Chapter Title: Daly's Fairytale
Posted: July 18, 2004
Thank yous:
Tensleep – I used to do that to my parents, only I'd be out of arm's reach. It says in the book that he has a younger sister, right? Then wouldn't he know how to care for a kid? Yeah, they were cruel! Thankies much for the review! Always look forward to hearing from you! But... would you review for any of my stories outside of this category if I wrote them? Got an idea, but no known audience... Thanks either way!
harryptaxd204 – Thanks, and there's something better: eating the chocolate of your choice at the time of your choice in the place of your choice with the ice cream and drink of your choice! Haha... and... ha... Yeah.... Hope you enjoy this installment!
starbryte234 – I just can't picture a four-year-old in diapers... I hope this was soon enough.
Ale Curtis-Carter – As fast as I can without getting carpal-tunnel... or however it's spelt.
Sweet-Single – Thank you very much! I think this chapter is, too!
a458sbcglobal – Dally? Lose his cool? Never! :D Enjoy!
allaboutelephants22 – Thanks, and I've read those, too. I just thought it would be fun if all three did!
Dally'sgirl – Yeah, but doesn't he have too much at his normal age, too? It just seems fitting. Besides, when I was six/seven I couldn't sit still through a ten-minute meal... or a cartoon... Just saying, too much energy is normal (to some extent) for that age! Thanks for the review!
Ambiecat88 – I think he does, too, but that didn't fit as well... I will, but keep reminding me until you get a review. My brain shuts down after awhile, and it takes awhile longer to reboot.
ChelseaCurtis – Thanks. I hope you enjoy this chappie too!
Chibi Tatiana – A guy that's thrown in jail whistles and washes dishes when the omnipotent author makes him! And... I feel threatened now! ( Hope you like!
Flour Chief – You haven't reviewed yet, but I know you've been busy (and I saw you earlier), so I'll let it slide this once. Review my next chapter, or... um... I'll change your password and not tell you what it is! Hahahahahaha! Bwahahaha! chokes
"A... story?"
"Yesh! A good stowy with knights and a witch and a dwagon!"
"Uh... sure.... I guess I can do that." Pony grinned and ran over to the blond. He climbed up into Dally's lap and turned the full force of his enormous gray-green eyes on Dally. The older greaser smirked softly and leaned back in the chair. "Comfortable now, Brat?"
At Pony's nod he grinned. He couldn't help himself. The kid was just too cute. "Okay... how to start... Ah.... Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom there lived a king and queen..."
"Whewe?"
"Huh?"
"Whewe was the kingdom?"
"Far away."
"Decwibe it mowe."
"Hey, Kid. Who's tellin' the story here?"
"Sowwy."
"It's fine. Okay... Once upon a time, in a rich land far away from everything else- "
"Was it in the countwy?"
"They owned the country."
"Wow!"
"Anyway, in this land, there lived this king and queen. The king was loved by everyone, because he was so kind and funny. The queen was beautiful. She had hair like spun gold, blue eyes, and a gentle smile, even for the worst criminals in the kingdom.
"They had three sons. The oldest looked like his father, but had the queen's eyes and attitude. The second was almost completely opposite."
"What's opposite?"
"It means... backwards.... Like in a mirror."
"Oh... Sankyou."
"Sure. The youngest prince was a mix of both parents in every way. Everyone loved that child the best, even the older princes. He was kind and gentle, and he cared about the people he knew. But then, one day, a wicked, evil witch kidnapped the king and queen. She was- "
"What was hew name?"
"The witch's?"
"Yes."
"The witch was named Fate."
"Fate?"
"That's right. She was trying to take over the kingdom. She didn't know that the three boys had friends. They each had a really close friend, and another friend that was really special to any of them, but tried to be a friend to all of them... in his own way. The oldest- Do you wanna name him?"
"Wadio."
"Okay. The oldest, Radio, got together the four best friends. They would do anything to help the princes. They were the best friends the boys had."
"Knives, Mickey Mouse, Gwouchy, and Smiles."
"Grouchy was the second brother- "
"Howse."
"Horse's best friend. Smiles was best friends with the youngest boy."
"Honey."
"Honey. Radio was friends with all of them, but he got along best with Mickey Mouse."
"Can Knives be a bwave knight swown to pwotect the queen fwom evewything bad?"
"Sure. Well, the seven went off on an adventure to find the king and queen. It took a year for them to get to another kingdom. They were gonna ask if anyone there knew something about the evil witch, Fate. When they got to the other kingdom, they met the king and queen. They thought that the princes and their friends were below them."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why didn't the othew king and queen like them?"
"Because they were... from a kingdom without a forest."
"Like we'we fwom a plave without any money, so othew people don't like us?"
"Exactly like that."
"I don't think I like the othew king and queen."
"Nobody really did, but they had a daughter. She was the fairest young lady in all of the lands. She had bright red hair and green eyes. She was a lot like the queen. Her smile was gentle, and she was kind to everyone, but she could take care of herself. The princess- "
"Staw."
"Hmm?"
"Hew name is Staw."
"Princess Star became really good friends with Horse and Honey. They really trusted her. What none of the others knew, though, was that Knives really liked her. He even thought he loved her. He was willing to give up being a knight if he could be with her. But her boyfriend- "
"Black."
"-Captured Smiles and Knives. He took them far away, and then tried to hurt Honey. Smiles got mad that someone would hurt his friend, so he hurt Black. It was too late, though. Black had trapped them in a far away cave that no one knew how to find without hurting themselves. And Smiles and Knives couldn't remember how to get home."
As Dally told his story, he and Ponyboy both became engrossed. They were unaware of Steve walking in. The other greaser-turned-babysitter winced and then smiled when he heard the story Dally was telling the child. Ponyboy, sometime during the story, had shifted so that he was straddling Dally's lap. The child was facing the blond greaser and staring raptly into his face as the story unfolded.
Steve sat down against the doorframe, careful to remain unnoticed. He was curious how this medieval story would end. He leaned against the doorway, watching the interaction between adult and child with an unconsciously wistful expression on his face. He wanted someone to run to him for something. Anything but to hurt someone else or to fix a car. He would never say anything, and would vehemently deny it if someone else said it, but he wanted to feel needed, too.
"Princess Star helped the three boys and their friends free Smiles and Knives. It took a long time. Knives acted very different, but he was happier. Smiles looked very different. He had gotten bigger, and Honey was worried that he might not want to be friends anymore."
"Wewe they still fwiends?"
"If you'd let me tell the story you'd find out."
"Sowwy."
"It's okay. They stayed really good friends. Once they were all feeling better they started their journey again. It was hard for them to say goodbye to the princess, since she was such a good friend of theirs by then. It was many years later when they found the cave where Witch Fate had trapped the king and queen. They fought the witch, and everyone got hurt badly.
"They won in the end. The evil witch ran away, and she was never seen or heard from ever again. The boys took their parents, and they all went back home. One the way, they stopped at the kingdom of Princess Star. Black ran away after his fight with Smiles and Knives, and he hadn't come back. The princess got a special thank you for helping the boys. They finished going home, where everyone was very hapy that their king and queen were home- "
"Did Pwincess Staw mawwy Knives?"
"Sure. The Knight Knives married Princess Star. They were given their own part of the kingdom. The other friends that helped the boys were all given their own parts, too. They were never hurt again, and they all lived happily ever after."
Ponyboy smiled at the ending and snuggled into Dally's chest. Dally's eyes bulged in shock, but he put an arm around the tiny body anyway. The kid was cute, but unpredictable. In a few minutes, Pony was out cold, and Dally was well on his way to joining him. Steve stood up and walked over to the pair. He smiled at the picture they made and thought about just walking away and letting them sleep, but he knew how cranky Dally would be when he woke up, so he reached over and shook the blond's shoulder gently. He wasn't willing to get in a fight with an unrestrained Dallas Winston.
The blue eyes opened slowly, and focusing on Steve took even more time. "What?"
"Nice story you told the kid. Have anything to do with real life?"
"I couldn't think of anything else. Besides, he named everyone but the witch."
"I guessed that. Didn't think a four-year-old could figure out that subtlety. Do you want me to put him to bed?"
"Sure. What time is it?"
"Close to ten."
"That late?"
"Yeah. You guys eat dinner?"
"I guess we forgot."
"Yeah... So... you plan on marrying Cherry Valance?"
"Shut up." A/N: There ya go! Hope all enjoyed it! I certainly enjoyed writing it! And I KNOW Dally was majorly OOC, but I DO NOT CARE!!!!!!!!! Please review! Oh, and the muses would say hi, but they're still suffering from jetlag. Poor things...