Hey guys! Long time, no hear, huh? Ha. Just joking. Anyways, I did such a blonde thing and forgot to put in that during the conversation between Jack and Katherine on the carriage, Primm the bat was hiding on there, listening in. That was such a huge part of how the trap came to be and I was so stupid not to put it in! The sad thing is, now that I've reached the part where the boys get taken, this story only has a few chapters left. I seriously thought there was going to be more.
Any who, since I forgot to put the scene in the Delancies' castle where Primm tells them the conversation, I'm starting with that. Just so you know how it went. Enjoy!
Primm flew as fast as he could towards the castle. He couldn't wait to tell the Delancies what he had overheard on the carriage. The nutcracker was in for it now. And hopefully the Delancies will finally think of him as something worthwhile. Though seriously. What was up with him and that girl? He was a bat for Christ's sake and even he could see that the nutcracker was head over heels for her. She was beautiful, but Primm didn't see the appeal. Or the reason she would feel the same way about him. A beautiful girl being in love with a lump of wood? Yeah. That happens every day. Or ever. His thoughts were interrupted when he slammed into the castle walls. He peeled himself off and flew into the Delancies' throne room.
The Delancies demanded the story and Primm was glad to give him. "The nutcracker destroyed rock?" Morris questioned.
"Sent him to the bottom of the sea." Primm answered. "Of course, they had some help. It seems as if Davey and Les have joined in their quest."
"Proving that they're just as idiotic as he is." Oscar retorted. He and his brother walked over to the still monstrous pile of books on the floor, Primm obediently following. "We've combed through every page in every book in the Royal Library. There's no other mention of a Sugarplum Princess."
"I don't know." Primm mused, "They were pretty keen on finding her island."
"She's a fantasy!" Oscar exclaimed.
Morris suddenly got an evil glint in his eyes. "If the nutcracker wants to believe in fairytales, he's about to find that this one doesn't have a happy ending."
(A/N And now we return to the actual story plot. AKA Katherine after the boys are taken)
Katherine starred across the now calm and melted sea of storms in total and utter despair. Her nutcracker was taken from her. To the Delancies' castle. Who knows what they were doing to him right now? Tears stung at the back of her eyes at the mere thought. She reached behind her head and untied the knot of the flower necklace. She ripped the stems a little and retied the chain around the red ribbon in her hair so that the blossom was placed right in the middle of the bow. She sighed. The only necklace that remained was the locket destined to take her home. But she didn't have the Sugarplum Princess. Even if she opened the locket, she would return home mouse size. "I never should've come here." She said to herself, "What was I thinking? That I was going to find some magical princess?" She groaned and mentally face palmed herself for being so stupid. She gently grasped the gold heart around her neck. "I could always go back home. I'm sure I have some doll clothes that would fit." Then she realized that if she left, she would be leaving Davey and Les… and Jack to die. "What am I saying? I can't leave them in the hands of the Delancies. I'm there only hope." She stood up to face the sea, "If I could just get off this island."
As if she had called for help, the brunette garden fairy suddenly appeared in front of her face. "Oh. Hello." Katherine greeted, a little shocked. The fairy tugged at her sleeve, gesturing to follow her. Katherine obliged and was led to a group of garden fairies carrying what looked like a swing made of flowers and stems in between them. She shot the small fairy a curious glance. The fairy gestured for her to sit down on the seat. "Are you sure about this?" She wasn't exactly trusting of how sturdy that was.
The little fairy nodded and Katherine took a deep breath. She gently sat on the swing and grasped both of the handles. In a split second, the fairies had lifted her off the ground and were flying at top speed across the sea. Katherine's worries were subdued as she soared above the sea without a single delay. Finally after a little while of flying, the fairies finally reached the Delancies' castle. It was exactly as Katherine had imagined. Dark, dreary and giving off a feeling of fear. But she wasn't deterred. Jack, her nutcracker, was in there. She had to get him. She finally set foot on the steps of the castle. She turned to the fairies with a smile, "Thank you."
The fairies gave a small tinkling in acknowledgment. The brunette fairy nodded at the others and the fairies flew out of sight. Katherine looked at the door to the castle. She said a silent prayer that Jack and the boys were safe before summoning up all her courage to step through the threshold.
At the village, Romeo and Racer listened intently to the garden fairies as they relayed the story of how they had helped Katherine to the castle to rescue Jack, Davey and Les. Racer's fists immediately clenched at his sides. Jack and Katherine had saved his brother and him. They had helped him find this village that had taken care of him and Romeo with great care. Without them, he wasn't sure that he and Romeo would've survived the Delancies.
After the fairies' story, Racer turned to the village, "They're right!" He shouted, "It's time we stood up to the Delancies! And take them down, once and for all!" (A/N Haha. Newsies reference that wasn't even intended. That's how a true fansie rolls)
The villagers cheered in response. On a nearby tree branch, Primm sat, listening to every word. His face immediately turned grim. "Uh oh." He said to no one. "This is not good." He flew off towards the castle. "Oh no. The kings are not going to like this."
Back at the castle, Katherine had made it onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard without much trouble. She just had to find where the Delancies were keeping Jack and the boys. Looking into the courtyard, she saw the Delancies building a bonfire in the very center. She gasped in fright. There was only one reason they could be building that. They were planning to burn Jack. She could never let that happen. This land would lose their last hope of freedom from the Delancies. Suddenly, the picture of Jack being thrown into a giant fire appeared in her mind. His painted prince attire, face and entire body turning to black in the flames. Tears stung at the back of her eyes but she refused to let them fall. As sure as she was breathing, Jack would never have to live through that.
"More wood!" Oscar yelled, breaking her train of thought.
"We want this to be an unforgettable show." Morris continued. He looked up and in a split second, Katherine was hidden behind a pillar. When he shrugged and turned back to the bonfire, she let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. When she was sure no one was looking, she slipped into the nearest door. Surprisingly, it lead to a staircase leading down to what seemed like a dungeon. Jack and the boys had to be down there. Taking a deep breath, she started the descent.
Primm flew into the courtyard and the brothers' smiled at the little bat. "Primm, all is right with the world." Oscar mused.
"We have the nutcracker." Morris noted.
"Soon all our worries will be over." Oscar sighed happily.
"See? I'm not exactly sure about that." Primm said shakily.
Morris' eyes turned stony and grabbed the bat by his feet. He hung Primm in front of him and his brother upside down, Primm's eyes going wide in fear. "What do you mean by that?" Morris asked through clenched teeth.
"Well," Primm started, not sure how to say it without upsetting the kings, "It seems your subjects are planning an uh… uprising."
"What?!" Morris exclaimed, shaking Primm in anger.
Oscar stopped his brother and looked straight into the bat's eyes as his said in a dangerous tone, "We want every last villager, fairy, and general trouble maker rounded up and brought here to witness the display of our ultimate power!"
"Right away." Primm said orderly. But instead of releasing him, Morris and Oscar growled at him. "Um, sire? I can't feel my toes." He wiggled his toes that were poking out of the king's clenched fist. Morris dropped him onto the ground and returned to the preparations.
Katherine finally made it to the bottom of the staircase. This was definitely a dungeon. Jack and the boys had to be around here somewhere. There didn't seem to be many guards so it wasn't as hard as she thought to go through all the hallways. Suddenly, she turned a corner and came face to face with two mouse guards with very sharp looking spears in their hands. Her heart started racing. This has to be where Jack was being kept. She realized that the guards were looking at her, expecting an explanation. "Um… there you two are!" Katherine thought on her feet, "You're needed in the courtyard right away."
"And why would we listen to you?" One guard sneered.
Katherine clenched her fists at the comment, but kept her cool. "The kings demand it." She told them, smirking smugly at the lie when she saw the guards stiffen at the comment. "And they said if you didn't hurry, you'll spend the rest of your lives as houseflies." The guards' eyes widened in fear so she took it a step further, "Or was it horseflies?"
In an instant, the guards were gone, leaving the keys on the hook. Katherine laughed to herself as she marveled the stupidity of these guards. She picked up the keys and unlocked the door. But when she opened it, it revealed an empty room.
Little did she know that room was split in two. And invisible wall split the room, hiding everything behind it. And behind it lay Jack, Davey and Les. Jack's face broke into a huge smile when he laid eyes on her. "Katherine." He breathed as he placed a hand on the wall, "She came. She really came." Katherine didn't hear a thing. She continued looking around the room in confusion.
"What's wrong with her?" Davey asked.
"We can see her, but she can't see us." Jack explained.
Les took in how Katherine hadn't heard what Jack had said. "Or here us apparently." He added.
Jack couldn't stand being so close yet so far from Katherine. It had been torture enough just being separated from her and the Delancies hadn't even done anything to him. "Why would the Delancies post guards on an empty room?" She asked herself.
"How are we going to get through to her?" Les asked Jack, but he barely registered the question. His sole focus was on Katherine.
"Katherine." He finally spoke. He prayed she could hear him and apparently that had done the trick.
Katherine heard someone call her name. The voice sounded just like… Jack's! He was somewhere, but she couldn't find him. The room was completely empty. She tried walking around but she bumped into something. She touched the air in front of her, but was met with something that felt like a brick wall. Placing a hand on the invisible wall in front of her, she felt something warm on her hand. But, the rest of the wall was cold. That could only mean…
"Nutcracker!" She cried in happiness. She would've called him Jack, but he still wanted to keep his identity a secret from the boys. Jack smiled bigger than ever when he heard her say that. She knew they were here. She would save them. He could be by her side again.
"Thank lord!" Davey exclaimed in relief behind Jack.
"I found you!" Katherine said in glee. She couldn't begin to describe how happy she was, just knowing Jack was alive. It filled her heart with a warm hope that she couldn't help but smile because of. He was safe. But not for long. She needed to get them out of here before the guards come for him to hold the bonfire. "I'll find a way to get you out. I promise!"
She frantically looked around the room for anything that might help. Her eyes found the torch in the wall. A plan struck her. She grabbed the torch from the wall. Please work, She silently pleaded as she walked towards the wall. The boys took the hint and backed away. Lifting the torch, Katherine swung with all her strength at the wall. The wall shattered like glass on the floor around her and she set eyes on Jack, Davey and Les.
"Katherine!" Jack said in complete happiness. He knew she would figure something out.
"Nutcracker!" Katherine responded in relief. She rushed towards the boys and into Jack's arms. He wrapped her arms around her waist and her arms wound themselves around his neck. Even if he was made of wood, Katherine couldn't help but feel at home in his arms. They slowly released each other and awkwardly exchanged glances. Katherine stepped away from him. She still had no idea about his feelings for her and she had to go do that? What was she thinking? Changing the subject she reported, "We have to go. The Delancies are planning a bonfire."
"And I doubt it's to warm up the castle." Jack retorted.
How was that? I swear, this is like my favorite story to write right now. Usually around this point, I start losing motivation to finish the story, but I just want to get to the ending faster for this one! Anyways, this story is actually coming to a close. At most, it will have two more chapters! The final chapter will be posted probably sometime during the week of Christmas. I'm so sorry but I can't continue this forever.
Even so, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please R&R please!
Quote of the Day: One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly –Andy Rooney
Song Suggestion: Do You Hear What I Hear? –Carrie Underwood