Snow got sick again and Leaf needed to go find more herbs as Vlad left to hunt for dinner. Basil stayed back to take care of Snow because they did not want another incident like the comb one. However, Basil was getting bored and Snow was getting restless in bed.

“Snow, I need to go pick some vegetables from the garden, do you want to get some fresh air?”

“Shouldn’t we wait for them to get back? I don’t want them to worry about us.”

“Nah! It is right outside the cabin! It is perfectly safe.”

Basil dragged his brother out before he had a chance to complain or nitpick some more. Snow stayed on the front step and watched as Basil picked out fresh potatoes and carrots. A young man ran out of the woods and they both screamed in fright.

“Oh! I knew I saw a cabin over here! Could point me to the castle? I got horribly lost.” The man was scratching the back of his head as he spoke.

The man looked plain with no noticeable traits. Plain brown hair and eyes, and plain traveler clothes. He carried a large backpack filled with fabrics.

“Just keep heading towards the setting sun and then you will see the queen’s tower to your right.” Basil said as Snow did a small sneeze.

“Oh! It is a bit chilly, so I should give you two of my scarfs. Free of charge!” He took off his backpack and dug into it. Then he pulled out two scarves; one red, and one white. “Here, so that you can stay warm as the weather gets colder.”

Snow got the white scarf and Basil got the red scarf. Afterwards, the man left and Snow was staring at the scarf.

“I don’t think we should wear these.” He voiced his worries to his brother.

“I don’t think she can make herself younger, grow a dick, and curse two objects at the same time.”

“But how come he knew to give me a white one and you a red one? I never told him my name.”

“Well, there is the winter holiday coming up and those are common colors for it. Also, my hair is red so red is always good. Same with white and your pale skin. Black will just make you look like a corpse.”

Snow silently agreed with his brother before putting on the scarf. It started to go tighter, tighter, and turned Snow’s face purple with the lack of air. Basil dropped his scarf and ran to him. He tried to take off the scarf; it only became tighter. Basil gave a crying wail as he failed to remove the simple scarf. The hunters returned from the hunt, and Vlad dropped his prey before running to Snow.

“What happened?”

“Scarf, choking him, no air flow.” Basil gave a random set of words in between cries.

Vlad tried to cut the scarf with his hunting knife and failed to remove it. He cursed under his breath before tossing the knife aside and pulling a small-decorated dagger out of his boot. The dagger cut through the scarf like it was paper.

Snow started coughing as fresh air entered his system.

“We should burn the two scarves.” Leaf said as he picked up Basil’s fallen scarf.

Later, after Snow recovered and Basil calmed down. The two boys explained what happened with the scarves.

“Snow, you should know that your brother has a habit of forgetting logic,” Vlad told him and Basil’s ears turned red, “Why did you even think about putting the scarf on after the comb incident.”

“I did not realize that someone could grow a dick with magic.” Basil said while looking at the ground. “Will we have to distrust everyone until she is gone?” He started rubbing the sides of his arms. “This feels like a glass cage with no way of escape.”

Leaf sighed before pulling the scared boy into a hug. Snow was playing with his hands as Vlad applied cream to his bruised neck. Snow’s soft voice cracked whenever he tried to talk with the bruises.

A week before the twins’ birthday, Vlad and Leaf decided to surprise them. There was a hidden apple orchard nearby one of the rivers. They made a simple picnic in the center of the orchard.

“This is beautiful!” Snow’s voice was still quiet from the damage with the scarf. “I hope we can try some of the apples.”

“We can pick a couple to eat here and some to make pies later.” Leaf said as he stretched out next to Basil.

The food was finished fast and Vlad held out the empty basket to Snow to pick apples. Leaf got up to keep an eye out for any possible dangers. One of the trees had apples that were half-green and half-red.

“Sweet with a hint of sour, perfect for apple pies.” Snow said as he started to pick the apples closest to him.

Leaf climbed up a few branches and started passing down apples to Snow until the basket was over flowing. He climbed back down and took the heavy basket as Snow carried four perfect apples. When they returned, Snow gave them each an apple. Vlad and Basil took a bite of the red side, while Leaf and Snow took a bite of the green side. Within seconds, Leaf and Snow fell to the ground, cold as corpses.

Basil ran to Leaf as Vlad punched the ground. They both had tears running down their faces.

“Please don’t leave me! I cannot live without you both in my lives!” Basil shouted at the numb bodies.

“I will kill that witch if that is the last thing I will do,” Vlad said as he got up, “Let’s take them home before we destroy the curse maker.”

Basil nodded his head before helping Vlad. After laying them down, Vlad grabbed his weapons and gave Basil a large knife. They returned to the apple orchard.

“Where are they? I need them!” Someone said as they stalked around the picnic basket.

The person looked like the boys’ stepmother but the amount of wrinkles made it look like they were gone for years instead of a month.

“She aged fast but that is her.”

Vlad readied his bow and aimed for the hag’s heart. Basil got into position just in case he had to fight. He let the arrow loose right as she turned towards them.

“Found you!” She hissed right before getting knocked back from the shot.

They came out from hiding and walked towards the fallen woman. Basil held the knife out as he shook.

“How do we break your curse?” Basil asked with a shaky voice.

She started laughing as she attempted to stand up. She spat up blood with every movement.

“I gave those apples the most powerful curse! It can only be broken by true love’s kiss! But I have banished every maiden from here weeks ago!”

She was coughing up blood as she laughed. Then she turned around and ran away from them.

“You lie! I know that there are girls working at the castle!”

She grew an unnatural smile as she turned to face them again and laugh at his face.

“Not anymore, how else was I supposed to keep this spell going until I found my stepsons?”

Basil took a step back and she used that chance to run and tackle him. An arrow brushed against Basil’s ear and embedded in her eye. She stepped back and fell into the river. He fell to his knees and started breathing fast.

“Basil breathe with me.” Vlad said to help him calm down. “We should head back; maybe Leaf has some herbs hidden that might help us.”

Basil nodded his head before they left to head to the cabin. The two did not change and Vlad sat down between them,

“I am so sorry that you met us,” He was crying as he spoke, “If it wasn’t for us, Leaf would be alive and well right now.”

“Yes, but the two of you would have been dead and I would have lost any chance to meet sweet Snow.”

Basil froze and saw the loving look in his eyes.

“Try kissing him.”

They were both shocked by the idea. Then Vlad leaned down and kissed Snow on the lips. Vlad moved away right as Snow shot up with a deep breath. But they managed to hit each other in the forehead.

“You have my blessing to court my brother.” Basil said while laughing.

He stopped as he looked at Leaf. Vlad was rubbing his head as he noticed the look.

“Try it; I have a good feeling that he shares yours.”

Basil leaned down and lightly kissed Leaf’s lips. As he started to move away, arms wrapped around, his shoulders, holding him there. Vlad and Snow started clapping at the tender scene. They pulled away and they shared blushes that made a rose look pale.

“I thought that princes are supposed to kiss princesses?”

“Maybe you are my princess.”

The four lived a happy life in the simple cabin as the dead castle fell apart over time. No one lived in that castle after the mad queen used all of the people for the cursed items.