Selvina, Red, Belle, and Bigbad stood at the edge of the Troll Swamps, gazing out across the wide expanse of murky, green water dotted with stunted trees and mounds of dirt and grass. A lazy mist blanketed the water and far in the distance the dark silhouettes of tall cypress trees poked up out of the haze, like blunt, shadowy fingers reaching for the light.

Selvina glanced at Red and she smiled back at her.

"It's just like the first day we met him," the redhead said, gazing up at the sky. "It was cloudy then, though."

Red nodded before swatting at one of the many biting insects that braved the cooler temperatures, hoping for a last taste of blood before the winter frost banished them for months. "Too bad Tinkerbelle isn't here to keep these damned bugs away."

"Where is she anyway?"

"She was watching Cindy train," Selvina replied before smacking her arm, successfully killing a mosquito and making a mess on her palm.

"I can't blame her for doing so," Belle said, rubbing her arms as a cold breeze rushed past. "It really is a pleasure to watch."

Selvina nodded in agreement. "It really is. I just keep forgetting to put my elf-arrow away. Now they have Ruslan basically pat me down before I get too close."

Red and Belle chuckled.

"At least you don't have to strip down," Red said with a shrug and a tilt of her head.

"Yeah, not happening," Selvina stated firmly.

Belle stood straighter and narrowed her eyes as she peered into the fog. "I think something is coming."

Selvina gazed in the same direction and smiled. "Yup, that's him. Looks like Jim is with him too."

Over a hundred yards away, deep into the mist was a silhouette of a wide, flat object topped with a larger rectangular one. Selvina knew it to be a sailed raft. She couldn't see the occupants but she was certain one of them was Huckleberry Finn and the other was his best friend Jim.

As they waited for the raft to approach, Selvina asked, "Belle, did you ever talk to Merlin about you and Beast?"

Belle took a moment to reply. When she did, her voice was quiet. "No..."

"Why not?" Red inquired, eyeing the brunette.

Belle inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "I'm rather nervous to do so..."

"Why?" Selvina asked with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't it what you always wanted?"

"It is! Both Beast and I want to know if there is a way to give us our own bodies but...Merlin is our last hope. Empress Rhiannon won't help us since we fought against the trolls so there's no use asking her. If we ask Merlin and he says no...then..." Belle shrugged and sighed. "Then I guess we'll just have to accept the fact that we'll always share one body. We have a home now and people that aren't afraid of us and actually like us—both of us. I could have never imagined that ever happening and we are both so grateful for it all. It's just..."

"It would be nice to at least touch one another, right?" Selvina finished softly.

Belle nodded. "Seeing you with Jack makes me jealous, I have to admit."

Selvina didn't miss the glance Red sent her way. Still looking at Belle, she said, "Well, if you don't want me to do those kinds of things in front of you I can try."

Belle immediately began shaking her head before Selvina was even finished talking. "No, Selvina, don't even think that way. You and Jack are perfect for each other and have every right to showcase your love to the world. Don't worry about me and Beast. We've managed this far and whatever happens we'll keep on doing so."

Selvina walked up to Belle and gave her a hug, which the other woman returned. "You'll never know if you don't ever ask him, Belle. Make sure you do, ok?"

Belle nodded. "I will."

The object in the mist revealed itself to be as Selvina expected and sitting upon it were two figures she wasn't surprised to see.

Jim, tall, heavily-built, dark of skin, and few of words, stood up and stabbed a long pole into the water. He used it to push the raft deeper into the rushes and tall grasses so that it beached onto the muddy bank. Once the raft was secure, the other figure, short, thin, and wearing patched overalls over a dirty shirt, stood up and hurried to the front of it. He titled his straw hat with one hand and couldn't suppress the great smile he had on his young, round face.

"It's good to see you again, Huck," Selvina said, trudging through the mud to give him a brief hug. "You should visit more often."

The boy gave her a wink. "I could be doin' that, I reckon, but the swamps are a strange place these days and they be needin' me lots. You know, to keep the peace and all."

Selvina pursed her lips exaggeratedly and nodded. "Oh yes, of course, fierce warrior as you are."

"Yes, ma'am, the fiercest!" Huck then turned to Red and gave her a nod. "Pleasure to see you again, Red. No Robin today?"

"He has some general things to do before we leave," she replied. "Did you get the water?"

Huck spread his arms wide and furrowed his brow, as if insulted. "Of course I did! I got it from the middlest of the river so it's as pure as it can be." He turned around, picked up a large leather pouch, and heaved it up in both arms. Facing the girls again, he stepped off of the raft and handed it to Red. "Ya' really sure this can cure that princess?"

Red grabbed the heavy water skin and grunted as she bent back slightly to balance herself. "Ask Selvina. She's the one who came up with it."

Huck looked at Selvina, who smiled nervously.

"I just remembered it from a story I heard a long time ago," she said, trying to sound confident. "The river in the story wasn't inside a swamp full of trolls but...it should still work."

Huck shrugged, not appearing worried in the least. "Well, if it don't work, then at least she'll be a clean statue princess." He then shifted his gaze to Belle, who he only seemed to just notice. He bowed low and removed his wide-brimmed, straw hat, sweeping it with a flourish. "I be beggin' for forgiveness, pretty woman, but I am Huckleberry Finn. Might I be askin' your name?"

Belle smiled and curtsied neatly. "I'm Belle. It's a pleasure to meet you, Huck."

"I'm hearin' tales of a brown-haired friend of Selvina and Red who can shapeshift into some big, hairy beast. That rightly can't be you, eh?"

Belle glanced at Red and Selvina before answering. "It is, Huck. Might I ask where you heard of us?"

Huck exchanged a glance with Jim and chuckled. "It's all over the swamps! The trolls ain't shuttin' up about you and how that beast killed them big behemoth creatures and hun'reds of trolls. I be hopin' you got no plans of visitin' the swamps soon. I reckon that would be a right bad idea."

"I think we'll visit them at a later date."

Huck winked. "Good idea."

Jim looked up and pointed to the sky, speaking for the first time. "Rain soon."

Dark grey clouds were beginning to gather and the wind was picking up, tossing the girls' hair about and nearly removing Huck's hat from his head.

"Looks like I might be havin' to leave soon," the young teen said with a saddened expression. "Give Robin Hood my best wishes, eh? I do hope the water works on that princess across the sea."

"If it does we'll make sure to tell her who brought it to us," Selvina said with a sincere smile. "Maybe Red will bring her here to meet you herself."

To that, Huck's face paled. "A princess? A real princess? Meet me? Swamp breath, that would be right nice of you to do. You ain't got to do that for me, though."

Selvina bent down and hugged Huck once more. "You brought me back my elf-arrow and gave Red the water she needs to cure Midae's princess. You deserve something in return."

Huck's pale face reddened and he hugged Selvina back. "Bein' friends with you all is good enough for me."

Selvina gave Huck a kiss on the cheek and pulled away from the hug. "You're sweet, Huck, and I meant what I said; don't be shy to visit. It'll just me and Belle for a while and it would be nice to have another friend to talk to."

Huck nodded, blushing even deeper. "I'll make sure to come by. I promise."

With the onset of the first raindrops Huck and Jim said their goodbyes and pushed their raft back onto the water. With a few more goodbyes from Huck, Jim adjusted the single sail, letting it catch the steady autumn wind, and pushed off with the long pole.

It was not long before the fog swallowed them and the girls were forced to hurry away as the cold rain drenched their bodies and chilled their skin.