The happily ever afters of every fairy tale prince has been put into jeopardy thanks to the combined efforts of Maleficent, Grimhilde, Lady Tremaine, and Dame Gothel. Along with the vengeful Rumplestiltskin, the witches changed the past so that Princes Thomas, Cameron, Phillip, and Frederick never interfered with their plans.
Young Hansel realized what the witches were planning and attempted to stop them, in process cursing every prince across the land. After getting the four princes together to try to end the curse, seemingly killing Maleficent, the group were then attacked by a cursed forest of deadly animals thanks to Grimhilde. Holing up in a gloomy castle, Phillip opted to sacrifice himself so that his friends could make it to safety...
Princes of Grimm #9
"The Tale of the Beast"
Prince Adam was born to the King and Queen of a small kingdom, which sat between the kingdoms of Kings Hubert and Stephan. While the kingdom was small, the King and Queen were always out visiting other kingdoms as a sign of good will, leaving their son in the care of the castle's servants, who grew annoyed with the child's bratty attitude. Prince Adam had grown to be a spoiled young Prince who threw a fit whenever he didn't get his way.
Things only got worse when his parents died of the plague when he was 10, meaning the castle's servants had to now care for him fulltime, and since the Prince Academy had closed due to lack of attendance, Adam was now living at home full time. The castle's servants began quitting by the dozen, until no one was left to care for the boy.
Then, on the eve of his 13th birthday, a traveler came knocking at his door. She was a haggard looking old woman, who needed shelter from the savage snow storm outside. She even offered to give Adam what little she had on her, which was just a few crumbs, and a red rose. Adam scoffed at her, telling her to go away. And that's when the old woman's form changed into the form that would haunt Adam's nightmares.
The old woman transformed into a beautiful blue fairy, and with the touch of her magic wand, removed Adam's human form, transforming him into the thing that would remain as until this very day. The fairy looked upon Adam's new form and told him that he had until his 21st birthday to find true love, or remain trapped as this creature forever.
Six Years Later
Phillip found himself surrounded by a pack of ravenous wolves, all of them under Grimhilde's spell. The witch had cursed the forest to make the creatures bloodthirsty enough to kill any intruders, which just happened to be Phillip and his friends, who were on their way to Hansel's castle.
Phillip was armed with his sword and shield, but he was reluctant to strike down the creatures that weren't acting of their own free will. Yes, they were wolves who would probably attack him regardless, but at least then it would be their own conscious decision.
"I don't want to hurt you," Phillip said as one of the wolves lunged at him, but Phillip held up his shield and blocked the attack. "I know this is just the witch's curse, so I'm giving you the chance to go away."
The wolves got ready to pounce him when something flew by and scratched the wolf on the cheek. It yelped in pain as something small moved blindingly fast, attacking each of the creatures in succession. The pack of wolves eventually started running as Phillip looked around.
"Hello?" Phillip asked as he stepped forward. He couldn't see that far under the night sky, but whoever had come to his rescue had to be close. "Thank you, whoever you are."
"If you want to thank me, then leave!" a voice said from the shadows. It sounded small and annoyed. "And don't come back!"
Phillip heard more noises coming from the forest, meaning more vicious animals were on their way. He headed toward the castle, finding the front door locked. He'd have to find another way in.
Thomas came downstairs, having found some clothes in a closet upstairs. "It looks like no one's been here for years, so I don't think they'd mind if I borrowed something."
Hansel was looking out the window, waiting for any sign of Phillip to appear. "He has to still be alive."
"If he is, then hopefully he'll make it here," the Huntsman told him as he started a fire in the fireplace. "We'll stay here until we know it's safe to travel again. We'll make it to Hansel's castle, get the proper supplies and find where Princess Aurora is being held."
Cameron was feeling his way around the castle. "You're right, Thomas, I can feel the dust everywhere. This castle has definitely been abandoned for at least five years, maybe more."
"I wonder if there's still food in the kitchen," Thomas said. "At least enough for us to last the trip back to the castle."
The creature, meanwhile, had come back into the castle, finding the intruders. It watched them cautiously as they roamed around, growling to itself.
"Don't worry, Hansel, Phillip is strong, he will survive," the Huntsman told him as he removed his mask, revealing his face.
"Why do you wear the mask?" Hansel asked him.
"It was my father's," the Huntsman told him as he sat down next to the boy. "WHen he died, I took up his work as a bounty hunter. It's the only life I've ever known."
"And you're going back to it when you're done with us?" Hansel asked.
"Perhaps," the Huntsman told him. "If I am ever to be released from my oath to serve you."
"Help us rescue Aurora, then you can go free, I swear," Hansel told him. "Your freedom for the Princess."
"It is a deal," the Huntsman told him.
Rapunzel was sitting in her chair, reading to herself as she did every night. The glass caskets with Aurora and Snow White were sitting across the room as Rapunzel flipped the pages. As she read silently, she didn't notice Grimhilde suddenly appearing.
"Where is your mother, child?" Grimhilde asked as Rapunzel jumped up in a panic.
"She's out," Rapunzel told her. "Who are you?"
"Why, I am your... Godmother," Grimhilde smiled. "I have come out of fear for your safety A group of...undesirables is coming for you, child."
"The ones who cursed these girls?" Rapunzel asked as Grimhilde nodded.
"And they seek to curse you as well," Grimhilde told her. "If they shold make it past maze of thorns, you and your roommates will be in great danger."
"What do I do?" Rapunzel asked.
"I am glad you asked," Grimhilde told her. "You are going to kill the intruders without them even knowing what hit them."
Hansel had fallen asleep next to the fireplace as the Huntsman put a blanket over him. Cameron had fallen asleep next to the window as the Huntsman paced around.
"There isn't much to eat," Thomas said as he returned. "But there is enough to survive at least a few days."
"Then it will do," the Huntsman told him. "Dawn will be coming soon, we should rest for a while."
A noise came from the shadows as the Huntsman drew his sword. "Who's there?"
"Relax, it's just me," Phillip said as he stepped out of the shadows. The Huntsman and Thomas smiled as Phillip sat down next to the fire to warm his hands. "The animals have retreated into the forest, but... something out there saved me. I didn't get a good look, but it told me to leave."
"Whatever saved you is still out there, so we should we be safe for a few more hours," the Huntsman told him. "Get some rest, Phillip. We'll leave at first light."
"Hey, what's that?" Thomas asked as he looked at a table across the room, where a rose was sitting under glass. Several petals had fallen off it. "Is that a rose?"
"It's wilting," Phillip said as he stood up and looked at it. "I wonder who was keeping it?"
"Get away from that!" A voice in the darkness shouted. "I order you leave my castle now!"
"Then come and force us out yourself," the Huntsman told him. "We will fight for our right to remain here until dawn."
The young men stepped back as a paw set foot out of the shadows. The creature revealed itself as the former princes started laughing at the puppy golden retriever that was standing on the floor in the front of them.
"Is that a puppy?" Phillip asked as he kept laughing. "Is that what saved me?"
"Aw, he's so precious," Thomas said. "Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?"
"This fight shall be short," the Huntsman said as the puppy growled and lunged at him,, biting and clawing at his face. "Ah! Get it off!"
"I got it!" Thomas said as he picked up a chair and swung it just as the puppy jumped off of his face. The chair sent the Huntsman flying back as the puppy attached itself to Thomas's groin with its teeth. "OW!"
"I got it!" Phillip said as he swung his foot up as the puppy let go, hitting Thomas hard in the groin. Thomas fell over in pain as the puppy growled at Phillip, getting ready to attack as Cameron scooped it up into Hansel's cape.
"I can't believe a blind man had to save you three from a small dog," Cameron told them as the puppy struggled.
While Thomas and the Huntsman were tending there wounds, Phillip and Cameron were trying to reason with the puppy, who was still inside the cape.
"We'll let you out if you behave yourself," Phillip told him. "So no biting or scratching, okay?"
"Very well," the puppy said. "I promise."
Phillip took the cape and flung it open as the puppy hit the ground and shook itself off. "How is it that you can talk?"
"Because I'm not a dog, I am a prince," the puppy told them. "My name is Adam, and this is my kingdom."
"This kingdom's been abandoned for years," Phillip said. "Since the royal family passes away from the plague."
"Only my parents died," Adam said as he lay down next to Hansel. "I was cursed to become this creature because of a cruel fairy. I have until my 21st birthday to find true love, or I'll remain like this forever. And since I'm already adorable, people fall in love with me for the wrong reasons. So I'm going to be like this forever because I'm too cute."
"Wait, he's a prince, he was cursed, too," Thomas realized. "Just like Hansel said the rest of us are."
"So if we can find Aurora and wake her up, your curse could possibly be lifted as well," Phillip said. "Come with us, help us save the Princess so that all of our curses can be lifted."
"And what if this curse is not lifted?" Adam asked him. "What if this is just a stunt to get me out of my castle?"
"Adam, we can carry you out of the castle if we wanted," the Huntsman told him. "We'd just have to wrap you back up."
"But we won't do that, it is your choice to go with us, we won't force you," Phillip told him. "If you choose not to go, then come dawn, we will leave you in peace."
"I want to think about it," Adam said as he scampered off.
"The rest of us should get some sleep," the Huntsman told the others. "We have a long walk ahead of us. We shouldn't have any problems getting out of here during the day."
Dawn came as the Huntsman opened his eyes and saw the sun rising outside. He looked out the window and saw all of the animals had disappeared from around the castle.
"Guys, wake up, we need to get ready to go," Huntsman said as everyone started yawning.
"Morning already?" Hansel asked as he sat up, rubbing his eyes and saw Phillip hugging him tight.
"Yes, I'm alive," Phillip said, hugging him back. "Come on, we have much to do."
"Is Adam coming?" Thomas asked.
"We don't have time to wait, we have witches to slay and princesses to save," the Huntsman said as he headed for the door.
"Yes, I am coming," Adam said as he jumped into Phillip's arms. "But I have a condition."
The Huntsman led the way with his sword drawn, with his friends following behind. Phillip was carrying Adam as they walked cautiously out into the woods.
"Be on the lookout for anything suspicious-" Huntsman started to say before he was cut off by Thomas.
"SQUIRREL!"
The Huntsman quickly turned his sword toward the little woodland critter who innocently eating a nut on a tree stump.
"We are not fooled by your cuteness, vile creature of the night!" Huntsman shouted as the squirrel just sat there before scampering off. "He may be going to get reinforcements. We'd better hurry on our way."
"Hansel's castle shouldn't be anymore than two days away," Phillip told them. "I just hope that we don't run into any more witches before then."
"Our numbers are growing, which means that they'll probably try harder to kill us," Thomas told them. "We need to watch our backs now more than ever."
As they walked, something was watching them in the trees above, watching their every move. It started following them as they walked along the forest path.
"Anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Thomas asked.
"After what happened last night, I wouldn't doubt it," Huntsman told him.
Thomas just looked up and around, wondering if it was just his mind playing tricks on him.
As the group continued walking, a pair of human eyes was watching them from up high int he trees. These must have been the people responsible for what was happening with the animals of the forest over the last few hours. Sorcerers who were harming his friends and needed to be stopped at any cost. The figure grabbed a hand made spear and started running and swinging along the tree tops, intent on killing the group before they left the forest.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The Continuing Adventures of Jack & The Beanstalk
The Giant was sniffing the air, having sensed Jack was in the room. The young man was hiding behind the cake, having wanted to get the golden goose's egg. As the Giant got closer to Jack's location, Jack hoped he'd just move on and leave the young man be.
The Giant stopped sniffing as Jack breathed a sigh of relief. The Giant then pushed the cake aside and saw the mouse sized boy standing there. Jack just gulped as he started running, but the Giant grabbed a toothpick and slammed it down through Jack's shirt and pants, pinning him to the table.
"Pitiful insect, trying to steal my treasure, are you?" the Giant asked. "I know how to deal with insects!"
The Giant stood up and headed into the other room as Jack struggled to get free.
"That guy's going to bake me into a pie or something, I just know it," Jack said. "I'm getting out of here, but not without that goose."
The Giant came back into the room, holding a magnifying glass. His plan was to take Jack outside of burn him alive like he were an ant. The Giant whistled as he walked back toward the table, only to find Jack's clothes stuck to the toothpick, but Jack wasn't in them. The Giant started getting angry as he realized not only was Jack gone, but so was his golden goose.
Meanwhile, Jack was running toward the door in just his underwear and boots, holding the golden goose in his arms. He was starting to get tired, but knew he couldn't slow down, because the Giant would soon be after him. Sure enough, seconds later, the Giant burst through the kitchen door and started stomping towards the boy.
"I'm so dead," Jack said as he saw a hole in the floor. It was better than being squashed, so he jumped through it, just before the Giant could stomp on him. He fell through the crack and landed in the cellar, falling onto a blanket that cushioned his fall. "Well, at least I'm alive."
The Giant opened the cellar door and started coming down the steps as Jack took a deep gulp. He picked up the golden goose and started searching for a way out. The basement steps would take forever to climb, and the Giant would surely find him before he even got up the first one. That's when Jack noticed it was a wine cellar, and saw a bunch of grapes that would be pressed for wine later. He rushed toward one and ripped it open, to cover himself in grape juice to hopefully mask his scent.
The Giant sniffed around, losing Jack's scene eventually among the smell of the wine. He just growled under his breath and grabbed a bottle of wine while Jack clung to his boot with the goose under his arm to get a lift upstairs.
"Well, Goose, it's smooth sailing from here on out," Jack told him. "Except for the part about having to go home without any pants. But other than that."
Once they were upstairs, Jack jumped off of the Giant's boot and headed toward the door when Jack's boot got stuck in a tiny crack in the floor. "No, no, no!"
That's when the Giant noticed him and stomped forward. Jack managed to pull his foot out of the boot and ran toward the door, sliding under it with the goose in his arms. By the time the Giant opened the door, Jack was already at the beanstalk, trying to climb down it.
"You can't get away from me!" the Giant shouted as he jumped onto the beanstalk and grabbed Jack in his hand. "Did you really think you could take on a Giant?"
The Giant started laughing as Jack took off his other boot and tossed it into the Giant's mouth, causing him to start to choke. He dropped Jack as he started trying to get the boot out of his throat. He started hacking as Jack jumped onto the beanstalk and began climbing down. As he got to the bottom, he grabbed an axe and began chopping at the tree.
As he chopped, the people passing by wondered by Jack was in his underwear and why he was chopping at a beanstalk. It finally toppled, thankfully falling in a direction where nothing important was crushed in its wake. Jack just laughed as he looked at the golden goose.
"Our troubles our over," Jack smiled. At least until Jack realized that that the fallen beanstalk had sprouted plenty of beans to go on further adventures to try to gather more treasure.
Meanwhile, in the clouds above, the Giant's brother had found his sibling had choked to death. The brother was twice as big and looked twice as mean as he pulled out the tiny book, and having seen Jack's tiny clothes on the table, had put the piece together.
"I have your scent, boy," the Giant said angrily. "When you return, I will kill you slowly and painfully."
Not the End...
