I Will Always Love You - Empires SMP S2 AU: Nature Wives

Chapter 14: False Trust (Shelby)

Shelby never thought that a cod could make someone so delighted.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. She thought to herself as she handed the fisherman the stolen cod.

He recieved it with such a smile on his face that Shelby was surprised that his cheek bones didn't break. She was even more surprised when he bowed low to her, the fish clutched to his chest like his own child.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said, his companion coming over clutching the cod that they were originally bickering over, his eyes rimmed with respect, "I cannot thank you enough,"

"I'm glad I could help," Shelby said humbly, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly, "I'm sure Katherine would've done the same,"

The fishermen forced a smile, "I'm sure she would have,"

Shelby was going to ask what they meant but the fishermen were quick and made their excuses before she could even imply the question, the two thanking her once more before returning to their boats.

She watched them for a bit before turning to head back to Glimmer Grove castle, a small spring in her step.

The evening was calm, the birds in the long grass were chirpping to each other and crickets began to start hopping about.

The castle, despite recent corrosion, was standing proudly over its land, watching the devestation that the curse was doing closely.

Shelby pushed open the massive doors and stepped inside, closing them instantly.

The warmth of the castle was undeniably comforting, but Shelby couldn't help but feel something was amiss-

"Shelby!"

She span round at her name, clutching her wand tightly, startled by the sudden appearance of a person, "Grandma? What are you doing here?"

"Coming to find you. What else do you think I was going to do? Sit around on my butt while my granddaughter - my charge - galavanted over a cursed land? I don't think so missy," Guinevere looked around in admiration, "Nice place your girlfriend's got here,"

"Grandma?" Shelby asked, eyes wide.

"Are you going to keep repeating my name, or are you gonna finally spit your question out?"

"Who's looking after the Evermoore?" Shelby whinced, dreading the answer already by the look in Guinevere's eye.

"Tortoise is, of course,"

*

Tortoise now was absolutely sure of one thing.

He hated being human.

The world was at least 2 times smaller and he had five fingers (ok- four fingers, one thumb) on both hands as well as five toes. (Idk how many toes/fingers toads have)

And he was alone, the old lady had charged off somewhere and left Tortoise, alone in the house, in a body he had no idea how to use.

Running his fingers through his head of slicked back purple hair, he got up shakily from his favourite chair, testing his two gangly legs to see if they would take is weight.

He wobbled and staggered forward, falling forward onto his hands, crouching like a frog, the position feeling more natural than standing up.

Next he tried to move, jumping forward like a frog causing him to fall sadly onto his face.

He groaned aloud, causing him to miss the thudding of a fist on the door.

"Shelby, open up!"

Shelby...? The young Storm Witch...? But she wasn't here-

Tortoise remained deathly silent, ears straining to catch the snippets of conversation.

"Sausage? She's not here- why would she open up?" One of his companions asked.

"Shut up and let me build my tention," growled the knocker with the scratchy throat.

Tortoise scrambled to his feet, still crouching and scampered over to the far corner of the room where the broom was shaking itself awake. The confused frog in a human body grabbed the broom with both hands, holding it with a defensive stance, eyeing the door with fear.

The door creaked open ever so slowly, Tortoise's heart pounded in his human chest as shadows crept in through the door.

"Look, Sausage," said a different voice, "There's no one here,"

Three people were standing in the entrance. One wearing a pirate hat, one wearing a colorufully patched jacket and the third was as a shadow.

Their gaze immediately fell onto Tortoise and a wicked grin burst over Sausage's face.

"Told you there was someone here,"