Chapter 12 Part III: Fiery Passion pt. III
The Snow Queen
Long ago in a faraway land, there lived a boy named Kai and a girl named Gerda, and they were the best of friends for as long as they could remember. In spring, the two of them would plant flowers in the hanging garden of their shared roofs. They would run down to the lakes and rivers to skip rocks in the heat of the summer. They would bake pastries and sweets to sell in their families' bakeries in the cool of autumn. And in frigid winter, they would gather by the fireplace of Kai's grandmother and listen to her tales.
One cold and dark winter's night, Kai's grandmother tells them about the four realms of the fae—beautiful beings of the fields, the mountains, the forests, and the seas—as mischievous and clever as they are beautiful and eternal. Each realm has a queen that rules over one season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
The Flower Queen's rules a realm of eternal spring. The most free-spirited of the four, she could charm anyone to stay and play with her forever. The Sun Queen seeks a consort to match her wits and character. She would ride in a golden chariot and invite beautiful men into her realm to see if they would make a good husband for her. The Forest Queen is mysterious and elusive. Together, she and her daughter rule over a band of powerful fae that rode on the backs of reindeer. These fearsome warriors would carry away anyone they encountered on the road and induct them into their fold. Once in the Forest Queen's realm, they are to join the hunt and worship the queen and her daughter as their deities for an eternity.
At last, in the northernmost realm, close to the top of the world where there is no sun, an eternal winter rage. The sea would turn to ice, and the wind would sculpt the mountains into glaciers—a beautiful castle made of ice as clear as cut diamond stood in its heart. There, the Snow Queen resided, beautiful but cold as the wintry and desolate landscape that is her kingdom. She possessed a magic mirror that allowed her to glimpse into the mortal world. Burned by a tragic love so long ago, her heart turned cold, and she resolves to punish those who defy her.
Kai's grandmother warned the children never to trust a fae, especially any of the queens. Not even the kindest of them. In truth, they were neither malicious nor benevolent. All they seek is to make their kingdoms grow, and they would resort to kidnapping humans they have taken a fancy to.
After hearing the stories, Gerda became frightened of the mirrors hanging in their homes. Kai assured her that the Snow Queen would never set foot in their village and had no power over them. He promised to protect Gerda and keep the Snow Queen away. He gave her a small rose from his side of their shared garden as a symbol of their bond and strong friendship. Unbeknownst to the two, the Snow Queen heard his declaration through her magic mirror and, in rage, shattered a corner of her mirror, turning it into ice shards. At her command, they fell into Kai's eyes and heart. His vision became clouded, causing him to see only the ugliness in the world. His heart turned cruel and black, tainting his words that were once affectionate, shocking Gerda and those around him.
Kai noticed a strange visitor's sleigh in town one winter's day and decided to hitch a ride. To his surprise, the sleigh flew into the air as it rode off. He turned to demand who the rider was and beheld the face of the Snow Queen. She gave Kai a cold and guile smile that was laced with poison. Her eyes were like a bottomless pool. She was dressed entirely white like the polar star, solitary in the frigid space of night. Not even the shattered glass shards in his eyes could hide her grace from him. The Snow Queen was so breathtakingly beautiful that it made Kai shiver. Kai gasped as she leaned in to kiss him twice—once to numb him and protect him from the cold and twice to make him forget about Gerda and his home.
"Come with me, my boy," said the Snow Queen in a deceptively sweet voice. "Come away with me to the top of the world. There, you'll be surrounded by an eternal and desolate beauty."
"The top of the world?" he asked in wonder.
The Snow Queen nodded. "Yes, to the realm of everlasting winter. I could give you whatever you desire—a pair of new skates or even make you king of a corner of my land."
Entranced, Kai nodded as they flew towards the distant horizon through the air.
Very few mortals ever venture back from the realms of the four seasons. Even fewer returned sane. In the village, rumors of Kai being kidnapped by one of the fae queens spread—many assumed that he would either die at their hands or become a victim to their enchantment.
Hearing this, Gerda realized that her best friend had been enchanted and spirited away. She vowed to find Kai and bring him back. Many pleaded with her to stay and forget about him, but Gerda would not shake her resolve to find him. Kai is her best friend and has promised to protect her. Now it was her turn to protect him, no matter the danger. Taking what she could carry, including the little rose Kai had given her, which she had dried and pressed between the pages of her book as a special keepsake, Gerda slowly made her journey northward, following the crows, the flowers, and the leaves in the wind as they whispered of Kai's flight.
The closest realm Gerda came upon is the land of eternal spring. Here, the flowers are always in bloom, and the faes frolic and dance and play with the animals in a never-ending festival. Their ruler, the beautiful Flower Queen, welcomed Gerda with open arms.
"Come and dance and play with us!" she said with a broad and beautiful grin. Her red hair shimmered under a crown of flowers.
"I am sorry, but I cannot stay. I must continue forward and find my friend," said Gerda.
"Stay here with us, and you'll have all the friends you could ever ask for in the world!" the Flower Queen replied.
Gerda insisted that she must leave. Not wanting her new friend to go, the Flower Queen tricked her into eating one of the tea cakes. "Have one before you go, then!" she offered sweetly. "Surely, it wouldn't hurt to stay for lunch?"
The tea cakes were enchanted to make mortals forget their home and purpose. It clouded their mind, making them see only the joy and beauty of the Flower Queen's realm around them. The thought of Kai quickly slipped to the back of Gerda's mind as soon as she took a bite. She forgot about her village, about him and the cruel words he flung at her before he disappeared. All she wanted was to stay here with these lovely fae folks where she could be happy forever and ever.
At night when Gerda slept in a bed of flowers, the roses whispered into her dream. They told her that the Flower Queen was lonely and afraid of losing her companions. If Gerda doesn't stop eating the food offered, she will stay here forever like all the other guests.
"But where is Kai? Has the queen of spring taken him, too?" Gerda asked the roses in her dream.
To her disappointment, the roses told her that there had never seen a human boy by that name here. They have heard from the crows that the Sun Queen has taken a few new males into her realm to see if they are an excellent candidate as her consort. But to find out if Kai is among them, Gerda must escape this realm.
Gerda awoke and knew now that the food was laced with enchantment. She refused to eat and drink anymore of the offered food and confronted the Flower Queen. The Flower Queen was already beautiful and charming and possessed many traits that would naturally attract those to her of their own volition. With a fire in her heart, she told the ruler of spring that if she wanted real friends, then she shouldn't have to resort to trickery. Gerda told the queen about her friendship with Kai and how they would spend time planting flowers in the hanging garden of their shared roofs. She told the Flower Queen how much she cares for him and is willing to traverse through dangerous realms to find him. Touched by her words, the Flower Queen allowed Gerda her freedom and promised that she'd consider her suggestions on the enchanted food.
Having finally escaped the realm of eternal spring, Gerda realized that she had been stuck in there for months! Remembering what the roses had said, she went further north until she was lost. Falling to her knees, Gerda wept bitter tears, wondering how she would find Kai. Hearing of her plight, the crows landed next to her and asked if she needed their help.
"I need to find my friend, Kai," Gerda told them. "I heard that the Sun Queen might have taken him, but I don't know where her realm is."
The crows were more than happy to guide her to the realm of eternal summer. There, Gerda found herself in the middle of a field of sunflowers that encircled a golden castle as blinding and warm as the sun. Fighting the blinding sunlight, Gerda saw a long line of young and beautiful men, both mortal and fae, waiting for their chance to have an audience with the Sun Queen. None of them were Kai as she pushed herself into the palace, much to her disappointment.
The Sun Queen's beauty was blinding. Her orange dress blazed like fire and her crown sparkled with rubies and garnets. Her hair was golden as the sun, and her eyes warm and inviting like a hearth. Noticing Gerda, the Sun Queen's eyes flickered to her and asked her why she was here. Gerda told the Sun Queen of her plight, but the ruler of the land of eternal summer seemed aloof.
"What makes you think that I can help find this boy when I can hardly find someone to be my consort?" the Sun Queen asked and gestured to the line of males standing before her. "They come to me either of their own volition or were spirited here so that I may consider their candidacy. They come bearing gifts and honeyed words in hopes of becoming my consort, but I haven't taken a fancy to any one of them. For years I've dismissed them one by one. Those that were rejected are free to stay as my subjects. Perhaps you'll find better luck finding them yourself?"
Gerda knew that she could not waste any time trying to find Kai in this vast kingdom. A few days in the land of eternal spring meant several months in the human world. If she was going to get the Sun Queen to help her, she must help her choose a husband. She turned to the fae ruler and boldly asked her what she wanted in a consort. Surprisingly, the Sun Queen obliged and described her ideal mate. Listening patiently, Gerda told her about her relationship with Kai and how happy they made each other.
"Choose the one who cares not for your beauty, grace, or queenly position but you alone," Gerda suggested. "He may not be handsome or strong or rich, but he can make you happy. He will love you for your brilliant heart and mind and can make your days filled with everlasting sunshine."
Hearing this, the Sun Queen realized she wanted someone to match wits with her. She desired a consort who wouldn't care that she is royalty but seek her wisdom. One by one, the Sun Queen quickly dismissed her suitors until she came upon a male who could do just what she wanted and more: he matched wits with her and genuinely liked to make her happy. He was a fae prince from a small province, and just as Gerda said, he was not as handsome or as wealthy as her other suitors, but he had heard of the Sun Queen's wisdom and came to see if her wits were as brilliant as the sun. After a few days getting to know him, the Sun Queen decided that at long last found her perfect consort and declared them both to be engaged with great delight.
To thank Gerda for her wise advice, the Sun Queen invited her to the celebration, but Gerda politely declined and reminded her that she needed to find Kai. The fae prince, who waited for so long to meet his true love, had seen all those who came and went in this land and told her that Kai wasn't here. He told her that perhaps the Forest Queen had taken him to join her Wild Hunt in the realm of eternal autumn. The couple assisted Gerda by giving her a golden carriage to take her to her next destination.
As her beautiful carriage left the realm of eternal summer, Gerda saw that another season had passed. The two crows flew above her, telling her to beware of the Forest Queen, for she is not as carefree as the Flower Queen nor as generous as the Sun Queen. The grounds she treaded wither and died as leaves fall from the trees to make way for the coming cold. Her Wild Hunt, a band of mighty fae warriors, roamed the forest of aspens and maples and took those they encountered into their fold.
Gerda asked the crows if there was a way to appease the Forest Queen should she be captured. The crows answered yes, but before they could, Gerda was surrounded by reindeer riding fae warriors—the Wild Hunt had found her and brought her before their queen. Frightened, the crows took off for the trees and hid. Shaking on her knees, Gerda gazed up at the beautiful Forest Queen as she sat in her sleigh made of reindeer's bones. Her hair was long and black, crowned in a wreath of autumn leaves and intertwining ivory like the antlers of a deer. Beside her is a child-fae, her daughter! Seeing a girl who looked close to her youthful appearance, the Forest Queen's daughter pleaded with her mother to let her keep Gerda as a friend.
Trapped in the realm of eternal autumn, Gerda realized that the Forest Queen and her daughter, while not malicious, intended for her to become the fae princess's new companion and join her in the Wild Hunt. As she lay in bed at night, she wondered if Kai had been taken by the Forest Queen and is now part of the Wild Hunt. Sensing her silent anxiety in the quiet night, the fae princess's court animals told her that they had seen Kai flying in the Snow Queen's sleigh towards the top of the world.
Hearing this, Gerda was determined to escape this place and find him. The crows returned and told Gerda that the only way to escape was to appease the Forest Queen by offering her a gift. Gerda searched her pocket and found that she still had the little rose Kai had given her in her bag. Offering it to the Forest Queen, who had never seen such a beautiful thing, Gerda told her what happened to Kai and why she must find him. The Forest Queen was impressed by Gerda's sacrifice of her one precious treasure, and her daughter was touched by her story. Both mother and daughter allowed Gerda to leave in exchange for the rose.
Before her departure, the Forest Queen warned Gerda to beware of the Snow Queen. Of all the fae queens, the ruler of the land of eternal winter has a heart as cold and black as ice. Pretty words would not so easily sway her as the other queens. The Forest Queen tells Gerda that even if she finds Kai, he will not be the same boy she loved, for indeed, his heart has been frozen, and his eyes clouded by the Snow Queen's magic mirror shards. As frightened as Gerda is, she is determined to find her friend and asks the Forest Queen how to defend herself from the Snow Queen's wrath and save her best friend.
"Child, I can give you no power greater than the ones you already have," replied the Forest Queen cryptically before sending her off with two of her reindeer. As she watched Gerda disappear, the Forest Queen turned to her daughter and said, "Don't you see how strong her heart is? How men, fae, and animals are obliged to serve her, and how well she has got through the world, barefooted as she is? She cannot receive any power from me great than she now has—her purity and innocent heart. If she cannot see that with just this power alone will my sister, the Snow Queen, be free of her cold hatred—and remove the glass fragments from Kai, we can do nothing to help her."
When Gerda and her reindeer and crows reached the top of the world, they met with the guardian faes as fierce, cold, and deadly as the night. They stopped Gerda at the Snow Queen's palace gate, having heard of her arrival beforehand. Frightened and with nothing else to help her, Gerda prayed with all her heart. She reached deep within herself, remembering her sweet and gentle Kai and what she had gone through to find him and bring him back. There was a fiery passion burning within her, manifesting outward. Soon, her warm breaths took the shape of angels with fiery wings and blazing swords. The guardian angels easily defeated the guards, allowing Gerda to enter the palace without fighting.
The Snow Queen is nowhere to be seen in the glistening throne room. Gerda found Kai sitting by himself in front of the empty throne to her delight and relief. She rushed to embrace him, but he pushed her away, his mind more occupied with the puzzle pieces before him. To her shock, Kai has completely forgotten her, unable to recognize his long-time old friend. Gerda tried to remind him of who they were to each other, but Kai continued to give her the cold shoulder.
"Is your heart so frozen that you can no longer see what's important? That you can't see me?" she asked.
"What's important is the task the Snow Queen has given to me," he replied coldly. "She promised me freedom and to make me king when I have solved this."
Gerda embraced Kai and wept, for she was at a loss. How could she save Kai now? She had nothing to remind him of her. Nothing but her words and the depths of her deepest feelings for him. As Gerda wept, her tears seeped into Kai's heart, dispelling the ice mirror shard. Feeling her burning passion within her, his heart began to thaw, allowing his eyes to water and dislodging the remaining fragment. Like Gerda's, Kai's tears were filled with the love he felt for her, the love the Snow Queen thought she had quashed. Blinking away his tears, Kai saw Gerda and remembered her.
"Gerda! Oh, Gerda, my friend! My love! You're here! You've found me!" Kai said joyfully.
"Yes! I've traveled so far and been through many realms to find you!" Gerda replied. She took his hands in hers, and they danced around gleefully as they used to when they were children. "All those queens tried to keep me, but I could not stay with them. I could never forget you, Kai!"
Their cheerful reunion was short-lived as the chamber grew colder. Frost dusted the pillars, and the air became thinner, turning their breaths into icy mists. They looked up to see the Snow Queen, beautiful and terrifying in all her frigid grace and glory, sitting on her glass-liked throne. Her skin was so pale that she looked like a statue. Her hair so white that it gleamed like white silk. Her fur-trimmed dress shimmered with crystals and diamonds. Gerda gulped and felt a shiver running down her spine. The Snow Queen was indeed so beautiful and so terrifying all at once.
"So, you have come at last," said the Snow Queen as she gazed down at Gerda with her depthless eyes.
Gerda held her breath but felt Kai's hand tightening around hers. She was not afraid. Not after having to face three other fae queens. Not when she has Kai by her side.
"Yes, I have," Gerda declared bravely. "I have traveled through the realms of everlasting spring, summer, autumn, and winter. I had stood before your sister queens and fought their influences when they had tried to keep me in their kingdoms forevermore."
"And now you are here in my kingdom," said the Snow Queen. "You have overcome great ordeals to be here; I'll grant you that. But tell me, little Gerda, how would you defeat me? How will you stop me from keeping you and Kai here as my companions forever? I do not require friends like the Flower Queen. I do not need a consort to rule by my side like the Sun Queen. And unlike the Forest Queen, I do not have my band of hunting fae. Yet, I could keep you both here as my subjects forever because you amused me."
Gerda gulped nervously, but her spirit did not waver. She remembered her ordeals and what it took to get here. She glanced at Kai, and he smiled at her reassuringly.
Gerda turned to the Snow Queen and, in her kindest and sincere voice, replied, "You cannot keep us here because you have no power over us. This feeling that we have for each other burns brighter than any stars in the night sky."
The Snow Queen raised an eyebrow. "What is this feeling you speak of?"
"It is worth more than any treasures in the world and powerful enough to bring even your sister queens to their knees. Its fire is so great that even your magic has been expelled from Kai."
"And why would you do so much for him? Why trouble yourself to bring him back? My magic has blinded him to the beauty of the world and turned his heart as cold as mine. He was cruel to you as he was to everyone since. Yet, you still came for him! Why? And why with this power of yours?"
Gerda smiled and clasped Kai's hands in hers.
"Because I love him," she replied. "No matter how far you've taken him from me, I will always find him. He is the fire that burns my heart, and I am his."
"We love each other," Kai said, facing the Snow Queen. He gave her a thoughtful look. "Perhaps the reason you've done all this was because deep down, you wished for someone to love you, too? My grandmother said that you were hurt by a burning love so long ago."
The Snow Queen's eyes softened, much to their surprise. After a long moment, she got to her feet and regally addressed them. "You are right. Your love burns so bright and fiercely as that love had for me so long ago that it hurts. My magic is no match for the one that you possess. You have won the game and may leave as you wish."
The Snow Queen's eyes fell to their feet, and they followed her gaze to see that the puzzle Kai had been trying to solve had finally spelled out the words 'Eternal love'.
Joy and jubilation filled their hearts. Light began to rise over the horizon, the air grew warmer and the palace brighter in the sunlight. The eternal winter has finally been put to a halt for the time being by their love. Gerda and Kai looked up to see the Snow Queen slowly fading away like the frost off of their hearts. They knew she would return, but for now, they were together.
"Perhaps someday, you'll discover the true meaning of love for yourself," Gerda whispered as she watched the Snow Queen disappear.
The reindeer and the crows returned, ready to take Gerda and Kai home. As they traveled back the way they came, Gerda told Kai of her adventures through all the other realms. Together, they traverse back through these realms to visit the friends they had made.
Hand in hand, Gerda and Kai finally made it back to their home village, where everything seemed so familiar and fantastic. Yet, they discovered that they'd been gone a few years. As they gazed into each others' eyes, they realized how much they had grown. In time, their love will grow and will burn brighter than ever.
Dreams of Taranee's wondrous play swirled in her mind that night. Over and over, it replayed from beginning to end, allowing her to relive her moment in the limelight. The memories of her performance and stage and after the show were vivid. Today had been so spectacular that Taranee wanted to embed the feeling into her subconscious mind. It seeped into her dream later that night, not that she minded.
A smile spread across Taranee's lips as she relived through her favorite scenes. Again and again, she danced and sang her heart out on stage, twirling and swirling with each queen of the four seasons. She saw herself, hand in hand with Sheila and Luke, as they took their bow. The audience erupted into a thunderous applaud, showering her with flowers.
"BRAVO!"
"MAGNIFICENT!"
"BEAUTIFUL!"
"ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!"
Taranee beamed, allowing her heart to swell. Although the crowd didn't chant her name in real life, they still applauded her performance. Still, this was one thing she wanted to change in her dream.
"TARANEE! TARANEE! TARANEE!"
"Mmm…" Taranee mumbled in her sleep. "Thank you…thank you, everyone…"
Taranee?
"You've been…an amazing…audience…" Taranee mumbled again with a smile.
Taranee! Can you hear me?!
"Yes…yes…I can hear your cheering…very loudly…"
TARANEE! WAKE UP!
Startled, Taranee bolted upright as if someone had been screaming into her ear. The sudden jolt from her dream nearly caused her to fall out of bed.
"W-Will?" Taranee gasped. Then remembering that Will can't exactly hear her talking, she mentally tapped into their telepathic channel. Being the only telepath in the group, she always left this channel open at night in case of emergency. It comes in handy when they're trying to communicate with each other without getting into trouble with their parents or teachers.
Will? Is that you? Taranee mentally asked.
Yes! I've been trying to contact you for almost five minutes! Finally, you're awake!
Right, sorry about that. I was dreaming…Taranee said apologetically. Groggily, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced at her alarm clock. She had to blink a few times to make sure she read the time correctly. What's going on? It's almost three in the morning, Will!
We're being summoned; Lord Araël and Yan Lin want us in Kandrakar! said Will. She could practically hear Taranee mentally moaning with great vexation. The Guardian of Fire had had problems with Kandrakar, especially when the elders omitted certain information or summoned them during their most inconvenient time. 2:45 in the morning constituted as problematic.
And why couldn't they wait until morning to give us a call? Taranee mentally hissed. Will could practically hear her friend rolling her eyes.
It's the siege in Nihon. Seiryuu and her forces are practically on the move, Will explained. Taranee paused, noticing a mixture of worry and hesitation in her friend's tone. Lord Araël and Yan Lin both sounded grim. I think there is more bad news. Anyway, the others are already on their way to the headquarters. How soon can you get there?
I'll be there in five.
Okay, we'll see you then.
Getting out of bed, Taranee quietly opened her door and checked on her parents. Thankfully, they were both asleep and hadn't heard a peep from her. She tiptoed into the bathroom to splash some water onto her face before diving back into her room. A low bark and a yip startled her as she whirled around to find her two dogs. They must have snuck into her room while she was in the bathroom.
"Shh! Flea! Billy! Hush, now, the both of you! You'll wake Mom and Dad!" Taranee gasped.
The large dog and the small lowered their heads but gave her both a pleading look. Taranee smiled and gave them both an affectionate scratch behind their ears. She turned and opened the door to let them back out into the hallway.
"Good boys. I need you and Billy to stay here and look after Mom and Dad. I got a big job to do. I promise I'll be back."
Flea and Billy whimpered sadly but dashed out the door all the same.
Alone, Taranee transformed and performed her teletransporting spell. Soft light swirled around her, blurring her bedroom in a swirl of fire. Once dissipated, she found herself standing in the living room of their headquarters. Taranee glanced around to see her friends already transformed. Even Orube was dressed in her warrior outfit. Their expressions, however, were equally exhausted from sleep deprivation.
"Hey, you've finally made it," Irma said, holding up her cup of coffee in a half-hearted attempt to say hello.
"Why can't the Gemini Council just wait until morning?" Hay Lin asked sleepily. "I was having such a pleasant dream."
"You and everyone else," Cornelia said before stifling a yawn.
"Sorry, girls, but when Kandrakar calls you, you have to go," Orube said. Taranee noticed that even she looked worn and exhausted.
"I know, but we barely got any rest. If this is the big battle against Seiryuu, we can't just drop in half-asleep. We'll get killed!"
"I could transfer a bit of my chi to everyone, but I'm afraid it won't be enough," Kimi offered. Her face became crestfallen as she quietly added, "If my father was still here, he could…"
An idea popped into Will's mind, and she wanted to kick herself for not realizing it sooner. "Wait! That's it! I am the solution!" Will said. Everyone turned to her, confused and still half-asleep. "What? I'm the Guardian of Energy, remember?"
Without another word, Will summoned the Heart of Kandrakar and held it before everyone. She hadn't tested this before, but she still remembered how Kohaku transferred some of his chi to Cornelia during their battle against Byakko. If she could tap into her magic, she could summon enough energy from the things around them and transfer them to everyone. There was a soft glow as the light flickered. Will closed her eyes and reached out for the energy in the electric wires throughout the house. She tried to tap into the power in the water, steam, gas, and even a little bit of the magic within this house itself for good measure. The Heart of Kandrakar hummed, drawing in the energy at Will's command before flowing into the others, including Will herself.
Kimi gasped, feeling awake and alert, her chi level at total capacity. "Will! What did you…?"
Will gave her a rueful smile. "I can transfer energy into ourselves to give us a little boost." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "I wished I had figured how to do that before."
"It definitely would have saved us some time and energy," Irma said. She turned to place her half-finished coffee cup down on the glass table. "I guess I don't need to finish that anymore."
"I don't think I can do it while we're in mid-battle. Plus, I need time and energy myself to concentrate and transfer these powers."
"Thanks for the boost, but we need to go," Orube said, straightening herself and adjusting her sword. She gave everyone a severe look. "Is everyone ready?"
Everyone nodded as they stepped forward to form a circle.
"Kandrakar, here we come," said Will.
"Seiryuu's forces have been battering down on the outskirts of Edo for weeks, and unfortunately for us, she has been making progress," said Lord Araël grimly. The Guardians and Orube observed the scenes playing out on the holographic screens behind him. "The city has been evacuated. Those who remained were the imperial family and the clans staying to defend their city. However, they are on their last leg and are desperate for help." Lord Araël snapped his fingers, and a few more tabs opened, one showing the map of the city and the surrounding area, and the other an image of a woman. "Fortunately, Seiryuu's forces cannot attack from the sea as Queen Umi heavily defends it."
"We've briefly met her before," Cornelia exclaimed, glancing at her friends. "Remember? She fought alongside Ngọc Long's family against Zhu Que's forces in Annam."
At the mention of their mentor, the chamber grew quiet and somber like a funeral home. Realizing her mistake, Cornelia gave her friends an apologetic look.
"Any news on Lady Ngọc Long?" Hay Lin asked, hoping her grandmother would have some answer.
The Oracle shook her head. "I am sorry, Hay Lin, but the Jade Dragon has managed to elude us. She may be an immortal dragon god, but even she can suffer from a broken heart."
"I've tried searching her these last few days, but no one has seen or heard her since our last battle," Orube said.
"You'll have to handle your missions without her for the time being," said Lady Verlona sternly, but not unkindly. "I understand it is not ideal, but we have more important matters at hand."
"Indeed," Lord Araël said and turned to Kimi. "Your uncle reached out to us and asked that you and everyone be recalled to Edo."
Kimi opened her mouth to speak, but Irma interrupted her with a snippy comment. "Let me guess; he wants us to come in and help fight on the frontline?"
"No."
The Dream Seer said it so bluntly that Irma blinked. "Huh?"
"Chancellor Komei informed us of what has transpired during the war summit," Lord Araël replied. "According to him, the ministers and heads of the united clans were impressed with your recent accomplishments against the Celestial Warriors. Rather than having you joining their united forces on the outskirts of the city, they want to dispatch you into the depth of the Dark Forest."
The girls stared at Araël in terrified wonder. They turned to Kimi, who was trying to steady her trembling hands. From what Zhu Que had told them, Kyochi was held in Seiryuu's palace deep in the Dark Forest. The ziggurat, one of the abandoned posts the Celestial Warriors had used, was where they first encountered the five demigods. Aside from them, the place is home to some of the most dangerous spirits in all of Lusteria, especially the dark ones. Yet, there were good people who had lived there, once—the villagers of Shinrinkage. Unpleasant memories and secrets of that place still haunt Kimi to this day.
"Why?" Kimi asked cautiously.
"The united clans fear an attack from there," Lord Araël explained. "Most of their warriors are concentrated on the frontline where the brunt of Seiryuu's forces is. However, a surprise attack from the Dark Forest is of great concern for them."
"So rather than sparring some warriors there, they're sending us in because they think we have the better chances of handling any of Seiryuu's yokai warriors." Kimi's lips twisted in disgust.
Lord Araël was silent at first, but then he nodded. He gestured a hand to Will, Irma, and Cornelia. "Half of you have already awoken your new powers. It makes the most logical sense."
"And opportunistic," Lady Verlona added. "With Seiryuu focused on overtaking Edo on the frontline, her palace may not be as well guarded as before."
Kimi's eyes widened hopefully. "I can go in and find my brother!"
Will cleared her throat. "We might be able to find your brother," she clarified. She stepped forward and turned to the three Elders before them. "If we can find Kyochi, we'll be able to find the Prince of Darkness and put an end to this whole thing sooner than expected."
Taranee frowned. Something wasn't quite right. "But don't you remember what Zhu Que said before he died? He warned us that Seiryuu would booby-trap the Dark Forest," she pointed out. "We could be walking right into her hands if we're not careful."
Kimi clenched her fists, her resolve unwavering. "Still, we must go. If we can find my brother, we'll be able to help the Prince of Darkness."
Taranee didn't need to read her mind to know that her blue eyes burned with determination. She had endured months without her brother, and the recent revelation from Yami in Taranee's dream would not stop her.
"We will go into the Dark Forest, and then, we'll be able to put an end to this whole affair," said Will.
"You must also exercise caution," Yan Lin added. "I sensed this battle will try not just one of you." She eyed Taranee, Hay Lin, Kimi, and Orube as if she wanted to say something more but thought better of it.
Will swallowed and nodded. Remembering something earlier, she stepped forward. "You said you had bad news before we came here."
Will didn't think the Elders could look any more unhappy, but they somehow managed as they furrowed their brows. Yan Lin and Lord Araël exchanged looks before turning to Verlona. Gripping her staff tighter, Verlona tapped it on the floor. Behind her, a new screen appeared, but to girls' collective surprise, it showed them the hallway of their headquarters.
"We've been detecting usage of portals between Earth and Lusteria lately," said Verlona. She glanced at Orube. "Since you've been using them for your reconnaissance trips, we didn't assume anything out of the ordinary else until this…"
The Guardians followed her gaze and watched, not sure what they were supposed to see. To their surprise, the front door opened to reveal Matt. He glanced around as if trying to make sure no one else was around. Seeing that he was alone in the house, he began his search by rummaging around as if he was looking for something. From his light and swift movements, it was clear that he was being careful not to leave any traces of himself behind.
"Matt?" Will gasped. "What in the world is he—?"
Her words hung as she watched Matt walking down the hallway and stop to stare into a mirror. It looked as if he was making careful observation of the object. Then, with a smug and satisfied look on his face, he dove in as if it were a pool of water and disappeared without a trace.
"MATT!" Will cried.
Stunned, her fellow Guardians stared. Even Orube seemed surprised. She had scented him, but because he had been at the house before, she thought nothing of it. The girls exchanged looks of amazement and shock, unsure of what they had just witnessed.
"Did he just find a portal?" Irma asked.
Not bothering to answer her, Kimi strode towards Verlona, her face clearly annoyed. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
"It would appear that this boy has decided to take an unauthorized trip to Nihon. His reason is unclear to us," Verlona replied calmly. "It was by pure chance that one of our councilmen saw this footage and informed me not too long ago before your arrival. According to him, this had happened a few days ago. That being said, we could find no record of his return."
"Which means he is still on your home planet," said Lord Araël. "Based on the image reflected in the mirror, we believe he went to the kingdom of Nihon as well."
The colors on Will's face drained like color washing off of a painting. Will shook her head in disbelief. "This is impossible!" she objected. "I know he's been avoiding me lately, but I assure you that I saw him still afterward! Granted, it was from a distance, but even his mom and grandfather told me that they saw and talked to him."
"It may have been an Astral Drop that you saw," Yan Lin reasoned. "When Himerish sent Matt away to train in magic, he learned just enough to create a double so his friends and family wouldn't worry. He must have created one right before he snuck off to Lusteria."
Will could find no words to express this shocking news. She couldn't feel the floor beneath her, and the sound of her friends arguing seemed to have faded in the distance.
Gone.
Matt, her boyfriend and best friend, had left her! Replaced by an unfeeling Astral Drop. This explained why he seemed more distant from her than usual. Of course, his double wouldn't answer any calls from her. And the way Matt's mom and grandfather had described his aloof and moody behavior now made perfect sense.
Will felt a sharp jab in her side and turned to see Cornelia poking her hard to grab her attention.
"WILL! Snap out of it!" she hissed quietly.
Will blinked and shook her head to refocus.
"I knew your boyfriend was stubborn, but I didn't think he would be this idiotic!" Kimi said, shooting Will a glare.
"Speaks for yourself, Kimi! Your plan to humiliate him into staying put at home backfired!" Irma pointed out.
"I don't want him dead!" Kimi waved a hand at the holographic screen depicting the battle on the outskirt of Edo. "There's a war going on right on my doorsteps! Despite my resentment for him, I would rather Matt-boy stay home and let us handle this!" Frustrated, she pressed her fingers to her forehead as if to relieve a migraine. "Honestly, if his pride hadn't gotten himself killed, I am going to strangle him myself for this stunt."
Rage boiled within Will. Tiny sparks of electricity sizzled from her like a cloud of angry wasps as she spun on her heels to face Kimi. "You would do no such thing!" Will said, her teeth seething. "This is your fault! If you hadn't—"
"Stop it! Both of you!" Taranee said, getting in between them. "Fighting and blaming each other isn't going to change a thing." Turning to the Elders, she asked, "Do you know where in Edo Matt is currently?"
Yan Lin shook her head. "We've lost track of him once he entered the imperial palace. But we do know he's still somewhere in Edo."
The knuckles of Will's knuckles turned white and she clenched a fist. "Then let's get to Edo quick. I have a few words to say to him," she said coolly. There was vexation in her tone. The others could only imagine the trouble Matt would be in once Will finds him.
Lord Araël ignored the frustrating atmosphere and turned to Kimi. "Before you head into the Dark Forest, your uncle asked to see you."
Kimi nodded. Forgetting her vexation with Matt, her expression softened at the mention of her uncle. It has been a few weeks since she had last seen him. The two of them have accepted each other as father and daughter. The death of her biological father still pained her, but to Kimi, Komei was the one who had loved and raised her for most of her life as a real father should. It would be wonderful to see him again, even if the current situation on Lusteria is grim.
The Guardians took a step back towards the intricate circle on the polished floor. Sparkles of light began to dance around them as the portal to Lusteria began to open.
"Be careful, my little Hay Lin," Yan Lin said. "I sense that you'll have other adversaries in this battle."
Hay Lin nodded. "Don't worry, Grandma. We'll try to stick together."
Lord Araël frowned and took a step forward. "The Oracle is right. I had a prophetic dream that tells me that more than one of you will be tested." The Guardians stared at him, unsure what to make of this. "When all else fails, trust what you sense in your hearts, Guardians, for when you find yourselves in the darkness, it will be your guiding light."
Lights danced and swirled around the Guardians. With no time to reply, they could only nod in unison as they took Araël's words to heart.
Then they were gone.
To be continued...
Author's note: How did you like Taranee's play? I know it's long and practically took up half of this chapter, but we've been building it up for quite some time, and it didn't feel right to just skip it. Plus, I intend for it to have a purpose during Taranee's ordeal.
If you've read the original story of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson, you'll notice that I've altered a lot of things. This is supposed to be Jensen's Dance Academy's interpretation of the fairytale. In this version, I turned the first three characters that Gerda will meet into the Flower, Sun, and Forest Queens. In the original story, there really is a land of eternal summer, which gave me the idea of having Gerda (aka Taranee) going through all four realms. The old women that Gerda met near the end before entering the realm of the Snow Queen were taken out.
If you really want to know more about the original fairytale, I recommend watching the summary video on The Snow Queen by Youtuber "Overly Sarcastic Productions". She does a great job summarizing the original story in less than 10 minutes in a very funny way.
In the comics, Taranee has two dogs, which she and her parents adopted in Teach 2B WITCH story arc: the big one named Flea, and the little one named Billy.
I'm quite busy with work these days, but I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. We're almost getting to the good parts!