Perhaps I just never gave the woods enough credit, enough respect for whatever magic they deserved. I guess I wasn't used to them; my little section of Idaho never really had much to do with any of that-thick woods and trees and whatever else an east coast might claim. My world wasn't that, just open farm land and country with the scattered towns of stereotypical Idahoan respect, and the occasional spot of magic like the sand dunes just north of Sugar City and Rexburg that would flow so slowly like golden waves of an ocean yet could still let you fall into them and sleep forever, like the hot days at the Boy Scout Camp outside Montpeliar with a steaming blue lake.

Maybe, in some ways, that is all so much more real. Jeribah's powerful in his own way, a dream way. Maybe that's why I wasn't afraid enough.

I should have seen it coming; I bet everyone else did. Mom and Hunter and whoever the hell else saw. A pale little girl with dark hair and eyes shut to the light and darkness that all stemmed from Jeribah and a poisoned apple in her hand. Like eating it would free Hunter and let Mom escape from however else Jeribah held her. Apples were Ally and Ally was bad, and that should have been enough to know. Sometimes that doesn't made any difference. Sometimes you just do it anyway because it's right.

The sleep didn't come right away. I was there enough to let the apple drop, smash to the ground in bloody applesauce. There enough to feel Hunter grab my hand, Mom touch my cheek. Enough to hear Ally. Of course she would follow me, being like that.

Ally laughed. I even understood it. Here was the most she could get. The freedom of the traitor son of a traitor sister. The chief she worked for. And a dying stepdaughter.

Mom picked up the remains of the apple and shoved it into Ally's mouth, calling her all sorts of names that I didn't know Mom even knew. I don't know how I knew that, with the way I was and the sleep coming in and my eyes all closed. But I knew. You can know a lot of things in those last moments.

"Hang in there, baby," Mom said.

Hunter squeezed my hand. I was too dizzy to respond. "Get up, Nev," he said. Not sweet, like Roy would use. That same old bratty-nephew-of-Ally's tone. I preferred it. He pulled me to my feet, and I fell against his chest, completely out.

It didn't take very long. A split second. Probably, that's all it was. I don't think sleep can be measured.

And so I woke up, on a pile of soft furs in the woody little cottage the Tso'Ape had built.

"Dakabi," Izape whispered. Seven pairs of owl eyes gazed worridly at me.

Them. I smiled, though it hurt. "I can't escape your protection, can I?"

"We serve you, Dakabi." I think Semeg actually attempted a bow. "Princess."

Princess. I tried to sit up. "Mom. Where's my mom?"

Yebani shook his head. "She left."

"Left?" My heart pounded. "What do you mean?"

"Jeribah let her go. To her own place in your own world."

Izape gave a smile. I like to think he was trying to joke. "In exchange. You made an offer. Someone for someone."

For a moment I didn't understand. But the smiles that built around me like cracks in wood... "Ally."

A laugh.

I closed my eyes, almost sick from my heart. I hadn't meant... Of course, Ally had tried to kill me. But I still hadn't meant for this.

"Jeribah accepted gladly. Her apples didn't work, as you can see. Whatever oath Jeribah made was not tight enough to prevent a sacrifice. Dakabi's mother, the other princess, was freed." Izape frowned thoughtfully. "She gives message-thrust out and couldn't stay. So she gave a message. Call her."

Call her. My heart subsided. Just dial her cell phone and hope she wouldn't think this all a dream. Damn it, she must be so worried! Ironic to think this was the first time I had talked so much with her.

"And you are free, too," Sohobi said, pressing a twiggy hand over mine. "Jeribah even commanded you to leave. He says... he will stop hunting you. He thought you were brave. Bravery is light, he said. You didn't run, like other princesses have. You came to him. He honors that. Just like he honored his oath. Now... he will rest."

"He will what?" Jeribah... was it even possible to gain that kind of respect? I stared up at the opening in the roof. Daylight. Finally day. So he had... Ally. Well, she had been my stepmother. Perhaps that was princess enough. I pushed my way off the furs, realization settling in. Ally was gone. Ally was finally gone. I didn't know what I would say to my father.

Had he really been in love with her? It could have been only a spell.

"So," I said. "You... brought me here?"

Ondembiti shook his head. "No. Your friend brought you here. Brought you back and woke you up."

My breath caught in my throat. I hadn't notice Hunter there, standing in the shadows of the doorway.

He smiled, all shy. I wondered what happened to the boy that had marched into my room and scratched my mirror.

The mirror. Bits of glass lay scattered at his feet, and bits of white wood.

"I broke it," he said. "Ally brought it with her. She watched you all the way with it."

"Seven years bad luck," I replied.

"I can handle it." He sighed, sliding a hand through his red hair in a failed distraction to figure out how to say what he should have been asking. " Nev... you shouldn't have come back."

I should have slapped him. "You came back for me."

I guess he didn't have a reply for that. And so, with all the spirits watching and everything else there was to worry about, I jumped over the glass and kissed him. Hair dusty and tangled and clothes all tattered-both of us. He didn't seem to mind. I felt that much, his arms tight around me as the glass shards faded right away into the soil as if Ally had never been. Though she had been, or else Hunter would have never come out to kill me and none of this ever would have happened.

Grandma would have thought this a fine story. Perhaps she knew all along.

The End!

Wow, I have been been pathetic with this story, actually getting up. Considering it was started almost a year and a half ago? And I tried to pretend it didn't exist for way too long? But it has been a pleasure for me to write when I was feeling up to it, and I hope to someday go back and mess around with it a little more. Shall put that on my things to do list. Which might be strange, because this was different than anything else I have ever written. But I had always wanted to do a Snow White with a little more girl power, and maybe modern. And I just thought it would be cute if she hooked it up with the guy who was meant to kill her.

I realize the ending isn't all that tied up... but I've been so mysterious throughout the story that I didn't feel like I should properly close everything. For all I know, Jeribah is still a danger.

Thanks to everyone who has replied with encouragement, greatly appreciated criticisms, and just good old whatever: You are so awesome!

Aerinha: I so appreciate your reviews! I look up to you and your work!

Arwench: Ah, another fantastic writer who's reviews I so much appreciate!

awkward: Thanks for always being so brutally honest and helpful and giving me a standard to which to rise.

Celebrindal: Thanks!

dragonfirechick: To my friend in random fantasy!

ElvenDreams: Thanks so much for your gushing. It makes me think I can do this.

fell4adeadguy: Always the bringer of entertaining reviews and much help!

fenri'sael: Thanks!

Gerontius.T: Thanks for coming in so late! You are the other Hunter Fangirl!

Heather: Thanks for being so enthusiatic and making me feel guilty for not posting.

JLF: Thanks!

Kadesh: Thanks!

kaio: My ridiculously loyal friend! I love you!

Krenya: My best source of help and criticism! Where would I be without my favorite dorm girl!

letylyf: Ah, you who have given me so much help in so many stories! Thanks!

lianna deaf: Thanks for the threats!

Liu: Thanks!

lynx wings: Thanks for appreciating all my little twists!

mdbgem: Thanks!

Metaphorical: My friend of much 10th Kingdom and Fairy Tales!

rainkisser: You rock! I am ever so appreciative of your reviews! They just make my day and really got me through this last bit of writing. And I hope to see more of your stories! You shall forever be Hunter's fangirl.

scary miss mary: Thanks for the detailed reviews! It was so inspirational and really made me want to keep going. It's so nice when people notice little things! I love you!

Sibbie: Ah, the first person to wonder who the Prince Charming might truly be. And connecting to this story.

snazy piranha: Thanks, and please update your stuff!

Snow White: In much thanks.

Tabitha78: As always, thank you. You have no idea how much your readership means to me. You're so loyal even when you have no right to be. Thanks for everything.

violingirl7: Thanks so much for all your compliments! And good luck to you at BYU!

Woe Is Me: Thanks!

Written in Stars: COASTER!

Candy for all!