POV: Asterion Minotaur
"Asterion? Is that you…?" Ariadne's voice, usually so steady, hitched with disbelief. Her eyes, wide and searching, scanned my transformed face, lingering on my new, distinctly human features. Snow White and Bigby Wolf, still standing a little apart, exchanged a quick, unreadable glance.
"Yes, Ariadne. It's me," I heard myself say, the words flowing freely, a strange mixture of my inner thoughts and outward articulation. The necklace still hummed faintly around my neck, its magic allowing me to speak my mind. The sound of my own voice, articulate and clear, was startling. It wasn't the guttural grunts of my past, nor the muffled thoughts that only Ariadne could truly interpret. This was my voice, shaping my words.
Ariadne rushed forward, her injured ankle seemingly forgotten in her excitement, throwing her arms around me in a tight embrace. "Asterion! You're… you're human! It's incredible!" She pulled back, tears glistening in her eyes. "You look like… like a prince!"
I could feel a blush creep up my neck, a foreign sensation. My old self would have rumbled in embarrassment, perhaps even lashed out. But now, with the Blessing of Control flowing through my veins, the emotion was simply there, acknowledged, and contained. I could feel it, but it didn't overwhelm me.
The Fairy Godmother, radiating a gentle warmth, stepped forward. "Indeed, my dear. A new form for a new destiny." She turned to me, her eyes twinkling. "Now, Asterion, we must discuss The Prophecy." Her voice lowered, taking on a gravitas that commanded attention. "The Delphi Prophecy speaks of a great darkness coming to Fabletown, born of the Adversary's endless reach. It warns: 'Asterion must bathe in the darkness of men to find the weakness of the wood. The dying spark of a forgotten story will ignite the flames needed to counter the Adversary's wooden fortress. Be careful who you call friend or foe.'"
The words hung in the air, a heavy cloak of destiny. "Weakness of the wood," I mused aloud, testing my new voice. "The wooden soldiers… the Adversary's fortress."
"Precisely," The Fairy Godmother affirmed. "And the 'darkness of men' speaks of the underbelly of Fabletown. The corrupt, the desperate, the Fables who have forgotten their own stories and now serve a darker master. It is there you must go, to understand the Adversary's true reach." She turned to Snow and Bigby. "He will need the right access. Asterion is to be brought into your operations, Bigby. As your new Deputy."
Bigby, who had been watching me intently, his eyes narrowed in a way that suggested he was smelling more than just my new scent, grunted. "A deputy, huh? That's quite the jump for a fresh arrival, even a Chosen One." His gaze was still assessing, but there was a flicker of something new in them – not quite trust, but perhaps grudging acceptance, or at least a willingness to see.
Snow White, however, nodded decisively. "The Fairy Godmother's word is law, Sheriff. Besides, a new face, one without history here, might be exactly what we need." She looked at me, a hint of steel in her calm demeanor. "Asterion, Fabletown has its own shadows. A black market, a criminal element largely controlled by a Fable known as the Crooked Man. He deals in illegal glamours, black market artifacts, and information. We suspect he's been instrumental in funneling resources to the Adversary, or at least exploiting the chaos for his own gain."
"Your mission, should you accept it," Bigby interjected, his voice dry, "is to go undercover. We'll provide you with a cover identity, a history. Your job will be to infiltrate the Crooked Man's organization, earn his trust, and work your way up. Find out what he knows, who he's truly working for, and how his operations connect to the Adversary's 'wooden fortress.' You'll be leaking information back to us. It won't be pretty. Many Fables involved are… unsavory. And remember the prophecy: 'Be careful who you call friend or foe.' Trust is a rare commodity down there."
The weight of their words settled on me, different from the physical oppression of the labyrinth. This was a burden of responsibility, of deception. "I understand," I said, my new voice firm. "I will do what is necessary to find the Adversary's weakness and protect Fabletown. And to live in peace." The last part was a quiet promise to myself.
The Fairy Godmother then stepped forward again, holding her wand aloft. "First, the tools for your task. A glamour, Asterion, is more than just a disguise. It's a second skin, a reflection of the story you wish to tell the mundane world. It requires focus, intent, and practice." Magic swirled around her wand, a shimmering veil. "For this, we'll need to go somewhere quieter, a place where you can truly focus your will."
She extended her hand once more. "This will be more delicate than your last transformation. Are you ready?"
My gaze found Ariadne's. She offered a small, brave smile. I nodded, then reached for The Fairy Godmother's hand. The control potion had given me mastery over my beastly urges. Now, it was time to master my very form, and step into the darkness.