Once upon a time...

[timefather]

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

Comments

[pishirogane]

[Raising a hand, she removed the crown and brought it before her. It was glowing... and there was something green around her fingers again.]

... W-What is this?

[topgun_textiles]

[Now her fingers were getting glowy and green.]

Uhh... m-magic? Are the flowers magic? But I didn't feel nothin' from 'em when I touched 'em.

I mean the rest of the castle's magic, too, but-

[But her -hands- were glowing, when his weren't. He plucked a daisy that hadn't bloomed yet, and held it out to her.]

...Touch it.

[pishirogane]

Am I reacting to the magic then?

[None of this is making sense still. The crown probably couldn't smell any sweeter at this point.]

[Raising her head, Naoto stared at the budded daisy with one eyebrow raised. Still, with crown in one hand, she accepted it with the other. Those green sparks still lingering in her fingers gathered in the flower. Her mouth opened, but no sound escaped as the daisy bloomed abruptly.]

Ah!

[topgun_textiles]

[The wonderment on his face was obvious as the bloom sprung to life in her sparking fingers.]

...S'you. I think you're the one doin' it.

[Either she was suddenly magical or the flowers really liked her or something. In the story, Beauty wanted a rose, something she loved dearly. He was Beast, who turned monstrous when emotional. So Marchen had given them strange powers... but related to the stories? But her power didn't make much sense.]

Wh-what happened? It took a second to make the flower crown glow at first, and then the sparks wouldn't stop after. what started it??

[pishirogane]

I'm... doing this?

[From what little she knew of Beauty and the Beast, she didn't have any magical abilities. Sure, she loved roses, but this was a little much. She shouldn't be able to do this if she was replacing the last Beauty. Slowly, Naoto shook her head.]

I don't know... This garden, I can feel its magic, but Beauty wasn't a magical person of any kind.

[topgun_textiles]

[He sighed through his nose. So it didn't make sense for her either? So it wasn't just him. But he looked up again.]

Aahh! That version! The one with-!

[He gestured to her hands.]

Beauty's half-faerie in one'a the versions! That'd make her pretty magical, right? I didn't think about it 'cause faeries got wings but you don't.

I-I mean, not that ya need 'em, but... shit, what if you're a faerie?

[pishirogane]

There's a version where she's part faerie?

[That's news to her. Glancing behind her again, Naoto was glad that there weren't any wings there. But what if her shirt was covering them? No... no, she shouldn't have wings.]

Do you know if she ever showed any magical traits?

[topgun_textiles]

Yeah! One was sayin' a King and a faerie got together and bam, there she was.

She didn't show any magical traits, though. I mean, not that I could work out. She was put in with the merchant to hide her away from danger, so I didn't really think she'd learn any magic growin' up.

But fae or not, that's news... this Marchen place gave us weird powers.

[pishirogane]

I see...

[She was even the daughter of a King. Wait, so she's a princess too then? That was far from her part; very far. More flowers were popping up on the crown as her mind wondered.]

Who was trying to harm Beauty?

[topgun_textiles]

A, uh... er...

[Come on, memory, work for once in your goddamn life!]

Another faerie! She wanted the throne of the King, and remove any competition she'd have... namely, any kids the King had.

Memory's kinda shaky there, though, 'cause I think it's the same faerie that wanted the Prince, too? Real crown-hungry hag.

[pishirogane]

[Naoto's eyes narrowed. The flower crown was soon tangled by sharp thorns as her glare became dark.]

Is that right? I can't condone such actions... and if this is the tale we're cast in, I may deviate. [Naoto wasn't Beauty... and she would take care of anyone who threatened her or her friends.]

[topgun_textiles]

[Thorns! And she looked pissed. Was the magic going haywire because she was working herself up? Kanji looked around quickly.]

Uh, well, I don't see 'er anywhere, so for now I think we're good. If that's the version we're from, we're ready. She comes around here, we'll just beat her ass, yeah?

...You're makin' thorns.

[pishirogane]

If she knows what's good for her, she'll give up her pursuits before any actions must be taken against her.

[Thorns under her hands, they don't seem to be pricking her. When Kanji pointed out what was happening, she looked down and panicked, trying to get the thorns to change back. Easier said than done; the thorns untangled to wind up her arms.]

... I'll have to figure this out before we do anything else.

[topgun_textiles]

We know how that always goes- they don't wanna quit until they get their asses kicked.

[But he couldn't think of any ideas on what her magic was. Did it affect all manners of things or just flowers? He couldn't tell. ...Hang on.]

The flowers looked pissed... s'it 'cause you're feelin' worked up like I was?

[pishirogane]

True.

[Problem with persistence. The thorns stopped when wrapped around her forearms]

I don't know... It was a momentary temper flare. Oh... [Look at that; a flower bloomed again.]

[topgun_textiles]

Man... I turn into a freak and you get magic. [He ruffled his hair a little.]

Raw end of the deal... Ah well. Can ya make it work with other stuff? I mean-

[Well, she wanted to learn, didn't she? And he could take a bit of a beating. He pounded his chest.]

Y'wanna lemme have it? J-jus' don't turn me into nothin'!

[pishirogane]

[She opened her mouth, but then sighed. He wasn't a freak; the beast's form was rather metaphoric. Still, it seemed based on his temper here.]

It's alright, Kanji-kun. I don't think it works on people like that... I mean, in comparison to the garden, I felt something coming from it that I can't describe. Perhaps it resonates with the abilities I've been given. Either way, it doesn't come off you the same.

[topgun_textiles]

No...? [Yet he looked relieved all the same.]

Huh. So it's good that this garden's so huge, yeah? Lotta practice could come outta this if ya feel like screwin' around with magic.

[But he noticed just how shiny and enticing the apples were nearby. He nodded to the tree.]

Mm. I'm gonna spoil dinner a little. Y-y'want one?

[He chucked his jacket aside and hopped to grab hold of a low-lying branch to start his climb. His form was awful.]

[pishirogane]

Yes... I'll try not to damage the castle. [No guarantees at the beginning though.]

[Glancing in the direction he nodded, she thought for a moment]

... Why not. Unless... did the tale mention anything about apples?

[Following again, her brows furrowed as she frowned. What was that form? He was going to hurt himself climbing like that.]

[topgun_textiles]

[Kanji paused upon pulling himself higher, frowning in thought.]

Apples? Nah, that's Snow White. She got the poisoned oOONE!?

[With a snap he'd grabbed a weak branch. With nothing else to grasp, he hung from a stronger branch by his legs. He looked unhurt, save for his pride. Okay, so it's been a few years since he climbed a damn tree.]

[pishirogane]

[Naoto opened her mouth to speak, but jumped when Kanji yelled.]

[Mouth still open, it closed as she just watched him hang there for a moment, allowing the silence and wind to break the tension.]

... Do you require assistance getting down?

[topgun_textiles]

No! [A very quick answer and as his arms fold behind his head he's doing a few sit-ups.]

I-I just-! [Was working out? Come on, Kanji. After the few he sighs and pulls himself up, leaving himself sitting on the branch.]

...

[Yeah, he was blowing it big time. He reached for a sizely apple and plucked it, polishing it on his shirt before reaching for a second. But he paused. They didn't really need two, did they...? He thought better of it and instead started climbing down with his quarry. At the bottom he split the apple in his hands and handed her half.]

[pishirogane]

[She continued to stare at him, not understanding why he was trying to cover it up. A branch had broke and he attempted to catch himself. Better he did that then fall and hit the ground.]

[Up he goes and finally, he grabbed an apple to come down. Uncrossing her arms, she continued staring, but blinked when he broke the apple. That was... She accepted the half without question.]

Thank you.

[topgun_textiles]

[He held the apple half in his mouth to wipe his hands off on his pants, clearing them of dirt and a bit of apple juice. But with a nod he sort of turned away and munched in relative silence.]

[But there was a lot to think about now, of roles and weird powers, and for him he had to think about what the hell he had to do now as a Prince. The Queen was out warring, if their version of the story was correct. So he had to think about greeting the 'mother' he has here and not feel awkward or a little lonesome with it.]

[Damn it. And he was just curling up in bed and sleeping the night before he woke up here...]