Fables #41

Geppetto fills Pinocchio in on what he and Boy Blue have discussed thus far. Over a meal of steak and eggs, Pinocchio asks him how many worlds he's conquered. The answer is a couple hundred, and they were in the middle of expansion season, when the Adversary conquers new realms. Not he, himself, Geppetto admits, as he's no military man, but the many forces he's gathered to do the job. The Empire had finished taking all the European Fable realms and were moving on to conquer the Arabian worlds now. After a century or two, Geppetto believes they'll be ready for the Asian and African worlds as well. He was excited about how fast they were progressing. Better he rules over all the lands than some King or Lord who didn't show benevolence or honor.

Later, while Geppetto takes a break to relax out in his yard, Boy Blue talks to Pinocchio on what the plan should be. Pinocchio was so happy to see his dad again, though the revelation that his father's the Adversary, the enemy of all Fables, has him feeling torn. Blue comments that he feels absolutely no sympathy for the man, whose armies he fought alongside Colonel Bearskin while watching his comrades and friends get cut down. Pinocchio gushes over his best friend being a secret war hero this whole time. He always thought Blue was just a nerdy bookworm office drone, with delusions of playing music. Boy Blue laments that's all he ever wanted to be: Ordinary. He was positive that Geppetto would kill or imprison him, no matter how nice his old duffer exterior seemed, a man who can conquer hundreds of worlds wouldn't be known for his mercy. He asks Pinocchio to bring him his cloak. A magical shockwave emits from the garment when Pinocchio touches it, sending him flying back. Blue's suspicions were confirmed; Geppetto's mages had tampered with the witching cloak so no one but Geppetto could touch it. He asks a bitter Pinocchio what he would choose if they could escape. Would he come with him, or did he want to stay w3ith his father? Surprisingly, Pinocchio says he isn't sure. Geppetto smiles from his patio chair, the Blue Fairy's magic had the desired effect on his son's loyalty.

The next day, Red Riding Hood arrives at Geppetto's cottage. Pinocchio steps outside to give the two lovers some alone time. However, Red Riding Hood has no memory of ever meeting Boy Blue. She was never at the Keep at World's End, and she certainly doesn't remember a night of passion with him. Boy Blue angrily lunges for Geppetto, who promises this is the real Red Riding Hood. The one he met at the Keep was a sorceress he sent as a spy who took her form. As Red Riding Hood flees outside, Blue asks Geppetto for a moment alone, which the old woodcarver grants, considering he already fulfilled the demands and could leave Blue in the hands of his guards now. Whether they kill him or imprison him, he isn't sure.

As soon as the door closes, Boy Blue utters "Big Walter Horton", a phrase that makes the cloak vanish and reappear around him. He's back in action. The Vorpal Sword in hand, he bursts outside and swings at Geppetto, despite Pinocchio's cries. But a magical barrier around the old tyrant blocks the blade. The result of a thousand years of having his sorcerers cast magical protection spells around him, though he's surprised Blue's blade didn't shatter on impact. Angrily, Geppetto sic's his guards on him, who are quickly beheaded. Blue grabs Red, and shouts for Pinocchio to make his choice. Pinocchio just can't bring himself to leave, so Blue teleports away only with Red.

Red isn't the girl Blue met way back when, of that he's convinced. Red finds it appallingly evil that the Warlock's Guild has been making copies of her all those times. Blue apologizes for bringing her into this mess, saying that if he lets her go now that they'll likely do plenty more evil things to her. She asks what he plans to do with her. There's really only one choice; he teleports her back with him to Fabletown.

When Grimble sees Boy Blue enter the Luxury Apartments lobby, he's at first shocked and pleased, but then he trains his gun on Red Riding Hood when he sees her, thinking she's Baba Yaga. Blue explains quick that it's the real Red Riding Hood, not a fake, and asks him to help her into one of the guest suites. He knew he had to go to the Business Office and let the Mayor know he's back.
Word gets out quickly that Boy Blue has returned. Fables crowd the front gates of the Woodlands, asking Beast questions he wasn't permitted to answer. While inside, Blue gets a verbal lashing from both Prince Charming and Beauty. They'll have to put him on trial, of course, as he broke the Fabletown Riot Act, along with countless other crimes he'll have to answer for. Charming sends Beauty off to find a good counsel to represent Boy Blue.

The mood shifts after she leaves, as Charming asks him how the witching cloak worked out. Blue responds that if he had known of the power of the cloak back at the Keep, he could have won that battle on his own and saved everyone. He reports that he did get the whole story on the Adversary as well as the current state of the empire. It's regrettable that they had to sacrifice Pinocchio for the mission to succeed, but it was necessary. Prince Charming figured Pinocchio was the only thing they had that the Adversary would care about, after all. He gives Boy Blue a few hours before he gets thrown in the slammer. He could reconnect with his friends and visit his girl. Blue tells Charming that Red Riding Hood was a stranger to him. Always was, as it turns out.