Once again, Daniel walked out into the spotlight to act out the last scene. He knew it by heart by now. Every imbecile line and every overdramatic move. Funny how that happened after performing a scene approximately a million times.

As Prince Ramon, he walked up the stairs and into the throne room. He thrust his sword into the king's throat. He turned around and saw...

***

... a capybara, wearing a royal crown.

I look at the animal, trying to process what I'm seeing. Is it really who I think it is? Is it possible?

"Father?" I ask, wondering if this could really be the animal form of the man who was thrown into the moat outside the castle about twenty years ago.

The call makes the animal look over at me. We gaze at each other for a moment. And I know the answer, even before a single word is spoken. I recognize myself in those eyes.

Soon, the animal turns into a man who shares my dark luscious curls and blue eyes. A red cloak hangs over his shoulders and heavy gold jewelry adorns his neck. It appeared the clothes had turned into beast as well. I guess that explains how the clothes traveled with me through the waters of the moat.

"Ramon?" he says.

I can only nod, confused and overwhelmed by the moment.

Soon, his arms are around me. A fatherly embrace, like I've never felt before. "I knew you would figure out how to free me," he sobs into my shoulder.

I nod, even though I didn't figure out a thing. I'm still unsure of what is going on.

That's when the throne room becomes illuminated in shimmering light. I look over my father's shoulder to see her. Lucinda. So beautiful, magical, and shimmering.

"I see you did as I told you, Ramon," she says. "You broke your father's curse. Finally." There is a glint in her eyes that is unfamiliar to me. Darkness in the glittering light.

"What do you mean?" I ask intelligently, revealing to my father that I actually haven't figured out squat. He gives me a confused look.

She laughs. A sinister laugh. "You haven't figured it out yet, Ramon?" she asks and moves the slain king's body aside with her glowing foot as she walks up to me.

I shake my head, because what else can I do.

"Well, let me explain to you then, darling." Her glowing hands trace my chest and sparkling lips press to mine. But my insides no longer flutter like butterflies. Because the darkness in her eyes instead makes my stomach churn. "I used to sit on that throne." She points, with a look of greed in her eyes. "But your great-grandfather took the throne from me. And to prevent me from taking it again he had a witch put a curse on the castle itself. The curse stated that as long as a capybara--the animal we fairies fear the most as they're immune to our powers--dwell in the castle, I couldn't enter. Which is why your grandfather and his descendants were also granted with the ability to turn into this dreadful animal at will."

"But you helped me turn into a capybara!" I protest.

"Since you're just a bastard your ability was latent, dear Ramon. I had to help ignite to execute my plan to perfection. Because my plan failed the last time."

"I knew you were behind the rebellion all along," my father sneers. "Wallace was just a pawn in your games."

Lucinda smiles or grins rather. An evil grin. "He was never supposed to rule," she admits. "But since the castle was filled with capybaras I couldn't enter the castle. So I sent Wallace in to chase away the capybaras and kill the king. But, of course, I planned to kill him soon enough and take the throne myself."

I think I understand now. Finally. "But Wallace didn't quite follow your orders," I say. "He chose an inventive method to kill the king. He threw my father in the moat."

***

Daniel wasn't even sure if the words he spouted made sense anymore, but hopefully, the author wouldn't notice. It wasn't like the story made sense to begin with. At least his version came with a twist.

Because who would have guessed Lucinda was evil?

***

"He did," my father says, shaking some water out of his still wet curls. "And I needed to stay in there to keep Lucinda out of the castle. Because as long as I stayed in my capybara form in the waters, she couldn't get to it. I couldn't let her rule. She would turn the kingdom into a glimmering fairy paradise, with no place for humans."

***

Perhaps Daniel shouldn't become a screenwriter after all, because--as he moved across the stage to play the king as well--he realized the words made no sense whatsoever.

The king had swum around the moat for twenty years? And why was Wallace the preferred ruler to Lucinda? This story could have used a lot more backstory.

But Daniel could only work with what he'd gotten and it was way too late to make this narrative be logical. All that was left was pretending with enough dramatic flair to cover the giant plotholes.

***

"Well, I will rule now," she says with a glowing glare toward my father. "Because I knew you would be tempted to exit the moat once you sniffed your son in the waters. I knew that was your weakness. I'll kill both of you soon enough."

She lifts her hands and lets magic flare from her fingers toward me and my father. Rugged fur starts to rise on my arms.

"You'll turn us to capybaras again?" I ask, confused about what is going on. "But aren't we immune to your powers then?"

"Not once I claim the throne," she says, sitting down on the iron chair which starts to glow instantly. "By inhabiting both the human and the fairy throne of this kingdom, I can finally use my magic at full strength. I'm strong enough to kill even the strongest animal. And I want to see my arch-enemy the capybara turn to smoke from my spell"

"No!" I say, reaching my furry arm toward Lucinda. "I love you! Please, let us rule together."

The magic flare around the throne stops and I once again see light in her eyes. She looks like the woman I could have loved. Like if she wasn't evil and stuff.

***

Daniel may have been a bit fed up with everything when he wrote that part. He could admit that.

***

I bend down on one knee in front of the madwoman. "Lucinda," I say. "You don't have to do this. We can rule together." I take her shimmering hand. "Don't tell me you didn't feel it too when we kissed. It was real."

Her eyes soften for a brief moment and I know it's time to act. This will be the only chance we get. I nod toward my father who grabs the abandoned sword--which I used to kill King Wallace--from the floor.

I kiss the fairy queen passionately, letting everything I once felt for her shine through in the kiss. She kisses me back, allowing her powers to subside for a moment.

That's when my father strikes. He thrust the sword into the back of the throne, piercing Lucinda as well. The cold metal pokes my skin as it protrudes through her rib cage. She looks confused. "You tricked me, Ramon," are her last words, before she poofs into an explosion of shimmering light. Because faires don't bleed as humans do.

The throne still stands where she just sat. My father points at it. "It's yours, my son," he says.

I shake my head. "I've had enough of war and power," I say. "The throne belongs to you, father."

"And when I die?" he asks, confused about my answer. Because how could anyone turn down fame and power?

"Not my problem." I shrug. "Find yourself a new wife and have more sons. Legitimate ones. Or leave the throne empty."

I start to walk away, out of the throne room. "And where will you go, Ramon?" he asks, sitting down on his throne once again.

"Home," I reply confidently and with a smile on my lips. "Home to the farm. Home to the potatoes. Home to my niece."

I continue to walk out of the throne room and away from the castle. Ramon Ortega is once again free.

***

A tear dropped from Daniel's eye as he read the last line from Prince Ramon. "Home to my niece."

Of course, he knew that a niece had never been mentioned before in the story, but such things hardly seemed to matter in this narrative. And he knew from his own experience what a strong motivator a little girl could be.

And just like Prince Ramon, Daniel walked away after uttering the last line. He walked off the stage for hopefully the last time.

The lights went out. Everything once again was dark. The world of imagination was gone.

He leaned against a wall, trying to catch his breath. This was it. He had nothing more to give.

The author was suspiciously quiet.

"Is that enough?" Daniel yelled into the darkness.

"It was... beautiful," the author finally replied, their voice low and fragile. Had they cried from his performance?

"So can I go now?" Daniel asked hopefully. Perhaps the question was too forward, but he didn't care. He just wanted to leave.

"Go back to your room," was the only reply he received. "I'll let you know in the morning what's next."

"I gave you your ending! What more do you fucking want?" Daniel yelled back, unable to hold back his anger and frustration any longer. "I can't fucking stay here!"

"Just go back into the room, Daniel," the voice pleaded. "You will understand why in the morning."

"I need to go home," Daniel sobbed quietly, his forehead banging against the wall behind him.

"Then go back into the room," the author repeated, their voice now much closer.

Afraid his mysterious kidnapper would hurt him somehow--because he did still value his life above everything else--Daniel did as he was told. He once again returned to his prison. Although, first he put down the hand-written pages with the ending of the story on the floor right in front of where he thought the author stood. "If you want them," he mumbled. "Here's the ending of your story."

Exhausted from the final performance, Daniel shed his clothes and threw himself on the bed immediately upon entering the room.

There was nothing else he could do. At least he knew that. Even if the plan had failed.

Although... at least the author hadn't said no. Daniel suddenly realized that. Before they had always said no.

That was the thought he held onto as he drifted into dreams. His confused and tired mind brought him to a clearing filled with both bunnies and capybaras. The animals frolicked around him, happy and free. But Daniel couldn't join them. He was tethered in place, forced to only watch the cavorting.

Author's Note: I apologize for the length of this chapter. I just couldn't write it any other way. Daniel's and Ramon's stories had to intersect here.