Fire Princess

Chapter Fifty

While Phoenix and Ravan released years of held-back feelings, Good's heroes were busy training the students. Jay watched from the shade of a tree, pausing practicing magic for a second as he took in everyone training. Everyone had problems to start with. At first Dot resented being paired with old Red Riding Hood. ("Just 'cause we both like cake doesn't mean we'll get along," she grouched to Anadil.) Things got worse when Red Riding Hood didn't seem to have anything to teach her.

"Well, you can't outrun the wolf or beat him in a fight and he won't fall for any stupid tricks," mulled Red Riding Hood. "Best if you just do what I did when I was your age and scream for help. Maybe there'll be a woodsman nearby."

"That's your advice? Wait for a woodsman to possibly pass by?"

Red Riding Hood blushed, lost in her memory. "A handsome woodsman, who smells of leather and earth..."

"Look, Miss...Hood, the second that wolf sees you, he's going to come for you and try to rewrite your happy ending. I can't let that happen," Dot snapped, stifling the urge to bond over their similar taste in men. "If he kills you, the School Master will break the shield into the Reader World. You heard Merlin. Doesn't need more than one of you heroes dead!"

Red Riding Hood tapped a finger to her lips. "Chocolate, isn't it? That's your villain talent?"

"Oh for heaven's sake, do you know how much energy it takes for me to turn a toad or mouse into chocolate? I can't possibly turn a whole wolf—"

She saw Red Riding Hood grinning. "Who said I was talking about a whole wolf?"

As her jolly old mentor explained her plan, Dot found herself smiling wider and wider, suddenly realizing why Merlin had paired them in the first place. And indeed Red Riding Hood's plan was so good that by the time they'd perfected it four days later, Dot was pretending they'd come up with it together.

Meanwhile, Hester had been teamed with Hansel and Gretel, which was as awkward as it sounds.

"You said you didn't have a problem with them—" Anadil started.

"I meant I can be in the same house without killing them! Doesn't mean I can train with them!" Hester yelled.

The wheelchair-bound siblings had a similar revulsion to helping the daughter of the witch who'd tried to eat them. ("Does this one cook children too?" Hansel asked Gretel.)

Yet, despite their rocky start, the three of them soon found common ground.

"We are not friends, yes?" Hansel said to Hester. "But all of us want same thing: your mother back in grave."

"For the last time, that thing is not my mother," Hester retorted.

"Mmmm," said Gretel thoughtfully. "And yet not-your-mother still sees you as her daughter..."

Hester's eyes widened, catching on.

"What?" said Hansel, glancing between them. "What I'm missing?"

But now Gretel and Hester were grinning at each other. "The plan is clear, young witch?" said Gretel.

"Crystal," said Hester.

Gretel beamed at Hansel. "Merlin gave us smart one, eh?"

Hansel still looked lost.

"Smarter than your brother at least," Hester cracked.

Gretel gave her a high five.

Across the oak grove, Anadil was rankling over having to train with both Jack and Briar Rose. ("They're in love. Can't blame Merlin for wanting to keep them together," said Dot. "They can't even take a poo apart!" Anadil miffed.)