Red Shoes & the 7 Dwarfs

Chapter 20: Red Shoes II?

"This is such a great day-" Prince Merlin inhaled deeply.

"To go walking in the forest?" Snow White teased.

"Yes. Now that our curses are broken, everyday feels perfect." He kissed her hand as she flushed bright red.

"Oh look, it's where we had our first kiss." Snow White blushed as Prince Merlin nodded, his cheeks becoming a soft pink.

"Your lips felt so warm that day. And you gave me my good luck charm." Prince Merlin still kept it inside his pocket.

"I can't believe you kissed it in hopes to become the 'real you.'" Snow White giggled as Prince Merlin rolled his eyes.

"Well, I thought it was important to at least be tall enough to kiss you more easily." He leaned over and kissed her cheek as she playfully pushed him away. The children giggled as they looked around for flowers and things.

"Hmm, well the sun's starting to set, so we should head back." Snow White sighed as Prince Merlin agreed.

"Help!"

"Did you hear that?" Snow White turned around.

"I did. Don't go rushing off, let's wait-" Prince Merlin started, but Snow White was already going in the direction of the cry for help as Prince Merlin cursed and ran after her.

"I said not to go rushing off like a knight in shining armor." Prince Merlin caught up to Snow White as she shrugged.

"Force of habit. Look, there's footprints." Snow White pointed in the direction of the seven dwarfs' home.

"Hmm, so it seems. Stay behind me."

"Ok, I'll watch your back. You three stay here." Snow White looked at the children as they nodded their heads. Prince Merlin looked around but didn't see any signs of anyone.

"It's too quiet." He said in a whisper as Snow White agreed. Suddenly a thundering boom was heard as fire came hurdling towards them.

"Dragon!" Prince Merlin pulled Snow White into him as he hit the floor and rolled away.

"Use your magic!"

"Right!" Prince Merlin checked on Snow White and turned to face the dragon as he noticed it held a princess.

"I'll save the princess; you focus on the dragon!" Snow White commanded as he nodded; he knew there was no stopping her when she set her mind to do something.

"Right, get ready big fella, because I have a beautiful woman to impress!" Prince Merlin clasped his hands together as blue energy began to form as he hurdled it at the dragon; its grip loosened on the princess and she managed to sneak out and made her way down its scales as Snow White helped her run away.

"Are you alright?" Snow White looked at the princess and gasped.

"You look like me!" Snow White swore the princesses looked like Red Shoes.

"Excuse me? Like you? I'm not five-hundred pounds." The princess was clearly insulted, but she looked exactly like Red Shoes.

"I don't weigh five-hundred pounds. Where did you come from?" Snow White asked.

"I've been searching for Prince Merlin. You see, I'm his fiancé." She held out her hand where a huge diamond ring sat on her left ring finger.

"Who are you?" Snow White was baffled.

"My name is Princess Carmela, fiancé of Prince Merlin. And you are? A distant cousin I suppose."

"No, I'm Merlin's girlfriend."
"I beg your pardon?"

"Are you two ok? The dragon's gone. You ok Snow?" Prince Merlin made sure she had no injuries.

"Fine, but I'm really confused. This is Princess Carmela, your fiancé. Or at least she claims to be."

"Princess Carmela? Oh gosh, that was forever ago. You kept that imitation ring I made for you?" Prince Merlin laughed as Princess Carmela was clearly flustered.

"Excuse me, but yes I did. Merlin baby, you said we were going to get married and you never saw yourself with anyone but me. So who's this girl claiming to be your girlfriend?"
"I'm not claiming to be his girlfriend, I'm his intended." Snow White interjected.

"Whatever." Princess Carmela turned her nose up at Snow White as she turned to look at Prince Merlin.

"Look, Princess Carmela, if I ever proposed to you, I'm sorry. It was a mistake. Snow White is the only woman for me. And I told her father King White that I intend to marry her."

"Hmph, you don't fool me. The Merlin I knew would never look twice at a girl like this." Princess Carmela waved her hand over Snow White offensively as Snow White bit her tongue.
"Well the Merlin you knew is long gone. So if that's the person you were expecting to marry, then he's no longer around. If you'll excuse me, I've got to take Snow home. Golden Goose Avenue is that direction." Prince Merlin pointed as Princess Carmela scoffed in astonishment.

"You haven't seen the last of me. I will make you keep to your promise!" Princess Carmela pointed her finger at Snow White as she stormed off toward Golden Goose Avenue.

"Good luck with that. You'd think no one's ever said 'no' to her. It's hard to fathom how someone so beautiful can be so irrational and rude." Snow White rolled her eyes as she and Prince Merlin made their way back to the children, then the castle.