Zoro is strewn out on the hammock, holding this bottle of sake that is far too extravagant for his taste, one that stupid swirly eyebrows gave to him. His crew is flying kites into the drunken night sky on the lawn in front of him, except for Sanji. She never came back out.
Zoro is so confused by her. She knows he’s gay. The whole crew does. But then she goes and does stuff like this.
And he’s probably misreading this whole thing, as he does far too often. Zoro knows he’s no romantic. He knows he’s not the best at picking up on these things.
But these things. It’s like she’s almost flirting. But she couldn’t be.
Because if she really was—
He tightens his grip on the bottle, his cheeks flushing.
The memory of her breath on his neck. The feeling of her strong shoulders under his fingers. How she smelled like whiskey. The sensations rush back.
Something deep inside of him aches.
Has he been wrong this entire time? Zoro has always known exactly who he was. He’s never once doubted anything about himself, for as long as he can remember. If he is hungry, he eats. If he is thirsty, he drinks. If he is weak, he trains.
But this.
He’s always liked men, so why does Sanji make him feel like no man has ever made him feel before?
Maybe he shouldn’t have said what he said to her, about only liking men. Even though it’s true, he tells himself. Was he saying that as some sort of retort for what she said to him? A comeback for how it made him feel? For the things it made him feel? Even though there’s no way she could feel those things too. Or did he say it to push his own feelings away? To make them go away. Zoro doesn’t know.
Damn it, he doesn’t know.
When he always has before.
What is it about that stupid cook?
And her stupid hair.
Zoro opens the bottle of sake, and takes a deep swig.
A drop slowly falls down his cheek, down his neck, down his chest.
It’s a shame, he thinks. A waste of the best sake he’s ever tasted.
.................
Luffy spots how Zoro drinks deeply from that bottle, as the warm wind steals his kite from him. Chopper catches it, and giggles when Robin lifts him on her shoulders.
Zoro loves sake, Luffy knows this. But never has he ever paused more than a moment to glance at a bottle before he drinks it. And he was definitely looking at that bottle for more than just a moment.
Luffy cocks his head. Interesting.
Luffy’s gaze goes to where Sanji set up all the drinks for everyone to enjoy. It’s still near empty.
That’s weird, Luffy thinks. Sanji never lets that happen.
In fact, Luffy can’t spot Sanji at all. Not with Usopp or even with Nami.
Another gust of warm, thick summer night air blows across the lawn. The lights Sanji so carefully hung waver in the wind, sending shadows dancing.
Sanji has been looking so sad lately.
Luffy frowns.
He looks back to Zoro. That sake bottle wasn’t on the table earlier.
Luffy’s eyes dart from Zoro, to the table, and back to the door inside from where Sanji hasn’t yet returned. Then back to Zoro.
Zoro pauses drinking, then puts his hand over his face.
I had a thought. Danny hiding in Gotham to keep the infinite realm from starting a war. It plague my mind. So now I’m writing it.
A single warning was all humanity had.
The infinite realms would no longer allow the attacks on their people. They assured him that no matter the outcome he would be safe. All ecto beings and ecto contaminated were to be evacuated prior to the attack. As he and his friends were mostly or half human they would be sent elsewhere in time or perhaps a different universe if the need arises
Sam, Tucker and Jazz all knew what their afterlife held. Everyone else was up in the air.
He pleaded not to attack earth and argued that not everyone their deserved a war. He knew they couldn’t destroy the planet to preserve their own dimension as too many natural portals occurred. But the entire human race could be eradicated without impact to this dimension. They did agree to listen to his reasoning but only as upon his death he will be declared king. He had no power to control the realm or make orders until his coronation. The realm would remain under the councils guidance until he was a mature ghost.
They treated him like a child. According to them he was one. He had been half ghost for less than a year. He had only realized his rouges constantly attacking him was part of the culture when Pandora informed him. Them attacking him was to ensure he was well taught and ready for the realm. To them it was play fighting.
When he sealed away Piraha Dark it made them even worse. They wanted to fight him even more. He needed to be a better fighter and there was no better way to learn. They just wanted an excuse to fight him more like it. With the exception of skulker who was just hunting him to be a jerk. He didn’t have the luxury others did entering the realm, he would have to learn the culture not form with the knowledge.
Just as they demanded more fights with him they were over protective as well. One time when his parents were trigger happy in one of their hunts for him, Lunch Lady had used her meat to shield him from the blast. Technus had attacked Fenton works disarming the anti-ghost security system for a week. His parents had to figure out how to ecto proof technology it was funny to watch. While they were still attacking him and getting souped. They would protect him. His parent got so much worse. All ecto beings were scum. They were more determined to get there hands on a ghost. Time and time again saying they would tear them up molecule by molecule.
Clockwork was the only one who stood with Danny saying that one warning should be given. No more no less. The council immediately agreed with the master of time. With that the meeting adjourned and Clockwork gave him a message that when running he should follow the birds and bats as they would help. Clockwork then vanished like the cryptid he was.
When it came time to deliver the warning any hope Danny had of it working was lost. They weren't going to any higher power, not the president or governor not even the press. They would only hand the warning over directly to the GIW. They followed the ant-ecto acts, enforced the policies, it was their fault. They attacked and experimented on the citizens of the realm. It was up to them to rectify their offense.
How could Danny explain to them that the government agency would never turn it over? It wasn’t the norm for the realms, the warning or notice of attack was always given to the opponent. No reason to tell the press or government. They had no issues with the other humans but just the one group . If that group wanted to doom human life it was on them.
Danny managed to con his way into being there when the warning was handed over. He claimed it would be a good learning experience. He had a plan, and it was brilliant when the GIW threw it away he would grab it and hand it over to the news. The public was always antiwar. At least the records in the library said so. He assumed they still were Amity has been a closed off town. There wasn’t much from other cities or states.
Many residents have remained for generations, and no one really had social media. There was no point as everyone had their own cliques. Sam and Tucker had a few outside connections. Sam with activist and her ultra-recyclo-vegetarian group. Tucker was connected to a few tech geeks and video game friends. Personally, he only knew people from town.
He assumed a news source out of town would be the best deal. They shouldn’t have any problems with ghosts and these “supervillains”. An outside perspective could be just what they needed. There would be no bias against the infinite realms.
They were off to give away the warning a portal opening at the GIW in their base of operations. Frostbite summoned a wall of ice around them. The declaration was on a glowing green scroll. It announced the warning out loud, then proceeded to get brighter and brighter unit, it burst into flames and disappeared. There went his bright idea. As the scroll disappeared a glowing green circle expanded out until the light passed through them and continued on. The power it radiated was intense.
When the light passed through he was grabbed, and they went back to the ghost zone. It was certainly a learning experience. Learning the plan he made was no good. Politics were not his thing. He was dreading the days he would be expected to make decisions. He’d rather fight any day of the week. The citizens were definitely rubbing off on him.
At least Pandora and Frostbite agreed to try and keep everyone out of the human realm. They could not guarantee anything. Frostbite didn’t want to see the injuries a war would cause and the potential losses. Pandora simply said there were still people on earth she didn’t want to see suffer. Both knew they couldn’t stop a war, but they could delay it. If the anti-ecto acts were disbanded and those responsible punished no war would be necessary.
With a promise from the two to guard the portal he returned home. He planned to close the portal and erase his parents from the Fenton lock, it would only work for about a day. They would just reprogram it. 24 hours could change everything. He entered the lab via portal invisible. It was empty.
A ring of light
the door slamming open
Stomping down the stairs
He was face to face mid transformation in front of his dad
Sakura turns to find a boy holding a bundle of lemongrass out for her to take. It must have fallen from her basket. He seems to be a little older than herself, maybe 12 or 13 years to her 10, with soft black curls framing his face in little wisps. The aura that surrounds him is gleaming a soft green, as if reflecting the same color of her own eyes.
She lifts the basket towards him without a word and waits for him to drop it back in with the other herbs and flowers. When he doesn't put them back right away she squints a glare at him.
"Well?" She asks, shaking the basket towards him in a small movement. He blinks rather dumbly and finally returns the bundle to the basket. She rolls her eyes after she's turned away from him, sparing him from her disdain. She resumes her walk, away from the simpleton, but he quickly follows her.
"I'm Shisui," the boy says, though Sakura does not deign to look at him or engage in his attempted conversation. After a few steps without an answer from her he tries again.
"Aaaaaand you are?”
"Busy," Sakura replies. Who does this guy think he is? She's walking alone with an arm full of herbs and flowers, and she's not exactly looking to make friends. He trips over half a step at her response. Buuuut, he quickly returns himself in step with her and tries again.
"Well then, nice to meet you Miss Busy," he smirks. She huffs air out of her nose in annoyance. Maybe she can lose him in the woods. She takes a sharp turn away from him very suddenly and walks right off the path, over a felled tree and into the forest.
Of course he doesn't take the hint.
"Woah-oh! What are you doing!?" he scrambles over the tree to follow her, "it's dangerous off the path!"
"For you, maybe."
"For anyone! Don't you know witches live in these woods?"
Oh. Oh, this will be fun.
"Where did you hear that?" She's deftly avoiding any obstacles the unruly forest lays before her, while he tries to follow her exact steps. He keeps looking back over his shoulder, probably hoping not to lose sight of the path.
"In the village? My gramps once told me about this time he got lost in these woods." The boy, Shisui, is clearly very eager to keep Sakura company. "He said when he finally found the river he heard a witch singing spells near the waterfall. And that she sang louder than the waterfall itself!"
Sakura rolls her eyes for the second time. That definitely sounds like something her grandmother would have done.
But he didn't need to know that.
"So you're scared of your grandfather's bad hearing?" She asks, and he scoffs.
"No! My gramps wasn't old when he heard the witch's song. His hearing was fine!" He's pouting, she can hear it in his voice. She sets down her basket and starts to climb the large boulder they've come across. The canopy is dense here and there's plenty of moisture, so she climbs to get her favorite kind of moss at the top of the boulder.
"Now what are you doing?" Shisui asks, cocking his head to the side in question as he watches her climb. He stands in wait, guarding her basket.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"I, uhh… besides climbing a rock, I'm not really sure." He shrugs then crosses his arms across his chest.
She sits once she reaches the top, straightens out her skirts and takes out her small mushroom knife.
"I'm gathering the moss." And she does. She gently scrapes a large portion away from the rockface and separates her share from what she's left behind. Tucks her knife away and prepares to toss the clump of moss at Shisui.
"Catch," she warns, really hoping he doesn't crush the moss when he catches it. She could always pick some more, but she'd have to find another boulder. Can't take too much from one spot.
Shisui catches the portion of moss with both hands flat and open, successful in not crushing it. She's almost impressed, but mostly relieved.
"Now what?" he asks, looking at the moss in his hands like it holds all the secrets of the universe. She giggles and starts her descent from the boulder.
"Put it in the basket," she doesn't actually say the duh that was sitting on the tip of her tongue, but it hurt her a little bit not to. He sets it down on top of the other items in her basket, careful not to touch any plant he's unfamiliar with.
"What're all these for?" he questions. He picks the basket up for her and moves to follow her again, without giving it back. Ah, well, if he's going to pester her he might as well make himself useful.
"Medicine, poultices, that sort of thing." She keeps her answer vague on purpose. She figures he won't ever realize their true purpose without being told, and besides she's not really lying.
She keeps walking to her next stop, again easily avoiding any obstacles and irritating plants. Shisui follows dutifully close behind her.
They're well off the path by now, and Sakura shakes her head slightly at how trusting this boy who doesn't know her is.
"You're going to get lost out here, you know," she says, not unkindly. His step falters.
"Oh. I thought you were from the village. We could go back together?"
"What if I'm not from the village?" She stops walking and turns to face him. She reaches her hand out and wraps her grasp around the handle of the basket. He gives it back easily.
"Then I guess I'm already lost," he chuckles and reaches a hand behind his head to ruffle the back of his hair.
She smiles sweetly before she taunts him.
"You know, I hear there are witches in these woods. It wasn't very smart of you to follow a stranger into them."
"Uhh," he looks sheepish as she recounts his mistake, "the stranger seemed… nice?"
Sakura laughs at that.
"Seriously? I didn't even tell you my name!" She's still laughing, "what about the past half hour made you think I was nice?”
Shisui is smiling as she laughs, even though it's at his expense. He clears his throat a little to get her attention.
"Actually, I saw you around the village. You gave something to my neighbor. Was it one of those 'poultice' thingies?"
"Oh, maybe. Depends on who your neighbor is," she replies. She resumes her walk, planning on bringing Shisui back to his path home in a roundabout way. She smirks and hopes she can mess with him a little bit more before parting ways. "So, you followed me?"
"I didn't mean to, but you dropped that plant and no one else went to help you-"
"Lemongrass," she interrupts.
"Wha-?"
"It was lemongrass," she stops walking and turns around, retrieving the bundle from her basket. She holds it out to him, "here, smell it."
"You just told me not to trust you."
She giggles, "I didn't say that! It's not going to hurt you," she rolls her eyes so he can see this time, "but if you don't want to-"
He cuts her off before she can taunt him further and takes the bundle from her hand. Tentatively brings it to his nose and gives it a sniff.
"Hmm, smells like… lemons?"
"Hence the name, genius."
"Makes sense," he strokes his chin in deep thought with his free hand and hands back the bundle to her. "What else do you know about plants?"
She tucks the lemongrass away and turns to keep walking.
"Ohh, plenty," she muses, "mostly I just gather what my mother asks me to, but-" she turns her head to the left and holds her hand up to her mouth conspiratorially, "I know all the poisons and where to find them."
He's stopped dead in his tracks.
She giggles and turns away from him, still walking over cruel twists of tree roots and through thick groups of plants. He quickly recovers and catches up to her.
"Ohh, that… that sounds like useful information?" he says rather nervously. She simply chuckles warmly as a response.
After another moment of walking, Shisui dashes ahead of her a bit and places his hand on the trunk of a large tree.
"So what kind of tree is this?" He leans up against it in what she imagines is meant to be suave.
"Oak."
He dashes up to another tree and points at it.
"And this one?"
"Also oak. Did you even look at it?"
"I'm not sure what differences to look for."
"Any of them. How the leaves are shaped, the way it grows. There are plenty of differences between the trees if you would just observe them."
He seems to think for a moment before saying, "I could always ask you though. If I need to know."
Oh joy, she thinks, a promise of more of whatever this is.
"That would require us to be friends," she scoffs.
"You're right Miss Busy, we should be friends." He grins at her and starts walking backwards towards the village, offering a cheerful wave goodbye. "Thanks for not letting me stay lost." He turns and dashes away.
She emerges from the woods and back onto the path back to his village. He steps out and looks up and down the path, deciding on which direction it is.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types, Superman - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Danielle "Dani" Phantom, Damian Wayne, Jonathan "Jon" Kent
Additional Tags: Danielle "Dani" Phantom is Called Ellie, Plushies, Chaos, Fentonic 2024 (Danny Phantom), Eventual Super Serious Chaos
Series: Part 11 of Cat Soulmates Fentonic 2024 Spoilers
Summary:
Ellie has a plushy, causes chaos, and makes two new friends. That's it. That's the fic.
Chaos | Plushy
Yall can thank @catnek-writing-things for Day 11, because I wrote, like, part of two conversations. Wasn't a good writing day, apparently. But enjoy!
Any moment now, that door will open again and another man will enter, another stranger will bare himself and quietly slot himself into the hole in the wooden panel. And Henry will swallow him down, willingly, greedily. He will use his mouth and his tongue and both of his hands, and he will lose himself in every little sound, every low groan and trembling whimper, every sharp intake of breath. He will bring the stranger to the brink and then over it, will smile faintly as feels the man pulsing in between his hands, will brush a chaste kiss against the tip before he lets go.
Henry lives out an impossible fantasy. Along the way, he forms a connection with an enigmatic lover.
Part two: Everything I Never Thought I'd Ever Find
The man is rubbing his length alongside Alex's as promised, his breathing heavy as Alex engages him in a series of wild, open-mouthed kisses, all teeth and tongue, give and take. Alex is shaking with want as he struggles to keep his arms still, to keep kissing, to keep himself from losing control entirely, to be good. God, he wants to be good.
Alex had never dared to hope that his sexual escapades with an irresistible stranger could turn into so much more.
Part three: That Look In Your Eyes
They’re trying something new. It’s a bit of an indulgence on Henry’s part. Earlier that night, he had walked into the now familiar room to find Alex as utterly irresistible as always: naked and blindfolded and so impossibly willing, so wonderfully eager. In that exact moment, Henry had decided that it was time for something a little bit different.
One brief but intriguing conversation later, Henry had been very pleased to pull the silk scarf from his own neck. Clearly, they'd just found a better use for it.
“I could never love you” Adora said, tears in her eyes, “you destroy everything you touch!”
Catra looked away. Stars, she couldn't breathe. She couldn’t speak. Why couldn't she speak. She wanted to apologize. She was so damn sorry for everything she did. She hated every second she had hurt Adora, or hell Glimmer, or Bow. She loved them. She hated this. Fuck why couldn’t she breathe. She thought she’d throw up.
The world shifted. Glimmer was in front of her now. Sparkling menacingly. She was the only person who could sparkle that much and still be threatening. And fuck she could throw a punch. Stars Catra cared for her. Had ever since those forsaken days on the Horde Primes ship. This wasn't the Glimmer she knew though. This Glimmer was so angry. Fists clenched, eyes burning, seething with hatred.
“It's your fault,” She raged, sparks flying, “ It's your damn fault my mother is gone. You killed her. I could never forgive you. Don't you get it? I hate you!”
Fuck that hurt. She still couldn't breathe. How can you go this long not being able to breathe and not die? She didn't know. She couldn't speak either. Her words died even as her mouth moved. No sound came out. Fuck why couldnt she just speak up damn it all.
The sky's blurred. Tossing her around only for her to land painfully in front of Bow. He didn't say a word at first. Not a damn thing. Just stared at her with angry hateful eyes. When he finally spoke it was short, to the point.
“ You are a monster. We could never forgive a monster.”
It all went black after that. Catra couldn't see. She still couldn't breathe or speak. When she opened her mouth she felt water flood in. She was drowning. Stars maybe this is how she deserved to go out. She thrashed anyway.
The last thing she heard was Shadow Weavers voice.
“I told you”.
She woke with a start. Her chest tight, nauseous, on the verge of tears. She couldn't breathe, couldn't scream, couldn't even let herself cry. She didn't deserve to cry. Not after what she did. Fuck, she hadnt had a good night's sleep since… honestly since Adora left. The nightmares though, those had started when Shadow Weaver died, when the war ended 2 months ago. It's a star's damned miracle that Adora hadn't found out the extent of Catras nightmares. Catra didn't want to ruin how happy Adora was. Fuck, Adora. She fucking loved Adora. So damn much. Loved her enough to know that hiding the nightmares was right. Wasn't it?
Yes. It was. Adora was happy and for once Catra wasn't going to ruin that happiness.
Carta glanced down, Adora was splayed out on the bed next to her. Very clearly sleeping peacefully for the first time in years. Adora had nightmares too, occasionally, but she was the hero of this story, it didn't hurt so much for her. She was beautiful, hair down, expression relaxed. Catra smoothed a strand that had fallen in front of her eyes and leaned down to kiss her girlfriends forehead.
She stood, albeit nowhere near as gracefully as a cat should. Melog peaked up from the foot of the bed, and then they also stood following Catra to the window that looked over Bright Moon, the Whispering Wood in the distance. It was dark out. The stars glistened above Catra, and she knew she should attempt to go back to sleep. She also knew her attempts would be in vain. These past two months had taught her as much. When those nightmares struck, and her chest tightened and her voice evaporated and her tears clogged and she got shaky and, and, and fuck. Breathe. Just… breathe.
When she had those… nightmares she couldn't get back to sleep. They pulled at her weaknesses, the few people she cared about and trusted. Those specific nightmares, they always ended the same. She drowned for what she did and as she died Shadow Weaver got the last stars damned word. And she never got to tell Adora, the love of her life, or Glimmer, the girl who had grown to be like her sister, or Bow, the boy who always seemed to see the best in her, that she was sorry. Fuck she was so sorry. And she knew that nothing she did could fix it but she was sorry. She’d say it as many times as they asked her to if she could fucking speak during those nightmares but she never could. She just had to sit there and take it silently. And then she'd die and wake up and not be able to speak. Or cry. Or breathe.
Adora had caught her after one of these nightmares only once. She kept asking Catra questions… and when Catra didn't answer she looked so disappointed. And it hurt Catra to disappoint Adora. But she couldn't speak, she wanted to, but she couldn't. And maybe it was a sign that she shouldn't tell adora why. That night Adora ended up pulling Catra into her chest and whispered sweet nothings into her ear until she fell back asleep. That night Catra clung to Adora like a lifeline, but she also decided she would not tell Adora about these specific nightmares. She didn't want to hurt her, and she really didn't think she could handle Adora telling her all was forgiven. Because it shouldn't be. All should not be forgiven! Catra had hurt people. She had hurt Adora ,and Glimmer, and Bow, and Scorpia, and Entrapta, and Queen Angella, and every other person on this planet. And she regretted it but that doesn't change what she did and they shouldn't have forgiven her for it. She didn't deserve to be happy. But Adora… Adora did. And if Catra being happy made Adora happy Catra would pretend she was happy till the end of time. Till the stars died and she was forgotten she would pretend. And Adora would be happy.
Catra blinked herself out of her stupor. The sun was rising and she realised she didn't know how long she had been sitting on the window sill. Melog was curled up on the floor under her. Adora had shifted. She still looked beautiful. Catra figured now was a good time to shower, change out of her sleep wear. Maybe it would clear her head. She grabbed a sweater and shorts to put on afterwards. If there's one thing she loved about Bright Moon it's the fact that their clothing doesn't feel like a potato sack. The sweater was soft, softer than Adoras hair and that was saying something.
Catra hated mirrors, they stressed her out. Too many ghost stories about evil doppelgangers in mirrors when she was with the horde she guessed. If her doppelganger was the evil one then it had to be truly gruesome to outdo Catra herself. She stripped quickly, shedding the silky tank top and shorts combo. Adora preferred nightgowns. A luxury she could only indulge not that the war was over. She hopped in the shower, turning it up as hot as she could bear. She was in and out in less than five minutes. Both her hatred of water sprays and the hordes water limits encouraged quick showers. She liked baths but considering she had just drowned in her dream… well a bath probably would induce another anxiety attack and that would not be good.
She pulled on her clothes and combed through her hair. It curled and bounced on her forehead and around her ears. As much as she missed her mane of hair it was nice to be able to fix it so quickly. And Adora liked her with the pixie cut. She also mentioned something about a ponytail, and Catra honestly didn't hate the idea. With one finally quick glance in the mirror Catra walked back out into the main room.
The sun had fully risen and Melog was curled up in a ray near the window. Glancing around the room for Adora was a habit that had never left Catra, even when Adora was with the rebellion and she was with the Horde. When she glanced around their bedroom, Adora was nowhere to be found, which was odd, until the hair on the back of Catra’s neck rose and Adora was wrapping her arms around her waist,which was far less odd.
“Good morning Princess,” Adora said softly, a giggle rising. Her hands skimmed Catras hip bones, maneuvering her closer to the window. Melog shifted to lay on Catras feet. Meowing loudly and nuzzling Adoras legs.
“I'm not a princess, you dork” Catra couldn't help her own little giggle at the joke though. “Good morning to you too Adora.” Those hands she loved were drawing calming circles on Catras hips. Those lips she loved skimming her neck, her forehead. Catra couldn't help but purr. In the arms of the woman she loved Catra could breathe again, her voice no longer evaporating. She knew she would never drown in Adoras arms.
“You know I love you right?” Catra whispered some time later. Still wrapped up in Adoras arms, though she had turned to hug her properly, her head nestled in the crook of Adoras neck.
“Awe, Catra I love you too!” Adora whispered back, the same lit in her tone as she had the day they had found Melog. Adoras arms tightened. “I will always love you”.
With that they pulled apart, a glance at the holoscreen said it was 8:30 in the morning. They had meetings at ten and if Catra was honest the princesses desperately needed her help understanding how to get all of these people food and resources. If one good thing came from her time in the horde it's that. Hordak was a slacker when it came to the more mundane things that came with leading.
Adora changed quickly, throwing on her iconic jacket, and grabbed Catras hand. Together they walked to breakfast, and Catra was glad that for once Adora did not question why she was up so early. She didn't think she could have stomached lying to her face.
“Kill the girl,” the queen ordered, waving a vague hand. “Cut out her heart as proof. There will be no one fairer than me in my own kingdom.”
The huntsman, Aaron, glanced at the magic mirror; wondering what the hell he had done to get into this situation and reflecting on how goddamn crazy his monarch was. “Understood, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll pay you well for the task.”
Aaron stifled a grumble. You’d better.
The queen, whose name was Daniella, raised a thin eyebrow. “Two hundred gold pieces.”
Just like that, any reservations the huntsman had about murdering a fourteen-year-old vanished, and it was with more enthusiasm that he said, “Yes, Your Majesty. That will be sufficient.”
“I should expect so.” She pinned him with a stern look. “Do not fail me.”
“Of course not, Your Majesty.” Aaron gave her a slight nod and sent an awkward wave in the direction of the magic mirror, before hefting his axe and running to the girl’s bedroom.
Her name was Snow White. According to the Queen, she was annoying without reprieve, and irritating beyond belief. She was also very beautiful, more beautiful than the Queen herself.
The huntsman decided to take the girl into the woods to do the deed. She was remarkably quiet about it, possibly already accepting her fate.
It was easy enough for the empathetically challenged huntsman to do the deed.
She screamed a bit.
He thought that was fair.
Pleased with himself—and after his hard-earned gold—he put the girl’s heart in a box and started on his merry way back to Queen Daniella.
A group of dwarves were coming past at that time, whistling a merry tune, but the good mood quickly vanished when they saw the dead girl amidst the leaves.
“Everyone step aside!” The first, Joe, yelled. He looked at the body carefully, eyes lingering on the hole in her chest. “Ah.”
The second dwarf, Gerald, slapped him. “Show some respect! She’s dead, ya perv!”
“That’s not what I’m looking at, you dolt!” Joe punched him in retaliation, sending the other dwarf staggering. “Her heart has been ripped out!”
“Huh,” the third dwarf, Harry, said with a shrug; as if Joe had mentioned that it was going to rain later. “That’s interesting. But—”
“Who would kill such a pretty thing?” the fourth, Dennis, wailed. “So beautiful!”
Joe elbowed Gerald pointedly, and Gerald waddled over and smacked him. “I think we should resurrect her.”
“Why not?” the fifth dwarf agreed; his name was Alec. “Then she can cook and clean and—”
Joe slapped him hard across the face. His hand was starting to get sore from all this violence. “We can’t do that!”
Alec rubbed his face, scowling. “What do you mean, we can’t do that?”
“We can’t do that! It’s enforcing traditional gender roles! Besides, we can cook and clean well enough on our own!” Jack II shook his head, rolling his eyes in disgust. “A better dwarf than me would’ve taken your heart out for something like that!”
Joe glanced at the seventh and final dwarf, whose name was unknown to the rest of them. “Well, mystery dwarf, would you like to do the honours?”
The Necromancer dwarf stepped forward, pressing a hand against Snow White’s chest. Gerald hesitated, ready to smack him if he got too handsy, but thankfully Snow White woke up.
All of the dwarves shuddered as she sat up, flesh knitting itself back together to fix the hole. It was always unnerving. They hoped that the seventh dwarf’s magic would be enough to keep her alive without a heart; or at least functioning. In the Enchanted Forest, the lines between dead and alive could blur occasionally.
“My,” Snow White said. “I had the strangest dream. I dreamed that a terrible huntsman cut my heart out of my chest. Isn’t that odd?”
The dwarves shared an uncomfortable look.
“Well, anyway.” Snow White sat up a little straighter. “My name is Snow White. I would like to know your names.”
Glad for the distraction, the six dwarves quickly introduced themselves, while the seventh sat in a pile of leaves mysteriously. Snow White shook the hand of each one, and each felt a little bit drained after she had touched them.
They weren’t entirely sure what that meant. Nevertheless, they took her to their cabin and gave her a bed for the night.
“Is she dead?” Queen Daniella asked.
“As a doornail, Your Majesty,” Aaron said proudly. “Go check with your mirror.”
Queen Daniella nodded, turning to the large metal circle. “Mirror, mirror, with my words you thrive; who is the fairest woman alive?
You, my queen, the mirror droned.
Satisfied with the answer, the queen nodded. “How lovely. Let me see that heart you brought.”
Aaron handed over the box, taking the sacks of gold by the door. “It’s been a pleasure, Your Majesty.”
The queen didn’t answer, which he thought was odd, but when she did he immediately regretted not running the moment he’d collected the gold. “This is her heart, you say? Her dead heart?”
Sweating, the huntsman said, “Yes, Your Majesty...?”
Queen Daniella turned to him slowly, holding up the box. His eyes widened involuntarily, and in a voice several degrees below sub-zero, the queen said, “Then why, huntsman, is it beating?”
A single bead of sweat ran down the huntsman’s forehead. “You really want to know?”
“Of course!” the queen snarled.
“This magic,” Aaron said, gripping his bags of gold more tightly, “is fucking bullshit. I’m out.”
With that, he ran from the queen’s chambers as fast as his greedy legs could carry him.
