The Everafter War (20 page)

But beside the hunger for confrontation, many of the Everafters were going through a rather different phenomenon that surprised everyone who witnessed it—the Everafters couldn’t help but be honest with one another. Maybe with so much on the line, people were giving their lives a second look. But the floodgates of truth swung open and Everafters rushed about confessing their undying love for one another. Ms. White and Morgan le Fay were nearly mobbed.

Still, there were some that were panicked. Snow gathered them together and gave them a pep talk. Sabrina watched her speak and how the recruits reacted to her. Perhaps it was Ms. White’s many years as a teacher, or perhaps she was just a natural leader, but she had a command over the crowd that amazed Sabrina. It was hard for Sabrina to believe this was the same woman who expressed so much self-doubt just days before. Snow told the troops that the battle would be dangerous, but it was well planned. She told them that people might be injured, but everyone was well trained. She told them that it was understood that fighting back was a tremendous risk, but that their names would be synonymous with the word
hero
and they would be celebrated wherever Everafters lived, either in Ferryport Landing or beyond. Sabrina watched their nervous faces harden and their frightened eyes transform into fire. When Snow walked away the group was demanding to be launched at the Scarlet Hand. They couldn’t wait to fight.

“She’s impressive,” a voice said behind Sabrina. Prince Charming stood behind her watching his former girlfriend.

“You should tell her that yourself,” Sabrina said.

Charming shook his head. “I don’t want to encourage it. She could get hurt. I want to keep her safe.”

“That’s not what she needs from you,” Sabrina said.

“Bah! You’re just a child,” Charming snapped. After a long moment he spoke again. “Did she say something to you?”

Sabrina nodded. “Yes, but I don’t think she’d appreciate it if I repeated it to you. Let’s just say that treating her like a china doll is not going to work.”

Mr. Seven approached.

“Are they assembled?” the prince asked the little man.

Seven nodded. “Some are waiting in the Hall of Wonders and the rest of the soldiers are moving there now.”

“Very good, my friend,” Charming said, patting Mr. Seven on the back. “I think tonight a few of us are going to become legends. You included. But know this, if you get killed out there I’m going to fire you.”

“I don’t work for you anymore,” Seven said through a smile.

“Details, details. If you ever plan on working for me again, then you better stay alive. Understand?”

Seven nodded and reached out his hand. The two men shook respectfully, then Mr. Seven raced away.

“Have you noticed that despite everything we did to change the future a lot of it is happening anyway?” she asked the prince.

Charming nodded. “And a lot sooner.”

“Maybe we can’t avoid it.”

Charming shook his head. “I was in the future longer than you, child. I know what happens and when it happens. That gives us an advantage. Don’t worry. Tomorrow is not set in stone.”

The troops gathered beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Hall of Wonders. Charming entered and joined Snow White, Robin Hood, and Mr. Canis at the front of the crowd. He called for everyone’s attention and the Everafters grew still.

“There has been a lot of talk about fighting against the Scarlet Hand. Now it is time to tell you how you’re going to win.”

Sabrina and her family watched from the back of the crowd. Mirror had joined them and seemed quite interested in the plan. It was explained in complicated detail but when Charming was finished Sabrina understood that the assault would be on the Ferryport Landing Marina. It sat on the very edge of town only half a block from Sleeping Beauty’s former coffee shop. Charming claimed that he had spies living outside of Ferryport Landing, and according to their reports the Scarlet Hand was receiving shipments of supplies and magical weapons from Everafters sympathetic to the Master’s plans. If the troops could destroy the dock, there would be no place for the supply ships to land, thus cutting off a valuable source of aid to the evil army.

To accomplish this, Charming claimed the army needed a four-pronged attack. The first assault would be commanded by a new volunteer—Goldilocks. Sabrina was shocked to hear the woman had joined the effort and looked to her father. He seemed distressed but said nothing. Since Goldilocks had the unique ability to speak with animals, she would direct a literal air force of non-English–speaking birds who would draw the fire of the Hand’s guards. While the enemy was focusing on the birds, Robin Hood would launch a second assault with his trained archers, raining arrows down on any Scarlet Hand soldiers guarding the marina. After the first wave of arrows was launched, Mr. Seven would lead a team of Lilliputians and other small Everafters down to the docks, where they would attach explosives to the marina right under the nose of the Hand.

“Then we drop the hammer,” Prince Charming explained. “King Arthur’s knights will storm the docks and run off the guards. Anyone foolish enough to stick around will face Camelot’s swords and shields.”

“And what do I do?” Snow said. She was visibly angry. “If you think you’re going to prevent me from fighting so you can keep me safe you better think again.”

“Relax, Ms. White,” Charming said. “You’ve got the best job of the whole attack. You get to push the plunger on the explosives.”

Snow raised her eyebrows. “I get to blow everything up?”

Charming nodded.

“Oh.” Snow smiled. “I’m a big fan of this plan.”

“What about you, Canis?” Puss in Boots asked the old man. “What’s your part in this plan?”

“My assistant and I will be fighting our own battle tonight,” the old man replied. From behind him stepped Red Riding Hood. He placed his wrinkled hand on her shoulder. “Red has made tremendous progress. We have hopes that together we can reveal the identity of the Master.”

Prince Charming gestured into the crowd. “And now, Friar Tuck has offered to lead us in a prayer.”

A bald, overweight man with a veiny nose stepped forward. He had kind eyes and a childlike face. “Let us join hands and lower our heads.”

Sabrina felt Daphne slip her hand into her own, and Mr. Boarman’s hand took the other. Geppetto held hands with the Scarecrow. Rip Van Winkle held hands with Jack Pumpkinhead. Beauty held hands with Frau Pfefferkuchenhaus. Though they all held their own beliefs and traditions, many entirely unique from all the others, they stood silently hoping for the safety of themselves and others, for the success of their fight, and for the enlightenment of their enemies. Sabrina lowered her head and did the same. She hadn’t been to church since her parents’ abduction and wondered if anyone would still listen to her in heaven, but she closed her eyes and whispered her hopes anyway.

That night, the troops put on whatever armor they possessed, picked up their shields and weapons, and filed through the massive gates of the fort. Sabrina and her family stood by, waving to everyone and wishing them the best of luck. So many familiar faces passed by with no guarantee they would ever return. Pinocchio watched as his father marched to war. Geppetto’s uniform was too big and he was having a difficult time with his bow and quiver, but he continued onward.

“Watch my boy, Relda,” he said.

Granny nodded. “Just until you get back, Geppetto.”

“Farewell, Papa!” Pinocchio said.

Uncle Jake, dressed in his long jacket, trailed behind. When Granny spotted him with the other soldiers she cried and begged him not to go.

“I have to, Mom,” Uncle Jake said.

“This is not your fight, Jake,” Henry said, joining the argument.

Uncle Jake turned and pointed at Briar’s grave. “It is now.”

A moment later he and the troops were gone. Together, the family pushed the heavy doors closed and locked them the way the guards had shown them. Sabrina could still hear heavy boots marching and fading away.

“They’re not ready,” Sabrina whispered to her grandmother.

The old woman nodded sadly. “No one is ever ready for war.”

The waiting was excruciating. Sabrina couldn’t sit still and walked about the fort aimlessly. She stopped by the new clinic and waved to Nurse Sprat, who was busy eating a pulled-pork sandwich. Nurse Sprat was a nervous eater, and considering her already rotund shape, Sabrina was sure a legendary binge was going to take place that night.

Hours passed, and the family huddled together in the mess tent. They said nothing to one another but their worried eyes spoke loud and clear. Even Elvis was fidgety as he chomped at a fly that kept resting on his nose.

After some time, Pinocchio approached, and his smiling face seemed to dissolve some of the tension. He carried a burlap sack slung over his back and seemed excited by its contents. Sabrina wondered how he could be so positive with his father off to war.

“I come bearing gifts,” the little boy said, setting his sack on a table and untying the string that held it tight. “They’re not much but I hope you enjoy them.”

He took out a marionette and handed it to Sabrina. She peered at it closely and smiled when she realized it looked just like her. The figure had blond hair and blue eyes and even had her little dimple on its right cheek. She marveled at its intricacies all the way down to the dingy sneakers and her favorite blue shirt. The limbs clanked in her hands as the strings went this way and that.

“What are these for?” Daphne said, when Pinocchio handed her one that looked just like her.

“You have all been such wonderful friends to my dear father,” the boy said. “I wanted to find some small token of thanks. I do say they manage to capture some of your qualities.”

Granny Relda smiled as she looked down at her marionette, which wore a bright pink dress with a matching bonnet—complete with a sunflower painted in its center. “I love it,” she replied.

Pinocchio was elated and smiled his big toothy grin. He reached into his sack and removed marionettes for Henry and Veronica. Puck’s featured his filthy green hoodie.

There was even one for Elvis.

“It’s nearly as good looking as I am,” Puck said, admiring his gift.

“Pinocchio, these are truly remarkable,” Granny said.

“You must have worked so hard,” Veronica added.

“One can be quite industrious when one has the right inspiration,” the boy said.

“I don’t know what to say,” Henry said. He moved the strings and his marionette did a funny little dance.

“If I knew we were giving presents I would have gotten you something,” Sabrina said, slightly embarrassed.

“Well, there is something you could do to return the favor,” the boy said.

“Name it,” Daphne said.

“I was hoping Sabrina might instruct me in the methods of the flying magic carpet. I find it most curious but did not want to get in the way of the soldiers. Now that they are gone I would be grateful for a lesson.”

Sabrina nodded and looked at her marionette. “For you, anything. You chose not to paint this thing green so you’ve got a friend forever.” She flashed Puck an angry look. The Trickster King laughed at her and manipulated his marionette so it bent down and stuck its rump at her.