At that moment, Fern noticed something fishy going on. There were moments while Snow was fighting Jericho where the prince seemed to pull his sword back when he obviously should have been lunging it forward and taking advantage of the opening in Jericho’s defenses that had temporarily presented itself. This meant that Snow was the better swordsman, but was choosing to ignore these opportunities. Snow was going easy on his opponent and even taking hits rather than choosing to injure his opponent instead.

Fern angrily clenched her hands around her bow until her knuckles turned white. He’s taking hits instead of making them when he can. I don’t get it? “Snow, what the hell are you doing? Why are you going easy on that bastard when he’s trying to kill you?”

“He’s still Alita’s husband,” Snow explained with a troubled expression on his face. “If I kill him then Alita will be sad. When you kill people - their loved ones will be sad, Fern!”

“How dare you speak her name,” Jericho growled.

Fern ran a hand back through her hair in an exasperated gesture. “But, you’ve had to kill enemies before, right, Snow?”

“Well, I’ve killed undead monsters before,” Snow said through gritted teeth as he ducked a sword swing from Jericho. “But I don’t think that counts.”

Fern watched as a few locks of Snow’s hair floated down to the floor. “You idiot! If you go easy on him - he’ll kill you!”

“I know what I’m doing!” Snow said stubbornly as he blocked a sudden powerful forward thrust of Jericho’s sword. He barely managed to parry the attack, and the blade sliced into the outside of Snow’s shoulder.

Fern’s eyes widened in alarm when she saw Snow flinch in pain. “Merlin! You obviously don’t know what you’re doing! That’s it. I can’t watch this anymore. I’ll handle him!” The Huntress nocked an arrow to her bow, and aimed at Jericho’s back. It was a little cowardly to shoot an enemy from behind, but this was a matter of life and death.

“No! Look out, Jericho!” Snow dropped his sword and grabbed Jericho’s shoulders in a firm grip. Fern loosed her arrow. Snow spun Jericho around so that now his back was to Fern instead. The arrow flew through the air and ended up hitting Snow’s back instead of Jericho’s as Fern had originally intended. Jericho had frozen in place out of shock and was looking at Snow with a startled expression on his face.

“Snow!” Fern cried out in dismay.

Snow let go of Jericho’s shoulders, sank to his knees, and gave the demon a beseeching look. “Please stay alive and make Alita happy, Jericho. Love is a rare and precious thing, you know?” He offered the demon a lopsided smile.

Jericho lowered his sword and continued to look at the prince in bewilderment. “You saved me. A demon. Why?”

“When you kill people - their loved ones will be sad,” Snow said, repeating his words from earlier. “I’m a lover. Not a fighter. I don’t really want to kill anyone. That’s just how I roll.”

“Aren’t you a hero?” Jericho asked, his voice tinged with confusion. “Aren’t you supposed to be a vanquisher of evil?”

“It’s exactly because I’m a hero that I don’t want to kill anyone,” Snow said in a firm tone. “A true hero has no need for a sword.”

“You’re a wanted criminal, you know?” Jericho reminded the prince ruthlessly. “King Reginald has placed a bounty on your head. More bounty hunters will come after you. Will you spare them too?”

Snow shrugged. “If I can. I will.”

Jericho shook his head in disbelief. “How do you expect to defeat King Reginald with a half-assed attitude like that? You lack conviction!”

“I don’t know,” Snow said, rubbing the back of his neck in a sheepish gesture. “I’m planning to wing it.”

Jericho’s angry expression turned chagrined. “You know, it’s strange, but I’m having a hard time hating you, kid. Even if you did sleep with my wife. She’s probably the one who seduced you anyways. She usually kills her ‘food’ so I was jealous she let you live. I wondered why. But I think I can understand why Alita decided to spare you now. There’s something special about you, kid. You’re destined for great things. I think I’ll let you live a little while longer to see what you’re going to accomplish.”

“Thank you,” Snow said.

“Snow…” Fern murmured, gaining the attention of both males. She wrapped her arms around her torso in a protective gesture. “I’m so sorry I shot you.”

“It’s okay,” Snow assured her. “I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble. I know I can be a real handful.”

Jericho walked around Snow, crouched down, and began to inspect the wound. “The arrow must be removed.”

“I’ll do it,” Fern said, approaching Snow with hesitant steps. She crouched down behind him, gripped the arrow shaft with her right hand, and with one hard tug pulled the arrow out of Snow’s body. Almost immediately, a torrent of blood began to gush out of the wound. “Merlin! There’s so much blood!”

“Quick! Apply pressure to his wound,” Jericho instructed.

Fern placed her hands on Snow’s bloody back and applied pressure to the wound to help stem the bleeding.

“You need to take him to a healer,” Jericho said, stroking his chin. “Perhaps, that Fairy Godfather that is with you guys could be of some use. Healing is a form of Light Magic, I believe.”

Fern tore a strip of cloth from the bottom of Snow’s traveling cloak, and wrapped it around the prince’s torso tightly. “Good idea.”

“From the lack of noise coming from below I believe the other fight has ended as well,” Jericho said speculatively. “My mercenaries and I will leave this place. I have the sudden urge to go home and make passionate love to my wife.”

Snow gave Jericho a thumbs-up. “You go do that, man.” Jericho flapped his wings, and flew up and out of the hole in the roof.

Fern helped Snow to his feet, and slung his arm over her shoulders. “Come on, I’ll get you to Blue. He’ll know what to do.”

“Hey, that rhymed,” Snow joked weakly.

“Moron,” Fern said fondly.

***

Ten minutes earlier…

Yaga and Blue worked together to barricade the entrance to the tower by dumping a bunch of empty wooden barrels in front of the door, and waited for the mercenaries to arrive. They didn’t have to wait long. All of a sudden, there was a thudding sound as something rammed into the door again and again with a loud thumping sound.

“Move out of my way!” a female voice commanded in an imperious tone. “I’ve got this! Excindo!” A destructive spell hit the door and blasted it to bits.

Abruptly, Yaga and Blue were face-to-face with the elf and gorgon. “Remember, you handle the Dark Elf Witch. I’ll handle the gorgon,” Yaga whispered.

Blue’s eye twitched. “Don’t boss me around, Seer,” he snapped lowly.

Yaga leapt over a few barrels, ran through the doorway, and right past the two startled mercenaries. “Coward! You won’t escape! I’ll get him!” the gorgon shouted as he took off after Yaga, who appeared to be running away. Blue wasn’t too concerned. He knew it was only a ruse.

Blue shuddered at the sight of that retreating slithering tail, and returned his attention to the Dark Elf Witch, who was standing in front of him with her wand raised before her. “I suppose you’ll be my opponent,” she let out a husky laugh as she let her eyes rove over Blue’s body. He was currently in his largest form. “You’re quite handsome for a fairy. It’s a pity you’re shorter than me. You know what they say about men with small hands. They have small cocks.”

“Silence, witch!” Blue whipped out his crystal wand and launched a spell at the Dark Elf.

She muttered a counter spell and blocked the attack. “Not bad. My turn.” The Dark Elf Witch pointed her wand at Blue, and a fireball burst out of the tip of her wand and flew towards the fairy.

Blue waved his wand in front of him and conjured a water shield. “Magicus Clipeum!” The fireball hit the shield and was dissipated.

The Dark Elf Witch’s confident expression grew thoughtful and more wary. “You have water elemental affinity? In that case…” She chanted a spell and shot a crackling, silver lightning bolt Blue’s way.

Blue knew that if he allowed her attack to hit his water shield it would only serve to magnify the power of her attack. With a wave of his wand Blue dissipated his shield and dove out of the way of the bolt. The magical attack hit the outer wall of the tower and loosened a couple of bricks that fell to the ground. Blue quickly retaliated, however, and pointed his wand at the elf and chanted a spell. A fireball shot out of Blue’s wand and sped through the air towards the Dark Elf.

The Dark Elf let out a squeak of surprise, and dove out of the way. “You have fire elemental affinity too? Just what are you?”

“I’m no ordinary fairy,” Blue explained in a smug tone. “I’m a Fairy Godfather. The job doesn’t come without its perks. I can control all of the known elements.”

The Dark Elf chewed on her thumbnail in an irritated manner. Shit. Fairy Godfathers were skilled in all kinds of dangerous magic. She could cast fire and lightning spells, which both fell under the Dark Magic category. The elf hadn’t tried casting a Light Magic spell for years. But she realized she had no choice if she wanted to defeat this fairy.

The Dark Elf leapt to her feet, waved her wand, and chanted a spell. Abruptly, a wall of earth sprang up between her and Blue, and served to block his next fireball attack. The Dark Elf crouched down behind the rock wall, and touched the tip of her wand to the ground. She chanted the words of a spell and when she was done a cunning smile spread across her face.

Meanwhile, Blue was staring at the wall of earth and rock, and wondering what the hell the Dark Elf was up to until it was too late. Several leafy, green vines popped up out of the ground and attacked Blue. They coiled up around his body and quickly restrained him. A vine coiled around his right wrist and constricted until he was forced to drop his wand with a pained gasp.

The Dark Elf straightened, walked around the wall, and revealed herself. She had an incredibly haughty look on her face as she sashayed closer to Blue. The elf came to a stop a foot away from Blue and admired the way the vines had wrapped around Blue’s thighs, crotch and chest. She licked her lips at the delectable sight. “Mmm. This is a good look for you, fairy. All tied up and at my mercy. I think I’ll have a taste.” The Dark Elf Witch leaned over Blue and captured his lips with hers.

Blue made sure to keep his mouth shut as she moved her lips over his aggressively. The Dark Elf licked at the seam between Blue’s lips, seeking entrance, but the fairy kept his mouth firmly shut. The Dark Elf Witch inwardly laughed at the fairy’s stubbornness. The prideful ones were always so much more fun to break. She took Blue’s lower lip into her mouth and bit down.

Blue gasped and the Dark Elf took that opportunity to plunge her tongue into Blue’s mouth. A flush rose to Blue’s pale cheeks as she swirled her tongue around his. Damnation! This crazy bitch stole my first kiss!

A few minutes later, the Dark Elf pulled back and licked her lips slowly. “Mmm. You taste good…for a fairy.” She glanced down at his crotch. “I’m curious…how big is a fairy’s cock anyways? Do you have a child-sized cock? Or an adult-sized cock?”

Blue’s eyes flashed with anger and indignation. “There’s something else you should know about Fairy Godfathers.”

“Oh, really? And what might that be?” the elf asked in a singsong voice.

“We’re good at wandless magic,” Blue announced.

At that moment, the vines that had been wrapped around Blue’s body shot out and wrapped around the Dark Elf’s body instead. As the vines wrapped around her breasts and crotch she started to writhe in a combination of pain and pleasure. “Oh. I see how it is. You’re going to rape me with these vines.” The elf gave Blue a lustful look.

A vein at Blue’s temple throbbed in irritation. “No, I’m not! Gods, you’re so perverted!” The fairy watched as the vines continued to tighten around her body, and even he had to admit there was something erotic about the whole thing. With a wave of his hand Blue commanded the vines to gag the elf while they were at it for good measure. Now she looked even more sexy and alluring than before. Blue let out a heavy sigh, and scrubbed a hand down his face.

Good heavens, it’s a good thing I faced this witch and not Snow. Snow would have ended up tied up in vines and at the Dark Elf Witch’s mercy in no time. They would have surely fucked-

Blue cut his lascivious thoughts short. What the hell is wrong with me? I never have such dirty thoughts. Snow’s a bad influence on me.

Blue warily glanced at the writhing Dark Elf and his blush deepened. She’s kind of pretty. He shook his head vigorously to clear it of such traitorous thoughts. She’s the enemy! How can I entertain such thoughts! Blue turned his attention to Yaga to see how he was faring against the gorgon.

Yaga was dodging vicious claw swipes with ease and grace as he sidestepped and ducked the attacks. The gorgon let out a frustrated hiss and whipped its tail out low while trying to trip Yaga up, but the Seer lithely jumped over it.

Blue noticed that the seer had a strange, dazed look on his face, but he was obviously aware of his surroundings since he continued to avoid the gorgon’s deadly attacks. Yaga abruptly held up his hand, summoned his crystal ball from its pocket dimension, and held it up to show the gorgon. “Would you be interested in seeing your future?”

The gorgon skidded to a halt. “My future?” The demon gulped. The allure of knowing his future was greater than the fear he held for the seer. “Show me, Seer. Any funny business and I’ll kill you!” he hissed warningly.

Yaga nodded and held up the crystal ball so that the gorgon could see it better. The gorgon peered into the smoky depths of the crystal ball and saw a pair of glowing, yellow eyes staring back at him. The demon flinched back, but it was too late. He let out an angry yell as he was turned to stone.

Blue strolled over to Yaga with an impressed look on his face. “That was amazing. How did you do that, Yaga?”

Yaga gave the fairy a bashful smile. “I just showed him his future - the one where he tried to turn me to stone by using his ability. He ended up using it on himself.”

“Your ability might just be much more formidable than I thought,” Blue admitted grudgingly. “But, I must ask, was I really the best match up for the Dark Elf? It was an awkward fight.”

“Oh? I think you two make an excellent pair,” Yaga teased in a cheeky manner.

Blue narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Yaga. “What are you, Cupid? Don’t think I haven’t noticed what you’re trying to do with Fern and Snow.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Yaga said in a singsong voice.

“Snow must marry the Princess Florinda,” Blue said firmly. “It would unite Apple Kingdom and Cross Kingdom, and stop a war. Their union would not only bring peace between two Kingdoms, but also between wizards, witches and dullards. Their marriage would save thousands of lives. Don’t get in my way. I’m the one who knows what is best for the prince.”