The Hunt

  ( Cutiehorn )

  It did not take Cutiehorn, Bubblebun and Cherrychomp long to find the site of their sisters' demise, even without precise directions. The Radiant Queen's fury had been nothing short of catastrophic. Amidst the endless white lay a smoking cradle. A scar of scorched black and smoldering cinder where snow could find no purchase. They couldn't even hover over it without the rising heat slowly cooking their juicy ride.

  "She really went all out," said Bubblebun. "Do you think there's even anything left to find?"

  From her own experiences, Cutiehorn had learned that Queen Titania was not opposed to keeping secrets. "Perhaps that's what she wanted."

  Cherrychomp peered with concern from beneath her fluttering hood. "This is where Merry' an' Wintywish was?" She took big sniffs at the air. Each time, her face creased from the bitter scent. "But I can't even smell nothin' of 'em... Not even a lil' bit. Is all just... burny."

  Cutiehorn sighed. "Let's circle the settling snow. Maybe we can find some footprints." In truth, doubts were already setting in.

  And so it was that Bubblebun and Cherrychomp dismounted and started to comb the cooling char, whilst Cutiehorn kept a careful watch from above, clinging to the Muncher's stalk.

  Hours later they had little to show for their efforts. Even after completing a full circle, they'd found nothing besides the bones of unfortunate animals who'd been caught up in the calamity.

  Despite the snow and smoke, Cherrychomp had managed to detect Merrymint's sharp freshness, but that trail only led back to the palace. Unless their sisters had returned the same way they'd arrived, they'd never left the site. Their remains had most likely been cremated along with everything else. Picking up on the more subtle scents of others, even those she was familiar with, such as Winterwish and Sunshine, proved too difficult in such unhelpful conditions.

  Cutiehorn loosed a defeated sigh.

  It's time we moved on.

  She leaned from the Muncher and called down. "Hey! What do you think the closest village is? Probably Shroomster, right?"

  Below, Bubblebun peered this way and that, as if gazing at walls of iced trees might somehow reveal the distances of surrounding settlements. "Yeah, Shroomster for sure!"

  "Wanna go ask around?" called Cutiehorn.

  Bubblebun nodded and started to blow a series of shimmering bubbles before scooping Cherrychomp up in her arms. Yet when she hopped up and attempted to bounce upon the first, its surface shattered. The bubbles had frozen fast, and the result was a rabbit rear sunk in snow.

  Cutiehorn winced. "...Maybe try a little closer to the crater?"

  Bubblebun only glared in response. A look that screamed 'No shit?' louder than words ever could.

  Shroomster, as its name suggested, was a village where people made homes of giant fungi. It was here Cutiehorn had hoped their luck would improve, yet everyone they spoke to seemed on edge. Some even hurried their pace when they saw the Fairy Princesses approaching, vanishing into spongy homes. Curtains closed tight and door knocks went unanswered.

  Bubblebun clicked her tongue. "What the hel's up with these musty hermits?"

  "Four villages were attacked yesterday and there's a huge crater just down the road," said Cutiehorn. "We can hardly blame them for being skittish."

  "But why give us the cold shoulder? We risked our lives too. Ungrateful sods." Bubblebun kicked at a patch of frozen fungus in frustration, scattering snow and spotted caps high.

  Her attitude is worse than usual... Though I suppose that's understandable.

  It seemed unlikely that the nefarious fairy they sought would venture somewhere so populated, so Cutiehorn had the group split up. Their goal was simple. Visit every massive mushroom in search of someone brave enough to talk.

  It was late afternoon when the trio reunited beneath a towering toadstool.

  "Yo," said Bubblebun. "Get anything?"

  "Nothing much. A few asked about Sunshine..." Cutiehorn frowned. "I didn't know what to tell them."

  "Same..." Bubblebun wrinkled her nose. "When'd she get so popular round here?"

  "Good question," mumbled Cutiehorn.

  Displaying royal heraldry had never been as common in the Enchanted Forest as it was in Rainbow City, yet Cutiehorn had still been surprised to not find a single instance of her emblem on show. The same was true for Bubblebun's and Cherrychomp's merchandise too. Even more shockingly, there wasn't a single burning butterfly in sight. There were only snowflakes, mint leaves and golden wings.

  I'm sure I remember us having at least a few fans when I was here last. I guess they just want to pay tribute to the fallen? ...And the imprisoned, for some reason.

  "How about you, Cherrychomp?" asked Cutiehorn.

  The little red fairy's gaze lowered as she slowly shook her head. "None of 'em 'ave seen Merry' or Wintywish."

  "That wasn't what you were supposed to ask," grumbled Bubblebun. "What about scents? You must be able to pick up on something, right?"

  Puppy-dog eyes shimmered. "Y-yeah. Lots! But... 'ow's I meant to know which is important smells an' which 's'not?"

  "It's ok, Cherrychomp," said Cutiehorn. "We know you're trying your best. Did anyone tell you anything? Anything at all?"

  Cherrychomp sighed, as if she'd learned nothing of importance. "Only that there's been some sneakin'..."

  Cutiehorn and Bubblebun looked to each other wide-eyed.

  "Sneaking? What do you mean sneaking?" Cutiehorn tried to restrain her urgency, but couldn't stop the questions from flooding out. "Sneaking how? Sneaking when?"

  "Who even told you this?" asked Bubblebun.

  Cherrychomp shuffled with awkwardness. Bumping index fingers rose before her chest. "Uhm. Kids... but I pinkie promised we wouldn't get 'em in trouble!"

  "Listen, Cherrychomp," said Cutiehorn, "we won't cause trouble here unless we absolutely have to. They might not have done anything wrong. We just need to know who was sneaking, and where."

  Rubies shifted to the left, then the right, then back again. "...They said some of the grown-ups 'as been sneakin' to crumbly towns at night."

  "Crumbly Town?" asked Bubblebun. "Never heard of it."

  But it clicked immediately for Cutiehorn. "The ruins... She means the ruins!"

  Bubblebun rushed forward and hoisted the little red fairy high, like a prize at a fair. "Yes! Well done! That's just what we needed!"

  Dainty shoes dangled. "...I did good? Do you think Merry' an' Wintywish might be there!?"

  Bubblebun loosed a groan, equal parts sad and exasperated.

  They'd tried to explain the situation, again and again, but the hooded fairy would only shake her head until they gave up. The repeated efforts had started to feel crueller than allowing her the comfort of false hope.

  "No, Cherrychomp," said Cutiehorn. "They won't be there, but they would be very proud."

  The trio descended upon the closest ruins beneath a sanguine sky. Just a few short weeks ago they would've been training at such a time. Fighting had seemed fun back then. But no longer. It was frightening how quickly everything had changed.

  Cutiehorn wondered whether Queen Titania was aware of their absence. Perhaps Splishsplash was searching for them that very instant. She could well be in for a real scolding upon their return, but such things didn't really matter anymore. Loss put life into perspective like nothing else.

  Dying daylight painted ancient stone blood red. Centuries ago the structures would've stood proud, but now they were little more than piles of snow-clad rubble. For all the mysteries surrounding the lost civilisation, one thing was certain. The girls were not the first to visit as of late. Over time, the Enchanted Forest had reclaimed such ancient places. They were overgrown with trees, shrubbery and creeping ivy. Yet here spaces had been cleared, ground levelled and stone walls restacked. Such particular tidying was beyond wild beasts.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Hat still firmly in hand, Cherrychomp darted between debris, trying to isolate what remained of different scents. Meanwhile, Cutiehorn helped Bubblebun push snow to piles. They hoped by heaping it to one side, they might be able to reveal anything that'd been left beneath.

  "When is this damn stuff going to stop?" asked Bubblebun.

  "You don't like snow?" asked Cutiehorn. "I thought everyone liked snow."

  "Sure. Everyone likes it at first, but the novelty doesn't last long," said Bubblebun.

  "Yeah," said Cutiehorn. "Guess so."

  The sounds of Cherrychomp's sniffing grew louder. Though it wasn't the first time. Nor the second or third.

  Bubblebun didn't even bother looking up. "She actually found anything this time?"

  Cutiehorn watched Cherrychomp venture out of the ruins, her face ploughing through the snow. She snorted her way down a slope, digging deeper and deeper into the white. After vanishing completely for a few seconds, her head popped up a short distance away, nostrils clogged. A sneeze expelled frosty white.

  "Just more snow," said Cutiehorn. "Maybe it's time to head -"

  "Bubblybun! Cutie'orn!" Cherrychomp clawed her way out of the drift and hauled something to the surface.

  "Wait... she's got something!" said Cutiehorn. "She's actually got something!"

  Together they hurried over to see a rimed corpse in a midnight robe. From the looks of it, the individual couldn't have died more than a day or two before the ice had preserved them.

  Despite the peculiarity of the find, Bubblebun had no hesitation in checking the deceased's pockets. Any other time Cutiehorn would've protested out of respect, but she held her tongue. They couldn't afford to miss any potential clues.

  Hiss.

  Bubblebun fell back. "Bastard!" Steam swirled from her fingers.

  Cutiehorn skidded to her knees to reach her sister's side. "Are you ok?" She shrugged her arm until it slipped free of the shield's strap, then reached for the outstretched hand, gripping it gently.

  The skin between ribbons had blistered, but appeared otherwise unharmed.

  "...Yeah," said Bubblebun, her tone unusually soft.

  Cutiehorn released the hand and turned back to the dead. Her gauntlet had no trouble grasping the iron dagger hidden beneath the frozen cloth. "Where'd they get something like this?" She checked the remaining pockets to no avail.

  Bubblebun huffed.

  "...You sure you're ok?" asked Cutiehorn.

  "I'm fine," snapped the ballerina.

  Cutiehorn clenched the weapon. "I'll take it back with us. Queen Titania will want to see. Good job, Cherrychomp."

  Yet when the pair looked around, the hooded fairy was nowhere in sight.

  "...Cherrychomp?" called Bubblebun.

  Snow erupted. Another stiff body flew into the air before falling with a thump. Then another, and another. Cutiehorn and Bubblebun approached an excavated pit to see Cherrychomp hurling carcasses from a mass grave.

  "Fuck," said Bubblebun.

  "Be careful!" called Cutiehorn. "They might have iron in their pockets!"

  "Iron?" yelped Cherrychomp. "No touchin'! Mustn't touch!" She proceeded to pinch the next cadaver's collar between thumb and finger, then lifted it at arm's length, like one might do when handling the foulest of things. A swing launched the dead, though wildly off target.

  Cutiehorn sighed as the spinning corpse landed high amongst autumnal branches.

  When all were exhumed and retrieved from trees, Cutiehorn had the victims laid in a line. One by one, she extracted their belongings whilst Bubblebun practically leaned over her shoulder.

  Cherrychomp took up a stick to poke at a frosted face. "Is these goodies, or baddies?"

  "I don't think it's fair to judge just yet," said Cutiehorn.

  "Baddies," said Bubblebun. "I found one of these robed freaks in Songflower too. These fuckers are the ones setting up rituals."

  "What?" asked Cutiehorn. "Why didn't you tell me?"

  Bubblebun only eyed the daggers, coins and keys with dissatisfaction.

  "If they's baddies, then that must mean a goody got 'em, but who?" asked Cherrychomp.

  Another pouch held naught but a bone needle. "That's why I'm not so sure," said Cutiehorn. "Whoever's behind this clearly has some crazy ideas. I'm thinking these are the few who saw sense. Those who questioned orders or tried to back out."

  "...So they's goodies?" Cherrychomp ceased prodding and frowned.

  "It's not always that simple," said Cutiehorn.

  She barely glimpsed the next object she pulled from a pocket before Bubblebun's hand shot out, as if delivering lightning jab, to snatch the shiny thing.

  "Hey!" said Cutiehorn. "What is that?"

  "I knew it..." Bubblebun held out a small badge in the shape of a teapot.

  Cherrychomp gasped and pointed her twig. "That's what Puddypuff gives 'er frens!"

  Cutiehorn didn't think much of it until Bubblebun retrieved a second, identical badge from her pocket.

  "...Where'd you get that one?"

  "Songflower," growled Bubblebun.

  "You mean on the dead ritualist?" Cutiehorn hauled her shield from the snow. "We have to warn Puddingpuff! She could be in danger!"

  But Bubblebun's face remained stern. "I'm not sure about that. What if she is the danger?"

  Cutiehorn was stunned. Bubblebun's conclusion differed so much from her own that it took a moment for her to even realise where her sister's head was at. "What are you suggesting? You can't possibly think Puddingpuff has any part in this?"

  The ribboned rabbit shrugged. "What am I supposed to think? How often does she disappear without saying anything? How much training has she skipped? You can't deny it's suspicious. What if all the time she's been absent, she was out here, meeting with these maniacs?"

  Cutiehorn shook her head. "No way. There has to be another explanation. She's our sister."

  "Friend," snapped Bubblebun. "...And I'd hesitate to call her that. Think about it for a second. When Merrymint and Cherrychomp tried to visit her Tearoom they were thrown out. Why?" She shook the twin badges.

  "I..." Cutiehorn sighed. "I don't know, ok? But we can't throw accusations around without giving her a chance to defend herself. She was honest with us earlier. Let's just go and ask, calmly."

  "Have it your way, but I'm not letting my guard down," said Bubblebun. "What do you want to do with all these bodies?"

  Cutiehorn grimaced. "We should report them to the Queen before anyone else, but even that'll have to wait." She turned to the hooded fairy. "Do you have enough juice to get us up to Rainbow City?"

  Cherrychomp hesitated, her head tilting. "But... Puddypuff said she needs to be alone to work."

  "I know," said Cutiehorn, "but two of her customers are... well, dead. She should know, right?"

  Facial creases deepened. "...Is Puddypuff frens with baddies?"

  Cutiehorn and Bubblebun shared an awkward glance. Neither of them were willing to promise either way just yet.

  "I know it's confusing," said Cutiehorn. "We're confused too. That's why we're going to go and talk to her, ok? We'll figure things out together. Just like Merrymint would want." She tried to smile, hoping some positivity would help.