Ted the tubby

Doging the Truth

Jessie the Brave used to be Jessica Baker, the extremely attractive daughter of a laundry lady. Jessica lived in the slums, to put it bluntly. Her life was normal, chores, play, food, chores, play, a simple rhythm she followed gladly. And then one day, just like any other, everything changed.

"Jess keep up!" Jessica wore her blond hair in a braid back then. Her worn blue skirts matched her eyes. Marie, the small sister, was twelve and a firecracker, always running, always on her way to somewhere. Her vibrant red curtain of hair swished in front of Jessica's nose. The sister's laughter filled the woods. "Can't you keep up Jess? I'm only twelve! Fifteen year olds have much longer legs!" Jessica ducked around a tree. Marie glanced around, looking for her older sister. Jessica waited, and the raced from the tree, screaming "Last one to the house loses!" From behind another tree, yellow eyes stalked the sisters.

"Inahan, where are you going?" A young witch with raven wings stood in the doorway and watched her mother pack knives in a bag. "I have seen a rare specimen. Red hair, an extraordinary shade." Inahan paused. "It must hold magic. I'll be back by nightfall, Sylvia."

The door to Jessica and Marie's room creaked open lighting Marie's beautiful red hair that was rippling over the bed. Inahan's yellow eyes glared through the moonlight at the hair. The embers of a dying fire burned in the fireplace and the twin beds sat simply next to each other. The sound of a cloak sliding over the ground awoke Jessica. Her sleepy blue eyes opened and beheld a stooped old woman. "Hello?" She called out, unaware of her danger. The woman ignored her. She stepped towards Marie and pulled a shiny knife from her bag.

Jessica grabbed the fireplace poker and hit her on the head.

"AGGGHH" Inahan screamed and thrashed, her claws slicing in every direction, the knife tumbling from her hands. That's when Jessica realized the cloak wasn't a cloak, that the old woman had an enormous pair of hawk wings. Jessica heaved the poker, realizing that this was a witch.

Inahan's figures shot daggers of light at Jessica, but she served and dogged each one. Marie woke up and began screaming. Mother and Father yelled at the door, but couldn't seem to do anything besides stand there and watch. Jessica stepped closer to Inahan, swiping out with the poker. Then, a light dagger caught Jessica on the cheek. She staggered back, clutching her cheek, but it wasn't bleeding, it felt numb, like a spell. Inahan moved in, growling.

And then Inahan fell.

It was Marie, wielding the silver knife, now buried in Inahan's back, just under the wings. The witch yelled and clutched at her back, but then went stiff and still. Jessica gasped holding Suddenly, Inahan's yellow eyes turned dark red. Smoke curled, almost delicately, off her claws, and flames filled her open mouth. Slowly and gently, the witch ignited into flame.

Jessica smothered the last of the flames with a blanket, unaware that Sylvia watched her do it. She blamed Jessica for this, for destroying her mother's witch fire. So it was three years in a tower, until Sir Bryan the Brave came along at last.

"What did you tell him?" Thursday sat at the kitchen table with a mug of tea in front of her. She looked slightly out of place in her normal looking kitchen, Sylvia looked even more odd with her giant raven wings. She avoided Thursday's eyes when she answered. "I told him we captured maidens to help them find love. And I trapped myself to find it too." Thursday reclined in her chair. "I don't think that he believes you." Sylvia stared off to the bedroom hallway. "I know. But I love him now, and I can't lose him." Thursday pushed her cup forwards and rolled her eyes. "I should stop using magic. Too many side effects. It's pesky. I mean look where you ended up, Sylvia."

Henry was exhausted. His body could hardly stay up on Chester, who also whinnied to rest. The armor was very heavy, it pulled Henry down. He needed to stop. He had seen a light, a small one, but a light all the same, so he headed that way. It was a house, a cottage really, with a thatched roof and square windows. He smiled and slid off of Chester. Henry's metal glove banged the door loudly. "Hello? If anyone's in here, I could sure use some help."

Thursday didn't want to open the door, but Sylvia insisted. Ted was wakened by the knocking and wandered inside the kitchen just when Sylvia and Thursday glamoured. Sylvia's wings vanished, her feathers disappearing. Thursday's legs corrected and her fur shrank into her skin, becoming a large red headed woman instead of a witch. Sylvia looked over herself and opened the door.

"Ted?" "Henry!" The two boys smiled at each other and shook hands happily. "Ted what are you doing here?" Henry asked. "It's long story." Ted replied. "First let me make introductions. That's Thursday and this is Sylvia." "Her name's Sylvia?" Henry asked rather loudly. Ted nodded. "And her name's Thursday." He continued, failing to notice that Henry's hand seized his sword.