Ethan made a face as the fairy flitted away, "What's that supposed to mean?" He took on a mocking tone, "I suppose she thinks one day we'll change our minds. What a snob..." He rolled his eyes and headed his horse in the direction the fairy had pointed.
Prince Kelly had taken on a rather unpleasant demeanor ever since the other day. Briar Rose seemed rather fond of Ethan, so he couldn't just do something direct like... stab him in his sleep. What a bother. He'd have to try something that looked a little more like an accident... From what he'd overheard of their conversations, they were heading after some unknown person or people with almost god like powers. Chances were they weren't going to get back alive. Kelly just figured that at the first sign of danger, he'd make sure Ethan made a mistake, cast a spell wrong, whatever it took. Then he could convince Briar Rose to leave this silly journey and they could go back to his palace and...
He looked up as another fairy seemed to be speaking to Ethan. He didn't really care. He slumped lower in the saddle. He would prefer to avoid conversation with the annoying creatures altogether.
"Where are you travellers heading?" came a small voice.
Ethan shrugged, "we're just passing through."

Kelly was grateful when they had finally crossed through the strange land full of strange things. He was getting annoyed at all this travelling. Sure, he travelled plenty, but he knew how to do it with style. None of this sitting on a horse for hours on end. You had to pace yourself, enjoy the journey, not be in such a hurry. It took all the fun out of things.
He frowned as they passed by yet another inn. The sun was almost set and he really didn't want to keep going after dark. Night was the time to party, or find a good tavern, not sit around in a saddle. He pulled on his horse's reins.
"I think we should stop for the night." Kelly feined a yawn.
Briar Rose and Ethan turned their horses around. The princess looked at him with her large, soulful eyes, "Please just a little further Prince Kelly?"
He smiled and turned on the charm, "Anything for you princess."
Ethan rolled his eyes.
Prince Kelly urged his horse onward, "So what exactly are we looking for here princess?"
Briar Rose thought. "Well, we're looking for the thirteenth fairy."
Kelly faked amusement, "oh?"
"Yes." she continued, "She's the one that cursed me to sleep for a hundred years."
"Ah." nodded the prince, "So it's revenge then?"
"Not quite." Ethan coughed.
Prince Kelly narrowed his eyes in annoyance, "I don't believe I was talking to you pauper."
Ethan made a rude gesture in return. Briar Rose didn't see it, but Prince Kelly frowned. "Yes, well tell me then Princess Briar Rose, why it is that we're going to see this fairy then?"
"Because," she stated, "the fairy isn't really the one behind it all. We're only going there to see if she knows anything..."
Prince Kelly tried not to make a face. They don't even know if that fairy knows anything?! What kind of stupid journey is this?! "And if she doesn't?"
Briar Rose shrugged, "Then we'll keep looking till we find someone who does."
Ethan pointed ahead in the dim light. "We're getting to the border, I think this is it!"

* * * * *

"what? Is she okay?" Christopher overheard the girl talking with one of her colleages.
"She'll be alright, but I don't think she'll be able to sing tonight. We'll have to fill the time with something else."
The girl looked dejected and set the flyers down on a table. Christopher felt compelled to help her somehow. He didn't know what he could do, but he didn't like to see her looking sad like that.
"Um... excuse me..."
The girl and her companion, a much older gentleman who was dressed in a plain work shirt and slacks, turned at the sound of his voice.
"Well, I noticed you were in need of some help... so I thought maybe I could..."
The older man laughed, "Unless you know someone who can sing as well as our headliner Portia, I don't know if that's possible young man."
Christopher didn't give up. "Do... do you have a piano?"
The man sized him up and nodded slowly, "that we do young sir. We wouldn't be much of a music company if we didn't."
"I..." Chris paused nervously, "I can get the Frog Prince to play in her place."
They girl's eyes widened and the man just laughed, "how do you plan to do that? It's near impossible to even get a hold of his music these days!"
"Because..." Christopher took a deep breath. "I am the frog prince." He looked dismally at the ground. There was nothing but dead silence. That's it. They're gonna laugh you right out of here. You should just leave now and go after Ethan and Bri...
Chris looked up to see the older man looking thoughful. "Well, it's worth a try. Let's see what you've got kid."

Christopher carefully pulled on his costume and slipped his mask on backstage. He was feeling more and more at ease doing this. He'd have to remember to thank Ethan for getting him started. He was a bit anxious though, this was the first time he'd played on his own. He took a few deep breaths and looked up, startled as the freckled girl walked toward him. She looked at with a sort of admiration and he could feel his face turning red.
"You're really him, aren't you? It's like magic..." she whispered, a little embarassed.
Chris smiled akwardly, "y... yeah."
Her eyes danced with excitement, "I... I can't wait to hear you play."
Chris could feel his ears getting hot, "Thanks... I um... I don't think I ever got your name..."
This time it was the girl that turned red, "I'm sorry, I um, I'm Lyndsey, um, Lyn, you can call me Lyn."
"Lyn." he repeated. "I'm..."
"You're the prince... I know." she smiled.
He shook his head, "Christopher. Just Christopher."
The older, scruffier man, who, he discovered, was known to most as only "Neil," waved him over. "You clean up pretty good young man. Let's see what you've got!" He made a motion to one of the stagehands and the old, worn curtains parted smoothly. The crowd that had gathered was fairly sizable, close even to Chris' first performance. Neil walked out on stage and with a booming voice addressed the crowd.
"Good evening folks! I know you were all looking forward to Miss Portia's performance tonight, but tonight... we've got something even better in mind. May I present to you, that legendary musician, The Frog Prince!"
Christopher entered the stage with a lukewarm welcome from the crowd. They were rather obviously put out by the fact that Portia wasn't playing, and seemed pretty skeptical about Chris' credibility. He held his shaky hands still as he sat before the piano. The crowd hushed, anxious to see if this was the real thing and not just another imposter. He took a deep breath and began to play.
By the end of the first song the crowd was cheering. Neil had to bring out a magic sound amplifying item just so Chris could be heard over the crowd. Christopher felt relief flood through him. Living up to legends wasn't easy. The feeling he got on stage while performing was like his own kind of magic. He finished the final number and the crowd cheered for more. He gave them a brief wave before the curtains closed and he walked offstage. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand and breathed a sigh of relief.
"You did it kid, you really did it." Neil patted him on the back, "I'll admit, I was pretty skeptical at first, but it seems you really are who you say you are. Which means I probably shouldn't be calling you kid... how old are you anyway?"
Chris smiled, "It's a bit of a long story..."

* * * * *

Ethan carefully knocked on the door of the tiny house. The door barely came to the top of his head, and the entire house was probably only twice his height. The sun had just gone down and a chill was starting to float through the air. Briar Rose rubbed her arms as they waited.
The door eased open just a sliver and Ethan could see an eye staring back at them. "Who there?" a voice demanded.
Briar Rose stepped forward and spoke up. "I am... Princess Briar Rose... I..."
The door creaked open a bit more. "Princess? You're alright? "
Briar Rose shook her head and looked a little nervous, "Well, um... yes... I suppose I am... but... I was wondering... could my companions and I ask you some questions?"

"Ah, I understand now. I'm so relieved." the fairy smiled and handed them some tea and cakes. They had all crammed into the fairy's sitting room, which really wasn't meant for quite so many large sitters. The prince had managed to get a seat on the small couch next to Briar Rose and Ethan was stuck with one of the small overstuffed chairs. He was certain they were comfortable for smaller fairies, but he was also certain that if he had to sit like this for very much longer his rear end would be falling asleep.
"So is there anything you can tell us?" Ethan began.
The fairy nibbled at her cake, "An elven man came by here a while ago. He asked the same question. I'm afraid I can't tell you much." She looked at the princess. "I'm truly sorry for what happened."
"It's alright." Briar Rose gave a wistful smile, "I know it wasn't your fault."
The fairy set down her plate, "I had no idea what was going on when it happened. It was almost like I was a prisoner in my own mind, just watching the events unfold. I wasn't upset at Lily, on the contrary, we've been friends for... well for ages... but the morning of the celebration for your birth, something came over me. I couldn't stop myself from reciting that awful curse."
The prince tried not to fall asleep while sitting on the little couch. He kept his mind occupied by looking at the pictures and paintings that decorated the small room. He tried not to yawn as the fairy continued, "When it was all over I had to know what had happened. I once had a magic mirror that would let me see the world, see anything I wished. There are only a few like it. But I saw the ones that were behind it all. For only a moment before they saw me in their own mirror."
"They have one too? Who are they?" Briar Rose questioned.
All this talk about mirrors was starting to annoy the prince. How long had it been since he'd had access to a decent full length mirror? It wasn't that much to ask for, was it? He frowned.
"indeed they do." the fairy went on, "They are two brothers, bearing a name as dire as the power they wield. The Brothers Grimm. Jacob and Wilhelm."
"Grimm?"
"Yes..."
Ethan scratched his head and shifted his weight around, "I don't get it. Why are they doing this in the first place? They've got something as powerful as the book, why not use it to take over the world or gain power or money?"
The fairy's face fell. "They've got all they need of those things. But all of that is not enough to satisfy them. They fell the need I suppose to exercise their power over others. See just how far the limits can be pushed."
Ethan frowned, "Any idea on how we can find them?"
The fairy nodded, "that much I do know. They only way to find them is if they want to be found. If they do, then you'll find them. If they don't... well..."
"Then we won't find them." the prince finished boredly.
"I was going to say that if they don't want you to find them, you usually meet with a rather unfortunate end..." the fairy raised an eyebrow at the young man.
"Oh."

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