Twinkleglim Pond

In the middle of a dense forest there was a very special place called [[Twinkleglim Pond]]. By day the pond was deceptively normal, but one night a year it was a much different sight. When the sun went down and the sky became dark thousands of small twinklebugs would come out of their homes to fly around in the air. This major event was called bright night and it was the most exciting time of the year for all of twinklebug kind. Twinklebugs aren't just any kind of bug, they are given their name because it is said that they aspire to copy the stars up above by glowing brightly yellow with their bodies. By flying and glowing the males create wonderful pattern streams of light in order to try to attract the females. If the female likes that pattern she will fly up alongside the male and emit a very sweet scent from her antennae. Then they will pair for life and live happily ever after. [[pg2]]

This story is about a very special little twinklebug named [[Wisp]]. Wisp grew up a very happy twinklebug. He could run and laugh and play with all the other twinklebugs around the pond. He couldn't wait for bright night and tried to practice some patterns on his own over time. It was a safe and peaceful home. The twinklebugs had no worries. Soon the exciting bright night came and Wisp was as ready as can be to put on the best light stream show he could. It was a dazzling spectacle as all of the male bugs soared up into the air, each buzzing and weaving beautiful patterns. Wisp could hardly contain his joy as he flew and zig zagged all around. [[pg3]]

Bright night commenced with excitement and thousands of twinklebugs were pairing off together as the night went on. Wisp flew and flew, but no one came up to fly with him. It was almost morning time now and Wisp was growing worried. By the time the sun rose over the horizon all of the other twinklebugs had landed back down by the pond in happy pairs ready to make new homes together. But Wisp was all alone. He flew back down by himself and landed next to the pond near the water's edge. He didn't understand why no other twinklebug wanted to pair with him. Were his patterns not good enough? Was he flying too fast? Was he not glowing brightly enough? Wisp stared at his reflection in the clear water. Wisp tried to glow. Nothing happened. No glow. Wisp was shocked. He began to try over and over, straining to try to glow even the tiniest bit, but he simply couldn't. His [[tears]] fell into the pond as he sat down and cried. What kind of a twinklebug couldn't even glow? Now he would have to be alone forever. [[pg4]]

Wisp cried and cried. After awhile he was interrupted by a sound coming from the tall grass nearby. Wisp jumped up and turned around with a sniffle. "Who's there?", he asked softly. He inched closer and could make out a small shadow. However, when he got too close the shadow ran off further into the [[thick grass.]] "Wait, please don't run away!", he exclaimed. Something compelled Wisp to chase the shadow into the grass. He ran and ran. The shadow ran behind a large rock and Wisp followed. But when he came around to the other side of the rock the shadow was gone. Wisp stood there and tried to catch his breath. Now he was confused. There were three different possible ways the shadow could have gone. [[Hiding in a hollowed tree stump.]] [[Keep running through the grass.]] [[Look up ontop of the rock.]]

Wisp ran over to the base of the [[tree stump.]] He huffed and puffed as he climbed the side on the bark. He peeked down into the wide hole. Nothing greeted him except a large brown toad, blinking slowly. Wisp frowned and sighed sadly. The toad could not have been the shadow. It was much too big and lazy. Wisp climbed down from the stump sadly and began to head back towards the pond. [[next]]

Wisp looked at the thick grass and took off into it once more at a sprint. He ran and ran until he was out of breath. He sat down exhausted and sadly having lost the shadow. Another rustling in the grass nearby caught his attention. Wisp turned and looked over his shoulder. "Hello?", he panted tiredly. A large smooth green form emerged. It was a dangerous [[snake]], one that likes to eat twinklebugs. Wisp cried out in fear and tried to make a run for it, but he was too tired. He tripped over a twig and fell. The snake lunged and ate him in one gulp. THE END?!?!

Wisp heard a soft squeak close by. It sounded like it was coming from up above him. He turned and looked up at the rock. To his surprise, he saw another twinklebug hiding up on the [[top]]. It was a female. She tried to scoot backwards and hide more from his vision, but she made another loud squeak and slipped quickly from view. It was followed soon by a loud thud. Wisp ran around to the other side of the rock to see that she had fallen off and landed on her back. He rushed over to help her up. She accepted his help and they both looked at each other for a few silent moments. Wisp finally spoke. "Are you OK?", he asked. "Yes, I am alright. Thank you.", she replied. "My name is Wisp. What is your name?", he inquired. "My name is Chi.", she said. "Why were you watching me from the grass?", he asked. "I saw you were very sad.", she stated. "May I ask why you were crying?" Wisp frowned and looked down. He was too ashamed to admit that he couldn't glow. She saw that he was upset by the question and smiled. "It's ok, you don't have to tell me.", she said kindly. "We should head back to the pond. It isn't safe to be far away from it. Do you want to walk together?", he asked. "Sure! I would like that!", she said. They both walked together back through the tall grass until they got back to the pond. [[pg6]]

When they returned Chi turned to him with a big smile. "Do you want to see where I go when I am upset?", she asked. "Sure, lead the way.", he replied. Chi took Wisp's hand and led him along around the pond until they came to a large fallen log sticking up out of the water and mud along the bank. "Follow me!", she exclaimed. Wisp followed her as she climbed up a few small branches and into the hollow log through a small hole. Then she walked up a slope of mud and through another hole at the top. He kept close behind her as they arrived up ontop of the log and carefully balanced on another branch to sit side by side so they could see the [[sun set.]] "This is my favorite spot! You can almost see the whole pond.", she said happily. Wisp smiled and nodded. "Yeah, it's really pretty up here!", he agreed. [[pg 7]]

Wisp and Chi watched the sun set and soon the night was alive again. He turned to look at her. "Did you find a partner for bright night?", he questioned. Chi frowned and looked down into the water below. "No, I didn't. I wasn't really up to participate actually...", she spoke softly. Wisp looked shocked. "Why not? It's the best night of the year!", he exclaimed. "Because...", she barely whispered. Wisp leapt off the branch, much to Chi's surprise. He fluttered his wings and flew in a few upside down loops. "Flying usually makes me feel better too! Let's fly together!", he said with glee. Chi looked very nervous. "I don't think I should...", she stated quietly. "Aw come on! Fly with me! I promise it will be fun!", he [[urged.]] Wisp tried to take her hands and pull her off the branch. Chi yelped in fear and slipped off the branch, but she managed to grab onto the branch just in the nick of time to hold on. She clung to it and trembled. "NO! I CAN'T! I CAN'T FLY!", she yelled. Wisp looked very shocked. He flew down and helped her climb back up onto the log safely. He landed beside her and looked very apologetic. "I'm very sorry. I didn't know that you couldn't fly. I didn't mean to scare you.", he whimpered. Chi crossed her arms and huffed. "It's why I couldn't find a partner for bright night...", she admitted. "No one would want to be with a twinklebug that can't even fly..." Wisp gently put a hand on her shoulder to try to comfort her. "Well I am a twinklebug who can't glow, so we both can be unwanted together!", he stated cheerfully. Chi smiled a little at him. She seemed to be a bit cheered up by his words. He smiled back with an excited flit of his wings. [[pg8]]

Wisp held hands with Chi as he walked her back to her house when night finally came. He flittered back to his own house happier than he had ever been before. However, just as he was approaching his house he spotted something larger in the distance scratching at his front door. It didn't look like a twinklebug, nor any other bug he had ever seen. He approached slowly and cautiously. "H-Hello?', he said. The creature seemed to notice the new voice. It turned and faced him with a crooked smile. The figure had a spider body for it's lower half with long black legs. It's upper half resembled more of a praying mantis with long pincers for arms. It laughed at Wisp's fear. "I am not going to eat you, little twinklebug. I came to ask for your help.", the creature replied. Wisp tried to seem not as timid as he came forth. "What do you need my help for?", he asked hesitantly. The creature approached closer, towering over Wisp. "I have a lot of friends and we need a safe place to stay since our last home was destroyed. Do you know if there is anywhere safe around here?", he inquired. Wisp's smiled brightly because he truly wanted to help out this new stranger. "The pond here is very safe! We twinklebugs all live here and its wonderful! You are very welcome to live with us.", he chirped eagerly. The creature chuckled and clicked its pincers together. "That sounds grand. I'll return soon with my friends.", he hummed. Wisp waved to the new friend he had made as he watched him wander off into the tall grass. Now he could enter his home and sleep. And he [[did]]...

As Wisp was walking back to the pond a tall and skinny figure jumped out at him. Wisp yelped and fell backwards in a [[fright.]] "Ah!? Who are you?! Please don't eat me!", he yelled fearfully. The figure that emerged had a spider body for it's lower half with long black legs. It's upper half resembled more of a praying mantis with long pincers for arms. It laughed at Wisp's fear. "I am not going to eat you, little twinklebug. I came to ask for your help.", the creature replied. [[next2]]

Wisp tried to seem not as scared and he stood up. "What do you need my help for?", he asked hesitantly. The creature approached closer, towering over Wisp. "I have a lot of friends and we need a safe place to stay since our last home was destroyed. Do you know if there is anywhere safe around here?", he inquired. Wisp's mood rose because he truly wanted to help out this new [[stranger.]] "The pond that I live at is very safe and nearby! I can take you there!", he chirped eagerly. The creature chuckled and clicked it's pincers together. "That sounds wonderful. Please lead the way.", he hummed. [[next3]]

Wisp happily lead the new creature back through the grass to the pond. "Here we are! Isn't it pretty?", he said proudly. "You and your friends are welcome to stay here!" The creature chuckled a bit as it looked around. "This will do perfectly, I think. Thank you very much.", he replied. "My name is Wisp! If you need anymore help just let me know.", he said cheerfully. "I will be back with my friends, They will be very happy too.", he grinned. Wisp watched as the creature went back into the tall grass again then he flew on home to get some sleep. [[next4]]

The next morning Wisp would awaken by the sound of thunderous knocks on his door. He flittered over as fast as he could and opened it in a rush. To his shock, the entire community of twinklebugs were at his door and they seemed very unhappy. "What have you done, Wisp?!" cried one. "They are polluting the pond!", shouted another. "Some are attacking us too!", sobbed a small one. "What are you all talking about?", begged Wisp worriedly. "Those creatures you invited! They are ruining our home!", said an elder. Everyone blamed Wisp. Wisp flew off to see what had happened to their home while he was asleep. It was all true. The creature had brought dozens of his friends, all like him. They were poullting the pond. They were attacking the other twinklebugs. Wisp rushed to find the one he had spoken to. [[next5]]

Wisp landed in front of the creature he met the other day. "Why are you doing this to our home?", cried Wisp squeakily. The creature laughed at him. "This is not your home anymore, little bug. It is ours now. If you don't like it you can leave.", he cackled. "Please stop!", the little twinklebug pleaded. "Or what?", challenged the larger bug. "Get out of here!" The larger creature used it's long sharp arms to swipe at Wisp. The little glitterbug couldn't react in time and got a nasty cut to the tummy, knocking him back. Wisp cried and flew away as fast as he could. Away from the pond. Away from his home. Away from everything he loved. Now he was truly alone and sad. THE SAD ENDING

Until he heard a loud knocking at his door. He jumped up with a start and rushed over. When he opened it, he was very surprised to find Chi standing there looking very upset. "What's wrong, Chi?", he chirped worriedly. The poor twinklebug sighed with some tears in her eyes. "There are these new creatures that came to the pond. They said that you invited them to live here. It wouldn't be so bad, but they are doing awful things.", she whimpered. "Like what?", asked Wisp. "All of the other twinklebugs are hiding now because these creatures are polluting the pond and attacking them.", she cried. "I will talk to them and we will all work this out, I'm sure.", he assured. "I will come with you.", she stated. So the two rushed off to the pond together. They found a sad sight. All of those creatures were doing bad things like polluting and attacking. Wisp seemed to recognize the one creature he had spoken to last night. He went over hurriedly as Chi [[followed.]]

The larger creature seemed to be having lots of fun with his other friends until he saw the two small twinklebugs run over. "Oh, hey litte twinklebug.", he laughed. "You were right, this place is great." "You must stop harming the other twinklebugs and polluting the pond, please!", begged Wisp. The creature laughed and his friends joined in. "Why would we do that?", he inquired. "Because we are supposed to live together peacefully!", Wisp said. The creature shook his head and shrugged. "Live together? I think not. This is our home now. You twinklebugs can leave.", he chuckled. Wisp and Chi looked at each other worriedly then back up at the creature. "That's not nice at all!", cried Wisp. "Too bad. What are you gonna do about it?", he smirked. Chi stepped forward upsetly. "This was our home first, you meanies!", she yelled. "Leave now or you'll regret it!", he yelled back. At this point, other twinklebugs were poking their little heads out of the woodwork from all around, fearful of what was happening. "NO!", cried Chi [[defiantly]].

The creature now seemed very angry. He didn't like Chi standing up to him. "Then you asked for it!", he snarled. With a quick swipe of his long sharp mantis claw he lunged forward and slashed Chi across her tummy. She cried out in pain and tumbled backwards. Wisp rushed to her side horrified. "CHI!!!", he screamed. Poor Chi was laying face down and whimpering from her injury. Wisp looked back over at the creature angrily. He felt a new courage rising inside of him. He flew at the larger creature and tried to attack it. The creature swipe and slashed, knocking Wisp back several times and harming him. But Wisp [[didn't give up]].

Wisp fought and fought, kicking and slapping and charging. Sadly he was no match for the larger bug. He was beat back over and over until he didn't have the strength to get up anymore. Chi sobbed at the sight of the battle. "WISP!", she cried. "Stupid little twinklebug! You can't beat me!", he cackled triumphantly. "Your stupid pond is ours now forever!" This began to anger the rest of the twinklebugs. They saw how hard that Chi and Wisp were fighting for their home, even though he couldn't glow and she couldn't fly. They were still fighting for all of twinklebug kind. "We have to help them!", cried one from behind a rock. "Yeah, we can't just let them take our home!", yelled another from under a leaf. Soon enough all of the other twinklebugs rushed out from their hiding places and joined in the fight. They kicked and slapped and charged just like Wisp did against all the other creatures. They soon overwhelmed them with their numbers. The creatures flailed and finally thought better of their plan. "R-Run!", sneered one. "This isn't worth it!", shouted a second. And it was so that the twinklebugs were victorious! They fought away the nasty creatures and chased them back into the forest from whence they came. Chi raced over to hug Wisp tightly. "You did it, Wisp!", she cried happily. "We did it!", he laughed. Soon all the other twinklebugs rushed to surround the two and congratulate them. It was soon after they were both brought back to Wisp's house and treated with special twinklebug medicine tea. And so once all the others left, Wisp and Chi decided to live together happily ever after in the little tree by the pond. A very special place called Twinkleglim pond. THE HAPPY ENDING! Thank you for reading~ (All images belong to their respective deviantart creators.)