Read Online My Epic Fairy Tale Fail by Anna Staniszewski - Free Book Online

some grass and tossed it at Melissa, but it only managed to blow back in her face and get caught in her glasses. The three of us burst out laughing and slowed to a walk.
    As we kept going along the path, I couldn’t help thinking how great it was to have my friends with me. It barely even felt like we were on an adventure. We were just joking and laughing like we always did.
    Finally, we came out of the forest into a rocky landscape that looked like it had a cave hidden behind every bush.
    â€œHow are we supposed to find this troll guy?” said Melissa.
    â€œThat should help,” said Trish, pointing to a wooden sign nearby with “Troll Habitat Ahead” written on it. Below that sign was a second smaller one: “Riddle Enthusiasts Welcome.” And below that was a third sign with the words “The Tastier, The Better” written in tiny letters. I didn’t want to know what that last one meant.
    We followed along the path until, sure enough, we came to the mouth of a huge cave tucked into the hillside. We heard something lumbering toward us inside the cave, and then two squinty eyes peered out from the shadows.
    â€œWho’s there?” said a low, raspy voice.
    â€œI heard you have an impossible riddle for us,” I called back.
    The troll let out a delighted grunt and shuffled into the light. Trish and Melissa both sucked in a breath. Even I had to admit the troll was a sight. I’d expected him to be lumpy and hunched, but I hadn’t expected him to be Smurf blue or to be wearing round, wire-rimmed glasses. He looked a lot less threatening than your average troll, but I wasn’t going to let my guard down just yet.
    â€œOh my gosh!” said Melissa. “He’s adorable!”
    The troll froze. “Pardon me. Did you just say I was adorable ?” he asked in a surprisingly proper British accent.
    â€œI always thought trolls were gross and smelly and stuff, but you’re so cute!” she went on.
    â€œMr. Troll,” Trish broke in, pulling her notebook out of her pocket. “Would you mind answering a few questions for me? I’d love to know a bit about how you see your role in the magical community.”
    The troll was starting to breathe heavily, like there was water boiling inside him. “How dare you? You come to my cave and speak to me in such a disrespectful manner? It’s simply barbaric! I am a troll. You are expected to fear me!”
    Uh-oh. This wasn’t good.
    Melissa’s eyes lit up. She grabbed a fortune from her pocket and read: “‘Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life.’”
    â€œMy happiness is what ?” the troll roared.
    â€œGuys!” I said, jumping in front of my friends. “How about you let me handle this?”
    â€œBut, Jenny,” said Trish, “we were just trying to—”
    â€œI know. It’s okay. I’ll take it from here,” I said. My friends both looked unhappy, but they fell silent. Just in time too. The troll’s blue cheeks were starting to look purple.
    â€œI have never been spoken to in such a way!” he cried. “Imagine, after years of working to appear as fearsome as possible, someone comes along and calls you ‘cute’ and lectures you on happiness. I know how to be happy!”
    â€œOf course you do!” I said. “We’re sorry. We’re, um, not from around here. It won’t happen again.” I didn’t add that besides his size, the troll was about as scary-looking as a goldfish. And he certainly didn’t act all that happy.
    â€œI should hope not!” the troll said, slinging his trademark troll club over his shoulder. It was polished and oiled so it shone. Clearly, this guy took a lot of pride in his troll responsibilities. “So you are here to answer my impossible riddle. Shall we begin?”
    â€œYes, please,” I said. I waved for my friends to join me. This