Did you hear what that Fable called me, John? He called me "Sheriff"! Me! They're beginning to accept me as the new sheriff! Isn't that just too cool? 
- — Beast
Fables #32 is an issue of the series Fables (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 2005. It was published on December 8, 2004.
Synopsis for "The Dark Killing Winter"
Somewhere in the Homelands, a castle sits in the snowcapped mountains where a small creature flies up the stairs to see his master, a regal, white-haired man of imposing stature. The creature tells him that he found his son in the scrying pool, and to come see for himself.
On a cold winter morning, Beast, in his new role as Sheriff of Fabletown, faces an angry crowd of protesters out front of the Woodlands. They were livid that Prince Charming broke ever single campaign promise he made, especially concerning the one about everyone getting a free glamour. Now they can't even get an appointment with their new mayor. Beast assures them that it's only because Boy Blue is currently missing, and without him, the new administration remains a bit lost on how to run the business office. For now, he orders the crowd dispersed, before any mundy passersby get too curious. He returns inside, where Frau Totenkinder greets him, asking for an escort to the office so they can talk. She updates him on their examination of his enchantment; the witches on the 13th floor have concluded that it was indeed possible for them to alter it so he can transform from a man to a beast at will, no longer just based on his wife's moods. After all, just as it was with Bigby, they need a Sheriff who can let the monster out when required. While they're alone, Beast asks Frau to another subject that he asks her to keep under the strictest confidence, which intrigues her; he wants to know what it would cost to grow a new pair of eyeballs.
Beauty struggles with her new position as Deputy Mayor while Bufkin tries his best to offer answers, which only stresses her out further, so she sends him away. When Beast comes in, and after Frau heads off into the depths of the caverns below the business office, Charming calls him over for an update on Boy Blue. The facts remain the same; Blue stole the Vorpal Sword, the Witching Cloak, and Pinocchio's body before he left. Beast's current theory is that Blue has returned to the homelands to trade Pinocchio to Geppetto in exchange for his help in freeing Red Riding Hood from the Adversary's captivity. Beast believes the magic of the Witching Cloak can take Blue back to the Homelands without a gate, remarking how it has such great power that even after centuries, they still haven't unlocked everything it can do. Charming remembered reading something about an Artifact Familiarization Program, where Fables are assigned one of the magical items that was bought here from the Homelands, to get a better understanding of how they worked. He suggests contacting whoever was in charge of the Witching Cloak. Beast replies that, unfortunately, that wasn't possible either, since it was decided that because he successfully used it to escape from the Keep at World's End, Boy Blue would be in charge of the Cloak. There was another mater to discuss as well; one of Bluebeard's treasure rooms was found empty, meaning someone had stolen all the loot. Around two-point-four to six billion in gold. Beast suspects Jack, who left town last fall. While yes, it's true there were many possible suspects who left Fabletown then, Beast was told by Bigby to always suspect Jack first.
The winter days grow colder in the city, the nights in Fabletown remain quiet, so everyone else is asleep when old Mr. Web is killed when responding to a noise he heard outside his apartment by something unseen.
On the Farm, Snow White sits outside with her floating babies, wondering about a letter she received from Frau Totenkinder. In it, Frau congratulates her for her seven healthy children. Of course, it could just be an error on the witch's part, as Rose thinks. Leaving the babies in the care of their avian babysitters, who promise not to drag them through the sky at a million miles an hour no matter how much the cubs love it, Snow lets Rose take her inside for hot cocoa.
Mr. Web's body is discovered the next day, with Flycatcher comforting Miss Muffet while Doctor Swineheart examines the body. It's clear he died of asphyxiation, although there's no sign of what caused it. As for Flycatcher, a few days later he's called into the Sheriff's office where Beast delivers some good news: as of right now, all the minor infraction that Bigby held him on over the many years are cleared, and Fly didn't have to do community service anymore. Whatever Bigby had against Fly, Beast wanted to make things right. He was free. ...But the news didn't seem to make Flycatcher happy. He sadly goes back down to his boiler room cot, not knowing where to go.
Rose and Snow are urgently called out by the Farm inhabitants. A stranger has arrived. The man from the mountain castle, who introduces himself as Mister North, Bigby Wolf's father. He greets them as "exiles from the Homelands", and as soon as Snow arrives, he asks to see his grandchildren...
Appearing in "The Dark Killing Winter"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Frau Totenkinder
- Bufkin
- Rose Red
- Clara
- Doctor Swineheart
- Flycatcher
- Mister North (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Ghost (Invisible) (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Winter Wolf
- Blossom Wolf
- Therese Wolf
- Darien Wolf
- Connor Wolf
- Ambrose Wolf
- Trusty John
- Grimble
- Badger
- Mister Sunflower
- Mr. Web (Dies)
- Miss Web
- Reynard the Fox
- Mistral, Whiff, & Squall (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Vorpal Sword (Mentioned only)
- Witching Cloak (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
- None
Trivia
- Snow White notes that the babies don't seem bothered by the cold at all, and she only bundles them up because she'd look like a bad mother if she didn't.
See Also