Nutcracker Kingdom Ch. 9
Zechs Merquise looked at the countryside before him as the heavy wind whipped at his cape. They were nearly to the Sugarplum Castle after days of almost non-stop travel. He had wanted to make it there in time to scout ahead and ensure that the one claiming to be the princess would arrive safely. Part of him couldn't help but be hopeful. He wanted the rumors to be true. He wanted to know that his sister was alive and that this young woman was the hope to restore his family's throne.
"Zechs, we're nearly there. Don't you think we should rest?" He turned to his traveling companion and offered a small smile.
"Forgive me, Noin. I have pushed you hard these last few days." The lieutenant shook her head.
"Not at all. It's just that if you really want to be able to help your sister then you should probably be rested. You're no good to anyone if you fall over from exhaustion." She had a point, but much of their supplies and tack had been left behind for quicker travel. Their saddle bags and blankets were all they carried but they would do. He took one last look out on the horizon and saw the dusky silhouette of the castle against the mountains.
'Soon, Relena, we will meet again. I wonder what you will think of your foolish elder brother.' He turned to Noin.
"We should find a windbreak and rest there. Our blankets will do little good against the chill otherwise."
"There looks to be a good spot about half a mile ahead." Zechs looked for a moment, spotted the location, and nodded.
"Then let's go. Relena will be needing us when the time comes."
"Understood." They rode forward together to make their makeshift camp to bide their time until the moment of the long-awaited reunion.
The Castle of the Sugarplum Fairy was the largest castle Relena had ever seen. It was, really, the only castle she had seen in her known memory, but that did not change the amount of awe she felt. The large structure seemed on the outside to be made of some sort of checker-patterned wafer with towers that ended in spires one might liken to cotton candy. The drawbridge seemed to be lined with some sort of licorice and made of planks of chocolate while the windows were rockcandy glass with licorice lining.
Her eyes glanced down to where Heero's hand held hers. In spite of it being made of wood, there was an unmistakable heat that seemed to radiate from the contact. He had offered her his hand; initiated the contact. She wasn't sure what it meant, but the way it made her feel… She smiled at him and it was then that she realized he had been looking at her the whole time. Her cheeks heated and she glanced down. He released her hand, but the warmth remained.
"We should approach slowly and with great caution." Heero's voice was steady and cold. She understood. Now was the time to focus on the task at hand. She nodded and followed his lead.
Two tall posts, candy cane sticks with mint tops, marked the end of their path where the drawbridge would meet them. Relena frowned up at the imposing thing.
"Well, we haven't been attacked," she observed. A cold wind rose from the gulch below and she wrapped her arms around herself. "But, Trowa did say the trouble was at the gates."
She looked around, really looked and saw the carnage the harlequin doll had mentioned. Weapons and armor, partially covered by snow, littered the grounds around them and in front of the castle. The tattered flags from several RAT regiments flapped lazily in the breeze.
"If only we could figure out how to get the drawbridge to lower…" As if the thought were enough, a loud rumbling noise shook through the air.
The drawbridge broke free - spewing clouds of dust as it moved. Relena watched in amazement as it slowly descended to its place between the candy cane poles. The ground gave one last shake beneath them with one last boom as it settled on the earth. Relena looked to Heero who seemed just as stunned. Steeling her nerve, Relena clutched her hand over her heart, took a deep breath and approached the gates. At her approach, the large, iron portcullis began to rise on it's own as if welcoming her in. Heero, barely a few steps behind, followed her.
"Well," came a familiar, haughty, voice from behind her. "It seems there was nothing to fear after all. Just as I suspected." Relena turned around to find Dorothy approaching them, followed closely behind by Wufei who looked rather cross. Quatre, Duo and Trowa soon followed.
"We tried to stop her," Wufei nearly growled. "This woman is going to get us all killed."
"Oh, please." Dorothy placed one hand on her hip and stroked her eyebrow. "You heard the clown say that the castle won't harm its allies."
"I would hardly call you an ally." Wufei quipped.
"Then it is a very good thing you are not the castle."
Wufei growled under his breath and Quatre stepped between them. "Now, now. Let's not lose our focus. We need to help the princess find the key to her power."
"My hero." Dorothy clasped her hands together and batted her eyes in feigned awe. Relena could almost swear a blush formed on his cheeks… could teddy bears blush?
"You were all supposed to stay behind." Relena couldn't help but feel upset. If she had been wrong or if the castle would attack anyone that wasn't her then they all could have been killed.
"Don't sweat it, princess," Duo winked. "What's a little danger to a brave guy like me?" Relena sighed and looked at Heero who scowled at the giant cookie.
"Well, now that you're here, there's no point in you going back." Heero turned to face the path ahead. "Relena, this may be the Sugarplum Fairy's castle, but there is no guarantee about what might be ahead." He turned to her, eyes holding the same seriousness as before. "I want you to stay close."
"You hear that, princess?" Duo leaned in toward her, a huge, goofy smile on his face, brows raised. "He wants you close…" what the tone of his voice implied made her cheeks heat. She could hear a soft chuckle from Quatre.
"It is unwise to tease the princess right now, Duo." Trowa chimed in. "We all need to stay focused right now."
"Yeah, yeah." Duo answered and then paused. "That reminds me, bangs," Duo began. "If the drawbridge was raised, how did you make it to the gates?" Trowa shrugged.
"I jumped."
"What?" Duo's jaw dropped. "You're kiddin'?" Trowa smirked and continued walking. Relena smiled at the exchange as Duo continued to mutter something under his breath.
The group began their journey deeper into the courtyard. It was quite impressive to behold. The walls around them were the same wafer material but lined with what appeared to be rock-candy gems evenly spaced. The sheer silence of the stillness might have been unnerving anywhere else, but here, there was no need for alarm. The castle clearly meant her no harm. Heero paused and looked over his shoulder at her, brow raised, as if trying to make sure she was still there. She offered him a small smile to reassure him and his eyes softened slightly.
The actual doors into the castle were large and seemed to be made of the same chocolate planks of the drawbridge but these were intricately carved with swirled designs that resembled swans. As before, upon her approach, the doors creaked open. Duo released a low, apprehensive whistle.
"Kinda creepy." He murmured. Relena couldn't help but relate to the sentiment. There was something… strange about the castle. The feeling she'd had before; the other presence, felt stronger, like a heavy haze over her mind. She could almost see it rising around her...
"Relena?" Heero's voice called out to her. Why couldn't she see him? When did fog roll in? It was thick, and cold and swirled with every movement
"Heero!" She called out for him, searching the thick purple mist.
"Relena!" She heard him again, this time more distant.
She couldn't see even her hand before her face. She felt her heart in her chest, thundering with every breath. Her feet felt heavy, as though the ground itself was trying to swallow her.
"Come on, Relena. You have to focus. Your kingdom… no. Your friends are depending on you…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Heero's eyes appeared: strong, steady and sure. She smiled and placed her hand over her heart. The faces of all of her loved ones flashed before her. Her heartbeat and breathing slowed. "I can do this… for them."
Relena opened her eyes and the fog was gone. In its place was a large room. The walls seemed made of a dark purple marble with golden trim. Podiums with flower pots containing a blossom she had never seen surrounded her at every corner. The room was shaped like a Pentagon and in the middle was a simple, unprepossessing table. She walked forward, one slow step at a time while staring at the table. Something seemed to be missing from the center of the small surface.
"I wonder… if whatever was here is what the RAT's are looking for…?" She reached out a tentative hand and touched the surface. As her hand made contact with the cold, marble surface, the room shook and a voice, low, but feminine echoed through the room.
"So, you are she who claims to be the heir of this mighty legacy?"
Relena felt her mouth suddenly go dry and the air leave her lungs. Of all the things she thought she might encounter, a disembodied voice was not one of them.
"My name is Relena."
"I know who you are." The voice continued. "What I want to know is: why do you think you are worthy to continue the legacy of the Sugarplum Fairy?"
Relena paused in thought. She had never considered why she was chosen, let alone if the great fairy would change her mind given the chance. She could not see any real reason for such an important role to be given to her. She had always been so ordinary...
"Well?" Relena cleared her throat.
"I do not have a good answer." She looked down at the table, surprised by her own truth. "My whole life I have heard stories of this place; of the Sugarplum Fairy and her greatness… I was told of the lost princess and her destiny to inherit the powers and save the land, but…" she took a deep breath and steeled her nerve. "I never actually thought it was real… let alone that I… I was the princess."
"And you expect me to what? Just hand them over to you because of a legend?" Relena shook her head.
"No." She looked up as if trying to find some sign of the mysterious voice. "I don't know why the Sugarplum Fairy chose me." Her friends' faces came to mind again. She smiled as a warmth spread through her. "There is nothing special about me. I can't fight and I'm not sure I have what it takes to lead. But, even so," she put her hand over her heart. "I am here trying to make whatever difference I can. For the sake of those that do believe in me. If the powers will help me save them and set the kingdom free, then l had to at least try to accept the path set before me." The voice remained silent for a moment. Relena did not know if her plea had been enough but she hoped…
"You have answered with a courage and humility I have never seen. But, answer me one more question." Relena held her breath in apprehension. "Why do you wish to help? You were not raised here. You could return home and forget this whole thing ever happened. It would be as if a strange dream." Immediately, Relena shook her head.
"I couldn't do that. This land, these people… my people, are more real to me than anything I have ever known. They need me. My friends need me. And I will do what I must to save them all." Another small silence followed.
"Your words have moved me, princess. Truly, you are worthy of the power you have been promised. However," Relena felt her breath catch. "There is one more thing that must be done before the powers can be yours." A bright light flashed and before her, dangling from the ceiling by Chains were seven cages. Each of her companions were imprisoned within.
"What is this?!" Relena demanded, eyes wide as panic began to rise in her heart.
"This is the final requirement. You must choose one of your companions to be sacrificed. Only then will the power be yours."
"No…" Relena glanced from cage to cage at the faces of her friends.
"Relena," Heero began, eyes meeting hers. "Choose me."
Her heart twisted in her chest at his words. How could he say that? Did he not know how losing him would hurt her? He had only been in her life for a short time and yet she struggled to remember a time he wasn't there. She needed him!
"No… no, there has to be another way!" Relena called out in desperation.
"If you want the power, then a sacrifice must be made." The voice prodded again.
"I… I can't…"
"What about the Catalonia girl?" Dorothy stood in her cage, eyes wide, but said nothing. "Her grandfather killed your parents, stole your throne and plunged your kingdom into misery. Surely it would be justified."
"No." Relena shook her head. How could this voice even suggest such a thing? "That wouldn't be justice. That would be vengeance. The Sugarplum Fairy I know would never call for such a thing. Dorothy is innocent of her grandfather's crimes. I would sooner offer myself as a sacrifice than trade the life of another."
"You would reject the power even to protect the likes of her, the grandchild of your enemy?"
"If gaining the power requires such a price, then I would rather face Romefeller without it."
"But Relena!" Duo called out.
"Do what must be done!" Wufei added.
"No." She looked at each of them. "We will find another way."
"Is that your final answer?" The voice boomed. Relena did not hesitate.
"Yes." There was a low rumble through the room that she felt to her core. The cages disappeared and her friends appeared safely on the ground behind her.
"Congratulations, Princess Relena. You have passed the test."
"Test?" Relena could barely contain her annoyance and confusion. "This was a test?"
"Indeed." The voice answered. "I had to be certain the powers would not fall into the wrong hands. It takes a truly noble heart to make such a decision. I knew I chose well." The meaning of her statement hit Relena.
"Then you are the Sugarplum Fairy?" Relena called out into the vast room.
"Use the powers well, my dear."
Relena seemed to feel all of the energy in the room build and surge from each point of the Pentagon and to the center where the table stood. Where before there had been a blank spot on its surface now sat a brilliant magenta gemstone floating above it.
She walked toward it, steps small and hesitant. Her mind still reeled from the previous experience. As if on its own accord, her hand reached out to touch the gem with tentative fingertips. As soon as the contact was made, the gem began to glow a beautiful blue. Relena reached out with her other hand and grabbed hold. Immediately, the energy she felt surge around her before began to flow through her veins. Her whole body came alive as the power sizzled through every nerve and cell in a tingling sensation. It was warm and comforting as though the power had always been part of her. Then again, she did free the woman and her baby from the spell…
When the feeling faded, the gem was gone, though the warmth seemed to have settled with her heart... Relena turned around to be greeted by the awestruck faces of her friends. It did not take long before Duo ran forward and wrapped her in his arms, lifting her off the ground.
"Yeehaw! Ya did it, princess!" Relena couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up. The relief she felt to see them all alive and unharmed overwhelmed her. Her eyes locked with Heero's. Something she could not place swirled within those blue depths…
"Choose me…"
His words came back to her and chilled her to her core. She needed to talk to him… to make him see…
"Well done, my dear. I always knew you had it in you." Relena turned to the source of the familiar voice, relief and confusion flooding her.
"Godfather?!"
"Hello, Relena," the old man smiled and clicked his metal claw. "Or should I say, Sugarplum Fairy?"