Triple Sixes
On the day after Christmas, Apple received a strange text message while she was sitting in the royal drawing room with her parents and dwarf uncles. She didn't recognize the number at all; nobody she knew had that many sixes in their phone number. The text said:
Hello, is this Apple White's phone?
Apple hesitated, but ultimately decided to respond. After all, she figured that whoever it was wouldn't have her cell number unless she had given it to them. So it must be alright.
Yes, who is this?
It's me, Princess.
There was something familiar about this response but Apple couldn't place it.
Me who?
Your tormentor. AND savior. Unfortunately.
Apple immediately stiffened. Suddenly, the two pairs of triple sixes in the phone number made sense.
How did you get my number?! She texted furiously.
"Dear, are you alright?" Queen Snow White asked. She had just noticed her daughter's startled and slightly infuriated expression.
Apple quickly looked up, smiled brightly, and lied through her teeth: "Uh-huh, just peachy, Mom." And then she looked down at Rotbart's response.
That's for me to know, and you to wonder about. You still want to do it?
Do what? Apple wrote back.
Get revenge.
Apple's eyes widened. Revenge?
On your ever-faithful-and-adoring- prince-charming. And his head-loving princess.
Apple had almost forgotten about Daring and Lizzie in the happiness and splendor of Christmas at the White Palace. It was hard for the fairy-tale princess to not feel happy at Christmas time. But it was also hard for her not to feel enraged when she thought of Daring's betrayal. And now that she was reminded of it and no longer had Christmas to distract her…
Yes. She typed. And she hit send. It felt a little bit like she was signing a contract with the devil, but she didn't care. Daring had to get his comeuppance. Besides, this particular devilesque person had promised not to harm her. She was perfectly safe until she got another prince.
But first she had to teach her former prince a lesson.
Hexcellent. He replied. You free to talk?
Apple looked around at her quietly contented family members. It seemed weird and wrong to plot revenge around them. What would her mother say if she knew?!
No, I'll excuse my self. Hang on.
"Excuse me, Mom." Apple said sweetly. "I just remembered; I promised I'd call Briar today."
"Alright, just remember, we have tea with the Ellas and the White Queen of Wonderland at three."
"OK! See ya!" Apple said as she hurried out of the room.
"Hmph. Kids." Apple's Uncle Grumpy snorted. "So obsessed with their durn phones."