Once upon a time a lovely ladybug was enjoying tummy-time on a rose petal. Her wings were as deep red as the petal, her spots as dark as the shadows that played in its layers.
This ladybird was as sweet and gentle as she was lovely, and had many friends; however there was one who envied her beautiful red wings and wished harm to the lovely ladybug.
So, as the ladybug was sunning herself upon the rose, a dark shape loomed over the rose that seemed to cause even the flower to shrink away in horror. With a loud cackle an ugly old witch picked up the terrified ladybug in between two of her horrid sharp fingernails, and would have squashed the little creature then and there, had it not been for a sudden thought that occurred to her.
For this old sorceress had heard of magical properties that dwelt in the wings of ladybirds, that must be drawn from their handsome black spots. The properties were of such worth that they could restore youth and bestow beauty upon the one skillful enough to extract their magic.
Now this witch was extremely ill-favoured; her nose was large and hooked, she had thick hairs upon her chin, and a mole that gave forth evil-smelling stuff so that you felt ill if she so much as looked at you with her beady black eyes. She decided that she would use the ladybird's wings to make herself beautiful, with lips as red as the ladybird's wings, and eyes as deep and dark as the spots on those wings. Then, she could lure to herself many children, and eat them as dessert.
The poor ladybug fainted away in her terror, and the witch carried her off to her cave where she dwelt, in her darkness and filth.
Now, in a nearby lily plant, a friend of the ladybug was hovering, and this friend was a butterfly only newly-born. Her wings were of auburn and gold, and apart from noticing that they were of an especial beauty, you would not guess that this particular butterfly was actually a fairy in disguise! This 'butterfly' as we shall call her, was so taken aback with fear and sorrow at her friend's plight that she did not know what to do. Then, a happy thought reminded her of her best friend, Benny Baby, who lived nearby in his home with his Mummy and Daddy. Often, when his parents thought he was peacefully napping he would sneak out of his bedroom window on Minnie May's back, for Minnie May was a very agile cat and was able to let Benny Baby ride on her back whenever he wanted to visit his fairy folk friends. Minnie May's best friend the Misha Monster would stand guard and contrive to distract Mummy or Daddy if Benny was not back in time; he was very successful in doing this on many occasions and Benny Baby would be found a few minutes later in his cot, sucking his thumb and looking for all the world like a four month old baby would look when just woken up in their cot.
Well, the butterfly hovered into Benny Baby's room and alighted on his stomach just as he was dropping off to sleep. His eyes still closed, Benny Baby made a mouth as if he were about to cry, but the butterfly hurriedly "sh-shhhhhd" him and he stopped, opening his eyes and seeing that it was his good friend, and that she looked very upset. "Grrr?" He asked, politely. He thought it might be unkind to tell the butterfly that she had caught him at a very bad time. He felt much more asleep than awake.
"Oh, Benny Baby!" Exclaimed the butterfly in distress. "My friend the ladybug has been spirited away by the evil witch that lives in a cave behind your parents' back gate!!! You must help me free her! That old hag plans to do something terrible to her, I just know it! You must help me, Benny Baby!!!"
Benny Baby sucked his thumb thoughtfully. "G-g", he said, "grrrrrlll." The butterfly was very relieved. He had agreed to help!! She called out the window to Minnie May who was sunning herself in the garden, and the obliging puss bound into the window with a single, graceful movement. In a thrice, Benny Baby was on her back, the butterfly clutched in one slippery hand, and the other holding onto Minnie May as tightly as could be.
In the twinkle of an eye, Minnie May arrived in front of a back entrance into the old witch's den. Minnie May was very stealthy and extremely clever, and had spied out this secret entry for herself, for the old witch liked to gnaw on fresh sheep meat and often left it out in the open. Goodness knows where she had stolen the sheep meat from; but she often wondered at her memory, for more times than she could count she would place a piece of meat down, turn away to attend to something else, and lo! When she went back to her meal she found it gone!
After sucking his thumb furiously as he made his plans, Benny Baby instructed Minnie May to take him into the witch's cave and show him where she often hid in wait to steal the witch's repast.
Without a sound, the cat softly padded into the cave. At once the butterfly noticed her ladybird friend, miserably placed on her back in a tiny cage made of dried blades of grass! She gestured wildly with her wings to Benny Baby, not daring to speak in case the witch was within earshot. She seemed nowhere to be seen; although you never knew with witches. They lurked in places you'd never dream to look for them. Quickly Minnie broke the cage with one of her sharp claws and Benny Baby let go of the butterfly and clutched the ladybug tightly in his hand, righting her, so that she was on her tummy again. How pleased and grateful she was to see her rescuers! She gave Benny Baby a ladybug kiss, and without waiting to say goodbye flew off as fast as she could, which is understandable, for I myself would hate to be in that smelly place a moment longer than I had to!
The butterfly and Minnie May with Benny Baby followed suit, and before long the horrid place was behind them, and they were safely in Benny Baby's bedroom. The ladybug had arrived before them, and was perched on Benny Baby's bouncer. "Thank you so much for rescuing me, Benny Baby!" She cried. Benny Baby smiled gummily at her. Minnie May had deposited him safely again in his cot, and the Misha Monster grunted in relief. He had had to distract Mummy from going in to check on Baby Baby by coughing up a fur ball on her clean carpet and narrowly escaped having his tail shaved; he wanted to put the whole unfortunate affair behind him and relax under the shade of the grapefruit tree.
When his friends left him again, Benny Baby settled down for a well-earned nap. The butterfly floated solicitously around Benny Baby making sure that he was not awoken by the nastly flies that might have been the witch's spies. The butterfly was quite sure the witch would not rest until she had found out what had happened to her prisoner. Though for the moment at least, all was well, the butterfly mused contentedly. The ladybug had resumed her position upon her rose petal, and the two cats were washing each other's faces underneath the grapefruit tree. Mummy came in for a second to peek at her Benny Baby, and did not notice the butterfly who quickly dived out the window.
"What a good boy my baby is," Mummy whispered as she kissed Benny Baby. "Sleepy-sleep, Honey."
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