As fast as Peep could say, "You got it, Locket," he and the fairy were transported to Leprechaun Land.

Peep blinked hard trying to focus. Bright green grass and a brighter hazy blue sky assaulted his eyes. He wished he was wearing his mirrored Men in Black sunglasses. He wished he wasn't wearing Superman pajamas. He pulled off the red cape and tossed it on the glittery grassy hill.

Locket pointed to a "No Littering" sign.

The red cape floated down rousing a sleeping citizen hidden amongst green clover. A 2 foot chubby clurachan stood up.  (A clurachan is a leprechaun on a bender.) The drunken stout creature sporting a long red wiry-beard, grumbled, "What is the meaning of this?"

Peep squatted down. "It's a super-hero cape."

The clurachan slurred his words. " A super-hero 's cape huh? And you've bequeathed this to me?"

Peep wasn't sure what bequeath meant but he shrugged and replied, "Sure."

The clurachan asked Peep, "What powers come with the cape?"

"None that I know of," said Peep. "But the real Superman can fly and can see through stuff."

"Is that so?" As the clurachan fastened the red cape around his meaty neck he muttered to himself, "Now I'll be able to see into the pockets of those thieving liars!" He ran over the hill laughing maniacally all the way.

"Peep!" Locket scolded. "Don't talk to strangers!"

"Why?" Peep asked. "No one's stranger than you!"

"I'm serious Peep! You don't know the customs."

"Locket, I think I know the customs in Lucky Charm Land. " One, always save the marshmallows for last. Two, use the cereal box to block your brother's annoying face. And three, say, 'They're always after me Lucky Charms!' before every meal.'"

Suddenly dozens of sparkly green top hats sprung up from the hilltop. Underneath the hats were dozens of angry Leprechauns. Their buckled shoes click-clacked as they marched in unison toward Peep.

Locket Fairy swirled around Peep making him temporarily invisible to the Leprechauns.

Like a Fourth of July sparkler she left trails of streaky blue light as she circled Peep.

The grumpy Leprechauns wondered how the boy disappeared. They shrugged at one another and vanished over the glistening green horizon.

Locket, the tiny blue tornado, came to a halt. She was super dizzy and even supier-perturbed.  "Peep! I warned you to NEVER EVER utter the Lucky Charm's slogan  in Leprechaun Land.

Peep agreed. "It sure brings out the worst in them."

Locket agreed, "Everything brings out the worst in them!"

Peep asked, "So where's the famous rainbow these short fellas are always bragging about?" He turned in a circle but there wasn't a rainbow in sight.

"Peep that's what they need your help. Lenny told me an evil dragon swallowed the rainbow."

Peep spat, "Impossible! Lenny's a liar! You can't swallow spectrum light!"

Locket objected, "While that may be true in your realm... Peep, things aren't as simple here."

Peep shouted, "It's a trick!"

Locket thought about it. "Leprechauns are known for being tricksters but why would my own cousin lie to me?"

Peep asked suspiciously, "Your cousin by marriage?" Peep rolled his eyes wondering how Locket could be so gullible. "How'd a leprechaun end up marrying a fairy anyway? Did they fall in love?"

Locket explained, "Every 1000 years a leprechaun can take a bride. Since no fairy, in her right mind, would ever marry a leprechaun they trick her."

Peep did not like where this was going.

Locket continued, "If they can get a fairy to Leprechaun Land and get her to sneeze three times..."

Peep interrupted, "Locket this is a trap! Get us outta here!"

Dark clouds rolled across the sky and fine ground black pepper sprinkled down.

Peep started sneezing. Aaaaaachooooo! Aaaaachoooo!

He warned, "Locket cover your nose!"

She sneezed once.

"Locket, unless you wanna marry a leprechaun, beam us outta here!"

Locket sneezed twice.

"Locket your gonna be a goblin's bride unless—"

"Say, 'God bless you' Peep!'"

He asked, "God bless you?"

The streak was broken.

Before another sneezing fit, Locket explained the leprechaun's loophole. "If a potential bride sneezes three times without someone saying, 'God bless you...'  

Locket sneezed once.

"They're married!" Locket looked terrified.

She sneezed twice.

Peep yelled, "God bless you!"

Locket felt a full on sneezing fit erupting.

Peep told her, "Say cantaloupe, cantaloupe, cantaloupe!"

"Cantaloupe? Peep I'm too young to be married!"

"How old are you Locket?"

She sneezed two times.

"Thirteen!"

"God bless you!"

Locket sneezed again. "Thank you!""

"Locket we can't keep this up forever!"

Locket pleaded with her eyes. "I can't be married forever! Fairies live a long, long time!"

"Use your fairy dust!"

Locket tried. She shimmied. She shook. She sneezed.
"It's not working Peeeep! ! The pepper! It's somehow blocking my..."  She sneezed twice.

He remembered the rule. "God bless youuuuu!"

A lecherous leprechaun popped out of the clover. He looked more troll than elf. He had large ears and a thick red beard that dragged on the ground.

Locket hid in Peep's hair.  She pulled strands of pink hair in front of her nose. It subdued her sneezing fit.

Peep stood as tall as a nine-year-young boy could.  He knocked the floppy felt had off the elf-troll's head revealing a completely bald head.

Peep spoke with conviction to the man. "You can't marry my friend!"

"Oh?" The spunky sprite picked up his hat and brushed it off.  "And why not human?"

"Because..." Peep stalled.

The leprechaun asked, "Because?" He came up to Peep's knees.

Peep lied, "Because she's already married to me!"

Locket peeked out from Peep's hair. "I am? I am!"

The pudgy leprechaun crossed his stubby arms and said, "Prove it!"

Locket bit her blue nails. Then she counted her lucky stars for a friend like Peep. She reached between Peep's eyes and gave him a fairy pinch.

Peep flinched.  "Ouch!"  He rubbed the sore spot.

When Peep moved his fingers a glowing lucky horseshoe appeared.

The Leprechaun gasped.

Peep asked him, "What? What's the matter?"

The leprechaun pointed at the spot between Peep's eyebrows. "You've got the mark!"

Locket hid deeper beneath Peep's hair.

Peep asked her, "Locket what did you do?"

Locket peeked out, "He saw your betrothal mark dear."

The irate leprechaun pulled his hat over his ears." As he tore down the hill he grumbled. "Lenny I'm gonna ring your neck! You owe me a bride!"

The dark clouds separated revealing a brilliant rainbow and a clear blue sky.

Locket looked guilty.

Peep asked her, "Are we really married?"

"No, not legally but..."

"Locket... Did you give me another tattoo?"

Locket left Peep's pink and black locks. She hovered in front of his face. "Peep I had too! I thought I was bringing you here to save the leprechauns. Little did I know I brought you here to save me! How can I ever thank you?"

Peep said, "Don't worry about it."  Then he asked, "Can we go home?"

In a flash Locket and Peep we're back in Peep's room. He looked at the time on his computer. No time had passed at all.  Exhausted he fell asleep next to Hello. She snuggled closer to Peep's head. 

Locket flew down and kissed Peep between his eyes. "Goodnight my hero."

-End of Chapter 17-

Author's note: I'm visiting my parents in New York. I'm happy to still get 2 chapters out this week! Your votes and comments make my day!