The Journey of Little Red

The Journey of Little Red
Once upon a time there was a princess who was seven years old.  The Princess was quite bright and observant learning from anyone she could, even fools (For not all lessons are about what you should do, some are what not to do.)  Despite being clever and responsible the King and Queen still had the servants do everything.  For she was a child and she could never feed, bathe, walk herself places, or clothe herself!  Which did not please the princess at all for the servants always dressed her in clothes her parents thought were cute.  Namely a red riding hood , which gave her the nickname even though she didn't like the color red or being small.
One tragic day the Queen died and the King grief stricken didn't know what to do.  He had no idea how to raise Little Red to be a proper princess!  If he took it upon himself to teach her she would turn out far to boyish!  So he decided to send her over the mountains, across the lake, and through the woods to her aunt's house.  The King's sister long ago left the court to live a more quite life, but she was still regal perhaps she could teach Little though it had been years since they last spoke.  The King knew also Little Red could never make the journey alone! She was far too small and a girl to boot.
The wise King then gathered his best soldiers.  The first among them was a Knight, so strong was he that he could lift two oxen above his head with one hand.  The second was the best Archer in the land!  She was a great beauty as well and many a men fell to her charms.  The last was a Noble true and fair, he was the bravest and valiant man in the kingdom.  They all swore to protect Little Red at all costs and the King gave them all red hoods as a symbol that they were protecting the princess.  Meekly Little Red spoke up.  "But Father would it not be better to disguise our purpose?  I fear if all know our reasons more enemies will find us."  
To which the King only laughed.  "You are but a princess! What do you know of quests?"  So the Troop set off unaware of the wisdom Little Red spoke and the pair of yellow eyes looking upon them with ravenous eyes.
The eyes belonged to none other than a cruel and cunning witch who had lived in the kingdom by the sea for centuries.  None knew she existed for when she went hunting her fellow man she took on all different shapes her favorite being an enormous wolf.  Now in her long life she had eaten all sorts of creatures from the smallest ant to the largest whale but one taste had eluded her,  the taste of princess.  She could never get Little Red before because she was safe within the castle but now she out on the road easy pickings.  Quick as a flash the witch turned into the wolf and slipped out the front door her home slithering from shadow to shadow.
Despite being so powerful the witch was still a coward through and through, and would not risk attacking the party head on she would have to separate them.  Using her powers she made the tunnel through the mountain an unnatural dark.  When they approach the entrance The knight stopped the group.  "Alas comrades I can go no further!"  the knight wailed.  "For on the day of my birth a wise woman told me I would die in the bowels of true darkness!  This path must be what she spoke of it even eats torch light I dare not enter!" the Noble and the Archer agreed it was best not to take him, for his ill luck may contaminate their own.
Only Little Red spoke up.  "Sir Knight, fear of your own Doom oft invites the Doom to stay.  Would it not be better to fight, than run from mere words."
Again the adults only laughed.  "You are but a child! What do you know of omens and fate?"  with that they left the Knight behind.  No sooner had he turned around did the Knight stare into the giant maw of the wolf.  It eclipsed the sun and this darkness was deeper and darker than any he had known before and he was devoured in one bite.  The witch was pleased this was going to be far easier than she dared hoped!
The Trio emerged from the other side only due to Little Red's quick thinking.  The Noble and The Archer were lost in the dark but Little Red kept one hand to the wall and faked being scared so the Noble would take the other.  Of course when they got out no one thanked Little Red for saving them.  The lake was before them but they had no boat so they had to travel along side it.  All was going well until the Archer caught her reflection in the water, another trick of the Witch.  
"Oh by the gods!"  She cried.  "Imperfection in my face and body! That darkness must have cursed me!  I must stay her and cleanse myself lest it become permanent!"  The Noble agreed for if she was ugly it would be nigh impossible for her to marry.
Little Red however called for the Noble to stop.  "Wait!  What madness do you speak? I can see your face and it is flawless!  Water's reflection too oft play tricks, besides should not the beauty of your heart exceed your face's beauty?"  
The Noble quickly grabbed Little Red by the ear, and chastised her as they departed.  "You are but a girl! What do you know of womanly things?"  As soon as Little Red and The Noble were out of ear shot  the wolf sprang from the water and in a single SNAP! The archer was gone only a lock of her hair was left upon the water's surface.  
The Noble and Little Red traveled in silence until the Noble spotted a maiden most fair off the trail.  "Do my eyes decieve me?!" The Noble cheered.  "She is beautiful beyond compare! I shall make her my bride!"
Little Red was quite annoyed at this point.  "Nobleman! You promised my father that you would protect me at all costs! If you leave my side to follow that maiden than you are breaking your oath!"
To which the Noble replied.  "You are so little!  What do you understand that love excuses all oath breaking!"  The Noble left Little Red's company, forcing her to take the journey alone.  However before he could get close to his love she vanished, and the ground beneath him opened up!  The noble didn't even have time to scream before he fell into the wolf's jaws and straight into her stomach.  
Little Red knew the rest of the way, for she had taken a map with her because she thought she might have had to make the journey alone.  It was getting dark though so Little Red decided to run before some creature eyed her for a snack but before she could get to the edge of the wood the Wolf blocked her path.  "Oh why are you out so late and so very very alone~"  The wolf teased.  
"To my grandmother's"  Little Red lied.
"There are no need lies between us!  After all it was I who ate your cowardly Knight, your vain Archer, and your arrogant Noble!  And at last you! After all these years I will finally taste princess!"  The witch cackled with glee.
"Yes you do win.  You have outsmarted my caretakers, and I'm at your mercy but it is a shame you won't get the full flavor of a princess, for we taste best in the morning."  Little Red lied trying to buy some time.
The Witch was conflicted, she was sure Little Red was lying but what if the child wasn't?  Finding another princess would be beyond difficult.  Little Red was only a child though what could she do to harm her?  So she grinned coming to a decision.  "Fine your highness you shall be breakfast instead!"  The witch transformed into a giant bird and whisked her away to the Witch's Tower by the sea.  The Witch locked Little Red in a room and waited for dawn.  Little Red did not waste time crying she just plotted on how to get out of this.  At dawn the Witch took Little Red to the kitchen to prepare her properly.
As she was being prepared Little Red said. "You sure must be hungry, shame that I would only be a mouthful at this size.  You would hardly get any of the sweetest food you ever tasted."
The Witch couldn't help but drool a bit.  "I can fix that!"  She said greedily using magic to make Little Red bigger.
"Well this isn't much bigger."  Little Red said unimpressed.
The Witch growled offended. "I can remedy that!"  The Witch made Little Red a great deal bigger.
"You sure there is enough of me? This isn't enough for someone as great as you!  You deserve to get Princess every day for a week!" Little Red cheered.
"Everyday for a week! Ha try a month!"  The Witch brimming with pride as she made Little Red so large that her head hit the ceiling.  "How is that!"
"Perfect!"  Little Red said as she snatched up the Witch before she could cast another spell.
"My my what big hands you have!"  The Witch said with a disarming smile.
"All the better to hold you with."  Little Red teased.
"My My what big eyes you have!"  The Witch said flatteringly.
"All the better to see you with."  Little Red answered.
"My my what big teeth you have!"  the Witch said as Little Red lifted her up to her face.
"I think you know what they are for."  Little Red said as she popped the witch into her mouth and ate her in a single chomp.  The Witch gave Little Red a bit of a tummy ache and tasted dreadful but was gone forever.  Little Red returned to her normal size and made her way to her aunt's house being careful to stick to the road and speak to no strangers.
When Little Red made it to her aunt's house she was greeted warmly.  When Little Red told her aunt the story she believed every word.  For her aunt was kind and understanding knowing that wisdom can come from children just as easy as it can from the old.  Her aunt respected her intelligence and let Little Red make her own decisions and even asked Little Red for advice from time to time which ended up saving her life more than a few times.  The two lived happily ever after and Little Red never had to wear her riding hood again.

The End