Complete story — includes the ending
Blue is facing off against a hungry red dragon that guarded the next gate out! Luckily, the witching cloak couldn't be burned, even by a dragon's fire. Blue, with his blade, prepares to strike, but the dragon chomps and catches the end of the cloak in its jaws. The Vorpal Sword knocked out of his hands, Blue improvises by wrapping the cloak around the beast's mouth, it's magical properties also preventing it from tearing. When it tries to use its flaming breath, the fire gets caught inside its belly and destroys the dragon from within. All that's left is the skeletal remains. Then Boy Blue realizes why the gate was so well hidden... because it was inside the dragon. Donning the cloak once more, making sure the sword is placed within, in the limitless space of the garment's folds, Blue steps through the portal, continuing his journey across worlds to reach the Imperial Throne realm.
A month passes, and his movements started being noticed...
Minister Muddlecock was deeply disturbed by the reports sent on the movements of a particular stranger. In Senior Undersecretary Mudsnipe's office, he shows his superior the events he's been noticing, starting in Kardan with the murder of a few goblin soldiers in the 4th Horde. The killer then assassinated Lord Chernomor, the grand general of that realm. Muddlecock then piques Mudsnip's interest when he mentions that someone of Lord Chernomor's likeness passing through the gate to Skold, the wasteland where a dragon was killed. That would lead him to the world of Rus, where the reports say that Baba Yaga's three riders of Morning, Midday, and Night all came across the stranger and were defeated in battle. An incredible feat, as the three knights have slaughtered armies on the field of battle. Though the riders can't die so long as their witch mistress lives, they were left either beheaded or sliced in two and left in an inconvenient state.
It was also at that time when Boy Blue recalled that he never actually saw Yaga's body and realized that Bigby's been keeping secrets again. But the lands of Rus are vast, and it would take time for Boy Blue to cross to the next gate. Time that Mudsnipe and Muddlecock would waste no time in preparing for him. What Muddlecock has deduced from the encounters written, is that the stranger had access to items of great magical power. Since every magical artifact in the Empire is accounted for, catalogued, and traceable, the logical conclusion is that the outsider brought his in from outside. He comes from one of the realms they haven't conquered yet. Also, because one man, no matter how powerful, doesn't make for an army, it's likely not liberation, but assassination which is the goal. The target had to be the Emperor. The stranger will soon be found, Mudsnipe is sure, once he sends agents scouring the Rus. How well could he hide, and for how long?
Boy Blue, in mouse form, travels with a band of mice who were preparing a funeral for the cat they were pulling along on a makeshift sled. Blue notes that the cat who is tied up by its paws, was still breathing, even purring. The mice tell him that they are aware, and likely the cat would have its own plan if it woke up. Such is the way of things here.
Weeks later, he spends time with the seagulls as a bird, telling them he was on a quest to rescue his true love, before flying across the sea. The gulls wish him well, gossiping among themselves about how it was likely a crow that stole his love. Ladybirds love the bad boys.
In a cold palace above the sea, Mudsnipe informs the queen of the emperor's guard of all they found. She asks if he fears the stranger, which he responds that he does, for he wields great power. But the Snow Queen, Lumi, is unimpressed by what she's heard. She tells Mudsnipe to call off his agents and let the stranger come. She'll prepare a nice reception for him.
A month passes, and his movements started being noticed...
Minister Muddlecock was deeply disturbed by the reports sent on the movements of a particular stranger. In Senior Undersecretary Mudsnipe's office, he shows his superior the events he's been noticing, starting in Kardan with the murder of a few goblin soldiers in the 4th Horde. The killer then assassinated Lord Chernomor, the grand general of that realm. Muddlecock then piques Mudsnip's interest when he mentions that someone of Lord Chernomor's likeness passing through the gate to Skold, the wasteland where a dragon was killed. That would lead him to the world of Rus, where the reports say that Baba Yaga's three riders of Morning, Midday, and Night all came across the stranger and were defeated in battle. An incredible feat, as the three knights have slaughtered armies on the field of battle. Though the riders can't die so long as their witch mistress lives, they were left either beheaded or sliced in two and left in an inconvenient state.
It was also at that time when Boy Blue recalled that he never actually saw Yaga's body and realized that Bigby's been keeping secrets again. But the lands of Rus are vast, and it would take time for Boy Blue to cross to the next gate. Time that Mudsnipe and Muddlecock would waste no time in preparing for him. What Muddlecock has deduced from the encounters written, is that the stranger had access to items of great magical power. Since every magical artifact in the Empire is accounted for, catalogued, and traceable, the logical conclusion is that the outsider brought his in from outside. He comes from one of the realms they haven't conquered yet. Also, because one man, no matter how powerful, doesn't make for an army, it's likely not liberation, but assassination which is the goal. The target had to be the Emperor. The stranger will soon be found, Mudsnipe is sure, once he sends agents scouring the Rus. How well could he hide, and for how long?
Boy Blue, in mouse form, travels with a band of mice who were preparing a funeral for the cat they were pulling along on a makeshift sled. Blue notes that the cat who is tied up by its paws, was still breathing, even purring. The mice tell him that they are aware, and likely the cat would have its own plan if it woke up. Such is the way of things here.
Weeks later, he spends time with the seagulls as a bird, telling them he was on a quest to rescue his true love, before flying across the sea. The gulls wish him well, gossiping among themselves about how it was likely a crow that stole his love. Ladybirds love the bad boys.
In a cold palace above the sea, Mudsnipe informs the queen of the emperor's guard of all they found. She asks if he fears the stranger, which he responds that he does, for he wields great power. But the Snow Queen, Lumi, is unimpressed by what she's heard. She tells Mudsnipe to call off his agents and let the stranger come. She'll prepare a nice reception for him.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history ↗ · Adapted from DC Database contributors, Fables Vol 1 37. Illustrations and reference markup removed; synopsis paragraphs combined. · Content license