Part 3, chapter 8: A before picture
The group sat around the fire awkwardly. At least the rain had stopped. While Kristoff was busy drawing stuff in the sand of what looked like an octopus with a monkey's head, a squash for a nose, and was covered in buttons. He was trying to draw Anna. Anna just looked between all of them optimistically, as always. Abigail was pretending to listen to everything.
"So, were you born with them or cursed?" Anna asked, breaking the silence, much to Abigail's dismay. The witch looked up, giving a tired look before putting her head back down. She didn't want to talk about it, so Olaf off, you pain in my side. Anna didn't listen to Abigail's inner thoughts remotely.
"How about stories. Kristoff's got this great one about a sorceress!" Anna piped, smiling almost desperately.
"Well I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything but it is pretty good." Kristoff said nearing the fire to give himself more of an eerie look. Abigail looked up again just to correct them.
"Oh please, there is nothing that scares me. My land was full of witches! Nothing scares me." Abigail said firmly.
"Oh really? Kristoff, if you would." Anna said, gesturing to her husband. Kristoff gave a quick cough to begin his tale before being yet again interrupted.
"I'm going to get more firewood." Abigail said, walking back into the woods. Anna watched her leave, looking back at their pile of firewood. They had firewood. She was just trying to avoid us! Well tough luck, you brought us out here, and you are going to sit down and participate!
"Should I tell my story or not?" Kristoff asked, interrupting Anna's train of thought. The princess stared for half a second at him before looking back into the woods.
"Yeah, go ahead." Anna said, hoping the story would draw Abigail back in. Suspense was mankind's second greatest fo0rm of manipulation. The other one isn't appropriate for children. Anna leaned in intently to listen as Kristoff began his tale.
"The tale of Nicholas Flamel and the White Witch." Kristoff began. The word witch caught Abigail's attention. She stopped in her tracks before turning around, just to listen by the tree. Anna could see her, but felt it best not to let her know she could. Draw her in, and find the truth. Kristoff had begun his tale.
"Once Upon a time in a far off land, there lived a dark sorceress, capable of powerful magic that wiped out cities, and with a graze of her wand, could turn people to stone with ease. She ruled the kingdom with an iron fist, seizing cities with the might of her power. It was when she came upon on particular city she found something odd.
The boy's name was Kai. He was young, ready for life, and all it's splendor. He usually just messed about, but occasionally, he would find happiness in other things, much to the witch's dismay. The witch watched him from afar in a cave filled with crystals and gems, overlooking all. However, all the witch wanted to see was this boy. Witches aren't allowed to love you see, but she had chosen to make an exception, never of course speaking to him. But, she watched him, day and night she watched him. She loved him.
One day a man came into town in a carriage draped in red. He was a very odd man, not one which the likes of people had ever seen.
"Come hither! For I am Nicholas Flamel, master of magic. I see all and know all!" the man cried, trying to wow the crowd with a few illusions.
"Ask anything and it shall be yours!" he declared, sprinkling green dust out over the crowd. The boy Kai stepped forward.
"My fine sir, I feel I am watched." Kai said, "Allow me to see who watches me."
The showman nodded, throwing back a blood red curtain to reveal a cabinet of magical oddities. He opened a drawer, taking out a hand mirror that glistened in black shadow.
"Behold the black Mirror, capable of seeing all evil and malevolence." Nicholas said, raising the mirror in the air for all the kingdom to see. He turned back to Kai, delicately handing him the mirror. The boy examined it, thanking him.
"Thank you fine sir." Kai said, beginning to walk away, only to be stopped by the sorcerer.
"But be warned! Do not shatter it! Or else you shall see no good in anyone ever again!" Nicholas called to him. The boy took no heed, taking the mirror back to his home."
Abigail continued to listen. Mirror? Like...no...it can't be...this was the black mirror. Completely different. Kristoff continued his tale.
"Kai looked into the mirror, trying to see what could be watching him. A vision did begin to appear, slowly coming into view. The sorceress was ashamed at the sight, seeing that image could be her. She shot a quick spell in the shadows, shattering the mirror before Kai could see. Now Kai had paid the price. The mirror's shards flew up into his eyes, blinding him to everything except evil. He screamed at it all, looking around. People he knew were now almost ghosts, only partially being evil. He could only see monsters, everywhere, and in terror, he fled the town up into the mountains. The sorceress watched him, horrified at what she had done, and quickly raced up to help him.
She stopped him, and to Kai, she was more visible because of her darker soul. He still panicked nonetheless, but was distracted by one of the witch's spells. It drawed him in close enough for her to pluck the shards from his eyes. She took Kai in, caring for him kindly. She finally had what she wanted, and soon Kai began to see the good as well as the bad, including for the sorceress. Soon enough, they were a couple.
Back in the city, the people had heard what Nicholas' mirror had done to Kai and now planned to end the man. They banged on doors, shook his carriage with him inside until he finally stepped out to face them.
"Please, I know what I have done, If there is any way to make it up to you, speak." Nicholas yelled out over the crowd. A girl piped up.
"No! There is nothing you can do! My husband could be dead now!" the girl yelled. Her name was Gerda and she believed she loved Kai more than anyone else in the world.
"No, he is alive! I have seen it!" Nicholas yelled, taking out a crystal ball.
"He is in the keep of the White Witch, slowly being tortured!" he cried. In reality he was stuck to her like glue occasionally doing...well...you know.
"Then I will find him! And if I don't, you will be sorry!" Gerda yelled before she went back to get her things. It was years before she finally reached the castle, and by then, Kai and the witch had tried to start a new life. Gerda knocked on the doors, answered by Kai. THe two rejoiced at the sight of each other, but sadly, not the sorceress. Gerda took Kai back down into town, the city rejoicing at the sight. The sorceress however, was not pleased. She went back down the mountain, claiming she changed her ways. In truth she only wanted to be closer to her true love. Every night the two would meet at the castle, the boy eventually becoming a part of staff. They would go against their wedding vows to be together, sadly the sorceress was still at work in dark magic.
Kai begged the sorceress to give up her ways, but no matter what, she couldn't. The townspeople grew restless, wishing for the sorceress to be slain and punished for her crimes, but the witch held them off. The townspeople could not stand for their leader any longer, so they paid Nicholas to slay her. He came in the middle of the night, dressed as Kai and stabbed the woman to death, leaving her body to rot. When Kai found out what had happened he vowed revenge. He went to Flamel's land and revolted against the wizard.
Nicholas was chased far and wide, trying to escape the man's wrath, but he always found a way. Finally Nicholas called a surrender. They met in a castle just outside Germany where Kai waited, no men, no nothing. Kai had laid the peace treaty on the table, all it needed was a signature." Kristoff continued. Anna listened intently, as did Abigail. Abigail was interrupted by a scratching on her leg, a notification Mirror needed to talk. The witch looked back at them before walking deeper into the woods. She finally made it into the center of the wood when she took out her pouch. Mirror formed faster this time, in worriment.
"What? I was listening to a story!" Abigail cried and gave an immature pout. Mirror didn't even acknowledge her.
"The queen is having her child. You must move now." Mirror echoed, his glass fractals glistening like shadows. Abigail went wide eyed, returning to the reason she had gone with these bunch of fools.
"No? As in right now?" Abigail asked, pointing to the ground for verification.
"Yes. You need to move if you wish to do anything. Go!" Mirror barked softly. Abigail let the shards fly back into her bag before running back to the others, rushing through leaves and bushes. Kristoff was still talking when she burst into the clearing.
"Elsa is having her baby." Abigail said, breathing in and out slowly as she stopped.
"What? We need to go." Anna said, getting up urgently and climbing into the sled. She went back to get her blankets and stuffed them into the back like they were useless papers. Kristoff grumbled that he didn't get to finish his story, but tied Sven up with the reigns nonetheless. They had not a moment to lose. Abigail jumped into the back, scrambling to get into order. It was to no avail.
"GO SVEN!" Kristoff yelled, pulling down on the reigns. The reindeer sped up and out of the forest, panting like a dog all the way. Rumple's castle was not far, but they had little time. The shadow of the castle in the distance was covered in lights, as if the entire place had hope inside. I did just use a baby metaphor, deal with it world.
ICE
The bawling had stopped after a while, mostly once the babe had calmed down and been cleaned. Nobody like to be covered in gunk. This was not the first time the queen had brought life into the world, but just to look at him, gave a satisfaction, not confusion nor fear nor anguish. Satisfaction. the baby held his mother's finger like a kitten, little fingers wrapping around a big one. Elsa chuckled, smiling as she watched the little boy. She needed a name. She would have to wait until- "Anna?"
Her sister rushed in, nearly sending the baby crying again, but she was shushed by Elsa. Anna was confused for a moment but slowly walked in, followed by Kristoff. She smiled when she saw the little eyes staring at her sister, trying to see him.
"Hello there." she said with a tiny wave. The baby said nothing, just stared at the two women like a dope. Here is an example of what he is thinking: Ablubabagaboodaboodu. Thank you. Elsa let him play with his finger for a second longer before she spotted someone else watching. Rumple came in with more towels for the baby, stopping when he saw the others.
"You may see him." Elsa said, nodding to the man. Rumple stared for a moment. Anna and Kristoff glared at him as he walked across to the bed. He was going to be unundead soon enough. Then he saw the baby, and he gave a half smile. It was like Wilhelm's but more sincere. The advantage of children is that they have not yet learned what is and isn't a monster yet. The baby only bopped Rumple on the nose, causing the creature to giggle. He stood up, still smiling as he looked down at the child. THen he noticed something else was in the room.
"No..." he whispered, the smile fading. Abigail entered the room, her green spreading on her skin like a rash.
"I spent all my time trying to stop this from happening. From her getting to this child, and you let her right in." Rumple croaked. Everyone except the baby stared as Abigail went full green. He dress changed to a feathery black, and a red streak was prominent in her spiked hair. She was a witch. She had embraced it.
"Hello Elsa, I'm going to need that kid."
DUN DUN DUUUUUUN! As you may have noticed, I did not name the boy yet(and it is a boy) because I want you all to decide. If I like a name I'll go with it. Not Peter because Wilhelm's brother is a lunatic. Anywho, CLIFFHANGER!