had ripped her wing on a tree branch and was now house-bound. She didn't want the other Zelfs to know about her accident, and was so used to hovering and flitting about, her wings were second-nature to her. True, she could still go out and walk about, but was deeply unhappy with her situation and didn't want any sympathy from the Zelfs. She felt that she looked awful, like something was wrong with her and the other Zelfs would stare or think that she was imperfect. She felt hideous.

Looking at herself in the mirror, one of her pink wings had a small scratch in it, which prevented her from flying properly. In fact after she had snagged herself on the branch last night she had tried to fly but the air current flew straight through her tear, and she had crash landed straight into the ground. Luckily no-one had been around to see her misfortune, and as much as she wished she could go back in time, she knew it was impossible.

Usually she could find something to do indoors, such as cleaning and tidying or even her pottery wheel, which she loved to make little cups and bowls for her fellow Zelfs. She didn't feel like going outside right now, and had telephoned her friend Dolly the Moth Zelf and cancelled their meeting today, saying she was feeling under the weather. She knew her friend would be concerned and would have come straight over to the Flitterpad, but she told her she was just going to rest for the day.

Only now the day after, she realised that she couldn't fix herself in a single day and she was stuck indoors without a clue how she could help herself. She didn't want the other Zelfs to help either, feeling that she was not looking her best with her imperfect wings. So all day she stayed inside, feeling very sorry for herself. By the time the blue sky had turned into an inky dark night, the moon had replaced the sun and the stars were twinkling, Buttershy had been in her home all day, alone with her thoughts. She had finally come up with a plan.

She was going to leave. Nobody could see her like this. That is what she had decided. So when all was quiet in Zardenia and she knew all the Zelfs would be tucked up in bed dreaming. She packed a little bag and set off, walking instead of flying, with a shawl covering her wings and hoping that she wouldn't run into any of her fellow Zelflings, in case they asked where she was going.

She passed through the Ponytail Paddocks, and the Moon Lagoon without a fuss, creeping stealthily so as not to disturb anyone or anything. It was silent and peaceful, even the crickets and night creatures were fast asleep. The rhythmic snorings from Grandfather Time's cottage told her that she was all alone as she travelled further away from her friends and all she knew in Zardenia. Buttershy was sad and there was a nagging feeling in her stomach, that she couldn't quite shift. But she had made up her mind, she couldn't let the other zelfs see her like this, she couldn't deal with their looks of either shock or even worse, sympathy.

Pretty soon she was as sad as she could possibly be. Buttershy sat on a rock and looked back into the distance and the little lights she knew as her cosy little part of the world. A tear fell from her eyes, and soon she was caught up in a little torrent of emotion and she was crying.

'Oh dear, what have I done?' she said out loud to herself. 'I am sooooo sad and miserable, and all alone.'

'Me too.' a funny sort of voice agreed with her.

Buttershy stopped and looked around in amazement. She was sat in an unfamiliar environment. A rocky outcrop of rocks, barely any plants or trees or bushes. The ground was dry and barren. In fact it was such a miserable place, she wondered how she had gotten here. Nearby was a cave, surrounded by more rocks. This place made her miss her beautiful little home, with all the flowers and birds and her friends nearby. Who on Earth could live in a place like this? She thought she could see someone sitting just within the cave entrance. 

'Wh......o.....'s there?' she asked, suddenly a little afraid.

'Who are you?' the other voice also trembled back.

'Erm, my name is Buttershy. I am a Zelf. Of Zardenia.'

'My name is Trollvis. Of Trollbania.' the voice answered.

'Hello Trollvis. I thought I was alone out here.'

'So did I.'

Curiousity got the better of her, and Buttershy hopped off the rock. The voice was definitely coming from the cave. She slowly inched towards the dark hole.

'What are you doing out here?' she asked.

'What are you doing out here?' the voice echoed.

'I was.....,' Buttershy stopped, suddenly realising she was about to tell this stranger that she had left her home and was running away. Suddenly it sounded like such a silly thing to do, in her head.

'I came for a walk. I didn't expect to see anyone out here, especially at this time of night.' she said. Buttershy was just outside the cave entrance. She screwed up her eyes, trying to make out the shape of the visitor inside.

'Why are you hiding in that cave?' she asked, feeling brave and hoping it wasn't a monster. There was a shuffling noise as the stranger moved closer to the entrance.

'I am hiding. Plus I didn't want any of my kind to see me.' the voice answered sadly.

'Why?' she asked puzzled.

'Because there's something wrong with me.' he replied even more sadly.

'Wha.......t?' Buttershy startled. This was a feeling like a familiar situation.

'What's wrong with you, maybe I can help?' she said. 'May I see you?'

'I'm not sure', Trollvis said sounding like he was unsure, 'I look pretty horrible. Maybe I will frighten you?' he said.

'Nonsense. If there is something I can do to help you, you should let me.' she said, thinking how silly it had been not to see her fellow Zelfs about her own problem, they were caring and would understand.

'Well if you promise not to run away?' Trollvis asked, shuffling towards the mouth of the cave.

'I promise.' she said, although she was a little nervous as to what to expect.

Trollvis slowly stepped outside, he was at least ten times bigger than anyone Buttershy had ever seen. He was ginormous! She gulped, and hoped that he wouldn't notice that she was a little afraid. But she had made a promise, and when Buttershy made a promise she kept it. She didn't run away.

Trollvis was a funny looking fellow, big and grey, and sort of rocky looking. He was made of stone and had two little horns sticking out of his head. He had big rock lips, and two big rocky hands. His shoulders were big and broad, and he had two great big slabs of stone for feet. He shuffled as he walked and looked just as miserable as she was. The more she looked at him, the less she was scared of him. He looked so sorrowful and sad.

'You look pretty normal to me.' she said firmly, as if she saw giant rock creatures all the time.

'Really?' he said, unsure.

'Uh-huh. Now why do you think there is something so hideous about you?'

'Its this crack on my face.' he said, lifting his big rocky hands up to show her his face.

She was just about to flitter up to look closer at his face, when she remembered her own imperfection.

'Hmmmm.....would you kindly lift me up to have a closer look, please?' she said confidently.

'Okay.' he said, putting out his hand. Buttershy nimbly hopped on and he lifted her very gently up close to his face.

Funnily enough, being this close up to him, Buttershy should have felt terrified but instead she didn't at all. She looked into his sad eyes, and felt her own thoughts and feelings reflected back at her in his big black eyes.

She felt along the crack on his face.

'Ohhhhhhhhhhh no, I am soooooooo ugly!' he wailed, puddles of teardrops pooling at his eyes.

'Nonsense.'

'But my friends will think I am for sure, I have this big crack on my face.' he moaned.

'That can be fixed.' she said, thinking hard how she could help him.

'You really think so?' he asked, wiping his eyes, hopefully.

'Yes. I'm certain. Now, let me think....' she said looking around.

All around her was stones and dry soil. An idea crept into her mind.

'Trollvis, could you crush some rocks with your hands?' she said.

'Of course, we trolls are very strong.'

'Very good. I need some crushed up rocks and some water to make a paste.'

Trollvis placed Buttershy carefully down and gathered a couple of rocks to break up.'

'Now where do i get some water from?' she said aloud, looking at the barren desert they were in. 'Hmmmmmm.......' she began pacing.

'Ohhhhh no, there's no water around here.' Trollvis exclaimed, starting to get sad again.

Buttershy felt a little deflated.

Suddenly she was splashed by a big droplet of rain.

'Rain?' she said, sticking out her hand puzzled. 'It wasn't forecast'. She looked up at the sky and saw tears falling from Trollvis.

'Its no good', said Trollvis. 'I can't be fixed.'

'Trollvis! Look!' Buttershy said pointing up. Trollvis looked up.

'No. We can use your tears. Could you lift me up again?' she said determinedly.

Buttershy got to work, mixing the now crushed up rocks that were now powder and Trollvis' tears into a concrete paste. She remembered her pottery wheel and how much she missed it. In fact she missed all of her friends and Zardenia.

She told herself that after she helped her new found friend, she would go back home. With any luck she could be back before morning and no-one would know that she was gone.

Buttershy used the paste to smooth and cover the crack on Trollvis's face. She had so much clay that she used it all to cover the bumps and uneven surfaces on his face.

'There' she said, stepping back and looking at her handiwork.

Trollvis' face was now smooth and almost dare she say it, perfect?

'Do you want to look?' she said. 'I have a mirror in my bag.' she said satisfied she had made him look better.

'Ok' he said as she passed him the small mirror.

He looked where the crack had been sealed over.

'Very good. Thank you so much!,' he said, happily. 'I look....wait a minute.....! Oh no! I don't like that!'

'What is it?' she asked startled.

'Whilst I am extremely grateful for you covering the crack in my face, I don't like the rest of it, I'm afraid.'

'Wh...what's wrong with it?' she asked. 'I think you look perfect.'

'That's the problem, I look a little too perfect. Its not......me.' he said.

'I understand. Well I can fix it, if you're sure?' Buttershy said.

'Yes please. Nobody should be perfect. That's what makes us all individual.' Trollvis replied.

He was right of course. Nobody was perfect. So what, if she had torn her wing? So she couldn't fly, but she could still walk, and talk, and play, make her pots and still be the same Buttershy.

Buttershy thought more about her predicament and knew she had to go back home. Back to her family and friends. She quickly sorted Trollvis' face out and soon he was back to normal. Well as normal as a giant rock creature could be. The crack didn't show at all, and he looked......back to how he should look. Sort of bumpy and lumpy.

Buttershy smiled. Trollvis smiled back.

'Thank you'. he said.

'You are welcome'. she replied.

'If there's anything I can do for you in return?...'

'Not unless you can fix broken wings', she smiled, turning away to pack up her bag. 'I must be heading back now.'

'Your wing is broken. Why didn't you say? All this time I have been thinking about myself.' Trollvis exclaimed.

'Don't you worry about it Trollvis. It's my problem. Its fine.'

'Well I never!' he said shocked. 'I thought we were friends? Your problem is my problem. Just as my problem was yours.'

Buttershy smiled at him. He was the sweetest troll she had ever met.

'Thanks Trollvis. But I'm afraid I can't be fixed like you. Don't worry about it.' she said.

'Well do you mind if I take a look at it?' he said. 'I happen to be rather good with a needle and thread. A bit like you and you're what do you call it? Pottering?'

Buttershy laughed. Whoever heard of such a thing as a big lumpy rock troll with extra large hands that could sew?

He lifted her up and she turned around to show him her wing.

'Hmmm........' he said scrutinizing the tear.

Trollvis picked up a rock, that Buttershy had been sat on only moments before. She hadn't noticed that it was his own bag. He pulled out a pair of rock spectacles and put them on. They made his eyes look extremely magnified. She watched in awe as he pulled out a tiny Zelf sized needle and thread, and set about threading it.

Buttershy was amazed. Trollvis really was an expert at sewing, and within a minute had fixed up the tear in her wing, so delicately that she couldn't really feel a thing.

'There. Try your wings.' he said looking at her.

Buttershy flapped her wings a couple of times, they hadn't been used much in hours. To her astonishment, they buzzed in the night breeze and fluttered her up slowly but surely off the ground!

'Oh my! That's amazing! Thank you sooooo much Trollvis!'

'You are most welcome. They may not be perfect, but so long as they work?....'

'Nothing should be perfect', she echoed what he had said earlier. 'But they're perfect to me!'

Buttershy was so happy she could cry. Instead she fluttered up to Trollvis and kissed him on the cheek.

Trollvis blushed. Who knew that a rock face could???

'Trollvis, you are my friend now. I hope we can meet up again?' she said.

'Of course we can! You are my friend now aswell. But it's time I was heading back.'

'Goodbye Trollvis.'

'Goodbye Buttershy.'

They hugged and set off on their seperate ways. Buttershy thought how two very different people could help each other out in a crisis, and fix each other's problems. She smiled as she got closer and closer to the place she lived, the familiar surroundings. Although she had only been gone a few hours, she has missed Zardenia terribly.

As she got nearer to her fabitat, she saw her friend Bellafly sitting on the bench at the top of the hill.

'Hi Bellafly', she said walking up to her.

'Hi! What are you doing up at this hour?' Bellafly asked her.

'Just watching the sun come up. You?' Buttershy fibbed.

'Me too. Come and join me.' she motioned to her pal to sit beside her.

The two Zelfs sat down looking out over Zardenia.

'You look different' Bellafly said looking at her friend. Buttershy froze.

'Oh dear,' she thought, 'She will notice my wings. I'd better get used to this.' Buttershy prepared herself for the worst.

'Have you done something different with your hair?' Bellafly asked.

Buttershy smiled.

In the distance she could see the sleepy sun slowly trying to wake itself up on the horizon. Zardenia never looked so perfect.