Times of Glory 10: To Make a Crescent Moon

Times of Glory 10: To Make a Crescent Moon

10. To Make a Crescent Moon

Hunter was known as a Thief

Who stole the hearts of women

Why is it then that it seems

Like more ladies are comin'?

Wait. Look there! Is that the Queen??

Surely she will be more keen…

But what is this?? She calls to him!

Shall he then steal a heart again?

The One Who Is Fair

Hunter, Hunter… Thief

I helped you out for a fee

You used my Mirror to go to Near

Now do something for me.

Glory, Glory, Queen!

However have you been?

Of course I'll do a favor for you

You look radiant this e'en.

"Go steal young Snow White's heart."

cough "Wait what-? … I missed that part."

Ingredients

To make a potion of beauty for a darling red-head girl

I'll need to gather a few things from all around the world

I've a hammer and a nail

a sugar and a spice

a twitchet and a twatchet

and a pinch of something nice

a willow of the wisp

but the most important part

is the essence of the fairest

which is found in Snow White's heart.

"NO!" cried Piper Pan, when he had heard it from his brother

"Queen, if you should want a heart, you'll have to find another!

That small child you would kill, the girl is barely eight!

Hunter… if you do this… I’ll destroy you in my hate!"

"Thief, I'll give you riches

Plenty Fame for one so bold

And so many greatly treasures

Worth even more than Gold."

"Hunter!" "Thief."

"Heed your brother!" "Heed your Queen."

"Please," said Hunter, "For Grace and Time

"Allow a week to set my mind…?"

Glory’s Hold

In the land of Far Away, should anything reflect

The Golden Queen can use it, to see and to inspect

Her Mirror can show the essence even of a sparrow’s eye

She will check upon her people, closely like a spy

So Queen Glory granted her permission to the Thief

Allowing him to think upon this favor for a week

For without Queen Glory's Mirror

He would not escape from here

He will stay in Far Away

Left only to dream of Near

Hunter resolved not to do the thing the Queen wanted him to

For it would betray his brother, who'd been with him thick and through

He expected quite the cell, darker then the deepest well

'Til he listened to the Queen, forever there he'd likely dwell

But odd as every oddness be

She just came to him again

Offering him one more week

And only kept an eye on him

After all, without her Mirror

He could never leave from here.

Fire Wants A Deal

Fire came to see the Queen

"We wish to vanquish Jack!"

Said the Queen, "Well I wish to have the heart of Snow."

Said the Fire to the Queen,

"Then we shall bring it back!"

Said the Queen to Fire, "Ha! That's quite a task, you know.

But you're free to try, so Go!

Bring to me the heart of Snow!"

Jaber

Beware the Jaber, for it lives to guard small Lucy Snow

And anywhere that Lucy went, the creature's sure to go

It was forged by thoughts of love, from one Cat and a Queen

It may look small now, but can be very frightening.

When Fire returned to the Queen

Their heads could reach the ground

"It was harder than it seemed –

The Jaber's might we found…"

Said the Queen, "If you convince

That Rat, the Thief, for me,

That he should steal the child's heart

I'll count it as your fee."

The Thief and Pan Decide

"Listen, Pan," said Hunter. "Our revenge is almost here.

Fire offered to combine our strengths and go to Near!

All we have to do is steal a simple child's heart –

Then the Fire will rampage and do the vengeance part!"

Pan glared back at his brother,

"You want a heart, go steal another!

I promise, if you hurt that girl,

You won't escape in all the world."

So Hunter agreed to a trick, to hide small Lucy Snow

Take her off into a place, where eyes could not follow

Hunter led the Queen’s birds into quite a different way

She had always watched him close, so her game he would play

Piper called Snow by his flute and led her through the wood

And the Jaber kept her safe, so everything was good

When they were mice, they'd had a little cabin, quite well hid

He thought there she might be safe, so take her there, he did

The Queen raged when she found that Snow

Had vanished from the grounds

She sent out search parties to check

For her in every town

"Thief! If you have done something-!"

"I've not, Your Majesty, I swear."

"… Nevermind. It won't be long.

For my eyes can see anywhere.

As long as she's in Far Away

Then I will find her yet, one day."

Lucy In Hiding

As a few years passed, that they had dear Lucy hide

She’d take her drink within the dark where nothing could reflect

Hunter guarded her for Pan, who rarely left her side,

And Glory would not reach her where her eyes could not inspect

But one must interject

If nothing shall reflect…

This world has very little light

And surely that does not seem right…

Is not a world like this too sad? That poor child might go mad…

Fire Strikes a Deal

Fire came to Hunter – “We know you hid the girl."

Hunter said to Fire – "How could you even prove?"

Fire said to Hunter – "Just put the blame on us,

That way you won't disappoint the brother you so love."

All we need’s a simple heart. Do you not want revenge?

Come, let's work together. Let us join our hands like friends."

The Thief came to the Queen one day,

"A funny tale I heard.

It seems I've found where Snow White is

Thanks to a little bird."

The Queen said to the Thief, "It is

Your brother who's the jokester, yes?

But if you could get her heart

I will help you nonetheless.

As it were, I have a sword

Though no one yet can use it

But I think you have the strength –

It’s yours, but do not lose it."

For if you face the Jaber

You will need a stronger saber…

Hunter is the Thief

“Hunter, Hunter, Brother!

Oh, I thought you were another!

Do not scare me like that. What is wrong?”

“Brother, Brother, Pan

I have crossed this tulgy land

Because I think the Queen and Flames caught on.

We must leave, my dearest brother

From this place, to find another!”

Out the cabin

Fast they ran

Quick, Pan, Quick!

Bring Snow to

A different land

Fast, Pan, Fast!

But to shame

A wall of Flame

Fire has come.

The Deal is Complete

Fire stole the girl away!

Hunter held his sword in hand

"I will go and save the day!

Do not worry, Brother Pan!"

But what great lies from such a Thief

And what a Thief to make such lies

Hunter, counted as Snow's friend

Deceived her guarding Jaber

For it thought it should defend

The precious girl from Fire

When the Jaber's back was turned

Hunter stole her heart

Jaber screeched, but was too burned!

And Thief slashed it apart.

Said Hunter, "I took her heart but should cause Pan no grief.

Because I did not take her life – I am a Master Thief!

Who else but me can steal a heart

But not a life? Truly an art!"

The Cheshire Cat

Oh Moon, Bright Moon, Full and luminescent

When the Thief did steal your heart, you became a Crescent

You will care for no one, they have toyed so with your mind

Smile like a Cheshire Cat and leave them all behind

And you will care for no one, for there's no one of your kind.

If you steal this child's heart

And leave her yet to breathe

You will wish you never struck

A deal with Golden Queen

For a Jaber guards this child

Twist her and you'll find

The Jaber has become all wocky

And not at all too kind

But Hunter heeds no warnings

The heart is in his hand

Twisted little Cheshire Cat

Runs off through darkened land

Hunter would have pinned the crime

To stay upon the Flame

But Piper saw the end of it

And knew just who to blame

The Jaberwock will rise again

The start of every morn

And it will chase the Rat to death

For by him it was torn