(..a Vampire Knight AU fanfic..)
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or any other stories mentioned.
Claimer: I own the plot of this fanfic, as well as the names of other original characters (OCs).
Note: I'm not a devoted Vampire Knight fan; I'm primarily a supporter of the KanZe pairing. Consequently, expect out-of-character (OOC) elements in this story.
The faint creaking of the wooden bed and some soft noises roused the silver-haired individual from his slumber. He gently stretched his body and repositioned himself on the narrow surface he had been lying on. This movement only caused the wooden bed to creak even more. He blinked his eyelids slightly, attempting to discern the blurry colors. He closed his eyes briefly before reopening them. The world around him gradually took shape, and the first thing he noticed was an unbelievably low ceiling.
He closed his eyes again, then blinked a few more times before opening them once more. The ceiling was so low that it seemed as if it might touch his head if he were to stand up.
But... why?
Realization fully dawned on him, and he became fully awake. The ceiling in this room was nothing like the one in his own room. He shifted his gaze to his surroundings and quickly realized that he wasn't in his own room at all; he was in an entirely unfamiliar place.
What?
He promptly sat up and surveyed the entire room, coming to the startling realization that he was inside a small hut. His eyes widened as he took note of the miniature objects scattered around the hut.
They were as small as children's toys.
Before Zero could utter a word, the door swung open abruptly, and seven exceptionally fatigued little individuals entered the hut. They were panting heavily and headed straight for the tiny kitchen to quench their thirst, completely oblivious to the speechless silver-haired man who was in shock at the sight before him.
"Hah! I'm utterly exhausted... Would someone kindly provide me with some food?" one of them complained.
"I'm famished as well... Please, serve me something before I drift off."
"Fear not, everyone. I shall prepare a delectable meal for us since we've brought an abundance of fruits and vegetables," one of them cheerfully announced and promptly began cooking.
"Are you genuinely letting this weirdo cook for us? He's dreadfully slow, and I'm unable to bear the waiting any longer."
"Silence! Your loud voices are giving me a headache. We are all hungry here, but it is imperative that we practice patience," another little person scolded, their irritation palpable..
The silver-haired man observed the scene unfolding before him. He longed to say something, but the words seemed to be stuck in his throat.
'This is absurd. There's no possible way this can be real. I must be in a dreamland-or perhaps, Wonderland.'
Then, one of the diminutive individuals approached the bed where the bewildered young man sat. A loud shout echoed through the hut as the little person suddenly noticed the stranger, who gazed at them in disbelief.
"Ah!! There's a human in our hut! A human! This is disastrous!"
The commotion among the little people escalated when they heard the shout, and all of them turned their heads toward the young man. He rose from the bed, albeit painfully (his head bumping the low wooden ceiling only added to his discomfort), in response to the loud outcry from one of the little individuals. The shouting grew even louder as more of them joined in.
"Stop this racket, you troublesome brat! Cease your shouting!" The young man glared at them with a threatening expression while massaging his aching head.
The throbbing sensation wasn't just from the unexpected collision with the low ceiling but also from the deafening shouts. The little people fell into sudden silence when faced with the silver-haired man's intimidating glare.
He carefully settled back onto the bed where he had previously been lying, as he couldn't fully stand without hitting the ceiling. Regrettably, the wooden bed couldn't support his weight, and it gave way beneath him. He tumbled to the floor, though not with much force, as the bed was exceedingly tiny. It was then that he noticed a total of seven beds neatly arranged in a row. He couldn't help but wonder how he had managed to sleep in such cramped and narrow quarters. No wonder he had felt so uncomfortable upon waking up.
His introspection was abruptly interrupted when one of the little individuals, wearing an angry expression, approached him.
"Hey, you there, human! Who are you, and how did you manage to intrude into our hut? What are your intentions here? Are you plotting to harm our home?"
The group of little people retrieved their axes, which had been resting against the door since their arrival, and turned toward the stranger defensively, prepared to react to any potential threat.
"What?! I should be the one demanding answers about who you are and how I ended up in this place! I distinctly remember falling asleep after working on that wretched project, but it was in my own bed... in my own room. Not in this... hut," he retorted.
"Spare us your excuses! You're undeniably a human, and your presence here is suspicious!" one of them insisted.
"Indeed, I am human, and you most certainly are not. You... you're dwarfs? But... dwarfs aren't real," he remarked, pointing with emphasis.
"Oh, right, you're not real, so this can't be real either. It's merely a dream," he reassured himself, hoping to awaken soon from this ludicrous dream.
"Yes, we are dwarfs, and we are very much real! Leave our hut immediately! We won't allow any human to threaten our home!" the irate dwarfs advanced toward the human with their axes, but their approach was halted by the dwarf who had been cooking food.
"Wait, everyone! Something just came to mind. Yesterday, when I ventured alone into the hills to collect fresh flowers, I overheard some palace guards conversing. They were discussing how crucial it was for the Queen not to discover that they had failed to kill Snow White and had simply abandoned her deep in the forest. Oh, poor Snow White. She was left there, all alone," he said with a melancholic tone.
"And?"
"And, do you think that individual might be Snow White?" He finished by pointing his finger at the silver-haired man, who looked increasingly surprised, his eyes widening.
It appeared as though his world was spinning around as he listened to the story shared by the effeminate dwarf, notable for wearing a pink apron. It reminded him of someone he had known. And his headache intensified with each passing moment.
What on earth?! Had he misheard something? What had the dwarf just said?
S-s-snow?
Is it snow? No, there's another word.
What was the color of snow again? Black?
Ah, yes, he remembered.
The color of snow is...
...is w-white.
How could he forget?
Then what's so peculiar about white snow?
'Of course there is!' he scolded himself.
The dwarf didn't say white snow. He said Snow White. But aren't they the same thing?
'No! They're different.' Because the dwarf didn't mean the color of the snow, which is white. He definitely meant the name Snow White. The name Snow White, which was ridiculously familiar to him and practically known all over the whole world.
'But Snow-freaking-White is a fictional Disney fairytale character! What on earth is going on? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?'
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Oh! Are you Princess Snow White?" inquired the dwarfs.
Why on earth were these dwarfs mentioning Snow White of all people? Damn! The words kept replaying in his mind.
'Are you Snow White? Snow White? Snow White?'
It repeated in his head like a broken record. What in the world! Him? He was Snow White? When? When had he become a girl to be called Snow White? Was Snow White even a male? Of course not. She's a female. And he is a male. Therefore, he is NOT Snow White. NOT AT ALL!
"Hey, we're asking you. Are you Snow White? Hey! Are you deaf? We're asking you," one of the dwarfs prodded the silver-haired man with the handle of an axe, interrupting his self-inquiry.
The silverette peered down at them with an irritated expression.
"Shut up! I'M NOT SNOW WHITE! MY NAME IS ZERO KIRYUU! ZERO. KIRYUU. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!!" he yelled at them vehemently, causing the dwarfs to cover their surprisingly larger-than-human ears in response.
Zero attempted to alleviate the intensifying headache caused by the situation and gave a stern look to the dwarfs, who were adjusting their large ears after his loud outburst.
"The human can't be Snow White. There's no way a princess would shout like he did," a dwarf holding a pillow remarked, struggling to stay awake despite Zero's outburst.
"Indeed. He can't be Snow White because, isn't the princess a young human girl? But this is a human male. He is not Snow White," another dwarf added in agreement.
"Yes, and Snow White is known for being kind and sweet."
"You're absolutely right."
Zero was starting to appreciate the dwarfs' responses, even though they spoke as if he were not present at all.
"You're lying." Zero paused and searched for the source of the tiny voice. He spotted the smallest dwarf among the seven, hiding behind the effeminate dwarf. Zero was surprised to find a girl among the seven dwarfs of Snow White.
"You're lying. You must be Snow White because you're wearing Snow White's dress, and your skin is as white as your hair. That's probably what inspired your mother to name you Snow White," the other dwarfs examined Zero's features, and they all reached a unanimous conclusion that left no room for doubt: he was indeed Snow White.
Zero could feel another headache looming. Just moments ago, they had all agreed that he WAS NOT Snow White. Yet, with just the words of the dwarf girl, they had completely shifted their belief to the idea that he REALLY WAS Snow White?
What in the world?!
Admittedly, he did have fair, almost white skin, which was unusual for a man, and silver hair that was nearly the same color as white. Plus, he was indeed wearing the dress of Snow White, as he reluctantly looked down at himself. But so what? What made them insist that he was Snow White when he-
NO, HE WAS?! Because, damn it! He glanced down at his outfit once more and realized he was indeed wearing the dress of Snow-freaking-White.
What in the world?!
When had he ever worn something like this?! Even during his middle school years, he had vehemently refused when classmates and teachers had begged him to play the role of Snow White or any other fairytale princess they suggested.
And yet...
And yet here he was, dressed as Snow White? This was utterly preposterous! Get him out of this ridiculous situation!
"Oh, so this is the part where Snow White got lost in the forest and came to our house. Yeah, I understand," remarked the irate dwarf from earlier, and the others nodded in agreement.
Zero refused to let them believe that he was Snow White. "No! No, you don't understand. You've got it all wrong. I'm not really Snow White. I'm a male, and Snow White is a female. My hair is silver, while Snow White has deep black hair and much fairer skin than me. Do you grasp the difference? We're entirely dissimilar. The only thing we have in common is this dress, but it's not truly mine. I don't even know why I'm here in the first place. Please, believe me."
Zero concluded his explanation with a resolute expression, hoping they would trust him so he could find a way to escape this place. Or dream.
Yes, a dream.
However, their expressions only irritated him further because, seriously?! None of them believed him. The dwarfs only chuckled, which escalated into laughter, then into uproarious laughter, with tears streaming down their faces.
"Oh, Snow White-chan, what are you saying? You are Snow White; there's no need to deny it. You don't have to be shy. We know what's going to happen from now on. Don't worry," the effeminate dwarf smiled at him and placed food in a bowl before offering it to Zero.
"No! No! You completely misunderstand me. I truly am not Snow White. Damn it!" Zero pushed the food away as it was handed to him, causing it to fall to the ground. The girly dwarf started picking it up, tears in his eyes.
Zero began to make his way toward the tiny door in an attempt to escape from them, as he couldn't think of any way to make them believe him.
"Just be quiet and accept that you're Snow White, you foolish human!" scolded the angry dwarf from earlier as he charged at Zero with his axe. Fortunately, Zero dodged in time to avoid the swinging weapon. (Despite their diminutive size, these dwarfs possessed surprising strength.)
Zero caught the dwarf in his hands as he evaded the attack, holding him up to eye level to emphasize the ludicrousness of the situation.
"I SAID, I AM NOT SNOW WHITE! THIS IS JUST A DREAM, AND I WILL FIND A WAY TO ESCAPE THIS DAMN NIGHTMARE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Zero paused in his shouting as he scrutinized the features of the angry dwarf he held.
This dwarf seemed oddly familiar. Zero's eyes widened as he realized that the dwarf was not just familiar but someone he actually knew. Not merely an acquaintance, but someone he was truly familiar with.
"Ya-yaga-YAGARI-SENSEI!!!"
This time, Zero's yell was even louder than before, prompting the dwarfs to frantically cover their ears with whatever they could find. The dwarf in Zero's grip began to feel dizzy, having failed to shield his ears from Zero's clamor due to being held up.
Zero was taken aback as he recognized the dwarf as Toga Yagari-sensei. Slowly, he lowered the dwarf and looked closely at the other dwarfs, gradually recognizing each one.
The girly dwarf wearing an apron, who was busily gathering the scattered food that had been thrown during Zero's outburst, was unmistakably Headmaster Kaien Cross, the owner of Cross Academy. The pink apron had reminded Zero of the clumsy chairman.
The sleepy dwarf, who had been starting to doze off before Zero's outburst but was now wide awake, turned out to be none other than his friend and fellow hunter, Kaito Takamiya. Kaito had a habit of dozing off at any time.
The playful dwarf, who had been bouncing around energetically upon their arrival but was now suddenly silent, was none other than the mischievous Aidou Hanabusa, one of his schoolmates with whom he had often argued.
The serious dwarf, who had been reading a book that was now closed and using another book to shield his ears, was Ichijo Takuma, the student council president of Cross Academy.
The chubby dwarf who had eagerly begun eating was none other than Aidou's cousin, Kain Akatsuki. Though the dwarf looked somewhat different from the real Kain, the resemblance was unmistakable.
Zero shifted his focus to the smallest and only female among the dwarfs, who was clasping her ears with tears in her eyes. It was undoubtedly the clumsy, naive, and cheerful daughter of Kaien Cross and his co-prefect, Yuuki Cross.
"What in the world is happening here? When did all of you turn into dwarfs? Yagari-sensei? Chairman Crosse? Kaito? That idiot Aidou? Takuma? Kain? And Yuuki? What is the meaning of all this?" Zero asked in desperation as his shock continued to mount.
"Heh... So you do recognize us, Snow White. There's no denying it now," said dwarf Takuma with a smile, believing that Snow White had finally admitted to his identity.
"Hey, you, Snow White, did you just call me that idiot Aidou? You're the one acting foolish for denying who you are and what you're supposed to do," dwarf Aidou retorted, sticking his tongue out in Zero's direction.
"Oh, Snow White-chan, I'm delighted that you've come to your senses. Now, let's begin and enjoy this meal I've prepared for all of you. I hope you'll like it," girly dwarf Crosse said, offering another bowl of food to Zero.
"Snow White, if you don't want to eat your food, can I have it instead?" inquired dwarf Kain, who had already consumed five servings of the food.
"Snow White, we should get on with the story soon. I'm terribly drowsy over here. I want this to be over with," whined dwarf Kaito as he started to drift off to sleep once more.
"Hey, Snow White, please don't be upset with us. We're just doing what we're supposed to do, and so should you. Please?" pleaded Yuuki, using her puppy-dog eyes technique in an attempt to persuade him.
"W-what on earth... No. You don't understand, guys. This isn't real. I'm not Snow White, and none of you are dwarfs. I won't be playing Snow White, and you shouldn't pretend to be dwarfs either. This is all wrong. It's just a dream. A nightmare," Zero declared, taking a deep breath after his outburst.
He had had enough of this damn play. Now he was certain that it wasn't real-just a nightmare. In every nightmare, you had to find a way out, or it would consume you completely.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain as Yagari-sensei kicked him hard in the face.
"You stupid, foolish brat! If you truly believe this is a nightmare, as you claimed, then remember the story of Snow White. Didn't she survive the nightmares she faced in her life?! She did! So you must survive your so-called nightmare and go along with it! Finish Snow White's story, you foolish brat!!!"
'What? There's no way-no way I'm going along with this. There must be another way. I just need to wake up. But... Yagari-sensei might be right. I must endure this.'
'But... but to act as Snow White... this is absurd.'
Why couldn't he have dreamt of Aladdin or Peter Pan or any story with a male character? Why did it have to be Snow White? What on earth was he supposed to do?
"Snow White-chan, let's start the play."
"But..."
"Just get it over with."
"But this costume-"
"What's wrong with your dress, Snow White?"
"Idiot! There's no way I'll wear this."
"But it suits you perfectly."
"No, it doesn't." Zero began to lift the dress to change clothes but stopped when he realized he had no spare clothes and the ones inside the hut were too small, belonging to the dwarfs. Tsk!
"Hehe... you remember you have no spare clothes?"
"Shut up, Aidou. This is hell." Zero sighed deeply as he noticed the dwarfs were already seated, ready to eat. He had no choice. He had to play the role of Snow White.
But, rest assured, he wouldn't be the sweet, kind, delicate Snow White from the story.
Zero accepted the bowl of food that Crosse had prepared for him, but then something struck him.
"Wait, who cooked this food? Was it... was it you, Chairman?" Zero glanced over to where Crosse was sitting.
"Are you referring to me as Chairman, Snow White-chan? Yes, indeed, I prepared this meal. And it will be the best food you've ever tasted, Snow White-chan!" Crosse replied enthusiastically, eagerly waiting for Zero to take a bite.
However, Zero's expression turned sour. While Chairman Crosse enjoyed cooking and his dishes were visually impressive, they tasted so terrible that eating them often led to stomachaches and nausea. The taste was unbearable, beyond terrible. Only Crosse himself seemed to enjoy his own creations. Yagari-sensei occasionally tolerated them but still complained that the food tasted like garbage.
"Snow White, is there something wrong with your meal?" dwarf Kaito asked, still munching away. Wait, Kaito was eating Chairman's food? Since when?
"Hey, Snow White, better eat before it gets cold."
"Isn't this... bad? I mean, it's Chairman Crosse's food." Zero eyed them suspiciously, waiting for any signs of distress or anyone to keel over, but after a few minutes of watching them and them staring back at him, Yuuki finally broke the silence.
"That's mean, Snow White. How can you say that Crosse's food is bad when it's the finest cuisine in the world? He's renowned as the Best Chef Ever. I'm sure the evil queen would love it too if she tried it," Yuuki proclaimed as Crosse covered his face, shedding silent tears.
"Stupid Snow White! Just appreciate the meal you've been given! Taste it before passing judgment on his food," Yagari-sensei snapped, and the others joined in with stern glares.
Zero froze at their reaction and suddenly realized how foolish he had been. This was a dream, and in dreams, anything could happen. If Crosse's food in reality tasted terrible, it might not be the same in this dream.
"Uh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I apologize, Chairman Crosse."
Crosse's face lit up at the apology, urging Zero to eat and reassuring him that he had forgotten what was said about his food being bad.
Zero let out a sigh and imagined he was savoring the most exquisite dish from the real world. He hesitantly began tasting the food, fearing it was just a prank and that everyone else was eating something different, while his portion was the Chairman's cooking. But he was wrong. As he took his first bite, he felt like he was on cloud nine. It was the most amazing food he had ever tasted, and the fact that Chairman Crosse had prepared it made it all the more incredible. He had the fleeting thought of wanting to call the chairman "Daddy," as Crosse had suggested, but it felt too awkward, especially in front of these dwarfs who had no memories of the real world like he did.
The dwarfs were in awe of the silver-haired young man's delighted expression. His face clearly conveyed his deep appreciation for the food, and he seemed genuinely grateful for the opportunity to savor this heavenly meal.
Unbeknownst to Zero, they had all been watching him, wearing smiles on their faces. Zero raised an eyebrow, curious about their expressions as he looked at them.
"Snow White-chan, I'm delighted that you enjoyed the food," Crosse exclaimed, giggling with happiness as he observed Zero's obvious pleasure.
"See, you loved the food, so never say that Crosse's cooking is awful," Kain pointed out firmly.
"Hehe... Snow White, you look so charming while savoring your meal. I wish we had a camera to capture that expression, but alas, we don't. I didn't know you could make such a face," Yuuki giggled, and at that moment, Zero finally understood what they were talking about. He had been making an odd expression while enjoying his food, entirely unaware that they were watching him. His face turned red with embarrassment; he hadn't realized he was being observed.
"Haha! Snow White is turning as red as an apple. Maybe he'll become Snow Red," Aidou laughed heartily, and Zero blushed even more as he comprehended Aidou's words. He was indeed embarrassing himself in front of people he knew would never stop teasing him.
But... this was just a dream, right? In reality, he never enjoyed Crosse's cooking, and he never embarrassed himself. He needed to stop feeling embarrassed to avoid their teasing, considering it was all a dream.
"Quiet down, everyone. We've finished eating, so what's our next step? I can't quite remember what happens in the story," Zero skillfully deflected the teasing, and they paused to consider the next course of action.
Yagari-sensei stood up and headed to bed, the others following suit.
"I think the story goes that tomorrow, we will continue working in the woods while you, Snow White, will remain here. Then the witch wil-" Takuma's explanation was cut short by a sudden loud knock on the door.
They exchanged glances, wondering if there was another visitor besides the witch. However, the knocking grew louder, and the unknown visitor shouted.
"For goodness' sake, open this door, you idiots! I'm soaking wet out here, and these apples won't last."
"Oh, it's the witch already. That was quick. Aidou, go open the door," ordered dwarf Yagari-sensei excitedly.
"Wait, isn't it too early for the witch to arrive? And wasn't I supposed to be alone when she came?" Zero questioned, sensing that this wasn't how the story was supposed to unfold.
"As if we'd let you eat those apples by yourself," dwarf Kain replied, excitedly accompanying his cousin to open the door.
The door creaked open, drawing everyone, including Zero, nearer to catch a glimpse of the witch. However, to Zero's astonishment, he did not behold an elderly woman cloaked in darkness, bearing a basket of apples. Instead, he found himself gazing upon the Super Model of All Seasons, Ruka Souen, striking a pose outside with a scowl on her face and adorned in the 'perfect gown' from her 18th birthday debut party. Zero was left nearly speechless. How could a supermodel become a part of this dream as well? Moreover, why was she assuming the role of the wicked queen without disguising herself as an old woman, as the story dictated?
"It's the evil queen herself!" the dwarfs approached Ruka Souen, who was playing the role of the evil queen in this dream, with excitement and asked for the apples.
"My queen!" they bowed.
Zero couldn't believe his eyes.
"My queen, may I ask for the basket of apples that you supposedly brought with you?" Yagari-sensei inquired with a remarkably polite tone, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Yagari-sensei excited? What for? Then it struck Zero that Yagari-sensei always carried an apple with him, alongside his gun, wherever he went.
"Oh, were you more excited about the apples than seeing me, you fools?" Ruka Souen disdainfully looked down at them.
"That's not what we meant, My Queen. We are deeply honored by your visit, even at this late hour, to our humble little hut. We merely wish to inquire about the missing basket of apples, as that's how we understand the story unfolds. Please pardon our impertinence, My Queen, for we are but humble servants in your presence, with no right to question you. Takuma articulated an apology, bowing even deeper, followed by the rest.
'What's going on? Is this how the story unfolds now?'
This didn't seem right at all! To the best of Zero's recollection, the dwarfs despised the wicked queen for her cruelty, and, most importantly, they weren't meant to be in the scene at this juncture. The wicked queen wasn't supposed to make an appearance this early, especially while the dwarfs were still present. Zero was on the verge of saying something when the queen responded to Yagari-sensei's apology.
"As long as you understand your place, servants. As for the apples - slaves, bring the baskets of apples inside," the wicked queen ordered her subordinates.
The slaves complied, and the dwarfs couldn't contain their excitement as they seized as many apples as they could, greedily devouring them. Zero's jaw felt as if it might drop to the floor as he witnessed this bewildering turn of events. Weren't the apples supposed to be poisoned?
"Well, don't assume I came here for your benefit," she said with disdain, looking down at the dwarfs who were engrossed in eating apples. "I've only come to eliminate the fairest and most beautiful Snow White, a notion I strongly disagree with, considering that I am the most beautiful in the world. But that insipid mirror insists on contradicting me. So, I must dispose of Snow White."
"Oh... You must be Snow White," she presumed as she scrutinized Zero from head to toe and then cursed. "You even have white hair, which fits your name perfectly. But you'll soon be dead once you eat this specially crafted poisoned apple." She revealed the poisoned apple, which had an unusual pink color.
"Pink?! Since when are apples pink? And what the hell, you were supposed to make me buy that apple from you, but... on second thought, I'd never purchase such a strange pink apple."
"Shut up! Pink is my favorite color, and I poisoned this one, so, of course, the color changed, and it won't get mixed up with the other apples. I want you dead, remember? Duh!" The evil queen rolled her eyes at Zero's response. "Now, eat this, Snow White!"
"As if I'll eat a strange apple like that! That might not even be an apple at all!" Zero would rather eat a poisoned apple without his consent than touch the strange pink one.
It was indeed odd because the pink apple didn't resemble the original apple at all. They had the same shape, but the pink apple had peculiar designs around it. (Imagine how the Devil Fruits in the anime One Piece look... :-P)
"Hey, Snow White, didn't you want to finish this story already? Just eat the apple and get poisoned already," persuaded dwarf Yagari-sensei as he finished his apple.
"You make it sound so easy to eat a poisoned apple, sensei," Zero defensively responded.
"But Snow White, if you don't eat the apple, you won't get to taste how delicious My Queen's apples are. You ungrateful." Dwarf Yuuki declared, looking up at her idol, Ruka Souen.
"Right? My Queen-sama." Yuuki really idolized the supermodel, but to think they would meet in a dream like this.
"Yes, of course, dear Yuuki," responded the evil queen with a small chuckle.
"Snow White-chan, you'd better hurry up and eat the apple before it's too late. It's almost 11:30. When the clock strikes 12, your time is up, and you need to complete the story before it ends. No one knows what might happen if the story isn't finished," declared dwarf Crosse.
Zero was frustrated that Crosse hadn't mentioned this earlier, as now he had very little time to finish the story. And what's with the 'when the clock strikes 12'? This isn't a Cinderella story.
"Damn it! You should have mentioned that earlier! Damn it! Damn it! Please give me that pink apple right now. I need to end this nightmare," Zero attempted to grab the pink apple from the evil queen's hand, but she swiftly withdrew it.
"Do not dare to order me around, you wench! Allow me to recite my final lines." She collected herself, much to Zero's irritation, before continuing,
"With this poisoned apple that I have crafted for you, Snow White, you will fall into an eternal, deathly slumber. Only true love's kiss can awaken you, but I must inform you that time is running out, and no prince will come to your rescue. So, in the end, I shall emerge victorious. Hahahahaha... Hahahahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Zero froze at her words. He was running out of time. If the story remained unfinished, who knew what might occur? What in the world?
Zero suddenly recalled tales of individuals who passed away in their sleep, often attributed to having experienced a nightmare before their demise. He pondered if those individuals had been dreaming of bizarre, twisted fairy tales prior to their deaths because their stories had not reached a conclusion on time. Could the same fate befall him? To perish within a dream due to poison and, if not rescued, meet his end in reality was unfathomable to Zero. There had to be a way to bring this nightmarish ordeal to a close.
Suddenly, Aidou seized the pink apple from the evil queen's hand and thrust it forcefully toward Zero's slightly parted lips. Zero nearly choked as the apple was pushed into his mouth. Aidou persisted in shoving the apple, as if intending for Zero to consume it entirely in a single bite. Dwarfs proved to be unexpectedly strong. Zero struggled to take a bite from the apple, and once he managed to do so, he pushed Aidou away, causing the apple to tumble from his mouth.
Zero coughed for a minute, then shot Aidou a glare as he nursed his own injuries from Zero's earlier rough treatment. Zero abruptly stood up, intending to deliver a punch to Aidou, but he forgot about the low ceiling. Consequently, he banged his head against it, causing a sharp spike of pain. He instinctively reached for the injured area but suddenly felt himself losing balance and falling.
Zero wondered if this might be the effect of the poisoned apple or not, but between the persistent headache and the pain from his head hitting the low ceiling twice, he struggled to make sense of it all. All he knew was that this seemed like the end.
As his body slowly descended to the ground, and his eyelids started to droop, Zero managed to catch a glimpse of the wall clock. There were just two seconds left before it would strike twelve. It was too late; he had failed.
Then, a shadow blocked out the light, and Zero felt an arm reach out to catch his falling body just seconds before it would hit the ground. He gazed up into a pair of deep crimson eyes and saw a hooded woman who shielded him from the light. Just before losing consciousness, he heard his name being called.
"Zero.."
~ChapEnds
