Chapter 15: All hope lost?
Santa's workshop
When Santa Clause sent the urgent message to the grand elf, an emergency meeting was called. The head elf waited patiently while a couple of elves, reindeer, gnomes, and fairies still entered. Many of them were curious to know what this was all about since there had not been that many emergency meetings at the North Pole unless it was a real emergency. But this time, Santa was serious.
"What do you think is wrong?" whispered a brown-haired female elf in a blue suit.
"I don't know, but it doesn't seem good," whispered a fairy flying above her head.
All the elves and gnomes gathered to sit at the work tables with Santa standing up in front of them. The fairies hovered in midair to sit atop a few shelves on the walls. Some of the reindeer and elves sat on the floor when there was no room to sit at the tables. Others just stood up. They all had their attention turned to Santa who was still waiting for the crowd to be silent. Santa cleared his throat after everyone fell silent for him to give his discussion.
"Attention everyone!" Santa called out. "We are gathered here because of a great disaster that has befallen." Everyone in the workshop murmured and exchanged puzzled glances at one another. "The Christmas star has been stolen and if we don't get it back by midnight tonight, Christmas will be cancelled!"
The whispers had now become a cry of alarm. None of them could believe what they were hearing. Who would want to steal the star and how could this have happened?
"But who has stolen it?" a pink fairy called from a shelf.
"There has never been a Christmas without the star!" cried another fairy.
"What will we do?" a small reindeer jumped to his feet.
"Settle down now!" Santa spoke trying to calm everyone. "Will everyone please not panic?" he cleared his throat after silence endured once again. "As I was saying, the star was swiped by none other than Crystal." A cry of alarm echoed once again. Crystal was evidently the only enemy of this realm who hates Christmas and all that it stands for. Despite the cries, Santa continued. "…but that's not all; one of the guests lead here by Rudolph was kidnapped as well. We all must…"
BOOM! The doors to the hallways burst open revealing Rudolph with his fur all frizzy and covered in damps of snow. The crowd turned their attention to him when he had interrupted Santa's speech.
"Rudolph my boy, what happened?" Santa asked in shock.
"The girls are gone Santa!" replied Rudolph. "They just burst out the door and out into the raging blizzard. I lost sight of them after I tripped and fell from a steep slope. You were right Santa, Crystal has somehow cast a spell over them and now they are on their way to her mountain!" He lowered his head feeling sorry for them. The crowds gasped at hearing him say this. How can they possibly save the three cows and retrieve the star in time?
"I never meant for them to be put in danger," said Ester gloomily. "I only wanted to prove to them that the North Pole really exists."
"Blaming yourselves won't solve anything," Santa spoke without raising his voice. "And there is no time for self-pity. Remember now, the Christmas star is important to all of us here; without its glow, there can never be another Christmas ever. And without that glow, we may all disappear." The crowd whispered and then grew silent. No one else had anything to say about this. "Now she has three innocent cows under her evil spell to carry out her deed. These cows are heroes in their own world and it is important that we work together to save them and the star. Christmas is for everyone, especially them. We can't let bad feelings bring us down whenever something bad happens; we learn to pull through with them. No one should deserve to be left behind in the snow without anyone to look out for you." Everyone agreed to that. "Now let us put our plan into action!" The crowd cheered and gathered to listen to each and everyone's rescue plan.
In the frozen wastelands
When Maggie and Mrs. Calloway were warned not to travel to Stone Cold Mountain alone at the time Grace was abducted, they felt confident that Santa had a plan up his sleeve since he may have known more about Crystal than they did. And there was a meaningful reason why it was never a smart idea to come face to face with a lady twice stronger and powerful than they can ever imagine.
Unfortunately, everything would have turned out well for them if it weren't for Crystal's evil spell already spreading throughout their bodies. The spell had given them senses indicating that someone was calling out to them somewhere on a mountain. Rudolph felt that he and Santa had underestimated Crystal's secret power after the girls violently pushed him aside on their way out the back door without feeling guilty of what they had done. No matter how hard the red nosed reindeer tried to stop the two, the girls kept on moving into a different tunnel entrance that would lead them straight to Crystal's lair. He had lost sight of them while the snow was still falling thickly and heavily. Not even his red nose could help him find them. They were completely lost to Crystal's spell. He kept calling out their names until his voice fell weak and there was not even an echo or the ringing of a bell in answer. Rudolph, knowing that it was hopeless finding them in this foggy raging blizzard was able to find his way back to the workshop and warn Santa.
After the two walked all the way to the ends of the twisted tunnel, they didn't realize where they were until they came to their senses since the spell had no full control over them yet. From where the two stood, the sky was darker without any stars while the snowflakes swirled all over the areas.
"What, how in all the blazes did we get here?" Maggie shouted through the blizzard. This cold temperature was not the least bit pleasant to have fun in. "I can't see a dang thing here!"
"If my guesses are right, I must say that this is the place that will lead us to Grace!" responded Mrs. Calloway who covered her eyes halfway from the falling snow. "But I don't know or care how else we arrived here but there is no going back now. We don't even know the way!"
"Well that's good news to hear!" Maggie said sarcastically protecting her eyes. "We might as well give in to Blizzard Breath!" Opening her eyes, she could see that Mrs. Calloway had already started walking in the deep snow straight ahead to some dark figure none of them could see through the drafty fog. "Hey wait for me!" she shrieked scampering after her.
Despite the thickness of the fog passing through, the girls did not stop or make any turns when crossing through the snowy mounds. There were many hidden edges or stumps that caused them to keep tripping, skidding and sliding all the way down. Whenever that happened they would often crash into each other and argue over whose fault that was. The spell was now doing a great job of changing their personalities a bit on the way. But then again, sometimes the two would forget what it was they were talking about or why they were arguing in the first place. Soon the memories of their adventures and living on Patch of Heaven would cease to exist.
Afterward the blizzard decreased with only minimal snowflakes falling softly enough to reveal the snowy path. The cows shivered like leaves in the wind from the freezing cold. They must have been getting closer. If it weren't for the thickness of the fog drifting off in the eastern direction, then the two might have never seen the dark figure turn a little clearer. Mrs. Calloway brushed off loads of snow that fell on her back. Their hides became soaked increasing the freezing temperatures in their bodies.
At last the two arrived on top of a taller hill where it was now clear to see the dark figure reveal to be the tallest snow mountain in this frozen wasteland. The mountain looked more like a castle with sharp, pointed icicles for towers all around it. A huge eerie shadow had been cast on the snow over them. It must have been Crystal's home. As much as the cows were afraid of going inside of there, there was still no possibility of going back to find Santa's workshop through the thick raging blizzard. Grace had to still be in there alive.
"There it is, Stone Cold Mountain!" Mrs. Calloway cried as she and Maggie stood a couple feet far from where the mountain stood. Their eyesight had been watered and a little blurry from the low temperature. But they were still able to see the mountain better than before.
"Alright, think we should give that woman a real taste of hard winter?" Maggie spoke bravely through gritted teeth.
"Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it too soon," Mrs. Calloway advised. "Remember, this is no ordinary woman we are dealing with. She is much more evil and powerful than any other enemy we've faced. We might not stand much of a chance against her."
"I don't care what she is," Maggie replied seriously. "Whatever scheme she's planning is not going to work; not if we can figure out a plan to put a stop to it!"
It was then that Maggie had already started tramping down the snowy hill and straight toward the gates of the mountain. Mrs. Calloway sighed heavily from seeing her act without thinking straight about not underestimating Crystal's powers. But they were never going to give up on Grace, even if Crystal is all powerful. And by the time they are all under her control, Santa will save them; hopefully.
"Where are you going?" called Mrs. Calloway. "Wait for me why don't you?"
The girls walked on and on without stopping to take a short rest. The only sound present came the icy winds blowing by to leave a few more snowflakes covering their hides. Not even their winter garments could protect them from the cold in this wasteland any longer.
Inside the mountain
The two stood before the gates made out of shining glass. Without warning, the gates opened slowly with a loud creak. They looked at each other in confusion, but shrugged and went in with no further objection. Inside the gate, there was a long hallway of stone pillars lined up on each side with no turns. The further they ventured onward, the more scared they became fearful of having to lose themselves in this dark passageway.
Maggie could feel her heart thumping mercilessly as if it were about to burst. Maybe she and Mrs. Calloway shouldn't be here. This was definitely no place for dairy cows to venture in; especially since they know nothing of how to handle evil spells. The ransom note back at the workshop did mention that if they want to see her again, the two would have to come and face her to accept an offer they can never refuse. Deep down inside, Maggie and Mrs. Calloway knew that Grace was taken here as bait to catch them. But that was a risk they were willing to take.
"Doesn't this place make you wish that you got out more often?" Maggie whispered to Mrs. Calloway.
"I couldn't agree more," answered Mrs. Calloway as she shook off bits of snow off her scarf and earmuffs. "Glad we don't have to live in such a dreadful place." Even if those words were said, she felt that they would soon prove her wrong.
By the time they reached the end of the hallway, there was a flight of icy steps leading up to another wide open door. The two went in and found themselves in a strange throne room made and covered in ice with more pillars aligned. There in the center of the room sat an empty grand chair carved fancifully like any real valuable chair in a mansion; and beside it sat a tall mirror. But where were Crystal and Grace?
"So you've finally come at last," a cold voice sent shivers down Maggie's spine; same with Mrs. Calloway. "I was afraid you'd never make it in time." A blue spectral trail zoomed passed between the two a moment before the doors shut tight locking them in with nowhere to turn. The trail headed toward the chair to transform into the great lady Crystal, the Ice Empress. There she sat with her legs crossed as a slow cruel smile crossed her blue lips. They could barely avoid contact with those horrible eyes of hers.
"Where is our friend, Grace?" asked Maggie with enough courage to take a step forward, but not too close.
"Oh you must mean the other pretty bovine," Crystal answered still smiling cruelly. "I do believe she was expecting you as well." Snapping her fingers, Grace appeared beside Crystal from behind a puff of smoke. Instead of looking happy to see her two friends, the heifer's eyes were steely and her blond hide appeared to have turned a little pale blue. She couldn't even turn her attention to them. "Sit down my pet," Crystal ordered pointing her finger on the icy floor. Grace obeyed mindlessly.
"Grace, what do you think you're doing?" Mrs. Calloway asked sternly. "Come down here!" When Grace did not answer, she turned angrily to Crystal. "What is this? Turn her back at once!" she demanded.
"Afraid I can't do that!" Crystal laughed. "You see, now that my spell has taken full effect over her, she obeys only me and no one else!" She looked back at the two and went on. "And so will the rest of you!"
"We said turn her back!" Maggie began to charge at Crystal in a fury, ignoring Mrs. Calloway's words to come back.
Crystal did not even move or appeared to be the least bit scared as she watched Maggie still coming at her. Before the cow had the chance to jump for an attack, Crystal threw her right arm out straight and released a full arctic blast from the palm of her blue hand that pushed Maggie back sliding her onto the ground and crashing into Mrs. Calloway.
"That didn't go too well," Maggie grunted as she tried to get back up but stopped short when her stomach twisted in total pain. "Oh no, not this again!" she cried out.
Soon Mrs. Calloway began clutching her stomach tightly and fell on the floor in pain. "What's going on here?" she hollered with her eyes shut tight and her teeth gritting.
"You two have been bewitched by the same spell that turned your dear friend into my eternal servant." Crystal answered as she stepped slowly to where they were lying. The cows were shocked by hearing this and stopped cringing. There was no way for them to get through to Grace now if they were going to end up like her anyway. "She belongs to me now."
"Santa was right; no wonder we've been acting haywire with each other!" Maggie finally understood how they arrived in this wasteland.
"But how…?" before Mrs. Calloway could ask how this happened, Crystal cut her off and held out her right hand to show them the same blue bonbons Grace had urged them to taste a while back.
"Oh just a small temporary dose of what I like to call frozen treats," she answered. "Your friend was foolish enough to believe that these were only simple sweets."
"So you tricked Grace into giving us the sweets?!" Mrs. Calloway slowly rose up on her feet and stared furiously at Crystal. "How dare you do that!" Crystal shrugged off her words and turned her back to Grace.
"Come here!" She demanded. The two watched as Grace began to come forward and stand beside Crystal. Her face did not move slightly, nor did she blink her eyes. "Take one look at your little friend here!" Crystal hissed as she grabbed at the bewitched cow's face and forced her to stare directly at Maggie and Mrs. Calloway in those steely eyes. "Wouldn't you rather let her serve me alone in this cold forbidding atmosphere without her remembering if she had family?
"Stop that!" shouted Maggie who was still lying on the floor. Even if Grace was in a trance, she could tell that she was suffering on the inside.
"Wouldn't you?" she hollered pulling on her face tightly. "You should know that I have an intention of turning the three of you into ice statues to add in my collection unless you agree to serve me and be with your friend so she won't have to feel alone." The girls paused before answering. Mrs. Calloway looked long and hard on the ground and heaved a sad sigh.
"If we join you, there will be more innocent lives at stake won't there?" she asked glancing over at Grace whose face was still being held by Crystal's strong grasp. Neither she nor Maggie liked the idea of becoming slaves to the ice lady before them. Then she turned away and spat.
"We wouldn't bow to you if you were last human being on earth!" she declared.
"What choice do you have?" Crystal asked scornfully. "You've already taken a bite out of my special treats and you have nothing else to promise that'll make me change my mind over keeping you. So what's it going to be? Serve me…or be lost in ice?" That was Crystal's final offer.
The two cows thought this through before answering. Could they really turn themselves in to Crystal? Wouldn't that count as betrayal to their family and all those who have helped them through the toughest times? They could never do a thing like that. But even if they refused, the spell would could still overpower them and make them obey every command Crystal gives. And the lady did have a point about not having any other choice. Now there was no going back on this offer.
"We'll do as you wish," Maggie answered with guilt-ridden eyes.