Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.

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Prince awoke with a start. He had been sprawled out at the foot of Tony's bed on his back, his tongue lolling out from his snout. He rose, cocking his head. Tony was gone. A bad feeling crept through the retriever. He knew that Tony had explicitly promised Virginia he would not go visit Vinka.

But then again, it was Tony.

With a feeling of dread growing, he bound of the bed and raced out of the room, his paws treading on the wooden floors.

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"Yes, get yourself nice and plump! Fill yourself up!"

The witch rubbed her hands together and cackled as Tony gorged himself. His belly was distended, pushing him back against the table, his shirt buttons near bursting. His face was covered in meat juices and various sauces.

"Please." The word barely oozed from his mouth. His cheeks were now flabby, giving him a toadlike appearance. "No more."

"Eat." The command came forth. The witch pointed a gnarled finger. "Clear your plate!"

Tony couldn't help himself. More steaks and sausages appeared on his plate. Compelled by an outside force, Tony slowly grabbed the steak and tore off a large piece, stuffing it into his mouth.

Prince appeared in the shadows outside the kitchen door. He peered through the crack in the door to see Tony, nearly twice his own normal size, gorging himself while an old hag in Vinka's clothing laughed at him.

Tony you idiot!

This was bad. Real bad! He needed to get help. Now!

He turned and raced down the hall. He was intercepted by a figure that appeared from out of the shadows.

"Hello doggie," Fiona said as Prince slowly backed away.

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Virginia rolled over in her bed, holding her stomach. A sudden craving had consumed her. "Wolf …"

He snored next to her.

"Wolf!"

He stirred. "I was having the most wonderful dream about a dozen fluffy white -."

"Would you run down to the kitchen and get me a snack?"

"At this hour?"

Virginia pointed at her belly. "Pregnancy cravings."

"Oh, right."

"See if they have pickles. Oh, and something soft and chewy!"

"Like a little fluffy lamb," Wolf sighed to himself. "Okay, for you, my dreamy wife to be!" He swung his legs over the side of the bed, throwing on a pair of slacks and an overshirt. Virginia lay back down on the mattress. Her mind wandered to her father, hoping he would keep his promise to not see Vinka.

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"Hello?" Wolf stood alone in the dining room of the inn. The lights were out, and nobody seemed to be around. "Hello?" he called again. "I know you're closed and everyone's off to bed, but if there's anyone still up, I've got a very pregnant and cranky fiancé that -."

He stopped, sniffing the air. He recognized that scent. He wasn't alone after all …

A whine came from a dark corner. Wolf turned – "Prince?" The Labrador retriever limped out of the shadows – his front paw was raised as though he was unable to walk on it. Wolf darted to the poor animal's side. "Oh Huff-Puff! Who did this to you?! Oh my dear little friend! When I find the scoundrel, I'll tear them limb from limb!"

"Because you were so successful the last time …" The female voice rang out from the darkness of the inn. Wolf turned – a silver blade sliced through the air! He jumped back, missing the blade by mere centimeters.

"Fiona …!" A mixture of shock and horror crossed Wolf's face.

Fiona played with her dagger. "What's the matter, former bond-mate? Never thought you'd see me again? But when a wolf selects a mate, they never forget …"

"We were never bond-mates!"

Fiona's beautiful features twisted. "You know the Code! Our fathers struck a match! You were obligated – and you betrayed the Pack!"

"By not marrying a psycho that wanted to start a war with the humans?! You and your father turned my parents in to the humans! You accused them of wanting to kill their children! You're the traitor!"

"And did you harbor these feelings before or after you killed my father?"

Wolf paused. He backed away, trying to shield Prince between himself and the deranged she-wolf. "I don't -."

"Don't know what I'm talking about? And it wasn't self-defense, was it?" Fiona was circling him, playing with her blade. "And does your little cream puff upstairs know who she's marrying?"

"You leave her out of this." His voice was suddenly deadly.

Fiona was amused. "Come now, Wolf. Tell me. Did you enjoy it? Did your blood rush as my father's blood left his body?"

"Stop it."

"I want you to face the facts of what you are!"

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In the kitchen, the witch paused. She lifted her head, listening. She could hear muffled voices outside in the dining room. She turned to Tony, still stuffing his face. "It seems we have some … unwelcome guests. I'll just be rid of them. Don't you go anywhere."

With a sweep of her cloak, she was gone. Tony remained at the table, unable to stop gorging himself.

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Wolf knelt down, his arms around Prince's shoulders. He stared at Fiona with revulsion. "After all these years … you just can't let the past remain dead?"

"Never. The past haunts me – what he had, what we should have been!"

"We had nothing! Whatever sick fantasies you've conjured up in your mind about our past -."

"Wolf?" Virginia appeared at the bottom of the stairs in a nightrobe, a look of confusion on her face to see Wolf protecting an injured Prince from a madwoman with a blade.

Panic began to set in Wolf's face. "Virginia – I need you to go back upstairs very slowly. Go back and barricade yourself in the room -."

"Wolf - ?"

"- and let no one in. You got that?"

Fiona noticed the panic in Wolf's voice. Her eyes wickedly darted to Virginia. "Ah, so this is the one you've replaced me with? Really Wolf, your standards have taken a dip as of late. She's much too lanky, not enough meat on the bones!"

"Excuse me?" Virginia's fingers balled into fists.

"Virginia. Get upstairs. Now." There was no playing in Wolf's voice.

A second blade slid into Fiona's free hand. She aimed the tips of both at Wolf and Virginia. "No Wolf. I'd much rather she stay if you don't mind. " Her head turned to Virginia, a mad grin on her face. "Wolf and I were just reminiscing about the good old days and I'd rather like you to hear all about them!"

"Virginia – NOW!"

"Not so fast!" Fiona was spinning her blades idly. "One move up a single stair and I'd have her in an instant. Or do you think she can outrun me? Shall we test that theory?"

"I'd sink my teeth into your throat before you reached the second step!" Wolf snarled.

"There's that fire I love about you! The same fire you had when you murdered my father!"

Virginia was confused. "Wolf? He didn't -."

Fiona chuckled. "You'll find that there's much about Wolf you don't know about."

"Say what you will, but I know him – he's no murderer! Right Wolf?!"

Wolf's eyes were lowered.

"Right Wolf?" Virginia pressed again.

"Come now, Wolf! No time like the present for the truth! Tell her all about it." She walked up to Wolf and knelt down, holding the blade to his throat. Virginia started, attempting to rush to his defense. Fiona snapped her head at her. "One more step and I'll cut his throat." Virginia stopped, hands out. Fiona turned, her breath hot in Wolf's ear. "I want you to tell her. To look her in the eyes as she realizes your true nature. Tell her what you did, what you are!"

"Virginia," Wolf cried. "Please …"

"Murderer …" Fiona breathed.

Wolf looked away, unable to look at Virginia.

"It's not true," Virginia said. "Wolf, I know you and I know whatever this crazy person is saying just isn't true!"

"It's true," Wolf sighed. "I murdered her father."

Fiona waxed triumphant. "At last! That must've been burdening you for all these years! I'm so glad you could be relieved. They're right about that saying – the truth really does set one FREE!" Wolf yelped as Fiona suddenly thrust her blade into his side, twisting it. He cried out in agony, his blood flowing freely.

"Wolf!"

Virginia raced towards him – BANG!

Virginia was blown clean off her feet by a blast of cold wind. She hit the floor hard. Fiona snarled, yanking the blade out of Wolf's side. He clutched at his ribs, blood flowing between his fingers. She turned – an old woman was standing in the middle of the room, her palm facing Virginia, her other palm facing Fiona and Wolf.

"Now this is no way for guests to act!" the witch cackled.

Virginia gripped a chair and pulled herself to her feet. She narrowed her eyes at the old witch. There was something familiar about her. "Vinka …?" Prince was whining, motioning at the witch with his snout then turning and blinking at Virginia. She seemed to understand. "Where's my father?" she demanded.

Fiona rose to her feet, holding both blades up. "Now wait a minute," she snarled at the witch. "This is my party! You can't just -."

BAM!

With an outward thrust of her palm, Fiona flew across the room. She landed catlike on her feet, spinning her blades, ready to pounce –

CRASH!

Another figure burst through a window, smashing Fiona to the floor. The she-wolf was losing it, snapping in range, her teeth gnashing.

Leone stood in the middle of the chaos, two crossbows raised. "Sorry to crash the party. But the girl – the girl is mine!"

Fiona sprang to her feet. "I told you not to get in my way Leone!"

Leone aimed one crossbow at her head. "I'm a bad listener. The girl – is mine to kill!"

"Well you two can take it outside!" the witch spat. "Coming into my inn, ruining my midnight snack -."

"You mean my Dad?" Virginia demanded. "Where is he?! I'm not leaving without him!"

"That's fine – you can be left here in pieces!" Fiona snapped.

Leone raised the bow higher. "I'd want to rethink your next move very carefully, Fiona."

"The Snow Queen will –"

"You said yourself earlier – what if one of us just snapped? Besides, the Snow Queen wants the girl dead in time anyway. I don't think she'll mind all that much if we moved the timeline up a little!"

"Hey – what's the commotion?" A very large Tony was standing in the door leading to the kitchens holding a giant turkey leg. For a moment, Virginia thought she was staring at Henry the VIII.

"D-dad?"

"Hi honey! Can somebody help me stop eating? I haven't been able to -."

"Aaw Huff-Puff – she put a gorging spell on him!" Wolf moaned. "Now we have to find a De-juicer!"

"A what-now?" Tony asked as he bit a hunk out of the leg.

The witch aimed her palm at Wolf. "No one is taking my midnight snack anywhere!"

The evil trio – the witch, Fiona and Leone kept shifting and aiming their weapons (and palms) at each other.

"We're at an impasse," Leone stated.

"Not quite." Fiona hurled one of her blades. It spun through the air, embedding itself into Leone's shoulder. He cried out, ripping it out of his torso, his wound instantly healing. He raised his crossbow and fired. Fiona was on all fours, ducking as his shots flew over her head.

"Stop tearing up my inn!" the witch screamed. She slowly levitated into the air, balls of fire appearing in her palms. She hurled them at Leone and Fiona. Leone took cover behind an overturned table, kicking out a chair before firing an arrow at the floating witch. With a wave of her hand, the hag deflected the arrow, embedding it into a wall.

"Now's our chance!" Wolf cried. He grabbed Prince around his chest. "Tony! Virginia! Move!" He grabbed Virginia with his free hand and kicked open the front door. Behind them, Tony waddled. He stopped as he saw an uneaten hunk of chicken on the dining room's bar – Virginia grabbed his ear and pulled him out the door.

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Leone kicked another chair out from beneath a table. Fiona and the witch started – he raced the opposite direction, firing his crossbows at both his opponents.

The witch countered with fireballs as Fiona sprang over a table, a blade appearing in her hand, ready to cut Leone's throat. She suddenly stopped. "Hey – they're gone!"

The evil trio paused. Leone cursed. "They got away because you can't control yourself!" Leone spat at the half-wolf.

"Me? I had them right in my clutches until you jumped through the window like the Mad Zebra Knight!"

The two stared at each other, ready to come to blows.

"You know, the more you two argue, the further they get away," the witch interjected. "Maybe if we three work together -."

Fiona was already shoving Leone out of her way as she raced for the door. "No! They're mine!"

"You tart!" Leone screamed after her. "You won't take my revenge away from me!" He slid more arrows into his crossbows as he chased after her.

The witch balled her fists. "Those two – they're not going to cost me my midnight snack!" Her hand stretched out and a gnarled broomstick slapped into her palm. She mounted it, cackling as she burst through a window and rode into the night.

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Wolf carried Prince through the woods with one arm, his other digging into Virginia's wrist. Tony waddled behind them, laboring for breath as he clutched the turkey leg in his hand. "Wait up!" he breathed.

"Keep up Pillsbury-Doughboy!" Wolf screamed over his shoulder.

They reached the edge of the woods. Wolf's eyes darted around the trees looking for a hiding spot. No use – Fiona would sniff them out in no time. "Huff-Puff! No use – we have to keep moving! Deeper into the forest!"

"What about my Dad?" Virginia demanded. Tony lagged behind them, having to stop every few steps to catch his breath.

"Dang it – why didn't you just listen to Virginia?!"

"Hey, leave me alone," Tony groused. "I've had a rough night. By the way, does anyone have any cheese on them? I've got a real hankering –"

"Look out!" Wolf cried, tackling Tony to the ground. A fireball just missed his head.

Above them, the witch cackled on her broomstick, hovering near the tree line. More fireballs appeared in her hands. "Leaving so soon?"

Tony stared up her. "Say, you wouldn't happen to have any ribs hidden in those robes, would you?"

"Come back to my kitchen, I have plenty to spare!"

Virginia stood between them. "You are not eating my father! Wow, those are words I never thought would come out of my mouth in a million years."

The witch floated above, the fireballs glowing in her hands. "Fine. Then I'll just have a nice fire-roast right here in the woods!" She raised her arms.

FOOSH!

A volley of arrows strung out from the trees, nearly striking the witch. She cried out, almost going over the side of her broom. Leone was leaping from the treetops, from tree to tree, reloading as he went.

"Wretched cur," the witch snarled. "I'll show him to interrupt my feeding time!" She reared her fist back, unleashing a jet of fire. The treetops burst into flame. Leone leaped through a wall of fire, landing on another branch, unleashing another volley. The witch's eyes widened – FIONA BURST UP THROUGH A TREE, GRABBING LEONE AND SLAMMING HIM FIFTY FEET INTO THE GROUND!

The witch laughed. Then her smile melted into a scowl. Virginia, Wolf and Prince were on the move, Tony lagging behind. She angled her broom, revving up to swoop down and snatch Tony up. The only problem was – her broom wasn't moving. Whirling around, she snarled to see Fiona had leapt onto the back of the broom behind her. Fiona grasped the witch by the sides of her head, preparing to crush her skull.

The witch cackled as she guided her broom – SMASHING Fiona into the side of a tree. Again. And again. And again. Fiona's fingers slipped and she slammed into the hard ground below.

Leone was already on the move, racing between bushes and tree trunks, charging after his prey. Behind him, the witch was unleashing volleys of fireballs after him. He turned, firing over his shoulder.

Fiona pounced from a bush, tackling Leone. The two rolled down a hill together, slamming into a fallen tree trunk. Leone was the first to recover. He spun up, aiming his crossbow down at Fiona -THUNK! He looked down as red blossomed from his shirt. Fiona grinned as she twisted the knife into his gut. With a sickening pop, she yanked the blade free from his stomach as he fell backwards, blood pooling around him.

Around them, flames from the witch's fireballs were spreading, creating a forest fire. Her cackling echoed through the night. Fiona rose amidst the flames like a hell-wolf. She spun her two blades in her hands and gracefully walked through a wall of fire, her nose twitching, smelling out her prey.

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Wolf ducked down in a ravine behind a fallen log. He gently handed the wounded Prince to Virginia. "Duck down. Stay down." Tony appeared behind them, sweaty and out of breath. "I'm running out of steam. Gotta have some more fuel in the tank." He patted his swelling belly. "Now – one of you was about to give me some cheese or something?"

Virginia grabbed her father's meaty wrist and forced him down behind the log. "Stay down! And listen to me this time!"

Tony's face fell as he stared down at his gelatinous belly. "I – I'm sorry, Virginia. I really am."

"We'll have time for that later, just stay down!" Wolf warned. "I'll try to lead them off! Just stay down!"

"Wolf –" Virginia grabbed his arm. "Please."

"I'll be okay." He kissed his fiancé. "I'll be back, I promise." He rose up behind the log to see the fires spreading. Gathering his courage, he balled his fists and marched forward.

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Fiona paused. A scent had entered her nostrils. Wolf's scent. "Is that you, my love?" She walked along the edge of the flames. Trees were collapsing and the smoke was rising. Small animals darted out from their homes. Fiona continued talking. "Have you come to your senses and realized what you could have with me?"

A figure was following along with her on the other side of the flames. She could pick up Wolf's scent. She smiled as she played with her knife. "Just imagine it. A full moon in a few days. Your blood is already beginning to heat. As is mine. Imagine the two of us together, under the full moon. The blood racing. The heat, the intensity. You can feel it, can't you? Why settle for a mere human when you can have someone who truly understands you? And I forgive you for my father – I would have done away with him myself sooner or later."

The figure on the other side stopped. Fiona held her arms out. "Come to me Wolf. Join me and the Snow Queen will find a place for you in the new world we will construct. Just like this forest – out of the fires will come a new, purified world." She closed her eyes, savoring it. The figure emerged through the flames. He stepped up to her, hesitating.

"Come to me, my love."

The figure embraced her.

THUNK!

Fiona stiffened as a blade entered her gullet. Her eyes opened. "W-Wolf …?"

"No. It's me my love." Leone twisted the blade.

Fiona stared into his eyes with all the hatred in the world. "I – I killed you …"

Leone leaned into her ear, pushing the blade further in. "Have you forgotten – what your Mistress and the Evil Queen turned me into?" With his free hand, he opened his bloody shirt – the wound Fiona had given him moments ago had sealed up, leaving only fresh, smooth skin.

Fiona gurgled on her own blood. "An … an Immortal …"

"Goodbye, Fiona." Leone twisted and yanked the blade from her stomach. Fiona stared at her own bloody hands, before she collapsed to the ground, the fires encircling her, drawing closer. She writhed on the forest floor, holding her wound.

Leone sheathed his knife, pulled his jacked up and turned, marching back through the flames.

He had another wolf to skin.

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Wolf hurdled from tree trunk to tree trunk. The fire was rising. If they didn't get out of here soon, they were all toast.

He dared to take a step from behind his hiding spot – FOOSH! A fireball whizzed past his head, igniting a dry brush. The witch hovered above him on her broom, another fireball in her palm ready. "Where is my snack?" she demanded.

"You really think I'd tell you, you twisted old hag?"

The witch scowled. Another flame appeared in her second hand. "Fine. I tried to be reasonable. Your pelt will make a nice addition to my mantle!" She swooped down, Wolf ducking.

The broom stopped in mid-swoop. Leone was standing there, holding onto the bristles with his bare hands. The witch spun around. "You dare -."

Leone slammed the broom into a trunk, shattering it into several broken pieces. The witch tumbled, rolling along the ground, hitting thistles and branches. She rose to her feet, twigs in her hair and her eye twitching. The flames in her hands grew in intensity. "That's it – I've had enough of this nonsense! I tried to be reasonable! Now I'll burn you and this entire wretched forest to the ground!"

Leone was already moving. The witch jumped into a squatting position, unleashing a torrent of fire from her hands. Leone jumped up a tree, climbing from branch to branch, before reaching the top. He spun into a backwards flip in midair, landing right behind the witch.

The witch whirled around, ready to deep-fry him in an instant. Leone was already moving. He dropped below the witch's flaming arm, got under her guard, an arrow in his hand. Her eyes widened as she realized she had been one second too slow. Leone thrust his arrow into her stomach. The witch cried out, her voice echoing through the night. POOOFFF! In a second, the shrieking hag disintegrated into a pile of ash which was caught up by the wind and blown into the night.

Leone turned – Wolf was already gone. He made to run after him – the wall of fire was growing, surrounding him. If he didn't get out of this forest, then not even the Immortal spell cast upon him would be able to rebuild his body from ash. He cursed, having to delay his hunt for the time being.

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"Virginia – it's me!"

Virginia peered over the edge of the log. Prince perked up and wagged his tail. Tony's stomach growled. "Did you pick up a snack on the way back?"

"What happened?" Virginia asked.

"The witch is gone – Leone took care of her. He had to get out of dodge before the fire got to him. Speaking of which – we gotta go before those flames reach us! Tony – do you think you can move any faster than you've been going?"

"Not without food," he lamented. He gripped his belly. "I haven't eaten in ten minutes. Look at me, I'm wasting away!"

"Riiiight," Wolf replied.

"Is there a way to undo the spell?" Virginia asked.

"Oh the hunger spell will wear off in a few hours," Wolf explained. "As for the weight loss –" He wrinkled his nose. "We'll have to find a De-juicer."

"A what?"

Wolf scooped up Prince, holding the dog around his shoulders, before helping Virginia to her feet. She gripped her belly – she sighed in relief as she could feel the tiny baby moving inside of her. Tony stood up with great difficulty, his breathing ragged.

"Come on," Wolf said. "We gotta get a move on." They trudged up the ravine, past the flames –

"You can't … you can't leave me here …"

The voice was weak. Weary. Ahead, surrounded by flames, was the prone form of Fiona. Wolf stared at her in revulsion. "Come on. We've wasted enough time here."

"Please … you can't leave me here to die …" Fiona raised a weak hand towards the group.

"You'd have killed us in an instant," Wolf snarled. "Goodbye, Fiona." He turned, walking away.

Virginia stared at the female half-wolf lying in her own blood, the flames closing around her. Finally – "We can't just leave her here."

"Um, yes we can," Wolf replied. "She's been trying to get us. And she's in league with the Snow Queen, remember?"

Tony raised a finger. "I can attest to that. I met her in the Snow Queen's palace – she and her two buddies attacked me and Wendell -."

"I'm sorry," Virginia replied. "I can't leave her helpless like this. I won't have it on my conscience!"

"Oh Huff-Puff – this is just like when you let the Huntsman live and I warned you that you would regret it! And what happened? You regretted it! Just like you'll regret this!"

"Please …"

Virginia kneeled down next to Fiona. She tore off a scarf, binding it around the half-wolf who seemed amazed at Virginia's mercy. She bound the wound with the scarf. "That ought to stanch the bleeding for a bit …"

"Great, you helped her," Wolf said. "Now she'll come after us -."

"She won't," Virginia replied, staring with a mixture of pity and anger at Fiona. "Because she'll be coming with us."

"WHAT?!" Tony, Wolf and Fiona all cried out in unison.

Virginia reached into her knapsack, producing rope. She began binding Fiona's wrists. "There's nothing you can say that will make me trust you," Virginia said, tightening the cords. Fiona scowled as the rope cut into her wrists. "This'll make sure you don't break free and cut our throats."

"Oh this is a mistake," protested Wolf. "She'll escape. Slip free. And tear us limb from limb like little lambs!"

"You had a second chance," Virginia retorted to Wolf. "You changed. She can too."

"Why are you doing this?" Fiona asked.

"You lost your father," Virginia. "Whether Wolf actually murdered him or not – you still lost a parent. I know what that's like. I know what it can do to a girl. I lost my own mother – twice."

Wolf sighed. He forced Fiona roughly to her feet. "Come on, you!" He shoved her forward. "Welcome to the group." He leaned in, whispering into hear ear. "And at the first sign of you even looking at Virginia the wrong way – I'll make what I did to your father look like child's play …"