TO Rewrite: B4 — 9. Villains

PoV: 1. Rachel Park (Our Lunar Hare!) 2. Our Villains! TO Rewrite Index Previous Chapter In-line Edit -------------------- The Hummer’s engi

PoV:

1. Rachel Park (Our Lunar Hare!)

2. Our Villains!

TO Rewrite Index

Previous Chapter

In-line Edit

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The Hummer’s engine rumbled steadily as they drove away from the detention facility. Rachel reflected on everything that had been revealed since waking up: Nungal’s antics, Butter’s instinctual knowledge, and the unique message delivered to them and the deities. Now, there was the truth behind the creation of Fablekin.

Adele is working with the Crimson Tide, and they wanted the creation of Fable… This design runs deep, she thought, glancing in the mirror at the excited blonde, situated in the middle seat, Scarlet beside her, pressed to the window and shielding her face from the sun.

Inside, Rachel knew the vampiric girl was struggling, and hard. Yet, she was becoming more resilient, as well. Adoncia was on the opposite side, looking totally at peace, awaiting orders. El Santo was with Grace, riding on Jim outside, seemingly racing and laughing with Conquest, both women showing off their steeds.

Snow thought that she was defending Fable and breaking away from the Scarlet Hand, when, in reality, this was what they wanted from the start. They knew they had Fable from the very start, and, eventually, the Crimson Tide’s influence would sap all the strength of the Greater Seeds they’d absorbed to grow into a force to project power in this world…

Her lips drew into a line as she leaned against the driver’s side window, passively listening to everything happening around Billings, including the fables. The combination of events and memories collided with one another, flowing through her in a tapestry that gradually created a whole picture.

The Fables are a ticking time bomb. Revilla, Adele’s boss, is essentially the middlewoman for the Crimson Tide’s influence. They were fighting Fate to get inside, launching attacks from the outside with the Crystals, while waiting for their Trojan horse to activate inside to create a bridge… This is going to crush Snow, which is why Green hasn’t told her yet.

The Montana landscape rolled past in deceptive tranquility, but the silence inside the vehicle was anything but peaceful. Even Butter was uncharacteristically quiet after her boisterous cheer that she’d shown the fictitious, Eldritch, intertwined souls.

Butter stared out the window with an expression that spoke to deeper currents of thought, perhaps reflecting on the cost of truth-telling or the weight of inspiring others to challenge fate. Whatever the case, Rachel could see maybe a little bit of how many others saw her own type of cosmic force.

Her head tilted to the side, vision narrowing. Long live the symphony… The way she delivered that speech was as if she genuinely believed that we, not she, can rewrite the fundamental rules of reality through sheer force of will. At first, she comes across as a dominating force, but as time passes, it almost feels like her powers are geared toward uplifting others to be that dominance alongside her, amplifying her reach.

Using her wide field of vision, she kept close track of Scarlet’s fidgets from the corner of her eye. The crystallizing resolve in her friend’s posture, the way her jaw stayed tight, and her hands clenched in her lap.

Butter’s call to arms hit you deep, didn’t it? The world keeps trying to break you down…and that seems exactly it. Revilla, not Adele, wants you to break for some reason. In Miami, she wanted you to go crazy and absorb the whole population.

Her mind shifted to the blonde, who was now studying her in return, a small, curious smile playing at the corner of her lips.

We’re getting real answers from just Butter’s presence. She’s impossible to ignore, even for the deities, and especially since her presence brings someone like Nungal to the field. We need to use those instincts… The strange thing is that Butter seems to have insights that are even deeper than deities like Hades and Izanami.

Butter’s left eye creased ever so slightly, looking not into her eyes, Rachel was sure, no, it was directly into her soul.

There’s something far more to her than meets the general deity litmus test. Butter may have been a goddess in her previous life…but who knows before that life, or what else lies beneath the murky depths of those instinctual impulses she has? If she wants to level us up? Why not? I like the challenge…and I can use all the power I can get after losing my Unique Moons.

Nia…

“I’m here. What’s up, Major?”

How’s Nam and Alexa?

“Nervous about Butter. I’ve been keeping them updated.”

The Triplets and Nike?

“Actually, after that little flare-up with Butter…she went to bed. Apparently, just you being around her is causing a sort of resonance. In a good way, she says. The triplets are all snuggled around her in their wolf forms… One drools. I’ll let you guess who.”

Rachel breathed out a soft sigh of relief before giving a small, internal laugh.

I’d rather see it myself than guess. She’s healing faster. Good. That’s really good. We’ll be ready for the bigger Crystal. Just make sure Alexa knows that she’s going to see bigger combat soon… I want her to come with us on the Legend Quest.

“Major,” Nia mumbled, rubbing between her eyes. “You haven’t even asked Grace if she is on her Legend Quest yet or on any minor quests.”

Rachel didn’t look away from the blonde’s probing vision.

…Something tells me that doesn’t really matter.

“Okay, she knows and is putting on a brave face. Your brother, though. Mmm.”

Nam will be fine. See you soon.

“Over and out…but still here.”

Overall, things were progressing fast. Ali Baba’s family had answers and would soon be relocated to DC as refugees from a collapsed Fable realm. They barely understood Earth, and the Second Oscillation actually helped, considering it provided them with cover in any community.

Those issues of what happened to Ali Baba and his shattered realm weren’t concluded, but postponed for a future resolution. At least they were getting more direct answers, though.

Ears shifting left, Rachel caught the distant sound of hooves. Two streets down, Paul Bunyan came barreling down the street atop Blue. The driver hissed, glancing her way, but Rachel shook her head.

“He’s just coming to grab El Santo. We’re heading back to the Crystal first for a quick stop.”

“Understood.”

Butter’s eyes twinkled in the background, absorbing every word as the other two women glanced at her seat, clearly paying attention. Rachel had yet to tell Grace about the Legend Quest push. Still, with Butter, they might be able to just breeze past it.

Although, more importantly, Rachel wanted to put her in more situations to see what else she might reveal. In this post-Fate-controlled world, they needed all the details they could get.

El Santo swiftly hopped off Jim with Grace’s help, transferring to Blue, departing for an emergency meeting with the Mexican President. Rachel figured the famous folk lumberjack wanted more insight into his opinion of Butter after her contentious entrance.

“Scarlet,” Rachel quietly whispered, snatching the fanged girl’s attention as they looked at each other in the mirror.

“Mmm?”

“When we get to the Crystal, I want you to find Barbara. Tell her what we learned about Fable and the fictional souls in their realms. Tom needs to understand the scope of what we’re dealing with, but he’s busy with other meetings at the moment.”

In the light of the sun, Scarlet’s fanged smile held an edge that hadn’t been there before, clearly taking strength from the light she hadn’t seen without fear in almost two months. It wasn’t as if the anxiety about her mother had vanished, so much as Butter had sparked action in her, and a path forward.

“Military intelligence briefing? Cool. I can handle that. So…we are doing the training, though, right? Do you think I’ll be able to learn how to protect myself from the sun myself, Butter—eh, High Queen Butter?”

“Oh my, you can simply call me Butter, sweetheart. I’m not my twin!” the blonde giggled, illuminated aquamarine eyes shifting to study the vampire. “If you have a place where I can see what each of you can do at your best, then it will allow me to see how best to instruct your spiritual release, not your soul, mind you. A soul is the whole, a spirit is the powerhouse of the soul.”

“Like… mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell?” Scarlet asked, showing a smile.

“I don’t know what a mitochondria is! You must teach me,” Butter chimed. “The teacher is always a student and vice versa.”

“I’d love to…but I suck at biology,” she laughed in return. “I just remember that part from a song. But I just…someone has to be strong enough to fix what my mother broke. Rachel has helped me a ton, but…I don’t want to be a burden. I want to beat you when we’re through!”

“Oh, darling…” Butter’s expression softened with genuine compassion as she scooted closer to bump shoulders with the goth. “Strength forged in pain, as you’re suggesting, has its place, but remember—the most enduring symphonies aren’t built on single notes of anguish. They require harmony of triumph and real joy…even in discord, such as your hare friend bathes in daily. The goal shouldn’t be to beat me; that’s cutting yourself too short,” the blonde winked, making Scarlet blink.

“What do you mean? You’re saying you’re not the strongest?”

“Not at all! I am, without a doubt, the greatest and most fabulous entity in existence! Glory personified!”

Rachel rolled her eyes at that and even caught the former goddess’ maid doing the same.

“Humble.”

“Oh, the most humble!” she boasted, making even the driver chuckle a little. Her voice dropped to a sincere, reflective, almost vulnerable whisper. “One must always believe themselves to be the greatest that is yet to be perfected… To know one is flawed yet has the potential to rise to sit upon the throne of the most high, else…hope will fail you.”

Silence ensued as each of their visions fell into their laps, excluding the driver, contemplating that statement. Rachel had to admit, the woman had a deadly point and actually spoke like she imagined a goddess might, past all the childlike charm and ego. 

It put Rachel’s thought pattern on a new note: what did someone like Butter fear?

She could guess, but there were layers she knew the blonde had yet to reveal.

Hopefully, by the end of this Crystal experience, she’d know.

As they approached the supercenter where the Crystal was, Rachel turned her gaze toward the road. It still looked wrong to see everything in the bright afternoon sunlight. No discomfort. No fear. And that was the real miracle of Butter. Somehow, her attitude and dominance totally subdued the natural instincts of fear.

Rachel's ears swiveled toward the perimeter where she could see Wakalapi, waiting near the security checkpoint, his coyote features unmistakable even at a distance. He spoke, and Rachel translated as they were pulling up.

“Butter, Wakalapi wants to know if he can steal you for a few minutes to talk. His chief has a few private questions for you involving a few artifacts they brought.”

“Exciting! I love exploring new things. You girls aren’t trying to ditch me, right?” she said with a teasing smirk that made the driver look a little frantic. “Joking. Joking. When I get back, I hope we can discuss the specifics of our lovely cowgirl’s Legend Quest. I’m dying to know more.”

The compound buzzed with restrained activity as they pulled through the security checkpoint. Guards waved them through with barely concealed relief at not having to interact directly with Butter, whose divine presence seemed to trigger every supernatural sensor in the facility, registering readings that defied conventional measurement.

She spotted Grace leap clean over the barrier with White, still apparently competing. As they came to a stop, her distinctive hat bobbed as she waved off the concern of the military personnel. The cowgirl’s folksy charm was shining through.

“Rachel?” Green’s voice drifted across the parking lot, clearly intended for her enhanced hearing. “This probably isn’t a surprise to you, but I need to speak with you privately when you have a moment. It’s about what Butter revealed…”

“I hear you, Green. Be there soon,” she returned under her breath, knowing the fable could hear her. “Everything we’ve learned could shake Fable to its core.”

As the Hummer stopped, Adoncia smoothly slid out to follow her mistress, allowing her to follow. Rachel made a gesture at a flag pole, flying the stripes and stars.

“When you’re done, we’ll all meet there. And, Butter…this barrier against the sun will hold when we’re not together?”

Scarlet froze, legs half thrown out of the vehicle, as her head snapped back toward the blonde. “I can’t believe I didn’t even think about that!”

“No. No.” Butter giggled and leaned closer to pat the vampire on the shoulder, nodding with a confident grin. “That filter I gave you will last at least a few days without my intervention or any outside interference, which…could realistically only be caused by Death Energy corrupting it. So, you’re totally fine.”

“Good to know! Thanks.”

Without a second glance, Rachel opened the door and made her way around the Crystal. She didn’t need to see Green: she heard her clothes rub against her skin, her unique heart rate and cadence. The Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare was between a supercenter and a home improvement retailer; the road to their rear supply zone was mostly empty at the moment.

On her journey, several people called her out by name, waving and thanking her, some even for her work back in Miami. Omen’s name and deeds were spreading.

Her ears shifted to the right, hearing Scarlet jogging in the direction of Barbara, likely having found her by filtering out all the people…because she accidentally bumped into a few bodies along the way. Naturally, the fanged girl was crimson-faced and blustering apologies.

“Poor Scarlet,” Nia groaned, following everything with her hearing and through her real body around Rachel’s proximity. “For being the catalyst that literally created this giant mess, she’s so clumsy and has no self-esteem.”

By Fate and the Crimson Tide’s design, Rachel mumbled in return, spotting Butter connecting with the Native American delegation; Adoncia and White were right beside the bouncing blonde. I don’t know why, but they actually want Scarlet’s seals broken. Which—

“Major? What do you hear?”

Rachel’s ears shot into the sky, flaring wide, tail going stiff as she slowed to a stop just after turning the corner and spotting Green in the distance. Eyes wide, she carefully turned in a full circle, taking in every muscle twitch, dropped pen, and heartbeat within miles.

Not a sound… [Seventh Sense], she muttered, eclipse-like irises scanning the throng. 

The feeling was subtle but persistent like being watched through a telescope from a great distance.

It came out of nowhere… Someone’s watching us.

“And, obviously, not the hundreds of soldiers rushing around the parking lot, but something more supernatural,” Nia returned with a serious hum. “Can you tell any direction?”

Not really… It feels far away. 

Green noticed her reaction instantly, immediately going on full alert as she dashed over to join her, already summoning her shield. The closer she got, the more the feeling increased.

“What’s wrong? Another attack?”

She slowly shook her head as the feeling gradually faded. Rachel instead took in the woman’s physical appearance, scanning for any new item or device, but nothing that had changed since the meeting.

“I think…we’re being spied on. Possibly for a while,” she whispered, Green’s gaze following hers to the sky. “It feels gone, but I also have a feeling that it’s still around.”

The fable instantly picked up on her implication: misfortune.

“I see… How do you want to proceed? We can wait until we get in the bunker to talk?”

Lightly chewing on her inner cheek, Rachel’s head tilted to the side, parsing through threads of misfortune. Feeling her way through the situation, she took a full minute in silence to accurately navigate the titanic pulses of Butter’s blinding radiance of gravitational pressure.

“Misfortune Sense not working?” Nia asked.

…No, it’s working overtime… The issue is that Butter is like looking at the sun; it blinds the smaller variations around her…and even if they hardly affect her, she’s attracted so many strings of misfortune that they almost blend together. But I…think, in the abstract, this is actually in our favor.

Putting on a smiling mask, Rachel chuckled. “I must have imagined it. Shall we?”

“Oh, okay?” Green nodded, putting away her weapons and forcing a return smile. “Butter has everyone on edge.”

“Major…you’re bad. It could be bad for Green but not us.”

There’s no way to tell unless we pull the thread and make it more visible. Sometimes, you just have to let misfortune play out.

“Easy to say when we’re the ones always guiding it.”

So far, it’s worked out in our favor.

“For the most part…”

Green rubbed her arm, probably still unnerved about the thought of being watched. Her silvery-blue hair, tied back into a ponytail, weaved against her shoulders as she looked left and right, scanning the throng.

“Well, alright then. Walk with me.” Green gestured toward the relatively isolated area between the buildings, leading toward the store’s rear. “You’re sure we’re not being spied upon? I made sure Black knew I didn’t want her rats sniffing around.”

“Haha. I mean, I can’t be sure, but there are always risks,” she deflected, knowing if Green’s ears were as sharp as hers, she’d be able to tell a typical lie with heart fluctuations. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing… This is tough news.”

“Yeah…” Green swallowed a lump in her throat, glancing back the way they’d come.

Rachel followed her gaze to Black and Red, standing beside Snow as she asked for more details about how they were doing personally. “Can Red hear us?”

“She has good hearing,” the new CEO mumbled, “but she’s easily distracted and is more likely to crash the discussion, demanding to be a part of it than listening in.”

“…Are we sure she’s in her thirties?” Rachel snorted.

“Red has…her own special personality,” Green returned with a stressed laugh, scratching her brow. “There’s a reason she was…groomed into being Little Red Ridinghood. Anyway…”

They moved past humming generators and communication arrays until they reached a section where the walled back and supercenter’s empty loading dock came into view. Green's emerald-green eyes swept the horizon before she spoke.

“Do you believe everything Butter told you? About what Fables really are?”

Rachel considered the question carefully, weighing a few responses; often, it was how something was said, not what was said.

“I have to give a nuanced take… The part about soul and multiverse harvesting to create unstable imitations while building an environment they can gain a foothold in? Probably. Butter doesn’t strike me as someone who lies…which is very rare for me. She seems too entertained by uncomfortable truths and is trying to create genuine connections… She’s rare, like Maria. Only her motivations are different.”

Green’s ears twitched. “That’s what I was afraid of…” She paused, clearly gathering courage for what came next as she flexed her fingers. “There’s more to it than what Butter explained that I’m getting…kind of nervous about.”

“About what happened after Ali Baba’s realm collapsed.”

“No…not that. Something that…White taught us to do just after The Oscillation.”

Finding her wrist behind her back, Rachel pressed down on the base of her tail, applying pressure to keep her heart steady. “You think you made a mistake, and that Adele played White…or that she’s involved with the Scarlet Hand?”

“No. She’s absolutely not in league with the Scarlet Hand,” Green vehemently denied. “No, but if it’s true, what Butter said…then we are walking nukes, waiting to explode with Eldritch monsters. And I’m wondering if…if White actually knew that and so she taught us how to expel our villains to destabilize that effort,” Green continued, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper.

Rachel stopped.

That explanation circled in her mind, processing and fitting into various other puzzle pieces as Green watched her reaction from the side.

“You’re saying…you expelled your fictional villains into our world? How would that work? My understanding is that Morgiana couldn’t exit without being erased.”

“Yes, for the most part,” Green shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable. “We weren’t supposed to tell this to anyone, but…but I’m pretty sure White knows a lot more than she’s telling us. She is the type to carry all the burdens and shoulder responsibility herself.”

Rachel’s mind flipped into overdrive, head tilting ever so slightly to the side. “If you remove the most corrupting part of your fable, then you destabilize the corrupting Seed’s effects… You’re removing the catalyst. It’s a solid plan.”

“That’s my thoughts, as well, but hearing your report about what you remember during Ali Baba’s realm collapse…”

“Yeah. What happens to those figures?” Rachel returned. “Because, if your villains are on the same power level as the Sultan or Dark Djinn in Ali Baba’s realm… We have a problem,” she mumbled, vision narrowing. “I could hardly keep up with the Sultan with the Blood Moon, when I was literally creating nuclear detonations by simply moving.

“For the djinn, it took the collapsing of the realm itself to give Grace enough juice to destroy the ultimate bad of that world… And he still survived. Are you saying those kinds of entities are what, just walking around among us?”

“What I fear is that it could actually, mmm…possibly make them stronger. Not on the outside,” Green hastily corrected at Rachel’s lifted eyebrows.

“So, they’re weaker on the outside?” she pressed, feeling misfortune’s threads shifting drastically with this news but in a similar way to what happened to her brother.

Hidden threads, Rachel mumbled to Nia as Green struggled to find a good way to reply. Those watching us seem to be getting agitated by this information. It’s harmful to us, in the short term…but helpful in the long term.

“You aren’t going to stop it.”

It doesn’t affect my immediate family, but does seem to have a glancing effect against Green… She can take it. I think she’d agree if it brought them out of the shadows.

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

Rachel restrained herself from rolling her eyes at the sarcasm as Green continued.

“Yes, quite a bit weaker. The issue is whether they’re able to return to the Fable Realm after an extended period of time in reality. White said they probably wouldn’t last the year out here, no matter how strong they were. Morgiana wasn’t given all that power of corruption, like the villains are, which can sustain them longer.”

“And what did you do to them? Obviously, not let them roam freely?” she added with a strained laugh. “I think White would be smarter than that. Kill them?”

Green swiftly shook her head, ponytail whipping around. “If we killed them, rather than letting them starve and vanish, they’d slip back into the realm and reform as new entities, White said. They don’t want to disappear because their own ego, as they know themselves, would also be gone. So, we did try to have two teams waiting.”

Rachel nodded, rolling her fingers to tell her to go on.

“…But they still do have a lot of power after being kicked out,” Green grumbled, glaring at the floor. “They’re disoriented, sickly, and in an alien environment. We ejected them over deserts, the Arctic, and the ocean… Away from civilization. We had a team watching from afar, tracking them, and waiting for them to get weak enough to capture.”

Rachel grimaced. “I’m sensing a very bad turn to misfortune here for you. Containment always fails in like, every story. So…how many of these demigod-level threats got out? Several…more?” she hissed, the fable’s reaction causing Nia to groan internally.

Wincing, Green was now pacing. “One of the executives was in charge of it, and they…thought they could get it under control. Someone managed to do what should have been impossible, and breached our underwater prison…that is two miles deep into the crust… Half.”

She looked up, actual fear now in her eyes. “Half of the villains escaped, which is not several, but dozens. Several dozen. Including White's own antagonist—her stepmother, the original Evil Queen—was among those who’ve gone missing. I haven’t told her yet since…I only just found out when getting in contact with the rest of the executives.”

A stillness passed between them for several seconds before Rachel released a slow puff of air, scratching her neck and glancing off to the side; they were still being watched.

“Any leads?”

“Several have been found, but not captured yet. They’ve been given strange…artifacts that we’ve never seen before that are anchoring them, not near full power…but dangerous. We haven’t been able to find the Evil Queen. And…there was a vote regarding White.”

Rubbing between her eyes, Rachel held up her other hand to force a pause.

“First, does General Dallas know about this? We’re talking about the worst villains in fables potentially walking around the US.”

Green shook her head, looking guilty. “White kept this information restricted to Fable executives and those Fables involved, who needed that kind of assistance…not all of them in Fable. But after hearing what Butter said about how our Seeds function, I’m starting to see we can’t keep this to ourselves much longer.”

She gestured helplessly. “Now the executives have voted, and I couldn’t stop it—the vote was decided by one swing decision…and now White is being forced to return for a full evaluation after getting our reports. White was our secret keeper—the one who knew everything.

“They’re worried about what she told Butter…and I can see their concern. But, at the same time…this, right when we need her, because of the loose villains? I can already see the storm brewing. No one knows more about us than her…and I’m seeing that more and more clearly. She’s kept a lot secret from us.”

Rachel’s gut tightened, vision darting to the side as she felt a surge within her [7th Sense] again. There it is… I’m pretty positive this has to be connected to Fable now. Misfortune is shifting around Green and the rest of them. This isn’t related to us…but why is there a weird string tied to Maria within this cluster?

“Weird… Going to let her keep hanging a noose around her throat?”

C’mon. You’re being rather cynical today, Nia, Rachel internally huffed as she placed a hand on Green’s shoulder to show a bit more support. Is this because of the evolution or something deeper?

“Maybe I’m just frustrated at all the cloak and dagger…or maybe Butter is just affecting me with her energy. I trust you. I just know you tend to push way too hard sometimes, Major.”

That’s fair… Totally fair, she chuckled to herself.

Showing a confident smile, Rachel looked into Green’s frightened gaze, having been forced to shoulder the fallout of a massive internal collapse within her organization.

“I’ll help you figure it out, Green. I get it. We can’t do much right now, and yes, I have a feeling it will get bad… Really bad. In fact,” she hissed, closing one eye and tilting her head, “I feel, talking to me, I may have made it a lot worse…but we’ve got a huge anchor on our side that can help balance the scales. After all, Victory and Conquest are on our side,” she winked. “Plus, Karma’s a bitch.”

* — * — *

The Scarlet Hand’s hidden cabin nestled deep in the Montana mountains, its windows frosted with ice that sparkled like fractured diamonds. The sun gleamed outside, gradually warming the zone. Yet, inside, artifacts hummed with contained power as the Legend of Adelaide Herrmann browsed all of her new toys—she wasn’t alone.

Adjusting the silver threads woven through her midnight blue coat, her white Gibson Girl updo hairstyle remained perfectly arranged, despite the supernatural energies crackling through the space. One of her newest additions within her ranks had discovered this little treasure hold: a rather pretty blonde man who hid chiseled muscles beneath his formal attire.

“You are already pulling your weight, Franky…”

“What can I say? I live to serve,” came a cultured voice from the shadows. Tall, elegant, the Myth of Frankenstein stepped into the light, shoulder-length silky blond hair catching a mirror’s glow, bright blue eyes studying the scene with scientific interest. “Much of this is not linked to my research on the Fablekin Seeds, but provide a wealth of insight into other projects I’m invested in… I take it you want the bulk, though, Madam.”

“Oh, only the most valuable treasures, though I know that is subjective to a man like you,” she mused, the small top hat floating above her head rotated slowly as she studied the scrying setup, her green eyes sharp with calculated ambition as the woman in front of her worked.

“Mirror, mirror, reveal to me,” Regina's melodious voice commanded, “the tortoise who is as fast as a hare.”

The ornate-looking glass—wrought from liquid silver that flowed like mercury—shimmered to life. Within its depths, Green appeared with crystal clarity as she waited between two stores.

Frankenstein adjusted his glasses with a cheerful smile that didn’t quite reach his calculating gaze. “How do you suppose the interplay between a Fable Realm and a Legend World would play out? How wonderfully educational this will be. Do you think Red or Black will join Omen in their quest? Or what about the divinity within that necklace our young Lady of Conquest holds?”

“Doctor, I’d think you’d be more invested in Nungal’s revelation to the masses,” Adelaide acknowledged without looking away from the nervous, green-eyed woman. “The fact that there are such beings beyond the 7th Wall shows the aspirations of Babel are founded on solid ground. Your research has already proved most useful to the Tower.”

“Mmm. Nungal is a fascinating subject, true,” he mused, hands held perfectly behind his back while observing a grandfather clock in the corner. “Unfortunately, I do not put my efforts into fruit too high upon the tree, else I lose sight of that which is easily within my grasp.

“Science requires…measured steps, my dear, unlike the fantastical methodological elements of your magic. Soul harvesting machines, though?” he whispered, head tilting as he read the odd geometric shapes of the clock face. “The Scarlet Hand has crafted rather sophisticated experiments that attract my appetite…to a delightful degree.”

Regina’s reflection multiplied across the mirror’s surface, showing several groups and locations as she instructed the mirror to expand its view. Hate, anger, pain, and longing all flashed across the step-mother’s face upon catching sight of her adopted daughter—betrayal.

“It is likely that Red and Black will accompany Rachel… As for the plan. Snow White will be transported to DC tomorrow morning. Our window narrows. And…it appears our Lunar Hare has sharper senses than average. She is detecting my emotions within the magic, laced through the mirror.”

“Yes, well, Rachel is quite the problem,” Adelaide responded with a clipped tone. “I learned that in Elizabeth’s Legend Quest… It is best to work around her than through her. Method matters, as our lovely doctor here articulated last night. If we don’t target Rachel, then it is far easier to affect those around her… Russia proved that.”

“Then, when do you propose we enact our plan, Madam?” Frank asked, turning to show due deference to her, but she knew he had his own angle; this was business, and he was one of the best after everything pop culture did to the man.

“Mmm. Tonight,” Adelaide decided, her fingers trailing across the deep red stone floating between her collar bones. “While they’re distracted with their quest, heroics, and training… Has the former goddess discovered our observations, Queen Regina?”

“No. I have been careful when she is around. By viewing the past by several seconds, it bypasses any immediate detection. I will adjust that to include whenever I observe Rachel.”

“Wonderful.” Frankenstein’s cheerful demeanor never wavered, though his aura shifted subtly. “Tonight shows excellent conditions. And my…children? They’re eager to field test recent modifications.”

“Your three pets can handle any complications,” Adelaide absently replied. “But this operation requires precision, not brute force. We will collect Snow White without them even knowing she is gone…until it is too late.”

“And the Spirit of Conquest?” Frank inquired, moving to stand beside her.

Adelaide’s smile sharpened. “Well, that depends on whether Rumpelstiltskin’s information proves accurate, and so far it has… Then it changes everything.”

Sparks danced across her fingertips as she brought up her hand.

“Let the show…begin.”

She snapped her fingers.

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