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The Quest

Rose woke up thrashing in a panic as he saw a figure looming over him. Rose lashed out and hit the thing where Rose assumed the face should be. He couldn't be certain, for the being was cloaked top to bottom in flowing blue fabric without a trace of skin to be seen. He didn't even know if it was human.

Rose hopped out of the bed and crossed to the kitchen where he grabbed the pot and readied himself to hit the offender with it. The cloaked figure put a hand up indicating for Rose to cease and said, "Rose, stop it!" All hopes of identifying the voice were blocked by the cloth covering the invader's face.

"Who are you?" Rose kept the pot up ready to strike if the figure came closer.

The figure straitened and Rose tensed a bit more, "I am the Cerulean Sorcerer. And I am rather surprised to see you. You aren't captive, are you?"

"Um, no? Why are you here?"

"I'm here to find a hero. And apparently you are that hero. I was expecting Raven."

Rose frowned, "Raven?"

"Yes, we knew someone had become captive at the Wicked Stepmother's castle, but we didn't know who. We had assumed it was you, and Raven was here. It seems we were wrong."

"You keep saying 'we.' Who else?"

"Er, you'll find out soon enough, I am sure. But you best be off to save Raven, then!"

"You haven't told me anything! I don't know who you are or even if you know where Raven is!"

"Rose, you're going to have to trust me on this. We don't have time. I need other things to do and the longer Raven is held captive the longer he's in danger." The cloaked figure waved around what Rose assumed to be arms. "Now, head outside and follow the blue path. It will take you to Raven."

"Wait," Rose went over to the table and looked at the gnawed apple bit he had left of Beatrice. But Beatrice was not there. "Where is she?" Rose asked more to himself than anyone else."

"Who?"

"Beatrice!"

"Beatrice? Beatrice is here?"

"Yes!" Rose held up the chewed note.

The Cerulean Sorcerer looked at it. "You don't have time for this. You need to get to Raven. I can glance around for her, but like I said, I have other things to do. Is she a morgrif?"

"Yes, a caterpillar." Rose was now crawling around on the ground looking for her. The Cerulean Sorcerer hoisted him up onto his feet and pushed him out the door.

"You need to go!" He closed the door.

All of the flowers started jabbering at once where are you going? Who was that? We want to be watered? Who is the prettiest flower here?

Rose let everything seep in for a moment. Raven was captive. He couldn't find Beatrice. Raven was captive.

Rose looked down at the ground. The dirt had turned blue in a path into the Woods. Rose took a step forward then turned back to the cottage, "Wait, I don't get anything? I'm just supposed to storm the Wicked Stepmother's castle unarmed?"

The door opened and the Cerulean Sorcerer just stood there for a moment. He then lifted up one arm and it glowed blue.

Rose was engulfed in blue light and when it went away Rose was in a slim blue tunic. At least it wasn't pink.

"Your tunic will protect you from Evil's magic. Now, you must be off!" He slammed the door.

Rose felt a tap on his boot. He looked down to see a pumpkin vine extended out to the front. We would like to help. Rose followed as the vine withdrew. In the back he saw trees and other vegetation mingling with each other until a staff was made. Rose took hold and found it incredibly sturdy, yet light. Thank-you.

Rose said goodbye and then started on his way.


Raven sat against a wall in the barred room and he held his legs up to himself. The door opened and Raven closed his eyes. This ghost had come every hour and Raven was breaking down.

Even with his eyes closed he knew exactly who was walking in: a young woman with skin white as snow, hair black as the raven, lips red as the rose. It was Snow White.

Her sweet voice penetrated Raven's thoughts,

"There's my grandson, the boy who let me die.

There's the abomination, the boy who loves another guy.

The House of White holds virtues proud and pure, something you never had.

The House of White is good. The child before me is bad."

And then she would sing her song, the one she sang before she met her prince.

Raven tightened his eyes and tightened his grip on his legs. He tried so hard to think of Rose, of how they danced at the Snow Ball, how the rose Raven tossed landed in his lap, but the voice was so strong and Raven felt so weak.

Raven waited as she finished the song and braced himself for part two. The first spirit left and the second came. And Raven held himself tighter yet. This is the one that hurt the most.

Raven imagined his prince walking in. Dressed in spectacular white just as he was at the Snow Ball. His beautiful golden hair. His violet eyes filled with wonder and Good.

But Raven knew it wasn't him. It never was. He heard the fraud speak, "Raven, I finally found you!" Raven could hear the relief in the voice. "Raven, Raven! Why won't you look at me? I've come to save you. I'm going to get you out of here. Raven," he imagined Rose kneeling by the bars. "Raven, I missed you. Raven, I love you."

Raven tried to shut it out. He tried to ignore it. But it still hurt. It wasn't Rose.

Raven felt a teardrop trickle down his cheek.

Raven was still shivering from what had just happened. His cheeks were still wet and he heard her walk in.

"Hello, darling. Another heart wrenching episode I assume?" Raven looked up and glared at Hawthorn. "Cheer up, darling. If it's the place, we intend to move soon. I'm building my own castle. You can be a damsel in distress there."

"Rose will come." It was strange hearing his own rasping voice.

Hawthorn grinned at him, "Oh, I anticipate it. And what a day that will be for me. It will be the day I find my Never After."

Raven paled at the thought of Hawthorn winning. Visions of Rose crumpling before her haunted him, "No, I won't let you hurt him."

"Ha. And what will you do, oh imprisoned one? Glare at me? It will be me and my minions against your precious little Rose. He does not stand a chance. Both of you will die."

Hawthorn gave another smirk and left the room. Raven thought of Rose. He thought of the first Trial by Tale and how he had defeated Hawthorn. He knew Rose could do it again. He just needed to have faith in him. And help if he could.