The Snake and the Mouse (A Reverse Fairy Tale)

The Beginning... and the End

Once upon a time, in a land far away, the Animal Kingdom ruled over all.

In this Kingdom, all snakes were untrustworthy tricksters... except one. Snarky was an emerald serpent who just wanted a companion, but nobody wanted to be friends with a snake.

To make matters worse, Snarky's family shunned him for being, as they called it, "snarky", hence the name. He was only trying to tell them that maybe they should treat everybody else as more than just food! Because of that, they kicked him out. So there he was, homeless, starving, and hated, slithering along the sand.

But then, came a mouse named Smiley. Everybody loved Smiley, for he always had a smile on his face and was always happy, and funny. But, he was still prey. So he had to keep a watchful eye out for predators. But he didn't see Snarky in all his focus. So they ended up colliding into each other. Snarky tried to apologize but Smiley was so terrified that he ended up running away. Snarky slithered to catch up with him so he could apologize. Then, Smiley tripped. Snarky finally caught up with him and quickly started apologizing before the quivering mouse had time to run away.

"I'm very sorry, Sir! I wasn't looking where I was going! I'm just very hungry and I have nowhere to go!" Snarky quickly said.

Smiley stopped shaking and the look of terror on his face was replaced by confusion and caution.

"You're not going to eat me, right?" he asked carefully.

A look of horror took over the snake's face and he screamed out "NO! WHY WOULD I EVER?!"

"Because you're a snake? And I'm a mouse?"

"Well... I'm not like other snakes... I'm a herbivore... all I ever wanted was a friend and I'll do anything to get one"

A look of shock passed over the mouse's face before he began thinking very hard. Then, a smile settled on his face though not the same as before.

"I'll be your friend!" announced Smiley.

Snarky gasped and asked him if he was serious.

"Would I lie to you?" Smiley asked.

"...No?" Snarky asked skeptically.

"Great!" Smiley exclaimed and fragged his new friend along.

"Where are we going?" Snarky asked.

"Why, to my place of course! You look tired so you can have a nap and I'll fix us dinner!"

"Ok!"

After about ten minutes, they finally got home.

Smiley got Snarky a bed ready, and Snarky went to sleep.

But, Smiley didn't start dinner just yet. He got a knife and started stabbing the poor snake in his sleep. Snarky screamed and writhed in agony, but eventually his corpse lay bloodied and beaten on the floor.

Thirty minutes later, three more mice came into the kitchen.

A female asked Smiley "What's for dinner, Sweetie?"

"Yeah, Daddy, what's for dinner?' the two little boys beside her asked, jumping in the air.

"Snake Stew!" the father exclaimed.

"Yay! Snake Stew!" they all exclaimed in joy.

(This was 499 words. Holy shit I made it just in time!)