“Fired? You can’t fire me!”
The boss shook his head. His beard swung like a hypotaster’s watch.
“You don’t have any good stories. And I’ve hired two new reporters. Sorry Rapunzel,
but you can always come over for a visit”
Rapunzel picked up the paper, the red letters stood out like a toucan in crows.
“Can I have a trial run? You know, if I write a really good article, then I can get my job back.”
The boss stroked his beard. She swayed back and forth on the balls of her feet.
“I guess. You have till Saturday.”
“Thanks, you won’t regret it.”
She flung open the doors, forcing a smile on her face. She felt like doing anything but smiling.
How dare Mr. Rumpleskilton fire her. She was one of the best reporters. People didn’t like to read
news, they wanted actual news that was funny. The new reporters would probably write articles
about lost kittens or something. She prefers to focus on the hidden part of famous people.
“I hope I don’t regret it,” He grimaced walking through the oak doors to his office.
A black figure ducked in and out booths, nearly colliding with an apple cart and an fairy selling
donkeys. Trying to blend in with foliage proved to exceptionally hard, but the crowds provided
quick cover. When she would spotted the target, there was almost nothing that would stop her
from getting what she came for.
Snow White had just stepped out onto the cobblestones from Tutus and Tiaras, when she heard a faint,
click click from the bushes. Walking faster and faster towards the sound, she saw a hunched over figure,
trying to blend in the bright green bushes. No such luck. Snow White pushed the branches aside and
found the culprit. A short, slim girl dressed in black with a long thick black hair pulled at the braid.
Tangled in the thorns, was her braid. She looked up and give a slight smile.
“Why in the name of Enchantia are you doing?” Snow White demanded.
The girl stood up and whipped out a notebook and pen. She thrust the pad and pen forwards.
“Sorry, but I’m a huge fan of yours! The way you defeated the Evil Queen is beyond amazing.
I just really wanted a photo of you! I’m Rapunzel by the way, but everyone calls me Zel ‘cause it's
easier to say.”
A look of surprise spread across Snow White’s face. She opened her mouth, and then closed it again.
“So do you think I could get your autograph? That would really cool.” The girl smiled brightly as she
held out the pen and paper for Snow White to sign. Snow White took the paper and scrawled out her
signature, Snow White.
“Thank you so much! I’ll cherish this forever!”
Snickering, she watched Snow White hurry away, obviously creeped out by her. Zel peeked out from the
bushes to make sure Snow White was really gone. She crumpled the autograph and threw it into a
passing cart.
That cover never gets old, she pridefully thought, stepping out of the thorns. Her head jerked back,
the braid still caught on the thorns. She grabbed at the braid and gave it a mighty tug. Crack!
The whole branch cracked off the bush and swung towards her face. The sharp thorns scratched her
face, ripping the skin open. Zel felt a sharp pain, but ignored it. Scarlet droplets splattered on her black
combat boots, and she hastily wiped them off.
She ran down the road, quite the sight to passerbyers. A gnome stared at the running figure.
Children just let out of school whispered and chuckled at the look of her. Her feet pounded on the
cobblestones, serving crowds and carts. A gold plated carriage entered the forest.
“That’s gotta be Snow White, no one else here is rich enough to own something like that.” She
jumped over a gutter and ran towards the forest. A gold plated carriage rumbled into the deep
dark forest. Zel stopped short, unsure what to do next.
“Hmmm,” Rapunzel wondered. “Should I go after the carriage into the woods. I mean, it’s not that
scary, the worst thing is probably the big bad wolf. He’s not really that scary when you think
about him. I mean, how scary is a wolf that sews. If I want to get that scoop for the paper, I have
to take risks.”
Surveying the options for 30 seconds took away her precious time, but she had her answer.
“If I wait any longer, I’ll never find the carriage.” Zel loathed having a bland story and she needed
some dirt about Snow White.
“Whatever, let’s go.”
She jogged into the wood and down the beaten old path. Why would Snow White be crossing the
forest? Is she visiting the Jack Bean, or Mr. Gruff? Whatever she’s doing, it’ll make a good story.
Deep in thought, Zel didn’t noticed the solid oak in her path. Bam! Her head collided with the tree,
and the thorn branch flew at her again. She grabbed it and pulled.
Finally the branch was loose, but her hand was dripping scarlet droplets on the soft moss.
That was the moment she noticed that she had gone off the dirt path, and was in a moss clearing.
The carriage was nowhere in sight and her Ephone had lost its power.
Grimacing through the pain, she reached for a sturdy branch and pulled herself up. Carefully
selecting the branches, Zel finally made it to the top of the tree. Brown and burgundy roofs of the
village were set in front of the setting sun. The mountains and the village made quite the photo,
but she didn’t have time take a photo. In front of her were endless trees, with a tower placed
awkwardly in the middle.
Jumping down from the solid oak tree, she sprinted towards the tower. Dodging trees and jumping
over bushes became natural as Zel neared the tower. The braid snagged the low hanging branch,
her head snapped back.
“Seriously! Again!” she rolled her eyes and got to work. “I desperately need to get a haircut.
Second time in ten minutes! Literally!” That caused another eye roll and she yanked hard.
The momentum of her pull combined with the braid letting go of the branch, resulted with her
falling backward into two exceptionally short teenagers. One, the girl, had on a light pink tank top,
plaid shorts, a pair of running shoes, and a pink baseball cap. The boy was wearing a blue
hoodie, a gray shirt, and baggy jeans. He too was wearing running shoes and hat.
Zel scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to bump into you!”
The two teens looked at her, then at each other.
“Oh, it’s okay. Are you lost? We can help you.” An evil smile spread across their faces.
Zel was taken aback. She had her doubts about them, but she had to learn to have faith in some
people. But still, two complete random strangers that offer help. She shrugged, what could two
little gnomes do to her?
“Thanks, I could really use some help. I’m looking for the way back to Enchantia. Think you could
help?”
“Oh please, we know our way there like a mouse knows cheese. Just follow us.”
Zel thought that they were weird, but hey, everyone had their quirks.
“I’m Zel by the way. I work for the Royal Scroll.”
“Really, that is so cool! I’m Handle, and that is my twin brother, Griddle.” She pointed towards the
baseball cap wearing boy.
“We make a living as chefs.” He pulled his hat down lower. Handle did the same.
Is it just me, or are Handle and Griddle slightly weird? Zel looked around the forest, hoping to spot
the carriage.
Caw, caw. A raven’s caw bounced off the trees. It raven sounded like it was saying, stay away,
stay away.
Handle and Griddle led Rapunzel to the tall tower she saw before.
“Are you sure this is the way?” She frowned and narrowed her eyes.
“No, but it’s already dusk and we need our lanterns to see.”
Well, it was the logical thing to do, so Zel didn’t think it over until it was too late.
Once inside, Handel heaved the heavy door closed and locked it with an iron key.
“Up!”
Zel had no choice but go up the spiral stairs. After going up the winding stairs for what seemed
endless, Zel finally reached the top. The room was damp and smelled like the chimney sweeps
house.
It looked like the carpenter only had time dump the furniture in a corner before leaving. A bed was
shoved in a corner with a small table beside it. Opposite of the bed was a cupboard with the
staples, bread and butter, a can of beans. A small stove and sink stood alone in the shadows,
with a looming closet situated beside. In the middle of the wall there was a large window, the only
source of lighting.
Zel coughed at the floating dust and stumbled towards the sink. Turning the knob, she waited for
the plumbing to kick in.
“It doesn't work, you genius,” Griddle sneered.
Zel advanced towards him, fists raised.
“Well, I don’t really care, garden gnome!”
Griddle started running towards Zel, his little feet swinging back and forth.
“You moron!” Handle yelled at him, “She’s important! Your future depends on her!”
Griddle stopped short, his little boots skidding on the floor. He cocked his head to on side, trying
to process the thought.
“Oh ya. I remember now.”
Zel started walking slowly towards them.
“What do you mean that you need me? I don’t think you gnomes are bandits, so who are you?”
Griddle whispered to Handle, and Handle whispered to Griddle.
“We have a proposal for you. We get your hair, and you get this fabulous new tower.” Handle
folded her arms across her chest. Zel considered it.
“And why do you need my hair?”
Handle and Griddle slowly pulled off their hats. Zel braced herself for some wacky, crazy,
out-of-the-park kinda thing. But instead of a bad hair day, there was no hair at all.
Two shiny heads gleamed up at her.
“You see, we suffer from an genetic hair loss. We were born bald and will die bald. There is no
cure.”
Zel snorted. Likely story.
“And has the thought of wigs every passed your mind?”
The sink made a gurgling sound, but Handle and Griddle didn’t hear it. Zel pretended that the
sound wasn’t there either.
“Yes, but the stores don’t carry our size. If we want a custom wig, then we need to supply the hair
for the wigs.”
Zel ran her hands up and down her braid, as if she actually was considering it.
“Well, that’s dumb,” Zel spat. “And why do you want my hair for wigs? Just go ask the barber for
hair.”
Handle took a step towards her, and pulled out a knife. Zel put her hands up in defense, but stood
her ground.
“You. Will. Give. Me. Your. Hair. Now!” Handle growled through gritted teeth.
The sink made a loud grumble, and a long creak. Zel ignored the sound and stared at Handle.
Handle returned the death glare.
The staring contest continued for several moments, until Griddle interrupted them.
“Do you think we could just come to an agreement guys? There is no need to fight. Right? Right?”
Handle lunged at Zel, knife ready to swipe at the braid. Her knife sliced through the braid,
spraying hair everywhere. Zel could feel the braid fall, and hit the ground. She suddenly felt 5
pounds lighter, and felt a slight breeze on the back of her neck.
Handle grabbed the hair, and held it above her head.
“Ha ha ha! I have successfully stole your hair!!! I’m the most evil villain in the world!!!!
Maw ha ha!!!”
Handel's evil laughs went on for a few minutes, while Zel and Griddle stood there, blank looks on
their faces. After 3 minutes, Griddle finally plucked the hair from Handel's hands and threw it out
a window.
“Hey! What did you do that for? I wasn’t done my little celebration!”
Griddle groaned, “We need to get out of here and hold up with our part of the deal. Let’s bounce!”
As the pair ran towards the window, water shot out of the tap and hit Handle in the eye.
“I thought the plumbing was out of whack!”
Suddenly the pipe burst and a river of water came gushing out. The screams and cries of help
were drowned out by the the cracking sound of the foundation. The tower’s walls came crashing
down and a waterfall came rushing out like a man on fire. Zel was swept on top of the bed and
she held on for dear life. Finally the water slide ended and Zel hopped off the bed. The tidal wave
had thinned out in a huge clearing. There was an undamaged clay frog and fish laying beside the
bed, and draped over the sculpture was Handle and Griddle. They looked like they were pain, but
Zel hurried on off.
When she came to a main road, Zel flagged down a passing gold carriage. She asked the driver
for an Ephone, and he handed her his. She quickly dialed nine-one-one and waited.
A voice on the other end crackled to life, “Hello. This is Richard, EPD. Please state your
emergency, name, and location,” A monotone voiced officer said.
“Hello, this is Rapunzel. Yes. No. Okay. I’m the daughter of Mother Gothel. No, she didn’t try to
kill me. Yes, she was a good mother. No. Can we just get to the point! Sorry. There is two injured
gnome people and they need medical attention. They are by 22nd chestnut road. No, this isn’t a
joke. Yes, it’s real. Thank you. Bye.”
Zel handed back the Ephone just as the carriage door swung open. She looked inside to see
Snow White sitting beside the Old Witch.
“I think I remember you from the market,” she purred.
Zel nodded her head slowly.
“You were the one with braid stuck in the bushes,” Snow White smiled, “But where is your braid
now?”
She hopped gracefully out of the carriage.
“I need that hair now!” Spittle sprung from the queen’s mouth and landed on Zel’s boots. “Bring the
hair to me!”
Zel turned and ran towards the ruins of the castle. She searched for the hair, but it wasn’t to be
found. She looked under the bed, in the closet, but it was nowhere.
Zel slowly trudged towards Snow White, fearing her fate.
“Why did you even need my hair? It’s not that special,” Zel questioned.
“Because I need that hair for my wig.”
Zel smiled, imaging the story she’d get out this. “So were you born bald? Or was it an
embarrassing haircut?”
Snow White turned beet red.
“How dare you talk to the queen like that! I should have your head cut off!”
The driver looked around the carriage, wondering why his passenger had got out and was yelling
in the middle road.
“Are you aware that the law against beheading was passed in 1906. It’s currently 1978.”
Snow White leaned closer to Zel, her face hovering inches above Zel.
“Well, just yesterday I beheaded the cook for putting parsley in my soup! No one knows about it,
and you’re next on my hit list!”
Snow White turned around in a big huff, just as a huge gust of wind lifted off Snow White’s hat and
hair. She jumped about, trying to catch it, but no such luck. Eventually Snow White gave up hope
and hopped back into the carriage. She shouted out the window as the carriage pulled away,
“I will have vengeance on you! Vengeance!”
The drivers phone was snatched from his hands, and she snapped a photo.
The carriage rumbled down the road as Zel switched her reporters recorder off.
The next day the newspapers were plastered with the photo of Snow White and her flying hair.
Snow White arrested for murder and attempted murder!
Citizens are shocked as the dark side of Snow White is exposed.
See page 5b for more on the story.
Zel smiled as the boss handed her the keys for her office.
“You did a good job kiddo,” The boss said, patting her on the back.
Taking the keys from his wrinkled hand, she smiled and said, “Thanks. I try.”
“But you do share the office with two others. Is that okay?”
She shrugged. Why not, it couldn’t be that bad.
“Of course it is. Who are they?”
She swung open the door and at the desk sat to small gnomes. Handle and Griddle.
-Carlye
