zyx: please give a big round of applause to our EXO's leader Kim Junmyeon...we have walked together from small kids to 36 year old big kids...I hope later there will be more surprises for everyone...thank you to our leader (x)
I cannot believe it's already 2024, I really feel like 2023 was only just getting started. It seems like we'll be getting more of your acting in the future, and I cannot wait to see what kind of projects you'll be taking on. Solos too, you'll be keeping busy I'm sure. I hope you'll have lots of fun with all you're going to do in the new year 💙
Dear haveanotherkpopblog, Thank you so much for sharing all your content and making my dashboard so colourful and exciting. I appreciate you! I hope you had a merry Christmas and will have a wonderful 2024 ahead!
Summary: As the end of Halloween draws near, you reminisce of your youthful adventure with the Pumpkin King, but not every adventure ends with a happily ever after.
Video: Christmalo.win
“T’was a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place you’ve only seen in your dreams. For the story you are about to be told, took place in the holiday worlds of old. Now you’ve probably wondered where holidays come from. If you haven’t, it’s about time you begun.”
“Congratulations everyone!” The Pumpkin King stood at his podium, waving over the crowd. Different creatures of the night cheered loudly, pointing and clapping. “This Halloween was our most terrifying to date. You should feel proud of your accomplishments. Now enjoy the rest of your night, for tomorrow, we begin preparing for next year.” There were more cheers as he exited the stage.
Around me everyone began talking about their favorite thing from Halloween. I made my way through the crowd, offering a smile to those I passed. They didn’t bother to stop me, they hadn’t done that for years now.
The air outside was brisk. I let out a shaky sigh, closing my eyes and leaning my head back. My hands were shaking slightly as I ran them through my hair. I paused, feeling a pair of eyes on me.
“You should know better than to sneak up on a witch,” I said, turning around.
Mother Superior stood behind me, her hands clasped in front of her black robes. Her hat rested upon her head, tilted forward slightly. Her face was covered in wrinkles and her once black hair had faded into a light grey. Her eyes were still a dark brown that seemed to know more than she let on.
“I came to check on you,” she said. I shook my head.
“No. You didn’t.” She gave me a soft smile, stepping forward. “I told you. I can’t do it.”
“Not being able to do something, and refusing to do something, are two very different things,” she said. “Your training is complete, Y/N—it has been for years. You cannot run from your destiny forever.” I let out a sigh, shaking my head.
I said nothing more as I made my way back to my cottage. It sat in the woods outside of Halloween Town, far enough to keep unwelcome visitors away. I closed the door with enough force to shake the herbs hanging from my ceiling. I moved to collapse into my chair by the fire, waving a half-hearted hand to light the flames.
As the fire crackled, I summoned a cup and started the kettle without literally lifting a finger. I let my eyes focus on the flames as the cup found its way to my side. Despite having lived in this town my whole life, there was a disconnect. Even from a young age, the town hadn’t truly felt like home. Not since the incident.
I had been a young girl, no more than ten. My powers weren’t what they are now. I was barely showing signs of having magic at all, but the line of witches I came from meant I had the divine powers of the earth whether I wanted them or not.
Mother Superior was the kindest teacher a group of young witches and warlocks could ask for. She was patient and understanding. To a young child, she was the perfect embodiment of what the Mother Superior should be. She wasn’t young by any means, but she had the spirit of someone half her age. She was effortless in her practice and every witch wanted to be just like her.
Halloween had once again come to pass. The entire town had held a big celebration, giving out awards and partying their hearts out. Little did I know that would be the last Halloween party I would attend. I ran around the town with the other children, laughing to my heart’s content. It had been such a fun night, Mother Superior had granted us permission to sleep in the next day.
I always came to class early to help set up, and despite that party, the next day was no exception. I knocked on the door, rocking on my heels as I waited for her to open the door. When she didn’t answer right away, I knocked again, pressing my ear to the door. It was dead silent.
Frowning, I stood on my tiptoes, trying to peek into her windows. It was dark inside and I couldn’t see anything. Pulling back the mat, I pulled out her spare key that I had found while cleaning one day. I put the key into the lock and opened the door. I stopped in the doorway, eyes going wide.
Her cottage, which was in the middle of town, was completely torn apart. Bookshelves were tipped over, her herbs trampled, and everything else thrown into absolute chaos. I slowly entered her cottage, looking around at the mayhem. I called out for her, but I was met with silence.
I quickly ran out of the cottage and went to anyone I saw in town. Not one creature I talked to knew where Mother Superior was or why her cottage was a mess. They gathered around the main square, hurriedly whispering to themselves about what to do.
I went back to the cottage to try and piece together what I could. Walking in hit me with another wave of emotions. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of the last time I saw her.
Shouting outside drew me from my memories as everyone in town gathered around a flyer. They were pointing and shouting and shaking their fists.
“It’s an outrage!” shouted the werewolf, Brix. I squeezed through the different bodies to try and steal a glance at the flyer he was holding.
Paige, the shapeshifter, plucked it from his hands before I could see what was on it. “It’s a scandal!” he cried. “To think people would comply with this. Children above all else.”
“Children?!” Aeri exclaimed. She was another witch in our coven. She took the flyer from Paige, showing it to the other witches. They grabbed their children, words mingling in with shouts from the other citizens.
Snow began falling as they continued their shouting. I slowly crept backwards towards Mother Superior’s cottage as Aeri and the other witches grabbed the nearby children. If Mother Superior was going to be found, it appeared as if I’d have to do it myself.
At the cottage, I began to tidy everything up. I knew Mother Superior would like to come back to a nice, clean place to teach. I swept and stacked the books and placed everything where it belonged. I sat in her chair, waving my finger around like she did her wand.
Behind me, the television turned on. Santa Clause from Christmas Town was on the tv. Promising to fulfill everyone’s Christmas list. I shook my head. Christmas was overrated. What was so fun about having to act a certain way just to get some push gifts that wouldn’t matter in a year or two?
I moved to sit in front of the tv as it began showing children. I squinted my eyes, tilting my head. Those children seemed vaguely familiar to me. The camera pulled back and Santa Clause looked directly into the camera. His face was round and he had rosy cheeks and a big white beard. He gave the camera a big smile, and something bad settled into the pit of my stomach.
I looked back at the cottage. Everyone had hidden themselves away in their homes. Outside was once again quiet. I stood on my feet, brushing my dress down. There was no other option. Mother Superior’s only hope was me, but I knew I needed help.
On the outskirts of town was a giant tower that stretched towards the stars and moon. There was a single window that sat at the top of the tower. Light illuminated it against the dark night sky. Bats circled around the roof, calling out to each other.
I swallowed thickly as I made my way up the steps. The door towered over me as I stood on my tiptoes to ring the bell. It gave a loud shriek that echoed around me. I stepped back slightly, looking up towards the window. A shadow moved across the window.
The door swung open slowly, giving a loud groan as the shadow stepped into the threshold. The shadow was a man with light brown hair that fell over his glasses. He wore all black and was very pale. He cocked his head to the side, squinting his eyes as he stared at me.
I gave a quick bow.
“Hello, your highness,” I greeted. He swung his long coat backwards, crouching down to look me in the eyes. He folded his hands in front of him, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Hello there. How can I help you?” he asked. My heart began beating rapidly as I looked down. I took a deep, shaky breath, glancing back up at him.
“I need your help,” I said. “Mother Superior is missing. And I think she’s in Christmas Town.” He jerked his head back, blinking several times.
“Now why do you think that?” he asked. I twiddled with my thumbs, drawing my mouth into a thin line.
“It’s just—a hunch. Please, you and I are her only hope.” He stood up straight, brushing his pants. He looked back up his tower before stepping out and shutting the door.
“Okay. If you’re sure that’s where she is, then that’s our best lead,” he told me. He offered his arm and helped me down his stairs. “I’m Seo Taiji, by the way. What’s your name?”
“I’m Y/N.”
The Pumpkin King, then Prince, and I made our way through Halloween Town. Everyone was locked away in their homes. Their curtains drawn and their lights out. Seo Taiji swooped down to pick up one of the flyers lying trampled in the snow. He frowned as we continued towards the woods.
The snow was thicker in the woods than in town. The trees stretched and tangled with each other. Owls hooted and shook the branches. Seo Taiji kept a tight grip on my hand as he led me through the winding forest. Brix and his pack were prowling the forest, letting out howls to the moon.
At the edge of a particular clearing, I could make out the bright lights of Christmas Town and Santa’s reindeer flying overhead. Seo Taiji tugged me on, bringing us to the edge of the forest where a small shop sat.
“What’s a wine shop doing at the edge of the woods?” Taiji inquired, peeking from behind a tree. Two men stood behind a table, handing out goblets filled with a red liquid. Fancy-dressed men and women surrounded the table, laughing and drinking the liquid.
I darted out from behind the tree, making my way to the table. He tried to grab me, but I slipped from his grasp, scowling as everyone stared at me. The men behind the counter tried to shoo me away, but I ignored them, looking at the wine in front of me. They turned to each other before pouring me a glass. I took the goblet and brought it to my lips.
The liquid was thick--uncomfortably so. It was also warm and bitter. I pretended to need to throw up and ran to the door that was away from them. As I slipped in, I made sure to shut the door behind me.
Inside the building was illuminated by a red light and was covered in big, metal tubes. I let out a gasp as I saw familiar faces chained to one of the metal contraptions. They were witches who had gone missing before Mother Superior. The one in the very front was Maeve.
Her bronze skin was now an ashy grey and her thick curls had lost their volume. I took hesitant steps towards her, reaching my hand up. Her head rolled to the side, her eyes staring at me. The other witches remained motionless as I tugged at their skirts.
A door opening scared me away from her. I blinked away my tears as I quickly ran away from them. Someone was following me, so I hid until one of the men from earlier passed me. I quickly left the way I came, running past a car.
A hand snatched me and pulled me back. The hand came to rest upon my mouth as I looked up to see Taiji. He held a finger to his mouth, looking about as footsteps ran past us. He quickly ushered me to hide in the car with him.
“Why did you run in there?” he asked, his face slightly pink and his brows furrowed. I bent my head, biting my lip to stop it from quivering. His expression softened. “I’m sorry. I was just worried. What was in there?” I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling my knees to my chin. “Y/N?”
“I—I found Maeve. And to some of the other missing witches,” I mumbled.
“Well that’s good, right?” I shook my head, tightening my grip on myself.
“They—they were—they were in chains and—and—they weren’t—weren’t moving—” He wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my head.
Someone opened one of the car doors, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the car. It roared to life before it took off towards the heart of Christmas Town.
Ever so slowly we sat up, looking out the window. Bright lights blinded us as we took in the passing trees fading in favor of what was Christmas Town. It had expanded more than we thought, and his jaw remained clenched for almost the entire ride.
I thought back to my lessons with Mother Superior. She’d always been more than just a teacher to me. She was the mother I had lost. I needed to be brave for her. If what was happening to the other witches was happening to her, I needed to be the bravest I’d ever been.
When the car finally stopped, we were in front of an almost all white building. Even the people were dressed in white, yet the ground was barren of any snow. Slowly we slipped out of the car, and he took my hand. We were the only two dressed in all black.
Two guards approached us, grabbing us by the arms. They dragged us past the long line of people. Above the table where children were signing a piece of paper read a sign that said, “From Cradle to Grave”. A man started shouting about the paper and two people put a cloth over his mouth and dragged him away.
Taiji and I were separated, and I was brought to a room where a few other children were standing, matching lids to boxes. A scary man yelled at me and quickly set to work. The other children were covered in soot and weren’t wearing the happy color clothes of Christmas Town. I wondered where they had taken Taiji, but I was too afraid to ask.
Some time passed before another little came in. She wore a fancy looking dress and had her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head. The scary guard bent down, and she whispered into his ear, pointing at me and a couple other children. More guards came in and dragged us away as she stood smirking.
I was given a white dress and told to change. I did so, but the lacey fabric scratched at my skin, and I fought myself not to tear the dress off. I was led to a room and told to sit on a chair. It was cold and hard, and I still didn’t know where Taiji was. The other children had been cleaned up and were also dressed in white. Each of our outfits was unique, yet they seemed to blend together in a sea of white lace.
The man from earlier, who had been sitting at the table handing out papers, came in. He had grey hair and a black handlebar mustache that didn’t match. He bent down and inspected us, yelling at one of the adults. He pursed his lips before jerking his head. He stormed away, shouting at people as he did so.
The adult he yelled out brought out a can and went to one of the nearby children, forcing her to smile and spraying the can. An unnatural smile stuck onto her face. They repeated the process with the other children, but when they got to me, the little girl from earlier stopped her. She had an almost evil presence to her, yet she had stopped the woman. It was something I never understood.
The little girl held my hand as Santa Clause came into the room. He led us all out to the front room, taking a seat on his big, red chair. Most of the children crowded around his feet, their fake smiles plastered onto their faces. The little girl left me to the side of the chair, taking a seat on Santa’s lap. She whispered something into his ear, pointing back at me. He laughed and motioned for the handlebar man to step aside.
Guards from earlier came in, grasping onto chains like the ones from the wine shop. A gasp left my mouth as both Mother Superior and Taiji were brought out, shackles wrapped around them. Mother Superior had aged significantly since I saw her two days ago. Her hair had lost its shine and luster, and her skin was an ashy grey as Maeve’s had been. Taiji seemed okay, just mad.
Mother Superior fought against her chains to reach me, and I fought my to get to her, but we remained out of each other’s grasps. Taiji was forced to his knees in front of Santa Clause. I had never seen so much hatred in someone’s eyes as he had staring at Santa Clause.
The adults of Christmas Town began chanting, louder and louder their voices grew, drowning out my own cries. Mother Superior had tears in her eyes as she summoned what little magic she had. A white ball of energy sat in her hand, and as best she could while being chained, she forced the ball down.
The children, Taiji, and I disappeared from Christmas Town. Taiji and I landed back in Mother Superior’s hut. I quickly rid him of his shackles, but we were both slightly disoriented from the magic. He took a seat, bringing his hand to his temple.
I felt something hard in my hand, and looked down to see a key. Glancing up, I found a chest. I unlocked it to find Mother Superior’s witch items from when she had been my age. Her spell book, her broom, her hat, everything was there. I turned back to him and I knew what I had to do.
“This is no time for tears!” Taiji stood in the town square, monsters gathered around him. “Mother Superior, along with everyone here, is in danger. Now it’s time to show them Halloween Town will not be treated this way. You attack one of us, you attack all of us! We are monsters! We are proud!” The townsfolk cheered and prepped themselves to march into Christmas Town. The fight had only begun.
The Mouse King’s castle stood tall and proud. Towers made of polished, white marble stretched towards the sky. The walls were long and made of stone. There wasn’t much else to see from the south side of the castle. That must be why they never showed the back of castles in fairy tales. Mouse soldiers walked around the perimeter, spears clutched in their paws.
The group had ducked into the woods, making sure to stay out of the mice soldier's line of sight. They tied the horses to a tree, making sure they didn’t run off again. General Hanbin pulled out the map that the Sugar Plum Fairy had given them. He placed it down on the ground, securing it with some nearby rocks.
“Okay, the Sugar Plum Fairy said that there was a secret entrance a few yards away from the south wall. There, we’ll enter into a secret passageway hidden within the castle walls. She marked the path to take that will lead us to the north side of the castle. Somewhere there is his royal treasury. We should find the egg somewhere there.”
“Should? Are we not certain that’s where the egg is?” Y/N said.
“The Sugar Plum Fairy hasn’t ever seen the egg or inside the castle,” Lieutenant Donghyuk explained. “She did her best to try and remember what the Mouse King’s said before. She helped us the best she could.”
General Hanbin rolled the map up before returning it to his sack. He slung it over his shoulder, making sure it was secured before leading the group away from the woods. They had to back-track slightly before the general led them down a steep hillside. The Uncrossable Seas were next to the hill, its waters sloshing along the grass. Next to the hill was a curtain of vines and leaves.
The General pushed the curtain aside to reveal a dark and damp tunnel. Ju-ne took Y/N’s hand as they entered the tunnel. It was dark--dark and quiet. The only sound was the ocean outside, and their footsteps as they stepped on the soaked, moss covered ground. The air around them was thick as they continued through the tunnel.
“Be careful,” General Hanbin called back. “We should be coming up to the secret passageway soon.”
And they were. Soon the soft moss ground changed to hard stone. The air was no longer thick with moisture, but thick with dust. The ocean sounds faded into a deafening nothingness. Their footsteps echoed off the stone walls--the only source of sound outside their breathing. Torches lined the walls, lighting the group’s way. Ju-ne kept a firm grip on Y/N’s hand, looking back once in a while to make sure she was still there with them.
Up ahead of them was a dead end. Lieutenant Donghyuk went to the front of the group, placing his ear against the wall. He knocked on the stones in a few different places before stepping back. Ever so carefully he pushed on one side of the wall. With a loud groan, the wall began to slowly spin, revealing the inside of the castle.
The group rushed through the entrance before the wall fell back into place, as if it had never been touched. The inside of the castle was exactly as you’d expect a castle to look. Soft carpets covered the floor under them. Priceless nicknacks were strategically placed on tables along the hallway. Paintings of kings and queens of old covered the walls. Gas lanterns gave the hallway a dim glow. The only thing missing was the servants and courtiers, but Y/N supposed the Mouse King had gotten rid of them.
“Okay, there’s two main corridors on the north side,” General Hanbin said, pulling the map from his sack. “We’ll divide into teams of two, then search for the egg. We’ll meet back here once we’ve finished searching. If none of us have found it, then we’ll have to search the entire castle. Understood?” Everyone nodded. “Excellent. Lady Y/N and the Nutcracker will take this corridor, Lieutenant Donghyuk and I will take this one.” General Hanbin put the map back in his sack before turning to the Lieutenant.
The four split up and went their separate ways. Ju-ne and Y/N went down their corridor, poking their heads into the different rooms. Most were empty bedrooms, cabinets, and bathrooms. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, turning this way and that. The doors became fewer and fewer the further they went along.
At one point there was a split in the corridor. One could either continue to go straight, or venture off towards the left. Ju-ne and Y/N stopped, looking down both hallways. They both appeared identical from a first glance. They needed to check every room they could, but going together would take too much time. The longer they remained in the castle, the more likely they were to be caught.
“You take the corridor on the left. I’ll continue straight,” Y/N said, glancing at Ju-ne briefly before she started walking. He barely caught her wrist and pulled her back to him. He stared down at her, eyes focused on her, reading her. Y/N felt her heartbeat pick up the longer he stared at her. He seemed to have that effect on her, making her sweat and heat up. In fact, it actually infuriated her how good he was at leaving her head in a blissfully fuzzy state of being.
“Absolutely not,” he finally said. He was also very good at telling her “no”. She pulled her hand away from his, crossing her arms over her chest. “If something happens to you and I’m not there I--” He struggled to finish his sentence, staring at her hopelessly. “We need to stay together.” Y/N’s gaze softened slightly. She could never find it in her to be in a sour mood when those big, brown eyes were staring at her.
“I understand your concern, but if we don’t split up, we’ll be here forever. Then we shall most definitely be caught. No, we must split up. Once we’ve checked all the rooms, we’ll meet right back here. Okay?” Ju-ne looked like he wanted to argue, but one look from Y/N had him nodding his head in agreement. She smiled triumphantly before continuing, alone, down the corridor.
The longer she traveled alone, the more paranoid she began to feel. She tried not to look at the paintings that lined the walls. Every time she glanced up, it was like those black, unmoving, abysses were staring down at her. She swallowed thickly, wrapping her arms around herself. She took deep breaths, letting her mind focus on everything else.
Domestic thoughts began to take over her head. Thoughts of Sunday morning brunches, picnics in an amazing and lucious garden, reading as it poured outside, and even thoughts of children. These were thoughts she rarely had, unless she was reading a rather romantic book, but they floated around in her head nonetheless. And they all circled around one individual.
Up ahead, at the very end of the corridor, was a singular door. The corridor ended with the room. There were no other hallways to turn down or rooms to explore. Y/N’s steps seemed to slow down the closer she got to the door. Her breathing became shallow as every part of her being became hyper aware of everything around her. Only when she was right outside the door did she finally stop.
The door seemed to loom over her like a shadow. It both beckoned and cast her away. She turned around briefly, pondering if she should walk away. She shook the thought from her head. Everyone was counting on her: the Sugar Plum Fairy, Jiwon, Jinhwan, Lieutenant Donghyuk, General Hanbin, Ju-ne… Pushing her own selfish thoughts aside, she slowly turned the door knob.
The door swung open with a surprising amount of ease. It was completely dark inside--dark and quiet. Ever so slowly, Y/N stepped in, leaving the door ajar to cast some light in the room. It looked like an office of sorts. There was a long table with a chair at the end, closest to Y/N. In fact, that’s all there seemed to be in the mysterious room. She frowned, her body slumping slightly. Something felt wrong. There was something in Y/N’s mind telling her this was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out why.
Slam!
Turning around, Y/N found herself in complete darkness. She rushed back to where the door had been, but she couldn’t seem to find a door handle. Panic filled her as she tried to look around the room, yet no matter how long she stared, her eyes couldn’t seem to adjust. She began to bang on the door, calling out for help.
“They aren’t going to hear you.” Each word was drawn out unnecessarily as, ever so slowly, light began to fill the room.
She kept her face towards the wall, her spine straightening. Her hands rested flat, as her eyes remained downcast. She knew that voice. Slowly she turned around.
The Mouse King sat at the other end of the table, his small crown atop his head. His elbow rested on the arm of the chair as the magic sceptor laid on the table in front of him. He was staring at her, but his gaze almost seemed bored. As if her being here was nothing more than a dip in his day.
“Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of her. She sat down, keeping her eyes trained on him. Her breathing was steady, but her heart pounded in her chest. She wondered faintly if he could hear it. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. “Remarkable.”
“Excuse me?” Her voice was clear and sharp.
“Remarkable. Don’t think I forgot our last encounter. The bump on the back of my head is a constant reminder of who you are.” He winced slightly. She smirked, watching as he stood from his chair, swiping the scepter off the table. “You and I have quite a few things to discuss, Lady Y/N.”
“How do you know my name?” she inquired, standing up. They slowly began pacing around the table, eyes locked. He chuckled slightly, shaking his long head. “Do I amuse you, your Majesty?”
“Not particularly. But she does.” He waved the scepter, and an image of the Sugar Plum Fairy appeared. She was pacing the length of her room, clearly frustrated. “She still thinks that I can’t see her, as if her magic can hide her from me.” He waved and the image disappeared. He turned back towards Y/N. “As I said, you and I have quite a few things to discuss.”
“That we do,” she conceded. “For starters, that doesn’t belong to you.” She watched as he went to the nearby fireplace, using it to start a roaring fire. The flames danced across his face as a stoic look took over.
“No, it does not,” he agreed. “It belonged to the Emperor, and in his absence, it belongs to his son. Your precious nutcracker.” The Mouse King shook his head and let out a deep sigh. “You must understand, I am not the bad guy.”
“You think so? From where I’m standing, you seem to fit the role quite well,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yes. I suppose she has painted the image perfectly. Evil and power-hungry. Nothing is more convincing than taking your own traits and projecting them onto someone else. Especially when that other person is innocent and doesn’t see what’s going on.” He turned to her, paw clenched around the scepter. “I would like to tell you a story, Lady Y/N.”
“Why should I listen to a word you say?”
“Because if you ever wish to see your nutcracker again, you’ll sit and listen.” His voice was calm, but his black eyes flashed red, causing her to take a couple steps back. Surprised, she sat down, but her eyes stayed on him and her body was rigid.
“Not too long ago, the Emperor announced that he would no longer be ruling over us, that his time as the emperor had passed. His power would be passed down to his heir, and everyone was apprehensive. The Prince was aloof and politically inept, but we couldn’t disobey the Emperor. Until the Prince was of proper age, the reigning Sugar Plum and I were to keep order amongst the empire.
“The Sugar Plum Fairy grew impatient. I tried to talk with her, to get her to see reason, but she refused. I could tell she was growing too fond of her temporary power. Maybe if I had voiced my concerns, things wouldn’t have progressed the way they did.
“I happened to be wandering the palace late one night, unable to sleep, when I noticed the Prince’s door ajar. I stepped inside to find the Sugar Plum Fairy standing over him as he laid fast asleep. I shall spare you any more details.
“I had forced her out of the palace and seized the scepter from her. What I hadn’t realized was that while I was busy holding in my concerns, she had convinced the courtiers and servants that I craved the crown myself. That being a reigning Lord hadn’t been enough for me. I, unfortunately, only cemented her words when I threw her from the palace.
“I knew that, given the chance, she’d go after the Prince. To keep him safe, I did the only thing I could think of. I turned him into a nutcracker and sent him far away, claiming he had perished. What I hadn’t expected was for him to fall into the lap of a girl. I hadn’t expected him to find you, but maybe now things can be righted.”
“What makes you think I’d believe a word you said?” Her heart was pounding in her chest as she listened to him.
“Why did you take the key from her room?”
A small gasp left her mouth as she fought the urge to reach for it. They watched each other for several minutes. There was conflict inside her. After all, what he said was completely plausible. On the other hand, as he had said himself, nothing is more convincing than taking your own traits and projecting them onto someone else.
He lifted the scepter above him, and the one thing she’d been looking for appeared on the table before her. It was a small, ornate egg, covered in gold and precious gems. Her mouth fell open as she stared at it. There it was, the one thing she needed to defeat him and return home, just within reach, and yet, she couldn’t bring herself to grab it. She glanced over to him.
“Take it,” he said, waving the scepter again so the door reappeared. “Take it to Ju-ne.”
She snatched the egg off the table and ran out the door, nearly collapsing in the hallway. When she turned around, the door was gone. Her hand went to her pocket, where she could feel the outline of the key. She let out a breath, placing the egg into the pocket of her dress skirt.
She made her way through the castle, back to where she and Ju-ne agreed to meet. She waited for a few minutes, but after a while, it seemed like he wasn’t coming. Curiously she went in search of General Hanbin and Lieutenant Donghyuk, yet where everyone agreed to meet, they couldn’t be found. She nearly smacked herself in the face. Of course the Mouse King had been distracting her.
She blew out a puff of air and began her search of the castle. She went through many corridors, yet they all seemed to lead back to where she started, but even after a while she couldn’t remember where she started. Everything seemed the same and yet nothing was familiar. Paintings seemed to move and doors disappeared as soon as you turned.
She sat on the floor, bringing her knees to her chest. She had to think of something before it was too late. She scooted over to the nearby wall and pressed her ear against it. She slowly lifted her hand and began knocking various places.
Further down than where she’d been sitting, where she knocked sounded hollow. Summoning all her might, she shoved her shoulder into the wall. It swung with surprising ease and she tumbled into another area of the castle.
No more endless halls, she came to a second floor with a railing that peered down. Looking down she saw two mouse guards in front of a door. She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking around. She walked along the railing until the room was below her and she could no longer see the soldiers.
What she did see was a solution. Taking a pin from her hair, she crouched down to undo the lace of her boot. She tied each end of the lace to a pole along the railing. She placed the pin in the center and aimed for a vase in the opposite room. She exhaled softly, letting the pin go. It flew, knocking the vase off the shelf and drawing the soldiers away. She ran to a nearby velvet drape and slid down it. She shook her rug burned hands and quickly stepped into the room, being sure to shut the door quietly.
Her face fell as she discovered the room was empty. Her shoulders slumped as she backed herself against the door. Fooled, once again. She wanted to shout. What was the point of placing guards in an empty room? To trick her of course. Now that she was in the room, she either had to stay or risk being caught by the guards.
She pushed herself away from the door. There had to be a way out, like in the hallways. After all, that was his game: rats in a maze. She went to walk to the other side of the room and fell backwards. She rubbed her forehead, reaching a tentative hand out.
There was an invisible wall before her, cutting the room in half. It felt like glass.She let out a mirthless laugh. She went over to grab a nearby torch and went to smash it against the wall. The wall shattered and revealed the second half of the room. Still empty, there was at least another door. Dropping the torch, she opened the door.
It revealed a set of stone stairs leading up. Picking up her skirts, she began her climb. There were no windows and the only lights came from the torches that appeared just as the light from the last one nearly disappeared. She continued to climb until she came to a second door.
She pushed it open and found General Hanbin, Lieutenant Donghyuk, and Ju-ne in the room looking miserable and angry.
“Ju-ne!” She ran to him and threw her arms around his wooden neck, nearly laughing.
“Y/N? How did you find us?” He pulled away from her slightly, mouth open. She waved his question away.
“Lady Y/N, are we glad to see you!” Lieutenant Donghyuk bowed his head, a genuine smile on his face. General Hanbin nearly nodded.
“I’m so happy to have found you all, but we can’t stay here. Any longer and I fear the Mouse King shall try something else to prolong our visit,” she said. She turned towards the door. There was no guarantee that they wouldn’t be caught. Inside the room was rope, probably used to tie them up and a window overlooking the woods at the edge of a cliff that dropped into the Uncrossable Seas. Even on a clear day, the waters looked violent.
“I can see the gears in your head turning. What is it, Y/N?” Ju-ne asked.
“How well can you swim?” she inquired, stepping away from the window.
“Irrelevant. I’m made of wood. Why do you ask?”
“I have an idea, but it’s mad.” She told them her idea, and seeing no alternative, they all reluctantly agreed.
Lieutenant Donghyuk took his elbow and smashed the window out, pushing out any spare shards as best he could. General Hanbin was the first to exit, holding fast onto the rope as Lieutenant Donghyuk followed. Both men were arguing with each other as Ju-ne pulled Y/N to the side.
“Are you sure you want to do this? I know staying here is dangerous, but at least you know you’d be… okay.” The word he wanted to say refused to leave his mouth. She smiled sweetly, placing a hand on his arm.
“If you think this has been the most terrifying part of my day, I envy you.”
“I am a nutcracker.” They smiled at one another before he stepped away to climb out the window. She followed suit and once they were all outside, they jumped.
The waters were harsh, cold, and relentless in their assault against the group. As they plunged into the black depths of the Uncrossable Seas, an unseeable force kept them down. Y/N struggled as she fought her way back to the surface. Slowly she made her way back to the surface as her lungs screamed for air.
Once she broke the surface she gasped, only to be thrown back down into the water. She resisted the urge to shout and shut her eyes. She pushed herself back to the surface and fought to keep her head above the thrashing water.
Ju-ne was nearby, on his back, as the water failed to drag him underneath. She swam towards him, throwing herself over his torso as he bobbed. He brought his hand to her back, rubbing it gently. She turned slightly, catching sight of the green military jacket. Using him as a board, she pushed them to the jacket where General Hanbin was struggling to stay afloat.
She pulled him over Ju-ne’s torso and began her search for Lieutenant Donghyuk. She couldn’t seem to find him anywhere. The longer they stayed floating, the more she worried. Unable to wait any longer, she pushed off of Ju-ne. He went to grab her, but she slipped through his grasp.
She dove into the waters, allowing the waves to push her further down. She swam out several yards, ignoring her need for oxygen, when she spotted the bright red pants. She swam towards him, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him up towards the surface. The water fought against her, but she fought back twice as hard.
Soon the pair broke the surface, gasping for air. General Hanbin maneuvered Ju-ne’s body towards them and helped her drape the Lieutenant across him. They pushed his body towards the nearby shore, where the horses were waiting for them.
“Lieutenant Donghyuk?” Y/N shook him gently, before pressing harshly onto his stomach. He began coughing up water, turning to his side as he choked. She gave his back several firm pats as he slowly regained his ability to breath. “Welcome back, Lieutenant.”
“That’s twice now you’ve saved my life.” He gave her a weak smile. His voice was hoarse from all the salt he swallowed. “Please, call me DK.”
“As you wish.”
“It’s almost nightfall,” General Hanbin called. “We’ll go a little further into the woods and make camp.” He grabbed his horse and wasted no time in marching into the woods. Ju-ne and Y/N helped DK onto his horse, then grabbed Cinnamon and Cocoa to follow the General into the woods.
As General Hanbin set up a fire for DK to rest by, Y/N took a seat on a nearby log next to Ju-ne. He was staring down at the ground. Their backs were to the others.
“It was a waste to come here. We almost died, and we didn’t get the egg.” Ju-ne let out a sigh, resting his head in his hand. She bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the others were still occupied. She reached into the pocket of her dress and produced the golden egg. His mouth fell open as he looked at it. “How did you--”
“The Mouse King gave it to me. He knew we were coming to get it, and he knows where the Sugar Plum Fairy is. He told me a lot of things, but before we do anything else, we need to know what’s in this egg.” She pulled out the small key and placed it in his hand. “This is your birthright. Not hers.”
Ever so slowly, he put the key into the small hole and turned it until a series of clicks echoed. He opened the egg and revealed a mirror. It was simple, yet deeply profound as he stared into it.
“But, I don’t understand.”
“Can’t you see?” she said, moving to crouch in front of him. “It’s you who’s going to save us. You are your kingdom’s greatest strength. You don’t need anyone but yourself.”
“How can you be so sure? You’ve heard what everyone’s said about the prince. They believe they’re better off without me.”
“And look how well you being gone has turned out for them.” She stood up, placing her hands on her hips. She garnered the attention of General Hanbin and DK, both of whom were watching with confusion. “You are Prince Koo Junhoe. The pity party is over. We’re returning to the Safe Haven and we’re ending this war. Once and for all.”
Summary: Forced to leave her Seoul home, Y/N and her older brother, Jung Hoseok, go to stay at Ambershire Manor with her estranged cousin Min Yoongi. Yoongi warns of bandits and instructs Y/N to stay away from the forest and the Kim’s, the rival family. After riding with her cousin, Y/N hears a distressed cry and sneaks into the forest, where she is surrounded by bandits, including a boy named Kim Taehyung.
A/N: Based off the movie "The Secret of Moonacre".
Summary: The Author has a severe case of writer's block. Everything she's written feels cliché and overdone. She makes a wish, and the Page Apprentice appears. She grants the Author her wish by thrusting her into the written world. The Author will have to live through a series of stories as Y/N to return to her world. Will she succeed? Or is she doomed to wander the written world for the rest of eternity.
"What should I get?" you inquired, lowering your voice as much as humanly possible so only Yunhyeong could hear you. Even though you were a tourist and this was your first time here, you didn't exactly want it to be obvious. The restaurant was tiny enough that eavesdropping was inevitable, but you could at least try to keep your conversation contained to your charming table for two.
"I had the Quiche Lorraine last time, and it was fantastic," Yunhyeong replied, his eyes still surveying the menu. "But this is absolutely one of those places where there are no wrong choices."
You nodded silently, biting the inside of your cheek as your gaze flitted back and forth between the menu and your dinner date -- partner. Sorry. Dinner partner sitting across from you.
"And," Yunhyeong continued, his grin peeking through in his voice when he spoke. "We can actually order alcohol this time."
You knit your brows in confusion, letting your eyes settle on him for more than a half-second. "What do you mean?"
Yunhyeong's smile grew just a fraction wider before he gently set down his menu, crossed his arms over the marble top of the table, and leaned toward you. (To put into perspective just how small the table was, by the way -- his cologne was now invading your sense because he was so close to you.)
"Remember your first day on the job?" he began, murmuring like he was revealing some confidential information.
You nodded, resisting the urge to copy his movements and lean in yourself.
"We were on the flight together, you had your nose pressed to the taxi window all the way into the city, we had a meal together -- just like today. But a year ago, we couldn't order any Sake because you had another flight later that day. Today, we can," he told you earnestly, though he ended his sentence with a blink-and-you-missed-it wink.
"How do you remember all that?" you whispered, frankly a bit flabbergasted that his memory was so good.
Yunhyeong simply shrugged before lifting his hand casually to wave over a server.
"Une bouteille de vin, s'il vous plait. Chateau Cos d'Estournel," he requested once the server arrived, the language flowing beautifully from his lips.
"Oui, Monsieur," the server muttered with a nod before turning on their heel and dashing elegantly toward the back of the restaurant.
You honestly weren't quite sure what to make of all this. First, Yunhyeong had arranged for you to fly to Paris as a friend-aversary gift. Second, he had told you that you look fantastic. Third, he had remembered virtually every detail of the first day the two of you had met. Fourth, he had just ordered a bottle of wine in nearly perfect French. In an incredibly romantic restaurant. In Paris.
"What kind of wine did you order?" you asked after clearing away the anxiety stuck in your throat.
Yunhyeong shot you a smirk, one so pleased and adorable that the anxiety you'd just cleared away came back with a vengeance. "Only the best," he replied.
Correction: he had just ordered a bottle of the best wine in nearly perfect French. In an incredibly romantic restaurant. In Paris.
The server returned, bottle and glasses in hand, only a couple of minutes later, deftly setting the wine glasses down in front of each of you and pouring the dark red liquid expertly.
"Merci," Yunhyeong murmured as the server left the bottle on the bottle on the table. "Encore quelques minutes avant de commander, s'il vous plait."
Again, the server nodded, turned on their heel, and dashed away.
Before you got the chance to ask what he'd said, Yunhyeong reached for his glass, lifting it gently by the stem and locking eyes with you. "To a full year of working together and, more importantly, being friends. And to, hopefully, many more to come. Many, many more," he toasted with that sparkle in his eye you knew so well.
"Many more," you managed to say, clinking your glass with his before surreptitiously taking a rather large gulp. After setting your glass down carefully, you pushed your chair back from the table. "I will -- oh, god, that wine is delicious. I just need to powder my nose, I'll be right back. If the server returns while I'm gone, I would like the boeuf bourguignon."
"Mm, yes, of course, go ahead," Yunhyeong replied quickly, his eyes on you as you swerved around the table to get to the restroom.
The second you ducked into the minuscule cubicle labeled Toilettes, you closed and locked the door behind you and slid your phone out of your pocket.
You had no time to think about time zones, and the person you were calling kept a very irregular schedule anyway; he could be awake at any hour of the day.
After three and a half rings, your heart racing the whole time, the line clicked, and you heard a somewhat sleepy "Yo," in your ear.
"Jae," you whispered. "I need to talk to you."
"...Where are you, and why are you whispering?"
"It doesn't matter. I mean, where I am does matter. I'm in Paris, and --"
"Dude, in Paris?! Since when?!"
"Since today, and that's part of it."
"Part of what?"
"Just let me explain!"
"Okay, okay, I'm listening."
You took a deep breath, hoping to calm your nerves so you could tell him everything without skipping any important detail. "You know my co-worker, Yunhyeong, right?"
"The dude you had a crush on for --"
"We're friends, okay," you interrupted. "But, yes. That one. Well, he surprised me by changing my schedule behind my back so we could fly to Paris and stay here for a few days. Because it's our friend-aversary -- he said that, not me. He literally used the word 'friend-aversary.' And he's taken me to this little restaurant by our hotel, and it's super romantic and charming, and he told me I look fantastic, and he mentioned something about him being incredibly less attractive than me, and he ordered their best bottle of wine, and he made this toast that was like 'to one year of friendship and many more to come. Many, many more.' And I just -- I don't know what to think."
Jae was quiet for quite a while, and you knew that meant he was thinking.
"I mean..." he began after almost half a minute. "I think you do know what to think, Y/N."
"...I do?"
"Mhm."
You knew what you wanted to think. You wanted to think that Yunhyeong was actually being more than friendly. You wanted to think he was flirting with you.
"But he's a naturally friendly kind of guy," you explained. "He's super charming and outgoing, and everyone likes him. That kind of guy."
"Have you ever witnessed him flirting with someone?" Jae asked patiently.
"...I don't think so."
"Has he ever talked to you about anyone that he's romantically interested in?"
"...No."
"And when I have been romantically interested in someone, have I talked to you about it?"
"...Yes. But that's different --"
"It's not different. I talk to you about that kind of stuff because I don't feel that way about you. No offense."
"None taken," you answered without missing a beat.
"But," Jae continued. "If I did feel that way about you, there's no way I would tell you about other people I'm interested in. Probably because I wouldn't be interested in other people, just you. This is purely hypothetical, by the way."
"Yeah, I know," you huffed, doing nothing to hide your annoyance. That's just the kind of relationship you had with Jae -- the two of you could be completely honest with each other. No holds barred, no hard feelings. "So... you're saying the reason he doesn't talk to me about that is because... he likes me?"
"I mean, it's not a foolproof theory, but I would say it's highly likely."
You stood there, blinking for a few seconds without replying. And then, "...So, what do I do?"
"I dunno, man."
"What do you mean you don't know?!"
"What do you want to do?!"
"I don't know!"
"Do you like him?"
"I've spent the past several months pretending I don't, but yes. I do."
"Then just tell him. Or ask him. Bring it up."
"But what if --"
"'What ifs' will ruin your life, Y/N," Jae scolded. "You either need to tell him, or you need to let it go. And if you don't decide tonight, you're going to let it distract you from having an amazing time in Paris."
You almost wanted to curse him for knowing you so well.
"What does your gut tell you?" he asked.
It seemed cheesy, but in order to answer his question, you closed your eyes. You took a deep breath and let it out slowly. And you listened.
Yunhyeong was a friendly person, there was no doubt about that. He greeted everyone with a smile. He was helpful to everyone. He was, quite literally, the perfect Flight Attendant. But... there was something about that sparkle. The sparkle in his eye you knew so well -- remember that? You had always thought it was just his adorably mischievous side coming out, but... what if you were wrong.
What if that sparkle was just for you? And what if you knew it so well because he'd liked you this whole time?
The more you thought about it, the more you knew Jae was right.
You wouldn't come out and tell him that, of course, but he was right.
"My gut tells me that I need to tell him," you finally said, your voice soft but sure.
"Then go for it, my dude," Jae replied with an obvious smile.
His smile was contagious, and the corners of your lips curved up. "I will. Thank you."
"It's what I'm here for. And also poke bowl cravings. I'm here for that, too."
"Of course," you chuckled. "All right, I'm going to go back out there. Wish me luck."
"You don't need it," Jae assured you before he hung up.
After sliding your phone back into your pocket, you smoothed down the front of your trousers, tugged at the shoulders of your shirt, let out a quick exhale... and opened the door.
"I'm so sorry about that," you said, chuckling breathlessly as you took your seat at the table once again.
"No, not at all," Yunhyeong grinned. "I just ordered a couple of minutes ago, so you didn't miss anything. Except my expert French."
"I am only letting you order when we go to eat somewhere, by the way." You returned his smile, picking up your wine glass and taking a sip -- not a gulp this time.
"Well, who am I to say 'no' to you?"
Your heart skipped a beat at his words, and you took that as your queue to actually go through with what you'd talked about on the phone with Jae.
"Can I..." you began, trying to maintain eye contact with him but finding yourself glancing at your wine glass. "Ask you something?"
Yunhyeong's brow furrowed gently, and he tilted his head the tiniest bit. "Of course."
"Is... this... a date?"
Four words had never been so nerve-wracking to say.
"Well, yes, of course, it is," he replied without hesitation. "It's our --"
"Friend-aversary," you finished for him. "But I mean... not a friend date. Like... a real date?"
Okay, those were the most nerve-wracking words you'd ever said.
Yunhyeong's expression immediately softened, but you couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He no longer looked curious or confused, and you kind of felt like he should be?
Unless... he wasn't confused about the answer or curious why you'd asked.
"I..."
It seemed like an eternity before he continued on, though in reality, it was but a few moments.
"...Would like it to be. If you feel the same."
And Jae was right again.
You shifted in your seat, pressing your lips together to stop yourself from bursting into a grin. "I do, actually."
"Really?" Yunhyeong sighed. He reached one hand out, covering your fingers with his and gripping them.
When you nodded in response, Yunhyeong let out another sigh, hanging his head briefly before lifting it up to lock his gaze on you. "I've been wanting to go on a date with you for a long time," he admitted, though he certainly didn't sound shy about it.
"A long time?!" you laughed incredulously. "I've liked you for a long time!"
Yunhyeong quirked a brow at you. "...How long is long?"
"As long as possible. Since the first day. Remember how I kissed you on the cheek? I thought that was a pretty big giveaway that I was interested, but you didn't do anything about it, so I just thought we were going to be friends."
As soon as you'd said 'the first day,' Yunhyeong's jaw had dropped. And somehow, he even managed to make that look attractive.
"The first -- But I thought you were just thanking me!"
"...With a kiss on the cheek?" you chuckled.
"Well, yeah! Obviously! I didn't know it meant anything other than that!"
You lifted your other hand and placed it atop his, sandwiching his hand between your own. "For someone who always knows exactly how I'm feeling, how did you not pick up on that?" you asked, only slightly teasing.
Yunhyeong let out a huff and rolled his eyes at himself. "Let me tell you, I have never been able to pick up on cues like that. Not once in my life have I ever known when someone was flirting with me."
So, all this time... if you had just expressed your interest to his face...
Jae's words on the phone not ten minutes ago echoed in your head: What ifs will ruin your life, Y/N.
"Well," you said," picking up his hand and placing a soft, lingering kiss on his knuckles. "Just so you know, this is me flirting with you."
Yunhyeong threw his head back laughing, and you didn't care that all of the other patrons in the restaurant turned to look. You simply beamed over at him, stretching your legs out to tangle your ankles with his under the table.
Once the echo of his laughter faded away, he squeezed your hand and gazed at you with the most heart-wrenching smile. "I won't lie, I was wondering if you were going to figure it out."
"Figure what out?"
"Paris, the restaurant, the wine, the toast... I didn't think I was being subtle."
"No, you weren't," you chuckled. "Which is why I had to go to the toilettes and call Jae to ask his advice."
"That's what you were doing?!"
You nodded, your chuckle gently evolving into a laugh.
"Well," he said, his thumb skimming over the back of your hand. "Remind me to thank him when we get home."
You nodded once more, but his words -- as dumb as it sounds -- reminded you that you were, indeed, not at home. You were in Paris.
With Yunhyeong.
You were in the City of Love with someone you -- well, you didn't love him in that way right now, but you could certainly see yourself getting there one day.
Maybe even one day soon.
...This was going to be the best layover ever.
Author's Note: if you're reading this, thank you so much! I know it's been a long, long, long time since I've posted any new fics, so I'm so grateful for anyone who has stuck with me. I can't promise I'll be posting on a more regular basis, but I can promise that I will try! 💜
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