There was this one webcomic (chasing the sunset, I think) where fairies had unmatched magical powers, but their personality and mindset meant they used their powers just to mess with people.

Huh? We must pay attention to very different sets of media then, as Disney isn't the only source of 'good' fairies I've encountered.

@Golnor: You're thinking of Pixies. You exist for the entertainment of pix. Your belongings are only possesed by you because it hasn't entertained a pix yet to reclaim them (since everything belongs to each pixie). You only retain your current form because you haven't annoyed or been a convenient target for a pix. You are only so casual about miss-labeling pix because you have never met a pix. Pix only pretend to be fairies to get gullible mortals to lower their guard (not that it's needed, pix just like to mess with people), otherwise fairies are lame, tame and easily laid blame. Nothing is better than a pix.

I mean "you" in the general sense. Except the one about miss-labeling. That one is meant both ways. It's a dangerous thing to mix up. Pix can be vindictive.

Well ... they are small and cute. Obviously they have powerful magic if they are still alive.

I think fairies have the choice of what to do with their lives, so they can be either good or bad (or anything in between, or have a different form of morality).