Holy cow! Thanks for all the reviews, people! I'm touched. It's nice to know others enjoy reading my blithering attempts at writing!
Very special shout out to Spazzfire, who seems to be my number one fan! Thanks for all your words of encouragement! I'm pleased you're liking the story!
Now, onto your dose of Candy Coated Nightmare!
Chapter 6: An Origin of a Nightmare
"M'lady, please reconsider," stated one of the knights to Queen Kory as she diligently packed a small travel sack, an expression of determination on her features.
After the battle, the Titans were ushered into the massive castle that overlooked the walled city and given free reign of the royal grounds. Their attempts at stopping the Candyman did not go unnoticed, apparently, especially by the Queen who had bid them entrance into her private chambers. Three of her guards stood around her, looking quite anxious and worried, the one speaking having his helmet off. "Sir Robin is a solider. He would gladly give his life for Queen and Country. You don't need to endanger your life by following through with that demon's demands!"
The silent Starfire simply shook her head quickly, frowning, folding some cheesecloth around a loaf of bread that was carefully packed in the travel sack. She had changed from her regal robes into a simple purple cloak that covered her whole body, rather reminiscent of Raven's attire. Her hands were covered in white silk gloves that reached up her arms to her elbows.
The knight sighed heavily and ran a hand through his mussed hair. "Will you not even let a single knight accompany you, m'lady? You must realize that the fiend is unlikely to release Sir Robin once you willingly surrender."
Queen Kory stopped in her preparations and sighed heavily. Turning to a nightstand, the fiery haired teen reached for a quill and quickly scrawled a note, giving it to the knight.
"'I refuse to let another of my people be endangered by my actions,'" read the knight, "'The responsibility is mine and mine alone. While it is likely that the beast will not release Sir Robin, I must try.'" The knight sighed again, tossing the paper to the side, "M'lady, please--" He was silenced by a sudden motion of the Queen's gloved hand. She smiled weakly at him then returned to her packing.
"Why are we here?" Cyborg whispered to the other Titans.
"Good question," Beast Boy replied, equally softly, "We haven't really even been acknowledged, really."
Robin pursed his lips then murmured, "I think I know..." Suddenly, he cleared his throat then spoke up, "We elect to join you on this quest." He sounded silly saying those words, but it seemed to fit the medieval mood.
The Queen paused again, looking over her shoulder at the group, brows furrowed. The knight who had been speaking stepped forward and stated quickly, "That would be wise, my Queen. These strangers have exhibited great martial prowess and valor. If you will not let any of your own people go to protect you, at least allow these kind souls. Please?"
Queen Kory frowned again, pursing her lips. She looked between the knight and the group of Titans before sighing in resignation and nodding. The knight gave a relieved sigh. "Thank you, my Queen." He looked towards the group of teens then motioned to the door, "Please follow me to the stables. We will give you the finest horses we can."
As they walked down the hallway, Raven peered sidelong at Robin. "How did you know she'd accept?" the gloomy girl questioned quietly.
"I didn't," Robin replied, "It was just a hunch. But all the things that happened to us seemed too coincidental. I think that, whether she knows it or not, Star's actively trying to help us. Letting us see things we need to see and get access to places we need to in order to help her. I'm not sure how far it extends though."
Raven smiled thinly, the quirk of her lips barely perceptible, "I see. Hmm, yes. We really shouldn't rely on it, but it would make sense that her dreamworld might be trying to aid us... 'on this quest'."
Robin looked at Raven and smirked. Was that a joke? Beast Boy must be rubbing off on her.
"Why doesn't she say anything?" Beast Boy blurted curiously as they walked, "The Queen I mean."
The knight paused in his walking and looked over his shoulder at the green teen. "The Candyman... stole her voice."
"Say what?" Cyborg asked.
"I do not know the entire story myself. But when the Candyman first attacked the outlining villages, in order to guarantee their safety, the Queen offered up her voice to the monster. He agreed to the exchange, but... destroyed the villages anyway and enslaved the people."
Beast Boy blinked. "Dude, that's harsh."
"Yes, harsh," the knight replied grimly, "But we're here. The stable master will be with you momentarily.
Soon, they were all outfitted with brilliant white stallions, the manes immaculately cared for. And even with Cyborg's substantial mechanized weight, all the horses seemed to bear their burdens without a hint of fatigue. One strange thing was that the horses had curved horns protruding from their heads, like a ram.
"Y'know, I really don't need a ride," Beast Boy stated flatly, "I can be one on my own just fine. I even know a little equestrian dentistry! But I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth."
Cyborg groaned. "Your jokes are getting worse by the minute."
Soon after, Queen Kory rode up to the group, her own steed a deep green rather than white. She looked quite regal even now, even in her comparatively simple garb. Green eyes flowed over her traveling companions before turning to the gate guard and nodding silently. Grimly, the guard pulled open the damaged gate and the group rode out.
Robin and Queen Kory rode in the front, first because Robin wanted more information and secondly because only Queen Kory knew the way to this factory that the Candyman spoke of. They rode in silence for a while before Robin suddenly spoke. "We really need more information about this Candyman, St.. er, my Queen. Please, if there is anything you can tell us..." Inwardly, Robin winced at his choice of words.
For a while, the Queen didn't give any indication of having heard the request. Robin was about to repeat himself when she suddenly reached into the cloak and pulled out a finely crafted journal. She smiled and offered the bound volume to Robin who took it curiously and flipped through the pages while keeping one hand on the reigns of his horse.
Most of the entries were unintelligible alien writing, but a few blurred and transformed into legible words. Robin read out loud, the rest of the part listening curiously.
"'My sister has has proposed the most wonderful idea! I have had my Court create the greatest of gifts for the people. A golem for the upcoming Festival of Giving made entirely of sweets. He will entertain and bring joy to the festivities like never before. My Court tells me it will be available for the Festival in plenty of time, but Sir Robin claims that my constraints are too demanding and that more time is needed. I do take counsel in his words, but I feel he is being too cautious; the golem will be ready for the Festival. The people will be so pleased.'" Robin flipped through a few more of the unintelligible entries before finding another he could read.
"'Something is not right with the golem and it is delaying deployment. The vermin of the castle are drawn to it, taking bites from it's candy frame. I had the design changed so that the poor thing will heal itself quickly. With this addition, the work can progress apace without having to waste time replacing damaged parts. Again, Sir Robin questioned my haste, but it must be ready for the Festival.'"
Another entry. "'The golem is too weak. Unable to support it's own weight, the creature remains immobile. I have therefore ordered the designs changed again to strengthen it. In addition to keeping on schedule, there is added benefit in that the golem will be able to give rides to children during the Festival! Sir Robin was his normal cautious self, however, and seemed most distressed at the design changes.'"
More page flipping. "'The golem is almost finished! However, something is not quite right. The creature follows commands perfectly, but does not take any initiative. Surely I cannot have a Candyman which is unable to make any decisions for itself! I have instructed my Court to give the poor thing a free will. Then it will be able to enjoy the Festival on it's own! Sir Robin was vehemently opposed to the idea, but I cannot allow such a glorious being to be left out of the fun. That would be cruel."
Robin's brows furrowed as he read the entries that related the tale of the Candyman's creation. "'The golem is complete! True, he bears little resemblance to the initial drawings, but he is still quite remarkable. I'm certain the people will love him."
"'Oh, distaster! How could I have been so blind! Sir Robin was right all along! At first, the Candyman operated perfectly. But... but then something... went wrong. He went insane and began attacking the people. I don't know why...'"
Robin turned to the last entry in the journal, scanning down the lines, "'A plot was discovered by Sir Robin. I feel like such a fool, to be manipulated thusly. The Candyman was always meant to be the engine of my destruction. My sister wished to usurp me and take the throne – and Sir Robin – for herself. She knew she would never be able to gain a military force capable of seizing power, but if I was to die in an accident, then she would gain control.
She tampered with the thing, fed it evil thoughts. But my design changes have ruined her plans, only to make it more deadly. My sister lost control of the Candyman, but it lost none of it's built-in hatred for me. But it's been... twisted even more so. The golem now hates everyone and everything, turning even on my sister. It was only due to Sir Robin's bravery and that of my soldiers that the entire castle wasn't destroyed.
What have I done? Now the beast terrorizes the land, burning villages and enslaving the people. My own destruction I could bear, but what of my people? I have to help them.'"
All the titans mused over the creation tale silently as the horses walked, Queen Kory looking quite pained to have them read her great shame. With a smile, Robin offered the journal back to Queen Kory, "Here." She took it silently.
In the distance, a dark shadow loomed closer, the land a scarred and pitted wasteland with choking grey clouds, quite in contrast to the green pastoral scene they had seen since arriving in the dream. The landscape ahead looked vicious and foreboding, the skyline dominated by a titanic flat grey and black building with tall smokestacks belching out thick smoke.
"The Candyman's factory, I presume," Raven deduced, "Let's get ready."