Woodland Luxury Apartments, Bullfinch Street, Manhattan, New York City, 2004.
Some time had passed by after Goldilocks' assassination attempt and things had gone back to normal, even though I was excited to be a father and grandfather at the same time. Bigby and I were in our office and signing reports while Flycatcher was sweeping the room with his broom, just as Bufkin came flying into the office and I rolled my eyes slightly when I saw that he had a tiny man in his hand.
"Seriously, again? I've lost count of how many times these tiny fellows keep sneaking into the Business Office," I thought unamusingly as Bufkin put down the tiny man on Bigby's desk.
"Look here Sheriff, Deputy, I caught this one making it all the way up to the jar this time!" Bufkin exclaimed excitingly while the man brushed off dirt on his sweater.
"There's no need to shout so loudly Bufkin, we can hear you just fine," Bigby lectured as he looked up from his reports and placed the pen down.
"Well, it's Eddie Underfoot who's come down from the Farm to make his try at the Barleycorns. The Mouse Police warned me and the Sheriff that you have come of age," I remarked and Eddie shot me a look of disbelief.
"They did?! Those bastards!" Eddie shouted in outrage and Bigby picked up a magnifying glass to get a closer look at him.
"How the hell did you get here, Eddie?" Bigby questioned and Eddie huffed.
"I hitched a ride on the back of last night's messager bird," Eddie explained and I pinched the space between my eyes to try and ease a headache that was rising.
"Well, you're going back the same way so report to the MPs when you get home and stay there," I told him firmly and Eddie widened his eyes in shock while he pointed at me.
"That's not fair, Nate!" Eddie complained and I sighed.
"Hey, you had your shot of fame and glory like your father did when he turned eighteen, and his father before him so try it again and we'll have no choice but to officially charge you for breaking and entering along with theft. Bufkin, get him out of here and make sure he goes home today," Bigby instructed and Bufkin nodded while Eddie scowled up at Bigby.
"Roger dodger," Bufkin said as he picked up Eddie and flew out of the office.
"Bigby? Nate?" Flycatcher spoke up and we both looked at him.
"Yeah, what is it?" I questioned and Flycatcher gestured at the door.
"I don't get it because you two let that kid go with just a warning?" Flycatcher asked in confusion.
"Yeah, we don't see why it's such a problem," Bigby stated and Flycatcher looked shocked.
"You two arrest me every time you catch me eating flies, which is only a minor offense but trying to steal magical artifacts from the Business Office is a serious crime," Flycatcher pointed out.
"This is a special situation because every boy in Smalltown tries to steal a magic Barleycorn once he comes of age. It's expected of them, a rite of passage that dates back to...well, it's a long story," I clarified while stacking my finished reports neatly.
"I've got time," Flycatcher stated and Bigby shrugged as he puffed on his smoke.
"What the hell, why not? Have a seat Flycatcher and we'll tell you a story," Bigby said after putting out his cigarette butt in the ashtray and gesturing for Flycatcher to sit down, who obliged as I got started with the story of how Smalltown and its rite of passage began.
"Long ago in the Homelands, when most Fables still believed they had a chance to defeat the Adversary's armies, the Kingdom of Lilliput was among those who were determined to do their part so they gathered up a regiment of volunteers, dubbed it the first Lilliputian Expeditionary and Liberation force, and sent them off in a warship to help win the war effort.
Bravely, they crossed the wild seas to distant lands they had never visited before, only to be greeted with an unexpected surprise so the commanding officers were called into a meeting where they decided that joining the war wasn't worth it since it was too dangerous and they decided to go back home...but when they got back to their ship, they soon found out that the way back home was completely destroyed and they took a goblin captive for questioning.
Colonel Wuddershanks questioned their first and only POW for hours until it was discovered that more enemy contacts would be returning, and so the Lilliputian Expeditionary Force became nothing more than a band of wandering refugees like everyone else in a strange giant world. For many long harsh months, they wandered the Homelands while living off the land and avoiding any bloody warzone until they encountered a family of Fable badgers.
The female badger told the small group of a magical gateway that led to a world where there would be a sanctuary for all Fables and they immediately joined one of the many Fable groups making their way to the New World," I explained while Flycatcher was completely focused on me.
"And that's how they came here and founded Smalltown up at the Farm?" Flycatcher asked while he was pouring us coffee and Bigby nodded.
"Yeah, but there was one big problem that became almost apparent...the Liliputian Expeditionary Force was only made up of men and since there were no Liliputian women here, the small town's first-generation threatened to be its last," Bigby added and Flycatcher looked confused.
"But there are women in Smalltown because I've seen lots of them once," Flycatcher pointed out and Bigby shot him a look.
"There's a reason for that so let us explain before jumping to conclusions," I told him and Flycatcher looked embarrassed as he cleared his throat.
"Sorry, please continue," Flycatcher said sheepishly and I nodded.
"Years had passed by without a woman in sight in the unhappy village of Smalltown until Thumbelina showed up after escaping from her own distant homeland and of course, that only made things worse. No women at all were bad enough but only one woman, with every man knowing that only one of them could eventually get into a relationship with her, that was intolerable.
Everyone was miserable, especially Thumbelina so something had to be done before assaults became murders and the eventual solution to their dilemma came from an unexpected source. By that time, everyone knew Thumbelina's story of how she came to this world and the kind witch who gave the Barleycorn to the woman that grew a daughter had escaped the Adversary and was living in Fabletown.
Word had spread and it eventually reached the Farm where Smalltown resident Johnny Bullhorn, a bold young man with a taste of adventure, had the crazy idea of going back through the gateway and travel the Homelands in order to find the Barleycorn and bring it back. The residents thought it was too insane and they tried to talk him out of it, but Johnny reassured them and said that he knew the way to the cottage and that Commander Arrow of the Farm's air patrol would be accompanying him.
So, with a few more encouragements and a carefully chaste kiss from Thumbelina, the two Fables set off on their grand adventure and passed through the Oak Hollows Gate, though this was still close to forty years before the Adversary's warlocks would find and destroy it. True to their expectations, they enjoyed many adventures with narrow escapes, harsh weather, and other threats during their journey while avoiding any contact with the Adversary's occupation soldiers.
A few months had passed by and no one was worried since traveling during that time was long and rough but we started to become concerned when six months had gone by without any good news. Finally, when two years had passed by, we held a memorial service for the two of them on the Farm and I was the only Law Enforcement officer to show up since Bigby was not allowed to attend.
We were wrong though because they weren't dead, but it would be a while before we learned about that...long story short, Johnny and Arrow invited a cricket named Pete to come with them and get the Barleycorns before returning to the Farm. Pete was reluctant to leave his comfy mustard pot at first but finally agreed when they told him many snug and homey pots could be found in the New World.
They eventually tracked the Barleycorns at a tower and after a surprisingly pleasant afternoon conversation with an ex-sorcerer that was in the form of a bear, they located the Barleycorn jar. By now, I'm sure you figured out the rest of this story where Johnny and Arrow flew home with their new friends. They were greeted warmly when they returned and a great big crop of Barleycorn girls was grown that spring.
Five couples were united in that first of many weddings to come, the magic bear gave Arrow his wings back and lived on the Farm for a few centuries before deciding to live in the city, where he changed himself into Mr. Grandours who lives on the ninth floor. Pete found himself another cozy discarded pot to take residence in and young Johnny Bullhorn was known from that day forward as John Barleycorn, then he had many more adventures which are stories for another time.
After that first crop, there were more than enough women in Smalltown to conceive the old fashioned way so the jar of remaining Barleycorns was moved here to be stored safely with the rest of our magical artifacts, but boys will be boys and it became a Smalltown tradition for every young man to sneak in here and try, at least once, to win himself a Barleycorn bride before going home to marry the girl next door," I explained.
"Why?" Flycatcher inquired and Bigby shrugged while lighting up a smoke.
"Many reasons I suppose, a desire to win status in the community by imitating what John Barleycorn did and the Barleycorns are reputed to be far lovelier than any normal girl their size or ours. Anyway, Fly, we should probably quit slacking off and get back to work so we hope you like the story," Bigby told Flycatcher, who nodded.
"Thanks, Sheriff, Deputy. You know Bigby, you're not as bad as everyone says you...uh, I'll get back to work," Flycatcher said quickly and started sweeping after Bigby shot him a pointed look.
"Heh, where have we heard that before?" I wondered playfully with a wolfish grin and Bigby glared at me.
"Shut up," Bigby grumbled and I chuckled.
After a while, Bigby and I were done with the day and separated as we headed to our apartments, then I arrived back home and Casey kissed me when I entered the apartment.
"Hey, how was work?" Casey asked while my uniform and duty belt changed into normal casual clothes.
"Nothing interesting happened, so want to watch a movie?" I offered and Casey nodded.
"Sure," Casey agreed and we headed over to the sofa.
I picked out a movie and we both sat down together, then we watched the TV while Casey leaned against me and I moved my arm around her shoulders. Pretty soon, Casey had fallen asleep during the middle of the movie and I turned off the TV just before I gently lifted Casey up in my arms and took her to the bedroom. Casey stirred while I carefully put her down on the bed and laid down next to her as we held each other close and fell asleep.
(Play Heaven's Not Enough by Steve Conte)
I opened my eyes and was taken aback when I saw that I was no longer in my apartment, seeing the familiar sights of the Black Forest and I was completely confused about how I got back to the Homelands when I fell asleep in Fabletown.
"What the hell? How did I get here?" I wondered and I heard a noise that made me conjure up my duty belt and pull out my gun, aiming at the location of where the noise came from.
"Who's out there?! Come out, now!" I demanded as I aimed at the bushes and tensed up when they started shaking and the figure of an animal came into the clearing I was standing in.
I couldn't get a clear look due to the area being covered in mist but when the figure approached me and the mist cleared up, my eyes widened and I started trembling when I saw that the figure was a familiar female white wolf.
"Wha...Winter? It can't be..." I trailed off as I lowered my gun and Winter's tail started wagging as she smiled warmly.
"Hello, Nathan, it's been so long," Winter greeted as I holstered my gun and knelt down in front of her.
"Are you really here? Is this real?" I questioned and Winter rested her head on my shoulder while she nuzzled me.
"It's okay, I'm here now and you don't need to be afraid anymore," Winter reassured softly and I wrapped my arms around her neck in a hug while a few tears welled up and ran down my cheeks.
"I missed you so Goddamn much...where am I and how are you here?" I asked while I shifted into my normal-sized wolf form, nuzzling back as I enjoyed this moment with Winter.
"The place you're at could be called the Afterlife to the mundane humans and as for why I'm here, I wanted to see you again since I've missed you," Winter explained and she started humming as I closed my eyes and leaned into her slightly.
As we kept embracing, I prayed that this wasn't a dream and slowly inhaled Winter's scent as we separated and bumped our heads together slightly in a friendly gesture.
Winter backed up and lowered her head in a playful bow before nipping me in the shoulder and shooting me a mischievous grin before she whipped around and took off into the forest, prompting me to chase after her excitingly and the trees passed me in a blur while I chased after Winter and enjoyed the experience. Pretty soon, I caught up to Winter in a field of flowers and tackled her to the ground, then we rolled around with playful barks as we nipped each other and eventually laid down next to each other in the field of flowers.
"I missed this, having fun with you," I stated quietly while I rested my head on the back of her neck.
"I know...Nathan, I haven't been exactly truthful as to why I'm here," Winter admitted and when I looked at her, I was taken aback to see her looking completely serious.
"What do you mean?" I asked uneasily and Winter licked my neck to reassure me.
"Nathan, you will face terrible events in the future that will be filled with loss and tragedy, and there will come to a point where you will question yourself about a choice that'll change your life and the lives of those around you. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to ruin this moment between us, not to mention that something will happen to you in the distant future where you will fight for your survival," Winter explained and before my eyes, I saw the air shimmer in front of us and it opened a screen to show a scene of some kind.
I saw myself with a few people and we were fighting what looked to be walking rotting corpses, but what caught my attention was that one of the men was firing a colt python and another with long hair and a biker vest with angel wings on the back was shooting a crossbow at the head of one of the monsters while a kid wearing a cowboy hat was keeping two other kids safe.
"Who are those people?" I inquired in confusion.
"They are from a world that is similar to the mundane world, but something had happened to cause the dead to rise and those people are going to become an important role in your life while you are to ensure that the future tragic events that happen to them don't come to pass," Winter told me cryptically but I was confused.
Before I could say anything, the area started becoming distorted and I looked around in alarm as Winter stood up with a grim expression and started walking away.
"Winter, don't leave me!" I shouted as I stood up, causing her to look back at me.
"Remember, whatever choice you make in the future will affect you and those around you!" Winter called out to me as I felt myself waking up.
I gasped awake as I sat up suddenly and started breathing heavily, hearing someone knocking on the door which woke up Casey.
"Nate, who the bloody hell is that?" Casey wondered groggily and I kissed her forehead as I got out of bed and conjured up my uniform and duty belt.
I headed to the front door and opened it to find Bigby standing in the hallway, looking serious and I rested my hands on my duty belt.
"Bigby, why are you knocking this early in the morning? What happened?" I questioned while Casey stood next to me fully dressed.
"You need to come with me, Deputy, something happened that you should know about," Bigby stated and Casey looked uneasy at his tone.
"What's going on?" Casey asked and I looked at her.
"Don't worry about it, I'll go with the Sheriff to figure out what's going on and be sure to let you know," I reassured as I laid a hand on her shoulder.
Casey looked uncertain at first but she nodded and I left the apartment after saying goodbye, following Bigby and thinking about the dream I had. I didn't know what I had dreamt about but something told me that it wasn't a dream and I just knew that something really big was coming that would change the lives of everyone in Fabletown forever.
A/N I'm finally back with this story and it looks like there are dark tragic things in store for Nate in the future. For the scene of Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixion, and Carl Grimes that you saw in Nate's vision, I am planning on making a sequel where Nate winds up in The Walking Dead universe and gets involved in most of the events of the series, so I hope you are excited because I know I am since Nate would be an invaluable ally indeed.
If you like this chapter and want to see what happens next, let me know and stay tuned.