The Everafter War

by Michael Buckley

  “Mr. Canis is at the camp, too?” Red whimpered.

  Granny took her hand. “Liebling, he won’t hurt you. You can trust him.”

  The group approached an elevator, where Harry pushed the button labeled “P.” The doors slid open, revealing the portal to the outside world. It showed them a camp hidden in the forest. Everafters were chopping down trees, building houses, and carving spears.

  “Look, there’s Billy now,” Daphne said.

  The former mayor and his diminutive assistant, Mr. Seven, were poring over maps and plans. Seven was one of the world-famous seven dwarfs, and despite his boss’s frequent insults, he was always at Charming’s side. Sabrina wondered what kept him so loyal now that the prince could no longer afford to pay his salary.

  “This is foolish,” Henry warned. “Charming can’t be trusted.”

  “Harry, it was a pleasure to meet you. You’ve been a real help,” Granny said, shaking his hand. She then sent Poppa Bear through the portal with Uncle Jake on his back.

  Harry grinned and waved good-bye as the rest of the group followed the bear through the portal. “Come back soon. We’ve always got a room for you.”

  The world on the other side of the portal couldn’t have been more different from the Hotel of Wonders. Sabrina found herself inside a crude log cabin with a dirt floor and a thatched roof. A few stools were scattered around a rough table with a scale model of Ferryport Landing resting at its center. Charming and Seven were startled by the group’s sudden arrival.

  “Whoa! Incoming!” a face cried as it appeared inside another mirror leaning against the opposite wall. This guardian had dark brown skin and long, untamed dreadlocks. He wore big round sunglasses with peace signs in the lenses.

  “You can relax, Reggie,” Charming said. “They’re friends.”

  “T’is a good t’ing, but can I get a warning next time? You gon’ give a man a heart attack,” Reggie said, and then vanished.

  “Relda, are there more coming through?” Charming asked. “Or is it safe to say you’ve already brought the entire town?”

  “It’s nice to see you, too, William,” she replied. “We’ll be out of your hair as quickly as we came. Jacob is injured, shot by one of Nottingham’s arrows. He needs medical attention immediately,” Granny Relda pleaded.

  “Seven, can you take the bear with Jacob to the medical tent?” Charming asked.

  Mr. Seven hurried Poppa Bear out of the cabin to get Jake the help he needed.

  “Don’t worry. Nurse Sprat will take care of your boy, Relda,” Charming said.

  “Thank you, William. Jake was attacked by the Hand when they came to our house demanding information about this . . . this . . . Well, what, exactly, are you building here?”

  Charming led the group out into an open courtyard. Sabrina was stunned by what she saw. The image she’d seen in the mirror didn’t do the place justice. Charming’s “camp” was actually a huge fort with outer walls over twenty-five feet high. The compound was large enough to fit dozens of cabins, a mess tent, a makeshift hospital, an armory, and a small farm. Hundreds of Everafters were busy gardening, working with horses, and building more barracks.

  “Welcome to Camp Charming,” the prince announced proudly. “The Everafters’ last stand against the Scarlet Hand.”

  3

  “Look familiar?” Daphne asked Sabrina.

  An icy feeling crept along her back. Sabrina couldn’t believe her eyes. The fortress was nearly identical to the one the sisters had visited during their trip to the future. Like this one, it was built to fight the Scarlet Hand. The girls and Charming had worked hard to make sure that particular future didn’t happen. But, clearly, they hadn’t changed it enough. Perhaps there was no way to avoid their dark destiny: war.

  “The Scarlet Hand is harassing Everafters, especially ones who associate with your family. I built this camp as a safe haven, and we’ve had a steady flow of people seeking shelter,” Charming explained.

  “How did you build this so fast?” Granny Relda asked. “You and Mr. Canis fled into the forest only yesterday!”

  “We work fast around here,” a voice said from behind them.

  They spun around to find Mr. Canis approaching. He was as unkempt as ever and now sported a black patch over his left eye. He gestured toward a wizard levitating a load of rubble with a magic wand. He was helping construct a well.

  Daphne wrapped Mr. Canis up in a hug. He almost toppled over but steadied himself with the cane he now carried.

  The cane bothered Sabrina. Canis had never needed one before. He looked weak and frail, but he seemed at peace with himself. An easy smile had replaced his trademark scowl. “It’s good to see you, child,” he said to Daphne, then turned his attention to Sabrina’s parents. “Henry and Veronica, welcome. I am pleased to see you up and about.”

  “Goldilocks woke them up,” Daphne said. “With a smooch!”

  Puck stuck out his tongue and gagged loudly.

  Granny took Canis by the hand. “How are you feeling, old friend?”

  “A little tired.” He shook his cane. “It appears I am not a young man anymore.”

  There was a long, uncomfortable pause.

  “Canis, did you just tell a joke?” Henry asked.

  Canis shrugged. “I tried.”

  “Wow,” Veronica said. “We’ve missed a lot, haven’t we?”

  “Yoga and meditation have been invaluable to me. Now that I’m free, I’m starting to remember my life before I became the Wolf, slowly but surely,” he said, stepping close to Red Riding Hood. He held his hand out to her in friendship. “I believe it might work for you, too. If you’re willing.”

  Red didn’t take his hand. She hid behind Granny Relda’s leg, trembling. It was clear that she was still terrified of the old man. The monster that used to control him had killed her grandmother. She, herself, had been under the power of a similar creature until the Grimms cured them both, setting the story straight. But, all of this had happened very recently. Sabrina couldn’t blame Red if she wasn’t immediately ready to hang out with the guy who ate her grandma.

  “Perhaps another time,” the old man said, and then he turned back to Granny Relda. “I’m told that Jacob has been attacked.”

  Granny nodded. “The Hand surrounded the house, and Nottingham shot him with an arrow when he confronted them.”

  Canis turned to Charming. “You predicted that tensions would escalate.”

  “I’m rarely wrong,” Charming said, matter-of-factly. “This violence is further evidence that turning the refugees into an army is our best chance of survival.”

  “An army?” Goldilocks cried.

  “It’s clear that the tide is turning toward war. The Hand has taken over the town and run all the humans out. They’re hunting down anyone who doesn’t agree with them. We need to prepare.”

  “And once you beat the Hand, you can point your little army toward taking over the town for yourself?” Henry challenged.

  Charming sneered. “I liked you better when you were asleep.”

  “What does Snow think of this?” Granny Relda said, referring to the prince’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. Sabrina wondered the same thing. She couldn’t imagine Ms. White supporting a war effort. She taught a fierce self-defense class called the Bad Apples, but Ms. White spent most of class time teaching her students how to block attackers and avoid a fight.

  “Ask her yourself,” the prince said, gesturing to an open stretch of field near the far wall of the camp. There, Sabrina saw two dozen Everafters doing pushups in the mud. Snow White stood over them, shouting commands and blasting a whistle.

  “I can’t believe it!” Goldilocks cried.

  “Ms. White is in charge of the camp’s security, and she’s drafted a few of our guests to help out. Unfortunately, our community is a collection of feeble morons. Ms. White has her work cut out for her.”

  “Ms. White?” Daphne said.

  “Trouble in paradise, Billy?” Sabrina
asked.

  The prince lowered his eyes. “She and I are not on speaking terms,” he mumbled. “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Seven and I have to dig up some extra cots. The refugees keep coming, and supplies are growing scarce.”

  They marched across the field, leaving the group behind.

  “I suppose you would like to say hello to our resident drill sergeant?” Canis said, gesturing toward Snow White and her ragtag crew of soon-to-be soldiers. He led them toward the group. As they got closer, Sabrina noticed that the former teacher was dressed in full army fatigues. Her recruits ran in place. She called them “worthless,” “weak,” and “spineless maggots.”

  “Snow! What in heaven?” Granny cried.

  “Getting these plebes into shape,” Ms. White said, never taking her eyes off her troops. “Have you come to volunteer? We can use all the soldiers we can get.”

  “Oh, no! I think I’m a little too old to go to war,” Granny replied.

  “That’s a shame. How about you, Henry?” Snow said. “Now that you’re up and at ’em, you could make yourself useful. It would be nice to have one of the Grimm boys helping out.”

  Henry shook his head vigorously. “We’re leaving town as soon as we can.”

  “Can’t say I blame you,” Snow replied. “No one is safe here. Homes are being searched without warrants, property is being re-possessed without cause, not to mention the disappearances . . . Relda, your son has a point. I’d go with him, if I were you.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Granny Relda said firmly.

  Henry scowled.

  “So, what’s the scoop on you and the prince?” Daphne asked.

  “Daphne! Don’t be rude,” Veronica admonished.

  “No worries, Veronica. The girls have been privy to my soap opera of a romantic life for quite some time. If you must know, Billy proposed.”

  “Gravy!” Daphne cried.

  “And I declined,” Snow added.

  “What? Why?” Granny asked.

  “Well, he’s arrogant. He’s mean. He’s selfish,” Sabrina said.

  “Sabrina, that’s not nice,” Veronica said.

  “She’s not wrong,” Henry said.

  A gray goose hobbled over to the group. “A new group of refugees has just arrived, Snow, and one of them is asking for Geppetto,” it honked.

  “Geppetto, front and center!” Snow demanded as she turned back to her troops. An elderly man covered in mud fell out of formation and ran to Snow White. He saluted her nervously.

  “Yes, sir!” he shouted.

  “Geppetto!” Granny cried. “You’re training to be a soldier?”

  Geppetto nodded. “Absolutely. I want to do my part. My toy store is ashes, anyway. They burned it to the ground when I refused to take an oath to the Hand. It’s time to fight back.”

  The rest of the troops let out an exuberant “Hoo-ah!”

  “Well, it appears you have a visitor, maggot,” Snow shouted, though there wasn’t enough venom in her voice to really make the insult believable. “Let’s go see who it is.”

  Everyone followed Snow and Geppetto across camp. A throng of excited Everafters gathered in the courtyard to welcome the new refugees. When they entered the gate, they were met with hugs and cheers. Sabrina and Daphne squirmed their way to the front and watched the reunions. Geppetto reported to King Arthur, who held a list of people entering the fort.

  “Sir, I was told there is someone looking for me?”

  “Oh, yes, the kid. Over there.” He pointed.

  Sabrina spotted a small boy sitting on an overstuffed traveling bag. He appeared no older than Daphne and wore a pair of red overalls and a button-down shirt. A quail feather stuck out from his yellow hat. His face was angular, his nose a bit pointy, and he had a pronounced overbite. His expression was tired and impatient until his gaze landed on Geppetto. At once, his face split into a wide, toothy grin.

  “Papa!” he cried. “Dearest Papa!”

  “Papa?” Sabrina and Daphne repeated.

  “Son? Is it you?” Tears gushed from the corners of Geppetto’s eyes. He rushed to the child and, in one quick motion, scooped him off the ground and swung him around in his arms. “You’ve come back,” Geppetto sobbed.

  “Is that . . . Is that . . . ?” Daphne couldn’t finish her question. She was biting down hard on the palm of her hand.

  “Pinocchio!” Henry exclaimed. “That’s the Pinocchio?”

  “Yes, liebling. It appears Pinocchio has finally returned,” Granny Relda said, a happy tear sliding down her cheek. Geppetto was a family friend, and the Grimms knew the toy-maker’s heart had been broken the day he was separated from his son, nearly two hundred years ago.

  “Gravy,” Red said.

  Sabrina wanted to be happy for Geppetto, but an odd bitterness stabbed at her heart. Instead of joy, she felt envy. His family reunion was filled with delight, while her own was less than perfect. She looked to her father, hoping the scene wouldn’t be lost on him. But, he was busy talking to King Arthur about possible ways out of the forest.

  “My little pine seed, where have you been?” Geppetto asked his son. “Why didn’t you get on the boat with me? I’ve been a mess for so long, worrying about you.”

  “I’ll explain it all in good time, Papa,” Pinocchio said. “Just let me embrace you one more time!”

  “He talks funny,” Puck said. The boy had a thick Italian accent, and his words had an air of sophistication, like he was an adult rather than a little kid.

  “You smell funny,” Sabrina grumbled.

  Puck raised an arm and sniffed his armpit. “Can’t argue with you there.”

  “I thought Pinocchio was a puppet,” Daphne said to her grandmother.

  “He was,” Granny Relda said. “But after he proved he could be good, the Blue Fairy granted his greatest wish—to be a real boy.”

  “Where has he been all this time?” Goldilocks wondered.

  “Arthur has given me directions to a path that will take us out of the woods,” Henry interrupted. “Girls, say your good-byes. We’re leaving.”

  “But Uncle Jake is hurt!” Daphne said. “Besides, that’s Pinocchio. I want to get his autograph.”

  “Daphne, I’ve had enough of your back talk,” Henry snapped. “Be a big girl and get your suitcases. We left them in Charming’s hut.”

  Daphne huffed and stomped off toward the cabin.

  “Relda, are you sure you won’t come with us?” Veronica begged.

  “Veronica, you know I can’t go,” Granny said. “If the family abandons Ferryport Landing, the barrier will fall, and this chaos will spill out into the surrounding towns. The Everafters need us now more than ever.”

  “Jacob is still here,” Henry said. “When he feels better, he can take over the responsibility.”

  “Jacob is a free spirit. I’m surprised he’s stayed as long as he has,” Granny said. “No, the responsibility is mine.”

  “At least go back to the house,” Henry begged. “The protection spells will prevent anyone from getting inside. A hurricane could hit that house, and you’d still be safe. Just don’t get involved with this. Wait until it all blows over. I don’t want you to end up like Dad.”

  Granny Relda’s face fell with disappointment, but Henry either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it.

  “I’ll let you know where we end up,” he continued, then turned to call to Daphne, who was dragging the suitcases with great effort. “C’mon, Daphne, don’t dillydally! We’ve got a train to catch!”

  Daphne slammed Sabrina’s suitcase to the ground. “Carry your own bag, traitor.”

  “What did I do?” Sabrina cried.

  Daphne ignored her. She hugged Granny and Mr. Canis and said good-bye to the others. Then, she stomped off to wait by the gate.

  “So, I guess I’ll see you when I see you,” Puck said to Sabrina.

  “Yeah, I guess,” she muttered. As much as she wanted to leave Ferryport Landing, it didn’t feel right to go now. Not with a war
brewing. Some of the Everafters might be hurt. Granny might need them. Puck might need them.

  “C’mon, Sabrina,” her father said, grabbing her suitcase and leading her and Veronica to the main gates. Seconds later, they were marching out into the forest, leaving the camp behind.

  Sabrina looked back one more time just as the gates closed. Puck stood in the entrance, hands on hips, his wings flapping in the sun. Granny was next to him, smiling through tears. Red stood next to her, trembling in fear. Goldilocks handed Granny a handkerchief, and Momma Bear wrapped a furry arm around her shoulders. Mr. Canis leaned on his cane.

  I should thank them, Sabrina thought. I should tell them that I love them. But the gates closed before she could utter a single word.

  They traipsed through the woods, seemingly without any sense of direction. Sabrina thought she’d seen most of the forest surrounding Ferryport Landing—after all, she had been chased through it by enough monsters—but nothing looked familiar. She hoped they weren’t lost. It wasn’t long before Henry was forced to stop and consult the crude map he had gotten from King Arthur. When Veronica offered help, he held up his hand for silence.

  “He’s like this in the car, too,” Veronica muttered as she watched her husband turn the map over and over.

  Daphne sat on a stump and sulked, her head tilted downward.

  “Well, that’s new,” Veronica said to Sabrina. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your sister angry.”

  “Stick around,” Sabrina replied. “It’s pretty regular these days.”

  “You two have changed so much.” Veronica sighed.

  “We’ve been through a lot,” Sabrina said. “We had to adapt.”

  Henry tucked his map into his pocket. “OK, I know where we are. It’ll take about two hours to get to the train station, if we hurry.” He checked his watch. “We should be able to catch the 6:17 to Grand Central.”

  “So, Henry, we’re just going to stumble into New York City with no money and no place to sleep? That’s your plan?” Veronica asked.