Hi everyone. Let's get to the next chapter. Oh, but before we do... Let's talk about the villain. Yes, the villain. I'll tell you, there will be a main villain in this story and another who is considered the "true" villain, but you won't see them because I like to torment you guys, lol. I'm just kidding, but it's to keep up the mystery. For any of you who are curious of who the main villain of this story will be (you know who you are, don't deny it), you'll finally see them in this chapter. I know, normally villains make their main appearance in the first chapter, but this one doesn't... Or, you've met them, but have no idea who they are yet. And it's the type of antagonist that I kinda wished Dark Parables actually have in their games!

One more thing before we continue. I forget to mentioned this in my first chapter, but I'd normally would put that I don't own Dark Parables. However, for this story... I DON'T own the original tale of Mother Holle nor the other stories I'll be using for parables and the bonus game, but I basically owned all my OCs and storyline... And the twist in it as well. Remember about the hints I mentioned in the last chapter? There are some here.

Here is plot twist number one! Be ready for an intense scene (if you call it intense). Anyway enough of my rambling, enjoy!

The Winter Child with the Sight

When I reached to the Garden, it was such a lovely sight. There was a small fountain at the center of the area with flowers surrounding the yard in a circular way. I looked at the paper that Mother Holle gave me. It asked for six Moonflowers. However, when I got to that section, the flowers were already wilting. I looked at the night sky. The moon was slowly rising, I have to hurry!

Going to the sprinkler, I tried to turn on the handle, but it fallen off. Darn. Broken handle. I looked over to the fountain to see sparkles. There were some pieces scattered among the lily pads. The pieces formed a valve, perfect. I put the valve in the sprinkler and turn it on. Water sprayed onto the flowers as they no longer wilt, blooming with life.

With the Moonflowers healthy and alive, I would have taken some, but... I don't have anything to cut the stems. So I rush back into the Cloud Palace. Near the machine, there was a decorative table. On the table, there was a box, with a pair of scissors inside. Before I went back outside, I pulled Mother Holle aside for a moment to talk to her.

"Yes, Detective?" she asked, trying to smile in a hopeful way.

I frowned a bit, feeling sorry that I'll have to take away that hopeful expression she has as I asked my question, "Mother Holle, why can't you use your powers anymore? I know the cause, but why are you still ruling... When you can't use your magic?"

As I expected, she started to frown, however, she seemed to understand that I wasn't asking out of mere curiosity.

"I was chosen... As are the other three. For me, it was the Moon Goddess, which is why I possess the Winter Scepter you have."

"Oh." I was about to return the item when the Snow Fay stopped me.

"Please, keep it for now. You might need it." she insisted. "Anyway, despite I can no longer use my magic, it's still there, but it had remained dormant for a very long time. Which is why I had to built my machine." she paused. "Furthermore, the reason why I have to choose a successor to inherit my powers."

"Why?" I questioned.

"In case if I were to pass away." Mother Holle answered in a low voice.

I was afraid to asked, but did so anyway, "A-Are you..."

She shook her head, "No, the Rulers of the Seasons are immortal to perform their jobs. We are like any other immortals you have encounter in your previous missions. However, we are more vulnerable, the Fay creatures, I mean. Which is why we couldn't stay in the Human World for long."

I had to admit, I was a little shock. It was an answer that I didn't expected. Despite I know that this maiden has lived a bit longer than all the other immortals I have met, I still can't shake this feeling off. Her young appearance also makes it hard for me to believe that she's over 2000 years old, yet she talks as if she is expecting Death, herself. Also, her tone would changed a lot, from a mature motherly voice to something else from her youth. It was almost like she has lost her cheerful self along with her childhood, resorting to the isolation and sad life she has been taking on for years. Yet, at the same time, she wants to remember those brief happier moments of her early youth.

"I see... I'm sorry if I asked." truly, I had regretted questioning her.

"It's alright, you wouldn't have known anyway." she gentle answered. Taking a quick glance at Lumi, she turned her attention back at me, "I should get going, bring me the flowers when you're ready."

She returned to the machine as Lumi helps her. As for me, I went to the Garden. When I got to the flowers, there was a puzzle. I had to cut only the Moonflowers that have fully blossomed based on the number of petals, which is five. When I gathered six of them, I rushed back to Mother Holle to give her the flowers.

"Thank you, dear. The machine still need fixing. Here is the key to my kitchen, you might find some things useful there." she gave me a decorative wooden key.

I took it and went to the door on the right.

When I entered, I saw the table filled with a Christmas feast! Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, roll cake... Wait, no! This is not the time to think about food... Although, the aroma does smell good.

Over by the oven, there was another parable piece on the stove and something in the oven. I opened the door, but the item inside was hot! I have to find a way to get whatever was inside. Going to the refrigerator, I went to open it, but for some reason, I couldn't. There was, however, a pair of tongs with the oven's name on it. Taking the tongs with me, I went back to the oven to get what was inside. The item was still hot though, so I went to the sink to cool down the item. It was an Ivy Charm. I put the charm in the slot with the ivy vines inside the locket.

The room altered very slightly. It was only the refrigerator that has changed. It was frozen shut in ice! No wonder I couldn't open it. Going to the table, there were sparkles. All the pieces formed to make a hairdryer. Perfect.

Using the hairdryer, I melt the ice from the refrigerator door and continued. I got a blue moon out of it. Returning to the Main Room, I gave the sphere to Mother Holle.

"There is only one part missing and it's my snow orb. Without it, the feathers won't turn into snow. I think it's in the spare room, however, some of the pieces are missing."

"Oh, Mother Holle." I stopped her to reach into my pocket. "Here," I gave her the small orb that is the size of a marble. "Snow White wanted me to give you this."

The Snow Maiden took it and looked at it in nostalgia, "Why, this is the very orb I gave her when Gwyn fell deadly ill... However, I wasn't expecting for Snow to give it back to me."

"She wasn't suppose to?"

"No, it was a small gift to her." Mother Holle answered. "However, you might need it later on." she gave the orb back to me. I gave a small nod before leaving the room. "Oh, Detective. Would you mind if you can tell her that I said hi?"

"Not at all."

"Thank you, Detective."

Going to the Spare Room on the right in the second floor, I opened the door to find a lot of feathers and blankets. Well, this was a mess. It was like someone had a giant pillow fight... Except with blankets. This must be where she stored the feathers to make it snow...

I saw sparkles on the bed and gained another key for the closet in this room. I opened the door to the right to find a chest. I tried to open it. Figures. It was also locked. However, there were four missing symbols... I left the space to take notice of something. There was a parable piece on the window sill. It went directly to my book when I touched it. Before I could leave the room, however, I just have to tripped and fall on the floor. Luckily, the soft blankets softened my fall. Unfortunately, I landed on the hard floor head on.

"Ugh..." I groaned as I turned to looked at what was hidden under the pile of blankets. "Who the heck would put the orb under the blanket?"

As I examines it, it was indeed the snow orb, but it was missing some snowflakes. Getting up from the ground, I went into the Kitchen. More sparkles, this time in the refrigerator. I got a winter emblem out of it.

Suddenly, I felt like someone was watching one. I turned to the windows to see a figure looking back at me with glowing yellow eyes.

"Who the heck are you?!" I yelled. However, the strange figure fled. "Hey, wait!"

I dashed out of the Kitchen and ran straight to the Garden. When I got there, I was too late.

'Darn it...'

I wander around a bit cautiously until something appeared in front of me. I couldn't have a good look at the figure because of the evil dark purple aura that was emitting from her body. Yes, "her" because I can see that. I just can't identify her face. The person looked very menacing though as she raise her hands to conjure up some dark fireballs.

The mysterious figure fired them at me, but the Winter Specter created a barrier just in a nick of time. I had to find the matches before the shield breaks. They were rune symbols. When I finished, the barrier reflected the attack back at the woman. However, she disappeared before she got hit as the barrier around me vanished.

Who was that woman? And it looked like she dropped something. Going over to the small patch of grass, I picked up a spring emblem. Along side it was another parable piece. I checked my parable book.

The Princess who Forgotten to Smile, 3/3

Mother Holle, 3/3

The Sisters of the Seasons, 1/3

The Faerie Sight, 1/3

The Story of the Twin Snow Fairies, 2/3

None of them completed at the moment.

With nothing else to do in the Garden, I return to the palace to search for anything else of use. Mother Holle and Lumi has finished fixing the machine. All that if left is that missing piece. Going over to the machine, there was a fall emblem.

Now comes to hard part, searching the place for snowflakes.

Going to the room next to the Kitchen is the Living Room. It was very spacious, having a large Christmas tree. On a glass table next to the tree is a box, but it was missing something. It looks like it needed a shoe... Remembering that I still have Ava's glass slipper, I put it on the box as a puzzle present itself. It was a rotating-the-pieces-to-make-a-picture puzzle. And obviously because it was a glass slipper, it was a picture of a Cinderella. She was in a blue dress dancing with someone whom I've recognized.

'I wonder how you're doing, James...' I thought. 'Hmm... I wonder how Katherine's doing too...'

The box opened to reveal a snowflake and one jewel. I looked around the Living Room. There another small stage. However, it seemed to be missing the items, not the figurines this time. I needed five toads and jewels.

I left the Living Room to go into the Kitchen. That's when I opened the freezer. There was another snowflake, a toad, and another jewel. A lot of moving around. The Spare Room has the third jewel, and the closet has sparkles to give me another toad. Then I have to travel way back. In the Frosted Glade, there was a toad and the third snowflake. There was something inside the dark hollow of a tree, but fortunately, I got matches before I left the Kitchen.

However, I couldn't just light up the matches. Luckily, there were sparkles at the base of the tree for me to get a lantern. Lighting up the candle inside, I place the lantern near the tree. The fourth jewel. So far, four jewels and three toads.

On one of the branches of the tree, a crow had something in its beak. I'm guessing it was the fifth jewel. However, it wouldn't give me the gem, so I had to find a reflective surface. Going back to the Palace Entrance, I took a broken hand mirror and returned to glade to scare off the bird. I got the last jewel, now all I need is two more toads. Going back to the entrance, I found another toad in a heap of snow. The last toad was found in a pile of black pitch.

'Was this the same pitch that Mother Holle used to punish Narcissa?'

I hoped it didn't stick to me. Luckily, it didn't... Or it couldn't. Huh, I wonder why.

Returning to the Living Room, I place the five jewels and toads into the story stage as the puzzle begins. It was much more simpler than the first story puzzle, I have to admit. All I had to do was create a path by connecting all the jewels to the younger daughter and the toads to the older sister, similar to the end puzzle I did during my Cinderella case. The puzzle was finished and it gave me the summer emblem. At last, I have all the emblems I needed.

My parable book started to glow for a new story in the Forgotten Cinderella section has appeared. I opened to look at the page.

The Forgotten Cinderella, 3/3

Diamonds and Toads, 3/3

The Girl and Father Frost, 0/3

Aurore and Aimee, 0/3

The Three Fairies, 0/3

There was still some time... So why not? I touched the second story as the past came at me again.

Diamonds and Toads

The story begins back at the cottage. It seemed that after Ava had left, a new family has settled in. A young girl with long brown hair wore a simple, yet beautiful floral dress and red boots. She has a fair complexion and lovely blue eyes. Many red roses were in her hair.

'This must be the second girl who've met Mother Holle... The second Forgotten Cinderella.'

The other girl was much older, have black hair styled in an elegant bun. She had the same complexion as the first girl, but the skin tone doesn't seem natural for some strange reason. And her brown eyes looked very cold and unforgiving. Unlike the first girl, she wore a more lavish gown. There was also a widow, who also wore a stylish dress.

Once upon a time, there lived a wicked widow with two daughters. A girl name Augustina and her older sister, Lilith. Because the older daughter was proud and arrogant, resembling her mother, she was made favorite by the widow. Augustina was more kind and humble, yet resemble more of her late father. Jealous of the natural beauty and grace that Augustina possesses, the widow and Lilith only abused and mistreated the young girl.

"Well this story seem familiar." I muttered as I watch the scene. "And why does it feel that I've seen someone like Augustina before?"

On one hot Summer day, an old woman came upon the cottage to see the younger girl drawing water from the well.

One look at the woman in the blue cloak, carrying a snowflake staff... I knew exactly who she was.

"Excuse me, young lady, but may I have a drink of water? It's very hot on this time of the year and I'm not used to the warm weather." the old woman asked.

Bingo.

Through she was hideous and a bit scary, Augustina couldn't turn down the old woman when she was in need for a cool drink. The girl gratefully gave the old woman a cup and allow her to sit near a shady tree. She was surprised to find out that the person she helped was none other than the Snow Fairy, Mother Holle. The now beautiful young maiden explained to the girl that she has taken on the appearance of a crone in order to test the morals and values of mortals, and because Augustina has passed her test, Mother Holle blessed the child. Whenever she spoke, jewels, precious metal, and flowers would fall from her pretty lips.

"So Mother Holle's gift differs whenever she meets a different Forgotten Cinderella?" I questioned.

I also wonder what time did this happened. Obviously, Mother Holle was chosen by the Moon Goddess, not the Maiden Goddess. Yet, her role in every story is very similar to the Godmother in the Cinderella tale.

When the young daughter returned home, her mother demanded why she took so long. However, upon learning of the tale, the widow was delighted and desired for her favored eldest daughter to gain the gift as well. Lilith denies, wanting to sleep and do nothing, but the widow forcibly sent her to the well outside. Instructed to act kind towards the beggar woman, the older girl, however, find a lovely princess near the well. Though the princess kindly requested that the girl offers her a drink when she has come from a very long scorching walk, the elder daughter spoke rudely to the princess instead.

"I'm not dirtying my hands for someone like you!" Lilith spat. "Go get water for yourself!"

"But dear, I'm very weak from the strong heat." the princess politely replied.

"I don't care! Why are you even asking me? I care less for your crazy demands, just go get water on your own! You spoiled little brat of a princess!"

Lilith continued to insult the princess that the maiden has lost patience for the girl. The Faerie Glamor disappeared, revealing that Mother Holle was disguised as the princess this entire time!

"Why, I've never seen such rudeness and disrespect in all my time spent in this world! You should be ashamed of yourself." Mother Holle sternly responded.

"You're the fairy." the girl realized. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me for my behavior."

"It's too late, child. As punishment for your unforgiving attitude, only toads and snakes shall fall from your mouth whenever you speak." with that, the Snow Fay disappeared, leaving the girl in despair.

"B-But I can't go back home like this!" Lilith replied as a toad hopped out and a snake slithered onto the grass.

"Like the sister before you, you also have a chance to redeemed yourself. Only when you learn to realize that laziness gets you nowhere... Then, shall your own curse be lifted. I hope you don't fail like your predecessor did, her curse was far worse than death." her voice responded.

When the older girl returned home and told her story to her mother, the widow was disgusted at all the toads and serpents that would fall from her mouth with every word she spoke. In fury, the widow drove her younger daughter from the cottage. The girl would have to venture out into the woods. However, she came to encounter Prince George of the Verdon Palace. He came all the way from France to explore the world outside his homeland.

Falling for her beauty and kindness alone, the two were wedded and Augustina was taken to her new home in a different country. In due time, the widow became disgusted by her older daughter that she drove her from home too. There, in the woods, the eldest sister died alone and miserable, unable to have learned her lesson.

In her new home, Augustina was eventually crowned Queen, happily standing beside her husband, King George. Together, they have a daughter who shared her mother's striking resemblance. Though the Queen later died, her daughter shall be special. A maiden of a pure heart. A true Cinderella. And just like how Augustina was the second child to met Mother Holle, her daughter shall be the second Princess to be visited by her very own Fairy Godmother. It shall be soon that just like her mother, this Princess shall also encounter a lonely soul and offers him a kiss that will change her life forever.

"Ah, so that's who I thought when I first saw Augustina." I muttered, closing the book as I returned to the present.

I still have work to be done on my own.

Going back to the closet of the Spare Room, I put the emblems in the correct slots. One thing I noticed is that on the corner of the chest, I saw three recognizable faces. On the upper left side where the winter emblem was put is the face of the Moon Goddess. The upper right with the spring emblem is Flora, the lower left next to the summer emblem is the Sun Goddess, and for the fall emblem, the face was not familiar at all. Could it be a new Goddess?

The emblems then flipped to show the current rulers of the seasons. Mother Holle obviously has Winter, but what about the other three? That question was never answered because the chest opened to reveal an interactive puzzle.

'Seriously? More snowflakes?'

The first puzzle was putting the correct items such as flowers, the sun, the pile of leaves in the correct season. I got six small snowflakes from that. The second puzzle started and I had to light up the big snowflake by interacting with the objects. When I was finally done, I got a total of seven snowflakes from that puzzle.

As for the number I now have with me, it's ten. The snow orb suddenly glowed as it absorbed the snowflakes inside it. It kinda looked like a snow globe, only except the base. Like the one from Rise of the Guardian... Talk about the similarities in choosing and stuff, especially during this Winter season.

A small plaque appeared on the chest as I went over to read it. The plaque read: chosen successors to become the new Rulers of the Seasons are picked by the current seasonal sisters. Once the successors accept the offer by tapping into their gifts, some of their defined features might change over time as a result of accepting their destiny...

"Huh, it was as if they were already born with the gift then being chosen..." I commented on the plaque.

I wonder what it meant with their features changing? Could that be the reason why Lumi now has white hair and blue eyes rather than having blonde hair and green eyes when she was a child? Could it be possible that when she first met Mother Holle that the change happened?

I step out of the closet to see the moon was rising higher than before! I have to hurry!

I went to the Main Room to give the Snow Fay her snow orb.

"Oh, you got it fully charged. With this, I can purify those clouds and end this terrible dark magic." Mother Holle replied.

She put the orb at the center of her machine as it starts. The moon was now rising directly above us. However, the machine started to release crackling sounds or static electricity.

"Um, Mother Holle..." I called out worriedly.

"That's odd, there's something wrong with the machine. It's not cleansing the clouds from dark magic..." suddenly, a blast sent her back. Luckily, Lumi caught her before she got hurt.

"Mother Holle?" the fifteen year old questioned in concern.

The Snow Fay rubbed her head as she muttered, "I-I feel weak..."

Suddenly, a portal was opened beside the machine. At first, I couldn't see anything until I saw the figure more clearly. She has messy long brownish-red hair, dressed in black. She looked very familiar... Where have I seen her face? Wait a minute...

"Stepmother!" Lumi exclaimed in shock.

Stepmother? I thought she was her adopted mother...

"You!" Mother Holle yelled.

The woman turned her attention on the Snow Fay and smiled, "Ah, Mother Holle. So very glad to see you again..." her smile turned into a frown of disgust. "After what you did to my daughter!"

"She deserves what she got. She wasn't kind nor industrious." the Snow Maiden counters. "If she would have changed then that pitch would have disappeared from her."

"She died humiliated! While my stepdaughter was married to a Prince!" the woman argues.

"It doesn't matter, Renee. I'll stop you from ruining this special time of the year. You won't win!"

"It's useless, you can't do anything to stop me!" the woman sneered. "And this is my special time." she added. "I can finally steal your powers now that you've weaken!" she then addressed to me, "As for you, Detective, I'll make sure that you don't stand in my way!"

Shoot.

I was thinking about getting out of the way until the Unseelie Court caught me in their grasp.

"You're the one controlling them?!" I asked.

"Who knows, who cares." Renee replied. In her hands materialize a bow and arrow. The arrow, however, seemed to be dipped with something. "Poison. Especially one capable of taking care of any special gifted humans."

She pulled back the arrow and release it at me. I closed my eyes, ready to brace for the impact, but a scream caused me to opened them again. It was Lumi who had screamed. And I know why. Mother Holle has intercepted and got struck from the back. Her body glowed as a blast of magic destroyed the evil Fay creatures that have got me and knocked me down from my feet. Immediately, the white aura she was glowing just a minute ago left and had disappeared.

"Tsk." the evil stepmother muttered. She turned her attention onto Lumi alone. The girl was too shocked of the scene to even notice the woman lunging at her!

"Lumi, watch out!" I warned her, but was too late.

The woman had pinned Lumi to a wall with both of her hands around her neck. The girl tried desperately to get the crazy madwoman to release her grip, but couldn't.

"Now that she's dying, you are her successor. I can finally have it!" Renee exclaimed.

"No!" the girl yelled in alarm.

A dark shadowy hand appeared and went straight through the girl's chest. Lumi cried in pain until the shadowy hand was taken out of her chest. She collapsed to the floor after Renee releases her. The evil stepmother steps back in anger and shock.

"What?!" It's not here... Where is it?!" she yelled out in frustration. "Where did you hide it?!"

I have to do something before she harmed Lumi again. However, something caught my attention. The Winter Specter was just a few inches away from my hands. It must have fallen out when I got blasted.

Taking the Winter Scepter in my hands, I aimed it at the unexpected stepmother. She realize the magic too late when it hit her on her shoulders.

"Argh!" she grasped on the spot where she was wounded. The stepmother was forced to retreat. "This isn't over, I will obtain that power if it's the last thing I do!"

I got up to my feet as Lumi crawled to where Mother Holle lies. I may not know what's going on, but whatever that stepmother was looking for, Lumi doesn't have it.

Wow, is all I can describe the last scene, am I right? Don't worry everyone. If you don't understand the stepmother part, it shall be revealed later. I never meant for the adopted mother to appear so it's not a typo. There is a reason why it is the stepmother and not the mother like the parables said in the first chapter. You'll also understand why her appearance has also changed.

1) I changed one of the daughter's name from Rose to Augustina in the previous chapter just FYI. And if you've read my Frog Prince story, you'll know who Augustina is. Hint hint. Like mother like daughter.

2) RIP Mother Holle. You have served well in my story and it pains me as the writer to kill you off when it's not even the end of the story yet.

3) Renee is not a spirit... In a way. She is more of a dead person, so probably a mix of a draugur or a vampire. Except she doesn't take blood, but the soul. They're basically almost the same thing. (I cannot remember the many creatures from fairy folklore, so I just made it up).

4) Remember, both the adopted mother and stepmother are dead, but according to Icelandic Draugur (ghost), they have a physical body.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next one we'll get down to business. Leave a review as always and I'll see you guys soon ;D