Guest: Why would I answer that?
Gerda, Kai and the Robber Girl stared up at the tall, elegant form of the Snow Queen as she loomed over them from the top of the hillside. Fear froze them in place, and all the three children could do was huddle close to each other for comfort.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here," The Snow Queen whispered in a mocking tone. "A trio of disobedient young children in way over their heads." As she spoke, several of the Queen's ruffians began to appear out of the darkness, surrounding the children and cutting off all their exit points. The black wolf himself strode up and stood next to the Queen, staring down at the children along with her.
No, Gerda thought to herself. This can't be. I've just found my best friend; he can't be taken away from me so soon.
The Snow Queen stepped off the hillside and floated softly to the ground before the children. The three instinctively backed away, even though they had no hope of escaping.
The Snow Queen slowly began to walk towards the three children, her eyes fixed on one of them in particular. However, to both Gerda and Kai's surprise, she wasn't focusing on Kai; she was staring at the Robber Girl.
"Aisley," The Snow Queen cooed softly as she approached the trembling Robber Girl. Gerda's eyes immediately widened as she heard the Robber Girl's true name be spoken.
The Robber Girl continued to quake in fear, but stilled when the Snow Queen laid a cold hand upon her head. "My Aisley," The Snow Queen whispered, a cold grin on her face. "I knew you would be of use to me."
Gerda was confused. "W-What do you mean?" She asked, finding the will to speak.
The Snow Queen turned to stare at Gerda, seeming to acknowledge her for the firs time since she'd arrived. "She led me to this," She said, and held up Gerda's gem for the redhead to see.
Gerda's eyes widened. "What?" She whispered, shocked to the core. She turned to stare at the Robber Girl, a confused look in her eyes.
"Explain, Aisley," The Snow Queen commanded the Robber Girl. The dark-haired girl stared up at her monarch, hesitating for a few moments, then turned to stare at Gerda, a guilty look in her eyes.
"Some time ago, I was taken by the Snow Queen," The Robber Girl explained to Gerda. "She thought that maybe I was her lost child. I was a prisoner in her castle for months, but eventually, she came to the conclusion that I wasn't her daughter. Instead of simply releasing me, however, she decided to send me back to my ruffian parents with this." As she spoke, she held up the mirror shard.
"But what's so important about it?" Gerda asked.
"They're shards from the Queen's mirror, Gerda!" The Robber Girl spat. "The Snow Queen has spent years searching for every shard to repair her magic mirror, and you had the last piece she was looking for!"
Gerda's eyes widened in shock and horror at the realization. Suddenly, she realized why the Snow Queen had attacked Grimm and taken Kai; it was because of her gem.
So that meant Kai had been put in danger because of her.
"I was given the shard in case I met someone else who held the final piece of her mirror," The Robber Girl went on. "When the two shards are connected, it allows the Snow Queen to track them down."
"So when me and Gerda connected are gems. . ." Kai whispered, and he, too, realized why the Snow Queen had taken him. His eyes went wide for a moment, then he simply hung his head low.
"And now that I have the last piece of the mirror, I'll finally be able to find what belongs to me," The Snow Queen said as she held Gerda's gem in her hands. "After all these years, I'll finally know who my lost child is."
"Then take them, then!" Gerda exclaimed towards to the Queen. "Take my gem! Complete your magic mirror! But just let me and Kai return safely to our families!" She hoped that now that the Queen had what she wanted, she would be merciful.
"You can have Kai back. . ." The Snow Queen whispered as she caressed the gem. ". . . After I've completed my mirror."
"What?!" Gerda cried out in shock and anger. She nearly rushed towards the Snow Queen, but the Robber Girl restrained her.
"You can't do this!" Gerda shouted in rage, struggling in the Robber Girl's grip. "Kai isn't your son! Let him go!"
"Well we'll know the truth when I've fixed my mirror," The Snow Queen snidely replied. "Until then, Kai will stay with me. And if he is my son, then I'm afraid you'll never see your friend again."
"Enough, Snow Queen!" Kai shouted, and he rushed forward and gave the Snow Queen a slight shove, causing her to drop her gem. Immediately, one of the wolves rushed forward and rammed into Kai, knocking the boy to the ground roughly.
"Kai!" Gerda shouted, and ripped herself out of the Robber Girl's grip. She rushed to Kai's side and softly cradled him in her arms. However, Gerda then felt something cold bite into the back of her neck, and she was suddenly ripped into the air by the Snow Queen's magic. She was suspended in midair, kicking and trashing to no use.
"Gerda!" Kai cried out. As he watched, the Snow Queen clenched her fist, and Gerda began violently coughing as she felt the air begin to get ripped from her lungs. Surrounding them, the ruffians backed away in horror. Meanwhile the black wolf watched on in amusement.
"Snow Queen, stop!" The Robber Girl shouted, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
The Snow Queen turned to face Kai, her eyes cold and unfeeling. "You will come with me, or I will crush her neck!" She threatened harshly. As she spoke, Gerda coughing intensified, and her face started to go red.
Kai eyes darted from Gerda to the Snow Queen. As he stared at the two, his eyes slowly widened in shock.
"What will it be, Kai?" The Snow Queen whispered, not noticing the change in Kai's expression. By now, Gerda's struggling had ceased, and her body started to go limp.
"Okay!" Kai blurted out. "I will come with you."
Immediately, Gerda was dropped to the ground. She began to cough and inhale rigorously as she felt the pressure on her throat lessen.
Immediately, Kai rushed towards Gerda, picking up her gem in the process. He placed one hand under her head and slowly pulled the girl up so she was sitting. Gerda's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him, half-conscious.
"Kai. . ." She whispered weakly.
"I'm sorry, Gerda," Kai whispered as she cradled her tenderly. "I'm going to be gone for a while."
"Kai, you can't," Gerda groaned. Speaking was painful for her.
"I must," Kai replied. "Don't worry, I'll be free soon. Trust me."
With that, he gently laid her down on the snow. Then, unseen by anyone else, he placed something in Gerda's pocket.
Standing up, Kai approached the Snow Queen. "Are you ready to come, Kai?" She asked, extending her hand forward.
Kai paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes," He said, and handed Gerda's gem over to the Snow Queen. She quickly took it into her hand, along with the Robber Girl's shard.
With a wave of her arm, a flurry of snow surrounded her, Kai and the Robber Girl, until they were fully concealed in snow. The snow swirled around the three until they utterly vanished from view.
Lying on the snowy bed, too weak to move, Gerda could only watch as her best friend was taken from her once more.
"No. . ." She whispered weakly.
Then, her eyes closed, and Gerda drifted off into unconsciousness.
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