Tales From the Cave-Megan Morse and the Seven Dwarves

Mirror Mirror

"Please, Your Majesty!" An elderly man was on his knees before his monarch. "I need more time to pay my mortgage! My crops have failed, and all my sheep have died in the flood!" He folded his hands together and wrung them in front of him, pleading with his ruler. "Your Majesty, I beg you! Won't you take pity on a poor old man, whose late wife and children have left him all alone?"

He looked up at the person deciding his fate. She sat on a grand throne made from solid gold and covered in the softest red velvet, the seat stuffed with ostrich feathers. She wore an elegant gown crafted from only the finest forest green silk with a slit up the side, a tight V-neck, and a deep plunge in the back. She had on high heels made of the sturdiest leather and covered in matching green silk. A choker of pure gold circled her throat, with an ruby drop pendant dangling from it. She had gold bracelets hanging from her wrists, holding up silvery transparent veils.  Her raven black hair fell past her shoulders, held in place with her golden crown, decorated with rubies.

She stood up from her throne, her shoulders back, her head held high, glaring at the commoner before her.  "Do you take me for some soft-headed fool?!  If I extend the date on your mortgage payment, than everyone else will expect me to do the same for them!  I cannot risk that!"  She swept her arm in front of her, pointing to the door.  "OUT!"  The guards dragged him away, kicking and begging.  "Please, Your Highness!  Have mercy!"

The doors slammed shut behind them, and Queen Bee turned to her advisor.  "I will take no more requests.  Any more people seeing me, send them away."  He bowed low at the waist. "Yes, Your Majesty."  He hurried out of the throne room.  She walked down the winding maze of hallways towards her quarters.  She looked at the two officers guarding her doors.  "Let no one inside while I am in.", she commanded them.  They nodded in understanding.

Inside, her chambermaids were cleaning her room, making the bed, dusting her shelves, polishing her gold, and other things that needed tidying up.  When they saw her enter, they all dropped what they were doing and bowed their heads low, staring hard at the ground, none of them daring to make eye contact with their Queen.  She looked straight ahead as she walked past the female servants, who were all waiting for her command.  Finally, she stopped and said calmly yet firmly, "Out."

The maids didn't need to be told twice. They scurried out of the room like frightened mice. The door shut behind them, leaving Queen Bee alone in her bedroom. Looking around to make sure no one was around, she walked over to where a thick red velvet curtain hung over something. She reached out with her hand and thrust it over her shoulder, unveiling a beautiful crystal glass mirror, framed with pure gold and covered in precious jewels. Clearing her throat, she called out in a cold, yet somewhat pleased voice, as dark black smoke appeared beneath the surface of the mirror.

"Magic Mirror, on the wall,
Tell me who is the fairest of all."

She looked at her perfectly manicured nails and waited for the mirror's usual answer. Seconds later, she heard it's deep, raspy bellow at her, and listened carefully to it's words.

"My Queen, if you'd asked just yesterday,
None as lovely as you, is what I would say.
But there is another girl I see
Who's beauty far surpasses thee.
Yes, you are quite fair, 'tis true..."

The smoke cleared to reveal an image of Miss Martian, wiping tears from her eyes as she sat on her bed.

"...but M'gann M'orrz is fairer now than you."

Queen Bee whipped her head towards the mirror, staring wide-eyed at the vision in it's crystal.  "WHAT?!"  Her scream was so loud, the entire royal palace shook, and all the animals desperately fled.  She grabbed the mirror by it's frame and screeched, "How can that be?!  How can that wretched little brat be fairer than me?! I have spent years, YEARS, practicing witchcraft to keep my looks!  I have mastered all thirteen forms of the Dark Arts to give me eternal youth and beauty!"

She paced back and forth in front of the mirror. "This can't be happening to me! Miss Martian is a measly sixteen years old! She's only a mere child! How can she be more beautiful than I am?!" She looked at the mirror, her face turning purple with rage. "How dare you!" The mirror filled with dark fog as it spoke once more.

"There is no need to be uncouth.
You know I only speak the truth."

Queen Bee regained her posture. "You're right.", she said calmly. "No need losing my temper over your honesty." She tapped her chin, thinking hard. "If you can only speak what is true, than my only option is to change what is true." Her lips stretched out into a sinister grin, showing all her teeth as an idea entered her thoughts. "We'll see just how fair M'gann M'orrz is...when she's DEAD!" Her evil laugh echoed through the halls of the royal palace.
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The grand double doors flew open as the top Biaylian soldier entered the throne room.  "You wanted me?"  Queen Bee rose from her throne, standing tall and proud, like a true monarch.  "Yes.  I did."  She slowly walked down the steps of the podium as she spoke to him.  "I need you to do a little job for me."  She brought up a holographic projection of a lovely young girl with smooth green skin and long red hair.  "Do you know this girl?"

He reluctantly shook his head. "This is Miss Martian, AKA M'gann M'orrz. She is a member of the pesky team of sidekicks for the Justice League. She is also a threat to my position as the fairest one of all." She looked back at the solider. "I suggest we kill two birds with one stone. I want you to find M'gann M'orrz, hunt her down, chase her to the ends of the earth." Her piercing black eyes narrowed into slits. "And once you finally corner her...kill her. Straight and simple. If you fail me, well...you know the consequences."

The soldier nodded in acknowledgement. He got up to leave the room when Queen Bee stopped him. "Oh, before you go...one last detail." She picked up something that was being covered by a sleek sheet of royal blue color. "After you've killed her, rip out her heart, and bring it to me...in this." With a flourish of her wrist, she threw off the sheet to reveal a wonderfully crafted box carved of Spanish wood and leather. The latch was a dagger plunging into a red heart.

The soldier stepped forward. "Your wish is my command, my Queen." He took the box from her, and hurried out of the room to obey her demands. Queen Bee smiled like the cat that ate the canary. "We'll see who's the fairest after this."