Author's Notes: My internet is being so mean:( It takes me forever to load a page. Grrr. And there's tons of babies in the house crying. And little kids jumping around and knocking things over. Lame. Anywho, just had to rant. Please read and review, hope you guys weren't disappointed in the last chapter. Sorry if there's errors. I'll reread and edit again later. I can't use the online spellchecker I normally use because my net keeps timing out when I try and use it.

Disclaimer: Same / I don't own the Cure or the song "Boys Don't Cry" by the Cure, which is the title of this chapter. You'll see why.

Chapter Eight - Boys Don't Cry

Edmund's heart beat rapidly. What would happen, if he killed Rain? What if that didn't reverse the spell? What if his hero, his only brother, was still under the curse, and there was no way to cure him since the only person who performed the curse on his brother was dead? What if Alden, a person he was starting to become friends with, suffered from that too, and their old friend, Tumnus? Everything was in his hands now. He was determined to make the right choice.

The problem was, he didn't know what the right choice was.

He tried to push the thoughts to the back of his head. He didn't want to think about death now, especially the death of a beautiful but deadly nymph.

It's should've been me, he thought. I should've been the one under that spell, not Peter.

He couldn't shed a single tear, even though he wanted to more than anything now. He was going to kill a living being, or at least, he might. He never wanted to kill someone; He was just and fair, and ending someone's life always seemed wrong to him. He remembered the times when he'd try to harm and kill, and a shiver went through his spine, as he remembered the White Witch.

This new enemy was her "daughter." The being he may kill was a not really a daughter, but an imposter daughter.

His thoughts bothered him as he walked along. The woods were silent, and the others walked behind him, not talking out of anxiousness and confusion and just because they didn't really know what to say.

Who am I kidding? Edmund thought, holding back more tears. I can't kill someone. I'm not a hero. Last time, I ruined everything and they're the ones who had to save me. I couldn't even kill the witch. I don't even know where Rain is! How can I possibly kill someone I can't find?

"Edmund?" Juliet said nervously, walking faster to catch up with him.

"Yes?" he replied as she she walked next to him.

"I just wanted to let you know... that I have faith in you," she said quietly. "Even if I don't know you that well, because well, even though I've never fought anyone like this... I know you must be having a hard time. And if you need the help... I'm behind you all the way."

Skye cut in between them and looked at Edmund. "I do too. I know I seemed cold before... but after everything that happened... I don't know what to think anymore."

Susan and Lucy caught up with them, and it grew quiet again after they told Edmund that they believed in him.

They walked along at a normal pace, and then they all froze in their steps. It had suddenly grown cold.

The children looked around -- Would Rain be here? Would the Ice Queen be here?

"What's happening? It's cold, Ed..." Lucy whispered, shivering.

"Shhh," Edmund whispered back. "I think I hear something." Indeed, a second before, he'd swore he'd heard a voice whispering.

Edmund didn't know what would happen if they kept walking on. He didn't know what would happen if they stayed there, either.

"I've done well!" he'd thought he heard. "But then... everything went wrong."

He began walking forward, past more trees, only looking forward. The others lagged behind, scared of what might happen.

Then he stepped down. He looked down, disgusted.

A dead wolf.

Without needing to think, he pulled out his sword and held the shield, ready. "I know you're here," he muttered. "Rain!"

He heard footsteps, and in front of him stood Rain -- the imposter rain --, her hair tangled and matted and her eyes shining with fiery. "Little boy," she growled. She smirked mischievously. "Children shouldn't play with swords... Children shouldn't play with swords... They're dangerous weapons."

Edmund pointed the sword at her angrily. "Why? Why did you do it?" he demanded.

"My Dear Edmund... Please excuse my rudeness." She grinned. "My name is Sage, not Rain, and I... I am personal servant to Paydir -- or, as you know her-- the Ice Queen."

A great rage filled Edmund, and he swung the sword furiously at Sage. "My brother!" he shouted. "How dare you -- "

Sage dodged out of the way and pulled out a sword. It was opaque and glistening -- ice. The witch must've left her some relics. She must've known this would happen.

"And the others... Tumnus, Alden!" he swung again.

She dodged the hit with ease and laughed. "Edmund, don't you understand? It's only my job, you know."

"Then my job must be to kill you." He looked back at the others, who had their weapons out, ready to strike. He nodded at them, but whispered. "This is my battle, not yours."

"Foolish one!" snapped Sage. "You think this is your battle? Nothing is yours. This battle is mine."

Edmund gulped, not knowing what to say in return to this comment. He refused to believe her though. This battle was his to fight -- Peter had had his turn two years ago.

"Do you think you're Peter?" Sage said, as if reading his thoughts. "You're weak. You're young. 'High King Peter the Magnificent.' You'll never be as good as him, Edmund. Why don't you give up?"

Edmund shook his head. Why is she trying to stop me from trying to kill her? If she's as strong as she plays herself out to be, then she'd be able to take care of me in a second. I would be dead by now. She wouldn't need to trick me.

"Why do you talk so sly, Sage?" he said, finally speaking up. "Do you fear I can actually harm you? Why don't you kill me yourself?"

"If that's what you wish, boy, after all, you're the fair one!"

She swung the sword at Edmund.

He moved as swiftly as he could, but the sword still struck him. He groaned in pain and grabbed his arm. He grew even angrier now, and he knew he would have to kill Sage. It was the only thing that could be done.

He swung furiously, and the sword skimmed the side of her stomach, and the blood dripped out. He'd barely harmed her, yet she cried out in pain and began running farther into the woods.

Why is she running? Does she think I can actually kill her? Is she afraid?

He ran after her, the others not knowing whether to follow or not, but at last they dashed after the two fighters.

She kept running. He found it hard to catch his breath. They ran deeper and deeper into the woods, until he didn't even know how long they had been running for anymore.

Sage growled and stopped running. Edmund caught up with her, swinging again, striking again. This time it struck her leg, and it began bleeding as soon as the sword hit hit her.

He looked forward, and under, and realized why she had stopped running. A ditch -- no, more like a canyon. It was deep, and she of course didn't want to fall through.

He carefully backed up, and swung again, but she swung her sword as well, and they clanged together.

You can do this, Edmund, he thought, hearing the others shuffle behind him, ready to help.

They fought more, and he grew tired. He didn't want to carry on, but he knew he had to.

She struck the hurt spot on his arm again, and he yelled out. The pain was unbearable - it was almost like when the witch herself had struck him.

He swung again, and it hit her stomach hard, and she began howling in anger and suffering. She staggered backwards, unable to hold herself up straight from the pain. She was staggering back, yes -- towards the canyon.

She fell backwards.

But she didn't fall by herself. Her arm quickly darted out before falling into the canyon, grabbing Edmund's hurt arm, carrying him as she went down.

"EDMUND!" Susan yelled, her tears running down her cheeks. She and the others ran as fast as they could towards the canyon, hearing the piercing scream from Sage below.

Lucy and Juliet were crying too, and Skye looked like he was trying hard not to fall to tears.

Susan leaned over the edge, her fingers cutting into her hands because of the angry fists she was making, mourning for Edmund.

She looked down -- and saw Edmund.

His hand was gripped around the side of the canyon, which was made of rock, and had points sticking out everywhere. He held onto it for his life.

"Oh, Ed!" Susan cried, holding her hand down. He gripped it, happy that he was still alive. Sage was nowhere to be seen -- probably because the canyon was too deep.

Skye and Juliet ran over and helped Susan pull Edmund out of the canyon.

"Come on... let's get back to the lake, or the Beavers... whichever. I'm starving," Edmund said.

Susan laughed through her tears. "Oh, Ed. You're so -- "

"Crazy?" he asked.

Susan nodded and they walked in silence through the woods.

A tear escaped from Edmund's eye and slid down his face. Words didn't need to be said. Boys did cry.

A/N: Haha, a bit cheesy? I know. I didn't think that it would make a good story if it was just like "Ed stabbed her. She died. The end."