Another Fairytale Story [REWRITTEN]

28

Mal was alone, just as Audrey was.

Audrey could've gloated, but Mal brought most of it on herself, so she couldn't take too much credit. That left Ben up next to bat, especially now that he had been turned back into a man.

Going after Carlos would've been too easy; whatever she did to him could be undone by a true love kiss. No, she had to hit Ben where it hurt. Who did Ben hold dearest to his heart besides his boyfriend? His sister, his best friend, the yin to his yang.

The question was, what should Audrey do? A sleeping spell or turning her to stone would not cause any distress to Ben, not if he was also turned to stone, and one of the options had already been undone with a true love kiss. She could undo true love, or at least try. Audrey wouldn't be able to do it on her own, no, for that she'd need Bella's true love. Well then, time to enlist some help.

Audrey returned to the crime scene to find the statues still intact and Mal gone. She didn't stress about her missing; Mal probably left to wallow in self-pity.

"Evie, dear, it's time to get up. I need you." Audrey tapped her cheek with the scepter twice, and with that, Evie was back.

It took her a minute to process the situation. Mal was gone, and her friends were turned to stone. Oh, and Audrey was there too.

Audrey was there too?!

"Audrey, what did you do?!" Evie was at least relieved that Bella had left and was able to avoid this, but that relief wouldn't last long.

"Oh, pipe down, they're fine, so long as I don't change my mind and tip them over." Audrey laughed, which creeped Evie out. "It was a joke, laugh." She did not. Audrey shrugged; it's not as if she cared about her comfort at the moment.

"Sticks and stones may break her bones, but your words will break her heart." Evie didn't get the chance to run or put up a fight before Audrey kissed her. It was quick; only needed to pass the magic of the words to Evie. Audrey then went to the garden, plucking a single rose from the bushes. The rose, a constant symbol of Adam and Belle's story, will now continue with their children. She returned to Evie and held it out to her.

"You're not done until every single petal and thorn has fallen. Now, go find Bella and break her heart."

Audrey was gone in a flash, leaving Evie alone with nothing but the rose and her task. Her eyes flashed green in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, and with that, she was off.

It didn't take Evie long to find Bella; in her weakened state, the princess wasn't able to maneuver through the woods as swiftly as she'd liked. She was dehydrated, starving, and every fall, hit, and bruise was catching up to her. That, and it was darker than earlier; it was a miracle no one had gotten lost yet.

"Who's there?" Bella jumped when she heard rustling in the bushes nearby. Apparently, she hadn't learned her lesson from her morning venture in the woods, but what else could the universe throw at her at this point? She could've ignored the noises, brushed them off to some nocturnal creature, but when she heard a branch snap, she knew it wasn't a little critter. 

"It's just me," Evie said as she approached from between the bushes. Bella relaxed at the sight of her; there was no threat here to worry about. She waited for the others to appear behind her, but it was just Evie, nothing to raise suspicions.

"Where are the others?"

"They went to find Audrey; they're fine without me. I had to come find you. I don't like how we left things. I have things I'd rather not leave unsaid." Bella nodded along, noting nothing unusual in her words. Had things escalated earlier? Absolutely, but she could not act innocent to any of it, and so she shall listen to what Evie has to say. That and there was nothing to be afraid of now that Evie was with her, she'd always feel safe in her presence.