Fables #9

Part Four of Animal Farm

The penultimate chapter in the Animal Farm arc. With the revolutionsists getting the drop on Snow, will she survive to warn the other Fables? Will Goldilocks' and Dun's plan succeed? Will Bigby's "posse" make it up to the farm in time?

Rose is holding a gun at Snow. Rose tells her she's under arrest for crimes against Fablekind. Goldilocks says Snow should be shot for oppressing them, not arrested. Rose says that that was her condition in joining them. She says her sister should live long enough at least for a trial. Goldilocks says there is no time for a trial and Snow can't be allowed to be free. Finally Dun and Posey say that they agree there is no time but that they did make a deal with Rose. Snow will be chained and forced to work with Weyland in converting the weapons for the non-human Fables to use. Snow tries pleading with Rose. She can't believe that she would side with them. Rose says that their grievances are legit and have been ignored for too long. She says this revolution was bound to happen sooner or later and she wants to be on the winning side.

A few hours later, back in the city, the "posse" is getting ready to head up to the Farm. Blue, Prince Charming, Bluebeard, and Bufkin are driving up. Bufkin wants to drive and Bluebeard is ready to shoot him. They're not off to a good start.

In the cave by the Farm, Snow wakes up from an overdue rest. She asks Weyland what happened and how he got in this situation. He says he simply went to bed one night and woke up chained and forced to work on the weapons. They have placed a magical spell on the chain. It prevents him from the urge to try to escape and forces him to do what he is told to do. Snow asks him what he's working on and is surprised to see that he's making a key to allow her to escape. The spell only makes so that he cannot try to escape. The spell doesn't stop him from setting Snow free.

Now that Snow is free from her chain, she wonders how to liberate Weyland. He cannot do anything to help her. Snow thinks and wonders if there is something around the cave that will help free Weyland.

In the forest outside the Farm, Reynard T. Fox is talking to some Fables that are still loyal. King Noble, the lion, tells Reynard to find out if Snow is still alive after Shere Khan went after her. Eventually he finds the remains of Shere Khan at the bottom of the mountain. He is pleased that Snow was able to take care of herself.

Reynard works his way up the mountain as Snow is still trying to pry the shackle off of Weyland. He is getting extremely nervous in her methods but still cannot help in any way. She decides to try to find something to pick the lock when Reynard suggests using the key that's just lying on the ground (that Weyland made for Snow). Snow doesn't think it'd work since he made it for her shackle. Reynard points out that the locks look the same. Snow asks Weyland if it'd work. Sweating, he still cannot say anything to help. Snow suddenly gets it. He found a loop hole that let him make a key to free himself. With the key in the lock, Weyland is now free.

Snow asks Weyland some questions before they leave. She wants to know how many weapons they have, what sort of communications they've set up, and wants to know why the giant sleepers sleep for so long. Weyland says they have guns for every Fable in the Farm. They haven't set up any real means of communications as they were concentrating on weapons. He mentions that the giants are under a spell to make them sleep so that they don't have to try to explain their existence to the outside world. What Snow wants to know about them, is what will it take to wake them up. She sends Reynard to the Farm to try to gather up anyone still loyal to them.

At the Farm, Dun is conducting a meeting. He says that as soon as they can get transportation set up, they will move into the city and take control of Fabletown. Then they will begin getting ready to re-claim the homelands. Snow shows up carrying a white flag. Goldilocks is ready to shoot her but Rose says they can't since she's holding a flag.

Snow orders everyone to drop their weapons and disperse because the revolution is over. They are all surprised since they have her surrounded. She reminds them that she is Snow White, she runs Fabletown, and is never outgunned. She orders the barn to be "killed" and it goes up in flames. Up above, is a dragon with Weyland on its back. She tells him to burn the town and anyone that tries to escape if anything happens to her. The giant brothers also move in to surround the Farm.

Charming, Blue, Bluebeard, and Bufkin are almost at the Farm. It seems they got lost and had to ask for directions. They see a plume of smoke and the Three Brothers awake. They get out of the car as Prince Charming tells Snow they're there to rescue her. Snow tells them it's under control and her sister and the others are under arrest. She tells them to watch out because Goldilocks managed to escape.

Hiding out, Goldilocks is pissed. She aims her rifle and shoots Snow in the head.