Challenge #04851-M102: With Adequate Reason

Trudy enters her awkward teenage years with a new obsession. Haunted by dreams, she begs and cajoles her parents until they bring her to a lake in the middle of a swampy waste. Here she finds the source of her begging dreams, a human prince who had been turned into a swan. Just the sort who’s magic curse would reach a girl who used to be a goose… @internutter/challenge-04708-l324-from-menace-to-midwife" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04708-l324-from-menace-to-midwife -- Deathshead419

The Will o' the Wild was calling her again. Trudy could see the destination as clearly as if she were already there. A lake. A woody swamp. A place far from anywhere else. Far from where the hunters went. Of course it was difficult to get to.

Since she was still underage, Trudy went to her family and Wraithvine for help with the journey.

Not that she needed the help, so much. A Druid who had been a goose in a previous existence knew how to fight if things devolved to that point. Further, she had no qualms about fighting dirty. Hells, she had no qualms about fighting filthy. So much so that Wraithvine had had to cover hir eyes from some of it.

All the same, her Papa and her Uncle were wont to worry, so Wraithvine did hir best to be sure the travel was as quick. Through two fast-transit circles, connected by a terrifying ride on a D'varuv minecart train, then on Dragonback to the closest place to the swamp.

Trudy had more items to protect her that seemed irrational to all but anxious parents. The wristband to repel biting insects, boots to help her walk - not just on water - but on any surface that she might sink into.

Wraithvine merely levitated hirself above the marshy ground.

The lake was very picturesque. The surrounding area was almost worthy of picknicking. Wraithvine set up hir portable tower nearby and set hirself the task of dealing with anything that could potentially threaten Trudy.

Most creatures had more sense than to try.

The only thing more formidable than an angry goose would be a pissed-off swan. Which had come to land in the middle of the lake.

Trudy huffed an impatient sigh and said, "There we are. The Green called me here. What's your issue?"

All Wraithvine heard was a collection of swan noises. From both the swan and Trudy. It was evidently an agitated conversation, if the varying postures were any indication. Wraithvine almost gave hirself the ability to speak with animals, but each time ze got close to doing it, Trudy began stomping away.

On the fifth such separation, she made it to the shore. "Gross. Absolutely not. Never ever doing that. YUCK!"

Wraithvine said, "Something amiss?"

"Yeah. He wants a miss. Specifically, to kiss him and end his curse. I was almost tempted to do it anyway and let him drown."

"There's a curse?"

"Of course there's a curse. Didn't you hear-- oh wait. You don't speak Bird. Yeah. He says he's a prince in disguise and needs a kiss to change him back? But he sounded really off and kept asking if I was really a virgin. Euw."

Wraithvine quirked an eyebrow. "I'm beginning to understand why he was cursed in the first place."

"I knew ducks with better manners," growled Trudy[1]. "Do you have a bath in there? I need one that's way too hot. And a lot of soap."

"Upstairs, third door to your left," said Wraithvine, who finally gave hirself the ability to speak with animals as ze floated over to the swan.

"What did I say?" said the swan. "What did I say?"

"I'd wait for you to make the obvious conclusion," said Wraithvine, "but even an immortal doesn't have that much time."

"You have to get her back to help me," complained the swan. "I am Prince Odilio Magustine Jestarion Francas, fifth of my name. I can give her a palace, wealth beyond her wildest dreams. She can have servants to see to her every whim. All she needs to do is be a virgin and kiss me."

"And you stated it exactly like that to her?" said Wraithvine.

"In more flowery words, but yes."

"You're lucky she didn't kick your head off," said Wraithvine. "She's really progressed in her anger management."

"Er. Pardon?" said Prince Odilio.

"She used to be a goose," Wraithvine mentioned casually. "And when her dad and uncle transformed her into a woman, she had everything you promised her, and she voluntarily gave that up to live a simpler life." For limited definitions of 'simple' of course. The actual story was a tad more convoluted.

"She's lived in a palace? Eaten off gilded plates? Had servants at her beck and call to act on her every whim?"

"In essence, yes."

"What a slut!"

Now ze knew why Prince Odilio remained cursed. "She's the only one who came to help you and you want to be picky?"

He appeared to think about it. "It's just a quick peck on the beak, I suppose. Get her back here! The Green says I'm not allowed to tread on plants or soil any more, and I'm going to starve trying to eat out of ponds. Have some pity!"

"Why did you get cursed in the first place?" asked Wraithvine the chronically curious.

"I told a witch she was as filthy as a swine and I think she might have been hard of hearing... or I was lucky to become a beautiful bird. Either way I have to win a virgin's kiss, and after that mess in Helenike, I'm stuck in this nowhere place hoping and praying for a miracle."

"I'd work on better manners if I were you," said Wraithvine.

"Everyone keeps telling me that," said Prince Odilio.

[1] If you know anything about the social skills of ducks, this is a tremendous insult.

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