Gretel

Hansel stayed quiet, though he wanted to come out of hiding. He wanted to release thousands of rounds into the sea witch, but he knew better. The tentacle would block his shot and he would need to wait for the perfect moment and take her by surprise. Crouching lower, he tried to stay out of the way of the flames that were being fueled by gusts of wind. It made it hard to see and his eyes began to water as he did his very best to keep them on the targert.

Gretel kept her guns aimed at Cruella, her eyes on the wolf despite the smile on her face. Rapunzel was good but it was hard to face off against a werewolf of all creatures. She was holding her own though up until the point where the blonde got kicked. It gave Gretel the perfect chance she’d been waiting for and without a second’s hesitation, she fired off round after round of bullets aimed at the wolf. 

The two split. The low growls from the werewolf made it easy to know where those two were located at all times. Hansel saw his sister lining up the shot to help Rapunzel, so he made his way to Morgan’s side. Still hidden beneath the brush, he lined up Ursula at the end of the barrel of his gun. The two were making exchanges, but he couldn’t quite make it all out. The wind began to pick up, making any shot he wanted to take risky as the four of them began fighting. 

Hansel paused, thinking hard about all of this. Would Morgan take offense if they went off one last time just the two of them? A sibling outing only. It would be something he’d have to feel out, but now wasn’t the time to think about all of this. “Maybe.” The bells jingled, and both immediately were on edge. His shot gun ready and he began to inch through the trees alongside Gretel. Quietly, he gestured they split, attack from both sides. 

Hansel needed it before this mission. It hadn’t really dawned on him that the dynamic would be different now that Morgan was in the picture. It had him pause for a moment, thinking how he’d want the vacation. It had always just been him and Gretel and at times that is how he wanted it to stay. Change was hard, but Morgan also made him really happy. 

“Maybe.” Morgan might not even want to be stuck with the two siblings. The tease made him not want to talk about it. Hansel didn’t have long-term relationships, and this was definitely new territory. “It doesn’t always have to be the three of us.” Hansel slowed looking over at his sister, hoping that she knew he’d still make plenty of time for her. 

“Yeah, I know. I’ll just have to find someone to settle down with too so it’s more even when we all hang out.” Gretel was smiling the whole time, trying to show that she was happy for her brother. It would be hard not having him around but she’d have to get used to it. She knew at one point they wouldn’t be the only ones in each other’s lives. Of course that didn’t make her feel any better either since she knew even now that she’d miss him terribly. 

One Last Time

Hansel held the hilt of his shot gun firmly while he walked through the forest. In his life, he’d been part of many battles, but none like this. The consequence of failing to win a war had never been this high before. Self doubt and his anxiety was nearly too much to handle, though he did a great job convincing his comrades differently.

“Are you ready?” Nervously, he check over his ammo for the third time. How much he had on himself and what was already loaded into the barrel were all accounted for. It was the same as the last fifteen minutes go, but he had to continuously check. “Also, we get that vacation we’re always talking about after this, right?” Hansel smiled over at his sister. 

@vxgretelxv

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Gretel said as she looked over each of her hand guns again. Much like her brother, she was stocked with as much ammo as she could carry without being weighed down; some was hidden away just in case her belt got torn from her. A girl had to be prepared for anything after all. The mention of the vacation had her chuckling and almost instantly nodding. “Gods yes, we need it after all of this shit.” Who knew that taking on a mission from the White Queen would have turned into such a mess. One wrong move and the world would pay the consequences. 

The two were reluctant, but he was happy when they both finally caved. Personally, he wanted to be there for the group. Getting to his feet was a little shaky and the headache grew with movement. He was light headed as well, but he kept his symptoms to himself, not wanting to be babied, or worry the girls any further. 

“I’ll take it easy.” He promised Gretel. The two were going to fret over him and he could only hope that he would have patience and his grumpy self wouldn’t take over. “I think I’ll be fine for now, but thanks.” He flashed a warm smile at Morgan as he kept a steady pace over to the group, a tad slower than his usual walk. Smoke appeared and they were suddenly gone before they could reach all of them. Hansel swallowed hard, worried for his friends. 

Too little too late. Hades was gone with the trio before Gretel, Hansel, or Mim could get anywhere near him. It caused her to glance to the side, swallowing down the wave of worry that seemed to cross her features. She had to trust in at least Ariel and Alice to know what they were doing. She didn’t know Liam well enough to know if he did but she’d still pray he stayed all right along with the other two. Taking a small breath to steady her nerves, she closed the distance and walked right over to Rapunzel. 

Hansel sighed. What was done was done. Despite how guilty he felt, he knew he needed to ease up on the two and just be grateful he was so well loved. Each was hugged tighter again and a kiss was planted on the top of Morgan’s head. He wished that all of this could be over now and they could retreat some where safe. That just wasn’t in the cards. 

“I’m lucky to have you two.” He said, leaning down towards Morgan. “I love you soo much. Thank you Morgan.” He whispered in her ear so only she could hear. Gently he squeezed them for the final time, before he shifted, getting ready to get to his feet. “Ariel is here now. Should we go see the rest of the group?” Hansel wanted to see what was going on, but he’d only agree if the girl did. He was putting the first and would give them all the time they needed with him. 

Gretel held on to her brother for just a little longer before he mentioned Ariel being present. Lifting her gaze, she turned towards where Hades was and indeed she saw the redhead. Not only Ariel though but Liam as well and both were near Alice. “I’m...all right with checking on them.” She admitted slowly, though it was mostly because she didn’t want to overwhelm him. She was the first to pull back and slowly stood up, holding her hand out to him. Mim took a moment longer to agree. 

A price. Now it was making a lot more sense. Hansel sighed heavily, not liking where this was going. A part of him didn’t want to know the price they had paid. What his sister was willing to do made him sigh heavily. He was disappointed and angry about her rash idea to sacrifice herself. Hansel have her a good nudge, shaking his head down at her. 

“You don’t do that!” Hansel hissed. If that had been the case, he don’t know what he’d done with himself. The guilt would have eaten away at him for the rest of his life. “You never do that!” He reiterated to make sure he got the point across. 

“Mim.” He said softly after he found out what she did. Immediately he felt guilty that she had to make that sacrifice. If he’d never died none of this would have happened. “I don’t know what to say. I’m thankful, but honestly I wish you didn’t do that.” He admitted, sighing heavily. They’d just gotten back together and now this. Hansel held her tighter.

Hansel was still bewildered what went on. Last time he was alive the God of the Underworld was trying to kill them, but now he came to their aid? Exactly what had he missed while he was dead? Hansel held the girls tight as he thought to himself. There was something off, but he didn’t know what. Hansel hugged them for a long while, not addressing anything they said for a long moment. He was just happy the two most important people in his life was in his arms.  

“H-Heey, don’t put that one me.” Hansel felt bad enough for losing. “Gretel, I’m not trying to scare you, or leave.” His arm slipped away from Morgan for a moment as he gave his sister a soft noogie, just enough to mess her hair up. It was an attempt to lighten the mood between the three of them. “We tried our best to get out…alive.” Now to the question that had been bugging him. 

“What did you mean by this couldn’t have happened without Mim?” His arm slipped back around Morgan and he pulled her closer once more, resting his chin on her head. “What happened, exactly? He’s not an ally. Why did he help?”  

“I know.” Gretel gave him a nod against him, even as she struggled briefly to get her feelings in order. She knew they had fought and struggled their hardest to make it. There was no way that either of them wouldn’t. But it still didn’t make the pain lessen any. When he asked about Mim, she glanced towards the woman but hesitated. 

He could hear his name. An all too familiar voice, but that confused him. Gretel hadn’t been there when they sent scouting. Hansel paused long enough check his surroundings. Indeed they were gone, but none of this made sense. He was dead man. There was no way he was making it out alive this time, but it was like a time warp. 

“Back?” Hansel’s eyes grew large. He really had been a dead man. Memories of other souls next to him gravitated towards the front of his mind, them making sense now. It couldn’t be chalked up as a bad dream now. Hansel glanced at the man that Gretel did and he waved a little. “Do I even really want to know what happened?” The question was really to himself. There was a pounding in his head, but he felt his sister rest against him. 

“I guess I broke my promise?” He whispered, a hand coming up to hug her. Morgan didn’t look like herself and he looked to see Rapunzel stirring too. Cheshire was with her and in that moment he understood he’d really died. His hug grew tighter and an armed waved Morgan in for a hug as well. 

Gretel held him closer, relief washing over her when he seemed to calm down. A small smile and a chuckle left her lips when he mentioned their promise. “It’s okay.” She spoke softly, holding him tightly as her head rested against his own. She shifted slightly when he motioned for Mim to come closer, allowing the former witch to join in the hug. 

Hansel’s mind came to before the rest of his body. The two were out matched and didn’t stand a chance between the two. The Knights had shown up too, though they weren’t necessary. Rapunzel and Hansel had fallen before they arrived, they were just their to keep the Queen’s hands clean and the beat them for information. 

They had wanted to know where the camp was were the others were staying. Neither caved under their own injuries and now they were using one another against each other. Hansel didn’t like Rapunzel, but when pushed came to come, he almost gave them what they wanted in attempt to have them spare her. Silently she shook her head no and the knight’s spade came down right upon her head. A killing blow she could not have blocked. 

Fed up with their resilience, they’d just decided to kill them. Hansel was next. He remembered the knights hovering over. The weapons coming down and he shot up as his body suddenly started listening to him again. A no was yelled as he started fighting with whomever was on top of him, trying to hold him dow.  

They didn’t have to wait long for the first sign of Hansel coming back to them. The moment that he shot upright, Gretel leaned in close to wrap her arms around him. “Hansel, it’s okay!” She quickly spoke, trying to get him to hear her words over what he had remembered before he’d gone. “You’re safe now, I promise.” As she tried to soothe him, she brought a hand up to run through his hair as she shifted a little. The hand came over to cup his cheek so she could try to set his gaze upon her. 

Mulan sighed. This wasn’t were she was meant to be when there were others that needed her. The group had made their choice and she wished them well before departing. The White Queen would be alerted of what happened and she told the to expect her to reach out and check in with them. Mulan had to find her men and continue following the Red Queen. She bid them good bye before riding off on her horse. 

“T-thank you...for checking on us I mean.” Gretel quickly called out to the retreating woman before turning her focus back to what was going on. She could tell when Mim lost her magic; physically the woman looked a little sick. Taking a deep breath, she glanced from them over to where her brother was. Without waiting for the pair to finish, she walked back over to Hansel’s body and settled down next to him. Her hand reached out for his as a fresh bout of tears began to well in her eyes. It seemed like it was forever before Mim settled down across from her and spoke up. 

Mulan took a deep breath in. This woman was falling apart and there wasn’t anything she could do and they all were relying on the God of the Underworld. It broke her heart. Sighing heavily, she nodded towards Gretel. If it was loved one of hers she’d be fighting for them too, but she hoped someone would ask the hard questions if she wasn’t in the right mind set. 

“I get. I do.” She said softly. “I’m just looking out for you. If they come back negatively, he’s just going to walk away and you might have to do something that will haunt you even more than this.” Mulan was hinting at killing her brother, or him doing it self if his brain was scrambled. He could come back like a vegetable. This man wasn’t to be trusted.

“Do you really think you’re acquainted with everyone that is helping the White Queen right now? I’m not the enemy.” Mulan stayed firm. “I understand the need to save them, I’m just trying to make sure you’re getting what you want and aren’t swindled. There’s a lot of shit heads that take advantage of people when they’re grieving a lost one.” Mulan sighed. “I’ve also heard stories of people not coming back from the dead as themselves. What about that? Are they going to be alright when they return, or are they going to be traumatized?” Mulan truly hated being the debbie downer, but she didn’t want this to be worse than it already is and for them to give up and risk everything to be screwed over.  

“I know! I know you’re not, I’m sorry it’s just...complicated right now.” Gretel’s apology seemed genuine as the stress began to take its toll on her. All of this was becoming a bit too much for her and she wasn’t even part of the deal. Mim and even Alice were handling it like champs. As Hades seemed to ease some of the worries that they might have had, she glanced from him to Mulan. “I know that you’re trying to help the situation. I know you’re trying to look out for us but...he has valid points. We’ve seen what he and the woman he was with were capable of to a fraction of a degree. I believe him when he says he could take our souls with a snap of his finger.” Which just made her worry all the more about what might happen to them later down the road. 

Mulan looked between them all bewildered. She’d do anything for her man, but they weren’t even asking the necessary questions. They were just going to trust this guy. How exactly did he bring people back? Black magic? That always came with a price and what if he didn’t bring them back, but something else? Something Sinister?

“HOLD ON!?” Mulan chimed in, prepared to be the voice of reason. “None of us know who he is or how he plans to bring them back. How do we even know you’ll bring them back? You could put something in them, like a demon that tries to pass off as them. Exactly what is your angle?”

Hades made his demands for both Hansel and Rapunzel. Gretel found herself hesitating a little since she wasn’t able to offer anything substantial in the end. Mim was getting the worst part of it all and she couldn’t imagine what that must be like. If it happened. “We also don’t know who you are or what your angle is either.” Gretel slowly turned to the stranger, her expression sorrowful and pained. 

 Mulan didn’t hold anything against anyone, not even the two ignoring her completely together. This was everyone’s worse fear, losing someone they loved this gruesomely. It even made her want to cry, but she remained strong for everyone there. Glancing around, she tried to think of the best thing to say.

“Well no I can’t bring anyone back from the dead, but I can help. Whatever you need.” Mulan spoke quietly, feeling so bad for the four of them. “I know it’s not much and I’m probably annoying. I’m sorry for your loses. I wish I could bring them back.” Mulan couldn’t say anything further as she was interrupted by another. “You can w-what?!”  

The stranger’s kindness fell on semi deaf ears. Gretel didn’t want kindness right now, she wanted her brother back. He was the only family that she had in this world and she couldn’t stand the idea of him not being a part of it. Hearing another new voice caused her to startle a little from where she sat, hugging Hansel’s body a bit closer to her. His words repeated in her ears over and over again. “You can...bring someone back?” She repeated, her sobs slowing considerably now that there might be an option available to her to get her brother back. 

Mulan had heard of the attack from one of her fellow soldiers. She and a few of her trusted and best soldiers went to check it out. The Red Queen and the demon were spotted making leaving, so she sent the few men she had left to follow and report back on where they went next. They were trying to get ahead of these attacks to the best of their abilities, but she kept slipping through her fingers. 

Looking for any clues, she went to investigate the town. One truly needed a stomach of steel for this as she noticed it was like other town’s she’d recently attacked. Everyone’s heads were missing. Each time the Queen attacked she grew bolder and left more bodies behind. 

“Hello!” Mulan shouted, riding her horse in. “If you’re alive make yourself know. I’m here on behalf of the White Queen.” She announced, looking around. “I’m here to help!” She prayed that if anyone was left they’d believe her. Far down the street, in the center of town, she saw movement and picked up the pace.

“Is any one hurt? I can help!” Mulan pulled back on the reign as her horse skid to a stop. “What happened here?!” Mulan could see some limp bodies, but not make out what occurred. “I’m here on behalf of the White Queen. I’ll help in any way I can.”