Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, the spare for the heir was betrothed to a terrible prince in an effort to unite the families. The princess begged for it not to be, but they were married in the sweltering heat of August.
On her wedding night, she cut the prince’s throat with a cheese knife and ran into the cursed wood. There, she confronted a coterie of monsters and won their hearts.
Both kingdoms burned in the bright light of her vengeance, and the blood glowed in the streets.
Every monster deserves to pen their own ending.
—
The fairies sat in the shade of the mushroom, counting seeds and watching the sun rise. The world woke up with the trill of songbirds, and the neighborhood cat stalked after a field mouse, disappearing in a blur of gray in the grass.
The fairies held hands and saw that the leaves were beginning to change, green bleeding out into crimson, earthbrown, mustard. They pulled their vole capes close as the wind changed, and the harvest moon turned a pale white.
When the winter came, they parted on the backs of birds. They promised they would meet again in spring.
—
Even in the deep snow, the man heard the bear approach, giant paws sinking into the drifts of white. “My cave collapsed,” the bear said. “I have nowhere to go. Let me stay with you this winter.”
“I don’t have much food,” the man said, setting down the axe he used to chop firewood.
“I will not need to eat,” the ageless creature said, dark eyes swimming. “Only a safe haven.”
Against his better judgment, the man opened his door and ushered the great beast in.
There were no wishes granted for this, save warmth and company in his heart.
—
The Earth fell for the comet, and it watched wistfully as its beautiful tail arced through the darkness of space. “Come closer,” the Earth whispered. “Just for a time.”
The comet laughed and sped away but came back in time. It considered and said, “If I do this thing, I will hurt you. It is inevitable.”
“I do not care,” the Earth said. “Just grant me a moment with you, and it will be worth it.”
The comet’s embrace was one of fire and thunder, and the Earth smiled even in the face of destruction, its final joy a shattering.
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