"I never knew the view up here was this mesmerizing. Kaya siguro palagi kong nakikita noon si King Ronan na nakadungaw mula rito..."

A pair of amber eyes scanned the streets below. Several farmers pushed their carts filled with fresh harvest while music played in the background.

Ilang talampakan mula sa plaza, masayang nagpapalitan ng mga kwento at kalakal ang mga dayo at residente. Nakalatag ang kakaibang mga produkto sa ibabaw ng makukulay nilang mga sapin. Laughing, children hurried towards the village theatre where stage actresses were finishing their make-up and preparing their props.

From here, she can even see that the guards were scouting the area, even though there weren't any crimes reported in the last three months.

Hindi pa tapos ang pagsasaayos sa mga nasirang kabahayan o ang pagtatanim ng mga halaman, pero kapansin-pansin ang unti-unting pagbabalik ng sigla sa namatay nilang kaharian.

It's been three months after they defeated the evil witch, but to Red Ridinghood, it already felt like a decade.

'If they can see me now, would they be proud of me?'

That question lingered at the back of her mind. Ilang buwan na ang nakakalipas, pero nananatili pa ring buhay sa kanyang mga alaala sina King Ronan at General Simon. No, she doesn't want to forget. Dahil alam niyang kung nasaan man sila ngayon, kasama ng kanyang ina, they were silently watching her.

And for a moment, Red can almost imagine the proud looks on their faces.

Umihip ang malamig na hangin sa balkonahe. Dumako ang kanyang tingin sa ilang luntiang dahong naistorbo sa kalapit na puno.

So enchanting, so green, it almost reminded her of...

"Aha! I knew I'd find you here."

Sunod na naramdaman ni Red ang mga bisig ng binatang humaplos sa kanyang mga braso mula sa kanyang likuran. Soon, he rested his chin on her shoulder and sighed. Golden locks tickled the side of her neck.

"So, what are thinking about, kitten?"

She smirked playfully. "Is that how you greet a royal?"

"Why, do you want me to bow down to you in bed?"

"L-Lycros!"

Pinigilang matawa ni Lycros bago siya nito hinarap sa kanya. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang mapaglarong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. "Pardon me, Queen Rieka. I apologize for my foolishness! Dahil diyan, handa na akong tanggapin ang anumang 'parusang' ibibigay mo..." He even mocked a bow and winked at her.

Red flushed and hit his chest.

"Ugh. Stop being such a pervert! I-It's annoying..."

"Woah! I didn't know a queen can blush like that. Hahaha!"

Sa kabila ng kanyang pamumula, hindi na niya napigilang ngumiti. Seeing him laugh so freely lifted her spirits. Aminin man niya ito o hindi, sadyang nakakahawa ang mga ngiti ng binatang ito.

Yes, after they defeated the witch, the council suggested that Red Ridinghood should be formally crowned immediately. Hindi na tumanggi si Red, lalo't naging mabilis naman ang maliit at simpleng seremonya. Nyctimus even offered to erase the kingdom's memories of what really happened (and erase their memories of Lancelot) to make it easier for restoration. They had to alter some of their memories. Mas mabuti nang isipin ng mga taong isang malakas na bagyo lang ang dahilan kung bakit nawasak ang kanilang kaharian. They don't need to know that this place became a battlefield. She doesn't want to give them another reason to fear the legend of the Big Bad Werewolf.

Now, that will forever remain a myth.

Hindi naging madali ang pamamahala at pagpapatupad ng mga bagong batas, but with Elpidio and Lycros at her side, she managed to survive. And yes, surprisingly, Elpidio is still the royal adviser. Binigyan niya ito ng pangalawang pagkakataon. Isa pa, hindi naman maitatanggi ni Red na mas alam nito ang mga dapat gawin sa pamumuno ng kaharian. Elpidio's decades' worth of experience serving her family came in handy, even though he was still a bit of an asshole sometimes.

Once again, she was pulled out of her thoughts when Lycros tucked a few strands of black hair behind her ears---unfortunately, when she washed the werewolf's blood off her hair, they returned to their normal color---and kissed her forehead.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Pero wala ka nang takas. Your little 'punishment' will be granted next week." Red reminded him.

"Hey! Why are you making it sound like marrying you is a punishment?"

"Maybe it is." She smirked.

"Nah... I'd marry you yearly if I could, kitten." Maya-maya pa, nawala na lang bigla ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Lycros. "Hey, I just have one concern. Don't get me wrong, I know I can be a good husband and an awesome father to our children one day...pero hindi ko alam kung kaya kong gampanan ang tungkulin bilang hari.."

"Lycros, you've already proved yourself capable of leadership."

"Pero---!"

"If I were you, I'd listen to her."

Napalingon na lang sila sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Doon nila nakitang nakatayo sa bukana ng pinto si Acontes. A smirk played on his lips as he addressed his brother, "O baka naman gusto mong palitan na lang kita? You know I wouldn't mind saving you from that 'punishment', brother..."

Tumalim ang mga mata ni Lyrcos. "No, thanks. Red's punishment is mine."

"Jealous?"

"A-Am not!"

"Talaga lang, ha?"

"You bastard! Sana namatay ka na lang. Sayang 'yong pagod naming naghukay ng libingan mo."

"Tsk! Hindi mo ba narinig ang kasabihang 'matagal mamatay ang masamang damo'?"

"Bakit, damo ka ba?!"

Napairap na lang si Red sa palitan ng dalawa. "Ugh. You two are giving me a headache! Tara na nga. Siguradong kanina pa tayo hinihintay ng iba pang mga bisita," she said and started walking out of the throne room. Nang makalabas na siya sa may pasilyo, agad na sumalubong sa kanya ang ghost reindeer at sinabayan siya sa paglalakad.

Agad na nawala ang inis ng reyna.

"Hi! Are you having fun in the palace?"

The ghost reindeer just stared at her and pounced around the hallway. Lihim na napangiti si Red nang kamuntikan nang matisod ang mga gwardiya at himatayin ang mga katulong nang makita ang multo niyang alaga.

Sa kanyang tabi, napapailing na lang si Lycros nang maabutan na sila nito.

"Err... Kitten? Don't you think it's a bad idea to keep him here? These mortals are gonna go crazy if he keeps spooking them!"

Red shrugged.

"Well, they have to get used to it."

When they finally reached the palace's dining hall, hindi na maitago ni Red ang kanyang saya nang makitang nakaupo na roon ang iba pang magkakapatid. Agad siyang ipinaghila ng upuan ni Helisson, at the very head of the table. Lycros sat on her right while Acontes took a seat at the far-end of the group.

"Thank you, Hel."

The tall prince bowed and offered a charming smile.

"No worries, Miss Red. It's the least I can do for a queen."

Nang bumalik na ito sa kanyang upuan, napansin ni Red ang sisidlan ng mga medicinal herbs sa tabi nito. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, tumutulong pa rin si Helisson sa mga healers ng kanilang palasyo. In fact, he's been teaching them how to mix the proper ingredients and brew the right syrup for colds.

Nang dumako ang mga mata ni Red sa kanyang harap, she spotted a red rose lying on her plate.

She picked it up and accidentally pricked her finger on a thorn.

"Be careful, ma cherié. Beauty can be just as deadly." Nakangiting paalala ni Macednus na kanina pa pala nakatitig sa kanya. The queen eyed him and smirked. "I'll take note of that, Macednus...  Oo nga pala, mabuti na lang at naisipan mong magsuot ng t-shirt ngayon."

"Argh! Don't remind me... Kanina ko pa gustong alisin 'to!"

"Oh, have mercy, brother...
the last time you were naked,
half the village drooled
and ten maids quickly fainted!"

Linus reminded him while he was busy cutting into his steak. Dumako ang mga mata ni Red sa bronze medallion nitong nakasabit pa rin sa kanyang leeg. The medallion that was originally owned by Pallas. Nakakatuwang isipin na katulad nila, pinipili nitong 'wag makalimot.

"Kailan nga pala ang opening ng public library?"

Linus stared at her like she committed a crime. Agad na naunawaan ni Red ang ipinapahiwatig nito kaya inis siyang napabuntong hininga, "...because I plan to borrow books about poetry?"

"Library" rhymes with "poetry", right?

The poet grinned, a proud look on his face.

"You're getting better at rhyming
my lovely prose and poetry...
And to answer your question: tomorrow,
let's introduce reading as a new hobby!"

Nabanggit na rin kasi noon sa kanya ni Linus ang kagustuhan nitong ibahagi ang kanyang mga aklat sa iba. Kaya nang maisipan nitong magbukas ng maliit na library sa kanilang kaharian, she quickly approved of it and helped him with preparations. It's time the villagers finally appreciate literature and fall in love with stories. Who knows? Maybe they'll even open a school someday to make education accessible to the poor.

Maya-maya pa, nagsimula nang kumain ang magkakapatid. Noon lang napansin ni Red ang mga bakanteng upuan sa tabi ni Acontes.

"Nasaan sina Carteron at Nycti---!""

"BOO!"

Red Ridinghood almost jumped out of her chair when she saw the man hanging from their ceiling. Kamuntikan pang malaglag ang kanyang korona. Humagalpak nang tawa ang magkakapatid. Agad naman niyang sinamaan ng tingin ang binatang nakangisi sa kanya. Paikot-ikot lang ito sa ere habang nakabitin nang patiwarik.

"SHIT! YOU CREEPY BASTARD! BUMABA KA NGA DIYAN!"

"What's the matter, Your Highness? Did I scare ya?" Carteron's blind eyes focused on her, as if he knows where to look.

"Why don't you hang yourself somewhere else?"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

His cruel laughter rang in her hearing aids. She sighed. 'Hindi na talaga magbabago ang mga baliw na 'to.'

When they were all settled down, Acontes finally spoke, "Nyctimus couldn't come. May pinagkakaabalahan pa raw siya."

"Hind pa rin ba sila tapos sa pagsasaayos ng kastilyo?" Lycros asked.

"I don't think so... But he did mention something about a magical barrier."

"A barrier?" She inquired, feeling anxious again.

"Yup, but everything's under control. There's nothing to worry about, my empress."

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag.

Sa pagkakaalam ni Red, hanggang ngayon ay tinatapos pa rin nina Nyct at ng mga forest muses ang pagkukumpuni ng mga nasirang parte ng kastilyo. The undead werewolf attack caused enough damage. Isa pa, nire-renovate na rin nila ang ilang bahagi nito to make it a little less creepy (though, that's really impossible).

The Big Bad Werewolves decided to stay in their gothic castle while still helping her out with the kingdom. As much as they wanted to move here (like what Lycros did), they simply can't. Nauunawaan ito ni Red, dahil siya rin mismo ay hindi kakayang iwanan ang kanyang kaharian. No, not with this golden crown on top of her head.

In the end, they settled for a weekly visit---just like this.

Habang abala ang lahat sa pakikipagkwentuhan, naramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Lycros sa kanyang kamay. She smiled upon seeing the engagement ring he bought her a few weeks ago. It was unnecessary, but he still insisted.

Soon, she felt him kissing the back of her hand.

Lycros stared at her lovingly.

"You should never trust a stranger, Little Red Ridinghood. Or else you might get yourself tangled in a gothic fairytale..." He smirked. Remembering their first encounter, Red couldn't help but smile. Her red lips curved into a smile; amber eyes fixated on her king.

Once upon a time, the story never started...

"Too late, Lycros. I'm a willing victim of the Big Bad Werewolf."

*

Nyctimus closed the black book and kept it inside a drawer. Mukhang false alarm lang ang naramdaman niyang kakaibang mahika kanina.

'It was just a glitch in the barrier. It weakens every once in a while. Mabuti na lang at wala itong malalang epekto sa amin sa bersyong ito ng Eastwood,' the magician thought. It seems like Eteilla is right...despite the glitches, the realities from different fairy tale dimensions aren't getting mixed up. Nyctimus sighed in relief and took his cup of grape juice.

It's amazing how one place can be  overlapped with several fairy tales and timelines.

Eastwood is the setting for all the stories that have never been told before.

Huminga siya nang malalim at sumandal sa kanyang upuan. Tahimik sa loob ng kanyang tore. Nagkalat sa sahig ang mga papel at botilyang naglalaman ng potions. Under the hood, his striking blue eyes darted towards the spinning wheel, the sharp spindle glinted dangerously in the afternoon sun.

'The same spark of energy coming from the barrier.'

Whether this means something or not, they will never know.

It is not their story to tell.

Finally, Nyctimus finished his grape juice and left the cup on his table. He'll just leave the castle with Ynara and the other muses. Hindi pa huli para bisitahin sina Red Ridinghood sa kaharian. Now that they're mortals again, they want to make the best out of it and live the life that curse stole from them, all those centuries ago.

Fate has its twisted ways.

"...at last, Red Ridinghood and the Big Bad Werewolves lived wickedly ever after."

THE END.

Little girls, this seems to say,
Never stop upon your way.
Never trust a stranger-friend;
No one knows how it will end.

As you’re pretty, so be wise;
Wolves may lurk in every guise.
Handsome they may be, and kind,
Gay, or charming never mind!

Now, as then, ‘tis simple truth—
Sweetest tongue has sharpest tooth!

---Moral (Little Red Riding Hood), version by Chalres Perrault