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Troll: Knight of Cups

xmas

00:00 / 05:39

ADVENTURES IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (PART NINE)

Page of Cups

One day the Knight of Cups rode his horse near the ocean. He was lonely, and since he was a troll from another planet, he realized that he might never have a loving connection with another person. He loved his horse, of course, and they were friends, but he longed for something more. He was at the age now where back on his own planet, he would get married and have a family, but he began to despair that he would never find a person on this planet who would care about him.
Soon the troll came upon a young woman staring into a golden cup at a fish who seemed to be communicating with her. Even though the troll looked extremely old to humans, he would actually be considered about her age on his own planet. Since he was a knight of cups and she was a page of cups, the troll decided to strike up a conversation with her. "Hello, good page!" the troll blurted out. "How are you today?"
"I am fine, thank you," the page responded. "I am just having a conversation with my friend, who is telling me many interesting things."
"What sorts of interesting things?" the troll replied. "If you don't mind me asking."
"Right now," the page responded, "the fish is telling me that you are a knight who is famous for many astounding feats of strength and bravery. He is also telling me that you are an alien who has grown lonely because you cannot find a connection with another being the way that you would on your own planet. Unfortunately, when you are not wearing your armor, you appear extremely old and hideously ugly to humans and other creatures. Sorry if my friend's candor offends you."
Crestfallen, the troll replied, "No problem, really. We all have to face facts, don't we? Have a great day!" the troll exclaimed as he rode off.

Troll in the Castle Garden

When the troll got back to the castle, he went to the garden to release his sadness and his sense of disappointment. Oddly, the flowers in the garden clung to his armor as if he were a flower magnet. "It's like these flowers love me. How could that be? No doubt, it's because they cannot see me," he sighed.

Faery in Owl's Clover

The troll decided to take a walk in the hills to release his negative feelings. Suddenly he encountered a faery sitting in owl's clover flowers--which clung to his armor like the flowers in the castle garden. The faery gazed at him fondly. "Each faery is the oversoul of a whole species. She is not a troll or a human. How could she truly love me?" the troll asked himself as he waved at the faery and continued on his away.

Moon Goddess

It grew dark, but the troll still hadn't released his sadness. A full moon rose above the hills. Suddenly, the Moon Goddess appeared before him on the path. The Goddess opened her arms as if to embrace him. "How could a Moon Goddess love me? Her frequency is so much higher than mine that I feel like an amoeba in comparison," the troll sighed as the Goddess dissolved in the moonlight.

Exploring the Realm in Spring

The troll decided to explore the hills in springtime. Oddly, despite his sadness, he felt ravished by the beauty of the flowers as well as a sense of unity underlying all of creation. "Perhaps this is all I can hope for in this world," he thought to himself, which only made him sadder.

Pink Faery Lanterns and Wood Stars

Even stranger, the troll encountered pink faery lanterns in the shape of a human heart. "Is the universe mocking me?" he wondered out loud.

Meeting Mr. Mellifluous in the Enchanted Forest

The troll decided to explore the enchanted forest. Eventually he became tired and decided to rest under a tree for a while. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Mr. Mellifluous touched his arm, "Good to see you, friend. What brings you to the enchanted forest?"
The troll responded sleepily, "Mr. M, so good to see you again! I have to be honest with you. As a knight, I have gained respect throughout the realm, but I am experiencing a lingering sadness."
"What is the source of your sadness, my friend?" Mr. M inquired.

Dance of Abundance: Three of Cups (Mercury in Cancer)

"Well, I think it's because I will never be human. I saw some lovely women dancing not long ago, and I knew that they would never like me because I look extremely old and hideously ugly when I am not wearing my armor. I will always just be a strange, ugly alien to them and everyone else," the troll replied.
Mr. M pondered for a moment. "There are many ways that we can seem strange to each other. We can seem strange because we have spiritual beliefs different from other people. We can seem strange because we have different opinions. We can seem strange because we have unusual abilities," Mr. M replied. "Don't fret. Sooner or later we find peace."

Troll without Armor

"But, really, you should see me without my armor on," the troll complained. "I'm surprised that somebody hasn't arrested me or killed me just for being a freak."
"But people respect you for your great strength and skill as a knight. Believe me," Mr. M responded.

Slaying Breakers into Pieces

"I have slain many evil, terrifying creatures. That is true," the troll responded. "Recently, for instance, I vanquished the Breakers into Pieces."
"How did you feel after you vanquished them?" Mr. M asked.
"I felt triumphant, but strangely I also felt a great sense of peace," the troll replied.
"Hmmm," Mr. M grunted.

Slaying the Burners

"I have also vanquished the Burners, that horrible fiery demon on his terrible horse, which only lived to burn everything to the ground," the troll boasted.
"How did you feel after you vanquished them?" Mr. M again inquired.
"Again I felt feelings of triumph and peace," the troll replied.
"I think I am beginning to understand," Mr. M mumbled. "Please, continue."

Slaying a Dragon

"I have also slain a huge dragon. I am ten times faster than other creatures--a perk of being an alien," the troll responded.
"I think I get it now," Mr. M replied. "You are gifted with the ability to neutralize dark forces. You not only vanquish dark forces outside of you--you also vanquish the dark forces inside of you. No doubt that is why you feel peace after your victories."
"Yes, maybe so, but that doesn't get rid of my sadness," the troll softly lamented.
"I recommend that you talk with the Queen of Wands. She is nearby. She will help you," Mr. M advised.

The Queen of Wands

The troll introduced himself to the Queen of Wands and explained his problem to her. "You are a great knight," the Queen responded. "Let me ask you a question. Do you sometimes feel one with the flowers and the other creatures of the earth?"
"Yes, my Queen," the troll admitted.
"Do you think you can feel one with people?" the Queen inquired.
The troll pondered for a moment. "Yes, I know that it is possible, your Majesty," the troll confessed.
"Then you know that it is not how we appear to others but who we are inside," the Queen responded. "I grant you, many people cannot see beyond appearances or differences, but some people with spiritual insight can see who you really are--even if you might seem strange to them at first."

Ithuriel's Spears in Fiesta Flowers

The Queen continued, "Imagine that you are an unusually stunning flower in the midst of other flowers that are all the same as each other," the Queen suggested.
"Yes, your Majesty," the troll replied as he imagined the flowers mixing together.
"You are an unusual being among many human beings," the Queen explained. "I believe that another being will see who you really are at the right time--until then know that you are one with all other creatures of this earth, including human beings--even though humans can be extremely difficult at times. Know that you are already complete. You don't need anyone else to complete you. That by itself might be enough to bring peace to you eventually. But it is good to find someone else who is also a complete person to be with you as an equal companion."
"Yes, your Majesty. I will follow your wise advice. Thank you," the troll smiled as he bowed.

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2025 by Jim Robbins.

Troll: Knight of Wands

2epistl

00:00 / 04:09

ADVENTURES IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (PART TEN)

King Seditionist

The troll had disobeyed an illegal order to kill people who might be innocent. (Due to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, he was obligated to disobey the unlawful order.) The king had issued the kill order, claiming--without any evidence and without due process--that the people he was targeting were drug traffickers. Even if they were suspected of drug trafficking, the troll, as a Knight of Cups, was only duty-bound to arrest them and then let the courts judge them after a fair trial--not to subject them to summary execution, which is a violation of international law. Moreover, drug traffickers, even if found guilty in court, were rarely executed. In other words, the troll had refused to commit murder, but he knew the sociopathic king would send his secret police to arrest him and hang him for sedition, no doubt without a trial. So the troll asked his commanding officer to transfer him secretly to another unit. His commanding officer made sure that he was quickly transferred to another part of the realm, known as the State of the Element of Fire, where he became a Knight of Wands. The troll, however, also realized that the secret police would continue searching for him, so the troll came up with a plan of escape--just in case.
Meanwhile the king continued ordering the murder of drug traffickers who were suspected of smuggling an illicit opioid into the country--even though they were in small boats and would have to travel over a thousand and a half miles to get to the shores of the king's realm. The troll also knew that lawmakers and experts in government agencies claimed that the country that the king was blaming for all of the overdoses did not produce the illicit opioid. Nevertheless, the king kept breaking international law while insisting that the blown-apart and/or incinerated victims were drug traffickers who were responsible for the death of many citizens in his realm--always without any evidence. (Many relatives of the victims claimed that the victims were only fishermen.)
The king continued ordering extrajudicial executions, which would have--in a democratic realm--been prosecuted as a high crime--illegal and unconstitutional and against the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The troll soon suspected that the king was about to provoke a war with the other country--mainly because of its valuable resources. The troll also suspected that the king had a more sinister motivation: the dictators of two authoritarian superpowers, one with over a billion people, and one with many weapons of mass destruction, had threatened to fight against the king if he ordered an invasion--so the king's attack could soon escalate into a devastating world war.
The king had often praised the authoritarian dictators of those two superpowers, so the troll suspected that the king was actually planning behind the scenes with the dictators to start a world war that would result in great destruction. In less than a year as king of the realm, the king had already nullified the constitution and had gutted the legislative branch and had neutered the judiciary by ignoring numerous judicial orders. The troll, in other words, suspected that the king and his dictator friends were secretly planning to start a war in order to eradicate democracy completely so that together they could establish a fascist global oligarchy where they controlled the wealth and power. If that happened, the dictators would no doubt assassinate the narcissistic king. After disposing of the king, the dictators of the superpowers could then split up the country and rule with iron fists. Either that, or the king would assassinate the dictators and accumulate as much of their wealth as he could. Either way, the scheme would end up as a treacherous game of deceit that would leave the realm in ruins and only benefit a very few while countless people suffered.

ICY Military Force

Soon the king, in an effort to establish a fascist state, sent military and paramilitary forces to police the masses. (The Queen had years ago made the troll a knight, but he might nevertheless be considered an "illegal alien" by a brutal paramilitary force that showed little consideration for a person's actual status.)

Concentration Camp for Dissidents and Knights

Also the king had set up concentration camps specifically for dissidents and for knights who still attempted to maintain law and order in the realm. Eventually many heroic dissidents and valiant knights vanished, never to be seen again.
The troll's commanding officer agreed that they should try to escape or form an underground resistance group. Realizing that without his armor he would probably soon be arrested as an illegal alien and eventually identified as a seditionist, the troll chose to escape to the enchanted forest.

Mr. Frog by the Stream

As he hiked through the forest, the troll soon found a frog croaking near a stream. The troll, who had traveled throughout the galaxy, heard a pattern in the croaking that resembled the language of an amphibian race on a distant planet. After being abducted from his own planet by Reptilian aliens and forced into military service, the troll had learned the languages of many different species, so he thought that he might be able to communicate with the frog. The troll croaked in the amphibian language until the frog understood some of what he was saying. The frog was saying that the troll was welcome in the frog's domain, but he would need to eat a lot of bugs and spend a lot of time under water. The troll considered the prospect of living like a frog but eventually became repulsed by the idea of eating bugs all the time to stay alive, so with a croak he thanked the frog and continued on his way.

Mr. Goat in the Flowers

Soon the troll encountered a bleating goat standing in a field of poppies and lupine flowers. The troll had learned the language of bleating from a goat-like species on a nearby planet, so he tried speaking in goat language to see what would happen. The goat looked at him with curiosity and then started bleating again. As far as the troll could tell, the goat was saying something like this: "You look kind of like goat, but you don't walk on all four legs, and you don't have horns, but you do have an opposable thumb like a human, so you can use weapons to protect the herd. You're more than welcome to stay with us." The troll considered the proposal, but remembered that goats establish a pecking order, and the male goats especially fight each other to gain greater respect and dominance. The troll thanked the goat with a few bleats and continued on his way.

Illegal Alien

"Hmmm, I guess I do look a little like a goat, which is probably one reason that I frighten humans. I wonder if I'll ever find a species suitable for me?" he wondered out loud.

Mr. Wild Pig

Soon the troll encountered a wild pig, who grunted and growled and squealed and screamed at him. The troll had learned pig language on another planet, so he wasn't disturbed by the growls and squeals and screams. The troll asked the wild pig if he could join its sounder (which is what a group of wild pigs is called). Eventually, the troll understood what the wild pig was saying. It was difficult to understand because the language was quite different from the one he had learned on the other planet. It sounded like the wild pig was saying, "You kind of resemble a wild pig, but you are different in ways I've never seen before. I would like to invite you into our group, but you look a bit too much like a human. It's nothing personal. It's just that humans have treated us very badly over the years."
The troll replied with grunts and growls, "I totally understand. Have a good day, my friend."

Mr. Bobcat

Soon, the troll encountered a bobcat. The troll had become familiar with the bobcat language on another planet and was ready to hear an assortment of snorts and growls and strange barking sounds and eerie screams and screeches. He asked the bobcat if he would like some company. The bobcat replied, "I am essentially a loner. I am a solitary creature who hunts alone. Thanks for the offer, even though I would never hunt with another creature."
The troll thanked the bobcat for his time and continued on his way.

Mr. Brown Bear

Soon the troll encountered a brown bear. He also knew bear language and was prepared to hear grunts, strange jaw-popping sounds, huffing, growls, and the occasional roar. This was a hard language to learn, especially because of the jaw-popping, huffing, and roaring, but the troll tried to communicate with the bear anyway. He asked the bear if they could hang out together. The bear replied, "The adult male bear's social interactions are limited to mating and establishing dominance hierarchies, especially when food is scarce. In other words, I might instinctually try to establish dominance over you, which might result in your death by mauling, but thanks for asking. I've never heard a human-like creature speak my language before, and I've sometimes wondered what it would be like to have a friend."
"No problem. I actually learned your language on another planet," the troll replied.
"You mean there is life on other planets?" the bear asked.
"More than you might think," the troll replied as he smiled.

Mr. Serial Killer

The troll decided to find a cave where he could stay for the night. As he explored the cave, he suddenly encountered a monster who apparently kept human skulls as trophies. "Oh, sorry friend, I didn't mean to intrude into your territory. I was just looking for a place to stay for the night," the troll claimed as he smiled.
The monster smiled back but suddenly attacked the troll, who hit the monster in the shins with his club and punched him in the nose. The monster howled but soon settled down. "You're a pretty good fighter. We could work together, I think. We could be as thick as thieves. We could be serial killers together--a serial killer team!" the monster blurted out. "We could beat people to death and cut off their heads. Who cares about justice or sin? Sure, like you I have committed crimes--but we have gotten away with all of them, unlike most people. We could have some good times together!"
"That's not really the way I roll," the troll replied. "I am not a serial killer, especially not one who pretends that he is working for a higher good--like the king. Even though I'm not wearing any armor, I am a knight, and I always live by a code of honor."
"You are a freak! Nobody else would ever want to hang out with you!" the monster blurted out. "We could have been friends, but now you'll have to fight me if you want to leave here alive! I really can't allow anyone else to know where I live."
The troll smashed the monster's knee with his club. Then with his club he jabbed the monster in the throat. Then he brought his club down as hard as he could on the serial killer's head. The troll growled in bobcat language, "Sorry. I'm just not a serial killer, but as a knight I must at times kill for a higher good. Extremely dangerous creatures like you must experience justice to create balance for the highest good of society."
The troll dragged the monster out of the cave and spent the rest of the night surrounded by human skulls.

Ogre Knight

The troll continued his journey in the morning. He soon encountered an ogre dressed in golden armor. "You look familiar. I believe we've met before," the troll stated.
"Yeah, you are the only creature who has ever defeated me. I am going to regain my title as the greatest warrior on Earth. Time for you to die!" the ogre exclaimed.
"You are the most prideful creature I've ever met!" the troll blurted out. Then he smashed the ogre's foot with his club and jabbed him between the eyes and finally cracked open his skull. The ogre looked surprised as he toppled over.
"Too bad that you didn't remember that I'm from a different planet," the troll growled in bear language.

Mr. Salacious

The troll continued his journey and suddenly encountered a lion with human hands. "Oh, great! I've met you before too. I don't think I liked you much the first time I met you!" the troll exclaimed.
"Now, now, what are you rambling on about?" the lion-man replied. "A lot of powerful people prefer females on the younger side. It's only natural. Sometimes I even like trolls." With hands extended, the lion-man approached the troll.
"Maybe so, but most people wouldn't agree that rape is acceptable," the troll responded as he broke the lion-man's hands and clubbed his elbows and smashed his nose. "Rape stems from the need for dominance and control. Rape is a way to gain power over another person--not love. For your own good, I hope we never meet again. I have met many wild animals who are much nicer than you!" the troll exclaimed in goat language as the salacious one slouched away and collapsed, still whimpering.

King Genius Loci

The troll climbed up a mountain to avoid encounters with any more sociopathic creatures. Soon he encountered a king sitting on a rock. "Greetings, great King," the troll stated. "May I ask why you are here?"
"Certainly," the King replied. "I am King Genius Loci, which means 'Spirit of Place' in your language. I rule the mountains. I'm surprised that you can see me. Most people can't."
"I am an alien from another planet," the troll replied. "I have just vanquished three sociopathic creatures in the forest below."
"Yes, troublesome creatures they are indeed. How did you get here," the King asked.
"I was kidnapped from my planet by Reptilian aliens and forced to serve them as a soldier as they raided other planets to exhaust their resources. The Reptilians are here now, but I escaped them and became a knight in a realm near us," the troll replied. "I am still a knight but I don't wear armor."
"I see," the King replied.

Pounding Stone with Pestles

The King continued, "If you stay, you will find signs of man's inhumanity to man. For instance, you will eventually find pounding stones in abandoned Native American village sites. A genocide occurred here not long ago. With human beings, a terrible need for power and dominance causes great death and destruction. Humans just keep finding reasons to kill each other in huge numbers, something that animals never do. It's such a shame that people kill each other because of greed and the need for power and control. It never seems to end. Such a shame. But you are not human. Strangely, even though you are an alien, I can still see your light. In fact, you seem a lot more enlightened than humans. You realize that we must bring justice to those who cause unjustified wars and commit genocides and murder numerous people. They must be stopped. If you see me, you must also know the oneness of everything in my domain."
"Yes, of course, your Highness," the troll replied.

Ithuriel's Spears Blooming within Poison Oak

The King continued, "You are like a stunning flower that has bloomed within poison oak. People who cannot see beyond appearances might consider you old and ugly, but those with spirit vision will see you as a beautiful soul who understands the unity underlying all of creation. You work for the integrity of all creatures and fight to bring those who harm others to justice. You may stay here. I will protect you as long as you remain in my domain."
"Thank you, your Highness," the troll replied as he bowed before the King.

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2025 by Jim Robbins.

Professor in a Hole

jgan25

00:00 / 05:36

ADVENTURES IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (PART ELEVEN)

Punk Troll

The troll sometimes enjoyed hiking down from the high mountain peaks to the lower foothills just to see how the trees and flowers and bushes were doing--even though he had to leave the protection of the mountain's Spirit of Place. That morning, the troll had found many red berries and had decided to dye a tuft of hair on the top of his head to disguise himself. "I might be mistaken for a punk rock star," the troll chuckled to himself.
Suddenly he came upon a man peeking out from a hole in the ground. Startled, the man blurted out, "Good Lord! Are you a demon? Stay away from me! Stay away!"
"No, no, of course not! I know I might be mistaken for one, especially right now, so forgive me if I have startled you. If you don't mind me asking, why are you hiding in this hole?"
"The king has opened demonic portals and unleashed hordes of demons into our realm. I can't believe I just said that! I am a professor at the local university. I am a rational man. I don't believe in demons--or at least I never did before now," the professor sighed. "Now, I can't deny their existence. The demons are pure malice in every imaginable way. They can get into your body and into your head and cause terrible harm to you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I can't stand them! They horrify me! That's why I'm hiding out here in this hole. I'm not the only one hiding, though, believe me! Many people have escaped from the urban centers and are hiding in holes out here. The king was targeting 'woke' professors and trying to get us fired. Maybe that's why demons started tormenting me. To the king, teachers are nothing but radical left-wing lunatics who spend all day laughing at him. The king actually just wants to eliminate education. He wants us all to remain ignorant, so he goes after teachers. I probably don't even have a job anymore since I've been hiding out here for a while. I lost my cell phone, and I didn't have a chance to notify anyone as I was escaping. I'm sure they will replace me with a teacher who is absolutely loyal to the king."
The troll replied sympathetically, "I'm very sorry for your plight, sir. I have never encountered a demon before, so unfortunately I don't know how I can help you."
"I don't know how you can help me either," the professor lamented. "But if you encounter someone along the trail who has figured out how to ward them off, please come back and let me know. I would appreciate that very much."
"Of course, I will do whatever I can to get you out of this hole," the troll replied.

Knight in a Hole

As the troll continued hiking, he soon came upon a knight in a hole, who screamed, "Oh, my God, another demon!"
"No, no, please calm down. I may look like a demon, but I am a knight like you! A Knight of Wands, believe it or not. They call me 'Troll.'"
"Oh, I have heard of you. You are a great warrior, from what I understand. Pardon me, but I had no idea what you look like."
"I get that a lot. I guess I shouldn't have dyed my hair red this morning. I was just trying to disguise myself because the king's secret police are after me."
"Yeah, the king is trying to jail everyone who still believes in the rule of law."
"I disobeyed an unlawful order, so the king's henchmen are after me," the troll replied.
"Yeah, I did too, so I guess we're in the same predicament, but I have to admit that I've never encountered demons before."
"I haven't encountered any demons yet, fortunately," the troll replied.
"Demons are hideous, but you can't always see them. Most of the time, they remain invisible. Even if they are invisible, they can poke you and prod you and punch you and hold you down and paralyze you and shake you so violently that you believe that they are trying to kill you. Sometimes they just pound on a wall or something and screech. They are powerful enough to kill us, but I think they feed on our fear, so it benefits them more to keep us alive. I am, however, a bit worried that the king at some point will order them to kill us. I doubt that they would hesitate to follow that order!"
"Yikes! We have to do something, " the troll responded. "I am searching for someone who knows how to ward off the demons. Would you like to join me?"
"I am afraid that I going to have to politely decline," the knight in the hole responded. "How can you fight an enemy that you can't even see?"

Demon Sitting Nearby

"Good question. I have no idea, " the troll responded.
"One night I woke up to find a demon sitting next to me, which nearly made me jump out of my skin. I think I would rather not see the demons even though we are more vulnerable when they are invisible. Now matter what, visible or invisible, you can't kill them. They are spirits from another dimension."
"That's why we need to find out how to ward them off or to banish them," the troll responded.
"Good luck," the knight responded as he crawled back into his hole.

Fool in a Hole

Soon the troll encountered a fool peaking out of a hole. The fool asked the troll, "Would you like to hear a joke?"
"I'm afraid I don't have time. I am on an important mission. Thanks for offering, though," the troll replied.
"You are a demon, aren't you? You don't act like a demon, though. By now, a demon would would have shaken me violently or held me down or filled me with negative thoughts and emotions or tried to put out my inner light," the fool complained.
"I'm afraid I'm just a troll. I'm actually also a Knight of Wands, just without the armor."
"Oh, that's why knights are so intimidating, I guess. Are all knights trolls?"
"No, I'm the only one as far as I know. By the way, why are you out here? Don't fools amuse kings and queens?"
"After the king opened many demonic portals, he no longer felt like laughing or being amused. He detested my humor so much that he kicked me out of the castle and told me not to come back, so now I'm out here hiding from demons. I guess autocrats don't like humor, especially humor directed at them. Sometimes I experiment to see if the demons will respond to my humor. I am trying to find a way to ward them off, without any success so far."
"What a coincidence! I am searching for someone who can show me how to ward off the demons. At this point, all we can do is wish each other luck," the troll replied.
"Good luck," the fool replied as he crawled back into his hole. For some reason, the troll laughed as he strolled away. He suddenly hoped that a demon hadn't taken over his mind.

Faery Hiding from Demons

Soon the troll came upon a faery hiding in a hollow tree trunk. "Good faery, are you hiding from demons too?" the troll inquired.
"Usually I try to make children feel happy, but those demons are so mean to me that I don't want to leave my home! Are you by any chance one of those horrid demons?" the faery asked.
"No, no. Actually I'm an alien from another planet. Reptilian aliens kidnapped me from my home planet and forced me into servitude, but I escaped from them. Now I'm a Knight of Wands on the run. The king is after me," the troll replied. "I'm looking for someone who can show me how to ward off the demons. You don't happen to know anyone, do you?"
"No, unfortunately I don't, but I hope you find out soon! I hate those nasty demons--and I can't make children happy if I am feeling full of hatred and fear. Good luck!" the faery blurted out.
"Same to you, good faery!" the troll exclaimed as he waved and continued on the path.

Child Hiding from Demons

Soon the troll encountered a sad child in a hole. "Dear child, where are your parents?"
"My parents were kidnapped off the street by those ICY soldiers or policemen, or whatever they are. All I know is that they deported my mom and dad. I don't know if I'll ever see them again. Then the demons came and started pinching me and shaking me and slapping me and howling at me, so I kept running until I found this hole. Please don't leave me! You seem to be very kind, unlike all those other demons."
"Don't give up hope. I am going to find a way to ward off the demons for us. Then I will come right back for you."
"Thank you. You're such a nice demon. I hope you come back really soon."
"Don't worry. I'll be back as soon as I can. I haven't failed anyone yet," the troll assured him.

Woman Hiding from Demons

Soon the troll encountered a woman in a hole. "Good lady, why are you out here alone?"
"They killed my husband with a drone strike. I'm not even sure why. He did criticize the king once, but is that enough of a reason to kill him? Then the demons started attacking me. I thought at first that the demons were a manifestation of my grief, but they were so malicious. I soon realized that I needed to get out of there to keep from losing my mind."
The troll replied, "That's terrible! My deepest sympathies. These are very dark times. I am searching for a way to ward off the demons. I'll be back as soon as I find out. By the way, there's a child in a hole just down the way. Maybe you can comfort each other until I return."
"Thank you," the woman sighed. "I will do that. You're the kindest demon I've ever encountered."
"Thanks, I appreciate that," the troll chuckled. "That's the best compliment I've heard all day."

Cowboy in a Hole

Soon the troll encountered a cowboy in a hole. The troll asked him, "Are you escaping demons too?"
The cowboy replied, "You ain't one of them demons, are you? They're horrifying hombres, but you don't seem so scary. Tell the truth now." The cowboy pulled out his six-shooter.
"No, no, no, I ain't no demon. I'm just a troll who happens to resemble a demon. I don't wish to harm you or anyone else, my friend."
"All right then," the cowboy replied as he holstered his gun. "A man's got to be careful nowadays. I've always survived alone. I take off my boots wherever I pitch my tent. But no one has ever outshot or outwitted me yet, but those demons are somethun' ain't they? Them demons can disappear but still torment the hell out of a man, or bring hell to a man, if that makes any sense. They don't die when I shoot 'em. They just howl and laugh at me. I can't fight 'em, I can't kill 'em, and they won't even drink my hard liquor. What can a cowboy do in such a sichiation?"
"Ain't nothing you can do, far as I can tell, but I am searching for someone who can help us ward them off. I've heard tales of people who can keep demons at bay or even send them back to their own dimension."
"Well, good luck to you, son. We need someone right now who can help us out of this thorny predicament. I hope you find him or her, as the case may be."
"By the way, there's a woman and a boy in a hole just up the way. Maybe you can go and offer them some solace," the troll responded.
"Thanks, friend. Will do."

Cop in a Hole

Eventually the troll encountered a policeman in a hole. "Hello, officer. I just want to inform you that I'm not a demon, though I might resemble one. I'm a troll. Just out of curiosity, how did you end up out in this hole? I've never seen a police officer in the enchanted forest before."
"It's a good thing you can talk, buddy. You definitely look like a demon, but demons don't talk--they just torment." The policeman sighed, "It' a long story, but since you asked, I'll tell you. I arrested one of those ICY jerks because he was brutalizing a woman. He pulled her hair and threw her to the ground and punched her in the face several times before he handcuffed her. He wore a mask and didn't have any identification and couldn't present a warrant. He could have just been a random psycho who put on a uniform and just wanted to brutalize people. I wanted to make a point, so I threw the idiot on the ground and handcuffed him and arrested him. I serve the public with honor and I arrest criminals who assault people, so I took him to jail and had him locked up."
"That took a lot of courage! Thank you for your service, sir," the troll replied. "You might not believe this, but I am actually a knight. I disobeyed an unlawful order and the king sent his henchmen to execute me for sedition, so I escaped."
"Well, now the king's henchmen are after me too. The king doesn't want law and order. He just wants to flex his muscles and have his thugs and murderers terrorize people. And now he's released demons to terrorize the people too. Too bad I can't arrest those creepy devils. Most of the time they're invisible."
"I know," the troll responded. "I'm searching for someone who can show me how to ward them off or banish them, so far without success. You can join me, or if you prefer, you can help protect a cowboy and a woman and a child who are in hole down the way. We've got to work together now. I have a theory that demons only attack individuals, not groups."
"Yeah, I think I'll go help those people and see if your theory is correct. Thank you and good luck."

Soldier in a Hole

Soon the troll found a soldier in a hole. "Before you shoot me, I just want you to know that I'm a troll, not a demon, and like you I serve the realm. I am a Knight of Wands. The king's henchmen are hunting me for refusing to follow an unlawful order. My friends call me 'Troll.' How did you manage to end up out here?"
"Well, I followed an illegal order and ended up killing innocent people. Then they claimed that following orders was not an excuse for committing murder. In fact, soldiers who followed illegal orders and killed innocent people in the past were executed for committing murder. When I heard that, I deserted from the army and escaped out here," the soldier explained. "Then demons started to torment me, and I jumped into this hole to get away from them. So far they haven't found me. Good thing because I'm tormented enough as it is."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm sure you are an honorable soldier who found himself in an impossible situation," the troll blurted out. "And I'm sure no one was out there to tell you not to obey the order."

"That's true," the soldier sighed, "but you were in the same situation, and you didn't obey the order."
"As a knight, I've studied the law and knew that it was illegal," the troll responded, "but soldiers in this realm are not always taught the law."
"Unfortunately," the soldier responded."
"Look," the troll replied. "A policeman, a cowboy, a woman, and a child are all in a hole down the way. Maybe you should join them. You can work together to defend each other. That might help you feel better. I'm going to continue searching for someone who can show me how to banish the demons or ward them off."
"Good luck," the soldier responded."

Eagle in a Hole

Soon the troll encountered a bald eagle in a hole. The troll had learned the eagle language from a species on another planet, so he asked the eagle a question, "Greetings, great eagle," the troll stated, "May I ask why you are here when you can fly high above the demons and all the problems that plague this realm?"
"Demons can fly too," the eagle replied. "They hound me wherever I go. My theory is that the demons are trying to reduce the great symbol of this realm to a pathetic emblem of cowardice because the king wants to turn a once-great democracy into a fascist state. How did you learn my language anyway?"
"I am an alien from another planet," the troll replied. "I have learned the language of many different species as I have traveled through the galaxy. Anyway, you can reestablish your reputation as a great symbol of the realm for a few people who are in a hole down the way if you help to protect them. We have to work together for the common good. Isn't that what democracy is all about?"
"Do they speak 'eagle' like you?" the eagle asked.
"No, but I'm sure they would appreciate any help you can provide."
"Okay, I'll head over there," the eagle replied.
"Great! Thank you!" the troll exclaimed.

Demons Unable to Touch a Fool

Soon the troll came upon an amazing sight: a fool was walking on the path toward him and numerous demons kept trying to terrorize him, but the fool seemed unaffected. He just kept walking confidently and happily down the path.
"Kind sir, how are you able to remain unaffected by the demons--if you don't mind me asking?" the troll inquired.
"The four Archangels of the Elements of the Wise are protecting me," the fool replied.

Archangel Michael

"Please tell me more!" the troll encouraged the fool.
"You can keep the demons at bay or banish them if you work with Archangels Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, and Auriel, who are far more powerful than demons, even more powerful than the devil himself," the fool claimed. "Archangel Michael, 'Like unto God', as you might recall, vanquished Satan and cast him out of heaven. The Archangels and their orders of Angels, if you establish a rapport with them, can protect you from these horrible demons."

Helpful Angel

The troll asked, "But how do you know this?"
"I can see into the spirit realms, and one day I had a vision of a golden balanced cross with an Angel at each end of the cross," the fool replied. "And one day soon after I found a description of a banishing ritual and an invoking ritual with the exact same symbolism, except that I discovered that the Angels at each end of the balanced cross are actually the Archangels Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, and Auriel. I invoked them and felt a profound sense of unity and eternity and also experienced their amazing power and intelligence. In fact, they are so powerful and intelligent that I felt like an amoeba in comparison. Even though they are at a much higher spiritual frequency and intelligence, they for some reason worked with me to keep the demons away. I know that people are more likely to believe in demons than they are to believe in Angels, but I assure you, angelic beings can help us to climb out of a hole--free of all torment and negativity."
The troll replied, "I know a lot of people who are currently in a hole hiding from demons. Can we help them?"
The fool responded, "If they can believe in Angels as much as they believe in demons, I'm pretty sure that we can."
"It's certainly worth a try!" the troll exclaimed.

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2025 by Jim Robbins.

Fool As Magician

4prosp

00:00 / 03:49

ADVENTURES IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (PART TWELVE)

Archangel Michael

Suddenly the troll could clearly see the magnitude of the problem. Everyone except the fool was still feeling traumatized by the demons--the fool had to perform his magic ritual for all of the people so that they could find peace together and form a community. The troll introduced the fool to everyone who had been traumatized and explained that the fool knew how to perform a magic spell that would ward off the demons for everyone together. Eventually, the troll was able to convince everyone that they needed to form a congregation so that the fool could perform the ritual for everyone at once, instead of performing the ritual one at a time. So the people formed a group, and the fool performed the banishing ritual and then invoked the great Archangels of the Elements of the Wise: Raphael (Air), Michael (Fire), Gabriel (Water), and Auriel (Earth). The fool then humbly asked each Archangel to bless and cleanse and heal and forgive all of the demons and to guide them back to their dimension. As the fool was performing the ritual, the presence of the Archangel Michael was so strong that the troll could see the great Archangel in his mind's eye.

Extremely Malicious Demon

One malicious demon tried to keep the fool from finishing the ritual, but the Archangel Michael got in the demon's way and blessed and cleansed and healed and forgave him. The demon was immediately neutralized, and it soon sat down quietly with other neutralized demons.

Neutralized

Eventually the Archangels neutralized all of the demons that had terrorized the people, and peace and harmony returned to the enchanted forest. "So that's how you do it," the troll mumbled to himself. "You don't have to fight the nasty demons--you simply get the Archangels to neutralize them--then the demons return to their own dimension without conflict. In other word, because demons feed off of the fear and negativity caused by conflict, you should strive to neutralize the dark forces to create harmony and balance instead. I get it now!" Soon all of the demons had disappeared into their own dimension.

Angel in a Hole

After all of the demons were gone, the troll decided to make sure that no one had been left in a hole anywhere. The troll thought he spotted someone in one of the holes and jumped down to see who it was. (Trolls can jump down many feet and land without getting injured, unlike most humans.)
The troll soon realized that he had found an angel, and the angel spoke to him, "Now that the Archangels have neutralized all the dark forces to create balance, you will begin to notice something different about yourself and some other people. Some angels have incarnated as humans to maintain harmony during this difficult period of transition into the Age of Aquarius. Humans, of course, are also divine beings, who as a species are evolving in a different but extremely important way. Do not think of humans as inferior. At some point, humans will know the unity underlying all of creation and create a harmonious world for everyone."
"That's nice to know," the troll replied. "I was really getting worried about the fate of humanity and this planet."

Angelic Knight: The Troll

"Yes, I understand," the angel replied. "These are dark times, but right now, I want you to feel your wings and know that some aliens like yourself also have angelic souls. Most humans will not be able to see your wings, but you will be able to identify the humans with angelic souls because, as an incarnated angel yourself, you will be able to perceive their wings." Suddenly the troll could feel his own wings. He flew out of the hole and thanked the angel as he began winging toward his community.

Children of Deported Immigrants

As soon as the troll returned to the community, he found the children of deported parents happily playing together. Other members of the community were taking good care of the children and watching them carefully. "Yes, some humans are evolving," the troll whispered under his breath.

No Longer Demonized

Soon the troll encountered the policeman he had met earlier. "Thank you for finding someone who could ward off the demons!" the police officer exclaimed. "That ritual, unfortunately, was not included in my training manual."
"That was the least I could do," the troll responded. "Thank you for protecting us. We need good people who truly uphold the rule of law here with us in this community now."
The policeman replied, "That's my duty, and no demon is going to stop me, at least not now, I hope!"

No Longer Demonized

Soon the troll encountered the soldier he had met earlier. The troll asked him, "How are you feeling, my friend?"
"I am no longer traumatized. In fact, I feel really good, better than I have in a long time. During the ritual, I forgave myself, and all negativity just slipped away. The Archangels are incredible!" The soldier blurted out.
"You could see them?"
"I could see them and feel them. During the ritual, I felt a profound sense of eternity and unity, and I could feel that they are extremely powerful and intelligent, far more than I am," the soldier replied.
"Yes, that is exactly what Archangels are like," the troll responded. "You must be more than a little psychic, my friend."
"Wow, I would never have imagined it. No one has ever accused me of being psychic before."
"We all have hidden skills that we eventually discover. You might even turn out to be a priest or a magician someday."
"Wow--me a soldier-priest. A chaplain. I like the thought of that!"
"You never know what might happen once you discover your true purpose," the troll replied.

Angelic Dreamer

Suddenly the troll noticed a child with angel wings. "Awww, I understand now. That child has an angelic soul. The others don't even notice it. Maybe it's good that they don't. One thing I've noticed is that humans often vilify those who are different."

Angelic Doggy

Then the troll noticed a dog with angel wings. "What! Even dogs can have angelic souls? I guess that's not too hard to believe. I've known some dogs who were truly angels."

Angelic Lumberjack

Soon the troll noticed a lumber jack with angel wings. "That's a surprise," the troll muttered under his breath, "I guess I stereotype people a bit too much."

Angelic Athlete

Soon the troll came upon an athlete with angel wings. "Athletes are known for their physical prowess. I never would have guessed that an angelic soul would have incarnated in the body of an athlete. There I go again--stereotyping people."

Angelic Farmer

Soon the troll came upon a farmer with angel wings. "Okay, I've met some very kind farmers, but I never thought that a humble farmer would have an angelic soul!" the troll whispered to himself. "Well, why not? I guess humans with angelic souls can have seemingly mundane roles that are actually extremely important."

Angelic Immigrant

Soon the troll came upon an immigrant with angel wings. The troll quietly commented to himself, "I guess that is why we should always welcome the stranger."

Angelic Troll

Then as the troll was walking down the path, he noticed his own wings. "Wow, I never would have guessed before I met the angel--even an alien troll can have an angelic soul!"

Angelic Soul Mate

Then a female troll with angel wings walked by him. "Wow, where did she come from? I guess I'm not the only troll who has escaped from the Reptilian master race--and she is beautiful! Could this be love at first sight? I feel like I know her! Did I know her in another life, or did we know each other as angels in another different dimension? Either way, I'm going to find out more about her!" After they passed each other, the troll turned around and followed her. After he introduced himself, they had a long talk with each other and many long talks afterwards, and together they grew certain that they had known each other before in some other time and place.

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2025 by Jim Robbins.

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