Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
The sky is blue and the birds are singing, and they’re all sort of plumply feathered, and from time to time we see a fluffy bunny and his fluffy bunny friends gamboling across the pristine grass meadow as the ship lowers toward the ground.
Charming has requested we be set down a good distance from his castle, but the geography of Ever After means that you are never really out of view of the castle. The great construction atop the singular mountain in the middle of the plains dominates the view even from many, many miles away. We disembark with our little retinue and stand about as the ship levitates back up in the air.
“It’s been restored,” I note. “It’s a miracle.”
“It’s no miracle,” Charming says. “It’s not so much that it has been restored, as it is I have not been here.”
I give him a curious look. He is not usually given to self-deprecation.
“You can’t blame yourself for the weather,” I tell him. “That’s basically what this is. Weather. Sometimes the lands are dark. Sometimes the lands are fine. It’s not always about you.”
Charming smiles at me as if he finds me very endearing. “I so very much wish that was true,” he replies. “But this is Ever After, and the king sets the tone. One of true heart will bring peace and prosperity to the land. A corrupt or cursed king will destroy it.”
“Which are you? Corrupt or cursed?”
Before Charming can answer me, the sky thunders.
“YOU DARE RETURN!?”
That is the booming voice of Balthazar somehow being thrown across the sky itself. Our presence has been noted almost immediately. So much for stealth.
“Looks like the wizard knows we’re here!”
“You sound excited about that,” he says.
“I am excited,” I say. “I’m going to use this sword for something worth using it for. Can we incarnate some unicorns or something? Or are we going to be tramping for days to get to the castle? Feels like we should have just landed there and charged right in.”
“Perhaps,” he says. “But perhaps not. The castle is occupied by a powerful magical force, and running into it unprepared is unwise. Balthazar is aware of our presence and will be ready for us.”
“Oh, so we’re going to prepare? How? We need some kind of a montage?”
Lady Feathering utters a subtle little cluck. “If it pleases your highness, I may be able to transport the two of you on my back. I can fly quite well, people are often surprised by my prowess.”
Charming looks doubtful, so I take the opportunity to big this plan up.
“See, that’s how true heroes arrive in a dragon-haunted realm. On the back of a talking chicken.”
“Don’t forget me!” Luck appears with his charming grin. “A little luck and a feisty chicken-in-waiting, that’s all you need to reclaim your throne, Charming.”
I blush upon seeing him, remembering the last time I was in Luck’s sway, how his hands cupped my head as he sluiced his cock in and out of my mouth, finding my throat without making me gag due to the magical nature of his cock. He face-fucked me quite sternly, in fact. He catches my eye and winks, making the heat flush me even more.
“True kings know that to claim castles, sieges are laid,” Charming says. “We should starve him out.”
“COME HERE, YOU IMPUDENT LITTLE SHITS!”
We are all swept up off our feet like pawns being swept off a board by a petulant hand, except instead of being scattered into the sea, we are drawn to the castle itself, transported by pure magic at an astonishing rate. Luck dissolves in the process, abandoning us, or perhaps destroyed by Balthazar’s magic.
We find ourselves in the great hall, which has been festooned in big banners of purple with great B’s for Balthazar upon them. The dark wizard has certainly been decorating in the interim. His insignia has replaced Charming’s absolutely everywhere. Even the goblet in his hand bears a great big B on the front of it. The wizard has trimmed his beard and upgraded his clothing. He is wearing black and purple, and regards the pair of us like a disgruntled homeowner who having sprayed for bugs, finds two of them in his salad.
“Remember,” he says. “I gave both of you the chance to avoid this ending. You insisted on returning. You have forced my hand.”
“You killed my father and stole my throne,” Charming exclaims.
“Yes. Well. We’ve all done some things other people regret,” Balthazar replies. He has a kind of suaveness about him, a lack of general fuck giving.
“Did Balthazar become cool while we were away?” I whisper the question to Charming.
“Cool? What? I assume he is normal temperature,” Charming hisses back.
“What nonsense are the two of you prattling on about?” Balthazar continues to be irritated. “I have brought you here to end this once and for all, do you not understand? What an absolute waste of a kingdom on the likes of the two of you. Neither one of you appreciate what you have, the girl because she’s an alien, and you, Charming, because you are, and have always been, a fucking idiot.”