The Inventor

The Strange & Unusual Universe of Silver Moon Unicorn

(Another old tale I found in the Guardian archives. This one describes how the Guardians tended to whisk away a scientist or inventor who was persecuted in their own home. —Silver Moon Unicorn)

Greg, a fairy, always got excited whenever he found odds and ends which nobody wanted. He’d take them away and build things. It got to the point the villagers knew they could leave things at his house they no longer wanted. Many items were broken or considered completely worthless.

He was busy putting odds and ends together that he didn’t notice a new elf couple enter the village on horseback. They were both armed with swords, daggers, bows and arrows. The villagers weren’t sure why the couple didn’t attack. Darius and Jazmin weren’t interested in fighting with anyone, except perhaps themselves. They greeted and questioned the villagers.

“Excuse me, but we heard there was a strange person who lives here that takes your unwanted odds and ends and makes things out of them. If that is true, will you tells us where he lives?”

“Will you take him away?”

“We could take him off your hands. Certainly.”

“Good. His inventions are too scary and useless for us. His house is just down that alley. We try not to go there or anywhere near it, unless we have something to get rid of.”

The elf couple thanked them and went down the alley. Once they were out of the main village, they could see all sorts of contraptions in the yard around the house and more through the windows. The fairy continued building and didn’t see the couple approach his house. Darius and Jazmin looked around and saw the devices, not sure what they could do or what their purposes were. Darius stopped at the door and knocked.

Greg jumped. No one ever knocked on his door! “Just a minute! I’ll be right there!”

Jazmin and Darius looked at each other. Then they looked at the door as it was opened to them.

“Hello, there. I wasn’t expecting company, but please come in.” He ushered the elves into his small, crowded house.

“Hello, there. We hope we’re not intruding. We heard about your inventions.”

“Oh, you’re not intruding. I, uh, never get any visitors. I, uh…”

“Well, we can see you’ve been busy with your inventions. Not sure what they all do, but we could use someone with your talent. We’re a small group at the moment, but we need someone who can build and fix things. What do you say? Would you like to come with us?”

“Hmm, well, I suppose the villagers would be happy if I was gone. Would I be able to bring my inventions with me?”

The elves looked at each other. “I suppose we could arrange it.”

“I think it would be better if we did take the inventions as well. Those villagers are truly afraid of him and what he does,” Jazmin spoke for the first time.

“Alright, then how to we take them?”

The fairy flew up to the rafter window. “Ah, it’s still there! There’s a cart out back. I can help take apart some of the larger inventions.” He flew back down to the ground floor and wasted no time in disassembling his works.

Jazmin and Darius offered to help, but they couldn’t understand what to do without breaking the parts. Greg just went on and disassembled as quickly as he could. The elves went ahead and loaded up the cart. They were careful with the machinery and whatever items they found around and in Greg’s house.

They were able to get everything on the cart. Next they went to get their horses and hitched them to the cart. The elves walked back to the castle while Greg flew the whole way.

Once there, they helped unload the cart. Greg wasted no time in showing everybody what his inventions were and what how they worked. Everyone was amazed.

Julio asked him, “What do you know about telescopes?”

“Telescopes? Oh, most people like to use them for spying on other people. A few people, I hear, use them to gaze at the stars.”

“I use my telescope to study the stars and planets. It’s broken right now. Can you fix it or build me another one?”

“Hmm, I’d have to look at it first. I’m usually quite good at fixing and building things. Show me the way to the telescope.”