Adjustments

Chapter Three: Boiling Point

Vivian and Crackle didn't return to Sofia's castle for quite a few days, giving the dragon plenty of time to fume over recent events. The thought of Ginger stealing Clover's attention just made Crackle angrier and angrier. Once Vivian and Crackle finally returned to Enchancia, Crackle immediately set out to find Clover. Her sense of smell, though not nearly as well developed as most animals, was still more then capable of sniffing him out.

As Crackle suspected, she eventually found him at Ginger's home. The two were sitting closely together; A little too closely for Crackle's taste.

'Her again?!' Crackle thought viciously.

"Hey, Crackle." Clover smiled. "What's happening?"

"I don't know." Crackle said breezily. "What is happening?"

"Oh, we're just hanging out." Clover shrugged nervously.

"Yes, just enjoying each other's company." Ginger added. Enjoying it very much."

Ginger nuzzled against Clover, who chuckled goofily. To Crackle's horror, Ginger followed up by rubbing her nose against Clover's, inducing a blissful smile on the male bunny's features.

That was the last straw. Crackle finally snapped.

"Alright, that's it!" She roared, bounding over and staring Ginger in the face. "Who do you think you are?!"

"Excuse me?" Ginger asked, taking a step back.

"Listen up, fluffy." Crackle snarled. "Clover is my friend, understand? I'm not going to let you steal him away from me, you hear?"

"I beg your pardon." Ginger said haughtily. "But Clover is free to associate with whomever he chooses, and so am I."

"Ladies, I-" Clover tried to interject, but was ignored.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Crackle asked.

"Perhaps Clover has come to prefer more sophisticated company." Ginger sniffed. "Dragons aren't really known for their refinement, are they?"

"Oohh!" Crackle growled. "I have had it with you, you prissy, stuck-up little furball!"

Crackle released a stream of purple flame from her mouth, which Ginger just barely managed to dodge.

"Whoa!" Clover gasped.

"What on Earth are you doing?!" Ginger gasped.

"Stay away from Clover!" Crackle roared.

"Crackle!" Clover yelped.

"Well, I never!" Ginger said, outraged.

"Stay away from him!" Crackle fired off another jet.

"Stop!" Clover begged.

"Are you crazy?!" Ginger cried indignantly.

Crackle kept firing off streams of flame, chasing Clover around her homestead. Fortunately for Ginger, the dragon was too angry to see straight, preventing her from actually burning her target. That is, until Crackle managed to corner her.

"Final chance." Crackle seethed quietly. "Stay away from Clover. I mean it."

"Crackle, stop!" Clover bellowed, leaping inbetween them. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Clover, I..." Crackle stuttered, the rage sliding off her face.

"Leave Ginger alone!" Clover yelled.

Crackle eyes welled up with tears.

"Okay, fine." She sobbed. "I'll leave her alone. I'll leave you both alone, for good. That's what you really want, isn't it?!"

"Crackle..." Clover softened.

Without another word, Crackle bounded away, weeping shamelessly. When she could run no more, she flopped to the ground, dampening it with her tears. Wallowing in her misery, she heard the rustling of nearby grass being stepped on.

"Crackle?" A familiar voice spoke.

"Clover?" Crackle coughed.

"Yeah, it's me." Clover nodded.

"What do you want?" Crackle asked angrily.

"You feeling okay?" Clover asked.

"Like you care." Crackle sniffed. "Why would you, now that you've got Ginger?"

"Whoa, whoa." Clover held up his paws. "What are you talking about?"

"You want to be with Ginger." Crackle sighed. "You don't want to be my friend anymore."

"What kind of crazy talk is that?" Clover snorted. "Look, I do like Ginger... a lot." Crackle's face fell. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to be friends with you anymore."

"It... doesn't?" Crackle asked.

"Course not." Clover smiled. "When you're friends with Clover, you're friends for life, no matter what."

"Really?" Crackle brightened.

"Really." Clover smiled. "Even if you do hug like a vice, and almost cook me like a bunny burger half the time."

"Oh, Clover!" Crackle hugged him tightly, at the same time spraying flames into the air.

"Case in point." Clover wheezed. "Now, I believe you owe someone an apology."

"You're right." Crackle agreed. "I'm sorry, Clover."

"Not me." Clover glared at her sternly.

"Oh, right." Crackle groaned.

Shortly afterward, the bunny and the dragon returned to Ginger's home.

"And what is she doing back here?" Ginger growled.

"Crackle has something she wants to say to you." Clover said. "Crackle?"

Reluctantly, Crackle stepped forward.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled.

"Beg pardon?" Ginger asked.

"I'm sorry." Crackle said clearly. "I'm sorry I told you to keep away from Clover, and I'm sorry I tried to burn you. It's just... I don't really have that many friends, and Clover's one of them. He was the first friend besides Vivian and Sofia I ever had, and I guess I got a little jealous at how well he was getting on with you. I just wanted to keep him all to myself."

"Well, I suppose I can understand that." Ginger smiled. "After all, Clover is a very special rabbit."

"Isn't he?" Crackle grinned.

"Ladies, please." Clover chuckled. "You're embarassing me."

"Perhaps I misjudged you." Ginger admitted.

"Yeah, me too." Crackle nodded, holding out her claw. "I guess we should try to get along, for Clover's sake."

"Deal." Ginger smiled, putting her paw onto Crackle claw.

The two firmly shook appendages.

"Crackle!" Vivian's voice called. "It's time to go!"

"Well, that's my cue." Crackle sighed. "Sorry we got off on the wrong paw, Ginger."

"Water under the bridge." Ginger shrugged.

"Can I count on you to look after Clover until I come back?" Crackle asked.

"Without a doubt." Ginger chuckled.

"Great!" Crackle gave both bunnies a hug.

"My... that's quite a grip..." Ginger gasped.

"You get used to it." Clover croaked.

The End.

(Sofia The First and all associated characters are the property of Disney.)