Throwback Post - A Cure for Jack

 "Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
and Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got, and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob
With vinegar and brown paper."

While the party was in the Grimmlands, they discovered that Jack, Ruler of the Checkerboard Kingdoms, had vanished. His queen, Jill, had been searching for him and enlisted the party's aid.

My original plan was to have the party find Jack and then take him to Dame Dob to heal his injury and have his memory restored. The group came up with the idea to restore his memory with a True Love's Kiss. I hadn't even thought of that being an option but it was so much better and fit the setting better thematically so I ran with it. In the final battle with Humpty Dumpty the Rotten King, Cinderella, Maleficent, the Fallen Muse, and Grotto's brother, Delve, the group managed to reunite Jack and Jill in time for her to deliver that Kiss.

 - - - - - - - - - - -

Cedron turns and spots Jill outlined in the glowing dust from Melusine's spell and grabs her by the wrist. "This way m'lady." Cedron then guides Jill's hand to Jack's cheek. "Think hard, King Jack. Have you ever had strange dreams, ever felt like you're not yourself, ever felt like something was not right...missing even? Perhaps Jill can help you remember."

As Jill runs her hands over Jack's face, she whispers, her voice breaking, “My Love, my King, is it really you?  Do you not remember me?” The amnesiac king continues to strain against his bindings, struggling to break free until the moment Queen Jill's mouth finds his. 

Everything stops. 

There are countless myths and legends about the magic of a kiss. Since time immemorial, minstrels and poets and musicians and lovers have sought the words to perfectly encapsulate the experience of kissing and being kissed by one's true love. None of them have ever succeeded, none have ever even come close. Desire and love, fear and trust, physical need and emotional longing all dovetail into a perfect moment of wanton abandon.

Jack stiffens for a moment, his eyes opening wide in shock as Jill presses her lips to his. Then, he relaxes and closes his eyes. Peace settles over his face as his memories come back in a rush ... his mother telling him to take the cow to market ... trading the cow for some magical beans ... climbing the beanstalk ... the giant's castle ... the thundering crash as the beanstalk and the giant fell ... his numerous adventures through the Grimmlands ... being proclaimed King by his subjects ... his wedding day and the night that followed ... his horseback ride along the river and his fall ....

Melusine's lies and Kysek's web burns away, their magic undone by Jill's kiss.  When Jack opens his eyes, he stands as King once more and smiles at Jill. “Be still, My Love. Our reunion must wait a few moments more. I have business that needs attending.” Jack crouches, taking up his sword and drawing his axe from the loop on his belt as he turns to face Melusine.

The Fallen Muse shrieks “NOOOOOOO!” as the king begins to advance toward her, quiet fury burning in his eyes.



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