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yami268 · 4 months ago

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The Mysterious Man or Why You Shouldn’t Make Deals with Enigmatic Entities Theme: Fairy Tale Format: Short Story/Fairy Tale Re-enactment Characters: Stork (Storm Hawks), Xelloss (Slayers), Finn (Storm Hawks), Junko (Storm Hawks), Martina (Slayers), Zangulus (Slayers) Pairing(s): One-sided Xelloss/Stork, One-sided Forced Martina/Stork, Martina/Zangulus at the end Rating/Warnings: K+ Words: 2879 Other: The tale of how a captured Stork sought out help from someone who could turn hay into gold. However, does this man have good intentions for his deeds? Inspired by Rumpelstiltskin.

Once upon a time in a far-off kingdom, there lived three farmers, Finn the human, Junko the Wallop, and Stork the Merb. They were okay farmers, mostly harvesting food for themselves. One day, the three went off towards the market to get supplies for their next crop. Stork though wanted to see the latest in magical protection wards.

“Dude, Stork, why do even buy those fake charms anyway?” asked Finn, raising an eyebrow.

“These aren’t fake,” Stork sneered. “They’re to protect me against ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and anything else like that.” Then, he sighed. “Unfortunately, they don’t protect me against idiots.”

Anyway, they made it to the market where it was busy, even more so with the Royal entourage there. They had set up a stage in the middle of it with guards in front. The people crowded around as the king stood up there with his daughter behind him.

“Attention, everyone!” he called out. “I regret to inform you that according to the Royal Treasurer, our kingdom is now considered broke.” The crowd became shocked before getting very mad, much to the king’s worry. “Now, now. This comes as a shock to us as well. It’s not like we overspent on certain items like expanding the Royal army, or the new pool for our castle, or Martina’s new clothes-!”

“Quiet, father!” The princess, Martina shouted before turning to the rabble. “In any case, we need to find a solution and quickly! If any of you have an idea, we would like to hear it!”

The crowd soon turned quiet, muttering to themselves about what to do. Though not much came to their minds. Then, from the far back, Finn shouted, “Wait! Stork can turn hay into gold!”

This came as a big surprise to everyone, especially Stork himself. “… I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can.” He smirked. “You said it yourself when we were shopping a month ago. Right, Junko?”

“Oh yea, you did,” Junko agreed.

Mentally slapping himself, he explained, “That’s not what I said! I said with how prices are, hay should be gold!”

“Oh… Oops.” But before they could correct the matter, the guards took Stork and dragged him to the castle.

---

That night at the castle, Stork was thrown into a large but dreary room. There was a lot of hay filling it, almost reaching towards the ceiling. As his hay fever was acting up, he wanted to leave. Unfortunately, the guards as well as the princess stood in front of the only door.

“Now, listen, peasant!” she started, “You have the entire night to turn all this hay into gold. But if you fail to do so, there will be dire consequences!”

“… What kind of dire consequences?” he asked, feeling like he knew the answer already. She pointed over to a very large guard with a large and sharp axe. He gulped, rubbing his neck. And with that, she and the guards left.

Shortly after, Stork lamented his situation. It wasn’t like how he had imagined he would die. But death by execution wasn’t exactly what he had in mind. As he continued to sulk, he wished for a way out.

“Hello there.”

His ears perked up as he looked to who said that. Not too far from him stood a strange-looking man. He had purple hair in a priest’s cut, his eyes were closed, and he held a staff in his hand. Next to him, there was a spinning wheel that looked unremarkable but felt enchanted. Bowing, he said, “I couldn’t help but notice your dilemma, and I am willing to offer my services for a price. Perhaps that talisman you carry around.”

“How ‘bout no,” Stork answered, much to his shock. “You don’t think I know how this works. I hand you the charm, you make the gold. They’ll think I did it, so they’ll put more hay in. Then, you’ll come back and ask for something else. This repeats until you ask me for something I absolutely can’t give. Well, I don’t accept any of your help and you can leave me alone, thank you very much!”

Placing a hand on his head, the man smiled. “Wow, I’m quite impressed that you were able to see through my façade. But there are still the dire consequences if you cannot make this all gold. Besides, do you still want a useless fake charm since I’m here and unaffected by it?”

He glared at him, his eye twitching. After a while, he sighed before handing the charm over. Taking it, he started to get to work, spinning all the hay into gold. The piles before slowly shrank as new piles of coins started to fill the room. Stork watched all this with suspicion until he got very tired and took a nap. After the last needle of hay was spun through, the man disappeared along with his spinning wheel.

With the door slamming open, Stork awoke to Martina, the king, and the royal guards walking in. Their eyes widened at the mountains of gold that littered the room. The king clasped his hands as he smiled. “Wow! How marvelous! This is a lot of gold for the hay we gave you.”

“… So, I can go, right?” he asked, almost hopeful.

“Ha! As if!” She gawked. “You still need to make more gold!” With a snap of her fingers, the guards quickly took the gold from the room. They soon replaced it with hay, a lot more than before. After which, they left, leaving him all alone again.

---

That night, he lamented his current situation. Perhaps he should’ve taken the dire consequences over the man’s help. Now he was expected to make even more gold. Clasping his hands over his head, he wondered what he should do now.

“Psst! Stork! Over here!” His ear twitched as he faintly heard the sound of what he recognized to be Finn’s voice. He got up, walked over to the only window and looked down. To his surprise, he saw Finn and Junko standing outside the castle wall.

“Moo!”

… Along with their only cow.

“What are you doing here?!” Stork asked, a bit exasperated.

We’re here to rescue you!” Junko yelled in a semi-quiet voice. “We got worried when you didn’t come back today!”

Finn nodded while also grinning. “… And we also wanted to know if you’ve managed to turn hay into gold too.”

“Uh huh,” he said, not wanting to get his hopes up. “May I ask what your plan is for getting me out?”

“We’re working on it!” The young human shouted back.

“… Does it involve the family cow?”

“Yea! Bessie wanted to help too!” Junko smiled as the cow let out a moo. Stork sighed, realizing that he was doomed. At least things couldn’t get any worse.

“Hello again.”

He shuddered. Of course, it could.

The same man from the night before sat outside the castle ledge as he glanced over at the trapped figure. “I see they want more gold this time. I’ll be willing to help again in exchange for something.”

“… Stork, who’s that?” Finn asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before he could answer, the man said, “Oh, just someone passing by and wanting to do a good deed. Though it’s not for free…” He placed a hand on his chin, pondering for a moment. “Perhaps the cow this time then.”

“What? Bessie!” Junko became worried before wrapping his arms around the cow. “No! I won’t let you!”

“Dude, seriously?! He says he’s gonna help Stork!” Finn looked over at him, seemingly annoyed.

“Yea, but it’s Bessie! She’s a good girl!” Tears started to well up in his eyes as the beast didn’t seem to care much.

“Well, I only suggested the cow,” the man said, “It can be anything, really.”

“Like what?” Stork looked over, dreading what he would suggest.

He thought for a moment before raising his finger. “Oh! How ‘bout your clothes?!”

With his mouth furthering into a deep pout, he stayed silent before looking back down. “Junko, give him the cow.”

Groaning, the wallop reluctantly agreed though he wouldn’t forgive him and Finn for it. The man smirked, snapping his fingers as the cow disappeared. Then, he popped right into the room with his spinning wheel and got to work. Like before, the piles of hay miraculously turned into gold. Stork watched the process before dozing off again. After a while, the mysterious man completed his work and then disappeared again.

When morning arrived, the king, princess, and guards came in. Now, they were even more impressed by the mountains of gold that littered the room. “Wow! This is so much more than before! Maybe we can afford that new stylish carriage with this!”

“… Can I at least go now?” asked Stork, tired of all this.

“Not so fast!” Martina exclaimed. “We still have another load of hay for you! Once you managed to turn that into gold, then perhaps…” She then looked away, her cheeks becoming red. “I would make you my husband… Despite you’re creepy charm.”

“B-but, dear!” the king stammered, ignoring an offended merb. “You’re really considering marriage to him?! He’s not even human!”

“Quiet, father! You’re not even considering the big picture! If we’re married, then our children will be able to have the gift of turning hay into gold!” She smirked, laughing maniacally. Now seeing his daughter’s reasoning, the king smiled. And with that, the guards traded the gold out for hay again and they all left once more.

---

As night came, Stork waited, not looking as brooding as the last couple of nights. Just then, the man reappeared with his spinning wheel again. “Ah, I see that you’re in a better mood than before.”

“Oh yes,” he said, his eyes becoming undeterred. “I already know what you’re going to ask for. My firstborn child, right?”

Mirroring his own smirk, he nodded. “Well then?”

He remained silent for a moment, thinking it over. Then surprisingly, he put his hand out. “Deal.”

“… Huh?”

“I, Stork, am willing to give my firstborn in exchange for you turning this hay into gold.” Another moment of silence filled the air as he stared at him. “Well, are you going to do it or not?”

The man, looking stunned by this, tilted his head in thought before shaking his hand. “Very well.”

Stork smirked as he executed his plan flawlessly. What he didn’t know was that he did not plan to have children at any time. So, he could not get it and he would be finally free of him. In any case, he gleefully sat as the man turned all the hay into gold. Once he was finished, he disappeared again, leaving a very happy Stork.

---

When the morning came, the royal court was even more surprised to see the vast piles of gold. True to her word, Martina declared Stork to be her new husband and the two got married shortly after. The rest of the year was uneventful for the most part. He had been looking over divorce laws while she tried her best to sleep with him. But she couldn’t force herself to do so, which he was very glad for. Anyway, one year had passed and the mysterious man popped up once again.

“Hello! I’m here to take my payment now!”

“Aha! I’ve tricked you, you jerk!” exclaimed Stork. “For you see, I knew you would agree to it! But unfortunately for you, I never planned to have kids! So, so long! Hope to never see you again!”

The man’s closed eye twitched as he slowly became irritated. “Oh really…” He then leaned in close to a now hesitant merb. “In that case, I guess I would be taking you then.”

“… What?”

“I did say you can give me something else, yes?” A dark smile formed on his face. “If I can’t have your child, then your body will do just fine. Now, shall we get going?”

Stork gulped, his knees shaking at the sight of a person not liking being duped. Then, Martina burst into the room, also looking aggravated. “Hold it right there! Who is this man and what do you mean you don’t want kids?”

The man quickly switched back to his pleasant self before bowing to her. “Oh, I am sorry. I am the man who has been helping your husband. However, he seems to have cheated out of my deal, so I’m just going to take him instead.”

“Ha! Like I would let you take my husband! … Even if he’s creepy… And unpleasant… And I don’t really get his poetry…” She looked away as Stork stood irritated in the background. “In any case, he’s still my husband and I won’t let you!”

“I see… Then perhaps a game,” he suggested.

She raised an eyebrow, slightly curious. “What kind of game?”

“A simple one.” He smirked. “If anyone can guess my name, then I will be willing to let bygones be bygones. If not, then I will take your husband with me.”

Martina thought for a moment, before nodding. “Deal!”

With that, the man disappeared, leaving the two alone. She then looked over at Stork, asking, “By any chance, do you have any idea on what his name is?”

“Unfortunately…” Stork hesitantly chuckled, “No.”

---

Not long after, Martina called for the services of Finn and Junko. She told them the details of what had happened and asked them to find out who the mysterious man was. Thus, they traveled over the land, asking the wisest wizards and scholars. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any answer, leaving the two stumped.

“Geez! Leave it to Stork to end up in this mess,” Finn complained as he and Junko traversed through a dark forest.

“I hope it’s not a hard name to remember…” His ears drooped. “Like Rumpelstiltskin.”

“It’s not Rumpelstiltskin. It’s Remmy Skilskit.”

“Really?” He tilted his head. “I thought it was Rodger Slalpick.”

“No, no!” Finn waved his hands. “That’s Randy Solkick.”

“Really, ‘cause I thought-!” The two stopped and became quiet all of a sudden. Far off in the distance, they heard music playing. They slowly approached the source towards a clearing. There, they saw goblins and sprites dancing around. And much to their surprise, there was the man, who was singing a catchy ditty.

“Oh hooray, it has come to past, Soon, I’ll have the Merb at last For he thought I would be easily trick But I’ll show him that I’m very slick For who can ever win this game As Mister Xelloss is my name.”

The two eagerly listened in before retreating back into the thicket. Finn snickered as he smirked. “Heh! What do you know? He said his own name.”

“Yea.” Junko nodded. “And Xelloss is easy to remember.”

---

The next day, the mysterious man came back to the palace with a waiting Stork and Martina, along with Finn and Junko. “So, I see you’re all here to guess my name.” He smiled evilly, his hand tapping his staff. “Well, what is it then?”

Without wasting time, Stork stepped up and coughed. “… It’s Xelloss, right?”

“W-What?” Xelloss stammered, becoming stunned.

“It’s Xelloss. That’s your name.” His eyes narrowed at the surprised man. “Now, can you leave me alone?”

He was silent for a moment, looking embarrassed. “Well… You see…”

Before he could continue, a man with a sword came bursting into the room. “ALRIGHT! Where’s my greatest rival?!”

Everyone stared at him, confused by his appearance. Except for Martina, who seemed to be awestruck. “My… What an incredibly handsome man you are…”

“… Excuse me?” he asked, now becoming confused as well.

“Oh don’t worry. There’s nothing here for us to do anyway,” she said, as she wrapped herself around his arm. “Let’s go somewhere else, where my soon-to-be-ex and his friends won’t bother us.”

As the two took their leave, the rest watched, their heads hurting from trying to make sense of it. Stork soon snapped back before glaring at Xelloss again. “Well, are you going to leave?”

“Umm, well, you see…” he scratched his face. “The deal was that I wouldn’t take you if you guess my name correctly. I never said that I would be leaving you alone.”

Hearing this, he became very pale. “And why should I?! You’re a wonderful source of negative emotions to feed on! Oh what fun! Think of all the time we can spend together, me feeding off your pessimism and annoyance! I think we might as well be best friends!”

Twitching, Stork remained silent for a moment. Then, surprisingly, he grabbed Xelloss, dragging him over to a window and tossing him out. “There! I should’ve done that in the first place!”

“Yea, I guess.” Finn shrugged. “Hopefully, we don’t see that guy again.”

And so, everything pretty much went back to normal. Martina divorced Stork and took on the swordsman she met as her new husband. No one in the kingdom questioned it as they didn’t care that much. He, along with Finn and Junko, went back to their small farm. Unfortunately, Xelloss popped up every now and then, much to his annoyance.

The End

#Slayers Rare Pairs Week #Storm Hawks #Slayers #Stork #Finn #Junko #Xelloss #Martina #Zangulus #I apologize for any mistakes #I got this done in about three days

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