The Gift Exchange

Apple was not happy about how her second confrontation with Rotbart had gone. But then again, she wasn't happy about how either of them had gone. At least she hadn't run scared the first time; she hated how much Rotbart frightened her. She wanted to teach that big bully a lesson, but she didn't want to try and do it to his face. At least, not any time soon. She still got shivers when she remembered the look on his face when he proudly announced: "I'm evil."

Nonetheless, Apple decided that she had to do something. And after Rotbart sent her a whole fruit basket and a note that said: Pick your poison, princess, she decided to beat him at his own game.

First, she sent him a large bucket of troll boogers. The troll that lived under the bridge outside the village of Bookend was very puzzled by Apple's request, but he was happy to oblige. It was an awful, gelatinous substance that almost seemed to have a life of its own, and Apple was positive that it would completely gross Rotbart out. It was the perfect payback!

Unfortunately, Rotbart wasn't revolted by the bucket of boogers at all. In fact, he sent Apple a thank you note:

Dear Princess,

Thank you very much for the booger bucket. It will be most helpful in my upcoming projects (Apple didn't want to contemplate what those projects might be).

Gratefully,

Rotbart

Apple huffed in frustration. But she wasn't going to give up so easily!

The next thing she sent him was a cursed pendant. According to the shady magician who sold it to Apple, it had the power to make anyone who wore it break out in green boils. And it was silver, so it looked like the sort of thing that Rotbart would wear. Apple was sure that she'd make that creep sorry now! She giggled as she imagined his smug face covered with boils.

But once again, things didn't go as Apple had hoped; she received another note and another gift from Rotbart the following day:

Dear Princess,

You were very kind to send me that pendant; it looks great on Sparrow. Green is definitely his color (Poor Sparrow! Apple thought guiltily. She had forgotten that they were roommates).

Gratefully,

Rotbart

P.S. Did you know that combs have been used to poison previous Snow Whites? - R.

This time Rotbart's gift wasn't fruit-related; it was a beautiful comb inlaid with rubies. If it hadn't come from Rotbart, Apple would have thought it was lovely. But it did, so she didn't. She sighed as she realized that getting back at Rotbart was going to be much harder than she thought.

And after two weeks of effort, Apple was very discouraged. She had tried sending Rotbart all sorts of nasty things, but none of it seemed to work! Apple was starting to think that NOTHING could phase this guy, and that thought was very disturbing. Distressing even!

But one day, inspiration struck in the form of Cerise Hood. She had a locker that was near Apple's and she couldn't help chuckling as she overheard Apple describe her attempts to prank Rotbart to Briar.

"What's so funny?!" Apple asked indignantly.

"Yeah, this is serious." Briar said with a frown.

"Sorry," Cerise said. "It's just that I think you're doing it wrong."

"Huh?!" Apple said in disbelief. She looked back at Briar who just shrugged. "What do you mean I'm doing it wrong?" She asked Cerise.

"He's a bad guy." Cerise said, as if the answer was totally obvious. But the two princesses just stood there looking confused, so Cerise spelled it out for them: "He likes gross stuff and cursed items." Cerise explained. "If you wanna make him uncomfortable, you gotta give him stuff villains hate."

Apple's eyes widened; what Cerise was saying made perfect sense. "What do villains hate?" She asked eagerly.

Cerise's brow scrunched in thought as she tried to remember the classroom notes her dad always left lying around at home. "Well...it varies, but most of them don't like cute stuff..." She said.

And Apple suddenly knew what to do. She started running towards the Enchanted Forest. "Thank you Cerise!" She called as she dashed off.

"Uh, no prob?" Cerise said.

"Huh, how do you know so much about bad guys?" Briar remarked.

"Ummm...gotta run, bye!" And the daughter of Red Ridinghood and the Big Bad Wolf disappeared into the shadows.

Rotbart got a nasty shock when he returned to his room later that evening. The entire place was completely overrun with adorable, fluffy, bunnies.

"ARRRRRGGGH! AP-PLE!" He bellowed.

Apple could hear him all the way from the school courtyard and she smiled in satisfaction.

Revenge was a dish served best with bunnies.