Chapter 22: Heroic Duty
It was a bright and sunny day when Arthur found himself flying around on his magical broom when he noticed the silhouette of a woman standing on a beach on the outskirts of King White's kingdom.
"Good morn my fair lady. Fine day to go out on a walk eh?" Arthur nodded his head as the woman with a white parasol covering her head and neck; her light pink dress swaying in the breeze as the red ribbon around her waist too flowed with the breeze. She had long toned legs with a pair of hot pink high-heeled shoes.
"Hmm?" The woman turned to reveal she had a fish head with bright blue eyes and shiny silver scales.
"Ahh!" Arthur was stunned as he shrank back and managed to move his flying broom to the side as he flew away in terror.
"Hmm?" The woman with a fish head looked away as she shrugged and continued walking, staring out at the ocean with a longing in her eyes.
Not too far away down the beach, the Fairy Princess laid out her towel and umbrella.
"Ahh." She laid back as she snapped her fingers and held up a cool glass of iced tea with berries as she put her sunglasses on. She then put her drink down as she double snapped her fingers as a chair and fishing pole with bait on the end appeared.
"Alright, let's see what's gonna bite my fishing line today." She smiled as she stood in order to throw the line out deep into the sea as she waited. The Fairy Princess sat down as she kicked her legs back, allowing her fishing pole to rest against her chair.
"This is the life." She sighed as she rested her eyes when suddenly her fishing pole began to move.
"I got something!?" The Fairy Princess stood up, took hold her fishing pole and began to real it in slowly, then allowing some slack.
"Come on, come on little fishy fishy." She continued to reel her line in as she grimaced.
"So heavy." The Fairy Princess managed to finally real the line in as she gasped.
"What the heck!?" The Fairy Princess' eyes shot open as she grunted when water splashed on her face.
"Finally! I've been floating around for ages! I'm so pruney. Now, get me out of here you goblin witch, goblin? Wait, what are you?" Prince Average spit out a small fish.
"Ugh! Disgusting!" The Fairy Princess cringed as she threw Prince Average aside.
"How rude! Do you know who I am?" Prince Average asked.
"Annoying?" The Fairy Princess raised a brow as he groaned, rolling his eyes.
"No! I am Prince Average!"
"Oh, well, that's nice . . . I suppose." The Fairy Princess shrugged.
"Ugh! Just, shew! You've caused me enough trouble." Prince Average waved his hand.
"But I saved you, and I was relaxing here!" The Fairy Princess grumbled as she fisted her hands.
"Shew!" Prince Average shouted as he took the hook out of his pants.
"Not again!" The Fairy Princess rose up with her hands fisted as a pair of glimmering green wings formed on her back.
"If outer beauty is all you see, then you clearly lack the sight of inner beauty. For this you Prince Average shall pay dearly. I curse you here and evermore. You shall appear to be what you are on the inside: self-centered, obtuse, narcissistic, sexist, and ignorant. Whenever people look at you, they will see you for what you truly are!" She was enveloped in a green light as she outstretched her hands and a puff of green smoke appeared before Prince Average, turning him into a little green monster.
"What? What did you say? Huh, how ridiculous, utterly ridicu- . . .. ahhh!" Prince Average looked at his hands and touched his face as he ran away screaming.
"I'm out of here!" The Fairy Princess flew away as Prince Average made his way towards his castle, barricading the doors as he curled up in a ball and rocked himself after looking in a mirror.
Later that day, as twilight slowly approached, Jack was on his flying broom stick when he lost his balance and used his invisiblity cloak to float down gracefully, where Little Red Riding Hood was sitting down among the flowers with her picnic basket beside her. She then stood to continue walking through the forest when she heard a sudden noise. Jack's invisibility cloak managed to get wrapped around his head and neck as they both appeared invisible.
"Ahh!" Red Riding Hood shrieked and ran away deep into the forest as her heart leapt out of her chest.
"Wait! Wait!" Jack called after her, but it was too late. By the time he managed to untangle his invisibility cloak, she was gone. Jack sighed disappointingly.
"Of course she ran away." Jack rolled his eyes as he sulked, taking his cloak off and stuffed it into his pocket. Jack headed back home.
Red Riding Hood managed to escape near a landing as she caught her breath, her ruby-red cloak fell off her head, revealing her light brown hair and hazel eyes. Arthur popped up from behind a rock and held out a flower.
"Oh!" Red Riding Hood cringed slightly as the full moon showed from behind the clouds and she turned into a werewolf. Red Riding Hood began crying.
"Oh, don't cry. I didn't mean to frighten you." Arthur got up and patted Red Riding Hood on her shoulder as she sniffled. Arthur handed her a bouquet of flowers as she smiled.
"Would, would you like to accompany me on a walk?" Arthur asked as she wagged her tail and nodded. The two made their way towards Golden Good Avenue as Arthur did most of the talking; Red Riding Hood nodded or shook her head to his questions or comments.
"Oh, here's Excalibur. I used to dream of the day when I'd pull it out. It's been too long since I've held it in my hands." Arthur sighed as he shrugged.
"I suppose it'd be hilarious to see if I can pull it out, doubt it though." Arthur playfully put his hands around Excalibur as he gently pulled it up when he nearly stumbled back as Excalibur felt loose.
"Wh-what?" Arthur was able to pull it out as he gasped.
"Woof!" Red Riding Hood barked in excitement as her tail wagged enthusiastically.
"I-I did it!" Arthur looked over Excalibur with awe and shock as he jumped around. Red Riding Hood jumped up as she continued barking and wagging her tail. Arthur offered to buy them some ice cream and he walked her home.
"Can, can I come see you tomorrow?" Arthur asked as Red Riding Hood nodded.
Meanwhile, Hans was making dinner when a mermaid princess jumped up on a rock as Hans held out the silver platter, but the mermaid princess shrieked in protest, flipping her tail up as the platter topped with seafood landed on him.
"Oh darn." Hans pried the platter and seafood off him as he went back to making some stew when Sleeping Beauty's cousin awoke and ran towards it and ate happily.
"Oh, sorry, I was starving! I've been under a sleeping spell for weeks." Sleeping Beauty's cousin wiped the corners of her mouth.
"I'm Rosa, Sleeping Beauty's cousin. Mmm, this is so good!" Her mocha skin glowing under the moonlight as her green eyes shown with affection. Rosa's curly brown hair was loosely falling around her shoulders as she fixed her aquamarine colored dress.
"Thank you, I'm Hans. I just made chicken mushroom-vegetable stew with some spices."
"Oh Hans, I think I'm in love." Rosa held Hans as she kissed his cheeks.
"Oh, it was nothing." Hans flushed as Rosa giggled.
"Sorry, I'm a foodie. This was just the best meal I've ever had." Rosa sighed as she put him down as Hans smiled broadly.
"I'm a professional cook and baker, a culinary-patissier of sorts." Hans chuckled as Rosa giggled.
"Oh Hans, you're hilarious." Rosa gently place her hand on his shoulder as Hans blushed.
"So, is there a certain prince you were expecting to kiss you?" Hans asked rather worriedly as Rosa shook her head.
"Oh no, I'm so over princes. They're so snobbish and self-centered. As a matter of fact, because I turned down Prince Average, he fed me some sort of sleeping spell in my dinner . . . for my birthday!" Rosa's eyebrows furrowed as she folded her arms.
"Oh, how terrible!" Hans gasped as Rosa sighed.
"But you're just as sweet as cherry pie. Oh! That sounds delicious!" Rosa licked her coral colored lips. Hans chuckled in response.
"Would you like to come to my house for some cherry pie?" Hans asked as she nodded.
"Sounds tasty!" Rosa giggled. Rosa and Hans walked hand-in-hand.
The two had a romantic night filled with several taste tests as Hans walked Rosa back to her castle where her parents enthusiastically and gratefully thanked Hans.
The next day at the beach the mermaid woman with a fish head was taking a dip in the ocean. Meanwhile Jack was sighing, looking in his hand-held mirror as she popped up from beneath the waves, offering him a pearl and he gasped, immediately falling in love with her. He pulled her up and threw the pearl down as he kissed her.
"Hmm!" The woman with a fish head sighed happily as the two walked away, Jack holding the pearl as she looked up at him dreamily. The two began courting as Jack forgot about his spell, the woman with the fish head finding herself falling in love with him.
"I-I think I love you." Jack looked at her dreamily as he kissed her gently on the lips when suddenly a puff of pink smoke, a white light and sparkles appeared.
"Wh-what!" A beautiful lean blonde woman with blue-green eyes immerged wearing a pink dress as Prince Jack groaned, holding up his hand-held mirror as he gasped.
"Where? When? Oh, my dear, are you alright?" Prince Jack instantly got up and ran over towards the woman.
"Oh Jack, wait you're Prince Jack, from the Fearless 7." The woman gasped as Prince Jack cupped her face.
"What is your name?" Prince Jack asked as she blushed.
"Ella. Princess Ella, or I was, until my kingdom was destroyed." Ella looked away as Prince Jack helped her up.
"Let's have lunch, shall we?" Prince Jack walked with her towards Golden Goose Avenue as the two joked and giggled.
Back at the F7 headquarters, a couple of days later, Prince Merlin was reading his new book on magic as he heard the triplets giggling, along with the clinking of metal.
"Hmm?" Prince Merlin stood up and peeked his head outside of his library as he noticed the triplets were smiling and speaking in Italian. Prince Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"What are you three up to?" Prince Merlin asked; the triplets stopped talking and looked over at him.
"Oh." Pino started.
"Nothing." Nocchi added.
"Really." Cchio concluded as they all three shrugged.
"Ok, well, I'm going to head out soon, to see Snow. So I guess you three will be in charge." Prince Merlin placed a bookmark in his spell book as he went to his room to freshen up.
"Oh, shall we continue?" Pino asked as Nocchi and Cchio were quickly making something to eat as Hans walked through the back kitchen door.
"What are you doing?" Hans asked as Pino giggled and the triplets made their way to their lab.
"Well that was strange. Anyone else home?" Hans looked around as Prince Merlin hollered out.
"I'm going to make Rosa some homemade goodies." Hans smiled to himself as he began cooking. The smell of sweet sugary treats filled the air while Hans nearly danced around gracefully. Suddenly there was a knock at the back kitchen door.
"Yes, oh, Rosa. I didn't expect you to get here so early." Hans smiled as she giggled.
"You have flour all over your face." Rosa cupped his face as he wiped it.
"Oh, silly me." Hans chuckled.
"Aww, you're so cute." Rosa kissed his cheek as he flushed bright red.
"Mmm, it smells so good in here." Rosa walked in as Hans rubbed the back of his head, pouring Rosa a glass of milk as he served her homemade fudge, chocolate chip cookies, snicker doodles, a vanilla cupcake, a raspberry cream cheese tart, and a slice of pineapple upside down cake.
"Oh wow! Baby, this is amazing!" Rosa lifted Hans up as she began kissing his cheeks. He sat in her lap, feeding him as she nibbled on the sweet treats.
"Mmm, so good! You're just perfect. Please be my personal culinary-patissier." Rosa giggled as Hans nodded.
"Of course, I would gladly make meals for you for the rest of my life." Hans said all doe-eyed as Rosa sighed.
"You're so sweet, I'm so glad we met. Let's, let's promise ourselves something. No matter what happens, let's keep appreciating each other. I know we haven't known each other for very long, and I really like you. I just haven't had any good luck with princes lately, and I couldn't stand to meet another one. I know this is crazy and out of the blue, but if you're at all related to Prince Hans from F7, I'm afraid we can't be together." Rosa said sincerely as Hans stopped breathing for a moment.
"Oh, Prince Hans, hah! N-no!" Hans laughed nervously.
"Yea, I know. You're way too sweet. I heard the F7 are trying to lure in princesses in order to get their spell broken. They were cursed by the Fairy Princess. My cousin Sleeping Beauty told me." Rosa said as she played with Hans' curly red hair as he sighed.
"That's, that's awful." Hans felt an overwhelming sensation of guilt.
"I know. I'm just so glad we met. You're just so wonderful." Rosa kissed Hans' forehead.
"Rosa, you're too good to me. Huh, there's something I have to tell you." Hans twiddled his fingers nervously.
"There's, there's something I need to tell you too." Rosa looked around nervously as Hans began to open his mouth when Prince Merlin walked in.
"Oh, hey, sorry. I was just on my way out. I'm Prince Merlin. Hans, I'll be back late tonight." Prince Merlin walked towards Rosa as she abruptly got up and backed away.
"Prince Merlin! Ugh, I never thought I'd see you again." Rosa crossed her arms as Prince Merlin smiled.
"Oh, uh hey. Do I know you?" Prince Merlin looked rather nervously.
"Uh yea. We used to date, but then I found out you were dating Cinderella's step-sisters." Rosa said in a snarl as Prince Merlin flushed.
"I'm so sorry. I, I was a different person then. I promise I'm not the same. I uh, am actually courting Snow White. She's, she's really helped me face the ugliness that was inside me, she makes me want to be a better person." Prince Merlin rubbed the back of his head.
"Hmm, well you'd better treat her right. She's a sweet girl. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen her in a while. Tell her I'll be visiting her soon." Rosa said as she put her hand out in a friendly manner as Prince Merlin shook it.
"Cool, well I'm off." Prince Merlin let go of Rosa's hand and was on his way as Rosa looked over at Hans.
"Hans, how do you know someone like Prince Merlin from the F7?"
"Oh, well um. I met him on one of his missions and I cooked dinner for them." Hans rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Hmm, I guess that makes sense." Rosa nodded as Hans breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, I think it's sweet that you'd befriend someone like them. You're such a forgiving person, hmph they're all a bunch of selfish villains with pretty faces." Rosa grumbled as Hans looked around nervously.
"Well, shall we go on a walk?" Hans asked as Rosa nodded. Hans felt rather guilty for lying to Rosa, but he couldn't bare the thought of losing her. She was beautiful, true, but she was full of life; she was fun and she loved spending time with him. Hans had never really considered himself too much of a flirt, but he knew his pride often got in the way of relationships. He put his cooking and baking before others, attending several competitions. Hans never really knew when to consider a relationship "serious," which most girls he would date (not many in total,) would say he was an immature child who was too focused on himself. Ever since then, he swore off relationships (with the exception of Red Shoes, but that was only for her beauty, yet another fault he had). Hans breathed steadily as he knew Rosa was too good of a person to be lied to.
"Rosa, I need to tell you something." Hans said as they walked along in the woods as the sun began to set.
"Hmm?" Rosa looked down at him as he sighed heavily.
"I, I am lying to you. I know the F7, as a matter of fact, I was part of the F7."
"Oh? But you're not a prince are you? Wait but you can't be Prince Hans?" Rosa was clearly confused as Hans looked at her with somber eyes as he nodded.
"Oh, oh. I see. Well, that's too bad. I really, really liked you. This whole lying bit has me concerned, but I guess when you're cursed, you can't talk about it right? Hmm, and you've been so sweet. And you haven't tried anything on me. I, I guess I could give this a shot. On a trial basis of course, if that's ok." Rosa looked down at Hans as he smiled.
"That's all I ask. Thank you Rosa, and I'm so sorry." Hans kissed her hand.
"Hmm." Rosa smiled as she looked up at the sky.
"It's a lovely night for a new beginning. Trying to forget all the hurt, lies, and deceit. You know, my mom asked if I was going to marry you." Rosa flushed as Hans nearly fell over in shock.
"Wh-what? We, we didn't meet that long ago." Hans said as he fidgeted from head to toe.
"I know. It was really embarrassing, but I, I could see me settling down one day. But I think we should go slow." Rosa knelt down as she kissed Hans on the lips as he sighed happily.
Suddenly white light and sparkles materialized out of thin air as Rosa slowly pulled away, opening her eyes to face Prince Hans.
"What? What happened to you Hans?" She asked as he looked down at his hands and gasped.
"I just, I just kissed the most beautiful woman in the world." Prince Hans cupped her face as Rosa giggled.
"Oh, stop." The two walked towards her castle as Prince Hans headed back home, running into Arthur.
"Well, if it isn't Prince Hans. Seems to me you and Jack have those curses broken now hu?" Arthur said as Prince Hans smiled, blushing brightly as he looked back at Arthur in surprise.
"I though you'd be upset, or at least jealous."
"What me? Nah!" Arthur said as he walked confidently on.
"I have another task. I've got to break the curse on my girl, and then break my own curse."
"Oh?" Prince Hans was rather confused as Arthur nodded.
"Have you seen Merlin?" Arthur looked up at Prince Hans as he told Arthur where Prince Merlin had gone. Arthur sprinted towards King White's castle where he pounded on the door.
"Yes, what is it?" Princess Carmela answered as Arthur cringed.
"Ugh, it's you again." Arthur scowled as she rolled her eyes.
"Just tell me what you want, you little troll!" Princess Carmela shouted as she heard footsteps behind her.
"Hey, what's going-oh hello Arthur." Snow White appeared from behind Princess Carmela as she grumbled.
"Whatever, I'm going back to bed."
"Please just ignore her. She didn't sleep well last night." Snow White giggled as Prince Merlin also walked up to see Arthur.
"Merlin! There you are! I need your help." Arthur pleaded as Prince Merlin looked rather surprised.
"Sure, what's up Arthur?"
"My girl's been cursed. Every full moon she turns into a werewolf."
"Hmm, sounds a bit tricky. But luckily for you, I've got a new spell book. Well technically it's a reversal spell book."
"Great! Let's go back home and look for something." Arthur began tugging Prince Merlin away, but was struggling.
"Wait, I was going to hang out with Snow tonight. We were going to have a night in. King White just purchased a new magic mirror, but this time, it plays all the best theatrical performances in the kingdom! We were going to watch all our favorites."
"I think there's some jousting tournaments too. And some wizard and witch competitions." Snow White added.
"See! Date night." Prince Merlin said in a harsh tone as Arthur sighed.
"Look Merlin, I'm so happy for you and Snow White, but I need you. As a friend, to help me. Listen, Red Riding Hood is it for me. I don't care that she's cursed, but I can tell it bothers her a lot. Her own family doesn't even want anything to do with her. And she doesn't have any friends. I can't leave her alone. Please. I just, I just want a chance at happiness too." Arthur said in a pleading tone as Prince Merlin sighed and looked back at Snow White.
"Go on. We'll have date night some other time." Snow White leaned forward to kiss Prince Merlin's cheek as he gave her lips a quick peck before leaving with Arthur. Snow White closed the door as she headed up towards her room.
"Bros before does eh?" Princess Carmela teased as Snow White did her best to ignore her, fisting her hands as she walked passed her.
"What's wrong Princess? Have a lover's quarrel?" Princess Carmela watched Snow White walking past her.
"No. Merlin made the right choice, I wanted him to help Arthur, it was the right thing to do. Besides, Arthur helped me find my dad. Arthur is a friend to us both, and we want him to be happy." Snow White looked back at Princess Carmela.
"Everyone deserves a chance of happily ever after." Snow White gave Princess Carmela a warm smile as she walked off to her room.
"Hmm, you best bet I'll be getting mine, very soon." Princess Carmela smiled deviously as she went to her room, changed into dark clothes and went deep into the woods. She found a narrow path which led to a small cottage where a plume of putrid green smoke came out in bulky puffs from the chimney.
"Finally arrived." Princess Carmela put her hood down as she knocked on the door.
"Come in." A shrill voice came from the other side of the door.
"I need a spell." Princess Carmela looked around at strange bones, bottled with strange thick liquids, organs, and insects sat up on selves spread out across the rooms. A large coffin was on the opposite side of the room. A cauldron boiled as an average looking woman of average height stirred a strange looking instrument as the witch looked at Princess Carmela with an eerie smile.
"But of course, I would expect nothing left of my best customer."
Meanwhile, with the triplets working on a strange (and rather loud) project; Arthur and Prince Merlin looked for hours, and found a few spells which might work on Red Riding Hood's curse.
"I'm not sure if this will work all at once. This curse may take time, and I would need more information." Prince Merlin wrote down a few questions for Arthur to ask Red Riding Hood the next time he sees her.
"Right. Well, I'm gonna get some shut eye." Arthur yawned as Prince Merlin nodded, making his way to his room when he heard a sudden boom coming from the triplets' workshop. Prince Merlin ran over to check on them.
"What on earth is going on here!?" Prince Merlin asked as Pino popped his head up.
"Oh, nothing." Pino smiled as Nocci and Cchio smiled and giggled.
"Ok, if you say so. And you all are alright?"
"Si, si." Pino started.
"We are-" Nocci added.
"Fine, really." Cchio finished as Prince Merlin shrugged.
"Just try not to blow the roof off, or put us out of house and home." Prince Merlin pleaded as the triplets nodded. After Prince Merlin left, the triplets sighed in relief.
"That was too close." Pino put his protective goggles on.
"Still so much work to do." Nocci held up his wrench.
"But she will be a beauty." Cchio made a chef's kiss signal as the three worked through the night.
The following morning, Princess Carmela was having tea with Snow White and Prince Merlin in the garden.
"Oh, these butter cookies look delicious. I didn't think you were much of a baker; only because you're on a very strict diet." Snow White smiled kindly.
"Oh yes. I think it's very important to be accomplished in all things domestic. Baking, cooking, cleaning, interior decorating, mending, sewing, caring for children." Princess Carmela looked over at Prince Merlin, who nearly chocked on his Earl Grey.
"I beg your pardon? When have you ever done any of that?" Prince Merlin asked as Princess Carmela shrugged.
"I've changed quite a great deal since the last time you saw me Merlin." Princess Carmela gracefully sipped at her tea.
"I suppose anyone can change. Right Merlin?" Snow White winked as Prince Merlin blushed.
"Now, I must insist you both try my delicious coffee cake. It may seem sweet, though it has an interesting twist." Princess Carmela served Prince Merlin first.
"A twist? Sounds really scrumptious." Snow White smiled as she ate her slice.
"Oh Merlin, I'd love it if you tried this special sauce. It's on the bitter side, so I'm sure you'll appreciate it." Princess Carmella poured the syrupy substance over his slice; nearly drowning it.
"Oh, great. You remembered that I mildly like sour flavors." Prince Merlin made a face when Snow White gave him an encouraging look.
"Huh, well I've lived this long." Prince Merlin took a small bite as he slightly cringed. The cake was far too sweet, while the icing was a bitter coffee taste, and the syrup (what was meant to be a more fluid sauce) tasted of pure lemon juice with bitters and a strange aftertaste.
"Uh! This is terrible!" Prince Merlin cringed, throwing down his fork and sipping at his tea as Snow White looked rather surprised.
"Merlin." Snow White was a little disappointed as Prince Merlin made a smug face.
"What do you expect me to say? Carmela's always been horrible at everything she does. And I know for a fact that she doesn't want to be a housewife. And all that jazz about her being 'domesticated' is a bunch of-"
"Merlin! That's enough!" Snow White slammed her hand down on the table as Princess Carmela looked dejected.
"Oh I'm so terribly sorry. Merlin's right, I've never been good at any of those things. I was just trying to impress him. Please forgive me for making such awful tasting desserts." Princess Carmela appeared to be crying as Snow White comforted her.
"Oh please, Snow, don't tell me you're buying any of this?" Prince Merlin scoffed as he crossed his arms.
"Merlin! Show some compassion! She really tried her best. And your butter cookies were really delicious Carmela. I also loved the tea." Snow White smiled as Princess Carmela nodded.
"Please. You'll eat nearly anything." Prince Merlin rolled his eyes as Snow White flushed.
"Excuse me?" Snow White looked over at Prince Merlin who shrugged.
"It's true. You're not a picky eater. And you always pour compliments out like they're going to miraculously help someone become a better person. It's pathetic really. Cute, but utterly unrealistic."
"Merlin, what's wrong with you?" Snow White appeared to be hurt, but assumed there was something else bothering Prince Merlin.
"Me? I've never felt better. I'm tired of always trying to be sympathetic towards others. It's exhausting. And being in a relationship with you means you and everyone else have such high expectations of me. I can't keep this façade up for all eternity. And I can't stand that Princess Carmela has to constantly be around us. It's driving me nuts." Prince Merlin sank back into his chair.
"Look, I know it's been difficult lately, to say the least, but we should be compassionate towards others. Everyone deserves a chance. A chance to be treated with kindness and warmth. Others may need a second chance after making a mistake; and I think that's what Princess Carmela is doing. And at one point when we rule this kingdom, we need to treat people with that same kindness." Snow White said firmly.
"Ugh, I hate it when you have to constantly lecture about kindness, goodness and all that other hogwash."
"Hogwash!? Merlin, seriously, what's wrong with you?" Snow White raised a brow as Prince Merlin sat up.
"What's wrong with me is all this mounting pressure."
"From who?"
"Your father, for starters. And Arthur for helping him with breaking this difficult curse. The kingdom, expecting me to become the next king. Princess Carmela and being nice to her. And honestly from you."
"What? When did I ever pressure you for anything?"
"You always do. You just were a moment ago. And you even lied to me at one point."
"What are you talking about?"
"When we first met and you never told me who you really were." Prince Merlin was leaning forward.
"What? I lied to you?" Snow White looked utterly confused.
"Yes! You never told me who you were; I would've helped you sooner if you told me."
"Merlin, don't pretend for one second that you would have looked twice at a girl like me."
"That's not true! As a prince, I'm always open to helping everyone!"
"Oh really? Then why didn't you accept who really I was when I first revealed myself? It took you a while to come around to the idea of helping me."
"That's not . . . entirely true."
"You only helped me because I had those magic shoes."
"Well, I still helped you find your father didn't I?"
"Yea, only because you were trying to steal a kiss!"
"Yes, on account of I didn't want to be a little green monster for the rest of my life!"
"Well sometimes I prefer you as a little green monster!"
"Oh yea, when?"
"Well how about right now!" Snow White stood up and stormed off. Prince Merlin grunted as he got up to go after her, when suddenly he felt light headed and had to stand still for a moment.
"Oh careful there Merlin. That truth spell takes a minute to wear off. Though I never imagined it would be this strong." Princess Carmela giggled as she finished her tea.
"Truth spell? Carmela, what did you do?"
"Oh don't worry about it dear. Its affects will soon wear off, though I don't think those words of your will." Princess Carmela wiped the corners of her mouth, gently placed the eggshell colored cloth napkin down and walked away.
"Snow." Prince Merlin slowly walked to find Snow White sitting at the Cupid fountain crying her eyes out.
"Snow-"
"Go away Merlin." Snow White's voice cracked as it came out barely over a whisper.
"Please, just let me explain. Carmela gave me a truth spell."
"Oh, so all those awful things you said were the truth?"
"What? No! Truth spells don't always work the same, or are all that truthful. Some of them make people say twisted and cruel versions of the truth; or even thoughts they once had."
"You're not helping yourself Merlin." Snow White sniffled as Prince Merlin handed her his cerulean colored handkerchief. Snow White gingerly took it.
"I know I'm not." Prince Merlin sighed.
"Why would you say any of those things?" Snow White looked up at him.
"Because Princess Carmela made me eat that horrid cake. And you were sitting there, telling me to be nice. I was upset because I knew she was horrible in the kitchen."
"Merlin, I can't blame you for being upset that she's constantly around us. I know she drives you crazy and I admit she can be a little brazen, but she's still a person. If anyone knows how a person shouldn't be treated, it's me. And I never want anyone to feel the way I did." Snow White wiped her eyes as Prince Merlin nodded.
"You and I both are in agreement there. When I was a dwarf, no one showed me kindness. Well, no one but you." Prince Merlin sat beside Snow White as she sighed.
"Why don't we just be lazy for today? Let's go rest and watch one of those tournaments or something?" Prince Merlin asked as Snow White giggled.
"Ok." The two got up and walked off as Princess Carmela watched them from a distance, biting down on her nail as she inwardly cursed.
"How did that not work? It was such a strong spell too. Well, I suppose I'll have to request a stronger one." Princess Carmela walked into the castle as she grabbed her cloak and prepared to leave into the woods again.