McDrama — now transformed into a majestic golden pegasus — turned his head mid-dive, motioning with his mane for Commander Ryo to grab on and climb aboard.
Still plummeting below the clouds, Ryo flailed wildly.
"OKAY OKAY LET'S GO, HORSEY!" he shouted dramatically.
With no time to think, he latched onto McDrama's mane and swung himself onto the pegasus's back just as they neared the earth—
—only a hundred meters from the snow-covered ground.
Then—WHOOSH!
McDrama's wings spread wide, catching the wind in a sweeping golden arc. The gust roared as his wings flapped once—twice—and they soared upward like a blazing comet of sunlight.
"WOOHOOOO!!!!" Ryo cried out, his right fist punched to the sky, the left gripping McDrama's mane tightly.
McDrama let out a thunderous, triumphant neigh, as loud and proud as his infamous loud coo when he was still a dove — only now, it echoed across the sky like a warrior's roar.
Down below…
Aurelia's eye twitched. Her lip curled into a furious snarl as she watched Ryo cheat death once again.
In a low, guttural voice, she hissed. "Curse you… strange FOREIGN MAN!"
Ryo, still mid-air on McDrama's back, gazed down—and gasped.
There, in the snow crater below, was Fairy Greatmother.
Unmoving.
Unconscious.
Ryo's chest tightened. His fists clenched. His voice dropped into a whisper, laced with fury.
"How dare Aurelia do that to Ma'am."
He reached into his trench coat and pulled out the dagger once more.
He didn't fully understand the nature of Aurelia's ghostly powers, but what he did know was this:
She couldn't be touched by mortal hands.
Not even stabbed.
The dagger could only dispel her magic.
Only Fairy Greatmother held the power to harm Aurelia. But Ryo doesn't know that yet.
All he had… was a wild plan.
His eyes flicked toward the distance. The Hazel Tree, still encased in ice.
He had already thought of this earlier, but maybe, just maybe, if he dispelled the ice around the tree—if he struck the trunk with his blade—it would weaken Aurelia. It was dangerous, desperate, a gamble.
But one worth taking.
Ryo tightened his grip on McDrama's mane.
"We're charging in and dodging her attacks, Agent McDrama…" He smirked.
"So you ready, birdbrain—" he corrected himself mid-sentence, "—I mean… horse brain?"
McDrama snorted, then neighed again, wings gleaming gold in the sunlight.
Determined. Fearless. Loyal.
He was ready.
But Aurelia wasn't about to let them reach the Hazel Tree that easily.
Without a word, she swept her right arm and cast a sudden spell, and just like that, a howling blizzard tore through the sky again.
Ryo and McDrama jerked mid-flight, caught off-balance as the furious winds howled against them, spiraling snow and ice in every direction. The pegasus struggled to fly straight as the storm battered their wings.
Visibility dropped. The winds screamed.
It was chaos.
McDrama's wings flapped desperately to stabilize.
But then…
"ENOUGH!" Ryo yelled, and sliced through the blizzard with his dagger.
A flash of light burst from the blade and dispelled the raging storm, shattering it into glittering ice dust that shimmered in the air like fallen stars.
But Aurelia had expected that.
A cruel smile curled across her lips as she raised her arms. From the sparkling remnants of ice and dust, fifteen towering crystallized ice pillars—each the size of steel beams—erupted around Ryo and McDrama, gleaming with lethal sharpness.
Ryo's eyes widened. McDrama's wings faltered for a second.
Their hearts sank.
Then Aurelia snapped her fingers sharply.
The ice pillars launched forward all at once, aiming to impale their two victims like the spikes of a deadly iron maiden closing in.
"McDrama—MOVE!" Ryo ordered, slicing through the air again.
Each swing of his dagger dispelled the incoming spikes one after another, but the force and speed were relentless.
More pillars manifested. More came flying.
Ryo panted, breath catching, shoulders burning from the endless swings.
And still, he kept going.
McDrama dove through the gaps, twisting midair, flying up, down, sideways—doing his best to avoid the worst of it.
The closest attacks—Ryo had to force his exhausted arm to swing again and again, dispelling the magic just in time.
But he was tiring fast. His dagger could dispel magic, but not exhaustion.
And Aurelia knew it.
Another wave was forming from the dust again.
Ryo realized, with a sinking feeling, that he and McDrama couldn't face this alone.
Then… a loud, echoing neigh resounded across the grove.
It wasn't McDrama.
Aurelia's eyes widened.
The ghostly Snow Queen stopped mid-cast, her head swiveling in every direction.
"W-What…?"
She heard panting just below and glanced down to see a small, floppy-eared puppy standing right under her, tongue lolling out in delight.
Her icy cheeks flushed red, eyes softening.
"Awwww, how adorable… but sadly, I cannot stroke your head, little hubby… for I am a ghost…"
She reached down with a wistful smile.
But that was her mistake.
Galloping hooves thundered from the trees.
A blur of motion crashed into the scene.
It was Agent Whiskers — still in horse form — charging at full speed.
On his back rode Agent Barkzilla, now transformed back into a dog, gripping Ryo's backpack tightly in his jaws.
And at the top of Whiskers' head, perched proudly with crossed arms and an intense warlord's glare, sat Captain Nutso, the squirrel, eyes glowing with purpose.
Aurelia was still distracted by the cute puppy — Agent Barkface, who had played his part perfectly, tail wagging and tongue out.
But right behind her…
Barkzilla zipped open Ryo's backpack, revealing a flashbang. With perfect timing, he yanked the pin with his teeth—click!—while holding the flashbang firmly with both paws.
Captain Nutso raised one tiny palm in the air like a field general, and pointed forward.
"ATTACK!!!" he squeaked with commanding fire.
Barkzilla tossed the flashbang, and it soared over Aurelia's shoulder.
Aurelia blinked. "Hey, don't go!" she called out as Barkface scampered away.
Then she spotted it—the flashbang—right in front of her.
"Wha—?"
BOOOOM!!!
A burst of pure light exploded in front of her face.
Aurelia screamed, her ghostly form flinching and recoiling as the flash's burst struck her deeply—a surge of concentrated light so sharp it pierced her very essence.
The blizzard and ice pillars—gone.
Dispelled with the scream.
From above, Ryo grinned wide, his heart swelling with pride as he looked down at his special ops animal team.
He raised a fist and shouted. "GOOD WORK, MY ELITE AGENTS!"
Below, the furry squad looked up to the sky and saluted in perfect sync.
Well, except Whiskers. He could only neigh.
Ryo turned his gaze toward Aurelia, who now floated, rubbing her ghostly eyes, dazed and blinded from the blast.
Ryo flicked his wrist, pointing his dagger straight down at her.
Wind blowing through his hair, he declared…
"OPERATION: CINDERELLA'S MOM HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!"
Last night, after dinner, back in the attic…
Commander Ryo had taught his furry agents how to use his flashbang and some earthly military tactics—those he picked up from the fast-paced shooting games he used to play—just in case he ever found himself in a real pickle.
Now, the time had come.
Armed with Earth's tools and bold military tactics now etched into their fuzzy minds, the animals were ready to fight back—not as mere sidekicks, but as true agents of the mission.
Aurelia, just finishing rubbing her ghostly eyes, screamed.
"ARGHH! WHO DARES TO BLIND ME?! Although I am a ghost who can't be blind, but—WHO STILL DARES TO TRY BLINDING ME?!"
But from the corner of her eye… she noticed something strange.
A circle of animals. Huddled together. Whispering. Strategizing.
Aurelia blinked. "What… are they… doing?"
Now begins the animal language…
Captain Nutso, eyes sharp with resolve, the official squad leader of the furry force, stood at the center of the circle like a noble war general. His tiny squirrel hands were clasped behind his back. His bushy tail stood upright like a banner.
He began his briefing.
Captain Nutso pointed at Barkzilla.
"Agent Barkzilla! your mission is to distract that floating, weird-looking witch. Go dig a hole in the snow—make it deep—and when she gets close, kick the snow right into her ghostly face."
Barkzilla snapped into a salute. "ROGER THAT, CAPTAIN!"
Captain Nutso turned to McPecker.
"Agent McPecker, fly toward the witch's face and bypass her from all angles. Spin around her like a snowstorm—keep her dizzy and distracted."
McPecker lifted his wing high in salute.
"OF COURSE, CAPTAIN! With my noble heart of steel, I'll make sure that weird-looking witch does not harm Commander Ryo—not on my watch!"
Captain Nutso gave a single nod. Respect.
Next, he pointed at Whiskers, who was still in horse form.
"Agent Whiskers! You'll serve as our emergency carriage—get us out of here, fast! If that ghost woman attacks, dodge her spells with every ounce of speed you've got!"
Whiskers beamed excitedly, tried to salute but failed and sighed—then stomped his hooves in excitement instead.
"YES SIR, CAPTAIN! This is going to be so much fun—playing with Cinderella's mommy—or should I say…" He tilted his head. "Grandmommy?"
Captain Nutso deadpanned.
"Can you stop with the mommy stuff already? And did you seriously just ignore my orders? Just focus on helping out, will you?"
Whiskers nodded cheerfully. "YOU GOT IT! ROGER THAT, CAPTAIN!"
Captain Nutso turned to Barkface, who was practically vibrating with energy.
"Agent Barkface!"
Barkface puffed his chest proudly. "YES, CAPTAIN?!"
Captain Nutso narrowed his eyes.
"Remember when you pissed on the stepsisters' gowns from behind on the night of the royal ball—without getting caught?"
Barkface growled in pride.
"THAT'S RIGHT! THAT WAS MY REVENGE! Those two shredded Cinderella's beautiful green dress and left her all alone at the manor!"
Captain Nutso's eyes sharpened.
"Then you know what must be done. Go piss on that weird-looking witch's grave. Show no mercy. Even if she's Cinderella's mother—she's been very naughty to Commander Ryo and Fairy Greatmother."
Barkface's eyes flared with righteous fury.
"ROGER, CAPTAIN! PEEING ON BAD PEOPLE IS MY SPECIALTY!"
Captain Nutso turned to them all, clenched his tiny fist, and spoke with a calm, purposeful voice.
"Commander Ryo may give us more orders. Stay alert. Watch for the signal. Be ready to strike."
All the animals saluted in unison, eyes filled with duty.
"ROGER, CAPTAIN!"
Except Whiskers, who nodded enthusiastically.
The furry agents slowly turned in unison, their gazes sharp, paws, hooves, and wings ready.
They faced the ghostly Snow Queen with the resolve of knights.
Aurelia flinched, dainty fists raised to her chin. "EEEEEEEK!!"
Her ghostly form trembled.
"…E-eh? Wh-why are they looking at me like that…?"
She trembled as Barkzilla's tail slowly wagged and McPecker's wings began to rise.
Her eyes locked on Barkface, who was smiling just a little too proudly.
"…Wait… no… no, not the fluffy animals… I can't— I can't hurt animals!"
Aside from her daughter, she doesn't trust humans—not since that horrible day.
Aurelia bit her lip. She could fight Ryo. She could even fight Fairy Greatmother.
But hurting adorable animals? That was a dilemma she hadn't prepared for—a true moral crisis for the ghostly Snow Queen.
WHOOSH!
McPecker flapped his wings hard and dove like a feathered torpedo straight at Aurelia's face.
"No no no no no!" Aurelia shrieked, frantically waving her ghostly hands.
McPecker zipped right through her ghostly head — harmless, but dramatic — causing her to spin and flail wildly.
"WAH WAH WAH WAH!" she shrieked, flailing her arms like a girl afraid of butterflies.
And yet, McPecker kept circling. Round and round her head like a hurricane of feathers and justice. Aurelia spun, confused, stumbling mid-air in circles like a dizzy ballerina.
Above…
Ryo raised his dagger, eyes sharp, wind whipping his coat.
"CHARGE!" he roared.
McDrama neighed like thunder, wings stretching wide as he surged downward in a powerful dive toward the ice-encased hazel tree below.
Aurelia, still screaming at McPecker's feather assault, suddenly spotted them from the corner of her eye—
"AH!!"
Panicking, she hurled a hand forward — and a massive ice shield shot up from the snowy earth like a rising wall of glass.
"LOOK OUT!" Ryo barked.
McDrama pulled up quickly, but he was still seconds from crashing into the top center of the ice shield.
But Ryo leaned forward and slashed the ice with his dagger…
ZYOUM! then CRACK!
The ice shield dispelled and shattered into a shower of sparkling shards, crashing harmlessly into the snow.
But it forced Ryo and McDrama to rise again, circling above the tree like hawks searching for an opening.
Down below, Aurelia let out a freezing wave of wind that burst outward from her body, accidentally sending McPecker spiraling like a leaf in a storm. She hadn't meant to hurt him.
Aurelia gasped, hands to her cheeks. "KYA! I hope that dove is okay!"
McPecker, wings flapping like mad, tumbled through the sky—but then caught himself, steadied, and flapped with pride.
Aurelia, relieved, placed a ghostly hand to her chest.
"Oh my gosh… that was a close one…"
But just then— "WOOF!"
Aurelia looked down.
Barkzilla.
Standing tall in the snow, staring straight up at her.
"Oh no… not you too…" she sighed.
Barkzilla spun around, stuck his butt in the air, and dug like a mad dog. A burst of snow shot backward, straight at Aurelia's face.
It passed through her, of course.
"Umm… cute doggy… I don't think you can get snow on my face since I'm a ghost…" she muttered, deadpan.
But that… was the distraction.
Ryo and McDrama swooped down from the sky in another daring dive.
Wings cutting through the wind. Blade glowing in Ryo's hand. The hazel tree in sight.
Aurelia spotted them and panicked — but Barkzilla was too close. She couldn't risk it.
So instead of a lethal spell…
She roared with desperate rage. "RAAAAAH!!"
A swirling tornado of frost erupted above the hazel tree, spiraling wildly and blowing Ryo and McDrama away.
Ryo gritted his teeth. "McDrama, full speed!"
The pegasus neighed and flapped furiously, steadied his balance in the air, and turned around, eyes locked on the storm.
They flew headfirst into the cold tornado…
Ryo raised his dagger again and sliced through the gale, the spell breaking into dancing snowflakes.
Panting, he groaned. "Great… she keeps blowing us around like we're caught in a whirlwind, about to crash land on a golden road."
Below, Aurelia looked back at Barkzilla.
Snow clung to his fur. He was done digging and now just stared at her.
Aurelia floated lower, eyes trembling. Her icy expression melted into sorrow.
"…Please," she whispered. "I don't want to hurt you…"
Barkzilla tilted his head.
Her lips trembled and her ghostly body flickered slightly with sorrow because she wasn't just a spirit of rage—she cared deeply for the animals.
Then Aurelia heard a threatening chuckle behind her, right at her grave.
Aurelia turned around and saw Barkface, who stood proudly next to her resting place, tongue out, looking as cheerful as ever.
Aurelia slowly hovered forward, trying to coax him gently.
"Come here little puppy, you shouldn't be standing next to my resting place, come on, come here!" she whistled sweetly.
But then Barkface's expression darkened. A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face. Without breaking eye contact, he lifted his right leg, threatening to piss on Aurelia's grave like a stream of molten lava.
Aurelia froze, horrified. She shook her head wildly, her voice trembling in panic.
"Oh no no no no sweet puppy, please don't do that! Don't taint me, the dead, with your pee!"
Barkface continued his menacing chuckle, holding the pose dramatically—just enough to strike fear, but still waiting. A silent threat, like a loaded weapon, daring her to make the wrong move.
But then…
Thunderous hooves.
Something was charging from the distance.
Whisker.
His massive horse form trampled across the snow, eyes locked on the ice-encased hazel tree. He was going to smash it head-on.
Aurelia's breath caught. She spun around, arms out, palms curled—and formed a sharp ice shard.
Her hands trembled.
She didn't want to hurt Whiskers.
She didn't want to hurt any of the animals.
So, with shaky aim, she adjusted. She'd only graze his neck—just enough to scare him off.
But Ryo, still above, spotted the danger. His eyes widened. "WHISKERS!" he shouted.
He hurled his dagger down like a comet, hoping to intercept.
Whiskers charged closer.
And Aurelia—her ghostly heart breaking—released the spell.
A sharp ice shard flew through the air… straight for the side of Whiskers' neck.
TIME SLOWED.
And then…
Whiskers shimmered.
He transformed back into his kitten form mid-charge, still airborne as his tiny paws flailed through the air.
Too small. Too fragile.
The ice shard would hit directly—no chance of grazing. What was meant to be a strike now became a misfire. A disaster.
Aurelia's pupils shrank in horror.
Her lips parted as her hand reached helplessly forward. "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Memories flooded in.
Back when Cinderella visited her mother's grave, she'd laugh softly, sharing stories about her loyal animal friends—how they comforted her, how they stood by her when no one else did. And Aurelia would be there, unseen, hovering just above with folded hands.
She had once held Cinderella, cradled her as a baby, whispered lullabies only a mother could sing… but death took her too soon. Now she watched the woman her daughter had become, listened to the stories she never got to hear. And though Cinderella couldn't see her—Aurelia smiled, full of pride and quiet sorrow, grateful just to be near her again.
And now?
Now she'd just fired a shard of death at one of them.
Aurelia didn't know these were the animals Cinderella loved.
Deep within her motherly soul—she knew.
She had just accidentally tried to kill someone her daughter would've loved.
If that ice shard struck Whiskers, she would never forgive herself. She'd be more broken than she already was.
But then… BARKZILLA DASHED FORWARD.
He slid between the shard and Whiskers, leapt up, caught the dagger's hilt in his teeth, and twisted his neck.
ZYOUM!
He slashed the ice shard mid-air, dispelling it with a burst of frost!
He landed hard on the snow and spat the dagger upward. It spun in the air like a divine javelin.
Then he caught Whiskers by the scruff.
From above, Ryo roared. "GET THAT DAGGER INTO THE HAZEL TREE—NOW!!"
Captain Nutso didn't hesitate.
He scrambled through the snow.
He leapt onto Barkzilla's back, sprinted up his body, and launched into the air from his head with a fearless dive!
The dagger twirled.
Captain Nutso twisted mid-air—and with the full might of his heroic squirrel soul, he bicycle-kicked the bottom of the dagger's hilt like a pro striker going for the last-minute winning goal, aiming to lift the Fairytale World Cup trophy.
FWOOOOOOOSH!
The dagger rocketed forward.
Aurelia was too late to react, like an enchanted goalkeeper frozen in shock after the squirrel scored a Ballon d'Or–level goal.
The dagger pierced the ice cage around the hazel tree—
ZYOUM!... CRACKKKKK!!!
It dispelled and SHATTERED in an explosion of glittering frost.
BUT IT DIDN'T STOP.
Then THUUUUD! The dagger slammed into the hazel tree itself, burying its blade deep into the bark.
Captain Nutso landed in the snow with a flawless superhero pose.
The tree glowed faintly—then the light faded away.
Aurelia twitched violently. "AAARRGHHH—!"
She screamed in pain, then dropped face-first into the snow.
The hazel tree's magic—linked to hers—was now broken. Her strength drained like melting snow, and her Snow Queen dress reverted to the old burial gown.
From the skies above, Commander Ryo raised a proud thumbs-up.
"FASCINATING WORK, CAPTAIN. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"
Captain Nutso stood tall.
He saluted firmly, tail blowing in the wind like a cape.
A proud, heroic gleam in his eyes.
Ryo landed on the snowy ground with McDrama, the pegasus's hooves crunching into the frost, then hopped off his back.
But before he could even thank him, McDrama shimmered—light swirling over his majestic form—and transformed back into a humble dove, who flapped down gracefully beside him with a loud coo.
The rest of the animal squad rushed in, and Ryo knelt, greeting them with quick high-fives to paws, feathers, and fur, stroking each of their heads one by one.
"I'm proud of you guys," Ryo said with a smile. "Elite agent performance. You've earned some serious snacks after this."
Without wasting another second, Ryo turned and sprinted across the snow to the crater where Fairy Greatmother lay unconscious, her cloak dusted in frost, wand limp in her hand. He slid to his knees, took her shoulders gently, and began shaking her.
"Ma'am? Ma'am, come on…" he muttered, urgent but soft.
She stirred with a weak groan, her eyelids fluttering like tired wings.
"Mmmnn… who's shaking me like the jingle bells on a winter ball dress…" she mumbled, dazed.
Relieved, Ryo turned to Barkzilla and called out. "Bring me my backpack!"
Barkzilla barked once, turned, and galloped off. Within moments he returned, holding the strap of Ryo's backpack in his jaws. Ryo grabbed it, unzipped it fast, and pulled out a bottle of water.
He popped the cap, then carefully slipped an arm behind Fairy Greatmother's back and helped her sit up.
"Drink this," he said, raising the bottle to her lips.
She took a few sips, coughed softly, then blinked herself back into the moment.
Ryo steadied her. "Are you okay, ma'am?"
Fairy Greatmother gave a tired but graceful smile, the twinkle in her eyes slowly returning.
"Why yes, dear… thank you for the water. That was very sweet of you."
Fairy Greatmother picked herself up with grace, brushing snow from her sleeves. Ryo scanned her quickly, expecting bruises or cuts—but there were none. Not even a scratch.
It caught him off guard. She looked so… okay.
Fairy Greatmother noticed his surprise and smiled gently, telling him that fairies, after all, have resilient bodies.
Ryo suddenly remembered their first encounter—how Fairy Greatmother had stayed perfectly composed during that completely ridiculous, near-lightspeed journey from Earth to the moon and straight into the fairytale world. For someone who looked like a soft-spoken elderly woman, she was like an unbothered anime final boss. Practically overpowered.
But then Fairy Greatmother admitted that it was Aurelia's cursed ice chains that had weakened her. The chains had drained her energy, slowing her magic. So she wasn't fully unstoppable after all.
Ryo took mental notes: still overpowered, but with cooldowns.
With her strength returning, Ryo and Fairy Greatmother made their way through the snow toward Aurelia, who was still lying face-down in the snow—like an ostrich hiding from a world it couldn't face. The animals followed close behind, cautious but curious.
Fairy Greatmother paused beside her and called out in a voice as gentle as it was spine-tingling.
"Aureliaaaa…"
Aurelia flinched but stayed down, pretending to be unconscious like a naughty child feigning sleep to escape punishment.
Fairy Greatmother's joints popped lightly as she cracked her knuckles, still wearing that eerily sweet smile.
"I think it's about time you start explaining yourself."
Her eyes opened wide with a twinkle of rage behind the kindness.
"And how dare you sneak attack me, weaken me, knock me out cold, and then stay in denial," she said, her voice rising just enough to make the snowflakes twitch. Finally, she understood Ryo's frustration—why Aurelia's drawn-out misunderstanding had been testing her patience so much. It was genuinely infuriating.
Aurelia instantly hovered up in a panic and bowed like a flustered waitress at a haunted inn.
"I'M SO SORRY FOR HURTING YOU!!"
Ryo crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold like a moviegoer surprised by the unexpected crossover end-credit scene between two Cinderella fairytale versions.
"Yup," he thought, "Madam Aurelia is soooo getting punished."
But how exactly? Well—Fairy Greatmother floated up to eye level with Aurelia, raised a glowing fist…
BONK!
BONK!
BONK!
"OUCH!!" Aurelia yelped with every hit, her head smacked from above, like a disobedient child being disciplined by her mom.
To Ryo's surprise, those weren't ghostly bonks. They were real. Aurelia actually flinched and winced. A lump even formed on her translucent head.
Ryo blinked. "Wait… she can actually get hurt?"
Fairy Greatmother turned to him, eyes twinkling with satisfaction as she dusted her hands.
"Ahhhh… that feels much better," she said sweetly. Then, with a knowing look, she added.
"And in case you're wondering, yes—fairies have the magic to harm spirits. That includes stubborn ones like her."
Ryo raised his brows and gave a dry, nervous chuckle.
"Guess ghosts can't wander around peacefully with fairies in the area, huh…"
Aurelia, now hovering down to the snowy ground, dropped to her knees, clutching her ghostly head and groaned.
"Uggghhh… that hurts…"
The animals slowly gathered in front of Aurelia, surrounding her with cautious eyes and quiet breaths.
Aurelia lowered her hand from her aching head, her ghostly fingers trembling. Her expression softened as she looked at each of them.
She whispered with a wavering smile.
"These animals… my daughter… though she wasn't able to see me… used to tell me stories, when she visited my grave, about making friends with animals… These animals… they remind me of my daughter's friends…"
Ryo delivered the bombshell, his voice gentle but direct.
"Ma'am… these animals are Cinderella's friends. They're helping me and ma'am here to find your daughter."
Aurelia froze.
Her eyes slowly widened as she turned to Ryo, her breath caught in her throat. She suddenly remembered how Whiskers—the kitten—had almost taken that ice shard full on.
Her face darkened in horror.
She hadn't believed they were Cinderella's companions because they were so close to Ryo… But now it all made sense. These were the animals Cinderella always spoke so fondly of when she visited the grave.
Cinderella couldn't see her—but Aurelia had listened to every word, hovering quietly like a watchful guardian.
And she had almost…
Aurelia covered her face with both hands and began to sob, her shoulders trembling violently.
"I… almost took… my daughter's… friends… away…"
Ryo remained quiet. He couldn't bring himself to say anything—not because he blamed her, but because, deep down, he understood. Aurelia had suffered so much. A spirit bound by grief and loss, betrayed in life… it wasn't easy to trust again—not even in a storybook world like this.
The animals stepped forward gently.
They couldn't touch her, not physically. But they tried. Tiny paws, wings, and wet noses reached out, but stopped just short of her. So instead, in their small, sweet animal voices, they spoke.
"It's okay… we forgive you…"
Aurelia slowly moved her hands from her face, ghostly tears still falling down her pale cheeks. She saw their eyes—their compassion.
"Will you… forgive me?" she asked quietly, not fully understanding, but able to sense what the animals were saying.
The animals nodded, their faces still tinged with worry, but full of sincerity.
Aurelia turned to McPecker, her expression calmer now. She pointed upward—toward the hazel tree.
There, high in the branches, stuck in the crook of the wood, was the cracked glass slipper. Still glimmering faintly.
Aurelia simply gestured for him to fetch it.
McPecker gave a solemn nod, flapped his wings, and soared up toward the slipper. With practiced ease, he gripped it in his talons, flew back down, and placed it gently on the snow in front of her.
Aurelia stared at the slipper. Then she looked up.
Her eyes met Ryo's.
Then Fairy Greatmother's.
And she took a deep breath.
"I shall tell you everything I know."